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Kong M, Zhou J, Kang A, Kuai Y, Xu H, Li M, Miao X, Guo Y, Fan Z, Xu Y, Li Z. Histone methyltransferase Suv39h1 regulates hepatic stellate cell activation and is targetable in liver fibrosis. Gut 2024; 73:810-824. [PMID: 38176898 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-329671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Liver fibrosis is a prelude to a host of end-stage liver diseases. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), switching from a quiescent state to myofibroblasts, are the major source for excessive production of extracellular matrix proteins. In the present study, we investigated the role of Suv39h1, a lysine methyltransferase, in HSC-myofibroblast transition and the implication in liver fibrosis. DESIGN HSC-specific or myofibroblast-specific Suv39h1 deletion was achieved by crossbreeding the Suv39h1 f/f mice to the Lrat-Cre mice or the Postn-CreERT2 mice. Liver fibrosis was induced by CCl4 injection or bile duct ligation. RESULTS We report that Suv39h1 expression was universally upregulated during HSC-myofibroblast transition in different cell and animal models of liver fibrosis and in human cirrhotic liver tissues. Consistently, Suv39h1 knockdown blocked HSC-myofibroblast transition in vitro. HSC-specific or myofibroblast-specific deletion of Suv39h1 ameliorated liver fibrosis in mice. More importantly, Suv39h1 inhibition by a small-molecule compound chaetocin dampened HSC-myofibroblast transition in cell culture and mitigated liver fibrosis in mice. Mechanistically, Suv39h1 bound to the promoter of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and repressed HMOX1 transcription. HMOX1 depletion blunted the effects of Suv39h1 inhibition on HSC-myofibroblast transition in vitro and liver fibrosis in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that HMOX1 might contribute to HSC-myofibroblast transition by modulating retinol homeostasis. Finally, myofibroblast-specific HMOX1 overexpression attenuated liver fibrosis in both a preventive scheme and a therapeutic scheme. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate a previously unrecognised role for Suv39h1 in liver fibrosis and offer proof-of-concept of its targetability in the intervention of cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Junjing Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of JiangnanUniversity, Wuxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Aoqi Kang
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yameng Kuai
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Huihui Xu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiulian Miao
- Institute of Biomedical Research and College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Guo
- Institute of Biomedical Research and College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwen Fan
- Department of Pathology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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Schmidt TJ. Arnica montana L.: Doesn't Origin Matter? PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3532. [PMID: 37895999 PMCID: PMC10609804 DOI: 10.3390/plants12203532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Arnica montana L. (Asteraceae) has a long and successful tradition in Europe as herbal medicine. Arnica flowers (i.e., the flowerheads of Arnica montana) are monographed in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.), and a European Union herbal monograph exists, in which its use as traditional herbal medicine is recommended. According to this monograph, Arnica flowers (Arnicae flos Ph. Eur.) and preparations thereof may be used topically to treat blunt injuries and traumas, inflammations and rheumatic muscle and joint complaints. The main bioactive constituents are sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) of the helenanolide type. Among these, a variety of esters of helenalin and 11α,13-dihydrohelenalin with low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids, namely, acetic, isobutyric, methacrylic, methylbutyric as well as tiglic acid, represent the main constituents, in addition to small amounts of the unesterified parent STLs. A plethora of reports exist on the pharmacological activities of these STLs, and it appears unquestioned that they represent the main active principles responsible for the herbal drug's efficacy. It has been known for a long time, however, that considerable differences in the STL pattern occur between A. montana flowers from plants growing in middle or Eastern Europe with some originating from the Iberic peninsula. In the former, Helenalin esters usually predominate, whereas the latter contains almost exclusively 11α,13-Dihydrohelenalin derivatives. Differences in pharmacological potency, on the other hand, have been reported for the two subtypes of Arnica-STLs in various instances. At the same time, it has been previously proposed that one should distinguish between two subspecies of A. montana, subsp. montana occurring mainly in Central and Eastern Europe and subsp. atlantica in the southwestern range of the species distribution, i.e., on the Iberian Peninsula. The question hence arises whether or not the geographic origin of Arnica montana flowers is of any relevance for the medicinal use of the herbal drug and the pharmaceutical quality, efficacy and safety of its products and whether the chemical/pharmacological differences should not be recognized in pharmacopoeia monographs. The present review attempts to answer these questions based on a summary of the current state of botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Schmidt
- University of Münster, Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry (IPBP), PharmaCampus-Corrensstraße 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany
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3
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Schmidt TJ, Klempnauer KH. Natural Products with Antitumor Potential Targeting the MYB-C/EBPβ-p300 Transcription Module. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27072077. [PMID: 35408476 PMCID: PMC9000602 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27072077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor MYB is expressed predominantly in hematopoietic progenitor cells, where it plays an essential role in the development of most lineages of the hematopoietic system. In the myeloid lineage, MYB is known to cooperate with members of the CCAAT box/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) family of transcription factors. MYB and C/EBPs interact with the co-activator p300 or its paralog CREB-binding protein (CBP), to form a transcriptional module involved in myeloid-specific gene expression. Recent work has demonstrated that MYB is involved in the development of human leukemia, especially in acute T-cell leukemia (T-ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Chemical entities that inhibit the transcriptional activity of the MYB-C/EBPβ-p300 transcription module may therefore be of use as potential anti-tumour drugs. In searching for small molecule inhibitors, studies from our group over the last 10 years have identified natural products belonging to different structural classes, including various sesquiterpene lactones, a steroid lactone, quinone methide triterpenes and naphthoquinones that interfere with the activity of this transcriptional module in different ways. This review gives a comprehensive overview on the various classes of inhibitors and the inhibitory mechanisms by which they affect the MYB-C/EBPβ-p300 transcriptional module as a potential anti-tumor target. We also focus on the current knowledge on structure-activity relationships underlying these biological effects and on the potential of these compounds for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Schmidt
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry (IPBP), University of Münster, PharmaCampus-Corrensstraße 48, D-48149 Munster, Germany
- Correspondence: (T.J.S.); (K.-H.K.)
| | - Karl-Heinz Klempnauer
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 36, D-48149 Munster, Germany
- Correspondence: (T.J.S.); (K.-H.K.)
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Klempnauer KH. C/EBPβ sustains the oncogenic program of AML cells by cooperating with MYB and co-activator p300 in a transcriptional module. Exp Hematol 2022; 108:8-15. [PMID: 35032593 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factor MYB is a key regulator of gene expression in hematopoietic cells and has emerged as a novel drug target for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Studies aiming to identify potential MYB inhibitors have shown that the natural compound helenalin acetate (HA) inhibits viability and induces cell death and differentiation of AML cells by disrupting the MYB-induced gene expression program. Interestingly, CCAAT-box/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ), a transcription factor known to cooperate with MYB and the co-activator p300 in myeloid cells, rather than MYB itself, was identified as the primary target of HA. This supports a model in which MYB, C/EBPβ and p300 form the core of a transcriptional module that is essential for the maintenance of proliferative potential of AML cells, highlighting a novel role of C/EBPβ as a pro-leukemogenic factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl-Heinz Klempnauer
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
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5
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Ghani LA, Yusenko MV, Frank D, Moorthy R, Widen JC, Dörner W, Khandanpour C, Harki DA, Klempnauer KH. A synthetic covalent ligand of the C/EBPβ transactivation domain inhibits acute myeloid leukemia cells. Cancer Lett 2022; 530:170-180. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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6
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Emmetiere F, Ratnayake R, Schares HAM, Jones KFM, Bevan-Smith E, Luesch H, Harki DA, Grenning AJ. Function-Oriented and Modular (+/-)-cis-Pseudoguaianolide Synthesis: Discovery of New Nrf2 Activators and NF-κB Inhibitors. Chemistry 2021; 27:5564-5571. [PMID: 33502811 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202100038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Described herein is a function-oriented synthesis route and biological evaluation of pseudoguaianolide analogues. The 10-step synthetic route developed retains the topological complexity of the natural product, installs functional handles for late-stage diversification, and forges the key bioactive Michael acceptors early in the synthesis. The analogues were found to be low-micromolar Nrf2 activators and micromolar NF-κB inhibitors and dependent on the local environment of the Michael acceptor moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Emmetiere
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
| | - Ranjala Ratnayake
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Henry A M Schares
