1
|
Solidoro R, Centonze A, Miciaccia M, Baldelli OM, Armenise D, Ferorelli S, Perrone MG, Scilimati A. Fluorescent imaging probes for in vivo ovarian cancer targeted detection and surgery. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:1800-1866. [PMID: 38367227 DOI: 10.1002/med.22027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer, with a survival rate of approximately 40% at five years from the diagno. The first-line treatment consists of cytoreductive surgery combined with chemotherapy (platinum- and taxane-based drugs). To date, the main prognostic factor is related to the complete surgical resection of tumor lesions, including occult micrometastases. The presence of minimal residual diseases not detected by visual inspection and palpation during surgery significantly increases the risk of disease relapse. Intraoperative fluorescence imaging systems have the potential to improve surgical outcomes. Fluorescent tracers administered to the patient may support surgeons for better real-time visualization of tumor lesions during cytoreductive procedures. In the last decade, consistent with the discovery of an increasing number of ovarian cancer-specific targets, a wide range of fluorescent agents were identified to be employed for intraoperatively detecting ovarian cancer. Here, we present a collection of fluorescent probes designed and developed for fluorescence-guided ovarian cancer surgery. Original articles published between 2011 and November 2022 focusing on fluorescent probes, currently under preclinical and clinical investigation, were searched in PubMed. The keywords used were targeted detection, ovarian cancer, fluorescent probe, near-infrared fluorescence, fluorescence-guided surgery, and intraoperative imaging. All identified papers were English-language full-text papers, and probes were classified based on the location of the biological target: intracellular, membrane, and extracellular.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Solidoro
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonella Centonze
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Morena Miciaccia
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Olga Maria Baldelli
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Domenico Armenise
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Savina Ferorelli
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Scilimati
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Solidoro R, Miciaccia M, Bonaccorso C, Fortuna CG, Armenise D, Centonze A, Ferorelli S, Vitale P, Rodrigues P, Guimarães R, de Oliveira A, da Paz M, Rangel L, Sathler PC, Altomare A, Perrone MG, Scilimati A. A further pocket or conformational plasticity by mapping COX-1 catalytic site through modified-mofezolac structure-inhibitory activity relationships and their antiplatelet behavior. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 266:116135. [PMID: 38219659 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Cyclooxygenase enzymes have distinct roles in cardiovascular, neurological, and neurodegenerative disease. They are differently expressed in different type of cancers. Specific and selective COXs inhibitors are needed to be used alone or in combo-therapies. Fully understand the differences at the catalytic site of the two cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms is still opened to investigation. Thus, two series of novel compounds were designed and synthesized in fair to good yields using the highly selective COX-1 inhibitor mofezolac as the lead compound to explore a COX-1 zone formed by the polar residues Q192, S353, H90 and Y355, as well as hydrophobic amino acids I523, F518 and L352. According to the structure of the COX-1:mofezolac complex, hydrophobic amino acids appear to have free volume eventually accessible to the more sterically hindering groups than the methoxy linked to the phenyl groups of mofezolac, in particular the methoxyphenyl at C4-mofezolac isoxazole. Mofezolac bears two methoxyphenyl groups linked to C3 and C4 of the isoxazole core ring. Thus, in the novel compounds, one or both methoxy groups were replaced by the higher homologous ethoxy, normal and isopropyl, normal and tertiary butyl, and phenyl and benzyl. Furthermore, a major difference between the two sets of compounds is the presence of either a methyl or acetic moiety at the C5 of the isoxazole. Among the C5-methyl series, 12 (direct precursor of mofezolac) (COX-1 IC50 = 0.076 μM and COX-2 IC50 = 0.35 μM) and 15a (ethoxy replacing the two methoxy groups in 12; COX-1 IC50 = 0.23 μM and COX-2 IC50 > 50 μM) were still active and with a Selectivity Index (SI = COX-2 IC50/COX-1 IC50) = 5 and 217, respectively. The other symmetrically substituted alkoxyphenyl moietis were inactive at 50 μM final concentration. Among the asymmetrically substituted, only the 16a (methoxyphenyl on C3-isoxazole and ethoxyphenyl on C4-isoxazole) and 16b (methoxyphenyl on C3-isoxazole and n-propoxyphenyl on C4-isoxazole) were active with SI = 1087 and 38, respectively. Among the set of compounds with the acetic moiety, structurally more similar to mofezolac (SI = 6329), SI ranged between 1.4 and 943. It is noteworthy that 17b (n-propoxyphenyl on both C3- and C4-isoxazole) were found to be a COX-2 slightly selective inhibitor with SI = 0.072 (COX-1 IC50 > 50 μM and COX-2 IC50 = 3.6 μM). Platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid (AA) can be in vitro suppressed by the synthesized compounds, without affecting of the secondary hemostasia, confirming the biological effect provided by the selective inhibition of COX-1. A positive profile of hemocompatibility in relation to erythrocyte and platelet toxicity was observed. Additionally, these compounds exhibited a positive profile of hemocompatibility and reduced cytotoxicity. Quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) models and molecular modelling (Ligand and Structure based virtual screening procedures) provide key information on the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of the COX-1 inhibitors as well as new insights into the mechanisms of inhibition that will be used to guide the development of more effective and selective compounds. X-ray analysis was used to confirm the chemical structure of 14 (MSA17).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Solidoro
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Morena Miciaccia
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Carmela Bonaccorso
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling and Heterocyclic Compounds ModHet, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Cosimo Gianluca Fortuna
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling and Heterocyclic Compounds ModHet, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Domenico Armenise
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonella Centonze
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Savina Ferorelli
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Paola Vitale
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Pryscila Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Experimental Hemostasis, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renilda Guimarães
- Laboratory of Experimental Hemostasis, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alana de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Experimental Hemostasis, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana da Paz
- Laboratory of Tumoral Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana Rangel
- Laboratory of Tumoral Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Plínio Cunha Sathler
- Laboratory of Experimental Hemostasis, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Angela Altomare
- Institute of Crystallography-CNR, Via Amendola 122/o, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Perrone
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| | - Antonio Scilimati
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zalfa F, Perrone MG, Ferorelli S, Laera L, Pierri CL, Tolomeo A, Dimiccoli V, Perrone G, De Grassi A, Scilimati A. Genome-Wide Identification and Validation of Gene Expression Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Ovarian Serous Cystadenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153764. [PMID: 35954427 PMCID: PMC9367275 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite ovarian serous adenocarcinoma (OSCA) is a high-incidence type of cancer, limited molecular screening methods are available and the diagnosis mostly occurs at a late stage. The aim of this study is screening the potential of gene expression for identifying OSCA-specific molecular biomarkers for improving diagnosis. A genome-wide survey was performed on high-throughput RNA-sequencing experiments on hundreds ovarian cancer samples and healthy ovarian tissues, providing a number of putative OSCA biomarkers, which were then validated on an independent sample set and using a different RNA-quantification technology. Combinations of gene expression biomarkers were identified, which showed high accuracy in discriminating OSCA tissues from the normal counterpart and from other tumor types. The detected biomarkers can improve the molecular diagnosis of OSCA on tissue samples and are, in principle, translatable to the analysis of liquid biopsies. Abstract Ovarian cancer is the second most prevalent gynecologic malignancy, and ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OSCA) is the most common and lethal subtype of ovarian cancer. Current screening methods have strong limits on early detection, and the majority of OSCA patients relapse. In this work, we developed and cross-validated a method for detecting gene expression biomarkers able to discriminate OSCA tissues from healthy ovarian tissues and other cancer types with high accuracy. A preliminary ranking-based approach was applied, resulting in a panel of 41 over-expressed genes in OSCA. The RNA quantity gene expression of the 41 selected genes was then cross-validated by using NanoString nCounter technology. Moreover, we showed that the RNA quantity of eight genes (ADGRG1, EPCAM, ESRP1, MAL2, MYH14, PRSS8, ST14 and WFDC2) discriminates each OSCA sample from each healthy sample in our data set with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100%. For the other three genes (MUC16, PAX8 and SOX17) in combination, their RNA quantity may distinguish OSCA from other 29 tumor types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Zalfa
- Predictive Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Pathology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy;
- Microscopic and Ultrastructural Anatomy Unit, CIR, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Perrone
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.G.P.); (S.F.)
