Abstract 5923: Innovative cyclic peptide disrupts IL-17RB/MLK4 Interaction for targeted pancreatic cancer therapy

Abstract

Abstract Interleukin-17B (IL-17B) and its receptor IL-17RB drive oncogenic signaling in pancreatic cancer by interacting with mixed-lineage kinase 4 (MLK4) and phosphorylating IL-17RB's tyrosine-447 site. Our study highlights a therapeutic peptide (amino acids 403-416 of IL-17RB) that disrupts MLK4 binding. Improving its efficacy, we transformed the linear peptide into a disulfide-bonded cyclic form, exhibiting enhanced uptake and stability. The modified cyclic peptide outperformed the linear counterpart, effectively inhibiting the growth and metastasis of PDAC tumor cells in vitro and in a mouse model. Molecularly, we identified the critical role of cysteine (C) residue C408 in IL-17RB, mediating interaction with arginine (R)216 in MLK4's kinase domain. This interaction is pivotal for the cyclic peptide's efficacy. Additionally, lysine (K) residue K410 in IL-17RB maintains the cyclic peptide's structural integrity. These findings provide a comprehensive molecular understanding of IL-17RB and MLK4 interaction, offering innovative strategies for designing therapeutic molecules against pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: Yung-Chen Lo, YL Ko, CH Huang, JH Lee, DN Wu, YT Wu, HM Yu, Cn-Mei hu. Innovative cyclic peptide disrupts IL-17RB/MLK4 Interaction for targeted pancreatic cancer therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5923.