Molecular characteristics of CTA056, a novel interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase inhibitor that selectively targets malignant T cells and modulates oncomirs.
Interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase (Itk) is a member of the Btk (Bruton's tyrosine kinase) family of tyrosine kinases. Itk plays an important role in normal T-cell functions and in the pathophysiology of both autoimmune diseases and T-cell malignancies. Here, we describe the initial characterization of a selective inhibitor, 7-benzyl-1-(3-(piperidin-1-yl)propyl)-2-(4-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-g]quinoxalin-6(5H)-one (CTA056), that was developed through screening a 9600-compound combinatorial solution phase library, followed by molecular modeling, and extensive structure-activity relationship studies. CTA056 exhibits the highest inhibitory effects toward Itk, followed by Btk and endothelial and epithelial tyrosine kinase. Among the 41 cancer cell lines analyzed, CTA056 selectively targets acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Normal T cells are minimally affected. Incubation of Jurkat and MOLT-4 cells with CTA056 resulted in the inhibition of the phosphorylation of Itk and its effectors including PLC-γ, Akt, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, as well as the decreased secretion of targeted genes such as interleukin-2 and interferon-γ. Jurkat cells also underwent apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner when incubated with CTA056. The potent apoptosis-inducing potential of CTA056 is reflected by the significant modulation of microRNAs involved in survival pathways and oncogenesis. The in vitro cytotoxic effect on malignant T cells is further validated in a xenograft model. The selective expression and activation of Itk in malignant T cells, as well as the specificity of CTA056 for Itk, make this molecule a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of T-cell leukemia and lymphoma.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine,,University of California Davis, Sacramento, California 95817, USA.
Wenchang
W
Guo
Ruiwu
R
Liu
Yoko
Y
Ono
Ai-Hong
AH
Ma
Anthony
A
Martinez
Eduardo
E
Sanchez
Yan
Y
Wang
Wenzhe
W
Huang
Anisha
A
Mazloom
Jixian
J
Li
Jinying
J
Ning
Emanual
E
Maverakis
Kit S
KS
Lam
Hsing-Jien
HJ
Kung
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D054218:Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D015854:Up-Regulation
C578202:7-benzyl-1-(3-(piperidin-1-yl)propyl)-2-(4-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)-1H-imidazo(4,5-g)quinoxalin-6(5H)-one; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D007376:Interleukin-2; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011799:Quinazolines; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C080813:emt protein-tyrosine kinase