Ruthenium(II) p-cymene complex bearing 2,2-dipyridylamine targets caspase
3 deficient MCF-7 breast cancer cells without disruption of antitumor immune
response
Goran N. Kaluerovic, Tamara Krajnovic, Miljana Momcilovic, Stanislava
Stosic-Grujicic, Sanja Mijatovic, Danijela Maksimovic-Ivanic, Evamarie
Hey-Hawkins
PII:
DOI:
Reference:

S0162-0134(15)30081-7
doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2015.09.006
JIB 9807

To appear in:

Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry

Received date:
Revised date:
Accepted date:

24 July 2015
6 September 2015
9 September 2015

Please cite this article as: Goran N. Kaluerovic, Tamara Krajnovic, Miljana Momcilovic,
Stanislava Stosic-Grujicic, Sanja Mijatovic, Danijela Maksimovic-Ivanic, Evamarie HeyHawkins, Ruthenium(II) p-cymene complex bearing 2,2-dipyridylamine targets caspase
3 decient MCF-7 breast cancer cells without disruption of antitumor immune response,
Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry (2015), doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2015.09.006

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Ruthenium(II) p-cymene complex bearing 2,2-dipyridylamine targets
caspase 3 deficient MCF-7 breast cancer cells without disruption of

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antitumor immune response

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Goran N. Kaluerovia,b,*, Tamara Krajnovic, Miljana Momcilovicc, Stanislava Stosic-

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Grujicicc, Sanja Mijatovic, Danijela Maksimovi-Ivanic and Evamarie Hey-Hawkinsa

Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 29, D-04103 Leipzig,

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Germany.

Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz-Institute of Plant Biochemistry,

Institute for Biological Research Sinisa Stankovic, University of Belgrade, Bulevar

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Weinberg 3, D 06120 Halle (Saale) Germany.

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despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia.

Abstract

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Dedicated to Prof. Giovanni Natile on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

[Ru(6-p-cym)Cl{dpa(CH2)4COOEt}][PF6] (cym = cymene; dpa = 2,2-dipyridylamine;

complex 2) was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and multinuclear NMR
spectroscopy, as well as ESI-MS and X-ray structural analysis. The structural analog without
a side chain [Ru(6-p-cym)Cl(dpa)][PF6] (1) as well as 2 were investigated in vitro against
518A2, SW480, 8505C, A253 and MCF-7 cell lines. Complex 1 is active against all
investigated tumor cell lines while the activity of compound 2 is limited only to caspase 3
deficient MCF-7 breast cancer cells, however, both are less active than cisplatin. As CD4+Th
cells are necessary to trigger all the immune effector mechanisms required to eliminate tumor

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cells, besides testing the in vitro antitumor activity of 1 and 2, the effect of ruthenium(II)
complexes on the cells of the adaptive immune system have also been evaluated. Importantly,

complex 1 applied in concentrations which were effective against tumor cells did not affect

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immune cell viability, nor did exert a general immunosuppressive effect on cytokine

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production. Thus, beneficial characteristics of 2 might contribute to the overall therapeutic

properties of the complex.

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Keywords: ruthenium(II), cisplatin, anticancer drugs, immune cells, cytokines

1. Introduction

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Over the last few decades many efforts have been made in the field of cancer therapy [14].
The treatment of many types of cancer has cisplatin and its analogues as mainstay drugs in

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current clinical chemotherapy. However, the clinical drawbacks of cisplatin are apparent,
including the limited applicability, the intrinsic or acquired resistance, and the serious side

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effects [5]. In recent years, ruthenium-based complexes have emerged as promising antitumor
and antimetastatic agents with equal or even greater antitumor activity and lower toxicity [6].
Superiority of ruthenium complexes from the classical platinum-based drugs reflect not only
in their cytotoxic activity, but also in the extremely low toxicity against normal cells [79].
Up to now, various ruthenium complexes were investigated as potential anticancer agents
[1019]. Two families of ruthenium(II) complexes were the mostly investigated as potential
agents in treatment of cancer. Thus, octahedral ruthenium(III) complexes, such as [LH]trans[RuCl4(L--N)n(S-DMSO)2n] (n = 1, L = imidazole; n = 2, L= indazole) which reached
clinical trials [2025] as well as ruthenium(II) arene complexes, piano stool type, i.e.

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[Ru(6-arene)Cl(NN)]X (NN = chelating diamine ligand; X = Cl, PF6, BPh4), showed
promising anticancer activity in both in vitro and in vivo studies [26,27].

