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Mallamaci R, Barbarossa A, Carocci A, Meleleo D. Evaluation of the Potential Protective Effect of Ellagic Acid against Heavy Metal (Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead) Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells. Foods 2024; 13:419. [PMID: 38338554 PMCID: PMC10855963 DOI: 10.3390/foods13030419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic constituent of plant origin, has been thoroughly investigated for its hypothesised pharmacological properties among which antioxidant and neuroprotective activities are included. The present study was designed to explore whether EA could attenuate heavy metal (cadmium, mercury, and lead)-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, which were utilized as a model system for brain cells. MTT and LDH assays were performed to examine the viability of the SH-SY5Y cells after exposure to Cd, Hg, and Pb (either individually or in combination with EA) as well as the effects of necrotic cell death, respectively. Furthermore, 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), a cell-based assay, was performed to determine whether EA could protect SH-SY5Y from heavy metal-induced oxidative stress. Results allowed us to assess the capability of EA to enhance the number of viable SH-SY5Y cells after exposure to heavy metal toxicity. Pre-treatment with EA showed a considerable, concentration-dependent, cytoprotective effect, particularly against Cd2+-induced toxicity. This effect was confirmed through the reduction of LDH release after the simultaneous cell treatment with Cd2+ and EA compared with Cd2+-treated cells. Furthermore, a significant, concentration-dependent decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, induced by H2O2 or heavy metals, was observed in the same model. Overall, the obtained results provide further insight into the protective role of EA against heavy metal-induced neurotoxicity and oxidative stress, thus indicating the potential beneficial effects of the consumption of EA-rich foods. However, to confirm its effects, well-designed human randomized controlled trials are needed to fill the existing gap between experimental and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Mallamaci
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Alexia Barbarossa
- Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Alessia Carocci
- Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Daniela Meleleo
- Department of Science of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
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Abstract
Oxidative stress has been reported to be involved in the onset and development of several diseases, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders, some types of cancer, and diabetes. Therefore, finding strategies to detoxify free radicals is an active area of research. One of these strategies is the use of natural or synthetic antioxidants. In this context, melatonin (MLT) has been proven to possess most of the required characteristics of an efficient antioxidant. In addition, its protection against oxidative stress continues after being metabolized, since its metabolites also exhibit antioxidant capacity. Based on the appealing properties of MLT and its metabolites, various synthetic analogues have been developed to obtain compounds with higher activity and lower side effects. This review addresses recent studies with MLT and related compounds as potential antioxidants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Barbarossa
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70126. Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Carrieri
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70126. Bari, Italy
| | - Alessia Carocci
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70126. Bari, Italy
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Barbarossa A, Ceramella J, Carocci A, Iacopetta D, Rosato A, Limongelli F, Carrieri A, Bonofiglio D, Sinicropi MS. Benzothiazole-Phthalimide Hybrids as Anti-Breast Cancer and Antimicrobial Agents. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1651. [PMID: 38136685 PMCID: PMC10740580 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The benzothiazole nucleus is a major heterocyclic scaffold whose therapeutic potential has been thoroughly explored due to its structural simplicity and ease of synthesis. In fact, several benzothiazole derivatives have been synthesized over time, demonstrating numerous pharmacological properties such as anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Herein, we propose a new series of benzothiazole-phthalimide hybrids obtained by linking the phthalimide moiety to differently substituted benzothiazole nuclei through the N atom. These compounds have been screened for their anticancer properties against two human breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, we delved into the mechanism of action of the most active hybrid, compound 3h, by assessing its capability to damage the nuclear DNA, trigger the apoptotic process in the high metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells, and prevent cellular migration. Moreover, in view of the documented antimicrobial activities of the two scaffolds involved, we explored the antibacterial and antifungal effects of the studied compounds by means of the broth microdilution method. Among the studied compounds, 3h showed the highest antimicrobial activity, both against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains belonging to the ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) and against fungal strains of the Candida species with MICs values ranging from 16 to 32 µg/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Barbarossa
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.B.); (A.R.); (F.L.); (A.C.)
| | - Jessica Ceramella
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (J.C.); (D.B.); (M.S.S.)
| | - Alessia Carocci
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.B.); (A.R.); (F.L.); (A.C.)
| | - Domenico Iacopetta
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (J.C.); (D.B.); (M.S.S.)
| | - Antonio Rosato
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.B.); (A.R.); (F.L.); (A.C.)
| | - Francesco Limongelli
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.B.); (A.R.); (F.L.); (A.C.)
| | - Antonio Carrieri
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.B.); (A.R.); (F.L.); (A.C.)
| | - Daniela Bonofiglio
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (J.C.); (D.B.); (M.S.S.)
| | - Maria Stefania Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (J.C.); (D.B.); (M.S.S.)
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Carocci A, Barbarossa A, Leuci R, Carrieri A, Brunetti L, Laghezza A, Catto M, Limongelli F, Chaves S, Tortorella P, Altomare CD, Santos MA, Loiodice F, Piemontese L. Novel Phenothiazine/Donepezil-like Hybrids Endowed with Antioxidant Activity for a Multi-Target Approach to the Therapy of Alzheimer’s Disease. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11091631. [PMID: 36139705 PMCID: PMC9495854 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11091631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex multi-factorial neurodegenerative disorder for which only few drugs (including donepezil, DPZ) are available as symptomatic treatments; thus, researchers are focusing on the development of innovative multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs), which could also alter the course of the disease. Among other pathological factors, oxidative stress has emerged as an important factor in AD that could affect several pathways involved in the onset and progression of the pathology. Herein, we propose a new series of hybrid molecules obtained by linking a phenothiazine moiety, known for its antioxidant properties, with N-benzylpiperidine or N-benzylpiperazine fragments, mimicking the core substructure of DPZ. The investigation of the resulting hybrids showed, in addition to their antioxidant properties, their activity against some AD-related targets, such as the inhibition of cholinesterases (both AChE and BChE) and in vitro Aβ1-40 aggregation, as well as the inhibition of the innovative target fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Furthermore, the drug-likeness properties of these compounds were assessed using cheminformatic tools. Compounds 11d and 12d showed the most interesting multi-target profiles, with all the assayed activities in the low micromolar range. In silico docking calculations supported the obtained results. Compound 13, on the other hand, while inactive in the DPPH assay, showed the best results in the in vitro antioxidant cell assays conducted on both HepG2 and SHSY-5Y cell lines. These results, paired with the low or absent cytotoxicity of these compounds at tested concentrations, allow us to aim our future research at the study of novel and effective drugs and pro-drugs with similar structural characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Carocci
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (L.P.)
| | - Alexia Barbarossa
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Rosalba Leuci
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Carrieri
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Leonardo Brunetti
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Laghezza
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Catto
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Limongelli
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Sílvia Chaves
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Paolo Tortorella
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Cosimo Damiano Altomare
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Amélia Santos
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Fulvio Loiodice
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Luca Piemontese
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (L.P.)
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Hans C, Saini R, Sachdeva MUS, Sharma P. 2',7'-Dichlorofluorescein (DCF) or 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH2-DA) to measure reactive oxygen species in erythrocytes. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 138:111512. [PMID: 33743333 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chander Hans
- Department of Hematology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Rahul Saini
- Department of Hematology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Man Updesh Singh Sachdeva
- Department of Hematology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Prashant Sharma
- Department of Hematology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
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Kerbadou RM, Hadjadj Aoul R, Benmaati A, Taleb A, Hacini S, Habib Zahmani H. Identification of new biologically active synthetic molecules: comparative experimental and theoretical studies on the structure-antioxidant activity relationship of cyclic 1,3-ketoamides. J Mol Model 2021; 27:109. [PMID: 33742261 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-021-04705-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Antioxidant agent is a chemical that prevents the oxidation of other chemical substances. Its use is the most effective means of protecting the organism by neutralizing the harmful effects of free radicals caused by oxidative stress. In the present work, a series of β-ketoamides containing a variety of monosubstituted amide groups were synthesized and tested as antioxidant agents. In order to establish a possible structure-antioxidant activity relationship, we are presenting a systematic theoretical study of these molecules with the aim of clarifying the active sites. In particular, we discuss the selectivity resulting from the choice of a free radical/antioxidant system. The theoretical study of these molecules was carried out using density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G (d,p) level of theory. In order to shed light on the antioxidant properties of β-ketoamides, O-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs), ionization potentials (IPs), electron affinities (EAs), proton affinities (PAs), and electron transfer enthalpies (ETEs) are performed in the gas phase and in ethanol. The results obtained show that the HAT mechanism is thermodynamically more favored in the gas phase, while the SPLET is preferred in the polar solvent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riad Mustapha Kerbadou
- Laboratoire de Chimie Fine LCF, Université Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, BP-1524-Menouar, 31000, Oran, Algeria
| | - Ratiba Hadjadj Aoul
- Laboratoire de Chimie Fine LCF, Université Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, BP-1524-Menouar, 31000, Oran, Algeria
| | - Aouicha Benmaati
- Laboratoire de Chimie Fine LCF, Université Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, BP-1524-Menouar, 31000, Oran, Algeria.,Ecole Nationale Polytechnique d'Oran Maurice Audin, ENPO-MA, BP-1523-Menouar, 31000, Oran, Algeria
| | - Assya Taleb
- Laboratoire de Chimie Fine LCF, Université Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, BP-1524-Menouar, 31000, Oran, Algeria
| | - Salih Hacini
- Laboratoire de Chimie Fine LCF, Université Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, BP-1524-Menouar, 31000, Oran, Algeria
| | - Hadjira Habib Zahmani
- Laboratoire de Chimie Fine LCF, Université Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, BP-1524-Menouar, 31000, Oran, Algeria.
