Regina Osiecka

Enhanced P53 and BAX gene expression and apoptosis in A549 cells by cis-Pt(II) complex of 3-aminoflavone in comparison with cis-DDP.

Lung cancer remains one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Approximately 80% is histologically non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and in about 70% of patients it is an unresectable type. Clinical studies indicated that application of platinum derivatives caused good results and combinations of platinum with other agents could improve median survivals. In view of the central problem of sufficient efficiency of drugs in chemotherapy, efforts have focused on the development of alternative platinum-based analogues that can be more effective in cancer treatment. cis-bis(3-aminoflavone)dichloroplatinum(II) (cis-Pt(II) complex of 3-aminoflavone) represents a novel class of platinum-based potential antitumour agents. In order to evaluate the degree of apoptosis, acridine orange/ethidium bromide and Hoechst 33258/propidum iodide double staining as well as RT-PCR (P53 and BAX expression evaluation) were used in lung cancer cell line A549 after treatment with this compound in comparison with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP). Apoptotic cells at early and late stages and also necrotic ones were observed after usage of cis-Pt(II) complex of 3-aminoflavone and the percentage of these cells outnumbered the values obtained after cis-DDP application. The former compound induced a higher percentage of P53 and BAX expression in A549 cells in comparison with the latter one. Results indicate the beneficial properties of cis-Pt(II) complex of 3-aminoflavone as a potential antitumor drug.

Clastogenic and mitodepressive effects of the insecticide dichlorvos on root meristems of Vicia faba

Plant bioassays are an important and integral part of the test battery used in detecting genotoxic/carcinogenic contamination in the environment. Highly sensitive biomonitoring of plant models have been developed, which enables the detection of hazards arising from pesticides, insecticides, industrial contamination, heavy metals and radiation. Root tips ofVicia faba ssp.minor were treated with 1–60 mM of the organophosphorus insecticide dichlorvos (DDVP) for 2 h, followed by a 20-h recovery period. Maleic acid hydrazide (MH) was used as a positive control for the mitotic index, micronucleus and chromosomal aberration assays performed on theVicia model system. All treatments with DDVP significantly decreased the mitotic activity and increased the frequency of chromosomal aberrations at the metaphase. The frequency of micronuclei was significantly increased at DDVP concentrations starting from 10 mM. The results demonstrate clastogenic and mitodepressive effects of DDVP onVicia faba cells.

Comparison Between the Genotoxicity of cis-Pt(II) Complex of 3-Aminoflavone and cis-DDP in Lymphocytes Evaluated by the Comet Assay

cis-bis(3-aminoflavone)dichloroplatinum(II) [cis-Pt(II) complex of 3-aminoflavone] is an analog of cis-DDP characterized by low cytotoxicity and anticancer properties in vivo. In order to evaluate genotoxic properties of this chemical compound, the comet assay in human lymphocytes was used. The analysis of DNA damage after 1-h cell incubation with cis-Pt(II) complex of 3-aminoflavone and cis-DDP was carried out, and DNA repair kinetics were evaluated after 0.5-h, 1-h, and 1.5-h postexposure incubation. It has been shown that cis-Pt(II) complex of 3-aminoflavone causes the increase in tail moments in comparison with cis-DDP. On the other hand, the decrease in these values caused by cis-DDP was connected mainly with the presence of DNA and DNA–protein cross-links. The decrease in tail moments after cis-Pt(II) complex of 3-aminoflavone lymphocyte treatment was already observed after 0.5-h postexposure incubation, whereas in the variant with hydrogen peroxide application these values after cis-Pt(II) complex of 3-aminoflavone addition were higher in comparison with cis-DDP. Results obtained on the basis of the comet assay could confirm the occurrence of DNA breaks and cross-links induced by cis-Pt(II) complex of 3-aminoflavone.

Structure-activity relationship and apoptosis induction in A549 cells by the potential anticancer compound cis-bis(3-aminoflavone)dichloroplatinum(II)

cis-DDP (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), CAS 15663-27-1) is widely used in chemotherapy of many types of cancer. However, besides effectiveness, it gives many side effects which limit its clinical application. Therefore, nowadays studies are focused on searching for novel analogs of cis-DDP, at least equally effective in chemotherapy but less toxic. One of them might be cis-BAFDP (cis-bis(3-aminoflavone)dichloroplatinum(II)) with one of the hydrogen atoms of the amino group of cis-DDP replaced by a flavone ring. 3-Aminoflavone (AF) which posseses the desired NH2 group has been used as non-leaving ligand. The complex has been obtained in the reaction of AF and K2PtCl4. There are no data concerning evaluation of structural studies of cis-BAFDP, the beneficial anticancer properties of which were proved in vitro and in vivo. Therefore it was worthwhile to undertake a confirmation of the chemical structure of this compound by applying various spectroscopic techniques especially because of its potential pharmacological application. With this aim in mind this compound was characterized by: IR, 1H NMR, 195Pt NMR, UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Moreover, stronger apoptosis induction by cis-BAFDP than cis-DDP in the human nonsmall cancer cell line A549 was observed using Hoechst 33258/propidium iodide double staining.