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Wang J, Cao Y, Lu Y, Zhu H, Zhang J, Che J, Zhuang R, Shao J. Recent progress and applications of small molecule inhibitors of Keap1-Nrf2 axis for neurodegenerative diseases. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:115998. [PMID: 38043492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway serves as a crucial regulator against oxidative stress (OS) damage in various cells and organs. It has garnered significant attention as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases (NDD). Although progress has been achieved in strategies to regulate the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, the availability of Nrf2 activators applicable to NDD is currently limited. Currently, the FDA has approved the Nrf2 activators dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and Omaveloxolone (Omav) as novel first-line oral drugs for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and Friedreich's ataxia. A promising alternative approach involves the direct inhibition of Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interactions (PPI), which offers numerous advantages over the use of electrophilic Nrf2 activators, primarily in avoiding off-target effects. This review examines the compelling evidence supporting the beneficial role of Nrf2 in NDD and explores the potential of Keap1 inhibitors and Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitors as therapeutic agents, with the aim to provide further insights into the development of inhibitors targeting this pathway for the treatment of NDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yu Cao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Preparation, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Yang Lu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Huajian Zhu
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jiankang Zhang
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jinxin Che
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China.
| | - Rangxiao Zhuang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Preparation, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
| | - Jiaan Shao
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China.
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Steidemann MM, Liu J, Bayes K, Castro LP, Ferguson-Miller S, LaPres JJ. Evidence for crosstalk between the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and the translocator protein in mouse lung epithelial cells. Exp Cell Res 2023; 429:113617. [PMID: 37172753 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113617] [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: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Cellular homeostasis requires the use of multiple environmental sensors that can respond to a variety of endogenous and exogenous compounds. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is classically known as a transcription factor that induces drug metabolizing enzymes when bound to toxicants such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-ρ-dioxin (TCDD). The receptor has a growing number of putative endogenous ligands, such as tryptophan, cholesterol, and heme metabolites. Many of these compounds are also linked to the translocator protein (TSPO), an outer mitochondrial membrane protein. Given a portion of the cellular pool of the AHR has also been localized to mitochondria and the overlap in putative ligands, we tested the hypothesis that crosstalk exists between the two proteins. CRISPR/Cas9 was used to create knockouts for AHR and TSPO in a mouse lung epithelial cell line (MLE-12). WT, AHR-/-, and TSPO-/- cells were then exposed to AHR ligand (TCDD), TSPO ligand (PK11195), or both and RNA-seq was performed. More mitochondrial-related genes were altered by loss of both AHR and TSPO than would have been expected just by chance. Some of the genes altered included those that encode for components of the electron transport system and the mitochondrial calcium uniporter. Both proteins altered the activity of the other as AHR loss caused the increase of TSPO at both the mRNA and protein level and loss of TSPO significantly increased the expression of classic AHR battery genes after TCDD treatment. This research provides evidence that AHR and TSPO participate in similar pathways that contribute to mitochondrial homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Steidemann
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, United States; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, United States
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, United States
| | - Kalin Bayes
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, United States
| | - Lizbeth P Castro
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, United States
| | - Shelagh Ferguson-Miller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, United States
| | - John J LaPres
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, United States; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, United States.
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