The Nedd8-activating enzyme inhibitor MLN4924 thwarts microenvironment-driven NF-κB activation and induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells

Protein neddylation and its role in health and diseases

NEDD8 (Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 8) is an ubiquitin-like protein that is covalently attached to a lysine residue of a protein substrate through a process known as neddylation, catalyzed by the enzyme cascade, namely NEDD8 activating enzyme (E1), NEDD8 conjugating enzyme (E2), and NEDD8 ligase (E3). The substrates of neddylation are categorized into cullins and non-cullin proteins. Neddylation of cullins activates CRLs (cullin RING ligases), the largest family of E3 ligases, whereas neddylation of non-cullin substrates alters their stability and activity, as well as subcellular localization. Significantly, the neddylation pathway and/or many neddylation substrates are abnormally activated or over-expressed in various human diseases, such as metabolic disorders, liver dysfunction, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancers, among others. Thus, targeting neddylation becomes an attractive strategy for the treatment of these diseases. In this review, we first provide a general introduction on the neddylation cascade, its biochemical process and regulation, and the crystal structures of neddylation enzymes in complex with cullin substrates; then discuss how neddylation governs various key biological processes via the modification of cullins and non-cullin substrates. We further review the literature data on dysregulated neddylation in several human diseases, particularly cancer, followed by an outline of current efforts in the discovery of small molecule inhibitors of neddylation as a promising therapeutic approach. Finally, few perspectives were proposed for extensive future investigations.

Neddylation is a novel therapeutic target for lupus by regulating double negative T cell homeostasis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a severe autoimmune disorder, is characterized by systemic inflammatory response, autoantibody accumulation and damage to organs. The dysregulation of double-negative (DN) T cells is considered as a crucial commander during SLE. Neddylation, a significant type of protein post-translational modification (PTM), has been well-proved to regulate T cell-mediated immune response. However, the function of neddylation in SLE is still unknown. Here, we reported that neddylation inactivation with MLN4924, a specific inhibitor of NEDD8-activating enzyme E1 (NAE1), or genetic abrogation of Ube2m in T cells decreased DN T cell accumulation and attenuated murine lupus development. Further investigations revealed that inactivation of neddylation blocked Bim ubiquitination degradation and maintained Bim level in DN T cells, contributing to the apoptosis of the accumulated DN T cells in lupus mice. Then double knockout (KO) lupus-prone mice (Ube2m-/-Bim-/-lpr) were generated and results showed that loss of Bim reduced Ube2m deficiency-induced apoptosis in DN T cells and reversed the alleviated lupus progression. Our findings identified that neddylation inactivation promoted Bim-mediated DN T cell apoptosis and attenuated lupus progression. Clinically, we also found that in SLE patients, the proportion of DN T cells was raised and their apoptosis was reduced. Moreover, compared to healthy groups, SLE patients exhibited decreased Bim levels and elevated Cullin1 neddylation levels. Meantime, the inhibition of neddylation induced Bim-dependent apoptosis of DN T cells isolated from SLE patients. Altogether, our findings provide the direct evidence about the function of neddylation during lupus, suggesting a promising therapeutic approach for this disease.

Deciphering the role of neddylation in tumor microenvironment modulation: common outcome of multiple signaling pathways

Neddylation is a post-translational modification process, similar to ubiquitination, that controls several biological processes. Notably, it is often aberrantly activated in neoplasms and plays a critical role in the intricate dynamics of the tumor microenvironment (TME). This regulatory influence of neddylation permeates extensively and profoundly within the TME, affecting the behavior of tumor cells, immune cells, angiogenesis, and the extracellular matrix. Usually, neddylation promotes tumor progression towards increased malignancy. In this review, we highlight the latest understanding of the intricate molecular mechanisms that target neddylation to modulate the TME by affecting various signaling pathways. There is emerging evidence that the targeted disruption of the neddylation modification process, specifically the inhibition of cullin-RING ligases (CRLs) functionality, presents a promising avenue for targeted therapy. MLN4924, a small-molecule inhibitor of the neddylation pathway, precisely targets the neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated protein 8 activating enzyme (NAE). In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the field of neddylation modification therapy, particularly the integration of MLN4924 with chemotherapy or targeted therapy. This combined approach has demonstrated notable success in the treatment of a variety of hematological and solid tumors. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effects of MLN4924 on neddylation and summarized the current therapeutic outcomes of MLN4924 against various tumors. In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive, up-to-date, and thorough overview of neddylation modifications, and offers insight into the critical importance of this cellular process in tumorigenesis.

Neddylation Regulation of Immune Responses

Neddylation plays a vital role in post-translational modification, intricately shaping the regulation of diverse biological processes, including those related to cellular immune responses. In fact, neddylation exerts control over both innate and adaptive immune systems via various mechanisms. Specifically, neddylation influences the function and survival of innate immune cells, activation of pattern recognition receptors and GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes pathways, as well as the release of various cytokines in innate immune reactions. Moreover, neddylation also governs the function and survival of antigen-presenting cells, which are crucial for initiating adaptive immune reactions. In addition, neddylation regulates T cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, survival, and their effector functions, thereby ensuring an appropriate adaptive immune response. In this review, we summarize the most recent findings in these aspects and delve into the connection between dysregulated neddylation events and immunological disorders, especially inflammatory diseases. Lastly, we propose future directions and potential treatments for these diseases by targeting neddylation.

Pevonedistat, a first-in-class NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor, sensitizes cancer cells to VSVΔ51 oncolytic virotherapy

The clinical efficacy of VSVΔ51 oncolytic virotherapy has been limited by tumor resistance to viral infection, so strategies to transiently repress antiviral defenses are warranted. Pevonedistat is a first-in-class NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor currently being tested in clinical trials for its antitumor potential. In this study, we demonstrate that pevonedistat sensitizes human and murine cancer cells to increase oncolytic VSVΔ51 infection, increase tumor cell death, and improve therapeutic outcomes in resistant syngeneic murine cancer models. Increased VSVΔ51 infectivity was also observed in clinical human tumor samples. We further identify the mechanism of this effect to operate via blockade of the type 1 interferon (IFN-1) response through neddylation-dependent interferon-stimulated growth factor 3 (ISGF3) repression and neddylation-independent inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation. Together, our results identify a role for neddylation in regulating the innate immune response and demonstrate that pevonedistat can improve the therapeutic outcomes of strategies using oncolytic virotherapy.

Function, mechanism and drug discovery of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modification with multiomics profiling for cancer therapy

Ubiquitin (Ub) and ubiquitin-like (Ubl) pathways are critical post-translational modifications that determine whether functional proteins are degraded or activated/inactivated. To date, >600 associated enzymes have been reported that comprise a hierarchical task network (e.g., E1-E2-E3 cascade enzymatic reaction and deubiquitination) to modulate substrates, including enormous oncoproteins and tumor-suppressive proteins. Several strategies, such as classical biochemical approaches, multiomics, and clinical sample analysis, were combined to elucidate the functional relations between these enzymes and tumors. In this regard, the fundamental advances and follow-on drug discoveries have been crucial in providing vital information concerning contemporary translational efforts to tailor individualized treatment by targeting Ub and Ubl pathways. Correspondingly, emphasizing the current progress of Ub-related pathways as therapeutic targets in cancer is deemed essential. In the present review, we summarize and discuss the functions, clinical significance, and regulatory mechanisms of Ub and Ubl pathways in tumorigenesis as well as the current progress of small-molecular drug discovery. In particular, multiomics analyses were integrated to delineate the complexity of Ub and Ubl modifications for cancer therapy. The present review will provide a focused and up-to-date overview for the researchers to pursue further studies regarding the Ub and Ubl pathways targeted anticancer strategies.

