1
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Misra R, Bhuyan HJ, Dutta A, Bhabak KP. Recent Developments On Activatable Turn-On Fluorogenic Donors of Hydrogen Sulfide (H 2S). ChemMedChem 2024:e202400251. [PMID: 38746978 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202400251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is considered the third member of the gasotransmitter family, along with nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). Besides its role in physiological and pathophysiological conditions, the promising therapeutic potential of this small-molecule makes it advantageous for various pharmaceutical applications. The endogenous production of H2S at a lower concentration is crucial in maintaining redox balance and cellular homeostasis, and the dysregulation leads to various disease states. In the event of H2S deficiency, the exogenous donation of H2S could help maintain the optimal cellular concentration of H2S and cellular homeostasis. Over the last several years, researchers have developed numerous small-molecule non-fluorogenic organosulfur compounds as H2S donors and investigated their pharmacological potentials. However, reports on stimuli-responsive turn-on fluorogenic donors of H2S have appeared recently. Interestingly, the fluorogenic H2S donors offer additional advantages with the non-invasive real-time monitoring of the H2S release utilizing the simultaneous turn-on fluorogenic processes. The review summarizes the recent developments in turn-on fluorogenic donors of H2S and the potential biological applications that have developed over the years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roopjyoti Misra
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Hirak Jyoti Bhuyan
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Amlan Dutta
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Krishna P Bhabak
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
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2
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Yang B, Lin Y, Huang Y, Shen YQ, Chen Q. Thioredoxin (Trx): A redox target and modulator of cellular senescence and aging-related diseases. Redox Biol 2024; 70:103032. [PMID: 38232457 PMCID: PMC10827563 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103032] [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: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Thioredoxin (Trx) is a compact redox-regulatory protein that modulates cellular redox state by reducing oxidized proteins. Trx exhibits dual functionality as an antioxidant and a cofactor for diverse enzymes and transcription factors, thereby exerting influence over their activity and function. Trx has emerged as a pivotal biomarker for various diseases, particularly those associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and aging. Recent clinical investigations have underscored the significance of Trx in disease diagnosis, treatment, and mechanistic elucidation. Despite its paramount importance, the intricate interplay between Trx and cellular senescence-a condition characterized by irreversible growth arrest induced by multiple aging stimuli-remains inadequately understood. In this review, our objective is to present a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the structure and function of Trx, its involvement in redox signaling pathways and cellular senescence, its association with aging and age-related diseases, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target. Our review aims to elucidate the novel and extensive role of Trx in senescence while highlighting its implications for aging and age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Yumeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Yibo Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Ying-Qiang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Qianming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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3
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She W, Shi X, Liu T, Liu Y, Liu Y. Discovery of novel organoarsenicals as robust thioredoxin reductase inhibitors for oxidative stress mediated cancer therapy. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 218:115908. [PMID: 37931662 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115908] [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: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Targeting overexpressed thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) in cancer cells to induce oxidative stress has been proved to be an effective strategy for cancer therapy. However, the treatment was hindered by the low efficiency and frequent administration of TrxR inhibitors, and hence more potent TrxR inhibitors were urgently needed. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of TrxR inhibitors based on arsenicals. Among these, compound 1d inhibited the proliferation of a variety of cancer cells at low micromolar concentrations and exhibited low toxicity to normal cells. Importantly, compound 1d induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by inhibiting the TrxR activity, further causing the collapse of the redox system, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and DNA damage, followed by oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis. In vivo data showed that, compared with the clinical TrxR inhibitor auranofin (AUR), compound 1d could more effectively eliminate tumors by 90 % at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg without any obvious side effects. These results indicated that compound 1d was a potent TrxR inhibitor against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan She
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Xuemin Shi
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Tingting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, School of Chemistry & School of Material Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, PR China
| | - Yujiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, School of Chemistry & School of Material Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, PR China.
| | - Yi Liu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, School of Chemistry & School of Material Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Radiation Chemistry and Functional Materials, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China.
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4
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Deng J, Pan T, Liu Z, McCarthy C, Vicencio JM, Cao L, Alfano G, Suwaidan AA, Yin M, Beatson R, Ng T. The role of TXNIP in cancer: a fine balance between redox, metabolic, and immunological tumor control. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:1877-1892. [PMID: 37794178 PMCID: PMC10703902 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02442-4] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is commonly considered a master regulator of cellular oxidation, regulating the expression and function of Thioredoxin (Trx). Recent work has identified that TXNIP has a far wider range of additional roles: from regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, to cell cycle arrest and inflammation. Its expression is increased by stressors commonly found in neoplastic cells and the wider tumor microenvironment (TME), and, as such, TXNIP has been extensively studied in cancers. In this review, we evaluate the current literature regarding the regulation and the function of TXNIP, highlighting its emerging role in modulating signaling between different cell types within the TME. We then assess current and future translational opportunities and the associated challenges in this area. An improved understanding of the functions and mechanisms of TXNIP in cancers may enhance its suitability as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhai Deng
- Richard Dimbleby Laboratory of Cancer Research, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Clinical Research Center (CRC), Clinical Pathology Center (CPC), Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing University, Wanzhou, Chongqing, China
| | - Teng Pan
- Longgang District Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City (Longgang Maternity and Child Institute of Shantou University Medical College), Shenzhen, 518172, China
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Caitlin McCarthy
- Richard Dimbleby Laboratory of Cancer Research, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jose M Vicencio
- Richard Dimbleby Laboratory of Cancer Research, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Lulu Cao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital and Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism Mechanism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China
| | - Giovanna Alfano
- Richard Dimbleby Laboratory of Cancer Research, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ali Abdulnabi Suwaidan
- Richard Dimbleby Laboratory of Cancer Research, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mingzhu Yin
- Clinical Research Center (CRC), Clinical Pathology Center (CPC), Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing University, Wanzhou, Chongqing, China
| | - Richard Beatson
- Richard Dimbleby Laboratory of Cancer Research, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
- Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Repair, UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, University College London (UCL), Rayne 9 Building, London, WC1E 6JF, UK.
| | - Tony Ng
- Richard Dimbleby Laboratory of Cancer Research, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK.
- Cancer Research UK City of London Centre, London, UK.
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Song Z, Fan C, Zhao J, Wang L, Duan D, Shen T, Li X. Fluorescent Probes for Mammalian Thioredoxin Reductase: Mechanistic Analysis, Construction Strategies, and Future Perspectives. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:811. [PMID: 37622897 PMCID: PMC10452626 DOI: 10.3390/bios13080811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The modulation of numerous signaling pathways is orchestrated by redox regulation of cellular environments. Maintaining dynamic redox homeostasis is of utmost importance for human health, given the common occurrence of altered redox status in various pathological conditions. The cardinal component of the thioredoxin system, mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) plays a vital role in supporting various physiological functions; however, its malfunction, disrupting redox balance, is intimately associated with the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. Accordingly, the dynamic monitoring of TrxR of live organisms represents a powerful direction to facilitate the comprehensive understanding and exploration of the profound significance of redox biology in cellular processes. A number of classic assays have been developed for the determination of TrxR activity in biological samples, yet their application is constrained when exploring the real-time dynamics of TrxR activity in live organisms. Fluorescent probes offer several advantages for in situ imaging and the quantification of biological targets, such as non-destructiveness, real-time analysis, and high spatiotemporal resolution. These benefits facilitate the transition from a poise to a flux understanding of cellular targets, further advancing scientific studies in related fields. This review aims to introduce the progress in the development and application of TrxR fluorescent probes in the past years, and it mainly focuses on analyzing their reaction mechanisms, construction strategies, and potential drawbacks. Finally, this study discusses the critical challenges and issues encountered during the development of selective TrxR probes and proposes future directions for their advancement. We anticipate the comprehensive analysis of the present TrxR probes will offer some glitters of enlightenment, and we also expect that this review may shed light on the design and development of novel TrxR probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zilong Song
- Natural Medicine Research & Development Center, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Z.S.); (C.F.); (L.W.)
| | - Chengwu Fan
- Natural Medicine Research & Development Center, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Z.S.); (C.F.); (L.W.)
| | - Jintao Zhao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Nanjing 210094, China; (J.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Lei Wang
- Natural Medicine Research & Development Center, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Z.S.); (C.F.); (L.W.)
| | - Dongzhu Duan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji 721013, China;
| | - Tong Shen
- Natural Medicine Research & Development Center, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Z.S.); (C.F.); (L.W.)
| | - Xinming Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Nanjing 210094, China; (J.Z.); (X.L.)
