Synthesis and Antiproliferative Evaluation of 3-Chloroazetidin-2-ones with Antimitotic Activity: Heterocyclic Bridged Analogues of Combretastatin A-4

Malebari, Azizah M.; Wang, Shu; Greene, T. F.; O’Boyle, Niamh M.; Fayne, Darren; Khan, Mohemmed Faraz; Nathwani, Seema M.; Twamley, Brendan; McCabe, Thomas; Zisterer, Daniela M.; Meegan, Mary J.

doi:10.3390/ph14111119

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 105 publications

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“…These MSAs have not reached the clinic, however, activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP), derived from NAP, remains a potential hope and is scheduled for future clinical trials ( Varidaki et al., 2018 ; Al-Horani and Kar, 2020 ; Santiago-Mujika et al., 2021 ). A recent addition to MSAs, sabizabulin, is currently in clinical trials as an antiviral drug, suggesting possible benefit in tauopathies (NCT04388826) ( Malebari et al., 2021 ).…”

Section: Treatment Strategies For Pathological Cell-cell Fusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virus-Induced Membrane Fusion in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Osorio

Sfera

Anton

et al. 2022

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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A growing body of epidemiological and research data has associated neurotropic viruses with accelerated brain aging and increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders. Many viruses replicate optimally in senescent cells, as they offer a hospitable microenvironment with persistently elevated cytosolic calcium, abundant intracellular iron, and low interferon type I. As cell-cell fusion is a major driver of cellular senescence, many viruses have developed the ability to promote this phenotype by forming syncytia. Cell-cell fusion is associated with immunosuppression mediated by phosphatidylserine externalization that enable viruses to evade host defenses. In hosts, virus-induced immune dysfunction and premature cellular senescence may predispose to neurodegenerative disorders. This concept is supported by novel studies that found postinfectious cognitive dysfunction in several viral illnesses, including human immunodeficiency virus-1, herpes simplex virus-1, and SARS-CoV-2. Virus-induced pathological syncytia may provide a unified framework for conceptualizing neuronal cell cycle reentry, aneuploidy, somatic mosaicism, viral spreading of pathological Tau and elimination of viable synapses and neurons by neurotoxic astrocytes and microglia. In this narrative review, we take a closer look at cell-cell fusion and vesicular merger in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. We present a “decentralized” information processing model that conceptualizes neurodegeneration as a systemic illness, triggered by cytoskeletal pathology. We also discuss strategies for reversing cell-cell fusion, including, TMEM16F inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, senolytics, and tubulin stabilizing agents. Finally, going beyond neurodegeneration, we examine the potential benefit of harnessing fusion as a therapeutic strategy in regenerative medicine.

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Section: Treatment Strategies For Pathological Cell-cell Fusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virus-Induced Membrane Fusion in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Osorio

Sfera

Anton

et al. 2022

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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“…Combretastatins consist of two phenyl rings linked by a two-carbon bridge. The compound causes mitotic arrest in cancer cells, inhibits microtubule assembly and stimulates tubulin-dependent guanosine-5′-triphosphate hydrolysis [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Derivatives of combretastatin—CA4P (fosbretabulin), AVE8062 and ZD6186—are at stages 2/3 of clinical trials as anticancer drugs, acting on the mechanism of destabilizing microtubules and destroying the blood vessels of tumors [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polymeric Micelles Formulation of Combretastatin Derivatives with Enhanced Solubility, Cytostatic Activity and Selectivity against Cancer Cells

