1
|
Esteban-Lopez M, Wilson KJ, Myhr C, Kaftanovskaya EM, Henderson MJ, Southall NT, Xu X, Wang A, Hu X, Barnaeva E, Ye W, George ER, Sherrill JT, Ferrer M, Morello R, Agoulnik IU, Marugan JJ, Agoulnik AI. Discovery of small molecule agonists of the Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 2. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1183. [PMCID: PMC9636434 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04143-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2) belongs to the family of class A G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and it is the only known target for the insulin-like factor 3 peptide (INSL3). The importance of this ligand-receptor pair in the development of the gubernacular ligament during the transabdominal phase of testicular descent is well established. More recently, RXFP2 has been implicated in maintaining healthy bone formation. In this report, we describe the discovery of a small molecule series of RXFP2 agonists. These compounds are highly potent, efficacious, and selective RXFP2 allosteric agonists that induce gubernacular invagination in mouse embryos, increase mineralization activity in human osteoblasts in vitro, and improve bone trabecular parameters in adult mice. The described RXFP2 agonists are orally bioavailable and display favorable pharmacokinetic properties, which allow for future evaluation of the therapeutic benefits of modulating RXFP2 activation in disease models. Specific small molecule RXFP2 agonists with favorable pharmacokinetic properties induce gubernacular invagination in mouse embryos, increase mineralization activity in human osteoblasts in vitro, and improve bone trabecular parameters in adult mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Esteban-Lopez
- grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
| | - Kenneth J. Wilson
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Courtney Myhr
- grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
| | - Elena M. Kaftanovskaya
- grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
| | - Mark J. Henderson
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Noel T. Southall
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Xin Xu
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Amy Wang
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Xin Hu
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Elena Barnaeva
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Wenjuan Ye
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Emmett R. George
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - John T. Sherrill
- grid.241054.60000 0004 4687 1637Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Marc Ferrer
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Roy Morello
- grid.241054.60000 0004 4687 1637Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Irina U. Agoulnik
- grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA ,grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
| | - Juan J. Marugan
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Alexander I. Agoulnik
- grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA ,grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sinopidis X, Mourelatou R, Kostopoulou E, Karvela A, Rojas-Gil AP, Tsekoura E, Georgiou G, Spiliotis BE. Novel combined insulin-like 3 variations of a single nucleotide in cryptorchidism. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2019; 32:987-994. [PMID: 31444964 DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2018-0547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Insulin-like 3 hormone (INSL3) is involved in the process of testicular descent, and has been thoroughly studied in cryptorchidism. However, INSL3 allelic variations found in the human genome were heterozygous and only a few of them were found exclusively in patients with cryptorchidism. Under this perspective, we aimed to study the presence of INSL3 allelic variations in a cohort of patients with cryptorchidism and to estimate their potential consequences. Methods Blood samples were collected from 46 male patients with non-syndromic cryptorchidism and from 43 age-matched controls. DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed for exons 1 and 2 of the INSL3 gene in all subjects. Sequencing analysis was carried out on the PCR products. All data were grouped according to testicular location. Results Seven variations of a single nucleotide (SNVs) were identified both in patients with cryptorchidism and in controls: rs2286663 (c.27G > A), rs1047233 (c.126A > G) and rs6523 (c.178A > G) at exon 1, rs74531687 (c.191-30C > T) at the intron, rs121912556 (c.305G > A) at exon 2 and rs17750642 (c.*101C > A) and rs1003887 (c.*263G > A) at the untranslated region (UTR). The allelic variants rs74531687 and rs121912556 were found for the first time in the Greek population. The novel homozygotic combination of the three allelic variants rs1047233-rs6523-rs1003887 seemed to present a stronger correlation with more severe forms of cryptorchidism. Conclusions The combination of specific INSL3 SNVs rather than the existence of each one of them alone may offer a new insight into the involvement of allelic variants in phenotypic variability and severity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xenophon Sinopidis
- Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rion, Patras, Greece
| | - Roza Mourelatou
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Laboratory of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Eirini Kostopoulou
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Laboratory of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Alexia Karvela
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Laboratory of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Andrea-Paola Rojas-Gil
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Laboratory of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Efstathia Tsekoura
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Laboratory of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - George Georgiou
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital, Patras, Greece
| | - Bessie E Spiliotis
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Laboratory of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Morgan JT, Robbins AK, Mateson AB, Sawamoto K, Tomatsu S, Gray DR, Gleghorn JP, Barthold JS. Regional Variation in Androgen Receptor Expression and Biomechanical Properties May Contribute to Cryptorchidism Susceptibility in the LE/orl Rat. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:738. [PMID: 30568634 PMCID: PMC6290328 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The process of testicular descent requires androgen and insulin-like 3, hormones secreted by fetal Leydig cells. Knowledge concerning distinct and common functions of these hormones in regulating development of the fetal gubernaculum remains limited and/or conflicting. The current studies were designed to better define characteristics of androgen receptor (AR) expression, function and regulation, as well as the biomechanical properties of normal and cryptorchid gubernaculum during fetal development. Methods: We studied fetal gubernacula from Long Evans outbred (LE/wt) rats and an inbred (LE/orl) strain with an inherited form of cryptorchidism associated with an AR signaling defect. Gubernacular cells or whole organs obtained from LE/wt and LE/orl fetal gubernacula underwent AR immunostaining and quantitative image analysis. The effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on AR expression, muscle fiber morphology, hyaluronan (HA) levels and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content were measured in LE/wt gubernacula. Finally, the spatial mechanics of freshly harvested LE/wt and LE/orl fetal gubernacula were compared using micropipette aspiration. Results: AR is expressed in the nucleus of mesenchymal core, tip and cord cells of the embryonic (E) day 17 and 21 fetal gubernaculum, and is enhanced by DHT in primary cultures of gubernacular mesenchymal cells. Enhanced AR expression at the tip was observed in LE/wt but not LE/orl gubernacula. In in vitro studies of whole mount fetal gubernaculum, DHT did not alter muscle fiber morphology, HA content or GAG production. Progressive swelling with reduced cellular density of the LE/wt gubernaculum at E19-21 was associated with increased central stiffness in LE/wt but not in LE/orl fetuses. Conclusions: These data confirm nuclear AR expression in gubernacular mesenchyme with distal enhancement at the tip/cord region in LE/wt but not LE/orl rat fetuses. DHT enhanced cellular AR expression but had no major effects on muscle morphology or matrix composition in the rat fetal gubernaculum in vitro. Regional increased stiffness and decreased cell density between E19 and E21 were observed in LE/wt but not LE/orl fetal gubernacula. Developmental differences in cell-specific AR expression in LE/orl fetal gubernacula may contribute to the dysmorphism and aberrant function that underlies cryptorchidism susceptibility in this strain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T. Morgan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Joshua T. Morgan
| | - Alan K. Robbins
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Division of Urology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Abigail B. Mateson
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Division of Urology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Kazuki Sawamoto
- Department of Orthopedics, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Shunji Tomatsu
- Department of Orthopedics, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Dione R. Gray
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Division of Urology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Jason P. Gleghorn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Julia Spencer Barthold
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Division of Urology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Barthold JS, Ivell R. Perspective: A Neuro-Hormonal Systems Approach to Understanding the Complexity of Cryptorchidism Susceptibility. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:401. [PMID: 30083133 PMCID: PMC6065160 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsyndromic cryptorchidism is a common multifactorial, condition with long-term risks of subfertility and testicular cancer. Revealing the causes of cryptorchidism will likely improve prediction and prevention of adverse outcomes. Herein we provide our current perspective of cryptorchidism complexity in a synthesis of cumulative clinical and translational data generated by ourselves and others. From our recent comparison of genome-wide association study (GWAS) data of cryptorchidism with or without testicular germ cell tumor, we identified RBFOX family genes as candidate susceptibility loci. Notably, RBFOX proteins regulate production of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a sensory neuropeptide linked to testicular descent in animal models. We also re-analyzed existing fetal testis transcriptome data from a rat model of inherited cryptorchidism (the LE/orl strain) for enrichment of Leydig cell progenitor genes. The majority are coordinately downregulated, consistent with known reduced testicular testosterone levels in the LE/orl fetus, and similarly suppressed in the gubernaculum. Using qRT-PCR, we found dysregulation of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory transcripts ipsilateral to undescended testes. These data suggest that LE/orl cryptorchidism is associated with altered signaling in possibly related cell types in the testis and gubernaculum as well as DRG. Complementary rat and human studies thus lead us to propose a multi-level, integrated neuro-hormonal model of testicular descent. Variants in genes encoding RBFOX family proteins and/or their transcriptional targets combined with environmental exposures may disrupt this complex pathway to enhance cryptorchidism susceptibility. We believe that a systems approach is necessary to provide further insight into the causes and consequences of cryptorchidism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia S. Barthold
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Division of Urology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
- *Correspondence: Julia S. Barthold
| | - Richard Ivell
- School of Biosciences and School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|