Yi-n Li

Selective thyroid hormone receptor-β activation: A strategy for reduction of weight, cholesterol, and lipoprotein (a) with reduced cardiovascular liability

Few treatments for obesity exist and, whereas efficacious therapeutics for hyperlipidemia are available, further improvements are desirable. Thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) regulate both body weight and cholesterol levels. However, thyroid hormones also have deleterious effects, particularly on the heart. The TRβ subtype is involved in cholesterol lowering and possibly elevating metabolic rate, whereas TRα appears to be more important for control of heart rate (HR). In the current studies, we examined the effect of TRβ activation on metabolic rate and HR with either TRα1–/– mice or the selective TRβ agonist KB-141 in mice, rats, and monkeys. 3,5,3′-triiodi-l-thyronine (T3) had a greater effect on increasing HR in WT than in TRα–/– mice (ED15 values of 34 and 469 nmol/kg/day, respectively). T3 increased metabolic rate [whole body oxygen consumption (MVO2)] in both WT and TRα–/– mice, but the effect in the TRα1–/– mice at the highest dose was half that of the WT mice. Thus, stimulation of MVO2 is likely due to both TRα and -β. T3 had equivalent potency for cholesterol reduction in WT and TRα–/– mice. KB-141 increased MVO2 with selectivities of 16.5- and 11.2-fold vs. HR in WT and TRα1–/– mice, respectively. KB-141 also increased MVO2 with a 10-fold selectivity and lowered cholesterol with a 27-fold selectivity vs. HR in rats. In primates, KB-141 caused significant cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), and body-weight reduction (up to 7% after 1 wk) with no effect on HR. TRβ-selective agonists may constitute a previously uncharacterized class of drugs to treat obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and elevated lipoprotein (a).

Synthesis and preliminary characterization of a novel antiarrhythmic compound (KB130015) with an improved toxicity profile compared with amiodarone.

Recent developments in antiarrhythmic therapy have indicated that the best approach to pharmacologically controlling supraventricular arrhythmias and life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias is by prolonging cardiac repolarization rather than by blocking conduction. In this context, amiodarone has emerged as the most potent compound, but its universal use has been limited by its toxicity profile. There are data to suggest that an important component of amiodarones antiarrhythmic action might be mediated via inhibition of thyroid hormone action in the heart. Therefore, a new series of carboxymethoxybenzoyl and benzyl derivatives of benzofuran has been prepared and evaluated as thyroid hormone receptor antagonists. Within this series, 2-methyl-3-(3,5-diiodo-4-carboxymethoxybenzyl)benzofuran KB130015 (7) was found to reveal the most promising in vitro data. It inhibits the binding of (125)I-T(3) to the human thyroid hormone receptors (hThR) alpha(1) and beta(1). T(3)-Antagonism was confirmed in reporter cell assays employing CHOK1 cells (Chinese hamster ovary cells) stably transfected with hThR alpha(1) or hThR beta(1) and an alkaline phosphatase reporter gene downstream a thyroid response element. The derived IC(50) values were 2.2 microM for hThR alpha(1) and 4.1 microM for hThR beta(1). Compound 7 was selected for further characterization of chronic effects on ventricular papillary muscle by transmembrane electrophysiology after daily intraperitoneal injection of the ligand (40 mg/kg body weight) in guinea pigs. Compound 7 was found to prolong the action potential duration at 90% (APD(90)) repolarization time (219 +/- 22 ms, control: 186 +/- 9 ms, p < 0.01) without exhibiting any reverse rate dependency of action in a manner similar to that of amiodarone. In general, preliminary tolerance experiments with 7 demonstrated an improved safety profile compared to that of amiodarone. In summary, 7 appears to be less toxic than amiodarone while maintaining its electrophysiologic properties consistent with antiarrhythmic activity. Its potential antiarrhythmic actions warrant further investigations.