Indole and 2,4-Thiazolidinedione conjugates as potential anticancer modulators

Indole clubbed 2,4-thiazolidinedione linked 1,2,3-triazole as a potent antimalarial and antibacterial agent against drug-resistant strain and molecular modeling studies

In the face of escalating challenges of microbial resistance strains, this study describes the design and synthesis of 5-({1-[(1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl]-1H-indol-3-yl}methylene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives, which have demonstrated significant antimicrobial properties. Compared with the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values of ciprofloxacin on the respective strains, compounds 5a, 5d, 5g, 5l, and 5m exhibited potent antibacterial activity with MIC values ranging from 16 to 25 µM. Almost all the synthesized compounds showed lower MIC compared to standards against vancomycin-resistant enterococcus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Additionally, the majority of the synthesized compounds demonstrated remarkable antifungal activity, against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, as compared to nystatin, griseofulvin, and fluconazole. Furthermore, the majority of compounds exhibited notable inhibitory effects against the Plasmodium falciparum strain, having IC50 values ranging from 1.31 to 2.79 μM as compared to standard quinine (2.71 μM). Cytotoxicity evaluation of compounds 5a-q on SHSY-5Y cells at up to 100 μg/mL showed no adverse effects. Comparison with control groups highlights their noncytotoxic characteristics. Molecular docking confirmed compound binding to target active sites, with stable protein-ligand complexes displaying drug-like molecules. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed dynamic stability and interactions. Rigorous tests and molecular modeling unveil the effectiveness of the compounds against drug-resistant microbes, providing hope for new antimicrobial compounds with potential safety.

Role of SGLT2 Inhibitors, DPP-4 Inhibitors, and Metformin in Pancreatic Cancer Prevention

Pancreatic carcinoma is a highly aggressive tumor that usually presents when it has already metastasized. Therapeutic options for cure remain scarce and rely on combination chemotherapy with limited sustainability. Diabetes is considered an important risk factor for the development of pancreatic cancer due to the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which result in increased cell proliferation. More than half of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer eventually develop diabetes due to the destruction of insulin-producing cells. The interlinkage of both diseases might identify a possible preventative strategy for reducing the incidence of pancreatic carcinoma. This study reviewed the recent literature on the association between pancreatic cancer risk and SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 RA, DPP-4 inhibitors, and biguanides. There are mixed data regarding the relationship between GLP-1 RA and DPP-4 inhibitors and pancreatic cancer, with some trials suggesting that they might increase the risk. In contrast, studies have mostly revealed that SGLT2 inhibitors have an antiproliferative effect on various tumors, such as liver, pancreatic, prostate, bowel, lung, and breast carcinoma, which might be due to their mechanism of blockage of reabsorption of glucose by cells, lowering the amount of available glucose for the growth of tumor cells. Metformin, the first-line agent for diabetes, has also been shown to be associated with decreasing pancreatic cancer risk and improving prognosis in those who already have the disease. Dedicated trials are needed to further delineate the association of antidiabetic drugs with the risk of pancreatic cancer in the general population, as previous studies have mostly focused on diabetic patients.

3,5-Disubstituted-thiazolidine-2,4-dione hybrids as antidiabetic agents: Design, synthesis, in-vitro and In vivo evaluation

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing metabolic disorders, nearly doubling the number of patients each year. There are different treatment approaches available for the management of diabetes, which lacks due to their side effects. The inhibition of enzymes involved in the metabolism of complex polysaccharides to monosaccharides has proven beneficial in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Two enzymes, α-amylase and α-glucosidase, have emerged as potential drug targets and are widely explored for drug development against type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this context, thiazolidine-2,4-diones (TZDs) have emerged as potential drug candidates for developing newer molecules against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Nineteen TZD-hybrids were synthesized and evaluated in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The compounds 7i, 7k, and 7p have emerged as the best dual inhibitors with IC50 of 10.33 ± 0.11-20.94 ± 0.76 μM and 10.19 ± 0.25-24.07 ± 1.56 μM against α-glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively. The derivatives had good anti-oxidant activity, displaying IC50 = 14.95 ± 0.65-23.27 ± 0.99 μM. The compounds 7k and 7p showed the best inhibition of reactive oxygen species in the PNAC-1 cells. The molecules exhibit good binding within the active site of α-amylase (PDB id: 1B2Y) and α-glucosidase (PDB id: 3W37), displaying binding energies of -7.5 to -10.7 kcal/mol and -7.4 to -10.3 kcal/mol, respectively. Further, the compounds were nontoxic (LD50 = 500-1311 mg/kg) and possessed good GI absorption. The compounds 7i, 7k, and 7p were evaluated in vivo antidiabetic activity in an STZ-induced diabetic model in Wistar rats. The compound 7p emerged as the best compound in the in vivo studies; however, the activity was lesser than that of the standard drug pioglitazone.

