Identification of novel ligands for the Z-DNA binding protein by structure-based virtual screening. (49/193)

We describe the first discovery of small molecules that bind to the Z-DNA binding domain of human ADAR1 (Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA 1) by structure-based virtual screening of chemical database. These molecules bind to Z-DNA binding domain to inhibit the interaction with the Z-DNA. Many viruses have Z-DNA binding proteins, which are structurally similar to Z-DNA binding domain of human ADAR1, and the ability of Z-DNA binding protein to bind the Z-DNA is essential for their pathogenicity. Therefore, the molecules identified in this study may serve as novel leads for the design of agents that inhibit biological functions of those pathogenic viruses.  (+info)

Effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibition on gastrointestinal function, meal appearance, and glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes. (50/193)

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether alterations in meal absorption and gastric emptying contribute to the mechanism by which inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) lower postprandial glucose concentrations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We simultaneously measured gastric emptying, meal appearance, endogenous glucose production, and glucose disappearance in 14 subjects with type 2 diabetes treated with either vildaglipitin (50 mg b.i.d.) or placebo for 10 days using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover design. RESULTS: Fasting (7.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 7.9 +/- 0.5 mmol/l) and peak postprandial (14.1 +/- 0.6 vs. 15.9 +/- 0.9 mmol/l) glucose concentrations were lower (P < 0.01) after vildagliptin treatment than placebo. Despite lower glucose concentrations, postprandial insulin and C-peptide concentrations did not differ during the two treatments. On the other hand, the integrated (area under the curve) postprandial glucagon concentrations were lower (20.9 +/- 1.6 vs. 23.7 +/- 1.3 mg/ml per 5 h, P < 0.05), and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) concentrations were higher (1,878 +/- 270 vs. 1,277 +/- 312 pmol/l per 5 h, P = 0.001) during vildagliptin administration compared with placebo. Gastric emptying and meal appearance did not differ between treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Vildagliptin does not alter gastric emptying or the rate of entry of ingested glucose into the systemic circulation in humans. DPP-4 inhibitors do not lower postprandial glucose concentrations by altering the rate of nutrient absorption or delivery to systemic circulation. Alterations in islet function, secondary to increased circulating concentrations of active GLP-1, are associated with the decreased postprandial glycemic excursion observed in the presence of vildagliptin.  (+info)

Transport of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin by human organic anion transporter 3, organic anion transporting polypeptide 4C1, and multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein. (51/193)

Sitagliptin, a selective dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor recently approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, is excreted into the urine via active tubular secretion and glomerular filtration in humans. In this report, we demonstrate that sitagliptin is transported by human organic anion transporter hOAT3 (Km=162 microM), organic anion transporting polypeptide OATP4C1, and multidrug resistance (MDR) P-glycoprotein (Pgp), but not by human organic cation transporter 2 hOCT2, hOAT1, oligopeptide transporter hPEPT1, OATP2B1, and the multidrug resistance proteins MRP2 and MRP4. Our studies suggested that hOAT3, OATP4C1, and MDR1 Pgp might play a role in transporting sitagliptin into and out of renal proximal tubule cells, respectively. Sitagliptin did not inhibit hOAT1-mediated cidofovir uptake, but it showed weak inhibition of hOAT3-mediated cimetidine uptake (IC50=160 microM). hOAT3-mediated sitagliptin uptake was inhibited by probenecid, ibuprofen, furosemide, fenofibric acid, quinapril, indapamide, and cimetidine with IC50 values of 5.6, 3.7, 1.7, 2.2, 6.2, 11, and 79 microM, respectively. Sitagliptin did not inhibit Pgp-mediated transport of digoxin, verapamil, ritonavir, quinidine, and vinblastine. Cyclosporine A significantly inhibited Pgp-mediated transport of sitagliptin (IC50=1 microM). Our data indicate that sitagliptin is unlikely to be a perpetrator of drug-drug interactions with Pgp, hOAT1, or hOAT3 substrates at clinically relevant concentrations. Renal secretion of sitagliptin could be inhibited if coadministered with OAT3 inhibitors such as probenecid. However, the magnitude of interactions should be low, and the effects may not be clinically meaningful, due to the high safety margin of sitagliptin.  (+info)

Methotrexate and erythro-9-(2-hydroxynon-3-yl) adenine therapy for rat adjuvant arthritis and the effect of methotrexate on in vivo purine metabolism. (52/193)

The objectives were: (1) to test the association of methotrexate (MTX) efficacy in rat adjuvant arthritis (rat AA) with interference of purine biosynthesis and adenosine metabolism and (2) to test the efficacy of erythro-9-(2-hydroxynon-3-yl) adenine (EHNA), an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, and the efficacy of aminoimidazolecarboxamide (AICA) riboside plus MTX in rat AA. Radiographic and histologic examinations of the hind limbs were measures of efficacy. Urinary excretions of AICA and adenosine were markers of AICA ribotide transformylase inhibition (i.e., blockage of purine biosynthesis) and interference with adenosine metabolism, respectively. AICA and adenosine excretions increased during the day of MTX dosing (treatment day) compared to the previous baseline day in animals responding well to MTX (i.e., low radiographic and histologic scores). Based on radiographic and histologic scores, adjuvant injected rats were separated into two disease categories (i.e., no/mild and moderate/severe). Only AICA excretion was significantly elevated on the treatment day in rat AA with no/mild disease (i.e., those responding well to MTX therapy). AICA (not adenosine) excretion was significantly correlated with the above scores. EHNA was not efficacious, even at toxic levels, while AICA riboside potentiated the efficacy of MTX. The data suggests that efficacious MTX therapy in rat AA (1) blocks purine biosynthesis; (2) increases in in vivo AICA levels. Also adenosine accumulation and blockage of adenosine deaminase (i.e., by EHNA) appear to be less critical to MTX efficacy. Increased levels of AICA metabolites may suppress the immune response in rat AA.  (+info)

Synthesis of 5'-methylthio coformycins: specific inhibitors for malarial adenosine deaminase. (53/193)

Transition state theory suggests that enzymatic rate acceleration (kcat/knon) is related to the stabilization of the transition state for a given reaction. Chemically stable analogues of a transition state complex are predicted to convert catalytic energy into binding energy. Because transition state stabilization is a function of catalytic efficiency, differences in substrate specificity can be exploited in the design of tight-binding transition state analogue inhibitors. Coformycin and 2'-deoxycoformycin are natural product transition state analogue inhibitors of adenosine deaminases (ADAs). These compounds mimic the tetrahedral geometry of the ADA transition state and bind with picomolar dissociation constants to enzymes from bovine, human, and protozoan sources. The purine salvage pathway in malaria parasites is unique in that Plasmodium falciparum ADA (PfADA) catalyzes the deamination of both adenosine and 5'-methylthioadenosine. In contrast, neither human adenosine deaminase (HsADA) nor the bovine enzyme (BtADA) can deaminate 5'-methylthioadenosine. 5'-Methylthiocoformycin and 5'-methylthio-2'-deoxycoformycin were synthesized to be specific transition state mimics of the P. falciparum enzyme. These analogues inhibited PfADA with dissociation constants of 430 and 790 pM, respectively. Remarkably, they gave no detectable inhibition of the human and bovine enzymes. Adenosine deamination is involved in the essential pathway of purine salvage in P. falciparum, and prior studies have shown that inhibition of purine salvage results in parasite death. Inhibitors of HsADA are known to be toxic to humans, and the availability of parasite-specific ADA inhibitors may prevent this side-effect. The potent and P. falciparum-specific inhibitors described here have potential for development as antimalarials without inhibition of host ADA.  (+info)

Inhibition of adenosine deaminase attenuates inflammation in experimental colitis. (54/193)

