euk-134 and Neuroblastoma

Aggregation of human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) into pancreatic fibrillar deposits has been postulated to be one of the main contributors to impaired insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell death in approximately 90% of type 2 diabetic patients. So, compounds that prevent cytotoxic protein/polypeptide self-assembly and amyloidogenesis are considered as novel therapeutic agents against this disease. In this study, using thioflavin-T (ThT) and Anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid (ANS) fluorescence assays, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and docking studies, we investigated whether EUK-8 and EUK-134, two salen derivatives with proven antioxidants activities, could interfere with the conversion of synthetic human amylin to its insoluble amyloid form. Spectroscopy and electron microscopy data indicated that incubation of human amylin with either EUK-8 or EUK-134 significantly inhibited amyloid formation at two molar ratios of 1:1 and 5:1 (drugs to protein). In addition, [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay showed that treatment of SK-N-MC cells with the pre-formed fibrils in the presence of compounds at drug-to-protein molar ratios of 1:1 and 5:1, dramatically increased the viability of cells compared to the only fibrils formed-treated SK-N-MC cells. Docking results also demonstrated that the aromatic rings of EUK-8 and EUK-134 interact with the hydrophobic region (23-25) of IAPP via Van der Waals interactions. Based on these results and the proven antioxidant properties of these compounds, it could be concluded that these compounds might provide a novel approach to prevent islet amyloid deposition in β-cells and provide useful information for developing other novel compounds for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Topics: Amyloid; Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates; Antioxidants; Benzothiazoles; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Ethylenediamines; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Molecular Docking Simulation; Neuroblastoma; Organometallic Compounds; Salicylates; Thiazoles

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by the accumulation of senile plaques containing amyloid β (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the brain. Oxidative stress has been proposed to mediate Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. In that regard, we evaluated the ability of EUK134, a superoxide dismutase and catalase mimics, to protect human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC against H(2)O(2) -induced oxidative stress. Our data clearly indicated that cell death induced by H(2)O(2) was reversed by EUK134. Likewise, lipid peroxidation, caspase-3 activation and intracellular reactive oxygen species formation all returned to control levels following pre-treatments with EUK134. Elevated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) induced by H(2)O(2) in SK-N-MC cells was lowered by EUK134 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, EUK134 decreased expression of pro-apoptotic genes p53 and Bax and enhanced expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene. Taken together, these results suggest that EUK134 protects neuronal cells against H(2)O(2) toxicity by attenuating oxidative stress through inhibition of MAPK phosphorylation cascade.

Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Antineoplastic Agents; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Catalase; Cell Death; Cell Line, Tumor; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Free Radical Scavengers; Genes, bcl-2; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Lipid Peroxidation; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Neuroblastoma; Neuroprotective Agents; Organometallic Compounds; Reactive Oxygen Species; Salicylates; Superoxide Dismutase