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3-Hydroxy-1-(2-methoxyethyl)-2-methyl-4(1H)-pyridinone (1) exists mainly in the quinoid form with a small contribution from the aromatic zwitterion form, while 3-hydroxy-1-(2-methoxyethyl)-2-methyl-4(1H)-pyridinone hydrochloride (2) and 1-ethyl-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4(1H)-pyridinone hydrochloride hydrate (3) are observed to occur in the aromatic form with a minor contribution from the quinoid resonance form. Different substituents at the ring N position do not have significant geometric effects in either the neutral molecules, as a group, or in the hydrochloride salts.

The effect of CP130 (a synthetic hexadentate pyridinone iron chelator) on the formation of two markers of lipid peroxidation (TBA-reactive material and Schiff's bases) in rabbit kidneys following a 72 h period of cold (0-4 degrees C) ischaemia was investigated by either adding CP130 to the flush/storage solution (hypertonic citrate solution) or by administering the agent intravenously 15 min before removal of the organs. In both cases, CP130 blocked the adverse rises in lipid peroxidation caused by ischaemia and subsequent reoxygenation of the homogenates in vitro. Both CP130 and desferrioxamine (DFX) (administered intravenously 15 min before ischaemia and 5 min before reperfusion) were also found to significantly reduce post-ischaemic rates of in vitro lipid peroxidation in kidneys rendered warm ischaemic for 90 min followed by reperfusion for 5 or 60 min in situ. Kidneys exposed to warm ischaemia and reperfusion developed interstitial and intracellular oedema, congestion and haemorrhage. DFX administration had little effect on the histological outcome, whereas CP130 significantly reduced interstitial oedema (at 5 min reperfusion compared to the DFX-treated group), intracellular oedema (at 60 min reperfusion compared to the DFX-treated group) and congestion (at 5 min reperfusion compared with a control group not given any agent). It is concluded that while CP130 and DFX exhibited similar antioxidant properties, CP130 provided better protection from ischaemia/reperfusion injury at the histological level. Synthetic iron chelators may therefore be of benefit in clinical organ transplantation by protecting against tissue damage caused by prolonged ischaemia.

The synthesis of a range of novel bidentate ligands containing the chelating moiety 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridinone is described. The pKa values of the ligands and the stability constants of their iron(III) complexes have been determined. The crystal structures of one of the ligands and one of the iron(III) complexes are presented. The distribution coefficients of the ligands are reported and are related to the ability of the ligands to remove iron from hepatocytes. The influence of 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridinones on oxidative damage to cells is described. In contrast to the iron chelator in current therapeutic use, desferrioxamine-B, many of the bidentate ligands described in this study are orally active in iron-overloaded mice.

The urinary metabolic profiles of two novel orally active iron chelators, 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyridin-4-one (CP20 or L1) and 1,2-diethyl-3-hydroxypyridin-4-one (CP94), have been studied in rats. The metabolism of CP20 was also studied in humans. Four novel metabolites of CP20, and a further three metabolites of CP94 were characterized. CP20 was found to undergo extensive phase II metabolism at the 3-hydroxy position, forming predominantly the O-glucuronide, which accounted for 44% of the dose administered in rat and greater than 85% of the dose administered in man. The 3-O-methylated CP20 metabolite (metabolite I) accounted for 1% of the administered dose in both species, whereas the unmetabolized CP20 amounted to 10.5% and 4% of the dose administered in the rats and man, respectively. In contrast, CP94 was extensively hydroxylated at the 2-ethyl position to give its 2-(1-hydroxyethyl) metabolite in the rat, which accounted for 40% of the administered dose. The O-glucuronide metabolite of CP94 accounted for 13.8% of the administered dose, whereas the unmetabolized CP94 amounted to 6.9% of the administered dose. At 72 hr, urinary levels of CP20 and CP94 and their metabolites in the rat accounted for about 55-60% of the administered dose. A large portion of the dose is therefore probably eliminated via the bile. The identity of the above metabolites was established using a combination of two or more of the following techniques: fast atom bombardment-mass spectroscopy, LC-MS, UV-VIS spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, specific enzyme hydrolysis assays, and chemical synthesis of compounds.