A dual inhibitor of TrxR1 and XIAP induces pyroptosis in melanoma

Malignant melanoma ranks among the most aggressive forms of cancer, with high rates of metastasis and recurrence, as well as a poor prognosis. Consequently, an urgent need is to develop novel precision therapeutic strategies and corresponding drugs. Previous studies have shown that both X-linked inh...

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Main Authors: Yuan Wang, Xiangmei Li, Xinyue Dong, Haokun Yuan, Ruiqin Fang, Ran Zhang, Wei-jia Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1542356/full
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author Yuan Wang
Yuan Wang
Xiangmei Li
Xinyue Dong
Haokun Yuan
Ruiqin Fang
Ran Zhang
Wei-jia Wang
Wei-jia Wang
author_facet Yuan Wang
Yuan Wang
Xiangmei Li
Xinyue Dong
Haokun Yuan
Ruiqin Fang
Ran Zhang
Wei-jia Wang
Wei-jia Wang
author_sort Yuan Wang
collection DOAJ
description Malignant melanoma ranks among the most aggressive forms of cancer, with high rates of metastasis and recurrence, as well as a poor prognosis. Consequently, an urgent need is to develop novel precision therapeutic strategies and corresponding drugs. Previous studies have shown that both X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) participate in the resistance of melanoma to chemotherapy-induced cell death. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of derivatives of natural compounds derived from Toona sinensis to simultaneously inhibit TrxR1 activity and destabilize the XIAP protein. The new dual-target inhibitor TRI-03 has significant antiproliferative effects on melanoma cells. Mechanistically, TRI-03 not only increases intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by inhibiting TrxR1 activity but also decreases XIAP expression, leading to the activation of the caspase-9/caspase-3/GSDME axis and irreversible GSDME-mediated pyroptosis in melanoma cells. Our in vivo animal study confirmed that TRI-03 effectively inhibits melanoma proliferation and metastasis without severe side effects. Therefore, our study identified TRI-03 as a potential antitumor candidate for future development to address melanoma.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-fb388df11e4040d6aa0a409b6e6b64562025-08-20T03:13:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-05-011310.3389/fcell.2025.15423561542356A dual inhibitor of TrxR1 and XIAP induces pyroptosis in melanomaYuan Wang0Yuan Wang1Xiangmei Li2Xinyue Dong3Haokun Yuan4Ruiqin Fang5Ran Zhang6Wei-jia Wang7Wei-jia Wang8The School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaThe Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study of Sichuan Province and the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaThe School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaThe School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaDivision of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaThe School of Life Science, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaFaculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen, NetherlandsFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, ChinaMalignant melanoma ranks among the most aggressive forms of cancer, with high rates of metastasis and recurrence, as well as a poor prognosis. Consequently, an urgent need is to develop novel precision therapeutic strategies and corresponding drugs. Previous studies have shown that both X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) participate in the resistance of melanoma to chemotherapy-induced cell death. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of derivatives of natural compounds derived from Toona sinensis to simultaneously inhibit TrxR1 activity and destabilize the XIAP protein. The new dual-target inhibitor TRI-03 has significant antiproliferative effects on melanoma cells. Mechanistically, TRI-03 not only increases intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by inhibiting TrxR1 activity but also decreases XIAP expression, leading to the activation of the caspase-9/caspase-3/GSDME axis and irreversible GSDME-mediated pyroptosis in melanoma cells. Our in vivo animal study confirmed that TRI-03 effectively inhibits melanoma proliferation and metastasis without severe side effects. Therefore, our study identified TRI-03 as a potential antitumor candidate for future development to address melanoma.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1542356/fullmelanomapyroptosisthioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1)X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP)reactive oxygen species
spellingShingle Yuan Wang
Yuan Wang
Xiangmei Li
Xinyue Dong
Haokun Yuan
Ruiqin Fang
Ran Zhang
Wei-jia Wang
Wei-jia Wang
A dual inhibitor of TrxR1 and XIAP induces pyroptosis in melanoma
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
melanoma
pyroptosis
thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1)
X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP)
reactive oxygen species
title A dual inhibitor of TrxR1 and XIAP induces pyroptosis in melanoma
title_full A dual inhibitor of TrxR1 and XIAP induces pyroptosis in melanoma
title_fullStr A dual inhibitor of TrxR1 and XIAP induces pyroptosis in melanoma
title_full_unstemmed A dual inhibitor of TrxR1 and XIAP induces pyroptosis in melanoma
title_short A dual inhibitor of TrxR1 and XIAP induces pyroptosis in melanoma
title_sort dual inhibitor of trxr1 and xiap induces pyroptosis in melanoma
topic melanoma
pyroptosis
thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1)
X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP)
reactive oxygen species
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1542356/full
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