1
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Butini S, Grether U, Jung KM, Ligresti A, Allarà M, Postmus AGJ, Maramai S, Brogi S, Papa A, Carullo G, Sykes D, Veprintsev D, Federico S, Grillo A, Di Guglielmo B, Ramunno A, Stevens AF, Heer D, Lamponi S, Gemma S, Benz J, Di Marzo V, van der Stelt M, Piomelli D, Campiani G. Development of Potent and Selective Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitors. SARs, Structural Analysis, and Biological Characterization. J Med Chem 2024; 67:1758-1782. [PMID: 38241614 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
New potent, selective monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors based on the azetidin-2-one scaffold ((±)-5a-v, (±)-6a-j, and (±)-7a-d) were developed as irreversible ligands, as demonstrated by enzymatic and crystallographic studies for (±)-5d, (±)-5l, and (±)-5r. X-ray analyses combined with extensive computational studies allowed us to clarify the binding mode of the compounds. 5v was identified as selective for MAGL when compared with other serine hydrolases. Solubility, in vitro metabolic stability, cytotoxicity, and absence of mutagenicity were determined for selected analogues. The most promising compounds ((±)-5c, (±)-5d, and (±)-5v) were used for in vivo studies in mice, showing a decrease in MAGL activity and increased 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol levels in forebrain tissue. In particular, 5v is characterized by a high eudysmic ratio and (3R,4S)-5v is one of the most potent irreversible inhibitors of h/mMAGL identified thus far. These results suggest that the new MAGL inhibitors have therapeutic potential for different central and peripheral pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Uwe Grether
- Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kwang-Mook Jung
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Annemarieke G J Postmus
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University and Oncode Institute, 2300 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Samuele Maramai
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Brogi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Papa
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Gabriele Carullo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - David Sykes
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham, Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Dmitry Veprintsev
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Federico
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Grillo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Bruno Di Guglielmo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmacy/DIFARMA, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, Salerno 84084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Anna Floor Stevens
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University and Oncode Institute, 2300 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Dominik Heer
- Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefania Lamponi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Jörg Benz
- Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
- Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institut sur La Nutrition Et Les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), École de Nutrition, Université Laval, 2440 Boulevard Hochelaga, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
- Canada Excellence Research Chair in the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, PO Box 2325, Quebec G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Médecine, Université Laval, PO Box 2725, Québec G1V 4G5, Canada
- Unité Mixte Internationale en Recherche Chimique et Biomoléculaire sur le Microbiome et Son Impact Sur la Santé Métabolique et la Nutrition (UMI-MicroMeNu), Université Laval, PO Box 2325, Quebec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University and Oncode Institute, 2300 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Bioinformatics Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746-7346, Iran
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2
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Falbo F, Gemma S, Koch A, Mazzotta S, Carullo G, Ramunno A, Butini S, Schneider-Stock R, Campiani G, Aiello F. Synthetic derivatives of natural cinnamic acids as potential anti-colorectal cancer agents. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14415. [PMID: 38230797 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Cinnamic acid and its derivatives represent attractive building blocks for the development of pharmacological tools. A series of piperoniloyl and cinnamoyl-based amides (6-9 a-f) have been synthesized and assayed against a wide panel of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, with the aim of finding promising anticancer agents. Among all twenty-four synthesized molecules, 7a, 7e-f, 9c, and 9f displayed the best antiproliferative activity. The induced G1 cell cycle arrest and the increase in apoptotic cell death was seen in FACS analysis and western Blotting in the colon tumor cell lines HCT116, SW480, LoVo, and HT29, but not in the nontumor cell line HCEC. In particular, 9f overcame the resistance of HT29 cells, which have a mutant p53 and BRAF. Furthermore, 9f, amide of piperonilic acid with the 3,4-dichlorobenzyl substituent upregulated p21, which is involved in cell cycle arrest as well as in apoptosis induction. Cinnamic acid derivatives might be potential anticancer compounds, useful for the development of promising anti-CRC agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Falbo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, Rende, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Adrian Koch
- Experimental Tumorpathology, Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sarah Mazzotta
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Gabriele Carullo
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Regine Schneider-Stock
- Experimental Tumorpathology, Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Aiello
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, Rende, Cosenza, Italy
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Papa A, Cursaro I, Pozzetti L, Contri C, Cappello M, Pasquini S, Carullo G, Ramunno A, Gemma S, Varani K, Butini S, Campiani G, Vincenzi F. Pioneering first-in-class FAAH-HDAC inhibitors as potential multitarget neuroprotective agents. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2300410. [PMID: 37750286 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Aiming to simultaneously modulate the endocannabinoid system (ECS) functions and the epigenetic machinery, we selected the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes as desired targets to develop potential neuroprotective multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs), expecting to achieve an additive or synergistic therapeutic effect in oxidative stress-related conditions. We herein report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of the first-in-class FAAH-HDAC multitarget inhibitors. A pharmacophore merging strategy was applied, yielding 1-phenylpyrrole-based compounds 4a-j. The best-performing compounds (4c, 4f, and 4h) were tested for their neuroprotective properties in oxidative stress models, employing 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells and SHSY5 human neuronal cells. In our preliminary studies, compound 4h stood out, showing a balanced nanomolar inhibitory activity against the selected targets and outperforming the standard antioxidant N-acetylcysteine in vitro. Together with 4f, 4h was also able to protect 1321N1 cells from tert-butyl hydroperoxide or glutamate insult. Our study may provide the basis for the development of novel MTDLs targeting the ECS and epigenetic enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Papa
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Cursaro
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Luca Pozzetti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Chiara Contri
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Martina Cappello
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Pasquini
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gabriele Carullo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Katia Varani
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Vincenzi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Carullo G, Mazzotta S, Ceramella J, Iacopetta D, Ramunno A, Rosano C, Brizzi A, Campiani G, Aiello F, Sinicropi MS. Development of 1-(2-aminophenyl)pyrrole-based amides acting as human topoisomerase I inhibitors. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2300270. [PMID: 37452410 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Topoisomerases are ubiquitous enzymes in the human body, particularly involved in cancer development and progression. Topoisomerase I (topoI) performs DNA relaxation reactions by "controlled rotation" rather than by "strand passage." The inhibition of topoI has become a useful strategy to control cancer cell proliferation. Nowadays, different compounds have undergone clinical trials, but the search for new molecular entities is necessary and benefits from medicinal chemistry efforts. Pyrrole-based compounds emerged as promising antiproliferative agents, with particular interest in breast cancer therapy and topoI inhibition. Starting from these observations and based on the scaffold-hopping approach, we developed a small library of 1-(2-aminophenyl)pyrrole-based amides (7a-f) as new anticancer agents. Tested on a panel of cancer cell lines, 7a-f displayed the most interesting profile in MDA-MB-231 cells, where the most active compounds, 7d-f, were able to induce death by apoptosis. Direct enzymatic assays and docking simulations on the topoI active site (PDB: 1A35) revealed the inhibitory activity and potential binding site for the newly developed 1-(2-aminophenyl)pyrrole-based amides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Carullo
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Sarah Mazzotta
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Jessica Ceramella
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Domenico Iacopetta
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Camillo Rosano
- Unità di Proteomica e Spettrometria di Massa, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Aiello
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Maria S Sinicropi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, Rende, Italy
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5
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Persico M, Galatello P, Ferraro MG, Irace C, Piccolo M, Abduvakhidov A, Tkachuk O, d'Aulisio Garigliota ML, Campiglia P, Iannece P, Varra M, Ramunno A, Fattorusso C. Tetrasubstituted Pyrrole Derivative Mimetics of Protein-Protein Interaction Hot-Spot Residues: A Promising Class of Anticancer Agents Targeting Melanoma Cells. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28104161. [PMID: 37241902 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28104161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A new series of tetrasubstituted pyrrole derivatives (TSPs) was synthesized based on a previously developed hypothesis on their ability to mimic hydrophobic protein motifs. The resulting new TSPs were endowed with a significant toxicity against human epithelial melanoma A375 cells, showing IC50 values ranging from 10 to 27 μM, consistent with the IC50 value of the reference compound nutlin-3a (IC50 = 15 μM). In particular, compound 10a (IC50 = 10 μM) resulted as both the most soluble and active among the previous and present TSPs. The biological investigation evidenced that the anticancer activity is related to the activation of apoptotic cell-death pathways, supporting our rational design based on the ability of TSPs to interfere with PPI involved in the cell cycle regulation of cancer cells and, in particular, the p53 pathway. A reinvestigation of the TSP pharmacophore by using DFT calculations showed that the three aromatic substituents on the pyrrole core are able to mimic the hydrophobic side chains of the hot-spot residues of parallel and antiparallel coiled coil structures suggesting a possible molecular mechanism of action. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis which includes solubility studies allows us to rationalize the role of the different substituents on the pyrrole core.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Persico
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Paola Galatello
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84100 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Ferraro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Carlo Irace
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Piccolo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Avazbek Abduvakhidov
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Oleh Tkachuk
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Campiglia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84100 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Patrizia Iannece
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84100 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Michela Varra
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84100 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Caterina Fattorusso
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
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Papa A, Pasquini S, Galvani F, Cammarota M, Contri C, Carullo G, Gemma S, Ramunno A, Lamponi S, Gorelli B, Saponara S, Varani K, Mor M, Campiani G, Boscia F, Vincenzi F, Lodola A, Butini S. Development of potent and selective FAAH inhibitors with improved drug-like properties as potential tools to treat neuroinflammatory conditions. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 246:114952. [PMID: 36462439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The neuroprotective performance against neuroinflammation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) can be remarkably improved by indirect stimulation mediated by the pharmacological inhibition of the key ECS catabolic enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Based on our previous works and aiming to discover new selective FAAH inhibitors , we herein reported a new series of carbamate-based FAAH inhibitors (4a-t) which showed improved drug disposition properties compared to the previously reported analogues 2a-b. The introduction of ionizable functions allowed us to obtain new FAAH inhibitors of nanomolar potency characterized by good water solubility and chemical stability at physiological pH. Interesting structure-activity relationships (SARs), deeply analyzed by molecular docking and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, were obtained. All the newly developed inhibitors showed an excellent selectivity profile evaluated against monoacylglycerol lipase and cannabinoid receptors. The reversible mechanism of action was determined by a rapid dilution assay. Absence of toxicity was confirmed in mouse fibroblasts NIH3T3 (for compounds 4e, 4g, 4n-o, and 4s) and in human astrocytes cell line 1321N1 (for compounds 4e, 4n, and 4s). The absence of undesired cardiac effects was also confirmed for compound 4n. Selected analogues (compounds 4e, 4g, 4n, and 4s) were able to reduce oxidative stress in 1321N1 astrocytes and exhibited notable neuroprotective effects when tested in an ex vivo model of neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Papa
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Pasquini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Farmaceutiche e Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francesca Galvani
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Cammarota
- Divisione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Chiara Contri
- Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gabriele Carullo
- Dipartiment di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Viale Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - Stefania Lamponi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Beatrice Gorelli
- Dipartiment di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Simona Saponara
- Dipartiment di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Katia Varani
- Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy; Microbiome Research Hub, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, I-43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Boscia
- Divisione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Vincenzi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
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7
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Battista T, Federico S, Brogi S, Pozzetti L, Khan T, Butini S, Ramunno A, Fiorentino E, Orsini S, Di Muccio T, Fiorillo A, Exertier C, Di Risola D, Colotti G, Gemma S, Ilari A, Campiani G. Optimization of Potent and Specific Trypanothione Reductase Inhibitors: A Structure-Based Drug Discovery Approach. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1687-1699. [PMID: 35880849 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania spp. are responsible for up to 1 million new cases each year. The current therapeutic arsenal against Leishmania is largely inadequate, and there is an urgent need for better drugs. Trypanothione reductase (TR) represents a druggable target since it is essential for the parasite and not shared by the human host. Here, we report the optimization of a novel class of potent and selective LiTR inhibitors realized through a concerted effort involving X-ray crystallography, synthesis, structure-activity relationship (SAR) investigation, molecular modeling, and in vitro phenotypic assays. 5-Nitrothiophene-2-carboxamides 3, 6e, and 8 were among the most potent and selective TR inhibitors identified in this study. 6e and 8 displayed leishmanicidal activity in the low micromolar range coupled to SI > 50. Our studies could pave the way for the use of TR inhibitors not only against leishmaniasis but also against other trypanosomatidae due to the structural similarity of TR enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo Battista
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.,Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefano Federico
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Brogi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Pozzetti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Tuhina Khan
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmacy/DIFARMA, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Eleonora Fiorentino
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Orsini
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Trentina Di Muccio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Annarita Fiorillo
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.,Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Cécile Exertier
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Daniel Di Risola
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Gianni Colotti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Andrea Ilari
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), c/o Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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8
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Campiani G, Khan T, Ulivieri C, Staiano L, Papulino C, Magnano S, Nathwani S, Ramunno A, Lucena-Agell D, Relitti N, Federico S, Pozzetti L, Carullo G, Casagni A, Brogi S, Vanni F, Galatello P, Ghanim M, McCabe N, Lamponi S, Valoti M, Ibrahim O, O'Sullivan J, Turkington R, Kelly VP, VanWemmel R, Díaz JF, Gemma S, Zisterer D, Altucci L, De Matteis A, Butini S, Benedetti R. Design and synthesis of multifunctional microtubule targeting agents endowed with dual pro-apoptotic and anti-autophagic efficacy. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 235:114274. [PMID: 35344902 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is a lysosome dependent cell survival mechanism and is central to the maintenance of organismal homeostasis in both physiological and pathological situations. Targeting autophagy in cancer therapy attracted considerable attention in the past as stress-induced autophagy has been demonstrated to contribute to both drug resistance and malignant progression and recently interest in this area has re-emerged. Unlocking the therapeutic potential of autophagy modulation could be a valuable strategy for designing innovative tools for cancer treatment. Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) are some of the most successful anti-cancer drugs used in the clinic to date. Scaling up our efforts to develop new anti-cancer agents, we rationally designed multifunctional agents 5a-l with improved potency and safety that combine tubulin depolymerising efficacy with autophagic flux inhibitory activity. Through a combination of computational, biological, biochemical, pharmacokinetic-safety, metabolic studies and SAR analyses we identified the hits 5i,k. These MTAs were characterised as potent pro-apoptotic agents and also demonstrated autophagy inhibition efficacy. To measure their efficacy at inhibiting autophagy, we investigated their effects on basal and starvation-mediated autophagic flux by quantifying the expression of LC3II/LC3I and p62 proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma and human leukaemia through western blotting and by immunofluorescence study of LC3 and LAMP1 in a cervical carcinoma cell line. Analogues 5i and 5k, endowed with pro-apoptotic activity on a range of hematological cancer cells (including ex-vivo chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells) and several solid tumor cell lines, also behaved as late-stage autophagy inhibitors by impairing autophagosome-lysosome fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - Tuhina Khan
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Cristina Ulivieri
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy; Istituto Toscano Tumori, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Leopoldo Staiano
- Cell Biology and Disease Mechanisms, Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy; Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20054, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Papulino
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Vico L, De Crecchio 7, 80138, Naples, IT, Italy
| | - Stefania Magnano
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Seema Nathwani
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - Daniel Lucena-Agell
- Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nicola Relitti
- IRBM Science Park, Via Pontina km 30, 600, 00071, Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Federico
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Luca Pozzetti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Gabriele Carullo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Alice Casagni
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Brogi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Vanni
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Paola Galatello
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - Magda Ghanim
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Niamh McCabe
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Health Sciences Building, BT9 7BL, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Stefania Lamponi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Massimo Valoti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Ola Ibrahim
- School of Dental Science, Trinity College Dublin, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jeffrey O'Sullivan
- School of Dental Science, Trinity College Dublin, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Richard Turkington
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Health Sciences Building, BT9 7BL, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent P Kelly
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Ruben VanWemmel
- Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Fernando Díaz
- Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Zisterer
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Lucia Altucci
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Vico L, De Crecchio 7, 80138, Naples, IT, Italy; Biogem Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
| | - Antonella De Matteis
- Cell Biology and Disease Mechanisms, Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy; Istituto Toscano Tumori, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - Rosaria Benedetti
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Vico L, De Crecchio 7, 80138, Naples, IT, Italy
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9
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Pozzetti L, Ferrara F, Marotta L, Gemma S, Butini S, Benedusi M, Fusi F, Ahmed A, Pomponi S, Ferrari S, Perini M, Ramunno A, Pepe G, Campiglia P, Valacchi G, Carullo G, Campiani G. Extra Virgin Olive Oil Extracts of Indigenous Southern Tuscany Cultivar Act as Anti-Inflammatory and Vasorelaxant Nutraceuticals. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11030437. [PMID: 35326088 PMCID: PMC8944769 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11030437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the typical source of fats in the Mediterranean diet. While fatty acids are essential for the EVOO nutraceutical properties, multiple biological activities are also due to the presence of polyphenols. In this work, autochthonous Tuscany EVOOs were chemically characterized and selected EVOO samples were extracted to obtain hydroalcoholic phytocomplexes, which were assayed to establish their anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant properties. The polar extracts were characterized via 1H-NMR and UHPLC-HRMS to investigate the chemical composition and assayed in CaCo-2 cells exposed to glucose oxidase or rat aorta rings contracted by phenylephrine. Apigenin and luteolin were found as representative flavones; other components were pinoresinol, ligstroside, and oleuropein. The extracts showed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties via modulation of NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways, respectively, and good vasorelaxant activity, both in the presence and absence of an intact endothelium. In conclusion, this study evaluated the nutraceutical properties of autochthonous Tuscany EVOO cv., which showed promising anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Pozzetti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE 2018–2022, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.P.); (L.M.); (S.G.); (S.B.); (F.F.)
| | - Francesca Ferrara
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (F.F.); (M.B.)
| | - Ludovica Marotta
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE 2018–2022, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.P.); (L.M.); (S.G.); (S.B.); (F.F.)
