1
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Alberti M, Poli G, Broggini L, Sainas S, Rizzi M, Boschi D, Ferraris DM, Martino E, Ricagno S, Tuccinardi T, Lolli ML, Miggiano R. An alternative conformation of the N-terminal loop of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase drives binding to a potent antiproliferative agent. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2024; 80:386-396. [PMID: 38805244 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798324004066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the years, human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH), which is a key player in the de novo pyrimidine-biosynthesis pathway, has been targeted in the treatment of several conditions, including autoimmune disorders and acute myelogenous leukaemia, as well as in host-targeted antiviral therapy. A molecular exploration of its inhibitor-binding behaviours yielded promising candidates for innovative drug design. A detailed description of the enzymatic pharmacophore drove the decoration of well-established inhibitory scaffolds, thus gaining further in vitro and in vivo efficacy. In the present work, using X-ray crystallography, an atypical rearrangement was identified in the binding pose of a potent inhibitor characterized by a polar pyridine-based moiety (compound 18). The crystal structure shows that upon binding compound 18 the dynamics of a protein loop involved in a gating mechanism at the cofactor-binding site is modulated by the presence of three water molecules, thus fine-tuning the polarity/hydrophobicity of the binding pocket. These solvent molecules are engaged in the formation of a hydrogen-bond mesh in which one of them establishes a direct contact with the pyridine moiety of compound 18, thus paving the way for a reappraisal of the inhibition of hDHODH. Using an integrated approach, the thermodynamics of such a modulation is described by means of isothermal titration calorimetry coupled with molecular modelling. These structural insights will guide future drug design to obtain a finer Kd/logD7.4 balance and identify membrane-permeable molecules with a drug-like profile in terms of water solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Alberti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via G. Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Giulio Poli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Broggini
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Cardiology, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Piazza Malan, 20097 San Donato Milanese, Italy
| | - Stefano Sainas
- Department of Sciences and Drug Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Menico Rizzi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via G. Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Donatella Boschi
- Department of Sciences and Drug Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Davide M Ferraris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via G. Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Elena Martino
- Department of Sciences and Drug Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Stefano Ricagno
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Cardiology, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Piazza Malan, 20097 San Donato Milanese, Italy
| | - Tiziano Tuccinardi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco L Lolli
- Department of Sciences and Drug Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Riccardo Miggiano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via G. Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy
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2
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Wang S, Li Y, Lin Y, Li J, Guo L, Wang H, Lin X, Liu Z, Zhang B, Liao Z, Zhang Z. Bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification of the cancer-promoting effect of DHODH in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11985. [PMID: 38796629 PMCID: PMC11127953 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62738-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a malignant tumor of the urinary system. To explore the potential mechanisms of DHODH in ccRCC, we analyzed its molecular characteristics using public databases. TCGA pan-cancer dataset was used to analyze DHODH expression in different cancer types and TCGA ccRCC dataset was used to assess differential expression, prognosis correlation, immune infiltration, single-gene, and functional enrichment due to DHODH. The GSCALite and CellMiner databases were employed to explore drugs and perform molecular docking analysis with DHODH. Protein-protein interaction networks and ceRNA regulatory networks of DHODH were constructed using multiple databases. The effect of DHODH on ccRCC was confirmed in vitro. DHODH was highly expressed in ccRCC. Immune infiltration analysis revealed that DHODH may be involved in regulating the infiltration of immunosuppressive cells such as Tregs. Notably, DHODH influenced ccRCC progression by forming regulatory networks with molecules, such as hsa-miR-26b-5p and UMPS and significantly enhanced the malignant characteristics of ccRCC cells. Several drugs, such as lapatinib, silmitasertib, itraconazole, and dasatinib, were sensitive to DHODH expression and exhibited strong molecular binding with it. Thus, DHODH may promote ccRCC progression and is a candidate effective therapeutic target for ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songsong Wang
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Urology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hubei Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Wuhan, 430061, China
- The First Clinical Medical Institute, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yilong Lin
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Junting Li
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350000, China
| | - Lang Guo
- Department of Urology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hubei Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Wuhan, 430061, China
- The First Clinical Medical Institute, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Department of Urology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hubei Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Wuhan, 430061, China
- The First Clinical Medical Institute, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Xinyuan Lin
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350000, China
| | - Ziming Liu
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China.
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China.
| | - Bingqi Zhang
- Department of Urology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, Hubei, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hubei Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Wuhan, 430061, China.
- The First Clinical Medical Institute, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430060, China.
| | - Zhengming Liao
- Department of Urology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, Hubei, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hubei Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Wuhan, 430061, China.
- The First Clinical Medical Institute, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430060, China.
| | - Zhongmin Zhang
- Department of Urology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, Hubei, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hubei Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Wuhan, 430061, China.
- The First Clinical Medical Institute, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430060, China.
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3
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Elgamal OA, Fobare S, Vibhute S, Mehmood A, Vroom DC, Johnson ML, Stearns B, Lerma JR, Truxall J, Stahl E, Carmichael B, Orwick SJ, Mims AS, Curran E, Santhanam R, Tridandapani S, Phelps MA, Xie Z, Coss CC, Baker SD, Patrick J, Ezzell JK, Rai J, Pan J, Rai SN, Stillwell C, Wunderlich M, Abdulrahim M, Goodwin TE, Hilinski G, Bennett CE, Hertlein E, Byrd JC. Pyrimidine depletion enhances targeted and immune therapy combinations in acute myeloid leukemia. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e173646. [PMID: 38646934 PMCID: PMC11141866 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.173646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a fatal disease characterized by the accumulation of undifferentiated myeloblasts, and agents that promote differentiation have been effective in this disease but are not curative. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors (DHODHi) have the ability to promote AML differentiation and target aberrant malignant myelopoiesis. We introduce HOSU-53, a DHODHi with significant monotherapy activity, which is further enhanced when combined with other standard-of-care therapeutics. We further discovered that DHODHi modulated surface expression of CD38 and CD47, prompting the evaluation of HOSU-53 combined with anti-CD38 and anti-CD47 therapies, where we identified a compelling curative potential in an aggressive AML model with CD47 targeting. Finally, we explored using plasma dihydroorotate (DHO) levels to monitor HOSU-53 safety and found that the level of DHO accumulation could predict HOSU-53 intolerability, suggesting the clinical use of plasma DHO to determine safe DHODHi doses. Collectively, our data support the clinical translation of HOSU-53 in AML, particularly to augment immune therapies. Potent DHODHi to date have been limited by their therapeutic index; however, we introduce pharmacodynamic monitoring to predict tolerability while preserving antitumor activity. We additionally suggest that DHODHi is effective at lower doses with select immune therapies, widening the therapeutic index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola A. Elgamal
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | - Sydney Fobare
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | - Sandip Vibhute
- Medicinal Chemistry Shared Resource, Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Abeera Mehmood
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | - Dennis C. Vroom
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Mariah L. Johnson
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | - Blaise Stearns
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - James R. Lerma
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jean Truxall
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | - Emily Stahl
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | - Bridget Carmichael
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | - Shelley J. Orwick
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | - Alice S. Mims
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | - Emily Curran
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Ramasamy Santhanam
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | | | | | - Zhiliang Xie
- College of Pharmacy and Comprehensive Cancer Center; and
| | - Christopher C. Coss
- Drug Development Institute, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey Patrick
- Drug Development Institute, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Janel K. Ezzell
- Drug Development Institute, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jayesh Rai
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine
- Cancer Data Science Center, College of Medicine; and
- Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jianmin Pan
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine
- Cancer Data Science Center, College of Medicine; and
- Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Shesh N. Rai
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine
- Cancer Data Science Center, College of Medicine; and
- Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Cody Stillwell
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Mark Wunderlich
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | - Gerard Hilinski
- Drug Development Institute, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Chad E. Bennett
- Medicinal Chemistry Shared Resource, Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Drug Development Institute, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Erin Hertlein
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
| | - John C. Byrd
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine
- College of Pharmacy and Comprehensive Cancer Center; and
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4
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Wang F, Fu K, Wang Y, Pan C, Wang X, Liu Z, Yang C, Zheng Y, Li X, Lu Y, To KKW, Xia C, Zhang J, Shi Z, Hu Z, Huang M, Fu L. Small-molecule agents for cancer immunotherapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:905-952. [PMID: 38486980 PMCID: PMC10935485 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, exemplified by the remarkable clinical benefits of the immune checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is revolutionizing cancer therapy. They induce long-term tumor regression and overall survival benefit in many types of cancer. With the advances in our knowledge about the tumor immune microenvironment, remarkable progress has been made in the development of small-molecule drugs for immunotherapy. Small molecules targeting PRR-associated pathways, immune checkpoints, oncogenic signaling, metabolic pathways, cytokine/chemokine signaling, and immune-related kinases have been extensively investigated. Monotherapy of small-molecule immunotherapeutic drugs and their combinations with other antitumor modalities are under active clinical investigations to overcome immune tolerance and circumvent immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance. Here, we review the latest development of small-molecule agents for cancer immunotherapy by targeting defined pathways and highlighting their progress in recent clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Kai Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yujue Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Can Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xueping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zeyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Chuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Ying Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Kenneth Kin Wah To
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Chenglai Xia
- Affiliated Foshan Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Jianye Zhang
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Zhi Shi
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zeping Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Min Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Liwu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
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5
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Higgins WT, Vibhute S, Bennett C, Lindert S. Discovery of Nanomolar Inhibitors for Human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Using Structure-Based Drug Discovery Methods. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:435-448. [PMID: 38175956 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
We used a structure-based drug discovery approach to identify novel inhibitors of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), which is a therapeutic target for treating cancer and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In the case of acute myeloid leukemia, no previously discovered DHODH inhibitors have yet succeeded in this clinical application. Thus, there remains a strong need for new inhibitors that could be used as alternatives to the current standard-of-care. Our goal was to identify novel inhibitors of DHODH. We implemented prefiltering steps to omit PAINS and Lipinski violators at the earliest stages of this project. This enriched compounds in the data set that had a higher potential of favorable oral druggability. Guided by Glide SP docking scores, we found 20 structurally unique compounds from the ChemBridge EXPRESS-pick library that inhibited DHODH with IC50, DHODH values between 91 nM and 2.7 μM. Ten of these compounds reduced MOLM-13 cell viability with IC50, MOLM-13 values between 2.3 and 50.6 μM. Compound 16 (IC50, DHODH = 91 nM) inhibited DHODH more potently than the known DHODH inhibitor, teriflunomide (IC50, DHODH = 130 nM), during biochemical characterizations and presented a promising scaffold for future hit-to-lead optimization efforts. Compound 17 (IC50, MOLM-13 = 2.3 μM) was most successful at reducing survival in MOLM-13 cell lines compared with our other hits. The discovered compounds represent excellent starting points for the development and optimization of novel DHODH inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T Higgins
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Sandip Vibhute
- Medicinal Chemistry Shared Resource, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Chad Bennett
- Medicinal Chemistry Shared Resource, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Drug Development Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Steffen Lindert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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6
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Mollick T, Darekar S, Dalarun B, Plastino F, Zhang J, Fernández AP, Alkasalias T, André H, Laín S. Retinoblastoma vulnerability to combined de novo and salvage pyrimidine ribonucleotide synthesis pharmacologic blockage. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23831. [PMID: 38332874 PMCID: PMC10851301 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Retinoblastoma is an eye cancer that commonly affects young children. Despite significant advances, current treatments cause side effects even when administered locally, and patients may still have to undergo enucleation. This is particularly disheartening in cases of bilateral retinoblastoma. Hence, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Inhibitors of the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), which is involved in the de novo pyrimidine ribonucleotide synthesis pathway, have proven to be effective in preclinical trials against several cancers including pediatric cancers. Here we tested whether blocking pyrimidine ribonucleotide synthesis promotes retinoblastoma cell death. Cultured retinoblastoma cell lines were treated with small molecule inhibitors of DHODH alone or in combination with inhibitors of nucleoside uptake to also block the salvage pathway for pyrimidine ribonucleotide formation. On their own, DHODH inhibitors had a moderate killing effect. However, the combination with nucleoside uptake inhibitors greatly enhanced the effect of DHODH inhibition. In addition, we observed that pyrimidine ribonucleotide synthesis blockage can cause cell death in a p53 mutant retinoblastoma cell line derived from a patient with metastasis. Explaining these results, the analysis of a published patient cohort revealed that loss of chr16q22.2 (containing the DHODH gene) is amongst the most frequent alterations in retinoblastoma and that these tumors often show gains in chromosome regions expressing pyrimidine ribonucleotide salvage factors. Furthermore, these genome alterations associate with malignancy. These results indicate that targeting pyrimidine ribonucleotide synthesis may be an effective therapeutic strategy to consider as a treatment for retinoblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanzina Mollick
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Suhas Darekar
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Basile Dalarun
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Flavia Plastino
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Juan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andres Pastor Fernández
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Twana Alkasalias
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- General Directorate of Scientific Research Center, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Helder André
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonia Laín
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
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7
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Rastogi SK, Ciliberto VC, Trevino MZ, Campbell BA, Brittain WJ. Green Approach Toward Triazole Forming Reactions for Developing Anticancer Drugs. Curr Org Synth 2024; 21:380-420. [PMID: 37157212 DOI: 10.2174/1570179420666230508125144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Compounds containing triazole have many significant applications in the dye and ink industry, corrosion inhibitors, polymers, and pharmaceutical industries. These compounds possess many antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, anti-HIV, antitubercular, and anticancer activities. Several synthetic methods have been reported for reducing time, minimizing synthetic steps, and utilizing less hazardous and toxic solvents and reagents to improve the yield of triazoles and their analogues synthesis. Among the improvement in methods, green approaches towards triazole forming biologically active compounds, especially anticancer compounds, would be very important for pharmaceutical industries as well as global research community. In this article, we have reviewed the last five years of green chemistry approaches on click reaction between alkyl azide and alkynes to install 1,2,3-triazole moiety in natural products and synthetic drug-like molecules, such as in colchicine, flavanone cardanol, bisphosphonates, thiabendazoles, piperazine, prostanoid, flavonoid, quinoxalines, C-azanucleoside, dibenzylamine, and aryl-azotriazole. The cytotoxicity of triazole hybrid analogues was evaluated against a panel of cancer cell lines, including multidrug-resistant cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva K Rastogi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Veronica C Ciliberto
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Monica Z Trevino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Brooke A Campbell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - William J Brittain
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
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8
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Shi ZZ, Jin X, Li WT, Tao H, Song SJ, Fan ZW, Jiang W, Liang JW, Bai J. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase promotes cell proliferation and suppresses cell death in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:2294-2307. [PMID: 37859742 PMCID: PMC10583008 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Background Ferroptosis is defined as an iron-dependent non-apoptotic form of programmed cell death. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a newly discovered anti-ferroptosis molecule independent from the well-known GPX4 and AIFM2. However, the expression pattern and especially the functional roles of DHODH during cancer cell death are generally unknown. Methods The databases of Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), Kaplan-Meier Plotter, and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), and methods of colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection, RNA-seq, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting were used to analyze the expression level, prognostic role, and oncogenic roles of DHODH in cancers. Results DHODH overexpression was identified in many types of cancers including esophageal carcinoma (ESCA), colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), rectum adenocarcinoma (READ), and so on. Silence and inactivation of DHODH decreased the abilities of cell proliferation, colony formation, and cellular ATP levels both in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Z-VAD-FMK (an apoptosis inhibitor) partially rescued blockade of DHODH-induced death of ESCC cells, and ferroptosis inhibitors (ferrostatin-1 and liproxstatin-1) together with the necroptosis inhibitor (necrostatin-1) partially rescued inhibition of DHODH-induced death of CRC cells, respectively. Pathways including rheumatoid arthritis, salmonella infection, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, pertussis, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were enriched in DHODH-silenced ESCC cells. Conclusions Overexpression of DHODH augments cell proliferation and suppresses cell death in ESCC and CRC, and DHODH might be developed as a potential anticancer target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Zhou Shi
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Xin Jin
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Wen-Ting Li
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Hao Tao
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Sheng-Jie Song
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Ze-Wen Fan
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Jian-Wei Liang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Bai
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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9
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Dang CV. Cancer Metabolism Historical Perspectives: A Chronicle of Controversies and Consensus. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041530. [PMID: 37553212 PMCID: PMC10691493 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
A century ago, Otto Warburg's work sparked the field of cancer metabolism, which has since taken a tortuous path. As evidence accumulated over the decades, consensus views of causes of cancer emerged, whereby genetic and epigenetic oncogenic drivers promoted immune evasion and induced new blood vessels and neoplastic metabolism to support tumor growth. Neoplastic cells abandon social cues of intercellular cooperation, escape tissue confinement, metastasize, and ultimately kill the host. Herein, key milestones in the study of cancer metabolism are chronicled with an emphasis on carbohydrate metabolism. The field began with a cancer cell-autonomous view that has been refined by a richer understanding of solid cancers as growing, immune-suppressive, complex organs comprising different cell types that are nourished by a variety of nutrients and variable amounts of oxygen through abnormal neovasculatures. Based on foundational historical studies, our current understanding of cancer metabolism offers a hopeful outlook for targeting metabolism to enhance cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi V Dang
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York 10017, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA
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10
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Li D, Lu X, Xu G, Liu S, Gong Z, Lu F, Xia X, Jiang J, Wang H, Zou F, Ma X. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase regulates ferroptosis in neurons after spinal cord injury via the P53-ALOX15 signaling pathway. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023. [PMID: 36942513 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a highly disabling condition in spinal surgery that leads to neuronal damage and secondary inflammation. Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic type of cell death that has only recently been identified, which is marked primarily by iron-dependent and lipid-derived reactive oxygen species accumulation, and accompanied by morphological modifications such as mitochondrial atrophy and increase in membrane density. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a powerful inhibitor of ferroptosis and has been demonstrated to inhibit cellular ferroptosis in tumor cells, but whether it can inhibit neuronal injury following spinal cord injury remains ambiguous. METHODS In this study, the effect of DHODH on neuronal ferroptosis was observed in vivo and in vitro using a rat spinal cord injury model and erastin-induced PC12 cells, respectively. A combination of molecular and histological approaches was performed to assess ferroptosis and explore the possible mechanisms in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS First, we confirmed the existence of neuronal ferroptosis after spinal cord injury and that DHODH attenuates neuronal damage after spinal cord injury. Second, we showed molecular evidence that DHODH inhibits the activation of ferroptosis-related molecules and reduces lipid peroxide production and mitochondrial damage, thereby reducing neuronal ferroptosis. Further analysis suggests that P53/ALOX15 may be one of the mechanisms regulated by DHODH. Importantly, we determined that DHODH inhibits ALOX15 expression by inhibiting P53. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal a novel function for DHODH in neuronal ferroptosis after spinal cord injury, suggesting a unique therapeutic target to alleviate the disease process of spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dachuan Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Lu
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangyu Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyang Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaoyang Gong
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feizhou Lu
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinlei Xia
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianyuan Jiang
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongli Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Zou
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaosheng Ma
- Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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11
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Petrović MM, Roschger C, Lang K, Zierer A, Mladenović M, Trifunović S, Mandić B, Joksović MD. Synthesis and biological evaluation of new quinoline-4-carboxylic acid-chalcone hybrids as dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2200374. [PMID: 36372522 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202200374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Fourteen novel quinoline-4-carboxylic acid-chalcone hybrids were obtained via Claisen-Schmidt condensation and evaluated as potential human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) inhibitors. The ketone precursor 2 was synthesized by the Pfitzinger reaction and used for further derivatization at position 3 of the quinoline ring for the first time. Six compounds showed better hDHODH inhibitory activity than the reference drug leflunomide, with IC50 values ranging from 0.12 to 0.58 μM. The bioactive conformations of the compounds within hDHODH were resolved by means of molecular docking, revealing their tendency to occupy the narrow tunnel of hDHODH within the N-terminus and to prevent ubiquinone as the second cofactor from easily approaching the flavin mononucleotide as a cofactor for the redox reaction within the redox site. The results of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed that 4d and 4h demonstrated the highest cytotoxic activity against the A375 cell line, with IC50 values of 5.0 and 6.8 µM, respectively. The lipophilicity of the synthesized hybrids was obtained experimentally and expressed as logD7.4 values at physiologicalpH while the solubility assay was conducted to define physicochemical characteristics influencing the ADMET properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena M Petrović
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Cornelia Roschger
- Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, University Clinic for Cardiac-, Vascular- and Thoracic Surgery, Linz, Austria
| | - Kevin Lang
- Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, University Clinic for Cardiac-, Vascular- and Thoracic Surgery, Linz, Austria
| | - Andreas Zierer
- Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, University Clinic for Cardiac-, Vascular- and Thoracic Surgery, Linz, Austria
| | - Milan Mladenović
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | | | - Boris Mandić
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milan D Joksović
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
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12
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Proof-of-principle studies on a strategy to enhance nucleotide imbalance specifically in cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2022; 8:464. [PMID: 36424385 PMCID: PMC9691752 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-01254-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Highly specific and potent inhibitors of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), an essential enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine ribonucleotide synthesis pathway, are in clinical trials for autoimmune diseases, viral infections and cancer. However, because DHODH inhibitors (DHODHi) are immunosuppressants they may reduce the anticancer activity of the immune system. Therefore, there may be a need to improve the therapeutic index of DHODHi in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to find strategies to protect activated T cells from DHODHi and to identify cancer types hypersensitive to these inhibitors. First, we observed that like uridine supplementation, adding cytidine to the culture medium protects T cells from DHODH blockage. Next, we identified tumor types with altered expression of pyrimidine ribonucleotide synthesis enzymes. In this regard, we detected that the expression of cytidine deaminase (CDA), which converts cytidine into uridine, is low in an important proportion of cancer cell lines and consistently low in neuroblastoma samples and in cell lines from neuroblastoma and small cell lung carcinoma. This suggested that in the presence of a DHODHi, an excess of cytidine would be deleterious for low CDA expressing cancer cell lines. We show that this was the case (as could be seen almost immediately after treatment) when cells were cultured with fetal bovine serum but, was significantly less evident when cultures contained human serum. One interesting feature of CDA is that aside from acting intracellularly, it is also present in human plasma/serum. Altogether, experiments using recombinant CDA, human serum, pharmacologic inhibition of CDA and T cell/cancer cell co-cultures suggest that the therapeutic index of DHODHi could be improved by selecting patients with low-CDA expressing cancers in combination with strategies to increase cytidine or the cytidine/uridine ratio in the extracellular environment. Collectively, this proof-of-principle study warrants the discovery of agents to deplete extracellular CDA.
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13
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Zhang S, Kang L, Dai X, Chen J, Chen Z, Wang M, Jiang H, Wang X, Bu S, Liu X, Zhang G, Tang H. Manganese induces tumor cell ferroptosis through type-I IFN dependent inhibition of mitochondrial dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 193:202-212. [PMID: 36228830 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a novel form of regulated cell death characterized by the iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxides to lethal levels, which is morphologically, biochemically, and genetically distinct from apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis. Manganese play an important role in innate immunity and antitumor immunity. Many manganese-based nanomaterials induce tumor cell death by catalyzing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the tumor. However, the exact underlying mechanisms remain unclear. As research on ferroptosis advances and its regulatory mechanisms in tumors continue to be refined, more evidence has suggested that triggering ferroptosis in tumor cells is an effective strategy for tumor treatment. In this study, we found that administration of MnCl2 to tumor cells resulted in lipid peroxidation and increased the levels of mitochondrial ROS, consequently leading to ferroptosis. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH)-mediated ferroptosis defence is a targetable vulnerability in cancer. We show that MnCl2 downregulated DHODH expression in tumor cells, resulting in increased mitochondrial ROS and lipid peroxidation to induce ferroptosis. In addition, MnCl2 enhanced the phosphorylation levels of STING, TBK1, and IRF3 and upregulated the expression of type-I interferon (IFN), produced by the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. When inhibiting the cGAS-STING signaling pathway or type-I IFN, DHODH expression was restored, reversing lipid peroxidation and ROS production and rescuing MnCl2-induced ferroptosis.. Knockout of IFNAR1 or overexpression of DHODH weakens the antitumor effect of MnCl2. Mechanistically, these results revealed that Manganese treatment-activated cGAS-STING signaling promote mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and ROS production by releasing type-I IFNs that reduce DHODH function and thereby inducing ferroptosis in tumor cells. This may provide a new strategy to complement existing antitumor treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanlong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, 271000, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Li Kang
- Department of Immunology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250117, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoxue Dai
- Department of Rheumatology and Autoimmunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Junlan Chen
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 430079, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengtao Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Autoimmunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Meixiang Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Autoimmunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Huantong Jiang
- Department of Rheumatology and Autoimmunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Autoimmunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Suqin Bu
- Department of Rheumatology and Autoimmunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xinyuan Liu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 430079, Wuhan, China
| | - Guohui Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Autoimmunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Hua Tang
- Department of Rheumatology and Autoimmunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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14
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Schölermann B, Bonowski J, Grigalunas M, Burhop A, Xie Y, Hoock JGF, Liu J, Dow M, Nelson A, Nowak C, Pahl A, Sievers S, Ziegler S. Identification of Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors Using the Cell Painting Assay. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200475. [PMID: 36134475 PMCID: PMC9828254 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Profiling approaches have been increasingly employed for the characterization of disease-relevant phenotypes or compound perturbation as they provide a broad, unbiased view on impaired cellular states. We report that morphological profiling using the cell painting assay (CPA) can detect modulators of de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis and of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) in particular. The CPA can differentiate between impairment of pyrimidine and folate metabolism, which both affect cellular nucleotide pools. The identified morphological signature is shared by inhibitors of DHODH and the functionally tightly coupled complex III of the mitochondrial respiratory chain as well as by UMP synthase, which is downstream of DHODH. The CPA appears to be particularly suited for the detection of DHODH inhibitors at the site of their action in cells. As DHODH is a validated therapeutic target, the CPA will enable unbiased identification of DHODH inhibitors and inhibitors of de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis for biological research and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Schölermann
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany
| | - Jana Bonowski
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany
| | - Michael Grigalunas
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany
| | - Annina Burhop
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany
| | - Yusheng Xie
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany
| | - Joseph G. F. Hoock
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany
| | - Jie Liu
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany
| | - Mark Dow
- School of Chemistry andAstbury Centre for Structural Molecular BiologyUniversity of LeedsLS2 9JTLeedsUK
| | - Adam Nelson
- School of Chemistry andAstbury Centre for Structural Molecular BiologyUniversity of LeedsLS2 9JTLeedsUK
| | - Christine Nowak
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany
| | - Axel Pahl
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany,Compound Management and Screening Center44227DortmundGermany
| | - Sonja Sievers
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany,Compound Management and Screening Center44227DortmundGermany
| | - Slava Ziegler
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical Biology44227DortmundGermany
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15
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Li C, Zhou Y, Xu J, Zhou X, Liu S, Huang Z, Qiu Z, Zeng T, Gou K, Tao L, Zhong X, Yang X, Zhou Y, Su N, Chen Q, Zhao Y, Luo Y. Discovery of potent human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors based on a benzophenone scaffold. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 243:114737. [PMID: 36115209 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Blocking the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine by inhibiting human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) is an effective way to suppress the proliferation of cancer cells and activated lymphocytes. Herein, eighteen teriflunomide derivatives and four ASLAN003 derivatives were designed and synthesized as novel hDHODH inhibitors based on a benzophenone scaffold. The optimal compound 7d showed a potent hDHODH inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 10.9 nM, and displayed promising antiproliferative activities against multiple human cancer cells with IC50 values of 0.1-0.8 μM. Supplementation of exogenous uridine rescued the cell viability of 7d-treated Raji and HCT116 cells. Meanwhile, 7d significantly induced cell cycle S-phase arrest in Raji and HCT116 cells. Furthermore, 7d exhibited favorable safety profiles in mice and displayed effective antitumor activities with tumor growth inhibition (TGI) rates of 58.3% and 42.1% at an oral dosage of 30 mg/kg in Raji and HCT116 cells xenograft models, respectively. Taken together, these findings provide a promising hDHODH inhibitor 7d with potential activities against some tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chungen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xia Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Song Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zongkai Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhiqiang Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ting Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Kun Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lei Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xi Zhong
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaowei Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Na Su
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yinglan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Youfu Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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16
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Cisar JS, Pietsch C, DeRatt LG, Jacoby E, Kazmi F, Keohane C, Legenski K, Matico R, Shaffer P, Simonnet Y, Tanner A, Wang CY, Wang W, Attar R, Edwards JP, Kuduk SD. N-Heterocyclic 3-Pyridyl Carboxamide Inhibitors of DHODH for the Treatment of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. J Med Chem 2022; 65:11241-11256. [PMID: 35925768 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a disease of the blood and bone marrow, is characterized by the inability of myeloblasts to differentiate into mature cell types. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is an enzyme well-known in the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway; however, small molecule DHODH inhibitors were recently shown to induce differentiation in multiple AML subtypes. Using virtual screening and structure-based drug design approaches, a new series of N-heterocyclic 3-pyridyl carboxamide DHODH inhibitors were discovered. Two lead compounds, 19 and 29, have potent biochemical and cellular DHODH activity, favorable physicochemical properties, and efficacy in a preclinical model of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin S Cisar
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Christine Pietsch
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Lindsey G DeRatt
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Edgar Jacoby
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Faraz Kazmi
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Colleen Keohane
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Katie Legenski
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Rosalie Matico
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Paul Shaffer
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Yvan Simonnet
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Alexandra Tanner
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Chao-Yuan Wang
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Weixue Wang
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Ricardo Attar
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - James P Edwards
- Janssen Research and Development, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Scott D Kuduk
- Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
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17
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Eriksen‐Gjerstad M, Tveit Karlsen I, Fandalyuk Z, Benjaminsen S, Baran‐Marszak F, Papp B, Locke F, Ladds M, Pastor‐Fernández A, Gelebart P, Mc Cormack E. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibition acts synergistically with tyrosine kinase inhibitors to induce apoptosis of mantle cell lymphoma cells. EJHAEM 2022; 3:913-918. [PMID: 36051066 PMCID: PMC9422018 DOI: 10.1002/jha2.434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a non‐Hodgkin lymphoma that remains incurable with the treatment options available today. In the present study, we have identified the dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), an essential enzyme for the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine‐based nucleotides, to be overexpressed in MCL in comparison to healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In vitro inhibition of the DHODH activity using a newly developed DHODH inhibitor, namely (R)‐HZ05, can induce MCL cell death in the nanomolar range independently than the P53 status of the investigated cell lines. Moreover, the combination of (R)‐HZ05 with tyrosine kinase inhibitor shows the synergistic activity on cell death. Pre‐clinical investigation on the efficacy of (R)‐HZ05 shows that it can be prolonged animal lifespan similar to ibrutinib. (R)‐HZ05 use in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitor demonstrated a superior efficacy on tumor burden reduction and survival than either drug alone. We have demonstrated that the depletion of the pyrimidine nucleotide pool, using DHODH inhibitor, represents a new therapeutic strategy that may benefit MCL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Bela Papp
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR U976 Institut de Recherche Saint‐Louis Hôpital Saint‐Louis, Université de Paris; CEA DRF‐Institut Francois Jacob Department of Hemato‐Immunology Research Hôpital Saint‐Louis Paris France
| | - Frederick Locke
- Department of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Moffit Cancer Centre Tampa USA
| | - Marcus Ladds
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
- SciLifeLab Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
| | - Andrés Pastor‐Fernández
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
- SciLifeLab Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
| | - Pascal Gelebart
- Department of Clinical Science University of Bergen Bergen Norway
| | - Emmet Mc Cormack
- Department of Clinical Science University of Bergen Bergen Norway
- Department of Clinical Science University of Bergen Bergen Norway
- Department of Quality and Development Hospital Pharmacies Enterprise in Western Norway Bergen Norway
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO Bergen Norway
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18
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Teriflunomide Loaded SPION Nanoparticles Induced Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells. J CLUST SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10876-022-02327-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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19
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Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibition reveals metabolic vulnerability in chronic myeloid leukemia. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:576. [PMID: 35773274 PMCID: PMC9247109 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05028-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The development of different generations of BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has led to the high overall survival of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. However, there are CML patients who show resistance to TKI therapy and are prone to progress to more advanced phases of the disease. So, implementing an alternative approach for targeting TKIs insensitive cells would be of the essence. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is an enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway that is located in the inner membrane of mitochondria. Here, we found that CML cells are vulnerable to DHODH inhibition mediated by Meds433, a new and potent DHODH inhibitor recently developed by our group. Meds433 significantly activates the apoptotic pathway and leads to the reduction of amino acids and induction of huge metabolic stress in CML CD34+ cells. Altogether, our study shows that DHODH inhibition is a promising approach for targeting CML stem/progenitor cells and may help more patients discontinue the therapy.
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20
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Allison TM, Degiacomi MT, Marklund EG, Jovine L, Elofsson A, Benesch JLP, Landreh M. Complementing machine learning‐based structure predictions with native mass spectrometry. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4333. [PMID: 35634779 PMCID: PMC9123603 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The advent of machine learning‐based structure prediction algorithms such as AlphaFold2 (AF2) and RoseTTa Fold have moved the generation of accurate structural models for the entire cellular protein machinery into the reach of the scientific community. However, structure predictions of protein complexes are based on user‐provided input and may require experimental validation. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a versatile, time‐effective tool that provides information on post‐translational modifications, ligand interactions, conformational changes, and higher‐order oligomerization. Using three protein systems, we show that native MS experiments can uncover structural features of ligand interactions, homology models, and point mutations that are undetectable by AF2 alone. We conclude that machine learning can be complemented with MS to yield more accurate structural models on a small and large scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M. Allison
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences University of Canterbury Christchurch New Zealand
| | | | | | - Luca Jovine
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition Karolinska Institutet Huddinge Sweden
| | - Arne Elofsson
- Science for Life Laboratory and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Stockholm University Solna Sweden
| | | | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology Karolinska Institutet – Biomedicum Stockholm Sweden
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21
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Targeting Ribosome Biogenesis in Cancer: Lessons Learned and Way Forward. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092126. [PMID: 35565259 PMCID: PMC9100539 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cells need to produce ribosomes to sustain continuous proliferation and expand in numbers, a feature that is even more prominent in uncontrollably proliferating cancer cells. Certain cancer cell types are expected to depend more on ribosome biogenesis based on their genetic background, and this potential vulnerability can be exploited in designing effective, targeted cancer therapies. This review provides information on anti-cancer molecules that target the ribosome biogenesis machinery and indicates avenues for future research. Abstract Rapid growth and unrestrained proliferation is a hallmark of many cancers. To accomplish this, cancer cells re-wire and increase their biosynthetic and metabolic activities, including ribosome biogenesis (RiBi), a complex, highly energy-consuming process. Several chemotherapeutic agents used in the clinic impair this process by interfering with the transcription of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in the nucleolus through the blockade of RNA polymerase I or by limiting the nucleotide building blocks of RNA, thereby ultimately preventing the synthesis of new ribosomes. Perturbations in RiBi activate nucleolar stress response pathways, including those controlled by p53. While compounds such as actinomycin D and oxaliplatin effectively disrupt RiBi, there is an ongoing effort to improve the specificity further and find new potent RiBi-targeting compounds with improved pharmacological characteristics. A few recently identified inhibitors have also become popular as research tools, facilitating our advances in understanding RiBi. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the various compounds targeting RiBi, their mechanism of action, and potential use in cancer therapy. We discuss screening strategies, drug repurposing, and common problems with compound specificity and mechanisms of action. Finally, emerging paths to discovery and avenues for the development of potential biomarkers predictive of therapeutic outcomes across cancer subtypes are also presented.
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22
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Walter M, Herr P. Re-Discovery of Pyrimidine Salvage as Target in Cancer Therapy. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040739. [PMID: 35203388 PMCID: PMC8870348 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleotides are synthesized through two distinct pathways: de novo synthesis and nucleoside salvage. Whereas the de novo pathway synthesizes nucleotides from amino acids and glucose, the salvage pathway recovers nucleosides or bases formed during DNA or RNA degradation. In contrast to high proliferating non-malignant cells, which are highly dependent on the de novo synthesis, cancer cells can switch to the nucleoside salvage pathways to maintain efficient DNA replication. Pyrimidine de novo synthesis remains the target of interest in cancer therapy and several inhibitors showed promising results in cancer cells and in vivo models. In the 1980s and 1990s, poor responses were however observed in clinical trials with several of the currently existing pyrimidine synthesis inhibitors. To overcome the observed limitations in clinical trials, targeting pyrimidine salvage alone or in combination with pyrimidine de novo inhibitors was suggested. Even though this approach showed initially promising results, it received fresh attention only recently. Here we discuss the re-discovery of targeting pyrimidine salvage pathways for DNA replication alone or in combination with inhibitors of pyrimidine de novo synthesis to overcome limitations of commonly used antimetabolites in various preclinical cancer models and clinical trials. We also highlight newly emerged targets in pyrimidine synthesis as well as pyrimidine salvage as a promising target in immunotherapy.
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23
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Zhang L, Zhang J, Wang J, Ren C, Tang P, Ouyang L, Wang Y. Recent advances of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors for cancer therapy: Current development and future perspectives. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 232:114176. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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24
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Miyake S, Masuda S. Inhibition of mitochondrial complex III or dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) triggers formation of poly(A) + RNA foci adjacent to nuclear speckles following activation of ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated). RNA Biol 2022; 19:1244-1255. [PMID: 36412986 PMCID: PMC9683070 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2022.2146919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular and intercellular signalling networks play an essential role in optimizing cellular homoeostasis and are thought to be partly reflected in nuclear mRNA dynamics. However, the regulation of nuclear mRNA dynamics by intracellular and intercellular signals remains largely unexplored, and research tools are lacking. Through an original screening based on the mRNA metabolic mechanism, we discovered that eight well-known inhibitors cause significant nuclear poly(A)+ RNA accumulation. Among these inhibitors, we discovered a new mRNA metabolic response in which the addition of antimycin A, an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiratory-chain complex III (complex III), resulted in a marked accumulation of poly(A)+ RNA near the nuclear speckles. Furthermore, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors, a rate-limiting enzyme in the intracellular de novo pyrimidine synthesis reaction that specifically exchanges electrons with complex III, also caused a remarkable accumulation of nuclear poly(A)+ RNA adjacent to the nuclear speckles, which was abolished by extracellular uridine supply, indicating that the depletion of intracellular pyrimidine affects poly(A)+ RNA metabolism. Further analysis revealed that ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), a serine and threonine kinase and a master regulator of DNA double-strand break (DSB) and nucleolar stress, is required for this poly(A)+ RNA nuclear accumulation phenomenon. This study reports new insights into novel aspects of nuclear poly(A)+ RNA metabolism, especially the relationship between mitochondrial respiratory-chain functions, pyrimidine metabolism, and nuclear RNA metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuntaro Miyake
- Division of Integrated Life Sciences, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Seiji Masuda
- Division of Integrated Life Sciences, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan,Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara, Japan,Agricultural Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Kindai University, Nara, Japan,Antiaging Center, Kindai University, Higashiosaka, Japan,CONTACT Seiji Masuda Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara631-8505, Japan
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25
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Sireesha R, Tej MB, Poojith N, Sreenivasulu R, Musuluri M, Subbarao M. Synthesis of Substituted Aryl Incorporated Oxazolo[4,5-b]Pyridine-Triazole Derivatives: Anticancer Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies. Polycycl Aromat Compd 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/10406638.2021.2021256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Reddymasu Sireesha
- Department of Chemistry, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Mandava Bhuvan Tej
- Department of Pharmacy, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
| | | | - Reddymasu Sreenivasulu
- Department of Chemistry, University College of Engineering (Autonomous), Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Murali Musuluri
- Department of Chemistry, RVR & JC College of Engineering, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Mannam Subbarao
- Department of Chemistry, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
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26
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Li C, Yang X, Luo Y, Liu H, Zhong X, Zhou X, Zeng T, Tao L, Zhou Y, Gou K, Yang X, Liu X, Chen Q, Zhao Y, Luo Y. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of a Novel Series of Teriflunomide Derivatives as Potent Human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors for Malignancy Treatment. J Med Chem 2021; 64:18175-18192. [PMID: 34905371 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH), as the fourth and rate-limiting enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway, is regarded as an attractive target for malignancy therapy. In the present study, a novel series of teriflunomide derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as hDHODH inhibitors. 13t was the optimal compound with promising enzymatic activity (IC50 = 16.0 nM), potent antiproliferative activity against human lymphoma Raji cells (IC50 = 7.7 nM), and excellent aqueous solubility (20.1 mg/mL). Mechanistically, 13t directly inhibited hDHODH and induced cell cycle S-phase arrest in Raji cells. The acute toxicity assay indicated a favorable safety profile of 13t. Notably, 13t displayed significant tumor growth inhibition activity with a tumor growth inhibition (TGI) rate of 81.4% at 30 mg/kg in a Raji xenograft model. Together, 13t is a promising inhibitor of hDHODH and a preclinical candidate for antitumor therapy, especially for lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chungen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaowei Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yuan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xi Zhong
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xia Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ting Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lei Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Kun Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaocong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yinglan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.,Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Youfu Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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27
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Prinz C, Starke L, Ramspoth TF, Kerkering J, Martos Riaño V, Paul J, Neuenschwander M, Oder A, Radetzki S, Adelhoefer S, Ramos Delgado P, Aravina M, Millward JM, Fillmer A, Paul F, Siffrin V, von Kries JP, Niendorf T, Nazaré M, Waiczies S. Pentafluorosulfanyl (SF 5) as a Superior 19F Magnetic Resonance Reporter Group: Signal Detection and Biological Activity of Teriflunomide Derivatives. ACS Sens 2021; 6:3948-3956. [PMID: 34666481 PMCID: PMC8630787 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c01024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Fluorine (19F) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is severely limited by a low signal-to noise ratio (SNR), and tapping it for 19F drug detection in vivo still poses a significant challenge. However, it bears the potential for label-free theranostic imaging. Recently, we detected the fluorinated dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor teriflunomide (TF) noninvasively in an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS) using 19F MR spectroscopy (MRS). In the present study, we probed distinct modifications to the CF3 group of TF to improve its SNR. This revealed SF5 as a superior alternative to the CF3 group. The value of the SF5 bioisostere as a 19F MRI reporter group within a biological or pharmacological context is by far underexplored. Here, we compared the biological and pharmacological activities of different TF derivatives and their 19F MR properties (chemical shift and relaxation times). The 19F MR SNR efficiency of three MRI methods revealed that SF5-substituted TF has the highest 19F MR SNR efficiency in combination with an ultrashort echo-time (UTE) MRI method. Chemical modifications did not reduce pharmacological or biological activity as shown in the in vitro dihydroorotate dehydrogenase enzyme and T cell proliferation assays. Instead, SF5-substituted TF showed an improved capacity to inhibit T cell proliferation, indicating better anti-inflammatory activity and its suitability as a viable bioisostere in this context. This study proposes SF5 as a novel superior 19F MR reporter group for the MS drug teriflunomide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Prinz
- Berlin
Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max
Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße
10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental
and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité
- Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center
for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ludger Starke
- Berlin
Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max
Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße
10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tizian-Frank Ramspoth
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare
Pharmakologie (FMP), Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Janis Kerkering
- Experimental
and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité
- Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center
for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vera Martos Riaño
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare
Pharmakologie (FMP), Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jérôme Paul
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare
Pharmakologie (FMP), Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Neuenschwander
- Screening
Unit, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare
Pharmakologie (FMP), Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Oder
- Screening
Unit, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare
Pharmakologie (FMP), Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Silke Radetzki
- Screening
Unit, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare
Pharmakologie (FMP), Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Siegfried Adelhoefer
- Berlin
Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max
Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße
10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paula Ramos Delgado
- Berlin
Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max
Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße
10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental
and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité
- Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center
for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mariya Aravina
- Berlin
Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max
Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße
10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jason M. Millward
- Berlin
Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max
Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße
10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental
and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité
- Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center
for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ariane Fillmer
- Physikalisch-Technische
Bundesanstalt (PTB), Abbestraße 2-12, 10587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Friedemann Paul
- Experimental
and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité
- Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center
for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Charité
− Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie
Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin,
and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Siffrin
- Experimental
and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité
- Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center
for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens-Peter von Kries
- Screening
Unit, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare
Pharmakologie (FMP), Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thoralf Niendorf
- Berlin
Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max
Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße
10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental
and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité
- Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center
for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marc Nazaré
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare
Pharmakologie (FMP), Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sonia Waiczies
- Berlin
Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max
Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße
10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental
and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité
- Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center
for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
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28
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Pyrimidine Biosynthetic Enzyme CAD: Its Function, Regulation, and Diagnostic Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910253. [PMID: 34638594 PMCID: PMC8508918 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
CAD (Carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, Aspartate transcarbamoylase, and Dihydroorotase) is a multifunctional protein that participates in the initial three speed-limiting steps of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. Over the past two decades, extensive investigations have been conducted to unmask CAD as a central player for the synthesis of nucleic acids, active intermediates, and cell membranes. Meanwhile, the important role of CAD in various physiopathological processes has also been emphasized. Deregulation of CAD-related pathways or CAD mutations cause cancer, neurological disorders, and inherited metabolic diseases. Here, we review the structure, function, and regulation of CAD in mammalian physiology as well as human diseases, and provide insights into the potential to target CAD in future clinical applications.
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29
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Ter Braak B, Niemeijer M, Wolters L, Le Dévédec S, Bouwman P, van de Water B. Towards an advanced testing strategy for genotoxicity using image-based 2D and 3D HepG2 DNA damage response fluorescent protein reporters. Mutagenesis 2021; 37:130-142. [PMID: 34448005 PMCID: PMC9071099 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geab031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro assessment of mutagenicity is an essential component in the chemical risk assessment. Given the diverse modes of action by which chemicals can induce DNA damage, it is essential that these in vitro assays are carefully evaluated for their possibilities and limitations. In this study, we used a fluorescent protein HepG2 reporter test system in combination with high content imaging. To measure induction of the DNA damage response (DDR), we used three different green fluorescent protein reporters for p53 pathway activation. These allowed for accurate quantification of p53, p21 and BTG2 (BTG anti-proliferation factor 2) protein expression and cell viability parameters at a single cell or spheroid resolution. The reporter lines were cultured as 2D monolayers and as 3D spheroids. Furthermore, liver maturity and cytochrome P450 enzyme expression were increased by culturing in an amino acid-rich (AAGLY) medium. We found that culture conditions that support a sustained proliferative state (2D culturing with normal DMEM medium) give superior sensitivity when genotoxic compounds are tested that do not require metabolisation and of which the mutagenic mode of action is dependent on replication. For compounds, which are metabolically converted to mutagenic metabolites, more differentiated HepG2 DDR reporters (e.g. 3D cultures) showed a higher sensitivity. This study stratifies how different culture methods of HepG2 DDR reporter cells can influence the sensitivity towards diverse genotoxicants and how this provides opportunities for a tiered genotoxicity testing strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bas Ter Braak
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marije Niemeijer
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Liesanne Wolters
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sylvia Le Dévédec
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Bouwman
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Bob van de Water
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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30
