Molecular Comprehension of Mcl-1: From Gene Structure to Cancer Therapy

Integrated stress response activation induced by usnic acid alleviates BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-199 resistance in acute myeloid leukemia

INTRODUCTION

ABT-199 (venetoclax) is a BCL-2 suppressor with pronounced effects on acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, its usefulness as a monotherapy or in combination with hypomethylating medicines like azacitidine is debatable due to acquired resistance. Usnic acid, a dibenzofuran extracted from lichen Usnea diffracta Vain, exhibits anticancer properties and may counteract multidrug resistance in leukemia cells.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated whether usnic acid at low-cytotoxicity level could enhance sensitivity of AML cells with acquired resistance to ABT-199 by targeting the integrated stress response pathways.

METHODS

To investigate the combined effects on AML cells, we used a cell viability test, flow cytometry to quantify apoptosis, cell cycle analysis, and mitochondrial membrane potential measurement. RNA-seq and immunoblot were used to determine the potential mechanisms of ABT-199 + usnic acid combination.

RESULTS

Usnic acid, at a low cytotoxicity level, successfully restored ABT-199 sensitivity in AML cell lines that had developed ABT-199 resistance and increased ABT-199's antileukemic activity in a xenograft model. Mechanistically, the combination of usnic acid and ABT-199 cooperated to boost the expression of the integrated stress response (ISR)-associated genes ATF4, CHOP, and NOXA through the heme-regulated inhibitor kinase (HRI), while also promoting the degradation of the anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1. ISRIB, a compound that blocks the ISR, was able to reverse the growth suppression and cell death, the increase in expression of genes related with the ISR, and the inhibition of MCL-1 protein caused by combination therapy. Additionally, the downregulation of MCL-1 was linked to an increase in MCL-1 phosphorylation at serine 159 and subsequent destruction by the proteasome.

CONCLUSION

In summary, usnic acid improves chemosensitivity to ABT-199 by triggering the integrated stress response, leading to decreased levels of MCL-1 protein, suggesting a potential treatment for AML cases resistant to Bcl-2 inhibitors.

The Protective Effects of Mcl-1 on Mitochondrial Damage and Oxidative Stress in Imiquimod-Induced Cancer Cell Death

Mitochondria, vital organelles that generate ATP, determine cell fate. Dysfunctional and damaged mitochondria are fragmented and removed through mitophagy, a mitochondrial quality control mechanism. The FDA-approved drug IMQ, a synthetic agonist of Toll-like receptor 7, exhibits antitumor activity against various skin malignancies. We previously reported that IMQ promptly reduced the level of the antiapoptotic Mcl-1 protein and that Mcl-1 overexpression attenuated IMQ-triggered apoptosis in skin cancer cells. Furthermore, IMQ profoundly disrupted mitochondrial function, promoted mitochondrial fragmentation, induced mitophagy, and caused cell death by generating high levels of ROS. However, whether Mcl-1 protects mitochondria from IMQ treatment is still unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that Mcl-1 overexpression induced resistance to IMQ-induced apoptosis and reduced both IMQ-induced ROS generation and oxidative stress in cancer cells. Mcl-1 overexpression maintained mitochondrial function and integrity and prevented mitophagy in IMQ-treated cancer cells. Furthermore, IL-6 protected against IMQ-induced apoptosis by increasing Mcl-1 expression and attenuating IMQ-induced mitochondrial fragmentation. Mcl-1 overexpression ameliorates IMQ-induced ROS generation and mitochondrial fragmentation, thereby increasing mitochondrial stability and ultimately attenuating IMQ-induced cell death. Investigating the roles of Mcl-1 in mitochondria is a potential strategy for cancer therapy development.

Discovery of Novel Mcl-1 Inhibitors with a 3-Substituted-1H-indole-1-yl Moiety Binding to the P1-P3 Pockets to Induce Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Mcl-1 is a main antiapoptotic protein in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is used as a target to develop inhibitors. Currently, potent Mcl-1 inhibitors primarily interact with the P2-P4 pockets of Mcl-1, but pharmacological modulation by targeting the P1 pocket is less explored. We designed a series of 1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid compounds as novel Mcl-1 inhibitors occupying the P1-P3 pockets and evaluated their Mcl-1 inhibition and apoptosis induction in AML cells. Two-dimensional 15N-HSQC spectroscopy indicated that 47 (Ki = 24 nM) bound to the BH3 binding groove, occupied the P1 pocket in Mcl-1, and formed interactions with Lys234 and Val249. 47 exhibited good microsomal stability and pharmacokinetic profiles, with low potential risk of cardiotoxicity. 47 inhibited tumor growth in HL-60 and THP-1 xenograft models with growth inhibition rate of 63.7% and 57.4%, respectively. Collectively, 47 represents a novel Mcl-1 inhibitor targeting the P1-P3 pockets with excellent antileukemia effects.

RVFV virulence factor NSs triggers the mitochondrial MCL-1-BAK axis to activate pathogenic NLRP3 pyroptosis

Infection of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a highly pathogenic mosquito-borne zoonotic virus, triggers severe inflammatory pathogenesis but the underlying mechanism of inflammation activation is currently unclear. Here, we report that the non-structural protein NSs of RVFV triggers mitochondrial damage to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome leading to viral pathogenesis in vivo. It is found that the host transcription inhibition effect of NSs causes rapid down-regulation of myeloid cell leukemia-1(MCL-1), a pro-survival member of the Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma protein 2) protein family. MCL-1 down-regulation led to BAK activation in the mitochondria, which triggered mtROS production and release of oxidized mitochondrial DNA (ox-mtDNA) into the cytosol. Cytosolic ox-mtDNA binds and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome triggering NLRP3-GSDMD pyroptosis in RVFV infected cells. A NSs mutant virus (RVFV-NSsRM) that is compromised in inducing transcription inhibition did not trigger MCL-1 down-regulation nor NLRP3-GSDMD pyroptosis. RVFV infection of the Nlrp3-/- mouse model demonstrated that the RVFV-triggered NLRP3 pyroptosis contributed to RVFV inflammatory pathogenesis and fatal infection in vivo. Infection with the RVFV-NSsRM mutant virus similarly showed alleviated inflammatory pathogenesis and reduced fatality rate. Taken together, these results revealed a mechanism by which a virulence factor activates the mitochondrial MCL-1-BAK axis through inducing host transcription inhibition to trigger NLRP3-dependent inflammatory pathogenesis.

Macrocyclization strategy for improving candidate profiles in medicinal chemistry

Macrocycles are defined as cyclic compounds with 12 or more members. In medicinal chemistry, they are categorized based on their core chemistry into cyclic peptides and macrocycles. Macrocycles are advantageous because of their structural diversity and ability to achieve high affinity and selectivity towards challenging targets that are often not addressable by conventional small molecules. The potential of macrocyclization to optimize drug-like properties while maintaining adequate bioavailability and permeability has been emphasized as a key innovation in medicinal chemistry. This review provides a detailed case study of the application of macrocyclization over the past 5 years, starting from the initial analysis of acyclic active compounds to optimization of the resulting macrocycles for improved efficacy and drug-like properties. Additionally, it illustrates the strategic value of macrocyclization in contemporary drug discovery efforts.

Comprehensive review of Bcl-2 family proteins in cancer apoptosis: Therapeutic strategies and promising updates of natural bioactive compounds and small molecules

Cancer has a considerably higher fatality rate than other diseases globally and is one of the most lethal and profoundly disruptive ailments. The increasing incidence of cancer among humans is one of the greatest challenges in the field of healthcare. A significant factor in the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis is the dysregulation of physiological processes governing cell death, which results in the survival of cancerous cells. B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family members play important roles in several cancer-related processes. Drug research and development have identified various promising natural compounds that demonstrate potent anticancer effects by specifically targeting Bcl-2 family proteins and their associated signaling pathways. This comprehensive review highlights the substantial roles of Bcl-2 family proteins in regulating apoptosis, including the intricate signaling pathways governing the activity of these proteins, the impact of reactive oxygen species, and the crucial involvement of proteasome degradation and the stress response. Furthermore, this review discusses advances in the exploration and potential therapeutic applications of natural compounds and small molecules targeting Bcl-2 family proteins and thus provides substantial scientific information and therapeutic strategies for cancer management.

Targeting Myeloid Leukemia-1 in Cancer Therapy: Advances and Directions

As a tripartite cell death switch, B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) family members precisely regulate the endogenous apoptosis pathway in response to various cell signal stresses through protein-protein interactions. Myeloid leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), a key anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, is positioned downstream in the endogenous apoptotic pathway and plays a central role in regulating mitochondrial function. Mcl-1 is highly expressed in a variety of hematological malignancies and solid tumors, contributing to tumorigenesis, poor prognosis, and chemoresistance, making it an attractive target for cancer treatment. This Perspective aims to discuss the mechanism by which Mcl-1 regulates apoptosis and non-apoptotic functions in cancer cells and to outline the discovery and optimization process of potent Mcl-1 modulators. In addition, we summarize the structural characteristics of potent inhibitors that bind to Mcl-1 through multiple co-crystal structures and analyze the cardiotoxicity caused by current Mcl-1 inhibitors, providing prospects for rational targeting of Mcl-1.

Structure-Activity Relationship of FL118 Platform Position 7 Versus Position 9-Derived Compounds and Their Mechanism of Action and Antitumor Activity

Structurally, FL118 is a camptothecin analogue and possesses exceptional antitumor efficacy against human cancer through a novel mechanism of action (MOA). In this report, we have synthesized and characterized 24 FL118 Position 7-substituted and 24 FL118 Position 9-substituted derivatives. The top compounds were further characterized for their MOA in colorectal cancer (CRC) models using CRC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and pancreatic cancer PDX models to evaluate their antitumor activities. Four FL118 Position 7-substituted derivatives showed significantly better antitumor efficacy than the FL118 Position 9-substituted derivatives. The four identified compounds also appeared to have better antitumor activity than their parental platform FL118. Interestingly, RNA-Seq analyses indicated that three of the four compounds exerted antitumor effects via an MOA similar to FL118, which provided an intriguing opportunity for follow-up studies. Extended in vivo studies revealed that FL77-6 (7-(4-ethylphenyl)-FL118), FL77-9 (7-(4-methoxylphenyl)-FL118), and FL77-24 (7-(3, 5-dimethoxyphenyl)-FL118) exhibit potential for further development toward clinical trials.

Discovery of Selective and Potent Macrocyclic CDK9 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Osimertinib-Resistant Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Effectiveness of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors, including Osimertinib, for treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is limited due to the continuous emergence of drug resistance. Hence, it is urgent to develop new therapeutic approaches. CDK9, a key regulator of RNA transcription, has emerged as a promising target for the development of antitumor drugs due to its crucial role in modulating the levels of antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1. Herein, we present the synthesis, optimization, and evaluation of selective CDK9 inhibitors with a macrocyclic scaffold that effectively suppresses the growth of NSCLC cells. Notably, compound Z11, a potent CDK9 inhibitor (IC50 = 3.20 nM) with good kinase selectivity, significantly inhibits cell proliferation and colony formation and induces apoptosis in Osimertinib-resistant H1975 cells. Furthermore, Z11 demonstrates a significant suppression of tumor growth in six patient-derived organoids, including three organoids resistant to Osimertinib. Overall, Z11 served as a promising macrocycle-based CDK9 inhibitor for treating Osimertinib-resistant NSCLC.

Bcl-B: an "unknown" protein of the Bcl-2 family

Bcl-B is a poorly understood protein of the Bcl-2 family that is highly expressed in many healthy tissues and tumor types. Bcl-B is considered an antiapoptotic protein, but many reports have revealed its contradictory roles in different cancer types. In this mini-review, we elucidate the functions of Bcl-B in normal conditions and various pathologies, its regulation of programmed cell death, its oncogene/oncosuppressor activity in tumorigenesis, its impact on drug-acquired resistance, and possible approaches to inhibit Bcl-B.

Mcl-1 deficiency in murine livers leads to nuclear polyploidisation and mitotic errors: Implications for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background & Aims

Mcl-1, an antiapoptotic protein overexpressed in many tumours, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), represents a promising target for cancer treatment. Although Mcl-1 non-apoptotic roles might critically influence the therapeutic potential of Mcl-1 inhibitors, these functions remain poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the effects of hepatic Mcl-1 deficiency (Mcl-1Δhep) on hepatocyte ploidy and cell cycle in murine liver in vivo and the possible implications on HCC.

Methods

Livers of young Mcl-1Δhep and wild-type (WT) mice were analysed for ploidy profile, mitotic figures, in situ chromosome segregation, gene set enrichment analysis and were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy to assess Mcl-1 deficiency effect on cell cycle progression in vivo. Mcl-1Δhep tumours in older mice were analysed for ploidy profile, chromosomal instability, and mutational signatures via whole exome sequencing.

Results

In young mice, Mcl-1 deficiency leads to nuclear polyploidy and to high rates of mitotic errors with abnormal spindle figures and chromosome mis-segregation along with a prolonged spindle assembly checkpoint activation signature. Chromosomal instability and altered ploidy profile are observed in Mcl-1Δhep tumours of old mice as well as a characteristic mutational signature of currently unknown aetiology.

Conclusions

Our study suggests novel non-apoptotic effects of Mcl-1 deficiency on nuclear ploidy, mitotic regulation, and chromosomal segregation in hepatocytes in vivo. In addition, the Mcl-1 deficiency characteristic mutational signature might reflect mitotic issues. These results are of importance to consider when developing anti-Mcl-1 therapies to treat cancer.

Impact and implications

Although Mcl-1 inhibitors represent promising hepatocellular carcinoma treatment, the still poorly understood non-apoptotic roles of Mcl-1 might compromise their successful clinical application. Our study shows that Mcl-1 deficiency leads to nuclear polyploidy, mitotic errors, and aberrant chromosomal segregation in hepatocytes in vivo, whereas hepatocellular tumours spontaneously induced by Mcl-1 deficiency exhibit chromosomal instability and a mutational signature potentially reflecting mitotic issues. These results have potential implications for the development of anti-Mcl-1 therapies to treat hepatocellular carcinoma, especially as hyperproliferative liver is a clinically relevant situation.

