Project description:The aim was to identify the effect of caspase inhibition on changes in gene expression in MCF-7 cells induced by a combination of TRAIL and LCL-161. Treated samples and control samples were collected after 24 h of treatment.
Project description:The aim was to identify changes in gene expression in MCF-7 cells induced by a combination of TRAIL and LCL-161. Treated samples and control samples were collected after 24 h of treatment and after 96 h of treatment followed by a three-day period in normal medium.
Project description:BackgroundEvasion from programmed cell death is a hallmark of cancer and can be achieved in cancer cells by overexpression of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). Second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC) directly bind to IAPs and promote apoptosis; thus, SMAC mimetics have been investigated in a variety of cancer types. particularly in diseases with high inflammation and NFĸB activation. Given that elevated TNFα levels and NFĸB activation is a characteristic feature of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), we investigated the effect of the SMAC mimetic LCL-161 on MPN cell survival in vitro and disease development in vivo.MethodsTo investigate the effect of the SMAC mimetic LCL-161 in vitro, we utilized murine and human cell lines to perform cell viability assays as well as primary bone marrow from mice or humans with JAK2V617F-driven MPN to interrogate myeloid colony formation. To elucidate the effect of the SMAC mimetic LCL-161 in vivo, we treated a JAK2V617F-driven mouse model of MPN with LCL-161 then assessed blood counts, splenomegaly, and myelofibrosis.ResultsWe found that JAK2V617F-mutated cells are hypersensitive to the SMAC mimetic LCL-161 in the absence of exogenous TNFα. JAK2 kinase activity and NFĸB activation is required for JAK2V617F-mediated sensitivity to LCL-161, as JAK or NFĸB inhibitors diminished the differential sensitivity of JAK2V617F mutant cells to IAP inhibition. Finally, LCL-161 reduces splenomegaly and may reduce fibrosis in a mouse model of JAK2V617F-driven MPN.ConclusionLCL-161 may be therapeutically useful in MPN, in particular when exogenous TNFα signaling is blocked. NFĸB activation is a characteristic feature of JAK2V617F mutant cells and this sensitizes them to SMAC mimetic induced killing even in the absence of TNFα. However, when exogenous TNFα is added, NFĸB is activated in both mutant and wild-type cells, abolishing the differential sensitivity. Moreover, JAK kinase activity is required for the differential sensitivity of JAK2V617F mutant cells, suggesting that the addition of JAK2 inhibitors to SMAC mimetics would detract from the ability of SMAC mimetics to selectively target JAK2V617F mutant cells. Instead, combination therapy with other agents that reduce inflammatory cytokines but preserve JAK2 signaling in mutant cells may be a more beneficial combination therapy in MPN.
Project description:Clinical observations suggest the existence of shared resistance pathways between rituximab and chemotherapy agents. To explore the mechanisms of rituximab resistance, our group created rituximab-resistant cell lines (RRCLs), which display altered expression of several inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family proteins. Here, we provide evidence to support pharmacologically targeting IAPs in lymphoma with LCL-161, a small molecule mimetic of the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC). The antitumor effect of LCL-161 was determined using luminescent adenosine triphosphate assays, flow cytometry, SCID mouse xenografts, and ex vivo patient biopsy sample studies. In vitro exposure to LCL-161 also resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in IAP levels, along with synergistic enhancement of the antitumor effect of cytotoxic chemotherapy, in rituximab-sensitive cell lines and RRCLs. In addition, LCL-161 increased the cytotoxic effect of the proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib in ex vivo lymphoma patient samples. The combination of LCL-161 with the chemotherapy regimen rituximab, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine (RGV) improved in vivo survival compared with RGV alone in severe combined immunodeficient mice implanted with RRCLs but not in animals implanted with rituximab-sensitive cell lines. In summary, LCL-161 exhibits synergistic antitumor activity in both in vitro and in vivo models of resistant lymphoma. Our data support further preclinical investigation of LCL-161 as a novel antilymphoma agent.
