IMR Press / FBL / Volume 29 / Issue 4 / DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2904163
Open Access Original Research
A New Indole Derivative, LWX-473, Overcomes Glucocorticoid Resistance in Jurkat Cells by Activating Mediators of Apoptosis
Jingrui Song1,2,3,†Kun Yang1,2,4,5,†Babu Gajendran1,2,4Krishnapriya M. Varier1,2,4Wenxue Li1,2Qin Liu1,2,4Qing Rao1,2Yubing Hang1,2Xiangchun Shen1,2,4Sheng Liu1,2Lei Huang1,2,*Mei Xu1,2,*Yanmei Li1,2,*
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1 State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, 550014 Guiyang, Guizhou, China
2 Natural Products Research Center of Guizhou Province, 550014 Guiyang, Guizhou, China
3 School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, 550025 Guiyang, Guizhou, China
4 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 550025 Guiyang, Guizhou, China
5 Department of Pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, 550002 Guiyang, Guizhou, China
*Correspondence: xinyanghuanglei@163.com (Lei Huang); 774885024@qq.com (Mei Xu); liyanmei518@hotmail.com (Yanmei Li)
These authors contributed equally.
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2024, 29(4), 163; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2904163
Submitted: 21 August 2023 | Revised: 28 November 2023 | Accepted: 2 January 2024 | Published: 23 April 2024
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used as the primary chemotherapy for lymphoid malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, the development of GC resistance limits their prolonged use. Methods: In this study, we investigated the potential of a newly synthesized indole derivative called LWX-473, in combination with the classic GC Dexamethasone (DEX), to enhance the responsiveness of Jurkat cells to GC treatment. Results: Our findings demonstrate that LWX-473 alone or in combination with DEX significantly improves GC-induced cell apoptosis and arrests the cell cycle in the G1 phase. Notably, the combination of LWX-473 and DEX exhibits superior efficacy in killing Jurkat cells compared to LWX-473 alone. Importantly, this compound demonstrates reduced toxicity towards normal cells. Conclusions: Our study reveals that LWX-473 has the ability to restore the sensitivity of Jurkat cells to DEX by modulating the mitochondrial membrane potential, activating the expression of DEX-liganded glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and inhibiting key molecules in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. These findings suggest that LWX-473 could be a potential therapeutic agent for overcoming GC resistance in lymphoid malignancies.

Keywords
leukemia
glucocorticoid resistance
indole derivative
Jurkat cells
apoptosis
Funding
82360035/National Natural Science Foundation of China
81960546/National Natural Science Foundation of China
81872772/National Natural Science Foundation of China
82160808/National Natural Science Foundation of China
82260040/National Natural Science Foundation of China
QKHPTRC [2020]5008/The Science and Technology Department of Guizhou Province
QKHZC[2022]YB192/The Science and Technology Department of Guizhou Province
Figures
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