Novel derivatives of phenethyl-5-bromopyridylthiourea and dihydroalkoxybenzyloxopyrimidine are dual-function spermicides with potent anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity.
Sexually active women represent the fastest growing HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) risk group. In an effort to develop a vaginal microbicidal contraceptive potentially capable of preventing HIV transmission as well as providing fertility control, we have synthesized novel non-nucleoside inhibitors (NNIs) of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and examined them for dual-function anti-HIV and spermicidal activity. Structure-based drug design by use of a computer docking procedure for the NNI binding pocket generated from nine RT-NNI crystal structures led to the synthesis of three novel NNIs: N-[2-(2, 5-dimethoxyphenethyl)]-N'-[2-(5-bromopyridyl)]-thiourea (D-PBT); N-[2-(2-fluorophenethyl)]-N'-[2-(5-bromopyridyl)]-thiourea (F-PBT); and 5-isopropyl-2-[(methylthiomethyl)thio]-6-(benzyl)-pyrimidin-4-(1H)-on e (S-DABO). The anti-HIV activity of these NNIs was compared with that of trovirdine and virucidal/spermicide, nonoxynol-9 (N-9), by measuring viral RT activity and p24 antigen production as markers of viral replication using HTLVIIIB-infected human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The effects on sperm motion kinematics and sperm membrane integrity were examined by computer-assisted sperm analysis and by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), respectively. The growth-inhibitory effects of NNI versus N-9 against normal human ectocervical and endocervical epithelial cells were tested using the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. All three NNIs were potent inhibitors of purified recombinant HIV RT and abrogated HIV replication in PBMCs at nanomolar concentrations (IC50 < 1 nM) when compared with N-9 or trovirdine (IC50 values of 2.2 microM and 0.007 microM, respectively). Two NNIs, F-PBT and S-DABO, also exhibited concentration- and time-dependent spermicidal activity. The drug concentration required to inhibit sperm motility by 50% (EC50 values) for the lead compound F-PBT versus N-9 was 147 microM and 81 microM, respectively. Sperm-immobilizing activity induced by F-PBT and S-DABO was rapid (t1/2 = 7-13 min) and irreversible. Unlike that of N-9, spermicidal activity of F-PBT and S-DABO was not accompanied by loss of acrosomal membrane as detected by fluorescent-lectin binding assay and CLSM. Whereas N-9 was cytotoxic to normal human ectocervical and endocervical cells at spermicidal doses, both F-PBT and S-DABO were selectively spermicidal. We conclude that as potent anti-HIV agents with spermicidal activity and reduced cytotoxicity, F-PBT and S-DABO show unique clinical potential to become the active ingredients of a vaginal contraceptive for women who are at high risk for acquiring HIV by heterosexual vaginal transmission.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D003201:Computers; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015195:Drug Design; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013890:Thiourea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects