1-methylpropyl-2-imidazolyl-disulfide and Breast-Neoplasms

2-[(1-methylpropyl)dithio]-1H-imidazole (IV-2) is a known inhibitor of the thioredoxin system. It causes the oxidation of cysteine residues from both thioredoxin reductase and thioredoxin, with only the latter leading to irreversible inhibition of protein function. Although IV-2 is considered to be the first specific inhibitor of thioredoxin to undergo evaluation in cancer patients (under the name PX-12), it is unclear whether the oxidative ability of IV-2 is limited to proteins of the thioredoxin family. The current study investigated the specificity of IV-2 by examining its interaction with tubulin, a protein in which cysteine oxidation causes loss of polymerization competence. The cellular effects of IV-2 were examined in MCF-7 breast cancer and endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells). Immunocytochemistry revealed a loss of microtubule structure with Western blot analysis confirming that treated cells contained a higher proportion of unpolymerized tubulin. Cell-free tubulin polymerization assays showed a dose-dependent inhibition of tubulin polymerization and depolymerization of preformed microtubules, confirming a direct interaction between IV-2 and tubulin. Further investigation of the tubulin interaction, through analysis of sulfhydryl reactivity and disulfide bond formation, suggested that IV-2 acts through the oxidation of cysteines in tubulin. Biochemical assays indicated that the oxidative properties of IV-2 are not limited to thioredoxin and tubulin, as cysteine-dependent proteases were also inhibited. Breast cancer cells with thioredoxin silenced by short interfering RNA remained sensitive to IV-2, albeit at higher antiproliferative GI50 values than in cells with normal thioredoxin function. These findings show that modulation of targets other than thioredoxin contribute to the effects of IV-2 on proliferating cells.

Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine; Disulfides; Ficain; Humans; Imidazoles; Microtubules; Molecular Structure; Oxidation-Reduction; Papain; Protease Inhibitors; RNA, Small Interfering; Sensitivity and Specificity; Thioredoxins; Tubulin

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in tumor growth by increasing resistance to apoptosis and the production of angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). HIF-1 is a heterodimer comprised of oxygen-regulated HIF-1alpha and constitutively expressed HIF-1beta subunits. The redox protein thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1), which is found at high levels in many human cancers, increases both aerobic and hypoxia-induced HIF-1alpha protein in cells leading to increased expression of HIF-regulated genes. We have investigated whether two cancer drugs that inhibit Trx-1 signaling, PX-12 (1-methylpropyl 2-imidazolyl disulfide) and pleurotin, decrease HIF-1alpha protein levels and the expression of downstream target genes. Treatment of MCF-7 human breast cancer and HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells with PX-12 and pleurotin prevented the hypoxia (1% oxygen)-induced increase in HIF-1alpha protein. HIF-1-trans-activating activity, VEGF formation, and inducible nitric oxide synthase were also decreased by treatment with PX-12 and pleurotin under hypoxic conditions. PX-12 and pleurotin also decreased HIF-1alpha protein levels and HIF-1 trans-activation in RCC4 renal cell carcinoma cells that constitutively overexpress HIF-1alpha protein because of loss of the pVHL gene, indicating that HIF-1alpha is inhibited independently of the pVHL pathway. HIF-1alpha and VEGF protein levels in MCF-7 tumor xenografts in vivo were decreased by PX-12 treatment of mice. The results suggest that inhibition of HIF-1alpha by Trx-1 inhibitors may contribute to the growth inhibitory and antitumor activity of these agents.

Topics: Animals; Blotting, Western; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Division; Colonic Neoplasms; Disulfides; Down-Regulation; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; Humans; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Imidazoles; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Kidney Neoplasms; Luciferases; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mice, SCID; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Thioredoxins; Transcription Factors; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A