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6
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Ban Q, Chi W, Wang X, Wang S, Hai D, Zhao G, Zhao Q, Granato D, Huang X. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Attenuates the Adverse Reactions Triggered by Selenium Nanoparticles without Compromising Their Suppressing Effect on Peritoneal Carcinomatosis in Mice Bearing Hepatocarcinoma 22 Cells. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28093904. [PMID: 37175313 PMCID: PMC10180376 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28093904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows that selenium and polyphenols are two types of the most reported compounds in tumor chemoprevention due to their remarkable antitumor activity and high safety profile. The cross-talk between polyphenols and selenium is a hot research topic, and the combination of polyphenols and selenium is a valuable strategy for fighting cancer. The current work investigated the combination anti-peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) effect of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and green tea (Camellia sinensis) polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in mice bearing murine hepatocarcinoma 22 (H22) cells. Results showed that SeNPs alone significantly inhibited cancer cell proliferation and extended the survival time of mice bearing H22 cells. Still, the potential therapeutic efficacy is accompanied by an approximately eighty percent diarrhea rate. When EGCG was combined with SeNPs, EGCG did not affect the tumor proliferation inhibition effect but eliminated diarrhea triggered by SeNPs. In addition, both the intracellular selectively accumulated EGCG without killing effect on cancer cells and the enhanced antioxidant enzyme levels in ascites after EGCG was delivered alone by intraperitoneal injection indicated that H22 cells were insensitive to EGCG. Moreover, EGCG could prevent SeNP-caused systemic oxidative damage by enhancing serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase levels in healthy mice. Overall, we found that H22 cells are insensitive to EGCG, but combining EGCG with SeNPs could protect against SeNP-triggered diarrhea without compromising the suppressing efficacy of SeNPs on PC in mice bearing H22 cells and attenuate SeNP-caused systemic toxicity in healthy mice. These results suggest that EGCG could be employed as a promising candidate for preventing the adverse reactions of chemotherapy including chemotherapy-induced diarrhea and systemic toxicity in cancer individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyan Ban
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Wenjing Chi
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- College of Food Science & Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Shiqiong Wang
- College of Food Science & Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Dan Hai
- College of Food Science & Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Guangshan Zhao
- College of Food Science & Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qiuyan Zhao
- College of Food Science & Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Daniel Granato
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
| | - Xianqing Huang
- College of Food Science & Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
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7
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Ni Y, Luo Z, Lv Y, Ma S, Luo C, Du D. Thimerosal, a competitive thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) inhibitor discovered via high-throughput screening. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 650:117-122. [PMID: 36780763 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.02.014] [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: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) is considered as an important anti-cancer drug target, inhibition of which can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis of human cancer cells. Here, we developed and optimized a high-throughput screening (HTS) assay based on enzyme kinetics for the discovery of TrxR1 inhibitors. By utilizing this assay, we performed a HTS for 2500 compounds from an in-house library against TrxR1. We found that a vaccine preservative, thimerosal, strongly inhibited TrxR1 in a competitive and reversible manner with an IC50 of 24.08 ± 0.86 nM. In addition, we determined that thiomersal has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of A549 lung cancer cell line, with a GI50 of 6.81 ± 0.09 μM, slightly more potent than auranofin (GI50 = 11.85 ± 0.56 μM). Furthermore, we showed by flow cytometer that thimerosal effectively increased the content of ROS in A549 cells. Therefore, our work provided a high-throughput screening assay to quickly and effectively discover TrxR1 inhibitors, identifying thiomersal as a novel TrxR1 inhibitor and chemical probe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yicheng Ni
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Drug Discovery and Design Center, The Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhongyuan Luo
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, The Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yixin Lv
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Shuyuan Ma
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Drug Discovery and Design Center, The Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Drug Discovery and Design Center, The Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Daohai Du
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, The Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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8
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Liu X, Cui H, Li M, Chai Z, Wang H, Jin X, Dai F, Liu Y, Zhou B. Tumor killing by a dietary curcumin mono-carbonyl analog that works as a selective ROS generator via TrxR inhibition. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 250:115191. [PMID: 36758308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In comparison with normal cells, cancer cells feature intrinsic oxidative stress, thereby being more vulnerable to further production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by pro-oxidative anticancer agents (PAAs). However, PAAs also inevitably generate ROS in normal cells, resulting in their narrow therapeutic window and toxic side effects that greatly limit their clinical application. To develop PAAs that generate ROS selectively in cancer cells over in normal cells, we rationally designed three series of 21 dietary curcumin 5-carbon mono-carbonyl analogs differentiated by either placement of the cyclohexanone, piperidone, and methylpiperidone linkers, or introduction of electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl and electron-donating methoxyl groups on its two aromatic rings in the ortho, meta, or para position to the linkers. From the designed molecules, 2c, characterized of the presence of the meta-CF3-substituted mode and the piperidone linker, was identified as a potent selective ROS-generating agent, allowing its ability to kill selectively human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 (IC50 = 0.44 μM) over human normal lung MRC-5 cells with a selectivity index of 32.0. Additionally, it was more potent and selective than the conventional chemotherapeutic agents (5-fluorouracil and camptothecin) did. Mechanistical investigation reveals that by means of its Michael acceptor unit and structure characteristics as described above, 2c could covalently modify the Sec-498 residue of intracellular thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) to generate ROS selectively, resulting in ROS-dependent apoptosis and ferroptosis of NCI-H460 cells. Noticeably, 2c inhibited significantly the growth of NCI-H460 cell xenograft tumor in nude mice without obvious toxicity to liver and kidney. Together, this work highlights a practical strategy of targeting TrxR overexpressed in cancer cells to develop PAAs capable of generating ROS selectively, as evidenced by the example of 2c.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Street S., Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Street S., Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, 35 Dingxi East Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Hongmei Cui
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Street S., Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Mi Li
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, 35 Dingxi East Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; Gansu University Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine & Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Major Diseases, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, 35 Dingxi East Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Zuohu Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Street S., Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Haibo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Street S., Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Xiaojie Jin
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, 35 Dingxi East Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; Gansu University Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine & Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Major Diseases, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, 35 Dingxi East Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Fang Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Street S., Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China.
| | - Yongqi Liu
- Gansu University Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine & Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Major Diseases, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, 35 Dingxi East Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China.
| | - Bo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Street S., Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China.
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Peng S, Yu S, Zhang J, Zhang J. 6-Shogaol as a Novel Thioredoxin Reductase Inhibitor Induces Oxidative-Stress-Mediated Apoptosis in HeLa Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054966. [PMID: 36902397 PMCID: PMC10003455 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054966] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a crucial strategy for the discovery of antineoplastic drugs. 6-Shogaol (6-S), a primary bioactive compound in ginger, has high anticancer activity. However, its potential mechanism of action has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time that 6-S, a novel TrxR inhibitor, promoted oxidative-stress-mediated apoptosis in HeLa cells. The other two constituents of ginger, 6-gingerol (6-G) and 6-dehydrogingerduone (6-DG), have a similar structure to 6-S but fail to kill HeLa cells at low concentrations. 6-Shogaol specifically inhibits purified TrxR1 activity by targeting selenocysteine residues. It also induced apoptosis and was more cytotoxic to HeLa cells than normal cells. The molecular mechanism of 6-S-mediated apoptosis involves TrxR inhibition, followed by an outburst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Furthermore, TrxR knockdown enhanced the cytotoxic sensitivity of 6-S cells, highlighting the physiological significance of targeting TrxR by 6-S. Our findings show that targeting TrxR by 6-S reveals a new mechanism underlying the biological activity of 6-S and provides meaningful insights into its action in cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoujiao Peng
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (IRI), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shaopeng Yu
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (IRI), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Junmin Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Correspondence: (J.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jiange Zhang
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (IRI), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Chemical Biology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Correspondence: (J.Z.); (J.Z.)
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10
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Xu J, Vlamis-Gardikas A, Fang J. Editorial: Small molecule inhibitors targeting mammalian selenoprotein thioredoxin reductases (TXNRDs): Interactions, mechanisms, and applications. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1141772. [PMID: 36818046 PMCID: PMC9932965 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1141772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiang Xu
- School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences (LPS) and Panjin Institute of Industrial Technology (PIIT), Dalian University of Technology, Panjin, China,*Correspondence: Jianguo Fang, ; Jianqiang Xu, ; Alexios Vlamis-Gardikas,
| | - Alexios Vlamis-Gardikas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Rion, Greece,*Correspondence: Jianguo Fang, ; Jianqiang Xu, ; Alexios Vlamis-Gardikas,
| | - Jianguo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry & College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China,*Correspondence: Jianguo Fang, ; Jianqiang Xu, ; Alexios Vlamis-Gardikas,
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11
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Abstract
Significance: Thioredoxin (Trx) is a powerful antioxidant that reduces protein disulfides to maintain redox stability in cells and is involved in regulating multiple redox-dependent signaling pathways. Recent Advance: The current accumulation of findings suggests that Trx participates in signaling pathways that interact with various proteins to manipulate their dynamic regulation of structure and function. These network pathways are critical for cancer pathogenesis and therapy. Promising clinical advances have been presented by most anticancer agents targeting such signaling pathways. Critical Issues: We herein link the signaling pathways regulated by the Trx system to potential cancer therapeutic opportunities, focusing on the coordination and strengths of the Trx signaling pathways in apoptosis, ferroptosis, immunomodulation, and drug resistance. We also provide a mechanistic network for the exploitation of therapeutic small molecules targeting the Trx signaling pathways. Future Directions: As research data accumulate, future complex networks of Trx-related signaling pathways will gain in detail. In-depth exploration and establishment of these signaling pathways, including Trx upstream and downstream regulatory proteins, will be critical to advancing novel cancer therapeutics. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 38, 403-424.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junmin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xinming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengjia Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | | | - Jianguo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
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12
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Dar'in D, Kantin G, Glushakova D, Sharoyko V, Krasavin M. Diazo Tetramic Acids Provide Access to Natural-Like Spirocyclic Δ α,β-Butenolides through Rh(II)-Catalyzed O-H Insertion/Base-Promoted Cyclization. J Org Chem 2023. [PMID: 36603207 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.2c02600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
3-Diazotetramic acids were found to be valid substrates for the recently discovered approach toward natural-like Δα,β-spirobutenolides via Rh(II)-catalyzed O-H insertion into propiolic acids followed by base-promoted intramolecular Michael addition. The target Δα,β-spirobutenolides were obtained in generally high yields and, in the case of chiral 5-monosubstituted 3-diazotetramic acids, high diastereoselectivity. The synthesis of Δα,β-spirobutenolides that we report here was virtually insensitive to the structure of the propiolic acids though it was somewhat sensitive to the structure of the 3-diazotetramic acids, thereby demonstrating quite a large scope. Thus, a new class of α-diazocarbonyl compounds suitable for the realization of the approach outlined above was identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Dar'in
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetsky prospekt, Peterhof 198504 Russia
| | - Grigory Kantin
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetsky prospekt, Peterhof 198504 Russia
| | - Daria Glushakova
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetsky prospekt, Peterhof 198504 Russia
| | - Vladimir Sharoyko
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetsky prospekt, Peterhof 198504 Russia
- The Pavlov First Medical University, 6-8 Lva Tolstogo ulitsa, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Mikhail Krasavin
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetsky prospekt, Peterhof 198504 Russia
- Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 14 Aleksandra Nevskogo ulitsa, Kaliningrad 236041, Russia
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13
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Zhou J, Yu LZ, Fan YL, Guo CH, Lv XM, Zhou ZY, Huang HD, Miao DD, Zhang SP, Li XY, Zhao PP, Liu XP, Hu WH, Zhang C. Discovery of novel hydroxyamidine based indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) dual inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 245:114860. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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14
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Xu Q, Zhang J, Zhao Z, Chu Y, Fang J. Revealing PACMA 31 as a new chemical type TrxR inhibitor to promote cancer cell apoptosis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2022; 1869:119323. [PMID: 35793738 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a pivotal regulator of redox homeostasis, while dysregulation of redox homeostasis is a hallmark for cancer cells. Thus, there is considerable potential to inhibit the aberrantly upregulated TrxR in cancer cells to discover selective cancer therapeutic agents. Nevertheless, the structural types of TrxR inhibitors presented currently are still relatively limited. We herein report that PACMA 31, previously reported to inhibit protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), is a potent TrxR inhibitor. PACMA 31 possesses a pharmacophore scaffold that is structurally different from the announced TrxR inhibitors and exhibits effective cytotoxicity against cervical cancer cells. Our results reveal that PACMA 31 selectively inhibits TrxR over the related glutathione reductase (GR) and in the presence of reduced glutathione (GSH). Further studies with mutant enzyme and molecular docking suggest that the propynamide fragment of PACMA 31 interacts covalently with the selenocysteine residue of TrxR. Moreover, PACMA 31 effectively and selectively curbs TrxR activity in cells and further stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at low micromolar concentrations, which in turn triggers the accumulation of oxidized thioredoxin (Trx) and GSSG in cells. Follow-up studies demonstrate that PACMA 31 targets TrxR in cells to induce oxidative stress-mediated cancer cell apoptosis. Our results provide a new structural type of TrxR inhibitor that may serve as a useful probe for investigating the biology of TrxR-implicated pathways, and uncover a new target of PACMA 31 that contributes to it becoming a candidate for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhe Xu
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Junmin Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China..
| | - Zhengjia Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yajun Chu
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jianguo Fang
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China..
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15
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Quintanilha DB, Santos HFD. Analysis of Pleurotin binding to human thioredoxin reductase using docking and molecular dynamics simulation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022:1-14. [PMID: 35758249 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2092553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) has been considered a potential target for cancer chemotherapy. It acts by controlling the redox homeostasis of human cells and, therefore, interfering in its function may trigger apoptosis, which is a crucial tumor suppression mechanism. Despite the great effort in the search for TrxR inhibitors, none was approved for human therapy. In the present study a virtual screening for natural organic compounds is discussed for a set of 72 compounds with known IC-50 for TrxR inhibition. The results suggest the Pleurotin, a naphthoquinone obtained from Hohenbuehelia grisea fungus, as a potential TrxR inhibitor, which acts by binding to the active site of the enzyme, between the N- and C-terminal domains. The presence of the ligand blocks the approximation of the C-terminal arm to the N-terminal, which is an essential step of the enzyme function. Besides, the two equivalent binding sites of TrxR were explored, by docking two ligands simultaneously. The results indicate that both sites have an allosteric correlation and, the presence of the ligand in one site may interfere, or even prevent, the binding of the second ligand at the other site. All these findings are quantitatively discussed based on the analysis of long molecular dynamics trajectories, which provides a full description of the ligand-receptor binding modes, average binding energies and conformational changes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Quintanilha
- NEQC: Núcleo de Estudos em Química Computacional, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Hélio F Dos Santos
- NEQC: Núcleo de Estudos em Química Computacional, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
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16
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Jovanović M, Podolski-Renić A, Krasavin M, Pešić M. The Role of the Thioredoxin Detoxification System in Cancer Progression and Resistance. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:883297. [PMID: 35664671 PMCID: PMC9161637 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.883297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular redox homeostasis is a dynamic balancing system between the levels of free radical species and antioxidant enzymes and small molecules at the core of cellular defense mechanisms. The thioredoxin (Trx) system is an important detoxification system regulating the redox milieu. This system is one of the key regulators of cells’ proliferative potential as well, through the reduction of key proteins. Increased oxidative stress characterizes highly proliferative, metabolically hyperactive cancer cells, which are forced to mobilize antioxidant enzymes to balance the increase in free radical concentration and prevent irreversible damage and cell death. Components of the Trx system are involved in high-rate proliferation and activation of pro-survival mechanisms in cancer cells, particularly those facing increased oxidative stress. This review addresses the importance of the targetable redox-regulating Trx system in tumor progression, as well as in detoxification and protection of cancer cells from oxidative stress and drug-induced cytotoxicity. It also discusses the cancer cells’ counteracting mechanisms to the Trx system inhibition and presents several inhibitors of the Trx system as prospective candidates for cytostatics’ adjuvants. This manuscript further emphasizes the importance of developing novel multitarget therapies encompassing the Trx system inhibition to overcome cancer treatment limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirna Jovanović
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Podolski-Renić
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mikhail Krasavin
- Organic Chemistry Division, Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Milica Pešić
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- *Correspondence: Milica Pešić, , orcid.org/0000-0002-9045-8239
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17
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Yang YP, Qi FJ, Zheng YL, Duan DC, Bao XZ, Dai F, Zhang S, Zhou B. Fast Imaging of Mitochondrial Thioredoxin Reductase Using a Styrylpyridinium-Based Two-Photon Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe. Anal Chem 2022; 94:4970-4978. [PMID: 35297621 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a pivotal antioxidant enzyme, but there remains a challenge for its fast imaging. This work describes the combination of a hydroxyl styrylpyridinium scaffold as the push-pull fluorophore with a carbonate-bridged 1,2-dithiolane unit as the reaction site to develop a fast mitochondrial TrxR2 probe, DSMP. It manifested a plethora of excellent properties including a rapid specific response (12 min), large Stokes shift (170 nm), ratiometric two-photon imaging, favorable binding with TrxR (Km = 12.5 ± 0.2 μM), and the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. With the aid of DSMP, we visualized the increased mitochondrial TrxR2 activity in cancer cells compared to normal cells. This offers the direct imaging evidence of the connection between the increased TrxR2 activity and the development of cancer. Additionally, the probe allowed the visualization of the loss in TrxR2 activity in a cellular Parkinson's disease model and, more importantly, in mouse brain tissues of a middle cerebral artery occlusion model for ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Peng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Fu-Jian Qi
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Ya-Long Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - De-Chen Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Xia-Zhen Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Fang Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Shengxiang Zhang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Bo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
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18
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Bhabak KP, Mahato SK, Bhattacherjee D, Barman P. Thioredoxin Reductase-triggered Fluorogenic Donor of Hydrogen Sulfide: A Model Study with Symmetrical Organopolysulfide Probe with Turn-on Near-Infrared Fluorescence Emission. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:2183-2193. [DOI: 10.1039/d1tb02425f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We describe herein the rational development of organopolysulfide-based fluorogenic donor of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) DCI-PS, which can be activated by the antioxidant selenoenzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) with concomitant release of...
