Synthesis and pro-apoptotic effects of new sulfonamide derivatives via activating p38/ERK phosphorylation in cancer cells.

Herein, the compounds bearing sulfonamide fragment such as N-(2-amino-5-benzoylphenyl)-4-nitrobenzene sulfonamide hydrochloride (1), N-(quinolin-8-yl)-4-nitro-benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride (2), N-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)-4-nitro-benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride (3) were synthesized by the reaction of 3,4-diaminobenzophenone, 8-aminoquinoline or 2-picoylamine and 4-nitrobenzensulfonyl chloride, respectively. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were elucidated on the basis of elemental and spectral analyses. All the prepared compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anti-cancer activity against various cancer cell lines and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this process. In vitro cytotoxic activities of the compounds were screened against human hepatocellular (HepG2), breast (MCF-7) and colon (Colo-205) cancer cell lines by MTT assay, mRNA expression of genes with qPCR and phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 with Western blot. Tested compounds could significantly reduce cell proliferation and induced mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic genes; caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9. Activation of these apoptotic genes probably is mediated by activation of p38.

Effect of the Lipid Peroxidation Product 4-Hydroxynonenal on Neuroinflammation in Microglial Cells: Protective Role of Quercetin and Monochloropivaloylquercetin.

OBJECTIVES: The lipid peroxidation-derived aldehyde 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) has been implicated in a number of oxidative stress-induced inflammatory pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases and aging. In this regard, we investigated the effects of HNE on neuroinflammatory responses by measuring cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induction with cytokine production. In addition, we measured nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) signaling proteins, and antioxidant enzymes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1), and compared the results with quercetin and monochloropivaloylquercetin (MPQ) pretreated microglial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and production of cytokines was determined by cytokine array. Furthermore, intracellular Nfr2/Keap1 signaling proteins, HO-1, NQO1, and COX-2 expression were analyzed by western blot in 2.5 µM HNE treated BV-2 cells. RESULTS: Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and COX-2 mRNA levels were measured with reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. HNE induced both COX-2 mRNA and protein levels, iNOS mRNA expression, and cytokine production. In addition, HNE markedly increased Keap1 levels and decreased cytoplasmic Nrf-2 expression with antioxidant enzyme HO-1 levels. Quercetin and monochloropivaloylquercetin treatment alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in microglial cells, by decreasing COX-2 mRNA expression. Monochloropivaloylquercetin decreased cytoplasmic Keap1 levels and increased nuclear translocation of Nrf-2 resulted in induction of HO-1 and NQO1 expression. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HNE could be a link between oxidative stress and inflammation in BV-2 microglia cells. In particular, monochloropivaloylquercetin alleviated inflammation, probably by decreasing the expression of proinflammatory genes and strengthening the antioxidant defense system.