Barbara Rolando

Searching for new NO-donor Aspirin-like molecules: a new class of nitrooxy-acyl derivatives of salicylic acid

A new class of products in which the phenol group of salicylic acid is linked to alkanoyl moieties bearing nitrooxy functions has been synthesized and studied for their polyvalent actions. The products were stable in acid and neutral media, while they were hydrolyzed in human serum. Their half-lives were dependent upon the structure of alkanoyl moieties. The products showed anti-inflammatory activities similar to aspirin when tested in the carrageenan-induced paw edema assay in the rat. Interestingly, unlike aspirin, they showed reduced or no gastrotoxicity in a lesion model in rats at equimolar doses. A number of them were able to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by collagen in human platelet-rich plasma. All of the products were capable of relaxing rat aortic strips precontracted with phenylephrine in a concentration-dependent manner. Selected members of this new class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs might represent possible safer alternatives to aspirin in different clinical settings.

Nitric oxide donor doxorubicins accumulate into Doxorubicin-resistant human colon cancer cells inducing cytotoxicity.

Products 4 and 5, obtained by conjugation of doxorubicin with nitric oxide (NO) donor nitrooxy and phenylsulfonyl furoxan moieties, respectively, accumulate in doxorubicin-resistant human colon cancer cells (HT29-dx), inducing high cytotoxicity. This behavior parallels the ability of the compounds to generate NO, detected as nitrite, in these cells. Preliminary immunoblotting studies suggest that the mechanism that underlies the cytotoxic effect could involve inhibition of cellular drug efflux due to nitration of tyrosine residues of the MRP3 protein pump.

Mitochondrial-Targeting Nitrooxy-doxorubicin: A New Approach To Overcome Drug Resistance

In previous studies, we showed that nitric oxide (NO) donors and synthetic doxorubicins (DOXs) modified with moieties containing NO-releasing groups--such as nitrooxy-DOX (NitDOX) or 3-phenylsulfonylfuroxan-DOX (FurDOX)--overcome drug resistance by decreasing the activity of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters that can extrude the drug. Here, we have investigated the biochemical mechanisms by which NitDOX and FurDOX exert antitumor effects. Both NitDOX and FurDOX were more cytotoxic than DOX against drug-resistant cells. Interestingly, NitDOX exhibited a faster uptake and an extranuclear distribution. NitDOX was preferentially localized in the mitochondria, where it nitrated and inhibited the mitochondria-associated ABC transporters, decreased the flux through the tricarboxylic acid cycle, slowed down the activity of complex I, lowered the synthesis of ATP, induced oxidative and nitrosative stress, and elicited the release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-9 and -3 in DOX-resistant cells. We suggest that NitDOX may represent the prototype of a new class of multifunctional anthracyclines, which have cellular targets different from conventional anthracyclines and greater efficacy against drug-resistant tumors.

Edaravone derivatives containing NO-donor functions.

A new series of polyvalent drugs obtained by joining edaravone with NO-donor moieties is described. All compounds display high antioxidant power together with NO-dependent vasodilator properties. The analysis of a number of molecular descriptors shows that the antioxidant activity, which is tightly linked to the presence of the edaravone substructure, is principally modulated by lipophilicity. These products are potentially useful in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders in which EDRF deficiency and ROS excess are involved.

New Nitric Oxide or Hydrogen Sulfide Releasing Aspirins

A new series of (((R-oxy)carbonyl)oxy)methyl esters of aspirin (ASA), bearing nitric oxide (NO) or hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) releasing groups, was synthesized, and the compounds were evaluated as new ASA co-drugs. All the products were quite stable in buffered solution at pH 1 and 7.4. Conversely, they were all rapidly metabolized, producing ASA and the NO/H(2)S releasing moiety used for their preparation. Consequent on ASA release, the compounds were capable of inhibiting collagen-induced platelet aggregation of human platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The simple NO/H(2)S donor substructures were able to relax contracted rat aorta strips, with a NO- and H(2)S-dependent mechanism, respectively, but they either did not trigger antiaggregatory activity or displayed antiplatelet potency markedly below that of the related co-drug. The new products might provide a safer and improved alternative to the use of ASA principally in its anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic applications.

Nitrooxyacyloxy)methyl Esters of Aspirin as Novel Nitric Oxide Releasing Aspirins

A series of (nitrooxyacyloxy)methyl esters of aspirin were synthesized and evaluated as new NO-donor aspirins. Different amounts of aspirin were released in serum from these products according to the nature of nitrooxyacyloxy moiety present. In the aromatic series, there is a rather good linear correlation between the amount of aspirin released and the potencies of the products in inhibiting platelet aggregation induced by collagen. Both the native compounds and the related nitrooxy-substituted acid metabolites were able to relax rat aorta strips precontracted with phenylephrine, in keeping with a NO-induced activation of the sGC as a mechanism that underlies the vasodilator effect. The products here described are new improved examples of NO-donor aspirins containing nitrooxy groups. They could represent an alternative to the use of aspirin in a variety of clinical applications.

Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization, and Biological Activities of New Carnosine Derivatives Stable in Human Serum As Potential Neuroprotective Agents

The synthesis and the physicochemical and biological characterization of a series of carnosine amides bearing on the amido group alkyl substituents endowed with different lipophilicity are described. All synthesized products display carnosine-like properties differentiating from the lead for their high serum stability. They are able to complex Cu(2+) ions at physiological pH with the same stoichiometry as carnosine. The newly synthesized compounds display highly significant copper ion sequestering ability and are capable of protecting LDL from oxidation catalyzed by Cu(2+) ions, the most active compounds being the most hydrophilic ones. All the synthesized amides show quite potent carnosine-like HNE quenching activity; in particular, 7d, the member of the series selected for this kind of study, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and to protect primary mouse hippocampal neurons against HNE-induced death. These products can be considered metabolically stable analogues of carnosine and are worthy of additional investigation as potential neuroprotective agents.

New praziquantel derivatives containing NO-donor furoxans and related furazans as active agents against Schistosoma mansoni

A series of NO-donor praziquantel hybrid compounds was obtained by combining praziquantel (PZQ) and furoxan moieties in a single entity. NO-donor properties of the furoxan derivatives were evaluated by detecting nitrite after incubation of the products in 7.4 pH buffered solution in the presence of L-cysteine. Structurally-related furazans, devoid of NO release capacity, were also synthesized for control purposes. All products were studied for their ability to inhibit recombinant Schistosoma mansoni thioredoxin glutathione reductase (TGR). Mobility and death of adult Schistosoma mansoni worms cultured in the presence of the products were evaluated versus PZQ. Analysis of the results showed that some products were endowed with both PZQ and NO-dependent antiparasitic properties. Compounds 6, 7, 18, and 24 emerged as the most interesting balanced hybrids, worthy of additional study on PZQ-resistant parasites.

Searching for new NO-donor aspirin-like molecules: Furoxanylacyl derivatives of salicylic acid and related furazans.

A new group of derivatives of salicylic acid containing NO-donor furoxans, and the related des-NO-furazans, were synthesized and evaluated as new aspirin-like molecules. Their stability was assessed in acid (pH 1) and physiological solutions (pH 7.4), and in human serum. No compound exhibited COX-inhibitory activity against COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms, when tested up to 100μM, respectively, on isolated platelets and on monocytes. Phenylsulfonyl- and cyano-substituted furoxans inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen in human platelet-rich plasma, through a cGMP dependent mechanism. Furoxan derivatives displayed cGMP-dependent vasodilator activities, tested on rat aorta strips precontracted with phenylephrine. All products showed anti-inflammatory activity similar to that of ASA, tested on rats by the carrageenan-induced paw edema assay. Unlike ASA, all products showed markedly reduced gastrotoxicity in a rat lesion model.

A new series of amodiaquine analogues modified in the basic side chain with in vitro antileishmanial and antiplasmodial activity.

The synthesis and the study of new amodiaquine derivatives bearing modified lateral basic chains as new agents with both antimalarial and antileishmanial activities are reported. The compounds were tested in vitro against Leishmania donovani MHOM/ET/67/HU3 and 2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum, 3D7 and K1. All the compounds show complex ionisation profiles. At physiological pH the ionised form(s) are in equilibrium with the uncharged form, while at acid pH all the products exist largely as protonated forms. The antiprotozoal profile indicates that all derivatives are endowed with both antimalarial and antileishmanial activity. Interestingly amodiaquine, together with some synthesised derivatives (11, 12, 15, 27, 34), displayed antileishmanial activity in the low micromolar range, although these compounds were also cytotoxic and have a narrow therapeutic window, most of the synthesised compounds proved to be potent antimalarials, a few of them showing a good activity against the chloroquine resistant K1 strain.