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19
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Ste. Marie EJ, Hondal RJ. Application of alpha-methyl selenocysteine as a tool for the study of selenoproteins. Methods Enzymol 2022; 662:297-329. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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20
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Zhang J, Zheng ZQ, Xu Q, Li Y, Gao K, Fang J. Onopordopicrin from the new genus Shangwua as a novel thioredoxin reductase inhibitor to induce oxidative stress-mediated tumor cell apoptosis. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 36:790-801. [PMID: 33733960 PMCID: PMC7993383 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1899169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Isolation and identification of natural products from plants is an essential approach for discovering drug candidates. Herein we report the characterization of three sesquiterpene lactones from a new genus Shangwua, e.g. onopordopicrin (ONP), C2, and C3, and evaluation of their pharmacological functions in interfering cellular redox signaling. Compared to C2 and C3, ONP shows the most potency in killing cancer cells. Further experiments demonstrate that ONP robustly inhibits thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), which leads to perturbation of cellular redox homeostasis with the favor of oxidative stress. Knockdown of the TrxR sensitizes cells to the ONP treatment while overexpression of the enzyme reduces the potency of ONP, underpinning the correlation of TrxR inhibition to the cytotoxicity of ONP. The discovery of ONP expands the library of the natural TrxR inhibitors, and the disclosure of the action mechanism of ONP provides a foundation for the further development of ONP as an anticancer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junmin Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zai-Qin Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qianhe Xu
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ya Li
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kun Gao
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Fang
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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21
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Colon R, Wheater M, Joyce EJ, Ste Marie EJ, Hondal RJ, Rein KS. The Marine Neurotoxin Brevetoxin (PbTx-2) Inhibits Karenia brevis and Mammalian Thioredoxin Reductases by Targeting Different Residues. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2021; 84:2961-2970. [PMID: 34752085 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The brevetoxins, neurotoxins produced by Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide dinoflagellate, effect fish and wildlife mortalities and adverse public health and economic impacts during recurrent blooms. Knowledge of the biochemical consequences of toxin production for K. brevis could provide insights into an endogenous role of the toxins, yet this aspect has not been thoroughly explored. In addition to neurotoxicity, the most abundant of the brevetoxins, PbTx-2, inhibits mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). The thioredoxin system, composed of the enzymes TrxR and thioredoxin (Trx), is present in all living organisms and is responsible in part for maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. Herein, we describe the cloning, expression, and semisynthesis of the selenoprotein TrxR from K. brevis (KbTrxR) and reductase activity toward a variety of substrates. Unlike mammalian TrxR, KbTrxR reduces oxidized glutathione (GSSG). We further demonstrate that PbTx-2 is an inhibitor of KbTrxR. Covalent adducts between KbTrxR and rat TrxR were detected by mass spectrometry. While both enzymes are adducted at or near the catalytic centers, the specific residues are distinct. Biochemical differences reported for high and low toxin producing strains of K. brevis are consistent with the inhibition of KbTrxR and suggest that PbTx-2 is an endogenous regulator of this critical enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Colon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Michelle Wheater
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Given Building Room 413B, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Emily J Joyce
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Given Building Room 413B, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Emma J Ste Marie
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Given Building Room 413B, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Robert J Hondal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Given Building Room 413B, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Kathleen S Rein
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
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22
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Zhang J, Xu Q, Yang HY, Yang M, Fang J, Gao K. Inhibition of Thioredoxin Reductase by Santamarine Conferring Anticancer Effect in HeLa Cells. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:710676. [PMID: 34485384 PMCID: PMC8416462 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.710676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products frequently have unique physiological activities and new action mechanisms due to their structural diversity and novelty, and are an important source for innovative drugs and lead compounds. We present herein that natural product santamarine targeted thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) to weaken its antioxidative function in cells, accompanied by accumulation of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and finally induced a new mechanism of tumor cell oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis. TrxR knockdown or overexpression cell lines were employed to further evaluate the cytotoxicity of santamarine regulated by TrxR, demonstrated that TrxR played a key role in the physiological effect of santamarine on cells. Santamarine targeting TrxR reveals its previously unrecognized mechanism of antitumor and provides a basis for the further development of santamarine as a potential cancer therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junmin Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qianhe Xu
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hong-Ying Yang
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Minghao Yang
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Fang
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kun Gao
- School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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23
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Zhang H, Wu J, Yuan J, Li H, Zhang Y, Wu W, Chen W, Wang C, Meng S, Chen S, Huo M, He Y, Zhang C. Ethaselen synergizes with oxaliplatin in tumor growth inhibition by inducing ROS production and inhibiting TrxR1 activity in gastric cancer. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:260. [PMID: 34412665 PMCID: PMC8375208 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02052-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Oxaliplatin is one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of various cancers, including gastric cancer. It has, however, a narrow therapeutic index due to its toxicity and the occurrence of drug resistance. Hence, it is of great significance to develop novel therapies to potentiate the anti-tumor effect and reduce the toxicity of oxaliplatin. In our previous study, we demonstrated that ethaselen (BBSKE), an inhibitor of thioredoxin reductase, effectively inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells and promoted apoptosis in vitro. In the present study, we investigated whether BBSKE can potentiate the anti-tumor effect of oxaliplatin in gastric cancer in vivo and vitro. Methods Cellular apoptosis and ROS levels were analyzed by flow cytometry. Thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) activity in gastric cancer cells, organoid and tumor tissues was determined by using the endpoint insulin reduction assay. Western blot was used to analyze the expressions of the indicated proteins. Nude mice xenograft models were used to test the effects of BBSKE and oxaliplatin combinations on gastric cancer cell growth in vivo. In addition, we also used the combined treatment of BBSKE and oxaliplatin in three cases of gastric cancer Patient-Derived organoid (GC-PDO) to detect the anti-tumor effect. Results We found that BBSKE significantly enhanced oxaliplatin-induced growth inhibition in gastric cancer cells by inhibiting TrxR1 activity. Because of the inhibition of TrxR1 activity, BBSKE synergized with oxaliplatin to enhance the production of ROS and activate p38 and JNK signaling pathways which eventually induced apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. In vivo, we also found that BBSKE synergized with oxaliplatin to suppress the gastric cancer tumor growth in xenograft nude mice model, accompanied by the reduced TrxR1 activity. Remarkably, we found that BBSKE attenuated body weight loss evoked by oxaliplatin treatment. We also used three cases of GC-PDO and found that the combined treatment of BBSKE and oxaliplatin dramatically inhibited the growth and viability of GC-PDO with increased ROS level, decreased TrxR1 activity and enhanced apoptosis. Conclusions This study elucidates the underlying mechanisms of synergistic effect of BBSKE and oxaliplatin, and suggests that the combined treatment has potential value in gastric cancer therapy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02052-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyong Zhang
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinqiu Yuan
- Clinical Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Huafu Li
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yawei Zhang
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wang Wu
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Pathology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chunming Wang
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Sijun Meng
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Songyao Chen
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingyu Huo
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yulong He
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. .,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Changhua Zhang
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. .,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Zhang SP, Zhou J, Fan QZ, Lv XM, Wang T, Wang F, Chen Y, Hong SY, Liu XP, Xu BS, Hu L, Zhang C, Zhang YM. Discovery of hydroxytyrosol as thioredoxin reductase 1 inhibitor to induce apoptosis and G 1/S cell cycle arrest in human colorectal cancer cells via ROS generation. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:829. [PMID: 34149875 PMCID: PMC8200807 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10261] [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: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancer types and a leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in China. Increased thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) levels have been previously identified as possible target for CRC. The present study revealed that the natural product hydroxytyrosol (HT), which exhibits a polyphenol scaffold, is a potent inhibitor of TrxR1. Inhibition of TrxR1 was indicated to result in accumulation of reactive oxygen species, inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis and G1/S cell cycle arrest of CRC cells. Using a C-terminal mutant TrxR1 enzyme activity assay, TrxR1 RNA interference assay and HT binding model assay, the present study demonstrated the core character of the selenocysteine residue in the interaction between HT and TrxR1. HT can serve as polyphenol scaffold to develop novel TrxR1 inhibitors for CRC treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Peng Zhang
- Center of Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Ji Zhou
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Qing-Zhu Fan
- Center of Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Mei Lv
- Center of Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Tian Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Fan Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Yang Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Sen-Yan Hong
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Ping Liu
- Center of Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Bing-Song Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Lei Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Center of Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
| | - Ye-Ming Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China
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Zhang J, Duan D, Osama A, Fang J. Natural Molecules Targeting Thioredoxin System and Their Therapeutic Potential. Antioxid Redox Signal 2021; 34:1083-1107. [PMID: 33115246 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2020.8213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Significance: Thioredoxin (Trx) and thioredoxin reductase are two core members of the Trx system. The system bridges the gap between the universal reducing equivalent NADPH and various biological molecules and plays an essential role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis and regulating multiple cellular redox signaling pathways. Recent Advance: In recent years, the Trx system has been well documented as an important regulator of many diseases, especially tumorigenesis. Thus, the development of potential therapeutic molecules targeting the system is of great significance for disease treatment. Critical Issues: We herein first discuss the physiological functions of the Trx system and the role that the Trx system plays in various diseases. Then, we focus on the introduction of natural small molecules with potential therapeutic applications, especially the anticancer activity, and review their mechanisms of pharmacological actions via interfering with the Trx system. Finally, we further discuss several natural molecules that harbor therapeutic potential and have entered different clinical trials. Future Directions: Further studies on the functions of the Trx system in multiple diseases will not only improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of many human disorders but also help develop novel therapeutic strategies against these diseases. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 34, 1083-1107.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junmin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji, China
| | - Dongzhu Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji, China
| | - Alsiddig Osama
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji, China
| | - Jianguo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji, China
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Ayoup MS, Abu-Serie MM, Abdel-Hamid H, Teleb M. Beyond direct Nrf2 activation; reinvestigating 1,2,4-oxadiazole scaffold as a master key unlocking the antioxidant cellular machinery for cancer therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 220:113475. [PMID: 33901898 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Harnessing the antioxidant cellular machinery has sparked considerable interest as an efficient anticancer strategy. Activating Nrf2, the master switch of the cellular redox system, suppresses ROS, alleviates oxidative stress, and halts cancer progression. 1,2,4-oxadiazoles are iconic direct Nrf2 activators that disrupt Nrf2 interaction with its endogenous repressor Keap1. This study introduces rationally designed 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives that inhibit other Nrf2 suppressors (TrxR1, IKKα, and NF-kB) thus enhancing Nrf2 activation for preventing oxidative stress and carcinogenesis. Preliminary screening showed that the phenolic oxadiazoles 11, 15, and 19 were comparable to ascorbic acid (ROS scavenging) and EDTA (iron chelation), and superior to doxorubicin against HepG-2, MDA-MB231, and Caco-2 cells. They suppressed ROS by 3 folds and activated Nrf2 by 2 folds in HepG-2 cells. Mechanistically, they inhibited TrxR1 (IC50; 13.19, 17.89, and 9.21 nM) and IKKα (IC50; 11.0, 15.94, and 19.58 nM), and downregulated NF-κB (7.6, 1.4 and 1.9 folds in HepG-2), respectively. They inhibited NADPH oxidase (IC50; 16.4, 21.94, and 10.71 nM, respectively) that potentiates their antioxidant activities. Docking studies predicted their important structural features. Finally, they recorded drug-like in silico physicochemical properties, ADMET, and ligand efficiency metrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Salah Ayoup
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21321, Egypt.
| | - Marwa M Abu-Serie
- Medical Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, SRTA-City, Egypt
| | - Hamida Abdel-Hamid
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21321, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Teleb
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt.
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Wei X, Zhong M, Wang S, Li L, Song ZL, Zhang J, Xu J, Fang J. Synthesis and biological evaluation of disulfides as anticancer agents with thioredoxin inhibition. Bioorg Chem 2021; 110:104814. [PMID: 33756234 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Altered redox homeostasis as a hallmark of cancer cells is exploited by cancer cells for growth and survival. The thioredoxin (Trx), an important regulator in maintaining the intracellular redox homeostasis, is cumulatively recognized as a promising target for the development of anticancer drugs. Herein, we synthesized 72 disulfides and evaluated theirinhibition for Trx and antitumor activity. First, we established an efficient and fast method to screen Trx inhibitors by using the probe NBL-SS that was developed by our group to detect Trx function in living cells. After an initial screening of the Trx inhibitory activity of these compounds, 8 compounds showed significant inhibition activity against Trx. We then evaluated the cytotoxicity of these 8 disulfides, compounds 68 and 69 displayed high cytotoxicity to HeLa cells, but less sensitive to normal cell lines. Next, we performed kinetic studies of both two disulfides, 68 had faster inhibition of Trx than 69. Further studies revealed that 68 led to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and eventually induced apoptosis of Hela cells via inhibiting Trx. The establishment of a method for screening Trx inhibitors and the discovery of 68 with remarkable Trx inhibition provide support for the development of anticancer candidates with Trx inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangxu Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry & College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Miao Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry & College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Song Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry & College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Lexun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry & College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zi-Long Song
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry & College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Junmin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry & College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Jianqiang Xu
- School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences & Panjin Institute of Industrial Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
| | - Jianguo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry & College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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29
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Xu J, Fang J. How can we improve the design of small molecules to target thioredoxin reductase for treating cancer? Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 16:331-333. [PMID: 33307863 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2021.1854220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiang Xu
- School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences (LPS) and Panjin Institute of Industrial Technology (PIIT), Dalian University of Technology, Panjin, China
| | - Jianguo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry & College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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30
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Sun Y, Lu Y, Bian M, Yang Z, Ma X, Liu W. Pt(II) and Au(III) complexes containing Schiff-base ligands: A promising source for antitumor treatment. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 211:113098. [PMID: 33348237 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The effective application of cisplatin in the clinic as an antitumor treatment has stimulated widespread interest in inorganic metal drugs. In particular, complexes containing the transition metals platinum and gold have attracted considerable attention due to their antitumor effects. The Pt(II) and Au(III) Schiff-base complexes are potential antitumor agents because of their remarkable biological activities and good stability, lipophilicity, and electroluminescent properties. These complexes act via various antitumor mechanisms that are unlike those of the classic platinum drugs, providing a feasible solution for improving the serious side effects caused by metal chemotherapy. In this review, promising antitumor agents based on Pt(II) and Au(III) complexes containing Schiff-base ligands, and their biological targets, including G-quadruplex DNA and thioredoxin reductase, are comprehensively summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sun
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yunlong Lu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mianli Bian
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zhibin Yang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Wukun Liu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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31
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Joardar N, Guevara-Flores A, Martínez-González JDJ, Sinha Babu SP. Thiol antioxidant thioredoxin reductase: A prospective biochemical crossroads between anticancer and antiparasitic treatments of the modern era. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 165:249-267. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.09.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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32
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Jovanović M, Dragoj M, Zhukovsky D, Dar'in D, Krasavin M, Pešić M, Podolski-Renić A. Novel TrxR1 Inhibitors Show Potential for Glioma Treatment by Suppressing the Invasion and Sensitizing Glioma Cells to Chemotherapy. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:586146. [PMID: 33134322 PMCID: PMC7573255 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.586146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, available glioblastoma (GBM) treatment remains ineffective, with relapse after initial response and low survival rate of GBM patients. The reasons behind limited capacities for GBM treatment are high tumor heterogeneity, invasiveness, and occurrence of drug resistance. Therefore, developing novel therapeutic strategies is of utmost importance. Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a novel, promising target due to its overexpression in many cancer types and important role in cancer progression. Previous research on Ugi-type Michael acceptors–inhibitors of TrxR showed desirable anticancer properties, with significant selectivity toward cancer cells. Herein, two TrxR inhibitors, 5 and 6, underwent in-depth study on multidrug-resistant (MDR) glioma cell lines. Besides the antioxidative effects, 5 and 6 induced cell death, decreased cell proliferation, and suppressed invasion and migration of glioma cells. Both compounds showed a synergistic effect in combination with temozolomide (TMZ), a first-line chemotherapeutic for GBM treatment. Moreover, 5 and 6 affected activity of P-glycoprotein extrusion pump that could be found in cancer cells and in the blood–brain barrier (BBB), thus showing potential for suppressing MDR phenotype in cancer cells and evading BBB. In conclusion, investigated TrxR inhibitors are effective anticancer compounds, acting through inhibition of the thioredoxin system and perturbation of antioxidative defense systems of glioma cells. They are suitable for combining with other chemotherapeutics, able to surpass the BBB and overcome MDR. Thus, our findings suggest further exploration of Ugi-type Michael acceptors–TrxR inhibitors’ potential as an adjuvant therapy for GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirna Jovanović
