Ferroptosis and oxytosis are iron- and oxidative stress-dependent cell death pathways strongly implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and metabolic disorders. Therefore, specific inhibitors may have broad clinical applications. We previously reported that 3-[4-(dimethylamino)benzyl]-2-oxindole (GIF-0726-r) and derivatives protected the mouse hippocampal cell line HT22 against oxytosis/ferroptosis by suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. In this study, we evaluated the biological activities of GIF-0726-r derivatives with modifications at the oxindole skeleton and other positions. The addition of a methyl, nitro, or bromo group to C-5 of the oxindole skeleton enhanced antiferroptotic efficacy on HT22 cells during membrane cystine-glutamate antiporter inhibition and ensued intracellular glutathione depletion. In contrast, the substitution of the dimethylamino group on the side chain phenyl ring with a methyl, nitro, or amine group dramatically suppressed antiferroptotic activity regardless of other modifications. Compounds with antiferroptotic activity also directly scavenged ROS and decreased free ferrous ions in both HT22 cells and cell-free reactions while those compounds without antiferroptotic activity had little effect on either ROS or ferrous-ion concentration. Unlike oxindole compounds, which we have previously reported, the antiferroptotic compounds had little effect on the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element pathway. Oxindole GIF-0726-r derivatives with a 4-(dimethylamino)benzyl moiety at C-3 and some types of bulky group at C-5 (whether electron-donating or electron-withdrawing) can suppress ferroptosis, warranting safety and efficacy evaluations in animal models of disease.
Keywords: ferroptosis; ferrous ion; neuroprotection; oxindole; oxytosis.