Search

Oxindole-based natural indoles analogues retain the rigidity and size of the original indole ring system whilst introducing more 3-dimensionality and potential increased water solubility. We report the first preparation of a diverse series of new melatonin analogues 4, 6, 11, 12 based on 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles (11) and hydroxy-free 2-oxindoles (4, 6, 12) and evaluated their ability to reduce intraocular pressure as well as their neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. Reductive amination was used to obtain new 5-(benzylamino)-substituted (indolin-3-yl)acetonitriles 11 and (indolin-3-yl)acetic acids 12 with high yields. Compounds 4 a, c, 6 a and 11 a, d, h, j-l demonstrated IOP reduction effect in range 15-27 % similar to the effect of reference compounds melatonin and timolol (12 % and 18 % reduction, respectively). 5-(Benzylamino)-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles 11, unlike compounds 4, 6, inhibited lipid peroxidation in range 2.075-13.012 μM. Inhibition of NQO2 associated with antioxidant properties of melatonin was also evaluated for synthesized compounds and it was found that compound 11 h showed the best NQO2 inhibitory activity with an IC 50 =39 μM (vs. melatonin IC 50 =64 μM). All synthesized compounds 4, 6, 11, 12 at a concentration of 30 μM do not possess the mitochondrial toxicity. Moreover, no disruption of tubulin polymerization was observed even in the presence of 100 μM of the compounds. Thus, 3-hydroxy-2-oxindole derivatives 11 can be used for drug design of first-in-class antiglaucoma drugs with antioxidant and neuroprotective properties., (© 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

We conducted a study on the impact of intraperitoneal injections of melatonin and its three bioisosteres (compounds 1-3) on the development of oxygen-induced retinopathy in newborn rats during a 21-day experiment. It was demonstrated that melatonin and its analogues 1-3 effectively reduce the total protein concentration in the vitreous body of rat pups, decrease concentration of VEGF-A, and lower the level of oxidative stress (as indicated by normalization of antioxidant activity in the vitreous body). Melatonin and its analogues 1-3 equally normalize the level of VEGF-A. Analogues 1 and 2 even exceed melatonin in their ability to reduce protein influx into the vitreous body. However, analogue 2 had no effect on antioxidant activity, while analogues 1 and 3 caused a significant increase in this parameter, with analogue 3 even slightly exceeding melatonin. Thus, it can be concluded that analogues 1-3 are comparable to melatonin and can be utilized as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Compounds with a 2-oxindole scaffold play an important role in organic synthesis and especially in the synthesis of bioactive organic compounds, therefore, the development of new methods for modifying this scaffold is a very interesting and urgent task. In the framework of this study, we have created a rational approach to the synthesis of 5-amino-substituted derivatives of 2-oxindole. The approach is characterized by good total yield and a small number of steps. One-stage modification of obtained 5-amino-2-oxindoles leads to compounds with promising antiglaucomic activity. The most active compound 7a reduce intraocular pressure by 24% in normotensive rabbits (18% for reference drug timolol)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Glaucoma is a widespread neurodegenerative disease for which increased intraocular pressure (IOP) is a primary modifiable risk factor. Recently, we have observed that compounds with oxindole scaffolds are involved in the regulation of intraocular pressure and therefore have potential antiglaucomic activity. In this article, we present an efficient method for obtaining novel 2-oxindole derivatives via microwave-assisted (MW) decarboxylative condensation of substituted isatins with malonic and cyanoacetic acids. Various 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles were synthesized using MW activation for 5-10 min with high yields (up to 98%). The influence of novel compounds applied in instillations on IOP was studied in vivo on normotensive rabbits. The lead compound was found to reduce the IOP by 5.6 Torr (ΔIOP for the widely used antiglaucomatousic drug timolol 3.5 Torr and for melatonin 2.7 Torr).

2,3-Dihydroindoles are promising agents for the synthesis of new compounds with neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. Usually, these compounds are obtained by direct reduction of the corresponding indoles containing acceptor groups in the indole ring for its activation. In this work, we propose a synthetic strategy to obtain new 2,3-dihydroindole derivatives from the corresponding polyfunctional 2-oxindoles. Three methods were proposed for reduction of functional groups in the 2-oxindole and 2-chloroindole molecules using various boron hydrides. The possibility of chemoselective reduction of the nitrile group in the presence of an amide was shown. The proposed synthetic strategy can be used, for example, for the synthesis of new analogs of the endogenous hormone melatonin and other compounds with neuroprotective properties.

