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Gahbauer S, DeLeon C, Braz JM, Craik V, Kang HJ, Wan X, Huang XP, Billesbølle CB, Liu Y, Che T, Deshpande I, Jewell M, Fink EA, Kondratov IS, Moroz YS, Irwin JJ, Basbaum AI, Roth BL, Shoichet BK. Docking for EP4R antagonists active against inflammatory pain. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8067. [PMID: 38057319 PMCID: PMC10700596 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43506-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The lipid prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) mediates inflammatory pain by activating G protein-coupled receptors, including the prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 (EP4R). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce nociception by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis, however, the disruption of upstream prostanoid biosynthesis can lead to pleiotropic effects including gastrointestinal bleeding and cardiac complications. In contrast, by acting downstream, EP4R antagonists may act specifically as anti-inflammatory agents and, to date, no selective EP4R antagonists have been approved for human use. In this work, seeking to diversify EP4R antagonist scaffolds, we computationally dock over 400 million compounds against an EP4R crystal structure and experimentally validate 71 highly ranked, de novo synthesized molecules. Further, we show how structure-based optimization of initial docking hits identifies a potent and selective antagonist with 16 nanomolar potency. Finally, we demonstrate favorable pharmacokinetics for the discovered compound as well as anti-allodynic and anti-inflammatory activity in several preclinical pain models in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Gahbauer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Chelsea DeLeon
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| | - Joao M Braz
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Veronica Craik
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Hye Jin Kang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Xiaobo Wan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Xi-Ping Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| | - Christian B Billesbølle
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Yongfeng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| | - Tao Che
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
- Center of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ishan Deshpande
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Madison Jewell
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Elissa A Fink
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Ivan S Kondratov
- Enamine Ltd., Kyiv, Ukraine
- V.P. Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Yurii S Moroz
- Chemspace LLC, Kyiv, Ukraine
- National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - John J Irwin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Allan I Basbaum
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
- National Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive Drug Screening Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
| | - Brian K Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
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Mondal A, Jia D, Bhatt V, Akel M, Roberge J, Guo JY, Langenfeld J. Ym155 localizes to the mitochondria leading to mitochondria dysfunction and activation of AMPK that inhibits BMP signaling in lung cancer cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13135. [PMID: 35908087 PMCID: PMC9338953 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17446-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The imidazolium compound Ym155 was first reported to be a survivin inhibitor. Ym155 potently induces cell death of many types of cancer cells in preclinical studies. However, in phase II clinical trials Ym155 failed to demonstrate a significant benefit. Studies have suggested that the cytotoxic effects of Ym155 in cancer cells are not mediated by the inhibition of survivin. Understanding the mechanism by which Ym155 induces cell death would provide important insight how to improve its efficacy as a cancer therapeutic. We demonstrate a novel mechanism by which Ym155 induces cell death by localizing to the mitochondria causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Our studies suggest that Ym155 binds mitochondrial DNA leading to a decrease in oxidative phosphorylation, decrease in TCA cycle intermediates, and an increase in mitochondrial permeability. Furthermore, we show that mitochondrial stress induced by Ym155 and other mitochondrial inhibitors activates AMP-activated kinase leading to the downregulation to bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. We provide first evidence that Ym155 initiates cell death by disrupting mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arindam Mondal
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - Dongxuan Jia
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - Vrushank Bhatt
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Moumen Akel
- Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Jacques Roberge
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, RUBRIC, Office for Research, Rutgers Translational Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | | | - John Langenfeld
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA.
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Vora M, Mondal A, Jia D, Gaddipati P, Akel M, Gilleran J, Roberge J, Rongo C, Langenfeld J. Bone morphogenetic protein signaling regulation of AMPK and PI3K in lung cancer cells and C. elegans. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:76. [PMID: 35641992 PMCID: PMC9153151 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00817-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is a phylogenetically conserved signaling pathway required for development that is aberrantly expressed in several age-related diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Aberrant BMP signaling in mice leads to obesity, suggesting it may alter normal metabolism. The role of BMP signaling regulating cancer metabolism is not known. METHODS To examine BMP regulation of metabolism, C. elegans harboring BMP gain-of-function (gof) and loss-of-function (lof) mutations were examined for changes in activity of catabolic and anabolic metabolism utilizing Western blot analysis and fluorescent reporters. AMP activated kinase (AMPK) gof and lof mutants were used to examine AMPK regulation of BMP signaling. H1299 (LKB1 wild-type), A549 (LKB1 lof), and A549-LKB1 (LKB1 restored) lung cancer cell lines were used to study BMP regulation of catabolic and anabolic metabolism. Studies were done using recombinant BMP ligands to activate BMP signaling, and BMP receptor specific inhibitors and siRNA to inhibit signaling. RESULTS BMP signaling in both C. elegans and cancer cells is responsive to nutrient conditions. In both C. elegans and lung cancer cell lines BMP suppressed AMPK, the master regulator of catabolism, while activating PI3K, a regulator of anabolism. In lung cancer cells, inhibition of BMP signaling by siRNA or small molecules increased AMPK activity, and this increase was mediated by activation of LKB1. BMP2 ligand suppressed AMPK activation during starvation. BMP2 ligand decreased expression of TCA cycle intermediates and non-essential amino acids in H1299 cells. Furthermore, we show that BMP activation of PI3K is mediated through BMP type II receptor. We also observed feedback signaling, as AMPK suppressed BMP signaling, whereas PI3K increased BMP signaling. CONCLUSION These studies show that BMP signaling suppresses catabolic metabolism and stimulates anabolic metabolism. We identified feedback mechanisms where catabolic induced signaling mediated by AMPK negatively regulates BMP signaling, whereas anabolic signaling produces a positive feedback regulation of BMP signing through Akt. These mechanisms were conserved in both lung cancer cells and C. elegans. These studies suggest that aberrant BMP signaling causes dysregulation of metabolism that is a potential mechanism by which BMP promotes survival of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehul Vora
- Department of Genetics, The Waksman Institute, Rutgers the State University of NJ, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Arindam Mondal
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - Dongxuan Jia
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - Pranya Gaddipati
- Department of Genetics, The Waksman Institute, Rutgers the State University of NJ, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Moumen Akel
- Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - John Gilleran
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, RUBRIC, Office for Research, Rutgers Translational Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Jacques Roberge
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, RUBRIC, Office for Research, Rutgers Translational Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Christopher Rongo
- Department of Genetics, The Waksman Institute, Rutgers the State University of NJ, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - John Langenfeld
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA.
