Deferiprone (DFP) is a hydroxypyridinone-derived iron chelator currently in clinical use for iron chelation therapy. DFP has also been known to elicit antiproliferative activities, yet the mechanism of this effect has remained elusive. We herein report that DFP chelates the Fe2+ ion at the active sites of selected iron-dependent histone lysine demethylases (KDMs), resulting in pan inhibition of a subfamily of KDMs. Specifically, DFP inhibits the demethylase activities of six KDMs - 2A, 2B, 5C, 6A, 7A and 7B - with low micromolar IC50s while considerably less active or inactive against eleven KDMs - 1A, 3A, 3B, 4A-E, 5A, 5B and 6B. The KDM that is most sensitive to DFP, KDM6A, has an IC50 that is between 7- and 70-fold lower than the iron binding equivalence concentrations at which DFP inhibits ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) activities and/or reduces the labile intracellular zinc ion pool. In breast cancer cell lines, DFP potently inhibits the demethylation of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3, two chromatin posttranslational marks that are subject to removal by several KDM subfamilies which are inhibited by DFP in cell-free assay. These data strongly suggest that DFP derives its anti-proliferative activity largely from the inhibition of a sub-set of KDMs. The docked poses adopted by DFP at the KDM active sites enabled identification of new DFP-based KDM inhibitors which are more cytotoxic to cancer cell lines. We also found that a cohort of these agents inhibited HP1-mediated gene silencing and one lead compound potently inhibited breast tumor growth in murine xenograft models. Overall, this study identified a new chemical scaffold capable of inhibiting KDM enzymes, globally changing histone modification profiles, and with specific anti-tumor activities.

◥RAD51-associated protein 1 (RAD51AP1) plays an integral role in homologous recombination by activating RAD51 recombinase. Homologous recombination is essential for preserving genome integrity and RAD51AP1 is critical for D-loop formation, a key step in homologous recombination. Although RAD51AP1 is involved in maintaining genomic stability, recent studies have shown that RAD51AP1 expression is significantly upregulated in human cancers. However, the functional role of RAD51AP1 in tumor growth and the underlying molecular mechanism(s) by which RAD51AP1 regulates tumorigenesis have not been fully understood. Here, we use Rad51ap1-knockout mice in genetically engineered mouse models of breast cancer to unravel the role of RAD51AP1 in tumor growth and metastasis. RAD51AP1 gene transcript was increased in both luminal estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and basal triple-negative breast cancer, which is associated with poor prognosis. Converse-ly, knockdown of RAD51AP1 (RADP51AP1 KD) in breast cancer cell lines reduced tumor growth. Rad51ap1-deficient mice were protected from oncogene-driven spontaneous mouse mammary tumor growth and associated lung metastasis. In vivo, limiting dilution studies provided evidence that Rad51ap1 plays a critical role in breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) self-renewal. RAD51AP1 KD improved chemotherapy and radiotherapy response by inhibiting BCSC self-renewal and associated pluripotency. Overall, our study provides genetic and biochemical evidences that RAD51AP1 is critical for tumor growth and metastasis by increasing BCSC self-renewal and may serve as a novel target for chemotherapy-and radiotherapy-resistant breast cancer.Significance: This study provides in vivo evidence that RAD51AP1 plays a critical role in breast cancer growth and metastasis by regulating breast cancer stem cell self-renewal.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss. Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) (Hyperhomocysteinemia) (HHcy) has been reported in AMD. We previously reported that HHcy induces AMD-like features. This study suggests that N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a mechanism for HHcy-induced AMD. Serum Hcy and cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) were assessed by ELISA. The involvement of NMDAR in Hcy-induced AMD features was evaluated (1) in vitro using ARPE-19 cells, primary RPE isolated from HHcy mice (CBS), and mouse choroidal endothelial cells (MCEC); (2) in vivo using wild-type mice and mice deficient in RPE NMDAR (NMDARR-/-) with/without Hcy injection. Isolectin-B4, Ki67, HIF-1α, VEGF, NMDAR1, and albumin were assessed by immunofluorescence (IF), Western blot (WB), Optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fluorescein angiography (FA) to evaluate retinal structure, fluorescein leakage, and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). A neovascular AMD patient’s serum showed a significant increase in Hcy and a decrease in CBS. Hcy significantly increased HIF-1α, VEGF, and NMDAR in RPE cells, and Ki67 in MCEC. Hcy-injected WT mice showed disrupted retina and CNV. Knocking down RPE NMDAR improved retinal structure and CNV. Our findings underscore the role of RPE NMDAR in Hcy-induced AMD features; thus, NMDAR inhibition could serve as a promising therapeutic target for AMD.

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