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Dow LF, Case AM, Paustian MP, Pinkerton BR, Simeon P, Trippier PC. The evolution of small molecule enzyme activators. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:2206-2230. [PMID: 37974956 PMCID: PMC10650962 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00399j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a myriad of enzymes within the body responsible for maintaining homeostasis by providing the means to convert substrates to products as and when required. Physiological enzymes are tightly controlled by many signaling pathways and their products subsequently control other pathways. Traditionally, most drug discovery efforts focus on identifying enzyme inhibitors, due to upregulation being prevalent in many diseases and the existence of endogenous substrates that can be modified to afford inhibitor compounds. As enzyme downregulation and reduction of endogenous activators are observed in multiple diseases, the identification of small molecules with the ability to activate enzymes has recently entered the medicinal chemistry toolbox to afford chemical probes and potential therapeutics as an alternative means to intervene in diseases. In this review we highlight the progress made in the identification and advancement of non-kinase enzyme activators and their potential in treating various disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise F Dow
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68106 USA
| | - Alfie M Case
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68106 USA
| | - Megan P Paustian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68106 USA
| | - Braeden R Pinkerton
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68106 USA
| | - Princess Simeon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68106 USA
| | - Paul C Trippier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68106 USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68106 USA
- UNMC Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68106 USA
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2
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Dung DTM, Park EJ, Anh DT, Hai PT, Bao LQ, Ji AY, Kang JS, Tung TT, Han SB, Nam NH. Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel (E)-N'-((1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)methylene)-2-(4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)acetohydrazides as Antitumor Agents. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2022; 22:2586-2598. [PMID: 35040418 DOI: 10.2174/1871520622666220118154914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herein, we have designed and synthesized a series of the novel (E)-N'-((1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)methylene)-2-(4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)acetohydrazides (5) as potent small molecules activating procaspase-3. The compounds were designed by the amalgamation of structural features of PAC-1 (the first procaspase-3 activator) and oncrasin-1, one potential anticancer agent. METHODS The target acetohydrazides (5a-m) were prepared via the Niementowski condensation of anthranilic acid (1a) or 5-substituted-2-aminobenzoic acid (1b-m) and formamide. The compound libraries were evaluated for their cytotoxicity, caspase-3 activation, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis. In addition, computational chemistry is also performed. RESULTS A biological evaluation revealed that all thirteen compounds designed and synthesized showed strong cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines (SW620, colon cancer; PC-3, prostate cancer; NCI-H23, lung cancer) with eight compounds (5a, 5c-i, 5k), which were clearly more potent than both PAC-1 and oncrasin-1. In this series, four compounds including 5c, 5e, 5f, and 5h, were the most potent members with approximately 4- to 5-fold stronger than the reference compounds PAC-1 and oncrasin-1 in terms of IC50. In comparison to 5-FU, these compounds were even 18- to 29-fold more potent in terms of cytotoxicity in three human cell lines tested. In the caspase activation assay, the caspase activity was activated to 285% by compound 5e in comparison to PAC-1, the first procaspase activating compound, which was used as a control. Our docking simulation revealed that compound 5e was a potent allosteric inhibitor of procaspase-3 through chelation of inhibitory zinc ion. Physicochemical and ADMET calculations for 5e provided useful information of its suitable absorption profile and some toxicological effects that need further optimization to be developed as a promising anticancer agent. CONCLUSION Compound 5e has emerged as a potential hit for further design and development of caspases activators and anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do Thi Mai Dung
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | - Eun Jae Park
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyung-1, Heungdeok, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Duong Tien Anh
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | - Pham-The Hai
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | - Le Quang Bao
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | - A Young Ji
- Department of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Korea
| | - Jong Soon Kang
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 28116, Republic of Korea
| | - Truong Thanh Tung
- PHENIKAA Institute for Advanced Study (PIAS), Phenikaa University, Hanoi 12116, Vietnam
| | - Sang-Bae Han
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyung-1, Heungdeok, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen-Hai Nam
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
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3
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Dung DTM, Park EJ, Anh DT, Hai PT, Huy LD, Jun HW, Kwon JH, Young Ji A, Kang JS, Tung TT, Dung PTP, Han SB, Nam NH. Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel (E)-N'-(3-allyl-2-hydroxy)benzylidene-2-(4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)acetohydrazides as antitumor agents. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2021; 355:e2100216. [PMID: 34674294 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202100216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In our continuing search for novel small-molecule anticancer agents, we designed and synthesized a series of novel (E)-N'-(3-allyl-2-hydroxy)benzylidene-2-(4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)acetohydrazides (5), focusing on the modification of substitution in the quinazolin-4(3H)-one moiety. The biological evaluation showed that all 13 designed and synthesized compounds displayed significant cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines (SW620, colon cancer; PC-3, prostate cancer; NCI-H23, lung cancer). The most potent compound 5l displayed cytotoxicity up to 213-fold more potent than 5-fluorouracil and 87-fold more potent than PAC-1, the first procaspase-activating compound. Structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that substitution of either electron-withdrawing or electron-releasing groups at positions 6 or 7 on the quinazolin-4(3H)-4-one moiety increased the cytotoxicity of the compounds, but substitution at position 6 seemed to be more favorable. In the caspase activation assay, compound 5l was found to activate the caspase activity by 291% in comparison to PAC-1, which was used as a control. Further docking simulation also revealed that this compound may be a potent allosteric inhibitor of procaspase-3 through chelation of the inhibitory zinc ion. Physicochemical and ADMET calculations for 5l provided useful information of its suitable absorption profile and some toxicological effects that need further optimization to be developed as a promising anticancer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do T M Dung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Eun J Park
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Duong T Anh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Pham-The Hai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Le D Huy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Hye W Jun
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo-Hee Kwon
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - A Young Ji
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong S Kang
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Truong T Tung
- Faculty of Pharmacy, PHENIKAA University, Hanoi, Vietnam
- PHENIKAA Institute for Advanced Study (PIAS), PHENIKAA University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Phan T P Dung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Sang-Bae Han
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen-Hai Nam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
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4
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Rahaman MH, Lam F, Zhong L, Teo T, Adams J, Yu M, Milne RW, Pepper C, Lokman NA, Ricciardelli C, Oehler MK, Wang S. Targeting CDK9 for treatment of colorectal cancer. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:2178-2193. [PMID: 31398271 PMCID: PMC6763784 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most lethal human malignancies, and pursuit of new therapeutic targets for treatment has been a major research focus. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), which plays a crucial role in transcription, has emerged as a target for cancer treatment. CDKI-73, one of the most potent and pharmacologically superior CDK9 inhibitors, has demonstrated excellent anti-tumour efficacy against several types of cancers. In this study, we evaluated its therapeutic potential against CRC. CDKI-73 elicited high cytotoxicity against all colon cancer cell lines tested. Cell cycle and apoptosis analysis in HCT 116 and HT29 cells revealed that CDKI-73 induced cell death without accumulation of DNA at any phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, it caused depolarisation of mitochondrial membrane, leading to caspase-independent apoptosis. Knockdown by shRNA demonstrated the CDK9-targeted mechanism of CDKI-73, which also affected the Mnk/eIF4E signalling axis. In addition, RT-qPCR analysis showed that CDKI-73 down-regulated multiple pro-survival factors at the mRNA level. Its in vivo anti-tumour efficacy was further evaluated in Balb/c nude mice bearing HCT 116 xenograft tumours. CDKI-73 significantly inhibited tumour growth (***P < 0.001) without overt toxicity. Analysis of the tumour tissues collected from the xenografted animals confirmed that the in vivo anti-tumour efficacy was associated with CDK9 targeting of CDKI-73. Overall, this study provides compelling evidence that CDKI-73 is a promising drug candidate for treating colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammed H Rahaman
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Frankie Lam
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Longjin Zhong
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Theodosia Teo
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Julian Adams
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Mingfeng Yu
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Robert W Milne
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Chris Pepper
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Health Park, UK
| | - Noor A Lokman
- Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Carmela Ricciardelli
- Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Martin K Oehler
- Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Shudong Wang
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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5
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Yurttaş L, Öztürk Ö, Cantürk Z. New Procaspase Activating Compound (PAC-1) Like Molecules as Potent Antitumoral Agents Against Lung Cancer. LETT DRUG DES DISCOV 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1570180815666180926113040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:
In this study, novel ortho-hydroxy N-acyl hydrazone moiety including
compounds (3a-l) were designed, based on procaspase activating compound (PAC-1) which is a
small molecule known with antitumor activity. The antitumor activity was evaluated on A549 (human
lung cancer cell line) and CCD 19Lu (human lung normal cell line).
Methods:
Twelve N'-arylidene-2-[4-(methylsulfonyl)piperazin-1-yl]acetohydrazide derivatives
(3a-l) were synthesized starting from ethyl 1-piperazinylacetate. All compounds were tested using
MTT method and Xcelligence-Real time cell analysis system (RTCA DP) to determine their antitumor
activity.
Results:
Some physicochemical properties of four active compounds were also predicted using
MolSoft, PreADMET and PROTOX software. Four of them, 3h, 3j, 3k and 3l bearing 3-hydroxy,
4-dimethylamino, 2,6-dichloro and 3,4-dichloro substituents in order exhibited selective cytotoxicity.
Conclusion:
Eligible values were obtained in the specified ranges as to be an oral/intravenous drug
considering the physicochemical calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Yurttaş
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir 26470, Turkey
| | - Ömer Öztürk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir 26470, Turkey
| | - Zerrin Cantürk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir 26470, Turkey
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Huan LC, Phuong CV, Truc LC, Thanh VN, Pham-The H, Huong LTT, Thuan NT, Park EJ, Ji AY, Kang JS, Han SB, Tran PT, Nam NH. (E)-N'-Arylidene-2-(4-oxoquinazolin-4(3H)-yl) acetohydrazides: Synthesis and evaluation of antitumor cytotoxicity and caspase activation activity. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2019; 34:465-478. [PMID: 30734614 PMCID: PMC6338265 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2018.1555536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In our search for novel small molecules activating procaspase-3, we have designed and synthesised a series of novel acetohydrazides incorporating quinazolin-4(3H)-ones (5, 6, 7). Biological evaluation revealed eight compounds with significant cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines (SW620, colon cancer; PC-3, prostate cancer; NCI-H23, lung cancer). The most potent compound 5t displayed cytotoxicity up to 5-fold more potent than 5-FU. Analysis of structure-activity relationships showed that the introduction of different substituents at C-6 position on the quinazolin-4(3H)-4-one moiety, such as 6-chloro or 6-methoxy potentially increased the cytotoxicity of the compounds. In term of caspase activation activity, several compounds were found to exhibit potent effects, (e.g. compounds 7 b, 5n, and 5l). Especially, compound 7 b activated caspases activity by almost 200% in comparison to that of PAC-1. Further docking simulation also revealed that this compound potentially is a potent allosteric inhibitor of procaspase-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Cong Huan
- a Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Hanoi University of Pharmacy , Hanoi , Vietnam
| | - Cao Viet Phuong
- a Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Hanoi University of Pharmacy , Hanoi , Vietnam
| | - Le Cong Truc
- a Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Hanoi University of Pharmacy , Hanoi , Vietnam
| | - Vo Nguyen Thanh
- a Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Hanoi University of Pharmacy , Hanoi , Vietnam
| | - Hai Pham-The
- a Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Hanoi University of Pharmacy , Hanoi , Vietnam
| | - Le-Thi-Thu Huong
- b School of Medicine and Pharmacy , Vietnam National University , Hanoi , Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Thi Thuan
- a Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Hanoi University of Pharmacy , Hanoi , Vietnam
| | - Eun Jae Park
- c College of Pharmacy , Chungbuk National University , Cheongju , Republic of Korea
| | - A Young Ji
- c College of Pharmacy , Chungbuk National University , Cheongju , Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Soon Kang
- d Bio-Evaluation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology , Cheongju , Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Bae Han
- c College of Pharmacy , Chungbuk National University , Cheongju , Republic of Korea
| | - Phuong-Thao Tran
- a Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Hanoi University of Pharmacy , Hanoi , Vietnam
| | - Nguyen-Hai Nam
- a Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Hanoi University of Pharmacy , Hanoi , Vietnam
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7
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Ma J, Ni X, Gao Y, Huang K, Liu J, Wang Y, Chen R, Wang C. Identification and biological evaluation of novel benzothiazole derivatives bearing a pyridine-semicarbazone moiety as apoptosis inducers via activation of procaspase-3 to caspase-3. MEDCHEMCOMM 2019; 10:465-477. [PMID: 31015910 DOI: 10.1039/c8md00624e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Three series of compounds were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against a procaspase-3 over-expression cancer cell line (U937) and a procaspase-3 no-expression cancer cell line (MCF-7) to rule out off-target effects. Biological evaluation led to the identification of a series of benzothiazole derivatives bearing a pyridine-semicarbazone moiety, 8j and 8k, with promising anticancer activity and remarkable selectivity. Further mechanism studies revealed that compounds 8j and 8k could induce apoptosis of cancer cells by activating procaspase-3 to caspase-3, and compound 8k exhibited the strongest procaspase-3 activation activity. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) revealed that the presence of benzothiazole and an N,N,O-donor set is crucial for the anticancer activity and selectivity, and reducing the electron density of the N,N,O-donor set results in a dramatic decline in the anticancer activity and selectivity. Furthermore, toxicity evaluation (zebrafish) in vivo and metabolic stability studies (human, rat and mouse liver microsomes) were performed to provide reliable guidance for further PK/PD studies in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Ma
- School of Medicine , Huaqiao University , Quanzhou , 362000 , China .
| | - Xin Ni
- School of Medicine , Huaqiao University , Quanzhou , 362000 , China .
| | - Yali Gao
- Pharmacy Department , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University , Quanzhou , 362000 , China
| | - Kun Huang
- School of Medicine , Huaqiao University , Quanzhou , 362000 , China .
| | - Jiaan Liu
- Department of Chemistry , University of Massachusetts-Amherst , Amherst , Massachusetts 01003 , USA
| | - Yu Wang
- School of Medicine , Huaqiao University , Quanzhou , 362000 , China .
| | - Roufen Chen
- School of Medicine , Huaqiao University , Quanzhou , 362000 , China .
| | - Cuifang Wang
- College of Oceanology and Food Science , Quanzhou Normal University , Quanzhou 362000 , China .
