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In connection with our research of new antitumor compounds, previously undescribed approaches to the 1-(2-chlorophenyl)isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid 9 are reported here. Two related accesses from phenylethylamine or amphetamine were investigated and were found to be successful. A more robust synthesis, using Suzuki's cross-coupling between 2-chlorophenylboronic acid 15 and the previously unreported methyl-1-bromoisoquinoline-3-carboxylate 14 was also developed. This synthetic route provides the ground for a combinatorial approach to the core structure of new potential peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands.

Ligation of the Fas receptor (FasR) is a key step in apoptosis induction. Using a series of human tumor cells (SNB19, SNB79, 143N2, and SHEP), we observed a distinct efficacy of human anti-FasR antibody with an apparent correlation with Fas cell surface antigen expression. In contrast, all cells studied expressed detectable FasR mRNA transcripts. For all anti-FasR antibody-sensitive tumor cells, we showed a similar efficacy of Mab according to dose fractionation and injection site. We showed that, when injected into nude mice bearing human osteosarcoma 143N2, neuroblastoma SHEP, prostatic cancer PAC120, and the two glioblastomas SNB19 and SNB79, anti-FasR Mab induces significant inhibition of the growth rate of 143N2, SHEP, and PAC120 tumors, but has no efficacy on SNB19 and SNB79 tumors, with a relationship between in vitro and in vivo sensitivity to anti-FasR antibody. Altogether, these results suggest the antitumor potential of anti-FasR antibody in human neoplasms.

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) have been identified in various peripheral tissues as well as in glial cells in the brain. This review describes the tissue and subcellular distribution of the PBR in mammalian tissues and analyzes its many putative endogenous ligands. It deals with the pharmacological, structural and molecular characterization of the PBR, the proteins associated with the receptor (VDAC, ANC, PRAX-1) and their roles in cell growth and differentiation, cancer, steroid biosynthesis, and other physiological roles.

When human glioma cells were incubated for 24 hr in serum-free medium with nanomolar concentrations of 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinoline carboxamide (PK11195), a specific ligand of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), a significant increase in the membrane fluidity of mitochondria isolated from these cells was registered. These effects were not observed with a shorter incubation time (2 hr) of the cells with PK11195 nor in the presence of serum. Other significant associated changes were observed: a significant increase of 16 ± 4% of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA was detected in cells in the presence of PK11195 in serum-free medium, and an increase of 33 ± 5% as compared to controls in nonyl acridine orange uptake, as indicator of mitochondrial mass, was also registered in cells treated with 10 nM PK11195. [3H]PK11195 binding was decreased in cells incubated with PK11195; a 45% decrease compared to controls was obtained. In view of the effect of PBR ligands on DNA synthesis, changes in mitochondrial lipid metabolism through interaction with PBRs might lead to biogenesis of mitochondria to support the increased metabolic requirements for cell division, which is even higher in malignant cells.

In connection with our research of new antitumor compounds, previously undescribed approaches to the 1-(2-chlorophenyl)isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid 9 are reported here. Two related accesses from phenylethylamine or amphetamine were investigated and were found to be successful. A more robust synthesis, using Suzuki's cross-coupling between 2-chlorophenylboronic acid 15 and the previously unreported methyl-1-bromoisoquinoline-3-carboxylate 14 was also developed. This synthetic route provides the ground for a combinatorial approach to the core structure of new potential peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands.

In brain tumors the main source of energy is from glycolysis, which is initiated by hexokinase 1 (HK1), an enzyme bound to the mitochondrial porin. Disruption of HK binding greatly affects tumor cell survival. Little is known about the acceptor site of HK1. Therefore, a polyclonal antibody (Pab) directed to MIAAQLLAYYFTELK (MK) peptide, corresponding to the 15-amino acids of the N-terminal sequence of brain HK1 was obtained. Anti MK antibody (aMK-Pab)bound specifically to HK as shown by ELISA. The aMK-Pab binding to MK peptide was antibody-concentration dependent and was completely abolished by its preincubation with the peptide at 6 x 10-8 M. The aMK-Pab recognized cytosolic HK (cHK) and HK solubilized (sHK)from rat-brain mitochondrial preparations, but not the yeast HK which does not have the MK sequence. An anti-brain HK Pab (aHK-Pab) directed to purified HK recognized the MK peptide; aHK-Pab bound to MK and this binding was inhibited by preincubation of the antibody with the MK peptide. It was previously demonstrated that brain HK anchors to mitochondria porins, also designated as voltage dependent-anion channels (VDAC) via the MK sequence. A specific anti-VDAC antibody (aVDAC-Pab) which specifically bound the N and C-terminal sequences of VDACwas found to bind to c-HK, sHK and MK-coated wells and this binding was abolished by aVDACPabpreincubation with MK peptide. These data suggest that the three Pabs cross-react with an epitope present in HK and VDAC, and which was presented in the MK peptide. Comparison of alignment of HK or VDAC sequences, available in the protein data bank (PDB), did not allow putative homologues responsible for the cross-reaction to be identified, suggesting that the epitope is conformational. This, added to inhibition of mitochondria-isolated HK binding by the MK peptide,suggests that there is an homophilic-type interaction between HK and porin, through a peptidic structure represented at least in part in the MK peptide.

The mitochondrial peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (mPBR) is involved in a functional structure designated as the permeability transition pore, which controls apoptosis. Binding of Fas/APO-1/CD95 triggers a prototypic apoptosis-inducing pathway. Using four different human tumor cell lines (T-cell Jurkat, neuroblastoma SHEP, osteosarcoma 143N2, and glioblastoma SNB79 cell lines), all of which express CD95 and mPBR, we investigated the potential role of mPBR ligands in CD95-induced apoptosis. We show that, in vitro, the three mPBR ligands tested (RO5-4864, PK11195, and diazepam) enhanced apoptosis induced by anti-CD95 antibody in Jurkat cells, as demonstrated by mitochondrial transmembrane potential drop and DNA fragmentation. In contrast, RO5-4864, but not PK11195 or diazepam, enhanced anti-CD95 apoptosis in all other cell lines. These effects were obtained in Bcl-2-overexpressing SHEP cell lines, but not in Bcl-X(L) SHEP cell lines. Enhancement of anti-CD95 antibody-induced apoptosis by RO5-4864 was characterized by an increased mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO proteins and an enhanced activation of caspases 9 and 3, suggesting a mitochondrion-dependent mechanism. Preincubation of cells with the different mPBR ligands or anti-CD95 did not affect the levels of expression of either mPBR or CD95. In vivo, we found that the RO5-4864 mPBR ligand significantly increased the growth inhibition induced by two chemotherapeutic agents, etoposide and ifosfamide, using two human small cell lung cancers xenografted into nude mice. Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands may therefore act as chemosensitizing agents for the treatment of human neoplasms.

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) have been identified in various peripheral tissues as well as in glial cells in the brain. This review describes the tissue and subcellular distribution of the PBR in mammalian tissues and analyzes its many putative endogenous ligands. It deals with the pharmacological, structural and molecular characterization of the PBR, the proteins associated with the receptor (VDAC, ANC, PRAX-1) and their roles in cell growth and differentiation, cancer, steroid biosynthesis, and other physiological roles.

Glucose-dependent energy required for glioma metabolism depends on hexokinase, which is mainly bound to mitochondria. A decrease in intracellular pH leads to a release of hexokinase-binding, which in turn decreases glucose phosphorylation, ATP content, and cell proliferation. Thus, intracellular pH might be a target for therapy of gliomas, and a search for agents able to modulate intracellular pH was initiated. Hypericin, a natural photosensitizer, displays numerous biological activities when exposed to light. Its mechanism and site of action at the cellular level remain unclear, but it probably acts by a type II oxygen-dependent photosensitization mechanism producing singlet oxygen. Hypericin is also able to induce a photogenerated intracellular pH drop, which could constitute an alternative mechanism of hypericin action. In human glioma cells treated for 1 h with 2.5 microg/ml hypericin, light exposure induced a fall in intracellular pH. In these conditions, mitochondria-bound hexokinase was inhibited in a light- and dose-dependent manner, associated with a decreased ATP content, a decrease of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and a depletion of intracellular glutathione. Hexokinase protein was effectively released from mitochondria, as measured by an ELISA using a specific anti-hexokinase antibody. In addition to decreased glutathione, a response to oxidative stress was confirmed by the concomitant increase in mRNA expression of gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in overall glutathione biosynthesis, and is subject to feedback regulation by glutathione. Hypericin also induced a dose- and light-dependent inhibition of [3H]thymidine uptake and induced apoptosis, as demonstrated by annexin V-FITC binding and cell morphology. This study confirmed the mitochondria as a primary target of photodynamic action. The multifaceted action of hypericin involves the alteration of mitochondria-bound hexokinase, initiating a cascade of events that converge to alter the energy metabolism of glioma cells and their survival. In view of the complex mechanism of action of hypericin, further exploration is warranted in a perspective of its clinical application as a potential phototoxic agent in the treatment of glioma tumors.

Les recepteurs peripheriques des benzodiazepines (PBR) sont impliques dans de nombreux processus cellulaires. Les PBR ont ete initialement decouverts dans les tissus peripheriques, et ont egalement ete mis en evidence au niveau des cellules gliales du systeme nerveux central (SNC). L'etude de la liaison de plusieurs ligands synthetiques ou endogenes a permis la caracterisation tissulaire et moleculaire de ces recepteurs, ainsi que la decouverte de proteines susceptibles de leur etre associees. Les effets des ligands des PBR concernent principalement les fonctions mitochondriales. Ces ligands interviennent dans la physiologie des mitochondries, la synthese des steroides, les processus de proliferation et de differenciation cellulaires, les processus d'apoptose, et seraient impliques dans la reponse immunitaire.