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Mohammadi-Bardbori A, Shadboorestan A, Niknahad H, Noorafshan A, Fardid R, Nadimi E, Bakhtari A, Omidi M. Disrupting Development: Unraveling the Interplay of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) and Wnt/β-Catenin Pathways in Kidney Development Under the Influence of Environmental Pollutants. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024; 202:4482-4493. [PMID: 38117383 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-023-04009-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the intricate molecular mechanisms governing aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and Wnt/β-Catenin pathways crosstalk is of paramount importance for elucidating normal development. We investigated the repercussions of aberrant activation of these signaling pathways on kidney development. HEK-293 cells were subjected to AHR and Wnt activators and inhibitors for 3 and 24 h. Subsequently, pregnant adult female BALB/c mice were administered treatments at gestation day 9 (GD-9), and embryos were analyzed at GD-18 using a combination of cellular, molecular, stereological, and histopathological techniques. Our results demonstrated a noteworthy escalation in oxidative stress and gene expression endpoints associated with apoptosis. Moreover, stereological analyses exhibited alterations in cortex, proximal tubule, and kidney tissue vessels volumes. Remarkably, co-treatment with 6-formylindolo [3,2-b] carbazole (FICZ) and cadmium (Cd) resulted in a significant reduction in glomerulus volume, while elevating the volumes of distal tubule, Henle loop, and connective tissue, compared to the control group. Histopathological investigations further confirmed structural changes in the loop of Henle and proximal tubule, alongside a decline in glomerular volume. Additionally, the expression levels of AHR and Ctnnb1 genes significantly increased in the Cd-treated group compared to the control group. Enhanced expression of apoptosis-related genes, including Bcl-x, Bax, and Caspase3, along with alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome C release, was observed. In contrast, Gsk3 gene expression was significantly decreased. Our findings robustly establish that chemical pollutants, such as Cd, disrupt the AHR and Wnt/β-Catenin physiological roles during developmental stages by inhibiting the metabolic degradation of FICZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afshin Mohammadi-Bardbori
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Amir Shadboorestan
- Depertment of Toxicology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Niknahad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Noorafshan
- Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Departments of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Fardid
- Department of Radiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Elham Nadimi
- Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Azizollah Bakhtari
- Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Omidi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
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Guarnieri T. Light Sensing beyond Vision: Focusing on a Possible Role for the FICZ/AhR Complex in Skin Optotransduction. Cells 2024; 13:1082. [PMID: 38994936 PMCID: PMC11240502 DOI: 10.3390/cells13131082] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Although our skin is not the primary visual organ in humans, it acts as a light sensor, playing a significant role in maintaining our health and overall well-being. Thanks to the presence of a complex and sophisticated optotransduction system, the skin interacts with the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum and with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Following a brief overview describing the main photosensitive molecules that detect specific electromagnetic radiation and their associated cell pathways, we analyze their impact on physiological functions such as melanogenesis, immune response, circadian rhythms, and mood regulation. In this paper, we focus on 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), a photo oxidation derivative of the essential amino acid tryptophan (Trp). This molecule is the best endogenous agonist of the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR), an evolutionarily conserved transcription factor, traditionally recognized as a signal transducer of both exogenous and endogenous chemical signals. Increasing evidence indicates that AhR is also involved in light sensing within the skin, primarily due to its ligand FICZ, which acts as both a chromophore and a photosensitizer. The biochemical reactions triggered by their interaction impact diverse functions and convey crucial data to our body, thus adding a piece to the complex puzzle of pathways that allow us to decode and elaborate environmental stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Guarnieri
- Cell Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per le Applicazioni del Calcolo "Mauro Picone", Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Roma, Italy
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3
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Liao Z, Zeng X, Guo X, Shi Q, Tang Z, Li P, Chen C, Chen M, Chen J, Xu J, Cai Y. Targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor with FICZ regulates IL-2 and immune infiltration to alleviate Hashimoto's thyroiditis in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 973:176588. [PMID: 38621508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176588] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most frequent autoimmune disorder. Growing work points to the involvement of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor, in the regulation of immune homeostasis. However, the roles of AhR and its ligands in HT remains unclear. In this study, we leveraged public human database analyses to postulate that the AhR expression was predominantly in thyroid follicular cells, correlating significantly with the thyroid infiltration levels of multiple immune cells in HT patients. Using a thyroglobulin-induced HT mouse model and in vitro thyroid follicular epithelial cell cultures, we found a significant downregulation of AhR expression in thyrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, activating AhR by FICZ, a natural AhR ligand, mitigated inflammation and apoptosis in thyrocytes in vitro and conferred protection against HT in mice. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of thyroid tissues indicated that AhR activation moderated HT-associated immune or inflammatory signatures. Further, immunoinfiltration analysis indicated that AhR activation regulated immune cell infiltration in the thyroid of HT mice, such as suppressing cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration and promoting anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage polarization. Concomitantly, the expression levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), a lymphokine that downregulates immune responses, were typically decreased in HT but restored upon AhR activation. In silico validation substantiated the binding interaction between AhR and IL-2. In conclusion, targeting the AhR with FICZ regulates IL-2 and immune infiltration to alleviate experimental HT, shedding new light on the therapeutic intervention of this prevalent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengzheng Liao
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianzhong Zeng
- Department of Endocrinology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoling Guo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Shi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziyun Tang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuiyun Chen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengxia Chen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianrong Chen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jixiong Xu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yaojun Cai
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China.
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4
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Andersen ME, Barutcu AR, Black MB, Harrill JA. Transcriptomic analysis of AHR wildtype and Knock-out rat livers supports TCDD's role in AHR/ARNT-mediated circadian disruption and hepatotoxicity. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2024; 487:116956. [PMID: 38735589 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2024.116956] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Single, high doses of TCDD in rats are known to cause wasting, a progressive loss of 30 to 50% body weight and death within several weeks. To identify pathway perturbations at or near doses causing wasting, we examined differentially gene expression (DGE) and pathway enrichment in centrilobular (CL) and periportal (PP) regions of female rat livers following 6 dose levels of TCDD - 0, 3, 22, 100, 300, and 1000 ng/kg/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. At the higher doses, rats lost weight, had increased liver/body weight ratios and nearly complete cessation of liver cell proliferation, signs consistent with wasting. DGE curves were left shifted for the CL versus the PP regions. Canonical Phase I and Phase II genes were maximally increased at lower doses and remained elevated at all doses. At lower doses, ≤ 22 ng/kg/day in the CL and ≤ 100 ng/kg/day, upregulated genes showed transcription factor (TF) enrichment for AHR and ARNT. At the mid- and high-dose doses, there was a large number of downregulated genes and pathway enrichment for DEGs which showed downregulation of many cellular metabolism processes including those for steroids, fatty acid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism and citric acid cycle. There was significant TF enrichment of the hi-dose downregulated genes for RXR, ESR1, LXR, PPARalpha. At the highest dose, there was also pathway enrichment with upregulated genes for extracellular matrix organization, collagen formation, hemostasis and innate immune system. TCDD demonstrates most of its effects through binding the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) while the downregulation of metabolism genes at higher TCDD doses is known to be independent of AHR binding to DREs. Based on our results with DEG, we provide a hypothesis for wasting in which high doses of TCDD shift circadian processes away from the resting state, leading to greatly reduced synthesis of steroids and complex lipids needed for cell growth, and producing gene expression signals consistent with an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in hepatocytes.
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Lin X, Meng X, Lin J. The Role of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Psoriasis. J Cutan Med Surg 2024; 28:276-286. [PMID: 38497283 DOI: 10.1177/12034754241239050] [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] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of psoriasis is complex. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that can be bound and activated by structurally diverse ligands and plays an important role in a range of biological processes and in the pathogenesis of different diseases. Recently, the role of AhR in psoriasis has attracted attention. AhR has toxicological functions and physiological functions. The overexpression and activation of AhR induced by the environmental pollutant and exogenous AhR agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) can drive the development of psoriasis. This TCDD-mediated toxicological response disrupts the physiological functions of AhR resulting in skin barrier disorders and the release of inflammatory cytokines, 2 of the pivotal factors of psoriasis. In addition, highly upregulated kynureninase in psoriasis decreases endogenous AhR agonists, thereby weakening the physiological functions of AhR. Activating AhR physiological signalling should be useful in the treatment of psoriasis. Studies have demonstrated that physiological activation of AhR can dampen the severity of psoriasis. The oldest and effective treatment for psoriasis coal tar works by activating AhR, and both new anti-psoriasis drugs tapinarof and benvitimod are formulations of AhR agonist, supporting that activation of AhR can be used as a new strategy for the treatment of psoriasis. Preclinical and preliminary clinical studies have revealed the anti-psoriasis effects of a number of AhR agonists, providing potential candidates for the development of new drugs for the treatment of psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiran Lin
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xianmin Meng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Axia Women's Health, Oaks, PA, USA
| | - Jingrong Lin
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Liu B, Wang K, Yang L, Zheng J, Ma T, Zhang S, Huang L, Chen T, Guo Y, Cui Z, Zhang X, Chen J, Lu H. 6-formylindolo[3, 2-b]carbazole alters gut microbiota and prevents the progression of ankylosing spondylitis in mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 128:111562. [PMID: 38244515 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111562] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), is known as a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, there is evidence to suggest that gut microbiota disorders may be related to the occurrence and development of AS. Studies have shown that 6-formylindolo[3, 2-b]carbazole (FICZ) has the ability to modulate intestinal homeostasis and inhibit inflammatory responses. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the protective role of FICZ in treating AS and elucidate potential mechanisms. FICZ was administered to the proteoglycan (PG)-induced AS mice for 7 consecutive weeks. The effects of FICZ on AS mice were evaluated by the disease severity, intestinal histopathology, proinflammatory cytokine levels, and intestinal mucosal barrier function. The gut microbiota compositions were profiled through 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. We found that FICZ significantly reduced the severity of AS and resulted in the downregulating of TNF-α and IL-17A inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, FICZ ameliorated pathological changes in the ileal and improved intestinal mucosal barrier function. Furthermore, FICZ altered the composition of the gut microbiota by increasing the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes phylum ratio and enriched the genes related to "glycan biosynthesis and metabolism", thus reversing the process of AS. In conclusion, FICZ suppressed the progression of AS and altered gut microbiota in AS mice, which provided new insight into AS therapy strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China.
| | - Lianjun Yang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Junchi Zheng
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongshan Torch Development Zone People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong 528437, China; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Hospital of Guangdong Province, Academy of Orthopedics of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Biobank, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Shiyanjin Zhang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Lihua Huang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Yuanqing Guo
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Zhifei Cui
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Xueling Zhang
- Department of Child Healthcare, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Junquan Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China.
| | - Hai Lu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China.
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7
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Pacheco JHL, Elizondo G. Interplay between Estrogen, Kynurenine, and AHR Pathways: An immunosuppressive axis with therapeutic potential for breast cancer treatment. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 217:115804. [PMID: 37716620 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115804] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women worldwide. Estrogen exposure via endogenous and exogenous sources during a lifetime, together with environmental exposure to estrogenic compounds, represent the most significant risk factor for breast cancer development. As breast tumors establish, multiple pathways are deregulated. Among them is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling pathway. AHR, a ligand-activated transcription factor associated with the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and estrogens, is overexpressed in breast cancer. Furthermore, AHR and estrogen receptor (ER) cross-talk pathways have been observed. Additionally, the Tryptophan (Trp) catabolizing enzymes indolamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) are overexpressed in breast cancer. IDO/TDO catalyzes the formation of Kynurenine (KYN) and other tryptophan-derived metabolites, which are ligands of AHR. Once KYN activates AHR, it stimulates the expression of the IDO enzyme, increases the level of KYN, and activates non-canonical pathways to control inflammation and immunosuppression in breast tumors. The interplay between E2, AHR, and IDO/TDO/KYN pathways and their impact on the immune system represents an immunosuppressive axis on breast cancer. The potential modulation of the immunosuppressive E2-AHR-IDO/TDO/KYN axis has aroused great expectations in oncotherapy. The present article will review the mechanisms implicated in generating the immunosuppressive axis E2-AHR-IDO/TDO/KYN in breast cancer and the current state of knowledge as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guillermo Elizondo
- Departamento de Biología Celular, CINVESTAV-IPN, Av. IPN 2508, C.P. 07360 Ciudad de México, México.
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Chatterjee D, Zhang Y, Ngassaki-Yoka CD, Dutilleul A, Khalfi S, Hernalsteens O, Wiche Salinas TR, Dias J, Chen H, Smail Y, Goulet JP, Bell B, Routy JP, Van Lint C, Ancuta P. Identification of aryl hydrocarbon receptor as a barrier to HIV-1 infection and outgrowth in CD4 + T cells. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112634. [PMID: 37310858 PMCID: PMC10592455 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) regulates Th17-polarized CD4+ T cell functions, but its role in HIV-1 replication/outgrowth remains unknown. Genetic (CRISPR-Cas9) and pharmacological inhibition reveal AhR as a barrier to HIV-1 replication in T cell receptor (TCR)-activated CD4+ T cells in vitro. In single-round vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-G-pseudotyped HIV-1 infection, AhR blockade increases the efficacy of early/late reverse transcription and subsequently facilitated integration/translation. Moreover, AhR blockade boosts viral outgrowth in CD4+ T cells of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Finally, RNA sequencing reveals genes/pathways downregulated by AhR blockade in CD4+ T cells of ART-treated PLWH, including HIV-1 interactors and gut-homing molecules with AhR-responsive elements in their promoters. Among them, HIC1, a repressor of Tat-mediated HIV-1 transcription and a tissue-residency master regulator, is identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation as a direct AhR target. Thus, AhR governs a T cell transcriptional program controlling viral replication/outgrowth and tissue residency/recirculation, supporting the use of AhR inhibitors in "shock and kill" HIV-1 remission/cure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashree Chatterjee
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Yuwei Zhang
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Christ-Dominique Ngassaki-Yoka
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Antoine Dutilleul
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Soumia Khalfi
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Olivier Hernalsteens
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Tomas Raul Wiche Salinas
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jonathan Dias
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Huicheng Chen
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Yasmine Smail
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | | | - Brendan Bell
- Département de Microbiologie et Infectiologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé and Centre de recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Routy
- Division of Hematology and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H3H 2R9, Canada; Infectious Disease and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H3H 2R9, Canada
| | - Carine Van Lint
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041 Gosselies, Belgium.
| | - Petronela Ancuta
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest & The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania.
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9
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Chen Y, Wang Y, Fu Y, Yin Y, Xu K. Modulating AHR function offers exciting therapeutic potential in gut immunity and inflammation. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:85. [PMID: 37179416 PMCID: PMC10182712 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01046-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a classical exogenous synthetic ligand of AHR that has significant immunotoxic effects. Activation of AHR has beneficial effects on intestinal immune responses, but inactivation or overactivation of AHR can lead to intestinal immune dysregulation and even intestinal diseases. Sustained potent activation of AHR by TCDD results in impairment of the intestinal epithelial barrier. However, currently, AHR research has been more focused on elucidating physiologic AHR function than on dioxin toxicity. The appropriate level of AHR activation plays a role in maintaining gut health and protecting against intestinal inflammation. Therefore, AHR offers a crucial target to modulate intestinal immunity and inflammation. Herein, we summarize our current understanding of the relationship between AHR and intestinal immunity, the ways in which AHR affects intestinal immunity and inflammation, the effects of AHR activity on intestinal immunity and inflammation, and the effect of dietary habits on intestinal health through AHR. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic role of AHR in maintaining gut homeostasis and relieving inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Yadong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Yawei Fu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Yulong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Kang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China.
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Haduch A, Bromek E, Kuban W, Daniel WA. The Engagement of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Tryptophan Metabolism. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13050629. [PMID: 37233670 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13050629] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan is metabolized along three main metabolic pathways, namely the kynurenine, serotonin and indole pathways. The majority of tryptophan is transformed via the kynurenine pathway, catalyzed by tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase or indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase, leading to neuroprotective kynurenic acid or neurotoxic quinolinic acid. Serotonin synthesized by tryptophan hydroxylase, and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase enters the metabolic cycle: serotonin → N-acetylserotonin → melatonin → 5-methoxytryptamine→serotonin. Recent studies indicate that serotonin can also be synthesized by cytochrome P450 (CYP), via the CYP2D6-mediated 5-methoxytryptamine O-demethylation, while melatonin is catabolized by CYP1A2, CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 via aromatic 6-hydroxylation and by CYP2C19 and CYP1A2 via O-demethylation. In gut microbes, tryptophan is metabolized to indole and indole derivatives. Some of those metabolites act as activators or inhibitors of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, thus regulating the expression of CYP1 family enzymes, xenobiotic metabolism and tumorigenesis. The indole formed in this way is further oxidized to indoxyl and indigoid pigments by CYP2A6, CYP2C19 and CYP2E1. The products of gut-microbial tryptophan metabolism can also inhibit the steroid-hormone-synthesizing CYP11A1. In plants, CYP79B2 and CYP79B3 were found to catalyze N-hydroxylation of tryptophan to form indole-3-acetaldoxime while CYP83B1 was reported to form indole-3-acetaldoxime N-oxide in the biosynthetic pathway of indole glucosinolates, considered to be defense compounds and intermediates in the biosynthesis of phytohormones. Thus, cytochrome P450 is engaged in the metabolism of tryptophan and its indole derivatives in humans, animals, plants and microbes, producing biologically active metabolites which exert positive or negative actions on living organisms. Some tryptophan-derived metabolites may influence cytochrome P450 expression, affecting cellular homeostasis and xenobiotic metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Haduch
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Ewa Bromek
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Wojciech Kuban
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Władysława Anna Daniel
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
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11
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Sadeghi Shermeh A, Royzman D, Kuhnt C, Draßner C, Stich L, Steinkasserer A, Knippertz I, Wild AB. Differential Modulation of Dendritic Cell Biology by Endogenous and Exogenous Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ligands. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097801. [PMID: 37175508 PMCID: PMC10177790 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097801] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a decisive regulatory ligand-dependent transcription factor. It binds highly diverse ligands, which can be categorized as either endogenous or exogenous. Ligand binding activates AhR, which can adjust inflammatory responses by modulating immune cells such as dendritic cells (DCs). However, how different AhR ligand classes impact the phenotype and function of human monocyte-derived DCs (hMoDCs) has not been extensively studied in a comparative manner. We, therefore, tested the effect of the representative compounds Benzo(a)pyrene (BP), 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), and Indoxyl 3-sulfate (I3S) on DC biology. Thereby, we reveal that BP significantly induces a tolerogenic response in lipopolysaccharide-matured DCs, which is not apparent to the same extent when using FICZ or I3S. While all three ligand classes activate AhR-dependent pathways, BP especially induces the expression of negative immune regulators, and subsequently strongly subverts the T cell stimulatory capacity of DCs. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 strategy we also prove that the regulatory effect of BP is strictly AhR-dependent. These findings imply that AhR ligands contribute differently to DC responses and incite further studies to uncover the mechanisms and molecules which are involved in the induction of different phenotypes and functions in DCs upon AhR activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atefeh Sadeghi Shermeh
- Department of Immune Modulation, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dmytro Royzman
- Department of Immune Modulation, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christine Kuhnt
- Department of Immune Modulation, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christina Draßner
- Department of Immune Modulation, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lena Stich
- Department of Immune Modulation, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexander Steinkasserer
- Department of Immune Modulation, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ilka Knippertz
- Department of Immune Modulation, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas B Wild
- Department of Immune Modulation, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
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Liu KY, Gao Y, Xiao W, Fu J, Huang S, Han X, Hsu SH, Xiao X, Huang SK, Zhou Y. Multidimensional Analysis of Lung Lymph Nodes in a Mouse Model of Allergic Lung Inflammation following PM2.5 and Indeno[1,2,3- cd]pyrene Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:37014. [PMID: 36975775 PMCID: PMC10044348 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) is suggested to act as an adjuvant for allergen-mediated sensitization and recent evidence suggests the importance of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in allergic diseases. However, the impact of PM2.5 exposure and its absorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) on Tfh cells and humoral immunity remains unknown. OBJECTIVES We aimed to explore the impact of environmental PM2.5 and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (IP), a prominent PAH, as a model, on Tfh cells and the subsequent pulmonary allergic responses. METHODS PM2.5- or IP-mediated remodeling of cellular composition in lung lymph nodes (LNs) was determined by mass cytometry in a house dust mite (HDM)-induced mouse allergic lung inflammation model. The differentiation and function of Tfh cells in vitro were analyzed by flow cytometry, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunoprecipitation, and western blot analyses. RESULTS Mice exposed to PM2.5 during the HDM sensitization period demonstrated immune cell population shifts in lung LNs as compared with those sensitized with HDM alone, with a greater number of differentiated Tfh2 cells, enhanced allergen-induced immunoglobulin E (IgE) response and pulmonary inflammation. Similarly enhanced phenotypes were also found in mice exposed to IP and sensitized with HDM. Further, IP administration was found to induce interleukin-21 (Il21) and Il4 expression and enhance Tfh2 cell differentiation in vitro, a finding which was abrogated in aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-deficient CD4+ T cells. Moreover, we showed that IP exposure increased the interaction of AhR and cellular musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma (c-Maf) and its occupancy on the Il21 and Il4 promoters in differentiated Tfh2 cells. DISCUSSION These findings suggest that the PM2.5 (IP)-AhR-c-Maf axis in Tfh2 cells was important in allergen sensitization and lung inflammation, thus adding a new dimension in the understanding of Tfh2 cell differentiation and function and providing a basis for establishing the environment-disease causal relationship. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11580.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwei-Yan Liu
- Department of Respirology & Allergy, Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yajing Gao
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenfeng Xiao
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinrong Fu
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of General Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Saihua Huang
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Han
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shih-Hsien Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Xiaojun Xiao
- Institute of Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shau-Ku Huang
- Department of Respirology & Allergy, Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yufeng Zhou
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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13
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Shi Y, Xiao Y, Yu J, Liu J, Liu L, Ding Y, Qiu X, Zhan Y, Tang R, Zeng Z, Xiao R. UVA1 irradiation attenuates collagen production via Ficz/AhR/MAPK signaling activation in scleroderma. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 116:109764. [PMID: 36706594 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109764] [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: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease mainly characterized by progressive fibrosis of the skin. There are two types of scleroderma, namely localized scleroderma (LS) and systemic sclerosis (SSc); skin lesions in both types of scleroderma are histologically identical. Progressive skin sclerosis induces psychological and ecological burden for scleroderma patients. However, there is no effective treatment for scleroderma due to its unclear etiology. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is recognized as an environmental chemical effector that can respond to ultraviolet radiation, which has been demonstrated to participate in the pathogenesis of SSc in our previous study. In this study, we verify whether the anti-fibrosis effect of ultraviolet A1 (UVA1) phototherapy could be partially induced through Ficz/AhR/MAPK signaling activation for fibrotic lesions in both SSc and LS patients. This is the first study to show the association between the AhR pathway and the anti-fibrotic mechanism of UVA1 phototherapy, which provides additional evidence of the role of AhR in the fibrotic mechanism of systemic scleroderma from different perspectives. Ficz and other AhR agonists may replace UVA1 phototherapy as anti-fibrotic agents in scleroderma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqian Shi
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Yangfan Xiao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Jiangfan Yu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Jiani Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Licong Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Dermatology, Hainan Provincial Hospital of Skin Disease, Haikou, Hainan 570100, China
| | - Xiangning Qiu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Yi Zhan
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Rui Tang
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, China
| | - Zhuotong Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
| | - Rong Xiao
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
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14
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Salminen A. Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in Alzheimer's disease: role of tryptophan metabolites generated by gut host-microbiota. J Mol Med (Berl) 2023; 101:201-222. [PMID: 36757399 PMCID: PMC10036442 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-023-02289-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbiota in interaction with intestinal host tissues influences many brain functions and microbial dysbiosis has been linked with brain disorders, such as neuropsychiatric conditions and Alzheimer's disease (AD). L-tryptophan metabolites and short-chained fatty acids (SCFA) are major messengers in the microbiota-brain axis. Aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhR) are main targets of tryptophan metabolites in brain microvessels which possess an enriched expression of AhR protein. The Ah receptor is an evolutionarily conserved, ligand-activated transcription factor which is not only a sensor of xenobiotic toxins but also a pleiotropic regulator of both developmental processes and age-related tissue degeneration. Major microbiota-produced tryptophan metabolites involve indole derivatives, e.g., indole 3-pyruvic acid, indole 3-acetaldehyde, and indoxyl sulfate, whereas indoleamine and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenases (IDO/TDO) of intestine host cells activate the kynurenine (KYN) pathway generating KYN metabolites, many of which are activators of AhR signaling. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the serum level of indoxyl sulfate which promotes AD pathogenesis, e.g., it disrupts integrity of blood-brain barrier (BBB) and impairs cognitive functions. Activation of AhR signaling disturbs vascular homeostasis in brain; (i) it controls blood flow via the renin-angiotensin system, (ii) it inactivates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), thus impairing NO production and vasodilatation, and (iii) it induces oxidative stress, stimulates inflammation, promotes cellular senescence, and enhances calcification of vascular walls. All these alterations are evident in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in AD pathology. Moreover, AhR signaling can disturb circadian regulation and probably affect glymphatic flow. It seems plausible that dysbiosis of gut microbiota impairs the integrity of BBB via the activation of AhR signaling and thus aggravates AD pathology. KEY MESSAGES: Dysbiosis of gut microbiota is associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Tryptophan metabolites are major messengers from the gut host-microbiota to brain. Tryptophan metabolites activate aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling in brain. The expression of AhR protein is enriched in brain microvessels and blood-brain barrier. Tryptophan metabolites disturb brain vascular integrity via AhR signaling. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota promotes inflammation and AD pathology via AhR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antero Salminen
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio, 70211, Finland.
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15
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Huang Q, Zang X, Zhang Z, Yu H, Ding B, Li Z, Cheng S, Zhang X, Ali MRK, Qiu X, Lv Z. Study on endogenous inhibitors against PD-L1: cAMP as a potential candidate. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 230:123266. [PMID: 36646351 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123266] [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: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of new anti-cancer drugs targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway has been a research hotspot in recent years. In this study, biological affinity ultrafiltration (BAU), UPLC-HRMS, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and molecular docking methods were applied to search for endogenous active compounds that can inhibit the binding of PD-L1 to PD-1. We screened dozens of potential cancer related endogenous compounds. Surprisingly, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was found to have a direct inhibitory effect on the PD-1/PD-L1 binding with an in vitro IC50 value of about 36.4 ± 9.3 μM determined by homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay. cAMP could recover the proliferation of Jurkat T cells co-cultured with DU-145 cells and may suppress PD-L1 expression of DU-145 cells. cAMP was demonstrated to bind and induce PD-L1 dimerization by FRET assay, and also predicted by MD simulations and molecular docking. The finding of cAMP as a potential inhibitor directly targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction could advance our understanding of the activity of endogenous compounds regulating PD-L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyang Huang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, PR China
| | - Xiaoling Zang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, PR China; Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Biological Products, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266235, PR China.
| | - Zhiwei Zhang
- College of Physics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Hang Yu
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, PR China
| | - Baoyan Ding
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, PR China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Li
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, PR China
| | - Simin Cheng
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, PR China
| | - Xin Zhang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, PR China
| | - Mustafa R K Ali
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xue Qiu
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, PR China; Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Biological Products, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266235, PR China
| | - Zhihua Lv
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, PR China; Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Biological Products, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266235, PR China.
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16
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Lai W, Huang Z, Li S, Li XG, Luo D. Kynurenine pathway metabolites modulated the comorbidity of IBD and depressive symptoms through the immune response. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 117:109840. [PMID: 36827928 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is defined as chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Notably, more than 20% of people with IBD experience depressive symptoms. Understanding the immunological mechanism of chronic intestinal inflammation on cognitive behavior has become a key research focus. Previous studies have shown that a dysregulated immune response contributes to chronic inflammation and depressive symptoms. The tolerant phenotype exhibited by immune cells regulates the course of chronic inflammation in distinct ways. In addition, neuroglia, such as microglia and astrocytes specific to the brain, are also influenced by deregulated inflammation to mediate the development of depressive symptoms. The kynurenine pathway (KP), a significant tryptophan metabolic pathway, transforms tryptophan into a series of KP metabolites that modulate chronic inflammation and depressive symptoms. In particular, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), a rate-limiting enzyme in the KP, is activated by chronic inflammation and leads to the production of kynurenine. In addition, disruption of the brain-gut axis induced by IBD allows kynurenine to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and form a series of neuroactive kynurenine metabolites in glial cells. Among them, quinolinic acid continuously accumulates in the brain, indicating depression. Thus, KP metabolites are critical for driving the comorbidity of IBD and depressive symptoms. In this review, the pathological mechanism of KP metabolite-mediated chronic intestinal inflammation and depressive symptoms by regulating the immune response is summarized according to the latest reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiming Lai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ziheng Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Sheng Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Xiang-Guang Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Ding Luo
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, China.
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17
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D'Addabbo P, Frezza D, Sulentic CE. Evolutive emergence and divergence of an Ig regulatory node: An environmental sensor getting cues from the aryl hydrocarbon receptor? Front Immunol 2023; 14:996119. [PMID: 36817426 PMCID: PMC9936319 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.996119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
One gene, the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene, is responsible for the expression of all the different antibody isotypes. Transcriptional regulation of the IgH gene is complex and involves several regulatory elements including a large element at the 3' end of the IgH gene locus (3'RR). Animal models have demonstrated an essential role of the 3'RR in the ability of B cells to express high affinity antibodies and to express different antibody classes. Additionally, environmental chemicals such as aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands modulate mouse 3'RR activity that mirrors the effects of these chemicals on antibody production and immunocompetence in mouse models. Although first discovered as a mediator of the toxicity induced by the high affinity ligand 2,3,7,8-tetracholordibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin), understanding of the AhR has expanded to a physiological role in preserving homeostasis and maintaining immunocompetence. We posit that the AhR also plays a role in human antibody production and that the 3'RR is not only an IgH regulatory node but also an environmental sensor receiving signals through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, including the AhR. This review will 1) highlight the emerging role of the AhR as a key transducer between environmental signals and altered immune function; 2) examine the current state of knowledge regarding IgH gene regulation and the role of the AhR in modulation of Ig production; 3) describe the evolution of the IgH gene that resulted in species and population differences; and 4) explore the evidence supporting the environmental sensing capacity of the 3'RR and the AhR as a transducer of these cues. This review will also underscore the need for studies focused on human models due to the premise that understanding genetic differences in the human population and the signaling pathways that converge at the 3'RR will provide valuable insight into individual sensitivities to environmental factors and antibody-mediated disease conditions, including emerging infections such as SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro D'Addabbo
- Department of Biology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Domenico Frezza
- Department of Biology E. Calef, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Courtney E.W. Sulentic
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, United States
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18
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Peng G, Sinkko HM, Alenius H, Lozano N, Kostarelos K, Bräutigam L, Fadeel B. Graphene oxide elicits microbiome-dependent type 2 immune responses via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 18:42-48. [PMID: 36509925 PMCID: PMC9879769 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-022-01260-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The gut microbiome produces metabolites that interact with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a key regulator of immune homoeostasis in the gut1,2. Here we show that oral exposure to graphene oxide (GO) modulates the composition of the gut microbiome in adult zebrafish, with significant differences in wild-type versus ahr2-deficient animals. Furthermore, GO was found to elicit AhR-dependent induction of cyp1a and homing of lck+ cells to the gut in germ-free zebrafish larvae when combined with the short-chain fatty acid butyrate. To obtain further insights into the immune responses to GO, we used single-cell RNA sequencing to profile cells from whole germ-free embryos as well as cells enriched for lck. These studies provided evidence for the existence of innate lymphoid cell (ILC)-like cells3 in germ-free zebrafish. Moreover, GO endowed with a 'corona' of microbial butyrate triggered the induction of ILC2-like cells with attributes of regulatory cells. Taken together, this study shows that a nanomaterial can influence the crosstalk between the microbiome and immune system in an AhR-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guotao Peng
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanna M Sinkko
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Human Microbiome Research Program (HUMI), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Harri Alenius
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Human Microbiome Research Program (HUMI), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Neus Lozano
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), Bellaterra, Spain
- National Graphene Institute, and Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Lars Bräutigam
- Comparative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bengt Fadeel
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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19
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Skóra B, Matuszewska P, Masicz M, Sikora K, Słomczewska M, Sołtysek P, Szychowski KA. Crosstalk between the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) as a key factor in the metabolism of silver nanoparticles in neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells in vitro. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 458:116339. [PMID: 36473513 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116339] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The potential usefulness of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in anticancer therapy has been postulated for many years. However, little is known to date about the exact impact of such NPs on intracellular detoxication pathways. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of AgNPs on the AhR-PPARγ-CYP1A1 pathway in neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells. The obtained results showed a decrease in the metabolic activity of the SH-SY5Y cells at the 50 and 100 μg/mL concentrations with an increase in caspase-3 activity. An increase in the intercellular ROS production was observed at the 1 and 10 μg/mL concentrations. The co-treatment of the AgNP-treated cells with the AhR and PPARγ inhibitors abolished the effect of the tested AgNPs in the SH-SY5Y cells. In turn, the CYP1A1 activity assay showed a decrease in this parameter in the AgNP-treated cells. Moreover, the gene expression analysis demonstrated that AgNPs were able to increase the AhR and CYP1A1 mRNA expression and decrease the PPARγ gene expression after the 6-h treatment. In turn, an increase in the AhR and PPARγ protein expression was observed after 24 h. Summarizing, the study shows for the first time that AgNPs with a 5-nm diameter size are able to exert a cytotoxic effect on SH-SH5Y cells in a ROS-dependent manner affect the AhR-PPARγ-CYP1A1 pathway inter alia by inhibiting the activity of CYP1A1. This is important due to given present research approaches using such NPs as enhancer agents in the modern PPARγ inhibitor-based anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Skóra
- Department of Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Medical College, University of Information Technology and Management, St. Sucharskiego 2, 35-225 Rzeszow, Poland.
