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Beumer JH, Guo J, Ray EC, Scemama J, Parise RA, Deslouches B, Steckbeck JD, Montelaro RC, Eiseman JL. Mass Balance Study of the Engineered Cationic Antimicrobial Peptide, WLBU2, Following a Single Intravenous Dose of 14C-WLBU2 in Mice. Curr Rev Clin Exp Pharmacol 2020; 16:263-272. [PMID: 32778037 DOI: 10.2174/1574884715666200810094201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To address multidrug resistance, we developed engineered Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides (eCAPs). Lead eCAP WLBU2 displays potent activity against drug-resistant bacteria and effectively treats lethal bacterial infections in mice, reducing bacterial loads to undetectable levels in diverse organs. OBJECTIVE To support the development of WLBU2, we conducted a mass balance study. METHODS CD1 mice were administered 10, 15, 20 and 30 mg/kg of QDx5 WLBU2 or a single dose of [14C]-WLBU2 at 15 mg/kg IV. Tolerability, tissue distribution and excretion were evaluated with liquid scintillation and HPLC-radiochromatography. RESULTS The maximum tolerated dose of WLBU2 is 20 mg/kg IV. We could account for greater than >96% of the radioactivity distributed within mouse tissues at 5 and 15 min. By 24h, only ~40-50% of radioactivity remained in the mice. The greatest % of the dose was present in liver, accounting for ~35% of radioactivity at 5 and 15 min, and ~ 8% of radioactivity remained at 24h. High radioactivity was also present in kidneys, plasma, red blood cells and lungs, while less than 0.2% of radioactivity was present in brain, fat, or skeletal muscle. Urinary and fecal excretion accounted for 12.5 and 2.2% of radioactivity at 24h. CONCLUSION WLBU2 distributes widely to mouse tissues and is rapidly cleared with a terminal radioactivity half-life of 22 h, a clearance of 27.4 mL/h/kg, and a distribution volume of 0.94 L/kg. At 2-100 μg-eq/g, the concentrations of 14C-WLBU2 appear high enough in the tissues to account for the inhibition of microbial growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan H Beumer
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 5117 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh, PA15213, United States
| | - Jianxia Guo
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 5117 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh, PA15213, United States
| | - Evan C Ray
- Department of Medicine Renal-Electrolyte Division, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace Street. Pittsburgh, PA15261, United States
| | - Jonas Scemama
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 5117 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh, PA15213, United States
| | - Robert A Parise
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 5117 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh, PA15213, United States
| | - Berthony Deslouches
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace Street. Pittsburgh, PA15261, United States
| | - Jonathan D Steckbeck
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace Street. Pittsburgh, PA15261, United States
| | - Ronald C Montelaro
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace Street. Pittsburgh, PA15261, United States
| | - Julie L Eiseman
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 5117 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh, PA15213, United States
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Activation of SIRT6 by DNA hypomethylating agents and clinical consequences on combination therapy in leukemia. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10325. [PMID: 32587297 PMCID: PMC7316973 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67170-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The FDA-approved DNA hypomethylating agents (DHAs) like 5-azacytidine (5AC) and decitabine (DAC) demonstrate efficacy in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Despite previous reports that showed histone acetylation changes upon using these agents, the exact mechanism underpinning these changes is unknown. In this study, we investigated the relative potency of the nucleoside analogs and non-nucleoside analogs DHAs on DNA methylation reversal using DNA pyrosequencing. Additionally, we screened their effect on the enzymatic activity of the histone deacetylase sirtuin family (SIRT1, SIRT2, SIRT3, SIRT5 and SIRT6) using both recombinant enzymes and nuclear lysates from leukemia cells. The nucleoside analogs (DAC, 5AC and zebularine) were the most potent DHAs and increased the enzymatic activity of SIRT6 without showing any significant increase in other sirtuin isoforms. ChIP-Seq analysis of bone marrow cells derived from six acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and treated with the nucleoside analog DAC induced genome-wide acetylation changes in H3K9, the physiological substrate for SIRT6. Data pooling from the six patients showed significant acetylation changes in 187 gene loci at different chromosomal regions including promoters, coding exons, introns and distal intergenic regions. Signaling pathway analysis showed that H3K9 acetylation changes are linked to AML-relevant signaling pathways like EGF/EGFR and Wnt/Hedgehog/Notch. To our knowledge, this is the first report to identify the nucleoside analogs DHAs as activators of SIRT6. Our findings provide a rationale against the combination of the nucleoside analogs DHAs with SIRT6 inhibitors or chemotherapeutic agents in AML due to the role of SIRT6 in maintaining genome integrity and DNA repair.
