A bismuth diethyldithiocarbamate compound promotes apoptosis in HepG2 carcinoma, cell cycle arrest and inhibits cell invasion through modulation of the NF-κB activation pathway

Cytotoxicity of bismuth(III) dithiocarbamate derivatives by promoting a mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway and suppressing MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell invasion

We previously reported that the bismuth(III) dithiocarbamate derivative, bismuth diethyldithiocarbamate (1) exhibited greater cytotoxicity while inducing apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway in MCF-7 cells. We further evaluated the other bismuth(III) dithiocarbamate derivatives, Bi[S2CNR]3, with R = (CH2CH2OH)(iPr), (CH2)4, and (CH2CH2OH)(CH3), denoted as 2, 3, and 4, respectively, in the same MCF-7 cell line. 2-4 were found to exhibit IC50 values of 10.33 ± 0.06 µM, 1.07 ± 0.01 µM and 25.37 ± 0.12 µM, respectively, compared to that of cisplatin at 30.53 ± 0.23 µM. Apoptotic promotion via the mitochondrial-dependent pathway was due to the elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), promotion of caspases, release of cytochrome c, fragmentation of DNA, and results of staining assay observed in all compound-treated cells. 2-4 are also capable of suppressing MCF-7 cell invasion and modulate Lys-48 also Lys-63 linked polyubiquitination, leading to proteasomal degradation. Analysis of gene expression via qRT-PCR revealed their modulation, which supported all activities conducted upon treatment with 2-4. Altogether, bismuth dithiocarbamate derivatives, with bismuth(III) as the metal center bound to ligands, isopropyl ethanol, pyrrolidine, and methyl ethanol dithiocarbamate, are potential anti-breast cancer agents that induce apoptosis and suppress metastasis. Further studies using other breast cancer cell lines and in vivo studies are recommended to clarify the anticancer effects of these compounds.

Biological Activities of Bismuth Compounds: An Overview of the New Findings and the Old Challenges Not Yet Overcome

Bismuth-based drugs have been used primarily to treat ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori and other gastrointestinal ailments. Combined with antibiotics, these drugs also possess synergistic activity, making them ideal for multiple therapy regimens and overcoming bacterial resistance. Compounds based on bismuth have a low cost, are safe for human use, and some of them are also effective against tumoral cells, leishmaniasis, fungi, and viruses. However, these compounds have limited bioavailability in physiological environments. As a result, there is a growing interest in developing new bismuth compounds and approaches to overcome this challenge. Considering the beneficial properties of bismuth and the importance of discovering new drugs, this review focused on the last decade's updates involving bismuth compounds, especially those with potent activity and low toxicity, desirable characteristics for developing new drugs. In addition, bismuth-based compounds with dual activity were also highlighted, as well as their modes of action and structure-activity relationship, among other relevant discoveries. In this way, we hope this review provides a fertile ground for rationalizing new bismuth-based drugs.

Targeted ferroptotic potency of ferrous oxide nanoparticles-diethyldithiocarbamate nanocomplex on the metastatic liver cancer

