Antimicrobial and anthelmintic activities of aryl urea agents

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to characterise compounds with activity against carbapenemase-expressing Gram-negative bacteria and nematodes and evaluate their cytotoxicity to non-cancerous human cells.

METHODS

The antimicrobial activity and toxicity of a series of phenyl-substituted urea derivatives were evaluated using broth microdilution, chitinase, and resazurin reduction assays.

RESULTS

The effects of different substitutions present on the nitrogen atoms of the urea backbone were investigated. Several compounds were active against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli control strains. Specifically, derivatives 7b, 11b, and 67d exhibited antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae 16, a carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae species, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 100, 50, and 72 µM (32, 64, and 32 mg/L), respectively. In addition, the MICs obtained against a multidrug-resistant E. coli strain were 100, 50, and 36 µM (32, 16, and 16 mg/L) for the same compounds, respectively. Furthermore, the urea derivatives 18b, 29b, 50c, 51c, 52c, 55c-59c, and 62c were very active towards the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

CONCLUSIONS

Testing on non-cancerous human cell lines suggested that some of the compounds have the potential to affect bacteria, especially helminths, with limited cytotoxicity to humans. Given the simplicity of synthesis for this class of compounds and their potency against Gram-negative, carbapenemase-expressing K. pneumoniae, aryl ureas possessing the 3,5-dichloro-phenyl group certainly warrant further investigation to exploit their selectivity.

From synthesis to the biological effect of isoprenoid 2'-deoxyriboside and 2',3'-dideoxyriboside cytokinin analogues

Isoprenoid cytokinins are a class of naturally occurring plant signaling molecules. A series of prepared compounds derived from isoprenoid cytokinins (isopentenyladenine, trans-zeatin and cis-zeatin) with attached 2'-deoxy-d-ribose or 2',3'-dideoxy-d-ribose at the N⁹ position of the purine were prepared and their biological activities were examined. Different synthetic approaches were employed. The final compounds were characterized with variety of physicochemical methods (TLC, HPLC-MS, and NMR) and their cytokinin activity was determined in classical bioassays such as Amaranthus, tobacco callus, detached wheat leaf senescence and Arabidopsis thaliana root elongation inhibition assay. In addition, compounds were screened for activation of the cytokinin signaling pathway (bacterial receptor, competitive ligand binding and ARR5::GUS assay) to provide a detailed assessment of CK structure-activity relationship. The prepared compounds were found to be non-toxic to human cells and the majority of assays exhibited the highest activity of free bases while 2',3'-dideoxyribosides had very weak or no activity. In contrast to the free bases, all 2'-deoxyriboside derivatives were not toxic to tobacco callus even at the highest tested concentration (10^-4 moL/l) and compound 1 (iPdR) induced betacyanin synthesis at higher concentration even stronger than iP free base in the Amaranthus bioassay. The general cytokinin activity pattern base > riboside >2'-deoxyriboside > 2',3'-dideoxyriboside was distinguished.

New Water-Soluble Cytokinin Derivatives and Their Beneficial Impact on Barley Yield and Photosynthesis

Solubility of growth regulators is essential for their use in agriculture. Four new cytokinin salts─6-benzylaminopurine mesylate (1), 6-(2-hydroxybenzylamino)purine mesylate (2), 6-(3-hydroxybenzylamino)purine mesylate (3), and 6-(3-methoxybenzylamino)purine mesylate (4)─were synthesized, and their crystal structures were determined to clarify structural influence on water solubility. The mesylates were several orders of magnitude more water-soluble than the parent CKs. The new salts significantly reduced chlorophyll degradation and impairment of photosystem II functionality in barley leaf segments undergoing artificial senescence and had pronounced effects on the leaves' endogenous CK pools, maintaining high concentrations of functional metabolites for several days, unlike canonical CKs. A foliar treatment with 1 and 3 increased the harvest yield of spring barley by up to 8% when compared to treatment with the parent CKs while also increasing the number of productive tillers. This effect was attributed to the higher bioavailability of the mesylate salts and the avoidance of dimethyl sulfoxide exposure.

