Benzamide Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Research Articles

Updated Results of a Prospective Study: Rituximab and Lenalidomide Plus Chidamide (RLC) for Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma

Introduction Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is the second most common subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). The therapeutic effect of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP), the most common first-line chemotherapy regimen, is not satisfactory, and most patients experience relapse or disease progression. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) of AITL is 13%-23%, and 5-year overall survival (OS) is 33%-36%. The benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) Chidamide and lenalidomide (a second-generation immunomodulatory compound) are both approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory PTCL in China. About 70%-100% of the AITL patients have EBV infection, which may cause abnormal immune functions in hosts. EBV infects immunocytes such as B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells, and it impairs immune functions that can clear neoplastic cells from the body. Rituximab may eradicate EBV-B cells and activated B cells and may prevent the progression to AITL. When combined with rituximab, lenalidomide augmented antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by enhancing NK cells, which overcomes rituximab resistance in lymphoma patients. In this prospective phase II study, the efficacy and safety of a new regimen consisting of rituximab, lenalidomide and chidamide has been evaluated in relapsed/refractory AITL patients. We have reported the preliminary results (2022 ASH, poster 1600), and now we update the data of this study. Methods Patients with relapsed/refractory AITL after at least first-line chemotherapy were treated with up to 6 cycles of a rituximab and lenalidomide plus chidamide (RLC) regimen every 3 weeks. The initial dose of each drug has been reported. The primary endpoint of the study was PFS. The secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), OS, and adverse events (AEs). Results Between Aug 2019 and May 2023, 24 patients with relapsed/refractory AITL were enrolled. The characteristics of these patients are listed in table 1. On enrollment, 16 (66.7%) patients had received 1st-line chemotherapy, 7 (29.1%) patients had received 2nd-line chemotherapy, and 1 (4.2%) patient had received 3rd-line chemotherapy. The median age was 63 years (range 43-78) and 9 (37.5%) patients were female. Fifteen (62.5%) patients had B symptoms, including weight loss in 3 (12.5%) cases, night sweat in 1 (4.2%) case and fever in 11 (45.8%) cases. Sixteen (66.7%) patients had elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and 21 (87.5%) patients had IPI score≥2. All patients had completed RLC treatment for at least 1 cycle and underwent imaging assessment. The ORR was 75% (18/24) with a complete remission (CR) rate of 20.8% (5/24), and 13 (54.2%) patients achieved partial remission (PR). While 1 (4.2%) patient achieved stable disease (SD) and 5 (20.8%) patients achieved progressive disease (PD). Two patients received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as consolidation treatment after achieving CR from RLC chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 9.7 months, 9 patients had died. The median PFS was 10.8 months (95% confidence interval <CI>, 9.0 to 12.6 months), but the median OS was not reached. No patient presented with Grade 5 AE. The most frequent all-grade hematological toxicity included leucopenia (35.7%, 5/14), followed by anemia (21.4%, 3/14) and thrombocytopenia (41.7%, 10/24). Other common toxicities included infusion reaction (16.7%, 4/24), skin rash (20.8%, 5/24), pulmonary pneumonia (41.7%, 10/24), and nausea (12.5%, 3/24). Dose reduction was performed in 8 patients. The exploratory analysis of possible prognostic factors by mass spectrum flow are undergoing. Conclusions The updated results of this prospective study confirmed the good response rate and manageable toxicity of rituximab and lenalidomide plus chidamide (RLC) regimen. This combination may be a promising regimen in patients with relapsed/refractory AITL.

Large-Scale Identification of Multiple Classes of Host Defense Peptide-Inducing Compounds for Antimicrobial Therapy.

The rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance demands new antimicrobial strategies that are less likely to develop resistance. Augmenting the synthesis of endogenous host defense peptides (HDPs) has been proven to be an effective host-directed therapeutic approach. This study aimed to identify small-molecule compounds with a strong ability to induce endogenous HDP synthesis for further development as novel antimicrobial agents. By employing a stable HDP promoter-driven luciferase reporter cell line known as HTC/AvBD9-luc, we performed high-throughput screening of 5002 natural and synthetic compounds and identified 110 hits with a minimum Z-score of 2.0. Although they were structurally and functionally diverse, half of these hits were inhibitors of class I histone deacetylases, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway, ion channels, and dopamine and serotonin receptors. Further validations revealed mocetinostat, a benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor, to be highly potent in enhancing the expression of multiple HDP genes in chicken macrophage cell lines and jejunal explants. Importantly, mocetinostat was more efficient than entinostat and tucidinostat, two structural analogs, in promoting HDP gene expression and the antibacterial activity of chicken macrophages. Taken together, mocetinostat, with its ability to enhance HDP synthesis and the antibacterial activity of host cells, could be potentially developed as a novel antimicrobial for disease control and prevention.

Inhibitory Effect of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor on the Proliferation of Leukemia Cells and Its Anti-Tumor Pharmacology

The aim of this study was to explore the inhibitory effect of histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI) on the proliferation of leukemia cells. The two kinds of leukemia cells (human promyelocytic leukemia cell (HL-60) and human acute myelogenous leukemia cell (KG-1)) were selected for in vitro research. Besides, Chidamide, a kind of benzamide HDACI, was applied to induce and culture the HL-60 and KG-1 cells, and the anti-tumor cell proliferation activity of Chidamide on HL-60 and KG-1 was detected by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, which was 5.6 and 6.1 in turn. The cell scratch experiment verified that Chidamide had the metastasis inhibitory effect on HL-60 and KG-1 cells. Flow cytometry was employed to measure the percentage of apoptotic cells, and it was found that the percentage of apoptotic cells was 55.6% ± 1% and 48.6% ± 1% in sequence after HL-60 and KG-1 cells were treated with Chidamide for 36 hours. The number of auto-phagosomes was determined by transmission electron microscopy showing that the number of auto-phagosomes in HL-60 and KG-1 cells was 12 ± 1 and 10 ± 1, respectively after the induction process of Chidamide. The phosphorylated histone H2AX protein (γ-H2AX) recognition antibody immunofluorescence method was adopted to determine the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, and the positive rates of HL-60 and KG-1 cells reached 28.41% and 26.35%, respectively after Chidamide treatment. Therefore, Chidamide, as a kind of HDACI, could effectively inhibit the proliferation of leukemia cells, so that the results of this experiment had a good guiding meaning for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of leukemia.

Abstract 1555: Single cell level treatment-specific characterization of HER2+ breast cancers treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and entinostat

Abstract HER2+ breast cancers are known to be less-immunogenic and associated with low response rates to ICIs such as anti-PD-1, anti-PDL-1 or anti-CTLA-4. A combination of immunosuppressive signals that prevent cytotoxic T cells from infiltrating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and low tumor antigen expression contribute to immunotherapy resistance in this population. Epigenetic modulators can both reexpress tumor antigens and rewire the immunosuppressive environment. We previously used a benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor, entinostat, in combination with ICIs to reverse the immunosuppressive TME and increase tumor antigen expression in a NeuN HER2+ mouse model of breast cancer. Our results showed that entinostat in combination with anti-PD-1, anti-CTLA-4, or both provided a significant survival benefit compared to either treatment alone. This current study employs single cell RNA-seq on whole tumor samples from mice treated with ICIs and entinostat to investigate the role of epigenetic inhibitors in rewiring the expression of tumor antigens and the cellular landscape of the TME. We generate single cell data of over 54,000 cells from 20 tumors treated with entinostat alone or in combination with anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 and their combination. Analysis of cells in the TME identifies consistent proportion of monocytes, macrophages, T-cells, Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) and Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) before and after treatment. Differential expression analysis within the cell types identifies distinct subpopulations and we explore those that are either proportionally higher or lower in each treatment group. Notably, pathway analysis on differentially expressed genes of each cell type identified that combination entinostat and checkpoint treatment increased T cell activation, leukocyte proliferation, myeloid leukocyte and neutrophil migration, and decreased Wnt signaling and histone modifications in tumor cells. Further analysis of the tumor cells from these data and additional ATAC-seq data will enable us to further test the role of antigen reexpression in this TME of activated tumors. We also used the CoGAPS matrix factorization algorithm and RNA velocity analysis to identify transcriptional patterns that are enriched in response to combination treatment. Our current work provides insights into the transcriptional network within a breast tumor after treatment with entinostat. Our follow-up studies in patient samples from a corresponding clinical trial will allow us to map the role of epigenetic modulation in breast tumors. We predict our findings will bring us closer to identifying additional therapeutic targets and ultimately improve survival rates of patients with less-immunogenic tumors. NCT02453620. Citation Format: Dimitrios N. Sidiropoulos, Emily Davis-Marcisak, Christine Rafie, Luciane T. Kagohara, Gaurav Sharma, Roisin M. Connolly, Vered Stearns, Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian, Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Elana J. Fertig, Evanthia T. Roussos Torres. Single cell level treatment-specific characterization of HER2+ breast cancers treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and entinostat [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1555.

