1
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Eberle SA, Gustavsson M. Bilayer lipids modulate ligand binding to atypical chemokine receptor 3. Structure 2024; 32:1174-1183.e5. [PMID: 38776922 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.04.018] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Chemokine receptors belong to the large class of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and are involved in a number of (patho)physiological processes. Previous studies highlighted the importance of membrane lipids for modulating GPCR structure and function. However, the underlying mechanisms of how lipids regulate GPCRs are often poorly understood. Here, we report that anionic lipid bilayers increase the binding affinity of the chemokine CXCL12 for the atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3) by modulating the CXCL12 binding kinetics. Notably, the anionic bilayer favors CXCL12 over the more positively charged chemokine CXCL11, which we explained by bilayer interactions orienting CXCL12 but not CXCL11 for productive ACKR3 binding. Furthermore, our data suggest a stabilization of active ACKR3 conformations in anionic bilayers. Taken together, the described regulation of chemokine selectivity of ACKR3 by the lipid bilayer proposes an extended version of the classical model of chemokine binding including the lipid environment of the receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Alexandra Eberle
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Gustavsson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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2
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Kayastha K, Zhou Y, Brünle S. Structural perspectives on chemokine receptors. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1011-1024. [PMID: 38856028 PMCID: PMC11346446 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230358] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Chemokine receptors are integral to the immune system and prime targets in drug discovery that have undergone extensive structural elucidation in recent years. We outline a timeline of these structural achievements, discuss the intracellular negative allosteric modulation of chemokine receptors, analyze the mechanisms of orthosteric receptor activation, and report on the emerging concept of biased signaling. Additionally, we highlight differences of G-protein binding among chemokine receptors. Intracellular allosteric modulators in chemokine receptors interact with a conserved motif within transmembrane helix 7 and helix 8 and exhibit a two-fold inactivation mechanism that can be harnessed for drug-discovery efforts. Chemokine recognition is a multi-step process traditionally explained by a two-site model within chemokine recognition site 1 (CRS1) and CRS2. Recent structural studies have extended our understanding of this complex mechanism with the identification of CRS1.5 and CRS3. CRS3 is implicated in determining ligand specificity and surrounds the chemokine by almost 180°. Within CRS3 we identified the extracellular loop 2 residue 45.51 as a key interaction mediator for chemokine binding. Y2917.43 on the other hand was shown in CCR1 to be a key determinant of signaling bias which, along with specific chemokine-dependent phosphorylation ensembles at the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR's) C-terminus, seems to play a pivotal role in determining the direction of signal bias in GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanwal Kayastha
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, Leiden 2333 CC, The Netherlands
| | - Yangli Zhou
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, Leiden 2333 CC, The Netherlands
| | - Steffen Brünle
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, Leiden 2333 CC, The Netherlands
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3
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Kessler N, Akabayov SR, Cohen LS, Scherf T, Naider F, Anglister J. The chemokines CCL5 and CXCL12 exhibit high-affinity binding to N-terminal peptides of the non-cognate receptors CXCR4 and CCR5, respectively. FEBS J 2024; 291:458-476. [PMID: 37997026 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
CC and CXC chemokines are distinct chemokine subfamilies. CC chemokines usually do not bind CXC-chemokine receptors and vice versa. CCR5 and CXCR4 receptors are activated by CCL5 and CXCL12 chemokines, respectively, and are also used as HIV-1 coreceptors. CCL5 contains one conserved binding site for a sulfated tyrosine residue, whereas CXCL12 is unique in having two additional sites for sulfated/nonsulfated tyrosine residues. In this study, N-terminal (Nt) CXCR4 peptides were found to bind CCL5 with somewhat higher affinities in comparison to those of short Nt-CCR5(8-20) peptides with the same number of sulfated tyrosine residues. Similarly, a long Nt-CCR5(1-27)(s Y3,s Y10,s Y14) peptide cross reacts with CXCL12 and with lower KD in comparison to its binding to CCL5. Intermolecular nuclear overhauser effect (NOE) measurements were used to decipher the mechanism of the chemokine/Nt-receptor peptide binding. The Nt-CXCR4 peptides interact with the conserved CCL5 tyrosine sulfate-binding site by an allovalency mechanism like that observed for CCL5 binding of Nt-CCR5 peptides. Nt-CCR5 peptides bind CXCL12 in multiple modes analogous to their binding to HIV-1 gp120 and interact with all three tyrosine/sulfated tyrosine-binding pockets of CXCL12. We suggest that the chemokine-receptors Nt-segments bind promiscuously to cognate and non-cognate chemokines and in a mechanism that is dependent on the number of binding pockets for tyrosine residues found on the chemokine. In conclusion, common features shared among the chemokine-receptors' Nt-segments such as multiple tyrosine residues that are potentially sulfated, and a large number of negatively charged residues are the reason of the cross binding observed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naama Kessler
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sabine R Akabayov
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Leah S Cohen