Targeting MCL-1 protein to treat cancer: opportunities and challenges

Evading apoptosis has been linked to tumor development and chemoresistance. One mechanism for this evasion is the overexpression of prosurvival B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) family proteins, which gives cancer cells a survival advantage. Mcl-1, a member of the BCL-2 family, is among the most frequently amplified genes in cancer. Targeting myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) protein is a successful strategy to induce apoptosis and overcome tumor resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Various strategies to inhibit the antiapoptotic activity of MCL-1 protein, including transcription, translation, and the degradation of MCL-1 protein, have been tested. Neutralizing MCL-1's function by targeting its interactions with other proteins via BCL-2 interacting mediator (BIM)S2A has been shown to be an equally effective approach. Encouraged by the design of venetoclax and its efficacy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, scientists have developed other BCL-2 homology (BH3) mimetics-particularly MCL-1 inhibitors (MCL-1i)-that are currently in clinical trials for various cancers. While extensive reviews of MCL-1i are available, critical analyses focusing on the challenges of MCL-1i and their optimization are lacking. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding clinically relevant MCL-1i and focus on predictive biomarkers of response, mechanisms of resistance, major issues associated with use of MCL-1i, and the future use of and maximization of the benefits from these agents.

A novel Mcl-1 inhibitor synergizes with venetoclax to induce apoptosis in cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Evading apoptosis by overexpression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins is a hallmark of cancer cells and the Bcl-2 selective inhibitor venetoclax is widely used in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Mcl-1, another anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, is recognized as the primary cause of resistance to venetoclax treatment. However, there is currently no Mcl-1 inhibitor approved for clinical use.

METHODS

Paired parental and Mcl-1 knockout H1299 cells were used to screen and identify a small molecule named MI-238. Immunoprecipitation (IP) and flow cytometry assay were performed to analyze the activation of pro-apoptotic protein Bak. Annexin V staining and western blot analysis of cleaved caspase 3 were employed to measure the cell apoptosis. Mouse xenograft AML model using luciferase-expressing Molm13 cells was employed to evaluate in vivo therapeutic efficacy. Bone marrow samples from newly diagnosed AML patients were collected to evaluate the therapeutic potency.

RESULTS

Here, we show that MI-238, a novel and specific Mcl-1 inhibitor, can disrupt the association of Mcl-1 with BH3-only pro-apoptotic proteins, selectively leading to apoptosis in Mcl-1 proficient cells. Moreover, MI-238 treatment also potently induces apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Notably, the combined treatment of MI-238 with venetoclax exhibited strong synergistic anti-cancer effects in AML cells in vitro, MOLM-13 xenografts mouse model and AML patient samples.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified a novel and selective Mcl-1 inhibitor MI-238 and demonstrated that the development of MI-238 provides a novel strategy to improve the outcome of venetoclax therapy in AML.

Discovery of Mcl-1 inhibitors through virtual screening, molecular dynamics simulations and in vitro experiments

As a member of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein family, the myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein (Mcl-1) can inhibit apoptosis and plays an active role in the process of tumor escape from apoptosis. Therefore, inhibition of Mcl-1 protein can effectively promote the apoptosis of tumor cells and may also reduce tumor cell resistance to drugs targeting other anti-apoptotic proteins. This research is dedicated to the development of Mcl-1 inhibitors, aiming to provide more references for lead compounds with different scaffolds for the development of targeted anticancer drugs. We obtained a series of small molecules with a common core skeleton through molecular docking from Specs database and searched the core structure in ZINC database for more similar small molecules. Collecting these small molecules for preliminary experimental screening, we found a batch of active compounds, and selected two small molecules with the strongest inhibitory activity on B16F10 cells: compound 7 and compound 1. Their IC₅₀s are 7.86 ± 1.25 and 24.72 ± 1.94 μM, respectively. These two compounds were also put into cell scratch test for B16F10 cells and cell viability assay of other cell lines. Furthermore, through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis, we found that compound 7 formed strong binding with the key P2, P3 pocket and ARG 263 of Mcl-1. Finally, ADME results showed that compound 7 performs well in terms of drug similarity. In conclusion, this study provides hits with co-scaffolds that may aid in the design of effective clinical drugs targeting Mcl-1 and the future drug development.

Transient targeting of BIM-dependent adaptive MCL1 preservation enhances tumor response to molecular therapeutics in non-small cell lung cancer

Despite remarkable efficacy, targeted treatments often yield a subpopulation of residual tumor cells in part due to non-genetic adaptions. Previous mechanistic understanding on the emergence of these drug-tolerant persisters (DTPs) has been limited to epigenetic and transcriptional reprogramming. Here, by comprehensively interrogating therapy-induced early dynamic protein changes in diverse oncogene-addicted non-small cell lung cancer models, we identified adaptive MCL1 increase as a new and universal mechanism to confer apoptotic evasion and DTP formation. In detail, acute MAPK signaling disruption in the presence of genotype-based tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) prompted mitochondrial accumulation of pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein BIM, which sequestered MCL1 away from MULE-mediated degradation. A small-molecule combination screen uncovered that PI3K-mTOR pathway blockade prohibited MCL1 upregulation. Biochemical and immunocytochemical evidence indicated that mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) bound and phosphorylated MCL1, facilitating its interaction with BIM. As a result, short-term polytherapy combining antineoplastic TKIs with PI3K, mTOR or MCL1 inhibitors sufficed to prevent DTP development and promote cancer eradication. Collectively, these findings support that upfront and transient targeting of BIM-dependent, mTORC2-regulated adaptive MCL1 preservation holds enormous promise to improve the therapeutic index of molecular targeted agents.

Mechanisms of EGFR-TKI-Induced Apoptosis and Strategies Targeting Apoptosis in EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Homeostasis is achieved by balancing cell survival and death. In cancer cells, especially those carrying driver mutations, the processes and signals that promote apoptosis are inhibited, facilitating the survival and proliferation of these dysregulated cells. Apoptosis induction is an important mechanism underlying the therapeutic efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the mechanisms by which EGFR-TKIs induce apoptosis have not been fully elucidated. A deeper understanding of the apoptotic pathways induced by EGFR-TKIs is essential for the developing novel strategies to overcome resistance to EGFR-TKIs or to enhance the initial efficacy through therapeutic synergistic combinations. Recently, therapeutic strategies targeting apoptosis have been developed for cancer. Here, we review the state of knowledge on EGFR-TKI-induced apoptotic pathways and discuss the therapeutic strategies for enhancing EGFR-TKI efficiency. We highlight the great progress achieved with third-generation EGFR-TKIs. In particular, combination therapies of EGFR-TKIs with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor/receptor inhibitors or chemotherapy have emerged as promising therapeutic strategies for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC. Nevertheless, further breakthroughs are needed to yield an appropriate standard care for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC, which requires gaining a deeper understanding of cancer cell dynamics in response to EGFR-TKIs.

Role of USP13 in physiology and diseases

Ubiquitin specific protease (USP)-13 is a deubiquitinase that removes ubiquitin from substrates to prevent protein degradation by the proteasome. Currently, the roles of USP13 in physiology and pathology have been reported. In physiology, USP13 is highly associated with cell cycle regulation, DNA damage repair, myoblast differentiation, quality control of the endoplasmic reticulum, and autophagy. In pathology, it has been reported that USP13 is important in the pathogenesis of infection, inflammation, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers. This mini-review summarizes the most recent advances in USP13 studies involving its pathophysiological roles in different conditions and provides new insights into the prevention and treatment of relevant diseases, as well as further research on USP13.

