Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “PYRAZOLES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,279 records · Page 71Linked to original sources

Human skin absorption and metabolism of the contact allergens, cinnamic aldehyde, and cinnamic alcohol.

trans-Cinnamaldehyde and trans-cinnamic alcohol have been commonly reported to cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in humans. Cinnamaldehyde is a more potent skin sensitizer than cinnamic alcohol. It has been hypothesized that cinnamic alcohol is a "prohapten" that requires metabolic activation, presumably by oxidoreductase enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) or cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), to the protein-reactive cinnamaldehyde (a hapten). In this study, the in vitro percutaneous absorption and metabolism of cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic alcohol (78 micromol dose) has been examined using freshly excised, metabolically viable, full-thickness breast and abdomen skin from six female donors. Penetration rates and total cumulative recoveries of cinnamic compounds that were present in receptor fluid, extracted from within the skin, evaporated from the skin surface, or remained unabsorbed on the skin surface after 24 h were quantified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Biotransformation of cinnamaldehyde to both cinnamic alcohol and cinnamic acid was observed. Topically applied cinnamic alcohol was converted to cinnamaldehyde (found on the skin surface only) and cinnamic acid. To establish whether these biotransformations were enzymatic, experiments were performed in the absence and presence of varying concentrations (80-320 micromol) of the ADH/CYP2E1 inhibitors pyrazole or 4-methylpyrazole. The observation that pyrazole significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the total penetration of cinnamic metabolites into receptor fluid, following either cinnamaldehyde or cinnamic alcohol treatment, but did not significantly affect parent chemical penetration, suggests that we are measuring cutaneous metabolic products of ADH activity. The skin absorption and metabolism of cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic alcohol will play an important role in the manifestation of ACD following topical exposure to these compounds.

Acrolein↗

Radiosynthesis and in vivo evaluation of 11C-labeled 1,5-diarylpyrazole derivatives for mapping cyclooxygenases.

We prepared 11C-labeled 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole ([11C]1) and 4-[5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]benzenesulfonamide ([11C]2) for imaging COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms, respectively, by positron emission tomography. [11C]1 and [11C]2 were synthesized in high radiochemical yields by O-[11C]methylation with [11C]methyl triflate in acetone containing an equivalent of NaOH as a base with respect to the phenolic precursors. In vivo evaluation in rats bearing AH109A hepatoma demonstrated minimal specific binding of [11C] to COX-1 in peripheral organs, such as the spleen and small intestine. Carrier-saturable uptake of [11C]2 was found in the spleen, but COX-2-specific binding of [11C]2 was not identifiable in the brain, AH109A hepatoma or other peripheral organs, although ex vivo autoradiography showed regionally different distribution in the brain and AH109A. The results suggest that neither [11C]1 nor [11C]2 is a suitable radioligand for in vivo biomarkers of COX enzymes, mainly because of marked non-specific binding.

Animals↗

Modeling the interaction of fipronil-related non-competitive antagonists with the GABA beta3-receptor.

A three-dimensional model of the beta3-homopentamer of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor/chloride ionophore complex was developed by homology modeling using the cyro-electron microscopy structure of nicotinic acetylcholine as a template. Interactions between the beta3-homopentamer and two classes of fipronil-related non-competitive antagonists were investigated using docking studies. The phenyl groups of these compounds were stabilized by strong hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions with the rings formed by Thr256 and Ala252. Leu253 and Ile255 were involved mainly in hydrophobic contact with the pyrazole moiety. Different substitution at positions 15, 16 and 17 of the pyrazole ring of fipronil resulted in weakening of the hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions between the beta3-receptor and fipronil-related heterocyclic compounds, which maybe the principal cause of the decreased affinities reported in vitro. Moreover, a good correlation between total binding energies calculated by AutoDock and experimentally determined IC(50) values proved our models to be reasonable in predicting the interaction mode of the antagonist with the GABA beta3-receptor.

Cryoelectron Microscopy↗

The microsomal ethanol oxidizing system mediates metabolic tolerance to ethanol in deermice lacking alcohol dehydrogenase.

Metabolic tolerance to ethanol has been attributed to enhanced mitochondrial reoxidation of reducing equivalents produced in the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) pathway or to non-ADH mechanisms. To resolve this issue, deermice lacking low Km hepatic ADH were fed for 2 weeks a liquid diet containing ethanol or isocaloric carbohydrate and hepatocytes were isolated. Ethanol (50 mM) oxidation increased (9.8 vs 4.5 nmol/min/10(6) cells in controls). To differentiate which of two non-ADH pathways (the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS) or catalase) was responsible for the induction, four approaches were used. First, MEOS was assayed in hepatic microsomes and found to be increased (24.4 vs 6.8 nmol/min/mg protein in controls). Second, hepatocyte ethanol metabolism was measured after addition of the catalase inhibitor azide (0.1 mM) and found to be unchanged. By contrast, the competitive MEOS inhibitor, 1-butanol, depressed metabolism in a concentration-dependent manner. A third approach relied on measurement of isotope effects known to be different for MEOS and catalase. From the isotope effect values, MEOS was calculated to contribute 85% or more of total ethanol oxidation by cells from both ethanol-fed and control animals. A fourth approach involved in vivo pretreatment with pyrazole (300 mg/kg/day for 2 days), which reduced peroxidation by catalase to 13% of control values in liver homogenates while inducing MEOS activity to 152% of controls. Hepatocytes from pyrazole-treated deermice showed a 47% increase in ethanol metabolism, paralleling the MEOS induction and contrasting with the catalase suppression. These results indicate that since metabolic tolerance occurs in the absence of ADH, it is not necessarily ADH mediated, and further, that MEOS rather than catalase accounts for basal ethanol metabolism and its increase after chronic ethanol treatment.

1-Butanol↗

Role of extrahepatic alcohol dehydrogenase in rat ethanol metabolism.

Rat alcohol dehydrogenase exhibits three isoenzymes with very different capacities of ethanol oxidation and with characteristic distribution in tissues. ADH-1 (class II isoenzyme, Km = 5 M) is especially concentrated in the most external organs: auditive, bucal, and nasal mucoses, cornea, esophagus, stomach, rectum, penis, and vagina. ADH-2 (class III isoenzyme) is present in all organs but has a poor activity with ethanol. ADH-3 (class I isoenzyme, Km = 1.4 mM) is the main liver isoenzyme, also present in lung, intestine, kidney, and sexual organs. At 33 mM ethanol and pH 7.5, total hepatic activity (3.5 +/- 0.6 units) represents 90% of the whole activity in the male rat, while the remaining 10% is distributed in many organs. The skin is the extrahepatic organ with the highest total activity (88 +/- 15 mU) followed by testis and small intestine. ADH-3 accounts for 96% of total activity (90% hepatic and 6% extrahepatic) and ADH-1 contributes with 4% (extrahepatic). However, in conditions that may be found in the digestive tract mucose after ethanol ingestion (pH 7.5, 1 M ethanol), stomach and small intestine activities represent 10% of the liver activity at 33 mM ethanol. Therefore, oral administration of ethanol will result in a higher contribution of the extrahepatic activity than will intravenous or intraperitoneal administration, because of the great ADH-1 content of the digestive tract. On the other hand, pyrazole inhibition constants at pH 7.5 for ADH-1 (33 mM) and ADH-3 (4.2 microM) are much higher than those at pH 10.0 (0.56 mM and 0.4 microM) and indicate that at the usual concentration of inhibitor only ADH-3 activity will be effectively suppressed. ADH-1 will be, therefore, responsible in part for the residual ethanol oxidation activity in pyrazole-treated rats.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Hepatocyte cytotoxicity induced by various hepatotoxins mediated by cytochrome P-450IIE1: protection with diethyldithiocarbamate administration.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the thiol drug, diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) and its two metabolites, disulfiram (DS) and carbon disulfide (CS2) could be used as inhibitors of cytochrome P-450IIE1 to protect hepatocytes from cytotoxic xenobiotics. (1) Hepatocytes isolated from rats following pyrazole administration to induce cytochrome P-450IIE1 were much more susceptible to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) than hepatocytes from untreated rats. Microsomes isolated from P-450IIE1-induced liver were also much more effective at catalysing a NADPH-dependent metabolism of CCl4 and DMN. The activities of aniline hydroxylase and p-nitroanisole-O-demethylase increased whereas ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase activity was much less induced and pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase activity was decreased. The P-450IIE1 antibody markedly inhibited the NADPH-dependent metabolism of these compounds indicating that IIE1 is a major catalyst of the microsomal metabolism of CCl4 and DMN. (2) Hepatocytes isolated from rats treated with DEDC or its metabolites, DS and CS2, on the other hand, were resistant to CCl4 and DMN. Microsomes isolated from the liver of animals treated with DEDC or DS or CS2 were also much less effective at catalysing the NADPH-dependent metabolism of the above compounds. DEDC markedly decreased the activities of aniline hydroxylase, p-nitroanisole-O-demethylase and pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase but had no effect on ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase activity. (3) Hepatocytes isolated from pyrazole-treated rats were also more susceptible to bromobenzene (BB) and naphthalene-induced cytotoxicity than hepatocytes from untreated rats. Furthermore, DEDC or CS2 administration beforehand significantly protected hepatocytes against both xenobiotics. (4) By contrast, hepatocytes isolated from P-450IIE1 induced rats were not more susceptible to lactonitrile or cyclophosphamide. Instead, cyclophosphamide was activated by phenobarbital-induced P-450 isozymes whereas lactonitrile was activated by alcohol dehydrogenase. Hepatocytes isolated from DEDC-treated rats were also resistant to cyclophosphamide but not lactonitrile. (5) The above results suggest that P-450IIE1 catalyses the cytotoxic activation of CCl4, DMN, BB and naphthalene but not of lactonitrile or cyclophosphamide. Furthermore, the administration of DEDC and its metabolites, disulfiram or CS2, inactivates P-450IIE1 so that the hepatocytes become resistant to these hepatotoxins.

