GSK-3β inhibitor, 9-ING-41, reduces cell viability and halts proliferation of B-cell lymphoma cell lines as a single agent and in combination with novel agents

The complexities of GSK-3β function and interactions with PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, cell cycling, and apoptotic pathways are poorly understood in the context of lymphomagenesis and cancer therapeutics. In this study, we explored the antitumor effects of the GSK-3β inhibitor, 9-ING-41, in lymphoma cell lines as a single agent and in combination with novel agents comprising BCL-2 inhibitor (Venetoclax), CDK-9 inhibitor (BAY-1143572) and p110dδ-PI3K inhibitor (Idelalisib). Treatment of Daudi, SUDHL-4, Karpas 422, KPUM-UH1, and TMD8 lymphoma cell lines with 1 μM 9-ING-41 reduced cell viability by 40-70% (p < 0.05) and halted proliferation. Luminex analysis of apoptotic pathways revealed a significant increase in active caspase 3 in all lymphoma cell lines (p < 0.001) except TMD8 cells. Co-treating SUDHL-4 and KPUM-UH1 lymphoma cells with 0.5 μM 9-ING-41 showed 8-and 2-fold reduction in IC₅₀ values of Venetoclax, respectively. No significant benefit for this combination was seen in other lymphoma cells tested. The combination of BAY- 1143572 with 0.5 μM 9-ING-41 showed an 8-fold reduction in the IC₅₀ value of the former in SUDHL-4 lymphoma cells alone. No significant changes in IC₅₀ values of Idelalisib were measured across all cell lines for the combination of 9-ING-41 and Idelalisib. Further, signaling analysis via Western blot in the double-hit lymphoma cell line, KPUM-UH1, suggests that phospho-c-MYC is modified with 9-ING-41 treatment. Altogether, our data show that 9-ING-41 results in increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation in aggressive B-cell lymphoma cells and enhances the antitumor effects of BCL-2 and CDK-9 antagonists.