TY - JOUR
T1 - Mechanisms of antileukemic activity of the novel Bcl-2 homology domain-3 mimetic GX15-070 (Obatoclax)
AU - Konopleva, Marina
AU - Watt, Julie
AU - Contractor, Rooha
AU - Tsao, Twee
AU - Harris, David
AU - Estrov, Zeev
AU - Bornmann, William
AU - Kantarjian, Hagop
AU - Viallet, Jean
AU - Samudio, Ismael
AU - Andreeff, Michael
PY - 2008/5/1
Y1 - 2008/5/1
N2 - In this study, we investigated the mechanism of apoptosis induction of obatoclax (GX15-070), a novel Bcl-2 homology domain-3 (BH3) mimetic, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines and primary AML samples. Obatoclax inhibited cell growth of HL-60, U937, OCI-AML3, and KG-1 cell lines. Apoptosis induction contributed to the observed antiproliferative effects at concentrations of this agent that mirror its affinity for antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. We show that obatoclax can promote the release of cytochrome c from isolated leukemia cell mitochondria and that apoptosis induced by this agent is preceded by the release of Bak from Mcl-1, liberation of Bim from both Bcl-2 and Mcl-1, and the formation of an active Bak/Bax complex. Notably, apoptosis was diminished, but not fully prevented, in the absence of Bak/Bax or Bim, suggesting that obatoclax has additional targets that contribute to its cytotoxicity. At growth inhibitory doses that did not induce apoptosis or decrease viability, obatoclax induced an S-G2 cell-cycle block. Obatoclax induced apoptosis in AML CD34+ progenitor cells with an average IC50 of 3.59 ± 1.23 μmol/L although clonogenicity was inhibited at concentrations of 75 to 100 nmol/L. Obatoclax synergized with the novel BH3 mimetic ABT-737 to induce apoptosis in OCI-AML3 cells and synergistically induced apoptosis in combination with AraC in leukemic cell lines and in primary AML samples. In conclusion, we show that obatoclax potently induces apoptosis and decreases leukemia cell proliferation and may be used in a novel therapeutic strategy for AML alone and in combination with other targeted agents and chemotherapeutics.
AB - In this study, we investigated the mechanism of apoptosis induction of obatoclax (GX15-070), a novel Bcl-2 homology domain-3 (BH3) mimetic, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines and primary AML samples. Obatoclax inhibited cell growth of HL-60, U937, OCI-AML3, and KG-1 cell lines. Apoptosis induction contributed to the observed antiproliferative effects at concentrations of this agent that mirror its affinity for antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. We show that obatoclax can promote the release of cytochrome c from isolated leukemia cell mitochondria and that apoptosis induced by this agent is preceded by the release of Bak from Mcl-1, liberation of Bim from both Bcl-2 and Mcl-1, and the formation of an active Bak/Bax complex. Notably, apoptosis was diminished, but not fully prevented, in the absence of Bak/Bax or Bim, suggesting that obatoclax has additional targets that contribute to its cytotoxicity. At growth inhibitory doses that did not induce apoptosis or decrease viability, obatoclax induced an S-G2 cell-cycle block. Obatoclax induced apoptosis in AML CD34+ progenitor cells with an average IC50 of 3.59 ± 1.23 μmol/L although clonogenicity was inhibited at concentrations of 75 to 100 nmol/L. Obatoclax synergized with the novel BH3 mimetic ABT-737 to induce apoptosis in OCI-AML3 cells and synergistically induced apoptosis in combination with AraC in leukemic cell lines and in primary AML samples. In conclusion, we show that obatoclax potently induces apoptosis and decreases leukemia cell proliferation and may be used in a novel therapeutic strategy for AML alone and in combination with other targeted agents and chemotherapeutics.
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U2 - 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-1919
DO - 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-1919
M3 - Article
C2 - 18451169
AN - SCOPUS:44849133234
SN - 0008-5472
VL - 68
SP - 3413
EP - 3420
JO - Cancer Research
JF - Cancer Research
IS - 9
ER -