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Zani AP, Zani CP, Din ZU, Rodrigues-Filho E, Ueda-Nakamura T, Garcia FP, de Oliveira Silva S, Nakamura CV. Dibenzylideneacetone Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells through Ros-Mediated Mitochondrial Damage. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12020317. [PMID: 36829876 PMCID: PMC9952489 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer is a health problem among women worldwide. Considering the limitations of prevention and antineoplastic chemotherapy against cervical cancer, research is needed to discover new, more effective, and safe antitumor agents. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro cytotoxicity of a new synthetic dibenzylideneacetone derived from 1,5-diaryl-3-oxo-1,4-pentadienyl (A3K2A3) against cervical cancer cells immortalized by HPV 16 (SiHa), and 18 (HeLa) by MTT assay. Furthermore, we performed spectrofluorimetry, flow cytometry, and Western blot analyzes to explore the inhibitory mechanism of A3K2A3 in cervical cancer cells. A3K2A3 showed cytotoxic activity against both cell lines. Mitochondrial depolarization and reduction in intracellular ATP levels were observed, which may be dependent on the redox imbalance between increased ROS and reduced levels of the antioxidant defense. In addition, damage to the cell membrane and DNA, and effective blocking of cell division in the G2/M phase were detected, which possibly led to the induction of apoptosis. This result was further confirmed by the upregulation of apoptosis-related proteins Bax, cytochrome C, and caspases 9 and 3. Our results provided the first evidence that A3K2A3 contributes to the suppression of cervical cancer in vitro, showing promise as a possible alternative for the treatment of this cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Pinto Zani
- Laboratory of Technological Innovation in the Development of Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, State University of Maringá, Maringá CEP 87020-900, PR, Brazil
| | - Caroline Pinto Zani
- Laboratory of Technological Innovation in the Development of Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, State University of Maringá, Maringá CEP 87020-900, PR, Brazil
| | - Zia Ud Din
- LaBioMMi, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, CP 676, São Carlos CEP 13565-905, SP, Brazil
| | - Edson Rodrigues-Filho
- LaBioMMi, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, CP 676, São Carlos CEP 13565-905, SP, Brazil
| | - Tânia Ueda-Nakamura
- Laboratory of Technological Innovation in the Development of Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, State University of Maringá, Maringá CEP 87020-900, PR, Brazil
| | - Francielle Pelegrin Garcia
- Laboratory of Technological Innovation in the Development of Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, State University of Maringá, Maringá CEP 87020-900, PR, Brazil
| | - Sueli de Oliveira Silva
- Laboratory of Technological Innovation in the Development of Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, State University of Maringá, Maringá CEP 87020-900, PR, Brazil
| | - Celso Vataru Nakamura
- Laboratory of Technological Innovation in the Development of Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, State University of Maringá, Maringá CEP 87020-900, PR, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-(044)-3011-5012; Fax: +55-(044)-3011-5046
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Pedra-Rezende Y, Macedo IS, Midlej V, Mariante RM, Menna-Barreto RFS. Different Drugs, Same End: Ultrastructural Hallmarks of Autophagy in Pathogenic Protozoa. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:856686. [PMID: 35422792 PMCID: PMC9002357 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.856686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Protozoan parasites interact with a wide variety of organisms ranging from bacteria to humans, representing one of the most common causes of parasitic diseases and an important public health problem affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The current treatment for these parasitic diseases remains unsatisfactory and, in some cases, very limited. Treatment limitations together with the increased resistance of the pathogens represent a challenge for the improvement of the patient’s quality of life. The continuous search for alternative preclinical drugs is mandatory, but the mechanisms of action of several of these compounds have not been described. Electron microscopy is a powerful tool for the identification of drug targets in almost all cellular models. Interestingly, ultrastructural analysis showed that several classes of antiparasitic compounds induced similar autophagic phenotypes in trypanosomatids, trichomonadids, and apicomplexan parasites as well as in Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba spp. with the presence of an increased number of autophagosomes as well as remarkable endoplasmic reticulum profiles surrounding different organelles. Autophagy is a physiological process of eukaryotes that maintains homeostasis by the self-digestion of nonfunctional organelles and/or macromolecules, limiting redundant and damaged cellular components. Here, we focus on protozoan autophagy to subvert drug effects, discussing its importance for successful chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Pedra-Rezende
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabela S Macedo
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Victor Midlej
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael M Mariante
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Nitric Oxide Resistance in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Involves Regulation of Glucose Consumption, Glutathione Metabolism and Abundance of Pentose Phosphate Pathway Enzymes. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11020277. [PMID: 35204161 PMCID: PMC8868067 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis production of cytokines, reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide (NO) by host macrophages normally lead to parasite death. However, some Leishmania braziliensis strains exhibit natural NO resistance. NO-resistant strains cause more lesions and are frequently more resistant to antimonial treatment than NO-susceptible ones, suggesting that NO-resistant parasites are endowed with specific mechanisms of survival and persistence. To tests this, we analyzed the effect of pro- and antioxidant molecules on the infectivity in vitro of L. braziliensis strains exhibiting polar phenotypes of resistance or susceptibility to NO. In addition, we conducted a comprehensive quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis of those parasites. NO-resistant parasites were more infective to peritoneal macrophages, even in the presence of high levels of reactive species. Principal component analysis of protein concentration values clearly differentiated NO-resistant from NO-susceptible parasites, suggesting that there are natural intrinsic differences at molecular level among those strains. Upon NO exposure, NO-resistant parasites rapidly modulated their proteome, increasing their total protein content and glutathione (GSH) metabolism. Furthermore, NO-resistant parasites showed increased glucose analogue uptake, and increased abundance of phosphotransferase and G6PDH after nitrosative challenge, which can contribute to NADPH pool maintenance and fuel the reducing conditions for the recovery of GSH upon NO exposure. Thus, increased glucose consumption and GSH-mediated redox capability may explain the natural resistance of L. braziliensis against NO.
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Pedra-Rezende Y, Bombaça ACS, Menna-Barreto/ RFS. Is the mitochondrion a promising drug target in trypanosomatids? Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210379. [PMID: 35195164 PMCID: PMC8862782 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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da Rosa R, Dambrós BP, Höehr de Moraes M, Grand L, Jacolot M, Popowycz F, Steindel M, Schenkel EP, Campos Bernardes LS. Natural-product-inspired design and synthesis of two series of compounds active against Trypanosoma cruzi: Insights into structure-activity relationship, toxicity, and mechanism of action. Bioorg Chem 2021; 119:105492. [PMID: 34838333 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Chemical scaffolds of natural products have historically been sources of inspiration for the development of novel molecules of biological relevance, including hit and lead compounds. To identify new compounds active against Trypanosoma cruzi, we designed and synthesized 46 synthetic derivatives based on the structure of two classes of natural products: tetrahydrofuran lignans (Series 1) and oxazole alkaloids (Series 2). Compounds were screened in vitro using a cellular model of T. cruzi infection. In the first series of compounds, 11 derivatives of hit compound 5 (EC50 = 1.1 µM) were found to be active; the most potent (7, 8, and 13) had EC50 values of 5.1-34.2 µM. In the second series, 17 analogs were found active at 50 µM; the most potent compounds (47, 49, 59, and 63) showed EC50 values of 24.2-49.1 µM. Active compounds were assessed for selectivity, hemocompatibility, synergistic potential, effects on mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibitory effect on trypanothione reductase. All active compounds showed low toxicity against uninfected THP-1 cells and human erythrocytes. The potency of compounds 5 and 8 increased steadily in combination with benznidazole, indicating a synergistic effect. Furthermore, compounds 8, 47, 49, 59, and 63 inhibited parasitic mitochondria in a dose-dependent manner. Although increased reactive oxygen species levels might lead to mitochondrial effects, the results indicate that the mechanism of action of the compounds is not dependent on trypanothione reductase inhibition. In silico calculation of chemical descriptors and principal component analysis showed that the active compounds share common chemical features with other trypanocidal molecules and are predicted to have a good ADMET profile. Overall, the results suggest that the compounds are important candidates to be further studied for their potential against T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael da Rosa
- Laboratório de Química Farmacêutica Medicinal, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmácia, CCS, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil; Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, CPE Lyon, UMR 5246, ICBMS. 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
| | - Bibiana Paula Dambrós
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil
| | - Milene Höehr de Moraes
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil
| | - Lucie Grand
- Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, CPE Lyon, UMR 5246, ICBMS. 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Maïwenn Jacolot
- Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, CPE Lyon, UMR 5246, ICBMS. 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Florence Popowycz
- Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, CPE Lyon, UMR 5246, ICBMS. 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Mario Steindel
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil
| | - Eloir Paulo Schenkel
- Laboratório de Química Farmacêutica Medicinal, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmácia, CCS, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil
| | - Lílian Sibelle Campos Bernardes
- Laboratório de Química Farmacêutica Medicinal, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmácia, CCS, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil.
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6
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Dantas-Pereira L, Cunha-Junior EF, Andrade-Neto VV, Bower JF, Jardim GAM, da Silva Júnior EN, Torres-Santos EC, Menna-Barreto RFS. Naphthoquinones and Derivatives for Chemotherapy: Perspectives and Limitations of their Anti-trypanosomatids Activities. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:1807-1824. [PMID: 33167829 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666201109111802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, Sleeping sickness and Leishmaniasis, caused by trypanosomatids Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania spp., respectively, are considered neglected tropical diseases, and they especially affect impoverished populations in the developing world. The available chemotherapies are very limited, and a search for alternatives is still necessary. In folk medicine, natural naphthoquinones have been employed for the treatment of a great variety of illnesses, including parasitic infections. This review is focused on the anti-trypanosomatid activity and mechanistic analysis of naphthoquinones and derivatives. Among all the series of derivatives tested in vitro, naphthoquinone-derived 1,2,3-triazoles were very active on T. cruzi infective forms in blood bank conditions, as well as in amastigotes of Leishmania spp. naphthoquinones containing a CF3 on a phenyl amine ring inhibited T. brucei proliferation in the nanomolar range, and naphthopterocarpanquinones stood out for their activity on a range of Leishmania species. Some of these compounds showed a promising selectivity index (SI) (30 to 1900), supporting further analysis in animal models. Indeed, high toxicity to the host and inactivation by blood components are crucial obstacles to be overcome to use naphthoquinones and/or their derivatives for chemotherapy. Multidisciplinary initiatives embracing medicinal chemistry, bioinformatics, biochemistry, and molecular and cellular biology need to be encouraged to allow the optimization of these compounds. Large scale automated tests are pivotal for the efficiency of the screening step, and subsequent evaluation of both the mechanism of action in vitro and pharmacokinetics in vivo is essential for the development of a novel, specific and safe derivative, minimizing adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luíza Dantas-Pereira
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Edézio F Cunha-Junior
- Laboratorio de Bioquimica de Tripanosomatideos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Valter V Andrade-Neto
- Laboratorio de Bioquimica de Tripanosomatideos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - John F Bower
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Guilherme A M Jardim
- Departamento de Quimica, Instituto de Ciencias Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Eufrânio N da Silva Júnior
- Departamento de Quimica, Instituto de Ciencias Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Eduardo C Torres-Santos
- Laboratorio de Bioquimica de Tripanosomatideos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rubem F S Menna-Barreto
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Peixoto JF, Oliveira ADS, Monteiro PQ, Gonçalves-Oliveira LF, Andrade-Neto VV, Ferreira VF, Souza-Silva F, Alves CR. In Silico Insights into the Mechanism of Action of Epoxy-α-Lapachone and Epoxymethyl-Lawsone in Leishmania spp. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26123537. [PMID: 34200517 PMCID: PMC8229338 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Epoxy-α-lapachone (Lap) and Epoxymethyl-lawsone (Law) are oxiranes derived from Lapachol and have been shown to be promising drugs for Leishmaniases treatment. Although, it is known the action spectrum of both compounds affect the Leishmania spp. multiplication, there are gaps in the molecular binding details of target enzymes related to the parasite’s physiology. Molecular docking assays simulations were performed using DockThor server to predict the preferred orientation of both compounds to form stable complexes with key enzymes of metabolic pathway, electron transport chain, and lipids metabolism of Leishmania spp. This study showed the hit rates of both compounds interacting with lanosterol C-14 demethylase (−8.4 kcal/mol to −7.4 kcal/mol), cytochrome c (−10.2 kcal/mol to −8.8 kcal/mol), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (−8.5 kcal/mol to −7.5 kcal/mol) according to Leishmania spp. and assessed compounds. The set of molecular evidence reinforces the potential of both compounds as multi-target drugs for interrupt the network interactions between parasite enzymes, which can lead to a better efficacy of drugs for the treatment of leishmaniases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Figueiredo Peixoto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.F.P.); (A.d.S.O.); or (P.Q.M.); (L.F.G.-O.)
