The Cytotoxicity of the Ajoene Analogue BisPMB in WHCO1 Oesophageal Cancer Cells Is Mediated by CHOP/GADD153

Garlic is a food and medicinal plant that has been used in folk medicine since ancient times for its beneficial health effects, which include protection against cancer. Crushed garlic cloves contain an array of small sulfur-rich compounds such as ajoene. Ajoene is able to interfere with biological processes and is cytotoxic to cancer cells in the low micromolar range. BisPMB is a synthetic ajoene analogue that has been shown in our laboratory to have superior cytotoxicity to ajoene. In the current study we have performed a DNA microarray analysis of bisPMB-treated WHCO1 oesophageal cancer cells to identify pathways and processes that are affected by bisPMB. The most significantly enriched biological pathways as assessed by gene ontology, KEGG and ingenuity pathway analysis were those involving protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the unfolded protein response. In support of these pathways, bisPMB was found to inhibit global protein synthesis and lead to increased levels of ubiquitinated proteins. BisPMB also induced alternate splicing of the transcription factor XBP-1; increased the expression of the ER stress sensor GRP78 and induced expression of the ER stress marker CHOP/GADD153. CHOP expression was found to be central to the cytotoxicity of bisPMB as its silencing with siRNA rendered the cells resistant to bisPMB. The MAPK proteins, JNK and ERK1/2 were activated following bisPMB treatment. However JNK activation was not critical in the cytotoxicity of bisPMB, and ERK1/2 activation was found to play a pro-survival role. Overall the ajoene analogue bisPMB appears to induce cytotoxicity in WHCO1 cells by activating the unfolded protein response through CHOP/GADD153.Peer reviewe

Nanoscaled hydrated antimony (V) oxide as a new approach to first-line antileishmanial drugs

Background: Coordination compounds of pentavalent antimony have been, and remain, the first-line drugs in leishmaniasis treatment for >70 years. Molecular forms of Sb (V) complexes are commercialized as sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam®) and meglumine antimoniate (MA) (Glucantime®). Ever-increasing drug resistance in the parasites limits the use of antimonials, due to the low drug concentrations being administered against high parasitic counts. Sb5+ toxicity provokes severe side effects during treatment. To enhance therapeutic potency and to increase Sb (V) concentration within the target cells, we decided to try a new active substance form, a hydrosol of Sb2O5·nH2O nanoparticles (NPs), instead of molecular drugs. Methodology/principal findings: Sb2O5·nH2O NPs were synthesized by controlled SbCl5 hydrolysis in a great excess of water. Sb2O5·nH2O phase formation was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The surface of Sb (V) NPs was treated with ligands with a high affinity for target cell membrane receptors. The mean particle size determined by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy was ~35–45 nm. In vitro tests demonstrated a 2.5–3 times higher antiparasitic activity of Sb (V) nanohybrid hydrosols, when compared to MA solution. A similar comparison for in vivo treatment of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis with Sb5+ nanohybrids showed a 1.75–1.85 times more effective decrease in the lesions. Microimages of tissue fragments confirmed the presence of NPs inside the cytoplasm of infected macrophages. Conclusion/significance: Sb2O5·nH2O hydrosols are proposed as a new form of treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania amazonensis. The NPs penetrate directly into the affected cells, creating a high local concentration of the drug, a precondition to overcoming the parasite resistance to molecular forms of pentavalent antimonials. The nanohybrids are more effective at a lower dose, when compared to MA, the molecular drug. Our data suggest that the new form of treatment has the potential to reduce and simplify the course of cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment. At the same time, Sb2O5·nH2O hydrosols provide an opportunity to avoid toxic antimony (V) spreading throughout the body. © 2016 Franco et al

Antiplasmodial activity of synthetic ellipticine derivatives and an isolated analog

Ellipticine has been shown previously to exhibit excellent in vitro antiplasmodial activity and in vivo antimalarial properties that are comparable to those of the control drug chloroquine in a mouse malaria model. Ellipticine derivatives and analogs exhibit antimalarial potential however only a few have been studied to date. Herein, ellipticine and a structural analog were isolated from Aspidosperma vargasii bark. A-ring brominated and nitrated ellipticine derivatives exhibit good in vitro inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum K1 and 3D7 strains. Several of the compounds were found not to be toxic to human fetal lung fibroblasts. 9-Nitroellipticine (IC50 = 0.55 μM) exhibits greater antiplasmodial activity than ellipticine. These results are further evidence of the antimalarial potential of ellipticine derivatives. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved