Interaction of the anti-inflammatory seleno-organic compound ebselen with acid secretion in isolated parietal cells and gastric H+/K(+)-ATPase

Ebselen: A Review on its Synthesis, Derivatives, Anticancer Efficacy and Utility in Combating SARS-COV-2

Ebselen is a selenoorganic chiral compound with antioxidant properties comparable to glutathione peroxidase. It is also known as 2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one. In studies examining its numerous pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, and anti- Alzheimer's, ebselen has demonstrated promising results. This review's primary objective was to emphasize the numerous synthesis pathways of ebselen and their efficacy in fighting cancer. The data were collected from multiple sources, including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Publons. The starting reagents for the synthesis of ebselen are 2-aminobenzoic acid and N-phenyl benzamide. It was discovered that ebselen has the ability to initiate apoptosis in malignant cells and prevent the formation of new cancer cells by scavenging free radicals. In addition, ebselen increases tumor cell susceptibility to apoptosis by inhibiting TNF-α mediated NF-kB activation. Ebselen can inhibit both doxorubicin and daunorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Allopurinol and ebselen administered orally can be used to suppress renal ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Due to excessive administration, diclofenac can induce malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract, which ebselen can effectively suppress. Recent research has demonstrated ebselen to inhibit viral function by binding to cysteinecontaining catalytic domains of various viral proteases. It was discovered that ebselen could inhibit the catalytic dyad function of Mpro by forming an irreversible covalent bond between Se and Cys145, thereby altering protease function and inhibiting SARS-CoV-2. Ebselen may also inhibit the activation of endosomal NADPH oxidase of vascular endothelial cells, which is believed to be required for thrombotic complications in COVID-19. In this review, we have included various studies conducted on the anticancer effect of ebselen as well as its inhibition of SARS-CoV-2.

Toxicology and pharmacology of synthetic organoselenium compounds: an update

Here, we addressed the pharmacology and toxicology of synthetic organoselenium compounds and some naturally occurring organoselenium amino acids. The use of selenium as a tool in organic synthesis and as a pharmacological agent goes back to the middle of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries. The rediscovery of ebselen and its investigation in clinical trials have motivated the search for new organoselenium molecules with pharmacological properties. Although ebselen and diselenides have some overlapping pharmacological properties, their molecular targets are not identical. However, they have similar anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, possibly, via activation of transcription factors, regulating the expression of antioxidant genes. In short, our knowledge about the pharmacological properties of simple organoselenium compounds is still elusive. However, contrary to our early expectations that they could imitate selenoproteins, organoselenium compounds seem to have non-specific modulatory activation of antioxidant pathways and specific inhibitory effects in some thiol-containing proteins. The thiol-oxidizing properties of organoselenium compounds are considered the molecular basis of their chronic toxicity; however, the acute use of organoselenium compounds as inhibitors of specific thiol-containing enzymes can be of therapeutic significance. In summary, the outcomes of the clinical trials of ebselen as a mimetic of lithium or as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 proteases will be important to the field of organoselenium synthesis. The development of computational techniques that could predict rational modifications in the structure of organoselenium compounds to increase their specificity is required to construct a library of thiol-modifying agents with selectivity toward specific target proteins.

Copper-catalyzed direct and odorless selenylation with a sodium selenite-based reagent

Use of a new odorless, shelf-stable, easy to handle, practical and scalable direct selenylation reagent, NaO₂SeR, has been disclosed.

Developing selective histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors through ebselen and analogs

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are key regulators of gene expression in cells and have been investigated as important therapeutic targets for cancer and other diseases. Different subtypes of HDACs appear to play disparate roles in the cells and are associated with specific diseases. Therefore, substantial effort has been made to develop subtype-selective HDAC inhibitors. In an effort to discover existing scaffolds with HDAC inhibitory activity, we screened a drug library approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and a National Institutes of Health Clinical Collection compound library in HDAC enzymatic assays. Ebselen, a clinical safe compound, was identified as a weak inhibitor of several HDACs, including HDAC1, HDAC3, HDAC4, HDAC5, HDAC6, HDAC7, HDAC8, and HDAC9 with half maximal inhibitory concentrations approximately single digit of µM. Two ebselen analogs, ebselen oxide and ebsulfur (a diselenide analog of ebselen), also inhibited these HDACs, however with improved potencies on HDAC8. Benzisothiazol, the core structure of ebsulfur, specifically inhibited HDAC6 at a single digit of µM but had no inhibition on other HDACs. Further efforts on structure-activity relationship based on the core structure of ebsulfur led to the discovery of a novel class of potent and selective HDAC6 inhibitors with RBC-2008 as the lead compound with single-digit nM potency. This class of histone deacetylase inhibitor features a novel pharmacophore with an ebsulfur scaffold selectively targeting HDAC6. Consistent with its inhibition on HDAC6, RBC-2008 significantly increased the acetylation levels of α-tubulin in PC-3 cells. Furthermore, treatment with these compounds led to cell death of multiple tumor cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrated that ebselen and ebsulfur analogs are inhibitors of HDACs, supporting further preclinical development of this class of compounds for potential therapeutic applications.

Ebselen Preserves Tissue-Engineered Cell Sheets and their Stem Cells in Hypothermic Conditions

Clinical trials have been performed using autologous tissue-engineered epithelial cell sheets for corneal regenerative medicine. To improve stem cell-based therapy for convenient clinical practice, new techniques are required for preserving reconstructed tissues and their stem/progenitor cells until they are ready for use. In the present study, we screened potential preservative agents and developed a novel medium for preserving the cell sheets and their stem/progenitor cells; the effects were evaluated with a luciferase-based viability assay. Nrf2 activators, specifically ebselen, could maintain high ATP levels during preservation. Ebselen also showed a strong influence on maintenance of the viability, morphology, and stem cell function of the cell sheets preserved under hypothermia by protecting them from reactive oxygen species-induced damage. Furthermore, ebselen drastically improved the preservation performance of human cornea tissues and their stem cells. Therefore, ebselen shows good potential as a useful preservation agent in regenerative medicine as well as in cornea transplantation.

Inhibitors of the Hydrolytic Enzyme Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH): Discovery, Synthesis and Development

Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) is a highly conserved hydrolytic enzyme found in numerous species, including bacteria, rodents, and humans. In humans, the DDAH-1 isoform is known to metabolize endogenous asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and monomethyl arginine (l-NMMA), with ADMA proposed to be a putative marker of cardiovascular disease. Current literature reports identify the DDAH family of enzymes as a potential therapeutic target in the regulation of nitric oxide (NO) production, mediated via its biochemical interaction with the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) family of enzymes. Increased DDAH expression and NO production have been linked to multiple pathological conditions, specifically, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and septic shock. As such, the discovery, chemical synthesis, and development of DDAH inhibitors as potential drug candidates represent a growing field of interest. This review article summarizes the current knowledge on DDAH inhibition and the derived pharmacokinetic parameters of the main DDAH inhibitors reported in the literature. Furthermore, current methods of development and chemical synthetic pathways are discussed.

Association of oxidative stress to the genesis of anxiety: implications for possible therapeutic interventions

Oxidative stress caused by reactive species, including reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, and unbound, adventitious metal ions (e.g., iron [Fe] and copper [Cu]), is an underlying cause of various neurodegenerative diseases. These reactive species are an inevitable by-product of cellular respiration or other metabolic processes that may cause the oxidation of lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. Oxidative stress has recently been implicated in depression and anxiety-related disorders. Furthermore, the manifestation of anxiety in numerous psychiatric disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, panic disorder, phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder, highlights the importance of studying the underlying biology of these disorders to gain a better understanding of the disease and to identify common biomarkers for these disorders. Most recently, the expression of glutathione reductase 1 and glyoxalase 1, which are genes involved in antioxidative metabolism, were reported to be correlated with anxiety-related phenotypes. This review focuses on direct and indirect evidence of the potential involvement of oxidative stress in the genesis of anxiety and discusses different opinions that exist in this field. Antioxidant therapeutic strategies are also discussed, highlighting the importance of oxidative stress in the etiology, incidence, progression, and prevention of psychiatric disorders.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of ebselen: Role of the yeast plasma membrane H+-ATPase

Ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one) is a selenium-containing antioxidant demonstrating anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties in mammalian cells and cytotoxicity in lower organisms. The mechanism underlying the antimicrobial activity of ebselen remains unclear. It has recently been proposed that, in lower organisms like yeast, the plasma membrane H+-ATPase (Pma1p) could serve as a potential target for this synthetic organoselenium compound. Using yeast and bacteria, the present study found ebselen to inhibit microbial growth in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and yeast and Gram-positive bacteria to be more sensitive to this action (IC50 approximately 2-5 microM) than Gram-negative bacteria (IC50 < 80 microM). Washout experiments and scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed ebselen to possess fungicidal activity. In addition, ebselen was found to inhibit medium acidification by PMA1-proficient haploid yeast in a concentration-dependent manner. Additional studies comparing PMA1 (+/-) and PMA1 (+/+) diploid yeast cells revealed the mutant to be more sensitive to treatment with ebselen than the wild type. Ebselen also inhibited the ATPase activity of Pma1p from S. cerevisiae in a concentration-dependent manner. The interaction of ebselen with the sulfhydryl-containing compounds L-cysteine and reduced glutathione resulted in the complete and partial prevention, respectively, of the inhibition of Pma1p ATPase activity by ebselen. Taken together, these results suggest that the fungicidal action of ebselen is due, at least in part, to interference with both the proton-translocating function and the ATPase activity of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase.

Antisecretory and antiulcer effects of diphenyl diselenide

The antisecretory and antiulcer effects of diphenyl diselenide were studied in vivo and in vitro. Diphenyl diselenide, administered intraperitoneally prevented the development of gastric lesions induced by ethanol and indomethacin. There was no difference in plasma uric acid concentrations in diphenyl diselenide-treated rats with gastric lesions induced by 70% ethanol. There were no changes in TBARS levels in diphenyl diselenide-treated rats with gastric lesions induced by indomethacin and ethanol. Diphenyl diselenide (5, 10 and 50mg/kg) inhibited gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. In vitro results demonstrated that diphenyl diselenide inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(2+)/ascorbate/H(2)O(2) and reduced K(+)-dependent ATPase activity. The mechanisms by which pre-administered diselenide protects the damaged area in the gastric mucosa are not clear but it appears that the antiulcer activity of diphenyl diselenide is the result of antisecretory activity, via inhibition of gastric K(+)-ATPase activity.

Protective effect of ebselen, a seleno-organic compound, against the progression of acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by compound 48/80, a mast cell degranulator, in rats

The protective effect of ebselen, which possesses glutathione peroxidase-like activity and antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, against the progression of acute gastric mucosal lesions was examined in rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of compound 48/80 (0.75 mg/kg). Ebselen (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) was orally administered 0.5 h after compound 48/80 treatment, at which time gastric mucosal lesions appeared. Post-administered ebselen suppressed gastric mucosal lesion progression at 3 h after compound 48/80 treatment dose-dependently, although no dose of ebselen affected the decreased gastric mucosal blood flow and increased serum serotonin and histamine concentrations found at 3 h after the treatment. A decrease in Se-glutathione peroxidase activity and increases in myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase activities and the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were found in gastric mucosal tissues at 0.5 h after compound 48/80 treatment, and these changes were further enhanced at 3 h. Post-administered ebselen attenuated all these changes found at 3 h after compound 48/80 treatment dose-dependently. The present results indicate that ebselen exerts a protective effect against the progression of compound 48/80-induced acute gastric mucosal lesions in rats, and they suggest that this protective effect of ebselen could be due to its glutathione peroxidase-like activity and its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

Preventive effect of ebselen on acute gastric mucosal lesion development in rats treated with compound 48/80

The preventive effect of ebselen, a seleno-organic compound, which is known to possess glutathione peroxidase-like activity and antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, on the development of acute gastric mucosal lesions was examined in rats with a single injection of compound 48/80 (0.75 mg/kg, i.p.), a mast cell degranulator. Pre-administration of ebselen (p.o.) at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg, but not 10 mg/kg, prevented gastric mucosal lesion development at 3 h, but not gastric mucosal lesion formation at 0.5 h, after compound 48/80 injection, although any dose of pre-administered ebselen did not affect decreased gastric mucosal blood flow and increased serum serotonin and histamine concentrations found at 0.5 and 3 h after compound 48/80 injection. A decrease in Se-glutathione peroxidase activity and increases in the activities of myeloperoxidase, an index of tissue neutrophil infiltration, and xanthine oxidase and the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, an index of lipid peroxidation, were found in gastric mucosal tissues at 0.5 h after compound 48/80 injection and these changes were further enhanced at 3 h. Pre-administration of ebselen (p.o.) at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg, but not 10 mg/kg, attenuated all these changes found at 3 h after compound 48/80 injection. These preventive effects of ebselen occurred in a dose-dependent manner. The present results indicate that pre-administered ebselen prevents the development of compound 48/80-induced acute gastric mucosal lesions in rats, and suggest that this preventive effect of ebselen could be due to its glutathione peroxidase-like activity and antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

Ebselen as protection against ethanol-induced toxicity in rat stomach

The mucosal protective effect of ebselen was examined in an ethanol-induced rat gastric lesion model. Examination of gastric tissue samples by light microscopy showed that i.g. exposure to 50% ethanol induced gastric injury, which was more prominent in female rats. Ethanol did not effect the gastric acid secretion examined by means of H(+)-K+ATPase, the increment of which might be harmful in the stomach. But ebselen with or without ethanol kept H(+)-K+ATPase below control levels. Gastric alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was mainly responsible for oxidation of ethanol in the stomach before it enters the bloodstream. I.g. ethanol exposure inhibited the ADH activity but ebselen eliminated the ethanol-induced inhibition of this enzyme. Therefore, ebselen exhibited a beneficial effect by increasing the gastric ethanol metabolism and by ameliorating the possible tissue toxicity of ethanol. Consistently, we also found that ebselen diminished the blood ethanol level. A gender difference in the blood ethanol levels existed following the same dose of ethanol but there was no difference in ADH activity. Histologically, mucosal injury following ebselen exposure together with ethanol was less severe compared with ethanol treatment alone. We concluded that the decrease in ethanol-induced mucosal injury following ebselen may have contributed to the inhibition of H(+)-K+ATPase and the activation of ADH by ebselen.

Molecular actions of ebselen--an antiinflammatory antioxidant

1. Ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one) is a non-toxic seleno-organic drug with antiinflammatory, antiatherosclerotic and cytoprotective properties. 2. Ebselen and some of its metabolites are effective reductants of hydroperoxides including those arising in biomembranes and lipoproteins. 3. By reactions with hydroperoxides and thiols several interconversion cycles are formed which include ebselen metabolites with varying oxidation number of the selenium. 4. In the presence of thiols ebselen mimics the catalytic activities of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase. 5. Ebselen inhibits at low concentrations a number of enzymes involved in inflammation such as lipoxygenases, NO synthases, NADPH, oxidase, protein kinase C and H+/K(+)-ATPase. The inhibitions are manifested on the cellular level and may contribute to the antiinflammatory potential of ebselen.

Ebselen, a seleno-organic compound, protects against ethanol-induced murine gastric mucosal injury in both in vivo and in vitro systems

The inhibitory effect of the seleno-organic compound ebselen on ethanol-induced murine gastric mucosal injury was examined. In an in vivo study, absolute ethanol (50 microliters/mouse, oral) produced marked gastric mucosal necrosis along with hemorrhage or edema and elevations in both lipid peroxide and peptidoleukotriene levels in the fundic mucosa. Pretreatment with ebselen (30 and 100 mg/kg, oral) significantly prevented this gastric mucosal injury and, further, remarkably decreased the elevated lipid peroxide and peptidoleukotriene levels. In an in vitro study using a murine gastric surface mucous cell line GSM06, exposure to ethanol concentration dependently elicited cell damage (7.5-17.5% ethanol) and an increase in lipid peroxides without alterations in peptidoleukotrienes (15% ethanol). Addition of ebselen (10 and 100 microM) to this system (15% ethanol) significantly inhibited the cell damage and completely prevented the increase in lipid peroxide level. These results indicate that ebselen protects against murine gastric mucosal injury both in vivo and in vitro, and that this protection may be related at least in part to its inhibitory action on lipid peroxides.

Antisecretory and antiulcer effects of ebselen, a seleno-organic compound, in rats

The effects of ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-on), a metal-containing organic compound, on gastric secretion and gastric ulceration were examined in rats. Intraduodenal ebselen (30 to 300 mg/kg) significantly and dose-dependently inhibited gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. Both aspirin- and water-immersion restraint stress-induced ulcers were significantly prevented by oral administration of ebselen at doses equivalent to the antisecretory doses. These results indicate that the antisecretory effect of ebselen underlies its antiulcer effect in these models.

Ebselen, a selenoorganic compound as glutathione peroxidase mimic

The selenoorganic compound ebselen, 2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one, exhibits activity as an enzyme mimic. The reaction catalyzed is that of a glutathione (GSH) peroxidase (i.e., the reduction of a hydroperoxide at the expense of thiol). The specificity for substrates ranges from hydrogen peroxide and smaller organic hydroperoxides to membrane-bound phospholipid and cholesterol hydroperoxides. In addition to glutathione, the thiol reductant cosubstrate can be dithioerythritol, N-acetylcysteine or dihydrolipoate, or other suitable thiol compounds. Ebselen also has properties such as free radical and singlet oxygen quenching. Model experiments in vitro with liposomes, microsomes, isolated cells, and organs show that the protection against oxidative challenge afforded by ebselen can be explained largely by the activity as GSH peroxidase mimic. Whether this also explains the known preliminary results in clinical settings is yet open. The metabolism and disposition of ebselen is presented in this review. The main point is that the selenium is not bioavailable, explaining the extremely low toxicity observed in animal studies. The occurrence of natural GPx mimics, ovothiol and related compounds, is briefly mentioned.