Polyketides with Immunosuppressive Activities from Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Penicillium sp. ZJ-SY₂.

Nine polyketides, including two new benzophenone derivatives, peniphenone (1) and methyl peniphenone (2), along with seven known xanthones (3-9) were obtained from mangrove endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. ZJ-SY₂ isolated from the leaves of Sonneratia apetala. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of MS, 1D, and 2D NMR data. Compounds 1, 3, 5, and 7 showed potent immunosuppressive activity with IC50 values ranging from 5.9 to 9.3 μg/mL.

1. Introduction

The inhibition of the acute rejection which is the main reason for the loss of a graft’s function is the key to the success of organ transplantation. In clinical therapy, the life-long administration of immunosuppressive drugs has become the routine therapeutic regimen to secure allo-transplantation. Although the currently used immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporin A (CSA), tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and sirolimus are very effective, they possess serious side effects including nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity, and the risks of infection, cancer, new onset post-transplant diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and hypertension [1,2,3,4]. So it is urgent to find effective and safe immunosuppressants.

Mangrove endophytic fungi have been demonstrated to be a rich and reliable source of biologically active and chemically novel compounds [5]. In the past decades, our research group had been focusing on the exploration of new bioactive metabolites from mangrove endophytic fungi collected from the South China Sea [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13]. The EtOAc extract of the fermentation of a mangrove endophytic fungus, Penicillium sp. ZJ-SY2, which was isolated from the leaves of Sonneratia apetala, has been screened to exhibit potent immunosuppressive activity and anti-inflammatory activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the EtOAc extract led to the isolation of two new benzophenones derivatives and seven previously reported xanthones. All of the isolated compounds (1–9) were evaluated for their immunosuppressive activity against concanavalin A (Con A)-induced (T cell) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced (B cell) proliferations of mouse splenic lymphocytes by the MTT method. Among them, compounds 1, 3, 5, and 7 showed potent immunosuppressive activity. Herein, details of the isolation, structural elucidation, as well as biological activity of these compounds are described.

2. Results and Discussion

The mangrove endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. ZJ-SY2 was cultured on solid rice medium with sea water for four weeks. The EtOAc extract of the fermentation was fractionated by repeated silica gel chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, as well as semi-preparative RP-HPLC, to yield the compounds 1–9 (Figure 1). The structure of two new benzophenone derivatives (1–2) were elucidated on the basis of MS, 1D, and 2D NMR data, and seven known xanthones were identified as conioxanthone A (3) [14], methyl 8-hydroxy-6-methyl-9-oxo-9H-xanthene-1-carboxylate (4) [15], pinselin (5) [16], sydowinin B (6) [17], sydowinin A (7) [17], remisporine B (8) [18], and epiremisporine B (9) [18], by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature.

Figure 1

Structures of compounds 1–9.

Peniphenone (1) was isolated as a yellow solid. The HRESIMS (see Figure S1) displayed a molecular ion peak at m/z 273.0401 [M − H]− (calcd. for C14H9O6, 273.0405), implying the molecular formula C14H10O6 (10 degrees of unsaturation). Its IR spectrum had absorption bands corresponding to hydroxyl (3354 cm−1), carbonyl (1689, 1614 cm−1), and aromatic groups (1601, 1500, 1452 cm−1). The 1H NMR (see Figure S2) data suggesting the presence of two AMX spin systems [δH 7.25 (t, J = 7.9 Hz), 7.49 (d, J = 7.7 Hz), and 7.01(d, J = 8.1 Hz)] and [δH 7.19 (t, J = 8.2 Hz), 6.28 (d, J = 8.2 Hz), and 6.28 (d, J = 8.2 Hz)], indicated that 1 possessed two 1,2,3-trisubstituted benzene rings (Table 1). The 13C (see Figure S3) and DEPT NMR spectrum resolved the 14 sp2-hybridized carbon resonances attributed to one carbonyl function (δC 203.6, C-9), one carboxyl function (δC 169.7, C-11), and two aromatic rings (Table 1). The downfield-shift of carbonyl (δC 203.6, C-9) indicated that 1 possessed a benzophenone framework.

Table 1

1H and 13C NMR data (Methanol-d4, 500/125 MHz, δ ppm, J in Hz) of compounds 1 and 2.

Position	1		2
	δC	δH (J in Hz)	δC	δH (J in Hz)
1	134.9, C	-	134.7, C	-
2	122.1, CH	7.49, d (7.7)	121.7, CH	7.46, dd (7.8, 0.7)
3	129.7, CH	7.25, t (7.9)	129.9, CH	7.26, t (8.0)
4	120.8, CH	7.01, d (8.1)	121.2, CH	7.03, dd (8.1, 0.7)
4a	154.7, C	-	155.2, C	-
5	108.2, CH	6.28, d (8.2)	108.2, CH	6.28, d (8.2)
6	137.4, CH	7.19, t (8.2)	137.6, CH	7.21, t (8.2)
7	108.2, CH	6.28, d (8.2)	108.2, CH	6.28, d (8.2)
8	163.6, C	-	163.6, C	-
8a	112.9, C	-	112.9, C	-
9	203.6, C	-	203.2, C	-
9a	130.4, C	-	129.5, C	-
10a	163.6, C	-	163.6, C	-
11	169.7, C	-	168.4, C	-
12	-	-	52.6, CH3	3.69, s

Extensive analysis of 2D NMR (see Figures S4–S6) revealed the structure of compound 1 as described below (Figure 2). The HMBC correlations from the H-2 (δH 7.49) to the carbonyl carbon (δC 169.7) and C-9a (δC 130.4) and the H-3 (δH 7.25) to C-1(δC 134.9) indicated a carboxylic acid group substituted to the C-1. The hydroxyl group was located at C-4a based on the HMBC correlations from H-3 (δH 7.25) to C-4a (δC 154.7). NMR resonances for C-8 and C-10a (δC 163.6) and for H-5 and H-7 (δH 6.28) were identical and magnetically equivalent. This observation is in accordance with a symmetrically substituted aromatic ring possessing hydroxyl groups at C-8 as well as C-10a. Therefore, compound 1 was identified as 2-(2,6-dihydroxybenzoyl)-3-hydroxybenzoic acid, and named peniphenone.

Figure 2

Key HMBC (black arrows) and COSY (black bold lines) correlations of compounds 1 and 2.

Methyl peniphenone (2), was isolated as a yellow solid. The HRESIMS (see Figure S7) displayed a negative ion peak at m/z 287.0557 [M − H]− (calcd. for C15H11O6, 287.0561), corresponding to the molecular formula C15H12O6. There are 10 degrees of unsaturation. The 1H NMR (see Figure S8) spectrum showed six aromatic protons containing two AMX spin systems [δH 7.26 (t, J = 8.0 Hz), 7.46 (dd, J = 7.8, 0.7 Hz), and 7.03 (d, J = 8.1, 0.7 Hz)] and [δH 7.21 (t, J = 8.2 Hz), 6.28 (d, J = 8.2 Hz), and 6.28 (d, J = 8.2 Hz)], indicating that 2 possessed two fragments of a 1,2,3-trisubstituted benzene ring (Table 1). The 13C NMR (see Figure S9) and DEPT spectra gave signals for 15 carbon atoms, including one ketone carbonyl (δC 203.2, C-9), one ester carbonyl (δC 168.4, C-11), two aromatic rings, and one methoxy (δC 52.6, C-12). The spectroscopic information was quite similar to peniphenone (1), except for the presence of a methoxy group [δH 3.69 (s), δC 52.6]. The HMBC (see Figure S12) correlation of H3-12 to C-11 (δC 168.4) indicated that the methoxy group was substituted to the carbonyl group (δC 168.4, C-11). Thus, compound 2 was established as the methyl ester analogue of 1, and named methyl peniphenone.

The immunosuppressive activities (IC50 values) of 1–9 and the known immunosuppressant azathioprine were calculated against Con A-induced (T cell) and LPS-induced (B cell) proliferations of mouse splenic lymphocytes, as shown in Table 2. The results showed that 1, 3, 5, and 7 possessed potent immunosuppressive activity, while the others were weak. The carboxylic acid group at C-1 (1) enhanced the immunosuppressive activity in comparison with 2 bearing a methyl ester group. The immunosuppressive activities of 5 and 7 were stronger than those of 4 and 6, suggesting that the presence of the hydroxyl group at C-2 is important for the appearance of the immunosuppressive activity of 5 and 7. However, the methyl or hydroxymethyl groups at C-6 of the xanthones are unlikely to be essential for the immunosuppressive activity (4 vs. 6 and 5 vs. 7). It was already known that the suppressive effects of substituted xanthones against the proliferation of human lymphocytes were ascribable to the positions of substituents on the xanthone nucleus [19].

