Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor MS-275 Research Articles

Analysis of the GAD1 promoter: Trans-acting factors and DNA methylation converge on the 5′ untranslated region

GAD67 corresponds to one of two enzymes that decarboxylates glutamate to produce γ-aminobutyric acid, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, hence defining the cellular phenotype of a diverse set of inhibitory interneurons of the brain. Reduced cortical GAD67 mRNA levels have consistently been reported in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychosis. The human gene encoding GAD67, GAD1, is located on chromosome 2q31.1 and the transcriptional start site resides within a large CpG island that spans a region extending from upstream through the first exon. We have analyzed the GAD1 promoter using transient transfection analysis of upstream and downstream sequences in NT2 cells, a human neuroprogenitor cell line. Interestingly, results from these studies show that cis-acting regulatory elements are located downstream of the RNA start site and are in the region corresponding to the first exon. Trans-acting factors such as Pitx2 and the Dlx family of transcription factors are active in promoting downstream reporter expression even when all of the 5′ flanking sequences are removed. However, those constructs that contain an internal deletion from +66 to +173 bp fail to support expression even when these factors are provided in trans. We have previously shown that the Class I histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 potently activates GAD1 mRNA expression in NT2 cells suggesting the possibility that the promoter is sensitive to drugs that induce chromatin remodeling. Using methyl DNA immuneprecipitation of MS-275-treated NT2 cells, we provide data showing that Class I HDAC inhibition mediated an increase in GAD1 expression and that this was accompanied by decreased GAD1 promoter methylation. Moreover, the reduced levels of GAD1 DNA methylation are highest in those regions proximal to the location of the in vitro defined cis-acting regulatory elements. Our data suggest that changes in promoter methylation associated with gene regulation are not random but overlap the locations of proximal cis-acting elements. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Trends in Neuropharmacology: In Memory of Erminio Costa’.

Therapy of thyroid carcinoma with the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275

Dysregulation of histone acetylation associated with an up-regulation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity is common in malignant tumours. Therefore, HDAC inhibitors were developed whose effects on proliferation and apoptosis have been shown in different tumour entities. Since non-iodide-concentrating thyroid carcinomas represent a therapeutic problem, this study addressed the effects of the HDAC inhibitor MS-275 on thyroid carcinoma cells. After the antiproliferative effect of MS-275 had been proven in different human and rat thyroid carcinoma cell lines, FRO82-2, SW1736 and FTC133 cells were further investigated with respect to changes in apoptosis, cell cycle and metabolism by the annexin V/propidium iodide assay, FACS analysis and uptake experiments employing 3-O-methyl-D-(3H)glucose, fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose2 [5,6-(3)H] and 14C-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB). The induction of iodide transport and gene expression were investigated in 125iodide uptake experiments and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MS-275 induced a concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of proliferation in the thyroid carcinoma cell lines with varying IC50 values. In FRO82-2, SW1736 and FTC133 cells characterized by low, moderate and high sensitivity an up-regulation of p21CIP/WAF1 expression and G1 and/or G2 phase arrest were observed upon MS-275 exposure corresponding to the sensitivity of individual cell lines. In addition, high MS-275 concentrations increased the apoptotic cell fraction of FTC133 and SW1736 cells, whereas resistance to apoptosis and simultaneous up-regulation of Bcl-2 gene expression were observed in FRO82-2 cells. MS-275 treatment also mediated a concentration-dependent decrease of 3H-FDG uptake and an increased 3-O-methyl-D-(3H)glucose uptake in all thyroid carcinoma cell lines after 24 h, an increased uptake of both tracers in FTC133 cells after 48 h, and restored the functional activity of the sodium-iodide symporter in SW1736 and FTC133 cells up to 20- and 45-fold. MS-275 exerts dose-dependent antiproliferative effects including growth arrest, differentiation and apoptosis in some thyroid carcinoma cell lines and might, therefore, be considered for the treatment of anaplastic and non-iodide-concentrating thyroid carcinomas.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors MS-275 and SAHA induced growth arrest and suppressed lipopolysaccharide-stimulated NF- B p65 nuclear accumulation in human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblastic E11 cells

