Unveiling the Potential of Innovative Gold(I) and Silver(I) Selenourea Complexes as Anticancer Agents Targeting TrxR and Cellular Redox Homeostasis. Issue 70 (25th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Franco, Michele; Saab, Marina; Porchia, Marina; Marzano, Cristina; Nolan, Steven P.; Nahra, Fady; Van Hecke, Kristof; Gandin, Valentina
• Is Part Of: Chemistry. Volume 28:Issue 70(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-10-25
• Subjects: cytotoxicity -- gold(I) complexes -- silver(I) complexes -- TrxR inhibition; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.202201898
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0947-6539

Abstract

Abstract: A series of NHC‐based selenourea Ag(I) and Au(I) complexes were evaluated for their anticancer potential in vitro, on 2D and 3D human cancer cell systems. All NHC‐based selenourea complexes possess an outstanding cytotoxic potency, which was comparable or even better than that of the reference metallodrug auranofin, and were also able to overcome both platinum‐based and multi‐drug resistances. Intriguingly, their cytotoxic potency did not correlate with solution stability, partition coefficient or cellular uptake. On the other hand, mechanistic studies in cancer cells revealed their ability to strongly and selectively inhibit the redox‐regulating enzyme Thioredoxin Reductase (TrxR), being even more effective than auranofin, a well‐known TrxR inhibitor, without affecting other redox enzymes such as Glutathione Reductase (GR). The inhibition of TrxR in H157 human cancer cells caused, in turn, the disruption of cellular thiol‐redox homeostasis and of mitochondria pathophysiology, ultimately leading to cancer cell death through apoptosis. Abstract : Innovative Au(I) and Ag(I) NHC‐based selenourea complexes exhibit a prominent anticancer effect by selectively targeting TrxR in human cancer cells, thus hampering cancer cell redox machinery and inducing apoptotic cell death.