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Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. While clinical developments have significantly improved patient prognosis, effective treatment is often obstructed by limited response rates, intrinsic or acquired resistance to therapy, and adverse events. Melanoma initiation and progression are associated with transcriptional reprogramming of melanocytes to a cell state that resembles the lineage from which the cells are specified during development, that is the neural crest. Convergence to a neural crest cell (NCC)-like state revealed the therapeutic potential of targeting developmental pathways for the treatment of melanoma. Neural crest cells have a unique sensitivity to metabolic dysregulation, especially nucleotide depletion. Mutations in the pyrimidine biosynthesis enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) particularly affect neural crest-derived tissues and cause Miller syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by craniofacial malformations in patients. The developmental susceptibility of the neural crest to nucleotide deficiency is conserved in melanoma and provides a metabolic vulnerability that can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. We review the current knowledge on nucleotide stress responses in neural crest and melanoma and discuss how the recent scientific advances that have improved our understanding of transcriptional regulation during nucleotide depletion can impact melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Sporrij
- Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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31
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Karakitsou E, Foguet C, Contreras Mostazo MG, Kurrle N, Schnütgen F, Michaelis M, Cinatl J, Marin S, Cascante M. Genome-scale integration of transcriptome and metabolome unveils squalene synthase and dihydrofolate reductase as targets against AML cells resistant to chemotherapy. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:4059-4066. [PMID: 34377370 PMCID: PMC8326745 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.06.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, such as Doxorubicin (DOX) and cytarabine (AraC), is one of the greatest challenges to the successful treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Such acquisition is often underlined by a metabolic reprogramming that can provide a therapeutic opportunity, as it can lead to the emergence of vulnerabilities and dependencies to be exploited as targets against the resistant cells. In this regard, genome-scale metabolic models (GSMMs) have emerged as powerful tools to integrate multiple layers of data to build cancer-specific models and identify putative metabolic vulnerabilities. Here, we use genome-scale metabolic modelling to reconstruct a GSMM of the THP1 AML cell line and two derivative cell lines, one with acquired resistance to AraC and the second with acquired resistance to DOX. We also explore how, adding to the transcriptomic layer, the metabolomic layer enhances the selectivity of the resulting condition specific reconstructions. The resulting models enabled us to identify and experimentally validate that drug-resistant THP1 cells are sensitive to the FDA-approved antifolate methotrexate. Moreover, we discovered and validated that the resistant cell lines could be selectively targeted by inhibiting squalene synthase, providing a new and promising strategy to directly inhibit cholesterol synthesis in AML drug resistant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Effrosyni Karakitsou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carles Foguet
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Metabolomics Node at Spanish National Bioinformatics Institute (INB-ISCIII-ES-ELIXIR), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miriam G. Contreras Mostazo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nina Kurrle
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank Schnütgen
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Martin Michaelis
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Jindrich Cinatl
- Institut für Medizinische Virologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Silvia Marin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Metabolomics Node at Spanish National Bioinformatics Institute (INB-ISCIII-ES-ELIXIR), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Cascante
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Metabolomics Node at Spanish National Bioinformatics Institute (INB-ISCIII-ES-ELIXIR), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Wang W, Cui J, Ma H, Lu W, Huang J. Targeting Pyrimidine Metabolism in the Era of Precision Cancer Medicine. Front Oncol 2021; 11:684961. [PMID: 34123854 PMCID: PMC8194085 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.684961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic rewiring is considered as a primary feature of cancer. Malignant cells reprogram metabolism pathway in response to various intrinsic and extrinsic drawback to fuel cell survival and growth. Among the complex metabolic pathways, pyrimidine biosynthesis is conserved in all living organism and is necessary to maintain cellular fundamental function (i.e. DNA and RNA biosynthesis). A wealth of evidence has demonstrated that dysfunction of pyrimidine metabolism is closely related to cancer progression and numerous drugs targeting pyrimidine metabolism have been approved for multiple types of cancer. However, the non-negligible side effects and limited efficacy warrants a better strategy for negating pyrimidine metabolism in cancer. In recent years, increased studies have evidenced the interplay of oncogenic signaling and pyrimidine synthesis in tumorigenesis. Here, we review the recent conceptual advances on pyrimidine metabolism, especially dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), in the framework of precision oncology medicine and prospect how this would guide the development of new drug precisely targeting the pyrimidine metabolism in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiqiang Lu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
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33
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Zhang J, Terán G, Popa M, Madapura H, Ladds MJGW, Lianoudaki D, Grünler J, Arsenian-Henriksson M, McCormack E, Rottenberg ME, Catrina SB, Laín S, Darekar S. DHODH inhibition modulates glucose metabolism and circulating GDF15, and improves metabolic balance. iScience 2021; 24:102494. [PMID: 34113829 PMCID: PMC8169992 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is essential for the de novo synthesis of pyrimidine ribonucleotides, and as such, its inhibitors have been long used to treat autoimmune diseases and are in clinical trials for cancer and viral infections. Interestingly, DHODH is located in the inner mitochondrial membrane and contributes to provide ubiquinol to the respiratory chain. Thus, DHODH provides the link between nucleotide metabolism and mitochondrial function. Here we show that pharmacological inhibition of DHODH reduces mitochondrial respiration, promotes glycolysis, and enhances GLUT4 translocation to the cytoplasmic membrane and that by activating tumor suppressor p53, increases the expression of GDF15, a cytokine that reduces appetite and prolongs lifespan. In addition, similar to the antidiabetic drug metformin, we observed that in db/db mice, DHODH inhibitors elevate levels of circulating GDF15 and reduce food intake. Further analysis using this model for obesity-induced diabetes revealed that DHODH inhibitors delay pancreatic β cell death and improve metabolic balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Graciela Terán
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mihaela Popa
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, Hematology Section, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Harsha Madapura
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 23, SE-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Danai Lianoudaki
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 23, SE-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jacob Grünler
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Diabetes, Academic Specialist Centrum, 11365 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marie Arsenian-Henriksson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emmet McCormack
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, Hematology Section, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Haematology Section, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Martin Enrique Rottenberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sergiu-Bogdan Catrina
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Diabetes, Academic Specialist Centrum, 11365 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonia Laín
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 23, SE-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Suhas Darekar
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 23, SE-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
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34
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DHODH inhibition synergizes with DNA-demethylating agents in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. Blood Adv 2021; 5:438-450. [PMID: 33496740 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) catalyzes a rate-limiting step in de novo pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. DHODH inhibition has recently been recognized as a potential new approach for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by inducing differentiation. We investigated the efficacy of PTC299, a novel DHODH inhibitor, for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). PTC299 inhibited the proliferation of MDS cell lines, and this was rescued by exogenous uridine, which bypasses de novo pyrimidine synthesis. In contrast to AML cells, PTC299 was inefficient at inhibiting growth and inducing the differentiation of MDS cells, but synergized with hypomethylating agents, such as decitabine, to inhibit the growth of MDS cells. This synergistic effect was confirmed in primary MDS samples. As a single agent, PTC299 prolonged the survival of mice in xenograft models using MDS cell lines, and was more potent in combination with decitabine. Mechanistically, a treatment with PTC299 induced intra-S-phase arrest followed by apoptotic cell death. Of interest, PTC299 enhanced the incorporation of decitabine, an analog of cytidine, into DNA by inhibiting pyrimidine production, thereby enhancing the cytotoxic effects of decitabine. RNA-seq data revealed the marked downregulation of MYC target gene sets with PTC299 exposure. Transfection of MDS cell lines with MYC largely attenuated the growth inhibitory effects of PTC299, suggesting MYC as one of the major targets of PTC299. Our results indicate that the DHODH inhibitor PTC299 suppresses the growth of MDS cells and acts in a synergistic manner with decitabine. This combination therapy may be a new therapeutic option for the treatment of MDS.
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Zhou Y, Tao L, Zhou X, Zuo Z, Gong J, Liu X, Zhou Y, Liu C, Sang N, Liu H, Zou J, Gou K, Yang X, Zhao Y. DHODH and cancer: promising prospects to be explored. Cancer Metab 2021; 9:22. [PMID: 33971967 PMCID: PMC8107416 DOI: 10.1186/s40170-021-00250-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a flavin-dependent mitochondrial enzyme catalyzing the fourth step in the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway. It is originally a target for the treatment of the non-neoplastic diseases involving in rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, and is re-emerging as a validated therapeutic target for cancer therapy. In this review, we mainly unravel the biological function of DHODH in tumor progression, including its crucial role in de novo pyrimidine synthesis and mitochondrial respiratory chain in cancer cells. Moreover, various DHODH inhibitors developing in the past decades are also been displayed, and the specific mechanism between DHODH and its additional effects are illustrated. Collectively, we detailly discuss the association between DHODH and tumors in recent years here, and believe it will provide significant evidences and potential strategies for utilizing DHODH as a potential target in preclinical and clinical cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lei Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xia Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zeping Zuo
- The Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Translational Neuroscience Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jin Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaocong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chunqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Na Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Huan Liu
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jiao Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Kun Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaowei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yinglan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China. .,West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Gaidano V, Houshmand M, Vitale N, Carrà G, Morotti A, Tenace V, Rapelli S, Sainas S, Pippione AC, Giorgis M, Boschi D, Lolli ML, Cilloni D, Cignetti A, Saglio G, Circosta P. The Synergism between DHODH Inhibitors and Dipyridamole Leads to Metabolic Lethality in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1003. [PMID: 33670894 PMCID: PMC7957697 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a key enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, whose inhibition can induce differentiation and apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). DHODH inhibitors had shown promising in vitro and in vivo activity on solid tumors, but their effectiveness was not confirmed in clinical trials, probably because cancer cells exploited the pyrimidine salvage pathway to survive. Here, we investigated the antileukemic activity of MEDS433, the DHODH inhibitor developed by our group, against AML. Learning from previous failures, we mimicked human conditions (performing experiments in the presence of physiological uridine plasma levels) and looked for synergic combinations to boost apoptosis, including classical antileukemic drugs and dipyridamole, a blocker of the pyrimidine salvage pathway. MEDS433 induced apoptosis in multiple AML cell lines, not only as a consequence of differentiation, but also directly. Its combination with antileukemic agents further increased the apoptotic rate, but when experiments were performed in the presence of physiological uridine concentrations, results were less impressive. Conversely, the combination of MEDS433 with dipyridamole induced metabolic lethality and differentiation in all AML cell lines; this extraordinary synergism was confirmed on AML primary cells with different genetic backgrounds and was unaffected by physiological uridine concentrations, predicting in human activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Gaidano
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.H.); (G.C.); (A.M.); (D.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.)
- Division of Hematology, A.O. SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Mohammad Houshmand
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.H.); (G.C.); (A.M.); (D.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.)
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Nicoletta Vitale
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy;
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanna Carrà
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.H.); (G.C.); (A.M.); (D.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.)
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Morotti
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.H.); (G.C.); (A.M.); (D.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.)
| | - Valerio Tenace
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
| | - Stefania Rapelli
- Department of Life Sciences and System Biology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy;
| | - Stefano Sainas
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (S.S.); (A.C.P.); (M.G.); (D.B.); (M.L.L.)
| | - Agnese Chiara Pippione
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (S.S.); (A.C.P.); (M.G.); (D.B.); (M.L.L.)
| | - Marta Giorgis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (S.S.); (A.C.P.); (M.G.); (D.B.); (M.L.L.)
| | - Donatella Boschi
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (S.S.); (A.C.P.); (M.G.); (D.B.); (M.L.L.)
| | - Marco Lucio Lolli
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (S.S.); (A.C.P.); (M.G.); (D.B.); (M.L.L.)
| | - Daniela Cilloni
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.H.); (G.C.); (A.M.); (D.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.)
- University Division of Hematology and Cell Therapy, A.O. Ordine Mauriziano, University of Turin, 10128 Turin, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Cignetti
- University Division of Hematology and Cell Therapy, A.O. Ordine Mauriziano, University of Turin, 10128 Turin, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Saglio
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.H.); (G.C.); (A.M.); (D.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.)
- University Division of Hematology and Cell Therapy, A.O. Ordine Mauriziano, University of Turin, 10128 Turin, Italy;
| | - Paola Circosta
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.H.); (G.C.); (A.M.); (D.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.)
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy;
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Glioblastoma-initiating cell heterogeneity generated by the cell-of-origin, genetic/epigenetic mutation and microenvironment. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 82:176-183. [PMID: 33453403 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) and other malignant tumours consist of heterogeneous cancer cells, including GBM-initiating cells (GICs). This heterogeneity is likely to arise from the following: different sets of genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications, which GICs gain in the transformation process; differences in cells of origin, such as stem cells, precursor cells or differentiated cells; and the cancer microenvironment, in which GICs communicate with neural cells, endothelial cells and immune cells. Furthermore, considering that various types of GICs can be generated at different time points of the transformation process, GBM very likely consists of heterogeneous GICs and their progeny. Because cancer cell heterogeneity is responsible for therapy resistance, it is crucial to develop methods of reducing such heterogeneity. Here, I summarize how GIC heterogeneity is generated in the transformation process and present how cell heterogeneity in cancer can be addressed based on recent findings.
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Ladds MJGW, Popova G, Pastor-Fernández A, Kannan S, van Leeuwen IMM, Håkansson M, Walse B, Tholander F, Bhatia R, Verma CS, Lane DP, Laín S. Exploitation of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) and p53 activation as therapeutic targets: A case study in polypharmacology. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:17935-17949. [PMID: 32900849 PMCID: PMC7939445 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.012056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The tenovins are a frequently studied class of compounds capable of inhibiting sirtuin activity, which is thought to result in increased acetylation and protection of the tumor suppressor p53 from degradation. However, as we and other laboratories have shown previously, certain tenovins are also capable of inhibiting autophagic flux, demonstrating the ability of these compounds to engage with more than one target. In this study, we present two additional mechanisms by which tenovins are able to activate p53 and kill tumor cells in culture. These mechanisms are the inhibition of a key enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), and the blockage of uridine transport into cells. These findings hold a 3-fold significance: first, we demonstrate that tenovins, and perhaps other compounds that activate p53, may activate p53 by more than one mechanism; second, that work previously conducted with certain tenovins as SirT1 inhibitors should additionally be viewed through the lens of DHODH inhibition as this is a major contributor to the mechanism of action of the most widely used tenovins; and finally, that small changes in the structure of a small molecule can lead to a dramatic change in the target profile of the molecule even when the phenotypic readout remains static.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus J G W Ladds
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Gergana Popova
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrés Pastor-Fernández
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | - Fredrik Tholander
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ravi Bhatia
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Chandra S Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute (BII), A*STAR, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - David P Lane
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonia Laín
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Yu P, Li DD, Wang L, Zhang LH, Cao FL, Fang XY, Zhao LG. Identification of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase as a protein target of ginkgolic acid by molecular docking and dynamics. J Mol Struct 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2020.128692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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40
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McDonald G, Chubukov V, Coco J, Truskowski K, Narayanaswamy R, Choe S, Steadman M, Artin E, Padyana AK, Jin L, Ronseaux S, Locuson C, Fan ZP, Erdmann T, Mann A, Hayes S, Fletcher M, Nellore K, Rao SS, Subramanya H, Reddy KS, Panigrahi SK, Antony T, Gopinath S, Sui Z, Nagaraja N, Dang L, Lenz G, Hurov J, Biller SA, Murtie J, Marks KM, Ulanet DB. Selective Vulnerability to Pyrimidine Starvation in Hematologic Malignancies Revealed by AG-636, a Novel Clinical-Stage Inhibitor of Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:2502-2515. [PMID: 33082276 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Agents targeting metabolic pathways form the backbone of standard oncology treatments, though a better understanding of differential metabolic dependencies could instruct more rationale-based therapeutic approaches. We performed a chemical biology screen that revealed a strong enrichment in sensitivity to a novel dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor, AG-636, in cancer cell lines of hematologic versus solid tumor origin. Differential AG-636 activity translated to the in vivo setting, with complete tumor regression observed in a lymphoma model. Dissection of the relationship between uridine availability and response to AG-636 revealed a divergent ability of lymphoma and solid tumor cell lines to survive and grow in the setting of depleted extracellular uridine and DHODH inhibition. Metabolic characterization paired with unbiased functional genomic and proteomic screens pointed to adaptive mechanisms to cope with nucleotide stress as contributing to response to AG-636. These findings support targeting of DHODH in lymphoma and other hematologic malignancies and suggest combination strategies aimed at interfering with DNA-damage response pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John Coco
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Sung Choe
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Mya Steadman
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Erin Artin
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Lei Jin
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Zi-Peng Fan
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Tabea Erdmann
- Department of Medicine A for Hematology, Oncology, and Pneumology, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Alan Mann
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Mark Fletcher
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Thomas Antony
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Ltd., Bangalore, India
| | | | - Zhihua Sui
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Lenny Dang
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Georg Lenz
- Department of Medicine A for Hematology, Oncology, and Pneumology, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | | | - Josh Murtie
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Kevin M Marks
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Qian Y, Liang X, Kong P, Cheng Y, Cui H, Yan T, Wang J, Zhang L, Liu Y, Guo S, Cheng X, Cui Y. Elevated DHODH expression promotes cell proliferation via stabilizing β-catenin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:862. [PMID: 33060568 PMCID: PMC7566478 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03044-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
As a key enzyme in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, the expression level of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) has been reported to be elevated in various types of malignant tumors and its tumor-promoting effect was considered to relate to its pyrimidine synthesis function. Here, we revealed one intriguing potential mechanism that DHODH modulated β-catenin signaling in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We demonstrated that DHODH directly bound to the NH2 terminal of β-catenin, thereby, interrupting the interaction of GSK3β with β-catenin and leading to the abrogation of β-catenin degradation and accumulation of β-catenin in the nucleus, which in turn, resulted in the activation of β-catenin downstream genes, including CCND1, E2F3, Nanog, and OCT4. We further demonstrated that the regulation of β-catenin by DHODH was independent of DHODH catalyzing activity. Univariate and multivariate analyses suggested that DHODH expression might be an independent prognostic factor for ESCC patients. Collectively, our study highlights the pivotal role of DHODH mediated β-catenin signaling and indicates that DHODH may act as a multi-functional switcher from catalyzing pyrimidine metabolism to regulating tumor-related signaling pathways in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Qian
- Cancer Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, 518035, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology & Shanxi Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research on Esophageal Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, 030001, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Liang
- Department of Pathology & Shanxi Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research on Esophageal Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, 030001, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengzhou Kong
- Department of Pathology & Shanxi Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research on Esophageal Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, 030001, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yikun Cheng
- Cancer Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, 518035, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Heyang Cui
- Cancer Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, 518035, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology & Shanxi Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research on Esophageal Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, 030001, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Yan
- Department of Pathology & Shanxi Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research on Esophageal Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, 030001, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinghao Wang
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Cancer Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, 518035, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology & Shanxi Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research on Esophageal Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, 030001, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiqian Liu
- Department of Pathology & Shanxi Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research on Esophageal Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, 030001, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiping Guo
- Department of Tumor Surgery, Shanxi Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Xiaolong Cheng
- Department of Pathology & Shanxi Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research on Esophageal Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, 030001, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yongping Cui
- Cancer Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, 518035, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.
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42
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Mitochondrial Metabolism as a Target for Cancer Therapy. Cell Metab 2020; 32:341-352. [PMID: 32668195 PMCID: PMC7483781 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2020.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 296] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence in humans and mice supports the notion that mitochondrial metabolism is active and necessary for tumor growth. Mitochondrial metabolism supports tumor anabolism by providing key metabolites for macromolecule synthesis and generating oncometabolites to maintain the cancer phenotype. Moreover, there are multiple clinical trials testing the efficacy of inhibiting mitochondrial metabolism as a new cancer therapeutic treatment. In this review, we discuss the rationale of using these anti-cancer agents in clinical trials and highlight how to effectively utilize them in different tumor contexts.
