Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Research Articles

Bifunctional HDAC and DNMT inhibitor induces viral mimicry activates the innate immune response in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a unique breast cancer subtype characterized by a lack of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression. Since TNBC lacks ER, PR, and HER2, there are currently no drugs that specifically target TNBC. Therefore, the development of new drugs or effective treatment strategies to target TNBC has become an urgent clinical need. Research has shown that the application of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors leads to genomic and epigenomic instability. This, in turn, triggers the activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and subsequently activates downstream interferon (IFN) signalling pathways. In this study, the bifunctional HDAC and DNMT inhibitor J208 exhibited antitumour activity in TNBC cell lines. J208 effectively induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, inhibiting cell migration and invasion in TNBC. Moreover, this bifunctional inhibitor induced the expression of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and elicited a viral mimicry response, which increased the intracellular levels of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to activate the innate immune signalling pathway in TNBC. In summary, we demonstrated that the bifunctional inhibitor J208, which is designed to inhibit HDAC and DNMT, has potent anticancer effects, providing a new research basis for reactivating antitumour immunity by triggering innate immune signalling and offering a promising strategy for TNBC treatment.

Design, synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of tetrahydro-β-carboline histone deacetylase inhibitors bearing an aliphatic chain linker.

The use of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) is an effective approach for cancer treatment. In this work, a series of hydroxamic acid-based HDACis with a tetrahydro-β-carboline core and aliphatic linker have been designed and synthesized. The optimal compound 13d potently inhibited HDAC1 and showed good antiproliferative activity against different tumor cell lines in vitro. Molecular docking of 13d was conducted to rationalize the high binding affinity for HDAC1. Therefore, this work provides a new structure design for HDAC inhibitors and also offers a promising treatment for solid tumors.

HDACi vorinostat protects muscle from degeneration after acute rotator cuff injury in mice.

Rotator cuff (RC) injuries are characterized by tendon rupture, muscle atrophy, retraction, and fatty infiltration, which increase injury severity and jeopardize adequate tendon repair. Epigenetic drugs, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis), possess the capacity to redefine the molecular signature of cells, and they may have the potential to inhibit the transformation of the fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) within the skeletal muscle into adipocyte-like cells, concurrently enhancing the myogenic potential of the satellite cells. HDACis were added to FAPs and satellite cell cultures isolated from mice. The HDACi vorinostat was additionally administered into a RC injury animal model. Histological analysis was carried out on the isolated supra- and infraspinatus muscles to assess vorinostat anti-muscle degeneration potential. Vorinostat, a HDACi compound, blocked the adipogenic transformation of muscle-associated FAPs in culture, promoting myogenic progression of the satellite cells. Furthermore, it protected muscle from degeneration after acute RC in mice in the earlier muscle degenerative stage after tenotomy. The HDACi vorinostat may be a candidate to prevent early muscular degeneration after RC injury.

Artemisinin Confers Cytoprotection toward Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Cell Apoptosis in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells in Correlation with the Increased Acetylation of Histone H4 at Lysine 8.

Increased oxidative stress is one of the critical pathologies inducing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), characterized by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell damage and death. The unbalanced acetylation and deacetylation of histones have been implicated in AMD pathogenesis or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell damage. Therefore, strategies aimed at controlling the balance between acetylation and deacetylation may effectively protect RPE cells from oxidative damage. Artemisinin is an antimalarial lactone drug derived from Artemisia annua, with antioxidant activity known to modulate histone acetylation in the brain, but its effect on the retina is unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether Artemisinin exerts a cytoprotective effect on oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in RPE cells by regulating histone acetylation. We hypothesized that Artemisinin confers cytoprotection toward H2O2-induced apoptosis in RPE cells through this mechanism. In the present study, we found that Artemisinin at a sub-clinic dosage of 20 μM inhibited the H2O2-induced cell viability decrease and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein level decrease and attenuated the H2O2-induced decrease in the histone H4 lysine (Lys) 8 acetylation [Acetyl-H4 (Lys 8)] level in the retinal RPE cell line D407. As expected, histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A at the concentration of 250 nM increased the Acetyl-H4 (Lys 8) level in D407 cells and attenuated the H2O2-induced cell viability decrease and apoptosis. Similar findings were obtained using adult RPE (ARPE)19 cells, another human RPE cell line, and primary human RPE cell cultures. In conclusion, these results confirmed our hypothesis and indicated that Artemisinin attenuated H2O2-induced apoptosis in apparent correlation with the increase in the Acetyl-H4 (Lys 8) level, which is associated with gene transcription and cell survival. By modulating histone acetylation, Artemisinin may restore the balance between acetylation and deacetylation and enhance the resistance and survival of RPE cells under oxidative stress. Our study provides novel mechanistic insights into the effect of Artemisinin on histone acetylation and apoptosis in RPE cells and supports the potential application of Artemisinin in the prevention and/or treatment of AMD.

Combined Pharmacological Modulation of Translational and Transcriptional Activity Signaling Pathways as a Promising Therapeutic Approach in Children with Myocardial Changes.

Myocardial hypertrophy is the most common condition that accompanies heart development in children. Transcriptional gene expression regulating pathways play a critical role both in cardiac embryogenesis and in the pathogenesis of congenital hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, neonatal posthypoxic myocardial hypertrophy, and congenital heart diseases. This paper describes the state of cardiac gene expression and potential pharmacological modulators at different transcriptional levels. An experimental model of perinatal cardiac hypoxia showed the downregulated expression of genes responsible for cardiac muscle integrity and overexpressed genes associated with energy metabolism and apoptosis, which may provide a basis for a therapeutic approach. Current evidence suggests that RNA drugs, theaflavin, neuraminidase, proton pumps, and histone deacetylase inhibitors are promising pharmacological agents in progressive cardiac hypertrophy. The different points of application of the above drugs make combined use possible, potentiating the effects of inhibition in specific signaling pathways. The special role of N-acetyl cysteine in both the inhibition of several signaling pathways and the reduction of oxidative stress was emphasized.

Inhibition of HDAC1 and 3 in the Presence of Systemic Inflammation Reduces Retinal Degeneration in a Model of Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Previously, we identified increased retinal degeneration and cytokine response in a mouse model of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the presence of systemic inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate cytokine production by reducing acetylation and are found to be dysregulated in inflammatory diseases, including RA and AMD. Therefore, this current study investigates the effect of HDAC inhibition on AMD progression in the presence of systemic inflammation. Methods: Collagen induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in C57BL6J mice, followed by sodium iodate (NaIO3)-induced retinal degeneration. Mice were treated with a selective HDAC class I inhibitor, MS-275, and retinal structure [optical coherence tomography (OCT)], function (electroretinography), and molecular changes quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR, Western Blot) were assessed. Results: NaIO3 retinal damage was diminished in CIA mice treated with MS-275 (P ≤ 0.05). While no significant difference was observed in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) function, a trend in increased c-wave amplitude was detected in CIA + NaIO3 mice treated with MS-275. Finally, we identified decreased Hdac1, Hdac3, and Cxcl9 expression in CIA + NaIO3 mouse RPE/choroid when treated with MS-275 (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that HDAC inhibition can reduce the additive effect of NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration in the presence of systemic inflammation by CIA as measured by OCT analysis. In addition, HDAC inhibition in CIA + NaIO3 treated mice resulted in reduced cytokine production. These findings are highly innovative and provide additional support to the therapeutic potential of HDAC inhibitors for dry AMD treatment.

Neutrophil Elastase Degrades Histone Deacetylases and Sirtuin 1 in Primary Human Monocyte Derived Macrophages.

Neutrophil elastase (NE) is taken up by macrophages, retains intracellular protease activity, and induces a pro-inflammatory phenotype. However, the mechanism of NE-induced pro-inflammatory polarization of macrophages is not well understood. We hypothesized that intracellular NE degrades histone deacetylases (HDAC) and Sirtuins, disrupting the balance of lysine acetylation and deacetylation and resulting in nuclear to cytoplasmic translocation of a major alarmin, High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), a pro-inflammatory response in macrophages. Human blood monocytes were obtained from healthy donors or from subjects with cystic fibrosis (CF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Monocytes were differentiated into blood monocyte derived macrophages (BMDMs) in vitro. Human BMDMs were exposed to NE or control vehicle, and the abundance of HDACs and Sirtuins was determined by Western blotting of total cell lysates or nuclear extracts or determined by ELISA. HDAC, Sirtuin, and Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activities were measured. NE degraded most HDACs and Sirtuin (Sirt)1, resulting in decreased HDAC and sirtuin activities, with minimal change in HAT activity. We then evaluated whether the NE-induced loss of Sirt activity or loss of HDAC activities would alter the cellular localization of HMGB1. NE treatment or treatment with Trichostatin A (TSA), a global HDAC inhibitor, both increased HMGB1 translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, consistent with HMGB1 activation. NE significantly degraded Class I and II HDAC family members and Sirt 1, which shifted BMDMs to a pro-inflammatory phenotype.

CAMSAP3-mediated regulation of HMGB1 acetylation and subcellular localization in lung cancer cells: Implications for cell death modulation

BackgroundDeregulation of cell death is a common characteristic of cancer, and resistance to this process often occurs in lung cancer. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying an aberrant cell death is important. Recent studies have emphasized the involvement of calmodulin-regulated spectrin-associated protein 3 (CAMSAP3) in lung cancer aggressiveness, its influence on cell death regulation remains largely unexplored. MethodsCAMSAP3 was knockout in lung cancer cells using CRISPR-Cas9 system. Cell death and autophagy were evaluated using MTT and autophagic detection assays. Protein interactions were performed by proteomic analysis and immunoprecipitation. Protein expressions and their cytoplasmic localization were analyzed through immunoblotting and immunofluorescence techniques. ResultsThis study reveals a significant correlation between low CAMSAP3 expression and poor overall survival rates in lung cancer patients. Proteomic analysis identified high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as a candidate interacting protein involved in the regulation of cell death. Treatment with trichostatin A (TSA), an inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDACs) resulted in increased HMGB1 acetylation and its translocation to the cytoplasm and secretion, thereby inducing autophagic cell death. However, this process was diminished in CAMSAP3 knockout lung cancer cells. Mechanistically, immunoprecipitation indicated an interaction between CAMSAP3 and HMGB1, particularly with its acetylated form, in which this complex was elevated in the presence of TSA. ConclusionsCAMSAP3 is prerequisite for TSA-mediated autophagic cell death by interacting with cytoplasmic acetylated HMGB1 and enhancing its release. SignificantThis finding provides molecular insights into the role of CAMSAP3 in regulating cell death, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for lung cancer treatment.

Comparison of chemotherapy and chidamide combined with chemotherapy in patients with untreated angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is characterized by high recurrence rates and poor prognosis, and effective first-line treatment is lacking. Recently, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), such as chidamide, have been found to induce durable remissions in AITL patients. Patients with untreated AITL from March 2015 to March 2023 were retrospectively collected and divided into chemotherapy (ChT) group and chidamide combined with chemotherapy (C-ChT) group based on the first-line treatment received. The comparison of efficacy and safety between the two groups was conducted. 86 patients with newly diagnosed AITL were enrolled, in which 35 patients were in the ChT group and 51 in the C-ChT group. The objective response rate (ORR) of C-ChT group was significantly higher than that of ChT group (84.3% vs. 60%, P= 0.011), and had superior progression-free survival (PFS) (27 months vs. 12 months, P= 0.025). However, no significant difference in overall survival (OS) was observed between the two groups (P= 0.225). In addition, the responding patients who received autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) had superior PFS compared to those who did not (P= 0.015). Compared with ChT regimen, C-ChT regimen was well tolerated and had superior ORR and PFS in patients with untreated AITL. ASCT may contribute to longer PFS in remission patients.

Enhancing therapeutic efficacy in luminal androgen receptor triple-negative breast cancer: exploring chidamide and enzalutamide as a promising combination strategy

Extensive exploration of the molecular subtypes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is critical for advancing precision medicine. Notably, the luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype has attracted attention for targeted treatment combining androgen receptor antagonists and CDK4/6 inhibitors. Unfortunately, this strategy has proven to be of limited efficacy, highlighting the need for further optimization. Using our center’s comprehensive multiomics dataset (n = 465), we identified novel therapeutic targets and evaluated their efficacy through multiple models, including in vitro LAR cell lines, in vivo cell-derived allograft models and ex vivo patient-derived organoids. Moreover, we conducted flow cytometry and RNA-seq analysis to unveil potential mechanisms underlying the regulation of tumor progression by these therapeutic strategies. LAR breast cancer cells exhibited sensitivity to chidamide and enzalutamide individually, with a drug combination assay revealing their synergistic effect. Crucially, this synergistic effect was verified through in vivo allograft models and patient-derived organoids. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that the combination therapeutic strategy could inhibit tumor progression by regulating metabolism and autophagy. This study confirmed that the combination of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and androgen receptor (AR) antagonists possessed greater therapeutic efficacy than monotherapy in LAR TNBC. This finding significantly bolsters the theoretical basis for the clinical translation of this combination therapy and provides an innovative strategy for the targeted treatment of LAR TNBC.

