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Liu Y, Weng L, Wang Y, Zhang J, Wu Q, Zhao P, Shi Y, Wang P, Fang L. Deciphering the role of CD47 in cancer immunotherapy. J Adv Res 2024; 63:129-158. [PMID: 39167629 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy has emerged as a novel strategy for cancer treatment following surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Immune checkpoint blockade and Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies have been successful in clinical trials. Cancer cells evade immune surveillance by hijacking inhibitory pathways via overexpression of checkpoint genes. The Cluster of Differentiation 47 (CD47) has emerged as a crucial checkpoint for cancer immunotherapy by working as a "don't eat me" signal and suppressing innate immune signaling. Furthermore, CD47 is highly expressed in many cancer types to protect cancer cells from phagocytosis via binding to SIRPα on phagocytes. Targeting CD47 by either interrupting the CD47-SIRPα axis or combing with other therapies has been demonstrated as an encouraging therapeutic strategy in cancer immunotherapy. Antibodies and small molecules that target CD47 have been explored in pre- and clinical trials. However, formidable challenges such as the anemia and palate aggregation cannot be avoided because of the wide presentation of CD47 on erythrocytes. AIM OF VIEW This review summarizes the current knowledge on the regulation and function of CD47, and provides a new perspective for immunotherapy targeting CD47. It also highlights the clinical progress of targeting CD47 and discusses challenges and potential strategies. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW This review provides a comprehensive understanding of targeting CD47 in cancer immunotherapy, it also augments the concept of combination immunotherapy strategies by employing both innate and adaptive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu'e Liu
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Linjun Weng
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yanjin Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi, Medical Center, 39216 Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Qi Wu
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Pengcheng Zhao
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, No.266 Xincun West Road, Zibo 255000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yufeng Shi
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Ping Wang
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Lan Fang
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Wen TZ, Li TR, Chen XY, Chen HY, Wang S, Fu WJ, Xiao SQ, Luo J, Tang R, Ji JL, Huang JF, He ZC, Luo T, Zhao HL, Chen C, Miao JY, Niu Q, Wang Y, Bian XW, Yao XH. Increased adrenal steroidogenesis and suppressed corticosteroid responsiveness in critical COVID-19. Metabolism 2024; 160:155980. [PMID: 39053691 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2024.155980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on adrenal endocrine metabolism in critically ill patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the alterations in adrenal steroidogenic activity, elucidate underlying mechanisms, provide in situ histopathological evidence, and examine the clinical implications. METHODS The comparative analyses of the adrenal cortices from 24 patients with fatal COVID-19 and 20 matched controls were performed, excluding patients previously treated with glucocorticoids. SARS-CoV-2 and its receptors were identified and pathological alterations were examined. Furthermore, histological examinations, immunohistochemical staining and ultrastructural analyses were performed to assess corticosteroid biosynthesis. The zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculata (ZF) were then dissected for proteomic analyses. The biological processes that affected steroidogenesis were analyzed by integrating histological, proteomic, and clinical data. Finally, the immunoreactivity and responsive genes of mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors in essential tissues were quantitatively measured to evaluate corticosteroid responsiveness. FINDINGS The demographic characteristics of COVID-19 patients were comparable with those of controls. SARS-CoV-2-like particles were identified in the adrenocortical cells of three patients; however, these particles did not affect cellular morphology or steroid synthesis compared with SARS-CoV-2-negative specimens. Although the adrenals exhibited focal necrosis, vacuolization, microthrombi, and inflammation, widespread degeneration was not evident. Notably, corticosteroid biosynthesis was significantly enhanced in both the ZG and ZF of COVID-19 patients. The increase in the inflammatory response and cellular differentiation in the adrenal cortices of patients with critical COVID-19 was positively correlated with heightened steroidogenic activity. Additionally, the appearance of more dual-ZG/ZF identity cells in COVID-19 adrenals was in accordance with the increased steroidogenic function. However, activated mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors and their responsive genes in vital tissues were markedly reduced in patients with critical COVID-19. INTERPRETATION Critical COVID-19 was characterized by potentiated adrenal steroidogenesis, associated with increased inflammation, enhanced differentiation and elevated dual-ZG/ZF identity cells, alongside suppressed corticosteroid responsiveness. These alterations implied the reduced effectiveness of conventional corticosteroid therapy and underscored the need for evaluation of the adrenal axis and corticosteroid sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Zi Wen
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Tian-Ran Li
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin-Yu Chen
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - He-Yuan Chen
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Wen-Juan Fu
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Shi-Qi Xiao
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Luo
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Rui Tang
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Jia-Le Ji
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Jia-Feng Huang
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhi-Cheng He
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Tao Luo
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong-Liang Zhao
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Cong Chen
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing-Ya Miao
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Qin Niu
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China; Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiu-Wu Bian
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China; YuYue Laboratory, Chongqing, China.
| | - Xiao-Hong Yao
- Institute of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China.
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Polyakova EA, Ushakova SE, Okovityy SV, Zaytsev AA, Bagaeva MI. [New medical technologies in cough therapy: results of a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial]. TERAPEVT ARKH 2024; 96:614-621. [PMID: 39106503 DOI: 10.26442/00403660.2024.06.202804] [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: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
AIM To study the efficacy and safety of Eladis® in comparison with placebo in patients with non-productive cough. MATERIALS AND METHODS A phase III clinical trial enrolled 250 patients aged 18-65 years with acute respiratory viral infection with upper respiratory tract involvement or acute bronchitis. Patients were randomized into 2 groups of 125 subjects: group 1 received Eladis® (40 mg tablets), group 2 received a matching placebo. The patients received the study drugs 1 tablet BID for 7-14 days. After the treatment, patients were followed up (day 7±2) to assess the effect of therapy on the frequency of coughing attacks, the frequency and severity of daytime and nocturnal cough, the severity of cough, the duration of clinical cough cure, and the effect on the severity of the main acute respiratory viral infection symptoms. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION The results of the study demonstrate the overall efficacy and statistically significant superiority of Eladis® over placebo: there were significant differences between the study groups in the proportion of patients who decreased the coughing attack frequency by ≥50% by day 5 (p<0.0001). In addition, the clinical cure of cough in the Eladis® group occurred 2 days earlier: the median time was 6 days, vs 8 days in placebo group. There was a decrease in the frequency of cough attacks and a decrease in its severity by more than 3.5 points by day 5 of treatment. All the effects were associated with high safety of the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Polyakova
- Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University
- Almazov National Medical Research Centre
| | | | - S V Okovityy
- Saint Petersburg State Chemical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - A A Zaytsev
- Russian Biotechnological University
- Russian University of Medicine
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Chen X, Yu X, Cui Y, Du L, Zhou Q, Xiong W, Li C, Xu C, Wu H. Isoglutaminyl Cyclase Overexpression Enhances KYSE30 Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration via the MAPK Signaling Pathway. J Proteome Res 2024; 23:1859-1870. [PMID: 38655723 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00197] [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] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
To understand how upregulated isoglutaminyl cyclase (isoQC) is involved in the initiation of diseases such as cancer, we developed a human KYSE30 carcinoma cell model in which isoQC was stably overexpressed. GO and KEGG analysis of the DEGs (228) and DEPs (254) respectively implicated isoQC on the proliferation invasion and metastasis of cells and suggested that isoQC might participate in the regulation of MAPK, RAS, circadian rhythm, and related pathways. At the functional level, isoQC-overexpressing KYSE30 cells showed enhanced proliferation, migration, and invasion capacity. Next, we decided to study the precise effect of isoQC overexpression on JNK, p-JNK, AKT, p-AKT, ERK, p-ERK, and PER2, as RNA levels of these proteins are significantly correlated with signal levels indicated in RNA-Seq analysis, and these candidates are the top correlated DEPs enriched in RT-qPCR analysis. We saw that only p-ERK expression was inhibited, while PER2 was increased. These phenotypes were inhibited upon exposure to PER2 inhibitor KL044, which allowed for the restoration of p-ERK levels. These data support upregulated isoQC being able to promote cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro, likely by helping to regulate the MAPK and RAS signaling pathways, and the circadian protein PER2 might be a potential mediator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xi Yu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yangqing Cui
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lang Du
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qingqing Zhou
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chenyang Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chenshu Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Haiqiang Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
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Li X, Su Y, Xu Y, Hu T, Lu X, Sun J, Li W, Zhou J, Ma X, Yang Y, Bao Y. Adipocyte-Specific Hnrnpa1 Knockout Aggravates Obesity-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction via Upregulation of CCL2. Diabetes 2024; 73:713-727. [PMID: 38320300 PMCID: PMC11043064 DOI: 10.2337/db23-0609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (HNRNPA1) is involved in lipid and glucose metabolism via mRNA processing. However, whether and how HNRNPA1 alters adipocyte function in obesity remain obscure. Here, we found that the obese state downregulated HNRNPA1 expression in white adipose tissue (WAT). The depletion of adipocyte HNRNPA1 promoted markedly increased macrophage infiltration and expression of proinflammatory and fibrosis genes in WAT of obese mice, eventually leading to exacerbated insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, and hepatic steatosis. Mechanistically, HNRNPA1 interacted with Ccl2 and regulated its mRNA stability. Intraperitoneal injection of CCL2-CCR2 signaling antagonist improved adipose tissue inflammation and systemic glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, HNRNPA1 expression in human WAT was negatively correlated with BMI, fat percentage, and subcutaneous fat area. Among individuals with 1-year metabolic surgery follow-up, HNRNPA1 expression was positively related to percentage of total weight loss. These findings identify adipocyte HNRNPA1 as a link between adipose tissue inflammation and systemic metabolic homeostasis, which might be a promising therapeutic target for obesity-related disorders. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoya Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingying Su
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiting Xu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Hu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuhong Lu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingjing Sun
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenfei Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojing Ma
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuqian Bao
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
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6
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Ouyang N, Yang C, Li X, Zheng Z, Xu Y, Wang Y, Xiong W, Wu H. Development of lactoferrin-coated multifunctional copolymer micelles to cross the blood-brain barrier. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024; 14:773-787. [PMID: 37721695 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01432-6] [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] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents pathogens and toxins in the bloodstream from reaching the brain, but also inhibits the delivery of agents intended to treat central nervous system disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we prepared and evaluated a novel nano-delivery vehicle system composed of lactoferrin-conjugated (Lf-PIC@Se) micelles. We used a COOH-PEG-PAsp-PV@Se synthesis-based method to prepare the micelles, which involved self-assembly followed by EDC-NHS coupling. Using glutaminyl cyclase inhibitor 8 as a model encapsulated chemical, Lf-PIC@Se micelles achieved a good loading capacity. In vitro analysis demonstrated that Lf-PIC@Se/8 micelles were stable in both neutral and acidic pH solutions in the presence or absence of H2O2, and confirmed their biosafety and compatibility in PC12 and bEND.3 cells. Notably, the cell uptake of Lf-PIC@Se/C6 micelles was much higher than that of PIC@Se micelles, and occurred through LfR-mediated endocytosis. The presence of Se meant that Lf-PIC@Se micelles acted as ROS scavengers in PC12 cells under H2O2-induced oxidative stress, which inhibited oxidative damage and increased mitochondrial membrane potential. Hemolysis assays further demonstrated that Lf-PIC@Se represent a biocompatible carrier. Finally, in vivo experiments in mice suggested that Lf-PIC@Se micelles successfully crossed the BBB, confirming their potential as vehicles for drug delivery when treating AD and other central nervous system disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Ouyang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, 518055, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chunhua Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, 518055, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xia Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, 518055, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhenting Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, 518055, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, 518055, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yinan Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, 518055, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, 518055, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Haiqiang Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, 518055, Shenzhen, China.
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Szczęśniak K, Veillard F, Scavenius C, Chudzik K, Ferenc K, Bochtler M, Potempa J, Mizgalska D. The Bacteroidetes Q-rule and glutaminyl cyclase activity increase the stability of extracytoplasmic proteins. mBio 2023; 14:e0098023. [PMID: 37750700 PMCID: PMC10653852 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00980-23] [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: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Exclusively in the Bacteroidetes phylum, most proteins exported across the inner membrane via the Sec system and released into the periplasm by type I signal peptidase have N-terminal glutamine converted to pyroglutamate. The reaction is catalyzed by the periplasmic enzyme glutaminyl cyclase (QC), which is essential for the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis and other periodontopathogens. Apparently, pyroglutamyl formation stabilizes extracytoplasmic proteins and/or protects them from proteolytic degradation in the periplasm. Given the role of P. gingivalis as the keystone pathogen in periodontitis, P. gingivalis QC is a promising target for the development of drugs to treat and/or prevent this highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease leading to tooth loss and associated with severe systemic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Szczęśniak
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Florian Veillard
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Carsten Scavenius
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kamila Chudzik
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Kinga Ferenc
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Matthias Bochtler
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Potempa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Danuta Mizgalska
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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8
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Pekayvaz K, Gold C, Hoseinpour P, Engel A, Martinez-Navarro A, Eivers L, Coletti R, Joppich M, Dionísio F, Kaiser R, Tomas L, Janjic A, Knott M, Mehari F, Polewka V, Kirschner M, Boda A, Nicolai L, Schulz H, Titova A, Kilani B, Lorenz M, Fingerle-Rowson G, Bucala R, Enard W, Zimmer R, Weber C, Libby P, Schulz C, Massberg S, Stark K. Mural cell-derived chemokines provide a protective niche to safeguard vascular macrophages and limit chronic inflammation. Immunity 2023; 56:2325-2341.e15. [PMID: 37652021 PMCID: PMC10588993 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.08.002] [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: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Maladaptive, non-resolving inflammation contributes to chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. Because macrophages remove necrotic cells, defective macrophage programs can promote chronic inflammation with persistent tissue injury. Here, we investigated the mechanisms sustaining vascular macrophages. Intravital imaging revealed a spatiotemporal macrophage niche across vascular beds alongside mural cells (MCs)-pericytes and smooth muscle cells. Single-cell transcriptomics, co-culture, and genetic deletion experiments revealed MC-derived expression of the chemokines CCL2 and MIF, which actively preserved macrophage survival and their homeostatic functions. In atherosclerosis, this positioned macrophages in viable plaque areas, away from the necrotic core, and maintained a homeostatic macrophage phenotype. Disruption of this MC-macrophage unit via MC-specific deletion of these chemokines triggered detrimental macrophage relocalizing, exacerbated plaque necrosis, inflammation, and atheroprogression. In line, CCL2 inhibition at advanced stages of atherosclerosis showed detrimental effects. This work presents a MC-driven safeguard toward maintaining the homeostatic vascular macrophage niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kami Pekayvaz
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany.
| | - Christoph Gold
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Parandis Hoseinpour
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Anouk Engel
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Luke Eivers
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Raffaele Coletti
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Joppich
- Department of Informatics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Flávio Dionísio
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Rainer Kaiser
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas Tomas
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Aleksandar Janjic
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Maximilian Knott
- Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fitsumbirhan Mehari
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Vivien Polewka
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Megan Kirschner
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Annegret Boda
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Leo Nicolai
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Heiko Schulz
- Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Titova
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Badr Kilani
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Lorenz
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Richard Bucala
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Wolfgang Enard
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ralf Zimmer
- Department of Informatics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Weber
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig-Maximillian-Universität (LMU) München, Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany; Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Libby
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christian Schulz
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Steffen Massberg
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Konstantin Stark
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany.
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9
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Coimbra JRM, Moreira PI, Santos AE, Salvador JAR. Therapeutic potential of glutaminyl cyclases: Current status and emerging trends. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103644. [PMID: 37244566 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103644] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Glutaminyl cyclase (QC) activity has been identified as a key effector in distinct biological processes. Human glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase (QPCT) and glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like (QPCTL) are considered attractive therapeutic targets in many human disorders, such as neurodegenerative diseases, and a range of inflammatory conditions, as well as for cancer immunotherapy, because of their capacity to modulate cancer immune checkpoint proteins. In this review, we explore the biological functions and structures of QPCT/L enzymes and highlight their therapeutic relevance. We also summarize recent developments in the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors targeting these enzymes, including an overview of preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judite R M Coimbra
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paula I Moreira
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Armanda E Santos
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Jorge A R Salvador
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
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10
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Chen D, Chen Q, Qin X, Tong P, Peng L, Zhang T, Xia C. Development and evolution of human glutaminyl cyclase inhibitors (QCIs): an alternative promising approach for disease-modifying treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1209863. [PMID: 37600512 PMCID: PMC10435661 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1209863] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Human glutaminyl cyclase (hQC) is drawing considerable attention and emerging as a potential druggable target for Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to its close involvement in the pathology of AD via the post-translational pyroglutamate modification of amyloid-β. A recent phase 2a study has shown promising early evidence of efficacy for AD with a competitive benzimidazole-based QC inhibitor, PQ912, which also demonstrated favorable safety profiles. This finding has sparked new hope for the treatment of AD. In this review, we briefly summarize the discovery and evolution of hQC inhibitors, with a particular interest in classic Zinc binding group (ZBG)-containing chemicals reported in recent years. Additionally, we highlight several high-potency inhibitors and discuss new trends and challenges in the development of QC inhibitors as an alternative and promising disease-modifying therapy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daoyuan Chen
- School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Qingxiu Chen
- School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xiaofei Qin
- School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Peipei Tong
- School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Liping Peng
- School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Basic Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chunli Xia
- School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, China
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11
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Liu Y, Lu S, Sun Y, Wang F, Yu S, Chen X, Wu LL, Yang H, Shi Y, Zhao K. Deciphering the role of QPCTL in glioma progression and cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1166377. [PMID: 37063864 PMCID: PMC10090505 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1166377] [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: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundGlioma is the most lethal and most aggressive brain cancer, and currently there is no effective treatment. Cancer immunotherapy is an advanced therapy by manipulating immune cells to attack cancer cells and it has been studied a lot in glioma treatment. Targeting the immune checkpoint CD47 or blocking the CD47-SIRPα axis can effectively eliminate glioma cancer cells but also brings side effects such as anemia. Glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like protein (QPCTL) catalyzes the pyroglutamylation of CD47 and is crucial for the binding between CD47 and SIRPα. Further study found that loss of intracellular QPCTL limits chemokine function and reshapes myeloid infiltration to augment tumor immunity. However, the role of QPCTL in glioma and the relationship between its expression and clinical outcomes remains unclear. Deciphering the role of QPCTL in glioma will provide a promising therapy for glioma cancer immunotherapy.MethodsQPCTL expression in glioma tissues and normal adjacent tissues was primarily analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and further validated in another independent cohort from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), and Human Protein Atlas (HPA). The relationships between QPCTL expression and clinicopathologic parameters and overall survival (OS) were assessed using multivariate methods and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. And the proteins network with which QPCTL interacted was built using the online STRING website. Meanwhile, we use Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases to investigate the relationships between QPCTL expression and infiltrated immune cells and their corresponding gene marker sets. We analyzed the Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) including GO/KEGG and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) based on QPCTL-high and -low expression tumors.ResultsIn contrast to normal tissue, QPCTL expression was higher in glioma tumor tissue (p < 0.05). Higher QPCTL expression was closely associated with high-grade malignancy and advanced tumor stage. Univariate and multivariate analysis indicated the overall survival of glioma patients with higher QPCTL expression is shorter than those with lower QPCTL expression (p < 0.05). Glioma with QPCTL deficiency presented the paucity of infiltrated immune cells and their matching marker sets. Moreover, QPCTL is essential for glioma cell proliferation and tumor growth and is a positive correlation with glioma cell stemness.ConclusionHigh QPCTL expression predicts high grades of gliomas and poor prognosis with impaired infiltration of adaptive immune cells in the tumor microenvironment as well as higher cancer stemness. Moreover, targeting QPCTL will be a promising immunotherapy in glioma cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu’e Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Kaijun Zhao, ; Yufeng Shi, ; Yu’e Liu,
| | - Shaojuan Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihong Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Pudong Medical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shibo Yu
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lei-lei Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yufeng Shi
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Kaijun Zhao, ; Yufeng Shi, ; Yu’e Liu,
| | - Kaijun Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Kaijun Zhao, ; Yufeng Shi, ; Yu’e Liu,
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12
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Upregulation of Glutaminyl Cyclase Contributes to ERS-Induced Apoptosis in PC12 Cells. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:4154697. [PMID: 36479306 PMCID: PMC9722295 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4154697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Glutaminyl cyclase (QC) is responsible for converting the N-terminal glutaminyl and glutamyl of the proteins into pyroglutamate (pE) through cyclization. It has been confirmed that QC catalyzes the formation of neurotoxic pE-modified Aβ in the brain of AD patients. But the effects of upregulated QC in diverse diseases have not been much clear until recently. Here, RNA sequencing was applied to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in PC12 cells with QC overexpressing or knockdown. A total of 697 DEGs were identified in QC overexpressing cells while only 77 in QC knockdown cells. Multiple bioinformatic approaches revealed that the DEGs in QC overexpressing group were enriched in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) related signaling pathways. The gene expression patterns of 23 DEGs were confirmed by RT-qPCR, in which the genes related to ERS showed the highest consistency. We also revealed the protein levels of GRP78, PERK, CHOP, and PARP-1, and caspase family was significantly upregulated by overexpressing QC. Moreover, overexpressing QC significantly increased apoptosis of PC12 cells in a time dependent manner. However, no significant alteration was observed in QC knockdown cells. Therefore, our study indicated that upregulated QC could induce ERS and apoptosis, which consequently trigger diseases by catalyzing the generation of pE-modified mediators.