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Katherine F M Jones
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Emily Bevan-Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
| | - Hendrik Luesch
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Daniel A Harki
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Alexander J Grenning
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
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7
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Yusenko MV, Trentmann A, Casolari DA, Abdel Ghani L, Lenz M, Horn M, Dörner W, Klempnauer S, Mootz HD, Arteaga MF, Mikesch JH, D’Andrea RJ, Gonda TJ, Müller-Tidow C, Schmidt TJ, Klempnauer KH. C/EBPβ is a MYB- and p300-cooperating pro-leukemogenic factor and promising drug target in acute myeloid leukemia. Oncogene 2021; 40:4746-4758. [PMID: 33958723 PMCID: PMC8298201 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01800-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factor MYB has recently emerged as a promising drug target for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we have characterized a group of natural sesquiterpene lactones (STLs), previously shown to suppress MYB activity, for their potential to decrease AML cell proliferation. Unlike what was initially thought, these compounds inhibit MYB indirectly via its cooperation partner C/EBPβ. C/EBPβ-inhibitory STLs affect the expression of a large number of MYB-regulated genes, suggesting that the cooperation of MYB and C/EBPβ broadly shapes the transcriptional program of AML cells. We show that expression of GFI1, a direct MYB target gene, is controlled cooperatively by MYB, C/EBPβ, and co-activator p300, and is down-regulated by C/EBPβ-inhibitory STLs, exemplifying that they target the activity of composite MYB-C/EBPβ-p300 transcriptional modules. Ectopic expression of GFI1, a zinc-finger protein that is required for the maintenance of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, partially abrogated STL-induced myelomonocytic differentiation, implicating GFI1 as a relevant target of C/EBPβ-inhibitory STLs. Overall, our data identify C/EBPβ as a pro-leukemogenic factor in AML and suggest that targeting of C/EBPβ may have therapeutic potential against AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V. Yusenko
- grid.5949.10000 0001 2172 9288Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Amke Trentmann
- grid.5949.10000 0001 2172 9288Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Debora A. Casolari
- grid.1026.50000 0000 8994 5086Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA Australia
| | - Luca Abdel Ghani
- grid.5949.10000 0001 2172 9288Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Mairin Lenz
- grid.5949.10000 0001 2172 9288Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Melanie Horn
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology, Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Dörner
- grid.5949.10000 0001 2172 9288Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Stefan Klempnauer
- grid.5570.70000 0004 0490 981XDepartment of Mathematics, Ruhr-Universität, Bochum, Germany
| | - Henning D. Mootz
- grid.5949.10000 0001 2172 9288Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Maria Francisca Arteaga
- grid.16149.3b0000 0004 0551 4246Department of Medicine A, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Jan-Henrik Mikesch
- grid.16149.3b0000 0004 0551 4246Department of Medicine A, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Richard J. D’Andrea
- grid.1026.50000 0000 8994 5086Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA Australia
| | - Thomas J. Gonda
- grid.1026.50000 0000 8994 5086Cancer Research Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA Australia
| | - Carsten Müller-Tidow
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology, Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas J. Schmidt
- grid.5949.10000 0001 2172 9288Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Klempnauer
- grid.5949.10000 0001 2172 9288Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
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Chen A, Koehler AN. Transcription Factor Inhibition: Lessons Learned and Emerging Targets. Trends Mol Med 2020; 26:508-518. [PMID: 32359481 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factors have roles at focal points in signaling pathways, controlling many normal cellular processes, such as cell growth and proliferation, metabolism, apoptosis, immune responses, and differentiation. Their activity is frequently deregulated in disease and targeting this class of proteins is a major focus of interest. However, the structural disorder and lack of binding pockets have made design of small molecules for transcription factors challenging. Here, we review some of the most recent developments for small molecule inhibitors of transcription factors emphasized in James Darnell's vision 17 years ago. We also discuss the progress so far on transcription factors recently nominated by genome-scale loss-of-function screens from the cancer dependency map project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Chen
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA 02139, USA; MIT Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA 02142, USA
| | - Angela N Koehler
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA 02139, USA; MIT Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA 02142, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA 02142, USA.