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Morales-ríos MS, González-juárez DE, Martínez-gudiño G, Pérez-hernández N, Del Razo LM, Mendoza-figueroa HL, García-vázquez JB. Melatonin pharmacophoric motifs in the anancomeric spiranic oxindole-cycloalkane scaffold: Theoretical and 1H NMR conformational analysis. J Mol Struct 2020; 1202:127267. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2019.127267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Sinicropi MS, Iacopetta D, Rosano C, Randino R, Caruso A, Saturnino C, Muià N, Ceramella J, Puoci F, Rodriquez M, Longo P, Plutino MR. N-thioalkylcarbazoles derivatives as new anti-proliferative agents: synthesis, characterisation and molecular mechanism evaluation. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2018; 33:434-444. [PMID: 29383954 PMCID: PMC6010102 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2017.1419216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic or natural carbazole derivatives constitute an interesting class of heterocycles, which showed several pharmaceutical properties and occupied a promising place as antitumour tools in preclinical studies. They target several cellular key-points, e.g. DNA and Topoisomerases I and II. The most studied representative, i.e. Ellipticine, was introduced in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. However, because of the onset of dramatic side effects, its use was almost dismissed. Many efforts were made in order to design and synthesise new carbazole derivatives with good activity and reduced side effects. The major goal of the present study was to synthesise a series of new N-thioalkylcarbazole derivatives with anti-proliferative effects. Two compounds, 5a and 5c, possess an interesting anti-proliferative activity against breast and uterine cancer cell lines without affecting non-tumoural cell lines viability. The most active compound (5c) induces cancer cells death triggering the intrinsic apoptotic pathway by inhibition of Topoisomerase II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Stefania Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Domenico Iacopetta
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Camillo Rosano
- Biopolymers and Proteomics IRCCS Policlinico San Martino-IST, Genova, Italy
| | - Rosario Randino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Anna Caruso
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | | | - Noemi Muià
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Jessica Ceramella
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Francesco Puoci
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | | | - Pasquale Longo
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Plutino
- Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials, ISMN-CNR, Palermo, c/o Department of ChiBioFarAm, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Piemontese L, Vitucci G, Catto M, Laghezza A, Perna FM, Rullo M, Loiodice F, Capriati V, Solfrizzo M. Natural Scaffolds with Multi-Target Activity for the Potential Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Molecules 2018; 23:E2182. [PMID: 30158491 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23092182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A few symptomatic drugs are currently available for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) therapy, but these molecules are only able to temporary improve the cognitive capacity of the patients if administered in the first stages of the pathology. Recently, important advances have been achieved about the knowledge of this complex condition, which is now considered a multi-factorial disease. Researchers are, thus, more oriented toward the preparation of molecules being able to contemporaneously act on different pathological features. To date, the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and of β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation as well as the antioxidant activity and the removal and/or redistribution of metal ions at the level of the nervous system are the most common investigated targets for the treatment of AD. Since many natural compounds show multiple biological properties, a series of secondary metabolites of plants or fungi with suitable structural characteristics have been selected and assayed in order to evaluate their potential role in the preparation of multi-target agents. Out of six compounds evaluated, 1 showed the best activity as an antioxidant (EC50 = 2.6 ± 0.2 μmol/µmol of DPPH) while compound 2 proved to be effective in the inhibition of AChE (IC50 = 6.86 ± 0.67 μM) and Aβ1–40 aggregation (IC50 = 74 ± 1 μM). Furthermore, compound 6 inhibited BChE (IC50 = 1.75 ± 0.59 μM) with a good selectivity toward AChE (IC50 = 86.0 ± 15.0 μM). Moreover, preliminary tests on metal chelation suggested a possible interaction between compounds 1, 3 and 4 and copper (II). Molecules with the best multi-target profiles will be used as starting hit compounds to appropriately address future studies of Structure-Activity Relationships (SARs).
