2,2′-Bipyridyl based copper complexes down regulate expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppress MAPKs in mitogen induced Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity of molecular copper(II) complex of N-1-tosylcytosine

In an attempt to enhance the previously observed antiproliferative capacity of 1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)cytosine (N-1-tosylcytosine, ligand 1), its copper(II) complex (Cu(1-TsC-N3)₂Cl₂, complex 2) was prepared and tested in vitro on various carcinoma and leukemia cells. The comparative in vitro studies using the ligand 1, the complex 2, CuCl₂x2H₂O salt (salt 3) and the 1:2 mixture of the salt 3 and ligand 1 (mixture 4) were performed on normal (WI38), human carcinoma (HeLa, CaCo2, MiaPaCa2, SW620), lymphoma (Raji) and leukemia (K562) cell lines. Significantly elevated concentration of the intracellular copper after treatment of K562 cells and HeLa cells during 2h with complex 2 (7.83 vs. 5.4 times) was detected by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity was analyzed by MTT assay. We found that antiproliferative capacity of the tested compounds varies (IC₅₀ after 72h of exposure: 0.6×10^-6M to>100×10^-6M). Leukemia and lymphoma cells were found the most sensitive to complex 2 which showed more than 100 times higher in vitro activity against K562 cells than ligand 1. Apoptotic morphological changes, an externalization of phosphatydilserine, and changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential of treated cells were found. The caspase-3 activity in HeLa and K562 cells was measured by caspase-3 colorimetric assay kit. Caspase-3 was not activated in the treated K562 cells while salt 3 and the mixture 4 in the HeLa cells significantly increased tested enzyme activity. These findings suggest that copper(II) in the molecular complex 2 by improving entry of the N-1-tosylcytosine 1 into cells increases its antiproliferative capacity. In summary, the present study demonstrated that complex 2 possesses an antileukemic effect on K562 cells, and its anticancer activity was attributed with induction of apoptosis. The exact mechanism of apoptosis induction by complex 2 must be further investigated.

Effect of ulinastatin combined with thymosin alpha1 on sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of Chinese and Indian patients

PURPOSE

To assess the effects of urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) ulinastatin combined with thymosin alpha1 (Tα1) on sepsis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The meta-analysis included 8 randomized controlled trials (N=1112 patients) on UTI-based therapy for sepsis published before July 10, 2016. Two investigators independently extracted data and assessed the quality of each study. The short-term mortality rate, duration of mechanical ventilator and vasopressor use, length of intensive care unit stay, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, and differences in inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor α) were assessed using statistical software.

RESULTS

Treatment of UTI combined with Tα1 (UTI+Tα1) decreased the short-term mortality rate in septic patients by 36%, 35%, and 31% for 28, 60, 90 days, respectively. UTI+Tα1 decreased the duration of mechanical ventilation, APACHE II score, and levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α. Treatment of UTI+Tα1 did not reduce the duration of vasopressor use and length of intensive care unit stay, or increase IL-10 levels. Because of the high heterogeneity of the included trials, the results should be carefully assessed.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of UTI+Tα1 can suppress the production of proinflammatory cytokines, decrease the APACHE II score, shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation, and improve the 28-day survival rate.

Identification of p38 MAPK and JNK as new targets for correction of Wilson disease-causing ATP7B mutants

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder that is caused by the toxic accumulation of copper (Cu) in the liver. The ATP7B gene, which is mutated in WD, encodes a multitransmembrane domain adenosine triphosphatase that traffics from the trans-Golgi network to the canalicular area of hepatocytes, where it facilitates excretion of excess Cu into the bile. Several ATP7B mutations, including H1069Q and R778L that are two of the most frequent variants, result in protein products, which, although still functional, remain in the endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, they fail to reach Cu excretion sites, resulting in the toxic buildup of Cu in the liver of WD patients. Therefore, correcting the location of these mutants by leading them to the appropriate functional sites in the cell should restore Cu excretion and would be beneficial to help large cohorts of WD patients. However, molecular targets for correction of endoplasmic reticulum-retained ATP7B mutants remain elusive. Here, we show that expression of the most frequent ATP7B mutant, H1069Q, activates p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathways, which favor the rapid degradation of the mutant. Suppression of these pathways with RNA interference or specific chemical inhibitors results in the substantial rescue of ATP7B(H1069Q) (as well as that of several other WD-causing mutants) from the endoplasmic reticulum to the trans-Golgi network compartment, in recovery of its Cu-dependent trafficking, and in reduction of intracellular Cu levels.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase as intriguing targets for correction of WD-causing mutants and, hence, as potential candidates, which could be evaluated for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat WD. (Hepatology 2016;63:1842-1859).

Copper as a key regulator of cell signalling pathways

Copper is an essential element in many biological processes. The critical functions associated with copper have resulted from evolutionary harnessing of its potent redox activity. This same property also places copper in a unique role as a key modulator of cell signal transduction pathways. These pathways are the complex sequence of molecular interactions that drive all cellular mechanisms and are often associated with the interplay of key enzymes including kinases and phosphatases but also including intracellular changes in pools of smaller molecules. A growing body of evidence is beginning to delineate the how, when and where of copper-mediated control over cell signal transduction. This has been driven by research demonstrating critical changes to copper homeostasis in many disorders including cancer and neurodegeneration and therapeutic potential through control of disease-associated cell signalling changes by modulation of copper-protein interactions. This timely review brings together for the first time the diverse actions of copper as a key regulator of cell signalling pathways and discusses the potential strategies for controlling disease-associated signalling processes using copper modulators. It is hoped that this review will provide a valuable insight into copper as a key signal regulator and stimulate further research to promote our understanding of copper in disease and therapy.

Effect of carbon monoxide-releasing molecules II-liberated CO on suppressing inflammatory response in sepsis by interfering with nuclear factor kappa B activation

Sepsis continues to be a challenge in clinic. The rates of mortality in sepsis patients remain high. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and the underlying mechanisms of carbon monoxide-releasing molecules II (CORM-2)-liberated CO on suppressing inflammatory response in sepsis. It was shown that treatment of septic mice with CORM-2 attenuated PMN accumulation, downregulated cytokines production, inhibited expressions of iNOS and NF-κB activity in the lung and liver. In parallel, CORM-2 prevented activation of NF-κB in LPS-stimulated HUVEC. This was accompanied by a decrease in ROS and NO production, expression of ICAM-1 and subsequent PMN adhesion to HUVEC. These findings demonstrated that CORM-released CO attenuates inflammatory responses by interfering with NF-κB activation and therefore decreasing the expression of ICAM-1 and NO production, attenuating the oxidative stress and inflammation in sepsis.

Cellular responses induced by Cu(II) quinolinonato complexes in human tumor and hepatic cells

BACKGROUND

Inspired by the unprecedented historical success of cisplatin, one of the most important research directions in bioinorganic and medicinal chemistry is dedicated to the development of new anticancer compounds with the potential to surpass it in antitumor activity, while having lower unwanted side-effects. Therefore, a series of copper(II) mixed-ligand complexes of the type [Cu(qui)(L)]Y · xH2O (1-6), where Hqui = 2-phenyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolinone, Y = NO3 (1, 3, 5) or BF4 (2, 4, 6), and L = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) (1, 2), 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (mphen) (3, 4) and bathophenanthroline (bphen) (5, 6), was studied for their in vitro cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines (A549 lung carcinoma, HeLa cervix epitheloid carcinoma, G361 melanoma cells, A2780 ovarian carcinoma, A2780cis cisplatin-resistant ovarian carcinoma, LNCaP androgen-sensitive prostate adenocarcinoma and THP-1 monocytic leukemia).

RESULTS

The tested complexes displayed a stronger cytotoxic effect against all the cancer cells as compared to cisplatin. The highest cytotoxicity was found for the complexes 4 (IC50 = 0.36 ± 0.05 μM and 0.56 ± 0.15 μM), 5 (IC50 = 0.66 ± 0.07 μM and 0.73 ± 0.08 μM) and 6 (IC50 = 0.57 ± 0.11 μM and 0.70 ± 0.20 μM) against A2780, and A2780cis respectively, as compared with the values of 12.0 ± 0.8 μM and 27.0 ± 4.6 μM determined for cisplatin. Moreover, the tested complexes were much less cytotoxic to primary human hepatocytes than to the cancer cells. The complexes 5 and 6 exhibited significantly high ability to modulate secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (2873 ± 238 pg/mL and 3284 ± 139 pg/mL for 5, and 6 respectively) and IL-1β (1177 ± 128 pg/mL and 1087 ± 101 pg/mL for 5, and 6 respectively) tested on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 cells as compared with the values of 1173 ± 85 pg/mL and 118.5 ± 4.8 pg/mL found for the commercially used anti-inflammatory drug prednisone. The ability of the tested complexes to interact with sulfur-containing biomolecules (cysteine and reduced glutathione) at physiological levels was proved by electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall positive results of the biological activity studies revealed that the presented complexes may represent good candidates for non-platinum anticancer drugs, however, we are aware of the fact that further and deeper studies mainly in relation to the elucidation of their mechanisms of antiproliferative action will be necessary.

Inhibitory effects of bioactive leads isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PS3 and Pseudomonas fluorescens PS7 on MAP kinases and down regulation of pro inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and mediators (NO, iNOS and COX)

Pure lead molecules, showing anti-inflammatory effect were isolated from the marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa PS3 (GenBank Accession No. EF488968) and Pseudomonas fluorescens PS7 (GenBank Accession No. EF488969) using solvent extraction procedures, subsequent column fractionation, followed by bio activity based screening. The structures of the lead molecules (3S, 8aS)-3-isobutylhexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione (Compound 1) and (8aS)-3-(4-hydroxybenyl) hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione (Compound 2) obtained from P. aeruginosa PS3 and P. fluorescens PS7 respectively were established employing spectral analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 at their IC(50) values of 84 and 53μM concentrations respectively down regulated expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1-β (IL-1β) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene in RAW 264.7 cells. Immunoblot analysis revealed the inhibitory effect of pure compounds on phosphorylation of all the three mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) such as ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK. The results of the present investigation revealed that the pure compounds are anti-inflammatory in nature.