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Mercaptopurine (also called 6-MP; 6-Thiohypoxanthine; 6-thiopurine; 6-mercaptopurine; Purinethol) is an approved anticancer medication used to treat malignancies. Furthermore, it is a commonly used immunosuppressive medication for the treatment of autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, dermatological issues, inflammatory bowel disease, and rejection of solid organ transplants. By integrating thiopurine methyltransferase metabolites into DNA and RNA, it prevents the synthesis of purines from scratch.
Physicochemical Properties
| Molecular Formula | C5H4N4S | |
| Molecular Weight | 152.18 | |
| Exact Mass | 152.015 | |
| Elemental Analysis | C, 39.46; H, 2.65; N, 36.82; S, 21.07 | |
| CAS # | 50-44-2 | |
| Related CAS # | 6112-76-1 (hydrate); 50-44-2 (free) | |
| PubChem CID | 667490 | |
| Appearance | Light yellow to yellow solid powder | |
| Density | 1.6±0.1 g/cm3 | |
| Boiling Point | 490.6±25.0 °C at 760 mmHg | |
| Melting Point | 241-244°C | |
| Flash Point | 250.5±23.2 °C | |
| Vapour Pressure | 0.0±1.2 mmHg at 25°C | |
| Index of Refraction | 1.820 | |
| LogP | -0.18 | |
| Hydrogen Bond Donor Count | 2 | |
| Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count | 2 | |
| Rotatable Bond Count | 0 | |
| Heavy Atom Count | 10 | |
| Complexity | 190 | |
| Defined Atom Stereocenter Count | 0 | |
| SMILES | S=C1C2=C(N=C([H])N2[H])N([H])C([H])=N1 |
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| InChi Key | GLVAUDGFNGKCSF-UHFFFAOYSA-N | |
| InChi Code | InChI=1S/C5H4N4S/c10-5-3-4(7-1-6-3)8-2-9-5/h1-2H,(H2,6,7,8,9,10) | |
| Chemical Name | 3,7-dihydropurine-6-thione | |
| Synonyms |
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| HS Tariff Code | 2934.99.9001 | |
| Storage |
Powder-20°C 3 years 4°C 2 years In solvent -80°C 6 months -20°C 1 month Note: This product requires protection from light (avoid light exposure) during transportation and storage. |
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| Shipping Condition | Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs) |
Biological Activity
| Targets | endogenous purines | |
| ln Vitro |
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| ln Vivo |
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| Enzyme Assay | L6 myotubes are incubated for 24 hours in either DMSO control or 6-Mercaptopurine hydrate (6-MP), with treatments in serum-free DMEM during the last 3 hours. They are then incubated for an additional 60 minutes at 37°C in the presence or absence of 100 nM insulin. Subsequently, 50 μg of protein lysates are gathered, put through SDS-PAGE, and then immunoblotted using primary antibodies for an entire night at 4°C. Using Image J software, densitometric analysis of scanned films is used to finally quantify the proteins[2]. | |
| Cell Assay | The Cell Viability Assay is used to quantify cell viability. 10,000 L6 skeletal muscle cells are seeded per well in 96-well plates, and after 7 days, the cells differentiate into myotubes. Before the assay, cells are treated for 24 hours with varying doses of 6-Mercaptopurine hydrate (6-MP). After 30 minutes of room temperature equilibration, 50 μL of Cell Titer-Glo reagent is added to each well, and the plates are mixed for 12 minutes on an orbital shaker to analyze the viability of the cells. A luminometer is used to measure luminosity[2]. | |
| Animal Protocol |
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| ADME/Pharmacokinetics |
Absorption, Distribution and Excretion Clinical studies have shown that the absorption of an oral dose of mercaptopurine in humans is incomplete and variable, averaging approximately 50% of the administered dose. The factors influencing absorption are unknown. The volume of distribution exceeded that of the total body water. /MILK/ It is not known whether mercaptopurine is distributed into milk. Mercaptopurine and its metabolites are distributed throughout total body water. The volume of distribution of mercaptopurine usually exceeds total body water content. Although the drug reportedly crosses the blood-brain barrier, CSF concentrations are not sufficient for the treatment of meningeal leukemia. Mercaptopurine is excreted in urine as unchanged drug and metabolites. In one study in adults with normal renal function, about 11% of an oral dose was recovered in the urine within 6 hours. The immunosuppressant azathioprine is increasingly being used in pregnancy. The human placenta is considered a relative barrier to the major metabolite, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), and likely explains the lack of proven teratogenicity in humans. The aim of this study was to determine how the human placenta restricts 