Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling in Fibroblasts, Pancreatic, and Lung Tumor Cells by Oxy186, an Oxysterol Analogue with Drug-Like Properties

The widespread involvement of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in human malignancies has motivated the clinical development of Smoothened (Smo) antagonists, such as vismodegib and sonidegib. However, Smo antagonists have failed to benefit patients suffering from Hh pathway-dependent solid tumors,...

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Main Authors: Feng Wang, Frank Stappenbeck, Farhad Parhami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
Series:Cells
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/5/509
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author Feng Wang
Frank Stappenbeck
Farhad Parhami
author_facet Feng Wang
Frank Stappenbeck
Farhad Parhami
author_sort Feng Wang
collection DOAJ
description The widespread involvement of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in human malignancies has motivated the clinical development of Smoothened (Smo) antagonists, such as vismodegib and sonidegib. However, Smo antagonists have failed to benefit patients suffering from Hh pathway-dependent solid tumors, such as pancreatic, colorectal, or ovarian cancer. Hh-dependent cancers are often driven by activating mutations that occur downstream of Smo and directly activate the transcription factors known as glioma-associated oncogenes (<i>Gli1-3</i>). Hence, the direct targeting of Gli could be a more effective strategy for achieving disease modification compared to Smo antagonism. In this study, we report on the biological and pharmacological evaluation of Oxy186, a semisynthetic oxysterol analogue, as a novel inhibitor of Hh signaling acting downstream of Smo, with encouraging drug-like properties. Oxy186 exhibits strong inhibition of ligand-induced Hh signaling in NIH3T3-E1 fibroblasts, as well as in constitutively activated Hh signaling in Suppressor of Fused (Sufu) null mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. Oxy186 also inhibits Gli1 transcriptional activity in NIH3T3-E1 cells expressing exogenous Gli1 and Gli-dependent reporter constructs. Furthermore, Oxy186 suppresses Hh signaling in PANC-1 cells, a human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumor cell line, as well as PANC-1 cell proliferation in vitro, and in human lung cancer cell lines, A549 and H2039.
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spelling doaj.art-ff26fefc08004caea5d2eddf9d32a77e2023-09-02T12:27:19ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092019-05-018550910.3390/cells8050509cells8050509Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling in Fibroblasts, Pancreatic, and Lung Tumor Cells by Oxy186, an Oxysterol Analogue with Drug-Like PropertiesFeng Wang0Frank Stappenbeck1Farhad Parhami2MAX BioPharma Inc., 2870 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USAMAX BioPharma Inc., 2870 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USAMAX BioPharma Inc., 2870 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USAThe widespread involvement of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in human malignancies has motivated the clinical development of Smoothened (Smo) antagonists, such as vismodegib and sonidegib. However, Smo antagonists have failed to benefit patients suffering from Hh pathway-dependent solid tumors, such as pancreatic, colorectal, or ovarian cancer. Hh-dependent cancers are often driven by activating mutations that occur downstream of Smo and directly activate the transcription factors known as glioma-associated oncogenes (<i>Gli1-3</i>). Hence, the direct targeting of Gli could be a more effective strategy for achieving disease modification compared to Smo antagonism. In this study, we report on the biological and pharmacological evaluation of Oxy186, a semisynthetic oxysterol analogue, as a novel inhibitor of Hh signaling acting downstream of Smo, with encouraging drug-like properties. Oxy186 exhibits strong inhibition of ligand-induced Hh signaling in NIH3T3-E1 fibroblasts, as well as in constitutively activated Hh signaling in Suppressor of Fused (Sufu) null mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. Oxy186 also inhibits Gli1 transcriptional activity in NIH3T3-E1 cells expressing exogenous Gli1 and Gli-dependent reporter constructs. Furthermore, Oxy186 suppresses Hh signaling in PANC-1 cells, a human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumor cell line, as well as PANC-1 cell proliferation in vitro, and in human lung cancer cell lines, A549 and H2039.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/5/509cancerhedgehog signalingnon-canonical activation of Glioxysterols
spellingShingle Feng Wang
Frank Stappenbeck
Farhad Parhami
Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling in Fibroblasts, Pancreatic, and Lung Tumor Cells by Oxy186, an Oxysterol Analogue with Drug-Like Properties
Cells
cancer
hedgehog signaling
non-canonical activation of Gli
oxysterols
title Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling in Fibroblasts, Pancreatic, and Lung Tumor Cells by Oxy186, an Oxysterol Analogue with Drug-Like Properties
title_full Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling in Fibroblasts, Pancreatic, and Lung Tumor Cells by Oxy186, an Oxysterol Analogue with Drug-Like Properties
title_fullStr Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling in Fibroblasts, Pancreatic, and Lung Tumor Cells by Oxy186, an Oxysterol Analogue with Drug-Like Properties
title_full_unstemmed Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling in Fibroblasts, Pancreatic, and Lung Tumor Cells by Oxy186, an Oxysterol Analogue with Drug-Like Properties
title_short Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling in Fibroblasts, Pancreatic, and Lung Tumor Cells by Oxy186, an Oxysterol Analogue with Drug-Like Properties
title_sort inhibition of hedgehog signaling in fibroblasts pancreatic and lung tumor cells by oxy186 an oxysterol analogue with drug like properties
topic cancer
hedgehog signaling
non-canonical activation of Gli
oxysterols
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/5/509
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