Reversible Modulation of Motile Cilia by a Benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazinone: A Potential Non-Hormonal Approach to Male Contraception

Motile cilia play essential roles in various physiological processes including fluid flow generation and sperm motility. In this study, we identified 1,3-diphenyl-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazin-7(1<i>H</i>)-one as a potent and reversible modulator of...

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Main Authors: Maria Chatzifrangkeskou, Alexandra Perdiou, Revekka Kreouzou, Georgia A. Zissimou, Dragos F. Flesariu, Panayiotis A. Koutentis, Paris A. Skourides
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/10/688
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author Maria Chatzifrangkeskou
Alexandra Perdiou
Revekka Kreouzou
Georgia A. Zissimou
Dragos F. Flesariu
Panayiotis A. Koutentis
Paris A. Skourides
author_facet Maria Chatzifrangkeskou
Alexandra Perdiou
Revekka Kreouzou
Georgia A. Zissimou
Dragos F. Flesariu
Panayiotis A. Koutentis
Paris A. Skourides
author_sort Maria Chatzifrangkeskou
collection DOAJ
description Motile cilia play essential roles in various physiological processes including fluid flow generation and sperm motility. In this study, we identified 1,3-diphenyl-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazin-7(1<i>H</i>)-one as a potent and reversible modulator of ciliary function using the <i>Xenopus laevis</i> model. This benzotriazinone derivative inhibits ciliary-driven fluid flow by inducing cilia detachment without causing toxicity in developing embryos. Unlike traditional deciliation agents that rely on calcium signaling, this compound induces cilia loss through a shear stress-driven mechanism at the transition zone, without disrupting tissue morphology or the apical actin network. Importantly, it also induces flagellar loss and impairs sperm motility at picomolar concentrations. Our findings highlight the potential of this 6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-substituted benzotriazinone as a non-hormonal male contraceptive and underscore a novel mechanism of cilia modulation that may have broader implications for the treatment of cilia-related disorders.
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spelling doaj-art-bf022b0d3c7e418594bccbc893c5318f2025-08-20T01:56:17ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-05-01141068810.3390/cells14100688Reversible Modulation of Motile Cilia by a Benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazinone: A Potential Non-Hormonal Approach to Male ContraceptionMaria Chatzifrangkeskou0Alexandra Perdiou1Revekka Kreouzou2Georgia A. Zissimou3Dragos F. Flesariu4Panayiotis A. Koutentis5Paris A. Skourides6Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, CyprusDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, CyprusDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, CyprusDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, CyprusDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, CyprusDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, CyprusDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, CyprusMotile cilia play essential roles in various physiological processes including fluid flow generation and sperm motility. In this study, we identified 1,3-diphenyl-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazin-7(1<i>H</i>)-one as a potent and reversible modulator of ciliary function using the <i>Xenopus laevis</i> model. This benzotriazinone derivative inhibits ciliary-driven fluid flow by inducing cilia detachment without causing toxicity in developing embryos. Unlike traditional deciliation agents that rely on calcium signaling, this compound induces cilia loss through a shear stress-driven mechanism at the transition zone, without disrupting tissue morphology or the apical actin network. Importantly, it also induces flagellar loss and impairs sperm motility at picomolar concentrations. Our findings highlight the potential of this 6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-substituted benzotriazinone as a non-hormonal male contraceptive and underscore a novel mechanism of cilia modulation that may have broader implications for the treatment of cilia-related disorders.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/10/688motile ciliadeciliation<i>Xenopus laevis</i>transition zone
spellingShingle Maria Chatzifrangkeskou
Alexandra Perdiou
Revekka Kreouzou
Georgia A. Zissimou
Dragos F. Flesariu
Panayiotis A. Koutentis
Paris A. Skourides
Reversible Modulation of Motile Cilia by a Benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazinone: A Potential Non-Hormonal Approach to Male Contraception
Cells
motile cilia
deciliation
<i>Xenopus laevis</i>
transition zone
title Reversible Modulation of Motile Cilia by a Benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazinone: A Potential Non-Hormonal Approach to Male Contraception
title_full Reversible Modulation of Motile Cilia by a Benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazinone: A Potential Non-Hormonal Approach to Male Contraception
title_fullStr Reversible Modulation of Motile Cilia by a Benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazinone: A Potential Non-Hormonal Approach to Male Contraception
title_full_unstemmed Reversible Modulation of Motile Cilia by a Benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazinone: A Potential Non-Hormonal Approach to Male Contraception
title_short Reversible Modulation of Motile Cilia by a Benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazinone: A Potential Non-Hormonal Approach to Male Contraception
title_sort reversible modulation of motile cilia by a benzo i e i 1 2 4 triazinone a potential non hormonal approach to male contraception
topic motile cilia
deciliation
<i>Xenopus laevis</i>
transition zone
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/10/688
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