Antitumor activity of lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase-β inhibitors, a novel class of agents, in multiple myeloma

In this study, we examined the effects of isoform-specific functional inhibitors of lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT), which converts lysophosphatidic acid to phosphatidic acid, on multiple myeloma (MM) cell growth and survival. The LPAAT-beta inhibitors CT-32176, CT-32458, and CT-32615 induced >95% growth inhibition (P < 0.01) in MMAS, U266, and RPMI8226 MM cell lines, as well as MM cells from patients (IC50, 50-200 nM). We further characterized this LPAAT-beta inhibitory effect using CT-32615, the most potent inhibitor of MM cell growth. CT-32615 triggered apoptosis in MM cells vi caspase-8, caspase-3, caspase-7, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Neither interleukin 6 nor insulin-like growth factor I inhibited CT-32615-induced apoptosis. Dexamethasone and immunomodulatory derivatives of thalidomide (IMiDs), but not proteasome inhibitor PS-341, augmented MM cell apoptosis triggered by LPAAT-beta inhibitors. CT-32615-induced apoptosis was associated with phosphorylation of p53 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK); conversely, JNK inhibitor SP600125 and dominant-negative JNK inhibited CT-32615-induced apoptosis. Importantly, CT-32615 inhibited tumor necrosis factor-alpha-triggered nuclear factor-kappaB activation but did not affect either tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation or interleukin 6-triggered signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 phosphorylation. Finally, although binding of MM cells to bone marrow stromal cells augments MM cell growth and protects against dexamethasone-induced apoptosis, CT-32615 induced apoptosis even of adherent MM cells. Our data therefore demonstrate for the first time that inhibiting LPAAT-beta induces cytotoxicity in MM cells in the bone marrow milieu, providing the framework for clinical trials of these novel agents in MM.