6-MP transfer using the human placental perfusion model. After addition of 50 ng/mL (n=4) and 500 ng/mL (n=3) 6-MP into the maternal circulation, there was a biphasic decline in its concentration and a delay in fetal circulation appearance. Under equilibrative conditions, the fetal-to-maternal concentration ratio was >1.0 as a result of ion trapping. Binding to placental tissue and maternal pharmacokinetic parameters are the main factors that restrict placental transfer of 6-MP. Active transport is unlikely to play a significant role and drug interactions involving, or polymorphisms in, placental drug efflux transporters are not likely to put the fetus at risk of higher 6-MP exposure. For more Absorption, Distribution and Excretion (Complete) data for Mercaptopurine (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page. Metabolism / Metabolites Hepatic. Degradation primarily by xanthine oxidase. The catabolism of mercaptopurine and its metabolites is complex. In humans, after oral administration of 35S-6-mercaptopurine, urine contains intact mercaptopurine, thiouric acid (formed by direct oxidation by xanthine oxidase, probably via 6-mercapto-8-hydroxypurine), and a number of 6-methylated thiopurines. The methylthiopurines yield appreciable amounts of inorganic sulfate. After oral administration of 35(S)-6-mercaptopurine, urine contains intact mercaptopurine, thiouric acid (formed by direct oxidation by xanthine oxidase, probably via 6-mercapto-8-hydroxypurine), and a number of 6-methylated thiopurines. Mercaptopurine is metabolized via 2 major pathways. Mercaptopurine is rapidly and extensively oxidized to 6-thiouric acid in the liver by the enzyme xanthine oxidase. Because xanthine oxidase is inhibited by allopurinol, concomitant use of this drug decreases the metabolism of mercaptopurine and its active metabolites and leads to toxicity. If allopurinol and mercaptopurine are used concomitantly, the dosage of mercaptopurine must be reduced to avoid toxicity. Another major catabolic pathway is thiol methylation of mercaptopurine to form the inactive metabolite methyl-6-MP. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT). Variability in TPMT activity in patients because of a genetic polymorphism in the TPMT gene causes interindividual differences in the metabolism of mercaptopurine and resulting systemic exposure to the drug and its active metabolites. Dethiolation can also occur, with large portions of the sulfur being excreted as inorganic sulfate. ... In this study, we investigated the in vitro metabolism of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) to 6-thiouric acid (6TUA) in pooled human liver cytosol. We discovered that 6MP is metabolized to 6TUA through sequential metabolism via the 6-thioxanthine (6TX) intermediate. The role of human AO and XO in the metabolism of 6MP was established using the specific inhibitors raloxifene and febuxostat. Both AO and XO were involved in the metabolism of the 6TX intermediate, whereas only XO was responsible for the conversion of 6TX to 6TUA. These findings were further confirmed using purified human AO and Escherichia coli lysate containing expressed recombinant human XO. Xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), which belongs to the family of xanthine oxidoreductases and preferentially reduces nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)), was shown to contribute to the overall production of the 6TX intermediate as well as the final product 6TUA in the presence of NAD(+) in human liver cytosol. In conclusion, we present evidence that three enzymes, AO, XO, and XDH, contribute to the production of 6TX intermediate, whereas only XO and XDH are involved in the conversion of 6TX to 6TUA in pooled HLC. The thiopurine antimetabolites, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 6-thioguanine (6-TG) are inactive pro-drugs that require intracellular metabolism for activation to cytotoxic metabolites. Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is one of the most important enzymes in this process metabolizing both 6-MP and 6-TG to different methylated metabolites including methylthioinosine monophosphate (meTIMP) and methylthioguanosine monophosphate (meTGMP), respectively, with different suggested pharmacological and cytotoxic properties. While meTIMP is a potent inhibitor of de novo purine synthesis (DNPS) and significantly contributes to the cytotoxic effects of 6-MP, meTGMP, does not add much to the effects of 6-TG, and the cytotoxicity of 6-TG seems to be more dependent on incorporation of thioguanine nucleotides (TGNs) into DNA rather than inhibition of DNPS. In order to investigate the role of TPMT in metabolism and thus, cytotoxic effects of 6-MP and 