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Dante Rotili,
Domenico Tarantino,
Angela Nebbioso,
Chantal Paolini,
Covadonga Huidobro,
Ester Lara,
Paolo Mellini,
Alessia Lenoci,
Riccardo Pezzi, Giorgia Botta,
Maija Lahtela-Kakkonen,
Antti Poso,
Christian Steinkuhler,
Paola Gallinari,
Ruggero De Maria,
Mario F Fraga,
Manel Esteller,
Lucia Altucci,
Antonello Mai
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ABSTRACT: Chemical changes performed on 1a (sirtinol) led to a series of SIRT1/2 inhibitors in some cases more potent than 1a mainly against SIRT1. Tested in human leukemia U937 cells, the benzamide and anilide derivatives 1b, 1c, 2b, and 2c as well as the 4-(2-phenylpropyl)thioanalogue 4c showed huge apoptosis induction, while some sulfinyl and sulfonyl derivatives (5b, 5c, and 6a-c) were highly efficient in granulocytic differentiation. When assayed in human leukemia MOLT4 as well as in human breast MDA-MB-231 and colon RKO cancer cell lines, the anilide 2b (salermide) and the phenylpropylthio analogue 4b emerged as the most potent antiproliferative agents. Tested on colorectal carcinoma and glioblastoma multiforme cancer stem cells (CSCs) from patients, 2b was particularly potent against colorectal carcinoma CSCs, while 4b, 6a and the SIRT2-selective inhibitor AGK-2 showed the highest effect against glioblastoma multiforme CSCs. Such compounds will be further explored for their broad-spectrum anticancer properties.
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 11/2012; · 4.80 Impact Factor
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Dante Rotili,
Domenico Tarantino,
Vincenzo Carafa,
Chantal Paolini,
Jörg Schemies,
Manfred Jung, Giorgia Botta,
Salvatore Di Maro,
Ettore Novellino,
Christian Steinkühler,
Ruggero De Maria,
Paola Gallinari,
Lucia Altucci,
Antonello Mai
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ABSTRACT: Inhibition of sirtuins has recently been proposed as a promising anticancer strategy. Some of the new benzodeazaoxaflavins (2a, 2b, and 2d) here reported as SIRT1/2 inhibitors were endowed with pro-apoptotic properties in human U937 leukemia cells and, most importantly, together with the prototype MC2141 (1) displayed antiproliferative effects in cancer stem cells from patients with colorectal carcinoma and glioblastoma multiforme, known to be highly tumorigenic, resistant to conventional cancer chemotherapy, and responsible, at least in part, for cancer relapse or recurrence.
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 08/2012; 55(18):8193-7. · 4.80 Impact Factor
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Dante Rotili,
Alberta Samuele,
Domenico Tarantino,
Rino Ragno,
Ira Musmuca,
Flavio Ballante, Giorgia Botta,
Ludovica Morera,
Marco Pierini,
Roberto Cirilli,
Maxim B Nawrozkij,
Emmanuel Gonzalez,
Bonaventura Clotet,
Marino Artico,
José A Esté,
Giovanni Maga,
Antonello Mai
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ABSTRACT: The single enantiomers of two pyrimidine-based HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, 1 (MC1501) and 2 (MC2082), were tested in both cellular and enzyme assays. In general, the R forms were more potent than their S counterparts and racemates and (R)-2 was more efficient than (R)-1 and the reference compounds, with some exceptions. Interestingly, (R)-2 displayed a faster binding to K103N RT with respect to WT RT, while (R)-1 showed the opposite behavior.
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 03/2012; 55(7):3558-62. · 4.80 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this report we describe the synthesis and biological characterization of two series of sirtuins' inhibitors (SIRTi), designed as simplification products of the previously reported SIRT1-selective inhibitor MC2141 (4). In the first series (5a-t) we report a number of 2-substituted-1,2-dihydrobenzo[f]chromen-3-ones with a marked selectivity for the inhibition of SIRT2 over SIRT1. Some of such derivatives showed also high pro-apoptotic (5i and 5l) and/or cytodifferentiating (5d, 5i, and 5o) properties in a human leukemia cell line (U937). The second group of SIRTi (6a-q) is characterized by some analogues of cambinol (3), a well known SIRTi active against the Burkitt lymphoma. Such compounds, differently from the unselective prototype, are endowed with a selective inhibition of SIRT1 over SIRT2, and, in some cases (6j, 6k, and 6q), are more efficient than 3 to induce apoptosis in U937 cells.
