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Di Blasio S, Clarke M, Hind CK, Asai M, Laurence L, Benvenuti A, Hassan M, Semenya D, Man DKW, Horrocks V, Manzo G, Van Der Lith S, Lam C, Gentile E, Annette C, Bosse J, Li Y, Panaretou B, Langford PR, Robertson BD, Lam JKW, Sutton JM, McArthur M, Mason AJ. Bolaamphiphile Analogues of 12-bis-THA Cl 2 Are Potent Antimicrobial Therapeutics with Distinct Mechanisms of Action against Bacterial, Mycobacterial, and Fungal Pathogens. mSphere 2023; 8:e0050822. [PMID: 36511707 PMCID: PMC9942557 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00508-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
12-Bis-THA Cl2 [12,12'-(dodecane-1,12-diyl)-bis-(9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridinium) chloride] is a cationic bolalipid adapted from dequalinium chloride (DQC), a bactericidal anti-infective indicated for bacterial vaginosis (BV). Here, we used a structure-activity-relationship study to show that the factors that determine effective killing of bacterial, fungal, and mycobacterial pathogens differ, to generate new analogues with a broader spectrum of activity, and to identify synergistic relationships, most notably with aminoglycosides against Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, where the bactericidal killing rate was substantially increased. Like DQC, 12-bis-THA Cl2 and its analogues accumulate within bacteria and fungi. More hydrophobic analogues with larger headgroups show reduced potential for DNA binding but increased and broader spectrum antibacterial activity. In contrast, analogues with less bulky headgroups and stronger DNA binding affinity were more active against Candida spp. Shortening the interconnecting chain, from the most lipophilic twelve-carbon chain to six, improved the selectivity index against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro, but only the longer chain analogue was therapeutic in a Galleria mellonella infection model, with the shorter chain analogue exacerbating the infection. In vivo therapy of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 15 (EMRSA-15) infections in Galleria mellonella was also achieved with longer-chain analogues, as was therapy for an A. baumannii 17978 burn wound infection with a synergistic combination of bolaamphiphile and gentamicin. The present study shows how this class of bolalipids may be adapted further to enable a wider range of potential applications. IMPORTANCE While we face an acute threat from antibiotic resistant bacteria and a lack of new classes of antibiotic, there are many effective antimicrobials which have limited application due to concerns regarding their toxicity and which could be more useful if such risks are reduced or eliminated. We modified a bolalipid antiseptic used in throat lozenges to see if it could be made more effective against some of the highest-priority bacteria and less toxic. We found that structural modifications that rendered the lipid more toxic against human cells made it less toxic in infection models and we could effectively treat caterpillars infected with either Mycobacterium tuberculosis, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or Acinetobacter baumannii. The study provides a rationale for further adaptation toward diversifying the range of indications in which this class of antimicrobial may be used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Di Blasio
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Clarke
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte K. Hind
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Masanori Asai
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louis Laurence
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Angelica Benvenuti
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mahnoor Hassan
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dorothy Semenya
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - DeDe Kwun-Wai Man
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Victoria Horrocks
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgia Manzo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Van Der Lith
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carolyn Lam
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eugenio Gentile
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Callum Annette
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janine Bosse
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yanwen Li
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Barry Panaretou
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul R. Langford
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Brian D. Robertson
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny K. W. Lam
- Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
- Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - J. Mark Sutton
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Michael McArthur
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - A. James Mason
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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Conjugation of Natural Triterpenic Acids with Delocalized Lipophilic Cations: Selective Targeting Cancer Cell Mitochondria. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11060470. [PMID: 34070567 PMCID: PMC8226687 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11060470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, a new line of research on mitochondria-targeted anticancer drugs is actively developing in the field of biomedicine and medicinal chemistry. The distinguishing features of this universal target for anticancer agents include presence of mitochondria in the overwhelming majority, if not all types of transformed cells, crucial importance of these cytoplasmic organelles in energy production, regulation of cell death pathways, as well as generation of reactive oxygen species and maintenance of calcium homeostasis. Hence, mitochondriotropic anticancer mitocan agents, acting through mitochondrial destabilization, have good prospects in cancer therapy. Available natural pentacyclic triterpenoids are considered promising scaffolds for development of new mitochondria-targeted anticancer agents. These secondary metabolites affect the mitochondria of tumor cells and initiate formation of reactive oxygen species. The present paper focuses on the latest research outcomes of synthesis and study of cytotoxic activity of conjugates of pentacyclic triterpenoids with some mitochondria-targeted cationic lipophilic molecules and highlights the advantages of applying them as novel mitocan agents compared to their prototype natural triterpenic acids.
