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Sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition has been demonstrated to efficiently control hyperglycemia via an insulin secretion-independent pathway. The unique mode of action eliminates the risk of hypoglycemia and makes SGLT2 inhibitors an attractive option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In a continuation of our previous studies on SGLT2 inhibitors bearing different sugar moieties, sixteen new N-glucosyl indole derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against hSGLT2. Of these sixteen, acethydrazide-containing N-glucosyl indole 9d was found to be the most potent SGLT2 inhibitor, and caused a significant elevation in urine glucose excretion in rats at 50 mg/kg, relative to the vehicle control., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

BPR0C305 is a novel N-substituted indolyl glyoxylamide previously reported with in-vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of human cancer cells including P-gp-expressing multiple drug-resistant cell sublines. The present study further examined the underlying molecular mechanism of anticancer action and evaluated the in-vivo antitumor activities of BPR0C305. BPR0C305 is a novel synthetic small indole derivative that demonstrates in-vitro activities against human cancer cell growth by inhibiting tubulin polymerization, disrupting cellular microtubule assembly, and causing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. It is also orally active against leukemia and solid tumor growths in mouse models. Findings of these pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies suggest that BPR0C305 is a promising lead compound for further preclinical developments.

BPR0L075 [6-methoxy-3-(3',4',5'-trimethoxy-benzoyl)-1H-indole] is a novel anti-microtubule drug with anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic activities in vitro and in vivo. Securin is required for genome stability, and is expressed abundantly in most cancer cells, promoting cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. In this study, we found that BPR0L075 efficiently induced cell death of HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells that have higher expression levels of securin. The cytotoxicity of BPR0L075 was attenuated in isogenic securin-null HCT116 cells. BPR0L075 induced DNA damage response, G(2)/M arrest, and activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint in HCT116 cells. Interestingly, BPR0L075 induced phosphorylation of securin. BPR0L075 withdrawal resulted in degradation of securin, mitotic exit, and mitotic catastrophe, which were attenuated in securin-null cells. Inhibition of cdc2 decreased securin phosphorylation, G(2)/M arrest and cell death induced by BPR0L075. Moreover, BPR0L075 caused cell death through a caspase-independent mechanism and activation of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways. These findings provided evidence for the first time that BPR0L075 treatment is beneficial for the treatment of human colorectal tumors with higher levels of securin. Thus, we suggest that the expression levels of securin may be a predictive factor for application in anti-cancer therapy with BPR0L075 in human cancer cells.

Background: N-Heterocyclic indolyl glyoxylamide compounds are derived from the antimicrotubule agent D-24851, which exhibits anticancer activity after oral administration. The actions of these compounds on lung cancer cells are still unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of two N-heterocyclic indolyl glyoxylamides, BPR0C259 and BPR0C123, on non-small human lung cancer cells., Materials and Methods: 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)), cell viability and radiation response of A549 cells and H1299 cells. Apoptosis was determined by sub-G(1) ratio, colony formation assay and caspase-3 activation. Cell cycle distribution was detected using flow cytometry., Results: Both compounds were able to inhibit the viability of human lung cancer cells, although the IC(50) of BPR0C123 was lower than that of BPR0C259. Both compounds induced significant sub-G1 and caspase-3 activation as low as 0.1 μM in both cell lines. These effects were independent of p53 activation because the level of serine-15 phosphorylated p53 was not affected after drug treatment. Furthermore, both compounds induced similar levels of G(2)/M phase arrest and radiosensitivity in these lung cancer cells., Conclusion: Current data suggest that N-heterocyclic indolyl glyoxylamides can suppress the proliferation of and potentially increase radiosensitivity of human lung cancer cells.

A novel series of N-linked β-D-xylosides were synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory activity against sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) in a cell-based assay. Of these, the 4-chloro-3-(4-cyclopropylbenzyl)-1-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-1H-indole 19m was found to be the most potent inhibitor, with an EC(50) value similar to that of the natural SGLT2 inhibitor phlorizin. Further studies in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats indicated that 19m significantly increased urine glucose excretion in a dose-dependent manner with oral administration. The antihyperglycemic effect of 19m was also observed in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic SD rats. These results described here are a good starting point for further investigations into N-glycoside SGLT2 inhibitors.

BPR0C261 is a synthetic small molecule compound cytotoxic against human cancer cells and active prolonging the lifespan of leukemia mice. In the present study, we further investigated the mechanisms of its anticancer action and found that BPR0C261 inhibited microtubule polymerization through interacting with the colchicine binding sites on tubulins, disrupted microtubule arrangement and caused cell cycle arrest at G(2)/M phase in cancer cells. BPR0C261 also inhibited the clonogenic growths of cancer cells and showed cytotoxicity against human cervical cancer cells of multidrug-resistant phenotype. In addition, BPR0C261 concentration-dependently inhibited the proliferation and migration of HUVECs and disrupted the endothelial capillary-like tube formations in HUVEC and rat aorta ring cultures. Given orally, BPR0C261 inhibited angiogenesis in s.c. implanted Matrigel plugs in mice. Notably, its IC(50) values against the endothelial cell growths were approximately 10-fold lower than those against the cancer cells. It was found orally absorbable in mice and showed a good oral bioavailability (43%) in dogs. BPR0C261 permeated through the human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayer, suggesting oral availability in humans. Orally absorbed BPR0C261 distributed readily into the s.c. xenografted tumors in nude mice in which the tumor tissue levels of BPR0C261 were found oral dose-dependent. BPR0C261 showed in vivo activities against human colorectal, gastric, and nasopharyngeal tumors in nude mice. Most interestingly, the combination of BPR0C261 plus cisplatin synergistically prolonged the lifespans of mice inoculated with murine leukemia cells. Thus, BPR0C261 is a novel orally active tubulin-binding antitumor agent with antimitotic, apoptosis-inducing, and vasculature disrupting activities., (© 2010 Japanese Cancer Association.)

Background: Antimitotic tubulin-binding BPR0L075 is structurally analogous to the vascular-disrupting combretastatin A-4., Materials and Methods: In vitro/in vivo models of endothelial cells cultures, Matrigel plug assay, tumor-bearing nude mice, and murine leukemia cells-inoculated mice were utilized to evaluate BPR0L075 for antiangiogenic and antitumoral activity spectra., Results: BPR0L075 concentration-dependently inhibited proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), disrupted capillary tube formations of HUVECs and rat aorta endothelial cells, and suppressed in vivo VEGF-mediated angiogenesis in Matrigel plugs in mice. Besides inhibiting the colony growth of cancer cells, BPR0L075 suppressed growth of subcutaneously-xenografted human lung, colorectal, and cervical solid tumors in nude mice. Combination treatments of BPR0L075 plus cisplatin, compared to either agent alone, demonstrated a stronger growth inhibition against the tumor xenografts in nude mice and longer lifespan in the leukemia mice., Conclusion: BPR0L075 is an antitumoral and antiangiogenic agent and potentiates the anticancer activity of cisplatin.

BPR0L075 (2) is a potential anticancer drug candidate designed from Combretastatin A-4 (1) based on the bioisosterism principle. Metabolites of 2, proposed from in vitro human microsome studies, were synthesized, leading to the identification of metabolite-derived analogue 10 with 40-350 pM potency against various cancer cell lines. Insights gained from the major inactive metabolite of 2 led to the development of 29, with better pharmacokinetics and improved potency in the tumor xenograft model than 2.

6-Methoxy-3-(3',4',5'-trimethoxy-benzoyl)-1H-indole (BPR0L075) is a novel synthetic indole compound with microtubule binding activity. Incubation of BPR0L075 with mouse, rat, dog, and human liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH resulted in the formation of six metabolites. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and comparison with the synthetic reference standards identified two metabolites (M1 and M5) as the products derived from hydroxylation on the indole moiety of the molecule. M3 was also identified as a product derived from hydroxylation, but the structure of this metabolite was not identified because of the lack of a reference standard. M2, M4, and M6 were identified as the products derived from O-demethylation. M2, 6-desmethyl-BPR0L075, was the major metabolite formed by the liver microsomes of the four species. No qualitative species difference in the metabolism of BPR0L075 was observed. There was quantitative species difference in the metabolism of BPR0L075 among the four species. Whereas mouse and rat liver microsomes metabolized BPR0L075 predominantly via O-demethylation, dog liver microsomes metabolized BPR0L075 by O-demethylation and hydroxylation to about the same extent. The rank order of intrinsic clearance rates for the conversion of BPR0L075 to 6-desmethyl-BPR0L075 was mouse > rat > human > dog. Incubation of BPR0L075 with baculovirus-insect cell-expressed human cytochrome P450 (P450) isozymes showed that CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4 all catalyzed the O-demethylation and hydroxylation of BPR0L075 but to a different degree. Among the six P450 isozymes tested, CYP1A2 and 2D6 were most active on catalyzing the metabolism of BPR0L075. CYP1A2 catalyzed mainly the formation of M1, M2, and M3. M2 was the predominant metabolite formed by CYP2D6.

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS) had been developed and validated to determine the concentrations of BPR0L075 in rat plasma. After a simple protein precipitation of plasma samples by acetonitrile, BPR0L075 was analyzed on a C(8) column at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of 10 mM ammonium acetate containing 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile (20:80, v/v). Both BPR0L075 (analyte) and the internal standard (BPR0L092) were determined using electro-spray ionization and the MS data acquisition was via multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) in positive scanning model. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored are m/z 342.2/195.2 and 312.5/165.2 for BPR0L075 and BPR0L092, respectively. The low limit of quantitation was 0.5 ng/mL. Each plasma sample was chromatographed within 5 min. The method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability. A good linear relationship was observed over the concentration range of 0.5-1000 ng/mL (r>0.9994). Absolute recoveries ranged from 63.45 to 68.34% in plasma at the concentrations of 2, 40, 400, and 800 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day accuracy ranged from 92.04 to 111.80%. Intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations were 1.08-3.29% and 1.96-5.46%, respectively. This developed and validated assay method had been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after intravenous injection of BPR0L075 in rats at a dose of 5mg/kg.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of novel indole derivatives as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists are reported. Indole, a drug-like scaffold, was studied as a core skeleton for the acidic head part of PPAR agonists. The structural features (acidic head, substitution on indole, and linker) were optimized first, by keeping benzisoxazole as the tail part, based on binding and functional activity at PPARgamma protein. The variations in the tail part, by introducing various heteroaromatic ring systems, were then studied. In vitro evaluation led to identification of a novel series of indole compounds with a benzisoxazole tail as potent PPAR agonists with the lead compound 14 (BPR1H036) displaying an excellent pharmacokinetic profile in BALB/c mice and an efficacious glucose lowering activity in KKA(y) mice. Structural biology studies of 14 showed that the indole ring contributes strong hydrophobic interactions with PPARgamma and could be an important moiety for the binding to the protein.

BPR0L075 is a novel synthetic compound discovered through research to identify new microtubule inhibitors. BPR0L075 inhibits tubulin polymerization through binding to the colchicine-binding site of tubulin. Cytotoxic activity of BPR0L075 in a variety of human tumor cell lines has been ascertained, with IC(50) values in single-digit nanomolar ranges. As determined by flow cytometry, human cervical carcinoma KB cells are arrested in G(2)-M phases in a time-dependent manner before cell death occurs. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling assay indicates that cell death proceeds through an apoptotic pathway. Additional studies indicate that the effect of BPR0L075 on cell cycle arrest is associated with an increase in cyclin B1 levels and a mobility shift of Cdc2 and Cdc25C. The changes in Cdc2 and Cdc25C coincide with the appearance of phosphoepitopes recognized by a marker of mitosis, MPM-2. Furthermore, phosphorylated forms of Bcl-2, perturbed mitochondrial membrane potential, and activation of the caspase-3 cascade may be involved in BPR0L075-induced apoptosis. Notably, several KB-derived multidrug-resistant cell lines overexpressing P-gp170/MDR and MRP are resistant to vincristine, paclitaxel, and colchicine but not to BPR0L075. Moreover, BPR0L075 shows potent activity against the growth of xenograft tumors of the gastric carcinoma MKN-45, human cervical carcinoma KB, and KB-derived P-gp170/MDR-overexpressing KB-VIN10 cells at i.v. doses of 50 mg/kg in nude mice. These findings indicate BPR0L075 is a promising anticancer compound with antimitotic activity that has potential for management of various malignancies, particularly for patients with drug resistance.

A series of N-heterocyclic indolyl glyoxylamides were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities. They exhibited a broad spectrum of anticancer activity not only in murine leukemic cancer cells but also in human gastric, breast, and uterus cancer cells as well as their multidrug resistant sublines with a wide range of IC(50) values. They also induced apoptosis and caused DNA fragmentation in human gastric cancer cells. Among the compounds studied, 7 showed the most potent activity of growth inhibition (IC(50) = 17-1711 nM) in several human cancer cells. Given orally, compounds 7 and 13 dose-dependently prolonged the survival of animals inoculated with P388 leukemic cancer cells. N-Heterocyclic indolyl glyoxylamides may be useful as orally active chemotherapeutic agents against cancer and refractory cancerous diseases of multidrug resistance phenotype.