Repurposing drugs targeting metabolic diseases for cancer therapeutics

Hurdles in the identification of new drugs for cancer treatment have made drug repurposing an increasingly appealing alternative. The approach involves the use of old drugs for new therapeutic purposes. It is cost-effective and facilitates rapid clinical translation. Given that cancer is also considered a metabolic disease, drugs for metabolic disorders are being actively repurposed for cancer therapeutics. In this review, we discuss the repurposing of such drugs approved for two major metabolic diseases, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), which have shown potential as anti-cancer treatment. We also highlight the current understanding of the cancer signaling pathways that these drugs target.

Rosiglitazone has a null association with the risk of prostate cancer in type 2 diabetes patients

Background

This study investigated the risk of prostate cancer in ever users and never users of rosiglitazone in diabetes patients in Taiwan.

Methods

The nationwide database of the National Health Insurance was used to enroll male patients who had a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus at an age ≥ 25 years from 1999 to 2005. A total of 11,495 ever users and 11,495 never users of rosiglitazone matched on propensity score were selected and they were followed up for the incidence of prostate cancer from January 1, 2006 until December 31, 2011. Cox proportional hazard model incorporated with the inverse probability of treatment weighting using the propensity score was used to estimate hazard ratios.

Results

At the end of follow-up, incident cases of prostate cancer were found in 84 never users and 90 ever users of rosiglitazone. The calculated incidence was 173.20 per 100,000 person-years in never users and was 187.59 per 100,000 person-years in ever users. The overall hazard ratio (95% confidence intervals) for ever versus never users was 1.089 (0.808-1.466). The hazard ratios were 0.999 (0.643-1.552) for the first tertile (< 672 mg), 1.147 (0.770-1.709) for the second tertile (672-3584 mg) and 1.116 (0.735-1.695) for the third tertile (> 3584 mg) of cumulative dose. Sensitivity analyses consistently showed a null association between rosiglitazone and prostate cancer risk.

Conclusion

Rosiglitazone has a null effect on the risk of prostate cancer.

Does NUCB2/Nesfatin-1 Influence Eating Behaviors in Obese Patients with Binge Eating Disorder? Toward a Neurobiological Pathway

Nesfatin-1 is a new anorexigenic neuropeptide involved in the regulation of hunger/satiety, eating, and affective disorders. We aimed to investigate nesfatin-1 secretion in vitro, in murine adipose cells, and in human adipose fat samples, as well as to assess the link between circulating nesfatin-1 levels, NUCB2 and Fat Mass and Obesity Gene (FTO) polymorphisms, BMI, Eating Disorders (EDs), and pathological behaviors. Nesfatin-1 secretion was evaluated both in normoxic fully differentiated 3T3-L1 mouse adipocytes and after incubation under hypoxic conditions for 24 h. Omental Visceral Adipose tissue (VAT) specimens of 11 obese subjects, and nesfatin-1 serum levels' evaluation, eating behaviors, NUCB2 rs757081, and FTO rs9939609 polymorphisms of 71 outpatients seeking treatment for EDs with different Body Mass Index (BMI) were studied. Significantly higher levels of nesfatin-1 were detected in hypoxic 3T3-L1 cultured adipocytes compared to normoxic ones. Nesfatin-1 was highly detectable in the VAT of obese compared to normal-weight subjects. Nesfatin-1 serum levels did not vary according to BMI, sex, and EDs diagnosis, but correlations with grazing; emotional, sweet, and binge eating; hyperphagia; social eating; childhood obesity were evident. Obese subjects with CG genotype NUCB2 rs757081 and AT genotype FTO rs9939609 polymorphisms had higher nesfatin-1 levels. It could represent a new biomarker of EDs comorbidity among obese patients.

Peptide Helix-Y12 as Potential Effector for Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors involved in the regulation of lipids and glucose metabolism, and immune response. Therefore, they have been considered pharmacological targets for treating metabolic diseases, such as dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the available synthetic ligands of PPARs have mild to significant side effects, generating the necessity to identify new molecules that are selective PPAR ligands with specific biological responses. This study aimed to evaluate some components of the atheroprotective and hepatoprotective HB-ATV-8 nanoparticles [the amphipathic peptide Helix-Y¹², thermozeaxanthin, thermozeaxanthin-13, thermozeaxanthin-15, and a set of glycolipids], as possible ligands of PPARs through blind molecular docking. According to the change in free energy upon protein-ligand binding, ∆G _b, thermozeaxanthins show a more favorable interaction with PPARs, followed by Helix-Y¹². Moreover, Helix-Y¹² interacts with most parts of the Y-shaped ligand-binding domain (LBD), surrounding helix 3 of PPARs, and reaching helix 12 of PPARα and PPARγ. As previously reported for other ligands, Tyr314 and Tyr464 of PPARα interact with Helix-Y¹² through hydrogen bonds. Several PPARα's amino acids are involved in the ligand binding by hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, we identified additional PPARs' amino acids interacting with Helix-Y¹² through hydrogen bonds still not reported for known ligands. Our results show that, from the studied ligand set, the Helix-Y¹² peptide and Tzeaxs have the most significant probability of binding to the PPARs' LBD, suggesting novel ligands for PPARs.

A Scoping Review of the Use of Pioglitazone in the Treatment of Temporo-Mandibular Joint Arthritis

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are a group of diabetes medications currently being investigated for anti-arthritis effectiveness, one of which is pioglitazone. The purpose of this scoping review is to evaluate the potential use of pioglitazone in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis. The criteria of eligibility were studies with the diagnosis of arthritis and pioglitazone treatment with a change in any inflammation index as an outcome. Of the 1169 records initially identified following the selection process, two animal studies and four clinical studies were included in the review. Improvements from the baseline were observed in each treatment group for each inflammation indicator. The results of the animal studies on the temporomandibular joints and on patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis indicate that the drug in question may have potential to treat arthritis, including within the temporomandibular joint.

Design and Synthesis of Echitamine-inspired Hybrid Analogues Containing Thiazolidinediones as Potential Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitors

Background:

Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disease characterised by excessive accumulation of triglycerides. The prevalence and morbidity rates associated with obesity are increasing tremendously, posing a significant risk to society. Pancreatic lipase (PL) is a key enzyme responsible for the digestion of dietary triglycerides; hence its inhibition is considered an attractive target in obesity.

Methods:

In this present work, a new series of echitamine-inspired indole-based thiazolidinedione hybrid analogues were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro PL inhibitory potential. The nature of inhibition has been identified by enzyme kinetic analysis, whereas in silico molecular modelling tools (molecular docking and dynamic studies) were used for the identification of the mode of action at the catalytic site of PL (PDB ID: 1LPB). Fluorescence quenching was used for the identification of the interaction between the potent analogues with PL.

Results:

The condensation reaction of substituted indole derivatives with TZD in the presence of aqueous KOH resulted in the formation of the titled analogues. Analogues 7k and 7p displayed a potential PL inhibitory activity (IC50 = 11.36 and 11.87 μM, respectively). A competitive mode of PL inhibition was revealed in the enzyme kinetic analysis. A static quenching mechanism was exhibited by the screened agents on PL. The obtained MolDock scores were aligned with the in vitro PL inhibitory activity (Pearson’s r - 0.7575, p<0.05). Moreover, the PL-ligand complexes were stable in the dynamic conditions.

Conclusion:

Analogue 7k exerted the potential activity, and further studies might result in novel lead molecules.

The medicinal perspective of 2,4-thiazolidinediones based ligands as antimicrobial, antitumor and antidiabetic agents: A review

2,4-Thiazolidinedione (2,4-TZD), commonly known as glitazone, is a ubiquitous heterocyclic pharmacophore possessing a plethora of pharmacological activities and offering a vast opportunity for structural modification. The diverse range of biological activities endowed with a novel mode of action, low cost, and easy synthesis has attracted the attention of medicinal chemists. Several researchers have integrated the TZD core with different structural fragments to develop a wide range of lead molecules against various clinical disorders. The most common sites for structural modifications at the 2,4-TZD nucleus are the N-3 and the active methylene at C-5. The review covers the recent development of TZD derivatives such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and antidiabetic agents. Various 2,4-TZD based agents or drugs, which are either under clinical development or in the market, are discussed in the study. Different synthetic methodologies for synthesizing the 2,4-TZD core are also included in the manuscript. The importance of various substitutions at N-3 and C-5 and the mechanisms of action and structure-activity relationships are also discussed. We hope this study will serve as a valuable tool for the scientific community engaged in the structural exploitation of the 2,4-TZD core for developing novel drug m\olecules for life-threatening ailments.

Design, Molecular Docking, Synthesis, Anticancer and Anti-Hyperglycemic Assessments of Thiazolidine-2,4-diones Bearing Sulfonylthiourea Moieties as Potent VEGFR-2 Inhibitors and PPARγ Agonists

Newly designed thiazolidine-2,4-diones 3–7a–c were synthesized, and their anticancer activities were screened against three cancer lines. They showed potent activities against HepG2 compared to the other HCT116 and MCF-7 tumor cell lines. Compounds 7c and 6c were detected as highly effective derivatives against MCF-7 (IC₅₀ = 7.78 and 8.15 µM), HCT116 (IC₅₀ = 5.77 and 7.11 µM) and HepG2 (IC₅₀ = 8.82 and 8.99 µM). The highly effective derivatives 6a–c and 7a–c were tested against VERO normal cell lines. All derivatives were evaluated for their VEGFR-2 inhibitory actions and demonstrated high to low activities, with IC₅₀ values varying from 0.08 to 0.93 µM. Moreover, derivatives 5a–c, 6a–c and 7a–c were assessed to verify their in vitro binding affinities to PPARγ and insulin-secreting activities. Finally, docking studies were performed to explore their affinities and binding modes toward both VEGFR-2 and PPARγ receptors.

Anti-Diabetic Potentials of Thiazolidinedione Analogues with Efficient Synthetic Procedures: A Review of Literature

Background::

Diabetes mellitus refers to one of the leading cause of diseases that affect large populations of human and is characterized by a high glucose level in the blood (also known as hyperglycemia). Thiazolidinedione (TZD) is a five-member heterocyclic compound consisting of three carbons, nitrogen and sulfur. It is also known as glitazones, can be used as potent hypoglycemic agents and is also reduce many other cardiovascular risk factors including percutaneous coronary intervention, carotid and coronary atherosclerosis. As it plays a very important role in the field of medicinal chemistry or pharmaceutical sciences, novel medicine developed and many are on underdevelopment, these derivatives have thiazolidinedione as their primary nucleus.

Objective::

This article has discussed the different synthetic procedures of thiazolidinediones that exhibited potential antidiabetic activity by the activation of PPAR-γ, by reducing the blood glucose levels and by different metabolic process incorporation.

Conclusion::

Thiazolidinediones has effective profile as the future investigational drug and can be processed in drug discovery because of its efficient anti-diabetic potential.

The anticancer effects of Metformin in the male germ tumor SEM-1 cell line are mediated by HMGA1

INTRODUCTION

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are the most common type of cancer in young men. These tumors usually originate from the testis, but they can occasionally develop from extragonadal sites probably due to primordial germ cells (PGCs) migration errors. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is usually effective for male GCTs, but the risk of toxicity is high and new therapeutic strategies are needed. Although Metformin (Met) has been widely studied as a potential cancer treatment over the past decades, there is limited evidence to support its use in treating male GCTs. Additionally, the mechanism by which it acts on tumor cells is still not entirely understood.

METHODS

SEM-1 cells, a newly established human cell line of extragonadal origin, were treated with Met. Cell viability was studied by MTT assay, while cell migration and invasion were studied by the wound healing assay and the transwell assay, respectively. The effect of Met on 3D spheroid formation was determined by seeding SEM-1 cells in appropriate cell suspension culture conditions, and cell cycle was characterized by flow cytometry. Factors involved in PGCs migration and GCT invasion, such as IGFBP1, IGF1R, MMP-11 and c-Kit, together with cyclin D1 (a key regulator of cell cycle progression), and the upstream factor, HMGA1, were determined by immunoblots.

RESULTS

Treatment of SEM-1 cells with Met resulted in a potent and dose-dependent reduction of cell proliferation, as evidenced by decreased nuclear abundance of cyclin D1 and cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. Also, Met prevented the formation of 3D spheroids, and blocked cell migration and invasion by reducing the expression of IGFBP1, IGF1R and MMP-11. Both, IGFBP1 and MMP-11 are under control of HMGA1, a chromatin-associated protein that is involved in the regulation of important oncogenic, metabolic and embryological processes. Intriguingly, an early reduction in the nuclear abundance of HMGA1 occurred in SEM-1 cells treated with Met.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results document the antiproliferative and antimigratory effects of Met in SEM-1 cells, providing new insights into the potential treatments for male GCTs. The anticancer properties of Met in SEM-1 cells are likely related to its ability to interfere with HMGA1 and downstream targets, including cyclin D1, the IGFs system, and MMP-11.

Synthetically-tailored and nature-derived dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors: Structural aspects and SAR

Inflammation is a most complex pathological process that gives birth to different diseases. Different inflammatory mediators are released during an inflammation responsible for acute pain and chronic inflammatory diseases like cancer, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. The arachidonic acid pathway, which results in the production of inflammatory mediators, provides several targets for anti-inflammatory intervention. The most popularly used medications for inflammation are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) but it has some limitations, in particular traditional NSAIDs which inhibit the COX pathway non-selectively, producing gastrointestinal side effects, and other adverse effects like stroke and renal failure. On the other hand, selective COX-2 inhibitors commonly known as 'coxibs' produce cardiovascular side effects. Frequent inhibition of either cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase enzyme switches the metabolism of arachidonic acid from one to another which could lead to serious consequences. Therefore, a need to develop novel, effective and safe anti-inflammatory agents which can inhibit the release of both prostaglandins and leukotrienes from the respective cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways has emerged. This resulted in the discovery of new anti-inflammatory agents derived from natural and synthetic sources as dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors. To further contribute towards the discovery in this field, we have attempted to summarize structural features and pharmacological activities of heterocyclic scaffolds and natural products explored as dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors. We have emphasized the designing of the dual inhibitors inspired by the previously reported COX-2 and 5-LOX inhibitors. This outline could render us to identify the best pharmacophores catering to dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitory activity while improving their efficiency as anti-inflammatory agents.

Insulin Resistance and Cancer: In Search for a Causal Link

Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition which refers to individuals whose cells and tissues become insensitive to the peptide hormone, insulin. Over the recent years, a wealth of data has made it clear that a synergistic relationship exists between IR, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cancer. Although the underlying mechanism(s) for this association remain unclear, it is well established that hyperinsulinemia, a hallmark of IR, may play a role in tumorigenesis. On the other hand, IR is strongly associated with visceral adiposity dysfunction and systemic inflammation, two conditions which favor the establishment of a pro-tumorigenic environment. Similarly, epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA, in IR states, have been often associated with tumorigenesis in numerous types of human cancer. In addition to these observations, it is also broadly accepted that gut microbiota may play an intriguing role in the development of IR-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cancer, whereas potential chemopreventive properties have been attributed to some of the most commonly used antidiabetic medications. Herein we provide a concise overview of the most recent literature in this field and discuss how different but interrelated molecular pathways may impact on tumor development.

Cancer and diabetes: the interlinking metabolic pathways and repurposing actions of antidiabetic drugs

Cancers are regarded as one of the main causes of death and result in high health burden worldwide. The management of cancer include chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. The chemotherapy, which involves the use of chemical agents with cytotoxic actions is utilised as a single treatment or combined treatment. However, these managements of cancer such as chemotherapy poses some setbacks such as cytotoxicity on normal cells and the problem of anticancer drug resistance. Therefore, the use of other therapeutic agents such as antidiabetic drugs is one of the alternative interventions used in addressing some of the limitations in the use of anticancer agents. Antidiabetic drugs such as sulfonylureas, biguanides and thiazolidinediones showed beneficial and repurposing actions in the management of cancer, thus, the activities of these drugs against cancer is attributed to some of the metabolic links between the two disorders and these includes hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress as well as obesity. Furthermore, some studies showed that the use of antidiabetic drugs could serve as risk factors for the development of cancerous cells particularly pancreatic cancer. However, the beneficial role of these chemical agents overweighs their detrimental actions in cancer management. Hence, the present review indicates the metabolic links between cancer and diabetes and the mechanistic actions of antidiabetic drugs in the management of cancers.

Activation of the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPAR-α/γ) and the Fatty Acid Metabolizing Enzyme Protein CPT1A by Camel Milk Treatment Counteracts the High-Fat Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Camel milk (CM) has a unique composition rich in antioxidants, trace elements, immunoglobulins, insulin, and insulin-like proteins. Treatment by CM demonstrated protective effects against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by a high-fat cholesterol-rich diet (HFD-C) in rats. CM dampened the steatosis, inflammation, and ballooning degeneration of the hepatocytes. It also counteracted hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance (IR), glucose intolerance, and oxidative stress. The commencement of NAFLD triggered the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), carnitine palmitoyl-transferase-1 (CPT1A), and fatty acid-binding protein-1 (FABP1) and decreased the PPAR-γ expression in the tissues of the animals on HFD-C. This was associated with increased levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α and leptin and declined levels of the anti-inflammatory adiponectin. Camel milk treatment to the NAFLD animals remarkably upregulated PPARs (α, γ) and the downstream enzyme CPT1A in the metabolically active tissues involved in cellular uptake and beta-oxidation of fatty acids. The enhanced lipid metabolism in the CM-treated animals was linked with decreased expression of FABP1 and suppression of IL-6, TNF-α, and leptin release with augmented adiponectin production. The protective effects of CM against the histological and biochemical features of NAFLD are at least in part related to the activation of the hepatic and extrahepatic PPARs (α, γ) with consequent activation of the downstream enzymes involved in fat metabolism. Camel milk treatment carries a promising therapeutic potential to NAFLD through stimulating PPARs actions on fat metabolism and glucose homeostasis. This can protect against hepatic steatosis, IR, and diabetes mellitus in high-risk obese patients.

Design, synthesis, in silico molecular modelling studies and biological evaluation of novel indole-thiazolidinedione hybrid analogues as potential pancreatic lipase inhibitors

A series of thiazolidinedione-indole hybrids are designed and synthesized as a potential inhibitor for pancreatic lipase (PL).

