scholarly journals Derivatives of the β-Crinane Amaryllidaceae Alkaloid Haemanthamine as Multi-Target Directed Ligands for Alzheimer’s Disease

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliška Kohelová ◽  
Rozálie Peřinová ◽  
Negar Maafi ◽  
Jan Korábečný ◽  
Daniela Hulcová ◽  
...  

Twelve derivatives 1a–1m of the β-crinane-type alkaloid haemanthamine were developed. All the semisynthetic derivatives were studied for their inhibitory potential against both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. In addition, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) inhibition potency was evaluated in the active derivatives. In order to reveal the availability of the drugs to the CNS, we elucidated the potential of selected derivatives to penetrate through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Two compounds, namely 11-O-(2-methylbenzoyl)-haemanthamine (1j) and 11-O-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-haemanthamine (1m), revealed the most intriguing profile, both being acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) inhibitors on a micromolar scale, with GSK-3β inhibition properties, and predicted permeation through the BBB. In vitro data were further corroborated by detailed inspection of the compounds’ plausible binding modes in the active sites of hAChE and hBuChE, which led us to provide the structural determinants responsible for the activity towards these enzymes.

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 610
Author(s):  
Robin Park ◽  
Andrew L. Coveler ◽  
Ludimila Cavalcante ◽  
Anwaar Saeed

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta is a ubiquitously and constitutively expressed molecule with pleiotropic function. It acts as a protooncogene in the development of several solid tumors including pancreatic cancer through its involvement in various cellular processes including cell proliferation, survival, invasion and metastasis, as well as autophagy. Furthermore, the level of aberrant glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta expression in the nucleus is inversely correlated with tumor differentiation and survival in both in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer. Small molecule inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta have demonstrated therapeutic potential in pre-clinical models and are currently being evaluated in early phase clinical trials involving pancreatic cancer patients with interim results showing favorable results. Moreover, recent studies support a rationale for the combination of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta inhibitors with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, warranting the evaluation of novel combination regimens in the future.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (22) ◽  
pp. 5391
Author(s):  
Zheng Liu ◽  
Ming Bian ◽  
Qian-Qian Ma ◽  
Zhuo Zhang ◽  
Huan-Huan Du ◽  
...  

A series of novel synthetic substituted benzo[d]oxazole-based derivatives (5a–5v) exerted neuroprotective effects on β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced PC12 cells as a potential approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In vitro studies show that most of the synthesized compounds were potent in reducing the neurotoxicity of Aβ25-35-induced PC12 cells at 5 μg/mL. We found that compound 5c was non-neurotoxic at 30 μg/mL and significantly increased the viability of Aβ25-35-induced PC12 cells at 1.25, 2.5 and 5 μg/mL. Western blot analysis showed that compound 5c promoted the phosphorylation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3β) and decreased the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in Aβ25-35-induced PC12 cells. In addition, our findings demonstrated that compound 5c protected PC12 cells from Aβ25-35-induced apoptosis and reduced the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, and decreased the expression of receptor for AGE (RAGE), β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and Bcl-2-associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bax/Bcl-2) via Akt/GSK-3β/NF-κB signaling pathway. In vivo studies suggest that compound 5c shows less toxicity than donepezil in the heart and nervous system of zebrafish.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jikui Sun ◽  
Quanfeng Ma ◽  
Banban Li ◽  
Chen Wang ◽  
Lidong Mo ◽  
...  

Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates that the dysregulation of the miRNAs/mRNA-mediated carcinogenic signaling pathway network is intimately involved in glioma initiation and progression. In the present study, by performing experiments and bioinformatics analysis, we found that RPN2 was markedly elevated in glioma specimens compared with normal controls, and its upregulation was significantly linked to WHO grade and poor prognosis. Knockdown of RPN2 inhibited tumor proliferation and invasion, promoted apoptosis, and enhanced temozolomide (TMZ) sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic investigation revealed that RPN2 deletion repressed β-catenin/Tcf-4 transcription activity partly through functional activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Furthermore, we showed that RPN2 is a direct functional target of miR-181c. Ectopic miR-181c expression suppressed β-catenin/Tcf-4 activity, while restoration of RPN2 partly reversed this inhibitory effect mediated by miR-181c, implying a molecular mechanism in which TMZ sensitivity is mediated by miR-181c. Taken together, our data revealed a new miR-181c/RPN2/wnt/β-catenin signaling axis that plays significant roles in glioma tumorigenesis and TMZ resistance, and it represents a potential therapeutic target, especially in GBM.


2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 2809-2815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Blunder ◽  
Eva M. Pferschy-Wenzig ◽  
Walter M.F. Fabian ◽  
Antje Hüfner ◽  
Olaf Kunert ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Antoinette Keita ◽  
Jean-François Franetich ◽  
Maelle Carraz ◽  
Loise Valentin ◽  
Mallaury Bordesoulles ◽  
...  

