CLL cell apoptosis induced by nitric oxide synthase inhibitors: Correlation with lipid solubility and NOS1 dissociation constant

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors induce chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell apoptosis and have potential as CLL therapeutics. We determined the half-maximal concentration (ED50) of 22 NOS inhibitors that induced CLL cell death in vitro. There was a direct correlation of the NOS1 (but not NOS2) dissociation constant (Kd) and the hydrophobicity partitioning coefficient of each NOS inhibitor and its ED50. NOS inhibitors that bound tightly to CLL cell NOS1 and were hydrophobic potently induced CLL cell death. CLL cell RNA and protein analyses confirmed CLL cell NOS1 expression. Our studies permit the rational selection of NOS inhibitors for testing as CLL therapeutics.