Promoter methylation status of tumor suppressor genes and inhibition of expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 in non-small cell lung cancer.

DNA methylation is an epigenetic DNA modification catalyzed by DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). The purpose of this study was to investigate DNMT1 gene and protein expression and the effects of methylation status on tumor suppressor genes in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines grown invitro and invivo Human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines, A549 and H838, were grown invitro and inoculated subcutaneously into nude mice to form tumors and were then treated with the DNA methylation inhibitor, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, with and without treatment with the benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor, entinostat (MS-275). DNMT1 protein expression was quantified by Western blot. Promoter methylation status of tumor suppressor genes (RASSF1A, ASC, APC, MGMT, CDH13, DAPK, ECAD, P16, and GATA4) was evaluated by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Methylation status of the tumor suppressor genes was regulated by the DNMT1 gene, with the decrease of DNMT1 expression following DNA methylation treatment. Demethylation of tumor suppressor genes (APC, ASC, and RASSF1A) restored tumor growth in nude mice. The results of this study support a role for methylation of DNA as a potential epigenetic clinical biomarker of prognosis or response to therapy and for DNMT1 as a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC.

PET imaging demonstrates histone deacetylase target engagement and clarifies brain penetrance of known and novel small molecule inhibitors in rat.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes have been demonstrated as critical components in maintaining chromatin homeostasis, CNS development, and normal brain function. Evidence in mouse models links HDAC expression to learning, memory, and mood-related behaviors; small molecule HDAC inhibitor tool compounds have been used to demonstrate the importance of specific HDAC subtypes in modulating CNS-disease-related behaviors in rodents. So far, no direct evidence exists to understand the quantitative changes in HDAC target engagement that are necessary to alter biochemistry and behavior in a living animal. Understanding the relationship between target engagement and in vivo effect is essential in refining new ways to alleviate disease. We describe here, using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of rat brain, the in vivo target engagement of a subset of class I/IIb HDAC enzymes implicated in CNS-disease (HDAC subtypes 1, 2, 3, and 6). We found marked differences in the brain penetrance of tool compounds from the hydroxamate and benzamide HDAC inhibitor classes and resolved a novel, highly brain penetrant benzamide, CN147, chronic treatment with which resulted in an antidepressant-like effect in a rat behavioral test. Our work highlights a new translational path for understanding the molecular and behavioral consequences of HDAC target engagement.

Image-guided synthesis reveals potent blood-brain barrier permeable histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Recent studies have revealed that several histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, which are used to study/treat brain diseases, show low blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. In addition to low HDAC potency and selectivity observed, poor brain penetrance may account for the high doses needed to achieve therapeutic efficacy. Here we report the development and evaluation of highly potent and blood-brain barrier permeable HDAC inhibitors for CNS applications based on an image-guided approach involving the parallel synthesis and radiolabeling of a series of compounds based on the benzamide HDAC inhibitor, MS-275 as a template. BBB penetration was optimized by rapid carbon-11 labeling and PET imaging in the baboon model and using the imaging derived data on BBB penetration from each compound to feed back into the design process. A total of 17 compounds were evaluated, revealing molecules with both high binding affinity and BBB permeability. A key element conferring BBB penetration in this benzamide series was a basic benzylic amine. These derivatives exhibited 1-100 nM inhibitory activity against recombinant human HDAC1 and HDAC2. Three of the carbon-11 labeled aminomethyl benzamide derivatives showed high BBB penetration (∼0.015%ID/cc) and regional binding heterogeneity in the brain (high in thalamus and cerebellum). Taken together this approach has afforded a strategy and a predictive model for developing highly potent and BBB permeable HDAC inhibitors for CNS applications and for the discovery of novel candidate molecules for small molecule probes and drugs.

Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry determination of mocetinostat (MGCD0103) in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

1. Mocetinostat (MGCD0103) is a benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor undergoing clinical trials for treatment of various cancers including Hodgkin's lymphoma, follicular lymphoma and acute myelogenous leukemia. A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method for determination of MGCD0103 in rat plasma was developed.2. After addition of midazolam as internal standard (IS), protein precipitation by acetonitrile was used as sample preparation. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 3.5 µm) column with acetonitrile−0.1% formic acid in water as mobile phase with gradient elution. An electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode; selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode was used for quantification using target fragment ions m/z 397 for MGCD0103 and m/z 326 for the IS.3. Calibration plots were linear over the range of 5–5000 ng/mL for MGCD0103 in rat plasma. Mean recoveries of MGCD0103 in rat plasma were in the range of 89.7–96.1%. RSD of intra-day and inter-day precision were both <11%. The accuracy of the method ranged from 96.5% to 109.7%. The matrix effects for MGCD0103 were between 94.5% and 97.4%.4. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of MGCD0103 after oral (15 mg/kg) and intravenous (3 mg/kg) administration in rats. The bioavailability of MGCD0103 was 29.3% in rats.

Class I HDAC imaging using [3H]CI-994 autoradiography

[3H]CI-994, a radioactive isotopologue of the benzamide CI-994, a class I histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), was evaluated as an autoradiography probe for ex vivo labeling and localizing of class I HDAC (isoforms 1–3) in the rodent brain. After protocol optimization, up to 80% of total binding was attributed to specific binding. Notably, like other benzamide HDACi, [3H]CI-994 exhibits slow binding kinetics when measured in vitro with isolated enzymes and ex vivo when used for autoradiographic mapping of HDAC1–3 density. The regional distribution and density of HDAC1–3 was determined through a series of saturation and kinetics experiments. The binding properties of [3H]CI-994 to HDAC1–3 were characterized and the data were used to determine the regional Bmax of the target proteins. Kd values, determined from slice autoradiography, were between 9.17 and 15.6 nM. The HDAC1–3 density (Bmax), averaged over whole brain sections, was of 12.9 picomol · mg−1 protein. The highest HDAC1–3 density was found in the cerebellum, followed by hippocampus and cortex. Moderate to low receptor density was found in striatum, hypothalamus and thalamus. These data were correlated with semi-quantitative measures of each HDAC isoform using western blot analysis and it was determined that autoradiographic images most likely represent the sum of HDAC1, HDAC2, and HDAC3 protein density. In competition experiments, [3H]CI-994 binding can be dose-dependently blocked with other HDAC inhibitors, including suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). In summary, we have developed the first known autoradiography tool for imaging class I HDAC enzymes. Although validated in the CNS, [3H]CI-994 will be applicable and beneficial to other target tissues and can be used to evaluate HDAC inhibition in tissues for novel therapies being developed. [3H]CI-994 is now an enabling imaging tool to study the relationship between diseases and epigenetic regulation.

Oral Administration of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor MS-275 Ameliorates Neuroinflammation and Cerebral Amyloidosis and Improves Behavior in a Mouse Model

Alzheimer disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the major cause of dementia. In addition to β-amyloid aggregation and hyperphosphorylated tau, neuroinflammation also plays important roles in the pathophysiology of this multifactorial disorder. Histone deacetylase catalyzes deacetylation of histones and has important roles in the regulation of gene expression. Histone deacetylase inhibitors have been reported to exhibit neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory activities and have therapeutic effects in several animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, an efficient benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor, MS-275, was orally administered by gavage to transgenic APP/PS1 mice, an animal model of cerebral amyloidosis for Alzheimer disease. After 10 days of treatment, MS-275 significantly ameliorated microglial activation and β-amyloid deposition in cerebral cortex and/or hippocampus. This was associated with improved nesting behavior, an important affiliative/social behavior. MS-275 also attenuated inflammatory activation of a mouse macrophage cell line in vitro. These results suggest that MS-275 may be a therapeutic option for Alzheimer disease and other neuroinflammatory diseases.

MS-275, a benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor, prevents osteoclastogenesis by down-regulating c-Fos expression and suppresses bone loss in mice

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes play important roles in physiological and pathological processes by catalyzing the deacetylation of lysine residues in histone and non-histone proteins. Inhibition of HDACs has emerged as an attractive therapeutic strategy for various diseases including cancer and inflammatory diseases. We recently found that MS-275, a class I-specific HDAC inhibitor, exhibits an anabolic effect on bone through promoting expression of alkaline phosphatase in osteoblasts. MS-275 has also been suggested to inhibit inflammatory bone destruction, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanism of action of MS-275 on osteoclast differentiation and activation. We found that MS-275 inhibits osteoclast differentiation in coculture of osteoblasts and bone marrow cells without affecting expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), a key cytokine for osteoclast differentiation, in osteoblasts. MS-275 inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation from its precursors by suppressing RANKL-induced expression of c-Fos, a crucial transcription factor for osteoclastogenesis. The inhibitory effect of MS-275 on osteoclast differentiation was blunted by ectopic overexpression of c-Fos. In addition to osteoclast differentiation, MS-275 decreased bone resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts. Consistent with the in vitro effects, MS-275 decreased osteoclast number and bone destruction in IL-1-induced mouse calvarial bone destruction model. Taken together, our results demonstrate that MS-275 suppresses bone destruction by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and activation, suggesting a potential therapeutic value of MS-275 for bone disorders associated with increased bone resorption.

Selective Class I Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Suppresses Hypoxia-Induced Cardiopulmonary Remodeling Through an Antiproliferative Mechanism

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are efficacious in models of hypertension-induced left ventricular heart failure. The consequences of HDAC inhibition in the context of pulmonary hypertension with associated right ventricular cardiac remodeling are poorly understood. This study was performed to assess the utility of selective small-molecule inhibitors of class I HDACs in a preclinical model of pulmonary hypertension. Rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia for 3 weeks in the absence or presence of a benzamide HDAC inhibitor, MGCD0103, which selectively inhibits class I HDACs 1, 2, and 3. The compound reduced pulmonary arterial pressure more dramatically than tadalafil, a standard-of-care therapy for human pulmonary hypertension that functions as a vasodilator. MGCD0103 improved pulmonary artery acceleration time and reduced systolic notching of the pulmonary artery flow envelope, which suggests a positive impact of the HDAC inhibitor on pulmonary vascular remodeling and stiffening. Similar results were obtained with an independent class I HDAC-selective inhibitor, MS-275. Reduced pulmonary arterial pressure in MGCD0103-treated animals was associated with blunted pulmonary arterial wall thickening because of suppression of smooth muscle cell proliferation. Right ventricular function was maintained in MGCD0103-treated animals. Although the class I HDAC inhibitor only modestly reduced right ventricular hypertrophy, it had multiple beneficial effects on the right ventricle, which included suppression of pathological gene expression, inhibition of proapoptotic caspase activity, and repression of proinflammatory protein expression. By targeting distinct pathogenic mechanisms, isoform-selective HDAC inhibitors have potential as novel therapeutics for pulmonary hypertension that will complement vasodilator standards of care.

Effect of antioxidants on airway smooth muscle contraction: action of lipoic acid and some of its novel derivatives on guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of (a) antioxidants, some related to alpha-lipoic acid (LA), (b) histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, and (c) hybrid compounds possessing both alpha-lipoic acid-derived antioxidant properties and HDAC inhibitory activity to inhibit guinea pig smooth muscle contraction. Guinea pig isolated tracheal rings (GPTR) were prepared and their isometric tension measured using a transducer. Histamine, carbachol and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) served as agonists. Tests with antigen (ovalbumin) used GPTR from sensitised guinea pigs or rings from non-sensitised animals that had been incubated for at least 2 h with diluted serum from sensitised animals. All antioxidants tested showed a relaxant effect on resting tension and on tension induced by histamine or carbachol, with EC(50)(s) of 0.2-5.0 mM and a rank order of potency: LA derivatives > glutathione (GSH) > ascorbic acid (AA). However, low concentrations (<50 microM) of GSH, AA and LA potentiated histamine-induced contractions. The benzamide HDAC inhibitor MGCD0103 inhibited mast cell activation and GPTR contraction produced by antigen and certain agonists, although a 2-6 h pre-incubation was required for those effects to be apparent. Two LA-benzamide HDAC hybrid compounds, UCL M084 and UCL M109 inhibited GPTR contraction after 30 min pre-incubation; however, even after long pre-incubation (up to 6 h) those hybrid compounds showed less potent inhibition of agonist-induced contraction than did MGCD0103. The results showed that GSH more potently inhibited contraction induced by histamine than that induced by 5-HT or carbachol, whereas LA, and especially UCL M084 and UCL M109, more potently blocked contraction induced by carbachol and 5-HT than that induced by histamine. For GSH, and possibly also for LA-type compounds, the inhibition of agonist-induced tracheal smooth muscle contractions may be due to NO formation. This study did not detect a synergistic relaxant effect in two compounds incorporating the structural union of a benzamide HDAC inhibitor terminus with a LA-derived antioxidant moiety.

Determination of a benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor, MS-275, in human plasma by liquid chromatography with mass-spectrometric detection

An analytical method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 in human plasma. Calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 1–250 ng/mL. Sample pretreatment involved a liquid–liquid extraction of 0.1 mL aliquots of plasma with methyl tert-butyl ether. MS-275 and the internal standard, benzanilide, were separated on a Zorbax SB-Phenyl column (4.6 mm × 75 mm I.D., 3.5 μm), using a mobile phase composed of methanol and 10 mM ammonium formate (pH 2.9). The column eluent was monitored by mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. Accuracy and precision of three concentrations of quality control samples ranged from 96.56 to 107.02% and 0.97 to 4.29%, respectively. This method represents an improvement over the previously published analytical assay for this agent, increasing the accuracy and precision (through addition of a suitable internal standard) and expanding the analytical range. The developed method was applied to study the pharmacokinetics of MS-275 in 724 clinical samples.

Pimelic Diphenylamide 106 Is a Slow, Tight-binding Inhibitor of Class I Histone Deacetylases

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, including various benzamides and hydroxamates, are currently in clinical development for a broad range of human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. We recently reported the identification of a family of benzamide-type HDAC inhibitors that are relatively non-toxic compared with the hydroxamates. Members of this class of compounds have shown efficacy in cell-based and mouse models for the neurodegenerative diseases Friedreich ataxia and Huntington disease. Considerable differences in IC(50) values for the various HDAC enzymes have been reported for many of the HDAC inhibitors, leading to confusion as to the HDAC isotype specificities of these compounds. Here we show that a benzamide HDAC inhibitor, a pimelic diphenylamide (106), is a class I HDAC inhibitor, demonstrating no activity against class II HDACs. 106 is a slow, tight-binding inhibitor of HDACs 1, 2, and 3, although inhibition for these enzymes occurs through different mechanisms. Inhibitor 106 also has preference toward HDAC3 with K(i) of approximately 14 nm, 15 times lower than the K(i) for HDAC1. In comparison, the hydroxamate suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid does not discriminate between these enzymes and exhibits a fast-on/fast-off inhibitory mechanism. These observations may explain a paradox involving the relative activities of pimelic diphenylamides versus hydroxamates as gene activators.

Blockade of mTOR Signaling Potentiates the Ability of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor to Induce Growth Arrest and Differentiation of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Cells.

This study found that MS-275, a novel synthetic benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI), blocked Akt/mTOR signaling in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) HL60 and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) NB4 cells, as assessed by decreased levels of the phosphorylated (p)-Akt, p-p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6K), and p-S6K by Western blot analysis. Interestingly, further inactivation of mTOR by rapamycin analogue RAD001 (everolimus) significantly enhanced MS-275-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis of these cells in parallel with enhanced upregulation of p27 kip1 and downregulation of c-Myc. In addition, RAD001 potentiated the ability of MS-275 to induce differentiation of HL60 and NB4 cells, as measured by expression of CD11b cell surface antigens, as well as reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. Importantly, RAD001 potentiated the ability of MS-275 to induce expression of the myeloid differentiation-related transcription factor CCAAT enhancer binding protein e in these cells in association with enhanced acetylation of histone H3 on its promoter. Furthermore, RAD001 (5 mg/kg) significantly enhanced the effects of MS-275 (10 mg/kg) to inhibit proliferation of HL60 tumor xenografts in nude mice without adverse effects. Taken together, concomitant administration of a HDACI and a mTOR inhibitor may be a promising treatment strategy for the individuals with a subset of human leukemia.

Blockade of mTOR signaling potentiates the ability of histone deacetylase inhibitor to induce growth arrest and differentiation of acute myelogenous leukemia cells

This study found that MS-275, a novel synthetic benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI), blocked Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) HL60 and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) NB4 cells, as assessed by decreased levels of the phosphorylated (p)-Akt, p-p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6K) and p-S6K by western blot analysis. Interestingly, further inactivation of mTOR by rapamycin analog RAD001 (everolimus) significantly enhanced MS-275-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis of these cells in parallel with enhanced upregulation of p27(kip1) and downregulation of c-Myc. In addition, RAD001 potentiated the ability of MS-275 to induce differentiation of HL60 and NB4 cells, as measured by the expression of CD11b cell surface antigens, as well as reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. Importantly, RAD001 potentiated the ability of MS-275 to induce the expression of the myeloid differentiation-related transcription factor, CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-epsilon, in these cells in association with enhanced acetylation of histone H3 on its promoter. Furthermore, RAD001 (5 mg/kg) significantly enhanced the effects of MS-275 (10 mg/kg) to inhibit proliferation of HL60 tumor xenografts in nude mice without adverse effects. Taken together, concomitant administration of an HDACI and an mTOR inhibitor may be a promising treatment strategy for the individuals with a subset of human leukemia.