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Kumar A, Balbach J. Inactivation of parathyroid hormone: perspectives of drug discovery to combating hyperparathyroidism. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2021; 15:292-305. [PMID: 33573587 DOI: 10.2174/1874467214666210126112839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Hormonal coordination is tightly regulated within the human body and thus regulates human physiology. The parathyroid hormone (PTH), a member of the endocrine system, regulates the calcium and phosphate level within the human body. Under non-physiological conditions, PTH levels get upregulated (hyperparathyroidism) or downregulated (hypoparathyroidism) due to external or internal factors. In the case of hyperparathyroidism, elevated PTH stimulates cellular receptors present in the bones, kidneys, and intestines to increase the blood calcium level, leading to calcium deposition. This eventually causes various symptoms including kidney stones. Currently, there is no known medication that directly targets PTH in order to suppress its function. Therefore, it is of great interest to find novel small molecules or any other means that can modulate PTH function. The molecular signaling of PTH starts by binding of its N-terminus to the G-protein coupled PTH1/2 receptor. Therefore, any intervention that affects the N-terminus of PTH could be a lead candidate for treating hyperparathyroidism. As a proof-of-concept, there are various possibilities to inhibit molecular PTH function by (i) a small molecule, (ii) N-terminal PTH phosphorylation, (iii) fibril formation and (iv) residue-specific mutations. These modifications put PTH into an inactive state, which will be discussed in detail in this review article. We anticipate that exploring small molecules or other means that affect the N-terminus of PTH could be lead candidates in combating hyperparathyroidism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine London, South Kensington, London SW7 2BU. United Kingdom
| | - Jochen Balbach
- Institute of Physics, Biophysics, Martin-Luther-University Halle- Wittenberg. Germany
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Sun W, Yang J, Wang W, Hou J, Cheng Y, Fu Y, Xu Z, Cai L. The beneficial effects of Zn on Akt-mediated insulin and cell survival signaling pathways in diabetes. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2018; 46:117-127. [PMID: 29413101 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [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: 07/01/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Zinc is one of the essential trace elements and participates in numerous physiological processes. Abnormalities in zinc homeostasis often result in the pathogenesis of various chronic metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and its complications. Zinc has insulin-mimetic and anti-diabetic effects and deficiency has been shown to aggravate diabetes-induced oxidative stress and tissue injury in diabetic rodent models and human subjects with diabetes. Akt signaling pathway plays a central role in insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism and cell survival. Anti-diabetic effects of zinc are largely dependent on the activation of Akt signaling. Zn is also an inducer of metallothionein that plays important role in anti-oxidative stress and damage. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying zinc-induced activation of Akt signaling pathway remains to be elucidated. This review summarizes the recent advances in deciphering the possible mechanisms of zinc on Akt-mediated insulin and cell survival signaling pathways in diabetes conditions. Insights into the effects of zinc on epigenetic regulation and autophagy in diabetic nephropathy are also discussed in the latter part of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixia Sun
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Jiaxing Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Wanning Wang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China; Pediatric Research Institute, The Departments of Pediatrics, Radiation Oncology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Jie Hou
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Yanli Cheng
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Yaowen Fu
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Zhonggao Xu
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Lu Cai
- Pediatric Research Institute, The Departments of Pediatrics, Radiation Oncology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
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Kumar A, Baumann M, Balbach J. Small Molecule Inhibited Parathyroid Hormone Mediated cAMP Response by N-Terminal Peptide Binding. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22533. [PMID: 26932583 PMCID: PMC4773758 DOI: 10.1038/srep22533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ligand binding to certain classes of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) stimulates the rapid synthesis of cAMP through G protein. Human parathyroid hormone (PTH), a member of class B GPCRs, binds to its receptor via its N–terminal domain, thereby activating the pathway to this secondary messenger inside cells. Presently, GPCRs are the target of many pharmaceuticals however, these drugs target only a small fraction of structurally known GPCRs (about 10%). Coordination complexes are gaining interest due to their wide applications in the medicinal field. In the present studies we explored the potential of a coordination complex of Zn(II) and anthracenyl–terpyridine as a modulator of the parathyroid hormone response. Preferential interactions at the N–terminal domain of the peptide hormone were manifested by suppressed cAMP generation inside the cells. These observations contribute a regulatory component to the current GPCR–cAMP paradigm, where not the receptor itself, but the activating hormone is a target. To our knowledge, this is the first report about a coordination complex modulating GPCR activity at the level of deactivating its agonist. Developing such molecules might help in the control of pathogenic PTH function such as hyperparathyroidism, where control of excess hormonal activity is essentially required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.,Institute of Physics, Biophysics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
| | - Monika Baumann
- Institute of Physics, Biophysics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
| | - Jochen Balbach
- Institute of Physics, Biophysics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.,Centre for Structure und Dynamics of Proteins (MZP), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
