The 2',3'-dideoxyriboside of 2,6-diaminopurine selectively inhibits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in vitro

Modified Cyclodextrin Sulphates(mCDS11) have Potent Inhibitory Activity against HIV and High Oral Bioavailability

Modified cyclodextrin sulphate (mCDS) in which lipophilic groups were introduced to cyclodextrin sulphate (CDS) was synthesized and proved more inhibitory to the replication of HIV-1 and HIV-2 than CDS or dextran sulphate (DS). The anti-coagulant activity of mCDS was lower than that of DS. Cyclodextrin phosphate (CDP) showed anti-HIV activity similar to that of CDS, and its anti-coagulant activity was even lower than that of mCDS. Flow cytometric analysis suggested that the mechanism of the anti-HIV-1 action of CDS, mCDS, and CDP is based on inhibition of HIV-1 binding to the cells. The peak blood concentration after oral administration of mCDS11(potassium tris[6-benzylthio-6-deoxy]-β-cyclodextrin hexadecasulphate) to rabbits was about 1000 times higher than the concentration showing anti-HIV activity. The retention time in the blood was also long (blood half-life: 4 h). These results point to the potential usefulness of oral mCDS administration in the prophylaxis and/or therapy of HIV infections.

Didanosine

The evaluation and development of didanosine as a therapy for HIV-infection has demonstrated that results of cell-culture studies are only approximate predictors of clinical effects. Whereas the antiviral activity of didanosine is achieved in cell culture at concentrations much higher than those of zidovudine, the two drugs appear to achieve similar effects on markers of HIV-infection at similar clinical doses. The effect of the differing intracellular-half-life of the respective nucleoside triphosphates on the clinical effects is unknown. Similarly, preclinical toxicology studies, while suggesting a low potential for didanosine-induced haematological toxicities, did not predict the findings of peripheral neuropathy and pancreatitis in clinical studies. Thus, the results of controlled clinical studies are required in order to more fully define the therapeutic and safety profile of didanosine.

Sulphated Cyclodextrins are Potent anti-HIV Agents Acting Synergistically with 2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside Analogues

Sulphated cyclodextrins proved to be potent inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) but not other enveloped viruses (i.e. Sindbis virus, respiratory syncytial virus, Tacaribe virus, vesicular stomatitis virus or vaccinia virus). Their mechanism of action against HIV can be attributed to an inhibition of the binding of HIV-1 virions to the cells, as demonstrated by flow cytometric analysis. The sulphated cyclodextrins enhanced the anti-HIV-1 activity of pyrimidine 2′,3′-dideoxyribosides (i.e. azidothymidine, dideoxycytidine, didehydro-dideoxythymidine, fluorodide-oxychlorouridine), in a subsynergistic manner, and the anti-HIV-1 activity of purine 2′,3′-dideoxyribosides (dideoxyadenosine, dideoxyinosine, 2,6-diaminopurine dideoxyriboside) and 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine in a synergistic manner. Following intravenous administration of the sulphated cyclodextrins to rabbits, drug serum concentrations were obtained that were 100- to 1000-fold above the minimum inhibitory concentration for HIV or CMV.

The unabated synthesis of new nucleoside analogues with antiviral potential: a tribute to Morris J. Robins

The furo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(3H)-one is the key structural determinant in the exquisitely potent activity of its derivatives (R = 2-deoxyribosyl; R' = p-pentylphenyl) against VZV (varicella-zoster virus) replication. [structure: see text].

Indolopyridones inhibit human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase with a novel mechanism of action

We have discovered a novel class of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors that block the polymerization reaction in a mode distinct from those of the nucleoside or nucleotide RT inhibitors (NRTIs) and nonnucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs). For this class of indolopyridone compounds, steady-state kinetics revealed competitive inhibition with respect to the nucleotide substrate. Despite substantial structural differences with classical chain terminators or natural nucleotides, these data suggest that the nucleotide binding site of HIV RT may accommodate this novel class of RT inhibitors. To test this hypothesis, we have studied the mechanism of action of the prototype compound indolopyridone-1 (INDOPY-1) using a variety of complementary biochemical tools. Time course experiments with heteropolymeric templates showed "hot spots" for inhibition following the incorporation of pyrimidines (T>C). Moreover, binding studies and site-specific footprinting experiments revealed that INDOPY-1 traps the complex in the posttranslocational state, preventing binding and incorporation of the next complementary nucleotide. The novel mode of action translates into a unique resistance profile. While INDOPY-1 susceptibility is unaffected by mutations associated with NNRTI or multidrug NRTI resistance, mutations M184V and Y115F are associated with decreased susceptibility, and mutation K65R confers hypersusceptibility to INDOPY-1. This resistance profile provides additional evidence for active site binding. In conclusion, this class of indolopyridones can occupy the nucleotide binding site of HIV RT by forming a stable ternary complex whose stability is mainly dependent on the nature of the primer 3' end.

Anti-human immunodeficiency virus effects of cationic metalloporphyrin-ellipticine complexes

A series of cationic metalloporphyrin-ellipticine complexes were found to inhibit the cytopathicity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus in MT-4 cells at concentrations ranging from 1.4 to 17 micrograms/mL, i.e. at a concentration that was 2.5-30-fold below the cytotoxicity threshold. These compounds were also found to inhibit syncytium formation between persistently HIV-1-infected HUT-78 and uninfected Molt/4 cells, to interfere with HIV-1 binding to the cells, and to suppress HIV-1-associated reverse transcriptase activity.

The mannose-specific plant lectins from Cymbidium hybrid and Epipactis helleborine and the (N-acetylglucosamine)n-specific plant lectin from Urtica dioica are potent and selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus and cytomegalovirus replication in vitro

A series of four mannose(Man)-, three N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)n-, ten N-acetylgalactosamine/galactose(GalNAc/Gal)-, one 5-acetylneuraminic acid (alpha-2,3-Gal/GalNAc)- and one 5-acetylneuroaminic acid(alpha-2,6-Gal/Gal-NAc)-specific plant agglutinins were evaluated for their antiviral activity in vitro. the mannose-specific lectins from the orchid species Cymbidium hybrid (CA), Epipactis helleborine (EHA) and Listera ovata (LOA) were highly inhibitory to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) in MT-4, and showed a marked anti-human cytomegalovirus (CMV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus activity in HEL, HeLa and MDCK cells, respectively. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) of CA and EHA for HIV ranged from 0.04 to 0.08 micrograms/ml, that is about 3 orders of magnitude below their toxicity threshold (50% inhibitory concentration for MT-4 cell growth: 54 to 60 micrograms/ml). Also, the (GlcNAc)n-specific lectin from Urtica dioica (UDA) was inhibitory to HIV-1-, HIV-2-, CMV-, RSV- and influenza A virus-induced cytopathicity at an EC50 ranging from 0.3 to 9 micrograms/ml. The GalNAc/Gal-, alpha-2,3-Gal/GalNAc- or alpha-2,6-Gal/GalNAc-specific lectins were not inhibitory to HIV or CMV at non-toxic concentrations. CA, EHA and UDA proved to be potent inhibitors of syncytium formation between persistently HIV-1- and HIV-2-infected HUT-78 cells and CD4+ Molt/4 (clone 8) cells (EC50: 0.2-2 micrograms/ml). Unlike dextran sulfate, the plant lectins CA, EHA and UDA did not interfere with HIV-1 adsorption to MT-4 cells and RSV- and influenza A virus adsorption to HeLa and MDCK cells, respectively. They presumably interact at the level of virion fusion with the target cell.

HIV inhibitors targeted at the reverse transcriptase

HIV inhibitors targeted at the virus-associated reverse transcriptase (RT) can be divided into two groups, depending on whether they are targeted at the substrate or nonsubstrate binding site. To the first group belong the 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides (i.e., DDC, DDI), 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides (i.e., AZT), 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides (i.e., FLT), 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides (i.e., D4C, D4T) and carbocyclic derivatives thereof (i.e., carbovir), 2'-fluoro-ara-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides, 1,3-dioxolane derivatives (i.e., 2',3'-dideoxyl-3'-thiacytidine), oxetanocin analogues and carbocyclic derivatives thereof (i.e., cyclobut-G) and the 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) and 9-(3-fluoro-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine (FPMPA) derivatives. These compounds need to be phosphorylated intracellularly to their triphosphate forms before they act as competitive inhibitors or alternate substrates (chain terminators) of HIV RT. The second group includes the tetrahydro-imidazo[4,5,l-jk][1,4]-benzodiazepin-2(1H)one (TIBO), 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT), dipyrido[3,2-b:2',3'-e]-[1,4]diazepin-6-one (nevirapine) and pyridin-2(1H)one derivatives, which interact as such, noncompetitively, with a specific allosteric binding site of HIV-1 RT. Compounds belonging to the two different groups may give rise to synergism which combined, and, likewise, viral resistance to the compounds may arise through different mutations, depending on the nature of the compounds and the group to which they belong.

Single-dose administration of 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) and 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)-2,6-diaminopurine (PMEDAP) in the prophylaxis of retrovirus infection in vivo

9-(2-Phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) and 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)-2,6-diaminopurine (PMEDAP) are selectively inhibitory to human immunodeficiency virus and other retroviruses. We have now investigated the effects of different PMEA and PMEDAP treatment schedules in newborn mice infected with Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MSV). Administration of a single dose of PMEA or PMEDAP on the day of MSV inoculation conferred a greater protective effect against MSV-induced tumor formation than when this dose was divided over two, four or seven injections per week. Also, the therapeutic index of PMEA and PMEDAP was increased if administered as a single dose. Furthermore, PMEA and PMEDAP afforded a marked antiviral protection if administered within one day before MSV infection. Thus, single doses of PMEA or PMEDAP, when administered shortly before or after MSV infection, appear to be effective in preventing the manifestations of the retroviral disease.

Differential utilization of 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate as a substrate for various DNA polymerases

2',3'-dideoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (ddGTP) was found to be an efficient substrate for DNA polymerase beta when activated DNA was used as the template.primer. Under the optimized reaction conditions with activated DNA, the rate of the incorporation of ddGTP into DNA was almost equal to that of the corresponding normal substrate dGTP. The Km value for ddGTP (1.8 microM) was smaller than that for dGTP (7.8 microM). In contrast, ddGTP was not utilized as a substrate for DNA polymerase gamma with any of the activated DNA and (dC)n.(dG)12-18 as the template primer. Other DNA polymerases such as DNA polymerase alpha, E coli DNA polymerase I and retroviral reverse transcriptase could poorly utilize ddGTP as a substrate. Some of the kinetic properties of DNA polymerase beta revealed toward ddGTP are also described. Since DNA polymerase beta plays a role in DNA repair, the present results predict possible appearance of cytotoxicity or clinical side effect(s) of 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (ddG), known as a potent inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus, when ddG is administered to the patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex.

Lipophilic halogenated congeners of 2',3'-dideoxypurine nucleosides active against human immunodeficiency virus in vitro

Four 2-amino-6-halo- and four 6-halo-2',3'-dideoxypurine ribofuranosides (ddPs) were synthesized and tested for in vitro activity to suppress the infectivity, cytopathic effect, Gag protein expression, and DNA synthesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The comparative order of in vitro anti-HIV activity of the eight 6-halo-ddPs was as follows: 2-amino-6-fluoro, 2-amino-6-chloro, 6-fluoro greater than 2-amino-6-bromo greater than 2-amino-6-iodo, 6-chloro greater than 6-bromo greater than 6-iodo. 2-Amino-6-fluoro-, 2-amino-6-chloro-, and 6-fluoro-ddPs showed a potent activity against HIV comparable to that of 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) or 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (ddG) and completely blocked the infectivity of HIV without affecting the growth of target cells. The lipophilicity order was as follows: 2-amino-6-iodo greater than 2-amino-6-bromo greater than 2-amino-6-chloro greater than 2-amino-6-fluoro much greater than ddG greater than ddI. All eight 6-halo-ddPs were substrates for adenosine deaminase (ADA; adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4). The relative rates of hydrolysis by ADA were as follows: ddA, 2-amino-6-fluoro much greater than 2-amino-6-chloro, 2-amino-6-bromo greater than 2-amino-6-iodo. Taken together, these compounds may represent an additional class of lipophilic prodrugs for ddI and ddG and may also provide a strategy for endowing therapeutic purine nucleosides with desirable lipophilicity.

