Synthesis, Molecular Docking, and Preclinical Evaluation of a New Succinimide Derivative for Cardioprotective, Hepatoprotective and Lipid-Lowering Effects.

Cardiac and hepatotoxicities are major concerns in the development of new drugs. Better alternatives to other treatments are being sought to protect these vital organs from the toxicities of these pharmaceuticals. In this regard, a preclinical study is designed to investigate the histopathological effects of a new succinimide derivative (Comp-1) on myocardial and liver tissues, and the biochemical effects on selected cardiac biomarkers, hepatic enzymes, and lipid profiles. For this, an initially lethal/toxic dose was determined, followed by a grouping of selected albino rats into five groups (each group had n = 6). The control group received daily oral saline for 8 days. The 5-FU (5-Fluorouracil) group received oral saline daily for 8 days, added with the administration of a single dose of 5-FU (150 mg/kg I.P.) on day 5 of the study. The atenolol group received oral atenolol (20 mg/kg) for 8 days and 5-FU (150 mg/kg I.P.) on day 5 of the protocol. Similarly, two groups of rats treated with test compound (Comp-1) were administered with 5 mg/kg I.P. and 10 mg/kg I.P. for 8 days, followed by 5-FU (150 mg/kg I.P.) on day 5. Toxicity induced by 5-FU was manifested by increases in the serum creatinine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB), troponin I (cTnI) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipid profile, and selected liver enzymes, including ALP (alkaline phosphatase), ALT (alanine transaminase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), BT (bilirubin total), and BD (direct bilirubin). These biomarkers were highly significantly decreased after the administration of the mentioned doses of the test compound (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg). Similarly, histological examination revealed cardiac and hepatic tissue toxicity by 5-FU. However, those toxic effects were also significantly recovered/improved after the administration of Comp-1 at the said doses. This derivative showed dose-dependent effects and was most effective at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. Binding energy data computed via docking simulations revealed that our compound interacts toward the human beta2-adrenergic G protein-coupled receptor (S = -7.89 kcal/mol) with a slight stronger affinity than the calcium channel T-type (S = -7.07 kcal/mol). In conclusion, the histological and biochemical results showed that the test compound (Comp-1) had prominent cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and lipolytic effects against 5-FU-induced toxicity in the subjected animal model.

Formation of Volatile Heterocyclic Compounds and Open-Chain Amides of Theanine in Model Systems with Glucose, Tea Leaves, and Tea Extract under Tea-Roasting Conditions.

Theanine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid found in the tea plant Camellia sinensis. At an elevated temperature (>90 °C), it released two major volatile compounds 1-ethyl-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-one and N-ethylsuccinimide. Other products were identified, including 10 pyrroles and 12 amides/imides. The formation of the two major compounds was proposed to be initiated by the deamination of theanine and through the intermediate α-keto acid. In the presence of glucose, the two major products and many other volatiles from theanine thermal degradation were accelerated and further Maillard reactions occurred. A total of 56 compounds were identified in the model system of theanine and glucose, including 12 amides/imides, 16 pyrazines, 16 pyrroles and other N-heterocycles, and 12 furans and other O-heterocycles. Although most of the reaction products were detected in tea leaves and in their aqueous extract with or without the addition of theanine under the same experiment conditions, imides and amides were considerably suppressed, left only minute amounts, or were even no longer detectable. Pyrazines and pyrroles were also shown at reduced concentrations as a result of the interaction with tea components but to a lesser extent. A total of 16 and 12 pyrazines were identified in the theanine/glucose reaction system and tea leaves/aqueous extract after roasting, respectively. The results indicated that pyrazines and other main volatiles in roasted tea leaves were formed from the Maillard reactions of the aqueous fraction of tea leaves. Theanine participated in the formation of pyrazines in tea leaves under roasting conditions.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor mediates leflunomide-induced growth inhibition of melanoma cells.

A novel role of the dihydroorotatedehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor leflunomide as a potential anti-melanoma therapy was recently reported (Nature 471:518-22, 2011). We previously reported that leflunomide strongly activates the transcriptional activity of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR). We therefore tested whether the AhR regulates the anti-proliferative effects of leflunomide in melanoma. We first evaluated the expression of AhR in melanoma cells and found that AhR is highly expressed in A375 melanoma as well as in several other cancer cell types. To evaluate whether AhR plays a role in regulating the growth inhibitory effects of leflunomide in A375 cells, we generated a stable cell line from parental A375 cells expressing a doxycycline (DOX) inducible AhR shRNA. Using these cells in the absence or presence of DOX (normal AhR levels or AhR-knockdown, respectively) we found that the anti-proliferative effects of leflunomide, but not its metabolite A771726, were strongly dependent upon AhR expression. It has been well established that supplementation of cells with exogenous uridine completely rescues the anti-proliferative effects due to DHODH inhibition. Thus, we performed uridine rescue experiments in A375 cells to determine whether the anti-proliferative effects of leflunomide are solely due to DHODH inhibition as previously reported. Interestingly, saturating levels of uridine only modestly rescued A375 cells from the anti-proliferative effects of both leflunomide and A771726, indicating additional mechanism(s), apart from DHODH inhibition are responsible for the anti-proliferative effects of leflunomide in melanoma cells. Uridine also did not rescue MDA-MB-435S melanoma cell proliferation after leflunomide treatment. Our results reveal that the AhR is a molecular target of leflunomide and support the feasibility of the clinical application of leflunomide for treating melanoma. Furthermore, analysis of expression data from 967 cancer cell lines revealed that AhR is expressed in multiple different cancer types supporting the intriguing possibility of targeting the AhR for therapy in a number of cancers.

Adjuvant properties of thermal component of hyperthermia enhanced transdermal immunization: effect on dendritic cells.

Hyperthermia enhanced transdermal (HET) immunization is a novel needle free immunization strategy employing application of antigen along with mild local hyperthermia (42°C) to intact skin resulting in detectable antigen specific Ig in serum. In the present study, we investigated the adjuvant effect of thermal component of HET immunization in terms of maturation of dendritic cells and its implication on the quality of the immune outcome in terms of antibody production upon HET immunization with tetanus toxoid (TT). We have shown that in vitro hyperthermia exposure at 42°C for 30 minutes up regulates the surface expression of maturation markers on bone marrow derived DCs. This observation correlated in vivo with an increased and accelerated expression of maturation markers on DCs in the draining lymph node upon HET immunization in mice. This effect was found to be independent of the antigen delivered and depends only on the thermal component of HET immunization. In vitro hyperthermia also led to enhanced capacity to stimulate CD4+ T cells in allo MLR and promotes the secretion of IL-10 by BMDCs, suggesting a potential for Th2 skewing of T cell response. HET immunization also induced a systemic T cell response to TT, as suggested by proliferation of splenocytes from immunized animal upon in vitro stimulation by TT. Exposure to heat during primary immunization led to generation of mainly IgG class of antibodies upon boosting, similar to the use of conventional alum adjuvant, thus highlighting the adjuvant potential of heat during HET immunization. Lastly, we have shown that mice immunized by tetanus toxoid using HET route exhibited protection against challenge with a lethal dose of tetanus toxin. Thus, in addition to being a painless, needle free delivery system it also has an immune modulatory potential.

Effect of sulfation substrates/inhibitors on N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide nephrotoxocity in Fischer 344 rats.