Background: Cold and frost are two serious factors limiting the yield of many crops worldwide, including the tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze). The acclimatization of tea plant from tropical to temperate climate regions resulted in unique germplasm in the North-Western Caucasus with extremely frost-tolerant genotypes., Methods: The aim of the current research was to evaluate the physiological, biochemical and genetic responses of tolerant and sensitive tea cultivars exposed to cold (0 to +2 °C for 7 days) and frost (-6 to -8 °C for 5 days). Relative water content, cell membranes integrity, pH of the cell sap, water soluble protein, cations, sugars, amino acids were measured under cold and frost. Comparative expression of the following genes ICE1, CBF1, WRKY2, DHN1, DHN2, DHN3, NAC17, NAC26, NAC30, SnRK1.1, SnRK1.2, SnRK1.3, bHLH7, bHLH43, P5CS, LOX1, LOX6, LOX7 were analyzed., Results: We found elevated protein (by 3-4 times) and cations (potassium, calcium and magnesium) contents in the leaves of both cultivars under cold and frost treatments. Meanwhile, Leu, Met, Val, Thr, Ser were increased under cold and frost, however tolerant cv. Gruzinskii7 showed earlier accumulation of these amino acids. Out of 18 studied genes, 11 were expressed at greater level in the frost- tolerant cultivar comparing with frost-sensitive one : ICE1, CBF1, WRKY2, DHN2, NAC17, NAC26, SnRK1.1, SnRK1.3, bHLH43, P5CS and LOX6 . Positive correlations between certain amino acids namely, Met, Thr, Leu and Ser and studied genes were found. Taken together, the revealed cold responses in Caucasian tea cultivars help better understanding of tea tolerance to low temperature stress and role of revealed metabolites need to be further evaluated in different tea genotypes., Competing Interests: Yuriy L. Orlov is an Academic Editor for PeerJ., (©2020 Samarina et al.)

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a widely investigated molecular target for numerous diseases including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and diabetes mellitus. Inhibition of GSK-3β activity has become an attractive approach for treatment of diabetes and cancer. We report the discovery of novel GSK-3β inhibitors of 3-arylidene-2-oxindole scaffold with promising activity. The most potent compound 3a inhibits GSK-3β with IC 50 4.19 nM. In a cell-based assay 3a shows no significant leucocyte toxicity at 10 µM and is moderately cytotoxic against A549 cells. Compound 3a demonstrated high antidiabetic efficacy in obese streptozotocin-treated rats improving glucose tolerance at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight thus representing an interesting lead for further optimization., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

C3 is an acute phase protein, and thus its plasma concentration increases quickly and drastically during the onset of inflammation. Insulin plays a complex role in inflammation. Elevated level of plasma C3 was shown to correlate with heightened fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance and appears to be a risk factor for the cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. The main source of plasma C3 is liver. Nothing is known about effects of insulin on C3 gene expression and protein secretion by hepatocytes. In light of these data we asked if insulin is capable of regulating C3 production in hepatocytes. Here we show that insulin downregulates C3 gene expression in human hepatoma cells HepG2 through activation of PI3K, mTORC1, p38 and MEK1/2 signaling pathways. Transcription factors PPARα, PPARγ, HNF4α and NF-κB are important contributors to this process. Insulin activates PPARγ through PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 pathway, which results in PPARγ binding to DR4 and DR0 cis-acting elements within the C3 promoter and subsequent displacement of HNF4α and PPARα from these sites. As a result PPARα/NF-κB complex, which exists on C3 promoter, is broken down and C3 gene expression is downregulated. The data obtained can potentially be used to explain the molecular mechanism underlying the correlation between heightened level of plasma C3 and insulin resistance in humans., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The creation of gas chromatography is traditionally associated with the names of Nobel Prize winner Archer Martin and his colleagues Richard Synge and Anthony James. However, sometimes references to their predecessors can be found. An investigation conducted by the authors of this article not only confirmed the reliability of these references; but in fact led to the conclusion that by 1952, which is commonly believed to be the year when gas chromatography was born, many research papers had already been devoted to this method, mainly, in its gas-solid version. These papers are considered in this article., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

