Structure-activity relationships of calmodulin antagonism by triphenylethylene antiestrogens

Effects of cyclosporine on osteoclast activity: inhibition of calcineurin activity with minimal effects on bone resorption and acid transport activity

Cyclosporine results in rapid and profound bone loss in transplant patients, an effect ascribed to osteoclasts. Cyclosporine, complexed with the appropriate immunophilin, inhibits calcineurin (the calcium/calmodulin dependent serine/threonine phosphatase) activity. We tested the hypothesis that cyclosporine inhibits calcineurin activity in osteoclasts, resulting in stimulation of osteoclast activity. We compared the effects of cyclosporine A and the calmodulin antagonist, tamoxifen, on bone resorption by avian osteoclasts. Tamoxifen inhibits bone resorption approximately 60%, whereas cyclosporine A only inhibited bone resorption 12%. One-hour treatment with 100 nM cyclosporine inhibited osteoclast calcineurin activity 70% in whole cell lysates, whereas 10 microM tamoxifen only inhibited calcineurin activity 25%. We compared the effects of cyclosporine A and tamoxifen on acid transport activity in isolated membrane vesicles and in isolated membrane vesicles obtained from osteoclasts treated with cyclosporine A or tamoxifen under conditions that inhibit calcineurin activity. Direct addition of cyclosporine A in the acid transport assay, or pretreatment of cells with cyclosporine A followed by membrane isolation, had no effect on acid transport activity in membrane vesicles. In contrast, direct addition of tamoxifen to membranes inhibits acid transport activity, an effect that can be prevented by addition of exogenous calmodulin. Furthermore, acid transport activity was also inhibited in membrane vesicles isolated from cells treated with tamoxifen. In conclusion, cyclosporine A inhibits osteoclast calcineurin activity; however, calcineurin inhibition does not correspond to a significant effect on acid transport activity in isolated membrane vesicles or bone resorption by osteoclasts.

New calmodulin antagonists inhibit in vitro growth of human breast cancer cell lines independent of their estrogen receptor status

Calmodulin plays a key role in the regulation of cell proliferation and calmodulin antagonists may offer a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of breast cancer. Three new specific calmodulin antagonists with improved potency were synthesized and screened on human breast cancer cell lines known to be estrogen receptor (ER)-positive or -negative. These calmodulin antagonists significantly inhibited cell growth as measured by the MTT proliferation assay (p<0.001). Their IC50 values were in the low micromolar range against both ER-positive and -negative variants of the MCF-7 cell line. Two other breast cancer cell lines (ER-positive T-47D and ER-negative MDA-MB-231) were also inhibited by these calmodulin antagonists with IC50 values in a similar range. The level of inhibition was independent of any stimulation of cell growth by estradiol. Calmodulin antagonists effectively reduced cell growth of both ER-positive and -negative human breast cancer cell lines in vitro. Calmodulin antagonists represent a novel therapeutic approach requiring further investigation.

Mechanisms involved in the relaxant effect of estrogens on rat aorta strips

The effects of estrogens 17beta-estradiol (17beta-E2), 17alpha-estradiol (17alpha-E2) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) on CaCl2 (3mM)-induced contractions on rat aorta strips have been assayed. Both 17alpha-E2 and DES, but not the 17beta-E2 relaxed and inhibited the contraction induced by CaCl2. The antiestrogen tamoxifen (0.1, 1 and 3 microM) antagonizes, in a concentration-dependent way, the relaxant effect of 17alpha-E2 but the relaxation induced by DES is only significantly antagonized with 3 microM of tamoxifen. Cycloheximide (0.1 and 0.3 mM) does not modify the 17alpha-E2 or DES effects. However, the inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase TPCK (1 microM) and Rp-cAMPS (10 microM) inhibit the relaxation induced by 17alpha-E2 and DES. The elimination of endothelium by rubbing, significantly inhibits the effect of DES but does not modify the effect of 17alpha-E2. Our results suggest that estrogen-induced relaxation is a non-genomic effect possibly or presumably produced by activation of estrogenic receptors and mediated by cAMP. The DES-effect is partially endothelium-dependent but the effect of 17alpha-E2 is independent of endothelium.

The active metabolite hydroxytamoxifen of the anticancer drug tamoxifen induces structural changes in membranes

The effects of hydroxytamoxifen (OHTAM) on lipid organization of pure phospholipid liposomes, native sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes and liposomes of SR lipids were evaluated by intramolecular excimer formation of 1,3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane (Py(3)Py) and by fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and its derivative 3-[p-(6-phenyl)-1,3,5-hexatrienyl]phenylpropionic acid (DPH-PA). OHTAM promotes alterations in the thermotropic profiles of DMPC, DPPC and DSPC. As detected by Py(3)Py and DPH-PA, OHTAM induces an ordering effect in the fluid phase and a fluidizing effect in the temperature range of the cooperative phase transition. In the gel phase, no significant effects are noticed, except for DSPC bilayers, where Py(3)Py and DPH-PA detect a disordering effect. In the hydrophobic region of the above membrane systems probed by DPH, OHTAM induces only a slight fluidizing effect in the range of the phase transition and a small ordering effect in the fluid phase. As detected by all probes, the drug broadens the transition profile of DMPC and shifts the main transition temperature to lower values. However, these effects, and so those observed for the fluid phase, decrease as the fatty acyl chain length increases. Moreover, the drug removes the pre-transitions of DPPC and DSPC bilayers, as probed by Py(3)Py. In fluid SR native membranes and liposomes of SR lipids, OHTAM induces a moderate ordering effect in the outer regions of the lipid bilayer, as monitored by Py(3)Py and by DPH-PA, DPH failing to detect any apparent effect, as observed for the fluid phase of pure phospholipids. Apparently, OHTAM distributes preferentially in the outer region of the lipid bilayer, without significant effect in the bulk lipid organization of the bilayer interior. The changes of OHTAM in the bilayer dynamic properties and the different location across the bilayer thickness relative to its drug promoter (Custódio et al. (1993) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1150, 123-129) may be involved in the cytostatic activity of tamoxifen.

Estrogen and antiestrogen non-genomic effect in rat uterus contraction in calcium-free solution

1. The effects of estrogens estradiol (E2, 10(-6)-10(-4) M) and diethylstilbestrol (DES, 10(-6)-10(-4) M) and the antiestrogens nafoxidine (N, 10(-6)-10(-4) M), tamoxifen (T, 10(-6)-6 x 10(-4) M), tamoxifen ethyl bromide (TEB, 10(-4) M) and ICI 164,384 (ICI, 10(-5) M) on tonic contractions induced by oxytocin (2 x 10(-8) M) or vanadate (3 x 10(-4) M) in rat uterus incubated in calcium-free EDTA treated solution have been assayed. 2. E2 and DES relaxed the tonic contraction induced by oxytocin in a dose dependent way (EC50: 1.11 +/- 0.01 x 10(-4) M and 1.5 +/- 0.07 x 10(-5) M). The vanadate-induced contraction only was relaxed with DES (57.62 +/- 2.38% at 10(-3) M). 3. The effect of DES on oxytocin contraction was unmodified by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (10 micrograms/ml) and by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (3 x 10(-6) M), but enhanced by the intracellular calcium release inhibitor TMB-8 (10(-5) M). The antiestrogen tamoxifen (3 x 10(-5) M) promotes the relaxing effect of DES. 4. The antiestrogens N, and T, but not ICI, relaxed the oxytocin-induced contraction (EC50: 4.51 +/- 0.43 x 10(-5) M and 2.27 +/- 0.05 x 10(-4) M). TEB (10(-4) M) produces a relaxation of 74.5 +/- 2.11%. The vanadate contraction is also relaxed by T (EC50: 6.03 +/- 0.04 x 10(-4) M). 5. The effect of T on oxytocin contraction was unmodified with cycloheximide or TMB-8 but decreased with indomethacin.

Relative involvement of protein kinase C and of the estrogen receptor in the cytotoxic action of a population of triphenylethylenes on MCF7 cells as revealed by correspondence factorial (CF) analysis

A multivariate statistical method, correspondence factorial (CF) analysis, was used to examine the correlations among the protein binding and cell proliferation effects of a series of 36 di- and triphenylethylenes (DPEs and TPEs). The analysis was applied to a study which measured their competition for estradiol binding to cytosol estrogen receptor (ER), their influence on protein kinase C (PKC) activity under different conditions of enzyme activation, their ability to promote the growth of a breast cancer cell line and to inhibit growth at high concentrations (cytotoxicity). The CF analysis revealed several levels of correlation. First, it distinguished those molecules within the population that stimulated rather than inhibited PKC activity. Second, it made apparent a strong correlation between cytotoxicity and inhibition of Ca++ and phosphatidylserine-dependent PKC activity, which was most marked when the enzyme had been activated by diacylglycerol indicating that PKC inhibition under physiological conditions might contribute to the overall cytotoxicity of these compounds. Third, a lower level of correlation was established between competition for ER binding and cytotoxicity. Taken together, the results suggest that MCF7 cells might be most sensitive to a cytotoxic effect of TPEs (via PKC and other targets) when they at the same time decrease estrogen-stimulated proliferation via an ER-mediated antiestrogenic effect.

Antiproliferative effects on keratinocytes of a range of clinically used drugs with calmodulin antagonist activity

Thirty-two drugs, including some in use for a variety of clinical disorders, were examined for their ability to inhibit calmodulin activity in vitro. From these, 10 drugs were selected for their inhibition of calmodulin activity and examined for their ability to inhibit proliferation of rapidly dividing human keratinocytes. A significant correlation between antiproliferative activity and calmodulin antagonist potency was found. Of these drugs there were several, including miconazole, dequalinium chloride, bromocriptine and tamoxifen, whose use is well established and well documented. The potential use of these drugs (and others identified in this way) as antipsoriatic agents is discussed.

Differential effect of calcium and Bay K 8644 on the inhibitory action of estrogens in the rat uterus

1. The effects of the estrogens estradiol (E2, 10(-7) to 3 x 10(-5) M) and diethylstilbestrol (DES, 10(-7) to 3 x 10(-6) M) on tonic contractions of the rat uterus induced by KCl and CaCl2 have been studied. 2. E2 and DES relaxed, in a dose-dependent way, the tonic contraction induced by KCl (60 mM) (IC50: 5.16 +/- 1.49 x 10(-6) and 4.51 +/- 0.03 x 10(-7) M); the tonic contraction induced by CaCl2 (3 mM) in the rat uterus incubated in depolarizing Krebs (127 mM of K+) have also been relaxed (IC50: 8.6 +/- 0.03 x 10(-7) and 2.56 +/- 0.07 x 10 M) by both drugs. 3. The CaCl2 (0.1 to 10 mM) counteracted the relaxing effect of E2 and DES, respectively, up to 28.13 +/- 10.2% and 34.71 +/- 11.5%, on KCl-induced contractions, and up to 126.36 +/- 19.35% and 95.8 +/- 16.3% on CaCl2-induced contractions. 4. Bay K 8644 (10(-10) to 10(-6) M) reversed the relaxing effect of E2 and DES, respectively, up to 42.49 +/- 2.28% and 43.31 +/- 3.59% on KCl-induced contractions, and up to 21.73 +/- 4.16% and 75.97 +/- 9.63% on CaCl2-induced contractions. 5. Propranolol (10(-6) M) did not modify the relaxing effect of E2 or DES on CaCl2-induced contractions.

Influence of di- and tri-phenylethylene estrogen/antiestrogen structure on the mechanisms of protein kinase C inhibition and activation as revealed by a multivariate analysis

We have performed a systematic study of the interaction of 36 di- and tri-phenylethylene derivatives (DPEs and TPEs) with protein kinase C (PKC). The results were submitted to a multivariate analysis in order to identify the structural features that might be implicated in interference with the activity of three PKC subspecies under three enzyme activation conditions. Four groups of test-compounds, each with common chemical features, could be distinguished clearly. The first group comprised all TPEs substituted with at least one basic dialkylaminoethoxy side-chain. These inhibited type alpha, beta and gamma PKC subspecies activated by Ca2+ and phosphatidylserine (PS) with or without diolein (DO) at micromolar concentrations but did not inhibit protamine sulfate phosphorylation. The other effectors, which all possessed a 1,1-bis-(p-hydroxyphenyl) ethylene moiety, influenced PKC activity at high concentrations (30-200 microM) and could be divided into two groups. One group constituted PKC inhibitors in the TPE series and inhibited PKC activated by Ca2+, PS and DO, as well as protamine sulfate phosphorylation. The other group constituted dual-type inhibitors/activators in the DPE series and stimulated PKC in the presence of Ca2+ and low PS concentrations but inhibited the enzyme in the simultaneous presence of DO. The fourth group of compounds was inactive and had, for the most part, one or two substituents with weak steric hindrance. In agreement with previous data for six lead compounds, this study suggests that, in these chemical series, a basic amino side-chain leads to interaction with phospholipid and the regulatory domain of PKC, whereas a 1,1-bis-(p-hydroxyphenyl) ethylene moiety leads to interaction with the catalytic domain of the enzyme.

