Indirubin Derivatives as Dual Inhibitors Targeting Cyclin-Dependent Kinase and Histone Deacetylase for Treating Cancer

J Med Chem. 2021 Oct 28;64(20):15280-15296. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01311. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Abstract

To utilize the unique scaffold of a natural product indirubin, we herein adopted the strategy of combined pharmacophores to design and synthesize a series of novel indirubin derivatives as dual inhibitors against cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and histone deacetylase (HDAC). Among them, the lead compound 8b with remarkable CDK2/4/6 and HDAC6 inhibitory activity of IC50 = 60.9 ± 2.9, 276 ± 22.3, 27.2 ± 4.2, and 128.6 ± 0.4 nM, respectively, can efficiently induce apoptosis and S-phase arrest in several cancer cell lines. In particular, compound 8b can prevent the proliferation of a non-small-cell lung cancer cell line (A549) through the Mcl-1/XIAP/PARP axis, in agreement with the unique modes of action of the combined agents of HDAC inhibitors and CDK inhibitors. In an A549 xerograph model, compound 8b showed significant antitumor efficacy correlated with its dual inhibition. Our data demonstrated that compound 8b as a single agent could be a promising drug candidate for cancer therapy in combination with CDK and HDAC inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemical synthesis
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Indoles
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
  • Histone Deacetylases
  • indirubin