Synthesis and characterization of selective dopamine D2 receptor antagonists

A series of indole compounds have been prepared and evaluated for affinity at D2-like dopamine receptors using stably transfected HEK cells expressing human D2, D3, or D4 dopamine receptors. These compounds share structural elements with the classical D2-like dopamine receptor antagonists, haloperidol, N-methylspiperone, and benperidol. The compounds that share structural elements with N-methylspiperone and benperidol bind non-selectively to the D2 and D3 dopamine receptor subtypes. However, several of the compounds structurally similar to haloperidol were found to (a) bind to the human D2 receptor subtype with nanomolar affinity, (b) be 10- to 100-fold selective for the human D2 receptor compared to the human D3 receptor, and (c) bind with low affinity to the human D4 dopamine receptor subtype. Binding at sigma (sigma) receptor subtypes, sigma1 and sigma2, were also examined and it was found that the position of the methoxy group on the indole was pivotal in both (a) D2 versus D3 receptor selectivity and (b) affinity at sigma1 receptors. Adenylyl cyclase studies indicate that our indole compounds with the greatest D2 receptor selectivity are neutral antagonists at human D2 dopamine receptor subtypes. With stably transfected HEK cells expressing human D2 (hD2-HEK), these compounds (a) have no intrinsic activity and (b) attenuated quinpirole inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. The D2 receptor selective compounds that have been identified represent unique pharmacological tools that have potential for use in studies on the relative contribution of the D2 dopamine receptor subtypes in physiological and behavioral situations where D2-like dopaminergic receptor involvement is indicated.     

Antitumor studies. Part 5: Synthesis, antitumor activity, and molecular docking study of 5-(monosubstituted amino)-2-deoxo-2-phenyl-5-deazaflavins

Various novel 5-(monosubstituted amino)-2-deoxo-2-phenyl-5-deazaflavins derivatives have been synthesized by direct coupling of 5-deazaflavins and N-alkyl or aryl amines. The antitumor activities against human tumor cell lines CCRF-HSB-2 and KB cells have been investigated in vitro and many compounds showed promising potential antitumor activities with less cytotoxicities. AutoDock molecular docking into PTK (PDB code: 1t46) has been done for lead optimization of these compounds as potential PTK inhibitors. Some of the synthesized 5-(monosubstituted amino)-2-deoxo-2-phenyl-5-deazaflavins at the 5-position exhibited reasonable binding affinities into PTK with the hydrogen bond through their C(5)-NH moiety.     

Design, synthesis and cytotoxic effect of hydroxy- and 3-alkylaminopropoxy-9,10-anthraquinone derivatives

In previous paper, we have reported the synthesis and the cytotoxic effect of 1,3-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone derivatives. For further design of more potent compounds, a new series of 1-hydroxy-3-(3-alkylaminopropoxy)-9,10-anthraquinones and 3-(3-alkylaminopropoxy)-9,10-anthraquinones have been synthesized. The cytotoxicity of synthetic compounds were evaluated against human Hep G2, Hep 3B and HT-29 cells. Almost all compounds indicated significant inhibitory activity against Hep G2, Hep 3B and HT-29 cell lines in vitro. Compound 5 exhibited selective cytotoxicity against Hep G2 in a concentration-dependent manner with ED50 value of 1.23 +/- 0.05 microM. Structure-activity analysis revealed that most of the 1-hydroxy-3-(3-alkylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-9,10-anthraquinone showed stronger cytotoxic effects than those of 1-hydroxy-3- or 3-(3-alkylaminopropoxy)-9,10-anthraquinones against Hep 3B cell line in vitro. A sub-G1 cell stage and DNA fragmentation in MCF-7 cells were significantly observed after 72 h incubation with selective compound 16. The results show that 16 causes cell death by apoptosis.     

