| 1. |
- Andrén, Oliver C. J., et al.
(author)
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Heterogeneous Rupturing Dendrimers
- 2017
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In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0002-7863 .- 1520-5126.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Utilizing macromolecular scaffolds as templates for the production of small molecules that are distinctively different from the original monomer feedstock has many potential applications. Herein, as a proof-of-concept, a family of dendrimers displaying internally queued disulfide bridges were synthesized and exploited as flawless macromolecular templates that selectively rupture into a set of monomeric mercaptans. Disassembly was accomplished in a reducing environment, using DTT as an external stimulus, and the thiol constituents were successfully isolated. Their composition was dictated by three dendritic regions, i.e., (i) the symmetrical trithiol of the core (C3), (ii) the interior-asymmetric trithiols (CD2), and (iii) the periphery-asymmetric monothiols (DB2), in which B functionality is of an orthogonal nature. Taking into account the steady state between disulfides and thiols in all living cells, the collapse of the dendrimers to a multitude of smaller thiols was intracellularly assessed as a means to disrupt the balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) often elevated in cancer cells. Indeed, the fragmentation induced a significant increase of ROS in human lung carcinoma A549 cells. These findings can potentially alter the perception of dendrimers being limited to carriers to being prodrugs for intracellular delivery of ROS with the potential to fight cancer.
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| 2. |
- Berndt, Carsten, et al.
(author)
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Chelation of lysosomal iron protects against ionizing radiation.
- 2010
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In: Biochemical Journal. - 0264-6021 .- 1470-8728. ; 432:2, s. 295-301
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ionizing radiation causes DNA damage and consequent apoptosis, mainly due to the production of hydroxyl radicals (HO•) that follows radiolytic splitting of water. However, superoxide (O2•-) and H2O2 also form and induce oxidative stress with resulting LMP (lysosomal membrane permeabilization) arising from iron-catalysed oxidative events. The latter will contribute significantly to radiation-induced cell death and its degree largely depends on the quantities of lysosomal redox-active iron present as a consequence of autophagy and endocytosis of iron-rich compounds. Therefore radiation sensitivity might be depressed by lysosome-targeted iron chelators. In the present study, we have shown that cells in culture are significantly protected from ionizing radiation damage if initially exposed to the lipophilic iron chelator SIH (salicylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone), and that this effect is based on SIH-dependent lysosomal stabilization against oxidative stress. According to its dose-response-modifying effect, SIH is a most powerful radioprotector and a promising candidate for clinical application, mainly to reduce the radiation sensitivity of normal tissue. We propose, as an example, that inhalation of SIH before each irradiation session by patients undergoing treatment for lung malignancies would protect normally aerated lung tissue against life-threatening pulmonary fibrosis, whereas the sensitivity of malignant lung tumours, which usually are non-aerated, will not be affected by inhaled SIH.
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| 3. |
- Crona, Mikael, et al.
(author)
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A ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor with deoxyribonucleoside-reversible cytotoxicity
- 2016
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In: Molecular Oncology. - : Wiley. - 1574-7891 .- 1878-0261. ; 10:9, s. 1375-1386
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ribonucleotide Reductase (RNR) is the sole enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides. Even though RNR is a recognized target for antiproliferative molecules, and the main target of the approved drug hydroxyurea, few new leads targeted to this enzyme have been developed. We have evaluated a recently identified set of RNR inhibitors with respect to inhibition of the human enzyme and cellular toxicity. One compound, NSC73735, is particularly interesting; it is specific for leukemia cells and is the first identified compound that hinders oligomerization of the mammalian large RNR subunit. Similar to hydroxyurea, it caused a disruption of the cell cycle distribution of cultured HL-60 cells. In contrast to hydroxyurea, the disruption was reversible, indicating higher specificity. NSC73735 thus defines a potential lead candidate for RNR-targeted anticancer drugs, as well as a chemical probe with better selectivity for RNR inhibition than hydroxyurea.
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| 4. |
- Khalkar, Prajakta, et al.
(author)
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Selenite and methylseleninic acid epigenetically affects distinct gene sets in myeloid leukemia : A genome wide epigenetic analysis
- 2018
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In: Free Radical Biology & Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0891-5849 .- 1873-4596. ; 117, s. 247-257
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Selenium compounds have emerged as promising chemotherapeutic agents with proposed epigenetic effects, however the mechanisms and downstream effects are yet to be studied. Here we assessed the effects of the inorganic selenium compound selenite and the organic form methylseleninic acid (MSA) in a leukemic cell line K562, on active (histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation, H3K9ac and histone H3 lysine 4 tri-methylation, H3K4me3) and repressive (histone H3 lysine 9 tri-methylation, H3K9me3) histone marks by Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by DNA sequencing (ChIP-Seq). Both selenite and MSA had major effects on histone marks but the effects of MSA were more pronounced. Gene ontology analysis revealed that selenite affected genes involved in response to oxygen and hypoxia, whereas MSA affected distinct gene sets associated with cell adhesion and glucocorticoid receptors, also apparent by global gene expression analysis using RNA sequencing. The correlation to adhesion was functionally confirmed by a significantly weakened ability of MSA treated cells to attach to fibronectin and linked to decreased expression of integrin beta 1. A striking loss of cellular adhesion was also confirmed in primary patient AML cells. Recent strategies to enhance the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs by disrupting the interaction between leukemic and stromal cells in the bone marrow are of increasing interest; and organic selenium compounds like MSA might be promising candidates. In conclusion, these results provide new insight on the mechanism of action of selenium compounds, and will be of value for the understanding, usage, and development of new selenium compounds as anticancer agents.
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| 5. |
- Nair, Deepika, et al.
(author)
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Methylseleninic Acid Sensitizes Ovarian Cancer Cells to T-Cell Mediated Killing by Decreasing PDL1 and VEGF Levels
- 2018
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In: Frontiers in Oncology. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2234-943X. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Redox active selenium (Se) compounds at sub toxic doses act as pro-oxidants with cytotoxic effects on tumor cells and are promising future chemotherapeutic agents. However, little is known about how Se compounds affect immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. We demonstrate that the inorganic Se compound selenite and the organic methylseleninic acid (MSA) do not, despite their pro-oxidant function, influence the viability of immune cells, at doses that gives cytotoxic effects in ovarian cancer cell lines. Treatment of the ovarian cancer cell line A2780 with selenite and MSA increases NK cell mediated lysis, and enhances the cytolytic activity of T cells. Increased T cell function was observed after incubation of T cells in preconditioned media from tumor cells treated with MSA, an effect that was coupled to decreased levels of PDL1, HIF-1 alpha, and VEGF. In conclusion, redox active selenium compounds do not kill or inactivate immune cells at doses required for anti-cancer treatment, and we demonstrate that MSA enhances T cell-mediated tumor cell killing via PDL1 and VEGF inhibition.
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