Biomedical subjects

Antonio Mastrolorenzo

Publications and source records attributed to Antonio Mastrolorenzo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Carbonic anhydrase activators: L-Adrenaline plugs the active site entrance of isozyme II, activating better isoforms I, IV, VA, VII, and XIV.

The activation of the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) with L-adrenaline and histamine has been investigated by kinetic and X-ray crystallographic studies. L-Adrenaline behaves as a potent activator of isozyme CA I (activation constant of 90 nM), being a much weaker activator of isozyme CA II (activation constant of 96 microM). Isoforms CA IV, VA, VII, and XIV were activated by L-adrenaline with K(A)s in the range of 36-63 microM. The X-ray crystal structure of the CA II-L-adrenaline adduct revealed that the activator plugs the entrance of the active site cavity, obstructing it almost completely.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2006

Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors--drug design and differentiation based on selectivity, pharmacokinetic and efficacy profiles.

The discovery that inhibition of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) reduces the degradation of cGMP, allowing erectile function to occur by relaxation of penile smooth muscle, represents a revolutionary approach or the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Three PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil) are clinically available at this time, and extensive drug design efforts are registered for finding agents with a better activity, enhanced selectivity and reduced side effects. Many classes of such compounds have been reported, belonging to diverse chemical entities. The drug design has been very much facilitated after the report of the X-ray crystal structure of the PDE5 catalytic domain in complex with the three clinically used derivatives. PDE5 inhibitor therapy, has been found to be effective in special clinical populations, such as those with prostate cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The duration of action of sildenafil and vardenafil is of about 4 hours, whereas that of tadalafil is of about 36 hours, and the overall safety of the treatments is good. There is a risk of hypotension if nitrates are given concurrently with the PDE5 inhibitors. Common side-effects include headache, facial flushing, nasal congestion, dyspepsia and transient visual impairment. There are pharmacological interactions between these drugs and other medications metabolized by the cytochrome P450 (P3A4 isoform), such as the azole antifungals, erythromycin and the HIV protease inhibitors.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMed2006

Primary anetoderma and HIV infection: a case report.

Anetoderma is characterized by circumscribed areas of flaccid skin caused by the loss of elastic tissue in the dermis. It may be primary or secondary to various dermatoses. The primary form has been reported in patients with autoimmune diseases, increased levels of antiphospholipid antibodies, prothrombotic abnormalities, and recently, HIV-1 disease. The origin of anetoderma remains unknown. A case of primary anetoderma is reported in a 45-year-old man with asymptomatic HIV-1 infection who was receiving antiretroviral therapy. Laboratory research included the classic immunologic investigations and screening for prothrombotic abnormalities. Possible pathogenic mechanisms of anetoderma, especially with respect to HIV-1 infection and antiretroviral therapy, are discussed.

Elastic Tissue↗

PubMed2005

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. The mitochondrial isozyme VB as a new target for sulfonamide and sulfamate inhibitors.

A lately discovered carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1), the mitochondrial hCA VB, was cloned, expressed, and purified. Kinetic parameters proved it to be 3.37 times more effective than hCA VA as a catalyst for the physiological reaction, with kcat = 9.5 x 10(5) s(-1) and kcat/K(M) = 9.8 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), being second only to hCA II among the 16 isoforms presently known in humans. We investigated the inhibition of hCA VB with a library of sulfonamides/sulfamates, some of which are clinically used compounds. Benzenesulfonamides were ineffective inhibitors, whereas derivatives bearing 4-amino, 4-hydrazino, 4-methyl, 4-carboxy moieties or halogenated sulfanilamides were more effective (Ki's of 1.56-4.3 microM). Among the 10 clinically used compounds, acetazolamide, benzolamide, topiramate, and indisulam showed effective inhibitory activity (Ki's of 18-62 nM). Three compounds showed better activity against hCA VB over hCA II, among which were sulpiride and ethoxzolamide, which were 2 times more effective inhibitors of the mitochondrial over the cytosolic isozyme. hCA VB is a druggable target and some of its inhibitors may lead to the development of novel antiobesity therapies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: inhibition of the transmembrane isozyme XIV with sulfonamides.

The inhibition of the last human carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozyme (hCA XIV) discovered has been investigated with a series of sulfonamides, including some clinically used derivatives (acetazolamide, methazolamide, ethoxzolamide, dichlorophenamide, dorzolamide, brinzolamide, benzolamide, and zonisamide), as well as the sulfamate antiepileptic drug topiramate. The full-length hCA XIV is an enzyme showing a medium-low catalytic activity, quite similar to that of hCA XII, with the following kinetic parameters at 20 degrees C and pH 7.5, for the CO2 hydration reaction: k(cat) = 3.12 x 10(5) s(-1) and k(cat)/K(M) = 3.9 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). All types of activities have been detected for the investigated compounds, with several micromolar inhibitors, including zonisamide, topiramate, and simple sulfanilamide derivatives (K(I)-s in the range of 1.46-6.50 microM). In addition, topiramate and zonisamide were observed to behave as weak hCA XII inhibitors, while zonisamide was an effective hCA IX inhibitor (K(I) of 5.1 nM). Some benzene-1,3-disulfonamide derivatives or simple five-membered heteroaromatic sulfonamides showed K(I)-s in the range of 180-680 nM against hCA XIV, whereas the most effective of such inhibitors, including 3-chloro-/bromo-sulfanilamide, benzolamide-like, ethoxzolamide-like, and acetazolamide/methazolamide-like derivatives, showed inhibition constant in the range of 13-48 nM. The best hCA XIV inhibitor was aminobenzolamide (K(I) of 13 nM), but no CA XIV-selective derivatives were evidenced. There are important differences of affinity of these sulfonamides/sulfamates for the three transmembrane CA isozymes, with CA XII showing the highest affinity, followed by CA IX, whereas CA XIV usually showed the lowest affinity for these inhibitors.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors↗

PubMed2005

Incidental finding: a penile cutaneous horn.

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Circumcision, Male↗

PubMed2005

Highly active antiretroviral therapy: current state of the art, new agents and their pharmacological interactions useful for improving therapeutic outcome.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) dramatically changed the course of HIV infection. Currently, this therapy involves the use of agents from at least two distinct classes of antivirals: a protease inhibitor (PI) in combination with two nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (N(t)RTIs), or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) in combination with NRTIs. Recently, the third family of antivirals started to be used clinically, with the advent of enfuvirtide, the first fusion inhibitor (FI). Several pharmacological agents are available form these classes of antivirals, NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs and FIs, which will be briefly reviewed here. Some more agents are in advanced clinical evaluation or have recently been approved (such as tenofovir, a NtRTI; atazanavir, a PI; tipranavir, another PI), mainly against drug-resistant viruses. Compounds inhibiting HIV integrase, the third enzyme of HIV, are also available ultimately, with several such derivatives in clinical trials (L-731, 988 and S-1360). Another approach to inhibit the growth of retroviruses, including HIV, targets the ejection of zinc ions from critical zinc finger viral proteins, which has as a consequence the inhibition of viral replication in the absence of mutations leading to drug resistance phenotypes. All steps in the process of HIV entry into the cell may be targeted by specific compounds that might be developed as novel types of antiretrovirals. Thus, inhibitors of the gp120-CD4 interaction have been detected (zintevir, FP-21399 and BMS-378806 in clinical trials). Small molecule chemokine antagonists acting as HIV entry inhibitors also were described in the last period, which interact both with the CXCR4 coreceptor (such as AMD3100; AMD3465; ALX40-4C; T22, T134 and T140), or which are antagonist of the CCR5 coreceptor (TAK-779, TAK-220, SCH-C, SCH-D, E913, AK-602 and NSC 651016 in clinical trials), together with new types of fusion inhibitors possessing the same mechanism of action as enfuvirtide (such as T1249). Compounds interacting with Tat/Tar have also been detected which inhibit HIV replication in low micromolar range (EM2487, tamacrazine, CGP 64222 or CGA 137053 among others). Unexploited viral and cellular targets (such as the maturation process-with a first potent compound available, PA-457; the cellular proteins Tsg101, APOBEC3G, or the viral ones Vif, Rev or RNase H) are also presented, together with recently emerged approaches for eradication of HIV reservoirs. A review on the pharmacology and interactions of these agents with other drugs is presented here, with emphasis on how these pharmacological interferences may improve the clinical use of antivirals, or how side effects due to these drugs may be managed better by taking them into account.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2004

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Interaction of isozymes I, II, IV, V, and IX with phosphates, carbamoyl phosphate, and the phosphonate antiviral drug foscarnet.

A detailed inhibition study of five carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes with inorganic phosphates, carbamoyl phosphate, the antiviral phosphonate foscarnet as well as formate is reported. The cytosolic isozyme hCA I was weakly inhibited by neutral phosphate, strongly inhibited by carbamoyl phosphate (K(I) of 9.4 microM), and activated by hydrogen- and dihydrogenphosphate, foscarnet and formate (best activator foscarnet, K(A)=12 microM). The cytosolic isozyme hCA II was weakly inhibited by all the investigated anions, with carbamoyl phosphate showing a K(I) of 0.31 mM. The membrane-associated isozyme hCA IV was the most sensitive to inhibition by phosphates/phosphonates, showing a K(I) of 84 nM for PO(4)(3-), of 9.8 microM for HPO(4)(2-), and of 9.9 microM for carbamoyl phosphate. Foscarnet was the best inhibitor of this isozyme (K(I) of 0.82 mM) highly abundant in the kidneys, which may explain some of the renal side effects of the drug. The mitochondrial isozyme hCA V was weakly inhibited by all phosphates/phosphonates, except carbamoyl phosphate, which showed a K(I) of 8.5 microM. Thus, CA V cannot be the isozyme involved in the carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I biosynthetic reaction, as hypothesized earlier. Furthermore, the relative resistance of CA V to inhibition by inorganic phosphates suggests an evolutionary adaptation of this mitochondrial isozyme to the presence of high concentrations of such anions in these energy-converting organelles, where high amounts of ATP are produced by ATP synthetase, from ADP and inorganic phosphates. The transmembrane, tumor-associated isozyme hCA IX was on the other hand slightly inhibited by all these anions.

Antiviral Agents↗

PubMed2004

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Design of selective, membrane-impermeant inhibitors targeting the human tumor-associated isozyme IX.

A series of positively charged sulfonamides were obtained by reaction of aminobenzolamide [5-(4-aminobenzenesulfonylamino)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-sulfonamide] with tri-/tetrasubstituted pyrilium salts possessing alkyl-, aryl- or combinations of alkyl and aryl groups at the pyridinium ring. The new compounds reported here were assayed for the inhibition of four physiologically relevant carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes: the cytosolic hCA I and II, the membrane-anchored bCA IV, and the membrane-bound, tumor-associated isozyme hCA IX. They showed potent inhibitory activity against all investigated isozymes, although with different profiles. For CA I the new derivatives showed inhibition constants in the range of 3-12 nM, for CA II in the range of 0.20-5.96 nM, against CA IV in the range of 2.0-10.3 nM, and against CA IX in the range of 3-45 nM, respectively. These new compounds are membrane-impermeant due to their salt-like character. Some of these derivatives were also tested for their inhibitory activity against the Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) anion exchanger AE1: two derivatives showed inhibitory activity in the low micromolar range, whereas one compound was inactive at these concentrations. The high affinity of these new derivatives for the tumor-associated isozyme CA IX and their membrane impermeability make this type of CA inhibitor interesting candidates for the selective inhibition of only the tumor-associated isozyme and not the cytosolic ones, for which they also show high potency. Furthermore, we prove here for the first time that the CA-AE metabolon can be inhibited by the same type of sulfonamide derivative.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed2004

Eruptive multiple blue nevi of the penis: a clinical dermoscopic pathologic case study.

Multiple blue nevi have rarely been reported, and the majority of the lesions are located on the trunk and lower extremities. The blue nevus is a rare lesion on genital mucosa and may cause confusion in differential diagnosis with other pigmented lesions such as genital melanocytic macules, lentigo simplex, and malignant melanoma. Here, we describe an unusual patient who presented with a sudden onset in adulthood of multiple blue nevi on the glans penis. The epiluminescence examination revealed a substantially homogenous bluish pigmentation, which led us to favor a diagnosis of blue nevus, whereas not entirely excluding the possibility of a regressing melanoma or a metastatic melanoma. Because of the well-known diagnostic value of the blue hue in the diagnosis of malignancy by dermoscopy, a careful examination of these lesions should be made in order to minimize any risk of misclassification with melanoma.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

COX-2 selective inhibitors, carbonic anhydrase inhibition and anticancer properties of sulfonamides belonging to this class of pharmacological agents.

