This thesis describes the parallel solid phase and solution phase synthesis of small molecule alpha-4 integrin antagonists and their biological evaluation. Alpha-4-beta-1 and alpha-4-beta-7 integrins interacting with their endogenous ligands fibronectin, VCAM-1 and MAdCAM-1 play an important role in many pathological processes, like chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders. The emphasis of the presented work lay upon antagonizing the alpha-4-beta-7 integrin / MAdCAM-1 interaction. Inhibition of this specific protein-protein interaction represents a specific and very selective approach for the therapeutic treatment of gut associated inflammatory diseases like colitis ulcerosa and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Starting from structure activity relationships derived from libraries of cyclic peptides and peptidomimetic lead structures further optimizations were made concerning structural and functional features to improve the drug profile. Substitution of amide bonds by mimicing groups like urea, sulfonamides, ketomethylene, methylene sulfide, methylen sulfoxide and methylen sulfone derivatives, as well as reduced amide bonds aimed at an enhanced proteolytic stability. The racemic alpha isobutyl substituted phenyl acetic acid scaffold is being introduced as a potent and versatilely modifiable new substance class and small libraries are evaluated. Furthermore the enantioselective synthesis of phenylethers, palladium catalysed solid phase synthesis of biaryls, heterocyclic mimics and the synthesis of phosphonic acid mimics of 2-amino-2-aryl-carboxylic acids are described. Potent alpha-4-beta-7 integrin antagonists were identified in a cellular adhesion assay. Another aspect of the thesis describes relevant contributions to the synthesis and structural analysis of the hydrophobic transmembrane peptides KdpF and SP-C. Synthesis and structural analysis of variants of the lung surfactant-specific peptide SP-C is a medicinal relevant issue contributing to the understanding of the therapeutic properties of SP-C treating the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).
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This thesis describes the parallel solid phase and solution phase synthesis of small molecule alpha-4 integrin antagonists and their biological evaluation. Alpha-4-beta-1 and alpha-4-beta-7 integrins interacting with their endogenous ligands fibronectin, VCAM-1 and MAdCAM-1 play an important role in many pathological processes, like chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders. The emphasis of the presented work lay upon antagonizing the alpha-4-beta-7 integrin / MAdCAM-1 interaction....
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