Leucine ureido derivatives as aminopeptidase N inhibitors using click chemistry. Part II

Aminopeptidase N (APN) has been proved to be deeply associated with cancer angiogenesis, metastasis and invasion. Therefore, APN gains increasing attention as a promising anti-tumor target. In the current study, we report the design, synthesis, biological evaluation and structure-activity relationship of one new series of leucine ureido derivatives containing the 1,2,3-triazole moiety. Among them, compound 31f was identified as the best APN inhibitor with IC₅₀ value being two orders of magnitude lower than that of the positive control bestatin. Compound 31f possessed selective cytotoxicity to several tumor cell lines over the normal cell line human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Notably, when combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), 31f exhibited synergistic anti-proliferation effect against several tumor cell lines. At the same concentration, 31f exhibited much better anti-angiogenesis activities than bestatin in the HUVECs capillary tube formation assay and the rat thoracic aorta rings test. In the in vitro anti-invasion assay, 31f also exhibited superior potency over bestatin. Moreover, considerable in vivo antitumor potencies of 31f alone or in combination with 5-Fu were observed without significant toxic signs in a mouse heptoma H22 tumor transplant model.     

Novel leucine ureido derivatives as aminopeptidase N inhibitors using click chemistry

The over-expression of aminopeptidase N on diverse malignant cells is associated with the tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. In this report, one new series of leucine ureido derivatives containing the triazole moiety was designed, synthesized and evaluated as APN inhibitors. Among them, compound 13v showed the best APN inhibition with an IC₅₀ value of 0.089?±?0.007?μM, which was two orders of magnitude lower than that of bestatin (IC₅₀?=?9.4?±?0.5?μM). Compound 13v also showed dose-dependent anti-angiogenesis activities. Even at the lower concentration (10?μM), compound 13v presented similar anti-angiogenesis activity compared with bestatin at 100?μM in both the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) capillary tube formation assay and the rat thoracic aorta rings test. Moreover, compared with bestatin, 13v exhibited comparable, if not better in vivo anti-metastasis activity in a mouse H22 pulmonary metastasis model.     

Discovery of a synthetic Aminopeptidase N inhibitor LB-4b as a potential anticancer agent

APN inhibitors have been considered as potential anticancer agents for years. LB-4b is the first synthetic APN inhibitor to be evaluated for both of its anti-invasion and anti-angiogenesis effects. As a potent synthetic APN inhibitor (IC₅₀ = 850 nM, versus bestatin of 8.1 μM), LB-4b was determined to have more significant block effects to cancer cell invasion and angiogenesis than bestatin. Besides, it is able to be easily synthesized with a high total yield, while the reported synthetic methods of bestatin are much more complex.     

Design,synthesis and preliminary activity evaluation of novel 3-amino-2-hydroxyl-3-phenylpropanoic acid derivatives as aminopeptidase N/CD13 inhibitors

Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) over expressed on tumour cells, plays a critical role in tumour invasion, metastasis and tumour angiogenesis. In this article, we described the design, synthesis and preliminary activity studies of novel 3-amino-2-hydroxyl-3-phenylpropanoic acid derivatives as APN inhibitors. The in vitro enzymatic inhibitions on APN from porcine kidney showed that compound 7e had the most potent inhibitory activity against APN with the IC₅₀ value to 1.26?±?0.01 μM, which is better than that of bestatin (IC₅₀?=?2.55?±?0.11 μM). In addition, compound 7e also showed better inhibitory activity against APN on human ovary clear cell carcinoma cell ES-2 than bestatin with the IC₅₀ value to 30.19?±?1.02 μM versus 60.61?±?0.1 μM. Compound 7e could be used as the lead compound in the future for anti-cancer agent research.     

Novel aminopeptidase N inhibitors derived from antineoplaston AS2–5 (Part II)

As our ongoing work, a series of peptidomimetic l-iso-glutamine derivatives derived from antineoplaston AS2–5 scaffold were prepared and their APN/CD13 and MMP-2 inhibitory activities were evaluated hereby. The results displayed that these compounds exhibited selective inhibition against APN as compared with MMP-2, with IC₅₀ values in micromole range. Compounds A1 and A2 showed comparable APN inhibitory activities than the positive control bestatin.     

