No description available.

SUMMARY: Cancers represent one of the main causes of death worldwide. Together with surgery and radiotherapy, chemotherapy constitutes a main therapeutic tool in cancer treatment. However, combat remains challenging because of the intrinsic and/ or acquired resistance mechanisms displayed by cancers to these agents. In order to maintain their continuous growth, multiplication and dissemination, cancer cells display a number of biological hallmarks. Growing evidence of the remarkable association of the protein synthesis process with the onset and progression of cancer has led to extensive revision and research on the role of translation in this disease as well as its potential in therapy. Initiation of translation is especially dysregulated in cancer. Thus, strategies targeting different translation steps, ranging from upstream inhibitors - like mTOR inhibitors - to direct inhibition of specific translation initiation factors, represent potential and selective recent alternatives to conventional chemotherapies. In this work, we have investigated the antiproliferative effects of the previously synthetized harmine derivative CM16, with a particular emphasis on its effects on the protein synthesis of cancer cells. We confirmed CM16 cytostatic effects and showed its selectivity towards cancerous cells. The correlation of the growth inhibition profile of CM16 in the NCI 60-cell-line with those of other protein synthesis inhibitors led us to investigate such potential inhibition in vitro. CM16 induced inhibition of protein synthesis and it seems to specifically affect the initiation phase of translation, as it affected the organization of ribosome and polysomes. Phosphorylation on the initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) could be partly responsible for the inhibitory effect observed, as evidenced in this work. Also, the transcriptomic comparison of cell models displaying different levels of sensitivity to CM16 suggested that EIF1AX, EIF3E and EIF3H could drive, at least partly, their sensitivity to this compound. Proteomic study of glioma cells treated or not with CM16 was then conducted. Although the proteins of the genes mentioned above were not identified by this technic, we evidenced tiny but significant changes in Hs683 glioma cell proteomic profile through LC-MS shotgun approach. Thanks to 2-DE gel comparison, proteins differentially expressed in these conditions were identified, such as HspB1, Ebp1, BTF3, galectin, cofilin, dUTPase, PGAM1 and CK-18. These might be involved in the antiproliferative and protein synthesis inhibitory activities of CM16, particularly when considering their roles in cancer cell biology, bringing additional insights to the elucidation of the mechanism of action of this harmine derivative in cancer cells. / RÉSUMÉ: Les cancers figurent parmi les principales causes de mortalité dans le monde. Avec la chirurgie et la radiothérapie, la chimiothérapie reste une des principales manières de lutter contre le cancer. Néanmoins, en raison des mécanismes de résistance intrinsèques et / ou acquis à ces agents, le traitement du cancer reste difficile. Pour assurer leur prolifération, leur dissémination et le développement de la maladie, les cellules cancéreuses présentent certaines caractéristiques biologiques. La mise en évidence de liens remarquables entre la synthèse protéique et l'apparition et la progression du cancer a conduit à une révision et à une recherche plus approfondie de la dérégulation de la traduction au sein des cellules cancéreuses ainsi que de son potentiel en tant que cible thérapeutique. La phase d’initiation de la traduction est particulièrement dérégulée dans le cancer. Ainsi, les stratégies ciblant différentes étapes de la traduction, depuis l’inhibition des voies de signalisation en amont du processus - comme les inhibiteurs de mTOR - à l'inhibition directe des facteurs spécifiques d'initiation de la traduction, représentent de potentielles alternatives sélectives aux chimiothérapies actuelles. Dans le cadre de ce travail, nous avons étudié les effets antiprolifératifs du composé CM16, un dérivé de l'harmine préalablement synthétisé, et, en particulier, ses