2-Deoxycytidine is a cytidine analog [1].
2-Deoxycytidine prevents DNA methylation by incorporating itself into newly synthesizing DNA strand. 2-Deoxycytidine also binds to DNA methyltransferase irreversibly and hinders its activity. Thus, 2-deoxycytidine was approved as the most efective demethylating agent for the treatment of cancer [1].
2-Deoxycytidine at clinically achievable and nontoxic concentrations (≥ 100 μmol/L) protected normal bone marrow progenitor cells against the inhibitory effects of co-administered, high concentrations of 3’-azido-3’-deoxythymidine (AZT) (≥ 10 μmol/L). In normal bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC), 2-deoxycytidine also significantly corrected AZT-mediated depletion of intracellular thymidine triphosphate and 2-deoxycytidine triphosphate levels. Furthermore, 2-deoxycytidine reduced the intracellular accumulation of AZT triphosphate and its DNA incorporation in BMMC [2].
In a rat model of myocardial infarction induced by ligating left anterior descending coronary artery, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells treated with 2-deoxycytidine
(5, 10, 20 and 40 µM) before transplantation to the left ventricular wall immediately after ligation significantly improved the cardiac systolic and diastolic functions, and pumping ability. Fibrotic area and left ventricular wall thickness were also significantly improved [1].
References:
[1]. Ali S R, Ahmad W, Naeem N, et al. Small molecule 2'-deoxycytidine differentiates human umbilical cord-derived MSCs into cardiac progenitors in vitro and their in vivo xeno-transplantation improves cardiac function. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 2020, 470(1-2): 99-113.
[2]. Bhalla K, Birkhofer M, Li G R, et al. 2'-Deoxycytidine protects normal human bone marrow progenitor cells in vitro against the cytotoxicity of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine with preservation of antiretroviral activity. Blood, 1989, 74(6): 1923-1928.