Synthesis of a novel series of L-isoserine derivatives as aminopeptidase N inhibitors

A series of novel L-isoserine derivatives were synthesised and evaluated for their ability to inhibit aminopeptidase N (APN)/CD13. In our preliminary biological results, some of these compounds possessed a potent inhibitory activity against the APN. Within this series, compound 14b not only showed similar enzyme inhibition (IC₅₀ of 12.2?μM) compared with the positive control bestatin (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 7.3?μM), but also had a potent antiproliferative activity against human cancer cell lines cells.     

Exploring ligand dissociation pathways from aminopeptidase N using random acceleration molecular dynamics simulation

Aminopeptidase N (APN) is a zinc-dependent ectopeptidase involved in cell proliferation, secretion, invasion, and angiogenesis, and is widely recognized as an important cancer target. However, the mechanisms whereby ligands leave the active site of APN remain unknown. Investigating ligand dissociation processes is quite difficult, both in classical simulation methods and in experimental approaches. In this study, random acceleration molecular dynamics (RAMD) simulation was used to investigate the potential dissociation pathways of ligand from APN. The results revealed three pathways (channels A, B and C) for ligand release. Channel A, which matches the hypothetical channel region, was the most preferred region for bestatin to dissociate from the enzyme, and is probably the major channel for the inner bound ligand. In addition, two alternative channels (channels B and C) were shown to be possible pathways for ligand egression. Meanwhile, we identified key residues controlling the dynamic features of APN channels. Identification of the dissociation routes will provide further mechanistic insights into APN, which will benefit the development of more promising APN inhibitors.

Open image in new window

Graphical Abstract The release pathways of bestatin inside active site of aminopeptidase N were simulated using RAMD simulation

     

Knockdown of LYRM1 Rescues Insulin Resistance and Mitochondrial Dysfunction Induced by FCCP in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

LYR motif-containing 1 (LYRM1) was recently discovered to be involved in adipose tissue homeostasis and obesity-associated insulin resistance. We previously demonstrated that LYRM1 overexpression might contribute to insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, knockdown of LYRM1 enhanced insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We investigated whether knockdown of LYRM1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes could rescue insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by the cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-hydrazone (FCCP), a mitochondrion uncoupler, to further ascertain the mechanism by which LYRM1 is involved in obesity-associated insulin resistance. Incubation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with 1 µM FCCP for 12 h decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, reduced intracellular ATP synthesis, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, impaired insulin-stimulated Glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) translocation, and diminished insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and serine phosphorylation of Protein Kinase B (Akt). Knockdown of LYRM1 restored insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, rescued intracellular ATP synthesis, reduced intracellular ROS production, restored insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation, and rescued insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and serine phosphorylation of Akt in FCCP-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This study indicates that FCCP-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance are ameliorated by knockdown of LYRM1.     

Novel aminopeptidase N inhibitors derived from antineoplaston AS2–5 (Part I)

Overexpression of zinc-dependent metalloproteinase, aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13), is considered to be involved in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. Herein we describe the synthesis and in vitro enzymatic inhibition assay of antineoplaston AS2–5 scaffold peptidomimetic compounds. The results demonstrated that most of these l-iso-glutamine derivatives displayed selective inhibitory activity against APN as compared with MMP-2, with IC₅₀ values in the micromole range. The structure–activity relationships were also briefly discussed.     

The polymorphisms of LYRM1 gene and their association with body measurement and ultrasound traits of Qinchuan cattle

Body measurement and meat quality traits which play important roles in the assessment of productivity and economy in cattle were influenced by genes and environmental factors. Latest studies showed that LYR motif containing 1 (LYRM1) may be involved in influencing fatness deposition in animals. The objective of this study was to detect bovine LYRM1 gene polymorphism and analyze its association with body measurement and meat quality traits of cattle. Blood samples were taken from a total of 404 Qinchuan cattle aged from 18–24 months. Created restriction site-polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (CRS-PCR–RFLP) and DNA sequencing were used to find out LYRM1 single polymorphism nucleotide (SNPs). Sequence analysis of LYRM1 gene revealed two SNPs (g.165 C > A, g.193 A > G) in 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of exon 3. And g.165 C > A showed two genotypes namely AC and CC while g.193 A > G showed three genotypes: AA, AG and GG. Analysis results showed that there were significant associations between polymorphism of these two and body measurement and meat quality traits in Qinchuan cattle population. Based on the results obtained from this study, it is inferred that LYRM1 gene may have potential effects on body measurement and meat quality traits in Qinchuan cattle population and could be used for marker-assisted selection.     

Aminopeptidase N (CD13) regulates tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced apoptosis in human neutrophils

Neutrophil apoptosis plays a central role in the resolution of granulocytic inflammation. We have shown previously that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) enhances the rate of neutrophil apoptosis at early time points via a mechanism involving both TNF receptor (TNFR) I and TNFRII. Here we reveal a marked but consistent variation in the magnitude of the pro-apoptotic effect of TNFalpha in neutrophils isolated from healthy donors, and we show that inhibition of cell surface aminopeptidase N (APN) using actinonin, bestatin, or inhibitory peptides significantly enhanced the efficacy of TNFalpha-induced killing. Notably, an inverse correlation is shown to exist between neutrophil APN activity and the sensitivity of donor cells to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of cell surface APN appears to interfere with the shedding of TNFRI, and as a consequence results in augmented TNFalpha-induced apoptosis, cell polarization, and TNFalpha-primed, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-stimulated respiratory burst. Of note, actinonin and bestatin had no effect on TNFRII expression under resting or TNFalpha-stimulated conditions and did not alter CXCRI or CXCRII expression. These data suggest significant variation in the activity of APN/CD13 on the cell surface of neutrophils in normal individuals and reveal a novel mechanism whereby APN/CD13 regulates TNFalpha-induced apoptosis via inhibition of TNFRI shedding. This has therapeutic relevance for driving neutrophil apoptosis in vivo.     

G Protein Coupled Receptor Kinase 3 Regulates Breast Cancer Migration,Invasion, and Metastasis

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease that has a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Chemokine receptor interactions are important modulators of breast cancer metastasis; however, it is now recognized that quantitative surface expression of one important chemokine receptor, CXCR4, may not directly correlate with metastasis and that its functional activity in breast cancer may better inform tumor pathogenicity. G protein coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3) is a negative regulator of CXCR4 activity, and we show that GRK expression correlates with tumorigenicity, molecular subtype, and metastatic potential in human tumor microarray analysis. Using established human breast cancer cell lines and an immunocompetent in vivo mouse model, we further demonstrate that alterations in GRK3 expression levels in tumor cells directly affect migration and invasion in vitro and the establishment of distant metastasis in vivo. The effects of GRK3 modulation appear to be specific to chemokine-mediated migration behaviors without influencing tumor cell proliferation or survival. These data demonstrate that GRK3 dysregulation may play an important part in TNBC metastasis.     

BRCC2 inhibits breast cancer cell growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo via downregulating AKT pathway

In our previous study, we demonstrated that the BRCC2 (breast cancer cell 2) gene is a proapoptotic molecule that interacts with Bcl-X_L. BRCC2 downregulation is associated with poor disease-free and overall survival in breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of BRCC2 in tumor suppression in breast cancer. In clinical breast cancer samples, we found that BRCC2 expression was significantly downregulated in cancer lesions compared with paired normal breast tissues. By silencing or overexpressing BRCC2 in breast cancer cells, we found that BRCC2 could inhibit cell growth and metastasis in vitro. An in vivo assay showed that BRCC2 not only dramatically inhibited breast cancer cell xenograft formation and growth but also inhibited breast cancer cell metastasis in a lung metastasis model. Moreover, we demonstrated that BRCC2 inhibited breast cancer metastasis via regulation of the Akt pathway. Thus, our study provided evidence that BRCC2 functions as a novel tumor suppressor in breast cancer and may be a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer management.     

ICAM3 mediates tumor metastasis via a LFA-1-ICAM3-ERM dependent manner

ICAM3 was reported to promote metastasis in tumors. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we disclosed that the expression of ICAM3 was closely correlated with the TNM stage of human breast and lung cancer, as well as the dominant overexpression in high aggressive tumor cell lines (231 and A549 cells). Moreover, the knockdown of ICAM3 inhibited tumor metastasis whereas the ectopic expression of ICAM3 promoted tumor metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, exploration of the underlying mechanism demonstrated that ICAM3 not only binds to LFA-1 with its extracellular domain and structure protein ERM but also to lamellipodia with its intracellular domain which causes a tension that pulls cells apart (metastasis). Furthermore, ICAM3 extracellular or intracellular mutants alternatively abolished ICAM3 mediated tumor metastasis in vitro and in vivo. As a therapy strategy, LFA-1 antibody or Lifitegrast restrained tumor metastasis via targeting ICAM3-LFA-1 interaction. In summary, the aforementioned findings suggest a model of ICAM3 in mediating tumor metastasis. This may provide a promising target or strategy for the prevention of tumor metastasis.     

