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Biomedical subjects

L Novotný

Publications and source records attributed to L Novotný.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Potentiation of doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and differentiation by indomethacin in K-562 leukemia cells.

In this study we have examined the antitumor effect of combined administrations of indomethacin (IND) with doxorubicin (DOX) on growth of K-562 leukemia cells. Although, as single drug treatment, only high concentrations of IND reduced growth (>200 microM) and induced apoptosis (>800 microM) of the K-562 cells, a synergistic effects on DOX-induced cell growth inhibition, apoptosis and differentiation were observed during the co-administration of DOX with 10 microM IND. Cells treated with this combination had elevated GSHt level compare to DOX-treated cells. Modulation of GSHt level of DOX-treated cells with Cd2+ ions or BSO confirmed its important role in processes of DOX-induced differentiation. Results of this study showed that IND has a positive effect on therapeutic efficacy of DOX, and could be a perspective modulator in cancer chemotherapy.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Improved synthesis, antibacterial activity and potential carcinogenicity of 5-amino-1 ,2,4-thiadiazol-3(2H)-one.

This paper reports on the preparation of 5-amino-1,2,4-thiadiazol-3(2H)-one, a sulfur-containing analogue of cytosine with the -CH=CH- group between the positions 5 and 6 of the pyrimidine ring replaced by the divalent sulfur (-S-). Improved procedures for the preparation of thiobiuret, some of its methyl derivatives and 5-amino-1,2,4-thiadiazol-3(2H)-one are documented. Thiobiuret and its N-methyl derivatives were obtained by addition of hydrogen sulfide to the respective 1-cyanoureas. Subsequent oxidation of thiobiuret with hydrogen peroxide in alkaline medium produced 5-amino-1,2,4-thiadiazol-3(2H)-one. This substance was traced back converted to the starting thiobiuret by reaction with cysteine hydrochloride. Alkaline degradation of thiadiazol led to the formation of 1-cyanourea isolated as its silver salt. An investigation of the thiadiazol biological activities has shown that it inhibits the growth of E. coil by 10% at 8.5 microM concentrations, but exhibited no cytostatic activity in L1210, HeLa S3 and HL-60 cell lines. Potential carcinogenicity of the prepared compounds was determined by a DC polarographic method. While the values of the parameter of carcinogenicity for all intermediates indicate only marginal carcinogenic potential, the value of the parameter of carcinogenicity for the thiadiazole indicates possible carcinogenicity of this compound.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Determination of free radical scavenging activity of quercetin, rutin, luteolin and apigenin in H2O2-treated human ML cells K562.

We investigated protective effects of four flavonoids against H2O2- induced DNA damage in human myelogenous leukemia cells (K562) using the comet assay. The structural difference of studied flavonoids -- quercetin, rutin, luteolin and apigenin -- are characterized by the number of hydroxyl groups on the B ring. The presence of an o-dihydroxy structure on the B-ring confers a higher degree of stability to the flavonoid phenoxyl radicals by participating in electron delocalization and is, therefore, an important determinant for antioxidative potential. The results correlate with earlier published data obtained in murine leukemia cell line L1210. Hydrogen peroxide induced in human K562 cells a concentration-dependent increase of single cell DNA strand breaks. The strongest inhibition against H2O2-induced DNA damage (44%, 42%) was found in a range of luteolin and quercetin concentrations of 20-100 micromol/l. Protective effect of rutin (100 and 1000 micromol/l) was only marginal (8-10%). Apigenin had no protective effect on DNA single strand breaks induced by H2O2. Luteolin and quercetin are therefore effective in the protection of human single cell DNA from oxidative attack.

Apigenin↗

Comparative DNA protectivity and antimutagenicity studies using DNA-topology and Ames assays.