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Bone morphogenetic protein receptor inhibitors suppress the growth of glioblastoma cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2022; 477:1583-1595. [PMID: 35192123 PMCID: PMC8989651 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04383-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastomas (GBMs) are aggressive brain tumors that are resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) ligand BMP4 is being examined as a potential therapeutic for GBMs because it induces differentiation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) to an astrocyte phenotype. ID1 is reported to promote self-renewal and inhibit CSC differentiation. In most cancers, ID1 is transcriptionally upregulated by BMP4 promoting invasion and stemness. This conflicting data bring into question whether BMP signaling is growth suppressive or growth promoting in GBMs. We utilized BMP inhibitors DMH1, JL5, and Ym155 to examine the role of BMP signaling on the growth of GBMs. DMH1 targets BMP type 1 receptors whereas JL5 inhibits both the type 1 and type 2 BMP receptors. Ym155 does not bind the BMP receptors but rather inhibits BMP signaling by inducing the degradation of BMPR2. We show that JL5, DMH1, and Ym155 decreased the expression of ID1 in SD2 and U87 cells. JL5 and Ym155 also decreased the expression of BMPR2 and its downstream target inhibitor of apoptosis protein XIAP. JL5 treatment resulted in significant cell death and suppressed self-renewal to a greater extent than that induced by BMP4 ligand. The lysosome inhibitor chloroquine increases the localization of BMPR2 to the plasma membrane enhancing JL5-induced downregulation of ID1 and cell death in SD2 cells. We show that BMP signaling is growth promoting in GBMs. These studies suggest the need for development of BMP inhibitors and evaluation as potential therapeutic for GBMs.
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Mondal A, NeMoyer R, Vora M, Napoli L, Syed Z, Langenfeld E, Jia D, Peng Y, Gilleran J, Roberge J, Rongo C, Jabbour SK, Langenfeld J. Bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 inhibition destabilizes microtubules promoting the activation of lysosomes and cell death of lung cancer cells. Cell Commun Signal 2021; 19:97. [PMID: 34563224 PMCID: PMC8466694 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-021-00743-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent studies have shown that bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) regulates cell survival signaling events in cancer cells independent of the BMP type 1 receptor (BMPR1) or the Smad-1/5 transcription factor. Mutations in BMPR2 trafficking proteins leads to overactive BMP signaling, which leads to neurological diseases caused by BMPR2 stabilization of the microtubules. It is not known whether BMPR2 regulates the microtubules in cancer cells and what effect this has on cell survival. It is also not known whether alterations in BMPR2 trafficking effects activity and response to BMPR2 inhibitors. Methods We utilized BMPR2 siRNA and the BMP receptor inhibitors JL5 and Ym155, which decrease BMPR2 signaling and cause its mislocalization to the cytoplasm. Using the JL5 resistant MDA-MD-468 cell line and sensitive lung cancer cell lines, we examined the effects of BMPR2 inhibition on BMPR2 mislocalization to the cytoplasm, microtubule destabilization, lysosome activation and cell survival. Results We show that the inhibition of BMPR2 destabilizes the microtubules. Destabilization of the microtubules leads to the activation of the lysosomes. Activated lysosomes further decreases BMPR2 signaling by causing it to mislocalizated to the cytoplasm and/or lysosome for degradation. Inhibition of the lysosomes with chloroquine attenuates BMPR2 trafficking to the lysosome and cell death induced by BMPR2 inhibitors. Furthermore, in MDA-MD-468 cells that are resistant to JL5 induced cell death, BMPR2 was predominately located in the cytoplasm. BMPR2 failed to localize to the cytoplasm and/or lysosome following treatment with JL5 and did not destabilize the microtubules or activate the lysosomes. Conclusions These studies reveal that the inhibition of BMPR2 destabilizes the microtubules promoting cell death of cancer cells that involves the activation of the lysosomes. Resistance to small molecules targeting BMPR2 may occur if the BMPR2 is localized predominantly to the cytoplasm and/or fails to localize to the lysosome for degradation. Video Abstract
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-021-00743-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arindam Mondal
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - Rachel NeMoyer
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - Mehul Vora
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | | | - Zoya Syed
- Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Elaine Langenfeld
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - Dongxuan Jia
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - Youyi Peng
- Biomedical Informatics Shared Resources, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - John Gilleran
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Jacques Roberge
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Christopher Rongo
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Salma K Jabbour
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - John Langenfeld
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA.
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