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Makinwa Y, Luo Y, Musich PR, Zou Y. Canonical and Noncanonical Functions of the BH3 Domain Protein Bid in Apoptosis, Oncogenesis, Cancer Therapeutics, and Aging. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2199. [PMID: 38927905 PMCID: PMC11202167 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Effective cancer therapy with limited adverse effects is a major challenge in the medical field. This is especially complicated by the development of acquired chemoresistance. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie these processes remains a major effort in cancer research. In this review, we focus on the dual role that Bid protein plays in apoptotic cell death via the mitochondrial pathway, in oncogenesis and in cancer therapeutics. The BH3 domain in Bid and the anti-apoptotic mitochondrial proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, mitochondrial ATR) it associates with at the outer mitochondrial membrane provides us with a viable target in cancer therapy. We will discuss the roles of Bid, mitochondrial ATR, and other anti-apoptotic proteins in intrinsic apoptosis, exploring how their interaction sustains cellular viability despite the initiation of upstream death signals. The unexpected upregulation of this Bid protein in cancer cells can also be instrumental in explaining the mechanisms behind acquired chemoresistance. The stable protein associations at the mitochondria between tBid and anti-apoptotic mitochondrial ATR play a crucial role in maintaining the viability of cancer cells, suggesting a novel mechanism to induce cancer cell apoptosis by freeing tBid from the ATR associations at mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yetunde Makinwa
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (Y.M.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yibo Luo
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (Y.M.); (Y.L.)
| | - Phillip R. Musich
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA;
| | - Yue Zou
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (Y.M.); (Y.L.)
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2
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Conlon IL, Drennen B, Lanning ME, Hughes S, Rothhaas R, Wilder PT, MacKerell AD, Fletcher S. Rationally Designed Polypharmacology: α-Helix Mimetics as Dual Inhibitors of the Oncoproteins Mcl-1 and HDM2. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:1691-1698. [PMID: 32583936 PMCID: PMC8477420 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs), many of which are dominated by α-helical recognition domains, play key roles in many essential cellular processes, and the dysregulation of these interactions can cause detrimental effects. For instance, aberrant PPIs involving the Bcl-2 protein family can lead to several diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes. Interactions between Bcl-2 pro-life proteins, such as Mcl-1, and pro-death proteins, such as Bim, regulate the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. p53, a tumor-suppressor protein, also has a pivotal role in apoptosis and is negatively regulated by its E3 ubiquitin ligase HDM2. Both Mcl-1 and HDM2 are upregulated in numerous cancers, and, interestingly, there is crosstalk between both protein pathways. Recently, synergy has been observed between Mcl-1 and HDM2 inhibitors. Towards the development of new anticancer drugs, we herein describe a polypharmacology approach for the dual inhibition of Mcl-1 and HDM2 by employing three densely functionalized isoxazoles, pyrazoles, and thiazoles as mimetics of key α-helical domains of their partner proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivie L Conlon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Brandon Drennen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Maryanna E Lanning
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Samuel Hughes
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Rebecca Rothhaas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Paul T Wilder
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Alexander D MacKerell
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Steven Fletcher
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
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Targeting cancer's Achilles’ heel: role of BCL-2 inhibitors in cellular senescence and apoptosis. Future Med Chem 2019; 11:2287-2312. [DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2018-0366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the antiapoptotic BCL-2 proteins are involved in tumor growth, progression and survival, and are also responsible for chemoresistance to conventional anticancer agents. Early efforts to target these proteins yielded some active compounds; however, newer methodologies involving structure-based drug design, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-based screening and fragment-based screening yielded more potent compounds. Discovery of specific as well as nonspecific inhibitors of this class of proteins has resulted in great advances in targeted chemotherapy and decrease in chemoresistance. Here, we review the history and current progress in direct as well as selective targeting of the BCL-2 proteins for anticancer therapy.
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BCL-2 family isoforms in apoptosis and cancer. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:177. [PMID: 30792387 PMCID: PMC6384907 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1407-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 380] [Impact Index Per Article: 76.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The BCl-2 family has long been identified for its role in apoptosis. Following the initial discovery of BCL-2 in the context of B-cell lymphoma in the 1980s, a number of homologous proteins have since been identified. The members of the Bcl-2 family are designated as such due to their BCL-2 homology (BH) domains and involvement in apoptosis regulation. The BH domains facilitate the family members’ interactions with each other and can indicate pro- or anti-apoptotic function. Traditionally, these proteins are categorised into one of the three subfamilies; anti-apoptotic, BH3-only (pro-apoptotic), and pore-forming or ‘executioner’ (pro-apoptotic) proteins. Each of the BH3-only or anti-apoptotic proteins has a distinct pattern of activation, localisation and response to cell death or survival stimuli. All of these can vary across cell or stress types, or developmental stage, and this can cause the delineation of the roles of BCL-2 family members. Added to this complexity is the presence of relatively uncharacterised isoforms of many of the BCL-2 family members. There is a gap in our knowledge regarding the function of BCL-2 family isoforms. BH domain status is not always predictive or indicative of protein function, and several other important sequences, which can contribute to apoptotic activity have been identified. While therapeutic strategies targeting the BCL-2 family are constantly under development, it is imperative that we understand the molecules, which we are attempting to target. This review, discusses our current knowledge of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family isoforms. With significant improvements in the potential for splicing therapies, it is important that we begin to understand the distinctions of the BCL-2 family, not limited to just the mechanisms of apoptosis control, but in their roles outside of apoptosis.
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Evers M, Jak M, Leusen JHW. The latest developments with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2018; 18:973-982. [DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1508444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell Evers
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Margot Jak
- Department of Hematology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - J. H. W. Leusen
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Mukherjee N, Lu Y, Almeida A, Lambert K, Shiau CW, Su JC, Luo Y, Fujita M, Robinson WA, Robinson SE, Norris DA, Shellman YG. Use of a MCL-1 inhibitor alone to de-bulk melanoma and in combination to kill melanoma initiating cells. Oncotarget 2018; 8:46801-46817. [PMID: 27086916 PMCID: PMC5564524 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
MCL-1 (BCL-2 family anti-apoptotic protein) is responsible for melanoma's resistance to therapy. Cancer initiating cells also contribute to resistance and relapse from treatments. Here we examined the effects of the MCL-1 inhibitor SC-2001 in killing non melanoma-initiating-cells (bulk of melanoma), and melanoma-initiating-cells (MICs). By itself, SC-2001 significantly kills melanoma cells under monolayer conditions in vitro and in a conventional mouse xenograft model. However, even at high doses (10μM), SC-2001 does not effectively eliminate MICs. In contrast, the combination of SC-2001 with ABT-737 (a BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor) significantly decreases ALDH+ cells, disrupts primary spheres, and inhibits the self-renewability of MICs. These results were observed in multiple melanomas, including short term cultures of relapsed tumors from current treatments, independent of the mutation status of BRAF or NRAS. Using a low-cell-number mouse xenograft model, we examined the effects of these treatments on the tumor initiating ability of MIC-enriched cultures. The combination therapy reduces tumor formation significantly compared to either drug alone. Mechanistic studies using shRNA and the CRISPR-Cas9 technology demonstrated that the upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins NOXA and BIM contribute to the combination-induced cell death. These results indicate that the MCL-1 inhibitor SC-2001 combined with ABT-737 is a promising treatment strategy for targeting melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabanita Mukherjee
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Yan Lu
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Adam Almeida
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Karoline Lambert
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Chung-Wai Shiau
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Chen Su
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuchun Luo
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Mayumi Fujita
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - William A Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Steven E Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - David A Norris
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dermatology Section, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Yiqun G Shellman
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
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Marimuthu P, Singaravelu K. Prediction of Hot Spots at Myeloid Cell Leukemia-1-Inhibitor Interface Using Energy Estimation and Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis. Biochemistry 2018; 57:1249-1261. [PMID: 29345906 PMCID: PMC6203182 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
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Myeloid
cell leukemia 1 (Mcl1) is an antiapoptotic protein that
plays central role in apoptosis regulation. Also, Mcl1 has the potency
to resist apoptotic cues resulting in up-regulation and cancer cell
protection. A molecular probe that has the potential to specifically
target Mcl1 and thereby provoke its down-regulatory activity is very
essential. The aim of the current study is to probe the internal conformational
