Sheila M.B. Winnischofer

Substituted chromones as highly potent nontoxic inhibitors, specific for the breast cancer resistance protein.

A series of 13 disubstituted chromones was synthesized. Two types of substituents, on each side of the scaffold, contributed to both the potency of ABCG2 inhibition and the cytotoxicity. The best compound, 5-(4-bromobenzyloxy)-2-(2-(5-methoxyindolyl)ethyl-1-carbonyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (6g), displayed high-affinity inhibition and low cytotoxicity, giving a markedly high therapeutic index. The chromone derivative specifically inhibited ABCG2 versus other multidrug ABC transporters and was not transported. It constitutes a highly promising candidate for in vivo chemosensitization of ABCG2-expressing tumors.

Involvement of catalase in the apoptotic mechanism induced by apigenin in HepG2 human hepatoma cells

Apigenin has been reported to inhibit proliferation of cancer cells; however, the mechanism underlying its action is not completely understood. Here, we evaluated the effects of apigenin on the levels of expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes, and the involvement of ROS in the mechanism of cell death induced by apigenin in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. Upon treatment with apigenin, HepG2 cells displayed a reduction in cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and some morphological changes. In addition, apigenin treatment induced ROS generation and significantly decreased the mRNA levels and activity of catalase and levels of intracellular GSH. On the other hand, apigenin treatment did not alter the expression or activity levels of other antioxidant enzymes. Addition of exogenous catalase significantly reduced the effects of apigenin on HepG2 cell death. We also demonstrated that HepG2 cells are more sensitive to apigenin-mediated cell death than are primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes, suggesting a differential toxic effect of this agent in tumor cells. Our results suggest that apigenin-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells may be mediated by a H(2)O(2)-dependent pathway via reduction of the antioxidant defenses.

Downregulation of the RECK-tumor and metastasis suppressor gene in glioma invasiveness.

Invasive behavior is the pathological hallmark of malignant gliomas, being responsible for the failure of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are essential for proper ECM remodeling and invasion. The tumor and metastasis suppressor RECK protein regulates at least three members of the MMPs family: MMP‐2, MMP‐9, and MT1‐MMP. In order to mimic the in vivo invasion process, A172 and T98G, respectively, non‐invasive and invasive human glioblastoma cell lines, were cultured onto uncoated (control) or type I collagen gel‐coated surface, and maintained for up to 7 days to allow establishment of the invasive process. We show that the collagen substrate causes decreased growth rates and morphological alterations correlated with the invasive phenotype. Electronic transmission microscopy of T98G cells revealed membrane invaginations resembling podosomes, which are typically found in cells in the process of crossing tissue boundaries, since they constitute sites of ECM degradation. Real time PCR revealed higher RECK mRNA expression in A172 cells, when compared to T98G cells and, also, in samples obtained from cultures where the invasive process was fully established. Interestingly, the collagen substrate increases RECK expression in A172 cells and the same tendency is displayed by T98G cells. MMPs‐2 and ‐9 displayed higher levels of expression and activity in T98G cells, and their activities are also upregulated by collagen. Therefore, we suggest that: (1) RECK downregulation is critical for the invasiveness process displayed by T98G cells; (2) type 1 collagen could be employed to modulate RECK expression in glioblastoma cell lines. Since a positive correlation between RECK expression and patients survival has been noted in several types of tumors, our results may contribute to elucidate the complex mechanisms of malignant gliomas invasiveness. J. Cell. Biochem.

Novel properties of melanins include promotion of DNA strand breaks, impairment of repair, and reduced ability to damage DNA after quenching of singlet oxygen

Melanins have been associated with the development of melanoma and its resistance to photodynamic therapy (PDT). Singlet molecular oxygen ((1)O(2)), which is produced by ultraviolet A solar radiation and the PDT system, is also involved. Here, we investigated the effects that these factors have on DNA damage and repair. Our results show that both types of melanin (eumelanin and pheomelanin) lead to DNA breakage in the absence of light irradiation and that eumelanin is more harmful than pheomelanin. Interestingly, melanins were found to bind to the minor grooves of DNA, guaranteeing close proximity to DNA and potentially causing the observed high levels of strand breaks. We also show that the interaction of melanins with DNA can impair the access of repair enzymes to lesions, contributing to the perpetuation of DNA damage. Moreover, we found that after melanins interact with (1)O(2), they exhibit a lower ability to induce DNA breakage; we propose that these effects are due to modifications of their structure. Together, our data highlight the different modes of action of the two types of melanin. Our results may have profound implications for cellular redox homeostasis, under conditions of induced melanin synthesis and irradiation with solar light. These results may also be applied to the development of protocols to sensitize melanoma cells to PDT.

Development of secondary palate requires strict regulation of ECM remodeling: sequential distribution of RECK, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9

We have evaluated RECK (reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs), MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2), MMP-3, and MMP-9 involvement during palate development in mice by using various techniques. Immunohistochemical features revealed the distribution of RECK, MMP-2, and MMP-3 in the mesenchymal tissue and in the midline epithelial seam at embryonic day 13 (E13), MMPs-2, -3, and -9 being particularly expressed at E14 and E14.5. In contrast, RECK was weakly immunostained at these times. Involvement of MMPs was validated by measuring not only their protein expression, but also their activity (zymograms). In situ hybridization signal (ISH) for RECK transcript was distributed in mesenchymal and epithelial regions within palatal shelves at all periods evaluated. Importantly, the results from ISH analysis were in accord with those obtained by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of RECK was found to be temporally regulated, which suggested possible roles in palatal ontogeny. Taken together, our results clearly show that remodeling of the extracellular matrix is finely modulated during secondary palate development and occurs in a sequential manner.

Simvastatin rises reactive oxygen species levels and induces senescence in human melanoma cells by activation of p53/p21 pathway

Recent studies demonstrated that simvastatin has antitumor properties in several types of cancer cells, mainly by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting growth. The arrest of proliferation is a feature of cellular senescence; however, the occurrence of senescence in melanoma cells upon simvastatin treatment has not been investigated until now. Our results demonstrated that exposure of human metastatic melanoma cells (WM9) to simvastatin induces a senescent phenotype, characterized by G1 arrest, positive staining for senescence-associated β-galactosidase assay, and morphological changes. Also, the main pathways leading to cell senescence were examined in simvastatin-treated human melanoma cells, and the expression levels of phospho-p53 and p21 were upregulated by simvastatin, suggesting that cell cycle regulators and DNA damage pathways are involved in the onset of senescence. Since simvastatin can act as a pro-oxidant agent, and oxidative stress may be related to senescence, we measured the intracellular ROS levels in WM9 cells upon simvastatin treatment. Interestingly, we found an increased amount of intracellular ROS in these cells, which was accompanied by elevated expression of catalase and peroxiredoxin-1. Collectively, our results demonstrated that simvastatin can induce senescence in human melanoma cells by activation of p53/p21 pathway, and that oxidative stress may be related to this process.

Melanogenesis stimulation in B16-F10 melanoma cells induces cell cycle alterations, increased ROS levels and a differential expression of proteins as revealed by proteomic analysis

Considering that stimulation of melanogenesis may lead to alterations of cellular responses, besides melanin production, our main goal was to study the cellular effects of melanogenesis stimulation of B16-F10 melanoma cells. Our results show increased levels of the reactive oxygen species after 15 h of melanogenesis stimulation. Following 48 h of melanogenesis stimulation, proliferation was inhibited (by induction of cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase) and the expression levels of p21 mRNA were increased. In addition, melanogenesis stimulation did not induce cellular senescence. Proteomic analysis demonstrated the involvement of proteins from other pathways besides those related to the cell cycle, including protein disulfide isomerase A3, heat-shock protein 70, and fructose biphosphate aldolase A (all up-regulated), and lactate dehydrogenase (down-regulated). In RT-qPCR experiments, the levels of pyruvate kinase M2 mRNA dropped, whereas the levels of ATP synthase (beta-F1) mRNA increased. These data indicate that melanogenesis stimulation of B16-F10 cells leads to alterations in metabolism and cell cycle progression that may contribute to an induction of cell quiescence, which may provide a mechanism of resistance against cellular injury promoted by melanin synthesis.

6‐Halogenochromones Bearing Tryptamine: One‐Step Access to Potent and Highly Selective Inhibitors of Breast Cancer Resistance Protein

Most anticancer drugs are rendered less efficacious due to cell resistance to chemotherapy related to various mechanisms. A major mechanism is associated with the overexpression of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters, especially P-glycoprotein (Pgp/ABCB1), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1/ ABCC1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2), which traffic chemotherapeutic agents out of cancer cells. ABCG2 was simultaneously discovered by three research groups and named ABCP for its abundance in placenta, BCRP for its identification in breast cancer cell lines, and MXR for its resistance to mitoxantrone. ABCG2 constitutes an important target for the design of efflux inhibitors that would, when co-administered with an anticancer agent, give increased intracellular drug concentrations and hence greater cytotoxicity. While several types of ABCG2 inhibitors have been evaluated in vitro, very few have entered preclinical trials. We recently discovered that some substituted chromones are selective and potent ABCG2 inhibitors. These compounds were synthesized in five steps, and the overall yields were quite low. In pursuing our efforts toward structurally simple and easily accessible specific inhibitors of BCRP, we investigated 6-halogenochromones linked to a tryptamine unit, obtained in only one step, as new potent inhibitors (Scheme 1). The choice of C-6 as the site of halogenation was motivated by a number of considerations: 1) the presence of a hydrophobic halogen at the C-6 position fulfills the previously identified need for a hydrophobic substituent in this part of the molecule; 2) halogens, especially bromine and iodine, have a positive contribution to inhibitory activity ; 3) halogens could open interesting opportunities for the generation of further potential inhibitors, as they can be easily replaced by a number of chemical entities. Access to target compounds 3–7 was achieved in one step by coupling 6-substituted-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxylic acid (1) with tryptamine (2) in the presence of bis(2-oxo-3-oxazolidinyl)phosphonic chloride (BOP-Cl) as the coupling agent (Scheme 2; full details are given in the Supporting Information). 6-Iodo-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxylic acid (R= I) was not commercially available, but was easily obtained by hydrolysis of the commercially available corresponding ethyl ester with sodium hydrogen carbonate (20% in water) at 80 8C. The test compounds were first screened by flow cytometry for their effects on the inhibition of mitoxantrone efflux in Scheme 1. Retrosynthetic rationale for the synthesis of targeted BCRP inhibitors, and the structures of the commercially available starting materials 1 and 2.

Sulfated heterorhamnans from the green seaweed Gayralia oxysperma: partial depolymerization, chemical structure and antitumor activity.

Sulfated heterorhamnans produced by Gayralia oxysperma were utilized for the preparation of two homogeneous and highly sulfated Smith-degraded products (M(w) of 109 and 251 kDa), which were constituted principally by 3-linked α-L-rhamnosyl units 2- or 4-sulfate and 2-linked α-L-rhamnosyl units 4- or 3,4-sulfate, in different percentages. The homogeneous products and the crude extracts containing the sulfated heterorhamnans showed cytotoxic effect against U87MG cells. These sulfated polysaccharides induced an increase in the number of cells in G1 phase with concomitant increase of the mRNA levels of p53 and p21. The presence of 2-linked disulfated rhamnose residues together with the molecular weight could be important factors to be correlated with the inhibitory effect on human glioblastoma cells.

Structure and intracellular antioxidant activity of pectic polysaccharide from acerola (Malpighia emarginata)

Malpighia emarginata is a tropical fruit plant, found naturally in the Caribbean islands and South America that produces an edible fruit known as acerola or Barbados Cherry. Its polysaccharides were obtained by aqueous extraction, subjected to a freezing and thawing process and ultrafiltration. A homogeneous fraction (ACWS-01E) was analyzed by sugar composition, HPSEC, methylation and NMR spectroscopy analyses. The results showed an arabinan-rich pectic polysaccharide, with 6.1×104g/mol and formed mainly by a high methyl esterified (DM=86%) homogalacturonan and branched arabinan. This latter is anchored in type I rhamnogalacturonan regions. The main chain of arabinan consisted of (1→5)-linked α-Araf, branched only at O-3. The potential ACWS-01E intracellular antioxidant activity against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in murine fibroblast cell line (3T3) was determined by DCFH-DA assay. The treatment with ACWS-01E significantly reduced H2O2-induced cytotoxic effect and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These findings suggested that ACWS-01E protected and improved NIH 3T3 cell viability from H2O2-induced toxicity by decreasing intracellular levels of ROS.