JCI-20679 suppresses autophagy and enhances temozolomide-mediated growth inhibition of glioblastoma cells

Abstract

Glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, is one of the most aggressive and lethal types of malignancy. The present study shows that JCI-20679, an originally synthesized mitochondrial complex I inhibitor, enhances the anti-proliferative effects of suboptimal concentrations of the clinically used chemotherapeutic drug temozolomide in glioblastoma cells. Analysis of the effects of temozolomide combined with JCI-20679 using isobologram and combination index methods demonstrated that the combination had synergistic effects in murine and human glioblastoma cells. We found that JCI-20679 inhibited the temozolomide-mediated induction of autophagy that facilitates cellular survival. The autophagy induced by temozolomide increased ATP production, which confers temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma cells. JCI-20679 blocked temozolomide-mediated increases in ATP levels and increased the AMP/ATP ratio. Furthermore, JCI-20679 enhanced the therapeutic effects of temozolomide in an orthotopic transplantation model of glioblastoma. These results indicate that JCI-20679 may be promising as a novel agent for enhancing the efficacy of temozolomide against glioblastoma.