An Insight into the Synthesis and SAR of 2,4-Thiazolidinediones (2,4-TZD) as Multifunctional Scaffold: A Review

2,4-Thiazolidinedione (2,4-TZD) is a versatile pharmacophore, a privileged scaffold, and a remarkable sulphur-containing heterocyclic compound with diverse pharmacological activities. The multifarious biological activities, due to different mechanisms of action, low cost, and easy availability of 2,4-TZD impressed medicinal chemists to integrate this moiety to develop various lead compounds with diverse therapeutic actions. This resulted in the swift development in the last decade for generating different new potential molecules bearing 2,4-TZD. In this review, the authors attempt to shape and present the latest investigations (2012 onwards) going on in generating promising 2,4-TZD containing lead compounds. The data has been collected and analyzed to develop the structure-activity relationship (SAR). The SAR and active pharmacophores of various leads accountable for antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities have also been illustrated. This review also highlighted some of the important chemical synthetic routes for the preparation of various 2,4-TZD derivatives. This review will definitely serve as a useful source of structural information to medicinal chemists and may be utilized for the strategic design of potent 2,4-TZD derivatives in the future.

The role of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that leads to progressive neurological disability due to axonal deterioration. Although MS presents profound heterogeneity in the clinical course, its underlying central mechanism is active demyelination and neurodegeneration associated with inflammation. Multiple autoimmune and neuroinflammatory pathways are involved in the demyelination process of MS. Analysis of MS lesions has shown that inflammatory genes are upregulated. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is part of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family and has important roles in many signaling cascades. GSK-3 is a highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinase expressed in both the central and the peripheral nervous systems. GSK-3 modulates several biological processes through phosphorylation of protein kinases, including cell signaling, neuronal growth, apoptosis and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interleukins, allowing adaptive changes in events such as cellular proliferation, migration, inflammation, and immunity. GSK-3 occurs in mammals in two isoforms GSK-3α and GSK-3β, both of which are common in the brain, although GSK-3α is found particularly in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, striated hippocampus and Purkinje cells, while GSK-3β is found in all brain regions. In patients with chronic progressive MS, expression of GSK-3β is elevated in several brain regions such as the corpus callosum and cerebral cortex. GSK-3β inhibition may play a role in glial cell activation, reducing pathological pain induced by nerve injury by formalin injection. According to the role of GSK-3β in pathological conditions, the aim of this article is review of the role of GSK-3β in multiple sclerosis and inflammation of neurons.

Probing intermolecular interactions and binding stability of kaempferol, quercetin and resveratrol derivatives with PPAR-γ: docking, molecular dynamics and MM/GBSA approach to reveal potent PPAR- γ agonist against cancer

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors-γ (PPAR-γ), a ligand-activated transcription factor, suggested having anti-inflammatory effects by activating the target genes when bound to the ligand. Herein, we examined a conformational analysis of 8708 derivatives of Kaempferol, Quercetin, and Resveratrol, the prime activators of PPAR-γ molecular target by employing molecular docking and dynamic simulation pipeline to screen out potential agonists. The structure-based docking procedure performed by FlexX tool shortlisted high binding affinities of these derivatives of Kaempferol, Quercetin and Resveratrol with the protein receptor with a score of -38.94 kcal/mol (4'-Carboxy-5, 7-Dihydroxyflavone-CDHF), -41.63 kcal/mol (Demethyltorosaflavone D- DMTF) and -31.52 kcal/mol (Resveratrol-O-disulphate- RD) respectively, signifying the selected derivatives forms interactions like H-bond, Aromatic H-Bond, Pi-Pi stacking and salt bridges with PPAR-γ. The PPAR-γ-derivative complex was stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and stacking interactions. A greater interaction was significantly observed between the binding affinities of derivatives compared to the standards. Based on the root mean square deviation (RMSD) and root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) carried by the means of high-speed molecular dynamics (MD) and simulation of best-docked poses, the ligand, DMTF attained the most favored interaction with PPAR-γ. Thus, it appeared to have high chemical scaffold diversity and may confer high drug-likeness. The binding free energy (ΔG) led us to manifest Quercetin derivative to have a key role for PPAR-γ receptor. The result obtained clearly indicates the exploitation of the promising new drug leads that may further influence in synthesizing and analyzing the development as anti-cancer agonists.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Bioactive pyrrole-based compounds with target selectivity

The discovery of novel synthetic compounds with drug-like properties is an ongoing challenge in medicinal chemistry. Natural products have inspired the synthesis of compounds for pharmaceutical application, most of which are based on N-heterocyclic motifs. Among these, the pyrrole ring is one of the most explored heterocycles in drug discovery programs for several therapeutic areas, confirmed by the high number of pyrrole-based drugs reaching the market. In the present review, we focused on pyrrole and its hetero-fused derivatives with anticancer, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities, reported in the literature between 2015 and 2019, for which a specific target was identified, being responsible for their biological activity. It emerges that the powerful pharmaceutical and pharmacological features provided by the pyrrole nucleus as pharmacophore unit of many drugs are still recognized by medicinal chemists.