Synthesis and biological activities of novel dexibuprofen tetraacetylriboflavin conjugates

A series of novel dexibuprofen derivatives covalently linked via alkylene spacers of variable length to tetraacetylated riboflavin have been developed. The target compounds became accessible by reaction of the chloromethyl ester of dexibuprofen with tetraacetylriboflavin (compound 7) or by synthesis of the appropriate N3-(omega-iodoalkyl)-2',3',4',5'-Tetraacetylriboflavin followed by treatment with dexibuprofen (derivatives 8-11), respectively. Biological screening revealed that the target compounds exhibit antiproliferative effects on MCF-7 breast cancer and HT-29 colon carcinoma cells with IC50 values in the range of 8-15 microM. Enzymatic studies on human platelets indicated significant COX-1 inhibitory activities of the target compounds.     

2-(3,5-Dihydroxyphenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole arrests cell growth and cell cycle and induces apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines

2-Arylbenzothiazoles are an important class of bicyclic privileged substructures present in various natural or synthetic compounds that have been shown to possess anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiallergic activities. This study examined the antiproliferative properties of 2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole (DH) and its molecular mechanism of action in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. DH inhibits the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells with an IC(50) value of 25 μM in a dose/time-dependent manner as measured by the microculture tetrazolium method. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry showed that DH-induced growth arrest could be associated to apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells.     

The synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl derivatives with the ability to inhibit both glutathione S-transferase P1-1 activity and the proliferation of leukemia cells

Ethacrynic acid (EA), an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound, is a glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1) inhibitor. Twenty-one novel EA derivatives have been synthesized. The effects of these compounds on GSTP1-1 activity and on the proliferation of human leukemia HL-60 cells have been determined. Compounds with a halogen substitution at the 3'-position of the aromatic ring have greater inhibitory effects on GSTP1-1 activity than those of compounds with a methyl substitution there. Compounds with substitutions at both the 2'- and 3'-positions of the aromatic ring have more antiproliferative ability than those with one substitution at 3'-position. Esterification of the carboxyl group appears to increase the antiproliferative ability.     

Synthesis of novel 3-cyclohexylpropanoic acid-derived nitrogen heterocyclic compounds and their evaluation for tuberculostatic activity

A series of novel 3-cyclohexylpropanoic acid derivatives and 3-cyclohexylpropanoic acid-derived nitrogen heterocyclic compounds (1-8) have been synthesized and evaluated for tuberculostatic activity. Compounds 1a, 1c, 1e and 1f bearing benzimidazole or benzimidazole-like systems showed the most potent tuberculostatic activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with MIC values ranging from 1.5 to 12.5μg/mL. More importantly 1a (6-chloro-2-(2-cyclohexylethyl)-4-nitro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole) and 1f (2-(2-cyclohexylethyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]phenazine) appeared selective for M. tuberculosis as compared with eukaryotic cells (human fibroblasts), and other antimicrobial strains. These compounds may thus represent a novel, selective class of antitubercular agents. Additionally compound 1a stimulated type I collagen output by fibroblasts, in vitro.     

Differential effects of tri-n-butylstannyl benzoates on induction of apoptosis in K562 and MCF-7 cells

Tributyltin compounds have been shown to induce apoptosis by causing extracellular Ca2+ influx and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Several organotin compounds were reported to have differential cytotoxicity on various human cell lines depending on the length of the alkyl chain. In this report, the cytotoxic effects of three tri-n-butylstannyl (halo)benzoate compounds-tri-n-butylstannyl benzoate (TBSB), tri-n-butylstannyl-2,6-difluorobenzoate (TBSDFB) and tri-n-butylstannyl-2-iodobenzoate (TBSIB)-were studied on lymphocytic cells of human leukemic K562 lineage and epithelial cells of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells lineage. K562 cells were found to be more sensitive to these compounds than MCF-7 cells. Although the induction of apoptosis by the above compounds in K562 cells resulted from the extracellular Ca2+ influx and the generation of ROS, the initial amount of extracellular Ca2+ influx was greater in TBSB-treated K562 cells than the cells treated with either TBSDFB or TBSIB. Similarly, DNA fragmentation by endonucleases was observed as an early event in TBSB-treated K562 cells, which might be correlated with the initially greater extracellular Ca2+ influx. In contrast, MCF-7 cells were found to undergo apoptosis mainly because of the generation of ROS. The present results suggest that the differential effects of tributyltin compounds on induction of apoptosis in K562 and MCF-7 cells are largely attributable to the extent of extracellular Ca2+ influx.     

New sulphonamide and carboxamide derivatives of acyclic C-nucleosides of triazolo-thiadiazole and the thiadiazine analogues. Synthesis, anti-HIV, and antitumor activities. Part 2

A new series of acyclic C-nucleosides 1',2'-O-isopropylidene-D-ribo-tetritol-1-yl)[1,2,4] triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles bearing arylsulfonamide (5-8) and arylcarboxamide (9-12) residues have been synthesized under microwave irradiation. Thiadiazines 13-15 have been analogously prepared, and upon acid hydrolysis, afforded the free nucleosides 16-18. The new synthesized compounds were assayed against HIV-1 and HIV-2 in MT-4 cells. Compound 7 was also screened against a panel of tumor cell lines consisting of CD4 human T-cells.     

WISP-2 is a secreted protein and can be a marker of estrogen exposure in MCF-7 cells

As many structurally diverse chemicals have been reported to function as estrogens, evaluations for estrogenicity of compounds are of widespread concern. Recently, we identified WISP-2 (Wnt-1 inducible signaling pathway protein 2) as a novel estrogen-inducible gene in human breast cancer cells. In this study, we examined whether WISP-2 could be utilized as a marker for screening environmentally relevant compounds for estrogenicity. In MCF-7 cells, progesterone, dexamethasone, tri-iodothyronine, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin did not regulate the expression of WISP-2, indicating that its induction is highly specific for hormones that interact with the estrogen receptor. Western blot analysis detected WISP-2 protein induced by 17-beta-estradiol (E2), not only in the cell lysates but also in the culture supernatant of exposed cells, indicating that WISP-2 was a secreted protein. The induction of WISP-2 protein by E2 in the culture supernatant was dose-dependent with estimated EC(50) levels between 10 and 100 pM. Our results demonstrated the capacity to screen environmental compounds for estrogenicity via WISP-2 induction.     

New bisabolane sesquiterpenes and coumarin from Leontopodium longifolium

From the roots of Leontopotium longifolium, three new bisabolane sesquiterpenes, rel-(1S,4R,5S,6R)-4,5-diacetoxy-6-[(R)-1,5-dimethylhexa-3,5-dienyl]-3-methylcyclohex-2-enyl (Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoate (1), rel-(1S,4R,5S,6R)-4,5-diacetoxy-6-[(R)-5-hydroxy-1,5-dimethylhex-3-enyl]-3-methylcyclohex-2-enyl (Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoate (2), rel-(1R,2S,4R,5S)-4-acetoxy-2-[(R)-5-hydroxy-1,5-dimethylhex-3-enyl]-5-methylcyclohexyl (Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoate (3), and a new coumarin, 2,3-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2-(1-methylethenyl)-7H-pyrano[2,3-g][1,4]benzodioxin-7-one (4) together with nine known compounds have been isolated. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells.     

Synthesis, biological active molecular design, and molecular docking study of novel deazaflavin-cholestane hybrid compounds

Novel deazaflavin-cholestane hybrid compounds, 3',8'-disubstituted-5'-deazacholest-2,4-dieno[2,3-g]pteridine-2',4'(3'H,8'H)-diones, have been synthesized by condensation reaction between 6-(monosubstituted amino)-pyrimidin-2,4(1H,3H)-diones and 2-hydroxymethylenecholest-4-en-3-one in presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate and diphenyl ether. The antitumor activities against human tumor cell lines (CCRF-HSB-2 and KB cells) have been investigated in vitro, and many of these compounds showed promising antitumor activities. Furthermore, molecular docking study using LigandFit within the software package Discovery Studio 1.7 was done for lead optimization of these compounds as potential PTK inhibitors. In general, all of the synthesized steroid-hybrid compounds showed good binding affinities into PTK (PDB code: 1t46).     

Synthesis, crystal structure and biological activities of copper(II) complexes with chelating bidentate 2-substituted benzimidazole ligands

A series of Cu(II) coordination compounds with benzimidazole-derived bidentate chelating ligands have been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The 2-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole CuCl2 complex 8 showed very potent superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) activity in vitro with IC50 of 0.09 microM, comparable to those described in the literature for best low molecular weight CuZnSOD mimics. Cytotoxicity studies with seven different human tumor cell lines in vitro showed that the most active 2-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-5-nitro-1H-benzimidazole CuCl2 complex 10 inhibited the growth of cancer cells with IC50 between 4.76 and 10.84 microM.     

Nickel carcinogenesis: epigenetics and hypoxia signaling

Both water soluble and insoluble nickel compounds have been implicated in the etiology of human lung and nasal cancers. Water insoluble nickel compounds have been shown to enter cells by phagocytosis and are contained in cytoplasmic vacuoles, which are acidified thus accelerating the dissolution of soluble nickel from the particles. Using Newport Green, a dye that fluoresces when ionic nickel is bound, we have shown that following exposure (48-72 h) of human lung (A549) cells to NiS particles, most of the nickel is contained in the nucleus, while cells exposed to soluble NiCl2 exhibit most of the ions localized in the cytoplasm. This effect is consistent with previously published reports showing that short-term exposure of cells to crystalline nickel particles (1-3 days) is able to epigenetically silence target genes placed near heterochromatin, while similar short-term exposure to soluble nickel compounds are not able to induce silencing of genes placed near heterochromatin. However, a 3 week exposure of cells to soluble NiCl2 is also able to induce gene silencing. A similar effect was found in yeast cells where nickel was able to silence the URA-3 gene placed near (1.3 kb) a telomere silencing element, but not when the gene was placed farther away from the silencing element (2.0 kb). In addition to epigenetic effects, nickel compounds activate hypoxia signaling pathways. The mechanism of this effect involves the ability of either soluble or insoluble nickel compounds to block iron uptake leading to cellular iron depletion, directly affect iron containing enzymes, or both. This results in the inhibition of a variety of iron-dependent enzymes, such as aconitase and the HIF proline hydroxylases (PHD1-3). The inhibition of the HIF proline hydroxylases stabilizes the HIF protein and activates hypoxic signaling. Additional studies have shown that nickel and hypoxia decrease histone acetylation and increase the methylation of H3 lysine 9. These events are involved in gene silencing and hypoxia can also cause these effects in human cells. It is hypothesised that the state of hypoxia either by low oxygen tension or as a result of agents that signal hypoxia under normal oxygen tension (iron chelation, nickel and cobalt) results in low levels of acetyl CoA, which is a substrate for histone and other protein acetylation. This effect may in part be responsible for the gene silencing following nickel exposure and during hypoxia.     

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of some non-nucleoside 2,3-disubstituted quinazoline derivatives (Part-V)

Several [2-phenyl-4(3H)-oxo-3-quinazolinylamino]-N-substituted- arylacetamides (1a-j) have been synthesized and tested at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, for their anti-HIV activity against susceptible human host cells (CEM cell line) over a wide range of concentrations (6.35 x 10(-8) to 2.00 x 10(-4) M). The highest protection observed is 45.67%. The structures of these compounds have been established on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral data.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of novel fluorinated 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides

A series of 5-(trifluoroethoxymethyl)-2',3'-dideoxyuridines and 5-[bis(trifluoroethoxy)-methyl]-2',3'-dideoxyuridines have been prepared and screened for antiviral activity. The conformations of these compounds are discussed on the bases of NOE studies and the MO calculations. Modelling and NOE studies suggest both syn- and anti conformations for these 5-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxymethyl)- and 5-[bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-methyl]- derivatives. The NOE parameters are also suggested to be more attributable to the nature of the fluorine atom than to structural or conformational changes. Compounds 17, 26 and 30 showed some activity in anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2 assays, but the compounds were devoid of activity against HSV and human rhinovirus. The compounds tested exhibited low cytotoxicity and were inactive against a bank of cancer cells in vitro.     

Benzothiazole thiourea derivatives as anticancer agents: Design,synthesis, and biological screening

In a systematic effort to identify a potent anticancer agent, we synthesized benzothiazole thiourea derivatives and examined their cytotoxic activity against five different human and animal cancer cell lines. Benzothiazolylthiocarbamides have been prepared in excellent yields by reaction of substituted 2-amino benzothiazoles with carbon disulfide and dimethyl sulfate followed by their ammonolysis. Cytotoxicity of the four compounds were screened for antitumor activity against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), human cervix epithelial carcinoma (HeLa), human colon cancer cell line (HT-29), human leukemia cell line (K-562), and mouse neuroblastoma cell line (Neuro-2a) using cisplatin as a reference by MTT assay. Our results presented herein provide experimental evidence that benzothiazolylthiocarbamides induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines. According to flow cytometry results, treatment of HT-29 cells with 1-(6-ethoxy-1,3-benzothiazol- 2-yl)thiourea produced a large population of apoptotic cell (79.45%), which was 1.2-fold higher than that produced by cisplatin (65.28%) at the same concentration.     

Synthetic chalcones, flavanones, and flavones as antitumoral agents: biological evaluation and structure-activity relationships

A series of synthetic chalcones, flavanones, and flavones has been synthesized and evaluated for antitumor activity against the human kidney carcinoma cells TK-10, human mammary adenocarcinoma cells MCF-7 (estrogen receptor-positive), and human colon adenocarcinoma cells HT-29. The most active series is the chalcone ones with the best results against TK-10 and HT-29 cells. Fourteen out of 53 analyzed compounds resulted very active against at least two of the studied tumoral cells. Alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis, comet assay, was performed as a study of the chromosomal aberrations promoted by the compounds on normal cells. Four active and two inactive chalcones were studied in the comet assay against normal human kidney cells (HK-2). A structure-activity relationship analysis of these compounds was performed and for 4- and 3,4-disubstituted derivatives a quantitative correlation was obtained in the case of anti-HT-29 activity.     

Synthesis and in vitro photodynamic activity of mono-substituted amphiphilic zinc(II) phthalocyanines

A series of novel zinc(II) phthalocyanines mono-substituted with a 1,3-bis(dimethylamino)-2-propoxy group at the alpha- or beta-position, and the corresponding di-N-methylated derivatives, have been synthesized. All these compounds can generate singlet oxygen effectively and exhibit high in vitro photodynamic activities toward HT29 human colorectal carcinoma cells with IC(50) values down to 0.08microM. The dicationic derivatives have a higher affinity to the cell membrane compared with the non-ionic counterparts.     

Adamantylsulfanyl- and N-adamantylcarboxamido-derivatives of heterocycles and phenols: synthesis, crystal structure, tumor necrosis factor-alpha production-enhancing properties, and theoretical considerations

The synthesis of several adamantylthio heterocycles and S-adamantylated thiocresols is reported. The attack of the adamantyl cation formed from 1-adamantan-1-ol in refluxing trifluoroacetic acid provides the corresponding adamantylsulfanyl compounds. The use of the adamantyl cation in the Ritter reaction gave the number of N-adamantylcarboxamide derivatives of heterocyclic and phenolic compounds. Adamantylsulfanyl heterocycles, contrary to N-adamantylcarboxamido compounds, enhanced the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in genetically modified murine melanoma cells transduced with the gene for human TNF-alpha. The highest activity, comparable to that of the most-active previously described for 6-methyl-2-[(adamantyl)amino]pyridine, showed 2-thioadamantyl derivatives of pyridine and 6-methylpyridine. The crystal structures of carboxamido and sulfanyl analogues of 2-(1-adamantylamino)pyridine have been studied, and consecutive quantum-chemical calculations have been performed. The low TNF-alpha production stimulatory activity of N-adamantylcarboxamido-pyridine compared to the sulfanyl and amino analogues is postulated to be linked to the conformational rigidity of the former one enhanced by the formation of the intramolecular H-bond. The comparison of the activity of 2-(1-adamantylsulfanyl)-6-methylpyridine and (1-adamantylsulfanyl)-2-methylbenzene proved the importance of the ring N-atom, whereas the differences in activity between bromo and methyl analogues pointed at electronic rather than steric influence of ortho-substituents on the biological activity.