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Pillai M, Lafortune P, Dabo A, Yu H, Park SS, Taluru H, Ahmed H, Bobrow D, Sattar Z, Jundi B, Reece J, Ortega RR, Soto B, Yewedalsew S, Foronjy R, Wyman A, Geraghty P, Ohlmeyer M. Small-Molecule Activation of Protein Phosphatase 2A Counters Bleomycin-Induced Fibrosis in Mice. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:1659-1672. [PMID: 37974628 PMCID: PMC10644462 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00117] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a serine-threonine phosphatase, is reduced in the lung fibroblasts of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. The objective of this study was to determine whether the reactivation of PP2A could reduce fibrosis and preserve the pulmonary function in a bleomycin (BLM) mouse model. Here, we present a new class of direct small-molecule PP2A activators, diarylmethyl-pyran-sulfonamide, exemplified by ATUX-1215. ATUX-1215 has improved metabolic stability and bioavailability compared to our previously described PP2A activators. Primary human lung fibroblasts were exposed to ATUX-1215 and an older generation PP2A activator in combination with TGFβ. ATUX-1215 treatment enhanced the PP2A activity, reduced the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, and reduced the TGFβ-induced expression of ACTA2, FN1, COL1A1, and COL3A1. C57BL/6J mice were administered 5 mg/kg ATUX-1215 daily following intratracheal instillation of BLM. Three weeks later, forced oscillation and expiratory measurements were performed using the Scireq Flexivent System. ATUX-1215 prevented BLM-induced lung physiology changes, including the preservation of normal PV loop, compliance, tissue elastance, and forced vital capacity. PP2A activity was enhanced with ATUX-1215 and reduced collagen deposition within the lungs. ATUX-1215 also prevented the BLM induction of Acta2, Ccn2, and Fn1 gene expression. Treatment with ATUX-1215 reduced the phosphorylation of ERK, p38, JNK, and Akt and the secretion of IL-12p70, GM-CSF, and IL1α in BLM-treated animals. Delayed treatment with ATUX-1215 was also observed to slow the progression of lung fibrosis. In conclusion, our study indicates that the decrease in PP2A activity, which occurs in fibroblasts from the lungs of IPF subjects, could be restored with ATUX-1215 administration as an antifibrotic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meshach Pillai
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Pascale Lafortune
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Abdoulaye Dabo
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Howard Yu
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Sangmi S. Park
- Department
of Cell Biology, The State University of
New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Harsha Taluru
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Huma Ahmed
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Dylan Bobrow
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Zeeshan Sattar
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Bakr Jundi
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Joshua Reece
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Romy Rodriguez Ortega
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Brian Soto
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Selome Yewedalsew
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Robert Foronjy
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Anne Wyman
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Patrick Geraghty
- Department
of Medicine, The State University of New
York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
- Department
of Cell Biology, The State University of
New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
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Soto B, Ahmed H, Pillai M, Park SS, Ploszaj M, Reece J, Taluru H, Bobrow D, Yu H, Lafortune P, Jundi B, Costanzo L, Dabo AJ, Foronjy RF, Mueller C, Ohlmeyer M, Geraghty P. Evaluating Novel Protein Phosphatase 2A Activators as Therapeutics for Emphysema. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2023; 69:533-544. [PMID: 37526463 PMCID: PMC10633843 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2023-0105oc] [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: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The activity of PP2A (protein phosphatase 2A), a serine-threonine phosphatase, is reduced by chronic cigarette smoke (SM) exposure and α-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, and chemical activation of PP2A reduces the loss of lung function in SM-exposed mice. However, the previously studied PP2A-activator tricyclic sulfonamide compound DBK-1154 has low stability to oxidative metabolism, resulting in fast clearance and low systemic exposure. Here we compare the utility of a new more stable PP2A activator, ATUX-792, versus DBK-1154 for the treatment of SM-induced emphysema. ATUX-792 was also tested in human bronchial epithelial cells and a mouse model of AAT deficiency, Serpina1a-e-knockout mice. Human bronchial epithelial cells were treated with ATUX-792 or DBK-1154, and cell viability, PP2A activity, and MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase phosphorylation status were examined. Wild-type mice received vehicle, DBK-1154, or ATUX-792 orally in the last 2 months of 4 months of SM exposure, and 8-month-old Serpina1a-e-knockout mice received ATUX-792 daily for 4 months. Forced oscillation and expiratory measurements and histology analysis were performed. Treatment with ATUX-792 or DBK-1154 resulted in PP2A activation, reduced MAP kinase phosphorylation, immune cell infiltration, reduced airspace enlargements, and preserved lung function. Using protein arrays and multiplex assays, PP2A activation was observed to reduce AAT-deficient and SM-induced release of CXCL5, CCL17, and CXCL16 into the airways, which coincided with reduced neutrophil lung infiltration. Our study indicates that suppression of the PP2A activity in two models of emphysema could be restored by next-generation PP2A activators to impact lung function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sangmi S. Park
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Abdoulaye J. Dabo
- Department of Medicine and
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Robert F. Foronjy
- Department of Medicine and
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Christian Mueller
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
- Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Grafton, Massachusetts; and
| | | | - Patrick Geraghty
- Department of Medicine and
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York
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3
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Denisova OV, Merisaari J, Huhtaniemi R, Qiao X, Yetukuri L, Jumppanen M, Kaur A, Pääkkönen M, von Schantz‐Fant С, Ohlmeyer M, Wennerberg K, Kauko O, Koch R, Aittokallio T, Taipale M, Westermarck J. PP2A-based triple-strike therapy overcomes mitochondrial apoptosis resistance in brain cancer cells. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:1803-1820. [PMID: 37458534 PMCID: PMC10483611 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial glycolysis and hyperactivity of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (AKT) pathway are hallmarks of malignant brain tumors. However, kinase inhibitors targeting AKT (AKTi) or the glycolysis master regulator pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDKi) have failed to provide clinical benefits for brain tumor patients. Here, we demonstrate that heterogeneous glioblastoma (GB) and medulloblastoma (MB) cell lines display only cytostatic responses to combined AKT and PDK targeting. Biochemically, the combined AKT and PDK inhibition resulted in the shutdown of both target pathways and priming to mitochondrial apoptosis but failed to induce apoptosis. In contrast, all tested brain tumor cell models were sensitive to a triplet therapy, in which AKT and PDK inhibition was combined with the pharmacological reactivation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) by NZ-8-061 (also known as DT-061), DBK-1154, and DBK-1160. We also provide proof-of-principle evidence for in vivo efficacy in the intracranial GB and MB models by the brain-penetrant triplet therapy (AKTi + PDKi + PP2A reactivator). Mechanistically, PP2A reactivation converted the cytostatic AKTi + PDKi response to cytotoxic apoptosis, through PP2A-elicited shutdown of compensatory mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and by increased proton leakage. These results encourage the development of triple-strike strategies targeting mitochondrial metabolism to overcome therapy tolerance in brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oxana V. Denisova
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | - Joni Merisaari
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
- Institute of BiomedicineUniversity of TurkuFinland
| | - Riikka Huhtaniemi
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | - Xi Qiao
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | - Laxman Yetukuri
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
- Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE)University of OsloNorway
| | - Mikael Jumppanen
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | - Amanpreet Kaur
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | - Mirva Pääkkönen
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | | | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNYUSA
- Atux Iskay LLCPlainsboroNJUSA
| | - Krister Wennerberg
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
- Biotech Research & Innovation CentreUniversity of CopenhagenDenmark
| | - Otto Kauko
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | | | - Tero Aittokallio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
- Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE)University of OsloNorway
- Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalNorway
| | - Mikko Taipale
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular ResearchUniversity of TorontoCanada
| | - Jukka Westermarck
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
- Institute of BiomedicineUniversity of TurkuFinland
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Yu H, Zaveri S, Sattar Z, Schaible M, Perez Gandara B, Uddin A, McGarvey LR, Ohlmeyer M, Geraghty P. Protein Phosphatase 2A as a Therapeutic Target in Pulmonary Diseases. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:1552. [PMID: 37763671 PMCID: PMC10535831 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59091552] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
New disease targets and medicinal chemistry approaches are urgently needed to develop novel therapeutic strategies for treating pulmonary diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that reduced activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a complex heterotrimeric enzyme that regulates dephosphorylation of serine and threonine residues from many proteins, is observed in multiple pulmonary diseases, including lung cancer, smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, asthma, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Loss of PP2A responses is linked to many mechanisms associated with disease progressions, such as senescence, proliferation, inflammation, corticosteroid resistance, enhanced protease responses, and mRNA stability. Therefore, chemical restoration of PP2A may represent a novel treatment for these diseases. This review outlines the potential impact of reduced PP2A activity in pulmonary diseases, endogenous and exogenous inhibitors of PP2A, details the possible PP2A-dependent mechanisms observed in these conditions, and outlines potential therapeutic strategies for treatment. Substantial medicinal chemistry efforts are underway to develop therapeutics targeting PP2A activity. The development of specific activators of PP2A that selectively target PP2A holoenzymes could improve our understanding of the function of PP2A in pulmonary diseases. This may lead to the development of therapeutics for restoring normal PP2A responses within the lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard Yu
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (H.Y.); (S.Z.); (Z.S.); (M.S.); (B.P.G.); (A.U.); (L.R.M.)
| | - Sahil Zaveri
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (H.Y.); (S.Z.); (Z.S.); (M.S.); (B.P.G.); (A.U.); (L.R.M.)
| | - Zeeshan Sattar
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (H.Y.); (S.Z.); (Z.S.); (M.S.); (B.P.G.); (A.U.); (L.R.M.)
| | - Michael Schaible
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (H.Y.); (S.Z.); (Z.S.); (M.S.); (B.P.G.); (A.U.); (L.R.M.)
| | - Brais Perez Gandara
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (H.Y.); (S.Z.); (Z.S.); (M.S.); (B.P.G.); (A.U.); (L.R.M.)
| | - Anwar Uddin
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (H.Y.); (S.Z.); (Z.S.); (M.S.); (B.P.G.); (A.U.); (L.R.M.)
| | - Lucas R. McGarvey
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (H.Y.); (S.Z.); (Z.S.); (M.S.); (B.P.G.); (A.U.); (L.R.M.)
| | | | - Patrick Geraghty
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (H.Y.); (S.Z.); (Z.S.); (M.S.); (B.P.G.); (A.U.); (L.R.M.)
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Beierle A, Quinn CH, Markert HR, Carr A, Marayati R, Bownes LV, Hutchins SC, Stewart JE, Hill B, Ohlmeyer M, Reuel NF, Beierle EA. Rapid Characterization of Solid Tumors Using Resonant Sensors. ACS Omega 2022; 7:32690-32700. [PMID: 36119978 PMCID: PMC9476530 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cancer continues to be a significant cause of non-traumatic pediatric mortality. Diagnosis of pediatric solid tumors is paramount to prescribing the correct treatment regimen. Recent efforts have focused on non-invasive methods to obtain tumor tissues, but one of the challenges encountered is the ability to obtain an adequate amount of viable tissue. In this study, a wireless, inductor-capacitor (LC) sensor was employed to detect relative permittivity of pediatric tumor tissues. There is a comparison of resonant frequencies of tumor tissues between live versus dead tissues, the primary tumor tissue versus tissue from the organs of origin or metastasis, and treated versus untreated tumors. The results show significant shifts in resonant frequencies between the comparison groups. Dead tissues demonstrated a significant shift in resonant frequencies compared to alive tissues. There were significant differences between the resonant frequencies of normal tissues versus tumor tissues. Resonant frequencies were also significantly different between primary tumors compared to their respective metastases. These data indicate that there are potential clinical applications of LC technology in the detection and diagnosis of pediatric solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andee
M. Beierle
- Department
of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama
at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
| | - Colin H. Quinn
- Division
of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
| | - Hooper R. Markert
- Division
of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
| | - Adam Carr
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50111, United States
| | - Raoud Marayati
- Division
of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
| | - Laura V. Bownes
- Division
of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
| | - Sara Claire Hutchins
- Division
of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
| | - Jerry E. Stewart
- Division
of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
| | - Benjamin Hill
- Division
of Pathology, Children’s Hospital
of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United
States
| | | | - Nigel F. Reuel
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50111, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Beierle
- Division
of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
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Bownes LV, Marayati R, Quinn CH, Beierle AM, Hutchins SC, Julson JR, Erwin MH, Stewart JE, Mroczek-Musulman E, Ohlmeyer M, Aye JM, Yoon KJ, Beierle EA. Pre-Clinical Study Evaluating Novel Protein Phosphatase 2A Activators as Therapeutics for Neuroblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1952. [PMID: 35454859 PMCID: PMC9026148 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14081952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) functions as an inhibitor of cancer cell proliferation, and its tumor suppressor function is attenuated in many cancers. Previous studies utilized FTY720, an immunomodulating compound known to activate PP2A, and demonstrated a decrease in the malignant phenotype in neuroblastoma. We wished to investigate the effects of two novel PP2A activators, ATUX-792 (792) and DBK-1154 (1154). METHODS Long-term passage neuroblastoma cell lines and human neuroblastoma patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cells were used. Cells were treated with 792 or 1154, and viability, proliferation, and motility were examined. The effect on tumor growth was investigated using a murine flank tumor model. RESULTS Treatment with 792 or 1154 resulted in PP2A activation, decreased cell survival, proliferation, and motility in neuroblastoma cells. Immunoblotting revealed a decrease in MYCN protein expression with increasing concentrations of 792 and 1154. Treatment with 792 led to tumor necrosis and decreased tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS PP2A activation with 792 or 1154 decreased survival, proliferation, and motility of neuroblastoma in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Both compounds resulted in decreased expression of the oncogenic protein MYCN. These findings indicate a potential therapeutic role for these novel PP2A activators in neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura V. Bownes
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (L.V.B.); (R.M.); (C.H.Q.); (A.M.B.); (J.R.J.); (M.H.E.); (J.E.S.)
| | - Raoud Marayati
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (L.V.B.); (R.M.); (C.H.Q.); (A.M.B.); (J.R.J.); (M.H.E.); (J.E.S.)
| | - Colin H. Quinn
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (L.V.B.); (R.M.); (C.H.Q.); (A.M.B.); (J.R.J.); (M.H.E.); (J.E.S.)
| | - Andee M. Beierle
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (L.V.B.); (R.M.); (C.H.Q.); (A.M.B.); (J.R.J.); (M.H.E.); (J.E.S.)
| | - Sara C. Hutchins
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (S.C.H.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Janet R. Julson
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (L.V.B.); (R.M.); (C.H.Q.); (A.M.B.); (J.R.J.); (M.H.E.); (J.E.S.)
| | - Michael H. Erwin
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (L.V.B.); (R.M.); (C.H.Q.); (A.M.B.); (J.R.J.); (M.H.E.); (J.E.S.)
| | - Jerry E. Stewart
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (L.V.B.); (R.M.); (C.H.Q.); (A.M.B.); (J.R.J.); (M.H.E.); (J.E.S.)
| | | | | | - Jamie M. Aye
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (S.C.H.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Karina J. Yoon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
| | - Elizabeth A. Beierle
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (L.V.B.); (R.M.); (C.H.Q.); (A.M.B.); (J.R.J.); (M.H.E.); (J.E.S.)
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Fischer FA, Mies LFM, Nizami S, Pantazi E, Danielli S, Demarco B, Ohlmeyer M, Lee MSJ, Coban C, Kagan JC, Di Daniel E, Bezbradica JS. TBK1 and IKKε act like an OFF switch to limit NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2009309118. [PMID: 34518217 PMCID: PMC8463895 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2009309118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation is beneficial during infection and vaccination but, when uncontrolled, is detrimental and contributes to inflammation-driven pathologies. Hence, discovering endogenous mechanisms that regulate NLRP3 activation is important for disease interventions. Activation of NLRP3 is regulated at the transcriptional level and by posttranslational modifications. Here, we describe a posttranslational phospho-switch that licenses NLRP3 activation in macrophages. The ON switch is controlled by the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) downstream of a variety of NLRP3 activators in vitro and in lipopolysaccharide-induced peritonitis in vivo. The OFF switch is regulated by two closely related kinases, TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and I-kappa-B kinase epsilon (IKKε). Pharmacological inhibition of TBK1 and IKKε, as well as simultaneous deletion of TBK1 and IKKε, but not of either kinase alone, increases NLRP3 activation. In addition, TBK1/IKKε inhibitors counteract the effects of PP2A inhibition on inflammasome activity. We find that, mechanistically, TBK1 interacts with NLRP3 and controls the pathway activity at a site distinct from NLRP3-serine 3, previously reported to be under PP2A control. Mutagenesis of NLRP3 confirms serine 3 as an important phospho-switch site but, surprisingly, reveals that this is not the sole site regulated by either TBK1/IKKε or PP2A, because all retain the control over the NLRP3 pathway even when serine 3 is mutated. Altogether, a model emerges whereby TLR-activated TBK1 and IKKε act like a "parking brake" for NLRP3 activation at the time of priming, while PP2A helps remove this parking brake in the presence of NLRP3 activating signals, such as bacterial pore-forming toxins or endogenous danger signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian A Fischer
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
| | - Linda F M Mies
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
| | - Sohaib Nizami
- Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom
| | - Eirini Pantazi
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Danielli
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Demarco
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Atux Iskay LLC, Plainsboro, NJ 08536
| | - Michelle Sue Jann Lee
- Division of Malaria Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Cevayir Coban
- Division of Malaria Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Jonathan C Kagan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Elena Di Daniel
- Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom;
| | - Jelena S Bezbradica
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom;
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8
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Vervoort SJ, Welsh SA, Devlin JR, Barbieri E, Knight DA, Offley S, Bjelosevic S, Costacurta M, Todorovski I, Kearney CJ, Sandow JJ, Fan Z, Blyth B, McLeod V, Vissers JHA, Pavic K, Martin BP, Gregory G, Demosthenous E, Zethoven M, Kong IY, Hawkins ED, Hogg SJ, Kelly MJ, Newbold A, Simpson KJ, Kauko O, Harvey KF, Ohlmeyer M, Westermarck J, Gray N, Gardini A, Johnstone RW. The PP2A-Integrator-CDK9 axis fine-tunes transcription and can be targeted therapeutically in cancer. Cell 2021; 184:3143-3162.e32. [PMID: 34004147 PMCID: PMC8567840 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [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: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is tightly controlled by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) at discrete checkpoints during the transcription cycle. The pausing checkpoint following transcription initiation is primarily controlled by CDK9. We discovered that CDK9-mediated, RNAPII-driven transcription is functionally opposed by a protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) complex that is recruited to transcription sites by the Integrator complex subunit INTS6. PP2A dynamically antagonizes phosphorylation of key CDK9 substrates including DSIF and RNAPII-CTD. Loss of INTS6 results in resistance to tumor cell death mediated by CDK9 inhibition, decreased turnover of CDK9 phospho-substrates, and amplification of acute oncogenic transcriptional responses. Pharmacological PP2A activation synergizes with CDK9 inhibition to kill both leukemic and solid tumor cells, providing therapeutic benefit in vivo. These data demonstrate that fine control of gene expression relies on the balance between kinase and phosphatase activity throughout the transcription cycle, a process dysregulated in cancer that can be exploited therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephin J Vervoort
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia.
| | - Sarah A Welsh
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jennifer R Devlin
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Deborah A Knight
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah Offley
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Stefan Bjelosevic
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Matteo Costacurta
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Izabela Todorovski
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Conor J Kearney
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Jarrod J Sandow
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Zheng Fan
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Benjamin Blyth
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
| | - Victoria McLeod
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
| | - Joseph H A Vissers
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; Centre for Cancer Research and Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Karolina Pavic
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku FI-20014, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland
| | - Ben P Martin
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Gareth Gregory
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton 3168, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Magnus Zethoven
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
| | - Isabella Y Kong
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Edwin D Hawkins
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Simon J Hogg
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Madison J Kelly
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrea Newbold
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Otto Kauko
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku FI-20014, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland
| | - Kieran F Harvey
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, and Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3168, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA; Atux Iskay LLC, Plainsboro, NJ 08536, USA
| | - Jukka Westermarck
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku FI-20014, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland
| | | | | | - Ricky W Johnstone
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia.
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9
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Coles GL, Cristea S, Webber JT, Levin RS, Moss SM, He A, Sangodkar J, Hwang YC, Arand J, Drainas AP, Mooney NA, Demeter J, Spradlin JN, Mauch B, Le V, Shue YT, Ko JH, Lee MC, Kong C, Nomura DK, Ohlmeyer M, Swaney DL, Krogan NJ, Jackson PK, Narla G, Gordan JD, Shokat KM, Sage J. Unbiased Proteomic Profiling Uncovers a Targetable GNAS/PKA/PP2A Axis in Small Cell Lung Cancer Stem Cells. Cancer Cell 2020; 38:129-143.e7. [PMID: 32531271 PMCID: PMC7363571 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Using unbiased kinase profiling, we identified protein kinase A (PKA) as an active kinase in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Inhibition of PKA activity genetically, or pharmacologically by activation of the PP2A phosphatase, suppresses SCLC expansion in culture and in vivo. Conversely, GNAS (G-protein α subunit), a PKA activator that is genetically activated in a small subset of human SCLC, promotes SCLC development. Phosphoproteomic analyses identified many PKA substrates and mechanisms of action. In particular, PKA activity is required for the propagation of SCLC stem cells in transplantation studies. Broad proteomic analysis of recalcitrant cancers has the potential to uncover targetable signaling networks, such as the GNAS/PKA/PP2A axis in SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garry L Coles
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sandra Cristea
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - James T Webber
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Rebecca S Levin
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Steven M Moss
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Andy He
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jaya Sangodkar
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yeonjoo C Hwang
- Department of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Julia Arand
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alexandros P Drainas
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nancie A Mooney
- Baxter Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Janos Demeter
- Baxter Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jessica N Spradlin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Brandon Mauch
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Vicky Le
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yan Ting Shue
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Julie H Ko
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Myung Chang Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Christina Kong
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Daniel K Nomura
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Atux Iskay LLC, Plainsboro, New Jersey, NJ 08536, USA
| | - Danielle L Swaney
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; David J. Gladstone Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Nevan J Krogan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; David J. Gladstone Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Peter K Jackson
- Baxter Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Goutham Narla
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - John D Gordan
- Department of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kevan M Shokat
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Julien Sage
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5457, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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10
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Wei H, Zhang HL, Wang XC, Xie JZ, An DD, Wan L, Wang JZ, Zeng Y, Shu XJ, Westermarck J, Lu YM, Ohlmeyer M, Liu R. Direct Activation of Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) by Tricyclic Sulfonamides Ameliorates Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis in Cell and Animal Models. Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:1087-1103. [PMID: 32096091 PMCID: PMC7609734 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00841-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease for which there are limited therapeutic strategies. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity is decreased in AD brains, which promotes the hyperphosphorylation of Tau and APP, thus participate in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and β-amyloid (Aβ) overproduction. In this study, the effect of synthetic tricyclic sulfonamide PP2A activators (aka SMAPs) on reducing AD-like pathogenesis was evaluated in AD cell models and AD-like hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) rat models. SMAPs effectively increased PP2A activity, and decreased tau phosphorylation and Aβ40/42 levels in AD cell models. In HHcy-AD rat models, cognitive impairments induced by HHcy were rescued by SMAP administration. HHcy-induced tau hyperphosphorylation and Aβ overproduction were ameliorated through increasing PP2A activity on compound treatment. Importantly, SMAP therapy also prevented neuronal cell spine loss and neuronal synapse impairment in the hippocampus of HHcy-AD rats. In summary, our data reveal that pharmacological PP2A reactivation may be a novel therapeutic strategy for AD treatment, and that the tricyclic sulfonamides constitute a novel candidate class of AD therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wei
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui-Liang Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Chuan Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia-Zhao Xie
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan-Dan An
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lu Wan
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Zeng
- Clinical Laboratory, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi-Ji Shu
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jukka Westermarck
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - You-Ming Lu
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Atux Iskay LLC, Plainsboro, NJ, USA.
| | - Rong Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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11
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Merisaari J, Denisova OV, Doroszko M, Le Joncour V, Johansson P, Leenders WPJ, Kastrinsky DB, Zaware N, Narla G, Laakkonen P, Nelander S, Ohlmeyer M, Westermarck J. Monotherapy efficacy of blood-brain barrier permeable small molecule reactivators of protein phosphatase 2A in glioblastoma. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa002. [PMID: 32954276 PMCID: PMC7425423 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a fatal disease in which most targeted therapies have clinically failed. However, pharmacological reactivation of tumour suppressors has not been thoroughly studied as yet as a glioblastoma therapeutic strategy. Tumour suppressor protein phosphatase 2A is inhibited by non-genetic mechanisms in glioblastoma, and thus, it would be potentially amendable for therapeutic reactivation. Here, we demonstrate that small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A, NZ-8-061 and DBK-1154, effectively cross the in vitro model of blood–brain barrier, and in vivo partition to mouse brain tissue after oral dosing. In vitro, small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A exhibit robust cell-killing activity against five established glioblastoma cell lines, and nine patient-derived primary glioma cell lines. Collectively, these cell lines have heterogeneous genetic background, kinase inhibitor resistance profile and stemness properties; and they represent different clinical glioblastoma subtypes. Moreover, small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A were found to be superior to a range of kinase inhibitors in their capacity to kill patient-derived primary glioma cells. Oral dosing of either of the small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A significantly reduced growth of infiltrative intracranial glioblastoma tumours. DBK-1154, with both higher degree of brain/blood distribution, and more potent in vitro activity against all tested glioblastoma cell lines, also significantly increased survival of mice bearing orthotopic glioblastoma xenografts. In summary, this report presents a proof-of-principle data for blood–brain barrier—permeable tumour suppressor reactivation therapy for glioblastoma cells of heterogenous molecular background. These results also provide the first indications that protein phosphatase 2A reactivation might be able to challenge the current paradigm in glioblastoma therapies which has been strongly focused on targeting specific genetically altered cancer drivers with highly specific inhibitors. Based on demonstrated role for protein phosphatase 2A inhibition in glioblastoma cell drug resistance, small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A may prove to be beneficial in future glioblastoma combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joni Merisaari
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku 20520, Finland.,Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku 20520, Finland
| | - Oxana V Denisova
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku 20520, Finland
| | - Milena Doroszko
- Department of Immunology Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 85, Sweden
| | - Vadim Le Joncour
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Patrik Johansson
- Department of Immunology Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 85, Sweden
| | - William P J Leenders
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen 6525, The Netherlands
| | - David B Kastrinsky
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
| | - Nilesh Zaware
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Goutham Narla
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5624, USA
| | - Pirjo Laakkonen
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.,Laboratory Animal Centre, Helsinki Institute of Life Science - HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Sven Nelander
- Department of Immunology Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 85, Sweden
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,Atux Iskay LLC, Plainsboro, NJ 08536, USA
| | - Jukka Westermarck
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku 20520, Finland.,Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku 20520, Finland
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12
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Nath S, Ohlmeyer M, Salathe MA, Poon J, Baumlin N, Foronjy RF, Geraghty P. Reply: Relevance of the PP2A Pathway in the Molecular Mechanisms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2019; 61:659-660. [PMID: 31674825 PMCID: PMC7195696 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2019-0116le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sridesh Nath
- State University of New York Downstate Medical CenterBrooklyn, New York
| | | | - Matthias A. Salathe
- University of MiamiMiami, Floridaand
- University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas City, Kansas
| | - Justin Poon
- State University of New York Downstate Medical CenterBrooklyn, New York
| | - Nathalie Baumlin
- University of MiamiMiami, Floridaand
- University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas City, Kansas
| | - Robert F. Foronjy
- State University of New York Downstate Medical CenterBrooklyn, New York
| | - Patrick Geraghty
- State University of New York Downstate Medical CenterBrooklyn, New York
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13
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Kauko O, O'Connor CM, Kulesskiy E, Sangodkar J, Aakula A, Izadmehr S, Yetukuri L, Yadav B, Padzik A, Laajala TD, Haapaniemi P, Momeny M, Varila T, Ohlmeyer M, Aittokallio T, Wennerberg K, Narla G, Westermarck J. PP2A inhibition is a druggable MEK inhibitor resistance mechanism in KRAS-mutant lung cancer cells. Sci Transl Med 2019; 10:10/450/eaaq1093. [PMID: 30021885 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaq1093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Kinase inhibitor resistance constitutes a major unresolved clinical challenge in cancer. Furthermore, the role of serine/threonine phosphatase deregulation as a potential cause for resistance to kinase inhibitors has not been thoroughly addressed. We characterize protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity as a global determinant of KRAS-mutant lung cancer cell resistance across a library of >200 kinase inhibitors. The results show that PP2A activity modulation alters cancer cell sensitivities to a large number of kinase inhibitors. Specifically, PP2A inhibition ablated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor response through the collateral activation of AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Combination of mTOR and MEK inhibitors induced cytotoxicity in PP2A-inhibited cells, but even this drug combination could not abrogate MYC up-regulation in PP2A-inhibited cells. Treatment with an orally bioavailable small-molecule activator of PP2A DT-061, in combination with the MEK inhibitor AZD6244, resulted in suppression of both p-AKT and MYC, as well as tumor regression in two KRAS-driven lung cancer mouse models. DT-061 therapy also abrogated MYC-driven tumorigenesis. These data demonstrate that PP2A deregulation drives MEK inhibitor resistance in KRAS-mutant cells. These results emphasize the need for better understanding of phosphatases as key modulators of cancer therapy responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Kauko
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland.,Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland.,TuBS and TuDMM Doctoral Programmes, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Caitlin M O'Connor
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7285, USA
| | - Evgeny Kulesskiy
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaya Sangodkar
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Anna Aakula
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Sudeh Izadmehr
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Laxman Yetukuri
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Bhagwan Yadav
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Artur Padzik
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Teemu Daniel Laajala
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Pekka Haapaniemi
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Majid Momeny
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Taru Varila
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Tero Aittokallio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Krister Wennerberg
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Goutham Narla
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7285, USA
| | - Jukka Westermarck
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland. .,Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
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14
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Nath S, Ohlmeyer M, Salathe MA, Poon J, Baumlin N, Foronjy RF, Geraghty P. Chronic Cigarette Smoke Exposure Subdues PP2A Activity by Enhancing Expression of the Oncogene CIP2A. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2019; 59:695-705. [PMID: 30011381 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2018-0173oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphatase activity of the major serine threonine phosphatase, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), is blunted in the airways of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which results in heightened inflammation and proteolytic responses. The objective of this study was to investigate how PP2A activity is modulated in COPD airways. PP2A activity and endogenous inhibitors of PP2A were investigated in animal and cell models of COPD. In primary human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells isolated from smokers and donors with COPD, we observed enhanced expression of cancerous inhibitor of PP2A (CIP2A), an oncoprotein encoded by the KIAA1524 gene, compared with cells from nonsmokers. CIP2A expression was induced by chronic cigarette smoke exposure in mice that coincided with a reduction in PP2A activity, airspace enlargements, and loss of lung function, as determined by PP2A phosphatase activity, mean linear intercept analysis, and forced expiratory volume in 0.05 second/forced vital capacity. Modulating CIP2A expression in HBE cells by silencing RNA or chemically with erlotinib enhanced PP2A activity, reduced extracellular-signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, and reduced the responses of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 9 in HBE cells isolated from subjects with COPD. Enhanced epithelial growth factor receptor responses in cells from subjects with COPD were observed to modulate CIP2A expression levels. Our study indicates that chronic cigarette smoke induction of epithelial growth factor receptor signaling and CIP2A expression can impair PP2A responses that are associated with loss of lung function and enhancement of proteolytic responses. Augmenting PP2A activity by manipulating CIP2A expression may represent a feasible therapeutic approach to counter smoke-induced lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sridesh Nath
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
| | | | - Matthias A Salathe
- 3 Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and.,4 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Justin Poon
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Nathalie Baumlin
- 3 Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and.,4 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Robert F Foronjy
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and.,5 Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Patrick Geraghty
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and.,5 Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
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15
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Doherty DF, Nath S, Poon J, Foronjy RF, Ohlmeyer M, Dabo AJ, Salathe M, Birrell M, Belvisi M, Baumlin N, Kim MD, Weldon S, Taggart C, Geraghty P. Protein Phosphatase 2A Reduces Cigarette Smoke-induced Cathepsin S and Loss of Lung Function. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019; 200:51-62. [PMID: 30641028 PMCID: PMC6603057 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201808-1518oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: CTSS (cathepsin S) is a cysteine protease that is observed at higher concentrations in BAL fluid and plasma of subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: To investigate whether CTSS is involved in the pathogenesis of cigarette smoke-induced COPD and determine whether targeting upstream signaling could prevent the disease. Methods: CTSS expression was investigated in animal and human tissue and cell models of COPD. Ctss-/- mice were exposed to long-term cigarette smoke and forced oscillation and expiratory measurements were recorded. Animals were administered chemical modulators of PP2A (protein phosphatase 2A) activity. Measurements and Main Results: Here we observed enhanced CTSS expression and activity in mouse lungs after exposure to cigarette smoke. Ctss-/- mice were resistant to cigarette smoke-induced inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, airspace enlargements, and loss of lung function. CTSS expression was negatively regulated by PP2A in human bronchial epithelial cells isolated from healthy nonsmokers and COPD donors and in monocyte-derived macrophages. Modulating PP2A expression or activity, with silencer siRNA or a chemical inhibitor or activator, during acute smoke exposure in mice altered inflammatory responses and CTSS expression and activity in the lung. Enhancement of PP2A activity prevented chronic smoke-induced COPD in mice. Conclusions: Our study indicates that the decrease in PP2A activity that occurs in COPD contributes to elevated CTSS expression in the lungs and results in impaired lung function. Enhancing PP2A activity represents a feasible therapeutic approach to reduce CTSS activity and counter smoke-induced lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Declan F. Doherty
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Sridesh Nath
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Justin Poon
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Robert F. Foronjy
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Atux Iskay LLC, Plainsboro, New Jersey
| | - Abdoulaye J. Dabo
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Matthias Salathe
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Mark Birrell
- Respiratory Pharmacology Group, Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; and
- Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Belvisi
- Respiratory Pharmacology Group, Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; and
- Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nathalie Baumlin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Michael D. Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Clifford Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Geraghty
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, New York
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16
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Abstract
Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a highly complex heterotrimeric enzyme that catalyzes the selective removal of phosphate groups from protein serine and threonine residues. Emerging evidence suggests that it functions as a tumor suppressor by constraining phosphorylation-dependent signalling pathways that regulate cellular transformation and metastasis. Therefore, PP2A-activating drugs (PADs) are being actively sought and investigated as potential novel anti-cancer treatments. Here we explore the concept that PP2A also constrains inflammatory responses through its inhibitory effects on various signalling pathways, suggesting that PADs may be effective in the treatment of inflammation-mediated pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Clark
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
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17
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Tohmé R, Izadmehr S, Gandhe S, Tabaro G, Vallabhaneni S, Thomas A, Vasireddi N, Dhawan NS, Ma’ayan A, Sharma N, Galsky MD, Ohlmeyer M, Sangodkar J, Narla G. Direct activation of PP2A for the treatment of tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant lung adenocarcinoma. JCI Insight 2019; 4:125693. [PMID: 30830869 PMCID: PMC6478418 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.125693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [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: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have demonstrated significant efficacy in advanced lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients with pathogenic alterations in EGFR, most patients develop acquired resistance to these agents via mechanisms enabling the sustained activation of the PI3K and MAPK oncogenic pathways downstream of EGFR. The tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) acts as a negative regulator of these pathways. We hypothesize that activation of PP2A simultaneously inhibits the PI3K and MAPK pathways and represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of TKI-resistant LUAD. After establishing the efficacy of small molecule activators of PP2A (SMAPs) in a transgenic EGFRL858R model and TKI-sensitive cell lines, we evaluated their therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo in TKI-resistant models. PP2A activation resulted in apoptosis, significant tumor growth inhibition, and downregulation of PI3K and MAPK pathways. Combination of SMAPs and TKI afatinib resulted in an enhanced effect on the downregulation of the PI3K pathway via degradation of the PP2A endogenous inhibitor CIP2A. An improved effect on tumor growth inhibition was observed in a TKI-resistant xenograft mouse model treated with a combination of both agents. These collective data support the development of PP2A activators for the treatment of TKI-resistant LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Tohmé
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sudeh Izadmehr
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute
| | - Sai Gandhe
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Giancarlo Tabaro
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sanjay Vallabhaneni
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ava Thomas
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Neal Vasireddi
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Avi Ma’ayan
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Neelesh Sharma
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Jaya Sangodkar
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Goutham Narla
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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18
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Allen-Petersen BL, Risom T, Feng Z, Wang Z, Jenny ZP, Thoma MC, Pelz KR, Morton JP, Sansom OJ, Lopez CD, Sheppard B, Christensen DJ, Ohlmeyer M, Narla G, Sears RC. Activation of PP2A and Inhibition of mTOR Synergistically Reduce MYC Signaling and Decrease Tumor Growth in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2019; 79:209-219. [PMID: 30389701 PMCID: PMC6318036 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-0717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [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: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In cancer, kinases are often activated and phosphatases suppressed, leading to aberrant activation of signaling pathways driving cellular proliferation, survival, and therapeutic resistance. Although pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has historically been refractory to kinase inhibition, therapeutic activation of phosphatases is emerging as a promising strategy to restore balance to these hyperactive signaling cascades. In this study, we hypothesized that phosphatase activation combined with kinase inhibition could deplete oncogenic survival signals to reduce tumor growth. We screened PDA cell lines for kinase inhibitors that could synergize with activation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a tumor suppressor phosphatase, and determined that activation of PP2A and inhibition of mTOR synergistically increase apoptosis and reduce oncogenic phenotypes in vitro and in vivo. This combination treatment resulted in suppression of AKT/mTOR signaling coupled with reduced expression of c-MYC, an oncoprotein implicated in tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Forced expression of c-MYC or loss of PP2A B56α, the specific PP2A subunit shown to negatively regulate c-MYC, increased resistance to mTOR inhibition. Conversely, decreased c-MYC expression increased the sensitivity of PDA cells to mTOR inhibition. Together, these studies demonstrate that combined targeting of PP2A and mTOR suppresses proliferative signaling and induces cell death and implicates this combination as a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with PDA. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings present a combinatorial strategy targeting serine/threonine protein phosphatase PP2A and mTOR in PDA, a cancer for which there are currently no targeted therapeutic options.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/79/1/209/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany L Allen-Petersen
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Tyler Risom
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Zipei Feng
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Zhiping Wang
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Zina P Jenny
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Mary C Thoma
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Katherine R Pelz
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jennifer P Morton
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Owen J Sansom
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Charles D Lopez
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Brett Sheppard
- Department of Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | | | | | - Goutham Narla
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Rosalie C Sears
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
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19
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Vincek AS, Patel J, Jaganathan A, Green A, Pierre-Louis V, Arora V, Rehmann J, Mezei M, Zhou MM, Ohlmeyer M, Mujtaba S. Inhibitor of CBP Histone Acetyltransferase Downregulates p53 Activation and Facilitates Methylation at Lysine 27 on Histone H3. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23081930. [PMID: 30072621 PMCID: PMC6222455 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23081930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor suppressor p53-directed apoptosis triggers loss of normal cells, which contributes to the side-effects from anticancer therapies. Thus, small molecules with potential to downregulate the activation of p53 could minimize pathology emerging from anticancer therapies. Acetylation of p53 by the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain is the hallmark of coactivator CREB-binding protein (CBP) epigenetic function. During genotoxic stress, CBP HAT-mediated acetylation is essential for the activation of p53 to transcriptionally govern target genes, which control cellular responses. Here, we present a small molecule, NiCur, which blocks CBP HAT activity and downregulates p53 activation upon genotoxic stress. Computational modeling reveals that NiCur docks into the active site of CBP HAT. On CDKN1A promoter, the recruitment of p53 as well as RNA Polymerase II and levels of acetylation on histone H3 were diminished by NiCur. Specifically, NiCur reduces the levels of acetylation at lysine 27 on histone H3, which concomitantly increases the levels of trimethylation at lysine 27. Finally, NiCur attenuates p53-directed apoptosis by inhibiting the Caspase 3 activity and cleavage of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in normal gastrointestinal epithelial cells. Collectively, NiCur demonstrates the potential to reprogram the chromatin landscape and modulate biological outcomes of CBP-mediated acetylation under normal and disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam S Vincek
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Jigneshkumar Patel
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Anbalagan Jaganathan
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
- One Bungtown Rd, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
| | - Antonia Green
- Department of Physical Science, St. Joseph's College, 245 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205, USA.
| | - Valerie Pierre-Louis
- Department of Physical Science, St. Joseph's College, 245 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205, USA.
| | - Vimal Arora
- Department of Biology, City University of New York, Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, NY 11225, USA.
| | - Jill Rehmann
- Department of Physical Science, St. Joseph's College, 245 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205, USA.
| | - Mihaly Mezei
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Ming-Ming Zhou
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Shiraz Mujtaba
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
- Department of Biology, City University of New York, Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, NY 11225, USA.
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20
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Tohme R, Sangodkar J, Dhawan N, Izadmeher S, Sharma N, Ohlmeyer M, Narla G. Abstract 1827: Direct activation of the tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2A as a therapeutic strategy for TKI-resistant lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-1827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Most lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients develop acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) via mechanisms enabling the sustained activation of the MAPK and PI3K oncogenic pathways downstream of the tyrosine kinase EGFR. The tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) acts as a negative regulator of these pathways. We hypothesize that activation of PP2A simultaneously inhibits the MAPK and AKT pathways and is a promising therapeutic strategy for TKI-resistant LUAD. LUAD cell lines A549, H1975, and H1650 modeling intrinsic and acquired modes of TKI-resistance were treated with Small Molecule Activator of PP2A (SMAP) developed in our lab. RNAseq canonical pathway analysis revealed that PP2A activation resulted in significant upregulation in major apoptotic cell death pathways and downregulation in growth and proliferation pathways, namely the canonical PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways. Kinase enrichment analysis followed by principal component analysis indicated that SMAP treatment induces a gene signature similar to a combination of the selective AKT and MEK inhibitors MK2206 and AZD6244, respectively. Cell-cycle arrest, caspase-dependent apoptosis, and reduced colony formation ability were observed in TKI-resistant cells. SMAP treatment caused a dephosphorylation of AKT and ERK resulting in downregulation of the AKT and MAPK pathways in H1650. A549 and H1975, with lower baseline pAKT levels, experienced a significant dephosphorylation of ERK. These results suggest that the dephosphorylation effect mediated by PP2A activation is highly dependent on the availability of the phosphatase's target. Indeed, stably overexpressing myristoylated AKT in H1975 led to a dual-pathway inhibition upon SMAP treatment. The therapeutic potential of PP2A activation in vivo was first evaluated in a transgenic EGFRL858R mouse model harboring an activating transgene directing the expression of mutant EGFR to the Clara cells. The reticulonodular pattern observed with magnetic resonance imaging was recapitulated by hematoxylin and eosin staining of lung samples, where mice treated with SMAP showed less diffuse lung cancer and a significant decrease in total nodules. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased TUNEL staining, decreased PCNA staining, and dephosphorylation of both ERK and AKT. Single-agent SMAP demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition, as well as ERK and AKT dephosphorylation, in a TKI-resistant patient-derived xenograft model, in a comparable fashion to a combination of AZD6244 and MK2206 kinase inhibitors. Combination of SMAP and the TKI Afatinib resulted in an enhanced effect on cell death and tumor growth inhibition in a H1975 xenograft model. SMAP treatment was well tolerated and had no notable toxicities in vivo. These collective data support the development of PP2A activators for the treatment of TKI-resistant LUAD.
Citation Format: Rita Tohme, Jaya Sangodkar, Neil Dhawan, Sudeh Izadmeher, Neelesh Sharma, Michael Ohlmeyer, Goutham Narla. Direct activation of the tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2A as a therapeutic strategy for TKI-resistant lung adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1827.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Tohme
- 1Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH
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21
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McClinch K, Avelar RA, Callejas D, Izadmehr S, Wiredja D, Perl A, Sangodkar J, Kastrinsky DB, Schlatzer D, Cooper M, Kiselar J, Stachnik A, Yao S, Hoon D, McQuaid D, Zaware N, Gong Y, Brautigan DL, Plymate SR, Sprenger CCT, Oh WK, Levine AC, Kirschenbaum A, Sfakianos JP, Sears R, DiFeo A, Ioannou Y, Ohlmeyer M, Narla G, Galsky MD. Small-Molecule Activators of Protein Phosphatase 2A for the Treatment of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res 2018; 78:2065-2080. [PMID: 29358171 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Primary prostate cancer is generally treatable by androgen deprivation therapy, however, later recurrences of castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) that are more difficult to treat nearly always occur due to aberrant reactivation of the androgen receptor (AR). In this study, we report that CRPC cells are particularly sensitive to the growth-inhibitory effects of reengineered tricyclic sulfonamides, a class of molecules that activate the protein phosphatase PP2A, which inhibits multiple oncogenic signaling pathways. Treatment of CRPC cells with small-molecule activators of PP2A (SMAP) in vitro decreased cellular viability and clonogenicity and induced apoptosis. SMAP treatment also induced an array of significant changes in the phosphoproteome, including most notably dephosphorylation of full-length and truncated isoforms of the AR and downregulation of its regulatory kinases in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. In murine xenograft models of human CRPC, the potent compound SMAP-2 exhibited efficacy comparable with enzalutamide in inhibiting tumor formation. Overall, our results provide a preclinical proof of concept for the efficacy of SMAP in AR degradation and CRPC treatment.Significance: A novel class of small-molecule activators of the tumor suppressor PP2A, a serine/threonine phosphatase that inhibits many oncogenic signaling pathways, is shown to deregulate the phosphoproteome and to destabilize the androgen receptor in advanced prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 78(8); 2065-80. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly McClinch
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Rita A Avelar
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - David Callejas
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Sudeh Izadmehr
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Danica Wiredja
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Abbey Perl
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Jaya Sangodkar
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - David B Kastrinsky
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Daniela Schlatzer
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Maxwell Cooper
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Janna Kiselar
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Agnes Stachnik
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Shen Yao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrine, Diabetes and Bone Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Divya Hoon
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Daniel McQuaid
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Nilesh Zaware
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Yixuan Gong
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - David L Brautigan
- Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Stephen R Plymate
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Cynthia C T Sprenger
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - William K Oh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Alice C Levine
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrine, Diabetes and Bone Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | | | - John P Sfakianos
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Rosalie Sears
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Analisa DiFeo
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Yiannis Ioannou
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Goutham Narla
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Matthew D Galsky
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
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Tohme R, Sangodkar J, Kiselar J, Leonard D, O'Connor C, Gandhe S, Xu W, Brautigan D, Chance M, Ohlmeyer M, Narla G. Abstract 4173: Drug target mutations as a mechanism of acquired resistance to small molecules activators of protein phosphatase 2a. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-4173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The sustainable activation of the RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in cancer is promoted by a reduction in the activity of the tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Therefore, a novel therapeutic strategy consists of directly activating PP2A, leading to the simultaneous inhibition of these oncogenic pathways. PP2A is a heterotrimeric complex, consisting of a scaffolding A subunit, catalytic C subunit, and one of many regulatory B subunits responsible for substrate specificity. Our lab has successfully developed first-in-class Small Molecule Activators of PP2A (SMAPs), which induce tumor growth inhibition in both transgenic and patient derived xenograft mice models. However, alterations to the drug binding site is one of the most common mechanisms of acquired resistance, and we hypothesized that point mutations of the drug binding amino acid residues of PP2A would lead to decreased sensitivity to SMAP treatment. Determining potential mechanisms responsible for the development of resistance to SMAPs would guide the development of novel therapeutic strategies to improve patients’ prognosis. In silico docking calculations, photo affinity labeling, and hydroxyl radical footprinting studies were used to identify K194, E197, and L198 as the putative residues of PP2A-Aα that were interacting with SMAPs. K194R, E197K, and L198V mutations were generated by site-directed mutagenesis. H358, a KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma cell line, was used to create isogenic cell lines stably overexpressing mutated and wild type PP2A-Aα. These mutations did not affect the phosphatase activity or its ability to form holoenzymes in a cell-free system. SMAP response was investigated in vivo using a xenograft model of H358 isogenic cell lines and it was determined that tumors harboring mutant K194R and L198V PP2A-Aα were resistant to SMAPs treatment. Together, our results suggest that residues K194 and L198 are required for drug binding and subsequent target engagement. These findings shed light on possible mechanisms of acquired resistance to SMAPs in patients and have potential to guide the design of second-generation drugs.
Citation Format: Rita Tohme, Jaya Sangodkar, Janna Kiselar, Daniel Leonard, Caitlin O'Connor, Sai Gandhe, Wenqing Xu, David Brautigan, Mark Chance, Michael Ohlmeyer, Goutham Narla. Drug target mutations as a mechanism of acquired resistance to small molecules activators of protein phosphatase 2a [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4173. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4173
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Tohme
- 1Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | | | | | | | | | - Sai Gandhe
- 1Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | | | | | - Mark Chance
- 1Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
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Sangodkar J, Perl A, Tohme R, Kiselar J, Kastrinsky DB, Zaware N, Izadmehr S, Mazhar S, Wiredja DD, O'Connor CM, Hoon D, Dhawan NS, Schlatzer D, Yao S, Leonard D, Borczuk AC, Gokulrangan G, Wang L, Svenson E, Farrington CC, Yuan E, Avelar RA, Stachnik A, Smith B, Gidwani V, Giannini HM, McQuaid D, McClinch K, Wang Z, Levine AC, Sears RC, Chen EY, Duan Q, Datt M, Haider S, Ma'ayan A, DiFeo A, Sharma N, Galsky MD, Brautigan DL, Ioannou YA, Xu W, Chance MR, Ohlmeyer M, Narla G. Activation of tumor suppressor protein PP2A inhibits KRAS-driven tumor growth. J Clin Invest 2017; 127:2081-2090. [PMID: 28504649 DOI: 10.1172/jci89548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted cancer therapies, which act on specific cancer-associated molecular targets, are predominantly inhibitors of oncogenic kinases. While these drugs have achieved some clinical success, the inactivation of kinase signaling via stimulation of endogenous phosphatases has received minimal attention as an alternative targeted approach. Here, we have demonstrated that activation of the tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a negative regulator of multiple oncogenic signaling proteins, is a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancers. Our group previously developed a series of orally bioavailable small molecule activators of PP2A, termed SMAPs. We now report that SMAP treatment inhibited the growth of KRAS-mutant lung cancers in mouse xenografts and transgenic models. Mechanistically, we found that SMAPs act by binding to the PP2A Aα scaffold subunit to drive conformational changes in PP2A. These results show that PP2A can be activated in cancer cells to inhibit proliferation. Our strategy of reactivating endogenous PP2A may be applicable to the treatment of other diseases and represents an advancement toward the development of small molecule activators of tumor suppressor proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaya Sangodkar
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Abbey Perl
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Rita Tohme
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Janna Kiselar
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Nilesh Zaware
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sudeh Izadmehr
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sahar Mazhar
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | - Divya Hoon
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Neil S Dhawan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Shen Yao
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | | | - Lifu Wang
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Elena Svenson
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Eric Yuan
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Rita A Avelar
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Agnes Stachnik
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Blake Smith
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vickram Gidwani
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Daniel McQuaid
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Zhizhi Wang
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alice C Levine
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Edward Y Chen
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Qiaonan Duan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Manish Datt
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India
| | - Shozeb Haider
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Avi Ma'ayan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Analisa DiFeo
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Matthew D Galsky
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Wenqing Xu
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Mark R Chance
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Goutham Narla
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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24
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Sangodkar J, Tohme R, Kiselar J, Izadmehr S, Hoon D, Mazhar S, Perl A, Wiredja D, Schlatzer D, Yao S, Kastrinsky D, Sharma N, Brautigan D, Chance M, Borczuk A, Ohlmeyer M, Ioannou Y, Narla G. Abstract 3865: Therapeutic activation of protein phosphatase 2A for the treatment of lung cancer. Cancer Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2016-3865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
PP2A is a phosphatase tumor suppressor that is dysregulated and deactivated in lung cancer. It is one of the most abundant cellular proteins and regulates the activity of numerous kinases Where achievable, restoration of PP2A function inhibits cancer progression, and notably, by the inhibition of the downstream effectors of the oncogenic kinases that initiate and drive cancer progression. In this study, we determined PP2A inactivation in human lung cancer with specific molecular genotypes and we ascertained the biological and functional consequences of PP2A reactivation. In assessing a lung cancer TMA, we identified that PP2A inactivation was correlated with poor survival and was significantly higher in patients with Kras mutations. In order to understand the therapeutic potential of restoration of PP2A activity in KRAS mutant lung cancer, our lab developed a series of small molecule activators of PP2A (SMAPs) through reverse engineering of tricyclic neuroleptic drugs. SMAP treatment of lung cancer cell lines resulted in an induction of apoptosis and decreased cell viability. Structural and biophysical studies have identified the site of drug binding and mechanism for PP2A activation by this small molecule series. Additionally, cell lines harboring drug-binding mutations were resistant to SMAP therapy as compared to wild type PP2A and EGFP control. Global phosphoproteomic analysis of SMAP treated KRAS lung cancer cell lines revealed ERK signaling as a commonly perturbed pathway in drug treated cell lines. Given the marked dephosphorylation of ERK upon treatment of cell lines with SMAPs, we overexpressed a constitutively active form of MEK (MEKDD) to blunt SMAP mediated ERK dephosphorylation to determine the relevance of ERK inactivation for the biological effects of SMAPs on cellular apoptosis. Overexpression of MEKDD resulted in a blunted apoptotic response to SMAP treatment. Single agent SMAP treatment of KRAS GEMM and xenograft mouse models of lung cancer resulted in tumor stasis, induction of tumor cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest to comparable levels seen with a combination of AKT and MEK inhibitors. Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis of the tumors demonstrated that SMAP treatment resulted in of ERK, AKT, and PP2A-Y307 dephosphorylation in vivo. Additionally, these compounds demonstrate favorable pharmacokinetics and show no overt toxicity. Furthermore, combination of SMAPs with kinase inhibitors further decreased tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, these findings point to therapeutic activation of PP2A as a novel strategy for the treatment of KRAS-mutant NSCLC.
