No abstract

We studied inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs), which results in the unraveling of chromatin, facilitating increased gene expression. ITF2357, an orally active, synthetic inhibitor of HDACs, was evaluated as an anti-inflammatory agent. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), ITF2357 reduced by 50% the release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) at 10 to 22 nM, the release of intracellular interleukin (IL)-1α at 12 nM, the secretion of IL-1β at 12.5 to 25 nM, and the production of interferon-γ (IFNγ) at 25 nM. There was no reduction in IL-8 in these same cultures. Using the combination of IL-12 plus IL-18, IFNγ and IL-6 production was reduced by 50% at 12.5 to 25 nM, independent of decreased IL-1 or TNFα. There was no evidence of cell death in LPS-stimulated PBMCs at 100 nM ITF2357, using assays for DNA degradation, annexin V, and caspase-3/7. By Northern blotting of PBMCs, there was a 50% to 90% reduction in LPS-induced steady-state levels of TNFα and IFNγ mRNA but no effect on IL-1β or IL-8 levels. Real-time PCR confirmed the reduction in TNFα RNA by ITF2357. Oral administration of 1.0 to 10 mg/kg ITF2357 to mice reduced LPS-induced serum TNFα and IFNγ by more than 50%. Anti-CD3-induced cytokines were not suppressed by ITF2357 in PBMCs either in vitro or in the circulation in mice. In concanavalin-A-induced hepatitis, 1 or 5 mg/kg of oral ITF2357 significantly reduced liver damage. Thus, low, nonapoptotic concentrations of the HDAC inhibitor ITF2357 reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production in primary cells in vitro and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in vivo.

We have investigated the activity of ITF2357, a novel hydroxamate histone deacetylase inhibitor, on multiple myeloma (MM) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells in vitro and in vivo. ITF2357 induced apoptosis in 8/9 MM and 6/7 AML cell lines, as well as 4/4 MM and 18/20 AML freshly isolated cases, with a mean IC 50 of 0.2 lM. ITF2357 activated the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, upregulated p21 and downmodulated Bcl-2 and Mcl-1. The drug induced hyperacetylation of histone H3, H4 and tubulin. When studied in more physiological conditions, ITF2357 was still strongly cytotoxic for the interleukin-6 (IL-6)-dependent MM cell line CMA-03, or for AML samples maximally stimulated by co-culture on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), but not for the MSCs themselves. Interestingly, ITF2357 inhibited the production of IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interferon-c by MSCs by 80-95%. Finally, the drug significantly prolonged survival of severe combined immunodeficient mice inoculated with the AML-PS in vivo passaged cell line already at the 10 mg/kg oral dose. These data demonstrate that ITF2357 has potent anti-neoplastic activity in vitro and in vivo through direct induction of leukemic cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the drug inhibits production of growth and angiogenic factors by bone marrow stromal cells, in particular IL-6 and VEGF.

No abstract

Background: Low concentrations of HDAC inhibitors suppress inflammation, but HDAC inhibitors are toxic at higher concentrations. Results: ITF3056 specifically inhibits HDAC8 activity and reduces proinflammatory cytokine production from human blood monocytes and in vivo but lacks cell toxicity. Conclusion: Specific inhibition of HDAC8 reduces inflammation with low cell toxicity. Significance: Inhibition of specific HDACs is preferred for treating inflammatory diseases, with fewer side effects.

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a peculiar HDAC isoform whose expression and functional alterations have been correlated with a variety of pathologies such as autoimmune disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. It is primarily a cytoplasmic protein, and its deacetylase activity is focused mainly on nonhistone substrates such as tubulin, heat shock protein (HSP)­90, Foxp3, and cortactin, to name a few. Selective inhibition of HDAC6 does not show cytotoxic effects in healthy cells, normally associated with the inhibition of Class I HDAC isoforms. Here, we describe the design and synthesis of a new class of potent and selective HDAC6 inhibitors that bear a pentaheterocyclic central core. These compounds show a remarkably low toxicity both in vitro and in vivo and are able to increase the function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) at well-tolerated concentrations, suggesting a potential clinical use for the treatment of degenerative, autoimmune diseases and for organ transplantation.

Interleukin (IL) 10 inhibits endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in vivo and in vitro. In turn, IL-10 is induced by LPS and acts as a negative feedback to limit TNF production. We investigated the effects of IL-10 on brain TNF and IL-1β production induced by a central LPS administration in mice. Because central LPS also induces peripheral TNF, we also measured the serum TNF levels. A single intracere-broventricular injection of murine recombinant IL-10 (75 ng/mouse) simultaneously with LPS (2.5 µg/mouse) almost completely inhibited brain TNF production. The brain IL-1β production was also inhibited, as was the serum concentration of the acute-phase protein serum amyloid A. On the other hand, intracerebroventricular administration of an anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibody (JES5-2A5; 60 µg/mouse) potentiated brain TNF and IL-1β production. Identical results were obtained when the serum TNF levels were measured. IL-10 did not affect the LPS-induced increase of serum corticosterone, the main endogenous inhibitor of TNF production, or the induction of IL-6. These results indicate that LPS-induced IL-10 can act as an important endogenous inhibitor of brain TNF production and suggest an anti-inflammatory role for IL-10 in the central nervous system.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) potentiate the elevation of serum corticosterone induced by suboptimal doses of interleukin-1 (IL-1). CNTF also potentiates IL-1-induced serum IL-6. Here, we report that four other cytokines (leukemia inhibitory factor [LIF], oncostatin M [OSM], interleukin-11 and cardiotrophin-1) also potentiated the elevation of serum corticosterone and IL-6 levels induced by IL-1. Furthermore, all the six cytokines studied induced the acute-phase protein serum amyloid A when administered alone. Because these cytokines differ both in structure and in function, but share gp130 as a subunit of their receptors, these results indicate that signaling through gp130 mediates potentiation of IL-1 activities. The potentiation of IL-1-induced serum corticosterone levels is not a consequence of the increased serum IL-6 observed after IL-1 administration. In fact, in IL-6 deficient mice, IL-1 increased serum corticosterone to a level comparable to that observed in wild-type mice. Thus, either endogenous IL-6 does not mediate IL-1-induced corticosterone increase, or its role may be fulfilled by other cytokines. To the extent that gp130-dependent cytokines may serve this role, they may be important feedback regulators of inflammation through the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and the potentiation of acute-phase protein synthesis.