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Iacopetta D, Mariconda A, Saturnino C, Caruso A, Palma G, Ceramella J, Muià N, Perri M, Sinicropi MS, Caroleo MC, Longo P. Novel Gold and Silver Carbene Complexes Exert Antitumor Effects Triggering the Reactive Oxygen Species Dependent Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway. ChemMedChem 2017; 12:2054-2065. [PMID: 29120085 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cisplatin and other platinum-based drugs are well-known valid anticancer drugs. However, during chemotherapy, the presence of numerous side effects and the onset of frequent phenomena of resistance has pushed many research groups to devise new metal-based compounds holding improved anticancer properties and fewer undesired effects. Amongst the variety of synthesized compounds, significant antiproliferative effects have been obtained by employing organometallic compounds, particularly those based on silver and gold. With this in mind, we synthesized four compounds, two silver complexes and two gold complexes, with good inhibitory effects on the in vitro proliferation of breast and ovarian cancer-cell models. The antitumor activity of the most active compound, that is, AuL4, was found to be ninefold higher than that of cisplatin, and this compound induced dramatic morphological changes in HeLa cells. AuL4 induced PARP-1 cleavage, caspases 3/7 and 9 activation, mitochondria disruption, cytochrome c release in cancer-cell cytoplasm, and the intracellular production of reactive oxygen species. Thus, AuL4 treatment caused cancer-cell death by the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, whereas no cytotoxic effects were recorded upon treating non-tumor cell lines. The reported outcomes may be an important contribution to the expanding knowledge of medicinal bio-organometallic chemistry and enlarge the available anticancer toolbox, offering improved features, such as higher activity and/or selectivity, and opening the way to new discoveries and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Iacopetta
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Annaluisa Mariconda
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, Fisciano, 84084, Italy
| | - Carmela Saturnino
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, Potenza, 85100, Italy
| | - Anna Caruso
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Palma
- SSD Sperimentazione Animale, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, "Fondazione G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, Napoli, 80131, Italy
| | - Jessica Ceramella
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Noemi Muià
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Mariarita Perri
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Maria Stefania Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Caroleo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Pasquale Longo
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, Fisciano, 84084, Italy
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Iacopetta D, Grande F, Caruso A, Mordocco RA, Plutino MR, Scrivano L, Ceramella J, Muià N, Saturnino C, Puoci F, Rosano C, Sinicropi MS. New insights for the use of quercetin analogs in cancer treatment. Future Med Chem 2017; 9:2011-28. [PMID: 29076772 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2017-0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Quercetin (Q1) is a flavonoid widely present in plants and endowed with several pharmacological properties mostly due to its antioxidant potential. Q1 shows anticancer activity and could be useful in cancer prevention. On the other hand, Q1 is poorly soluble in water and unstable in physiological systems, and its bioavailability is very low. METHODS A small set of Q1 derivatives (Q2-Q9) has been synthesized following opportunely modified chemical procedures previously reported. Anticancer activity has been evaluated by MTT assay. Human Topoisomerases inhibition has been performed by direct enzymatic assays. Apoptosis has been evaluated by TUNEL assay. ROS production and scavenging activity have been determined by immunofluorescence. RESULTS The anticancer profile of a small library of Q1 analogues, in which the OH groups were all or partially replaced with hydrophobic functional groups, has been evaluated. Two of the studied compounds demonstrated an interesting cytotoxic profile in two breast cancer models showing the capability to inhibit human Topoisomerases. CONCLUSION The studied compounds represent suitable leads for the development of innovative anticancer drugs. [Formula: see text].
