Schiff base copper (II) complexes are known for their anticancer, antifungal, antiviral and anti‑inflammatory activities. The aim of the current study was to investigate biological effects of Schiff base Cu (II) complexes (0.001‑100 µmol/l)‑[Cu2(sal‑D, L‑glu)2(isoquinoline)2]·2C2H5OH (1), [Cu(sal‑5‑met‑L‑glu)(H2O)].H2O (2), [Cu(ethanol)2(imidazole)4][Cu2(sal‑D, L-glu)2(imidazole)2] (3), [Cu(sal‑D,L‑glu)(2‑methylimidazole)] (4) on the human colon carcinoma cells HT‑29, the mouse noncancerous cell line NIH‑3T3 and the human noncancerous fibroblast cell line VH10. The results suggested that Cu (II) complexes exhibit cytotoxic effects against the HT‑29 cell line, while complexes 3 and 4 were the most effective. Subsequent to 72 h of incubation, apoptosis was observed in the HT‑29 cells induced by Cu (II) complexes 1 (0.1, 1, 10 and 50 µmol/l), 2 (1, 10, 50 and 100 µmol/l), 3 (0.01, 1, 10 and 50 µmol/l) and 4 (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 µmol/l). The apoptotic pathways activated by the Cu (II) complexes were identified. The results indicated that complexes 2, 3 and 4 were able to induce the mitochondria‑dependent pathway of apoptosis in HT‑29 cells, while complex 1 was obsered to activate the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. The levels of the anti‑apoptotic protein Bcl‑2 were reduced and those of the pro‑apoptotic protein Bax increased following treatment with complexes 2, 3 and 4. Complex 1 had no effect on Bax protein expression. Complexes 2 and 3 induced elevation of cytochrome c (cyt c), while complex 4 induced a time‑dependent elevation of cyt c levels. No cyt c was detected in HT‑29 cells exposed to complex 1, suggesting that Cu (II) complexes activated the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. The results from the current study in addition to previous studies suggest that Schiff base Cu (II) complexes have potential as novel anticancer drugs.
- MeSH
- antitumorózní látky aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- apoptóza účinky léků MeSH
- buňky HT-29 MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- měď aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- mitochondrie účinky léků MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nádorové proteiny biosyntéza MeSH
- nádory tračníku farmakoterapie patologie MeSH
- proliferace buněk účinky léků MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u nádorů účinky léků MeSH
- Schiffovy báze aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- signální transdukce účinky léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Autophagy plays an important role in cancer cells. Targeting autophagy in cancer can provide new opportunities for drug development. METHODS: In this study we tested four Schiff base Cu(II) complexes against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and human non-cancerous cells (HEK-293T). We have tested their cytotoxic effect by evaluating IC50 using MTT test. To detect morphological changes of the actin fibers we have used fluorescent microscopy. To determine the type of cell death we used electrophoretic analysis and western blot analysis (protein LC3). RESULTS: IC50 values of the complexes increased with time of their influence, indicating acquired resistance of MCF-7 to the complexes. Healthy cells HEK-293T were not sensitive to the Cu(II) complexes. Compared with the control cells (cells without Cu(II) complexes) which were without morphological changes of actin fibers, Cu(II) complexes induced condensation and asymmetric conformational changes in actin filaments. To examine the type of cell death induced by the Cu(II) complexes we treated MCF-7 cells with Cu(II) complexes (1, 10, 50 and 100μmol/L) during a 72h incubation period. By electrophoresis we have not detected any DNA fragmentation. To determine whether Cu(II) complexes induced autophagy or necrotic cell death we used the western blot analysis. MCF-7 cells influenced with tested Cu(II) complexes produced LC3 protein after their 72h incubation indicating autophagy in MCF-7 cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Tested Schiff base copper (II) complexes have antiproliferative activity against cancer cells but not against healthy cells. They have induced autophagy in the cancer cell line MCF-7.
- MeSH
- autofagie účinky léků fyziologie MeSH
- HEK293 buňky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- měď farmakologie toxicita MeSH
- MFC-7 buňky MeSH
- myši MeSH
- proliferace buněk účinky léků fyziologie MeSH
- Schiffovy báze farmakologie toxicita MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) represent a major class of compounds for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia due to their ability to inhibit de novo cholesterol synthesis. In addition to their hypolipidemic effects, chemoprotective properties have been attributed to statins as well. These effects involve multiple mechanisms, which, however, are not known in detail. The aim of our study was to assess in non-malignant as well as cancer cells the impact of simvastatin on the amount of cytosolic lipid droplets (LDs) implicated in many biological processes including proliferation, inflammation, carcinogenesis, apoptosis, necrosis or growth arrest. METHODS: Human embryonic kidney cells HEK-293T and human pancreatic cancer cells MiaPaCa-2 were treated with simvastatin (6 and 12 muM) for 24 and 48 hours respectively. Neutral lipid probe Nile Red was used for detection of LDs by fluorescence microscopy. Cellular cholesterol content was determined by HPLC. Changes in expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in simvastatin-treated MiaPaCa-2 cells were examined by DNA microarray analysis. Validation of gene expression changes was performed using quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: The treatment of the cells with simvastatin increased their intracellular content of LDs in both non-malignant as well as cancer cells, partially due to the uptake of cholesterol and triacylglyceroles from medium; but in particular, due to enhanced synthesis of triacylglyceroles as proved by significant overexpression of genes related to de novo synthesis of triacylglyceroles and phospholipids. In addition, simvastatin also markedly influenced expression of genes directly affecting cell proliferation and signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin treatment led to accumulation of cytosolic LDs within the examined cells, a phenomenon which might contribute to the antiproliferative effects of statins.
- MeSH
- cholesterol metabolismus MeSH
- HEK293 buňky účinky léků MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lipidová tělíska * metabolismus účinky léků MeSH
- metabolismus lipidů genetika účinky léků MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie účinky léků MeSH
- nádory slinivky břišní * farmakoterapie metabolismus MeSH
- proliferace buněk genetika účinky léků MeSH
- regulace genové exprese účinky léků MeSH
- simvastatin * farmakologie MeSH
- statiny * farmakologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH