In the present study, two zinc(II) complexes containing bis-benzimidazole derivatives, Zn(bpbp)Cl2 (1) and [Zn(bpbp)2](ClO4)2·CH3CH2OH·H2O (2) (bpbp = 2,6-bis(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)pyridine), have been designed, synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activities. The underlying molecular mechanisms through which they caused the cancer cell death were also elucidated. The complexes were identified as potent antiproliferative agents against a panel of five human cancer cell lines by comparing with cisplatin. Complex 2 demonstrated dose-dependent growth inhibition on MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells with IC50 at 2.9 μM. Despite this potency, the complexes possessed great selectivity between human cancer cells and normal cells. Induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells by complex 2 was evidenced by accumulation of sub-G1 cell population, DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation. Further investigation on intracellular mechanisms revealed that complex 2 was able to induce p53-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells by triggering DNA damage. On the basis of this evidence, we suggest that Zn(II) complexes containing bis-benzimidazole derivatives may be candidates for further evaluation as chemotherapeutic agents for human cancers.
本研究设计、合成了两种含有双
苯并咪唑衍
生物的
锌(II)配合物,即 Zn(bpbp)Cl2 (1) 和 [Zn(bpbp)2](
ClO4)2-CH3C H-
H2O (2)(bpbp = 2,6-双(1-苯基-1H-苯并[d]
咪唑-2-基)
吡啶),并对其体外抗癌活性进行了评估。同时还阐明了它们导致癌
细胞死亡的基本分子机制。通过与
顺铂比较,发现这些复合物对五种人类癌细胞株具有强效抗增殖作用。复合物 2 对 MCF-7 人类乳腺癌细胞具有剂量依赖性生长抑制作用,IC50 为 2.9 μM。尽管具有这种效力,但复合物在人类癌细胞和正常细胞之间具有很大的选择性。复合物 2 对 MCF-7 细胞凋亡的诱导作用表现为亚 G1 细胞群的积累、DNA 断裂和核凝结。对细胞内机制的进一步研究表明,复合物 2 能够通过引发 DNA 损伤来诱导癌细胞发生 p53 依赖性凋亡。基于这些证据,我们认为含有双
苯并咪唑衍
生物的 Zn(II)复合物可作为人类癌症化疗药物进行进一步评估。