Cytocompatible and non-fouling zwitterionic hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels using thiol-ene "click" chemistry for cell encapsulation.

In this work, a facile click reaction strategy is employed to form hydrogels in situ with cytocompatibility, biodegradability, self-healing property and resistance to protein. The thiol-functionalized zwitterionic carboxybetaine methacrylate copolymer, which take part as a cross-linker in the "thiol-ene" click reaction with the methacrylated hyaluronic acid. The hydrogels are obtained under the physiological condition without the presence of any copper catalyst and UV light. The hydrogel consisting of zwitterionic component shows an obvious reduction in protein adsorption and cell adhesion and avoid non-targeted factor interference in the biological experiments. The hydrogels also demonstrate adjustable degradation behavior. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are easily encapsulated into the hydrogels and remains metabolically active, indicating the excellent biocompatibility of the hydrogels. Additionally, the result of the cytokine secretion assays (IL-6 and TNF-α) has shown that this clickable hydrogel can serve to suppress inflammatory reactions and is beneficial for in vivo applications. Based on the above results, this clickable hydrogel with excellent performance can be an amenable platform for 3D cell encapsulation.

Identification of Novel Metabolites of Vildagliptin in Rats: Thiazoline-Containing Thiol Adducts Formed via Cysteine or Glutathione Conjugation.

Vildagliptin (VG), a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, is used for treating type 2 diabetes. On rare occasions, VG causes liver injury as an adverse reaction. One case report suggested the involvement of immune responses in the hepatotoxicity, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We recently reported that VG binds covalently in vitro to l-cysteine to produce a thiazoline acid metabolite, M407, implying that the covalent binding may trigger the immune-mediated hepatotoxicity. There was no evidence, however, that such a thiazoline acid metabolite was formed in vivo. In the present study, we administered a single oral dose of VG to male Sprague-Dawley rats, and detected M407 in plasma. The sum of urinary and fecal excretions of M407 reached approximately 2% of the dose 48 hours postdosing. Using bile duct-cannulated rats, we demonstrated that M407 was secreted into bile as a glucuronide, designated as M583. Another newly identified thiazoline metabolite of VG, the cysteinylglycine conjugate M464, was detected in urine, feces, and bile. The formation of M464 was confirmed by in vitro incubation of VG with glutathione even in the absence of metabolic enzymes. A glutathione adduct against the nitrile moiety M611 was also detected in vitro but not in vivo. In summary, we found three new thiazoline-containing thiol adduct metabolites in VG-administered rats. Nonenzymatic covalent binding of VG would likely occur in humans, and it may be relevant to predicting adverse reactions.

Protective effects of taurine against inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in brain injury.

The protective effect of taurine against inflammation, apoptosis and oxidative stress in traumatic brain injury was investigated in the present study. Taurine is a non­proteogenic and essential amino acid in animals. It plays a critical nutritional role in brain cell growth, differentiation, and development. Taurine is involved in regeneration and neuroprotection in the injured nervous system, and is an effective antioxidant against lead­, cadmium­, and exercise­induced oxidative stress. Astrocytes and neuron cells were co­cultured and cells were treated with different concentrations of taurine (100, 200 and 300 mg/l) for 72 h, and the levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, acetylcholinesterase, tumor necrosis factor­α, interleukin­6, caspase­3, p53, B­cell lymphoma 2 and Bcl­2­associated X protein were determined. These inflammatory, apoptotic, and oxidative stress markers were substantially increased in injured cells, and returned to normal levels following taurine supplementation. Thus, taurine supplementation may be effective against oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in injured brain cells.

Quantifying engineered nanomaterial toxicity: comparison of common cytotoxicity and gene expression measurements.

