ABSTRACT
Proteasome and immunoproteasome are two important enzyme complexes in our body. The first one is expressed in all cells of the body, while the other plays a pivotal role in the cells of the immune system. Deregulation of the immunoproteasome is associated with some diseases, thus it presents itself as an attractive therapeutic target, especially in autoimmune diseases and different types of cancer. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which despite a lot of research and quite a few existing treatments, remains incurable. With that in mind, there is an ongoing search to find new therapeutic agents to optimize the current therapy.
In the course of study, the role of proteasome and immunoproteasome inhibition on 11 samples of lymphocytes B obtained from patients with diagnosed CLL, was being observed. In vitro cytotoxicity of non-selective inhibitor carfilzomib and two selective inhibitors PR-957 and DPLG-3 was determined. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the metabolic activity of cells at 24 and 48 hours. Mean inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated and revealed that all of the inhibitors are cytotoxic to CLL cells, but each in their respective concentration range. Carfilzomib was the most cytotoxic (IC50=2,95 nM), followed by PR-957 (IC50=40,62 nM) and DPLG-3 as the least cytotoxic (IC50=2461 nM). Cytotoxicity was also time dependent, with IC50 values dropping for 85% at the 48 hour mark.
Next, gene expression of proteasome and immunoproteasome subunits (β5c, β5i, β2c, β2i, β1c, β1i) was evaluated using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. The main focus was on subunits β5c and β5i, which are the main targets of the chosen inhibitors. Only one of the CLL samples expressed the β5i subunit higher than β5c. No correlation between the cytotoxicity of inhibitors and the level of gene expression of individual subunits could be determined.
In the end, we addressed the protein expression of proteasome and immunoproteasome subunits (β5c, β5i, β2c, β2i, β1c, β1i) with the use of western blot method and specific antibodies. Statistical analysis did not reveal a correlation between the gene and protein subunit expression. Moreover, no correlation between protein subunit expression and cytotoxicity of inhibitors could be demonstrated.
Although no statistically significant correlations were determined, further studies with more samples will be necessary to provide a better and more relevant understanding of the topic.
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