Synthesis of 2-(p-chlorobenzyl)-3-aryl-6-methoxybenzofurans as selective ligands for antiestrogen-binding sites. Effects on cell proliferation and cholesterol synthesis

Targeting 7-Dehydrocholesterol Reductase Integrates Cholesterol Metabolism and IRF3 Activation to Eliminate Infection

Recent work suggests that cholesterol metabolism impacts innate immune responses against infection. However, the key enzymes or the natural products and mechanisms involved are not well elucidated. Here, we have shown that upon DNA and RNA viral infection, macrophages reduced 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7) expression. DHCR7 deficiency or treatment with the natural product 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) could specifically promote phosphorylation of IRF3 (not TBK1) and enhance type I interferon (IFN-I) production in macrophages. We further elucidated that viral infection or 7-DHC treatment enhanced AKT3 expression and activation. AKT3 directly bound and phosphorylated IRF3 at Ser385, together with TBK1-induced phosphorylation of IRF3 Ser386, to achieve IRF3 dimerization. Deletion of DHCR7 and the DHCR7 inhibitors including AY9944 and the chemotherapy drug tamoxifen promoted clearance of Zika virus and multiple viruses in vitro or in vivo. Taken together, we propose that the DHCR7 inhibitors and 7-DHC are potential therapeutics against emerging or highly pathogenic viruses.

Role of cellular metabolism in regulating type I interferon responses: Implications for tumour immunology and treatment

Type I interferons (IFN) are increasingly recognized for their role in regulating anti-tumour immune responses. However, chronic activation of these pathways can result in immunosuppression and has been linked to poor responses to genotoxic and radiotoxic therapies. Emerging evidence suggests energy, lipid and amino acid metabolism play an important role in regulating and fine tuning type I IFN responses. Further, dysregulation of these processes has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic viral infections and autoimmune disorders. Systematic evaluation of these interrelationships in cancer models and patients may have important implications for the development of targeted IFN based anti-cancer therapeutics with minimal toxicity and limited off target effects.

Rapid regio- and multi-coupling reactivity of 2,3-dibromobenzofurans with atom-economic triarylbismuths under palladium catalysis

A regio- and chemoselective cross-coupling study using 2,3-dibromobenzofurans and 2,3,5-tribromobenzofuran was achieved with sub-stoichiometric loadings of triarylbismuths as atom-economic reagents under Pd-catalyzed conditions. As part of this study, various 2,3-diaryl- and 2,3,5-triarylbenzofuran products were obtained in high yields, involving one-pot operations and short reaction times.

Investigation of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase pathway to elucidate off-target prenatal effects of pharmaceuticals: a systematic review

Mendelian diseases contain important biological information regarding developmental effects of gene mutations that can guide drug discovery and toxicity efforts. In this review, we focus on Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome (SLOS), a rare Mendelian disease characterized by compound heterozygous mutations in 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7) resulting in severe fetal deformities. We present a compilation of SLOS-inducing DHCR7 mutations and the geographic distribution of those mutations in healthy and diseased populations. We observed that several mutations thought to be disease causing occur in healthy populations, indicating an incomplete understanding of the condition and highlighting new research opportunities. We describe the functional environment around DHCR7, including pharmacological DHCR7 inhibitors and cholesterol and vitamin D synthesis. Using PubMed, we investigated the fetal outcomes following prenatal exposure to DHCR7 modulators. First-trimester exposure to DHCR7 inhibitors resulted in outcomes similar to those of known teratogens (50 vs 48% born-healthy). DHCR7 activity should be considered during drug development and prenatal toxicity assessment.

Synthesis of multi-functionalized benzofurans through the condensation of ninhydrin and phenols using SSA as a recyclable heterogeneous acid catalyst

A simple and efficient one-pot methodology has been developed for the synthesis of biologically important multi-functionalized 3-(2[Formula: see text]-hydroxyaryl)-2-(2[Formula: see text]-carboxyphenyl)benzofurans using silica sulfuric acid (SSA) as a heterogeneous acid catalyst in DMF medium. The significant advantages of this methodology are the use of SSA as a recyclable solid acid catalyst, operational simplicity, easy availability of the starting materials, and good yield of the products with high atom-economy.

One-pot laccase-catalysed synthesis of 5,6-dihydroxylated benzo[b]furans and catechol derivatives, and their anticancer activity

A commercial laccase, Suberase® from Novozymes, was used to catalyse the synthesis of 5,6-dihydroxylated benzo[b]furans and catechol derivatives. The yields were, in some cases, similar to or better than that obtained by other enzymatic, chemical or electrochemical syntheses. The synthesised derivatives were screened against renal (TK10), melanoma (UACC62), breast (MCF7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. GI50, TGI and LC50 are reported for the first time. Anticancer screening showed that the cytostatic effects of the 5,6-dihydroxylated benzo[b]furans were most effective against the melanoma (UACC62) cancer cell line with several compounds exhibiting potent growth inhibitory activities (GI50=0.77-9.76 µM), of which two compounds had better activity than the anticancer agent etoposide (GI50  0.89 µM). One compound exhibited potent activity (GI50=9.73 µM) against the renal (TK10) cancer cell line and two exhibited potent activity (GI50=8.79 and 9.30 µM) against the breast (MCF7) cancer cell line. These results encourage further studies of the 5,6-dihydroxylated benzo[b]furans for their potential application in anticancer therapy.

FeCl(3)-Diorganyl dichalcogenides promoted cyclization of 2-alkynylanisoles to 3-chalcogen benzo[b]furans

A general synthesis of 3-chalcogen benzo[b]furans from the readily available 2-alkynylanisoles, via FeCl(3)/diorganyl dichalcogenides intramolecular cyclization, has been developed. Aryl and alkyl groups directly bonded to the chalcogen atom were used as cycling agents. The results revealed that the reaction significantly depends on the electronic effects of substituents in the aromatic ring bonded to the selenium atom of the diselenide species. We observed that the pathway of reaction was not sensitive to the nature of substituents in the aromatic ring of anisole since both the electron-donating and the electron-withdrawing groups delivered the products in similar yields. In addition, the obtained heterocycles were readily transformed to more complex products by using a chalcogen/lithium exchange reaction with n-BuLi followed by trapping of the lithium intermediate with aldehydes, furnishing the desired secondary alcohols in good yields.

Novel benzofuran-3-one indole inhibitors of PI3 kinase-alpha and the mammalian target of rapamycin: hit to lead studies

A series of benzofuran-3-one indole phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI3K) inhibitors identified via HTS has been prepared. The optimized inhibitors possess single digit nanomolar activity against p110alpha (PI3K-alpha), good pharmaceutical properties, selectivity versus p110gamma (PI3K-gamma), and tunable selectivity versus the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Modeling of compounds 9 and 32 in homology models of PI3K-alpha and mTOR supports the proposed rationale for selectivity. Compounds show activity in multiple cellular proliferation assays with signaling through the PI3K pathway confirmed via phospho-Akt inhibition in PC-3 cells.

Analogs of methyl-piperidinopyrazole (MPP): antiestrogens with estrogen receptor alpha selective activity

Methyl-piperidino-pyrazole (MPP), an estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha)-selective antagonist we developed, has a basic side chain (BSC) attached to an ERalpha-selective agonist ligand, methyl-pyrazole-triol (MPT) through an ether linkage. To remove the possibility that metabolic cleavage of the BSC in MPP would regenerate MPT, we have replaced the N-piperidinylethoxy moiety with an N-piperidinylpropyl group, giving MPrP. This new analog retains the high ERalpha-selective binding affinity and antagonist potency of MPP.

Parallel synthesis of a multi-substituted benzo[b]furan library

The solution-phase parallel synthesis of a 121-member library of multi-substituted benzo[ b]furans is described. 2,3,5-Trisubstituted benzo[ b]furans have been prepared by the palladium-catalyzed substitution of 3-iodobenzofurans by Suzuki-Miyaura, carbonylative Suzuki, Sonogashira, Heck, and carboalkoxylation chemistry. The 3-iodobenzofurans are readily prepared in good to excellent yields by the palladium/copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of various o-iodoanisoles and terminal alkynes, followed by electrophilic cyclization with ICl.

Benzothiepin-derived molecular scaffolds for estrogen receptor modulators: synthesis and antagonistic effects in breast cancer cells

A series of novel benzothiepin-derived compounds are described as potent selective modulators of the human estrogen receptor (SERMs). The objective of the study is to evaluate the antiproliferative effects of the compounds on human MCF-7 breast tumor cells. These heterocyclic compounds contain the traditional triarylethylene arrangement exemplified by tamoxifen, conformationally restrained through the incorporation of the benzothiepin ring system. The compounds demonstrated potency at nanomolar concentrations in antiproliferative assays against an MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line with low cytotoxicity. The compounds exhibited low nanomolar binding affinity for the estrogen receptor (ER) with some specificity for ERbeta, and also demonstrate potent antiestrogenic properties in the human uterine Ishikawa cell line. The effect of a number of functional group substitutions on the ER binding properties of the benzothiepin molecular scaffold is explored through a brief computational structure-activity relationship investigation with molecular simulation.

Classification of estrogen receptor-β ligands on the basis of their binding affinities using support vector machine and linear discriminant analysis

Classification models of estrogen receptor-beta ligands were proposed using linear and nonlinear models. The data set was divided into active and inactive classes on the basis of their binding affinities. The two-class problem (active, inactive) was firstly explored by linear classifier approach, linear discriminant analysis (LDA). In order to get a more accurate prediction model, the nonlinear novel machine learning technique, support vectors machine (SVM), was subsequently used to investigate. The heuristic method (HM) was used to pre-select the whole descriptor sets. The model containing eight descriptors founded by SVM, showed better predictive ability than LDA. The accuracy in prediction for the training, test and overall data sets are 92.9%, 85.8% and 91.4% for SVM, 83.1%, 76.1% and 81.9% for LDA, respectively. The results indicate that SVM can be used as a powerful modeling tool for QSAR studies.

Solid-Phase synthesis and investigation of benzofurans as selective estrogen receptor modulators

A library of benzofurans was prepared by solid-phase synthesis methods, and several analogues were identified as potent ligands for the estrogen receptors ER-alpha and ER-beta, with some compounds having selectivity for ER-alpha. Analogues designed to more closely mimic Raloxifene were less effective. Certain benzofurans were effective in a bone pit assay, but were characterized as agonists in a MCF-7 breast tumor cell proliferation assay.

Synthesis, binding and structure-affinity studies of new ligands for the microsomal anti-estrogen binding site (AEBS)

New compounds have been synthesized based on the structure of the anti-tumoral drug tamoxifen and its diphenylmethane derivative, N,N-diethyl-2-[(4-phenyl-methyl)-phenoxy]-ethanamine, HCl (DPPE). These new compounds have no affinity for the estrogen receptor (ER) and bind with various affinity to the anti-estrogen binding site (AEBS). Compounds 2, 10, 12, 13, 20a, 20b, 23a, 23b, 29 exhibited 1.1-69.5 higher affinity than DPPE, and compounds 23a and 23b have 1.2 and 3.5 higher affinity than tamoxifen. Three-dimensional structure analysis, performed using the intersection of the van der Waals volume occupied by tamoxifen in its crystallographic state and the van der Waals volume of these new compounds in their calculated minimal energy conformation, correlated well with their pKi for AEBS (r = 0.84, P<0.0001, n = 18). This is the first structure-affinity relationship (SAR) ever reported for AEBS ligands. Moreover in this study we have reported the synthesis of new compounds of higher affinity than the lead compounds and that are highly specific for AEBS. Since these compounds do not bind ER they will be helpful to study AEBS mediated cytotoxicity. Moreover our study shows that our strategy is a new useful guide to design high affinity and selective ligands for AEBS.

Structural similitudes between cytotoxic antiestrogen-binding site (AEBS) ligands and cytotoxic sigma receptor ligands. Evidence for a relationship between cytotoxicity and affinity for AEBS or sigma-2 receptor but not for sigma-1 receptor

1-Benzyl-4-(N-2-pyrrolidinylethoxy)benzene (PBPE) is a cytotoxic derivative of the antitumoral drug tamoxifen. PBPE binds with high-affinity and specificity to the microsomal antiestrogen-binding site (AEBS). PBPE, as well as some other high-affinity AEBS ligands, shares structural features with high-affinity and selective sigma receptor ligands in the N-(arylethyl)-N-alkyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine class, such as BD1008, which are cytotoxic against tumoral cells. Based on these structural and pharmacological similitudes, we set out to examine whether AEBS and sigma receptors could be related binding sites. We showed that BD1008 had a high affinity for AEBS. However, prototypical sigma receptor ligands were very low-affinity competitors on AEBS. Surprisingly, AEBS ligands displayed a high affinity for sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptor subtypes, showing that AEBS and sigma receptor-binding sites were not mutually exchangeable. Moreover, phenytoin, which is an allosteric modulator of sigma-1 receptor, was a competitive inhibitor of [3H]tamoxifen on AEBS. These results suggest that the tamoxifen-binding site on AEBS and the sigma ligand-binding site on sigma receptors were not identical but related entities. We also showed here that the high-affinity and specific AEBS ligands also bound sigma receptors with high affinity. Moreover, the compounds that were capable of displacing tamoxifen from AEBS were cytotoxic against tumoral cells but not against the AEBS-deficient cell line Rtx-6. These results confirm that AEBS and sigma receptors might belong to the same family of proteins, and that the tamoxifen-binding site might be involved in the cytotoxicity of AEBS ligands and some classes of sigma compounds.

Microsomal epoxide hydrolase of rat liver is a subunit of theanti-oestrogen-binding site

A tritiated photoaffinity labelling analogue of tamoxifen, [(2-azido-4-benzyl)-phenoxy]-N-ethylmorpholine (azido-MBPE), was used to identify the anti-oestrogen-binding site (AEBS) in rat liver tissue [Poirot, Chailleux, Fargin, Bayard and Faye (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 17039-17043]. UV irradiation of rat liver microsomal proteins incubated with tritiated azido-MBPE led to the characterization of two photolabelled proteins of molecular masses 40 and 50 kDa. The amino acid sequences of proteolytic products from the 50 kDa protein were identical with those from rat microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH). Treatment of hepatocytes with anti-sense mRNA directed against mEH abolished AEBS in these cells. In addition we found that tamoxifen and N-morpholino-2-[4-(phenylmethyl)phenoxy]ethanamine, a selective ligand of AEBS, were potent inhibitors of the catalytic hydration of styrene oxide by mEH. However, functional overexpression of the human mEH did not significantly modify the binding capacity of [3H]tamoxifen. Taken together, these results suggest that the 50 kDa protein, mEH, is necessary but not sufficient to reconstitute AEBS.

3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-diethylaminoethoxyphenyl)-A-pentenonitrile monohydrogen citrate and related analogs. Reversible, competitive, first half-reaction squalene synthetase inhibitors

Squalene synthetase (SQS) catalyzes the head-to-head condensation of two molecules of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) to form squalene. The reaction is unique when compared with those of other FPP-utilizing enzymes, and proceeds in two distinct steps, both of which involve carbocationic reaction intermediates. In this report, we describe the mechanism of action of, and structure-activity relationships within, a series of substituted diethylaminoethoxystilbenes that mimic these reaction intermediates, through characterization of the biochemical properties of 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-diethylaminoethoxyphenyl)-A- pentenonitrile monohydrogen citrate (P-3622) and related analogs. As a representative member of this series, P-3622 inhibited SQS reversibly and competitively with respect to FPP (Ki = 0.7 microM), inhibited the enzymatic first half-reaction to the same extent as the overall reaction, exhibited a 300-fold specificity for SQS inhibition relative to protein farnesyltransferase inhibition, inhibited cholesterol synthesis in rat primary hepatocytes (IC50 = 0.8 microM), in cultured human cells (Hep-G2, CaCo-2, and IM-9; IC50 = 0.2, 1.2, and 1.0 microM), and in chow-fed hamsters (62% at 100 mg/kg) without accumulation of post-squalene sterol precursors, and reduced plasma cholesterol in experimental animals. Structure-activity relationships among 72 related analogs suggest that the phenyl residues and central trans-olefin of the stilbene moiety serve as mimics of the three isoprene units of the donor FPP, that substitutions across the central olefin and para-substitutions on the terminal phenyl residue mimic the branching methyl groups of the donor FPP, and that the diethylaminoethoxy moiety of these molecules mimics the various carbocations that develop in the C1-C3 region of the acceptor FPP during reaction. Members of this series of reversible, competitive, first half-reaction SQS inhibitors that show a high degree of specificity for SQS inhibition relative to inhibition of other FPP-utilizing enzymes and other cholesterol synthesis pathway enzymes may serve as useful tools for probing the unique catalytic mechanisms of this important enzyme.

