HKDC1 C-terminal based peptides inhibit extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma by modulation of mitochondrial function and EBV suppression

Leukemia. 2020 Oct;34(10):2736-2748. doi: 10.1038/s41375-020-0801-5. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

Abstract

Extranodal nasal-type natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated lymphoma that progresses rapidly and relapses frequently. Advanced ENKTL is multidrug chemoresistant and has a poor prognosis. In this study, we aim to develop a novel hexokinase domain component 1 (HKDC1)-based antitumor target for ENKTL that is involved with the antimetabolic signaling pathway, EBV replication, and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression. We showed that HKDC1 is highly upregulated in ENKTL cells and HKDC1 knockdown significantly suppresses ENKTL tumor growth. In addition, HKDC1 is highly identical with four other hexokinase isoforms, with the only difference being in the last eight amino acids (aa) at the C-terminal. Further investigation showed that peptide delivery of the last eight aa of HKDC1 at the C-terminal (HKC8) with D-configuration using transferrin (Tf) receptor internalization sequence (Tf-D-HKC8) inhibits HKDC1 association with vascular endothelial growth factor 1 (VDAC1), resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) overgeneration and subsequently suppressing EBV replication and P-gp expression, making it very effective in killing EBV-positive ENKTL cells. Further in vivo experiments showed that local injection of Tf-D-HKC8 peptide significantly suppresses ENKTL tumor growth and EBV replication in ENKTL xenograft mouse models. We conclude that HKDC1 C-terminal-based peptides inhibit ENKTL by modulation of mitochondrial function and EBV suppression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • DNA Damage
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / complications*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / drug effects*
  • Heterografts
  • Hexokinase / chemistry
  • Hexokinase / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell / etiology
  • Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • HKDC1 protein, human
  • Hexokinase