[Differential expression of NEDD8 in different pathological types of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps]

Objective:To analyze the differential expression of neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated 8（NEDD8） protein in nasal polyp tissues of patients with different pathological types of chronic rhinorhinosinusitis with nasal polyps（CRSwNP）. Methods:All specimens were obtained from the specimen library of Beijing Tongren Hospital, and were all patients who underwent nasal endoscopic surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis in Beijing Tongren Hospital. Hematoxylin-eosin staining（HE） was used to detect the number of eosinophils in nasal polyps, and CRSwNP patients were grouped according to the number of eosinophils in nasal polyps, immunohistochemistry was used to detect and analyze the expression level of NEDD8 protein in nasal polyps. Results:The expression level of NEDD8 protein in nasal polyps of patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinorhinosinusitis with nasal polyps was significantly higher than that of patients with non-eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps（P<0.05）. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the expression level of NEDD8 protein and the number of eosinophils in nasal polyp tissue（r=0.79, P=0.02）. Conclusion:There are differences in the expression of NEDD8 protein in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps of different pathological types.

Targeting cullin neddylation for cancer and fibrotic diseases

Protein neddylation is a post-translational modification, and its best recognized substrates are cullin family proteins, which are the core component of Cullin-RING ligases (CRLs). Given that most neddylation pathway proteins are overactivated in different cancers and fibrotic diseases, targeting neddylation becomes an emerging approach for the treatment of these diseases. To date, numerous neddylation inhibitors have been developed, of which MLN4924 has entered phase I/II/III clinical trials for cancer treatment, such as acute myeloid leukemia, melanoma, lymphoma and solid tumors. Here, we systematically describe the structures and biological functions of the critical enzymes in neddylation, highlight the medicinal chemistry advances in the development of neddylation inhibitors and propose the perspectives concerning targeting neddylation for cancer and fibrotic diseases.

Targeting NEDD8-activating enzyme for cancer therapy: developments, clinical trials, challenges and future research directions

NEDDylation, a post-translational modification through three-step enzymatic cascades, plays crucial roles in the regulation of diverse biological processes. NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) as the only activation enzyme in the NEDDylation modification has become an attractive target to develop anticancer drugs. To date, numerous inhibitors or agonists targeting NAE have been developed. Among them, covalent NAE inhibitors such as MLN4924 and TAS4464 currently entered into clinical trials for cancer therapy, particularly for hematological tumors. This review explains the relationships between NEDDylation and cancers, structural characteristics of NAE and multistep mechanisms of NEDD8 activation by NAE. In addition, the potential approaches to discover NAE inhibitors and detailed pharmacological mechanisms of NAE inhibitors in the clinical stage are explored in depth. Importantly, we reasonably investigate the challenges of NAE inhibitors for cancer therapy and possible development directions of NAE-targeting drugs in the future.

Pharmacologic targeting of Nedd8-activating enzyme reinvigorates T-cell responses in lymphoid neoplasia

Neddylation is a sequential enzyme-based process which regulates the function of E3 Cullin-RING ligase (CRL) and thus degradation of substrate proteins. Here we show that CD8+ T cells are a direct target for therapeutically relevant anti-lymphoma activity of pevonedistat, a Nedd8-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor. Pevonedistat-treated patient-derived CD8+ T cells upregulated TNFα and IFNγ and exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity. Pevonedistat induced CD8+ T-cell inflamed microenvironment and delayed tumor progression in A20 syngeneic lymphoma model. This anti-tumor effect lessened when CD8+ T cells lost the ability to engage tumors through MHC class I interactions, achieved either through CD8+ T-cell depletion or genetic knockout of B2M. Meanwhile, loss of UBE2M in tumor did not alter efficacy of pevonedistat. Concurrent blockade of NAE and PD-1 led to enhanced tumor immune infiltration, T-cell activation and chemokine expression and synergistically restricted tumor growth. shRNA-mediated knockdown of HIF-1α, a CRL substrate, abrogated the in vitro effects of pevonedistat, suggesting that NAE inhibition modulates T-cell function in HIF-1α-dependent manner. scRNA-Seq-based clinical analyses in lymphoma patients receiving pevonedistat therapy demonstrated upregulation of interferon response signatures in immune cells. Thus, targeting NAE enhances the inflammatory T-cell state, providing rationale for checkpoint blockade-based combination therapy.

Supervised learning of high-confidence phenotypic subpopulations from single-cell data

Accurately identifying phenotype-relevant cell subsets from heterogeneous cell populations is crucial for delineating the underlying mechanisms driving biological or clinical phenotypes. Here, by deploying a learning with rejection strategy, we developed a novel supervised learning framework called PENCIL to identify subpopulations associated with categorical or continuous phenotypes from single-cell data. By embedding a feature selection function into this flexible framework, for the first time, we were able to select informative features and identify cell subpopulations simultaneously, which enables the accurate identification of phenotypic subpopulations otherwise missed by methods incapable of concurrent gene selection. Furthermore, the regression mode of PENCIL presents a novel ability for supervised phenotypic trajectory learning of subpopulations from single-cell data. We conducted comprehensive simulations to evaluate PENCIĽs versatility in simultaneous gene selection, subpopulation identification and phenotypic trajectory prediction. PENCIL is fast and scalable to analyze 1 million cells within 1 hour. Using the classification mode, PENCIL detected T-cell subpopulations associated with melanoma immunotherapy outcomes. Moreover, when applied to scRNA-seq of a mantle cell lymphoma patient with drug treatment across multiple time points, the regression mode of PENCIL revealed a transcriptional treatment response trajectory. Collectively, our work introduces a scalable and flexible infrastructure to accurately identify phenotype-associated subpopulations from single-cell data.

NEDD8 promotes radioresistance via triggering autophagy formation and serves as a novel prognostic marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Radiotherapy is the first-line regimen for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in current clinics. However, the development of therapeutic resistance impacts the anticancer efficacy of irradiation in a subpopulation of OSCC patients. As a result, discovering a valuable biomarker to predict radiotherapeutic effectiveness and uncovering the molecular mechanism for radioresistance are clinical issues in OSCC.

METHODS

Three OSCC cohorts from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), GSE42743 dataset and Taipei Medical University Biobank were enrolled to examine the transcriptional levels and prognostic significance of neuronal precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated protein 8 (NEDD8). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was utilized to predict the critical pathways underlying radioresistance in OSCC. The colony-forming assay was used to estimate the consequences of irradiation sensitivity after the inhibition or activation of the NEDD8-autophagy axis in OSCC cells.

RESULTS

NEDD8 upregulation was extensively found in primary tumors compared to normal adjacent tissues and potentially served as a predictive marker for the therapeutic effectiveness of irradiation in OSCC patients. NEDD8 knockdown enhanced radiosensitivity but NEDD8 overexpression reduced it in OSCC cell lines. The inclusion of MLN4924, a pharmaceutical inhibitor for NEDD8-activating enzyme, dose-dependently restored the cellular sensitivity to irradiation treatment in irradiation-insensitive OSCC cells. Computational simulation by GSEA software and cell-based analyses revealed that NEDD8 upregulation suppresses Akt/mTOR activity to initiate autophagy formation and ultimately confers radioresistance to OSCC cells.

CONCLUSION

These findings not only identify NEDD8 as a valuable biomarker to predict the efficacy of irradiation but also offer a novel strategy to overcome radioresistance via targeting NEDD8-mediated protein neddylation in OSCC.

