Effect of MRJF4 on C6 Glioma Cells Proliferation and Migration.

BACKGROUND: MRJF4, a novel haloperidol metabolite II prodrug, was obtained through the esterification of the secondary hydroxyl group of haloperidol metabolite II with 4-phenylbutyric acid. The activities of (±)-MRJF4 and its two enantiomers [(+)-MRJF4 and (-)-MRJF4] as tumor specific inducers of pro-apoptotic genes were evaluated on malignant C6 glioma cells. In particular, changes in Nf-κB signaling pathway, activity of nitric oxide synthases (NOS), metalloproteinases (MMPs), and membrane adhesion proteins were investigated. RESULTS: IκBα reduced phosphorylation and iNOS lowered activity could be correlated with the previously demonstrated decreased proliferation and tumor progression of C6 cells upon 24 h of treatment with all the three compounds. Integrin ß1 decreased expression, at the same experimental time, seems to support lower C6 cells migrative capability and the consequent reduced invasiveness of these cells upon treatment with (±)-MRJF4 and its enantiomers. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that this multi-target prodrug and its two enantiomers might be a valuable clinical tool for the treatment of metastatic glioblastoma.

Haloperidol metabolite II prodrug: asymmetric synthesis and biological evaluation on rat C6 glioma cells.

In a previous work we reported the antiproliferative effects of (±)-MRJF4, a novel haloperidol metabolite II (HP-mII) (a sigma-1 antagonist and sigma-2 agonist) prodrug, obtained through conjugation to 4-phenylbutyric acid (PhBA) [a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi)] via an ester bond. As a continuation of this work, here we report the asymmetric synthesis of compounds (R)-(+)-MRJF4 and (S)-(-)-MRJF4 and the evaluation of their biological activity on rat C6 glioma cells, derived from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which is the most common and deadliest central nervous system (CNS) invasive malignancy. Favourable physicochemical properties, high permeability in the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA), good enzymatic and chemical stability, in vivo anticancer activity, associated with the capacity to reduce cell viability and to increase cell death by apoptosis, render compound (R)-(+)-MRJF4 a promising candidate for the development of a useful therapeutic for gliomas therapy.

New flurbiprofen derivatives: synthesis, membrane affinity and evaluation of in vitro effect on ß-amyloid levels.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by irreversible and progressive loss of memory and cognition and profound neuronal loss. Current therapeutic strategies for the treatment of AD have been directed to a variety of targets with the aim of reversing or preventing the disease but, unfortunately, the available treatments often produce no significant clinical benefits. During the last decades compounds that inhibit or modulate γ-secretase, reducing ß amyloid (Aß) levels, have been considered as potential therapeutics for AD. Among these the (R)-enantiomer of flurbiprofen (FLU) seems to be very promising, but it shows low brain penetration. In this study, in order to improve the properties of FLU against Alzheimer's pathogenesis we synthesized some novel FLU lipophilic analogues. Lipophilicity of the new molecules has been characterized in terms of clogP, log K(C18/W) and log K(IAM/W) values. Permeability has been determined in both gastrointestinal PAMPA (PAMPA-GI) at different pH values and in brain blood barrier PAMPA (PAMPA-BBB) models. They were also tested for their ability to inhibit in vitro γ-secretase activity using rat CTXTNA2 astrocytes. Interestingly, the investigated molecules demonstrated to reduce Aß 42 levels without affecting the amyloid precursor protein APP level in a clear concentrations-dependent manner.

Ibuprofen and lipoic acid conjugate neuroprotective activity is mediated by Ngb/Akt intracellular signaling pathway in Alzheimer's disease rat model.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a frequent form of senile dementia. Neuroglobin (Ngb) has a neuroprotective role and decreases Aß peptide levels. Ngb, promoting Akt phosphorylation, activates cell survival involving cyclic-nucleotide response element-binding protein (CREB). A new molecule (IBU-LA) was synthetized and administered to an AD rat model to counteract AD progression. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the IBU-LA-mediated induction of Ngb neuroprotective and antiapoptotic activities. METHODS: Brain morphology was analyzed through Bielschowsky staining, Aß(1-40) and Ngb expression by immunohistochemistry. Akt, p-Akt, CREB and p-CREB expression was evaluated by Western blot, apoptosis through cytochrome C/Apaf 1 immunocomplex formation, and TUNEL analysis. RESULTS: Bielschowsky staining and Aß(1-40) expression show few nerve connections and Aß(1-40) expression in an Aß sample, preserved neuronal cells and Aß(1-40) expression lowering in an IBU sample, mostly in IBU-LA. The Ngb level decreases in Aß samples, compared to control and IBU-LA samples. p-Akt/Akt and p-CREB/CREB ratios reveal a reduction in Aß sample, going back to the basal level in control and IBU-LA samples. Cytochrome C/Apaf 1 co-immunoprecipitate occurs and TUNEL-positive nuclei percentage decreases in Aß sample. Probe test performance shows an increased spatial reference memory in the IBU-LA compared to the Aß sample; no significant differences were seen between the IBU-LA and IBU samples. CONCLUSION: This evidence reveals that IBU-LA administration has the capability to maintain a high Ngb level allowing Ngb to perform a neuroprotective and antiapoptotic role, representing a valid tool in the therapeutic strategy of AD progression.

A role for PLCß1 in myotonic dystrophies type 1 and 2.

Phosphoinositide-phospholipase C ß1 (PLCß1) plays a crucial role in the initiation of the genetic program responsible for muscle differentiation. We previously demonstrated that nuclear PLCß1 activates the cyclin D3 promoter during the differentiation of myoblasts to myotubes, indicating that PLCß1 is essential for cyclin D3 promoter activation and gene transcription, through c-jun/AP1. Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is the most prevalent form of muscular dystrophy in adults. DM type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) are dominantly inherited multisystem disorders. DM1 is triggered by the pathological expansion of a (CTG)(n) triplet repeat in the gene coding for DMPK, the dystrophia myotonica-protein kinase, whereas a (CCTG)(n) tetranucleotide repeat expansion in the ZNF9 gene, encoding a CCHC-type zinc finger protein, causes DM2. We found that, unlike in normal myotubes, the level of expression of PLCß1 in DM1 and DM2 cells was already elevated in proliferating cells. Treatment with insulin induced a dramatic decrease in the amount of PLCß1. During differentiation, cyclin D3 and myogenin were elevated in normal myotubes, whereas differentiating DM1 and DM2 cells did not increase these proteins. Forced expression of PLCß1 in DM1 and DM2 cells increased the expression of differentiation markers, myogenin and cyclin D3, and enhanced fusion of DM myoblasts. These results highlight again that PLCß1 expression is a key player in myoblast differentiation, functioning as a positive regulator in the correction of delayed differentiation of skeletal muscle in DM human myoblasts.