| | - Adriane da Silva Oliveira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.F.P.); (A.d.S.O.); or (P.Q.M.); (L.F.G.-O.)
| | - Patrícia Queiroz Monteiro
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.F.P.); (A.d.S.O.); or (P.Q.M.); (L.F.G.-O.)
| | - Luiz Filipe Gonçalves-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.F.P.); (A.d.S.O.); or (P.Q.M.); (L.F.G.-O.)
| | - Valter Viana Andrade-Neto
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil;
| | - Vitor Francisco Ferreira
- Departamento de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói 24241-002, Brazil;
| | - Franklin Souza-Silva
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Iguaçu, Avenida Abílio Augusto Távora, 2134, Dom Rodrigo, Nova Iguaçu CEP 26260-045, Brazil
- Correspondence: (F.S.-S.); (C.R.A.)
| | - Carlos Roberto Alves
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.F.P.); (A.d.S.O.); or (P.Q.M.); (L.F.G.-O.)
- Correspondence: (F.S.-S.); (C.R.A.)
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8
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Insights of antiparasitic activity of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate against different strains of Trypanosoma cruzi. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11200. [PMID: 34045624 PMCID: PMC8159965 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90719-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and affects thousands of people. Drugs currently used in therapy are toxic and have therapeutic limitations. In addition, the genetic diversity of T. cruzi represents an important variable and challenge in treatment. Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC) is a compound with pharmacological versatility acting as metal chelators and ROS generation. Thus, the objective was to characterize the antiparasitic action of DETC against different strains and forms of T. cruzi and their mechanism. The different strains of T. cruzi were grown in LIT medium. To evaluate the antiparasitic activity of DETC, epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi were used by resazurin reduction methods and by counting. Different response patterns were obtained between the strains and an IC50 of DETC ranging from 9.44 ± 3,181 to 60.49 ± 7.62 µM. Cell cytotoxicity against 3T3 and RAW cell lines and evaluated by MTT, demonstrated that DETC in high concentration (2222.00 µM) presents low toxicity. Yet, DETC causes mitochondrial damage in T. cruzi, as well as disruption in parasite membrane. DETC has antiparasitic activity against different genotypes and forms of T. cruzi, therefore, representing a promising molecule as a drug for the treatment of Chagas disease.
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Bombaça ACS, Silva LA, Chaves OA, da Silva LS, Barbosa JMC, da Silva AM, Ferreira ABB, Menna-Barreto RFS. Novel N,N-di-alkylnaphthoimidazolium derivative of β-lapachone impaired Trypanosoma cruzi mitochondrial electron transport system. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 135:111186. [PMID: 33395606 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.111186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease that is endemic in Latin America and spreading worldwide due to globalization. The current treatments are based on benznidazole and nifurtimox; however, these drugs have important limitations and limited efficacy during the chronic phase, reinforcing the necessity of an alternative chemotherapy. For the last 30 years, our group has been evaluating the biological activity of naphthoquinones and derivatives on T. cruzi, and of the compounds tested, N1, N2 and N3 were found to be the most active in vitro. Here, we show the synthesis of a novel β-lapachone-derived naphthoimidazolium named N4 and assess its activity on T. cruzi stages and the mechanism of action. The new compound was very active on all parasite stages (IC50/24 h in the range of 0.8-7.9 μM) and had a selectivity index of 5.4. Mechanistic analyses reveal that mitochondrial ROS production begins after short treatment starts and primarily affects the activity of complexes II-III. After 24 h treatment, a partial restoration of mitochondrial physiology (normal complexes II-III and IV activities and controlled H2O2 release) was observed; however, an extensive injury in its morphology was still detected. During treatment with N4, we also observed that trypanothione reductase activity increased in a time-dependent manner and concomitant with increased oxidative stress. Molecular docking calculations indicated the ubiquinone binding site of succinate dehydrogenase as an important interaction point with N4, as with the FMN binding site of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. The results presented here may be a good starting point for the development of alternative treatments for Chagas disease and for understanding the mechanism of naphthoimidazoles in T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina S Bombaça
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo A Silva
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otávio Augusto Chaves
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lorrainy S da Silva
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliana M C Barbosa
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ari M da Silva
- Instituto de Pesquisa em Produtos Naturais, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Aurélio B B Ferreira
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rubem F S Menna-Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Galbiati A, Zana A, Conti P. Covalent inhibitors of GAPDH: From unspecific warheads to selective compounds. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 207:112740. [PMID: 32898762 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Targeting glycolysis is an attractive approach for the treatment of a wide range of pathologies, such as various tumors and parasitic infections. Due to its pivotal role in the glycolysis, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) represents a rate-limiting enzyme in those cells that mostly, or exclusively rely on this pathway for energy production. In this context, GAPDH inhibition can be a valuable approach for the development of anticancer and antiparasitic drugs. In addition to its glycolytic role, GAPDH possesses several moonlight functions, whose deregulation is involved in some pathological conditions. Covalent modification on different amino acids of GAPDH, in particular on cysteine residues, can lead to a modulation of the enzyme activity. The selectivity towards specific cysteine residues is essential to achieve a specific phenotypic effect. In this work we report an extensive overview of the latest advances on the numerous compounds able to inhibit GAPDH through the covalent binding to cysteine residues, ranging from endogenous metabolites and xenobiotics, which may serve as pharmacological tools to actual drug-like compounds with promising therapeutic perspectives. Furthermore, we focused on the potentialities of the different warheads, shedding light on the possibility to exploit a combination of a finely tuned electrophilic group with a well-designed recognition moiety. These findings can provide useful information for the rational design of novel covalent inhibitors of GAPDH, with the final goal to expand the current treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Galbiati
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy.
| | - Aureliano Zana
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Conti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
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Pedra-Rezende Y, Fernandes MC, Mesquita-Rodrigues C, Stiebler R, Bombaça ACS, Pinho N, Cuervo P, De Castro SL, Menna-Barreto RFS. Starvation and pH stress conditions induced mitochondrial dysfunction, ROS production and autophagy in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1867:166028. [PMID: 33248274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.166028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected illness endemic in Latin America that mainly affects rural populations. The etiological agent of Chagas disease is the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which has three different parasite stages and a dixenous life cycle that includes colonization of the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. During its life cycle, T. cruzi is subjected to stress conditions, including variations in nutrient availability and pH, which impact parasite survival and differentiation. The plasticity of mitochondrial function in trypanosomatids has been defined as mitochondrial activity related to substrate availability. Thus, mitochondrial remodeling and autophagy, which is a constitutive cellular process of turnover and recycling of cellular components, may constitute a response to the nutritional and pH stress in the host. To assess these processes, epimastigotes were subjected to acidic, alkaline, and nutritional stress conditions, and mitochondrial function and its influence on the autophagic process were evaluated. Our data demonstrated that the three stress conditions affected the mitochondrial structure, inducing organelle swelling and impaired oxidative phosphorylation. Stressed epimastigotes produced increased ROS levels and overexpressed antioxidant enzymes. The stress conditions resulted in an increase in the number of autophagosomes and exacerbated the expression of different autophagy-related genes (Atgs). A correlation between mitochondrial dysfunction and autophagic phenotypes was also observed. After 24 h, acid stress and nutritional deprivation induced metacyclogenesis phenotypes (mitochondrial remodeling and autophagy). On the other hand, alkaline stress was transient due to insect blood feeding and culminated in an increase in autophagic flux as a survival mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Pedra-Rezende
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Michelle C Fernandes
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Diretoria de Extensão, Fundação Centro de Educação a Distância do Cecierj Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camila Mesquita-Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renata Stiebler
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina S Bombaça
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Pinho
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmanioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Patricia Cuervo
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmanioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Solange L De Castro
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rubem F S Menna-Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Pereira KLG, Vasconcelos NBR, Braz JVC, InÁcio JDF, Estevam CS, Correa CB, Fernandes RPM, Almeida-Amaral EE, Scher R. Ethanolic extract of Croton blanchetianus Ball induces mitochondrial defects in Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2020; 92:e20180968. [PMID: 33146273 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202020180968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by Leishmania. Chemotherapy remains the mainstay for leishmaniasis control; however, available drugs fail to provide a parasitological cure, and are associated with high toxicity. Natural products are promising leads for the development of novel chemotherapeutics against leishmaniasis. This work investigated the leishmanicidal properties of ethanolic extract of Croton blanchetianus (EECb) on Leishmania infantum and Leishmania amazonensis, and found that EECb, rich in terpenic compounds, was active against promastigote and amastigote forms of both Leishmania species. Leishmania infantum promastigotes and amastigotes presented IC50 values of 208.6 and 8.8 μg/mL, respectively, whereas Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes and amastigotes presented IC50 values of 73.6 and 3.1 μg/mL, respectively. Promastigotes exposed to EECb (100 µg/mL) had their body cellular volume reduced and altered to a round shape, and the flagellum was duplicated, suggesting that EECb may interfere with the process of cytokinesis, which could be the cause of the decline in the parasite multiplication rate. Regarding possible EECb targets, a marked depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential was observed. No cytotoxic effects of EECb were observed in murine macrophages at concentrations below 60 µg/mL, and the CC50 obtained was 83.8 µg/mL. Thus, the present results indicated that EECb had effective and selective effects against Leishmania infantum and Leishmania amazonensis, and that these effects appeared to be mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katily L G Pereira
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Nancy B R Vasconcelos
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Juliana V C Braz
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Job D F InÁcio
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Charles S Estevam
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Cristiane B Correa
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Roberta P M Fernandes
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Elmo E Almeida-Amaral
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Scher
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
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Synthesis of new N,S-acetal analogs derived from juglone with cytotoxic activity against Trypanossoma cruzi. J Bioenerg Biomembr 2020; 52:199-213. [PMID: 32418003 DOI: 10.1007/s10863-020-09834-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A series of 11 new N,S-acetal juglone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated against T. cruzi epimastigote forms. These compounds were obtained in good to moderate yields using a microwave irradiation protocol. Among all compounds, two N,S-acetal analogs, showed significant trypanocidal activity. Notably, one compound 11g exhibited selectivity index 10-fold higher than the reference drug benznidazole for epimastigote. The compound 11h was more effective for amastigote forms. Both prototypes exhibited S.I. higher than the benznidazole description. Thus, both compounds proving to be useful candidate molecules to further studies in infected animals.
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Bombaça ACS, Brunoro GVF, Dias-Lopes G, Ennes-Vidal V, Carvalho PC, Perales J, d'Avila-Levy CM, Valente RH, Menna-Barreto RFS. Glycolytic profile shift and antioxidant triggering in symbiont-free and H 2O 2-resistant Strigomonas culicis. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 146:392-401. [PMID: 31760093 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
During their life cycle, trypanosomatids are exposed to stress conditions and adapt their energy and antioxidant metabolism to colonize their hosts. Strigomonas culicis is a monoxenous protist found in invertebrates with an endosymbiotic bacterium that completes essential biosynthetic pathways for the trypanosomatid. Our research group previously generated a wild-type H2O2-resistant (WTR) strain that showed improved mitochondrial metabolism and antioxidant defenses, which led to higher rates of Aedes aegypti infection. Here, we assess the biological contribution of the S. culicis endosymbiont and reactive oxygen species (ROS) resistance to oxidative and energy metabolism processes. Using high-throughput proteomics, several proteins involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, the pentose phosphate pathway and glutathione metabolism were identified. The results suggest that ROS resistance decreases glucose consumption and indicate that the metabolic products from gluconeogenesis are key to supplying the protist with high-energy and reducing intermediates. Our hypothesis was confirmed by biochemical assays showing opposite profiles for glucose uptake and hexokinase and pyruvate kinase activity levels in the WTR and aposymbiotic strains, while the enzyme glucose-6P 1-dehydrogenase was more active in both strains. Regarding the antioxidant system, ascorbate peroxidase has an important role in H2O2 resistance and may be responsible for the high infection rates previously described for A. aegypti. In conclusion, our data indicate that the energy-related and antioxidant metabolic processes of S. culicis are modulated in response to oxidative stress conditions, providing new perspectives on the biology of the trypanosomatid-insect interaction as well as on the possible impact of resistant parasites in accidental human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Geovane Dias-Lopes
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Vitor Ennes-Vidal
- Laboratory of Integrated Studies in Protozoology, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paulo Costa Carvalho
- Laboratory for Structural and Computational Proteomics, ICC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Jonas Perales
- Laboratory of Toxinology, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Claudia Masini d'Avila-Levy
- Laboratory of Integrated Studies in Protozoology, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Richard Hemmi Valente
- Laboratory of Toxinology, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Salsi F, Bulhões Portapilla G, Simon S, Roca Jungfer M, Hagenbach A, de Albuquerque S, Abram U. Effect of Fluorination on the Structure and Anti-Trypanosoma cruzy Activity of Oxorhenium(V) Complexes with S,N,S-Tridentate Thiosemicarbazones and Benzoylthioureas. Synthesis and Structures of Technetium(V) Analogues. Inorg Chem 2019; 58:10129-10138. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Salsi
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstrasse 34-36, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gisele Bulhões Portapilla
- Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Cafe - Vila Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Saskia Simon
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstrasse 34-36, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian Roca Jungfer
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstrasse 34-36, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Adelheid Hagenbach
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstrasse 34-36, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sérgio de Albuquerque
- Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Cafe - Vila Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Ulrich Abram
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstrasse 34-36, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
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Landoni M, Piñero T, Soprano LL, Garcia-Bournissen F, Fichera L, Esteva MI, Duschak VG, Couto AS. Tamoxifen acts on Trypanosoma cruzi sphingolipid pathway triggering an apoptotic death process. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 516:934-940. [PMID: 31277939 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.06.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
This study shows the effects of tamoxifen, a known estrogen receptor antagonist used in the treatment of breast cancer, on the sphingolipid pathway of Trypanosoma cruzi, searching for potential chemotherapeutic targets. A dose-dependent epimastigote growth inhibition at increasing concentration of tamoxifen was determined. In blood trypomastigotes, treatment with 10 μM showed 90% lysis, while 86% inhibition of intracellular amastigote development was obtained using 50 μM. Lipid extracts from treated and non-treated metabolically labelled epimastigotes evidenced by thin layer chromatography different levels of sphingolipids and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis assured the identity of the labelled species. Comparison by HPLC-ESI mass spectrometry of lipids, notably exhibited a dramatic increase in the level of ceramide in tamoxifen-treated parasites and a restrained increase of ceramide-1P and sphingosine, indicating that the drug is acting on the enzymes involved in the final breakdown of ceramide. The ultrastructural analysis of treated parasites revealed characteristic morphology of cells undergoing an apoptotic-like death process. Flow cytometry confirmed cell death by an apoptotic-like machinery indicating that tamoxifen triggers this process by acting on the parasitic sphingolipid pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malena Landoni
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, FCEN, Departamento de Química Orgánica - CONICET, CIHIDECAR, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428GA, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tamara Piñero
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, FCEN, Departamento de Química Orgánica - CONICET, CIHIDECAR, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428GA, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciana L Soprano
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Malbrán, Secretaría de Salud de la Nación, Departamento de Investigación, Av. Paseo Colon 568, Buenos Aires, 1063, Argentina
| | - Facundo Garcia-Bournissen
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Pedíatricas (IMIPP), CONICET, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez", Gallo 1330, Buenos Aires, 1425, Argentina
| | - Laura Fichera
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Malbrán, Secretaría de Salud de la Nación, Departamento de Investigación, Av. Paseo Colon 568, Buenos Aires, 1063, Argentina
| | - Monica I Esteva
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Malbrán, Secretaría de Salud de la Nación, Departamento de Investigación, Av. Paseo Colon 568, Buenos Aires, 1063, Argentina
| | - Vilma G Duschak
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Malbrán, Secretaría de Salud de la Nación, Departamento de Investigación, Av. Paseo Colon 568, Buenos Aires, 1063, Argentina
| | - Alicia S Couto
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, FCEN, Departamento de Química Orgánica - CONICET, CIHIDECAR, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428GA, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Moncada-Basualto M, Matsuhiro B, Mansilla A, Lapier M, Maya J, Olea-Azar C. Supramolecular hydrogels of β-cyclodextrin linked to calcium homopoly-l-guluronate for release of coumarins with trypanocidal activity. Carbohydr Polym 2019; 204:170-181. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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18
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Bombaça ACS, Viana PG, Santos ACC, Silva TL, Rodrigues ABM, Guimarães ACR, Goulart MOF, da Silva Júnior EN, Menna-Barreto RFS. Mitochondrial disfunction and ROS production are essential for anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of β-lapachone-derived naphthoimidazoles. Free Radic Biol Med 2019; 130:408-418. [PMID: 30445126 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the hemoflagellate protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi and is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases, especially in Latin American countries, where there is an association between low-income populations and mortality. The nitroderivatives used in current chemotherapy are far from ideal and present severe limitations, justifying the continuous search for alternative drugs. Since the1990s, our group has been investigating the trypanocidal activity of natural naphthoquinones and their derivatives, and three naphthoimidazoles (N1, N2 and N3) derived from β-lapachone were found to be most effective in vitro. Analysis of their mechanism of action via cellular, molecular and proteomic approaches indicates that the parasite mitochondrion contains one of the primary targets of these compounds, trypanothione synthetase (involved in trypanothione production), which is overexpressed after treatment with these compounds. Here, we further evaluated the participation of the mitochondria and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the anti-T. cruzi action of naphthoimidazoles. Preincubation of epimastigotes and trypomastigotes with antioxidants (α-tocopherol and urate) strongly protected the parasites from the trypanocidal effect of naphthoimidazoles, decreasing the ROS levels produced and reverting the mitochondrial swelling phenotype. The addition of pro-oxidants (menadione and H2O2) before the treatment induced an increase in parasite lysis. Despite the O2 uptake and mitochondrial complex activity being strongly reduced by N1, N2 and N3, urate partially restored the mitochondrial metabolism only in N1-treated parasites. In parallel, MitoTEMPO, a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant, protected the functionality of the mitochondria in N2- and N3-treated parasites. In addition, the trypanothione reductase activity was remarkably increased after treatment with N1 and N3, and molecular docking demonstrated that these two compounds were positioned in pockets of this enzyme. Based on our findings, the direct impairment of the mitochondrial electron transport chain by N2 and N3 led to an oxidative misbalance, which exacerbated ROS generation and led to parasite death. Although other mechanisms cannot be discounted, mainly in N1-treated parasites, further investigations are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina S Bombaça
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paula G Viana
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Dermatozoonoses em Animais Domésticos, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Augusto C C Santos
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Thaissa L Silva
- Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Aline Beatriz M Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina R Guimarães
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marilia O F Goulart
- Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Eufrânio N da Silva Júnior
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rubem F S Menna-Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Faiões VDS, da Frota LCRM, Cunha-Junior EF, Barcellos JCF, Da Silva T, Netto CD, Da-Silva SAG, da Silva AJM, Costa PRR, Torres-Santos EC. Second-generation pterocarpanquinones: synthesis and antileishmanial activity. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2018; 24:35. [PMID: 30519257 PMCID: PMC6263544 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-018-0174-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the development of new therapies for leishmaniasis, among the 200 countries or territories reporting to the WHO, 87 were identified as endemic for Tegumentary Leishmaniasis and 75 as endemic for Visceral Leishmaniasis. The identification of antileishmanial drug candidates is essential to fill the drug discovery pipeline for leishmaniasis. In the hit molecule LQB-118 selected, the first generation of pterocarpanquinones was effective and safe against experimental visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis via oral delivery. In this paper, we report the synthesis and antileishmanial activity of the second generation of pterocarpanoquinones. Methods The second generation of pterocarpanquinones 2a-f was prepared through a palladium-catalyzed oxyarylation of dihydronaphtalen and chromens with iodolawsone, easily prepared by iodination of lawsone. The spectrum of antileishmanial activity was evaluated in promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis, and L. infantum. Toxicity was assessed in peritoneal macrophages and selective index calculated by CC50/IC50. Oxidative stress was measured by intracellular ROS levels and mitochondrial membrane potential in treated cells. Results In this work, we answered two pertinent questions about the structure of the first-generation pterocarpanquinones: the configuration and positions of rings B (pyran) and C (furan) and the presence of oxygen in the B ring. When rings B and C are exchanged, we noted an improvement of the activity against promastigotes and amastigotes of L. amazonensis and promastigotes of L. infantum. As to the oxygen in ring B of the new generation, we observed that the oxygenated compound 2b is approximately twice as active against L. braziliensis promastigotes than its deoxy derivative 2a. Another modification that improved the activity was the addition of the methylenedioxy group. A variation in the susceptibility among species was evident in the clinically relevant form of the parasite, the intracellular amastigote. L. amazonensis was the species most susceptible to novel derivatives, whilst L. infantum was resistant to most of them. The pterocarpanoquinones (2b and 2c) that possess the oxygen atom in ring B showed induction of increased ROS production. Conclusions The data presented indicate that the pterocarpanoquinones are promising compounds for the development of new leishmanicidal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Dos Santos Faiões
- 1Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365, Pavilhao Leonidas Deane, sala 405A, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900 Brazil
| | - Lívia C R M da Frota
- 2Instituto de Pesquisa de Produtos naturais, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Edézio Ferreira Cunha-Junior
- 1Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365, Pavilhao Leonidas Deane, sala 405A, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900 Brazil
| | - Julio C F Barcellos
- 2Instituto de Pesquisa de Produtos naturais, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Thayssa Da Silva
- 3Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia Parasitária, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Chaquip Daher Netto
- 4Laboratório de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, campus Professor Aloísio Teixeira, Macaé, RJ Brazil
| | | | - Alcides J M da Silva
- 2Instituto de Pesquisa de Produtos naturais, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Paulo R R Costa
- 2Instituto de Pesquisa de Produtos naturais, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Eduardo Caio Torres-Santos
- 1Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365, Pavilhao Leonidas Deane, sala 405A, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900 Brazil
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20
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Bombaça ACS, Dossow DV, Barbosa JMC, Paz C, Burgos V, Menna-Barreto RFS. TrypanocidalActivity of Natural Sesquiterpenoids Involves Mitochondrial Dysfunction, ROS Production and Autophagic Phenotype in Trypanosomacruzi. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23112800. [PMID: 30373326 PMCID: PMC6278339 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23112800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease that is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and represents a serious health problem, especially in Latin America. The clinical treatment of Chagas disease is based on two nitroderivatives that present severe side effects and important limitations. In folk medicine, natural products, including sesquiterpenoids, have been employed for the treatment of different parasitic diseases. In this study, the trypanocidal activity of compounds isolated from the Chilean plants Drimys winteri, Podanthus mitiqui and Maytenus boaria on three T. cruzi evolutive forms (epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote) was evaluated. Total extracts and seven isolated sesquiterpenoids were assayed on trypomastigotes and epimastigotes. Polygodial (Pgd) from D. winteri, total extract from P. mitiqui (PmTE) and the germacrane erioflorin (Efr) from P. mitiqui were the most bioactive substances. Pgd, Efr and PmTE also presented strong effects on intracellular amastigotes and low host toxicity. Many ultrastructural effects of these substances, including reservosome disruption, cytosolic vacuolization, autophagic phenotype and mitochondrial swelling (in the case of Pgd), were observed. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential in treated epimastigotes and an increase in ROS production and high plasma membrane permeability after treatment with Pgd. The promising trypanocidal activity of these natural sesquiterpenoids may be a good starting point for the development of alternative treatmentsforChagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina Souza Bombaça
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, Brazil.