Two experimental techniques, the DNA-topology assay and the Ames assay, were proved to be suitable for monitoring compounds with a genotoxic potential and/or with an antimutagenic effect. Both procedures were used in assaying the acid-mine water (AMW) containing toxic metals and sulfoethyl chitin-glucan (SE-Ch-G), a derivative of chitin-glucan, in which bioprotective activities were detected earlier. It was shown that after toxic metal concentrations were decreased due to AMW dilution to the limits that correspond with those set by the Slovak Technical Norm (STN) for drinking water, AMW was not genotoxic in the Ames assay. As it is possible to detect any single-strand DNA (ssDNA) break in the DNA-topology assay, the SE-Ch-G protective effect against the ssDNA breaks induced by Fe(2+) in the DNA-topology assay was recorded. SE-Ch-G exhibited the antimutagenic potential after its application simultaneously with diagnostic mutagens in the Ames assay. These results demonstrate the complementarity of both experimental systems.

Antimutagenic Agents↗

Ursolic acid: an anti-tumorigenic and chemopreventive activity. Minireview.

Ursolic acid, UA, as a pentacyclic triterpene is of interest to scientists in the area of oncology because of its cytotoxicity, induction of differentiation, anti-mutagenic, antiviral and anti-invasive activities. UA is capable of inducing apoptosis in tumor cells on one side and to prevent malignant transformation of normal cells on the other side. It also interferes with numerous enzymes, including the ones serving directly to DNA synthesis. The aim of this review is to summarize reports on UA biological properties and to show its main anti-tumor effects and chemopreventive properties in normal cells.

Animals↗

Flavonoids as chemoprotective agents in civilization diseases.

Flavonoids, a class of polyphenolic compounds widely distributed in the plant kingdom, are capable of protecting against several chronic and degenerative diseases, among them cancer, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cataracts and brain and immune dysfunctional states. These substances are common dietary components. They exhibit many biological properties through various mechanism of activity. Early studies of flavonoids investigated their significant antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic and hepatoprotective effect. Additionally, their ability to modulate the activity of various enzymes affects normal as well as malignant systems. This review summarizes data on the beneficial effects of flavonoids in humans.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Detection of bioactive surfactants in aqueous solutions on the basis of H2O2-voltammetry.

The voltammetric determination of surfactants at the hanging mercury drop electrode in aqueous solutions is described, based on the shift of the peak potential deltaEp or the increase of the peak height deltaip of the electroreduction of hydrogen peroxide or of the second oxygen reduction step, with increasing concentration of surfactants. Although the selectivity of this method is rather limited, it could be utilized, e.g., for monitoring the absence (or presence) or for the determination of the contents of specified surfactants by comparing the obtained deltaip (deltaEp) signal with the reference state of the system or with that of a selected reference surface active substance. As model surfactants n-octanol, tetrabutylammonium chloride and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate were used, the regular adsorption behavior of which is well known. The method was successfully applied to control the presence of a commercial detergent in water for rinsing bottles for infusion solutions.

Detergents↗

Differential sensitivity of ovarian carcinoma cell lines to apoptosis induced by the IMPDH inhibitor benzamide riboside.

The differential sensitivity of examined human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (CH1, A-2780 and SKOV-3) to the IMPDH inhibitor, benzamide riboside (BR), was demonstrated with the aid of MTT assay. Present data show that all three examined ovarian carcinoma cell lines were sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of BR in the order of sensitivity CH1, SKOV-3, A-2780, (IC50 = 2.8, 4.0 and 7.4 microM, respectively). Although the IC50 of SKOV-3 cells was similar to that previously determined by others, more than 20% of SKOV-3 cells remained viable in a plateau up to 40 microM BR concentration. This relative resistance of SKOV-3 cells to BR corresponded to the absence ofBR-induced apoptosis in SKOV-3 cells, which together with clearly demonstrated sensitivity of CH1 cells to BR-induced apoptosis, established by flow cytometry (presence of nuclei with sub-G0 DNA content, Annexin V binding) and western blotting (poly-ADP-ribosyl-polymerase (PARP) cleavage), further stressed the role of drug-induced apoptosis in the over-all drug-induced cytotoxicity.

Apoptosis↗

Potential carcinogenic and inhibitory activity of compounds isolated from Lilium candidum L.