- Department of Chemistry and Macromolecular Assembly Institute, College of Staten Island of the City University of New York, Staten Island, NY, USA
- The Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, NY, USA
| | - Tali Scherf
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Fred Naider
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Chemistry and Macromolecular Assembly Institute, College of Staten Island of the City University of New York, Staten Island, NY, USA
- The Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, NY, USA
| | - Jacob Anglister
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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4
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Bonifazi A, Saab E, Sanchez J, Nazarova AL, Zaidi SA, Jahan K, Katritch V, Canals M, Lane JR, Newman AH. Pharmacological and Physicochemical Properties Optimization for Dual-Target Dopamine D 3 (D 3R) and μ-Opioid (MOR) Receptor Ligands as Potentially Safer Analgesics. J Med Chem 2023; 66:10304-10341. [PMID: 37467430 PMCID: PMC11091828 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
A new generation of dual-target μ opioid receptor (MOR) agonist/dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) antagonist/partial agonists with optimized physicochemical properties was designed and synthesized. Combining in vitro cell-based on-target/off-target affinity screening, in silico computer-aided drug design, and BRET functional assays, we identified new structural scaffolds that achieved high affinity and agonist/antagonist potencies for MOR and D3R, respectively, improving the dopamine receptor subtype selectivity (e.g., D3R over D2R) and significantly enhancing central nervous system multiparameter optimization scores for predicted blood-brain barrier permeability. We identified the substituted trans-(2S,4R)-pyrrolidine and trans-phenylcyclopropyl amine as key dopaminergic moieties and tethered these to different opioid scaffolds, derived from the MOR agonists TRV130 (3) or loperamide (6). The lead compounds 46, 84, 114, and 121 have the potential of producing analgesic effects through MOR partial agonism with reduced opioid-misuse liability via D3R antagonism. Moreover, the peripherally limited derivatives could have therapeutic indications for inflammation and neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Bonifazi
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse – Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Elizabeth Saab
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse – Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Julie Sanchez
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Protein and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, Midlands NG2 7AG, United Kingdom
| | - Antonina L. Nazarova
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, Department of Chemistry, Dornsife Center for New Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development, Bridge Institute, Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Saheem A. Zaidi
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, Department of Chemistry, Dornsife Center for New Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development, Bridge Institute, Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Khorshada Jahan
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse – Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Vsevolod Katritch
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, Department of Chemistry, Dornsife Center for New Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development, Bridge Institute, Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Protein and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, Midlands NG2 7AG, United Kingdom
| | - J. Robert Lane
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Protein and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, Midlands NG2 7AG, United Kingdom
| | - Amy Hauck Newman
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse – Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
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5
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Kaffashi K, Dréau D, Nesmelova IV. Heterodimers Are an Integral Component of Chemokine Signaling Repertoire. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11639. [PMID: 37511398 PMCID: PMC10380872 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411639] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemokines are a family of signaling proteins that play a crucial role in cell-cell communication, cell migration, and cell trafficking, particularly leukocytes, under both normal and pathological conditions. The oligomerization state of chemokines influences their biological activity. The heterooligomerization occurs when multiple chemokines spatially and temporally co-localize, and it can significantly affect cellular responses. Recently, obligate heterodimers have emerged as tools to investigate the activities and molecular mechanisms of chemokine heterodimers, providing valuable insights into their functional roles. This review focuses on the latest progress in understanding the roles of chemokine heterodimers and their contribution to the functioning of the chemokine network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Kaffashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
- Department of Physics and Optical Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Didier Dréau
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Irina V Nesmelova
- Department of Physics and Optical Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
- School of Data Science, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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6