Pevonedistat, a Nedd8-activating enzyme inhibitor, in combination with ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Pevonedistat (TAK924) is a Nedd8-activating enzyme inhibitor with preclinical activity in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). This open-label, Phase I, multicenter, investigator-sponsored study enrolled patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) NHL and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The primary objective was safety. Pevonedistat was given intravenously on days 1, 3, 5 of a 21-day cycle for 8 cycles at five dose levels (15 to 50 mg/m2); ibrutinib was administered at 420 or 560 mg orally daily continuously. Eighteen patients with NHL were enrolled, including 8 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and 4 patients with CLL. One dose-limiting toxicity (mediastinal hemorrhage) occurred at 50 mg/m2 of pevonedistat which is the estimated maximum tolerated dose. Bruising and diarrhea were the most common adverse events (56% and 44%). Atrial fibrillation occurred in 3 patients (17%). Grade ≥3 toxicities included arthralgia, atrial fibrillation, bone pain, diarrhea, hypertension, and mediastinal hemorrhage (one patient each). The overall response rate (ORR) was 65% (100% ORR in MCL). Pevonedistat disposition was not modified by ibrutinib. scRNA-Seq analysis showed that pevonedistat downregulated NFκB signaling in malignant B-cells in vivo. Thus, pevonedistat combined with ibrutinib demonstrated safety and promising early efficacy in NHL and CLL. NAE inhibition downregulated NFκB signaling in vivo.

A sumoylation program is essential for maintaining the mitotic fidelity in proliferating mantle cell lymphoma cells

BACKGROUND

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare, highly heterogeneous type of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The sumoylation pathway is known to be upregulated in many cancers including lymphoid malignancies. However, little is known about its oncogenic role in MCL.

METHODS

Levels of sumoylation enzymes and sumoylated proteins were quantified in MCL cell lines and primary MCL patient samples by scRNA sequencing and immunoblotting. The sumoylation enzyme SAE2 was genetically and pharmacologically targeted with shRNA and TAK-981 (subasumstat). The effects of SAE2 inhibition on MCL proliferation and cell cycle were evaluated using confocal microscopy, live-cell microscopy, and flow cytometry. Immunoprecipitation and orbitrap mass spectrometry were used to identify proteins targeted by sumoylation in MCL cells.

RESULTS

MCL cells have significant upregulation of the sumoylation pathway at the level of the enzymes SAE1 and SAE2 which correlated with poor prognosis and induction of mitosis associated genes. Selective inhibition of SAE2 with TAK-981 results in significant MCL cell death in vitro and in vivo with mitotic dysregulation being an important mechanism of action. We uncovered a sumoylation program in mitotic MCL cells comprised of multiple pathways which could be directly targeted with TAK-981. Centromeric localization of topoisomerase 2A, a gene highly upregulated in SAE1 and SAE2 overexpressing MCL cells, was lost with TAK-981 treatment likely contributing to the mitotic dysregulation seen in MCL cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This study not only validates SAE2 as a therapeutic target in MCL but also opens the door to further mechanistic work to uncover how to best use desumoylation therapy to treat MCL and other lymphoid malignancies.

Roles of ubiquitination in the crosstalk between tumors and the tumor microenvironment (Review)

The interaction between a tumor and the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Ubiquitination, a crucial post-translational modification for regulating protein degradation and turnover, plays a role in regulating the crosstalk between a tumor and the TME. Thus, identifying the roles of ubiquitination in the process may assist researchers to investigate the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis and tumor progression. In the present review article, new insights into the substrates for ubiquitination that are involved in the regulation of hypoxic environments, angiogenesis, chronic inflammation-mediated tumor formation, and the function of cancer-associated fibroblasts and infiltrating immune cells (tumor-associated macrophages, T-cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells) are summarized. In addition, the potential targets of the ubiquitination proteasome system within the TME for cancer therapy and their therapeutic effects are reviewed and discussed.

miR-582 Suppresses the Proliferation of B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (BCP-ALL) Cells and Protects Them From Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity

B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) is a malignancy characterized by the aberrant accumulation of immature B-cell precursors in bone marrow and other lymphoid organs. Although several intrinsic regulatory signals participating in BCP-ALL have been clarified, detailed intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that regulate BCP-ALL progression have not been fully understood. In the current study, we report that miR-582 is downregulated in BCP-ALL cells compared with normal B cells. Forced overexpression of miR-582 attenuated BCP-ALL cell proliferation and survival. We found that miR-582 overexpression disturbed the mitochondrial metabolism of BCP-ALL cells, leading to less ATP but more ROS production. Mechanistically, we identified PPTC7 as a direct target of miR-582. MiR-582 overexpression inhibited the activity of CoQ10, which is downstream of PPTC7 and played an important positive regulatory role in mitochondrial electron transportation. Finally, we found that overexpression of miR-582 upregulated the expression of immune checkpoint molecule CD276 and reduced NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against BCP-ALL cells. CD276 blockade significantly increased NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against miR-582-overexpressing BCP-ALL cells. Together, our research demonstrates that miR-582 acts as a negative regulator of BCP-ALL cells by reducing proliferation and survival, but protects BCP-ALL cells from NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, suggesting that miR-582 may be a new therapeutic biomarker for BCP-ALL with CD276 blocker.

Association Between Neddylation and Immune Response

Neddylation is a ubiquitin-like post-translational protein modification. It occurs via the activation of the neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated protein 8 (NEDD8) by three enzymes: activating enzyme, conjugating enzyme, and ligase. NEDD8 was first isolated from the mouse brain in 1992 and was initially considered important for the development and differentiation of the central nervous system. Previously, the downregulation of neddylation was associated with some human diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders and cancers. In recent years, neddylation has also been proven to be pivotal in various processes of the human immune system, including the regulation of inflammation, bacterial infection, viral infection, and T cell function. Additionally, NEDD8 was found to act on proteins that can affect viral transcription, leading to impaired infectivity. Here, we focused on the influence of neddylation on the innate and adaptive immune responses.

Emerging role of protein modification in inflammatory bowel disease

The onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves many factors, including environmental parameters, microorganisms, and the immune system. Although research on IBD continues to expand, the specific pathogenesis mechanism is still unclear. Protein modification refers to chemical modification after protein biosynthesis, also known as post-translational modification (PTM), which causes changes in the properties and functions of proteins. Since proteins can be modified in different ways, such as acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation, the functions of proteins in different modified states will also be different. Transitions between different states of protein or changes in modification sites can regulate protein properties and functions. Such modifications like neddylation, sumoylation, glycosylation, and acetylation can activate or inhibit various signaling pathways (e.g., nuclear factor-‍κB (NF-‍κB), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and protein kinase B (AKT)) by changing the intestinal flora, regulating immune cells, modulating the release of cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-‍‍1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF‍-‍α), and interferon-‍γ (IFN-‍γ), and ultimately leading to the maintenance of the stability of the intestinal epithelial barrier. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of PTM and describe its regulatory role in the pathogenesis of IBD.

Proteome-centric cross-omics characterization and integrated network analyses of triple-negative breast cancer

We report a comprehensive proteomic study of a 90-case cohort of paired samples of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in quantification, phosphorylation, and DNA-binding capacity. Four integrative subtypes (iP-1-4) are stratified on the basis of global proteome and phosphoproteome, each of which exhibits distinct molecular and pathway features. Scaffold and co-expression network analyses of three proteomic datasets, integrated with those from genome and transcriptome of the same cohort, reveal key pathways and master regulators that, characteristic of TNBC subtypes, play important regulatory roles within and between scaffold sub-structures and co-expression communities. We find that NAE1 is a potential drug target for subtype iP-1, and a series of key molecules in fatty acid metabolism, such as AKT1/FASN, are plausible targets for subtype iP-2. Libraries of proteins, pathways and networks of TNBC provide a valuable molecular infrastructure for further clinical exploration and in-depth studies of the molecular mechanisms of the disease.

Pevonedistat Suppresses Pancreatic Cancer Growth via Inactivation of the Neddylation Pathway

Background

The neddylation pathway is aberrantly overactivated in multiple human cancers and has been indicated as an effective target for anticancer therapy in clinical trials. We aimed to study whether the neddylation pathway is upregulated in pancreatic cancer and whether pevonedistat, a first-in-class anticancer agent specifically targeting this pathway, will suppress cancer tumorigenesis and progression.

Methods

We evaluated the expression pattern of neddylation pathway components in 179 pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) compared with 171 normal tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and further assessed PAAD patient prognosis with high neddylation pathway expression via Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA). We then analyzed malignant cancer phenotypes both in vitro and in vivo, as well as intrinsic molecular mechanisms upon pevonedistat treatment.

Results

We found that the neddylation pathway was hyperactivated in pancreatic cancer. Patients with high neddylation pathway expression exhibited worse prognoses. Pevonedistat significantly inhibited the cancer cell cycle, cell growth, and proliferation; increased cell apoptosis; and decreased cancer cell xenografts in a mouse model. Mechanistically, pevonedistat treatment and the siRNA knockdown neddylation pathway were able to remarkably induce the accumulation of Wee1, p27, and p21. Further mechanistic studies revealed that pevonedistat mainly impaired the ubiquitination level and delayed the protein degradation of Wee1, p27, and p21.

Conclusions

Our results showed that pevonedistat targeted the overexpression of the neddylation pathway in pancreatic cancer to induce cell growth suppression by inducing the accumulation of the cell cycle regulators Wee1, p27, and p21, which provides sound evidence for the clinical trial of pevonedistat for pancreatic cancer therapy.

A Different View for an Old Disease: NEDDylation and Other Ubiquitin-Like Post-Translational Modifications in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Despite the enormous amount of molecular data obtained over the years, the molecular etiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is still largely unknown. All that information has enabled the development of new therapeutic approaches that have improved life expectancy of the patients but are still not curative. We must increase our knowledge of the molecular alterations responsible for the characteristics common to all CLL patients. One of such characteristics is the poor correlation between mRNA and protein expression, that suggests a role of post-translational mechanisms in CLL physiopathology. Drugs targeting these processes have indeed demonstrated an effect either alone or in combination with other aimed at specific pathways. A recent article unveiled an increment in ubiquitin-like modifications in CLL, with many protein members of relevant pathways affected. Interestingly, the inhibition of the NEDD8-activating protein NAE reverted a substantial number of those modifications. The present review gets the scarce data published about the role of NEDDylation in CLL together and establishes connections to what is known from other neoplasias, thus providing a new perspective to the underlying mechanisms in CLL.

Neddylation and anti-tumor immunity

Contrary to chemotherapy, novel targeted therapies are associated with diverse immunomodulatory effects. Nedd8 is a small ubiquitin-like modifier that is involved in regulation of protein degradation. Neddylation is a promising target in cancer. Pevonedistat, a small molecule inhibitor of the Nedd8-activating enzyme, demonstrates pre-clinical activity in multiple tumor types. Recent studies have revealed that neddylation is important in immunity. We and others have shown that interfering with neddylation causes downstream immunomodulatory effects potentially leading to enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Thus, Nedd8 is a promising target in immuno-oncology.

Extrinsic interactions in the microenvironment in vivo activate an antiapoptotic multidrug-resistant phenotype in CLL

The Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax has yielded exceptional clinical responses in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, de novo resistance can result in failure to achieve negative minimal residual disease and predicts poor treatment outcomes. Consequently, additional proapoptotic drugs, such as inhibitors of Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL, are in development. By profiling antiapoptotic proteins using flow cytometry, we find that leukemic B cells that recently emigrated from the lymph node (CD69+/CXCR4Low) in vivo are enriched for cell clusters simultaneously overexpressing multiple antiapoptotic proteins (Mcl-1High/Bcl-xLHigh/Bcl-2High) in both treated and treatment-naive CLL patients. These cells exhibited antiapoptotic resistance to multiple BH-domain antagonists, including inhibitors of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and Bcl-xL, when tested as single agents in a flow cytometry-based functional assay. Antiapoptotic multidrug resistance declines ex vivo, consistent with resistance being generated in vivo by extrinsic microenvironmental interactions. Surviving "persister" cells in patients undergoing venetoclax treatment are enriched for CLL cells displaying the functional and molecular properties of microenvironmentally induced multidrug resistance. Overcoming this resistance required simultaneous inhibition of multiple antiapoptotic proteins, with potential for unwanted toxicities. Using a drug screen performed using patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured in an ex vivo microenvironment model, we identify novel venetoclax drug combinations that induce selective cytotoxicity in multidrug-resistant CLL cells. Thus, we demonstrate that antiapoptotic multidrug-resistant CLL cells exist in patients de novo and show that these cells persist during proapoptotic treatment, such as venetoclax. We validate clinically actionable approaches to selectively deplete this reservoir in patients.

Organoid-based drug screening reveals neddylation as therapeutic target for malignant rhabdoid tumors

Malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRTs) represent one of the most aggressive childhood malignancies. No effective treatment options are available, and prognosis is, therefore, dismal. Previous studies have demonstrated that tumor organoids capture the heterogeneity of patient tumors and can be used to predict patient response to therapy. Here, we perform drug screening on patient-derived normal and tumor organoids to identify MRT-specific therapeutic vulnerabilities. We identify neddylation inhibitor MLN4924 as a potential therapeutic agent. Mechanistically, we find increased neddylation in MRT organoids and tissues and show that MLN4924 induces a cytotoxic response via upregulation of the unfolded protein response. Lastly, we demonstrate in vivo efficacy in an MRT PDX mouse model, in which single-agent MLN4924 treatment significantly extends survival. Our study demonstrates that organoids can be used to find drugs selectively targeting tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed and proposes neddylation inhibition as a therapeutic strategy in MRT.

Pharmacologic Targeting of Mcl-1 Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Apoptosis in B-Cell Lymphoma Cells in a TP53- and BAX-Dependent Manner

PURPOSE

Bcl-2 has been effectively targeted in lymphoid malignancies. However, resistance is inevitable, and novel approaches to target mitochondrial apoptosis are necessary. AZD5991, a selective BH3-mimetic in clinical trials, inhibits Mcl-1 with high potency.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We explored the preclinical activity of AZD5991 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and ibrutinib-resistant mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cell lines, MCL patient samples, and mice bearing DLBCL and MCL xenografts using flow cytometry, immunoblotting, and Seahorse respirometry assay. Cas9 gene editing and ex vivo functional drug screen assays helped identify mechanisms of resistance to Mcl-1 inhibition.

RESULTS

Mcl-1 was expressed in DLBCL and MCL cell lines and primary tumors. Treatment with AZD5991 restricted growth of DLBCL cells independent of cell of origin and overcame ibrutinib resistance in MCL cells. Mcl-1 inhibition led to mitochondrial dysfunction as manifested by mitochondrial membrane depolarization, decreased mitochondrial mass, and induction of mitophagy. This was accompanied by impairment of oxidative phosphorylation. TP53 and BAX were essential for sensitivity to Mcl-1, and oxidative phosphorylation was implicated in resistance to Mcl-1 inhibition. Induction of prosurvival proteins (e.g., Bcl-xL) in stromal conditions that mimic the tumor microenvironment rendered protection of primary MCL cells from Mcl-1 inhibition, while BH3-mimetics targeting Bcl-2/xL sensitized lymphoid cells to AZD5991. Treatment with AZD5991 reduced tumor growth in murine lymphoma models and prolonged survival of MCL PDX mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Selective targeting Mcl-1 is a promising therapeutic approach in lymphoid malignancies. TP53 apoptotic network and metabolic reprogramming underlie susceptibility to Mcl-1 inhibition.

