Novel Ferrocene Derivatives Induce Apoptosis through Mitochondria-Dependent and Cell Cycle Arrest via PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is one of the most common causes of death in pediatric malignancies. However, the clinical chemotherapy for T-ALL has been limited by numerous side effects, emphasizing that novel anti-T-ALL drugs are urgently needed. Herein, a series of 2-acyl-1-dimethylaminomethyl-ferrocenes for cancer therapy have been evaluated. Among them, F1 and F3 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against T-ALL cell lines, especially Jurkat cells, with low cytotoxicity for normal cells. Further mechanistic studies revealed that F1 and F3 could induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells by destructing mitochondrial membrane, enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, decreasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, releasing Cytochrome c, and increasing the expression of Cleaved Caspase-9/-3 and Cleaved PARP. Additionally, F1 and F3 could suppress cell proliferation and arrest the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by down-regulating the expression of CDK6, Cyclin D1, p-Akt, p-GSK-3β, p-mTOR, p-p70 S6K, and up-regulating the expression of P21 and P27, which would also be a possible mechanism. Consequently, ferrocene derivatives F1 and F3 could induce apoptosis through a mitochondria-dependent pathway mediated by ROS, and cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in Jurkat cells. The present study provided fundamental insights into the clinical application of F1 and F3 for the treatment of T-ALL.

An Electrochemical Evaluation of Novel Ferrocene Derivatives for Glutamate and Liver Biomarker Biosensing

Here, we present an evaluation of two new monosubstituted ferrocene (Fc) derivatives, 3-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)propanamidoferrocene and 1-hydroxy-2-[2-(thiophen-3-yl)-ethylamino]ethylferrocene, as glutamate oxidase mediators, together with their preparation and characterisation. Taking into consideration the influence of the electronic effects of substituents on the redox potentials of the Fc species, two candidates with pyrrole or thiophene moieties were proposed for investigation. Film studies involved potential sweeping in the presence of pyrrole or 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomers resulting in stable electroactive films with % signal loss upon cycling ranging from 1 to 7.82% and surface coverage (Γ) 0.47–1.15 × 10−9 mol/cm2 for films formed under optimal conditions. Construction of a glutamate oxidase modified electrode resulted in second-generation biosensing with the aid of both cyclic voltammetry and hydrodynamic amperometry, resulting in glutamate sensitivity of 0.86–1.28 μA/mM and Km (app) values over the range 3.67–5.01 mM. A follow-up enzyme assay for liver biomarker γ-glutamyl transpeptidase realised unmediated and mediated measurement establishing reaction and incubation time investigations and a realising response over <100 U/L γ-glutamyl transpeptidase with a sensitivity of 5 nA/UL−1.

The antiproliferative activity of ferrocene derivatives against drug-resistant cancer cell lines: A mini review

: Cancer, a highly heterogeneous disease at intra/inter patient levels, remains a serious health problem contributing to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite great progress in clinical treatment, the concerns impeding the success of conventional cancer chemotherapy is descending efficacy of anticancer agents due to the development of drug resistance especially multiple drug resistance (MDR). Ferrocene derivatives have a different mode of action to the platinum anticancer drugs, and the ferrocene-phenol hybrid ferrocifen exhibits potential activity against drug-resistant cancers. Currently, ferrocifen is in preclinical trial, demonstrating that ferrocene derivatives are useful scaffolds for the development of novel anticancer candidates which are active against drug-resistant cancers. In the present review, the current scenario of ferrocene derivatives including ferrocene metal complexes, hybrids and other derivatives with antiproliferative potential against drug-resistant cancer cell lines is summarized for further rational design.

In Vitro and In Silico Determination of some N-ferrocenylmethylaniline Derivatives as Anti-Proliferative Agents against MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Background: Since the binding of estradiol to its receptor promotes breast cancer cell proliferation (in the ER+ tumours), many molecules targeting this protein have been synthesized to counteract the estradiol action. Ferrocene derivatives have proved their efficiency against hormone-dependent breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Objective: In this study, we aimed to find new ferrocene derivatives having pharmacochemistry properties as potential drugs against human breast cancer cells. Methods: A series of 29 N-ferrocenylmethylaniline derivatives A0-A28 were synthesised, and their anti-proliferative activity against both hormone-dependent (MCF-7) and independent (MDA-MB 231) human breast cancer cell lines were performed using the MTT test. Molecular docking and drug-likeness prediction were also performed for the five most active derivatives towards MCF-7. A QSAR model was also developed for the perdition of the anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 cell lines using molecular descriptors and MLR analysis. Results: All studied derivatives demonstrated better cytotoxicity against MCF-7 compared to the MDA-MB-231 cell lines, and compounds A2, A9, A14, A17, and A27 were the most potent ones; however, but still less active than the standard anti-cancer drug crizotinib. The QSAR study revealed good predictive ability as shown by R2cv = 0.848. Conclusion: In vitro and in silico results indicated that derivatives A2, A9, A14, A17, and A27 possess the highest anti-proliferative activity, t. These results can be used to design more potent N-ferrocenylmethylaniline derivatives as anti-proliferative agents.

Novel Ferrocene Derivatives Induce G0/G1 Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis through the Mitochondrial Pathway in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In this study, detailed information on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells (HepG-2, SMMC-7721, and HuH-7) and normal human liver cell L02 treated by ferrocene derivatives (compounds 1, 2 and 3) is provided. The cell viability assay showed that compound 1 presented the most potent and selective anti-HCC activity. Further mechanism study indicated that the proliferation inhibition effect of compound 1 was associated with the cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and downregulation of cyclin D1/CDK4. Moreover, compound 1 could induce apoptosis in HCC cells by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), decrease in Bcl-2, increase in BAX and Bad, translocation of Cytochrome c, activation of Caspase-9, -3, and cleavage of PARP. These results indicated that compound 1 would be a promising candidate against HCC through G0/G1 cell cycle arrest-related proliferation inhibition and mitochondrial pathway-dependent apoptosis.