Design and synthesis of novel histone deacetylase inhibitor derived from nuclear localization signal peptide

We describe herein the synthesis and characterization of a new class of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors derived from conjugation of a suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid-like aliphatic-hydroxamate pharmacophore to a nuclear localization signal peptide. We found that these conjugates inhibited the histone deacetylase activities of HDACs 1, 2, 6, and 8 in a manner similar to suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). Notably, compound 7b showed a threefold improvement in HDAC 1/2 inhibition, a threefold increase in HDAC 6 selectivity and a twofold increase in HDAC 8 selectivity when compared to SAHA.     

Autophagy induced by suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid in Hela S3 cells involves inhibition of protein kinase B and up-regulation of Beclin 1

Histone deacetylase inhibitors are promising chemotherapeutic agents and some are in clinical trials. Several molecular mechanisms have been invoked to describe their effects on cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Autophagy has been observed in response to several anticancer reagents and has been demonstrated to be responsible for cell death. However, the exact mechanism of this phenomenon is still not clear. Here we demonstrated that suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, induces nonapoptotic cell death with several specific features characteristic of autophagy in Hela S3 cells. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid inhibits the activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin, a negative regulator of macroautophagy which induces the formation of autophagosomes in a Beclin 1- and autophagy-related 7-dependent manner. This process is mediated by Akt and tuberous sclerosis 2 as is demonstrated by inhibition by continuous active Akt plasmid transfection and RNA interference of tuberous sclerosis 2. Our data provide the first evidence that suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid induces autophagy in Hela S3 cells through interference with the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. These findings suggest that suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid may induce autophagic cancer cell death via its specific pathway, and invite further investigation into the detailed mechanism of this pathway to explore this compound's full potential as a chemotherapeutic agent.     

CD1d induction in solid tumor cells by histone deacetylase inhibitors through inhibition of HDAC1/2 and activation of Sp1

CD1d is a MHC class-like molecule that presents glycolipids to natural killer T (NKT) cells, then regulates innate and adaptive immunity. The regulation of CD1d gene expression in solid tumors is still largely unknown. Gene expression can be epigenetically regulated by DNA methylation and histone acetylation. We found that histone deacetylase inhibitors, trichostatin A (TSA) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), induced CD1d gene expression in human (A549 and NCI-H292) and mouse (TC-1 and B16/F0) cancer cells. Simultaneous knockdown of HDAC1 and 2 induced CD1d gene expression. Sp1 inhibitor mitramycin A (MTM) blocked TSA- and SAHA-induced CD1d mRNA expression and Sp1 luciferase activity. Co-transfection of GAL4-Sp1 and Fc-luciferase reporters demonstrated that TSA and SAHA induced Sp1 luciferase reporter activity by enhancing Sp1 transactivation activity. The binding of Sp1 to CD1d promoter and histone H3 acetylation on Sp1 sites were increased by TSA and SAHA. These results indicate that TSA and SAHA could up-regulate CD1d expression in tumor cells through inhibition of HDAC1/2 and activation of Sp1.     

CD1d induction in solid tumor cells by histone deacetylase inhibitors through inhibition of HDAC1/2 and activation of Sp1

CD1d is a MHC class-like molecule that presents glycolipids to natural killer T (NKT) cells, then regulates innate and adaptive immunity. The regulation of CD1d gene expression in solid tumors is still largely unknown. Gene expression can be epigenetically regulated by DNA methylation and histone acetylation. We found that histone deacetylase inhibitors, trichostatin A (TSA) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), induced CD1d gene expression in human (A549 and NCI-H292) and mouse (TC-1 and B16/F0) cancer cells. Simultaneous knockdown of HDAC1 and 2 induced CD1d gene expression. Sp1 inhibitor mitramycin A (MTM) blocked TSA- and SAHA-induced CD1d mRNA expression and Sp1 luciferase activity. Co-transfection of GAL4-Sp1 and Fc-luciferase reporters demonstrated that TSA and SAHA induced Sp1 luciferase reporter activity by enhancing Sp1 transactivation activity. The binding of Sp1 to CD1d promoter and histone H3 acetylation on Sp1 sites were increased by TSA and SAHA. These results indicate that TSA and SAHA could up-regulate CD1d expression in tumor cells through inhibition of HDAC1/2 and activation of Sp1.     

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of isoindolinone-hydroxamic acid derivatives as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors

We designed and synthesized hydroxamic acid derivatives bearing a 4-(3-pyridyl)phenyl group as a cap structure, and found that they exhibit potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory activity. A representative compound, 17a, showed more potent growth-inhibitory activity against pancreatic cancer cells and greater upregulation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression than the clinically used HDAC inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (Zolinza).     

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of cyclic amide/imide-bearing hydroxamic acid derivatives as class-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors

A series of hydroxamic acid derivatives bearing a cyclic amide/imide group as a linker and/or cap structure, prepared during our structural development studies based on thalidomide, showed class-selective potent histone deacetylase (HDAC)-inhibitory activity. Structure-activity relationship studies indicated that the steric character of the substituent introduced at the cyclic amide/imide nitrogen atom, the presence of the amide/imide carbonyl group, the hydroxamic acid structure, the shape of the linking group, and the distance between the zinc-binding hydroxamic acid group and the cap structure are all important for HDAC-inhibitory activity and class selectivity. A representative compound (30w) showed potent p21 promoter activity, comparable with that of trichostatin A (TSA), and its cytostatic activity against cells of the human prostate cell line LNCaP was more potent than that of the well-known HDAC inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA).