Platinum complex drugs such as cisplatin have been used as highly successful chemotherapy drugs since the 1970s. We are interested in how the ligands attached to cisplatin analogs influences their reactivity with biologically relevant targets along with time and amount. For this study, reactions were conducted to determine the reactivity between different platinum compounds and the protein bovine serum albumin. Various platinum compounds with different ligands were reacted in varying amounts with albumin in ammonium acetate buffer for either 1 hour, 4 hours, or 24 hours. Each reaction was quenched after the designated reaction time by dialysis and the platinum bound to the protein was determined by use of ICP. LC-MS was used to find exact peptide residues platinum complexes prefer to bind with but was found to be ineffective. Results show that time has a more significant affect on binding over amount of platinum present. In respect to changing the leaving or carrier ligands on the platinum complex, these changes on the complex did not affect binding significantly with bovine serum albumin. Triamine platinum complexes also seem to bind significantly more than diamine platinum complexes along with anionic form platinum complexes binding significantly better than the cationic form platinum complexes.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy among women. The current first-line treatments for ovarian cancer are cisplatin, carboplatin and paclitaxel. However, resistance to these platinum-based drugs occurs in the large majority of initially responsive tumors, resulting in fully chemoresistant, fatal disease. Therefore, the resistance to cisplatin therapy has been a critical hurdle in the management of recurrent ovarian cancer. The mechanisms responsible for cisplatin resistance are not completely understood. In the search for new therapies to overcome/bypass cisplatin resistance, melanoma differentiation gene-7 (MDA-7) IL-24, which is a new cytokine, has anti-cancer efficacy by suppressing cell growth and inducing apoptosis in a broad range of tumor cells and does not induce any toxicity in normal cells, thus, making it a potentially effective therapeutic gene for ovarian cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential therapeutic efficacy of MDA-7 to treat ovarian carcinoma. Since adenoviral-mediated MDA-7 gene therapy has been shown to be well tolerated and showed biological activity in clinical studies in the context of other carcinomas we assessed the anticancer effects of Ad.mda-7 and in combination with cis-platinum on ovarian cancer cells. Our results show that the purified recombinant MDA-7 protein, GST-MDA-7, and Ad.mda7 virus (5) induced growth arresst and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. However, the apoptosis induction was low and directly correlated with infectivity of Ad.mda-7 virus (5). The use of a modified Ad.mda-7 virus type5, Ad.mda-7 virus type(5/3), inhanced infectivity and significantly enhanced ovarian cancer cell killing in human ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro compared to unmodified Ad.mda-7 virus, Ad.mda-7 virus type5. Also Ad-mda7 synergizes with cis-platinum in vitro and enhances ovarian cancer cell death. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that MDA-7 is capable of promoting growth suppression and inducing cell death in ovarian cancer cells, at least OVCAR cells and support the pharmacological interest of the combination of MDA-7 and cis-platinum.

Bioinorganic chemistry strives to understand the roles of metals in biological systems, whether in the form of naturally occurring or addition of non-essential metals to natural systems. Metal ions play vital roles in many cellular functions such as gene expression/regulation and DNA transcription and repair. The study of metal-protein-DNA/RNA interactions has been relatively unexplored. It is important to understand the role of metalloprotein interactions with DNA/RNA as this enhanced knowledge may lead to better understanding of diseases and therefore more effective treatments. A major milestone in the development of this field was the discovery of the cytotoxic properties of cisplatin in 1965 and its FDA approval in 1978. Since then, two other chemotherapeutic drugs containing platinum, carboplatin and oxaliplatin, have been used in the clinic. These three compounds are all bifunctional with the ligands surrounding platinum In the cis conformation and rearrangement of the ligands to the trans orientation results in a loss of cytotoxic properties due to rapid deactivation through binding to S-containing proteins. This enhanced reactivity yields new opportunities to study the reactions between proteins and