Theoretical calculations of a model of NOS indazole inhibitors: interaction of aromatic compounds with Zn-porphyrins.

We report a theoretical approach, at the M05-2x/6-311+G(d) level, to explain the affinity of indazoles for nitric oxide synthases using a simplified model of porphyrin. The theoretical E(rel)=E(i) stacking-E(i) apical values correlate with the experimental inhibition percents allowing to predict that 3,7-dinitro-1H-indazole should be a good NOS inhibitor.

Cytotoxic effects of metal protoporphyrins in glioblastoma cells: roles of albumin, reactive oxygen species, and heme oxygenase-1.

We investigate the cytotoxic effect of metal protoporphyrins including ferric protoporphyrin (FePP; hemin), cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), and tin protoporphyrin (SnPP) in glioblastoma cells C6 and GBM8401. Data of MTT assay show that FePP and CoPP, but not SnPP, significantly reduce the viability of glioma cells C6 and GBM8401 in the absence of serum. In the condition with fetal bovine serum (FBS) or bovine serum albumin (BSA), the cytotoxic effect of FePP and CoPP was completely inhibited. Binding of FePP, CoPP, and SnPP with BSA was examined via spectrophotometer analysis, and the protective effect of serum against FePP and CoPP-induced cell death was abolished by BSA depletion. A loss in the integrity of DNA with an occurrence of apoptotic events including DNA ladders, caspase 3 and PARP protein cleavage, and chromatin-condensed cells is observed in FePP-treated or CoPP-treated C6 cells. An increase in intracellular peroxide level was examined in FePP, but not CoPP, -treated C6 cells, and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) addition significantly protected C6 cells from FePP, but not CoPP, -induced cell death with reducing FePP-stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Activation of extracellular regulated kinases (ERKs) and c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNKs) with an increase in the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein was observed in FePP-treated or CoPP-treated C6 cells in the absence of FBS or BSA, and adding JNKs inhibitor SP600125 (SP), but not ERKs inhibitor PD98059 (PD), significantly attenuated FePP-induced or CoPP-induced HO-1 protein expression in accordance with reducing JNKs protein phosphorylation. However, PD98059, SP600125, or transfection of C6 cells with antisense HO-1 oligonucleotides show no effect on the cytotoxicity elicited by FePP and CoPP in C6 cells. Effect of serum and BSA on the cytotoxicity of metal protoporphyrins in glioma cells is first demonstrated in the present study, and the roles of ROS, MAPKs, and HO-1 were elucidated.

Characterization of a human plasma membrane heme transporter in intestinal and hepatocyte cell lines.

Heme is the most bioavailable form of dietary iron and a component of many cellular proteins. Controversy exists as to whether heme uptake occurs via specific transport mechanisms or passive diffusion. The aims of this study were to quantify cellular heme uptake with a fluorescent heme analog and to determine whether heme uptake is mediated by a heme transporter in intestinal and hepatic cell lines. A zinc-substituted porphyrin, zinc mesoporphyrin (ZnMP), was validated as a heme homolog in uptake studies of intestinal (Caco-2, I-407) and hepatic (HepG2) cell lines. Uptake experiments to determine time dependence, heme inhibition, concentration dependence, temperature dependence, and response to the heme synthesis inhibitor succinylacetone were performed. Fluorescence microscope images were used to quantify uptake and determine the cellular localization of ZnMP; ZnMP uptake was seen in intestinal and hepatic cell lines, with cytoplasmic uptake and nuclear sparing. Uptake was dose- and temperature dependent, inhibited by heme competition, and saturated over time. Preincubation with succinylacetone augmented uptake, with an increased initial uptake rate. These findings establish a new method for quantifying heme uptake in individual cells and provide strong evidence that this uptake is a regulated, carrier-mediated process.

Co-administration of melatonin reverses the tin-protoporphyrin (SnPP) induced decline of cytochrome P450 content in vivo in rats.

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5 methoxytryptamine) is a low molecular weight antioxidant and is an endogeneous defense system against the deleterious actions of the extremely reactive hydroxyl radical. Among the enzymes that participate in the antioxidant functions is cytochrome P-450, a stalwart of the detoxification system in the body. Our results revealed that tin-protoporphyrin administration brought about a marked decline in cytochrome P-450 levels. This decline was, however, reversed by the coadministration of the antioxidant, melatonin. Thus, the enhanced antioxidant status in melatonin-treated rats may act as a protective mediator of various pharmacological functions altered during tin-protoporphyrin (an antihyperbilirubemenic agent) administration to Wistar rats.