Zlotnikov,

Ezhov,

Ferberg

et al. 2023

Pharmaceutics

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Combretastatin derivatives is a promising class of antitumor agents, tubulin assembly inhibitors. However, due to poor solubility and insufficient selectivity to tumor cells, we believe, their therapeutic potential has not been fully realized yet. This paper describes polymeric micelles based on chitosan (a polycation that causes pH and thermosensitivity of micelles) and fatty acids (stearic, lipoic, oleic and mercaptoundecanoic), which were used as a carrier for a range of combretastatin derivatives and reference organic compounds, demonstrating otherwise impossible delivery to tumor cells, at the same time substantially reduced penetration into normal cells. Polymers containing sulfur atoms in hydrophobic tails form micelles with a zeta potential of about 30 mV, which increases to 40–45 mV when cytostatics are loaded. Polymers with tails of oleic and stearic acids form poorly charged micelles. The use of polymeric 400 nm micelles provides the dissolution of hydrophobic potential drug molecules. Micelles could significantly increase the selectivity of cytostatics against tumors, which has been shown using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Atomic force microscopy presented the difference between the unloaded micelles and those loaded with the drug: the size of the former was 30 nm on average, while the latter had a “disc-like” shape and a size of about 450 nm. The loading of drugs into the core of micelles was confirmed by UV and fluorescence spectroscopy methods; shifts of absorption and emission maxima into the long-wavelength region by tens of nm was observed. With FTIR spectroscopy, a high interaction efficiency of micelles with the drug on cells was demonstrated, but at the same time, selective absorption was observed: micellar cytostatics penetrate into A549 cancer cells 1.5–2 times better than the simple form of the drugs. Moreover, in normal HEK293T, the penetration of the drug is reduced. The proposed mechanism for reducing the accumulation of drugs in normal cells is the adsorption of micelles on the cell surface and the preservation of cytostatics to penetrate inside the cells. At the same time, in cancer cells, due to the structural features of the micelles, they penetrate inside, merging with the membrane and releasing the drug by pH- and glutathione-sensitive mechanisms. From a methodological point of view, we have proposed a powerful approach to the observation of micelles using a flow cytometer, which, in addition, allows us to quantify the cells that have absorbed/adsorbed cytostatic fluorophore and distinguish between specific and non-specific binding. Thus, we present polymeric micelles as drug delivery systems in tumors using the example of combretastatin derivatives and model fluorophore-cytostatic rhodamine 6G.

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“…Although the compounds were biologically evaluated as racemates, it was interesting that the 3 S ,4 R enantiomer of each compound was found to be ranked at lower energy in the docking study than the corresponding 3 R ,4 S enantiomer. We had previously reported stereochemical selectivity in docking energy calculated for related β-lactam compounds [ 54 , 105 ]. However, a very small difference was observed in the cellular efficacy of this series of compounds in the modelling study (e.g., IC 50 values in the range 10–61 nM), so it would not be expected to see a large difference in ranking.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antiproliferative and Tubulin-Destabilising Effects of 3-(Prop-1-en-2-yl)azetidin-2-Ones and Related Compounds in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells

et al. 2023

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A series of novel 3-(prop-1-en-2-yl)azetidin-2-one, 3-allylazetidin-2-one and 3-(buta-1,3-dien-1-yl)azetidin-2-one analogues of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) were designed and synthesised as colchicine-binding site inhibitors (CBSI) in which the ethylene bridge of CA-4 was replaced with a β-lactam (2-azetidinone) scaffold. These compounds, together with related prodrugs, were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity, cell cycle effects and ability to inhibit tubulin assembly. The compounds demonstrated significant in vitro antiproliferative activities in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, particularly for compounds 9h, 9q, 9r, 10p, 10r and 11h, with IC50 values in the range 10–33 nM. These compounds were also potent in the triple-negative breast cancer (TBNC) cell line MDA-MB-231, with IC50 values in the range 23–33 nM, and were comparable with the activity of CA-4. The compounds inhibited the polymerisation of tubulin in vitro, with significant reduction in tubulin polymerization, and were shown to interact at the colchicine-binding site on tubulin. Flow cytometry demonstrated that compound 9q arrested MCF-7 cells in the G2/M phase and resulted in cellular apoptosis. The antimitotic properties of 9q in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were also evaluated, and the effect on the organization of microtubules in the cells after treatment with compound 9q was observed using confocal microscopy. The immunofluorescence results confirm that β-lactam 9q is targeting tubulin and resulted in mitotic catastrophe in MCF-7 cells. In silico molecular docking supports the hypothesis that the compounds interact with the colchicine-binding domain of tubulin. Compound 9q is a novel potent microtubule-destabilising agent with potential as a promising lead compound for the development of new antitumour agents.

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Synthesis and Antiproliferative Evaluation of 3-Chloroazetidin-2-ones with Antimitotic Activity: Heterocyclic Bridged Analogues of Combretastatin A-4

Cited by 10 publications

References 105 publications

Virus-Induced Membrane Fusion in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Virus-Induced Membrane Fusion in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Polymeric Micelles Formulation of Combretastatin Derivatives with Enhanced Solubility, Cytostatic Activity and Selectivity against Cancer Cells

Antiproliferative and Tubulin-Destabilising Effects of 3-(Prop-1-en-2-yl)azetidin-2-Ones and Related Compounds in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells

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