L-asparaginase isolated from Streptomyces ansochromogenes promotes Th1 profile and activates CD8+ T cells in human PBMC: an in vitro investigation.

AIMS: A new L-asparaginase produced by Streptomyces ansochromogenes UFPEDA 3420 actinobacteria was used in this study against human lymphocyte cultures to evaluate the immunological profile induced by this enzyme. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cultures of lymphocytes were stimulated with S. ansochromogenes L-asparaginase, and cytotoxicity, cell viability, cell stimulation and cytokine production were analysed. This new S. ansochromogenes L-asparaginase induced activation and proliferation of the TCD8+ lymphocyte subset and produced higher TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-10 levels in a 24-h assay. CONCLUSION: Streptomyces ansochromogenes L-asparaginase is a promising molecule to be used in in vivo models and to deepen preclinical tests against acute lymphoblast leukaemia. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: L-asparaginase is an indispensable component of the chemotherapeutic treatment of acute lymphoblast leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Currently, drugs such as Asparaginase® , Kidrolase® , and Elspar® and Erwinase® are efficient against leukemic disease, but promote immunosuppression and other side effects in human organisms. Our purified S. ansochromogenes L-asparaginase showed promissory results inducing, in vitro, higher immunostimulation in human PBMC, especially in T CD8+ lymphocyte subsets.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of N-substituted thiosemicarbazones of 3-(3,4-methylenedioxy)phenylpropanal.

Five new N-substituted thiosemicarbazones of 3-(3,4-methylenedioxy)phenylpropanal were synthesized. Safrole, a natural product obtained from sassafras oil (Ocotea pretiosa), was oxidized to alcohol using BH3-THF and H2O2, followed by oxidation to aldehyde using pyridinium dichromate (PDC) and condensation with five N-substituted derivatives of thiosemicarbazide. Tests were performed to evaluate the cytotoxic activity with continuous chain KB cells (epidermoide carcinoma of the floor of the mouth). Compounds 5 and 6 showed IC50 values of 1.5 and 4.6 micrograms/ml, respectively.

Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxic activity of aza- and diazaanthraquinone derivatives.

Some 1,4-dihydro aza- and 1,4-dihydro diazaanthraquinone derivatives have been synthesized and submitted to in vitro cytotoxicity tests towards L 1210, MDA-MB 231 and PC3 cell lines. Some of the new substances showed significant activity.