Browsing by Author "Bartolucci, Gianluca"

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Ebselen analogues with dual human neutrophil elastase (HNE) inhibitory and antiradical activity
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024-01) Crocetti, Letizia; Catarzi, Francesca; Giovannoni, Maria Paola; Vergelli, Claudia; Bartolucci, Gianluca; Pallecchi, Marco; Paoli, Paola; Rossi, Patrizia; Lippi, Martina; Schepetkin, Igor A.; Quinn, Mark T.; Guerrini, Gabriella
Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) plays an essential role in host defense against bacteria but is also involved in several respiratory diseases. Recent reports suggest that compounds exhibiting a combination of HNE inhibitory activity with antiradical properties may be therapeutically beneficial for the treatment of respiratory diseases involving inflammation and oxidative stress. We report here the synthesis and biological evaluation of novel ebselen analogues exhibiting HNE inhibitory and antiradical activities. HNE inhibition was evaluated in an enzymatic system using human HNE, whereas antiradical activity was evaluated in a cell-based assay system using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated murine bone marrow leukocytes as the source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). HNE inhibition was due to the N–CO group targeting Ser195-OH at position 2 of the scaffold, while antiradical activity was due to the presence of the selenium atom. The most active compounds 4d, 4f, and 4j exhibited a good balance between anti-HNE (IC50 = 0.9–1.4 μM) and antiradical activity (IC50 = 0.05–0.7 μM). Additionally, the solid-state structure of 4d was determined and compared to that of the similar compound N-propionyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one.
Exploration of nitrogen heterocycle scaffolds for the development of potent human neutrophil elastase inhibitors
(Elsevier BV, 2021-01) Cantini, Niccolò; Khlebnikov, Andrei I.; Crocetti, Letizia; Schepetkin, Igor A; Floresta, Giuseppe; Guerrini, Gabriella; Vergelli, Claudia; Bartolucci, Gianluca; Quinn, Mark T.; Giovannoni, Maria Paola
Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is a potent protease that plays an important physiological role in many processes but is also involved in a variety of pathologies that affect the pulmonary system. Thus, compounds able to inhibit HNE proteolytic activity could represent effective therapeutics. We present here a new series of pyrazolopyridine and pyrrolopyridine derivatives as HNE inhibitors designed as modifications of our previously synthesized indazoles and indoles in order to evaluate effects of the change in position of the nitrogen and/or the insertion of an additional nitrogen in the scaffolds on biological activity and chemical stability. We obtained potent HNE inhibitors with IC50 values in the low nanomolar range (10–50 nM), and some compounds exhibited improved chemical stability in phosphate buffer (t1/2 > 6 h). Molecular modeling studies demonstrated that inhibitory activity was strictly dependent on the formation of a Michaelis complex between the OH group of HNE Ser195 and the carbonyl carbon of the inhibitor. Moreover, in silico ADMET calculations predicted that most of the new compounds would be optimally absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted. Thus, these new and potent HNE inhibitors represent novel leads for future therapeutic development.
Synthesis and analytical characterization of new thiazol-2-(3H)-ones as human neutrophil elastase (HNE) inhibitors
(2018-01) Crocetti, Letizia; Bartolucci, Gianluca; Cilibrizzi, Agostino; Giovannoni, Maria Paola; Guerrini, Gabriella; Iacovone, Antonella; Menicatti, Marta; Schepetkin, Igor A.; Khlebnikov, Andrei I.; Quinn, Mark T.; Vergelli, Claudia
Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is a potent serine protease belonging to the chymotrypsin family and is involved in a variety of pathologies affecting the respiratory system. Thus, compounds able to inhibit HNE proteolytic activity could represent effective therapeutics. We present here the synthesis of new thiazol-2-(3H)-ones as an elaboration of potent HNE inhibitors with an isoxazol-5-(2H)-one scaffold that we recently identified. Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic techniques and tandem mass spectrometry allowed us to correctly assign the structure of the final compounds arising from both tautomers of the thiazol-2-(3H)-one nucleus (N-3 of the thiazol-2-(3H)-one and 3-OH of the thiazole). All new compounds were tested as HNE inhibitors, and no activity was found at the highest concentration used (40 ÂµM), demonstrating that the thiazol-2-(3H)-one is not a good scaffold for HNE inhibitors. Molecular modelling experiments indicate that the low-energy pose might limit the nucleophilic attack on the endocyclic carbonyl group of the thiazolone-based compounds by HNE catalytic Ser195, in contrast to isoxazol-5-(2H)-one analogues.