effets sur la synthèse des protéines des cellules cancéreuses. Nous avons confirmé les effets cytostatiques du composé CM16 et avons montré sa sélectivité vis-à-vis des cellules cancéreuses. Le profil de réponse des 60 lignées cellulaires cancéreuses du panel du NCI s’est avéré corréler avec ceux d'autres inhibiteurs connus de la synthèse protéique, ce qui nous a conduits à investiguer in vitro cette potentielle inhibition. Le CM16 inhibe la synthèse protéique et semble affecter spécifiquement la phase d'initiation de la traduction étant donné que nous avons observé une désorganisation des ribosomes et polysomes. L’induction de la phosphorylation du facteur d'initiation 2α (eIF2α) pourrait en partie être responsable de l'effet inhibiteur de la synthèse protéique. La comparaison transcriptomique des modèles du NCI présentant des degrés divers de sensibilité au CM16 suggère que EIF1AX, EIF3E et EIF3H puissent, au moins en partie, être impliquées dans la sensibilité des cellules cancéreuses au composé CM16. Nous avons ensuite réalisé une étude du profil protéomique des cellules de gliomes traitées ou non par le CM16. Bien que les cibles identifiées ci-dessus n’ont pu être identifiées par cette technique, de légères mais significatives différences dans le protéome des cellules de gliomes traitées avec le CM16 ont été mises en évidence par LC-MS shotgun. Grâce à étude comparative de gels en deux dimensions, des protéines différentiellement exprimées dans ces conditions ont été identifiées, telles que HspB1, Ebp1, BTF3, galectine 1, cofiline, dUTPase, PGAM1 et CK-18. Celles-ci pourraient être impliquées dans les effets antiprolifératifs et inhibiteurs sur la synthèse protéique induits par le CM16, notamment suite à leurs rôles dans la biologie tumorale, contribuant ainsi à l'élucidation du mécanisme d'action de ce dérivé harmine dans les cellules cancéreuses. / Doctorat en Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques (Pharmacie) / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This thesis describes the results obtained from the phytochemical analysis of Matricaria chamomilla, and the microbial transformation of oxymatrine (85) and harmine (87), as summarized below. 1. Chemical investigation of the crude methanolic extract of Matricaria chamomilla resulted in the isolation of a new natural product, matriisobenzofuran (72), along with four known compounds: apigenin (73), apigenin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside (74), scopoletin (75), and fraxidin (76). The structures of compounds 72-76 were elucidated with the aid of extensive NMR and mass spectroscopic studies. All of the aforementioned compounds showed moderate to good inhibitory activities against glutathione S-transferase, an enzyme which has been implicated in the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. These compounds were also evaluated for antioxidant activity and displayed moderate to good free radical scavenging activity. Additionally, compounds 72-76 were screened for anti-leishmanial activity. Compounds 75 and 76 were significantly active in this assay, while the remaining compounds were weakly active. In the antibacterial and antifungal assays, compounds 72-76 were not active. 2. The second part of this thesis deals with the biotransformation studies on oxymatrine (85) and harmine (87). Oxymatrine (85) was metabolized to the deoxy analogue, matrine (84) by Penicillum chrysogeneum (ATCC 9480), Cunninghamella bainieri (ATCC 9244), Cunninghamella blakesleena (ATCC 9245 and 8688A), Curvularia lunata (ATCC 12017), and Fusarium sp. In the time-based analysis of this transformation, the metabolism of oxymatrine (85) could be detected after 48 hours of incubation. Additionally, incubation of harmine (87) with Mucor plumbeus (ATCC 4740) resulted in the isolation of harmine-N-oxide (94). The biotransformed products (84 and 94) were identified using IR, UV, NMR, and mass spectroscopic techniques. Compound 94 was evaluated for its ability to inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinestrase, whose overexpression has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and was found to possess weaker activity than harmine (87).