dynamics of protein motions and potential binding mechanism in response
to a series of picomolar range Mcl1 inhibitors using explicit-solvent
molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Subsequently, domain cross-correlation
and principal component analysis was performed on the snapshots obtained
from the MD simulations. Our results showed significant differences
in the internal conformational dynamics of Mcl1 with respect to binding
affinity values of inhibitors. Further, the binding free energy estimation,
using three different samples, was performed on the MD simulations
and revealed that the predicted energies (ΔGmmgbsa) were in good correlation with the experimental
values (ΔGexpt). Also, the energies
obtained using all sampling models were efficiently ranked. Subsequently,
the decomposition energy analysis highlighted the major energy-contributing
residues at the Mcl1 binding pocket. Computational alanine scanning
performed on high energy-contributing residues predicted the hot spot
residues. The dihedral angle analysis using MD snapshots on the predicted
hot spot residue exhibited consistency in side chain conformational
motion that ultimately led to strong binding affinity values. The
findings from the present study might provide valuable guidelines
for the design of novel Mcl1 inhibitors that might significantly improve
the specificity for new-generation chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parthiban Marimuthu
- Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory (SBL), Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biochemistry, Åbo Akademi University , Tykistökatu 6A, FI-20520 Turku, Finland.,Department of Biology, Albany State University , 504 College Dr., Albany, Georgia, United States
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Richardson JSM, Aminudin N, Abd Malek SN. Chalepin: A Compound from Ruta angustifolia L. Pers Exhibits Cell Cycle Arrest at S phase, Suppresses Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) Pathway, Signal Transducer and Activation of Transcription 3 (STAT3) Phosphorylation and Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Carcinoma (A549). Pharmacogn Mag 2017; 13:S489-S498. [PMID: 29142404 PMCID: PMC5669087 DOI: 10.4103/pm.pm_13_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plants have been a major source of inspiration in developing novel drug compounds in the treatment of various diseases that afflict human beings worldwide. Ruta angustifolia L. Pers known locally as Garuda has been conventionally used for various medicinal purposes such as in the treatment of cancer. Objective A dihydrofuranocoumarin named chalepin, which was isolated from the chloroform extract of the plant, was tested on its ability to inhibit molecular pathways of human lung carcinoma (A549) cells. Materials and Methods Cell cycle analysis and caspase 8 activation were conducted using a flow cytometer, and protein expressions in molecular pathways were determined using Western blot technique. Results Cell cycle analysis showed that cell cycle was arrested at the S phase. Further studies using Western blotting technique showed that cell cycle-related proteins such as cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and inhibitors of CDKs correspond to a cell cycle arrest at the S phase. Chalepin also showed inhibition in the expression of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT-3), cyclooxygenase-2, and c-myc were also downregulated upon treatment with chalepin. Chalepin was found to induce extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Death receptors 4 and 5 showed a dramatic upregulation at 24 h. Analysis of activation of caspase 8 with the flow cytometer showed an increase in activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Activation of caspase 8 induced cleavage of BH3-interacting domain death agonist, which initiated a mitochondrial-dependent or -independent apoptosis. Conclusion Chalepin causes S phase cell cycle arrest, NF-κB pathway inhibition, and STAT-3 inhibition, induces extrinsic apoptotic pathway, and could be an excellent chemotherapeutic agent. SUMMARY This study reports the capacity of an isolated bioactive compound known as chalepin to suppress the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells pathway, signal transducer and activation of transcription 3, and extrinsic apoptotic pathway and also its ability to arrest cell cycle in S phase. This compound was from the leaves of Ruta angustifolia L. Pers. It provides new insight on the ability of this plant in suppressing certain cancers, especially the nonsmall cell lung carcinoma according to this study. Abbreviations used: °C: Degree Celsius, ANOVA: Analysis of variance, ATCC: American Type Culture Collection, BCL-2: B-Cell CLL/Lymphoma 2, Bcl-xL: B-cell lymphoma extra-large, BH3: Bcl-2 homology 3, BID: BH3-interacting domain death agonist, BIR: Baculovirus inhibitor of apoptosis protein repeat, Caspases: Cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteases, CDK: Cyclin-dependent kinase, CO2: Carbon dioxide, CST: Cell signaling technologies, DISC: Death-inducing signaling complex, DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide, DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, DR4: Death receptor 4, DR5: Death receptor 5, E1a: Adenovirus early region 1A, ECL: Enhanced chemiluminescence, EDTA: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, etc.: Etcetera, FADD: Fas-associated protein with death domain, FBS: Fetal bovine serum, FITC: Fluorescein isothiocyanate, G1: Gap 1, G2: Gap 2, HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography, HRP: Horseradish peroxidase, IAPs: Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, IC50: Inhibitory concentration at half maximal inhibitory, IKK-α: Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit alpha, IKK-β: Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta, IKK-γ: Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit gamma, IKK: IκB kinase, IkBα: Nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha, m: Meter, M: Mitotic, mm: Millimeter, mRNA: Messenger ribonucleic acid, NaCl: Sodium chloride, NaVO4: Sodium orthovanadate, NEMO: NF-Kappa-B essential modulator, NF-κB: Nuclear factor kappa-light chain-enhancer of activated B cells, NSCLC: Nonsmall cell lung carcinoma, PBS: Phosphate buffered saline, PGE2: Prostaglandin E2, PI: Propidium iodide, PMSF: Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, pRB: Phosphorylated retinoblastoma, R. angustifolia: Ruta angustifolia L. Pers, Rb: Retinoblastoma, rpm: Rotation per minute, RPMI: Roswell Park Memorial Institute, S phase: Synthesis phase, SD: Standard deviation, SDS-PAGE: Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Smac: Second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase, SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, STAT3: Signal transducer and activation of transcription 3, tBID: Truncated BID, TNF: Tumor necrosis factor, TRADD: Tumor necrosis factor receptor type-1 associated death domain, TRAIL: TNF-related apoptosis- inducing ligand, USA: United States of America, v/v: Volume over volume.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Norhaniza Aminudin
