Preparation and Characterization of Palladium Derivate-Loaded Micelle Formulation in Vitro as an Innovative Therapy Option against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Nanoparticles have been used in cancer treatments to target tumor and reduce side effects. In this study, we aimed to increase the effectiveness of palladium(II) complex [PdCl(terpy)](sac) ⋅ 2H₂ O, which previously showed anticancer potential, by preparing the nanoparticle formulation. An inhalable micellar dispersion containing a palladium(II) complex (PdNP) was prepared and its physicochemical characteristics were evaluated using in vitro tests. Morphology, size and surface charges of particle and loading/encapsulation efficiency of PdNP were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, zeta sizer and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry while aerosol properties of PdNP were measured by the next generation impactor. A549 and H1299 non-small lung cancer cell types were used for cytotoxicity using SRB and ATP assays. Fluorescent staining and M30 antigen assay were carried out for cell death evaluation. Apoptosis was confirmed by flow cytometry analyses. SEM, particle size, and zeta potential results showed the particles have inhalable properties. The amount of the palladium(II) complex loaded into the particles was quantified which indicated high encapsulation efficiencies (97 %). The micellar dispersion expected to reach the alveolar region and the brachial region was determined 35 % and 47 %, respectively. PdNP showed an anti-growth effect by increasing reactive oxygen species that is followed by the induction of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis that is evidenced by pyknotic nuclei and M30 antigen level increments and disruption of polarization of membrane in mitochondria (Δψm). The results show that PdNP might be a promising inhalable novel complex to be used in non-small cell lung cancer, which warrants animal studies in further.

Palladium (II) complex and thalidomide intercept angiogenic signaling via targeting FAK/Src and Erk/Akt/PLCγ dependent autophagy pathways in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

The current study assessed the effects of the thalidomide and palladium (II) saccharinate complex of terpyridine on the suppression of angiogenesis-mediated cell proliferation. The viability was assessed after treatment with palladium (II) complex (1.56-100 μM) and thalidomide (0.1-400 μM) alone by using ATP assay for 48 h. Palladium (II) complex was found to inhibit growth statistically significant in a dose-dependent manner in HUVECs and promoted PARP-1 cleavage through the production of ROS. On the other hand, thalidomide did not cause any significant change in cell viability. Moreover, cell death was observed to be manifested as late apoptosis due to Annexin V/SYTOX staining after palladium (II) complex treatment however, thalidomide did not demonstrate similar results. Thalidomide and palladium (II) complex also suppressed HUVEC migration and capillary-like structure tube formation in vitro in a time-dependent manner. Palladium (II) complex (5 mg/ml) treatment showed a strong antiangiogenic effect similar to positive control thalidomide (5 mg/ml) and successfully disrupted the vasculature and reduced the thickness of the vessels compared to control (agar). Furthermore, suppression of autophagy enhanced the cell death and anti-angiogenic effect of thalidomide and palladium (II) complex. We also showed that being treated with thalidomide and palladium (II) complex inhibited phosphorylation of the signaling regulators downstream of the VEGFR2. These results provide evidence for the regulation of endothelial cell functions that are relevant to angiogenesis through the suppression of the FAK/Src/Akt/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Our results also indicate that PLC-γ1 phosphorylation leads to activation of p-Akt and p-Erk1/2 which cause stimulation on cell proliferation at lower doses. Hence, we demonstrated that palladium (II) and thalidomide can induce cell death via the Erk/Akt/PLCγ signaling pathway and that this pathway might be a novel mechanism.

Living donor kidney transplantation after desensitization in cross-match positive high sensitized patients

BACKGROUND

We aimed to evaluate the long-term results of the patients who had positive cross-match (XM) test results and underwent living donor renal transplantation after desensitization with different combinations of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasmapheresis (PP), and rituximab.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty-nine patients who were positive for complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), flow cytometric (FC), and Luminex-XM test were included in the study. Renal transplantation was performed in 16 patients who had XM (-) test after desensitization with different combinations of IVIG (n =15), PP (n =13), and rituximab (n =10). Anti-human leukocyte antigens (HLA) antibodies (anti-HLA Abs) were detected by the Luminex single antigen bead assay. Anti-thymocyte globulin was used for induction, and tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid, and prednisolone were used for maintenance therapy. Also, we evaluated the relationship between different donor-specific anti-HLA Abs and the parameters mentioned above.

RESULTS

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and acute T cell-mediated rejection rates were 18.8 % and 6.3 %, respectively. Graft survival rates at the first, third, and fifth years post-transplantation were 93.8 %, 85.2 %, and 85.2 %, respectively, and the patients' survival rates were found to be 100 %. Serum creatinine level and glomerular filtration rate were 1.5 ± 1.2 mg/dl and 69.9 ± 30.4 ml/min, respectively. The mean follow-up time was 39 ± 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that kidney transplantation could be performed by effective desensitization in XM test positive patients. It was also shown that donor-specific anti-HLA DQ Ab and non-HLA Ab determination might be useful in diagnosing patients with positive cross-test and/or diagnosis of AMR. HIPPOKRATIA 2020, 24(4): 182-190.

Renoportal anastomosis in living donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

 In advanced cirrhotic patients, extensive mesenteric vein thrombosis extends the operative time, causes peri- and postoperative complications, and increases the mortality and morbidity in liver transplantation (LT). The anastomosis between the left renal vein and graft portal vein is one of the crucial options in such patients. However, especially in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) practice, limited cases are published in the literature.

CASE REPORT

A thirty-seven years old female patient with hepatitis B virus (HBV) associated liver cirrhosis underwent LDLT. Her body mass index, graft weight, and graft-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) were noted 19.3 kg/m², 990 g, and 1.9 %, respectively. During the surgical procedure, she had renoportal anastomosis (RPA) due to extensive portal vein thrombosis to provide an efficient portal inflow to the transplanted graft. No complication was observed in the early postoperative period, and the one year follow up passed without any problem.

CONCLUSIONS

In LT, for providing efficient portal flow to the graft, the RPAs should be considered as an option in case of extensive splanchnic vein thrombosis and large splenorenal shunt. Ensuring that graft volume is close to the recipient standard liver volume, RPA can be performed safely and effectively in LDLT as an acceptable and life-saving procedure. HIPPOKRATIA 2019, 23(3): 140-142.

Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of the combination of palladium (II) 5,5-diethylbarbiturate complex with bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and curcumin on non small lung cancer cell lines

Metal-based chemotherapeutics such as cisplatin are widely used treatment of lung cancer which is the major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Recent studies demonstrated that novel metal-based compounds have strong cytotoxic activity in a similar way as cisplatin. Therefore, metal-based compounds have been synthesized and investigated in order to determine their cytotoxic activities. It has been also reported curcumin, which has been derived from turmeric plant, has powerful cytotoxic effect on various cancer cell lines. In the light of these data, it has been investigated the cytotoxic effects of combination of curcumin (0.78-100μM) and palladium (II) 5,5-diethylbarbiturate complex with bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine [Pd(II) complex] (0.39-50μM) against non small lung cancer cell lines, A549 and H1299. It has been found that combination of Pd(II) complex and curcumin enhanced the cytotoxic activity and apoptotic cell death at 48h, compared to single use of each agent, only in H1299 cell line (combination index <1). Apoptosis was evident by annexin v staining positivity, increased caspase 3/7 activity and the presence of pyknotic nuclei. Pro-apoptotic genes of TNFRSF10A and HRK were found to be involved in apoptotic cell death. In conclusion, the application of this combination may be regarded as a novel and effective approach for the treatment of lung cancer due to its promising cytotoxic and apoptotic effect.

Outcomes of Renal Transplantation in Patients With Alport Syndrome

AIM

We evaluated the outcomes of patients who underwent renal transplantation (Rtx) due to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) related to Alport syndrome in our study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-five patients (female/male: 9 [36%]/16 [64%]) who underwent Rtx at our center between 2002 and 2014 were enrolled in the study. Mean ages of patients and donors (cadaveric/living: 8 [32%]/17 [68%]) were 28.2 ± 11.6 and 42.3 ± 15.8 years, respectively. As immunosuppressive therapy, tacrolimus plus mycophenolic acid were used for 17 (68%) patients and cyclosporin plus mycophenolic acid were used for 8 (32%) patients where induction therapy was basiliximab 20 mg (day 0 and 4) for 11 (44%) patients and anti-thymocyte globulin for 8 (32%) patients. Acute rejection was diagnosed using biopsy and evaluated with Banff classification. Analyses were performed by using SPSS 20.0 software with outcomes of mean 75.4 ± 31.4 months follow-up. Patient and graft survival were measured by using Kaplan-Meier survival curve and compared by using log-rank test.

RESULTS

Graft survival rate was 89%, patient survival rate was 92.9%, and acute rejection rate was 12% (3 cases; 1 was cellular and 2 were antibody-mediated). Delayed graft function was observed in 4 (16%) cases, 1 patient (4%) had BK virus nephropathy and 2 (8%) patients required hemodialysis and had cytomegalovirus infection. At the last follow-up, mean serum creatinine level was 1.57 ± 1.23 mg/dL, spot urine protein creatinine ratio was 0.13 (0.04-1.84), and glomerular filtration rate was 71.7 ± 34.9 mL/min.

CONCLUSION

Rtx is an effective and successful treatment modality for ESRD cases related to Alport syndrome.

A Successful Renal Transplantation Case After Stem Cell Transplantation

Renal transplantation is the most effective treatment method for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, new treatment modalities are being investigated, such as immunotoleration, to avoid the acute and chronic side effects of immunosuppressant drugs. We report a case in which a man had undergone allogenic stem cell transplantation from his brother 16 years ago due to chronic myeloid leukemia, and who then developed ESRD due to arterial hypertension and underwent renal transplantation (Rtx) from the same brother. The patient was followed up without immunosuppression due to full chimerism.

Anticancer effect of a novel palladium-saccharinate complex of terpyridine by inducing apoptosis on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Balb-C mice

BACKGROUND/AIM

[Pd(sac)(terpy)](sac)•4H2O (sac=saccharinate and terpy=2,2':6',2"-terpyridine) is newly-synthesized palladium(II) (Pd) complex. We investigated the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of this complex on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EAC cells were administered to 33 Balb/c mice. Mice were divided randomly into four groups: control, cisplatin, Pd(II) complex and paclitaxel. Control group animals received 0.9% NaCl; other groups received treatments cisplatin, Pd(II) complex and paclitaxel on days 7 and 12. At day 14, animals were sacrificed. Expression of active caspase-3, p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was investigated and apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT)-mediated nick-end labelling (TUNEL) technique.

RESULTS

Expression of p53 and PCNA were found to be decreased (p<0.0001), cells with active caspase-3 and TUNEL-positive cells were found to be increased (p<0.0001) in all treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

Like cisplatin and paclitaxel, this Pd(II) complex has a strong anticancer activity against EAC by inducing apoptosis and suppressing proliferation in vivo.

Vibrational analyses of 1,3-dibenzoyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-2-thione and 1,3-dibenzoyl tetrahydropyrimidine-2(1H)-thione by normal coordinate treatment

Vibrational analyses of 1,3-dibenzoyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-2-thione and 1,3-dibenzoyl tetrahydropyrimidine-2(1H)-thione were carried out using normal coordinate analysis. FT-IR spectra were recorded in the region 4000-400 cm(-1). The harmonic vibrational frequencies, molecular geometry and atomic charges have been computed, and NBO analysis has been carried out with the help of B3LYP density functional theory (DFT). The computed geometrical bond lengths and bond angles agree well with the crystallographic data. Atomic charges based on Mulliken population analysis, natural population analysis, Hirshfeld-I analysis and CHelpG analysis were calculated using the basis sets of 6-31G(*) and 6-31G(**). Stabilities of the two molecules were analyzed by means of natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and delocalized π-π(*) interactions.

Bis(triethanolamine)cadmium(II) and -mercury(II) saccharinates: seven-coordinate complexes containing both tri- and tetradentate triethanolamine ligands

The structures of the title triethanolamine (tea) complexes of Cd(II) and Hg(II) saccharinates, bis(triethanolamine)-kappa3O,N,O';kappa4O,N,O',O"-cadmium(II) 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-onate 1,1-dioxide, [Cd(C6H15NO3)2](C7H4NO3S)2, (I), and bis(triethanolamine)-kappa3O,N,O';kappa4O,N,O',O"-mercury(II) 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-onate 1,1-dioxide, [Hg(C6H15NO3)2](C7H4NO3S)2, (II), or [M(tea)2](sac)2, where M is Cd(II) or Hg(II) and sac is the saccharinate anion, reveal seven-coordinate metal ions in both complexes. Both complex cations, [M(tea)2]2+, adopt a monocapped trigonal prism geometry in which the two tea ligands exhibit different coordination modes to achieve seven-coordination. One tea ligand acts as a tetradentate ligand using all its donor atoms, while the other behaves as a tridentate O,N,O'-donor ligand, with one of its ethanol groups remaining uncoordinated. The H atoms of the free and coordinated hydroxyl groups of the tea ligands are involved in hydrogen bonding with the amine N atom, and with the carbonyl and sulfonyl O atoms of neighbouring sac ions, forming an infinite three-dimensional network. A weak pi-pi interaction between the phenyl rings of the sac ions also occurs.

trans-Bis(ethanolamine-N,O)bis(saccharinato-N)copper(II)

In the title complex, [Cu(C(7)H(4)NO(3)S)(2)(C(2)H(7)NO)(2)], the Cu(II) centre lies on an inversion centre and exhibits octahedral coordination, with the two ethanolamine (Hea) and two saccharinate [sac; anionic 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one 1,1-dioxide] ligands in a trans configuration. The bidentate Hea ligands bridge axial and equatorial positions and the sac anions occupy equatorial sites around the distorted octahedral copper(II) centre [Cu--O = 2.3263 (16), Cu--N(Hea) = 1.9923 (16) and Cu--N(sac) = 2.1776 (16) A].