| | - Savina Ferorelli
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.G.P.); (S.F.)
| | - Luna Laera
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (L.L.); (C.L.P.)
| | - Ciro Leonardo Pierri
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (L.L.); (C.L.P.)
| | - Anna Tolomeo
- Department of ITELPHARMA, ITEL Telecomunicazioni S.R.L., 70037 Ruvo di Puglia, Italy; (A.T.); (V.D.)
| | - Vincenzo Dimiccoli
- Department of ITELPHARMA, ITEL Telecomunicazioni S.R.L., 70037 Ruvo di Puglia, Italy; (A.T.); (V.D.)
| | - Giuseppe Perrone
- Pathology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy;
- Pathology Research Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna De Grassi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (L.L.); (C.L.P.)
- Correspondence: (A.D.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Antonio Scilimati
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.G.P.); (S.F.)
- Correspondence: (A.D.G.); (A.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kaur J, Bhardwaj A, Wuest F. Fluorine-18 Labelled Radioligands for PET Imaging of Cyclooxygenase-2. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27123722. [PMID: 35744851 PMCID: PMC9227202 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27123722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Molecular imaging probes enable the early and accurate detection of disease-specific biomarkers and facilitate personalized treatment of many chronic diseases, including cancer. Among current clinically used functional imaging modalities, positron emission tomography (PET) plays a significant role in cancer detection and in monitoring the response to therapeutic interventions. Several preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the crucial involvement of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) isozyme in cancer development and progression, making COX-2 a promising cancer biomarker. A variety of COX-2-targeting PET radioligands has been developed based on anti-inflammatory drugs and selective COX-2 inhibitors. However, many of those suffer from non-specific binding and insufficient metabolic stability. This article highlights examples of COX-2-targeting PET radioligands labelled with the short-lived positron emitter 18F, including radiosynthesis and PET imaging studies published in the last decade (2012–2021).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jatinder Kaur
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada;
- Correspondence: (J.K.); (F.W.)
| | - Atul Bhardwaj
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada;
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada
| | - Frank Wuest
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada;
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada
- Correspondence: (J.K.); (F.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fluorochrome Selection for Imaging Intraoperative Ovarian Cancer Probes. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15060668. [PMID: 35745587 PMCID: PMC9230671 DOI: 10.3390/ph15060668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification and removal of all gross and microscopic tumor to render the patient disease free represents a huge challenge in ovarian cancer treatment. The presence of residual disease is an independent negative prognostic factor. Herein, we describe the synthesis and the “in vitro” evaluation of compounds as cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 inhibitors, the COX-1 isoform being an ovarian cancer biomarker, each bearing fluorochromes with different fluorescence features. Two of these compounds N-[4-(9-dimethylimino-9H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-5-ylamino) butyl]-2-(3,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)isoxazol-5-yl)acetamide chloride (RR11) and 3-(6-(4-(2-(3,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)isoxazole-5-yl)acetamido)butyl)amino-6-oxohexyl)-2-[7-(1,3-dihydro-1,1-dimethyl-3-ethyl 2H-benz[e]indolin-2-yl-idene)-1,3,5-heptatrienyl]-1,1-dimethyl-3-(6-carboxilato-hexyl)-1H-benz[e]indolium chloride, 23 (MSA14) were found to be potent and selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 “in vitro”, and thus were further investigated “in vivo”. The IC50 values were 0.032 and 0.087 µM for RR11 and 23 (MSA 14), respectively, whereas the COX-2 IC50 for RR11 is 2.4 µM while 23 (MSA14) did not inhibit COX-2 even at a 50 µM concentration. Together, this represented selectivity index = 75 and 874, respectively. Structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) performed with the Fingerprints for Ligands and Proteins (FLAP) software allowed both to differentiate highly active compounds from less active and inactive structures and to define their interactions inside the substrate-binding cavity of hCOX1. Fluorescent probes RR11 and 23 (MSA14), were used for preliminary near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent imaging (FLI) in human ovarian cancer (OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3) xenograft models. Surprisingly, a tumor-specific signal was observed for both tested fluorescent probes, even though this signal is not linked to the presence of COX-1.