Existing treatments are frequently ineffective in combating liver cancer (LC) due to its rapid growth, high metastatic potential, and chemoresistance. Thus, inducing ferroptosis, a new non-apoptotic regulated cell death-dependent massive iron overload-mediated lipid peroxidation, is an alternative effective approach for treating LC. The efficient trigger of ferroptosis requires blocking cellular antioxidant (anti-ferroptosis) response and selectivity to avoid harming other healthy tissues. In this study, green chemically synthesized ferrous oxide nanoparticles (F(II) NPs) were used for enhancing selective iron accumulation in tumor tissue, while diethyldithiocarbamate (DE) was for inhibiting the antioxidant system (glutathione and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 2) which protects the tumor from damage-dependent lipid peroxides. Thus, F(II) NPs were used with DE as nanocomplex (DF(II) NPs) and its anti-LC activity compared to ferrous oxide DF(II). DF(II) NPs outperformed the typical complex of DF(II) in eradicating metastatic LC cells in HepG2 cells and a chemically induced metastatic LC animal model, as evidenced by flow cytometry, histological and immunohistochemical analyses, and α-fetoprotein depletion. The superior therapeutic potency-dependent ferroptotic activity of DF(II) NPs, attributed to their higher selective accumulation (∼77%) than DF(II) in tumor tissues (liver and lung), resulted in a strong elevation of cellular lipid peroxidation with extreme suppression of nuclear related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcriptional activity, glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase 4, and ALDH2. Subsequently, a severe inhibition in the expression of oncogenes and metastatic cancer stem cell genes was recorded in DF(II) NPs-treated LC animal group. In contrast to DF(II), DF(II) NPs were able to normalize liver functions and did not show any variations in hematological and histological parameters in the blood and tissues of DF(II) NPs-treated normal mouse group. These findings validate the potency and safety of DF(II) nanocomplex as a promising nanodrug for combating metastatic LC.

Dual anticancer and antibacterial activities of bismuth compounds based on asymmetric [NN'O] ligands

Two new bismuth(III) complexes, [BiL¹Cl₂] (1) and [BiL²Cl₂] (2), in which L¹ is (2-hydroxy-4-6-di-tert-butylbenzyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine and L² is 2,4-diiodo-6-((pyridine-2-ylmethylamino)methyl)phenol, were synthesized and characterized by elemental and conductivity analyses, atomic absorption spectrometry, infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. The molecular structure of 1 reveals that the NN'O ligand forms a 1:1 complex with bismuth through coordination via the nitrogen of the aliphatic amine, the nitrogen of the pyridine ring and the oxygen of the phenolate. The coordination sphere is completed with two chloride anions in a distorted square pyramidal geometry. Bismuth exhibits the same coordination mode in compound 2. The cytotoxic activity of 1 and 2 was investigated in a chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line. The complexes are approximately three times more potent than the corresponding free ligands, with the IC₅₀ values 0.30 and 0.38 μM for complex 1 and 2, respectively. To address the cellular mechanisms underlying cell demise, apoptosis was quantified by flow cytometry analysis. From 0.1 μM, both complexes induce apoptosis and there is a remarkable concentration-dependent increase in the population of cells in apoptosis. The complexes were also evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Both inhibited the bacterial growth in a concentration-dependent way, with remarkable activity in some of the tested strains, for example, complex 2 was more active than its free ligand against all bacterial strains and approximately fourteen times more potent against S. dysenteriae and S. typhimurium.

A bismuth diethyldithiocarbamate compound induced apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent pathway and suppressed invasion in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Interest in bismuth(III) dithiocarbamate complexes as potential drug candidates is increasing due to their low toxicity compared to other group 15 elements (pnictogen) of the periodic table. Bismuth dithiocarbamate compounds have been reported to induce greater cytotoxicity in various human carcinoma cancer cell lines. Using various in vitro cancer-related assays, we investigated the antiproliferative activity of bismuth diethyldithiocarbamate, denoted as 1, against the MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma cell line and the effect on genes that may be involved in antiproliferation, apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, invasion and polyubiquitination functions. In general, 1 exhibited high cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells, with an IC₅₀ of 1.26 ± 0.02 µM, by inducing the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, as ascertained by measurements of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), caspase activity, the amount of cytochrome c released and the extent of DNA fragmentation and by staining assays that reveal apoptotic cells. In addition, 1 significantly attenuated cell invasion and modulated several cancer-related genes, including PLK2, FIGF, FLT4, PARP4, and HDAC11, as determined via gene expression analysis. The NF-κB signaling pathway was inhibited by 1 upon the activation of Lys48- and Lys63-linked polyubiquitination, thus leading to its degradation via the proteasome. Overall, 1 has the potential to act as an antiproliferative agent and a proteasome inhibitor in estrogen-positive breast cancer.

