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den Hollander LS, IJzerman AP, Heitman LH. Pharmacological characterization of allosteric modulators: A case for chemokine receptors. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:2291-2306. [PMID: 38634664 DOI: 10.1002/med.22043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Chemokine receptors are relevant targets for a multitude of immunological diseases, but drug attrition for these receptors is remarkably high. While many drug discovery programs have been pursued, most prospective drugs failed in the follow-up studies due to clinical inefficacy, and hence there is a clear need for alternative approaches. Allosteric modulators of receptor function represent an excellent opportunity for novel drugs, as they modulate receptor activation in a controlled manner and display increased selectivity, and their pharmacological profile can be insurmountable. Here, we discuss allosteric ligands and their pharmacological characterization for modulation of chemokine receptors. Ligands are included if (1) they show clear signs of allosteric modulation in vitro and (2) display evidence of binding in a topologically distinct manner compared to endogenous chemokines. We discuss how allosteric ligands affect binding of orthosteric (endogenous) ligands in terms of affinity as well as binding kinetics in radioligand binding assays. Moreover, their effects on signaling events in functional assays and how their binding site can be elucidated are specified. We substantiate this with examples of published allosteric ligands targeting chemokine receptors and hypothetical graphs of pharmacological behavior. This review should serve as an effective starting point for setting up assays for characterizing allosteric ligands to develop safer and more efficacious drugs for chemokine receptors and, ultimately, other G protein-coupled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S den Hollander
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan P IJzerman
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Laura H Heitman
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Leiden, The Netherlands
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2
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Liu Y, Liu A, Li X, Liao Q, Zhang W, Zhu L, Ye RD. Cryo-EM structure of monomeric CXCL12-bound CXCR4 in the active state. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114578. [PMID: 39093700 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
CXCR4 binding of its endogenous agonist CXCL12 leads to diverse functions, including bone marrow retention of hematopoietic progenitors and cancer metastasis. However, the structure of the CXCL12-bound CXCR4 remains unresolved despite available structures of CXCR4 in complex with antagonists. Here, we present the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the CXCL12-CXCR4-Gi complex at an overall resolution of 2.65 Å. CXCL12 forms a 1:1 stoichiometry complex with CXCR4, following the two-site model. The first 8 amino acids of mature CXCL12 are crucial for CXCR4 activation by forming polar interactions with minor sub-pocket residues in the transmembrane binding pocket. The 3.2-Å distance between V3 of CXCL12 and the "toggle switch" W6.48 marks the deepest insertion among all chemokine-receptor pairs, leading to conformational changes of CXCR4 for G protein activation. These results, combined with functional assays and computational analysis, provide the structural basis for CXCR4 activation by CXCL12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yezhou Liu
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China
| | - Aijun Liu
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China; Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Dongguan Third People's Hospital, The Affiliated Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523326, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China
| | - Qiwen Liao
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China
| | - Weijia Zhang
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China
| | - Lizhe Zhu
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China.
| | - Richard D Ye
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China; The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Futian Biomedical Innovation R&D Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518048, China.
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Schafer CT, Pauszek RF, Gustavsson M, Handel TM, Millar DP. Distinct Activation Mechanisms of CXCR4 and ACKR3 Revealed by Single-Molecule Analysis of their Conformational Landscapes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.31.564925. [PMID: 37961571 PMCID: PMC10635023 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.31.564925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The canonical chemokine receptor CXCR4 and atypical receptor ACKR3 both respond to CXCL12 but induce different effector responses to regulate cell migration. While CXCR4 couples to G proteins and directly promotes cell migration, ACKR3 is G protein-independent and scavenges CXCL12 to regulate extracellular chemokine levels and maintain CXCR4 responsiveness, thereby indirectly influencing migration. The receptors also have distinct activation requirements. CXCR4 only responds to wild-type CXCL12 and is sensitive to mutation of the chemokine. By contrast, ACKR3 recruits GPCR kinases (GRKs) and β-arrestins and promiscuously responds to CXCL12, CXCL12 variants, other peptides and proteins, and is relatively insensitive to mutation. To investigate the role of conformational dynamics in the distinct pharmacological behaviors of CXCR4 and ACKR3, we employed single-molecule FRET to track discrete conformational states of the receptors in real-time. The data revealed that apo-CXCR4 preferentially populates a high-FRET inactive state, while apo-ACKR3 shows little conformational preference and high transition probabilities among multiple inactive, intermediate and active conformations, consistent with its propensity for activation. Multiple active-like ACKR3 conformations are populated in response to agonists, compared to the single CXCR4 active-state. This and the markedly different conformational landscapes of the receptors suggest that activation of ACKR3 may be achieved by a broader distribution of conformational states than CXCR4. Much of the conformational heterogeneity of ACKR3 is linked to a single residue that differs between ACKR3 and CXCR4. The dynamic properties of ACKR3 may underly its inability to form productive interactions with G proteins that would drive canonical GPCR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T. Schafer
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Raymond F. Pauszek
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Martin Gustavsson
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Tracy M. Handel
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - David P. Millar
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
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4
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Zhang Z, Bahabayi A, Liu D, Hasimu A, Zhang Y, Guo S, Liu R, Zhang K, Li Q, Xiong Z, Wang P, Liu C. KLRB1 defines an activated phenotype of CD4+ T cells and shows significant upregulation in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 133:112072. [PMID: 38636371 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the role of KLRB1 (CD161) in human CD4+ T cells and elucidate its significance in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS Peripheral blood samples from 37 healthy controls and 44 pSS patients were collected. The publicly available single-cell RNA-Seq data from pSS patient PBMCs were utilized to analyse KLRB1 expression in T cells. KLRB1-expressing T lymphocyte subset proportions in pSS patients and healthy controls were determined by flow cytometry. CD25, Ki-67, cytokine secretion, and chemokine receptor expression in CD4+ KLRB1+ T cells were detected and compared with those in CD4+ KLRB1- T cells. Correlation analysis was conducted between KLRB1-related T-cell subsets and clinical indicators. ROC curves were generated to explore the diagnostic potential of KLRB1 for pSS. RESULTS KLRB1 was significantly upregulated following T-cell activation, and Ki-67 and CD25 expression was significantly greater in CD4+ KLRB1+ T cells than in CD4+ KLRB1- T cells. KLRB1+ CD4+ T cells exhibited greater IL-17A, IL-21, IL-22, and IFN-γ secretion upon stimulation, and there were significantly greater proportions of CCR5+, CCR2+, CX3CR1+, CCR6+, and CXCR3+ cells among CD4+ KLRB1+ T cells than among CD4+ KLRB1- T cells. Compared with that in HCs, KLRB1 expression in CD4+ T cells was markedly elevated in pSS patients and significantly correlated with clinical disease indicators. CONCLUSION KLRB1 is a characteristic molecule of the CD4+ T-cell activation phenotype. The increased expression of KLRB1 in the CD4+ T cells of pSS patients suggests its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of pSS and its utility as an auxiliary diagnostic marker for pSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghui Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ayibaota Bahabayi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Danni Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Ainizati Hasimu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yangyang Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Siyu Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ruiqing Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ziqi Xiong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Pingzhang Wang
- Department of Immunology, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Peking University), Medicine Innovation Center for Fundamental Research on Major Immunology-related Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China; Peking University Center for Human Disease Genomics, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
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Karl K, Del Piccolo N, Light T, Roy T, Dudeja P, Ursachi VC, Fafilek B, Krejci P, Hristova K. Ligand bias underlies differential signaling of multiple FGFs via FGFR1. eLife 2024; 12:RP88144. [PMID: 38568193 PMCID: PMC10990489 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The differential signaling of multiple FGF ligands through a single fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor (FGFR) plays an important role in embryonic development. Here, we use quantitative biophysical tools to uncover the mechanism behind differences in FGFR1c signaling in response to FGF4, FGF8, and FGF9, a process which is relevant for limb bud outgrowth. We find that FGF8 preferentially induces FRS2 phosphorylation and extracellular matrix loss, while FGF4 and FGF9 preferentially induce FGFR1c phosphorylation and cell growth arrest. Thus, we demonstrate that FGF8 is a biased FGFR1c ligand, as compared to FGF4 and FGF9. Förster resonance energy transfer experiments reveal a correlation between biased signaling and the conformation of the FGFR1c transmembrane domain dimer. Our findings expand the mechanistic understanding of FGF signaling during development and bring the poorly understood concept of receptor tyrosine kinase ligand bias into the spotlight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Karl
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Nuala Del Piccolo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Taylor Light
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Tanaya Roy
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Pooja Dudeja
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the CASBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Vlad-Constantin Ursachi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University HospitalBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Bohumil Fafilek
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the CASBrnoCzech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University HospitalBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Pavel Krejci
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the CASBrnoCzech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University HospitalBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
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Sun D, Sun Y, Janezic E, Zhou T, Johnson M, Azumaya C, Noreng S, Chiu C, Seki A, Arenzana TL, Nicoludis JM, Shi Y, Wang B, Ho H, Joshi P, Tam C, Payandeh J, Comps-Agrar L, Wang J, Rutz S, Koerber JT, Masureel M. Structural basis of antibody inhibition and chemokine activation of the human CC chemokine receptor 8. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7940. [PMID: 38040762 PMCID: PMC10692165 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43601-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The C-C motif chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8) is a class A G-protein coupled receptor that has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in cancer. Targeting CCR8 with an antibody has appeared to be an attractive therapeutic approach, but the molecular basis for chemokine-mediated activation and antibody-mediated inhibition of CCR8 are not fully elucidated. Here, we obtain an antagonist antibody against human CCR8 and determine structures of CCR8 in complex with either the antibody or the endogenous agonist ligand CCL1. Our studies reveal characteristic antibody features allowing recognition of the CCR8 extracellular loops and CCL1-CCR8 interaction modes that are distinct from other chemokine receptor - ligand pairs. Informed by these structural insights, we demonstrate that CCL1 follows a two-step, two-site binding sequence to CCR8 and that antibody-mediated inhibition of CCL1 signaling can occur by preventing the second binding event. Together, our results provide a detailed structural and mechanistic framework of CCR8 activation and inhibition that expands our molecular understanding of chemokine - receptor interactions and offers insight into the development of therapeutic antibodies targeting chemokine GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Sun
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yonglian Sun
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Eric Janezic
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Tricia Zhou
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Matthew Johnson
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Caleigh Azumaya
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Sigrid Noreng
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
- Septerna Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Cecilia Chiu
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Akiko Seki
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
- Tune Therapeutics, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Teresita L Arenzana
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
- HIBio, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - John M Nicoludis
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yongchang Shi
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Baomei Wang
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Hoangdung Ho
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Prajakta Joshi
- Department of Biomolecular Resources, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Christine Tam
- Department of Biomolecular Resources, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Jian Payandeh
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
- Exelixis Inc., Alameda, CA, 94502, USA
| | - Laëtitia Comps-Agrar
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Jianyong Wang
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Sascha Rutz
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
| | - James T Koerber
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
| | - Matthieu Masureel
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
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Chen W, Zou F, Song T, Xia Y, Xing J, Rao T, Zhou X, Ning J, Zhao S, Yu W, Cheng F. Comprehensive analysis reveals XCL2 as a cancer prognosis and immune infiltration-related biomarker. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:11891-11917. [PMID: 37905956 PMCID: PMC10683633 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2 (XCL2) is a 114 amino acid, structurally conserved chemokine involved in activating cytotoxic T cells. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms of XCL2 protein in various disease conditions, particularly cancer, remain poorly understood. METHODS Bioinformatics was used to detect the expression of XCL2, the relationship between survival time and XCL2 in BLCA patients, the mutational status of XCL2, the role of XCL2 in the tumor immune microenvironment, and the sensitivity of XCL2-targeted drugs in 33 cancers. In vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the chemotactic effects of XCL2 expression on M1-type macrophages in human specimens and in isolated cancer cells. RESULTS XCL2 expression was downregulated in tumor tissues and closely associated with the prognosis of human cancers. Furthermore, XCL2 affects DNA methylation, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and mismatch repair (MMR) in human cancers. The expression level of XCL2 significantly correlated with infiltrated immune cells, immunological pathways, and other immune markers. More importantly, we found that XCL2 was positively associated with T lymphocytes and macrophages in the transcriptome and single-cell sequencing data. Using multiple immunofluorescence staining, we found that the expression level of XCL2 was upregulated in many cells in pan-cancer samples, and the number of M1 macrophage marker CD68 and INOS-positive cells increased. 786O, U251, and MDA-MB-231 cells could recruit more M1 macrophages in vitro after overexpressing XCL2. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal that XCL2 could act as a vital chemokine in pan-cancer and provide new targets and concepts for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Chen
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Fan Zou
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Tianbao Song
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Yuqi Xia
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Ji Xing
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Ting Rao
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Xiangjun Zhou
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jinzhuo Ning
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Sheng Zhao
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Weimin Yu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Fan Cheng
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
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Giblin SP, Ranawana S, Hassibi S, Birchenough HL, Mincham KT, Snelgrove RJ, Tsuchiya T, Kanegasaki S, Dyer D, Pease JE. CXCL17 binds efficaciously to glycosaminoglycans with the potential to modulate chemokine signaling. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1254697. [PMID: 37942327 PMCID: PMC10628517 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1254697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction CXCL17 is a mucosally secreted protein, and the most recently identified human chemokine, an assignment based on protein fold prediction and chemotactic activity for leukocytes. However, these credentials have been the subject of much recent discussion and no experimental evidence has been presented regarding the definitive structure of CXCL17. In this study, we evaluated the structural and chemoattractant credentials of CXCL17 to better characterize this molecule, and gain deeper insights into its functional role as a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) binding protein. Methods In the absence of structural information, in silico modeling techniques assessed the likelihood of CXCL17 adopting a chemokine fold. Recombinant CXCL17 was synthesized in mammalian and prokaryotic systems. Modified Boyden chamber and real-time chemotaxis assays assessed the ability of CXCL17 to promote chemotaxis of murine splenocytes, human neutrophils, and CXCR1 transfectants. The efficacy of CXCL17 binding to GAGs was quantified with solid-phase assays and bio-layer interferometry techniques. Results All modeling efforts failed to support classification of CXCL17 as a chemokine based on its predicted conformation. Recombinant CXCL17 was observed to dimerize as a function of concentration, a characteristic of several chemokines. Contrary to a previous report, CXCL17 was not chemotactic for murine splenocytes, although it was a low-potency chemoattractant for human neutrophils at micromolar concentrations, several orders of magnitude higher than those required for CXCL8. As anticipated owing to its highly basic nature, CXCL17 bound to GAGs robustly, with key C-terminal motifs implicated in this process. While inactive via CXCR1, CXCL17 was found to inhibit CXCR1-mediated chemotaxis of transfectants to CXCL8 in a dose-dependent manner. Discussion In summary, despite finding little evidence for chemokine-like structure and function, CXCL17 readily bound GAGs, and could modulate chemotactic responses to another chemokine in vitro. We postulate that such modulation is a consequence of superior GAG binding, and that C-terminal fragments of CXCL17 may serve as prototypic inhibitors of chemokine function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P. Giblin
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sashini Ranawana
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shyreen Hassibi
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Holly L. Birchenough
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kyle T. Mincham
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J. Snelgrove
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tomoko Tsuchiya
- Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Japan
| | | | - Douglas Dyer
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - James E. Pease
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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9
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Schafer CT, Chen Q, Tesmer JJG, Handel TM. Atypical Chemokine Receptor 3 "Senses" CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 Activation Through GPCR Kinase Phosphorylation. Mol Pharmacol 2023; 104:174-186. [PMID: 37474305 PMCID: PMC11033958 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3) is an arrestin-biased receptor that regulates extracellular chemokine levels through scavenging. The scavenging process restricts the availability of the chemokine agonist CXCL12 for the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) CXCR4 and requires phosphorylation of the ACKR3 C-terminus by GPCR kinases (GRKs). ACKR3 is phosphorylated by GRK2 and GRK5, but the mechanisms by which these kinases regulate the receptor are unresolved. Here we determined that GRK5 phosphorylation of ACKR3 results in more efficient chemokine scavenging and β-arrestin recruitment than phosphorylation by GRK2 in HEK293 cells. However, co-activation of CXCR4-enhanced ACKR3 phosphorylation by GRK2 through the liberation of Gβγ, an accessory protein required for efficient GRK2 activity. The results suggest that ACKR3 "senses" CXCR4 activation through a GRK2-dependent crosstalk mechanism, which enables CXCR4 to influence the efficiency of CXCL12 scavenging and β-arrestin recruitment to ACKR3. Surprisingly, we also found that despite the requirement for phosphorylation and the fact that most ligands promote β-arrestin recruitment, β-arrestins are dispensable for ACKR3 internalization and scavenging, suggesting a yet-to-be-determined function for these adapter proteins. Since ACKR3 is also a receptor for CXCL11 and opioid peptides, these data suggest that such crosstalk may also be operative in cells with CXCR3 and opioid receptor co-expression. Additionally, kinase-mediated receptor cross-regulation may be relevant to other atypical and G protein-coupled receptors that share common ligands. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The atypical receptor ACKR3 indirectly regulates CXCR4-mediated cell migration by scavenging their shared agonist CXCL12. Here, we show that scavenging and β-arrestin recruitment by ACKR3 are primarily dependent on phosphorylation by GRK5. However, we also show that CXCR4 co-activation enhances the contribution of GRK2 by liberating Gβγ. This phosphorylation crosstalk may represent a common feedback mechanism between atypical and G protein-coupled receptors with shared ligands for regulating the efficiency of scavenging or other atypical receptor functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T Schafer
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (C.T.S., T.M.H.) and Departments of Biological Sciences and of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (Q.C., J.J.G.T.)
| | - Qiuyan Chen
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (C.T.S., T.M.H.) and Departments of Biological Sciences and of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (Q.C., J.J.G.T.)
| | - John J G Tesmer
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (C.T.S., T.M.H.) and Departments of Biological Sciences and of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (Q.C., J.J.G.T.)
| | - Tracy M Handel
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (C.T.S., T.M.H.) and Departments of Biological Sciences and of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (Q.C., J.J.G.T.)
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10
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Vales S, Kryukova J, Chandra S, Smagurauskaite G, Payne M, Clark CJ, Hafner K, Mburu P, Denisov S, Davies G, Outeiral C, Deane CM, Morris GM, Bhattacharya S. Discovery and pharmacophoric characterization of chemokine network inhibitors using phage-display, saturation mutagenesis and computational modelling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5763. [PMID: 37717048 PMCID: PMC10505172 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41488-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
CC and CXC-chemokines are the primary drivers of chemotaxis in inflammation, but chemokine network redundancy thwarts pharmacological intervention. Tick evasins promiscuously bind CC and CXC-chemokines, overcoming redundancy. Here we show that short peptides that promiscuously bind both chemokine classes can be identified from evasins by phage-display screening performed with multiple chemokines in parallel. We identify two conserved motifs within these peptides and show using saturation-mutagenesis phage-display and chemotaxis studies of an exemplar peptide that an anionic patch in the first motif and hydrophobic, aromatic and cysteine residues in the second are functionally necessary. AlphaFold2-Multimer modelling suggests that the peptide occludes distinct receptor-binding regions in CC and in CXC-chemokines, with the first and second motifs contributing ionic and hydrophobic interactions respectively. Our results indicate that peptides with broad-spectrum anti-chemokine activity and therapeutic potential may be identified from evasins, and the pharmacophore characterised by phage display, saturation mutagenesis and computational modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Vales
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Jhanna Kryukova
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Soumyanetra Chandra
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Gintare Smagurauskaite
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Megan Payne
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Charlie J Clark
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Katrin Hafner
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Philomena Mburu
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Stepan Denisov
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Graham Davies
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Carlos Outeiral
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, 24-29 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LB, UK
| | - Charlotte M Deane
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, 24-29 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LB, UK
| | - Garrett M Morris
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, 24-29 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LB, UK
| | - Shoumo Bhattacharya
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and RDM Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.
