An Improved 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-Carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-Sulfophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium Proliferation Assay to Overcome the Interference of Hydralazine

Effect of Hydralazine on Angiotensin II-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

The rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) causes about 200,000 deaths worldwide each year. However, there are currently no effective drug therapies to prevent AAA formation or, when present, to decrease progression and rupture, highlighting an urgent need for more research in this field. Increased vascular inflammation and enhanced apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are implicated in AAA formation. Here, we investigated whether hydralazine, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties, inhibited AAA formation and pathological hallmarks. In cultured VSMCs, hydralazine (100 μM) inhibited the increase in inflammatory gene expression and apoptosis induced by acrolein and hydrogen peroxide, two oxidants that may play a role in AAA pathogenesis. The anti-apoptotic effect of hydralazine was associated with a decrease in caspase 8 gene expression. In a mouse model of AAA induced by subcutaneous angiotensin II infusion (1 µg/kg body weight/min) for 28 days in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, hydralazine treatment (24 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased AAA incidence from 80% to 20% and suprarenal aortic diameter by 32% from 2.26 mm to 1.53 mm. Hydralazine treatment also significantly increased the survival rate from 60% to 100%. In conclusion, hydralazine inhibited AAA formation and rupture in a mouse model, which was associated with its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties.

Design anticancer potential of Zn(II)isoleucinedithiocarbamate complex on MCF-7 cell lines: synthesis, characterization, molecular docking, molecular dynamic, ADMET, and in-vitro studies

Cisplatin is a cancer medication widely used today, but it still poses some problems due to its toxic properties in the body. To overcome this issue, a new complex has been developed as a potential anticancer drug prospect by minimizing its toxic consequences. A novel Zn(II)IleDTC complex containing isoleucine dithiocarbamate ligands has been produced and analyzed using a range of analytical and spectroscopic methods. The Zn(II) IleDTC complex were characterized using various methods, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, determination of melting point, conductivity, and HOMO-LUMO analysis. Furthermore, computational NMR spectrum analysis was conducted in this study. Molecular docking studies was conducted to evaluate the potential of Zn(II) isoleucine dithiocarbamate as an HIF1 inhibitor. The results showed that the Zn complex exhibited a good docking score of -6.6 and formed hydrogen bonds with ARG 17, VAL264, and GLU15, alkyl bonds with TRP27 and LEU32, and Pi-Alkyl bonds with PRO41 and ARG44. This suggests that the Zn(II) isoleucine dithiocarbamate complex could be a promising candidate for cancer treatment with potential HIF1 inhibition properties. To assess the dynamic stability and efficacy of protein-ligand interactions over time, molecular dynamics simulations was conducted for both individual proteins and protein complexes. The cytotoxicity evaluation of Zn(II) isoleucine dithiocarbamate against MCF-7 cells obtained an IC50 value of 362.70 µg/mL indicating moderate cytotoxicity and morphological changes of cancer cells causing cancer cells to undergo apoptosis. The Zn(II) isoleucine dithiocarbamate complex may have promising potential as an anticancer compound due to its significant inhibitory effect on the breast cancer cell line (MCF7). According to the ADMET study, the complex exhibits drug-like characteristics with low toxicity, further supporting its potential as a viable drug candidate.

Moxonidine Increases Uptake of Oxidised Low-Density Lipoprotein in Cultured Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Inhibits Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the sympatholytic drug moxonidine on atherosclerosis. The effects of moxonidine on oxidised low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake, inflammatory gene expression and cellular migration were investigated in vitro in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The effect of moxonidine on atherosclerosis was measured by examining aortic arch Sudan IV staining and quantifying the intima-to-media ratio of the left common carotid artery in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^-/-) mice infused with angiotensin II. The levels of circulating lipid hydroperoxides in mouse plasma were measured by ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange assay. Moxonidine administration increased oxidised LDL uptake by VSMCs via activation of α2 adrenoceptors. Moxonidine increased the expression of LDL receptors and the lipid efflux transporter ABCG1. Moxonidine inhibited mRNA expression of inflammatory genes and increased VSMC migration. Moxonidine administration to ApoE^-/- mice (18 mg/kg/day) decreased atherosclerosis formation in the aortic arch and left common carotid artery, associated with increased plasma lipid hydroperoxide levels. In conclusion, moxonidine inhibited atherosclerosis in ApoE^-/- mice, which was accompanied by an increase in oxidised LDL uptake by VSMCs, VSMC migration, ABCG1 expression in VSMCs and lipid hydroperoxide levels in the plasma.

Cytocompatible manganese dioxide-based hydrogel nanoreactors for MRI imaging

The application of nanoparticles in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been greatly increasing, due to their advantageous properties such as nanoscale dimension and tuneability. In this context, manganese (Mn²⁺)-based nanoparticles have been greatly investigated, due to their valuable use as a contrast agent, improving signal intensity and specificity in MRI (manganese-enhanced MRI, MEMRI). Additionally, Mn²⁺ can act as scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), commonly present in the inflammatory processes of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the present study was to develop nanoreactors, which can be used as contrast-agent in MEMRI. Several blends of methacrylated gellan gum (GG-MA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were embedded with different types of manganese dioxide (MnO₂) nanoparticles and further physico-chemically characterized. Dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, water uptake and degradation studies were performed. In vitro cytotoxicity of the different formulations was also evaluated using an immortalized rat fibroblast cell line L929, up to 72 h of culturing. Synthesized nanoparticles were obtained with an average size of 70 nm and round-shaped morphology. The stability of the different formulations of hydrogels was not affected by nanoparticles' concentration or HA ratio. The presence of synthesized MnO2 (MnO2_S) nanoparticles reduced hydrogels' cytocompatibility, whereas the commercially available type 1 (MnO2_C1) nanoparticles were less toxic to cells. Additionally, cell proliferation and viability were enhanced when a lower content of HA was present. Higher concentrations (75 and 100 ng/mL) of MnO2_S and MnO2_C1 nanoparticles did not negatively affected cell viability, whereas the opposite effect was observed for the commercial type 2 (MnO2_C2) nanoparticles. Further studies are required to evaluate the potential application of the most promising nanoreactors' formulations for combined application in MEMRI and as ROS scavengers.

A Modified MTS Proliferation Assay for Suspended Cells to Avoid the Interference by Hydralazine and β-Mercaptoethanol

The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay is one of the most commonly used tests of cell proliferation. Hydralazine has been reported to interfere with the performance of the MTS assay when used on adherent cells. This study aimed to investigate whether hydralazine interferes with the performance of the MTS assay on suspended cells. THP-1 (a monocytic leukemia cell line) cells were cultured in the presence or absence of hydralazine (0, 10, 50, 100, and 500 μM) for 2 or 24 h. Cell numbers were analyzed using the MTS, trypan blue exclusion, or microscopic assays. A modified version of the standard MTS assay was established by centrifuging the cells and replacing the test medium with fresh culture medium immediately before the addition of the MTS reagent. Culture of THP-1 cells with hydralazine at concentrations of 50, 100, and 500 μM for 2 h increased absorbance (p < 0.001) in the standard MTS assay, whereas both the trypan blue exclusion assay and microscopy suggested no change in cell numbers. Culture of THP-1 cells with 100 and 500 μm hydralazine for 24 h increased absorbance (p < 0.05) in the standard MTS assay; however, trypan blue exclusion and microscopy suggested a decrease in cell numbers. In a cell-free system, hydralazine (100 and 500 μM) increased absorbance in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The modified MTS assay produced results consistent with trypan blue exclusion and microscopy using THP-1 cells. In addition, the modified MTS assay produced reliable results when K562 and Jurkat cells were incubated with hydralazine or β-mercaptoethanol (βME). In conclusion, a simple modification of the standard MTS assay overcame the interference of hydralazine and βME when assessing suspended cells.