Anti-(human immunodeficiency virus) activity of polyoxotungstates and their inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase

The Role of Pannexin-1 Channels in HIV and NeuroHIV Pathogenesis

The human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) enters the brain shortly after infection, leading to long-term neurological complications in half of the HIV-infected population, even in the current anti-retroviral therapy (ART) era. Despite decades of research, no biomarkers can objectively measure and, more importantly, predict the onset of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Several biomarkers have been proposed; however, most of them only reflect late events of neuronal damage. Our laboratory recently identified that ATP and PGE2, inflammatory molecules released through Pannexin-1 channels, are elevated in the serum of HIV-infected individuals compared to uninfected individuals and other inflammatory diseases. More importantly, high circulating ATP levels, but not PGE2, can predict a decline in cognition, suggesting that HIV-infected individuals have impaired ATP metabolism and associated signaling. We identified that Pannexin-1 channel opening contributes to the high serological ATP levels, and ATP in the circulation could be used as a biomarker of HIV-associated cognitive impairment. In addition, we believe that ATP is a major contributor to chronic inflammation in the HIV-infected population, even in the anti-retroviral era. Here, we discuss the mechanisms associated with Pannexin-1 channel opening within the circulation, as well as within the resident viral reservoirs, ATP dysregulation, and cognitive disease observed in the HIV-infected population.

Influenza Virus-Inhibitory Effects of a Series of Germanium- and Silicon-Centred Polyoxometalates

A series of germanium- or silicon-centred heteropolytungstates (polyoxometalates) with the Barrel, Keggin or double Keggin structure were evaluated in vitro for their effects against influenza A (IV-A) and B (IV-B) viruses. Their 50% effective concentrations (EC50) against recent isolates of IV-A (H1N1) and IV-B ranged from 0.1 to 7.8 μM against IV-A (H3N2), the EC50 concentrations were often 10-fold higher. Recent clinical isolates of IV-A were generally more susceptible to these antiviral effects than older, laboratory-adapted strains. These experiments used inhibition of viral CPE in MDCK cells as determined microscopically and by Neutral Red (NR) uptake. Virus yield reduction studies indicated the 90% effective concentrations (EC90) ranged from 0.2 to 32 μM against these viruses. Cytotoxic or cell inhibitory concentrations (CC50), determined by NR uptake and total cell count, ranged from 38 to 189 μM, indicating high selective indices for some of these compounds. Altering time of addition of an active compound relative to infecting cells with IV-A (HINl) showed greatest efficacy when given early in viral replication. Five of the most active polyoxometalates were evaluated against IV-B infections in mice using intraperitoneal treatment beginning 4 h prior to virus exposure. Two of the compounds, one with the Barrel structure and the other with a double Keggin structure, were particularly inhibitory, preventing deaths, reducing arterial oxygen decline and lowering lung consolidation. Lung virus titres were reduced by a maximum of 0.7 log10. Therapy initiated 8 h post-virus exposure was not effective against this in vivo infection.

Investigation of coordination properties of isolated adenine to copper metal: a systematic spectroscopic and DFT study

The coordination properties of copper with adenine have been studied by the analyzing the changes in Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) and Raman spectra of adenine and adenine-copper complex. The geometry of adenine and adenine copper complex were optimized and theoretical Infra-red and Raman spectra of the optimized structures were calculated using Density Functional Theory (DFT). During synthesis of adenine-copper complex specific procedure was adopted to attach the Cu atom with particular N-atom of adenine (N9). The results of Raman and DFT confirmed the attachment. The Raman bands at 625, 330 and 230 cm(-1) of adenine-copper complex contain significant contribution of the vibrational motions of Cu metal coordinated to N9 and Cl atoms. The DFT calculations give additional vibrational modes containing the Cu, N9 and N9* atoms, which are not observed in FTIR and Raman spectra. The Raman, IR and DFT study confirm that Cu metal has good binding affinity to the isolated adenine base.

Does speciation matter for tungsten ecotoxicology?

Tungsten is a widely used transition metal that has not been thoroughly investigated with regards to its ecotoxicological effects. Tungsten anions polymerize in environmental systems as well as under physiological conditions in living organisms. These polymerization/condensation reactions result in the development of several types of stable polyoxoanions. Certain chemical properties (in particular redox and acidic properties) differentiate these polyanions from monotungstates. However, our current state of knowledge on tungsten toxicology, biological and environmental effects is based entirely on experiments where monotungstates were used and assumed by the authors to be the form of tungsten that was present and that produced the observed effect. Recent discoveries indicate that tungsten speciation may be important to ecotoxicology. New results obtained by different research groups demonstrate that polytungstates develop and persist in environmental systems, and that polyoxotungstates are much more toxic than monotungstates. This paper reviews the available toxicological information from the standpoint of tungsten speciation and identifies knowledge gaps and pertinent future research directions.

Copper-adenine complex, a compound, with multi-biochemical targets and potential anti-cancer effect

A series of adenine-copper complexes (1-6) with various ligands (Cl(-), SCN(-), BF(4)(-) and acac [acetylacetonate ion]) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Among the six complexes only complex (1), Cu(2)(adenine)(4)Cl(4).2EtOH (abbreviated as Cu-Ad), demonstrated some toxic effect on different cell lines. In vitro investigations of the biological effect of Cu-Ad complex have shown that it: (1) binds genomic DNA; (2) decreases significantly, the viability of cells in culture in a concentration (15-125 microM)-dependant manner; an estimated IC(50) of: 45 microM with HepG2; 73 microM with C2C12; 103 microM with NIH3T3; and 108 microM with MCF7. Cu-Ad had no effect on A549 cells; (3) inhibits Taq polymerase-catalyzed reaction; (4) inhibits the binding of the transcription factor GATA-5 to labeled DNA probes; (5) inhibits mitochondrial NADH-UQ-reductase with an estimated IC(50) of 2.8 nmol, but had no effect on succinate dehydrogenase activity; (6) increases reactive oxygen species (60%) at 45 microM Cu-Ad; and (7) decreases ATP (80%) at 50 microM Cu-Ad. The new compound Cu(2)(adenine)(4)Cl(4).2EtOH (Cu-Ad), belongs to a class of copper-adenylate complexes that target many biochemical sites and with potential anti-cancer activity.