Differential inhibitory effects of various flavonoids on the activities of reverse transcriptase and cellular DNA and RNA polymerases

Four flavonoids, 5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone (baicalein), 3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone (quercetin), 3,3',4',5,6,7-hexahydroxyflavone (quercetagetin) and 3,3',4',5,5',7-hexahydroxyflavone (myricetin), were found to be potent inhibitors of reverse transcriptases from Rauscher murine leukemia virus (RLV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Under the reaction conditions employed, any one of these flavonoids almost completely inhibited the activity of RLV reverse transcriptase at a concentration of 1 microgram/ml. HIV reverse transcriptase was inhibited by 100%, 100%, 90% and 70% in the presence of 2 micrograms/ml quercetin, myricetin, quercetagetin and baicalein, respectively. The mode of inhibition of these flavonoids was competitive (RLV reverse transcriptase) or partially competitive (HIV reverse transcriptase) with respect to the template.primer complex, (rA)n.(dT), and noncompetitive with respect to the triphosphate substrate, dTTP. The Ki values for RLV reverse transcriptase were found to be 0.37 microM and 0.08 microM for baicalein and quercetin, respectively and those for HIV reverse transcriptase were 2.52 microM, 0.52 microM, 0.46 microM and 0.08 microM for baicalein, quercetin, quercetagetin and myricetin, respectively. Comparative studies with other flavonoids (hydroxyflavones, dihydroxyflavones and polyhydroxyflavones and flavanones) carried out to clarify the structure/activity relationships, revealed that the presence of both the unsaturated double bond between positions 2 and 3 of the flavonoid pyrone ring, and the three hydroxyl groups introduced on positions 5, 6 and 7, (i.e. baicalein) were a prerequisite for the inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity. Removal of the 6-hydroxyl group of baicalein required the introduction of three additional hydroxyl groups at positions 3, 3' and 4' (quercetin), to afford a compound still capable of inhibiting the reverse transcriptase activity. Quercetagetin which contains the structures of both baicalein and quercetin, and myricetin which has the structure of quercetin with an additional hydroxyl group on the 5' position also proved strong inhibitors of reverse transcriptase activity. The inhibition by baicalein of reverse transcriptase is highly specific, whereas quercetin and quercetagetin were also strong inhibitors of DNA polymerase beta and DNA polymerase I, respectively. Myricetin was also a potent inhibitor of both DNA polymerase alpha and DNA polymerase I.

Potent and selective inhibition of HIV-1 replication in vitro by a novel series of TIBO derivatives

In the search for compounds active against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we have found that members of a novel series of tetrahydro-imidazo[4,5,1-jk][1,4]-benzodiazepine-2(1H)-one and -thione (TIBO) derivatives inhibit the replication of HIV-1, the main aetiological agent of AIDS, but not of HIV-2, or of any other DNA or RNA viruses. In five cell systems, HIV-1 is inhibited by TIBO derivatives in nanomolar amounts, which are 10(4)-10(5) times lower than the cytotoxic concentration. The unprecedented specificity of these compounds may be due to an interaction with a reverse transcriptase-associated process. By contrast, AZT (3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine), which is used for the treatment of AIDS, and DDC (2',3'-dideoxycytidine) and DDI (2',3'-dideoxyinosine), whose clinical application is being assessed, inhibit both HIV-1 and HIV-2 at concentrations that, depending on the cell systems, are 2 to 4 orders of magnitude below their cytotoxic concentration. TIBO-derivatives are new chemicals unrelated to any other antiviral agents. We believe that they are the most specific and potent inhibitors of HIV-1 replication studied so far.

