This work presents results on the efficiency of newly designed zinc phthalocyanine-mediated photodynamic therapy of both tumoral and nontumoral cell models using the MTT assay. Further detailed examinations of mechanistic and cell biological effects were focused on the HELA cervical cancer cell model. Here, ROS production, changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential, the determination of genotoxicity, and protein changes determined by capillary chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry with ESI were analyzed. The results showed that, in vitro, 5 Jcm-2 ZnPc PDT caused a significant increase in reactive oxygen species. Still, except for superoxide dismutase, the levels of proteins involved in cell response to oxidative stress did not increase significantly. Furthermore, this therapy damaged mitochondrial membranes, which was proven by a more than 70% voltage-dependent channel protein 1 level decrease and by a 65% mitochondrial membrane potential change 24 h post-therapy. DNA impairment was assessed by an increased level of DNA fragmentation, which might be related to the decreased level of DDB1 (decrease in levels of more than 20% 24 h post-therapy), a protein responsible for maintaining genomic integrity and triggering the DNA repair pathways. Considering these results and the low effective concentration (LC50 = 30 nM), the therapy used is a potentially very promising antitumoral treatment.

• MeSH
• fotochemoterapie * metody   MeSH
• fotosenzibilizující látky * farmakologie   chemie   MeSH
• HeLa buňky MeSH
• indoly * farmakologie   chemie   MeSH
• isoindoly * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií * účinky léků   MeSH
• organokovové sloučeniny * farmakologie   chemie   MeSH
• oxidační stres účinky léků   MeSH
• poškození DNA účinky léků   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku * metabolismus   MeSH
• sloučeniny zinku * farmakologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiotherapy (RT) is an integral treatment part for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but radioresistance remains a major issue. Here, we use MitoTam, a mitochondrially targeted analogue of tamoxifen, which we aim to stimulate ferroptotic cell death with, and sensitize radioresistant cells to RT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, and lipid peroxidation in radiosensitive (UT-SCC-40) and radioresistant (UT-SCC-5) HNSCC cells following MitoTam treatment. To assess ferroptosis specificity, we used the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (fer-1). Also, total antioxidant capacity and sensitivity to tert-butyl hydroperoxide were evaluated to assess ROS-responses. 53BP1 staining was used to assess radiosensitivity after MitoTam treatment. RESULTS: Our data revealed increased ROS, cell death, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, and lipid peroxidation following MitoTam treatment in both cell lines. Adverse effects of MitoTam on cell death, membrane potential and lipid peroxidation were prevented by fer-1, indicating induction of ferroptosis. Radioresistant HNSCC cells were less sensitive to the effects of MitoTam due to intrinsic higher antioxidant capacity. MitoTam treatment prior to RT led to superadditive residual DNA damage expressed by 53BP1 foci compared to RT or MitoTam alone. CONCLUSION: MitoTam induced ferroptosis in HNSCC cells, which could be used to overcome the elevated antioxidant capacity of radioresistant cells and sensitize such cells to RT. Treatment with MitoTam followed by RT could therefore present a promising effective therapy of radioresistant cancers. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Radiotherapy is applied in the treatment of a majority of cancer patients. Radioresistance due to elevated antioxidant levels can be overcome by promoting ferroptotic cell death combining ROS-inducing drug MitoTam with radiotherapy.

• MeSH
• dlaždicobuněčné karcinomy hlavy a krku radioterapie   farmakoterapie   patologie   MeSH
• ferroptóza * účinky léků   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory hlavy a krku * radioterapie   patologie   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• peroxidace lipidů * účinky léků   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku * metabolismus   MeSH
• spinocelulární karcinom radioterapie   patologie   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• tamoxifen farmakologie   MeSH
• tolerance záření * účinky léků   MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   účinky záření   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Sperm motility is one of the major determinants of male fertility. Since sperm need a great deal of energy to support their fast movement by active metabolism, they are thus extremely vulnerable to oxidative damage by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free radicals generated as byproducts in the electron transport chain. The present study is aimed at understanding the impact of a mitochondrial oxidizing/reducing microenvironment in the etiopathology of male infertility. We detected the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 4,977 bp deletion in human sperm. We examined the gene mutation of ATP synthase 6 (ATPase6 m.T8993G) in ATP generation, the gene polymorphisms of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2, G-866A) in the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, the role of genes such as manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD, C47T) and catalase (CAT, C-262T) in the scavenging system in neutralizing reactive oxygen species, and the role of human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (hOGG1, C1245G) in 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) repair. We found that the sperm with higher motility were found to have a higher mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial bioenergetics. The genotype frequencies of UCP2 G-866A, MnSOD C47T, and CAT C-262T were found to be significantly different among the fertile subjects, the infertile subjects with more than 50% motility, and the infertile subjects with less than 50% motility. A higher prevalence of the mtDNA 4,977 bp deletion was found in the subjects with impaired sperm motility and fertility. Furthermore, we found that there were significant differences between the occurrences of the mtDNA 4,977 bp deletion and MnSOD (C47T) and hOGG1 (C1245G). In conclusion, the maintenance of the mitochondrial redox microenvironment and genome integrity is an important issue in sperm motility and fertility.

