Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-biphenyl-nicotinic based moiety compounds: A new class of antimitotic agents for the treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma

Benzene-1,3-diol derivatives as the inhibitors of butyrylcholinesterase: An emergent target of Alzheimer’s disease

Molecular docking is a powerful and significant approach for the identification of lead molecules on the basis of virtual screening. With it a large number of compounds can be tested and based on the scoring function and ranking, the conclusion can be made about how the selected compounds can inhibit the targeted protein/receptor. Considering the importance of selective inhibitors of cholinesterase in the treatment of Alzheimer disease, this research is focused on the determination of the mechanism of binding interactions of few benzene-1,3-diol derivatives within the active site of both acetyl-choline-sterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). All the selective ligands were found to have a greater binding affinity with the BChE when compared to that of AChE, by an average value of ~?28.4 and ~?12.5 kJ/mol, respectively. The results suggested that the identified inhibitors can be used as the lead com-pounds for the development of novel inhibitors of the targeted enzymes against some specific diseases, thus opening the possibility of new therapeutic strategies.

MiR-9-1 Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis by Targeting UHRF1 in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is listed as the most common reason for cancer-related death all over the world despite diagnostic improvements and the development of chemotherapy and targeted therapies. MicroRNAs control both physiological and pathological processes including development and cancer. A microRNA-9 to 1 (miR-9 to 1) overexpression model in lung cancer cell lines was established and miR-9 to 1 was found to significantly suppress the proliferation rate in lung cancer cell lines, colony formation in vitro, and tumorigenicity in nude mice of A549 cells. Ubiquitin-like containing PHD and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1) was then identified to direct target of miR-9 to 1. The inhibition of UHRF1 by miR-9 to 1 causes G1 arrest and p15, p16, and p21 were re-expressed in miR-9 to 1 group in mRNA level and protein level. Silence of UHRF1 expression in A549 cells resulted in the similar re-expression of p15, p16, p21 which is similar with miR-9 to 1 infection. Therefore, we concluded that UHRF1 is a new target for miR-9 to 1 to suppress cell proliferation by re-expression of tumor suppressors p15, p16, and p21 mediated by UHRF1.

Hydroxy-Propil-β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes of two Biphenylnicotinamide Derivatives: Formulation and Anti-Proliferative Activity Evaluation in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Models

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies, with poor outcomes largely due to its unique microenvironment, which is responsible for the low response to drugs and drug-resistance phenomena. This clinical need led us to explore new therapeutic approaches for systemic PDAC treatment by the utilization of two newly synthesized biphenylnicotinamide derivatives, PTA73 and PTA34, with remarkable antitumor activity in an in vitro PDAC model. Given their poor water solubility, inclusion complexes of PTA34 and PTA73 in Hydroxy-Propil-β-Cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) were prepared in solution and at the solid state. Complexation studies demonstrated that HP-β-CD is able to form stable host–guest inclusion complexes with PTA34 and PTA73, characterized by a 1:1 apparent formation constant of 503.9 M⁻¹ and 369.2 M⁻¹, respectively (also demonstrated by the Job plot), and by an increase in aqueous solubility of about 150 times (from 1.95 µg/mL to 292.5 µg/mL) and 106 times (from 7.16 µg/mL to 762.5 µg/mL), in the presence of 45% w/v of HP-β-CD, respectively. In vitro studies confirmed the high antitumor activity of the complexed PTA34 and PTA73 towards PDAC cells, the strong G2/M phase arrest followed by induction of apoptosis, and thus their eligibility for PDAC therapy.

Novel Antiproliferative Biphenyl Nicotinamide: NMR Metabolomic Study of its Effect on the MCF-7 Cell in Comparison with Cisplatin and Vinblastine

A 1H-NMR-based metabolomic study was performed on MCF-7 cell lines treated with a novel nicotinamide derivative (DT-8) in comparison with two drugs characterized by a well-established mechanism of action, namely the DNA-metalating drug cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum(II), CDDP) and the antimitotic drug vinblastine (vinblastine, VIN). The effects of the three compounds, each one at the concentration corresponding to the IC50 value, were investigated, with respect to the controls (K), by the 1H-NMR of cells lysates and multivariate analysis (MVA) of the spectroscopic data. Relevant differences were found in the metabolic profiles of the different treatments with respect to the controls. A large overlap of the metabolic profiles in DT-8 vs. K and VIN vs. K suggests a similar biological response and mechanism of action, significantly diverse with respect to CDDP. On the other hand, DT8 seems to act by disorganizing the mitotic spindle and ultimately blocking the cell division, through a mechanism implying methionine depletion and/or S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) limitation.