Ursolic acid enhances the antitumor effects of sorafenib associated with Mcl-1-related apoptosis and SLC7A11-dependent ferroptosis in human cancer

As a broad-spectrum oral small molecule inhibitor targeting multikinase, sorafenib is currently approved for the clinical treatment of several types of cancer as a single agent. A considerable number of clinical trial results have indicated that combination therapies involving sorafenib have been shown to improve treatment efficacy and may lead to novel therapeutic applications. Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpene compound extracted from a great variety of traditional medicinal plants and most fruits and vegetables, exhibits a wide range of therapeutic potential, including against cancer, diabetes, brain disease, liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, and sarcopenia. In the present study, we investigated the antitumor effects of sorafenib in combination with ursolic acid and found that the two agents displayed significant synergistic antitumor activity in in vitro and in vivo tumor xenograft models. Sorafenib/UA induced selective apoptotic death and ferroptosis in various cancer cells by evoking a dramatic accumulation of intracellular lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mechanistically, the combination treatment promoted Mcl-1 degradation, which regulates apoptosis. However, decreasing the protein level of SLC7A11 plays a critical role in sorafenib/UA-induced cell ferroptosis. Therefore, these results suggest that the synergistic antitumor effects of sorafenib combined with ursolic acid may involve the induction of Mcl-1-related apoptosis and SLC7A11-dependent ferroptosis. Our findings may offer a novel effective therapeutic strategy for tumor treatment.

An FGFR1-Binding Peptide Modified Liposome for siRNA Delivery in Lung Cancer

Liposome modification by targeting ligands has been used to mediate specific interactions and drug delivery to target cells. In this study, a new peptide ligand, CP7, was found to be able to effectively bind to FGFR1 through reverse molecular docking and could cooperate with VEGFR3 to achieve targeting of A549 cells. CP7 was modified on the surface of the liposome to construct a targeted and safe nanovehicle for the delivery of a therapeutic gene, Mcl-1 siRNA. Due to the specific binding between CP7 and A549 cells, siRNA-loaded liposome-PEG-CP7 showed increased cellular uptake in vitro, resulting in significant apoptosis of tumor cells through silencing of the Mcl-1 gene, which is associated with apoptosis and angiogenesis. This gene delivery system also showed significantly better antitumor activity in tumor-bearing mice in vivo. All of these suggested that siRNA-loaded liposome-PEG-CP7 could be a promising gene drug delivery system with good bioavailability and minimal side effects for treatment.

Development of a series of novel Mcl-1 inhibitors bearing an indole carboxylic acid moiety

The B cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins regulate cell apoptosis by participating in the endogenous apoptosis pathway. As an important anti-apoptotic protein, Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) is overexpressed in a variety of tumor cells, and targeting this protein has been a promising strategy for cancer therapy. Herein, based on the 1H-indole-5-carboxylic acid structure previously discovered, we have developed a series of novel compounds with increased affinities and selectivity toward Mcl-1 through structure-based drug design. Among those compounds, 26 exerted relatively better affinity and selectivity for Mcl-1 with moderate inhibition in HL-60 cells. Mechanism studies showed that compound 26 could induce cancer cells apoptosis in an Mcl-1-dependent manner. It also exhibited good microsomal and plasma stability with acceptable pharmacokinetics profiles. Furthermore, treatment with target compound in a 4T1 xenograft mouse model significantly suppressed the tumor growth. Overall, the small molecule described herein represents a promising Mcl-1 inhibitor for further study.

miR-25 and miR-92b regulate insulin biosynthesis and pancreatic β-cell apoptosis

PURPOSE

Pancreatic β-cell failure is a central hallmark of the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus; however, the molecular basis underlying chronic inflammation-caused β-cell failure remains unclear. This study reported here specifically assessed the association between miR-25/miR-92b family and β-cell failure in diabetes.

METHODS

IL-1β and two additional ER stress activators, palmitate and tunicamycin were applied to evaluate the expression level miR-25 by Taqman^® RT-PCR. Glucose- and potassium-stimulated insulin secretion assays were performed to assess β-cell function. Dual-luciferase activity, and western blotting assays were utilized for miR-25 target gene verification. CCK-8 and TUNEL staining were used to evaluate β-cell viability and apoptosis.

RESULTS

miRNA ChIP identified the increased level of miR-25 in INS-1 cells by IL-1β treatment. Expression levels of miR-25 were significantly upregulated with the treatment of IL-1β, palmitate or tunicamycin in both INS-1 cells and human islets. Ectopic elevation of miR-25 recapitulated most featured β-cell defects caused by IL-1β, including inhibition of insulin biosynthesis and increased β-cell apoptosis. These detrimental effects of miR-25 relied on its seed sequence recognition and repressed expression of its target genes Neurod1 and Mcl1. The miR-25/NEUROD1 axis reduced insulin biosynthesis via transcriptional regulation of β-cell specific genes. The miR-25/MCL1 axis caused β-cell apoptosis in a CASPASE-3/PARP1-dependent manner. Comparable impairments were generated by miR-92b and miR-25, emphasizing the redundant biological roles of miRNA family members with the same seed sequence.

CONCLUSION

MiR-25/miR-92b family plays a major role in β-cell failure occurring under inflammation and diabetes states.

Gga-miR-30c-5p Enhances Apoptosis in Fowl Adenovirus Serotype 4-Infected Leghorn Male Hepatocellular Cells and Facilitates Viral Replication through Myeloid Cell Leukemia-1

Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) is the primary causative agent responsible for the hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) in chickens, leading to considerable economic losses to stakeholders. Although the pathogenesis of FAdV-4 infection has gained attention, the underlying molecular mechanism is still unknown. Here, we showed that the ectopic expression of gga-miR-30c-5p in leghorn male hepatocellular (LMH) cells enhanced apoptosis in FAdV-4-infected LMH cells by directly targeting the myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), facilitating viral replication. On the contrary, the inhibition of endogenous gga-miR-30c-5p markedly suppressed apoptosis and viral replication in LMH cells. Importantly, the overexpression of Mcl-1 inhibited gga-miR-30c-5p or FAdV-4-induced apoptosis in LMH cells, reducing FAdV-4 replication, while the knockdown of Mcl-1 by RNAi enhanced apoptosis in LMH cells. Furthermore, transfection of LMH cells with gga-miR-30c-5p mimics enhanced FAdV-4-induced apoptosis associated with increased cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. Thus, gga-miR-30c-5p enhances FAdV-4-induced apoptosis by directly targeting Mcl-1, a cellular anti-apoptotic protein, facilitating FAdV-4 replication in host cells. These findings could help to unravel the mechanism of how a host responds against FAdV-4 infection at an RNA level.

Adapted to Survive: Targeting Cancer Cells with BH3 Mimetics

A hallmark of cancer is cell death evasion, underlying suboptimal responses to chemotherapy, targeted agents, and immunotherapies. The approval of the antiapoptotic BCL2 antagonist venetoclax has finally validated the potential of targeting apoptotic pathways in patients with cancer. Nevertheless, pharmacologic modulators of cell death have shown markedly varied responses in preclinical and clinical studies. Here, we review emerging concepts in the use of this class of therapies. Building on these observations, we propose that treatment-induced changes in apoptotic dependency, rather than pretreatment dependencies, will need to be recognized and targeted to realize the precise deployment of these new pharmacologic agents.

SIGNIFICANCE

Targeting antiapoptotic family members has proven efficacious and tolerable in some cancers, but responses are infrequent, particularly for patients with solid tumors. Biomarkers to aid patient selection have been lacking. Precision functional approaches that overcome adaptive resistance to these compounds could drive durable responses to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapies.

The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Fbxo4 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor: Its Biological Importance and Therapeutic Perspectives

Simple Summary

Fbxo4 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that requires the formation of a complex with S-phase kinase-associated protein 1 and Cullin1 to catalyze the ubiquitylation of its substrates. Moreover, Fbxo4 depends on the existence of posttranslational modifications and/or co-factor to be activated to perform its biological functions. The well-known Fbxo4 substrates have oncogenic or oncogene-like activities, for example, cyclin D1, Trf1/Pin2, p53, Fxr1, Mcl-1, ICAM-1, and PPARγ; therefore, Fbxo4 is defined as a tumor suppressor. Biologically, Fbxo4 regulates cell cycle progression, DNA damage response, tumor metabolism, cellular senescence, metastasis and tumor cells’ response to chemotherapeutic compounds. Clinicopathologically, the expression of Fbxo4 is associated with patients’ prognosis depending on different tumor types. Regarding to its complicated regulation, more in-depth studies are encouraged to dissect the detailed molecular mechanisms to facilitate developing new treatment through targeting Fbxo4.

Abstract

Fbxo4, also known as Fbx4, belongs to the F-box protein family with a conserved F-box domain. Fbxo4 can form a complex with S-phase kinase-associated protein 1 and Cullin1 to perform its biological functions. Several proteins are identified as Fbxo4 substrates, including cyclin D1, Trf1/Pin2, p53, Fxr1, Mcl-1, ICAM-1, and PPARγ. Those factors can regulate cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, survival/apoptosis, and migration/invasion, highlighting their oncogenic or oncogene-like activities. Therefore, Fbxo4 is defined as a tumor suppressor. The biological functions of Fbxo4 make it a potential candidate for developing new targeted therapies. This review summarizes the gene and protein structure of Fbxo4, the mechanisms of how its expression and activity are regulated, and its substrates, biological functions, and clinicopathological importance in human cancers.

Targeting of Mcl-1 Expression by MiRNA-3614-5p Promotes Cell Apoptosis of Human Prostate Cancer Cells

MicroRNA (miRNA) acts as a critical regulator of growth in various human malignancies. However, the role of miRNA-3614 in the progression of human prostate cancer remains unknown. In this study, our results demonstrated that miRNA-3614-5p exerts a significant inhibitory effect on cell viability and colony formation and induces sub-G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) acts as a master regulator of cell survival. Using the miRNA databases, miRNA-3614-5p was found to regulate Mcl-1 expression by targeting positions of the Mcl-1-3′ UTR. The reduction of Mcl-1 expression by miRNA-3614-5p was further confirmed using an immunoblotting assay. Pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were significantly activated by miRNA-3614-5p to generate cleaved caspase-3 (active caspase-3) and cleaved PARP (active PARP), accompanied by the inhibited Mcl-1 expression. These findings were the first to demonstrate the anti-growth effects of miRNA-3614-5p through downregulating Mcl-1 expression in human prostate cancer cells.

miR-181c regulates MCL1 and cell survival in GATA2 deficient cells

GATA2 is a transcription factor critical for hematopoiesis. Germline mutations in GATA binding protein 2 (GATA2) led to haploinsufficiency, severe cytopenias of multiple cell lineages, susceptibility to infections and strong propensity to develop myelodysplastic syndrome, and acute myeloid leukemia. Mechanisms of progressive cytopenias remain unclear. MicroRNA (miRNA) represents a unique mechanism of post-transcriptional gene regulation. In this study, miRNA profiles were evaluated and eight miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed (≥2-fold, P ≤ 0.05) in patient-derived cell lines (N = 13) in comparison to controls (N = 10). miR-9, miR-181a-2-3p, miR-181c, miR-181c-3p, miR-486-3p, and miR-582 showed increased expression, whereas miR-223 and miR-424-3p showed decreased expression. Cell death assays indicated that miR-181c potently induces cell death in lymphoid (Ly-8 and SP-53) and myeloid (HL-60) cell lines. miR-181c was predicted to target myeloid cell leukemia (MCL)1, which was confirmed by transfection assays, resulting in significantly reduced MCL1 mRNA and decreased live cell numbers. Bone marrow analysis of 34 GATA2 patients showed significantly decreased cellularity, CD34-positive cells, monocytes, dendritic cells, NK cells, B cells, and B cell precursors in comparison to healthy controls (N = 29; P < 0.001 for each), which was accompanied by decreased levels of MCL1 (P < 0.05). GATA2 expression led to significant repression of miR-181c expression in transfection experiments. Conversely, knockdown of GATA2 led to increased miR-181c expression. These findings indicate that miR-181c expression is increased and MCL1 levels decreased in GATA2 deficiency cells, and that GATA2 represses miR-181c transcription. Increased miR-181c may contribute to elevated cell death and cytopenia in GATA2 deficiency potentially through down-regulation of MCL1.

Involvement of Akt and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL in the inhibition of apoptosis of dendritic cells by Leishmania mexicana

The intracellular parasite Leishmania mexicana inhibits camptothecin (CPT)-induced apoptosis of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC) through the down-regulation of p38 and JNK phosphorylation, while the kinase Akt is maintained active for 24 hours. In addition, the infection of moDC with L. mexicana promastigotes increases the protein presence of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL. In the present work we aimed to investigate the role of Akt in the inhibition of apoptosis of moDC by L. mexicana and in the modulation of the expression of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and Bcl-xL. moDC were infected with L. mexicana metacyclic promastigotes and treated with CPT, an Akt inhibitor, or both and the MOMP and protein presence of active caspase 3, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and Bcl-xL were evaluated. Our results show that the specific inhibition of Akt reverts the apoptosis protective effect exerted by L. mexicana on moDC reflected by a reduction in MOMP, caspase 3 activation, and upregulation of Bcl-xL. Interestingly, we also found that the infection of moDC with L. mexicana promastigotes induces a decrease in Bcl-2 along with an isoform change of Mcl-1, this independently to Akt activity. We demonstrated that Akt is deeply involved in the inhibition of apoptosis of moDC by L. mexicana.

MCL1 alternative polyadenylation is essential for cell survival and mitochondria morphology

Alternative polyadenylation in the 3' UTR (3' UTR-APA) is a mode of gene expression regulation, fundamental for mRNA stability, translation and localization. In the immune system, it was shown that upon T cell activation, there is an increase in the relative expression of mRNA isoforms with short 3' UTRs resulting from 3' UTR-APA. However, the functional significance of 3' UTR-APA remains largely unknown. Here, we studied the physiological function of 3' UTR-APA in the regulation of Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 (MCL1), an anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family essential for T cell survival. We found that T cells produce two MCL1 mRNA isoforms (pA1 and pA2) by 3' UTR-APA. We show that upon T cell activation, there is an increase in both the shorter pA1 mRNA isoform and MCL1 protein levels. Moreover, the less efficiently translated pA2 isoform is downregulated by miR-17, which is also more expressed upon T cell activation. Therefore, by increasing the expression of the more efficiently translated pA1 mRNA isoform, which escapes regulation by miR-17, 3' UTR-APA fine tunes MCL1 protein levels, critical for activated T cells' survival. Furthermore, using CRISPR/Cas9-edited cells, we show that depletion of either pA1 or pA2 mRNA isoforms causes severe defects in mitochondria morphology, increases apoptosis and impacts cell proliferation. Collectively, our results show that MCL1 alternative polyadenylation has a key role in the regulation of MCL1 protein levels upon T cell activation and reveal an essential function for MCL1 3' UTR-APA in cell viability and mitochondria dynamics.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of hydantoin derivatives as Mcl-1 selective inhibitors

As a member of Bcl-2 protein family, myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) plays a critical role in cell apoptosis and has become a promising anti-cancer drug target. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of hydantoin derivatives as novel Mcl-1 inhibitors based on our previously developed lead compound. Among them, compound M23 and M24 exhibited good binding affinities against Mcl-1 with K_i values of 0.49 μM and 0.33 μM respectively. Especially, compound M23 exhibited good selectivity over Bcl-xL, whereas compound M24 possessed good selectivity over both Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Furthermore, we also investigated the effects of these new Mcl-1 inhibitors on cell proliferation, apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential, as well as the stability in plasma.

