Copper binding to naturally occurring, lactam form of angiogenin differs from that to recombinant protein, affecting their activity.

Angiogenin is a member of the ribonuclease family and a normal constituent of human plasma. It is one of the most potent angiogenic factors known and is overexpressed in different types of cancers. Copper is also an essential cofactor in angiogenesis and, during this process, it is mobilized from inside to outside of the cell. To date, contrasting results have been reported about copper(ii) influencing angiogenin activity. However, in these studies, the recombinant form of the protein was used. Unlike recombinant angiogenin, that contains an extra methionine with a free terminal amino group, the naturally occurring protein present in human plasma starts with a glutamine residue that spontaneously cyclizes to pyroglutamate, a lactam derivative. Herein, we report spectroscopic evidence indicating that copper(ii) experiences different coordination environments in the two protein isoforms, and affects their RNase and angiogenic activity differently. These results show how relatively small differences between recombinant and wild type proteins can result in markedly different behaviours.

Imprinting structural information from a GpG ligand into the configuration of a chiral diamine ligand through second-sphere communication in platinum(II) complexes.

Cisplatin forms the cis-Pt(NH3)2(d(GpG)) cross-link with DNA. We have recently created novel d(GpG) conformations by using "retro models" (complexes having bulky carrier ligands designed to slow d(GpG) dynamic motion). Our results define four conformer classes: HH1, HH2, delta HT1, and delta HT2, with a head-to-head or head-to-tail base orientation and a phosphodiester backbone with a normal (1) or opposite (2) propagation direction. Moreover, each G residue can be syn or anti, and the base canting can be left-handed (L) or right-handed (R). Thus, 32 variants of cis-Pt(NH3)2(d(GpG)) are conceivable, but the adduct is too dynamic to study. Thus far, by using retro models, we have obtained evidence for five variants with d(GpG) but only four with GpG. We therefore selected Me2DAPPt(GpG) complexes for study by 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy, CD spectroscopy, and molecular mechanics and dynamics (MMD) calculations. Coordinated Me2DAP (N,N'-dimethyl-2,4-diaminopentane) has N, C, C, N chiral centers designated, for example, as R,R,R,R. This ligand has greater flexibility and more readily inverted N centers than ligands used previously in GpG retro models. One goal was to determine whether the GpG ligand can control the configuration of a carrier ligand. (R,R,R,R)-Me2DAPPt(GpG) forms the anti, anti HH1 R variant almost exclusively. Equal populations of the two possible linkage isomers of (S,R,R,R)-Me2DAPPt(GpG) are formed, both favoring the anti, anti HH1 R, variant; however, the isomer with the 5'-G cis to the S nitrogen has sharper signals, suggesting that interligand interactions are more favorable. Indeed, this linkage isomer was the major product of isomerization when (R,R,R,R)-Me2DAPPt(GpG) was kept at pH approximately 9.5 to allow N center equilibration. Steric clashes between the Me2DAP C-Me groups and the G O6 atoms found by MMD calculations appear to disfavor the HH1 conformer of (S,S,S,S)-Me2DAPPt(GpG) and (S,S,S,R)-Me2DAPPt(GpG) complexes. These two complexes have a significant population of the anti, syn delta HT1 conformer, as indicated by broad 1H NMR signals and by 31P NMR and CD data. Equilibration of (S,S,S,R)-Me2DAPPt(GpG) at pH 9.5 leads to a mixture of (S,S,S,S)-Me2DAPPt(GpG) and at least one isomer of (S,S,S,R)-Me2DAPPt(GpG). Thus, second-sphere communication (hydrogen bonding and steric interligand interactions) influences both GpG conformation and Me2DAP configuration.

Replacement of an NH(3) by an iminoether in transplatin makes an antitumor drug from an inactive compound.

To investigate the modifications of antitumor activity and DNA binding mode of transplatin after replacement of one nonleaving group NH(3) by an iminoether group, trans-[PtCl(2)(Z-HN=C(OMe)Me)(NH(3)] and trans-[PtCl(2)(E-HN=C(OMe)Me)(NH(3)] complexes (differing in the Z or E configuration of iminoether, and abbreviated mixed Z and mixed E, respectively), have been synthesized. In a panel of human tumor cell lines, both mixed Z and mixed E show a cytotoxic potency higher than that of transplatin, the mean IC(50) values being 103, 37, and 215 microM, respectively. In vivo mixed Z is more active and less toxic than mixed E in murine P388 leukemia and retains its efficacy against SK-OV-3 human cancer cell xenograft in nude mice. In the reaction with naked DNA, mixed Z forms monofunctional adducts that do not evolve into intrastrand cross-links but close slowly into interstrand cross-links between complementary guanine and cytosine residues. The monofunctional mixed Z adducts are removed by thiourea and glutathione. The interstrand cross-links behave as hinge joints, increasing the flexibility of DNA double helix. The mixed Z, transplatin, and cisplatin interstrand cross-links, as well as mixed Z monofunctional adducts are not specifically recognized by HMG1 protein, which was confirmed to be able to specifically recognize cisplatin d(GpG) intrastrand cross-links. These data demonstrate that the DNA interaction properties of the antitumor-active mixed Z are very similar to those of transplatin, thus suggesting that clinical inactivity of transplatin could not depend upon its peculiar DNA binding mode.

DNA interactions of antitumor cisplatin analogs containing enantiomeric amine ligands.

Modifications of natural DNA and synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes in a cell-free medium by analogs of antitumor cisplatin containing enantiomeric amine ligands, such as cis-[PtCl(2)(RR-DAB)] and cis-[PtCl(2)(SS-DAB)] (DAB = 2,3-diaminobutane), were studied by various methods of molecular biophysics and biophysical chemistry. These methods include DNA binding studies by pulse polarography and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, mapping of DNA adducts using transcription assay, interstrand cross-linking assay using gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, differential scanning calorimetry, chemical probing, and bending and unwinding studies of the duplexes containing single, site-specific cross-link. The major differences resulting from the modification of DNA by the two enantiomers are the thermodynamical destabilization and conformational distortions induced in DNA by the 1,2-d(GpG) intrastrand cross-link. It has been suggested that these differences are associated with a different biological activity of the two enantiomers observed previously. In addition, the results of the present work are also consistent with the view that formation of hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl oxygen of the guanine residues and the "quasi equatorial" hydrogen of the cis amine in the 1, 2-d(GpG) intrastrand cross-link plays an important role in determining the character of the distortion induced in DNA by this lesion.

Influence of carrier ligand NH hydrogen bonding to the O6 and phosphate group of guanine nucleotides in platinum complexes with a single guanine ligand.

Coordinated N,N',N"-trimethyldiethylenetriamine (Me3dien) has several possible configurations: two have mirror symmetry (R,S configurations at the terminal nitrogens) and the terminal N-Me's anti or syn with respect to the central N-Me (anti-(R,S) and syn-(R,S) isomers, respectively), and two are nonsymmetrical (R,R and S,S configurations at terminal nitrogens, rac denotes a 1:1 mixture of the two isomers). For each configuration, two Me3dienPtG atropisomers can be formed (anti or syn orientation of central N-Me and G 06, G = guanine derivative), and these can be observed since the terminal N-Me's decrease the rate of G rotation about the Pt-N7 bond. In symmetrical syn-(R,S)-Me3dienPtG derivatives with G = 9-EtG and 3'-GMP, the anti rotamer, which can form O6-NH H-bonds, was slightly favored over the syn rotamer but never more than 2:1. This anti rotamer is also favored by lower steric repulsion between the terminal N-Me's and G O6; thus, the contribution of O6-NH H-bonding to the stability of the anti rotamer could be rather small. With G = 5'-GMP, an O6-NH H-bond in the anti rotamer and a phosphate-NH H-bond in the syn rotamer can form. Only the syn rotamer was detected in solution, indicating that NH H-bonds to 5'-phosphate are far more important than to O6, particularly since steric factors favor the anti rotamer. Interconversion between rotamers was faster for syn-(R,S)- than for rac-Me3dien derivatives. This appears to be determined by a smaller steric impediment to G rotation of two "quasi equatorial" N-Me's, both on one side of the platinum coordination plane (syn-(R,S) isomer), than one "quasi equatorial" and one "quasi axial" N-Me on either side of the coordination plane (rac isomer).

Antitumor Trans Platinum DNA Adducts: NMR and HPLC Study of the Interaction Between a trans-Pt Iminoether Complex and the Deoxy Decamer d(CCTCGCTCTC).d(GAGAGCGAGG).

The single-stranded oligonucleotide 5'-d(CCTCGCTCTC) (I) was reacted with the antitumor trans platinum iminoderivative trans-[PtCl(2){E-HN = C(OMe)Me}(2)] (trans-EE) and subsequently annealed with its complementary strand 5'-d(GAGAGCGAGG) (II). The platinated duplex was characterized by 1D and 2D proton NMR spectroscopy at 600 MHz. In agreement with previous studies by different techniques trans-EE was found to form a monofunctional adduct with the duplex involving the guanine residue. The modification by trans-EE has been found to induce only minor local distortion in the duplex geometry. Two key crosspeaks observed in the NOESY map corresponding to a close contact between G5-H8 and the methoxy and the methyl group, respectively, enabled us to dock the trans-EE complex with the duplex by geometry optimization. The results support the idea that the antitumor activity of trans-EE is related to lesion of DNA fundamentally different from that of cisplatin. Unexpectedly, the NOESY spectra indicated that at the high NaCl concentration used (0.2 M) the duplex was found to undergo slow deplatination. This was subsequently proved by HPLC. In a separate experiment on platination of the single strand in a salt free environment the HPLC analysis showed that the monofunctional adduct was not deplatinated, however, after 24 hours, additidnal minor isomers were detected.

Antitumor Trans Platinum Adducts of GMP and AMP.

Recently it has been shown that several analogues of the clinically ineffective trans-DDP exhibit antitumor activity comparable to that of cis-DDP. The present paper describes the binding of antitumor trans-[PtCl(2)(E-iminoether)(2)] (trans-EE) to guanosinemonophosphate (GMP) and adenosinemonophosphate (AMP). We have used HPLC and (1)H and (15)N NMR to characterize the different adducts. In the case of a 1:1 mixture of trans-EE and GMP, at an early stage of the reaction, a monofunctional adduct is formed which, subsequently, is partly converted into a monosolvated monofunctional species. After about 70 hours an equilibrium is established between chloro and solvato monofunctional adducts at a ratio of 30/70. In the presence of excess GMP (4:1) the initially formed monofunctional adducts react further to give two bifunctional adducts, one with the iminoether ligands in their original E configurations and the other with the iminoether ligands having one E and the other, Z configurations. The coordination geometry obtained by energy minimization calculations is in qualitative agreement with 2D NMR data.

Reaction of cis- and trans-Dichlorotetra(Dimethylsulfoxide)Ruthenium(II) With the Antiviral Drug Acyclovir.

NMR was used to investigate the reaction of cis- and trans-[RuCl(2)(DMSO)(4)] with the antiviral drug acyclovir, a guanine derivative containing the acyclic (2-hydroxo) ethoxymethyl pendant linked to N(9). Studies were performed in aqueous solutions at ambient temperature and at 37 ( degrees )C, and at various molar ratios. Both isomers yielded two compounds, a monoadduct and a bisadduct, the relative yields being dependent upon the metal to ligand concentration ratios. The products derived from the two Ru isomers displayed identical NMR spectra, suggesting that they have the same coordination environment, however the rate of formation of the monoadduct was higher in the case of the trans isomer than in the case of the cis isomer, while the rate of conversion of the monoadduct into the bisadduct appeared to be similar in both cases. As a consequence in the case of the trans isomer there is accumulation of monoadduct in the early stage of the reaction, whose concentration afterwards decreases with the progress of the reaction. As for platinum, also for ruthenium the preferred binding site is N(7) of the purine base, however, in the case of ruthenium a discrete amount of bisadduct is formed even in the presence of an excess of metallic substrate with respect to the acyclovir ligand; under similar conditions a platinum substrate would have given, nearly exclusively, the monoadduct.

Intercalation of proflavine and a platinum derivative of proflavine into double-helical Poly(A).

The equilibria and kinetics of the interactions of proflavine (PR) and its platinum-containing derivative [PtCl(tmen)(2)HNC(13)H(7)(NHCH(2)CH(2))(2)](+) (PRPt) with double-stranded poly(A) have been investigated by spectrophotometry and Joule temperature-jump relaxation at ionic strength 0.1 M, 25 degrees C, and pH 5.2. Spectrophotometric measurements indicate that base-dye interactions are prevailing. T-jump experiments with polarized light showed that effects due to field-induced alignment could be neglected. Both of the investigated systems display two relaxation effects. The kinetic features of the reaction are discussed in terms of a two-step series mechanism in which a precursor complex DS(I) is formed in the fast step, which is then converted to a final complex in the slow step. The rate constants of the fast step are k(1) = (2.5 +/- 0.4) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), k(-1) = (2.4 +/- 0.1) x 10(3) s(-1) for poly(A)-PR and k(1) = (2.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), k(-1) = (1.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(3) s(-1) for poly(A)-PRPt. The rate constants for the slow step are k(2) = (4.5 +/- 0.5) x 10(2) s(-1), k(-2) = (1.7 +/- 0.1) x 10(2) s(-1) for poly(A)-PR and k(2) = 9.7 +/- 1.2 s(-1), k(-2) = 10.6 +/- 0.2 s(-1) for poly(A)-PRPt. Spectrophotometric measurements yield for the equilibrium constants and site size the values K = (4.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(3) M(-1), n = 1.3 +/- 0.5 for poly(A)-PR and K = (2.9 +/- 0.1) x 10(3) M(-1), n = 2.3 +/- 0.6 for poly(A)-PRPt. The values of k(1) are similar and lower than expected for diffusion-limited reactions. The values of k(-1) are similar as well. It is suggested that the formation of DS(I) involves only the proflavine residues in both systems. In contrast, the values of k(2) and k(-2) in poly(A)-PRPt are much lower than in poly(A)-PR. The results suggest that in the complex DS(II) of poly(A)-PRPt both proflavine and platinum residues are intercalated. In addition, a very slow process was detected and ascribed to the covalent binding of Pt(II) to the adenine.

In vitro antitumour activity and cellular pharmacological properties of the platinum-iminoether complex trans-[PtCl2[E-HN=C(OMe)Me]2].

The platinum complex trans-[PtCl2¿E-HN=C(OMe)Me¿2] was compared to cisplatin for cytotoxicity towards tumour cells, and for cellular pharmacological properties in A2780 and cisplatin-resistant A2780/Cp8 ovarian cancer cells. Trans-[PtCl2¿E-HN=C(OMe)Me¿2] was comparably cytotoxic to cisplatin (mean IC50 after 72 h exposure = 6. 1 microM and 7 microM, respectively) and did not show cross-resistance in A2780/Cp8 cells (resistance factor = 0.9). Cellular accumulation measurements after treatment with equimolar drug concentrations showed that trans-[PtCl2¿E-HN=C(OMe)Me¿2] entered both A2780 and A2780/Cp8 cells much more efficiently than cisplatin, whose accumulation was reduced in A2780/Cp8 cells. Unlike cisplatin, trans-[PtCl2¿E-HN=C(OMe)Me¿2] induced rapidly cell death and cell cycle modifications of treated cells, thus indicating substantially different mechanistic properties.

Cytotoxicity and DNA binding mode of new platinum-iminoether derivatives with different configuration at the iminoether ligands.

The platinum-iminoether complexes trans-[PtCl2[E - HN = C(OEt)Me]2] (1) and trans-[PtCl2[Z - HN = C(OEt)Me[2] (2), differing in the configuration of the iminoether ligands, were investigated for cytotoxicity towards human tumor cell lines, the involvement of DNA as a cytotoxic target, and their DNA binding mode. The cytotoxicity of isomer 1 was comparable to that of cisplatin, whereas isomer 2 was slightly less active. Excision-repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum group A cells were four times more sensitive to both isomers than normal cells, thus implicating cellular DNA as the cytotoxic target. Replication mapping experiments showed that both isomers interact preferentially with guanine residues at py-G-py sites. Oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing unique N7-guanine monofunctional adducts of the more cytotoxic isomer 1 were prepared and investigated for chemical reactivity, stability and DNA conformational alterations. The results showed that the ability of thiourea to labilize the monofunctional adducts depends upon the DNA secondary structure, but not upon the sequence context. Monofunctional adducts evolve to bidentate adducts in single-stranded oligonucleotides, but they are stable in double-stranded oligonucleotides and produce conformational distortions selectively located at the 5'-adjacent base pair. This study gives new insight into the mechanism of action of trans platinum-iminoether complexes, enabling for the first time comparison between different ligand isomers.

In vitro and in vivo antitumour activity and cellular pharmacological properties of new platinum-iminoether complexes with different configuration at the iminoether ligands.

In order to widen our knowledge on antitumour trans-[PtCl2(iminoether)2] complexes, we have synthesised two new derivatives, trans-[PtCl2¿E-HN = C(OEt)Me¿2] (1) and trans-[PtCl2¿Z-HN = C(OEt)Me¿2] (2), which differ in the configuration of the iminoether ligands. Isomer 1 showed an in vitro cytotoxicity similar to that of cisplatin in a panel of human tumour cell lines (mean IC50 = 8 and 7.7 microM, respectively), whereas isomer 2 showed a lower activity (IC50 = 14.3 microM). Both 1 and 2 isomers overcame cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer cell line A2780/Cp8. In agreement with the n-octanol/saline partition ratios, intracellular platinum content (and DNA platination) after a 2-h exposure to equimolar drug concentrations was in the order 1 > 2 >> cisplatin, thus indicating that substitution of imminoethers for ammines determines a major lipophilicity and cellular uptake of the platinum drug. Both 1 and 2 showed a major toxic effect towards an excision repair-defective Drosophila strain, thus indicating cellular DNA as cytotoxic target. Finally, both 1 and 2 were active in vivo against the murine P388 system, but, contrary to the in vitro activity, isomer 2 was slightly more active than 1. On the whole, the results confirm the antitumour activity of trans-[PtCl2(iminoether)2] complexes, and indicate that the configuration of the iminoether ligands may affect the pharmacological properties of this class of complexes.

DNA interactions of a novel platinum drug, cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(N7-acyclovir)]+.

