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Rieder GS, Braga MM, Mussulini BHM, Silva ES, Lazzarotto G, Casali EA, Oliveira DL, Franco JL, Souza DOG, Rocha JBT. Diphenyl Diselenide Attenuates Mitochondrial Damage During Initial Hypoxia and Enhances Resistance to Recurrent Hypoxia. Neurotox Res 2024; 42:13. [PMID: 38332435 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-024-00691-6] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Hypoxia plays a significant role in the development of various cerebral diseases, many of which are associated with the potential risk of recurrence due to mitochondrial damage. Conventional drug treatments are not always effective for hypoxia-related brain diseases, necessitating the exploration of alternative compounds. In this study, we investigated the potential of diphenyl diselenide [(PhSe)2] to ameliorate locomotor impairments and mitigate brain mitochondrial dysfunction in zebrafish subjected to hypoxia. Additionally, we explored whether these improvements could confer resistance to recurrent hypoxia. Through a screening process, an appropriate dose of (PhSe)2 was determined, and animals exposed to hypoxia received a single intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg of the compound or vehicle. After 1 h from the injection, evaluations were conducted on locomotor deficits, (PhSe)2 content, mitochondrial electron transport system, and mitochondrial viability in the brain. The animals were subsequently exposed to recurrent hypoxia to assess the latency time to hypoxia symptoms. The findings revealed that (PhSe)2 effectively crossed the blood-brain barrier, attenuated locomotor deficits induced by hypoxia, and improved brain mitochondrial respiration by modulating complex III. Furthermore, it enhanced mitochondrial viability in the telencephalon, contributing to greater resistance to recurrent hypoxia. These results demonstrate the beneficial effects of (PhSe)2 on both hypoxia and recurrent hypoxia, with cerebral mitochondria being a critical target of its action. Considering the involvement of brain hypoxia in numerous pathologies, (PhSe)2 should be further tested to determine its effectiveness as a potential treatment for hypoxia-related brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme S Rieder
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Departamento de Bioquímica E Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais E Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Marcos M Braga
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Departamento de Bioquímica E Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais E Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Ben Hur M Mussulini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Emerson S Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Lazzarotto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Emerson André Casali
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Diogo L Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Jeferson L Franco
- Universidade Federal Do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, RS, Brazil
| | - Diogo O G Souza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - João Batista T Rocha
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Departamento de Bioquímica E Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais E Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
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Silva FDD, Galiciolli MEDA, Irioda AC, Oliveira CS, Piccoli BC, Prestes ADS, Borin BC, Schuch AP, Ochoa-Rodríguez E, Nuñez-Figueredo Y, Rocha JBTD. Investigation of the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and antioxidant prospects of JM-20 on human blood cells: A multi-target compound with potential therapeutic applications. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2024; 106:102827. [PMID: 38301450 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2024.102827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
JM-20 is a 1,5-benzodiazepine compound fused to a dihydropyridine fraction with different pharmacological properties. However, its potential toxic effects on blood cells have not yet been reported. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the possible cytotoxicity of JM-20 through cell viability, cell cycle, morphology changes, reactive species (RS) to DCFH-DA, and lipid peroxidation in human leukocytes, its hemolytic effect on human erythrocytes, and its potential DNA genotoxicity using plasmid DNA in vitro. Furthermore, the compound's ability to reduce the DPPH radical was also measured. Human blood was obtained from healthy volunteers (30 ± 10 years old), and the leukocytes or erythrocytes were immediately isolated and treated with different concentrations of JM-20. A cytoprotective effect was exhibited by 10 μM JM-20 against 1 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-but-OOH) in the leukocytes. However, the highest tested concentrations of the compound (20 and 50 μM) changed the morphology and caused a significant decrease in the cell viability of leukocytes (p < 0.05, in comparison with Control). All tested concentrations of JM-20 also resulted in a significant increase in intracellular RS as measured by DCFH-DA in these cells (p < 0.05, in comparison with Control). On the other hand, the results point out a potent antioxidant effect of JM-20, which was similar to the classical antioxidant α-tocopherol. The IC50 value of JM-20 against the lipid peroxidation induced by (FeII) was 1.051 μM ± 0.21, while the IC50 value of α-tocopherol in this parameter was 1.065 μM ± 0.34. Additionally, 50 and 100 μM JM-20 reduced the DPPH radical in a statistically similar way to the 100 μM α-tocopherol (p < 0.05, in comparison with the control). No significant hemolysis in erythrocytes, no cell cycle changes in leukocytes, and no genotoxic effects in plasmid DNA were induced by JM-20 at any tested concentration. The in silico pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of JM-20, derivatives, and nifedipine were also studied. Here, our findings demonstrate that JM-20 and its putative metabolites exhibit similar characteristics to nifedipine, and the in vitro and in silico data support the low toxicity of JM-20 to mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda D'Avila da Silva
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Maria Eduarda de Andrade Galiciolli
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Stricto Sensu em Biotecnologia Aplicada a Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Rua Silva Jardim, 1632 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Faculdade Pequeno Príncipe, Avenida Iguaçu, 333 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Irioda
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Stricto Sensu em Biotecnologia Aplicada a Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Rua Silva Jardim, 1632 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Faculdade Pequeno Príncipe, Avenida Iguaçu, 333 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Sirlene Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Stricto Sensu em Biotecnologia Aplicada a Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Rua Silva Jardim, 1632 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Faculdade Pequeno Príncipe, Avenida Iguaçu, 333 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Bruna Candia Piccoli
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Alessandro de Souza Prestes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Bruna Cogo Borin
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Andre Passaglia Schuch
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Estael Ochoa-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de Medicamentos, Ave 26, N° 1605,e /Boyeros y Puentes Grandes, CP10600 La Habana, Cuba
| | - Yanier Nuñez-Figueredo
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de Medicamentos, Ave 26, N° 1605,e /Boyeros y Puentes Grandes, CP10600 La Habana, Cuba
| | - João Batista Teixeira da Rocha
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
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Carbonic Anhydrase inhibitors bearing organotelluride moieties as novel agents for antitumor therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 244:114811. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Wang M, Ren J, Liu Z, Li S, Su L, Wang B, Han D, Liu G. Beneficial Effect of Selenium Doped Carbon Quantum Dots Supplementation on the in vitro Development Competence of Ovine Oocytes. Int J Nanomedicine 2022; 17:2907-2924. [PMID: 35814612 PMCID: PMC9270046 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s360000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background After the synthesis of selenium doped carbon quantum dots (Se/CDs) via a step-by-step hydrothermal synthesis method with diphenyl diselenide (DPDSe) as precursor, the beneficial effects of Se/CDs’ supplementation on the in vitro development competence of ovine oocytes were firstly investigated in this study by the assay of maturation rate, cortical granules’ (CGs) dynamics, mitochondrial activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, epigenetic modification, transcript profile, and embryonic development competence. Results The results showed that the Se/CDs’ supplementation during the in vitro maturation (IVM) process not only enhanced the maturation rate, CGs’ dynamics, mitochondrial activity and embryonic developmental competence of ovine oocytes, but remarkably decreased the ROS production level of ovine oocytes. In addition, the expression levels of H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 in the ovine oocytes were significantly up-regulated after the Se/CDs’ supplementation, in consistent with the expression levels of 5mC and 5hmC. Moreover, 2994 up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 846 repressed DEGs were found in the oocytes after the Se/CDs’ supplementation. According to the analyses of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), these DEGs induced by the Se/CDs’ supplementation were positively related to the progesterone mediated oocyte maturation and mitochondrial functions. And these remarkably up-regulated expression levels of DEGs related to oocyte maturation, mitochondrial function, and epigenetic modification induced by the Se/CDs’ supplementation further confirmed the beneficial effect of Se/CDs’ supplementation on the in vitro development competence of ovine oocytes. Conclusion The Se/CDs prepared in our study significantly promoted the in vitro development competence of ovine oocytes, benefiting the extended research about the potential applications of Se/CDs in mammalian breeding technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Clinical Medicine Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingyu Ren
- Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Clinical Medicine Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhanpeng Liu
- College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shubin Li
- Department of Geriatric Medical Center, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liya Su
- Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Clinical Medicine Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China
| | - Biao Wang
- Animal Husbandry Institute, Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural & Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China
| | - Daoning Han
- Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Clinical Medicine Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Clinical Medicine Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Gang Liu, Email
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Oxidative stress response system in Escherichia coli arising from diphenyl ditelluride (PhTe) 2 exposure. Toxicol In Vitro 2022; 83:105404. [PMID: 35654257 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2022.105404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The toxicity of diphenyl ditelluride (PhTe)2 is associated with its ability to oxidize sulfhydryl groups from biological molecules. Therefore, we evaluated possible molecular mechanisms of toxicity induced by this organochalcogen in Escherichia coli (E. coli) by evaluating oxidative damage markers, relative expression of genes associated with the cellular redox state in bacteria, such as katG, sodA, sodB, soxS, and oxyR, as well as the activity of enzymes responsible for cellular redox balance. After exposure of (PhTe)2 (6, 12, and 24 μg/mL), there was a decrease in non-protein thiols (NPSH) levels, an increase in protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation in E. coli. Intra- and extracellular reactive species (RS) was increased at concentrations of 6, 12, and 24 μg/mL. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was increased at the three concentrations tested, while catalase (CAT) activity was higher at 12 and 24 μg/mL. The soxS gene showed lower expression at the three concentrations tested, while the oxyR gene was supressed at 24 μg/mL. The katG antioxidant response gene showed lower expression, and sodA and sodB were positively activated, except for sodB at 6 μg/mL. Our findings demonstrate that exposure to (PhTe)2 induced RS formation, NPSH depletion and changes in transcriptional factors regulation, characterizing it as a multi-target compound, causing disruption in cellular oxidative state, as well as molecular mechanisms associated in E. coli.