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Wang J, Chen G, Liao Q, Lyu W, Liu A, Zhu L, Du Y, Ye RD. Cryo-EM structure of the human chemerin receptor 1-Gi protein complex bound to the C-terminal nonapeptide of chemerin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2214324120. [PMID: 36881626 PMCID: PMC10089180 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2214324120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemerin is a processed protein that acts on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for its chemotactic and adipokine activities. The biologically active chemerin (chemerin 21-157) results from proteolytic cleavage of prochemerin and uses its C-terminal peptide containing the sequence YFPGQFAFS for receptor activation. Here we report a high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of human chemerin receptor 1 (CMKLR1) bound to the C-terminal nonapeptide of chemokine (C9) in complex with Gi proteins. C9 inserts its C terminus into the binding pocket and is stabilized through hydrophobic interactions involving its Y1, F2, F6, and F8, as well as polar interactions between G4, S9, and several amino acids lining the binding pocket of CMKLR1. Microsecond scale molecular dynamics simulations support a balanced force distribution across the whole ligand-receptor interface that enhances thermodynamic stability of the captured binding pose of C9. The C9 interaction with CMKLR1 is drastically different from chemokine recognition by chemokine receptors, which follow a two-site two-step model. In contrast, C9 takes an "S"-shaped pose in the binding pocket of CMKLR1 much like angiotensin II in the AT1 receptor. Our mutagenesis and functional analyses confirmed the cryo-EM structure and key residues in the binding pocket for these interactions. Our findings provide a structural basis for chemerin recognition by CMKLR1 for the established chemotactic and adipokine activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlin Wang
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, P.R. China
| | - Geng Chen
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, P.R. China
| | - Qiwen Liao
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, P.R. China
| | - Wenping Lyu
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, P.R. China
| | - Aijun Liu
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, P.R. China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong518055, P.R. China
| | - Lizhe Zhu
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, P.R. China
| | - Yang Du
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, P.R. China
| | - Richard D. Ye
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, P.R. China
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7
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Liu YH, Chuang CH, Lee YZ, Lee ET, Lo CL, Wu CY, Huang LK, Bikfalvi A, Sue SC. Structural Properties of CXCL4L1 and Its Recognition of the CXCR3 N-Terminus. Biochemistry 2023; 62:722-734. [PMID: 36626574 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Chemokine CXCL4L1, a homologue of CXCL4, is a more potent antiangiogenic ligand. Its structural property is correlated with the downstream receptor binding. The two chemokines execute their functions by binding the receptors of CXCR3A and CXCR3B. The receptors differ by an extra 51-residue extension in the CXCR3B N-terminus. To understand the binding specificity, a GB1 protein scaffold was used to carry different CXCR3 extracellular elements, and artificial CXCL4 and CXCL4L1 monomers were engineered for the binding assay. We first characterized the molten globule property of CXCL4L1. The structural property causes the CXCL4L1 tetramer to dissociate into monomers in low concentrations, but native CXCL4 adopts a stable tetramer structure in solution. In the titration experiments, the combination of the CXCR3A N-terminus and receptor extracellular loop 2 provided moderate and comparable binding affinities to CXCL4 and CXCL4L1, while sulfation on the CXCR3A N-terminal tyrosine residues provided binding specificity. However, the CXCR3B N-terminal extension did not show significant enhancement in the binding of CXCL4 or CXCL4L1. This result indicates that the tendency to form a chemokine monomer and the binding affinity together contribute the high antiangiogenic activity of CXCL4L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Hsin Liu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hsuan Chuang
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Zong Lee
- Instrumentation Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Eh-Tzen Lee
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Ling Lo
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Ya Wu
- Instrumentation Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Li-Kun Huang
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | | | - Shih-Che Sue
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
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8
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"Glyco-sulfo barcodes" regulate chemokine receptor function. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:55. [PMID: 36729338 PMCID: PMC9894980 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04697-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Chemokine ligands and receptors regulate the directional migration of leukocytes. Post-translational modifications of chemokine receptors including O-glycosylation and tyrosine sulfation have been reported to regulate ligand binding and resulting signaling. Through in silico analyses, we determined potential conserved O-glycosylation and sulfation sites on human and murine CC chemokine receptors. Glyco-engineered CHO cell lines were used to measure the impact of O-glycosylation on CC chemokine receptor CCR5, while mutation of tyrosine residues and treatment with sodium chlorate were performed to determine the effect of tyrosine sulfation. Changing the glycosylation or tyrosine sulfation on CCR5 reduced the receptor signaling by the more positively charged CCL5 and CCL8 more profoundly compared to the less charged CCL3. The loss of negatively charged sialic acids resulted only in a minor effect on CCL3-induced signal transduction. The enzymes GalNAc-T1 and GalNAc-T11 were shown to be involved in the process of chemokine receptor O-glycosylation. These results indicate that O-glycosylation and tyrosine sulfation are involved in the fine-tuning and recognition of chemokine interactions with CCR5 and the resulting signaling.
