Anticonvulsant effects of the aqueous and methanol extracts from the stem bark of Psychotria camptopus Verdc. (Rubiacaea) in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: The decoction from the stem bark of Psychotria camptopus (Rubiaceae) is used in the Cameroonian pharmacopoeia to treat neurological pathologies including epilepsy. AIM: The present work was undertaken to study the anticonvulsant properties of the aqueous (AE) and methanol (ME) extracts from the stem bark of P. camptopus in acute models of epileptic seizures in Wistar rats. METHOD: AE and ME were obtained by decoction and maceration of the stem bark powder in water and methanol, respectively. They were tested orally at the doses of 40, 80 and 120 mg/kg, on the latency of onset and duration of epileptic seizures induced by pentylene tetrazole (PTZ, 70 mg/kg, i.p.). The kinetic effect of both extracts at 120 mg/kg was evaluated. Their effects on diazepam (50 mg/kg) induced sleep and strychnine (STR, 2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) induced seizures were determined. ME was further tested on picrotoxin (PIC, 7.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and thiosemicarbazide (TSC, 50 mg/kg, i.p.) induced seizure models. The phytochemical composition of ME was assessed using LC-MS method, as well as its acute toxicity. RESULTS: AE and ME significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the duration of seizures in both PTZ and STR models. Their maximal effect was observed at 1 h after administration, though their effect at 120 mg/kg was maintained (p < 0.05) up to 24 h post-treatment. Both extracts significantly (p < 0.01) reduced sleep duration. ME significantly (p < 0.001) increased the latency of rat death on PIC-induced convulsions. In TSC rats, ME significantly (p < 0.001) delayed the latency to the first convulsion, and decreased the duration and frequency of convulsions. ME showed no acute toxicity while its phytochemical screening revealed the presence of two flavonoids (Rutin and Butin), two triterpenoid saponins (Psycotrianoside B and Bauerenone) and four alkaloids (10-Hydroxy-antirhine, 10-hydroxy-iso-deppeaninol, Emetine and Hodkinsine). In conclusion, AE and ME from the stem bark of P. camptopus have comparable anticonvulsant properties. The effect of ME is likely due to the presence of flavonoids and alkaloid and the activation of GABA pathway. These results further justify and support the use of P. camptopus in traditional medicine for the treatment of epilepsy.

Investigation of thiosemicarbazide free or within chitosan nanoparticles in a murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a serious health problem affecting numerous women around the world. Its treatment is based on antifungals which may not provide an effective cure because of the resistance presented by its etiological pathogens Candida spp. Candida albicans is the most prevalent species related to vulvovaginal candidiasis. Here, we evaluated the in vivo antifungal potential of thiosemicarbazide and thiosemicarbazide encapsulated within chitosan nanoparticles in a murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis. The results demonstrated the antifungal capacity of free or nanoencapsulated thiosemicarbazide within chitosan to reduce the fungal load in the vaginal tissue of infected mice. In addition, histological analyses indicated the absence or a mild to moderate infection in thiosemicarbazide-treated groups. Statistical tests confirmed the existence of significant differences between the treated and the control groups. Therefore, our results suggest a potential application of thiosemicarbazide and encapsulated thiosemicarbazide as an alternative vulvovaginal candidiasis therapy.

Determination of four nitrofuran metabolites in gelatin Chinese medicine using dispersive solid phase extraction and pass-through solid phase extraction coupled to ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

