Therapeutics
Abstract
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and the activated B cell–like subtype (ABC-DLBCL) is associated with particularly poor outcome. Many ABC-DLBCLs harbor gain-of-function mutations that cause inappropriate assembly of the CARMA1-BCL10-MALT1 (CBM) signalosome, a cytoplasmic complex that drives downstream NF-κB signaling. MALT1 is the effector protein of the CBM signalosome such that its recruitment to the signalosome via interaction with BCL10 allows it to exert both protease and scaffolding activities that together synergize in driving NF-κB. Here, we demonstrate that a molecular groove located between two adjacent immunoglobulin-like domains within MALT1 represents a binding pocket for BCL10. Leveraging this discovery, we performed an in silico screen to identify small molecules that dock within this MALT1 groove and act as BCL10-MALT1 protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors. We report the identification of M1i-124 as a first-in-class compound that blocks BCL10-MALT1 interaction, abrogates MALT1 scaffolding and protease activities, promotes degradation of BCL10 and MALT1 proteins, and specifically targets ABC-DLBCLs characterized by dysregulated MALT1. Our findings demonstrate that small-molecule inhibitors of BCL10-MALT1 interaction can function as potent agents to block MALT1 signaling in selected lymphomas, and provide a road map for clinical development of a new class of precision-medicine therapeutics.
Authors
Heejae Kang, Lisa M. Maurer, Jing Cheng, Mei Smyers, Linda R. Klei, Dong Hu, Juliana Hofstatter Azambuja, Marcelo J. Murai, Ahmed Mady, Ejaz Ahmad, Matthew Trotta, Hanna B. Klei, Minda Liu, Prasanna Ekambaram, Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska, Bill B. Chen, Linda M. McAllister-Lucas, Peter C. Lucas
Abstract
GM1 gangliosidosis is a lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) and caused by genetic defects in the lysosomal β-galactosidase (β-gal). The primary substrate of the β-gal is GM1 ganglioside (GM1), a sialylated glycosphingolipid abundant in the central nervous system (CNS). β-gal deficiency causes GM1 to accumulate in neural cells leading to a rapid decline in psychomotor functions, seizures, and premature death. There is currently no therapy available. Although enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has been approved for other LSDs, its effects on the CNS are limited owing to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of a systemic infusion of an AAV vector carrying a gene expressing a BBB-penetrable enzyme under the control of a liver-specific promotor in GM1 gangliosidosis model mice. The BBB-penetrable enzyme consisted of the variable region of the anti-transferrin receptor-antibody fused with β-gal. The BBB-penetrable enzyme was only produced in the liver and secreted into the blood, which was efficiently distributed to various organs, including the brain. GM1 accumulation in the CNS was completely normalised, with improved neurological functions and animal survival. This therapeutic approach is expected to be applied for the treatment of several hereditary neurological diseases with CNS involvement.
Authors
Saki Kondo Matsushima, Yohta Shimada, Masafumi Kinoshita, Takashi Nagashima, Shinichiro Okamoto, Sayoko Iizuka, Haruna Takagi, Shunsuke Iizuka, Takashi Higuchi, Hiroyuki Hioki, Ayako M. Watabe, Hiroyuki Sonoda, Toya Ohashi, Hiroshi Kobayashi
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells modulate immune responses and attenuate inflammation. Extracellular vesicles from human cardiosphere-derived cells (CDC-EVs) enhance Treg proliferation and IL10 production, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Here we focus on BCYRN1, a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) highly abundant in CDC-EVs, and its role in Treg cell function. BCYRN1 acts as a "microRNA sponge," inhibiting miR-138, miR-150, and miR-98. Suppression of these miRs leads to increased Treg cell proliferation via ATG7-dependent autophagy, CCR6-dependent Treg migration, and enhanced Treg IL10 production. In a mouse model of myocardial infarction, CDC-EVs, particularly those overexpressing BCYRN1, were cardioprotective, reducing infarct size and troponin I levels even when administered after reperfusion. Underlying the cardioprotection, we verified that CDC-EVs overexpressing BCYRN1 increased cardiac Treg infiltration, proliferation, and IL10 production in vivo. These salutary effects were negated when BCYRN1 levels were reduced in CDC-EVs, or when Tregs were depleted systemically. Thus, we have identified BCYRN1 as a booster of Treg number and bioactivity, rationalizing its cardioprotective efficacy. While here we studied BCYRN1 overexpression in the context of ischemic injury, the same approach merits testing in other disease processes (e.g., autoimmunity or transplant rejection) where increased Treg activity is a recognized therapeutic goal.