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9
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Georgakis MK, Bernhagen J, Heitman LH, Weber C, Dichgans M. Targeting the CCL2-CCR2 axis for atheroprotection. Eur Heart J 2022; 43:1799-1808. [PMID: 35567558 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Decades of research have established atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease. Only recently though, clinical trials provided proof-of-concept evidence for the efficacy of anti-inflammatory strategies with respect to cardiovascular events, thus offering a new paradigm for lowering residual vascular risk. Efforts to target the inflammasome-interleukin-1β-interleukin-6 pathway have been highly successful, but inter-individual variations in drug response, a lack of reduction in all-cause mortality, and a higher rate of infections also highlight the need for a second generation of anti-inflammatory agents targeting atherosclerosis-specific immune mechanisms while minimizing systemic side effects. CC-motif chemokine ligand 2/monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 (CCL2/MCP-1) orchestrates inflammatory monocyte trafficking between the bone marrow, circulation, and atherosclerotic plaques by binding to its cognate receptor CCR2. Adding to a strong body of data from experimental atherosclerosis models, a coherent series of recent large-scale genetic and observational epidemiological studies along with data from human atherosclerotic plaques highlight the relevance and therapeutic potential of the CCL2-CCR2 axis in human atherosclerosis. Here, we summarize experimental and human data pinpointing the CCL2-CCR2 pathway as an emerging drug target in cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, we contextualize previous efforts to interfere with this pathway, scrutinize approaches of ligand targeting vs. receptor targeting, and discuss possible pathway-intrinsic opportunities and challenges related to pharmacological targeting of the CCL2-CCR2 axis in human atherosclerotic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marios K Georgakis
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
- Center of Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jürgen Bernhagen
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura H Heitman
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christian Weber
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Germany
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research, UoS of Milan, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Dichgans
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
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10
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Brandum EP, Jørgensen AS, Calvo MB, Spiess K, Peterson FC, Yang Z, Volkman BF, Veldkamp CT, Rosenkilde MM, Goth CK, Hjortø GM. Selective Boosting of CCR7-Acting Chemokines; Short Peptides Boost Chemokines with Short Basic Tails, Longer Peptides Boost Chemokines with Long Basic Tails. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031397. [PMID: 35163323 PMCID: PMC8836243 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The chemokine receptor CCR7 and its ligands CCL19 and CCL21 regulate the lymph node homing of dendritic cells and naïve T-cells and the following induction of a motile DC-T cell priming state. Although CCL19 and CCL21 bind CCR7 with similar affinities, CCL21 is a weak agonist compared to CCL19. Using a chimeric chemokine, CCL19CCL21N-term|C-term, harboring the N-terminus and the C-terminus of CCL21 attached to the core domain of CCL19, we show that these parts of CCL21 act in a synergistic manner to lower ligand potency and determine the way CCL21 engages with CCR7. We have published that a naturally occurring basic C-terminal fragment of CCL21 (C21TP) boosts the signaling of both CCL19 and CCL21. Boosting occurs as a direct consequence of C21TP binding to the CCR7 N-terminus, which seems to free chemokines with basic C-termini from an unfavorable interaction with negatively charged posttranslational modifications in CCR7. Here, we confirm this using a CCL19-variant lacking the basic C-terminus. This variant displays a 22-fold higher potency at CCR7 compared to WT CCL19 and is highly unaffected by the presence of C21TP. WT CCL19 has a short basic C-terminus, CCL21 a longer one. Here, we propose a way to differentially boost CCL19 and CCL21 activity as short and long versions of C21TP boost CCL19 activity, whereas only a long C21TP version can boost chemokines with a full-length CCL21 C-terminus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Probst Brandum
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (E.P.B.); (A.S.J.); (K.S.); (M.M.R.); (C.K.G.)
| | - Astrid Sissel Jørgensen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (E.P.B.); (A.S.J.); (K.S.); (M.M.R.); (C.K.G.)
| | | | - Katja Spiess
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (E.P.B.); (A.S.J.); (K.S.); (M.M.R.); (C.K.G.)
- Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Francis C. Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (F.C.P.); (B.F.V.)
| | - Zhang Yang
- Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, University of Copenhagen, Noerregade 10, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Brian F. Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (F.C.P.); (B.F.V.)
| | | | - Mette Marie Rosenkilde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (E.P.B.); (A.S.J.); (K.S.); (M.M.R.); (C.K.G.)
| | - Christoffer Knak Goth
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (E.P.B.); (A.S.J.); (K.S.); (M.M.R.); (C.K.G.)