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Iacopetta D, Carocci A, Sinicropi MS, Catalano A, Lentini G, Ceramella J, Curcio R, Caroleo MC. Old Drug Scaffold, New Activity: Thalidomide-Correlated Compounds Exert Different Effects on Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Progression. ChemMedChem 2017; 12:381-389. [PMID: 28099781 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201600629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Thalidomide was first used for relief of morning sickness in pregnant women and then withdrawn from the market because of its dramatic effects on normal fetal development. Over the last decades, it has been used successfully for the treatment of several pathologies, including cancer. Many analogues with improved activity have been synthesized and tested. Herein we report some effects on the growth and progression of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by a small series of thalidomide-correlated compounds, which are very effective at inducing cancer cell death by triggering TNFα-mediated apoptosis. The most active compounds are able to drastically reduce the migration of breast cancer cells by regulation of the two major proteins involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT): vimentin and E-cadherin. Moreover, these compounds diminish the intracellular biosynthesis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is primarily involved in the promotion of angiogenesis, sustaining tumor progression. The multiple features of these compounds that act on various key points of the tumorigenesis process make them good candidates for preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Iacopetta
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Alessia Carocci
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Stefania Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Alessia Catalano
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Lentini
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Jessica Ceramella
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Rosita Curcio
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Caroleo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
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13
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Iacopetta D, Rosano C, Puoci F, Parisi OI, Saturnino C, Caruso A, Longo P, Ceramella J, Malzert-Fréon A, Dallemagne P, Rault S, Sinicropi MS. Multifaceted properties of 1,4-dimethylcarbazoles: Focus on trimethoxybenzamide and trimethoxyphenylurea derivatives as novel human topoisomerase II inhibitors. Eur J Pharm Sci 2016; 96:263-272. [PMID: 27702608 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2016.09.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Natural or synthetic carbazole derivatives have recently attracted the attention of the scientific world because of their multiple biological activity, leading to an increase of designed, synthesized and studied analogues. In this paper, four 1,4-dimethylcarbazole derivatives, analogues of Ellipticine, have been investigated for their ability to block cancer cells growth, with low effects on the proliferation of normal cells. DNA topoisomerases inhibition assays, docking simulations, stability studies and effects on a membrane model are reported. Particularly, compounds 2 and 3 have been found thermally stable and able to inhibit, strongly and selectively, the human DNA topoisomerase II. These properties confer a good and broad antitumoral activity in vitro, with very low cytotoxic effect on the proliferation of normal cell lines and without damaging, in contrast with Ellipticine, the cell membrane model. The presented outcomes set the most active compounds as good candidates for pre-clinical studies useful in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Iacopetta
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Camillo Rosano
- UOS Proteomics IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Largo R. Benzi 10, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Puoci
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Ortensia Ilaria Parisi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Carmela Saturnino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Anna Caruso
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Pasquale Longo
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Jessica Ceramella
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Aurélie Malzert-Fréon
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, CERMN (Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament de Normandie), Caen, France.
| | - Patrick Dallemagne
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, CERMN (Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament de Normandie), Caen, France
| | - Sylvain Rault
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, CERMN (Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament de Normandie), Caen, France
| | - Maria Stefania Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
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14
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Catalano A, Luciani R, Carocci A, Cortesi D, Pozzi C, Borsari C, Ferrari S, Mangani S. X-ray crystal structures of Enterococcus faecalis thymidylate synthase with folate binding site inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 123:649-664. [PMID: 27517810 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.07.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Infections caused by Enterococcus faecalis (Ef) represent nowadays a relevant health problem. We selected Thymidylate synthase (TS) from this organism as a potential specific target for antibacterial therapy. We have previously demonstrated that species-specific inhibition of the protein can be achieved despite the relatively high structural similarity among bacterial TSs and human TS. We had previously obtained the EfTS crystal structure of the protein in complex with the metabolite 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate (5-FTHF) suggesting the protein role as metabolite reservoir; however, protein-inhibitors complexes were still missing. In the present work we identified some inhibitors bearing the phthalimidic core from our in-house library and we performed crystallographic screening towards EfTS. We obtained two X-ray crystallographic structures: the first with a weak phthalimidic inhibitor bound in one subunit and 5-hydroxymethylene-6-hydrofolic acid (5-HMHF) in the other subunit; a second X-ray structure complex with methotrexate. The structural information achieved confirm the role of EfTS as an enzyme involved in the folate pool system and provide a structural basis for structure-based drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Catalano
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Rosaria Luciani
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Alessia Carocci
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Debora Cortesi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Pozzi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Chiara Borsari
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Stefania Ferrari
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy.
| | - Stefano Mangani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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Roselli M, Carocci A, Budriesi R, Micucci M, Toma M, Di Cesare Mannelli L, Lovece A, Catalano A, Cavalluzzi MM, Bruno C, De Palma A, Contino M, Perrone MG, Colabufo NA, Chiarini A, Franchini C, Ghelardini C, Habtemariam S, Lentini G. Synthesis, antiarrhythmic activity, and toxicological evaluation of mexiletine analogues. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 121:300-7. [PMID: 27267000 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.05.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Four mexiletine analogues have been tested for their antiarrhythmic, inotropic, and chronotropic effects on isolated guinea pig heart tissues and to assess calcium antagonist activity, in comparison with the parent compound mexiletine. All analogues showed from moderate to high antiarrhythmic activity. In particular, three of them (1b,c,e) were more active and potent than the reference drug, while exhibiting only modest or no negative inotropic and chronotropic effects and vasorelaxant activity, thus showing high selectivity of action. All compounds showed no cytotoxicity and 1b,c,d did not impair motor coordination. All in, these new analogues exhibit an interesting cardiovascular profile and deserve further investigation.
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16
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Bruno C, Cavalluzzi MM, Rusciano MR, Lovece A, Carrieri A, Pracella R, Giannuzzi G, Polimeno L, Viale M, Illario M, Franchini C, Lentini G. The chemosensitizing agent lubeluzole binds calmodulin and inhibits Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 116:36-45. [PMID: 27043269 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
An affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) method to estimate apparent dissociation constants between bovine brain calmodulin (CaM) and non-peptidic ligands was developed. The method was validated reproducing the dissociation constants of a number of well-known CaM ligands. In particular, the potent antagonist 125-C9 was ad hoc synthesized through an improved synthetic procedure. The ACE method was successfully applied to verify CaM affinity for lubeluzole, a well-known neuroprotective agent recently proved useful to potentiate the activity of anti-cancer drugs. Lubeluzole was slightly less potent than 125-C9 (Kd = 2.9 ± 0.7 and 0.47 ± 0.06 μM, respectively) and displayed Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) inhibition (IC50 = 40 ± 1 μM). Possible binding modes of lubeluzole to CaM were explored by docking studies based on the X-ray crystal structures of several trifluoperazine-CaM complexes. An estimated dissociation constant in good agreement with the experimental one was found and the main aminoacidic residues and interactions contributing to complex formation were highlighted. The possibility that interference with Ca(2+) pathways may contribute to the previously observed chemosensitizing effects of lubeluzole on human ovarian adenocarcinoma and lung carcinoma cells are discussed.
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17
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Corbo F, Carocci A, Armenise D, De Laurentis N, Laghezza A, Loiodice F, Ancona P, Muraglia M, Pagliarulo V, Franchini C, Catalano A. Antiproliferative Activity Evaluation of a Series of N -1,3-Benzothiazol-2-ylbenzamides as Novel Apoptosis Inducers. J CHEM-NY 2016; 2016:1-5. [DOI: 10.1155/2016/4267564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A series ofN-1,3-benzothiazol-2-ylbenzamide derivatives were studied for their antiproliferative activity on human liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. Most of them were found to show a prominent inhibitory effect on cell growth. Among the most active compounds,1kemerged for its proapoptotic effect that is particularly evident towards MCF-7 cancer cell lines.
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18
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Rizza P, Pellegrino M, Caruso A, Iacopetta D, Sinicropi MS, Rault S, Lancelot JC, El-Kashef H, Lesnard A, Rochais C, Dallemagne P, Saturnino C, Giordano F, Catalano S, Andò S. 3-(Dipropylamino)-5-hydroxybenzofuro[2,3-f]quinazolin-1(2H)-one (DPA-HBFQ-1) plays an inhibitory role on breast cancer cell growth and progression. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 107:275-87. [PMID: 26599533 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A series of unknown 3-(alkyl(dialkyl)amino)benzofuro[2,3-f]quinazolin-1(2H)-ones 4-17 has been synthesized as new ellipticine analogs, in which the carbazole moiety and the pyridine ring were replaced by a dibenzofuran residue and a pyrimidine ring, respectively. The synthesis of these benzofuroquinazolinones 4-17 was performed in a simple one-pot reaction using 3-aminodibenzofuran or its 2-methoxy derivative, as starting materials. From 3-(dipropylamino)-5-methoxybenzofuro[2,3-f] quinazolin-1(2H)-one (13), we prepared 3-(dipropylamino)-5-hydroxybenzofuro[2,3-f]quinazolin-1(2H)-one (18), referred to as DPA-HBFQ-1. The cytotoxic activities of all the synthesized compounds, tested in different human breast cancer cell lines, revealed that DPA-HBFQ-1 was the most active compound. In particular, the latter was able to inhibit anchorage-dependent and -independent cell growth and to induce apoptosis in estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive and -negative breast cancer cells. It did not affect proliferation and apoptotic responses in MCF-10A normal breast epithelial cells. The observed effects have been ascribed to an enhanced p21(Cip1/WAF1) expression in a p53-dependent manner of tumor suppressor and to a selective inhibition of human topoisomerase II. In addition, DPA-HBFQ-1 exerted growth inhibitory effects also in other cancer cell lines, even though with a lower cytotoxic activity. Our results indicate DPA-HBFQ-1 as a good candidate to be useful as cancer therapeutic agent, particularly for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Rizza
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Michele Pellegrino
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Anna Caruso
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Domenico Iacopetta
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Maria Stefania Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
| | - Sylvain Rault
- Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament de Normandie UPRES EA 4258, FR CNRS 3038 INC3M, Bd Becquerel, 14032 Caen Cedex, France.
