Cytotoxicity of Cu(II) and Zn(II) 2,2'-bipyridyl complexes: dependence of IC50 on recovery time.

Abstract

We measure the cytotoxicity of three metal complexes containing the 2,2'-bypyridine ligand, Cu(bpy)(NCS)(2), 1, [Cu(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)](PF(6))(2), 2, and Zn(bpy)(2)(NCS)(2), 3, toward neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-SH) and ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3) using two different cell assays. The cells were exposed to various concentrations of the compounds for 1 h and the percent inhibition of cell growth, I, measured for various times after exposure, i.e., as a function of the recovery time t. After developing the theory showing the relationship between I and t, the cytotoxicity data were analyzed to reveal that the two copper complexes, 1 and 2, cause the cells to divide at a slower rate than the controls during the recovery period, but the zinc complex, 3, had little or no effect on cell division during the recovery period. The usual metric for reporting cytotoxicity is IC(50), which is the concentration of agent required to inhibit cell growth to 50% of the control population. However, since IC(50) can depend on the recovery time, t, as is the case for 1 and 2, reporting IC(50) for a single recovery time can hide important information about the long-time effects of a cytotoxic agent on the health of the cell population. Mechanistic studies with the compounds revealed that the copper complexes, 1 and 2, cleave closed circular pBR322 DNA in the presence of ascorbate, while the zinc complex, 3, does not facilitate DNA cleavage under the same conditions. This difference in DNA cleavage activity may be related to the fact that Cu(II) is redox active and can readily change its oxidation state, while Zn(II) is redox inert and cannot participate in a redox cycle with ascorbate to break DNA.

• Authors: Yi Shi, Bonnie B Toms, Namrata Dixit, Niraj Kumari, Lallan Mishra, Jerry Goodisman, James C Dabrowiak
• Journal: Chemical research in toxicology (Chem Res Toxicol) Vol. 23 Issue 8 Pg. 1417-26 (Aug 16 2010) ISSN: 1520-5010 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20672868 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ligands
• Organometallic Compounds
• 2,2'-Dipyridyl
• Copper
• Zinc

Topics

• 2,2'-Dipyridyl (chemistry)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Copper (chemistry)
• DNA Cleavage (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
• Humans
• Inhibitory Concentration 50
• Ligands
• Molecular Structure
• Organometallic Compounds (chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
• Plasmids (drug effects)
• Stereoisomerism
• Time Factors
• Zinc (chemistry)