The agricultural fungicide N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS) is an acute nephrotoxicant in rats. Our previous studies suggested that sulfate conjugation of NDPS metabolites might be a bioactivation step mediating NDPS nephrotoxicity. In this study, effects of substrates and/or inhibitors of sulfation on NDPS nephrotoxicity were examined to explore further the role of sulfation in NDPS nephrotoxicity. Male Fischer rats (4-8/group) were administered one of the following intraperitoneal (ip) pretreatment (dose, pretreatment time) prior to NDPS (0.6 mmol/kg) or NDPS vehicle (sesame oil, 2.5 ml/kg): (1) no pretreatment, (2) dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (0.5 mmol/kg, 1 h), or (3) 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol (DCNP) (0.04 mmol/kg, 1 h). Following NDPS or NDPS vehicle administration, renal function was monitored at 24 and 48 h. Pretreatment with DHEA, a typical substrate for and an inhibitor of hydroxysteroid (alcohol) sulfotransferase, resulted in marked protection against NDPS nephrotoxicity. A selective inhibitor of phenol sulfotransferase, DCNP, afforded little attenuation in NDPS nephrotoxicity. These results suggest that alcohol sulfate conjugates of NDPS metabolites, rather than phenolic sulfate conjugates, may be a penultimate or ultimate nephrotoxicant species mediating NDPS nephrotoxicity. The marked, but not complete, protection by DHEA also suggests that there are other metabolites or mechanisms responsible for NDPS nephrotoxicity.

Effects of sodium sulfate on acute N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS) nephrotoxicity in the Fischer 344 rat.

The agricultural fungicide N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS) induces acute polyuric renal failure in rats. Results of previous studies have suggested that NDPS may induce nephrotoxicity via conjugates of NDPS metabolites. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine if administered sodium sulfate could alter NDPS nephrotoxicity. Male Fischer 344 rats (four rats per group) were administered a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of sodium sulfate (0.035, 0.07, 0.35 or 3.5 mmol/kg) or sodium chloride (7.0 mmol/kg) 20 min before NDPS (0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 mmol/kg) or NDPS vehicle (sesame oil, 2.5 ml/kg) and renal function monitored at 24 and 48 h. High dose sodium sulfate (3.5 mmol/kg) markedly attenuated NDPS nephrotoxicity, while sodium chloride had no effect on NDPS-induced renal effects. NDPS nephrotoxicity was also attenuated by a pretreatment dose of 0.35 mmol/kg sodium sulfate, while 0.07 mmol/kg sodium sulfate pretreatment potentiated NDPS 0.2 mmol/kg to produce nephrotoxicity without markedly attenuating NDPS 0.4 mmol/kg to induce renal effects. A dose of 0.035 mmol/kg sodium sulfate did not potentiate NDPS 0.2 mmol/kg to induce nephrotoxicity. These results suggest that sulfate conjugates of NDPS metabolites might contribute to NDPS nephrotoxicity.

Identification and partial characterization of putative taurine receptor proteins from the olfactory organ of the spiny lobster.

To explore the initial stages of olfactory transduction, we have used biochemical techniques to characterize proteins associated with the dendritic plasma membrane from the olfactory receptor neurons of the spiny lobster Panulirus argus. In particular, we have studied proteins that interact with taurine, an amino acid that is an important odorant for this species. The cross-linker bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate (BS3) was used to covalently link [3H]-taurine to cell surface proteins on membrane from the aesthetasc (olfactory) sensilla of the lateral filament of the antennule. A radioligand-receptor binding assay was used to show that this cross-linkage was highly specific for taurine at 0.2 mM BS3. In inhibition studies, of all the unlabeled odorants tested at excess concentrations (taurine, L-glutamate, adenosine-5'-monophosphate), only taurine significantly inhibited the cross-linkage of [3H]-taurine to the membrane. Membranes containing cross-linked proteins were solubilized, and proteins were separated on SDS-PAGE and examined with autoradiography. Bands with molecular weights of 100, 82, 62, 51, and 34kD were evident on the gels. However, only the 100 and 62 kD bands were consistently labeled with [3H]-taurine, and this labeling was completely inhibited in the presence of excess unlabeled taurine but not adenosine-5'monophosphate. The taurine-evoked behavioral search response of spiny lobsters was significantly reduced following treatment of their antennules with BS3 + taurine as compared with animals treated with BS3 alone, suggesting that the taurine-labeled binding proteins include taurine receptor proteins involved in the first stage of olfactory transduction.

Nephrotoxicity of N-(3-bromophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinimide: role of halogen groups in the nephrotoxic potential of N-(halophenyl) succinimides.