The lncRNA 'UCA1' modulates the response to chemotherapy of ovarian cancer through direct binding to miR-27a-5p and control of UBE2N levels

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death in patients with gynecologic cancers. Due to late diagnosis and resistance to chemotherapy, the 5‐year survival rate in patients with OC is below 40%. We observed that UCA1, a lncRNA previously reported to play an oncogenic role in several malignancies, is overexpressed in the chemoresistant OC cell line OAW42‐R compared to their chemotherapy‐sensitive counterpart OAW42. Additionally, UCA1 overexpression was related to poor prognosis in two independent patient cohorts. Currently, the molecular mechanisms through which UCA1 acts in OC are poorly understood. We demonstrated that downregulation of the short isoform of UCA1 sensitized OC cells to cisplatin and that UCA1 acted as competing endogenous RNA to miR‐27a‐5p. Upon UCA1 downregulation, miR‐27a‐5p downregulated its direct target UBE2N leading to the upregulation of BIM, a proapoptotic protein of the Bcl2 family. The upregulation of BIM is the event responsible for the sensitization of OC cells to cisplatin. In order to model response to therapy in patients with OC, we used several patient‐derived organoid cultures, a model faithfully mimicking patient’s response to therapy. Inhibition of UBE2N sensitized patient‐derived organoids to platinum salts. In conclusion, response to treatment in patients with OC is regulated by the UCA1/miR‐27a‐5p/UBE2N axis, where UBE2N inhibition could potentially represent a novel therapeutic strategy to counter chemoresistance in OC.

MLN4924 inhibits cell proliferation by targeting the activated neddylation pathway in endometrial carcinoma

Objective

To explore the neddylation pathway, found to be highly activated in various cancers, as a potential therapeutic target in endometrial carcinoma, one of the three most frequent malignant tumours in the female reproductive system.

Methods

Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas were analysed using online servers. Expression levels of key neddylation genes were validated by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blots of tumour and adjacent tissues. Underlying mechanisms and the effects on cell activities of the neddylation pathway-specific inhibitor, MLN4924, were investigated in endometrial cancer cell lines.

Results

Key neddylation enzymes, ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 M (UBC12), ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 F (UBE2F), ring-box 1 (RBX1) and ring finger protein 7 (RBX2), were significantly overexpressed in endometrial carcinoma tissues versus normal tissues, but only UBE2F and RBX2 positively correlated with patient survival. MLN4924 significantly suppressed proliferation and colony formation in EC cells by inducing DNA re-replication, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Mechanism study revealed that MLN4924 induced the accumulation of cullin-RING ligase substrates in vitro.

Conclusions

The neddylation pathway was identified to play an important role in endometrial cancer. The neddylation specific inhibitor, MLN4924, may be a potential therapeutic drug for endometrial carcinoma.

Advances in Cancer Treatment by Targeting the Neddylation Pathway

Developmental down-regulation protein 8 (NEDD8), expressed by neural progenitors, is a ubiquitin-like protein that conjugates to and regulates the biological function of its substrates. The main target of NEDD8 is cullin-RING E3 ligases. Upregulation of the neddylation pathway is closely associated with the progression of various tumors, and MLN4924, which inhibits NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE), is a promising new antitumor compound for combination therapy. Here, we summarize the latest progress in anticancer strategies targeting the neddylation pathway and their combined applications, providing a theoretical reference for developing antitumor drugs and combination therapies.

Role of neddylation in neurological development and diseases

Neddylation, a posttranslational protein modification, refers to the specific conjugation of NEDD8 to substrates, which is of great significance to various biological processes. Besides members of the cullin protein family, other key proteins can act as a substrate for neddylation modification, which remarkably influences neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative diseases. Normal levels of protein neddylation contribute to nerve growth, synapse strength, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity, whereas overactivation of protein neddylation pathways lead to apoptosis, autophagy of neurons, and tumorigenesis. Furthermore, impaired neddylation causes neurodegenerative diseases. These facts suggest that neddylation may be a target for treatment of these diseases. This review focuses on the current understanding of neddylation function in neurodevelopment as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Meanwhile, the recent view that different level of neddylation pathway may contribute to the opposing disease progression, such as neoplasms and Alzheimer's disease, is discussed. The review also discusses neddylation inhibitors, which are currently being tested in clinical trials. However, potential drawbacks of these drugs are noted, which may benefit the development of new pharmaceutical strategies in the treatment of nervous system diseases.

E1 Enzymes as Therapeutic Targets in Cancer

Post-translational modifications of cellular substrates with ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs), including ubiquitin, SUMOs, and neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated protein 8, play a central role in regulating many aspects of cell biology. The UBL conjugation cascade is initiated by a family of ATP-dependent enzymes termed E1 activating enzymes and executed by the downstream E2-conjugating enzymes and E3 ligases. Despite their druggability and their key position at the apex of the cascade, pharmacologic modulation of E1s with potent and selective drugs has remained elusive until 2009. Among the eight E1 enzymes identified so far, those initiating ubiquitylation (UBA1), SUMOylation (SAE), and neddylation (NAE) are the most characterized and are implicated in various aspects of cancer biology. To date, over 40 inhibitors have been reported to target UBA1, SAE, and NAE, including the NAE inhibitor pevonedistat, evaluated in more than 30 clinical trials. In this Review, we discuss E1 enzymes, the rationale for their therapeutic targeting in cancer, and their different inhibitors, with emphasis on the pharmacologic properties of adenosine sulfamates and their unique mechanism of action, termed substrate-assisted inhibition. Moreover, we highlight other less-characterized E1s-UBA6, UBA7, UBA4, UBA5, and autophagy-related protein 7-and the opportunities for targeting these enzymes in cancer. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The clinical successes of proteasome inhibitors in cancer therapy and the emerging resistance to these agents have prompted the exploration of other signaling nodes in the ubiquitin-proteasome system including E1 enzymes. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the biology of different E1 enzymes, their roles in cancer, and how to translate this knowledge into novel therapeutic strategies with potential implications in cancer treatment.

Pevonedistat, a NEDD8-Activating Enzyme Inhibitor, Induces Apoptosis and Augments Efficacy of Chemotherapy and Small Molecule Inhibitors in Pre-clinical Models of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

We studied the biological activity of pevonedistat, a first‐in‐class NEDD8‐activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor, in combination with various cytotoxic chemotherapy agents and small molecule inhibitors in lymphoma preclinical models. Pevonedistat induced cell death in activated B‐cell (ABC) diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell lines and to a lesser degree in germinal center B‐cell (GCB) DLBCL cell lines. In pevonedistat sensitive cells, we observed inhibition of NF‐κB activity by p65 co‐localization studies, decreased expression of BCL‐2/Bcl‐XL, and upregulation of BAK levels. Pevonedistat enhanced the activity of cytarabine, cisplatin, doxorubicin, and etoposide in ABC‐, but not in the GCB‐DLBCL cell lines. It also exhibited synergy with ibrutinib, selinexor, venetoclax, and A‐1331852 (a novel BCL‐XL inhibitor). In vivo, the combination of pevonedistat and ibrutinib or pevonedistat and cytarabine prolonged survival in SCID mice xenograft models when compared with monotherapy controls. Our data suggest that targeting the neddylation pathway in DLBCL is a viable therapeutic strategy and support further clinical studies of pevonedistat as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy or novel targeted agents.

Neddylation: A Versatile Pathway Takes on Chronic Liver Diseases

Neddylation is a ubiquitin-like posttranslational modification that conjugates neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated-8 (Nedd8) to specific substrates for regulation of protein activity. In light of current researches, the neddylation pathway is aberrant in the pathogenesis of many diseases. In our review, we summarize the versatile roles of neddylation in chronic liver diseases (CLDs). CLDs are one of the leading causes of chronic disease-associated deaths worldwide. There are diverse etiologic agents causing CLDs, mainly including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), chronic exposure to alcohol or drugs, and autoimmune causes. So far, however, there remains a paucity of effective therapeutic approach to CLDs. In this review, we summarized the role of the neddylation pathway which runs through the chronic hepatitis B/NAFLD-liver fibrosis-cirrhosis-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) axis, a canonical pattern in the process of CLD development and progression. The dysregulation of neddylation may provide a better understanding of CLD pathology and even a novel therapeutic strategy. Correspondingly, inhibiting neddylation via MLN4924, a small molecule compound targeting NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE), can potently alleviate CLD progression and improve the outcome. On this basis, profiling and characterization of the neddylation pathway can provide new insights into the CLD pathology as well as novel therapeutic strategies, independently of the etiology of CLD.

Regulation of NFκB Signalling by Ubiquitination: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, with over 600,000 cases per year. The primary causes for HNSCC include smoking and alcohol consumption, with an increasing number of cases attributed to infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The treatment options for HNSCC currently include surgery, radiotherapy, and/or platinum-based chemotherapeutics. Cetuximab (targeting EGFR) and Pembrolizumab (targeting PD-1) have been approved for advanced stage, recurrent, and/or metastatic HNSCC. Despite these advances, whilst HPV+ HNSCC has a 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of around 80%, the 3-year OS for HPV- HNSCC is still around 55%. Aberrant signal activation of transcription factor NFκB plays an important role in the pathogenesis and therapeutic resistance of HNSCC. As an important mediator of inflammatory signalling and the immune response to pathogens, the NFκB pathway is tightly regulated to prevent chronic inflammation, a key driver of tumorigenesis. Here, we discuss how NFκB signalling is regulated by the ubiquitin pathway and how this pathway is deregulated in HNSCC. Finally, we discuss the current strategies available to target the ubiquitin pathway and how this may offer a potential therapeutic benefit in HNSCC.

MLN4924 inhibits hedgehog signaling pathway and activates autophagy to alleviate mouse laser-induced choroidal neovascularization lesion

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), featured as choroidal neovascularization (CNV), can cause blindness in the elderly population. MLN4924, a highly selective small-molecule inhibitor of NEDD8 (neuronal precursor cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 8)-activating enzyme (NAE), inhibits the proliferation, angiogenesis and inflammation of multiple cancers via up-regulating hedgehog pathway-regulated autophagy. MLN4924 intraperitoneal injection mitigated the leakage, area and volume of mouse laser-induced CNV lesion. Additionally, compared to CNV 7 d group, MLN4924 treated mouse retina-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid complex showed decreased expression of hedgehog pathway-associated molecules patched 1 (PTCH1), smoothened (SMO), GLI family zinc finger 1 (GLI1) and GLI family zinc finger 2 (GLI2) with increased expression of autophagy-associated molecules sequestosome 1 (p62) and LC microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3). Meanwhile, human choroidal endothelial cells (HCECs) exposed to hypoxia condition also showed decreased expression of hedgehog pathway-associated molecules and increased expression of autophagy-associated molecules. Compared to hypoxia + MLN4924 group, SMO agonist SAG up-regulated hedgehog pathway and down-regulated autophagy, whereas autophagy inhibitor PIK-III inhibited autophagy with no effect on hedgehog pathway, indicating that MLN4924 facilitated autophagy of HCECs via hindering hedgehog pathway under hypoxia condition. Finally, MLN4924 inhibited proliferation, migration and tube formation of HCECs via boosting hedgehog pathway-regulated autophagy. In summary, MLN4924 relieved the formation of mouse laser-induced CNV lesion might via up-regulating hedgehog pathway-regulated autophagy. The results provide a potential interfering strategy for nAMD targeting the autophagy of choroidal endothelial cells.

Targeting Cullin-RING E3 Ligases for Radiosensitization: From NEDDylation Inhibition to PROTACs

As a dynamic regulator for short-lived protein degradation and turnover, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays important roles in various biological processes, including response to cellular stress, regulation of cell cycle progression, and carcinogenesis. Over the past decade, research on targeting the cullin-RING (really interesting new gene) E3 ligases (CRLs) in the UPS has gained great momentum with the entry of late-phase clinical trials of its novel inhibitors MLN4924 (pevonedistat) and TAS4464. Several preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of MLN4924 as a radiosensitizer, mainly due to its unique cytotoxic properties, including induction of DNA damage response, cell cycle checkpoints dysregulation, and inhibition of NF-κB and mTOR pathways. Recently, the PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) technology was developed to recruit the target proteins for CRL-mediated polyubiquitination, overcoming the resistance that develops inevitably with traditional targeted therapies. First-in-class cell-permeable PROTACs against critical radioresistance conferring proteins, including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER), cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), MAP kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), and MEK2, have emerged in the past 5 years. In this review article, we will summarize the most important research findings of targeting CRLs for radiosensitization.

HucMSC-exosomes carrying miR-326 inhibit neddylation to relieve inflammatory bowel disease in mice

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic intestinal inflammation that is a risk factor for many gastrointestinal cancers. Exosomes are gradually gaining attention as an emerging treatment method for IBD due to their important biological characteristics. NF‐κB is an important pro‐inflammatory transcription factor kept inactive by IκB protein in the cytoplasm by masking the nuclear localization signal of NF‐κB. The deterioration of IκB is mainly ubiquitination, and this depends on neddylation.

Methods

In this study, we established a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced IBD model in BABL/C mice to evaluate the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell‐derived exosomes (hucMSC‐exosomes, hucMSC‐Ex) on the repair of IBD. At the same time, human colorectal mucosa cells (FHC) were stimulated by LPS (lipopolysaccharide) in vitro to activate the inflammatory environment to study the mechanism of hucMSC‐Ex regulating neddylation. The microRNA (miRNA) obtained by sequencing and transfection with hucMSC‐Ex was used to verify the role of miR‐326/neddylation/IκB/NF‐κB signaling pathway in IBD repair.

Results

HucMSC‐Ex inhibited the process of neddylation in relieving DSS‐induced IBD in mice. The binding of NEDD8 (neural precursor cell‐expressed, developmentally downregulated gene 8) to cullin 1 and the activation of NF‐κB signaling pathway were suppressed along with reduced expression levels of neddylation‐related enzyme molecules. The same phenomenon was observed in FHC cells. The miRNA comparison results showed that miR‐326 was highly expressed in hucMSC‐Ex and played an important role in inhibiting the neddylation process. The therapeutic effect of hucMSC‐Ex with high expression of miR‐326 on IBD mice was significantly stronger than that of ordinary hucMSC‐Ex.

Conclusions

HucMSC‐Ex relieves DSS‐induced IBD in a mouse model by inhibiting neddylation through miR‐326.

Neddylation inhibition activates the protective autophagy through NF-κB-catalase-ATF3 Axis in human esophageal cancer cells

Background

Protein neddylation plays a tumor-promoting role in esophageal cancer. Our previous study demonstrated that neddylation inhibition induced the accumulation of ATF4 to promote apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells. However, it is completely unknown whether neddylation inhibition could induce autophagy in esophageal cancer cells and affect the expression of other members of ATF/CREB subfamily, such as ATF3.

Methods

The expression of relevant proteins of NF-κB/Catalase/ATF3 pathway after neddylation inhibition was determined by immunoblotting analysis and downregulated by siRNA silencing for mechanistic studies. ROS generation upon MLN4924 treatment was determined by H2-DCFDA staining. The proliferation inhibition induced by MLN4924 was evaluated by ATPLite assay and apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V /PI double staining.

Results

For the first time, we reported that MLN4924, a specific inhibitor of Nedd8-activating enzyme, promoted the expression of ATF3 to induce autophagy in esophageal cancer. Mechanistically, MLN4924 inhibited the activity of CRLs and induced the accumulation of its substrate IκBα to block NF-κB activation and Catalase expression. As a result, MLN4924 activated ATF3-induced protective autophagy, thereby inhibiting MLN4924-induced apoptosis, which could be alleviated by ATF3 silencing.

Conclusions

In our study, we elucidates a novel mechanism of NF-κB/Catalase/ATF3 pathway in MLN4924-induced protective autophagy in esophageal cancer cells, which provides a sound rationale and molecular basis for combinational anti-ESCC therapy with knockdown ATF3 and neddylation inhibitor (e.g. MLN4924).

