Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate: an effective and selective compound for hematological malignancies

Myeloid leukemias and lymphomas are among the most common and well-studied hematological malignancies. However, due to the aggressiveness and rapid progression of certain subtypes, treating these diseases remains a challenge. Considering the promising results of diethyldithiocarbamates in preclinical and clinical oncology trials, this study aimed to investigate the potential of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate (DETC) as a prototype for developing new drugs to treat hematological malignancies. In silico analysis using SwissADME was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and pharmacokinetic properties of DETC. An in vitro investigation utilizing the MTT assay assessed the cytotoxic effects of DETC on neoplastic and non-neoplastic cell lines. Selectivity was determined using a selectivity index and a hemolysis assay, while the mechanism of cell death in neoplastic cell lines was examined through flow cytometry analysis of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic protein levels. The results demonstrated that the physicochemical characteristics of DETC are suitable for oral administration. Furthermore, the compound showed promising cytotoxic activity against human myeloid leukemia (K562) and Burkitt's lymphoma (Daudi) cell lines, with high selectivity for neoplastic cells over non-neoplastic cells of the bone marrow microenvironment (HS-5 cell line). Moreover, hemolysis was observed only at very high concentrations. The cytotoxicity mechanism of DETC against both neoplastic cell lines involved cell cycle arrest and the production of reactive oxygen species. In K562 cells, cell death was induced via apoptosis. Additional experiments are needed to confirm the exact mechanism of cell death in Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells.

Transition-Metal-Free Dehydrogenation of Benzyl Alcohol for C-C and C-N Bond Formation for the Synthesis of Pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine and Pyrazoline Derivatives

A series of cascade reactions that produce a range of functionalized aromatic heterocyclic compounds with pyrazole/pyrazoline cores have been developed. The method relies on a metal-free dehydrogenative process to produce in-situ benzaldehydes. The produced benzaldehyde was then allowed to react with some other substances, including acetophenone, pyrazole amine, and phenylhydrazine. The intermediate produced from these substrates underwent several chemical processes, including electrocyclization, the aza-Diels-Alder reaction, and the formation of intramolecular C-N bonds. These positive outcomes would open up the possibility of producing biologically active pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine and pyrazoline derivatives through a variety of possible reactions.

Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines

Chalcones and their derivatives have been described as promising compounds with antiproliferative activity against leukemic cells. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effect of three synthetic chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone (F07, F09, and F10) in acute leukemia cell lines (K562 and Jurkat) and examine the mechanisms of cell death induced by these compounds. The three compounds were cytotoxic to K562 and Jurkat cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.03 to 31.66 µM. Chalcones induced intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis, resulting in activation of caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation. F07, F09, and F10 were not cytotoxic to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, did not produce any significant hemolytic activity, and did not affect platelet aggregation after ADP stimulation. These results, combined with calculations of molecular properties, suggest that chalcones F07, F09, and F10 are promising molecules for the development of novel antileukemic drugs.

A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia

Acute leukemias are a heterogeneous group of aggressive malignant neoplasms associated with severe morbidities due to the nonselectivity of current chemotherapeutic drugs to nonmalignant cells. The investigation of novel natural and synthetic structures that might be used for the development of new drugs with greater efficiency and selectivity to leukemic cells is mandatory. In this context, thiosemicarbazones have been well described in the literature by their several biological properties and their reaction is known as versatile, low-cost, and highly chemoselective. With this perspective, this study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effect and the main death mechanisms of a novel thiosemicarbazone (LAP17) on acute leukemia cell lines K562 and Jurkat. The results show that the strong cytotoxic effect of LAP17 to leukemic cells is due to apoptosis induction, which resulted in caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation. Intrinsic apoptosis seems to be related to the inversion of Bax/Bcl-2 expression, ΔΨm loss, and AIF release, whereas extrinsic apoptosis was initiated by FasR. Gene-expression profiling of HL-60 cells treated with LAP17 by the microarray technique revealed a significant enrichment of gene sets related to cell cycle arrest at G2/M. Accordingly, K562 and Jurkat cells treated with LAP17 revealed a clear arrest at G2/M phase. Taking into consideration that LAP17 was not cytotoxic to nonhematological cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cell and erythrocytes), these results suggest that LAP17 is a promising new compound that might be used as a prototype for the development of new antileukemic agents.

In vitro genotoxicity and in vivo subchronic evaluation of the anti-inflammatory pyrazole compound LQFM021

Scientific evidences have highlighted 5-(1-(3-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2H-tetrazole (LQFM021) as a promising anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antinociceptive agent due to its effects on peripheral opioid receptors associated with activation of the nitric oxide/cGMP/K_ATP pathway. Despite these important pharmacological findings, toxicity data of LQFM021 are scarce. Thus, this study investigated the in vitro genotoxicity of LQFM021 through cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (OECD Nº 487/2014). Moreover, zebrafish model was used to assess the embryotoxicity potential of LQFM021 using fish embryo toxicity test (OECD Nº 236/2013) with extended exposure to evaluate subchronic larval development. In vivo subchronic toxicity of LQFM021 in rats (OECD Nº 407/2008) was also conducted. This compound at the lower concentrations tested (3.1 and 31 μg/mL) did not promote changes in micronuclei frequency in HepG2 cells. However, in the higher concentrations of LQFM021 (310 and 620 μg/mL) triggered a significant increase of micronucleated HepG2 cells, showing an alert signal of potential genotoxicity. Regarding the oral treatment of rats with LQFM021 (62.5, 125 or 250 mg/kg) for 28 days, the main findings showed that LQFM021 promoted renal and liver changes in a dose-dependent manner, being irreversible damage for kidneys while liver tissue showed a recovery after 14 days post treatment. Regarding embryotoxicity, although the lower concentrations used did not show toxicity, the concentration of LQFM021 (39.8 and 100 mg/L) promoted malformations in zebrafish embryo-larvae stage, in especial cardiac tissue changes. In conclusion, anti-inflammatory compound LQFM021 seems to have some limiting factors as a new therapeutic option to be used orally and in high repeated doses, related to those found in the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).