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11
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Xie W, Huang T, Guo Y, Zhang Y, Chen W, Li Y, Chen C, Li P. Neutrophil-derived cathelicidin promotes cerebral angiogenesis after ischemic stroke. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2023; 43:1503-1518. [PMID: 37194247 PMCID: PMC10414012 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x231175190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Neutrophils play critical roles in the evolving of brain injuries following ischemic stroke. However, how they impact the brain repair in the late phase after stroke remain uncertain. Using a prospective clinical stroke patient cohort, we found significantly increased cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) in the peripheral blood of stroke patients compared to that of healthy controls. While in the mouse stroke model, CAMP was present in the peripheral blood, brain ischemic core and significantly increased at day 1, 3, 7, 14 after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). CAMP-/- mice exhibited significantly increased infarct volume, exacerbated neurological outcome, reduced cerebral endothelial cell proliferation and vascular density at 7 and 14 days after MCAO. Using bEND3 cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), we found significantly increased angiogenesis-related gene expression with the treatment of recombinant CAMP peptide (rCAMP) after reoxygenation. Intracerebroventricular injection (ICV) of AZD-5069, the antagonist of CAMP receptor CXCR2, or knockdown of CXCR2 by shCXCR2 recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) impeded angiogenesis and neurological recovery after MCAO. Administration of rCAMP promoted endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis and attenuated neurological deficits 14 days after MCAO. In conclusion, neutrophil derived CAMP represents an important mediator that could promote post-stroke angiogenesis and neurological recovery in the late phase after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yueman Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of Anesthesia Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weijie Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of Anesthesia Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of Anesthesia Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of Anesthesia Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peiying Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of Anesthesia Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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12
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Våbenø J, Oliva-Santiago M, Jørgensen AS, Karlshøj S, Rosenkilde MM. Identification of a Salt Bridge That Is Functionally Important for Chemokine Receptor CXCR1 but not CXCR2. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:1120-1128. [PMID: 37588755 PMCID: PMC10425996 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
CXC chemokine receptors 1 (CXCR1) and 2 (CXCR2) have high sequence similarity and overlapping chemokine ligand profiles. Residue positions 3.32 and 7.39 are critical for signal transduction in the related CXCR4, and in these positions CXCR1 and CXCR2 contain oppositely charged residues (Lys3.32 and Glu7.39). Experimental and computed receptor structures reveal the possible formation of a salt bridge between transmembrane (TM) helices 3 and 7 via these two residues. To investigate the functional importance of Lys1173.32 and Glu2917.39 in CXCR1, along with the flanking Glu1183.33, we performed a signaling study on 16 CXCR1 mutants using two different CXCL8 isoforms. While single Ala-mutation (K1173.32A, E2917.39A) and charge reversal (K1173.32E, E2917.39K) resulted in nonfunctional receptors, double (K1173.32E-E2917.39K) and triple (K1173.32E-E1183.33A-E2917.39K) mutants rescued CXCR1 function. In contrast, the corresponding mutations did not affect the CXCR2 function to the same extent. Our findings show that the Lys3.32-Glu7.39 salt bridge between TM3 and -7 is functionally important for CXCR1 but not for CXCR2, meaning that signal transduction for these highly homologous receptors is not conserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Våbenø
- Helgeland
Hospital Trust, Prestmarkveien
1, 8800 Sandnessjøen, Norway
| | - Marta Oliva-Santiago
- Laboratory
for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty
of Health and Medical Sciences, University
of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Astrid S. Jørgensen
- Laboratory
for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty
of Health and Medical Sciences, University
of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Stefanie Karlshøj
- Laboratory
for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty
of Health and Medical Sciences, University
of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Mette M. Rosenkilde
- Laboratory
for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty
of Health and Medical Sciences, University
of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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13
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Kaffashi K, Dréau D, Nesmelova IV. Heterodimers Are an Integral Component of Chemokine Signaling Repertoire. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11639. [PMID: 37511398 PMCID: PMC10380872 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemokines are a family of signaling proteins that play a crucial role in cell-cell communication, cell migration, and cell trafficking, particularly leukocytes, under both normal and pathological conditions. The oligomerization state of chemokines influences their biological activity. The heterooligomerization occurs when multiple chemokines spatially and temporally co-localize, and it can significantly affect cellular responses. Recently, obligate heterodimers have emerged as tools to investigate the activities and molecular mechanisms of chemokine heterodimers, providing valuable insights into their functional roles. This review focuses on the latest progress in understanding the roles of chemokine heterodimers and their contribution to the functioning of the chemokine network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Kaffashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
- Department of Physics and Optical Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Didier Dréau
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Irina V Nesmelova
- Department of Physics and Optical Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
- School of Data Science, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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14
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Ishimoto N, Park JH, Kawakami K, Tajiri M, Mizutani K, Akashi S, Tame JRH, Inoue A, Park SY. Structural basis of CXC chemokine receptor 1 ligand binding and activation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4107. [PMID: 37433790 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39799-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophil granulocytes play key roles in innate immunity and shaping adaptive immune responses. They are attracted by chemokines to sites of infection and tissue damage, where they kill and phagocytose bacteria. The chemokine CXCL8 (also known as interleukin-8, abbreviated IL-8) and its G-protein-coupled receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 are crucial elements in this process, and also the development of many cancers. These GPCRs have therefore been the target of many drug development campaigns and structural studies. Here, we solve the structure of CXCR1 complexed with CXCL8 and cognate G-proteins using cryo-EM, showing the detailed interactions between the receptor, the chemokine and Gαi protein. Unlike the closely related CXCR2, CXCR1 strongly prefers to bind CXCL8 in its monomeric form. The model shows that steric clashes would form between dimeric CXCL8 and extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) of CXCR1. Consistently, transplanting ECL2 of CXCR2 onto CXCR1 abolishes the selectivity for the monomeric chemokine. Our model and functional analysis of various CXCR1 mutants will assist efforts in structure-based drug design targeting specific CXC chemokine receptor subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naito Ishimoto
- Drug Design Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Jae-Hyun Park
- Drug Design Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kouki Kawakami
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Michiko Tajiri
- Structural Epigenetics Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kenji Mizutani
- Drug Design Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Satoko Akashi
- Structural Epigenetics Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Jeremy R H Tame
- Drug Design Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Sam-Yong Park
- Drug Design Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan.
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15
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Giblin SP, Pease JE. What defines a chemokine? - The curious case of CXCL17. Cytokine 2023; 168:156224. [PMID: 37210967 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Chemotactic cytokines (chemokines) are a group of around 40 small proteins which share a similar protein fold and are well known for their ability to direct the migration of leukocytes to a variety of tissue locations. CXCL17 was the last member of the chemokine family to be assigned and was admitted to the family based on theoretical modelling of the CXCL17 structure and chemotactic activity for monocytes and dendritic cells. Of Interest, CXCL17 expression appears to be restricted to mucosal tissues such as the tongue, stomach and lung, suggestive of specific roles at these locations. A putative CXCL17 receptor, GPR35 was reportedly identified and mice deficient in CXCL17 were generated and characterised. More recently, however, some apparent contradictions regarding aspects of CXCL17 biology have been raised by ourselves and others. Notably, GPR35 appears to be a receptor for the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid rather than for CXCL17 and modelling of CXCL17 using a variety of platforms fails to identify a chemokine-like fold. In this article, we summarize the discovery of CXCL17 and discuss key papers describing the subsequent characterisation of this protein. Ultimately, we pose the question, 'What defines a chemokine?' (185 words).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Patrick Giblin
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - James Edward Pease
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
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16
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Singh I, Seth A, Billesbølle CB, Braz J, Rodriguiz RM, Roy K, Bekele B, Craik V, Huang XP, Boytsov D, Pogorelov VM, Lak P, O'Donnell H, Sandtner W, Irwin JJ, Roth BL, Basbaum AI, Wetsel WC, Manglik A, Shoichet BK, Rudnick G. Structure-based discovery of conformationally selective inhibitors of the serotonin transporter. Cell 2023; 186:2160-2175.e17. [PMID: 37137306 PMCID: PMC10306110 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The serotonin transporter (SERT) removes synaptic serotonin and is the target of anti-depressant drugs. SERT adopts three conformations: outward-open, occluded, and inward-open. All known inhibitors target the outward-open state except ibogaine, which has unusual anti-depressant and substance-withdrawal effects, and stabilizes the inward-open conformation. Unfortunately, ibogaine's promiscuity and cardiotoxicity limit the understanding of inward-open state ligands. We docked over 200 million small molecules against the inward-open state of the SERT. Thirty-six top-ranking compounds were synthesized, and thirteen inhibited; further structure-based optimization led to the selection of two potent (low nanomolar) inhibitors. These stabilized an outward-closed state of the SERT with little activity against common off-targets. A cryo-EM structure of one of these bound to the SERT confirmed the predicted geometry. In mouse behavioral assays, both compounds had anxiolytic- and anti-depressant-like activity, with potencies up to 200-fold better than fluoxetine (Prozac), and one substantially reversed morphine withdrawal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isha Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 4th St., Byers Hall Suite 508D, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Anubha Seth
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8066, USA
| | - Christian B Billesbølle
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 4th St., Byers Hall Suite 508D, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Joao Braz
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ramona M Rodriguiz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core Facility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kasturi Roy
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8066, USA
| | - Bethlehem Bekele
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8066, USA
| | - Veronica Craik
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Xi-Ping Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, NIMH Psychoactive Drug Screening Program, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Danila Boytsov
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Vladimir M Pogorelov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Parnian Lak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 4th St., Byers Hall Suite 508D, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Henry O'Donnell
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 4th St., Byers Hall Suite 508D, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Walter Sandtner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - John J Irwin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 4th St., Byers Hall Suite 508D, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, NIMH Psychoactive Drug Screening Program, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Allan I Basbaum
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - William C Wetsel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core Facility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Departments of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Aashish Manglik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 4th St., Byers Hall Suite 508D, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.
| | - Brian K Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 4th St., Byers Hall Suite 508D, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Gary Rudnick
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8066, USA.
