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A high capacity in vitro micronucleus assay was developed to evaluate the ability of selected 6-fluorinated quinolone and naphthyridone antibacterial compounds to induce micronuclei (MN) in vitro in V79 Chinese hamster lung cells. Log-phase cells in six-well cluster dishes were exposed for 3 h in the absence of S9 to 34 compounds. After treatment, cells were refed with media containing cytochalasin B, incubated for 16 h, and harvested for cell-cycle kinetics (CCK) and MN analyses. The quinolones tested were grouped according to the substituent at the 8-position. All 4 compounds having a halogen substitution at position 8, five of the six 8-trifluoromethyl quinolones, and all eight 8-methoxy-substituted compounds induced a significant increase in MN. Only 5 of the 10 naphthyridone compounds tested, having a variety of substituents at the 7-position, were inducers of MN and the overall magnitude of the response was less than with the quinolones. The minimum clastogenic concentration for the quinolones ranged from 4 to 400 micrograms/ml and for the naphthyridones this range was from 22.5 to 100 micrograms/ml. In the groups examined, napthyridone compounds were less likely than quinolones to induce in vitro MN, particularly when the substituent at the 7-position in the naphthyridone contains some bulk (methyl groups) around the amine side-chain. Most of the quinolones tested induced MN, irrespective of the substituents at positions 7 or 8.

Fluoroquinolones are potent inhibitors of bacterial topoisomerase II (DNA gyrase). They can also inhibit eukaryotic topoisomerases, which could possibly lead to clastogenicity and/or cellular toxicity. Recent studies have demonstrated a correlation between mammalian cell cytotoxicity of the fluoroquinolones and the potential of these compounds to induce micronuclei, a genetic toxicity endpoint. In an effort to identify potent nontoxic quinolone antibacterials, we have examined the structural features of the fluoroquinolones associated with mammalian cell cytotoxicity. An investigation of a wide variety of substituents at the 1, 5, 7, and 8 positions of a quinolone nucleus was conducted. The results indicate that no one position has a controlling effect on the observed cytotoxicity. Instead, a combination of the various substituents contributes to the effects seen. Certain trends were apparent, such as the fact that compounds with pyrrolidines at the R-7 position were more cytotoxic than those with piperazines, and halogens at R-8 (X-position) were associated with more cytotoxicity relative to hydrogen. A general trend also existed between the cytotoxicity of the compounds and their Gram-positive antibacterial activity. A detailed comparison between the various groups and positional variations as they controlled the cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity is presented.

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the recent approaches to search for more effective agents for the development of resistance to current antibacterial therapy. The chapter includes a discussion on the inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis, the interference of cell-wall formation, and miscellaneous items. DNA gyrase, an essential type II bacterial topoisomerase, is known to be the target of quinolone antibiotics in gram-negative bacteria. Recent studies in E. coli suggested that the N-terminal portion of the GyrA subunit was critical for quinolone action. DNA gyrase has been recently shown to be the target of quinolones in gram-positive organisms as well. Structure-activity studies have revealed no clear correlation between mammalian cell cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity, but trends have suggested that certain structural features could reduce mammalian cell cytotoxicity. Two series of benzonaphthyridines have been examined for antibacterial activity. Recent work has indicated that DNA gyrase may also be the target of several naturally occurring antibiotics. The most widely used compounds currently available clinically are the cell-wall inhibitors such as the β-lactams and glycopeptides. The success of these inhibitors underscores the essential nature and attractiveness of the cell wall as an antibacterial target. In addition to targeting resistance in staphylococcus, β-lactam research has also focused on improving potency against pseudomonas and enferobacter. In the penicillins, the catechol-containing compound had outstanding activity against fseudornonas and stability to gram-negative β-lactamases. In addition to the traditional enzymes in cell-wall biosynthesis, several possible targets in peptidoglycan assembly have been identified for further exploitation. The use of agents that affect protein synthesis continues to play an important role in the chemotherapy of infectious diseases. New information regarding the interaction of the aminoglycosides with their ribosomal targets has renewed interest in this drug class.

A series of 3,5-disubstituted-2,1-benzisoxazole-4,7-diones was synthesized and evaluated as radiosensitizers both in vitro and in vivo. These compounds were designed as non-nitro electron-affinic agents in an effort to alleviate some of the toxicities seen with the 2-nitroimidazole radiosensitizers evaluated in the clinic. Several compounds in this series were potent radiosensitizers in vitro, with sensitizer enhancement ratios of 2.0-2.3 at concentrations less than 0.5 mM. Compounds with potent in vitro activity were also evaluated in vivo. However, none of these compounds showed radiosensitizing activity in vivo. The reduction potentials of these compounds were determined by cyclic voltammetry and compared to other electron-affinic radiosensitizers. In general, the reduction potentials of this series of compounds was slightly more positive than the 2-nitroimidazoles, but they fell within the range postulated as acceptable to yield in vivo activity. The results suggest that factors other than reduction potential may be responsible for the lack of in vivo radiosensitizing activity observed for this class of radiosensitizers.

A series of compounds related to alpha-(1-aziridinylmethyl)-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (RSU 1069, 1) were synthesized and evaluated as selective hypoxic cell cytotoxic agents and as radiosensitizers. The aziridine moiety was replaced with a number of other potential alkylating groups including cycloalkylaziridines and azetidines. The data indicated that modification of the aziridine of 1 resulted in a substantial decrease in the ability of the compounds to selectively kill hypoxic cells. However, these modifications did not affect the compounds' in vitro radiosensitizing activity since many of the derivatives were as potent as 1. All of the compounds that were evaluated in vivo were less toxic than 1, and several members of this series had significant activity. The best compound was trans-alpha-(((4-bromotetrahydro-2H-pyran-3-yl) amino)methyl)-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (18), which, due to its activity and log P value, is a candidate for additional in vivo studies.