This paper deals with determination of potential carcinogenic and inhibitory activity of 10 compounds isolated from the ethanolic extract of Lilium candidum L. perfonned by DC polarography. The series of investigated compounds consisted of two spirostanol saponins, two pyroline derivatives, jatropham and its glucoside, flavonol kaempferol, 2-fenylethyl-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 2-phenylethylpalmitate and methylsuccinic acid. Carcinogenic, resp. mutagenic activity data for these compounds, with the exception of kaempferol, are not available in scientific literature. All tested compounds were reduced in N,N-dimethylformamide in one or two well defined steps. They also fonned a reversible complex with alpha-lipoic acid, a compound serving as an indicator of carcinogenic activity. The marginal diffuse current values of these complexes served as a criterion of a very low potential carcinogenicity. The inhibitory activity of isolates were studied in the presence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a specific tumor promoter for an epidermal carcinogenesis, and in the presence of a polyaromatic substance 7,12-dimetylbenz(a)anthracene known as a carcinogen. The spirostanol saponins possessed the highest inhibitory activity (> 70%) and jatropham (66%). The inhibitory activity of jatropham glucoside was significantly lower (49%). Practically zero inhibitory activity was measured for the 2-phenylethylpalmitate and methylsuccinic acid.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Effect of thioredoxin on the sensitivity of bacteria to chemical damage.

The ability of thioredoxin (Trx) to protect cells from chemical damage was determined by comparing the growth of a control strain of Escherichia coli JM101 and isogenic strain transformed with the plasmid pKKTS1 containing the Streptomyces aureofaciens thioredoxin gene, in the presence of the nucleoside analogs arabinosylcytosine, 5-fluorouridine, ftorafur and carcinogen beta-naftylamine. Arabinosylcytosine showed no effect on the growth of either of the two strains. 5-fluorouridine, ftorafur [1-((R,S)-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-5-fluorouracil] and beta-naftylamine demonstrated lower inhibitory effects on the growth of the thioredoxin overproducing strain than on the growth of the control strain. These results suggested that Trx could protect the cells from chemical damage under certain metabolic conditions.

Bacteria↗

Potential carcinogenicity of some transition metal ions.

Potential carcinogenicity of some transition metal ions was tested using a direct-current polarography method. The measurements were based on the reduction of tested compounds in an anhydrous solution using alpha-lipoic acid as the detection compound. The potential carcinogenicity was expressed in terms of the parameter tg alpha, which is known to directly correlate with the carcinogenicity of tested compounds. For the metal ions tested, tg alpha was found to decrease in the following sequence: Fe(III) > Pb(II) > V(IV) > Fe(II) > Mn(II) > Cu(II). Zero values of tg alpha were found for Cd(II) and Mn(III).

Animals↗

Kojic acid--a new leading molecule for a preparation of compounds with an anti-neoplastic potential.

Kojic acid as a molecule of natural origin may serve as template for the synthesis of new biologically active compounds. The synthetic KA (pyranone) derivatives possess various kinds of biological activities which are related by their similarity to flavonoids. The most important property is the antifungal and antineoplastic activity and capability of chelating metals. It is shown that the antineoplastic activity of kojic acid derivatives is based on various mechanisms of action on different levels of cellular metabolism and functions what makes this compound interesting for future investigation as cytotoxic agent.

Animals↗

Potential carcinogenicity of the synthetic 1,3,6-triazine (6-azapyrimidine) nucleic acid analogues determined by DC polarography. II. Nucleosides of 6-azauracil.

The polarographic reduction of six synthetic 1,3,6-triazine (6-aza) nucleosides with 6-azauracil as the nucleoside base in the strictly anhydrous solutions was studied in the absence and presence of alpha-lipoic acid. The values of the half-wave potentials E1/2 and the parameter of potential carcinogenicity tg alpha were compared for six nucleosides of 6-azauracil and two nucleosides of 4-thio-6-azauracil. The current value of the first diffuse polarographic wave or a new diffuse polarographic wave belonging to the nucleoside-alpha-lipoic acid complex increased with the increase of the alpha-lipoic acid concentration for the all compounds only marginally. Although this diffuse current increase was linear and dependent on the alpha-lipoic acid concentration in anhydrous solutions, the determined index tg alpha values ranged between 0.027 and 0.114. This is an indication of a very low potential carcinogenicity of the all nucleoside analogues investigated.

Azauridine↗

Transformation kinetics of the 5'-chloro-5'-deoxy analogue of arabinosylcytosine.