BACKGROUND: When evaluating the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials (ENMS) it is important to use multiple bioassays based on different mechanisms of action. In this regard we evaluated the use of gene expression and common cytotoxicity measurements using as test materials, two selected nanoparticles with known differences in toxicity, 5 nm mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)-capped InP and CdSe quantum dots (QDs). We tested the effects of these QDs at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 160 µg/mL on cultured normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells using four common cytotoxicity assays: the dichlorofluorescein assay for reactive oxygen species (ROS), the lactate dehydrogenase assay for membrane viability (LDH), the mitochondrial dehydrogenase assay for mitochondrial function, and the Comet assay for DNA strand breaks. RESULTS: The cytotoxicity assays showed similar trends when exposed to nanoparticles for 24 h at 80 µg/mL with a threefold increase in ROS with exposure to CdSe QDs compared to an insignificant change in ROS levels after exposure to InP QDs, a twofold increase in the LDH necrosis assay in NHBE cells with exposure to CdSe QDs compared to a 50% decrease for InP QDs, a 60% decrease in the mitochondrial function assay upon exposure to CdSe QDs compared to a minimal increase in the case of InP and significant DNA strand breaks after exposure to CdSe QDs compared to no significant DNA strand breaks with InP. High-throughput quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) data for cells exposed for 6 h at a concentration of 80 µg/mL were consistent with the cytotoxicity assays showing major differences in DNA damage, DNA repair and mitochondrial function gene regulatory responses to the CdSe and InP QDs. The BRCA2, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CDK1, SFN and VEGFA genes were observed to be upregulated specifically from increased CdSe exposure and suggests their possible utility as biomarkers for toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: This study can serve as a model for comparing traditional cytotoxicity assays and gene expression measurements and to determine candidate biomarkers for assessing the biocompatibility of ENMs.

Monohalogenated acetamide-induced cellular stress and genotoxicity are related to electrophilic softness and thiol/thiolate reactivity.

Haloacetamides (HAMs) are cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic byproducts of drinking water disinfection. They are soft electrophilic compounds that form covalent bonds with the free thiol/thiolate in cysteine residues through an SN2 reaction mechanism. Toxicity of the monohalogenated HAMs (iodoacetamide, IAM; bromoacetamide, BAM; or chloroacetamide, CAM) varied depending on the halogen substituent. The aim of this research was to investigate how the halogen atom affects the reactivity and toxicological properties of HAMs, measured as induction of oxidative/electrophilic stress response and genotoxicity. Additionally, we wanted to determine how well in silico estimates of electrophilic softness matched thiol/thiolate reactivity and in vitro toxicological endpoints. Each of the HAMs significantly induced nuclear Rad51 accumulation and ARE signaling activity compared to a negative control. The rank order of effect was IAM>BAM>CAM for Rad51, and BAM≈IAM>CAM for ARE. In general, electrophilic softness and in chemico thiol/thiolate reactivity provided a qualitative indicator of toxicity, as the softer electrophiles IAM and BAM were more thiol/thiolate reactive and were more toxic than CAM.

S-substituted 3,5-dinitrophenyl 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiols and tetrazole-5-thiols as highly efficient antitubercular agents.

Two new classes of antitubercular agents, namely 5-alkylsulfanyl-1-(3,5-dinitrophenyl)-1H-tetrazoles and 2-alkylsulfanyl-5-(3,5-dinitrophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles, and their structure-activity relationships are described. These compounds possessed excellent activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including the clinically isolated multidrug (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains, with no cross resistance with first or second-line anti-TB drugs. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the most promising compounds reached 0.03 µM. Furthermore, these compounds had a highly selective antimycobacterial effect because they were completely inactive against 4 gram positive and 4 gram negative bacteria and eight fungal strains and had low in vitro toxicity for four mammalian cell lines, including hepatic cell lines HepG2 and HuH7. Although the structure-activity relationship study showed that the presence of two nitro groups is highly beneficial for antimycobacterial activity, the analogues with a trifluoromethyl group instead of one of the nitro groups maintained a high antimycobacterial activity, which indicates the possibility for further structural optimization of this class of antitubercular agents.

Sulfhydryl-Based Inhibition of δ-ALA-D and Na+ , K+ -ATPase Activities Depends on the Organoselenium Group Bonded to the Isoquinoline.

