Person:
Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos

First Name

José Carlos

Last Name

Menéndez Ramos

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/77600

Affiliation

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Faculty / Institute

Farmacia

Department

Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas

Area

Química Orgánica

Identifiers

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Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 23

Structure-antitumor activity relationships of Aza- and Diaza-Anthracene-2,9,10-Triones and their partially saturated derivativer
(Molecules, 2024) Avendaño López, María Carmen; López-Alvarado Gutiérrez, María Pilar; Pérez, José María; Alonso, Miguel Ángel; Pascual Alfonso, Eva; Ruiz Serrano, Miriam; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos
The 1,8-Diazaanthracene-2,9,10-triones, their 5,8-dihydro derivatives, and 1,8-diazaanthracene-2,7,9,10-tetraones, structurally related to the diazaquinomycin family of natural products, were synthesized in a regioselective fashion employing Diels-Alder strategies. These libraries were studied for their cytotoxicity in a variety of human cancer cell lines in order to establish structure-activity relationships. From the results obtained, we conclude that some representatives of the 1,8-diazaanthracene-2,9,10-trione framework show potent and selective cytotoxicity against solid tumors. Similar findings were made for the related 1-azaanthracene-2,9,10-trione derivatives, structurally similar to the marcanine natural products, which showed improved activity over their natural counterparts. An enantioselective protocol based on the use of a SAMP-related chiral auxiliary derived was developed for the case of chiral 5-substituted 1,8-diazaanthracene-2,9,10-triones, and showed that their cytotoxicity was not enantiospecific.
Neuroprotective Action of Multitarget 7-Aminophenanthridin-6(5H)-one Derivatives against Metal-Induced Cell Death and Oxidative Stress in SN56 Cells
(ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2021) Moyano-Cires Ivanoff, Paula Viviana; Vicente Zurdo, David; Blázquez-Barbadillo, Cristina; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos; González Matilla, Juan Francisco; Rosales Conrado, Noelia; Pino Sans, Javier Del
Neurodegenerative diseases have been associated with brain metal accumulation, which produces oxidative stress (OS), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) induction, and neuronal cell death. Several metals have been reported to downregulate both the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway and the antioxidant enzymes regulated by it, mediating OS induction and neurodegeneration. Among a recently discovered family of multitarget 7-amino-phenanthridin-6-one derivatives (APH) the most promising compounds were tested against metal-induced cell death and OS in SN56 cells. These compounds, designed to have chelating activity, are known to inhibit some MMPs and to present antioxidant and neuroprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide treatment to SN56 neuronal cells. However, the mechanisms that mediate this protective effect are not fully understood. The obtained results show that compounds APH1, APH2, APH3, APH4, and APH5 were only able to chelate iron and copper ions among all metals studied and that APH3, APH4, and APH5 were also able to chelate mercury ion. However, none of them was able to chelate zinc, cadmium, and aluminum, thus exhibiting selective chelating activity that can be partly responsible for their neuroprotective action. Otherwise, our results indicate that their antioxidant effect is mediated through induction of the Nrf2 pathway that leads to overexpression of antioxidant enzymes. Finally, these compounds exhibited neuroprotective effects, reversing partially or completely the cytotoxic effects induced by the metals studied depending on the compound used. APH4 was the most effective and safe compound.
Quinones as Neuroprotective Agents
(Antioxidants, 2023) Cores Esperón, Ángel; Carmona Zafra, Noelia; Clerigué Louzado, José; Villacampa Sanz, Mercedes; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos
Quinones can in principle be viewed as a double-edged sword in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, since they are often cytoprotective but can also be cytotoxic due to covalent and redox modification of biomolecules. Nevertheless, low doses of moderately electrophilic quinones are generally cytoprotective, mainly due to their ability to activate the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway and thus induce the expression of detoxifying enzymes. Some natural quinones have relevant roles in important physiological processes. One of them is coenzyme Q10, which takes part in the oxidative phosphorylation processes involved in cell energy production, as a proton and electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and shows neuroprotective effects relevant