Antiangiogenic properties of selected ruthenium(III) complexes that are nitric oxide scavengers.
The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) pathway has been clearly demonstrated to regulate angiogenesis. Increased levels of NO correlate with tumour growth and spreading in different experimental and human cancers. Drugs interfering with the NOS pathway may be useful in angiogenesis-dependent tumours. The aim of this study was to pharmacologically characterise certain ruthenium-based compounds, namely NAMI-A, KP1339, and RuEDTA, as potential NO scavengers to be used as antiangiogenic/antitumour agents. NAMI-A, KP1339 and RuEDTA were able to bind tightly and inactivate free NO in solution. Formation of ruthenium-NO adducts was documented by electronic absorption, FT-IR spectroscopy and (1)H-NMR. Pretreatment of rabbit aorta rings with NAMI-A, KP1339 or RuEDTA reduced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation elicited by acetylcholine. This effect was reversed by 8-Br-cGMP. The key steps of angiogenesis, endothelial cell proliferation and migration stimulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or NO donor drugs, were blocked by NAMI-A, KP1339 and RuEDTA, these compounds being devoid of any cytotoxic activity. When tested in vivo, NAMI-A inhibited angiogenesis induced by VEGF. It is likely that the antitumour properties previously observed for ruthenium-based NO scavengers, such as NAMI-A, are related to their NO-related antiangiogenic properties.
Morbidelli
L
L
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Donnini
S
S
Filippi
S
S
Messori
L
L
Piccioli
F
F
Orioli
P
P
Sava
G
G
Ziche
M
M
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014699:Venules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; C551585:KP 1339; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds; C113661:imidazolium-bis(imidazole)dimethylsulfoxideimidazotetrachlororuthenate(III); D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide