1
|
Galla MS, Sharma N, Mishra P, Shankaraiah N. Recent insights of PROTAC developments in inflammation-mediated and autoimmune targets: a critical review. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:2585-2600. [PMID: 39149114 PMCID: PMC11324044 DOI: 10.1039/d4md00142g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
According to the mounting evidence in the literature, pro-inflammatory mediators/targets activate multiple signalling pathways to trigger illnesses that are ultimately responsible for acute pain, chronic inflammatory diseases, and several auto-immune disorders. Conventional drugs have been ruled out since proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are poised to overcome the limitations of traditional therapies. These heterobifunctional molecules help to degrade the targeted proteins of interest through ubiquitination. This review encompasses current and future aspects of PROTACs in inflammation-mediated and autoimmune targets. Different key points are highlighted and discussed, such as why PROTACs are preferred in this disease area, drawbacks and lessons learnt from the past, the role of linkers in establishing crucial degradation, in vitro findings, pharmacokinetics, in silico parameters, limitations of PROTACs in clinical settings, and future outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Sravani Galla
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hyderabad 500037 India
| | - Nitika Sharma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hyderabad 500037 India
| | - Priyanka Mishra
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hyderabad 500037 India
| | - Nagula Shankaraiah
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hyderabad 500037 India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Song Z, Li J, He Y, Wang X, Tian J, Wu Y. A novel PROTAC molecule dBET1 alleviates pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice by degrading BRD4. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 139:112646. [PMID: 39002520 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112646] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration are hallmarks of multiple sclerosis (MS). Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), a bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) protein family member, is indispensable for the transcription of pro-inflammatory genes. Therefore, inhibiting BRD4 may be a prospective therapeutic approach for modulating the inflammatory response and regulating the course of MS. dBET1, a newly synthesized proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC), exhibits effectively degrades of BRD4. However, the precise effects of dBET1 on MS require further investigation. Therefore, we assessed the effect of dBET1 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a typical MS experimental model. Our findings revealed that BRD4 is mainly expressed in astrocytes and neurons of the spinal cords, and is up-regulated in the spinal cords of EAE mice. The dBET1 attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of astrocytic pro-inflammatory mediators and inhibited deleterious molecular activity in astrocytes. Correspondingly, dBET1, used in preventive and therapeutic settings, alleviated the behavioral symptoms in EAE mice, as demonstrated by decreased demyelination, alleviated leukocyte infiltration, reduced microglial and astrocyte activation, and diminished inflammatory mediator levels. In addition, dBET1 corrected the imbalance in peripheral T cells and protected blood-brain barrier integrity in EAE mice. The underlying mechanism involved suppressing the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B, mitogen-activated protein kinase /extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and nuclear factor kappa B pathways. In summary, our data strongly suggests that dBET1 is a promising treatment option for MS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Song
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China; The Key Laboratory of Myocardial Ischemia, Chinese Ministry of Education, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Yijie He
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Xiaokun Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Jianan Tian
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Yun Wu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yan DD, Hu B, Gao P, Yin JJ, Wang S, Yang Y, Tan L, Hu CR, He DP, Zhong W. Synthesis and Characterization of Emulsifiers Based on the Maillard Reaction and Its Application in Stabilized DHA Algal Oil Nanoemulsions. Foods 2024; 13:1667. [PMID: 38890897 PMCID: PMC11172065 DOI: 10.3390/foods13111667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to optimize the formation of sodium caseinate (CS) and gum arabic (GA) complexes through the Maillard reaction and to evaluate their effectiveness in improving the emulsification properties and stability of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) nanoemulsions. First, the best target polysaccharides were selected, and the best modification conditions were determined using orthogonal experiments. Secondly, the response surface experiments were used to optimize the preparation process of the emulsion. The stability, in vitro digestion characteristics, and rheological characteristics of the emulsion prepared by means of CS-GA were compared with the emulsion prepared using a whey protein isolate (WPI). After the orthogonal test, the optimal modification conditions were determined to be a reaction time of 96 h, a CS-GA mass ratio of 1:2, a reaction temperature of 60 °C, and a degree of grafting of 44.91%. Changes in the infrared (IR), Raman, ultraviolet (UV), and endogenous fluorescence spectra also indicated that the complex structure was modified. The response surface test identified the optimal preparation process as follows: an emulsifier concentration of 5 g/L, an oil-phase concentration of 5 g/L, and a homogenization frequency of five, and the emulsion showed good stability. Therefore, the use of a nanoemulsion as a nanoscale DHA algal oil delivery system is very promising for extending the shelf life and improving the stability of food.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Dan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Edible Oil Quality and Safety for State Market Regulation, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China; (D.-D.Y.); (B.H.); (P.G.); (J.-J.Y.); (C.-R.H.); (D.-P.H.)
- Key Laboratory for Deep Processing of Major Grain and Oil Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
| | - Bo Hu
- Key Laboratory of Edible Oil Quality and Safety for State Market Regulation, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China; (D.-D.Y.); (B.H.); (P.G.); (J.-J.Y.); (C.-R.H.); (D.-P.H.)
- Key Laboratory for Deep Processing of Major Grain and Oil Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
| | - Pan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Edible Oil Quality and Safety for State Market Regulation, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China; (D.-D.Y.); (B.H.); (P.G.); (J.-J.Y.); (C.-R.H.); (D.-P.H.)
- Key Laboratory for Deep Processing of Major Grain and Oil Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
- Wuhan Institute for Food and Cosmetic Control, Wuhan 430012, China; (S.W.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Jiao-Jiao Yin
- Key Laboratory of Edible Oil Quality and Safety for State Market Regulation, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China; (D.-D.Y.); (B.H.); (P.G.); (J.-J.Y.); (C.-R.H.); (D.-P.H.)
- Key Laboratory for Deep Processing of Major Grain and Oil Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
| | - Shu Wang
- Wuhan Institute for Food and Cosmetic Control, Wuhan 430012, China; (S.W.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Yong Yang
- Wuhan Institute for Food and Cosmetic Control, Wuhan 430012, China; (S.W.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Lei Tan
- Hubei Fuxing Biotechnology, Hanchuan 431608, China;
| | - Chuan-Rong Hu
- Key Laboratory of Edible Oil Quality and Safety for State Market Regulation, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China; (D.-D.Y.); (B.H.); (P.G.); (J.-J.Y.); (C.-R.H.); (D.-P.H.)
- Key Laboratory for Deep Processing of Major Grain and Oil Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
| | - Dong-Ping He
- Key Laboratory of Edible Oil Quality and Safety for State Market Regulation, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China; (D.-D.Y.); (B.H.); (P.G.); (J.-J.Y.); (C.-R.H.); (D.-P.H.)
- Key Laboratory for Deep Processing of Major Grain and Oil Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
- Wuhan Institute for Food and Cosmetic Control, Wuhan 430012, China; (S.W.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Wu Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Edible Oil Quality and Safety for State Market Regulation, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China; (D.-D.Y.); (B.H.); (P.G.); (J.-J.Y.); (C.-R.H.); (D.-P.H.)
- Key Laboratory for Deep Processing of Major Grain and Oil Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Singh S, Srivastava P. Targeted Protein Degraders- The Druggability Perspective. J Pharm Sci 2024; 113:539-554. [PMID: 37926234 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2023.10.023] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Targeted Protein degraders (TPDs) show promise in harnessing cellular machinery to eliminate disease-causing proteins, even those previously considered undruggable. Especially if protein turnover is low, targeted protein removal bestows lasting therapeutic effect over typical inhibition. The demonstrated safety and efficacy profile of clinical candidates has fueled the surge in the number of potential candidates across different therapeutic areas. As TPDs often do not comply with Lipinski's rule of five, developing novel TPDs and unlocking their full potential requires overcoming solubility, permeability and oral bioavailability challenges. Tailored in-vitro assays are key to precise profiling and optimization, propelling breakthroughs in targeted protein degradation.
Collapse
|
5
|
Rahman M, Marzullo B, Holman SW, Barrow M, Ray AD, O’Connor PB. Advancing PROTAC Characterization: Structural Insights through Adducts and Multimodal Tandem-MS Strategies. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2024; 35:285-299. [PMID: 38197777 PMCID: PMC10853971 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are specialized molecules that bind to a target protein and a ubiquitin ligase to facilitate protein degradation. Despite their significance, native PROTACs have not undergone tandem mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. To address this gap, we conducted a pioneering investigation on the fragmentation patterns of two PROTACs in development, dBET1 and VZ185. Employing diverse cations (sodium, lithium, and silver) and multiple tandem-MS techniques, we enhanced their structural characterization. Notably, lithium cations facilitated comprehensive positive-mode coverage for dBET1, while negative polarity mode offered richer insights. Employing de novo structure determination on 2DMS data from degradation studies yielded crucial insights. In the case of VZ185, various charge states were observed, with [M + 2H]2+ revealing fewer moieties than [M + H]+ due to charge-related factors. Augmenting structural details through silver adducts suggested both charge-directed and charge-remote fragmentation. This comprehensive investigation identifies frequently dissociated bonds across multiple fragmentation techniques, pinpointing optimal approaches for elucidating PROTAC structures. The findings contribute to advancing our understanding of PROTACs, pivotal for their continued development as promising therapeutic agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Rahman
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Department
of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Bryan Marzullo
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Stephen W. Holman
- Chemical
Development, Pharmaceutical Technology & Development, Operations, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, SK10 4TF, U.K.
| | - Mark Barrow
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Andrew D. Ray
- New
Modalities and Parenteral Development, Pharmaceutical Technology &
Development, Operations, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, SK10 4TF, U.K.
| | - Peter B. O’Connor
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu Y, Fu Y, Xue X, Tang G, Si L. BRD2 protects the rat H9C2 cardiomyocytes from hypoxia‑reoxygenation injury by targeting Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling pathway. Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:542. [PMID: 37869639 PMCID: PMC10587885 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common complication of acute myocardial infarction following percutaneous coronary intervention, but there are currently no effective pharmacological targets for adjuvant therapy due to a lack of knowledge of I/R injury mechanisms in cardiomyocytes. To evaluate the effects of hypoxia-reoxygenation on the plasma proteome of cardiomyocytes and prospective therapeutic targets, five sets of H9C2 cardiomyocytes from rats were cultured under various hypoxic circumstances. Using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays, the cell viability and LDH release of H9C2 cells were analyzed. Proteome sequencing was then performed on cardiomyocytes to show the quantitative protein changes during the I/R injury process. After hypoxia/reoxygenation, bromodomain-containing protein 2 (BRD2) expression was evaluated. After administering the BRD2 inhibitor dBET1, the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/haem oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) was identified. The results showed that in the group exposed to 4 h of hypoxia followed by 4 h of reoxygenation (H/R4), the cell survival rate was dramatically reduced, although the apoptotic rate and LDH were much higher than in the normal oxygen group. In addition, the expressions of 2,325 proteins differed considerably between these two groups, with 128 upregulated and 122 downregulated proteins being discovered in the H/R4 group. After 4 h of reoxygenation, the BRD2 expression was increased. Following the addition of dBET1 to suppress BRD2, the expression of Nrf2/HO-1 was reduced, but the rate of apoptosis increased. In conclusion, through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, BRD2 protects cardiomyocytes from damage caused by hypoxia/reoxygenation. This may have implications for novel treatment targets to minimize I/R damage to the myocardium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingcun Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 401120, P.R. China
| | - Yuqing Fu
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, P.R. China
| | - Xin Xue
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 401120, P.R. China
| | - Gang Tang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shapingba Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, P.R. China
| | - Liangyi Si
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 401120, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Xie X, Yu T, Li X, Zhang N, Foster LJ, Peng C, Huang W, He G. Recent advances in targeting the "undruggable" proteins: from drug discovery to clinical trials. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:335. [PMID: 37669923 PMCID: PMC10480221 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01589-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Undruggable proteins are a class of proteins that are often characterized by large, complex structures or functions that are difficult to interfere with using conventional drug design strategies. Targeting such undruggable targets has been considered also a great opportunity for treatment of human diseases and has attracted substantial efforts in the field of medicine. Therefore, in this review, we focus on the recent development of drug discovery targeting "undruggable" proteins and their application in clinic. To make this review well organized, we discuss the design strategies targeting the undruggable proteins, including covalent regulation, allosteric inhibition, protein-protein/DNA interaction inhibition, targeted proteins regulation, nucleic acid-based approach, immunotherapy and others.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Tingting Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China
- Department of Dermatology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Leonard J Foster
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China.
| | - Wei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China.
| | - Gu He
- Department of Dermatology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Van Roy Z, Shi W, Kak G, Duan B, Kielian T. Epigenetic Regulation of Leukocyte Inflammatory Mediator Production Dictates Staphylococcus aureus Craniotomy Infection Outcome. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 211:414-428. [PMID: 37314520 PMCID: PMC10524781 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of surgical-site infections, including those arising after craniotomy, which is performed to access the brain for the treatment of tumors, epilepsy, or hemorrhage. Craniotomy infection is characterized by complex spatial and temporal dynamics of leukocyte recruitment and microglial activation. We recently identified unique transcriptional profiles of these immune populations during S. aureus craniotomy infection. Epigenetic processes allow rapid and reversible control over gene transcription; however, little is known about how epigenetic pathways influence immunity to live S. aureus. An epigenetic compound library screen identified bromodomain and extraterminal domain-containing (BET) proteins and histone deacetylases (HDACs) as critical for regulating TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and CCL2 production by primary mouse microglia, macrophages, neutrophils, and granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells in response to live S. aureus. Class I HDACs (c1HDACs) were increased in these cell types in vitro and in vivo during acute disease in a mouse model of S. aureus craniotomy infection. However, substantial reductions in c1HDACs were observed during chronic infection, highlighting temporal regulation and the importance of the tissue microenvironment for dictating c1HDAC expression. Microparticle delivery of HDAC and BET inhibitors in vivo caused widespread decreases in inflammatory mediator production, which significantly increased bacterial burden in the brain, galea, and bone flap. These findings identify histone acetylation as an important mechanism for regulating cytokine and chemokine production across diverse immune cell lineages that is critical for bacterial containment. Accordingly, aberrant epigenetic regulation may be important for promoting S. aureus persistence during craniotomy infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Van Roy
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Wen Shi
- Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program; Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Gunjan Kak
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Bin Duan
- Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program; Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Tammy Kielian
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pérez-Cabello JA, Silvera-Carrasco L, Franco JM, Capilla-González V, Armaos A, Gómez-Lima M, García-García R, Yap XW, Leal-Lasarte M, Lall D, Baloh RH, Martínez S, Miyata Y, Tartaglia GG, Sawarkar R, García-Domínguez M, Pozo D, Roodveldt C. MAPK/MAK/MRK overlapping kinase (MOK) controls microglial inflammatory/type-I IFN responses via Brd4 and is involved in ALS. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302143120. [PMID: 37399380 PMCID: PMC10334760 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302143120] [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: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and incurable neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons and characterized by microglia-mediated neurotoxic inflammation whose underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this work, we reveal that MAPK/MAK/MRK overlapping kinase (MOK), with an unknown physiological substrate, displays an immune function by controlling inflammatory and type-I interferon (IFN) responses in microglia which are detrimental to primary motor neurons. Moreover, we uncover the epigenetic reader bromodomain-containing protein 4 (Brd4) as an effector protein regulated by MOK, by promoting Ser492-phospho-Brd4 levels. We further demonstrate that MOK regulates Brd4 functions by supporting its binding to cytokine gene promoters, therefore enabling innate immune responses. Remarkably, we show that MOK levels are increased in the ALS spinal cord, particularly in microglial cells, and that administration of a chemical MOK inhibitor to ALS model mice can modulate Ser492-phospho-Brd4 levels, suppress microglial activation, and modify the disease course, indicating a pathophysiological role of MOK kinase in ALS and neuroinflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesús A. Pérez-Cabello
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville41092, Spain
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville41009, Spain
| | - Lucía Silvera-Carrasco
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville41092, Spain
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville41009, Spain
| | - Jaime M. Franco
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville41092, Spain
| | - Vivian Capilla-González
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville41092, Spain
| | - Alexandros Armaos
- Center for Human Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova16152, Italy
- Center for Life Nano Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova16152, Italy
| | - María Gómez-Lima
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville41092, Spain
| | - Raquel García-García
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville41092, Spain
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville41009, Spain
| | - Xin Wen Yap
- The Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB1 2QR, United Kingdom
| | - Magdalena Leal-Lasarte
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville41092, Spain
| | - Deepti Lall
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA90048
| | - Robert H. Baloh
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA90048
| | - Salvador Martínez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche-CSIC, Alicante03550, Spain
| | - Yoshihiko Miyata
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto606-8501, Japan
| | - Gian G. Tartaglia
- Center for Human Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova16152, Italy
- Center for Life Nano Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova16152, Italy
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University Sapienza Rome, Rome00185, Italy
| | - Ritwick Sawarkar
- The Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB1 2QR, United Kingdom
| | - Mario García-Domínguez
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville41092, Spain
| | - David Pozo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville41092, Spain
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville41009, Spain
| | - Cintia Roodveldt
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville41092, Spain
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville41009, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gladkova MG, Leidmaa E, Anderzhanova EA. Epidrugs in the Therapy of Central Nervous System Disorders: A Way to Drive on? Cells 2023; 12:1464. [PMID: 37296584 PMCID: PMC10253154 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111464] [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: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The polygenic nature of neurological and psychiatric syndromes and the significant impact of environmental factors on the underlying developmental, homeostatic, and neuroplastic mechanisms suggest that an efficient therapy for these disorders should be a complex one. Pharmacological interventions with drugs selectively influencing the epigenetic landscape (epidrugs) allow one to hit multiple targets, therefore, assumably addressing a wide spectrum of genetic and environmental mechanisms of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The aim of this review is to understand what fundamental pathological mechanisms would be optimal to target with epidrugs in the treatment of neurological or psychiatric complications. To date, the use of histone deacetylases and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (HDACis and DNMTis) in the clinic is focused on the treatment of neoplasms (mainly of a glial origin) and is based on the cytostatic and cytotoxic actions of these compounds. Preclinical data show that besides this activity, inhibitors of histone deacetylases, DNA methyltransferases, bromodomains, and ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins impact the expression of neuroimmune inflammation mediators (cytokines and pro-apoptotic factors), neurotrophins (brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF)), ion channels, ionotropic receptors, as well as pathoproteins (β-amyloid, tau protein, and α-synuclein). Based on this profile of activities, epidrugs may be favorable as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. For the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders, drug addiction, as well as anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and epilepsy, contemporary epidrugs still require further development concerning a tuning of pharmacological effects, reduction in toxicity, and development of efficient treatment protocols. A promising strategy to further clarify the potential targets of epidrugs as therapeutic means to cure neurological and psychiatric syndromes is the profiling of the epigenetic mechanisms, which have evolved upon actions of complex physiological lifestyle factors, such as diet and physical exercise, and which are effective in the management of neurodegenerative diseases and dementia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina G. Gladkova
