Design, synthesis, and anti-tumor activity of 4′-thionucleosides as potent and selective agonists at the human A3 adenosine receptor

Abstract

On the basis of potent and selective binding affinity of Cl-IB-MECA to the human A3 adenosine receptor, its 4′-thioadenosine derivatives were efficiently synthesized starting from D-gulonic γ -lactone. Among compounds tested, 2-chloro-N6-(3-iodobenzyl)- and 2-chloro-N 6-methyl-4′ -thioadenosine-5′ -methyluronamides (7a and 7b) exhibited nanomolar range of binding affinity (Ki = 0.38 nM and 0.28 nM, respectively) at the human A3AR. These compounds showed anti-growth effects on HL-60 leukemia cell, which resulted from the inhibition of Wnt signaling pathway. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.