Effect of the antianginal drug bepridil on intracellular Ca2+ release and extracellular Ca2+ influx in human neutrophils

Targeting Notch to Maximize Chemotherapeutic Benefits: Rationale, Advanced Strategies, and Future Perspectives

Simple Summary

The Notch signaling pathway regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, stem cell self-renewal, and differentiation in a context-dependent fashion both during embryonic development and in adult tissue homeostasis. Consistent with its pleiotropic physiological role, unproper activation of the signaling promotes or counteracts tumor pathogenesis and therapy response in distinct tissues. In the last twenty years, a wide number of studies have highlighted the anti-cancer potential of Notch-modulating agents as single treatment and in combination with the existent therapies. However, most of these strategies have failed in the clinical exploration due to dose-limiting toxicity and low efficacy, encouraging the development of novel agents and the design of more appropriate combinations between Notch signaling inhibitors and chemotherapeutic drugs with improved safety and effectiveness for distinct types of cancer.

Abstract

Notch signaling guides cell fate decisions by affecting proliferation, apoptosis, stem cell self-renewal, and differentiation depending on cell and tissue context. Given its multifaceted function during tissue development, both overactivation and loss of Notch signaling have been linked to tumorigenesis in ways that are either oncogenic or oncosuppressive, but always context-dependent. Notch signaling is critical for several mechanisms of chemoresistance including cancer stem cell maintenance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, tumor-stroma interaction, and malignant neovascularization that makes its targeting an appealing strategy against tumor growth and recurrence. During the last decades, numerous Notch-interfering agents have been developed, and the abundant preclinical evidence has been transformed in orphan drug approval for few rare diseases. However, the majority of Notch-dependent malignancies remain untargeted, even if the application of Notch inhibitors alone or in combination with common chemotherapeutic drugs is being evaluated in clinical trials. The modest clinical success of current Notch-targeting strategies is mostly due to their limited efficacy and severe on-target toxicity in Notch-controlled healthy tissues. Here, we review the available preclinical and clinical evidence on combinatorial treatment between different Notch signaling inhibitors and existent chemotherapeutic drugs, providing a comprehensive picture of molecular mechanisms explaining the potential or lacking success of these combinations.

Bepridil exhibits anti-leukemic activity associated with NOTCH1 pathway inhibition in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Dysregulated NOTCH1 signaling, by either gene mutations or microenvironment interactions, has been increasingly linked to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Thus, inhibiting NOTCH1 activity represents a potential therapeutic opportunity for this disease. Using gene expression-based screening, we identified the calcium channel modulator bepridil as a new NOTCH1 pathway inhibitor. In primary CLL cells, bepridil induced selective apoptosis even in the presence of the protective stroma. Cytotoxic effects of bepridil were independent of NOTCH1 mutation and other prognostic markers. The antitumor efficacy of bepridil was associated with inhibition of NOTCH1 activity through a decrement in trans-membrane and activated NOTCH1 protein levels with unchanged NOTCH2 protein levels. In a CLL xenotransplant model, bepridil significantly reduced the percentage of leukemic cells infiltrating the spleen via enhanced apoptosis and decreased NOTCH1 activation. In conclusion, we report in vitro and in vivo anti-leukemic activity of bepridil associated with inhibition of the NOTCH1 pathway in CLL. These data provide a rationale for the clinical development of bepridil as anti-NOTCH1 targeted therapy for CLL patients.

Pharmacological activation of FOXO3 suppresses triple-negative breast cancer in vitro and in vivo

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal form of breast cancer. Lacking effective therapeutic options hinders treatment of TNBC. Here, we show that bepridil (BPD) and trifluoperazine (TFP), which are FDA-approved drugs for treatment of schizophrenia and angina respectively, inhibit Akt-pS473 phosphorylation and promote FOXO3 nuclear localization and activation in TNBC cells. BPD and TFP inhibit survival and proliferation in TNBC cells and suppress the growth of TNBC tumors, whereas silencing FOXO3 reduces the BPD- and TFP-mediated suppression of survival in TNBC cells. While BPD and TFP decrease the expression of oncogenic c-Myc, KLF5, and dopamine receptor DRD2 in TNBC cells, silencing FOXO3 diminishes BPD- and TFP-mediated repression of the expression of these proteins in TNBC cells. Since c-Myc, KLF5, and DRD2 have been suggested to increase cancer stem cell-like populations in various tumors, reducing these proteins in response to BPD and TFP suggests a novel FOXO3-dependent mechanism underlying BPD- and TFP-induced apoptosis in TNBC cells.

Effect of allyl sulfides from garlic essential oil on intracellular ca2+ levels in renal tubular cells

Diallyl sulfide (1), diallyl disulfide (2), and diallyl trisulfide (3), which are major organosulfur compounds of garlic (Allium sativum), are recognized as a group of potential chemopreventive compounds. In this study, the early signaling effects of 3 were examined on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells loaded with the Ca(2+)-sensitive dye fura-2. It was found that 3 caused an immediate and sustained increase of [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent manner (EC(50) = 40 μM). Compound 3 also induced a [Ca(2+)](i) elevation when extracellular Ca(2+) was removed, but the magnitude was reduced by 45%. In Ca(2+)-free medium, the 3-induced [Ca(2+)](i) level was abolished by depleting stored Ca(2+) with 1 μM thapsigargin (an endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump inhibitor). Elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) caused by 3 in the Ca(2+)-containing medium was not affected by modulation of protein kinase C activity. The 3-induced Ca(2+) influx was inhibited by nifedipine and nicardipine (1 μM). U73122, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, abolished ATP (but not the 3-induced [Ca(2+)](i) level). These findings suggest that 3 induced a significant [Ca(2+)](i) elevation in MDCK renal tubular cells by stimulating both extracellular Ca(2+) influx and thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular Ca(2+) release via as yet unidentified mechanisms. Furthermore, the order of the allyl sulfide-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevation and cell viability was 1 < 2 < 3. The differential effect of allyl sulfides on Ca(2+) signaling and cell death appears to correlate with the number of sulfur atoms in the structure of these allyl sulfides.