Action of antiestrogens on the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and Na+/Ca2+ exchange of brain cortex membranes

The effect of tamoxifen (TAM) and other antiestrogens on the Ca2+ transport activity of synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) and microsomal membranes isolated from sheep brain cortex was investigated. The maximal (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity of SPM, which is reached at a pCa of about 6.0-6.5, is decreased by about 30% in the presence of 50 microM TAM, whereas the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity of microsomes, which is maximal at a pCa of about 5.0, is decreased by about 90% by 50 microM TAM. In parallel experiments, we observed that the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake is also affected differently by TAM in the two membrane preparations. We found that 50 microM TAM inhibits SPM Ca2+ uptake by about 25-30%, whereas the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by the microsomal fraction is inhibited by about 60%. No significant effect of TAM was observed on the Na+/Ca2+ exchange of either membrane system. The results indicate that TAM is a more potent inhibitor of the active, calmodulin-independent Ca2+ transport system of the intracellular membranes than of that of the plasma membranes, which is calmodulin-dependent. It appears that TAM inhibits calmodulin-mediated reactions, probably through its binding to calmodulin, as we showed previously. However, the Ca2+ transport system of microsomes, which does not depend on calmodulin, is also particularly sensitive to TAM.

Variation of the inhibition of calmodulin dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase amongst analogues of tamoxifen; correlations with cytotoxicity

The ability of a variety of analogues of tamoxifen to inhibit calmodulin dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase has been determined. Effective inhibition requires that the aminoethoxy side chain bears a positive charge at physiological pH and is not too bulky. Amongst 4-substituents, inhibitory potency increases with lipophilicity. The stereochemistry about the olefinic linkage is not important. The most potent agent found (IC50 1.4 microM, compare tamoxifen = 6.75 microM) has a 4-iodine substituent and pyrrolidino in place of dimethylamino. This analogue is also more cytotoxic than tamoxifen against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells as determined in a 24-hr assay, but there was no correlation found between calmodulin inhibition and cytotoxicity against the L1210 murine leukaemia or Walker rat carcinosarcoma cells in culture. The results are consistent with the possibility that calmodulin is important to the functioning of oestrogen receptor mediated growth in MCF-7 cells.

Characterization of MCF 7 breast cancer cell growth inhibition by the antiestrogen nitromifene (CI 628) and selected metabolites

Besides undergoing O-demethylation in vivo, the triarylethylene antiestrogen nitromifene [1-(4-(2-pyrrolidinylethoxy)phenyl)-1-(4-methoxy)-phenyl-2-phenyl- 2- nitroethene, 1] undergoes biotransformation via nitroreduction, ethene bond cleavage, and pyrrolidine ring oxidation affording ketone metabolites 2 and 3 and a lactam metabolite 4. Estrogen receptor (ER) affinities of 1, 2, and 4 were, in turn, 1.7, 0.1, and 3.8% that of estradiol in MCF 7 human breast cancer cells, and these compounds inhibited by 50% the proliferation of MCF 7 cells at respective concentrations of 1.1, 5.6, and 2.0 microM. The inhibitory effect of 4 was fully reversible by estradiol, but that of 2 was only partially reversible. Also 3, which did not interact with ER, inhibited proliferation by 44% at a concentration of 10 microM. These results suggested that in contrast to 4, the effects of 2 and 3 were due in part to interaction with sites distinct from ER. Antiestrogen binding sites and calmodulin have been suggested to mediate antiproliferative effects of drugs. Interaction of ligands with the former sites has been proposed to antagonize the growth promoting effect of histamine. Although 2 and 3 had high affinities for these sites, their inhibitory effects on MCF 7 cell growth were largely unaffected by the presence of histidine, the source of intracellular histamine. Thus, the relationship between antiestrogen binding site affinity and antiproliferative effects of 2 and 3 was not clarified. In contrast, MCF 7 cell growth suppression potencies paralleled calmodulin antagonist potencies of 1 and 2 suggesting that interaction of 1 and 2 with calmodulin may contribute to their anticancer effects.