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Aberrant enhancer hypomethylation contributes to hepatic carcinogenesis through global transcriptional reprogramming. Nat Commun 2019; 10:335. [PMID: 30659195 PMCID: PMC6338783 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08245-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) exhibit distinct promoter hypermethylation patterns, but the epigenetic regulation and function of transcriptional enhancers remain unclear. Here, our affinity- and bisulfite-based whole-genome sequencing analyses reveal global enhancer hypomethylation in human HCCs. Integrative epigenomic characterization further pinpoints a recurrent hypomethylated enhancer of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-beta (C/EBPβ) which correlates with C/EBPβ over-expression and poorer prognosis of patients. Demethylation of C/EBPβ enhancer reactivates a self-reinforcing enhancer-target loop via direct transcriptional up-regulation of enhancer RNA. Conversely, deletion of this enhancer via CRISPR/Cas9 reduces C/EBPβ expression and its genome-wide co-occupancy with BRD4 at H3K27ac-marked enhancers and super-enhancers, leading to drastic suppression of driver oncogenes and HCC tumorigenicity. Hepatitis B X protein transgenic mouse model of HCC recapitulates this paradigm, as C/ebpβ enhancer hypomethylation associates with oncogenic activation in early tumorigenesis. These results support a causal link between aberrant enhancer hypomethylation and C/EBPβ over-expression, thereby contributing to hepatocarcinogenesis through global transcriptional reprogramming. There are distinct hypermethylation patterns in gene promoters in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Here, the authors show that the enhancer of C/EBPβ is recurrently hypomethylated in human HCCs, recapitulating this in a transgenic murine model and linking aberrant enhancer hypomethylation to hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Yusenko M, Jakobs A, Klempnauer KH. A novel cell-based screening assay for small-molecule MYB inhibitors identifies podophyllotoxins teniposide and etoposide as inhibitors of MYB activity. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13159. [PMID: 30177851 PMCID: PMC6120916 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31620-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor MYB plays key roles in hematopoietic cells and has been implicated the development of leukemia. MYB has therefore emerged as an attractive target for drug development. Recent work has suggested that targeting MYB by small-molecule inhibitors is feasible and that inhibition of MYB has potential as a therapeutic approach against acute myeloid leukemia. To facilitate the identification of small-molecule MYB inhibitors we have re-designed and improved a previously established cell-based screening assay and have employed it to screen a natural product library for potential inhibitors. Our work shows that teniposide and etoposide, chemotherapeutic agents causing DNA-damage by inhibiting topoisomerase II, potently inhibit MYB activity and induce degradation of MYB in AML cell lines. MYB inhibition is suppressed by caffeine, suggesting that MYB is inhibited indirectly via DNA-damage signalling. Importantly, ectopic expression of an activated version of MYB in pro-myelocytic NB4 cells diminished the anti-proliferative effects of teniposide, suggesting that podophyllotoxins disrupt the proliferation of leukemia cells not simply by inducing general DNA-damage but that their anti-proliferative effects are boosted by inhibition of MYB. Teniposide and etoposide therefore act like double-edged swords that might be particularly effective to inhibit tumor cells with deregulated MYB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Yusenko
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Anke Jakobs
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Klempnauer
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149, Münster, Germany.
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JMJD3 facilitates C/EBPβ-centered transcriptional program to exert oncorepressor activity in AML. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3369. [PMID: 30135572 PMCID: PMC6105679 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05548-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
JMJD3, a stress-inducible H3K27 demethylase, plays a critical regulatory role in the initiation and progression of malignant hematopoiesis. However, how this histone modifier affects in a cell type-dependent manner remains unclear. Here, we show that in contrast to its oncogenic effect in preleukemia state and lymphoid malignancies, JMJD3 relieves the differentiation-arrest of certain subtypes (such as M2 and M3) of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. RNA sequencing and ChIP−PCR analyses revealed that JMJD3 exerts anti-AML effect by directly modulating H3K4 and H3K27 methylation levels to activate the expression of a number of key myelopoietic regulatory genes. Mechanistic exploration identified a physical and functional association of JMJD3 with C/EBPβ that presides the regulatory network of JMJD3. Thus, the leukemia regulatory role of JMJD3 varies in a disease phase- and lineage-dependent manner, and acts as a potential oncorepressor in certain subsets of AML largely by coupling to C/EBPβ-centered myelopoietic program. Histone demethylase JMJD3 is known to be oncogenic in preleukemic states and T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. Here, the authors show that in some acute myeloid leukemia subsets, JMJD3 can actually act as a potential oncorepressor via mediation of C/EBPβ-centered transcriptional programming.
