RESUMO
A number of studies have confirmed that Yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ)-transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) activity is the driver of cancer development. However, the role and mechanism of the YAP/TAZ-TEAD pathway in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) remain to be clarified. Therefore, this study was designed to observe the effect of YAP/TAZ-TEAD activity on the development of CIN and provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of CIN. Firstly, cervical tissues were collected from CIN patients in different stages [CIN grade 1 (CIN1) tissue, CIN grade 2/3 (CIN 2/3) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)] and healthy volunteers. Next, the expression levels of YAP, TAZ and TEAD in cervical tissues and cells were observed by immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and western blot. Besides, Z172 and Z183 cells were transfected with siRNA-YAP/TAZ (si-YAP/TAZ) and YAP/TAZ overexpression vector (YAP-5SA). Also, Z172 cells were co-transfected with YAP-5SA and si-TEAD2/4. Subsequently, the stemness characteristics, glycolysis level and malignant transformation of cells in each group were observed by sphere-formation assay, commercial kit, MTT, Transwell, scratch experiment, xenotransplantation and western blot.The expression of YAP, TAZ and TEAD increased significantly in cervical cancer tissue and cell line at the stage of CIN2/3 and SCC. When YAP/TAZ was knocked down, the stemness characteristics, glycolysis level and malignant transformation of cancer cells were notably inhibited; while activating YAP/TAZ exhibited a completely opposite result. In addition, activating YAP/TAZ and knocking down the TEAD expression at the same time significant weakened the effect of activated YAP/TAZ signal on precancerous cells and reduced inhibitory effect of knocking down TEAD alone. YAP/TAZ-TEAD signal activates the characteristics and Warburg effect of cancer stem cells, thereby promoting the malignant transformation of CIN.
Assuntos
Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal , Transformação Celular Neoplásica , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas , Transativadores , Fatores de Transcrição , Proteínas com Motivo de Ligação a PDZ com Coativador Transcricional , Displasia do Colo do Útero , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero , Proteínas de Sinalização YAP , Humanos , Feminino , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Proteínas de Sinalização YAP/metabolismo , Proteínas de Sinalização YAP/genética , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/genética , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/metabolismo , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/genética , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/metabolismo , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/patologia , Proteínas com Motivo de Ligação a PDZ com Coativador Transcricional/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/patologia , Transformação Celular Neoplásica/genética , Transformação Celular Neoplásica/metabolismo , Displasia do Colo do Útero/patologia , Displasia do Colo do Útero/genética , Displasia do Colo do Útero/metabolismo , Animais , Transativadores/genética , Transativadores/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição de Domínio TEA/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Camundongos , Efeito Warburg em Oncologia , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/metabolismo , Proliferação de Células/genética , Camundongos Nus , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patologiaRESUMO
Transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) is a family of transcription factors that plays a significant role during embryonic developmental processes, and its dysregulation is responsible for tumour progression. TEAD is considered as druggable targets in various diseases, namely cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Previous structural studies revealed the importance of the central hydrophobic pocket of TEAD as a potential target for small-molecule inhibitors and demonstrated flufenamic acid (FLU) (a COX-2 enzyme inhibitor) to bind and inhibit TEAD2 functions. However, to date, no drug candidates that bind specifically to TEAD2 with high selectivity and efficacy have been developed or proposed. Within this framework, we present here a case study where we have identified potential TEAD2 inhibitor candidates by integrating multiple computational approaches. Among the candidates, the top two ranked compounds ZINC95969481 (LG1) which is a fused pyrazole derivative and ZINC05203789 (LG2), a fluorene derivative resulted in much favourable binding energy scores than the reference ligand, FLU. The drug likeliness of the best compounds was also evaluated in silico to ensure the bioavailability of these compounds particularly LG1 as compared to FLU thus providing a strong rationale for their development as leads against TEAD. Molecular dynamics simulations results highlighted the role of key residues contributing to favourable interactions in TEAD2-LG1 complex with much favourable interaction and binding free energy values with respect to the reference compound. Altogether, this study provides a starting platform to be more exploited by future experimental research towards the development of inhibitors against TEAD, a persuasive strategy for therapeutic intervention in cancer treatment.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/metabolismo , Descoberta de Drogas/métodos , Ácido Flufenâmico/metabolismo , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Preparações Farmacêuticas/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/antagonistas & inibidores , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Sítios de Ligação , Cristalização , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/química , Ácido Flufenâmico/química , Humanos , Interações Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Ligantes , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Terapia de Alvo Molecular/métodos , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Ácido Niflúmico/química , Ácido Niflúmico/metabolismo , Preparações Farmacêuticas/química , Ligação Proteica , Fatores de Transcrição de Domínio TEA , Fatores de Transcrição/químicaRESUMO
The Hippo signaling pathway regulates cell fate and organ development. In the Hippo pathway, transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) which is a transcription factor is activated by forming a complex with yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) or transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ, also called WWTR1). Hyper-activation of YAP1/TAZ, leading to the activation of TEAD, has been reported in many cancers, including malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Therefore, the YAP1/TAZ-TEAD complex is considered a novel therapeutic target for cancer treatment. However, few reports have described YAP1/TAZ-TEAD inhibitors, and their efficacy and selectivity are poor. In this study, we performed a high-throughput screening of a neurofibromin 2 (NF2)-deficient MPM cell line and a large tumor suppressor kinase 1/2 (LATS1/2)-deficient non-small-cell lung cancer cell line using a transcriptional reporter assay. After screening and optimization, K-975 was successfully identified as a potent inhibitor of YAP1/TAZ-TEAD signaling. X-ray crystallography revealed that K-975 was covalently bound to an internal cysteine residue located in the palmitate-binding pocket of TEAD. K-975 had a strong inhibitory effect against protein-protein interactions between YAP1/TAZ and TEAD in cell-free and cell-based assays. Furthermore, K-975 potently inhibited the proliferation of NF2-non-expressing MPM cell lines compared with NF2-expressing MPM cell lines. K-975 also suppressed tumor growth and provided significant survival benefit in MPM xenograft models. These findings indicate that K-975 is a strong and selective TEAD inhibitor with the potential to become an effective drug candidate for MPM therapy.