Project description:Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) antagonize caspase activation and regulate death receptor signaling cascades. LCL-161 is a small molecule second mitochondrial activator of caspase (SMAC) mimetic, which both disengages IAPs from caspases and induces proteasomal degradation of cIAP-1 and -2, resulting in altered signaling through the NFκB pathway, enhanced TNF production and sensitization to apoptosis mediated by the extrinsic pathway. SMAC mimetics are undergoing clinical evaluation in a range of hematological malignancies. Burkitt-like lymphomas are hallmarked by a low apoptotic threshold, conveying sensitivity to a range of apoptosis-inducing stimuli. While evaluating LCL-161 in the Eμ-Myc model of aggressive Burkitt-like lymphoma, we noted unexpected resistance to apoptosis induction despite 'on-target' IAP degradation and NFκB activation. Moreover, LCL-161 treatment of lymphoma-bearing mice resulted in apparent disease acceleration concurrent to augmented inflammatory cytokine-release in the same animals. Indiscriminate exposure of lymphoma patients to SMAC mimetics may therefore be detrimental due to both unanticipated prolymphoma effects and increased susceptibility to endotoxic shock.
Project description:Purposeinhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) have been shown to contribute to resistance of neoplastic cells to chemotherapy and to biologic antineoplastic agents. Consequently, new agents are being developed targeting this family of proteins. In a panel of bladder cancer cell lines, we evaluated a Smac mimetic that antagonizes several IAPs for its suitability for bladder cancer therapy. Experimental design: A panel of seven bladder cancer cell lines were evaluated for sensitivity to the Smac mimetic compound-A alone, TRAIL alone, chemotherapy alone, compound-A plus TRAIL, and compound-A plus chemotherapy by DNA fragmentation analysis. IAP levels and caspase activation were examined by western blotting. Release of caspase-3 from X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), the most effective IAP, was assessed by immunoprecipitation and western blotting. Finally, siRNA knockdown of XIAP was correlated with the sensitivity of cells to apoptosis induced by compound-A plus TRAIL by DNA fragmentation and western blotting.Resultssingle-agent compound-A had little effect, but compound-A augmented TRAIL- and chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Immunoblotting showed that combination treatment with compound-A and TRAIL resulted in cleavage of procaspase-3 and procaspase-7, activation of which irreversibly commits cells to apoptosis. Immunoprecipitation of XIAP showed displacement of active caspase-3 fragments from XIAP, supporting the proposed mechanism of action. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated silencing of XIAP similarly sensitized these cells to apoptosis.Experimental designa panel of seven bladder cancer cell lines were evaluated for sensitivity to the Smac mimetic compound-Alone, TRAIL alone, Chemotherapy alone, compound-A plus TRAIL and compound-A plus chemotherapy by DNA fragmentation analysis. IAP levels and caspase activation were examined by western blotting. Release of caspase-3 from X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), the most effective IAP, was assessed by immunoprecipitation and western blotting. Finally siRNA knockdown of XIAP was correlated with the sensitivity of cells to apoptosis induced by compound-A plus TRAIL by DNA fragmentation and western blotting.Conclusionour results suggest that targeting of XIAP with the Smac mimetic compound-A has the potential to augment the effects of a variety of chemotherapeutic and biologic therapies in bladder cancer.
Project description:Smac mimetics are being developed as a new class of anticancer therapies. Because the single-agent activity of Smac mimetics is very limited, rational combinations represent a viable strategy for their clinical development. The combination of Smac mimetics with TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) may be particularly attractive because of the low toxicity of TRAIL to normal cells and the synergistic antitumor activity observed for the combination. In this study, we have investigated the combination synergy between TRAIL and a potent Smac mimetic, SM-164, in vitro and in vivo and the underlying molecular mechanism of action for the synergy. Our study shows that SM-164 is highly synergistic with TRAIL in vitro in both TRAIL-sensitive and TRAIL-resistant cancer cell lines of breast, prostate, and colon cancer. Furthermore, the combination of SM-164 with TRAIL induces rapid tumor regression in vivo in a breast cancer xenograft model in which either agent is ineffective. Our data show that X-linked IAP (XIAP) and cellular IAP 1 (cIAP1), but not cIAP2, work in concert to attenuate the activity of TRAIL; SM-164 strongly enhances TRAIL activity by concurrently targeting XIAP and cIAP1. Moreover, although RIP1 plays a minimal role in the activity of TRAIL as a single agent, it is required for the synergistic interaction between TRAIL and SM-164. This study provides a strong rationale to develop the combination of SM-164 and TRAIL as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of human cancer.