Suppression of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis by Apolipoprotein(a) Kringle V in a Nude Mouse Model through the Induction of Apoptosis in Tumor-Associated Endothelial Cells

The formation of liver metastases in colorectal cancer patients is the primary cause of patient death. Current therapies directed at liver metastasis from colorectal cancer have had minimal impact on patient outcomes. Therefore, the development of alternative treatment strategies for liver metastasis is needed. In the present study, we demonstrated that recombinant human apolipoprotein(a) kringle V, also known as rhLK8, induced the apoptotic turnover of endothelial cells in vitro through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. The interaction of rhLK8 with glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) may be involved in the induction of apoptosis because the inhibition of GRP78 by GRP78-specific antibodies or siRNA knockdown inhibited the rhLK8-mediated apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. Next, to evaluate the effects of rhLK8 on angiogenesis and metastasis, an experimental model of liver metastasis was established by injecting a human colorectal cancer cell line, LS174T, into the spleens of BALB/c nude mice. The systemic administration of rhLK8 significantly suppressed liver metastasis from human colorectal cancer cells and improved host survival compared with controls. The combination of rhLK8 and 5-fluorouracil substantially increased these survival benefits compared with either therapy alone. Histological observation showed significant induction of apoptosis among tumor-associated endothelial cells in liver metastases from rhLK8-treated mice compared with control mice. Collectively, these results suggest that the combination of rhLK8 with conventional chemotherapy may be a promising approach for the treatment of patients with life-threatening colorectal cancer liver metastases.     

Prognostic Significance of Peritumoral Lymphatic Vessel Density and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 in Invasive Squamous Cell Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is known to metastasize primarily by the lymphatic system. Dissemination through lymphatic vessels represents an early step in regional tumor progression, and the presence of lymphatic metastasis is associated with a poor prognosis. In patients who have undergone a radical hysterectomy, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), assessed on hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides, is a major factor for adjuvant therapy in patients with cervical cancer. With the advent of a lymphatic endothelial cell-specific marker, such as D2-40, it is now possible to distinguish between blood and lymphatic space invasion (LSI). In this study, the utility of D2-40 was assessed for the detection of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and identification of LSI. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), VEGF-C, tyrosine receptor kinase-2, and angiopoietin-1 were assessed by immunohistochemical methods on 50 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Clinicopathologic characteristics, including pelvic lymph node metastasis, were correlated with the above histochemical findings. We found that lymphangiogenesis, measured by an increase in peritumoral LVD, was significantly associated with positive lymph node status (P < .005). VEGFR-3 expression was significantly associated with LVD (P < .05). D2-40 staining verified LSI (P = .03) and surpassed that of hematoxylin and eosin-identified LVSI (P = .54). In conclusion, lymphangiogenic markers, specifically LVD quantified by D2-40 and VEGFR-3, are independently associated with LSI and lymph node metastasis in patients with early squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.     

Inhibitory effect of starfish polysaccharides on metastasis in HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma

In the present study, we investigated the effects of starfish (Asterina pectinifera) polysaccharides on cancer proliferation and metastasis in HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma. Cytokine-stimulated expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is closely associated with cancer proliferation, invasion and metastasis, was dose-dependently diminished by treatment with the starfish polysaccharides. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced activity and expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, a major inducer of metastasis in colorectal cancer, were also down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and -2 mRNA, which play critical roles in preventing metastasis, increased over the polysaccharides concentration range 10 ?? 120 ??g/mL. In the wound healing assay, HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma migration activated by TPA was decreased by treatment with the starfish polysaccharides. These results indicate that the starfish polysaccharides inhibited human colorectal cancer proliferation and metastasis by preventing nitrogen oxide synthesis, which occurred via inhibition of iNOS and MMP-2 activity and expression and induction of TIMP-1 and -2 expressions. This report demonstrates that starfish polysaccharides may be used as an anti-proliferation and -metastatic material for the treatment of human colorectal cancer.