Novel sulfonamide-chalcone hybrid stimulates inflammation, angiogenesis and upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in vivo

• Published in: Microvascular research Vol. 139; p. 104253
• Main Authors: Silva, Luana Santos, Véras, Jefferson Hollanda, Fernandes, Amanda Silva, de Melo Bisneto, Abel Vieira, de Castro, Mirian Rita Carrilho, Naves, Raquel Ferreira, Carneiro, Cristiene Costa, Pérez, Caridad Noda, Cardoso, Clever Gomes, Ribeiro e Silva, Carolina, Chen-Chen, Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-01-2022
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Angiogenesis Inducing Agents - pharmacology; Angiogenesis Inducing Agents - toxicity; Animals; CAM assay; Chalcones - pharmacology; Chalcones - toxicity; Chick Embryo; Chorioallantoic Membrane - blood supply; Inflammation; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - metabolism; Neovascularization, Physiologic - drug effects; Sulfonamide-chalcone; Up-Regulation; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; VEGF; Angiogenesis; Inflammation; Sulfonamide-chalcone; CAM assay; VEGF
• ISSN: 0026-2862; 1095-9319
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2021.104253

Chalcones and sulfonamides are well-known chemical groups associated with several biological activities such as antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. Over the past few decades, a series of sulfonamide-chalcone hybrids have been synthesized and assessed to develop compounds with interesting biological properties for application in disease therapy. In the present study, a new sulfonamide-chalcone hybrid μ - (2,5-dichloro-N-{4-[(3E)-4-(3-nitrophenyl) buta-1,3-dien-2-yl] phenyl} benzene sulfonamide), or simply CL185, was synthesized, and its angiogenic activity was assessed using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay at different concentrations (12.5, 25, and 50 μg/μL). To further investigate the role of CL185 in the angiogenic process, we evaluated the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in all treated CAMs. The results showed that all concentrations of CL185 significantly increased tissue vascularization (p < 0.05) as well as the parameters associated with angiogenesis, in which inflammation was the most marked phenomenon observed. In all CAMs treated with CL185, VEGF levels were significantly higher than those in the negative control (p < 0.05), and at the highest concentration, VEGF levels were even higher than in the positive control (p < 0.05). The pronounced angiogenic activity displayed by CL185 may be related to the increase in VEGF levels that were stimulated by inflammatory processes observed in our study. Therefore, CL185 presents a favorable profile for the development of drugs that can be used in pro-angiogenic and tissue repair therapies.
•Angiogenic activity of CL185 was assessed in vivo by CAM assay.•Histological analysis and VEGF expression of CL185 were also assessed in CAM assay.•CL185 induced angiogenesis and increased VEGF expression at all concentrations.•Inflammation was the most marked phenomenon observed in the histological analysis.•Angiogenesis and VEGF expression were stimulated by the inflammatory process.