Design,synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a series thiazolidinediones analogs as PPAR modulators

A series of thiazolidinediones analogs, as PPAR modulators, were designed, synthesized and evaluated in vitro.

Oral bisphosphonates improve the bone mineral density in men with diabetes with or without thiazolidinediones

Objective: Osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) two of the most common chronic conditions and represent major public health burdens. Epidemiological and observational studies indicate that thiazolidinedione (TZD) therapy with rosiglitazone and pioglitazone is associated with an increased risk of fractures and decreased bone mineral density (BMD). To our knowledge, no data are available to evaluate bisphosphonate therapy in thiazolidinedione-treated patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the benefit of bisphosphonates to improve changes in BMD in subjects with DM associated with TZDs. Methods: In a cross-sectional observational study using a retrospective review of electronic medical records, the changes in BMD in subjects with type 2 DM. The study subjects were divided into four groups. First group with DM receiving both TZDs and BPs;second group neither;third group receiving only TZDs and the fourth only BPs. The comparison of annual percent changes in BMD between the groups were carried out. Results: Decreased BMD noted in subjects with DM on TZDs. Bisphosphonates improved BMD in subjects with DM on TZDs. BMD improved in subjects with DM in those not receiving TZDs also. Conclusion: We conclude that concomitant treatment with bisphosphonates improves BMD in subjects with diabetes and on TZDs.

Synthesis of Chiral Hydantoins and Thiazolidinediones via Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Herein,we report an iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of hydantoin and thiazolidinedione derived exocyclic alkenes using our developed BiphPHOX as a ligand.The transformation shows good functional group tolerance,and gives the hydrogenated prod-ucts with excellent yields(up to 99%)and enantioselectivities(up to 98%ee).A gram-scale reaction was also carried out,and pro-vided the hydrogenated product in excellent yield with no erosion in enantioselectivity.Finally,the transformation of the hydrogen-ated product provided an efficient approach for the synthesis of the intermediate of a HIV protease inhibitor.

Indirect comparison of efficacy and safety of chiglitazar and thiazolidinedione in patients with type 2 diabetes:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Chiglitazar is an emerging pan-agonist of all peroxisome proliferator activated receptors(PPAR)-α,δandγ,and has therapeutic potential for type 2 diabetes(T2D).However,to date,no clinical studies or meta-analyses have compared the efficacy and safety of chiglitazar and traditional PPAR-γagonist thiazolidinediones(TZDs).A meta-analysis concerning this topic is therefore required.AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of chiglitazar and TZD in patients with T2D.METHODS PubMed,Medline,Embase,the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,Reference Citation Analysis and Clinicaltrial.gov websites were searched from August 1994 to March 2022.Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of chiglitazar or TZD vs placebo in patients with T2D were included.Indirect comparisons and sensitivity analyses were implemented to evaluate multiple efficacy and safety endpoints of interest.RESULTS We included 93 RCTs that compared TZD with placebo and one that compared chiglitazar with placebo.For efficacy endpoints,the augmented dose of chiglitazar resulted in greater reductions in hemoglobin(Hb)A1c[weighted mean difference(WMD)=-0.15%,95%confidence interval(CI):-0.27 to-0.04%],triglycerides(WMD=-0.17 mmol/L,95%CI:-0.24 to-0.11 mmol/L)and alanine aminotransferase(WMD=-5.25 U/L,95%CI:-8.50 to-1.99 U/L),and a greater increase in homeostasis model assessment-β(HOMA-β)(WMD=17.75,95%CI:10.73-24.77)when compared with TZD treatment.For safety endpoints,the risks of hypoglycemia,edema,bone fractures,upper respiratory tract infection,urinary tract infection,and weight gain were all comparable between the augmented dose of chiglitazar and TZD.In patients with baseline HbA1c≥8.5%,body mass index≥30 kg/m^(2)or diabetes duration<10 years,the HbA1c reduction and HOMA-βincrease were more conspicuous for the augmented dose of chiglitazar compared with TZD.CONCLUSION Augmented dose of chiglitazar,a pan-activator of PPARs,may serve as an antidiabetic agent with preferable glycemic and lipid control,betterβ-cell function preserving capacity,and does not increase the risk of safety concerns when compared with TZD.

Insulin sensitizers for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the leading cause of liver disease in the Western world and is closely associated with metabolic syndrome,which includes hypertension,central obesity,dyslipidemia and insulin resistance.NAFLD includes a wide spectrum of liver alterations,ranging from simple hepatic steatosis to variable degrees of fibrosis,cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma.Although the etiology and progression of the disorder remain poorly understood,insulin resistance is considered to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis.Insulin sensitizers such as biguanides,thiazolidinediones(TZDs),glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors have been studied as therapeutic approaches for NAFLD in recent years.Metformin improves insulin sensitivity and serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase(ALT/AST) levels in the majority of subjects; however,it has no significant effect on liver histology.TZDs improve insulin sensitivity,serum ALT/ AST levels and histology in some cases,but there are some concerns about the safety of long-term therapy.Selection of appropriate patients for avoiding side effects and the treatment of underlying disease are themain points.These drugs are the best choice for the treatment of NAFLD in patients with type 2 DM who are also candidates for treatment with an insulin sensitizer.The present review provides an overview of insulin sensitizers in the treatment of NAFLD.

PPARγ activator,rosiglitazone:Is it beneficial or harmful to the cardiovascular system?

Rosiglitazone is a synthetic agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ which is used to improve insulin resistance in patients with typeⅡdiabetes.Rosiglitazone exerts its glucose-lowering effects by improving insulin sensitivity.Data from various studies in the past decade suggest that the therapeutic effects of rosiglitazone reach far beyond its use as an insulin sensitizer since it also has other benefits on the cardiovascular system such as improvement of contractile dysfunction,inhibition of the inflammatory response by reducing neutrophil and macrophage accumulation,and the protection of myocardial injury during ischemic/reperfusion in different animal models.Previous clinical studies in typeⅡdiabetes patients demonstrated that rosiglitazone played an important role in protectingagainst arteriosclerosis by normalizing the metabolic disorders and reducing chronic inflammation of the vascular system.Despite these benefits,inconsistent findings have been reported,and growing evidence has demonstrated adverse effects of rosiglitazone on the cardiovascular system,including increased risk of acute myocardial infarction,heart failure and chronic heart failure.As a result,rosiglitazone has been recently withdrawn from EU countries.Nevertheless,the effect of rosiglitazone on ischemic heart disease has not yet been firmly established.Future prospective clinical trials designed for the specific purpose of establishing the cardiovascular benefit or risk of rosiglitazone would be the best way to resolve the uncertainties regarding the safety of rosiglitazone in patients with heart disease.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma as a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma:Experimental and clinical scenarios

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common type of liver cancer worldwide.Viral hepatitis is a significant risk factor for HCC,although metabolic syndrome and diabetes are more frequently associated with the HCC.With increasing prevalence,there is expected to be>1 million cases annually by 2025.Therefore,there is an urgent need to establish potential therapeutic targets to cure this disease.Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma(PPARγ)is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of HCC.Many synthetic agonists of PPARγsuppress HCC in experimental studies and clinical trials.These synthetic agonists have shown promising results by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCC cells and preventing the invasion and metastasis of HCC.However,some synthetic agonists also pose severe side effects in addition to their therapeutic efficacy.Thus natural PPARγagonists can be an alternative to exploit this potential target for HCC treatment.In this review,the regulatory role of PPARγin the pathogenesis of HCC is elucidated.Furthermore,the experimental and clinical scenario of both synthetic and natural PPARγagonists against HCC is discussed.Most of the available literature advocates PPARγas a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma results in an atheroprotective apolipoprotein profile in HepG2 cells

Background: Insulin resistance is linked to dyslipidemia, characterized by a decrease in high density lipo-proteins and an increase in low density lipoproteins. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are insulin-sensitizing agents used to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Recently, the safety of certain TZD regimens has been questioned because of associated adverse effects on the plasma lipid profile. We examined the effect of a TZD, Ciglitazone, on apolipoprotein synthesis and secretion in human liver HepG2 cells. Methods and Results: The effect of Ciglitazone treatment on apolipoprotein synthesis was addressed at the level of transcription, translation and secretion. RT-PCR showed that Ciglitazone increased the transcription of apoE and apoAI but reduced the levels of apoCI and apoB mRNA. Western blot analysis showed an increase in apoAI and apoE secreted in the cell culture media, whereas the amounts of apoB100 and apoCI were reduced. To confirm that Ciglitazone regulates apolipoprotein translation, its effect on de novo protein synthesis was evaluated by metabolic labeling with [35S]-methionine/cysteine, and a similar pattern of regulation was observed. The change in apolipoprotein levels was not secondary to cholesterol biosynthesis or clearance, since Ciglita-zone did not regulate the transcription of HMGCoA reductase, or the LDL receptor. However, mRNA levels for both PPAR-γ and LXRα were induced, suggesting a role for either or both receptors in modulating the hepatic apolipoprotein profile. The involvement of these nuclear receptor transcription factors was confirmed since direct activation of these receptors by endogenous PPAR-γ ligand, 15d-prostaglandin J2, or LXRα ligand, 22(R)hydroxycholesterol, similarly upregulated apoAI and apoE, but down-regulated apoB100 protein synthesis. Conclusion: Our results suggest that Ciglita-zone treatment results in an atheroprotective lipoprotein profile in liver cells. Thus, while the adipose and muscle tissues may be primary targets in TZD-mediated glucose homeostasis, liver PPAR-γ contributes significantly to the regulation of plasma lipoprotein profile.

