title: Novel cytostatic activity of the trypanocidal drug Benznidazole.
abstract: We have shown that Benznidazole (BZL), a compound with well documented trypanocidal activity, possesses anti-inflammatory properties and inhibits the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB). Given the relationship between this transcription factor and cell growth, in this study we address the role of NF-kappaB blockade by BZL in the proliferation of different cell lines. Our studies demonstrate that this compound significantly reduced proliferation of RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line, as assessed by trypan blue exclusion, MTT reduction and [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation, at a concentration shown to inhibit NF-kappaB. Treatment with BZL also led to growth arrest in CHO, MDCK and HeLa cells. Interestingly, growth inhibition was found to be a reversible process, not accompanied by significant cell death, indicating that the drug behaves mainly as a cytostatic compound. As this effect might be related to NF-kappaB inhibition, we next evaluated whether other NF-kappaB inhibitors could induce growth arrest in RAW 264.7 and HeLa cells. We found that IKK inhibition led to growth arrest in both cell lines, indicating that NF-kappaB inhibition may be the potential mechanism by which BZL inhibits cell proliferation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an anti-proliferative activity of the trypanocidal drug against different cell lines and provides a mechanistic insight that may help understand some of the adverse effects associated with prolonged treatment.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR, CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina. fpascutti@yahoo.com.ar
authors.forename: María Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Pascutti
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campodonico
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manarin
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bottasso
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Revelli
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D054697:Cytostatic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000494:pharmacology; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C434003:3-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-2-propenenitrile; D054697:Cytostatic Agents; D007976:Leupeptins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009570:Nitriles; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D013450:Sulfones; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C072553:benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine aldehyde; C009999:benzonidazole