High-throughput screening identified 5 as a weak inhibitor of 11beta-HSD1. Optimization of the structure led to a series of perhydroquinolylbenzamides, some with low nanomolar inhibitory potency. A tertiary benzamide is required for biological activity and substitution of the terminal benzamide with either electron-donating or -withdrawing groups is tolerated. The majority of the compounds show selectivity of >20 to >700-fold over 11beta-HSD2. Analogues which showed >50% inhibition of 11beta-HSD1 at 1 muM in an cellular assay were screened in an ADX mouse model. A maximal response of >70% reduction of liver corticosterone levels was observed for three compounds; 9m, 25 and 49.

Increasing evidence suggests that the assembly of lipoprotein[a] (Lp[a]) proceeds in two steps. In the first step, non-covalent interactions between apolipoprotein[a] (apo[a]) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) of low density lipoprotein (LDL) form a dissociable apo[a]:LDL complex. In the second step, a covalent disulfide linkage forms the stable Lp[a] particle. Several methods are currently used to study the assembly of Lp[a], however, these methods are laborious, time-consuming, and not suitable for a high throughput screening. We report here the development of a rapid and simple assay based on the binding of labeled LDL to a Lp[a]/apo[a] substrate which is immobilized on the surface of a microtiter plate. Quantification of bound LDL provides a measure of the extent of complex formation. Labeled LDL bound to both Lp[a] and apo[a] substrates with similar affinity. Plasma lipoproteins containing apoB as well as free apo[a] were capable of competing with LDL binding. The binding of LDL to Lp[a]/apo[a] was inhibited by L-proline and lysine analogs, which are known to inhibit the non-covalent association between apo[a] and apoB. Using this method we have found that nicotinic acid and captopril are able to inhibit the association of apo[a] with apoB. This method is compatible with automation and can be applied to a high throughput screening of inhibitors of Lp[a] formation.

Alterations in the number and reactivity of thymic and splenic lymphocytes were studied during the development of experimental renal hypertension in Sprague-Dawley rats. The mitotic responses of thymocytes and splenic T and B lymphocytes were tested by the T cell mitogen concanavalin A and the B cell mitogen dextran sulfate 3, 8, 12, and 36 days after the initiation of hypertension. At 3 days, hypertensive rats showed a fourfold increase in plasma corticosteroid levels, marked thymic atrophy, and a 50% reduction in the total number of thymocytes. The mitotic reactivity of the cells remaining in the organ was depressed 60% when compared to sham-operated controls. At 8 days a similar reduction in thymus size was accompanied by similarly decreased lymphocyte populations. Twelve days after initiation of hypertension structural recovery of the gland, lymphoid proliferation, and slightly increased thymocyte populations were observed. Differences with sham-operated controls were, however, still remarkable. Hypertensive rats sacrificed at 36 days showed thymus hypertrophy, and the thymocyte populations were larger than those of sham-operated animals. Despite the fluctuations in the number of thymocytes registered during the development of renal hypertension, the impaired mitotic reactivity of these cells to concanavalin A was sustained throughout the 36 days of the experiment. A similar reduction in the total number of cells and a similar depression in T lymphocyte reactivity was observed in the spleen between 8 and 36 days of hypertension. In contrast, after an initial depressed response, splenic B lymphocytes showed a slight but sustained increase in reactivity throughout the entire experimental period. These results indicate that with evolving renal hypertension there is a reduction in the number of lymphocytes as well as a depression in the ability of the remaining T lymphocytes to react with concanavalin A. Since T lymphocytes are important regulators of immunological homeostasis, this reduction in T cell reactivity may suggest the existence of an immunological imbalance accompanying the development of experimental renal hypertension.