MS-275 and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) are histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors currently tested in oncology trials. They have also been found to display potent anti-rheumatic activities in rodent models for RA. However, the anti-rheumatic mechanisms of action remain unknown. The study was carried out with the intent of determining the anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic mechanisms of the HDAC inhibitors. In this study, the anti-rheumatic mechanisms of MS-275 and SAHA were investigated in several cell culture models. MS-275 and SAHA inhibited human RA synovial fibroblastic E11 cell proliferation in a non-cytotoxic manner. The anti-proliferative activities were associated with G(0)/G(1) phase arrest and induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. In addition, MS-275 and SAHA suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NF-kappaB p65 nuclear accumulation, IL-6, IL-18 and nitric oxide (NO) secretion as well as down-regulated pro-angiogenic VEGF and MMP-2 and MMP-9 production in E11 cells at sub-micromolar levels. At similar concentrations, MS-275 and SAHA suppressed LPS-induced NF-kappaB p65 nuclear accumulation and IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-alpha secretion in THP-1 monocytic cells. Moreover, NO secretion in RAW264.7 macrophage cells was also inhibited. In summary, MS-275 and SAHA exhibited their anti-rheumatic activities by growth arrest in RA synovial fibroblasts, inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NO, as well as down-regulation in angiogenesis and MMPs. Their anti-rheumatic activities may be mediated through induction of p21 and suppression of NF-kappaB nuclear accumulation.

Valproic Acid Selectively Inhibits STAT3 Phosphorylation.

Abstract 1720Poster Board I-746Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor (1), was found to enhance NK cell mediated antitumor activity by upregulating the surface expression of NKG2D ligands MICA and MICB on hepatoma cells (2). In contrast, VPA was found to impair NK cell antitumor activity by downregulating the surface expression of NKp30 and NKp46 on NK cells by blocking NFkB activation (3). Recently, we also found that VPA efficiently upregulates the surface expression of MICA, MICB, and ULBP family ligands on human osteosarcoma and neuroblastoma cells, but downregulates NKG2D surface expression on human NK cells. Similarly, the HDAC inhibitor MS275 efficiently upregulates expression of MICA, MICB, and ULBP family ligands on human osteosarcoma and neuroblastoma cells, but surprisingly, MS275 significantly upregulates NKG2D expression on NK cells. In addition, we found that VPA inhibited the cell growth of osteosarcoma cell lines more readily than MS275. To investigate the mechanism of these differing effects of VPA and MS275, we compared the effect of these HDAC inhibitors on Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) signaling, which are important signaling pathways in NK cells and many cancers. Here we show that VPA is a potent inhibitor of STAT3 phosphorylation at the tyrosine 705 residue in NK cells, whereas MS275 has no effect on STAT3 phosphorylation (Figure A). Moreover, this inhibition is highly specific, as VPA has no effect on STAT1 and STAT5 phosphorylation (Figure B). To further confirm VPA-mediated STAT3 inhibition, we detected STAT3 expression and the degree of tyrosine phosphorylation affected by VPA in a panel human osteosarcoma cells. We found that constitutive STAT3 phosphorylation is present in osteosarcoma SaOS2 and LM7 cells, but not in OS187 cells, which corresponded to the stronger growth inhibition caused by VPA in SaOS2 and LM7 cells compared to OS187 cells. These results are for the first to show that VPA, a HDAC inhibitor, is also a selective STAT3 inhibitor. VPA can upregulate NKG2D ligand expression on the tumor cell surface by HDAC inhibition, but may downregulate NKG2D expression on the NK cell surface by STAT3 inactivation. The antitumor activity of VPA may be via a mechanism of both HDAC inhibition and STAT3 inactivation. The knowledge of potent STAT3 inhibition by VPA is important for identifying potential new clinical applications for this drug. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

MS275 enhances cytotoxicity induced by 5-fluorouracil in the colorectal cancer cells

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) activity determines the acetylation status of histons, and has the ability to regulate gene expression through chromatin remodelling. HDACs are a promising target for pharmacological inhibition, since it has been discovered that some genes are repressed by their inappropriate recruitment. To test this we have addressed the hypothesis that histone deacetylase inhibitors SBHA and MS275 potentiate inhibitory effects of classical anti-colorectal cancer cytostatic, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), on survival of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells in vitro. We are reporting here that HDAC inhibitors show potent synergistic interaction with 5-FU. The observed synergism between HDAC inhibitors and 5-FU is most probably related to the augmented apoptotic signal allowed for significant (both biological and statistical) reduction of the cytotoxic doses.

The CDK inhibitor p21Cip1/WAF1 is induced by FcgammaR activation and restricts the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and related primate lentiviruses in human macrophages.

Macrophages are major targets of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We have previously shown that aggregation of activating immunoglobulin G Fc receptors (FcgammaR) by immune complexes inhibits reverse transcript accumulation and integration of HIV-1 and related lentiviruses in monocyte-derived macrophages. Here, we show that FcgammaR-mediated restriction of HIV-1 is not due to enhanced degradation of incoming viral proteins or cDNA and is associated to the induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(Cip1/WAF1) (p21). Small interfering RNA-mediated p21 knockdown rescued viral replication in FcgammaR-activated macrophages and enhanced HIV-1 infection in unstimulated macrophages by increasing reverse transcript and integrated DNA levels. p21 induction by other stimuli, such as phorbol myristate acetate and the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275, was also associated with preintegrative blocks of HIV-1 replication in macrophages. Binding of p21 to reverse transcription/preintegration complex-associated HIV-1 proteins was not detected in yeast two-hybrid, pulldown, or coimmunoprecipitation assays, suggesting that p21 may affect viral replication independently of a specific interaction with an HIV-1 component. Consistently, p21 silencing rescued viral replication from the FcgammaR-mediated restriction also in simian immunodeficiency virus SIV(mac)- and HIV-2-infected macrophages. Our results point to a role of p21 as an inhibitory factor of lentiviral infection in macrophages and to its implication in FcgammaR-mediated restriction.

Effects of histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 on expression of survivin and NF-kappaB in the human myeloma cell line U266 cells

To study the effects of HDACi on the expression of survivin and NF-kappaB in human myeloma cell line U266 cells. U266 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 in the presence of MS-275, and the cell viability was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion assay and cell count. The cell morphological changes were observed with Wright-Giemsa staining. The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the proteins of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), caspase-3, survivin, p21, CDK4 and IkappaB-alpha were detected by Western blotting. MS-275 inhibited the growth of U266 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The cell cycle was arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase. After exposure at 1.39 micromol/L MS-275 for 48 hours, the cell viability was decreased to 50%. The cell ratios of G(0)/G(1) phase were increased to (64.57 +/- 4.09)% for 24 h and (87.20 +/- 2.83)% for 36 h after 2 micromol/L MS-275 treatment. The visible morphological changes of U266 cells were confirmed with Wright-Giemsa staining. Cleaved-PARP, increased expression of p21, downregulation of expression of survivin, CDK4 and the phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha was found by Western blot in MS-275 treated U266 cells. MS-275-induced apoptosis of U266 cells is mediated by downregulation of expression of survivin and inactivation of NF-kappaB survival signalling pathways.

Experimental study on inhibitory effects of histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 and TSA on bladder cancer cells

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (MS-275 and TSA) on T24 human bladder cancer cells in vitro, and explore the possible mechanism. Methods The MTT assay was employed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of MS-275 and TSA on T24 cell growth. FCM was used to analyze the variation of T24 cell cycle distribution and the apoptotic ratio after T24 cells were treated with MS-275 and TSA. Histone acetylation level was detected by Western blot. mRNA expression of p21 WAF1/CIP1, cyclin A, and cyclin E was measured by FQ-PCR. Dynamic changes of Bcl-2 and bax expression were detected by FCM. Results MS-275 and TSA inhibited T24 cell growth in a concentration and time-dependent manner. Treatment with 4 μmol/l MS-275 or 0.4 μmol/l TSA blocked cell cycling in the G0/G1 phase and induced a significant increase in cell apoptosis. MS-275 and TSA significantly increased the level of histone acetylation, induced p21CIP1WAF1 mRNA expression, and inhibited cyclin A mRNA expression, though no significant effect was observed on cyclin E. Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated, while bax expression was up-regulated. Conclusion HDAC inhibitors can block bladder cancer cell cycle in vitro and induce apoptosis. The molecular mechanism may be associated with increased level of histone acetylation, down-regulation of p21WAF1/CIP1 expression, up-regulation of cyclin A expression, and dynamic change of bcl-2 and bax expression.