Among N-(halophenyl)succinimides. N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS) is a potent nephrotoxicant as well as an agricultural fungicide. Although two chloride groups on the phenyl ring are essential to induce optimal nephrotoxicity, the role of halogen groups in NDPS nephrotoxicity is not clear. In this study, N-(3-bromophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinimide (NBPHS) was prepared as a monohalophenyl derivative of N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinimide (NDHS), an oxidative and nephrotoxicant metabolite of NDPS. The nephrotoxic potential of NBPHS was evaluated in vivo and in vitro to determine the role of halogen groups in N-(halophenyl)succinimide nephrotoxicity. Male Fischer 344 rats (four/group) were administered a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of NBPHS (0.1, 0.4 or 0.8 mmol/kg) or vehicle (25% dimethyl sulfoxide in sesame oil) and renal function monitored for 48 h. Administration of NBPHS (0.8 mmol/kg) induced nephrotoxicity, while very mild changes or no changes in renal function were observed following administration of 0.4 mmol/kg or 0.1 mmol/kg of NBPHS, respectively. Nephrotoxicity induced by NBPHS (0.8 mmol/kg) was characterized by diuresis, transiently increased proteinuria, glucosuria and hematuria elevated kidney weight and reduced tetraethylammonium (TEA) uptake by renal cortical slices, and was not as marked as nephrotoxicity induced by NDHS (0.1 mmol/kg) or NDPS (0.4 mmol/kg). In the in vitro studies the effects of NBPHS on organic ion accumulation, pyruvate-stimulated gluconeogenesis, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were measured using renal cortical slices. NBPHS decreased p-aminohippurate (PAH) and TEA accumulation at NBPHS bath concentrations of 0.05 mM and 0.5 mM and 0.5 mM or greater, respectively. Renal gluconeogenesis was inhibited by NBPHS at 1 mM bath concentration, while LDH leakage was not increased at NBPHS bath concentrations up to 1 mM. The results demonstrate that NBPHS is a mild nephrotoxicant in vivo and in vitro, but does not have cytotoxic effects to renal tissues at the concentrations tested. From these results, it appears that halogen groups are essential to the nephrotoxic potential of N-(halophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinimides or N-(halophenyl)succinimides and play an important role in the mechanism of NDPS nephrotoxicity following NDHS formation.

Effect of dimethyl sulfoxide on N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS) and NDPS metabolite nephrotoxicity.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is frequently used as a solvent to assist in dissolving compounds which are not readily soluble in other injection vehicles. The purpose of this study was to determine the suitability of DMSO as a vehicle for administering the nephrotoxicant, N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide, (NDPS) and two nephrotoxicant NDPS metabolites, N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinimide (NDHS) and N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinamic acid (NDHSA). Male Fischer 344 rats (4/group) were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of NDPS (0.4 or 0.8 mmol/kg), NDHS (0.1 or 0.2 mmol/kg), or NDHSA (0.1 or 0.2 mmol/kg) dissolved in 25% DMSO in sesame oil or 100% sesame oil (2.5 ml/kg), while control rats received vehicle only. Renal function was then monitored at 24 and 48 h. Including DMSO in the vehicle markedly attenuated NDPS 0.4 mmol/kg-induced nephrotoxicity and reduced NDPS 0.8 mmol/kg-induced renal effects. Thus, the magnitude of the attenuating effect of DMSO depended in part on the nephrotoxicant dose of NDPS. In addition, NDHS nephrotoxicity was not altered by DMSO and only slight effects on NDHSA nephrotoxicity were observed. These results suggest that DMSO is capable of attenuating NDPS nephrotoxicity, and that the primary mechanism of this interaction might be due to an inhibition of the biotransformation of NDPS to NDHS.

Time-dependent changes in Bolton-Hunter-labeled 125I-substance P binding in rat spinal cord following unilateral adjuvant-induced peripheral inflammation.