• MeSH
• DNA-glykosylasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• frekvence genu MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• mitochondriální DNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondrie genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• motilita spermií fyziologie   MeSH
• mužská infertilita genetika   patologie   MeSH
• oxidační stres účinky léků   MeSH
• peroxid vodíku farmakologie   MeSH
• polymorfismus genetický MeSH
• spermie metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• superoxiddismutasa genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• uncoupling protein 2 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is gradually becoming an alternative method in the treatment of several diseases. Here, we investigated the role of oxygen in photodynamically treated cervical cancer cells (HeLa). The effect of PDT on HeLa cells was assessed by exposing cultured cells to disulphonated zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPcS2) and tetrasulphonated zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPPS4). Fluorescence microscopy revealed their different localizations within the cells. ZnTPPS4 seems to be mostly limited to the cytosol and lysosomes, whereas ZnPcS2 is most likely predominantly attached to membrane structures, including plasmalemma and the mitochondrial membrane. Phototoxicity assays of PDT-treated cells carried out under different partial pressures of oxygen showed dose-dependent responses. Interestingly, ZnPcS2 was also photodynamically effective at a minimal level of oxygen, under a nitrogen atmosphere. On the other hand, hyperbaric oxygenation did not lead to a higher PDT efficiency of either photosensitizer. Although both photosensitizers can induce a significant drop in mitochondrial membrane potential, ZnPcS2 has a markedly higher effect on mitochondrial respiration that was completely blocked after two short light cycles. In conclusion, our observations suggest that PDT can be effective even in hypoxic conditions if a suitable sensitizer is chosen, such as ZnPcS2, which can inhibit mitochondrial respiration.

• MeSH
• fotochemoterapie metody   MeSH
• fotosenzibilizující látky farmakologie   MeSH
• HeLa buňky MeSH
• indoly aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   MeSH
• kyslík aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• metaloporfyriny aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   MeSH
• organokovové sloučeniny aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   MeSH
• parciální tlak MeSH
• singletový kyslík analýza   MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Targeted therapies of melanoma are of urgent need considering the resistance of this aggressive type of cancer to chemotherapeutics. The voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1)-hexokinase-II (HK-II) complex is an emerging target for novel anticancer therapies based on induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. The low cell membrane permeability of the anticancer 12-mer peptide N-Ter (RDVFTKGYGFGL) derived from the N-terminal fragment of the VDAC1 protein impedes the intracellular targeting. Here, novel multiblock VDAC1-derived cationic amphiphilic peptides (referred to as Pal-N-Ter-TAT, pFL-N-Ter-TAT, and Pal-pFL-N-Ter-TAT) are designed with a self-assembly propensity and cell-penetrating properties. The created multiblock amphiphilic peptides of partial α-helical conformations form nanoparticles of ellipsoid-like shapes and are characterized by enhanced cellular uptake. The amphiphilic peptides can target mitochondria and dissociate the VDAC1-HK-II complex at the outer mitochondrial membrane, which result in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. The latter is associated with decrease of the mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and changes of the expression levels of the apoptotic proteins in A375 melanoma cells. Importantly, the mitochondrial VDAC1-derived amphiphilic peptides have a comparable IC50 value for melanoma cells to a small-molecule drug, sorafenib, which has been previously used in clinical trials for melanoma. These results demonstrate the potential of the designed peptide constructs for efficient melanoma inhibition.

