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- UV-B Filter Octylmethoxycinnamate Induces Vasorelaxation by Ca2+ Channel Inhibition and Guanylyl Cyclase Activation in Human Umbilical ArteriesPublication . Lorigo, Margarida; Antunes, Carla; Lemos, Manuel C.; Oliveira, J. Martinez de; Granadeiro, Luiza Breitenfeld; Cairrão, ElisaUltraviolet (UV) filters are chemicals widely used in personal care products (PCPs). Due to their effect as endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs), the toxicity of UV filters is a current concern for human health. EDC exposure may be correlated to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but to our knowledge, no studies assessed the UV filters effects as human EDCs at the vascular level. Octylmethoxycinnamate (OMC) is the world's most widely used UV-B filter, present in more than 90% of PCPs. Due to its demonstrated multiple hormonal activities in animal models, this substance is also suspected to be a human EDC. The purpose of this study was to assess the rapid/short-term effects of OMC on arterial tonus and analyse its mode of action (MOA). Using human umbilical arteries, the endocrine effects of OMC were evaluated in in vitro (cellular and organ) experiments by planar cell surface area (PCSA) and organ bath, respectively. Our data show that OMC induces a rapid/short-term smooth muscle relaxation acting through an endothelium-independent MOA, which seems to be shared with oestrogens, involving an activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) that increases the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) intracellular levels and an inhibition of L-type voltage-operated Ca2+ channels (L-Type VOCC).
- Polyazamacrocycles as potential antitumor agents for human prostate cancer cellsPublication . Cruz, Carla; Cairrão, Elisa; Lourenço, Olga; Almeida, Paulo; Verde, Ignacio; Queiroz, JoãoPolyazamacrocycles are currently being studied and used in a variety of applications beyond their traditional place in supramolecular and co-ordination chemistry. This study suggests additional applications of these compounds with particular emphasis on their use as antiproliferative agents that could be potentially used to treat cancer. Four polyazamacrocycles were tested in human prostate cancer LNCaP and prostate epithelial PNTA1 cells to analyze changes in cell proliferation and cell death capabilities. Their intracellular localization was also evaluated by confocal microscopy. The results show a decrease in proliferation rate and cell viability of LNCaP and PNTA1, after treatment with these compounds. The decrease in the number of viable cells is similar for the majority of the compounds studied, and at higher concentration, the proliferation efficiency decreased significantly in the cell lines studied. Also, our results suggest that L and L2 induce early apoptosis in PNTA1 cells and late apoptosis/necrosis in LNCaP cells. The compounds did not induce a significant increase in necrosis of both cell types. Although the compounds did not localize in a unique organelle, all of them have as main target the Golgi apparatus and other localization profiles differed depending on the cell line.