Synthesis of 5-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thiones and their protective activity against oxidative stress

A small library of 2-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]-5-(alkylthio)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles was prepared, starting from indole-3-acetic acid methyl ester and its 5-methyl-substituted derivative. The synthetic route involved the formation of intermediate hydrazides, their condensation with carbon disulfide, and intramolecular cyclization to corresponding 5-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thiones. The latter were then S-alkylated, and in case of ester derivatives, they were further hydrolyzed into corresponding carboxylic acids. All 5-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thiones and their S-alkylated derivatives were then screened for their protective effects in vitro and in vivo. Methyl substitution on the indole ring and propyl, butyl, or benzyl substitution on sulfhydryl group-possessing compounds were revealed to protect Friedreich's ataxia fibroblasts against the effects of glutathione depletion induced by the γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase inhibitor, buthionine sulfoximine. Two of the active compounds also reproducibly increased the survival of Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to juglone-induced oxidative stress.

Cytoprotective activities of kinetin purine isosteres

Kinetin (N⁶-furfuryladenine), a plant growth substance of the cytokinin family, has been shown to modulate aging and various age-related conditions in animal models. Here we report the synthesis of kinetin isosteres with the purine ring replaced by other bicyclic heterocycles, and the biological evaluation of their activity in several in vitro models related to neurodegenerative diseases. Our findings indicate that kinetin isosteres protect Friedreich́s ataxia patient-derived fibroblasts against glutathione depletion, protect neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells from glutamate-induced oxidative damage, and correct aberrant splicing of the ELP1 gene in fibroblasts derived from a familial dysautonomia patient. Although the mechanism of action of kinetin derivatives remains unclear, our data suggest that the cytoprotective activity of some purine isosteres is mediated by their ability to reduce oxidative stress. Further, the studies of permeation across artificial membrane and model gut and blood-brain barriers indicate that the compounds are orally available and can reach central nervous system. Overall, our data demonstrate that isosteric replacement of the kinetin purine scaffold is a fruitful strategy for improving known biological activities of kinetin and discovering novel therapeutic opportunities.

The plant hormone kinetin in disease therapy and healthy aging

It has been more than 60 years since the discovery of kinetin, the first known member of a group of plant hormones called cytokinins. In this review we summarize the health-promoting activity of kinetin in animal systems, ranging from cells cultured in vitro through invertebrates to mammals. Kinetin has been shown to modulate aging, to delay age-related physiological decline and to protect against some neurodegenerative diseases. We also review studies on its mechanism of action, as well as point out gaps in our current knowledge.

How Selective Are Pharmacological Inhibitors of Cell-Cycle-Regulating Cyclin-Dependent Kinases?

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are an important and emerging class of drug targets for which many small-molecule inhibitors have been developed. However, there is often insufficient data available on the selectivity of CDK inhibitors (CDKi) to attribute the effects on the presumed target CDK to these inhibitors. Here, we highlight discrepancies between the kinase selectivity of CDKi and the phenotype exhibited; we evaluated 31 CDKi (claimed to target CDK1-4) for activity toward CDKs 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and for effects on the cell cycle. Our results suggest that most CDKi should be reclassified as pan-selective and should not be used as a tool. In addition, some compounds did not even inhibit CDKs as their primary cellular targets; for example, NU6140 showed potent inhibition of Aurora kinases. We also established an online database of commercially available CDKi for critical evaluation of their utility as molecular probes. Our results should help researchers select the most relevant chemical tools for their specific applications.

The natural cytokinin 2OH3MeOBAR induces cell death by a mechanism that is different from that of the "classical" cytokinin ribosides

Cytokinin ribosides (N⁶-substituted adenosines) have demonstrated anticancer activity in various cultured cell lines, several xenografts and even a small clinical trial. Effects of kinetin riboside, N⁶-benzyladenosine (BAR) and N⁶-isopentenyladenosine on various parameters related to apoptosis have also been reported, but not directly compared with those of the highly active naturally occurring aromatic cytokinins oTR (ortho-topolin riboside) and 2OH3MeOBAR (N⁶-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)adenosine). Here we show that 2OH3MeOBAR is the most active cytokinin riboside studied to date (median, 1st quartile, 3rd quartile and range of GI50 in tests with the NCI60 cell panel: 0.19, 0.10, 0.43 and 0.02 to 15.7 μM, respectively) and it differs from other cytokinins by inducing cell death without causing pronounced ATP depletion. Analysis of NCI60 test data suggests that its activity is independent of p53 status. Further we demonstrate that its 5'-monophosphate, the dominant cancer cell metabolite, inhibits the candidate oncogene DNPH1. Synthesis, purification, HPLC-MS identification and HPLC-UV quantification of 2OH3MeOBAR metabolites are also reported.

Preparation, characterization and biological activity of C8-substituted cytokinins

Naturally occurring cytokinins are adenine-based plant hormones. Although, the effect of various substituents at positions N1, C2, N3, N⁶, N7, or N9 on the biological activity of cytokinins has been studied, the C8-substituted compounds have received little attention. Here, we report the synthesis and in vitro biological testing of thirty-one cytokinin derivatives substituted at the C8 position of the adenine skeleton and twenty-seven compounds which served as their N9-tetrahydropyranyl protected precursors. The cytokinin activity of all the compounds was determined in classical cytokinin biotests (wheat leaf senescence, Amaranthus and tobacco callus assays). With some exceptions, the compounds with a N9-tetrahydropyranyl group were generally less active than their de-protected analogs. The latter were further tested for their ability to activate the Arabidopsis cytokinin receptors AHK3 and CRE1/AHK4 in bacterial receptor activation assays. Using this approach, we identified derivatives bearing short aliphatic chains and retaining high cytokinin activity. Such compounds are suitable candidates for fluorescence labeling or as protein-affinity ligands. We further found that some C8-substituted cytokinins exhibited no or lower cytotoxicity toward tobacco cells when compared to their parent compound. Therefore, we also present and discuss the cytotoxicity of all the compounds against three normal human cell lines.

The selective P-TEFb inhibitor CAN508 targets angiogenesis

Small molecule inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) have been developed as anticancer drugs with cytostatic and cytotoxic properties, but some of them have also been shown to limit angiogenesis. Here, we report that the 3,5-diaminopyrazole CAN508 inhibits endothelial cell migration and tube formation. In addition, it reduces phosphorylation of the C-terminus of RNA polymerase II and inhibits mRNA synthesis in endothelial cells, in accordance with previous observations that it has high selectivity towards the positive transcriptional regulator P-TEFb. Moreover, CAN508 reduces expression of vascular endothelial growth factor by several human cancer cell lines. The findings suggest that P-TEFb may be an attractive target for anti-angiogenic therapy.

Tandem mass spectrometry identification and LC-MS quantification of intact cytokinin nucleotides in K-562 human leukemia cells

We describe here a new reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection method for quantifying intact cytokinin nucleotides in human K-562 leukemia cells. Tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify the intracellular metabolites (cytokinin monophosphorylated, diphosphorylated, and triphosphorylated nucleotides) in riboside-treated cells. For the protein precipitation and sample preparation, a trichloroacetic acid extraction method is used. Samples are then back-extracted with diethyl ether, lyophilized, reconstituted, and injected into the LC system. Analytes were quantified in negative selected ion monitoring mode using a single quadrupole mass spectrometer. The method was validated in terms of retention time stabilities, limits of detection, linearity, recovery, and analytical accuracy. The developed method was linear in the range of 1-1,000 pmol for all studied compounds. The limits of detection for the analytes vary from 0.2 to 0.6 pmol.

The effect of D1-like receptor blockade on motor functions and spatial learning in B6CBA mice

Dopaminergic neurotransmitter system plays a role in many neural functions, for instance in the motor system. Dopamine also influences cognitive functions, motivation and behaviour. In this study, the effect of D1-like receptors blocker SCH 23390 on spontaneous motor activity, motor functions and spatial learning in adult wild type mice derived from the strain B6CBA was investigated. The animals of one group were administered with D1-like receptors blocker SCH 23390 while the mice from the other group were treated with the saline solution 20 minutes before experiments. Spontaneous motor activity was examined in the open field. Motor functions were examined using horizontal wire, ladder and rotarod. Spatial learning was tested in the Morris water maze. D1-like receptors inhibition significantly decreased spontaneous motor activity. In the horizontal wire test, the mice treated with SCH 23390 manifested significantly better results than control animals. No significant differences between experimental animals and controls were found in the ladder test. On the rotarod, the animals with D1-like receptors inhibition reached significantly shorter latencies than the animals treated with the saline solution. D1-like receptors blockade led to significant impairment of performance in experimental animals in the Morris water maze. Spontaneous motor activity and motor skills were influenced by evoked hypokinesia. Meanwhile in the horizontal wire test this effect seemed to be advantageous, in the rotarod test it meant a definite handicap because this test requires good motor coordination and activity. The results gained in the Morris water maze indicated that not only hypokinesia played some role there but also spatial learning and perhaps motivation were affected. The study confirmed that D1-like receptors inhibition has effects on both motor and cognitive functions in mice. However the motor effects are not the main cause of the failing in the spatial learning test.

Multiplex PCR for detection of three exfoliative toxin serotype genes in Staphylococcus aureus

Rapid and specific detection of exfoliative toxin (ET)-producing Staphylococcus aureus strains by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for identification of exfoliative toxin genes in a diverse set of 115 clinical S. aureus strains isolated in 14 Czech cities between 1998 and 2004. Fifty-nine wild-type ET-positive isolates of which 40 strains were the causative agents of toxic epidermolysis in neonates were classified into 4 PCR types. The genes coding for ETA, ETB or ETD were not detected in any of non-ET-producing isolates. The PCR method using the multiplex and specific primer set was shown to be reliable in rapid identification of the exfoliative toxin producing S. aureus and can be used as a convenient tool for hospital epidermolytic infection control.

Neural functional and morphological consequences of retinal degeneration in C3H Lurcher mutant and wild type mice

Lurcher mutant mice represent a model of olivocerebellar degeneration associated with the total functional elimination of the cerebellar cortex. The affected animals suffer from cerebellar ataxia and worsening of cognitive functions. Healthy littermates of Lurchers-wild type mice serve as controls. Except mentioned patterns some animals derived from the C3H strain exhibit signs of a hereditary retinal degeneration. The impact of the retinal degeneration on visuospatial abilities and on the neuronal morphology in visual projection of both C3H Lurcher mutant and wild type mice has been studied in this work. The Morrris water maze was used for examination of spatial learning when the animals learned to find a platform hidden under the water surface. Time of reaching the platform (escape latency) in individual experimental days as well as the swimming velocity was measured and the strategy of maze exploration was assessed. The presence of the retinal degeneration was proved histologically by means of classical hematoxillin-eosin method. The neurohistological examination of the superior colliculus and visual cortex was performed using a Ramón-Moliner modification of the Golgi method. The results obtained showed that retinal degeneration influenced the strategy of the maze exploration and caused generally worse results. The histological examination of eyes in animals with bad results confirmed presence of the retinal degeneration. The neurohistological examination of the brain visual projections of animals affected with the retinal defect showed most detectable changes in dendritic spines of the V1 cortex (lower density in general and less immature types).

Functional consequences of retinal degeneration in spatial orientation in C3H wild type and Lurcher mutant mice

Lurcher mutant mice represent a model of genetically determined olivocerebellar degeneration. In the C3H strain there is also hereditary retinal degeneration. The aim of this work was to assess, whether the retinal degeneration influences spatial orientation and results of the spatial learning tasks. Two experiments in the Morris water maze were arranged. First, mice learned to find a platform position, which was linked to two labels on the periphery of the maze. In the second experiment the platform was removed and swimming velocity and preference of central or peripheral zone of the maze were assessed. Presence of the retinal degeneration was detected histologically. Both Lurcher mutant and wild type mice that exhibited long latencies in the first experiment were affected with the retinal degeneration, while animals that performed the trial well, had normal retina. Swimming velocity was not changed substantially. The maze exploration strategy was different in mice with and without the retinal degeneration.

A randomised placebo-controlled trial of topical cysteamine therapy in patients with nephropathic cystinosis

Five patients with nephropathic cystinosis were evaluated to assess the ability of topical cysteamine to clear corneal cystine crystals. All patients were randomised to receive topical cysteamine 0.2% six times a day in one eye with normal saline in the other eye as a control. All five patients showed some improvement in visual symptoms (photophobia, blepharospasm and visual acuity) together with an improvement in corneal crystal density. Three of these also had an improvement in Snellen visual acuity and contrast sensitivity.