Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Studies of the anticancer activities of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes toward human hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells

  • Published:
Transition Metal Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes formulated as [Ru(bpy)2(THPDP)](PF6)2 (1) and [Ru(ttbpy)2(THPDP)](PF6)2 (ttbpy = 4,4ʹ-ditertiary butyl-2,2ʹ-bipyridine) (2) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and UV–Vis spectra. The cytotoxic activities of the complexes against cancer cell lines BEL-7402, A549, SGC-7901, HeLa and normal NIH3T3 cells were investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) methods. The complexes show moderate cytotoxicity toward BEL-7402 and HeLa cells. The changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species were studied by fluorescence microscopy. Both complexes can increase intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and ROS levels and induce a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. They also inhibit cell invasion and suppress cell proliferation at the G0/G1 phase. Additionally, they activate caspase 3, cleave PARP and regulate the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins. In short, the complexes induce apoptosis in BEL-7402 cells through a ROS-mediated mitochondria dysfunction pathway.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Scheme 1
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rosenberg B, VanCamp L, Trosko JE, Mansour VH (1969) Nature 222:385–386

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Pasetto LM, Andrea MRD, Brandes AA, Rossi E, Monfardini S (2006) Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol 60:59–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hall MD, Telma KA, Chang KE, Lee TD, Madigan JP, Lloyd JR, Goldlust IS, Hoeschele JD, Gottesman MM (2014) Cancer Res 74:3913–3922

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Kelland L (2007) Nat Rev Cancer 7:573–584

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Siddik ZH (2003) Oncogene 22:7265–7279

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Li YM, Wu Q, Yu GN, Li L, Zhao XH, Huang XT, Mei WJ (2019) Eur J Med Chem 164:282–291

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Wan D, Tang B, Wang YJ, Guo BH, Yin H, Yi QY, Liu YJ (2017) Eur J Med Chem 139:180–189

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Wan D, Lai SH, Zeng CC, Zhang C, Tang B, Liu YJ (2017) J Inorg Biochem 173:1–11

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Tang B, Wan D, Lai SH, Yang HH, Zhang C, Wang XZ, Zeng CC, Liu YJ (2017) J Inorg Biochem 173:93–104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Tang B, Shen F, Wan D, Guo BH, Wang YJ, Yi QY, Liu YJ (2017) RSC Adv 7:34945–34958

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ypsilantis K, Plakatouras JC, Manos MJ, Kourtellaris A, Markopoulos G, Kolettas E, Garoufis A (2018) Dalton Trans 47:3549–3567

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Chen JC, Zhang Y, Li GD, Peng F, Jie XM, She J, Dongye GZ, Zou ZL, Rong SW, Chen LM (2018) J Biol Inorg Chem 23:261–275

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Cao WQ, Zheng WJ, Chen TF (2015) Sci Rep-UK 5:9157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Zeng CC, Lai SH, Yao JH, Zhang C, Yin H, Li W, Han BJ, Liu YJ (2016) Eur J Med Chem 122:118–126

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Tang B, Wan D, Wang YJ, Yi QY, Guo BH, Liu YJ (2018) Eur J Med Chem 145:302–314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Sullivan BP, Salmon DJ, Meyer TJ (1978) Inorg Chem 17:3334–3341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Mosmann T (1983) J Immunol Methods 65:55–63

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Zhang C, Han BJ, Zeng CC, Lai SH, Li W, Tang B, Wan D, Jiang GB, Liu YJ (2016) J Inorg Biochem 157:62–72

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. McBride HM, Neuspiel M, Wasiak S (2006) Curr Biol 16:R551–R560

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Henze K, Martin W (2002) Nature 426:127–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Laver DR (2007) Biophys J 92:3541–3555

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Cadenas E, Davies KJA (2000) Free Radical Biol Med 29:222–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Chou CC, Yang JS, Lu HS, Ip SW, Lo C, Wu CC, Lin JP, Tang NY, Chung JG, Chou MJ, Teng YH, Chen DR (2010) Arch Pharm Res 33:1181–1191

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Adams JM (2003) Genes Dev 17:2481–2495

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Duriez P, Shah GM (1997) Biochem Cell Biol 75:337–349

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Science and Technology Project of Jiangxi Education Department in 2017 (No GJJ171024) and Jiangxi University of Technology for financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmacy Division, Pingxiang People’s Hospital, Wugong Mountain Central Avenue, Anyuan District, Pingxiang City, 337055, Jiangxi Province, People’s Republic of China

    Zhen-Hua Liang

  2. School of Nursing, Jiangxi University of Technology, Nanchang, 330098, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China

    Zhen-Hua Liang, Ya-Ning Wang, Zhi-Wei Xiong, Xiao-Yan Chen & Lin Tong

Authors
  1. Zhen-Hua Liang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ya-Ning Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhi-Wei Xiong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xiao-Yan Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lin Tong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhen-Hua Liang.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liang, ZH., Wang, YN., Xiong, ZW. et al. Studies of the anticancer activities of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes toward human hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells. Transit Met Chem 44, 585–594 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11243-019-00315-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11243-019-00315-5

Search

Navigation