Differential expression on mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase (mTcTXNPx) in Trypanosoma cruzi after ferrocenyl diamine hydrochlorides treatments

Abstract Resistance to benznidazole in certain strains of Trypanosoma cruzi may be caused by the increased production of enzymes that act on the oxidative metabolism, such as mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase which catalyses the reduction of peroxides. This work presents cytotoxicity assays performed with ferrocenyl diamine hydrochlorides in six different strains of T. cruzi epimastigote forms (Y, Bolivia, SI1, SI8, QMII, and SIGR3). The last four strains have been recently isolated from triatominae and mammalian host (domestic cat). The expression of mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase was analyzed by the Western blotting technique using polyclonal antibody anti mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase obtained from a rabbit immunized with the mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase recombinant protein. All the tested ferrocenyl diamine hydrochlorides were more cytotoxic than benznidazole. The expression of the 25.5 kDa polypeptide of mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase did not increase in strains that were more resistant to the ferrocenyl compounds (SI8 and SIGR3). In addition, a 58 kDa polypeptide was also recognized in all strains. Ferrocenyl diamine hydrochlorides showed trypanocidal activity and the expression of 25.5 kDa mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase is not necessarily increased in some T. cruzi strains. Most likely, other mechanisms, in addition to the over expression of this antioxidative enzyme, should be involved in the escape of parasites from cytotoxic oxidant agents.

The in vitro activity of fatty diamines and amino alcohols against mixed amastigote and trypomastigote Trypanosoma cruzi forms

Four diamines and three amino alcohols derived from 1-decanol, 1-dodecanol and 1,2-dodecanediol were evaluated in an in vitro assay against a mixture of trypomastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Two of these compounds (6 and 7) showed better activity against both proliferative stages of T. cruzi than the positive control benznidazole, three were of similar potency (1, 2 and 5) and two were less active (3 and 4).

Preparation and antitubercular activity of lipophilic diamines and amino alcohols

A series of diamines and amino alcohols derived from 1-dodecanol, 1-tetradecanol, 1,2-dodecanediol and 1,2-tetradecanediol were synthesized and tested for their antitubercular activity. Compounds 3, 8 and 9 were found to be the most active (MIC of 6.25 µg/mL). Nine other compounds displayed activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with a MIC of 12.5 µg/mL.

Pharmacologic characterization of muscarine receptor subtypes in rat gastric fundus mediating contractile responses.

The role of four muscarinic receptor subtypes M1, M2, M3 and M4 which have been characterized pharmacologically was examined in motility control of isolated rat gastric fundus. Acetylcholine produced concentration-dependent tonic contraction of isolated rat fundus (EC50 = 9.64 +/- 0.14 x 10(-8)M). These contractions were concentration-dependently antagonized by atropine (KB = 2.45 x 10(-11)M), M1 selective blockers telenzepine (KB = 6.64 x 10(-11)M) and pirenzepine (KB = 2.3 x 10(-8)M), and hexocyclium (KB = 2.82 x 10(-10)M). M3-selective blocker p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol (pFHHSiD) was a less potent antagonist (KB = 2.3 x 10(-8)M), while M2 and M4-selective methoctramine produced only weak blockade of tonic contractions caused by acetylcholine (KB = 4.68 x 10(-6)M). These results suggest that only M1 and M3 muscarinic receptors have functional roles in motility control of rat gastric fundus, M1 receptors being more important.