Adenosine modulates the immune system and inhibits inflammation via reduction of cytokine biosynthesis and neutrophil functions. Drugs able to prevent adenosine catabolism could represent an innovative strategy to treat inflammatory bowel disorders. In this study, the effects of 4-amino-2-(2-hydroxy-1-decyl)pyrazole[3,4-d]pyrimidine (APP; novel adenosine deaminase inhibitor), erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine hydrochloride (EHNA; standard adenosine deaminase inhibitor), and dexamethasone were tested in rats with colitis induced by 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS). DNBS-treated animals received APP (5, 15, or 45 micromol/kg), EHNA (10, 30, or 90 micromol/kg), or dexamethasone (0.25 micromol/kg) i.p. for 7 days starting 1 day before colitis induction. DNBS caused bowel inflammation associated with decrease in food intake and body weight. Animals treated with APP or EHNA, but not dexamethasone, displayed greater food intake and weight gain than inflamed rats. Colitis induced increment in spleen weight, which was counteracted by all test drugs. DNBS administration was followed by macroscopic and microscopic inflammatory colonic alterations, which were ameliorated by APP, EHNA, or dexamethasone. In DNBS-treated rats, colonic myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels as well as plasma TNF-alpha and interleukin-6 were increased. All test drugs lowered these phlogistic indexes. Inflamed colonic tissues displayed an increment of inducible nitric-oxide synthase mRNA, which was unaffected by APP or EHNA, but reduced by dexamethasone. Cyclooxygenase-2 expression was unaffected by DNBS or test drugs. These findings indicate that 1) inhibition of adenosine deaminase results in a significant attenuation of intestinal inflammation and 2) the novel compound APP is more effective than EHNA in reducing systemic and intestinal inflammatory alterations.  (+info)

Review of sitagliptin phosphate: a novel treatment for type 2 diabetes. (55/193)

Sitagliptin (Januvia, Merck Pharmaceuticals) is a dipeptidyl-peptidase inhibitor (DPP-4 inhibitor) that has recently been approved for the therapy of type 2 diabetes. Like other DPP-4 inhibitors its action is mediated by increasing levels of the incretin hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP). Sitagliptin is effective in lowering HbA1c, and fasting as well as postprandial glucose in monotherapy and in combination with other oral antidiabetic agents. It stimulates insulin secretion when hyperglycemia is present and inhibits glucagon secretion. In clinical studies it is weight neutral. This article gives an overview of the mechanism of action, the pharmacology, and the clinical efficacy and safety of sitagliptin in type 2 diabetes therapy.  (+info)

Effect of adenosine deaminase inhibition upon human lymphocyte blastogenesis. (56/193)

The biochemical mechanisms by which a genetically determined deficiency of adenosine deaminase leads to immunodeficiency are still poorly understood and prompted this study. We have examined the effects of the adenosine deaminase inhibitor erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine hydrochloride (EHNA) upon the response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to the mitogen concanavalin A (Con A). Cells isolated from normal volunteers were incubated in microtiter plates in the presence of various inhibitors, and the incorporation of tritrated thymidine or leucine into macromolecular material was measured after 64 h. EHNA at a concentration of 0.3 muM, which inhibited 90% of the adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in a mononuclear preparation, impaired the incorporation of tritrated leucine into protein; 100 muM EHNA was the minimal concentration that inhibited thymidine uptake. The addition of 15 muM adenosine or 10 muM cyclic AMP to Con A-stimulated lymphocytes inhibited leucine uptake, while millimolar concentrations were required to inhibit thymidine uptake. Lower doses of adenosine and cyclic AMP stimulated thymidine incorporation. The inhibition of thymidine uptake observed with millimolar concentrations of adenosine was independent of the type of mitogen (pokeweed or Con A), the concentration of mitogen, or the medium used, but could be increased if the cells were cultured in a serum with reduced levels of adenosine deaminase. Washout experiments failed to demonstrate a critical period early in immune induction during which adenosine exerted its inhibitory effects. Noninhibitory doses of EHNA potentiated the effects of adenosine and cyclic AMP on leucine and thymidine uptake. EHNA at a concentration of 50 muM also potentiated the inhibitory effects on thymidine uptake of dibutyryl cyclic AMP, butyric acid, norepinephrine, and isoproterenol, but not theophylline. When mitogenesis was assayed by leucine incorporations, no synergy between EHNA and these compounds was apparent. Uridine relieved to some extent the inhibition of blastogenesis produced by adenosine and cyclic AMP, but not by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, norepinephreine, isoproterenol, or theophylline. Neither uridine alone nor uridine plus adenosine protected lymphocytes from the inhibitory effects of EHNA.  (+info)