| | - Gertrud Malene Hjortø
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (E.P.B.); (A.S.J.); (K.S.); (M.M.R.); (C.K.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +45-29-869220
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11
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Identification and mechanism of G protein-biased ligands for chemokine receptor CCR1. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:264-271. [PMID: 34949837 PMCID: PMC8885419 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-021-00918-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Biased signaling of G protein-coupled receptors describes an ability of different ligands that preferentially activate an alternative downstream signaling pathway. In this work, we identified and characterized different N-terminal truncations of endogenous chemokine CCL15 as balanced or biased agonists targeting CCR1, and presented three cryogenic-electron microscopy structures of the CCR1-Gi complex in the ligand-free form or bound to different CCL15 truncations with a resolution of 2.6-2.9 Å, illustrating the structural basis of natural biased signaling that initiates an inflammation response. Complemented with pharmacological and computational studies, these structures revealed it was the conformational change of Tyr291 (Y2917.43) in CCR1 that triggered its polar network rearrangement in the orthosteric binding pocket and allosterically regulated the activation of β-arrestin signaling. Our structure of CCL15-bound CCR1 also exhibited a critical site for ligand binding distinct from many other chemokine-receptor complexes, providing new insights into the mode of chemokine recognition.
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12
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Leander RN, Wu Y, Ding W, Nelson DE, Sinkala Z. A model of the innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in the alveolar epithelium. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:210090. [PMID: 34430043 PMCID: PMC8355678 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
We present a differential equation model of the innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 within the alveolar epithelium. Critical determinants of the viral dynamics and host response, including type I and type II alveolar epithelial cells, interferons, chemokines, toxins and innate immune cells, are included. We estimate model parameters, compute the within-host basic reproductive number, and study the impacts of therapies, prophylactics, and host/pathogen variability on the course of the infection. Model simulations indicate that the innate immune response suppresses the infection and enables the alveolar epithelium to partially recover. While very robust antiviral therapy controls the infection and enables the epithelium to heal, moderate therapy is of limited benefit. Meanwhile interferon therapy is predicted to reduce viral load but exacerbate tissue damage. The deleterious effects of interferon therapy are especially apparent late in the infection. Individual variation in ACE2 expression, epithelial cell interferon production, and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding affinity are predicted to significantly impact prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. N. Leander
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro 37132-0002, USA
| | - Y. Wu
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro 37132-0002, USA
| | - W. Ding
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro 37132-0002, USA
| | - D. E. Nelson
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro 37132-0002, USA
| | - Z. Sinkala
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro 37132-0002, USA
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13
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Wang S, Foster SR, Sanchez J, Corcilius L, Larance M, Canals M, Stone MJ, Payne RJ. Glycosylation Regulates N-Terminal Proteolysis and Activity of the Chemokine CCL14. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:973-981. [PMID: 33988967 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chemokines are secreted proteins that regulate leukocyte migration during inflammatory responses by signaling through chemokine receptors. Full length CC chemokine ligand 14, CCL14(1-74), is a weak agonist for the chemokine receptor CCR1, but its activity is substantially enhanced upon proteolytic cleavage to CCL14(9-74). CCL14 is O-glycosylated at Ser7, adjacent to the site of proteolytic activation. To determine whether glycosylation regulates the activity of CCL14, we used native chemical ligation to prepare four homogeneously glycosylated variants of CCL14(1-74). Each protein was assembled from three synthetic peptide fragments in "one-pot" using two sequential ligation reactions. We show that while glycosylation of CCL14(1-74) did not affect CCR1 binding affinity or potency of activation, sialylated variants of CCL14(1-74) exhibited reduced activity after treatment with plasmin compared to nonsialylated forms. These data indicate that glycosylation may influence the biological activity of CCL14 by regulating its conversion from the full-length to the truncated, activated form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyao Wang
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Simon R. Foster
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Infection & Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Julie Sanchez
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Infection & Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Leo Corcilius
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mark Larance
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, U.K
| | - Martin J. Stone
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Richard J. Payne
