Induction of cell death in adult T-cell leukemia cells by a novel IkappaB kinase inhibitor

Leukemia. 2006 Apr;20(4):590-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2404129.

Abstract

NF-kappaB is constitutively activated in adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and is considered responsible for cell growth and prevention of cell death. In this study, we demonstrate that NF-kappaB is constitutively activated in various HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines and ATL-derived cell lines irrespectively of Tax expression as evidenced by the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha and p65 subunit of NF-kappaB, activation of NF-kappaB DNA binding, and upregulation of various target genes including bcl-xL, bcl-2, XIAP, c-IAP1, survivin, cyclinD1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. The effects of a novel IkappaB kinase (IKK) inhibitor, 2-amino-6-[2-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-6-hydroxyphenyl]-4-piperidin-4-yl nicotinonitrile (ACHP), were examined on cell growth of these cell lines and fresh ATL leukemic cells. We found that ACHP could inhibit the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha and p65, as well as NF-kappaB DNA-binding, associated with downregulation of the NF-kappaB target genes and induce cell growth arrest and apoptosis in these cells. When Tax-active and Tax-inactive cell lines were compared, ACHP could preferentially inhibit cell growth of Tax-active cells. Moreover, ACHP exhibited strong apoptosis-inducing activity in fresh ATL cells. These findings indicate that ACHP and its derivatives are effective in inducing ATL cell death and thus feasible candidates for the treatment of ATL.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activation / genetics
  • Enzyme Activation / physiology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / drug effects
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • I-kappa B Kinase / genetics
  • I-kappa B Kinase / metabolism
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / virology
  • Nicotinic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Nitriles / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Subunits / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Transcription Factor RelA / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factor RelA / genetics
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism

Substances

  • 2-amino-6-(2-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-6-hydroxyphenyl)-4-piperidin-4-yl nicotinonitrile
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Nicotinic Acids
  • Nitriles
  • Protein Subunits
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • DNA
  • I-kappa B Kinase