Collapse
|
6
|
Kutskaya AM, Serkov SA, Voronin VV, Ledovskaya MS, Polynski MV. Negligible Substituent Effect as Key to Synthetic Versatility: a Computational‐Experimental Study of Vinyl Ethers Addition to Nitrile Oxides. ChemistrySelect 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202200174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia M. Kutskaya
- Institute of Chemistry Saint Petersburg State University Universitetsky Prospect 26 Saint Petersburg 198504 Russia
| | - Semyon A. Serkov
- Institute of Chemistry Saint Petersburg State University Universitetsky Prospect 26 Saint Petersburg 198504 Russia
| | - Vladimir V. Voronin
- Institute of Chemistry Saint Petersburg State University Universitetsky Prospect 26 Saint Petersburg 198504 Russia
| | - Maria S. Ledovskaya
- Institute of Chemistry Saint Petersburg State University Universitetsky Prospect 26 Saint Petersburg 198504 Russia
| | - Mikhail V. Polynski
- Institute of Chemistry Saint Petersburg State University Universitetsky Prospect 26 Saint Petersburg 198504 Russia
- Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 47 Moscow 119991 Russia
- MSU Faculty of Chemistry Leninskiye Gory 1–3 Moscow 119991 Russia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Inflammation, Fibrosis and Cancer: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Options and Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030552. [PMID: 35158821 PMCID: PMC8833582 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Uncontrolled inflammation is a salient factor in multiple chronic inflammatory diseases and cancers. In this review, we provided an in-depth analysis of the relationships and distinctions between uncontrolled inflammation, fibrosis and cancers, while emphasizing the challenges and opportunities of developing novel therapies for the treatment and/or management of these diseases. We described how drug delivery systems, combination therapy and the integration of tissue-targeted and/or pathways selective strategies could overcome the challenges of current agents for managing and/or treating chronic inflammatory diseases and cancers. We also recognized the value of the re-evaluation of the disease-specific roles of multiple pathways implicated in the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory diseases and cancers-as well as the application of data from single-cell RNA sequencing in the success of future drug discovery endeavors.