This thesis describes the results obtained from the phytochemical analysis of Matricaria chamomilla, and the microbial transformation of oxymatrine (85) and harmine (87), as summarized below. 1. Chemical investigation of the crude methanolic extract of Matricaria chamomilla resulted in the isolation of a new natural product, matriisobenzofuran (72), along with four known compounds: apigenin (73), apigenin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside (74), scopoletin (75), and fraxidin (76). The structures of compounds 72-76 were elucidated with the aid of extensive NMR and mass spectroscopic studies. All of the aforementioned compounds showed moderate to good inhibitory activities against glutathione S-transferase, an enzyme which has been implicated in the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. These compounds were also evaluated for antioxidant activity and displayed moderate to good free radical scavenging activity. Additionally, compounds 72-76 were screened for anti-leishmanial activity. Compounds 75 and 76 were significantly active in this assay, while the remaining compounds were weakly active. In the antibacterial and antifungal assays, compounds 72-76 were not active. 2. The second part of this thesis deals with the biotransformation studies on oxymatrine (85) and harmine (87). Oxymatrine (85) was metabolized to the deoxy analogue, matrine (84) by Penicillum chrysogeneum (ATCC 9480), Cunninghamella bainieri (ATCC 9244), Cunninghamella blakesleena (ATCC 9245 and 8688A), Curvularia lunata (ATCC 12017), and Fusarium sp. In the time-based analysis of this transformation, the metabolism of oxymatrine (85) could be detected after 48 hours of incubation. Additionally, incubation of harmine (87) with Mucor plumbeus (ATCC 4740) resulted in the isolation of harmine-N-oxide (94). The biotransformed products (84 and 94) were identified using IR, UV, NMR, and mass spectroscopic techniques. Compound 94 was evaluated for its ability to inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinestrase, whose overexpression has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and was found to possess weaker activity than harmine (87).

Harmina é uma β-carbolina que atua sobre o SNC, inibindo a enzima monoaminooxidase tipo A-MAO. Esse alcalóide liga-se com relativa afinidade a receptores cerebrais de serotonina como a 5-hidroxitriptamina, subtipos 5-HT2C e 5-HT2A e receptores imidazólicos (I2). O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos comportamentais e fisiológicos da administração aguda e crônica de harmina (5, 10 e 15 mg/kg) e imipramina (10, 20 e 30 mg/kg), utilizando o teste do nado forçado (TNF) e o protocolo de estresse crônico moderado (ECM) em modelo animal. Os resultados mostraram que os ratos tratados aguda e cronicamente com harmina e imipramina diminuíram o tempo de imobilidade no TNF, aumentaram o tempo de climbigns e de nado quando comparados com o grupo controle, sem, no entanto, afetar a atividade locomotora avaliada pelo teste de exploração ao campo aberto. Os níveis do fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF) no hipocampo dos ratos também foram aumentados pelos tratamentos agudo e crônico com harmina. Os animais submetidos ao protocolo de ECM apresentaram comportamento anedônico, aumento do peso médio da glândula adrenal e aumento nos níveis de ACTH e BDNF. O tratamento crônico com harmina durante 7 dias consecutivos, reverteu a anedonia e a hipertrofia da glândula adrenal, além de normalizar os níveis de ACTH e BDNF. O conjunto desses resultados auxiliam a compreensão do mecanismo de ação neuroprotetor da harmina e sugerem que este alcalóide possa representar um novo alvo farmacológico para o tratamento da depressão. / Harmine is a β-carboline that acts on the CNS, by inhibiting the enzyme monoamine oxidase type A-MAO. This alkaloid binds with affinity to receptors on serotonin as 5- hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT2C subtypes and 5-HT2A receptors and imidazole (I2). The objective of this study was to investigate the physiological and behavioral effects of acute and chronic administration of harmine (5, 10 and 15 mg / kg) and imipramine (10, 20 and 30 mg / kg) using the forced swimming test (TNF) and the protocol of chronic mild stress (ECM) in an animal model. The results showed that rats treated acutely and chronically with harmine and imipramine reduced the immobility time in the TNF, and increased both climbigns and swimming time of rats compared to saline group, without affecting locomotor activity in the open field test. Both acute and chronic administration of harmine increased factor brain-derived neurotrophic (BDNF) protein levels in the rat hippocampus. Our findings demonstrated that chronic stressful situations induced anhedonia, hypertrophy of adrenal gland weight, increase ACTH circulating levels in rats and increase BDNF protein levels. Interestingly, treatment with harmine for 7 consecutive days, reversed anhedonia, the increase of adrenal gland weight, normalized ACTH circulating levels and BDNF protein levels. Finally, these findings further support the hypothesis that harmine could be a new pharmacological tool for the treatment of depression.

Harmina é uma β-carbolina que atua sobre o SNC, inibindo a enzima monoaminooxidase tipo A-MAO. Esse alcalóide liga-se com relativa afinidade a receptores cerebrais de serotonina como a 5-hidroxitriptamina, subtipos 5-HT2C e 5-HT2A e receptores imidazólicos (I2). O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos comportamentais e fisiológicos da administração aguda e crônica de harmina (5, 10 e 15 mg/kg) e imipramina (10, 20 e 30 mg/kg), utilizando o teste do nado forçado (TNF) e o protocolo de estresse crônico moderado (ECM) em modelo animal. Os resultados mostraram que os ratos tratados aguda e cronicamente com harmina e imipramina diminuíram o tempo de imobilidade no TNF, aumentaram o tempo de climbigns e de nado quando comparados com o grupo controle, sem, no entanto, afetar a atividade locomotora avaliada pelo teste de exploração ao campo aberto. Os níveis do fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF) no hipocampo dos ratos também foram aumentados pelos tratamentos agudo e crônico com harmina. Os animais submetidos ao protocolo de ECM apresentaram comportamento anedônico, aumento do peso médio da glândula adrenal e aumento nos níveis de ACTH e BDNF. O tratamento crônico com harmina durante 7 dias consecutivos, reverteu a anedonia e a hipertrofia da glândula adrenal, além de normalizar os níveis de ACTH e BDNF. O conjunto desses resultados auxiliam a compreensão do mecanismo de ação neuroprotetor da harmina e sugerem que este alcalóide possa representar um novo alvo farmacológico para o tratamento da depressão. / Harmine is a β-carboline that acts on the CNS, by inhibiting the enzyme monoamine oxidase type A-MAO. This alkaloid binds with affinity to receptors on serotonin as 5- hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT2C subtypes and 5-HT2A receptors and imidazole (I2). The objective of this study was to investigate the physiological and behavioral effects of acute and chronic administration of harmine (5, 10 and 15 mg / kg) and imipramine (10, 20 and 30 mg / kg) using the forced swimming test (TNF) and the protocol of chronic mild stress (ECM) in an animal model. The results showed that rats treated acutely and chronically with harmine and imipramine reduced the immobility time in the TNF, and increased both climbigns and swimming time of rats compared to saline group, without affecting locomotor activity in the open field test. Both acute and chronic administration of harmine increased factor brain-derived neurotrophic (BDNF) protein levels in the rat hippocampus. Our findings demonstrated that chronic stressful situations induced anhedonia, hypertrophy of adrenal gland weight, increase ACTH circulating levels in rats and increase BDNF protein levels. Interestingly, treatment with harmine for 7 consecutive days, reversed anhedonia, the increase of adrenal gland weight, normalized ACTH circulating levels and BDNF protein levels. Finally, these findings further support the hypothesis that harmine could be a new pharmacological tool for the treatment of depression.