The sulfonamides constitute an important class of drugs, with several types of pharmacological agents possessing antibacterial, anti-carbonic anhydrase, diuretic, hypoglycaemic, antithyroid, protease inhibitory and anticancer activity among others. A recently developed class of pharmacological agents incorporating primary sulfamoyl moieties in their molecule is constituted by the COX-2 selective inhibitors, with at least two clinically used drugs, celecoxib and valdecoxib. Another drug of this class, rofecoxib, does not contain sulfonamide moieties, but the isosteric and isoelectronic methylsulfone group. It was recently shown that the sulfonamide COX-2 selective inhibitors (but not the methylsulfone ones) also act as nanomolar inhibitors of several isozymes of the metallo-enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA), some of which are strongly involved in tumourigenesis. In consequence, the potent anticancer effects of the sulfonamide COX-2 selective inhibitors and the much weaker such effects of rofecoxib, reported ultimately by many researchers, may be explained by the contribution of CA inhibition to such processes in addition to COX-2 inhibition.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Antiviral sulfonamide derivatives.

The sulfonamides constitute an important class of drugs, with several types of pharmacological agents possessing antibacterial, anti-carbonic anhydrase, diuretic, hypoglycemic, antithyroid and anticancer activity among others. A large number of structurally novel sulfonamide derivatives have ultimately been reported to show substantial antiviral activity in vitro and in vivo. The review summarizes recent classes of sulfonamides and related sulfonyl derivatives disclosed as effective such agents. Thus, at least some HIV protease inhibitors used clinically (amprenavir) or compounds in advanced clinical trials (tipranavir, TMC-126, TMC-114, etc.) possess sulfonamide moieties in their molecules, whereas a very large number of other derivatives are constantly being synthesized and evaluated in order to obtain compounds with less toxicity or activity against drug-resistant viruses. Several non nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase or HIV integrase inhibitors containing sulfonamide groups were also reported. Another approach to inhibit the growth of retroviruses, including HIV, targets the ejection of zinc ions from critical zinc finger viral proteins, which has as a consequence the inhibition of viral replication in the absence of mutations leading to drug resistance phenotypes. Most compounds with antiviral activity possessing this mechanism of action incorporate in their molecules primary sulfonamide groups. Finally, some small molecule chemokine antagonists acting as HIV entry inhibitors also possess sulfonamide functionalities in their scaffold.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

New advances in HIV entry inhibitors development.

Considerable advances have been made in the last years in the design of derivatives acting as inhibitors of HIV entry and fusion. The discovery of chemokines focused the attention on cellular coreceptors used by the virus for entering within cells, and consequently the various steps of such processes have been characterized in detail. Intense research led to a wide range of effective compounds that are able to inhibit the initial steps of HIV life cycle. All steps in the process of HIV entry into the cell may be targeted by specific compounds that may be developed as novel types of antiretrovirals. Thus, several inhibitors of the gp120-CD4 interaction have been detected so far (zintevir, FP-21399 and BMS-378806 in clinical trials). Small molecule chemokine receptor antagonists acting as HIV entry inhibitors also were described in the last period, which interact both with the CXCR4 coreceptor (such as AMD3100; AMD3465; ALX40-4C; T22, T134 and T140), or which are antagonist of the CCR5 coreceptor (TAK-779, TAK-220, SCH-C, SCH-D, E913, AK-602, UK-427857 and NSC 651016 in clinical trials), together with new types of fusion inhibitors possessing the same mechanism of action as enfuvirtide (such as T1249). Recently, a third family of antivirals started to be used clinically (in addition to the reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors), with the advent of enfuvirtide (T20), the first fusion inhibitor to be approved as an anti-HIV agent. Some of these compounds demonstrated in vitro synergism with other classes of antivirals, offering thus the rationale for their combination in therapies for HIV-infected individuals. Many HIV entry and fusion inhibitors are currently being investigated in controlled clinical trials, and a number of them is bioavailable as oral formulations. This is an essential feature for an extended use of these compounds with the purpose of ameliorating adherence of patients to these medications and preventing the development of drug resistance.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2003

A curious keloid of the penis.