Animals↗

Role of cytochrome P-450IIE1 in N-nitroso-N-methylaniline induced hepatocyte cytotoxicity.

1. The cytotoxicity of N-nitrosomethylaniline (NMA) towards hepatocytes isolated from rats was prevented by acetone or ethanol (inhibitors for cytochrome P-450IIE1) but not by metyrapone or SKF525A (inhibitors for cytochrome P-450IIB1/2). Various alcohols, secondary ketones and isothiocyanates that induced cytochrome P-450IIE1 were also found to be protective. Various aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents that are substrates or inducers of cytochrome P-450IIE1 also prevented NMA cytotoxicity. Nitrogen-containing heterocycles that induced cytochrome P-450IIE1 were less effective. Further evidence that cytochrome P-450IIE1 was responsible for the activation of NMA was the marked increase in hepatocyte susceptibility if hepatocytes from pyrazole-induced rats were used. 2. NMA was more cytotoxic to hepatocytes isolated from phenobarbital-pretreated rats than uninduced rats. However, metyrapone now prevented and SKF525A delayed the cytotoxicity whereas ethanol, acetone, allyl isocyanate, isoniazid or trichloroethylene had no effect on the susceptibility of phenobarbital-induced hepatocytes. Furthermore, microsomes isolated from phenobarbital-pretreated rats had higher NMA-N-demethylase activity which was more inhibited by metyrapone and SKF525A than that of uninduced microsomal activity. By contrast the N-demethylase activity of phenobarbital induced microsomes was more resistant to acetone, ethanol, hexanal, trichloroethylene and toluene than uninduced microsome. 3. The above results suggest that cytochrome P-450IIE1 catalyses the cytotoxic activation of NMA in normal or pyrazole-induced hepatocytes whereas cytochrome P-450IIB1/2 is responsible for cytotoxicity in phenobarbital-induced hepatocytes.

Alcohols↗

Metabolism of nitrosamines and aflatoxin B1 by hamster liver CYP2A enzymes.

Using a specific antibody against mouse CYP2A5 and coumarin as inhibitors, and pretreatments known to affect the activities of CYP2A-related enzymes, we studied the contribution of hamster liver CYP2As in the dealkylation of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) and hydroxylation of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). CYP2A5 antibody inhibited AFB1 and NDEA metabolism by 40-60% in untreated hamsters and after treatment with phenobarbital (PB) or 3-methylcholanthrene (MC). After pyrazole (PYR) treatment, there was no inhibition, although PYR increased the metabolism above the controls. NDMA metabolism was inhibited only weakly in all groups. This suggests that CYP2As may contribute significantly to NDEA and AFB1 metabolism and less to NDMA metabolism in untreated hamster liver and after MC or PB treatments, but that PYR treatment may change the expression pattern of CYPs so that the metabolism is mainly catalysed by CYPs not recognized by the antibody. Coumarin inhibited NDEA and NDMA metabolism in all groups of hamsters, including pyrazole-pretreated animals, suggesting that it interacts not only with CYP2As but also with other CYPs that are important in nitrosamine metabolism. On the other hand, coumarin inhibited AFB1 metabolism significantly only in control and PB-treated animals but not at all after PYR or MC treatment. This suggests that enzymes involved in AFB1 metabolism may be different depending on the pretreatment. It is concluded that CYP2As may contribute significantly to nitrosamine and aflatoxin metabolism in hamster liver. However, in view of previous results showing essential differences in their regulation between mouse and hamster, interspecies comparisons may be difficult.

Aflatoxin B1↗

123I-labeled AM251: a radioiodinated ligand which binds in vivo to mouse brain cannabinoid CB1 receptors.

We have investigated the binding of 123I-labeled N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-iodophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methy l-1 H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (AM251), an analog of the cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR141716A [N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-me thyl-1 H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide] in the mouse brain. Following intravenous injection, the peak whole-brain uptake of about 1% of the administered activity occurred at about 2 h. By 8 h radioactivity in brain had declined to about half its peak value. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis showed that > 70% of radioactivity extracted from brain at 2 h was still present as [123I]AM251. Co-injection of SR141716A inhibited the in vivo brain binding of [123I]AM251 dose dependently. At 2 mg/kg, the highest dose that could be tested, inhibition was 50% at 2 h post-administration. The ED50 value calculated assuming that 2 mg/kg gave near-maximal inhibition was about 0.1 mg/kg. In contrast to the brain, radioactivity in other major organs (blood, liver, kidney, heart and lung) was little affected by SR141716A. The regional binding of [123I]AM251 in the brain was consistent with the published distribution of cannabinoid receptors in rat brain, in that the order was hippocampus, striatum > cerebellum > brain stem. delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol co-administered intravenously at 10 mg/kg, a dose which induced catalepsy and decreased locomotor activity, decreased the 2 h brain uptake of [123I]AM251 by 10%, but this was not significant (P = 0.08). In in vitro binding assays with mouse hippocampal membranes, tetrahydrocannabinol inhibited binding of [123I]AM251 with an IC50 value of about 700 nM, compared with about 0.2 nM for SR141716A.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effect of 4-methylpyrazole on antipyrine clearance in rats.

Pyrazole and 4-methylpyrazole (4-MP) are potent, effective inhibitors of alcohol dehydrogenase. Pyrazole and its derivatives also have been shown to affect the cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenase system. This study was performed to investigate the effect of 4-MP on the disposition kinetics of antipyrine (AP). Groups of male Fisher 344 rats were given an ip injection of 4-MP (100 mg/kg) or 4-MP HCl (equivalent to 4-MP 100 mg/kg) or an equivalent volume of saline. AP (20 mg/kg) was injected intravenously via the jugular vein catheter 30 minutes later. Blood samples were collected upto 24 hours and assayed by HPLC. 4-MP pretreatment significantly decreased AP clearance from 0.490 +/- 0.032 to 0.095 +/- 0.014 (4-MP HCl) and 0.076 +/- 0.008 (4-MP) L/hr.kg (p less than 0.01). The volume of distribution of AP decreased from 0.82 +/- 0.07 to 0.65 +/- 0.06 (4-MP HCl) and 0.56 +/- 0.04 (4-MP) L/kg (p less than 0.05). Mean residence time increased from 1.68 +/- 0.09 to 6.91 +/- 0.58 (4-MP HCl) and 7.39 +/- 0.56 (4-MP) hr (p less than 0.01). These results demonstrate a significant inhibitory effect of 4-MP on the cytochrome P-450 isozyme(s) which is responsible for AP metabolism in intact animals.

Animals↗

The role of metabolism in 2-methoxyethanol-induced testicular toxicity.

The role of metabolism in 2-methoxyethanol (ME)-induced testicular toxicity has been investigated with Sprague-Dawley rats. Following administration of [14C]ME (250 mg/kg, ip) to a group of animals, there was evidence of testicular damage, identified as depletion of the spermatocyte population. Radioactivity detected in urine over 48 hr after treatment accounted for 55% of the dose. The major urinary metabolites were identified by HPLC and isotope dilution analysis, as methoxyacetic acid (MAA) and methoxyacetylglycine (accounting for 50 to 60% and 18 to 25%, respectively, of urinary radioactivity). Analysis of plasma revealed a rapid conversion of ME to MAA (t1/2 for disappearance of ME = 0.6 +/- 0.03 hr) and gradual clearance of radioactivity (t1/2 = 19.7 +/- 2.3 hr). Pretreatment of animals with pyrazole (400 mg/kg, ip) 1 hr prior to [14C]ME dosing gave complete protection against the testicular toxicity of ME. Radioactivity detected in the urine from the pyrazole-pretreated groups over 48 hr (18%) was significantly lower than in the ME-only group. The major radioactive peak co-chromatographed with ME (30 to 36% of the total urinary radioactivity). MAA and methoxyacetylglycine were not major metabolites. Analysis of plasma revealed almost complete inhibition of the conversion of ME to MAA (t1/2 for disappearance of ME = 42.6 +/- 5.6 hr, clearance of radioactivity t1/2 = 51.0 +/- 7.8 hr). The results demonstrate that metabolic activation is required for 2-methoxyethanol to exert toxicity to the male reproductive system.

Acetates↗

Metabolism of inhaled dihalomethanes in vivo: differentiation of kinetic constants for two independent pathways.

Dihalomethanes are metabolized by two major pathways: an oxidative, cytochrome P-450-mediated pathway that has been previously thought to yield only CO, and a glutathione (GSH)-dependent one that yields CO2. Both give 2 mol of halide ion. We studied the kinetic properties of the two pathways in vivo by exposing male rats to various inhaled concentrations of CH2Cl2,CH2F2, CH2FCl, CH2BrCl, and CH2Br2 and determining end-exposure carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) and plasma bromide (where appropriate). Closed atmosphere gas uptake studies were employed for CH2F2, CH2FCl, CH2Cl2, and CH2BrCl metabolism. A physiologically based kinetic model was used to determine kinetic constants based on gas uptake or plasma bromide data and these constants were used to predict HbCO concentrations. Oxidation was high affinity, low capacity. The maximum metabolic rates for this pathway with CH2Br2, CH2BrCl, and CH2Cl2 were, respectively, 72, 54, and 47 mumol metabolized/kg/hr. CH2FCl did not undergo significant oxidative metabolism and appears more like CH3C1 than a dihalomethane in its metabolic reactivity. The GSH pathway was low affinity, but high capacity and could be described as a single first-order process at all accessible exposure concentrations. The rate constant for this first-order GSH-dependent pathway was related as CH2BrCl greater than CH2Cl2 congruent to CH2FCl greater than CH2Br2 greater than CH2F2. Presumably bromide is a preferred leaving group but steric hindrance in the initial reaction with GSH is important with CH2Br2. We also studied the effects of pyrazole (which inhibits microsomal oxidation) and 2,3-epoxypropanol (which depletes GSH) on dihalomethane metabolism. Pyrazole abolished CO production from CH2Br2, CH2BrCl, and CH2Cl2. GSH depletion did not change the yield of halide ion from the high-affinity pathway; it did increase the steady-state HbCO concentrations with CH2Cl2 and CH2ClBr, but not with CH2Br2. The putative formyl chloride (FC) intermediate from CH2Cl2 or CH2BrCl appears to have a longer life than the formyl bromide from CH2Br2 and a significant portion of the FC (congruent to 20-30%) may react with other cellular nucleophiles instead of spontaneously decomposing to CO. This portion of the oxidative pathway probably yields CO2.

1-Propanol↗

Alcohol dehydrogenase from the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. Inhibition studies of the alleloenzymes AdhS and AdhUF.

Different metal binding inhibitors of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, similarly affect the Drosophila melanogaster AdhS and AdhUF alleloenzymes. However, binding is generally weaker and the experiments show that the alleloenzymes although not zinc metalloenzymes, behave to the metal binding reagents very much as if they were. The metal-directed, affinity-labelling, imidazole derivative BrImPpOH reversibly inhibits, but does not inactivate the alleolenzymes. This confirms there is no active site metal atom with cysteine as a metal ligand, as found in zinc alcohol dehydrogenases. Pyrazole is a strong ethanol-competitive inhibitor of AdhS and AdhUF alleloenzymes. Formation of the ternary enzyme-NAD-pyrazole complex gives an absorption increase between 295-330 nm. This enables an active site titration to be performed and the determination of epsilon (305 nm) of 15.8 . 10(3) M-1 . cm-1. Inhibition experiments with imidazole confirm that with secondary alcohols such as propan-2-ol, a Theorell-Chance mechanism predominates, but with ethanol and primary alcohols, interconversion of the ternary complexes is rate limiting. Salicylate is a coenzyme competitive inhibitor and KEI suggests that the coenzyme adenosine binding region is similar is Drosophila and horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase is found not to form a ternary complex with NADH and isobutyramide. In this and other properties it is like carboxymethyl liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Both Drosophila and carboxymethyl alcohol dehydrogenase bind coenzyme in a similar manner to native horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, but substrate binding differs between each. Inhibition by Cibacrone blue, indicates that amino acid 192 which is lysine in AdhS and threonine in AdhUF, is located in the coenzyme-binding region. Proteolytic activity present in preparations of alcohol dehydrogenase from D. melanogaster, is considered due to a metalloprotease, for which BrImPpOH is a potent inactivator.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

The role of structural factors in the kinetics of cellular uptake of pyrazoloacridines and pyrazolopyrimidoacridines: implications for overcoming multidrug resistance towards leukaemia K562/DOX cells.

The appearance of multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumour cells to a wide array of antitumour drugs, structurally diverse and having different mechanisms of action, constitutes the major obstacle to the successful treatment of cancer. Our approach to search for non-cross resistant antitumour agents is based on the rational design of derivatives, which have a high kinetics of passive cellular uptake rendering their active efflux by MDR exporting pumps inefficient. Recently, two families of acridine cytotoxic agents were obtained, pyrazoloacridines (PACs) and pyrazolopyrimidoacridines (PPACs). The aim of this study was to examine molecular basis of the reported differences in retaining cytotoxic activity of these derivatives at cellular level against resistant erythroleukaemia K562/DOX (overexpressing P-glycoprotein) cell line. The study was performed using a spectrofluorometric method, which allows continuous monitoring of the uptake and efflux of fluorescent molecules by living cells. It was demonstrated that the presence of two additional rings, pyrazole and pyrimidine, fused to the acridine chromophore structure (PPAC) favoured more rapid cellular diffusion than the presence of only one additional pyrazole ring (PAC). The presence of hydrophobic substituent OCH3 markedly favoured the cellular uptake of pyrazoloacridines and pyrazolopyrimidoacridines while compounds having hydrophilic substituent OH exhibited very low kinetics of cellular uptake. In contrast, it was found that neither structure of the ring system nor the hydrophobic/hydrophilic character of examined substituents determined the rate of active efflux of these compounds by P-glycoprotein. Our data showed that a nearly linear relation exists between the resistance factor (RF) and lnV+ reflecting the impact of the cellular uptake rate (V+) on the ability of these compounds to overcome MDR.

Acridines↗

Design and synthesis of novel amino-substituted xanthenones and benzo[b]xanthenones: evaluation of their antiproliferative activity and their ability to overcome multidrug resistance toward MES-SA/D x 5 cells.