DNA. One of the first crosslinking experiments used transplatin to crosslink NCp7 to viral RNA in order to understand how/where the protein bound to RNA. We have studied the interaction between cis and trans dinuclear platinum complexes and the C-terminal zinc finger (ZF). The trans complex reacts at a faster rate than the cis isomer and causes N- terminal specific cleavage of the ZF. The dinuclear structure plays a critical role in the peptide cleavage as studies with transplatin (the mononuclear derivative) does not result in cleavage. Monofunctional trans platinum-nucleobase complexes (MPNs) serve as a model for the binding of transplatin to DNA. This provides an interesting opportunity to study their reactions with S-containing proteins, such as HIV1 NCp7. MPNs have been shown to bind to the C-terminal ZF of HIV1 NCp7, resulting in zinc ejection. This occurs through a two-step process where the nucleobase π-stacks with Trp37 on the ZF, followed by covalent binding at the labile Cl site to Cys. MPNs have also shown antiviral activity in vitro. The labile Cl on MPNs reduces specificity of these compounds, as it leaves an available coordination site on the platinum center for binding to other S-proteins or DNA. Therefore, we have moved to an inert PtN4 coordination sphere, [Pt(dien)L]2+ (dien= diethylenetri- amine). Due to the strong bond between platinum and nitrogen, covalent reactions are highly unlikely to occur at rapid rates. The strength of the pi-stacking interaction between nucleobases (free and platinated) and the aromatic amino acid, tryptophan (Trp), showed an enhanced binding constant for platinated nucleobases. This was confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations as the difference in energy between the HOMO of Trp and the LUMO of the nucleobase was smaller for the platinum complex. The studies were extended to the Trp-containing C-terminal ZF of HIV1 NCp7 and an increase in association constant was seen compared to free Trp. Reaction of PtN4 nucleobases compounds with a short amino acid sequence con- taining either Ala (no pi-stacking capabilities) or Trp (pi-stacking interactions) revealed an enhanced rate of reactivity for the Trp-containing peptide. This result supports the theory of a two-step reaction mechanism where the platinum-nucleobase complex recognizes the pep- tide through a pi-stacking interaction with Trp followed by covalent binding to the platinum center. The [Pt(dien)L]2+ motif allows for systematic modification of the structural elements surrounding platinum in a search for the most effective compound. Methylation of the dien ligand should, in theory, increase lipophilicity of the compounds, however, due to 2+ charge of the compounds, this simple association does not hold true. Analysis of the cellular accumulation profiles showed little change in the uptake with the addition of methyl groups to the dien ligand, in agreement with the non-linear change in lipophilicity. Modification of L using different nucleobases allows for the tuning of the strength of the π-stacking interaction between Trp and the platinum complex. The addition of inosine (which lacks a H-bonding donor/acceptor at the C2 position) resulted in a lower association constant with both N-AcTrp and the C-terminal zinc finger of HIV1 NCp7. Interestingly, the addition of xanthosine resulted in an ehanced pi-stacking interaction with the C-terminal zinc finger of HIV1 NCp7; likely as a results of the addition of a H-bonding donor (double-bonded O) at the C2 position. The ability of PtN4 nucleobase complexes to inhibit formation of the NCp7 complexation with viral RNA was studied by mass spectrometry and gel electrophoresis. Dissociation of the NCp7-RNA complex was seen upon addition of PtN4 compounds. These compounds were also able to retard formation of the NCp7-RNA complex when pre-incubated with the protein. These results have important implications as inhibition of complex formation between NCp7 and viral RNA has negative implications for viral replication. Despite the success of platinum-nucleobase compounds, it is important to evaluate all potential pi-stacking ligands. A series of pyridine- and thiazole-based compounds were evaluated for the strength of the pi-stacking interaction with N-AcTrp and the C-terminal ZF of HIV1 NCp7. There was notable increase in association constant for the platinum- DMAP (4-dimethylaminopyridine) complex compared to other ligands studied. This result highlights the importance of exploring multiple avenues for the design of specifically targeted inhibitors and further confirms the viability of the medicinal chemistry dual approach of target recognition (non-covalent) followed by target fixation (covalent).

Dans nos sociétés modernes, la presbyacousie, perte de l'audition liée au vieillissement, prend une place de plus en plus importante. Outre le vieillissement de la population, la prévalence de la presbyacousie est accentuée par l'exposition à des bruits toujours plus forts (concerts, baladeurs, environnement de travail, ...) et la prise de médicaments ototoxiques (cisplatine, aminoglycosides, ...). À ce jour, le lien entre l'endommagement de l'ADN, le stress oxydant et l'inflammation avec l'apparition précoce de certaines maladies liées au vieillissement (Alzheimer, démence, Parkinson, …) a été démontré. Cependant, il n'existe aucune donnée concernant le rôle des dommages de l'ADN dans la dégénérescence des cellules cochléaires et trop peu d'études témoignent de l'existence d'un stress oxydant dans la presbyacousie.Le premier objet de ce travail a donc été d'élucider le rôle des dommages de l'ADN dans la dégénérescence des cellules cochléaires. Pour ce faire, nous avons utilisé des approches de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire pour identifier des voies de signalisation associées aux lésions de l'ADN dans des explants cochléaires issus de souris âgées de 3 jours traités au cisplatine (CDDP). Cet antinéoplasique tire sa cytotoxicité de sa capacité à causer directement des dommages dans l'ADN et est connu pour ses effets nocifs sur l'audition en induisant la dégénérescence des cellules cochléaires. Enfin, nous avons étudié l'implication de p53, un des effecteurs clés de signalisation des dommages de l'ADN, in vivo en traitant avec le CDDP des souris dont le gène codant pour ce facteur de transcription a été invalidé. Nos résultats montrent que le CDDP induit des cassures double brin dans l'ADN des cellules ciliées qui sont à l'origine de l'activation de la voie ATM/DNA¬PK-Chk2-p53, de la formation de foyers βH2AX et 53BP1 et, in fine, de la mort de ces cellules par apoptose. Les cellules ciliées internes, plus résistantes au CDDP que les cellules ciliées externes, présentent une signalisation moins intense et un nombre inférieur de cassures double brin, un phénomène qui pourrait expliquer leur plus faible sensibilité. Nous avons également montré que l'absence de p53 in vivo prévient les pertes d'audition et la dégénérescence des cellules ciliées externes après injection intrapéritonéale de CDDP. Le second objectif a porté sur l'étude des effets délétères du vieillissement sur l'audition et les mécanismes moléculaires associés à cette pathologie. Pour ce faire, nous avons choisi les souris SAMP8 (senescence accelerated mice prone 8), un modèle bien établi de sénescence précoce et des maladies liées au vieillissement. Nous avons combiné des approches fonctionnelles, morphologiques, moléculaires et cellulaires pour phénotyper ces souris et identifier l'origine de l'atteinte de leur audition au cours du vieillissement. L'étude des souris SAMP8 nous a permis de montrer qu'elles sont un excellent modèle de presbyacousie mixte (atteinte de la strie vasculaire, de l'organe de Corti et du ganglion spiral), résumant la pathologie humaine. La dégénérescence des structures cochléaires que nous avons observée chez ces souris provient d'une profonde dysfonction mitochondriale, de l'augmentation du stress oxydant et des processus inflammatoires, d'un stress autophagique et de l'endommagement de l'ADN. Les mécanismes moléculaires aboutissant à la perte des cellules cochléaires constituent autant de cibles thérapeutiques à explorer dans l'avenir afin de tenter de prévenir les troubles de l'audition imputables à l'exposition au bruit ou aux médicaments ototoxiques et au vieillissement. / Our modern society is confronted with a dramatic increase in the number of patients suffering from presbycusis or age related hearing loss. Besides aging, presbycusis prevalence increases with exposition to loud noise (concerts, Walkman, work environment …) and ototoxic drugs (cisplatin, aminoglycosides …). It was reported that the early onset of some aging related diseases (Alzheimer, dementia, Parkinson …) are linked mechanistically to DNA damage, oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the role of DNA damages in cochlear cells degeneration is totally unknown and only few studies have investigated the implication of oxidative stress in presbycusis.The first goal of this study consisted in clarifying the role of DNA damage in cochlear cell degeneration. For this purpose, we used molecular and cellular biology approaches to identify the activation of DNA damage response pathways in cisplatin (CDDP) treated 3 days postnatal mouse cochlear explants in culture. Indeed, the cytotoxicity of CDDP arises from its capacity to directly damage DNA. It is also well known that one of the major dose limiting side effects of CDDP is its ototoxicity. Finally, we investigated the role of p53, a key effector of the DNA damage response pathway, in vivo by treating p53 knockout mice with CDDP. Our results show that CDDP induces double strand breaks leading to the activation of ATM-/DNA PK¬ Chk2 p53 pathway, βH2AX and 53BP1 foci formation and, in fine, apoptotic cell death. Inner hair cells, which are more resistant to CDDP treatment than outer hair cells, show a less intense signaling and fewer double strand breaks. This phenomenon could explain their weaker sensitivity to CDDP treatment. In vivo, p53 deletion prevents hearing loss and outer hair cells degeneration induced bay intraperitoneal injection of CDDP.The second goal consisted in studying the deleterious effects of aging on hearing and the molecular mechanisms involved in this pathology. Here, we studied the mechanism of presbycusis using the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) which is a useful model to probe the effects of aging on biological processes. Based on complementary approaches combining functional, morphological, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, we found that the SAMP8 strain displays premature hearing loss and cochlear degeneration recapitulating the processes observed in human presbycusis (i.e. strial, sensory and neural degeneration). The molecular mechanisms associated with premature presbycusis in SAMP8 mice involve oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, autophagic stress and DNA damages. Molecular mechanisms leading to cochlear cells loss represent therapeutic targets of interest to explore in the future in order to prevent hearing impairments due to loud sound or ototoxic drugs exposure and due to aging.