9-(2-Phosphonylmethoxyethyl)-2,6-diaminopurine (PMEDAP): a novel agent with anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity in vitro and potent anti-Moloney murine sarcoma virus activity in vivo

9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)-2,6-diaminopurine (PMEDAP) is a potent inhibitor of the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in human T-lymphocyte MT-4 cells (50% effective dose: 2 microM). PMEDAP strongly inhibited Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MSV)-induced transformation of murine C3H/3T3 embryo fibroblasts and caused a dose-dependent suppression of tumor formation and mortality in newborn mice inoculated with MSV. Even at a dose as low as 0.25 mg/kg/day, PMEDAP effected a significant delay in tumor appearance and an enhancement of the survival rate of tumor-bearing mice. PMEDAP proved fivefold more efficacious as an anti-MSV agent than 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)-adenine (PMEA), which has been previously shown to exhibit strong antiretroviral efficacy in vivo. However, PMEDAP was also more toxic, so that its therapeutic index was equivalent to that of PMEA.

2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-5-chlorocytidine is a selective anti-retrovirus agent

2',3'-Didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-5-chlorocytidine (D4CC) is, in contrast with 2',3'-dideoxy-5-chlorocytidine (ddClCyd) and 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-5-chlorouridine (D4CU), a potent and selective inhibitor of the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) types 1 and 2, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and simian AIDS related virus (SRV). D4CC is a poor inhibitor of the phosphorylation of [5-3H]2'-deoxycytidine (dCyd) by partially purified MT-4 cell dCyd kinase (Ki: 612 microM). The findings that (i) D4CC has little, if any, affinity for MT-4 cell Cyd/dCyd deaminase, (ii) D4CU is not antivirally active and (iii) the antiretroviral action of D4CC can be reversed by dCyd, but not dThd, indicate that D4CC is antivirally active as its Cyd metabolite (D4CC 5'-triphosphate) and does not need to be deaminated (to the corresponding Urd metabolite) to exert its antiretroviral action.

Uptake of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine in human immunodeficiency virus-infected and noninfected human cells

The uptake of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine was examined in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected and uninfected T cell line (H9 cells), a B cell line (Namalwa), and in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. After a 10-minute incubation at ambient temperature, the intracellular 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine-derived radioactivity was 8- to 16-fold higher than the extracellular radioactivity. In metabolically inactive cells (0 degrees C), the intracellular and extracellular 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine-derived radioactivities were nearly equal. In infected and noninfected H9 cells, a large excess of p-nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside or pyrimidine nucleosides weakly inhibited the uptake of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (7-30%), whereas deoxycoformycin was a stronger inhibitor (50-80%). Purine nucleosides minimally enhanced the uptake (10-20%). The cellular uptake was not associated with the accumulation of dideoxyadenosine triphosphate. In normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the uptake of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine was inhibited by all agents except 2'-deoxyadenosine (15% enhancement). In contrast to H9 cells, the formation and accumulation of dideoxyadenosine triphosphate paralleled the uptake of dideoxyadenosine. The results of these studies suggest that the major route of transport of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine into cells is by simple diffusion and that different metabolic patterns exist among cell lines and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. An understanding of these cellular differences could aid in the development of therapeutic strategies directed against HIV.

Potentiating effect of ribavirin on the anti-retrovirus activity of 3'-azido-2,6-diaminopurine-2',3'-dideoxyriboside in vitro and in vivo

3'-Azido-2,6-diaminopurine-2',3'-dideoxyriboside (AzddDAPR) is a potent and selective inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in vitro. It also inhibits Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MSV)-induced transformation of murine C3H/3T3 embryo fibroblasts. AzddDAPR causes a marked dose-dependent suppression of MSV-induced tumor formation and mortality therewith associated in newborn mice infected with MSV. Combination of AzddDAPR with ribavirin resulted in a marked potentiation of its anti-retrovirus activity in vitro and a significant enhancement of its inhibitory effect on MSV-induced tumor formation in vivo. A slight increase in the in vivo toxicity of AzddDAPR was noted when combined with ribavirin.

The antiviral activity of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine is enhanced by the 2',3'-dideoxyriboside, the 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyriboside and the 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyriboside of 2,6-diaminopurine

The 2',3'-dideoxyriboside (ddDAPR), 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyriboside (ddeDAPR) and 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyriboside (AzddDAPR) of 2,6-diaminopurine have been previously recognized as potent inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus replication. These compounds are also potent inhibitors of adenosine deaminase and inhibit the deamination of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine (araA). ddDAPR, ddeDAPR and AzddDAPR markedly potentiate the antiviral activity of araA against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), type 2 (HSV-2) and vaccinia virus (VV). When used at a concentration of 20 micrograms/ml, which had by itself no antiviral effect, ddDAPR, ddeDAPR and AzddDAPR increased the ability of araA to suppress HSV-1, HSV-2 and VV yield by several orders of magnitude. The maximum antiviral effect was obtained with the combinations of ddDAPR or ddeDAPR with araA concentrations of 1 and 10 micrograms/ml.

Estimation of the lipophilicity of anti-HIV nucleoside analogues by determination of the partition coefficient and retention time on a Lichrospher 60 RP-8 HPLC column

There is a close linear correlation between the log partition coefficient (Pa) of a series of 2'-deoxyriboside (dR), 2',3'-didehydro-3'-dideoxyriboside (ddeR), 2',3'-dideoxyriboside (ddR), 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxyriboside (FddR) and 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyriboside (AzddR) derivatives of uracil, cytosine, thymine, guanine, adenine and 2,6-diaminopurine and their retention times (Rt) on a Lichrospher 60 RP-8 HPLC column (correlation coefficient r greater than 0.970). Within each class of compounds the following order of increasing lipophilicity was noted: dR less than ddeR less than ddR less than FddR less than AzddR. A straight-forward structure-lipophilicity relationship for both base and sugar modified purine and pyrimidine 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides could be delineated.

Marked in vivo antiretrovirus activity of 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine, a selective anti-human immunodeficiency virus agent

9-(2-Phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) is a potent and selective inhibitor of the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro in human T-lymphocyte MT-4, H9, and ATH8 cells. PMEA also inhibits Moloney murine sarcoma virus (Mo-MSV)-induced transformation of murine C3H embryo fibroblasts. Moreover, PMEA causes a dose-dependent suppression of tumor formation and associated mortality in mice inoculated with Mo-MSV. At a dose of 50 or 20 mg/kg per day PMEA effected a 90-100% protection of the mice against Mo-MSV-induced tumor formation and mortality. Even with a PMEA dose as low as 1 to 5 mg/kg per day, tumor formation was significantly delayed and the survival rate was significantly enhanced. In parallel experiments, azidothymidine exhibited a comparable inhibitory effect on Mo-MSV-induced tumor formation and associated death only at a 25-fold higher dose than PMEA. Because PMEA has stronger in vivo antiretrovirus potency and selectivity than azidothymidine and various other compounds currently being subjected to clinical trials, PMEA studies should be pursued to assess the potential of this compound in the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other retrovirus infections in humans.

Metabolic activation of 2,6-diaminopurine and 2,6-diaminopurine-2'-deoxyriboside to antitumor agents

2,6-Diaminopurine (DAP) and 2,6-diaminopurine 2'-deoxyriboside (DAPdR) are analogs of adenine and deoxyadenosine, respectively. It was the purpose of this study to compare these analogs under identical conditions in order to define their inhibitory properties and the underlying mechanism in L1210 mouse leukemia cells. In a 5-day cell growth experiment, DAP exerted a significantly stronger antiproliferative effect than DAPdR. Correspondingly, colony formation of L1210 cells in soft agarose was inhibited by DAP to a greater extent than by DAPdR. A differential distribution of L1210 cells in the cell cycle resulted from an exposure to DAP and DAPdR. While DAPdR arrested cells in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle, DAP appeared to lead to an accumulation of G2/M cells. The diaminopurines were combined with modulatory agents to test the antiproliferative action of the combinations. Deoxycytidine partially rescued the cells from the growth inhibitory action of DAPdR without affecting the growth of DAP-treated cells. When adenine was used, the antiproliferative effect of DAPdR was slightly enhanced while the effect of DAP was completely abolished. 8-Aminoguanosine, a specific inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase, synergistically potentiated the cytostatic effect of DAPdR. However, this inhibitor did not alter DAP effects. At the biochemical level, the target of DAPdR was ribonucleotide reductase which was in line with a drastic expansion of the dGTP pool in DAPdR-treated cells. In cells exposed to DAP, high levels of DAP riboside triphosphate were measured; concomitantly, the ATP level dropped markedly. Enzymological studies revealed that DAPdR is an excellent substrate of adenosine deaminase giving rise to the formation of deoxyguanosine. DAP was found to be activated in the purine nucleoside phosphorylase reaction and in a phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate-dependent reaction. The data from this comparative study suggest that DAPdR and DAP possess different toxicity mechanisms. DAPdR and DAP possess different toxicity mechanisms. DAPdR acts as a precursor of deoxyguanosine, and DAP is metabolically activated to DAP-containing ribonucleotide analogs. These different metabolic routes seem to account for the different effects of DAP and DAPdR at the cellular level.

Phosphonylmethoxyethyl purine derivatives, a new class of anti-human immunodeficiency virus agents

A study of the structure-activity relationship of a series of newly synthesized phosphonylmethoxyalkyl purine and pyrimidine derivatives revealed that several adenine derivatives substituted at the N9 position by a 2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl (PME) group inhibited human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-induced cytopathogenicity and HIV antigen expression in vitro at concentrations significantly below the toxicity threshold for the host cells. In terms of anti-HIV potency in MT-4 cells, the PME 2,6-diaminopurine derivative (50% effective dose [ED50], 1 microM) ranked first, followed by the PME adenine derivative (ED50, 2 microM [MT-4]) and the PME 2-monoaminopurine derivative (ED50, 45 microM). Antiretroviral activity was also demonstrated in ATH8 and H9 cells, which were de novo infected with HIV, and extended to C3H mouse fibroblasts infected with Moloney murine sarcoma virus. Unlike 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine, these compounds were not found to be degraded by deaminases derived from bovine intestine.

Investigations on the anti-HIV activity of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine analogues with modifications in either the pentose or purine moiety. Potent and selective anti-HIV activity of 2,6-diaminopurine 2',3'-dideoxyriboside

Several 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine analogues with modifications in either the ribose or purine moiety were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in MT-4 cell cultures. The 2',3'-dideoxyriboside of 2,6-diaminopurine (ddDAPR) inhibited HIV antigen expression and HIV-induced cytopathogenicity at a 50% effective dose of 2.4-3.8 microM, as compared to 3-6 microM for 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (ddAdo), whereas 50% inhibition of MT-4 cell viability was noted only at a concentration of 477 and 889 microM, respectively. Both ddDAPR and ddAdo were only weakly inhibitory to the proliferation of a number of T-lymphoblast and T-lymphocyte cell lines, pointing to the selectivity of these compounds as anti-HIV agents. In contrast to ddAdo, ddDAPR was found to be a poor substrate for adenosine deaminase, which may be advantageous from a chemotherapeutic viewpoint. Substitution of an azido or fluoro group at the 2' and 3'-position of the ribose moiety in either "up" or "down" configurations resulted in a decrease of the anti-HIV potency and selectivity of ddAdo. In addition to ddDAPR other purine-modified ddAdo analogues, i.e. several pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides, were investigated for their anti-HIV activity, but none of these derivatives proved as potent or selective as ddDAPR.

Unusual structural features of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine, an inhibitor of the HIV (AIDS) virus

The structure and conformation of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine, a potent inhibitor of the human immunodeficiency virus, was determined by X-ray crystallography. The nucleoside crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4(1)2(1)2 with cell dimensions a = b = 8.698(4) and c = 26.155(9) A. Atomic parameters were refined by full-matrix least squares to a final value of R = 0.037 for 1926 observed reflections. The conformation of the furanose ring corresponds to the unusual C3'exo/C4'endo (3T4) pucker, similar to that found in one of the molecules of 3'-azidothymidine (AZT). The glycosidic torsion angle is also smaller than expected. The relevance of these unusual structural features to anti-AIDS activity is assessed.