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky farmakologie   MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• hexokinasa metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• mitochondriální membrány účinky léků   MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• napětím ovládaný aniontový kanál 1 metabolismus   MeSH
• peptidy farmakologie   MeSH
• povrchově aktivní látky farmakologie   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The phenylpyrazole fipronil is an insecticide that inhibits γ -amino-butyric acid (GABA) ionotropic receptors in the central nervous system. Experimental evidence suggests that fipronil acts as a neurotoxin and it is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases; however, the mechanisms of neurotoxicity are not fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to quantify mechanisms of fipronil-induced neurotoxicity in dopamine cells. Rat primary immortalized mesencephalic dopaminergic cells (N27) were treated with fipronil (0.25 up to 500 μM depending on the assay). We measured endpoints related to mitochondrial bioenergetics, mitophagy, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP production in addition to discerning transcriptome responses to the pesticide. Fipronil reduced cell viability at 500 μM after 24 h exposure and caspase 3/7 activity was significant increased after 6 and 12 h by 250 and 500 μM fipronil. Subsequent endpoints were thus assessed at concentrations that were below cytotoxicity. We measured oxidative respiration of N27 cells following a 24 h exposure to one dose of either 0.25, 2.5, 25, or 50 μM fipronil. Oxygen consumption rates (OCR) were not different between vehicle-control and 0.25 or 2.5 μM fipronil treatments, but there was a ∼40-60 % reduction in basal respiration, as well as reduced oligomycin-induced ATP production at 50 μM. The reduction in OCR is hypothesized to be related to lower mitochondrial mass due to mitophagy. Mitochondrial membrane potential was also sensitive to fipronil, and it was compromised at concentrations of 2.5 μM and above. To further elucidate the mechanisms linked to neurotoxicity, we conducted transcriptomics in dopamine cells following treatment with 25 μM fipronil. Fipronil suppressed transcriptional networks associated with mitochondria (damage, depolarization, permeability, and fission), consistent with its effects on mitochondrial membrane potential. Altered gene networks also included those related to Alzheimer disease, inflammatory disease, nerve fiber degeneration, and neurofibrillary tangles. This study clarifies molecular targets of fipronil-induced neurotoxicity and supports, through multiple lines of evidence, that fipronil acts as a mitochondrial toxicant in dopamine cells. This is relevant to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease as exposure to fipronil is associated with the progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in rodents.

• MeSH
• dopaminergní neurony účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• insekticidy toxicita   MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• pyrazoly toxicita   MeSH
• transformované buněčné linie MeSH
• transkriptom účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Novel triterpene derivatives were prepared and evaluated in salsolinol (SAL)- and glutamate (Glu)-induced models of neurodegeneration in neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells. Among the tested compounds, betulin triazole 4 bearing a tetraacetyl-β-d-glucose substituent showed a highly potent neuroprotective effect. Further studies revealed that removal of tetraacetyl-β-d-glucose part (free triazole derivative 10) resulted in strong neuroprotection in the SAL model at 1 μM, but this derivative suffered from cytotoxicity at higher concentrations. Both compounds modulated oxidative stress and caspase-3,7 activity, but 10 showed a superior effect comparable to the Ac-DEVD-CHO inhibitor. Interestingly, while both 4 and 10 outperformed the positive controls in blocking mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, only 4 demonstrated potent restoration of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in the model. Derivatives 4 and 10 also showed neuroprotection in the Glu model, with 10 exhibiting the strongest oxidative stress reducing effect among the tested compounds, while the neuroprotective activity of 4 was probably due recovery of the MMP.

• MeSH
• biologické modely * MeSH
• isochinoliny antagonisté a inhibitory   farmakologie   MeSH
• kyselina glutamová metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• neuroprotektivní látky chemická syntéza   chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• oxidační stres účinky léků   MeSH
• triazoly chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• triterpeny chemická syntéza   chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Chemotherapy plays an essential role in the management of cancer worldwide. However, it is a non-specific treatment limited by major drawbacks, thus identification and testing of new promising molecular structures representing potential drug candidates are urgently needed. In this work, ferrocene complexes as potential antitumor drugs that display cytotoxicity in low micromolar concentrations against ovarian cancer cells A2780 and SK-OV-3 were investigated to identify their mode of action. Their mechanism of cellular accumulation was studied using differential pulse voltammetry and inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry. Their mode of cell death induction was determined by changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential, production of reactive oxygen species and by Annexin V staining. Transferrin receptors were identified as key mediators of intracellular accumulation of ferrocenes and the extent of cellular uptake reflected the anticancer activity of individual compounds. Functional analysis revealed activation of intrinsic apoptosis as a dominant mechanism leading to regulated cell death induced in ovarian cancer cells by ferrocenes. Ferrocenes represent a group of promising sandwich organometallic complexes exerting cytotoxic activity. We suggest their application not only as standalone chemotherapeutics but also as modifying substituents of known drugs to improve their antitumor effects.

