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Li G, Ma L, Feng C, Yin H, Bao J, Wu D, Zhang Z, Li X, Li Z, Yang C, Wang H, Fang F, Hu X, Li M, Xu L, Xu Y, Liang H, Yang T, Wang J, Pan J. MZ1, a BRD4 inhibitor, exerted its anti-cancer effects by suppressing SDC1 in glioblastoma. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:220. [PMID: 38365636 PMCID: PMC10870565 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-11966-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is a relatively prevalent primary tumor of the central nervous system in children, characterized by its high malignancy and mortality rates, along with the intricate challenges of achieving complete surgical resection. Recently, an increasing number of studies have focused on the crucial role of super-enhancers (SEs) in the occurrence and development of GBM. This study embarks on the task of evaluating the effectiveness of MZ1, an inhibitor of BRD4 meticulously designed to specifically target SEs, within the intricate framework of GBM. METHODS The clinical data of GBM patients was sourced from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2), and the gene expression data of tumor cell lines was derived from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). The impact of MZ1 on GBM was assessed through CCK-8, colony formation assays, EdU incorporation analysis, flow cytometry, and xenograft mouse models. The underlying mechanism was investigated through RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses. RESULTS In this investigation, we made a noteworthy observation that MZ1 exhibited a substantial reduction in the proliferation of GBM cells by effectively degrading BRD4. Additionally, MZ1 displayed a notable capability in inducing significant cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in GBM cells. These findings were in line with our in vitro outcomes. Notably, MZ1 administration resulted in a remarkable decrease in tumor size within the xenograft model with diminished toxicity. Furthermore, on a mechanistic level, the administration of MZ1 resulted in a significant suppression of pivotal genes closely associated with cell cycle regulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Interestingly, our analysis of RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data unveiled the discovery of a novel prospective oncogene, SDC1, which assumed a pivotal role in the tumorigenesis and progression of GBM. CONCLUSION In summary, our findings revealed that MZ1 effectively disrupted the aberrant transcriptional regulation of oncogenes in GBM by degradation of BRD4. This positions MZ1 as a promising candidate in the realm of therapeutic options for GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gen Li
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Liya Ma
- College of Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, P.R. China
| | - Chenxi Feng
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Hongli Yin
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Jianping Bao
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Di Wu
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Zimu Zhang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolu Li
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Zhiheng Li
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Chun Yang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Hairong Wang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Fang Fang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohan Hu
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Mei Li
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Lixiao Xu
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Yunyun Xu
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China
| | - Hansi Liang
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, P.R. China
| | - Tianquan Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China.
| | - Jianwei Wang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China.
| | - Jian Pan
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, P.R. China.
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Ren J. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 inhibition improves the efficacy of cisplatin and radiotherapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma by suppressing programmed cell death-ligand 1 expression. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2024; 134:272-283. [PMID: 38014458 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is highly expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and plays a crucial role in tumour progression. However, the impact of BRD4 on the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy by regulating the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in OSCC remains unclear. In this study, we found that the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 effectively enhanced the inhibitory effects of cisplatin and radiotherapy on cell proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of OSCC cells by cisplatin and radiotherapy. Furthermore, treatment with JQ1 reversed the increase of the expression of PD-L1 by cisplatin and radiotherapy, whereas the overexpression of PD-L1 partially countered the beneficial effects of JQ1 on the anticancer efficacy of cisplatin and radiotherapy. These results demonstrate that the inhibition of BRD4 improves the anticancer effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy by suppressing the expression of PD-L1 in OSCC, suggesting that targeting BRD4 could be a promising therapeutic approach for chemo/radioresistant OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Ren
- Department of Stomatology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Liu YS, Wang JX, Jin GY, Hu MH, Wang XD. Combination Therapy with a TLR7 Agonist and a BRD4 Inhibitor Suppresses Tumor Growth via Enhanced Immunomodulation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:663. [PMID: 38203835 PMCID: PMC10779224 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
JQ-1 is a typical BRD4 inhibitor with the ability to directly fight tumor cells and evoke antitumor immunity via reducing the expression of PD-L1. However, problems arise with the development of JQ-1 in clinical trials, such as marked lymphoid and hematopoietic toxicity, leading to the investigation of combination therapy. SZU-101 is a TLR7 agonist designed and synthesized by our group with potent immunostimulatory activity. Therefore, we hypothesized that combination therapy of SZU-101 and JQ-1 would target innate immunity and adaptive immunity simultaneously, to achieve a better antitumor efficacy than monotherapy. In this study, the repressive effects of the combination administration on tumor growth and metastasis were demonstrated in both murine breast cancer and melanoma models. In 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, i.t. treatment with SZU-101 in combination with i.p. treatment with JQ-1 suppressed the growth of tumors at both injected and uninjected sites. Combination therapy increased M1/M2 ratio in TAMs, decreased PD-L1 expression and promoted the recruitment of activated CD8+ T cells in the TME. In summary, the improved therapeutic efficacy of the novel combination therapy appears to be feasible for the treatment of a diversity of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ming-Hao Hu
- Nation-Regional Engineering Lab for Synthetic Biology of Medicine, International Cancer Center, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518060, China; (Y.-S.L.); (J.-X.W.); (G.-Y.J.)
| | - Xiao-Dong Wang
- Nation-Regional Engineering Lab for Synthetic Biology of Medicine, International Cancer Center, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518060, China; (Y.-S.L.); (J.-X.W.); (G.-Y.J.)
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Kuang Z, Guo K, Cao Y, Jiang M, Wang C, Wu Q, Hu G, Ao M, Huang M, Qin J, Zhao T, Lu S, Sun C, Li M, Wu T, Liu W, Fang M. The novel CDK9 inhibitor, XPW1, alone and in combination with BRD4 inhibitor JQ1, for the treatment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:1915-1929. [PMID: 37884683 PMCID: PMC10703862 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02464-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a highly lethal malignancy with few therapeutic options. Cyclin‑dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), a potential therapeutic target of many cancers, has been recently observed to be upregulated in ccRCC patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of CDK9 in ccRCC and develop a novel CDK9 inhibitor with low toxicity for ccRCC treatment. METHODS The expression of CDK9 in ccRCC was checked using the online database and tissue microarray analysis. shRNA-mediated CDK9 knockdown and CDK inhibitor were applied to evaluate the effect of CDK9 on ccRCC. Medicinal chemistry methods were used to develop a new CDK9 inhibitor with drugability. RNA-seq and ChIP-seq experiments were conducted to explore the mechanism of action. MTS, western blotting, and colony formation assays were performed to evaluate the anti-ccRCC effects of CDK9 knockdown and inhibition in vitro. The in vivo anti-tumour efficacy was evaluated in a xenograft model. RESULTS CDK9 is overexpressed and associated with poor survival in ccRCC. Knockdown or inhibition of CDK9 significantly suppressed ccRCC cells. XPW1 was identified as a new potent and selective CDK9 inhibitor with excellent anti-ccRCC activity and low toxicity. In mechanism, XPW1 transcriptionally inhibited DNA repair programmes in ccRCC cells, resulting in an excellent anti-tumour effect. CDK9 and BRD4 were two highly correlated transcriptional regulators in ccRCC patients, and the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 enhanced XPW1's anti-ccRCC effects in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS This work provides valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of CDK9 in ccRCC. The CDK9 inhibitor XPW1 would be a novel therapeutic agent for targeting ccRCC, alone or in rational combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijian Kuang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Kaiqiang Guo
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
- College of Arts, Sichuan University, 610207, Chengdu, China
| | - Yin Cao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Mengxue Jiang
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Chaojie Wang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
- Jiangxi Cancer Hospital (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical Colloge), 519 East Beijing Rd, 330029, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qiaoqiong Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Guosheng Hu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Mingtao Ao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Mingfeng Huang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Jingbo Qin
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Taige Zhao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Sheng Lu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Cuiling Sun
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Mingyu Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Tong Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China.
| | - Wen Liu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China.
| | - Meijuan Fang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China.
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Lee H, Nam J, Jang H, Park YS, Son MH, Lee IH, Eyun SI, Jeon J, Yang S. Novel molecule BBC0901 inhibits BRD4 and acts as a catabolic regulator in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 166:115426. [PMID: 37666177 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is induced by matrix degradation and inflammation mediated by bromo-domain-containing protein 4 (BRD4)-dependent catabolic factors. BRD4 acts as both a transcriptional regulator and an epigenetic reader. BBC0901 was identified as an inhibitor of BRD4 using a DNA-encoded library screening system. We aimed to demonstrate the effects of BBC0901 on OA pathogenesis by in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo analyses. BBC0901 inhibited the expression of catabolic factors that degrade cartilage without significantly affecting the viability of mouse articular chondrocytes. Additionally, ex vivo experiments under conditions mimicking OA showed that BBC0901 suppressed extracellular matrix degradation. RNA sequencing analysis of gene expression patterns showed that BBC0901 inhibited the expression of catabolic factors, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cyclooxygenase (COX)2, along with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Furthermore, intra-articular (IA) injection of BBC0901 into the knee joint blocked osteoarthritic cartilage destruction by inhibition of MMP3, MMP13, COX2, interleukin (IL)6, and ROS production, thereby obstructing the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell and mitogen activated protein kinase signaling. In conclusion, BBC0901-mediated BRD4 inhibition prevented OA development by attenuating catabolic signaling and hence, can be considered a promising IA therapeutic for OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyemi Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jiho Nam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hahyeong Jang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Young-Sik Park
- Benobio Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do 13494, Republic of Korea.
| | - Min-Hee Son
- Benobio Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do 13494, Republic of Korea.
| | - In-Hyun Lee
- Benobio Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do 13494, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seong-Il Eyun
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jimin Jeon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Siyoung Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
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Cochran AG, Flynn M. GNE-235: A Lead Compound Selective for the Second Bromodomain of PBRM1. J Med Chem 2023; 66:13116-13134. [PMID: 37702400 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Bromodomains are acetyl-lysine binding modules that are found in different classes of chromatin-interacting proteins. Among these are large chromatin remodeling complexes such as BAF and PBAF (variants of human SWI/SNF). Previous work has identified chemical probes targeting a subset of the bromodomains present in the BAF and PBAF complexes. Selective inhibitors of the individual bromodomains have proven challenging to discover, as the domains are highly similar. Here, elaboration of an aminopyridazine scaffold used previously to develop probes for the bromodomains of SMARCA2, SMARCA4, and the fifth bromodomain of PBRM1 yielded compounds with both potency and unusual selectivity for the second bromodomain of PBRM1. One of these, GNE-235, and its enantiomer control GNE-234 are suggested for initial cellular investigations of the function of the second bromodomain of PBRM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G Cochran
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Megan Flynn
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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