<p>Resistance to the Bcl-2-specific inhibitor, Venetoclax (VEN), poses a therapeutic challenge in the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Although VEN resistance has been linked to Mcl-1 upregulation, thereby switching survival dependence from Bcl-2 to Mcl-1, the mechanism underlying increased Mcl-1 expression remains elusive. Given that changes in cellular redox state affect cancer cell fate, we investigated the crosstalk between intracellular redox milieu and Mcl-1 upregulation in VEN-resistant cells. Results show that increased Mcl-1 protein levels in VEN-resistant hematologic malignant cells are associated with elevated intracellular superoxide (O<sub>2</sub><sup>.−</sup>) levels. Validating that, augmenting intracellular O<sub>2</sub><sup>.−</sup> in VEN-sensitive cells increases Mcl-1 phosphorylation at threonine-163 (T163pMcl-1) and protein stability via reduced Mcl-1 ubiquitination and degradation. Furthermore, redox-activated AKT/PKB is implicated in O<sub>2</sub><sup>.−</sup>-induced T163pMcl-1, as reducing intracellular O<sub>2</sub><sup>.−</sup> or inhibiting AKT significantly decreases T163pMcl-1 and Mcl-1 accumulation, which amplifies mitochondrial apoptotic priming and restores VEN sensitivity. Importantly, combination therapy with AKT inhibitor, capivasertib, and VEN reduced VEN-resistant cells systemically and prolonged survival in a murine model. Collectively, a novel redox-dependent mechanism of Mcl-1 stability is demonstrated for the acquisition of VEN resistance, which has therapeutic implications for employing redox modulating strategies and AKT inhibitors against VEN-resistant hematologic malignancies.</p><p></p>

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Superoxide-mediated phosphorylation and stabilization of Mcl-1 by AKT underlie venetoclax resistance in hematologic malignancies

  • Stephen J. F. Chong,
  • Jolin X. H. Lai,
  • Kartini Iskandar,
  • Benedict J. Leong,
  • Chuqi Wang,
  • Yuhan Wang,
  • Romain Guièze,
  • Deepika Raman,
  • Rachel H. F. Lim,
  • Catherine J. Wu,
  • Wee Joo Chng,
  • Alice M. S. Cheung,
  • Charles Chuah,
  • Matthew S. Davids,
  • Shazib Pervaiz

摘要

Resistance to the Bcl-2-specific inhibitor, Venetoclax (VEN), poses a therapeutic challenge in the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Although VEN resistance has been linked to Mcl-1 upregulation, thereby switching survival dependence from Bcl-2 to Mcl-1, the mechanism underlying increased Mcl-1 expression remains elusive. Given that changes in cellular redox state affect cancer cell fate, we investigated the crosstalk between intracellular redox milieu and Mcl-1 upregulation in VEN-resistant cells. Results show that increased Mcl-1 protein levels in VEN-resistant hematologic malignant cells are associated with elevated intracellular superoxide (O2.−) levels. Validating that, augmenting intracellular O2.− in VEN-sensitive cells increases Mcl-1 phosphorylation at threonine-163 (T163pMcl-1) and protein stability via reduced Mcl-1 ubiquitination and degradation. Furthermore, redox-activated AKT/PKB is implicated in O2.−-induced T163pMcl-1, as reducing intracellular O2.− or inhibiting AKT significantly decreases T163pMcl-1 and Mcl-1 accumulation, which amplifies mitochondrial apoptotic priming and restores VEN sensitivity. Importantly, combination therapy with AKT inhibitor, capivasertib, and VEN reduced VEN-resistant cells systemically and prolonged survival in a murine model. Collectively, a novel redox-dependent mechanism of Mcl-1 stability is demonstrated for the acquisition of VEN resistance, which has therapeutic implications for employing redox modulating strategies and AKT inhibitors against VEN-resistant hematologic malignancies.