Immunosuppressive agents

Abstract

A suppression of the human immune system is accomplished by administering to the person an effective amount of a non-toxic thioheterocycle compound having the formula ##STR1## wherein R1 is a heterocycle ring system, R2 is a hydrogen, alkyl or aryl group, and R3 is a hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or nitroaryl group.

Description

This invention relates to immunosuppressive agents.

The purine derivative azathioprine interfers with cell replication, and has immunosuppressive and antileukamic properties. It is used extensively as a drug to treat a wide range of chronic inflammatory diseases in which immune mechanisms are involved such as rheumatoid arthritis; chronic active hepatitis; kidney disease; skin disease; and multiple sclerosis. It is also used to inhibit the rejection of transplanted organs such as kidneys. However, its beneficial therapeutic effects are compromised by the fact that it is toxic to bone marrow. It is the object of the present invention to provide an immunosuppressive agent which does not have this disadvantage.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a compound for use as an immunosuppressive agent, said compound having the formula: ##STR2## in which R.sup.1 comprises a heterocyclic ring system, a homocyclic ring system, a combined heterocyclic and homocyclic ring system, alkoxycarbonylalkyl or aryloxycarbonylalkyl group and wherein

R.sup.1 does not comprise ##STR3## or isomers thereof. R.sup.2 is alkyl, aryl or hydrogen and R.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or nitroaryl Preferably R.sup.2 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or propyl; and R.sup.3 is hydrogen, methyl or 4-nitrophenyl.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said compounds which are used as immunosuppressive agents have the following formula: ##STR4## in which R.sup.2 is hydrogen, or methyl or ethyl or propel; and

R.sup.3 is hydrogen or methyl or 4-nitrophenyl, and in which R.sup.1 may be one of the following: ##STR5## in which R.sup.4 is hydrogen or methyl or ethyl or propyl or phenyl or 1-naphthyl.

2. ##STR6## in which R.sup.5 is hydrogen or trifluoromethyl or phenyl or

4-chlorophenyl or 4-methoxyphenyl or 3-pyridyl

3. ##STR7## in which R.sup.6 is hydrogen or phenyl or chlorophenyl or

4-methoxyphenyl

4. ##STR8## in which R.sup.10 is hydrogen or an alkoxy group; and

R.sup.7 is hydrogen, alkyl, nitro, halide or an, alkoxy group; and R.sup.8 is hydrogen, halide or an alkoxy group; and R.sup.9 is hydrogen or an alkoxy group

5. ##STR9## in which R.sup.11 is hydrogen, methyl, or hydroxyl; and

R.sup.12 is hydrogen or methyl; and X is nitrogen or C--H

6. ##STR10## in which Z is oxygen or sulphur or N--H; and

Y is C--H or nitrogen

7. ##STR11## in which R.sup.13 is hydrogen or an amino or carboxyl group; and

R.sup.14 is hydrogen or methyl; and R.sup.15 is hydrogen or methyl

8. ##STR12## in which R.sup.16 is alkyl or aryl

9. ##STR13##

10. ##STR14## in which R.sup.17 is alkyl or aryl

11. ##STR15##

12. ##STR16## in which R.sup.18 is alkyl or aryl

13. ##STR17##

Specific illustrative examples of the first embodiment of the invention are as follows: ##STR18##

Some of the compounds, as referred to above are previously unknown.

Therefore, according to a further aspect of the invention there are provided compounds comprising the following formula: ##STR19## wherein the molecular groups R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are defined as one of the following:

1. R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR20## in which R.sup.4 is hydrogen or methyl;

R.sup.2 is ethyl; and R.sup.3 is methyl OR R.sup.2 is methyl and R.sup.3 is hydrogen; and R.sup.4 is phenyl or 1-naphthyl OR

2. R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR21## in which R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.5 are one of the following combinations:

R.sup.2 is methyl, R.sup.3 is 4-nitrophenyl, and R.sup.5 is hydrogen; or R.sup.2 is methyl, R.sup.3 is hydrogen, and R.sup.5 is trifluoromethyl; OR R.sup.2 is ethyl, R.sup.3 is methyl, and R.sup.5 is hydrogen; or R.sup.2 is methyl, R.sup.3 is hydrogen, and R.sup.5 is phenyl; or R.sup.2 is methyl, R.sup.3 is hydrogen, and R.sup.5 is 4-chlorophenyl; or R.sup.2 is methyl, R.sup.3 is hydrogen, and R.sup.5 is 4-methoxyphenyl; or R.sup.2 is methyl, R.sup.3 is hydrogen, and R.sup.5 is 3-pyridyl OR

3. R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR22## in which R.sup.2 is methyl; and

R.sup.3 is hydrogen; and R.sup.6 is hydrogen or phenyl or 4-chlorophenyl or 4-methoxyphenyl OR

4. R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR23## in which R.sup.2 is methyl; and

R.sup.3 is hydrogen, and R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 ARE one of the following combinations: R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 are all hydrogen and R.sup.7 is methyl; or R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 are all hydrogen and R.sup.7 is a nitro group; or R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are both hydrogen, R.sup.7 is fluorine, and R.sup.8 is chlorine; or R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are both hydrogen, and R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are both methoxy groups; or R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are both hydrogen and R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are both methoxy groups OR

5. R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR24## in which R.sup.2 is methyl; and

R.sup.3 is hydrogen; and R.sup.11 R.sup.12 and X are defined as one of the following combinations: R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 are both hydrogen, and X is C--H; or R.sup.11 is a hydroxy group, R.sup.12 is hydrogen, and X is nitrogen OR R.sup.2 is ethyl; and R.sup.3, R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 are all methyl; and X is nitrogen OR

6. R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR25## in which R.sup.2 is methyl; and

R.sup.3 is hydrogen; and Y and Z are defined as one of the following combinations: Y is C--H and Z is oxygen; or Y is nitrogen and Z is sulphur; or Y is nitrogen and Z is N--H OR

7. R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR26## in which R.sup.2 is methyl; and

R.sup.3 is hydrogen; and R.sup.13, R.sup.14, and R.sup.15 are defined in either of the following combinations: R.sup.13 is hydrogen, and R.sup.14 and R.sup.15 are both methyl; or R.sup.13 is carboxyl, and R.sup.14 and R.sup.15 are both hydrogen OR

8. R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR27## in which R.sup.2 is methyl; and

R.sup.3 is hydrogen; and R.sup.16 is methyl or phenyl OR

9. R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR28## OR

10. R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR29## OR

11. R.sup.1 is defined as the following; ##STR30##

Referring now to Reaction Scheme 1, azathioprine I was originally designed as a "pro-drug" for 6-mercaptopurine II, to which it is rapidly converted by red blood cells. 6-mercaptopurine II has immunosuppressive properties, but the mechanism of its action is unclear. ##STR31##

It would appear that the immunosuppressive action of azathioprine I is due not solely to prior conversion of 6-mercaptopurine II in the body, but to the immunosuppressive action of azathioprine I itself. The mechanism of action of azathioprine I differs from that of 6-mercaptopurine II. There is strong evidence to suggest that 6-mercaptopurine II is converted in vivo into a nucleotide metabolite that is associated with bone marrow toxicity. There is no evidence to suggest that metabolites derived from the 1-methyl-4-nitroimidazole moiety of azathioprine give rise to toxicity.

It is thought that azathioprine I alkylates thiol groups in the lymphocyte cell membrane, most probably by a process of addition-elimination with the consequent release of 6-mercaptopurine II. It is further supposed that the alkylation of the lymphocyte results in immunosuppression, whilst the 6-mercaptopurine II gives rise, as stated above, via its nucleotide metabolite, to bone marrow toxicity. Support for this hypothesis is provided by the fact that lymphocyte cell membranes are richly endowed with thiol groups, and by the known propensity of azathioprine to react with thiols both in vitro and in vivo.

5-(1-alkyl-4-nitroimidazole) derivatives VI of relatively non toxic alkyl thiols or aryl thiols V are therefore suitable candidates for evaluation as good, relatively non toxic immunosuppressive agents, as is shown in Reaction Scheme 2. ##STR32##

Examples of immunosuppressive agents of this kind are shown previously in examples 1-43. It is not intended that the invention be limited to these illustrative examples.

Compounds 1 to 17, 19 to 22, 25 to 32, 34 and 36 .to 43 may be synthesised, for example, by reaction of 5-chloro-1-methyl-4-nitroimidazole lV with the appropriate thiol V and potassium carbonate in a suitable solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, or;water. Compounds 18, 23, 24 and 35 may be synthesised, for example from 5-chloro-1-ethyl-2-methyl-4-nitrotmidazole Vll and the appropriate thiol under suitable conditions, such as, for example, in acetone in the presence of potassium carbonate.

Sixteen of these compounds were screened for immunosuppressive activity by means of the human mixed lymphocyte reaction, which is well known and need not be further described here, the results of which are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1______________________________________ Concentration % InhibitionCompound of Solution (.mu.M) of .sup.3 M-Thymidine______________________________________I (azathioprine) 25 7921 10 8922 10 8232 25 981 36 982 25 864 50 595 25 946 25 4115 25 7616 25 4719 25 2918 25 478 25 879 25 2713 25 3430 25 65______________________________________

The individual figures in the right hand column of the above table are directly proportioned to immunosuppressive activity.

As can be seen from Table 1 all of the compounds screened for immunosuppressive activity displayed significant immunosuppression, and six were substantially more active than azathioprine at the same concentration (25 .mu.M).

Table 2 shows the measure of the immunosuppressive activity and toxicity of compounds 21,22,32, and 11.

TABLE 2______________________________________ Immunosuppressive Therapeutic activity.sup.a Toxicity.sup.b indexCompound ED.sub.50 LD.sub.25 ED.sub.50 /LD.sub.25______________________________________I (azathioprine) 7.9 42.5 5.3821 2.8 c vh22 3.15 d vh32 1.611 24.0 e vh______________________________________ .sup.a ED.sub.50 = concentration (.mu.M) which brings about 50% inhibitio of .sup.3 Hthymidine incorporation in the human mixed lymphocyte reaction lower figures indicate increased reactivity .sup.b LD.sub.25 = concentration (.mu.M) at which 25% of the cells are killed: lower figures indicate increased toxicity .sup.c No LD.sub.25 because only 19% of cells killed at 100 .mu.M .sup.d No LD.sub.25 because only 15% of cells killed at 215 .mu.M .sup.e No LD.sub.25 because only 16% of cells killed at 25 .mu.M (For c, d and e these are maximum values: no more cells were killed at higher concentrations) vh very high

Referring now to Table 2, imidazole derivatives 21 and 22 and the triazole derivative 32 are shown to be substantially more immunosuppressive than azathioprine and also considerably less toxic to lymphocytes. Therapeutic indices for these compounds are therefore at least an order of magnitude greater than for azathioprine.

The compound 11 in which the 6-mercaptopurine moiety of azathioprine is replaced by 8-hydroxy-6-mercaptopurine moiety, is less immunosuppressive than azathioprine according to the mixed human lymphocyte reaction, as is shown in Table 2, but is much less toxic to the lymphocytes. The therapeutic index of compound 11 is therefore much greater than that of azathioprine, according to these tests. The significance of this result resides in the fact that 8-hydroxy-6-mercaptopurine VIII is known to be a non toxic metabolite of azathioprine, and its metabolic fate is known.

Compound 32 showed pronounced immunosuppressive activity in vivo. It was tested in CBA mice transplanted with skin from Balb/c mice, according to the skin grafting technique described by Billingham and Medawar (J. Exp. Biol, 28,385-405 (1951). The effect compound 32 had on skin graft survival was compared with a control of saline, and with the standard immunosuppressive agent azathioprine. All drugs were injected into the peritoneum starting three hours before surgery and then daily until the graft had fully rejected. Mice were placed in groups at random, and rejection of the graft was evaluated by visual inspection by an independent observer. The results are recorded in Table 3.

TABLE 3______________________________________ Number Dosage* Graft survivalTreatment of mice (mg/Kg/day) (Mean .+-. SEM days)______________________________________Control 28 NA 12.5 .+-. 0.4Compound 32 24 45 14.2 .+-. 0.4athloprine 29 52 12.4 .+-. 0.3______________________________________ *Compound 32 and azathioprine were adminstered in equimolar amounts

The prolongation of graft survival caused by compound 32 (1.7 days) compared to a saline control is significant statistically (p=5.9.times.10.sup.-3). Similarly, the prolongation of graft survival caused by compound 32 (1.8 days) compared to azathioprine is also highly significant (p=2.84.times.10.sup.-3).

It is to be understood that the above described examples are for illustration only and that many modifications and variations can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of suppressing the immune system of a human comprising administering to a person requiring the same an effective amount of a compound of the following formula: ##STR33## in which R.sup.1 is a heterocyclic ring system selected from the group consisting of: ##STR34## in which R.sup.4 is hydrogen or methyl or ethyl or propyl or phenyl or 1-naphthyl, ##STR35## in which R.sup.5 is hydrogen or trifluoromethyl or phenyl or 4-chlorophenyl or 4-methoxyphenyl or 3-pyridyl, ##STR36## in which R.sup.6 is hydrogen or phenyl or chlorophenyl or 4-methoxyphenl, ##STR37## in which R.sup.11 is hydrogen, methyl, or hydroxyl; and

R.sup.12 is hydrogen or methyl; and

X is nitrogen or C--H, ##STR38## in which Z is oxygen or sulphur or N--H; and

Y is C--H or nitrogen, and ##STR39## R.sup.2 is a hydrogen, alkyl or aryl; and R.sup.3 is a hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or nitroaryl.

2. A method as claimed in 1 in which R.sup.2 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or propyl; and R.sup.3 is hydrogen, methyl or 4-nitrophenyl.

3. A method of suppressing the immune system of a human comprising administering to a person requiring the same an effective amount of a compound having the following formula: ##STR40## in which R.sup.2 is hydrogen, or methyl or ethyl or propyl, and

R.sup.3 is hydrogen or methyl or 4-nitrophenyl,

and in which R.sup.1 may be one of the following ##STR41## in which R.sup.10 is hydrogen or an alkoxy group; and

R.sup.7 is hydrogen, alkyl, nitro, halide or an alkoxy group; and

R.sup.8 is hydrogen, halide or an alkoxy group; and

R.sup.9 is hydrogen or an alkoxy group or ##STR42## in which Z is oxygen or sulphur or N--H; and Y is C--H or nitrogen or ##STR43##

4. A compound comprising the following formula: ##STR44## wherein the molecular groups R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are defined as one of the following:

R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR45## in which R.sup.2 is methyl; and

R.sup.3 is hydrogen; and

R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 are one of the following combinations;

R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are both hydrogen, and R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are both methoxy groups; or

R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 are all hydrogen and R.sup.7 is methyl; or

R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 are all hydrogen and R.sup.7 is a nitro group; or

R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are both hydrogen, R.sup.7 is fluorine, and R.sup.8 is chlorine; or

R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are both hydrogen and R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are both methoxy groups or

R.sup.1 is defined as the following: ##STR46## in which R.sup.2 is methyl; and

R.sup.3 is hydrogen; and

Y and Z are defined as one of the following combinations;

Y is C--H and Z is oxygen; or

Y is nitrogen and Z is sulphur; or

Y is nitrogen and Z is N--H.