ID09, A Newly-Designed Tubulin Inhibitor, Regulating the Proliferation, Migration, EMT Process and Apoptosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Microtubules, a major target in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) chemotherapy, contribute to multiple malignant biological behaviors, including proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Surpassing traditional tubulin inhibitors, ID09 emerges with brilliant solubility, photostability, and drug-sensitivity in multidrug-resistant cells. Its anti-tumor effects have been briefly verified in lung adenocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, whether OSCC is sensitive to ID09 and the potential mechanisms remain ambiguous, which are research purposes this study aimed to achieve. Various approaches were applied, including clone formation assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, cell counting kit-8 assay, Western blot, qRT-PCR, and in vivo experiment. The experimental results revealed that ID09 not only contributed to cell cycle arrest, reduced migration, and reversed EMT, but accelerated mitochondria-initiated apoptosis. Remarkably, Western blot detected diminishment in expression of Mcl-1 due to the deactivation of Ras-Erk pathway, resulting in ID09-induced apoptosis, proliferation and migration suppression, which could be offset by Erk1/2 phosphorylation agonist Ro 67-7476. This study initially explored the essential role Mcl-1 played and the regulatory effect of Ras-Erk pathway in anti-cancer process triggered by tubulin inhibitor, broadening clinical horizon of tubulin inhibitors in oral squamous cell carcinoma chemotherapy application.

Therapeutic effects of an innovative BS-HH-002 drug on pancreatic cancer cells via induction of complete MCL-1 degradation

BS-HH-002 is a newly developed drug with excellent antitumor activity, which resulted from the modification and optimization of the side structure of the homoharringtonine (HHT). It is particularly efficient in treatment for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. Here we tested whether BS-HH-002 also had anti-cancer effects on solid tumors, especially pancreatic cancer. The results showed that BS-HH-002 treatment resulted in the complete degradation of the anti-apoptosis protein MCL-1, thereby inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. In contrast, BCL-2 and BCL-XL protein levels were still detected in apoptotic cells. Further, we compared HHT and BS-HH-002 in terms of PK and heart toxicity in animals. Compared to HHT, BS-HH-002 quickly reached high blood concentration after intravenous injection or oral administration, without causing obvious cardiac toxicity. These results indicate that BS-HH-002 is a promising new anti-cancer drug to treat pancreatic and other solid tumors.

Bak and Bcl-xL Participate in Regulating Sensitivity of Solid Tumor Derived Cell Lines to Mcl-1 Inhibitors

Simple Summary

Apoptosis is one of the best-known types of programmed cell death. This process is regulated by a number of genes and proteins, among which the Bcl-2 protein family plays a key role. This family includes anti- and proapoptotic proteins. Cancer cell resistance to apoptosis is commonly associated with overexpression of the antiapoptotic members of Bcl-2 family proteins, in particular, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Mcl-1. Subsequently, these proteins represent perspective targets for anticancer therapy. Here, using an inhibitory approach, we found that Bak and Bcl-xL regulate sensitivity of cancer cells to Mcl-1 inhibition.

Abstract

BH3 mimetics represent a promising tool in cancer treatment. Recently, the drugs targeting the Mcl-1 protein progressed into clinical trials, and numerous studies are focused on the investigation of their activity in various preclinical models. We investigated two BH3 mimetics to Mcl-1, A1210477 and S63845, and found their different efficacies in on-target doses, despite the fact that both agents interacted with the target. Thus, S63845 induced apoptosis more effectively through a Bak-dependent mechanism. There was an increase in the level of Bcl-xL protein in cells with acquired resistance to Mcl-1 inhibition. Cell lines sensitive to S63845 demonstrated low expression of Bcl-xL. Tumor tissues from patients with lung adenocarcinoma were characterized by decreased Bcl-xL and increased Bak levels of both mRNA and proteins. Concomitant inhibition of Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 demonstrated dramatic cytotoxicity in six of seven studied cell lines. We proposed that co-targeting Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 might lead to a release of Bak, which cannot be neutralized by other anti-apoptotic proteins. Surprisingly, in Bak-knockout cells, inhibition of Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL still resulted in pronounced cell death, arguing against a sole role of Bak in the studied phenomenon. We demonstrate that Bak and Bcl-xL are co-factors for, respectively, sensitivity and resistance to Mcl-1 inhibition.

Tumor-activatable biomineralized nanotherapeutics for integrative glucose starvation and sensitized metformin therapy

Metformin is a clinically-approved anti-diabetic drug with emerging antitumor potential, but its antitumor activity is highly susceptible to local glucose abundance. Herein, we construct a nanotherapeutic platform based on biocompatible constituents to sensitize tumor cells for metformin therapy via cooperative glucose starvation. The nanoplatform was synthesized through the spontaneous biomineralization of glucose oxidase (GOx) and metformin in amorphous calcium phosphate nanosubstrate, which was further modified with polyethylene glycol and cRGD ligands. This biomineralized nanosystem could efficiently deliver the therapeutic payloads to tumor cells in a targeted and bioresponsive manner. Here GOx could catalyze the oxidation of glucose into gluconic acid and H₂O₂, thus depleting the glucose in tumor intracellular compartment while accelerating the release of the entrapped therapeutic payloads. The selective glucose deprivation would not only disrupt tumor energy metabolism, but also upregulate the PP2A regulatory subunit B56δ and sensitize tumor cells to the metformin-induced CIP2A inhibition, leading to efficient apoptosis induction via PP2A-GSK3β-MCL-1 axis with negligible side effects. This study may offer new avenues for targeted tumor therapy in the clinical context.

The roles of microRNAs played in lung diseases via regulating cell apoptosis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a type of endogenous non-coding short-chain RNA, which plays a crucial role in the regulation of many essential cellular functions, including cellular migration, proliferation, invasion, autophagy, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and differentiation. The lung can be damaged by pathogenic microorganisms, as well as physical or chemical factors. Research has confirmed that miRNAs and lung cell apoptosis can affect the development and progression of several lung diseases. This article reviews the role of miRNAs in the development of lung disease through regulating host cell apoptosis.

Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1): Structural characteristics and application in cancer therapy

Apoptosis, a major hallmark of cancer cells, regulates cellular fate and homeostasis. BCL-2 (B-cell CLL/Lymphoma 2) protein family is popularly known to mediate the intrinsic mode of apoptosis, of which MCL-1 is a crucial member. Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) is an anti-apoptotic oncoprotein and one of the most investigated members of the BCL-2 family. It is commonly known to be genetically altered, aberrantly overexpressed, and primarily associated with drug resistance in various human cancers. Recent advancements in the development of selective MCL-1 inhibitors and evaluating their effectiveness in cancer treatment establish its popularity as a molecular target. The overall aim is the selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by using a single or combination of BCL-2 family inhibitors. Delineating the precise molecular mechanisms associated with MCL-1-mediated cancer progression will certainly improve the efficacy of clinical interventions aimed at MCL-1 and hence patient survival. This review is structured to highlight the structural characteristics of MCL-1, its specific interactions with NOXA, MCL-1-regulatory microRNAs, and at the same time focus on the emerging therapeutic strategies targeting our protein of interest (MCL-1), alone or in combination with other treatments.