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Al-Oudat BA, Alqudah MA, Audat SA, Al-Balas QA, El-Elimat T, Hassan MA, Frhat IN, Azaizeh MM. Design, synthesis, and biologic evaluation of novel chrysin derivatives as cytotoxic agents and caspase-3/7 activators. Drug Des Devel Ther 2019; 13:423-433. [PMID: 30774307 PMCID: PMC6349410 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s189476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) is a widely distributed natural flavonoid found in many plant extracts, honey and propolis. Several studies revealed that chrysin possesses multiple biological activities including anti-cancer effects. It has been established that activation of apoptosis is the key molecular mechanism responsible for the cytotoxic potential of chrysin. The objective of this study was to design and synthesize potent chrysin analogues as potential cytotoxic agents. Methods A series of chrysin derivatives (3a-m) bearing N'-alkylidene/arylideneacetohydrazide moiety were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against two human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 by applying the MTT colorimetric assay. Selected compounds were tested for their ability to induce apoptosis through caspase 3/7 activation in MDA-MB-231 cells only since MCF-7 cells lack procaspase 3. Results Compounds (3a-m) were obtained as geometrical isomers (E/Z isomers) in good yields upon treatment of hydrazide 5 with different aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. Most of the synthesized compounds demonstrated moderate-to-good activity against both cell lines. The cytotoxicity results revealed the importance of lipophilic moieties at C-4 position of ring D in imparting the cytotoxic activities to the compounds. Compound 3e with 4-benzyloxy substituent was found to be the most active among the synthesized compounds with IC50 3.3 µM against MDA-MB-231 and 4.2 µM against MCF-7 cell lines. The cytotoxic potential of compound 3e is comparable to that of the well-known anti-cancer agent doxorubicin. In addition, compounds substituted with fluoro (3b), nitro (3h), and dimethylamino (3j) exhibited good cytotoxicity with IC50 <6.5 µM against MDA-MB-231 and <12 µM against MCF-7. Selected compounds were able to induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells as indicated by caspase-3 and/or -7 activation. Conclusion Our results show that the newly designed chrysin derivatives exert anticancer activity in human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. Therefore, they can be considered as leads for further development of more potent and selective cytotoxic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buthina Abdallah Al-Oudat
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan,
| | - Mohammad Ali Alqudah
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Suaad Abdallah Audat
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Arts, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Qosay Ali Al-Balas
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan,
| | - Tamam El-Elimat
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan,
| | - Mohammad Abdelhafeez Hassan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan,
| | - Islam Nawaf Frhat
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan,
| | - Marwah Mohammad Azaizeh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
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9
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Huan LC, Truc LC, Phuong CV, Hai PT, Huong LTT, Linh NTP, Thuan NT, Park EJ, Choi YJ, Kang JS, Han SB, Nam NH, Tran PT. N'-[(E)-Arylidene]-2-(2,3-dihydro-3-oxo-4H-1,4-benzoxazin-4-yl)-acetohydrazides: Synthesis and Evaluation of Caspase Activation Activity and Cytotoxicity. Chem Biodivers 2018; 15:e1800322. [PMID: 30054973 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201800322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In our search for novel small cytotoxic molecules potentially activating procaspase-3, we have designed and synthesized a series of novel N'-[(E)-arylidene]-2-(2,3-dihydro-3-oxo-4H-1,4-benzoxazin-4-yl)acetohydrazides (5, 6). Biological evaluation revealed that seven compounds, including 5h, 5j, 5k, 5l, 5n, 6a, and 6b, exhibited moderate to strong cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines (SW620, colon cancer; PC-3, prostate cancer; NCI-H23, lung cancer). Among these compounds, two most cytotoxic compounds (5h and 5j) displayed from 3- up to 10-fold higher potency than PAC-1 and 5-FU in three cancer cell lines tested. Three compounds 5j, 5k, and 5n were also found to display better caspases activation activity in comparison to PAC-1. Especially, compound 5k activated the level of caspases activity by 200% higher than that of PAC-1. From this study, three compounds 5j, 5k, and 5n could be considered as potential leads for further design and development of caspase activators and anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Cong Huan
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Le Cong Truc
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Cao Viet Phuong
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Pham-The Hai
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Le-Thi-Thu Huong
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, 144 Xuan Thuy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - Nguyen Thi Thuan
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Eun Jae Park
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyung-1, Heungdeok, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeo Jin Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyung-1, Heungdeok, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Soon Kang
- Bio-Evaluation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Bae Han
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 194-31, Osongsaengmyung-1, Heungdeok, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen-Hai Nam
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Phuong-Thao Tran
- Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 13-15 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam
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10
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Chen Y, Sun M, Ding J, Zhu Q. SM-1, a novel PAC-1 derivative, activates procaspase-3 and causes cancer cell apoptosis. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2016; 78:643-54. [PMID: 27488460 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-016-3115-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop more potent procaspase-3 activator, 7 novel derivatives of PAC-1 were synthesized and evaluated. Among them, SM-1 stood out for its promising activity and good pharmacokinetics properties. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the pharmacological mechanism of SM-1 and evaluate its efficacy and toxicity in-depth. METHODS To reveal the effects of SM-1 on caspase-3 activity, both in vitro activation assay and in cells fluorometric assay were tested. The protein levels and distributions of procaspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 were also measured by western blot and immunostaining. MTT assay, apoptosis assay and mouse xenograft model were applied to evaluate the efficacy of SM-1. Preliminary safety assessments also tested the acute toxicity and tissue distribution of SM-1. RESULTS Compared to PAC-1, SM-1 showed higher cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Further investigation demonstrated that SM-1 relieved zinc-mediated inhibition of procaspase-3 and activated the caspase-3 activity both in tube test and in cells. Efficacy evaluation showed SM-1-induced cell apoptosis mainly via activation of caspase-3 and reduced tumor size in mouse xenograft model. Its apoptosis induction efficacy was higher than PAC-1. The preliminary safety assessment demonstrated that the overall LD50 of SM-1 lied between 500 and 1000 mg/kg and the distribution of SM-1 in brain was low. CONCLUSIONS We identified SM-1 as a promising antitumor candidate, which displayed enhanced procaspase-3 activating activity and potent cytotoxicity for cancer cells but low toxicity for normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfen Chen
- The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Meng Sun
- The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Jingsong Ding
- The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
| | - Qubo Zhu
- The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
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11
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Abstract
Caspases are proteases that are essential components of apoptotic cell death pathways. There are approximately one dozen apoptotic caspases found in organisms where cells die via apoptosis. These caspases are responsible for initiation or execution of apoptosis through the proteolytic cleavage of specific substrates. These substrates contain specific motifs that are recognized and cleaved by caspases that result in alterations of substrate function that promotes the apoptotic phenotype. Analysis of caspase involvement, much like any other protease, can be followed using peptides corresponding to cleavage motifs of these substrates, which can be used as substrates, inhibitors, or affinity-based probes.Different caspases have different substrates and therefore different motifs are recognized by each different caspase. However, these different caspases have a common amino acid recognition pattern containing an aspartic acid residue at the amino-side of the cleavage site. Therefore, caspase substrates have a certain overlap in the cleavage motif as this aspartic acid is found in almost every one. This means that certain peptide motifs are not exclusively cleaved by one single caspase. This lack of exclusive cleavage has brought the use of these motif-based probes into question and spurred the development of truly caspase-specific motifs. This chapter describes the use of peptide-based probes to measure caspase activity while highlighting the limitations of these reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin P McStay
- Department of Life Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, 432 Theobald Science Center, Northern Boulevard, Old Westbury, NY, 11568, USA.
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12
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Razi SS, Rehmani S, Li X, Park K, Schwartz GS, Latif MJ, Bhora FY. Antitumor activity of paclitaxel is significantly enhanced by a novel proapoptotic agent in non–small cell lung cancer. J Surg Res 2015; 194:622-630. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2014.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Revised: 07/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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13
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Ma J, Chen D, Lu K, Wang L, Han X, Zhao Y, Gong P. Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of novel benzothiazole derivatives bearing the ortho-hydroxy N-carbamoylhydrazone moiety as potent antitumor agents. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 86:257-69. [PMID: 25171780 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Revised: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 08/16/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A series of novel benzothiazole derivatives bearing the ortho-hydroxy N-carbamoylhydrazone moiety were designed and synthesized and their cytotoxic activities against five cancer cell lines (NCI-H226, SK-N-SH, HT29, MKN45, and MDA-MB-231) were screened in vitro. Most of them showed moderate to excellent activity against all the tested cell lines. Among them, compounds 15g (procaspase-3 EC50 = 1.42 μM) and 16b (procaspase-3 EC50 = 0.25 μM) exhibited excellent antitumor activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.14 μM to 0.98 μM against all cancer cell lines, which were 1.8-8.7 times more active than the first procaspase activating compound (PAC-1) (procaspase-3 EC50 = 4.08 μM). The structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses indicated that the introduction of a lipophilic group (a benzyloxy or heteroaryloxy group) at the 4-position of the 2-hydroxy phenyl ring was beneficial to antitumor activity, and the presence of substituents containing nitrogen that are positively charged at physiological pH could also improve antitumor activity. It was also confirmed that the steric effect of the 4-position substituent of the benzyloxy group had a significant influence on cytotoxic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Ma
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University) Ministry of Education, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, PR China
| | - Dong Chen
- Qilu Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Ji'nan 250100, PR China
| | - Kuan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University) Ministry of Education, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, PR China
| | - Lihui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University College of Life Science and Biopharmaceutical, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Xiaoqi Han
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University) Ministry of Education, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, PR China
| | - Yanfang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University) Ministry of Education, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, PR China
| | - Ping Gong
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University) Ministry of Education, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, PR China.