Effectiveness of drug interventions in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a major chronic liver disorder worldwide,and there is no established treatment for this disease.We conducted a network meta-analysis(NMA)to compare existing treatments,which include four classes of antidiabetic drugs,and examined the optimum treatments for NAFLD.AIM To compare the effectiveness of different treatments for NAFLD.METHODS An NMA was conducted using Stata 14.0(Corporation LLC,College Station,United States)and R(X643.6.3 version)in this study.Eligible randomized controlled trials(RCTs)were searched in the PubMed,Cochrane Library,Embase,Medline and Web of Science databases from database inception to April 2021.Two researchers independently screened the available studies in strict accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria.The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias of the included studies.The variables with and without dimensional differences were calculated as the standardized mean difference and weighted mean difference,respectively.An inconsistency model and“nodesplitting”technique were used to test for inconsistency.Funnel plots were used to evaluate publication bias.RESULTS Twenty-two eligible RCTs involving 1377 participants were eventually included in our analysis.Data were pooled using a random-effects model.Our NMA results revealed that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists(GLP-1RAs)were the most effective treatment,yielding improvements in hepatic fat content(HFC),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),serumγ-glutamyl transferase(GGT)and body weight[surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA)=99.6%,92.6%,82.8%,92.3%and 99.6%,respectively],while thiazolidinediones(TZDs)were the best intervention for reducing the NAFLD activity score(NAS;SUCRA=98.9%).In addition,moderate performance was observed for the sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors groups(SUCRA=25.1%,66.2%,63.5%,58.2%and 71.9%for HFC,ALT,AST,GGT and body weight,respectively).However,metformin performed poorly according to most indicators(SUCRA=54.5%,0.3%,19.5%,33.7%,57.7%and 44.3%for HFC,NAS,ALT,AST,GGT and body weight,respectively).CONCLUSION GLP-1RAs may be the optimum choice for most patients with NAFLD.However,TZDs are considered the most effective therapies in NAFLD patients with histological disease activity.

Clinical effects of antidiabetic drugs on psoriasis:The perspective of evidence-based medicine

Psoriasis and diabetes shared common underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.Emerging data suggested that antidiabetic medications may improve the psoriasis severity in patients with diabetes mellitus.Several hypoglycemic agents including thiazolidinediones,glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists,dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors,and biguanides have been reported to make a remarkable reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score from baseline.This antipsoriatic effect could be mediated not only by the glucoselowering action of these agents but also via inhibition of keratinocyte over proliferation,increase expression of differentiation markers,suppression the immune inflammatory pathway,and blocking the calcium channels and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.On the other hand,there was no significant increase in adverse reactions associated with the treatment of pioglitazone or metformin.However,previous studies often had the relatively short duration of the trials,and did not have enough power to assess recurrence of psoriasis.Potential bias in the study and missing data could undermine the reliability of the results.Therefore,the appropriately randomized controlled studies with large sample sizes and long-term durations in various psoriasis patients are warranted for further support.

The Effects of Insulin Resistance and Inflammation on Renal Proximal Tubule Sodium Transport and Hypertension

Insulin resistance, closely linked to inflammation, is recognized as a key factor in the onset and aggravation of diabetes, cardio-renal syndrome, hypertension, and obesity. In the renal proximal tubule, insulin resistance may increase renal sodium reabsorption, leading to hypertension, edema and sometimes heart failure. Recently some anti-diabetic agents have been shown to have effects on the transporters in renal proximal tubule. Because renal proximal tubule mediates about 70% of sodium reabsorption, it is quite important to clarify the function of renal proximal tubule under insulin resistance and inflammation.

Effects of glucose-lowering agents on cardiorespiratory fitness

Exercise therapy is essential for the management of type 2 diabetes(T2 D). However, patients with T2 D show lower physical activity and reduced cardiorespiratory fitness than healthy individuals. It would be ideal for clinicians to co-prescribe glucose-lowering agents that improve cardiorespiratory fitness or exercise capacity in conjunction with exercise therapy. Metformin does not improve cardiorespiratory fitness and may attenuate any beneficial effect of exercise in patients with T2 D. In contrast, thiazolidinediones appear to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with T2 D. Although evidence is limited, sodium–glucose cotransporter 2(SGLT2) inhibitors may improve cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with heart failure, and the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1) receptor agonists on cardiorespiratory fitness is controversial. Recent clinical trials have shown that both SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists exert a favorable effect on cardiovascular disease. It becomes more important to choose drugs that have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system beyond glucose-lowering effects. Further studies are warranted to determine an ideal glucose-lowering agent combined with exercise therapy for the treatment of T2 D.

