Glucocorticoid inhibition of protein synthesis in vivo and in vitro

Translation suppression underlies the restrained COVID-19 mRNA vaccine response in the high-risk immunocompromised group

Background

Immunocompromised (IC) patients show diminished immune response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (Co-mV). To date, there is no ‘empirical’ evidence to link the perturbation of translation, a rate-limiting step for mRNA vaccine efficiency (VE), to the dampened response of Co-mV.

Materials and methods

Impact of immunosuppressants (ISs), tacrolimus (T), mycophenolate (M), rapamycin/sirolimus (S), and their combinations on Pfizer Co-mV translation were determined by the Spike (Sp) protein expression following Co-mV transfection in HEK293 cells. In vivo impact of ISs on SARS-CoV-2 spike specific antigen (SpAg) and associated antibody levels (IgGSp) in serum were assessed in Balb/c mice after two doses (2D) of the Pfizer vaccine. Spike Ag and IgGSp levels were assessed in 259 IC patients and 50 healthy controls (HC) who received 2D of Pfizer or Moderna Co-mV as well as in 67 immunosuppressed solid organ transplant (SOT) patients and 843 non-transplanted (NT) subjects following three doses (3D) of Co-mV. Higher Co-mV concentrations and transient drug holidays were evaluated.

Results

We observed significantly lower IgGSP response in IC patients (p<0.0001) compared to their matched controls in 2D and 3D Co-mV groups. IC patients on M or S showed a profound dampening of IgGSP response relative to those that were not on these drugs. M and S, when used individually or in combination, significantly attenuated the Co-mV-induced Sp expression, whereas T did not exert significant influence. Sirolimus combo pretreatment in vivo significantly attenuated the Co-mV induced IgMSp and IgGSp production, which correlated with a decreasing trend in the early levels (after day 1) of Co-mV induced Sp immunogen levels. Neither higher Co-mV concentrations (6μg) nor withholding S for 1-day could overcome the inhibition of Sp protein levels. Interestingly, 3-days S holiday or using T alone rescued Sp levels in vitro.

Conclusions

This is the first study to demonstrate that ISs, sirolimus and mycophenolate inhibited Co-mV-induced Sp protein synthesis via translation repression. Selective use of tacrolimus or drug holiday of sirolimus can be a potential means to rescue translation-dependent Sp protein production. These findings lay a strong foundation for guiding future studies aimed at improving Co-mV responses in high-risk IC patients.

Metyrapone alleviates deleterious effects of maternal food restriction on lung development and growth of rat offspring

Maternal food restriction (MFR) causes intrauterine growth restriction, a known risk factor for developing chronic lung disease. However, it is unknown whether this negative outcome is gender specific or preventable by blocking the MFR-induced hyperglucocorticoidism. Using a well-established rat model, we used metyrapone (MTP), an inhibitor of glucocorticoid synthesis, to study the MFR-induced lung changes on postnatal day (p) 21 in a gender-specific manner. From embryonic day 10 until delivery, pregnant dams were fed either an ad libitum diet or a 50% caloric restricted diet with or without MTP supplementation. Postnatally, the offspring were fed ad libitum from healthy dams until p21. Morphometric, Western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis of the lungs demonstrated that MTP mitigated the MFR-mediated decrease in alveolar count, decrease in adipogenic protein peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, increase in myogenic proteins (fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin, and calponin), increase in Wnt signaling intermediates (lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 and β-catenin), and increase in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) levels. The MFR-induced lung phenotype and the effects of MTP were similar in both genders. To elucidate the mechanism of MFR-induced shift of the adipogenic-to-myogenic phenotype, lung fibroblasts were used to independently study the effects of (1) nutrient restriction and (2) excess steroid exposure. Nutrient deprivation increased myogenic proteins, Wnt signaling intermediates, and GR, all changes blocked by protein supplementation. MTP also blocked, likely by normalizing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate levels, the corticosterone-induced increase in myogenic proteins, but had no effect on GR levels. In summary, protein restriction and increased glucocorticoid levels appear to be the key players in MFR-induced lung disease, affecting both genders.

The activated glucocorticoid receptor modulates presumptive autoregulation of ribosomal protein S6 protein kinase, p70 S6K

Protein metabolism in eukaryotic organisms is defined by a synthesis-degradation equilibrium that is subject to regulation by hormonal and nutritional signals. In mammalian tissues such as skeletal muscle, glucocorticoid hormones specify a catabolic response that influences both protein synthetic and protein degradative pathways. With regard to the former, glucocorticoids attenuate mRNA translation at two levels: translational efficiency, i.e. translation initiation, and translational capacity, i.e. ribosome biogenesis. Glucocorticoids may impair translational capacity through the ribosomal S6 protein kinase (p70 S6K), a recognized glucocorticoid target and an effector of ribosomal protein synthesis. We demonstrate here that the reduction in growth factor-activated p70 S6K activity by glucocorticoids depends upon a functional glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and that the GR is both necessary and sufficient to render p70 S6K subject to glucocorticoid regulation. Furthermore, the DNA binding and transcriptional activation but not repression properties of the GR are indispensable for p70 S6K regulation. Finally, a mutational analysis of the p70 S6K carboxyl terminus indicates that this region confers glucocorticoid sensitivity, and thus glucocorticoids may facilitate autoinhibition of the enzyme ultimately reducing the efficiency with which T389 is phosphorylated.