| | - Daniela Von Dossow
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco,4811230, Chile.
| | | | - Cristian Paz
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco,4811230, Chile.
| | - Viviana Burgos
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco,4811230, Chile.
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Cockram PE, Smith TK. Active Natural Product Scaffolds against Trypanosomatid Parasites: A Review. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2018; 81:2138-2154. [PMID: 30234295 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases caused by trypanosomatid parasites are a continuing and escalating problem, which devastate the less economically developed cultures in countries in which they are endemic by impairing both human and animal health. Current drugs for these diseases are regarded as out-of-date and expensive, with unacceptable side-effects and mounting parasite resistance, meaning there is an urgent need for new therapeutics. Natural products have long been a source of potent, structurally diverse bioactive molecules. Herein are reviewed natural products with reported trypanocidal activity, which have been clustered based on core structural similarities, to aid the future discovery of new trypanocidal core motifs with potential routes to synthetically accessible natural product cores suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E Cockram
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex , University of St Andrews , North Haugh , St Andrews , Scotland , KY16 9ST
| | - Terry K Smith
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex , University of St Andrews , North Haugh , St Andrews , Scotland , KY16 9ST
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22
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In vitro leishmanicidal effects of the anti-fungal drug natamycin are mediated through disruption of calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunction. Apoptosis 2018; 23:420-435. [DOI: 10.1007/s10495-018-1468-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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23
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Action mechanism of naphthofuranquinones against fluconazole-resistant Candida tropicalis strains evidenced by proteomic analysis: The role of increased endogenous ROS. Microb Pathog 2018; 117:32-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Garcia FP, Henrique da Silva Rodrigues J, Din ZU, Rodrigues-Filho E, Ueda-Nakamura T, Auzély-Velty R, Nakamura CV. A3K2A3-induced apoptotic cell death of Leishmania amazonensis occurs through caspase- and ATP-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction. Apoptosis 2018; 22:57-71. [PMID: 27761752 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-016-1308-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Current therapies mainly rely on antimonial drugs that are inadequate because of their high toxicity and increased drug resistance. An urgent need exists to discover new, more effective, more affordable, and more target-specific drugs. Pathways that are associated with apoptosis-like cell death have been identified in unicellular eukaryotes, including protozoan parasites. In the present study, we studied the mechanism of cell death that is induced by A3K2A3 against L. amazonensis. A3K2A3 is a dibenzylideneacetone that has an acyclic dienone that is attached to aryl groups in both β-positions, which is similar to curcuminoids and chalcone structures. This compound was previously shown to be safe with regard to cytotoxicity and active against the parasite. Biochemical and morphological approaches were used in the present study. The results suggested that A3K2A3 caused mitochondrial dysfunction in L. amazonensis promastigotes, leading to mechanisms of cell death that share some common phenotypic features with metazoan apoptosis, such as an increase in reactive oxygen species production, a decrease in the adenosine triphosphate ratio, phosphatidylserine exposure, a decrease in cell volume, caspase production, and DNA fragmentation. Altogether, these findings indicate that apoptosis can indeed be triggered by chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francielle Pelegrin Garcia
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Bloco B-08, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Jean Henrique da Silva Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Bloco B-08, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Zia Ud Din
- LaBioMMi, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, São Carlos, SP, 13.565-905, Brazil
| | - Edson Rodrigues-Filho
- LaBioMMi, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, São Carlos, SP, 13.565-905, Brazil
| | - Tânia Ueda-Nakamura
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Bloco B-08, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil
| | | | - Celso Vataru Nakamura
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Bloco B-08, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil.
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Efficacy of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylsulfanylmethyl-[1,4]-naphthoquinone derivatives against different Trypanosoma cruzi discrete type units: Identification of a promising hit compound. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 144:572-581. [PMID: 29289882 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.12.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The limited efficacy of benznidazole (Bz) indicated by failures of current Phase II clinical trials emphasizes the urgent need to identify new drugs with improved safety and efficacy for treatment of Chagas disease (CD). Herein, we analyzed the efficacy of a series of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylsulfanylmethyl-[1,4]-naphthoquinones against different Trypanosoma cruzi discrete type units (DTUs) of relevant clinical forms of CD. Cytotoxic and trypanocidal effect of naphthoquinone derivatives were assessed in mammalian cells, trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes using, luminescent assays (CellTiter-Glo and T. cruzi Dm28c-luciferase) and/or counting with a light microscope. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and intracellular targets of promising compounds were assessed with 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) probe and ultrastructural analysis, respectively. ADMET properties were analyzed by in silico modeling. Most of the compounds showed low cytotoxic effect. Only two compounds (Compounds 2 and 11) had IC50 values lower than Bz, showing higher susceptibility of bloodstream trypomastigotes. Compound 2 exhibited greater efficacy against trypomastigotes from different T. cruzi DTUs, even better than Bz against Brazil and CL strains. Ultrastructural analysis revealed changes in intracellular compartments, suggesting autophagy as one possible mechanism of action. Oxidative stress, induced by Compound 2, resulted in elevated level of ROS, leading to parasite death. Compound 2 was also effective against intracellular amastigotes, showing high selectivity index. ADMET analysis predicted good oral bioavailability, reduced drug metabolism and no carcinogenic potential for Compound 2. The data highlight Compound 2 as a hit compound and stimulate further structural and pharmacological optimization to potentiate its trypanocidal activity and selectivity.
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Bombaça ACS, Dias FDA, Ennes-Vidal V, Garcia-Gomes ADS, Sorgine MHF, d'Avila-Levy CM, Menna-Barreto RFS. Hydrogen peroxide resistance in Strigomonas culicis: Effects on mitochondrial functionality and Aedes aegypti interaction. Free Radic Biol Med 2017; 113:255-266. [PMID: 28993269 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic molecules involved in several biological processes such as cellular signaling, proliferation, differentiation and cell death. Adaptations to oxidative environments are crucial for the success of the colonization of insects by protozoa. Strigomonas culicis is a monoxenic trypanosomatid found in the midgut of mosquitoes and presenting a life cycle restricted to the epimastigote form. Among S. culicis peculiarities, there is an endosymbiotic bacterium in the cytoplasm, which completes essential biosynthetic routes of the host cell and may represent an intermediary evolutive step in organelle origin, thus constituting an interesting model for evolutive researches. In this work, we induced ROS resistance in wild type S. culicis epimastigotes by the incubation with increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and compared the oxidative and energetic metabolisms among wild type, wild type-H2O2 resistant and aposymbiotic strains. Resistant protozoa were less sensitive to the oxidative challenge and more dependent on oxidative phosphorylation, which was demonstrated by higher oxygen consumption and mitochondrial membrane potential, increased activity of complexes II-III and IV, increased complex II gene expression and higher ATP production. Furthermore, the wild type-H2O2 resistant strain produced reduced ROS levels and showed lower lipid peroxidation, as well as an increase in gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and thiol-dependent peroxidase activity. On the other hand, the aposymbiotic strain showed impaired mitochondrial function, higher H2O2 production and deficient antioxidant response. The induction of H2O2 resistance also led to a remarkable increase in Aedes aegypti midgut binding in vitro and colonization in vivo, indicating that both the pro-oxidant environment in the mosquito gut and the oxidative stress susceptibility regulate S. culicis population in invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felipe de Almeida Dias
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vitor Ennes-Vidal
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Aline Dos Santos Garcia-Gomes
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro, Campus Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Henrique Ferreira Sorgine
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Claudia Masini d'Avila-Levy
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Effects of (1 E,4 E)-2-Methyl-1,5-bis(4-nitrophenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one on Trypanosoma cruzi and Its Combinational Effect with Benznidazole, Ketoconazole, or Fluconazole. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:7254193. [PMID: 28620619 PMCID: PMC5460392 DOI: 10.1155/2017/7254193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This study reports the activity induced by (1E,4E)-2-methyl-1,5-bis(4-nitrophenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one (A3K2A3) against Trypanosoma cruzi. This compound showed trypanocidal activity against the multiplicative epimastigote and amastigote forms of this protozoan, with IC50 values of 1.99 ± 0.17 and 1.20 ± 0.16 μM, respectively, and EC50 value of 15.57 ± 0.34 μM against trypomastigotes. The combination of A3K2A3 with benznidazole or ketoconazole demonstrated strong synergism, increasing effectiveness against trypomastigotes or epimastigotes of T. cruzi. In addition, the drug combination of A3K2A3 with benznidazole or ketoconazole on LLCMK2 cells demonstrated an antagonist effect, which resulted in greater protection of the cells from drug damage. The combination of the compound with fluconazole was not effective. Transmission and scanning electron micrographs showed changes on parasites, mainly in the cytoplasmatic membrane, nucleus, mitochondrion, and Golgi complex, and a large increase in the number of autophagosome-like structures and lipid-storage bodies, accompanied by volume reduction and rounding of the parasite. A3K2A3 might be a promising compound against T. cruzi.