A high-power ultrawideband radiation source has been developed which is capable of synthesizing electromagnetic pulses with different frequency bands in free space. To this end, a new circuit design comprising a four-channel former of bipolar pulses of durations 2 and 3 ns has been elaborated and conditions for the stable operation of gas gaps of independent channels without external control pulses have been determined. Each element of the 2 × 2 array of combined antennas is driven from an individual channel of the pulse former. Antennas excited by pulses of the same duration are arranged diagonally. Two radiation synthesis modes have been examined: one aimed to attain ultimate field strength and the other aimed to attain an ultimate width of the radiation spectrum. The modes were changed by changing the time delay between the 2-ns and 3-ns pulses. For the first mode, radiation pulses with a frequency band of 0.2-0.8 GHz and an effective potential of 500 kV have been obtained. The synthesized radiation pulses produced in the second mode had an extended frequency band (0.1-1 GHz) and an effective potential of 220 kV. The pulse repetition frequency was 100 Hz.

Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) is a key component of high density lipoproteins which possess anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Insulin is a crucial mediator of the glucose and lipid metabolism that has been implicated in atherosclerotic and inflammatory processes. Important mediators of insulin signaling such as Liver X Receptors (LXRs) and Forkhead Box A2 (FOXA2) are known to regulate apoA-I expression in liver. Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1) is a well-known target of insulin signaling and a key mediator of oxidative stress response. Low doses of insulin were shown to activate apoA-I expression in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. However, the detailed mechanisms for these processes are still unknown. We studied the possible involvement of FOXO1, FOXA2, LXRα, and LXRβ transcription factors in the insulin-mediated regulation of apoA-I expression. Treatment of HepG2 cells with high doses of insulin (48 h, 100 nM) suppresses apoA-I gene expression. siRNAs against FOXO1, FOXA2, LXRβ, or LXRα abrogated this effect. FOXO1 forms a complex with LXRβ and insulin treatment impairs FOXO1/LXRβ complex binding to hepatic enhancer and triggers its nuclear export. Insulin as well as LXR ligand TO901317 enhance the interaction between FOXA2, LXRα, and hepatic enhancer. These data suggest that high doses of insulin downregulate apoA-I gene expression in HepG2 cells through redistribution of FOXO1/LXRβ complex, FOXA2, and LXRα on hepatic enhancer of apoA-I gene. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 382-396, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) is the main anti-atherogenic component of human high-density lipoproteins (HDL). ApoA-I gene expression is regulated by several nuclear receptors, which are the sensors for metabolic changes during development of cardiovascular diseases. Activation of nuclear receptor PPARγ has been shown to impact lipid metabolism as well as inflammation. Here, we have shown that synthetic PPARγ agonist GW1929 decreases both ApoA-I mRNA and protein levels in HepG2 cells and the effect of GW1929 on apoA-I gene transcription depends on PPARγ. PPARγ binds to the sites A and C within the hepatic enhancer of apoA-I gene and the negative regulation of apoA-I gene transcription by PPARγ appears to be realized via the site C (-134 to -119). Ligand activation of PPARγ leads to an increase of LXRβ and a decrease of PPARα binding to the apoA-I gene hepatic enhancer in HepG2 cells. GW1929 abolishes the TNFα-mediated decrease of ApoA-I mRNA expression in both HepG2 and Caco-2 cells but does not block TNFα-mediated inhibition of ApoA-I protein secretion by HepG2 cells. These data demonstrate that complex of PPARγ with GW1929 is a negative regulator involved in the control of ApoA-I expression and secretion in human hepatocyte- and enterocyte-like cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2010-2022, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Here, we describe a source of high-power ultrawideband radiation with elliptical polarization. The source consisting of a monopolar pulse generator, a bipolar pulse former, and a helical antenna placed into a radioparent container may be used in tests for electromagnetic compatibility. In the source, the helical antenna with the number of turns N = 4 is excited with a high-voltage bipolar pulse. Preliminary, we examined helical antennas at a low-voltage source aiming to select an optimal N and to estimate a radiation center position and boundary of a far-field zone. Finally, characteristics of the source in the operating mode at a pulse repetition rate of 100 Hz are presented in the paper as well. Energy efficiency of the antenna is 0.75 at the axial ratio equal to 1.3. The effective potential of radiation of the source at the voltage amplitudes of the bipolar pulse generator equal to -175/+200 kV reaches 280 kV.

