Protective effect of novel substituted nicotine hydrazide analogues against hypoxic brain injury in neonatal rats via inhibition of caspase

Novel 1,3,5-triazine-nicotinohydrazide derivatives induce cell arrest and apoptosis in osteosarcoma cancer cells and inhibit osteosarcoma in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft mouse model

The present study deals with developing novel 1,3,5-triazine-nicotinohydrazide derivatives as potent CDK9 inhibitors in a straightforward synthetic route with potent anti-osteosarcoma activity. The most potent CDK9 inhibitor compound 5k inhibits proliferation of MG-63 cells via induction of apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest. It reduces tumor progression in the patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. In tumor tissue homogenates, it caused significant inhibition of CDK9 and inhibited the phosphorylation of RNAPII ser2 and reduced MCL-1 expression in Western blot analysis. Compound 5k also showed considerable bioavailability in SD mice. Our results demonstrated that compound 5k inhibits growth of OS in vitro and in vivo via inhibition of CDK9 which attenuated the downstream phosphorylation of RNAPII ser2 and represses expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, MCL-1 for the induction of apoptosis in OS.

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid-induced oxidative stress: Metabolome and membrane modifications in Umbelopsis isabellina, a herbicide degrader

The study reports the response to herbicide of the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)-degrading fungal strain Umbelopsis isabellina. A comparative analysis covered 41 free amino acids as well as 140 lipid species of fatty acids, phospholipids, acylglycerols, sphingolipids, and sterols. 2,4-D presence led to a decrease in fungal catalase activity, associated with a higher amount of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). Damage to cells treated with the herbicide resulted in increased membrane permeability and decreased membrane fluidity. Detailed lipidomic profiling showed changes in the fatty acids composition such as an increase in the level of linoleic acid (C18:2). Moreover, an increase in the phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylcholine ratio was observed. Analysis of fungal lipid profiles revealed that the presence of 2,4-D was accompanied by the accumulation of triacylglycerols, a decrease in ergosterol content, and a considerable rise in the level of sphingolipid ceramides. In the exponential phase of growth, increased levels of leucine, glycine, serine, asparagine, and hydroxyproline were found. The results obtained in our study confirmed that in the cultures of U. isabellina oxidative stress was caused by 2,4-D. The herbicide itself forced changes not only to membrane lipids but also to neutral lipids and amino acids, as the difference of tested compounds profiles between 2,4-D-containing and control samples was consequently lower as the pesticide degradation progressed. The presented findings may have a significant impact on the basic understanding of 2,4-D biodegradation and may be applied for process optimization on metabolomic and lipidomic levels.