Inflammation and immunity affect all phases of tumor growth from initiation to progression

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and dissemination [28]. T helper (Th) cells are fundamental for optimal induction of both

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humoral and cellular effector mechanisms [29]. Both innate and adaptive immunity have been
shown to participate in this response. Adaptive immune responses to Ags released by dying

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cells play a critical role in the spontaneous as well as therapy-induced tumor rejection [30].
Ample studies have identified proinflammatory cytokines as crucial mediators in cancer

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treatments. Recently, the binuclear ruthenium(II) complex, [{RuCl2(6-p-cym)}2-{(3py)COO(CH2CH2O)4CO(3-py)}] (py = pyridine), was reported, which modulates immune

system cell functions in vitro by inhibiting T cell differentiation towards pathogenic

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Th1/Th17 phenotype and inducing a regulatory phenotype characterized by IL-10 and IL-4

lines [32].
This

paper

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production [31]. This ruthenium(II) complex was found ineffective against several tumor cell

focuses

on

the

synthesis

and

characterization

of

[Ru(6-p-

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cym)Cl{dpa(CH2)4COOEt}][PF6] (cym = cymene; dpa = 2,2-dipyridylamine; complex 2) as

well as its biological activity and of its structural analog [Ru(6-p-cym)Cl(dpa)][PF6] (1).
With the aim to contribute to the understanding of the antitumor action mechanism of
ruthenium(II) compounds the in vitro activity of 1 and 2 was investigated against tumor cells
along with normal cells of the adaptive immune system.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Materials and measurements

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All reactions and manipulations were carried out under argon using standard Schlenk
techniques. NMR spectra (1H, 13C, 31P) were recorded at 27 C on Varian Gemini VXR 400

spectrometers. Chemical shifts are relative to solvent signals (acetone-d6, 2.06, C 30.5,

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206.8; CDCl3, 7.24, C 77.0) as internal references; (31P) is relative to external H3PO4

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(85%). Microanalyses (C, H) were performed in the Microanalytical Laboratory of the

University of Halle using a CHNS-932 (LECO) elemental analyzer. Mass spectra (ESI-MS)
were recorded on an FTICR MS Bruker-Daltonics ESI mass spectrometer (APEX II, 7 T).

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Ethyl 5-bromovalerate was purchased from Sigma Aldrich (Germany). [{RuCl2(6-p-cym)}2]

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was prepared according to a literature procedure [33].

2.2. Preparation of dpa(CH2)4COOEt and complexes 1 and 2

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2.2.1. Preparation of dpa(CH2)4COOEt

Compound dpa(CH2)4COOEt was prepared by an adapted literature procedure for

N-

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neopentyl-N-(pyridine-2-yl)pyridine-2-amine [34]. Solid NaH (198 mg, 8.25 mmol) was

added in small portions to a solution of 2,2-dipyridylamine (1g, 5.85 mmol) in dry DMF (10

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mL), stirred under N2 at 0 C. After 1.5 h Br(CH2)4COOEt (1.5 mL, 9.25 mmol) was added
and the reaction mixture was heated at 75 C for 2 days. Afterwards EtOH (5 mL) was used to
quench the reaction (caution!) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The
obtained oil was treated with diethyl ether (10 mL), filtered and the diethyl was removed. The
remaining oil was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (n-hexane:ethylacetate =
8:2). Yield: 1.10 g (63%). ESI-MS (CHCl3/CH3OH), positive mode: Calcd for
[C17H21N3NaO2]+ 322.1, m/z 322.2 [M+Na]+. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): 1.25 (t, 3H,
C12H3), 1.75 (m, 4H, C7H2+C8H2), 2.35 (m, 2H, C9H2), 4.10 (m, 2H, C11H2), 4.21 (m, 2H,
C6H2), 6.83 (dd, 3J(H4,H3) = 6.9 Hz, 3J(H4,H5) = 6.1 Hz, 2H, H4), 7.07 (d, 3J(H2,H3) = 8.0 Hz,
2H, H2), 7.49 (dd, 3J(H3,H2) = 8.0 Hz, 3J(H3,H4) = 6.9 Hz, 2H, H3), 8.32 (d, 3J(H5,H4) =

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6.1 Hz, 2H, H5).

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C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 15.2 (C12), 22.4 (C8), 26.8 (C7), 33.3 (C9),

47.7 (C6), 60.1 (C11), 114.6 (C2), 116.9 (C4), 137.0 (C3), 148.3 (C5), 156.1 (C1), 173.6 (C10).

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Numbering of carbon atoms is given in Scheme 1.

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2.2.2. Preparation of [RuCl2(6-p-cym)(dpa)][PF6] (1)

1 was prepared by a modified literature procedure [35]. The amine dpa (56 mg, 0.33 mmol)
was added to a dry methanol solution (25 mL) of [{RuCl2(6-p-cym)}2] (100 mg, 0.16 mmol).

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The solution was heated under reflux and stirred for 4 h. Afterwards the reaction mixture was

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allowed to cool to r.t., and solid [NH4][PF6] (270 mg, 1.66 mmol) was added and the mixture
stirred for an additional 0.5 h. The obtained yellow precipitate was filtered off, washed with
diethyl ether and dried in vacuum. Yield: 160 mg (83%). The structure and purity were
13

C NMR spectroscopy. Anal. Found:

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confirmed by elemental analysis, ESI-MS and 1H and

C, 41.10; H, 3.84; N, 7.27. Calcd for C20H23N3ClF6PRu (586.90): C, 40.93; H, 3.95; N, 7.16.