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Ramli FF, Cowen PJ, Godlewska BR. The Potential Use of Ebselen in Treatment-Resistant Depression. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:485. [PMID: 35455482 PMCID: PMC9030939 DOI: 10.3390/ph15040485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebselen is an organoselenium compound developed as an antioxidant and subsequently shown to be a glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mimetic. Ebselen shows some efficacy in post-stroke neuroprotection and is currently in trial for the treatment and prevention of hearing loss, Meniere's Disease and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In vitro screening studies show that ebselen is also an effective inhibitor of the enzyme inositol monophosphatase (IMPase), which is a key target of the mood-stabilising drug lithium. Further, in animal experimental studies, ebselen produces effects on the serotonin system very similar to those of lithium and also decreases behavioural impulsivity. The antidepressant effects of lithium in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) have been attributed to its ability to facilitate presynaptic serotonin activity; this suggests that ebselen might also have a therapeutic role in this condition. Human studies utilising magnetic resonance spectroscopy support the notion that ebselen, at therapeutic doses, inhibits IMPase in the human brain. Moreover, neuropsychological studies support an antidepressant profile for ebselen based on positive effects on emotional processing and reward seeking. Ebselen also lowers a human laboratory measure of impulsivity, a property that has been associated with lithium's anti-suicidal effects in patients with mood disorders. Current clinical studies are directed towards assessment of the neuropsychological effects of ebselen in TRD patients. It will also be important to ascertain whether ebselen is able to lower impulsivity and suicidal behaviour in clinical populations. The objective of this review is to summarise the developmental history, pre-clinical and clinical psychopharmacological properties of ebselen in psychiatric disorders and its potential application as a treatment for TRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fitri Fareez Ramli
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK; (F.F.R.); (P.J.C.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Philip J. Cowen
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK; (F.F.R.); (P.J.C.)
| | - Beata R. Godlewska
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK; (F.F.R.); (P.J.C.)
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Angeli A, Pinteala M, Maier SS, Toti A, Di Cesare Mannelli L, Ghelardini C, Selleri S, Carta F, Supuran CT. Tellurides bearing benzensulfonamide as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors with potent antitumor activity. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 45:128147. [PMID: 34052322 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated in vitro a series of telluride containing compounds bearing the benzenesulfonamide group, as effective inhibitors of the physiologically relevant human (h) expressed Carbonic Anhydrase (CA; EC 4.2.1.1) enzymes I, II, IV VII and IX. The potent effects of such compounds against the tumor-associated hCA IX being low nanomolar inhibitors (KI 2.2 to 2.9 nM) and with good selectivity over the ubiquitous hCA II, gave the possibility to evaluate their lethal effect in vitro against a breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). Among the series, both compounds 3a and 3g induced significant toxic effects against tumor cells after 48 h incubation. Under normoxic condition 3a showed high efficacy killing over 94% of tumor cells at 1 µM, and derivative 3g reached the tumor cell viability under the 5% at 10 µM. In hypoxic condition, these two compounds showed less effective although retained excellent cancer cell killer. These unusual features make them interesting lead compounds acting as antitumor agents also in tumor types not dependent from hCA IX overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Angeli
- University of Florence, NEUROFARBA Dept, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy; Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers Department, "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 700487 Iasi, Romania.
| | - Mariana Pinteala
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers Department, "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 700487 Iasi, Romania
| | - Stelian S Maier
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers Department, "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 700487 Iasi, Romania; Polymers Research Center, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, 700487 Iasi, Romania
| | - Alessandra Toti
- NEUROFARBA Department, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli
- NEUROFARBA Department, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Carla Ghelardini
- NEUROFARBA Department, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Selleri
- University of Florence, NEUROFARBA Dept, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
| | - Fabrizio Carta
- University of Florence, NEUROFARBA Dept, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
| | - Claudiu T Supuran
- University of Florence, NEUROFARBA Dept, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
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Toxicology and pharmacology of synthetic organoselenium compounds: an update. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:1179-1226. [PMID: 33792762 PMCID: PMC8012418 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03003-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Here, we addressed the pharmacology and toxicology of synthetic organoselenium compounds and some naturally occurring organoselenium amino acids. The use of selenium as a tool in organic synthesis and as a pharmacological agent goes back to the middle of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries. The rediscovery of ebselen and its investigation in clinical trials have motivated the search for new organoselenium molecules with pharmacological properties. Although ebselen and diselenides have some overlapping pharmacological properties, their molecular targets are not identical. However, they have similar anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, possibly, via activation of transcription factors, regulating the expression of antioxidant genes. In short, our knowledge about the pharmacological properties of simple organoselenium compounds is still elusive. However, contrary to our early expectations that they could imitate selenoproteins, organoselenium compounds seem to have non-specific modulatory activation of antioxidant pathways and specific inhibitory effects in some thiol-containing proteins. The thiol-oxidizing properties of organoselenium compounds are considered the molecular basis of their chronic toxicity; however, the acute use of organoselenium compounds as inhibitors of specific thiol-containing enzymes can be of therapeutic significance. In summary, the outcomes of the clinical trials of ebselen as a mimetic of lithium or as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 proteases will be important to the field of organoselenium synthesis. The development of computational techniques that could predict rational modifications in the structure of organoselenium compounds to increase their specificity is required to construct a library of thiol-modifying agents with selectivity toward specific target proteins.
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