Synthesis, characterization and bioactivity of a new VO2+/aspirin complex

Repurposing Therapeutic Drugs Complexed to Vanadium in Cancer

Repurposing drugs by uncovering new indications for approved drugs accelerates the process of establishing new treatments and reduces the high costs of drug discovery and development. Metal complexes with clinically approved drugs allow further opportunities in cancer therapy-many vanadium compounds have previously shown antitumor effects, which makes vanadium a suitable metal to complex with therapeutic drugs, potentially improving their efficacy in cancer treatment. In this review, covering the last 25 years of research in the field, we identified non-oncology-approved drugs suitable as ligands to obtain different vanadium complexes. Metformin-decavanadate, vanadium-bisphosphonates, vanadyl(IV) complexes with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and cetirizine and imidazole-based oxidovanadium(IV) complexes, each has a parent drug known to have different medicinal properties and therapeutic indications, and all showed potential as novel anticancer treatments. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms of action for these vanadium compounds against cancer are still not fully understood.

Spectroscopic behavior and biological activity of K3[VO(O2)2CO3]∙H2O

The potassium salt of the carbonato oxodiperoxovanadate(V) complex, obtained by a known synthetic procedure, was thoroughly characterized by infrared, Raman, and electronic spectroscopy. The bioactivity of the complex on the cell proliferation was tested on osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3E1 osteoblastic mouse calvaria-derived cells and UMR106 rat osteosarcoma-derived cells) in culture. At low doses, the complex is more toxic for the nontransformed osteoblasts than for the tumoral ones, whereas at higher doses the deleterious effects are similar for both cell lines. This peroxo complex seems to be the most toxic compound that has so far been tested on osteoblast-like cells in culture.

Vanadium(IV) complexes inhibit adhesion, migration and colony formation of UMR106 osteosarcoma cells

Vanadium is a trace element widely distributed in the environment. In vertebrates it is mainly stored in bone tissue. The unique cellular environment in the bone and the variety of interactions that mediate cancer metastasis determine that certain types of cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer, preferentially metastize in the skeleton. Since this effect usually signifies serious morbidity and grave prognosis there is an increasing interest in the development of new treatments for this pathology. The present work shows that vanadium complexes can inhibit some parameters related to cancer metastasis such as cell adhesion, migration and clonogenicity. We have also investigated the role of protein kinase A in these processes.

Synthesis, characterization, antitumoral and osteogenic activities of quercetin vanadyl(IV) complexes

The development of new vanadium derivatives with organic ligands, which improve the beneficial actions (insulin-mimetic, antitumoral) and decrease the toxic effects, is of great interest. A good candidate for the generation of a new vanadium compound is the flavonoid quercetin because of its own anticarcinogenic effect. The complex [VO(Quer)(2)EtOH]( n ) (QuerVO) has been synthesized and characterized by means of different spectroscopic techniques (UV-vis, Fourier transform IR, electron paramagnetic resonance) and its magnetic and stability properties. The inhibitory effect on bovine alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity has been tested for the free ligand, the complex as well as for the vanadyl(IV) (comparative purposes). The biological activity of the complex on the proliferation of two osteoblast-like cells in culture, a normal one (MC3T3E1) and a tumoral one (UMR106), has been compared with that of the vanadyl(IV) cation and quercetin. The differentiation osteoblast markers ALP specific activity and collagen synthesis have been also tested. In addition, the effect of QuerVO on the activation of the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is reported. The bone antitumoral effect of quercetin alone was established with the cell proliferation assays (it inhibits the proliferation of the tumoral cells and does not exert any effect on the normal osteoblasts). Moreover, the complex exerts osteogenic effects since it stimulates the type I collagen production and is a weak inhibitory agent upon ALP activity. Finally, QuerVO stimulated the ERK phosphorylation in a dose-response manner and this activation seems to be involved as one of the possible mechanisms for the biological effects of the complex.

Vanadium and bone development: putative signaling pathwaysThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special issue, entitled Second Messengers and Phosphoproteins—12th International Conference

Vanadium is a trace element present in practically all cells in plants and animals. It exerts interesting actions in living systems. At pharmacological doses, vanadium compounds display relevant biological actions such as mimicking insulin and growth factors as well as having osteogenic activity. Some vanadium compounds also show antitumoral properties. The importance of vanadium in bone arises from the studies developed to establish the essentiality of this element in animals and humans. Bone tissue, where the element seems to play an important role, accumulates great amounts of vanadium. This paper reviews the physiology of osteoblasts, the involvement of different growth factors on bone development, and the effects of vanadium derivatives on the skeletal system of animal models and bone-related cells. Two cellular lines are discussed in particular; one derived from a rat osteosarcoma (UMR106) and the other is a nontransformed osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1). The effects of different growth factors and their mechanisms of action in these cellular lines are reviewed. These models of osteoblasts are especially useful in understanding the intracellular signaling pathways of vanadium derivatives in hard tissues. Vanadium uses an intricate interplay of intracellular mechanisms to exert different biochemical and pharmacological actions. The effects of vanadium derivatives on some cellular signaling pathways related to insulin are compiled in this review. The comprehension of these intracellular signaling pathways may facilitate the design of vanadium compounds with promising therapeutic applications as well as the understanding of secondary side effects derived from the use of vanadium as a therapeutic agent.

Vanadyl(IV) complexes with saccharides. Bioactivity in osteoblast-like cells in cultureThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special issue, enititled Second Messengers and Phosphoproteins—12th International Conference

Complexes of vanadyl(IV) with 4 monosaccharides and 5 disaccharides were tested in 2 osteoblast-like cell lines (MC3T3E1 and UMR106). Many complexes caused stimulation of UMR106 proliferation (120% basal) in the range of 2.5 to 25 µmol/L. In the nontransformed osteoblasts, some vanadyl–saccharide complexes stimulated the mitogenesis (115% basal) in the same range of concentration. The glucose and sucrose complexes were the most efficient inhibitory agents (65% and 88% of inhibition vs. basal, respectively) for tumoral cells at 100 µmol/L. The galactose and turanose complexes exerted a similar effect in the nontransformed osteoblasts. On the other hand, all the complexes promoted the phosphorylation of the extracellular regulated kinases (ERKs). All together, these results indicate that the stimulation of ERKs is not the only factor that plays a role in the proliferative effects of vanadium derivatives since some compounds were inhibitory proliferating agents. Cell differentiation was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase specific activity and collagen synthesis in UMR106 cells. All the complexes inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity, with galactose complex as the most effective compound (IC50= 43 µmol/L). The complex with the trehalose TreVO was the most effective agent to stimulate collagen synthesis (142% basal) and glucose consumption (132% basal). A cytosolic tyrosine protein kinase and the kinase-3 of glycogen synthase seem to be involved in the stimulation of glucose consumption by vanadium derivatives. In this series, only TreVO gathered the characteristics of a good insulin mimetic and osteogenic drug. In addition, this complex was a good promoting agent of nontransformed osteoblast proliferation, whereas it inhibited tumoral osteoblasts. GluVO, the complex with glucose, was also more toxic for tumoral than for nontransformed cells. These 2 vanadium derivatives are good potential antitumoral drugs. All the results suggest that the biological effects of vanadium compounds are a complex phenomenon influenced by the complexation, the dose, and the nature of the ligands and the cells.

Synthesis, characterization, and biological activity of oxovanadium(IV) complexes with polyalcohols

Oxovanadium(IV) complexes of the polyalcohols sorbitol, galactitol, and mannitol, of stoichiometry Na(2)[VO(L)(2)].H(2)O, were obtained from aqueous alkaline solutions. They were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and UV-vis spectroscopies, thermoanalytical (thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis) data, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The biological activities of the complexes on the proliferation, differentiation, and glucose consumption were tested on osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3E1 osteoblastic mouse calvaria-derived cells and UMR106 rat osteosarcoma-derived cells) in culture. The three complexes exerted a biphasic effect on cell proliferation, being slight stimulating agents at low concentrations and inhibitory in the range of 25-100 microM. All the complexes inhibited cell differentiation in tumor osteoblasts. Their effects on glucose consumption were also discussed. The free ligands did not show any effect on the studied biological parameters.

Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of oxovanadium (IV) complexes with cyclic polyalcohols

Oxovanadium (IV) complexes of the cyclic polyols conduritol C (cond) and myo-inositol (inos) of stoichiometry Na(2)[VO(cond)(2)].2H(2)O and Na(2)[VO(inos)(2)].H(2)O were obtained in aqueous alkaline solutions. They were characterized by infrared and UV-Vis spectroscopies, thermoanalytical (thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis) data and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The biological activities of the complexes on the proliferation, differentiation and glucose consumption were tested on osteoblast-like cells in culture. Conduritol C and myo-inositol did not produce any effect on these parameters. Normal and tumoral cell proliferation was inhibited about (ca.40-60%) by the two oxovanadium (IV) complexes in concentrations as low as 100microM. The complexes were also inhibitory on cell differentiation (ca. 70-80%) while they stimulate glucose consumption. Comparisons of these effects with those of the oxovanadium (IV) cation, under the same experimental conditions, were also performed.

Mononuclear metal complexes with Piroxicam: Synthesis, structure and biological activity

Piroxicam (=Hpir) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and an anti-arthritic drug. VO(2+), Mn(2+), Fe(3+), MoO(2)(2+) and UO(2)(2+) complexes with deprotonated piroxicam have been prepared and characterized with the use of infrared, UV-Vis, nuclear magnetic resonance and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies. The experimental data suggest that piroxicam acts as a deprotonated bidentate ligand in all complexes and is coordinated to the metal ion through the pyridine nitrogen and the amide oxygen. Molecular mechanics calculations in the gas state have been performed in order to propose a model for the Fe(3+), VO(2+) and MoO(2)(2+) complexes. Potential anticancer cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of piroxicam complexes with VO(2+), Mn(2+) and MoO(2)(2+) on human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells have been investigated. Among all complexes, only VO(pir)(2)(H(2)O) clearly induces apoptosis after 24-h incubation, whereas piroxicam induces apoptosis after 57-h incubation.

Macrophage activation by a vanadyl–aspirin complex is dependent on L-type calcium channel and the generation of nitric oxide

Bone homeostasis is the result of a tight balance between bone resorption and bone formation where macrophage activation is believed to contribute to bone resorption. We have previously shown that a vanadyl(IV)-aspirin complex (VOAspi) regulates cell proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in culture. In this study, we assessed VOAspi and VO effects and their possible mechanism of action on a mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Both vanadium compounds inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Nifedipine completely reversed the VOAspi-induced macrophage cytotoxicity, while it could not block the effect of VO. VOAspi also stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production, the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR-123) and enhanced the expression of both constitutive and inducible isoforms of nitric oxide syntases (NOS). All these effects were abolished by nifedipine. Altogether our finding give evidence that VOAspi-induced macrophage cytotoxicity is dependent on L-type calcium channel and the generation of NO though the induction of eNOS and iNOS. Contrary, the parent compound VO exerted a cytotoxic effect by mechanisms independent of a calcium entry and the NO/NOS activation.

Characterization of oxovanadium (IV) complexes of d-gluconic and d-saccharic acids and their bioactivity on osteoblast-like cells in culture

Oxovanadium (IV) complexes of the alpha-hydroxycarboxylic ligands D-gluconic and D-saccharic acids of stoichiometry Na(2)[VO(gluconate)(2)].H(2)O, K(2)[VO(saccharate)(2)].4H(2)O, Na(4)[VO(gluconate)(2)].2H(2)O and K(5)[VO(saccharate)(2)].4H(2)O were obtained in aqueous solutions; the first two in acid, the other two in alkaline media. They were characterized by infrared and UV-Vis spectroscopies, thermoanalytical (thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis) data and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The complexes were found to be mononuclear, possessing the VO(2+) moiety, and the thorough analysis of the spectral data allowed the determination of the characteristics of the metal-to-ligand interactions. The biological activities of these complexes on the proliferation, differentiation and glucose consumption were tested on osteoblast-like cells in culture. Comparisons of these effects and those of the oxovanadium (IV) cation and the free ligands were performed. Different behaviors could be observed for the complexes obtained at acidic or alkaline pH-values, as well as for the different cellular types. The free ligands did not show any biological effect.

