New bicyclam-AZT conjugates: design, synthesis, anti-HIV evaluation, and their interaction with CXCR-4 coreceptor

J Med Chem. 1999 Jan 28;42(2):229-41. doi: 10.1021/jm980358u.

Abstract

We report the synthesis of mono- and bis-tetraazamacrocycle-AZT conjugates. All new compounds were screened for their ability to inhibit HIV-1 replication in MT4 cell line and were compared to AZT alone. It appears that N-protected covalent prodrugs are equipotent to AZT as inhibitor of HIV replication, while N-deprotected analogues exhibit both higher activity and selectivity against HIV-infected cells. The most active antiviral compounds 27, 28, 34, and 35 were then tested for their binding capability to CXCR-4 receptor. N-Boc analogues 27 and 34 were only weakly effective; in contrast, N-deprotected conjugates 28 and 35 were antagonists to 12G5 mAb binding until 0.05 and 5 microg/mL, respectively. The stability of compound 28 in human plasma was evaluated, and half-life was found to be approximately 8 h in the described conditions. All these results seem to demonstrate the confidence of our prodrug approach, with analogue 28 emerging as the best candidate as lead compound in HIV-1 polytherapy perspective.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology
  • Benzylamines
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclams
  • Drug Design
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / drug effects*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment
  • Virus Replication / drug effects
  • Zidovudine / chemistry*
  • Zidovudine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Benzylamines
  • Cyclams
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Zidovudine
  • plerixafor