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Zhang X, Weiß T, Cheng MH, Chen S, Ambrosius CK, Czerniak AS, Li K, Feng M, Bahar I, Beck-Sickinger AG, Zhang C. Structural basis of G protein-Coupled receptor CMKLR1 activation and signaling induced by a chemerin-derived agonist. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002188. [PMID: 38055679 PMCID: PMC10699647 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), also known as chemerin receptor 23 (ChemR23) or chemerin receptor 1, is a chemoattractant G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that responds to the adipokine chemerin and is highly expressed in innate immune cells, including macrophages and neutrophils. The signaling pathways of CMKLR1 can lead to both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects depending on the ligands and physiological contexts. To understand the molecular mechanisms of CMKLR1 signaling, we determined a high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the CMKLR1-Gi signaling complex with chemerin9, a nanopeptide agonist derived from chemerin, which induced complex phenotypic changes of macrophages in our assays. The cryo-EM structure, together with molecular dynamics simulations and mutagenesis studies, revealed the molecular basis of CMKLR1 signaling by elucidating the interactions at the ligand-binding pocket and the agonist-induced conformational changes. Our results are expected to facilitate the development of small molecule CMKLR1 agonists that mimic the action of chemerin9 to promote the resolution of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Tina Weiß
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mary Hongying Cheng
- Department of Computational and System Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Siqi Chen
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, United States of America
| | | | - Anne Sophie Czerniak
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kunpeng Li
- Cryo-EM core facility, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Mingye Feng
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, United States of America
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Department of Computational and System Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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2
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Ko B, Jang Y, Kwak SH, You H, Kim JH, Lee JE, Park HD, Kim SK, Goddard WA, Han JH, Kim YC. Discovery of 3-Phenyl Indazole-Based Novel Chemokine-like Receptor 1 Antagonists for the Treatment of Psoriasis. J Med Chem 2023; 66:14564-14582. [PMID: 37883692 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1)─a G protein-coupled receptor─has functional roles in the immune system and related diseases, including psoriasis and metabolic diseases. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by skin redness, scaliness, and itching. In this study, we sought to develop novel CMKLR1 antagonists by screening our in-house GPCR-targeting compound library. Moreover, we optimized a phenylindazole-based hit compound with antagonistic activities and evaluated its oral pharmacokinetic properties in a murine model. A structure-based design on the human CMKLR1 homology model identified S-26d as an optimized compound that serves as a potent and orally available antagonist with a pIC50 value of 7.44 in hCMKLR1-transfected CHO cells. Furthermore, in the imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model, oral administration of S-26d for 1 week significantly alleviated modified psoriasis area and severity index scores (severity of erythema, scaliness, skin thickness) compared with the control group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bongki Ko
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongsoo Jang
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hwa Kwak
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun You
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Hyun Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Lee
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Dong Park
- Innovo Therapeutics Inc., Daeduck Biz Center C-313, 17 Techno 4-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34013, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Kyung Kim
- Materials and Process Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - William A Goddard
- Materials and Process Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Jung Hyun Han
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
- Department of Dermatology, Saint John of God Hospital, Gwangju 61245, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Chul Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
- Center for AI-Applied High Efficiency Drug Discovery (AHEDD), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
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3
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Kretschmer K, Zellmann T, Mörl K, Beck-Sickinger AG. Stable Binding of Full-Length Chemerin Is Driven by Negative Charges in the CMKLR1 N Terminus. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300280. [PMID: 37186779 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300280] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The adipokine chemerin is the endogenous ligand of the chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This protein ligand plays an important role in obesity and inflammatory processes. Stable receptor-ligand interactions are highly relevant for its different physiological effects such as the migration of immune cells towards sites of inflammation. Here, we demonstrate that negative charges in the CMKLR1 N terminus are involved in the formation of strong contacts with a specific positively charged patch at the surface of full-length chemerin, which is absent in the short nonapeptide agonist chemerin-9, thus explaining its reduced affinity. Using receptor chimera of G protein-coupled receptor 1 (GPR1) and CMKLR1, we were able to identify the residues of this interaction and its relevance for stable full-length chemerin binding. This could help to develop more potent ligands for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Kretschmer
