Biochemical and pharmacological activities of SR 26831, a potent and selective elastase inhibitor

SR 26831 ([[5-(2-chloro-benzyl-2-(terbutyloxycarbonyl)]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydrothieno(3,2-c)pyridine]N-oxide) is the first member of a new class of human leukocyte elastase inhibitors. SR 26831 inhibited in a dose-dependent manner elastases from human leukocytes or pancreas with IC50 values of 80 +/- 2.6 nM and 4.8 +/- 0.12 microM, respectively. Steady-state studies revealed that SR 26831 behaved like a noncompetitive, irreversible inhibitor of both types of enzymes. SR 26831 inhibited in a dose-dependent manner degradation of [3H]elastin and [3H]collagens (types I and IV) by human leukocyte elastase (IC50 values were between 1.2 and 1.8 microM). In this respect, SR 26831 was 3- to 20-fold more active than alpha-1-antitrypsin. SR 26831 was also highly selective for elastases inasmuch as it did not inhibit pepsin, collagenase, trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, factor Xa, plasmin, kallikrein, cathepsins B, C, D and G and thrombin. In the rabbit, SR 26831 was cleared rapidly from blood after i.v. injection, but affected intracellular leukocyte elastase activity shortly after either i.v. or p.o. administration. In the rat, i.v. or p.o. administration of SR 26831 prevented in a dose-dependent manner acute lung injury induced by intratracheal instillation of human leukocyte elastase. SR 26831 (1 mg/kg) was still efficient when it was administered 90 min before elastase instillation and was also able to limit further hemorrhage development in response to elastase, after it had begun. SR 26831 may therefore be of therapeutic value in the treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or pulmonary emphysema thought to be due to the destructive action of leukocyte elastase.