scholarly journals Synthesis and Experimental Validation of New PDI Inhibitors with Antiproliferative Activity

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariateresa Badolato ◽  
Gabriele Carullo ◽  
Francesca Aiello ◽  
Antonio Garofalo

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is a member of the thioredoxin superfamily of redox enzymes. PDI is a multifunctional protein that catalyzes disulfide bond formation, cleavage, and rearrangement in unfolded or misfolded proteins and functions as a chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum. Besides acting as a protein folding catalyst, several evidences have suggested that PDI can bind small molecules containing, for example, a phenolic structure, which includes the estrogenic one. Increasing studies indicate that PDI is involved in both physiology and pathophysiology of cells and tissues and is involved in the survival and proliferation of different cancers. Propionic acid carbamoyl methyl amides (PACMAs) showed anticancer activity in human ovarian cancer, both in vitro and in vivo, by inhibiting PDI. The inhibition of PDI’s activity may have a therapeutic role, in various diseases, including cancer. In the present study, we designed and synthesized a diversified small library of compounds with the aim of identifying a new class of PDI inhibitors. Most of synthesized compounds showed a good inhibitory potency against PDI and particularly 4-methyl substituted 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol derivatives (8–10) presented an antiproliferative activity in a wide panel of human cancer cell lines, including ovarian ones.

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (30) ◽  
pp. 5609-5624
Author(s):  
Dijana Saftić ◽  
Željka Ban ◽  
Josipa Matić ◽  
Lidija-Marija Tumirv ◽  
Ivo Piantanida

: Among the most intensively studied classes of small molecules (molecular weight < 650) in biomedical research are small molecules that non-covalently bind to DNA/RNA, and another intensively studied class is nucleobase derivatives. Both classes have been intensively elaborated in many books and reviews. However, conjugates consisting of DNA/RNA binder covalently linked to nucleobase are much less studied and have not been reviewed in the last two decades. Therefore, this review summarized reports on the design of classical DNA/RNA binder – nucleobase conjugates, as well as data about their interactions with various DNA or RNA targets, and even in some cases protein targets are involved. According to these data, the most important structural aspects of selective or even specific recognition between small molecule and target are proposed, and where possible related biochemical and biomedical aspects were discussed. The general conclusion is that this, rather new class of molecules showed an amazing set of recognition tools for numerous DNA or RNA targets in the last two decades, as well as few intriguing in vitro and in vivo selectivities. Several lead research lines show promising advancements toward either novel, highly selective markers or bioactive, potentially druggable molecules.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenyang He ◽  
Guo Yu ◽  
Anil Kumar Mondru ◽  
Tania Chakraborty ◽  
Souvik Roy

Abstract Background: Our recent investigation directed to synthesize and characterize a novel ruthenium– phloretin complex accompanied by the study of antioxidant in addition to DNA binding capabilities, and to determine the chemotherapeutic activity against breast carcinoma in vitro and in vivo approach.Methods: Ruthenium–phloretin complex was synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic methods. The complex was further investigated to determine its efficacy in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human cancer cell lines and finally in an in vivo model of DMBA induced mammary carcinogenesis in ratsResults: Our studies confirm that the chelation of the metal and ligand was materialize by the 3-OH and 9-OH functional groups of the ligand and the complex is found crystalline and was capable of intercalating with CT-DNA. The complex was capable of reducing cellular propagation and initiate apoptotic events in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cell lines. Additionally, ruthenium-phloretin complex could modulate p53 intervene apoptosis in the breast carcinoma, initiated by the intrinsic apoptotic trail facilitated by the Bcl2 and Bax and at the same time down regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway coupled with MMP9 regulated tumor invasive pathways.Conclusions: Ruthenium-phloretin chemotherapy could interrupt, revoke or suspend the succession of breast carcinoma by altering intrinsic apoptosis along with the antiangiogenic pathway, hence fulfilling the role of a prospective candidate in cancer chemotherapeutics in the in the near future.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenyang He ◽  
Junli Wang ◽  
Tania Chakraborty ◽  
Souvik Roy

Abstract Background: Our recent investigation directed to synthesize and characterize a novel ruthenium– phloretin complex accompanied by the study of antioxidant in addition to DNA binding capabilities, and to determine the chemotherapeutic activity against breast carcinoma in vitro and in vivo approach.Methods: Ruthenium–phloretin complex was synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic methods. The complex was further investigated to determine its efficacy in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human cancer cell lines and finally in an in vivo model of DMBA induced mammary carcinogenesis in ratsResults: Our studies confirm that the chelation of the metal and ligand was materialize by the 3-OH and 9-OH functional groups of the ligand and the complex is found crystalline and was capable of intercalating with CT-DNA. The complex was capable of reducing cellular propagation and initiate apoptotic events in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cell lines. Additionally, ruthenium-phloretin complex could modulate p53 intervene apoptosis in the breast carcinoma, initiated by the intrinsic apoptotic trail facilitated by the Bcl2 and Bax and at the same time down regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway coupled with MMP9 regulated tumor invasive pathways.Conclusions: Ruthenium-phloretin chemotherapy could interrupt, revoke or suspend the succession of breast carcinoma by altering intrinsic apoptosis along with the antiangiogenic pathway, hence fulfilling the role of a prospective candidate in cancer chemotherapeutics in the in the near future.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1598 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Meza-Morales ◽  
M. Mirian Estévez-Carmona ◽  
Yair Alvarez-Ricardo ◽  
Marco A. Obregón-Mendoza ◽  
Julia Cassani ◽  
...  

At the present time, scientists place a great deal of effort worldwide trying to improve the therapeutic potential of metal complexes of curcumin and curcuminoids. Herein, the synthesis of four homoleptic metal complexes with diacetylcurcumin (DAC), using a ligand designed to prevent the interaction of phenolic groups, rendering metal complexes through the β-diketone functionality, is reported. Due to their physiological relevance, we used bivalent magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese for complexation with DAC. The resulting products were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), fluorescence spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy (IR), liquid and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), magnetic moment, mass spectrometry (MS), single crystal, and powder X-ray diffraction (SCXRD and PXRD). Crystallization was achieved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as triclinic systems with space group P-1, showing the metal bound to the β-diketone function, while the 1H-NMR confirmed the preference of the enolic form of the ligand. Single crystal data demonstrated a 1:2 metal:ligand ratio. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation was evaluated using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay (TBARS). All four metal complexes (Mg, Zn, Cu, and Mn) exhibited good antioxidant effect (IC50 = 2.03 ± 0.27, 1.58 ± 0.07, 1.58 ± 0.15 and 1.24 ± 0.10 μM respectively) compared with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and α-tocopherol. The cytotoxic activity in human cancer cell lines against colon adenocarcinoma (HCT-15), mammary adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), and lung adenocarcinoma (SKLU-1) was found comparable ((DAC)2Mg), or ca. 2-fold higher ((DAC)2Zn) than cisplatin. The acute toxicity assays indicate class 5 toxicity, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines at doses of 3 g/kg for all complexes. No mortality or changes in the behavior of animals in any of the treated groups was observed. A therapeutic potential can be envisaged from the relevant cytotoxic activity upon human cancer cell lines in vitro and the undetected in vivo acute toxicity of these compounds.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasios I. Birmpilis ◽  
Panagiotis Vitsos ◽  
Ioannis V. Kostopoulos ◽  
Lillian Williams ◽  
Kyriaki Ioannou ◽  
...  

Background: Members of the α-thymosin family have long been studied for their immunostimulating properties. Among them, the danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) prothymosin α (proTα) and its C-terminal decapeptide proTα(100–109) have been shown to act as immunomodulators in vitro, due to their ability to promote T helper type 1 (Th1) responses. Recently, we verified these findings in vivo, showing that both proTα and proTα(100-109) enhance antitumor-reactive T cell-mediated responses. Methods: In view of the eventual use of proTα and proTα(100-109) in humans, we investigated their safety profile in silico, in human leukocytes and cancer cells lines in vitro, and in immunocompetent mice in vivo, in comparison to the proTα derivative thymosin alpha 1 (Τα1), a 28-mer peptide extensively studied for its safety in clinical trials. Results: In silico prediction via computational tools showed that all three peptide sequences likely are non-toxic or do not induce allergic regions. In vitro, proTα, proTα(100-109) and Tα1 did not affect the viability of human cancer cell lines and healthy donor-derived leukocytes, did not promote apoptosis or alter cell cycle distribution. Furthermore, mice injected with proTα, proTα(100-109) and Tα1 at doses equivalent to the suggested dose regimen of Tα1 in humans, did not show signs of acute toxicity, whereas proTα and proTα(100-109) increased the levels of proinflammatory and Th1-type cytokines in their peripheral blood. Conclusion: Our preliminary findings suggest that proTα and proTα(100-109), even at high concentrations, are non-toxic in vitro and in an acute toxicity model in vivo; moreover, we show that the two peptides retain their immunomodulatory properties in vivo and, eventually, could be considered for therapeutic use in humans.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel S. Al-Zubairi ◽  
Ahmad Bustamam Abdul ◽  
Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab ◽  
Chew Yuan Peng ◽  
Syam Mohan ◽  
...  

