Proteomics of BRAFi-treated endothelial cells

Targeted therapies against mutant BRAF are effectively used in combination with MEK inhibitors (MEKi) to treat advanced melanoma. However, treatment success is affected by resistance and adverse events (AEs). Approved BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) show high levels of target promiscuity, which can contribute to these effects. Blood vessels are in direct contact with high plasma concentrations of BRAFi, but effects of the inhibitors in this cell type are unknown. Hence, we aimed to characterize responses to clinically relevant BRAF kinase inhibitors in the vascular endothelium. A mass spectrometry-based analysis of the phosphoproteome of dermal microvascular endothelial cells revealed distinct sets of off-targets of the used BRAFi. Meanwhile, there were only negligible changes to the proteome after 1 h of treatment. Together with our published functional data, these findings provide insights on the surprisingly distinct side effects of BRAFi on endothelial signaling and functionality.