Induction of Foxp3 + regulatory T cells with histone deacetylase inhibitors

Histone deacetylase inhibitors are under investigation in the clinic as a new class of anti-cancer therapeutics. While recent studies have also suggested their potential as inhibitors of a wide spectrum of inflammatory reactions, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of these compounds is not fully defined. We show here that the histone deacetylase inhibitors MS-275 and SAHA induce the generation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) from anti-CD3/anti-CD28-stimulated human CD4 +CD25 − T cells. These Tregs express the regulatory T cell-associated transcription factor Foxp3 and display suppressive activity against CD4 +CD25 − T cell proliferation. Topical treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitors also induces Foxp3 expression in the draining lymph nodes and the skin in the context of a murine contact hypersensitivity model. These findings suggest that Treg generation may serve as a novel mechanism by which histone deacetylase inhibitors regulate the immune response, and provide an additional rationale for the use of histone deacetylase inhibitors in the treatment of inflammation.

Synergism of Heat Shock Protein 90 and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Synovial Sarcoma

Current systemic therapies have little curative benefit for synovial sarcoma. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor 17-AAG have recently been shown to inhibit synovial sarcoma in preclinical models. We tested combinations of 17-AAG with the HDAC inhibitor MS-275 for synergism by proliferation and apoptosis assays. The combination was found to be synergistic at multiple time points in two synovial sarcoma cell lines. Previous studies have shown that HDAC inhibitors not only induce cell death but also activate the survival pathway NF-κB, potentially limiting therapeutic benefit. As 17-AAG inhibits activators of NF-κB, we tested if 17-AAG synergizes with MS-275 through abrogating NF-κB activation. In our assays, adding 17-AAG blocks NF-κB activation by MS-275 and siRNA directed against histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) recapitulates the effects of MS-275. Additionally, we find that the NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7085 synergizes with MS-275. We conclude that agents inhibiting NF-κB synergize with HDAC inhibitors against synovial sarcoma.

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.

66 POSTER Synergistic anti tumor effect of histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 in combination with interleukin 2 in a murine model of malignant melanoma

66 POSTER Synergistic anti tumor effect of histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 in combination with interleukin 2 in a murine model of malignant melanoma

Sp1-Mediated TRAIL Induction in Chemosensitization

The regulation of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in cancer chemotherapy is not fully understood. Here, we show that the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors induce TRAIL in human breast cancer cells. Induction of TRAIL by the HDAC inhibitor MS275 can be enhanced by Adriamycin. Using different reporter constructs in conjunction with transcription activity assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we provide evidence that the transcription factor Sp1 is responsible for TRAIL induction by MS275 alone or in combination with Adriamycin. Further, we show that the combined treatment of breast cancer cells with MS275 and Adriamycin significantly increases apoptotic cell death via the activation of both death receptor and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. Down-regulation of TRAIL by small interfering RNA silencing decreased MS275-mediated Adriamycin-induced caspase activation and apoptosis, thus conferring Adriamycin resistance. More importantly, breast cancer T47D cells in which Sp1 was knocked down or Sp1-knockout mouse embryonic stem cells were resistant to the combined treatments. Taken together, our results indicate that induction of TRAIL by the combined treatments with MS275 and Adriamycin is mediated by Sp1 and suggest that transcription factor Sp1 is an important target for the development of novel anticancer agents.

Derepression in the Desert: The Third Workshop on Clinical Translation of Epigenetics in Cancer Therapeutics

In the past decade, the scientific and medical community has witnessed dramatic progress in epigenetics and has begun to understand some of the epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to human disease, particularly cancer. In January 2007, the third biannual workshop on Clinical Translation of

Genistein selectively potentiates arsenic trioxide‐induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells via reactive oxygen species generation and activation of reactive oxygen species‐inducible protein kinases (p38‐MAPK, AMPK)

The observation that genistein may behave as a pro-oxidant agent lead us to examine the capacity of this isoflavone to modulate the toxicity of the oxidation-sensitive anti-leukemic agent arsenic trioxide (ATO), and for comparison other anti-tumor drugs. Co-treatment with genistein increased ATO-provoked apoptosis and activated apoptosis regulatory events (Bcl-X(L) down-regulation, cytochrome c and Omi/HtrA2 release from mitochondria, XIAP decrease and caspase-8/Bid and caspase-3 activation) in U937 promonocytes and other human leukemia cell lines (HL60, THP-1, Jurkat, RPMI-8866), but not in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated non-tumor peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). Genistein, alone and with ATO, stimulated reactive oxygen species generation, and apoptosis was attenuated by N-acetyl-L-cysteine and butylated hydroxyanisole. Addition of low H(2)O(2) concentrations mimicked the capacity of genistein to increase ATO-provoked apoptosis in leukemia cells, but not in PBLs. By contrast, co-treatment with genistein or H(2)O(2) failed to potentiate the toxicity of DNA-targeting agent cisplatin, the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 and the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275. Within the here used time-period (14 hr) genistein, alone or with ATO, did not significantly affect Akt phosphorylation and NF-kappaB binding activity, nor decreased intracellular GSH content. However, it elicited N-acetyl-L-cysteine-inhibitable phosphorylation of p38-MAPK and AMPK, and apoptosis was attenuated by pharmacologic inhibitors against these kinases. The pro-oxidant capacity of genistein might be exploited to improve the efficacy of ATO as anti-leukemic agent, and perhaps the efficacy of other oxidation-based therapeutic approaches.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors induce growth arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation in clear cell sarcoma models

Clear cell sarcoma is an aggressive malignancy occurring most commonly in the distal extremities of young adults, characterized by t(12;22)(q13;q12) creating the chimeric fusion oncoprotein EWS-ATF1. We assessed growth inhibition and differentiation effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors MS-275 and romidepsin (depsipeptide, FK228) on clear cell sarcoma cells and evaluated drug sensitivity among related translocation-associated sarcomas and other cell models. Three clear cell sarcoma cell lines, seven other sarcomas, six nonsarcoma malignant cell lines, and two nonneoplastic mesenchymal cell models were treated with MS-275 or romidepsin. Growth inhibition was assayed by monolayer 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were assessed by propidium iodide/Annexin V flow cytometry in monolayer and spheroid cultures and by immunoblotting analysis. Expression levels of key genes involved in mesenchymal differentiation and of EWS-ATF1 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR in clear cell sarcoma cells treated with histone deacetylase inhibitors. MS-275 and romidepsin inhibited growth in clear cell sarcoma cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Sarcomas showed greater sensitivity than other tumor types, with clear cell sarcomas most sensitive of all, whereas nonmalignant mesenchymal cells were highly resistant. MS-275 at 1 micromol/L and romidepsin at 1 nmol/L induced histone H3 acetylation, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation in clear cell sarcoma cells within 24 hours. Histone deacetylase inhibitors increased expression of SOX9, MYOD1, and PPARG and decreased EWS-ATF1 expression in clear cell sarcoma cells. Histone deacetylase inhibitors show promising preclinical activity in multiple clear cell sarcoma models.

Antiproliferative activities of a library of hybrids between indanones and HDAC inhibitor SAHA and MS-275 analogues

New compounds derived from inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been synthesized and their antiproliferative activities towards non small lung cancer cell line H661 evaluated. Their design is based on hybrids between indanones to limit conformational mobility and other known HDAC inhibitors (SAHA, MS-275). The synthesis of these new derivatives was achieved by alkylation of appropriate indanones to introduce the side chain bearing a terminal ester group, the latter being a precursor of hydroxamic acid and aminobenzamide derivatives. These new analogues were found to be moderately active to inhibit H661 cell proliferation.

Synergistic In vivo Antitumor Effect of the Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor MS-275 in Combination with Interleukin 2 in a Murine Model of Renal Cell Carcinoma

High-dose interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a Food and Drug Administration-approved regimen for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, the toxicity and limited clinical benefit associated with IL-2 has hampered its use. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been shown to have antitumor activity in different tumor models including renal cell carcinoma, and to have immunomodulatory properties. In our study, we tested the effectiveness of combination therapy of IL-2 with the HDAC inhibitor MS-275 in a murine renal cell carcinoma (RENCA) model. RENCA luciferase-expressing cells were implanted in the left kidney of BALB/C mice. Animals were randomly divided into four groups and treated with either vehicle, 150,000 IU of IL-2 twice daily by i.p. injections (twice weekly), 5 mg/kg of MS-275 daily by oral gavage (5 d/wk), or its combination. Treatment was started either 3 or 9 days following tumor cell injection. Weekly luciferase images and tumor weight after 2 weeks of treatment showed significant tumor inhibition (>80%) in the combination treatment as compared with the IL-2 (no significant inhibition) or MS-275 (approximately 40% inhibition) treatment groups. Spontaneous lung metastases were also inhibited in the combination treatment (>90% inhibition) as compared with the single treatment group. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed statistically significant increased survival in the combination group as compared with controls and single agents. Splenocytes from mice treated with combination treatment showed greater lysis of RENCA cells than splenocytes from mice treated with single agents. The percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells and Foxp3(+) T cells (T regulatory cells) was increased or reduced, respectively, in lymph nodes from tumor-bearing animals treated with the combination of MS-275 and IL-2 as compared with control and single agents. Depletion of CD8(+) T cells abrogated the survival benefit from MS-275 + IL-2 combination. These results show that the combination of IL-2 and MS-275 has a synergistic antitumor effect in vivo in an immunocompetent murine model of renal cell carcinoma. The antitumor effect was associated with the decreased number of T regulatory cells and the increased antitumor cytotoxicity by splenocytes. In conclusion, these preclinical data provide the rationale for clinical testing of the combination of IL-2 and HDAC inhibitors in the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors induce growth arrest and apoptosis of HTLV-1-infected T-cells via blockade of signaling by nuclear factor κB

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is a highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis in which nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is thought to play a role. This study explored the effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) MS-275, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), and LBH589 on both human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1)-infected T cells (MT-1, -2, -4, and HUT102) and freshly isolated ATL cells harvested from patients. HDACIs effectively inhibited the proliferation of these cells. For example, MS-275, SAHA, and LBH589 effectively inhibited the proliferation of MT-1 cells with ED 50s of 6 μM, 2.5 μM, and 100 nM, respectively, as measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylithiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay on day 2 of culture. In addition, HDACIs induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and apoptosis of HTLV-1-infected T-cells in conjunction with regulation of apoptosis-related proteins. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that exposure of HTLV-1-infected T-cells to HDACIs for 48 h inhibited formation of the NF-κB/DNA binding complex. Moreover, we found that HDACIs accumulated NF-κB and inhibitory subunit of NF-κB in the cytoplasm in conjunction with the down-regulation of NF-κB in the nucleus, suggesting that HDACIs blocked nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Based on these findings, we believe HDACIs can be useful for treating patients with ATL or other types of cancer in which NF-κB plays a role.

Antitumor activity of the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS‐275 in prostate cancer models

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represent a novel class of therapeutic agents with antitumor activity currently in clinical development. In this study, we tested the biological effects of the HDAC inhibitor MS-275 in various pre-clinical prostate cancer models both in'vitro and in vivo. In vitro cell proliferation XTT assay and protein expression analysis by Western blot were performed. In vivo tumor growth assessment in subcutaneous, orthotopic, and transgenic mouse models were conducted. MS-275 significantly upregulated histone H3 acetylation and p21 gene expression in human prostate cancer cell lines. MS-275 exerted growth arrest in PC-3 and LNCaP cells, and induced cell death in DU-145 cells. Prostate specific antigen protein levels were increased by MS-275 in LAPC4 cell line. In vivo, MS-275 inhibited the growth of DU-145, LNCaP, and PC-3 in subcutaneous xenografts. MS-275 had also a significant inhibition of PC-3 cells growth in a mouse intratibial model. Molecular analysis showed increased histone acetylation and p21 expression in tumor samples from MS-275-treated mice. In transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice, long-term treatment of MS-275 slowed the progression of prostate carcinomas with significant reduction in cell proliferation. Taken together, these data support the clinical testing of MS-275 for the treatment of prostate cancer.