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tristan Zellmann
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Karin Mörl
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Annette G Beck-Sickinger
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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4
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Zhang X, Weiß T, Cheng MH, Chen S, Ambrosius CK, Czerniak AS, Li K, Feng M, Bahar I, Beck-Sickinger AG, Zhang C. Structural basis of CMKLR1 signaling induced by chemerin9. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.09.544295. [PMID: 37333145 PMCID: PMC10274904 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.09.544295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), also known as chemerin receptor 23 (ChemR23) or chemerin receptor 1, is a chemoattractant G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that responds to the adipokine chemerin and is highly expressed in innate immune cells, including macrophages and neutrophils. The signaling pathways of CMKLR1 can lead to both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects depending on the ligands and physiological contexts. To understand the molecular mechanisms of CMKLR1 signaling, we determined a high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the CMKLR1-Gi signaling complex with chemerin9, a nanopeptide agonist derived from chemerin, which induced complex phenotypic changes of macrophages in our assays. The cryo-EM structure, together with molecular dynamics simulations and mutagenesis studies, revealed the molecular basis of CMKLR1 signaling by elucidating the interactions at the ligand-binding pocket and the agonist-induced conformational changes. Our results are expected to facilitate the development of small molecule CMKLR1 agonists that mimic the action of chemerin9 to promote the resolution of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15261, USA
| | - Tina Weiß
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mary Hongying Cheng
- Department of Computational and System Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11974, USA
| | - Siqi Chen
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Carla Katharina Ambrosius
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anne Sophie Czerniak
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kunpeng Li
- Cryo-EM core facility, Case Western Reserve University, OH44106, USA
| | - Mingye Feng
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Department of Computational and System Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11974, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11974, USA
| | - Annette G. Beck-Sickinger
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15261, USA
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Czerniak AS, Kretschmer K, Weiß T, Beck-Sickinger AG. The Chemerin Receptor CMKLR1 Requires Full-Length Chemerin for High Affinity in Contrast to GPR1 as Demonstrated by a New Nanoluciferase-Based Binding Assay. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202200413. [PMID: 36178206 PMCID: PMC10092101 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200413] [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: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
To study the binding mode of the adipokine chemerin as well as the short peptide agonist chemerin-9 (C9) to its two receptors chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1) and G protein-coupled receptor 1 (GPR1), we generated 5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) modified variants of both ligands. In addition, we labeled GPR1 and CMKLR1 with a nanoluciferase at the N-terminus to perform NanoBRET binding assays. For GPR1, both ligands show high affinity and comparable binding. Significant differences were found for CMKLR1, whereby only full-length chemerin binds with high affinity in saturation and displacement assays. For TAMRA-C9 a biphasic binding consisting of two binding states has been found and no displacement studies could be performed. Thus, we conclude that CMKLR1 requires full-length chemerin for stable binding in contrast to GPR1. This work demonstrates the NanoBRET binding assay as a new tool for binding studies at chemerin receptors and it enables deeper insights into the ligand binding parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Sophie Czerniak
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kevin Kretschmer
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tina Weiß
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Annette G Beck-Sickinger
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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6
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Chemerin Forms: Their Generation and Activity. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10082018. [PMID: 36009565 PMCID: PMC9405667 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10082018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemerin is the product of the RARRES2 gene which is secreted as a precursor of 143 amino acids. That precursor is inactive, but proteases from the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades, as well as from inflammatory reactions, process the C-terminus of chemerin to first activate it and then subsequently inactivate it. Chemerin can signal via two G protein-coupled receptors, chem1 and chem2, as well as be bound to a third non-signaling receptor, CCRL2. Chemerin is produced by the liver and secreted into the circulation as a precursor, but it is also expressed in some tissues where it can be activated locally. This review discusses the specific tissue expression of the components of the chemerin system, and the role of different proteases in regulating the activation and inactivation of chemerin. Methods of identifying and determining the levels of different chemerin forms in both mass and activity assays are reviewed. The levels of chemerin in circulation are correlated with certain disease conditions, such as patients with obesity or diabetes, leading to the possibility of using chemerin as a biomarker.
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7
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Yu M, Yang Y, Huang C, Ge L, Xue L, Xiao Z, Xiao T, Zhao H, Ren P, Zhang JV. Chemerin: A Functional Adipokine in Reproductive Health and Diseases. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081910. [PMID: 36009457 PMCID: PMC9406010 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As a multifaceted adipokine, chemerin has been found to perform functions vital for immunity, adiposity, and metabolism through its three known receptors (chemokine-like receptor 1, CMKLR1; G-protein-coupled receptor 1, GPR1; C-C motif chemokine receptor-like 2, CCRL2). Chemerin and the cognate receptors are also expressed in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, testis, ovary, and placenta. Accumulating studies suggest that chemerin participates in normal reproduction and underlies the pathological mechanisms of certain reproductive system diseases, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), preeclampsia, and breast cancer. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of the roles of the chemerin system in multiple reproductive processes and human reproductive diseases, with a brief discussion and perspectives on future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yu
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yali Yang
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chen Huang
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lei Ge
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Li Xue
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhonglin Xiao
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Tianxia Xiao
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Huashan Zhao
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Peigen Ren
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jian V. Zhang
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Correspondence:
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8
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Fischer TF, Beck-Sickinger AG. Chemerin - exploring a versatile adipokine. Biol Chem 2022; 403:625-642. [PMID: 35040613 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chemerin is a small chemotactic protein and a key player in initiating the early immune response. As an adipokine, chemerin is also involved in energy homeostasis and the regulation of reproductive functions. Secreted as inactive prochemerin, it relies on proteolytic activation by serine proteases to exert biological activity. Chemerin binds to three distinct G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), namely chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1, recently named chemerin1), G protein-coupled receptor 1 (GPR1, recently named chemerin2), and CC-motif chemokine receptor-like 2 (CCRL2). Only CMKLR1 displays conventional G protein signaling, while GPR1 only recruits arrestin in response to ligand stimulation, and no CCRL2-mediated signaling events have been described to date. However, GPR1 undergoes constitutive endocytosis, making this receptor perfectly adapted as decoy receptor. Here, we discuss expression pattern, activation, and receptor binding of chemerin. Moreover, we review the current literature regarding the involvement of chemerin in cancer and several obesity-related diseases, as well as recent developments in therapeutic targeting of the chemerin system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias F Fischer
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Brüderstraße 34, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
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9
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Fischer TF, Czerniak AS, Weiß T, Zellmann T, Zielke L, Els-Heindl S, Beck-Sickinger AG. Cyclic Derivatives of the Chemerin C-Terminus as Metabolically Stable Agonists at the Chemokine-like Receptor 1 for Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13153788. [PMID: 34359687 PMCID: PMC8345219 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153788] [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: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemerin is a small chemotactic protein and a modulator of the innate immune system. Its activity is mainly mediated by the chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), a receptor expressed by natural killer cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages. Downregulation of chemerin is part of the immune evasion strategy exploited by several cancer types, including melanoma, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Administration of chemerin can potentially counteract these effects, but synthetically accessible, metabolically stable analogs are required. Other tumors display overexpression of CMKLR1, offering a potential entry point for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics. Here, we present cyclic derivatives of the chemerin C-terminus (chemerin-9), the minimal activation sequence of chemerin. Chemerin-9 derivatives that were cyclized through positions four and nine retained activity while displaying full stability in blood plasma for more than 24 h. Therefore, these peptides could be used as a drug shuttle system to target cancer cells as demonstrated here by methotrexate conjugates.
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10
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Fischer TF, Czerniak AS, Weiß T, Schoeder CT, Wolf P, Seitz O, Meiler J, Beck-Sickinger AG. Ligand-binding and -scavenging of the chemerin receptor GPR1. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:6265-6281. [PMID: 34241650 PMCID: PMC8429170 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03894-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tight regulation of cytokines is essential for the initiation and resolution of inflammation. Chemerin, a mediator of innate immunity, mainly acts on chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1) to induce the migration of macrophages and dendritic cells. The role of the second chemerin receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 1 (GPR1), is still unclear. Here we demonstrate that GPR1 shows ligand-induced arrestin3 recruitment and internalization. The chemerin C-terminus triggers this activation by folding into a loop structure, binding to aromatic residues in the extracellular loops of GPR1. While this overall binding mode is shared between GPR1 and CMKLR1, differences in their respective extracellular loop 2 allowed for the design of the first GPR1-selective peptide. However, our results suggest that ligand-induced arrestin recruitment is not the only mode of action of GPR1. This receptor also displays constitutive internalization, which allows GPR1 to internalize inactive peptides efficiently by an activation-independent pathway. Our results demonstrate that GPR1 takes a dual role in regulating chemerin activity: as a signaling receptor for arrestin-based signaling on one hand, and as a scavenging receptor with broader ligand specificity on the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias F Fischer
- Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anne S Czerniak
- Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tina Weiß
- Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Clara T Schoeder
- Center for Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN37212, USA
| | - Philipp Wolf
- Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Oliver Seitz
- Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Meiler
- Center for Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN37212, USA
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University Medical School, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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