This invention relates to an interleukin-1 inhibitor, more particularly to an interleukin-1 inhibiting agent comprising as an active ingredient at least one of benzoheterocyclic compounds selected from the group consisting of 1 ,4 - dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids of the formula:

wherein R ¹ and R ² are each a lower alkyl group and X ¹ is a halogen atom, or a salt thereof, and 6,7-dihydro-1-oxo-1 H,5H-benzo[i,j]quinolidine-2-carboxylic acids of the formula:

R ⁴ wherein R ³ is a lower alkyl group, R ⁴ is hydroxy group, and X ² is a halogen atom, or a salt thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

It has been decided in the 2nd International Limphokine Workshop

that the physiologically active substance, which had been called by various names such as Lymphocyte Activating Factor (LAF), Mitogenic Protein, Helper peak-1 , T-cell replacing factor III (TRF-III), T-cell replacing factor macrophage (TRFM), B-cell activating factor, B-cell differentiation factor, has uniformly been designated as "interleukin-1 " (IL-1) [cf. Cellular Immunol., 48, 433-436 (1979)].

This is decided by the reason that the above physiologically active substance having various namings could not be distinguished from each other and had been designated merely based on different angles of the physiological activities. It has been known that the above IL-1 is a biomaterial which is important for inducing and transmitting the systemic biological response against infection and inflammation, and further this substance per se has a strong antitumor activity [cf. Hirai, Y., et al.; "Gann Monograph on Cancer Research", Japan Scientific Societies Press, Tokyo (1988)], and further it has also been found that it induces response observed in the inflammation in vivo, such as fever, increase of leukocytes, activation of lymphocytes, induction of biosynthesis of acute phase protein in liver [cf. Dinarello, C.A.; Interleukin-1 , Rev. Infect. Des., 6, 51-95 (1984), and Kluger, M.J., Oppenheim, J.J. &. Powanda, M.C.; The Physiologic, Metabolic and Immunologic Actions of Interleukin-1 , Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York (1985)]. Moreover, IL-1 has various biological activities and has been considered to be an important factor for maintaining the homeostasis, but when the function of IL-1 production is disordered and thereby IL-1 is produced in an abnormally larger amount, it may cause various diseases. For example, it has been reported that in case of rheumatoid arthritis, there is a strong correlation between the degree of inflammation of articular synovium and the degree of the

bone destruction and expression of HLA-DR antigen in the synovial tissue [cf. Miyasaka, N., Sato, K., Goto, M., Sasano, M., Natsuyama, M., Inoue, K., and Nishioka, K.; Augmented Interleukin-1 Production and HLA-DR Expression in the Synovium of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient: Arthritis Rheum., 32, (4), 476-480 (1988)].

Accordingly, it is considered that the various physiological properties associated with IL-1 may be blocked by inhibiting the excess release of IL-1 from cells.

There are used glucocorticoid hormones for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, and it is known that the activities will partly be due to the suppression of IL-1 production [cf. Lew, W., Oppenheim, J.J., &

Matsushima, K.; Analysis of the Suppression of IL-1α and IL-1β Production in

Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Adherent Cells by a Glucocorticoid Hormone: J. Immunol., 140, (6), 1895-1902 (1988)]. However, it has been known that glucocorticoids induce disadvantageously various heavy side effects owing to its various physiological activities.

Thus, it has been desired to find a new drug which has no side effects as observed in glucocorticoids and further has excellent safety in the toxicity and other side effects for the purpose of the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, autoimmune diseases.

By the way, the 1 ,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids of the formula (I) and the 6,7-dihydro-1-oxo-1 H,5H-benzo[i,j]quinolidine-2 - carboxylic acids of the formula (II) are disclosed in European Patent Publication

0287951 and U.S. Patent 4,399,134 as antibacterial agents.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have studied to develop a new interleukin-1 inhibitor and have found that the benzoheterocylic compounds of the formulae (I) and (II), particularly 7-(3-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-5-methyl -

1 ,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid or a salt thereof and 9-fluoro-8-(4 - hydroxy-1 -piperidinyl)-5-methyl-6,7-dihydro-1 -oxo-1 H,5H-benzo[ji]quinolidine-2 - carboxylic acid or a salt thereof are useful as an interleukin-1 inhibitor.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel interleukin-1 inhibiting agent. Another object of the invention is to provide a new use of the known benzoheterocyclic compounds of the formulae (I) and (II) and their salts as an interleukin-1 inhibitor. A further object is to provide a method for the prophylaxis and treatment of various diseases induced by acceleration of interleukin-1 secretion by administering an effective amount of the benzoheterocyclic compounds (I) or (II) or a salt thereof to the subject suffering from such diseases.

The each group in the formulae (I) and (II) denotes as follows.

The "lower alkyl group" denotes a straight chain or branched chain alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, and the like.

The "halogen atom" denotes fiuorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom.

Among the benzoheterocyclic compounds of the formulae (I) and (II), basic compounds can easily form a salt with conventional pharmaceutically acceptable acids. These acids include, for example, inorganic acids such as

sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrobromic acid, etc., and organic acids such as acetic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, maieic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, succinic acid, benzolic acid, etc. Besides, among the benzoheterocyclic compounds of the formulae (I) and (II), acidic compounds can easily form a salt with conventional pharmaceutically acceptable basic

compounds. These basic compounds include, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate, etc. The interleukin-1 inhibitor of the present invention is useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of various diseases induced by acceleration of interleukin-1 secretion, for example, autoimmune diseases such as nephritis, vasculitis, and inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease); rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma, Behcet's disease, and gout; inflammatory diseases associated with local and systemic infection such as septic shock and inflammatory diseases in dental, ophthalmic and otorhinolic fields such as chronic periodontal disease, ocular inflammatory disease, and otitis media; allergic diseases such as asthma; osteoporosis; endometriosis [cf. Fukih, H. et al; Fertil. Sterl., 47, p213 (1987)]; chronic granulomatous disease; Hodgkin's disease; acute or chronic myelogenous leukemia; graft-vs.-host disease; diabetes [cf. Dayer Metroz M.-D.; Eur. J. Clin. Invest., 22 (No. 4), p2, A50 (1992)]; Kawasaki's disease [cf. Leung, D.Y.M. et al; J. Exp. Med., 164, p1958 (1986)]; and the like.

The compounds of the formulae (I) and (II) and their salts of the present invention are used in the form of a conventional pharmaceutical preparation in

human being and other animals. The preparation is prepared by using conventional diluents or carriers such as fillers, thickening agents, binders, wetting gents, disintegrators, surfactants, lubricants, and the like. The pharmaceutical preparations may be selected from various forms in accordance with the desired utilities, and the representative forms are tablets, pills, powders, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, granules, capsules, suppositories, injections (solutions, suspensions, etc.), and the like. In order to form in tablets, there are used conventional carriers such as vehicles (e.g. lactose, white sugar, sodium chloride, glucose, urea, starches, calcium carbonate, kaolin, crystalline cellulose, silicic acid, etc.), binders (e.g. water, ethanol, propanol, simple syrup, glucose solution, starch solution, gelatin solution, carboxymethyl cellulose, shellac, methyl cellulose, potassium phosphate, polyvinyipyrrolidone, etc.), disintegrators (e.g. dry starch, sodium arginate, agar powder, laminaran powder, sodium hydrogen carbonate, calcium carbonate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, sodium laurylsulfate, stearic monoglyceride, starches, lactose, etc.), disintegration inhibitors (e.g. white sugar, stearin, cacao butter, hydrogenated oils, etc.), absorption promoters (e.g. quaternary ammonium base, sodium laurylsulfate, etc.), wetting agents (e.g. glycerin, starches, etc.), adsorbents (e.g. starches, lactose, kaolin, bentonite, colloidal silicates, etc.), lubricants (e.g. purified talc, stearates, boric acid powder, polyethylene glycol, etc.), and the like.

