Synthesis of oxovanadium complexes and their apoptosis-inducing activity in leukemia cells

Vanadium complexes with different ligands were synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activity on U937 cells. The alkyl chain length of the ligands affected the antiproliferative activity, and two complexes-3b and 4-exhibited strong activities with IC(50) values of 6.02 and 3.90 μM respectively. Annexin V staining and DNA ladder formation indicated that these complexes induced apoptosis in U937 cells.

Evaluation of insulin-mimetic activities of vanadyl and zinc(II) complexes from the viewpoint of heterocyclic bidentate ligands

Vanadyl sulfate (VOSO(4)) has been clinically tested in diabetic patients since 1995. Oral administrations of VOSO(4) improved the type 2 diabetic state with respect to plasma glucose, HbA(1c), and fructosamine levels. The development of toxicity by increasing the administration of VOSO(4) should be avoided. One method was the utilization of vanadyl complexes with coordination compounds that are low-toxic and low-molecular-weight ligands to enhance the permeation of the metal ion to lipid bilayer membrane. Over a decade we have focused on a variety of heterocyclic compounds as bidentate ligands for metal ions. Vanadyl and zinc(II) complexes of 1-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4(1H)-pyridinethiones, 4,5,6-substituted 1-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyrimidinones, 4-(p-substituted)phenyl-3-hydroxythiazole-2(3H)-thiones, 3-hydroxypyrone, 1-alkyl- or 1-phenylalkyl-3-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinethiones, optically active 1-substituted 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridinethiones, and 5-dialkylsulfonamido- or 5,7-bis(dialkylsulfonamido)-8-hydroxyquinolines were prepared, and their insulin-mimetic activities were evaluated in terms of IC(50) values which stand for a 50% inhibitory concentration of the free fatty acid release from isolated rat adipocytes. In this article, the relationship between the insulin-mimetic activity and the partition coefficient, the chirality, the substituent effect, molecular weight, the pK(a) value, and the coordination mode was discussed. In vivo blood glucose-lowering effects of the vanadyl complex with 1-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinone in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and the zinc(II) complexes with 4-(p-chlorophenyl)thiazole- and 4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thione in KK-A(y) mice were also discussed.

Syntheses of vanadyl and zinc(II) complexes of 1-hydroxy-4,5,6-substituted 2(1H)-pyrimidinones and their insulin–mimetic activities

Control of the glucose level in the blood plasma has been achieved in vitro and in vivo by administration of vanadium and zinc in form of inorganic salts. It has been shown that elements are poorly absorbed in their inorganic forms and required high doses which have been associated with undesirable side effects. Many researchers, therefore, have focused on metal complexes that were prepared from VOSO(4) or ZnSO(4) and low-molecular-weight bidentate ligands. Seven kinds of 1-hydroxy-4,6-disubstituted and 1-hydroxy-4,5,6-trisubstituted-2(1H)-pyrimidinones were synthesized by reaction of N-benzyloxyurea and beta-diketones and subsequent removal of the protecting group. Six kinds of 1-hydroxy-4-(substituted)amino-2(1H)-pyrimidinones were synthesized by the substitution reaction of 1-benzyloxy-4-(1',2',4'-triazol-1'-yl)-2(1H)-pyrimidinone with various alkyl amines or amino acids. Treatment with VOSO(4) and ZnSO(4) or Zn(OAc)(2) afforded vanadyl(IV) and zinc(II) complexes which were characterized by means of (1)H NMR, IR, EPR, and UV-vis spectroscopies, and combustion analysis. The in vitro insulin-mimetic activity of these complexes was evaluated from 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) on free fatty acid (FFA) release from isolated rat adipocytes treated with epinephrine. Vanadyl complexes of 4,6-disubstituted-2(1H)-pyrimidinones showed higher insulin-mimetic activities than those of 4,5,6-trisubstituted ones. On the other hand, Zn(II) complexes showed lower insulin-mimetic activities than VOSO(4) and ZnSO(4) as positive controls. It was found that the balance of the hydrophilicity and/or hydrophobicity is important for higher insulin-mimetic activity. The in vivo insulin-mimetic activity was evaluated with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose levels were lowered from hyperglycemic to normal levels after the treatment with bis(1,2-dihydro-4,6-dimethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrimidinolato)oxovanadium(IV) by daily intraperitoneal injections. The improvement in glucose tolerance was also confirmed by an oral glucose tolerance test.

Uptake and metabolic effects of insulin mimetic oxovanadium compounds in human erythrocytes

The uptake of the oxidation products of two oxovanadium(IV) compounds, [N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylaminato)]oxovanadium(IV), V(IV)O(Rpyr(2)en), and bis-[3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethyl-4-pyridinonato]oxovanadium(IV), V(IV)O(dmpp)(2), by human erythrocytes was studied using (51)V and (1)H NMR and EPR spectroscopy. V(IV)O(Rpyr(2)en) in aerobic aqueous solution is oxidized to its V(V) counterpart and the neutral form slowly enters the cells by passive diffusion. In aerobic conditions, V(IV)O(dmpp)(2) originates V(V) complexes of 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometry. The neutral 1:1 species is taken up by erythrocytes through passive diffusion in a temperature-dependent process; its depletion from the extracellular medium promotes the dissociation of the negatively charged 1:2 species, and the protonation of the negatively charged 1:1 species. The identity of these complexes is not maintained inside the cells, and the intracellular EPR spectra suggest N(2)O(2) or NO(3) intracellular coordinating environments. The oxidative stress induced by the oxovanadium compounds in erythrocytes was not significant at 1mM concentration, but was increased by both vanadate and oxidized V(IV)O(dmpp)(2) at 5mM. Only 1mM oxidized V(IV)O(dmpp)(2) significantly stimulated erythrocytes glucose intake (0.75+/-0.13 against 0.37+/-0.17mM/h found for the control, p<0.05).