Synthesis of a new vanadyl(IV) complex with trehalose (TreVO): insulin-mimetic activities in osteoblast-like cells in culture

Vanadium compounds show interesting biological and pharmacological properties. Some of them display insulin-mimetic effects and others produce anti-tumor actions. The bioactivity of vanadium is present in inorganic species like the vanadyl(IV) cation or vanadate(V) anion. Nevertheless, the development of new vanadium derivatives with organic ligands which improve the beneficial actions and decrease the toxic effects is of great interest. On the other hand, the mechanisms involved in vanadium bioactivity are still poorly understood. A new vanadium complex of the vanadyl(IV) cation with the disaccharide trehalose (TreVO), Na(6)[VO(Tre)(2)].4H(2)O, here reported, shows interesting insulin-mimetic properties in two osteoblast cell lines, a normal one (MC3T3E1) and a tumoral one (UMR106). The complex affected the proliferation of both cell lines in a different manner. On tumoral cells, TreVO caused a weak stimulation of growth at 5 microM but it inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-response manner between 50 and 100 microM. TreVO significantly inhibited UMR106 differentiation (15-25% of basal) in the range 5-100 microM. On normal osteoblasts, TreVO behaved as a mitogen at 5-25 microM. Different inhibitors of the MAPK pathway blocked this effect. At higher concentrations (75-100 microM), the complex was a weak inhibitor of the MC3T3E1 proliferation. Besides, TreVO enhanced glucose consumption by a mechanism independent of the PI3-kinase activation. In both cell lines, TreVO stimulated the ERK phosphorylation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Different inhibitors (PD98059, wortmannin, vitamins C and E) partially decreased this effect, which was totally inhibited by their combination. These results suggest that TreVO could be a potential candidate for therapeutic treatments.

A vanadium/aspirin complex controlled release using a poly(beta-propiolactone) film. Effects on osteosarcoma cells

A delivery system for vanadium was developed using poly(beta-propiolactone) (PbetaPL) films. The release kinetics of a complex of vanadium (IV) with aspirin (VOAspi) was evaluated with films prepared from polymers of different molecular weights, as well as with variable drug load. A sustained release of vanadium over 7 days was achieved. The drug release kinetics depends on contributions from two factors: (a) diffusion of the drug; and (b) erosion of the PbetaPL film. The experimental data at an early stage of release were fitted with a diffusion model, which allowed determination of the diffusion coefficient of the drug. VOAspi does not show strong interaction with the polymer, as demonstrated by the low apparent partition coefficient (approximately 10(-2)). UMR106 osteosarcoma cells were used as a model to evaluate the anticarcinogenic effects of the VOAspi released from the PbetaPPL film. VOAspi-PbetaPL film inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-response manner and induced formation of approximately half of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), an index of lipid peroxidation. compared to that with free VOAspi in solution. The unloaded PbetaPL film did not generate cytotoxicity, as evaluated by cell growth and TBARS. Thus, the polymer-embedded VOAspi retained the antiproliferative effects showing lower cytotoxicity than the free drug. Results with VOAspi-PbetaPL films suggest that this delivery system may have promising biomedical and therapeutic applications.

Three new vanadyl(IV) complexes with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Tolmetin). Bioactivity on osteoblast-like cells in culture

The synthesis and spectral and magnetic characterization of VO(2+) complexes with Ibuprofen (2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid), Naproxen (6-methoxy-alpha-methyl-2-naphthalene acetic acid) and Tolmetin (1-methyl-5-(4-methylbenzoyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-acetic acid) were studied. The complexes [VO(Ibu)(2)] x 5CH(3)OH, [VO(Nap)(2)] x 5CH(3)OH and [VO(Tol)(2)] were obtained from methanolic solutions under nitrogen atmosphere. The biological activities of these complexes on the proliferation of two osteoblast-like cells in culture (MC3T3E1 and UMR106) were compared with that of the vanadyl(IV) cation. The complexes exhibited different effects depending on the concentration and the cellular type, while no effect was observed for their parent drugs.