Rhodium(III)‐Nitroxyl Radical Complex Triggers Dual‐Pronged Disulfidptosis‐Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Metabolic Sabotage and Redox Catalysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resists apoptosis-targeting therapies, necessitating the development of agents targeting alternative cell death pathways. Here, we report the discovery of a nitroxyl radical-conjugated Rh(III) complex (OG-Rh) that triggers dual disulfidptosis and apoptosis via synergistic metabolic sabotage and redox catalysis. OG-Rh inhibited glucose uptake, depleted NADPH, and induced disulfidptosis, a novel disulfide-stress-mediated death, by inducing actin cytoskeleton collapse via pathogenic disulfide over-crosslinking. Simultaneously, its tumor-selective superoxide dismutase/peroxidase (SOD)/(POD) mimetic activity converted endogenous O<sub>2</sub>•<sup>-</sup> and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> into •OH, resulting in redox attacks that suppressed AP-1 via Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)-SIRT1 and amplified disulfide stress. This dual pathway mechanism overcomes apoptosis resistance and catalytic therapy limitations. In vitro, OG-Rh showed potent cytotoxicity (IC<sub>50</sub> = 1.0 µM in BEL-7402 cells) and selectivity (>10-fold versus normal cells). In vivo, it suppressed tumor growth by 60.9% without systemic toxicity. This work pioneered a strategy via "metabolic sabotage-redox storm" achieved by a small-molecule metallodrug, offering a paradigm-shifting approach against refractory HCC.

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Journal
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Published
2025-11-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202517864
Primary Topic
Metal-Catalyzed Oxygenation Mechanisms
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article
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article

Rhodium(III)‐Nitroxyl Radical Complex Triggers Dual‐Pronged Disulfidptosis‐Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Metabolic Sabotage and Redox Catalysis

Jianhua Wei, Huichao Lin, Cheng Hou, Ji‐Hu Su et al.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Metal-Catalyzed Oxygenation Mechanisms
article

Rhodium(III)‐Nitroxyl Radical Complex Triggers Dual‐Pronged Disulfidptosis‐Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Metabolic Sabotage and Redox Catalysis

Jianhua Wei, Huichao Lin, Cheng Hou, Ji‐Hu Su, Liu‐Lin Chen, Liang Hong, Yongzhao Liu, Zhen‐Feng Chen, Chun‐Peng Jia, Lixia Wang, Wen‐Ying Shen, Zengyi Mo
article en

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resists apoptosis-targeting therapies, necessitating the development of agents targeting alternative cell death pathways. Here, we report the discovery of a nitroxyl radical-conjugated Rh(III) complex (OG-Rh) that triggers dual disulfidptosis and apoptosis via synergistic metabolic sabotage and redox catalysis. OG-Rh inhibited glucose uptake, depleted NADPH, and induced disulfidptosis, a novel disulfide-stress-mediated death, by inducing actin cytoskeleton collapse via pathogenic disulfide over-crosslinking. Simultaneously, its tumor-selective superoxide dismutase/peroxidase (SOD)/(POD) mimetic activity converted endogenous O<sub>2</sub>•<sup>-</sup> and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> into •OH, resulting in redox attacks that suppressed AP-1 via Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)-SIRT1 and amplified disulfide stress. This dual pathway mechanism overcomes apoptosis resistance and catalytic therapy limitations. In vitro, OG-Rh showed potent cytotoxicity (IC<sub>50</sub> = 1.0 µM in BEL-7402 cells) and selectivity (>10-fold versus normal cells). In vivo, it suppressed tumor growth by 60.9% without systemic toxicity. This work pioneered a strategy via "metabolic sabotage-redox storm" achieved by a small-molecule metallodrug, offering a paradigm-shifting approach against refractory HCC.

Angewandte Chemie International EditionVol. 65(3)
University of Science and Technology of China (CN), Guilin Medical University (CN), Guangxi Normal University (CN), Hefei National Center for Physical Sciences at Nanoscale (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 69%
Metal-Catalyzed Oxygenation Mechanisms
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