A synthetic triterpenoid, CDDO-Me, inhibits IκBα kinase and enhances apoptosis induced by TNF and chemotherapeutic agents through down-regulation of expression of nuclear factor κB-regulated gene products in human leukemic cells

The C-28 methyl ester of 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO-Me), a synthetic triterpenoid based on naturally occurring ursolic and oleanolic acids, induces apoptosis in tumor cells, induces differentiation, and inhibits inflammatory response through a poorly understood mechanism. Because the nuclear transcription factor nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) has been shown to suppress apoptosis and promote proliferation and is linked with inflammation and differentiation, we postulated that CDDO-Me modulates NF-κB activity and NF-κB-regulated gene expression. Using human leukemia cell lines and patient samples, we show that CDDO-Me potently inhibits both constitutive and inducible NF-κB activated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-1β phorbol ester, okadaic acid, hydrogen peroxide, lipopolysaccharide, and cigarette smoke. CDDO-Me was more potent than CDDO and its imidazole derivative. NF-κB suppression occurred through inhibition of IκBα kinase activation, IκBα phosphorylation, IκBα degradation, p65 phosphorylation, p65 nuclear translocation, and NF-κB-mediated reporter gene transcription. This inhibition correlated with suppression of NF-κB-dependent genes involved in anti-apoptosis (IAP2, cFLIP, TRAF1, survivin, and bcl-2), proliferation (cyclin d1 and c-myc), and angiogenesis (VEGF, cox-2, and mmp-9). CDDO-Me also potentiated the cytotoxic effects of TNF and Chemotherapeutic agents. Overall, our results suggest that CDDO-Me inhibits NF-κB through inhibition of Iκbα kinase, leading to the suppression of expression of NF-κB-regulated gene products and enhancement of apoptosis induced by TNF and chemotherapeutic agents.