This study established a validated analytical method for the first time on the determination of nitrofuran metabolites, including semicarbazide (SEM), 1-aminohydantoin (AHD), 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ) and 3-amino-5-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolinone (AMOZ) in gelatin Chinese medicine. A C18 column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate in water was used to separate these nitrofuran metabolites. The limit of detection of SEM, AHD, AOZ and AMOZ were found to be 0.2 µg/kg, 0.3 µg/kg, 0.2 µg/kg and 0.2 µg/kg, whereas their limit of quantification were 0.6 µg/kg, 0.8 µg/kg, 0.6 µg/kg and 0.5 µg/kg. These nitrofuran metabolites exhibited a good linear standard curve (regression coefficients above 0.99) with a concentration range of 2 µg/L to 100 µg/L. Regarding extraction procedure, gelatin Chinese medicine was pre-treated with pepsin and then extracted using 5% formic acid (v/v) in acetonitrile. The resultant extract was purified through dispersive solid phase extraction using 1000 mg anhydrous sodium sulfate, 300 mg octadecyl carbon silica gel sorbent absorbent and 500 mg ethylenediamine-N-propyl carbon silica gel absorbent, and then further purified on Oasis PRiME HLB cartridges. The matrix effect was effectively eliminated after the clean-up procedure as confirmed by comparing the ratio of standard curves prepared by standards dissolved in both matrix solvent and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate in water: acetonitrile (95:5, v/v). The recoveries of these nitrofuran metabolites under the 1 µg/kg, 2 µg/kg and 10 µg/kg spiking levels were between 77.4% and 95.6%. These metabolites after the extraction were stable at 4 °C for 24 h. The validated method was used to analyze the residue level of these nitrofuran metabolites in 25 gelatin Chinese medicines. Results showed that only one Colla Corii Asini sample contained SEM (2.52 µg/kg) and AOZ (6.27 µg/kg), whereas one Testudinis Carapacis et Plastri sample had SEM (1.27 µg/kg) and AMOZ (9.53 µg/kg).

Anticonvulsive activity of duloxetine: A new choice for the epileptic patients with depression.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antiepileptic effects of duloxetine in the maximal electroshock test and convulsions induced by four compounds: Pentylenetetrazole, 3-mercaptopropionic acid, thiosemicarbazide, and bicuculline. Duloxetine exhibited moderate anticonvulsive activity with an ED50 (median effective dose) of 48.21 mg/kg in the maximal electroshock test in mice. The anticonvulsive action of duloxetine was also confirmed in chemical-induced seizure tests, where this drug decreased tonic convulsions. Single administration of duloxetine (6.25-25 mg/kg) significantly increased the anticonvulsant effects of valproate, carbamazepine, and oxcarbazepine in the maximal electroshock test. Furthermore, pretreatment with thiosemicarbazide (an inhibitor of GABA synthesis enzyme) significantly increased the ED50 of duloxetine, suggesting the GABAergic system may contribute to the anticonvulsive action of duloxetine. These results support the use of duloxetine in the treatment of coexisting depression and epilepsy.

Synthesis of novel chiral metal complexes derived from chiral thiosemicarbazide ligands as potential antioxidant agents.

Two new chiral thiosemicarbazide ligands and their Cu (II), Ni (II), Pd (II), and Zn (II) complexes were synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (only for ligand), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis), mass, and elemental analysis. The antioxidant activity of ligands and their metal complexes was examined. It was found that the antioxidant activity of metal complexes was better than their ligands. In addition, the antioxidant activity, as reflected by free radical scavenging, was evaluated. Besides, Pd (II) complexes exhibited better antioxidant activity than Ni (II), Cu (II), and Zn (II) complexes. Therefore, complexes (3a-Pd and 3b-Pd) can be used as an antioxidant agent or antioxidant test standard.

Systematic Identification of Thiosemicarbazides for Inhibition of Toxoplasma gondii Growth In Vitro.

One of the key stages in the development of new therapies in the treatment of toxoplasmosis is the identification of new non-toxic small molecules with high specificity to Toxoplasma gondii. In the search for such structures, thiosemicarbazide-based compounds have emerged as a novel and promising leads. Here, a series of imidazole-thiosemicarbazides with suitable properties for CNS penetration was evaluated to determine the structural requirements needed for potent anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity. The best 4-arylthiosemicarbazides 3 and 4 showed much higher potency when compared to sulfadiazine at concentrations that are non-toxic to the host cells, indicating a high selectivity of their anti-toxoplasma activity.

NDMA formation from 4,4'-hexamethylenebis (HDMS) during ozonation: influencing factors and mechanisms.