HAT and HDAC: Enzyme with Contradictory Action in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

In view of the increasing risk of neurodegenerative diseases, epigenetics plays a fundamental role in the field of neuroscience. Several modifications have been studied including DNA methylation, histone acetylation, histone phosphorylation, etc. Histone acetylation and deacetylation regulate gene expression, and the regular activity of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) provides regulatory stages for gene expression and cell cycle. Imbalanced homeostasis in these enzymes causes a detrimental effect on neurophysiological function. Intriguingly, epigenetic remodelling via histone acetylation in certain brain areas has been found to play a key role in the neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. It has been demonstrated that a number of HATs have a role in crucial brain processes such regulating neuronal plasticity and memory formation. The most recent therapeutic methods involve the use of small molecules known as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors that antagonize HDAC activity thereby increase acetylation levels in order to prevent the loss of HAT function in neurodegenerative disorders. The target specificity of the HDAC inhibitors now in use raises concerns about their applicability, despite the fact that this strategy has demonstrated promising therapeutic outcomes. The aim of this review is to summarize the cross-linking between histone modification and its regulation in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Furthermore, these findings also support the notion of new pharmacotherapies that target particular areas of the brain using histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Accelerated DNA replication fork speed due to loss of R-loops in myelodysplastic syndromes with SF3B1 mutation

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with mutated SF3B1 gene present features including a favourable outcome distinct from MDS with mutations in other splicing factor genes SRSF2 or U2AF1. Molecular bases of these divergences are poorly understood. Here we find that SF3B1-mutated MDS show reduced R-loop formation predominating in gene bodies associated with intron retention reduction, not found in U2AF1- or SRSF2-mutated MDS. Compared to erythroblasts from SRSF2- or U2AF1-mutated patients, SF3B1-mutated erythroblasts exhibit augmented DNA synthesis, accelerated replication forks, and single-stranded DNA exposure upon differentiation. Importantly, histone deacetylase inhibition using vorinostat restores R-loop formation, slows down DNA replication forks and improves SF3B1-mutated erythroblast differentiation. In conclusion, loss of R-loops with associated DNA replication stress represents a hallmark of SF3B1-mutated MDS ineffective erythropoiesis, which could be used as a therapeutic target.

Abstract CT016: Immunomodulation of the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with histone deacetylase inhibition: Results of a phase 2 clinical trial of entinostat in combination with nivolumab

Abstract Background The tumor microenvironment (TME) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is characterized by a paucity of cytotoxic tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, an abundance of immune-suppressive cell populations, and a general resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. In preclinical models of PDA, the HDAC inhibitor entinostat modulated the transcriptional programming of myeloid cells, reducing their capacity for immunosuppression and sensitizing tumors to ICI therapy. Methods We conducted a single-center, open-label, Simon two-stage, phase II study of entinostat in combination with the PD1 inhibitor nivolumab in patients with advanced PDA. Patients received oral entinostat 5 mg once a week. After a 14-day lead-in with entinostat monotherapy, patients concurrently receive entinostat 5 mg orally once a week plus nivolumab 240 mg intravenously every 2 weeks. After 4 months, therapy was continued with entinostat 5 mg weekly plus nivolumab at a dose of 480 mg fixed dose every 4 weeks until the time of progression or unacceptable toxicities. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Peripheral immune profiles at baseline and on treatment were assessed by high-dimensional mass cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) and by Luminex of chemokines in the plasma, and changes in the TME were performed on paired baseline and on treatment biopsies by multiplexed immunohistochemistry (mIHC), image cytometry-based quantification, and bulk RNA-seq analysis. Results From November 2017 to November 2020, 27 evaluable patients were enrolled. Three patients had a partial response (PR) by RECIST v1.1 criteria (objective response rate (ORR)) of 11%, 95% CI, 0.024-0.292), with a median duration of response of 10.2 months. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were observed in 19 (63%) patients. The most common grade ≥3 TRAEs were decreased lymphocyte count, anemia hypoalbuminemia, and hyponatremia. Dendritic cell (DC) activation, maturation, migration, antigen processing, and presentation were increased in the periphery after entinostat treatment, consistent with HDAC inhibitor mediated myeloid reprogramming. Gene expression analysis of paired baseline and on treatment tumors demonstrated an enrichment in inflammatory response signaling pathways with combination treatment. Conclusions Entinostat and nivolumab demonstrated durable radiological responses in a subset of patients with PDA. Paired tissue and peripheral analysis showed immunomodulation of myeloid cell populations, consistent with the preclinical hypothesis supporting the trial. This study creates a roadmap for this strategy with future combinatorial therapeutic approaches to enhance the clinical benefit in PDA patients further. Citation Format: Marina Baretti, Ludmila Danilova, Jennifer N. Durham, Courtney B. Betts, Leslie Cope, Dimitrios N. Sidiropoulos, Joseph A. Tandurella, Soren Charmsaz, Nicole Gross, Alexei Hernandez, Won J. HO, Chris Thoburn, Rosalind Walker, James Leatherman Leatherman, Sarah Mitchell, Brian Christmas, Daria A. Gaykalova, Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian, Elana J. Fertig, Lisa M. Coussens, Mark Yarchoan, Elizabeth Jaffee, Nilofer S. Azad. Immunomodulation of the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with histone deacetylase inhibition: Results of a phase 2 clinical trial of entinostat in combination with nivolumab [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr CT016.

Abstract LB273: Pharmacological synthetic lethality by co-inhibition of PARP and HDAC enzymes

Abstract Introduction: Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) induces synthetic lethality in cells exhibiting defects in homologous repair (HR) pathways, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2-mutated breast or ovarian cancers, and 4 different PARP inhibitors (PARPi) are currently approved by the FDA. While HR-deficient cancers usually respond well to single agent PARPi, HR-proficient cancers are generally less sensitive to the treatment. Acquired resistance to PARPi due to activating mutations in BRCA genes are also not uncommon. In this work, we have examined strategies for enhancing PARPi activity in a HR-proficient context and identified histone deacetylases (HDACs) as targets for pharmacological synthetic lethality in the context of PARPi. Materials and methods: PARP1 and PARP2 activity were measured using Trevigen Universal Colorimetric PARP Assay Kit, BPS Bioscience PARP2 Colorimetric PARP2 Assay Kit, and PARylation assay. HDAC activity was measured using HeLa cell nuclear extracts and a fluorogenic peptide-based biochemical assay. Cell survival EC50 were determined using CellTiter Glo viability assay. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry with propidium iodide staining. DNA damage was investigated by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence using gamma-H2AX antibodies, and comet assays for confirmation of double-strand breaks. Spheroid assays were performed using the Incucyte® S3 spheroid analysis module. In vivo metastasis formations were examined using the pulmonary metastasis assay (PuMA). Results and discussion: Combinations of PARP and HDAC inhibitors in HR-proficient tumor cells demonstrated that HDACi could enhance the efficacy of PARPi in vitro. This was associated with increased acute and sustained DNA-damage distinct cell cycle profiles showing activity in both S- and G2/M-phases. Importantly, dual single-molecule PARP-HDAC inhibitors showed potent inhibition of PARP1 and PARP2 activity and PAR synthesis, comparable to olaparib, as well as inhibition of HDAC with IC50 values in the low µM range. Dual PARP-HDAC inhibition decreased survival of HR-proficient cells in both 2D cultures and 3D spheroid assays with lower EC50 values than olaparib or vorinostat alone. Importantly, lung metastasis formation was significantly impaired by dual PARP-HDAC inhibition. Conclusion: Combination of PARP inhibition and HDAC inhibition showed increased efficacy compared to single agent PARP inhibition in HR-proficient cells. Development of bifunctional inhibitors may provide a novel therapeutic opportunity for tumors with limited response rates to single agent PARPi. Citation Format: Sarah Truong, Louise Ramos, Beibei Zhai, Fariba Ghaidi, Mona Marzban, Hans Adomat, Xiaoqi Chen, John Langlands, Dennis Brown, Jeffrey Bacha, Colin Collins, Poul H. Sorensen, Wang Shen, Mads Daugaard. Pharmacological synthetic lethality by co-inhibition of PARP and HDAC enzymes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB273.