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14
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McStay GP, Green DR. Measuring apoptosis: caspase inhibitors and activity assays. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2014; 2014:799-806. [PMID: 25086023 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top070359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Caspases are proteases that initiate and execute apoptotic cell death. These caspase-dependent events are caused by cleavage of specific substrates that propagate the proapoptotic signal. A number of techniques have been developed to follow caspase activity in vitro and from apoptotic cellular extracts. Many of these techniques use molecules that are based on optimal peptide motifs for each caspase and on our understanding of caspase cleavage events that occur during apoptosis. Although these approaches are useful, there are several drawbacks associated with them. The optimal peptide motifs are not unique recognition sites for each caspase, so techniques that use them may yield information about more than one caspase. Furthermore, caspase cleavage does not take into account the different caspase activation mechanisms. Recently, probes having greater specificity for individual caspases have been developed and are being used successfully. This introduction provides background on the various caspases and introduces a set of complementary techniques to examine the activity, substrate specificity, and activation status of caspases from in vitro or cell culture experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin P McStay
- Department of Life Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York 11568
| | - Douglas R Green
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105
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15
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Dai H, Ding H, Meng XW, Lee SH, Schneider PA, Kaufmann SH. Contribution of Bcl-2 phosphorylation to Bak binding and drug resistance. Cancer Res 2013; 73:6998-7008. [PMID: 24097825 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-0940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Bcl-2 is phosphorylated on Ser(70) after treatment of cells with spindle poisons. On the basis of effects observed in cells overexpressing Bcl-2 S70E or S70A mutants, various studies have concluded that Ser(70) phosphorylation either enhances or diminishes Bcl-2 function. In the present study, the ability of phosphorylated Bcl-2, as well as the S70E and S70A mutants, to bind and neutralize proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members under cell-free conditions and in intact cells was examined in an attempt to resolve this controversy. Surface plasmon resonance indicated that phosphorylated Bcl-2, Bcl-2 S70E, and Bcl-2 S70A exhibit enhanced binding to Bim and Bak compared with unmodified Bcl-2. This enhanced binding reflected a readily detectable conformation change in the loop domain of Bcl-2. Furthermore, Bcl-2 S70E and S70A bound more Bak and Bim than wild-type Bcl-2 in pull-downs and afforded greater protection against several chemotherapeutic agents. Importantly, binding of endogenous Bcl-2 to Bim also increased during mitosis, when Bcl-2 is endogenously phosphorylated, and disruption of this mitotic Bcl-2/Bim binding with navitoclax or ABT-199, like Bcl-2 downregulation, enhanced the cytotoxicity of paclitaxel. Collectively, these results provide not only a mechanistic basis for the enhanced antiapoptotic activity of phosphorylated Bcl-2, but also an explanation for the ability of BH3 mimetics to enhance taxane sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiming Dai
- Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905
| | - Husheng Ding
- Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905
| | - X Wei Meng
- Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905
| | - Sun-Hee Lee
- Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905
| | - Paula A Schneider
- Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905
| | - Scott H Kaufmann
- Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905
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16
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Vickers CJ, González-Páez GE, Wolan DW. Selective detection and inhibition of active caspase-3 in cells with optimized peptides. J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:12869-76. [PMID: 23915420 DOI: 10.1021/ja406399r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Caspases are a family of cysteine-aspartyl proteases that are well recognized for their essential roles in apoptosis and inflammation. Recently, caspases have also been linked to the promotion of other biologically important phenomena, such as cellular differentiation and proliferation. Dysregulation of the multifaceted and indispensable activities of caspases has been globally linked to several diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders; however, the specific caspase members responsible for these diseases have yet to be assigned. Activity-based probes (ABPs) and peptide-based inhibitors are instrumental in the detection and control of protease activity and serve as alternative methods to genetic approaches. Such molecules aid in the interrogation of specific proteases within cellular and animal models as well as help elucidate aberrant proteolytic function correlated to disease phenotypes. No ABPs or inhibitors have been discovered that specifically target one of the eleven human caspases in a cellular context. Therefore, ascribing distinct contributions to an individual caspase activity within naturally occurring biological systems is not possible. Herein, we describe a peptide series optimized for the selective detection and inhibition of active caspase-3 in cells. These compounds exhibit low nanomolar potency against caspase-3 with >120-fold selectivity over caspase-7 which shares 77% active site identity. Our ability to individually target wild-type active caspase-3 for detection and cell permeable inhibition is a valuable proof-of-concept methodology that can be readily employed to probe the significance of caspase-3 in apoptosis, neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris J Vickers
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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17
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Ooi HK, Ma L. Modeling heterogeneous responsiveness of intrinsic apoptosis pathway. BMC SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2013; 7:65. [PMID: 23875784 PMCID: PMC3733900 DOI: 10.1186/1752-0509-7-65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 07/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apoptosis is a cell suicide mechanism that enables multicellular organisms to maintain homeostasis and to eliminate individual cells that threaten the organism's survival. Dependent on the type of stimulus, apoptosis can be propagated by extrinsic pathway or intrinsic pathway. The comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanism of apoptotic signaling allows for development of mathematical models, aiming to elucidate dynamical and systems properties of apoptotic signaling networks. There have been extensive efforts in modeling deterministic apoptosis network accounting for average behavior of a population of cells. Cellular networks, however, are inherently stochastic and significant cell-to-cell variability in apoptosis response has been observed at single cell level. RESULTS To address the inevitable randomness in the intrinsic apoptosis mechanism, we develop a theoretical and computational modeling framework of intrinsic apoptosis pathway at single-cell level, accounting for both deterministic and stochastic behavior. Our deterministic model, adapted from the well-accepted Fussenegger model, shows that an additional positive feedback between the executioner caspase and the initiator caspase plays a fundamental role in yielding the desired property of bistability. We then examine the impact of intrinsic fluctuations of biochemical reactions, viewed as intrinsic noise, and natural variation of protein concentrations, viewed as extrinsic noise, on behavior of the intrinsic apoptosis network. Histograms of the steady-state output at varying input levels show that the intrinsic noise could elicit a wider region of bistability over that of the deterministic model. However, the system stochasticity due to intrinsic fluctuations, such as the noise of steady-state response and the randomness of response delay, shows that the intrinsic noise in general is insufficient to produce significant cell-to-cell variations at physiologically relevant level of molecular numbers. Furthermore, the extrinsic noise represented by random variations of two key apoptotic proteins, namely Cytochrome C and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP), is modeled separately or in combination with intrinsic noise. The resultant stochasticity in the timing of intrinsic apoptosis response shows that the fluctuating protein variations can induce cell-to-cell stochastic variability at a quantitative level agreeing with experiments. Finally, simulations illustrate that the mean abundance of fluctuating IAP protein is positively correlated with the degree of cellular stochasticity of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our theoretical and computational study shows that the pronounced non-genetic heterogeneity in intrinsic apoptosis responses among individual cells plausibly arises from extrinsic rather than intrinsic origin of fluctuations. In addition, it predicts that the IAP protein could serve as a potential therapeutic target for suppression of the cell-to-cell variation in the intrinsic apoptosis responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsu Kiang Ooi
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Lan Ma
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
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18
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Vickers CJ, González-Páez GE, Wolan DW. Selective detection of caspase-3 versus caspase-7 using activity-based probes with key unnatural amino acids. ACS Chem Biol 2013; 8:1558-66. [PMID: 23614665 DOI: 10.1021/cb400209w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Caspases are required for essential biological functions, most notably apoptosis and pyroptosis, but also cytokine production, cell proliferation, and differentiation. One of the most well studied members of this cysteine protease family includes executioner caspase-3, which plays a central role in cell apoptosis and differentiation. Unfortunately, there exists a dearth of chemical tools to selectively monitor caspase-3 activity under complex cellular and in vivo conditions due to its close homology with executioner caspase-7. Commercially available activity-based probes and substrates rely on the canonical DEVD tetrapeptide sequence, which both caspases-3 and -7 recognize with similar affinity, and thus the individual contributions of caspase-3 and/or -7 toward important cellular processes are irresolvable. Here, we analyzed a variety of permutations of the DEVD peptide sequence in order to discover peptides with biased activity and recognition of caspase-3 versus caspases-6, -7, -8, and -9. Through this study, we identify fluorescent and biotinylated probes capable of selective detection of caspase-3 using key unnatural amino acids. Likewise, we determined the X-ray crystal structures of caspases-3, -7, and -8 in complex with our lead peptide inhibitor to elucidate the binding mechanism and active site interactions that promote the selective recognition of caspase-3 over other highly homologous caspase family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris J. Vickers
- Departments of Molecular
and Experimental Medicine
and Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Gonzalo E. González-Páez
- Departments of Molecular
and Experimental Medicine
and Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Dennis W. Wolan
- Departments of Molecular
and Experimental Medicine
and Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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19
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Structural snapshots reveal distinct mechanisms of procaspase-3 and -7 activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:8477-82. [PMID: 23650375 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1306759110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Procaspase-3 (P3) and procaspase-7 (P7) are activated through proteolytic maturation to form caspase-3 (C3) and caspase-7 (C7), respectively, which serve overlapping but nonredundant roles as the executioners of apoptosis in humans. However, it is unclear if differences in P3 and P7 maturation mechanisms underlie their unique biological functions, as the structure of P3 remains unknown. Here, we report structures of P3 in a catalytically inactive conformation, structures of P3 and P7 bound to covalent peptide inhibitors that reveal the active conformation of the zymogens, and the structure of a partially matured C7:P7 heterodimer. Along with a biochemical analysis, we show that P3 is catalytically inactive and matures through a symmetric all-or-nothing process. In contrast, P7 contains latent catalytic activity and matures through an asymmetric and tiered mechanism, suggesting a lower threshold for activation. Finally, we use our structures to design a selection strategy for conformation specific antibody fragments that stimulate procaspase activity, showing that executioner procaspase conformational equilibrium can be rationally modulated. Our studies provide a structural framework that may help to explain the unique roles of these important proapoptotic enzymes, and suggest general strategies for the discovery of proenzyme activators.
