Structure-property relationships on histamine H3-antagonists: binding of phenyl-substituted alkylthioimidazole derivatives to rat plasma proteins

The binding of a series of H3-antagonists to rat plasma proteins was investigated by dialysis experiments, with RP-HPLC measurement of the free ligand. The series was composed of 4(5)-phenyl-2-[[2-[4(5)-imidazolyl]ethyl]thio]imidazoles having, on the phenyl ring, meta- and para-substituents, with different physico-chemical characteristics. As high protein binding had been proposed as being one of the features limiting brain access for the reference H3-antagonist thioperamide, the title series was employed to test the possibility of achieving lower protein binding by modulation of lipophilicity, while maintaining good receptor affinity. The compounds tested showed quotas of bound drug ranging from 60 to 97.5%, while for thioperamide a 78% bound drug quota was observed at high total concentrations, with a steep increase in bound percentage at lower concentrations. Two of the tested compounds, having a carboxamide substituent, showed lower protein binding compared to thioperamide over a wide range of total concentration, without a significant loss in affinity with respect to the parent compound. A strict dependence of protein binding on lipophilicity was observed, and a QSPR model was derived which could also account for the protein binding observed for thioperamide, while receptor affinity had been reported to be quite insensitive to phenyl ring substitution. It is therefore possible to modulate protein binding of these H3-antagonists, through lipophilicity adjustment, without losing receptor affinity; this finding could help in the design of new compounds with improved brain access.