Synthesis, Molecular Docking Analysis and in Vitro Biological Evaluation of Some New Heterocyclic Scaffolds-Based Indole Moiety as Possible Antimicrobial Agents

In the present study, a general approach for the synthesis of 1-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3,3-dimercaptoprop-2-en-1-one (1) and 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (2) was performed. They are currently used as efficient precursors for the synthesis of some new compounds bearing five- and/or six-membered heterocyclic moieties, e.g., chromenol (3, 4), 3,4-dihydroquinoline (7, 8) and thiopyran (10, 12)-based indole core. In addition, molecular docking studies were achieved, which showed that all the newly synthesized compounds are interacting with the active site region of the target enzymes, the targets UDP-N-acetylmuramatel-alanine ligase (MurC), and human lanosterol14α-demethylase, through hydrogen bonds and pi-stacked interactions. Among these docked ligand molecules, the compound (9) was found to have the minimum binding energy (−11.5 and −8.5 Kcal/mol) as compared to the standard drug ampicillin (−8.0 and −8.1 Kcal/mol) against the target enzymes UDP-N-acetylmuramatel-alanine ligase (MurC), and Human lanosterol14α-demethylase, respectively. Subsequently, all new synthesized analogues were screened for their antibacterial activities against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis), and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), as well as for antifungal activities against Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus. The obtained data suggest that the compounds exhibited good to excellent activity against bacterial and fungi strains. The compound (E)-2-(6-(1H-indole-3-carbonyl)-5-thioxotetrahydrothieno [3,2-b]furan-2(3H)-ylidene)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-oxopropanedithioic acid (9) showed a high binding affinity as well as an excellent biological activity. Therefore, it could serve as the lead for further optimization and to arrive at potential antimicrobial agent.

Alterations in immune cell subsets and their cytokine secretion profile in childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is acquired autoimmune disease in children characterized by the breakdown of immune tolerance. This work is designed to explore the contribution of different lymphocyte subsets in acute and chronic ITP children. Imbalance in the T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 cytokine secretion profile was investigated. The frequency of T (CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+)) and B (CD19(+)) lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) (CD16(+) 56(+)) and regulatory T (T(reg)) [CD4(+) CD25(+high) forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)(+) ] cells was investigated by flow cytometry in 35 ITP children (15 acute and 20 chronic) and 10 healthy controls. Plasma levels of Th1 cytokines [interferon (IFN-γ) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α)] and Th2 [interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6 and IL-10)] cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The percentage of Treg (P < 0·001) and natural killer (NK) (P < 0·001) cells were significantly decreased in ITP patients compared to healthy controls. A negative correlation was reported between the percentage of T(reg) cells and development of acute (r = -0·737; P < 0·01) and chronic (r = -0·515; P < 0·01) disease. All evaluated cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10) were elevated significantly in ITP patients (P < 0·001, P < 0·05, P < 0·05, P < 0·05 and P < 0·001, respectively) compared to controls. In conclusion, our data shed some light on the fundamental role of immune cells and their related cytokines in ITP patients. The loss of tolerance in ITP may contribute to the dysfunction of T(regs). Understanding the role of T cell subsets will permit a better control of autoimmunity through manipulation of their cytokine network.