6-TG, we knocked down the expression of the gene encoding the TPMT enzyme using specifically designed small interference RNA (siRNA) in human MOLT4 leukemia cells. The knock-down was confirmed at RNA, protein, and enzyme function levels. Apoptosis was determined using annexin V and propidium iodide staining and FACS analysis. The results showed a 34% increase in sensitivity of MOLT4 cells to 1 uM 6-TG after treatment with TPMT-targeting siRNA, as compared to cells transfected with non-targeting siRNA, while the sensitivity of the cells toward 6-MP was not affected significantly by down-regulation of the TPMT gene. This differential contribution of the enzyme TPMT to the cytotoxicity of the two thiopurines is probably due to its role in formation of the meTIMP, the cytotoxic methylated metabolite of 6-MP, while in case of 6-TG methylation by TPMT substantially deactivates the drug. 6-Thiouric acid is the major metabolite of 6-mercaptopurine and is formed from this drug by the action of xanthine oxidase. Biological Half-Life Triphasic: 45 minutes, 2.5 hours, and 10 hours. Following IV administration of mercaptopurine (an IV preparation of the drug currently is not commercially available in the US), the elimination half-life of the drug is reportedly 21 minutes in pediatric patients and 47 minutes in adults. After an intravenous dose, the half-life of the drug in plasma is relatively short (about 50 minutes) due to uptake by cells, renal excretion, and rapid metabolic degradation. After iv administration of 6-mercaptopurine, the half-Iie for disappearance from the blood was about 9 min in rats and 14 min in mice. |
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| Toxicity/Toxicokinetics |
Hepatotoxicity Mercaptopurine has been associated with several forms of hepatotoxicity. Patients receiving mercaptopurine for leukemia often have transient and asymptomatic rises in serum aminotransferase or alkaline phosphatase levels and a proportion of these patients develop jaundice, particularly when it is given in high doses. In case series of patients with autoimmune diseases (such as inflammatory bowel disease) treated with mercaptopurine, up to 30% developed serum aminotransferase elevations and these can be persistent as long as therapy is continued, resolving either with dose reduction or discontinuation. Liver biopsy usually demonstrates steatosis and centrolobular injury with scant inflammation. Mercaptopurine can also lead to a distinctive acute, clinically apparent liver injury that usually presents with fatigue and jaundice and a cholestatic or mixed pattern of serum enzyme elevations 1 to 6 months after starting therapy, but sometimes later, particularly following an increase in dose. Serum enzyme levels are often not very high, certainly not in the range that occurs with acute viral hepatiits. Rash, fever and eosinophilia are uncommon and autoantibodies are generally not found. Liver biopsy typically shows a mixed hepatocellular-cholestatic injury with cholestasis, focal hepatocellular necrosis, bile duct injury and variable amounts of inflammation. The injury is idiosyncratic and similar to the cholestatic hepatitis associated with azathioprine. The liver injury usually resolves upon stopping, but prolonged cholestasis has been reported and some cases have been fatal. In large case series and registries, mercaptopurine usually ranks among the top 20 causes of drug induced liver injury, and if combined with cases due to azathioprine [a prodrug of mercaptopurine] would rank among the top 10 more frequent causes. Chronic therapy with mercaptopurine and other thiopurines can lead to nodular regeneration and symptomatic portal hypertension. This chronic hepatotoxicity typically presents with fatigue and signs and symptoms of portal hypertension (ascites, varices), with mild liver enzyme abnormalities and minimal jaundice arising 6 months to many years after starting mercaptopurine. Liver biopsy shows nodular regenerative hyperplasia without significant fibrosis and varying amounts of sinusoidal dilation and central vein injury. This syndrome can progress to hepatic failure, particularly if mercaptopurine is continued, but gradual improvement on stopping therapy is typical. Rarely, the onset of this syndrome can be acute with abdominal pain and ascites in which situation liver biopsy usually shows sinusoidal dilation, central congestion and injury to sinusoidal endothelial cells suggestive of veno-occlusive disease, which is currently referred to as sinusoidal obstructive syndrome. Typically, serum aminotransferase levels and alkaline phosphatase levels are minimally elevated, even in the presence of hyperbilirubinemia and other manifestations of hepatic dysfunction and portal hypertension. Many cases present initially with unexplained thrombocytopenia, and progressive decreases in platelet counts may be the most sensitive marker for the development of the non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. Finally long-term therapy with mercaptopurine and other thiopurines has been implicated in leading to the development of malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma (HSTCL). Both of these complications are rare but have been reported in several dozen case reports and small case series. In neither instance, has the role of thiopurine therapy in causing the malignacies been proven, and similar cases have been described in patients with autoimmune conditions or after solid organ transplantation who have not received thiopurines. Hepatocellular carcinoma typically arises after years of azathioprine or mercaptopurine therapy and in the absence of accompanying liver disease (although sometimes with focal hepatic glycogenosis). The HCC is most frequently found on an imaging study done of an unrelated condition. The prognosis is more favorable than that of HCC associated with cirrhosis. Hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma has been reported largely among young men with inflammatory bowel disease and long term immunosuppression with a thiopurine with or without anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. The typical presentation is with fatigue, fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. The diagnosis is made by bone marrow or liver biopsy showing marked infiltration with malignant T cells. HSTCL is poorly responsive to antineoplastic therapy and has a high mortality rate. Likelihood score: A (well known cause of clinically apparent liver injury). Effects During Pregnancy and Lactation ◉ Summary of Use during Lactation In the treatment of conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, most professional guidelines and other experts consider breastfeeding to be acceptable during mercaptopurine therapy.[1-9] Azathioprine is rapidly converted to mercaptopurine, so data from mothers taking azathioprine apply to mercaptopurine. No active metabolites of mercaptopurine were found in the blood of breastfed infants whose mothers were taking azathioprine and only poorly documented cases of mild, asymptomatic neutropenia and increased rates of infection have been reported occasionally. It might be desirable to monitor exclusively breastfed infants with a complete blood count with differential, and liver function tests if azathioprine is used during lactation, although some authors feel that such monitoring is unnecessary.[10]. See the Azathioprine record for details. Mothers with decreased activity of the enzyme that detoxifies mercaptopurine metabolites may transmit higher levels of drug to their infants in breastmilk. It might be desirable to monitor exclusively breastfed infants with a complete blood count with differential, and liver function tests if mercaptopurine is used during lactation, although some authors feel that monitoring is unnecessary.[11] Avoiding breastfeeding for 4 hours after a dose should markedly decrease the dose received by the infant in breastmilk.[12] Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal antineoplastic drug therapy, although antimetabolites such as mercaptopurine appear to pose the least risk to breastfed infants.[13] After high-dose chemotherapy, it might be possible to breastfeed safely during intermittent therapy with an appropriate period of breastfeeding abstinence. Although no data are available to determine an appropriate period to withhold breastfeeding, the drug's terminal half-life suggests that withholding breastfeeding for 1 to 2 days may be sufficient. Chemotherapy may adversely affect the normal microbiome and chemical makeup of breastmilk.[14] ◉ Effects in Breastfed Infants In The Netherlands, 30 infants of mothers taking either azathioprine (n = 28) or mercaptopurine (n = 2) for inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy and postpartum were followed at 1 to 6 years of age using a 43-item quality of life questionnaire. Of this cohort, 9 infants were breastfed for a mean of 7 months (range 3 to 13 months) No statistically significant differences were found between breastfed and formula-fed infants in any of the 12 domains of the survey.[19] In a multi-center study of women with inflammatory bowel disease in pregnancy (the PIANO registry), 102 women received a thiopurine (azathioprine or mercaptopurine) and another 67 received a thiopurine plus a biological agent (adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab, infliximab, natalizumab, or ustekinumab) while breastfeeding their infants. Among those who received a thiopurine or combination therapy while breastfeeding, infant growth, development or infection rate was no different from 208 breastfed infants whose mothers received no treatment.[20] A national survey of gastroenterologists in Australia identified 21 infants who were breastfed by mothers taking a combination of allopurinol and a thiopurine (e.g. azathioprine, mercaptopurine) to treat inflammatory bowel disease. All had taken the combination during pregnancy also. Two postpartum infant deaths occurred, both at 3 months of age. One was a twin (premature birth-related) and the other from SIDS. The authors did not believe the deaths were medication related.[21] No information was provided on the extent of breastfeeding, drug dosages or the outcomes of the other infants. ◉ Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. Protein Binding Plasma protein binding averages 19% over the concentration range 10 to 50 µg/mL (a concentration only achieved by intravenous administration of mercaptopurine at doses exceeding 5 to 10 mg/kg). |
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| References |
[1]. Clinical pharmacology and pharmacogenetics of thiopurines. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2008 Aug;64(8):753-67. [2]. 6-Mercaptopurine augments glucose transport activity in skeletal muscle cells in part via a mechanism dependent upon orphan nuclear receptor NR4A3. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Nov 1;305(9):E1081-92. [3]. 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of neural progenitor cells in the developing fetal rat brain. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2009 Mar-Apr;31(2):104-9. |
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| Additional Infomation |
Mercaptopurine can cause developmental toxicity according to state or federal government labeling requirements. Purine-6-thiol is a thiol that is the tautomer of mercaptopurine. It has a role as an antineoplastic agent and an antimetabolite. It is a tautomer of a mercaptopurine. It derives from a hydride of a 7H-purine. An antimetabolite antineoplastic agent with immunosuppressant properties. It interferes with nucleic acid synthesis by inhibiting purine metabolism and is used, usually in combination with other drugs, in the treatment of or in remission maintenance programs for leukemia. Mercaptopurine anhydrous is a Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor. The mechanism of action of mercaptopurine anhydrous is as a Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitor. Mercaptopurine (also referred to as 6-mercaptopurine or 6-MP) is a purine analogue that is effective both as an anticancer and an immunosuppressive agent, and is used to treat leukemia and autoimmune diseases as a corticosteroid-sparing agent. Mercaptopurine therapy is associated with a high rate of serum aminotransferase elevations which can be accompanied by jaundice. In addition, mercaptopurine has been linked to instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury and long term therapy to nodular regenerative hyperplasia. Mercaptopurine has been reported in Origanum dictamnus, Allium ampeloprasum, and other organisms with data available. Mercaptopurine is a thiopurine-derivative antimetabolite with antineoplastic and immunosuppressive activities. Produced through the metabolism of mercaptopurine by hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), mercaptopurine metabolites 6-thioguanosine-5'-phosphate (6-thioGMP) and 6-thioinosine monophosphate (T-IMP) inhibit nucleotide interconversions and de novo purine synthesis, thereby blocking the formation of purine nucleotides and inhibiting DNA synthesis. This agent is also incorporated into DNA in the form of deoxythioguanosine, which results in the disruption of DNA replication. In addition, mercaptopurine is converted to 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (MMPR) by 6-thiopurine methyltransferase; MMPRs are also potent inhibitors of de novo purine synthesis. (NCI04) Mercaptopurine Anhydrous is the anhydrous form of mercaptopurine, a thiopurine-derivative antimetabolite with antineoplastic and immunosuppressive activities. Produced through the metabolism of mercaptopurine by hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), mercaptopurine metabolites 6-thioguanosine-5'-phosphate (6-thioGMP) and 6-thioinosine monophosphate (T-IMP) inhibit nucleotide interconversions and de novo purine synthesis, thereby blocking the formation of purine nucleotides and inhibiting DNA synthesis. This agent is also incorporated into DNA in the form of deoxythioguanosine, which results in the disruption of DNA replication. In addition, mercaptopurine is converted to 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (MMPR) by 6-thiopurine methyltransferase; MMPRs are also potent inhibitors of de novo purine synthesis. An antimetabolite antineoplastic agent with immunosuppressant properties. It interferes with nucleic acid synthesis by inhibiting purine metabolism and is used, usually in combination with other drugs, in the treatment of or in remission maintenance programs for leukemia. Drug Indication For remission induction and maintenance therapy of acute lymphatic leukemia. FDA Label Xaluprine is indicated for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in adults, adolescents and children. Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia Mechanism of Action Mercaptopurine competes with hypoxanthine and guanine for the enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) and is itself converted to thioinosinic acid (TIMP). TIMP inhibits several reactions that involve inosinic acid (IMP), such as the conversion of IMP to xanthylic acid (XMP) and the conversion of IMP to adenylic acid (AMP) via adenylosuccinate (SAMP). Upon methylation, TIMP forms 6-methylthioinosinate (MTIMP) which inhibits glutamine-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase in addition to TIMP. Glutamine-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase is the first enzyme unique to the _de novo_ pathway for purine ribonucleotide synthesis. According to experimental findings using radiolabeled mercaptopurine, mercaptopurine may be recovered from the DNA in the form of deoxythioguanosine. In comparison, some mercaptopurine may be converted to nucleotide derivatives of 6-thioguanine (6-TG) via actions of inosinate (IMP) dehydrogenase and xanthylate (XMP) aminase that convert TIMP to thioguanylic acid (TGMP). The pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases often involves the microglial activation and associated inflammatory processes. Activated microglia release pro-inflammatory factors that may be neurotoxic. 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) is a well-established immunosuppressive drug. Common understanding of their immunosuppressive properties is largely limited to peripheral immune cells. However, the effect of 6-MP in the central nervous system, especially in microglia in the context of neuroinflammation is, as yet, unclear. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) is a key cytokine of the immune system that initiates and promotes neuroinflammation. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of 6-MP on TNF-a production by microglia to discern the molecular mechanisms of this modulation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce an inflammatory response in cultured primary microglia or murine BV-2 microglial cells. Released TNF-a was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Gene expression was determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Signaling molecules were analyzed by western blotting, and activation of NF-kB was measured by ELISA-based DNA binding analysis and luciferase reporter assay. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis was performed to examine NF-kB p65 and coactivator p300 enrichments and histone modifications at the endogenous TNF-a promoter. Treatment of LPS-activated microglia with 6-MP significantly attenuated TNF-a production. In 6-MP pretreated microglia, LPS-induced MAPK signaling, I?B-a degradation, NF-kB p65 nuclear translocation, and in vitro p65 DNA binding activity were not impaired. However, 6-MP suppressed transactivation activity of NF-?B and TNF-a promoter by inhibiting phosphorylation and acetylation of p65 on Ser276 and Lys310, respectively. ChIP analyses revealed that 6-MP dampened LPS-induced histone H3 acetylation of chromatin surrounding the TNF-a promoter, ultimately leading to a decrease in p65/coactivator-mediated transcription of TNF-a gene. Furthermore, 6-MP enhanced orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 expression. Using RNA interference approach, we further demonstrated that Nur77 upregulation contribute to 6-MP-mediated inhibitory effect on TNF-a production. Additionally, 6-MP also impeded TNF-a mRNA translation through prevention of LPS-activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling cascades. These results suggest that 6-MP might have a therapeutic potential in neuroinflammation-related neurodegenerative disorders through downregulation of microglia-mediated inflammatory processes. Mercaptopurine (6-MP) competes with hypoxanthine and guanine for the enzyme hyphoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) and is itself converted to thioinosinic acid (TIMP). This intracellular nucleotide inhibits