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE 2018–2022, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.P.); (L.M.); (S.G.); (S.B.); (F.F.)
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE 2018–2022, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.P.); (L.M.); (S.G.); (S.B.); (F.F.)
| | - Mascia Benedusi
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (F.F.); (M.B.)
| | - Fabio Fusi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE 2018–2022, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.P.); (L.M.); (S.G.); (S.B.); (F.F.)
| | - Amer Ahmed
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Serena Pomponi
- Società Agricola Olivicoltori delle Colline del Cetona Società Cooperativa, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | | | - Matteo Perini
- Fondazione Emund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige (TN), Italy;
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy; (A.R.); (G.P.); (P.C.)
| | - Giacomo Pepe
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy; (A.R.); (G.P.); (P.C.)
| | - Pietro Campiglia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy; (A.R.); (G.P.); (P.C.)
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Department of Animal Science, Plants for Human Health Institute, NC State University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA;
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Gabriele Carullo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE 2018–2022, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.P.); (L.M.); (S.G.); (S.B.); (F.F.)
- Correspondence: (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE 2018–2022, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.P.); (L.M.); (S.G.); (S.B.); (F.F.)
- Correspondence: (G.C.); (G.C.)
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10
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Proto MC, Fiore D, Forte G, Cuozzo P, Ramunno A, Fattorusso C, Gazzerro P, Pascale M, Franceschelli S. Tetra-substituted pyrrole derivatives act as potent activators of p53 in melanoma cells. Invest New Drugs 2020; 38:634-649. [PMID: 31240514 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-019-00813-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, is characterized by activating BRAF mutations. Despite the initial success of selective BRAF inhibitors, only few patients exhibited complete responses, whereas many showed disease progression. Melanoma is one of the few types of cancer in which p53 is not frequently mutated, but p53 inactivation can be indirectly achieved by a stable activation of MDM2 induced by a deletion in CDKN2A (Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 2A) locus, encoding for p16INK4A and p14ARF, two tumor suppressor genes. In this study, we tested the efficacy of the previously synthesized tetra-substituted pyrrole derivatives, 8 g, 8 h and 8i, in melanoma cell lines, and we compared the effects of the most active of these, the 8i compound, with that exerted by Nutlin 3, a well-known inhibitor of p53-MDM2 interaction. The obtained results showed that 8i potentiates the inhibitory effect of Nutlin 3 and the combined use of 8i and Nutlin 3 triggers apoptosis and significantly impairs melanoma viability. Finally, the 8i compound reduces p53-MDM2 interaction and induces p53-HSP90 complex formation, suggesting that the observed raise in p53 transcriptional activity could be mediated by HSP90. Because the main feature of melanoma is the resistance to most chemotherapeutics, our studies suggest that the 8i tetra-substituted pyrrole derivative, restoring p53 functions and its transcriptional activities, may have potential application, at least as adjuvant, in the treatment of human melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Donatella Fiore
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Giovanni Forte
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Paola Cuozzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | | | | | - Maria Pascale
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, SA, Italy
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11
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Imperatore C, Valadan M, Tartaglione L, Persico M, Ramunno A, Menna M, Casertano M, Dell’Aversano C, Singh M, d’Aulisio Garigliota ML, Bajardi F, Morelli E, Fattorusso C, Altucci C, Varra M. Exploring the Photodynamic Properties of Two Antiproliferative Benzodiazopyrrole Derivatives. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21041246. [PMID: 32069905 PMCID: PMC7072997 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of molecules whose biological activity can be properly modulated by light is a promising therapeutic approach aimed to improve drug selectivity and efficacy on the molecular target and to limit the side effects compared to traditional drugs. Recently, two photo-switchable diastereomeric benzodiazopyrrole derivatives 1RR and 1RS have been reported as microtubules targeting agents (MTAs) on human colorectal carcinoma p53 null cell line (HCT 116 p53-/-). Their IC50 was enhanced upon Light Emitting Diode (LED) irradiation at 435 nm and was related to their cis form. Here we have investigated the photo-responsive behavior of the acid derivatives of 1RR and 1RS, namely, d1RR and d1RS, in phosphate buffer solutions at different pH. The comparison of the UV spectra, acquired before and after LED irradiation, indicated that the trans→cis conversion of d1RR and d1RS is affected by the degree of ionization. The apparent rate constants were calculated from the kinetic data by means of fast UV spectroscopy and the conformers of the putative ionic species present in solution (pH range: 5.7–8.0) were modelled. Taken together, our experimental and theoretical results suggest that the photo-conversions of transd1RR/d1RS into the corresponding cis forms and the thermal decay of cisd1RR/d1RS are dependent on the presence of diazonium form of d1RR/d1RS. Finally, a photo-reaction was detected only for d1RR after prolonged LED irradiation in acidic medium, and the resulting product was characterized by means of Liquid Chromatography coupled to High resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Imperatore
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (L.T.); (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (C.D.); (E.M.)
| | - Mohammadhassan Valadan
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.V.); (M.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Luciana Tartaglione
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (L.T.); (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (C.D.); (E.M.)
- CoNISMa–Italian Interuniversity Consortium on Marine Sciences, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Persico
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (L.T.); (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (C.D.); (E.M.)
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmacy/DIFARMA, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy; (A.R.); (M.L.d.G.)
| | - Marialuisa Menna
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (L.T.); (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (C.D.); (E.M.)
| | - Marcello Casertano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (L.T.); (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (C.D.); (E.M.)
| | - Carmela Dell’Aversano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (L.T.); (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (C.D.); (E.M.)
- CoNISMa–Italian Interuniversity Consortium on Marine Sciences, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
| | - Manjot Singh
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.V.); (M.S.); (F.B.)
| | | | - Francesco Bajardi
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.V.); (M.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Elena Morelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (L.T.); (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (C.D.); (E.M.)
| | - Caterina Fattorusso
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (L.T.); (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (C.D.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence: (C.F.); (C.A.); (M.V.); Tel.: +39-081-678544 (C.F.); +39-081-676293 (C.A.); +39-081-678540 (M.V.)
| | - Carlo Altucci
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.V.); (M.S.); (F.B.)
- Correspondence: (C.F.); (C.A.); (M.V.); Tel.: +39-081-678544 (C.F.); +39-081-676293 (C.A.); +39-081-678540 (M.V.)
| | - Michela Varra
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (L.T.); (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (C.D.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence: (C.F.); (C.A.); (M.V.); Tel.: +39-081-678544 (C.F.); +39-081-676293 (C.A.); +39-081-678540 (M.V.)
