Uridine-Modified Ruthenium(II) Complex as Lysosomal LIMP-2 Targeting Photodynamic Therapy Photosensitizer for the Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Lysosome-targeted photodynamic therapy, which enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive tumor cell death, has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Herein, a uridine (dU)-modified Ru(II) complex (RdU) was synthesized by click chemistry. It was found that RdU exhibits impressive photo-induced inhibition against the growth of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells in normoxic and hypoxic microenvironments through ROS production. It was further revealed that RdU induces ferroptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells under light irradiation (650 nm, 300 mW/cm2). Additional experiments showed that RdU binds to lysosomal integral membrane protein 2 (LIMP-2), which was confirmed by the fact that RdU selectively localizes in the lysosomes of MDA-MB-231 cells and significantly augments the levels of LIMP-2. Molecular docking simulations and an isothermal titration calorimetry assay also showed that RdU has a high affinity to LIMP-2. Finally, in vivo studies in tumor-bearing (MDA-MB-231 cells) nude mice showed that RdU exerts promising photodynamic therapeutic effects on TNBC tumors. In summary, the uridine-modified Ru(II) complex has been developed as a potential LIMP-2 targeting agent for TNBC treatment through enhancing ROS production and promoting ferroptosis.

Preparation, Characterization, and Antioxidant Activities of Extracts from Amygdalus persica L. Flowers.

A novel water-soluble Amygdalus persica L. flowers polysaccharide (APL) was successfully isolated and purified from Amygdalus persica L. flowers by hot water extraction. Its chemical components and structure were analyzed by IR, GC-MS, and HPLC. APL consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, mannose and glucose in a molar ratio of 0.17:0.034:1.0:0.17 with an average molecular weight of approximately 208.53 kDa and 15.19 kDa. The antioxidant activity of APL was evaluated through radical scavenging assays using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), Hydroxyl radical scavenging, Superoxide radical scavenging, and the reducing power activity was also determined in vitro. Besides, in vivo antioxidant experiment, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were treated with different concentrations of APL and then exposed to LPS to induce oxidative stress. Treatment with APL at 50 or 100 µg/mL significantly reduced LPS-induced oxidative stress in the zebrafish, demonstrating the strong antioxidant activity of APL. Moreover, the effect of APL on zebrafish depigmentation was tested by analyzing the tyrosinase activity and melanin content of zebrafish embryos. APL showed a potential reduction in the total melanin content and tyrosinase activity after treatment. This work provided important information for developing a potential natural antioxidant in the field of cosmetics and food.

Ruthenium(II) Complexes Coupled by Erianin via a Flexible Carbon Chain as a Potential Stabilizer of c-myc G-Quadruplex DNA.

Herein, two novel ruthenium(II) complexes coupled by erianin via a flexible carbon chain, [Ru(phen)2(L1-(CH2)4-erianin)](ClO4)2 (L1 = 2-(2-(tri-fluoromethyphenyl))-imidazo [4,5f][1-10]phenanthroline (1) and [Ru(phen)2(L2-(CH2)4-eria)](ClO4)2 (L2 = 2-(4-(tri-fluoromethyphenyl))-imidazo [4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline (2), have been synthesized and investigated as a potential G-quadruplex(G4) DNA stabilizer. Both complexes, especially 2, can bind to c-myc G4 DNA with high affinity by electronic spectra, and the binding constant calculated for 1 and 2 is about 15.1 and 2.05 × 107 M-1, respectively. This was further confirmed by the increase in fluorescence intensity for both complexes. Moreover, the positive band at 265 nm in the CD spectra of c-myc G4 DNA decreased treated with 2, indicating that 2 may bind to c-myc G4 DNA through extern groove binding mode. Furthermore, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay indicated that the melting point of c-myc G4 DNA treated with 1 and 2 increased 15.5 and 16.5 °C, respectively. Finally, molecular docking showed that 1 can bind to c-myc G4 DNA in the extern groove formed by base pairs G7-G9 and G22-A24, and 2 inserts into the small groove of c-myc G4 DNA formed by base pairs T19-A24. In summary, these ruthenium(II) complexes, especially 2, can be developed as potential c-myc G4 DNA stabilizers and will be exploited as potential anticancer agents in the future.

Novel Chiral Ru(II) Complexes as Potential c-myc G-quadruplex DNA Stabilizers Inducing DNA Damage to Suppress Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Progression.

Currently, effective drugs for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are lacking in clinics. c-myc is one of the core members during TNBC tumorigenesis, and G-rich sequences in the promoter region can form a G-quadruplex conformation, indicating that the c-myc inhibitor is a possible strategy to fight cancer. Herein, a series of chiral ruthenium(II) complexes ([Ru(bpy)2(DPPZ-R)](ClO4)2, Λ/Δ-1: R = -H, Λ/Δ-2: R = -Br, Λ/Δ-3: R = -C≡C(C6H4)NH2) were researched based on their interaction with c-myc G-quadruplex DNA. Λ-3 and Δ-3 show high affinity and stability to decrease their replication. Additional studies showed that Λ-3 and Δ-3 exhibit higher inhibition against different tumor cells than other molecules. Δ-3 decreases the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells with an IC50 of 25.51 µM, which is comparable with that of cisplatin, with an IC50 of 25.9 µM. Moreover, Δ-3 exhibits acceptable cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 cells in a zebrafish xenograft breast cancer model. Further studies suggested that Δ-3 decreases the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells predominantly through DNA-damage-mediated apoptosis, which may be because Δ-3 can induce DNA damage. In summary, the results indicate that Ru(II) complexes containing alkinyl groups can be developed as c-myc G-quadruplex DNA binders to block TNBC progression.

Injury risk in professional boxing.

OBJECTIVE: Although a popular endeavor, boxing has fallen under increased scrutiny because of its association with traumatic brain injury. However, few studies have investigated the overall epidemiology of boxing injuries from representative samples, and no study has ever documented the incidence of injuries in female boxers. This study is a review of professional boxing data from the state of Nevada from September 2001 through March 2003. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical and outcome data for all professional boxing matches occurring in Nevada between September 2001 and March 2003 (n = 524 matches) were analyzed on the basis of a pair-matched, case-control design. Cases were boxers who received an injury during the boxing matches. Boxers who were not injured served as control subjects. Both conditional and unconditional logistic regression models were used to assess risk factors for injury. RESULTS: The overall incidence rate of injury was 17.1 per 100 boxer-matches, or 3.4 per 100 boxer-rounds. Facial laceration accounted for 51% of all injuries, followed by hand injury (17%), eye injury (14%), and nose injury (5%). Male boxers were significantly more likely than female boxers to receive injuries (3.6 versus 1.2 per 100 boxer-rounds, P = 0.01). Male boxing matches also ended in knockouts and technical knockouts more often than did female matches (P < 0.001). The risk of injury for those who lost the matches was nearly twice the risk for the winners. Those who lost by knockout had double the risk of injury compared with those who lost by other means. Neither age nor weight was significantly associated with the risk of injury. CONCLUSIONS: The injury rate in professional boxing matches is high, particularly among male boxers. Superficial facial lacerations are the most common injury reported. Male boxers have a higher rate of knockout and technical knockouts than female boxers. Further research is necessary to determine the outcomes of injury, particularly the long-term neurologic outcome differences between sexes.

Intraperitoneal injection induces a delayed preconditioning-like effect in mice.

We hypothesized that intraperitoneal injections of anaesthetics or fluid per se might evoke a delayed preconditioning-like response in mice hearts isolated and Langendorff perfused 24 h later. To test this, mice were given opioid anaesthesia by intraperitoneal injections or sham treated and the hearts were harvested and subjected to global ischaemia and reperfusion 24 h later in series 1. In series 2, mice were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of Ringer, sham needle prick procedure, or no intervention 24 h before heart isolation. In series 3, intraperitoneal Ringer injection 24 h earlier was compared with the effects of classic preconditioning or no pretreatment of the isolated heart or no treatment. Heart function was measured in all series. At the end of reperfusion, hearts in series 1 and 2 were frozen and infarct size was estimated by triphenyltetrazolium chloride solution. In series 3, separate hearts were frozen for immunoblotting to detect phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Cardiac activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) was measured using a NFkappaB luciferase firefly reporter mouse. The ischaemia-induced impairment of left ventricular function was attenuated by opioid anaesthesia injected 24 h earlier, which also reduced infarct size. Injection of fluid, but not the sham needle prick procedure, reduced infarct size. The functional protection afforded by classic preconditioning and Ringer pretreatment was comparable. Neither cardiac MAP kinases nor NFkappaB were influenced by the interventions. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a delayed preconditioning-like effect of the heart caused by intraperitoneal administration of opioid anaesthetics and of fluid only in the mouse. The mechanism of protection remains to be determined.

Cocaine induces apoptosis in fetal rat myocardial cells through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and mitochondrial/cytochrome c pathways.

Cocaine induces apoptosis in fetal rat myocardial cells (FRMCs). However, the mechanisms are not clear. The present study examined the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and cytochrome c release in the cocaine-induced apoptosis in primary culture of FRMCs prepared from the fetal heart of gestational age of 21 days. Cocaine induced time-dependent, concurrent increases in cytochrome c release and activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3, which preceded apoptosis. Caspase-8 was not activated. In accordance, cyclosporin A and the inhibitors of caspase-9 and caspase-3 inhibited cocaine-induced caspase activation and apoptosis. Cocaine stimulated a transient increase in the p38 MAPK activity at a time point of 15 min but reduced the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity at 5 and 15 min in FRMCs. The p38alpha MAPK inhibitor SB203580 [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)1H-imidazole] inhibited cocaine-induced activation of caspases and apoptosis. In contrast, the p38beta MAPK and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/ERK inhibitors SB 202190 [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole] and PD98059 (2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone), respectively, increased apoptosis in the absence of cocaine and potentiated cocaine-induced apoptosis. Consistent with its inhibition of apoptosis, SB203580 inhibited cocaine-induced cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. In addition, cocaine induced a decrease in Bcl-2 protein levels, with no effect on Bax levels. The cocaine-mediated reduction of Bcl-2 levels was not affected with SB203580 and the caspase inhibitors. The results suggest that in FRMCs, p38alpha MAPK plays an important role in the cocaine-induced apoptosis by promoting cytochrome c release, downstream or independent of Bcl-2 protein-mediated regulation. In contrast, p38beta MAPK and ERK protect fetal myocardial cells against apoptosis.

Myocardial protection by remote preconditioning: the role of nuclear factor kappa-B p105 and inducible nitric oxide synthase.

OBJECTIVE: Adaptation to ischemia by brief episodes of ischemia and reperfusion (preconditioning) of the heart protects the heart against sustained ischemia, where the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-B (NFkappaB) appears crucial for the protection. Preconditioning of the heart may even be evoked by brief episodes of ischemia and reperfusion in other organs. The present study investigates a possible role for NFkappaB and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in adaption to ischemia by remote, delayed protection. METHODS: Mice (wild-types, or with targeted deletions of the NFkappaB p105 or the iNOS gene) were subjected to cycles of occlusion and reperfusion of both hind limbs, and 24 h later their hearts were isolated and Langendorff-perfused with induced global ischemia and reperfusion. Infarct size was measured. Skeletal muscles from ischemized limbs as well as hearts were also collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electromobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTS: Hind limb preconditioning protected left ventricular function and reduced infarct size during reperfusion in wild-type mice. Nuclear translocation of NFkappaB was detected in both heart and preconditioned skeletal muscle 1-2 h after the preconditioning episodes (EMSA); while cardiac mRNA for iNOS gradually increased in a 24-h time course after hind limb preconditioning (real-time PCR). When hind limbs of mice with targeted deletions for the p105 subunit of NFkappaB or the iNOS gene were preconditioned, no beneficial effect was observed in the heart. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed cardioprotection induced by hind limb preconditioning involves signaling through NFkappaB and iNOS.

Effect of prenatal hypoxia on heat stress-mediated cardioprotection in adult rat heart.

Fetal programming has profound effects on cardiovascular function in later adult life. We tested the hypothesis that chronic hypoxic exposure during fetal development downregulates endogenous cardioprotective mechanisms in adult rats. Time-dated pregnant rats were divided between normoxic and hypoxic (10.5% O2 from days 15 to 21 of gestation) groups. The male progeny were studied at 2 mo of age. Rats were subjected to heat stress (42 degrees C for 15 min). After 24 h, hearts were excised and subjected to 30 min of global ischemia and 1 h of reperfusion. Prenatal hypoxia did not change adult rat body weight and heart weight, but significantly increased the cross-sectional area of a left ventricular (LV) myocyte. Heat stress significantly improved postischemic recovery of LV function in normoxic control rats, but not in prenatally hypoxic rats. The infarct size in the LV resulting from ischemia-reperfusion was reduced by the heat stress pretreatment in control rats, but not in prenatally hypoxic rats. In accordance, heat stress significantly increased LV myocardial content of heat shock protein 70 only in normoxic control rats. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the LV myocardial content of the PKC-epsilon isoform in prenatally hypoxic rats compared with control rats. We conclude that prenatal hypoxia causes in utero programming of hsp70 gene in the LV, leading to an inhibition of its response to heat stress and a loss of cardioprotection in later adult life.