Neddylation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c is a potential therapeutic target for nonalcoholic fatty liver treatment

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a risk factor for progression of steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Although pathological condition of NAFLD, which arises from an excessive accumulation of triglyceride in the liver, is accompanied by elevated sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) level, it is largely unknown which factors are involved in the modification of SREBP1c. In this study, we discovered that neddylation of SREBP1c competes with its ubiquitination and stabilizes SREBP1c protein level, and eventually promotes hepatic steatosis. We also demonstrated that human homolog of mouse double minute 2 (HDM2) acts as an E3 neddylation ligase of SREBP1c. Further, treatment with the neddylation inhibitor, MLN4924, attenuates high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis by reducing the levels of SREBP1c protein and hepatic triglyceride. Our results indicate that the blockade of SREBP1c neddylation could be a novel approach in the defense against NAFLD.

Immunomodulatory effects of pevonedistat, a NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor, in chronic lymphocytic leukemia-derived T cells

Novel targeted agents used in therapy of lymphoid malignancies, such as inhibitors of B-cell receptor-associated kinases, are recognized to have complex immune-mediated effects. NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) has been identified as a tractable target in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We and others have shown that pevonedistat (TAK-924), a small-molecule inhibitor of NAE, abrogates NF-κB signaling in malignant B cells. However, NF-κB pathway activity is indispensable in immune response, and T-cell function is altered in patients with CLL. Using T cells derived from patients with CLL, we demonstrate that although targeting NAE results in markedly differential expression of NF-κB-regulated genes and downregulation of interleukin (IL)-2 signaling during T-cell activation, T cells evade apoptosis. Meanwhile, NAE inhibition favorably modulates polarization of T cells in vitro, with decreased T_reg differentiation and a shift toward T_H1 phenotype, accompanied by increased interferon-γ production. These findings were recapitulated in vivo in immunocompetent mouse models. T cells exposed to pevonedistat in washout experiments, informed by its human pharmacokinetic profile, recover NAE activity, and maintain their response to T-cell receptor stimulation and cytotoxic potential. Our data shed light on the potential immune implications of targeting neddylation in CLL and lymphoid malignancies.

Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like molecules in DNA double strand break repair

Both environmental and endogenous factors induce various forms of DNA damage. DNA double strand break (DSB) is the most deleterious DNA lesion. The swift initiation of a complexed network of interconnected pathways to repair the DNA lesion is essential for cell survival. In the past years, the roles of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins in DNA damage response and DNA repair has been explored. These findings help us better understand the complicated mechanism of DSB signaling pathways.

Cell Death Pathways in Lymphoid Malignancies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review highlights the importance of the Bcl-2 family members in lymphoma cell survival and discusses the approaches to modulate their function, directly or indirectly, to advance lymphoma therapeutics.

RECENT FINDINGS

The balance of cell death versus survival is ultimately leveraged at the mitochondria. Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) is the critical event that governs the release of pro-apoptotic molecules from the intermembrane mitochondrial space. MOMP is achieved through the coordinated actions of pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member proteins. Recognition of functional alterations among the Bcl-2 family member proteins led to identification of tractable targets to combat hematologic malignancies. A new class of drugs, termed BH3 mimetics, was introduced in the clinic. Venetoclax, a Bcl-2 inhibitor, received regulatory approvals in therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Alternative pro-survival Bcl-2 family proteins, in particular Mcl-1, have been successfully targeted in preclinical studies using novel-specific BH3 mimetics. Finally, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members may be targeted indirectly, via interference with the pro-survival signaling pathways, e.g., phosphoinotiside-3 kinase, B-cell receptor signaling, and NF-κB.

Targeting ubiquitin-activating enzyme induces ER stress-mediated apoptosis in B-cell lymphoma cells

Alterations in the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) leave malignant cells in heightened cellular stress, making them susceptible to proteasome inhibition. However, given the limited efficacy of proteasome inhibitors in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), novel approaches to target the UPS are needed. Here, we show that TAK-243, the first small-molecule inhibitor of the ubiquitin activating enzyme (UAE) to enter clinical development, disrupts all ubiquitin signaling and global protein ubiquitination in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells, thereby inducing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Activation of the ER stress response protein kinase R (PKR)-like ER kinase and phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiator factor 2α led to upregulation of the proapoptotic molecule C/EBP homologous protein and cell death across a panel of DLBCL cell lines independent of cell of origin. Concurrently, targeting UAE led to accumulation of Cdt1, a replication licensing factor, leading to DNA rereplication, checkpoint activation, and cell cycle arrest. MYC oncoprotein sensitized DLBCL cells to UAE inhibition; engineered expression of MYC enhanced while genetic MYC knockdown protected from TAK-243-induced apoptosis. UAE inhibition demonstrated enhanced ER stress and UPR and increased potency compared with bortezomib in DLBCL cell lines. In vivo treatment with TAK-243 restricted the growth of xenografted DLBCL tumors, accompanied by reduced cell proliferation and apoptosis. Finally, primary patient-derived DLBCL cells, including those expressing aberrant MYC, demonstrated susceptibility to UAE inhibition. In sum, targeting UAE may hold promise as a novel therapeutic approach in NHL.

Targeting Protein Neddylation for Cancer Therapy

Neddylation is a posttranslational modification that conjugates a ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8 to substrate proteins. The best-characterized substrates of neddylation are the cullin subunits of cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes (CRLs). CRLs as the largest family of E3 ubiquitin ligases control many important biological processes, including tumorigenesis, through promoting ubiquitylation and subsequent degradation of a variety of key regulatory proteins. The process of protein neddylation is overactivated in multiple types of human cancers, providing a sound rationale as an attractive anticancer therapeutic strategy, evidenced by the development of the NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor MLN4924 (also known as pevonedistat). Recently, increasing evidence strongly indicates that neddylation inhibition by MLN4924 exerts anticancer effects mainly by triggering cell apoptosis, senescence, and autophagy and causing angiogenesis suppression, inflammatory responses, and chemo-/radiosensitization in a context-dependent manner. Here, we briefly summarize the latest progresses in this field, focusing on the preclinical studies to validate neddylation modification as a promising anticancer target.

Activity of TAS4464, a novel NEDD8 activating enzyme E1 inhibitor, against multiple myeloma via inactivation of nuclear factor κB pathways

The ubiquitin proteasome pathway is essential for the proliferation and survival of multiple myeloma (MM) cells. TAS4464, a novel highly potent inhibitor of NEDD8 activating enzyme, selectively inactivates cullin-RING ubiquitin E3 ligases, resulting in accumulation of their substrates. Here, we examined 14 MM cell lines treated with TAS4464. TAS4464 induced growth arrest and cell death in the MM cell lines even in the presence of bone marrow stromal cells. It also induced the accumulation of phospho-inhibitor of κBα and phospho-p100, impaired the activities of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transcription factors p65 and RelB, and decreased the expression of NF-κB target genes, suggesting that TAS4464 inhibits both the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways. TAS4464 had similar effects in an in vivo human-MM xenograft mouse model in which it was also observed to have strong antitumor effects. TAS4464 synergistically enhanced the antitumor activities of the standard MM chemotherapies bortezomib, lenalidomide/dexamethasone, daratumumab and elotuzumab. Together, these results suggest that the anti-MM activity of TAS4464 occurs via inhibition of the NF-κB pathways, and that treatment with TAS4464 is a potential approach for treating MM by single and combination therapies.

