A Cell-Based Screen Identifies HDAC Inhibitors as Activators of RIG-I Signaling

Eugenia Fraile-Bethencourt, Marie H. Foss, Dylan Nelson, Sanjay V. Malhotra, Sudarshan Anand

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Enhancing the immune microenvironment in cancer by targeting the nucleic acid sensors is becoming a potent therapeutic strategy. Among the nucleic acid sensors, activation of the RNA sensor Retinoic Acid-inducible Gene (RIG-I) using small hairpin RNAs has been shown to elicit powerful innate and adaptive immune responses. Given the challenges inherent in pharmacokinetics and delivery of RNA based agonists, we set out to discover small molecule agonists of RIG-I using a cell-based assay. To this end, we established and validated a robust high throughput screening assay based on a commercially available HEK293 reporter cell line with a luciferase reporter downstream of tandem interferon stimulated gene 54 (ISG54) promoter elements. We first confirmed that the luminescence in this cell line is dependent on RIG-I and the interferon receptor using a hairpin RNA RIG-I agonist. We established a 96-well and a 384-well format HTS based on this cell line and performed a proof-of-concept screen using an FDA approved drug library of 1,200 compounds. Surprisingly, we found two HDAC inhibitors Entinostat, Mocetinostat and the PLK1 inhibitor Volasertib significantly enhanced ISG-luciferase activity. This luminescence was substantially diminished in the null reporter cell line indicating the increase in signaling was dependent on RIG-I expression. Combination treatment of tumor cell lines with Entinostat increased RIG-I induced cell death in a mammary carcinoma cell line that is resistant to either Entinostat or RIG-I agonist alone. Taken together, our data indicates an unexpected role for HDAC1,-3 inhibitors in enhancing RIG-I signaling and highlight potential opportunities for therapeutic combinations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number837610
JournalFrontiers in Molecular Biosciences
Volume9
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 14 2022

Keywords

  • HDAC
  • RIG-1
  • cancer biology
  • cell-based screening assay
  • high throughput screen

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)
  • Molecular Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A Cell-Based Screen Identifies HDAC Inhibitors as Activators of RIG-I Signaling'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this