Abstract LB158: Synergistic cytotoxicity of histone deacetylase and poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors and decitabine in pancreatic cancer cells: implications for novel therapy

Abstract Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) can modulate the acetylation status of proteins, influencing the genomic instability exhibited by cancer cells. Poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) have a direct effect on protein poly (ADP-ribosyl)ation, which is important for DNA repair. Decitabine is a nucleoside cytidine analogue, which when phosphorylated gets incorporated into the growing DNA strand, inhibiting methylation and inducing DNA damage by inactivating and trapping DNA methyltransferase on the DNA, thereby activating transcriptionally silenced DNA loci. We explored various combinations of HDACi and PARPi +/- decitabine (hypomethylating agent) in pancreatic cancer cell lines BxPC-3 and PL45 (wild-type BRCA1 and BRCA2) and Capan-1 (mutated BRCA2). Colony formation and drug-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation in pancreatic cancer cell lines and comparison of the effects of each drug combination with the effect of the individual drugs are shown in Table. The combination of HDACi (panobinostat or vorinostat) with PARPi (talazoparib or olaparib) resulted in synergistic cytotoxicity in all cell lines tested. The addition of decitabine further increased the synergistic cytotoxicity noted with HDACi and PARPi, triggering apoptosis (evidenced by increased cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP1). The 3-drug combination treatments (vorinostat, talazoparib, and decitabine; vorinostat, olaparib, and decitabine; panobinostat, talazoparib, and decitabine; panobinostat, olaparib, and decitabine) induced more DNA damage (increased phosphorylation of histone 2AX) than the individual drugs and impaired the DNA repair pathways (decreased levels of ATM, BRCA1, and ATRX proteins). The 3-drug combinations also altered the epigenetic regulation of gene expression (NuRD complex subunits, reduced levels). This is the first study to demonstrate synergistic interactions between the aforementioned agents in pancreatic cancer cell lines and provides preclinical data to design individualized therapeutic approaches with the potential to improve pancreatic cancer treatment outcomes. Table. Colony formation and drug-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Comparison of the effects of each drug combination with the effect of the individual drugs (Table shows the p-values for each comparison.) Colony formation BxPC-3 PL45 Capan-1 Pano SAHA TLZ Ola DAC Pano SAHA TLZ Ola DAC Pano SAHA TLZ Ola DAC Pano+TLZ 0.00048 0.0052 2.40E-06 2.70E-06 0.0051 0.021 Pano+Ola 0.0035 0.078 0.0011 0.00094 0.0016 0.022 SAHA+TLZ 1.80E-05 0.17 0.0029 0.012 0.0014 0.019 SAHA+Ola 0.00018 0.014 0.0016 0.0068 0.0066 0.029 Pano+TLZ+DAC 4.20E-05 0.00026 0.0015 1.70E-05 1.20E-05 2.70E-06 0.00052 0.00088 0.0064 Pano+Ola+DAC 3.40E-05 0.00049 0.0013 7.10E-07 1.70E-06 2.20E-06 0.00068 0.0028 0.0053 SAHA+TLZ+DAC 0.00016 0.00016 0.0011 1.90E-05 3.70E-06 9.30E-07 0.00018 0.00017 0.011 SAHA+Ola+DAC 4.90E-07 0.00035 0.001 0.00022 0.00026 0.00084 0.00016 0.0016 0.0035 Drug-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation Pano+TLZ+DAC 3.57E-05 3.89E-07 1.30E-07 2.91E-05 3.76E-06 1.80E-08 0.0239 ND 0.0092 Pano+Ola+DAC 7.76E-05 1.43E-07 2.52E-07 6.59E-07 1.03E-08 2.22E-07 0.0013 0.21 0.0034 SAHA+TLZ+DAC 3.04E-06 0.00034 1.17E-05 4.91E-08 4.45E-06 1.74E-07 0.0013 1.75E-01 0.007 SAHA+Ola+DAC 0.00012 0.0032 0.000068 9.64E-09 1.53E-08 9.35E-07 0.0007 0.18 0.0054 Abbreviations: DAC: decitabine; ND: not determined; Ola: olaparib; Pano: panobinostat; SAHA: vorinostat; TLZ: talazoparib P ≤ 0.05 is considered statistically significant. Citation Format: Apostolia M. Tsimberidou, Benigno C. Valdez, Bin Yuan, Yago Nieto, Mehmet Baysal, Abhijit Chakraborty, Borje S. Andersson. Synergistic cytotoxicity of histone deacetylase and poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors and decitabine in pancreatic cancer cells: implications for novel therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB158.

