Synergistic inhibition of the Hedgehog pathway by newly designed Smo and Gli antagonists bearing the isoflavone scaffold
作者:Simone Berardozzi、Flavia Bernardi、Paola Infante、Cinzia Ingallina、Sara Toscano、Elisa De Paolis、Romina Alfonsi、Miriam Caimano、Bruno Botta、Mattia Mori、Lucia Di Marcotullio、Francesca Ghirga
DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.07.017
日期:2018.8
Aberrant activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is responsible for the onset and progression of several malignancies. Small molecules able to block the pathway at the upstream receptor Smoothened (Smo) or the downstream effector Gli1 have thus emerged recently as valuable anticancer agents.Here, we have designed, synthesized, and tested new Hh inhibitors taking advantage by the highly versatile and privileged isoflavone scaffold. The introduction of specific substitutions on the isoflavone's ring B allowed the identification of molecules targeting preferentially Smo or Gli1. Biological assays coupled with molecular modeling corroborated the design strategy, and provided new insights into the mechanism of action of these molecules. The combined administration of two different isoflavones behaving as Smo and Gli antagonists, respectively, in primary medulloblastoma (MB) cells highlighted the synergistic effects of these agents, thus paving the way to further and innovative strategies for the pharmacological inhibition of Hh signaling. (C) 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.