Structure-Activity Relationship of Truncated 2,8-Disubstituted-Adenosine Derivatives as Dual A2A/A3 Adenosine Receptor Antagonists and Their Cancer Immunotherapeutic Activity.

Abstract

Based on hA2AAR structures, a hydrophobic C8-heteroaromatic ring in 5'-truncated adenosine analogues occupies the subpocket tightly, converting hA2AAR agonists into antagonists while maintaining affinity toward hA3AR. The final compounds of 2,8-disubstituted-N6-substituted 4'-thionucleosides, or 4'-oxo, were synthesized from d-mannose and d-erythrono-1,4-lactone, respectively, using a Pd-catalyst-controlled regioselective cross-coupling reaction. All tested compounds completely antagonized hA2AAR, including 5d with the highest affinity (Ki,A2A = 7.7 ± 0.5 nM). The hA2AAR-5d X-ray structure revealed that C8-heteroaromatic rings prevented receptor activation-associated conformational changes. However, the C8-substituted compounds still antagonized hA3AR. Structural SAR features and docking studies supported different binding modes at A2AAR and A3AR, elucidating pharmacophores for receptor activation and selectivity. Favorable pharmacokinetics were demonstrated, in which 5d displayed high oral absorption, moderate half-life, and bioavailability. Also, 5d significantly improved the antitumor effect of anti-PD-L1 in vivo. Overall, this study suggests that the novel dual A2AAR/A3AR nucleoside antagonists would be promising drug candidates for immune-oncology.

• Authors: Gibae Kim, Xiyan Hou, Woong Sub Byun, Gyudong Kim, Dnyandev B Jarhad, Grim Lee, Young Eum Hyun, Jinha Yu, Chang Soo Lee, Shuhao Qu, Eugene Warnick, Zhan-Guo Gao, Ji Yong Kim, Seunghee Ji, Hyunwoo Shin, Jong-Ryoul Choi, Kenneth A Jacobson, Hyuk Woo Lee, Sang Kook Lee, Lak Shin Jeong
• Journal: Journal of medicinal chemistry (J Med Chem) Vol. 66 Issue 17 Pg. 12249-12265 (09 14 2023) ISSN: 1520-4804 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 37603705 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)

Chemical References

• Adenosine
• Androgen Receptor Antagonists
• Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists
• Thionucleosides

Topics

• Humans
• Adenosine (pharmacology)
• Androgen Receptor Antagonists
• Immunotherapy
• Neoplasms
• Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists
• Structure-Activity Relationship
• Thionucleosides (chemistry, pharmacology)