Structural insights into the activation of somatostatin receptor 2 by cyclic SST analogues

Structural insights into somatostatin receptor 5 bound with cyclic peptides

Somatostatin receptor 5 (SSTR5) is highly expressed in ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas and is an important drug target for the treatment of Cushing's disease. Two cyclic SST analog peptides (pasireotide and octreotide) both can activate SSTR5 and SSTR2. Pasireotide is preferential binding to SSTR5 than octreotide, while octreotide is biased to SSTR2 than SSTR5. The lack of selectivity of both pasireotide and octreotide causes side effects, such as hyperglycemia, gastrointestinal disturbance, and abnormal glucose homeostasis. However, little is known about the binding and selectivity mechanisms of pasireotide and octreotide with SSTR5, limiting the development of subtype-selective SST analog drugs specifically targeting SSTR5. Here, we report two cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of SSTR5-Gi complexes activated by pasireotide and octreoitde at resolutions of 3.09 Å and 3.24 Å, respectively. In combination with structural analysis and functional experiments, our results reveal the molecular mechanisms of ligand recognition and receptor activation. We also demonstrate that pasireotide preferentially binds to SSTR5 through the interactions between Tyr(Bzl)/DTrp of pasireotide and SSTR5. Moreover, we find that the Q2.63, N6.55, F7.35 and ECL2 of SSTR2 play a crucial role in octreotide biased binding of SSTR2. Our results will provide structural insights and offer new opportunities for the drug discovery of better selective pharmaceuticals targeting specific SSTR subtypes.

Immunological signatures and predictive biomarkers for first-generation somatostatin receptor ligand resistance in Acromegaly

PURPOSE

Predicting resistance to first-generation Somatostatin Receptor Ligands (fg-SRL) in Acromegaly patients remains an ongong challenge. Tumor-associated immune components participate in various pathological processes, including drug-resistance. We aimed to identify the immune components involved in resistance of fg-SRL, and to investigate biomarkers that can be targeted to treat those drug-resistant Acromegaly.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study involving 35 Acromegaly patients with somatotropinomas treated postoperatively with fg-SRL. Gathering clinicopathological data, SSTR2 expression, and immunological profiles, we utilized univariate, binary logistic regression, and ROC analyses to assess their predictive roles in fg-SRL resistance. Spearman correlation analysis further examined interactions among interested characteristics.

RESULTS

19 patients (54.29%) exhibited resistance to postoperative fg-SRL. GH level at diagnosis, preoperative tumor volume, T2WI-MRI intensity, granularity, PD-L1, SSTR2, and CD8 + T cell infiltration showed association with clinical outcomes of fg-SRL. Notably, T2WI-MRI hyperintensity, PD-L1-IRS > 7, CD8 + T cell infiltration < 14.8/HPF, and SSTR2-IRS < 5.4 emerged as reliable predictors for fg-SRL resistance. Correlation analysis highlighted a negative relationship between PD-L1 expression and CD8 + T cell infiltration, while showcasing a positive correlation with preoperative tumor volume of somatotropinomas. Additionally, 5 patients with fg-SRL resistance underwent re-operation were involved. Following fg-SRL treatment, significant increases in PD-L1 and SSTR5 expression were observed, while SSTR2 expression decreased in somatotropinoma.

CONCLUSION

PD-L1 expression and CD8 + T cell infiltration, either independently or combined with SSTR2 expression and T2WI-MRI intensity, could form a predictive model guiding clinical decisions on fg-SRL employment. Furthermore, targeting PD-L1 through immunotherapy and embracing second-generations of SRL with higher affinity to SSTR5 represent promising strategies to tackle fg-SRL resistance in somatotropinomas.

A Case of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor with Liver Metastases Demonstrating the Possibility of Enhanced ACTH Production by the SACI Test

Objective

ACTH-producing pancreatic NETs have a propensity to metastasize, and in patients with metastases, there is no established method yet to precisely determine if the excess ACTH is produced by the primary or the metastatic tumors. Localizing the source of production of ACTH in such cases is important for devising suitable treatment strategies and evaluating the benefit of local therapies from the viewpoint of control of Cushing's syndrome.

Methods

We performed the selective arterial calcium injection (SACI) test combined with selective portal and hepatic venous sampling in a 32-year-old female patient with ectopic ACTH-producing pancreatic NET and liver metastases.

Results

The blood level of ACTH after Ca loading was significantly elevated only in the vessels thought to be directly feeding the pancreatic tumor, and Ca loading from any artery did not significantly increase ACTH concentrations in the hepatic veins compared to the main trunk of the portal vein.

Conclusions

The present case demonstrates that there might be an ACTH-producing p-NET that responds to Ca loading. Further in vitro studies are required to validate this possibility.

Macrocycles and macrocyclization in anticancer drug discovery: Important pieces of the puzzle

Increasing disease-related proteins have been identified as novel therapeutic targets. Macrocycles are emerging as potential solutions, bridging the gap between conventional small molecules and biomacromolecules in drug discovery. Inspired by successful macrocyclic drugs of natural origins, macrocycles are attracting more attention for enhanced binding affinity and target selectivity. Due to the conformation constraint and structure preorganization, macrocycles can reach bioactive conformations more easily than parent acyclic compounds. Also, rational macrocyclization combined with sequent structural modification will help improve oral bioavailability and combat drug resistance. This review introduces various strategies to enhance membrane permeability in macrocyclization and subsequent modification, such as N-methylation, intramolecular hydrogen bonding modulation, isomerization, and reversible bicyclization. Several case studies highlight macrocyclic inhibitors targeting kinases, HDAC, and protein-protein interactions. Finally, some macrocyclic agents targeting tumor microenvironments are illustrated.

Somatostatin Receptor Subtype-2 Targeting System for Specific Delivery of Temozolomide

Temozolomide (TMZ) is a DNA alkylating agent that produces objective responses in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) when the DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is inactivated. At high doses, TMZ therapy exhausts MGMT activity but also produces dose-limiting toxicities. To reduce off-target effects, we converted the clinically approved radiotracer 68Ga-DOTA-TOC into a peptide-drug conjugate (PDC) for targeted delivery of TMZ to somatostatin receptor subtype-2 (SSTR2)-positive tumor cells. We used an integrated radiolabeling strategy for direct quantitative assessment of receptor binding, pharmacokinetics, and tissue biodistribution. In vitro studies revealed selective binding to SSTR2-positive cells with high affinity (5.98 ± 0.96 nmol/L), internalization, receptor-dependent DNA damage, cytotoxicity, and MGMT depletion. Imaging and biodistribution analysis showed preferential accumulation of the PDC in receptor-positive tumors and high renal clearance. This study identified a trackable SSTR2-targeting system for TMZ delivery and utilizes a modular design that could be broadly applied in PDC development.

Transcriptional reprogramming during human osteoclast differentiation identifies regulators of osteoclast activity

Enhanced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activity contribute to the development of osteoporosis, which is characterized by increased bone resorption and inadequate bone formation. As novel antiosteoporotic therapeutics are needed, understanding the genetic regulation of human osteoclastogenesis could help identify potential treatment targets. This study aimed to provide an overview of transcriptional reprogramming during human osteoclast differentiation. Osteoclasts were differentiated from CD14+ monocytes from eight female donors. RNA sequencing during differentiation revealed 8 980 differentially expressed genes grouped into eight temporal patterns conserved across donors. These patterns revealed distinct molecular functions associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis susceptibility genes based on RNA from iliac crest biopsies and bone mineral density SNPs. Network analyses revealed mutual dependencies between temporal expression patterns and provided insight into subtype-specific transcriptional networks. The donor-specific expression patterns revealed genes at the monocyte stage, such as filamin B (FLNB) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (OLR1, encoding LOX-1), that are predictive of the resorptive activity of mature osteoclasts. The expression of differentially expressed G-protein coupled receptors was strong during osteoclast differentiation, and these receptors are associated with bone mineral density SNPs, suggesting that they play a pivotal role in osteoclast differentiation and activity. The regulatory effects of three differentially expressed G-protein coupled receptors were exemplified by in vitro pharmacological modulation of complement 5 A receptor 1 (C5AR1), somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), and free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4/GPR120). Activating C5AR1 enhanced osteoclast formation, while activating SSTR2 decreased the resorptive activity of mature osteoclasts, and activating FFAR4 decreased both the number and resorptive activity of mature osteoclasts. In conclusion, we report the occurrence of transcriptional reprogramming during human osteoclast differentiation and identified SSTR2 and FFAR4 as antiresorptive G-protein coupled receptors and FLNB and LOX-1 as potential molecular markers of osteoclast activity. These data can help future investigations identify molecular regulators of osteoclast differentiation and activity and provide the basis for novel antiosteoporotic targets.

Using AlphaFold and Experimental Structures for the Prediction of the Structure and Binding Affinities of GPCR Complexes via Induced Fit Docking and Free Energy Perturbation

Free energy perturbation (FEP) remains an indispensable method for computationally assaying prospective compounds in advance of synthesis. However, before FEP can be deployed prospectively, it must demonstrate retrospective recapitulation of known experimental data where the subtle details of the atomic ligand-receptor model are consequential. An open question is whether AlphaFold models can serve as useful initial models for FEP in the regime where there exists a congeneric series of known chemical matter but where no experimental structures are available either of the target or of close homologues. As AlphaFold structures are provided without a bound ligand, we employ induced fit docking to refine the AlphaFold models in the presence of one or more congeneric ligands. In this work, we first validate the performance of our latest induced fit docking technology, IFD-MD, on a retrospective set of public experimental GPCR structures with 95% of cross-docks producing a pose with a ligand RMSD ≤ 2.5 Å in the top two predictions. We then apply IFD-MD and FEP on AlphaFold models of the somatostatin receptor family of GPCRs. We use AlphaFold models produced prior to the availability of any experimental structure from this family. We arrive at FEP-validated models for SSTR2, SSTR4, and SSTR5, with RMSE around 1 kcal/mol, and explore the challenges of model validation under scenarios of limited ligand data, ample ligand data, and categorical data.

Cortisol as a Target for Treating Mental Disorders: A Promising Avenue for Therapy

Cortisol, commonly known as the "stress hormone," plays a critical role in the body's response to stress. Elevated cortisol levels have been associated with various mental disorders, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Consequently, researchers have explored cortisol modulation as a promising avenue for treating these conditions. However, the availability of research on cortisol as a therapeutic option for mental disorders is limited, and existing studies employ diverse methodologies and outcome measures. This review article aimed to provide insights into different treatment approaches, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, which can effectively modulate cortisol levels. Pharmacological interventions involve the use of substances, such as somatostatin analogs, dopamine agonists, corticotropin-releasing hormone antagonists, and cortisol synthesis inhibitors. Additionally, non-pharmacological techniques, including cognitivebehavioral therapy, herbs and supplements, transcranial magnetic stimulation, lifestyle changes, and surgery, have been investigated to reduce cortisol levels. The emerging evidence suggests that cortisol modulation could be a promising treatment option for mental disorders. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness and safety of these therapies.

The Role of Receptor-Ligand Interaction in Somatostatin Signaling Pathways: Implications for Neuroendocrine Tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) arise from neuroendocrine cells and manifest in diverse organs. Key players in their regulation are somatostatin and its receptors (SSTR1-SSTR5). Understanding receptor-ligand interactions and signaling pathways is vital for elucidating their role in tumor development and therapeutic potential. This review highlights SSTR characteristics, localization, and expression in tissues, impacting physiological functions. Mechanisms of somatostatin and synthetic analogue binding to SSTRs, their selectivity, and their affinity were analyzed. Upon activation, somatostatin initiates intricate intracellular signaling, involving cAMP, PLC, and MAP kinases and influencing growth, differentiation, survival, and hormone secretion in NETs. This review explores SSTR expression in different tumor types, examining receptor activation effects on cancer cells. SSTRs' significance as therapeutic targets is discussed. Additionally, somatostatin and analogues' role in hormone secretion regulation, tumor growth, and survival is emphasized, presenting relevant therapeutic examples. In conclusion, this review advances the knowledge of receptor-ligand interactions and signaling pathways in somatostatin receptors, with potential for improved neuroendocrine tumor treatments.

Immunological role and prognostic value of somatostatin receptor family members in colon adenocarcinoma

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is among the most prevalent cancers worldwide, ranking as the third most prevalent malignancy in incidence and mortality. The somatostatin receptor (SSTR) family comprises G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which couple to inhibitory G proteins (Gi and Go) upon binding to somatostatin (SST) analogs. GPCRs are involved in hormone release, neurotransmission, cell growth inhibition, and cancer suppression. However, their roles in COAD remain unclear. This study used bioinformatics to investigate the expression, prognosis, gene alterations, functional enrichment, and immunoregulatory effects of the SSTR family members in COAD. SSTR1-4 are differentially downregulated in COAD, and low SSTR2 expression indicates poor survival. Biological processes and gene expression enrichment of the SSTR family in COAD were further analyzed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology. A strong correlation was observed between SSTR expression and immune cell infiltration. We also quantified SSTR2 expression in 25 COAD samples and adjacent normal tissues using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We analyzed its correlation with the dendritic cell-integrin subunit alpha X marker gene. The biomarker exploration of the solid tumors portal was used to confirm the correlation between SSTR2 with immunomodulators and immunotherapy responses. Our results identify SSTR2 as a promising target for COAD immunotherapy. Our findings provide new insights into the biological functions of the SSTR family and their implications for the prognosis of COAD.

An amide to thioamide substitution improves the permeability and bioavailability of macrocyclic peptides

Solvent shielding of the amide hydrogen bond donor (NH groups) through chemical modification or conformational control has been successfully utilized to impart membrane permeability to macrocyclic peptides. We demonstrate that passive membrane permeability can also be conferred by masking the amide hydrogen bond acceptor (>C = O) through a thioamide substitution (>C = S). The membrane permeability is a consequence of the lower desolvation penalty of the macrocycle resulting from a concerted effect of conformational restriction, local desolvation of the thioamide bond, and solvent shielding of the amide NH groups. The enhanced permeability and metabolic stability on thioamidation improve the bioavailability of a macrocyclic peptide composed of hydrophobic amino acids when administered through the oral route in rats. Thioamidation of a bioactive macrocyclic peptide composed of polar amino acids results in analogs with longer duration of action in rats when delivered subcutaneously. These results highlight the potential of O to S substitution as a stable backbone modification in improving the pharmacological properties of peptide macrocycles.

Interaction of Radiopharmaceuticals with Somatostatin Receptor 2 Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The development of drugs targeting somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), generally overexpressed in neuroendocrine tumors, is focus of intense research. A few molecules in conjugation with radionuclides are in clinical use for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. These radiopharmaceuticals are composed of a somatostatin analogue biovector conjugated to a chelator moiety bearing the radionuclide. To date, despite valuable efforts, a detailed molecular-level description of the interaction of radiopharmaceuticals in complex with SSTR2 has not yet been accomplished. Therefore, in this work, we carefully analyzed the key dynamical features and detailed molecular interactions of SSTR2 in complex with six radiopharmaceutical compounds selected among the few already in use (64Cu/68Ga-DOTATATE, 68Ga-DOTATOC, 64Cu-SARTATE) and some in clinical development (68Ga-DOTANOC, 64Cu-TETATATE). Through molecular dynamics simulations and exploiting recently available structures of SSTR2, we explored the influence of the different portions of the compounds (peptide, radionuclide, and chelator) in the interaction with the receptor. We identified the most stable binding modes and found distinct interaction patterns characterizing the six compounds. We thus unveiled detailed molecular interactions crucial for the recognition of this class of radiopharmaceuticals. The microscopically well-founded analysis presented in this study provides guidelines for the design of new potent ligands targeting SSTR2.

Identification of a Novel SSTR3 Full Agonist for the Treatment of Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas

Somatostatin receptor (SSTR) agonists have been extensively used for treating neuroendocrine tumors. Synthetic therapeutic agonists showing selectivity for SSTR2 (Octreotide) or for SSTR2 and SSTR5 (Pasireotide) have been approved for the treatment of patients with acromegaly and Cushing's syndrome, as their pituitary tumors highly express SSTR2 or SSTR2/SSTR5, respectively. Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs), which express high levels of SSTR3 and show only modest response to currently available SSTR agonists, are often invasive and cannot be completely resected, and therefore easily recur. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of ITF2984, a somatostatin analog and full SSTR3 agonist, as a new potential treatment for NFPAs. ITF2984 shows a 10-fold improved affinity for SSTR3 compared to Octreotide or Pasireotide. Molecular modeling and NMR studies indicated that the higher affinity for SSTR3 correlates with a higher stability of a distorted β-I turn in the cyclic peptide backbone. ITF2984 induces receptor internalization and phosphorylation, and triggers G-protein signaling at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. Furthermore, ITF2984 displays antitumor activity that is dependent on SSTR3 expression levels in the MENX (homozygous mutant) NFPA rat model, which closely recapitulates human disease. Therefore, ITF2984 may represent a novel therapeutic option for patients affected by NFPA.

Molecular simulations of SSTR2 dynamics and interaction with ligands

The cyclic peptide hormone somatostatin regulates physiological processes involved in growth and metabolism, through its binding to G-protein coupled somatostatin receptors. The isoform 2 (SSTR2) is of particular relevance for the therapy of neuroendocrine tumours for which different analogues to somatostatin are currently in clinical use. We present an extensive and systematic computational study on the dynamics of SSTR2 in three different states: active agonist-bound, inactive antagonist-bound and apo inactive. We exploited the recent burst of SSTR2 experimental structures to perform μs-long multi-copy molecular dynamics simulations to sample conformational changes of the receptor and rationalize its binding to different ligands (the agonists somatostatin and octreotide, and the antagonist CYN154806). Our findings suggest that the apo form is more flexible compared to the holo ones, and confirm that the extracellular loop 2 closes upon the agonist octreotide but not upon the antagonist CYN154806. Based on interaction fingerprint analyses and free energy calculations, we found that all peptides similarly interact with residues buried into the binding pocket. Conversely, specific patterns of interactions are found with residues located in the external portion of the pocket, at the basis of the extracellular loops, particularly distinguishing the agonists from the antagonist. This study will help in the design of new somatostatin-based compounds for theranostics of neuroendocrine tumours.

Prospect of acromegaly therapy: molecular mechanism of clinical drugs octreotide and paltusotine

Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is highly expressed in neuroendocrine tumors and represents as a therapeutic target. Several peptide analogs mimicking the endogenous ligand somatostatin are available for clinical use, but poor therapeutic effects occur in a subset of patients, which may be correlated with subtype selectivity or cell surface expression. Here, we clarify the signal bias profiles of the first-generation peptide drug octreotide and a new-generation small molecule paltusotine by evaluating their pharmacological characteristics. We then perform cryo-electron microscopy analysis of SSTR2-Gi complexes to determine how the drugs activate SSTR2 in a selective manner. In this work, we decipher the mechanism of ligand recognition, subtype selectivity and signal bias property of SSTR2 sensing octreotide and paltusotine, which may aid in designing therapeutic drugs with specific pharmacological profiles against neuroendocrine tumors.

Resistance of neuroendocrine tumours to somatostatin analogs

INTRODUCTION

A common feature shared by most neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is the expression on their surface of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) that are essential for their pathophysiological regulation, diagnosis, and management. The first-generation synthetic somatostatin analogs (SSAs), octreotide and lanreotide, constitute the cornerstone of treatment for growth hormone secreting pituitary adenomas and functioning, progressive functioning, and non-functioning gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP-NETs). SSAs exert their mechanism of action through binding to the SSTRs; however, their therapeutic response is frequently attenuated or diminished by the development of resistance. The phenomenon of resistance is complex implicating the presence of additional epigenetic and genetic mechanisms.

AREAS COVERED

We aim to analyze the molecular, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms of resistance to SSA treatment. We also summarize recent clinical data related to the development of resistance on conventional and non-conventional modes of administration of the first-generation SSAs and the second-generation SSA pasireotide. We explore mechanisms used to counteract the resistance to SSAs using higher doses or more frequent mode of administration of SSAs and/or combination treatments.

EXPERT OPINION

There is considerable heterogeneity in the development of resistance to SSAs that is tumor-specific necessitating the delineation of the underlying pathophysiological processes to further expand their therapeutic applications.