Adam Opolski

Bacteriophage penetration in vertebrates

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. They are the most numerous life forms on earth. As antibiotic resistance is becoming an increasingly worldwide challenge, bacteriophages as potential antimicrobial agents are being more intensively explored. Some very important questions involve their ability to penetrate higher organisms, as this determines potential phage activity in antibacterial treatment. Higher organisms are widely exposed to bacteriophages, which penetrate them quite freely. Bacteriophage activity can be influenced by specific antibodies which, together with the nonspecific immune system, can contribute to their rapid clearance from the organism. Bacteriophages can also interact directly with mammalian cells and even play a role in the development of some nonbacterial diseases, although they are not able to multiply in these cells. All aspects of the interaction between phages and higher organism are of interest and importance for further medical and biochemical applications.

Rhodium(III) complexes with polypyridyls and pyrazole and their antitumor activity

Abstract Synthesis and properties of rhodium complexes with nitrogen ligands [RhCl 2 (Hpz) 4 ][RhCl 4 (Hpz) 2 ] ( 1 ), [RhCl 3 (tpy)] ( 2 ), [RhCl 3 (tpta)]·H 2 O ( 3 ) and [Rh(tpy) 2 (Him)]Cl 3 ·3H 2 O ( 4 ), have been described. X-ray structures of complexes 1 – 3 have been determined. IR, UV–Vis and 1 H NMR spectra of the complexes have been discussed. Cytostatic activity of the complexes against HCV29T tumor cells increases in the series: 1 3 2 4 . The cytostatic activity of complex 4 is greater than that of cisplatin. Interaction of the complexes with DNA has been investigated.

New insights into the possible role of bacteriophages in host defense and disease

BackgroundWhile the ability of bacteriophages to kill bacteria is well known and has been used in some centers to combat antibiotics – resistant infections, our knowledge about phage interactions with mammalian cells is very limited and phages have been believed to have no intrinsic tropism for those cells.Presentation of the hypothesisAt least some phages (e.g., T4 coliphage) express Lys-Arg-Gly (KGD) sequence which binds β3 integrins (primarily αIIbβ3). Therefore, phages could bind β3+ cells (platelets, monocytes, some lymphocytes and some neoplastic cells) and downregulate activities of those cells by inhibiting integrin functions.Testing the hypothesisBinding of KGD+ phages to β3 integrin+ cells may be detected using standard techniques involving phage – mediated bacterial lysis and plaque formation. Furthermore, the binding may be visualized by electron microscopy and fluorescence using labelled phages. Binding specificity can be confirmed with the aid of specific blocking peptides and monoclonal antibodies. In vivo effects of phage – cell interactions may be assessed by examining the possible biological effects of β3 blockade (e.g., anti-metastatic activity).Implication of the hypothesisIf, indeed, phages can modify functions of β3+ cells (platelets, monocytes, lymphocytes, cancer cells) they could be important biological response modifiers regulating migration and activities of those cells. Such novel understanding of their role could open novel perspectives in their potential use in treatment of cardiovascular and autoimmune disease, graft rejection and cancer.

Biological activity in vitro of side-chain modified analogues of calcitriol.

The results of our studies on the biological activity of side-chain modified analogues of vitamin D are reviewed. These analogues appeared to be effective in induction of cell differentiation, inhibition of tumour cell proliferation in vitro and in increasing of antitumour effect of cytostatics. On the other hand, inhibition of cytostatic-induced apoptosis by these compounds was observed. The mechanism of the antiproliferative effect of calcitriol analogues in vitro is discussed. The induction of antigens CD14 and CD11b expression and phagocytic activity of HL-60 cells after exposure to these compounds is related to their effect on cell differentiation. The differentiation of the HL-60 leukaemia cells induced by side-chain modified analogues of calcitriol increases their sensitivity to the antiproliferative effect of cisplatin, doxorubicin and genistein, despite of that this pretreatment causes resistance of these cells to cytostatics-induced apoptosis. We observed a synergistic antiproliferative effect of the combined therapy using analogues of calcitriol with subsequent treatment with the above-mentioned cytostatics. This effect was measured as a significant decrease of the ID50 values for each cytostatic applied after pretreatment of the tumour cells with the calcitriol analogues. The results presented suggest that the improved therapeutic effect may be achieved also in vivo by the combined application of the analogues (without calcemic activity) of calcitriol with antitumour agents.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of side-chain unsaturated and homologated analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 (24E)-(1S)-24-Dehydro-24a-homo-1,25-dihydroxyergocalciferol and congeners

A series of analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyergocalciferol (1-4) was synthesized and screened for their antiproliferative activity in vitro. The structure of new analogs was designed based on biological activity of the previously obtained side-chain modified analogs of vitamin D(2) and D(3). The analogs were obtained by the Julia olefination of C(22)-vitamin D sulfone 11 with side-chain aldehyde 15. The analogs were tested for their antiproliferative activity against the cells of human breast cancer lines T47D and MCF7 as well as human and mouse leukemia lines, HL-60 and WEHI-3, respectively. Analog 2 (PRI-1907) showed the strongest antiproliferative activity out of the present series of analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(2) with the mono homologated and double unsaturated side chain. The activity of 2 was 3-150 times stronger, depending on the cell line, than that of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol), used as standard.

Structure, Properties and Cytostatic Activity of Triorganotin (Aminoaryl)carboxylates

The properties of vinyltin and phenyltin complexes [Sn(CH=CH2)3{μ-OOCC6H3(NH2)2-3,4}]n (1), [Sn(C6H5)3{OOCC6H3(NH2)2-3,4}] (2), [Sn(C6H5)3{OOC-2-C6H4N=NC6H4N(CH3)2-4}] (3) and [Sn(CH=CH2)3{OOC-2-C6H4N=NC6H4N(CH3)2-4}] (4) have been investigated. The structures of complexes 1, 2, and 3, have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 is a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal complex and compounds 2 and 3 adopt a distorted tetrahedral structure. Complex 1 is a single-strand polymer with a bridging 3,4-diaminobenzoato ligand coordinating via the O(1) atom of the carboxylato group and the nitrogen atom of the para-amino group. The oxygen and nitrogen atoms occupy the axial coordination sites. The Sn(1)−N(2A) bond is weak. In complexes 2 and 3 the carboxylato ligands are strongly coordinated to the central atom via one oxygen atom, and the Sn(1)−O(2) distances are considerably longer. Weak interactions of the central atom with the amino group in complex 1, and with the O(2) atoms in complexes 2 and 3, as well as the hydrogen bonds, stabilize the crystal structure. The complexes are effective cytostatic agents. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2002)

Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity in Vitro of Novel 1,5-Benzodiazepines. Part II

The reaction of 2,2,4‐trimethyl‐1H‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,5‐benzodiazepine (1) with cinnamoyl chloride leading to the formation of 1‐cinnamoyl derivative 2 is described. Two novel benzodiazepines, 2,2,4‐trimethyl‐1H‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1,5‐benzodiazepine (3) and 1‐cinnamoyl‐2,2,4‐trimethyl‐1H‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1,5‐benzodiazepine (4), were synthesized by the reduction of 1 and 2 using NaBH4 in i‐PrOH and two other derivatives 5 and 6 were obtained by reaction of 4 with equimolar and dimolar quantity of cinnamoyl chloride, respectively. The structures of 1—6 were confirmed by analytical and spectral data (IR, 1H NMR, and MS). 7‐Carboxy‐2,2,4‐trimethyl‐1H‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,5‐benzodiazepine (7) was synthesized and its crystals were subjected to X‐ray analysis. Benzodiazepines 1—6 were evaluated for antiproliferative activity in vitro. Among the compounds tested, 4—6 exhibited cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines, namely SW707 (colon cancer), MCF‐7 (breast cancer), A549 (lung cancer), and HCV29T (bladder cancer).

Toxicity and antineoplastic effect of (24R)-1,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (PRI-2191)

Many efforts have been made to obtain active and less toxic Vitamin D analogs for new clinical applications. The results of previous studies demonstrated the efficacy and safety of topical treatment of psoriasis with one of these analogs, 1,24-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), tacalcitol (1,24-(OH)(2)D(3)). In the present study, we evaluated the toxicity and antitumor effect of this analog. Lethal toxicity of 1,24-(OH)(2)D(3) after s.c. injection was significantly lower than that of calcitriol. No significant differences were observed in the toxicity of the analogs when administered p.o. Calcium levels in the serum of mice treated with calcitriol were significantly higher (111%) than those in mice treated with 1,24-(OH)(2)D(3) (89%) at 5 day after the first s.c. (10 microg/kg/day) administration in comparison to the control (healthy, untreated animals). Oral administration increased the calcium level by 78% for calcitriol and only to 47% over the control for 1,24-(OH)(2)D(3). Parallel administration of clodronate prevented the calcitriol- and 1,24-(OH)(2)D(3)-induced lethal toxicity and also prevented increase in calcium levels. Single therapy with calcitriol did not affect tumor growth in the 16/C mouse mammary cancer model. In contrary, 1,24-(OH)(2)D(3) alone reduced tumor volume to 41% of control. Cisplatin alone did not affect growth of 16/C tumor in these conditions. The growth of tumors in the presence of cisplatin was inhibited by 1,24-(OH)(2)D(3) but not by calcitriol. Interestingly, the inhibition of tumor growth in cisplatin-treated mice by 1,24-(OH)(2)D(3) was greater, than that observed in mice treated with this analog alone. In conclusion, 1,24-(OH)(2)D(3) revealed higher antitumor and lower calcemic activity and toxicity than calcitriol. Application of biphosphonates along with Vitamin D analogs is sufficient to overcome the calcemic and toxic side effects of the proposed treatment.

Cytotoxic and antitumor effect of fibrinogen-methotrexate conjugate

In this paper we describe the chemical procedure of fibrinogen-methotrexate (F-MTX) conjugate preparation and its in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity. F-MTX conjugates were synthesized in reaction of fibrinogen with MTX N-hydroxysuccynimide ester. The conjugates were not cross-linked and were soluble in water. The results of the in vitro and in vivo studies have shown: (1) a lower in vitro cytotoxicity of the F-MTX conjugate as compared with MTX alone; (2) a significantly higher in vivo antitumor activity of the F-MTX conjugate in mice with P388 leukemia as compared with MTX alone; (3) a significantly increased in vivo lethal toxicity of F-MTX as compared with MTX. The results suggest the therapeutic utility of the fibrinogen-methotrexate conjugate and the usefulness of fibrinogen as a chemotherapeutic drug carrier. However, a new effort in the preparation of F-MTX conjugate should be made to decrease its in vivo toxicity.

Metastatic potential of human CX-1 colon adenocarcinoma cells is dependent on the expression of sialosyl Le(a) antigen.

Several lines of evidence indicate that sialosyl Le a , tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen present on human colon carcinoma cells, is involved in formation of metastases. To study the role of this carbohydrate structure in development of metastases, we have used the clone of human colon carcinoma CX-1 cells transfected with antisense expression vector containing fragment of cDNA for a1,3/4-fucosyltransferase (FT III), which is involved in synthesis of sialosyl Le a tetrasaccharide. It has been reported previously that, in contrast to the parental cells, the antisense-transfected CX-1.1AS5 cells do not express sialosyl Le a and do not adhere to E-selectin-expressing CHO cells. In the present work we have studied the formation of liver metastases by CX-1.1AS5 cells after their orthotopic or intrasplenic implantation into athymic nu/nu mice. After orthotopic implantation of sialosyl Le a -negative colon carcinoma CX-1.1AS5 cells, the number of mice with liver metas-tases was markedly lower (21% of mice) in comparison with their number after implantation of the parental CX-1.1 cells (86% of mice). However, no differences in ability to form colonies in liver were observed between parental CX-1.1 cells and antisense-transfected CX-1.1AS5 cells after intrasplenic inoculation. The liver metastases were formed in 89% and 84% of mice, respectively. Our data support the thesis on the importance of sialosyl Le a antigen expression in the development of liver metastases by colon cancer cells, and indicate the role of transplantation route and primary tumor localization in formation of metastases.© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1998