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Pyrrole nucleus is one of the most explored heterocycle in drug discovery.

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Pyrrole derivatives exhibit antitumor, antimicrobial and antiviral activities.

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Targets involved in their biological activities were identified.

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SAR to underline their most important features were discussed.

MicroRNA-1281 as a Novel Circulating Biomarker in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy

Objective: Recently, the role of circulating miRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for the identification and monitoring of diabetes microvascular complications has emerged. Herein, we aimed to: identify circulating miRNAs differentially expressed in patients with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR); examine their predictive value; and understand their pathogenic impact. Methods: Pooled serum samples from randomly selected matched patients with type 2 diabetes, either with or without DR, were used for initial serum miRNA profiling. Validation of the most relevant miRNAs was thereafter conducted by RT-qPCR in an extended sample of patients with DR and matched controls. Results: Following miRNA profiling, 43 miRNAs were significantly up- or down-regulated in patients with DR compared with controls. After individual validation, 5 miRNAs were found significantly overexpressed in patients with DR. One of them, miR-1281, was the most up-regulated and appeared to be specifically related to DR. Furthermore, secreted levels of miR-1281 were increased in high glucose-cultured retinal cells, and there was evidence of a potential link between glucose-induced miR-1281 up-regulation and DR. Conclusion: Our findings suggest miR-1281 as a circulating biomarker of DR. Also, they highlight the pathogenic significance of miR-1281, providing insights for a new potential target in treating DR.

Obesity-related hypoxia via miR-128 decreases insulin-receptor expression in human and mouse adipose tissue promoting systemic insulin resistance

Background

Insulin resistance in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), skeletal muscle and liver is a prominent feature of most patients with obesity. How this association arises remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that the decrease in insulin receptor (INSR) expression and insulin signaling in VAT from obese individuals is an early molecular manifestation that might play a crucial role in the cascade of events leading to systemic insulin resistance.

Methods

To clarify the role of INSR and insulin signaling in adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity, we first measured INSR expression in VAT samples from normal-weight subjects and patients with different degrees of obesity. We complemented these studies with experiments on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice, and in human and murine adipocyte cultures, in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

Findings

An inverse correlation was observed between increasing body mass index and decreasing INSR expression in VAT of obese humans. Our results indicate that VAT-specific downregulation of INSR is an early event in obesity-related adipose cell dysfunction, which increases systemic insulin resistance in both obese humans and mice. We also provide evidence that obesity-related hypoxia in VAT plays a determinant role in this scenario by decreasing INSR mRNA stability. This decreased stability is through the activation of a miRNA (miR-128) that downregulates INSR expression in adipocytes.

Interpretation

We present a novel pathogenic mechanism of reduced INSR expression and insulin signaling in adipocytes. Our data provide a new explanation linking obesity with systemic insulin resistance.

Funding

This work was partly supported by a grant from Nutramed (PON 03PE000_78_1) and by the European Commission (FESR FSE 2014-2020 and Regione Calabria).

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of imidazopyridine-linked thiazolidinone as potential anticancer agents

In this study, two series of imidazopyridine-linked thiazolidinone rings (5a-h and 6a-h) constituting 16 new compounds were synthesized and tested for their antiproliferative activity against a panel of three human cancer cell lines, that is, MCF-7 (human breast cancer), A549 (human lung cancer), and DU145 (human prostate cancer). Three compounds, 5h, 6f, and 6h, exhibited remarkable results against all three cell lines, but compound 6h was found to be the most active one against the breast cancer cell line. Among all the synthesized compounds, 6h displayed the highest antioxidant results. Furthermore, the potent compounds 5h, 6f, and 6h showed no signs of toxicity at doses ranging from 50 to 500 mg/kg of animal body weight. The biochemical parameters (SGOT and SGPT) of compound 6h nearly matched the control in hepatotoxicity studies. The molecular docking and MM-GBSADG binding studies are in agreement with the in vitro anticancer and antioxidant activity results. The most promising compound 6h was found to have the highest docking score and binding energy, and its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) parameters are in the acceptable range. Thus, it can be concluded that 6h, an imidazopyridine derivative endowed with a thiazolidinone ring system, has the potential to be developed as an anticancer agent.

Multi-Targeting Bioactive Compounds Extracted from Essential Oils as Kinase Inhibitors

Essential oils (EOs) are popular in aromatherapy, a branch of alternative medicine that claims their curative effects. Moreover, several studies reported EOs as potential anti-cancer agents by inducing apoptosis in different cancer cell models. In this study, we have considered EOs as a potential resource of new kinase inhibitors with a polypharmacological profile. On the other hand, computational methods offer the possibility to predict the theoretical activity profile of ligands, discovering dangerous off-targets and/or synergistic effects due to the potential multi-target action. With this aim, we performed a Structure-Based Virtual Screening (SBVS) against X-ray models of several protein kinases selected from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) by using a chemoinformatics database of EOs. By evaluating theoretical binding affinity, 13 molecules were detected among EOs as new potential kinase inhibitors with a multi-target profile. The two compounds with higher percentages in the EOs were studied more in depth by means Induced Fit Docking (IFD) protocol, in order to better predict their binding modes taking into account also structural changes in the receptor. Finally, given its good binding affinity towards five different kinases, cinnamyl cinnamate was biologically tested on different cell lines with the aim to verify the antiproliferative activity. Thus, this work represents a starting point for the optimization of the most promising EOs structure as kinase inhibitors with multi-target features.

Mediterranean Diet Nutrients to Turn the Tide against Insulin Resistance and Related Diseases

Insulin resistance (IR), defined as an attenuated biological response to circulating insulin, is a fundamental defect in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), and is also linked to a wide spectrum of pathological conditions, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cognitive impairment, endothelial dysfunction, chronic kidney disease (CKD), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and some endocrine tumors, including breast cancer. In obesity, the unbalanced production of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipocytokines can lead to the development of IR and its related metabolic complications, which are potentially reversible through weight-loss programs. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), characterized by high consumption of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), nuts, red wine, vegetables and other polyphenol-rich elements, has proved to be associated with greater improvement of IR in obese individuals, when compared to other nutritional interventions. Also, recent studies in either experimental animal models or in humans, have shown encouraging results for insulin-sensitizing nutritional supplements derived from MedDiet food sources in the modulation of pathognomonic traits of certain IR-related conditions, including polyunsaturated fatty acids from olive oil and seeds, anthocyanins from purple vegetables and fruits, resveratrol from grapes, and the EVOO-derived, oleacein. Although the pharmacological properties and clinical uses of these functional nutrients are still under investigation, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the metabolic benefits appear to be compound-specific and, in some cases, point to a role in gene expression through an involvement of the nuclear high-mobility group A1 (HMGA1) protein.

The role of diosgenin in diabetes and diabetic complications

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and common metabolic disease that seriously endangers human health. Hyperglycemia and long-term metabolic disorders in diabetes will cause damage to the whole body tissues and organs, resulting in serious complications. Nowadays, drugs for treating diabetes on the market has strong side effects, new treatments thus are urgently needed. Natural therapy of natural ingredients is a promising avenue, this is because natural ingredients are safer and they also show strong activity in the treatment of diabetes. Diosgenin is such a very biologically active natural steroidal sapogenin. The research of diosgenin in the treatment of diabetes and its complications has been widely reported. This article reviews the effects of diosgenin through multiple targets and multiple pathways in diabetes and its complications which including diabetic nephropathy, diabetic liver disease, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic vascular disease, diabetic cardiomyopathy, diabetic reproductive dysfunction, and diabetic eye disease.

Medicinal chemistry of indole derivatives: Current to future therapeutic prospectives

Indole is a versatile pharmacophore, a privileged scaffold and an outstanding heterocyclic compound with wide ranges of pharmacological activities due to different mechanisms of action. It is an superlative moiety in drug discovery with the sole property of resembling different structures of the protein. Plenty of research has been taking place in recent years to synthesize and explore the various therapeutic prospectives of this moiety. This review summarizes some of the recent effective chemical synthesis (2014-2018) for indole ring. This review also emphasized on the structure-activity relationship (SAR) to reveal the active pharmacophores of various indole analogues accountable for anticancer, anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, antitubercular, antimalarial, antiviral, antidiabetic and other miscellaneous activities which have been investigated in the last five years. The precise features with motives and framework of each research topic is introduced for helping the medicinal chemists to understand the perspective of the context in a better way. This review will definitely offer the platform for researchers to strategically design diverse novel indole derivatives having different promising pharmacological activities with reduced toxicity and side effects.

Cell-line characterization by infrared-induced pyroelectric effect

Evaluation of cellular thermodynamics has recently received a high interest because of its implication in many mechanisms related with function, structure and health of cells. Recent literature reported significant efforts to provide affordable intracellular thermal components of absorption, such as thermal conductivity, to overcome the lack of experimental data. Herein, we provide lines of evidence towards the fabrication of an electronic system, using a rapid thermoelectric technique based on infrared-induced pyroelectric effect for in-vitro cell model characterization. Results demonstrated that the assessment of the average single cell thermal conductivity, sample concentration, and information on cell viability is possible over a wide concentration range. The proposed electronic system establishes a different analysis paradigm if compared to those reported in the literature, with consistent results, demonstrating that the adopted technique can provide cell-specific information and knowledge, closely linked to cell viability and its vital functions.