The (+)-Brevipolide H Displays Anticancer Activity against Human Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: The Role of Oxidative Stress and Akt/mTOR/p70S6K-Dependent Pathways in G1 Checkpoint Arrest and Apoptosis

Because conventional chemotherapy is not sufficiently effective against prostate cancer, various examinations have been performed to identify anticancer activity of naturally occurring components and their mechanisms of action. The (+)-brevipolide H, an α-pyrone-based natural compound, induced potent and long-term anticancer effects in human castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) PC-3 cells. Flow cytofluorometric analysis with propidium iodide staining showed (+)-brevipolide H-induced G1 arrest of cell cycle and subsequent apoptosis through induction of caspase cascades. Since Akt/mTOR pathway has been well substantiated in participating in cell cycle progression in G1 phase, its signaling and downstream regulators were examined. Consequently, (+)-brevipolide H inhibited the signaling pathway of Akt/mTOR/p70S6K. The c-Myc inhibition and downregulation of G1 phase cyclins were also attributed to (+)-brevipolide H action. Overexpression of myristoylated Akt significantly rescued mTOR/p70S6K and downstream signaling under (+)-brevipolide H treatment. ROS and Ca²⁺, two key mediators in regulating intracellular signaling, were determined, showing that (+)-brevipolide H interactively induced ROS production and an increase of intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. The (+)-Brevipolide H also induced the downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, indicating the contribution of mitochondrial dysfunction to apoptosis. In conclusion, the data suggest that (+)-brevipolide H displays anticancer activity through crosstalk between ROS production and intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization. In addition, suppression of Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway associated with downregulation of G1 phase cyclins contributes to (+)-brevipolide H-mediated anticancer activity, which ultimately causes mitochondrial dysfunction and cell apoptosis. The data also support the biological significance and, possibly, clinically important development of natural product-based anticancer approaches.

Gene Expression Comparison between the Lymph Node-Positive and -Negative Reveals a Peculiar Immune Microenvironment Signature and a Theranostic Role for WNT Targeting in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Pilot Study

Over the past several years there has been much debate with regards to the prognostic and clinical significance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with lymph nodes metastasis. The PDAC gene expression knowledge and the biologic alterations underlying the lymph node involvement convey a clinical implication in dealing with the theranostic window. To this end, we provide an original bioinformatic dissection of the gene expression differences of PDAC according to the nodal involvement from a large public available dataset. Comprehensive transcriptomic analysis from 143 RNA-seq patient's derived samples indicated that WNT increased activation and a peculiar immune microenvironment identify subjects with nodal involvement. In frame of this thinking, we validated the WNT pathway role in increasing the likelihood of lymphatic dissemination in vitro. Moreover, we demonstrated for the first time in a PDAC model the potential therapeutic window that XAV-939-a specific WNT pathway inhibitor-has in re-educating a tumor-permissive immune system. Finally, we outline the potential implication on bystander molecular drivers exerted by WNT molecular inhibition, providing a picture of the proteomic oncogenic landscape changes elicited by XAV-939 on PDAC cells and their clinical implication. Our findings hold the promise to identify novel immune-based therapeutic strategies targeting WNT to enhance PDAC cytotoxicity and restore anti-PDAC immunity in node-positive disease.

The circular RNA circ-Ccnb1 dissociates Ccnb1/Cdk1 complex suppressing cell invasion and tumorigenesis

Circular RNAs represent a large class of non-coding RNAs that are extensively expressed in mammals. However, the functions of circular RNAs are largely unknown. We recently reported that the circular RNA circ-Ccnb1 could bind with H2AX in p53 mutant cells and suppressed mutant p53 in tumor progression. Here we found that circ-Ccnb1 could interact with both Ccnb1 and Cdk1 proteins. Normally, Ccnb1 and Cdk1 proteins form a complex, allowing Ccnb1 to function as an all-or-none switch for cell mitosis. The interaction of circ-Ccnb1 with Ccnb1 and Cdk1 proteins dissociated the formation of Ccnb1-Cdk1 complex, by forming a large complex containing circ-Ccnb1, Ccnb1 and Cdk1. Formation of this large complex may occur in cytosol and nuclei, and Ccnb1 loses its roles in enhancing cell migration, invasion, proliferation and survival. In vivo, ectopic delivery of circ-Ccnb1 inhibited tumor growth and extended mouse viability. These results have added another layer of mechanisms for circ-Ccnb1 to regulate tumor progression in vitro and in vivo.