Abstract
Objective
Neuroprotection is a precise target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, ischemic stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Pyrimidine and its derivatives have been proven to use antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity prompting us to study the neuroprotection and anti-inflammatory activity of the triazole-pyrimidine hybrid on human microglia and neuronal cell model.
Methods
A series of novel triazole-pyrimidine-based compounds were designed, synthesized and characterized by mass spectra, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and a single X-Ray diffraction analysis. Further, the neuroprotective, anti-neuroinflammatory activity was evaluated by cell viability assay (MTT), Elisa, qRT-PCR, western blotting, and molecular docking.
Results
The molecular results revealed that triazole-pyrimidine hybrid compounds have promising neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. Among the 14 synthesized compounds, ZA3-ZA5, ZB2-ZB6, and intermediate S5 showed significant anti-neuroinflammatory properties through inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production in LPS-stimulated human microglia cells. From 14 compounds, six (ZA2 to ZA6 and intermediate S5) exhibited promising neuroprotective activity by reduced expression of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone, BIP, and apoptosis marker cleaved caspase-3 in human neuronal cells. Also, a molecular docking study showed that lead compounds have favorable interaction with active residues of ATF4 and NF-kB proteins.
Conclusion
The possible mechanism of action was observed through the inhibition of ER stress, apoptosis, and the NF-kB inflammatory pathway. Thus, our study strongly indicates that the novel scaffolds of triazole-pyrimidine-based compounds can potentially be developed as neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory agents.
Graphical Abstract
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Abbreviations
- AD:
-
Alzheimer’s disease
- BBB:
-
Blood-brain barrier
- CHCl3 :
-
Chloroform
- DMSO:
-
Dimethyl sulfoxide
- ER:
-
Endoplasmic reticulum
- HMC3:
-
Human microglia clone 3 cells
- LPS:
-
Lipopolysaccharide
- MeOH:
-
Methanol
- Mp:
-
Melting point
- NMR:
-
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
- OGD/R:
-
Oxygen-glucose deprivation/Reperfusion
- PD:
-
Parkinson’s disease
- ppm:
-
Parts per million
- POCl3 :
-
Phosphorus oxychloride
- K2CO3 :
-
Potassium carbonate
- qRT-PCR:
-
Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Rt:
-
Room temperature
- THF:
-
Tetrahydrofuran
- TLC:
-
Thin-layer chromatography
- UV:
-
Ultraviolet
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Acknowledgements
MSM is highly thankful to the University Grants Commission, Government of India, for financial assistance through Central University. Ph.D. Student’s Fellowship. DAA was supported by a Scholarship from Taif University, Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission. The study was partly supported by Grants from the American Heart Association (17AIREA33700076/Z.A.S./2017) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Health (R01NS112642) to ZAS.
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NH and ZAS were in charge of the research. MSM was involved in the design and synthesis of the compounds under the supervision of NH. SM SM also performed the molecular docking studies and drafting of the manuscript. MKR and MSM analyzed chemical data. DA and AWJ performed in vitro and molecular experiments under the supervision of ZAS, KTK and SMN performed the docking and DMD simulation. SM, DA, and AWJ wrote the manuscript; ZAS corrected the manuscript. All the authors contributed to and approved the final manuscript.
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Manzoor, S., Almarghalani, D.A., James, A.W. et al. Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of Novel Triazole-Pyrimidine Hybrids as Potential Neuroprotective and Anti-neuroinflammatory Agents. Pharm Res 40, 167–185 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-022-03429-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-022-03429-1