The current study has yielded promising results in the evaluation of a new ciprofloxacin-chalcone hybrid (CP derivative) for its anticancer activity as potential Topoisomerases (Topo) I and II inhibitors. The in vitro results showed that the CP derivative significantly suppressed the growth of HCT-116 and LOX IMVI cells, with IC50 values of 5.0 μM and 1.3 μM, respectively, outperforming Staurosporine, which had IC50 values of 8.4 μM and 1.6 μM, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the new CP derivative triggered apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, associated with the up-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and Caspase 9) and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2). Further investigations showed that the CP derivative inhibited Topo I and II enzymes, as expected molecular targets; docking studies further supported its dual inhibitory action on Topo I and II. These findings suggest that the ciprofloxacin-chalcone hybrid could be a promising lead compound for developing new anticancer therapy.
4 July 2024 in Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Juvenile intestinal ischemia–reperfusion (JII/R) is a pediatric surgical emergency caused by mesenteric vessel occlusion and has a high mortality rate. Malrotation can cause intestinal ischemia in infants due to midgut volvulus. It affects not only the intestine itself but also other organs, such as cardiac tissue. Therefore, searching for more effective therapeutic solutions is an essential critical need. This directed our thoughts to evaluate the role of ambrisentan (AMB) in a rat model of induced JII/R by clamping the superior mesenteric artery. Forty juvenile male Wistar albino rats (3–4 weeks old) were randomly divided into four experimental groups: control (CON) group, JII/R group, and AMB-treated groups (30, 60 mg/kg) with JII/R. Induction of JII/R results in significant changes in cardiac enzymes, oxidative stress, inflammatory, and apoptotic parameters with high expression of endothelin receptor A (ERA). Also, histopathological changes revealed extensive mucosal damage, loss of intestinal villi, dysregulated and degenerated cardiac fibers with inflammatory cell infiltration, and tissue necrosis. In contrast, AMB administration significantly reduced the elevated levels of cardiac enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), ERA, and caspase-3 expression. However, AMB treatment increased immune expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), Ki-67, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and showed remarkable improvement in the histopathological changes. AMB could be considered as an adjuvant medical treatment for cases of JII/R.
Ferroptosis, a type of iron overload-induced cell death, is involved in diabetes-induced testicular dysfunction. Hence, this study was designed to investigate, for the first time, the impact of lipoxin A4 (LXA4) administration on testicular tissue in diabetic rats and explore its probable role in regulating ferroptosis in comparison with the standard ferroptosis inhibitor (ferrostatin-1, Fer-1). Albino rats of Wistar strain were divided into a control group, a type II diabetes mellitus (DM) group, a DM + Fer-1group, and a DM + LXA4 group. Serum levels of iron, insulin, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and testosterone were assayed. Testicular tissue markers of oxidative stress, ferroptosis, and inflammation were also assessed by different methods. Our results confirmed diabetes-induced testicular injury and disruption of its function via inducement of ferroptosis, but this was ameliorated with LXA4 and Fer-1 administration. However, Fer-1 showed a greater protective effect compared to LXA4 under the conditions of this study. We concluded that LXA4 partially secured the testicular tissue of diabetic rats against ferroptosis via augmenting the antioxidant Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway. Therefore, LXA4 may have a possible protective effect on the testicular tissue of diabetic patients.