Anti-angiogenic action of 5,5-diphenyl-2-thiohydantoin-N10 (DPTH-N10)

From seaweed to healing: the potential of fucoidan in wound therapy

This bibliometric review examines the current state of research on fucoidan, a sulphated polysaccharide found in brown seaweed species, and its potential for wound healing. The review included 58 studies that investigated fucoidan's effects on wound healing, revealing that it possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that could aid in the healing process. Fucoidan was also found to promote cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, essential for wound healing. However, the optimal dosage, treatment duration, safety, and efficacy of fucoidan in various wound types and patient populations still require further investigation. Additionally, advanced wound dressings like hydrogels have garnered significant attention for their potential in wound healing. While this review indicates promise for fucoidan as a natural wound healing compound, it underscores the need for additional clinical trials to determine its optimal use as a commercial therapeutic agent in wound healing.

Catalytic Enantioselective Biltz Synthesis

The Biltz synthesis establishes straightforward access to 5,5-disubstituted (thio)hydantoins by combining a 1,2-diketone and a (thio)urea. Its appealing features include inherent atom and step economy together with the potential to generate structurally diverse products. However, control of the stereochemistry of this reaction has proven to be a daunting challenge. Herein, we describe the first example of enantioselective catalytic Biltz synthesis which affords more than 40 thiohydantoins with high stereo- and regio-control, irrespective of the symmetry of thiourea structure. A one pot synthesis of corresponding hydantoins is also documented. Remarkably, experimental studies and DFT calculations establish the reaction pathway and origin of stereoselectivity.

Synthesis and dynamic NMR studies of novel hydantoin and thiohydantoin derivatives. Crystal structure of diethyl 2-(4,4-diaryl-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-1-yl) fumarate and diethyl 2-(4,4-diaryl-2-mercapto-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)fumarate

The reaction of stoichiometric amounts of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates with triphenylphosphine in the presence of hydantoins or thiohydantoins afforded stable crystalline phosphorus ylides. These compounds undergo smooth elimination of PPh3 to produce dialkyl 2-(4,4-diaryl-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-1-yl)fumarate, 4 or dialkyl 2-(4,4-diaryl-2-mercapto-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1 H-imidazol-1-yl)fumarate, 7. Single crystal X-ray diffraction study on 4b and 7b proved the structures unambiguously with C=O and SH functionality at the 2-position of the imidazole ring, respectively. Dynamic effects were observed in the NMR spectra of these compounds and were attributed to restricted rotation around the carbon-nitrogen single bonds. Rotational energy barrier (Δ G#) for their interconversion process of rotational isomers equals to (53.6 and 17.2) ± 2 kcal mol−1.

Chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of 2-methoxyfuran with aliphatic ketimines generated in situ

An enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction with aliphatic ketimines generated in situ from hemiaminal ethers catalyzed by a chiral Brønsted acid was investigated. The reaction of 2-methoxyfuran with (thio)hydantoin-derived hemiaminal methyl ether proceeded under the influence of a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst to afford the corresponding adduct possessing a quaternary stereogenic center in high yield with high enantioselectivity. Theoretical studies were also conducted to clarify the mechanism of the stereochemical outcome and the major factors contributing to the efficient enantioselection.

Voltage-gated sodium channel as a target for metastatic risk reduction with re-purposed drugs

Objective: To determine the exact role of sodium channel proteins in migration, invasion and metastasis and understand the possible anti-invasion and anti-metastatic activity of repurposed drugs with voltage gated sodium channel blocking properties.

Material and methods: A review of the published medical literature was performed searching for pharmaceuticals used in daily practice, with inhibitory activity on voltage gated sodium channels. For every drug found, the literature was reviewed in order to define if it may act against cancer cells as an anti-invasion and anti-metastatic agent and if it was tested with this purpose in the experimental and clinical settings.

Results: The following pharmaceuticals that fulfill the above mentioned effects, were found: phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate, lamotrigine, ranolazine, resveratrol, ropivacaine, lidocaine, mexiletine, flunarizine, and riluzole. Each of them are independently described and analyzed.

Conclusions: The above mentioned pharmaceuticals have shown anti-metastatic and anti-invasion activity and many of them deserve to be tested in well-planned clinical trials as adjunct therapies for solid tumors and as anti-metastatic agents. Antiepileptic drugs like phenytoin, carbamazepine and valproate and the vasodilator flunarizine emerged as particularly useful for anti-metastatic purposes.