Micro RNAs Promoting Growth and Metastasis in Preclinical In Vivo Models of Subcutaneous Melanoma

During the last years a considerable therapeutic progress in melanoma patients with the RAF V600E mutation via RAF/MEK pathway inhibition and immuno-therapeutic modalities has been witnessed. However, the majority of patients relapse after therapy. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the pathways driving oncogenicity and metastasis of melanoma is of paramount importance. In this review, we summarize microRNAs modulating tumor growth, metastasis, or both, in preclinical melanoma-related in vivo models and possible clinical impact in melanoma patients as modalities and targets for treatment of melanoma. We have identified miR-199a (ApoE, DNAJ4), miR-7-5p (RelA), miR-98a (IL6), miR-219-5p (BCL2) and miR-365 (NRP1) as possible targets to be scrutinized in further target validation studies.

Activation of transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase DDR1-STAT3 cascade by extracellular matrix remodeling promotes liver metastatic colonization in uveal melanoma

Colonization is believed a rate-limiting step of metastasis cascade. However, its underlying mechanism is not well understood. Uveal melanoma (UM), which is featured with single organ liver metastasis, may provide a simplified model for realizing the complicated colonization process. Because DDR1 was identified to be overexpressed in UM cell lines and specimens, and abundant pathological deposition of extracellular matrix collagen, a type of DDR1 ligand, was noted in the microenvironment of liver in metastatic patients with UM, we postulated the hypothesis that DDR1 and its ligand might ignite the interaction between UM cells and their surrounding niche of liver thereby conferring strengthened survival, proliferation, stemness and eventually promoting metastatic colonization in liver. We tested this hypothesis and found that DDR1 promoted these malignant cellular phenotypes and facilitated metastatic colonization of UM in liver. Mechanistically, UM cells secreted TGF-β1 which induced quiescent hepatic stellate cells (qHSCs) into activated HSCs (aHSCs) which secreted collagen type I. Such a remodeling of extracellular matrix, in turn, activated DDR1, strengthening survival through upregulating STAT3-dependent Mcl-1 expression, enhancing stemness via upregulating STAT3-dependent SOX2, and promoting clonogenicity in cancer cells. Targeting DDR1 by using 7rh, a specific inhibitor, repressed proliferation and survival in vitro and in vivo outgrowth. More importantly, targeting cancer cells by pharmacological inactivation of DDR1 or targeting microenvironmental TGF-β1-collagen I loop exhibited a prominent anti-metastasis effect in mice. In conclusion, targeting DDR1 signaling and TGF-β signaling may be a novel approach to diminish hepatic metastasis in UM.

CRISPR screens identify a novel combination treatment targeting BCL-XL and WNT signaling for KRAS/BRAF-mutated colorectal cancers

Metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer (CRC) patients require systemic chemotherapy, but the therapeutic options of targeted agents remain limited. CRC patients with KRAS or BRAF gene mutations exhibit a worse prognosis and are resistant to anti-EGFR treatment. Previous studies have shown that the expression of anti-apoptotic protein BCL-XL is increased in CRC patients with KRAS/BRAF mutations, suggesting BCL-XL as a therapeutic target for this subgroup. Here, we performed genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screens of cell lines with KRAS mutations to investigate the factors required for sensitivity to BCL-XL inhibitor ABT-263 using single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) that induce loss-of-function mutations. In the presence of ABT-263, sgRNAs targeting negative regulators of WNT signaling (resulting in WNT activation) were enriched, whereas sgRNAs targeting positive regulators of WNT signaling (resulting in WNT inhibition) were depleted in ABT-263-resistant cells. The activation of WNT signaling was highly associated with an increased expression ratio of anti- to pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family genes in CRC samples. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of WNT signaling using β-catenin short hairpin RNA or TNIK inhibitor NCB-0846, respectively, augmented ABT-263-induced cell death in KRAS/BRAF-mutated cells. Inhibition of WNT signaling resulted in transcriptional repression of the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family member, MCL1, via the functional inhibition of the β-catenin-containing complex at the MCL1 promoter. In addition, the combination of ABT-263 and NCB-0846 exhibited synergistic effects in in vivo patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models with KRAS mutations. Our data provide a novel targeted combination treatment strategy for the CRC patient subgroup with KRAS or BRAF mutations.

Targeting MCL-1 in cancer: current status and perspectives

Myeloid leukemia 1 (MCL-1) is an antiapoptotic protein of the BCL-2 family that prevents apoptosis by binding to the pro-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins. Overexpression of MCL-1 is frequently observed in many tumor types and is closely associated with tumorigenesis, poor prognosis and drug resistance. The central role of MCL-1 in regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway makes it an attractive target for cancer therapy. Significant progress has been made with regard to MCL-1 inhibitors, some of which have entered clinical trials. Here, we discuss the mechanism by which MCL-1 regulates cancer cell apoptosis and review the progress related to MCL-1 small molecule inhibitors and their role in cancer therapy.

Targeting Bcl-2 Family Proteins: What, Where, When?

Proteins of the Bcl-2 family are known as regulators of apoptosis, one of the most studied forms of programmed cell death. The Bcl-2 protein family is represented by both pro- and antiapoptotic members. Antiapoptotic proteins are often exploited by tumor cells to avoid their death, thus playing an important role in carcinogenesis and in acquisition of resistance to various therapeutic agents. Therefore, antiapoptotic proteins represent attractive targets for cancer therapy. A detailed investigation of interactions between Bcl-2 family proteins resulted in the development of highly selective inhibitors of individual antiapoptotic members. These agents are currently being actively studied at the preclinical and clinical stages and represent a promising therapeutic strategy, which is highlighted by approval of venetoclax, a selective inhibitor of Bcl-2, for medical use. Meanwhile, inhibition of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins has significant therapeutic potential that is yet to be revealed. In the coming era of precision medicine, a detailed study of the mechanisms responsible for the sensitivity or resistance of tumor cells to various therapeutic agents, as well as the search for the most effective combinations, is of great importance. Here, we discuss mechanisms of how the Bcl-2 family proteins function, principles of their inhibition by small molecules, success of this approach in cancer therapy, and, eventually, biochemical features that can be exploited to improve the use of Bcl-2 family inhibitors as anticancer drugs.

ANO1 Expression Orchestrates p27Kip1/MCL1-Mediated Signaling in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Simple Summary

Our aim was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of how ANO1 contributes to oncogenic processes in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). We explored transcriptional programs influenced by ANO1 knockdown in patient-derived UT-SCC cell lines with 11q13 amplification and ANO1 overexpression. ANO1 depletion led to downregulation of broad pro-survival BCL2 family protein members, including MCL1, and simultaneously induced upregulation of the cell cycle inhibitor p27^Kip1 and its redistribution from the cytoplasm into the nucleus in the studied HNSCC cells. Gene set enrichment analysis highlighted pathways associated with perturbed cell cycle and apoptosis in the ANO1-depleted samples. Silencing of ANO1 and application of an ANO1-targeting small-molecule inhibitor led to ANO1 degradation and reduction of cell viability. These findings suggest that ANO1 has drug target potential that deserves further evaluation in preclinical in vivo models.

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous group of tumors that derive from the mucosal epithelium of the upper aerodigestive tract and present high mortality rate. Lack of efficient targeted-therapies and biomarkers towards patients’ stratification are caveats in the disease treatment. Anoctamin 1 (ANO1) gene is amplified in 30% of HNSCC cases. Evidence suggests involvement of ANO1 in proliferation, migration, and evasion of apoptosis; however, the exact mechanisms remain elusive. Aim of this study was to unravel the ANO1-dependent transcriptional programs and expand the existing knowledge of ANO1 contribution to oncogenesis and drug response in HNSCC. We cultured two HNSCC cell lines established from primary tumors harboring amplification and high expression of ANO1 in three-dimensional collagen. Differential expression analysis of ANO1-depleted HNSCC cells demonstrated downregulation of MCL1 and simultaneous upregulation of p27^Kip1 expression. Suppressing ANO1 expression led to redistribution of p27^Kip1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and associated with a cell cycle arrested phenotype. ANO1 silencing or pharmacological inhibition resulted in reduction of cell viability and ANO1 protein levels, as well as suppression of pro-survival BCL2 family proteins. Collectively, these data provide insights of ANO1 involvement in HNSCC carcinogenesis and support the rationale that ANO1 is an actionable drug target.

LiCl induces apoptosis via CHOP/NOXA/Mcl-1 axis in human choroidal melanoma cells

Background

Choroidal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy that occurs in adults. Lithium Chloride Promotes Apoptosis in Human Leukemia NB4 Cells by Inhibiting Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Beta. In this study, we aimed to understand whether LiCl exerts anticancer effects on choroidal melanoma cells and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods

Human choroidal melanoma cells were treated with LiCl, and cell survival was assessed with MTT assays. Cell reproductive viability was measured by plate colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry, and proteins were detected using western blotting. A human choroidal melanoma xenograft model was established to demonstrate the effect of LiCl on human choroidal melanoma in vivo.

Results

We found that LiCl inhibited cell survival and clonogenic potential and induced apoptosis in human choroidal melanoma cells. LiCl also reduced the proliferation of choroidal melanoma cells in vivo. Moreover, the upregulation of NOXA and downregulation of Mcl-1 were responsible for LiCl-induced apoptosis. Mcl-1 overexpression obviously impaired LiCl-induced apoptosis and cleavage of caspase8, caspase9, caspase3 and PARP. Moreover, the protein expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers, including IRE1α, Bip, p-eIF2α, ATF4 and CHOP, were upregulated following treatment with LiCl. When CHOP expression was knocked down and cells were treated with LiCl, the protein level of NOXA was partially increased, and Mcl-1 expression was increased, while the cleavage of caspase8, caspase9, caspase3 and PARP that was induced by the LiCl was reduced compared with the vehicle treated group. Prolonged ER stress results in the activation of the apoptotic pathway.

Conclusions

In summary, LiCl induced an endoplasmic reticulum stress response while activating intrinsic apoptosis. Furthermore, the CHOP/NOXA/Mcl-1 axis contributed to LiCl-induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. The present study provides important mechanistic insight into potential cancer treatments involving LiCl and enhances the understanding of human choroidal melanoma.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus latency-associated nuclear antigen dysregulates expression of MCL-1 by targeting FBW7

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is an aggressive B cell lymphoma that is etiologically linked to Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Despite standard multi-chemotherapy treatment, PEL continues to cause high mortality. Thus, new strategies to control PEL are needed urgently. Here, we show that a phosphodegron motif within the KSHV protein, latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA), specifically interacts with E3 ubiquitin ligase FBW7, thereby competitively inhibiting the binding of the anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1 to FBW7. Consequently, LANA-FBW7 interaction enhances the stability of MCL-1 by preventing its proteasome-mediated degradation, which inhibits caspase-3-mediated apoptosis in PEL cells. Importantly, MCL-1 inhibitors markedly suppress colony formation on soft agar and tumor growth of KSHV⁺PEL/BCBL-1 in a xenograft mouse model. These results strongly support the conclusion that high levels of MCL-1 expression enable the oncogenesis of PEL cells and thus, MCL-1 could be a potential drug target for KSHV-associated PEL. This work also unravels a mechanism by which an oncogenic virus perturbs a key component of the ubiquitination pathway to induce tumorigenesis.

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), a highly aggressive B cell lymphoma, is associated with Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). However, the underlying mechanisms that govern the aggressiveness of KSHV-associated PEL are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that KSHV LANA interacts with cellular ubiquitin E3 ligase FBW7, sequestering MCL-1 from FBW7, which reduces MCL-1 ubiquitination. As such, LANA potently stabilizes and increases MCL-1 protein, leading to inhibition of caspase-3-mediated apoptosis in PEL cells. Furthermore, MCL-1 inhibitors efficiently blocked PEL progression in mouse xenograft model. These results suggest that LANA acts as a proto-oncogene via deregulating tumor suppressor FBW7, which upregulates anti-apoptotic MCL-1 expression. This study suggests drugs that target MCL-1 may serve as an effective therapy against KSHV⁺ PEL.

Age-related injury responses of human oligodendrocytes to metabolic insults: link to BCL-2 and autophagy pathways

Myelin destruction and oligodendrocyte (OL) death consequent to metabolic stress is a feature of CNS disorders across the age spectrum. Using cells derived from surgically resected tissue, we demonstrate that young (<age 5) pediatric-aged sample OLs are more resistant to in-vitro metabolic injury than fetal O4+ progenitor cells, but more susceptible to cell death and apoptosis than adult-derived OLs. Pediatric but not adult OLs show measurable levels of TUNEL+ cells, a feature of the fetal cell response. The ratio of anti- vs pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family genes are increased in adult vs pediatric (<age 5) mature OLs and in more mature OL lineage cells. Lysosomal gene expression was increased in adult and pediatric compared to fetal OL lineage cells. Cell death of OLs was increased by inhibiting pro-apoptotic BCL-2 gene and autophagy activity. These distinct age-related injury responses should be considered in designing therapies aimed at reducing myelin injury.

MCL-1 inhibitors, fast-lane development of a new class of anti-cancer agents

Cell death escape is one of the most prominent features of tumor cells and closely linked to the dysregulation of members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Among those, the anti-apoptotic family member myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) acts as a master regulator of apoptosis in various human malignancies. Irrespective of its unfavorable structure profile, independent research efforts recently led to the generation of highly potent MCL-1 inhibitors that are currently evaluated in clinical trials. This offers new perspectives to target a so far undruggable cancer cell dependency. However, a detailed understanding about the tumor and tissue type specific implications of MCL-1 are a prerequisite for the optimal (i.e., precision medicine guided) use of this novel drug class. In this review, we summarize the major functions of MCL-1 with a special focus on cancer, provide insights into its different roles in solid vs. hematological tumors and give an update about the (pre)clinical development program of state-of-the-art MCL-1 targeting compounds. We aim to raise the awareness about the heterogeneous role of MCL-1 as drug target between, but also within tumor entities and to highlight the importance of rationale treatment decisions on a case by case basis.

Nutrient Deprivation Promotes MCL-1 Degradation in an Autophagy-Independent Manner

The antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1, which is an attractive target for cancer treatment, is degraded under nutrient deprivation conditions in different types of cancer. This process sensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapy. It has been found that nutrient deprivation leads to suppression of Mcl-1 synthesis; however, the mechanisms of Mcl-1 degradation under such conditions remain to be elucidated. In this study, we have investigated the contribution of autophagy and proteasomal degradation to the regulation of the level of Mcl-1 protein under nutrient deprivation conditions. We found that these circumstances cause a decrease in the level of Mcl-1 in cancer cells in a macroautophagy-independent manner via proteasomal degradation.