Imidazole-based phenanthroline derivatives induce DNA damage-mediated apoptosis to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective: This study focused on designing and subsequently screening novel phenanthroimidazole derivatives with activity as potential inhibitors of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: We synthesized a series of phenanthroimidazole derivatives and their molecular structures were characterized by ESI-...

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Main Authors: Jie LIN, Shuyuan ZHOU, Hairong XIAN, Weiming CHEN, Yifan ZHANG, Weiwei ZHANG, Zhihong GUAN, Wenjie MEI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2022-06-01
Series:Journal of Holistic Integrative Pharmacy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2707368823000572
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author Jie LIN
Shuyuan ZHOU
Hairong XIAN
Weiming CHEN
Yifan ZHANG
Weiwei ZHANG
Zhihong GUAN
Wenjie MEI
author_facet Jie LIN
Shuyuan ZHOU
Hairong XIAN
Weiming CHEN
Yifan ZHANG
Weiwei ZHANG
Zhihong GUAN
Wenjie MEI
author_sort Jie LIN
collection DOAJ
description Objective: This study focused on designing and subsequently screening novel phenanthroimidazole derivatives with activity as potential inhibitors of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: We synthesized a series of phenanthroimidazole derivatives and their molecular structures were characterized by ESI-MS and 1H NMR. The anti-tumor activity was evaluated using the MTT assay. The potential mechanism of anti-tumor activity based on DNA-damage-mediated apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and comet assay. Additionally, the anti-angiogenic activity was assessed by transgenic zebrafish. Furthermore, in vivo biodistribution of the compound was studied using a nude mice xenograft model. Results: The screening results for anti-tumor activity revealed that the compounds, especially 2, exhibited promising restrain activity against the growth of HepG2 cells with an IC50 value of 0.68 µM. Further studies showed that 2 can accumulate in the mitochondria of HepG2 cells, decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, induce DNA damage and apoptosis of cells. Moreover, it was also discovered that 2 can inhibit the formation of neovascularization, which was confirmed by the decrease in ISV angiogenesis of zebrafish after being incubated with 2, as well as the decrease in the number and length of tubes formed in HUVECs cells. Besides, in vivo distribution and metabolism studies show that 2 is rapidly distributed in the whole body and accumulated in the tumor tissue of BALB/c mice. Conclusion: Taken together, this type of phenanthroimidazole derivatives, especially 2, will be developed to be potent inhibitors against the growth of HepG2 cells through anti-angiogenesis and apoptosis based on mitochondrial-dependent pathways in the near future.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2022-06-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
record_format Article
series Journal of Holistic Integrative Pharmacy
spelling doaj-art-64e1738a5a914028a1463a3fd5d766d32024-11-12T05:21:35ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Journal of Holistic Integrative Pharmacy2707-36882022-06-0132177189Imidazole-based phenanthroline derivatives induce DNA damage-mediated apoptosis to suppress hepatocellular carcinomaJie LIN0Shuyuan ZHOU1Hairong XIAN2Weiming CHEN3Yifan ZHANG4Weiwei ZHANG5Zhihong GUAN6Wenjie MEI7School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaGuangdong Province Engineering Center for Molecular Probe & Biomedicine Imaging, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Ruby Biotechnology Limited Company, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaGuangdong Province Engineering Center for Molecular Probe & Biomedicine Imaging, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Ruby Biotechnology Limited Company, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaGuangdong Province Engineering Center for Molecular Probe & Biomedicine Imaging, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaGuangdong Province Engineering Center for Molecular Probe & Biomedicine Imaging, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Province Engineering Center for Molecular Probe & Biomedicine Imaging, Guangzhou 510006, China; Corresponding authorObjective: This study focused on designing and subsequently screening novel phenanthroimidazole derivatives with activity as potential inhibitors of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: We synthesized a series of phenanthroimidazole derivatives and their molecular structures were characterized by ESI-MS and 1H NMR. The anti-tumor activity was evaluated using the MTT assay. The potential mechanism of anti-tumor activity based on DNA-damage-mediated apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and comet assay. Additionally, the anti-angiogenic activity was assessed by transgenic zebrafish. Furthermore, in vivo biodistribution of the compound was studied using a nude mice xenograft model. Results: The screening results for anti-tumor activity revealed that the compounds, especially 2, exhibited promising restrain activity against the growth of HepG2 cells with an IC50 value of 0.68 µM. Further studies showed that 2 can accumulate in the mitochondria of HepG2 cells, decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, induce DNA damage and apoptosis of cells. Moreover, it was also discovered that 2 can inhibit the formation of neovascularization, which was confirmed by the decrease in ISV angiogenesis of zebrafish after being incubated with 2, as well as the decrease in the number and length of tubes formed in HUVECs cells. Besides, in vivo distribution and metabolism studies show that 2 is rapidly distributed in the whole body and accumulated in the tumor tissue of BALB/c mice. Conclusion: Taken together, this type of phenanthroimidazole derivatives, especially 2, will be developed to be potent inhibitors against the growth of HepG2 cells through anti-angiogenesis and apoptosis based on mitochondrial-dependent pathways in the near future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2707368823000572Phenanthroimidazole derivativesHepatocellular carcinomaDNA damageApoptosis
spellingShingle Jie LIN
Shuyuan ZHOU
Hairong XIAN
Weiming CHEN
Yifan ZHANG
Weiwei ZHANG
Zhihong GUAN
Wenjie MEI
Imidazole-based phenanthroline derivatives induce DNA damage-mediated apoptosis to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma
Journal of Holistic Integrative Pharmacy
Phenanthroimidazole derivatives
Hepatocellular carcinoma
DNA damage
Apoptosis
title Imidazole-based phenanthroline derivatives induce DNA damage-mediated apoptosis to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full Imidazole-based phenanthroline derivatives induce DNA damage-mediated apoptosis to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma
title_fullStr Imidazole-based phenanthroline derivatives induce DNA damage-mediated apoptosis to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Imidazole-based phenanthroline derivatives induce DNA damage-mediated apoptosis to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma
title_short Imidazole-based phenanthroline derivatives induce DNA damage-mediated apoptosis to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma
title_sort imidazole based phenanthroline derivatives induce dna damage mediated apoptosis to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma
topic Phenanthroimidazole derivatives
Hepatocellular carcinoma
DNA damage
Apoptosis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2707368823000572
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