Authors
Ke Liao, Jiayi Yu, Akbarshakh Akhmerov, Zahra Mohammadigoldar, Liang Li, Weixin Liu, Natasha Anders, Ahmed G.E. Ibrahim, Eduardo Marbán
Abstract
Despite advances in the development of direct KRAS inhibitors, KRAS-mutant cancers continue to exhibit resistance to the currently available therapies. Here, we identified REGγ as a mutant KRAS–associated factor that enhanced REGγ transcription through the KRAS intermediate NRF2, suggesting that the REGγ-proteasome is a potential target for pan-KRAS inhibitor development. We elucidated a mechanism involving the KRAS/NRF2/REGγ regulatory axis, which links activated KRAS to the ATP- and ubiquitin-independent proteasome. We subsequently developed RLY01, a REGγ-proteasome inhibitor that effectively suppressed tumor growth in KRAS-mutant cancer models and lung cancer organoids. Notably, the combination of RLY01 and the KRASG12C inhibitor AMG510 exhibited enhanced antitumor efficacy in KRASG12C cancer cells. Collectively, our data support the hypothesis that KRAS mutations enhance the capacity of the REGγ-proteasome by increasing REGγ expression, highlighting the potential of ubiquitin-independent proteasome inhibition as a therapeutic approach for pan-KRAS–mutant cancers.
Authors
Shihui Shen, Qiansen Zhang, Yuhan Wang, Hui Chen, Shuangming Gong, Yun Liu, Conghao Gai, Hansen Chen, Enhao Zhu, Bo Yang, Lin Liu, Siyuan Cao, Mengting Zhao, Wenjie Ren, Mengjuan Li, Zhuoya Peng, Lu Zhang, Shaoying Zhang, Juwen Shen, Bianhong Zhang, Patrick K.H. Lee, Kun Li, Lei Li, Huaiyu Yang
Abstract
Adipose tissue lipolysis is the process by which triglycerides in lipid stores are hydrolyzed into free fatty acids (FFAs), serving as fuel during fasting or cold-induced thermogenesis. Although cytosolic lipases are considered the predominant mechanism of liberating FFAs, lipolysis also occurs in lysosomes via lysosomal acid lipase (LIPA), albeit with unclear roles in lipid storage and whole-body metabolism. We found that adipocyte LIPA expression increased in adipose tissue of mice when lipolysis was stimulated during fasting, cold exposure, or β-adrenergic agonism. This was functionally important, as inhibition of LIPA genetically or pharmacologically resulted in lower plasma FFAs under lipolytic conditions. Furthermore, adipocyte LIPA deficiency impaired thermogenesis and oxygen consumption and rendered mice susceptible to diet-induced obesity. Importantly, lysosomal lipolysis was independent of adipose triglyceride lipase, the rate-limiting enzyme of cytosolic lipolysis. Our data suggest a significant role for LIPA and lysosomal lipolysis in adipocyte lipid metabolism beyond classical cytosolic lipolysis.
Authors
Yu-Sheng Yeh, Trent D. Evans, Mari Iwase, Se-Jin Jeong, Xiangyu Zhang, Ziyang Liu, Arick Park, Ali Ghasemian, Borna Dianati, Ali Javaheri, Dagmar Kratky, Satoko Kawarasaki, Tsuyoshi Goto, Hanrui Zhang, Partha Dutta, Francisco J. Schopfer, Adam C. Straub, Jaehyung Cho, Irfan J. Lodhi, Babak Razani
Abstract
Biological targeting is crucial for effective cancer treatment with reduced toxicity but is limited by the availability of tumor surface markers. To overcome this, we developed a nanoparticle-based, Tumor-specific suRfACE maRker-independent (TRACER) targeting approach. Utilizing the unique biodistribution properties of nanoparticles, we encapsulated Ac4ManNAz to selectively label tumors with azide reactive groups. Surprisingly, while NP-delivered Ac4ManNAz was cleared by the liver, it did not label macrophages, potentially reducing off-target effects. To exploit this tumor-specific labeling, we functionalized anti-4-1BB antibodies with dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO) to target azide-labeled tumor cells and activate the immune response. In syngeneic B16F10 melanoma and orthotopic 4T1 breast cancer models, TRACER enhanced anti-4-1BB’s therapeutic efficacy, increasing median survival time. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed increased tumor infiltration of CD8+ T and NK cells with TRACER. Importantly, TRACER reduced hepatotoxicity associated with anti-4-1BB, resulting in normal serum ALT and AST levels and decreased CD8+ T cell infiltration in the liver. Quantitative analysis confirmed a 4.5-fold higher tumor-to-liver ratio of anti-4-1BB accumulation with TRACER compared to conventional anti-4-1BB antibodies. Our work provides a promising approach for developing targeted cancer therapies that circumvent limitations imposed by the paucity of tumor-specific markers, potentially improving efficacy and reducing off-target effects to overcome liver toxicity associated with anti-4-1BB.
Authors
Hyesun Hyun, Bo Sun, Mostafa Yazdimamaghani, Albert Wielgus, Yue Wang, Stephanie Ann Montgomery, Tian Zhang, Jianjun Cheng, Jonathan S. Serody, Andrew Z. Wang
Abstract
Translocations involving FGFR2 gene fusions are common in cholangiocarcinoma and predict response to FGFR kinase inhibitors. However, response rates and durability are limited due to the emergence of resistance, typically involving FGFR2 kinase domain mutations, and to sub-optimal dosing, relating to drug adverse effects. Here, we develop biparatopic antibodies targeting the FGFR2 extracellular domain (ECD), as candidate therapeutics. Biparatopic antibodies can overcome drawbacks of bivalent monospecific antibodies, which often show poor inhibitory or even agonist activity against oncogenic receptors. We show that oncogenic transformation by FGFR2 fusions requires an intact ECD. Moreover, by systematically generating biparatopic antibodies targeting distinct epitope pairs in FGFR2 ECD, we identified antibodies that effectively block signaling and malignant growth driven by FGFR2-fusions. Importantly, these antibodies demonstrate efficacy in vivo, synergy with FGFR inhibitors, and activity against FGFR2 fusions harboring kinase domain mutations. Thus, biparatopic antibodies may serve as an innovative treatment option for patients with FGFR2-altered cholangiocarcinoma.
Authors
Saireudee Chaturantabut, Sydney Oliver, Dennie T. Frederick, Jiwan J. Kim, Foxy P. Robinson, Alessandro Sinopoli, Tian-Yu Song, Yao He, Yuan-Chen Chang, Diego J. Rodriguez, Liang Chang, Devishi Kesar, Meilani Ching, Ruvimbo Dzvurumi, Adel Atari, Yuen-Yi Tseng, Nabeel Bardeesy, William R. Sellers
Abstract
Tumor cells often employ many ways to restrain type I interferon signaling to evade immune surveillance. However, whether cellular amino acid metabolism regulate this process remains unclear and its effects on antitumor immunity are relatively unexplored. Here, we find that asparagine inhibits IFN-I signaling and promotes immune escape in bladder cancer. Depletion of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) strongly limits in vivo tumor growth in a CD8+ T cell-dependent manner and boosts immunotherapy efficacy. Moreover, clinically approved ASNase synergizes with anti-PD-1 therapy in suppressing tumor growth. Mechanistically, asparagine can directly bind to RIG-I and facilitate CBL-mediated RIG-I degradation, thereby suppressing IFN signaling and antitumor immune responses. Clinically, tumors with higher ASNS expression show decreased responsiveness to ICIs therapy. Together, our findings uncover asparagine as a natural metabolite to modulate RIG-I-mediated IFN-I signaling, providing the basis for developing the combinatorial use of ASNase and anti-PD-1 for bladder cancer.
Authors
Wenjie Wei, Hongzhao Li, Shuo Tian, Chi Zhang, Junxiao Liu, Wen Tao, Tianwei Cai, Yuhao Dong, Chuang Wang, Dingyi Lu, Yakun Ai, Wanlin Zhang, Hanfeng Wang, Kan Liu, Yang Fan, Yu Gao, Qingbo Huang, Xin Ma, Baojun Wang, Xu Zhang, Yan Huang
Abstract
Neuroretinal degenerations including retinitis pigmentosa (RP) comprise a heterogeneous collection of pathogenic mutations that ultimately result in blindness. Despite recent advances in precision medicine, therapies for rarer mutations are hindered by burdensome developmental costs. To this end, Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) is an attractive therapeutic target to treat RP. By ablating VHL in rod photoreceptors and elevating hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) levels, we demonstrate a path to therapeutically enhancing glycolysis independent of the underlying genetic variant that slows degeneration of both rod and cone photoreceptors in a preclinical model of retinitis pigmentosa. This rod-specific intervention also resulted in reciprocal, decreased glycolytic activity within the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells despite no direct genetic modifications to the RPE. Suppressing glycolysis in the RPE provided notable, non-cell-autonomous therapeutic benefits to the photoreceptors, indicative of metabolically sensitive crosstalk between different cellular compartments of the retina. Surprisingly, targeting HIF2A in RPE cells did not impact RPE glycolysis, potentially implicating HIF1A as a major regulator in mouse RPE and providing a rationale for future therapeutic efforts aimed at modulating RPE metabolism.
Authors
Salvatore Marco Caruso, Xuan Cui, Brian M. Robbings, Noah Heaps, Aykut Demikrol, Bruna Lopes da Costa, Daniel T. Hass, Peter M.J. Quinn, Jianhai Du, James B. Hurley, Stephen H. Tsang
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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)