Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2022 Jun 15;445:116039. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116039. Epub 2022 Apr 27.
Efforts in precision medicine to combat aberrant epigenome have led to the development of epigenetic targeting drugs. We have previously reported the capability of the BZD9L1 epigenetic modulator to impede colorectal tumour growth in vitro and in vivo through sirtuin (SIRT) inhibition. Although most benzimidazole derivatives are commonly less toxic, their effects on SIRTs and cytochrome P450 (CYP) regulations have not been explored alongside toxicity assessments. SIRTs are histone deacetylases that are crucial in maintaining metabolic homeostasis, whereas CYP is essential in drug metabolism. This study aims to determine the toxicology profile of BZD9L1 through oral acute and repeated dose toxicity evaluations, along with molecular analyses of SIRT, CYP and relevant toxicity markers through western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). BZD9L1 demonstrated no sign of acute toxicity at the limit dose (2000 mg/kg). The 28-day toxicity study highlighted the tolerability of repeated dose administration without adverse effects. BZD9L1 showed a sex-divergent regulation of hepatic SIRT1-7, CYP2A5 and CYP2D proteins. Furthermore, BZD9L1 did not induce the expression of organ injury proteins or alter the gene expression of cellular function indicators in mouse liver and kidneys, hence demonstrating, at least in part, the safety of BZD9L1 in short-term evaluations. The present study cautions for personalised strategies when employing benzimidazole-derived epigenetic therapeutics.
精准医学在对抗异常表观基因组方面的努力导致了表观遗传靶向药物的发展。我们之前曾报道过 BZD9L1 表观遗传调节剂通过抑制 Sirtuins (SIRT) 来阻碍结直肠肿瘤的体外和体内生长的能力。虽然大多数苯并咪唑衍生物通常毒性较小,但它们对 SIRTs 和细胞色素 P450 (CYP) 调节的影响以及毒性评估尚未得到探索。SIRTs 是组蛋白去乙酰化酶,对维持代谢稳态至关重要,而 CYP 是药物代谢所必需的。本研究旨在通过口服急性和重复剂量毒性评估以及通过 Western blot 和定量聚合酶链反应 (qPCR) 对 SIRT、CYP 和相关毒性标志物进行分子分析来确定 BZD9L1 的毒理学特征。BZD9L1 在限量剂量(2000mg/kg)下没有表现出急性毒性的迹象。28 天毒性研究强调了重复剂量给药的耐受性,没有不良反应。BZD9L1 显示出肝 SIRT1-7、CYP2A5 和 CYP2D 蛋白的性别差异调节。此外,BZD9L1 没有诱导肝和肾损伤蛋白的表达或改变细胞功能标志物的基因表达,因此至少在一定程度上证明了 BZD9L1 在短期评估中的安全性。本研究警告在使用苯并咪唑衍生的表观遗传治疗时要采取个性化策略。