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12
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Imperatore C, Scuotto M, Valadan M, Rivieccio E, Saide A, Russo A, Altucci C, Menna M, Ramunno A, Mayol L, Russo G, Varra M. Photo-control of cancer cell growth by benzodiazo N-substituted pyrrole derivatives. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2019.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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13
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Dhanyalayam D, Palma G, Cappello AR, Mariconda A, Sinicropi MS, Giordano F, Del Vecchio V, Ramunno A, Arra C, Longo P, Saturnino C. Corrigendum to: Phosphonium Salt Displays Cytotoxic Effects Against Human Cancer Cell Lines. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2018; 18:765. [PMID: 31393237 DOI: 10.2174/187152061805180821121547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Due to an oversight one of the author’s name was published wrong in the article entitled “Phosphonium Salt Displays Cytotoxic Effects Against Human Cancer Cell Lines” in “Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2015, Vol. 17, No. 13. pp. 1796.” The correct names of all authors are given below: Dhanyalayam D, Palma G, Cappello AR, Mariconda A, Sinicropi MS, Giordano F, Del Vecchio V, Ramunno A, Arra C, Longo P, Saturnino C.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Dhanyalayam
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende (CS), Italy
| | - G Palma
- SSD Sperimentazione Animale, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione "G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - A R Cappello
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende (CS), Italy
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14
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Brogi S, Maramai S, Brindisi M, Chemi G, Porcari V, Corallo C, Gennari L, Novellino E, Ramunno A, Butini S, Campiani G, Gemma S. Activation of the Wnt Pathway by Small Peptides: Rational Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation. ChemMedChem 2017; 12:2074-2085. [PMID: 29131552 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A computational analysis of the X-ray structure of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) with the Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) C-terminal fragment has allowed us to rationally design a small set of decapeptides. These compounds behave as agonists of the canonical Wnt pathway in the micromolar range when tested on a dual luciferase Wnt functional assay in glioblastoma cells. Two of the oligopeptides showed a lack of cytotoxicity in human primary osteoblasts isolated from sponge bone tissue (femoral heads or knees of elderly patients). According to the mechanism of action, the studies revealed a dose- and time-dependent increase in the viability of human osteoblasts. These results may indicate a potential therapeutic application of this class of compounds in the treatment of bone diseases related to aging, such as osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Brogi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Samuele Maramai
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Margherita Brindisi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giulia Chemi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Valentina Porcari
- Siena Biotech S.p.A., Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Claudio Corallo
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, S. Maria alle Scotte Hospital Siena, University of Siena, viale Mario Bracci 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Luigi Gennari
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, S. Maria alle Scotte Hospital Siena, University of Siena, viale Mario Bracci 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Dipartimento di Farmacia/DIFARMA, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
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15
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Dhanya D, Palma G, Cappello AR, Mariconda A, Sinicropi MS, Francesca G, Del Vecchio V, Ramunno A, Claudio A, Pasquale L, Saturnino C. Phosphonium Salt Displays Cytotoxic Effects Against Human Cancer Cell Lines. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2017; 17:1796-1804. [PMID: 28730962 DOI: 10.2174/1871520617666170719154249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Aims/Objective: Phosphonium salts are compounds whose structural characteristics enable them to cross the plasma and mitochondrial membrane with ease. Cancer cells have higher plasma membrane potentials than normal cells; phosphonium salts selectively accumulate in the mitochondria of neoplastic cells and inhibit mitochondrial function. METHOD In the present work, we investigated the cytotoxic activity of lipophilic phosphonium salt (11- methoxy11-oxo-undecyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide (MUTP) as well as of the two new phosphine oxide salts, 3,3'-(methylphosphoryl) dibenzenaminium chloride (SBAMPO) and 3,3' (phenylphosphoryl) dibenzenaminium chloride (SBAPPO) on the proliferation of breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and human uterin cervix adenocarcinoma cells (HeLa). RESULT We showed that only MUTP exhibits antiproliferative effects on both cell lines, without affecting the normal breast epithelial cell proliferation. More specifically, we demonstrated that MUTP treatment of breast cancer cells is associated with impaired cell-cycle progression and metabolically induces mitochondrial damage and triggers apoptotic cell death in MCF-7 and HeLa cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that MUTP may be capable of selectively targeting neoplastic cell growth and therefore has potential applications as anticancer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanyalayam Dhanya
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende (CS). Italy
| | - Giuseppe Palma
- SSD Sperimentazione Animale, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione "G. Pascale", Naples. Italy
| | - A Rita Cappello
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende (CS). Italy
| | - Annaluisa Mariconda
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, 84084, Fisciano (SA). Italy
| | - M Stefania Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende (CS). Italy
| | - Giordano Francesca
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende (CS). Italy
| | - Vitale Del Vecchio
- SSD Sperimentazione Animale, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione "G. Pascale", Naples. Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Salerno, 84084, Fisciano (SA). Italy
| | - Arra Claudio
- SSD Sperimentazione Animale, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione "G. Pascale", Naples. Italy
| | - Longo Pasquale
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, 84084, Fisciano (SA). Italy
| | - Carmela Saturnino
- Department of Sciences, University Basilicata, 85100, Potenza (PZ), Italy, University Basilicata, 85100, Potenza (PZ). Italy
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16
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Chimento A, Saturnino C, Iacopetta D, Mazzotta R, Caruso A, Plutino MR, Mariconda A, Ramunno A, Sinicropi MS, Pezzi V, Longo P. Corrigendum to “Inhibition of human topoisomerase I and II and anti-proliferative effects on MCF-7 cells by new titanocene complexes” [Bioorg. Med. Chem. 23 (2015) 7302–7312]. Bioorg Med Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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17
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Chimento A, Saturnino C, Iacopetta D, Mazzotta R, Caruso A, Plutino MR, Mariconda A, Ramunno A, Sinicropi MS, Pezzi V, Longo P. Inhibition of human topoisomerase I and II and anti-proliferative effects on MCF-7 cells by new titanocene complexes. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:7302-12. [PMID: 26526741 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The antitumor activity shown by many platinum complexes has produced a strong interest in research of new organometallic compounds having anticancer action. Among the many metal compounds synthesized and tested, those based on titanium have received considerable attention because of their cytotoxic activity against solid tumors. Particularly, new titanocene compounds containing aromatic groups linked to the Cp (cyclopentadienyl ring, C5H5) have been synthetized, such as the titanocene Y (bis-[(p-methoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium dichloride) that displayed promising medium-high cytotoxic activity on breast cancer cell lines. Other titanocene complexes recently synthesized, obtained by replacing the substituent methoxy-aryl of cyclopentadienes of titanocene Y with ethenyl-methoxide or ethenyl-phenoxide, showed increased cytotoxic activity on breast cancer cell lines being more stable compounds. In this paper, we report that new titanocene complexes holding lipophilic groups, for instance a methyl group on benzyl carbon, exhibit improved antiproliferative effect on breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Similar results have been obtained introducing a 5-methoxy naphthyl group to further stabilize the titanocene complexes. These inhibitory effects on breast cancer cells have been ascribed to human topoisomerase I and II inhibition as demonstrated by specific enzymatic assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adele Chimento
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Carmela Saturnino
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA), Italy.
| | - Domenico Iacopetta
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy.
