Structure-Based Discovery of a Selective KDM5A Inhibitor that Exhibits Anti-Cancer Activity via Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest and Senescence in Breast Cancer Cell Lines
CANCERS
Authors: Yang, Guan-Jun; Ko, Chung-Nga; Zhong, Hai-Jing; Leung, Chung-Hang; Ma, Dik-Lung
Abstract
Breast cancer is the one of the most frequent causes of female cancer mortality. KDM5A, a histone demethylase, can increase the proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance of cancers, including breast cancer, and is thus an important therapeutic target. In the present work, we performed hierarchical virtual screening towards the KDM5A catalytic pocket from a chemical library containing 90,000 compounds. Using multiple biochemical methods, the cyclopenta[c]chromen derivative 1 was identified as the top candidate for KDM5A demethylase inhibitory activity. Compared with the well-known KDM5 inhibitor CPI-455 (18), 1 exhibited higher potency against KDM5A and much higher selectivity for KDM5A over both KDM4A and other KDM5 family members (KDM5B and KDM5C). Additionally, compound 1 repressed the proliferation of various KDM5A-overexpressing breast cancer cell lines. Mechanistically, 1 promoted accumulation of p16 and p27 by blocking KDM5A-mediated H3K4me3 demethylation, leading to cell cycle arrest and senescence. To date, compound 1 is the first cyclopenta[c]chromen-based KDM5A inhibitor reported, and may serve as a novel motif for developing more selective and efficacious pharmacological molecules targeting KDM5A. In addition, our research provides a possible anti-cancer mechanism of KDM5A inhibitors and highlights the feasibility and significance of KDM5A as a therapeutic target for KDM5A-overexpressing breast cancer.
KDM5B Is Essential for the Hyperactivation of PI3K/AKT Signaling in Prostate Tumorigenesis
CANCER RESEARCH
Authors: Li, Guoliang; Kanagasabai, Thanigaivelan; Lu, Wenfu; Zou, Mike R.; Zhang, Shang-Min; Celada, Sherly, I; Izban, Michael G.; Liu, Qi; Lu, Tao; Ballard, Billy R.; Zhou, Xinchun; Adunyah, Samuel E.; Matusik, Robert J.; Yan, Qin; Chen, Zhenbang
Abstract
KDM5B (lysine[K]-specific demethylase 5B) is frequently up-regulated in various human cancers including prostate cancer. KDM5B controls H3K4me3/2 levels and regulates gene transcription and cell differentiation, yet the contributions of KDM5B to prostate cancer tumorigenesis remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the functional role of KDM5B in epigenetic dysregulation and prostate cancer progression in cultured cells and in mouse models of prostate epithelium-specific mutant Pten/Kdm5b. Kdm5b deficiency resulted in a significant delay in the onset of prostate cancer in Pten-null mice, whereas Kdm5b loss alone caused no morphologic abnormalities in mouse prostates. At 6 months of age, the prostate weight of Pten/Kdm5b mice was reduced by up to 70% compared with that of Pten mice. Pathologic analysis revealed Pten/Kdm5b mice displayed mild morphologic changes with hyperplasia in prostates, whereas age-matched Pten littermates developed high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate cancer. Mechanistically, KDM5B governed PI3K/AKT signaling in prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo. KDM5B directly bound the PIK3CA promoter, and KDM5B knockout resulted in a significant reduction of P110 alpha and PIP3 levels and subsequent decrease in proliferation of human prostate cancer cells. Conversely, KDM5Boverexpression resulted in increased PI3K/AKT signaling. Loss of Kdm5b abrogated the hyperactivation of AKT signaling by decreasing P110 alpha/P85 levels in Pten/Kdm5b mice. Taken together, our findings reveal that KDM5B acts as a key regulator of PI3K/AKT signaling; they also support the concept that targeting KDM5B is a novel and effective therapeutic strategy against prostate cancer. Significance: This study demonstrates that levels of histone modification enzyme KDM5B determine hyperactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling in prostate cancer and that targeting KDM5B could be a novel strategy against prostate cancer.