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Dubinin MV, Semenova AA, Ilzorkina AI, Penkov NV, Nedopekina DA, Sharapov VA, Khoroshavina EI, Davletshin EV, Belosludtseva NV, Spivak AY, Belosludtsev KN. Mitochondria-targeted prooxidant effects of betulinic acid conjugated with delocalized lipophilic cation F16. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 168:55-69. [PMID: 33812008 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The paper examines the molecular mechanisms of the cytotoxicity of conjugates of betulinic acid with the penetrating cation F16. The in vitro experiments on rat thymocytes revealed that all the obtained F16-betulinic acid derivatives showed more than 10-fold higher cytotoxicity as compared to betulinic acid and F16. In this case, 0.5-1 μM of all conjugates showed mitochondria-targeted action, inducing superoxide overproduction and reducing the mitochondrial potential of cells. Experiments on isolated rat liver mitochondria revealed the ability of conjugates to dose-dependently reduce the membrane potential of organelles, as well as the intensity of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, which is also accompanied by an increase in the production of hydrogen peroxide by mitochondria. It was shown that these actions of derivatives may be due to several effects: the reversion of ATP synthase, changes in the activity of complexes of the respiratory chain and permeabilization of the inner mitochondrial membrane. All compounds also demonstrated the ability to induce aggregation of isolated rat liver mitochondria. Using the model of lecithin liposomes, we found that the F6 conjugate (2 μM) induces the permeability of vesicle membranes for the fluorescent probe sulforhodamine B. High concentrations (25 μM) of the F6 derivative have been found to induce dynamic processes in the liposome membrane leading to aggregation and/or fusion of vesicle membranes. The paper discusses the relationship between the mitochondria-targeted effects of F16-betulinic acid conjugates and their cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail V Dubinin
- Mari State University, Pl. Lenina 1, Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El, 424001, Russia.
| | - Alena A Semenova
- Mari State University, Pl. Lenina 1, Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El, 424001, Russia
| | - Anna I Ilzorkina
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 3, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
| | - Nikita V Penkov
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS, Institutskaya 3, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
| | - Darya A Nedopekina
- Institute of Petrochemistry and Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Oktyabrya 141, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 450075, Russia
| | | | | | - Eldar V Davletshin
- Institute of Petrochemistry and Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Oktyabrya 141, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 450075, Russia
| | - Natalia V Belosludtseva
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 3, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
| | - Anna Yu Spivak
- Institute of Petrochemistry and Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Oktyabrya 141, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 450075, Russia
| | - Konstantin N Belosludtsev
- Mari State University, Pl. Lenina 1, Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El, 424001, Russia; Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 3, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia; Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova 38, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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Dubinin MV, Semenova AA, Nedopekina DA, Davletshin EV, Spivak AY, Belosludtsev KN. Effect of F16-Betulin Conjugate on Mitochondrial Membranes and Its Role in Cell Death Initiation. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11050352. [PMID: 34068772 PMCID: PMC8151401 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11050352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
This work demonstrates the effects of a newly synthesized conjugate of the plant triterpenoid betulin and the penetrating cation F16 used for mitochondrial targeting. The resulting F16-betulin conjugate revealed a mitochondria-targeted effect, decreasing the mitochondrial potential and inducing superoxide overproduction in rat thymocytes in vitro. It has been suggested that this may cause the cytotoxic effect of the conjugate, which significantly exceeds the effectiveness of its precursors, betulin and F16. Using isolated rat liver mitochondria, we found that the F16-betulin conjugate has a surface-active effect on mitochondrial membranes, causing organelle aggregation. This effect of the derivative resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, as well as suppression of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, especially in the case of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-fueled organelles. In addition, the F16-betulin conjugate caused an increase in H2O2 generation by mitochondria fueled with glutamate and malate. These effects of the derivative can presumably be due to the powerful suppression of the redox activity of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The paper discusses how the mitochondria-targeted effects of the F16-betulin conjugate may be related to its cytotoxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail V. Dubinin
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, Mari State University, pl. Lenina 1, 424001 Yoshkar-Ola, Russia; (A.A.S.); (K.N.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-987-701-0437
| | - Alena A. Semenova
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, Mari State University, pl. Lenina 1, 424001 Yoshkar-Ola, Russia; (A.A.S.); (K.N.B.)
| | - Darya A. Nedopekina
- Institute of Petrochemistry and Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Oktyabrya 141, 450075 Ufa, Russia; (D.A.N.); (E.V.D.); (A.Y.S.)
| | - Eldar V. Davletshin
- Institute of Petrochemistry and Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Oktyabrya 141, 450075 Ufa, Russia; (D.A.N.); (E.V.D.); (A.Y.S.)
| | - Anna Yu. Spivak
- Institute of Petrochemistry and Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Oktyabrya 141, 450075 Ufa, Russia; (D.A.N.); (E.V.D.); (A.Y.S.)
| | - Konstantin N. Belosludtsev
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, Mari State University, pl. Lenina 1, 424001 Yoshkar-Ola, Russia; (A.A.S.); (K.N.B.)
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 3, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova 38, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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Gaspar C, Rolo J, Cerca N, Palmeira-de-Oliveira R, Martinez-de-Oliveira J, Palmeira-de-Oliveira A. Dequalinium Chloride Effectively Disrupts Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Gardnerella spp. Biofilms. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10030261. [PMID: 33668706 PMCID: PMC7996269 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most frequent vaginal infection worldwide. It is caused by the overgrowth of anaerobic vaginal pathogens such as Gardnerella spp. BV has been associated with the occurrence of dense multispecies biofilms on the vaginal mucosa. Treatment of biofilm-associated infections such as BV is challenging. In this study, we have tested the role of a quaternary ammonium compound, dequalinium chloride (DQC), in the eradication of Gardnerella spp. biofilms. The effects of the test substance on the biomass and the metabolic activity of the biofilm of Gardnerella spp. were assessed in vitro using a microtiter plate assay. In addition, the effect of DQC on the Gardnerella spp. biofilm was further assessed by using scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results showed that DQC was particularly effective in the destruction of BV-associated Gardnerella spp. biotypes, impacting both their biomass and metabolic activity. In addition, the disruption of biofilm architecture was evident and was probably caused by multiple mechanisms of action. We conclude that DQC is an antibiofilm agent and is able to efficiently destroy Gardnerella spp. BV-associated biofilms. Therefore, it is a valid option for BV therapy and has the potential to prevent BV recurrences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Gaspar
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.G.); (J.R.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Labfit-HPRD—Health Products Research and Development Lda, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Joana Rolo
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.G.); (J.R.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.)
| | - Nuno Cerca
- Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), Laboratory of Research in Biofilms Rosário Oliveira (LIBRO), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
| | - Rita Palmeira-de-Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.G.); (J.R.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Labfit-HPRD—Health Products Research and Development Lda, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José Martinez-de-Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.G.); (J.R.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.)
| | - Ana Palmeira-de-Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.G.); (J.R.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Labfit-HPRD—Health Products Research and Development Lda, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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