RESUMO
The main feature of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, is the network of complex and not fully recognized neuronal pathways and targets involved in their onset and progression. The therapeutic treatment, at present mainly symptomatic, could benefit from a polypharmacological approach based on the development of a single molecular entity designed to simultaneously modulate different validated biological targets. This strategy is principally based on molecular hybridization, obtained by linking or merging different chemical moieties acting with synergistic and/or complementary mechanisms. The coumarin core, widely found in nature, endowed with a recognized broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, large synthetic accessibility and favourable pharmacokinetic properties, appears as a valuable, privileged scaffold to be properly modified in order to obtain compounds able to engage different selected targets. The scientific literature has long been interested in the multifaceted profiles of coumarin derivatives, and in this review, a survey of the most important results of the last four years, on both natural and synthetic coumarin-based compounds, regarding the development of anti-Alzheimer's compounds is reported.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Cumarínicos , Descoberta de Drogas , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Cumarínicos/química , Cumarínicos/uso terapêutico , Cumarínicos/farmacologia , Humanos , Animais , Produtos Biológicos/química , Produtos Biológicos/uso terapêutico , Produtos Biológicos/farmacologia , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/uso terapêutico , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/farmacologia , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/químicaRESUMO
Despite the significant outcomes attained by scientific research, breast cancer (BC) still represents the second leading cause of death in women. Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) BC accounts for the majority of diagnosed BCs, highlighting the disruption of estrogenic signalling as target for first-line treatment. This goal is presently pursued by inhibiting aromatase (AR) enzyme or by modulating Estrogen Receptor (ER) α. An appealing strategy for fighting BC and reducing side effects and resistance issues may lie in the design of multifunctional compounds able to simultaneously target AR and ER. In this paper, previously reported flavonoid-related potent AR inhibitors were suitably modified with the aim of also targeting ERα. As a result, homoisoflavone derivatives 3b and 4a emerged as well-balanced submicromolar dual acting compounds. An extensive computational study was then performed to gain insights into the interactions the best compounds established with the two targets. This study highlighted the feasibility of switching from single-target compounds to balanced dual-acting agents, confirming that a multi-target approach may represent a valid therapeutic option to counteract ER+ BC. The homoisoflavone core emerged as a valuable natural-inspired scaffold for the design of multifunctional compounds.
Assuntos
Inibidores da Aromatase , Aromatase , Neoplasias da Mama , Desenho de Fármacos , Receptor alfa de Estrogênio , Flavonoides , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias da Mama/enzimologia , Neoplasias da Mama/metabolismo , Inibidores da Aromatase/síntese química , Inibidores da Aromatase/química , Inibidores da Aromatase/farmacologia , Flavonoides/síntese química , Flavonoides/química , Flavonoides/farmacologia , Humanos , Feminino , Receptor alfa de Estrogênio/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptor alfa de Estrogênio/química , Receptor alfa de Estrogênio/metabolismo , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Aromatase/química , Aromatase/metabolismo , Termodinâmica , Concentração Inibidora 50 , Simulação de Acoplamento MolecularRESUMO
The complexity of neurodegenerative diseases, among which Alzheimer's disease plays a pivotal role, poses one of the tough therapeutic challenges of present time. In this perspective, a multitarget approach appears as a promising strategy to simultaneously interfere with different defective pathways. In this paper, a structural simplification plan was performed on our previously reported multipotent polycyclic compounds, in order to obtain a simpler pharmacophoric central core with improved pharmacokinetic properties, while maintaining the modulating activity on neuronal calcium channels and glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta (GSK-3ß), as validated targets to combat Alzheimer's disease. The molecular pruning approach applied here led to tetrahydroisoindole-dione (1), tetrahydromethanoisoindole-dione (2) and tetrahydroepoxyisoindole-dione (3) structures, easily affordable by Diels-Alder cycloaddition. Preliminary data indicated structure 3 as the most appropriate, thus a SAR study was performed by introducing different substituents, selected on the basis of the commercial availability of the furan derivatives required for the synthetic procedure. The results indicated compound 10 as a promising, structurally atypical, safe and BBB-penetrating Cav modulator, inhibiting both L- and N-calcium channels, likely responsible for the Ca2+ overload observed in Alzheimer's disease. In a multitarget perspective, compound 11 appeared as an effective prototype, endowed with improved Cav inhibitory activity, with respect to the reference drug nifedipine, and encouraging modulating activity on GSK-3ß.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Humanos , Glicogênio Sintase Quinase 3 beta , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Canais de Cálcio , NeurôniosRESUMO
Background: Malaria represents the major parasitic disease in tropical regions, and the development of new potent drugs is of pivotal importance. In this study, a series of hybrid molecules were designed by linking the 7-chloroquinoline core of chloroquine to different fluorinated flavonoid-related scaffolds. Materials & methods: Compounds were prepared by exploiting the click chemistry approach, allowing the introduction of a 1,2,3-triazole, a privileged structural motif in antiparasitic dug discovery. Results: Compounds 1b and 1c were the most interesting and were endowed with the highest in vitro activity, mainly against a resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain. They also inhibited hemozoin formation, and 1c was more effective than chloroquine against stage V gametocytes. Conclusion: The homoisoflavone core is a new, promising antimalarial scaffold that deserves further investigation.
Assuntos
Antimaláricos , Malária , Humanos , Antimaláricos/química , Flavonoides/farmacologia , Flavonoides/uso terapêutico , Triazóis/química , Cloroquina/química , Malária/tratamento farmacológico , Plasmodium falciparumRESUMO
Pharmacological treatment of complex pathologies, such as neurodegenerative diseases still represents a major challenge, due to the networked pathways involved in their onset and progression that may require equally complex therapeutic approaches. Polypharmacology, based on the simultaneous modulation of multiple targets involved in the disease, may offer the potential to increase effectiveness and reduce the drawbacks related to the use of drug combinations. Clearly, this approach requires both the knowledge of the systems responsible for disease development and the discovery of new attractive targets to be exploited to design a multitarget drug. Over the last years, an ever increasing interest has focused on the endocannabinoid system, implicated in the modulation of several physiological functions, among which neuroinflammation, a crucial process for most neurodegenerative diseases. In this respect, the cannabinoid receptor subtype 2 represents a promising therapeutic target, being overexpressed in microglia cells and thus involved in neuroinflammation. The indirect modulation of this system through the inhibition of the main enzymes responsible for endocannabinoids metabolism, namely fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase, may also significantly affect neurodegenerative processes. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the opportunities posed by the endocannabinoid system for neurodegenerative diseases management, mainly focusing on the potential for a multitarget strategy.
