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Galacto-conjugation of Navitoclax as an efficient strategy to increase senolytic specificity and reduce platelet toxicity.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

González-Gualda, Estela  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1558-4259
Pàez-Ribes, Marta 
Lozano-Torres, Beatriz 
Macias, David 
Wilson, Joseph R 

Abstract

Pharmacologically active compounds with preferential cytotoxic activity for senescent cells, known as senolytics, can ameliorate or even revert pathological manifestations of senescence in numerous preclinical mouse disease models, including cancer models. However, translation of senolytic therapies to human disease is hampered by their suboptimal specificity for senescent cells and important toxicities that narrow their therapeutic windows. We have previously shown that the high levels of senescence-associated lysosomal β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) found within senescent cells can be exploited to specifically release tracers and cytotoxic cargoes from galactose-encapsulated nanoparticles within these cells. Here, we show that galacto-conjugation of the BCL-2 family inhibitor Navitoclax results in a potent senolytic prodrug (Nav-Gal), that can be preferentially activated by SA-β-gal activity in a wide range of cell types. Nav-Gal selectively induces senescent cell apoptosis and has a higher senolytic index than Navitoclax (through reduced activation in nonsenescent cells). Nav-Gal enhances the cytotoxicity of standard senescence-inducing chemotherapy (cisplatin) in human A549 lung cancer cells. Concomitant treatment with cisplatin and Nav-Gal in vivo results in the eradication of senescent lung cancer cells and significantly reduces tumour growth. Importantly, galacto-conjugation reduces Navitoclax-induced platelet apoptosis in human and murine blood samples treated ex vivo, and thrombocytopenia at therapeutically effective concentrations in murine lung cancer models. Taken together, we provide a potentially versatile strategy for generating effective senolytic prodrugs with reduced toxicities.

Description

Keywords

Navitoclax (ABT-263), cellular senescence, chemotherapy-induced senescence, lung cancer, prodrug, senolytics, thrombocytopenia, Aniline Compounds, Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Apoptosis, Blood Platelets, Cell Survival, Cellular Senescence, Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor, Female, Galactose, Humans, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, SCID, Molecular Structure, Neoplasms, Experimental, Prodrugs, Sulfonamides, Tumor Cells, Cultured

Journal Title

Aging Cell

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1474-9718
1474-9726

Volume Title

19

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Royal Society (160806)
Medical Research Council (MR/R000530/1)
Cancer Research UK (A26989)
Cancer Research UK (C62187/A29760)