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miodrag Dragoj
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Daniil Zhukovsky
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Dmitry Dar'in
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail Krasavin
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Milica Pešić
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Podolski-Renić
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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33
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Ste Marie EJ, Wehrle RJ, Haupt DJ, Wood NB, van der Vliet A, Previs MJ, Masterson DS, Hondal RJ. Can Selenoenzymes Resist Electrophilic Modification? Evidence from Thioredoxin Reductase and a Mutant Containing α-Methylselenocysteine. Biochemistry 2020; 59:3300-3315. [PMID: 32845139 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Selenocysteine (Sec) is the 21st proteogenic amino acid in the genetic code. Incorporation of Sec into proteins is a complex and bioenergetically costly process that evokes the following question: "Why did nature choose selenium?" An answer that has emerged over the past decade is that Sec confers resistance to irreversible oxidative inactivation by reactive oxygen species. Here, we explore the question of whether this concept can be broadened to include resistance to reactive electrophilic species (RES) because oxygen and related compounds are merely a subset of RES. To test this hypothesis, we inactivated mammalian thioredoxin reductase (Sec-TrxR), a mutant containing α-methylselenocysteine [(αMe)Sec-TrxR], and a cysteine ortholog TrxR (Cys-TrxR) with various electrophiles, including acrolein, 4-hydroxynonenal, and curcumin. Our results show that the acrolein-inactivated Sec-TrxR and the (αMe)Sec-TrxR mutant could regain 25% and 30% activity, respectively, when incubated with 2 mM H2O2 and 5 mM imidazole. In contrast, Cys-TrxR did not regain activity under the same conditions. We posit that Sec enzymes can undergo a repair process via β-syn selenoxide elimination that ejects the electrophile, leaving the enzyme in the oxidized selenosulfide state. (αMe)Sec-TrxR was created by incorporating the non-natural amino acid (αMe)Sec into TrxR by semisynthesis and allowed for rigorous testing of our hypothesis. This Sec derivative enables higher resistance to both oxidative and electrophilic inactivation because it lacks a backbone Cα-H, which prevents loss of selenium through the formation of dehydroalanine. This is the first time this unique amino acid has been incorporated into an enzyme and is an example of state-of-the-art protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J Ste Marie
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Discovery Hall, University of Vermont, 82 University Place, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Robert J Wehrle
- School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States
| | - Daniel J Haupt
- Department of Chemistry, Discovery Hall, University of Vermont, 82 University Place, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Neil B Wood
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Albert van der Vliet
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont, 149 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Michael J Previs
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Douglas S Masterson
- School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States
| | - Robert J Hondal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Discovery Hall, University of Vermont, 82 University Place, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
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34
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Abbasi M, Gupta VK, Chitranshi N, Gupta VB, Mirzaei M, Dheer Y, Garthwaite L, Zaw T, Parton RG, You Y, Graham SL. Caveolin-1 Ablation Imparts Partial Protection Against Inner Retinal Injury in Experimental Glaucoma and Reduces Apoptotic Activation. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:3759-3784. [PMID: 32578008 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-01948-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell degeneration is a characteristic feature of glaucoma, and accordingly, protection of these cells constitutes a major therapeutic objective in the disease. Here, we demonstrate the key influence of caveolin (Cav) in regulating the inner retinal homeostasis in two models of experimentally elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Two groups of Cav-1-/- and wild-type mice were used in the study. Animals were subjected to experimentally induced chronic and acutely elevated IOP and any changes in their retinal function were assessed by positive scotopic threshold response recordings. TUNEL and cleaved caspase-3 assays were performed to evaluate apoptotic changes in the retina while Brn3a immunostaining was used as a marker to assess and quantify ganglion cell layer (GCL) changes. H&E staining was carried out on retinal sections to evaluate histological differences in retinal laminar structure. Cav-1 ablation partially protected the inner retinal function in both chronic and acute models of elevated IOP. The protective effects of Cav-1 loss were also evident histologically by reduced loss of GCL density in both models. The phenotypic protection in Cav-1-/- glaucoma mice paralleled with increased TrkB phosphorylation and reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress markers and apoptotic activation in the inner retinas. This study corroborated previous findings of enhanced Shp2 phosphorylation in a chronic glaucoma model and established a novel role of Cav-1 in mediating activation of this phosphatase in the inner retina in vivo. Collectively, these findings highlight the critical involvement of Cav-1 regulatory mechanisms in ganglion cells in response to increased IOP, implicating Cav-1 as a potential therapeutic target in glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojdeh Abbasi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, F10A, 2 Technology Place, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Vivek K Gupta
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, F10A, 2 Technology Place, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Nitin Chitranshi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, F10A, 2 Technology Place, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Veer B Gupta
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Department of Molecular Science, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.,Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Yogita Dheer
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, F10A, 2 Technology Place, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Linda Garthwaite
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, F10A, 2 Technology Place, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Thiri Zaw
- Department of Molecular Science, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Robert G Parton
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Yuyi You
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, F10A, 2 Technology Place, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.,Save Sight Institute, Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Stuart L Graham
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, F10A, 2 Technology Place, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.,Save Sight Institute, Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
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35
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Ghareeb H, Metanis N. The Thioredoxin System: A Promising Target for Cancer Drug Development. Chemistry 2020; 26:10175-10184. [PMID: 32097513 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201905792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The thioredoxin system is highly conserved system found in all living cells and comprises NADPH, thioredoxin, and thioredoxin reductase. This system plays a critical role in preserving a reduced intracellular environment, and its involvement in regulating a wide range of cellular functions makes it especially vital to cellular homeostasis. Its critical role is not limited to healthy cells, it is also involved in cancer development, and is overexpressed in many cancers. This makes the thioredoxin system a promising target for cancer drug development. As such, over the last decade, many inhibitors have been developed that target the thioredoxin system, most of which are small molecules targeting the thioredoxin reductase C-terminal redox center. A few inhibitors of thioredoxin have also been developed. We believe that more efforts should be invested in developing protein/peptide-based inhibitors against both thioredoxin reductase and/or thioredoxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiba Ghareeb
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Norman Metanis
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
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36
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Yao J, Duan D, Song ZL, Zhang J, Fang J. Sanguinarine as a new chemical entity of thioredoxin reductase inhibitor to elicit oxidative stress and promote tumor cell apoptosis. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 152:659-667. [PMID: 31931095 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The alteration of redox homeostasis is a hallmark of cancer cells. As a critical player in regulating cellular redox signaling, thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) enzymes are increasingly recognized as attractive targets for anticancer drug development. We reported herein the natural product sanguinarine (SAN) as a potent inhibitor of TrxR with a new chemical scaffold. Inhibition of TrxR leads to accumulation of the oxidized thioredoxin, elicits oxidative stress, and finally promotes apoptosis of cancer cells. Further synthesis of different model compounds of SAN demonstrated that the phenanthridinium unit is responsible for the TrxR inhibition. The core structure of SAN, e.g., the phenanthridinium moiety, is different from those of known TrxR inhibitors, and thus SAN is a new chemical entity of TrxR inhibitors and may serve a lead for further development. In addition, as the phenanthridinium scaffold is widely present in natural products, the disclosure of TrxR inhibition by such unit sheds light in understanding the pharmacological actions of these molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; School of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Dongzhu Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji, 721013, China
| | - Zi-Long Song
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Junmin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Jianguo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China.