Abstract LB189: Elucidating a mechanistic link between progranulin and lysosomal function in SW13 cells: Implications for inflammation and lipid metabolism

Abstract The SW13 human adrenocortical carcinoma line is a uniquely powerful model in which to probe the relationship between progranulin processing and cellular activity as it exists in two epigenetically distinct subtypes. The SW13- subtype has an epithelial morphology and is highly proliferative, while the SW13+ subtype has a mesenchymal-like phenotype and a higher metastatic potential. These two subtypes both express progranulin and interconvert by epigenetic mechanisms, as treatment of SW13- cells with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) adopt a SW13+ phenotype. Progranulin is composed of 7½ highly conserved granulin repeats which are subject to proteolytic processing and may serve as a prognostic biomarker in cancer as progranulin units regulate varied cellular activities including proliferation, migration, inflammation, and lysosomal function. Thus, biological activity of progranulin is dependent on the cellular proteases expressed. Indicative of differential processing, treatment of SW13- cells with exogenous progranulin results in an increase in growth rate, while no effect on SW13+ cell growth was observed. As the SW13+ subtype expresses a higher amount of progranulin than the SW13- subtype, these data are consistent with an inability of SW13+ to process endogenous progranulin to mitogenic granulin unit(s). Immunoblotting with granulin-specific antibodies indicates that progranulin may be processed differently in each subtype. In this work, we focused on lysosomes as a potential site for differential processing of progranulin for two reasons. First, lysosomal proteases have been shown to process progranulin and progranulin itself plays a role in lysosome maturation. Second, differences in lysosomal pH between the two subtypes have been detected using two pH-sensitive dyes which localize to the lysosome. Interestingly, proteomic analysis of lysosomes isolated from each subtype confirms lysosomal dysfunction and suggests upregulation of inflammatory proteins in SW13+ cells. Both proteomics and lipidomics suggest alterations in lipid metabolism. Ongoing experiments will address whether restoration of lysosomal function impacts progranulin production and/or processing in SW13 subtypes. Citation Format: Kathryn J. Leyva, Andrew Z. Yang, Pegah Biparva, Chika Okonya, Chandana K. Uppalapati, Alisha M. Harrison, Agnes S. Pascual, Elizabeth E. Hull. Elucidating a mechanistic link between progranulin and lysosomal function in SW13 cells: Implications for inflammation and lipid metabolism [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB189.

A macrophage-cell model of HIV latency reveals the unusual importance of the bromodomain axis

BackgroundAlthough macrophages are now recognized as an essential part of the HIV latent reservoir, whether and how viral latency is established and reactivated in these cell types is poorly understood. To understand the fundamental mechanisms of viral latency in macrophages, there is an urgent need to develop latency models amenable to genetic manipulations and screening for appropriate latency-reversing agents (LRAs). Given that differentiated THP-1 cells resemble monocyte-derived macrophages in HIV replication mechanisms, we set out to establish a macrophage cell model for HIV latency using THP-1 cells.MethodsWe created single-cell clones of THP-1 cells infected with a single copy of the dual-labeled HIVGKO in which a codon switched eGFP (csGFP) is under the control of the HIV-1 5’ LTR promoter, and a monomeric Kusabira orange 2 (mKO2) under the control of cellular elongation factor one alpha promoter (EF1α). Latently infected cells are csGFP−, mKO2+, while cells with actively replicating HIV (or reactivated virus) are csGFP+,mKO2+. After sorting for latently infected cells, each of the THP-1 clones with unique integration sites for HIV was differentiated into macrophage-like cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and treated with established LRAs to stimulate HIV reactivation. Monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) harboring single copies of HIVGKO were used to confirm our findings.ResultsWe obtained clones of THP-1 cells with latently infected HIV with unique integration sites. When the differentiated THP-1 or primary MDMs cells were treated with various LRAs, the bromodomain inhibitors JQ1 and I-BET151 were the most potent compounds. Knockdown of BRD4, the target of JQ1, resulted in increased reactivation, thus confirming the pharmacological effect. The DYRK1A inhibitor Harmine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) also showed significant reactivation across all three MDM donors. Remarkably, LRAs like PMA/ionomycin, bryostatin-1, and histone deacetylase inhibitors known to potently reactivate latent HIV in CD4 + T cells showed little activity in macrophages.ConclusionsOur results indicate that this model could be used to screen for appropriate LRAs for macrophages and show that HIV latency and reactivation mechanisms in macrophages may be distinct from those of CD4 + T cells.