Collapse
|
8
|
Li G, Gong J, Cao S, Wu Z, Cheng D, Zhu J, Huang X, Tang J, Yuan Y, Cai W, Zhang H. The Non-Coding RNAs Inducing Drug Resistance in Ovarian Cancer: A New Perspective for Understanding Drug Resistance. Front Oncol 2021; 11:742149. [PMID: 34660304 PMCID: PMC8514763 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.742149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer, a common malignant tumor, is one of the primary causes of cancer-related deaths in women. Systemic chemotherapy with platinum-based compounds or taxanes is the first-line treatment for ovarian cancer. However, resistance to these chemotherapeutic drugs worsens the prognosis. The underlying mechanism of chemotherapeutic resistance in ovarian cancer remains unclear. Non-coding RNAs, including long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, and circular RNAs, have been implicated in the development of drug resistance. Abnormally expressed non-coding RNAs can promote ovarian cancer resistance by inducing apoptosis inhibition, protective autophagy, abnormal tumor cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, abnormal glycolysis, drug efflux, and cancer cell stemness. This review summarizes the role of non-coding RNAs in the development of chemotherapeutic resistance in ovarian cancer, including their mechanisms, targets, and potential signaling pathways. This will facilitate the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents that can target these non-coding RNAs and improve ovarian cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaofeng Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Jun Gong
- Department of Abdominal and Pelvic Medical Oncology, Huangshi Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei Polytechnic University, Edong Healthcare Group, Huangshi, China
| | - Shulong Cao
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Zhaoyang Wu
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Dong Cheng
- Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Zhu
- Hubei Enshi College, Enshi, China
| | - Xuqun Huang
- Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Huangshi Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei Polytechnic University, Edong Healthcare Group, Huangshi, China
| | - Jingyi Tang
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Yuning Yuan
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Wenqi Cai
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Haiyuan Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang H, Zhang M, Zheng YC, Zhang JG, Xu H. The design, synthesis and cellular imaging of a tumor-anchored, potent and cell-permeable BRD4-targeted fluorescent ligands. Bioorg Chem 2021; 114:105120. [PMID: 34216895 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Bromodomain 4 (BRD4) proteins play an important role in histone post-translational modifications and facilitate several important physiological and pathological processes, including cancers. The inhibition of BRD4 by small molecule inhibitors shows promise as a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. However, their clinical applications were limited, which is largely hampered by off-target effects-induced toxicity. We herein report the design, synthesis, and cellular imaging of a set of tumor-anchored and BRD4-targeted fluorescent ligands by introducing selective and potent BRD4 inhibitor into different fluorophores via variable linkers. One of the fluorescent conjugates (compound 6) was demonstrated to be cell-permeable and low cytotoxic, preferentially accumulated in cancer cells, and display pronounced fluorescent signal. More importantly, 6 was identified to show specific BRD4 engagement in the cellular content. Collectively, this study provides a pathway for developing labeled BRD4 ligands and highlights that compound 6 may represent a valuable tool for explorative learning and target delivery study of BRD4.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Mingliang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yi-Chao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Jin-Ge Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kaur J, Bhardwaj A, Wuest F. Development of Fluorescence Imaging Probes for Labeling COX-1 in Live Ovarian Cancer Cells. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:798-804. [PMID: 34055228 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent experimental evidence demonstrated an aberrant overexpression of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) in various cancers, which has stimulated the development of COX-1-selective inhibitors as promising anticancer drugs and cancer imaging agents. Herein we describe the synthesis and validation of 3-(furan-2-yl)-N-aryl 5-amino-pyrazoles as a novel class of COX-1 inhibitors, including molecular docking studies. Among all tested compounds, 4-(5-azido-3-(furan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)benzoic 17 displayed a favorable COX-1 inhibition and selectivity profile (COX-1 IC50 = 0.1 μM, SI >1000 over COX-2). Compound 17 was selected as a lead structure for developing the novel COX-1-selective fluorescent probe 22. Fluorescent probe 22 was prepared via click chemistry by installing a nitro-benzoxadiazole motif as a fluorophore into the 3-(furan-2-yl)-N-aryl 5-amino-pyrazole scaffold. Fluorescence probe 22 was tested in ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR-3, confirming its usefulness for targeting and visualizing COX-1 in living cells with confocal microscopy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jatinder Kaur
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Alberta, 8613 - 114 St., Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Atul Bhardwaj
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Alberta, 8613 - 114 St., Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Frank Wuest
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Alberta, 8613 - 114 St., Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dynamics of Cyclooxygenase-1 Positive Microglia/Macrophage in the Retina of Pathological Model Mice as a Biomarker of the Retinal Inflammatory Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073396. [PMID: 33806238 PMCID: PMC8036698 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In an intraocular inflammatory state, microglia residing in the retina become active and migrate inside the retina. In this study, we investigated whether cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) expressed by retinal microglia/macrophage can be a biomarker for the diagnosis of retinal diseases. COX-1 was immunopositive in microglia/macrophage and neutrophils, while COX-2 was immunopositive in astrocytes and neurons in the inner layer of normal retina. The number of COX-1 positive cells per section of the retinal tissue was 14 ± 2.8 (mean ± standard deviation) in normal mice, which showed significant increase in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-administrated model (62 ± 5.0, p = 8.7 × 10−9). In addition to microglia, we found neutrophils that were positive for COX-1. In the early stage of inflammation in the experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU), COX-1 positive cells, infiltrating from the ciliary body into the retinal outer nuclear layer, were observed. The number of infiltrating COX-1 positive cells correlated with the severity of EAU. Taken together, the increased number of COX-1 positive microglia/macrophage with morphological changes were observed in the retinas of retinal inflammatory disease models. This suggests that COX-1 can be a marker of disease-related activities of microglia/macrophage, which should be useful for the diagnosis of retinal diseases.
Collapse
|
12
|
Miciaccia M, Belviso BD, Iaselli M, Cingolani G, Ferorelli S, Cappellari M, Loguercio Polosa P, Perrone MG, Caliandro R, Scilimati A. Three-dimensional structure of human cyclooxygenase (hCOX)-1. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4312. [PMID: 33619313 PMCID: PMC7900114 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83438-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The beneficial effects of Cyclooxygenases (COX) inhibitors on human health have been known for thousands of years. Nevertheless, COXs, particularly COX-1, have been linked to a plethora of human diseases such as cancer, heart failure, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases only recently. COXs catalyze the first step in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) and are among the most important mediators of inflammation. All published structural work on COX-1 deals with the ovine isoenzyme, which is easier to produce in milligram-quantities than the human enzyme and crystallizes readily. Here, we report the long-sought structure of the human cyclooxygenase-1 (hCOX-1) that we refined to an R/Rfree of 20.82/26.37, at 3.36 Å resolution. hCOX-1 structure provides a detailed picture of the enzyme active site and the residues crucial for inhibitor/substrate binding and catalytic activity. We compared hCOX-1 crystal structure with the ovine COX-1 and human COX-2 structures by using metrics based on Cartesian coordinates, backbone dihedral angles, and solvent accessibility coupled with multivariate methods. Differences and similarities among structures are discussed, with emphasis on the motifs responsible for the diversification of the various enzymes (primary structure, stability, catalytic activity, and specificity). The structure of hCOX-1 represents an essential step towards the development of new and more selective COX-1 inhibitors of enhanced therapeutic potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morena Miciaccia
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Benny Danilo Belviso
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Amendola 122/o, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Mariaclara Iaselli
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Gino Cingolani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Savina Ferorelli
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Marianna Cappellari
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Paola Loguercio Polosa
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Perrone
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Rocco Caliandro
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Amendola 122/o, 70126, Bari, Italy.