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Sidlauskas K, Sidlauskiene R, Li N, Liobikas J. 5-Hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione exerts anticancer effects on glioma cells through interaction with the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Neurosci Lett 2017; 639:207-214. [PMID: 28069455 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Survival of patients with glioblastoma remains within the range of several months despite advances in therapeutic options. We have already shown that 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione (juglone) exerts antiproliferative, anti-invasive, and cytotoxic effects on glioma C6 cells. Here, we further revealed that juglone is relatively selective to glioma cells as compared to the normal glial culture, and investigated its mechanisms of action. The incubation of glioma C6 cells with juglone generated high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The produced ROS accounted for the anticancer effect of juglone as antioxidant N-acetylcysteine reduced both cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities of juglone. Furthermore, high resolution respirometry revealed that juglone decreased oxygen consumption mainly by affecting pyruvate/malate- and glutamate/malate-induced mitochondrial respiration. The inhibition of respiratory complex I by amytal decreased juglone-triggered generation of ROS and diminished its anticancer activity. Thus, our results indicate that juglone generates ROS through interaction with respiratory complex I in glioma C6 cells, and, in turn, induces the anticancer effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kastytis Sidlauskas
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania; Division of Neuropathology, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK.
| | - Ruta Sidlauskiene
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Ningning Li
- Division of Neuropathology, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK
| | - Julius Liobikas
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Dos Anjos DO, Sobral Alves ES, Gonçalves VT, Fontes SS, Nogueira ML, Suarez-Fontes AM, Neves da Costa JB, Rios-Santos F, Vannier-Santos MA. Effects of a novel β-lapachone derivative on Trypanosoma cruzi: Parasite death involving apoptosis, autophagy and necrosis. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2016; 6:207-219. [PMID: 27770751 PMCID: PMC5078628 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Natural products comprise valuable sources for new antiparasitic drugs. Here we tested the effects of a novel β-lapachone derivative on Trypanosoma cruzi parasite survival and proliferation and used microscopy and cytometry techniques to approach the mechanism(s) underlying parasite death. The selectivity index determination indicate that the compound trypanocidal activity was over ten-fold more cytotoxic to epimastigotes than to macrophages or splenocytes. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the R72 β-lapachone derivative affected the T. cruzi morphology and surface topography. General plasma membrane waving and blebbing particularly on the cytostome region were observed in the R72-treated parasites. Transmission electron microscopy observations confirmed the surface damage at the cytostome opening vicinity. We also observed ultrastructural evidence of the autophagic mechanism termed macroautophagy. Some of the autophagosomes involved large portions of the parasite cytoplasm and their fusion/confluence may lead to necrotic parasite death. The remarkably enhanced frequency of autophagy triggering was confirmed by quantitating monodansylcadaverine labeling. Some cells displayed evidence of chromatin pycnosis and nuclear fragmentation were detected. This latter phenomenon was also indicated by DAPI staining of R72-treated cells. The apoptotis induction was suggested to take place in circa one-third of the parasites assessed by annexin V labeling measured by flow cytometry. TUNEL staining corroborated the apoptosis induction. Propidium iodide labeling indicate that at least 10% of the R72-treated parasites suffered necrosis within 24 h. The present data indicate that the β-lapachone derivative R72 selectively triggers T. cruzi cell death, involving both apoptosis and autophagy-induced necrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Oliveira Dos Anjos
- Lab. Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz UESC, Brazil
| | | | | | - Sheila Suarez Fontes
- Lab. Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Brazil
| | - Mateus Lima Nogueira
- Lab. Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Brazil
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Sueth-Santiago V, Moraes JDBB, Sobral Alves ES, Vannier-Santos MA, Freire-de-Lima CG, Castro RN, Mendes-Silva GP, Del Cistia CDN, Magalhães LG, Andricopulo AD, Sant´Anna CMR, Decoté-Ricardo D, Freire de Lima ME. The Effectiveness of Natural Diarylheptanoids against Trypanosoma cruzi: Cytotoxicity, Ultrastructural Alterations and Molecular Modeling Studies. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162926. [PMID: 27658305 PMCID: PMC5033595 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Curcumin (CUR) is the major constituent of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa and has been widely investigated for its chemotherapeutic properties. The well-known activity of CUR against Leishmania sp., Trypanosoma brucei and Plasmodium falciparum led us to investigate its activity against Trypanosoma cruzi. In this work, we tested the cytotoxic effects of CUR and other natural curcuminoids on different forms of T. cruzi, as well as the ultrastructural changes induced in epimastigote form of the parasite. CUR was verified as the curcuminoid with more significant trypanocidal properties (IC50 10.13 μM on epimastigotes). Demethoxycurcumin (DMC) was equipotent to CUR (IC50 11.07 μM), but bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) was less active (IC50 45.33 μM) and cyclocurcumin (CC) was inactive. In the experiment with infected murine peritoneal macrophages all diarylheptanoids were more active than the control in the inhibition of the trypomastigotes release. The electron microscopy images showed ultrastructural changes associated with the cytoskeleton of the parasite, indicating tubulin as possible target of CUR in T. cruzi. The results obtained by flow cytometry analysis of DNA content of the parasites treated with natural curcuminoids suggested a mechanism of action on microtubules related to the paclitaxel`s mode of action. To better understand the mechanism of action highlighted by electron microscopy and flow cytometry experiments we performed the molecular docking of natural curcuminoids on tubulin of T. cruzi in a homology model and the results obtained showed that the observed interactions are in accordance with the IC50 values found, since there CUR and DMC perform similar interactions at the binding site on tubulin while BDMC do not realize a hydrogen bond with Lys163 residue due to the absence of methoxyl groups. These results indicate that trypanocidal properties of CUR may be related to the cytoskeletal alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Sueth-Santiago
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Química, BR 465, Km 07, CEP: 23.890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Julliane de B. B. Moraes
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Veterinária, Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia Veterinária, BR 465, Km 07, CEP: 23.890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Eliomara Sousa Sobral Alves
- Laboratório de Biologia Parasitária, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz (CPqGM-Fiocruz), Rua Waldemar Falcão, 121, Candeal, CEP: 40.296-710, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Marcos André Vannier-Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Parasitária, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz (CPqGM-Fiocruz), Rua Waldemar Falcão, 121, Candeal, CEP: 40.296-710, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Célio G. Freire-de-Lima
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Ilha do Fundão, Cidade Universitária, CEP: 21.941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rosane N. Castro
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Química, BR 465, Km 07, CEP: 23.890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Peron Mendes-Silva
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Química, BR 465, Km 07, CEP: 23.890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Catarina de Nigris Del Cistia
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Matemática, BR 465, Km 07, CEP: 23.890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luma Godoy Magalhães
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal e Computacional, Centro de Pesquisa e Inovação em Biodiversidade e Fármacos, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 396, CEP: 13.560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriano Defini Andricopulo
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal e Computacional, Centro de Pesquisa e Inovação em Biodiversidade e Fármacos, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 396, CEP: 13.560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos Mauricio R. Sant´Anna
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Química, BR 465, Km 07, CEP: 23.890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Debora Decoté-Ricardo
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Veterinária, Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia Veterinária, BR 465, Km 07, CEP: 23.890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
- * E-mail: (MEFL); (DDR)
| | - Marco Edilson Freire de Lima
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Química, BR 465, Km 07, CEP: 23.890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
- * E-mail: (MEFL); (DDR)
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Biological approaches to characterize the mode of action of two 5-nitroindazolinone prototypes on Trypanosoma cruzi bloodstream trypomastigotes. Parasitology 2016; 143:1469-78. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182016001098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
SUMMARYThe phenotypic activity of two 5-nitroindazolinones, i.e. 2-benzyl-1-propyl (22) and 2-benzyl-1-butyl (24) derivatives, previously proposed as anti-Trypanosoma cruzi prototypes, was presently assayed on bloodstream trypomastigotes (BT) of the moderately drug-resistant Y strain. Further exploration of putative targets and cellular mechanisms involved in their activity was also carried out. Therefore, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution respirometry and flow cytometry procedures were performed on BT treated for up to 24 h with the respective EC50 value of each derivative. Results demonstrated that although 22 and 24 were not as active as benznidazole in this in vitro assay on BT, both compounds triggered important damages in T. cruzi that lead to the parasite death. Ultrastructural alterations included shedding events, detachment of plasma membrane and nuclear envelope, loss of mitochondrial integrity, besides the occurrence of a large number of intracellular vesicles and profiles of endoplasmic reticulum surrounding cytoplasmic organelles such as mitochondrion. Moreover, both derivatives affected mitochondrion leading to this organelle dysfunction, as reflected by the inhibition in oxygen consumption and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Altogether, the findings exposed in the present study propose autophagic processes and mitochondrial machinery as part of the mode of action of both 5-nitroindazolinones 22 and 24 on T. cruzi trypomastigotes.