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20
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Boehm D, Mazurier C, Giarratana MC, Darghouth D, Faussat AM, Harmand L, Douay L. Caspase-3 is involved in the signalling in erythroid differentiation by targeting late progenitors. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62303. [PMID: 23658722 PMCID: PMC3642196 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 03/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A role for caspase activation in erythroid differentiation has been established, yet its precise mode of action remains elusive. A drawback of all previous investigations on caspase activation in ex vivo erythroid differentiation is the lack of an in vitro model producing full enucleation of erythroid cells. Using a culture system which renders nearly 100% enucleated red cells from human CD34(+) cells, we investigated the role of active caspase-3 in erythropoiesis. Profound effects of caspase-3 inhibition were found on erythroid cell growth and differentiation when inhibitors were added to CD34(+) cells at the start of the culture and showed dose-response to the concentration of inhibitor employed. Enucleation was only reduced as a function of the reduced maturity of the culture and the increased cell death of mature cells while the majority of cells retained their ability to extrude their nuclei. Cell cycle analysis after caspase-3 inhibition showed caspase-3 to play a critical role in cell proliferation and highlighted a novel function of this protease in erythroid differentiation, i.e. its contribution to cell cycle regulation at the mitotic phase. While the effect of caspase-3 inhibitor treatment on CD34(+) derived cells was not specific to the erythroid lineage, showing a similar reduction of cell expansion in myeloid cultures, the mechanism of action in both lineages appeared to be distinct with a strong induction of apoptosis causing the decreased yield of myeloid cells. Using a series of colony-forming assays we were able to pinpoint the stage at which cells were most sensitive to caspase-3 inhibition and found activated caspase-3 to play a signalling role in erythroid differentiation by targeting mature BFU-E and CFU-E but not early BFU-E.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Boehm
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, UMR_S938 CDR Saint-Antoine, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR_S938, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
| | - Christelle Mazurier
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, UMR_S938 CDR Saint-Antoine, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR_S938, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
- Etablissement Français du Sang Ile de France, Unité d'Ingénierie et de Thérapie Cellulaire, Créteil, France
| | - Marie-Catherine Giarratana
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, UMR_S938 CDR Saint-Antoine, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR_S938, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
| | - Dhouha Darghouth
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, UMR_S938 CDR Saint-Antoine, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR_S938, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Marie Faussat
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, UMR_S938 CDR Saint-Antoine, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
- IFR 65-St Antoine, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, Plateforme de Cytométrie, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Harmand
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, UMR_S938 CDR Saint-Antoine, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR_S938, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
- Etablissement Français du Sang Ile de France, Unité d'Ingénierie et de Thérapie Cellulaire, Créteil, France
| | - Luc Douay
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, UMR_S938 CDR Saint-Antoine, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR_S938, Prolifération et Différentiation des Cellules Souches, Paris, France
- Etablissement Français du Sang Ile de France, Unité d'Ingénierie et de Thérapie Cellulaire, Créteil, France
- IFR 65-St Antoine, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, Plateforme de Cytométrie, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital St Antoine et Hôpital Trousseau, Service d'Hématologie Biologique, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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21
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Zorn JA, Wolan DW, Agard NJ, Wells JA. Fibrils colocalize caspase-3 with procaspase-3 to foster maturation. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:33781-95. [PMID: 22872644 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.386128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Most proteases are expressed as inactive precursors, or zymogens, that become activated by limited proteolysis. We previously identified a small molecule, termed 1541, that dramatically promotes the maturation of the zymogen, procaspase-3, to its mature form, caspase-3. Surprisingly, compound 1541 self-assembles into nanofibrils, and localization of procaspase-3 to the fibrils promotes activation. Here, we interrogate the biochemical mechanism of procaspase-3 activation on 1541 fibrils in addition to proteogenic amyloid-β(1-40) fibrils. In contrast to previous reports, we find no evidence that procaspase-3 alone is capable of self-activation, consistent with its fate-determining role in executing apoptosis. In fact, mature caspase-3 is >10(7)-fold more active than procaspase-3, making this proenzyme a remarkably inactive zymogen. However, we also show that fibril-induced colocalization of trace amounts of caspase-3 or other initiator proteases with procaspase-3 dramatically stimulates maturation of the proenzyme in vitro. Thus, similar to known cellular signaling complexes, these synthetic or natural fibrils can serve as platforms to concentrate procaspase-3 for trans-activation by upstream proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Zorn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
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22
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Fang LN, Chen XH, Wang QD, Zhang D, Zhao JJ, Long ZM, Gong P, Bi KS. A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of PAC-1 in rat plasma. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2011; 54:225-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2010.07.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2010] [Revised: 07/21/2010] [Accepted: 07/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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23
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Direct injection of functional single-domain antibodies from E. coli into human cells. PLoS One 2010; 5:e15227. [PMID: 21170340 PMCID: PMC2999559 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2010] [Accepted: 11/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular proteins have a great potential as targets for therapeutic antibodies (Abs) but the plasma membrane prevents access to these antigens. Ab fragments and IgGs are selected and engineered in E. coli and this microorganism may be also an ideal vector for their intracellular delivery. In this work we demonstrate that single-domain Ab (sdAbs) can be engineered to be injected into human cells by E. coli bacteria carrying molecular syringes assembled by a type III protein secretion system (T3SS). The injected sdAbs accumulate in the cytoplasm of HeLa cells at levels ca. 105–106 molecules per cell and their functionality is shown by the isolation of sdAb-antigen complexes. Injection of sdAbs does not require bacterial invasion or the transfer of genetic material. These results are proof-of-principle for the capacity of E. coli bacteria to directly deliver intracellular sdAbs (intrabodies) into human cells for analytical and therapeutic purposes.
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24
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Chou ST, Yen YC, Lee CM, Chen MS. Pro-apoptotic role of Cdc25A: activation of cyclin B1/Cdc2 by the Cdc25A C-terminal domain. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:17833-45. [PMID: 20368335 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.078386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cdc25A is a dual specificity protein phosphatase that activates cyclin/cyclin-dependent protein kinase (Cdk) complexes by removing inhibitory phosphates from conserved threonine and tyrosine in Cdks. To address how Cdc25A promotes apoptosis, Jurkat cells were treated with staurosporine, an apoptosis inducer. Upon staurosporine treatment, a Cdc25A C-terminal 37-kDa fragment, designated C37, was generated by caspase cleavage at Asp-223. Thr-507 in C37 became dephosphorylated, which prevented 14-3-3 binding, as shown previously. C37 exhibited higher phosphatase activity than full-length Cdc25A. C37 with alanine substitution for Thr-507 (C37/T507A) that imitated the cleavage product during staurosporine treatment interacted with Cdc2, Cdk2, cyclin A, and cyclin B1 and markedly activated cyclin B1/Cdc2. The dephosphorylation of Thr-507 might expose the Cdc2/Cdk2-docking site in C37. C37/T507A also induced apoptosis in Jurkat and K562 cells, resulting from activating cyclin B1/Cdc2 but not Cdk2. Thus, this study reveals that Cdc25A is a pro-apoptotic protein that amplifies staurosporine-induced apoptosis through the activation of cyclin B1/Cdc2 by its C-terminal domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Tau Chou
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Number 35, Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan
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Niles AL, Moravec RA, Riss TL. In vitro viability and cytotoxicity testing and same-well multi-parametric combinations for high throughput screening. CURRENT CHEMICAL GENOMICS 2009; 3:33-41. [PMID: 20161834 PMCID: PMC2802765 DOI: 10.2174/1875397300903010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2009] [Revised: 04/04/2009] [Accepted: 04/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In vitro cytotoxicity testing has become an integral aspect of drug discovery because it is a convenient, costeffective, and predictive means of characterizing the toxic potential of new chemical entities. The early and routine implementation of this testing is testament to its prognostic importance for humans. Although a plethora of assay chemistries and methods exist for 96-well formats, few are practical and sufficiently sensitive enough for application in high throughput screening (HTS). Here we briefly describe a handful of the currently most robust and validated HTS assays for accurate and efficient assessment of cytotoxic risk. We also provide guidance for successful HTS implementation and discuss unique merits and detractions inherent in each method. Lastly, we discuss the advantages of combining specific HTS compatible assays into multi-parametric, same-well formats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Niles
- Research Department, Promega Corporation, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, Madison, WI, USA.
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27
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Fang LN, Chen XH, Song Z, Wang G, Zhao X, Ren L, Gong P, Bi KS. Development of a high performance liquid chromatography method for quantification of PAC-1 in rat plasma. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2009; 49:447-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2008.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2008] [Revised: 11/18/2008] [Accepted: 11/21/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Harrington HA, Ho KL, Ghosh S, Tung KC. Construction and analysis of a modular model of caspase activation in apoptosis. Theor Biol Med Model 2008; 5:26. [PMID: 19077196 PMCID: PMC2672941 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4682-5-26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2008] [Accepted: 12/10/2008] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A key physiological mechanism employed by multicellular organisms is apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Apoptosis is triggered by the activation of caspases in response to both extracellular (extrinsic) and intracellular (intrinsic) signals. The extrinsic and intrinsic pathways are characterized by the formation of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) and the apoptosome, respectively; both the DISC and the apoptosome are oligomers with complex formation dynamics. Additionally, the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways are coupled through the mitochondrial apoptosis-induced channel via the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Results A model of caspase activation is constructed and analyzed. The apoptosis signaling network is simplified through modularization methodologies and equilibrium abstractions for three functional modules. The mathematical model is composed of a system of ordinary differential equations which is numerically solved. Multiple linear regression analysis investigates the role of each module and reduced models are constructed to identify key contributions of the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways in triggering apoptosis for different cell lines. Conclusion Through linear regression techniques, we identified the feedbacks, dissociation of complexes, and negative regulators as the key components in apoptosis. The analysis and reduced models for our model formulation reveal that the chosen cell lines predominately exhibit strong extrinsic caspase, typical of type I cell, behavior. Furthermore, under the simplified model framework, the selected cells lines exhibit different modes by which caspase activation may occur. Finally the proposed modularized model of apoptosis may generalize behavior for additional cells and tissues, specifically identifying and predicting components responsible for the transition from type I to type II cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather A Harrington
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Centre for Integrative Systems Biology at Imperial College (CISBIC), Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Kenneth L Ho
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012, USA
| | - Samik Ghosh
- The Systems Biology Institute (SBI) 6-31-15 Jingumae M31 6A, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
| | - KC Tung
- Department of Molecular Biophysics University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
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McCollum AK, TenEyck CJ, Stensgard B, Morlan BW, Ballman KV, Jenkins RB, Toft DO, Erlichman C. P-Glycoprotein-mediated resistance to Hsp90-directed therapy is eclipsed by the heat shock response. Cancer Res 2008; 68:7419-27. [PMID: 18794130 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-5175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite studies that show the antitumor activity of Hsp90 inhibitors, such as geldanamycin (GA) and its derivative 17-allylamino-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), recent reports indicate that these inhibitors lack significant single-agent clinical activity. Resistance to Hsp90 inhibitors has been previously linked to expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotype. However, the stress response induced by GA treatment can also cause resistance to Hsp90-targeted therapy. Therefore, we chose to further investigate the relative importance of P-gp and the stress response in 17-AAG resistance. Colony-forming assays revealed that high expression of P-gp could increase the 17-AAG IC(50) 6-fold in cells transfected with P-gp compared with parent cells. A549 cells selected for resistance to GA overexpressed P-gp, but verapamil did not reverse the resistance. These cells also overexpressed Hsp27, and Hsp70 was induced with 17-AAG treatment. When the GA and 17-AAG resistant cells were transfected with Hsp27 and/or Hsp70 small interfering RNA (siRNA), the 17-AAG IC(50) decreased 10-fold compared with control transfected cells. Transfection with siRNA directed against Hsp27, Hsp70, or Hsp27 and Hsp70 also increased sensitivity to EC78, a purine scaffold-based Hsp90 inhibitor that is not a P-gp substrate. We conclude that P-gp may contribute, in part, to resistance to 17-AAG, but induction of stress response proteins, such as Hsp27 and Hsp70, by Hsp90-targeted therapy plays a larger role. Taken together, our results indicate that targeting of Hsp27 and Hsp70 should be exploited to increase the clinical efficacy of Hsp90-directed therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea K McCollum
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA
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D’Amelio M, Tino E, Cecconi F. The apoptosome: emerging insights and new potential targets for drug design. Pharm Res 2008; 25:740-51. [PMID: 17674158 PMCID: PMC2279152 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-007-9396-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2007] [Accepted: 06/26/2007] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Apoptosis plays a crucial role in tissue homeostasis, development and many diseases. The relevance of Apaf1, the molecular core of apoptosome, has been underlined in mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, which according to a growing body of evidence, is involved in various pathologies where the equilibrium of life-and-death is dysregulated, such as heart attack, stroke, liver failure, cancer and autoimmune diseases. Consequently, great interest has emerged in devising therapeutic strategies for regulating the key molecules involved in the life-and-death decision. Here we review recent progress in apoptosis-based pharmacological therapies and, in particular, we point out a possible role of the apoptosome as an emerging and promising pharmacological target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello D’Amelio
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroembryology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Biology, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Tino
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroembryology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Biology, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Cecconi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroembryology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Biology, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Golovchenko EN, Hanin LG, Kaufmann SH, Tyurin KV, Khanin MA. Dynamics of granzyme B-induced apoptosis: Mathematical modeling. Math Biosci 2008; 212:54-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2007.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2006] [Revised: 11/26/2007] [Accepted: 12/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Okazaki N, Asano R, Kinoshita T, Chuman H. Simple computational models of type I/type II cells in Fas signaling-induced apoptosis. J Theor Biol 2008; 250:621-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2007.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2007] [Revised: 09/21/2007] [Accepted: 10/26/2007] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Nonapoptotic role for Apaf-1 in the DNA damage checkpoint. Mol Cell 2008; 28:624-37. [PMID: 18042457 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2007.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2007] [Revised: 05/11/2007] [Accepted: 09/24/2007] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Apaf-1 is an essential factor for cytochrome c-driven caspase activation during mitochondrial apoptosis but has also an apoptosis-unrelated function. Knockdown of Apaf-1 in human cells, knockout of apaf-1 in mice, and loss-of-function mutations in the Caenorhabditis elegans apaf-1 homolog ced-4 reveal the implication of Apaf-1/CED-4 in DNA damage-induced cell-cycle arrest. Apaf-1 loss compromised the DNA damage checkpoints elicited by ionizing irradiation or chemotherapy. Apaf-1 depletion reduced the activation of the checkpoint kinase Chk1 provoked by DNA damage, and knockdown of Chk1 abrogated the Apaf-1-mediated cell-cycle arrest. Nuclear translocation of Apaf-1, induced in vitro by exogenous DNA-damaging agents, correlated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with the endogenous activation of Chk-1, suggesting that this pathway is clinically relevant. Hence, Apaf-1 exerts two distinct, phylogenetically conserved roles in response to mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and DNA damage. These data point to a role for Apaf-1 as a bona fide tumor suppressor.