Table 2

Immunosuppressive effects of compounds 1–9 and azathioprine on the Con A–induced and LPS-induced proliferations of mouse splenic lymphocytes a.

Compounds	IC50 (μg/mL)
	Con A-Induced	LPS-Induced
1	8.1	9.3
2	17.5	23.7
3	8.2	7.5
4	25.7	26.4
5	5.9	7.5
6	19.2	20.8
7	6.5	7.1
8	30.1	32.4
9	30.8	31.2
Azathioprine	2.7	2.7

a The data shown here were from a representative experiment repeated three times with similar results.

3. Experimental Section

3.1. General

Melting points were measured on an X-4 micromelting-point apparatus (Cany Precision Instruments Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China) and are uncorrected. UV data were measured on a UV-240 spectrophotometer (Shimadzu, Beijing, China). IR spectra were measured with a Shimadzu IR Affinity-1 Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer. The NMR data were recorded on a Bruker Avance 400 spectrometer and a Bruker Avance 500 spectrometer (Bruker Bio Spin Corporation, Bellerica, MA, USA), respectively. All chemical shifts (δ) are given in ppm with reference to TMS, and coupling constants (J) are given in Hz. LRESIMS spectra were recorded on a Finnigan LCQ-DECA mass spectrometer (Finnigan, Beijing, China). ESIMS spectra were obtained from a Micro mass Q-TOF spectrometer and HRESIMS from a Thermofisher LTQ Orbitrp Elite LC-MS spectrometer. Column chromatography (CC) was performed on silica gel (200–300 mesh, Qingdao Marine Chemical Factory, Qingdao, China) and Sephadex LH-20 (Amersham Pharmacia, Piscataway, NJ, USA). Precoated silica gel plates (Qingdao Huang Hai Chemical Group Co., Qingdao, China; G60, F-254) were used for thin layer chromatography. Semi-preparative HPLC was performed on a Waters Breeze HPLC system using a Phenomenex Luna (Phenomenex, Torrance, CA, USA) C18 column (250 × 10 mm, 5 μm), flow rate, 2.0 mL/min.

3.2. Fungal Material

The fungal strain used in this study was isolated from the fresh tissue from leaves of Sonneratia apetala, which was collected in September 2012 from Zhanjiang Mangrove Nature Reserve in Guangdong Province, China. It was obtained using the standard protocol for the isolation of endophytic microbes [8]. This isolate was identified by Yayue Liu and assigned the accession number ZJ-SY2. The sequence data obtained from the fungal strain have been deposited at Gen Bank with accession no. KX890092. A BLAST search result revealed that the sequence was the most similar (99%) to the sequence of Penicillium sp. (compared to HQ850365.1 KM222497.1). A voucher strain was deposited in school of chemistry and chemical engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.