| | - Jean Charles Lancelot
- Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament de Normandie UPRES EA 4258, FR CNRS 3038 INC3M, Bd Becquerel, 14032 Caen Cedex, France
| | - Hussein El-Kashef
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut, Egypt
| | - Aurelien Lesnard
- Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament de Normandie UPRES EA 4258, FR CNRS 3038 INC3M, Bd Becquerel, 14032 Caen Cedex, France
| | - Christophe Rochais
- Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament de Normandie UPRES EA 4258, FR CNRS 3038 INC3M, Bd Becquerel, 14032 Caen Cedex, France
| | - Patrick Dallemagne
- Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament de Normandie UPRES EA 4258, FR CNRS 3038 INC3M, Bd Becquerel, 14032 Caen Cedex, France
| | - Carmela Saturnino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Francesca Giordano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Stefania Catalano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Andò
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
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Wei JY, Li WM, Zhou LL, Lu QN, He W. Melatonin induces apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells through HDAC4 nuclear import mediated by CaMKII inactivation. J Pineal Res 2015; 58:429-38. [PMID: 25752481 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin induces apoptosis in many different cancer cell lines, including colorectal cancer. However, the precise mechanisms involved remain largely unresolved. In this study, we provide evidence to reveal a new mechanism by which melatonin induces apoptosis of colorectal cancer LoVo cells. Melatonin at pharmacological concentrations significantly suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The observed apoptosis was accompanied by the melatonin-induced dephosphorylation and nuclear import of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4). Pretreatment with a HDAC4-specific siRNA effectively attenuated the melatonin-induced apoptosis, indicating that nuclear localization of HDAC4 is required for melatonin-induced apoptosis. Moreover, constitutively active Ca(2+) /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha (CaMKIIα) abrogated the melatonin-induced HDAC4 nuclear import and apoptosis of LoVo cells. Furthermore, melatonin decreased H3 acetylation on bcl-2 promoter, leading to a reduction of bcl-2 expression, whereas constitutively active CaMKIIα(T286D) or HDAC4-specific siRNA abrogated the effect of melatonin. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence that melatonin-induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer LoVo cells largely depends on the nuclear import of HDAC4 and subsequent H3 deacetylation via the inactivation of CaMKIIα.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Yi Wei
- Department of Developmental Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health, China Medical University, Heping District, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Heping District, Shenyang, China
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20
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Abstract
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is widely known as "the darkness hormone". It is a major chronobiological regulator involved in circadian phasing and sleep-wake cycle in humans. Numerous other functions, including cyto/neuroprotection, immune modulation, and energy metabolism have been ascribed to melatonin. A variety of studies have revealed a role for melatonin and its receptors in different pathophysiological conditions. However, the suitability of melatonin as a drug is limited because of its short half-life, poor oral bioavailability, and ubiquitous action. Due to the therapeutic potential of melatonin in a wide variety of clinical conditions, the development of new agents able to interact selectively with melatonin receptors has become an area of great interest during the last decade. Therefore, the field of melatonergic receptor agonists comprises a great number of structurally different chemical entities, which range from indolic to nonindolic compounds. Melatonergic agonists are suitable for sleep disturbances, neuropsychiatric disorders related to circadian dysphasing, and metabolic diseases associated with insulin resistance. The results of preclinical studies on animal models show that melatonin receptor agonists can be considered promising agents for the treatment of central nervous system-related pathologies. An overview of recent advances in the field of investigational melatonergic drugs will be presented in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Carocci
- Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Alessia Catalano
- Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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21
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Vriend J, Reiter RJ. Melatonin as a proteasome inhibitor. Is there any clinical evidence? Life Sci 2014; 115:8-14. [PMID: 25219883 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2014.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Proteasome inhibitors and melatonin are both intimately involved in the regulation of major signal transduction proteins including p53, cyclin p27, transcription factor NF-κB, apoptotic factors Bax and Bim, caspase 3, caspase 9, anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2, TRAIL, NRF2 and transcription factor beta-catenin. The fact that these factors are shared targets of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and melatonin suggests the working hypothesis that melatonin is a proteasome inhibitor. Supporting this hypothesis is the fact that melatonin shares with bortezomib a selective pro-apoptotic action in cancer cells. Furthermore, both bortezomib and melatonin increase the sensitivity of human glioma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Direct evidence for melatonin inhibition of the proteasome was recently found in human renal cancer cells. We raise the issue whether melatonin should be investigated in combination with proteasome inhibitors to reduce toxicity, to reduce drug resistance, and to enhance efficacy. This may be particularly valid for hematological malignancies in which proteasome inhibitors have been shown to be useful. Further studies are necessary to determine whether the actions of melatonin on cellular signaling pathways are due to a direct inhibitory effect on the catalytic core of the proteasome, due to an inhibitory action on the regulatory particle of the proteasome, or due to an indirect effect of melatonin on phosphorylation of signal transducing factors.