We synthesized a novel platinum drug, cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(N7-ACV)]+, in which ACV is the antiviral drug acyclovir [a deoxyriboguanosine analogue, 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine]. This new compound exhibits antiviral efficacy in vitro and exhibits an antitumor activity profile different from that of cisplatin [Metal-Based Drugs 2:249-256 (1995)]. To contribute to understanding the mechanisms underlying biological activity of this new compound, we studied modifications of natural and synthetic DNAs in cell-free media by cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(N7-ACV)]+ by various biochemical and biophysical methods. The results indicated that the major DNA adduct of cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(N7-ACV)]+ was a stable monofunctional adduct at guanine residues. In contrast to DNA adducts of other monodentate and clinically ineffective platinum(II) compounds, the adducts of cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(N7-ACV)]+ terminated in vitro DNA and RNA synthesis. In addition, although DNA adducts of cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(N7-ACV)]+ and cisplatin were different, some properties of DNA modified by either compound were qualitatively similar. Such similarities were not noticed if DNA modifications by other ineffective monofunctional platinum(II) complexes were investigated. Thus, the DNA binding mode of monofunctional cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(N7-ACV)]+ was different from that of other monofunctional but ineffective platinum(II) complexes. It has been suggested that the unique capability of cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(N7-ACV)]+ to modify DNA may be relevant to a distinct antitumor efficiency of this novel drug in comparison with cisplatin. It also has been suggested that at least some aspects of DNA interactions of cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(ACV)]+ revealed in the current study could be exploited in the search for and development of new antiviral platinum complexes containing, as a part of the coordination sphere, antiviral nucleosides.

DNA modifications by antitumor trans-[PtCl2(E-iminoether)2].

Recent findings that an analogue of clinically ineffective transplatin, trans-[PtCl2(E-iminoether)2], exhibits antitumor activity has helped reevaluation of the empirical structure-antitumor activity relationship generally accepted for platinum(II) complexes. According to this relationship, only the cis geometry of leaving ligands in the bifunctional platinum(II) complexes, should be therapeutically active. Global modifications of natural DNAs in cell-free media by trans-[PtCl2(E-iminoether)2] were studied through various molecular biophysical methods and compared with modifications by cis-[PtCl2(E-iminoether)2], transplatin, cisplatin, and monofunctional chlorodiethylenetriamineplatinum(II) chloride. Thus, the results of this study have extended our recent finding, indicating that the prevalent lesion occurring in double-helical DNA on its modification by trans-[PtCl2(E-iminoether)2] is a monofunctional adduct at guanine residues. The modification by trans-[PtCl2(E-iminoether)2] has been found to induce local distortions in DNA, which have a character differing fundamentally from those induced by both clinically ineffective or antitumor platinum complexes tested in this study. The different character of alterations induced in DNA by the adducts of trans-[PtCl2(E-iminoether)2] and transplatin has been suggested to be relevant to the unexpected observation that the new complex with leaving chloride groups in trans position exhibits antitumor efficacy. In addition, the results support the idea that platinum drugs that bind to DNA in a manner fundamentally different from that of cisplatin can exhibit altered biological properties, including differing spectra and intensities of antitumor activity.

The effect of antitumor trans-[PtCl2(E-iminoether)2] on B-->Z transition in DNA.

The B-->Z transition of DNA modified by platinum(II) complexes has attracted considerable interest because of a possible relationship with the molecular mechanism of antitumor activity of these metal-based compounds. Until recently it was generally accepted that the cis geometry of leaving groups in the bifunctional platinum(II) complexes should be therapeutically active. This paradigm had to be abandoned recently due to the finding that several analogues of clinically ineffective trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (transplatin) exhibit antitumor activity. One of these therapeutically active trans compounds is trans-dichlorobisiminoetherplatinum(II) (trans-EE) [iminoether = E-HN = C(OMe)Me]. In view of the fact that DNA is the main pharmacological target for platinum(II) complexes and that these complexes attack preferentially guanine residues in DNA, it is of interest to examine the effect of iminoether platinum(II) complexes on the conformation of double-stranded poly(dG-dC) and its synthetic analogues. As these polymers can undergo the B-->Z transition, we have investigated in detail the effect of trans-EE and its cis isomer (cis-EE) on this conformational transformation using different techniques. They include circular dichroism spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and immunochemical assay employing specific antibodies against Z-DNA. It has been shown that cis-EE somewhat facilitates the B-->Z transition induced by increasing NaCl concentration and radically lowers its cooperativity. The polymers modified by cis-EE at low or high salt concentrations have been found to adopt distorted conformations which belong to the B and Z families respectively. Thus, cis-EE affects the B-->Z transition in DNA in a way similar to antitumor cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin). On the other hand, trans-EE was found to affect B-->Z transition (its cooperativity or the NaCl concentration corresponding to the midpoint of the salt-induced transition) only slightly. This behavior of trans-EE was, however, fundamentally different from that of clinically ineffective transplatin, which hinders B-->Z transition and lowers its cooperativity. The different effects of trans-EE on the B-->Z transition in comparison with the effects of cisplatin, transplatin and monofunctional chlorodiethylenetriamineplatinum(II) chloride are consistent with a unique DNA binding mode of this new antitumor trans compound, which might be associated with its unexpected biological efficacy.

High resolution proton MR spectroscopy of cerebrospinal fluid in MS patients. Comparison with biochemical changes in demyelinating plaques.

Proton magnetic spectroscopy (1H-MRS) investigation was performed on CSF samples of patients with neurological inflammatory diseases including 52 cases of multiple sclerosis (MS). 12 acute idiopathic polyneuropathies, 20 acute meningitides (10 viral and 10 bacterial). Spectra were compared with those acquired in 18 neurological controls. High CSF lactate levels were found in MS patients during clinical exacerbation of relapsing-remitting course (p = 0.036 vs neurological controls). In MS patients with MRI evidence of Gd-enhanced plaques CSF lactate was higher than in patients with MRI inactive plaques (p = 0.017). CSF lactate positivity correlated with number of CSF mononuclear cells in MS patients with clinical activity (p = 0.05) as well as in MS patients with MRI enhancement (p = 0.003). A comparative 1H-MRS investigation in vivo on localized demyelinating areas confirmed an elevated lactate signal in Gd-enhanced (61%) more frequently than in unenhanced (22%) plaques (p = 0.03). MS patients with high lactate signal in active plaques showed high lactate levels in CSF. Increased CSF lactate was found also in patients with acute meningitis and idiopathic polyneuropathy. These data suggest that changes in lactate levels may depend on anaerobic glycolytic metabolism in activated leukocytes during inflammatory diseases. A decrease of CSF formulate levels was found in MS patients during active and inactive clinical phase (p = 0.037, p=0.05 vs neurological controls respectively). Formate changes might be related to a disorder of choline-glycine cycle in MS. 1H-MRS in vivo showed significant increase of choline in acute plaques, whereas a decrease of N-acetyl aspartate was found in chronic plaques; these metabolites are undetectable in CSF. CSF glucose levels were lower in bacterial than in viral meningitis (p = 0.014) and in neurological controls (p = 0.05). These observations suggest that 1H-MRS may be able to detect CSF metabolic impairment in neurological inflammatory diseases. In MS some CSF findings reflect metabolic changes occurring in brain demyelinating areas, and they could be useful foe evaluation of disease activity in different stages of disease evolution.

DNA adducts of antitumor trans-[PtCl2 (E-imino ether)2].

It has been shown recently that some analogues of clinically ineffective trans-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (transplatin) exhibit antitumor activity. This finding has inverted the empirical structure-antitumor activity relationships delineated for platinum(II) complexes, according to which only the cis geometry of leaving ligands in the bifunctional platinum complexes is therapeutically active. As a result, interactions of trans platinum compounds with DNA, which is the main pharmacological target of platinum anticancer drugs, are of great interest. The present paper describes the DNA binding of antitumor trans-[PtCl(2)(E-imino ether)(2)] complex (trans-EE) in a cell-free medium, which has been investigated using three experimental approaches. They involve thiourea as a probe of monofunctional DNA adducts of platinum (II) complexes with two leaving ligands in the trans configuration, ethidium bromide as a probe for distinguishing between monofunctional and bifunctional DNA adducts of platinum complexes and HPLC analysis of the platinated DNA enzymatically digested to nucleosides. The results show that bifunctional trans-EE preferentially forms monofunctional adducts at guanine residues in double-helical DNA even when DNA is incubated with the platinum complex for a relatively long time (48 h at 37 degrees C in 10 mM NaCIO(4). It implies that antitumor trans-EE modifies DNA in a different way than clinically ineffective transplatin, which forms prevalent amount of bifunctional DNA adducts after 48 h. This result has been interpreted to mean that the major adduct of trans-EE, occurring in DNA even after long reaction times, is a monofunctional adduct in which the reactivity of the second leaving group is markedly reduced. It has been suggested that the different properties of the adducts formed on DNA by transplatin and trans-EE are relevant to their distinct clinical efficacy.

