Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of benzamide derivatives as novel NTCP inhibitors that induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

Abstract

Sodium taurocholate cotransport polypeptide (NTCP) plays an important role in the development of hepatitis and acts as a switch to allow hepatitis virus to enter hepatic cells. As the entry receptor protein of hepatitis virus, NTCP is also an effective target for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, twenty-five benzamide analogues were synthesized based on the virtual screening design and their anti-proliferative activities against HepG2 cells were evaluated in vitro. Compound 35 was found to be promising, with an IC50 value of 2.8 μM. The apoptosis induced by 35 was characterized by the regulation of markers, including an increase in Bax, cleaved-caspase 3, and cleaved-PARP proteins, and a decrease in Bcl-2 protein. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation confirmed that compound 35 can bind tightly to NTCP. Western blot analysis also showed that NTCP was inhibited. Altogether, these results indicate that compound 35 acts as a novel NTCP inhibitor to induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

• Authors: Shuangmei Zhao, Yongqi Zhen, Leilei Fu, Feng Gao, Xianli Zhou, Shuai Huang, Lan Zhang
• Journal: Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters (Bioorg Med Chem Lett) Vol. 29 Issue 19 Pg. 126623 (10 01 2019) ISSN: 1464-3405 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31439379 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Antiviral Agents
• Benzamides
• Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent
• Symporters
• sodium-bile acid cotransporter

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (chemical synthesis, pharmacology)
• Antiviral Agents (chemical synthesis, pharmacology)
• Apoptosis
• Benzamides (chemistry)
• Drug Design
• Hep G2 Cells
• Hepatitis B (drug therapy, virology)
• Hepatitis B virus (drug effects)
• Humans
• Molecular Docking Simulation
• Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Symporters (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Virus Internalization