Dapsone Azo-Linked with Two Mesalazine Moieties Is a "Me-Better" Alternative to Sulfasalazine

Sulfasalazine and Chromotrope 2B reduce oxidative stress in murine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

BACKGROUND

With advancing age of stem cells, dysregulation of various processes at the cellular level occurs, thereby decreasing their regeneration potential. One of the changes that occurs during the aging process is the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which accelerates the processes of cellular senescence and cell death. The aim of this study is to evaluate two antioxidant compounds; Chromotrope 2B and Sulfasalazine, for their antioxidant effects on young and old rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Oxidative stress was induced in MSCs by 5 µM dexamethasone for 96 h and the cells were treated with Chromotrope 2B or Sulfasalazine, 50 µM each. The effects of antioxidant treatment following oxidative stress induction was evaluated by transcriptional profiling of genes involved in the oxidative stress and telomere maintenance. Expression levels of Cat, Gpx7, Sod1, Dhcr24, Idh1, and Txnrd2 were found to be increased in young MSCs (yMSCs) as a result of oxidative stress, while Duox2, Parp1, and Tert1 expression were found to be decreased as compared to the control. In old MSCs (oMSCs), the expressions of Dhcr24, Txnrd2, and Parp1 increased, while that of Duox2, Gpx7, Idh1, and Sod1 decreased following oxidative stress. In both MSC groups, Chromotrope 2B prompted decrease in the ROS generation before and after the induction of oxidative stress. In oMSCs, ROS content was significantly reduced in the Sulfasalazine treated group.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that both Chromotrope 2B and Sulfasalazine possess the potential to reduce the ROS content in both age groups, though the latter was found to be more potent. These compounds can be used to precondition MSCs to enhance their regenerative potential for future cell-based therapeutics.

Colon-Targeted Trans-Cinnamic Acid Ameliorates Rat Colitis by Activating GPR109A

We designed colon-targeted trans-cinnamic acid (tCA) and synthesized its conjugates with glutamic acid (tCA-GA) and aspartic acid (tCA-AA). We evaluated the anti-colitic activity of colon-targeted tCA using a dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced rat colitis model. The conjugates lowered the distribution coefficient and Caco-2 cell permeability of tCA and converted to tCA in the cecum, with higher rates and percentages with tCA-GA than with tCA-AA. Following oral gavage, tCA-GA delivered a higher amount of tCA to the cecum and exhibited better anti-colitic effects than tCA and sulfasalazine (SSZ), which is the current treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. In the cellular assay, tCA acted as a full agonist of GPR109A (EC50: 530 µM). The anti-colitic effects of tCA-GA were significantly compromised by the co-administration of the GPR109A antagonist, mepenzolate. Collectively, colon-targeted tCA potentiated the anti-colitic activity of tCA by effectively activating GPR109A in the inflamed colon, enabling tCA to elicit therapeutic superiority over SSZ.

In Silico and In Vitro Assessment of Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of Some 1,3-Oxazole-Based Compounds and Their Isosteric Analogues

In this paper, we report on the antimicrobial activity assessment of 49 compounds previously synthesized as derivatives of alanine or phenylalanine that incorporate a 4-(4-X-phenylsulfonyl)phenyl fragment (X = H, Cl, or Br), namely 21 acyclic compounds (6 × N-acyl-α-amino acids, 1 × N-acyl-α-amino acid ester, and 14 × N-acyl-α-amino ketones) and 28 pentatomic heterocycles from the oxazole-based compound class (6 × 4H-1,3-oxazol-5-ones, 16 × 5-aryl-1,3-oxazoles, and 6 × ethyl 1,3-oxazol-5-yl carbonates). Both in silico and in vitro qualitative and quantitative assays were used to investigate the antimicrobial potential of these derivatives against planktonic and biofilm-embedded microbial strains. Some of the tested compounds showed promising antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity depending on their chemical scaffold and lipophilic character.