A β-Carboline Derivate PAD4 Inhibitor Reshapes Neutrophil Phenotype and Improves the Tumor Immune Microenvironment against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

J Med Chem. 2024 May 23;67(10):7973-7994. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00030. Epub 2024 May 10.

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer is a highly aggressive and heterogeneous breast cancer subtype characterized by early metastasis, poor prognosis, and high recurrence. Targeting histone citrullination-mediated chromatin dysregulation to induce epigenetic alterations shows great promise in TNBC therapy. We report the synthesis, optimization, and evaluation of a novel series of β-carboline-derived peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 inhibitors that exhibited potent inhibition of TNBC cell proliferation. The most outstanding PAD4 inhibitor, compound 28, hindered the PAD4-H3cit-NET signaling pathway and inhibited the growth of solid tumors and pulmonary metastatic nodules in the 4T1 in situ mouse model. Furthermore, 28 improved the tumor immune microenvironment by reshaping neutrophil phenotype, upregulating the proportions of dendritic cells and M1 macrophages, and reducing the amount of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. In conclusion, our work offered 28 as an efficacious PAD4 inhibitor that exerts a combination of conventional chemotherapy and immune-boosting effects, which represents a potential therapy strategy for TNBC.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Carbolines* / chemical synthesis
  • Carbolines* / chemistry
  • Carbolines* / pharmacology
  • Carbolines* / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neutrophils* / drug effects
  • Neutrophils* / immunology
  • Neutrophils* / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Protein-Arginine Deiminase Type 4* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Tumor Microenvironment* / drug effects

Substances

  • Carbolines
  • Protein-Arginine Deiminase Type 4
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • PADI4 protein, human
  • Enzyme Inhibitors