In this work, we describe the identification of the 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazin-3-one as a new versatile scaffold for the development of adenosine human (h) receptor antagonists. The new chemotype ensued from a molecular simplification approach applied to our previously reported 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one series. Hence, a set of novel 8-amino-2-aryl-1,2,4-triazolopyrazin-3-one derivatives, featured by different substituents on the 2-phenyl ring (R) and at position 6 (R), was synthesized with the main purpose of targeting the hA adenosine receptor (AR). Several compounds possessed nanomolar affinity for the hA AR (K = 2.9-10 nM) and some, very interestingly, also showed high selectivity for the target. One selected potent hA AR antagonist (12, R = H, R = 4-methoxyphenyl) demonstrated some ability to counteract MPP-induced neurotoxicity in cultured human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, a widely used in vitro Parkinson's disease model. Docking studies at hAR structures were performed to rationalize the observed affinity data.

In this study, we describe the design and synthesis of new N-substituted-2-(2-furanyl) thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine-5,7-diamines (2-18) and their pharmacological characterization as A adenosine receptor (AR) antagonists by using in vitro and in vivo assays. In competition binding experiments two derivatives (13 and 14) emerged as outstanding ligands showing two different affinity values (KH and KL) for the hA receptor with the high affinity KH value in the femtomolar range. The in vitro functional activity assays, performed by using cyclic AMP experiments, assessed that they behave as potent inverse agonists at the hA AR. Compounds 13 and 14 were evaluated for their antinociceptive activity in acute experimental models of pain showing an effect equal to or greater than that of morphine. Overall, these novel inverse agonists might represent potential drug candidates for an alternative approach to the management of pain.

A new series of amino-3,5-dicyanopyridines (3-28) as analogues of the adenosine hA receptor agonist BAY60-6583 (compound 1) was synthesized. All the compounds that interact with the hA adenosine receptor display EC values in the range 9-350 nM behaving as partial agonists, with the only exception being the 2-{[4-(4-acetamidophenyl)-6-amino-3,5-dicyanopyridin-2-yl]thio}acetamide (8) which shows a full agonist profile. Moreover, the 2-[(1H-imidazol-2-yl)methylthio)]-6-amino-4-(4-cyclopropylmethoxy-phenyl)pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile (15) turns out to be 3-fold more active than 1 although less selective. This result can be considered a real breakthrough due to the currently limited number of non-adenosine hA AR agonists reported in literature. To simulate the binding mode of nucleoside and non-nucleoside agonists at the hA AR, molecular docking studies were performed at homology models of this AR subtype developed by using two crystal structures of agonist-bound A AR as templates. These investigations allowed us to represent a hypothetical binding mode of hA receptor agonists belonging to the amino-3,5-dicyanopyridine series and to rationalize the observed SAR.

In this study, we determined the crystal structure of an engineered human adenosine A 2A receptor bound to a partial agonist and compared it to structures cocrystallized with either a full agonist or an antagonist/inverse agonist. The interaction between the partial agonist, belonging to a class of dicyanopyridines, and amino acids in the ligand binding pocket inspired us to develop a small library of derivatives and assess their affinity in radioligand binding studies and potency and intrinsic activity in a functional, label-free, intact cell assay. It appeared that some of the derivatives retained the partial agonist profile, whereas other ligands turned into inverse agonists. We rationalized this remarkable behavior with additional computational docking studies.

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In this paper, we describe the discovery of the 3-hydroxyquinazoline-2,4-dione as a useful scaffold to obtain potent inhibitors of the tumor-associated human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs) IX and XII. A set of derivatives (1-29), bearing different substituents on the fused benzo ring (Cl, NO, NH, CF, ureido, amido, heterocycles), were synthesized, and several of them showed nanomolar activity in inhibiting the hCA IX and XII isoforms, while they were ineffective against the cytosolic enzymes hCAs I and II. Some selected compounds were tested for their antiproliferative activity against HT-29 colon cancer cell lines. After 48 h of treatment with the lower dose (30 μM), derivatives 12, 14, 15, and 19 were significantly active, inducing a mortality by about 50% in both normoxia and hypoxia. This finding led us to hypothesize for these compounds more than one mechanism of action involving both CAs IX and XII and other not yet identified target(s).

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