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry 01/2011; 19(12):3659-68. · 2.82 Impact Factor
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Dante Rotili,
Domenico Tarantino,
Vincenzo Carafa,
Ester Lara,
Sarah Meade, Giorgia Botta,
Angela Nebbioso,
Jörg Schemies,
Manfred Jung,
Aleksey G Kazantsev,
Manel Esteller,
Mario F Fraga,
Lucia Altucci,
Antonello Mai
ChemMedChem 04/2010; 5(5):674-7. · 3.15 Impact Factor
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Maxim B Nawrozkij,
Dante Rotili,
Domenico Tarantino, Giorgia Botta,
Alexandre S Eremiychuk,
Ira Musmuca,
Rino Ragno,
Alberta Samuele,
Samantha Zanoli,
Mercedes Armand-Ugón,
Imma Clotet-Codina,
Ivan A Novakov,
Boris S Orlinson,
Giovanni Maga,
José A Esté,
Marino Artico,
Antonello Mai
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ABSTRACT: A series of dihydro-alkylthio-benzyl-oxopyrimidines (S-DABOs) bearing a 2-aryl-2-oxoethylsulfanyl chain at pyrimidine C2, an alkyl group at C5, and a 2,6-dichloro-, 2-chloro-6-fluoro-, and 2,6-difluoro-benzyl substitution at C6 (oxophenethyl- S-DABOs, 6-8) is here described. The new compounds showed low micromolar to low nanomolar (in one case subnanomolar) inhibitory activity against wt HIV-1. Against clinically relevant HIV-1 mutants (K103N, Y181C, and Y188L) as well as in enzyme (wt and K103N, Y181I, and L100I mutated RTs) assays, compounds carrying an ethyl/ iso-propyl group at C5 and a 2,6-dichloro-/2-chloro-6-fluoro-benzyl moiety at C6 were the most potent derivatives, also characterized by low fold resistance ratio. Interestingly, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) data drawn from this DABO series are more related to HEPT than to DABO derivatives. These findings were at least in part rationalized by the description of a fair superimposition between the 6-8 and TNK-651 (a HEPT analogue) binding modes in both WT and Y181C RTs.
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 08/2008; 51(15):4641-52. · 4.80 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: (Aryloxopropenyl)pyrrolyl hydroxamates were recently reported by us as first examples of class II-selective HDAC inhibitors and can be useful tools to probe the biology of such enzymes. Molecular modelling and 3-D QSAR studies have been performed on a series of 25 (aryloxopropenyl)pyrrolyl hydroxamates to gain insights about their activity and selectivity against both maize HD1-B and HD1-A, two enzymes homologous of mammalian class I and class II HDACs, respectively. The studies have been accomplished by calculating alignment-independent descriptors (GRIND descriptors) using the ALMOND software. Highly descriptive and predictive 3-D QSAR models were obtained using either class I or class II inhibitory activity displaying r(2)/q(2) values of 0.96/0.81 and 0.98/0.85 for HD1-B and HD1-A, respectively. A deeper inspection revealed that in general a bent molecular shape structure is a prerequisite for HD1-A-selective inhibitory activity, while straight shape molecular skeleton leads to selective HD1-B compounds. The same conclusions could be achieved by molecular docking studies of the most selective inhibitors.
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 04/2008; 43(3):621-32. · 3.35 Impact Factor
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Marco Radi,
Emmanuele Crespan, Giorgia Botta,
Federico Falchi,
Giovanni Maga,
Fabrizio Manetti,
Valentina Corradi,
Manuela Mancini,
Maria Alessandra Santucci,
Silvia Schenone,
Maurizio Botta
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ABSTRACT: A series of substituted benzoylamino-2-[(4-benzyl)thio]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles has been discovered as potent Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Molecular docking simulations on the Abl tyrosine kinase were conducted in order to rationalize the SAR of the synthesized inhibitors. The most active compound identified from the enzymatic screening (6a) showed interesting inhibitory activity on Imatinib-sensitive murine myeloid 3B clone and Bcr-Abl-independent Imatinib-resistant leukemia cells. Surprisingly, 6a was also proved to act as differentiating inducers in human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60).
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters 03/2008; 18(3):1207-11. · 2.65 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In addition to their well-known critical role in energy metabolism, mitochondria are now recognized as the location where various catabolic and anabolic processes, calcium fluxes, various oxygen-nitrogen reactive species, and other signal transduction pathways interact to maintain cell homeostasis and to mediate cellular responses to different stimuli. It is important to consider how pharmacological agents affect mitochondrial biochemistry, not only because of toxicological concerns but also because of potential therapeutic applications. Several potential targets could be envisaged at the mitochondrial level that may underlie the toxic effects of some drugs. Recently, antiviral nucleoside analogs have displayed mitochondrial toxicity through the inhibition of DNA polymerase-gamma (pol-gamma). Other drugs that target different components of mitochondrial channels can disrupt ion homeostasis or interfere with the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Many known inhibitors of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain act by interfering with one or more of the respiratory chain complexes. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for example, may behave as oxidative phosphorylation uncouplers. The mitochondrial toxicity of other drugs seems to depend on free radical production, although the mechanisms have not yet been clarified. Meanwhile, drugs targeting mitochondria have been used to treat mitochondrial dysfunctions. Importantly, drugs that target the mitochondria of cancer cells have been developed recently; such drugs can trigger apoptosis or necrosis of the cancer cells. Thus the aim of this review is to highlight the role of mitochondria in pharmacotoxicology, and to describe whenever possible the main molecular mechanisms underlying unwanted and/or therapeutic effects.
AJP Cell Physiology 08/2007; 293(1):C12-21. · 3.54 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are a class of nuclear receptors now actively investigated for their involvement in lipid and glucidic metabolism, immune regulation and cell differentiation. Drugs binding and activating PPARs are therefore attracting attention for their potential therapeutic role in various diseases like type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemias, atherosclerosis, obesity (i.e., metabolic syndrome). Agonists of these receptors have been already used in therapeutic protocols: fibrates (PPAR-alpha ligands) are being used in hyperlipidemias, and thiazolidinediones (mainly PPAR-gamma ligands) are being employed as insulin sensitizers. The latter drugs introduction into therapy, however, showed very soon some unwanted effects (hepatotoxicity at first and myocardiotoxicity later on) which confirmed some contradictory data already suggested by pre-clinical trial-experiments. In this study we show that some PPAR ligands impair mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in human liver cell line mainly by deranging NADH oxidation. Intriguingly, the PPAR-gamma ligand ciglitazone caused a dose-dependent inhibition of NADH-cytochrome c reductase that resulted, at a drug concentration of 50 microM, of about 60% (P<0.001), while other PPAR ligands with different receptor affinity - positive controls like clofibrate (0.7 mM), gemfibrozil (0.23 mM) and bezafibrate (1 mM) - reduced the activity of mitochondrial Complex I by about 20% (P<0.01, P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). The induced mitochondrial dysfunction imposed a series of metabolic compensatory adaptations characterized by a significant shift to anaerobic glycolysis. These findings underline the undervalued non-genomic effects of PPAR ligands and can provide a better understanding of the pharmacotoxicological profiles of these drugs and of their roles in the therapy of diabetes mellitus.