Fucoidan promotes the reconstruction of skin equivalents

In this study we investigated the effects of fucoidan on the proliferation of fibroblasts and the reconstruction of a skin equivalent (SE). Fucoidan significantly stimulated the proliferation of CCD-25Sk human fibroblasts and Western blot analysis demonstrated that fucoidan markedly increased the expression of cyclin D1 and decreased the expression of p27. Fucoidan was used to reconstruct SE. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the addition of fucoidan to dermal equivalents increased expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p63. In addition, expression of α6-integrin was significantly increased by fucoidan, whereas expression of β1-integrin, type 1 collagen, elastin, fibronectin did not markedly change. These results suggest that fucoidan has positive effects on epidermal reconstruction and will therefore be beneficial in the reconstruction of SE.

A Novel Chemoselective Synthesis of 1,2-Dihydroisoquinolines Linked to 2-Thiohydantoins in Water

A novel three-component condensation reaction between an isocyanide, isoquinoline and thiohydantoins efficiently generates 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives in a one-pot reaction in water at 70 °C without using any catalyst. Thiohydantoins and isoquinolines exhibit important medicinal properties.

Plasmin-clipped beta(2)-glycoprotein-I inhibits endothelial cell growth by down-regulating cyclin A, B and D1 and up-regulating p21 and p27

beta(2)-Glycoprotein-I (beta(2)gpI), an abundant plasma glycoprotein, functions as a regulator of thrombosis. Previously, we demonstrated that plasmin-clipped beta(2)gpI (cbeta(2)gpI) exerts an anti-angiogenic effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The present study was focused on the molecular background responsible for this phenomenon. cbeta(2)gpI strongly reduced HUVEC growth and proliferation as evidenced by the MTT and BrdU assay and delayed cell cycle progression arresting HUVEC in the S-and G2/M-phase. Western blot analysis indicated that cbeta(2)gpI inhibited cyclin A, B and D1, and enhanced p21 and p27 expression. Activity of p38 was down-regulated independently from the cbeta(2)gpI incubation time. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was not changed early (30 and 60 min) but became enhanced later (90 min, 4h). JNK activity was reduced rapidly after cbeta(2)gpI treatment but compared to controls, increased thereafter. Annexin II blockade prevented growth inhibition and cell cycle delay evoked by cbeta(2)gpI. We assume that cbeta(2)gpI's effects on HUVEC growth is mediated via cyclin A, B and D1 suppression, up-regulation of p21 and p27 and coupled to modifications of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signalling pathway. cbeta(2)gpI may represent a potential endogenous angiogenesis-targeted compound, opening the possibility of a novel tool to treat cancer.

5,5-Diphenyl-2-thiohydantoin-N10 (DPTH-N10) suppresses proliferation of cultured colon cancer cell line COLO-205 by inhibiting DNA synthesis and activating apoptosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential applications of 5,5-diphenyl-2-thiohydantoin-N10 (DPTH-N10) in the treatment of human colon cancer. Subcultured human colon cancer cell line, COLO-205, was used for examining the antiproliferation effect of DPTH-N10 on colon cancer. Thymidine incorporation and cell count were conducted to examine the antiproliferation effect of DPTH-N10. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the protein levels of cell cycle-related proteins. DNA fragmentation assay was performed to examine the occurrence of apoptosis. DPTH-N10 at a range of concentrations (0-30 microM) inhibits the proliferation but did not cause the cell death of COLO-205, indicating that it may have an inhibitory effect on the cell proliferation in COLO-205. The apoptosis was observed in COLO-205 when the DPTH-N10 concentrations were higher than 30 muM. Western blot analysis showed that the protein level of the cell cycle inhibitory protein, p21, in COLO-205 increased after DPTH-N10 treatment. Immunoprecipitation showed that the formation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)2-p21 complex was increased in the DPTH-N10-treated COLO-205. Kinase assay further demonstrated that the CDK2 activity was decreased in the DPTH-N10-treated COLO-205. DPTH-N10 caused growth inhibition in COLO-205 by inhibiting DNA synthesis and activating apoptosis. The findings from our previous in vitro studies in DPTH-N10-induced anti-angiogenic effect and from the present in vitro studies in DPTH-N10-induced antiproliferation effect on colon cancer cell line strongly suggest the potential applications of DPTH-N10 in the treatment of human colon cancer.

The Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane as an In Vivo Assay to Study Antiangiogenesis

Antiangiogenesis, e.g., inhibition of blood vessel growth, is being investigated as a way to prevent the growth of tumors and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases. Pharmacological inhibition interferes with the angiogenic cascade or the immature neovasculature with synthetic or semi-synthetic substances, endogenous inhibitors or biological antagonists.The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is an extraembryonic membrane, which serves as a gas exchange surface and its function is supported by a dense capillary network. Because its extensive vascularization and easy accessibility, CAM has been used to study morphofunctional aspects of the angiogenesis process in vivo and to study the efficacy and mechanism of action of pro- and anti-angiogenic molecules. The fields of application of CAM in the study of antiangiogenesis, including our personal experience, are illustrated in this review article.