Spectroscopic studies on the interaction between silicotungstic acid and bovine serum albumin

The interaction between silicotungstic acid and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated using fluorescence and UV/vis. The experimental results showed that the fluorescence quenching of BSA by silicotungstic acid is a result of the formation of SiW-BSA complex; static quenching and non-radiative energy transferring were confirmed to result in the fluorescence quenching. The binding site number n, apparent binding constant K(A) and corresponding thermodynamic parameters were measured at different temperatures. The process of binding SiW molecule on BSA was a spontaneous molecular interaction procedure in which entropy increased and Gibbs free energy decreased. Hydrophobic interaction force plays a major role in stabilizing the complex. The effect of silicotungstic acid on the conformation of BSA was analyzed using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy.

New oxo-bridged peroxotungsten complexes containing biogenic co-ligand as potent inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase activity

Novel dinuclear peroxo complexes of tungsten with coordinated cystine of the type A(2)[W(2)O(3)(O(2))(4)(cystine)].4H(2)O, A = Na (1) or K (2) have been synthesized from the reaction of A(2)WO(4,)cysteine and 30% H(2)O(2)at pH 2.5. The synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, spectral and physico-chemical methods. The two W(VI) centres with side-on bound peroxo groups of the dinuclear complex species are bridged by an oxo group and a cystine ligand, formed from the oxidation of cysteine. Cystine occurring as zwitterion binds the metal centers of the complex ion through O(carboxylate) atoms leading to hepta co-ordination around each W(VI). The compounds exhibit high stability toward decomposition in solution of acidic as well as physiological pH and serve as weak substrates to catalase, undergoing degradation in presence of the enzyme at a rate much slower relative to H(2)O(2). The compounds efficiently oxidized GSH to GSSG, a reaction in which only two of the peroxide groups of the complex species were found to participate. The compounds induce strong inhibitory effect on alkaline phosphatase activity with a potency higher than that of the free cystine, tungstate, or peroxotungstate.

Potent anti-HIV (type 1 and type 2) activity of polyoxometalates: structure-activity relationship and mechanism of action

A series of polyoxometalates have been synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on HIV-1(III(B)) and HIV-1(ROD) replication in MT-4 cells. All compounds showed activity against HIV-1 and HIV-2, but the antiviral potency of the heteropolytungstates varied considerably depending on their chemical structure. The antiviral activity of single, double, and triple Keggin-type of compounds against HIV-1(III(B)) replication was comparable (IC(50): 0.4-0.5 microgram/mL), whereas HIV-2(ROD) appeared to become less sensitive with the increasing number of Keggin structures per compound. The same trend was observed for single and double Dawson structures. Some of these compounds were examined for their inhibitory effect on the replication of HIV-1(RF) and SIV(MAC(251)) in MT-4 cells. Their anti-HIV-1(RF) and anti-SIV(MAC(251)) potencies were comparable to those for the HIV-1(III(B)) or HIV-2(ROD) strain, respectively. The polyoxometalates represent a class of polyanionic compounds, which block the binding of the envelope glycoprotein gp120 of HIV to CD4(+) cells. The compounds interfered with the binding of anti-CD4 mAb to the OKT4A/Leu3a epitope of the CD4 receptor, compound 24 being the most active in this regard, and inhibited the binding of anti-gp120 mAb to infected MT-4 cells. None of the polyoxometalates inhibited the binding of a specific CXCR4 mAb to SUP-T1 cells, suggesting that they do not interact with CXCR4, the main co-receptor for T-tropic HIV strains, and thus act as virus binding, and not as fusion, inhibitors.

Synergistic anti-influenza virus A (H1N1) activities of PM-523 (polyoxometalate) and ribavirin in vitro and in vivo

A Kegin-type polyoxometalate, PM-523, in combination with ribavirin, was tested for its therapeutic effectiveness against influenza virus (FluV) A (H1N1) infection in tissue culture and in mice. PM-523 [(PriNH3)6H [PTi2W10O38(O2)2] x H2O, where Pri is isopropanol] and ribavirin individually inhibited FluV A-induced cytopathic effects in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells at median effective concentrations (EC50s) of 30 and 34 microM, respectively, and at 70% effective concentrations (EC70s) of 48 and 72 microM, respectively. On the other hand, a combination of PM-523 and ribavirin at a ratio of 1:16 exhibited lower EC50s and EC70s than each compound used singly, and combination indices were less than 1. A wide range of combinations of PM-523 and ribavirin at ratios of from 1:128 to 1:1 exhibited additive or synergistic anti-FluV effects in MDCK cells. When these compounds were tested for their anti-FluV A activities in vivo by aerosol exposure of mice which had been infected with a lethal dose of FluV A by an intranasal route, a 1:16 combination of PM-523 and ribavirin was found to have a significantly better therapeutic effect than a single dose of either compound used singly with respect to both the survival rate of the mice and the virus titer in the lungs of the infected mice. PM-523 was effective for the treatment of experimental FluV infection, and in combination with ribavirin, PM-523 exhibited enhanced anti-FluV effects in vitro and in vivo compared with the effect of PM-523 alone.