| | - Rosaria Mazzotta
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Anna Caruso
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Plutino
- Department of Chemistry, University of Messina and Consorzio Interuniversitario di Ricerca in Chimica dei Metalli nei Sistemi Biologici (CIRCMSB), Vill. S. Agata, Messina, Italy
| | - Annaluisa Mariconda
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - Maria Stefania Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Pezzi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Pasquale Longo
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA), Italy
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18
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Persico M, Ramunno A, Maglio V, Franceschelli S, Esposito C, Carotenuto A, Brancaccio D, De Pasquale V, Pavone LM, Varra M, Orteca N, Novellino E, Fattorusso C. Correction to New Anticancer Agents Mimicking Protein Recognition Motifs. J Med Chem 2015; 58:4088. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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19
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Persico M, Ramunno A, Maglio V, Franceschelli S, Esposito C, Carotenuto A, Brancaccio D, De Pasquale V, Pavone LM, Varra M, Orteca N, Novellino E, Fattorusso C. New anticancer agents mimicking protein recognition motifs. J Med Chem 2013; 56:6666-80. [PMID: 23879262 DOI: 10.1021/jm400947b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The novel tetrasubstituted pyrrole derivatives 8g, 8h, and 8i showed selective cytotoxicity against M14 melanoma cells at low micromolar concentration. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) indicated the presence of three aromatic substituents on the pyrrole core as necessary for biological activity. Computational studies strongly suggest that the peculiar 3D orientation of these substituents is able to reproduce the hydrophobic side chains in LxxLL-like protein recognition motifs. Biological results showed altered p53 expression and nuclear translocation in cells sensitive to the compounds, suggesting p53 involvement in their anticancer mechanism of action. Unfortunately, because of poor solubility of the active analogues, it was not possible to perform further investigation by NMR techniques. Pharmacophore models were generated and used to perform 3D searches in molecular databases. Results indicated that two compounds share the same pharmacological profile and the same pharmacophoric features with our new derivatives, and one of them inhibited MDM2-MDM4 heterodimer formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Persico
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Napoli "Federico II" , Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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20
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Ramunno A, Cosconati S, Sartini S, Maglio V, Angiuoli S, La Pietra V, Di Maro S, Giustiniano M, La Motta C, Da Settimo F, Marinelli L, Novellino E. Progresses in the pursuit of aldose reductase inhibitors: the structure-based lead optimization step. Eur J Med Chem 2012; 51:216-26. [PMID: 22436396 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.02.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2011] [Revised: 02/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Aldose reductase (ALR2) is a crucial enzyme in the development of the major complications of diabetes mellitus. Very recently it has been demonstrated that the ARL2 inhibitor, fidarestat, significantly prevents inflammatory signals (TNF-α, LPS) that cause cancer (colon, breast, prostate and lung), metastasis, asthma, and other inflammatory diseases. Currently, fidarestat is in phase III clinical trial for diabetic neuropathy and was found to be safe. Thus the finding of novel, potent ARL2 inhibitors is today more than in the past in great demand as they can pave the way for a novel therapeutic approach for a number of diseases besides the diabetes. Herein, starting from the virtual screening-derived ALR2 inhibitor S12728 (1), a rational receptor-based lead optimization has been undertaken. The design and synthetic efforts here reported led to the discovery of several new compounds endowed with low micromolar/submicromolar activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ramunno
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Salerno, Via Ponte Don Melillo 11c, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
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21
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Vitiello G, Grimaldi M, Ramunno A, Ortona O, De Martino G, D'Ursi AM, D'Errico G. Interaction of a beta-sheet breaker peptide with lipid membranes. J Pept Sci 2010; 16:115-22. [PMID: 20063331 DOI: 10.1002/psc.1207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Aggregation of beta-amyloid peptides into senile plaques has been identified as one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. An attractive therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease is the inhibition of the soluble beta-amyloid aggregation using synthetic beta-sheet breaker peptides that are capable of binding Abeta but are unable to become part of a beta-sheet structure. As the early stages of the Abeta aggregation process are supposed to occur close to the neuronal membrane, it is strategic to define the beta-sheet breaker peptide positioning with respect to lipid bilayers. In this work, we have focused on the interaction between the beta-sheet breaker peptide acetyl-LPFFD-amide, iAbeta5p, and lipid membranes, studied by ESR spectroscopy, using either peptides alternatively labeled at the C- and at the N-terminus or phospholipids spin-labeled in different positions of the acyl chain. Our results show that iAbeta5p interacts directly with membranes formed by the zwitterionic phospholipid dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine and this interaction is modulated by inclusion of cholesterol in the lipid bilayer formulation, in terms of both peptide partition coefficient and the solubilization site. In particular, cholesterol decreases the peptide partition coefficient between the membrane and the aqueous medium. Moreover, in the absence of cholesterol, iAbeta5p is located between the outer part of the hydrophobic core and the external hydrophilic layer of the membrane, while in the presence of cholesterol it penetrates more deeply into the lipid bilayer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Vitiello
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Paolo Corradini", Università di Napoli "Federico II" Complesso di Monte S. Angelo, Via Cinthia, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
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22
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Grimaldi M, Scrima M, Esposito C, Vitiello G, Ramunno A, Limongelli V, D'Errico G, Novellino E, D'Ursi AM. Membrane charge dependent states of the beta-amyloid fragment Abeta (16-35) with differently charged micelle aggregates. Biochim Biophys Acta 2010; 1798:660-71. [PMID: 20045392 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2009.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2009] [Revised: 12/08/2009] [Accepted: 12/16/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Abeta (16-35) is the hydrophobic central core of beta-amyloid peptide, the main component of plaques found in the brain tissue of Alzheimer's disease patients. Depending on the conditions present, beta-amyloid peptides undergo a conformational transition from random coil or alpha-helical monomers, to highly toxic beta-sheet oligomers and aggregate fibrils. The behavior of beta-amyloid peptide at plasma membrane level has been extensively investigated, and membrane charge has been proved to be a key factor modulating its conformational properties. In the present work we probed the conformational behavior of Abeta (16-35) in response to negative charge modifications of the micelle surface. CD and NMR conformational analyses were performed in negatively charged pure SDS micelles and in zwitterionic DPC micelles "doped" with small amounts of SDS. To analyze the tendency of Abeta (16-35) to interact with these micellar systems, we performed EPR experiments on three spin-labeled analogues of Abeta (16-35), bearing the methyl 3-(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxypyrrolinyl) methanethiolsulfonate spin label at the N-terminus, in the middle of the sequence and at the C-terminus, respectively. Our conformational data show that, by varying the negative charge of the membrane, Abeta (16-35) undergoes a conformational transition from a soluble helical-kink-helical structure, to a U-turn shaped conformation that resembles protofibril models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Grimaldi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno, I-84084 Fisciano, Italy
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23
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Butini S, Brindisi M, Cosconati S, Marinelli L, Borrelli G, Coccone SS, Ramunno A, Campiani G, Novellino E, Zanoli S, Samuele A, Giorgi G, Bergamini A, Di Mattia M, Lalli S, Galletti B, Gemma S, Maga G. Specific targeting of highly conserved residues in the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase primer grip region. 2. Stereoselective interaction to overcome the effects of drug resistant mutations. J Med Chem 2009; 52:1224-8. [PMID: 19170521 DOI: 10.1021/jm801395v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Starting from the prototypic compound 4, we describe new, potent, and broad-spectrum pyrrolobenzo(pyrido)oxazepinones antivirals. A biochemical and enzymological investigation was performed for defining their mechanism of inhibition at either recombinant HIV-1 RT wild type and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)-resistant mutants. For the novel compounds (S)-(+)-5 and (S)-(-)-7, a clear-cut stereoselective mechanism of enzyme inhibition was found. Molecular modeling studies were performed for revealing the underpinnings of this behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Butini
- Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Universita di Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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24
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Urbani P, Ramunno A, Filosa R, Pinto A, Popolo A, Bianchino E, Piotto S, Saturnino C, De Prisco R, Nicolaus B, Tommonaro G. Antioxidant activity of diphenylpropionamide derivatives: synthesis, biological evaluation and computational analysis. Molecules 2008; 13:749-61. [PMID: 18463576 PMCID: PMC6244830 DOI: 10.3390/molecules13040749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2008] [Revised: 03/04/2008] [Accepted: 03/25/2008] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the synthesis, antioxidant and antiproliferative activity and a QSAR analysis of synthetic diphenylpropionamide derivatives. Synthesis of these compounds was achieved by direct condensation of 2,2- and 3,3-diphenylpropionic acid and appropriate amines using 1-propylphoshonic acid cyclic anhydride (PPAA) as catalyst. Compound structures were elucidated by NMR analysis and their melting points were measured. The in vitro antioxidant activity of these compounds was tested by evaluating the amount of scavenged ABTS radical and estimating ROS and NO production in LPS stimulated J774.A1 macrophages. All compounds were tested for their effect on viability of cells and results demonstrated that they are not toxic towards the cell lines used. The cytotoxic activity of all compounds was evaluated by a Brine Shrimp Test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Urbani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno,Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, (SA) Italy; E-mails: (P. Urbani); (A. Ramunno); (R. Filosa); (A. Pinto); (A. Popolo); (E. Bianchino); (S. Piotto); (C. Saturnino)
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno,Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, (SA) Italy; E-mails: (P. Urbani); (A. Ramunno); (R. Filosa); (A. Pinto); (A. Popolo); (E. Bianchino); (S. Piotto); (C. Saturnino)
| | - Rosanna Filosa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno,Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, (SA) Italy; E-mails: (P. Urbani); (A. Ramunno); (R. Filosa); (A. Pinto); (A. Popolo); (E. Bianchino); (S. Piotto); (C. Saturnino)
| | - Aldo Pinto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno,Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, (SA) Italy; E-mails: (P. Urbani); (A. Ramunno); (R. Filosa); (A. Pinto); (A. Popolo); (E. Bianchino); (S. Piotto); (C. Saturnino)
| | - Ada Popolo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno,Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, (SA) Italy; E-mails: (P. Urbani); (A. Ramunno); (R. Filosa); (A. Pinto); (A. Popolo); (E. Bianchino); (S. Piotto); (C. Saturnino)
| | - Erminia Bianchino
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno,Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, (SA) Italy; E-mails: (P. Urbani); (A. Ramunno); (R. Filosa); (A. Pinto); (A. Popolo); (E. Bianchino); (S. Piotto); (C. Saturnino)
| | - Stefano Piotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno,Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, (SA) Italy; E-mails: (P. Urbani); (A. Ramunno); (R. Filosa); (A. Pinto); (A. Popolo); (E. Bianchino); (S. Piotto); (C. Saturnino)
| | - Carmela Saturnino
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno,Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, (SA) Italy; E-mails: (P. Urbani); (A. Ramunno); (R. Filosa); (A. Pinto); (A. Popolo); (E. Bianchino); (S. Piotto); (C. Saturnino)
| | - Rocco De Prisco
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry-CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, (NA) Italy; E-mails: (R. De Prisco); (B. Nicolaus)
| | - Barbara Nicolaus
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry-CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, (NA) Italy; E-mails: (R. De Prisco); (B. Nicolaus)
| | - Giuseppina Tommonaro
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry-CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, (NA) Italy; E-mails: (R. De Prisco); (B. Nicolaus)
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25
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Fattorusso C, Gemma S, Butini S, Huleatt P, Catalanotti B, Persico M, De Angelis M, Fiorini I, Nacci V, Ramunno A, Rodriquez M, Greco G, Novellino E, Bergamini A, Marini S, Coletta M, Maga G, Spadari S, Campiani G. Specific targeting highly conserved residues in the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase primer grip region. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel, potent, and broad spectrum NNRTIs with antiviral activity. J Med Chem 2006; 48:7153-65. [PMID: 16279773 DOI: 10.1021/jm050257d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Pyrrolobenzoxazepinones (PBOs) represent a new class of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) whose prototype is 5. Molecular modeling studies based on the X-ray structures of HIV-1 RT prompted the synthesis of novel analogues which were tested as anti-HIV agents. The PBO derivatives specifically designed to target the highly conserved amino acid residues within the beta12-beta13 hairpin, namely primer grip, proved to be very potent against the most common mutant enzymes, including the highly resistant K103N mutant strain. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) are discussed in terms of a possible interaction with the RT binding site, depending on the nature of the substituents at C-6. Among the pyrrolobenzoxazepines investigated, 15c appeared to be the most promising NNRTI of the series characterized by potent antiviral activity, broad spectrum, and low cytotoxicity. 15c showed synergistic antiviral activity with AZT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Fattorusso
- Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali, Universita' di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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26
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Dukat M, Ramunno A, Banzi R, Damaj MI, Martin B, Glennon RA. 3-(2-Aminoethyl)pyridine analogs as α4β2 nicotinic cholinergic receptor ligands. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2005; 15:4308-12. [PMID: 16039854 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2005.06.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2005] [Revised: 06/16/2005] [Accepted: 06/16/2005] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
An examination of several 3-(2-aminoethyl)pyridine analogs suggests that they likely orient at alpha4beta2 nicotinic cholinergic receptors in a different fashion than their correspondingly substituted nicotine analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Dukat
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA
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27
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Mc Gee MM, Gemma S, Butini S, Ramunno A, Zisterer DM, Fattorusso C, Catalanotti B, Kukreja G, Fiorini I, Pisano C, Cucco C, Novellino E, Nacci V, Williams DC, Campiani G. Pyrrolo[1,5]benzoxa(thia)zepines as a new class of potent apoptotic agents. Biological studies and identification of an intracellular location of their drug target. J Med Chem 2005; 48:4367-77. [PMID: 15974589 DOI: 10.1021/jm049402y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We have recently developed five novel pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepines as proapoptotic agents. Their JNK-dependent induction of apoptosis in tumor cells suggested their potential as novel anticancer agents. The core structure of the apoptotic agent 6 was investigated, and the SARs were expanded with the design and synthesis of several analogues. To define the apoptotic mechanism of the new compounds and the localization of their drug target, two analogues of 6 were designed and synthesized to delineate events leading to JNK activation. The cell-penetrating compound 16 induced apoptosis in tumor cells, while its nonpenetrating analogue, 17, was incapable of inducing apoptosis or activating JNK. Plasma membrane permeabilization of tumor cells resulted in 17-induced JNK activation, suggesting that the pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepine molecular target is intracellular. Interestingly, compound 6 displayed cytotoxic activity against a panel of human tumor cell lines but demonstrated negligible toxicity in vivo with no effect on the animals' hematology parameters.
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Ramunno A, Dukat M, Lee M, Young R, El-Zahabi M, Damaj MI, Martin B, Glennon RA. 6-(2-Phenylethyl)nicotine: A novel nicotinic cholinergic receptor ligand. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2005; 15:3237-40. [PMID: 15925512 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2005.04.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2005] [Revised: 04/25/2005] [Accepted: 04/28/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
6-(2-Phenylethyl)nicotine (1b; K(i)=15 nM) was unexpectedly found to bind at alpha4beta2 nicotinic cholinergic (nACh) receptors. Although this compound failed to produce nicotine-like agonist action in several functional assays, 1b antagonized the antinociceptive effects of nicotine (mouse tail-flick assay) in a dose-dependent fashion when administered via an intrathecal route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ramunno
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA
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Locatelli GA, Campiani G, Cancio R, Morelli E, Ramunno A, Gemma S, Hübscher U, Spadari S, Maga G. Effects of drug resistance mutations L100I and V106A on the binding of pyrrolobenzoxazepinone nonnucleoside inhibitors to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase catalytic complex. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2004; 48:1570-80. [PMID: 15105107 PMCID: PMC400584 DOI: 10.1128/aac.48.5.1570-1580.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously described a novel class of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors, the pyrrolobenzoxazepinone (PBO) and the pyridopyrrolooxazepinone (PPO) derivatives, which were effective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RT, either wild type or carrying known drug resistance mutations (G. Campiani et al., J. Med. Chem. 42:4462-4470, 1999). The lead compound of the PPO class, (R)-(-)-PPO464, was shown to selectively target the ternary complex formed by the viral RT with its substrates nucleic acid and nucleotide (G. Maga et al., J. Biol. Chem. 276:44653-44662, 2001). In order to better understand the structural basis for this selectivity, we exploited some PBO analogs characterized by various substituents at C-3 and by different inhibition potencies and drug resistance profiles, and we studied their interaction with HIV-1 RT wild type or carrying the drug resistance mutations L100I and V106A. Our kinetic and thermodynamic analyses showed that the formation of the complex between the enzyme and the nucleotide increased the inhibition potency of the compound PBO354 and shifted the free energy (energy of activation, DeltaG(#)) for inhibitor binding toward more negative values. The V106A mutation conferred resistance to PBO 354 by increasing its dissociation rate from the enzyme, whereas the L100I mutation mainly decreased the association rate. This latter mutation also caused a severe reduction in the catalytic efficiency of the RT. These results provide a correlation between the efficiency of nucleotide utilization by RT and its resistance to PBO inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada A Locatelli
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare IGM-CNR, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Mulligan JM, Campiani G, Ramunno A, Nacci V, Zisterer DM. Inhibition of G1 cyclin-dependent kinase activity during growth arrest of human astrocytoma cells by the pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepine, PBOX-21. Biochim Biophys Acta 2003; 1639:43-52. [PMID: 12943967 DOI: 10.1016/s0925-4439(03)00128-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The present study examines the molecular mechanisms by which a member of a novel series of pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepines, PBOX-21, induces G1 arrest in 1321N1 cells. PBOX-21-induced G1 arrest is preceded by both a decrease in CDK2 kinase activity, which is critical for the G1/S transition, and a downregulation in cyclin D(3) protein expression levels, suggesting that these two events may be crucially involved in the mediation of the cell cycle arrest. The decrease in CDK2 activity may be due to an observed decrease in CDK2 protein levels following PBOX-21 treatment. Coinciding with the arrest is a reduction in the activity of CDK4, due to either the observed PBOX-21 induced downregulation in CDK4 expression, or a reduction in complex formation between cyclin D(3)-CDK4 leading to a decrease in the levels of active cyclin D(3)-CDK4 complexes with kinase activity. The level of CDK6 activity was also seen to be reduced following PBOX-21 treatment, also possibly due to a reduction in complex formation with cyclin D(3). However, this reduction in CDK6 kinase activity was not seen until after PBOX-21-induced G1 arrest has reached its maximum, and therefore may be viewed as a consequence of, and a method of maintaining the PBOX-21-induced arrest, rather than a cause. Also in parallel with the G1 arrest elicited by PBOX-21 is an upregulation in the universal CDK inhibitor, p21. Furthermore, the retinoblastoma protein (Rb), a substrate of CDK2 and CDK6, whose phosphorylation is necessary for cell cycle progression, becomes hypophosphorylated. These results indicate that PBOX-21 exerts its growth inhibitory effects through the modulation of the expression and activity of several key G1 regulatory proteins.
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Campiani G, Ramunno A, Fiorini I, Nacci V, Morelli E, Novellino E, Goegan M, Mennini T, Sullivan S, Zisterer DM, Williams CD. Synthesis of new molecular probes for investigation of steroid biosynthesis induced by selective interaction with peripheral type benzodiazepine receptors (PBR). J Med Chem 2002; 45:4276-81. [PMID: 12213069 DOI: 10.1021/jm020849l] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we have synthesized and tested novel pyridopyrrolo- and pyrrolobenzoxazepine derivatives, as novel and selective peripheral type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) ligands, and their ability to modulate steroid biosynthesis has been investigated. A subset of new ligands bind the PBR (rat brain and testis) with picomolar affinity, representing the most potent ligands that have been identified to date, and elicited effects on endogenous rate of steroidogenesis in MA10 Leydig cells, having similar potency and effect as PK11195. Several compounds, differently substituted at C-7, were used as molecular yardsticks to probe the spatial dimension of the lipophilic pocket L4 in the receptor binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Campiani
- Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Universita' degli Studi di Siena, via Aldo Moro, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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Campiani G, Ramunno A, Maga G, Nacci V, Fattorusso C, Catalanotti B, Morelli E, Novellino E. Non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors: past, present, and future perspectives. Curr Pharm Des 2002; 8:615-57. [PMID: 11945162 DOI: 10.2174/1381612024607207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Along with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) have gained a definitive and important place in the treatment of HIV-1 infections, and are in rapid development. These compounds can be grouped into two classes: the first generation NNRTIs, mainly discovered by random screening, and the second generation NNRTIs, developed as a result of comprehensive strategies involving molecular modelling, rationale-based drug synthesis, biological and pharmacokinetic evaluations. The recent boom of NNRTIs is mainly due to their antiviral potency, high specificity and low toxicity. The rapid emergence of drug-resistant HIV-1 strains induced by the first generation drugs is a disadvantage bypassed, in part, by the broad spectrum second generation NNRTIs. Starting from the first generation, this review will focus on the second generation NNRTIs dealing with the recent and most interesting published results, highlighting the guidelines for the development of a third generation of NNRTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Campiani
- Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Universitá degli Studi di Siena, via Aldo Moro, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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Mc Gee MM, Campiani G, Ramunno A, Nacci V, Lawler M, Williams DC, Zisterer DM. Activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is essential during PBOX-6-induced apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:18383-9. [PMID: 11856743 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112058200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family is activated in response to a wide variety of external stress signals such as UV irradiation, heat shock, and many chemotherapeutic drugs and leads to the induction of apoptosis. A novel series of pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepines have been shown to potently induce apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells, which are resistant to many chemotherapeutic agents. In this study we have delineated part of the mechanism by which a representative compound known as PBOX-6 induces apoptosis. We have investigated whether PBOX-6 induces activation of MAP kinase signaling pathways in CML cells. Treatment of K562 cells with PBOX-6 resulted in the transient activation of two JNK isoforms, JNK1 and JNK2. In contrast, PBOX-6 did not activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or p38. Apoptosis was found to occur independently of the small GTPases Ras, Rac, and Cdc42 but involved phosphorylation of the JNK substrates, c-Jun and ATF-2. Pretreatment of K562 cells with the JNK inhibitor, dicoumarol, abolished PBOX-6-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun and ATF-2 and inhibited the induced apoptosis, suggesting that JNK activation is an essential component of the apoptotic pathway induced by PBOX-6. Consistent with this finding, transfection of K562 cells with the JNK scaffold protein, JIP-1, inhibited JNK activity and apoptosis induced by PBOX-6. JIP-1 specifically scaffolds JNK, MKK7, and members of the mixed-lineage kinase (MLK) family, implicating these kinases upstream of JNK in the apoptotic pathway induced by PBOX-6 in K562 cells.
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Mc Gee MM, Hyland E, Campiani G, Ramunno A, Nacci V, Zisterer DM. Caspase-3 is not essential for DNA fragmentation in MCF-7 cells during apoptosis induced by the pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepine, PBOX-6. FEBS Lett 2002; 515:66-70. [PMID: 11943196 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)02440-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Effector caspases-3, -6 and -7 are responsible for producing the morphological features associated with apoptosis, such as DNA fragmentation. The present study demonstrates that a member of a novel series of pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepines, PBOX-6, induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which lack caspase-3. Apoptosis was accompanied by DNA fragmentation and the activation of caspase-7, but not caspases-3 and -6. Inhibition of caspase-7 activity reduced the extent of apoptosis induced, indicating that activation of caspase-7 is involved in the mechanism by which PBOX-6 induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. This study suggests that caspase-3 is not necessarily essential for DNA fragmentation and the morphological changes associated with apoptosis.
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Campiani G, Morelli E, Nacci V, Fattorusso C, Ramunno A, Novellino E, Greenwood J, Liljefors T, Griffiths R, Sinclair C, Reavy H, Kristensen AS, Pickering DS, Schousboe A, Cagnotto A, Fumagalli E, Mennini T. Characterization of the 1H-cyclopentapyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione derivative (S)-CPW399 as a novel, potent, and subtype-selective AMPA receptor full agonist with partial desensitization properties. J Med Chem 2001; 44:4501-4. [PMID: 11741469 DOI: 10.1021/jm015552m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
(S)-CPW399 (2b) is a novel, potent, and subtype-selective AMPA receptor full agonist that, unlike (S)-willardiine and related compounds, in mouse cerebellar granule cells, stimulated an increase in [Ca(2+)](i), and induced neuronal cell death in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Compound 2b appears to be a weakly desensitizing, full agonist at AMPA receptors and therefore represents a new pharmacological tool to investigate the role of AMPA receptors in excitotoxicity and their molecular mechanisms of desensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Campiani
- Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico (DFCT), Universita' degli Studi di Siena, via Aldo Moro, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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Mc Gee MM, Campiani G, Ramunno A, Fattorusso C, Nacci V, Lawler M, Williams DC, Zisterer DM. Pyrrolo-1,5-Benzoxazepines Induce Apoptosis in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Cells by Bypassing the Apoptotic Suppressor BCR-ABL. ScientificWorldJournal 2001; 1:109. [PMID: 30147592 PMCID: PMC6084525 DOI: 10.1100/tsw.2001.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M Mc Gee
- Biochemistry of Department Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.,Department of Biochemistry Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico Universita' degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche Universita' degli Studi di Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Caterina Fattorusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche Universita' degli Studi di Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Vito Nacci
- Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico Universita' degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Mark Lawler
- Department of Haematology Sir Patrick Dun Research Labs. St. James's Hospital and Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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Maga G, Ramunno A, Nacci V, Locatelli GA, Spadari S, Fiorini I, Baldanti F, Paolucci S, Zavattoni M, Bergamini A, Galletti B, Muck S, Hubscher U, Giorgi G, Guiso G, Caccia S, Campiani G. The stereoselective targeting of a specific enzyme-substrate complex is the molecular mechanism for the synergic inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by (R)-(-)-PPO464: a novel generation of nonnucleoside inhibitors. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:44653-62. [PMID: 11572864 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m106702200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor pyrrolopyridooxazepinone (PPO) derivative, (+/-)-PPO294, was shown to be active toward wild type and mutated HIV-1 RT and to act synergistically in combination with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (Campiani, G., Morelli, E., Fabbrini, M., Nacci, V., Greco, G., Novellino, E., Ramunno, A., Maga, G., Spadari, S., Caliendo, G., Bergamini, A., Faggioli, E., Uccella, I., Bolacchi, F., Marini, S., (1999) J. Med. Chem. 42, 4462-4470). The (+/-)-PPO294 racemate was resolved into its pure enantiomers, and the absolute configuration was determined by x-ray analysis. Only one enantiomer, (R)-(-)-PPO464, displayed antiviral activity against both the wild type and the K103N mutant HIV-1 RT and was found to interact exclusively with the reaction intermediate formed by RT complexed with both the DNA and the nucleotide substrates. Being the first compound of its class to display this behavior, (R)-(-)-PPO464 is the representative of a novel generation of nonnucleoside inhibitors. (R)-(-)-PPO464 showed significant synergism when tested in combination with other RT inhibitors and efficiently inhibited viral replication when tested against the laboratory strain HIV-1 IIIB or against either wild type or multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. Pharmacokinetic studies in mice and rats showed a more favorable profile for (R)-(-)-PPO464 than for the corresponding racemate. (R)-(-)-PPO464 was also found to easily cross the blood-brain barrier. The coadministration of the HIV-1 protease inhibitor ritonavir increased the bioavailability of (R)-(-)-PPO464, having little effect on its plasma and brain elimination rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Maga
