[Differentiation activity of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone and its copper and cobalt complexes on Friend erythroleukemia cells].

Thiosemicarbazones are a wide group of organic derivatives whose biological activities are a function of the parent aldehyde or ketone and of the coordination metal type. Some thiosemicarbazones possess a broad spectrum of potentially useful chemotherapeutic properties (antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, antimalarial). The present study reports the biological effects of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone, H2L, and relative complexes with copper, [(Cu(HL)(OH2))2]++ and with cobalt, [Co(III)(L)(HL)] on the differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC). They are murine proerythroblasts chronically infected by a producing Friend leukemia virus complex; their exposure to dimethylsulfoxide (Me2SO) or other chemical agents induces these cells to terminal erythroid differentiation, therefore these cells represent a good model of differentiation in vitro. Here we describe induction differentiation experiment of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone and relative complexes of copper and cobalt on FLC performed with concentrations of 50 ug/ml (ligand), 2 ug/ml (complexes). These have little effects on cell proliferation at doses used in these experiments. Higher doses have evident cytotoxic effects. The treatment with the copper complex induces a moderate differentiation of FLC and enhances effects on erythroid differentiation of Me2SO-induced FLC. On the contrary H2L and [Co(III)(L)(HL)] haven't inducing effects or enhancing effects on Me2SO-induced FLC hemopoietic differentiation. In conclusion, the present study shows that copper complexes of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone exert action of inducing agent and are able to enhance Me2SO-induced FLC hemopoietic differentiation.