Direct angiotensin AT2 receptor stimulation using a novel AT2 receptor agonist, compound 21, evokes neuroprotection in conscious hypertensive rats

Background: In this study, the neuroprotective effect of a novel nonpeptide AT2R agonist, C21, was examined in a conscious model of stroke to verify a class effect of AT2R agonists as neuroprotective agents. Methods and Results: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were pre-treated for 5 days prior to stroke with C21 alone or in combination with the AT2R antagonist PD123319. In a separate series of experiments C21 was administered in a series of 4 doses commencing 6 hours after stroke. A focal reperfusion model of ischemia was induced in conscious SHR by administering endothelin-1 to the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Motor coordination was assessed at 1 and 3 days after stroke and post mortem analyses of infarct volumes, microglia activation and neuronal survival were performed at 72 hours post MCA occlusion. When given prior to stroke, C21 dose dependently decreased infarct volume, which is consistent with the behavioural findings illustrating an improvement in motor deficit. During the pre-treatment protocol C21 was shown to enhance microglia activation, which are likely to be evoking protection by releasing brain derived neurotrophic factor. When drug administration was delayed until 6 hours after stroke, C21 still reduced brain injury. Conclusion: These results indicate that centrally administered C21 confers neuroprotection against stroke damage. This benefit is likely to involve various mechanisms, including microglial activation of endogenous repair and enhanced cerebroperfusion. Thus, we have confirmed the neuroprotective effect of AT2R stimulation using a nonpeptide compound which highlights the clinical potential of the AT2R agonists for future development

Angiotensin II, a Neuropeptide at the Frontier between Endocrinology and Neuroscience: Is There a Link between the Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor and Alzheimer’s Disease?

Amyloid-β peptide deposition, abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau, as well as inflammation and vascular damage, are associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a peripheral hormone, as well as a neuropeptide, which binds two major receptors, namely the Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and the type 2 receptor (AT2R). Activation of the AT2R counteracts most of the AT1R-mediated actions, promoting vasodilation, decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, both in the brain and in the cardiovascular system. There is evidence that treatment with AT1R blockers (ARBs) attenuates learning and memory deficits. Studies suggest that the therapeutic effects of ARBs may reflect this unopposed activation of the AT2R in addition to the inhibition of the AT1R. Within the context of AD, modulation of AT2R signaling could improve cognitive performance not only through its action on blood flow/brain microcirculation but also through more specific effects on neurons. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge and potential therapeutic relevance of central actions of this enigmatic receptor. In particular, we highlight the possibility that selective AT2R activation by non-peptide and highly selective agonists, acting on neuronal plasticity, could represent new pharmacological tools that may help improve impaired cognitive performance in AD and other neurological cognitive disorders

Design and synthesis of HIV-1 protease inhibitors

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the causative agent of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The C2-symmetric HIV-1 protease is one of the prime targets for chemotherapy in the treatment of the HIV infection. Inhibition of HIV-1 protease leads to immature and non-infectious viral particles. Design and synthesis of a number of C2-symmetrical C-terminal duplicated HIV-1 protease inhibitors and subsequent biological evaluation is presented in this thesis. A versatile three step synthetic route has been developed using a carbohydrate as an inexpensive chiral starting material thus allowing inhibitors with the desired stereochemistry to be obtained. By this efficient method a series of tailor-made P2/P2' modified inhibitors were synthesized, and these were evaluated on purified HIV-1 protease and in HIV-1 infected cell assays. Highly active HIV-1 protease inhibitors were identified among the tested compounds. Analyses of the X-ray crystal structures of two of the most active compounds, as complexes with the protease, guided the further design of P1/P1' elongated inhibitors. Substitutions in the para-position of the P1/P1' benzyl groups were promoted efficiently by microwave-irradiated of palladium-catalyzed reactions. Particular modifications in the P1/P1' region of the inhibitors resulted in a 40-fold increase of the anti-viral activity on HIV-1 infected cells. Furthermore, a fast, efficient, and general one-pot microwave enhanced synthesis protocol for transformations of organo-bromides to tetrazoles was developed and applied on the inhibitor scaffold. Attachment of linker molecules to the P1/P1' benzyl groups of one inhibitor was used to develop of sensitivity enhancer tools in surface plasmon resonance biosensor assays. These new assays enable the evaluation of low-molecular weight compounds as HIV-1 protease inhibitors

Design and synthesis of HIV-1 protease inhibitors

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the causative agent of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The C2-symmetric HIV-1 protease is one of the prime targets for chemotherapy in the treatment of the HIV infection. Inhibition of HIV-1 protease leads to immature and non-infectious viral particles. Design and synthesis of a number of C2-symmetrical C-terminal duplicated HIV-1 protease inhibitors and subsequent biological evaluation is presented in this thesis. A versatile three step synthetic route has been developed using a carbohydrate as an inexpensive chiral starting material thus allowing inhibitors with the desired stereochemistry to be obtained. By this efficient method a series of tailor-made P2/P2' modified inhibitors were synthesized, and these were evaluated on purified HIV-1 protease and in HIV-1 infected cell assays. Highly active HIV-1 protease inhibitors were identified among the tested compounds. Analyses of the X-ray crystal structures of two of the most active compounds, as complexes with the protease, guided the further design of P1/P1' elongated inhibitors. Substitutions in the para-position of the P1/P1' benzyl groups were promoted efficiently by microwave-irradiated of palladium-catalyzed reactions. Particular modifications in the P1/P1' region of the inhibitors resulted in a 40-fold increase of the anti-viral activity on HIV-1 infected cells. Furthermore, a fast, efficient, and general one-pot microwave enhanced synthesis protocol for transformations of organo-bromides to tetrazoles was developed and applied on the inhibitor scaffold. Attachment of linker molecules to the P1/P1' benzyl groups of one inhibitor was used to develop of sensitivity enhancer tools in surface plasmon resonance biosensor assays. These new assays enable the evaluation of low-molecular weight compounds as HIV-1 protease inhibitors

High affinity rigidified AT(2) receptor ligands with indane scaffolds

Rigidification of the isobutyl side chain of drug-like AT(2) receptor agonists and antagonists that are structurally related to the first reported selective AT(2) receptor agonist 1 (C21) delivered bioactive indane derivatives. Four enantiomer pairs were synthesized and the enantiomers were isolated in an optical purity >99%. The enantiomers 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a and 10b bind to the AT(2) receptor with moderate (K-i = 54-223 nM) to high affinity (K-i = 2.2-7.0 nM). The enantiomer with positive optical rotation (+) exhibited the highest affinity at the receptor. The indane derivatives 7b and 10a are among the most potent AT(2) receptor antagonists reported so far. As illustrated by the enantiomer pairs 7a/b and 10a/b, an alteration at the stereogenic center has a pronounced impact on the activation process of the AT(2) receptor, and can convert agonists to antagonists and vice versa

Interconversion of Functional Activity by Minor Structural Alterations in Nonpeptide AT₂ Receptor Ligands

Migration of the methylene imidazole side chain in the first reported selective drug-like AT₂ receptor agonist C21/M024 (<b>1</b>) delivered the AT₂ receptor antagonist C38/M132 (<b>2</b>). We now report that the AT₂ receptor antagonist compound <b>4</b>, a biphenyl derivative that is structurally related to <b>2</b>, is transformed to the agonist <b>6</b> by migration of the isobutyl group. The importance of the relative position of the methylene imidazole and the isobutyl substituent is highlighted herein