Computer-assisted drug discovery (CADD) of an anti-cancer derivative of the theobromine alkaloid inhibiting VEGFR-2
Ibrahim H. Eissa, Reda G. Yousef, Mostafa A. Asmaey, Hazem Elkady, Dalal Z. Husein, Aisha A. Alsfouk, Ibrahim M. Ibrahim, Mohamed A. Elkady, Eslam B. Elkaeed, Ahmed M. Metwaly · Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal · 2023
VEGFR-2 is a significant target in cancer treatment, inhibiting angiogenesis and impeding tumor growth. Utilizing the essential pharmacophoric structural properties , a new semi-synthetic theobromine analogue (T-1-MBHEPA) was designed as VEGFR-2 inhibitor. Firstly, T-1-MBHEPA's stability and reactivity were indicated through several DFT computations. Additionally, molecular docking, MD simulations, MM-GPSA, PLIP, and essential dynamics (ED) experiments suggested T-1-MBHEPA's strong binding capabilities to VEGFR-2. Its computational ADMET profiles were also studied before the semi-synthesis and indicated a good degree of drug-likeness. T-1-MBHEPA was then semi-synthesized to evaluate the design and the in silico findings. It was found that, T-1-MBHEPA inhibited VEGFR-2 with an IC50 value of 0.121 ± 0.051 µM, as compared to sorafenib which had an IC50 value of 0.056 µM. Similarly, T-1-MBHEPA inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 and MCF7 cell lines with IC50 values of 4.61 and 4.85 µg/mL respectively - comparing sorafenib's IC50 values which were 2.24 µg/mL and 3.17 µg/mL respectively. Interestingly, T-1-MBHEPA revealed a noteworthy IC50 value of 80.0 µM against the normal cell lines exhibiting exceptionally high selectivity indexes (SI) of 17.4 and 16. 5 against the examined cell lines, respectively. T-1-MBHEPA increased the percentage of apoptotic MCF7 cells in early and late stages, respectively, from 0.71% to 7.22% and from 0.13% to 2.72%, while the necrosis percentage was increased to 11.41%, in comparison to 2.22% in control cells. Furthermore, T-1-MBHEPA reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-2 in the treated MCF7 cells by 33% and 58%, respectively indicating an additional anti-angiogenic mechanism. Also, T-1-MBHEPA decreased significantly the potentialities of MCF7 cells to heal and migrate from 65.9% to 7.4%. Finally, T-1-MBHEPA’s oral treatment didn’t show toxicity on the liver function (ALT and AST) and the kidney function (creatinine and urea) levels of mice.