β-Carboline-α-aminophosphonate Derivative: A Promising Antitumor Agent for Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality among women worldwide. Considering the limitations of the current treatments available, we analyzed the in vitro cytotoxic potential of ((4-Fluoro-phenyl)-{2-[(1-phenyl-9H-β-carboline-3-carbonyl)-amino]-ethylamino}-methyl)-phosphonic acid dibutyl ester (BCP-1) in breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and in a non-tumor breast cell line (MCF-10A). BCP-1 has an α-aminophosphonate unit linked to the β-carboline nucleus, and the literature indicates that compounds of these classes have high biological potential. In the present study, the mechanism of action of BCP-1 was investigated through methods of spectrofluorimetry, flow cytometry, and protein expression analysis. It was found that BCP-1 inhibited the proliferation of both cancer cell lines. Furthermore, it induced oxidative stress and cell cycle arrest in G2/M. Upregulation of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bax, cytochrome C, and caspases, as well as a decrease in the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, indicated potential induction of apoptosis in the MDA-MB-231 cells. While in MCF-7 cells, BCP-1 activated the autophagic death pathway, which was demonstrated by an increase in autophagic vacuoles and acidic organelles, in addition to increased expression of LC3I/LC3II and reduced SQSTM1/p62 expression. Further, BCP-1 demonstrated antimetastatic potential by reducing MMP-9 expression and cell migration in both breast cancer cell lines. In conclusion, BCP-1 is a promising candidate for breast cancer chemotherapy.

Matricaria recutita extract associated with norfloxacin or cephalexin enhances the antimicrobial activity of these drugs against Staphylococcus aureus

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2017v30n2p25O surgimento de infecções bacterianas, incluindo aquelas associadas com Staphylococcus aureus, traz à tona uma necessidade de buscar novas estratégias mais eficazes para tratamento clínico. O uso de plantas medicinais associados com os antibióticos convencionais pode ser uma opção terapêutica. Atualmente, estudos evidenciam o efeito sinérgico alcançado através da combinação de extratos vegetais com antibióticos. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana e cinética bacteriana in vitro do extrato de Matricaria recutita (camomila) e sua associação com cefalexina e norfloxacin sobre isolados clínicos de S. aureus de origem bovina, caracterizada como resistente. Os ensaios foram realizados pelo método da diluição em meio sólido para a determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM). Em ambas as associações do extrato de M. recutita com os antibióticos norfloxacina e cefalexina, foi observada CIM na diluição 1:64 o que correspondeu a 8μg/mL dos antibióticos e 13.43 μg/mL do extrato. A associação Cefalexina com extrato de camomila produziu um efeito sinérgico em 75% das amostras na sua CIM. A combinação com produtos naturais frequentemente utilizados pela população e os antibióticos aqui ensaiados, poderiam representar uma opção terapêutica para o tratamento de infecções causadas por S. aureus, como também para prevenção do desenvolvimento crescente de resistência.

Methylation status of CDH1 gene in samples of gastric mucous from brazilian patients with chronic gastritis infected by Helicobacter pylori

CONTEXT: Gastric cancer is one of the top list of cancer types that most leads to death in Brazil and worldwide. Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) is a class I carcinogen and infect almost 90% of chronic gastritis patients. Some genotypes confer different virulent potential to H. pylori and can increase the risk of gastritis development. Methylation of CpG islands can inactivate tumor suppressor genes and therefore, it can be involved in the tumorigenic process. CDH1 is a tumor suppressor gene that encodes the E-cadherin protein, which is important in maintaining cell-cell contacts. The inactivation of this gene can increase the chance of metastasis. Promoter methylation of CDH1 at early steps of gastric carcinogenesis is not yet completely understood. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the methylation status of CDH1 in chronic gastritis samples and correlated it with the presence of H. pylori. METHODS: Sixty gastric mucosal biopsies were used in this study. The detection of H. pylori was performed with the PCR primers specific to urease C gene. H. pylori genotyping was performed by PCR to cagA and vacA (s and m region). The methylation status of these gene CDH1 was analyzed using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing of the PCR products was performed using primers methylated and unmethylated in both forward and reverse directions. RESULTS: H. pylori was detected in 90% of chronic gastritis samples; among these 33% were cagA positive and 100% vacA s1. The genotype vacA s2/m1 was not detected in any sample analyzed. Methylation of CDH1 was detected in 63.3% of chronic gastritis samples and 95% of them were also H. pylori-positive. CONCLUSION: This work suggests that CDH1 gene methylation and H. pylori infection are frequent events in samples from Brazilian patients with chronic gastritis and reinforces the correlation between H. pylori infection and CDH1 inactivation in early steps of gastric tumorigenesis.