Tetrazole derivatives as potent immunomodulatory agents in tumor microenvironment

Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Dec 31:169:115668. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115668. Epub 2023 Nov 15.

Abstract

Twenty-seven compounds bearing a tetrazole ring as a central unit have been designed, synthetized and biologically evaluated. Studies have been performed in order to compare the effect of tetrazole derivatives bearing amine electron-donor or nitro electron-acceptor groups. The antiproliferative activity has been determined in monoculture studies on tumor cell lines HT-29, A-549, MCF-7 and on non-tumor cell line HEK-293 as well as in co-culture studies (HT-29/THP-1). All the compounds have been studied as PD-L1 (Programmed Death Ligand 1), VEGFR-2 (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 2), CD-47 (Cluster of Differentiation 47) and c-Myc inhibitors. The effect on TNF-α secretion has also been determined. Bromoderivatives 23, 24 and chloroderivatives 26, 27 have demonstrated an apoptotic effect on HT-29 cancer cells. Compounds bearing an amine group have shown very promising effects as TME immunomodulatory agents.

Keywords: Amine; Antiproliferative activity; Apoptosis; C-Myc; CD-47; PD-L1; THP-1; TNF-α; Tetrazole; VEGFR-2.

MeSH terms

  • Amines / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulating Agents
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tetrazoles / pharmacology
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunomodulating Agents
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Tetrazoles
  • Amines
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2