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Keller SM, Doherty TS, Roth TL. Pharmacological manipulation of DNA methylation normalizes maternal behavior, DNA methylation, and gene expression in dams with a history of maltreatment. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10253. [PMID: 31311968 PMCID: PMC6635500 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46539-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The quality of parental care received during development profoundly influences an individual's phenotype, including that of maternal behavior. We previously found that female rats with a history of maltreatment during infancy mistreat their own offspring. One proposed mechanism through which early-life experiences influence behavior is via epigenetic modifications. Indeed, our lab has identified a number of brain epigenetic alterations in female rats with a history of maltreatment. Here we sought to investigate the role of DNA methylation in aberrant maternal behavior. We administered zebularine, a drug known to alter DNA methylation, to dams exposed during infancy to the scarcity-adversity model of low nesting resources, and then characterized the quality of their care towards their offspring. First, we replicate that dams with a history of maltreatment mistreat their own offspring. Second, we show that maltreated-dams treated with zebularine exhibit lower levels of adverse care toward their offspring. Third, we show that administration of zebularine in control dams (history of nurturing care) enhances levels of adverse care. Lastly, we show altered methylation and gene expression in maltreated dams normalized by zebularine. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that epigenetic alterations resulting from maltreatment causally relate to behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Keller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Tiffany S Doherty
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Tania L Roth
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
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Sass P, Sosnowski P, Podolak-Popinigis J, Górnikiewicz B, Kamińska J, Deptuła M, Nowicka E, Wardowska A, Ruczyński J, Rekowski P, Rogujski P, Filipowicz N, Mieczkowska A, Peszyńska-Sularz G, Janus Ł, Skowron P, Czupryn A, Mucha P, Piotrowski A, Rodziewicz-Motowidło S, Pikuła M, Sachadyn P. Epigenetic inhibitor zebularine activates ear pinna wound closure in the mouse. EBioMedicine 2019; 46:317-329. [PMID: 31303499 PMCID: PMC6710911 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most studies on regenerative medicine focus on cell-based therapies and transplantations. Small-molecule therapeutics, though proved effective in different medical conditions, have not been extensively investigated in regenerative research. It is known that healing potential decreases with development and developmental changes are driven by epigenetic mechanisms, which suggests epigenetic repression of regenerative capacity. METHODS We applied zebularine, a nucleoside inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases, to stimulate the regenerative response in a model of ear pinna injury in mice. FINDINGS We observed the regeneration of complex tissue that was manifested as improved ear hole repair in mice that received intraperitoneal injections of zebularine. Six weeks after injury, the mean hole area decreased by 83.2 ± 9.4% in zebularine-treated and by 43.6 ± 15.4% in control mice (p < 10-30). Combined delivery of zebularine and retinoic acid potentiated and accelerated this effect, resulting in complete ear hole closure within three weeks after injury. We found a decrease in DNA methylation and transcriptional activation of neurodevelopmental and pluripotency genes in the regenerating tissues. INTERPRETATION This study is the first to demonstrate an effective induction of complex tissue regeneration in adult mammals using zebularine. We showed that the synergistic action of an epigenetic drug (zebularine) and a transcriptional activator (retinoic acid) could be effectively utilized to induce the regenerative response, thus delineating a novel pharmacological strategy for regeneration. The strategy was effective in the model of ear pinna regeneration in mice, but zebularine acts on different cell types, therefore, a similar approach can be tested in other tissues and organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Sass
- Laboratory for Regenerative Biotechnology, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Paweł Sosnowski
- Laboratory for Regenerative Biotechnology, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | - Bartosz Górnikiewicz
- Laboratory for Regenerative Biotechnology, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jolanta Kamińska
- Laboratory for Regenerative Biotechnology, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Milena Deptuła
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Ewa Nowicka
- Department of Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Wardowska
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jarosław Ruczyński
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Piotr Rekowski
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Piotr Rogujski
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Filipowicz
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk 80-416, Poland
| | - Alina Mieczkowska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk 80-416, Poland
| | - Grażyna Peszyńska-Sularz
- Tri-City Academic Laboratory Animal Centre, Research and Services Centre, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | - Piotr Skowron
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Artur Czupryn
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Mucha
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | | | - Michał Pikuła
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Paweł Sachadyn
- Laboratory for Regenerative Biotechnology, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