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Jovanović M, Zhukovsky D, Podolski-Renić A, Žalubovskis R, Dar'in D, Sharoyko V, Tennikova T, Pešić M, Krasavin M. Further exploration of DVD-445 as a lead thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibitor for cancer therapy: Optimization of potency and evaluation of anticancer potential. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 191:112119. [PMID: 32087464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A series of analogs of the earlier reported lead compound DVD-445 (thioredoxin reductase inhibitor with anticancer activity) has been synthesized via a modified Ugi reaction and investigated. Seven most potent compounds (with IC50 below 5.00 μM against recombinant rTrxR1 enzyme) were examined for their effect on cell growth and viability, oxidative stress induction and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibition in human glioblastoma cells cell line U87 and its corresponding multidrug resistant (MDR) cell line U87-TxR. Several of these frontrunner compounds were shown to be superior over DVD-445. Besides providing promising candidates for anticancer therapy, our study further validates the small electrophilic Ugi Michael acceptor (UMA) chemotype as efficacious inhibitor of thioredoxin reductase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirna Jovanović
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Daniil Zhukovsky
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Ana Podolski-Renić
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Raivis Žalubovskis
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia; Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, Riga, LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Dmitry Dar'in
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir Sharoyko
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Tatiana Tennikova
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Milica Pešić
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Mikhail Krasavin
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation.
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38
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Abstract
The mammalian thioredoxin system is driven by NADPH through the activities of isoforms of the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD, TrxR), which in turn help to keep thioredoxins (TXN, Trx) and further downstream targets reduced. Due to a wide range of functions in antioxidant defense, cell proliferation, and redox signaling, strong cellular aberrations are seen upon the targeting of TrxR enzymes by inhibitors. However, such inhibition can nonetheless have rather unexpected consequences. Accumulating data suggest that inhibition of TrxR in normal cells typically yields a paradoxical effect of increased antioxidant defense, with metabolic pathway reprogramming, increased cellular proliferation, and altered cellular differentiation patterns. Conversely, inhibition of TrxR in cancer cells can yield excessive levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in cell death and thus anticancer efficacy. The observed increases in antioxidant capacity upon inhibition of TrxR in normal cells are in part dependent upon activation of the Nrf2 transcription factor, while exaggerated ROS levels in cancer cells can be explained by a non-oncogene addiction of cancer cells to TrxR1 due to their increased endogenous production of ROS. These separate consequences of TrxR inhibition can be utilized therapeutically. Importantly, however, a thorough knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying effects triggered by TrxR inhibition is crucial for the understanding of therapy outcomes after use of such inhibitors. The mammalian thioredoxin system is driven by thioredoxin reductases (TXNRD, TrxR), which keeps thioredoxins (TXN, Trx) and further downstream targets reduced. In normal cells, inhibition of TrxR yields a paradoxical effect of increased antioxidant defense upon activation of the Nrf2 transcription factor. In cancer cells, however, inhibition of TrxR yields excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels resulting in cell death and thus anticancer efficacy, which can be explained by a non-oncogene addiction of cancer cells to TrxR1 due to their increased endogenous production of ROS. These separate consequences of TrxR inhibition can be utilized therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias S J Arnér
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Department of Selenoprotein Research, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.
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39
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Zhao J, Qu Y, Gao H, Zhong M, Li X, Zhang F, Chen Y, Gan L, Hu G, Zhang H, Zhang S, Fang J. Loss of thioredoxin reductase function in a mouse stroke model disclosed by a two-photon fluorescent probe. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:14075-14078. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cc05900e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The first two-photon fluorescent probe (TP-TRFS) is reported, and it was successfully used in vivo.
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40
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Padayachee L, Rohwer JM, Pillay CS. The thioredoxin redox potential and redox charge are surrogate measures for flux in the thioredoxin system. Arch Biochem Biophys 2019; 680:108231. [PMID: 31877266 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2019.108231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The thioredoxin system plays a central role in intracellular redox regulation and its dysregulation is associated with a number of pathologies. However, the connectivity within this system poses a significant challenge for quantification and consequently several disparate measures have been used to characterize the system. For in vitro studies, the thioredoxin system flux has been measured by NADPH oxidation while the thioredoxin redox state has been used to estimate the activity of the system in vivo. The connection between these measures has been obscure although substrate saturation in the thioredoxin system results from the saturation of the thioredoxin redox cycle. We used computational modeling and in vitro kinetic assays to clarify the relationship between flux and the current in vivo measures of the thioredoxin system together with a novel measure, the thioredoxin redox charge (reduced thioredoxin/total thioredoxin). Our results revealed that the thioredoxin redox potential and redox charge closely tracked flux perturbations showing that these indices could be used as surrogate measures of the flux in vivo and, provide a mechanistic explanation for the previously observed correlations between thioredoxin oxidation and certain pathologies. While we found no significant difference in the linear correlations obtained for the thioredoxin redox potential and redox charge with the flux, the redox charge may be preferred because it is bounded between zero and one and can be determined over a wider range of conditions allowing for quantitative flux comparisons between cell types and conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letrisha Padayachee
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa.
| | - Johann M Rohwer
- Laboratory for Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Ché S Pillay
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa.
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41
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Zhang P, Shi L, Zhang T, Hong L, He W, Cao P, Shen X, Zheng P, Xia Y, Zou P. Piperlongumine potentiates the antitumor efficacy of oxaliplatin through ROS induction in gastric cancer cells. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2019; 42:847-860. [PMID: 31493144 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-019-00471-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Oxaliplatin is one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of various cancers, including gastric cancer. It has, however, a narrow therapeutic index due to its toxicity and the occurrence of drug resistance. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop novel therapies to potentiate the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of oxaliplatin. Piperlongumine (PL), an alkaloid isolated from Piper longum L., has recently been identified as a potent agent against cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we investigated whether PL can potentiate the antitumor effect of oxaliplatin in gastric cancer cells. METHODS Cellular apoptosis and ROS levels were analyzed by flow cytometry. Thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) activity in gastric cancer cells or tumor tissues was determined using an endpoint insulin reduction assay. Western blotting was used to analyze the expression levels of the indicated proteins. Nude mice xenograft models were used to test the effects of PL and oxaliplatin combinations on gastric cancer cell growth in vivo. RESULTS We found that PL significantly enhanced oxaliplatin-induced growth inhibition in both gastric and colon cancer cells. Moreover, we found that PL potentiated the antitumor effect of oxaliplatin by inhibiting TrxR1 activity. PL combined with oxaliplatin markedly suppressed the activity of TrxR1, resulting in the accumulation of ROS and, thereby, DNA damage induction and p38 and JNK signaling pathway activation. Pretreatment with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) significantly abrogated the combined treatment-induced ROS generation, DNA damage and apoptosis. Importantly, we found that activation of the p38 and JNK signaling pathways prompted by PL and oxaliplatin was also reversed by NAC pretreatment. In vivo, we found that PL combined with oxaliplatin significantly suppressed tumor growth in a gastric cancer xenograft model, and effectively reduced the activity of TrxR1 in tumor tissues. Remarkably, we found that PL attenuated body weight loss evoked by oxaliplatin treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our data support a synergistic effect of PL and oxaliplatin and suggest that application of its combination may be more effective for the treatment of gastric cancer than oxaliplatin alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peichen Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Lingyan Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Lin Hong
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Wei He
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Peihai Cao
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Xin Shen
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Peisen Zheng
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Yiqun Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
| | - Peng Zou
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
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42
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Wen C, Wang H, Wu X, He L, Zhou Q, Wang F, Chen S, Huang L, Chen J, Wang H, Ye W, Li W, Yang X, Liu H, Peng J. ROS-mediated inactivation of the PI3K/AKT pathway is involved in the antigastric cancer effects of thioredoxin reductase-1 inhibitor chaetocin. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:809. [PMID: 31649256 PMCID: PMC6813365 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-2035-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Novel drugs are urgently needed for gastric cancer (GC) treatment. The thioredoxin-thioredoxin reductase (TRX-TRXR) system has been found to play a critical role in GC tumorigenesis and progression. Thus, agents that target the TRX-TRXR system may be highly efficacious as GC treatments. In this study, we showed that chaetocin, a natural product isolated from the Chaetomium species of fungi, inhibited proliferation, induced G2/M phase arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis in both in vitro and in vivo models (cell xenografts and patient-derived xenografts) of GC. Chaetocin inactivated TRXR-1, resulting in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in GC cells; overexpression of TRX-1 as well as cotreatment of GC cells with the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine attenuated chaetocin-induced apoptosis; chaetocin-induced apoptosis was significantly increased when GC cells were cotreated with auranofin. Moreover, chaetocin was shown to inactivate the PI3K/AKT pathway by inducing ROS generation; AKT-1 overexpression also attenuated chaetocin-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results reveal that chaetocin induces the excessive accumulation of ROS via inhibition of TRXR-1. This is followed by PI3K/AKT pathway inactivation, which ultimately inhibits proliferation and induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in GC cells. Chaetocin therefore may be a potential agent for GC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuangyu Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huihui Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaobin Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lu He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Guangdong Laboratory Animals Monitoring Institute, Guangdong Key Laboratory Animal Lab, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lanlan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Junxiong Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huashe Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Weibiao Ye
- Dongguan Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wende Li
- Guangdong Laboratory Animals Monitoring Institute, Guangdong Key Laboratory Animal Lab, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiangling Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huanliang Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Junsheng Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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43
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Fan R, Bian M, Hu L, Liu W. A new rhodium(I) NHC complex inhibits TrxR: In vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo hepatocellular carcinoma suppression. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 183:111721. [PMID: 31577978 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is often overexpressed in different types of cancer cells including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and regarded as a target with great promise for anticancer drug research and development. Here, we have synthesized and characterized nine new designed rhodium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes. All of them were effective towards cancer cells, especially complex 1e was more active than cisplatin and manifested strong antiproliferative activity against HCC cells. In vivo anticancer studies showed that 1e significantly repressed tumor growth in an HCC nude mouse model and ameliorated liver lesions in a chronic HCC model caused by CCl4. Notably, a mechanistic study revealed that 1e can strongly inhibit TrxR system both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, 1e promoted intracellular ROS accumulation, damaged mitochondrial membrane potential, promoted cancer cell apoptosis and blocked the cells in the G1 phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Fan
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mianli Bian
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Lihong Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Wukun Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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44
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Zhang T, Zheng P, Shen X, Shao R, Wang B, Shen H, Zhang J, Xia Y, Zou P. Curcuminoid WZ26, a TrxR1 inhibitor, effectively inhibits colon cancer cell growth and enhances cisplatin-induced cell death through the induction of ROS. Free Radic Biol Med 2019; 141:93-102. [PMID: 31176737 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Chemotherapy has improved survival in patients with colon cancer, but has a narrow therapeutic window due to its toxicity. Therefore, novel therapies for colon cancer are urgently needed. We previously developed a curcumin analog WZ26 as an anti-cancer agent in pre-clinical evaluation. In the present study, we further explored the mechanism and target of WZ26 in colon cancer cells. Our results show that WZ26 targets thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) and increases cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which results in the activation of JNK signaling pathway in human colon cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that WZ26 significantly enhances cisplatin-induced cell growth inhibition in colon cancer cells. WZ26 combined with cisplatin markedly increases the accumulation of ROS, and thereby induces DNA damage and activation of JNK signaling pathway. Pretreatment with antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) significantly abrogates the combined treatment-induced ROS generation, DNA damage and cell death. In addition, the activation of JNK signaling pathway prompted by WZ26 and cisplatin was also reversed by NAC pretreatment. In vivo, WZ26 combined with cisplatin significantly inhibits tumor growth in a colon cancer xenograft model. Remarkably, WZ26 attenuates the body weight loss evoked by cisplatin treatment. This study discloses a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying the biological activity of WZ26, and reveals that WZ26 and cisplatin combinational treatment might potentially become a more effective regimen in colon cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Peisen Zheng
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Xin Shen
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Rongrong Shao
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Huanpei Shen
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Yiqun Xia
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
| | - Peng Zou
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
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45
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Jovanović M, Zhukovsky D, Podolski-Renić A, Domračeva I, Žalubovskis R, Senćanski M, Glišić S, Sharoyko V, Tennikova T, Dar'in D, Pešić M, Krasavin M. Novel electrophilic amides amenable by the Ugi reaction perturb thioredoxin system via thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) inhibition: Identification of DVD-445 as a new lead compound for anticancer therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 181:111580. [PMID: 31400708 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A series of peptidomimetic compounds incorporating an electrophilic moiety was synthesized using the Ugi reaction. These compounds (termed the Ugi Michael acceptors or UMAs) were designed to target the selenocysteine catalytic residue of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1), a promising cancer target. The compounds were assessed for their potential to inhibit TrxR1 using human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell lysate. Based on this initial screening, six compounds were selected for testing against recombinant rat TrxR1 and in the insulin assay to reveal low-micromolar to submicromolar potency of these inhibitors. The same frontrunner compounds were evaluated for their ability to exert antiproliferative activity and induce cell death and this activity was compared to the UMA effects on the levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Collectively, the UMA compounds class presented itself as a rich source of leads for TrxR1 inhibitor discovery for anticancer application. Compound 7 (DVD-445) was nominated a lead for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirna Jovanović
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Daniil Zhukovsky
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Ana Podolski-Renić
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ilona Domračeva
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Raivis Žalubovskis
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia; Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, Riga, LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Milan Senćanski
- Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINCA, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, 11001, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sanja Glišić
- Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINCA, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, 11001, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Sharoyko
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Tatiana Tennikova
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Dmitry Dar'in
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Milica Pešić
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Mikhail Krasavin
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation.
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46
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Overview of thioredoxin system and targeted therapies for acute leukemia. Mitochondrion 2019; 47:38-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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47
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Bai F, Zhang B, Hou Y, Yao J, Xu Q, Xu J, Fang J. Xanthohumol Analogues as Potent Nrf2 Activators against Oxidative Stress Mediated Damages of PC12 Cells. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2956-2966. [PMID: 31116948 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master transcription factor controlling a series of cytoprotective genes, is closely associated with scavenging the reactive oxygen species and maintaining the intracellular redox balance. Accumulating evidence has indicated that activation of Nrf2 is efficient to block or retard oxidative stress mediated neurodegenerative disorders. Small molecules that contribute directly or indirectly to the Nrf2 activation thus are promising therapeutic agents. Herein, we screened xanthohumol and its analogues, and two analogues (11 and 12) were disclosed to possess low cytotoxicity and rescue PC12 cells from the hydrogen peroxide or 6-hydroxydopamine induced injuries. Molecular mechanism studies demonstrated that compounds 11 and 12 are potent Nrf2 activators by promoting the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and enhancing the cellular antioxidant defense system. More importantly, genetically silencing the Nrf2 expression shuts down the observed cytoprotection conferred by both compounds, supporting the critical involvement of Nrf2 for the cellular actions of compounds 11 and 12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Baoxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yanan Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Juan Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Qianhe Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jianqiang Xu
- School of Life Science and Medicine & Panjin Industrial Technology Institute, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin Campus, Panjin 124221, China
| | - Jianguo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Jia JJ, Geng WS, Wang ZQ, Chen L, Zeng XS. The role of thioredoxin system in cancer: strategy for cancer therapy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2019; 84:453-470. [DOI: 10.1007/s00280-019-03869-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Korman DB, Ostrovskaya LA, Kuz’min VA. Induction of Oxidative Stress in Tumor Cells: A New Strategy for Drug Therapy of Malignant Tumors. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2019. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006350919030102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Liu T, Zhang J, Han X, Xu J, Wu Y, Fang J. Promotion of HeLa cells apoptosis by cynaropicrin involving inhibition of thioredoxin reductase and induction of oxidative stress. Free Radic Biol Med 2019; 135:216-226. [PMID: 30880248 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is considered as one of the highly mortal diseases globally. This is largely due to the lack of efficacious medicines for tumors, and thus development of potent anticancer agents is urgently needed. The thioredoxin (Trx) system is crucial to the survival ability of cells and its expression is up-regulated in many human tumors. Recently, increasing evidence has been established that mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), a selenocysteine-containing protein and the core component of the thioredoxin system, is a promising therapeutic target. The sesquiterpene lactone compound cynaropicrin (CYN), a major component of Cynara scolymus L., has shown multiple pharmacological functions, especially the anticancer effect, in many experimental models. Most of these functions are concomitant with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Nevertheless, the target of this promising natural anticancer product in redox control has rarely been explored. In this study, we showed that CYN induces apoptosis of Hela cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that CYN impinges on the thioredoxin system via inhibition of TrxR, which leads to Trx oxidation and ROS accumulation in HeLa cells. Particularly, the cytotoxicity of CYN is enhanced through the genetic knockdown of TrxR, supporting the pharmacological effect of CYN is relevant to its inhibition of TrxR. Together, our studies reveal an unprecedented mechanism accounting for the anticancer effect of CYN and identify a promising therapeutic agent worthy of further development for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Junmin Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Xiao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jianqiang Xu
- School of Life Science and Medicine & Panjin Industrial Technology Institute, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin Campus, Panjin, 124221, China
| | - Yueting Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jianguo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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