Organoselenium compounds and isoquinoline derivatives have their toxicity linked to induction of pro-oxidant situations. δ-Aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) and Na+ , K+ -ATPase have sulfhydryl groups susceptible to oxidation. Thus, we investigated toxicological effects of 4-organoseleno-isoquinoline derivatives, cerebral monoamine oxidase B inhibitors, on rat cerebral δ-ALA-D and Na+ , K+ -ATPase activities and the involvement of sulfhydryl groups in vitro. Compounds substituted with fluoro (4-(4-fluorophenylseleno)-3-phenylisoquinoline), chloro (4-(4-chlorophenylseleno)-3-phenylisoquinoline) and trifluoro (4-(3-trifluoromethylphenylseleno)-3-phenylisoquinoline) at the selenium-bonded aromatic ring inhibited δ-ALA-D (IC50 values: 78.42, 92.27, 44.98 µM) and Na+ , K+ -ATPase (IC50 values: 41.36, 89.43, 50.66 µM) activities, possibly due to electronic effects induced by these groups. 3-Phenyl-4-(phenylseleno) isoquinoline (without substitution at the selenium-bonded aromatic ring) and 4-(4-methylphenylseleno)-3-phenylisoquinoline (with a methyl group substituted at the selenium-bonded aromatic ring) did not alter the activity of these enzymes. Dithiothreitol, a reducing agent, restored the enzymatic activities inhibited by 4-(4-fluorophenylseleno)-3-phenylisoquinoline, 4-(4-chlorophenylseleno)-3-phenylisoquinoline and 4-(3-trifluoromethylphenylseleno)-3-phenylisoquinoline, suggesting the involvement of sulfhydryl residues in this effect. However, the release of essential zinc seems not to be related to the δ-ALA-D inhibition by these compounds. According to these data, the effect of oral administration (300 mg/kg, intragastric) of 3-phenyl-4-(phenylseleno) isoquinoline on markers of systemic toxicity in Wistar rats was evaluated. None signs of toxicity was observed during or after treatment. This study suggests that the insertion of electron-withdrawing groups in the aromatic ring bonded to the selenium atom of isoquinolines tested increased its inhibitory effect on sulfhydryl enzymes in vitro. 3-Phenyl-4-(phenylseleno) isoquinoline, which has documented pharmacological properties, had no toxicological effects on the parameters evaluated in this study. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1144-1150, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Single Nanoprobe for Ratiometric Imaging and Biosensing of Hypochlorite and Glutathione in Live Cells Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

Hypochlorite (ClO-) and glutathione (GSH) have been reported to closely correlate with oxidative stress and related diseases; however, a clear mechanism is still unknown, mainly owing to a lack of accurate analytical methods for live cells. Herein we create a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoprobe, 4-mercaptophenol (4-MP)-functionalized gold flowers (AuF/MP), for imaging and biosensing of ClO- and GSH in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells upon oxidative stress. The SERS spectra of AuF/MP change with the reaction between ClO- and 4-MP on AuFs within 1 min and then recover after reaction with GSH, resulting in the ratiometric detection of ClO- and GSH with high accuracy. The single SERS probe also shows high selectivity for ClO- and GSH detection against other reactive oxygen species and amino acids which may exist in biological systems, as well as remarkable sensitivity ascribed to a larger amount of hot spots on AuFs. The significant analytical performance of the developed nanoprobe, together with good biocompatibility and high cell-permeability, enables the present SERS probe imaging and real-time detection of ClO- and GSH in live cells upon oxidative stress.

Influence of S-Oxidation on Cytotoxic Activity of Oxathiole-Fused Chalcones.

Synthesis, in vitro cytotoxic activity, and interaction with tubulin of oxidized, isomeric 1-(5-alkoxybenzo[d][1,3]oxathiol-6-yl)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ones and 1-(6-alkoxybenzo[d][1,3]oxathiol-5-yl)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ones are described. Most of the compounds demonstrated cytotoxic activity at submicromolar concentrations. It was found that oxidation of sulfur atom of the oxathiole-fused chalcones strongly influenced activity of the parent compounds, and that depending on relative position of the sulfur atom in the molecule, the activity was either increased or diminished. For isomers with sulfur atom para to the chalcone carbonyl group, oxidation led to increase in activity, while for isomers with sulfur atom meta to the carbonyl the activity dropped down. It was demonstrated that the compounds interact with tubulin at the colchicine binding site, and the interaction was evaluated using molecular modeling. It was concluded that the observed profound influence of oxidation of the sulfur atom on cytotoxic activity cannot be solely related to interaction of the compounds with tubulin.

Toxicological characterisation of a thio-arsenosugar-glycerol in human cells.

Arsenosugars are water-soluble arsenic species predominant in marine algae and other seafood including mussels and oysters. They typically occur at levels ranging from 2 to 50mg arsenic/kg dry weight. Most of the arsenosugars contain arsenic as a dimethylarsinoyl group (Me2As(O)-), commonly referred to as the oxo forms, but thio analogues have also been identified in marine organisms and as metabolic products of oxo-arsenosugars. So far, no data regarding toxicity and toxicokinetics of thio-arsenosugars are available. This in vitro-based study indicates that thio-dimethylarsenosugar-glycerol exerts neither pronounced cytotoxicity nor genotoxicity even though this arsenical was bioavailable to human hepatic (HepG2) and urothelial (UROtsa) cells. Experiments with the Caco-2 intestinal barrier model mimicking human absorption indicate for the thio-arsenosugar-glycerol higher intestinal bioavailability as compared to the oxo-arsenosugars. Nevertheless, absorption estimates were much lower in comparison to other arsenicals including arsenite and arsenic-containing hydrocarbons. Arsenic speciation in cell lysates revealed that HepG2 cells are able to metabolise the thio-arsenosugar-glycerol to some extent to dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). These first in vitro data cannot fully exclude risks to human health related to the presence of thio-arsenosugars in food.

Thiolated α-Cyclodextrin: The Invisible Choice to Prolong Ocular Drug Residence Time.

It was the aim of this study to develop cysteamine-conjugated α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) enabled to form disulfide bonds with cysteine-rich substructures of the ocular mucus layer to provide a prolonged residence time of incorporated drugs at the site of action. Cysteamine was covalently attached to oxidized α-CD via reductive amination. The resulting α-CD-cysteamine conjugates (α-CD-Cys) were characterized regarding the amount of free thiol groups attached to the oligomer backbone via Ellman's reagent; resazurin assay was conducted for cytotoxicity, and mucoadhesive properties were evaluated on porcine intestinal and ocular mucosal tissues. Furthermore, albino rabbits were used for assessing the irritation-masking effects of α-CD-Cys. Free thiol groups attached to the backbone were in the range of 558 ± 24-1143 ± 92 µmol/g. None of these α-CD-Cys unduly affected the viability of Caco-2 cells in a concentration of 0.5%. Mucoadhesive properties of α-CD-Cys were up to 32-fold improved compared to unmodified α-CD. Encapsulation of cetirizine into α-CD-Cys resulted in significantly reduced local ocular mucosal irritation of this model drug. According to these results, α-CD-Cys is a promising new tool to prolong drug residence time on the ocular mucosal surface.

Design, characterization and in vitro evaluation of a novel thiolated polymer: preactivated carboxymethyl cellulose.

AIM: To design a novel preactived carboxymethyl cellulose derivative. METHODS: First, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was chemically modified by amide bond formation between primary amino group of cysteine (CYS) and carboxylic moiety of CMC mediated by carbodiimide. Second, obtained CMCCYS was preactivated with 2,2'-dithiodinicotinic acid. Designed CMC-S-S-MNA was characterized by FT-IR. Furthermore, cytotoxicity was conducted on Caco-2 cell line. Swelling behavior, erosion and release of novel CMC-S-S-MNA were performed compared with thiolated and unmodified cellulose, respectively. RESULTS: CMC-S-S-MNA showed no harmful effect on cells. CMC-S-S-MNA exhibited 2.13-fold higher stability in comparison to unmodified cellulose. Furthermore, preactivated carboxymethyl cellulose-cysteine revealed 1.9-fold controlled released compared with respective unmodified carboxymethyl cellulose. CONCLUSION: Novel preactivated carboxymethyl cellulose represents a versatile excipient for drug delivery.

Ethylmercury and Hg2+ induce the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) by human neutrophil granulocytes.

Humans are exposed to different mercurial compounds from various sources, most frequently from dental fillings, preservatives in vaccines, or consumption of fish. Among other toxic effects, these substances interact with the immune system. In high doses, mercurials are immunosuppressive. However, lower doses of some mercurials stimulate the immune system, inducing different forms of autoimmunity, autoantibodies, and glomerulonephritis in rodents. Furthermore, some studies suggest a connection between mercury exposure and the occurrence of autoantibodies against nuclear components and granulocyte cytoplasmic proteins in humans. Still, the underlying mechanisms need to be clarified. The present study investigates the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in response to thimerosal and its metabolites ethyl mercury (EtHg), thiosalicylic acid, and mercuric ions (Hg(2+)). Only EtHg and Hg(2+) triggered NETosis. It was independent of PKC, ERK1/2, p38, and zinc signals and not affected by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor DPI. Instead, EtHg and Hg(2+) triggered NADPH oxidase-independent production of ROS, which are likely to be involved in mercurial-induced NET formation. This finding might help understanding the autoimmune potential of mercurial compounds. Some diseases, to which a connection with mercurials has been shown, such as Wegener's granulomatosis and systemic lupus erythematosus, are characterized by high prevalence of autoantibodies against neutrophil-specific auto-antigens. Externalization in the form of NETs may be a source for exposure to these self-antigens. In genetically susceptible individuals, this could be one step in the series of events leading to autoimmunity.

Redox-responsive, reversibly-crosslinked thiolated cationic helical polypeptides for efficient siRNA encapsulation and delivery.

Cationic helical polypeptides, although highly efficient for inducing membrane penetration, cannot stably condense siRNA molecules via electrostatic interactions, which greatly limit the gene knockdown efficiency. By developing and crosslinking the thiolated polypeptide via formation of disulfide bonds post formation of the polypeptide/siRNA complexes, we were able to obtain stable complexes without compromising the helical secondary structure as well as the membrane activity of the polypeptide. As such, the stable polypeptide/siRNA complex was able to notably protect the siRNA cargo from nuclease digestion in the extracellular environment, while the functions of the polypeptide/siRNA complex for effective cellular internalization and endosomal escape are still largely preserved. Because the disulfide is susceptible to cleavage in response to intracellular redox triggers, siRNA release from the complex is expected upon redox triggering by glutathione (GSH) intracellularly and was actually observed upon redox triggers mediated by glutathione (GSH). With the collective contribution of the potent membrane activity and redox-responsive cargo release profiles, the crosslinked complexes enable efficient gene silencing without appreciable cytotoxicity, thus providing a potential strategy for polypeptide-based intracellular siRNA delivery.

Diabetes promotes DMH-induced colorectal cancer by increasing the activity of glycolytic enzymes in rats.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between diabetes mellitus and colorectal carcinogenesis as well as the possible mechanism involved in this interaction. Diabetes rat models were induced with a low dose of STZ followed by a low dose of DMH to induce colorectal cancer. The formation of ACF in the colon and the incidence, number and size of tumors were measured. The activity of glycolytic enzymes in colonic tissues was also measured. The results demonstrated that both the total number of ACF and the number of foci that contain a different number of crypts were increased in diabetic rats. At the end of the experimental treatment, the incidence, number and size of tumors were also increased in diabetic rats. Overall, these data indicated that diabetes increased the risk of colorectal cancer. The activity of HK and PK in colonic tissues was increased in diabetic rats, whereas the activity of PDH was decreased. In addition, the activities of these enzymes in intratumor were higher than that of in peritumor. These data indicated that the high rate of glycolysis may play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis in diabetic rats.

Chemical modification of hyaluronic acid for intraoral application.

This study was aimed to investigate chemical preactivated thiomers for their potential use in mucosal drug delivery. Thiomers--thiolated polymers--are mucoadhesive polymers with sulfhydryl group-bearing side chains. Thiomers are synthesized by covalent attachment of low molecular mass compounds bearing sulfhydryl group to the polymeric backbone of well-established polymers. Hyaluronic acid-cysteine ethyl ester-mercaptonicotinamide conjugates (HA-CYS-MNA) were synthesized by the oxidative S-S coupling of HA-CYS with 6-MNA. Conjugates were compressed into test discs to investigate cohesive properties, cytotoxicity assays, and mucoadhesion studies. Because of the immobilization of MNA, the HA-CYS-MNA conjugates exhibit comparatively higher swelling properties and cohesive properties corresponding unmodified HA. On the rotating cylinder, discs based on HA-CYS-MNA conjugates displayed fourfold improved mucoadhesion time compared with thiolated polymers. Tensile study results were found in good agreement with rotating cylinder results. Moreover, preactivated thiomers showed higher stability. All polymers were found nontoxic over Caco-2 cells. On the basis of achieved results, the preactivated thiomeric therapeutic agent seems to represent a promising generation of mucoadhesive polymers that are safe to use for a prolonged residence time to target the mucosa requested for intraoral application.

Synthesis, antiradical activity and in vitro cytotoxicity of novel organotin complexes based on 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-mercaptophenol.

A series of organotin complexes with Sn-S bonds of formulae Me2Sn(SR)2 (1); Et2Sn(SR)2 (2); (n-Bu)2Sn(SR)2 (3); Ph2Sn(SR)2 (4); R2Sn(SR)2 (5); Me3SnSR (6); Ph3SnSR (7) (R = 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H, (13)C NMR, and IR. The crystal structures of compounds 1, 4, 5, and 7 were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The tetrahedral geometry around the Sn center in the monocrystals of 1, 4, 5, and 7 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The high radical scavenging activity of the complexes was confirmed spectrophotometrically in a DPPH-test. The binding affinity of 1-7 and the starting R2SnCl2 (8) towards tubulin through their interaction with SH groups of proteins was studied. It was found that the hindered organotin complexes could interact with the colchicine site of tubulin, which makes them promising antimitotic drugs. Compounds 1-8 were tested for their in vitro cytotoxicity against human breast (MCF-7) and human cervix (HeLa) adenocarcinoma cells. Complexes 1-8 were also tested against normal human fetal lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5). Complexes 2-4 and 8 exhibit significantly lower cytostatic activity against the normal MRC-5 cell line compared to the tumor cell lines MCF-7 and HeLa used. A high activity against both cell lines 250 nM (MCF-7) and 160 nM (HeLa) was determined for the triphenyltin complex 7 while the introduction of hindered phenol groups decreases the cytotoxicity of the complexes against normal cells.