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a toxic disinfection byproduct commonly associated with chloramination, has recently been found to form from an anti-yellowing agent (4,4'-hexamethylenebis (1,1-dimethylsemicarbazide) (HDMS)) during ozonation but the mechanisms are unclear. In this paper, the potential roles of molecular ozone (O3) and hydroxyl radical (∙OH) on NDMA formation from HDMS were investigated under various oxidation conditions (ozone dosages, pH) and different components in water (bromide ion (Br-), bicarbonate ion (HCO3-), sulfate ion (SO42-), and humic acid (HA), as well as natural organic matter (NOM) from a lake). Moreover, HDMS transformation pathways by ozonation were determined. The results indicated that the formation of NDMA was enhanced through the combined effect of O3 and ∙OH compared to that by O3 alone (addition of tert-butyl alcohol (tBA) as ∙OH scavenger). ∙OH itself cannot generate NDMA directly; however, it can transform HDMS to intermediates with higher NDMA yield than parent compound. The NDMA generation was affected (small dosages promoted but high dosages inhibited) by HA or Br- no matter with or without tBA. The presence of SO42- and HCO3- ions lowered NDMA formation through ∙OH scavenging effect. Increasing pH not only increased degradation rate constant by enhancing ∙OH generation but also affected HDMS dissociation ratio, reaching the maximum NDMA formation at pH 7-8. Natural constituents in selected water matrix inhibited NDMA formation. Impacts of these influencing factors on NDMA formation by only O3 however were significantly less pronounced over that by the joint roles of O3 and ∙OH. Based on the result of Q-TOF, LC/MS/MS, and GC/MS, the possible transformation pathways of HDMS by ozonation were proposed. The NDMA enhancement mechanism by the combined effect of O3 and ∙OH can be attributed to greater amounts of intermediates with higher NDMA yield (such as unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH)) produced. These findings provide new understanding of NDMA formation upon ozonation of typical amine-based compounds.

Preliminary Pharmacological Screening of Some Thiosemicarbazide, s-triazole, and Thiadiazole Derivatives.

Two thiosemicarbazide derivatives 1 and 2, three 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives 3-5, and three N1- substituted-4-methyl-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione derivatives 6-8 were synthesized and evaluated for their central nervous system effects using rodent behavioral models. With the exception of 6, all compounds were devoid of neurotoxicity and they did not affect the body temperature of mice. New lead structures 1-4 with potential analgesic activity were identified.

Preclinical pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion studies of a novel anti-candidal agent-thiosemicarbazide derivative of isoniazid (TSC-INH) by validated UPLC-MS/MS assay.

A simple and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS assay was developed and validated for rapid determination of thiosemicarbazide derivative of isoniazid (TSC-INH), a potent anti-candidal agent in rat plasma, tissues, urine and feces. All biological samples were prepared by protein precipitation method using celecoxib as an internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was achieved on Acquity BEH™ C18 (50×2.1 mm, 1.7 µm) column using gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) at flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The MRM transitions were monitored at m/z 305.00→135.89 for TSC-INH and m/z 380.08→316.03 for IS in ESI negative mode. All validation parameter results were within the acceptable range described in guideline for bioanalytical method validation. The pharmacokinetic study showed that the compound TSC-INH was orally active with 66% absolute bioavailability in rats. It was rapidly absorbed with peak plasma concentration of 1985.92 ng/mL achieved within 1 h after single oral dose (10 mg/kg) administration. TSC-INH exhibited rapid distribution across the body with highest levels in liver and lungs. Penetration in brain tissues suggests that TSC-INH crossed the blood brain barrier. Only 5.23% of the orally administered drug was excreted as unconverted form in urine and feces implying that TSC-INH was metabolized extensively before excretion. With the preliminary knowledge of in vivo pharmacokinetics and disposition properties, this study will be beneficial for further development of compound TSC-INH in future studies.

Amine oxidases as important agents of pathological processes of rhabdomyolysis in rats.

In this study we have tested an idea on the important role of amine oxidases (semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase, diamine oxidase, polyamine oxidase) as an additional source of oxidative/carbonyl stress under glycerol-induced rhabdomyolysis, since the enhanced formation of reactive oxygen species and reactive carbonyl species in a variety of tissues is linked to various diseases. In our experiments we used the sensitive fluorescent method devised for estimation of amine oxidases activity in the rat kidney and thymus as targeted organs under rhabdomyolysis. We have found in vivo the multiple rises in activity of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase, diamine oxidase, polyamine oxidase (2-4.5 times) in the corresponding cell fractions, whole cells or their lysates at the 3-6th day after glycerol injection. Aberrant antioxidant activities depended on rhabdomyolysis stage and had organ specificity. Additional treatment of animals with metal chelator 'Unithiol' adjusted only the activity of antioxidant enzymes but not amine oxidases in both organs. Furthermore the in vitro experiment showed that Fenton reaction (hydrogen peroxide in the presence of iron) products alone had no effect on semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity in rat liver cell fraction whereas supplementation with methylglyoxal resulted in its significant 2.5-fold enhancement. Combined action of the both agents had additive effect on semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity. We can assume that biogenic amine and polyamine catabolism by amine oxidases is upregulated by oxidative and carbonyl stress factors directly under rhabdomyolysis progression, and the increase in catabolic products concentration contributes to tissue damage in glycerol-induced acute renal failure and apoptosis stimulation in thymus.