The alkaloid tazopsine 1 was introduced in the late 2000's as a novel antiplasmodial hit compound active against Plasmodium falciparum hepatic stages, with potential to develop prophylactic drugs based on this novel chemical scaffold. However, the structural determinants of tazopsine 1 bioactivity, together with the exact definition of the pharmacophore, remained elusive, impeding further development. We found that the antitussive drug dextromethorphan (DXM) 3, although lacking the complex pattern of stereospecific functionalization of the natural hit, was harboring significant antiplasmodial activity in vitro despite suboptimal prophylactic activity in a murine model of malaria, which precluded its direct repurposing against malaria. The targeted N-alkylation of nor-DXM 15 delivered a small library of analogues with greatly improved activity over DXM 3 against P. falciparum asexual stages. Amongst these, N-2’-pyrrolylmethyl-nor-DXM 16i showed a 2- to 36-fold superior inhibitory potency compared to tazopsine 1 and DXM 3 against parasite liver and blood stages, with 760 ± 130 nM and 2.1 ± 0.4 µM IC50 values, respectively, as well as liver/blood phase selectivity of 2.8. Furthermore, cpd. 16i showed a 5 to 8-fold increase of activity relatively to DXM 3 against P. falciparum stages I-II and V gametocytes, with 18.5 µM and 13.2 µM IC50 values, respectively. Cpd. 16i can thus be considered a promising novel hit compound against malaria in the ent-morphinan series with putative pan-cycle activity, paving the way for further therapeutic development (e. g., investigation of its prophylactic activity in a mouse model of malaria).


2020 ◽  
Vol 319 (4) ◽  
pp. G481-G493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chethan Sampath ◽  
Shanthi Srinivasan ◽  
Michael L. Freeman ◽  
Pandu R. Gangula

Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) with SB 216763 attenuates delayed gastric emptying through gastric nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) -phase II enzymes in high-fat diet-fed female mice. SB 216763 restored impaired gastric PI3K/AKT/ β-catenin/caspase 3 expression. Inhibition of GSK-3β normalized gastric dihydrofolate reductase, neuronal nitric oxide synthase-α expression, dimerization and nitrergic relaxation. SB 216763 normalized both serum estrogen and nitrate levels in female obese/Type 2 diabetes mice. SB 216763 reduced downstream signaling of GSK-3β in enteric neuronal cells in vitro.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hung-Chi Chang ◽  
Keng-Fan Liu ◽  
Chia-Jen Teng ◽  
Shu-Chen Lai ◽  
Shu-Er Yang ◽  
...  

Sophora species are used as dietary medicines in aging-associated symptoms. Sophora tomentosa L. (ST) is a native medicinal plant in Southeast Asia; however, there is no pharmacological literature about ST extract. The present study evaluates the antioxidant phytoconstituent contents and radical scavenging capacities of ST extract. The further investigation was to clarify the neuroprotective mechanism of ST extract against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinsonism by assaying the activities of the dopaminergic system and antioxidant defenses, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3-β) phosphorylation, and α-synuclein levels in C57BL/6 mice. The results show that ST extract alleviated the motor deficits in MPTP-induced Parkinsonism with four behavioral tests, including a rearing locomotor, catalepsy test, balance beam walking test, and pole test. ST extract reversed the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons in substantia nigra (SN) that had decreased by MPTP. ST extract also restored the decreased levels of dopamine and the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the striatum. Furthermore, ST extract restored the levels of glutathione (GSH) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and decreased the elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in mouse striatum. ST extract also decreased α-synuclein overexpression and GSK-3β phosphorylation in mouse striatum. In vitro, ST extract exerted higher 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging capacities through its higher phenolic contents, especially protocatechuic acid and epicatechin. These results suggest that ST extract has the potential to counteract MPTP-induced motor deficit. The neuroprotective mechanism of ST extract against MPTP-induced Parkinsonism might be related to decreasing GSK-3β phosphorylation and restoring the activities of striatal antioxidant defenses to restore the nigrostriatal dopaminergic function and decrease α-synuclein accumulation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Xin ◽  
Yang Bai ◽  
Xin Jiang ◽  
Shanshan Zhou ◽  
Yuehui Wang ◽  
...  

Aims: Sulforaphane (SFN) as a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activator protects the heart from, and deletion of the Nrf2 gene exaggerates, the effects of diabetes. Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays a critical role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy; therefore, whether SFN prevents Ang II-induced cardiomyopathy through activation of Nrf2 was examined. Methods and Results: The chronic cardiac effects of Ang II with and without SFN were examined in wild-type mice, transgenic Nrf2 knockout (Nrf2-KO) mice, and mice in which cardiac tissue overexpressed Nrf2 (Nrf2-TG). The signaling pathways of SFN-mediated Nrf2 activation were examined in H9C2 cells. Administration of a subpressor dose of Ang II to WT mice induced cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation, remodeling and dysfunction, all of which could be prevented by SFN treatment, which also up-regulated Nrf2 expression and activation. Nrf2-TG mice showed resistance and Nrf2-KO mice displayed resistance to Ang II-induced cardiomyopathy. Meanwhile, the ability of SFN to protect against Ang II-induced cardiac damage was lost in Nrf2-KO mice. Up-regulation and activation of Nrf2 by SFN is accompanied by activation of AKT, inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, and increased nuclear accumulation of Fyn. In vitro up-regulation of Nrf2 by SFN in H9C2 cells was abolished and nuclear Fyn accumulation was increased when cells were exposed to a PI3K inhibitor or GSK-3β-specific activator. Conclusion: Nrf2 plays a central role in the prevention of Ang II-induced pathological effects, and SFN can prevent Ang II-induced cardiomyopathy through activation of Nrf2 partially via the AKT/GSK-3β/Fyn pathway.


2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
YI TAN ◽  
Xiaoqing Yan ◽  
Shanshan Zhou ◽  
Yong Li ◽  
Yan Li ◽  
...  

Cardiac insulin resistance is a key pathogenic factor for diabetic cardiomyopathy, but its mechanism remains largely unclear. Here we demonstrated that diabetes significantly inhibited cardiac Akt phosphorylation from 2 weeks to 2 months in wide-type (WT) mice, but not in cardiac-specific metallothionein-transgenic (MT-TG) mice. Cardiac Akt2 expression and phosphorylation was decreased and insulin-induced cardiac Akt2 and GSK-3β phosphorylation and glycogen synthase dephosphorylation were also decreased in WT, but not MT-TG, diabetic mice. Deletion of the Akt2 gene either in vitro H9c2 cells or in vivo significantly impaired cardiac glucose metabolic signaling. In addition, diabetes significantly increased cardiac Akt negative regulator tribbles (TRB)3 expression only in WT mice, suggesting the possible contribution of MT inhibition of diabetic up-regulation of TRB3 to Akt2 function preservation. Cardiac H9c2 cells with and without forced MT-overexpression (MT-H9c2) were treated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP), which significantly reduced Akt2 phosphorylation in both basal and insulin-stimulating conditions only in H9c2 cells. Silencing TRB3 expression with SiRNA completely prevented tBHP’s inhibition of insulin-stimulated Akt2 phosphorylation in H9c2 cells, while overexpression of TRB3 in MT-H9c2 cells completely abolished MT preservation of insulin-stimulated Akt2 phosphorylation. Forced-overexpression of TRB3 by adenovirus-mediated gene delivery in MT-TG hearts also abolished MT’s preservation of cardiac insulin signaling and prevention of diabetic cardiomyopathy. These results suggest that diabetes-attenuated cardiac Akt2 function via up-regulating TRB3 plays a critical role in diabetic inhibition of insulin signaling in the heart. MT preserved cardiac Akt2-mediated insulin signaling by inhibiting TRB3, leading to the prevention of diabetic cardiomyopathy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5213
Author(s):  
Noha M. Abd El-Fadeal ◽  
Mohamed S. Nafie ◽  
Mohammed K. El-kherbetawy ◽  
Amr El-mistekawy ◽  
Hala M. F. Mohammad ◽  
...  

In colon cancer, wingless (Wnt)/β-catenin signaling is frequently upregulated; however, the creation of a molecular therapeutic agent targeting this pathway is still under investigation. This research aimed to study how nitazoxanide can affect Wnt/β-catenin signaling in colon cancer cells (HCT-116) and a mouse colon cancer model. Our study included 2 experiments; the first was to test the cytotoxic activity of nitazoxanide in an in vitro study on a colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) versus normal colon cells (FHC) and to highlight the proapoptotic effect by MTT assay, flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The second experiment tested the in vivo cytotoxic effect of nitazoxanide against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) prompted cancer in mice. Mice were grouped as saline, DMH control and DMH + nitazoxanide [100 or 200 mg per kg]. Colon levels of Wnt and β-catenin proteins were assessed by Western blotting while proliferation was measured via immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Treating HCT-116 cells with nitazoxanide (inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) = 11.07 µM) revealed that it has a more cytotoxic effect when compared to 5-flurouracil (IC50 = 11.36 µM). Moreover, it showed relatively high IC50 value (non-cytotoxic) against the normal colon cells. Nitazoxanide induced apoptosis by 15.86-fold compared to control and arrested the cell cycle. Furthermore, nitazoxanide upregulated proapoptotic proteins (P53 and BAX) and caspases but downregulated BCL-2. Nitazoxanide downregulated Wnt/β-catenin/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) signaling and PCNA staining in the current mouse model. Hence, our findings highlighted the cytotoxic effect of nitazoxanide and pointed out the effect on Wnt/β-catenin/GSK-3β signaling.


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