Stable 9 beta- or 11 alpha-halogen-15-cyclohexyl-prostaglandins with high affinity to the PGD2-receptor

Various chemically stable prostaglandin analogues were studied for their affinity towards the PGD2-receptor in human platelet membranes in order to define the requirements for specific ligand binding to this receptor. On replacing the 11- or 9-hydroxyl groups of PGF2 alpha by an 11 alpha- or 9 beta-chloro- or fluoro atom, stable prostaglandin analogues were obtained, which showed high affinity towards the PGD2-receptor. The lower side chain consisted of a 15-cyclohexyl group or of the natural 15-n-pentyl group, other substitutents decreased the affinity substantially. The highest PGD2-mimetic activity with a relative affinity of 0.5 to the PGD2-receptor was found in 9-deoxy-9 beta-chloro-16,17,18,19,20-pentanor-15-cyclohexyl-PGF2 alpha (ZK 110 841, compound 16 in Table 1). ZK 110 841 is a chemically stable crystalline substance, which is orally active and which might thus turn out to be an interesting tool for the study of PGD2-receptor interactions. Some other prostaglandin as well as prostacyclin analogues with a 15-cyclohexyl or 15-n-pentyl group exhibited in addition to their known high affinity to the PGE2-receptor of human uterine membranes or the PGI2-receptor of human platelets also affinities to the PGD2-receptor. Generally, the receptor affinities correlate with the activities as stimulators of adenylate cyclase and inhibitors of thrombin induced elevation of cytoplasmic free calcium as well as their ability to inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The PGI2-character regarding the effector systems prevails in compounds with affinity to both the PGI2- and PGD2-receptor. Compounds which bind to the PGE2- and PGD2-receptor show a flat dose response curve regarding platelet activation suggesting a mixture of pro- and antiaggregatory properties within these molecules.