A Glutathione Activatable Ion Channel Induces Apoptosis in Cancer Cells by Depleting Intracellular Glutathione Levels. Issue 20 (12th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Malla, Javid Ahmad; Umesh, Rintu M.; Yousf, Saleem; Mane, Shrunal; Sharma, Shilpy; Lahiri, Mayurika; Talukdar, Pinaki
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 59:Issue 20(2020)
• Page Start: 7944
• Page End: 7952
• Publication Date: 2020-03-12
• Subjects: apoptosis -- cancer -- glutathione depletion -- ion channel -- reactive oxygen species; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202000961
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Cancer cells use elevated glutathione (GSH) levels as an inner line of defense to evade apoptosis and develop drug resistance. In this study, we describe a novel 2, 4‐nitrobenzenesulfonyl (DNS) protected 2‐hydroxyisophthalamide system that exploits GSH for its activation into free 2‐hydroxyisophthalamide forming supramolecular M + /Cl − channels. Better permeation of the DNS protected compound into MCF‐7 cells compared to the free 2‐hydroxyisophthalamide and GSH‐activatable ion transport resulted in higher cytotoxicity, which was associated with increased oxidative stress that further reduced the intracellular GSH levels and altered mitochondrial membrane permeability leading to the induction of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. The GSH‐activatable transport‐mediated cell death was further validated in rat insulinoma cells ( INS‐1E ); wherein the intracellular GSH levels showed a direct correlation to the resulting cytotoxicity. Lastly, the active compound was found to restrict the growth and proliferation of 3D spheroids of MCF‐7 cells with efficiency similar to that of the anticancer drug doxorubicin. Abstract : Cancer cells use elevated glutathione (GSH) levels as an inner line of defense to evade apoptosis and develop drug resistance. A 2, 4‐nitrobenzenesulfonyl‐protected 2‐hydroxyisophthalamide is described that compromises intracellular glutathione defense by activation of ion channels leading to production of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis.