Pentachloropseudilin Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) Activity by Accelerating Cell-Surface Type II TGF-β Receptor Turnover in Target Cells

Pentachloropseudilin (PClP) is a chlorinated phenylpyrrole compound that was first isolated from Actinoplanes (ATCC33002), and its structure has been confirmed by chemical synthesis. PClP shows broad antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and yeast. In mammalian cells, PClP is known to act as a reversible and allosteric inhibitor of Myosin 1c (Myo1c). Herein, we report that PCIP is a potent inhibitor of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-stimulated signaling. PCIP inhibits TGF-β-stimulated SMAD2/3 phosphorylation and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) promoter activation with an IC₅₀ of 0.1 μm in target cells (A549, HepG2, and Mv1Lu cells). In addition, PCIP attenuates TGF-β-stimulated expression of vimentin, N-Cadherin, and fibronectin and, thus, blocks TGF-β-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in these cells. Furthermore, cell-surface labeling and immunoblot analysis indicates that PCIP suppresses TGF-β-stimulated cellular responses by attenuating cell-surface expression of the type II TGF-β Receptor through accelerating caveolae-mediated internalization followed by primarily lysosome-dependent degradation of the receptor, as demonstrated by sucrose density gradient analysis and immune fluorescence staining.