Steven Mark Bromidge

Characterization of SB-269970-A, a selective 5-HT7 receptor antagonist

The novel 5‐HT7 receptor antagonist, SB‐269970‐A, potently displaced [3H]‐5‐CT from human 5‐HT7(a) (pKi 8.9±0.1) and 5‐HT7 receptors in guinea‐pig cortex (pKi 8.3±0.2). 5‐CT stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in 5‐HT7(a)/HEK293 membranes (pEC50 7.5±0.1) and SB‐269970‐A (0.03–1 μM) inhibited the 5‐CT concentration‐response with no significant alteration in the maximal response. The pA2 (8.5±0.2) for SB‐269970‐A agreed well with the pKi determined from [3H]‐5‐CT binding studies. 5‐CT‐stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in guinea‐pig hippocampal membranes (pEC50 of 8.4±0.2) was inhibited by SB‐269970‐A (0.3 μM) with a pKB (8.3±0.1) in good agreement with its antagonist potency at the human cloned 5‐HT7(a) receptor and its binding affinity at guinea‐pig cortical membranes. 5‐HT7 receptor mRNA was highly expressed in human hypothalamus, amygdala, thalamus, hippocampus and testis. SB‐269970‐A was CNS penetrant (steady‐state brain : blood ratio of ca. 0.83 : 1 in rats) but was rapidly cleared from the blood (CLb=ca. 140 ml min−1 kg−1). Following a single dose (3 mg kg−1) SB‐269970 was detectable in rat brain at 30 (87 nM) and 60 min (58 nM). In guinea‐pigs, brain levels averaged 31 and 51 nM respectively at 30 and 60 min after dosing, although the compound was undetectable in one of the three animals tested. 5‐CT (0.3 mg kg−1 i.p.) induced hypothermia in guinea‐pigs was blocked by SB‐269970‐A (ED50 2.96 mg kg−1 i.p.) and the non‐selective 5‐HT7 receptor antagonist metergoline (0.3–3 mg kg−1 s.c.), suggesting a role for 5‐HT7 receptor stimulation in 5‐CT induced hypothermia in guinea‐pigs. SB‐269970‐A (30 mg kg−1) administered at the start of the sleep period, significantly reduced time spent in Paradoxical Sleep (PS) during the first 3  h of EEG recording in conscious rats.

Characterization of SB-271046 : A potent, selective and orally active 5-HT6 receptor antagonist

SB‐271046, potently displaced [3H]‐LSD and [125I]‐SB‐258585 from human 5‐HT6 receptors recombinantly expressed in HeLa cells in vitro (pKi 8.92 and 9.09 respectively). SB‐271046 also displaced [125I]‐SB‐258585 from human caudate putamen and rat and pig striatum membranes (pKi 8.81, 9.02 and 8.55 respectively). SB‐271046 was over 200 fold selective for the 5‐HT6 receptor vs 55 other receptors, binding sites and ion channels. In functional studies on human 5‐HT6 receptors SB‐271046 competitively antagonized 5‐HT‐induced stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity with a pA2 of 8.71. SB‐271046 produced an increase in seizure threshold over a wide‐dose range in the rat maximal electroshock seizure threshold (MEST) test, with a minimum effective dose of 0.1 mg kg−1 p.o. and maximum effect at 4 h post‐dose. The level of anticonvulsant activity achieved correlated well with the blood concentrations of SB‐271046 (EC50 of 0.16 μM) and brain concentrations of 0.01–0.04 μM at Cmax. These data, together with the observed anticonvulsant activity of other selective 5‐HT6 receptor antagonists, SB‐258510 (10 mg kg−1, 2–6 h pre‐test) and Ro 04‐6790 (1–30 mg kg−1, 1 h pre‐test), in the rat MEST test, suggest that the anticonvulsant properties of SB‐271046 are likely to be mediated by 5‐HT6 receptors. Overall, these studies demonstrate that SB‐271046 is a potent and selective 5‐HT6 receptor antagonist and is orally active in the rat MEST test. SB‐271046 represents a valuable tool for evaluating the in vivo central function of 5‐HT6 receptors.

Characterization of [125I]-SB-258585 binding to human recombinant and native 5-HT6 receptors in rat, pig and human brain tissue

SB‐258585 (4‐Iodo‐N‐[4‐methoxy‐3‐(4‐methyl‐piperazin‐1‐yl)‐phenyl]‐benzenesulphonamide) is a high affinity ligand at 5‐HT6 receptors. It displays over 100 fold selectivity for the 5‐HT6 receptor over all other 5‐HT receptors tested so far. SB‐258585 has been radiolabelled, to high specific activity, for its characterization as a 5‐HT6 receptor selective radioligand. [125I]‐SB‐258585 bound, with high affinity, to a single population of receptors in a cell line expressing human recombinant 5‐HT6 receptors. Kinetic and saturation binding experiments gave pKD values of 9.01±0.09 and 9.09±0.02, respectively. In membranes derived from rat or pig striatum and human caudate putamen, [125I]‐SB‐258585 labelled a single site with high levels (>60%) of specific binding. Saturation analysis revealed pKD values of 8.56±0.07 for rat, 8.60±0.10 for pig and 8.90±0.02 for human. Bmax values for the tissues ranged from 173±23 and 181±25 fmol mg−1 protein in rat and pig striatum, respectively, to 215±41 fmol mg−1 protein in human caudate putamen. The pKi rank order of potency for a number of compounds, determined in competition binding assays with [125I]‐SB‐258585, at human caudate putamen membranes was: SB‐271046>SB‐258585>SB‐214111>methiothepin>clozapine>5‐Me‐OT>5‐HT>Ro 04‐6790>mianserin>ritanserin=amitriptyline>5‐CT>mesulergine. Similar profiles were obtained from pig and rat striatal membranes and recombinant 5‐HT6 receptors; data from the latter correlated well with [3H]‐LSD binding. Thus, [125I]‐SB‐258585 is a high affinity, selective radioligand which can be used to label both recombinant and native 5‐HT6 receptors and will facilitate further characterization of this receptor subtype in animal and human tissues.

Phenyl benzenesulfonamides are novel and selective 5-HT6 antagonists: identification of N-(2,5-dibromo-3-fluorophenyl)-4-methoxy-3-piperazin-1-ylbenzenesulfonamide (SB-357134)

Substituted N-phenyl-4-methoxy-3-piperazin-1-ylbenzenesulfonamides and conformationally restricted analogues have been identified as high affinity and selective 5-HT6 antagonists. Compounds from this series had a range of pharmacokinetic profiles in rat and in general there was a correlation between clearance and CNS penetration. Based on its overall biological profile 2 (SB-357134) was selected for further pre-clinical evaluation.

Pharmacological profile of SB-357134: a potent, selective, brain penetrant, and orally active 5-HT6 receptor antagonist

N-(2,5-Dibromo-3-fluorophenyl)-4-methoxy-3-piperazin-1-ylbenzenesulfonamide (SB-357134) potently inhibited [125I]SB-258585 and [3H]LSD binding in a HeLa cell line expressing human 5-HT(6) receptors (pK(i)=8.6 and 8.54, respectively). Furthermore, SB-357134 inhibited [125I]SB-258585 binding in human caudate--putamen and in rat and pig striatum membranes (pK(i)=8.82, 8.44, and 8.61, respectively). SB-357134 displayed over 200-fold selectivity for the 5-HT(6) receptor versus 72 other receptors and enzymes. 5-HT-stimulated cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation in human 5-HT(6) receptors was competitively antagonised by SB-357134 (pA(2)=7.63). SB-357134 inhibited ex vivo [125I]SB-258585 binding in the rat with an ED(50) of 4.9 +/- 1.3 mg/kg po, 4 h postdose. In the rat maximal electroshock seizure threshold (MEST) test, SB-357134 produced a potent and dose-dependent increase in seizure threshold, with a minimum effective dose of 0.1 mg/kg po. At 10 mg/kg po, maximum activity occurred between 4 and 6 h postdose. Good exposure was observed with SB-357134 at 10 mg/kg po, reaching maximal blood and brain concentrations of 4.3 +/- 0.2 and 1.3 +/- 0.06 microM, respectively, 1 h postdose. In addition, SB-357134 (10 mg/kg po) enhanced memory and learning following chronic administration (twice a day for 7 days) in the rat water maze. Overall, these studies demonstrate that SB-357134 is a potent, selective, brain penetrant, and orally active 5-HT(6) receptor antagonist.

