title: The BH3 mimetic ABT-737 targets selective Bcl-2 proteins and efficiently induces apoptosis via Bak/Bax if Mcl-1 is neutralized.
abstract: Since apoptosis is impaired in malignant cells overexpressing prosurvival Bcl-2 proteins, drugs mimicking their natural antagonists, BH3-only proteins, might overcome chemoresistance. Of seven putative BH3 mimetics tested, only ABT-737 triggered Bax/Bak-mediated apoptosis. Despite its high affinity for Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), and Bcl-w, many cell types proved refractory to ABT-737. We show that this resistance reflects ABT-737's inability to target another prosurvival relative, Mcl-1. Downregulation of Mcl-1 by several strategies conferred sensitivity to ABT-737. Furthermore, enforced Mcl-1 expression in a mouse lymphoma model conferred resistance. In contrast, cells overexpressing Bcl-2 remained highly sensitive to ABT-737. Hence, ABT-737 should prove efficacious in tumors with low Mcl-1 levels, or when combined with agents that inactivate Mcl-1, even to treat those tumors that overexpress Bcl-2.
authors.affiliation: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: van Delft
authors.forename: Andrew H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Kylie D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Cassandra J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Vandenberg
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Czabotar
authors.forename: Simon N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Clare L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cory
authors.forename: Jerry M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: David C S
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010879:Piperazines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C501332:ABT-737; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016207:Cytokines; C579094:Mcl1 protein, mouse; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009596:Nitrophenols; D010879:Piperazines; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013449:Sulfonamides; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein