Discovery and evaluation of ZT55, a novel highly-selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor of JAK2 against myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Background: The JAK2-STAT signaling pathway plays a critical role in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). An activating mutation in JAK2 (V617F) is present in ~ 95% of polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis cases. This study aims to explore the selective JAK2 inhibitor, evaluate the efficacy and possible mechanism of ZT55 on MPN.

Methods: HTRF assays were conducted to evaluate the selective inhibition of ZT55 for JAKs. Cell apoptosis, proliferation, and cycle arrest assays were performed to examine the effect of ZT55 on HEL cell line with JAK2 mutation in vitro. Western analysis was used to monitor the expression and activity of proteins on JAK2/STAT pathway. A mice xenograft model was established to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of ZT55 in vivo. Peripheral blood samples from patients with the JAK2 mutation were collected to estimate the effect of ZT55 on erythroid colony formation by colony-forming assay.

Results: We found that ZT55 showed a selective inhibition of a 0.031 μM IC value against JAK2. It exhibited potent effects on the cellular JAK-STAT pathway, inhibiting tyrosine phosphorylation in JAK2 and downstream STAT3/5 transcription factors. ZT55 inhibited the proliferation of the JAK2-expressing HEL cell line, leading to cell cycle arrest at the G/M phase and induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis. Notably, ZT55 also significantly suppressed the growth of HEL xenograft tumors in vivo. Further evaluation indicated that ZT55 blocked erythroid colony formation of peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitors from patients carrying the JAK2 mutation.

Conclusion: These results suggest that ZT55 is a highly-selective JAK2 inhibitor that can induce apoptosis of human erythroleukemia cells by inhibiting the JAK2-STAT signaling.