Time-dependent changes in Bolton-Hunter-labeled 125I-substance P binding occurred in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord following unilateral adjuvant-induced inflammation in the hindpaw of the rat. Inflammation was characterized by measures of edema and hyperalgesia. Edema and hyperalgesia were both present 6 h after induction of inflammation. However, by eight days, hyperalgesia had dissipated while edema persisted. Six hours after the induction of inflammation, widespread decreases in Bolton-Hunter-labeled 125I-substance P binding occurred on both sides of the dorsal horn of spinal level L4 in comparison to the control group. However, by two days, widespread increases in Bolton-Hunter-labeled 125I-substance P binding occurred on both sides of the spinal cord at level L4 compared to the control group. The increase in radioligand binding was primarily due to a 10-fold increase in affinity of neurokinin-1 receptors for substance P. At later time-points of four and eight days, Bolton-Hunter-labeled 125I-substance P binding remained increased only in laminae I/II on the side of the spinal cord ipsilateral to inflammation. The changes in Bolton-Hunter-labeled 125I-substance P binding suggest that alterations in substance P synaptic transmission in the spinal cord may contribute to the increased excitability of spinal neurons that accompanies adjuvant-induced peripheral inflammation.

Tachykinin binding sites in the interpeduncular nucleus of the rat: normal distribution, postnatal development and the effects of lesions.

Tachykinin binding sites in the basal midbrain were labeled in adult and neonatal rats using 125I-Bolton Hunter (BH) substance P (SP) and 125I-BH eledoisin as ligands. In the adult, binding was very low in the tegmentum and raphe adjacent to the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN). Within the IPN, no binding with either ligand was seen in the target subnuclei of the habenular SP and substance K projections, the lateral subnuclei and the cap of the rostral subnucleus. Labeling with 125I-BH-SP was very light and was restricted primarily to the central subnucleus of the IPN while 125I-BH-eledoisin labeling was very dense over the dorsal, the ventral sector of the rostral, the intermediate and the central subnuclei. Lesions of major afferents to the IPN, the fasciculus retroflexus or the locus coeruleus, had no effect on the distribution or density of the binding of either ligand. In rats 0, 4 or 7 days or age, 125I-BH-SP binding was very dense in the ventral tegmental region, the raphe and in the dorsal, rostral and central subnuclei. 125I-BH-eledoisin binding was extremely dense in the raphe and in the dorsal, rostral, intermediate and central subnuclei but was less dense in the ventral tegmentum. Adult levels of binding in the midbrain were established by 11 days of age. Neonatal lesions restricted to the fasciculus retroflexus had no effect on the density of labeling with either ligand in animals allowed to reach adulthood.

[3H]neurokinin B and 125I-Bolton Hunter eledoisin label identical tachykinin binding sites in the rat brain.

[3H]Neurokinin B ([3H]NKB) of high specific activity (75 Ci/mmol) was synthesized for study of its binding to crude synaptosomes from the rat cerebral cortex. The specific binding of [3H]NKB (75% of total binding) was temperature dependent, saturable, and reversible. Scatchard analyses and Hill plots showed the existence of a single population of noninteracting binding sites (KD = 4.3 nM; Bmax = 123 fmol/mg of protein). Competition studies indicated the following rank order of potencies among tachykinins: NKB greater than eledoisin (E) greater than kassinin greater than physalaemin greater than neurokinin A (NKA) greater than substance P (SP), a result suggesting that NKB might be the endogenous ligand for [3H]NKB binding sites. It is of interest that 127I-Bolton Hunter (BH) NKA (127I-BHNKA) was much more potent than NKA in inhibiting the specific binding of [3H]NKB, which raises certain questions concerning the use of 125I-BHNKA as a ligand for NKA binding sites in the brain. These results, as well as those obtained with different SP analogues, show a close similarity to those obtained previously with 125I-BHE binding to cortical synaptosomes. This suggested that the two ligands labeled identical binding sites. In addition, using either [3H]NKB or 125I-BHE as ligands, similar displacement curves were obtained with increasing concentrations of NKB and 127I-BHE. The similarity of the [3H]NKB and 125I-BHE binding sites was further confirmed by comparison of their localization on rat brain sections by autoradiography. The distribution of binding sites for [3H]NKB and 125I-BHE was identical throughout the brain, and the highest density of binding sites for the two ligands was found in layers IV and V of the cerebral cortex, the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (magnocellular part), and the ventral tegmental area.