TRC4, an improved triptolide derivative, specifically targets to truncated form of retinoid X receptor-alpha in cancer cells.

Abstract

The nuclear retinoid X receptor-α (RXRα) plays critical roles in cell homeostasis and in many physiological processes mainly through its transcriptional function. However, an N-terminal truncated form of RXRα, tRXRα, was frequently described in various cancer cells and tumor tissues, thus representing a new promising drug target. We recently demonstrated that triptolide (TR01) could target to the oncogenic activity of tRXRα. To improve its tumor selectivity, we developed several TR01 derivatives by introducing different amine ester groups on C-14-hydroxyl site. Interestingly, C-14 modification could differently affect the expression of tRXRα without interfering the level of its full length RXRα. Among the derivatives, TRC4 could strongly reduce tRXRα expression, while TRC5-7 increased it. The capability of inhibiting tRXRα expression was shown to be closely associated with its inactivation of AKT and induction of apoptosis in various cancer cells. Conversely, treatment of cancer cells with the tRXRα-stabilizing compounds TRC5-7 resulted in enhanced AKT activity and apoptosis-resistance. However, although TR01 could strongly reduce tRXRα expression and AKT activity, it also strongly inhibited the expression and transcriptional activity of RXRα in normal cells. Importantly, the tRXRα-selective TRC4 that did not significantly inhibit RXRα transcriptional function retained the most potency of the anticancer effect of TR01 and had no significant effect on the viability of normal cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that tRXRα-selective TRC4 will have potential clinical application in terms of drug target and side effects. Our findings will offer new strategies to develop improved triptolide analogs for cancer therapy.

• Authors: Pei-Yu Wang, Wen-Jun Zeng, Jie Liu, Yun-Long Wu, Yinghui Ma, Zhiping Zeng, Ji-Yan Pang, Xiao-Kun Zhang, Xiaomei Yan, Alice Sze Tsai Wong, Jin-Zhang Zeng
• Journal: Biochemical pharmacology (Biochem Pharmacol) Vol. 124 Pg. 19-28 (Jan 15 2017) ISSN: 1873-2968 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27810320 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Diterpenes
• Epoxy Compounds
• Phenanthrenes
• Retinoid X Receptor alpha
• triptolide

Topics

• Blotting, Western
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Diterpenes (pharmacology)
• Epoxy Compounds (pharmacology)
• HEK293 Cells
• Humans
• Microscopy, Fluorescence
• Phenanthrenes (pharmacology)
• Retinoid X Receptor alpha (drug effects, genetics)
• Transcriptional Activation