N(6)-(3-methoxyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) adenine riboside induces sedative and hypnotic effects via GAD enzyme activation in mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: N(6)-(3-methoxyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) adenine riboside (B2) is an analog of N(6)-(4-hydroxybenzyl) adenine riboside (NHBA), which was originally isolated from Gastrodia elata Blume. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that B2 can produce strong sedative and hypnotic effects, but the mechanism remains to be determined. There is evidence that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, plays a major role in sleep regulation, and participates in the sedative and hypnotic effects of B2. Therefore, we studied the interactions between B2 and several GABAergic neurochemical parameters based on the sedative and hypnotic effects of B2. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The GABA and glutamic acid (Glu) in the mouse brain were derivatized with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) and measured by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). The GAD and GABA-T enzyme activities were determined by measuring GABA and NADH production, respectively. The sleep structure analyses were performed by EEG studies in mice. KEY RESULTS: B2 increased the GABA levels and GAD enzyme activity in the mouse hypothalamus and cortex. The EEG results confirmed that B2 significantly shortened the sleep latency and increased the amount of NREM sleep. The GAD enzyme inhibitor semicarbazide (SCZ) blocked the sedative and hypnotic effects of B2. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that the GAD enzyme plays a significant role in the sedative and hypnotic effects of B2. Therefore B2 may be a promising candidate for further clinical studies and the appropriate use of GAD agonist may be a promising approach for sleep disorders.

Ethyl thiosemicarbazide intercalated organophilic calcined hydrotalcite as a potential sorbent for the removal of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) ions from aqueous solutions.

This work was conducted to determine the practicability of using a new adsorbent 4-ethyl thiosemicarbazide intercalated, organophilic calcined hydrotalcite (ETSC-OHTC) for the removal of uranium (U(VI)), and thorium (Th(IV)) from water and wastewater. The FTIR analysis helped in realizing the involvement of nitrogen and sulphur atoms of ETSC in binding the metal ions through complex formation. Parameters like adsorbent dosage, solution pH, initial metal ions concentration, contact time and ionic strength, that influence adsorption phenomenon, were studied. The optimum pH for maximum adsorption of U(VI) and Th(IV) was found to be in the range 4.0-6.0. The contact time required for reaching equilibrium was 4 hr. The pseudo second-order kinetic model was the best fit to represent the kinetic data. Analysis of the equilibrium adsorption data using Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips models showed that the Freundlich model was well suited to describe the metal ions adsorption. The K(F) values were 25.43 and 29.11 mg/g for U(VI) and Th(IV), respectively, at 30 degrees C. The adsorbent can be regenerated effectively from U(VI) and Th(IV) loaded ones using 0.01 mol/L HCl. The new adsorbent was quite stable for many cycles, without much reduction in its adsorption capacity towards the metals.

Discovery and optimization of novel 4-phenoxy-6,7-disubstituted quinolines possessing semicarbazones as c-Met kinase inhibitors.

A novel series of N(1)-(3-fluoro-4-(6,7-disubstituted-quinolin-4-yloxy)phenyl)-N(4)-arylidenesemicarbazide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their c-Met kinase inhibition and cytotoxicity against A549, HT-29, MKN-45 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines in vitro. Several potent compounds were further evaluated against three other cancer cell lines (U87MG, NCI-H460 and SMMC7721). Most of compounds tested exhibited moderate to excellent activity. The studies of SARs identified the most promising compound 28 (c-Met IC50=1.4nM) as a c-Met kinase inhibitor. In this study, a promising compound 28 was identified, which displayed 2.1-, 3.3-, 48.4- and 3.6-fold increase against A549, HT-29, U87MG and NCI-H460 cell lines, respectively, compared with that of Foretinib.

