Cytotoxicity of novel sulfanilamides towards sensitive and multidrug-resistant leukemia cells

Curr Med Chem. 2014;21(23):2715-25. doi: 10.2174/0929867321666140120120708.

Abstract

Novel sulfa Schiff bases were synthesized and characterized by a reaction between aromatic sulfonamides and aromatic aldehydes or heterocyclic ketones in equimolar ratios. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated by the resazurin assay towards human sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000 leukemia cells. Three of the tested compounds viz., 4-(anthracen-9-ylmethyleneamino)-N-(pyrimidin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (4), 4-(anthracen-9- ylmethyleneamino)benzenesulfonamide, (5) and 4-((3-phenylallylidene)amino)benzene-sulfonamide, (6) were cytotoxic (IC50 values: 5.38-19.96 µM). CEM/ADR5000 cells were not cross-resistant to these compounds, indicating activity against otherwise drug-resistant tumors. Compound 6 inhibited P-glycoprotein by increasing doxorubicin accumulation and reducing expression of P-glycoprotein in CEM/ADR5000 cells. A human P-glycoprotein homology model was used for molecular docking studies. Compound 6 and verapamil (a well-known P-glycoprotein inhibitor) docked with similar binding energies to the same binding pocket.

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / chemistry
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / metabolism
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / drug therapy
  • Leukemia / metabolism
  • Leukemia / pathology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sulfanilamide
  • Sulfanilamides / pharmacology*

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Sulfanilamides
  • Sulfanilamide
  • Doxorubicin