Venetoclax in Combination with NAMPT Inhibitors Decreases Mitochondrial Bioenergetics through the Impaired AMPK/SIRT/PGC1α Signaling Pathway in CLL

Objective: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults. Altered mitochondrial metabolism has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of CLL. Nicotinamidephospho-ribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a key enzyme in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) salvage pathway. FK866 and GMX1778, chemical inhibitors of NAMPT, deplete cellular NAD and ATP levels and trigger apoptosis in CLL cells, suggesting NAMPT contributes to the prolonged survival of these cells. Venetoclax is an approved therapy for CLL and blocks the anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein, leading to programmed cell death of CLL cells. The adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) signaling axis senses the metabolic demands of cells and regulates mitochondrial function. Silent information regulator T1 (SIRT1) is a cytoplasmic enzyme that mediates NAD⁺-dependent deacetylation of target substrates. The importance of the AMPK/SIRT/PGC1α signaling pathway has to be explored yet in CLL. Venetoclax may trigger a switching off of AMPK and /or SIRT1 signaling leading to impaired PGC-1α expression/activity and diminished mitochondrial activity. The effects of these drugs on mitochondrial bioenergetics profile, cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protein levels of Bcl-2, AMPK, SIRT1, and PGC1α were analyzed. We hypothesize that venetoclax, along with FK866 and GMX1778, will alter CLL mitochondrial bioenergetics profiles and function, cell viability, and ROS levels through the involvement of the AMPK/SIRT/PGC1α signaling pathway and enable lower doses and profound effects for combination therapies rather than single agent therapy.

Methods: A high resolution Oroboros Oxygraph 2K (Oroboros Instruments, Innsbruck, Austria), a Clarke-type oxygen electrode is used to measure mitochondrial respiration rates of CLL cells at 37⁰C. Freshly isolated CLL cells (10 mil./ml) were added to the chamber in 2 ml of RPMI. After the measurement of basal respiration rates, the following chemicals were added: oligomycin (2uM), FCCP: carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxy phenyhydrazone (2.5-12.5 uM), and antimycin A (2 uM). Oxygen consumption rate is expressed in pmol oxygen/s/mil. cells. Protein levels in CLL cell lysates were determined by Western blotting. Cell viability, MMP, and ROS were assessed by Novocyte flow cytometer.

Results: Primary CLL cells treated with 1.25 nM of venetoclax for 24 or 48h showed significantly decreased basal respiration rates, maximal respiration rates, and spare respiratory capacity compared to DMSO vehicle control. These parameters were also significantly affected by 1nM of FK866 or 1 nM of GMX1778 except basal respiration rates. The combination treatment of venetoclax with FK866 or GMX1778 for 24 or 48h significantly decreased all these bioenergetics parameters compared to each individual drug. MMP was not affected by these drug treatments and cell viability corresponded to the effect of the mitochondrial bioenergetics profile. ROS levels after 24 hours in venetoclax treated CLL cells were significantly increased compared to DMSO, any single agent or in combination. However, after 48 hours of treatment, increased ROS levels were not statistically significant compared to DMSO. Protein levels of Bcl-2, P-AMPK, AMPK, SIRT1, and PGC1α were decreased by venetoclax alone or in combination with FK866 or GMX1778.

Conclusion: Venetoclax, FK866 and GMX1778 affected bioenergetics profiles in CLL cells at doses as low as 1.25 nM, 1nM, and 1 nM, respectively. The combined effect of these drugs on the mitochondrial bioenergetics profiles and cell viability is more profound than each NAMPT inhibitor agent alone. Protein levels of Bcl-2, AMPK, SIRT1, and PGC1α in venetoclax treated samples were reduced compared to DMSO and each single agent NAMPT inhibitor. These novel data suggest the involvement of the AMPK/SIRT/PGC1α signaling pathway to target mitochondrial metabolism and provide rational therapeutic combinations that may lead to reduced toxicity and increased drug efficacy in CLL.