Publisher Summary Radiation therapy is an important treatment modality for many forms of human cancer. Although this therapeutic approach is effective in many cases, normal tissue toxicity limits the total dose of radiation a patient can receive. Many tumors contain areas of diminished oxygen concentration that make them more resistant to the lethal effects of radiation. Advances in instrumentation and technology have provided radiotherapists with the means of targeting X-rays more precisely and eliminating some of the normal tissue damage. Physiological differences that exist between the tumor cells and normal tissues have been exploited to develop a number of clinical candidates. However, most of these compounds have failed because of a lack of potency or as a result of direct toxicity of the drug at therapeutic doses. These studies, although clinically unsuccessful, have provided information that has been useful in the design and development of new approaches and agents. This chapter discusses the progress in enhancing the effectiveness of radiotherapy and describes the use of chemical agents that, through a variety of mechanisms, selectively sensitize tumors to the lethal effects of X-rays. The most widely studied approach is the use of oxygen mimetics, which are compounds with specific physical properties (reduction potential, pKa, and log P) and which are able to penetrate into tumors and cause DNA damage by a mechanism similar to that of oxygen. The modifiers of oxygen utilization that increase the oxygen concentration in tumors or inhibit its metabolic use and repair inhibitors that interfere with the processes involved in the repair of radiation-induced DNA damage are evaluated in the chapter. In the study described in the chapter, clinical reevaluation of the use of halogenated pyrimidines as radiosensitizers was undertaken. Previous clinical studies were hampered by normal tissue toxicity and difficulties with drug administration.

The modifying effects of PD 128763 (3,4-dihydro-5-methyl-1(2H)-isoquinolinone), a potent inhibitor of poly(adenosine-diphosphate (ADP)-ribose) polymerase, on radiation-induced cell killing were examined in Chinese hamster V79 cells. This compound has an IC50 value against the purified enzyme approximately 50X lower than 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), a widely used specific inhibitor of the enzyme. Exposure of exponentially growing cells to a noncytotoxic concentration (0.5 mM) of PD 128763 for 2 h immediately following X irradiation increased their radiation sensitivity, modifying both the shoulder and the slope of the survival curve. When recovery from sublethal damage and potentially lethal damage was examined in exponential and plateau-phase cells, respectively, postirradiation incubation with 0.5 mM PD 128763 was found not only to inhibit both these processes fully, but also to enhance further the level of radiation-induced cell killing. This is in contrast to the slight effect seen with the less potent inhibitor, 3-AB. The results presented suggest that the mechanism of radiosensitization by PD 128763 is related to the potent inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase by this compound.

The affinity, relative to cortisol (1), of 17 alpha- and 21-esters and 17 alpha,21-diesters of cortisol for the glucocorticoid receptor of rat thymus cytosol was determined by a competitive binding assay which used [3H]dexamethasone. Esterification of the 21-hydroxy group of cortisol caused a loss of relative affinity to 0.046 for acetate and 0.32 for valerate. Esterification of the 17 alpha-hydroxy group resulted in an increase in relative affinity to 1.14 for acetate, 12.4 for butyrate, and 11.5 for valerate. Diesters had relative affinities which reflected both trends. Thus, the 21-acetate, 21-propionate, 21-butyrate, and 21-valerate of cortisol 17-acetate had relative affinities of 0.036, 0.093, 0.152, and 0.272. The 21-acetate, 21-propionate, and 21-butyrate of cortisol 17-valerate had relative affinities of 0.76, 1.17, and 1.33.

A series of 8-amino-9-substituted guanines was synthesized and their activity evaluated against human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). All compounds were found to be potent inhibitors of human PNP (IC50s: 0.17-126 microM). They were also selectively cytotoxic to MOLT-4 lymphoblasts in the presence of a nontoxic amount (10 microM) of the PNP substrate, 2'-deoxyguanosine (GdR). The most potent of these analogs, 2,8-diamino-1,9-dihydro-9-(2-thienylmethyl)-6H-purin-6-one (8-amino-9-(2-thienylmethyl)guanine; PD 119,229) has an IC50 of 0.17 microM (Ki = 0.067 microM), significantly more potent than the known standard, 8-aminoguanosine (IC50 = 1.40 microM). Thus it represents the most potent PNP inhibitor known to date when tested without limiting the concentration of inorganic phosphate.

Aus der Acetoxy-Verbindung (I) wird das Olefin (II) nach bekanntem Verfahren erhalten, das auch aus der Verbindung (IIIa) uber den Tetrahydropyranyl-ether (IIIb) zuganglich ist.

The effect of 46 1,4-dihydropyridine-type calcium channel antagonists on the tonic contractile response of longitudinal muscle strips of guinea pig ileum was determined. 2,6-Dimethyl-3,5-dicarbomethoxy-4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridine (13) and 13 ortho-, 15 meta-, and seven para-monosubstituted and 10 polysubstituted aromatic derivatives of 13 were studied. The pharmacological activities of the monosubstituted derivatives were best correlated by eq 10, log 1/C = 0.68 pi + 2.50 sigma m -0.47Lmeta -3.40B1para + 11.31, which had a correlation coefficient of 0.89. The full data set was best correlated by eq 11, log 1/C = 0.62 pi + 1.96 sigma m -0.44Lmeta -3.26B1para -1.51Lmeta' + 14.23, which had a correlation coefficient of 0.90. Equations of similar form but involving an ortho steric term were found to correlate the radioligand binding data for this class of compounds.

Certain α-[(2-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]-aziridinylethanols and the corresponding aziridine-ring opened analogs are useful as radiation sensitizers for X-irradiation therapy of tumors.