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Aguilera-Durán G, Romo-Mancillas A. Behavior of Chemokine Receptor 6 (CXCR6) in Complex with CXCL16 Soluble form Chemokine by Molecular Dynamic Simulations: General Protein‒Ligand Interaction Model and 3D-QSAR Studies of Synthetic Antagonists. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11040346. [PMID: 33920834 PMCID: PMC8071165 DOI: 10.3390/life11040346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The CXCR6‒CXCL16 axis is involved in several pathological processes, and its overexpression has been detected in different types of cancer, such as prostate, breast, ovary, and lung cancer, along with schwannomas, in which it promotes invasion and metastasis. Moreover, this axis is involved in atherosclerosis, type 1 diabetes, primary immune thrombocytopenia, vitiligo, and other autoimmune diseases, in which it is responsible for the infiltration of different immune system cells. The 3D structure of CXCR6 and CXCL16 has not been experimentally resolved; therefore, homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations could be useful for the study of this signaling axis. In this work, a homology model of CXCR6 and a soluble form of CXCL16 (CXCR6‒CXCL16s) are reported to study the interactions between CXCR6 and CXCL16s through coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations. CG-MD simulations showed the two activation steps of CXCR6 through a decrease in the distance between the chemokine and the transmembrane region (TM) of CXCR6 and transmembrane rotational changes and polar interactions between transmembrane segments. The polar interactions between TM3, TM5, and TM6 are fundamental to functional conformation and the meta-active state of CXCR6. The interactions between D77-R280 and T243-TM7 could be related to the functional conformation of CXCR6; alternatively, the interaction between Q195-Q244 and N248 could be related to an inactive state due to the loss of this interaction, and an arginine cage broken in the presence of CXCL16s allows the meta-active state of CXCR6. A general protein‒ligand interaction supports the relevance of TM3‒TM5‒TM6 interactions, presenting three relevant pharmacophoric features: HAc (H-bond acceptor), HDn (H-bond donator), and Hph (hydrophobic), distributed around the space between extracellular loops (ECLs) and TMs. The HDn feature is close to TM3 and TM6; likewise, the HAc and Hph features are close to ECL1 and ECL2 and could block the rotation and interactions between TM3‒TM6 and the interactions of CXCL16s with the ECLs. Tridimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D-QSAR) models show that the positive steric (VdW) and electrostatic fields coincide with the steric and positive electrostatic region of the exo-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane scaffold in the best pIC50 ligands. This substructure is close to the E274 residue and therefore relevant to the activity of CXCR6. These data could help with the design of new molecules that inhibit chemokine binding or antagonize the receptor based on the activation mechanism of CXCR6 and provoke a decrease in chemotaxis caused by the CXCR6‒CXCL16 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanny Aguilera-Durán
- Posgrado en Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Querétaro 76010, Mexico;
- Laboratorio de Diseño Asistido por Computadora y Síntesis de Fármacos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
| | - Antonio Romo-Mancillas
- Laboratorio de Diseño Asistido por Computadora y Síntesis de Fármacos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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15
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Salem A, Alotaibi M, Mroueh R, Basheer HA, Afarinkia K. CCR7 as a therapeutic target in Cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1875:188499. [PMID: 33385485 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The CCR7 chemokine axis is comprised of chemokine ligand 21 (CCL21) and chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19) acting on chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7). This axis plays two important but apparently opposing roles in cancer. On the one hand, this axis is significantly engaged in the trafficking of a number of effecter cells involved in mounting an immune response to a growing tumour. This suggests therapeutic strategies which involve potentiation of this axis can be used to combat the spread of cancer. On the other hand, the CCR7 axis plays a significant role in controlling the migration of tumour cells towards the lymphatic system and metastasis and can thus contribute to the expansion of cancer. This implies that therapeutic strategies which involve decreasing signaling through the CCR7 axis would have a beneficial effect in preventing dissemination of cancer. This dichotomy has partly been the reason why this axis has not yet been exploited, as other chemokine axes have, as a therapeutic target in cancer. Recent report of a crystal structure for CCR7 provides opportunities to exploit this axis in developing new cancer therapies. However, it remains unclear which of these two strategies, potentiation or antagonism of the CCR7 axis, is more appropriate for cancer therapy. This review brings together the evidence supporting both roles of the CCR7 axis in cancer and examines the future potential of each of the two different therapeutic approaches involving the CCR7 axis in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwar Salem
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford; Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom
| | - Mashael Alotaibi
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford; Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom
| | - Rima Mroueh
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford; Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom
| | - Haneen A Basheer
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zarqa University, PO Box 132222, Zarqa 13132, Jordan
| | - Kamyar Afarinkia
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford; Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom.
