Lipopolysaccharide sequestrants: Structural correlates of activity and toxicity in novel acylhomospermines

Kelly A. Miller, E. V.K.Suresh Kumar, Stewart J. Wood, Jens R. Cromer, Apurba Datta, Sunil A. David

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), otherwise termed "endotoxins", are outer membrane constituents of Gram-negative bacteria. Lipopolysaccharides play a key role in the pathogenesis of "septic shock", a major cause of mortality in the critically ill patient. Therapeutic options aimed at limiting downstream systemic inflammatory processes by targeting lipopolysaccharide do not exist at the present time. We have defined the pharmacophore necessary for small molecules to specifically bind and neutralize LPS and, using animal models of sepsis, have shown that the sequestration of circulatory LPS by small molecules is a therapeutically viable strategy. In this paper, the interactions of a series of acylated homologated spermine compounds with LPS have been characterized. The optimal acyl chain length for effective sequestration of LPS was identified to be C16 for the monoacyl compounds. The most promising of these compounds, 4e, binds LPS with an ED50 of 1.37 μM. Nitric oxide production in murine J774A.1 cells, as well as TNF-α in human blood, is inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by 4e at concentrations orders of magnitude lower than toxic doses. Administration of 4e to D-galactosamine-sensitized mice challenged with supralethal doses of LPS provided significant protection against lethality. Potent antiendotoxic activity, low toxicity, and ease of synthesis render this class of compounds candidate endotoxin-sequestering agents of potential significant therapeutic value.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2589-2599
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of medicinal chemistry
Volume48
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 7 2005

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Lipopolysaccharide sequestrants: Structural correlates of activity and toxicity in novel acylhomospermines'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this