to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Additional neuroprotective quinones that can be regarded as coenzyme Q10 analogues are idobenone, mitoquinone and plastoquinone. Other endogenous quinones with neuroprotective activities include tocopherol-derived quinones, most notably vatiquinone, and vitamin K. A final group of non-endogenous quinones with neuroprotective activity is discussed, comprising embelin, APX-3330, cannabinoid-derived quinones, asterriquinones and other indolylquinones, pyrroloquinolinequinone and its analogues, geldanamycin and its analogues, rifampicin quinone, memoquin and a number of hybrid structures combining quinones with amino acids, cholinesterase inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Project number: 377
Empleo de Software libre para la enseñanza en el área de la Química Orgánica
(2022) González Matilla, Juan Francisco; Gómez-Carpintero Jiménez, Jorge; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos; Ramos García, María Teresa; Villacampa Sanz, Mercedes; Sanchez Cebrián, Juan Domingo
Bisavenathramide Analogues as Nrf2 Inductors and Neuroprotectors in In Vitro Models of Oxidative Stress and Hyperphosphorylation
(Antioxidants, 2021) Cores Esperón, Ángel; Abril Comesaña, Sheila; Michalska Dziama, Patrycja; Duarte, Pablo; Olives Barba, Ana Isabel; Martín Carmona, María Antonia; Villacampa Sanz, Mercedes; León Martínez, Rafael; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos
Oxidative stress is crucial to the outbreak and advancement of neurodegenerative diseases and is a common factor to many of them. We describe the synthesis of a library of derivatives of the 4-arylmethylen-2-pyrrolin-5-one framework by sequential application of a three-component reaction of primary amines, β-dicarbonyl compounds, and α-haloketones and a Knoevenagel condensation. These compounds can be viewed as cyclic amides of caffeic and ferulic acids, and are also structurally related to the bisavenanthramide family of natural antioxidants. Most members of the library showed low cytotoxicity and good activity as inductors of Nrf2, a transcription factor that acts as the master regulator of the antioxidant response associated with activation of the antioxidant response element (ARE). Nrf2-dependent protein expression was also proved by the significant increase in the levels of the HMOX1 and NQO1 proteins. Some compounds exerted neuroprotective properties in oxidative stress situations, such as rotenone/oligomycin-induced toxicity, and also against protein hyperphosphorylation induced by the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. Compound 3i, which can be considered a good candidate for further hit-to-lead development against neurodegenerative diseases due to its well-balanced multitarget profile, was further characterized by proving its ability to reduce phosphorylated Tau levels.
Bifunctional carbazole derivatives for simultaneous therapy and fluorescence imaging in prion disease murine cell models
(European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2022) Staderini, Matteo; Vanni, Silvia; Colini Baldeschi, Arianna; Zattoni, Marco; Celauro, Luigi; Ferracin, Chiara; Bistaffa, Edoardo; Moda, Fabio; Pérez, Daniel I.; Martínez, Ana; Martín Carmona, María Antonia; Martín Cámara, Olmo; Cores Esperón, Ángel; Bianchini, Giulia; Kammerer, Robert; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos; Legname, Giuseppe; Bolognesi, Maria Laura
Prion diseases are characterized by the self-assembly of pathogenic misfolded scrapie isoforms (PrPSc) of the cellular prion protein (PrPC). In an effort to achieve a theranostic profile, symmetrical bifunctional carbazole derivatives were designed as fluorescent rigid analogues of GN8, a pharmacological chaperone that stabilizes the native PrPC conformation and prevents its pathogenic conversion. A focused library was synthesized via a four- step route, and a representative member was confirmed to have native fluorescence, including a band in the near- infrared region. After a cytotoxicity study, compounds were tested on the RML-infected ScGT1 neuronal cell line, by monitoring the levels of protease-resistant PrPSc. Small dialkylamino groups at the ends of the molecule were found to be optimal in terms of therapeutic index, and the bis-(dimethylaminoacetamido)carbazole derivative 2b was selected for further characterization. It showed activity in two cellClines infected with the mouse-adapted RML strain (ScGT1 and ScN2a). Unlike GN8, 2b did not affect PrP levels, which represents a potential advantage in terms of toxicity. Amyloid Seeding Assay (ASA) experiments showed the capacity of 2b to delay the aggregation of recombinant mouse PrP. Its ability to interfere with the amplification of the scrapie RML strain by Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) was shown to be higher than that of GN8, although 2b did not inhibit the amplification of human vCJD prion. Fluorescent staining of PrPSc aggregates by 2b was confirmed in living cells. 2b emerges as an initial hit compound for further medicinal chemistry optimization towards strain- independent anti-prion compounds.