Assuntos
Endocanabinoides , Doenças Neurodegenerativas , Amidoidrolases/metabolismo , Endocanabinoides/metabolismo , Humanos , Monoacilglicerol Lipases/metabolismo , Doenças Neurodegenerativas/tratamento farmacológico , PolifarmacologiaRESUMO
Breast Cancer (BC) is a leading cause of death in women, currently affecting 13% of female population worldwide. First-line clinical treatments against Estrogen Receptor positive (ER+) BC rely on suppressing estrogen production, by inhibiting the aromatase (AR) enzyme, or on blocking estrogen-dependent pro-oncogenic signaling, by targeting Estrogen Receptor (ER) α with selective Modulators/Degraders (SERMs/SERDs). The development of dual acting molecules targeting AR and ERα represents a tantalizing alternative strategy to fight ER + BC, reducing the incidence of adverse effects and resistance onset that limit the effectiveness of these gold-standard therapies. Here, in silico design, synthesis, biological evaluation and an atomic-level characterization of the binding and inhibition mechanism of twelve structurally related drug-candidates enable the discovery of multiple compounds active on both AR and ERα in the sub-µM range. The best drug-candidate 3a displayed a balanced low-nanomolar IC50 towards the two targets, SERM activity and moderate selectivity towards a BC cell line. Moreover, most of the studied compounds reduced ERα levels, suggesting a potential SERD activity. This study dissects the key structural traits needed to obtain optimal dual acting drug-candidates, showing that multitarget compounds may be a viable therapeutic option to counteract ER + BC.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos Hormonais/uso terapêutico , Inibidores da Aromatase/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Antagonistas de Estrogênios/uso terapêutico , Antineoplásicos Hormonais/farmacologia , Inibidores da Aromatase/farmacologia , Antagonistas de Estrogênios/farmacologia , Feminino , HumanosRESUMO
Naturally occurring flavonoids are found as secondary metabolites in a wide number of plants exploited for both medicine and food and have long been known to be endowed with multiple biological activities, making them useful tools for the treatment of different pathologies. Due to the versatility of the scaffolds and the vast possibilities of appropriate decoration, they have also been regarded as fruitful sources of lead compounds and excellent chemical platforms for the development of bioactive synthetic compounds. Flavone-8-acetic acid (FAA) and 5,6-dimethylxanthone acetic acid (DMXAA) emerged for their antitumour potential due to the induction of cytokines and consequent rapid haemorrhagic necrosis of murine tumour vasculature, and different series of derivatives have been designed thereafter. Although the promising DMXAA failed in phase III clinical trials because of strict species-specificity, a boost in research came from the recent identification of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING), responsible for supporting tumoural innate immune responses, as a possible biological target. Consequently, in the last decade a renewal of interest for these flavonoid-based structures was noticed, and novel derivatives have been synthesised and evaluated for a deeper understanding of the molecular features needed for affecting human cells. Undoubtedly, these natural-derived molecules deserve further investigation and still appear attractive in an anticancer perspective.
Assuntos
Flavonoides/farmacologia , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Animais , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Ensaios Clínicos Fase III como Assunto , Humanos , Xantenos/farmacologia , Xantonas/farmacologiaRESUMO
In the last years, the connection between the endocannabinoid system (eCS) and neuroprotection has been discovered, and evidence indicates that eCS signaling is involved in the regulation of cognitive processes and in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accordingly, pharmacotherapy targeting eCS could represent a valuable contribution in fighting a multifaceted disease such as AD, opening a new perspective for the development of active agents with multitarget potential. In this paper, a series of coumarin-based carbamic and amide derivatives were designed and synthesized as multipotent compounds acting on cholinergic system and eCS-related targets. Indeed, they were tested with appropriate enzymatic assays on acetyl and butyryl-cholinesterases and on fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), and also evaluated as cannabinoid receptor (CB1 and CB2) ligands. Moreover, their ability to reduce the self-aggregation of beta amyloid protein (Aß42) was assessed. Compounds 2 and 3, bearing a carbamate function, emerged as promising inhibitors of hAChE, hBuChE, FAAH and Aß42 self-aggregation, albeit with moderate potencies, while the amide 6 also appears a promising CB1/CB2 receptors ligand. These data prove for the new compounds an encouraging multitarget profile, deserving further evaluation.
Assuntos
Canabinoides/química , Receptores Colinérgicos/química , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Amidoidrolases , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Animais , Barreira Hematoencefálica/efeitos dos fármacos , Carbamatos/farmacologia , Química Farmacêutica/métodos , Colinérgicos , Cumarínicos/uso terapêutico , Desenho de Fármacos , Endocanabinoides/metabolismo , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Humanos , Concentração Inibidora 50 , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Conformação Proteica , Ratos , Receptores de Canabinoides , Rivastigmina/farmacologiaRESUMO
The unmet need for the development of effective drugs to treat Alzheimer 's disease has been steadily growing, representing a major challenge in drug discovery. In this context, drug repurposing, namely the identification of novel therapeutic indications for approved or investigational compounds, can be seen as an attractive attempt to obtain new medications reducing both the time and the economic burden usually required for research and development programs. In the last years, several classes of drugs have evidenced promising beneficial effects in neurodegenerative diseases, and for some of them, preliminary clinical trials have been started. This review aims to illustrate some of the most recent examples of drugs reprofiled for Alzheimer's disease, considering not only the finding of new uses for existing drugs but also the new hypotheses on disease pathogenesis that could promote previously unconsidered therapeutic regimens. Moreover, some examples of structural modifications performed on existing drugs in order to obtain multifunctional compounds will also be described.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Preparações Farmacêuticas , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Descoberta de Drogas , Reposicionamento de Medicamentos , HumanosRESUMO
A small library of derivatives carrying a polycyclic scaffold recently identified by us as a new privileged structure in medicinal chemistry was designed and synthesized, aiming at obtaining potent MDR reverting agents also endowed with antitumor properties. In particular, as a follow-up of our previous studies, attention was focused on the role of the spacer connecting the polycyclic core with a properly selected nitrogen-containing group. A relevant increase in reverting potency was observed, going from the previously employed but-2-ynyl- to a pent-3-ynylamino moiety, as in compounds 3d and 3e, while the introduction of a triazole ring proved to differently impact on the activity of the compounds. The docking results supported the data obtained by biological tests, showing, for the most active compounds, the ability to establish specific bonds with P-glycoprotein. Moreover, a multifaceted anticancer profile and dual in vitro activity was observed for all compounds, showing both revertant and antitumor effects on leukemic cells. In this respect, 3c emerged as a "triple-target" agent, endowed with a relevant reverting potency, a considerable antiproliferative activity and a collateral sensitivity profile.
Assuntos
Antracenos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Hidrocarbonetos Aromáticos com Pontes/farmacologia , Resistência a Múltiplos Medicamentos/efeitos dos fármacos , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Succinimidas/farmacologia , Membro 1 da Subfamília B de Cassetes de Ligação de ATP/metabolismo , Antracenos/síntese química , Antracenos/metabolismo , Antineoplásicos/síntese química , Antineoplásicos/metabolismo , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Hidrocarbonetos Aromáticos com Pontes/síntese química , Hidrocarbonetos Aromáticos com Pontes/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Humanos , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Estrutura Molecular , Ligação Proteica , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/síntese química , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/metabolismo , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/farmacologia , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Succinimidas/síntese química , Succinimidas/metabolismoRESUMO
The current therapeutic approach for the treatment of hormone dependent breast cancer includes interference with estrogen receptors via either selective modulators or estrogens deprivation, by preventing their biosynthesis with aromatase inhibitors. Severe side effects and acquired resistance are drawbacks of both drug classes, and the efforts to overcome these issues still allow for research in this field to be animated. This review reports on recent findings that have opened new avenues for reconsidering the role of aromatase enzymes (and estrogen receptors) leading to the possibility of looking at well-known targets in a new perspective.
Assuntos
Inibidores da Aromatase/uso terapêutico , Aromatase/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias da Mama/enzimologia , Terapia de Alvo Molecular , Inibidores da Aromatase/química , Inibidores da Aromatase/farmacologia , Estrogênios/química , Estrogênios/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Receptores de Estrogênio/metabolismoRESUMO
Common copathogenic factors, including oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, are found to play a vital role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Nowadays, owing to the multifactorial character of the diseases, no effective therapies are available, thus underlying the need for new strategies. Overexpression of the enzyme GSK-3ß and downregulation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway are responsible for a decrease in antioxidant defense effects. These pieces of evidence underline the usefulness of dual GSK-3ß inhibitors/Nrf2 inducers. In this regard, to design a dual modulator, the structures of a curcumin-based analogue, as GSK-3ß inhibitor, and a diethyl fumarate fragment, as Nrf2 inducer, were combined. Among the hybrids, 5 and 6 proved to effectively inhibit GSK-3ß, while 4 and 5 showed a marked ability to activate Nrf2 together to increase the neuronal resistance to oxidative stress. These last pieces of evidence translated into specific neuroprotective effects of 4 and 5 against PD pathological events including neurotoxicity elicited by α-synuclein aggregates and 6-hydroxydopamine. Hybrid 5 also showed neuroprotective effects in a C. elegans model of PD where the activation of GSK-3ß is intimately involved in Nrf2 regulation. In summary, 5 emerged as an interesting multitarget derivative, valuable to be exploited in a multitarget PD perspective.