Combination of diethyldithiocarbamate with 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate inhibits the growth of human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells in vitro and in xenograft model

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), is a major active constituent of the seed oil of Croton tiglium L., has pharmacological activity for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia patients. Diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC) is a potent inhibitor of NF-κB show activity of anticancer. In this study, we determined the effect of DTC and TPA in combination on HL-60 cells cultured in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we have shown that DTC and TPA synergistically inhibited the growth of HL-60 cells and strongly induced apoptosis in the cells. Mechanistic studies showed that the combined effects of DTC and TPA were associated with a decrease in Bcl-2. The animal experiment showed that the combination of DTC and TPA more potently inhibited the growth of HL-60 tumors than either agent alone. Our results indicate that the administration of TPA and DTC in combination may be an effective strategy for inhibiting the growth of acute myeloid leukemia cells.

(3E,5E)-3,5-Bis(pyridin-3-methylene)-tetrahydrothiopyran-4-one enhances the inhibitory effect of gemcitabine on pancreatic cancer cells

Gemcitabine (GEM) is a commonly used treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. However, chemoresistance and toxic side effect limits its clinical success. In an earlier study, our laboratory found that the curcumin analogue, (3E,5E)-3,5-Bis(pyridin-3-methylene)-tetrahydrothiopyran-4-one (FN2) had strong inhibitory effect on human pancreatic cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of FN2 in combination with GEM on growth inhibition and apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer Panc-1 cells. The results showed that the combination of FN2 and GEM synergistically inhibited the growth of Panc-1 cells. Panc-1 cells survived the GEM treatment became partially resistant to the drug. Treatment with FN2 in combination with GEM strongly inhibited the growth and stimulated apoptosis in the GEM resistant Panc-1 cells. Mechanistic studies showed that inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis in the GEM resistant Panc-1 cells were associated with decreases in activation of NF-κB and Akt. FN2 in combination with GEM also decreased the level of Bcl-2 and increased the level of Bax. Results of the present study indicate that GEM in combination with FN2 may represent an effective strategy for improving the efficacy of GEM and decreasing the resistance of pancreatic cancer to GEM chemotherapy.

(N,N-Di-allyl-dithio-carbamato-κ2 S,S')tri-phenyltin(IV) and bis-(N,N-di-allyl-dithio-carbamato-κ2 S,S')di-phenyl-tin(IV): crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and computational study

The crystal and mol-ecular structures of the title organotin di-thio-carbamate compounds, [Sn(C6H5)3(C7H10NS2)] (I) and [Sn(C6H5)2(C7H10NS2)2] (II), present very distinct tin atom coordination geometries. In (I), the di-thio-carbamate ligand is asymmetrically coordinating with the resulting C3S2 donor set defining a coordination geometry inter-mediate between square-pyramidal and trigonal-bipyramidal. In (II), two independent mol-ecules comprise the asymmetric unit, which differ in the conformations of the allyl substituents and in the relative orientations of the tin-bound phenyl rings. The di-thio-carbamate ligands in (II) coordinate in an asymmetric mode but the Sn-S bonds are more symmetric than observed in (I). The resulting C2S4 donor set approximates an octa-hedral coordination geometry with a cis-disposition of the ipso-carbon atoms and with the more tightly bound sulfur atoms approximately trans. The only directional inter-molecular contacts in the crystals of (I) and (II) are of the type phenyl-C-H⋯π(phen-yl) and vinyl-idene-C-H⋯π(phen-yl), respectively, with each leading to a supra-molecular chain propagating along the a-axis direction. The calculated Hirshfeld surfaces emphasize the importance of H⋯H contacts in the crystal of (I), i.e. contributing 62.2% to the overall surface. The only other two significant contacts also involve hydrogen, i.e. C⋯H/H⋯C (28.4%) and S⋯H/H⋯S (8.6%). Similar observations pertain to the individual mol-ecules of (II), which are clearly distinguishable in their surface contacts, with H⋯H being clearly dominant (59.9 and 64.9%, respectively) along with C⋯H/H⋯C (24.3 and 20.1%) and S⋯H/H⋯S (14.4 and 13.6%) contacts. The calculations of energies of inter-action suggest dispersive forces make a significant contribution to the stabilization of the crystals. The exception is for the C-H⋯π contacts in (II) where, in addition to the dispersive contribution, significant contributions are made by the electrostatic forces.

Crystal structure of N-methyl-N-phenyl(methylsulfanyl)carbothioamide, C9H11NS2

C9H11NS2, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 5.6183(1) Å, b = 18.2426(3) Å, c = 9.5185(2) Å, β = 96.835(2)°, V = 968.64(3) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0303, wRref(F2) = 0.0826, T = 100(2) K.

1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)imidazolidine-2-thione

1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)imidazolidine-2-thione (1) was obtained as a product from an in situ reaction between N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine, carbon disulfide, potassium hydroxide, and di(4-fluorobenzyl)tin dichloride. Compound 1 was characterized by IR, UV, 1H, 13C{1H}, and 2D (COSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopies. The cyclic molecular structure was confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography which showed the five-membered ring to be non-planar and the π-electron density to be localized over the CN2S chromophore. In the crystal, thioamide–N–H…O(hydroxy) and hydroxy–O–H…S(thione) hydrogen bonds lead to supramolecular layers in the bc-plane.

Gold-Based Medicine: A Paradigm Shift in Anti-Cancer Therapy?

A new era of metal-based drugs started in the 1960s, heralded by the discovery of potent platinum-based complexes, commencing with cisplatin [(H₃N)₂PtCl₂], which are effective anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. While clinical applications of gold-based drugs largely relate to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, attention has turned to the investigation of the efficacy of gold(I) and gold(III) compounds for anti-cancer applications. This review article provides an account of the latest research conducted during the last decade or so on the development of gold compounds and their potential activities against several cancers as well as a summary of possible mechanisms of action/biological targets. The promising activities and increasing knowledge of gold-based drug metabolism ensures that continued efforts will be made to develop gold-based anti-cancer agents.

Crystal structure of bis(μ2-di-n-butyldithiocarbamato-κ3 S,S′:S;κ3 S:S:S′)-hexacarbonyl-di-rhenium(I), C24H36N2O6Re2

C24H36N2O6Re2, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 10.3013(2) Å, b = 11.3471(2) Å, c = 14.5967(3) Å, α = 72.540(2)°, β = 73.074(2)°, γ = 85.369(2)°, V = 1557.05(6) Å3, Z = 2, R gt(F) = 0.0214, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0466, T = 100(2) K.

A new supramolecular based liquid solid microextraction method for preconcentration and determination of trace bismuth in human blood serum and hair samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and reliable supramolecule-aggregated liquid solid microextraction method is described for preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of bismuth in water as well as human blood serum and hair samples. Catanionic microstructures of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants, dissolved in deionized water/propanol, are used as a green solvent to extract bismuth (III)-diethyldithiocarbamate complexes by dispersive microextraction methodology. The extracted solid phase is easily removed and dissolved in 50 μL propanol for subsequent measurement by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS). The procedure benefits the merits of supramolecule aggregates' properties and dispersive microextraction technique using water as the main component of disperser solvent, leading to direct interaction with analyte. Phase separation behavior of extraction solvent and different parameters influencing the extraction efficiency of bismuth ion such as salt concentration, pH, centrifugation time, amount of chelating agent, SDS:CTAB mole ratio, and solvent amounts were thoroughly optimized. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.3-6 μg L^-1 Bi (III) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.16 μg L^-1 (S/N = 3). The relative standard deviations (RSD) of determination were obtained to be 5.1 and 6.2 % for 1 and 3 μg L^-1 of Bi (III), respectively. The developed method was successfully applied as a sensitive and accurate technique for determination of bismuth ion in human blood serum, hair samples, and a certified reference material.