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22
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Pala D, Scalvini L, Lodola A, Mor M, Flammini L, Barocelli E, Lucini V, Scaglione F, Bartolucci S, Bedini A, Rivara S, Spadoni G. Synthesis and characterization of new bivalent agents as melatonin- and histamine H3-ligands. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:16114-33. [PMID: 25222552 DOI: 10.3390/ijms150916114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Melatonin is an endogenous molecule involved in many pathophysiological processes. In addition to the control of circadian rhythms, its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties have been widely described. Thus far, different bivalent compounds composed by a melatonin molecule linked to another neuroprotective agent were synthesized and tested for their ability to block neurodegenerative processes in vitro and in vivo. To identify a novel class of potential neuroprotective compounds, we prepared a series of bivalent ligands, in which a prototypic melatonergic ligand is connected to an imidazole-based H3 receptor antagonist through a flexible linker. Four imidazolyl-alkyloxy-anilinoethylamide derivatives, characterized by linkers of different length, were synthesized and their binding affinity for human MT1, MT2 and H3 receptor subtypes was evaluated. Among the tested compounds, 14c and 14d, bearing a pentyl and a hexyl linker, respectively, were able to bind to all receptor subtypes at micromolar concentrations and represent the first bivalent melatonergic/histaminergic ligands reported so far. These preliminary results, based on binding affinity evaluation, pave the way for the future development of new dual-acting compounds targeting both melatonin and histamine receptors, which could represent promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative pathologies.
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Saturnino C, Sinicropi MS, Parisi OI, Iacopetta D, Popolo A, Marzocco S, Autore G, Caruso A, Cappello AR, Longo P, Puoci F. Acetylated hyaluronic acid: enhanced bioavailability and biological studies. Biomed Res Int 2014; 2014:921549. [PMID: 25114930 DOI: 10.1155/2014/921549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hyaluronic acid (HA), a macropolysaccharidic component of the extracellular matrix, is common to most species and it is found in many sites of the human body, including skin and soft tissue. Not only does HA play a variety of roles in physiologic and in pathologic events, but it also has been extensively employed in cosmetic and skin-care products as drug delivery agent or for several biomedical applications. The most important limitations of HA are due to its short half-life and quick degradation in vivo and its consequently poor bioavailability. In the aim to overcome these difficulties, HA is generally subjected to several chemical changes. In this paper we obtained an acetylated form of HA with increased bioavailability with respect to the HA free form. Furthermore, an improved radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity has been evidenced, respectively, on ABTS radical cation and murine monocyte/macrophage cell lines (J774.A1).
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24
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Vriend J, Reiter RJ. Melatonin and ubiquitin: what’s the connection? Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:3409-18. [DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1659-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Revised: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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25
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Saturnino C, Sirignano E, Botta A, Sinicropi MS, Caruso A, Pisano A, Lappano R, Maggiolini M, Longo P. New titanocene derivatives with high antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cells. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2014; 24:136-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.11.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Revised: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 11/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Catalano A, Carocci A, Defrenza I, Muraglia M, Carrieri A, Van Bambeke F, Rosato A, Corbo F, Franchini C. 2-Aminobenzothiazole derivatives: search for new antifungal agents. Eur J Med Chem 2013; 64:357-64. [PMID: 23644218 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.03.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2012] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
A new series of 6-substituted 2-aminobenzothiazole derivatives were synthesized and screened in vitro as potential antimicrobials. Almost all the compounds showed antifungal activity. In particular, compounds 1n,o, designed on the basis of molecular modeling studies, were the best of the series, showing MIC values of 4-8 μg/mL against Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis. None of the two compounds did show any cytotoxicity effect on human THP-1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Catalano
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", via E. Orabona n. 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
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Sirignano E, Saturnino C, Botta A, Sinicropi MS, Caruso A, Pisano A, Lappano R, Maggiolini M, Longo P. Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic activity on breast cancer cells of new half-titanocene derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:3458-62. [PMID: 23623493 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.03.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Revised: 03/13/2013] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A series of novel titanocene-complexes has been prepared and evaluated for their growth regulatory effects in MCF7 and SkBr3 breast cancer cells. The capability of some of these compound to elicit relevant repressive effects on cancer cell growth could be taken into account towards novel pharmacological approaches in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Sirignano
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Salerno, Italy
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