New mitochondrial KV1.3 conjugates are potent and specific inducers of apoptosis in cancer models - 04/02/26
, Luis A. Pardo b, ⁎
, Lucija Peterlin Mašič a, ⁎ 
Abstract |
Mitochondrial K V 1.3 channels (mitoK V 1.3) have emerged as promising targets for cancer therapy due to their role in regulating apoptosis, independent of upstream signalling pathways and Bcl-2 family protein levels. Here, we present a new non-psoralene K v 1.3 mitochondria-targeted conjugates. These conjugates, particularly cis - 8 and cis - 9 , exhibit nanomolar affinity and high selectivity for K V 1.3 while effectively inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. Unlike their parent K V 1.3 inhibitors, which lack cytotoxicity, the mitoK V 1.3 conjugates induce rapid mitochondrial depolarization, and caspase-3/7 activation, culminating in dose-dependent tumor cell death in both 2D and 3D models. Mechanistically, cis - 8 and cis - 9 disrupt mitochondrial membrane potential and selectively target cancer cells, sparing normal cells at lower concentrations. Notably, K V 1.3 knockout models confirmed the dependence of cytotoxicity on mitoK V 1.3 inhibition. The conjugates demonstrated robust antitumor activity in murine pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN)-derived organoids, with preferential action over normal pancreatic organoids, highlighting their tumor selectivity. Importantly, safety assessments showed no significant DNA damage or chromosomal aberrations at non-cytotoxic doses. This study introduces a new structural class of mitochondria-targeted K V 1.3 inhibitors with enhanced solubility compared to psoralen-based analogues. The unique mechanism of action, characterized by rapid depolarization and moderate ROS dependence, underscores their potential as selective anticancer agents. These findings warrant further investigation into in vivo efficacy and potential synergy with existing therapies.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Graphical Abstract |
Highlights |
• | Mitochondrial K V 1.3 is an emerging target for selective cancer therapy. |
• | Novel mitoK V 1.3 conjugates trigger apoptosis via K V 1.3 channel inhibition. |
• | MitoK V 1.3 inhibition induces rapid mitochondrial depolarization. |
• | Dose-dependent tumor cell death is observed in 2D and 3D cancer models. |
• | New mitoK V 1.3 conjugates show improved safety and drug-like properties. |
Keywords : Mitochondrial targeting, Mitochondrial KV1.3, Apoptosis, Cancer
Plan
Vol 195
Article 118996- février 2026 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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