Evaluation of estrogen receptor, antiestrogen binding sites and calmodulin for antiestrogen resistance of two clones derived from the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

Estrogen receptor (ER), antiestrogen binding sites (AEBS) and calmodulin (CaM) are potential targets of antiestrogen (AE) action. To analyse further which of these targets are primarily involved in the antiproliferative activity of these drugs against human breast cancers, two cell clones, namely the RTx6 and LY-2 variants, selected from MCF-7 cells for their resistance to high doses of tamoxifen (TAM) and the Keoxifen (KEO) analog LY 117018, respectively, were studied for their sensitivity to hydroxytamoxifen (OH-TAM) and KEO as well as the strong calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium. The effects of these drugs on both cell growth and progesterone receptor (PgR) concentration were assessed. Binding properties for ER, AEBS and CaM of each compound were also measured. Our results confirmed that basal growth of RTx6 and LY-2 cells was more resistant to OH-TAM and KEO than parent MCF-7 cells, although both displayed a significant inhibition at the highest doses assessed. In regard to calmidazolium inhibition, each variant behaved as did the MCF-7 line indicating that a modification at the CaM level was not responsible for their lower sensitivity to AEs. Nor could the association of CaM to ER which did not differ among all cell lines. Resistance of these variants was not related to AEBS in view of the total lack of such sites in RTx6 cells. However, under estrogenic growth stimulation such sites may play some role, since LY-2 cells in the presence of estradiol displayed a real antiestrogen-resistant pattern while RTx6 cells were more sensitive than MCF-7 cells to OH-TAM. This property was not found in the antagonism against estradiol-induced PgR synthesis which was observed with each variant. Thus the PgR concentration of RTx6 cells was strongly down-regulated by OH-TAM and KEO and reduced in LY-2 cells to the same extent as in MCF-7 cells. All these observations show that AE resistance is not entirely related to ER mediated events and that alterations at the ER and CaM levels are unlikely to account for the lower AE sensitivity of the variants investigated.

Species specificity of triphenylethylene derivatives and of compounds with a steroidal backbone for human and rat liver antioestrogen binding site (AEBS)

The binding affinity of derivatives of the triphenylethylene (TPE) antioestrogen tamoxifen and of steroidal compounds for human liver antioestrogen binding sites (AEBS) was compared with their binding affinity for rat liver AEBS. Despite the observation of some quantitative differences overall a highly significant correlation between the relative binding affinity (RBA) for human and rat liver AEBS was found for all compounds tested (r = 0.93, N = 19, P < 0.001). This was more pronounced for TPE derivatives (r = 0.83, N = 12, P < 0.01) than for cholesterol derived compounds (r = 0.64, N = 7, not significant). We conclude that AEBS from rat liver can be used instead of human livers as a model to study the interactions of antioestrogens with AEBS.

Selective antiproliferative effects of thymidine

A substance with antiproliferative bioactivity in an aqueous extract of Cordyline terminalis was purified and identified by mass spectrometry to be the natural nucleoside, thymidine. 10(-5) M Thymidine inhibited EL4 cell replication and decreased cell viability after 12-24 h. The effect was highly specific for this nucleoside. Treated cell cultures showed a significant increase in S phase cells and a corresponding decrease in G1 phase cells. Nitrobenzylthioinosine (which prevented facilitated entry of thymidine) protected cells from the antiproliferative action of thymidine. A human breast cancer cell line (MCF7) was also growth-inhibited by 10(-5) M thymidine but a murine lymphoma cell line (K36) was not. Thus, submillimolar thymidine has effects on cell proliferation which are selective both with respect to specificity for the compound and for different tumour cell lines.