[3H]‐SB‐269970 – A selective antagonist radioligand for 5‐HT7 receptors

Binding of the 5‐HT7 receptor antagonist radioligand [3H]‐SB‐269970 to human 5‐HT7(a) receptors expressed in HEK293 cell membranes (h5‐HT7(a)/293) and to guinea‐pig cerebral cortex membranes, was characterized and compared with [3H]‐5‐CT binding. [3H]‐SB‐269970 (1 nM) showed full association with h5‐HT7(a)/293 membranes after 40 min. Specific binding at equilibrium represented >90% of total binding and was fully reversible by methiothepin (10 μM), full dissociation occurring by 100 min. The association (k+1) and dissociation (k−1) rate constants were 0.05 nM−1min−1 and 0.05 min−1 respectively, giving a KD (k−1/k+1) of 1.0 nM. [3H]‐SB‐269970 bound saturably and apparently monophasically to both h5‐HT7(a)/293 and guinea‐pig cortex membranes, with KD values of 1.25±0.05 and 1.7±0.3 nM respectively. The Bmax for [3H]‐SB‐269970 to both h5‐HT7(a)/293 and guinea‐pig cortex membranes (5780±380 and 125±8.2 fmoles mg protein−1 respectively) was similar to that for [3H]‐5‐CT (6190±940 and 143±19 fmoles mg protein−1 respectively). These data suggest that, in each tissue, both radioligands labelled the same population of receptors, which appear to be present in an agonist high affinity state. The profile of compound inhibition of [3H]‐SB‐269970 binding to h5‐HT7(a)/293 and guineapig cortex membranes correlated well (corr. coeff. 0.98) with those for [3H]‐5‐CT binding and were consistent with the profiles reported previously for the human 5‐HT7(a) and guinea‐pig cortex 5‐HT7 receptors using [3H]‐5‐CT. Hill slopes for inhibition of [3H]‐SB‐269970 and [3H]‐5‐CT binding were close to 1, consistent with binding to a single receptor population in both tissues. [3H]‐SB‐269970 represents the first selective 5‐HT7 antagonist radioligand, which should aid further characterization of 5‐HT7 receptors in recombinant and native tissues and help establish their role in brain function.

Effects of RO 60 0175, a 5-HT2C receptor agonist, in three animal models of anxiety

There is some controversy as to whether 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists are anxiogenic or anxiolytic. The effects of the novel 5-HT(2C) receptor agonist, (S)-2-chloro-5-fluoro-indol-1-yl)-1-methyl ethylamine fumarate (RO 60 0175), in three models of anxiety were therefore tested. RO 60 0175 was found to induce hypolocomotion in rats at doses greater than 0.5 mg/kg s.c., an effect reversed by the selective 5-HT(2C) receptor antagonist, SB-242084. RO 60 0175 did not elicit anxiolytic-like responses in the social interaction test under high light unfamiliar conditions, but suppressed both time spent in social interaction and locomotion at doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg s.c., suggesting a sedative response. In the Vogel conflict test, RO 60 0175 had no significant action on the number of shocks taken. In the Geller-Seifter test, RO 60 0175 (0.3 and 1 mg/kg s.c.) simultaneously reduced both unpunished and punished lever pressing, a profile consistent with sedation. Finally, RO 60 0175 was tested in a rat social interaction test under low light familiar conditions optimal for the detection of anxiogenic-like responses. At 1 and 3 mg/kg s.c., RO 60 0175 reduced both time spent in social interaction and concurrent locomotion, a profile more consistent with sedation than anxiogenesis. In conclusion, RO 60 0175 induced sedative-like responses via 5-HT(2C) receptor activation, but was neither anxiolytic, nor clearly anxiogenic at the doses tested.

Binding Mode and Structure-Activity Relationships around Direct Inhibitors of the Nrf2-Keap1 Complex.

An X‐ray crystal structure of Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein (Keap1) co‐crystallised with (1S,2R)‐2‐[(1S)‐1‐[(1,3‐dioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐isoindol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolin‐2‐carbonyl]cyclohexane‐1‐carboxylic acid (compound (S,R,S)‐1 a) was obtained. This X‐ray crystal structure provides breakthrough experimental evidence for the true binding mode of the hit compound (S,R,S)‐1 a, as the ligand orientation was found to differ from that of the initial docking model, which was available at the start of the project. Crystallographic elucidation of this binding mode helped to focus and drive the drug design process more effectively and efficiently.

Design and Synthesis of Novel Tricyclic Benzoxazines as Potent 5-HT1A/B/D Receptor Antagonists Leading to the Discovery of 6-{2-[4-(2-methyl-5-quinolinyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}-4H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine-3-carboxamide (GSK588045)

Bioisoteric replacement of the metabolically labile N-methyl amide group of a series of benzoxazinones with small heterocyclic rings has led to novel series of fused tricyclic benzoxazines which are potent 5-HT(1A/B/D) receptor antagonists with and without concomitant human serotonin transporter (hSerT) activity. Optimizing against multiple parameters in parallel identified 6-{2-[4-(2-methyl-5-quinolinyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}-4H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine-3-carboxamide (GSK588045) as a potent 5-HT(1A/B/D) receptor antagonist with a high degree of selectivity over human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium channels, favorable pharmacokinetics, and excellent activity in vivo in rodent pharmacodynamic (PD) models. On the basis of its outstanding overall profile, this compound was progressed as a clinical candidate with the ultimate aim to assess its potential as a faster acting antidepressant/anxiolytic with reduced side-effect burden.

6-[2-(4-Aryl-1-piperazinyl)ethyl]-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-ones: dual-acting 5-HT1 receptor antagonists and serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Investigation of a series 6-[2-(4-aryl-1-piperazinyl)ethyl]-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-ones has led to the discovery of potent 5-HT(1A/1B/1D) receptor antagonists with and without additional SerT affinity. Modulation of the different target activities gave compounds with a range of profiles suitable for further in vivo characterization.