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Este Leidmaa
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yan Z, Lyu X, Lin D, Wu G, Gong Y, Ren X, Xiao J, Lou J, Huang H, Chen Y, Zhao Y. Selective degradation of cellular BRD3 and BRD4-L promoted by PROTAC molecules in six cancer cell lines. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 254:115381. [PMID: 37084596 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Targeted degradation of BET family proteins BRD2/3/4 or only BRD4 with PROTAC molecules has been a promising strategy for the treatment of human cancer. Meanwhile, selective degradation of cellular BRD3 and BRD4-L remains a challenging task. We report herein a novel PROTAC molecule 24 that promoted selective degradation of cellular BRD3 and BRD4-L, but not BRD2 or BRD4-S, in a panel of six cancer cell lines. The observed target selectivity was partially attributed to differences in protein degradation kinetics and in types of cell lines. In a MM.1S mouse xenograft model, an optimized lead compound 28 promoted selective degradation of BRD3 and BRD4-L in vivo and exhibited robust antitumor activity. In summary, we have demonstrated that selective degradation of BRD3 and BRD4-L over BRD2 and BRD4-S is a feasible and robust approach in multiple cancer cell lines and an animal model, which could be helpful for further investigations on BRD3 and BRD4-L that ultimately benefitting cancer research and therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziqin Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and Small-Molecule Drug Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xilin Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and Small-Molecule Drug Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Dongze Lin
- Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Gaoxing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and Small-Molecule Drug Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and Small-Molecule Drug Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China; School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Xuelian Ren
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jian Xiao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China; Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jianfeng Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and Small-Molecule Drug Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - He Huang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China; Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Yujun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and Small-Molecule Drug Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China; School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals, Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jinan, 250101, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Martella N, Pensabene D, Varone M, Colardo M, Petraroia M, Sergio W, La Rosa P, Moreno S, Segatto M. Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal Proteins in Brain Physiology and Pathology: BET-ing on Epigenetic Regulation. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11030750. [PMID: 36979729 PMCID: PMC10045827 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BET proteins function as histone code readers of acetylated lysins that determine the positive regulation in transcription of genes involved in cell cycle progression, differentiation, inflammation, and many other pathways. In recent years, thanks to the development of BET inhibitors, interest in this protein family has risen for its relevance in brain development and function. For example, experimental evidence has shown that BET modulation affects neuronal activity and the expression of genes involved in learning and memory. In addition, BET inhibition strongly suppresses molecular pathways related to neuroinflammation. These observations suggest that BET modulation may play a critical role in the onset and during the development of diverse neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, fragile X syndrome, and Rett syndrome. In this review article, we summarize the most recent evidence regarding the involvement of BET proteins in brain physiology and pathology, as well as their pharmacological potential as targets for therapeutic purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Martella
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
| | - Daniele Pensabene
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopment, Neurogenetics and Neuromolecular Biology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 64 via del Fosso di Fiorano, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Varone
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
| | - Mayra Colardo
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
| | - Michele Petraroia
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
| | - William Sergio
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
| | - Piergiorgio La Rosa
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Sandra Moreno
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopment, Neurogenetics and Neuromolecular Biology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 64 via del Fosso di Fiorano, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Segatto
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Van Roy Z, Kielian T. Exploring epigenetic reprogramming during central nervous system infection. Immunol Rev 2022; 311:112-129. [PMID: 35481573 PMCID: PMC9790395 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics involves the study of various modes of adaptable transcriptional regulation, contributing to cell identity, characteristics, and function. During central nervous system (CNS) infection, epigenetic mechanisms can exert pronounced control over the maturation and antimicrobial properties of nearly every immune cell type. Epigenetics is a relatively new field, with the first mention of these marks proposed only a half-century ago and a substantial body of immunological epigenetic research emerging only in the last few decades. Here, we review the best-characterized epigenetic marks and their functions as well as illustrate how various immune cell populations responding to CNS infection utilize these marks to organize their activation state and inflammatory processes. We also discuss the metabolic and clinical implications of epigenetic marks and the rapidly expanding set of tools available to researchers that are enabling elucidation of increasingly detailed genetic regulatory pathways. These considerations paint an intricate picture of inflammatory regulation, where epigenetic marks influence genetic, signaling, and environmental elements to orchestrate a tailored immunological response to the threat at hand, cementing epigenetics as an important player in immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Van Roy
- Department of Pathology and MicrobiologyUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Tammy Kielian
- Department of Pathology and MicrobiologyUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Borgonetti V, Meacci E, Pierucci F, Romanelli MN, Galeotti N. Dual HDAC/BRD4 Inhibitors Relieves Neuropathic Pain by Attenuating Inflammatory Response in Microglia After Spared Nerve Injury. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1634-1648. [PMID: 35501470 PMCID: PMC9606187 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01243-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the effort on developing new treatments, therapy for neuropathic pain is still a clinical challenge and combination therapy regimes of two or more drugs are often needed to improve efficacy. Accumulating evidence shows an altered expression and activity of histone acetylation enzymes in chronic pain conditions and restoration of these aberrant epigenetic modifications promotes pain-relieving activity. Recent studies showed a synergistic activity in neuropathic pain models by combination of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) inhibitors. On these premises, the present study investigated the pharmacological profile of new dual HDAC/BRD4 inhibitors, named SUM52 and SUM35, in the spared nerve injury (SNI) model in mice as innovative strategy to simultaneously inhibit HDACs and BETs. Intranasal administration of SUM52 and SUM35 attenuated thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity in the absence of locomotor side effects. Both dual inhibitors showed a preferential interaction with BRD4-BD2 domain, and SUM52 resulted the most active compound. SUM52 reduced microglia-mediated spinal neuroinflammation in spinal cord sections of SNI mice as showed by reduction of IBA1 immunostaining, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, p65 nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and p38 MAPK over-phosphorylation. A robust decrease of the spinal proinflammatory cytokines content (IL-6, IL-1ß) was also observed after SUM52 treatment. Present results, showing the pain-relieving activity of HDAC/BRD4 dual inhibitors, indicate that the simultaneous modulation of BET and HDAC activity by a single molecule acting as multi-target agent might represent a promise for neuropathic pain relief.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Borgonetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Meacci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, "Mario Serio"-Unit of Biochemical Sciences and Molecular Biology, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 50, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Federica Pierucci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, "Mario Serio"-Unit of Biochemical Sciences and Molecular Biology, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 50, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Novella Romanelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Galeotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wang W, He S, Dong G, Sheng C. Nucleic-Acid-Based Targeted Degradation in Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2022; 65:10217-10232. [PMID: 35916496 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD), represented by proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC), has emerged as a novel therapeutic modality in drug discovery. However, the application of conventional PROTACs is limited to protein targets containing cytosolic domains with ligandable sites. Recently, nucleic-acid-based modalities, such as modified oligonucleotide mimics and aptamers, opened new avenues to degrade protein targets and greatly expanded the scope of TPD. Beyond constructing protein-degrading chimeras, nucleic acid motifs can also serve as substrates for targeted degradation. Particularly, the new type of chimeric RNA degrader termed ribonuclease-targeting chimera (RIBOTAC) has shown promising features in drug discovery. Here, we provide an overview of the newly emerging TPD strategies based on nucleic acids as well as new strategies for targeted degradation of nucleic acid (RNA) targets. The design strategies, case studies, potential applications, and challenges are focused on.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shipeng He
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Guoqiang Dong
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Targeted BRD4 protein degradation by dBET1 ameliorates acute ischemic brain injury and improves functional outcomes associated with reduced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress and preservation of blood-brain barrier integrity. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:168. [PMID: 35761277 PMCID: PMC9237998 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02533-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), a member of the bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) protein family, plays a crucial role in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress that are tightly related to stroke development and progression. Consequently, BRD4 blockade has attracted increasing interest for associated neurological diseases, including stroke. dBET1 is a novel and effective BRD4 degrader through the proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) strategy. We hypothesized that dBET1 protects against brain damage and neurological deficits in a transient focal ischemic stroke mouse model by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress and preserving the blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity. Post-ischemic dBET1 treatment starting 4 h after stroke onset significantly ameliorated severe neurological deficits and reduced infarct volume 48 h after stroke. dBET1 markedly reduced inflammation and oxidative stress after stroke, indicated by multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CCL2, CXCL1 and CXCL10, and oxidative damage markers 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and gp91phox and antioxidative proteins SOD2 and GPx1. Meanwhile, stroke-induced BBB disruption, increased MMP-9 levels, neutrophil infiltration, and increased ICAM-1 were significantly attenuated by dBET1 treatment. Post-ischemic dBET1 administration also attenuated ischemia-induced reactive gliosis in microglia and astrocytes. Overall, these findings demonstrate that BRD4 degradation by dBET1 improves acute stroke outcomes, which is associated with reduced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress and preservation of BBB integrity. This study identifies a novel role of BET proteins in the mechanisms resulting in ischemic brain damage, which can be leveraged to develop novel therapies.