| | - Antonio Scilimati
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zhang Y, Li S, Zhang H, Xu H. Design and Application of Receptor-Targeted Fluorescent Probes Based on Small Molecular Fluorescent Dyes. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:4-24. [PMID: 33412857 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, a variety of receptor-targeted fluorescent probes have been developed and widely used to realize the visualization of certain receptors, which facilitates the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In this Review, we focus on the recent achievements in design, chemical structure, imaging characterization, and potential applications of receptor-targeted fluorescent probes from the past 10 years. The development and application of receptor-targeted fluorescent probes will expand our knowledge of the distribution and function of disease-related receptors, shed light on the drug discovery for clinical diseases where receptors are implicated, and feed into the diagnosis and treatment of a plethora of diseases, including tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Shufeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Perrone MG, Luisi O, De Grassi A, Ferorelli S, Cormio G, Scilimati A. Translational Theragnosis of Ovarian Cancer: where do we stand? Curr Med Chem 2020; 27:5675-5715. [PMID: 31419925 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190816232330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic malignancy, accounting for approximately 220,000 deaths annually worldwide. Despite radical surgery and initial high response rates to platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy, most patients experience a relapse, with a median progression-free survival of only 18 months. Overall survival is approximately 30% at 5 years from the diagnosis. In comparison, patients out from breast cancer are more than 80 % after ten years from the disease discovery. In spite of a large number of published fundamental and applied research, and clinical trials, novel therapies are urgently needed to improve outcomes of the ovarian cancer. The success of new drugs development in ovarian cancer will strongly depend on both fully genomic disease characterization and, then, availability of biomarkers able to identify women likely to benefit from a given new therapy. METHODS In this review, the focus is given to describe how complex is the diseases under the simple name of ovarian cancer, in terms of cell tumor types, histotypes, subtypes, and specific gene mutation or differently expressed in the tumor with respect the healthy ovary. The first- and second-line pharmacological treatment clinically used over the last fifty years are also described. Noteworthy achievements in vitro and in vivo tested new drugs are also summarized. Recent literature related to up to date ovarian cancer knowledge, its detection by biomarkers and chemotherapy was searched from several articles on Pubmed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE and various Governmental Agencies till April 2019. RESULTS The papers referenced by this review allow a deep analysis of status of the art in the classification of the several types of ovarian cancer, the present knowledge of diagnosis based on biomarkers and imaging techniques, and the therapies developed over the past five decades. CONCLUSION This review aims at stimulating more multi-disciplinary efforts to identify a panel of novel and more specific biomarkers to be used to screen patients for a very early diagnosis, to have prognosis and therapy efficacy indications. The desired final goal would be to have available tools allowing to reduce the recurrence rate, increase both the disease progression free interval and of course the overall survival at five years from the diagnosis that today is still very low.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Perrone
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "A. Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Oreste Luisi
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "A. Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Anna De Grassi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "A. Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Savina Ferorelli
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "A. Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Gennaro Cormio
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Oncologico "Giovanni Paolo II" Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Scilimati
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "A. Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Perrone MG, Miciaccia M, Vitale P, Ferorelli S, Araújo CDCB, de Almeida GS, Souza Domingos TF, da Silva LCRP, de Pádula M, Cabral LM, Sathler PC, Bonaccorso C, Fortuna CG, Scilimati A. An attempt to chemically state the cross-talk between monomers of COX homodimers by double/hybrid inhibitors mofezolac-spacer-mofezolac and mofezolac-spacer-arachidonic acid. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 209:112919. [PMID: 33129592 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for over 17 million death globally each year, including arterial thrombosis. Platelets are key components in the pathogenesis of this disease and modulating their activity is an effective strategy to treat such thrombotic events. Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) isoenzyme is involved in platelet activation and is the main target of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and new selective inhibitor research. Inhibitors of general formula mofezolac-spacer-mofezolac (mof-spacer-mof) and mofezolac-spacer-arachidonic acid (mof-spacer-AA) were projected to investigate the possible cross-talk between the two monomers (Eallo and Ecat) forming the COX-1 homodimer. Mofezolac was chosen as either one or two moieties of these molecules being the known most potent and selective COX-1 inhibitor and administrated to humans as Disopain™, then arachidonic acid (AA) was used to develop molecules bearing, in the same compound, in addition to the inhibitor moiety (mofezolac) also the natural COX substrate. Depending on the nature of the spacer, COX-1 and COX-2 activity was differently inhibited by mof-spacer-mof set with a preferential COX-1 inhibition. The highest COX-1 selectivity was exhibited by the compound in which the spacer was the benzidine [N,N'-(biphenyl-4,4'-di-yl)bis (2-[3,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)isoxazol-5-yl]acetamide) (15): COX-1 IC50 = 0.08 μM, COX-2 IC50 > 50 μM, Selectivity Index (SI) > 625]. In the case of mof-spacer-AA set, the COX inhibitory potency and also the isoform preference changed. (5Z, 8Z, 11Z, 14Z)-N-(4-{2-[3,4-Bis(4-methoxyphenyl)isoxazol-5-yl]acetamido}butyl)icosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenamide (19) and (5Z, 8Z, 11Z, 14Z)-N-(4'-{2-[3,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)isoxazol-5-yl]acetamido}-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)icosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenamide (21), in which the spacer is the 1,2-diaminobutane or benzidine, respectively, selectively inhibited the COX-2, whereas when the spacer is the 1,4-phenylendiamine [(5Z, 8Z, 11Z, 14Z)-N-(4-{2-[3,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)isoxazol-5-yl]acetamido}phenyl)icosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenamide) (20) the COX preference is COX-1 (COX-1 IC50 = 0.05 μM, COX-2 IC50 > 50 μM, with a COX-1 selectivity > 1000). Molecular modelling by using FLAP algorithm shows fundamental interactions of the novel compounds at the entry channel of COX and inside its catalytic cavity. The effect of these mof-spacer-mof and mof-spacer-AA in inhibiting in vitro free arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation was also determined. A positive profile of hemocompatibility in relation to their influence on the blood coagulation cascade and erythrocyte toxicity was observed. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity safety were also found for these two novel sets of compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Perrone
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Morena Miciaccia
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Paola Vitale
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Savina Ferorelli
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Cristina da Costa Bernardes Araújo
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Center of Health Sciences, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriella Silva de Almeida
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Center of Health Sciences, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thaisa Francielle Souza Domingos
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Center of Health Sciences, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo de Pádula
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Center of Health Sciences, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucio Mendes Cabral
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Center of Health Sciences, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Plínio Cunha Sathler
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Center of Health Sciences, Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, 373, 21941599, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carmela Bonaccorso
- Department of Chemical Science, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Cosimo G Fortuna
- Department of Chemical Science, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Scilimati
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Design and synthesis of fluorescent ligands for the detection of cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R). Eur J Med Chem 2020; 188:112037. [PMID: 31954990 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The Cannabinoid 2 receptor, CB2R, belonging to the endocannabinoid system, ECS, is involved in the first steps of neurodegeneration and cancer evolution and progression and thus its modulation may be exploited in the therapeutic and diagnostic fields. However, CB2Rs distribution and signaling pathways in physiological and pathological conditions are still controversial mainly because of the lack of reliable diagnostic tools. With the aim to produce green and safe systems to detect CB2R, we designed a series of fluorescent ligands with three different green fluorescent moieties (4-dimethylaminophthalimide, 4-DMAP, 7-nitro-4-yl-aminobenzoxadiazole, NBD, and Fluorescein-thiourea, FTU) linked to the N1-position of the CB2R pharmacophore N-adamantyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxamide through polymethylene chains. Compound 28 emerged for its compromise between good pharmacodynamic properties (CB2R Ki = 130 nM and no affinity vs the other subtype CB1R) and optimal fluorescent spectroscopic properties. Therefore, compound 28 was studied through FACS (saturation and competitive binding studies) and fluorescence microscopy (visualization and competitive binding) in engineered cells (CB2R-HEK293 cells) and in diverse tumour cells. The fluoligand binding assays were successfully set up, and affinity values for the two reference compounds GW405833 and WIN55,212-2, comparable to the values obtained by radioligand binding assays, were obtained. Fluoligand 28 also allowed the detection of the presence and quantification of the CB2R in the same cell lines. The interactions of compound 28 within the CB2R binding site were also investigated by molecular docking simulations, and indications for the improvement of the CB2R affinity of this class of compounds were provided. Overall, the results obtained through these studies propose compound 28 as a safe and green alternative to the commonly used radioligands for in vitro investigations.
Collapse
|