Pyridazinones and Structurally Related Derivatives with Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

Persistent inflammation contributes to a number of diseases; therefore, control of the inflammatory response is an important therapeutic goal. In an effort to identify novel anti-inflammatory compounds, we screened a library of pyridazinones and structurally related derivatives that were used previously to identify N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) agonists. Screening of the compounds for their ability to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transcriptional activity in human THP1-Blue monocytic cells identified 48 compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. Interestingly, 34 compounds were FPR agonists, whereas 14 inhibitors of LPS-induced NF-κB activity were not FPR agonists, indicating that they inhibited different signaling pathways. Further analysis of the most potent inhibitors showed that they also inhibited LPS-induced production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) by human MonoMac-6 monocytic cells, again verifying their anti-inflammatory properties. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) classification models based on atom pair descriptors and physicochemical ADME parameters were developed to achieve better insight into the relationships between chemical structures of the compounds and their biological activities, and we found that there was little correlation between FPR agonist activity and inhibition of LPS-induced NF-κB activity. Indeed, Cmpd43, a well-known pyrazolone-based FPR agonist, as well as FPR1 and FPR2 peptide agonists had no effect on the LPS-induced NF-κB activity in THP1-Blue cells. Thus, some FPR agonists reported to have anti-inflammatory activity may actually mediate their effects through FPR-independent pathways, as it is suggested by our results with this series of compounds. This could explain how treatment with some agonists known to be inflammatory (i.e., FPR1 agonists) could result in anti-inflammatory effects. Further research is clearly needed to define the molecular targets of pyridazinones and structurally related compounds with anti-inflammatory activity and to define their relationships (if any) to FPR signaling events.

Synthesis, anticancer activity, and molecular modeling of 1,4-naphthoquinones that inhibit MKK7 and Cdc25.

Cell division cycle 25 (Cdc25) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MKK7) are enzymes involved in intracellular signaling but can also contribute to tumorigenesis. We synthesized and characterized the biological activity of 1,4-naphthoquinones structurally similar to reported Cdc25 and(or) MKK7 inhibitors with anticancer activity. Compound 7 (3-[(1,4-dioxonaphthalen-2-yl)sulfanyl]propanoic acid) exhibited high binding affinity for MKK7 (Kd = 230 nM), which was greater than the affinity of NSC 95397 (Kd = 1.1 µM). Although plumbagin had a lower binding affinity for MKK7, this compound and sulfur-containing derivatives 4 and 6-8 were potent inhibitors of Cdc25A and Cdc25B. Derivative 22e containing a phenylamino side chain was selective for MKK7 versus MKK4 and Cdc25 A/B, and its isomer 22f was a selective inhibitor of Cdc25 A/B. Docking studies performed on several naphthoquinones highlighted interesting aspects concerning the molecule orientation and hydrogen bonding interactions, which could help to explain the activity of the compounds toward MKK7 and Cdc25B. The most potent naphthoquinone-based inhibitors of MKK7 and/or Cdc25 A/B were also screened for their cytotoxicity against nine cancer cell lines and primary human mononuclear cells, and a correlation was found between Cdc25 A/B inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity of the compounds. Quantum chemical calculations using BP86 and ωB97X-D3 functionals were performed on 20 naphthoquinone derivatives to obtain a set of molecular electronic properties and to correlate these properties with cytotoxic activities. Systematic theoretical DFT calculations with subsequent correlation analysis indicated that energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital E(LUMO), vertical electron affinity (VEA), and reactivity index ω of these molecules were important characteristics related to their cytotoxicity. The reactivity index ω was also a key characteristic related to Cdc25 A/B phosphatase inhibitory activity. Thus, 1,4-naphthoquinones displaying sulfur-containing and phenylamino side chains with additional polar groups could be successfully utilized for further development of efficacious Cdc25 A/B and MKK7 inhibitors with anticancer activity.

A new approach for the immobilization of poly(acrylic) acid as a chemically reactive cross-linker on the surface of poly(lactic) acid-based biomaterials.

A new approach for the immobilization of poly(acrylic) acid (PAA) as a chemically reactive cross-linker on the surface of poly(lactic) acid-based (PLA) biomaterials is described. The proposed technique includes non-covalent attachment of a PAA layer to the surface of PLA-based biomaterial via biomaterial surface treatment with solvent/non-solvent mixture followed by the entrapment of PAA from its solution. Surface morphology and wettability of the obtained PLA-PAA composite materials were investigated by AFM and the sitting drop method respectively. The amount of the carboxyl groups on the composites surface was determined by using the fluorescent compounds (2-(5-aminobenzo[d]oxazol-2-yl)phenol (ABO) and its acyl derivative N-(2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzo[d]oxazol-5-yl)acetamide (AcABO)). It was shown that it is possible to obtain PLA-PAA composites with various surface relief and tunable wettability (57°, 62° and 66°). The capacity of the created PAA layer could be varied from 1.5nmol/cm2 to 0.1µmol/cm2 depending on the modification conditions. Additionally, using bovine serum albumin (BSA) it was demonstrated that such composites could be modified with proteins with high binding density (around 0.18nmol/cm2). Obtained fluoro-labeled PLA-PAA materials, as well as PLA-PAA composites themselves, are valuable since they can be used for biodegradable polymer implants tracking in living systems and as drug delivery systems.