Syntheses and structures of copper(I) complexes based on Cu(n)X(n) (X = Br and I; n = 1, 2 and 4) units and bis(pyridyl) ligands with longer flexible spacer.

Self-assembly of four bis(pyridyl) ligands with longer flexible spacer: 1,4-bis(3-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene (L1), 1,4-bis(2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene (L2), 1,3-bis(3-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene (L3) and 1,3-bis(2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene (L4), and CuX (X = Br and I) leads to the formation of eight [Cu(n)X(n)]-based (X = Br and I; n = 1, 2, and 4) complexes, [Cu(2)I(2)L1(PPh(3))(4)] (1), [Cu(4)Cl(2)Br(2)(L4)(2)(PPh(3))(6)]·(CH(3)CN)(2) (2), [Cu(2)I(2)(L3)(2)] (3), {[Cu(2)Br(2)L2(PPh(3))(2)]·(CH(2)Cl(2))(2)}(n) (4), [CuIL1](n)·nCH(2)Cl(2) (5), [CuIL1](n) (6), [CuIL4](n) (7) and [Cu(2)I(2)L4](n) (8), which have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, TG, powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analyses show that the eight complexes possess an increasing dimensionality from 0D (1-3) to 1D (4) to 2D (5-8), in which 1 and 2 contain a CuX unit, 2-7 contain a Cu(2)X(2) unit and 8 contains a Cu(4)X(4) unit. Such evolvement indicates that the conformation of flexible bis(pyridyl) ligands and the participation of triphenylphosphine (PPh(3)) as a second ligand take an essential role in the framework formation of the Cu(i) complexes. Moreover, a pair of symmetry-related L3 ligands in complex 3 coordinate to the rhomboid Cu(2)I(2) dimer to form "handcuff-shaped" dinuclear structures, which are further joined together through intermolecular N-HI hydrogen bonds to furnish a 2D (4,4) layer. Although complexes 5 and 6 exhibit a similar 2D (4,4) layer constructed from L1 ligand bridging [Cu(2)I(2)](n) units, the different packing fashion of the layers leads to the formation of 3D porous frameworks of 5 and dense 3D frameworks of 6. The "twisted-boat" conformation of the Cu(4)I(4) tetramer unit in complex 8 has not been reported so far.

Forskolin up-regulates metastasis-related phenotypes and molecules via protein kinase B, but not PI-3K, in H7721 human hepato-carcinoma cell line.

Forskolin (FSK) is known as an up-regulator of intracellular cAMP and inhibitor of cancer growth and metastasis. The effects of FSK on the metastasis potential and its mechanisms were studied using a human hepatocarcinoma cell line, H7721. It was found that FSK stimulated cell growth, increased cAMP in the cells, and enhanced the metastasis-related phenotypes, including adhesion to laminin (Ln) and human umbilical vein epithelial cells (HUVEC), chemotactic migration and invasion. These effects were supposed to result from the increase of the SLex expression induced by FSK, since only the monoclonal antibody of SLex showed a significant attenuation of the enhanced metastasis-associated phenotypes. Using H7721 cells transfected with the sense or antisense cDNA of protein kinase B (PKB) and some inhibitors of signal transduction, it was discovered that FSK up-regulated the expression of SLex via PKB, but it was independent of phosphotidylinositide-3-kinase (PI-3K). A subtype of atypical protein kinase C (a-PKC) might also participate in the up-regulation of SLex expression by FSK, and cAMP/PKA pathway is a negative regulator of SLex expression on H7721 cells. It can be concluded that FSK shows a metastasis-promoting effect ex vivo.

Insulin/protein kinase B signalling pathway upregulates metastasis-related phenotypes and molecules in H7721 human hepatocarcinoma cell line.

The effect of insulin on cancer metastatic potential was studied in a human hepatocarcinoma cell line, H7721. Cell adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and laminin as well as chemotactic cell migration and invasion were selected as the indices of metastasis-related phenotypes for assessment of metastatic potential ex vivo. The results indicated that insulin enhanced all of these metastasis-related phenotypes. After the cells were treated with specific inhibitor of PI3K (LY294002) or transfected with antisense cDNA of PKB (AS-PKB), all of the above phenotypes were attenuated, and they could not be significantly stimulated by insulin, indicating that the insulin effect on metastatic potential was mediated by PI3K and PKB. Only the monoclonal antibody to the sialyl Lewis X (SLe(x)), but not antibodies to other Lewis antigens, significantly blocked the cell adhesion to HUVECs, cell migration and invasion, suggesting that SLe(x) played a crucial role in the metastatic potential of H7721 cells. The upregulation of cell surface SLe(x) and alpha-1,3-fucosyltransferase-VII (alpha-1,3 Fuc T-VII, enzyme for SLe(x) synthesis) was also mediated by PI3K and PKB, since LY294002 and AS-PKB also reduced the expressions of SLe(x) and alpha-1,3 FucT-VII, and attenuated the response to insulin. Furthermore, the alterations in the expressions of PKB protein and activity were correlated to the changes of metastatic phenotypes and SLe(x) expression. Taken together, the insulin/PKB signalling pathway participated in the enhancement of metastatic potential of H7721 cells, which was mediated by the upregulation of the expression of SLe(x) and alpha-1,3 FucT-VII.

[Relationship between terminal sialyl and fucosyl residues of glycans on cell surface and cell biological behaviors].

The relationship between the structures of glycans on the surface of H7721 cells, a human hepatocarcinoma cell line, and the cell behaviors was studied by using neuraminidase and alpha-L-fucosidase to remove the terminal sialyl or fucosyl residues of surface glycans respectively. The cell adhesion to fibronectin (Fn), laminin (Ln) and human umbilical vein epithelial cell (HUVEC), as well as cell chemotactic migration and invasion were selected as the parameters of the cell behaviors. It was found that sialyl residue was not essential for the cell adhesion to Fn, but was important in the cell adhesion to Ln and chemotactic cell invasion, and very crucial in the cell adhesion to HUVEC and chemotactic migration. In contrast, fucosyl residue was probably participate in cell adhesion to Fn, Ln and HUVEC, but not important in chemotactic migration and invasion. The cell adhesion to HUVEC, chemotactic migration and invasion were inhibited by the monoclonal antibody of sialyl Lewis X (SLex), but not by the antibody of non-sialyl Lewis X (Lex). This result supports the finding that sialyl residue is more important than fucosyl residue in the contribution to the above-mentioned three cell processes.