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Zhu W, Liu C, Xi K, Li A, Shen LA, Li Y, Jia M, He Y, Chen G, Liu C, Chen Y, Chen K, Sun F, Zhang D, Duan C, Wang H, Wang D, Zhao Y, Meng X, Zhu D. Discovery of Novel 1-Phenylpiperidine Urea-Containing Derivatives Inhibiting β-Catenin/BCL9 Interaction and Exerting Antitumor Efficacy through the Activation of Antigen Presentation of cDC1 Cells. J Med Chem 2024; 67:12485-12520. [PMID: 38912577 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling is associated with tumor development, and blocking β-catenin/BCL9 is a novel strategy for oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Herein, we presented two novel β-catenin variations and exposed conformational dynamics in several β-catenin crystal structures at the BCL9 binding site. Furthermore, we identified a class of novel urea-containing compounds targeting β-catenin/BCL9 interaction. Notably, the binding modalities of inhibitors were greatly affected by the conformational dynamics of β-catenin. Among them, 28 had a strong affinity for β-catenin (Kd = 82 nM), the most potent inhibitor reported. In addition, 13 and 35 not only activate T cells but also promote the antigen presentation of cDC1, showing robust antitumor efficacy in the CT26 model. Collectively, our study demonstrated a series of potent small-molecule inhibitors targeting β-catenin/BCL9, which can enhance antigen presentation and activate cDC1 cells, delivering a potential strategy for boosting innate and adaptive immunity to overcome immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Zhu
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Cuiting Liu
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Kang Xi
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Anqi Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Li-An Shen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yana Li
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Miaomiao Jia
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Yangbo He
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Chenglong Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yangqiang Chen
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Fan Sun
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Daizhou Zhang
- Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science, Jinan 250101, China
| | - Chonggang Duan
- Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science, Jinan 250101, China
| | - Heng Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | | | - Yujun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and Small-Molecule Drug Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd., Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiangjing Meng
- Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science, Jinan 250101, China
| | - Di Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 201210, China
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Xu Y, Wei Z, Feng M, Zhu D, Mei S, Wu Z, Feng Q, Chang W, Ji M, Liu C, Zhu Y, Shen L, Yang F, Chen Y, Feng Y, Xu J, Zhu D. Tumor-infiltrated activated B cells suppress liver metastasis of colorectal cancers. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111295. [PMID: 36044847 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 40% of patients with late-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) develop liver metastasis (LM). Which immune cells play important roles in CRC-LM and contribute to the difference between left-sided CRC (LCC) and right-sided CRC (RCC) remain unclear. By single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we not only find that activated B cells are significantly depleted in CRC with LM, but also find a subtype of B cells developed from activated B cells, namely immature plasma cell population alpha (iMPA), highly correlated with metastasis. Mechanistically, inhibition of the Wnt and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) pathways in cancer cell promotes activated B cell migration via the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis. This study reveals that B cell subpopulations in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) play a key role in CRC-LM as well as in LCC and RCC. The preventive effects of modulating B cell subpopulations in CRC may provide a rationale for subsequent drug development and CRC-LM management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqiu Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhuang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Mei Feng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dexiang Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shenglin Mei
- Clinical Translational Research Center, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhongen Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qingyang Feng
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wenju Chang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Meiling Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chenglong Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lian Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Fan Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yijiao Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuxiong Feng
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jianmin Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Di Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Wei Z, Yang M, Feng M, Wu Z, Rosin-Arbesfeld R, Dong J, Zhu D. Inhibition of BCL9 Modulates the Cellular Landscape of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment of Colorectal Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:713331. [PMID: 34566638 PMCID: PMC8461101 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.713331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are an indispensable part of the tumor microenvironment (TME), and they likely play a negative rather than positive role in cancer treatment. However, the cellular landscape and transcriptional profile regulation of TAMs in the case of tumor gene inactivation or chemical interference remains unclear. The B-cell lymphoma 9/B-cell lymphoma 9-like (BCL9/BCL9L) is a critical transcription co-factor of β-catenin. Suppression of Bcl9 inhibits tumor growth in mouse models of colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we studied the TAMs of CRC by single-cell sequencing. Bcl9 depletion caused macrophage polarization inhibition from M0 to M2 and changed the CRC TME, which further interferes with the inflammation of M0 and M1. The transcription factor regulating these processes may be related to the Wnt signaling pathway from multiple levels. Furthermore, we also found that the cells delineated from monocyte to NK-like non-functioning cells were significantly different in the BCL9-deprived population. Combining these data, we proposed a TAM-to-NK score to evaluate the dynamic balance in TME of monocyte/TAM cells and NK-like non-functioning cells in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) clinical samples to verify the clinical significance. We demonstrated that the cell type balance and transcription differences of TAMs regulated by BCL9-driven Wnt signaling affected immune surveillance and inflammation of cancer, ultimately affecting patients' prognosis. We thereby highlighted the potential of targeting Wnt signaling pathway through cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengxuan Yang
- Minhang Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei Feng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongen Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rina Rosin-Arbesfeld
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Jibin Dong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, School of Pharmacy, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of ImmunoTherapeutics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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