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Lazarin-Bidóia D, Desoti VC, Martins SC, Ribeiro FM, Ud Din Z, Rodrigues-Filho E, Ueda-Nakamura T, Nakamura CV, de Oliveira Silva S. Dibenzylideneacetones Are Potent Trypanocidal Compounds That Affect the Trypanosoma cruzi Redox System. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:890-903. [PMID: 26596953 PMCID: PMC4750705 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01360-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite ongoing efforts, the available treatments for Chagas' disease are still unsatisfactory, especially in the chronic phase of the disease. Our previous study reported the strong trypanocidal activity of the dibenzylideneacetones A3K2A1 and A3K2A3 against Trypanosoma cruzi (Z. Ud Din, T. P. Fill, F. F. de Assis, D. Lazarin-Bidóia, V. Kaplum, F. P. Garcia, C. V. Nakamura, K. T. de Oliveira, and E. Rodrigues-Filho, Bioorg Med Chem 22:1121-1127, 2014, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2013.12.020). In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms of action of these compounds that are involved in parasite death. We showed that A3K2A1 and A3K2A3 induced oxidative stress in the three parasitic forms, especially trypomastigotes, reflected by an increase in oxidant species production and depletion of the endogenous antioxidant system. This oxidative imbalance culminated in damage in essential cell structures of T. cruzi, reflected by lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation. Consequently, A3K2A1 and A3K2A3 induced vital alterations in T. cruzi, leading to parasite death through the three pathways, apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Lazarin-Bidóia
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Vânia Cristina Desoti
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Solange Cardoso Martins
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Fabianne Martins Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Zia Ud Din
- LaBioMMi, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edson Rodrigues-Filho
- LaBioMMi, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tânia Ueda-Nakamura
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Celso Vataru Nakamura
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Sueli de Oliveira Silva
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
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Machado-Silva A, Cerqueira PG, Grazielle-Silva V, Gadelha FR, Peloso EDF, Teixeira SMR, Machado CR. How Trypanosoma cruzi deals with oxidative stress: Antioxidant defence and DNA repair pathways. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2016; 767:8-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Cristina Desoti V, Lazarin-Bidóia D, Martins Ribeiro F, Cardoso Martins S, da Silva Rodrigues JH, Ueda-Nakamura T, Vataru Nakamura C, Farias Ximenes V, de Oliveira Silva S. The Combination of Vitamin K3 and Vitamin C Has Synergic Activity against Forms of Trypanosoma cruzi through a Redox Imbalance Process. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144033. [PMID: 26641473 PMCID: PMC4671608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas' disease is an infection that is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, affecting millions of people worldwide. Because of severe side effects and variable efficacy, the current treatments for Chagas' disease are unsatisfactory, making the search for new chemotherapeutic agents essential. Previous studies have reported various biological activities of naphthoquinones, such as the trypanocidal and antitumor activity of vitamin K3. The combination of this vitamin with vitamin C exerted better effects against various cancer cells than when used alone. These effects have been attributed to an increase in reactive oxygen species generation. In the present study, we evaluated the activity of vitamin K3 and vitamin C, alone and in combination, against T. cruzi. The vitamin K3 + vitamin C combination exerted synergistic effects against three forms of T. cruzi, leading to morphological, ultrastructural, and functional changes by producing reactive species, decreasing reduced thiol groups, altering the cell cycle, causing lipid peroxidation, and forming autophagic vacuoles. Our hypothesis is that the vitamin K3 + vitamin C combination induces oxidative imbalance in T. cruzi, probably started by a redox cycling process that leads to parasite cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vânia Cristina Desoti
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Danielle Lazarin-Bidóia
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Fabianne Martins Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Solange Cardoso Martins
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Biológicas—Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Jean Henrique da Silva Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Biológicas—Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Tania Ueda-Nakamura
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Celso Vataru Nakamura
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Biológicas—Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Valdecir Farias Ximenes
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, Bauru, SP, Brasil
| | - Sueli de Oliveira Silva
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
- * E-mail:
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Lage PS, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Mesquita JT, Mata LM, Fernandes SOA, Cardoso VN, Soto M, Tavares CAP, Leite JPV, Tempone AG, Coelho EAF. Antileishmanial activity and evaluation of the mechanism of action of strychnobiflavone flavonoid isolated from Strychnos pseudoquina against Leishmania infantum. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:4625-35. [PMID: 26346453 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4708-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro antileishmanial activity of strychnobiflavone flavonoid against Leishmania infantum, as well as its mechanism of action, and evaluate the ex vivo biodistribution profile of the flavonoid in naive BALB/c mice. The antileishmanial activity (IC50 value) of strychnobiflavone against stationary promastigote and amastigote-like stages of the parasites was of 5.4 and 18.9 μM, respectively; with a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) value of 125.0 μM on murine macrophages, resulting in selectivity index (SI) of 23.2 and 6.6, respectively. Amphotericin B, used as a positive control, presented SI values of 7.6 and 3.3 for promastigote and amastigote-like stages of L. infantum, respectively. The strychnobiflavone was also effective in reducing in significant levels the percentage of infected macrophages, as well as the number of amastigotes per macrophage, after the treatment of infected macrophages using the flavonoid. By using different fluorescent probes, we investigated the bioenergetics metabolism of L. infantum promastigotes and demonstrated that the flavonoid caused the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, without affecting the production of reactive oxygen species. In addition, using SYTOX(®) green as a fluorescent probe, the strychnobiflavone demonstrated no interference in plasma membrane permeability. For the ex vivo biodistribution assays, the flavonoid was labeled with technetium-(99m) and studied in a mouse model by intraperitoneal route. After a single dose administration, the scintigraphic images demonstrated a highest uptake by the liver and spleen of the animals within 60 min, resulting in low concentrations after 24 h. The present study therefore demonstrated, for the first time, the antileishmanial activity of the strychnobiflavone against L. infantum, and suggests that the mitochondria of the parasites may be the possible target organelle. The preferential distribution of this compound into the liver and spleen of the animals could warrant its employ in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula S Lage
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Miguel A Chávez-Fumagalli
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Juliana T Mesquita
- Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, 01246-902, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Laís M Mata
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Simone O A Fernandes
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Valbert N Cardoso
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Manuel Soto
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos A P Tavares
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - João P V Leite
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, 36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Andre G Tempone
- Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, 01246-902, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo A F Coelho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Aplicada ao Estudo das Leishmanioses, Departamento de Patologia Clínica, COLTEC, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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de Menezes DDR, Calvet CM, Rodrigues GC, de Souza Pereira MC, Almeida IR, de Aguiar AP, Supuran CT, Vermelho AB. Hydroxamic acid derivatives: a promising scaffold for rational compound optimization in Chagas disease. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2015; 31:964-73. [PMID: 26327246 DOI: 10.3109/14756366.2015.1077330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This work describes the antitrypanocidal activity of two hydroxamic acid derivatives containing o-ethoxy (HAD1) and p-ethoxy (HAD2) as substituent in the aromatic ring linked to the isoxazoline ring. HAD1 and HAD2 induced a significant reduction in the number of intracellular parasites and consequently showed activity on the multiplication of the parasite. Treatment of cardiomyocytes and macrophages with the compounds revealed no significant loss in cell viability. Ultrastructural alterations after treatment of cardiomyocytes or macrophages infected by Trypanosoma cruzi with the IC50 value of HAD1 revealed alterations to amastigotes, showing initial damage seen as swelling of the kinetoplast. This gave a good indication of the ability of the drug to permeate through the host cell membrane as well as its selectivity to the parasite target. Both compounds HAD1 and 2 were able to reduce the cysteine peptidases and decrease the activity of metallopeptidases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayanne da Rocha de Menezes
- a BIOINOVAR - Biotechnology Laboratories: Biocatalysis, Bioproducts and Bioenergy, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil .,b Faculdade São Francisco de Barreiras (FASB) , Barreiras , BA , Brazil
| | - Claudia Magalhães Calvet
- c Laboratório de Ultra-estrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brazil
| | - Giseli Capaci Rodrigues
- d Escola de Ciência e Tecnologia e Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ensino das Ciências, Universidade do Grande Rio , Duque de Caxias , RJ , Brazil
| | | | - Igor Rodrigues Almeida
- e Departamento de Produtos Naturais e Alimentos , Faculdade de Farmácia, UFRJ , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brazil
| | - Alcino Palermo de Aguiar
- f Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica, Departamento de Química , Instituto Militar de Engenharia , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , and
| | - Claudiu T Supuran
- g Laboratorio di Chimica Bioinorganica , Università degli Studi di Firenze, Polo Scientifico , Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) , Italy
| | - Alane Beatriz Vermelho
- a BIOINOVAR - Biotechnology Laboratories: Biocatalysis, Bioproducts and Bioenergy, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
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Cortes LA, Castro L, Pesce B, Maya JD, Ferreira J, Castro-Castillo V, Parra E, Jara JA, López-Muñoz R. Novel Gallate Triphenylphosphonium Derivatives with Potent Antichagasic Activity. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136852. [PMID: 26317199 PMCID: PMC4552745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is one of the most neglected tropical diseases in the world, affecting nearly 15 million people, primarily in Latin America. Only two drugs are used for the treatment of this disease, nifurtimox and benznidazole. These drugs have limited efficacy and frequently induce adverse effects, limiting their usefulness. Consequently, new drugs must be found. In this study, we demonstrated the in vitro trypanocidal effects of a series of four gallic acid derivatives characterized by a gallate group linked to a triphenylphosphonium (TPP+) moiety (a delocalized cation) via a hydrocarbon chain of 8, 10, 11, or 12 atoms (TPP+-C8, TPP+-C10, TPP+-C11, and TPP+-C12, respectively). We analyzed parasite viability in isolated parasites (by MTT reduction and flow cytometry) and infected mammalian cells using T. cruzi Y strain trypomastigotes. Among the four derivatives, TPP+-C10 and TPP+-C12 were the most potent in both models, with EC50 values (in isolated parasites) of 1.0 ± 0.6 and 1.0 ± 0.7 μM, respectively, and were significantly more potent than nifurtimox (EC50 = 4.1 ± 0.6 μM). At 1 μM, TPP+-C10 and TPP+-C12 induced markers of cell death, such as phosphatidylserine exposure and propidium iodide permeabilization. In addition, at 1 μM, TPP+-C10 and TPP+-C12 significantly decreased the number of intracellular amastigotes (TPP+-C10: 24.3%, TPP+-C12: 19.0% of control measurements, as measured by DAPI staining) and the parasite’s DNA load (C10: 10%, C12: 13% of control measurements, as measured by qPCR). Based on the previous mode of action described for these compounds in cancer cells, we explored their mitochondrial effects in isolated trypomastigotes. TPP+-C10 and TPP+-C12 were the most potent compounds, significantly altering mitochondrial membrane potential at 1 μM (measured by JC-1 fluorescence) and inducing mitochondrial transition pore opening at 5 μM. Taken together, these results indicate that the TPP+-C10 and TPP+-C12 derivatives of gallic acid are promising trypanocidal agents with mitochondrial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonel A. Cortes
