Search Results (3)

NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) plays a pivotal role in regulating both the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathways, driving the expression of proteins involved in inflammation, immune responses, and cell survival. Overactivation of NIK is linked to various pathological conditions, including chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer progression. As such, NIK represents a compelling target for therapeutic intervention in these diseases. In this study, we explored the inhibitory potential of marine-derived compounds against NIK using integrated computational techniques, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and free energy calculations. By screening a library of bioactive marine compounds, we identified several promising candidates with strong binding affinity to the NIK active site. By continuously narrowing down the library at each step, we found that the compounds santacruzamate A, xanthosine, and actinonine stand out at each step by demonstrating compact binding, highly stable interactions, and the most favorable free energy profiles, indicating their potential as effective NIK inhibitors. These findings not only advance our understanding of marine compounds as valuable resources for drug discovery but also highlight their potential for the development of natural anti-inflammatory therapies targeting NIK. This study opens new avenues for future research and therapeutic development aimed at combating inflammation and cancer through NIK inhibition. Full article

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by infiltration of the blood and bone marrow, exhibiting a low remission rate and high recurrence rate. Current research has demonstrated that class I HDAC inhibitors can downregulate anti-apoptotic proteins, leading to apoptosis of AML cells. In the present investigation, we conducted structural modifications of marine cytotoxin Santacruzamate A (SCA), a compound known for its inhibitory activity towards HDACs, resulting in the development of a novel series of potent class I HDACs hydrazide inhibitors. Representative hydrazide-based compound 25c exhibited concentration-dependent induction of apoptosis in AML cells as a single agent. Moreover, 25c exhibited a synergistic anti-AML effect when combined with Venetoclax, a clinical Bcl-2 inhibitor employed in AML therapy. This combination resulted in a more pronounced downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL, along with a significant upregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein cleaved-caspase3 and the DNA double-strand break biomarker γ-H2AX compared to monotherapy. These results highlighted the potential of 25c as a promising lead compound for AML treatment, particularly when used in combination with Venetoclax. Full article