title: The resveratrol analogue 4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene inhibits cell proliferation with higher efficiency but different mechanism from resveratrol.
abstract: Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a natural phytoalexin found in grapes and wine, which shows antiproliferative activity. We previously found that 4-hydroxy group in the trans conformation was absolutely required for the inhibition of cell proliferation. In the present work we have synthesized the resveratrol analogue 4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene, which contains two OH in 4' and 4 positions, with the aim of developing a compound with an antiproliferative potential higher than that of resveratrol, on the basis of the correlation between structure and activity previously observed. In comparison with resveratrol, 4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene inhibited cell clonogenic efficiency of fibroblasts nine times more although with a different mechanism. First, 4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene induced predominantly an accumulation of cells in G1 phase, whereas resveratrol perturbed the G1/S phase transition. Second, although both compounds were able to inhibit DNA polymerase (pol) delta in an in vitro assay, 4, 4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene did not affect pol alpha activity. Finally, 4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene increased p21(CDKN1A) and p53 protein levels, whereas resveratrol led to phosphorylation of the S-phase checkpoint protein Chk1. Taken together, our results demonstrated for the first time that the two hydroxyl groups on 4- and 4'- positions of the stilbenic backbone enhance the antiproliferative effect and introduce additional targets in the mechanism of action of resveratrol. In conclusion, 4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene has potent antiproliferative activities that differ from the effect of resveratrol shown in this system, suggesting that it warrants further development as a potential chemopreventive or therapeutic agent.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, sez. Patologia Generale, Università di Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savio
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coppa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vannini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maga
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forti
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cazzalini
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lazzè
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perucca
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prosperi
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Stivala
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000187:drug effects; D004258:DNA Polymerase III / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011487:Protein Conformation; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027843:Vitis; D014920:Wine
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D013267:Stilbenes; C065639:DNA polymerase A; D004258:DNA Polymerase III; D000077185:Resveratrol