Moreover, the tablets may also be in the form of a conventional coated tablet, such as sugar-coated tablets, gelatin-coated tablets, enteric coated tablets, film coating tablets, or double or multiple layer tablets.

In the preparation of pills, the carriers include vehicles (e.g. glucose, lactose, starches, cacao butter, hydrogenated vegetable oils, kaolin,

talc, etc.), binders (e.g. gum arabic powder, tragacanth powder, gelatin, ethanol, etc.), disintegrators (e.g. laminaran, agar, etc.), and the like. In the preparation of suppositories, the carriers include, for example, polyethylene glycol, cacao butter, higher alcohols, higher alcohol esters, gelatin, semi-synthetic giycerides, and the like.

Capsules can be prepared by charging a mixture of the compound of this invention with the above carriers into hard gelatin capsules or soft

capsules in a usual manner.

In the preparation of injections, the solutions, emulsions or suspensions are sterilized and are preferably made isotonic with the blood. In the preparation of these solutions, emulsions and suspensions, there are used conventional diluents, such as water, macrogol, ethyl alcohol, propylene glycol, ethoxylated isostearyl alcohol, polyoxylated isostearyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, and the like. In this case, the pharmaceutical preparations may also be incorporated with sodium chloride, glucose or glycerin in an amount sufficient to make them isotonic, and may also be incorporated with conventional solubilizers, buffers, anesthetizing agents.

Besides, the pharmaceutical preparations may optionally be incorporated with coloring agents, preservatives, perfumes, flavors, sweetening agents, and other medicaments, if desired.

The amount of the active compound to be incorporated into the interleukin-1 inhibiting agent of this invention is not specified but may be selected from a broad range, but it is usually in the range of 1 to 70% by weight, preferably about 1 to 30% by weight. The interleukin-1 inhibiting preparation of this invention may be

administered in any method, and suitable method for administration may be determined in accordance with various forms of preparation, ages, sexes and other conditions of the patients, the degree of severity of diseases, and the like. For example, tablets, pills, solutions, suspensions, emulsion, granules and capsules are administered orally. The injections are intravenously administered alone or together with a conventional auxiliary liquid (e.g. glucose, amino acid solutions), and further are optionally administered alone in intramuscular, intracutaneous, subcutaneous, or intraperitoneal route, if desired. Suppositories are administered in intrarectal route. The dosage of the interleukin-1 inhibiting agent of this invention may be selected in accordance with the usage, ages, sexes and other conditions of the patients, the degree of severity of the diseases, and the like, but is usually in the range of about 0.1 to 1000 mg of the active compound of this invention per 1 kg of body weight of the patient per day. The daily dosage may be administered dividedly in one to four times in a day. The active compound is preferably contained in an amount of about 1 to about 600 mg per the dosage unit.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention is illustrated by the following preparations and pharmacological experiments.

Preparation 1

Film coated tablets are prepared from the following components. Components Amount

7-(3-Methyl-1 -piperazinyl)-1 -cyclopropyl-

6-fluoro-5-methyl-1 ,4-hydroxy-4-oxoquinoline-

3-carboxylic acid 150 g

Abicel (tradename of microcrystalline cellulose, manufactured by Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Japan) 40 g Corn starch 30 g

Magnesium stearate 2 g

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 10 g

Polyethylene glycol-6000 3 g

Castor oil 40 g

Ethanol 40 g

The active component of this invention, Avicel, corn starch and magnesium stearate are mixed and kneaded and the mixture is tabletted using a conventional pounder (R 10 mm) for sugar coating. The tablets thus obtained are coated with a film coating agent consisting of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol-6000, castor oil and ethanol to give film coated tablets.

Preparation 2

Tablets are prepared from the following components.

Components Amount

9-Fiuoro-8-(4-hydroxy-1-piperidinyl)-5-methyl- 6,7-dihydro-1 -oxo-1 H,5H-benzo[ji]quinolidine-

2-carboxylic acid 150 g

Citric acid 1.0 g

Lactose 33.5 g Dicaicium phosphate 70.0 g

Pluronic F-68 30.0 g

Sodium laurylsulfate 15.0 g

Polyvinylpyrrolidone 15.0 g

Polyethylene glycol (Carbowax 1500) 4.5 g

Polyethylene glycol (Carbowax 6000) 45.0 g

Corn starch 30.0 g

Dry sodium laurylsulfate 3.0 g Dry magnesium stearate 3.0 g

Ethanol q.s.

The active compound of this invention, citric acid, lactose, dicalcium phosphate, Pluronic F-68 and sodium laurylsulfate are mixed. The mixture is screened with No. 60 screen and is granulated in wet with an alcohol solution containing polyvinylpyrrolidone, carbowax 1500 and 6000. If required, an alcohol is added thereto so that the powder mixture is made a paste-like mass. Corn starch is added to the mixture and the mixture is continuously mixed to form uniform particles. The resulting particles are passed through No. 10 screen and entered into a tray and then dried in an oven at 100°C for 12 to 14 hours. The dried particles are screened with No. 16 screen and thereto are added dry sodium laurylsulfate and dry magnesium stearate, and the mixture is tabletted to form the desired shape.

The core tablets thus prepared are vanished and dusted with talc in order to guard from wetting. Undercoating is applied to the core tablets. In order to administer the tablets orally, the core tablets are vanished several times. In order to give round shape and smooth surface to the tablets, further under - coating and coating with lubricant are applied thereto. The tablets are further coated with a coloring coating material until the desired colored tablets are obtained. After drying, the coated tablets are polished to obtain the desired tablets having uniform gloss.

Pharmacological experiment

Method: A 10% heparinized prepheral blood from healthy volunteer, a test compound and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 3.3 μg/ml) were suspended in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with penicillin 100 units/ml and streptomycin 0.1 μg/ml, and the mixture was incubated in a 5% C0 ₂ atmosphere at 37°C for 18 - 24 hours. The supernatant of the culture was collected by centrifugation.

The IL-1 α and IL-1 β isolated from cells by stimulation with LPS

were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). That is, 96-well ELISA plate was coated with a mouse monoclonal antibody against human IL -

1α or human IL-1 β, followed by blocking treatment, and thereto was added a test

sample and it was subjected to reaction. After the reaction, the plate was

washed, and then rabbit polyclonal antibody against IL-1α or IL-1 β was added to

the plate and subjected to reaction. After washing the plate, horseradish peroxidase (POD)-conjugated anti-rabbit immunoglobulin was added thereto and subjected to reaction. After removing the unbound POD-conjugated antibody by washing, a substrate solution (containing ortho-phenylenediamine and hydrogen peroxide) was added and subjected to reaction, and thereafter,

the absorbance at 492 nm was measured, and thereby the amounts of IL-1 α and

IL-1 β were measured based on each standard curve. The ratio (%) of inhibition

of IL-1 release was calculated by the following equation:

IL-1 release inhibitory ratio (%) = 100 x (1 -T/C) wherein T means the amount of IL-1 in the supernatant of culture incorporated

with the test compound, and C means the amount of IL-1 in the supernatant of culture added only with the solvent. Test compounds:

1. 7-(3-Methyl-1 -piperazinyl)-1 -cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-5-methyl- 1 ,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid.

2. 9-Fluoro-8-(4-hydroxy-1 -piperidinyl)-5-methyl-6,7-di- hydro-1 -oxo-1 H,5H-benzo[ji]quinolidine-2-carboxylic acid.

Results:

The results are shown in Table 1. Table 1

Test compounds Dose (3 x 10 ^"5 g/ml)

IL-1 α release IL-1 β release inhibitory ratio inhibitory ratio

93 % 96 %

82 % 78 %

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The interleukin-1 inhibiting agent of this invention is useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of various diseases induced by acceleration of IL-1 secretion, such as autoimmune diseases, rheumatic diseases, various inflammatory diseases, allergic diseases, and the like in human being and other animals.