Citation Format: Jaya Sangodkar, Rita Tohme, Janna Kiselar, Sudeh Izadmehr, Divya Hoon, Sahar Mazhar, Abbey Perl, Danica Wiredja, Daniela Schlatzer, Shen Yao, David Kastrinsky, Neelesh Sharma, David Brautigan, Mark Chance, Alain Borczuk, Michael Ohlmeyer, Yiannis Ioannou, Goutham Narla. Therapeutic activation of protein phosphatase 2A for the treatment of lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3865.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rita Tohme
- 2Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | | | | | - Divya Hoon
- 1Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | - Abbey Perl
- 2Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | | | | | - Shen Yao
- 1Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | | | - David Brautigan
- 3University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Mark Chance
- 2Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
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Li CW, Menconi F, Osman R, Mezei M, Jacobson EM, Concepcion E, David CS, Kastrinsky DB, Ohlmeyer M, Tomer Y. Identifying a Small Molecule Blocking Antigen Presentation in Autoimmune Thyroiditis. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:4079-90. [PMID: 26703475 PMCID: PMC4759184 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.694687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 09/25/2015] [Revised: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously showed that an HLA-DR variant containing arginine at position 74 of the DRβ1 chain (DRβ1-Arg74) is the specific HLA class II variant conferring risk for autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). We also identified 5 thyroglobulin (Tg) peptides that bound to DRβ1-Arg74. We hypothesized that blocking the binding of these peptides to DRβ1-Arg74 could block the continuous T-cell activation in thyroiditis needed to maintain the autoimmune response to the thyroid. The aim of the current study was to identify small molecules that can block T-cell activation by Tg peptides presented within DRβ1-Arg74 pockets. We screened a large and diverse library of compounds and identified one compound, cepharanthine that was able to block peptide binding to DRβ1-Arg74. We then showed that Tg.2098 is the dominant peptide when inducing experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in NOD mice expressing human DRβ1-Arg74. Furthermore, cepharanthine blocked T-cell activation by thyroglobulin peptides, in particular Tg.2098 in mice that were induced with EAT. For the first time we identified a small molecule that can block Tg peptide binding and presentation to T-cells in autoimmune thyroiditis. If confirmed cepharanthine could potentially have a role in treating human AITD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Roman Osman
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Mihaly Mezei
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | | | | | - Chella S David
- the Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, and
| | - David B Kastrinsky
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Yaron Tomer
- From the Division of Endocrinology, the Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York 10468
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Sangodkar J, McQuaid D, Kisselar J, Brautigan D, Chance M, Ohlmeyer M, Kastrinsky D, Ioannou Y, Narla G. Abstract B124: Drugging the undruggable: development of small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A for cancer treatment. Mol Cancer Ther 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-15-b124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
KRAS is the most common recurrent oncogenomic mutations driving the growth of NSCLC. Patients with KRAS mutations respond poorly to current therapies. Thus, novel therapies, are critically needed, to improve the lives of patients suffering from KRAS driven lung cancers. While oncogenic kinases have proven to be successful targets for cancer treatment, the therapeutic targeting of phosphatases, the key negative regulators of these same pathways, has remained largely unexplored. Through reverse engineering of tricyclic neuroleptic drugs, we developed a first-in-class series of small molecule activators of PP2A activators (SMAPs) molecules, as represented that have favorable pharmaceutic properties directly bind and activate the serine/threonine phosphatase 2A (PP2A). A critical role for PP2A as a tumor suppressor has previously been established, and PP2A inactivation is common feature in human lung cancers. Furthermore, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) accounts for the majority of cellular serine/threonine phosphatase activity, and its dominant and best-defined targets are oncogenic protein kinases including ERK and AKT. In this study, we sought to determine both the association of PP2A inactivation in lung cancer with specific molecular genotypes and the biological and functional consequences of PP2A reactivation in lung cancer. To understand the effects of SMAPs on cell viability and survival, we used MTT and colony formation assays in lung cancer cell lines. Apoptosis was evaluated through annexin V staining and cell cycle profile analysis. Additionally, global phosphoproteomic profiling was performed. Effects of SMAPs in vivo were assessed using A549, HH41 and H358 xenograft and Kras LA2 transgenic mouse models. Treatment of lung cancer cell lines with TRC resulted in decreased cell viability, decreased colony formation, and an increase in apoptosis. Global phosphoproteomic analysis of SMAP treated cell lines revealed ERK signaling as a commonly perturbed pathway which was confirmed by western blotting. Single agent SMAP treatment of KRAS GEMM and xenograft mouse models of lung cancer resulted in tumor stasis, induction of tumor cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest to comparable levels seen with a combination of AKT and MEK inhibitors. Furthermore, combination based therapy with kinase inhibitors and our novel phosphatase activators resulting in marked synergy and tumor regressions in vivo. Importantly, these compounds demonstrate favorable pharmacokinetics and show no overt toxicity both alone or in combination. Taken together, these findings point to therapeutic activation of PP2A as a novel strategy for the treatment of advanced KRAS-mutant NSCLC. While research and clinical effort has largely focused on development of inhibitors of oncogenic kinases, the identification of small molecule activators of tumor suppressor proteins has remained elusive. Activation of such proteins could offer the opportunity to identify novel synergistic strategies for the treatment of a number of cancer types. Nevertheless, translation of a PP2A activation strategy into clinical medicine has required pharmaceutically tractable agents for development. Our studies represent a first step into that new territory and highlight the potential for the development of small molecule activators of other protein phosphatases and tumor suppressor proteins
Citation Format: Jaya Sangodkar, Daniel McQuaid, Janna Kisselar, David Brautigan, Mark Chance, Michael Ohlmeyer, David Kastrinsky, Yiannis Ioannou, Goutham Narla. Drugging the undruggable: development of small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A for cancer treatment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr B124.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mark Chance
- 2Case Western Reserve University, Pepper Pike, OH
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McClinch K, Avelar R, Callejas D, Kastrinsky D, Ohlmeyer M, Plymate S, Galsky M, Narla G. Abstract C132: Therapeutic reactivation of PP2A for prostate cancer treatment. Mol Cancer Ther 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-15-c132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Several new therapies have recently been approved for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), however, none are curative and tumors ultimately develop resistance. Advances in the treatment of CRPC require novel approaches and therapies such as those outlined in this study. Most drug development efforts have focused on targeting single oncogenic proteins, an approach limited by the complexity of signaling networks and associated cross talk. Targeting phosphatases, the key negative regulators of signaling proteins, on the other hand, may overcome some of these limitations, particularly if these negative regulators themselves are altered.Through reverse engineering of tricyclic neuroleptic drugs, we have developed a series of small molecule activators of the serine/threonine phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a key negative regulator of numerous oncogenic signaling pathways. PP2A acts as a tumor suppressor and dephosphorylates several critical nodes in prostate cancer pathogenesis including the androgen receptor (AR). Decreased PP2A expression and/or activity have been correlated with castration-resistance in cell culture and human prostate cancer studies. These small molecule activators of PP2A (SMAPs), as represented by TRC-794, TRC-1154, and DT-061, directly bind and activate PP2A and have favorable pharmaceutical properties. In this study we sought to determine the activity of SMAPs in clinically relevant preclinical models of prostate cancer.
Treatment of prostate cancer cell lines with SMAPs resulted in decreased cell viability and colony formation, cell cycle arrest, and an increase in apoptosis. Global Phosphoproteomic analysis of TRC-794 treated prostate cancer cells revealed that the AR and MYC were significantly perturbed in drug treated cells compared to controls which was subsequently confirmed by western blotting. Western blot analysis of prostate cancer cells demonstrated dose-dependent degradation of the AR resulting in PSA reduction and changes in canonical AR target gene expression. In order to investigate whether PP2A was mediating SMAP induced AR degradation, LNCAP cells were stably transduced with the SV40 small t antigen (ST), a potent oncoprotein that perturbs PP2A function. SMAPs were unable to degrade AR in LNCAP cells transduced with ST, suggesting that PP2A mediates SMAP induced AR degradation.
SMAPs were evaluated in vivo in xenograft models representing prostate cancers that are sensitive to conventional therapy and resistant to enzalutamide, the current gold standard, due to overexpression of the AR or expression of androgen receptor splice variants (AR-SV). Single agent treatment with DT-1154 or DT-061 in vivo resulted in either significant tumor growth inhibition or tumor regression and induction of tumor cell apoptosis comparable to enzalutamide. Western blot analysis of the tumors demonstrated that the effects on tumor volume correlated strongly with target engagement as evidenced by significant decreases in PSA and AR expression in vivo. Additionally, these compounds demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetics and showed no overt toxicity. Combined these data highlight the potential for PP2A activation for both the treatment of CRPC and potentially for diverse PP2A inactivated tumor types and diseases.
Citation Format: Kim McClinch, Rita Avelar, David Callejas, David Kastrinsky, Michael Ohlmeyer, Stephen Plymate, Matthew Galsky, Goutham Narla. Therapeutic reactivation of PP2A for prostate cancer treatment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr C132.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rita Avelar
- 2Case Western Reserve University, Pepper Pike, OH
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Kastrinsky DB, Sangodkar J, Zaware N, McClinch K, Farrington CC, Giannini HM, Izadmehr S, Dhawan NS, Narla G, Ohlmeyer M. Corrigendum to "Reengineered tricyclic anti-cancer agents" [Bioorg. Med. Chem. 23 (2015) 6528-6534]. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:7487. [PMID: 28290285 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David B Kastrinsky
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Jaya Sangodkar
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Nilesh Zaware
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Kimberly McClinch
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Caroline C Farrington
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Cornell Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
| | - Heather M Giannini
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Sudeh Izadmehr
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Neil S Dhawan
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Goutham Narla
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Medicine, Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Cornell Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States.
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Kastrinsky DB, Sangodkar J, Zaware N, Izadmehr S, Dhawan NS, Narla G, Ohlmeyer M. Reengineered tricyclic anti-cancer agents. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:6528-34. [PMID: 26372073 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [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: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The phenothiazine and dibenzazepine tricyclics are potent neurotropic drugs with a documented but underutilized anti-cancer side effect. Reengineering these agents (TFP, CPZ, CIP) by replacing the basic amine with a neutral polar functional group (e.g., RTC-1, RTC-2) abrogated their CNS effects as demonstrated by in vitro pharmacological assays and in vivo behavioral models. Further optimization generated several phenothiazines and dibenzazepines with improved anti-cancer potency, exemplified by RTC-5. This new lead demonstrated efficacy against a xenograft model of an EGFR driven cancer without the neurotropic effects exhibited by the parent molecules. Its effects were attributed to concomitant negative regulation of PI3K-AKT and RAS-ERK signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Kastrinsky
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Jaya Sangodkar
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Nilesh Zaware
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Sudeh Izadmehr
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Neil S Dhawan
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Goutham Narla
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Medicine, Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Cornell Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States.
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Wang X, Farrell A, Janghorban M, Allen-Petersen B, Liang J, Risom T, Ohlmeyer M, Narla G, Sears RC. Abstract SY38-03: Targeting post-translational activation of MYC for the treatment of cancer. Cancer Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2015-sy38-03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The MYC oncoprotein is considered to be one of the most important targets in cancer; however, successful targeting of MYC has not been achieved to date. MYC is a transcription factor, which binds to DNA in target genes as a heterodimer with its partner protein, MAX. While MAX is constitutively expressed, MYC protein expression is tightly regulated at multiple levels, including gene transcription, mRNA stability, protein translation, and post-translational protein stability. In cancer, MYC expression is upregulated through deregulation at many of these levels, resulting in an increase in MYC:MAX heterodimers and MYC-regulated gene expression.
MYC regulated genes are involved in nearly all cellular processes, including cell intrinsic properties such as cell cycle control, cell growth and metabolism, self-renewal, migration and invasion, as well as cell extrinsic programs including angiogenesis, stromal cell expansion, and alterations in immune cell surveillance. MYC is thus a master regulator of cellular phenotype, and its deregulation contributes to tumorigenesis through many mechanisms. Importantly, elegant studies have recently demonstrated the tractability of targeting MYC for cancer therapeutics. Specifically, loss of MYC in adult tissues caused very little toxicity and metronomic expression of a MYC dominant negative protein caused no observable toxicity, but eliminated KRAS-driven pancreatic and lung tumors.
Since targeting MYC directly has proven difficult, we are developing new strategies to target the post-translational activation of MYC. MYC is both stabilized and transcriptionally activated following cell stimulation via receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways leading to ERK mediated phosphorylation of Serine 62. We have demonstrated that Serine 62 phosphorylated MYC is upregulated in human cancer cells and that this facilitates its regulation of pro-oncogenic target genes by increasing its DNA binding activity and co-activator recruitment, as well as increasing its protein stability. We have identified Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) as the enzyme responsible for dephosphorylating Serine 62. PP2A is a critical tumor suppressor that is known to inactivate multiple oncogenic signaling pathways, as well as cell cycle drivers and survival factors. Furthermore, inactivation of PP2A has been shown to be critical for the transformation of human cells, and PP2A activity is suppressed in most tested human tumors.
We are utilizing a recently developed small molecule, orally available, allosteric PP2A activator drug. This drug (DTx) is in clinical development by Dual Therapeutics. We have tested this drug, as well as a peptide mimetic PP2A activator, OP449, in cell lines and in mouse models of tumorigenesis. We have observed cytotoxic activity in both breast and pancreas cancer cell lines associated with dephosphorylation of MYC at Serine 62. We have also observed reduced MYC DNA target gene binding and target gene expression with PP2A activation therapy.
In order to test novel therapeutic strategies targeting MYC activity, we have developed new mouse models of Myc-driven tumorigenesis using our ROSA26-LSL-Myc mice that we generated to conditionally express transcriptionally deregulated, physiological levels of Myc in response to Cre recombinase. By crossing these mice with mice expressing other organ specific oncogenic drivers, we have developed mouse mammary tumor models representing HER2+ and Triple Negative breast cancer. We have also developed a novel mouse model of pancreatic tumorigenesis using the same strategy. All of these models appear to molecularly recapitulate the corresponding human disease, and we are using them as pre-clinical testing platforms for our PP2A activation therapy trials. So far, we have seen dramatic tumor growth inhibition and even tumor shrinkage with DTx treatment in all three of these models. This is associated with loss of Serine 62 phosphorylation in the treated tumors. Importantly, we see no signs of toxicity in vivo with this novel compound and pharmacokinetic studies look very promising for bringing this compound to the clinic.
In summary, we believe that targeting pathways that post-translationally activate MYC's oncogenic potential is a promising strategy for targeting this important oncoprotein.
Citation Format: Xiaoyan Wang, Amy Farrell, Mahnaz Janghorban, Brittany Allen-Petersen, Juan Liang, Tyler Risom, Michael Ohlmeyer, Goutham Narla, Rosalie C. Sears. Targeting post-translational activation of MYC for the treatment of cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr SY38-03. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-SY38-03
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wang
- 1Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Amy Farrell
- 1Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | | | | | - Juan Liang
- 1Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Tyler Risom
- 1Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
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Sangodkar J, Izadmehr S, Mahzar S, Hoon D, Yao S, Kastrinsky D, Schlatzer D, Sharma N, Borczuk AC, Ohlmeyer M, Ioannou Y, Narla G. Abstract 5329: Development of small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A for the treatment of lung cancer. Cancer Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2015-5329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
KRAS is the most common recurrent oncogenomic mutations driving the growth of NSCLC and accounting for ∼25% of patients with advanced NSCLC. Patients with KRAS mutations respond poorly to current therapies. Thus, novel therapies, are critically needed, to improve the lives of patients suffering from KRAS driven lung cancers. While oncogenic kinases have proven to be successful targets for cancer treatment, the therapeutic targeting of phosphatases, the key negative regulators of these same pathways, has remained largely unexplored. Through reverse engineering of tricyclic neuroleptic drugs, we developed a first-in-class series of small molecule activators of PP2A activators (SMAPs) molecules, as represented by TRC-794 and TRC-1154, that have favorable pharmaceutical properties directly bind and activate the serine/threonine phosphatase 2A (PP2A). PP2A accounts for the majority of cellular serine/threonine phosphatase activity, and its dominant and best-defined targets are oncogenic protein kinases including ERK and AKT. In this study, we sought to determine both the association of PP2A inactivation in lung cancer with specific molecular genotypes and the biological and functional consequences of PP2A reactivation in lung cancer. We determined the PP2A activation status by immunohistochemistry for the Y307 PP2A residue, a well documented inactivating site on the phosphatase, in a large cohort of primary lung tumors and identified that KRAS G12C mutant tumors displayed coordinate overexpression of both pERK and PP2A Y307. Global phosphoproteomic analysis of TRC-794 treated KRAS lung cancer cell lines revealed ERK signaling as the only commonly perturbed pathway in drug treated cell lines which was confirmed by western blotting. Treatment of lung cancer cell lines with TRC resulted in decreased cell viability, decreased colony formation, and an increase in apoptosis. Given the marked dephosphorylation of ERK upon treatment of cell lines with TRC-1154, we overexpressed a constitutively active form of MEK (MEKDD) to blunt SMAP mediated ERK dephosphorylation to determine the relevance of ERK inactivation to the biological effects of SMAPs on cellular apoptosis. Overexpression of MEKDD resulted in blunting the apoptotic response to TRC-1154 treatment. Single agent TRC-794 or TRC-1154 treatment of KRAS GEMM and xenograft mouse models of lung cancer resulted in tumor stasis, induction of tumor cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest to comparable levels seen with a combination of AKT and MEK inhibitors. Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis of the tumors demonstrated that SMAP treatment resulted in of ERK, AKT, and PP2A-Y307 dephosphorylation in vivo. Additionally, these compounds demonstrate favorable pharmacokinetics and show no overt toxicity. Taken together, these findings point to therapeutic activation of PP2A as a novel strategy for the treatment of advanced KRAS-mutant NSCLC.
Citation Format: Jaya Sangodkar, Sudeh Izadmehr, Sahar Mahzar, Divya Hoon, Shen Yao, David Kastrinsky, Daniela Schlatzer, Neelesh Sharma, Alain C. Borczuk, Michael Ohlmeyer, Yiannis Ioannou, Goutham Narla. Development of small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A for the treatment of lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5329. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5329
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sahar Mahzar
- 2Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH
| | - Divya Hoon
- 1Mt. Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Shen Yao
- 1Mt. Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Novel small molecular ligands (SMLs) to the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) have potential as improved molecular probes and as therapeutic agents for the treatment of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid cancer. METHODS To identify novel SMLs to the TSHR, we developed a transcription-based luciferase-cAMP high-throughput screening system and we screened 48,224 compounds from a 100K library in duplicate. RESULTS We obtained 62 hits using the cut-off criteria of the mean±three standard deviations above the baseline. Twenty molecules with the greatest activity were rescreened against the parent CHO-luciferase cell for nonspecific activation, and we selected two molecules (MS437 and MS438) with the highest potency for further study. These lead molecules demonstrated no detectible cross-reactivity with homologous receptors when tested against luteinizing hormone (LH)/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor and follicle stimulating hormone receptor-expressing cells. Molecule MS437 had a TSHR-stimulating potency with an EC50 of 13×10(-8) M, and molecule MS438 had an EC50 of 5.3×10(-8) M. The ability of these small molecule agonists to bind to the transmembrane domain of the receptor and initiate signal transduction was suggested by their activation of a chimeric receptor consisting of an LHR ectodomain and a TSHR transmembrane. Molecular modeling demonstrated that these molecules bound to residues S505 and E506 for MS438 and T501 for MS437 in the intrahelical region of transmembrane helix 3. We also examined the G protein activating ability of these molecules using CHO cells co-expressing TSHRs transfected with luciferase reporter vectors in order to measure Gsα, Gβγ, Gαq, and Gα12 activation quantitatively. The MS437 and MS438 molecules showed potent activation of Gsα, Gαq, and Gα12 similar to TSH, but neither the small molecule agonists nor TSH showed activation of the Gβγ pathway. The small molecules MS437 and MS438 also showed upregulation of thyroglobulin (Tg), sodium iodine symporter (NIS), and TSHR gene expression. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacokinetic analysis of MS437 and MS438 indicated their pharmacotherapeutic potential, and their intraperitoneal administration to normal female mice resulted in significantly increased serum thyroxine levels, which could be maintained by repeated treatments. These molecules can therefore serve as lead molecules for further development of powerful TSH agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rauf Latif
- Thyroid Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - M. Rejwan Ali
- Thyroid Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Risheng Ma
- Thyroid Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Martine David
- Thyroid Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Syed A. Morshed
- Thyroid Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Dan P. Felsenfeld
- Integrated Screening Core, Experimental Therapeutics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Zerlina Lau
- Integrated Screening Core, Experimental Therapeutics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Mihaly Mezei
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Terry F. Davies
- Thyroid Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, New York
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Sangodkar J, Mazhar S, Wiredja D, Gokulrangan G, Schlatzer D, Kastrinsky D, Difeo A, Yao S, Izadmehr S, Sharma N, Ioannou Y, Ohlmeyer M, Narla G. Abstract A38: Therapeutic targeting of oncogenic KRAS signaling using a novel small molecule agonist of the PP2A tumor suppressor gene. Mol Cancer Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1158/1557-3125.rasonc14-a38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common cause of cancer death. Cytotoxic chemotherapy has historically been the mainstay of therapy but is associated with only modest improvements in patient survival. Over the past decade, a better understanding of the pathogenesis of NSCLC, coupled with high throughput genomic technologies applied to patient tumor samples, has led to a molecular classification of NSCLC and a new generation of “precision” therapies. However, the most common recurrent oncogenomic mutation driving the growth of NSCLC, mutant KRAS, accounting for ∼25% of patients with advanced NSCLC, remains without an effective targeted therapy. Mutations in KRAS lead to downstream signaling through ERK, as well as cross talk with the PI3K-Akt pathway, the latter of which is amplified in the presence of inhibition of ERK pathway signaling alone. These findings likely explain, at least in part, why targeting ERK pathway signaling alone in NSCLC has been largely unsuccessful in the clinic, and suggest that coordinate inhibition of both ERK and Akt is necessary for optimal therapy. Approaches to inhibit both of these pathways simultaneously with co-administration of two small molecular kinase inhibitors has shown some promise, but has been limited by both “off-target” treatment-limiting side effects and suboptimal coordinate inhibition of both Akt and ERK signaling. Thus, novel therapies, are critically needed, to improve the lives of patients suffering from KRAS driven lung cancers and while oncogenic kinases have proven to be successful targets for cancer treatment, the therapeutic targeting of phosphatases, the key negative regulators of these same pathways, has remained largely unexplored. Starting with the observation that tricyclic neuroleptic drugs exert anticancer effects in xenograft models, we employed combinatorial chemistry to reverse engineer these drugs into a series of novel compounds that retain the anti-proliferative effects but are devoid of the dose-limiting effects on the central nervous system. We have demonstrated these agents exert potent anti-proliferative effects in both cell culture and in vivo lung cancer models and these effects are functionally linked with simultaneous inhibition of both PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling. Importantly, these agents that have favorable pharmaceutic properties directly bind and activate the serine/threonine phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and we call these novel first-in-class agents Small Molecule Activators of PP2A (SMAPs). A critical role for PP2A as a tumor suppressor has previously been established, and inhibition and loss-of-function changes in PP2A occur in human lung cancers. Furthermore, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) accounts for the majority of cellular serine/threonine phosphatase activity, and its dominant and best defined targets are protein kinases and oncogenic proteins including ERK and AKT. Here we demonstrate for the first time the development and validation of a first-in-class orally bioavailable pharmacological agent that can directly bind and activate PP2A driving coordinate inhibition of both the MAPK and AKT effector pathways in cell culture and both xenograft and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) of human lung cancer. Global phosphoproteomic analysis of SMAP treated KRAS lung cancer cell lines reveals ERK signaling as the only commonly perturbed pathway in drug treated cell lines. Single agent SMAP treatment of KRAS GEMM and xenograft mouse models of lung cancer resulted in tumor stasis, induction of tumor cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest to comparable levels seen with a combination of AKT and MEK inhibitors. Additionally, the compounds demonstrate favorable pharmacokinetics and show no overt toxicity. Taken together, these findings point to therapeutic activation of PP2A as a novel strategy for the treatment of advanced KRAS-mutant NSCLC. While research and clinical effort has largely focused on development of inhibitors of oncogenic kinases, the identification of small molecule activators of tumor suppressor proteins has remained elusive. Activation of such proteins could offer the opportunity to identify novel synergistic strategies for the treatment of a number of cancer types. Nevertheless, translation of a PP2A activation strategy into clinical medicine has required pharmaceutically tractable agents for development. Our studies represent a first step into that new territory and highlight the potential for the development of small molecule activators of other protein phosphatases and tumor suppressor proteins.
Citation Format: Jaya Sangodkar, Sahar Mazhar, Danica Wiredja, Giridharan Gokulrangan, Daniela Schlatzer, David Kastrinsky, Analisa Difeo, Shen Yao, Sudeh Izadmehr, Neelesh Sharma, Yiannis Ioannou, Michael Ohlmeyer, Goutham Narla. Therapeutic targeting of oncogenic KRAS signaling using a novel small molecule agonist of the PP2A tumor suppressor gene. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A38. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-A38
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Shen Yao
- 1Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY,
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McClinch K, Callejas D, Cooper M, Stachnik A, Kastrinsky D, Ohlmeyer M, Galsky M, Narla G. 548 Development of a small molecule activator of protein phosphatase 2A for the treatment of prostate cancer. Eur J Cancer 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(14)70674-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Di Micco R, Fontanals-Cirera B, Low V, Ntziachristos P, Yuen SK, Lovell CD, Dolgalev I, Yonekubo Y, Zhang G, Rusinova E, Gerona-Navarro G, Cañamero M, Ohlmeyer M, Aifantis I, Zhou MM, Tsirigos A, Hernando E. Control of embryonic stem cell identity by BRD4-dependent transcriptional elongation of super-enhancer-associated pluripotency genes. Cell Rep 2014; 9:234-247. [PMID: 25263550 PMCID: PMC4317728 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.08.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Revised: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors and chromatin-remodeling complexes are key determinants of embryonic stem cell (ESC) identity. Here, we demonstrate that BRD4, a member of the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family of epigenetic readers, regulates the self-renewal ability and pluripotency of ESCs. BRD4 inhibition resulted in induction of epithelial-tomesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and commitment to the neuroectodermal lineage while reducing the ESC multidifferentiation capacity in teratoma as-says. BRD4 maintains transcription of core stem cell genes such as OCT4 and PRDM14 by occupying their super-enhancers (SEs), large clusters of regulatory elements, and recruiting to them Mediator and CDK9, the catalytic subunit of the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), to allow Pol-II-dependent productive elongation. Our study describes a mechanism of regulation of ESC identity that could be applied to improve the efficiency of ESC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Di Micco
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Barbara Fontanals-Cirera
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Vivien Low
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Panagiotis Ntziachristos
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute and NYU Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Stephanie K Yuen
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Claudia D Lovell
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Igor Dolgalev
- Genome Technology Center, Office for Collaborative Science, NYU Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Yoshiya Yonekubo
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Guangtao Zhang
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Elena Rusinova
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Guillermo Gerona-Navarro
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Marta Cañamero
- Histopathology Core Unit, Biotechnology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Iannis Aifantis
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute and NYU Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Ming-Ming Zhou
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Aristotelis Tsirigos
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Eva Hernando
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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Abstract
Abstract
A novel protocol for the synthesis of 11-substituted dibenzo[b,f][1,4]oxazepines is reported. Seven compounds were designed as analogs of the antipsychotic drug loxapine and antidepressant amoxapine. The key transformations include generation of a carbamate intermediate using phenyl chloroformate which avoids the use of harmful phosgene, a microwave-induced transformation of the carbamate intermediate into various urea derivatives, and a subsequent phosphorous oxychloride-induced cyclocondensation. The simple reactions and wide substrate scope enhance the practical application of this methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilesh Zaware
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Zhang G, Plotnikov AN, Rusinova E, Shen T, Morohashi K, Joshua J, Zeng L, Mujtaba S, Ohlmeyer M, Zhou MM. Structure-guided design of potent diazobenzene inhibitors for the BET bromodomains. J Med Chem 2013; 56:9251-64. [PMID: 24144283 PMCID: PMC3894848 DOI: 10.1021/jm401334s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BRD4, characterized by two acetyl-lysine binding bromodomains and an extra-terminal (ET) domain, is a key chromatin organizer that directs gene activation in chromatin through transcription factor recruitment, enhancer assembly, and pause release of the RNA polymerase II complex for transcription elongation. BRD4 has been recently validated as a new epigenetic drug target for cancer and inflammation. Our current knowledge of the functional differences of the two bromodomains of BRD4, however, is limited and is hindered by the lack of selective inhibitors. Here, we report our structure-guided development of diazobenzene-based small-molecule inhibitors for the BRD4 bromodomains that have over 90% sequence identity at the acetyl-lysine binding site. Our lead compound, MS436, through a set of water-mediated interactions, exhibits low nanomolar affinity (estimated Ki of 30-50 nM), with preference for the first bromodomain over the second. We demonstrated that MS436 effectively inhibits BRD4 activity in NF-κB-directed production of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 in murine macrophages. MS436 represents a new class of bromodomain inhibitors and will facilitate further investigation of the biological functions of the two bromodomains of BRD4 in gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ming-Ming Zhou
- Corresponding Author, Phone: 212-659-8652; Fax: 212-849-2456;
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Segura MF, Fontanals-Cirera B, Gaziel-Sovran A, Guijarro MV, Hanniford D, Zhang G, González-Gomez P, Morante M, Jubierre L, Zhang W, Darvishian F, Ohlmeyer M, Osman I, Zhou MM, Hernando E. BRD4 sustains melanoma proliferation and represents a new target for epigenetic therapy. Cancer Res 2013; 73:6264-76. [PMID: 23950209 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-0122-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma remains a mostly incurable disease. Although newly approved targeted therapies are efficacious in a subset of patients, resistance and relapse rapidly ensue. Alternative therapeutic strategies to manipulate epigenetic regulators and disrupt the transcriptional program that maintains tumor cell identity are emerging. Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins are epigenome readers known to exert key roles at the interface between chromatin remodeling and transcriptional regulation. Here, we report that BRD4, a BET family member, is significantly upregulated in primary and metastatic melanoma tissues compared with melanocytes and nevi. Treatment with BET inhibitors impaired melanoma cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth and metastatic behavior in vivo, effects that were mostly recapitulated by individual silencing of BRD4. RNA sequencing of BET inhibitor-treated cells followed by Gene Ontology analysis showed a striking impact on transcriptional programs controlling cell growth, proliferation, cell-cycle regulation, and differentiation. In particular, we found that, rapidly after BET displacement, key cell-cycle genes (SKP2, ERK1, and c-MYC) were downregulated concomitantly with the accumulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors (p21 and p27), followed by cell-cycle arrest. Importantly, BET inhibitor efficacy was not influenced by BRAF or NRAS mutational status, opening the possibility of using these small-molecule compounds to treat patients for whom no effective targeted therapy exists. Collectively, our study reveals a critical role for BRD4 in melanoma tumor maintenance and renders it a legitimate and novel target for epigenetic therapy directed against the core transcriptional program of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel F Segura
- Authors' Affiliations: Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine; Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, New York University Cancer Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center; Departments of Structural and Chemical Biology and Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid; and Laboratory of Translational Research in Childhood Cancer, Vall d'Hebrón Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
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Fontanals-Cirera B, Segura MF, Gaziel-Sovran A, Guijarro MV, Hanniford D, Gonzalez-Gomez P, Zhang W, Zhang G, Darvishian F, Ohlmeyer M, Osman I, Zhou MM, Hernando E. Abstract A10: BRD4 is a new therapeutic target in melanoma. Cancer Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.cec13-a10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma remains a mostly incurable disease. Although newly approved targeted therapies are efficacious in a subset of patients, resistance and relapse rapidly ensue. Alternative therapeutic strategies to manipulate epigenetic regulators and disrupt the transcriptional program that maintains tumor cell identity are emerging. Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family of proteins consists of BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and testis- specific BRDT, and are epigenome readers known to exert key roles at the interface between chromatin remodeling and transcriptional regulation. We investigated the role of BET proteins in melanoma tumor maintenance and assessed their value as therapeutic targets. Data mining of our previously published gene expression profile of melanoma cell lines and immunostaining of melanoma tissue microarray revealed that BRD4 is significantly upregulated in primary and metastatic melanoma tissues compared to melanocytes and nevi, thus suggesting a potential role for BET family proteins in promoting melanoma tumorigenesis. Treatment with BET inhibitors impaired melanoma cell proliferation and colony formation in vitro. Moreover, tumor growth and metastatic behavior assessed by a xenograft model also revealed impairment of melanoma proliferation in vivo. These effects were mostly recapitulated by individual silencing of BRD4, and not of other BET family members. RNA sequencing of BET inhibitor-treated cells followed by gene ontology analysis showed a striking impact on transcriptional programs controlling cell growth, proliferation, cell-cycle regulation and differentiation. In particular, we found that, rapidly after BET displacement, key cell cycle genes (SKP2, ERK1 and c-MYC) were downregulated concomitantly with the accumulation of CDK inhibitors (p21, p27), followed by melanoma cell cycle arrest. However, single genetic manipulation of these cell cycle genes did not rescue the cytostatic effect of BET inhibition, suggesting that BET inactivation leads to a non-redundant, simultaneous regulation of multiple cell cycle effectors. Interestingly, SKP2 and ERK1 mRNA levels directly correlated with those of BRD4 in a panel of melanoma tissues, suggesting that these two factors may be direct BRD4 targets. Importantly, the effects of the BET inhibitor were not influenced by BRAF or NRAS mutational status, opening the possibility of using these small molecule compounds to treat patients for whom no effective targeted therapy currently exists. Collectively, our results strongly support a critical role for BRD4 in melanoma tumor maintenance, and render it a legitimate and novel target for epigenetic therapy directed against the core transcriptional program of melanoma.
Citation Format: Barbara Fontanals-Cirera, Miguel F. Segura, Avital Gaziel-Sovran, Maria V. Guijarro, Doug Hanniford, Pilar Gonzalez-Gomez, Weijia Zhang, Guantao Zhang, Farbod Darvishian, Michael Ohlmeyer, Iman Osman, Ming-Ming Zhou, Eva Hernando. BRD4 is a new therapeutic target in melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics in Cancer; Jun 19-22, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A10.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miguel F. Segura
- 2Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Iman Osman
- 1New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY,
| | | | - Eva Hernando
- 1New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY,
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Paoluzzi L, Segura MF, Fontanals-Cirera B, Gaziel-Sovran A, Guijarro MV, Hanniford D, Gonzales-Gomez P, Zhang W, Zhang G, Darvishian F, Ohlmeyer M, Osman I, Zhou MM, Hernando E. Targeting BET proteins in melanoma: A novel treatment approach. J Clin Oncol 2013. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.9091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
9091 Background: Manipulation of key epigenetic regulators in melanoma proliferation is emerging as a new therapeutic strategy. Bromodomain-containing proteins such as the extraterminal domain (BET) family are components of transcription factor complexes and determinants of epigenetic memory. We investigated the expression of BRD4, a BET family member in melanoma cell lines and tissues, and the effects of its inhibition with the small molecule compounds MS436 and MS417 in in vitro and in vivo models of melanoma. Methods: BRD2 and BRD4 expression were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. We tested the effects of pharmacological or RNAi-mediated inhibition of BRD4 in melanoma cells using crystal violet-based assays for proliferation/colony formation and flow-cytometry for cell cycle analysis. The molecular effects of BRD4 suppression were examined using RNA sequencing, Real-Time quantitative PCR and western blots for p27, p21, MYC, ERK1 and SKP2. In the in vivo xenograft experiments NOD/SCID/IL2γR-/-mice were injected with melanoma cells and treated with MS417. Statistical significance was determined by unpaired t-test (GraphPad). Results: BRD4 was found significantly upregulated in primary and metastatic melanoma tissues compared to melanocytes and nevi (p<0.001). Treatment with BET inhibitors impaired melanoma cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth and metastatic behavior in vivo, effects that were mostly recapitulated by individual silencing of BRD4. Rapidly after BET displacement, key cell cycle genes (SKP2, ERK1 and c-MYC) were downregulated concomitantly with the accumulation of CDK inhibitors (p21, p27), followed by melanoma cell cycle arrest. BET inhibitor efficacy was not influenced by BRAF or NRAS mutational status. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate for the first time a role for BRD4 in melanoma maintenance and support the role of BET proteins as novel targets in melanoma. Further investigation in the clinical setting is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Paoluzzi
- NYU Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Miguel F. Segura
- Research Unit in Biomedicine and Translational and Pediatric Oncology, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Maria V Guijarro
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Douglas Hanniford
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | - Weijia Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Guantao Zhang
- Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Farbod Darvishian
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Iman Osman
- Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, NYU Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Ming-Ming Zhou
- Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Eva Hernando
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
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Jin YJ, Cai CY, Mezei M, Ohlmeyer M, Sanchez R, Burakoff SJ. Identification of a novel binding site between HIV type 1 Nef C-terminal flexible loop and AP2 required for Nef-mediated CD4 downregulation. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2013; 29:725-31. [PMID: 23151229 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2012.0286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 Nef is an accessory protein necessary for HIV-1 virulence and rapid AIDS development. Nef promotes viral replication and infection by connecting CD4 and several other cell surface receptors to the clathrin adaptor protein AP2, resulting in the internalization and degradation of the receptors interacting with Nef. We investigated how Nef can mediate constitutive receptor endocytosis through the interaction of the dileucine motif in its C-terminal flexible loop (C-loop) with AP2, whereas AP2 binding of the transmembrane receptors usually results in an equilibrated (recycled) endocytosis. Our results indicated that in addition to the dileucine motif, there is a second motif in the Nef C-loop involved in the Nef-AP2 interaction. Nef-mediated CD4 downregulation was impaired when the residue in the hydrophobic region in the Nef C-loop (LL165HPMSLHGM173) was mutated to a basic residue K/R or an acidic residue E/D or to the rigid residue P, or when M168L170, L170H171, or G172M173 was mutated to AA. A pull-down assay indicated that AP2 was not coprecipitated with Nef mutants that did not downregulate CD4. Molecular modeling of the Nef C-terminal flexible loop in complex with AP2 suggests that M168L170 occupies a pocket in the AP2 σ2 subunit. Our data suggest a new model in the Nef-AP2 interaction in which the hydrophobic region in the Nef C-loop with the dileucine (L164L165) motif and M168L170 motif binds to AP2(σ2), while the acidic motif E174 and D175 binds to AP2(α), which explains how Nef through the flexible loop connects CD4 to AP2 for constitutive CD4 downregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Jiu Jin
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Catherine Yi Cai
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Mihaly Mezei
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Experimental Therapeutics Institute, Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Experimental Therapeutics Institute, Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Roberto Sanchez
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Experimental Therapeutics Institute, Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Steven J. Burakoff
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
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Zhang G, Liu R, Zhong Y, Plotnikov AN, Zhang W, Zeng L, Rusinova E, Gerona-Nevarro G, Moshkina N, Joshua J, Chuang PY, Ohlmeyer M, He JC, Zhou MM. Down-regulation of NF-κB transcriptional activity in HIV-associated kidney disease by BRD4 inhibition. J Biol Chem 2012. [DOI: 10.1074/jbc.a112.359505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Fu S, Yang Y, Tirtha D, Yen Y, Zhou BS, Zhou MM, Ohlmeyer M, Ko EC, Cagan R, Rosenstein BS, Chen SH, Kao J. γ-H2AX kinetics as a novel approach to high content screening for small molecule radiosensitizers. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38465. [PMID: 22768044 PMCID: PMC3387170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Accepted: 05/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistence of γ-H2AX after ionizing radiation (IR) or drug therapy is a robust reporter of unrepaired DNA double strand breaks in treated cells. METHODS DU-145 prostate cancer cells were treated with a chemical library ±IR and assayed for persistence of γ-H2AX using an automated 96-well immunocytochemistry assay at 4 hours after treatment. Hits that resulted in persistence of γ-H2AX foci were tested for effects on cell survival. The molecular targets of hits were validated by molecular, genetic and biochemical assays and in vivo activity was tested in a validated Drosophila cancer model. RESULTS We identified 2 compounds, MS0019266 and MS0017509, which markedly increased persistence of γ-H2AX, apoptosis and radiosensitization in DU-145 cells. Chemical evaluation demonstrated that both compounds exhibited structurally similar and biochemical assays confirmed that these compounds inhibit ribonucleotide reductase. DNA microarray analysis and immunoblotting demonstrates that MS0019266 significantly decreased polo-like kinase 1 gene and protein expression. MS0019266 demonstrated in vivo antitumor activity without significant whole organism toxicity. CONCLUSIONS MS0019266 and MS0017509 are promising compounds that may be candidates for further development as radiosensitizing compounds as inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibo Fu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Radiation Biology, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Das Tirtha
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Yun Yen
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, United States of America
| | - Bing-sen Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, United States of America
| | - Ming-Ming Zhou
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Eric C. Ko
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ross Cagan
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Barry S. Rosenstein
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Shu-hsia Chen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Johnny Kao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, West Islip, New York, United States of America
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Sangodkar J, Dhawan NS, Melville H, Singh VJ, Yuan E, Rana H, Izadmehr S, Farrington C, Mazhar S, Katz S, Albano T, Arnovitz P, Okrent R, Ohlmeyer M, Galsky M, Burstein D, Zhang D, Politi K, Difeo A, Narla G. Targeting the FOXO1/KLF6 axis regulates EGFR signaling and treatment response. J Clin Invest 2012; 122:2637-51. [PMID: 22653055 DOI: 10.1172/jci62058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2011] [Accepted: 04/24/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
EGFR activation is both a key molecular driver of disease progression and the target of a broad class of molecular agents designed to treat advanced cancer. Nevertheless, resistance develops through several mechanisms, including activation of AKT signaling. Though much is known about the specific molecular lesions conferring resistance to anti-EGFR-based therapies, additional molecular characterization of the downstream mediators of EGFR signaling may lead to the development of new classes of targeted molecular therapies to treat resistant disease. We identified a transcriptional network involving the tumor suppressors Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) that negatively regulates activated EGFR signaling in both cell culture and in vivo models. Furthermore, the use of the FDA-approved drug trifluoperazine hydrochloride (TFP), which has been shown to inhibit FOXO1 nuclear export, restored sensitivity to AKT-driven erlotinib resistance through modulation of the KLF6/FOXO1 signaling cascade in both cell culture and xenograft models of lung adenocarcinoma. Combined, these findings define a novel transcriptional network regulating oncogenic EGFR signaling and identify a class of FDA-approved drugs as capable of restoring chemosensitivity to anti-EGFR-based therapy for the treatment of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaya Sangodkar
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Zhang G, Liu R, Zhong Y, Plotnikov AN, Zhang W, Zeng L, Rusinova E, Gerona-Nevarro G, Moshkina N, Joshua J, Chuang PY, Ohlmeyer M, He JC, Zhou MM. Down-regulation of NF-κB transcriptional activity in HIV-associated kidney disease by BRD4 inhibition. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:28840-51. [PMID: 22645123 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.359505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
NF-κB-mediated inflammation is the major pathology in chronic kidney diseases, including HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) that ultimately progresses to end stage renal disease. HIV infection in the kidney induces NF-κB activation, leading to the production of proinflammatory chemokines, cytokines, and adhesion molecules. In this study, we explored selective inhibition of NF-κB transcriptional activity by small molecule blocking NF-κB binding to the transcriptional cofactor BRD4, which is required for the assembly of the productive transcriptional complex comprising positive transcription elongation factor b and RNA polymerase II. We showed that our BET (Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal domain)-specific bromodomain inhibitor MS417, designed to block BRD4 binding to the acetylated NF-κB, effectively attenuates NF-κB transcriptional activation of proinflammatory genes in kidney cells treated with TNFα or infected by HIV. MS417 ameliorates inflammation and kidney injury in HIV-1 transgenic mice, an animal model for HIVAN. Our study suggests that BET bromodomain inhibition, targeting at the proinflammatory activity of NF-κB, represents a new therapeutic approach for treating NF-κB-mediated inflammation and kidney injury in HIVAN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangtao Zhang
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA
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Sangodkar J, Dhawan N, Melville H, Singh VJ, Farrington C, Yuan E, Rana H, Smith B, Gidwani V, Okrent R, Burstein D, Ohlmeyer M, Politi K, DiFeo A, Narla G. Abstract 1885: Targeting the FOXO1/KLF6 transcriptional network to modulate response to anti-EGFR based therapy. Cancer Res 2012. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2012-1885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation is both a key molecular driver of disease progression and the target of a broad class of molecular agents designed to treat advanced cancer. Nevertheless, resistance develops through several mechanisms including constitutive activation of AKT signaling. Additional molecular characterization of the downstream mediators of EGFR signaling may lead to the development of new classes of targeted molecular therapies to treat resistant disease. Here we identify a transcriptional network involving the KLF6 and FOXO1 tumor suppressor genes that negatively regulate activated EGFR signaling and that can be reactivated using the combination of two FDA approved agents in both cell culture and in vivo models of the disease. In both murine models and patient derived lung adenocarcinoma samples, EGFR activation is associated with FOXO1 mislocalization and decreased KLF6 expression. Furthermore, in a Kras driven mouse model, KLF6 expression is not significantly changed whereas AKT activation seen in the Pten/Mmac1+/− heterozygous mouse model results in FOXO1 mislocalization and decreased KLF6 expression. Consistent with these findings, inhibition of AKT signaling promotes increase in nuclear FOXO1 resulting in transactivation of the KLF6 tumor suppressor gene in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Correspondingly, the EGFRL858R mouse model demonstrates spontaneous tumor regression when treated with the anti-EGFR based therapy, erlotinib, an FDA-approved small-molecule inhibitor of EGFR signaling. We analyzed L858R mouse tumors samples treated with erlotinib and found increased KLF6 expression following EGFR inhibition. Conversely, targeted reduction of KLF6 resulted in decreased erlotinib response in both cell culture and in vivo models of disease suggesting a direct link between KLF6 upregulation and the induction of apoptosis by anti-EGFR based therapy. Therefore, we hypothesized that acquired resistance to anti-EGFR based therapies could be overcome by restoring downstream function of the FOXO1/KLF6 transcriptional network. Here we demonstrate that an FDA-approved drug, trifluoperazine hydrochloride (TFP), which has been shown to inhibit FOXO1 nuclear export, restores sensitivity to AKT-driven erlotinib-resistance through modulation of the KLF6/FOXO1 signaling cascade in both cell culture and xenograft models. Furthermore, silencing of FOXO1 blunts apoptosis mediated through combination erlotinib and TFP treatment suggesting that this transcriptional network is important for negatively regulating AKT signaling. Combined, these studies define a novel transcriptional network regulating oncogenic EGFR signaling and identify a class of FDA-approved drugs with the potential for rapid clinical translation to restore chemosensitivity to anti-EGFR-based therapy for the treatment of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1885. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1885
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neil Dhawan
- 1Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | | | | | - Eric Yuan
- 1Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Huma Rana
- 1Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Blake Smith
- 1Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
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Dhawan N, Smith B, Sangodkar J, Gidwani V, Kastrinsky D, Ohlmeyer M, Narla G. Abstract A218: Simultaneous inhibition of both the PI3K-AKT and MAPK-ERK pathways using a single small molecule based approach for the treatment of advanced cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2011. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-11-a218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Activation of the PI3K-AKT and MAPK-ERK signaling pathways drives a significant percentage of human cancer and serve as the target for multiple drug development efforts and clinical trials. Due to defined molecular crosstalk, dual inhibition of both pathways is necessary for optimal therapeutic efficacy, and therefore, combinations of PI3K-AKT and MAPK-ERK specific drug therapies are being evaluated. In this study, we have identified compounds that are capable of simultaneously inhibiting both the PI3K-AKT and MAPK-ERK pathway to induce apoptosis both in vitro and in mouse models of the disease. Moreover, we have performed additional derivatization of these small molecules to limit their toxicity and significantly improve their therapeutic window in cell culture and in vivo.
Methods: Our new series of molecules are derived from the phenothiazine, exemplified by trifluoperazine(TFP), and dibenzazepine structural backbones, exemplified by clomipramine(CIP). While the antiproliferative properties of neuroleptic tricyclics have been identified, previous clinical trials failed due to dose limiting CNS toxicities related to their potent antidopaminergic properties. We rendered the pendant amine non-basic to attempt to abolish the antidopaminergic effects of this class of drugs. We screened 100 of these novel compounds in the PTEN-null, EGFR-activated H1650 cell line. Subsequently, we determined the effect of two candidate molecules on the PI3K-AKT and MAPK-ERK pathways and their ability to induce apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.
Results: Through multiple rounds of SAR (structure activity relationship) analysis, we sequentially derivatized the parent compounds and identified two potent small molecule candidates that efficiently decouple the dose limiting CNS toxicity from the anti-proliferative and anti-tumorigenic properties of this class of FDA approved drugs. Treatment of a panel of lung adenocarcinoma cancer cell lines with these compounds, DBK-368 and DBK-382, led to a decrease in cell viability through the induction of spontaneous apoptosis. These compounds specifically induce caspase-dependent apoptosis as indicated by ZVAD-mediated inhibition of Annexin V staining. Upon mechanistic analysis, DBK-368 and DBK-382 display the ability to directly inhibit AKT and ERK downstream of PI3K and MEK, efficiently and potently decoupling the crosstalk between these two signaling pathways. Furthermore, in a transgenic inducible EGFR-activated mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma, we demonstrated that the novel derivative compounds inhibit AKT and ERK signaling and induce apoptosis in vivo. Lastly, in vivo toxicology studies demonstrated that while TFP exhibited dose limiting CNS toxicities at 15 mg/kg, DBK-368 and DBK-382 displayed no significant effects up to 60 mg/kg.
Conclusions: We have identified a series of novel small molecules through a reverse engineering effort of the tricyclic class of FDA approved drugs. Specifically, DBK-368 and DBK-382 appear to be promising monotherapy for advanced cancer as they exhibit dual functionality in the inhibiting both the PI3K-AKT and MAPK-ERK pathways simultaneously, both in vitro and in vivo.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A218.
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Abstract
Rapid advances in biomedical sciences in recent years have drastically accelerated the discovery of the molecular basis of human diseases. The great challenge is how to translate the newly acquired knowledge into new medicine for disease prevention and treatment. Drug discovery is a long and expensive process, and the pharmaceutical industry has not been very successful at it, despite its enormous resources and spending on the process. It is increasingly realized that academic biomedical research institutions ought to be engaged in early-stage drug discovery, especially when it can be coupled to their basic research. To leverage the productivity of new-drug development, a substantial acceleration in validation of new therapeutic targets is required, which would require small molecules that can precisely control target functions in complex biological systems in a temporal and dose-dependent manner. In this review, we describe a process of integration of small-molecule discovery and chemistry in academic biomedical research that will ideally bring together the elements of innovative approaches to new molecular targets, existing basic and clinical research, screening infrastructure, and synthetic and medicinal chemistry to follow up on small-molecule hits. Such integration of multidisciplinary resources and expertise will enable academic investigators to discover novel small molecules that are expected to facilitate their efforts in both mechanistic research and new-drug target validation. More broadly academic drug discovery should contribute new entities to therapy for intractable human diseases, especially for orphan diseases, and hopefully stimulate and synergize with the commercial sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Ohlmeyer
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Palin R, Abernethy L, Ansari N, Cameron K, Clarkson T, Dempster M, Dunn D, Easson AM, Edwards D, Maclean J, Everett K, Feilden H, Ho KK, Kultgen S, Littlewood P, McArthur D, McGregor D, McLuskey H, Neagu I, Neale S, Nisbet LA, Ohlmeyer M, Pham Q, Ratcliffe P, Rong Y, Roughton A, Sammons M, Swanson R, Tracey H, Walker G. Structure–activity studies of a novel series of isoxazole-3-carboxamide derivatives as TRPV1 antagonists. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2011; 21:892-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2010.12.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2010] [Revised: 12/16/2010] [Accepted: 12/18/2010] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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