The disubstituted adamantyl derivative LW1564 inhibits the growth of cancer cells by targeting mitochondrial respiration and reducing hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α accumulation

Exp Mol Med. 2020 Nov;52(11):1845-1856. doi: 10.1038/s12276-020-00523-5. Epub 2020 Nov 25.

Abstract

Targeting cancer metabolism has emerged as an important cancer therapeutic strategy. Here, we describe the synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel class of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α inhibitors, disubstituted adamantyl derivatives. One such compound, LW1564, significantly suppressed HIF-1α accumulation and inhibited the growth of various cancer cell lines, including HepG2, A549, and HCT116. Measurements of the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and ATP production rate revealed that LW1564 suppressed mitochondrial respiration, thereby increasing the intracellular oxygen concentration to stimulate HIF-1α degradation. LW1564 also significantly decreased overall ATP levels by inhibiting mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complex I and downregulated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling by increasing the AMP/ATP ratio, which increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. Consequently, LW1564 promoted the phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, which inhibited lipid synthesis. In addition, LW1564 significantly inhibited tumor growth in a HepG2 mouse xenograft model. Taken together, the results indicate that LW1564 inhibits the growth of cancer cells by targeting mitochondrial ETC complex I and impairing cancer cell metabolism. We, therefore, suggest that LW1564 may be a potent therapeutic agent for a subset of cancers that rely on oxidative phosphorylation for ATP generation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Adamantane / analogs & derivatives
  • Adamantane / chemistry
  • Adamantane / pharmacology*
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / biosynthesis
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Respiration / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / metabolism
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins
  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Adamantane