several reactions involving inosinic acid (IMP), including the conversion of IMP to xanthylic acid (XMP) and the conversion of IMP to adenylic acid (AMP) via adenylosuccinate (SAMP). In addition, 6-methylthioinosinate (MTIMP) is formed by the methylation of TIMP. Both TIMP and MTIMP have been reported to inhibit glutamine-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase, the first enzyme unique to the de novo pathway for purine ribonucleotide synthesis. Experiments indicate that radiolabeled mercaptopurine may be recovered from the DNA in the form of deoxythioguanosine. Some mercaptopurine is converted to nucleotide derivatives of 6-thioguanine (6-TG) by the sequential actions of inosinate (IMP) dehydrogenase and xanthylate (XMP) aminase, converting TIMP to thioguanylic acid (TGMP). Animal tumors that are resistant to mercaptopurine often have lost the ability to convert mercaptopurine to TIMP. However, it is clear that resistance to mercaptopurine may be acquired by other means as well, particularly in human leukemias. It is not known exactly which of any one or more of the biochemical effects of mercaptopurine and its metabolites are directly or predominantly responsible for cell death. Inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation. Azathioprine and its metabolite 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) are effective immunosuppressive drugs that are widely used in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. ... Azathioprine and 6-MP have been shown to affect small GTPase Rac1 in T cells and endothelial cells, whereas the effect on macrophages and gut epithelial cells is unknown. Macrophages (RAW cells) and gut epithelial cells (Caco-2 cells) were activated by cytokines and the effect on Rac1 signaling was assessed in the presence or absence of 6-MP. Rac1 is activated in macrophages and epithelial cells, and treatment with 6-MP resulted in Rac1 inhibition. In macrophages, interferon-gamma induced downstream signaling through c-Jun-N-terminal Kinase (JNK) resulting in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. iNOS expression was reduced by 6-MP in a Rac1-dependent manner. In epithelial cells, 6-MP efficiently inhibited tumor necrosis factor-a-induced expression of the chemokines CCL2 and interleukin-8, although only interleukin-8 expression was inhibited in a Rac1-dependent manner. In addition, activation of the transcription factor STAT3 was suppressed in a Rac1-dependent fashion by 6-MP, resulting in reduced proliferation of the epithelial cells due to diminished cyclin D1 expression. These data demonstrate that 6-MP affects macrophages and gut epithelial cells beneficially, in addition to T cells and endothelial cells. Furthermore, mechanistic insight is provided to support development of Rac1-specific inhibitors for clinical use in inflammatory bowel disease. |
Solubility Data
| Solubility (In Vitro) |
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| Solubility (In Vivo) |
Solubility in Formulation 1: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (16.43 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 40% PEG300 + 5% Tween80 + 45% Saline (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution. For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 400 μL PEG300 and mix evenly; then add 50 μL Tween-80 to the above solution and mix evenly; then add 450 μL normal saline to adjust the volume to 1 mL. Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH₂ O to obtain a clear solution. Solubility in Formulation 2: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (16.43 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% (20% SBE-β-CD in Saline) (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution. For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of 20% SBE-β-CD physiological saline solution and mix evenly. Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution. Solubility in Formulation 3: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (16.43 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% Corn Oil (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution. For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of corn oil and mix evenly. Solubility in Formulation 4: 3.33 mg/mL (21.88 mM) in 50% PEG300 50% Saline (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), suspension solution; with ultrasonication. Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH₂ O to obtain a clear solution. (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.) |
| Preparing Stock Solutions | 1 mg | 5 mg | 10 mg | |
| 1 mM | 6.5712 mL | 32.8558 mL | 65.7117 mL | |
| 5 mM | 1.3142 mL | 6.5712 mL | 13.1423 mL | |
| 10 mM | 0.6571 mL | 3.2856 mL | 6.5712 mL |