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Abd Al Moaty MN, El Ashry ESH, Awad LF, Ibrahim NA, Abu-Serie MM, Barakat A, Altowyan MS, Teleb M. Enhancing the Anticancer Potential of Targeting Tumor-Associated Metalloenzymes via VEGFR Inhibition by New Triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidinone Acyclo C-Nucleosides Multitarget Agents. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27082422. [PMID: 35458618 PMCID: PMC9026109 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27082422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of metalloenzymes in tumor progression had broadened their application in cancer therapy. Of these, MMPs and CAs are validated druggable targets that share some pivotal signaling pathways. The majority of MMPs or CAs inhibitors are designed as single-target agents. Despite their transient efficacy, these agents are often susceptible to resistance. This set the stage to introduce dual inhibitors of correlated MMPs and CAs. The next step is expected to target the common vital signaling nodes as well. In this regard, VEGFR-2 is central to various tumorigenesis events involving both families, especially MMP-2 and CA II. Herein, we report simultaneous inhibition of MMP-2, CA II, and VEGFR-2 via rationally designed hybrid 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidinone acyclo C-nucleosides. The promising derivatives were nanomolar inhibitors of VEGFR-2 (8; IC50 = 5.89 nM, 9; IC50 = 10.52 nM) and MMP-2 (8; IC50 = 17.44 nM, 9; IC50 = 30.93 nM) and submicromolar inhibitors of CA II (8; IC50 = 0.21 µM, 9; IC50 = 0.36 µM). Docking studies predicted their binding modes into the enzyme active sites and the structural determinants of activity regarding substitution and regioselectivity. MTT assay demonstrated that both compounds were 12 folds safer than doxorubicin with superior anticancer activities against three human cancers recording single-digit nanomolar IC50, thus echoing their enzymatic activities. Up to our knowledge, this study introduces the first in class triazolopyrimidinone acyclo C-nucleosides VEGFR-2/MMP-2/CA II inhibitors that deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Nabil Abd Al Moaty
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21321, Egypt; (M.N.A.A.M.); (E.S.H.E.A.); (N.A.I.)
| | - El Sayed Helmy El Ashry
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21321, Egypt; (M.N.A.A.M.); (E.S.H.E.A.); (N.A.I.)
| | - Laila Fathy Awad
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21321, Egypt; (M.N.A.A.M.); (E.S.H.E.A.); (N.A.I.)
- Correspondence: (L.F.A.); (A.B.)
| | - Nihal Ahmed Ibrahim
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21321, Egypt; (M.N.A.A.M.); (E.S.H.E.A.); (N.A.I.)
| | - Marwa Muhammad Abu-Serie
- Medical Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Alexandria 21934, Egypt;
| | - Assem Barakat
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (L.F.A.); (A.B.)
| | - Mezna Saleh Altowyan
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohamed Teleb
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21521, Egypt;
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Albelwi FF, Teleb M, Abu-Serie MM, Moaty MNAA, Alsubaie MS, Zakaria MA, El Kilany Y, Aouad MR, Hagar M, Rezki N. Halting Tumor Progression via Novel Non-Hydroxamate Triazole-Based Mannich Bases MMP-2/9 Inhibitors; Design, Microwave-Assisted Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910324. [PMID: 34638665 PMCID: PMC8508768 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key signaling modulators in the tumor microenvironment. Among MMPs, MMP-2 and MMP-9 are receiving renewed interest as validated druggable targets for halting different tumor progression events. Over the last decades, a diverse range of MMP-2/9 inhibitors has been identified starting from the early hydroxamic acid-based peptidomimetics to the next generation non-hydroxamates. Herein, focused 1,2,4-triazole-1,2,3-triazole molecular hybrids with varying lengths and decorations, mimicking the thematic features of non-hydroxamate inhibitors, were designed and synthesized using efficient protocols and were alkylated with pharmacophoric amines to develop new Mannich bases. After full spectroscopic characterization the newly synthesized triazoles tethering Mannich bases were subjected to safety assessment via MTT assay against normal human fibroblasts, then evaluated for their potential anticancer activities against colon (Caco-2) and breast (MDA-MB 231) cancers. The relatively lengthy bis-Mannich bases 15 and 16 were safer and more potent than 5-fluorouracil with sub-micromolar IC50 and promising selectivity to the screened cancer cell lines rather than normal cells. Both compounds upregulated p53 (2–5.6-fold) and suppressed cyclin D expression (0.8–0.2-fold) in the studied cancers, and thus, induced apoptosis. 15 was superior to 16 in terms of cytotoxic activities, p53 induction, and cyclin D suppression. Mechanistically, both were efficient MMP-2/9 inhibitors with comparable potencies to the reference prototype hydroxamate-based MMP inhibitor NNGH at their anticancer IC50 concentrations. 15 (IC50 = 0.143 µM) was 4-fold more potent than NNGH against MMP-9 with promising selectivity (3.27-fold) over MMP-2, whereas 16 was comparable to NNGH. Concerning MMP-2, 16 (IC50 = 0.376 µM) was 1.2-fold more active than 15. Docking simulations predicted their possible binding modes and highlighted the possible structural determinants of MMP-2/9 inhibitory activities. Computational prediction of their physicochemical properties, ADMET, and drug-likeness metrics revealed acceptable drug-like criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fawzia Faleh Albelwi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah 30002, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.); (M.R.A.)
| | - Mohamed Teleb
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21521, Egypt;
| | - Marwa M. Abu-Serie
- Medical Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Alexandria 21934, Egypt;
| | - Mohamed Nabil Abd Al Moaty
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21321, Egypt; (M.N.A.A.M.); (M.S.A.); (M.A.Z.); (Y.E.K.)
| | - Mai S. Alsubaie
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21321, Egypt; (M.N.A.A.M.); (M.S.A.); (M.A.Z.); (Y.E.K.)
| | - Mohamed A. Zakaria
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21321, Egypt; (M.N.A.A.M.); (M.S.A.); (M.A.Z.); (Y.E.K.)
| | - Yeldez El Kilany
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21321, Egypt; (M.N.A.A.M.); (M.S.A.); (M.A.Z.); (Y.E.K.)
| | - Mohamed Reda Aouad
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah 30002, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.); (M.R.A.)
| | - Mohamed Hagar
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21321, Egypt; (M.N.A.A.M.); (M.S.A.); (M.A.Z.); (Y.E.K.)
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (N.R.)
| | - Nadjet Rezki
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah 30002, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.); (M.R.A.)
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (N.R.)
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