- Istituto di Genetica Biochimica ed Evoluzionistica IGBE-CNR, Pavia 27100, Italy
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Zisterer DM, McGee MM, Campiani G, Ramunno A, Fattorusso C, Nacci V, Lawler M, Williams DC. Pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepines: a new class of apoptotic agents. Biochem Soc Trans 2001; 29:704-6. [PMID: 11709059 DOI: 10.1042/0300-5127:0290704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Some members of a series of novel pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepines (PBOXs) potently induce apoptosis in a number of human cancerous cell lines including HL-60 cells and the drug-resistant chronic myelogenous leukaemia cell line, K562. The apoptotic induction seems to be independent of the mitochondrial peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), which binds these PBOXs with high affinity, due to a lack of correlation between their affinities for the receptor and their apoptotic potencies and their high apoptotic activity in PBR-deficient cells. PBOX-6, a potent member of the series, induces a transient activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in a dose-dependent manner, which correlates with induction of apoptosis. Expression of a cytoplasmic inhibitor of the JNK signal transduction pathway, Jip-1, prevents JNK activity and significantly reduces the extent of apoptosis induced by PBOX-6. This demonstrates the requirement for JNK in the cellular response to this apoptotic agent. In addition, PBOX-6 activates caspase-3-like proteases in K562 and HL-60 cells. The caspase-3 inhibitor, Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone (z-DEVD-fmk), blocks caspase-3-like protease activity in both cell types but only prevents PBOX-6-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells, suggesting that the requirement for caspase-3-like proteases in the apoptotic pathway is dependent on the cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Zisterer
- Biochemistry Department, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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Campiani G, De Angelis M, Armaroli S, Fattorusso C, Catalanotti B, Ramunno A, Nacci V, Novellino E, Grewer C, Ionescu D, Rauen T, Griffiths R, Sinclair C, Fumagalli E, Mennini T. A rational approach to the design of selective substrates and potent nontransportable inhibitors of the excitatory amino acid transporter EAAC1 (EAAT3). new glutamate and aspartate analogues as potential neuroprotective agents. J Med Chem 2001; 44:2507-10. [PMID: 11472204 DOI: 10.1021/jm015509z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Campiani G, Aiello F, Fabbrini M, Morelli E, Ramunno A, Armaroli S, Nacci V, Garofalo A, Greco G, Novellino E, Maga G, Spadari S, Bergamini A, Ventura L, Bongiovanni B, Capozzi M, Bolacchi F, Marini S, Coletta M, Guiso G, Caccia S. Quinoxalinylethylpyridylthioureas (QXPTs) as potent non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors. Further SAR studies and identification of a novel orally bioavailable hydrazine-based antiviral agent. J Med Chem 2001; 44:305-15. [PMID: 11462972 DOI: 10.1021/jm0010365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Quinoxalinylethylpyridylthioureas (QXPTs) represent a new class of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) whose prototype is 6-FQXPT (6). Docking studies based on the three-dimensional structure of RT prompted the synthesis of novel heteroarylethylpyridylthioureas which were tested as anti-HIV agents. Several compounds proved to be potent broad-spectrum enzyme inhibitors and significantly inhibited HIV-1 replication in vitro. Their potency depends on the substituents and the nature of the heterocyclic skeleton linked to the ethyl spacer, and structure-activity relationships are discussed in terms of the possible interaction with the RT binding site. Although the new QXPTs analogues show potent antiviral activity, none of the compounds tested overcome the pharmacokinetic disadvantages inherent to ethylpyridylthioureidic antiviral agents, which in general have very low oral bioavailability. Through an integrated effort involving synthesis, docking studies, and biological and pharmacokinetic evaluation, we investigated the structural dependence of the poor bioavailability and rapid clearance within the thioureidic series of antivirals. Replacing the ethylthioureidic moiety with a hydrazine linker led to a new antiviral lead, offering promising pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties in terms of antiviral activity and oral bioavailability.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Campiani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Facolta' di Farmacia, Universita' degli Studi di Salerno, Fisciano, Italy.
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Mc Gee MM, Campiani G, Ramunno A, Fattorusso C, Nacci V, Lawler M, Williams DC, Zisterer DM. PYRROLO-1,5-BENZOXAZEPINES INDUCE APOPTOSIS IN CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA (CML) CELLS BY BYPASSING THE APOPTOTIC SUPPRESSOR BCR-ABL. ScientificWorldJournal 2001. [DOI: 10.1100/tsw.2001.23.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Mc Gee MM, Campiani G, Ramunno A, Fattorusso C, Nacci V, Lawler M, Williams DC, Zisterer DM. Pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepines induce apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells by bypassing the apoptotic suppressor bcr-abl. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2001; 296:31-40. [PMID: 11123359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Expression of the transforming oncogene bcr-abl in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells is reported to confer resistance against apoptosis induced by many chemotherapeutic agents such as etoposide, ara-C, and staurosporine. In the present study some members of a series of novel pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepines potently induce apoptosis, as shown by cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, in three CML cell lines, K562, KYO.1, and LAMA 84. Induction of apoptosis by a representative member of this series, PBOX-6, was not accompanied by either the down-regulation of Bcr-Abl or by the attenuation of its protein tyrosine kinase activity up to 24 h after treatment, when approximately 50% of the cells had undergone apoptosis. These results suggest that down-regulation of Bcr-Abl is not part of the upstream apoptotic death program activated by PBOX-6. By characterizing the mechanism in which this novel agent executes apoptosis, this study has revealed that PBOX-6 caused activation of caspase 3-like proteases in only two of the three CML cell lines. In addition, inhibition of caspase 3-like protease activity using the inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk blocked caspase 3-like protease activity but did not prevent the induction of apoptosis, suggesting that caspase 3-like proteases are not essential in the mechanism by which PBOX-6 induces apoptosis in CML cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that PBOX-6 can bypass Bcr-Abl-mediated suppression of apoptosis, suggesting an important potential use of these compounds in the treatment of CML.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Apoptosis
- Blotting, Western
- Caspase 3
- Caspases/metabolism
- Down-Regulation
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/pathology
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/physiology
- Oxazepines/pharmacology
- Phosphorylation
- Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/metabolism
- Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism
- Pyrroles/pharmacology
- Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Mc Gee
- Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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Campiani G, Morelli E, Fabbrini M, Nacci V, Greco G, Novellino E, Ramunno A, Maga G, Spadari S, Caliendo G, Bergamini A, Faggioli E, Uccella I, Bolacchi F, Marini S, Coletta M, Nacca A, Caccia S. Pyrrolobenzoxazepinone derivatives as non-nucleoside HIV-1 RT inhibitors: further structure-activity relationship studies and identification of more potent broad-spectrum HIV-1 RT inhibitors with antiviral activity. J Med Chem 1999; 42:4462-70. [PMID: 10543890 DOI: 10.1021/jm990150o] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Pyrrolobenzoxazepinone (PBO) derivatives represent a new class of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTs) whose prototype is (+/-)-6-ethyl-6-phenylpyrrolo[2,1-d][1,5]benzoxazepin-7(6H)- one (6). Docking studies based on the three-dimensional structure of RT prompted the synthesis and biological evaluation of novel derivatives and analogues of 6 featuring a meta-substituted phenyl or a 2-thienyl ring at C-6 and a pyridine system in place of the fused-benzene ring to yield pyrrolopyridooxazepinones (PPOs). Compared with the lead 6 and nevirapine, several of the synthesized compounds (PBOs 13a-d and PPOs 13i-k) displayed higher inhibitory activity against wild-type RT and clinically relevant mutant RTs containing the single amino acid substitutions L100I, K103N, V106A, Y181I, and Y188L. The most potent inhibitors were further evaluated for in vitro antiviral activity on lymphocytes and monocyte-macrophages, for cytotoxicity on a panel of cell lines, and for potential synergistic antiviral activity with AZT. Pharmacokinetic studies performed on 13b, 13c, and 13i showed that these compounds achieve high concentrations in the brain. The results of the biological and pharmacokinetic experiments suggest a potential clinical utility of analogues such as 13b-d, 13i, and 13j, in combination with nucleoside RT inhibitors, against strains of HIV-1 bearing those mutations that confer resistance to known NNRTI.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Campiani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Facolta' di Farmacia, Universita' degli Studi di Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy.
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Caliendo G, Fiorino F, Grieco P, Perissutti E, Ramunno A, Santagada V, Albrizio S, Califano D, Giuliano A, Santelli G. Phenol-derived CVFM analog inhibitors of Ras Farnesyltransferase possessing cellular in vitro activity 1. Eur J Med Chem 1998. [DOI: 10.1016/s0223-5234(98)80031-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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