Antimyeloma Potential of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and Its Analogues through Sp1 Mediated Downregulation of IKZF1-IRF4-MYC Axis

J Nat Prod. 2020 Dec 24;83(12):3526-3535. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00350. Epub 2020 Nov 19.

Abstract

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE, 2), a natural compound from propolis, is a well-documented antitumor agent with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inhibitory activity. Key transcription factors regulated by NF-κB, namely, interferon regulatory factor-4 (IRF4) and octameric binding protein-2 (OCT2), are implicated in the tumorigenesis of multiple myeloma (MM), an incurable bone marrow cancer. Adverse effects and resistance to current chemotherapeutics pose a great challenge for MM treatment. Hence, the structure-activity relationships of CAPE (2) and 21 of its analogues were evaluated for their antimyeloma potential. Preclinical evaluation revealed that CAPE (2) and the 3-phenylpropyl (4), 2,5-dihydroxycinnamic acid 3-phenylpropyl ester (17), and 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic ether (22) analogues inhibited human myeloma cell growth. Analogue 4 surpassed CAPE (2) and lenalidomide in showing strong apoptotic effects with a remarkable decrease in IRF4 levels. The analogue 17 exhibited the most potent anti-MM activity. The downregulation of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and the IKZF1-IRF4-MYC axis by CAPE (2) analogues 4 and 17 revealed their novel mechanism of action. The analogues showed no adverse cytotoxic effects on normal human cells and exhibited appropriate in silico pharmacokinetic properties and drug-likeness. These findings suggest the promising application of CAPE (2) analogues to target Ikaros (IKZF1)/IRF4 addiction, the so-called Achilles heel of myeloma, for better treatment outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caffeic Acids / chemistry
  • Caffeic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Down-Regulation*
  • Genes, myc*
  • Humans
  • Ikaros Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / metabolism*
  • Lenalidomide / pharmacology
  • Multiple Myeloma / metabolism
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology*
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / chemistry
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / pharmacology
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Caffeic Acids
  • IKZF1 protein, human
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor
  • SP1 protein, human
  • interferon regulatory factor-4
  • Ikaros Transcription Factor
  • Lenalidomide
  • caffeic acid phenethyl ester
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol

Grants and funding