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Zhang M, Liu H, Tian Z, Huang J, Remo M, Li QQ. Differential growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis by gossypol between HCT116 and HCT116/Bax(-/-) colorectal cancer cells. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2007; 34:230-7. [PMID: 17250644 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2007.04577.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
1. Bax is a very important pro-apoptosis molecule. HCT116/Bax(-/-) cells do not express the pro-apoptosis Bcl-2 family member, Bax. In the present study, the anticancer effects of gossypol on HCT116 and HCT116/Bax(-/-) cells were compared in terms of inhibition of cell growth, inhibition of colony formation and induction of apoptosis. 2. Following treatment with concentrations more than 20 micromol/L gossypol, only slight differences (not significant) were seen between HCT116 and HCT116/Bax(-/-) cells in terms of the inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis. No difference was seen in the inhibition of colony formation. Gossypol had no effect at concentrations < 2 micromol/L. The only effective concentration of gossypol to result in differences between HCT116 and HCT116/Bax(-/-) cells was 5 micromol/L. However, even at this concentration, Bax deficiency did not result in complete abolition of gossypol-induced growth inhibition or apoptosis. Exposure of cells to 5 micromol/L gossypol for 24 h did not cause any significant difference in the activation of caspase 2 between HCT116 and HCT116/Bax(-/-) cells; however, activation of caspase 3, 8 and 9 was significantly elevated in HCT116 cells, with the effect on caspase 3 activation being the greatest, compared with HCT116/Bax(-/-) cells. 3. These findings suggest that the contribution of Bax to gossypol-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis is dose dependent and that gossypol-induced apoptosis requires activation of caspase 3, 8, and 9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manchao Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and Mary Babb Rodalph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9142, USA.
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Eissing T, Waldherr S, Allgöwer F, Scheurich P, Bullinger E. Response to bistability in apoptosis: roles of bax, bcl-2, and mitochondrial permeability transition pores. Biophys J 2007; 92:3332-4. [PMID: 17277182 PMCID: PMC1852357 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.106.100362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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Verhaegen M, Bauer JA, Martín de la Vega C, Wang G, Wolter KG, Brenner JC, Nikolovska-Coleska Z, Bengtson A, Nair R, Elder JT, Van Brocklin M, Carey TE, Bradford CR, Wang S, Soengas MS. A novel BH3 mimetic reveals a mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent mechanism of melanoma cell death controlled by p53 and reactive oxygen species. Cancer Res 2007; 66:11348-59. [PMID: 17145881 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-1748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The RAS/BRAF/MEK/ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is emerging as a key modulator of melanoma initiation and progression. However, a variety of clinical studies indicate that inhibiting the MAPK pathway is insufficient per se to effectively kill melanoma cells. Here, we report on a genetic and pharmacologic approach to identify survival factors responsible for the resistance of melanoma cells to MEK/ERK antagonists. In addition, we describe a new tumor cell-selective means to bypass this resistance in vitro and in vivo. By generating a panel of isogenic cell lines with specific defects in the apoptotic machinery, we found that the ability of melanoma cells to survive in the absence of functional MEK relies on an ERK-independent expression of the antiapoptotic factor Mcl-1 (and to a lesser extent, Bcl-x(L) and Bcl-2). Using computer-based modeling, we developed a novel Bcl-2 homology domain 3 (BH3) mimetic. This compound, named TW-37, is the first rationally designed small molecule with high affinity for Mcl-1, Bcl-x(L), and Bcl-2. Mechanistic analyses of the mode of action of TW-37 showed a synergistic tumor cell killing in the presence of MEK inhibitors. Importantly, TW-37 unveiled an unexpected role of the MAPK pathway in the control of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This function was critical to prevent the activation of proapoptotic functions of p53 in melanoma cells, but surprisingly, it was dispensable for normal melanocytes. Our results suggest that this MAPK-dependent ROS/p53 feedback loop is a point of vulnerability of melanoma cells that can be exploited for rational drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Verhaegen
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Putt KS, Chen GW, Pearson JM, Sandhorst JS, Hoagland MS, Kwon JT, Hwang SK, Jin H, Churchwell MI, Cho MH, Doerge DR, Helferich WG, Hergenrother PJ. Small-molecule activation of procaspase-3 to caspase-3 as a personalized anticancer strategy. Nat Chem Biol 2006; 2:543-50. [PMID: 16936720 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 268] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2006] [Accepted: 07/27/2006] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mutation and aberrant expression of apoptotic proteins are hallmarks of cancer. These changes prevent proapoptotic signals from being transmitted to executioner caspases, thereby averting apoptotic death and allowing cellular proliferation. Caspase-3 is the key executioner caspase, and it exists as an inactive zymogen that is activated by upstream signals. Notably, concentrations of procaspase-3 in certain cancerous cells are significantly higher than those in noncancerous controls. Here we report the identification of a small molecule (PAC-1) that directly activates procaspase-3 to caspase-3 in vitro and induces apoptosis in cancerous cells isolated from primary colon tumors in a manner directly proportional to the concentration of procaspase-3 inside these cells. We found that PAC-1 retarded the growth of tumors in three different mouse models of cancer, including two models in which PAC-1 was administered orally. PAC-1 is the first small molecule known to directly activate procaspase-3 to caspase-3, a transformation that allows induction of apoptosis even in cells that have defective apoptotic machinery. The direct activation of executioner caspases is an anticancer strategy that may prove beneficial in treating the many cancers in which procaspase-3 concentrations are elevated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karson S Putt
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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Loegering DA, Ruchaud S, Earnshaw WC, Kaufmann SH. Evaluation of the role of caspase-6 in anticancer drug-induced apoptosis. Cell Death Differ 2006; 13:346-7. [PMID: 16294214 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4401791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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Soengas MS, Gerald WL, Cordon-Cardo C, Lazebnik Y, Lowe SW. Apaf-1 expression in malignant melanoma. Cell Death Differ 2006; 13:352-3. [PMID: 16110320 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4401755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
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40
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Mashima T, Tsuruo T. Defects of the apoptotic pathway as therapeutic target against cancer. Drug Resist Updat 2005; 8:339-43. [PMID: 16338161 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2005.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2005] [Revised: 11/10/2005] [Accepted: 11/14/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 10 years evidence has been accumulating that antitumour agents induce apoptosis in cancer cells and that abnormalities in apoptosis signaling pathways often occur in cancer cells and are associated with drug resistance. The implication is that factors regulating the apoptotic process play a critical role in tumour sensitivity to chemotherapy, and hence may be rational molecular targets for novel antitumour agents. Significantly, oncogenic signals make cancer cells intrinsically more susceptible to apoptosis; defects in the pathway occur subsequent to cancer development. Important emerging questions are the pattern of alterations in the apoptotic pathway in a particular tumour (cell) and the best strategy to exploit them and induce selective tumour cell death. Here, we review recent progress in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Mashima
- Cancer Chemotherapy Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
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Kaufmann SH, Karp JE, Letendre L, Kottke TJ, Safgren S, Greer J, Gojo I, Atherton P, Svingen PA, Loegering DA, Litzow MR, Sloan JA, Reid JM, Ames MM, Adjei AA, Erlichman C. Phase I and Pharmacologic Study of Infusional Topotecan and Carboplatin in Relapsed and Refractory Acute Leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 2005; 11:6641-9. [PMID: 16166443 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-05-0817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the maximum tolerated dose, toxicities, pharmacokinetics, and antileukemic activity of topotecan and carboplatin in adults with recurrent or refractory acute leukemias. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Patients received topotecan and carboplatin by 5-day continuous infusion at nine dose levels. Patients achieving a complete remission received up to two additional courses for consolidation. Plasma topotecan and ultrafilterable platinum were assayed on days 1 to 5. In addition, pretreatment levels of various polypeptides in leukemic cells were examined by immunoblotting to assess possible correlations with response. RESULTS Fifty-one patients received a total of 69 courses of therapy. Dose-limiting toxicity consisted of grade 4/5 typhlitis and grade 3/4 mucositis after one course of therapy or grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia lasting >50 days when a second course was administered on day 21. Among 45 evaluable patients, there were 7 complete remissions, 2 partial remissions, 1 incomplete complete remission, and 1 reversion to chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia. Topotecan steady-state plasma concentrations increased with dose. No accumulation of topotecan or ultrafilterable platinum occurred between days 1 and 5 of therapy. Leukemic cell levels of topoisomerase I, checkpoint kinase 1, checkpoint kinase 2, and Mcl-1 correlated with proliferating cell nuclear antigen but not with response. In contrast, low Bcl-2 expression correlated with response (P = 0.014, Mann-Whitney U test). CONCLUSIONS The maximum tolerated dose was 1.6 mg/m(2)/d topotecan plus 150 mg/m(2)/d carboplatin. The complete remission rate in a heavily pretreated population was 16% (33% at the highest three dose levels). Responses seem to correlate with low pretreatment blast cell Bcl-2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott H Kaufmann
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55901, USA.