Biogenesis of hepatic acute-phase response to trauma

The bioorganic pathway(s) of hepatic acute-phase response in rat to single and compounded traumata triggered either by chemical or physical injury has been re-evaluated for the purpose of advancing a better understanding of mechanisms of hepatic regeneration. These insights would be useful in cases of liver cirrhosis and end-stage liver diseases and may allow avenues of surgical management other than liver transplantation. Mechanisms of acute-phase response in rat to a single inflammatory stimulus, e.g. intoxication with phalloidin, alpha-amanitin, subcutaneous administration of carageenan, subcutaneous implantation of Yoshida sarcoma or i.p. administration of Zajdela ascites are discussed and compared with (a) acute-phase response to intoxication by various factors leading to the development of liver cirrhosis, and (b) acute-phase response of nascent hepatocytes where hepatic regenerative activities were induced by chemical intoxication or surgical partial hepatectomy. Interestingly, hepatic acute-phase response was not limited only to these injuries outlined above but also to psychological conditions.

Fetal macrosomia in experimental maternal diabetes

Fetal macrosomia in diabetic pregnancy has been shown to accompany increases in the fetal levels of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and proteins in animal model systems. In order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this macrosomia, the synthesis of DNA and proteins, the transport of the precursors, and the tissue level of DNA polymerase activities in macrosomic fetuses from mildly diabetic rats were compared with those in normal fetuses on 20.5 and 19.5 days of gestation. Increases in the influx of precursors and stimulation of synthesis of the macromolecules were observed in macrosomic fetuses as early as 19.5 days of gestation. However, stimulation of DNA polymerase activities in macrosomic fetuses did not occur until 20.5 days of gestation. Therefore, stimulation of DNA polymerase may participate in maintenance of macrosomia but does not initiate macrosomia. Whether or not increases in both the influx of substrates and the synthesis activities precede the macrosomia has yet to be determined.

Neonatal macrosomia in maternal diabetes

In order to determine the effect of maternal diabetes on the somatic growth of the rat fetus and to elucidate mechanisms underlying the control of fetal growth, concentrations of DNA and proteins and DNA polymerase-alpha activities in neonates were examined. The maternal status was classified as normal (no urinary glucose excretion), mildly diabetic (0.01-0.99 g/day urinary glucose), and severely diabetic (1.00 g/day or more urinary glucose). The total DNA contents in mg/neonate were 26.8 +/- 2.2 (mean +/- SEM), 31.3 +/- 2.5, and 29.4 +/- 2.7 for neonates from normal, mildly diabetic and severely diabetic mothers, respectively. The DNA polymerase activities in (cpm/g neonate) X 10(-3) for the same groups of neonates were 432 +/- 58, 1,008 +/- 74, and 888 +/- 118, respectively. These results indicate that the neonatal macrosomia disappears as the severity of maternal diabetes increases. Furthermore, DNA polymerase is one of possible biochemical sites through which macrosomia is manifested in diabetic pregnancies.

Cortisol enhancement of PTH-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in cultured fetal rat long bone rudiments

Cortisol in concentrations from 10 nM to 10 microM produced a dose-related inhibition of basal and PTH1-stimulated 45Ca and [3H]-hydroxyproline release from cultured fetal rat forelimb rudiments. PTH-stimulated cyclic AMP generation however was not diminished by cortisol; in contrast, at a concentration of 1 microM cortisol produced a 57% increase in PTH-stimulated bone cyclic AMP content. The stimulatory effect of cortisol on cyclic AMP content appeared to be the result of reduced phosphodiesterase activity, since this effect was not seen in the presence of 10 mM theophylline. It is concluded that cortisol inhibition of PTH-induced resorption in long bones is not accompanied by reduced cyclic AMP generation.

Degradation of phenylalanine:pyruvate transaminase after glucagon treatment

Using a single-isotope and immune precipitation technique the half-life (t 1/2) of hepatic phenylalanine:pyruvate transaminase (aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.--, Number not yet assigned) from glucagon-treated rats was determined to be 2.8 days, similar to that of the control rats (t 1/2 = 3.3 days). The half-life of rat liver total soluble proteins also remained unchanged after glucagon treatment (t 1/2 = 2.7 days in glucagon-treated rats; t 1/2 = 2.8 days in normal). Thus, glucagon has no effect on the degradation of phenylalanine:pyruvate transaminase. Furthermore, the degradation rates are similar for both the holoenzyme and the apoenzyme of phenylalanine:pyruvate transaminase.

Regulation of cardiac protein balance by hydrocortisone: interaction with insulin

In fetal mouse hearts in organ culture the rate of protein synthesis was substantially reduced and the rate of protein degradation slightly increased by hydrocortisone in the absence of insulin, but in the presence of insulin the steroid caused a small increase in protein synthesis and a significant reduction in protein degradation. Hydrocortisone promoted the net uptake (or reduced the net release) of branched-chain amino acids independent of insulin and independent of simultaneous changes in protein balance. The specific activities of the lysosomal enzymes cathepsin D and glucosaminidase were reduced by hydrocortisone in all media, whereas the specific activity of creatine kinase increased when the medium contained insulin but decreased in the absence of insulin. It is concluded that hydrocortisone regulates cardiac protein balance via alterations both in synthesis and in degradation. Some of the hormone's myocardial effects are influenced by insulin so that hydrocortisone is anabolic in its presence but catabolic in its absence.