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Adult↗

PubMed2003

Anticancer and antiviral sulfonamides.

The sulfonamides constitute an important class of drugs, with several types of pharmacological agents possessing antibacterial, anti- carbonic anhydrase, diuretic, hypoglycemic and antithyroid activity among others. A large number of structurally novel sulfonamide derivatives have ultimately been reported to show substantial antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Although they have a common chemical motif of aromatic/heterocyclic or amino acid sulfonamide, there are a variety of mechanisms of their antitumor action, such as carbonic anhydrase inhibition, cell cycle perturbation in the G1 phase, disruption of microtubule assembly, functional suppression of the transcriptional activator NF-Y, and angiogenesis (matrix metalloproteinase, MMP) inhibition among others. Some of these compounds selected via elaborate preclinical screenings or obtained through computer-based drug design, are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. The review summarizes recent classes of sulfonamides and related sulfonyl derivatives disclosed as effective tumor cell growth inhibitors, or for the treatment of different types of cancer. Another research line that progressed much in the last time regards different sulfonamides with remarkable antiviral activity. Thus, at least two clinically used HIV protease inhibitors possess sulfonamide moieties in their molecules, whereas a very large number of other derivatives are constantly being synthesized and evaluated in order to obtain compounds with less toxicity or activity against drug-resistant viruses. Several non nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase or HIV integrase inhibitors containing sulfonamido groups were also reported. Another approach to inhibit the growth of retroviruses, including HIV, targets the ejection of zinc ions from critical zinc finger viral proteins, which has as a consequence the inhibition of viral replication in the absence of mutations leading to drug resistance phenotypes. Most compounds with antiviral activity possessing this mechanism of action incorporate in their molecules primary sulfonamide groups. Some small molecule chemokine antagonists acting as HIV entry inhibitors also possess sulfonamide functionalities in their scaffold.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Non-peptidic chemokine receptors antagonists as emerging anti-HIV agents.

HIV entry within the cell involves the presence of at least two chemokine co-receptors, the CCR5 and CXCR4 receptors. Viral entry can be inhibited by the natural ligands for CXCR4, the CXC chemokine SDF-1 and CCR5, the CC chemokines RANTES, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta, respectively. Much research has been devoted ultimately to the development of small molecule chemokine antagonists that inhibit virus entry within the cell, and constitute in this way novel antiviral medications. The most potent and specific CXCR4 antagonists reported up to now are the bicyclam derivatives, which also potently block X4 HIV replication. One such compound, AMD3100 has proved to be a highly specific CXCR4 antagonist, which consistently blocks the outgrowth of all X4 HIV and dual-tropic (R5/X4) variants that use CXCR4 for entering the cells. From such bicyclam analogues, AMD3100 was selected as the clinical candidate, which, after initial Phase I studies, proceeded to Phase II trials, but unfortunately showed significant cardiac side effects which lead to its withdrawal from further development. The first nonpeptidic compound that interacts with CCR5, but not with CXCR4, is a quaternary ammonium derivative, TAK-779, which also shows potent but variable anti-HIV activity. A large number of potent CCR5 antagonists from several classes of polycyclic derivatives have been recently disclosed. Many such derivatives showed nanomolar binding affinity to the receptor, and at least one of them, the oxime-piperidine derivative SCH-351125 has progressed to clinical evaluation. The development of such agents for clinical use may constitute an additional approach for the treatment of HIV infection, in addition to the classical one involving reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2002

Sulfonamides and sulfonylated derivatives as anticancer agents.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pruritus ani.

In the anal region, pruritus may be both idiopathic (mainly of psychological/psychiatric origin) and secondary to an underlying disorder or related to local causes (mainly of dermatologic interest). Persistent pruritus ani is, in particular, a challenging experience for the dermatologist.

Diagnosis, Differential↗