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17
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Schafer CT, Chen Q, Tesmer JJG, Handel TM. Atypical Chemokine Receptor 3 'Senses' CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 Activation Through GPCR Kinase Phosphorylation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.25.530029. [PMID: 36865154 PMCID: PMC9980177 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.25.530029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3) is an arrestin-biased receptor that regulates extracellular chemokine levels through scavenging. The scavenging action mediates the availability of the chemokine CXCL12 for the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) CXCR4 and requires phosphorylation of the ACKR3 C-terminus by GPCR kinases (GRKs). ACKR3 is phosphorylated by GRK2 and GRK5, but the mechanisms by which these kinases regulate the receptor are unresolved. Here we mapped the phosphorylation patterns and determined that GRK5 phosphorylation of ACKR3 dominates β-arrestin recruitment and chemokine scavenging over GRK2. Co-activation of CXCR4 significantly enhanced phosphorylation by GRK2 through the liberation of Gβγ. These results suggest that ACKR3 'senses' CXCR4 activation through a GRK2-dependent crosstalk mechanism. Surprisingly, we also found that despite the requirement for phosphorylation, and the fact that most ligands promote β-arrestin recruitment, β-arrestins are dispensable for ACKR3 internalization and scavenging, suggesting a yet to be determined function for these adapter proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T. Schafer
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Qiuyan Chen
- Departments of Biological Sciences and of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Present address: Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - John J. G. Tesmer
- Departments of Biological Sciences and of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Tracy M. Handel
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA
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18
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Lin YT, Chen HD, Ai QD, Yang YT, Zhang Z, Chu SF, Chen NH. Characteristics and pathogenesis of chemokines in the post-stroke stage. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 116:109781. [PMID: 36720195 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Chemokines, as small molecular proteins, play a crucial role in the immune and inflammatory responses after stroke. A large amount of evidence showed chemokines and their receptors were increasingly recognized as potential targets for stroke treatment, which were involved in the processing of neovascularization, neurogenesis, and neural network reconstruction. In this review, we summarized the characteristics of chemokine alterations throughout the post-stroke nerve repair phase to gain insight into the pathological mechanisms of chemokines and find effective therapeutic targets for stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ting Lin
- Hunan Engineering Technology Center of Standardization and Function of Chinese Herbal Decoction Pieces and College of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Hao-Dong Chen
- Hunan Engineering Technology Center of Standardization and Function of Chinese Herbal Decoction Pieces and College of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Qi-di Ai
- Hunan Engineering Technology Center of Standardization and Function of Chinese Herbal Decoction Pieces and College of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Yan-Tao Yang
- Hunan Engineering Technology Center of Standardization and Function of Chinese Herbal Decoction Pieces and College of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Zhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medical & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Shi-Feng Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medical & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Nai-Hong Chen
- Hunan Engineering Technology Center of Standardization and Function of Chinese Herbal Decoction Pieces and College of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China; State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medical & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
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19
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"Glyco-sulfo barcodes" regulate chemokine receptor function. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:55. [PMID: 36729338 PMCID: PMC9894980 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04697-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Chemokine ligands and receptors regulate the directional migration of leukocytes. Post-translational modifications of chemokine receptors including O-glycosylation and tyrosine sulfation have been reported to regulate ligand binding and resulting signaling. Through in silico analyses, we determined potential conserved O-glycosylation and sulfation sites on human and murine CC chemokine receptors. Glyco-engineered CHO cell lines were used to measure the impact of O-glycosylation on CC chemokine receptor CCR5, while mutation of tyrosine residues and treatment with sodium chlorate were performed to determine the effect of tyrosine sulfation. Changing the glycosylation or tyrosine sulfation on CCR5 reduced the receptor signaling by the more positively charged CCL5 and CCL8 more profoundly compared to the less charged CCL3. The loss of negatively charged sialic acids resulted only in a minor effect on CCL3-induced signal transduction. The enzymes GalNAc-T1 and GalNAc-T11 were shown to be involved in the process of chemokine receptor O-glycosylation. These results indicate that O-glycosylation and tyrosine sulfation are involved in the fine-tuning and recognition of chemokine interactions with CCR5 and the resulting signaling.
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20
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Bogacka J, Pawlik K, Ciapała K, Ciechanowska A, Mika J. CC Chemokine Receptor 4 (CCR4) as a Possible New Target for Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415638. [PMID: 36555280 PMCID: PMC9779674 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines and their receptors participate in many biological processes, including the modulation of neuroimmune interactions. Approximately fifty chemokines are distinguished in humans, which are classified into four subfamilies based on the N-terminal conserved cysteine motifs: CXC, CC, C, and CX3C. Chemokines activate specific receptors localized on the surface of various immune and nervous cells. Approximately twenty chemokine receptors have been identified, and each of these receptors is a seven-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor. Recent studies provide new evidence that CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) is important in the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma, dermatitis, and cancer. This review briefly characterizes CCR4 and its ligands (CCL17, CCL22, and CCL2), and their contributions to immunological and neoplastic diseases. The review notes a significant role of CCR4 in nociceptive transmission, especially in painful neuropathy, which accompanies many diseases. The pharmacological blockade of CCR4 seems beneficial because of its pain-relieving effects and its influence on opioid efficacy. The possibilities of using the CCL2/CCL17/CCL22/CCR4 axis as a target in new therapies for many diseases are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Joanna Mika
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +48-12-6623-298; Fax: +48-12-6374-500
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21
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Stewart V, Ronald PC. Sulfotyrosine residues: interaction specificity determinants for extracellular protein-protein interactions. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102232. [PMID: 35798140 PMCID: PMC9372746 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tyrosine sulfation, a post-translational modification, can determine and often enhance protein–protein interaction specificity. Sulfotyrosyl residues (sTyrs) are formed by the enzyme tyrosyl-protein sulfotransferase during protein maturation in the Golgi apparatus and most often occur singly or as a cluster within a six-residue span. With both negative charge and aromatic character, sTyr facilitates numerous atomic contacts as visualized in binding interface structural models, thus there is no discernible binding site consensus. Found exclusively in secreted proteins, in this review, we discuss the four broad sequence contexts in which sTyr has been observed: first, a solitary sTyr has been shown to be critical for diverse high-affinity interactions, such as between peptide hormones and their receptors, in both plants and animals. Second, sTyr clusters within structurally flexible anionic segments are essential for a variety of cellular processes, including coreceptor binding to the HIV-1 envelope spike protein during virus entry, chemokine interactions with receptors, and leukocyte rolling cell adhesion. Third, a subcategory of sTyr clusters is found in conserved acidic sequences termed hirudin-like motifs that enable proteins to interact with thrombin; consequently, many proven and potential therapeutic proteins derived from blood-consuming invertebrates depend on sTyrs for their activity. Finally, several proteins that interact with collagen or similar proteins contain one or more sTyrs within an acidic residue array. Refined methods to direct sTyr incorporation in peptides synthesized both in vitro and in vivo, together with continued advances in mass spectrometry and affinity detection, promise to accelerate discoveries of sTyr occurrence and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valley Stewart
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, USA.
| | - Pamela C Ronald
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, USA; Genome Center, University of California, Davis, USA.
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22
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Chen K, Gao H, Yao Y. Prospects of cell chemotactic factors in bone and cartilage tissue engineering. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2022; 22:883-893. [PMID: 35668707 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2022.2087471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Chen
- Department of Joint Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Technology and Implant Materials
| | - Hui Gao
- Department of Joint Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Technology and Implant Materials
| | - Yongchang Yao
- Department of Joint Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Technology and Implant Materials
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23
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Shao Z, Tan Y, Shen Q, Hou L, Yao B, Qin J, Xu P, Mao C, Chen LN, Zhang H, Shen DD, Zhang C, Li W, Du X, Li F, Chen ZH, Jiang Y, Xu HE, Ying S, Ma H, Zhang Y, Shen H. Molecular insights into ligand recognition and activation of chemokine receptors CCR2 and CCR3. Cell Discov 2022; 8:44. [PMID: 35570218 PMCID: PMC9108096 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-022-00403-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokine receptors are a family of G-protein-coupled receptors with key roles in leukocyte migration and inflammatory responses. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of two human CC chemokine receptor-G-protein complexes: CCR2 bound to its endogenous ligand CCL2, and CCR3 in the apo state. The structure of the CCL2-CCR2-G-protein complex reveals that CCL2 inserts deeply into the extracellular half of the transmembrane domain, and forms substantial interactions with the receptor through the most N-terminal glutamine. Extensive hydrophobic and polar interactions are present between both two chemokine receptors and the Gα-protein, contributing to the constitutive activity of these receptors. Notably, complemented with functional experiments, the interactions around intracellular loop 2 of the receptors are found to be conserved and play a more critical role in G-protein activation than those around intracellular loop 3. Together, our findings provide structural insights into chemokine recognition and receptor activation, shedding lights on drug design targeting chemokine receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhehua Shao
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yangxia Tan
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qingya Shen
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li Hou
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bingpeng Yao
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiao Qin
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peiyu Xu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyou Mao
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li-Nan Chen
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huibing Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dan-Dan Shen
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Anatomy, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weijie Li
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xufei Du
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fei Li
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhi-Hua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - H Eric Xu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Songmin Ying
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Honglei Ma
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammatory Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Huahao Shen
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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24
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Shifting CCR7 towards Its Monomeric Form Augments CCL19 Binding and Uptake. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091444. [PMID: 35563750 PMCID: PMC9101108 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The chemokine receptor CCR7, together with its ligands, is responsible for the migration and positioning of adaptive immune cells, and hence critical for launching adaptive immune responses. CCR7 is also induced on certain cancer cells and contributes to metastasis formation. Thus, CCR7 expression and signalling must be tightly regulated for proper function. CCR7, like many other members of the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily, can form homodimers and oligomers. Notably, danger signals associated with pathogen encounter promote oligomerisation of CCR7 and is considered as one layer of regulating its function. Here, we assessed the dimerisation of human CCR7 and several single point mutations using split-luciferase complementation assays. We demonstrate that dimerisation-defective CCR7 mutants can be transported to the cell surface and elicit normal chemokine-driven G-protein activation. By contrast, we discovered that CCR7 mutants whose expression are shifted towards monomers significantly augment their capacities to bind and internalise fluorescently labelled CCL19. Modeling of the receptor suggests that dimerisation-defective CCR7 mutants render the extracellular loops more flexible and less structured, such that the chemokine recognition site located in the binding pocket might become more accessible to its ligand. Overall, we provide new insights into how the dimerisation state of CCR7 affects CCL19 binding and receptor trafficking.