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13
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Park E, Song KH, Kim D, Lee M, Van Manh N, Kim H, Hong KB, Lee J, Song JY, Kang S. 2-Amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles as Glutaminyl Cyclases Inhibitors Increase Phagocytosis through Modification of CD47-SIRPα Checkpoint. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1459-1467. [PMID: 36105338 PMCID: PMC9465712 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutaminyl cyclases (QC, isoQC) convert N-terminal glutamine or glutamate into pyroglutamate (pGlu) on substrates. IsoQC has recently been demonstrated to promote pGlu formation on the N-terminus of CD47, the SIRPα binding site, contributing to the "don't eat me" cancer immune signaling of CD47-SIRPα. We developed new QC inhibitors by applying a structure-based optimization approach starting from fragments identified through library screening. Screening of metal binding fragments identified 5-(1H-benzimidazol-5-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine (9) as a potent fragment, and further modification provided 5-(1-(3-methoxy-4-(3-(piperidin-1-yl)propoxy)benzyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine (22b) as a potent QC inhibitor. Treatment with 22b in A549 and H1975 lung cancer cells decreased the CD47/αhCD47-CC2C6 interaction, indicative of the CD47/SIRPα interaction, and enhanced the increased phagocytic activity of both THP-1 and U937 macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunsun Park
- College
of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Hee Song
- Division
of Radiation Biomedical Research, Korea
Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, Republic of Korea
| | - Darong Kim
- New
Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk
Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic
of Korea
| | - Minyoung Lee
- Medifron
DBT, 517ho, JEI-Platz,
186, Gasan digital 1-ro, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul 08502, Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen Van Manh
- College
of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Kim
- Medifron
DBT, 517ho, JEI-Platz,
186, Gasan digital 1-ro, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul 08502, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Bum Hong
- New
Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk
Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic
of Korea
| | - Jeewoo Lee
- College
of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jie-Young Song
- Division
of Radiation Biomedical Research, Korea
Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, Republic of Korea
| | - Soosung Kang
- College
of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
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14
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Karason K, Girerd N, Andersson-Asssarsson J, Duarte K, Taube M, Svensson PA, Huby AC, Peltonen M, Carlsson LM, Zannad F. Heart failure in obesity: insights from proteomics in patients treated with or without weight-loss surgery. Int J Obes (Lond) 2022; 46:2088-2094. [PMID: 35945262 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-022-01194-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is associated with incident heart failure (HF), but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. METHODS We performed a nested case-control study within the Swedish-Obese-Subjects study, by identifying 411 cases who developed HF and matched them with respect to age, sex, weight-loss-surgery and length of follow-up with 410 controls who did not develop HF. In analyses corrected for multiple testing, we studied 182 plasma proteins known to be related to cardiovascular disease to investigate whether they could add to the understanding of the processes underlying obesity-related HF. RESULTS A total of 821 subjects were followed for 16 ± 6 years. Multivariable analysis adjusted for matching variables revealed that 32 proteins were significantly associated with HF. Twelve proteins were related to HF ≥ 80% of the time using a bootstrap resampling approach (false-discovery-rate [FDR] < 0.05): 11 were associated with increased HF-risk: TNFRSF10A*, ST6GAL1, PRCP, MMP12, TIMP1, CCL3, QPCT, ANG, C1QTNF1, SERPINA5 and GAL-9; and one was related to reduced HF-risk: LPL. An further 20 proteins were associated with onset of HF 50-80% of the time using bootstrap resampling (FDR < 0.05). A pathway analysis including all significant 32 proteins suggested that these biomarkers were related to inflammation, matrix remodeling, cardiometabolic hormones and hemostasis. Three proteins, C1QTNF1, FGF-21 and CST3, reflecting dyslipidemia and kidney disease, displayed a higher association with HF in patients who did not undergo weight-loss-surgery and maintained with obesity. CONCLUSION Pathways associated with HF in obesity include inflammation, matrix remodeling, cardiometabolic hormones and hemostasis; three protein biomarkers predicting HF appeared to be obesity-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristjan Karason
- Department of Cardiology and Transplant Institute, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. .,Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Nicolas Girerd
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique 1433 module Plurithématique, CHRU Nancy-Hopitaux de Brabois, Institut Lorrain du Coeur et des Vaisseaux Louis Mathieu, Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France
| | - Johanna Andersson-Asssarsson
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kevin Duarte
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique 1433 module Plurithématique, CHRU Nancy-Hopitaux de Brabois, Institut Lorrain du Coeur et des Vaisseaux Louis Mathieu, Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France
| | - Magdalena Taube
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Per-Arne Svensson
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anne-Cecile Huby
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique 1433 module Plurithématique, CHRU Nancy-Hopitaux de Brabois, Institut Lorrain du Coeur et des Vaisseaux Louis Mathieu, Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France
| | - Markku Peltonen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lena M Carlsson
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Faiez Zannad
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique 1433 module Plurithématique, CHRU Nancy-Hopitaux de Brabois, Institut Lorrain du Coeur et des Vaisseaux Louis Mathieu, Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France
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15
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Zhao Z, Peng W, Wang P, Xu X, Zhao C. Glutaminyl cyclases, the potential targets of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 931:175178. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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16
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Georgakis MK, Bernhagen J, Heitman LH, Weber C, Dichgans M. Targeting the CCL2-CCR2 axis for atheroprotection. Eur Heart J 2022; 43:1799-1808. [PMID: 35567558 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Decades of research have established atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease. Only recently though, clinical trials provided proof-of-concept evidence for the efficacy of anti-inflammatory strategies with respect to cardiovascular events, thus offering a new paradigm for lowering residual vascular risk. Efforts to target the inflammasome-interleukin-1β-interleukin-6 pathway have been highly successful, but inter-individual variations in drug response, a lack of reduction in all-cause mortality, and a higher rate of infections also highlight the need for a second generation of anti-inflammatory agents targeting atherosclerosis-specific immune mechanisms while minimizing systemic side effects. CC-motif chemokine ligand 2/monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 (CCL2/MCP-1) orchestrates inflammatory monocyte trafficking between the bone marrow, circulation, and atherosclerotic plaques by binding to its cognate receptor CCR2. Adding to a strong body of data from experimental atherosclerosis models, a coherent series of recent large-scale genetic and observational epidemiological studies along with data from human atherosclerotic plaques highlight the relevance and therapeutic potential of the CCL2-CCR2 axis in human atherosclerosis. Here, we summarize experimental and human data pinpointing the CCL2-CCR2 pathway as an emerging drug target in cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, we contextualize previous efforts to interfere with this pathway, scrutinize approaches of ligand targeting vs. receptor targeting, and discuss possible pathway-intrinsic opportunities and challenges related to pharmacological targeting of the CCL2-CCR2 axis in human atherosclerotic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marios K Georgakis
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
- Center of Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jürgen Bernhagen
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura H Heitman
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christian Weber
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Germany
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research, UoS of Milan, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Dichgans
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
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17
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Živković L, Asare Y, Bernhagen J, Dichgans M, Georgakis MK. Pharmacological Targeting of the CCL2/CCR2 Axis for Atheroprotection: A Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2022; 42:e131-e144. [PMID: 35387476 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.317492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The CCL2 (CC-chemokine ligand 2)/CCR2 (CC-chemokine receptor 2) axis governs monocyte recruitment to atherosclerotic lesions. Genetic and epidemiological studies show strong associations of CCL2 levels with atherosclerotic disease. Still, experimental studies testing pharmacological inhibition of CCL2 or CCR2 in atheroprone mice apply widely different approaches and report variable results, thus halting clinical translation. METHODS We systematically searched the literature for studies employing pharmacological CCL2/CCR2 blockade in atheroprone mice and meta-analyzed their effects on lesion size and morphology. RESULTS In a meta-analysis of 14 studies testing 11 different agents, CCL2/CCR2 blockade attenuated atherosclerotic lesion size in the aortic root or arch (g=-0.75 [-1.17 to -0.32], P=6×10-4; N=171/171 mice in experimental/control group), the carotid (g=-2.39 [-4.23 to -0.55], P=0.01; N=24/25), and the femoral artery (g=-2.38 [-3.50 to -1.26], P=3×10-5; N=10/10). Furthermore, CCL2/CCR2 inhibition reduced intralesional macrophage accumulation and increased smooth muscle cell content and collagen deposition. The effects of CCL2/CCR2 inhibition on lesion size correlated with reductions in plaque macrophage accumulation, in accord with a prominent role of CCL2/CCR2 signaling in monocyte recruitment. Subgroup analyses showed comparable efficacy of different CCL2- and CCR2-inhibitors in reducing lesion size and intralesional macrophages. The quality assessment revealed high risk of detection bias due to lack of blinding during outcome assessment, as well as evidence of attrition and reporting bias. CONCLUSIONS Preclinical evidence suggests that pharmacological targeting of CCL2 or CCR2 might lower atherosclerotic lesion burden, but the majority of existing studies suffer major quality issues that highlight the need for additional high-quality research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luka Živković
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany (L.Ž., Y.A., J.B., M.D., M.K.G.)
| | - Yaw Asare
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany (L.Ž., Y.A., J.B., M.D., M.K.G.)
| | - Jürgen Bernhagen
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany (L.Ž., Y.A., J.B., M.D., M.K.G.).,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Germany (J.B., M.D.).,Munich Heart Alliance, German Center for Cardiovascular Diseases (DZHK), Germany (J.B.)
| | - Martin Dichgans
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany (L.Ž., Y.A., J.B., M.D., M.K.G.).,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Germany (J.B., M.D.).,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany (M.D.)
| | - Marios K Georgakis
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany (L.Ž., Y.A., J.B., M.D., M.K.G.).,Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (M.K.G.).,Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Boston, MA (M.K.G.)