5'-Chloro-5'-deoxy arabinosylcytosine (Cl-araC) is a more lipophilic analog of the clinically used drug--arabinosylcytosine (araC). The resistance toward the enzyme cytidine-deaminase action was described as an characteristic feature of this synthetic nucleoside. The kinetics of the Cl-araC transformation in acid and alkaline solutions was studied at various temperatures. When compared with parent compound araC, the chlorine atom at the 5' position of the nucleoside sugar moiety increases the Cl-araC stability. The chlorine atom stabilizing effect is higher in acidic conditions. Cl-araC increased stability, antileukemic activity accompanied by higher lipophilicity confirm the fact that Cl-araC belong among interesting compounds from the point of view of cancer chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Separation of structurally related flavonoids by GC/MS technique and determination of their polarographic parameters and potential carcinogenicity.

The present study deals with the investigation of the naturally occurring derivatives of the benzo[b]pyran-4-one - flavonoids - chrysin, tectochrysin and galangin, and with the effect of minor changes in their chemical structure on their separation using GC/MS. In the relation to their close chemical structure, their basic polarographic parameters were also investigated. Their potential carcinogenicity index tg alpha was determined by DC polarography experiments in the presence of alpha-lipoic acid. The tg alpha values for chrysin, tectochrysin and galangin were all under 0.180. This indicates a very minor carcinogenic potential that does not prevent the use of the investigated flavonoids in human.

Carcinogens↗

Combined effect of lipoic acid and doxorubicin in murine leukemia.

Our experiments indicate that administration of a toxic drug with high rate of free-radical formation (doxorubicin, DOX) combined with an antioxidant (alpha-lipoic acid, LA) may lead to a decrease in drug-toxicity. However, the effects of antioxidant may be concentration-dependent and it is therefore crucial to choose its appropriate dosage. LA at a low concentration (1 micromol/l) acts as a growth factor and at a higher concentration (100 micromol/l) acts as an antiproliferation agent. Both concentrations of LA in combination with DOX were examined in cytotoxic and antitumor effects in L1210 mouse leukemia cells employing a MTT chemosensitivity assay. In most concentration combinations, DOX and LA effect were antagonistic and synergistic action was only found at the higher concentration of both agents (DOX 2.5 micromol/l and LA 100 micromol/l). Use of LA in doxorubicin therapy lead to an increase (though marginally significant) in survival of animals. Combined single-dose administration of DOX (5 mg/kg) and LA (16 mg/kg) lead to super-additive effect of the combination on survival of leukemic mice.

Animals↗

Detection of apoptosis in a heterogenous cell population using flow cytometry.

Apoptosis induced in human leukemic cells (promyelocytic human leukemic cells HL-60, multidrug-resistant subline HL-60/VCR) and human ovarian carcinoma cells (A2780 and multidrug-resistant subline A2780/ADR) in vitro was detected by flow cytometric analysis or DNA electrophoresis. The cytofluorometric techniques utilized, i. e. detection of phosphatidylserine exposed at the outer surface of the plasma membrane, identification of cells with "sub-G0" DNA content or increased light side scatter (cell internal structure) correlated with the electrophoretic determination of DNA fragmentation ("DNA ladder"). Detection of the 34 kDa mitochondrial protein recognized by the monoclonal antibody Apo2.7 yielded elevated percentages of apoptotic cells, suggesting that this technique detecting both early and late apoptosis in digitonin-fixed cells might not be restricted to the specific detection of programmed cell death.

Apoptosis↗

Application of NMR spectroscopy in biochemical studies of tumor cells sensitive and resistant to anticancer drugs.

Drug resistance is a prominent problem of cancer therapy. Differences in quantity and quality of many metabolites in normal and malignant cells and their changes after treatment by anticancer drugs can be detected by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) both in vivo and in vitro. The results of in vivo and in vitro 1H, 13C, 19F and 31P NMR spectroscopy and their correlation with the degree of resistance to anticancer drugs are discussed. Monitoring of treatment and development of drug resistance by this non-invasive method could be useful not only in cancer research related to drug resistance but also in clinical medical oncology.

Amino Acids↗