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lorena Castro
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bárbara Pesce
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan D. Maya
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge Ferreira
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Vicente Castro-Castillo
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eduardo Parra
- Laboratory of Experimental Biomedicine, University of Tarapacá, Iquique, Chile
| | - José A. Jara
- Unidad de Farmacología y Farmacogenética, ICOD, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail: (RLM), (JAJ)
| | - Rodrigo López-Muñoz
- Instituto de Farmacología y Morfofisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- * E-mail: (RLM), (JAJ)
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Machado PDA, Mota VZ, Cavalli ACDL, de Carvalho GSG, Da Silva AD, Gameiro J, Cuin A, Coimbra ES. High selective antileishmanial activity of vanadium complex with stilbene derivative. Acta Trop 2015; 148:120-7. [PMID: 25917716 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Revised: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a group of disease caused by different species of the parasite Leishmania affecting millions of people worldwide. Conventional therapy relies on multiple parenteral injections with pentavalent antimonials which exhibit high toxicity and various side effects have been reported. Hence, the research for an effective and low toxic effect drug is necessary. In the present work, the synthesis, spectroscopic and analytical characterizations of stilbene derivative (H2Salophen) and its vanadium complex (VOSalophen) are reported. Besides the chemical ancillary information, investigation of the leishmanicidal effects of these compounds were provided. The biological assays against promastigote and amastigote forms of L. amazonensis have been shown that VOSalophen exhibited a strong antiparasitic activity (IC50 of 6.65 and 3.51 μM, respectively). Furthermore, the leishmanicidal activity was concentration and time-dependent. Regarding toxicity and selectivity on mammalian cells, VOSalophen have not caused significant damage to human erythrocytes in all concentrations tested and VOSalophen was almost seven times more destructive for the intracellular parasite than for macrophages. Furthermore, the leishmanicidal activity of VOSalophen in promastigote forms of L. amazonensis could be associated to mitochondrial dysfunction and increase of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In L. amazonensis-infected macrophages, VOSalophen induces ROS production and a microbicidal action NO-dependent. Our biological results indicate the effective and selective action of VOSalophen against L. amazonensis and the leishmanicidal effect can be associated to parasite disorders and immumodulatory effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia de Almeida Machado
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Zamprogno Mota
- LQBin - Laboratório de Química BioInorgânica, Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Ana Clara de Lima Cavalli
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Adilson David Da Silva
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Jacy Gameiro
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Cuin
- LQBin - Laboratório de Química BioInorgânica, Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Elaine Soares Coimbra
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
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Fonseca-Silva F, Canto-Cavalheiro MM, Menna-Barreto RFS, Almeida-Amaral EE. Effect of Apigenin on Leishmania amazonensis Is Associated with Reactive Oxygen Species Production Followed by Mitochondrial Dysfunction. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2015; 78:880-884. [PMID: 25768915 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an important neglected disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania that affects more than 12 million people worldwide. Leishmaniasis treatment requires the administration of toxic and poorly tolerated drugs, and parasite resistance greatly reduces the efficacy of conventional medications. Apigenin (1), a naturally occurring plant flavone, has a wide range of reported biological effects. In this study, antileishmanial activity of 1 in vitro was investigated, and its mechanism of action against Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes was described. Treatment with 1 for 24 h resulted in concentration-dependent inhibition of cellular proliferation (IC50 = 23.7 μM) and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Glutathione and N-acetyl-l-cysteine protected L. amazonensis from the effects of 1 and reduced ROS levels after the treatment. By contrast, oxidized glutathione did not reduce the levels of ROS caused by 1 by not preventing the proliferation inhibition. Apigenin 1 also induced an extensive swelling in parasite mitochondria, leading to an alteration of the mitochondrial membrane potential, rupture of the trans-Golgi network, and cytoplasmic vacuolization. These results demonstrate the leishmanicidal effect of 1 and suggest the involvement of ROS leading to mitochondrial collapse as part of the mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Fonseca-Silva
- †Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos and ‡Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marilene M Canto-Cavalheiro
- †Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos and ‡Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rubem F S Menna-Barreto
- †Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos and ‡Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elmo E Almeida-Amaral
- †Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos and ‡Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Jardim GAM, Reis WJ, Ribeiro MF, Ottoni FM, Alves RJ, Silva TL, Goulart MOF, Braga AL, Menna-Barreto RFS, Salomão K, de Castro SL, da Silva Júnior EN. On the investigation of hybrid quinones: synthesis, electrochemical studies and evaluation of trypanocidal activity. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra16213k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty-eight compounds were evaluated against T. cruzi and six were found to be more potent against trypomastigotes than benznidazole.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wallace J. Reis
- Institute of Exact Sciences
- Department of Chemistry
- UFMG
- Belo Horizonte
- Brazil
| | - Matheus F. Ribeiro
- Institute of Exact Sciences
- Department of Chemistry
- UFMG
- Belo Horizonte
- Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kelly Salomão
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology
- IOC
- FIOCRUZ
- Rio de Janeiro
- Brazil
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N-butyl-[1-(4-methoxy)phenyl-9H-β-carboline]-3-carboxamide prevents cytokinesis in Leishmania amazonensis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 58:7112-20. [PMID: 25224005 DOI: 10.1128/aac.03340-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, a complex of diseases caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, is endemic in 98 countries, affecting approximately 12 million people worldwide. Current treatments for leishmaniasis have many disadvantages, such as toxicity, high costs, and prolonged treatment, making the development of new treatment alternatives highly relevant. Several studies have verified the antileishmanial activity of β-carboline compounds. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro antileishmanial activity of N-butyl-[1-(4-methoxy)phenyl-9H-β-carboline]-3-carboxamide (β-CB) against Leishmania amazonensis. The compound was active against promastigote, axenic amastigote, and intracellular amastigote forms of L. amazonensis, exhibiting high selectivity for the parasite. Moreover, β-CB did not exhibit hemolytic or mutagenic potential. Promastigotes treated with the alkaloid presented rounding of the body cell, cell membrane projections, an increase in the number of promastigotes presenting two flagella, and parasites of abnormal phenotype, with three or more flagella and/or nuclei. Furthermore, we observed an increase in the subpopulation of cells in the G2/M stage of the cell cycle. Altogether, these results suggest that β-CB likely prevents cytokinesis, although it does not interfere with the duplication of cell structures. We also verified an increase in O2(·-) production and the accumulation of lipid storage bodies. Cell membrane integrity was maintained, in addition to the absence of phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA fragmentation, and autophagosomes. Although the possibility of an apoptotic process cannot be discarded, β-CB likely exerts its antileishmanial activity through a cytostatic effect, thus preventing cellular proliferation.
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dos Santos Aliança AS, dos Anjos KFL, de Vasconcelos Reis TN, Higino TMM, Brelaz-de-Castro MCA, Bianco ÉM, de Figueiredo RCBQ. The in vitro biological activity of the Brazilian brown seaweed Dictyota mertensii against Leishmania amazonensis. Molecules 2014; 19:14052-65. [PMID: 25207712 PMCID: PMC6270721 DOI: 10.3390/molecules190914052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Revised: 08/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Seaweeds present a wide variety of interesting bioactive molecules. In the present work we evaluated the biological activity of the dichloromethane/methanol (2:1) extract (DME) from the brown seaweed Dictyota mertensii against Leishmania amazonensis and its cytotoxic potential on mammalian cells. The extract showed significant inhibitory effect on the growth of promastigote forms (IC50=71.60 μg/mL) and low toxicity against mammalian cells (CC50=233.10 μg/mL). The DME was also efficient in inhibiting the infection in macrophages, with CC50 of 81.4 μg/mL and significantly decreased the survival of amastigote forms within these cells. The selectivity index showed that DME was more toxic to both promastigote (SI=3.25) and amastigote (SI=2.86) forms than to macrophages. Increased NO production was observed in treated macrophages suggesting that besides acting directly on the parasites, the DME also shows an immunomodulatory effect on macrophages. Drastic ultrastructural alterations consistent with loss of viability and cell death were observed in treated parasites. Confocal microscopy and cytometry analyzes showed no significant impairment of plasma membrane integrity, whereas an intense depolarization of mitochondrial membrane could be observed by using propidium iodide and rhodamine 123 staining, respectively. The low toxicity to mammalian cells and the effective activity against promastigotes and amastigotes, point to the use of DME as a promising agent for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Silva dos Santos Aliança
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM-FIOCRUZ), Av. Moraes Rego s/n Cidade Universitária, Campus da UFPE, Recife 50670-420, Brazil.
| | - Keicyanne Fernanda Lessa dos Anjos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM-FIOCRUZ), Av. Moraes Rego s/n Cidade Universitária, Campus da UFPE, Recife 50670-420, Brazil.
| | | | - Taciana Mirely Maciel Higino
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM-FIOCRUZ), Av. Moraes Rego s/n Cidade Universitária, Campus da UFPE, Recife 50670-420, Brazil.
| | - Maria Carolina Accioly Brelaz-de-Castro
- Departamento de Imunologia Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM-FIOCRUZ), Av. Moraes Rego s/n Cidade Universitária, Campus da UFPE, Recife 50670-420, Brazil.
| | - Éverson Miguel Bianco
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Química, Fundação Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Campus 1, Rua Antonio da Veiga, 140, Blumenal 89012-900, Brazil.