Collapse
|
17
|
Liu J, Chen T, Li S, Liu W, Wang P, Shang G. Targeting matrix metalloproteinases by E3 ubiquitin ligases as a way to regulate the tumor microenvironment for cancer therapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:259-268. [PMID: 35724822 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in neoplastic development. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are critically involved in tumorigenesis by modulation of the TME and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in a large variety of malignancies. Evidence has revealed that dysregulated MMPs can lead to ECM damage, the promotion of cell migration and tumor metastasis. The expression and activities of MMPs can be tightly regulated by TIMPs, multiple signaling pathways and noncoding RNAs. MMPs are also finely controlled by E3 ubiquitin ligases. The current review focuses on the molecular mechanism by which MMPs are governed by E3 ubiquitin ligases in carcinogenesis. Due to the essential role of MMPs in oncogenesis, they have been considered the attractive targets for antitumor treatment. Several strategies that target MMPs have been discovered, including the use of small-molecule inhibitors, peptides, inhibitory antibodies, natural compounds with anti-MMP activity, and RNAi therapeutics. However, these molecules have multiple disadvantages, such as poor solubility, severe side-effects and low oral bioavailability. Therefore, it is necessary to discover the novel inhibitors that suppress MMPs for cancer therapy. Here, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting E3 ubiquitin ligases to inhibit MMPs. We hope this review will stimulate the discovery of novel therapeutics for the MMP-targeted treatment of a variety of human cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinxin Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Shizhe Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Wenjun Liu
- Department of Research and Development, Beijing Zhongwei Research Center of Biological and Translational Medicine, Beijing 100161, China
| | - Peter Wang
- Department of Research and Development, Beijing Zhongwei Research Center of Biological and Translational Medicine, Beijing 100161, China; Bengbu Medical College Key Laboratory of Cancer Research and Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui 233030, China.
| | - Guanning Shang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Cerqueira SR, Benavides S, Lee HE, Ayad NG, Lee JK. BET protein inhibition promotes non-myeloid cell mediated neuroprotection after rodent spinal cord contusion. Exp Neurol 2022; 352:114035. [PMID: 35276206 PMCID: PMC10998280 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) often lead to multiple neurological deficits as a result from the initial trauma and also the secondary damage that follows. Despite abundant preclinical data proposing anti-inflammatory therapies to minimize secondary injury and improve functional recovery, the field still lacks an effective neuroprotective treatment. Epigenetic proteins, such as bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins, are emerging as new targets to regulate inflammation. More importantly, pharmacological inhibition of BET proteins suppresses pro-inflammatory gene transcription after SCI. In this study, we tested the therapeutic potential of inhibiting BET proteins after SCI with clinically relevant compounds, and investigated the role of the BET protein BRD4 in macrophages during progression of SCI pathology. Systemic inhibition of BET proteins with I-BET762 significantly reduced lesion size 8 weeks after a contusion injury in rats. However, we observed no histological or locomotor improvements after SCI when we deleted Brd4 in macrophages through the use of myeloid-specific Brd4 knockout mice or after macrophage-targeted pharmacological BET inhibition. Taken together, our data indicate that systemic I-BET762 treatment is neuroprotective, and the histopathological improvement observed is likely to be a result of effects on non-macrophage targets. Expanding our understanding on the role of BET proteins after SCI is necessary to identify novel therapeutic targets that can effectively promote repair after SCI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susana R Cerqueira
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Sofia Benavides
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ha Eun Lee
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Nagi G Ayad
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; The University of Miami Brain Tumor Initiative, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Jae K Lee
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Inuzuka H, Liu J, Wei W, Rezaeian AH. PROTACs technology for treatment of Alzheimer's disease: Advances and perspectives. ACTA MATERIA MEDICA 2022; 1:24-41. [PMID: 35237768 PMCID: PMC8887676 DOI: 10.15212/amm-2021-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characteristic with progression of neuron degeneration, resulting in dysfunction of cognition and mobility. Many neurodegenerative diseases are because of proteinopathies that results from unusual protein accumulations and aggregations. The aggregation of misfolded proteins like β-amyloid, α-synuclein, tau, and polyglutamates are hallmarked in Alzheimer's disease (AD), which are undruggable targets, and usually do not respond to conventional small-molecule agents. Therefore, developing novel technology and strategy for reducing the levels of protein aggregates would be critical for treatment of AD. Recently, the emerging proteolysis targeting chimeras (PRPTACs) technology has been significantly considered for artificial and selective degradation of aberrant target proteins. These engineered bifunctional molecules engage target proteins to be degraded by either the cellular degradation machinery in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) or via the autophagy-lysosome degradation pathway. Although the application of PROTACs technology is preferable than oligonucleotide and antibodies for treatment of NDs, many limitations such as their pharmacokinetic properties, tissue distribution and cell permeabilities, still need to be corrected. Herein, we review the recent advances in PROTACs technology with their limitation for pharmaceutical targeting of aberrant proteins involved in Alzheimer's diseases. We also review therapeutic potential of dysregulated signaling such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis for the management of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Inuzuka
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Wenyi Wei
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Corresponding author. Contact: ,
| | - Abdol-Hossein Rezaeian
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Corresponding author. Contact: ,
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Dai M, Radhakrishnan S, Li R, Tan R, Yan K, Fan G, Liu M. Targeted Protein Degradation: An Important Tool for Drug Discovery for "Undruggable" Tumor Transcription Factors. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2022; 21:15330338221095950. [PMID: 35466792 PMCID: PMC9047787 DOI: 10.1177/15330338221095950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional small-molecule drugs (SMDs) are compounds characterized by low
molecular weight, high cell permeability, and high selectivity. In clinical
translation, SMDs are regarded as good candidates for oral drug formulation. SMD
inhibitors play an important role in cancer treatment; however, resistance and
low effectiveness have been major bottlenecks in clinical application.
Generally, only 20% of cell proteins can potentially be targeted and have been
developed as SMDs; thus, some types of tumor targets are considered
“undruggable.” Among these are transcription factors (TFs), an important class
of proteins that regulate the occurrence, formation, and development of tumors.
It is difficult for SMDs and macromolecular drugs to identify bioactive sites in
TFs and hence for use as pharmacological inhibitors in targeting TF proteins.
For this reason, technologies that enable targeted protein degradation, such as
proteolysis-targeting chimera or molecular glues, could serve as a potential
tool to solve these conundrums.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Dai
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, 89674Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Sridhar Radhakrishnan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, 37580National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruirong Tan
- Translational Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, 598782Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Kuo Yan
- Institute of Cell and Neurobiology, Charité Medical University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gang Fan
- Department of Urology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,477382The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Miao Liu
- Department of Pathology, 1861Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Regulation of the Fructose Transporter Gene Slc2a5 Expression by Glucose in Cultured Microglial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312668. [PMID: 34884473 PMCID: PMC8657830 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia play a role in the regulation of metabolism and pathogenesis of obesity. Microglial activity is altered in response to changes in diet and the body’s metabolic state. Solute carrier family 2 member 5 (Slc2a5) that encodes glucose transporter 5 (GLUT5) is a fructose transporter primarily expressed in microglia within the central nervous system. However, little is known about the nutritional regulation of Slc2a5 expression in microglia and its role in the regulation of metabolism. The present study aimed to address the hypothesis that nutrients affect microglial activity by altering the expression of glucose transporter genes. Murine microglial cell line SIM-A9 cells and primary microglia from mouse brain were exposed to different concentrations of glucose and levels of microglial activation markers and glucose transporter genes were measured. High concentration of glucose increased levels of the immediate-early gene product c-Fos, a marker of cell activation, Slc2a5 mRNA, and pro-inflammatory cytokine genes in microglial cells in a time-dependent manner, while fructose failed to cause these changes. Glucose-induced changes in pro-inflammatory gene expression were partially attenuated in SIM-A9 cells treated with the GLUT5 inhibitor. These findings suggest that an increase in local glucose availability leads to the activation of microglia by controlling their carbohydrate sensing mechanism through both GLUT5-dependent and –independent mechanisms.
Collapse
|
22
|
Liu L, Yang C, Candelario-Jalil E. Role of BET Proteins in Inflammation and CNS Diseases. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:748449. [PMID: 34604312 PMCID: PMC8481655 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.748449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins consist of four mammalian members (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT), which play a pivotal role in the transcriptional regulation of the inflammatory response. Dysregulated inflammation is a key pathological process in various CNS disorders through multiple mechanisms, including NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways, two well-known master regulators of inflammation. A better mechanistic understanding of the BET proteins’ role in regulating the inflammatory process is of great significance since it could reveal novel therapeutic targets to reduce neuroinflammation associated with many CNS diseases. In this minireview, we first outline the structural features of BET proteins and summarize genetic and pharmacological approaches for BET inhibition, including novel strategies using proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs). We emphasize in vitro and in vivo evidence of the interplay between BET proteins and NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways. Finally, we summarize recent studies showing that BET proteins are essential regulators of inflammation and neuropathology in various CNS diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Changjun Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Eduardo Candelario-Jalil
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Romanelli MN, Borgonetti V, Galeotti N. Dual BET/HDAC inhibition to relieve neuropathic pain: Recent advances, perspectives, and future opportunities. Pharmacol Res 2021; 173:105901. [PMID: 34547384 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite the intense research on developing new therapies for neuropathic pain states, available treatments have limited efficacy and unfavorable safety profiles. Epigenetic alterations have a great influence on the development of cancer and neurological diseases, as well as neuropathic pain. Histone acetylation has prevailed as one of the well investigated epigenetic modifications in these diseases. Altered spinal activity of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and Bromo and Extra terminal domain (BET) have been described in neuropathic pain models and restoration of these aberrant epigenetic modifications showed pain-relieving activity. Over the last decades HDACs and BETs have been the focus of drug discovery studies, leading to the development of numerous small-molecule inhibitors. Clinical trials to evaluate their anticancer activity showed good efficacy but raised toxicity concerns that limited translation to the clinic. To maximize activity and minimize toxicity, these compounds can be applied in combination of sub-maximal doses to produce additive or synergistic interactions (combination therapy). Recently, of particular interest, dual BET/HDAC inhibitors (multi-target drugs) have been developed to assure simultaneous modulation of BET and HDAC activity by a single molecule. This review will summarize the most recent advances with these strategies, describing advantages and limitations of single drug treatment vs combination regimens. This review will also provide a focus on dual BET/HDAC drug discovery investigations as future therapeutic opportunity for human therapy of neuropathic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Novella Romanelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Vittoria Borgonetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Galeotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Zhou L, Han YF, Yuan C, Duan ZQ. Screening and bioinformatics analysis of cellular proteins interacting with chicken bromodomain-containing protein 2 in DF-1 cells. Br Poult Sci 2021; 62:810-819. [PMID: 34152239 DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2021.1943311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
1. Bromodomain-containing protein 2 (BRD2) is an important member of the BET protein family, which can specifically bind histone acetylated lysine to participate in gene transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodelling, cell proliferation and apoptosis. The following investigation of cellular proteins interacting with chBRD2 will be helpful in understanding the new functions of chBRD2 and the mechanism of NDV replication.2. The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-chBRD2 and empty vector pEGFP-C1 were transfected into DF-1 cells to overexpress GFP-chBRD2 and GFP, respectively. GO annotation, KEGG pathway, and protein-protein interaction network were used to analyse the cellular proteins interacting with chBRD2. In addition, one targeted protein was selected to verify its interaction with chBRD2 using fluorescent co-localisation and Co-IP.3. A total of 225 cellular proteins were identified that potentially interact with chBRD2. GO analysis showed that these play key roles in gene transcriptional regulation, cell cycle and development, immunity and viral infection. Further KEGG pathway analysis showed that these proteins were mainly involved in genetic information processing, immune system, cellular processes and translation. In addition, one targeted cellular protein chicken matrin 3 (chMATR3) was also identified as chBRD2 complex using both fluorescence co-localisation and Co-IP analysis.4. This study presents the interactome data of chBRD2 protein in DF-1 cells, which provides new information to understand the functions of chBRD2 and new targets for further investigating the replication and pathogenesis of NDV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountains Region, Ministry of Education (Guizhou University)/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in Guizhou Province, Guiyang, China.,College of Animal Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Y F Han
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountains Region, Ministry of Education (Guizhou University)/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in Guizhou Province, Guiyang, China.,College of Animal Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - C Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountains Region, Ministry of Education (Guizhou University)/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in Guizhou Province, Guiyang, China.,College of Animal Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Z Q Duan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountains Region, Ministry of Education (Guizhou University)/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in Guizhou Province, Guiyang, China.,College of Animal Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Alabi SB, Crews CM. Major advances in targeted protein degradation: PROTACs, LYTACs, and MADTACs. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100647. [PMID: 33839157 PMCID: PMC8131913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Of late, targeted protein degradation (TPD) has surfaced as a novel and innovative chemical tool and therapeutic modality. By co-opting protein degradation pathways, TPD facilitates complete removal of the protein molecules from within or outside the cell. While the pioneering Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) technology and molecular glues hijack the ubiquitin-proteasome system, newer modalities co-opt autophagy or the endo-lysosomal pathway. Using this mechanism, TPD is posited to largely expand the druggable space far beyond small-molecule inhibitors. In this review, we discuss the major advances in TPD, highlight our current understanding, and explore outstanding questions in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanique B Alabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Craig M Crews
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Wang N, Wu R, Comish PB, Kang R, Tang D. Pharmacological Modulation of BET Family in Sepsis. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:642294. [PMID: 33776776 PMCID: PMC7990776 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.642294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis 3.0) recommended defining sepsis as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the host's uncontrolled response to infection. The bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) protein family (such as BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4), an epigenetic regulator of gene transcription, has recently been recognized as a significant septic regulator of inflammation and immune response, including cytokine and chemokine production. Mechanistically, the two N-terminal conserved tandem bromodomains (namely the first bromodomain [BD1] and the second bromodomain [BD2]) favor the binding of BETs to acetylated histones or transcription factors, thereby initiating gene transcription machinery after CycT1 and CDK9 (also known as P-TEFb) are recruited to gene promoters to phosphorylate RNA pol II. Notably, BD1 and BD2 are not functionally redundant because they have different target genes in innate immune cells. Small-molecule BET inhibitors (BETis) for different BDs, such as I-BET, JQ1, I-BET151, apabetalone, RVX-297, and dBET1 have shown promising therapeutic effects in experimental sepsis models. This mini-review summarizes the emerging roles of BETs and the applications of BETis in sepsis, discusses the existing shortcomings of BETis, and introduces possible future research directions in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nian Wang
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Runliu Wu
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Paul B Comish
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Rui Kang
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Daolin Tang
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Effective degradation of EGFR L858R+T790M mutant proteins by CRBN-based PROTACs through both proteosome and autophagy/lysosome degradation systems. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 218:113328. [PMID: 33773286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Targeted therapy of treating patients with specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is currently the standard care for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant non-small cell lung cancer. However, the inevitably developed drug resistance in patients to EGFR TKIs is the biggest obstacle for cancer targeted therapy. About 60% of drug resistance to the 1st generation of EGFR TKIs was resulted from an acquired T790M mutation in the kinase domain of EGFR protein. Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) is a lately-developed technology to target point of interest proteins for degradation. Because EGFR-mutant lung cancers are highly dependent on EGFR proteins, designing specific PROTAC molecules to degrade EGFR proteins from cancer cells provides a very promising strategy to treat such patients and eradicate drug resistance. Currently, there is no cereblon (CRBN)-based PROTAC reported able to degrade T790M-containing EGFR resistant proteins. In this study, we synthesized two novel CRBN-based EGFR PROTACs, SIAIS125 and SIAIS126, based on EGFR inhibitor canertinib and cereblon ligand pomalidomide. These two degraders displayed potent and selective antitumor activities in EGFR TKI resistant lung cancer cells. Firstly, they could selectively degrade EGFRL858R+T790M resistant proteins in H1975 cells at the concentration of 30-50 nM, and EGFREx19del proteins in PC9 cells. But they did not degrade EGFREx19del+T790M mutant proteins in PC9Brca1 cells or wild type EGFR in A549 lung cancer cells. They could also selectively inhibit the growth of EGFR mutant lung cancer cells but not that of normal cells or A549 cells. Secondly, the degradation of EGFRL858R+T790M proteins was long lasting up to 72 h. Thirdly, these degraders displayed better inhibition of EGFR phosphorylation in H1975 cells and PC9Brca1 cells comparing to canertinib. Finally, these degraders could also induce significant apoptosis and cell cycles arrest in H1975 cells. Pre-incubation with canertinib, pomalidomide or ubiquitination inhibitor MLN4924 totally blocked EGFR degradation by PROTACs. Mechanistic studies showed that PROTAC could induce autophagy in lung cancer cells. PROTAC-induced EGFR degradation acted through both ubiquitin/proteosome system and ubiquitin/autophagy/lysosome system. Elevating autophagy activities enhanced EGFR degradation and cell apoptosis induced by PROTACs. Our research not only offered a novel PROTAC tool to target EGFR TKI drug resistance in lung cancer, but also firstly demonstrated that the involvement of autophagy/lysosome system in PROTAC- mediated target protein degradation.
Collapse
|
28
|
Yang H, Wei L, Xun Y, Yang A, You H. BRD4: An emerging prospective therapeutic target in glioma. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2021; 21:1-14. [PMID: 33851008 PMCID: PMC8010576 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in treatment, the prognosis for glioma patients remains poor. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), a member of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein family, plays an important role in controlling oncogene expression and genome stability. In recent years, numerous BRD4 inhibitors have entered clinical trials and achieved exciting results in tumor treatment. Recent clinical studies have shown that BRD4 expression in glioma is significantly higher than in the adjacent normal brain tissue. BRD4 inhibitors effectively penetrate the blood-brain barrier and target glioma tumor tissues but have little effect on normal brain tissues. Thus, BRD4 is a target for the treatment of glioma. In this study, we discuss the progress in the use of BRD4 inhibitors for glioma treatment, their mechanism of action, and their broad potential clinical application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hua Yang
- Department of Basic Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Li Wei
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yang Xun
- Department of Basic Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Anping Yang
- Department of Basic Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hua You
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Zhang X, Meng T, Cui S, Feng L, Liu D, Pang Q, Wang P. Ubiquitination of Nonhistone Proteins in Cancer Development and Treatment. Front Oncol 2021; 10:621294. [PMID: 33643919 PMCID: PMC7905169 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.621294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitination, a crucial post-translation modification, regulates the localization and stability of the substrate proteins including nonhistone proteins. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) on nonhistone proteins plays a critical role in many cellular processes such as DNA repair, transcription, signal transduction, and apoptosis. Its dysregulation induces various diseases including cancer, and the identification of this process may provide potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the regulatory roles of key UPS members on major nonhistone substrates in cancer-related processes, such as cell cycle, cell proliferation, apoptosis, DNA damage repair, inflammation, and T cell dysfunction in cancer. In addition, we also highlight novel therapeutic interventions targeting the UPS members (E1s, E2s, E3s, proteasomes, and deubiquitinating enzymes). Furthermore, we discuss the application of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) technology as a novel anticancer therapeutic strategy in modulating protein target levels with the aid of UPS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuzhen Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Tong Meng
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuaishuai Cui
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Ling Feng
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Dongwu Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
- School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Qiuxiang Pang
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Ping Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Borgonetti V, Galeotti N. Combined inhibition of histone deacetylases and BET family proteins as epigenetic therapy for nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. Pharmacol Res 2021; 165:105431. [PMID: 33529752 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Current treatments for neuropathic pain have often moderate efficacy and present unwanted effects showing the need to develop effective therapies. Accumulating evidence suggests that histone acetylation plays essential roles in chronic pain and the analgesic activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors is documented. Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins are epigenetic readers that interact with acetylated lysine residues on histones, but little is known about their implication in neuropathic pain. Thus, the current study was aimed to investigate the effect of the combination of HDAC and BET inhibitors in the spared nerve injury (SNI) model in mice. Intranasal administration of i-BET762 (BET inhibitor) or SAHA (HDAC inhibitor) attenuated thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity and this antiallodynic activity was improved by co-administration of both drugs. Spinal cord sections of SNI mice showed an increased expression of HDAC1 and Brd4 proteins and combination produced a stronger reduction compared to each epigenetic agent alone. SAHA and i-BET762, administered alone or in combination, counteracted the SNI-induced microglia activation by inhibiting the expression of IBA1, CD11b, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) with comparable efficacy. Conversely, the epigenetic inhibitors showed a modest effect on spinal proinflammatory cytokines content that was significantly potentiated by their combination. Present results indicate a key role of acetylated histones and their recruitment by BET proteins on microglia-mediated spinal neuroinflammation. Targeting neuropathic pain with the combination of HDAC and BET inhibitors may represent a promising new therapeutic option.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Borgonetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Galeotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Wang N, Wu R, Tang D, Kang R. The BET family in immunity and disease. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:23. [PMID: 33462181 PMCID: PMC7813845 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00384-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate immunity serves as the rapid and first-line defense against invading pathogens, and this process can be regulated at various levels, including epigenetic mechanisms. The bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family of proteins consists of four conserved mammalian members (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT) that regulate the expression of many immunity-associated genes and pathways. In particular, in response to infection and sterile inflammation, abnormally expressed or dysfunctional BETs are involved in the activation of pattern recognition receptor (e.g., TLR, NLR, and CGAS) pathways, thereby linking chromatin machinery to innate immunity under disease or pathological conditions. Mechanistically, the BET family controls the transcription of a wide range of proinflammatory and immunoregulatory genes by recognizing acetylated histones (mainly H3 and H4) and recruiting transcription factors (e.g., RELA) and transcription elongation complex (e.g., P-TEFb) to the chromatin, thereby promoting the phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II and subsequent transcription initiation and elongation. This review covers the accumulating data about the roles of the BET family in innate immunity, and discusses the attractive prospect of manipulating the BET family as a new treatment for disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nian Wang
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Runliu Wu
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Daolin Tang
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
| | - Rui Kang
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Iyer H, Wahul AB, P K A, Sawant BS, Kumar A. A BRD's (BiRD's) eye view of BET and BRPF bromodomains in neurological diseases. Rev Neurosci 2021; 32:403-426. [PMID: 33661583 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0067] [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: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Neurological disorders (NLDs) are among the top leading causes for disability worldwide. Dramatic changes in the epigenetic topography of the brain and nervous system have been found in many NLDs. Histone lysine acetylation has prevailed as one of the well characterised epigenetic modifications in these diseases. Two instrumental components of the acetylation machinery are the evolutionarily conserved Bromodomain and PHD finger containing (BRPF) and Bromo and Extra terminal domain (BET) family of proteins, also referred to as acetylation 'readers'. Several reasons, including their distinct mechanisms of modulation of gene expression and their property of being highly tractable small molecule targets, have increased their translational relevance. Thus, compounds which demonstrated promising results in targeting these proteins have advanced to clinical trials. They have been established as key role players in pathologies of cancer, cardiac diseases, renal diseases and rheumatic diseases. In addition, studies implicating the role of these bromodomains in NLDs are gaining pace. In this review, we highlight the findings of these studies, and reason for the plausible roles of all BET and BRPF members in NLDs. A comprehensive understanding of their multifaceted functions would be radical in the development of therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harish Iyer
- Epigenetics and Neuropsychiatric Disorders' Laboratory, CSIR - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad500007, India
| | - Abhipradnya B Wahul
- Epigenetics and Neuropsychiatric Disorders' Laboratory, CSIR - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad500007, India
| | - Annapoorna P K
- Epigenetics and Neuropsychiatric Disorders' Laboratory, CSIR - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad201002, India
| | - Bharvi S Sawant
- Epigenetics and Neuropsychiatric Disorders' Laboratory, CSIR - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad500007, India
| | - Arvind Kumar
- Epigenetics and Neuropsychiatric Disorders' Laboratory, CSIR - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad201002, India
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ma K, Han XX, Yang XM, Zhou SL. Proteolysis targeting chimera technology: a novel strategy for treating diseases of the central nervous system. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:1944-1949. [PMID: 33642364 PMCID: PMC8343312 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.308075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease are among the intractable diseases for which appropriate drugs and treatments are lacking. Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology is a novel strategy to solve this problem. PROTAC technology uses the ubiquitin-protease system to eliminate mutated, denatured, and harmful proteins in cells. It can be reused, and utilizes the protein destruction mechanism of the cells, thus making up for the deficiencies of traditional protein degradation methods. It can effectively target and degrade proteins, including proteins that are difficult to identify and bind. Therefore, it has extremely important implications for drug development and the treatment of neurological diseases. At present, the targeted degradation of mutant BTK, mHTT, Tau, EGFR, and other proteins using PROTAC technology is gaining attention. It is expected that corresponding treatment of nervous system diseases can be achieved. This review first focuses on the recent developments in PROTAC technology in terms of protein degradation, drug production, and treatment of central nervous system diseases, and then discusses its limitations. This review will provide a brief overview of the recent application of PROTAC technology in the treatment of central nervous system diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Ma
- College of Life Science, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiao-Xiao Han
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Yang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Song-Lin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Novel pyrano 1,3 oxazine based ligand inhibits the epigenetic reader hBRD2 in glioblastoma. Biochem J 2020; 477:2263-2279. [PMID: 32484211 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain malignancy, rarely amenable to treatment with a high recurrence rate. GBM are prone to develop resistance to the current repertoire of drugs, including the first-line chemotherapeutic agents with frequent recurrence, limiting therapeutic success. Recent clinical data has evidenced the BRD2 and BRD4 of the BET family proteins as the new druggable targets against GBM. In this relevance, we have discovered a compound (pyrano 1,3 oxazine derivative; NSC 328111; NS5) as an inhibitor of hBRD2 by the rational structure-based approach. The crystal structure of the complex, refined to 1.5 Å resolution, revealed that the NS5 ligand significantly binds to the N-terminal bromodomain (BD1) of BRD2 at the acetylated (Kac) histone binding site. The quantitative binding studies, by SPR and MST assay, indicate that NS5 binds to BD1 of BRD2 with a KD value of ∼1.3 µM. The cell-based assay, in the U87MG glioma cells, confirmed that the discovered compound NS5 significantly attenuated proliferation and migration. Furthermore, evaluation at the translational level established significant inhibition of BRD2 upon treatment with NS5. Hence, we propose that the novel lead compound NS5 has an inhibitory effect on BRD2 in glioblastoma.