| | - Paulina Matuszewska
- Medical Biotechnology Student's Science Group "Helisa", Medical College, University of Information Technology and Management, St. Sucharskiego 2, 35-225 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Martyna Masicz
- Medical Biotechnology Student's Science Group "Helisa", Medical College, University of Information Technology and Management, St. Sucharskiego 2, 35-225 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Karolina Sikora
- Medical Biotechnology Student's Science Group "Helisa", Medical College, University of Information Technology and Management, St. Sucharskiego 2, 35-225 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Magnolia Słomczewska
- Medical Biotechnology Student's Science Group "Helisa", Medical College, University of Information Technology and Management, St. Sucharskiego 2, 35-225 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Paulina Sołtysek
- Medical Biotechnology Student's Science Group "Helisa", Medical College, University of Information Technology and Management, St. Sucharskiego 2, 35-225 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Konrad A Szychowski
- Department of Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Medical College, University of Information Technology and Management, St. Sucharskiego 2, 35-225 Rzeszow, Poland
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20
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Perez-Castro L, Garcia R, Venkateswaran N, Barnes S, Conacci-Sorrell M. Tryptophan and its metabolites in normal physiology and cancer etiology. FEBS J 2023; 290:7-27. [PMID: 34687129 PMCID: PMC9883803 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Within the growing field of amino acid metabolism, tryptophan (Trp) catabolism is an area of increasing interest. Trp is essential for protein synthesis, and its metabolism gives rise to biologically active catabolites including serotonin and numerous metabolites in the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway. In normal tissues, the production of Trp metabolites is directly regulated by the tissue-specific expression of Trp-metabolizing enzymes. Alterations of these enzymes in cancers can shift the balance and lead to an increased production of specific byproducts that can function as oncometabolites. For example, increased expression of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, which converts Trp into Kyn, leads to an increase in Kyn levels in numerous cancers. Kyn functions as an oncometabolite in cancer cells by promoting the activity of the transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor, which regulates progrowth genes. Moreover, Kyn also inhibits T-cell activity and thus allows cancer cells to evade clearance by the immune system. Therefore, targeting the Kyn pathway has become a therapeutic focus as a novel means to abrogate tumor growth and immune resistance. This review summarizes the biological role and regulation of Trp metabolism and its catabolites with an emphasis on tumor cell growth and immune evasion and outlines areas for future research focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizbeth Perez-Castro
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Roy Garcia
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Niranjan Venkateswaran
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Spencer Barnes
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maralice Conacci-Sorrell
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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21
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Eriksson ANM, Rigaud C, Wincent E, Pakkanen H, Salonen P, Vehniäinen ER. Endogenous AhR agonist FICZ accumulates in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) alevins exposed to a mixture of two PAHs, retene and fluoranthene. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:1382-1389. [PMID: 36219374 PMCID: PMC9652237 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-022-02593-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Multiple studies have reported synergized toxicity of PAH mixtures in developing fish larvae relative to the additive effect of the components. From a toxicological perspective, multiple mechanisms are known to contribute to synergism, such as altered toxicodynamics and kinetics, as well as increased oxidative stress. An understudied contributor to synergism is the accumulation of endogenous metabolites, for example: the aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2 (AhR2) agonist and tryptophan metabolite 6-Formylindolo(3,2-b)carbazole (FICZ). Fish larvae exposed to FICZ, alongside knock-down of cytochrome p450 (cyp1a), has been reported to induced symptoms of toxicity similar to those observed following exposure to PAHs or the dioxin 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Here, we explored if FICZ accumulates in newly hatched rainbow trout alevins (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to two PAHs with different properties: retene (potent AhR2 agonist) and fluoranthene (weak AhR2 agonist and Cyp1a inhibitor), either alone or as a binary mixture for 3 and 7 days. We found that exposure to the mixture resulted in accumulation of endogenous FICZ, synergized the blue sac disease index (BSD), and altered the body burden profiles of the PAHs, when compared to the alevins exposed to the individual components. It is thus very plausible that accumulation of endogenously derived FICZ contributed to the synergized BSD index and toxicity in exposed alevins. Accumulation of endogenously derived FICZ is a novel finding that extends our general understanding on PAHs toxicity in developing fish larvae, while at the same time highlighting why environmental risk assessment of PAHs should not be based solely results from the assessment of individual compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas N M Eriksson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Cyril Rigaud
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Emma Wincent
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannu Pakkanen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Pihla Salonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Eeva-Riikka Vehniäinen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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22
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Wang W, Xiang T, Yang Y, Wang Z, Xie J. E3 ubiquitin ligases STUB1/CHIP contributes to the Th17/Treg imbalance via the ubiquitination of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Immunol 2022; 209:280-290. [PMID: 35943876 PMCID: PMC9521662 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxac072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
STIP1-homologous U-Box containing protein 1 (STUB1) is involved in the development of immune pathologies and the regulation of T cell. However, the potential role of STUB1 in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially in the regulation of T cells, remains elusive. Here we show that STUB1 promotes the imbalance of Th17/Treg cells through non-degradative ubiquitination of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Using Western blot and flow cytometry analysis, we observe that the level of STUB1 was increased in RA patients compared with healthy controls. In particular, the expression of STUB1 protein was different in Th17 cells and Treg cells of RA patients. We also demonstrated that STUB1 facilitates Th17/Treg imbalance by up- or downregulating the expression of STUB1. In a subsequent series of in vitro experiments, we revealed that STUB1 promoted the imbalance of Th17 and Treg cells through non-degradative ubiquitination of AHR. Both knockdown of the AHR expression by siRNA and assays of CYP1A1 enzymatic activity by ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) supported this conclusion. Furthermore, we explored the ubiquitination sites of AHR responsible for STUB1-mediated ubiquitination and revealed that STUB1 promotes ubiquitination of AHR via K63 chains. Together, STUB1 may induce the imbalance of Th17/Treg cells via ubiquitination of AHR and serve as a potential therapeutic target for RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ting Xiang
- Department of Rheumatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yachen Yang
- Department of Rheumatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zitao Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianmin Xie
- Department of Rheumatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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23
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Yoda T, Tochitani T, Usui T, Kouchi M, Inada H, Hosaka T, Kanno Y, Miyawaki I, Yoshinari K. Involvement of the CYP1A1 inhibition-mediated activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in drug-induced hepatotoxicity. J Toxicol Sci 2022; 47:359-373. [PMID: 36047110 DOI: 10.2131/jts.47.359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Hepatotoxicity is one of the most common toxicities observed in non-clinical safety studies of drug candidates, and it is important to understand the hepatotoxicity mechanism to assess the risk of drug-induced liver injury in humans. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of hepatotoxicity caused by 2-[2-Methyl-1-(oxan-4-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl]-1,3-benzoxazole (DSP-0640), a drug candidate that showed hepatotoxicity characterized by centrilobular hypertrophy and vacuolation of hepatocytes in a 4-week oral repeated-dose toxicity study in male rats. In the liver of rats treated with DSP-0640, the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) target genes, including Cyp1a1, was upregulated. In in vitro reporter assays, however, DSP-0640 showed only minimal AHR-activating potency. Therefore, we investigated the possibility that DSP-0640 indirectly activated AHR by inhibiting the CYP1 enzyme-dependent clearance of endogenous AHR agonists. In in vitro assays, DSP-0640 showed inhibitory effects on both rat and human CYP1A1 and enhanced rat and human AHR-mediated reporter gene expression induced by 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole, a well-known endogenous AHR agonist. The possible involvement of CYP1A1 inhibition in AHR activation was also demonstrated with other hepatotoxic compounds tacrine and albendazole. These results suggest that CYP1A1 inhibition-mediated AHR activation is involved in the hepatotoxicity caused by DSP-0640 and that DSP-0640 might induce hepatotoxicity in humans as well. We propose that CYP1A1 inhibition-mediated AHR activation is a novel mechanism for drug-induced hepatotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomomi Yoda
- Preclinical Research Unit, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.,Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | | | - Toru Usui
- Preclinical Research Unit, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd
| | - Mami Kouchi
- Preclinical Research Unit, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd
| | | | - Takuomi Hosaka
- Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | - Yuichiro Kanno
- Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | | | - Kouichi Yoshinari
- Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka
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24
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Wu J, Pang T, Lin Z, Zhao M, Jin H. The key player in the pathogenesis of environmental influence of systemic lupus erythematosus: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Front Immunol 2022; 13:965941. [PMID: 36110860 PMCID: PMC9468923 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.965941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor was previously known as an environmental receptor that modulates the cellular response to external environmental changes. In essence, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor is a cytoplasmic receptor and transcription factor that is activated by binding to the corresponding ligands, and they transmit relevant information by binding to DNA, thereby activating the transcription of various genes. Therefore, we can understand the development of certain diseases and discover new therapeutic targets by studying the regulation and function of AhR. Several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), have been connected to AhR in previous studies. SLE is a classic autoimmune disease characterized by multi-organ damage and disruption of immune tolerance. We discuss here the homeostatic regulation of AhR and its ligands among various types of immune cells, pathophysiological roles, in addition to the roles of various related cytokines and signaling pathways in the occurrence and development of SLE.
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25
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Photoaging: UV radiation-induced inflammation and immunosuppression accelerate the aging process in the skin. Inflamm Res 2022; 71:817-831. [PMID: 35748903 PMCID: PMC9307547 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-022-01598-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Excessive exposure of the skin to UV radiation (UVR) triggers a remodeling of the immune system and leads to the photoaging state which is reminiscent of chronological aging. Over 30 years ago, it was observed that UVR induced an immunosuppressive state which inhibited skin contact hypersensitivity. Methods Original and review articles encompassing inflammation and immunosuppression in the photoaging and chronological aging processes were examined from major databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Results Currently it is known that UVR treatment can trigger a cellular senescence and inflammatory state in the skin. Chronic low-grade inflammation stimulates a counteracting immunosuppression involving an expansion of immunosuppressive cells, e.g., regulatory T cells (Treg), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), and regulatory dendritic cells (DCreg). This increased immunosuppressive activity not only suppresses the function of effector immune cells, a state called immunosenescence, but it also induces bystander degeneration of neighboring cells. Interestingly, the chronological aging process also involves an accumulation of pro-inflammatory senescent cells and signs of chronic low-grade inflammation, called inflammaging. There is also clear evidence that inflammaging is associated with an increase in anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities which promote immunosenescence. Conclusion It seems that photoaging and normal aging evoke similar processes driven by the remodeling of the immune system. However, it is likely that there are different molecular mechanisms inducing inflammation and immunosuppression in the accelerated photoaging and the chronological aging processes.
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26
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Kaplan BLF, Baglole CJ, Sulentic CEW. Editorial: Role of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Immune Modulation. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:941665. [PMID: 35800177 PMCID: PMC9253688 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.941665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara L. F. Kaplan
- Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, United States
| | | | - Courtney E. W. Sulentic
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Courtney E. W. Sulentic,
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27
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An Emerging Cross-Species Marker for Organismal Health: Tryptophan-Kynurenine Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116300. [PMID: 35682980 PMCID: PMC9181223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan (TRP) is an essential dietary amino acid that, unless otherwise committed to protein synthesis, undergoes metabolism via the Tryptophan-Kynurenine (TRP-KYN) pathway in vertebrate organisms. TRP and its metabolites have key roles in diverse physiological processes including cell growth and maintenance, immunity, disease states and the coordination of adaptive responses to environmental and dietary cues. Changes in TRP metabolism can alter the availability of TRP for protein and serotonin biosynthesis as well as alter levels of the immune-active KYN pathway metabolites. There is now considerable evidence which has shown that the TRP-KYN pathway can be influenced by various stressors including glucocorticoids (marker of chronic stress), infection, inflammation and oxidative stress, and environmental toxicants. While there is little known regarding the role of TRP metabolism following exposure to environmental contaminants, there is evidence of linkages between chemically induced metabolic perturbations and altered TRP enzymes and KYN metabolites. Moreover, the TRP-KYN pathway is conserved across vertebrate species and can be influenced by exposure to xenobiotics, therefore, understanding how this pathway is regulated may have broader implications for environmental and wildlife toxicology. The goal of this narrative review is to (1) identify key pathways affecting Trp-Kyn metabolism in vertebrates and (2) highlight consequences of altered tryptophan metabolism in mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish. We discuss current literature available across species, highlight gaps in the current state of knowledge, and further postulate that the kynurenine to tryptophan ratio can be used as a novel biomarker for assessing organismal and, more broadly, ecosystem health.
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28
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Harris KL, Thomson RES, Gumulya Y, Foley G, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Syed P, Janosik T, Sandinge AS, Andersson S, Jurva U, Bodén M, Gillam EMJ. Ancestral sequence reconstruction of a cytochrome P450 family involved in chemical defence reveals the functional evolution of a promiscuous, xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme in vertebrates. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6593376. [PMID: 35639613 PMCID: PMC9185370 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The cytochrome P450 family 1 enzymes (CYP1s) are a diverse family of hemoprotein monooxygenases, which metabolize many xenobiotics including numerous environmental carcinogens. However, their historical function and evolution remain largely unstudied. Here we investigate CYP1 evolution via the reconstruction and characterization of the vertebrate CYP1 ancestors. Younger ancestors and extant forms generally demonstrated higher activity toward typical CYP1 xenobiotic and steroid substrates than older ancestors, suggesting significant diversification away from the original CYP1 function. Caffeine metabolism appears to be a recently evolved trait of the CYP1A subfamily, observed in the mammalian CYP1A lineage, and may parallel the recent evolution of caffeine synthesis in multiple separate plant species. Likewise, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) was metabolized to a greater extent by certain younger ancestors and extant forms, suggesting that activity toward FICZ increased in specific CYP1 evolutionary branches, a process that may have occurred in parallel to the exploitation of land where UV-exposure was higher than in aquatic environments. As observed with previous reconstructions of P450 enzymes, thermostability correlated with evolutionary age; the oldest ancestor was up to 35 °C more thermostable than the extant forms, with a 10T50 (temperature at which 50% of the hemoprotein remains intact after 10 min) of 71 °C. This robustness may have facilitated evolutionary diversification of the CYP1s by buffering the destabilizing effects of mutations that conferred novel functions, a phenomenon which may also be useful in exploiting the catalytic versatility of these ancestral enzymes for commercial application as biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt L Harris
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072 Australia
| | - Raine E S Thomson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072 Australia
| | - Yosephine Gumulya
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072 Australia
| | - Gabriel Foley
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072 Australia
| | - Saskya E Carrera-Pacheco
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito 170147, Ecuador
| | - Parnayan Syed
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072 Australia
| | - Tomasz Janosik
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Division Bioeconomy and Health, Chemical Process and Pharmaceutical Development, Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Ann-Sofie Sandinge
- DMPK, Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Astrazeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Shalini Andersson
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Astrazeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ulrik Jurva
- DMPK, Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Astrazeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mikael Bodén
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072 Australia
| | - Elizabeth M J Gillam
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072 Australia
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Hammond CL, Roztocil E, Gupta V, Feldon SE, Woeller CF. More than Meets the Eye: The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor is an Environmental Sensor, Physiological Regulator and a Therapeutic Target in Ocular Disease. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:791082. [PMID: 35295218 PMCID: PMC8915869 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.791082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand activated transcription factor originally identified as an environmental sensor of xenobiotic chemicals. However, studies have revealed that the AHR regulates crucial aspects of cell growth and metabolism, development and the immune system. The importance of the AHR and AHR signaling in eye development, toxicology and disease is now being uncovered. The AHR is expressed in many ocular tissues including the retina, choroid, cornea and the orbit. A significant role for the AHR in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), autoimmune uveitis, and other ocular diseases has been identified. Ligands for the AHR are structurally diverse organic molecules from exogenous and endogenous sources. Natural AHR ligands include metabolites of tryptophan and byproducts of the microbiome. Xenobiotic AHR ligands include persistent environmental pollutants such as dioxins, benzo (a) pyrene [B (a) P] and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Pharmaceutical agents including the proton pump inhibitors, esomeprazole and lansoprazole, and the immunosuppressive drug, leflunomide, activate the AHR. In this review, we highlight the role of the AHR in the eye and discuss how AHR signaling is involved in responding to endogenous and environmental stimuli. We also present the emerging concept that the AHR is a promising therapeutic target for eye disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Collynn F. Woeller
- Flaum Eye Institute, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Collynn F. Woeller,
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Eriksson ANM, Rigaud C, Krasnov A, Wincent E, Vehniäinen ER. Exposure to retene, fluoranthene, and their binary mixture causes distinct transcriptomic and apical outcomes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) yolk sac alevins. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 244:106083. [PMID: 35085954 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely spread environmental contaminants which affect developing organisms. It is known that improper activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by some PAHs contributes to toxicity, while other PAHs can disrupt cellular membrane function. The exact downstream mechanisms of AhR activation remain unresolved, especially with regard to cardiotoxicity. By exposing newly hatched rainbow trout alevins (Oncorhynchus mykiss) semi-statically to retene (32 µg l-1; AhR agonist), fluoranthene (50 µg l-1; weak AhR agonist and CYP1a inhibitor) and their binary mixture for 1, 3, 7 and 14 days, we aimed to uncover novel mechanisms of cardiotoxicity using a targeted microarray approach. At the end of the exposure, standard length, yolk area, blue sac disease (BSD) index and PAH body burden were measured, while the hearts were prepared for microarray analysis. Each exposure produced a unique toxicity profile. We observed that retene and the mixture, but not fluoranthene, significantly reduced growth by Day 14 compared to the control, while exposure to the mixture increased the BSD-index significantly from Day 3 onward. Body burden profiles were PAH-specific and correlated well with the exposure-specific upregulations of genes encoding for phase I and II enzymes. Exposure to the mixture over-represented pathways related to growth, amino acid and xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress responses. Alevins exposed to the individual PAHs displayed over-represented pathways involved in receptor signaling: retene downregulated genes with a role in G-protein signaling, while fluoranthene upregulated those involved in GABA signaling. Furthermore, exposure to retene and fluoranthene altered the expression of genes encoding for proteins involved in calcium- and potassium ion channels, which suggests affected heart structure and function. This study provides deeper understanding of the complexity of PAH toxicity and the necessity of investigating PAHs as mixtures and not as individual components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas N M Eriksson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä FI-40014, Finland.
