Itraconazole inhibits endothelial cell migration by disrupting inositol pyrophosphate-dependent focal adhesion dynamics and cytoskeletal remodeling

The antifungal drug itraconazole has been repurposed to anti-angiogenic agent, but the mechanisms of action have been elusive. Here we report that itraconazole disrupts focal adhesion dynamics and cytoskeletal remod-eling, which requires 5-diphosphoinositol 1,2,3,4,6-pentakisphosphate (5-InsP7). We find that inositol hexaki-sphosphate kinase 1 (IP6K1) binds Arp2 and generates 5-InsP7 to recruit coronin, a negative regulator of the Arp2/3 complex. IP6K1 also produces focal adhesion-enriched 5-InsP7, which binds focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at the FERM domain to promote its dimerization and phosphorylation. Itraconazole treatment elicits displace-ment of IP6K1/5-InsP7, thus augments 5-InsP7-mediated inhibition of Arp2/3 complex and reduces 5-InsP7- mediated FAK dimerization. Itraconazole-treated cells display reduced focal adhesion dynamics and actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Accordingly, itraconazole severely disrupts cell motility, an essential component of angiogenesis. These results demonstrate critical roles of IP6K1-generated 5-InsP7 in regulating focal adhesion dynamics and actin cytoskeleton remodeling and reveal functional mechanisms by which itraconazole inhibits cell motility.

Automated summary

The antifungal drug itraconazole has been found to disrupt focal adhesion dynamics and actin cytoskeleton remodeling by displacing IP6K1/5-InsP7, thus inhibiting cell motility. The study reveals the critical roles of IP6K1-generated 5-InsP7 in regulating these cellular processes and provides functional mechanisms by which itraconazole inhibits angiogenesis.