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ESI-MS (DMSO/CH3OH), positive mode: Calcd for [C20H23ClN3Ru]+ 442.1, m/z 442.1 [M
PF6]+. 1H NMR (400 MHz, acetone-d6): 1.26 (d, 3J(H,H) = 7.0 Hz, 6H, CgH3), 2.14 (3H,

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CeH3), 2.75 (m, 1H, CfH), 2.83 (s, 1H, NH), 5.70 (d, 3J(H,H) = 6.7 Hz, 2H, CbH), 5.81 (d,
J(H,H) = 6.7 Hz, 2H, CcH), 7.23 (dd, 3J(H4,H3) = 6.9 Hz, 3J(H4,H5) = 5.8 Hz, 2H, H4), 7.33

(d, 3J(H2,H3) = 7.9 Hz, 2H, H2), 8.00 (dd, 3J(H3,H2) = 7.9 Hz 3J(H3,H4) = 6.9 Hz, 2H, H3),
8.70 (d, 3J(H5,H4) = 5.8 Hz, 2H, H5). 13C NMR (100 MHz, acetone-d6): 19.0 (Ce), 23.0 (Cg),
32.3 (Cf), 85.6 (Cc), 87.0 (Cb), 101.4 (Ca), 108.3 (Cd), 115.7 (C2), 121.2 (C4), 142.1 (C3),
154.8 (C1), 156.3 (C5). Numbering of carbon atoms is given in Scheme 1.

2.2.3. Preparation of [RuCl(6-p-cym){dpa(CH2)4COOEt}][PF6] (2)

2 was prepared analogously to 1; instead of dpa, the derivative dpa(CH2)4COOEt (98 mg,
0.326 mmol) was used. Yield: 175 mg (75%). Anal. Found: C, 45.29; H, 4.44; N, 5.89. Calcd

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for C27H35N3O2ClF6PRu (715.05): C, 45.35; H, 4.93; N, 5.88. IR (KBr, cm1): 3015 (w), 2966
(w), 1730 (m), 1598 (w), 1574 (w), 1457 (m), 1440 (m), 1392 (w), 1351 (w), 1244 (w), 1181

(m), 1099 (w), 1080 (w), 1029 (w), 885 (w), 835 (vs), 788 (m), 774 (m), 759 (w), 742 (w),

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556 (s), 453 (w), 297 (w). ESI-MS (CHCl3/CH3OH), positive mode: Calcd for

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[C27H35ClN3O2Ru]+ 570.1, m/z 570.2 [MPF6]+. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): 1.28 (9H,
CgH3+C12H3), 1.85 (7H, CeH3+C7H2+C8H2), 2.44 (br s, 2H, C9H2), 2.74 (m, 1H, CfH), 4.09
(m, 4H, C6H2+C11H2), 5.48 (d, 3J(H,H) = 6.5 Hz, 2H, CbH), 5.71 (d, 3J(H,H) = 6.5 Hz, 2H,

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CcH), 7.20 (dd, 3J(H4,H3) = 7.0 Hz, 3J(H4,H5) = 6.0 Hz, 2H, H4), 7.30 (d, 3J(H2,H3) = 8.1 Hz,
2H, H2), 7.90 (dd, 3J(H3,H2) = 8.1 Hz 3J(H3,H4) = 7.0 Hz, 2H, H3), 8.66 (d, 3J(H5,H4) = 6.0

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Hz, 2H, H5). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 14.2 (C12), 17.9 (Ce), 22.1 (C8), 22.3 (Cg), 26.7
(C7), 30.5 (Cf), 33.2 (C9), 49.9 (C6), 60.4 (C11), 83.7 (Cc), 86.0 (Cb), 100.6 (Ca), 105.3 (Cd),

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116.0 (C2), 121.2 (C4), 141.0 (C3), 154.0 (C5), 157.9 (C1), 173.4 (C10). 31P NMR (162 MHz,

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CDCl3): 144.4 (hep, P). Numbering of carbon atoms is given in Scheme 1.

2.3. Crystal structure determination

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Crystals suitable for X-ray structural analysis were obtained mother liquor of 2 after filtration.
The data of 2 were collected with a CCD Oxford Xcalibur S and an Oxford Gemini S
diffractometer, ((Mo K) = 0.71073 ) using the multiscan mode. The structure was solved
by direct methods and refined on F2 with SHELXL-2014 [36]. The hydrogen atoms were
placed in calculated positions with fixed displacement parameters (riding model), and were
refined isotropically. The Diamond program was used for the presentation of the structure
[37]. The crystallographic details are listed in Table 1. CCDC 1413063 contains the
supplementary crystallographic data for this paper. These data can be obtained free of charge
from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk.

