Development of Clioquinol Platinum(IV) Conjugates as Autophagy-Targeted Antimetastatic Agents

J Med Chem. 2023 Mar 9;66(5):3393-3410. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01895. Epub 2023 Feb 22.

Abstract

A series of autophagy-targeted antimetastatic clioquinol (CLQ) platinum(IV) conjugates were designed and prepared by incorporating an autophagy activator CLQ into the platinum(IV) system. Complex 5 with the cisplatin core bearing dual CLQ ligands with potent antitumor properties was screened out as a candidate. More importantly, it displayed potent antimetastatic properties both in vitro and in vivo as expected. Mechanism investigation manifested that complex 5 induced serious DNA damage to increase γ-H2AX and P53 expression and caused mitochondria-mediated apoptosis through the Bcl-2/Bax/caspase3 pathway. Then, it promoted prodeath autophagy by suppressing PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and activating the HIF-1α/Beclin1 pathway. The T-cell immunity was elevated by restraining the PD-L1 expression and subsequently increasing CD3+ and CD8+ T cells. Ultimately, metastasis of tumor cells was suppressed by the synergistic effects of DNA damage, autophagy promotion, and immune activation aroused by CLQ platinum(IV) complexes. Key proteins VEGFA, MMP-9, and CD34 tightly associated with angiogenesis and metastasis were downregulated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis
  • Autophagy
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Clioquinol* / pharmacology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Platinum / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism

Substances

  • Platinum
  • Clioquinol
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Antineoplastic Agents