Published papers

Uric acid (UA) is known to play an important role as an endogenous antioxidant. However, its insolubility in the serum is a risk for hyperuricemia. We assume that UA is an equivalent to hydroquinone or p-aminophenol, which can be oxidized to quinone/quinoimine and thus acts as a radical scavenger. Based on this hypothesis, a series of UA analogs was designed and synthesized. In the chemical radical scavenging assay, active compounds were considered as hydroquinone or p-aminophenol equivalents. A highly functionalized UA structure is not essential to have radical scavenging activity. Potent active 5-hydroxyindolinones (1a, 2a, and 3a) showed sufficient activity with high solubility and low cytotoxicity. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

The constitutively activated mutation (V617F) of tyrosine kinase Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is found in the majority of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The development of a novel chemical compound to suppress JAK2 V617F mutant-induced onset of MPNs and clarification of the signaling cascade downstream of JAK2 V617F mutant will provide clues to treat MPNs. Here we found that a water-soluble pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative, C60-bis (N, N-dimethylpyrrolidinium iodide), markedly induced apoptosis of JAK2 V617F mutant-induced transformed cells through a novel mechanism, inhibiting c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation pathway but not generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative significantly reduced the protein expression level of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), one of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAPKKK), resulting in the inhibition of upstream molecules of JNK, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MKK7). Strikingly, the knockdown of ASK1 enhanced the sensitivity to pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative-induced apoptosis, and the treatment with a JNK inhibitor, SP600125, also induced apoptosis of the transformed cells by JAK2 V617F mutant. Furthermore, administration of both SP600125 and pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative markedly inhibited JAK2 V617F mutant-induced tumorigenesis in nude mice. Taking these findings together, JAK2 V617F mutant-induced JNK signaling pathway is an attractive target for MPN therapy, and pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative is now considered a candidate potent drug for MPNs. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

N-Nitrosodialkylamines show their mutagenicity by forming α-hydroxynitrosamines in the presence of rat S9 mix in the Ames assay. The hydroxyl radical derived from Fe 2+-H 2O 2 (Fenton's reagent) with Cu 2+ activates N-nitrosamines, with an alkyl chain longer than a propyl constituent, to a direct-acting mutagen. The reactivity of Fe 2+-Cu 2+-H 2O 2 on nitrosamines in relation to their metabolic activation is not fully characterized. Here, we report the identification of the direct-acting mutagen derived from N-nitroso-N-methylpentylamine (NMPe) in the presence of Fe 2+, Cu 2+, H 2O 2 and nitric oxide (NO), which is a product of nitrosamine metabolism. A dichloromethane extract of the NMPe reaction mixtures was fractionated by silica gel column chromatography several times and by a preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); we obtained white crystals as a product. The direct-acting mutagen that was isolated was provisionally identified as 5-ethyl-5-nitro-1-pyrazoline 1-oxide by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, infrared (IR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. To confirm the structure of the mutagen, the authentic compound was synthesized from 2-nitrobutene and diazomethane, followed by N-oxidation with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The 1H NMR spectral data from the direct-acting mutagen that was synthesized was identical to the data from the isolated mutagen. Furthermore, the authentic 5-ethyl-5-nitro-1-pyrazoline 1-oxide was mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535. The results showed that 5-ethyl-5-nitro-1-pyrazoline 1-oxide was a direct-acting mutagen derived from the reaction of NMPe and Fe 2+-Cu 2+-H 2O 2-NO. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

We evaluated the safety of water-soluble polymer-enwrapped fullerenes (PVP/fullerenes) as antioxidants in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations by studying the genotoxicity, phototoxicity, and pro-oxidant effects of these fullerenes. These materials were not mutagenic to any of the tested bacterial strains and did not induce chromosomal aberrations in cultured mammalian cells. The PVP/fullerenes did not exhibit cytotoxicity under ultraviolet or sham irradiation in the alternative phototoxicity test. Moreover, they did not show any pro-oxidant effect in the presence of Fe2+ or Cu2+. Thus, we concluded that PVP/fullerenes are safe for use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. This is the first study in which toxicity tests were performed on PVP/fullerenes.

Glycyrrhiza inflata has been used as a traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory activity. Previously, we reported that a major component, Licochalcone A, potently inhibited TNFα-induced NF-κB activation by inhibiting IKKβ activation. In this study, we investigated whether the fixed structure of Licochalcone A by α, β-unsaturated ketone is required for its inhibitory effect of NF-κB activation. Interestingly, reduced Licochalcone A, which lacks a double bond, failed to inhibit TNFα-induced NF-κB activation. Whereas Licochalcone A potently inhibited TNFα-induced IKK activation, IκBα degradation, nuclear localization of NF-κB and its DNA binding activity, no inhibitory effect was observed by reduced Licochalcone A. In addition, TNFα-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines, CCL2/MCP-1 and CXCL1/KC, was clearly inhibited by Licochalcone A but not reduced Licochalcone A. As a result, culture media pretreated with Licochalcone A but not reduced Licochalcone A following TNFα stimulation significantly inhibited the chemotactic activity of neutrophils. Furthermore, acute carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice was markedly inhibited by administration of Licochalcone A but not reduced Licochalcone A. Taken together, it is suggested that Licochalcone A is a promising anti-inflammatory drug in vivo and its fixed structure is critical for anti-inflammatory activity. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The biological activities of C60-bis(N,N-dimethylpyrrolidinium iodide), a water-soluble cationic fullerene derivative, on human promyeloleukaemia (HL-60) cells were investigated. The pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative showed cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells. The characteristics of apoptosis, such as DNA fragmentation and condensation of chromatin in HL-60 cells, were observed by exposure to the pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative. Caspase-3 and-8 were activated and cytochrome c was also released from mitochondria. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative was observed by DCFH-DA, a fluorescence probe for the detection of ROS. Pre-treatment with α-tocopherol suppressed cell death and intracellular oxidative stress caused by the pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative. The apoptotic cell death induced by the pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative was suggested to be mediated by ROS generated by the pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative.

Three types of water-soluble fullerene derivatives were synthesized and their biological activities were investigated. C60-dimalonic acid, an anionic fullerene derivative, showed antioxidant activity such as quenching of superoxide and relief from growth inhibition of E. coli by paraquat. C 60-bis(7V,7V-dimethylpyrrolidinium iodide), a cationic fullerene derivative, has antibacterial activity and antiproliferative effect on cancer cell lines. The mechanism is suggested to be respiratory chain inhibition by reactive oxygen species produced by the cationic fullerene derivative. Proline-type fullerene derivatives showed strong inhibition activities on HIV-reverse transcriptase. The IC50 values were remarkably lower than nevirapine, a clinically used anti-HIV drug. Fullerene derivatives have a big potential for a new type of lead compound to be used as medicine. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.

A polyacrylic acid (PAA)-protected platinum nanoparticle species (PAA-Pt) was prepared by alcohol reduction of hexachloroplatinate. The PAA-Pt nanoparticles were well dispersed and homogeneous in size with an average diameter of 2.0 0.4nm (n = 200). We used electron spin resonance to quantify the residual peroxyl radical () generated from 2,2-azobis (2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) by thermal decomposition in the presence of O2 and a spectrophotometric method to quantify the residual 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. PAA-Pt scavenged these two radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Platinum was the functional component. PAA-Pt reduced the rate of oxygen consumption required for linoleic acid peroxidation initiated by generated from AAPH, indicating inhibition of the propagation of linolate peroxidation. A thiobarbituric acid test also revealed dose-dependent inhibition of the linolate peroxidation by PAA-Pt. Fifty micromolar platinum, as PAA-Pt, completely quenched 250 νM DPPH radical for 5min. Even when twice diluted in half, the PAA-Pt still quenched 100% of the 250νM DPPH radical. The scavenging activity of PAA-Pt is durable. These observations suggest that PAA-Pt is an efficient scavenger of free radicals. © IOP Publishing Ltd.

Since the discovery of C60 nanowhiskers in a colloidal solution of PZT in 2001, various low-dimensional fullerene nanomaterials such as fullerene nanotubes and fullerene nanosheets have been synthesized by the liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method (LLIP method) as well as the C60 and C70 nanowhiskers. The LLIP method is an excellent process to synthesize the quasi one-dimensional fullerene nanomaterials. This paper first reviews the typical fullerene nano and micro materials that have been prepared by the LLIP method and then show that the LLIP method is also applicable to the synthesis of composite C60 nano and micro whiskers containing wide compositions of C60 derivative molecules. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Licorice root, Glycyrrhiza inflata, has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of bronchial asthma and inflammation; however, the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory activity has not been clarified. Here, we investigated the effect of Licochalcone A, a major component of G. inflata, on the LPS signaling pathway. We found that Licochalcone A remarkably inhibited LPS-induced NO production, and TNFα expression and MCP-1 expression in both RAW264.7 cells and primary macrophages. Furthermore, when injected with Licochalcone A prior to injection of LPS, the serum level of TNFα and MCP-1 in C57BL/6 mice was clearly decreased, indicating that Licochalcone A has a potent anti-inflammatory effect both in vitro and in vivo. Strikingly, Licochalcone A significantly inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB transcriptional activation; however, it had no effect on not only the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα but also nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of NF-κB p65. Interestingly, Licochalcone A markedly inhibited the phosphorylation of p65 at serine 276. As a result, it reduced NF-κB transactivation by preventing the interaction of p65 with p300. Taken together, Licochalcone A might contribute to the potent anti-inflammatory effect of G. inflata through the unique mechanism of NF-κB inhibition. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Licorice root has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of gastric ulcer, bronchial asthma and inflammation. Licochalcone A is a major component of Xinjiang licorice, Glycyrrhiza inflata. Previously we showed that Licochalcone A significantly inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB transcriptional activation by abrogating the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 at serine 276. Glycyrrhiza inflata contains not only Licochalcone A but also Licochalcone B, Licochalcone C, Licochalcone D, Echinatin and Isoliquiritigenin, harboring the common structure of chalcones. No chalcones had any effect on LPS-induced IκB degradation, nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of NF-κB p65; however, we observed that Licochalcone B and Licochalcone D significantly inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation at serine 276 and transcriptional activation of NF-κB, the same as Licochalcone A. Interestingly, we also found that Licochalcone A, Licochalcone B and Licochalcone D effectively inhibited LPS-induced activation of PKA, which is required for the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 at serine 276. Consequently, Licochalcone B and Licochalcone D significantly reduced the LPS-induced production of NO, TNFα and MCP-1. On the other hand, Licochalcone C, Echinatin and Isoliquitigenin failed to inhibit LPS-induced NF-κB activation. These findings suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of Glycyrrhiza inflata is ascribable to the potent inhibition of NF-κB by Licochalcone A, Licochalcone B and Licochalcone D. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.