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12
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Coulibaly A, Haas A, Steinmann S, Jakobs A, Schmidt TJ, Klempnauer KH. The natural anti-tumor compound Celastrol targets a Myb-C/EBPβ-p300 transcriptional module implicated in myeloid gene expression. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190934. [PMID: 29394256 PMCID: PMC5796697 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Myb is a key regulator of hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation and has emerged as a potential target for the treatment of acute leukemia. Using a myeloid cell line with a stably integrated Myb-inducible reporter gene as a screening tool we have previously identified Celastrol, a natural compound with anti-tumor activity, as a potent Myb inhibitor that disrupts the interaction of Myb with the co-activator p300. We showed that Celastrol inhibits the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and prolongs the survival of mice in an in vivo model of AML, demonstrating that targeting Myb with a small-molecule inhibitor is feasible and might have potential as a therapeutic approach against AML. Recently we became aware that the reporter system used for Myb inhibitor screening also responds to inhibition of C/EBPβ, a transcription factor known to cooperate with Myb in myeloid cells. By re-investigating the inhibitory potential of Celastrol we have found that Celastrol also strongly inhibits the activity of C/EBPβ by disrupting its interaction with the Taz2 domain of p300. Together with previous studies our work reveals that Celastrol independently targets Myb and C/EBPβ by disrupting the interaction of both transcription factors with p300. Myb, C/EBPβ and p300 cooperate in myeloid-specific gene expression and, as shown recently, are associated with so-called super-enhancers in AML cells that have been implicated in the maintenance of the leukemia. We hypothesize that the ability of Celastrol to disrupt the activity of a transcriptional Myb-C/EBPβ-p300 module might explain its promising anti-leukemic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Coulibaly
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Astrid Haas
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Simone Steinmann
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Anke Jakobs
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas J. Schmidt
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Klempnauer
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
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Assi M, Kenawi M, Ropars M, Rébillard A. Interleukin-6, C/EBP-β and PPAR-γ expression correlates with intramuscular liposarcoma growth in mice: The impact of voluntary physical activity levels. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 490:1026-1032. [PMID: 28668397 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.06.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
IL-6 is an axial cytokine overexpressed in cancer to promote growth and increase resistance to anti-cancer therapies. As the application of IL-6-targeting therapies are still limited, alternative non-aggressive and adjuvant approaches, like physical activity (PA) could be useful to reverse IL-6 effects. To get more insights into liposarcoma (LS) pathophysiology, we investigated potential molecular links between IL-6 and LS growth and we tested the impact of PA on such mechanism in an orthotopic model of intramuscular LS. Initially active nude mice have received an intramuscular injection of either human SW872 cells or vehicle, then were respectively randomized into voluntary-active or inactive mice with open or restricted access to activity-wheels. We found that LS-bearing mice exhibited ∼6 fold increase in circulating IL-6 comparing to controls, with a concomitant decrease in hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes expression. Circulating IL-6 levels were positively correlated with intra-tumor IL-6 expression (r = 0.85, P < 0.01). Interestingly, intra-tumor IL-6, C/EBP-α/β and PPAR-γ expression were correlated together and with greater tumor mass and autophagy markers, notably, GABARAPL-1. Intriguingly, we found that maintaining a spontaneous PA after tumor injection did not reduce the levels of IL-6, but even enhanced tumor growth, induced body weight loss and increased the risk of developing lung metastasis. Our findings suggest that (1) IL-6, C/EBP-β and PPAR-γ exert a potential role in promoting growth of dedifferentiated LS and (2) that PA failed to mechanistically interfere with these factors, but enhanced LS growth via other independent-mechanisms. The preclinical data reported here could be helpful in the sub-molecular classification of LS patients to improve diagnosis and design a low-risk treatment. Circulating IL-6 could serve as an indicator for treatment follow-up and, perhaps, for infra-radiologic LS relapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Assi
- EA1274 Laboratory "Movement, Sport and Health Sciences" M2S, University of Rennes 2-ENS Rennes, 35170 Bruz, France
| | - Moussa Kenawi
- EA1274 Laboratory "Movement, Sport and Health Sciences" M2S, University of Rennes 2-ENS Rennes, 35170 Bruz, France
| | - Mickaël Ropars
- EA1274 Laboratory "Movement, Sport and Health Sciences" M2S, University of Rennes 2-ENS Rennes, 35170 Bruz, France; Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery Unit-HUGORTHO Pontchaillou University Hospital, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Amélie Rébillard
- EA1274 Laboratory "Movement, Sport and Health Sciences" M2S, University of Rennes 2-ENS Rennes, 35170 Bruz, France.
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Falkenberg KD, Jakobs A, Matern JC, Dörner W, Uttarkar S, Trentmann A, Steinmann S, Coulibaly A, Schomburg C, Mootz HD, Schmidt TJ, Klempnauer KH. Withaferin A, a natural compound with anti-tumor activity, is a potent inhibitor of transcription factor C/EBPβ. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2017; 1864:1349-1358. [PMID: 28476645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent work has shown that deregulation of the transcription factor Myb contributes to the development of leukemia and several other human cancers, making Myb and its cooperation partners attractive targets for drug development. By employing a myeloid Myb-reporter cell line we have identified Withaferin A (WFA), a natural compound that exhibits anti-tumor activities, as an inhibitor of Myb-dependent transcription. Analysis of the inhibitory mechanism of WFA showed that WFA is a significantly more potent inhibitor of C/EBPβ, a transcription factor cooperating with Myb in myeloid cells, than of Myb itself. We show that WFA covalently modifies specific cysteine residues of C/EBPβ, resulting in the disruption of the interaction of C/EBPβ with the co-activator p300. Our work identifies C/EBPβ as a novel direct target of WFA and highlights the role of p300 as a crucial co-activator of C/EBPβ. The finding that WFA is a potent inhibitor of C/EBPβ suggests that inhibition of C/EBPβ might contribute to the biological activities of WFA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim D Falkenberg
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Anke Jakobs
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Julian C Matern
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Dörner
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sagar Uttarkar
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Amke Trentmann
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Simone Steinmann
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Anna Coulibaly
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Caroline Schomburg
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Henning D Mootz
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas J Schmidt
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Klempnauer
- Institute for Biochemistry, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
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15
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Lahtigui O, Emmetiere F, Zhang W, Jirmo L, Toledo-Roy S, Hershberger JC, Macho JM, Grenning AJ. Assembly of Terpenoid Cores by a Simple, Tunable Strategy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201608863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ouidad Lahtigui
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - Fabien Emmetiere
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - Liban Jirmo
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - Samira Toledo-Roy
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - John C. Hershberger
- Department of Chemistry and Physics; Arkansas State University; Jonesboro AR 72467 USA
| | - Jocelyn M. Macho
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - Alexander J. Grenning
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
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16
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Lahtigui O, Emmetiere F, Zhang W, Jirmo L, Toledo-Roy S, Hershberger JC, Macho JM, Grenning AJ. Assembly of Terpenoid Cores by a Simple, Tunable Strategy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016; 55:15792-15796. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201608863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ouidad Lahtigui
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - Fabien Emmetiere
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - Liban Jirmo
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - Samira Toledo-Roy
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - John C. Hershberger
- Department of Chemistry and Physics; Arkansas State University; Jonesboro AR 72467 USA
| | - Jocelyn M. Macho
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
| | - Alexander J. Grenning
- Department of Chemistry; University of Florida; PO Box 117200 Gainesville FL 32611-7200 USA
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17
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Jakobs A, Steinmann S, Henrich SM, Schmidt TJ, Klempnauer KH. Helenalin Acetate, a Natural Sesquiterpene Lactone with Anti-inflammatory and Anti-cancer Activity, Disrupts the Cooperation of CCAAT Box/Enhancer-binding Protein β (C/EBPβ) and Co-activator p300. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:26098-26108. [PMID: 27803164 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.748129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent work has demonstrated pro-oncogenic functions of the transcription factor CCAAT box/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) in various tumors, implicating C/EBPβ as an interesting target for the development of small-molecule inhibitors. We have previously discovered that the sesquiterpene lactone helenalin acetate, a natural compound known to inhibit NF-κB, is a potent C/EBPβ inhibitor. We have now examined the inhibitory mechanism of helenalin acetate in more detail. We demonstrate that helenalin acetate is a significantly more potent inhibitor of C/EBPβ than of NF-κB. Our work shows that helenalin acetate inhibits C/EBPβ by binding to the N-terminal part of C/EBPβ, thereby disrupting the cooperation of C/EBPβ with the co-activator p300. C/EBPβ is expressed in several isoforms from alternative translational start codons. We have previously demonstrated that helenalin acetate selectively inhibits only the full-length (liver-enriched activating protein* (LAP*)) isoform but not the slightly shorter (LAP) isoform. Consistent with this, helenalin acetate binds to the LAP* but not to the LAP isoform, explaining why its inhibitory activity is selective for LAP*. Although helenalin acetate contains reactive groups that are able to interact covalently with cysteine residues, as exemplified by its effect on NF-κB, the inhibition of C/EBPβ by helenalin acetate is not due to irreversible reaction with cysteine residues of C/EBPβ. In summary, helenalin acetate is the first highly active small-molecule C/EBPβ inhibitor that inhibits C/EBPβ by a direct binding mechanism. Its selectivity for the LAP* isoform also makes helenalin acetate an interesting tool to dissect the functions of the LAP* and LAP isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Thomas J Schmidt
- the Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany
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