Epigenetic regulation of heart failure.

The studies on chromatin-modifying enzymes and how they respond to different stimuli within the cell have revolutionized our understanding of epigenetics. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent studies on epigenetic mechanisms implicated in heart failure. We focus on the major mechanisms and the conceptual advances in epigenetics as evidenced by studies in humans and mouse models of heart failure. The significance of epigenetic modifications and the enzymes that catalyze them is also discussed. New findings from the studies of histone lysine demethylases demonstrate their significance in regulating fetal gene expression, as well as their aberrant expression in adult hearts during HF. Similarly, the relevance of histone deacetylases inhibition in heart failure and the role of HDAC6 in cardio-protection are discussed. Finally, the role of LMNA (lamin A/C), a nuclear membrane protein that interacts with chromatin to form hundreds of large chromatin domains known as lamin-associated domains (LADs), and 3D genome structure in epigenetic regulation of gene expression and heart failure is discussed. Epigenetic modifications provide a mechanism for responding to stress and environmental variation, enabling reactions to both external and internal stimuli, and their dysregulation can be pathological as in heart failure. To gain a thorough understanding of the pathological mechanisms and to aid in the development of targeted treatments for heart failure, future research on studying the combined effects of numerous epigenetic changes and the structure of chromatin is warranted.

A novel potent class I HDAC inhibitor reverses the STAT4/p66Shc apoptotic defect in B cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) patients have a defective expression of the proapoptotic protein p66Shc and of its transcriptional factor STAT4, which evoke molecular abnormalities, impairing apoptosis and worsening disease prognosis and severity. p66Shc expression is epigenetically controlled and transcriptionally modulated by STAT4; epigenetic modifiers are deregulated in CLL cells and specific histone deacetylases (HDACs) like HDAC1, are overexpressed. Reactivation of STAT4/p66Shc expression may represent an attractive and challenging strategy to reverse CLL apoptosis defects. New selective class I HDAC inhibitors (HDACis, 6a-g) were developed with increased potency over existing agents and preferentially interfering with the CLL-relevant isoform HDAC1, to unveil the role of class I HDACs in the upregulation of STAT4 expression, which upregulates p66Shc expression and hence normalizes CLL cell apoptosis. 6c (chlopynostat) was identified as a potent HDAC1i with a superior profile over entinostat. 6c induces marked apoptosis of CLL cells compared with SAHA, which was associated with an upregulation of STAT4/p66Shc protein expression. The role of HDAC1, but not HDAC3, in the epigenetic upregulation of STAT4/p66Shc was demonstrated for the first time in CLL cells and was validated in siRNA-induced HDAC1/HDAC3 knock-down EBV-B cells. To sum up, HDAC1 inhibition is necessary to reactivate STAT4/p66Shc expression in patients with CLL. 6c is one of the most potent HDAC1is known to date and represents a novel pharmacological tool for reversing the impairment of the STAT4/p66Shc apoptotic machinery.

Crebinostat facilitates memory formation

Protein modifications importantly contribute to memory formation. Protein acetylation is a post-translational modification of proteins that regulates memory formation. Acetylation level is determined by the relative activities of acetylases and deacetylases. Crebinostat is a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Here we show that in an object recognition task, crebinostat facilitates memory formation by a weak training. Further, this compound enhances acetylation of α-tubulin, and reduces the level of histone deacetylase 6, an α-tubulin deacetylase. The results suggest that enhanced acetylation of α-tubulin by crebinostat contributes to its facilitatory effect on memory formation.