O carcinoma mucoepidermoide (CME) é a neoplasia maligna de glândula salivar mais comum, e com maior frequência de metástase linfonodal. Alterações genéticas estão intimamente associadas à carcinogênese e, também, aos processos de metástase tumoral. Para o CME o tratamento de escolha mais aplicado hoje é a cirurgia seguida de radioterapia, pois a quimioterapia não tem mostrado muita eficiência para o tratamento destas neoplasias. Entre os quimioterápicos mais prescritos para o tratamento de cânceres encontra-se a cisplatina, à base de platina, que atua no DNA da célula, induzindo a apoptose. Pouco se sabe a respeito de seu mecanismo de ação sobre o CME, inclusive sobre os genes homeobox. Estes genes compreendem uma família grande e essencial de reguladores do desenvolvimento que são vitais para o crescimento e diferenciação celular, e a expressão anômala destes genes têm sido implicados na carcinogênese. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a expressão dos genes homeobox em células derivadas de carcinoma mucoepidermoide tratadas com cisplatina. Os genes avaliados neste trabalho foram: PROX1, MEIS1, HOXB5, HOXB7 e HOXB9 por RT-qPCR. Previamente, as linhagens celulares derivadas de carcinoma mucoepidermoide UM-HMC1 UM-HMC2 e UM-HMC3A foram tratadas com a cisplatina por 24h e posteriormente submetidas aos ensaios de RT-qPCR. Adicionalmente, as amostras tratadas e sem tratamento foram analisadas pelo ensaio de formação de esferas e ensaio de ferida para verificar o efeito da cisplatina sobre propriedades relacionadas às células quimiorresistentes (putativas células tronco tumorais). Como resultados, entre os genes analisados foram expressos PROX1, MEIS1 e HOXB7. A UM-HMC3A apresentou maior expressão destes genes que as demais linhagens. Os genes HOXB5 e HOXB9 não foram expressos nas linhagens analisadas. A cisplatina reduziu a expressão de MEIS1 e aumentou a expressão de HOXB7, em todas as linhagens. O gene PROX1 apresentou expressão variável entre as linhagens, sendo expresso na UM-HMC1 apenas quando são tratadas com cisplatina e reduzido nas UM-HMC2 e UM-HMC3A tratadas. O número de esferas formadas não apresentou diferença significativa para UM-HMC1 e UM-HMC3A, o número de esferas aumentou na linhagem UM-HMC2 tratada com cisplatina. No ensaio de ferida, a cisplatina foi capaz de reduzir a migração celular em todas as linhagens quando comparadas com seus controles. Os resultados sugerem que o PROX1 e HOXB7 podem estar relacionados com carcinomas mucoepidermoides mais invasivos, enquanto que o MEIS1 pode estar relacionado à carcinogênese e autorrenovação tumoral. A cisplatina é capaz de afetar a expressão dos genes homeobox PROX1, MEIS1 e HOXB7, os quais foram encontrados nas linhagens de carcinoma mucoepidermoide analisados. A cisplatina não afeta as células formadoras de esferas, mas reduzir a migração das linhagens de carcinoma mucoepidermoide. / Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of salivary gland and presents higher frequency of lymph node metastasis. Genetic alterations are closely associated with carcinogenesis and also with processes of tumor metastasis. For MEC the treatment of choice most applied today is surgery followed by radiotherapy, since chemotherapy has not shown much efficiency for the treatment of these neoplasms. Among the most commonly prescribed chemotherapic drugs for cancer treatment is platinum-based cisplatin, which acts on the cell\'s DNA, inducing apoptosis. There is no information in the literature regarding its action mechanism on MEC including homeobox genes. These genes comprise a large and essential family of developmental regulators that are vital for cell growth and differentiation and the anomalous expression of these genes have been implicated in carcinogenesis. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the expression of the homeobox genes in cells derived from mucoepidermoid carcinoma treated with cisplatin. The genes evaluated in this work were: PROX1, MEIS1, HOXB5, HOXB7 and HOXB9 by RT-qPCR. Previously, cell lines derived from mucoepidermoid carcinoma UM-HMC1 UM-HMC2 and UM-HMC3A were treated with cisplatin for 24h and subsequently subjected to the RT-qPCR assays. In addition, treated and untreated samples were analyzed by the sphere-forming assay and wound assay to verify the effect of cisplatin on chemo resistant cell-related (putative tumor stem cell) properties. As results, PROX1, MEIS1 and HOXB7 were expressed among the analyzed genes. UM-HMC3A showed higher expression of these genes than the other lineages. The HOXB5 and HOXB9 genes were not expressed in the analyzed lineages. Cisplatin reduced MEIS1 expression and increased HOXB7 expression in all lineages. The PROX1 gene showed variable expression between the lineages, being expressed in UM-HMC1 only when treated with cisplatin and reduced in treated UM-HMC2 and UM-HMC3A. The number of spheres formed did not show significant difference for UM-HMC1 and UM-HMC3A, the number of spheres increased in the cisplatin-treated UM-HMC2 lineage. In the wound assay, cisplatin was able to reduce cell migration in all lineages when compared to their controls. The results suggested that PROX1 and HOXB7 may be related to more invasive mucoepidermoid carcinoma, while MEIS1 be related to its carcinogenesis and selfrenew tumoral capacity. Cisplatin is capable to affect the expression of the homeobox genes PROX1, MEIS1 and HOXB7, which were found in the mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell lines analyzed. Cisplatin does not affect sphere formation of cells, but seems to reduce the migration of mucoepidermoid carcinoma lineages.

[pt] A cisplatina é um quimioterápico amplamente utilizado no tratamento de uma grande variedade de tumores sólidos. Porém, o desenvolvimento de resistência a este fármaco e os severos efeitos colaterais, como nefrotoxicidade têm sido grandes obstáculos para um tratamento mais eficaz. A cisplatina é também usada no tratamento da leishmaniose. Neste trabalho desenvolveu-se uma metodologia para sintetizar análogos da cisplatina com ligantes derivados de aminopurinas, visando obter um produto com atividade leihmanicicida mas que apresente menor toxicidade. Foram feitos estudos para chegar à melhor rota sintética de obtenção dos ligantes e complexos representadas. A síntese do ligante consiste em duas etapas, a primeira envolve a oxidação da 6- metilmercaptopurina até 6-metilsulfonilpurina, a segunda etapa leva a obtenção das respectivas 6-aminopurinas. Nesta segunda etapa foi feito um estudo relacionado ao caráter nucleofílico das aminas aromáticas. Na etapa de formação do complexo, isto é na interação entre as 6-aminopurinas e cisplatina foram analisados alguns parâmetros como temperatura, tempo de reação, pH e solubilidade no solvente. A escolha das 6-aminopurinas como ligantes foi fundamental, pois na literatura1.7 é citado a grande atividade biológica desses compostos e os protozoário da leishmania necessitam de purina do meio para sobreviver. Todas as substâncias sintetizadas foram caracterizadas através das seguintes técnicas, CHN, TGA, IV, RMN-1H, RMN-13C e espectrometria de massa (LDI). Os testes biológicos efetuados demostram que alguns compostos têm atividade leishmanicida. / [en] Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug in the treatment of several solid tumors. However, the resistance developed to the drug together with its severe side effects, such as nephrotoxicity, have been obstacles to a more efficient treatment. Cisplatin is also used in the treatment of leishmaniose. In this study, a methodology was developed to synthesize cisplatin with ligands derived from aminopurines, with the aim of obtaining products with antineoplasic potential and biological activity, but presenting a reduction of its toxicity. The synthesis of the ligand consists of two stages, the first involves the oxidation of the 6-methylmercaptopurine to 6-methylsulphonilpurine and is followed by the aminolysis of the latter to respective 6-aminopurines. In this second stage a study was made of the nucleofilic character of these aromatic amines. In the complex formation stage, that is, in the interaction between the 6-aminopurines and cisplatin, parameters such as temperature, time of reaction, pH and solvent solubility were analyzed. The relationship between the group in the position 6 of these 6-aminopurines and their reactivity with cisplatin was also studied. The choice of 6-aminopurines as ligants was fundamental, the literature1.7 shows a huge biological activity of these composts and the leishmania protozoary needs the purine media to survine. All synthesized substances were characterized using the following techniques: CHN, TGA, IR, NMR-1H, NMR-13C and Mass Spectrometry (LDI). Biological activity testes showed that one of the compounds has leishmanicide

[pt] Devido à sua capacidade de inibição do processo de divisão celular, complexos de platina têm sido empregados na quimioterapia do câncer desde o final da década de 60, sendo a cisplatina e a carboplatina as formas mais utilizadas. Estudos farmacocinéticos e a estimativa da quantidade de platina acumulada no organismo durante o tratamento quimioterápico ou devido à exposição ao metal têm sido alvo de grande interesse. Logo, são necessários métodos analíticos adequados para o monitoramento de platina em amostras clínicas, apropriados para essas diferentes substâncias. No presente trabalho, foram desenvolvidos procedimentos analíticos rápidos, simples e exatos para determinação direta de platina, na forma de cisplatina e carboplatina, em urina humana, utilizando a espectrometria atômica. No caso da absorção atômica em forno de grafite, o programa de temperatura, o volume de amostra e a concentração do diluente (HNO3) foram definidos por um planejamento composto central. Nas condições otimizadas, os resultados obtidos pelo procedimento proposto não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas daqueles obtidos por procedimentos comparativos independentes, na análise de amostras de urina de paciente submetido ao tratamento com cisplatina. A calibração foi realizada por adição de analito, com PtCl2. Com a adição de NaCl ao meio diluente, os efeitos multiplicativos de matriz puderam ser contornados, permitindo a calibração externa com soluções de calibração preparadas no mesmo meio que o branco, utilizando sais inorgânicos de platina. Melhor sensibilidade também foi obtida, e recuperações de 98±4% foram observadas para os vários níveis de concentração estudados, assim como coeficientes de variação de 1 a 10%, tanto para a cis como para a carboplatina. O limite de detecção (n=10, k=3) foi de 4 (mi)g L-1 de Pt na amostra original. A espectrometria de absorção atômica com fonte contínua de alta resolução na chama (HR-CS F AAS) também foi estudada. As condições da chama foram definidas por um planejamento multivariado D-optimal, tomando-se como resposta a soma dos coeficientes angulares das curvas de adição de analito em três urinas diferentes, assim como o desvio padrão relativo dessas inclinações. O limite de detecção foi de 55 Og L-1 (n=10, k=3), na amostra original, em Pt, cerca de uma ordem de grandeza melhor do que aquele obtido utilizando-se um equipamento de fonte de linhas. Calibração externa, com soluções de calibração em urina livre de Pt, utilizando sal inorgânico de platina (PtCl2), foi possível, e os resultados obtidos por HR-CS F AAS não se mostraram significativamente diferentes daqueles encontrados por procedimentos comparativos independentes. / [en] Platinum coordination compounds have been used in cancer chemotherapy since the late 1960s. Cisplatin and carboplatin are the most common platinum based drugs used in cancer treatment. Pharmacokinetics investigations, the determination of the body burden during the treatment as well as the baseline levels of platinum in humans has attracted great interest. Thus, accurate analytical methods for fast and easy platinum monitoring in clinical samples are necessary. In the present work, atomic spectrometric methods for the direct determination of platinum as cisplatin and carboplatin in human urine were investigated. In relation to Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry the optimum temperature program, sample volume and diluent concentration were defined by a central composite design optimization. Analyte addition with PtCl2 was used for calibration, and no statistically significant difference was observed between the results obtained by the proposed and comparative procedures in the analysis of a set of urine samples. Multiplicative matrix effects were overcome by adding NaCl to the diluent solution. External calibration with PtCl2 in blank matched medium was then possible. The recoveries were 100±1%, and the coefficient of variation ranged from 1 to 10%. The limit of detection (LOD) was 4 ug L-1 of Pt in the original urine sample. High resolution continuous source flame atomic absorption spectrometry was also investigated. The flame conditions were optimized by a multivariate D-optimal design, taking as response the sum of the analyte addition calibration slopes and their standard deviation. The LOD was 55 Og L-1 (n=10, k=3), in the original sample. Matrix matched external calibration with PtCl2, was possible, and the results obtained by the proposed procedure were also in good agreement with those obtained by independent comparative procedures.

[pt] Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo das interações entre a cisplatina, que é usada como medicamento quimioterápico e dois aminoácidos de importância biológica: ácido guanidoacético (Gaa) e arginina (Arg). Por esta razão, procurou-se trabalhar in vitro com condições próximas ao meio biológico utilizando, em função disto, apenas água deionizada como solvente. Para isto, foram testados vários procedimentos de síntese que resultaram em quatro compostos diferentes: dois com o Gaa e dois com a arginina. Estes compostos foram caracterizados pelas seguintes técnicas: análise elementar (espectrometria de absorção atômica e CHN), condutimetria, análise termogravimétrica, ressonância magnética nuclear, difração de pó e espectroscopia de infravermelho. Foi possível verificar que tanto o Gaa como a arginina comportam-se como monodentados e complexam-se com a cisplatina através do átomo de nitrogênio da amina. / [en] The aim of this work is the study of the interactions between cis-platinum, which is employed as a chemotherapic drug, and two amino acids of biological importance: guanidinoacetic acid (Gaa) and arginine (Arg). In order to work in conditions as similar as possible of the biological environment, this work was done in vitro, using only deionized water as a solvent. With this purpose, several synthesis procedures were tested which resulted in four different compounds: two with Gaa and two with arginine. These compounds were characterized through the following techniques: elementary analysis (atomic absorption spectrometry and CHN), conductimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance, powder diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. It was possible to verify that both Gaa and arginine behaved as monodentates ligands and complexed with the cis-platinum through the amine´s nitrogen atom.

Os tumores de cabeça e pescoço ocupam o sexto lugar no ranking de incidência mundial, e estão localizados na região da face, fossas nasais, seios paranasais, boca, faringe, laringe entre outros tecidos moles do pescoço. O tabagismo, o etilismo, a radiação solar e o vírus HPV, são fatores de risco associados a esse tipo de tumors. A terapia combinada de drogas antineoplásicas tem sido utilizada para amenizar os efeitos colaterais e potencializar o tratamento antitumoral. A combinação de paclitaxel e cisplatina tem se mostrado eficaz em tumores sólidos, como o HNSCC. A morte celular induzida pelo paclitaxel é mediada pela ruptura da dinâmica dos microtúbulos normais, já a cisplatina induz ligações cruzadas de DNA estes tratamentos induzem a célula à morte por apoptose. A apoptose é um processo de morte dividido, didaticamente, em via intrínseca (via mitocondrial) e via extrínseca (via receptor de morte). Entender por qual via essas células tumorais são induzidas a morte é fundamental para tentar evitar a resistência dessas células ao tratamento. Nosso objetivo é entender se células tumorais de HNSCC são resistentes ou sensíveis ao tratamento com paclitaxel e cisplatina sozinhos ou em associação. Para isso, realizamos o tratamento da linhagem celular FaDu por um período de 48 horas com as drogas e verificamos sua resistência a indução de morte por esses tratamentos. Os resultados mostraram que o tratamento com paclitaxel não potencializa a morte desta célula, sendo a linhagem FaDu mais sensível ao tratamento com cisplatina e a associação apresenta o mesmo perfil de quando tratada com cisplatina. A morte desta linhagem é dependente de caspases e possui uma preferência pela via extrínseca da apoptose que, consequentemente, induz a morte também pela via intrínseca. A modulação desta morte se dá pelo balanço das proteínas pró- e anti-apoptóticas da família BCL-2 que são responsáveis pela regulação da apoptose, o tratamento com cisplatina induz a expressão da proteína pró-apoptótica BAK e a diminuição das proteínas anti-apoptóticas BCL-2 e BCL-XL. Com os resultados obtidos, concluímos que a associação de paclitaxel e cisplatina não potencializa a morte da linhagem celular FaDu. Contudo, a cisplatina apresentou-se efetiva na indução de morte por apoptose através do aumento da expressão da proteína BAK e a diminuição da expressão das proteínas BCL-2 e BCL-XL. / Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer in the world, and are located in the region of the face, nasal fossas, sinuses, mouth, pharynx, larynx and other soft tissues of the neck. Tobacco smoke, etilism, solar radiation and HPV are risk factors associated with this type of tumors. Combination therapy of anticancer drugs has been used to alleviate the side effects and potentiate the antitumor treatment. The combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin has been shown to be effective in solid tumors such as HNSCC. The paclitaxel-induced cell death is mediated by disruption of the normal microtubule dynamics, and the cisplatin induced DNA cross-links, these treatments induce cell death by apoptosis. Apoptosis is a death process divided in, intrinsic pathway (mitochondrial pathway) and extrinsic pathway (death receptor pathway). Understand by what pathway those tumor cells which are induced death is important to try and avoid the resistance of these cells to treatment. Our aims understand if HNSCC tumor cells are resistant or sensitive to treatment with paclitaxel and cisplatin alone or in combination. We carried out the treatment of cell line FADU a period of 48 hours with the drug and we verify their resistance to death induction by these treatments. The results showed that treatment with paclitaxel did not potentiate the cell death, in the other hand, FADU cell line appeared to be more sensitive to cisplatin treatment, and the association has the same profile when treated with cisplatin. The death of this line is dependent on caspases and has a preference for the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis, consequently, also induces the death by the intrinsic pathway. The modulation of death is caused by the balance of pro-and anti-apoptotic proteins of BCL-2 family proteins that are responsible for regulation of apoptosis, treatment with cisplatin induces the expression of pro-apoptotic protein BAK and the decrease of anti-apoptotic proteins BCL -2 and BCL-XL. With these results, we conclude that the combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin did not potentiate the cell death of the cell line Fadu. However, cisplatin showed to be effective in induction of death by apoptosis through increased expression of BAK protein and decreased expression of BCL-2 and BCL-XL.

A coenzima Q10 é uma provitamina lipossolúvel sintetizada endogenamente e naturalmente encontrada em alimentos como a carne vermelha, peixes, cereais, brócolis e espinafre. É comercializada como suplemento alimentar e utilizada em formulações cosméticas. Localiza-se na membrana de organelas celulares como retículo endoplasmático, vesículas e membrana interna da mitocôndria, onde atua como um cofator essencial na cadeia respiratória. Apresenta propriedades antioxidantes e potencial no tratamento de doenças neurodegenerativas e neuromusculares. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os possíveis efeitos protetores de uma formulação hidrossolúvel de coenzima Q10 em células PC12 expostas à cisplatina, um fármaco antineoplásico que tem a neurotoxicidade como um dos fatores limitantes à sua utilização. A linhagem celular PC12 (feocromocitoma de ratos) utilizada nesta investigação é um reconhecido modelo in vitro para estudos neuronais. Os métodos empregados foram os ensaios do MTT, cometa, citoma micronúcleo com bloqueio da citocinese, crescimento de neuritos e análise da expressão do gene Tp53. Os resultados obtidos na avaliação da citotoxicidade da coenzima Q10 (0,1 - 20 µg/mL) mostraram que este antioxidante foi citotóxico às células PC12 na concentração de 20,0 µg/mL e não apresentou citotoxicidade em baixas concentrações. Para os ensaios do citoma e cometa, foram selecionadas três concentrações não citotóxicas de coenzima Q10 (0,1; 0,5 e 1,0 µg/mL) que não apresentaram mutagenicidade e genotoxicidade às células PC12. O efeito protetor da coenzima Q10 sobre a cisplatina no ensaio do citoma foi caracterizado pela diminuição da freqüência de micronúcleos e brotos nucleares, entretanto a proteção da coenzima Q10 não foi evidenciada no ensaio cometa. Alterações significativas na expressão do gene Tp53 não foram observadas no tratamento coenzima Q10 (1,0 µg/mL) associado à cisplatina (0,1 µg/mL). A coenzima Q10 (0,1 e 1,0 µg/mL) não foi neurotóxica em células PC12 indiferenciadas e diferenciadas após exposição ao fator de crescimento do nervo, e seu melhor efeito neuroprotetor foi observado na menor concentração avaliada. A coenzima Q10 reduziu a citotoxicidade da cisplatina (10,0 µg/mL) em células PC12 indiferenciadas e estimulou o crescimento de neuritos em células PC12 diferenciadas. A determinação dos efeitos citoprotetores da coenzima Q10 em um modelo neuronal é importante para elucidar possíveis estratégias de neuroproteção que poderiam ser aplicadas aos pacientes submetidos à quimioterapia. / Coenzyme Q10 is a liposoluble provitamin endogenously synthesized and naturally found in various foods items, such as meat, fish, cereals, broccoli and spinach. It is a dietary supplement in some countries and used in cosmetic formulations. Coenzyme Q10 is located in the membrane of cellular organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum, vesicles and inner mitochondrial membrane, where acts as an essential cofactor in the respiratory chain. It has antioxidant properties and potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of a water-soluble formulation of coenzyme Q10 in PC12 cells exposed to cisplatin, an anticancer drug that has neurotoxicity as a dose-limiting factor. The PC12 cell line (rat pheocromocytoma) used in this investigation is a recognized in vitro model for neuronal studies. The methods used were the MTT, comet, cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome, neurite outgrowth assays and expression of Tp53 gene. The results obtained in the cytotoxicity of coenzyme Q10 (0.1-20 µg/mL) showed that this antioxidant was cytotoxic to PC12 cell at a concentration of 20.0 µg/mL and it was not cytotoxic at low concentrations. For the cytome and comet assays, were selected three non-cytotoxic concentrations of coenzyme Q10 (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 µg/mL) without mutagenicity and genotoxicity PC12 cells. The protective effect of coenzyme Q10 in cytome assay was characterized by decreased frequency of micronuclei and nuclear buds induced by cisplatin, however the protection of coenzyme Q10 was not evidenced by the comet assay. No significant change in the Tp53 gene expression were observed in the coenzyme Q10 (1.0 µg/mL) plus cisplatin (0.1 µg/mL) treatment. Coenzyme Q10 (0.1 and 1.0 µg/mL) was not neurotoxic in undifferentiated and nerve growth factor differentiated PC12 cells and the lowest concentration evaluated showed the best neuroprotective effect. The coenzyme Q10 treatment reduced the citotoxicity of cisplatin (10.0 µg/mL) in undifferentiated PC12 cells and stimulated the neurite outgrowth in differentiated PC12 cells. Determination of the cytoprotective effects of the coenzyme Q10 in a neuronal model is important to elucidate possible strategies for neuroprotection that could be applied to patients undergoing chemotherapy.