N-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-methyl-1,2-oxazole-3-carboxamide (UTL-5g) is a small-molecule chemoprotector against cisplatin and radioprotector against radiation. To further investigate its protective effects, we evaluated whether UTL-5g protects mice in a septic shock animal model. The two metabolites of UTL-5g, 5-methylisoxazole-3-carboxylic acid (Isox) and 2,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) were also evaluated side-by-side with UTL-5g. First, mice were pretreated with UTL-5g, Isox, and DCA before the i.p. injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-(+)-galactosamine hydrochloride (D-Gal), respectively. Oral administration of both UTL-5g and Isox increased mouse survival while DCA did not, indicating that Isox is an active metabolite of UTL-5g while DCA is not. In the second study, mice were pretreated with UTL-5g or Isox individually by i.p. injection each at 30 mg/kg before LPS/D-Gal injection. The survival rates for both UTL-5g and Isox were better than those found for oral administration. In the third study, the same molar dose of UTL-5g and Isox by i.p. injection was used respectively and the results showed that UTL-5g had a better protective effect than Isox. In the fourth study, a protocol similar to the third study was used but blood samples were collected from the orbital plexus two hr after LPS/D-gal treatment. The results showed that UTL-5g lowered blood levels of both TNF- and TGF- elevated by LPS/D-gal. In summary, pretreatment of UTL-5g protected mice treated with LPS/D-Gal and the protection was related to the lowering of TNF- and TGF- levels elevated by LPS/D-Gal. In addition, UTL-5g appeared to be both an active drug and a prodrug wherein Isox is the active metabolite.

UTL-5g is a small-molecule TNF-α modulator that is anti-inflammatory in a carrageenan-induced edema animal model and chemoprotective against anticancer drug-induced side effects. Recently, it was shown that UTL-5g is a prodrug and its active metabolite is 5-methylisoxazole-3-carboxylic acid (Isox). We set out to investigate the anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects of Isox, and two of its esterified analogues, methyl ester (Isox-Me), and ethyl ester (Isox-Et). First, the carrageenan-induced edema animal model was employed to compare their anti-inflammatory effects. Briefly, Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups and pretreated with vehicle, leflunomide, Isox, Isox-Me, and Isox-Et respectively before carrageenan treatment. The results showed that the anti-inflammatory effect of Isox was essentially the same as that of leflunomide. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of Isox-Me and Isox-Et were lower than that of Isox. In the second study, cardioprotective effects of Isox, Isox-Me, and Isox-Et on doxorubicin (DOX)induced toxicity were investigated. SD rats were randomly divided into five groups. Rats in groups 1 and 2 were pretreated with vehicle; rats in groups 3-5 were pretreated with Isox, Isox-Me, and Isox-Et respectively for 5 consecutive days. One hr after the last treatment, animals in group 2-5 were treated with DOX. Twenty four hr later, effects of test compounds on cardioprotection were examined. The results showed that Isox significantly reduced the cardiotoxicity, but Isox-Me and Isox-Et did not show much cardioprotective effect. A subsequent in vitro MTT study confirmed that Isox, but not Isox-Me or Isox-Et, protected cardiomyocytes from the injury induced by DOX. In summary, Isox is anti-inflammatory against carrageenan-induced edema and the anti-inflammatory effect of Isox is at least partially responsible for its chemoprotective effect against DOX-induced cardiac injury; esterification of Isox significantly reduces its anti-inflammatory effect and cardioprotective effect.