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 induction by diethyldithiocarbamate is regulated via Akt and ERK/miR222/ETS-1 pathways in hepatic stellate cells

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) plays an important role in fibrolysis by degrading excessively deposited collagen I and III. We previously demonstrated that diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) up-regulates MMP-1 in hepatic stellate cells via the ERK1/2 and Akt signalling pathways. In the current study, we attempted to further explore the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of MMP-1. We treated a co-cultured system that included hepatocytes (C3A) and hepatic stellate cells (LX-2) with DDC. The data revealed that the transcriptional factor ETS-1, which is an important regulator of MMP-1, was up-regulated in LX-2 cells following DDC treatment. Furthermore, the up-regulation of MMP-1 by DDC has been abrogated through employing si-ETS-1 to block expression of ETS-1. We found that DDC significantly inhibited the expression of miR-222 in LX-2 cells. We transfected miR-222 mimic into LX-2 cells and then co-cultured the cells with C3A. The up-regulation of ETS-1 and MMP-1 in LX-2 cells treated with DDC were inhibited after miR-222 mimic transfection. These data indicate that DDC up-regulated MMP-1 in LX-2 cells through the miR-222/ETS-1 pathway. Finally, we treated the co-cultured system with an Akt inhibitor (T3830) and an ERK1/2 inhibitor (U0126). Both T3830 and U0126 blocked the suppression of miR-222 by DDC in LX-2. Collectively, these data indicate that DDC up-regulated MMP-1 in LX-2 cells through the Akt and ERK/miR-222/ETS-1 pathways. Our study provides experimental data that will aid the control of the process of fibrolysis in liver fibrosis prevention and treatment.

Bis[bis(N-2-hydroxyethyl,N-isopropyl-dithiocarbamato)mercury(II)]2: crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis

The presence of both κ2-chelating and μ2,κ2-tridentate bridging dithiocarbamate ligands in centrosymmetric {Hg[S2CN(iPr)CH2CH2OH]2}2 (1) leads to globular aggregates that are linked into a three-dimensional architecture via hydroxyl-O–H···O(hydroxy) hydrogen bonding. The structure contrasts that of Hg[S2CN(CH2CH2OH)2]2 (2; this is a literature structure) in which square planar units are connected into supramolecular chains via Hg···S secondary bonding; chains are connected in the crystal structure by hydroxyl-O–H···O(hydroxy) hydrogen bonding. A Hirshfeld surface analysis on 1 and 2 reveal the influence of O–H···O and Hg···S interactions on the molecular packing as well as the distinctive interactions, such as C–H···S interactions in 1 and C–H···π (HgS2C) contacts in 2. A bibliographic survey shows the different structural motifs observed for 1 and 2 are complimented by an additional five motifs for binary mercury(II) dithiocarbamates revealing a fascinating structural diversity for this class of compound.

Bis(phosphane)copper(I) and silver(I) dithiocarbamates: crystallography and anti-microbial assay

The crystal and molecular structures of (Ph3P)2M[S2CN(Me)CH2CH2OH], M=Cu, isolated as a 1:1 dichloromethane solvate (1·CH2Cl2), and M=Ag (4) show the central metal atom to be coordinated by a symmetrically (1·CH2Cl2) and asymmetrically chelating (4) dithiocarbamate ligand. The distorted tetrahedral geometries are completed by two PPh3 ligands. The presence of hydroxyl-O–H···S(dithiocarbamate) hydrogen bonds leads to centrosymmetric dimeric aggregates in each crystal structure. In the molecular packing of 1·CH2Cl2, channels comprising 1 are formed via aryl-C–H···O interactions with the solvent molecules associated with the walls of the channels via methylene-C–H···S, π(aryl) interactions. For 4, the dimeric aggregates are connected via a network of aryl-C–H···π(aryl) interactions. Preliminary screening for anti-microbial activity was conducted. The compounds were only potent against Gram-positive bacteria. Some further selectivity in activity was noted. Most notably, all compounds were active against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Crystal structures of (2,2'-bipyridyl-κ(2) N,N')bis-[N,N-bis-(2-hydroxy-eth-yl)di-thio-carbamato-κ(2) S,S']zinc dihydrate and (2,2'-bipyridyl-κ(2) N,N')bis-[N-(2-hydroxy-eth-yl)-N-iso-propyl-dithio-carbamato-κ(2) S,S']zinc

The common feature of the title compounds, [Zn(C5H10NO2S2)2(C10H8N2)]·2H2O, (I), and [Zn(C6H12NOS2)2(C10H8N2)], (II), is the location of the Zn(II) atoms on a twofold rotation axis. Further, each Zn(II) atom is chelated by two symmetry-equivalent and symmetrically coordinating di-thio-carbamate ligands and a 2,2'-bi-pyridine ligand. The resulting N2S4 coordination geometry is based on a highly distorted octa-hedron in each case. In the mol-ecular packing of (I), supra-molecular ladders mediated by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonding are found whereby the uprights are defined by {⋯HO(water)⋯HO(hy-droxy)⋯} n chains parallel to the a axis and with the rungs defined by 'Zn[S2CN(CH2CH2)2]2'. The water mol-ecules connect the ladders into a supra-molecular layer parallel to the ab plane via water-O-H⋯S and pyridyl-C-H⋯O(water) inter-actions, with the connections between layers being of the type pyridyl-C-H⋯S. In (II), supra-molecular layers parallel to the ab plane are sustained by hy-droxy-O-H⋯S hydrogen bonds with connections between layers being of the type pyridyl-C-H⋯S.

Bis[N-(2-hy-droxy-eth-yl)-N-iso-propyl-dithio-carbamato-κ(2) S,S'](piperazine-κN)cadmium: crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis

The title compound, [Cd(C6H12NOS2)2(C4H10N2)], features a distorted square-pyramidal coordination geometry about the central Cd(II) atom. The di-thio-carbamate ligands are chelating, forming similar Cd-S bond lengths and define the approximate basal plane. One of the N atoms of the piperazine mol-ecule, which adopts a chair conformation, occupies the apical site. In the crystal, supra-molecular layers propagating in the ac plane are formed via hy-droxy-O-H⋯O(hy-droxy), hy-droxy-O-H⋯N(terminal-piperazine) and coordinated-piperazine-N-H⋯O(hy-droxy) hydrogen bonds; the layers also feature methine-C-H⋯S inter-actions and S⋯S [3.3714 (10) Å] short contacts. The layers stack along the b-axis direction with very weak terminal-piperazine-N-H⋯O(hy-droxy) inter-actions between them. An evaluation of the Hirshfeld surfaces confirms the importance of inter-molecular inter-actions involving oxygen and sulfur atoms.

Novel bismuth compounds: synthesis, characterization and biological activity against human adenocarcinoma cells

Novel bismuth(iii) halide compounds were synthesized. Molecules with lower H-all atoms inter-molecular interactions tend to exhibit the higher activity against MCF-7 and HeLa cells.

Honokiol ameliorates endothelial dysfunction through suppression of PTX3 expression, a key mediator of IKK/IκB/NF-κB, in atherosclerotic cell model

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) was identified as a marker of the inflammatory response and overexpressed in various tissues and cells related to cardiovascular disease. Honokiol, an active component isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Magnolia officinalis, was shown to have a variety of pharmacological activities. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of honokiol on palmitic acid (PA)-induced dysfunction of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and to elucidate potential regulatory mechanisms in this atherosclerotic cell model. Our results showed that PA significantly accelerated the expression of PTX3 in HUVECs through the IκB kinase (IKK)/IκB/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, reduced cell viability, induced cell apoptosis and triggered the inflammatory response. Knockdown of PTX3 supported cell growth and prevented apoptosis by blocking PA-inducted nitric oxide (NO) overproduction. Honokiol significantly suppressed the overexpression of PTX3 in PA-inducted HUVECs by inhibiting IκB phosphorylation and the expression of two NF-κB subunits (p50 and p65) in the IKK/IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, honokiol reduced endothelial cell injury and apoptosis by regulating the expression of inducible NO synthase and endothelial NO synthase, as well as the generation of NO. Honokiol showed an anti-inflammatory effect in PA-inducted HUVECs by significantly inhibiting the generation of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. In summary, honokiol repaired endothelial dysfunction by suppressing PTX3 overexpression in an atherosclerotic cell model. PTX3 may be a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.

Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and cell selectivity of zinc dithiocarbamates functionalized with hydroxyethyl substituents

In the solid state each of three binuclear zinc dithiocarbamates bearing hydroxyethyl groups, {Zn[S2CN(R)CH2CH2OH]2}2 for R = iPr (1), CH2CH2OH (2), and Me (3), and an all alkyl species, [Zn(S2CNEt2)2]2 (4), features a centrosymmetric {ZnSCS}2 core with a step topology; both 1 and 3 were isolated as monohydrates. All compounds were broadly cytotoxic, specifically against human cancer cell lines compared with normal cells, with greater potency than cisplatin. Notably, some selectivity were indicated with 2 being the most potent against human ovarian carcinoma cells (cisA2780), and 4 being more cytotoxic toward multidrug resistant human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7R), human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29), and human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (A549). Based on human apoptosis PCR-array analysis, caspase activities, DNA fragmentation, cell apoptotic assays, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurements and human topoisomerase I inhibition, induction of apoptosis in HT-29 cells is demonstrated via both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Compounds 2-4 activate the p53 gene while 1 activates both p53 and p73. Cell cycle arrest at the S and G2/M phases correlates with inhibition of HT-29 cell growth. Cell invasion is also inhibited by 1-4 which is correlated with down-regulation of NF-κB.

Homo- and heteroleptic bismuth(III/V) thiolates from N-heterocyclic thiones: synthesis, structure and anti-microbial activity

Homo- and heteroleptic bismuth thiolato complexes have been synthesised and characterised from biologically relevant tetrazole-, imidazole-, thiadiazole- and thiazole-based heterocyclic thiones (thiols): 1-methyl-1H-tetrazole-5-thiol (1-MMTZ(H)); 4-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (4-MTT(H)); 1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-thiol (2-MMI(H)); 5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol (5-MMTD(H)); 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-dithiol (2,5-DMTD(H)2 ); and 4-(4-bromophenyl)thiazole-2-thiol (4-BrMTD(H)). Reaction of BiPh3 with 1-MMTZ(H) produced the rare Bi(V) thiolato complex [BiPh(1-MMTZ)4 ], which undergoes reduction in DMSO to give [BiPh(1-MMTZ)2 {(1-MMTZ(H)}2 ]. Reactions with PhBiCl2 or BiPh3 generally produced monophenylbismuth thiolates, [BiPh(SR)2 ]. The crystal structures of [BiPh(1-MMTZ)2 {1-MMTZ(H)}2 ], [BiPh(5-MMTD)2 ], [BiPh{2,5-DMTD(H)}2 (Me2 CO)] and [Bi(4-BrMTD)3 ] were obtained. Evaluation of the bactericidal properties against M. smegmatis, S. aureus, MRSA, VRE, E. faecalis and E. coli showed complexes containing the anionic ligands 1- MMTZ, 4-MTT and 4-BrMTD to be most effective. The dithiolato dithione complexes [BiPh(4-MTT)2 {4-MTT(H)}2 ] and [BiPh(1-MMTZ)2 {1-MMTZ(H)}2 ] were most effective against all the bacteria: MICs 0.34 μM for [BiPh(4-MTT)2 {4-MTT(H)}2 ] against VRE, and 1.33 μM for [BiPh(1-MMTZ)2 {1-MMTZ(H)}2 ] against M. smegmatis and S. aureus. Tris-thiolato Bi(III) complexes were least effective overall. All complexes showed little or no toxicity towards mammalian COS-7 cells at 20 μg mL(-1) .