Epidrug screening identifies type I PRMT inhibitors as modulators of lysosomal exocytosis and drug sensitivity in cancers

Abstract Epigenetic changes drive gene expression alterations, contributing to oncogenesis and drug resistance. Lysosomes play a key role in cell signaling and sequestering toxins, including chemotherapeutic agents, which are then expelled through lysosomal exocytosis—a process linked to drug resist...

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Main Authors: Baris Sergi, Neslihan Yuksel-Catal, Selahattin Can Ozcan, Hamzah Syed, Umamaheswar Duvvuri, Kirill Kiselyov, Ceyda Acilan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-08-01
Series:Cell Death and Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07900-w
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author Baris Sergi
Neslihan Yuksel-Catal
Selahattin Can Ozcan
Hamzah Syed
Umamaheswar Duvvuri
Kirill Kiselyov
Ceyda Acilan
author_facet Baris Sergi
Neslihan Yuksel-Catal
Selahattin Can Ozcan
Hamzah Syed
Umamaheswar Duvvuri
Kirill Kiselyov
Ceyda Acilan
author_sort Baris Sergi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Epigenetic changes drive gene expression alterations, contributing to oncogenesis and drug resistance. Lysosomes play a key role in cell signaling and sequestering toxins, including chemotherapeutic agents, which are then expelled through lysosomal exocytosis—a process linked to drug resistance. However, the epigenetic regulation of lysosomal exocytosis is poorly understood. We hypothesize that epigenetic modifier drugs (epidrugs) inhibiting this exocytosis could serve as potential cancer therapeutics. To explore this, we screened more than 150 epidrugs targeting various epigenetic proteins for their combined cytotoxic effects with cisplatin, their impact on lysosomal exocytosis, and lysosomal biogenesis. Two type I PRMT inhibitors, MS023 and GSK3368715, showed synergy with cisplatin, reduced cell viability, and inhibited lysosomal exocytosis without altering lysosomal biogenesis gene expression. RNA-seq analysis revealed differentially expressed genes involved in vesicular trafficking and lysosome dynamics, suggesting novel regulatory mechanisms. These inhibitors also synergized with other lysosome-sequestered drugs, indicating a broader application in overcoming drug resistance. Analysis of patient data further linked lower type I PRMT levels to better responses, highlighting their potential as combination therapy candidates to enhance chemotherapy efficacy and improve cancer survival rates.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-4889
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Publishing Group
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series Cell Death and Disease
spelling doaj-art-10d07c2cdd0040dd9ffaa6e2c36f70392025-08-20T03:46:21ZengNature Publishing GroupCell Death and Disease2041-48892025-08-0116111610.1038/s41419-025-07900-wEpidrug screening identifies type I PRMT inhibitors as modulators of lysosomal exocytosis and drug sensitivity in cancersBaris Sergi0Neslihan Yuksel-Catal1Selahattin Can Ozcan2Hamzah Syed3Umamaheswar Duvvuri4Kirill Kiselyov5Ceyda Acilan6Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc UniversityGraduate School of Health Sciences, Koc UniversityResearch Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koc UniversityResearch Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koc UniversityNYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone HealthDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of PittsburghResearch Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koc UniversityAbstract Epigenetic changes drive gene expression alterations, contributing to oncogenesis and drug resistance. Lysosomes play a key role in cell signaling and sequestering toxins, including chemotherapeutic agents, which are then expelled through lysosomal exocytosis—a process linked to drug resistance. However, the epigenetic regulation of lysosomal exocytosis is poorly understood. We hypothesize that epigenetic modifier drugs (epidrugs) inhibiting this exocytosis could serve as potential cancer therapeutics. To explore this, we screened more than 150 epidrugs targeting various epigenetic proteins for their combined cytotoxic effects with cisplatin, their impact on lysosomal exocytosis, and lysosomal biogenesis. Two type I PRMT inhibitors, MS023 and GSK3368715, showed synergy with cisplatin, reduced cell viability, and inhibited lysosomal exocytosis without altering lysosomal biogenesis gene expression. RNA-seq analysis revealed differentially expressed genes involved in vesicular trafficking and lysosome dynamics, suggesting novel regulatory mechanisms. These inhibitors also synergized with other lysosome-sequestered drugs, indicating a broader application in overcoming drug resistance. Analysis of patient data further linked lower type I PRMT levels to better responses, highlighting their potential as combination therapy candidates to enhance chemotherapy efficacy and improve cancer survival rates.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07900-w
spellingShingle Baris Sergi
Neslihan Yuksel-Catal
Selahattin Can Ozcan
Hamzah Syed
Umamaheswar Duvvuri
Kirill Kiselyov
Ceyda Acilan
Epidrug screening identifies type I PRMT inhibitors as modulators of lysosomal exocytosis and drug sensitivity in cancers
Cell Death and Disease
title Epidrug screening identifies type I PRMT inhibitors as modulators of lysosomal exocytosis and drug sensitivity in cancers
title_full Epidrug screening identifies type I PRMT inhibitors as modulators of lysosomal exocytosis and drug sensitivity in cancers
title_fullStr Epidrug screening identifies type I PRMT inhibitors as modulators of lysosomal exocytosis and drug sensitivity in cancers
title_full_unstemmed Epidrug screening identifies type I PRMT inhibitors as modulators of lysosomal exocytosis and drug sensitivity in cancers
title_short Epidrug screening identifies type I PRMT inhibitors as modulators of lysosomal exocytosis and drug sensitivity in cancers
title_sort epidrug screening identifies type i prmt inhibitors as modulators of lysosomal exocytosis and drug sensitivity in cancers
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07900-w
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