Copper modulation as a therapy for Alzheimer's disease?

Copper-tolfenamic acid: evaluation of stability and anti-cancer activity

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, Tolfenamic acid (TA) acts as an anti-cancer agent in several adult and pediatric cancer models. Copper (Cu) is an important element with multiple biological functions and has gained interest in medical applications. Recently, [Cu(TA)2(bpy)] (Cu-TA) has been synthesized in order to enhance therapeutic activity. In this study, we synthesized Cu-TA using an established method, characterized it by UV visible spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and tested its anti-cancer activity using twelve cell lines representing various cancers, such as Ewing sarcoma, glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, pancreatic and prostate. The anti-proliferative activity of Cu-TA was determined at 48 h post-treatment and compared with the parental compound, TA. The IC50 values were calculated using GraphPad Prism software. The biological stability of Cu-TA was evaluated using twelve-month-old powder and six-month-old stock solution. Cardiomyocytes (H9C2) were used to test the cytotoxicity in non-malignant cells. Cu-TA showed higher anti-proliferative activity, and the IC50 values were 30 to 80% lower when compared with TA. H9C2 cells were non-responsive to Cu-TA, suggesting that it is selective towards malignant cells. Comparison of the twelve-month-old powder and six-month-old stock solution using the Panc1 cell line showed similar IC50 values (<5% variation), confirming the stability of Cu-TA either in powder or solution form. These findings demonstrate the potential of Cu-TA as an effective anti-cancer agent. Further studies to delineate the detailed mechanism of action of Cu-TA for specific cancer model are underway.

Serum multivalent cationic pattern: speculation on the efficient approach for detection of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasingly becoming one of the greatest medical challenges. Due to the social and financial burden of AD, detection of AD in its early stages is a topic of major research interest. Thus, emergence of well-validated screening methods for fast detection of AD in the early stages would be of great importance. It is now recognized that the homeostasis and serum bioavailability of multivalent cations (e.g. zinc, copper, and iron) are disturbed in AD. Using a standard chemometric approach (hierarchical clustering analysis), we find that the serum concentrations of an array of such multivalent cations can be a fingerprint for identification of AD patients. This may pave the way for a reliable, efficient, and inexpensive method for early detection and treatment of AD.

The relationship of copper to DNA damage and damage prevention in humans

Copper ions are well suited to facilitate formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can damage biomolecules, including DNA and chromatin. That this can occur in vitro with isolated DNA or chromatin,or by exposure of cultured mammalian cells to copper complexed with various agents, has been well demonstrated. Whether that is likely to occur in vivo is not as clear. This review addresses the question of whether and how copper ions or complexes – in forms that could be present in vivo, damage DNA and chromosome structure and/or promote epigenetic changes that can lead to pathology and diseases, including cancer and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementias, and spongiform encephalopathies. This question is considered in light of our knowledge that copper-dependent enzymes are important contributors to antioxidant defense, and that the mammalian organism has robust mechanisms for maintaining constant levels of copper not only in body fluids but in its major organs. Overall,and except in unusual genetic states that lead to copper overload in specific cells (particularly those in liver), it appears that excessive intake of copper is not a significant factor in the development of disease states.

An N-heterocyclic amine chelate capable of antioxidant capacity and amyloid disaggregation

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the development of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, deposition of extracellular amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, along with a disruption of transition metal ion homeostasis in conjunction with oxidative stress. Spectroscopic, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy imaging studies show that 1 (pyclen) is capable of both preventing and disrupting Cu(2+) induced AB(1-40) aggregation. The pyridine backbone of 1 engenders antioxidant capacity, as shown by cellular DCFH-DA (dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate) assay in comparison to other N-heterocyclic amines lacking this aromatic feature. Finally, 1 prevents cell death induced by oxidative stress as shown by the Calcein AM assay. The results are supported using density functional theory studies which show that the pyridine backbone is responsible for the antioxidant capacity observed.