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16
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Dumitru AC, Deepak RNVK, Liu H, Koehler M, Zhang C, Fan H, Alsteens D. Submolecular probing of the complement C5a receptor-ligand binding reveals a cooperative two-site binding mechanism. Commun Biol 2020; 3:786. [PMID: 33339958 PMCID: PMC7749166 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01518-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A current challenge to produce effective therapeutics is to accurately determine the location of the ligand-biding site and to characterize its properties. So far, the mechanisms underlying the functional activation of cell surface receptors by ligands with a complex binding mechanism remain poorly understood due to a lack of suitable nanoscopic methods to study them in their native environment. Here, we elucidated the ligand-binding mechanism of the human G protein-coupled C5a receptor (C5aR). We discovered for the first time a cooperativity between the two orthosteric binding sites. We found that the N-terminus C5aR serves as a kinetic trap, while the transmembrane domain acts as the functional site and both contributes to the overall high-affinity interaction. In particular, Asp282 plays a key role in ligand binding thermodynamics, as revealed by atomic force microscopy and steered molecular dynamics simulation. Our findings provide a new structural basis for the functional and mechanistic understanding of the GPCR family that binds large macromolecular ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andra C Dumitru
- Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - R N V Krishna Deepak
- Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Heng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Melanie Koehler
- Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Hao Fan
- Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
| | - David Alsteens
- Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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17
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Maxwell JW, Payne RJ. Revealing the functional roles of tyrosine sulfation using synthetic sulfopeptides and sulfoproteins. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2020; 58:72-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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18
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Aguilera-Durán G, Romo-Mancillas A. Computational Study of C-X-C Chemokine Receptor (CXCR)3 Binding with Its Natural Agonists Chemokine (C-X-C Motif) Ligand (CXCL)9, 10 and 11 and with Synthetic Antagonists: Insights of Receptor Activation towards Drug Design for Vitiligo. Molecules 2020; 25:E4413. [PMID: 32992956 PMCID: PMC7582348 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25194413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitiligo is a hypopigmentary skin pathology resulting from the death of melanocytes due to the activity of CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocytes and overexpression of chemokines. These include CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 and its receptor CXCR3, both in peripheral cells of the immune system and in the skin of patients diagnosed with vitiligo. The three-dimensional structure of CXCR3 and CXCL9 has not been reported experimentally; thus, homology modeling and molecular dynamics could be useful for the study of this chemotaxis-promoter axis. In this work, a homology model of CXCR3 and CXCL9 and the structure of the CXCR3/Gαi/0βγ complex with post-translational modifications of CXCR3 are reported for the study of the interaction of chemokines with CXCR3 through all-atom (AA-MD) and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations. AA-MD and CG-MD simulations showed the first activation step of the CXCR3 receptor with all chemokines and the second activation step in the CXCR3-CXCL10 complex through a decrease in the distance between the chemokine and the transmembrane region of CXCR3 and the separation of the βγ complex from the α subunit in the G-protein. Additionally, a general protein-ligand interaction model was calculated, based on known antagonists binding to CXCR3. These results contribute to understanding the activation mechanism of CXCR3 and the design of new molecules that inhibit chemokine binding or antagonize the receptor, provoking a decrease of chemotaxis caused by the CXCR3/chemokines axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanny Aguilera-Durán
- Posgrado en Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Querétaro 76010, Mexico;
- Laboratorio de Diseño Asistido por Computadora y Síntesis de Fármacos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
| | - Antonio Romo-Mancillas
- Laboratorio de Diseño Asistido por Computadora y Síntesis de Fármacos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
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19
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Bronger H, Magdolen V, Goettig P, Dreyer T. Proteolytic chemokine cleavage as a regulator of lymphocytic infiltration in solid tumors. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2020; 38:417-430. [PMID: 31482487 PMCID: PMC6890590 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-019-09807-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In the past decade, immune-based therapies such as monoclonal antibodies against tumor epitopes or immune checkpoint inhibitors have become an integral part of contemporary cancer treatment in many entities. However, a fundamental prerequisite for the success of such therapies is a sufficient trafficking of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes into the tumor microenvironment. This infiltration is facilitated by chemokines, a group of about 50 small proteins capable of chemotactically guiding leukocytes. Proteolytic inactivation of chemokines leading to an impaired infiltration of immune effector cells appears to be an efficient immune escape mechanism of solid cancers. The CXCR3 and CX3CR1 chemokine receptor ligands CXCL9-11 and CX3CL1, respectively, are mainly responsible for the tumor-suppressive lymphocytic infiltration into the tumor micromilieu. Their structure explains the biochemical basis of their proteolytic cleavage, while in vivo data from mouse models and patient samples shed light on the corresponding processes in cancer. The emerging roles of proteases, e.g., matrix metalloproteinases, cathepsins, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4, in chemokine inactivation define new resistance mechanisms against immunotherapies and identify attractive new targets to enhance immune intervention in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Bronger
- Clinical Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, D-81675, Munich, Germany.
