Synthesis of symmetrical 1,5-disubstituted granatanines

A general entry into symmetrical 1,5-disubstituted granatanines that involves an alkylative ring-closure on a 2,6-bis enolate piperidine intermediate is described.     

Decrease of glutathione and fatty acids during iron-induced lipid peroxidation inEhrlich ascites tumor cells

In order to investigate a possible relationship between the intensity of lipid peroxidation (LP) in tumor cells and their proliferative activity various methods to quantify LP are desirable. In this study the decrease in the contents of fatty acids and glutathione was measured by established methods inEhrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cellsin vitro, in which LP was stimulated by the addition of ferrous iron, either as free ion or as histidinate chelate.When EAT cells were incubated for 30 min at 37 °C in the presence of 5 mM FeSO₄ the following changes were observed in comparison to appropriate control cells: The content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and total glutathione (GSH+2 GSSG) decreased significantly by 24 and 30% respectively. The decrease of 4 unsaturated (C 18:1; C 18:2; C 20:4; C 22:6) and 2 saturated fatty acids (C 16:0; C 18:0) by about 15% on the average was statistically significant only for C 16:0 and C 20:4).More pronounced effects were observed with 5 mM Fe(II)-histidinate. GSH and GSH+2 GSSG decreased by 54% and 40%, resp. The decrease of fatty acids by about 40% on the average was significant for all of the 6 fatty acids tested. These results are in agreement with previous studies on LP in EAT cells showing Fe(II)-histidinate to be a more powerful promoter of LP compared with free ferrous ion. The observation, that the content not only of GSH but also of total glutathione was decreased in iron-treated tumor cells is in contradiction to the hypothesis that GSH may act as a mere redox mediator of LP under the conditions used and points to a consumption of GSH by several possible pathways. The finding of decreased levels of unsaturated as well as saturated fatty acids in the presence of Fe(II)-histidinate underlines the extraordinary potency of iron as an initiator and catalyst of LP.This work was supported by the Association for International Cancer Research, St. Andrews, U.K.     

Interaction of liposomes with cultured cells: possible involvement of lipid peroxidation in cell growth inhibition

Systematic analyses of the interaction between liposomes and cells were examined. Liposomes were found to affect the growth of mouse NIH 3T3 cells depending upon their size, net charge, and cholesterol content. Among the charged compounds, stearylamine was the most inhibitory and showed complete inhibition of cell growth at 100 microM. The cholesterol-rich and small unilamellar vesicles were more suppressive compared to the cholesterol-poor and multilamellar ones, respectively. The binding assay of liposomes to the cells showed a positive correlation between liposome binding and the extent of growth inhibition. Suppression of liposome uptake by inhibitors of the cytoskeletal system and energy metabolism were suggestive of an endocytotic mechanism for the cellular uptake of liposomes. The growth inhibitory effect seemed secondary to the intracellular uptake of liposomes, and peroxidation of incorporated lipids would lead to cellular damage. Therefore, it is highly recommended that potential growth inhibitory effects associated with the particular composition and other properties of liposomes should be carefully assessed in any human studies, especially for long-term use.     

Synthesis and antitumor evaluation of symmetrical 1,5-diamidoanthraquinone derivatives as compared to their disubstituted homologues

A series of symmetrical 1,5-diamidoanthraquinone derivatives with potentially bioreducible groups has been synthesized and their cytostatic activity against the panel of various cancer cell lines in vitro has been studied. Preliminary structure-activity relationships were established. The results indicated that compounds 5 and 18 exhibited significant potent cytotoxicity at 1.24-1.75 microM for Hepa G2 cell line; compounds 5, 16, and 18 exhibited cytotoxicity at 0.14-1.82 microM for 2.2.15 cell line as determined by XTT colorimetric assay. Two structurally related compounds, mitoxantrone and adriamycin, were tested in parallel as positive controls. In addition, it was found that compounds 5 and 18 were a more potent and specific human hepatoma cell line than mitoxantrone and showed comparable activity to adriamycin. Among them, compound 18 was the most potent for 2.2.15 cells. We have demonstrated that the anthraquinone moiety is essential for activity and that less sterically hindered substituents contribute to enhanced in vitro efficacy. Implications for amidoanthraquinone cytotoxicity as potential anticancer agents are discussed. We further delineate the nature of the pharmacophore for this class of compounds, which provides a rational basis for the structure-activity relationships.     

Tautomerism of anthraquinones: IX. Protonated 1,5- and 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinones

Fine structure of π_l,π* absorption of mono- and dications derived from 1,5- and 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinones originates from their existence as dynamic equilibrium mixtures of isomers differing by position of the positive charge, double bond distribution, and number of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Protonation is accompanied by displacement of isomeric equilibria. Isomeric transformations of protonated dihydroxyanthraquinones involve mainly excited states of their molecules.     

Studies on anthracenes. 1. Human telomerase inhibition and lipid peroxidation of 9-acyloxy 1,5-dichloroanthracene derivatives

The synthetically useful approaches to 9-acyloxy 1,5-dichloroanthracene derivatives are reported. The system selectively reduces the carbonyl group flanked by the peri substituents of the anthracenediones to give the corresponding 1,5-dichloro-9(10H)-anthracenone. Simple regioselective acylation of anthracenone is applied with appropriate acyl chlorides in CH2Cl2 with catalytic amount of pyridine to give the novel 9-acyloxy 1,5-dichloroanthracene derivatives. Considerable interest has developed in the mechanism of how anthracenone achieves this desirable selectivity. In an attempt to understand the mechanism of this reaction, solid-state structures of anthracene derivatives have been obtained. In addition, the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in model membranes was determined as was their ability to inhibit the telomere-addition function of the human telomerase enzyme together with their inhibition of the Taq polymerase enzyme. In contrast to (+)-alpha-tocopherol, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3g, and 3i do not enhance lipid peroxidation in model membranes. Implications for 9-acyloxy 1,5-dichloroanthracene analogues as potential anticancer agents are discussed.     

Studies on anthracenes. 3. Synthesis, lipid peroxidation and cytotoxic evaluation of 10-substituted 1,5-dichloro-9(10H)-anthracenone derivatives

The synthesis of a series of 1,5-dichloro-9(10H)-anthracenones bearing O-linked and N-linked substituents in the 10-position are described. Previous studies have shown that 9-acyloxy 1,5-dichloroanthracenes and 9-acyloxy 1,8-dichloroanthracenes displayed a potential cytotoxic effect. These results have encouraged us in further investigation of potential anthracenone derivatives. Therefore, a series of 10-substituted 1,8-dichloro-9(10H)-anthracenone derivatives were synthesized. These compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the growth of human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells (KB cell line), human cervical carcinoma cells of ME 180 (GBM 8401) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, respectively. Compounds 3c and 4c of this series compare favorably in the KB cellular assay with mitoxantrone. Compound 4c showed combined inhibitory action against KB, GBM and CHO cell growth, respectively. In addition, redox property of the compounds for the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in model membranes was determined. Compounds 4b and 4d exhibited stronger antioxidant activity than ascorbic acid, (+)-alpha-tocopherol and mitoxantrone, respectively.     

Tautomerism of anthraquinones: V. 1,5-Dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone and its substituted derivatives

1,5-Dihydroxyanthraquinone and its substituted derivatives are capable of existence in the states structurally described as 9,10-, 1,10-, and 1,5-quinoid tautomerism, and as rotational isomerism involving a cleavage of intramolecular hydrogen bond. 1,5-Quinoid tautomers are characteristic only of substituted derivatives, and also appear in some metal complexes. The considerable color changes on introducing into the 1,5-dihydroxy-anthraquinone methyl, methoxy, and sulfo groups are caused by the shift in tautomeric and conformer equilibria.     

Synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical pyrazines

Opening of representative epoxides with 1,2-amino alcohols delivered the amino diols. The product amino diols were then oxidized under Swern conditions. The amino diketones so prepared were not isolated, but were condensed directly with hydroxylamine to give the substituted pyrazines.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of novel [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-7-amines

A series of novel N-anilino-5-methyl-2-(3-(5-(alkylaminomethyl)furan-2-yl-methylthio)propyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo-[1,5-a]pyrimidine-7-amine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against two cancer cell lines, Bel-7402 and HT-1080. Compounds 9, 14, 19 and 23 possessed marked cytotoxicity, especially 23 (with IC(50) values of 15.0 microM and 7.8 microM against Bel-7402 and HT-1080 cell lines, respectively), which had emerged as lead compound. The activity was found to depend strongly on substitution pattern of the side chains at C-2 position, and 4-triflouromethylanilino substituent at C-7 position was an option for anticancer potency.     

