P 030 - Radical-regulatory and anti-tumor properties of quinone derivatives

Abstract

Redox-active derivatives of quinones participate in many biochemical processes. Based on such compounds, a large number of drugs have been developed, which are widely used in medicine, including anticancer treatment. Most of the processes in biological systems, where quinones are involved, proceed with participation of free-radical intermediates and this makes actual the study of their mechanisms. The data obtained indicate that the tested benzoquinones effectively interact with carbon-centered radicals of hydroxyl-containing organic compounds and inhibit thereby the reactions of their oxidation, deamination and fragmentation. It has been shown that quinone derivatives, including doxorubicin, inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced fragmentation of glycerophospholipids, suppressing the formation of phosphatidic acid. As it is known, phosphatidic acid promotes proliferation of cancer cells. It has been found that the action of benzoquinones on glioma cells in vitroleads to decrease of reduced glutathione pool, to modification of ROS production in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, and also to suppression of proliferation of this type cells. Possible relationship between radical-regulatory and anti-tumor properties of quinoid-type compounds in question is proposed.