Rosiglitazone could improve clinical outcomes after coronary stent implantation in nondiabetic patients with metabolic syndrome

Background Recent studies have shown that thiazolidinediones （TZDs） could reduce in-stent restenosis and improve clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes after coronary stent implantation. It remains unclear whether nondiabetic patients with metabolic syndrome after stenting could also benefit from the treatment with TZDs. Methods Three hundred and sixty patients with metabolic syndrome who underwent coronary stent implantation were randomly assigned to a rosiglitazone group （n= 180） or a control group （n= 180）. Patients in the rosiglitazone treatment group were treated with rosiglitazone 1 day before coronary stenting （4 mg once daily） and treatment was continued until the 9 months follow-up; while in the control group, patients were treated with placebo 1 day before the procedure and until the 9 months follow-up. Adverse events were death, myocardial infarction and urgent target vessel revascularization within 9 months after coronary stenting. Results One hundred and fifty two patients in the rosiglitazone group and 145 patients in the control group survived during the follow-up. Baseline characteristics among patients in the two groups were well balanced. There was no significant difference in target vessels or the procedure of stent implantation. Compared with the control group, treatment with rosiglitazone was associated with a lower rate of death, myocardial infarction and urgent target vessel revascularization （7.2% vs 14.5%, P=0.044）. Conclusion Rosiglitazone could reduce the risk of the adverse cardiovascular event and improve clinical outcomes in nondiabetic patients with metabolic syndrome after coronary stent implantation.

CMHX008,a PPAR γ partial agonist,enhances insulin sensitivity with minor influences on bone loss

Traditional thiazolidinediones(TZDs),such as rosiglitazone,are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor g(PPARg)potent agonists that can be used to treat type 2 diabetes but carry unwanted effects,including increased risk for fracture.The present work aimed to compare the insulin-sensitizing efficacies and bone-loss side effects of CMHX008,a novel TZDs-like PPARg partial agonist,with those of rosiglitazone.A TR-FRET PPARg competitive binding assay was used to compare the binding affinity between CMHX008 and rosiglitazone.Mice were administered vehicle,CMHX008 or rosiglitazone for 16 weeks.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)were used to examine differences in differentiation into osteoblasts after compounds treatment.TR-FRET showed lower affinity to PPARg by CMHX008 compared with rosiglitazone.Mice treated with CMHX008 showed insulin sensitization similar to that of mice treated with rosiglitazone,which was related to the significant inhibition of PPARg Ser273 phosphorylation and improved insulin sensitivity by facilitating the phosphorylation of insulin receptor and Akt in adipose tissues.Micro-CT and histomorphometric analyses demonstrated that the degree of trabecular bone loss after treatment with CMHX008 was weaker than that observed with rosiglitazone,as evidenced by consistent changes in BV/TV,Tb.N,Tb.Th,Tb.Sp,and the mineral apposition rate.MSCs treated with CMHX008 showed higher ALP activity and mRNA levels of bone formation markers than did cells treated with rosiglitazone in the osteoblast differentiation test.Thus,CMHX008 showed insulin-sensitizing effects similar to those of rosiglitazone with a lower risk of bone loss,suggesting that PPARg sparing eliminates the skeletal side effects of TZDs while maintaining their insulin-sensitizing properties.

Challenges in drug discovery for thiazolidinedione substitute

Thiazolidinedione(TZD)is a powerful insulin sensitizer in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.It acts as a ligand to the nuclear receptor PPARγ(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma)and induces transcription of PPARγ-responsive genes.TZD controls lipid synthesis and storage in adipose tissue,liver and many other tissues through PPARg.Derivatives of TZD,such as rosiglitazone(Avandia)and pioglitazone(Actos),are more powerful than metformin or berberine in insulin sensitization.Although they have common side effects such as weight gain and edema,these did not influence their clinical application in general.However,recent findings of risk for congestive heart failure and bladder cancer have significantly impaired their future in many countries.European countries have prohibited those drugs,and US will terminate application of rosiglitazone in clinics and hospitals.The multiple country actions may mark the end of TZD era.As a result,there is a strong demand for identification of TZD substitute in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.In this regard,literature about PPARγ ligands and potential TZD substitute are reviewed in this article.Histone deacetylase(HDAC)inhibitor is emphasized as a new class of insulin sensitizer here.Regulators of SIRT1,CREB,NO,p38,ERK and Cdk5 are discussed in the activation of PPARγ.

A novel four-component reaction involving ring-opening/recyclization of 1,3-thiazolidinedione

The multicomponent reactions of 1,3-thiazolidinedione, malononitrile, aromatic aldehydes and α-phenylethylamine or β-phenylethylamine in acetonitrile at room temperature produce dihydrothiophene ureidoformamide derivatives in moderate yields through a domino ring-opening/recyclization reaction of 1,3-thiazolidinedione. On treatment with DDQ, dihydrothiophenes are dehydrogenated to convert efficiently to thiophenes in the mild condition.