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43
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Sanz G, Singh M, Peuget S, Selivanova G. Inhibition of p53 inhibitors: progress, challenges and perspectives. J Mol Cell Biol 2020; 11:586-599. [PMID: 31310659 PMCID: PMC6735775 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjz075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
p53 is the major tumor suppressor and the most frequently inactivated gene in cancer. p53 could be disabled either by mutations or by upstream negative regulators, including, but not limited to MDM2 and MDMX. p53 activity is required for the prevention as well as for the eradication of cancers. Restoration of p53 activity in mouse models leads to the suppression of established tumors of different origin. These findings provide a strong support to the anti-cancer strategy aimed for p53 reactivation. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the development of small molecules, which restore the tumor suppressor function of wild-type p53 and discuss their clinical advance. We discuss different aspects of p53-mediated response, which contribute to suppression of tumors, including non-canonical p53 activities, such as regulation of immune response. While targeting p53 inhibitors is a very promising approach, there are certain limitations and concerns that the intensive research and clinical evaluation of compounds will hopefully help to overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gema Sanz
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Biomedicum 8C, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
| | - Madhurendra Singh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Biomedicum 8C, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
| | - Sylvain Peuget
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Biomedicum 8C, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
| | - Galina Selivanova
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Biomedicum 8C, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
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44
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Ladds MJGW, Laín S. Small molecule activators of the p53 response. J Mol Cell Biol 2020; 11:245-254. [PMID: 30689917 PMCID: PMC6478124 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjz006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Drugging the p53 pathway has been a goal for both academics and pharmaceutical companies since the designation of p53 as the 'guardian of the genome'. Through growing understanding of p53 biology, we can see multiple routes for activation of both wild-type p53 function and restoration of mutant p53. In this review, we focus on small molecules that activate wild-type p53 and that do so in a non-genotoxic manner. In particular, we will describe potential approaches to targeting proteins that alter p53 stability and function through posttranslational modification, affect p53's subcellular localization, or target RNA synthesis or the synthesis of ribonucleotides. The plethora of pathways for exploitation of p53, as well as the wide-ranging response to p53 activation, makes it an attractive target for anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus J G W Ladds
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,SciLifeLab, Tomtebodavägen 23A, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonia Laín
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,SciLifeLab, Tomtebodavägen 23A, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
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45
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Zuo Z, Liu X, Qian X, Zeng T, Sang N, Liu H, Zhou Y, Tao L, Zhou X, Su N, Yu Y, Chen Q, Luo Y, Zhao Y. Bifunctional Naphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazole-4,9-dione Compounds Exhibit Antitumor Effects In Vitro and In Vivo by Inhibiting Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase and Inducing Reactive Oxygen Species Production. J Med Chem 2020; 63:7633-7652. [PMID: 32496056 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zeping Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaocong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xinying Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ting Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Na Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Huan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lei Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xia Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Na Su
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yamei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Youfu Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yinglan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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46
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Lundsten S, Hernández VA, Gedda L, Sarén T, Brown CJ, Lane DP, Edwards K, Nestor M. Tumor-Targeted Delivery of the p53-Activating Peptide VIP116 with PEG-Stabilized Lipodisks. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10040783. [PMID: 32325827 PMCID: PMC7221704 DOI: 10.3390/nano10040783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Stapled peptides targeting the interaction between p53 and its negative regulators MDM2 and MDM4 have exhibited great potential as anti-cancer drugs, albeit with room for improvement in formulation and tumor specificity. Lipid bilayer disks (lipodisks) have emerged as promising drug nanocarriers and can by attachment of targeting moieties be directed selectively towards tumor cells. Tumor-targeted delivery of stapled peptides by use of lipodisks may therefore increase the uptake in the tumors and limit toxicity in healthy tissue. Here, we utilized epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted lipodisks to deliver p53-activating stapled peptide VIP116 to EGFR-expressing tumor cells. We demonstrate that VIP116 can be stably formulated in lipodisks (maximum peptide/lipid molar ratio 0.11). In vitro cell studies verify specific binding of EGF-decorated lipodisks to tumor cells and confirm that targeted delivery of VIP116 significantly decreases tumor cell viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lundsten
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.L.); (T.S.)
| | - Víctor Agmo Hernández
- Department of Chemistry—BMC, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden; (V.A.H.); (L.G.); (K.E.)
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lars Gedda
- Department of Chemistry—BMC, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden; (V.A.H.); (L.G.); (K.E.)
| | - Tina Sarén
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.L.); (T.S.)
| | - Christopher J. Brown
- p53 lab, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore; (C.J.B.); (D.P.L.)
| | - David P. Lane
- p53 lab, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore; (C.J.B.); (D.P.L.)
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katarina Edwards
- Department of Chemistry—BMC, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden; (V.A.H.); (L.G.); (K.E.)
| | - Marika Nestor
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.L.); (T.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-70234-1881
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47
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Popova G, Ladds MJGW, Johansson L, Saleh A, Larsson J, Sandberg L, Sahlberg SH, Qian W, Gullberg H, Garg N, Gustavsson AL, Haraldsson M, Lane D, Yngve U, Lain S. Optimization of Tetrahydroindazoles as Inhibitors of Human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase and Evaluation of Their Activity and In Vitro Metabolic Stability. J Med Chem 2020; 63:3915-3934. [PMID: 32212728 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), an enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway, is a target for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis and is re-emerging as an attractive target for cancer therapy. Here we describe the optimization of recently identified tetrahydroindazoles (HZ) as DHODH inhibitors. Several of the HZ analogues synthesized in this study are highly potent inhibitors of DHODH in an enzymatic assay, while also inhibiting cancer cell growth and viability and activating p53-dependent transcription factor activity in a reporter cell assay. Furthermore, we demonstrate the specificity of the compounds toward the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway through supplementation with an excess of uridine. We also show that induction of the DNA damage marker γ-H2AX after DHODH inhibition is preventable by cotreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. Additional solubility and in vitro metabolic stability profiling revealed compound 51 as a favorable candidate for preclinical efficacy studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergana Popova
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, SE-171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcus J G W Ladds
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, SE-171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.,SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 23, SE-171 21 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Johansson
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, SciLifeLab, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aljona Saleh
- SciLifeLab, Drug Discovery and Development Platform, ADME of Therapeutics Facility, Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Box 580, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johanna Larsson
- SciLifeLab, Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lars Sandberg
- SciLifeLab, Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.,SciLifeLab, Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Department of Organic Chemistry, Stockholm University, Box 1030, SE-171 21 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sara Häggblad Sahlberg
- SciLifeLab, Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-171 21 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Weixing Qian
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, Laboratories for Chemical Biology Umeå, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Hjalmar Gullberg
- SciLifeLab, Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-171 21 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Neeraj Garg
- SciLifeLab, Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna-Lena Gustavsson
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, SciLifeLab, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Haraldsson
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, SciLifeLab, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David Lane
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, SE-171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Yngve
- SciLifeLab, Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sonia Lain
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, SE-171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.,SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 23, SE-171 21 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
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48
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Edwards MR, Liu G, De S, Sourimant J, Pietzsch C, Johnson B, Amarasinghe GK, Leung DW, Bukreyev A, Plemper RK, Aron Z, Bowlin TL, Moir DT, Basler CF. Small Molecule Compounds That Inhibit Antioxidant Response Gene Expression in an Inducer-Dependent Manner. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:489-502. [PMID: 31899866 PMCID: PMC7793009 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Marburg virus (MARV) causes severe disease in humans and is known to activate nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the major transcription factor of the antioxidant response. Canonical activation of Nrf2 involves oxidative or electrophilic stress that prevents Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) targeted degradation of Nrf2, leading to Nrf2 stabilization and activation of the antioxidant response. MARV activation of Nrf2 is noncanonical with the MARV VP24 protein (mVP24) interacting with Keap1, freeing Nrf2 from degradation. A high-throughput screening (HTS) assay was developed to identify inhibitors of mVP24-induced Nrf2 activity and used to screen more than 55,000 compounds. Hit compounds were further screened against secondary HTS assays for the inhibition of antioxidant activity induced by additional canonical and noncanonical mechanisms. This pipeline identified 14 compounds that suppress the response, dependent on the inducer, with 50% inhibitory concentrations below 5 μM and selectivity index values greater than 10. Notably, several of the identified compounds specifically inhibit mVP24-induced Nrf2 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan R. Edwards
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Gai Liu
- Microbiotix Inc, 1 Innovation Drive, Worcester MA 01605, United States
| | - Sampriti De
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Julien Sourimant
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Colette Pietzsch
- Department of Pathology, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, United States
| | - Britney Johnson
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Gaya K. Amarasinghe
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Daisy W. Leung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Alexander Bukreyev
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, United States
| | - Richard K. Plemper
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Zachary Aron
- Microbiotix Inc, 1 Innovation Drive, Worcester MA 01605, United States
| | - Terry L. Bowlin
- Microbiotix Inc, 1 Innovation Drive, Worcester MA 01605, United States
| | - Donald T. Moir
- Microbiotix Inc, 1 Innovation Drive, Worcester MA 01605, United States
| | - Christopher F. Basler
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
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Boukalova S, Hubackova S, Milosevic M, Ezrova Z, Neuzil J, Rohlena J. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase in oxidative phosphorylation and cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165759. [PMID: 32151633 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is an enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway that provides nucleotides for RNA/DNA synthesis essential for proliferation. In mammalian cells, DHODH is localized in mitochondria, linked to the respiratory chain via the coenzyme Q pool. Here we discuss the role of DHODH in the oxidative phosphorylation system and in the initiation and progression of cancer. We summarize recent findings on DHODH biology, the progress made in the development of new, specific inhibitors of DHODH intended for cancer therapy, and the mechanistic insights into the consequences of DHODH inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stepana Boukalova
- Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 252 50 Vestec, Prague-West, Czech Republic
| | - Sona Hubackova
- Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 252 50 Vestec, Prague-West, Czech Republic
| | - Mirko Milosevic
- Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 252 50 Vestec, Prague-West, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Ezrova
- Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 252 50 Vestec, Prague-West, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Neuzil
- Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 252 50 Vestec, Prague-West, Czech Republic; School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, 4222, Qld, Australia
| | - Jakub Rohlena
- Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 252 50 Vestec, Prague-West, Czech Republic.
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50
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Hubackova S, Davidova E, Boukalova S, Kovarova J, Bajzikova M, Coelho A, Terp MG, Ditzel HJ, Rohlena J, Neuzil J. Replication and ribosomal stress induced by targeting pyrimidine synthesis and cellular checkpoints suppress p53-deficient tumors. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:110. [PMID: 32034120 PMCID: PMC7007433 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-2224-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
p53-mutated tumors often exhibit increased resistance to standard chemotherapy and enhanced metastatic potential. Here we demonstrate that inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), a key enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway, effectively decreases proliferation of cancer cells via induction of replication and ribosomal stress in a p53- and checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1)-dependent manner. Mechanistically, a block in replication and ribosomal biogenesis result in p53 activation paralleled by accumulation of replication forks that activate the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase/Chk1 pathway, both of which lead to cell cycle arrest. Since in the absence of functional p53 the cell cycle arrest fully depends on Chk1, combined DHODH/Chk1 inhibition in p53-dysfunctional cancer cells induces aberrant cell cycle re-entry and erroneous mitosis, resulting in massive cell death. Combined DHODH/Chk1 inhibition effectively suppresses p53-mutated tumors and their metastasis, and therefore presents a promising therapeutic strategy for p53-mutated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sona Hubackova
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague-West, 252 50, Czech Republic.
| | - Eliska Davidova
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague-West, 252 50, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Stepana Boukalova
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague-West, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Jaromira Kovarova
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague-West, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Bajzikova
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague-West, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Ana Coelho
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague-West, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Mikkel G Terp
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - Henrik J Ditzel
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5000, Odense, Denmark.,Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, 5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jakub Rohlena
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague-West, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Neuzil
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague-West, 252 50, Czech Republic. .,School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.
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