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Desgagné M, Désilets A, Ferková S, Lepage M, Perreault O, Joushomme A, Lemieux G, Guerrab W, Froehlich U, Comeau C, Sarret P, Leduc R, Boudreault PL. Rational In Silico Design of Selective TMPRSS6 Peptidomimetic Inhibitors via Exploitation of the S2 Subpocket. J Med Chem 2024; 67:12969-12983. [PMID: 39028865 PMCID: PMC11321340 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00922] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
TMPRSS6 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of iron overload due to its role in regulating levels of hepcidin. Although potent TMPRSS6 inhibitors have been previously developed, their lack of specificity requires optimization to avoid potential side effects before pursuing preclinical development with in vivo models. Here, using computer-aided drug design based on a TMPRSS6 homology model, we reveal that the S2 position of TMPRSS6 offers a potential avenue to achieve selectivity against other members of the TTSP family. Accordingly, we synthesized novel peptidomimetic molecules containing lipophilic amino acids at the P2 position to exploit this unexplored pocket. This enabled us to identify TMPRSS6-selective small molecules with low nanomolar affinity. Finally, pharmacokinetic parameters were determined, and a compound was found to be potent in cellulo toward its primary target while retaining TTSP-subtype selectivity and showing no signs of alteration in in vitro TEER experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Desgagné
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Antoine Désilets
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Sára Ferková
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Matthieu Lepage
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Olivier Perreault
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Alexandre Joushomme
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Gabriel Lemieux
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Walid Guerrab
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Ulrike Froehlich
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Christian Comeau
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Philippe Sarret
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Richard Leduc
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Pierre-Luc Boudreault
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
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Enns CA, Weiskopf T, Zhang RH, Wu J, Jue S, Kawaguchi M, Kataoka H, Zhang AS. Matriptase-2 regulates iron homeostasis primarily by setting the basal levels of hepatic hepcidin expression through a nonproteolytic mechanism. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105238. [PMID: 37690687 PMCID: PMC10551898 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105238] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Matriptase-2 (MT2), encoded by TMPRSS6, is a membrane-anchored serine protease. It plays a key role in iron homeostasis by suppressing the iron-regulatory hormone, hepcidin. Lack of functional MT2 results in an inappropriately high hepcidin and iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia. Mt2 cleaves multiple components of the hepcidin-induction pathway in vitro. It is inhibited by the membrane-anchored serine protease inhibitor, Hai-2. Earlier in vivo studies show that Mt2 can suppress hepcidin expression independently of its proteolytic activity. In this study, our data indicate that hepatic Mt2 was a limiting factor in suppressing hepcidin. Studies in Tmprss6-/- mice revealed that increases in dietary iron to ∼0.5% were sufficient to overcome the high hepcidin barrier and to correct iron-deficiency anemia. Interestingly, the increased iron in Tmprss6-/- mice was able to further upregulate hepcidin expression to a similar magnitude as in wild-type mice. These results suggest that a lack of Mt2 does not impact the iron induction of hepcidin. Additional studies of wild-type Mt2 and the proteolytic-dead form, fMt2S762A, indicated that the function of Mt2 is to lower the basal levels of hepcidin expression in a manner that primarily relies on its nonproteolytic role. This idea is supported by the studies in mice with the hepatocyte-specific ablation of Hai-2, which showed a marginal impact on iron homeostasis and no significant effects on iron regulation of hepcidin. Together, these observations suggest that the function of Mt2 is to set the basal levels of hepcidin expression and that this process is primarily accomplished through a nonproteolytic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A Enns
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Tyler Weiskopf
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Richard H Zhang
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jeffrey Wu
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Shall Jue
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Makiko Kawaguchi
- Faculty of Medicine, Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kataoka
- Faculty of Medicine, Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - An-Sheng Zhang
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
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Martin CE, Murray AS, Mackinder JR, Sala-Hamrick KE, Flynn MG, Lundgren JG, Varela FA, List K. TMPRSS13 zymogen activation, surface localization, and shedding is regulated by proteolytic cleavage within the non-catalytic stem region. Biol Chem 2022; 403:969-982. [PMID: 35796294 PMCID: PMC10642292 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2022-0129] [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: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
TMPRSS13 is a member of the type II transmembrane serine protease (TTSP) family. Here we characterize a novel post-translational mechanism important for TMPRSS13 function: proteolytic cleavage within the extracellular TMPRSS13 stem region located between the transmembrane domain and the first site of N-linked glycosylation at asparagine (N)-250 in the scavenger receptor cysteine rich (SRCR) domain. Importantly, the catalytic competence of TMPRSS13 is essential for stem region cleavage, suggesting an autonomous mechanism of action. Site-directed mutagenesis of the 10 basic amino acids (four arginine and six lysine residues) in this region abrogated zymogen activation and catalytic activity of TMPRSS13, as well as phosphorylation, cell surface expression, and shedding. Mutation analysis of individual arginine residues identified R223, a residue located between the low-density lipoprotein receptor class A domain and the SRCR domain, as important for stem region cleavage. Mutation of R223 causes a reduction in the aforementioned functional processing steps of TMPRSS13. These data provide further insight into the roles of different post-translational modifications as regulators of the function and localization of TMPRSS13. Additionally, the data suggest the presence of complex interconnected regulatory mechanisms that may serve to ensure the proper levels of cell-surface and pericellular TMPRSS13-mediated proteolysis under homeostatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly E. Martin
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Andrew S. Murray
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Division of Hematological Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Jacob R. Mackinder
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Kimberley E. Sala-Hamrick
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Michael G. Flynn
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Joseph G. Lundgren
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Fausto A. Varela
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Karin List
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
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Hoving V, Korman SE, Antonopoulos P, Donker AE, Schols SEM, Swinkels DW. IRIDA Phenotype in TMPRSS6 Monoallelic-Affected Patients: Toward a Better Understanding of the Pathophysiology. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081309. [PMID: 35893046 PMCID: PMC9331965 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA) is an autosomal recessive inherited form of iron deficiency anemia characterized by discrepantly high hepcidin levels relative to body iron status. However, patients with monoallelic exonic TMPRSS6 variants have also been reported to express the IRIDA phenotype. The pathogenesis of an IRIDA phenotype in these patients is unknown and causes diagnostic uncertainty. Therefore, we retrospectively summarized the data of 16 patients (4 men, 12 women) who expressed the IRIDA phenotype in the presence of only a monoallelic TMPRSS6 variant. Eight unaffected relatives with identical exonic TMPRSS6 variants were used as controls. Haplotype analysis was performed to assess the (intra)genetic differences between patients and relatives. The expression and severity of the IRIDA phenotype were highly variable. Compared with their relatives, patients showed lower Hb, MCV, and TSAT/hepcidin ratios and inherited a different wild-type allele. We conclude that IRIDA in monoallelic TMPRSS6-affected patients is a phenotypically and genotypically heterogeneous disease that is more common in female patients. We hypothesize that allelic imbalance, polygenetic inheritance, or modulating environmental factors and their complex interplay are possible causes. This explorative study is the first step toward improved insights into the pathophysiology and improved diagnostic accuracy for patients presenting with IRIDA and a monoallelic exonic TMPRSS6 variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Hoving
- Department of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GE Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Scott E. Korman
- Translational Metabolic Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GE Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.E.K.); (P.A.); (D.W.S.)
| | - Petros Antonopoulos
- Translational Metabolic Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GE Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.E.K.); (P.A.); (D.W.S.)
| | - Albertine E. Donker
- Department of Pediatrics, Máxima Medical Center, De Run 4600, 5504 NB Veldhoven, The Netherlands;
| | - Saskia E. M. Schols
- Department of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GE Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence:
| | - Dorine W. Swinkels
- Translational Metabolic Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GE Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.E.K.); (P.A.); (D.W.S.)
