Cell experiment:

Jurkat cells are incubated with serial dilutions (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000 μM) of IT1t at room temperature for two hours. Cytotoxicity of IT1t is also evaluated at 37℃ over a longer period of time in MT-4 cells and PHA-stimulated PBMCs (ten day incubation) because these cell types are used in anti-HIV activity assays which last up to ten days. Cytotoxicity is evaluated microscopically and viability is assessed using the a kit[1].

IT1t dihydrochloride is a potent antagonist of CXCR4 with IC50 value of 8.0 nM [1].

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is an α-chemokine receptor for chemokine CXCL12. CXCR4 functions as a coreceptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope protein gp-120 and mediates infection of T-cells by HIV [1].

IT1t dihydrochloride is a potent CXCR4 antagonist. In binding assays, IT1t exhibited IC50 values of 8.0 and 11.0 nM for human and rat CXCR4, respectively. In Ca2+ mobilization assays, IT1t exhibited IC50 value of 1.1 nM. In the HIV attachment assay, IT1t inhibited HIV attachment with IC50 and IC90 values of 7 and 100 nM, respectively and inhibited both CXCR4/CXCL12 and CXCR4/gp120 interactions. IT1t exhibited 32% oral bioavailability.

References:
[1].  Thoma G, Streiff MB, Kovarik J, et al. Orally bioavailable isothioureas block function of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in vitro and in vivo. J Med Chem, 2008, 51(24): 7915-7920.