European Journal of Pharmacology 07/2007; 567(1-2):50-8. · 2.52 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Neurodegenerative diseases are now generally considered as a group of disorders that seriously and progressively impair the functions of the nervous system through selective neuronal vulnerability of specific brain regions. Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease, followed in incidence by Parkinson's disease; much less common are frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease, amyothrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), progressive supranuclear palsy, spinocerebellar ataxia, Pick's disease and, lastly, prion disease. In this review, the authors intend to survey new drugs in different clinical phases but not in the preclinical or discovery stages nor already in the market, with new molecules aimed at interrupting or at attenuating different pathogenic pathways of neurodegeneration and/or at ameliorating symptoms. Drugs in different pharmacological phases are under study or are ready to be introduced into therapy for Alzheimer's disease, which display anti-beta-amyloid activity or nerve growth factor-like activity or anti-inflammatory properties. Other drugs possess mixed mechanisms of action, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibition and impairment of beta-amyloid formation through inhibition of beta-amyloid precursor protein synthesis and/or modulation of secretase activity. Other therapeutic approaches are based on immunotherapy, control of metal ions interactions with beta-amyloid and ensuing oxidative reactions as well as metabolic or hormonal regulation. The symptomatic therapy of motor behaviour in Parkinson's disease, based on l-DOPA, is registering adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonists, monoamine oxidase B inhibitors and ion channel modulators, as well as dopamine uptake inhibitors and glutamate AMPA receptor antagonists. There are also many other drugs involved, including astrocyte-modulating agents, 5-HT(1A) agonists and alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonists, which are targeted at preventing or ameliorating Parkinson's disease-related or l-DOPA-induced dyskinesias. Huntington's disease therapy envisages a Phase III drug, LAX-101, which displays antiapoptotic properties by promoting membrane stabilisation and mitochondrial integrity. Other drugs with antioxidant and antiapoptotic steroid-like and neuroprotective activity are under investigation for the therapy of the less common neurodegenerative diseases.
Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs 02/2007; 16(1):59-72. · 5.27 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A novel series of aroyl-pyrrolyl-hydroxy-amides (APHAs) active as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors has been reported. The new derivatives were designed by replacing the benzene ring of the prototype 1 with both aromatic and aliphatic, monocyclic and polycyclic rings (compounds 3a-i), or by inserting a number of substituents on the methylene linker of 1 (compounds 4a-l). Compounds 3a-i and 4a-l were active at sub-micromolar level against the maize deacetylases HD1-B (class I), HD1-A (class II), and HD2. Tested at 5 microM against human HDAC1 and HDAC4, 3b, 4a, and 4j showed significant HDAC1 inhibition, whereas on HDAC4 only 4a was highly effective. On the human leukemia U937 cell line, the same compounds did not alter the cell cycle phases and failed in inducing apoptosis. However, they displayed granulocytic differentiation at 5 microM, with 3b being the most potent (76% CD11c positive cells). Tested to evaluate their effects on histone H3 and alpha-tubulin acetylation, 3b and 4a showed high H3 acetylation, whereas 4a and 4b were the most potent with alpha-tubulin as a substrate.
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology 02/2007; 39(7-8):1510-22. · 4.63 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A novel series of compounds containing a uracil moiety as the connection unit between a phenyl/phenylalkyl portion and a N-hydroxy-polymethylenealkanamide or -methylenecinnamylamide group (uracil-based hydroxamic acids, UBHAs) was tested against maize histone deacetylases (HDACs) and mouse HDAC1. Compounds with a phenyl/benzyl ring at the uracil-C6 position and bearing 4-5 carbon units as well as a m- or p-methylenecinnamyl moiety as a spacer were the most potent inhibitors. In cell-based human HDAC1 and HDAC4 assays, the two UBHAs tested inhibited the HDAC1 but not HDAC4 immunoprecipitate activity. When tested in human leukemia U937 cells, some UBHAs produced G1 phase arrest of the cell cycle. Moreover, 1j showed high antiproliferative and dose-dependent granulocytic differentiation properties. The tested UBHAs displayed weak p21WAF1/CIP1 induction in U937 cells, and 1d and 1j showed high histone H3 and alpha-tubulin acetylation effects.
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 11/2006; 49(20):6046-56. · 5.25 Impact Factor
