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In the cell Mn porphyrins (MnPs) likely couple with cellular reductants which results in a drop of total charge from 5+ to 4+ and dramatically increases their lipophilicity by up to three orders of magnitude depending upon the length of alkylpyridyl chains and type of isomer. The effects result from the interplay of solvation, lipophilicit and stericity. Impact of ascorbate on accumulation of MnPs was measured in E. coli and in Balb/C mouse tumours and muscle; for the latter measurements, the LC/ESI-MS/MS method was developed. Accumulation was significantly enhanced when MnPs were co-administered with ascorbate in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Further, MnTnHex-2-PyP5+ accumulates 5-fold more in the tumour than in a muscle. Such data increase our understanding of MnPs cellular and sub-cellular accumulation and remarkable in vivo effects. The work is in progress to understand how coupling of MnPs with ascorbate affects their mechanism of action, in particular with respect to cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased expression of Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) and Na+,K+-ATPase activity have been demonstrated in diabetic nephropathy and are implicated in the development of hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a synthetic manganese porphyrin SOD mimic and peroxynitrite scavenger, Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin (MnTM-2-PyP) on the expression of NHE and Na+,K+-ATPase activity in the kidneys of streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. MnTM-2-PyP administration (1 mg/kg/day) started immediately after STZ and lasted 2 months. Glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were measured in blood. NHE-1 and NHE-3 isoform expression, Na+,K+-ATPase activity, and markers of ROS/RNS-induced damage were determined in kidney homogenates. Diabetes caused lipid peroxidation, inactivation of aconitase, and increase of nitrotyrosine, which paralleled an increase in NHE-1 and NHE-3 expression and Na+,K+-ATPase activity. MnTM-2-PyP treatment had no effect on blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, but suppressed lipid peroxidation and nitrotyrosine, protected aconitase against inactivation, and reversed the induction of NHE-1 and NHE-3 isoforms. Na+/H+ exchanger is under the control of redox-based cellular transcriptional activity, including members of the SP family of transcription factors. Mn(III) alkylpyridylporphyrins were previously found to inhibit activation of major transcription factors, including SP-1 via scavenging of signaling ROS/RNS. Therefore, our data suggest that, by reducing the levels of ROS/RNS, MnTM-2-PyP might interfere with signaling pathways responsible for NHE up-regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a minimally invasive approach, in treating both neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases has stimulated the search for new compounds with potential application in PDT. We have previously reported that Zn(II) N -alkylpyridylporphyrins (ZnTM-2(3,4)-PyP 4+ and ZnTE-2-PyP 4+ ) can act as photosensitizers and kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study investigated the photosensitizing effects of the isomers of ZnTMPyP 4+ (ZnTM-2(3,4)-PyP 4+ ) and respective ligands on a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line. At 10 µM and 30 min of illumination the isomeric porphyrins completely inhibited cell growth, and at 20 µM killed approximately 50% of the cancer cells. All these effects were entirely light-dependent. The isomers of the ZnTMPyP 4+ and the respective ligands show high photosensitizing efficiency and no toxicity in the dark. Their efficacy as photosensitizers is comparable to that of hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased expression of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE) and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity have been demonstrated in diabetic nephropathy and are implicated in the development of hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a synthetic manganese porphyrin SOD mimic and peroxynitrite scavenger, Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin (MnTM-2-PyP) on the expression of NHE and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in the kidneys of streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. MnTM-2-PyP administration (1 mg/kg/day) started immediately after STZ and lasted 2 months. Glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were measured in blood. NHE-1 and NHE-3 isoform expression, Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity, and markers of ROS/RNS-induced damage were determined in kidney homogenates. Diabetes caused lipid peroxidation, inactivation of aconitase, and increase of nitrotyrosine, which paralleled an increase in NHE-1 and NHE-3 expression and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. MnTM-2-PyP treatment had no effect on blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, but suppressed lipid peroxidation and nitrotyrosine, protected aconitase against inactivation, and reversed the induction of NHE-1 and NHE-3 isoforms. Na(+)/H(+) exchanger is under the control of redox-based cellular transcriptional activity, including members of the SP family of transcription factors. Mn(III) alkylpyridylporphyrins were previously found to inhibit activation of major transcription factors, including SP-1 via scavenging of signaling ROS/RNS. Therefore, our data suggest that, by reducing the levels of ROS/RNS, MnTM-2-PyP might interfere with signaling pathways responsible for NHE up-regulation.