Arene-Ruthenium(II) Acylpyrazolonato Complexes: Apoptosis-Promoting Effects on Human Cancer Cells

作者:Pettinari Riccardo*; Pettinari Claudio; Marchetti Fabio; Skelton Brian W; White Allan H; Bonfili Laura; Cuccioloni Massimiliano; Mozzicafreddo Matteo; Cecarini Valentina; Angeletti Mauro; Nabissi Massimo; Eleuteri Anna Maria
来源:Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2014, 57(11): 4532-4542.
DOI:10.1021/jm500458c

摘要

A series of ruthenium(II) arene complexes with the 4-(biphenyl-4-carbonyl)-3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolonate ligand, and related 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) derivatives, has been synthesized. The compounds have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. Anti-proliferative activity in four human cancer cell lines was determined by MTT assay, yielding dose- and cancer cell line-dependent IC50 values of 9-34 mu M for three hexamethylbenzene-ruthenium complexes, whereas the other metal complexes were much less active. Apoptosis was the mechanism involved in the anticancer activity of such compounds. In fact, the hexamethylbenzene-ruthenium complexes activated caspase activity, with consequent DNA fragmentation, accumulation of pro-apoptotic proteins (p27, p53, p89 PARP fragments), and the concomitant down-regulation of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Biosensor-based binding studies indicated that the ancillary ligands were critical in determining the DNA binding affinities, and competition binding experiments further characterized the nature of the interaction.

  • 出版日期2014-6-12