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18
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Boissonnas
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi-Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Christophe Combadière
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi-Paris, Paris, France
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19
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Loss of the intracellular enzyme QPCTL limits chemokine function and reshapes myeloid infiltration to augment tumor immunity. Nat Immunol 2022; 23:568-580. [DOI: 10.1038/s41590-022-01153-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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20
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Bresser K, Logtenberg MEW, Toebes M, Proost N, Sprengers J, Siteur B, Boeije M, Kroese LJ, Schumacher TN. QPCTL regulates macrophage and monocyte abundance and inflammatory signatures in the tumor microenvironment. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2049486. [PMID: 35309731 PMCID: PMC8932921 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2049486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The enzyme glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like protein (QPCTL) catalyzes the formation of pyroglutamate residues at the NH2-terminus of proteins, thereby influencing their biological properties. A number of studies have implicated QPCTL in the regulation of chemokine stability. Furthermore, QPCTL activity has recently been shown to be critical for the formation of the high-affinity SIRPα binding site of the CD47 “don’t-eat-me” protein. Based on the latter data, interference with QPCTL activity —and hence CD47 maturation—may be proposed as a means to promote anti-tumor immunity. However, the pleiotropic activity of QPCTL makes it difficult to predict the effects of QPCTL inhibition on the tumor microenvironment (TME). Using a syngeneic mouse melanoma model, we demonstrate that QPCTL deficiency alters the intra-tumoral monocyte-to-macrophage ratio, results in a profound increase in the presence of pro-inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) relative to immunosuppressive TGF-β1-driven CAFs, and leads to an increased IFN and decreased TGF-β transcriptional response signature in tumor cells. Importantly, the functional relevance of the observed TME remodeling is demonstrated by the synergy between QPCTL deletion and anti PD-L1 therapy, sensitizing an otherwise refractory melanoma model to anti-checkpoint therapy. Collectively, these data provide support for the development of strategies to interfere with QPCTL activity as a means to promote tumor-specific immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaspar Bresser
- Division of Molecular Oncology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Meike E. W. Logtenberg
- Division of Molecular Oncology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mireille Toebes
- Division of Molecular Oncology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Natalie Proost
- Preclinical Intervention Unit, Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Justin Sprengers
- Preclinical Intervention Unit, Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bjorn Siteur
- Preclinical Intervention Unit, Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Manon Boeije
- Preclinical Intervention Unit, Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lona J. Kroese
- Transgenic Facility, Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Aging Research, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ton N. Schumacher
- Division of Molecular Oncology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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21
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Romanova J, Rydlovskaya A, Mochalov S, Proskurina O, Gorokh Y, Nebolsin V. The Effect of Anti-Chemokine Oral Drug XC8 on Cough Triggered by The Agonists of TRPA1 But Not TRPV1 Channels in Guinea Pigs. Pulm Ther 2022; 8:105-122. [PMID: 35133638 PMCID: PMC8824739 DOI: 10.1007/s41030-022-00183-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chronic cough heavily affects patients’ quality of life, and there are no effective licensed therapies available. Cough is a complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, asthma, and other diseases. Patients with various diseases have a different profile of tussive responses to diverse cough triggers, thereby suggesting sundry mechanisms of neuronal dysfunctions. Previously, we demonstrated that the small molecule drug XC8 shows a clinical anti-asthmatic effect. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of XC8 on cough. Methods We studied the antitussive effect of XC8 on cough induced by agonists activating human transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels TRPA1 or TRPV1 in guinea pigs. We checked the agonistic/antagonistic activity of XC8 on the human cation channels TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPM8, P2X purinoceptor 2 (P2X2), and human acid sensing ion channel 3 (hASIC3) in Fluorescent Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR) assay. Results XC8 demonstrated clear antitussive activity and dose-dependently inhibited cough in guinea pigs induced by citric acid alone (up to 67.1%) or in combination with IFN-γ (up to 76.4%). XC8 suppressed cough reflexes induced by the repeated inhalation of citric acid (up to 80%) or by cinnamaldehyde (up to 60%). No activity of XC8 against cough evoked by capsaicin was revealed. No direct agonistic/antagonistic activity of XC8 on human TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPM8, P2X2, or hASIC3 was detected. Conclusions XC8 acts against cough evoked by the activation of TRPA1 (citric acid/cinnamaldehyde) but not TRPV1 (capsaicin) channels. XC8 inhibits the cough reflex and suppresses the cough potentiation by IFN-γ. XC8 might be of significant therapeutic value for patients suffering from chronic cough associated with inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Romanova
- Pharmenterprises LLC, 42 Bolshoj Blvd., Building 1, office 771, 772, Skolkovo Innovation Centre, Moscow, 121205, Russian Federation.
| | - Anastasia Rydlovskaya
- Pharmenterprises LLC, 42 Bolshoj Blvd., Building 1, office 771, 772, Skolkovo Innovation Centre, Moscow, 121205, Russian Federation
| | - Stepan Mochalov
- Pharmenterprises LLC, 42 Bolshoj Blvd., Building 1, office 771, 772, Skolkovo Innovation Centre, Moscow, 121205, Russian Federation
| | - Oxana Proskurina
- Pharmenterprises LLC, 42 Bolshoj Blvd., Building 1, office 771, 772, Skolkovo Innovation Centre, Moscow, 121205, Russian Federation
| | - Yulia Gorokh
- Pharmenterprises LLC, 42 Bolshoj Blvd., Building 1, office 771, 772, Skolkovo Innovation Centre, Moscow, 121205, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir Nebolsin
- Pharmenterprises LLC, 42 Bolshoj Blvd., Building 1, office 771, 772, Skolkovo Innovation Centre, Moscow, 121205, Russian Federation
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22
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Pyroglutamate Aβ cascade as drug target in Alzheimer's disease. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:1880-1885. [PMID: 34880449 PMCID: PMC9126800 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01409-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
One of the central aims in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research is the identification of clinically relevant drug targets. A plethora of potential molecular targets work very well in preclinical model systems both in vitro and in vivo in AD mouse models. However, the lack of translation into clinical settings in the AD field is a challenging endeavor. Although it is long known that N-terminally truncated and pyroglutamate-modified Abeta (AβpE3) peptides are abundantly present in the brain of AD patients, form stable and soluble low-molecular weight oligomers, and induce neurodegeneration in AD mouse models, their potential as drug target has not been generally accepted in the past. This situation has dramatically changed with the report that passive immunization with donanemab, an AβpE3-specific antibody, cleared aymloid plaques and stabilized cognitive deficits in a group of patients with mild AD in a phase II trial. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of generation of AβpE, its biochemical properties, and the intervention points as a drug target in AD.
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23
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Hoffmann T, Rahfeld JU, Schenk M, Ponath F, Makioka K, Hutter-Paier B, Lues I, Lemere CA, Schilling S. Combination of the Glutaminyl Cyclase Inhibitor PQ912 (Varoglutamstat) and the Murine Monoclonal Antibody PBD-C06 (m6) Shows Additive Effects on Brain Aβ Pathology in Transgenic Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111791. [PMID: 34769222 PMCID: PMC8584206 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Compelling evidence suggests that pyroglutamate-modified Aβ (pGlu3-Aβ; AβN3pG) peptides play a pivotal role in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Approaches targeting pGlu3-Aβ by glutaminyl cyclase (QC) inhibition (Varoglutamstat) or monoclonal antibodies (Donanemab) are currently in clinical development. Here, we aimed at an assessment of combination therapy of Varoglutamstat (PQ912) and a pGlu3-Aβ-specific antibody (m6) in transgenic mice. Whereas the single treatments at subtherapeutic doses show moderate (16–41%) but statistically insignificant reduction of Aβ42 and pGlu-Aβ42 in mice brain, the combination of both treatments resulted in significant reductions of Aβ by 45–65%. Evaluation of these data using the Bliss independence model revealed a combination index of ≈1, which is indicative for an additive effect of the compounds. The data are interpreted in terms of different pathways, in which the two drugs act. While PQ912 prevents the formation of pGlu3-Aβ in different compartments, the antibody is able to clear existing pGlu3-Aβ deposits. The results suggest that combination of the small molecule Varoglutamstat and a pE3Aβ-directed monoclonal antibody may allow a reduction of the individual compound doses while maintaining the therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Hoffmann
- Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V., Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle, Germany;
- Correspondence: (T.H.); (S.S.)
| | - Jens-Ulrich Rahfeld
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle, Germany; (J.-U.R.); (M.S.)
| | - Mathias Schenk
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle, Germany; (J.-U.R.); (M.S.)
| | - Falk Ponath
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Rd., Boston, MA 02115, USA; (F.P.); (K.M.); (C.A.L.)
| | - Koki Makioka
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Rd., Boston, MA 02115, USA; (F.P.); (K.M.); (C.A.L.)
| | - Birgit Hutter-Paier
- QPS Austria GmbH, Department of Neuropharmacology, Parkring 12, A-8074 Grambach, Austria;
| | - Inge Lues
- Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V., Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle, Germany;
| | - Cynthia A. Lemere
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Rd., Boston, MA 02115, USA; (F.P.); (K.M.); (C.A.L.)
| | - Stephan Schilling
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle, Germany; (J.-U.R.); (M.S.)
- Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburger Straße 55, 06366 Köthen, Germany
- Correspondence: (T.H.); (S.S.)
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24
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Xu C, Zou H, Yu X, Xie Y, Cai J, Shang Q, Ouyang N, Wang Y, Xu P, He Z, Wu H. Repurposing FDA-Approved Compounds for the Discovery of Glutaminyl Cyclase Inhibitors as Drugs Against Alzheimer's Disease. ChemistryOpen 2021; 10:877-881. [PMID: 33377311 PMCID: PMC8409088 DOI: 10.1002/open.202000235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative causes of dementia, the pathology of which is still not much clear. It's challenging to discover the disease modifying agents for the prevention and treatment of AD over the years. Emerging evidence has been accumulated to reveal the crucial role of up-regulated glutaminyl cyclase (QC) in the initiation of AD. In the current study, the QC inhibitory potency of a library consisting of 1621 FDA-approved compounds was assessed. A total of 54 hits, 3.33 % of the pool, exhibited QC inhibitory activities. The Ki of the top 5 compounds with the highest QC inhibitory activities were measured. Among these selected hits, compounds affecting neuronal signaling pathways and other mechanisms were recognized. Moreover, several polyphenol derivatives with QC inhibitory activities were also identified. Frameworks and subsets contained in these hits were analyzed. Taken together, our results may contribute to the discovery and development of novel QC inhibitors as potential anti-AD agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenshu Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
| | - Haoman Zou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
| | - Xi Yu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
| | - Yazhou Xie
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
| | - Jiaxin Cai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
| | - Qi Shang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
| | - Na Ouyang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
| | - Yinan Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
| | - Pan Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
| | - Zhendan He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
| | - Haiqiang Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Health Science CenterShenzhen University3688 Nanhai RoadShenzhen518055China
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25
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Coimbra JRM, Salvador JAR. A patent review of glutaminyl cyclase inhibitors (2004-present). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 31:809-836. [PMID: 33896339 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1917549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Glutaminyl cyclase (QC) enzymes catalyze the post-translational processing of several substrates with N-terminal glutamine or glutamate to form pyroglutamate (pE) residue. In addition to physiological functions, emerging evidence demonstrates that human QCs play a part in pathological processes in diverse diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), inflammatory and cancer diseases.Areas covered: In recent years, efforts to effectively develop QC small-molecule inhibitors have been made and different chemical classes have been disclosed. This review summarizes the patents/applications regarding QC inhibitors released from 2004 (first patent) to now. The patents are mostly described in terms of chemical structures, biochemical/pharmacological activities, and potential clinical applications.Expert opinion: For more than 15 years of research, the knowledge on the QC activity domain has considerably increased and therapeutic potential of QC inhibitors has been explored. An important number of studies and patents have been published to expand the use of QC inhibitors. QC enzymes are pharmacologically interesting targets to be used as an AD-modifying therapy, or for other QC-associated disorder. Distinct classes of chemical scaffolds and potential clinical uses have been claimed by various organizations. For the coming years, there is much to experience in the QC field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judite R M Coimbra
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge A R Salvador
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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26
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Xu C, Wang YN, Wu H. Glutaminyl Cyclase, Diseases, and Development of Glutaminyl Cyclase Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2021; 64:6549-6565. [PMID: 34000808 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pyroglutamate (pE) modification, catalyzed mainly by glutaminyl cyclase (QC), is prevalent throughout nature and is particularly important in mammals including humans for the maturation of hormones, peptides, and proteins. In humans, the upregulation of QC is involved in multiple diseases and conditions including Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, melanomas, thyroid carcinomas, accelerated atherosclerosis, septic arthritics, etc. This upregulation catalyzes the generation of modified mediators such as pE-amyloid beta (Aß) and pE-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) peptides. Not surprisingly, QC has emerged as a reasonable target for the development of therapeutics to combat these diseases and conditions. In this manuscript the deleterious effects of upregulated QC resulting in disease manifestation are reviewed, along with progress on the development of QC inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenshu Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yi-Nan Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Haiqiang Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
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27
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Kanemitsu N, Kiyonaga F, Mizukami K, Maeno K, Nishikubo T, Yoshida H, Ito H. Chronic treatment with the (iso-)glutaminyl cyclase inhibitor PQ529 is a novel and effective approach for glomerulonephritis in chronic kidney disease. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 394:751-761. [PMID: 33159802 PMCID: PMC8007495 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-020-02013-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Glomeruli and renal tubule injury in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is reported to involve induction of macrophage activation through the CCL2/CCR2 axis. The effects of inhibitors of the CCL2/CCR2 axis, such as anti-CCL2 antibody and CCR2 antagonist, on kidney function in animal models or humans with kidney dysfunction have been demonstrated. The N-terminal glutamine on immature CCL2 is replaced with pyroglutamate (pE) by glutaminyl cyclase (QC) and isoQC. pE-CCL2 is stable and resistant to peptidases. We hypothesized that inhibiting QC/isoQC activity would lead to the degradation of CCL2, thereby ameliorating CKD and reducing kidney inflammation. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the renoprotective properties of the QC/isoQC inhibitor PQ529 in anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody-induced glomerulonephritis Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Three-week repeated administration of PQ529 (30 and 100 mg/kg, twice daily) significantly reduced the serum and urine CCL2 and urinary protein excretion in a dose-dependent manner. Correlations between the urinary protein level and serum or urinary CCL2 levels were confirmed in tested animals. Repeated administration of PQ529 significantly reduced the expression of CD68, a macrophage marker, in the kidney cortex and mononuclear infiltration into the tubulointerstitium. In addition, decreased levels of urinary KIM-1, β2 microglobulin, and clusterin were detected, suggesting the inhibition of inflammation in both the proximal and distal tubules. These results suggest that PQ529 suppresses the progression of inflammation-induced renal dysfunction by inhibiting the CCL2/CCR2 axis. Inhibition of QC/isoQC may thus be a viable alternative therapeutic approach for treating glomerulonephritis and CKD patients.
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MESH Headings
- Aminoacyltransferases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Animals
- Antigens, CD/genetics
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/genetics
- Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/metabolism
- Benzimidazoles/pharmacokinetics
- Benzimidazoles/pharmacology
- Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use
- Cell Adhesion Molecules/urine
- Chemokine CCL2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Chemokine CCL2/blood
- Chemokine CCL2/metabolism
- Chemokine CCL2/urine
- Clusterin/urine
- Glomerulonephritis/blood
- Glomerulonephritis/drug therapy
- Glomerulonephritis/metabolism
- Glomerulonephritis/urine
- Imidazolines/pharmacokinetics
- Imidazolines/pharmacology
- Imidazolines/therapeutic use
- Interferon-gamma/metabolism
- Kidney/drug effects
- Kidney/metabolism
- Male
- Protective Agents/pharmacokinetics
- Protective Agents/pharmacology
- Protective Agents/therapeutic use
- Rats, Inbred WKY
- Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/blood
- Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/drug therapy
- Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/metabolism
- Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/urine
- beta 2-Microglobulin/urine
- Rats
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Affiliation(s)
- Naotoshi Kanemitsu
- Development, Astellas Pharma Inc., 2-5-1, Nihonbashi-Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-8411, Japan.
| | - Fumiko Kiyonaga
- Corporate Advocacy, Astellas Pharma Inc., Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-8411, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Mizukami
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan
| | - Kyoichi Maeno
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan
| | - Takashi Nishikubo
- Astellas Innovation Management LLC, 1030 Massachusetts Ave. Suite 310, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Hiroyuki Yoshida
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Ito
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan
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28
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A Unique Carboxylic-Acid Hydrogen-Bond Network (CAHBN) Confers Glutaminyl Cyclase Activity on M28 Family Enzymes. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166960. [PMID: 33774034 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Proteins with sequence or structure similar to those of di-Zn exopeptidases are usually classified as the M28-family enzymes, including the mammalian-type glutaminyl cyclases (QCs). QC catalyzes protein N-terminal pyroglutamate formation, a posttranslational modification important under many physiological and pathological conditions, and is a drug target for treating neurodegenerative diseases, cancers and inflammatory disorders. Without functional characterization, mammalian QCs and their orthologs remain indistinguishable at the sequence and structure levels from other M28-family proteins, leading to few reported QCs. Here, we show that a low-barrier carboxylic-acid hydrogen-bond network (CAHBN) is required for QC activity and discriminates QCs from M28-family peptidases. We demonstrate that the CAHBN-containing M28 peptidases deposited in the PDB are indeed QCs. Our analyses identify several thousands of QCs from the three domains of life, and we enzymatically and structurally characterize several. For the first time, the interplay between a CAHBN and the binuclear metal-binding center of mammalian QCs is made clear. We found that the presence or absence of CAHBN is a key discriminator for the formation of either the mono-Zn QCs or the di-Zn exopeptidases. Our study helps explain the possible roles of QCs in life.
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29
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Metzemaekers M, Abouelasrar Salama S, Vandooren J, Mortier A, Janssens R, Vandendriessche S, Ganseman E, Martens E, Gouwy M, Neerinckx B, Verschueren P, De Somer L, Wouters C, Struyf S, Opdenakker G, Van Damme J, Proost P. From ELISA to Immunosorbent Tandem Mass Spectrometry Proteoform Analysis: The Example of CXCL8/Interleukin-8. Front Immunol 2021; 12:644725. [PMID: 33777041 PMCID: PMC7991300 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.644725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
With ELISAs one detects the ensemble of immunoreactive molecules in biological samples. For biomolecules undergoing proteolysis for activation, potentiation or inhibition, other techniques are necessary to study biology. Here we develop methodology that combines immunosorbent sample preparation and nano-scale liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS) for proteoform analysis (ISTAMPA) and apply this to the aglycosyl chemokine CXCL8. CXCL8, the most powerful human chemokine with neutrophil chemotactic and –activating properties, occurs in different NH2-terminal proteoforms due to its susceptibility to site-specific proteolytic modification. Specific proteoforms display up to 30-fold enhanced activity. The immunosorbent ion trap top-down mass spectrometry-based approach for proteoform analysis allows for simultaneous detection and quantification of full-length CXCL8(1-77), elongated CXCL8(-2-77) and all naturally occurring truncated CXCL8 forms in biological samples. For the first time we demonstrate site-specific proteolytic activation of CXCL8 in synovial fluids from patients with chronic joint inflammation and address the importance of sample collection and processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieke Metzemaekers
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sara Abouelasrar Salama
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jennifer Vandooren
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anneleen Mortier
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Janssens
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Vandendriessche
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eva Ganseman
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Erik Martens
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mieke Gouwy
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Barbara Neerinckx
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Verschueren
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lien De Somer
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Carine Wouters
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Struyf
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ghislain Opdenakker
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jo Van Damme
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Vijayan D, Chandra R. Amyloid Beta Hypothesis in Alzheimer's Disease: Major Culprits and Recent Therapeutic Strategies. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 21:148-166. [PMID: 31385768 DOI: 10.2174/1389450120666190806153206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of dementia and has been a global concern for several years. Due to the multi-factorial nature of the disease, AD has become irreversible, fatal and imposes a tremendous socio-economic burden. Even though experimental medicines suggested moderate benefits, AD still lacks an effective treatment strategy for the management of symptoms or cure. Among the various hypotheses that describe development and progression of AD, the amyloid hypothesis has been a long-term adherent to the AD due to the involvement of various forms of Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in the impairment of neuronal and cognitive functions. Hence, majority of the drug discovery approaches in the past have focused on the prevention of the accumulation of Aβ peptides. Currently, there are several agents in the phase III clinical trials that target Aβ or the various macromolecules triggering Aβ deposition. In this review, we present the state of the art knowledge on the functional aspects of the key players involved in the amyloid hypothesis. Furthermore, we also discuss anti-amyloid agents present in the Phase III clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dileep Vijayan
- Laboratory for Structural Bioinformatics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Remya Chandra
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Thalassery Campus, Kannur University, Kerala Pin 670 661, India
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Taudte N, Linnert M, Rahfeld JU, Piechotta A, Ramsbeck D, Buchholz M, Kolenko P, Parthier C, Houston JA, Veillard F, Eick S, Potempa J, Schilling S, Demuth HU, Stubbs MT. Mammalian-like type II glutaminyl cyclases in Porphyromonas gingivalis and other oral pathogenic bacteria as targets for treatment of periodontitis. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100263. [PMID: 33837744 PMCID: PMC7948796 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of a targeted therapy would significantly improve the treatment of periodontitis and its associated diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. Glutaminyl cyclases (QCs) from the oral pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Prevotella intermedia represent attractive target enzymes for small-molecule inhibitor development, as their action is likely to stabilize essential periplasmic and outer membrane proteins by N-terminal pyroglutamination. In contrast to other microbial QCs that utilize the so-called type I enzymes, these oral pathogens possess sequences corresponding to type II QCs, observed hitherto only in animals. However, whether differences between these bacteroidal QCs and animal QCs are sufficient to enable development of selective inhibitors is not clear. To learn more, we recombinantly expressed all three QCs. They exhibit comparable catalytic efficiencies and are inhibited by metal chelators. Crystal structures of the enzymes from P. gingivalis (PgQC) and T. forsythia (TfQC) reveal a tertiary structure composed of an eight-stranded β-sheet surrounded by seven α-helices, typical of animal type II QCs. In each case, an active site Zn ion is tetrahedrally coordinated by conserved residues. Nevertheless, significant differences to mammalian enzymes are found around the active site of the bacteroidal enzymes. Application of a PgQC-selective inhibitor described here for the first time results in growth inhibition of two P. gingivalis clinical isolates in a dose-dependent manner. The insights gained by these studies will assist in the development of highly specific small-molecule bacteroidal QC inhibitors, paving the way for alternative therapies against periodontitis and associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Taudte
- Periotrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Miriam Linnert
- Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jens-Ulrich Rahfeld
- Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany.
| | - Anke Piechotta
- Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Daniel Ramsbeck
- Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Mirko Buchholz
- Periotrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Halle (Saale), Germany; Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Petr Kolenko
- Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Christoph Parthier
- Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - John A Houston
- Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Florian Veillard
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Sigrun Eick
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jan Potempa
- Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Stephan Schilling
- Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany; Angewandte Biowissenschaften und Prozesstechnik, Hochschule Anhalt, Köthen, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Demuth
- Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Milton T Stubbs
- Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany; ZIK HALOmem, Charles-Tanford-Proteinzentrum, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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Romanova J, Chikina E, Rydlovskaya A, Pohl W, Renner A, Zeifman A, Chuchalin A, Nebolsin V. New Anti-Chemokine Oral Drug XC8 in the Treatment of Asthma Patients with Poor Response to Corticosteroids: Results of a Phase 2A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Pulm Ther 2020; 6:351-369. [PMID: 33095411 PMCID: PMC7671956 DOI: 10.1007/s41030-020-00134-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction A significant number of patients with moderate asthma remain symptomatic despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). These patients do not yet meet the criteria for oral corticosteroids (OCS) and monoclonal antibodies. The new anti-chemokine oral drug XC8 could represent an alternative treatment option for these patients. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of different doses of the XC8 in patients with partly controlled asthma in a phase 2a clinical trial. Methods A double-blind, parallel-group, randomized, multicenter, phase 2a trial was conducted at 12 sites in Russia. Patients with asthma were randomized into four groups (n = 30 each) to receive XC8 at 2 mg, 10 mg, 100 mg or placebo once-daily for 12 weeks in addition to low-dose ICS with or without LABA. Efficacy and safety parameters were evaluated at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 12. Results No statistically significant difference between the treatment arms in the number of patients with adverse events was observed. The primary endpoint, improvement of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) % predicted over 12 weeks compared to placebo, was not statistically significant. The treatment of patients with XC8 (100 mg) resulted in statistically and clinically significant improvements in FEV1 compared to baseline (7.40% predicted, p < 0.001). Patients with elevated peripheral blood eosinophil count (PBEC, > 300 cells/μl) or serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) level (> 100 pg/mL) treated with XC8 (100 mg) achieved a statistically significant improvement in FEV1 (11.33% predicted or 8.69% predicted, respectively, p < 0.05) as compared to the baseline versus the placebo. The strongest effect was observed in patients with both high PBEC and IFN-γ level. Pharmacodynamic engagement was demonstrated through the reduction of serum levels of C–C motif ligand 2 (CCL2) and C–X–C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10). Treatment with XC8 (100 mg) alleviated resistance to maintenance ICS therapy in patients with elevated IFN-γ level. Conclusions Given the high safety, oral route of administration, and efficacy, XC8 may provide a promising treatment option for patients with mild-to-moderate asthma. Trial Registration 795–30/12/2015 (Ministry of Health Russian Federation), NCT03450434 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s41030-020-00134-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Wolfgang Pohl
- Karl Landsteiner Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pneumology, Hietzing Hospital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Renner
- Karl Landsteiner Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pneumology, Hietzing Hospital, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Alexander Chuchalin
- Institute of Pulmonology, Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
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Jansig E, Geissler S, Rieckmann V, Kuenemund A, Hietel B, Schenk M, Wussow S, Kreideweiss P, Panzner S, Reinsch C, Cynis H. Viromers as carriers for mRNA-mediated expression of therapeutic molecules under inflammatory conditions. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15090. [PMID: 32934311 PMCID: PMC7494895 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72004-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic mRNA delivery has been described for several treatment options, such as vaccination and cancer immunotherapy. However, mRNA delivery has to be accompanied by the development and testing of suitable carrier materials due to the instability of mRNAs in human body fluids. In the present study, we investigated the ability of recently developed Viromers to deliver mRNAs in a classical inflammatory setting. We tested mRNAs coding for active components of preclinical (7ND) and approved (sTNF-RII) biologics, in vitro and in vivo. 7ND is an established blocker of the CCR2 axis, whereas sTNF-RII is the active component of the approved drug Etanercept. Viromer/mRNA complexes were transfected into murine macrophages in vitro. Protein expression was analysed using Luciferase reporter expression and mainly identified in spleen, blood and bone marrow in vivo. 7ND-mRNA delivery led to efficient blockage of monocytes infiltration in thioglycolate-induced peritonitis in mice, underlining the ability of Viromers to deliver a therapeutic mRNA cargo without overt toxicity. Therefore, we propose Viromer-based mRNA delivery as a suitable option for the treatment of inflammatory disorders beyond infusion of biological molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith Jansig
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Stefanie Geissler
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Vera Rieckmann
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Anja Kuenemund
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Benjamin Hietel
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Mathias Schenk
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Sebastian Wussow
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | | | - Steffen Panzner
- BioNTech Delivery Technologies GmbH, Weinbergweg 23, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Christian Reinsch
- BioNTech Delivery Technologies GmbH, Weinbergweg 23, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Holger Cynis
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle, Germany.
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Gunn AP, Wong BX, McLean C, Fowler C, Barnard PJ, Duce JA, Roberts BR. Increased glutaminyl cyclase activity in brains of Alzheimer's disease individuals. J Neurochem 2020; 156:979-987. [PMID: 32614980 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Glutaminyl cyclases (QC) catalyze the formation of neurotoxic pGlu-modified amyloid-β peptides found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Reports of several-fold increases in soluble QC (sQC) expression in the brain and peripheral circulation of AD individuals has prompted the development of QC inhibitors as potential AD therapeutics. There is, however, a lack of standardized quantitative data on QC expression in human tissues, precluding inter-laboratory comparison and validation. We tested the hypothesis that QC is elevated in AD tissues by quantifying levels of sQC protein and activity in post-mortem brain tissues from AD and age-matched control individuals. We found a modest but statistically significant increase in sQC protein, which paralleled a similar increase in enzyme activity. In plasma samples sourced from the Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle study we determined that QC activity was not different between the AD and control group, though a modest increase was observed in female AD individuals compared to controls. Plasma QC activity was further correlated with levels of circulating monocytes in AD individuals. These data provide quantitative evidence that alterations in QC expression are associated with AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam P Gunn
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Bruce X Wong
- The ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Catriona McLean
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Vic, Australia
| | - Chris Fowler
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Peter J Barnard
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Vic, Australia
| | - James A Duce
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,The ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Blaine R Roberts
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Arens R, Scheeren FA. Genetic Screening for Novel Regulators of Immune Checkpoint Molecules. Trends Immunol 2020; 41:692-705. [PMID: 32605801 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2020.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Inhibitory and stimulatory immune checkpoint molecules play important roles in regulating immune responses. An increasing number of these immune regulators are currently being evaluated as targets in putative anti-cancer therapies. Recently, sophisticated genetic screens have been performed to increase our understanding of immune checkpoint pathways and their immunomodulatory regulators. Here, we summarize novel insights obtained by these screens and discuss new directions to advance possible strategies to treat malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Arens
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ferenc A Scheeren
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Kamata T, So TY, Ahmed Q, Giblett S, Patel B, Luo J, Reddel R, Pritchard C. Fibroblast-Derived STC-1 Modulates Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Lung Adenocarcinoma Development. Cell Rep 2020; 31:107802. [PMID: 32579928 PMCID: PMC7326292 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of different cell types, including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs). How these cells interact and contribute to lung carcinogenesis remains elusive. Using G12DKRAS- and V600EBRAF-driven mouse lung models, we identify the pleiotropic glycoprotein stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) as a regulator of TAM-TAF interactions. STC1 is secreted by TAFs and suppresses TAM differentiation, at least in part, by sequestering the binding of GRP94, an autocrine macrophage-differentiation-inducing factor, to its cognate scavenger receptors. The accumulation of mature TAMs in the Stc1-deficient lung leads to enhanced secretion of TGF-β1 and, thus, TAF accumulation in the TME. Consistent with the mouse data, in human lung adenocarcinoma, STC1 expression is restricted to myofibroblasts, and a significant increase of naive macrophages is detected in STC1-high compared with STC1-low cases. This work increases our understanding of lung adenocarcinoma development and suggests new approaches for therapeutic targeting of the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamihiro Kamata
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK.
| | - Tsz Y So
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Qasim Ahmed
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK
| | - Susan Giblett
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK
| | - Bipin Patel
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK
| | - Jinli Luo
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Roger Reddel
- Cancer Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Catrin Pritchard
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK.
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Abstract
A diverse range of N-terminally truncated and modified forms of amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers have been discovered in Alzheimer’s disease brains, including the pyroglutamate-Aβ (AβpE3). AβpE3 species are shown to be more neurotoxic when compared with the full-length Aβ peptide. Findings visibly suggest that glutaminyl cyclase (QC) catalyzed the generation of cerebral AβpE3, and therapeutic effects are achieved by reducing its activity. In recent years, efforts to effectively develop QC inhibitors have been pursued worldwide. The inhibitory activity of current QC inhibitors is mainly triggered by zinc-binding groups that coordinate Zn2+ ion in the active site and other common features. Herein, we summarized the current state of discovery and evolution of QC inhibitors as a potential Alzheimer’s disease-modifying strategy.
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Wang X, Wang L, Yu X, Li Y, Liu Z, Zou Y, Zheng Y, He Z, Wu H. Glutaminyl cyclase inhibitor exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in both AD and LPS-induced inflammatory model mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 75:105770. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.105770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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High-throughput genome-wide phenotypic screening via immunomagnetic cell sorting. Nat Biomed Eng 2019; 3:796-805. [DOI: 10.1038/s41551-019-0454-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Xu A, He F, Yu C, Qu Y, Zhang Q, Lv J, Zhang X, Ran Y, Wei C, Wu J. The Development of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Glutaminyl Cyclase and Isoglutaminyl Cyclase for Alzheimer's Disease. ChemistrySelect 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201902852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Xu
- College of PharmacyShanDong University, 4 4 West WenHua Road JiNan 250012 China
| | - Feng He
- College of PharmacyShanDong University, 4 4 West WenHua Road JiNan 250012 China
| | - Chenggong Yu
- College of PharmacyShanDong University, 4 4 West WenHua Road JiNan 250012 China
| | - Ying Qu
- College of PharmacyShanDong University, 4 4 West WenHua Road JiNan 250012 China
| | - Qiuqiong Zhang
- College of PharmacyShanDong University, 4 4 West WenHua Road JiNan 250012 China
| | - Jiahui Lv
- College of PharmacyShanDong University, 4 4 West WenHua Road JiNan 250012 China
| | - Xiangna Zhang
- College of PharmacyShanDong University, 4 4 West WenHua Road JiNan 250012 China
| | - Yingying Ran
- College of PharmacyShanDong University, 4 4 West WenHua Road JiNan 250012 China
| | - Chao Wei
- College of PharmacyShanDong University, 4 4 West WenHua Road JiNan 250012 China
| | - Jingde Wu
- College of PharmacyShanDong University, 4 4 West WenHua Road JiNan 250012 China
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Bender P, Egger A, Westermann M, Taudte N, Sculean A, Potempa J, Möller B, Buchholz M, Eick S. Expression of human and Porphyromonas gingivalis glutaminyl cyclases in periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis-A pilot study. Arch Oral Biol 2018; 97:223-230. [PMID: 30399509 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2018.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Human glutaminyl cyclases (QC and isoQC) play an important role in maintaining inflammatory conditions. Meanwhile a glutaminyl cyclase synthesized by Porphyromonas gingivalis (PgQC), a key pathogen in developing periodontitis and a potential link of periodontitis with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), was discovered. This study was aimed to determine the expression of QC, isoQC and PgQC in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and RA. DESIGN Thirty volunteers were enrolled in a pilot study and divided into 3 groups (healthy, CP and RA individuals). Blood samples, biofilm and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were analysed for mRNA expression of QC, isoQC and P. gingivalis QC. Major bacteria being associated with periodontal disease were quantified in subgingival biofilm and protein levels for monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, MCP-3 and interleukin (IL)-1β) were determined in the GCF. Expression of PgQC on the mRNA and protein levels was assessed in two P. gingivalis strains. RESULTS PgQC is expressed in P. gingivalis strains and the protein seems to be located mainly in peri-plasmatic space. mRNA expression of QC was significantly increased in the peripheral blood from RA patients vs. healthy subjects and CP patients (p = 0.013 and p = 0.003, respectively). In GCF of RA patients, QC mRNA was detected more frequently than in healthy controls (p = 0.043). In these samples IL-1β levels were also elevated compared to GCF from periodontally healthy individuals (p = 0.003). PgQC was detected in eight out of the 13 P. gingivalis positive biofilm samples. CONCLUSION Activity of QC may play a supportive role in maintaining chronic periodontal inflammation and destruction in RA. PgQC is expressed in vivo but further research is needed to evaluate biological importance of this enzyme and if it constitutes a potential target in periodontal antimicrobial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Bender
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Egger
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin Westermann
- Center of Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Nadine Taudte
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI-MWT, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Anton Sculean
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jan Potempa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University Krakow, Krakow, Poland; Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, USA
| | - Burkhard Möller
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergology, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mirko Buchholz
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI-MWT, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Sigrun Eick
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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How post-translational modifications influence the biological activity of chemokines. Cytokine 2018; 109:29-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2018.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Potent human glutaminyl cyclase inhibitors as potential anti-Alzheimer’s agents: Structure-activity relationship study of Arg-mimetic region. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:1035-1049. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Can small molecule inhibitors of glutaminyl cyclase be used as a therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease? Future Med Chem 2017; 9:1979-1981. [DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2017-0190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial and socioeconomically burdensome disease. In view of the failures of anti-AD candidates, we should try to rethink what we did before and what we should do next, in part at least. Research shows that the more neurotoxic factor, pyroglutamate-Aβs, and the more important inflammatory mediators, pyroglutamate-CCL2, both contribute to the initiation of AD specifically and the generation of N-terminal intramolecular cyclization catalyzed by glutaminyl cyclase quality control, the over-expression of which correlates positively with the severity of AD. Subsequently, lowering pyroglutamate-Aβs and pyroglutamate-CCL2 levels by quality control inhibition using small molecule inhibitors could be expected as an amazing strategy for the prevention and treatment of AD.
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N-terminal pyroglutamate formation in CX3CL1 is essential for its full biologic activity. Biosci Rep 2017; 37:BSR20170712. [PMID: 28739588 PMCID: PMC5634468 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20170712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
CX3CL1 (fractalkine) is a unique member of the CX3C chemokine family and mediates
both adhesion and cell migration in inflammatory processes. Frequently, the
activity of chemokines depends on a modified N-terminus as described for the
N-terminus of CCL2 modified to a pGlu- (pyroglutamate) residue by QC (glutaminyl
cyclase) activity. Here, we assess the role of the pGlu-modified residue of the
CX3CL1 chemokine domain in human endothelial and smooth muscle cells. For the
first time, we demonstrated using MS that QC (QPCT, gene name
of QC) or its isoenzyme isoQC (iso-glutaminyl cyclase) (QPCTL,
gene name of isoQC) catalyse the formation of N-terminal-modified pGlu-CX3CL1.
Expression of QPCT is co-regulated with its substrates
CCL2 and CX3CL1 in HUVECs (human umbilical
vein endothelial cells) and HCASMCs (human coronary artery smooth muscle cells)
upon stimulation with TNF-α and IL-1β whereas
QPCTL expression is not affected. By contrast, inhibition
of the NF-κB pathway using an IKK2 inhibitor decreased the expression of
the co-regulated targets QPCT, CCL2, and
CX3CL1. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated inhibition of
QPCT expression resulted in a reduction in
CCL2 and CX3CL1 mRNA. In HCASMCs,
N-terminal-modified pGlu1-CX3CL1 induced a significant stronger effect on
phosphorylation of ERK (extracellular signal regulated kinase) 1/2, Akt (protein
kinase B), and p38 (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase) kinases than the
immature Gln1-CX3CL1 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore,
pGlu1-CX3CL1 affected the expression of CCL2, CX3CL1, and the
adhesion molecule ICAM1/CD54 (intercellular adhesion
molecule-1) inducing in higher expression level compared with its Gln1-variant
in both HCASMCs and HUVECs. These results strongly suggest that QC-catalysed
N-terminal pGlu formation of CX3CL1 is important for the stability or the
interaction with its receptor and opens new insights into the function of QC in
inflammation.