- Sanquin Blood Bank, Sanquin Diagnostics BV, Plesmanlaan 125, 1066 NH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Baas FS, Rishi G, Swinkels DW, Subramaniam VN. Genetic Diagnosis in Hereditary Hemochromatosis: Discovering and Understanding the Biological Relevance of Variants. Clin Chem 2021; 67:1324-1341. [PMID: 34402502 DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvab130] [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: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a genetic disease, leading to iron accumulation and possible organ damage. Patients are usually homozygous for p. Cys282Tyr in the homeostatic iron regulator gene but may have mutations in other genes involved in the regulation of iron. Next-generation sequencing is increasingly being utilized for the diagnosis of patients, leading to the discovery of novel genetic variants. The clinical significance of these variants is often unknown. CONTENT Determining the pathogenicity of such variants of unknown significance is important for diagnostics and genetic counseling. Predictions can be made using in silico computational tools and population data, but additional evidence is required for a conclusive pathogenicity classification. Genetic disease models, such as in vitro models using cellular overexpression, induced pluripotent stem cells or organoids, and in vivo models using mice or zebrafish all have their own challenges and opportunities when used to model HH and other iron disorders. Recent developments in gene-editing technologies are transforming the field of genetic disease modeling. SUMMARY In summary, this review addresses methods and developments regarding the discovery and classification of genetic variants, from in silico tools to in vitro and in vivo models, and presents them in the context of HH. It also explores recent gene-editing developments and how they can be applied to the discussed models of genetic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floor S Baas
- Translational Metabolic Laboratory (TML 831), Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.,Hepatogenomics Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gautam Rishi
- Hepatogenomics Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Dorine W Swinkels
- Translational Metabolic Laboratory (TML 831), Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - V Nathan Subramaniam
- Hepatogenomics Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Function and regulation of corin in physiology and disease. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 48:1905-1916. [PMID: 33125488 DOI: 10.1042/bst20190760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is of major importance in the maintenance of electrolyte balance and normal blood pressure. Reduced plasma ANP levels are associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Corin is a type II transmembrane serine protease that converts the ANP precursor to mature ANP. Corin deficiency prevents ANP generation and alters electrolyte and body fluid homeostasis. Corin is synthesized as a zymogen that is proteolytically activated on the cell surface. Factors that disrupt corin folding, intracellular trafficking, cell surface expression, and zymogen activation are expected to impair corin function. To date, CORIN variants that reduce corin activity have been identified in hypertensive patients. In addition to the heart, corin expression has been detected in non-cardiac tissues, where corin and ANP participate in diverse physiological processes. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge in corin biosynthesis and post-translational modifications. We also discuss tissue-specific corin expression and function in physiology and disease.
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The ectodomain of matriptase-2 plays an important nonproteolytic role in suppressing hepcidin expression in mice. Blood 2021; 136:989-1001. [PMID: 32384154 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020005222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Matriptase-2 (MT2), encoded by TMPRSS6, is a membrane-anchored serine protease that plays a key role in suppressing hepatic hepcidin expression. MT2 is synthesized as a zymogen and undergoes autocleavage for activation. Previous studies suggest that MT2 suppresses hepcidin by cleaving hemojuvelin and other components of the bone morphogenetic protein-signaling pathway. However, the underlying mechanism is still debatable. Here we dissected the contributions of the nonproteolytic and proteolytic activities of Mt2 by taking advantage of Mt2 mutants and Tmprss6-/- mice. Studies of the protease-dead full-length Mt2 (Mt2S762A) and the truncated Mt2 that lacks the catalytic domain (Mt2mask) indicate that the catalytic domain, but not its proteolytic activity, was required for Mt2 to suppress hepcidin expression. This process was likely accomplished by the binding of Mt2 ectodomain to Hjv and Hfe. We found that Mt2 specifically cleaved the key components of the hepcidin-induction pathway, including Hjv, Alk3, ActRIIA, and Hfe, when overexpressed in hepatoma cells. Nevertheless, studies of a murine iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia-causing mutant (Mt2I286F) in the complement protein subcomponents C1r/C1s, urchin embryonic growth factor, and bone morphogenetic protein 1 domain indicate that Mt2I286F can be activated, but it exhibited a largely compromised ability to suppress hepcidin expression. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis revealed that Mt2I286F, but not Mt2S762A, had reduced interactions with Hjv, ActRIIA, and Hfe. In addition, increased expression of a serine protease inhibitor, the hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-2, in the liver failed to alter hepcidin. Together, these observations support the idea that the substrate interaction with Mt2 plays a determinant role and suggest that the proteolytic activity is not an appropriate target to modulate the function of MT2 for clinical applications.
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Qian ZM, Ke Y. Hepcidin and its therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative disorders. Med Res Rev 2019; 40:633-653. [PMID: 31471929 DOI: 10.1002/med.21631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Abnormally high brain iron, resulting from the disrupted expression or function of proteins involved in iron metabolism in the brain, is an initial cause of neuronal death in neuroferritinopathy and aceruloplasminemia, and also plays a causative role in at least some of the other neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Friedreich's ataxia. As such, iron is believed to be a novel target for pharmacological intervention in these disorders. Reducing iron toward normal levels or hampering the increases in iron associated with age in the brain is a promising therapeutic strategy for all iron-related neurodegenerative disorders. Hepcidin is a crucial regulator of iron homeostasis in the brain. Recent studies have suggested that upregulating brain hepcidin levels can significantly reduce brain iron content through the regulation of iron transport protein expression in the blood-brain barrier and in neurons and astrocytes. In this review, we focus on the discussion of the therapeutic potential of hepcidin in iron-associated neurodegenerative diseases and also provide a systematic overview of recent research progress on how misregulated brain iron metabolism is involved in the development of multiple neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Ming Qian
- Institute of Translational & Precision Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.,Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, School of Pharmacy & National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya Ke
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China
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