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sri Nurestri Abd Malek
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Pu J, Dewey JA, Hadji A, LaBelle JL, Dickinson BC. RNA Polymerase Tags To Monitor Multidimensional Protein-Protein Interactions Reveal Pharmacological Engagement of Bcl-2 Proteins. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:11964-11972. [PMID: 28767232 PMCID: PMC5828006 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b06152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
We report the development of a new technology for monitoring multidimensional protein-protein interactions (PPIs) inside live mammalian cells using split RNA polymerase (RNAP) tags. In this new system, a protein-of-interest is tagged with an N-terminal split RNAP (RNAPN), and multiple potential binding partners are each fused to orthogonal C-terminal RNAPs (RNAPC). Assembly of RNAPN with each RNAPC is highly dependent on interactions between the tagged proteins. Each PPI-mediated RNAPN-RNAPC assembly transcribes from a separate promoter on a supplied DNA substrate, thereby generating a unique RNA output signal for each PPI. We develop and validate this new approach in the context of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. These key regulators of apoptosis are important cancer mediators, but are challenging to therapeutically target due to imperfect selectivity that leads to either off-target toxicity or tumor resistance. We demonstrate binary (1 × 1) and ternary (1 × 2) Bcl-2 PPI analyses by imaging fluorescent protein translation from mRNA outputs. Next, we perform a 1 × 4 PPI network analysis by direct measurement of four unique RNA signals via RT-qPCR. Finally, we use these new tools to monitor pharmacological engagement of Bcl-2 protein inhibitors, and uncover inhibitor-dependent competitive PPIs. The split RNAP tags improve upon other protein fragment complementation (PFC) approaches by offering both multidimensionality and sensitive detection using nucleic acid amplification and analysis techniques. Furthermore, this technology opens new opportunities for synthetic biology applications due to the versatility of RNA outputs for cellular engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyue Pu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Jeffrey A. Dewey
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Abbas Hadji
- Section of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Comer Children’s Hospital, Chicago, IL, 60637
| | - James L. LaBelle
- Section of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Comer Children’s Hospital, Chicago, IL, 60637
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Voltan R, Rimondi E, Melloni E, Gilli P, Bertolasi V, Casciano F, Rigolin GM, Zauli G, Secchiero P. Metformin combined with sodium dichloroacetate promotes B leukemic cell death by suppressing anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1. Oncotarget 2017; 7:18965-77. [PMID: 26959881 PMCID: PMC4951344 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin and the mitochondrial targeting dichloroacetate (DCA) have recently received attention due to their ability to inhibit anaerobic glycolysis, which renders most cancer cells resistant to apoptosis induction. We observed that Metformin alone exhibited a dose-dependent anti-leukemic activity in both B leukemic cell lines and primary B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patients' cells and its anti-leukemic activity was enhanced when used in combination with DCA. In order to overcome the problems of poor bioavailability and cellular uptake, which limit DCA efficacy, we have designed and synthetized cocrystals consisting of Metformin and DCA (Met-DCA) at different stoichiometric ratios. Of note, the MetH(2)(++)•2DCA(-) cocrystal exhibited enhanced in vitro anti-leukemic activity, with respect to the treatment with the mix consisting of Metformin plus DCA. In particular, the treatment with the cocrystal MetH(2)(++)•2DCA(-) induced a synergistic apoptotic cell death coupled to a marked down-modulation of the anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 protein. Taken together, our data emphasize that innovative compounds based on Metformin-DCA combination merit to be further evaluated as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of B-CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Voltan
- Department of Morphology, Surgery, Experimental Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Erika Rimondi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Melloni
- Department of Morphology, Surgery, Experimental Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paola Gilli
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valerio Bertolasi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fabio Casciano
- Department of Morphology, Surgery, Experimental Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gian Matteo Rigolin
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara-Arcispedale S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgio Zauli
- Department of Morphology, Surgery, Experimental Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paola Secchiero
- Department of Morphology, Surgery, Experimental Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Improved binding affinities of pyrrolidine derivatives as Mcl-1 inhibitors by modifying amino acid side chains. Bioorg Med Chem 2017; 25:138-152. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Revised: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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