Collapse
|
35
|
Kulikowski E, Rakai BD, Wong NCW. Inhibitors of bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins for treating multiple human diseases. Med Res Rev 2020; 41:223-245. [PMID: 32926459 PMCID: PMC7756446 DOI: 10.1002/med.21730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Clinical development of bromodomain and extra‐terminal (BET) protein inhibitors differs from the traditional course of drug development. These drugs are simultaneously being evaluated for treating a wide spectrum of human diseases due to their novel mechanism of action. BET proteins are epigenetic “readers,” which play a primary role in transcription. Here, we briefly describe the BET family of proteins, of which BRD4 has been studied most extensively. We discuss BRD4 activity at latent enhancers as an example of BET protein function. We examine BRD4 redistribution and enhancer reprogramming in embryonic development, cancer, cardiovascular, autoimmune, and metabolic diseases, presenting hallmark studies that highlight BET proteins as attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. We review the currently available approaches to targeting BET proteins, methods of selectively targeting individual bromodomains, and review studies that compare the effects of selective BET inhibition to those of pan‐BET inhibition. Lastly, we examine the current clinical landscape of BET inhibitor development.
Collapse
|
36
|
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms involve the placing (writing) or removal (erasing) of histone modifications that allow heterochromatin to transition to the open, activated euchromatin state necessary for transcription. A third, less studied epigenetic pathway involves the reading of these specific histone marks once placed. The BETs (bromodomain and extraterminal-containing protein family), which includes BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4 and the testis-restricted BRDT, are epigenetic reader proteins that bind to specific acetylated lysine residues on histone tails where they facilitate the assembly of transcription complexes including transcription factors and transcriptional machinery like RNA Polymerase II. As reviewed here, considerable recent data establishes BETs as novel determinants of induced transcriptional programs in vascular cells, like endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, cardiac myocytes and inflammatory cells, like monocyte/macrophages, cellular settings where these epigenetic reader proteins couple proximal stimuli to chromatin, acting at super-enhancer regulatory regions to direct gene expression. BET inhibition, including the use of specific chemical BET inhibitors like JQ-1, has many reported effects in vivo in the cardiovascular setting, like decreasing atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, intimal hyperplasia, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and cardiac hypertrophy. At the same time, data in endothelial cells, adipocytes, and elsewhere suggest BETs also help regulate gene expression under basal conditions. Studies in the cardiovascular setting have highlighted BET action as a means of controlling gene expression in differentiation, cell identity, and cell state transitions, whether physiological or pathological, adaptive, or maladaptive. While distinct BET inhibitors are being pursued as therapies in oncology, a large prospective clinical cardiovascular outcome study investigating the BET inhibitor RVX-208 (now called apabetalone) has already been completed. Independent of this specific agent and this one trial or the numerous unanswered questions that remain, BETs have emerged as novel epigenetic players involved in the execution of coordinated transcriptional programs in cardiovascular health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Cristine Borck
- From the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (P.C.B., J.P.)
| | - Lian-Wang Guo
- Davis Heart and Lung Institute, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus (L.-W.G.)
| | - Jorge Plutzky
- From the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (P.C.B., J.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Characterization of the SIM-A9 cell line as a model of activated microglia in the context of neuropathic pain. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231597. [PMID: 32287325 PMCID: PMC7156095 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Resident microglia of the central nervous system are being increasingly recognized as key players in diseases such as neuropathic pain. Biochemical and behavioral studies in neuropathic pain rodent models have documented compelling evidence of the critical role of ATP mediated-P2X4R-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway in the initiation and maintenance of pain hypersensitivity, a feature driving neuropathic pain-related behavior. The goal of this study was to develop and characterize an in vitro cell line model of activated microglia that can be subsequently utilized for screening neuropathic pain therapeutics. In the present study, we characterized the SIM-A9 microglia cell line for key molecules in the P2X4R-BDNF signaling axis using a combination of biochemical techniques and developed an ATP-activated SIM-A9 microglia model. We present three novel findings: first, SIM-A9 cells expressed P2X4R and BDNF proteins, second, ATP, but not LPS, was cytocompatible with SIM-A9 cells and third, exposure of cells to optimized ATP concentrations for defined periods increased intracellular expression of Iba1 and BDNF proteins. Increased Iba1 levels confirmed microglia activation and increased BDNF expression confirmed ATP-mediated stimulation of the P2X4R signaling pathway. We propose that this ATP-activated SIM-A9 cell line model system can be utilized for screening both small- as well as macro-molecular neuropathic pain therapeutics targeting BDNF and/or P2X4R knockdown.
Collapse
|
38
|
Liu M, Li Y, Gao S, Yan S, Zhang Q, Liu G, Ji B. A novel target to reduce microglial inflammation and neuronal damage after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019; 159:2431-2444.e7. [PMID: 31564537 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.06.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroinflammation acts as a contributor to neurologic deficits after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study postulates that cold-inducible RNA-binding protein can promote deep hypothermic circulatory arrest-induced neuroinflammation. METHODS Rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups (n = 5, each group): sham group, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest group, and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest + Cirp-/- group (Cirp-/- group). Murine microglial BV2 cells were administered by adeno-associated viral vectors containing cold-inducible RNA-binding protein small interference RNA or negative control small interference RNA at 2 days before 4-hour oxygen-glucose deprivation at 18°C. Microglial activation, cell death, neuroinflammation, and related protein expression were assessed in tissue samples and cell cultures. RESULTS Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein was elevated along with evident neuroinflammation and neuronal damage in rats exposed to deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. In Cirp-/- rats, histologic injury (3.00 [interquartile range, 2.00-3.00] vs 1.00 [interquartile range, 1.00-1.50] neuropathological score, P < .001) and microglial activation (40 ± 4 vs 13 ± 7 CA1 area, P < .001) were alleviated after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. With RNA-sequencing analysis, this associated with reduction of key proinflammatory cytokines induced by inhibiting Brd2-NF-κB signals. In BV2 cells treated with small interference RNA-cold-inducible RNA-binding protein, similar protective effects were observed, including decreased proinflammatory cytokines and cytotoxicity. Brd2-NF-κB signals were confirmed by the addition of Brd2 inhibitor JQ1. Notably, the conditioned medium from BV2 cells transfected with small interference RNA cold-inducible RNA-binding protein significantly reduced apoptosis in neural SH-SY5Y cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation, which was similar to that after JQ1 administration. CONCLUSIONS Enhanced cold-inducible RNA-binding protein in microglia aggravates neuronal injury by promoting the release of proinflammatory cytokines, which might be mediated through Brd2-NF-κB signals during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Liu
- Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yongnan Li
- Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Department of Cardiac Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Sizhe Gao
- Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shujie Yan
- Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoni Zhang
- Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bingyang Ji
- Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Wang B, Wu S, Liu J, Yang K, Xie H, Tang W. Development of selective small molecule MDM2 degraders based on nutlin. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 176:476-491. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.05.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
|
40
|
Ren Y, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Wang C, Zhang H, Wang Y, Zhao Z. Role of Brd4 in the production of inflammatory cytokines in mouse macrophages treated with titanium particles. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2019; 97:1028-1034. [PMID: 31330113 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2019-0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Brd4 protein is an important epigenetic regulator involved in the process of inflammatory cytokine production in many diseases. However, whether and how Brd4 participates in the process of wear-particle-induced inflammation remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of Brd4 in titanium (Ti) particle-induced inflammatory cytokine production in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Our experiment detected Brd4 expressed in both normal synovium and periprosthetic osteolysis interface membrane, but the expression increased in the interface membrane as compared with that in normal synovium. Treatment with Ti particles significantly increased TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β production in RAW264.7 cells, which was inhibited by JQ1 or Brd4-siRNA. Ti particles enhanced the expression of Brd4, which was abrogated by JQ1. Ti particles enhanced NF-κB p65 and IKK phosphorylation and attenuated IκBα protein expression, which were abrogated by JQ1. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that Ti particles promoted the binding of Brd4 to acetylated NF-κB p65 (lysine-310), which was also abrogated in JQ1-treated RAW264.7 cells. In conclusion, Brd4 expression increases in interface membrane and Brd4 participates in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by Ti particles via promoting the activation of NF-κB signaling and binding to acetylated NF-κB p65 (lysine-310) in mouse macrophages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhong Ren
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Yongtao Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Ze Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qingdao Haici Medical Group, Qingdao, Shandong, 266000, China
| | - Changyao Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Haining Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Yingzhen Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Zhiping Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266061, China
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
DeMars KM, Yang C, Candelario-Jalil E. Neuroprotective effects of targeting BET proteins for degradation with dBET1 in aged mice subjected to ischemic stroke. Neurochem Int 2019; 127:94-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
|
42
|
Sánchez-Ventura J, Amo-Aparicio J, Navarro X, Penas C. BET protein inhibition regulates cytokine production and promotes neuroprotection after spinal cord injury. J Neuroinflammation 2019; 16:124. [PMID: 31186006 PMCID: PMC6560758 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-019-1511-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal cord injury (SCI) usually causes a devastating lifelong disability for patients. After a traumatic lesion, disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier induces the infiltration of macrophages into the lesion site and the activation of resident glial cells, which release cytokines and chemokines. These events result in a persistent inflammation, which has both detrimental and beneficial effects, but eventually limits functional recovery and contributes to the appearance of neuropathic pain. Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins are epigenetic readers that regulate the expression of inflammatory genes by interacting with acetylated lysine residues. While BET inhibitors are a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer, little is known about their implication after SCI. Thus, the current study was aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory role of BET inhibitors in this pathologic condition. METHODS We evaluated the effectiveness of the BET inhibitor JQ1 to modify macrophage reactivity in vitro and to modulate inflammation in a SCI mice model. We analyzed the effects of BET inhibition in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine production in vitro and in vivo. We determined the effectiveness of BET inhibition in tissue sparing, inflammation, neuronal protection, and behavioral outcome after SCI. RESULTS We have found that the BET inhibitor JQ1 reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and increased the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. A prolonged treatment with JQ1 also decreased reactivity of microglia/macrophages, enhanced neuroprotection and functional recovery, and acutely reduced neuropathic pain after SCI. CONCLUSIONS BET protein inhibition is an effective treatment to regulate cytokine production and promote neuroprotection after SCI. These novel results demonstrate for the first time that targeting BET proteins is an encouraging approach for SCI repair and a potential strategy to treat other inflammatory pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith Sánchez-Ventura
- Institut of Neurosciences, Dept Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesús Amo-Aparicio
- Institut of Neurosciences, Dept Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Navarro
- Institut of Neurosciences, Dept Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Penas
- Institut of Neurosciences, Dept Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are an emerging tool for therapeutic intervention by reducing or eliminating disease-causing proteins. PROTACs are bifunctional molecules that consist of a target protein ligand, a linker and an E3 ligase ligand, which mediate the polyubiquitination of the target protein, ultimately leading to the target protein degradation by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. We review some of the main PROTACs that have been reported recently and discuss their potential therapeutic benefits over classical enzyme inhibition. Future research is expected to focus on the delivery and bioavailability of PROTACs due to their high molecular weight (700–1000 Da).