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Data collection
Monochromator
Radiation, Mo K ()
Temperature (K)
Range ()
Index range

2
C27H35N3O2F6PClRu
715.07
Monoclinic
P21/c
10.3288(1)
18.8479(2)
15.8486(2)
90
108.705(1)
90
2922.38(6)
4
3.200
0.725
752.0
0.13 0.11 0.11

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Compound
Chemical formula
Formula weight
Crystal system
Space group
a ()
b ()
c ()
()
()
()
V (3)
Z
Dcalc (g cm-3)
(mm-1)
F(000)
Crystal size (mm3)

graphite
0.71073
200
2.927.5
13 h 13
24 k 24
20 l 20

Tmin/ Tmax
Number of measured reflections
Number of independent reflections

0.907/ 0.921
48139
6708

Refinement
Refinement on
Data/restraints/parameters
R[F2 > 4(F2)]
wR(F2) a
Goodness-of-fit on F2
min/max (e 3)

F2
6708 / 0 / 370
0.025
0.054
0.995
0.48/ 0.53

Table 1. Crystal data and structure refinement for 2

w = 1/[2(Fo2) + (0.0178P)2 + 3.5701P] where P = (Fo2 + 2Fc2)/3

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2.4. Reagents, cells and animals

RPMI-1640, fetal calf serum (FCS), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), phosphate-buffered saline

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(PBS), carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), crystal violet (CV), 3-(4,5-

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dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), sulforhodamine B (SRB) and

propidium iodide (PI) were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, MO). Annexin V-FITC (AnnV)
was obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Dallas, TX). Acridine orange (AO) was from

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Labo-Moderna (Paris, France). 518A2, SW480, 8505C, A253 and MCF-7 cells were regularly

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cultivated in HEPES-buffered RPMI-1640 medium with 10% FCS, 2 mM L-glutamine,

0.01% sodium pyruvate and antibiotics (culture medium) at 37 C in a humidified atmosphere
with 5% CO2. For viability determination cells were seeded at 12 103 / well in 96-well

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plates and 1.5 105 / well in 6-well plates for flow cytometric analysis.

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2.5. Viability evaluation by SRB, CV and MTT tests

Viability of adherent cells was estimated by SRB, CV and MTT tests, while for nonadherent

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cells only MTT was used. Cells were treated with different concentrations of experimental
drugs for an indicated time, and the determination of viability was done exactly as described
previously [3840]. The absorbance was measured in an automated microplate reader (LKB
5060-006, LKB, Vienna, Austria) at 540 nm, and background at 670 nm was subtracted. Cell
viability was expressed as a percentage of the control value (untreated cells), which was
arbitrarily set to 100% and presented as mean SD.

2.6. AnnexinV-FITC/PI, apostat and acridin orange staining

MCF-7 cells were treated with an IC50 dose of ruthenium(II) complex 1 for 72 h and then
staining with AnnV-FITC/PI or apostat (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was done

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according to the instructions of the manufacturer. For detection of autophagy, cells were
stained with AO (1 g/mL) for 15 min at 37 C, subsequently washed and resuspended in

PBS. Analysis was done with a CyFlow Space Partec using PartecFloMax software

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(Partec GmbH, Mnster, Germany).

2.7. CFSE staining

MCF-7 cells were stained for 10 min with 1 M of CFSE at 37 C, and then cultivated in the

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presence of an IC50 dose of complex 1 for 72 h. Then the cells were washed, detached,

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resuspended in PBS and analyzed with a CyFlow Space Partec using PartecFloMax
software (Partec GmbH, Mnster, Germany).

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2.8. Immune cell isolation and in vitro treatments

Mixed populations of immune spleen cells (SC) were obtained from age- and sex-matched

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healthy C57BL/6 mice. Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals was used for
experimental and other scientific purposes, which were approved by the Ethical Committee

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for the Use of Laboratory Animals of the Institute for Biological Research "Sinia Stankovi"
(application No. 03-01/14). To obtain single cell suspensions, spleens were mechanically
disrupted by gentle teasing through a 40 m nylon mesh filter (BD Bioscience, Bedford, MA,
USA) and the suspension of SC was collected by centrifugation. Erythrocytes were lyzed
using lysis buffer (eBioscience, San Diego, CA, USA). Samples of conditioned medium used
for cytokine detection were obtained by seeding SC (5 106 per well) in 24-well culture
plates (Sarstedt, Numbrecht, Germany) at 37 C in a 5% CO2 incubator. Cells were cultured
for 48 h in RPMI-1640 medium (25 mM HEPES, 2 mM L-glutamine) supplemented with 5%
fetal calf serum (FCS, PAA Chemicals, Pasching, Austria), 5 M/mL of -mercaptoethanol,
100 U/mL penicillin and 100 mg/mL streptomycin (complete medium) in the presence or

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absence of graded concentrations of 1 or 2 and were stimulated with 1 g/mL concanavalin A

(ConA).

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2.9. Determination of cytokine secretion

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Cytokine concentrations in the cell free culture supernatants were determined by sandwich
ELISA using MaxiSorp plates (Nunc, Rochild, Denmark) and anti-cytokine paired antibodies
according to the manufacturers instructions. Samples were analyzed in triplicate for murine

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IL-17 (BD Pharmingen, San Diego, CA,USA), IFN- and IL-10 (eBioscience). The

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absorbance at 450 nm was determined with a microplate reader. The results were calculated
using standard curves made on the basis of known concentrations of the relevant recombinant

2.10. Statistical analysis

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cytokines.

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Results are presented as mean standard deviation (SD) obtained in independent

experiments. Each experiment was repeated at least three times. The significance of the

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changes was evaluated by Two-tailed Students t-test. Statistical evaluation of the results was
made with Statistica version 6.0 (StatSoft, Tulsa, OK, USA) and conducted at the 0.05
significance level.

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Synthesis and characterization
[Ru(6-p-cym)Cl(dpa)][PF6] (dpa = 2,2-dipyridylamine; 1) was obtained by an adapted
literature procedure (Scheme 1) [35]. Dichlorido(p-cymene)ruthenium(II) dimer was reacted
with dpa(CH2)4COOEt in the presence of [PF6] forming the cationic complex [Ru(6-pcym)Cl{dpa(CH2)4COOEt}][PF6] (2) in a good yield. The ruthenium(II) complexes 2 was

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characterized by elemental analysis, IR and multinuclear (1H, 13C, 31P) NMR spectroscopy as

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Scheme 1. Synthetic route of 1 and 2 [35].

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well as single-crystal X-ray structure analysis.

ESI-MS of 2, recorded in methanol as solvent, gave evidence for the molecular composition.

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Namely, the [MPF6]+ ion with the characteristic expected isotope pattern was detected. In the
IR spectrum of 2 the band at 297 cm1 is assigned to the RuCl vibration [32,41]. The

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vibrations at 1244 cm1 and 1181 cm1 are typical bands for carbonoxygen single bonds,
while a strong absorption at 1730 cm1 is assigned to the ester function [42]. Vibrations of the

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alkyl groups are found near 2966 cm1. Less intense bands near 3015 cm1 can be assigned to
heteroaromatic and aromatic vibrations of CH bonds of the pyridine ring and the p-cymene
ligand.

The N-coordination of the dpa-derived ligand generates a strong downfield shift of all
proton resonances of the pyridine ring which were found in the 1H NMR spectrum
from 7.2 to 8.7 ppm (free ligand: 6.8 to 8.3 ppm). The hydrogen atoms of the p-cym
ligand gave chemical shifts similar to literature values [43]. The same trend is observed
in the

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C NMR spectrum in which the chemical shifts of the carbon atoms bound to

the coordinating nitrogen atom are found at 154 and 158 ppm (free ligand: 148 and 156
ppm).

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Crystals

of

[RuCl(6-p-cym){dpa(CH2)4COOEt}][PF6]

(2)

suitable

for

X-ray

diffraction analysis were obtained from the reaction solution at room temperature. The

compound crystallized as discrete cations and anions with relatively short CHF

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interatomic distances (2.392.73 ). The molecular structure of 2 is shown in Figure 1

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along with selected structural parameters, given in the figure caption. Complex 2
exhibits a half sandwich, piano stool structure. Thus, the coordination sphere of
ruthenium(II) is built up by an 6-p-cym, a chlorido as well as an NN-2N,N ligand.

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The structure can be considered as a slightly distorted octahedron, because the angles

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at the ruthenium(II) atoms are close to 90 (81.09(6)86.81(4)). The RuCl

(2.3805(4) ) and RuN bond lengths (2.101(1) and 2.107(1) ) are in the expected

range (median RuCl: 2.414 , lower/higher quartile: 2.389/2.442 , n = 5542; n

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number of observations) [35,44].

Figure 1. Molecular structure of the cation in [RuCl(6-p-cym){dpa(CH2)4COOEt}][PF6].

Hydrogen atoms are omitted for clarity. The ellipsoids are shown with a probability of 50%.
Selected structural parameters (bond lengths in , angles in ): Ru1Cl1 2.3805(4), Ru1N2
2.107(1), Ru1N3 2.101(1), Cl1Ru1N1 86.81(4), Cl1Ru1N3 85.34(4), N1Ru1N3
81.09(6).

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3.2. The effect of complexes 1 and 2 on tumor cell viability

the

present

study,

investigations

of

the

anticancer

properties

of

the

In

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two ruthenium(II) complexes 1 and 2 were performed. To test the effectiveness of the

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ruthenium(II) complexes, 518A2, SW480, 8505C, A253 and MCF-7 cells were cultivated
with a wide range of doses for 96 h and cell viability was estimated by SRB assay. As
presented in Table 2 and Figure S1.A, complex 1 displayed a higher potential to down-

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regulate tumor cell growth than complex 2 affecting all investigated tumor cell lines while the

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activity of 2 is restricted only to caspase 3 deficient breast cancer cell line MCF-7 [45,46].
However, both complexes are less active than cisplatin and some recently described
ruthenium(II) complexes in a more appropriate ligand environment against this specific cell

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line [47]. Analogously to cisplatin and [RuCl(6-p-cym)(en)]+, as described by Sedler et al.

[48,49], also for 1 could be expected that hydrolysis of the RuCl bond will occur in the cell

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(due to lower concentration of Cl ions in comparison to extracellular matrix) yielding active

aqua species. To confirm the results obtained by SRB, additional viability assessment by CV

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and MTT tests was done and same experimental setting was applied varying time of drug
exposure (Table 2, Figure S1.B). CV dye stains DNA and RNA, while MTT is an enzymebased method for determination of mitochondrial dehydrogenase activities, both in the living
cells. Achieved results showed discrepancy between these two assays. IC50 values obtained of
these cell lines varied from 22 to 40 M depending on the applied test confirming high
efficacy of complex 1. According to National Cancer Institute guidelines the compound with
an IC50 value < 30 g/mL is considered active [50]. The effective concentration of
ruthenium(II) complex 1 is in that range (IC50 = 40 M corresponds to 28.6 g/mL). The
lowest IC50 value was observed by MTT test indicating that 1 targeted mitochondrial

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respiration. Due to the higher activity of compound 1 this agent was selected for further

analysis of the mechanism of drug action on MCF-7 as the most sensitive cell line.

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Table 2. IC50 values (M)a of the ruthenium(II) complexes 1, 2 and cisplatin.

SRB (96 h, treatment)

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Compound
SW480

8505C

A253

MCF-7

68.9 2.4

63.1 1.8

85.6 3.5

181.1 6.3

35.2 1.1

> 200

> 200

> 200

> 200

176.2 4.5

cisplatin

1.5 0.2

3.2 0.2

5.0 0.2

0.8 0.1

2.0 0.1

MA

NU

518A2

MCF-7

CV (h, treatment)

36.6 1.7

96

48

72

96

22.7 1.3

>100

61.5 2.0

40.8 1.5

mean values SD (standard deviation) from three experiments.

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65.9 3.1

72

TE

48

MTT (h, treatment)

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3.3. The effect of complex 1 on cellular proliferation and cell death

To further explore the cause of decreased viability cells were treated with an IC50 dose of 1
for 72 h and cellular proliferation was determined by flow cytometric analysis (Figure 2.A).
Contrarily to control were entire cell population was divided, accumulation of nondivided
cells exposed to 1 was observed. Inhibition of proliferation was synchronized with the
appearance of both early (Ann+PI-) and late apoptotic cells (Ann+PI+) indicating that
ruthenium(II) complex 1 acts through inhibition of cell proliferation and subsequent apoptotic
cell death (Figure 2.B). Detected apoptosis was not caused by caspase activation (Figure 2.C),
and only slight potentiation of autophagic process was observed (Figure 2.D) indicating their
irrelevance for the antitumor activity of ruthenium(II) complex 1. This is expected because, as

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
mentioned above, the tested cell line MCF-7 is caspase 3 deficient [45,46]. Although this
caspase plays a critical role in realization of apoptosis and is commonly activated by

numerous death signals, its deficiency did not disturb the completion of dying process

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triggered by complex 1. In addition, special sensitivity of these cells to applied drug indicate

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possibility that defect in caspase cascade is connected with some intracellular specificity

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making them a good target for this ruthenium(II) potential experimental therapeutic.

Figure 2. Influence of 1 on MCF-7 cells: A inhibition of cell proliferation, B apoptosis

induction, C caspase activation and D the presence of autophagic vesicles.

3.4. The effects of 1 and 2 on cell viability of normal mouse splenocytes

Apart from the observed capability to affect caspase deficient tumor cells MCF-7, a
particularly important finding of this study is that 1 does not disturb the function of immune
cells. Cells of the adaptive immune system may also be implicated in the induction of tumor
cell death. In view of the results obtained on tumor cells with the two ruthenium(II)

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
complexes 1 and 2, an evaluation of the selectivity of these compounds was carried out by
studying their action against nonmalignant immune cells. As stimulation of lymphocytes with

T specific mitogen ConA mimics the T cell receptor engagement by its cognate antigens

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leading to T cell activation and cytokine production, unfractionated primary mouse SC

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stimulated with ConA were used as a model of in vitro T lymphocyte responses. In order to
evaluate the effect of 1 and 2 on the viability of activated cells, SC were stimulated in vitro
with ConA for 48 h in the presence of these compounds in concentrations ranging from 6.25

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to 50 M. Importantly, as revealed by MTT assay, both compounds were completely nontoxic

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for nonmalignant ConA-activated immune cells in all concentrations tested (Figure 3.A)

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indicating a potential selectivity of 1 toward MCF-7 cancer cell lines.

Figure 3. The effect of 1 and 2 on the viability and cytokine production in mouse spleen cells
stimulated with ConA. Eritrolyzed splenocytes were obtained from healthy mice, activated

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
with ConA (2.5g/mL) and grown in cell culture in the presence or absence of 1 and 2 (6.25 50M) for 48 h. MTT test was performed in order to determine the viability of the cells (A).

Cell-free supernatants were collected, and ELISA was performed for determining the levels of

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secreted cytokines, IFN-, IL-17 (C) and IL-10 (D).

3.5. The effects of 1 and 2 on cytokine secretion by mouse splenocytes

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A further goal was to evaluate potential immunomodulatory effects of both ruthenium(II)

complexes. For that purpose, the secretion of Th1 signature cytokine IFN-, Th17 signature

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cytokine IL-17 and Th2 related IL-10 into culture supernatants of ConA-stimulated SC in the
presence of various single concentrations of the complexes was determined. The results

showed that neither 1 nor 2 influenced the secretion of IFN-(Figure 3.B), IL-17 (Figure 3.C)

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or IL-10 (Figure 3.D), since all of the cytokines tested remained unchanged upon the
treatment.

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The immune system plays an integral role in almost every aspect of tumorigenesis, including
tumor initiation, prevention and progression as well as the response to therapeutics [51]. In

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recent years, it has become apparent that the beneficial effects of various conventional
therapeutic modalities, including chemotherapy, are associated with the rescue of an immune
response against the tumor. Therefore, in order to find most effective approaches, which at the
same time have fewer side effects, it is of primary interest to investigate in parallel direct
effects of the compound on tumor cells and immune cells. Although immune surveillance and
cytotoxic actions of NK cells and CD8+ T cells are considered essential for prevention of
tumor development and restraint of its progression [52], Th cells are assumed to play a major
role in anti-tumor immunity through inducing and directing the effector cellular immune
responses as well as inflammatory responses [53,54]. Thus, in several types of solid tumors
Th1 cells and their cytokines, especially IFN-, are associated with more potent anti-tumor

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
immune responses [55]. Moreover, IFN- was identified as the major factor responsible for
Th1-induced dendritic cell tumoricidal activity [56]. Th17 cells and their major cytokine, IL-

17, also play dynamic roles in inflammation and tumor immunity. Tumor-infiltrating Th17

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cells can have either pro- or antitumor activities depending on the type of neoplasm [57].

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Although the exact role of these cells in tumor growth and progression is still controversial
[58], several studies have suggested that the increase in the number of Th17 cells is associated
with lower stages of the malignant diseases and less metastasis [59,60]. Moreover,

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inflammation in the presence of Th17 cells appears to initiate, maintain, and enhance

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protective anti-tumor immunity in some cases. Th17 cells may contribute to protective tumor
immunity through recruitment and induction of Th1-type effector cells to the tumor [61].
Many anticancer therapies cause immunosuppression and lympho-depletion that may

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destabilize immune cell defense against cancer. There are numerous conflicting data about
cisplatin-induced immunosuppression on one side and on the other, preclinical and clinical

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evidence about its immunomodulatory potential through improved recruitment and

proliferation of immune T cell effectors in the tumor microenvironment [62-64]. In the light

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of these data, our finding of specific-targeting of tumor cells by ruthenium(II) complex 1

without disturbance of immune cell viability and function represents the important advantage
of this kind of therapeutic.

4. Conclusions
Herein, the synthesis of [Ru(6-p-cym)Cl{dpa(CH2)4COOEt}][PF6] (2) is described. 2 was
characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray structural analysis. Structural analog
[Ru(6-p-cym)Cl(dpa)][PF6] (1) and 2 were tested for their in vitro antitumoral potential. The
most efficient complex 1 showed higher activity against MCF-7 cells (the caspase 3 deficient

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
cell line, more resistant to chemotherapy). Decreased viability was due to blockade of cell
division and subsequent apoptotic cell death without activation of caspases. Outstandingly, in

the present study it was demonstrated that cells of the adaptive immune system were

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completely resistant to antiproliferative/cytotoxic effects of 1 suggesting a possibility for a

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tumor-specific targeting. Therefore, present data are of importance for the potential
application of the ruthenium(II) complex 1 as antitumor agent as it might directly affect
tumor, specially the caspase 3 deficient MCF-7 cell line, but without modulation of the

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immune response thus favoring antitumor milieu.

Abbreviations

anaplastic thyroid tumor cell line

518A2

melanoma cell line

A253

head and neck tumor cell line

AnnV

annexin V-FITC

AO

acridine orange

CFSE

carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester

CV

TE

CE
P

AC

ConA

8505C

concanavalin A
crystal violet

dpa

2,2-dipyridylamine

DMSO

dimethyl sulfoxide

DMF

dimethylformamide

FCS

fetal calf serum

HEPES

4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid

IFN-

interferon

IL-10

interleukin 10

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
interleukin 17

MCF-7

breast tumor cell line

MTT

3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide

PBS

phosphate-buffered saline

p-cym

p-cymene

PI

propidium iodide

py

pyridine

SC

spleen cells

SRB

sulforhodamine B

SW480

colon cancer cell line

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Acknowledgements

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IL-17

The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from the European Union and the

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Free State of Saxony (project No. 100099597) and the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (project No. 173013). We would like to

complex 2.