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Schröder K, Weissmann N, Brandes RP. Organizers and activators: Cytosolic Nox proteins impacting on vascular function. Free Radic Biol Med 2017; 109:22-32. [PMID: 28336130 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
NADPH oxidases of the Nox family are important enzymatic sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cardiovascular system. Of the 7 members of the Nox family, at least three depend for their activation on specific cytosolic proteins. These are p47phox and its homologue NoxO1 and p67phox and its homologue NoxA1. Also the Rho-GTPase Rac is important but as this protein has many additional functions, it will not be covered here. The Nox1 enzyme is preferentially activated by the combination of NoxO1 with NoxA1, whereas Nox2 gains highest activity with p47phox together with p67phox. As p47phox, different to NoxO1 contains an auto inhibitory region it has to be phosphorylated prior to complex formation. In the cardio-vascular system, all cytosolic Nox proteins are expressed but the evidence for their contribution to ROS production is not well established. Most data have been collected for p47phox, whereas NoxA1 has basically not yet been studied. In this article the specific aspects of cytosolic Nox proteins in the cardiovascular system with respect to Nox activation, their expression and their importance will be reviewed. Finally, it will be discussed whether cytosolic Nox proteins are suitable pharmacological targets to tamper with vascular ROS production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Schröder
- Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Physiologie, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Norbert Weissmann
- Excellence Cluster Cardiopulmonary System, University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Ralf P Brandes
- Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Physiologie, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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Proost P, Struyf S, Van Damme J, Fiten P, Ugarte-Berzal E, Opdenakker G. Chemokine isoforms and processing in inflammation and immunity. J Autoimmun 2017; 85:45-57. [PMID: 28684129 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2017.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The first dimension of chemokine heterogeneity is reflected by their discovery and purification as natural proteins. Each of those chemokines attracted a specific inflammatory leukocyte type. With the introduction of genomic technologies, a second wave of chemokine heterogeneity was established by the discovery of putative chemokine-like sequences and by demonstrating chemotactic activity of the gene products in physiological leukocyte homing. In the postgenomic era, the third dimension of chemokine heterogeneity is the description of posttranslational modifications on most chemokines. Proteolysis of chemokines, for instance by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV/CD26) and by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is already well established as a biological control mechanism to activate, potentiate, dampen or abrogate chemokine activities. Other posttranslational modifications are less known. Theoretical N-linked and O-linked attachment sites for chemokine glycosylation were searched with bio-informatic tools and it was found that most chemokines are not glycosylated. These findings are corroborated with a low number of experimental studies demonstrating N- or O-glycosylation of natural chemokine ligands. Because attached oligosaccharides protect proteins against proteolytic degradation, their absence may explain the fast turnover of chemokines in the protease-rich environments of infection and inflammation. All chemokines interact with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Whether lectin-like GAG-binding induces cellular signaling is not clear, but these interactions are important for leukocyte migration and have already been exploited to reduce inflammation. In addition to selective proteolysis, citrullination and nitration/nitrosylation are being added as biologically relevant modifications contributing to functional chemokine heterogeneity. Resulting chemokine isoforms with reduced affinity for GPCRs reduce leukocyte migration in various models of inflammation. Here, these third dimension modifications are compared, with reflections on the biological and pathological contexts in which these posttranslational modifications take place and contribute to the repertoire of chemokine functions and with an emphasis on autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Sofie Struyf
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Jo Van Damme
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Pierre Fiten
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Estefania Ugarte-Berzal
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Ghislain Opdenakker
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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Bridel C, Hoffmann T, Meyer A, Durieux S, Koel-Simmelink MA, Orth M, Scheltens P, Lues I, Teunissen CE. Glutaminyl cyclase activity correlates with levels of Aβ peptides and mediators of angiogenesis in cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease patients. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2017; 9:38. [PMID: 28587659 PMCID: PMC5461753 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-017-0266-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Pyroglutamylation of truncated Aβ peptides, which is catalysed by enzyme glutaminyl cyclase (QC), generates pE-Aβ species with enhanced aggregation propensities and resistance to most amino-peptidases and endo-peptidases. pE-Aβ species have been identified as major constituents of Aβ plaques and reduction of pE-Aβ species is associated with improvement of cognitive tasks in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Pharmacological inhibition of QC has thus emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for AD. Here, we question whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) QC enzymatic activity differs between AD patients and controls and whether inflammatory or angiogenesis mediators, some of which are potential QC substrates, and/or Aβ peptides may serve as pharmacodynamic read-outs for QC inhibition. Methods QC activity, Aβ peptides and inflammatory or angiogenesis mediators were measured in CSF of a clinically well-characterized cohort of 20 mild AD patients, 20 moderate AD patients and 20 subjective memory complaints (SMC) controls. Correlation of these parameters with core diagnostic CSF AD biomarkers (Aβ42, tau and p-tau) and clinical features was evaluated. Results QC activity shows a tendency to decrease with AD progression (p = 0.129). The addition of QC activity to biomarkers tau and p-tau significantly increases diagnostic power (ROC-AUCTAU = 0.878, ROC-AUCTAU&QC = 0.939 and ROC-AUCpTAU = 0.820, ROC-AUCpTAU&QC = 0.948). In AD and controls, QC activity correlates with Aβ38 (r = 0.83, p < 0.0001) and Aβ40 (r = 0.84, p < 0.0001), angiogenesis mediators (Flt1, Tie2, VEGFD, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, r > 0.5, p < 0.0001) and core diagnostic biomarkers (r > 0.35, p = <0.0057). QC activity does not correlate with MMSE or ApoE genotype. Conclusions Aβ38, Aβ40 and angiogenesis mediators (Flt1, Tie2, VEGFD, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) are potential pharmacodynamic markers of QC inhibition, because their levels closely correlate with QC activity in AD patients. The addition of QC activity to core diagnostic CSF biomarkers may be of specific interest in clinical cases with discordant imaging and biochemical biomarker results. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13195-017-0266-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Bridel
- Neurochemistry Lab and Biobank, Department of Clinical Chemistry, VU University Medical Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | - Sisi Durieux
- Neurochemistry Lab and Biobank, Department of Clinical Chemistry, VU University Medical Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marleen A Koel-Simmelink
- Neurochemistry Lab and Biobank, Department of Clinical Chemistry, VU University Medical Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Philip Scheltens
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center, VU University Medical Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Inge Lues
- Probiodrug AG, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Charlotte E Teunissen
- Neurochemistry Lab and Biobank, Department of Clinical Chemistry, VU University Medical Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Vitova L, Tuma Z, Moravec J, Kvapil M, Matejovic M, Mares J. Early urinary biomarkers of diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus show involvement of kallikrein-kinin system. BMC Nephrol 2017; 18:112. [PMID: 28359252 PMCID: PMC5372325 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-017-0519-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Additional urinary biomarkers for diabetic nephropathy (DN) are needed, providing early and reliable diagnosis and new insights into its mechanisms. Rigorous selection criteria and homogeneous study population may improve reproducibility of the proteomic approach. METHODS Long-term type 1 diabetes patients without metabolic comorbidities were included, 11 with sustained microalbuminuria (MA) and 14 without MA (nMA). Morning urine proteins were precipitated and resolved by 2D electrophoresis. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Projection to latent structures discriminatory analysis (PLS-DA) were adopted to assess general data validity, to pick protein fractions for identification with mass spectrometry (MS), and to test predictive value of the resulting model. RESULTS Proteins (n = 113) detected in more than 90% patients were considered representative. Unsupervised PCA showed excellent natural data clustering without outliers. Protein spots reaching Variable Importance in Projection score above 1 in PLS (n = 42) were subjected to MS, yielding 33 positive identifications. The PLS model rebuilt with these proteins achieved accurate classification of all patients (R2X = 0.553, R2Y = 0.953, Q2 = 0.947). Thus, multiple earlier recognized biomarkers of DN were confirmed and several putative new biomarkers suggested. Among them, the highest significance was met in kininogen-1. Its activation products detected in nMA patients exceeded by an order of magnitude the amount found in MA patients. CONCLUSIONS Reducing metabolic complexity of the diseased and control groups by meticulous patients' selection allows to focus the biomarker search in DN. Suggested new biomarkers, particularly kininogen fragments, exhibit the highest degree of correlation with MA and substantiate validation in larger and more varied cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Vitova
- Department of Internal Medicine, Teaching Hospital Motol, V Uvalu 84, Prague, 5, 150 06, Czech Republic.
| | - Zdenek Tuma
- Proteomic Laboratory, Charles University School of Medicine in Pilsen, alej Svobody 1655/76, Pilsen, 323 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Moravec
- Proteomic Laboratory, Charles University School of Medicine in Pilsen, alej Svobody 1655/76, Pilsen, 323 00, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Kvapil
- Department of Internal Medicine, Teaching Hospital Motol, V Uvalu 84, Prague, 5, 150 06, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Matejovic
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Charles University School of Medicine in Pilsen, alej Svobody 80, Pilsen, 304 60, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Mares
- Proteomic Laboratory, Charles University School of Medicine in Pilsen, alej Svobody 1655/76, Pilsen, 323 00, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine I, Charles University School of Medicine in Pilsen, alej Svobody 80, Pilsen, 304 60, Czech Republic
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Stone MJ, Hayward JA, Huang C, E Huma Z, Sanchez J. Mechanisms of Regulation of the Chemokine-Receptor Network. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E342. [PMID: 28178200 PMCID: PMC5343877 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18020342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The interactions of chemokines with their G protein-coupled receptors promote the migration of leukocytes during normal immune function and as a key aspect of the inflammatory response to tissue injury or infection. This review summarizes the major cellular and biochemical mechanisms by which the interactions of chemokines with chemokine receptors are regulated, including: selective and competitive binding interactions; genetic polymorphisms; mRNA splice variation; variation of expression, degradation and localization; down-regulation by atypical (decoy) receptors; interactions with cell-surface glycosaminoglycans; post-translational modifications; oligomerization; alternative signaling responses; and binding to natural or pharmacological inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Stone
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Jenni A Hayward
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Cheng Huang
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Zil E Huma
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Julie Sanchez
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
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