Collapse
|
44
|
Zou Y, Ma D, Wang Y. The PROTAC technology in drug development. Cell Biochem Funct 2019; 37:21-30. [PMID: 30604499 PMCID: PMC6590639 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Currently, a new technology termed PROTAC, proteolysis targeting chimera, has been developed for inducing the protein degradation by a targeting molecule. This technology takes advantage of a moiety of targeted protein and a moiety of recognizing E3 ubiquitin ligase and produces a hybrid molecule to specifically knock down a targeted protein. During the first decade, three pedigreed groups worked on the development of this technology. To date, this technology has been extended by different groups, aiming to develop new drugs against different diseases including cancers. This review summarizes the contributions of the groups for the development of PROTAC. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: This review summarized the development of the PROTAC technology for readers and also presented the author's opinions on the application of the technology in tumor therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yutian Zou
- The State Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Department of Science, Brookwood High School, Snellville, Georgia
| | - Danhui Ma
- The State Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yinyin Wang
- The State Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Daniels DL, Riching KM, Urh M. Monitoring and deciphering protein degradation pathways inside cells. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2018; 31:61-68. [PMID: 31200861 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
A new series of therapeutic modalities resulting in degradation of target proteins, termed proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), hold significant therapeutic potential with possible prolonged pharmacodynamics, improved potency, and ability to target proteins previously thought of as "undruggable". PROTACs are heterobifunctional small molecules consisting of a target binding handle bridged via a chemical linker to an E3 ligase handle which recruit the E3 ligase and ubiquitin machinery to target proteins, resulting in subsequent ubiquitination and degradation of the target. With the generation of small molecule PROTAC compound libraries for drug discovery, it becomes essential to have sensitive screening technologies to rapidly profile activity and have assays which can clearly inform on performance at the various cellular steps required for PROTAC-mediated degradation. For PROTAC compounds, this has been particularly challenging using either biochemical or cellular assay approaches. Biochemical assays are highly informative for the first part of the degradation process, including optimization of compound binding to targets and interrogation of target:PROTAC:E3 ligase ternary complex formation, but struggle with the remaining steps; recruitment of ternary complex into larger active E3 ligase complexes, ubiquitination, and proteasomal degradation. On the other hand, cellular assays are excellent at determining if the PROTAC successfully degrades the target in its relevant setting but struggle as early development PROTAC compounds are often poorly cell-permeable given their high molecular weight. Additionally, if degradation is not observed in a cellular assay, it is difficult to deconvolute the reason why or at which step there was failure. In this review we will highlight the current approaches along with recent advances to overcome the challenges faced for cellular PROTAC screening, which will enable and advance drug discovery of therapeutic degradation compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danette L Daniels
- Promega Corporation, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, Madison, WI, 53711, USA.
| | - Kristin M Riching
- Promega Corporation, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Marjeta Urh
- Promega Corporation, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Rudman MD, Choi JS, Lee HE, Tan SK, Ayad NG, Lee JK. Bromodomain and extraterminal domain-containing protein inhibition attenuates acute inflammation after spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2018; 309:181-192. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
|
47
|
Riching KM, Mahan S, Corona CR, McDougall M, Vasta JD, Robers MB, Urh M, Daniels DL. Quantitative Live-Cell Kinetic Degradation and Mechanistic Profiling of PROTAC Mode of Action. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:2758-2770. [PMID: 30137962 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A new generation of heterobifunctional small molecules, termed proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), targets proteins for degradation through recruitment to E3 ligases and holds significant therapeutic potential. Despite numerous successful examples, PROTAC small molecule development remains laborious and unpredictable, involving testing compounds for end-point degradation activity at fixed times and concentrations without resolving or optimizing for the important biological steps required for the process. Given the complexity of the ubiquitin proteasomal pathway, technologies that enable real-time characterization of PROTAC efficacy and mechanism of action are critical for accelerating compound development, profiling, and improving guidance of chemical structure-activity relationship. Here, we present an innovative, modular live-cell platform utilizing endogenous tagging technologies and apply it to monitoring PROTAC-mediated degradation of the bromodomain and extra-terminal family members. We show comprehensive real-time degradation and recovery profiles for each target, precisely quantifying degradation rates, maximal levels of degradation ( Dmax), and time frame at Dmax. These degradation metrics show specific PROTAC and family member-dependent responses that are closely associated with the key cellular protein interactions required for the process. Kinetic studies show cellular ternary complex stability influences potency and degradation efficacy. Meanwhile, the level of ubiquitination is highly correlated to degradation rate, indicating ubiquitination stemming from productive ternary complex formation is the main driver of the degradation rate. The approaches applied here highlight the steps at which the choice of E3 ligase handle can elicit different outcomes and discern individual parameters required for degradation, ultimately enabling chemical design strategies and rank ordering of potential therapeutic compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M. Riching
- Promega Corporation, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, United States
| | - Sarah Mahan
- Promega Corporation, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, United States
| | - Cesear R. Corona
- Promega Biosciences Incorporated, 277 Granada Drive, San Luis Obispo, California 93401, United States
| | - Mark McDougall
- Promega Biosciences Incorporated, 277 Granada Drive, San Luis Obispo, California 93401, United States
| | - James D. Vasta
- Promega Corporation, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, United States
| | - Matthew B. Robers
- Promega Corporation, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, United States
| | - Marjeta Urh
- Promega Corporation, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, United States
| | - Danette L. Daniels
- Promega Corporation, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, United States
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Itoh Y. Chemical Protein Degradation Approach and its Application to Epigenetic Targets. CHEM REC 2018; 18:1681-1700. [PMID: 29893461 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.201800032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In addition to traditional drugs, such as enzyme inhibitors, receptor agonists/antagonists, and protein-protein interaction inhibitors as well as genetic technology, such as RNA interference and the CRISPR/Cas9 system, protein knockdown approaches using proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have attracted much attention. PROTACs, which induce selective degradation of their target protein via the ubiquitin-proteasome system, are useful for the down-regulation of various proteins, including disease-related proteins and epigenetic proteins. Recent reports have shown that chemical protein knockdown is possible not only in cells, but also in vivo and this approach is expected to be used as the therapeutic strategy for several diseases. Thus, this approach may be a significant technique to complement traditional drugs and genetic ablation and will be more widely used for drug discovery and chemical biology studies in the future. In this personal account, a history of chemical protein knockdown is introduced, and its features, recent progress in the epigenetics field, and future outlooks are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukihiro Itoh
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-0823, Japan
| |
Collapse
|