title: N-substituted benzamides inhibit NFkappaB activation and induce apoptosis by separate mechanisms.
abstract: Benzamides have been in clinical use for many years in treatment against various disorders. A recent application is that as a sensitizer for radio- or chemotherapies. We have here analysed the mechanism of action of N-substituted benzamides using an in vitro system. We found that while procainamide was biologically inert in our system, the addition of a chloride in the 3' position of the benzamide ring created a compound (declopramide) that induced rapid apoptosis. Furthermore, declopramide also inhibited NFkappaB activation by inhibition of IkappaBbeta breakdown. An acetylated variant of declopramide, N-acetyl declopramide, showed no effect with regard to rapid apoptosis induction but was a potent inhibitor of NFkappaB activation. In fact, the addition of an acetyl group to procainamide in the 4' position was sufficient to convert this biologically inactive substance to a potent inhibitor of NFkappaB activation. These findings suggest two potential mechanisms, induction of early apoptosis and inhibition of NFkappaB mediated salvage from apoptosis, for the biological effect of N-substituted benzamides as radio- and chemo-sensitizers. In addition it suggests that N-substituted benzamides are potential candidates for the development of anti-inflammatory compounds using NFkappaB as a drug target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liberg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lazarevic
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pero
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leanderson
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011342:Procainamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011342:Procainamide