Tacrine derivatives stimulate human glioma SF295 cell death and alter important proteins related to disease development: An old drug for new targets

Publication date: Available online 25 April 2018 Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects Author(s): Fernanda Nunes, Letícia Barros Silva, Evelyn Winter, Adny Henrique Silva, Leônidas João de Melo, Michele Rode, Marcos Antônio Pinto Martins, Nilo Zanatta, Sarah Coelho Feitosa, Hélio Gauze Bonacorso, Tânia Beatriz Creczynski-Pasa Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive glioma, characterized by brain invasion capability. Being very resistant to the current therapies, since even under treatment, surgery, and chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ), patients achieve a median survival of one year. In the search for more effective therapies, new molecules have been designed. For nervous system cancers, molecules able to cross the blood-brain barrier are handled with priority. Accordingly, tacrine was chosen for this study and the inclusion of spiro-heterocyclic rings was done in its structure resulting in new compounds. Cytotoxic activity of tacrine derivatives was assayed using glioblastoma cell line (SF295) as well as analyzing cell death mechanism. Increased caspases activities were observed, confirming apoptosis as cell death type. Some derivatives also increased reactive oxygen species formation and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, compounds acted on several glioblastoma-related proteins including p53, HLA-DR, beta-catenin, Iba-1, MAP2c, Olig-2, and IDH1. Therefore, tacrine derivatives presented promising res...
Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) General Subjects - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research