A Novel Aziridine-based Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Induces Apoptosis Through Down-regulation of p65/RelA Phosphorylation on Serine 536 and ERK1/2 in Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma characterized by hyperactive neoplastic B-cells and extended tumor cell survival. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a crucial kinase in the B-cell antigen receptor signaling pathway, has emerged as a novel target of MCL therapy. A novel BTK-targeting inhibitor, JuSt-23F was prepared.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The WST-8 assay was used to determine cytotoxicity and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for JuSt-23F against the MCL cell lines Mino and Maver-1. JuSt-23F-mediated apoptosis was assessed using the annexin V assay. We detected phosphorylation of p65/RelA on serine 536 in whole Jurkat, Mino and Maver-1 cells treated with JuSt-23F and stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNFα). We assessed JuSt-23F-mediated phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in T-cell lymphoma and MCL cells stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that JuSt-23F inhibits apoptosis selectively in B-cell lymphoma cells. JuSt-23F exerts its antiproliferative effects on MCL cells through targeting the downstream BTK signaling cascade via down-regulation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells and ERK1/2 pathways. Thus, our findings propose the novel BTK inhibitor JuSt-23F as an attractive potential agent for investigation and treatment of MCL.