Assuntos
Curcumina , Doença de Parkinson , Animais , Caenorhabditis elegans , Curcumina/farmacologia , Fumaratos , Glicogênio Sintase Quinase 3 beta , Fator 2 Relacionado a NF-E2 , Doença de Parkinson/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
The burden of neoplastic diseases is widely recognized as a severe cause of mortality. The clinical inadequacy of most anticancer therapeutics urgently prompted intense drug discovery efforts toward the identification of new chemical entities endowed with a potent and safe antitumor profile. In this scenario, targeting cancer cells apoptosis machinery has emerged as a relevant strategy, useful for tackling the emergence of drug resistance. On this basis, a small library of naturally inspired hybrid molecules was obtained by combining, through a click chemistry approach, "privileged" synthons such as curcumin scaffold and 1,2,3-triazole building block. Compound 1, bearing a para-fluoro phenyl moiety, showed low-micromolar potency against T acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell growth. More in-depth biologic studies demonstrated, for this analog, cell death-inducing properties associated with its capability to simultaneously activate both the receptor and the mitochondrial apoptosis cascades. This peculiar behavior offers promises for achieving an expanded anticancer effect, namely intense cytotoxic response coupled with reduced predisposition of chemoresistance insurgence. Altogether, this study allowed the identification of compound 1 as a lead compound worth to be progressed as an anticancer drug candidate.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Apoptose , Curcumina/farmacologia , Leucemia de Células T/patologia , Potencial da Membrana Mitocondrial/efeitos dos fármacos , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/patologia , Triazóis/química , Antineoplásicos/química , Proliferação de Células , Curcumina/química , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Humanos , Leucemia de Células T/tratamento farmacológico , Estrutura Molecular , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/tratamento farmacológico , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Células Tumorais CultivadasRESUMO
In this paper, a small series of anthracene-maleimide-based compounds was prepared and evaluated to assess the antimicrobial potential of this polycyclic core, a scaffold previously unexplored for new antibiotic development. Some of the new compounds showed appreciable anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity, together with good safety profiles. In particular, compound 13 proved to be the most promising of the series, showing remarkable antimicrobial activity toward planktonic and sessile bacterial cells within a mature preformed biofilm. The mechanism of action seems to be related to the ability of this compound to interfere with bacterial membrane functionality, probably through the targeting of key enzymes responsible for membrane redox homeostasis and energy production. The data reported confirm the ability of this polycyclic nucleus to behave as a new "privileged structure", suitable to be further exploited in the antimicrobial field.
Assuntos
Antracenos/química , Antibacterianos/síntese química , Maleimidas/química , Compostos Policíclicos/síntese química , Staphylococcus aureus/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Membrana Externa Bacteriana/efeitos dos fármacos , Biofilmes/efeitos dos fármacos , Chlorocebus aethiops , Humanos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Estrutura Molecular , Compostos Policíclicos/química , Compostos Policíclicos/farmacologia , Infecções Estafilocócicas/microbiologia , Staphylococcus aureus/fisiologia , Células VeroRESUMO
To address the multifactorial nature of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a multi-target-directed ligand approach was herein developed. As a follow-up of our previous studies, a small library of newly designed 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives was evaluated towards cholinesterases and cannabinoid receptors. The two most promising compounds, 8 and 10, were then assessed for their neuroprotective activity and for their ability to modulate the microglial phenotype. Compound 8 emerged as able to fight AD from several directions: it restored the cholinergic system by inhibiting butyrylcholinesterase, showed neuroprotective activity against Aß1-42 oligomers, was a potent and selective CB2 ligand and had immunomodulatory effects, switching microglia from the pro-inflammatory M1 to the neuroprotective M2 phenotype. Derivative 10 was a potent CB2 inverse agonist with promising immunomodulatory properties and could be considered as a tool for investigating the role of CB2 receptors and for developing potential immunomodulating drugs addressing the endocannabinoid system.
Assuntos
Benzofuranos/farmacologia , Inibidores da Colinesterase/farmacologia , Fatores Imunológicos/farmacologia , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/farmacologia , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/farmacologia , Acetilcolinesterase/metabolismo , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/antagonistas & inibidores , Animais , Benzofuranos/síntese química , Benzofuranos/química , Benzofuranos/metabolismo , Butirilcolinesterase/química , Butirilcolinesterase/metabolismo , Células CHO , Domínio Catalítico , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Inibidores da Colinesterase/síntese química , Inibidores da Colinesterase/química , Inibidores da Colinesterase/metabolismo , Cricetulus , Desenho de Fármacos , Humanos , Fatores Imunológicos/síntese química , Fatores Imunológicos/química , Fatores Imunológicos/metabolismo , Camundongos , Microglia/efeitos dos fármacos , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/síntese química , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/química , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/metabolismo , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/antagonistas & inibidores , Ligação Proteica , Receptor CB1 de Canabinoide/metabolismo , Receptor CB2 de Canabinoide/metabolismo , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/síntese química , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/química , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/metabolismoRESUMO
The discovery of the relevant role played by a dysregulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system in several pathological conditions has prompted an extensive research in this field. In this Letter, a series of cannabinoid receptor ligands bearing a previously unexplored polycyclic scaffold was designed and synthesized, in order to evaluate the potential of a new easily affordable privileged structure. The new compounds showed an appreciable affinity and a significant selectivity for the CB2 receptor and are endowed with an intriguing noncompetitive antagonist behavior. Due to the ability of the polycyclic structure to be easily modified in different ways, these compounds could represent convenient chemical tools to be exploited in order to better understand the endocannabinoid system impact on physiopathological conditions.
RESUMO
The inhibition of steroidogenic cytochrome P450 enzymes has been shown to play a central role in the management of life-threatening diseases such as cancer, and indeed potent inhibitors of CYP19 (aromatase) and CYP17 (17α hydroxylase/17,20 lyase) are currently used for the treatment of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. In the last few decades CYP11B1 (11-ß-hydroxylase) and CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase), key enzymes in the biosynthesis of cortisol and aldosterone, respectively, have been also investigated as targets for the identification of new potent and selective agents for the treatment of Cushing's syndrome, impaired wound healing and cardiovascular diseases. In an effort to improve activity and synthetic feasibility of our different series of xanthone-based CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 inhibitors, a small series of imidazolylmethylbenzophenone-based compounds, previously reported as CYP19 inhibitors, was also tested on these new targets, in order to explore the role of a more flexible scaffold for the inhibition of CYP11B1 and -B2 isoforms. Compound 3 proved to be very potent and selective towards CYP11B1, and was thus selected for further optimization via appropriate decoration of the scaffold, leading to new potent 4'-substituted derivatives. In this second series, 4 and 8, carrying a methoxy group and a phenyl ring, respectively, proved to be low-nanomolar inhibitors of CYP11B1, despite a slight decrease in selectivity against CYP11B2. Moreover, unlike the benzophenones of the first series, the 4'-substituted derivatives also proved to be selective for CYP11B enzymes, showing very weak inhibition of CYP19 and CYP17. Notably, the promising result of a preliminary scratch test performed on compound 8 confirmed the potential of this compound as a wound-healing promoter.
Assuntos
Benzofenonas/farmacologia , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Esteroide 11-beta-Hidroxilase/antagonistas & inibidores , Cicatrização/efeitos dos fármacos , Xantonas/farmacologia , Benzofenonas/síntese química , Benzofenonas/química , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Inibidores Enzimáticos/síntese química , Inibidores Enzimáticos/química , Humanos , Estrutura Molecular , Esteroide 11-beta-Hidroxilase/metabolismo , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Xantonas/químicaRESUMO
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer among women for which an exhaustive cure has not been discovered yet. Nowadays, tamoxifen still represents the gold standard for breast cancer therapy; it acts on both estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers. Unfortunately, its toxicity and the related chemoresistance undermine its antitumor potential. In this paper, new tamoxifen-based derivatives with a rigid structural motif in their structure were designed, synthesized, and evaluated to assess their antitumor behavior. All the tested compounds affected estrogen receptor-positive tumor (MCF-7) cell growth, even with different extents, among which, the most active ones proved also to induce mitochondria-mediated apoptosis through activation of PARP cleavage, decrease in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and increase in Bim gene expression levels. Here we found that the compound 1, carrying a rigid xanthene core, turned out to be the most promising of the set showing an activity profile comparable to that of tamoxifen. Furthermore, a more favorable genotoxic profile than tamoxifen made compound 1 a promising candidate for further studies.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Tamoxifeno/farmacologia , Xantenos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/síntese química , Antineoplásicos/química , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Humanos , Células MCF-7 , Estrutura Molecular , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Tamoxifeno/química , Células Tumorais Cultivadas , Xantenos/químicaRESUMO
The occurrence of invasive fungal infections represents a substantial threat to human health that is particularly serious in immunocompromised patients. The limited number of antifungal agents, devoid of unwanted toxic effects, has resulted in an increased demand for new drugs. Herein, the chalcone framework was functionalized to develop new antifungal agents able to interfere with cell growth and with the infection process. Thus, a small library of chalcone-based analogues was evaluated in vitro against C. albicans ATCC 10231 and a number of compounds strongly inhibited yeast growth at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Among these, 5 and 7 interfered with the expression of two key virulence factors in C. albicans pathogenesis, namely, hyphae and biofilm formation, while 28 emerged as a potent and broad spectrum antifungal agent, enabling the inhibition of the tested Candida spp. and non-Candida species. Indeed, these compounds combine two modes of action by selectively interfering with growth and, as an added value, weakening microbial virulence. Overall, these compounds could be regarded as promising antifungal candidates worthy of deeper investigation. They also provide a chemical platform through which to perform an optimization process, addressed at improving potency and correcting liabilities.
Assuntos
Antifúngicos/química , Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Chalconas/química , Fungos/efeitos dos fármacos , Chumbo/química , Chumbo/farmacologia , Animais , Biofilmes/efeitos dos fármacos , Candida albicans/efeitos dos fármacos , Chlorocebus aethiops , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Fungos/fisiologia , Concentração Inibidora 50 , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Estrutura Molecular , Células Vero , Fatores de Virulência , Leveduras/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Current healthcare has significantly increased the average life expectancy, leading to a consequently greater incidence of age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Following a multitarget approach, in this paper a series of polycyclic maleimide-based derivatives were designed and synthesized aimed at simultaneously modulate neuronal calcium channels and glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta (GSK-3ß), validated targets to combat Alzheimer' disease. Different structural modifications were performed on the polycyclic scaffold in order to investigate the structure-activity relationships and compound 10 emerged as a promising non-toxic lead compound, endowed with calcium modulating brain-addressed properties and significant GSK-3ß inhibitory activity. Moreover, the easily affordable polycyclic core appears as a new appealing privileged structure in medicinal chemistry.