Harmina é uma β-carbolina que atua sobre o SNC, inibindo a enzima monoaminooxidase tipo A-MAO. Esse alcalóide liga-se com relativa afinidade a receptores cerebrais de serotonina como a 5-hidroxitriptamina, subtipos 5-HT2C e 5-HT2A e receptores imidazólicos (I2). O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos comportamentais e fisiológicos da administração aguda e crônica de harmina (5, 10 e 15 mg/kg) e imipramina (10, 20 e 30 mg/kg), utilizando o teste do nado forçado (TNF) e o protocolo de estresse crônico moderado (ECM) em modelo animal. Os resultados mostraram que os ratos tratados aguda e cronicamente com harmina e imipramina diminuíram o tempo de imobilidade no TNF, aumentaram o tempo de climbigns e de nado quando comparados com o grupo controle, sem, no entanto, afetar a atividade locomotora avaliada pelo teste de exploração ao campo aberto. Os níveis do fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF) no hipocampo dos ratos também foram aumentados pelos tratamentos agudo e crônico com harmina. Os animais submetidos ao protocolo de ECM apresentaram comportamento anedônico, aumento do peso médio da glândula adrenal e aumento nos níveis de ACTH e BDNF. O tratamento crônico com harmina durante 7 dias consecutivos, reverteu a anedonia e a hipertrofia da glândula adrenal, além de normalizar os níveis de ACTH e BDNF. O conjunto desses resultados auxiliam a compreensão do mecanismo de ação neuroprotetor da harmina e sugerem que este alcalóide possa representar um novo alvo farmacológico para o tratamento da depressão. / Harmine is a β-carboline that acts on the CNS, by inhibiting the enzyme monoamine oxidase type A-MAO. This alkaloid binds with affinity to receptors on serotonin as 5- hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT2C subtypes and 5-HT2A receptors and imidazole (I2). The objective of this study was to investigate the physiological and behavioral effects of acute and chronic administration of harmine (5, 10 and 15 mg / kg) and imipramine (10, 20 and 30 mg / kg) using the forced swimming test (TNF) and the protocol of chronic mild stress (ECM) in an animal model. The results showed that rats treated acutely and chronically with harmine and imipramine reduced the immobility time in the TNF, and increased both climbigns and swimming time of rats compared to saline group, without affecting locomotor activity in the open field test. Both acute and chronic administration of harmine increased factor brain-derived neurotrophic (BDNF) protein levels in the rat hippocampus. Our findings demonstrated that chronic stressful situations induced anhedonia, hypertrophy of adrenal gland weight, increase ACTH circulating levels in rats and increase BDNF protein levels. Interestingly, treatment with harmine for 7 consecutive days, reversed anhedonia, the increase of adrenal gland weight, normalized ACTH circulating levels and BDNF protein levels. Finally, these findings further support the hypothesis that harmine could be a new pharmacological tool for the treatment of depression.

[pt] Neste trabalho foi avaliado o uso da Fosforimetria na Temperatura Ambiente em Substrato Sólido (FTASS) como técnica analítica aplicável na determinação de dois derivados da β-carbolina (harmane e harmine). Como suporte sólido foi utilizado o papel de filtro de baixo sinal de fundo. As características fosforescentes dos analitos foram estudadas em função de diversos parâmetros experimentais, que foram posteriormente otimizados visando a maximização do sinal fosforescente. Estes parâmetros foram: efeito de íons de átomos pesados; uso de surfactante como modificador de superfície; pH e volume de tampão; sistema de solventes e irradiação prévia das β-carbolinas com UV. As melhores situações para ambos os analitos foram obtidas em pH natural com a adição de Tl+ e em pH básico na presença de Ag+. Após a otimização das condições experimentais relevantes, os parâmetros analíticos de mérito foram obtidos. Para o harmane, faixas lineares dinâmicas (a partir do limite de quantificação, LQ) de 0,39 - 456 ng (Ag+/pH=12) e de 8,10 - 911 ng (Tl+/pH=7,7) foram obtidas. Para o harmine, a faixa linear dinâmica, partindo do LQ, foi de 0,59 - 1244 ng (dividido em duas faixas distintas) quando Ag+/pH=9 foi empregado. Com o uso de Tl+/pH=5,1, a faixa obtida foi de 0,53 a 249 ng. A precisão do método para as duas substâncias ficou dentro do esperado para esta técnica. Também foi estudado o potencial interferente de algumas substâncias (AZT, talidomida e outros) e da matriz urina. O desempenho do método foi testado através de testes de recuperação em formulações farmacêuticas simuladas e em urina enriquecida com o(s) analito(s), sendo as recuperações encontradas dentro da faixa recomendada de 90 a 110 %. Estudos envolvendo a determinação seletiva em misturas contendo ambos os derivados da β-carbolina mostraram a viabilidade da determinação seletiva de harmine na presença de harmane usando apenas um ajuste de pH. / [en] In the present work a Solid Surface Room-Temperature Phosphorimetry (SSRTP) based analytical method was developed aiming the determination of two â-carbolines derivatives (harmane and harmine). A low background filter paper was employed as solid support. The phosforimetric characteristics of the analytes were studied as function of several parameter, afterwards optimized aiming the maximization of phosphorescence. Among the studied parameters were the effect of heavy atom ions; the use of surfactants as substrate surface modifier; pH and volume of buffer; solvent system and the previuos UV irradiation of the analytes. The best results for both analytes were achieved using Tl+ in natural pH and using Ag+ in basic pH. After optimization of the relevant experimental conditions, the analytical figures of merit were obtained. For harmane, linear dynamic ranges (starting from the limit of quantification, LQ) from 0.39 to 456 ng (Ag+/pH=12) and from 8.10 to 911 ng (Tl+/pH=7.7) were achieved. For harmine, the linear dynamic ranges, stating from LQ, were from 0.59 to 1244 ng (divided in two linear ranges) when Ag+/pH=9 was used. When Tl+/pH=5.1 was employed, linear ranges were from 0.53 to 249 ng. The precision of the method was in accordance with the values expected for this technique. The potential interferent effect of some substances (AZT, thalidomide and others) as well as the effect of urine matrix were also studied. The performance of the method was evaluated by recovery tests using simulated pharmaceutical formulations and analyte spiked urine samples. In both cases, recoveries within the recomended range (from 90 to 110 %) were achieved. Studies involving the selective determination of â-carbolines derivatives have indicated that the determination of harmine in the presence of harmane is feasable only by a simple sample pH adjustment.

This thesis deals with the design of 18F- and 68Ga-labelled positron emission tomography (PET) tracers and the development of technologies that enable faster and simpler preparation with high specific radioactivity. Techniques like microwave heating and reducing the concentrations of the precursor were investigated with this perspective. A few applications were explored using molecular design perspectives. A nucleophilic 18F-labelling strategy using perfluoro-containing leaving groups was explored. We observed that [18F]fluoride was interacting with the perfluoro alkyl chains of the substrate, preventing the nucleophilic substitution from taking place. When a perfluoroaryl group was instead used in the leaving group, the substitution took place and purification by fluorous solid-phase extraction was possible. 18F-Labelled analogues of the monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor harmine were prepared by one-step nucleophilic fluorinations and evaluated by in vitro autoradiography, showing high specific binding. Biotin analogues labelled with 18F and 68Ga were prepared and their binding to avidin evaluated. All analogues retained their binding ability and will be further evaluated in transplantation models with avidin-coated islets of Langerhans. Peptide design perspectives were used in some examples where the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence and a single-chain version of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein functionalized with 2,2',2'',2'''-(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetrayl)tetraacetic acid (DOTA) or 2,2',2''-(1,4,7-triazonane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetic acid (NOTA) as chelators were labelled with 68Ga. The RGD motif and VEGF have high affinity for, respectively, αvβ3 integrin and VEGFR-2 receptor that are overexpressed in angiogenesis process. The 68Ga-labelled scVEGF maintained its functional activity in vitro. A polypeptide conjugate containing phosphocholine, which has affinity for the C-reactive protein released during the inflammatory process, was labelled with 68Ga for the development of an imaging agent for inflammation in vivo. Finally [18F]/19F exchange in fluorine-containing compounds was studied in order to investigate whether the exchange reaction can be of practical use for labelling.

No description available.