Sophie Da Nascimento

Evaluation of ursolic acid isolated from Ilex paraguariensis and derivatives on aromatase inhibition

The inhibitory potency of ursolic acid extracted from Ilex paraguariensis, a plant used in South American population for a tea preparation known as maté, and its derivatives to inhibit aromatase activity was assessed and compared to a phytoestrogen apigenin and a steroidal aromatase inhibitor 4-hyroxyandrostenedione (4-OHA). Among all compounds tested only ursolic acid 1 showed an efficient and dose-dependent aromatase inhibition with IC50 value of 32 microM as did apigenin (IC50=10 microM), whereas IC50 value of 4-OHA was 0.8 microM. Our results show that the incorporation of a metallocene moiety into the ursolic acid derivatives decreases the aromatase inhibition. Moreover, comparison of the structure/inhibitory potency relationship of compounds indicates that the presence of cycle A and the configuration of C3-OH and C17-COOH seems to be more favourable to recognize the active site of aromatase and to block its activity.

Peptide‐based activation of alpha5 integrin for promoting osteogenesis

Promoting osteoblastogenesis remains a major challenge in disorders characterized by defective bone formation. We recently showed that the alpha 5 integrin subunit (ITGA5) is critically involved in human mesenchymal cell osteoblast differentiation. In this study, we determined the potential of pharmacological ITGA5 activation by a synthetic cyclic peptide (GA‐CRRETAWAC‐GA) on murine osteoblast differentiation and function in vitro and bone formation in vivo. Peptide‐mediated activation of ITGA5 in murine C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal cells resulted in the generation of the integrin‐mediated cell signals FAK and ERK1/2‐MAPKs. In vitro, peptide‐based activation of ITGA5 protected from cell apoptosis but did not affect cell adhesion or replication, while it enhanced the expression of the osteoblast marker genes Runx2 and type I collagen and increased extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization as also found with bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP2), a standard bone anabolic factor. When injected on adult mouse cranial bone for 3 weeks, the peptide‐mediated activation of ITGA5 increased bone thickness by twofold, an effect also induced by BMP2. Histomorphometric analysis showed that this anabolic effect resulted from decreased cell apoptosis and increased bone forming surfaces and bone formation rate (BFR). We conclude that pharmacological activation of ITGA5 in mesenchymal cells is effective in promoting de novo bone formation as a result of increased osteoprogenitor cell differentiation into osteoblasts and increased cell protection from apoptosis. This peptide‐based approach could be used therapeutically to promote the osteogenic capacity of osteoblast progenitor cells and to induce de novo bone formation in conditions where osteoblastogenesis is compromised. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3029–3038, 2012.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling mediates osteoblast differentiation triggered by peptide-induced α5β1 integrin priming in mesenchymal skeletal cells.

Background: The mechanisms whereby α5β1 integrin triggers osteogenesis are poorly understood. Results: CRRETAWAC-mediated α5β1 integrin priming promotes osteoblast differentiation via PI3K/Wnt/β-catenin signaling independently of the RGD-like REET sequence. Systemic delivery of the α5β1 integrin-priming peptide improved long bone microarchitecture in senescent osteopenic mice. Conclusion: Wnt signaling mediates osteoblast differentiation induced by peptide-mediated α5β1 integrin priming. Significance: A novel mechanism underlying α5β1 integrin-mediated osteoblast differentiation is provided. The α5β1 integrin is a key fibronectin (FN) receptor that binds to RGD-containing peptides to mediate cell adhesion. We previously reported that α5β1 integrin promotes osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal skeletal cells (MSCs), but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we determined the signaling mechanisms induced by α5β1 integrin interaction with its high-affinity ligand CRRETAWAC in murine and human MSCs and in vivo. We show that cyclized CRRETAWAC fully displaced MSC adhesion to FN, whereas related peptides lacking the full RRET sequence produced a partial displacement, indicating that RRET acts as an RGD-like sequence that is required to antagonize FN-mediated cell adhesion. However, all peptides increased focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation, OSE2 transcriptional activity, osteoblast gene expression, and matrix mineralization in MSCs, indicating that peptide-induced α5β1 integrin priming can promote osteogenic differentiation independently of the RRET sequence. Biochemical analyses showed that peptide-induced α5β1 integrin priming transiently increased PI3K/Akt phosphorylation and promoted Wnt/β-catenin transcriptional activity independently of RRET. Consistently, pharmacological inhibition of PI3K activity reduced osteoblast differentiation and abolished Wnt regulatory gene expression induced by α5β1 integrin priming. In vivo, systemic delivery of cyclized GACRETAWACGA linked to (DSS)6 to allow delivery to bone-forming sites for 6 weeks increased serum osteocalcin levels and improved long bone mass and microarchitecture in SAMP-6 senescent osteopenic mice. The results support a mechanism whereby α5β1 integrin priming by high-affinity ligands integrates Wnt/β-catenin signaling to promote osteoblast differentiation independently of cell adhesion, which could be used to improve bone mass and microarchitecture in the aging skeleton.