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Sun W, Miao X, Zhou S, Zhang L, Epstein PN, Mellen N, Zheng Y, Fu Y, Wang Y, Cai L. Zinc rescue of Akt2 gene deletion-linked murine cardiac dysfunction and pathological changes is metallothionein-dependent. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2014; 74:88-97. [PMID: 24819347 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2014.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2013] [Revised: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We have demonstrated that zinc supplementation provides cardiac protection from diabetes in mice, but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Since zinc mimics the function of insulin, it may provide benefit to the heart via stimulating Akt-mediated glucose metabolism. Akt2 plays an important role in cardiac glucose metabolism and mice with Akt2 gene deletion (Akt2-KO) exhibit a type 2 diabetes phenotype; therefore, we assumed that no cardiac protection by zinc supplementation from diabetes would be observed in Akt2-KO mice. Surprisingly, despite Akt2 gene deletion, zinc supplementation provided protection against cardiac dysfunction and other pathological changes in Akt2-KO mice, which were accompanied by significant decreases in Akt and GSK-3β phosphorylation. Correspondingly, glycogen synthase phosphorylation and hexokinase II and PGC-1α expression, all involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism, were significantly altered in diabetic hearts, along with a significantly increased expression of Akt negative regulators: PTEN, PTP1B, and TRB3. All these molecular, pathological, and functional changes were significantly prevented by 3-month zinc supplementation. Furthermore, the stimulation of Akt-mediated glucose metabolic kinases or enzymes by zinc treatment was metallothionein-dependent since it could not be observed in metallothionein-knockout mice. These results suggest that zinc preserves cardiac function and structure in Akt2-KO mice presumably due to its insulin mimetic effect on cardiac glucose-metabolism. The cardioprotective effects of zinc are metallothionein-dependent. This is very important since zinc supplementation may be required for patients with Akt2 gene deficiency or insulin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixia Sun
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin 130021, China; Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Xiao Miao
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA; The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin 130041, China
| | - Shanshan Zhou
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin 130021, China; Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Paul N Epstein
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Nicholas Mellen
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Yang Zheng
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Yaowen Fu
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Yuehui Wang
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin 130021, China.
| | - Lu Cai
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
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Sun W, Wang Y, Miao X, Wang Y, Zhang L, Xin Y, Zheng S, Epstein PN, Fu Y, Cai L. Renal improvement by zinc in diabetic mice is associated with glucose metabolism signaling mediated by metallothionein and Akt, but not Akt2. Free Radic Biol Med 2014; 68:22-34. [PMID: 24296248 PMCID: PMC5288838 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2013.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2013] [Revised: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Human epidemiological and animal studies have shown the beneficial effect of zinc supplementation on mitigating diabetic nephropathy. However, the mechanism by which zinc protects the kidney from diabetes remains unknown. Here we demonstrate the therapeutic effects of zinc on diabetes-induced renal pathological and functional changes. These abnormalities were found in both transgenic OVE26 and Akt2-KO diabetic mouse models, accompanied by significant changes in glucose-metabolism-related regulators. The changes included significantly decreased phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3β, increased phosphorylation of renal glycogen synthase, decreased expression of hexokinase II and PGC-1α, and increased expression of the Akt negative regulators PTEN, PTP1B, and TRB3. All of these were significantly prevented by zinc treatment for 3 months. Furthermore, zinc-stimulated changes in glucose metabolism mediated by Akt were actually found to be metallothionein dependent, but not Akt2 dependent. These results suggest that the therapeutic effects of zinc in diabetic nephropathy are mediated, in part, by the preservation of glucose-metabolism-related pathways via the prevention of diabetes-induced upregulation of Akt negative regulators. Given that zinc deficiency is very common in diabetics, this finding implies that regularly monitoring zinc levels in diabetic patients, as well as supplementing if low, is important in mitigating the development of diabetic nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixia Sun
- First Hospital, Jilin University, Jilin 130021, China; Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Yuehui Wang
- Second Hospital, Jilin University, Jilin 130041, China
| | - Xiao Miao
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Second Hospital, Jilin University, Jilin 130041, China
| | - Yonggang Wang
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA; China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Jilin 130031, China
| | - Li Zhang
- First Hospital, Jilin University, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Ying Xin
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Norman Bethune Medical College, Jilin University, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Shirong Zheng
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Paul N Epstein
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Yaowen Fu
- First Hospital, Jilin University, Jilin 130021, China.
| | - Lu Cai
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
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Meghdadi S, Mirkhani V, Kia R, Moghadam M, Tangestaninejad S, Mohammadpoor-Baltork I. Electrochemical synthesis and crystal structure of zinc(II) complexes with N2N′2S2 amide–thioether hexadentate ligands. Polyhedron 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.poly.2012.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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