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25
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A Scintillation Proximity Assay for Real-Time Kinetic Analysis of Chemokine–Chemokine Receptor Interactions. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081317. [PMID: 35455996 PMCID: PMC9024993 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokine receptors are extensively involved in a broad range of physiological and pathological processes, making them attractive drug targets. However, despite considerable efforts, there are very few approved drugs targeting this class of seven transmembrane domain receptors to date. In recent years, the importance of including binding kinetics in drug discovery campaigns was emphasized. Therefore, kinetic insight into chemokine–chemokine receptor interactions could help to address this issue. Moreover, it could additionally deepen our understanding of the selectivity and promiscuity of the chemokine–chemokine receptor network. Here, we describe the application, optimization and validation of a homogenous Scintillation Proximity Assay (SPA) for real-time kinetic profiling of chemokine–chemokine receptor interactions on the example of ACKR3 and CXCL12. The principle of the SPA is the detection of radioligand binding to receptors reconstituted into nanodiscs by scintillation light. No receptor modifications are required. The nanodiscs provide a native-like environment for receptors and allow for full control over bilayer composition and size. The continuous assay format enables the monitoring of binding reactions in real-time, and directly accounts for non-specific binding and potential artefacts. Minor adaptations additionally facilitate the determination of equilibrium binding metrics, making the assay a versatile tool for the study of receptor–ligand interactions.
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26
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Allosteric modulation of the chemokine receptor-chemokine CXCR4-CXCL12 complex by tyrosine sulfation. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 206:812-822. [PMID: 35306016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.03.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its cognate ligand CXCL12 mediate pathways that lead to cell migration and chemotaxis. Although the structural details of related receptor-ligand complexes have been resolved, the roles of the N-terminal domain of the receptor and post-translational sulfation that are determinants of ligand selectivity and affinity remain unclear. Here, we analyze the structural dynamics induced by receptor sulfation by combining molecular dynamics, docking and network analysis. The sulfotyrosine residues, 7YsN-term, 12YsN-term and 21YsN-term allow the N-terminal domain of the apo-sulfated receptor to adopt an "open" conformation that appears to facilitate ligand binding. The overall topology of the CXCR4-CXCL12 complex is independent of the sulfation state, but an extensive network of protein-protein interactions characterizes the sulfated receptor, in line with its increased ligand affinity. The altered interactions of sulfotyrosine residues, such as 21YsN-term-47RCXCL12 replacing the 21YN-term-13FCXCL12 interaction, propagate via allosteric pathways towards the receptor lumen. In particular, our results suggest that the experimentally-reported receptor-ligand interactions 262D6.58-8RCXCL12 and 277E7.28-12RCXCL12 could be dependent on the sulfation state of the receptor and need to be carefully analyzed. Our work is an important step in understanding chemokine-receptor interactions and how post-translational modifications could modulate receptor-ligand complexes.
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27
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Larsen O, van der Velden WJC, Mavri M, Schuermans S, Rummel PC, Karlshøj S, Gustavsson M, Proost P, Våbenø J, Rosenkilde MM. Identification of a conserved chemokine receptor motif that enables ligand discrimination. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabg7042. [PMID: 35258997 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abg7042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Extensive ligand-receptor promiscuity in the chemokine signaling system balances beneficial redundancy and specificity. However, this feature poses a major challenge to selectively modulate the system pharmacologically. Here, we identified a conserved cluster of three aromatic receptor residues that anchors the second extracellular loop (ECL2) to the top of receptor transmembrane helices (TM) 4 and 5 and enables recognition of both shared and specific characteristics of interacting chemokines. This cluster was essential for the activation of several chemokine receptors. Furthermore, characteristic motifs of the ß1 strand and 30s loop make the two main CC-chemokine subgroups-the macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIPs) and monocyte chemoattractant proteins (MCPs)-differentially dependent on this cluster in the promiscuous receptors CCR1, CCR2, and CCR5. The cluster additionally enabled CCR1 and CCR5 to discriminate between closely related MIPs based on the N terminus of the chemokine. G protein signaling and β-arrestin2 recruitment assays confirmed the importance of the conserved cluster in receptor discrimination of chemokine ligands. This extracellular site may facilitate the development of chemokine-related therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olav Larsen
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.,Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wijnand J C van der Velden
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maša Mavri
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.,Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sara Schuermans
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.,Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pia C Rummel
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stefanie Karlshøj
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Gustavsson
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jon Våbenø
- Helgeland Hospital Trust, Prestmarkveien 1, 8800 Sandnessjøen, Norway
| | - Mette M Rosenkilde
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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28
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Identification and mechanism of G protein-biased ligands for chemokine receptor CCR1. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:264-271. [PMID: 34949837 PMCID: PMC8885419 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-021-00918-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Biased signaling of G protein-coupled receptors describes an ability of different ligands that preferentially activate an alternative downstream signaling pathway. In this work, we identified and characterized different N-terminal truncations of endogenous chemokine CCL15 as balanced or biased agonists targeting CCR1, and presented three cryogenic-electron microscopy structures of the CCR1-Gi complex in the ligand-free form or bound to different CCL15 truncations with a resolution of 2.6-2.9 Å, illustrating the structural basis of natural biased signaling that initiates an inflammation response. Complemented with pharmacological and computational studies, these structures revealed it was the conformational change of Tyr291 (Y2917.43) in CCR1 that triggered its polar network rearrangement in the orthosteric binding pocket and allosterically regulated the activation of β-arrestin signaling. Our structure of CCL15-bound CCR1 also exhibited a critical site for ligand binding distinct from many other chemokine-receptor complexes, providing new insights into the mode of chemokine recognition.
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29
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Molecular insights into mechanisms of GPCR hijacking by Staphylococcus aureus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2108856118. [PMID: 34663701 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108856118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical chemokine receptor 1 (ACKR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targeted by Staphylococcus aureus bicomponent pore-forming leukotoxins to promote bacterial growth and immune evasion. Here, we have developed an integrative molecular pharmacology and structural biology approach in order to characterize the effect of leukotoxins HlgA and HlgB on ACKR1 structure and function. Interestingly, using cell-based assays and native mass spectrometry, we found that both components HlgA and HlgB compete with endogenous chemokines through a direct binding with the extracellular domain of ACKR1. Unexpectedly, hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry analysis revealed that toxin binding allosterically modulates the intracellular G protein-binding domain of the receptor, resulting in dissociation and/or changes in the architecture of ACKR1-Gαi1 protein complexes observed in living cells. Altogether, our study brings important molecular insights into the initial steps of leukotoxins targeting a host GPCR.
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30
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Ortiz Zacarías NV, Bemelmans MP, Handel TM, de Visser KE, Heitman LH. Anticancer opportunities at every stage of chemokine function. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:912-928. [PMID: 34521537 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The chemokine system, comprising 48 chemokines and 23 receptors, is critically involved in several hallmarks of cancer. Yet, despite extensive efforts from the pharmaceutical sector, only two drugs aimed at this system are currently approved for clinical use against cancer. To date, numerous pharmacological approaches have been developed to successfully intervene at different stages of chemokine function: (i) chemokine availability; (ii) chemokine-glycosaminoglycan binding; and (iii) chemokine receptor binding. Many of these strategies have been tested in preclinical cancer models, and some have advanced to clinical trials as potential anticancer therapies. Here we will review the strategies and growing pharmacological toolbox for manipulating the chemokine system in cancer, and address novel methods poised for future (pre)clinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V Ortiz Zacarías
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn P Bemelmans
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tracy M Handel
- University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Karin E de Visser
- Oncode Institute, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Laura H Heitman
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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31
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Jørgensen AS, Daugvilaite V, De Filippo K, Berg C, Mavri M, Benned-Jensen T, Juzenaite G, Hjortø G, Rankin S, Våbenø J, Rosenkilde MM. Biased action of the CXCR4-targeting drug plerixafor is essential for its superior hematopoietic stem cell mobilization. Commun Biol 2021; 4:569. [PMID: 33980979 PMCID: PMC8115334 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02070-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the FDA-approval of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilizer plerixafor, orally available and potent CXCR4 antagonists were pursued. One such proposition was AMD11070, which was orally active and had superior antagonism in vitro; however, it did not appear as effective for HSC mobilization in vivo. Here we show that while AMD11070 acts as a full antagonist, plerixafor acts biased by stimulating β-arrestin recruitment while fully antagonizing G protein. Consequently, while AMD11070 prevents the constitutive receptor internalization, plerixafor allows it and thereby decreases receptor expression. These findings are confirmed by the successful transfer of both ligands' binding sites and action to the related CXCR3 receptor. In vivo, plerixafor exhibits superior HSC mobilization associated with a dramatic reversal of the CXCL12 gradient across the bone marrow endothelium, which is not seen for AMD11070. We propose that the biased action of plerixafor is central for its superior therapeutic effect in HSC mobilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid S Jørgensen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Viktorija Daugvilaite
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katia De Filippo
- Department of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Berg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Unit for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Masa Mavri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tau Benned-Jensen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Goda Juzenaite
- Department of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gertrud Hjortø
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sara Rankin
- Department of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jon Våbenø
- Helgeland Hospital Trust, Sandnessjøen, Norway.