Peptide-based mediated disruption of N-cadherin-LRP5/6 interaction promotes Wnt signaling and bone formation†

Wnt signaling plays an important role in skeletal biology and diseases. In osteoblasts, we recently showed that the cell‐cell adhesion molecule N‐cadherin interacts with the Wnt coreceptors LRP5/6 to regulate osteogenesis. In this study we investigated whether targeting the intracellular domain of N‐cadherin that interacts with LRP5/6 may promote Wnt signaling and bone formation. By investigating the molecular interactions between the Wnt coreceptors LRP5/6 and N‐cadherin, we identified specific LRP5/6‐ and N‐cadherin–interacting intracellular domains that impact Wnt/β‐catenin signaling in murine osteoblasts. We showed that truncated N‐cadherin constructs that impair N‐cadherin‐LRP5/6 interactions promote Wnt/β‐catenin signaling and osteoblast differentiation. Based on this finding, we developed a peptide‐based approach targeting N‐cadherin‐LRP5 interaction for promoting Wnt signaling and osteoblast function. We found that a competitor peptide containing the 28 last amino acids of LRP5 disrupts LRP5/6‐N‐cadherin interaction and thereby enhances Wnt/β‐catenin signaling in osteoblasts. We also show that the peptide‐mediated disruption of N‐cadherin‐LRP5/6 interaction increases Wnt/β‐catenin signaling and osteoblast function in vitro and promotes calvaria bone formation in vivo. The targeted competitor peptide‐based strategy reported here may provide a novel approach to stimulate Wnt/β‐catenin signaling that can be used for promoting osteoblast function and bone formation.

Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of new ursolic and oleanolic acids derivatives as antileishmanial agents.

A series of new ursolic and oleanolic acids derivatives was synthesized via ursolic or oleanolic acids, previously extracted from South American Ilex species. These new compounds were tested for in vitro antiparasitic activity on Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania infantum strains. Some of these compounds showed activity against the promastigote forms of L. amazonensis or L. infantum, with IC50 ranging from 5 to 12 μM. As expected, most of the compounds showed a significant level of cytotoxicity against monocytes (IC50 = 2-50 μM). From a structure-activity relationships point of view, these pharmacological results enlightened mainly the importance of an acetylation at position 3 of the oleanolic acid skeleton in the activity against the L. amazonensis strain, and of a bis-(3-aminopropyl)piperazine moiety on the carboxylic function of ursolic acid against the L. infantum strain.

Modulation of cell proliferation in rat liver cell cultures by new calix[4]arenes

Cell cycle progression is dependent on intracellular iron level and chelators lead to iron depletion and decrease cell proliferation. This antiproliferative effect can be inhibited by exogenous iron. In this work, we present the synthesis of new synthetic calix[4]arene podands bearing two aspartic/glutamic acid, ornithine groups or hydrazide function at the lower rim, designed as potential iron chelators. The synthesis only afforded calix[4]arenes in the cone conformation. We report their effect on cell proliferation, in comparison with the new oral chelator ICL670A (4-[3,5-bis-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-benzoic acid). The antiproliferative effect of these new compounds was studied in the rat hepatoma cell line Fao by measuring mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated by extracellular LDH activity. Preliminary results indicated that among all tested compounds, monohydrazidocalix[4]arene 2 which is not cytotoxic in Fao cells exhibits interesting antiproliferative activity. This effect, independent on iron depletion, remains to be further explored. Moreover, it also shows that new substituted calix[4]arenes could open the way to new valuable medicinal chemistry scaffolding.

Antiproliferative effect on HepaRG cell cultures of new calix[4]arenes

Cell cycle progression is dependent on the intracellular iron level, and chelators lead to iron depletion and decrease cell proliferation. This antiproliferative effect can be inhibited by exogenous iron. In this work, we present the synthesis of new synthetic calix[4]arene podands bearing alkyl acid and alkyl ester groups at the lower rim, designed as potential iron chelators. We report their effect on cell proliferation, in comparison with the new oral chelator ICL670 (4-[3,5-bis-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-benzoic acid). The antiproliferative effect of these new compounds was studied in human hepatocarcinoma HepaRG cell cultures using the MTT assay. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated by extracellular LDH activity. Preliminary results indicate that their antiproliferative effect is due to their cytotoxicity. The efficiency of these compounds, comparable to that of ICL670, was independent of iron depletion. This effect remains to be further explored. Moreover, it also shows that novel substituted calix[4]arenes could open the way to new valuable medicinal chemistry scaffolding.

N‐Cadherin/Wnt Interaction Controls Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Cell Fate and Bone Mass During Aging

Age‐related bone loss is characterized by reduced osteoblastogenesis and excessive bone marrow adipogenesis. The mechanisms governing bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell (BMSC) differentiation into adipocytes or osteoblasts during aging are unknown. We show here that overexpressing N‐cadherin (Cadh2) in osteoblasts increased BMSC adipocyte differentiation and reduced osteoblast differentiation in young transgenic (Tg) mice whereas this phenotype was fully reversed with aging. The reversed phenotype with age was associated with enhanced Wnt5a and Wnt10b expression in osteoblasts and a concomitant increase in BMSC osteogenic differentiation. Consistent with this mechanism, conditioned media from young wild type osteoblasts inhibited adipogenesis and promoted osteoblast differentiation in BMSC from old Cadh2 Tg mice, and this response was abolished by Wnt5a and Wnt10b silencing. Transplantation of BMSC from old Cadh2 Tg mice into young Tg recipients increased Wnt5a and Wnt10b expression and rescued BMSC osteogenic differentiation. In senescent osteopenic mice, blocking the CADH2–Wnt interaction using an antagonist peptide increased Wnt5a and Wnt10b expression, bone formation, and bone mass. The data indicate that Cadh2/Wnt interaction in osteoblasts regulates BMSC lineage determination, bone formation, and bone mass and suggest a therapeutic target for promoting bone formation in the aging skeleton. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 1765–1775, 2014.

First synthesis of segetalins B and G: two cyclopentapeptides with estrogen-like activity

The first synthesis of two segetalins B and G is described. The corresponding linear peptides were synthesized using standard automated continuous-flow SPPS methods. Ring closure positions were investigated for segetalin B. The best ring closure result was obtained between Val and Gly.

Oligogalacturonic Acid Inhibits Vascular Calcification by Two Mechanisms: Inhibition of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Osteogenic Conversion and Interaction With Collagen

Objective— Cardiovascular diseases constitute the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Calcification of the vessel wall is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients having many diseases, including diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and chronic kidney disease. Vascular calcification is actively regulated by inductive and inhibitory mechanisms (including vascular smooth muscle cell adaptation) and results from an active osteogenic process. During the calcification process, extracellular vesicles (also known as matrix vesicles) released by vascular smooth muscle cells interact with type I collagen and then act as nucleating foci for calcium crystallization. Our primary objective was to identify new, natural molecules that inhibit the vascular calcification process. Approach and Results— We have found that oligogalacturonic acids (obtained by the acid hydrolysis of polygalacturonic acid) reduce in vitro inorganic phosphate–induced calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells by 80% and inorganic phosphate–induced calcification of isolated rat aortic rings by 50%. A specific oligogalacturonic acid with a degree of polymerization of 8 (DP8) was found to inhibit the expression of osteogenic markers and, thus, prevent the conversion of vascular smooth muscle cells into osteoblast-like cells. We also evidenced in biochemical and immunofluorescence assays a direct interaction between matrix vesicles and type I collagen via the GFOGER sequence (where single letter amino acid nomenclature is used, O=hydroxyproline) thought to be involved in interactions with several pairs of integrins. Conclusions— DP8 inhibits vascular calcification development mainly by inhibition of osteogenic marker expression but also partly by masking the GFOGER sequence—thereby, preventing matrix vesicles from binding to type I collagen.