| | - Viktor Magdolen
- Clinical Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, D-81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Goettig
- Division of Structural Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Tobias Dreyer
- Clinical Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, D-81675, Munich, Germany
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20
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Bhusal RP, Foster SR, Stone MJ. Structural basis of chemokine and receptor interactions: Key regulators of leukocyte recruitment in inflammatory responses. Protein Sci 2019; 29:420-432. [PMID: 31605402 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In response to infection or injury, the body mounts an inflammatory immune response in order to neutralize pathogens and promote tissue repair. The key effector cells for these responses are the leukocytes (white blood cells), which are specifically recruited to the site of injury. However, dysregulation of the inflammatory response, characterized by the excessive migration of leukocytes to the affected tissues, can also lead to chronic inflammatory diseases. Leukocyte recruitment is regulated by inflammatory mediators, including an important family of small secreted chemokines and their corresponding G protein-coupled receptors expressed in leukocytes. Unsurprisingly, due to their central role in the leukocyte inflammatory response, chemokines and their receptors have been intensely investigated and represent attractive drug targets. Nonetheless, the full therapeutic potential of chemokine receptors has not been realized, largely due to the complexities in the chemokine system. The determination of chemokine-receptor structures in recent years has dramatically shaped our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underpin chemokine signaling. In this review, we summarize the contemporary structural view of chemokine-receptor recognition, and describe the various binding modes of peptide and small-molecule ligands to chemokine receptors. We also provide some perspectives on the implications of these data for future research and therapeutic development. IMPORTANCE STATEMENT: Given their central role in the leukocyte inflammatory response, chemokines and their receptors are considered as important regulators of physiology and viable therapeutic targets. In this review, we provide a summary of the current understanding of chemokine: chemokine-receptor interactions that have been gained from structural studies, as well as their implications for future drug discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Prasad Bhusal
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon R Foster
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Martin J Stone
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Arimont M, Hoffmann C, de Graaf C, Leurs R. Chemokine Receptor Crystal Structures: What Can Be Learned from Them? Mol Pharmacol 2019; 96:765-777. [PMID: 31266800 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.117168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokine receptors belong to the class A of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and are implicated in a wide variety of physiologic functions, mostly related to the homeostasis of the immune system. Chemokine receptors are also involved in multiple pathologic processes, including immune and autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer. Hence, several members of this GPCR subfamily are considered to be very relevant therapeutic targets. Since drug discovery efforts can be significantly reinforced by the availability of crystal structures, substantial efforts in the area of chemokine receptor structural biology could dramatically increase the outcome of drug discovery campaigns. This short review summarizes the available data on chemokine receptor crystal structures, discusses the numerous applications from chemokine receptor structures that can enhance the daily work of molecular pharmacologists, and describes the challenges and pitfalls to consider when relying on crystal structures for further research applications. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This short review summarizes the available data on chemokine receptor crystal structures, discusses the numerous applications from chemokine receptor structures that can enhance the daily work of molecular pharmacologists, and describes the challenges and pitfalls to consider when relying on crystal structures for further research applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Arimont
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (M.A., R.L.); Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, Centre for Molecular Biomedicine, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany (C.H.); and Sosei Heptares, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.d.G.)
| | - Carsten Hoffmann
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (M.A., R.L.); Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, Centre for Molecular Biomedicine, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany (C.H.); and Sosei Heptares, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.d.G.)
| | - Chris de Graaf
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (M.A., R.L.); Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, Centre for Molecular Biomedicine, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany (C.H.); and Sosei Heptares, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.d.G.)
| | - Rob Leurs
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (M.A., R.L.); Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, Centre for Molecular Biomedicine, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany (C.H.); and Sosei Heptares, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.d.G.)
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22
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Sanchez J, Lane JR, Canals M, Stone MJ. Influence of Chemokine N-Terminal Modification on Biased Agonism at the Chemokine Receptor CCR1. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20102417. [PMID: 31096719 PMCID: PMC6566870 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20102417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Leukocyte migration, a hallmark of the inflammatory response, is stimulated by the interactions between chemokines, which are expressed in injured or infected tissues, and chemokine receptors, which are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) expressed in the leukocyte plasma membrane. One mechanism for the regulation of chemokine receptor signaling is biased agonism, the ability of different chemokine ligands to preferentially activate different intracellular signaling pathways via the same receptor. To identify features of chemokines that give rise to biased agonism, we studied the activation of the receptor CCR1 by the chemokines CCL7, CCL8, and CCL15(Δ26). We found that, compared to CCL15(Δ26), CCL7 and CCL8 exhibited biased agonism towards cAMP inhibition and away from β-Arrestin 2 recruitment. Moreover, N-terminal substitution of the CCL15(Δ26) N-terminus with that of CCL7 resulted in a chimera with similar biased agonism to CCL7. Similarly, N-terminal truncation of CCL15(Δ26) also resulted in signaling bias between cAMP inhibition and β-Arrestin 2 recruitment signals. These results show that the interactions of the chemokine N-terminal region with the receptor transmembrane region play a key role in selecting receptor conformations coupled to specific signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Sanchez
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - J Robert Lane
- Centre for Membrane Proteins and Receptors, Nottingham University, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Centre for Membrane Proteins and Receptors, Nottingham University, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Martin J Stone
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
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