Complement C3 is a pivotal component of three cascades of complement activation. The liver is the main source of C3 in circulation and expression and secretion of C3 by hepatocytes is increased during acute inflammation. However, the mechanism of the regulation of the C3 gene in hepatocytes is not well elucidated. We showed that the C3 gene is the direct target for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells and mouse liver. Using PPARα siRNA and synthetic PPARα agonist WY-14643 and antagonist MK886 we showed that activation of PPARα results in up-regulation of C3 gene expression and protein secretion by HepG2 cells. The PPAR response element (PPRE), which is able to bind PPARα in vitro and in vivo, was found in the human C3 promoter. PPRE is conserved between human and mouse, and WY-14643 stimulates mouse C3 expression in the liver. TNFα increases C3 gene via NF-κB and, to a lesser extent, MEK1/2 signaling pathways, whereas TNFα-mediated stimulation of C3 protein secretion depends on activation of MEK1/2, p38, and JNK in HepG2 cells. Activation of PPARα abolishes TNFα-mediated up-regulation of C3 gene expression and protein secretion due to interference with NF-κB via PPRE-dependent mechanism in HepG2 cells. TNFα decreases PPARα protein content via NF-κB and MEK1/2 signaling pathways and inhibits PPARα binding with the human C3 promoter in HepG2 cells. These results suggest novel mechanism controlling C3 expression in hepatocytes during acute phase inflammation and demonstrate a crosstalk between PPARα and TNFα in the regulation of complement system.

A set of GnRH analogues containing nuclear localization signal (NLS) of SV-40 virus large T-antigen have been synthesized using solid phase peptide synthesis and chemical ligation technique. Selective chemical ligation was achieved as a result of hydrazone formation in the course of interaction between NLS hydrazide and GnRH analog modified by pyruvic acid. The efficiency of synthesized peptide carriers was demonstrated in experiments with human cancer cells transfected by reporter luciferase and beta-galactosidase genes or suicide HSV-1 thymidine kinase gene. It was shown that selectivity of action on cancer cells can be achieved as a result of peptide/DNA complex penetration through the cell membrane by GnRH receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway.

To improve the efficiency of anticancer drugs due to their delivery to intracellular targets a set of GnRH analogues containing nuclear localization signal (NLS) of SV-40 virus large T-antigen have been synthesized. NLS was attached to the parent molecule via ε-amino group of D-Lysine in position 1 or 6 of peptide sequence using orthogonal protection strategy. The biological activity studies revealed that incorporation of NLS moiety significantly increases cytotoxic activity of palmitoyl-containing GnRH analogues in vitro. The influence of tested peptides on tumor cells does not accompanied by the destruction of cell membrane, as confirmed in experiments with normal fibroblasts, used as a control.

Genetic modification of mammalian embryos is an important way to model various changes in human development; also, it is an instrument for studying the functions of certain genes in mammals. Using our own experience in developing modes of delivery of genetic constructions to mammals in a nonviral way, we present here data on the delivery of a eukaryotic expression vector to mice embryos through the transplacental barrier with the use of hydrodynamic intravenous injections of DNA-hybrid peptide complexes to pregnant females. The peptide has a cationic part for interaction with DNA and includes a ligand structure towards receptors of the releasing factor of luteinizing hormone (RFLH, luliberin). Advantages of the suggested method are simplicity, economy, nonimmunogenicity for females, and the ability to multiply repeat the procedure. On the basis of the method, systemic gene delivery into tissues of mammalian embryos may be developed.