Platinum(II) complexes containing iminoethers: a trans platinum antitumour agent.

The biological activity of cis and trans complexes of formula [PtCl2(HN = C(OMe)Me)2] has been investigated. The iminoether ligands can have either E or Z configuration about the C = N double bond, therefore EE, EZ and ZZ isomers are obtainable. Substitution of iminoether with EE configuration for amine leads to unexpectedly high antitumor activity for the complex with trans geometry which turns out to be more active than the cis congener in the P388 leukaemia system. The same trans-EE complex shows an activity comparable to that of cisplatin in reducing the primary tumour mass and lung metastases in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma, thus representing a trans platinum complex active on both limphoproliferative and solid metastasizing murine tumours. Also the cytotoxicity, the inhibition of DNA synthesis and the mutagenic activity, which are greater for the cis- with respect to the trans-isomer in the amine complexes, are instead greater for the trans- than for the cis- isomer in the case of iminoether compounds. Binding to calf thymus DNA is slower for iminoether complexes than it is for amine complexes, however after 24 h reaction time the level of binding is similar for both types of complexes. Trans-EE, like trans-DDP, does not give the DNA conformational alterations (terbium fluorescence) typical of antitumour-active cis- platinum compounds, but, under strictly analogous experimental conditions, shows a greatly reduced DNA interstrand cross-linking ability (heat denaturation/renaturation assay) with respect to either trans-DDP or cis-EE and cis-DDP. The data in hand point to a new trans platinum antitumour complex with a mechanism of action different from that of cis-DDP and classical analogues.

Platinum(II)-Acyclovir Complexes: Synthesis, Antiviral and Antitumour Activity.

A platinum(II) complex with the antiviral drug acyclovir was synthesized and its antiviral and anticancer properties were investigated in comparison to those of acyclovir and cisplatin. The platinum-acyclovir complex maintained the antiviral activity of the parent drug acyclovir, though showing a minor efficacy on a molar basis (ID(50) = 7.85 and 1.02 muMu for platinum-acyclovir and cisplatin, respectively). As anticancer agent, the platinum-acyclovir complex was markedly less potent than cisplatin on a mole-equivalent basis, but it was as effective as cisplatin when equitoxic dosages were administered in vivo to P388 leukaemia-bearing mice (%T/C = 209 and 211 for platinum-acyclovir and cisplatin, respectively). The platinum-acyclovir complex was also active against a cisplatin-resistant subline of the P388 leukaemia (%T/C = 140), thus suggesting a different mechanism of action. The DNA interaction properties (sequence specificity and interstrand cross-linking ability) of platinum-acyclovir were also investigated in comparison to those of cisplatin and [Pt(dien)Cl](+), an antitumour-inactive platinum-triamine compound. The results of this study point to a potential new drug endowed, at the same time, with antiviral and anticancer activity and characterized by DNA interaction properties different from those of cisplatin.

Contribution of h-bonding to the preference of platinum anti-tumour drugs for particular bases and particular cross-links.

The stereochemical factors that influence the tendencies for sequence specific binding of platinum antitumour drugs to DNA are examined. The NHs of the platinum-amine moiety can form hydrogen bonds to the O6 of guanine or to a phosphate oxygen of DNA. Modelling the stereochemistry of the NH atoms can lead to compounds with a strong preference for forming one type of adduct with DNA.