Twenty-first century antiepileptic drugs. An overview of their targets and synthetic approaches
(2024) Sánchez Cebrián, Juan Domingo; González Matilla, Juan Francisco; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos
The therapeutic use of the traditional drugs against epilepsy has been hindered by their toxicity and low selectivity. These limitations have stimulated the design and development of new generations of antiepileptic drugs. This review explores the molecular targets and synthesis of the antiepileptic drugs that have entered the market in the 21st century, with a focus on manufacturer synthesis.
NRF2 Regulation Processes as a Source of Potential Drug Targets against Neurodegenerative Diseases
(Biomolecules, 2020) Cores Esperón, Ángel; Piquero Martí, Marta; Villacampa Sanz, Mercedes; León Martínez, Rafael; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos
NRF2 acts by controlling gene expression, being the master regulator of the Phase II antioxidant response, and also being key to the control of neuroinflammation. NRF2 activity is regulated at several levels, including protein degradation by the proteasome, transcription, and post-transcription. The purpose of this review is to offer a concise and critical overview of the main mechanisms of NRF2 regulation and their actual or potential use as targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Curcumin-Piperlongumine Hybrids with a Multitarget Profile Elicit Neuroprotection in In Vitro Models of Oxidative Stress and Hyperphosphorylation
(Antioxidants, 2021) Cores Esperón, Ángel; Carmona Zafra, Noelia; Martín Cámara, Olmo; Sánchez Cebrián, Juan Domingo; Duarte, Pablo; Villacampa Sanz, Mercedes; Bermejo Bescos, María De La Paloma; Martín-Aragón Álvarez, Sagrario; León Martínez, Rafael; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos
Curcumin shows a broad spectrum of activities of relevance in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, it is poorly absorbed and is also chemically and metabolically unstable, leading to a very low oral bioavailability. A small library of hybrid compounds designed as curcumin analogues and incorporating the key structural fragment of piperlongumine, a natural neuroinflammation inhibitor, were synthesized by a two-step route that combines a three-component reaction between primary amines, β-ketoesters and α-haloesters and a base-promoted acylation with cinnamoyl chlorides. These compounds were predicted to have good oral absorption and CNS permeation, had good scavenging properties in the in vitro DPPH experiment and in a cellular assay based on the oxidation of dichlorofluorescin to a fluorescent species. The compounds showed low toxicity in two cellular models, were potent inductors of the Nrf2-ARE phase II antioxidant response, inhibited PHF6 peptide aggregation, closely related to Tau protein aggregation and were active against the LPS-induced inflammatory response. They also afforded neuroprotection against an oxidative insult induced by inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain with the rotenone-oligomycin A combination and against Tau hyperphosphorylation induced by the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. This multitarget pharmacological profile is highly promising in the development of treatments for AD and provides a good hit structure for future optimization efforts.
Approaches to the Potential Therapy of COVID-19: A General Overview from the Medicinal Chemistry Perspective
(Molecules, 2022) Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos
In spite of advances in vaccination, control of the COVID-19 pandemic will require the use of pharmacological treatments against SARS-CoV2. Their development needs to consider the existence of two phases in the disease, namely the viral infection and the inflammatory stages. The main targets for antiviral therapeutic intervention are: (a) viral proteins, including the spike (S) protein characteristic of the viral cover and the viral proteases in charge of processing the polyprotein arising from viral genome translation; (b) host proteins, such as those involved in the processes related to viral entry into the host cell and the release of the viral genome inside the cell, the elongation factor eEF1A and importins. The use of antivirals targeted at host proteins is less developed but it has the potential advantage of not being affected by mutations in the genome of the virus and therefore being active against all its variants. Regarding drugs that address the hyperinflammatory phase of the disease triggered by the so-called cytokine storm, the following strategies are particularly relevant: (a) drugs targeting JAK kinases; (b) sphingosine kinase 2 inhibitors; (c) antibodies against interleukin 6 or its receptor; (d) use of the traditional anti-inflammatory corticosteroids.