Strong and selective inhibitors of hepatitis B virus replication among novel N4-hydroxy- and 5-methyl-beta-L-deoxycytidine analogues.
Novel N(4)-hydroxy- and 5-methyl-modified beta-L-deoxycytidine analogues were synthesized and evaluated as anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) agents. Their in vitro efficiencies were investigated in HepG2.2.15 cells stably transfected with HBV. beta-L-2',3'-Didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-N(4)-hydroxycytidine (beta-L-Hyd4C) was most effective in reducing secreted HBV DNA (50% effective concentration [EC(50)], 0.03 microM), followed by beta-L-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thia-N(4)-hydroxycytidine (EC(50), 0.51 microM), beta-L-2',3'-dideoxy-N(4)-hydroxycytidine (EC(50), 0.55 microM), and beta-L-5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (EC(50), 0.9 microM). The inhibition of the presumed target, the HBV DNA polymerase, by the triphosphates of some of the beta-L-cytidine derivatives was also assessed. In accordance with the cell culture data, beta-L-Hyd4C triphosphate was the most active inhibitor, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 0.21 microM. The cytotoxicities of some of the 4-NHOH-modified beta-L-nucleosides were dramatically lower than those of the corresponding cytidine analogues with the unmodified 4-NH(2) group. The 50% cytotoxic concentrations for beta-L-Hyd4C in HepG2 and HL-60 cells were 2,500 microM and 3,500 microM, respectively. In summary, our results demonstrate that at least beta-L-Hyd4C can be recommended as a highly efficient and extremely selective inhibitor of HBV replication for further investigations.
Matthes
E
E
Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany. emat@mdc-berlin.de
Funk
A
A
Krahn
I
I
Gaertner
K
K
von Janta-Lipinski
M
M
Lin
L
L
Will
H
H
Sirma
H
H
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D003841:Deoxycytidine