Substituted isocoumarins as inhibitors of complement serine proteases

Inhibition of complement proteins D, B, C2, C1s, C1r, I, and the catalytic fragments Bb and C2a by substituted isocoumarins was investigated. 3,4-Dichloroisocoumarin, a general serine protease inhibitor, inhibited factor D, C1r, and C1s moderately with second-order inhibition constants (kobs/[I]) of 40 to 190 M-1 s-1, but it did not inhibit C2, factor B, C2a, or Bb. The best inhibitor for factors D and B was 4-chloro-7-guanidino-3-methoxyisocoumarin with kobs/[I] values of 250 and 290 M-1 s-1, respectively. Most isocoumarins did not inhibit C2 or C2a; only 4-chloro-3-isothiureidoalkoxyisocoumarins were slightly inhibitory. 3-Alkoxy-4-chloro-7-guanidinoisocoumarins inhibited C1r and C1s moderately. The best inhibitor for C1r and C1s was 4-chloro-3-(3-isothiureidopropoxy)isocoumarin with kobs/[I] values of 6,600 and 130,000 M-1 s-1, respectively. Fifty amino acid or peptide thioesters containing Arg or other amino acids at the P1 site were tested as substrates of factor I, however none was hydrolyzed. Isocoumarins substituted with chloro and basic groups such as guanidino and isothiureidoalkoxy inhibited factor I activity with its natural substrate C3b, but kobs/[I] values were low. 4-Chloro-3-ethoxy-7-guanidinoisocoumarin inhibited activation of the alternative pathway and, to a lesser extent, of the classical pathway in serum. Several other substituted isocoumarins also inhibited cobra venom factor-initiated activation of the alternative pathway in serum.