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Inacio JDF, Gervazoni L, Canto-Cavalheiro MM, Almeida-Amaral EE. The effect of (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O--gallate in vitro and in vivo in Leishmania braziliensis: involvement of reactive oxygen species as a mechanism of action. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3093. [PMID: 25144225 PMCID: PMC4140776 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease associated with extensive mortality and morbidity. The treatment for leishmaniasis is currently based on pentavalent antimonials and amphotericin B; however, these drugs result in numerous adverse side effects. Natural compounds have been used as novel treatments for parasitic diseases. In this paper, we evaluated the effect of (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG) on Leishmania braziliensis in vitro and in vivo and described the mechanism of EGCG action against L. braziliensis promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING In vitro activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurements were determined during the promastigote and intracellular amastigote life stages. The effect of EGCG on mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was assayed using JC-1, and intracellular ATP concentrations were measured using a luciferin-luciferase system. The in vivo experiments were performed in infected BALB/c mice orally treated with EGCG. EGCG reduced promastigote viability and the infection index in a time- and dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 278.8 µM and 3.4 µM, respectively, at 72 h and a selectivity index of 149.5. In addition, EGCG induced ROS production in the promastigote and intracellular amastigote, and the effects were reversed by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-catalase. Additionally, EGCG reduced ΔΨm, thereby decreasing intracellular ATP concentrations in promastigotes. Furthermore, EGCG treatment was also effective in vivo, demonstrating oral bioavailability and reduced parasitic loads without altering serological toxicity markers. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE In conclusion, our study demonstrates the leishmanicidal effects of EGCG against the two forms of L. braziliensis, the promastigote and amastigote. In addition, EGCG promotes ROS production as a part of its mechanism of action, resulting in decreased ΔΨm and reduced intracellular ATP concentrations. These actions ultimately culminate in parasite death. Furthermore, our data suggest that EGCG is orally effective in the treatment of L. braziliensis-infected BALB/c mice without altering serological toxicity markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Job D. F. Inacio
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatideos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiza Gervazoni
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatideos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marilene M. Canto-Cavalheiro
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatideos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elmo E. Almeida-Amaral
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatideos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Tiuman TS, Ueda-Nakamura T, Alonso A, Nakamura CV. Cell death in amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis induced by parthenolide. BMC Microbiol 2014; 14:152. [PMID: 24913205 PMCID: PMC4067685 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-14-152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmania amazonensis infection results in diverse clinical manifestations: cutaneous, mucocutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis. The arsenal of drugs available for treating Leishmania infections is limited. Therefore, new, effective, and less toxic leishmaniasis treatments are still needed. We verified cell death in amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis induced by the sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide. Results The tested compound was able to concentration-dependently affect axenic and intracellular amastigotes, with IC50 values of 1.3 μM and 2.9 μM, respectively after 72 h incubation. No genotoxic effects were observed in a micronucleus test in mice. Parthenolide induced morphological and ultrastructural changes in axenic amastigotes, including a loss of membrane integrity, swelling of the mitochondrion, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and intense exocytic activity in the region of the flagellar pocket. These results led us to investigate the occurrence of autophagic vacuoles with monodansylcadaverine and the integrity of the plasma membrane and mitochondrial membrane potential using flow cytometry. In all of the tests, parthenolide had positive results. Conclusions Our results indicate that the antileishmanial action of parthenolide is associated with autophagic vacuole appearance, a reduction of fluidity, a loss of membrane integrity, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Considering the limited repertoire of existing antileishmanial compounds, the products derived from medicinal plants has been one the greatest advances to help develop new chemotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Celso Vataru Nakamura
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av, Colombo 5790, 87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
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Rodrigues JHDS, Ueda-Nakamura T, Corrêa AG, Sangi DP, Nakamura CV. A quinoxaline derivative as a potent chemotherapeutic agent, alone or in combination with benznidazole, against Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85706. [PMID: 24465654 PMCID: PMC3894994 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas’ disease is a condition caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi that affects millions of people, mainly in Latin America where it is considered endemic. The chemotherapy for Chagas disease remains a problem; the standard treatment currently relies on a single drug, benznidazole, which unfortunately induces several side effects and it is not successful in the cure of most of the chronic patients. In order to improve the drug armamentarium against Chagas’ disease, in the present study we describe the synthesis of the compound 3-chloro-7-methoxy-2-(methylsulfonyl) quinoxaline (quinoxaline 4) and its activity, alone or in combination with benznidazole, against Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro. Methodology/Principal Findings Quinoxaline 4 was found to be strongly active against Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain and more effective against the proliferative forms. The cytotoxicity against LLCMK2 cells provided selective indices above one for all of the parasite forms. The drug induced very low hemolysis, but its anti-protozoan activity was partially inhibited when mouse blood was added in the experiment against trypomastigotes, an effect that was specifically related to blood cells. A synergistic effect between quinoxaline 4 and benznidazole was observed against epimastigotes and trypomastigotes, accompanied by an antagonistic interaction against LLCMK2 cells. Quinoxaline 4 induced several ultrastructural alterations, including formations of vesicular bodies, profiles of reticulum endoplasmic surrounding organelles and disorganization of Golgi complex. These alterations were also companied by cell volume reduction and maintenance of cell membrane integrity of treated-parasites. Conclusion/Significance Our results demonstrated that quinoxaline 4, alone or in combination with benznidazole, has promising effects against all the main forms of T. cruzi. The compound at low concentrations induced several ultrastructural alterations and led the parasite to an autophagic-like cell death. Taken together these results may support the further development of a combination therapy as an alternative more effective in Chagas’ disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Henrique da Silva Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas – Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Tânia Ueda-Nakamura
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde - Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Arlene Gonçalves Corrêa
- Departamento de Química - Laboratório de Síntese de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Diego Pereira Sangi
- Departamento de Química - Laboratório de Síntese de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Celso Vataru Nakamura
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde - Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Menna-Barreto RFS, Perales J. The expected outcome of the Trypanosoma cruzi proteomic map: a review of its potential biological applications for drug target discovery. Subcell Biochem 2014; 74:305-322. [PMID: 24264251 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-7305-9_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical illness endemic to Latin America, and its treatment remains unsatisfactory. This disease is caused by the hemoflagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which has a complex life cycle involving three evolutive forms in both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Targeting metabolic pathways in the parasite for rational drug design represents a promising research field. This research area requires high performance techniques and proteomics become a powerful tool in this context. Here, we review advances in the construction of proteomic maps of the different forms of T. cruzi, emphasizing their biological applications towards the identification of alternative candidates for drug intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubem F S Menna-Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
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Prati F, Uliassi E, Bolognesi ML. Two diseases, one approach: multitarget drug discovery in Alzheimer's and neglected tropical diseases. MEDCHEMCOMM 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4md00069b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Multitarget drug discovery may represent a promising therapeutic approach to treat Alzheimer's and neglected tropical diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Prati
- Department of Drug Discovery & Development
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
- Genova
- Italy
- Department of Pharmacy & Biotechnology
| | - E. Uliassi
- Department of Pharmacy & Biotechnology
- University of Bologna
- Bologna
- Italy
| | - M. L. Bolognesi
- Department of Pharmacy & Biotechnology
- University of Bologna
- Bologna
- Italy
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Soulamarin isolated from Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae) induces plasma membrane permeabilization of Trypanosoma cruzi and mytochondrial dysfunction. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2556. [PMID: 24340110 PMCID: PMC3854968 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. It has high mortality as well as morbidity rates and usually affects the poorer sections of the population. The development of new, less harmful and more effective drugs is a promising research target, since current standard treatments are highly toxic and administered for long periods. Fractioning of methanol (MeOH) extract of the stem bark of Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae) resulted in the isolation of the coumarin soulamarin, which was characterized by one- and two-dimensional 1H- and 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as ESI mass spectrometry. All data obtained were consistent with a structure of 6-hydroxy-4-propyl-5-(3-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-oxobutyl)-6″,6″-dimethylpyrane-[2″,3″:8,7]-benzopyran-2-one for soulamarin. Colorimetric MTT assays showed that soulamarin induces trypanocidal effects, and is also active against trypomastigotes. Hemolytic activity tests showed that soulamarin is unable to induce any observable damage to erythrocytes (cmax. = 1,300 µM). The lethal action of soulamarin against T. cruzi was investigated by using amino(4-(6-(amino(iminio)methyl)-1H-indol-2-yl)phenyl)methaniminium chloride (SYTOX Green and 1H,5H,11H,15H-Xantheno[2,3,4-ij:5,6,7-i′j′]diquinolizin-18-ium, 9-[4-(chloromethyl)phenyl]-2,3,6,7,12,13,16,17-octahydro-chloride (MitoTracker Red) as fluorimetric probes. With the former, soulamarin showed dose-dependent permeability of the plasma membrane, relative to fully permeable Triton X-100-treated parasites. Spectrofluorimetric and fluorescence microscopy with the latter revealed that soulamarin also induced a strong depolarization (ca. 97%) of the mitochondrial membrane potential. These data demonstrate that the lethal action of soulamarin towards T. cruzi involves damages to the plasma membrane of the parasite and mitochondrial dysfunction without the additional generation of reactive oxygen species, which may have also contributed to the death of the parasites. Considering the unique mitochondrion of T. cruzi, secondary metabolites of plants affecting the bioenergetic system as soulamarin may contribute as scaffolds for the design of novel and selective drug candidates for neglected diseases, mainly Chagas disease. Chagas disease is a parasitic protozoan that affects the poorest population in the world, causing a high mortality and morbidity. As a result of highly toxic and long-term treatments, the discovery of novel, safe and more efficacious drugs is essential. Natural products isolated from plants are commonly used as drug prototypes or precursors to treat parasitic diseases. As part of our investigation of bioactive compounds from Brazilian flora, the present study was undertaken in order to determine the antitrypanosomal effects of the soulamarin, a coumarin isolated from the stem bark of Callophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae), against Trypanossoma cruzi. This study moreover investigated the lethal action of soulamarin towards the parasite. Considering the obtained results, secondary metabolites of plants affecting the bioenergetic system as soulamarin may contribute as scaffolds for the design of novel and selective drug candidates for neglected diseases, mainly Chagas disease.
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de Almeida Nogueira NP, Morgado-Díaz JA, Menna-Barreto RFS, Paes MC, da Silva-López RE. Effects of a marine serine protease inhibitor on viability and morphology of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease. Acta Trop 2013; 128:27-35. [PMID: 23770204 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2012] [Revised: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
It has been reported that serine peptidase activities of Trypanosoma cruzi play crucial roles in parasite dissemination and host cell invasion and therefore their inhibition could affect the progress of Chagas disease. The present study investigates the interference of the Stichodactyla helianthus Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor (ShPI-I), a 55-amino acid peptide, in T. cruzi serine peptidase activities, parasite viability, and parasite morphology. The effect of this peptide was also studied in Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes and it was proved to be a powerful inhibitor of serine proteases activities and the parasite viability. The ultrastructural alterations caused by ShPI-I included vesiculation of the flagellar pocket membrane and the appearance of a cytoplasmic vesicle that resembles an autophagic vacuole. ShPI-I, which showed itself to be an important T. cruzi serine peptidase inhibitor, reduced the parasite viability, in a dose and time dependent manner. The maximum effect of peptide on T. cruzi viability was observed when ShPI-I at 1×10(-5)M was incubated for 24 and 48h which killed completely both metacyclic trypomastigote and epimastigote forms. At 1×10(-6)M ShPI-I, in the same periods of time, reduced parasite viability about 91-95% respectively. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated the formation of concentric membranar structures especially in the cytosol, involving organelles and small vesicles. Profiles of endoplasmic reticulum were also detected, surrounding cytosolic vesicles that resembled autophagic vacuoles. These results suggest that serine peptidases are important in T. cruzi physiology since the inhibition of their activity killed parasites in vitro as well as inducing important morphological alterations. Protease inhibitors thus appear to have a potential role as anti-trypanosomatidal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Pereira de Almeida Nogueira
- Laboratório de Interação de Tripanosomatídeos e Vetores, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Salomão K, De Santana NA, Molina MT, De Castro SL, Menna-Barreto RFS. Trypanosoma cruzi mitochondrial swelling and membrane potential collapse as primary evidence of the mode of action of naphthoquinone analogues. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:196. [PMID: 24004461 PMCID: PMC3848626 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Accepted: 08/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Naphthoquinones (NQs) are privileged structures in medicinal chemistry due to the biological effects associated with the induction of oxidative stress. The present study evaluated the activities of sixteen NQs derivatives on Trypanosoma cruzi. RESULTS Fourteen NQs displayed higher activity against bloodstream trypomastigotes of T. cruzi than benznidazole. Further assays with NQ1, NQ8, NQ9 and NQ12 showed inhibition of the proliferation of axenic epimastigotes and intracelulluar amastigotes interiorized in macrophages and in heart muscle cells. NQ8 was the most active NQ against both proliferative forms of T. cruzi. In epimastigotes the four NQs induced mitochondrial swelling, vacuolization, and flagellar blebbing. The treatment with NQs also induced the appearance of large endoplasmic reticulum profiles surrounding different cellular structures and of myelin-like membranous contours, morphological characteristics of an autophagic process. At IC50 concentration, NQ8 totally disrupted the ΔΨm of about 20% of the parasites, suggesting the induction of a sub-population with metabolically inactive mitochondria. On the other hand, NQ1, NQ9 or NQ12 led only to a discrete decrease of TMRE + labeling at IC50 values. NQ8 led also to an increase in the percentage of parasites labeled with DHE, indicative of ROS production, possibly the cause of the observed mitochondrial swelling. The other three NQs behaved similarly to untreated controls. CONCLUSIONS NQ1, NQ8, NQ9 and NQ12 induce an autophagic phenotype in T. cruzi epimastigoted, as already observed with others NQs. The absence of oxidative stress in NQ1-, NQ9- and NQ12-treated parasites could be due to the existence of more than one mechanism of action involved in their trypanocidal activity, leaving ROS generation suppressed by the detoxification system of the parasite. The strong redox effect of NQ8 could be associated to the presence of the acetyl group in its structure facilitating quinone reduction, as previously demonstrated by electrochemical analysis. Further experiments using biochemical and molecular approaches are needed to better characterize ROS participation in the mechanism of action of these NQs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Salomão
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av, Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro RJ 21040-900, Brazil.
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