title: Diazenecarboxamide UP-91, a potential anticancer agent, acts by reducing cellular glutathione content.
abstract: Glutathione (GSH) is a ubiquitous non-protein thiol essential for cellular homeostasis and protection. Diazenecarboxamides (diazenes) are new compounds that could, according to their biochemical properties, lower the intracellular GSH content, thus inhibiting the growth of tumour cells. In the present study we examined four such compounds: JK-914, JK-918, JK-1013 and UP-91. Their cytotoxic effect on the growth of eight human tumour cell lines (glioblastoma, cervical and laryngeal carcinoma cells, mammary carcinoma cells and four drug-resistant sublines) was determined using a modified colorimetric MTT assay. The rate of reaction of thiophenol (as a model thiol) with diazenes leading to diphenyl disulfide was established by chromatography (TLC). Reactivity of diazenes with GSH under quasi-physiological conditions was determined by NMR spectroscopy. Intracellular GSH content was examined spectrophotometrically by the procedure developed by Tietze (1969). Diazene UP-91 reduced significantly the cell survival of all eight examined cell lines, including four drug-resistant cell lines. Other diazenes did not influence the survival of tumour cells. Reaction time for quantitative conversion of thiophenol to diphenyl disulfide was shortest for diazene UP-91, which is highly consistent with high reactivity of the same diazene with GSH, observed under quasi-physiological conditions. UP-91 reduced intracellular GSH level, while other diazenes had no effect on it. Thus, diazenecarboxamides UP-91 is a potential anticancer agent that may inhibit the growth of tumour cells due to reduction in glutathione level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Ruder Bosković Institute, Bijenicka cesta 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dubravka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moskatelo
authors.forename: Slovenko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polanc
authors.forename: Janez
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kosmrlj
authors.forename: Lidija
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vuković
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osmak
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007094:Imides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007094:Imides; D011725:Pyridines; C475046:UP-91; D005978:Glutathione