Design, synthesis, in vitro MAO-B inhibitory evaluation, and computational studies of some 6-nitrobenzothiazole-derived semicarbazones.

Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) is an important drug target for the treatment of neurological disorders. A series of 6-nitrobenzothiazole-derived semicarbazones were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as inhibitors of the rat brain MAO-B isoenzyme. Most of the compounds were found to be potent inhibitors of MAO-B, with IC(50) values in the nanomolar to micromolar range. Molecular docking studies were performed with AutoDock 4.2 to deduce the affinity and binding mode of these inhibitors toward the MAO-B active site. The free energies of binding (ΔG) and inhibition constants (K(i)) of the docked compounds were calculated by the Lamarckian genetic algorithm (LGA) of AutoDock 4.2. Good correlations between the calculated and experimental results were obtained. 1-[(4-Chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methylene]-4-(6-nitrobenzothiazol-2-yl)semicarbazide emerged as the lead MAO-B inhibitor, with top ranking in both the experimental MAO-B assay (IC(50): 0.004±0.001 µM) and in computational docking studies (K(i): 1.08 µM). Binding mode analysis of potent inhibitors suggests that these compounds are well accommodated by the MAO-B active site through stable hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions. Interestingly, the 6-nitrobenzothiazole moiety is stabilized in the substrate cavity with the aryl or diaryl residues extending up into the entrance cavity of the active site. According to our results, docking experiments could be an interesting approach for predicting the activity and binding interactions of this class of semicarbazones against MAO-B. Thus, a binding site model consisting of three essential pharmacophoric features is proposed, and this can be used for the design of future MAO-B inhibitors.

Novel 1-acyl-4-substituted semicarbazide derivatives of primaquine - synthesis, cytostatic, antiviral and antioxidative studies.

A series of novel 1,4-substituted semicarbazides 5a-g with a primaquine moiety bridged by a carbonyl group at position 1 and a cycloalkyl, aryl, benzyloxy or hydroxy substituent at position 4 were prepared and biologically evaluated. The synthetic pathways applied for preparation of the title compounds involved benzotriazole as synthetic auxiliary. Primaquine semicarbazides 5a-g and their synthetic precursors benzotriazolecarbonyl semicarbazides 4 were evaluated for cytostatic, antiviral and antioxidative activities. All compounds of the series 5 showed high selectivity towards MCF-7 cells (breast carcinoma) with IC(50) values in the low micromolar range and the most active was benzyl derivative 5c (IC(50) 1 ± 0.2 µM). The benzhydryl derivative 5e showed significant cytostatic activities towards all the tested cell lines (IC(50) 4-18 µM). The same compound was the strongest lipoxygenase inhibitor as well (51%). The highest antioxidant activity was demonstrated for the hydroxy derivative 5g and benzotriazolecarbonyl semicarbazides 4b,c (61.2-68.5%). No antiviral activity was observed against a wide variety of DNA and RNA viruses.

Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel azole derivatives of aryl acetic acid as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents.

A series of substituted azole derivatives (3a-e, 4a-e and 5a-e) were synthesised by the cyclisation of N(1)(diphenylethanoyl)-N(4)-substituted phenyl thiosemicarbazides under various reaction conditions. These compounds were tested in vivo for their anti-inflammatory activity. The compounds which showed activity comparable to the standard drug ibuprofen, were screened for their analgesic, ulcerogenic and lipid peroxidation activities. The compounds 5-(diphenylmethyl)-N-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amine (3b) and 5-(diphenylmethyl)-N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amine (3c) emerged as the most active compounds of the series, and were moderately more potent than the standard drug, ibuprofen. (This abstract was published in Inflammation Research, Supplement 2, Volume 56, page A101, 2008.).

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structures, thermal and electrochemical properties of thiosemicarbazidatodioxouranium(VI) complexes.

The stable uranyl complexes, [UO(2)(L)C(9)H(19)OH], were obtained from 3,5-dichlorosalicyl-(L(I)) and salicyl-aldehyde-S-propyl-thiosemicarbazones (L(II)) with substituted-salicylaldehyde in nonyl alcohol. The structures of the complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, (1)H NMR, conductivity, magnetic moment measurements, cyclic voltammetry, thermal gravimetric analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The U(VI) centre is seven-coordinated in a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. The relative orientations of the nonyl alcohol and S-propyl group in the title complexes are completely different due to different crystal packing. Electrochemical behaviors of the thiosemicarbazone ligands and the uranyl complexes were studied using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. Redox processes of the compounds are significantly influenced by the central metal ions and the nature of substituents on the thiosemicarbazones, which are important factors in controlling the redox properties. In situ spectroelectrochemical studies were employed to determine the colors and spectra of electro-generated species of the complexes.

Small-molecule inhibitors of vascular adhesion protein-1 reduce the accumulation of myeloid cells into tumors and attenuate tumor growth in mice.

Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is an endothelial, cell surface-expressed oxidase involved in leukocyte traffic. The adhesive function of VAP-1 can be blocked by anti-VAP-1 Abs and small-molecule inhibitors. However, the effects of VAP-1 blockade on antitumor immunity and tumor progression are unknown. In this paper, we used anti-VAP-1 mAbs and small-molecule inhibitors of VAP-1 in B16 melanoma and EL-4 lymphoma tumor models in C57BL/6 mice. Leukocyte accumulation into tumors and neoangiogenesis were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and intravital videomicroscopy. We found that both anti-VAP-1 Abs and VAP-1 inhibitors reduced the number of leukocytes in the tumors, but they targeted partially different leukocyte subpopulations. Anti-VAP-1 Abs selectively inhibited infiltration of CD8-positive lymphocytes into tumors and had no effect on accumulation of myeloid cells into tumors. In contrast, the VAP-1 inhibitors significantly reduced only the number of proangiogenic Gr-1(+)CD11b(+) myeloid cells in melanomas and lymphomas. Blocking of VAP-1 by either means left tumor homing of regulatory T cells and type 2 immune-suppressing monocytes/macrophages intact. Notably, VAP-1 inhibitors, but not anti-VAP-1 Abs, retarded the growth of melanomas and lymphomas and reduced tumor neoangiogenesis. The VAP-1 inhibitors also reduced the binding of Gr-1(+) myeloid cells to the tumor vasculature. We conclude that tumors use the catalytic activity of VAP-1 to recruit myeloid cells into tumors and to support tumor progression. Small-molecule VAP-1 inhibitors therefore might be a potential new tool for immunotherapy of tumors.

Quantitative assessment of the metabolic activation of alicyclic amines via aldehyde.

INTRODUCTION: Recently it has been reported that some drugs that produce reactive intermediates may cause clinical adverse effects following covalent binding to biomacromolecules. For example, Schiff base production mediated by aldehyde is a possible mechanism of drug-protein adducts. However, because thiols do not trap aliphatic aldehydes via hemiacetal or hemiaminal, the glutathione-trapping method cannot be used to determine the covalent bindings of the Schiff base. METHODS: We established a quantitative method to determine covalent binding mediated by aldehydes via hemiaminal or hemiacetal using non-radiolabeled compound and [(14)C]semicarbazide as a hard-trap agent with unique post-incubation. RESULTS: The trapped aldehyde obtained from the post-incubation was almost equivalent to the covalent binding of the radiolabeled tool compound. Our novel method showed its usefulness in quantitative detection of aldehyde's covalent binding ability by several reagents with alicyclic amine and launched drugs as control. DISCUSSION: The post-incubation method is useful for screening newly synthesized compounds to quantitatively assess the bioactivation of aldehydes descending from alicyclic amines.

Copper(II) and uranyl(II) complexes with acylthiosemicarbazide: synthesis, characterization, antibacterial activity and effects on the growth of promyelocytic leukemia cells HL-60.

New chelates of N(1)-[4-(4-X-phenylsulfonyl)benzoyl]-N(4)-butyl-thiosemicarbazide (X=H, Cl, Br) with Cu(2+) and UO(2)(2+) have been prepared and characterized by analytical and physico-chemical techniques such as magnetic susceptibility measurements, elemental and thermal analyses, electronic, ESR and IR spectral studies. Room temperature ESR spectra of Cu(II) complexes yield {g} values characteristic of distorted octahedral and pseudo-tetrahedral geometry. Infrared spectra indicate that complexes contain six-coordinate uranium atom with the ligand atoms arranged in an equatorial plane around the linear uranyl group. Effects of these complexes on the growth of human promyelocytic leukemia cells HL-60 and their antibacterial activity (against Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 14990, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 and Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 strains) were studied comparatively with that of free ligands.