Toxicological properties of the thiolated inorganic arsenic and arsenosugar metabolite thio-dimethylarsinic acid in human bladder cells.

Thio-dimethylarsinic acid (thio-DMA(V)) has recently been identified as human metabolite after exposure toward both the human carcinogen inorganic arsenic and arsenosugars, which are the major arsenical constituents of marine algae. This study aims to get further insight in the toxic modes of action of thio-DMA(V) in cultured human urothelial cells. Among others effects of thio-DMA(V) on eight cell death related endpoints, cell cycle distribution, genotoxicity, cellular bioavailability as well as for the first time its impact on DNA damage induced poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation were investigated and compared to effects induced by arsenite. The data indicate that thio-DMA(V) exerts its cellular toxicity in a similar or even lower concentration range, however most likely via different mechanisms, than arsenite. Most interestingly, thio-DMA(V) decreased damage-induced cellular poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation by 35,000-fold lower concentrations than arsenite. The inhibition of this essential DNA-damage induced and DNA-repair related signaling reaction might contribute to inorganic arsenic induced toxicity, at least in the bladder. Therefore, and also because thio-DMA(V) is to date by far the most toxic human metabolite identified after arsenosugar intake, thio-DMA(V) should contemporary be fully (also in vivo) toxicologically characterized, to assess risks to human health related to inorganic arsenic but especially arsenosugar dietary intake.

Convenient method to assess chemical modification of protein thiols by electrophilic metals.

Although covalent modification of protein thiols by electrophilic metals is implicated in disruption of protein functions associated with toxicity, there are limited methods available to detect such modifications. In the present study, we established a convenient method to assess modification of protein thiols by electrophiles, referred to as a biotin-PEAC5-maleimide (BPM)-labeling assay. In this assay, protein S-modification by electrophiles can be estimated by a decrease in protein modification by BPM, a thiol reactive probe. Using methylmercury (MeHg) as a model electrophilic metal, thiol modification of cellular proteins was detected by the BPM-labeling assay in SH-SY5Y cell lysates and primary mouse hepatocytes. The sensitivity and reliability of the assay was confirmed by atomic absorption spectrometry with recombinant Keap1 as a model thiol protein. This assay was applied to not only MeHg but also to other metals such as cadmium and lead. We also established a BPM-precipitation assay with avidin-agarose beads to separate BPM-modified cellular proteins followed by detection with the individual antibodies. This assay was available for detecting MeHg-induced S-modification of cellular Keap1 in SH-SY5Y cells. Taken together, we have developed reliable simple methods to estimate protein S-modification by electrophilic metals.

Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors based on the 3-mercaptopyrrolidine core.

New series of pyrrolidine mercaptosulfide, 2-mercaptocyclopentane arylsulfonamide, and 3-mercapto-4-arylsulfonamidopyrrolidine matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (MMPIs) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated. Exhibiting unique properties over other MMPIs (e.g., hydroxamates), these newly reported compounds are capable of modulating activities of several MMPs in the low nanomolar range, including MMP-2 (~2 to 50 nM), MMP-13 (~2 to 50 nM), and MMP-14 (~4 to 60 nM). Additionally these compounds are selective to intermediate- and deep-pocket MMPs but not shallow-pocketed MMPs (e.g., MMP-1, ~850 to >50,000 nM; MMP-7, ~4000 to >25,000 nM). Our previous work with the mercaptosulfide functionality attached to both cyclopentane and pyrrolidine frameworks demonstrated that the cis-(3S,4R)-stereochemistry was optimal for all of the MMPs tested. However, in our newest compounds an interesting shift of preference to the trans form of the mercaptosulfonamides was observed with increased oxidative stability and biological compatibility. We also report several kinetic and biological characteristics showing that these compounds may be used to probe the mechanistic activities of MMPs in disease.