Targeting DYRK1B suppresses the proliferation and migration of liposarcoma cells

Mirk/Dyrk1B Kinase Inhibitors in Targeted Cancer Therapy

During the last years, there has been an increased effort in the discovery of selective and potent kinase inhibitors for targeted cancer therapy. Kinase inhibitors exhibit less toxicity compared to conventional chemotherapy, and several have entered the market. Mirk/Dyrk1B kinase is a promising pharmacological target in cancer since it is overexpressed in many tumors, and its overexpression is correlated with patients' poor prognosis. Mirk/Dyrk1B acts as a negative cell cycle regulator, maintaining the survival of quiescent cancer cells and conferring their resistance to chemotherapies. Many studies have demonstrated the valuable therapeutic effect of Mirk/Dyrk1B inhibitors in cancer cell lines, mouse xenografts, and patient-derived 3D-organoids, providing a perspective for entering clinical trials. Since the majority of Mirk/Dyrk1B inhibitors target the highly conserved ATP-binding site, they exhibit off-target effects with other kinases, especially with the highly similar Dyrk1A. In this review, apart from summarizing the data establishing Dyrk1B as a therapeutic target in cancer, we highlight the most potent Mirk/Dyrk1B inhibitors recently reported. We also discuss the limitations and perspectives for the structure-based design of Mirk/Dyrk1B potent and highly selective inhibitors based on the accumulated structural data of Dyrk1A and the recent crystal structure of Dyrk1B with AZ191 inhibitor.

Mirk/Dyrk1B controls ventral spinal cord development via Shh pathway

Cross-talk between Mirk/Dyrk1B kinase and Sonic hedgehog (Shh)/Gli pathway affects physiology and pathology. Here, we reveal a novel role for Dyrk1B in regulating ventral progenitor and neuron subtypes in the embryonic chick spinal cord (SC) via the Shh pathway. Using in ovo gain-and-loss-of-function approaches at E2, we report that Dyrk1B affects the proliferation and differentiation of neuronal progenitors at E4 and impacts on apoptosis specifically in the motor neuron (MN) domain. Especially, Dyrk1B overexpression decreases the numbers of ventral progenitors, MNs, and V2a interneurons, while the pharmacological inhibition of endogenous Dyrk1B kinase activity by AZ191 administration increases the numbers of ventral progenitors and MNs. Mechanistically, Dyrk1B overexpression suppresses Shh, Gli2 and Gli3 mRNA levels, while conversely, Shh, Gli2 and Gli3 transcription is increased in the presence of Dyrk1B inhibitor AZ191 or Smoothened agonist SAG. Most importantly, in phenotype rescue experiments, SAG restores the Dyrk1B-mediated dysregulation of ventral progenitors. Further at E6, Dyrk1B affects selectively the medial lateral motor neuron column (LMCm), consistent with the expression of Shh in this region. Collectively, these observations reveal a novel regulatory function of Dyrk1B kinase in suppressing the Shh/Gli pathway and thus affecting ventral subtypes in the developing spinal cord. These data render Dyrk1B a possible therapeutic target for motor neuron diseases.

Targeting the survival kinase DYRK1B: A novel approach to overcome radiotherapy-related treatment resistance

BACKGROUND

Cancer cell survival under stress conditions is a prerequisite for the development of treatment resistance. The survival kinase DYRK1B is a key regulator of stress survival pathways and might thereby also contribute to radiation resistance. Here we investigate the strategy of targeting DYRK1B in combination with ionizing radiation (IR) to enhance tumor cell killing under stress conditions.

METHODS

DYRK1B expression, ROS formation and DNA damage were investigated under serum-starvation (0.1% FBS), hypoxia (0.2%, 1% O2) and IR. The combined treatment modality of IR and DYRK1B inhibition was investigated in 2D and in spheroids derived from the colorectal cancer cell line SW620, and in primary patient-derived colorectal carcinoma (CRC) organoids.

RESULTS

Expression of DYRK1B was upregulated under starvation and hypoxia, but not in response to IR. The small molecule DYRK1B inhibitor AZ191 and shRNA-mediated DYRK1B knockdown significantly reduced proliferative activity and clonogenicity of SW620 tumor cells alone and in combination with IR under serum-starved conditions, which correlated with increased ROS levels and DNA damage. Furthermore, AZ191 successfully targeted the hypoxic core of tumor spheroids while IR preferentially targeted normoxic cells in the rim of the spheroids. A combined treatment effect was also observed in CRC-organoids but not in healthy tissue-derived organoids.

CONCLUSION

Combined treatment with the DYRK1B inhibitor AZ191 and IR resulted in (supra-) additive tumor cell killing in colorectal tumor cell systems and in primary CRC organoids. Mechanistic investigations support the rational to target the stress-enhanced survival kinase DYRK1B in combination with irradiation to overcome hypoxia- and starvation-induced treatment resistances.

Novel Efficient Multistage Lead Optimization Pipeline Experimentally Validated for DYRK1B Selective Inhibitors

In addition to general challenges in drug discovery such as the identification of lead compounds in time- and cost-effective ways, specific challenges also exist. Particularly, it is necessary to develop pharmacological inhibitors that effectively discriminate between closely related molecular targets. DYRK1B kinase is considered a valuable target for cancer-specific mono- or combination chemotherapy; however, the inhibition of its closely related DYRK1A kinase is not beneficial. Existing inhibitors target both kinases with essentially the same efficiency, and the unavailability of the DYRK1B crystal structure makes the discovery of DYRK1B-specific inhibitors even more challenging. Here, we propose a novel multi-stage compound discovery pipeline aimed at in silico identification of both potent and selective small molecules from a large set of initial candidates. The method uses structure-based docking and ligand-based quantitative structure–activity relationship modeling. This approach allowed us to identify lead and runner-up small-molecule compounds targeting DYRK1B with high efficiency and specificity.

A Bioinformatics Evaluation of the Role of Dual-Specificity Tyrosine-Regulated Kinases in Colorectal Cancer

Simple Summary

The dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase (DYRK) family has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer. However, its role in colorectal cancer has not been elucidated. In this research, we used publicly available web-based tools to investigate DYRKs status in colorectal cancer. Our results showed that among DYRKs, only DYRK1A was upregulated significantly in late tumor stages, and it is associated with poor prognosis for colorectal cancer patients. These finding comprehensively characterized DYRK1A as a potential new therapeutic approach in CRC, especially in late tumor stages.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and has an increasing incidence in younger populations. The dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase (DYRK) family has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer. However, the role and contribution of the distinct family members in regulating CRC tumorigenesis has not been addressed yet. Herein, we used publicly available CRC patient datasets (TCGA RNA sequence) and several bioinformatics webtools to perform in silico analysis (GTEx, GENT2, GEPIA2, cBioPortal, GSCALite, TIMER2, and UALCAN). We aimed to investigate the DYRK family member expression pattern, prognostic value, and oncological roles in CRC. This study shed light on the role of distinct DYRK family members in CRC and their potential outcome predictive value. Based on mRNA level, DYRK1A is upregulated in late tumor stages, with lymph node and distant metastasis. All DYRKs were found to be implicated in cancer-associated pathways, indicating their key role in CRC pathogenesis. No significant DYRK mutations were identified, suggesting that DYRK expression variation in normal vs. tumor samples is likely linked to epigenetic regulation. The expression of DYRK1A and DYRK3 expression correlated with immune-infiltrating cells in the tumor microenvironment and was upregulated in MSI subtypes, pointing to their potential role as biomarkers for immunotherapy. This comprehensive bioinformatics analysis will set directions for future biological studies to further exploit the molecular basis of these findings and explore the potential of DYRK1A modulation as a novel targeted therapy for CRC.

ATR inhibition sensitizes liposarcoma to doxorubicin by increasing DNA damage

Liposarcomas account for approximately 20% of all adult sarcomas and have limited therapeutic options outside of surgery. Inhibition of ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3 related protein kinase (ATR) has emerged as a promising chemotherapeutic strategy in various cancers. However, its activation, expression, and function in liposarcoma remain unkown. In this study, we investigated the expression, function, and potential of ATR as a therapeutic target in liposarcoma. Activation and expression of ATR in liposarcoma was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, which was further explored for correlation with patient clinical characteristics. ATR-specific siRNA and the ATR inhibitor VE-822 were applied to determine the effect of ATR inhibition on liposarcoma cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic activity. Migration activity and clonogenicity were examined using wound healing and clonogenic assays. ATR (p-ATR) was overexpressed in 88.1% of the liposarcoma specimens and correlated with shorter overall survival in patients. Knockdown of ATR via specific siRNA or inhibition with VE-822 suppressed liposarcoma cell growth, proliferation, migration, colony-forming ability, and spheroid growth. Importantly, ATR inhibition significantly and synergistically enhanced liposarcoma cell line chemosensitivity to doxorubicin. Our findings support ATR as critical to liposarcoma proliferation and doxorubicin resistance. Therefore, the addition of ATR inhibition to a standard doxorubicin regimen is a potential treatment strategy for liposarcoma.

Kinome-Wide siRNA Screening Identifies DYRK1B as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Simple Summary

Therapeutic target is limited for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Through kinome-wide siRNA (709 genes) screening, DYRK1B was identified as a potential gene essential for cell proliferation and mobility of TNBC cells, particularly in DYRK1B highly expressed TNBC cells. TNBC patients with high expression of DYRK1B had poor overall survival and disease-free survival. CCDC97 and ZNF581 were positively correlated with DYRK1B expression and might be involved in DYRK1B-mediated tumor malignancy in TNBC patients, providing DYRK1B as a potential theranostic target for TNBC.

Abstract

Aims: The selective molecules for targeted therapy of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are limited. Several kinases play pivotal roles in cancer development and malignancy. The study aims to determine if any kinases confer to malignancy of TNBC cells, which could serve as a theranostic target for TNBC. Methods: Kinome siRNA library was used to screen selective genes required for the proliferation of TNBC cells. The involvement of DYRK1B in cancer malignancy was evaluated with migration, invasion assays, and spheroid culture. The expression of DYRK1B was confirmed with quantitative PCR and immunoblotting. The clinical correlation of DYRK1B in TNBC patients was examined with tissue microarray and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Results: Our results showed that silencing DYRK1B significantly suppressed cell viability in DYRK1B-high expressed TNBC cells, likely by arresting the cell cycle at the G₁ phase. Nevertheless, silencing DYRK1B had marginal effects on DYRK1B-low expressed TNBC cells. Similarly, the knockdown of DYRK1B decreased tumorsphere formation and increased cell death of the tumorsphere. Moreover, inactivation of DYRK1B by either specific inhibitor or ectopic expressing catalytic mutant of DYRK1B inhibited cell viability and metastatic characteristics, including migration and invasion. In addition, DYRK1B protein expression was elevated in tumor tissues compared to that in adjacent normal tissues of TNBC patients. Further, DYRK1B gene expression was highly correlated with CCDC97 or ZNF581 genes in TNBC cells and patients. High co-expression of DYRK1B with CCDC97 or ZNF581 was significantly associated with unfavorable overall survival and disease-free survival of TNBC patients. Conclusions: our results suggest DYRK1B might be essential for promoting tumor progression and could be a theranostic target for TNBC. Silencing or inactivation of DYRK1B might be a potential targeted therapy for TNBC.

Study of DYRK1B gene expression and its association with metabolic syndrome in a small cohort of Egyptians

BACKGROUND

A cluster of many risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease is used to describe the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Moreover, genetic differences associated with metabolic syndrome play a key role in its prevalence and side effects. This study aims to investigate the expression of DYRK1B and its association with metabolic syndrome in a small cohort of Egyptian.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 100 adult Egyptians (50 with MetS and 50 healthy control subjects) were included to this study. Clinical, biochemical and anthropometric analysis were assessed. Relative gene expressions of DYRK1B were compared between two groups of subjects using real time PCR.

RESULTS

We observed marked overexpression in DYRK1B (p < 0.05) in MetS subjects when compared with the healthy control subjects.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to provide evidence that DYRK1B is highly expressed among the MetS subjects.

Dual-Specificity, Tyrosine Phosphorylation-Regulated Kinases (DYRKs) and cdc2-Like Kinases (CLKs) in Human Disease, an Overview

Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinases (DYRK1A, 1B, 2-4) and cdc2-like kinases (CLK1-4) belong to the CMGC group of serine/threonine kinases. These protein kinases are involved in multiple cellular functions, including intracellular signaling, mRNA splicing, chromatin transcription, DNA damage repair, cell survival, cell cycle control, differentiation, homocysteine/methionine/folate regulation, body temperature regulation, endocytosis, neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, etc. Abnormal expression and/or activity of some of these kinases, DYRK1A in particular, is seen in many human nervous system diseases, such as cognitive deficits associated with Down syndrome, Alzheimer's disease and related diseases, tauopathies, dementia, Pick's disease, Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, autism, and CDKL5 deficiency disorder. DYRKs and CLKs are also involved in diabetes, abnormal folate/methionine metabolism, osteoarthritis, several solid cancers (glioblastoma, breast, and pancreatic cancers) and leukemias (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute megakaryoblastic leukemia), viral infections (influenza, HIV-1, HCMV, HCV, CMV, HPV), as well as infections caused by unicellular parasites (Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium). This variety of pathological implications calls for (1) a better understanding of the regulations and substrates of DYRKs and CLKs and (2) the development of potent and selective inhibitors of these kinases and their evaluation as therapeutic drugs. This article briefly reviews the current knowledge about DYRK/CLK kinases and their implications in human disease.

Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway in gynecological and genitourinary cancer (Review)

Cancers of the urinary tract, as well as those of the female and male reproductive systems, account for a large percentage of malignancies worldwide. Mortality is frequently affected by late diagnosis or therapeutic difficulties. The Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway is an evolutionary conserved molecular cascade, which is mainly associated with the development of the central nervous system in fetal life. The present review aimed to provide an in‑depth summary of the SHH signaling pathway, including the characterization of its major components, the mechanism of its upstream regulation and non‑canonical activation, as well as its interactions with other cellular pathways. In addition, the three possible mechanisms of the cellular SHH cascade in cancer tissue are discussed. The aim of the present review was to summarize significant findings with regards to the expression of the SHH pathway components in kidney, bladder, ovarian, cervical and prostate cancer. Reports associated with common deficits and de‑regulations of the SHH pathway were summarized, despite the differences in molecular and histological patterns among these malignancies. However, currently, neither are SHH pathway elements included in panels of prognostic/therapeutic molecular patterns in any of the discussed cancers, nor have the drugs targeting SMO or GLIs been approved for therapy. The findings of the present review may support future studies on the treatment of and/or molecular targets for gynecological and genitourinary cancers.

TROAP switches DYRK1 activity to drive hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common malignancy and lacks effective therapeutic targets. Here, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of trophinin-associated protein (TROAP) dramatically drove HCC cell growth assessed by foci formation in monolayer culture, colony formation in soft agar and orthotopic liver transplantation in nude mice. Inversely, silencing TROAP expression with short-hairpin RNA attenuated the malignant proliferation of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Next, mechanistic investigation revealed that TROAP directly bound to dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A/B (DYRK1A/B), resulting in the cytoplasmic retention of proteins DYRK1A/B and promoting cell cycle process via activation of Akt/GSK-3β signaling. Combination of cisplatin with an inhibitor of DYRK1 AZ191 effectively inhibited tumor growth in mouse model for HCC cells with high level of TROAP. Clinically, TROAP was significantly upregulated by miR-142-5p in HCC tissues, which predicted the poor survival of patients with HCC. Therefore, TROAP/DYRK1/Akt axis may be a promising therapeutic target and prognostic indicator for patients with HCC.

Minibrain-related kinase/dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase 1B implication in stem/cancer stem cells biology

Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1B (DYRK1B), also known as minibrain-related kinase (MIRK) is one of the best functionally studied members of the DYRK kinase family. DYRKs comprise a family of protein kinases that are emerging modulators of signal transduction pathways, cell proliferation and differentiation, survival, and cell motility. DYRKs were found to participate in several signaling pathways critical for development and cell homeostasis. In this review, we focus on the DYRK1B protein kinase from a functional point of view concerning the signaling pathways through which DYRK1B exerts its cell type-dependent function in a positive or negative manner, in development and human diseases. In particular, we focus on the physiological role of DYRK1B in behavior of stem cells in myogenesis, adipogenesis, spermatogenesis and neurogenesis, as well as in its pathological implication in cancer and metabolic syndrome. Thus, understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate signaling pathways is of high importance. Recent studies have identified a close regulatory connection between DYRK1B and the hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway. Here, we aim to bring together what is known about the functional integration and cross-talk between DYRK1B and several signaling pathways, such as HH, RAS and PI3K/mTOR/AKT, as well as how this might affect cellular and molecular processes in development, physiology, and pathology. Thus, this review summarizes the major known functions of DYRK1B kinase, as well as the mechanisms by which DYRK1B exerts its functions in development and human diseases focusing on the homeostasis of stem and cancer stem cells.

The DYRK Family of Kinases in Cancer: Molecular Functions and Therapeutic Opportunities

DYRK (dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinases) are an evolutionary conserved family of protein kinases with members from yeast to humans. In humans, DYRKs are pleiotropic factors that phosphorylate a broad set of proteins involved in many different cellular processes. These include factors that have been associated with all the hallmarks of cancer, from genomic instability to increased proliferation and resistance, programmed cell death, or signaling pathways whose dysfunction is relevant to tumor onset and progression. In accordance with an involvement of DYRK kinases in the regulation of tumorigenic processes, an increasing number of research studies have been published in recent years showing either alterations of DYRK gene expression in tumor samples and/or providing evidence of DYRK-dependent mechanisms that contribute to tumor initiation and/or progression. In the present article, we will review the current understanding of the role of DYRK family members in cancer initiation and progression, providing an overview of the small molecules that act as DYRK inhibitors and discussing the clinical implications and therapeutic opportunities currently available.