The use of evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine is increasing rapidly.Eleucine indica(EI) is traditionally used in ailments associated with liver and kidneys. The therapeutic benefit of the medicinal plants is often attributed to their antioxidant properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen the hexane, dicholoromethane, ethyl acetate (EA) and methanol extracts (MeTH) of EI for their antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-cancer effects using total phenolic contents (TPCs) and DPPH, disc diffusion method and MTT cytotoxicity assays, respectively. The MeTH was showed to have the highest TPC and scavenging activity (77.7%) on DPPH assay, followed by EA (64.5%), hexane (47.19%) and DCM (40.83%) extracts, whereas the MeTH showed no inhibitory effect on all tested bacteria strains. However, the EA extract exhibited a broad spectrum antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria exceptBacillus subtilis, in which this bacterium was found to be resistant to all EI extracts. Meanwhile, hexane extract was demonstrated to have a remarkable antibacterial activity against methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) andPseudomonas aeruginosa, while the dicholoromethane extract did not exhibit significant activity againstP. aeruginosa. None of the extracts showed significant cytotoxic activity towards MCF-7, HT-29 and CEM-SS human cancer cell lines after 72 h incubation time (IC50> 30 μg/ml). These results demonstrate that the extract prepared from the EI possesses antioxidant activityin vitroin addition to antibacterial properties. Further investigations are needed to verify the antioxidant effectsin vitroandin vivo.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongli Zhang ◽  
Guilin Chen ◽  
Hong Ma ◽  
Mingquan Guo

Engleromyces goetzei P. Henn. (E. goetzei) has been widely used as a traditional herb for many years in Kenya due to its diverse biological effects. Although engleromycin was first isolated from E. goetzei in 1980, its pharmacological activity is still unknown. In this study, engleromycin from E. goetzei was identified by spectroscopic analyses, and subsequently examined for its antiproliferative activity using human cancer cell lines of SGC-7901, HT-29, HeLa and A549. As a result, it was revealed that engleromycin strongly inhibited the growth of SGC-7901, HT-29, HeLa and A549 cells with IC50 values at 26.77 ± 1.69 µM, 7.73 ± 0.18 µM, 7.00 ± 0.12 µM and 3.14 ± 0.03 µM, respectively. The results of topoisomerase II (Top II) inhibition assay in vitro implied that engleromycin might be a Top II inhibitor. Further insights into the potential mechanism of antiproliferative activity displayed that engleromycin could dock into the binding pockets of Top II, like the clinical inhibitor doxorubicin, and then inhibit the biological activity of Top II. Taken together, our findings suggest that engleromycin has an anticancer potential, and may serve as a leading compound for the development of antitumor agents.


2016 ◽  
pp. AAC.01061-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Koselny ◽  
Julianne Green ◽  
Louis DiDone ◽  
Justin P. Halterman ◽  
Annette W. Fothergill ◽  
...  

Only one new class of antifungal drugs has been introduced into clinical practice in the last thirty years and, thus, the identification of small molecules with novel mechanisms of action is an important goal of current anti-infective research. Here, we describe the characterization of the spectrum of in vitro activity and in vivo activity of AR-12, a celecoxib-derivative which has been tested in a Phase I clinical trial as an anti-cancer agent. AR-12 inhibits fungal acetyl CoA synthetase in vitro and is fungicidal at concentrations similar to those achieved in human plasma. AR-12 has a broad spectrum of activity including active against yeasts (e.g.,C. albicans, non-albicansCandidaspp.,C. neoformans); molds (e.g.,Fusarium,Mucor), and dimorphic fungi (Blastomyces,Histoplasma, andCoccidioides) with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 2-4 μg/mL. AR-12 is also active against azole- and echinocandin-resistantCandidaisolates and sub-inhibitory AR-12 concentrations increase susceptibility of fluconazole- and echinocandin-resistantCandidaisolates. Finally, AR-12 also increases the activity of fluconazole in a murine model of cryptococcosis. Taken together, these data indicate that AR-12 represents a promising class of small molecules with broad spectrum antifungal activity.


2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2001-2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Tronina ◽  
Agnieszka Bartmańska ◽  
Beata Filip-Psurska ◽  
Joanna Wietrzyk ◽  
Jarosław Popłoński ◽  
...  

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