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Lai J, Wang H, Luo Q, Huang S, Lin S, Zheng Y, Chen Q. The relationship between DNA methylation and Reprimo gene expression in gastric cancer cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:108610-108623. [PMID: 29312555 PMCID: PMC5752468 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21296] [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: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Reprimo (RPRM) is a tumor suppressor involved in the development of a number of malignant tumors including gastric cancer which is highly related to its gene hypermethylation. However, the regulation of RPRM gene expression by DNA methylation in gastric cancer is not well understood. We examined the RPRM gene methylation in gastric cancer tissues or plasma samples by bisulfite sequencing, and investigated the relationship between DNA methylation and the RPRM gene expression by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting. We found that the RPRM gene promoter region is hypermethylated in gastric cancer tissues (75%, 45/60), plasma samples (86.3%, 44/51) and various cancer cell lines (75%, 3/4), which is correlated with the decrease of RPRM gene expression. The hypermethylation-induced RPRM reduction can be recovered by treating with zebularine, a demethylating agent, and by inhibition of the DNA methyltransferases via RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout. In addition, we generated RPRM gene-knockout cells and studied the effects of the RPRM deficiency on tumor formation by inoculating these cells in mice. The data show that the loss of RPRM can promote tumorigenesis. These data suggest that the RPRM expression is inhibited by DNA methyltransferases and the RPRM normal function can be restored by treating with DNA methylation inhibitors. The study provides important information regarding the role of RPRM and its methylation related to gastric cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junzhong Lai
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Hanze Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qianping Luo
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Shanlu Huang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Shujin Lin
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Yansong Zheng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qi Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
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Andersen JB, Factor VM, Marquardt JU, Raggi C, Lee YH, Seo D, Conner EA, Thorgeirsson SS. An integrated genomic and epigenomic approach predicts therapeutic response to zebularine in human liver cancer. Sci Transl Med 2011; 2:54ra77. [PMID: 20962331 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3001338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epigenomic changes such as aberrant hypermethylation and subsequent atypical gene silencing are characteristic features of human cancer. Here, we report a comprehensive characterization of epigenomic modulation caused by zebularine, an effective DNA methylation inhibitor, in human liver cancer. Using transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling, we identified a zebularine response signature that classified liver cancer cell lines into two major subtypes with different drug responses. In drug-sensitive cell lines, zebularine caused inhibition of proliferation coupled with increased apoptosis, whereas drug-resistant cell lines showed up-regulation of oncogenic networks (for example, E2F1, MYC, and TNF) that drive liver cancer growth in vitro and in preclinical mouse models. Assessment of zebularine-based therapy in xenograft mouse models demonstrated potent therapeutic effects against tumors established from zebularine-sensitive but not zebularine-resistant liver cancer cells, leading to increased survival and decreased pulmonary metastasis. Integration of the zebularine gene expression and demethylation response signatures allowed differentiation of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma according to their survival and disease recurrence. This integrated signature identified a subclass of patients within the poor-survivor group that is likely to benefit from therapeutic agents that target the cancer epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper B Andersen
- Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4262, USA
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Yoo CB, Chuang JC, Byun HM, Egger G, Yang AS, Dubeau L, Long T, Laird PW, Marquez VE, Jones PA. Long-term epigenetic therapy with oral zebularine has minimal side effects and prevents intestinal tumors in mice. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2008; 1:233-40. [PMID: 19138966 DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-07-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Recent successes in the application of epigenetic drugs for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome have raised questions on the safety of long-term administration of DNA methylation inhibitors. We treated preweaned cancer prone Apc(Min/+) (Min) mice continuously with the DNA methylation inhibitor zebularine in their drinking water to determine the effects of the drug on normal mouse development as well as cancer prevention. Zebularine caused a tissue-specific reduction in DNA methylation at B1 short interspersed nucleotide elements in the small and large intestines of female Min mice but not in other organs examined after chronic oral treatment. No significant difference in the average weights of mice was observed during the treatment. In addition, analysis of global gene expression of colonic epithelial cells from the females indicated that only 3% to 6% of the genes were affected in their expression. We did not detect toxicity and abnormalities from the histopathologic analysis of liver and intestinal tissues. Lastly, we tested whether prevention of tumorigenesis can be achieved with chronic oral administration of zebularine in Min mice. The average number of polyps in Min females decreased from 58 to 1, whereas the average polyp number remained unaffected in Min males possibly due to differential activity of aldehyde oxidase. Taken together, our results show for the first time that long-term oral administration of zebularine causes a gender-specific abrogation of intestinal tumors while causing a tissue-specific DNA demethylation. Importantly, prolonged treatment of mice with epigenetic drugs resulted in only minor developmental and histologic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine B Yoo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033-9181, USA
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