A Sensitive LC-MS/MS Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Two Thia-Analogous Indirubin N-Glycosides and Indirubin-3'-Monoxime in Plasma and Cell Culture Medium.

Indirubin was identified as an active component of Danggui Longhui Wan, an herbal mixture used in traditional Chinese medicine, and showed anticancer activity in clinical trials in patients with chronic leukemia. Investigations on the mechanisms of antitumor action of indirubins have mainly focused on the indirubin derivative indirubin-3'-monoxime (I3M). Meanwhile, antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties on cancer cells have also been demonstrated for several synthetic indirubin N-glycosides. In the present study, we demonstrate cytotoxic activity of the thia-analogous indirubin N-glycosides KD87 (3-[3'-oxo-benzo[b]thiophen-2'-(Z)-ylidene]-1-(ß-d-glucopyranosyl)-oxindole) and KD85 (3-[3'-oxo-benzo[b]thiophen-2'-(Z)-ylidene]-1-(ß-d-mannopyranosyl)-oxindole) against melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma cells as well as lung cancer and glioblastoma cells. The advanced state of preclinical studies on the effects of indirubins conducted to date underscores the need for pharmacokinetic data from cellular, animal, and human studies for which reliable quantification is required. Therefore, a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous measurement of KD87, KD85, and I3M in plasma and cell culture medium. Experimental conditions for sample preparation were optimized for human plasma protein precipitation and liquid-liquid extraction from plasma and cell culture medium. The methods were successfully validated in accordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Bioanalytical Method Validation and evaluated for selectivity, sensitivity, matrix effect, recovery, carryover, calibration curve linearity, accuracy, precision, and stability. The applicability of the methods was demonstrated by the determination of KD87 in mouse plasma after prior intraperitoneal administration to mice.

Platelet Induced Functional Alteration of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells in HNSCC.

Platelets (PLT) are the second most abundant cell type in human blood and exert various immune-regulatory functions under both physiological and pathological conditions. In fact, immune cell regulation via platelets has been demonstrated in several studies within the past decade. However, the exact mechanisms behind T cell regulation remain poorly understood. We questioned whether the formation of aggregates of platelets and T cells has an impact on T-cell functions. In the present study, we stimulated PBMC cultures with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mABs and cultured them at a PLT: PBMC ratio of 1:1 or 100:1. After 24, 48, and 72 h, PD-1, PD-L1 expression, and proliferation were analyzed on T cells using flow cytometry. Cytokine production was measured in PHA stimulated CD4 cells after 6 h. We found a significant platelet-mediated decrease in PD-1 and PD-L1 expression, proliferation, as well as IFN-γ and TNF-α production. Perturbations also at least partially remained after spatial separation of PLTs from PBMCs in Transwell-assays. T cell-platelet aggregates showed similar levels of activation markers, proliferation, and secreted cytokines as their non-complexed counterparts. Results indicate a platelet mediated regulation of T cells via direct and indirect contact, but only mediocre effects of the complex formation itself.

Tyrosinase and catechol oxidase activity of copper(I) complexes supported by imidazole-based ligands: structure-reactivity correlations.

Four new imidazole-based ligands, 4-((1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydrooxyzole (L OL 1), 4-((1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)-2-(tert-butyl)-4,5-dihydrooxyzole (L OL 2), 4-((1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)-2-methyl-4,5-dihydrooxyzole (L OL 3), and N-(2,2-dimethylpropylidene)-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl-)ethyl amine (L imz 1), have been synthesized. The corresponding copper(I) complexes [Cu(I)(L OL 1)(CH3CN)]PF6 (CuL OL 1), [Cu(I)(L OL 2)(CH3CN)]PF6 (CuL OL 2), [Cu(I)(L OL 3)(CH3CN)]PF6 (CuL OL 3), [Cu(I)(L imz 1)(CH3CN)2]PF6 (CuL imz 1) as well as the Cu(I) complex derived from the known ligand bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)methane (BIMZ), [Cu(I)(BIMZ)(CH3CN)]PF6 (CuBIMZ), are screened as catalysts for the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC-H2) to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone (3,5-DTBQ). The primary reaction product of these oxidations is 3,5-di-tert-butylsemiquinone (3,5-DTBSQ) which slowly converts to 3,5-DTBQ. Saturation kinetic studies reveal a trend of catalytic activity in the order CuL OL 3 ≈ CuL OL 1 > CuBIMZ > CuL OL 2 > CuL imz 1. Additionally, the catalytic activity of the copper(I) complexes towards the oxygenation of monophenols is investigated. As substrates 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP-H), 3-tert-butylphenol (3-TBP-H), 4-methoxyphenol (4-MeOP-H), N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester monohydrate (NATEE) and 8-hydroxyquinoline are employed. The oxygenation products are identified and characterized with the help of UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and fluorescence measurements. Whereas the copper complexes with ligands containing combinations of imidazole and imine functions or two imidazole units (CuL imz 1 and CuBIMZ) are found to exhibit catalytic tyrosinase activity, the systems with ligands containing oxazoline just mediate a stoichiometric conversion. Correlations between the structures of the complexes and their reactivities are discussed.

A Thia-Analogous Indirubin N-Glycoside Disrupts Mitochondrial Function and Causes the Death of Human Melanoma and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells.

Skin cancer is the most common malignant disease worldwide and, therefore, also poses a challenge from a pharmacotherapeutic perspective. Derivatives of indirubin are an interesting option in this context. In the present study, the effects of 3-[3'-oxo-benzo[b]thiophen-2'-(Z)-ylidene]-1-(ß-d-glucopyranosyl)-oxindole (KD87), a thia-analogous indirubin N-glycoside, on the viability and mitochondrial properties of melanoma (A375) and squamous cell carcinoma cells (A431) of the skin were investigated. In both cell lines, KD87 caused decreased viability, the activation of caspases-3 and -7, and the inhibition of colony formation. At the mitochondrial level, a concentration-dependent decrease in both the basal and ATP-linked oxygen consumption rate and in the reserve capacity of oxidative respiration were registered in the presence of KD87. These changes were accompanied by morphological alterations in the mitochondria, a release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol and significant reductions in succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit B (SDHB, subunit of complex II) in A375 and A431 cells and NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit B8 (NDUFB8, subunit of complex I) in A375 cells. The effect of KD87 was accompanied by a significant upregulation of the enzyme heme oxygenase-1, whose inhibition led to a partial but significant reduction in the metabolic-activity-reducing effect of KD87. In summary, our data show a mitochondria-targeting effect of KD87 as part of the cytotoxic effect of this compound on skin cancer cells, which should be considered in future studies with this class of compounds.

The Combination of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol Suppresses Mitochondrial Respiration of Human Glioblastoma Cells via Downregulation of Specific Respiratory Chain Proteins.

Phytocannabinoids represent a promising approach in glioblastoma therapy. Previous work has shown that a combined treatment of glioblastoma cells with submaximal effective concentrations of psychoactive Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) greatly increases cell death. In the present work, the glioblastoma cell lines U251MG and U138MG were used to investigate whether the combination of THC and CBD in a 1:1 ratio is associated with a disruption of cellular energy metabolism, and whether this is caused by affecting mitochondrial respiration. Here, the combined administration of THC and CBD (2.5 µM each) led to an inhibition of oxygen consumption rate and energy metabolism. These effects were accompanied by morphological changes to the mitochondria, a release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol and a marked reduction in subunits of electron transport chain complexes I (NDUFA9, NDUFB8) and IV (COX2, COX4). Experiments with receptor antagonists and inhibitors showed that the degradation of NDUFA9 occurred independently of the activation of the cannabinoid receptors CB1, CB2 and TRPV1 and of usual degradation processes mediated via autophagy or the proteasomal system. In summary, the results describe a previously unknown mitochondria-targeting mechanism behind the toxic effect of THC and CBD on glioblastoma cells that should be considered in future cancer therapy, especially in combination strategies with other chemotherapeutics.

Impact of Cannabinoid Compounds on Skin Cancer.

Drugs targeting the endocannabinoid system are of interest as potential systemic chemotherapeutic treatments and for palliative care in cancer. In this context, cannabinoid compounds have been successfully tested as a systemic therapeutic option in preclinical models over the past decades. Recent findings have suggested an essential function of the endocannabinoid system in the homeostasis of various skin functions and indicated that cannabinoids could also be considered for the treatment and prophylaxis of tumour diseases of the skin. Cannabinoids have been shown to exert their anticarcinogenic effects at different levels of skin cancer progression, such as inhibition of tumour growth, proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis, as well as inducing apoptosis and autophagy. This review provides an insight into the current literature on cannabinoid compounds as potential pharmaceuticals for the treatment of melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma.