Structure-activity relationship and studies on the molecular mechanism of leishmanicidal N,C-coupled arylisoquinolinium salts.

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Ponte-Sucre A, Gulder T, Wegehaupt A, Albert C, Rikanovic C, Schaeflein L, Frank A, Schultheis M, Unger M, Holzgrabe U, Bringmann G, Moll H

Structure-activity relationship and studies on the molecular mechanism of leishmanicidal N,C-coupled arylisoquinolinium salts.

J Med Chem. 2009 Feb 12;52(3):626-36. doi: 10.1021/jm801084u.

PubMed ID

19117415 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Alternative drugs against leishmaniasis are desperately needed. Antimonials, the main chemotherapeutic tool, cause serious side effects and promote chemoresistance. We previously demonstrated that representatives of N,C-linked arylisoquinolines are promising leishmanicidal drug candidates. We now performed structure-activity relationship studies varying the aryl portion of our lead substrate. The new series of compounds show an enhanced selectivity against Leishmania major in comparison to their major host cell, the macrophage. Our results suggest that the arylisoquinolinium salts decrease the macrophage infection rate acting directly on the intracellular parasites. However, the activity of the 4'-i-propyl derivative might also involve the modulation of cytokine and nitric oxide production by host macrophages. Additionally, this isoquinoline acts synergistically with amphotericin B and does not interact with drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in the metabolism of antileishmanial drugs. The results demonstrate that the newly synthesized structurally simplified N,C-coupled arylisoquinolinium salts are promising candidates to be considered as leishmanicidal pharmacophores.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Binding Properties

Drug	Target	Property	Measurement	pH	Temperature (°C)
Quinidine	Cytochrome P450 2D6	IC 50 (nM)	20	N/A	N/A	Details
Quinidine	Cytochrome P450 2D6	Ki (nM)	9.8	N/A	N/A	Details