Mechanisms of myocardial ischemic preconditioning are age related: PKC-epsilon does not play a requisite role in old rabbits.

Data obtained from adult cohorts have implicated activation/translocation of protein kinase C (PKC)-epsilon as an important cellular mediator of myocardial infarct size reduction with ischemic preconditioning (PC). Age-related alterations in cellular signaling may, however, confound the extrapolation of mechanistic insight derived from adults to the aging population, the specific subset in which cardioprotection is undoubtedly most relevant. Accordingly, our aim was to investigate the role of PKC-epsilon as a mediator of infarct size reduction with PC in old vs. adult rabbits. In protocol 1, we assessed the effect of PKC-epsilon translocation inhibitor peptide (PKC-epsilon-TIP) and the pan-PKC inhibitor chelerythrine on infarct size reduction with PC in adult and approximately 4-yr-old rabbits, a population previously shown to exhibit definitive hallmarks of cardiovascular aging. Rabbits received 5 min of PC ischemia or a matched control period followed by 30 min of coronary artery occlusion and 3 h of reperfusion, with infarct size (delineated by tetrazolium staining) serving as the primary endpoint. In protocol 2, we obtained insight (by Western immunoblotting) into the subcellular redistribution of PKC-epsilon in response to the 5-min PC stimulus in adult and old rabbits. In adults, infarct size reduction with PC was abrogated by both PKC-epsilon-TIP and chelerythrine. However, in old rabbits, 1). PC-induced cardioprotection was maintained despite inhibitor treatment and 2). brief PC ischemia was not associated with activation/translocation of PKC-epsilon. Thus the mechanisms responsible for PC are age related in the rabbit heart, with no apparent, requisite role of PKC-epsilon in aging animals.

Effect of fetal hypoxia on heart susceptibility to ischemia and reperfusion injury in the adult rat.

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic studies showed an association between adverse intrauterine environment and ischemic heart disease in the adult. We tested the hypothesis that prenatal hypoxia increased the susceptibility of adult heart to ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury. METHODS: Time-dated pregnant rats were divided between normoxic and hypoxic (10.5% oxygen from day 15 to 21) groups. Hearts of 6-month-old male progeny were studied using Langendorff preparation and were subjected to two protocols of I-R: 10 minutes of ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion (I-R(10)) or 25 minutes of ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion (I-R(25)). RESULTS: Prenatal hypoxia did not change basal left ventricular (LV) function. I-R(10) produced myocardial stunning and a transient decrease in LV function in control hearts but caused myocardial infarction and a persistent decrease in postischemic recovery of LV function in hypoxic hearts. I-R(25) caused myocardial infarction in both control and hypoxic hearts, which was significantly higher in hypoxic hearts. The postischemic recovery of LV function was significantly reduced in hypoxic hearts. I-R(25)-induced activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis in the left ventricle were significantly higher in hypoxic than control hearts. There was a significant decrease in LV heat shock protein 70 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase levels in hypoxic hearts. Prenatal hypoxia did not change beta(1)-adrenoreceptor levels but significantly increased beta(2)-adrenoreceptor in the left ventricle. In addition, it increased G(s)alpha but decreased G(i)alpha. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal chronic hypoxia increases the susceptibility of adult heart to I-R injury. Several possible mechanisms may be involved, including an increase in beta(2)-adrenoreceptor and the G(s)alpha/G(i)alpha ratio, and a decrease in heat shock protein 70 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the left ventricle.

Effect of maternal chronic hypoxic exposure during gestation on apoptosis in fetal rat heart.

