Actions of a Series of PPADS Analogs at P2X₁ and P2X₃ Receptors

[Table: see text] Seven PPADS (Pyridoxal-5'-Phosphate 6-Azophenyl 2',4'-DiSulfonate) analogs were investigated at Group 1 P2X receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. All seven analogs potently inhibited P2X₁ (IC₅₀ range, 5-32 nM) and P2X₃ (IC₅₀ range, 22-345 nM), the two Group I P2X receptor subtypes. Analogs showed greater inhibitory activity where the pyridoxal moiety of PPADS contained a 5'-phosphonate group, rather than a 5'-phosphate group. Analogs also showed greater potency where disulfonate groups were removed from, or substituted at, the azophenyl moiety. The most active analog was MRS 2257 (pyridoxal-5'-phosphonate 6-azophenyl 3',5'-bismethylenephosphonate) at P2X₁ (IC₅₀, 5 nM) and P2X₃ (IC₅₀, 22 nM) receptors, being 14-fold and 10-fold more potent than PPADS itself. MRS 2257 produced a nonsurmountable inhibition when tested against a range of ATP concentrations, although blockade was reversed by about 85% after 20 minutes of washout. TNP-ATP and Ip₅I were equipotent with MRS 2257 at P2X₁ receptors, whereas TNP-ATP was 64-fold more potent than MRS 2257 at P2X₃ receptors. In conclusion, the PPADS template can be altered at the pyridoxal and phenyl moieties to produce P2X₁ and P2X₃ receptor antagonists showing higher potency and greater degree of reversibility than the parent compound at these Group I P2X receptors.