Enhanced cytotoxicity in simultaneous and sequential drug-heat treatments of cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells

Under hyperthermal conditions, some genotoxic drugs such as bleomycin, paraquat, and N-alkyl-N-nitrosoureas exhibit increased cytotoxicity toward cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells. Sequential combinations of heat and drug treatments, regardless of whether drug-exposure precedes or follows hyperthermia, also induce synergistic cytotoxicity to some extent. This may be attributed not only to the relationship of temperature and chemical injury as defined by the Arrhenius law, but also to a lethal interaction between the biological consequences of chemical injury and thermal damage. Ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and urea, which are known to affect cell membrane and protein, also exert synergistic cytotoxicity at 43 degrees C at a dose range that is nontoxic at 37 degrees C. When used sequentially with thermal treatment, they also proved to be synergistic. Glycerol, however, protected cells against thermal damage when used in a simultaneous chemical-thermal combination. But when treatments were carried out sequentially, glycerol proved destructive.     

Synthesis and mesomorphism of ionic self-assembled complexes of anthraquinones

Anthraquinones are known to exhibit mesomorphism upon appropriate substitutions. In this report, the concept of ionic self-assembly has been applied to design and synthesise new anthraquinone-based liquid crystals. Four different anthraquinones were used as polyelectrolytes which form ionic complexes with double-tail ammonium surfactants. The chemical structures were characterised by spectral techniques and elemental analysis. The thermal behaviour of the complexes was investigated by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction studies. All these complexes display lamellar mesomorphism. The amphotropic nature of the complexes has also been studied.     

Synthesis of new azulene derivatives and study of their effect on lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase activity

The relationship between free radicals and acute or chronic inflammation has been well established. We have previously reported the significant antioxidant activity of the natural azulene derivatives chamazulene and guaiazulene. Furthermore, some synthetic azulene analogues have been found to possess anti-inflammatory activity. In this investigation we report the synthesis of five 3-alkyl or 3-(hydroxy)alkylazulene-1-carboxylic acids and esters, from tropolone, via the corresponding furanone. The synthesised compounds were tested for their effect on the peroxidation of rat hepatic microsomal membrane lipids, applying the 2-thiobarbituric acid test. Their anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in vitro by the offered inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase. All the tested molecules were found to inhibit lipid peroxidation by 100% at 1 mM. They were also found to considerably inhibit lipoxygenase activity. The above results are discussed in relation to the structure and physicochemical properties of the examined azulene derivatives.     

Polyphosphazene nanoparticles for cytoplasmic release of doxorubicin with improved cytotoxicity against Dox-resistant tumor cells

This study involved the construction of self-assembled nanoparticles from novel pH-sensitive amphiphilic polyphosphazenes. These nanoparticles provide fast pH-responsive drug release and have the capability to disturb endosomal membranes. The polymers were prepared by linking N,N-diisopropylethylenediamine (DPA) onto a backbone of PEGylated polyphosphazene. In vitro cell viability measurements demonstrated the superior efficacy of these pH-responsive nanoparticles over free doxorubicin (Dox): the IC50 was over 60 times lower than that of free Dox against a Dox-resistant cell line. Using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, the further investigation of the intracellular distribution of Dox and fluorescent probes provided evidence that, upon internalization by cells through endocytic pathways, the pH-sensitive polymer would disrupt membranes of endosomal compartments, releasing the cargo drugs into the cytoplasm in a burst-like manner. This resulted in reduced likelihood of drug efflux via exocytosis, and reversal of the drug resistance of the tumor cells. Generally, the pH-responsive nanoparticles designed in this study have achieved their potential as a drug delivery system for tumor therapy applications.     

Relationship between lipid peroxidation and rigidity in L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine-DPPC vesicles

DPPC incorporation into egg-PC unilamellar vesicles reduces their oxidation rate beyond that expected from the unsaturated lipid dilution. Addition of the unsaturated lipids produces changes in the physical properties of the inner parts of the lipid bilayer, as sensed by fluorescence anisotropy of DPH, and in the hydrophilic/hydrophobic region, as sensed by the generalized polarization of laurdan. DPPC (30 mol%) incorporation into egg-PC vesicles produces a decrease in alkyl chain mobility in the inner part of the bilayer, evaluated by the increase of DPH fluorescence anisotropy, and a rise of the generalized polarization value of laurdan in the bilayer interface. It also leads to a decrease in the rate of water efflux promoted by a hypertonic shock. Oxidation of PC LUVs, promoted by AAPH, as sensed by oxygen uptake and MDA formation, leads to qualitatively similar results than DPPC addition: rigidification at the inner part and the surface of the liposomes, and a lower rate of water permeation. It is suggested that these changes could contribute to the observed decrease in oxidation rate with conversion.