A number of new xanthenone and benzo[b]xanthenone amino derivatives and their pyrazole-fused counterparts have been designed and synthesized possessing structural analogy to the potent anticancer agent 9-methoxypyrazoloacridine. The synthesis of the compounds proceeds through nucleophilic substitution of 1-chloro-4-nitroxanthenone or the corresponding benzo[b]xanthenone by the appropriately substituted amine or hydrazine, reduction of the nitro group, and conversion into the suitable dialkylaminoacetamides. This method cannot be applied for synthesis of the pyrazole-fused benzo[b]xanthenones, consequently a different, simple, and high-yielding synthetic procedure was developed for the preparation of the target molecules. In vitro cytotoxic potencies of the new derivatives toward the murine leukemia L1210 cell line, human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), and human uterine sarcoma (MES-SA and its 100-fold resistant to doxorubicin variant MES-SA/D x 5) cell lines are described and compared to those of reference drugs. The compounds exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines and in addition they retain activity against the multidrug resistant MES-SA/D x 5 subline, showing resistant factors close to 1. A number of derivatives were found to possess DNA binding capacity, according to a standard ethidium bromide displacement assay. The majority of the studied compounds induce a G2/M arrest, although among them some G1 or S blockers have also been identified.

Amination↗

Novel bis(1-acyl-2-pyrazolines) of potential anti-inflammatory and molluscicidal properties.

A variety of bis[3-aryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-carboxaldehydes] 4a-h were obtained via reaction of bis[1-aryl-2-propen-1-ones] 3a-h with hydrazine hydrate in refluxing formic acid. In addition, the corresponding bis[1-acetyl-3-aryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoles] 4i-m were formed through conducting the reaction of 3 with hydrazine hydrate in refluxing acetic acid. The starting bis(2-propen-1-ones) 3a-h were prepared stereoselectively as E,E'-geometric isomer via condensation of bisbenzaldehydes 1a,b with (un)substituted acetophenones 2 in ethanolic KOH solution. Anti-inflammatory as well as ulcerogenic activities of the prepared pyrazolines were evaluated in vivo and compared with that of a standard drug (indomethacin). Many of the tested compounds show remarkable anti-inflammatory properties with an ulcerogenic liability (especially 4f, g, j, and k) lower than that of the standard used drug. Compound 4f was established to be the best effectively prepared anti-inflammatory active pyrazoline derivative and safer than indomethacin with respect to its ulcerogenic liability. Molluscicidal activity of the prepared compounds against Biomphalaria alexandrina snails (the intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni) was screened. Where, some of the prepared compounds show considerable activities.

Animals↗

Novel potent and selective calcium-release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel inhibitors. Part 2: Synthesis and inhibitory activity of aryl-3-trifluoromethylpyrazoles.

To identify potent and selective calcium-release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel inhibitors, we examined the structure-activity relationships of the pyrazole and thiophene moieties in compound 4. Compound 25b was found to exhibit highly potent and selective inhibitory activity for CRAC channels and further modifications of the pyrazole and benzoyl moieties of compound 25b produced compound 29. These compounds were potent inhibitors of IL-2 production in vitro and also acted as inhibitors in pharmacological models of diseases resulting from T-lymphocyte activation, after oral administration.

Animals↗

Synthesis of furopyrazole analogs of 1-benzyl-3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl)indazole (YC-1) as novel anti-leukemia agents.

As part of our continuing search for potential anticancer drug candidates in YC-1 analogs, several 1-benzyl-3-(substituted aryl)-5-methylfuro[3,2-c]pyrazoles were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HL-60 cell line. Among these compounds, 1-benzyl-3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl)-5-methylfuro[3,2-c]pyrazole (1) showed more potency than YC-1. Through investigation of action mechanism, it was found that compound 1 induced terminal differentiation of HL-60 cells toward granulocyte lineage and promoted HL-60 cell differentiation by regulation of Bcl-2 and c-Myc proteins. Meanwhile, compound 1 also demonstrated apoptosis inducing effect. Such anti-leukemia mechanism of action is apparently different from that of YC-1 which mainly works by inducing apoptosis, but not cell differentiation. Therefore, compound 1 is identified here as a new lead compound of cell differentiating agent and apoptosis inducer for further development of new anti-leukemia agents.

Antineoplastic Agents↗