Chronic hypoxia during pregnancy is one of the most common insults to fetal development. We tested the hypothesis that maternal hypoxia induced apoptosis in the hearts of near-term fetal rats. Pregnant rats were divided into two groups, normoxic control and continuous hypoxic exposure (10.5% O2) from day 15 to 21 of gestation. Hearts were isolated from fetal rats of 21-day gestational age. Maternal hypoxia increased hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha protein in fetal hearts. Chronic hypoxia significantly increased the percentage and size of binucleated myocytes and increased apoptotic cells from 1.4 +/- 0.14% to 2.7 +/- 0.3% in the fetal heart. In addition, the active cleaved form of caspase 3 was significantly increased in the hypoxic heart, which was associated with an increase in caspase 3 activity. There was a significant increase in Fas protein levels in the hypoxic heart. Chronic hypoxia did not change Bax protein levels but significantly decreased Bcl-2 proteins. In addition, chronic hypoxia significantly suppressed expression of heat shock protein 70. However, chronic hypoxia significantly increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein 14-3-3, among other 14-3-3 isoforms. Chronic hypoxia differentially regulated beta-adrenoreceptor (beta-AR) subtypes with an increase in beta1-AR levels but no changes in beta2-AR. The results demonstrate that maternal hypoxia increases apoptosis in fetal rat heart, which may be mediated by an increase in Fas and a decrease in Bcl-2 proteins. Chronic hypoxia-mediated increase in beta1-AR and decrease in heat shock proteins may also play an important role in apoptosis in the fetal heart.

The gap junction uncoupler heptanol abrogates infarct size reduction with preconditioning in mouse hearts.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that gap junction-mediated intercellular transmission of ions, metabolites and/or second messengers may serve as important determinants of myocyte viability. Our aim was to determine, using isolated buffer-perfused mouse hearts, whether the cardioprotection achieved with ischemic preconditioning (PC) is due in part to: (i) disruption of cell-cell coupling (manifest as a loss in the primary gap junction protein, connexin 43 [Cx43]) and resultant impaired transmission of a 'death' messenger, or conversely, (ii) transfer of a humoral 'survival' factor via existing gap junctions. METHODS: To explore the first possibility, we employed immunostaining to visualize and quantify Cx43 in hearts subjected to 212 min of PC ischemia or a matched control period. To test the converse corollary, we assessed the effect of heptanol-an agent well recognized to rapidly and reversibly uncouple gap junctions--on the reduction of infarct size (delineated by tetrazolium staining) achieved with PC. RESULTS: We found no evidence of a deficit in Cx43 immunoreactive signal in response to the PC stimulus. Area of necrosis (AN) was, as expected, reduced in hearts that received PC ischemia vs. controls (31+/-3% vs. 40+/-3% of the left ventricle [LV]; P<.01). However, treatment with heptanol rendered PC ineffective in eliciting protection (AN/LV: 42+/-1%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that gap junction-mediated transfer of an as-yet unknown 'survival' factor-rather than disrupted transfer of a 'death messenger'-may play a role in the increased resistance to infarction conferred by antecedent PC ischemia in mouse heart.

Relationship between no reflow and infarct size as influenced by the duration of ischemia and reperfusion.

No reflow after acute myocardial infarction is an important predictor of infarct size and clinical outcome. However, the exact relationship between no reflow and infarct size remains to be determined, particularly because no reflow may progress during the time course of reperfusion. Control groups of five previous protocols using the anesthetized, open-chest rabbit model of coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the correlation between regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF; radioactive microspheres) and infarct size (triphenyltetrazolium chloride) in the course of reperfusion. After 30 min of occlusion, reflow (defined as the ratio of RMBF in the risk area divided by the nonischemic area) declined from hyperemic values after 30 min of reperfusion (reflow ratio: 1.33 +/- 0.81; RMBF in the risk area at the same time point: 2.25 +/- 1.04 ml x g(-1) x min(-1)) to 0.47 +/- 0.22 after 120 min and 0.46 +/- 0.13 after 180 min of reperfusion. After 120 min of ischemia, reflow at 30 min of reperfusion was 0.49 +/- 0.24 and deteriorated by 120 min of reperfusion (0.26 +/- 0.15). In every group, there was a strong correlation between infarct size and reflow (correlation coefficients: -0.62 to -0.82). The lines of regression for the groups with assessment of RMBF after 120 or 180 min of reperfusion were nearly identical regardless of the duration of ischemia. Thus microvascular reperfusion injury led to a striking decrease in RMBF within the first 2 h of reperfusion, with infarct size as the major determinant of reflow at a given time point of reperfusion.