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Mc Gee MM, Gemma S, Butini S, Ramunno A, Zisterer DM, Fattorusso C, Catalanotti B, Kukreja G, Fiorini I, Pisano C, Cucco C, Novellino E, Nacci V, Williams DC, Campiani G. Pyrrolo[1,5]benzoxa(thia)zepines as a new class of potent apoptotic agents. Biological studies and identification of an intracellular location of their drug target. J Med Chem 2005; 48:4367-77. [PMID: 15974589 DOI: 10.1021/jm049402y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We have recently developed five novel pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepines as proapoptotic agents. Their JNK-dependent induction of apoptosis in tumor cells suggested their potential as novel anticancer agents. The core structure of the apoptotic agent 6 was investigated, and the SARs were expanded with the design and synthesis of several analogues. To define the apoptotic mechanism of the new compounds and the localization of their drug target, two analogues of 6 were designed and synthesized to delineate events leading to JNK activation. The cell-penetrating compound 16 induced apoptosis in tumor cells, while its nonpenetrating analogue, 17, was incapable of inducing apoptosis or activating JNK. Plasma membrane permeabilization of tumor cells resulted in 17-induced JNK activation, suggesting that the pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepine molecular target is intracellular. Interestingly, compound 6 displayed cytotoxic activity against a panel of human tumor cell lines but demonstrated negligible toxicity in vivo with no effect on the animals' hematology parameters.
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Anichini A, Mortarini R, Sensi M, Zanon M. APAF-1 signaling in human melanoma. Cancer Lett 2005; 238:168-79. [PMID: 16095810 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2005] [Accepted: 06/18/2005] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Acquired resistance to mechanisms of programmed cell death is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Human melanoma, in advanced stage, is hardly curable, due to development of several strategies that impair apoptosis induced by the death receptor and the mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis. Among these apoptosis escape strategies, one is based on inactivation of pro-apoptotic factors such as Apoptotic Protease Activating Factor-1 (APAF-1). APAF-1 couples cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to caspase-9 activation and has been considered a central adaptor in the intrinsic pathway of programmed cell death. Inactivation of APAF-1 in human melanoma may impair the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic drugs that activate the p53 pathway, thus contributing to the development of chemoresistance. In-vivo, loss of expression of APAF-1 is associated with tumor progression, suggesting that APAF-1 inactivation may provide a selective survival advantage to neoplastic cells. However, recent results have indicated the existence of APAF-1-independent pathways of caspase activation and apoptosis in normal and neoplastic cells. Moreover, it has been found that expression of APAF-1 is not necessary for the apoptotic response of melanoma cells to different pro-apoptotic drugs. The emerging picture from results obtained in melanoma and other human tumors is that the relevance of the APAF-1 pathway in programmed cell death is cell-context-dependent and related to the specificity of the pro-apoptotic-stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Anichini
- Unit of Human Tumor Immunobiology, Dept. of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Fernández Y, Verhaegen M, Miller TP, Rush JL, Steiner P, Opipari AW, Lowe SW, Soengas MS. Differential Regulation of Noxa in Normal Melanocytes and Melanoma Cells by Proteasome Inhibition: Therapeutic Implications. Cancer Res 2005; 65:6294-304. [PMID: 16024631 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-05-0686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and advanced stages are invariably resistant to conventional therapeutic agents. Using bortezomib as a prototypic proteasome inhibitor, we have identified a novel and critical role of the proteasome in the maintenance of the malignant phenotype of melanoma cells that could have direct translational implications. Thus, melanoma cells from early, intermediate, and late stages of the disease could not sustain proteasome inhibition and underwent an effective activation of caspase-dependent and -independent death programs. This effect was tumor cell selective, because under similar conditions, normal melanocytes remained viable. Intriguingly, and despite of interfering with a cellular machinery in charge of controlling the half-life of the vast majority of cellular proteins, bortezomib did not promote a generalized disruption of melanoma-associated survival factors (including NF-kappaB, Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), XIAP, TRAF-2, or FLIP). Instead, we identified a dramatic induction in vitro and in vivo of the BH3-only protein Noxa in melanoma cells (but not in normal melanocytes) in response to proteasome inhibition. RNA interference validated a critical role of Noxa for the cytotoxic effect of bortezomib. Notably, the proteasome-dependent regulation of Noxa was found to extend to other tumor types, and it could not be recapitulated by standard chemotherapeutic drugs. In summary, our results revealed Noxa as a new biomarker to gauge the efficacy of bortezomib specifically in tumor cells, and provide a new strategy to overcome tumor chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Fernández
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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Eckel-Passow JE, Hoering A, Therneau TM, Ghobrial I. Experimental Design and Analysis of Antibody Microarrays: Applying Methods from cDNA Arrays. Cancer Res 2005; 65:2985-9. [PMID: 15833819 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-3213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Protein expression microarrays, also called antibody arrays, represent a new technology that allows the expression level of proteins to be assessed directly. As is also the case with gene expression microarrays, it is hoped that protein expression microarrays will aid in biomarker discovery, predicting disease outcomes and response to treatments, and detecting molecular mechanisms and/or pathways associated with a particular disease state. However, accurately achieving these aims is dependent upon suitable experimental designs, normalization procedures that eliminate systematic bias, and appropriate statistical analyses to assess differential expression or expose expression patterns. In the last five years, a large amount of research has been devoted to two-color cDNA arrays to improve experimental design, normalization and statistical analyses to assess differential expression and classification. These methods are directly applicable to two-color antibody arrays. The objective of this article is to discuss statistical methods that have been developed for cDNA arrays and describe how the methods can be directly applied to antibody arrays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette E Eckel-Passow
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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Ghobrial IM, McCormick DJ, Kaufmann SH, Leontovich AA, Loegering DA, Dai NT, Krajnik KL, Stenson MJ, Melhem MF, Novak AJ, Ansell SM, Witzig TE. Proteomic analysis of mantle-cell lymphoma by protein microarray. Blood 2005; 105:3722-30. [PMID: 15650054 PMCID: PMC1895014 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2004-10-3999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL) is a unique subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that behaves aggressively and remains incurable. In order to understand the pathogenesis of MCL and design new therapies, it is important to accurately analyze molecular changes in pathways dysregulated in MCL. We used antibody microarrays to compare patterns of protein expression between CD19(+) purified B lymphocytes from normal tonsil and 7 cases of histologically confirmed MCL. Protein overexpression was defined as a higher than 1.3-fold or 2-fold increase in at least 67% of tumor samples compared with normal B-cell control. Of the polypeptides, 77 were overexpressed using the higher than 1.3-fold cutoff, and 13 were overexpressed using the 2-fold cutoff. These included cell cycle regulators (regulator of chromosome condensation 1 [RCC1], murine double minute 2 [MDM2]), a kinase (citron Rho-interacting kinase [CRIK]), chaperone proteins (heat shock 90-kDa protein [Hsp90], Hsp10), and phosphatase regulators (A-kinase anchor protein 1 [AKAP149], protein phosphatase 5 [PP5], and inhibitor 2). The elevated expression of some of these polypeptides was confirmed by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry, whereas elevated expression of others could not be confirmed, illustrating the importance of confirmatory studies. This study describes a novel technique that identifies proteins dysregulated in MCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene M Ghobrial
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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