Triad pyrazole-thiazole-coumarin heterocyclic core effectively inhibit HSP and drive cancer cells to apoptosis.

Intensive studies on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is spreading rapidly around the world and has a high mortality rate, is due to the lack of adequate preventive or curative treatment methods. Treating patients with HCC has become very challenging because of the heterogeneity in the patient population lead activation of different signaling pathways, and pathway crosstalk for patients. Therefore, understanding these molecular mechanisms and combining drugs with molecular therapies to overcome these drawbacks has become an area of utmost importance. In this study, the biological activities of the designed and characterized triad Pyrazole-Thiazol-Coumarin (PTC) compounds were determined by performing cell viability, qPCR array, apoptosis and cell cycle assays. One of the compounds (PTC10) implicitly suppresses multiple pathways (RAS/MAP kinase and PI3K-AKT) simultaneously. This action is provided by (i) arresting cancer cells at G2 phase, (ii) driving cancer cells to apoptosis and (iii) inhibiting HSP network. Remarkably, HSP is an apoptotic factor and help cancer cell to survive. HSP90 also coordinates with Cdk4/Cdc37, therefore inhibiting HSP both drives cells to arrest and apoptosis. ATP hydrolysis and aggregation assay further displayed specific HSP inhibition. Therefore, PTC provides a unique drug template for HCC treatment.

Synthesis and Functional Investigations of Computer Designed Novel Cladribine-Like Compounds for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

Cladribine (2-CdA) is used as an anti-cancer drug but is currently studied as a potential treatment for use in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we computer designed, synthesized, and characterized two novel derivatives of 2-CdA, K1-5d and K2-4c, and investigated their underlying mechanism of beneficial effect using the CCRF-CEM and RAJI cell lines. For this purpose, we first determined their effect on MS and DNA damage and repair-related gene expression profiles using custom arrays along with 2-CdA treatment at non-toxic doses. Then, we determined whether cells underwent apoptosis after treatment with 2-CdA, K1-5d, and K2-4c in CCRF-CEM and RAJI cells, using the DNA fragmentation assay. It was found that both derivatives modulated the expression of the pathway-related genes that are important in inflammatory signaling, apoptosis, ATM/ATR, double-strand break repair, and the cell cycle. Furthermore, 2-CdA, K1-5d, and K2-4c significantly activated apoptosis in both cell lines. In summary, our data demonstrate that although both derivatives act as anti-inflammatory and apoptotic agents, inducing the accumulation of DNA strand breaks and activating the ultimate tumor suppressor p53 in T and B lymphocytes, the K1-5d derivative has shown more promising activities for further studies.

Computer design, synthesis, and bioactivity analyses of drugs like fingolimod used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a very common disease of vital importance. In the MS treatment, some drugs such as fingolimod which help to protect nerves from damage are used. The main goal of the drug therapy in MS is to take control of the inflammation which leads to the destruction of myelin and axons in nerve cell and thus prevent and stop the progression of the disease. Fingolimod (FTY720) is an orally active immunomodulatory drug that has been used for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. It is a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator which prevents lymphocytes from contributing to an autoimmune reaction by inhibiting egress of lymphocytes them from lymph nodes. In this study, we have computer designed, synthesized and characterized two novel derivatives of FTY720, F1-12h and F2-9, and have determined their underlying mechanism of their beneficial effect in SH-SY5Y, SK-N-SH, and U-118 MG cell lines. For this purpose, we first determined the regulation of the cAMP response element (CRE) activity and cAMP concentration by F1-12h and F2-9 together with FTY720 using pGL4.29 luciferase reporter assay and cAMP immunoassay, respectively. Then, we have determined their effect on MS- and GPCR-related gene expression profiles using custom arrays along with FTY720 treatment at non-toxic doses (EC10). It was found that both derivatives significantly activate CRE and increase cAMP concentration in all three cell lines, indicating that they activate cAMP pathway through cell surface receptors as FTY720 does. Furthermore, F1-12h and F2-9 modulate the expression of the pathway related genes that are important in inflammatory signaling, cAMP signaling pathway, cell migration as well as diverse receptor and transcription factors. Expression of the genes involved in myelination was also increased by the treatment with F1-12h and F2-9. In summary, our data demonstrate that the two novel FTY720 derivatives act as anti-inflammatory ultimately by influencing the gene expression via the cAMP and downstream transcription factor CRE pathway. In conclusion, F1-12h and F2-9 might contribute future therapies for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitors in Human Breast Cancer and Its Metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Despite development of novel cancer drugs, invasive ductal breast carcinoma and its metastasis are still highly morbid. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are being developed and Hsp90 is an important target for drug design. For this purpose, a series of benzodiazepine derivatives were designed and synthesized as novel Hsp90 inhibitor. METHODS: Benzodiazepine derivatives anticancer activities were determined by XTT cell proliferation assay against human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Effects of the compounds on endothelial function were monitored on human vascular endothelium (HUVEC) cell line as well. In order to determine the anti-proliferative mechanism of the compounds, in silico molecular docking studies were performed between Hsp90 ATPase domain and the benzodiazepine derivatives. Further, these compounds perturbation on Hsp90 ATPase function were tested. Fluorescence binding experiments showed that the derivatives bind Hsp90 effectively. Expression analysis of known cancer drug target genes by PCR array experiments suggest that the benzodiazepine derivatives have remarkable anticancer activity. RESULTS: A representative Benzodiazepine derivative D5 binds Hsp90 with Kd value of 3,93 µM and with estimated free energy of binding -7.99 (kcal/mol). The compound decreases Hsp90 ATPase function and inhibit Hsp90 client protein folding activity. The compound inhibits expression of both Hsp90 isoforms and key proteins (cell cycle receptors; PLK2 and TERT, kinases; PI3KC3 and PRKCE, and growth factors; IGF1, IGF2, KDR, and PDGFRA) on oncogenic pathways. CONCLUSION: Benzodiazepine derivatives presented here display anticancer activity. The compounds effect on both breast cancer and endothelial cell lines show their potential as drug templates to inhibit breast cancer and its metastasis.

A Novel Approach to Inhibit Heat Shock Response as Anticancer Strategy by Coumarine Compounds Containing Thiazole Skeleton.

Inhibition of the Hsp90 function is an essential therapeutic approach and several inhibitors were designed as anti-cancer agents. These inhibitors are ATPases and they aim to deregulate Hsp90 folding function. ATPase proteins are common in human metabolism but they form nonspecific targets. Hsp90 functions as dimer with coordinating chaperones. Heat Shock Organizing Protein (Hop) forms a bridge between Hsp90 and Hsp70-Hsp40 complex to form Hsp90-Hsp70 coordination. Perturbing conformational changes of these Hsp proteins, dimer formation, and protein-protein interactions inhibit Hsp90 substrate protein folding function. This approach does not target all ATPase proteins but targets Hsp90 function solely. For this purpose, we designed compounds to block Hsp90 function. Moreover, molecular docking studies as well as competition analysis of the compounds were performed with Hsp90. Novel thiazolyl coumarine compounds were determined as valuable C-terminal Hsp90 inhibitors and provide promising templates for the drug design. Anticancer activities of these novel compounds were tested by employing human colon (DLD-1) and liver cancer (HepG2) cell lines. Thiazolyl coumarine compounds are found to be significant and useful for the treatment of human colon and liver cancer as evidenced by in vitro and in silico results.

Synthesis of some novel thiocyanotopurine derivatives and investigation of their antimicrobial activity and DNA interactions.

A series of 6-thiocyanatopurine derivatives introduced with different alkyl groups in position 9 was synthesized. The structures of the synthesized compounds were evaluated via spectroscopic methods and elemental methods of analyses. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and for their antifungal activities against yeast strains. All the synthesized compounds showed better antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria compared to Gram-negative bacteria. DNA interactions with pBR322 DNA were determined. Most of the compounds caused conformational changes in DNA.

A novel synthesis of bromobenzenes using molecular bromine.

Certain substituted bromobenzenes have been synthesized in acceptable yields using a novel Sandmeyer type reaction. The reactions are relatively quick and possibly proceed via a radical mechanism.

The syntheses of some novel (naphthalen-1-yl-selenyl)acetic acid derivatives.

Some new (naphthalen-1-yl-selenyl)acetic acids derivatives 7a-d have been synthesized by two different methods, using naphthylselenols or naphthylselenocyanates. The structures of the products were investigated by spectroscopic methods.