| | - Mette M Rosenkilde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Kharche S, Joshi M, Chattopadhyay A, Sengupta D. Conformational plasticity and dynamic interactions of the N-terminal domain of the chemokine receptor CXCR1. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008593. [PMID: 34014914 PMCID: PMC8172051 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic interactions between G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their cognate protein partners are central to several cell signaling pathways. For example, the association of CXC chemokine receptor 1 (CXCR1) with its cognate chemokine, interleukin-8 (IL8 or CXCL8) initiates pathways leading to neutrophil-mediated immune responses. The N-terminal domain of chemokine receptors confers ligand selectivity, but unfortunately the conformational dynamics of this intrinsically disordered region remains unresolved. In this work, we have explored the interaction of CXCR1 with IL8 by microsecond time scale coarse-grain simulations, complemented by atomistic models and NMR chemical shift predictions. We show that the conformational plasticity of the apo-receptor N-terminal domain is restricted upon ligand binding, driving it to an open C-shaped conformation. Importantly, we corroborated the dynamic complex sampled in our simulations against chemical shift perturbations reported by previous NMR studies and show that the trends are similar. Our results indicate that chemical shift perturbation is often not a reporter of residue contacts in such dynamic associations. We believe our results represent a step forward in devising a strategy to understand intrinsically disordered regions in GPCRs and how they acquire functionally important conformational ensembles in dynamic protein-protein interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalmali Kharche
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Manali Joshi
- Bioinformatics Centre, S. P. Pune University, Pune, India
| | | | - Durba Sengupta
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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The frequency of cytomegalovirus non-ELR UL146 genotypes in neonates with congenital CMV disease is comparable to strains in the background population. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:386. [PMID: 33902487 PMCID: PMC8077815 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06076-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Congenital cytomegalovirus disease (cCMV) is common and can be fatal or cause severe sequelae. Circulating strains of cytomegalovirus carry a high number of variable or disrupted genes. One of these is UL146, a highly diverse gene with 14 distinct genotypes encoding a CXC-chemokine involved in viral dissemination. UL146 genotypes 5 and 6 lack the conserved ELR motif, potentially affecting strain virulence. Here, we investigate whether UL146 genotypes 5 and 6 were associated with congenital CMV infection. Methods Viral DNA was extracted and UL146 sequenced from 116 neonatal dried blood spots (DBS) stored in the Danish National Biobank since 1982 and linked to registered cCMV cases through a personal identifier. These sequences were compared to UL146 control sequences obtained from CMV DNA extracted from 83 urine samples from children with suspected bacterial urinary tract infections. Results Three non-ELR UL146 genotypes (5 and 6) were observed among the cases (2.6%) and two were observed among the controls (2.4%; P > 0.99). Additionally, no significant association with cCMV was found for the other 12 genotypes in a post-hoc analysis, although genotype 8 showed a tendency to be more frequent among cases with 12 observations against three (P = 0.10). All fourteen genotypes were found to have little intra-genotype variation. Viral load, gender, and sample age were not found to be associated with any particular UL146 genotype. Conclusions No particular UL146 genotype was associated with cCMV in this nationwide retrospective case-control study. Associations between CMV disease and disrupted or polymorph CMV genes among immunosuppressed people living with HIV/AIDS and transplant recipients should be investigated in future studies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-06076-w.
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Madhurima K, Nandi B, Sekhar A. Metamorphic proteins: the Janus proteins of structural biology. Open Biol 2021; 11:210012. [PMID: 33878950 PMCID: PMC8059507 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The structural paradigm that the sequence of a protein encodes for a unique three-dimensional native fold does not acknowledge the intrinsic plasticity encapsulated in conformational free energy landscapes. Metamorphic proteins are a recently discovered class of biomolecules that illustrate this plasticity by folding into at least two distinct native state structures of comparable stability in the absence of ligands or cofactors to facilitate fold-switching. The expanding list of metamorphic proteins clearly shows that these proteins are not mere aberrations in protein evolution, but may have actually been a consequence of distinctive patterns in selection pressure such as those found in virus–host co-evolution. In this review, we describe the structure–function relationships observed in well-studied metamorphic protein systems, with specific focus on how functional residues are sequestered or exposed in the two folds of the protein. We also discuss the implications of metamorphosis for protein evolution and the efforts that are underway to predict metamorphic systems from sequence properties alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kulkarni Madhurima
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
| | - Bodhisatwa Nandi
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
| | - Ashok Sekhar
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
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35
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Wu X, Zhang H, Sui Z, Wang Y, Yu Z. The biological role of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Biol Med 2021; 18:j.issn.2095-3941.2020.0140. [PMID: 33710803 PMCID: PMC8185864 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2020.0140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common malignant tumor and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the main histological type of esophageal cancer, and accounts for 90% of all cancer cases. Despite the progress made in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the mortality rate from esophageal cancer remains high, and the overall 5-year survival rate is less than 20%, even in developed countries. The C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) is a member of the CXC chemokine subgroup, which is widely expressed in a variety of tissues and cells. CXCL12 participates in the regulation of many physiological and pathological processes by binding to its specific receptor, C-X-C motif chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), where it causes embryonic development, immune response, and angiogenesis. In addition, increasing evidence indicates that the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis plays an important role in the biological processes of tumor cells. Studies have shown that CXCL12 and its receptor, CXCR4, are highly expressed in ESCC. This abnormal expression contributes to tumor proliferation, lymph node and distant metastases, and worsening prognosis. At present, antagonists and imaging agents against CXCL12 or CXCR4 have been developed to interfere with the malignant process and monitor metastasis of tumors. This article summarizes the structure, function, and regulatory mechanism of CXCL12/CXCR4 and its role in the malignancy of ESCC. Current results from preclinical research targeting CXCL12/CXCR4 are also summarized to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianxian Wu
- Departments of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Hongdian Zhang
- Departments of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Zhilin Sui
- Departments of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Zhentao Yu
- Departments of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
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Karl K, Paul MD, Pasquale EB, Hristova K. Ligand bias in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:18494-18507. [PMID: 33122191 PMCID: PMC7939482 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.015190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ligand bias is the ability of ligands to differentially activate certain receptor signaling responses compared with others. It reflects differences in the responses of a receptor to specific ligands and has implications for the development of highly specific therapeutics. Whereas ligand bias has been studied primarily for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), there are also reports of ligand bias for receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). However, the understanding of RTK ligand bias is lagging behind the knowledge of GPCR ligand bias. In this review, we highlight how protocols that were developed to study GPCR signaling can be used to identify and quantify RTK ligand bias. We also introduce an operational model that can provide insights into the biophysical basis of RTK activation and ligand bias. Finally, we discuss possible mechanisms underpinning RTK ligand bias. Thus, this review serves as a primer for researchers interested in investigating ligand bias in RTK signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Karl
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael D Paul
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elena B Pasquale
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA.