Neuronal preconditioning with the antianginal drug, bepridil

It has recently been shown that the antianginal drug bepridil (BEP) activates mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (mitoK(ATP)) channels and thus confers cardioprotection. Our aim was to investigate whether BEP could induce preconditioning in cultured rat cortical neurons. Although BEP depolarized isolated and in situ mitochondria and increased reactive oxygen species generation, no acute protection was observed. However, a 3-day BEP-treatment elicited dose-dependent delayed neuroprotection against 180 min of oxygen-glucose deprivation (cell viability: untreated, 52.5 +/- 0.85%; BEP 1 micromol/L, 59.6 +/- 1.53%*; BEP 2.5 micromol/L, 71.9 +/- 1.23%*; BEP 5 micromol/L, 95.3 +/- 0.89%*; mean +/- SEM; *p < 0.05 vs. untreated) and 60 min of glutamate excitotoxicity (200 micromol/L; cell viability: untreated, 54.1 +/- 0.69%; BEP 1 micromol/L, 61.2 +/- 1.19%*; BEP 2.5 micromol/L, 78.1 +/- 1.67%*; BEP 5 micromol/L, 91.2 +/- 1.20%*; mean +/- SEM; *p < 0.05 vs. untreated), and inhibited the reactive oxygen species surge upon glutamate exposure. The protection was antagonized with co-application of the superoxide dismutase mimetic M40401, but not with reduced glutathione, catalase, or with the mitoK(ATP) blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate. Furthermore, BEP treatment resulted in increased levels of phosphorylated protein kinase C, manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and Bcl-2. Our results indicate that BEP induces delayed neuronal preconditioning which is dependent on superoxide generation but perhaps not on direct mitoK(ATP) activation.

Effect of methylglyoxal on intracellular calcium levels and viability in renal tubular cells

Methylglyoxal (2-oxopropanal), a physiological glucose metabolite, is a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound that can induce stress in cells and cause apoptotic cell death. This study examines the early signaling effects of methylglyxal on renal cells. It was found that methylglyoxal caused a slow and sustained rise of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in a concentration-dependent manner (EC50=1.8 mM). Methylglyoxal also induced a [Ca2+]i rise when extracellular Ca2+ was removed, but the magnitude was reduced by 80%. Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores with thapsigargin (TG), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ pump inhibitor, did not affect methylglyoxal's effect. In Ca2+-free medium, the methylglyoxal-induced [Ca2+]i rise was abolished by depleting stored Ca2+ with carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP; a mitochondrial uncoupler). Methylglyoxal-caused [Ca2+]i rise in the Ca2+-containing medium was not affected by modulation of protein kinase C activity, presence of voltage-gated Ca2+ channel blockers, or preincubation with thiol-containing antioxidants. U73122, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, abolished ATP (but not methylglyoxal)-induced [Ca2+]i rise. Furthermore, the [Ca2+]i-elevating effect of methylglyoxal was cell type-dependent, because methylglyoxal failed to cause [Ca2+]i rises in CHO-K1, neutrophils, or platelets. Pretreatment with methylglyoxal for 0-24 h decreased cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, methylglyoxal-induced cell death involved apoptotic and necrotic events, the former being the dominant. These findings suggest that methylglyoxal induced a significant rise in [Ca2+]i in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) renal tubular cells by stimulating both extracellular Ca2+ influx and CCCP-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ release via as yet unidentified mechanisms. The cell type-specific Ca2+ signaling may play an important role in the early process of cytotoxic action of methylglyoxal.

Effect of lignans isolated from Hernandia nymphaeifolia on estrogenic compounds-induced calcium mobilization in human neutrophils

The effect of five lignans isolated from Hernandia nymphaeifolia on estrogenic compounds (17beta-estradiol, tamoxifen and clomiphene)-induced Ca(2+) mobilization in human neutrophils was investigated. The five lignans were epi-yangambin, epi-magnolin, epi-aschantin, deoxypodophyllotoxin and yatein. In Ca(2+)-containing medium, the lignans (50-100 microM) inhibited 10 microM 17beta-estradiol- and 5 microM tamoxifen-induced increases in intracellular free Ca(2+) levels ([Ca(2+)](i)) without changing 25 microM clomiphene-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increase. 17beta-estradiol and tamoxifen increased [Ca(2+)](i) by causing Ca(2+) influx and Ca(2+) release because their responses were partly reduced by removing extracellular Ca(2+). In contrast, clomiphene solely induced Ca(2+) release. The effect of the lignans on these two Ca(2+) movement pathways underlying 17beta-estradiol- and tamoxifen-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increases was explored. All the lignans (50-100 microM) inhibited 10 microM 17beta-estradiol-and 5 microM tamoxifen-induced Ca(2+) release, and 17beta-estradiol-induced Ca(2+) influx. However, only 100 microM epi-aschantin was able to reduce tamoxifen-induced Ca(2+) influx while the other lignans had no effect. Collectively, this study shows that the lignans altered estrogenic compounds-induced Ca(2+) signaling in human neutrophils in a multiple manner.