Perilipin 5 deficiency promotes atherosclerosis progression through accelerating inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress

Excessive plasma triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels promote the progression of several prevalent cardiovascular risk factors, including atherosclerosis, which is a leading death cause. Perilipin 5 (Plin5), an important perilipin protein, is abundant in tissues with very active lipid catabolism and is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress. Although inflammation and oxidative stress play a critical role in atherosclerosis development, the underlying mechanisms are complex and not completely understood. In the present study, we demonstrated the role of Plin5 in high-fat-diet-induced atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E null (ApoE^-/- ) mice. Our results suggested that Plin5 expressions increased in the artery tissues of ApoE^-/- mice. ApoE/Plin5 double knockout (ApoE^-/- Plin5^-/- ) exacerbated severer atherogenesis, accompanied with significantly disturbed plasma metabolic profiles, such as elevated TG, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol contents. ApoE^-/- Plin5^-/- exhibited a higher number of inflammatory monocytes and neutrophils, as well as overexpression of cytokines and chemokines linked with an inflammatory response. Consistently, the IκBα/nuclear factor kappa B pathway was strongly activated in ApoE^-/- Plin5^-/- . Notably, apoptosis was dramatically induced by ApoE^-/- Plin5^-/- , as evidenced by increased cleavage of Caspase-3 and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-2. In addition, ApoE^-/- Plin5^-/- contributed to oxidative stress generation in the aortic tissues, which was linked with the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B and mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways. In vitro, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) increased Plin5 expression in RAW264.7 cells. Its knockdown enhanced inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and lipid accumulation, while promotion of Plin5 markedly reduced all the effects induced by ox-LDL in cells. These studies strongly supported that Plin5 could be a new regulator against atherosclerosis, providing new insights on therapeutic solutions.

Validation of NEDD8-conjugating enzyme UBC12 as a new therapeutic target in lung cancer

Background

The neddylation pathway is overactivated in human cancers. Inhibition of neddylation pathway has emerged as an attractive anticancer strategy. The mechanisms underlying neddylation overactivation in cancer remain elusive. MLN4924/Pevonedistat, a first-in-class NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE, E1) inhibitor, exerts significant anti-tumor effects, but its mutagenic resistance remains unresolved.

Methods

The expression of NEDD8-conjugating enzyme UBC12/UBE2M (E2) and NEDD8 were estimated by bioinformatics analysis and western blot in human lung cancer cell lines. The malignant phenotypes of lung cancer cells were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo upon UBC12 knockdown. Cell-cycle arrest was evaluated by quantitative proteomic analysis and propidium iodide stain and fluorescence - activated cell sorting (FACS). The growth of MLN4924 - resistant H1299 cells was also evaluated upon UBC12 knockdown.

Findings

The mRNA level of UBC12 in lung cancer tissues was much higher than that in normal lung tissues, increased with disease deterioration, and positively correlated with NEDD8 expression. Moreover, the overexpression of UBC12 significantly enhanced protein neddylation modification whereas the downregulation of UBC12 reduced neddylation modification of target proteins. Functionally, neddylation inactivation by UBC12 knockdown suppressed the malignant phenotypes of lung cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. The quantitative proteomic analysis and cell cycle profiling showed that UBC12 knockdown disturbed cell cycle progression by triggering G₂ phase cell-cycle arrest. Further mechanistical studies revealed that UBC12 knockdown inhibited Cullin neddylation, led to the inactivation of CRL E3 ligases and induced the accumulation of tumor-suppressive CRL substrates (p21, p27 and Wee1) to induce cell cycle arrest and suppress the malignant phenotypes of lung cancer cells. Finally, UBC12 knockdown effectively inhibited the growth of MLN4924-resistant lung cancer cells.

Interpretation

These findings highlight a crucial role of UBC12 in fine-tuned regulation of neddylation activation status and validate UBC12 as an attractive alternative anticancer target against neddylation pathway.

Fund

Chinese Minister of Science and Technology grant (2016YFA0501800), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 81401893, 81625018, 81820108022, 81772470, 81572340 and 81602072), Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (2019-01-07-00-10-E00056), Program of Shanghai Academic/Technology Research Leader (18XD1403800), National Thirteenth Five-Year Science and Technology Major Special Project for New Drug and Development (2017ZX09304001). The funders had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation, writing of the report.

Stereoisomer-Specific Induction of G2/M Phase Arrest and Apoptosis by 9-(E,Z)-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic Acid in Mouse Lymphoma Cells

Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODEs) are generated by oxidation of linoleic acid in vivo and thought to mediate various pathophysiological responses. In this study, we examined the effects of HODEs on EL4 mouse lymphoma cell growth and found that 9-(E,Z)-HODE inhibited EL4 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, whereas no such growth inhibition was observed with other isomers (9-(E,E)-, 13-(Z,E)-, or 13-(E,E)-HODE), suggesting that the growth-inhibitory effect of HODEs was stereospecific. Analysis by flow cytometry (FACS) with annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining showed that 9-(E,Z)-HODE induced apoptosis with G2/M phase arrest. We next examined the growth inhibition profile of 9-(E,Z)-HODE against a panel of 39 human cancer cell lines (JFCR39). The fingerprint of growth inhibition by 9-(E,Z)-HODE exhibited a high degree of similarity to that by MLN4924, an inhibitor of NEDD8-activating enzyme. The intracellular NEDD8 (ubiquitin-like protein) expression in EL4 cells was decreased by the treatment with 9-(E,Z)-HODE as assessed by immunoblotting and flow cytometry. In conclusion, 9-(E,Z)-HODE specifically induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis, and the decrease of NEDD8 expression might be involved in this effect.

Potent 5-Cyano-6-phenyl-pyrimidin-Based Derivatives Targeting DCN1-UBE2M Interaction

Neddylation of the Cullin-RING E3 ligases (CRLs) regulates the homeostasis of approximately 20% of cellular proteins. Defective in cullin neddylation 1 (DCN1), as a co-E3 ligase, interacts with UBE2M to enhance the activation of CRLs, and this interaction is emerging as a therapeutic target for human diseases. Here, we present a series of pyrimidin-based small molecular inhibitors targeting DCN1-UBE2M interaction. After finding a novel inhibitor DC-1 with IC₅₀ = 1.2 μM, we performed a series of chemical optimizations, which finally led to the discovery of a potent thiazole containing 5-cyano-6-phenylpyrimidin-based inhibitor DC-2 (IC₅₀ = 15 nM). Next, using protein and cellular thermal shift assays, coimmunoprecipitation, molecular docking, and site-specific mutation experiments, we further proved that DC-2 specifically inhibited the interaction of UBE2M and DCN1 at molecule and cellular levels, resulting in the decrease of cullin3 neddylation and accumulation of its substrate, NRF2. Our findings indicate that DC-2 may serve as a novel lead compound for specific derivatives targeting DCN1-UBE2M interaction.

Bacterial flagellin promotes viral entry via an NF-kB and Toll Like Receptor 5 dependent pathway

Viruses and bacteria colonize hosts by invading epithelial barriers. Recent studies have shown that interactions between the microbiota, pathogens and the host can potentiate infection through poorly understood mechanisms. Here, we investigated whether diverse bacterial species could modulate virus internalization into host cells, often a rate-limiting step in establishing infections. Lentiviral pseudoviruses expressing influenza, measles, Ebola, Lassa or vesicular stomatitis virus envelope glycoproteins enabled us to study entry of viruses that exploit diverse internalization pathways. Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa significantly increased viral uptake, even at low bacterial frequencies. This did not require bacterial contact with or invasion of host cells. Studies determined that the bacterial antigen responsible for this pro-viral activity was the Toll-Like Receptor 5 (TLR5) agonist flagellin. Exposure to flagellin increased virus attachment to epithelial cells in a temperature-dependent manner via TLR5-dependent activation of NF-ΚB. Importantly, this phenotype was both long lasting and detectable at low multiplicities of infection. Flagellin is shed from bacteria and our studies uncover a new bystander role for this protein in regulating virus entry. This highlights a new aspect of viral-bacterial interplay with significant implications for our understanding of polymicrobial-associated pathogenesis.