The rate and character of skin tissue regeneration after wounds, burns and other traumas depend on the cell proliferation within damaged area. Acceleration of healing by stimulation of cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis is one of the most important tasks of modern medicine. There are gene therapy approaches to wound treatment consisting in the transfer of genes encoding mitogenic growth factors to wound area. The most important step in the development of gene therapy approaches is the design of gene delivery tools. In spite of high efficacy of viral vectors, the non-viral means have some preferences (low toxicity, low immunogenity, safety and the absence of backside effects). Among non-viral gene delivery tools, molecular conjugates are the most popular because of their efficacy, simplicity, and the capacity to the targeted gene transfer. In the present work we have developed two molecular conjugates--NLS-TSF7 and NLS-TSF12 consisting of the modified signal of nuclear localization of T-antigen of SV40 virus (cationic part) and the peptide ligands of mammalian transferrin receptor (ligand part). These conjugates bind to plasmid DNA with formation of polyelectrolytic complexes and are capable to deliver plasmid DNA into cells expressing transferrin receptors by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Transfer of the expression vector of luciferase gene in the complex with molecular conjugate NLS-TSF7 to murine surface tissues led to about 100 fold increasing of luciferase activity in comparison with the transfer of free expression vector. Treatment of slash wounds in mice with the complexes of expression vector of synthetic human gene encoding insulin-like growth factor 1 with molecular conjugates NLS-TSF7 led to acceleration of healing in comparison with mice treated with free expression vector. The results obtained confirm the high efficiency of the developed regenerative gene therapy approach for the treatment of damaged skin tissues in mammals.

This work was devoted to the study of conditions of the formation of DNA/K8 complex and analysis of factors effecting the entry of DNA/K8 complex into mammalian cells in comparison with DNA complexes with arginine-rich fragment (47-57) of human immunodeficiency virus (type 1) transcription factor Tat (Tat peptide). The stoichiometry of positively charged DNA/K8 complexes has been studied for the first time. Non-cooperative character of DNA-K8 interaction was revealed. It has been shown that along with the positive charge of such complexes, the presence of an excess of free K8 peptide in the culture medium is a necessary condition for maximal efficiency of cell transfection with DNA/K8 complexes. A stimulatory effect of free K8 peptide on the efficiency of mammalian cell transfection by DNA/K8 complexes is likely to be mediated by the interactions of cationic peptide K8 with negatively charged proteoglycans on the cell surface, which leads to protection of DNA/K8 complexes from disruption by cellular heparan sulfates. However, the protective role of free cationic peptides depends not only on their positive charge, but also on the primary structure of the peptide. In contrast with the results obtained for DNA complexes with molecular conjugates based on poly-L-lysine, the aggregation of DNA/K8 complexes leads to a significant increase in the expression of transferred gene.

Human apolipoprotein A-I gene (apoA-I) plasmid expression vectors were transferred into mice by hydrodynamic injections into tail vein. Two types of expression vectors were used. First one -pCMVcapoAI contains cDNA of apo A-I driven by human cytomegalovirus early gene promoter (CMV). Second one--pAlg contains genomic locus of intron-containing apo A-I under control of own extended 5'-regulatory region (APOAI). Hydrodynamic intravenous injections of both expression vectors led to appearance of human apo A-I mRNA in the liver and human Apo A-I protein in the serum of injected mice. Dynamics of human Apo A-I content in the serum of mice injected by pCMVcapoAI and pAlg were different. When pCMVcapoAI was used, maximal concentration of human Apo A-I protein in the mouse serum was detected one day after injection with following decline to zero level during next two weeks. Under the same conditions injections of pAlg led to maximal level of human Apo A-I concentration in the mouse serum (up to 20 mkg/ml in some animals) on the 5th-7th day of experiment with following graduate decline during several months (human Apo A-I concentration in the serum of oldest analyzed mouse (6 months after injection) was about 25% of its maximal level in the same animal). Levels of human Apo A-I concentration in the mouse serum were compatible after injections of both expression vectors, in spite of much more strong activity of CMV promoter in comparison with APOAI in cultured human hepatoma cells HepG2. We ascribe the revealed difference in dynamics of human Apo A-I expression to delay of apo A-I transcription from pAlg vector, that was confirmed by nested RT-PCR. Significant level and long-term persistence of human Apo A-I in the serum of mice injected by pAlg could be explained by properties of APOAI or (and) exon-intron structure of genomic apo A-I gene. To test the role of APOAI in long-term expression of human Apo A-I in the mice we performed hydrodynamic injections of plasmid vectors containing cDNA of reporter gene encoding luciferase driven by variants of APOAI. No long-term expression of luciferase was found in the livers of injected mice. Therefore, our data suggest the role of exon-intron structure in maintaining of efficient and long-term expression of transferred human apo A-I.