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thank Dr. Peter Lnnecke (Leipzig University) for the X-ray structural measurement of

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Figure Captions
1. Figure 1. Molecular structure of the cation in [RuCl(6-p-cym){dpa(CH2)4COOEt}][PF6].

Hydrogen atoms are omitted for clarity. The ellipsoids are shown with a probability of

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50%. Selected structural parameters (bond lengths in , angles in ): Ru1Cl1 2.3805(4),

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Ru1N2 2.107(1), Ru1N3 2.101(1), Cl1Ru1N1 86.81(4), Cl1Ru1N3 85.34(4), N1

Ru1N3 81.09(6).

2. Figure 2. Influence of 1 on MCF-7 cells: A inhibition of cell proliferation, B apoptosis

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induction, C caspase activation and D the presence of autophagic vesicles.

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3. Figure 3. The effect of 1 and 2 on the viability and cytokine production in mouse spleen
cells stimulated with ConA. Eritrolyzed splenocytes were obtained from healthy mice,

activated with ConA (2.5g/mL) and grown in cell culture in the presence or absence of 1

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and 2 (6.25 - 50M) for 48 h. MTT test was performed in order to determine the viability
of the cells (A). Cell-free supernatants were collected, and ELISA was performed for

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Scheme Caption

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determining the levels of secreted cytokines, IFN-, IL-17 (C) and IL-10 (D).

1. Scheme 1. Synthetic route of 1 and 2 [35].

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Table Captions
1. Table 1. Crystal data and structure refinement for 2

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mean values SD (standard deviation) from three experiments.

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2. Table 2. IC50 values (M)a of the ruthenium(II) complexes 1, 2 and cisplatin.

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

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Graphical abstract

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Synthesis and characterization of [Ru(6-p-cym)Cl{dpa(CH2)4COOEt}][PF6] (cym = cymene;

dpa = 2,2-dipyridylamine; 2) as well as its antitumor activity and that of [Ru(6-pcym)Cl(dpa)][PF6] (1) is described. The most prominent activity was observed for 1 against

caspase deficient MCF-7 breast cancer cells without affect to the immune cells and cytokine

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production.

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Compound
Chemical formula
Formula weight
Crystal system
Space group
a ()
b ()
c ()
()
()
()
V (3)
Z
Dcalc (g cm-3)
(mm-1)
F(000)
Crystal size (mm3)

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R

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D
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CE
P

Data collection
Monochromator
Radiation, Mo K ()
Temperature (K)
Range ()
Index range

2
C27H35N3O2F6PClRu
715.07
Monoclinic
P21/c
10.3288(1)
18.8479(2)
15.8486(2)
90
108.705(1)
90
2922.38(6)
4
3.200
0.725
752.0
0.13 0.11 0.11

graphite
0.71073
200
2.927.5
13 h 13
24 k 24
20 l 20

Tmin/ Tmax
Number of measured reflections
Number of independent reflections

0.907/ 0.921
48139
6708

Refinement
Refinement on
Data/restraints/parameters
R[F2 > 4(F2)]
wR(F2) a
Goodness-of-fit on F2
min/max (e 3)

F2
6708 / 0 / 370
0.025
0.054
0.995
0.48/ 0.53

Table 1. Crystal data and structure refinement for 2

w = 1/[2(Fo2) + (0.0178P)2 + 3.5701P] where P = (Fo2 + 2Fc2)/3

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
Table 2. IC50 values (M)a of the ruthenium(II) complexes 1, 2 and cisplatin.
Compound

SRB (96 h, treatment)

SW480

8505C

A253

MCF-7

68.9 2.4

63.1 1.8

85.6 3.5

181.1 6.3

> 200

> 200

> 200

cisplatin

1.5 0.2

3.2 0.2

5.0 0.2

35.2 1.1

> 200

176.2 4.5

0.8 0.1

2.0 0.1

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R

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518A2

CV (h, treatment)

65.9 3.1

36.6 1.7

96

22.7 1.3

MTT (h, treatment)

48

72

96

>100

61.5 2.0

40.8 1.5

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mean values SD (standard deviation) from three experiments.

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72

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48

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MCF-7

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Highlights

[Ru(6-p-cym)Cl(dpaR)][PF6], dpa = 2,2-dipyridylamine; R = H (1), (CH2)4COOEt (2).

Ru(II) complex 1 is more active against tumor cells than 2.

1 is the most efficient against caspase 3 deficient MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

1 is not active against cells of the adaptive immune system.

1 does not exert a general immunosuppressive effect on cytokine production.

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