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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37
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Mikolajczyk TP, Szczepaniak P, Vidler F, Maffia P, Graham GJ, Guzik TJ. Role of inflammatory chemokines in hypertension. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 223:107799. [PMID: 33359600 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hypertension is associated with immune cells activation and their migration into the kidney, vasculature, heart and brain. These inflammatory mechanisms are critical for blood pressure regulation and mediate target organ damage, creating unique novel targets for pharmacological modulation. In response to angiotensin II and other pro-hypertensive stimuli, the expression of several inflammatory chemokines and their receptors is increased in the target organs, mediating homing of immune cells. In this review, we summarize the contribution of key inflammatory chemokines and their receptors to increased accumulation of immune cells in target organs and effects on vascular dysfunction, remodeling, oxidative stress and fibrosis, all of which contribute to blood pressure elevation. In particular, the role of CCL2, CCL5, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL16, CXCL1, CX3CL1, XCL1 and their receptors in the context of hypertension is discussed. Recent studies have tested the efficacy of pharmacological or genetic targeting of chemokines and their receptors on the development of hypertension. Promising results indicate that some of these pathways may serve as future therapeutic targets to improve blood pressure control and prevent target organ consequences including kidney failure, heart failure, atherosclerosis or cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz P Mikolajczyk
- Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland; Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Piotr Szczepaniak
- Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Francesca Vidler
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Pasquale Maffia
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; BHF Centre for Excellence Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Gerard J Graham
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Tomasz J Guzik
- Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland; BHF Centre for Excellence Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
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38
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Eiger DS, Boldizsar N, Honeycutt CC, Gardner J, Rajagopal S. Biased agonism at chemokine receptors. Cell Signal 2020; 78:109862. [PMID: 33249087 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the human chemokine system, interactions between the approximately 50 known endogenous chemokine ligands and 20 known chemokine receptors (CKRs) regulate a wide range of cellular functions and biological processes including immune cell activation and homeostasis, development, angiogenesis, and neuromodulation. CKRs are a family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), which represent the most common and versatile class of receptors in the human genome and the targets of approximately one third of all Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs. Chemokines and CKRs bind with significant promiscuity, as most CKRs can be activated by multiple chemokines and most chemokines can activate multiple CKRs. While these ligand-receptor interactions were previously regarded as redundant, it is now appreciated that many chemokine:CKR interactions display biased agonism, the phenomenon in which different ligands binding to the same receptor signal through different pathways with different efficacies, leading to distinct biological effects. Notably, these biased responses can be modulated through changes in ligand, receptor, and or the specific cellular context (system). In this review, we explore the biochemical mechanisms, functional consequences, and therapeutic potential of biased agonism in the chemokine system. An enhanced understanding of biased agonism in the chemokine system may prove transformative in the understanding of the mechanisms and consequences of biased signaling across all GPCR subtypes and aid in the development of biased pharmaceuticals with increased therapeutic efficacy and safer side effect profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noelia Boldizsar
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | | | - Julia Gardner
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Sudarshan Rajagopal
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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39
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Shang X, Wang L, Liu Y, Liu X, Lv J, Zhou X, Wang H, Nazierhan S, Wang J, Ma X. Diagnostic value of CXCR3 and its ligands in spinal tuberculosis. Exp Ther Med 2020; 21:73. [PMID: 33365073 PMCID: PMC7716639 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.9505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate whether C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) and its ligands may aid in diagnosing spinal tuberculosis (ST). A total of 36 patients with ST and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. The morphology of tuberculous granuloma in spinal tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The presence and distribution of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) were observed by Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining. The protein expression of Ag85B, IFN-γ, and CXCR3 and its ligands (CXCL9 and CXCL10) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The levels of IFN-γ, CXCR3, CXCL9 and CXCL10 in peripheral blood of patients with ST and healthy controls were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and ELISA. Typical tuberculous granuloma was observed in the ST close tissue. AFB was observed by ZN staining. Positive expression of Ag85B was found in the surrounding caseous necrotic tissue of the tuberculous granuloma. IFN-γ, CXCR3, CXCL9 and CXCL10 were expressed in the tissue surrounding the tuberculous granuloma and their expression levels were markedly higher than those in the distant tissues. The levels of IFN-γ, CXCR3, CXCL9 and CXCL10 in peripheral blood of patients with ST were significantly higher than those in the healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that IFN-γ, CXCR3 and CXCL10 were more reliable diagnostic markers in terms of sensitivity and specificity. IFN-γ, CXCR3, CXCL9 and CXCL10 were highly expressed in the lesion tissue and peripheral blood samples of patients with ST, and IFN-γ, CXCR3 and its ligands aided in diagnosing ST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Shang
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
| | - Liang Wang
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
| | - Yumei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
| | - Xuemei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, 137 Liyushan Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
| | - Jie Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
| | - Shaxika Nazierhan
- Department of Spinal Surgery, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, 137 Liyushan Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
| | - Xiumin Ma
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
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Discovery of Potential Chemical Probe as Inhibitors of CXCL12 Using Ligand-Based Virtual Screening and Molecular Dynamic Simulation. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25204829. [PMID: 33092204 PMCID: PMC7594044 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
CXCL12 are small pro-inflammatory chemo-attractant cytokines that bind to a specific receptor CXCR4 with a role in angiogenesis, tumor progression, metastasis, and cell survival. Globally, cancer metastasis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we targeted CXCL12 rather than the chemokine receptor (CXCR4) because most of the drugs failed in clinical trials due to unmanageable toxicities. Until now, no FDA approved medication has been available against CXCL12. Therefore, we aimed to find new inhibitors for CXCL12 through virtual screening followed by molecular dynamics simulation. For virtual screening, active compounds against CXCL12 were taken as potent inhibitors and utilized in the generation of a pharmacophore model, followed by validation against different datasets. Ligand based virtual screening was performed on the ChEMBL and in-house databases, which resulted in successive elimination through the steps of pharmacophore-based and score-based screenings, and finally, sixteen compounds of various interactions with significant crucial amino acid residues were selected as virtual hits. Furthermore, the binding mode of these compounds were refined through molecular dynamic simulations. Moreover, the stability of protein complexes, Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD), Root Mean Square Fluctuation (RMSF), and radius of gyration were analyzed, which led to the identification of three potent inhibitors of CXCL12 that may be pursued in the drug discovery process against cancer metastasis.
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41
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Wedemeyer MJ, Mahn SA, Getschman AE, Crawford KS, Peterson FC, Marchese A, McCorvy JD, Volkman BF. The chemokine X-factor: Structure-function analysis of the CXC motif at CXCR4 and ACKR3. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:13927-13939. [PMID: 32788219 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The human chemokine family consists of 46 protein ligands that induce chemotactic cell migration by activating a family of 23 G protein-coupled receptors. The two major chemokine subfamilies, CC and CXC, bind distinct receptor subsets. A sequence motif defining these families, the X position in the CXC motif, is not predicted to make significant contacts with the receptor, but instead links structural elements associated with binding and activation. Here, we use comparative analysis of chemokine NMR structures, structural modeling, and molecular dynamic simulations that suggested the X position reorients the chemokine N terminus. Using CXCL12 as a model CXC chemokine, deletion of the X residue (Pro-10) had little to no impact on the folded chemokine structure but diminished CXCR4 agonist activity as measured by ERK phosphorylation, chemotaxis, and Gi/o-mediated cAMP inhibition. Functional impairment was attributed to over 100-fold loss of CXCR4 binding affinity. Binding to the other CXCL12 receptor, ACKR3, was diminished nearly 500-fold. Deletion of Pro-10 had little effect on CXCL12 binding to the CXCR4 N terminus, a major component of the chemokine-GPCR interface. Replacement of the X residue with the most frequent amino acid at this position (P10Q) had an intermediate effect between WT and P10del in each assay, with ACKR3 having a higher tolerance for this mutation. This work shows that the X residue helps to position the CXCL12 N terminus for optimal docking into the orthosteric pocket of CXCR4 and suggests that the CC/CXC motif contributes directly to receptor selectivity by orienting the chemokine N terminus in a subfamily-specific direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Wedemeyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Sarah A Mahn
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Anthony E Getschman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kyler S Crawford
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Francis C Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Adriano Marchese
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - John D McCorvy
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Brian F Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Chemokines are a large group of low molecular weight cytokines that attract and activate leukocytes throughout the body and therefore have a key role in the framework of late-phase allergic responses. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the main chemokines involved in allergic conjunctivitis, their primary functions and their physiological roles, and therapies targeted at chemokines and their receptors for ocular allergic diseases. RECENT FINDINGS In recent years, there have been considerable advances in the understanding of ocular pathophysiology of ocular surface inflammatory diseases including both allergic eye diseases and dry eye syndrome. Several therapies being developed for dry eye inflammation are recognized as possible therapies for ocular allergic diseases as there are often common chemokines involved in both disease spectra. SUMMARY Chemokines represent an integral part of the late-phase cascade of ocular allergic inflammation. A deep understanding of specific chemokines and their interactions will help in targeting therapies to effectively manage ocular clinical findings and symptoms of allergic eye disease.
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Stephens BS, Ngo T, Kufareva I, Handel TM. Functional anatomy of the full-length CXCR4-CXCL12 complex systematically dissected by quantitative model-guided mutagenesis. Sci Signal 2020; 13:eaay5024. [PMID: 32665413 PMCID: PMC7437921 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aay5024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Because of their prominent roles in development, cancer, and HIV, the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 have been the subject of numerous structural and functional studies, but the determinants of ligand binding, selectivity, and signaling are still poorly understood. Here, building on our latest structural model, we used a systematic mutagenesis strategy to dissect the functional anatomy of the CXCR4-CXCL12 complex. Key charge swap mutagenesis experiments provided evidence for pairwise interactions between oppositely charged residues in the receptor and chemokine, confirming the accuracy of the predicted orientation of the chemokine relative to the receptor and providing insight into ligand selectivity. Progressive deletion of N-terminal residues revealed an unexpected contribution of the receptor N terminus to chemokine signaling. This finding challenges a longstanding "two-site" hypothesis about the essential features of the receptor-chemokine interaction in which the N terminus contributes only to binding affinity. Our results suggest that although the interaction of the chemokine N terminus with the receptor-binding pocket is the key driver of signaling, the signaling amplitude depends on the extent to which the receptor N terminus binds the chemokine. Together with systematic characterization of other epitopes, these data enable us to propose an experimentally consistent structural model for how CXCL12 binds CXCR4 and initiates signal transmission through the receptor transmembrane domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan S Stephens
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Tony Ngo
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Irina Kufareva
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Tracy M Handel
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Samson GPB, Legler DF. Membrane Compartmentalization and Scaffold Proteins in Leukocyte Migration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:285. [PMID: 32411706 PMCID: PMC7198906 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Leukocyte migration across vessels into and within peripheral and lymphoid tissues is essential for host defense against invading pathogens. Leukocytes are specialized in sensing a variety of guidance cues and to integrate environmental stimuli to navigate in a timely and spatially controlled manner. These extracellular signals must be transmitted across the leukocyte’s plasma membrane in a way that intracellular signaling cascades enable directional cell movement. Therefore, the composition of the membrane in concert with proteins that influence the compartmentalization of the plasma membrane or contribute to delineate intracellular signaling molecules are key in controlling leukocyte navigation. This becomes evident by the fact that mislocalization of membrane proteins is known to deleteriously affect cellular functions that may cause diseases. In this review we summarize recent advances made in the understanding of how membrane cholesterol levels modulate chemokine receptor signaling and hence leukocyte trafficking. Moreover, we provide an overview on the role of membrane scaffold proteins, particularly tetraspanins, flotillins/reggies, and caveolins in controlling leukocyte migration both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guerric P B Samson
- Biotechnology Institute Thurgau at the University of Konstanz, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
| | - Daniel F Legler
- Biotechnology Institute Thurgau at the University of Konstanz, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland.,Faculty of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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45
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Jaracz-Ros A, Bernadat G, Cutolo P, Gallego C, Gustavsson M, Cecon E, Baleux F, Kufareva I, Handel TM, Bachelerie F, Levoye A. Differential activity and selectivity of N-terminal modified CXCL12 chemokines at the CXCR4 and ACKR3 receptors. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 107:1123-1135. [PMID: 32374043 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.2ma0320-383rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines play critical roles in numerous physiologic and pathologic processes through their action on seven-transmembrane (TM) receptors. The N-terminal domain of chemokines, which is a key determinant of signaling via its binding within a pocket formed by receptors' TM helices, can be the target of proteolytic processing. An illustrative case of this regulatory mechanism is the natural processing of CXCL12 that generates chemokine variants lacking the first two N-terminal residues. Whereas such truncated variants behave as antagonists of CXCR4, the canonical G protein-coupled receptor of CXCL12, they are agonists of the atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3/CXCR7), suggesting the implication of different structural determinants in the complexes formed between CXCL12 and its two receptors. Recent analyses have suggested that the CXCL12 N-terminus first engages the TM helices of ACKR3 followed by the receptor N-terminus wrapping around the chemokine core. Here we investigated the first stage of ACKR3-CXCL12 interactions by comparing the activity of substituted or N-terminally truncated variants of CXCL12 toward CXCR4 and ACKR3. We showed that modification of the first two N-terminal residues of the chemokine (K1R or P2G) does not alter the ability of CXCL12 to activate ACKR3. Our results also identified the K1R variant as a G protein-biased agonist of CXCR4. Comparative molecular dynamics simulations of the complexes formed by ACKR3 either with CXCL12 or with the P2G variant identified interactions between the N-terminal 2-4 residues of CXCL12 and a pocket formed by receptor's TM helices 2, 6, and 7 as critical determinants for ACKR3 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jaracz-Ros
- Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM, Inflammation, Microbiome and Immunosurveillance, Clamart, France
| | | | - Pasquale Cutolo
- Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM, Inflammation, Microbiome and Immunosurveillance, Clamart, France
| | - Carmen Gallego
- Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM, Inflammation, Microbiome and Immunosurveillance, Clamart, France
| | - Martin Gustavsson
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, Jolla, Louisiana, California, USA
| | - Erika Cecon
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Françoise Baleux
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Chimie des Biomolécules, Paris, France
| | - Irina Kufareva
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, Jolla, Louisiana, California, USA
| | - Tracy M Handel
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, Jolla, Louisiana, California, USA
| | - Françoise Bachelerie
- Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM, Inflammation, Microbiome and Immunosurveillance, Clamart, France
| | - Angélique Levoye
- Université de Paris, PARCC, INSERM, Paris, France.,Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny, France
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46
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Ngo T, Stephens BS, Gustavsson M, Holden LG, Abagyan R, Handel TM, Kufareva I. Crosslinking-guided geometry of a complete CXC receptor-chemokine complex and the basis of chemokine subfamily selectivity. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000656. [PMID: 32271748 PMCID: PMC7173943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines and their receptors are orchestrators of cell migration in humans. Because dysregulation of the receptor-chemokine system leads to inflammation and cancer, both chemokines and receptors are highly sought therapeutic targets. Yet one of the barriers for their therapeutic targeting is the limited understanding of the structural principles behind receptor-chemokine recognition and selectivity. The existing structures do not include CXC subfamily complexes and lack information about the receptor distal N-termini, despite the importance of the latter in signaling, regulation, and bias. Here, we report the discovery of the geometry of the complex between full-length CXCR4, a prototypical CXC receptor and driver of cancer metastasis, and its endogenous ligand CXCL12. By comprehensive disulfide cross-linking, we establish the existence and the structure of a novel interface between the CXCR4 distal N-terminus and CXCL12 β1-strand, while also recapitulating earlier findings from nuclear magnetic resonance, modeling and crystallography of homologous receptors. A cross-linking-informed high-resolution model of the CXCR4-CXCL12 complex pinpoints the interaction determinants and reveals the occupancy of the receptor major subpocket by the CXCL12 proximal N terminus. This newly found positioning of the chemokine proximal N-terminus provides a structural explanation of CXC receptor-chemokine selectivity against other subfamilies. Our findings challenge the traditional two-site understanding of receptor-chemokine recognition, suggest the possibility of new affinity and signaling determinants, and fill a critical void on the structural map of an important class of therapeutic targets. These results will aid the rational design of selective chemokine-receptor targeting small molecules and biologics with novel pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Ngo
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Bryan S. Stephens
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Martin Gustavsson
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Lauren G. Holden
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Ruben Abagyan
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Tracy M. Handel
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Irina Kufareva
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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47
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Liu Y, Feng Q, Miao J, Wu Q, Zhou S, Shen W, Feng Y, Hou FF, Liu Y, Zhou L. C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 aggravates renal fibrosis through activating JAK/STAT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:3837-3855. [PMID: 32119183 PMCID: PMC7171406 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a high prevalence worldwide. Renal fibrosis is the common pathological feature in various types of CKD. However, the underlying mechanisms are not determined. Here, we adopted different CKD mouse models and cultured human proximal tubular cell line (HKC-8) to examine the expression of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and β-catenin signalling, as well as their relationship in renal fibrosis. In CKD mice and humans with a variety of nephropathies, CXCR4 was dramatically up-regulated in tubules, with a concomitant activation of β-catenin. CXCR4 expression level was positively correlated with the expression of β-catenin target MMP-7. AMD3100, a CXCR4 receptor blocker, and gene knockdown of CXCR4 significantly inhibited the activation of JAK/STAT and β-catenin signalling, protected against tubular injury and renal fibrosis. CXCR4-induced renal fibrosis was inhibited by treatment with ICG-001, an inhibitor of β-catenin signalling. In HKC-8 cells, overexpression of CXCR4 induced activation of β-catenin and deteriorated cell injury. These effects were inhibited by ICG-001. Stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α, the ligand of CXCR4, stimulated the activation of JAK2/STAT3 and JAK3/STAT6 signalling in HKC-8 cells. Overexpression of STAT3 or STAT6 decreased the abundance of GSK3β mRNA. Silencing of STAT3 or STAT6 significantly blocked SDF-1α-induced activation of β-catenin and fibrotic lesions. These results uncover a novel mechanistic linkage between CXCR4 and β-catenin activation in renal fibrosis in association with JAK/STAT/GSK3β pathway. Our studies also suggest that targeted inhibition of CXCR4 may provide better therapeutic effects on renal fibrosis by inhibiting multiple downstream signalling cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahong Liu
- Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Division of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xingtai Medical College, Xingtai, China
| | - Qijian Feng
- Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinhua Miao
- Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinyu Wu
- Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shan Zhou
- Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Shen
- Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanqiu Feng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan Fan Hou
- Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youhua Liu
- Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lili Zhou
- Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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48
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Stein RM, Kang HJ, McCorvy JD, Glatfelter GC, Jones AJ, Che T, Slocum S, Huang XP, Savych O, Moroz YS, Stauch B, Johansson LC, Cherezov V, Kenakin T, Irwin JJ, Shoichet BK, Roth BL, Dubocovich ML. Virtual discovery of melatonin receptor ligands to modulate circadian rhythms. Nature 2020; 579:609-614. [PMID: 32040955 PMCID: PMC7134359 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2027-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Reed M Stein
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hye Jin Kang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John D McCorvy
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Grant C Glatfelter
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (SUNY), The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.,Designer Drug Research Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anthony J Jones
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (SUNY), The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Tao Che
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Samuel Slocum
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Xi-Ping Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Yurii S Moroz
- National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, Kiev, Ukraine.,Chemspace, Monmouth Junction, NJ, USA
| | - Benjamin Stauch
- Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Linda C Johansson
- Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vadim Cherezov
- Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Terry Kenakin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John J Irwin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brian K Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Margarita L Dubocovich
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (SUNY), The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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49
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Gustavsson M. New insights into the structure and function of chemokine receptor:chemokine complexes from an experimental perspective. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 107:1115-1122. [DOI: 10.1002/jlb.2mr1219-288r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Gustavsson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
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50
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Bhattacharya S, Kawamura A. Using evasins to target the chemokine network in inflammation. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2019; 119:1-38. [PMID: 31997766 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation, is driven by a network comprising cytokines, chemokines, their target receptors and leukocytes, and is a major pathologic mechanism that adversely affects organ function in diverse human diseases. Despite being supported by substantial target validation, no successful anti-chemokine therapeutic to treat inflammatory disease has yet been developed. This is in part because of the robustness of the chemokine network, which emerges from a large total chemokine load in disease, promiscuous expression of receptors on leukocytes, promiscuous and synergistic interactions between chemokines and receptors, and feedforward loops created by secretion of chemokines by leukocytes themselves. Many parasites, including viruses, helminths and ticks, evade the chemokine network by producing proteins that bind promiscuously to chemokines or their receptors. Evasins - three small glycoproteins identified in the saliva of the brown dog tick - bind multiple chemokines, and are active in several animal models of inflammatory disease. Over 50 evasin homologs have recently been identified from diverse tick species. Characterization of the chemokine binding patterns of evasins show that several have anti-chemokine activities that extend substantially beyond those previously described. These studies indicate that evasins function at the site of the tick bite by reducing total chemokine load. This not only reduces chemokine signaling to receptors, but also interrupts feedforward loops, thus disabling the chemokine network. Taking the lead from nature, a goal for the development of new anti-chemokine therapeutics would be to reduce the total chemokine load in disease. This could be achieved by administering appropriate evasin combinations or by smaller peptides that mimic evasin action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoumo Bhattacharya
- RDM Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Akane Kawamura
- RDM Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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