3.3. Extraction and Isolation

The fungus Penicillium sp. ZJ-SY2 was fermented on autoclaved rice solid-substrate medium (sixty 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks, each containing 50 g rice and 50 mL 3‰ of saline water) for 30 days at 25 °C. Following incubation, the mycelia and solid rice medium were extracted with EtOAc. The organic solvent was filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to yield 40 g organic extract. The extract was subjected to silica gel CC using gradient elution with petroleum ether-EtOAc from 90:10 to 0:100 (v/v) to give twelve fractions (Frs.1–12). Fr.2 (596 mg) was further purified by silica gel CC using gradient elution with petroleum ether-EtOAc from 80:20 to 20:80 (v/v) to afford eight subfractions (Frs.2.1–2.8). Fr.2.5 (20 mg) was further purified by RP-HPLC (75% MeOH in H2O) to afford 4 (5.9 mg, tR = 16.3 min). Fr.3 (917 mg) was further purified by silica gel CC using gradient elution with petroleum ether-EtOAc from 80:20 to 20:80 (v/v) to afford seven subfractions (Frs.3.1–3.7). Fr.3.1 (40 mg) was applied to Sephadex LH-20 CC, eluted with CHCl3/MeOH (1:1), to obtain eight subfractions (Frs.3.1.1–F3.1.8). Fr.3.1.3 (20 mg) was further purified by silica gel CC using 40% EtOAc-light petroleum to afford 3 (10.9 mg). Fr.3.3 (35 mg) was applied to Sephadex LH-20 CC, eluted with CHCl3/MeOH (1:1), to obtain eleven subfractions (Frs.3.3.1–F3.3.11). Fr.3.3.4 (30 mg) was further purified by silica gel CC using 40% EtOAc-light petroleum to afford 8 (28.0 mg) and 9 (20.3 mg). Fr.4 (1.20 g) was further purified by silica gel CC using gradient elution with petroleum ether-EtOAc from 80:20 to 20:80 (v/v) to afford eleven subfractions (Frs.4.1–4.11). Fr.4.4 (20 mg) was applied to Sephadex LH-20 CC, eluted with MeOH, to obtain six subfractions (Frs.4.4.1–F4.4.6). Fr.4.4.4 (10 mg) was further purified by RP-HPLC (70% MeOH in H2O) to afford 6 (10.8 mg, tR = 9.0 min) and 5 (1.6 mg, tR = 17.6 min). Fr.5 (503 mg) was applied to silica gel CC using 60% EtOAc-petroleum ether to afford seven subfractions (Frs.5.1–5.7). Fr.5.3 was further purified by RP-HPLC (50% MeOH in H2O) to afford 1 (3.9 mg, tR = 12.5 min) and 2 (5.3 mg, tR = 20.9 min). Fr.8 (583 mg) was applied to silica gel CC using 70% EtOAc-petroleum ether to afford seven subfractions (Frs.8.1–8.7). Fr.8.3 was further purified by RP-HPLC (50% MeOH in H2O) to afford 7 (2.9 mg, tR = 16.5 min).

Peniphenone (1): Yellow solid; mp 180–182 °C; UV (MeOH) (λmax) (log ε) 205 (4.42), 277 (3.99) nm; IR (KBr) νmax 3342, 2956, 1698, 1594, 1451, 1348, 1297, 1033, 754 cm−1; 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data, see Table 2; HRESI-MS (m/z 273.0401 [M − H]−, calcd. for C14H9O6, 273.0405).

Methyl peniphenone (2): Yellow solid; mp 168–169 °C; UV (MeOH) (λmax) (log ε) 205 (4.43), 273 (3.96) nm; IR (KBr) νmax 3345, 3092, 2933, 1685, 1600, 1450, 1301, 1205, 1020, 931 cm−1; 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data, see Table 2; HRESI-MS (m/z 287.0557 [M − H]−, calcd. for C15H11O6, 287.0561).

3.4. Immunosuppressive Activity

Compounds (1–9) were tested for suppressive activity (IC50 values) against the proliferation of mouse splenic lymphocytes stimulated with Con-A and LPS using a MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide) method according to the literature [20]. This method is based on the formation ratio of 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT)-formazan from exogenous MTT in lymphocytes. A suspension of the splenic lymphocytes from male BALB/c mice (7–11 weeks old, Nippon SLC) was prepared with the FBS/RPMI medium at the concentration of 4.0 × 106 cells/mL. A sample was dissolved in 1.0% EtOH in the FBS/RPMI-medium to prepare a sample solution, 50 μL of which was incubated with 50 μL of the cell suspension, 50 μL of the Con-A (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) or LPS (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) solution (100 μg/mL) in a U-bottom 96-well microtiter plate at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 for 48 h. Then, 20 μL of the MTT (FLUCK, 5 mg/mL) solution was added to the culture and incubated for additional 4 h. Next, 100 μL of DMSO was added to the precipitated cells to extract formazan. The absorbance of each DMSO solution was measured at 560 nm with a microplate reader.

4. Conclusions

The chemical investigation of a mangrove endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. ZJ-SY2, isolated from the leaves of Sonneratia apetala, led to the discovery of nine polyketides (1–9). Their structures were established by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. All isolates were tested for their immunosuppressive activities against Con A-induced (T cell) and LPS-induced (B cell) proliferations of mouse splenic lymphocytes by the MTT method, and compounds 1, 3, 5, and 7 showed moderate immunosuppressive activity. A primary analysis of the structure-activity relationships was discussed.