Iminothioethers as Hydrogen Sulfide Donors: From the Gasotransmitter Release to the Vascular Effects

J Med Chem. 2017 Sep 14;60(17):7512-7523. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00888. Epub 2017 Aug 25.

Abstract

The gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important tuner of the cardiovascular homeostasis, and its deficiency is etiologically associated with a number of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the research of original moieties able to release H2S represents a timely issue for drug discovery. In this work, we developed a collection of iminothioethers (ITEs), exhibiting H2S-releasing properties and producing vasorelaxing effects on rat aortic rings. Derivatives 4 and 11, selected as representative of slow and fast rate H2S donors, respectively, produced a complete recovery of the basal coronary flow, reverting the AngII-induced effects in isolated rat hearts. In addition, studies on human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) demonstrated membrane hyperpolarizing effects, well related to the intracellular generation of H2S. Taken together, the results obtained support ITEs 4 and 11 as new pharmacological tools, as well as effective and innovative H2S donors for cardiovascular drug discovery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / physiology
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Discovery
  • Gasotransmitters / chemistry
  • Gasotransmitters / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Sulfide / chemistry
  • Hydrogen Sulfide / pharmacology*
  • Imines / chemistry
  • Imines / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sulfides / chemistry
  • Sulfides / pharmacology*
  • Vasodilator Agents / chemistry
  • Vasodilator Agents / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Gasotransmitters
  • Imines
  • Sulfides
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Hydrogen Sulfide