Person:
Fernández Ruiz, José Javier

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First Name
José Javier
Last Name
Fernández Ruiz
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Medicina
Department
Bioquímica y Biología Molecular
Area
Bioquímica y Biología Molecular
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Tricyclic pyrazoles. Part 8. Synthesis, biological evaluation and modelling of tricyclic pyrazole carboxamides as potential CB2 receptor ligands with antagonist/inverse agonist properties
    (European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2016) Deiana, Valeria; Gómez Cañas, María; Pazos Rodríguez, María Ruth; Fernández Ruiz, José Javier; García Arencibia, Moisés; Pinna, Gerard A.
    Previous studies have investigated the relevance and structure-activity relationships (SARs) of pyrazole derivatives in relation with cannabinoid receptors, and the series of tricyclic 1,4-dihydroindeno[1,2-c] pyrazoles emerged as potent CB2 receptor ligands. In the present study, novel 1,4-dihydroindeno[1,2-c] pyrazole and 1H-benzo[g]indazole carboxamides containing a cyclopropyl or a cyclohexyl substituent were designed and synthesized to evaluate the influence of these structural modifications towards CB1 and CB2 receptor affinities. Among these derivatives, compound 15 (6-cyclopropyl-1-(2,4- dichlorophenyl)-N-(adamantan-1-yl)-1,4-dihydroindeno[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxamide) showed the highest CB2 receptor affinity (Ki ¼ 4 nM) and remarkable selectivity (KiCB1/KiCB2 ¼ 2232), whereas a similar affinity, within the nM range, was seen for the fenchyl derivative (compound 10: Ki ¼ 6 nM), for the bornyl analogue (compound 14: Ki ¼ 38 nM) and, to a lesser extent, for the aminopiperidine de rivative (compound 6: Ki ¼ 69 nM). Compounds 10 and 14 were also highly selective for the CB2 receptor (KiCB1/KiCB2 > 1000), whereas compound 6 was relatively selective (KiCB1/KiCB2 ¼ 27). The four com pounds were also subjected to GTPgS binding analysis showing antagonist/inverse agonist properties (IC50 for compound 14 ¼ 27 nM, for 15 ¼ 51 nM, for 10 ¼ 80 nM and for 6 ¼ 294 nM), and this activity was confirmed for the three more active compounds in a CB2 receptor-specific in vitro bioassay con sisting in the quantification of prostaglandin E2 release by LPS-stimulated BV2 cells, in the presence and absence of WIN55,212-2 and/or the investigated compounds. Modelling studies were also conducted with the four compounds, which conformed with the structural requirements stated for the binding of antagonist compounds to the human CB2 receptor.
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    Chromenopyrazole, a Versatile Cannabinoid Scaffold with in Vivo Activity in a Model of Multiple Sclerosis
    (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2016) Morales, Paula; Gómez Cañas, María; Pazos Rodríguez, María Ruth; Fernández Ruiz, José Javier; Jagerovic, Nadine
    A combination of molecular modeling and structure−activity relationship studies has been used to fine-tune CB2 selectivity in the chromenopyrazole ring, a versatile CB1/CB2 cannabinoid scaffold. Thus, a series of 36 new derivatives covering a wide range of structural diversity has been synthesized, and docking studies have been performed for some of them. Biological evaluation of the new compounds includes, among others, cannabinoid binding assays, functional studies, and surface plasmon resonance measurements. The most promising compound [43 (PM226)], a selective and potent CB2 agonist isoxazole derivative, was tested in the acute phase of Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced demyelinating disease (TMEV-IDD), a well established animal model of primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Compound 43 dampened neuroinflammation by reducing microglial activation in the TMEV
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    Biological characterization of PM226, a chromenoisoxazole, as a selective CB 2 receptor agonist with neuroprotective profile
    (Pharmacological Research, 2016) Gómez Cañas, María; Morales, Paula; García Toscano, Laura; Navarrete, Carmen; Muñoz, Eduardo; Jagerovic, Nadine; Fernández Ruiz, José Javier; García Arencibia, Moisés; Pazos Rodríguez, María Ruth
    Cannabinoids have emerged as promising neuroprotective agents due to their capability to activate specific targets, which are involved in the control of neuronal homeostasis and survival. Specifically, those ligands that selectively target and activate the CB2 receptor may be useful for their anti inflammatory and neuroprotective properties in various neurological disorders, with the advantage of being devoid of psychotropic effects associated with the activation of CB1 receptors. The aim of this work has been to investigate the neuroprotective properties of 7-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-4,4-dimethyl-9- methoxychromeno[3,4-d]isoxazole (PM226), a compound derived from a series of chromeno-isoxazoles and −pyrazoles, which seems to have a promising profile related to the CB2 receptor. The compound binds selectively to this receptor with an affinity in the nanomolar range (Ki = 12.8 ± 2.4 nM). It has negli gible affinity for the CB1 receptor (Ki > 40000 nM) and no activity at the GPR55. PM226 was also evaluated in GTP S binding assays specific to the CB2 receptor showing agonist activity (EC50 = 38.67 ± 6.70 nM). In silico analysis of PM226 indicated that it has a good pharmacokinetic profile and a predicted abil ity to cross the blood-brain barrier. Next, PM226 was investigated in an in vitro model to explore its anti-inflammatory/neuroprotective properties. Conditioned media were collected from LPS-stimulated cultures of BV2 microglial cell line in the absence or presence of different doses of PM226, and then media were added to cultured M213-2O neuronal cells to record their influence on cell viability evaluated using MTT assays. As expected, cell viability was significantly reduced by the exposure to these conditioned media, while the addition of PM226 attenuated this reduction in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was reversed by co-incubating with the CB2 antagonist SR144528, thus confirming the involvement of CB2 receptors, whereas the addition of PM226 to neuronal cultures instead cultured BV2 cells was not effective. PM226 has also been studied in an in vivo model of mitochondrial damage generated by intras triatal application of malonate in rats. MRI analysis showed that PM226 administration decreased the volume of the striatal lesion caused by malonate, effect that was confirmed after the histopathologi cal evaluation (Nissl staining, Iba-1 immunostaining and TUNEL assay) of striatal sections derived from malonate-lesioned rats in the absence or presence of PM226. Again, the beneficial effects of PM226 were dependent on the activation of CB2 receptors as they were reversed by blocking these receptors with AM630. Overall, PM226 has shown to have a promising neuroprotective profile derived from its abil ity to selectively activate CB2 receptor, so that it could be a useful disease-modifying agent in those neurodegenerative pathologies in which the activation of these receptors may have therapeutic value.
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    (+)-trans-Cannabidiol-2-hydroxy pentyl is a dual CB1R antagonist/CB2R agonist that prevents diabetic nephropathy in mice
    (Pharmacological Research, 2021) González Mariscal, Isabel; Gómez Cañas, María; Fernández Ruiz, José Javier; Muñoz, Eduardo
    Natural cannabidiol ((-)-CBD) and its derivatives have increased interest for medicinal applications due to their broad biological activity spectrum, including targeting of the cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R). Herein, we synthesized the (+)-enantiomer of CBD and its derivative (+)-CBD hydroxypentylester ((+)-CBD-HPE) that showed enhanced CB1R and CB2R binding and functional activities compared to their respective (-) enantiomers. (+)-CBD-HPE Ki values for CB1R and CB2R were 3.1 ± 1.1 and 0.8 ± 0.1 nM respectively acting as CB1R antagonist and CB2R agonist. We further tested the capacity of (+)-CBD-HPE to prevent hyperglycemia and its complications in a mouse model. (+)-CBD-HPE significantly reduced streptozo tocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance by preserving pancreatic beta cell mass. (+)-CBD HPE significantly reduced activation of NF-κB by phosphorylation by 15% compared to STZ-vehicle mice, and CD3+ T cell infiltration into the islets was avoided. Consequently, (+)-CBD-HPE prevented STZ-induced apoptosis in islets. STZ induced inflammation and kidney damage, visualized by a significant increase in plasma proinflammatory cytokines, creatinine, and BUN. Treatment with (+)-CBD-HPE significantly reduced 2.5- fold plasma IFN-γ and increased 3-fold IL-5 levels compared to STZ-treated mice, without altering IL-18. (+)-CBD-HPE also significantly reduced creatinine and BUN levels to those comparable to healthy controls. At the macroscopy level, (+)-CBD-HPE prevented STZ-induced lesions in the kidney and voided renal fibrosis and CD3+ T cell infiltration. Thus, (+)-enantiomers of CBD, particularly (+)-CBD-HPE, have a promising potential due to their pharmacological profile and synthesis, potentially to be used for metabolic and immune-related disorders.