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• léky antitumorózní - screeningové testy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• metaloceny farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory vaječníků farmakoterapie   patologie   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• receptory transferinu metabolismus   MeSH
• železnaté sloučeniny farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

In this work, 35 new derivatives of betulonic, dihydrobetulonic and ursonic acid were prepared including 30 aminothiazoles and all of them were tested for their in vitro cytotoxic activity in eight cancer cell lines and two non-cancer fibroblasts. Compounds with the IC50 below 5 μM in CCRF-CEM cells and low toxicity in non-cancer fibroblasts (4m, 5c, 5m, 6c, 6m, 7b, and 7c) were further subjected to tests of pharmacological parameters yielding the final set for advanced biological evaluation (4m, 5m, 6m, and 7b). It was proved by several methods, that all of them trigger apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway and derivatives 5m and 7b are the most effective (IC50 2.4 μM and 3.6 μM). They are the best candidates to become potentially new anticancer drugs and will be subjected to in vivo tests in mice. In addition, compounds 6b and 6c deserve more attention because their activity is not limited only to chemosensitive CCRF-CEM cell line. Specifically, compound 6b is highly active against K562 leukemic cell line (0.7 μM) and its IC50 activity in colon cancer HCT116 cell line is 1.0 μM. Compound 6c is active in both normal K562 and resistant K562-TAX cell lines (IC50 3.4 μM and 5.4 μM) and both colon cancer cell lines (HCT116 and HCT116p53-/-, IC50 3.5 μM and 3.4 μM).

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky chemická syntéza   chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• fibroblasty účinky léků   MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• kyselina olenalová analogy a deriváty   chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• léky antitumorózní - screeningové testy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• mikrozomy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• proliferace buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• terpeny chemická syntéza   chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• thiazoly chemická syntéza   chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• triterpeny chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Morus alba L. is used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including bacterial infections and inflammation. As a rich source of phenolic compounds, the plant is an object of many phytochemical and pharmacological studies. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to isolate and evaluate possible parallel antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities of phenolic mulberry compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extensive chromatographic separation of mulberry root bark extract and in vitro biological screening of 26 constituents identified promising candidates for further pharmacological research. Selected compounds were screened for anti-infective and anti-inflammatory activities. Antiviral activity was determined by the plaque number reduction assay and by the titer reduction assay, antibacterial using broth microdilution method, and anti-inflammatory activity using COX Colorimetric inhibitor screening assay kit. One compound was evaluated in vivo in carrageenan-induced paw-edema in mice. RESULTS: Five prenylated compounds 1, 2, 8, 9, and 11, together with a simple phenolic ester 13, exhibited inhibitory activity against the replication of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), with IC50 values ranging from 0.64 to 1.93 μg/mL, and EC50 values 0.93 and 1.61 μg/mL. Molecular docking studies demonstrated the effects of the active compounds by targeting HSV-1 DNA polymerase and HSV-2 protease. In antibacterial assay, compounds 1, 4, 11, and 17 diminished the growth of all of the Gram-positive strains tested, with MIC values of 1-16 μg/mL. The anti-inflammatory ability of several compounds to inhibit cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) was tested in vitro, and compound 16 displayed greater activity than the indomethacin, positive control. Mulberrofuran B (11) showed anti-inflammatory activity in vivo against carrageenan-induced paw-edema in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental investigation showed promising antiviral, antibacterial, and/or anti-inflammatory activities of the phenolic mulberry constituents, often with multiple inhibitory effects that might be used as a potential source of new medicine.

• MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• diabetes mellitus farmakoterapie   metabolismus   MeSH
• glukosa metabolismus   MeSH
• glykogen metabolismus   MeSH
• hypoglykemika farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• inzulinová rezistence MeSH
• játra účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• kosterní svaly účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• listy rostlin MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• Morus * MeSH
• myši MeSH
• proteinkinasy aktivované AMP metabolismus   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH