AC-73

AC-73 is a first specific, orally active inhibitor of cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147), which specifically disrupts CD147 dimerization, thereby mainly suppressing the CD147/ERK1/2/STAT3/MMP-2 pathways. AC-73 inhibits the motility and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells^[1]. AC-73 is also an anti-proliferative drug and an inducer of autophagy in leukemic cells^[2]. IC50 & Target: CD147^[1] In Vitro: AC-73 (5-10 μM; 24 hours; SMMC-7721 and Huh-7 cells) treatment significantly decreases the migration ability of SMMC-7721 and Huh-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner and decreases the invasion of two HCC cells in a dose-dependent manner at 24 hours. AC-73 treatment reduces HCC metastases. There are no obvious effects on cell viability when two HCC cells are treated with AC-73 at a maximum concentration of 20 μM. The possible binding sites of AC-73 on CD147 included Glu64 and Glu73 in the N-terminal IgC2 domain, which two residues are located in the dimer interface of CD147^[1].
AC-73 (5-10 μM; 24 hours; SMMC-7721 cells) treatment could significantly inhibit both MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression at the concentration of 10 μM, especially MMP-2, but no obvious effect on MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-11 nor MMP-13. AC-73 could dose dependently reduce the expression of MMP-2 mRNA level and secretion of the protein level using RT-qPCR analysis and gelatin zymography experiments^[1].
AC-73 (5-20 μM; 6 hours; SMMC-7721 cells) treatment dose-dependently suppresses the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and STAT3^[1]. In Vivo: AC-73 (25-50 mg/kg; for 4 weeks; Male BALB/c nu/nu mice) treatment significantly decreases the incidence of metastatic foci in nude mice. AC-73 inhibits the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and STAT3 in a dose-dependent manner. MMP-2 is also reduced by AC-73. AC-73 could not inhibit tumor cell proliferation in vivo^[1].