| | - Cyril Rigaud
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä FI-40014, Finland
| | - Aleksei Krasnov
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, Norwegian Institute of Food, Ås, Norway
| | - Emma Wincent
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eeva-Riikka Vehniäinen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä FI-40014, Finland
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Tryptophan Metabolites Regulate Neuropentraxin 1 Expression in Endothelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042369. [PMID: 35216489 PMCID: PMC8874566 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and in animal models of CKD, the transcription factor Aryl Hydrocabon Receptor (AhR) is overactivated. In addition to the canonical AhR targets constituting the AhR signature, numerous other genes are regulated by this factor. We identified neuronal pentraxin 1 (NPTX1) as a new AhR target. Belonging to the inflammatory protein family, NPTX1 seems of prime interest regarding the inflammatory state observed in CKD. Endothelial cells were exposed to tryptophan-derived toxins, indoxyl sulfate (IS) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The adenine mouse model of CKD was used to analyze NPTX1 expression in the burden of uremia. NPTX1 expression was quantified by RT-PCR and western blot. AhR involvement was analyzed using silencing RNA. We found that IS and IAA upregulated NPTX1 expression in an AhR-dependent way. Furthermore, this effect was not restricted to uremic indolic toxins since the dioxin 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and the tryptophan photoproduct 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) do the same. In CKD mice, NPTX1 expression was increased in the aorta. Therefore, NPTX1 is a new target of AhR and further work is necessary to elucidate its exact role during CKD.
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Deshaies M, Lamari N, Ng CKY, Ward P, Doohan FM. The impact of chitosan on the early metabolomic response of wheat to infection by Fusarium graminearum. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:73. [PMID: 35183130 PMCID: PMC8857839 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03451-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chitosan has shown potential for the control of Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease caused by Fusarium graminearum. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of chitosan hydrochloride applied pre- or post-fungal inoculation on FHB and to better understand its' mode of action via an untargeted metabolomics study. RESULTS Chitosan inhibited fungal growth in vitro and, when sprayed on the susceptible wheat cultivar Remus 24 hours pre-inoculation with F. graminearum, it significantly reduced the number of infected spikelets at 7, 14 and 21 days post-inoculation. Chitosan pre-treatment also increased the average grain weight per head, the number of grains per head and the 1000-grain weight compared to the controls sprayed with water. No significant impact of chitosan on grain yield was observed when the plants were sprayed 24 hours post-inoculation with F. graminearum, even if it did result in a reduced number of infected spikelets at every time point. An untargeted metabolomic study using UHPLC-QTOF-MS on wheat spikes revealed that spraying the spikes with both chitosan and F. graminearum activated known FHB resistance pathways (e.g. jasmonic acid). Additionally, more metabolites were up- or down-regulated when both chitosan and F. graminearum spores were sprayed on the spikes (117), as compared with chitosan (51) or F. graminearum on their own (32). This included a terpene, a terpenoid and a liminoid previously associated with FHB resistance. CONCLUSIONS In this study we showed that chitosan hydrochloride inhibited the spore germination and hyphal development of F. graminearum in vitro, triggered wheat resistance against infection by F. graminearum when used as a pre-inoculant, and highlighted metabolites and pathways commonly and differentially affected by chitosan, the pathogen and both agents. This study provides insights into how chitosan might provide protection or stimulate wheat resistance to infection by F. graminearum. It also unveiled new putatively identified metabolites that had not been listed in previous FHB or chitosan-related metabolomic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Deshaies
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, UCD Centre for Plant Science, and UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, O'Brien Centre for Science, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
- Envirotech Innovative Products Ltd, NovaUCD, Belfield Innovation Park, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nadia Lamari
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, UCD Centre for Plant Science, and UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, O'Brien Centre for Science, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
- Philip Morris International, Quai Jeanrenaud 3, 2000, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Carl K Y Ng
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, UCD Centre for Plant Science, and UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, O'Brien Centre for Science, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patrick Ward
- Envirotech Innovative Products Ltd, NovaUCD, Belfield Innovation Park, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona M Doohan
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, UCD Centre for Plant Science, and UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, O'Brien Centre for Science, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
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Curran CS, Kopp JB. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Mechanisms Affecting Chronic Kidney Disease. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:782199. [PMID: 35237156 PMCID: PMC8882872 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.782199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that binds diverse endogenous and xenobiotic ligands, which regulate AHR stability, transcriptional activity, and cell signaling. AHR activity is strongly implicated throughout the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Many diverse organic molecules bind and activate AHR and these ligands are reported to either promote glomerular and tubular damage or protect against kidney injury. AHR crosstalk with estrogen, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, and NF-κB pathways may contribute to the diversity of AHR responses during the various forms and stages of CKD. The roles of AHR in kidney fibrosis, metabolism and the renin angiotensin system are described to offer insight into CKD pathogenesis and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen S. Curran
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jeffrey B. Kopp
- Kidney Disease Section, NIDDK, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Rajendran R, Ragavan RP, Al-Sehemi AG, Uddin MS, Aleya L, Mathew B. Current understandings and perspectives of petroleum hydrocarbons in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease: a global concern. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:10928-10949. [PMID: 35000177 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17931-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few decades, the global prevalence of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative illnesses has risen rapidly. Although the aetiology remains unclear, evidence is mounting that exposure to persistent hydrocarbon pollutants is a substantial risk factor, predisposing a person to neurological diseases later in life. Epidemiological studies correlate environmental hydrocarbon exposure to brain disorders including neuropathies, cognitive, motor and sensory impairments; neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD); and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Particulate matter, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and endocrine-disrupting chemicals have all been linked to neurodevelopmental problems in all class of people. There is mounting evidence that supports the prevalence of petroleum hydrocarbon becoming neurotoxic and being involved in the pathogenesis of AD and PD. More study is needed to fully comprehend the scope of these problems in the context of unconventional oil and natural gas. This review summarises in vitro, animal and epidemiological research on the genesis of neurodegenerative disorders, highlighting evidence that supports inexorable role of hazardous hydrocarbon exposure in the pathophysiology of AD and PD. In this review, we offer a summary of the existing evidence gathered through a Medline literature search of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the most important epidemiological studies published so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajalakshmi Rajendran
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, 682041, Kerala, India
| | - Roshni Pushpa Ragavan
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdullah G Al-Sehemi
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Chemistry, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Lotfi Aleya
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environment, CNRS6249, Universite de Bourgogne Franche-Comte, Besancon, France
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, 682 041, India.
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Rannug A. 6-Formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole, a Potent Ligand for the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Produced Both Endogenously and by Microorganisms, can Either Promote or Restrain Inflammatory Responses. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:775010. [PMID: 35295226 PMCID: PMC8915874 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.775010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) binds major physiological modifiers of the immune system. The endogenous 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), which binds with higher affinity than any other compound yet tested, including TCDD, plays a well-documented role in maintaining the homeostasis of the intestines and skin. The effects of transient activation of AHR by FICZ differ from those associated with continuous stimulation and, depending on the dose, include either differentiation into T helper 17 cells that express proinflammatory cytokines or into regulatory T cells or macrophages with anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, in experimental models of human diseases high doses stimulate the production of immunosuppressive cytokines and suppress pathogenic autoimmunity. In our earlier studies we characterized the formation of FICZ from tryptophan via the precursor molecules indole-3-pyruvate and indole-3-acetaldehyde. In the gut formation of these precursor molecules is catalyzed by microbial aromatic-amino-acid transaminase ArAT. Interestingly, tryptophan can also be converted into indole-3-pyruvate by the amino-acid catabolizing enzyme interleukin-4 induced gene 1 (IL4I1), which is secreted by host immune cells. By thus generating derivatives of tryptophan that activate AHR, IL4I1 may have a role to play in anti-inflammatory responses, as well as in a tumor escape mechanism that reduces survival in cancer patients. The realization that FICZ can be produced from tryptophan by sunlight, by enzymes expressed in our cells (IL4I1), and by microorganisms as well makes it highly likely that this compound is ubiquitous in humans. A diurnal oscillation in the level of FICZ that depends on the production by the fluctuating number of microbes might influence not only intestinal and dermal immunity locally, but also systemic immunity.
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Keshavarzi M, Moradbeygi F, Mobini K, Ghaffarian Bahraman A, Mohammadi P, Ghaedi A, Mohammadi-Bardbori A. The interplay of aryl hydrocarbon receptor/WNT/CTNNB1/Notch signaling pathways regulate amyloid beta precursor mRNA/protein expression and effected the learning and memory of mice. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2021; 11:147-161. [PMID: 35237419 PMCID: PMC8882790 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfab120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) plays a pathophysiological role in the development of Alzheimer's disease as well as a physiological role in neuronal growth and synaptogenesis. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)/WNT/Catenin Beta 1 (CTNNB1)/Notch signaling pathways stamp in many functions, including development and growth of neurons. However, the regulatory role of AhR-/WNT-/CTNNB1-/Notch-induced APP expression and its influence on hippocampal-dependent learning and memory deficits is not clear. Male BALB/C mice received 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (an AhR agonist), CH223191(an AhR antagonist), DAPT (an inhibitor of Notch signaling), and XAV-939 (a WNT pathway inhibitor) at a single dose of 100 μg/kg, 1, 5 , and 5 mg/kg of body weight, respectively, via intraperitoneal injection alone or in combination. Gene expression analyses and protein assay were performed on the 7th and 29th days. To assess the hippocampal-dependent memory, all six mice also underwent contextual fear conditioning on the 28th day after treatments. Our results showed that endogenous ligand of AhR has a regulatory effect on APP gene. Also, the interaction of AhR/WNT/CTNNB1 has a positive regulatory effect, but Notch has a negative regulatory effect on the mRNA and protein expression of APP, which have a correlation with mice's learning skills and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Keshavarzi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7146864685, Iran,Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar 7146864685, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Moradbeygi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7146864685, Iran
| | - Keivan Mobini
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7146864685, Iran
| | - Ali Ghaffarian Bahraman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7146864685, Iran,Occupational Environment Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Parisa Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar 7146864685, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Ghaedi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7146864685, Iran
| | - Afshin Mohammadi-Bardbori
- Correspondence address. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7146864685, Iran. Tel.: +98(71)32425374; Fax: +98(71)32424326; E-mail:
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37
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The human fungal pathogen Malassezia and its role in cancer. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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38
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Fernández-Gallego N, Sánchez-Madrid F, Cibrian D. Role of AHR Ligands in Skin Homeostasis and Cutaneous Inflammation. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113176. [PMID: 34831399 PMCID: PMC8622815 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is an important regulator of skin barrier function. It also controls immune-mediated skin responses. The AHR modulates various physiological functions by acting as a sensor that mediates environment–cell interactions, particularly during immune and inflammatory responses. Diverse experimental systems have been used to assess the AHR’s role in skin inflammation, including in vitro assays of keratinocyte stimulation and murine models of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Similar approaches have addressed the role of AHR ligands, e.g., TCDD, FICZ, and microbiota-derived metabolites, in skin homeostasis and pathology. Tapinarof is a novel AHR-modulating agent that inhibits skin inflammation and enhances skin barrier function. The topical application of tapinarof is being evaluated in clinical trials to treat psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In the present review, we summarize the effects of natural and synthetic AHR ligands in keratinocytes and inflammatory cells, and their relevance in normal skin homeostasis and cutaneous inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nieves Fernández-Gallego
- Immunology Service, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario de La Princesa (IIS-IP), 28006 Madrid, Spain;
- Vascular Pathophysiology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Sánchez-Madrid
- Immunology Service, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario de La Princesa (IIS-IP), 28006 Madrid, Spain;
- Vascular Pathophysiology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (F.S.-M.); (D.C.)
| | - Danay Cibrian
- Immunology Service, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario de La Princesa (IIS-IP), 28006 Madrid, Spain;
- Vascular Pathophysiology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (F.S.-M.); (D.C.)
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Lim TX, Ahamed M, Reutens DC. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: A diagnostic and therapeutic target in glioma. Drug Discov Today 2021; 27:422-435. [PMID: 34624509 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a deadly disease; 5-year survival rates have shown little improvement over the past 30 years. In vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is an important method of identifying potential diagnostic and therapeutic molecular targets non-invasively. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that regulates multiple genes involved in immune response modulation and tumorigenesis. The AhR is an attractive potential drug target and studies have shown that its activation by small molecules can modulate innate and adaptive immunity beneficially and prevent AhR-mediated tumour promotion in several cancer types. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of the AhR in glioma tumorigenesis and highlight its potential as an emerging biomarker for glioma therapies targeting the tumour immune response and PET diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xiang Lim
- ARC Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Muneer Ahamed
- ARC Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David C Reutens
- ARC Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro Evaluation of Novel Indolyl DiHydropyrazole Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175235. [PMID: 34500672 PMCID: PMC8434462 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175235] [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: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Indoles derived from both natural sources or artificial synthetic methods have been known to interact with aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhR), and exhibit anticancer activity. In light of these attractive properties, a series of hybrid molecules with structural features of indoles, i.e., those bearing a pyrazoline nucleus, were evaluated for their enhanced anticancer activity. The designed molecules were subjected to molecular docking in order to screen for potential AhR interacting compounds, and the identified indolyl dihydropyrazole derivatives were synthesized. The synthesized compounds were characterized, and their cytotoxicity was evaluated against four human cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. Based on the Glide g-score, H-bonding interactions and bonding energy of 20 candidate molecules were selected for further analysis from the 64 initially designed molecules. These candidate molecules have shown promising anti-proliferative activity against the cell lines tested. Among these candidate molecules, the compounds with hydroxy phenyl substitution on the pyrazoline ring have shown potent activity across all the tested cell lines. The designed scaffold was proven effective for screening potential candidate molecules with anticancer properties, and may be further optimized structurally for yielding the ideal anti-tumorigenic compound for the treatment of various cancers.
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Pappolla MA, Perry G, Fang X, Zagorski M, Sambamurti K, Poeggeler B. Indoles as essential mediators in the gut-brain axis. Their role in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 156:105403. [PMID: 34087380 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporadic late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia associated with aging. Due to the progressive aging of the population, AD is becoming a healthcare burden of unprecedented proportions. Twenty years ago, it was reported that some indole molecules produced by the gut microbiota possess essential biological activities, including neuroprotection and antioxidant properties. Since then, research has cemented additional characteristics of these substances, including anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and amyloid anti-aggregation features. Herein, we summarize the evidence supporting an integrated hypothesis that some of these substances can influence the age of onset and progression of AD and are central to the symbiotic relationship between intestinal microbes and the brain. Studies have shown that some of these substances' activities result from interactions with biologically conserved pathways and with genetic risk factors for AD. By targeting multiple pathologic mechanisms simultaneously, certain indoles may be excellent candidates to ameliorate neurodegeneration. We propose that management of the microbiota to induce a higher production of neuroprotective indoles (e.g., indole propionic acid) will promote brain health during aging. This area of research represents a new therapeutic paradigm that could add functional years of life to individuals who would otherwise develop dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Pappolla
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Neurology, Galveston, TX, United States of America.
| | - George Perry
- University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Biology, San Antonio, TX, United States of America
| | - Xiang Fang
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Neurology, Galveston, TX, United States of America
| | - Michael Zagorski
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of Chemistry, Cleveland, United States of America
| | - Kumar Sambamurti
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Neurobiology, Charleston, SC, United States of America
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Stockinger B, Shah K, Wincent E. AHR in the intestinal microenvironment: safeguarding barrier function. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 18:559-570. [PMID: 33742166 PMCID: PMC7611426 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-021-00430-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)-PAS family of transcription factors, which are evolutionarily conserved environmental sensors. In the absence of ligands, AHR resides in the cytoplasm in a complex with molecular chaperones such as HSP90, XAP2 and p23. Upon ligand binding, AHR translocates into the nuclear compartment, where it dimerizes with its partner protein, AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT), an obligatory partner for the DNA-binding and functional activity. Historically, AHR had mostly been considered as a key intermediary for the detrimental effects of environmental pollutants on the body. However, following the discovery of AHR-mediated functions in various immune cells, as well as the emergence of non-toxic 'natural' AHR ligands, this view slowly began to change, and the study of AHR-deficient mice revealed a plethora of important beneficial functions linked to AHR activation. This Review focuses on regulation of the AHR pathway and the barrier-protective roles AHR has in haematopoietic, as well as non-haematopoietic, cells within the intestinal microenvironment. It covers the nature of AHR ligands and feedback regulation of the AHR pathway, outlining the currently known physiological functions in immune, epithelial, endothelial and neuronal cells of the intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emma Wincent
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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Huang JQ, Lu M, Ho CT. Health benefits of dietary chronobiotics: beyond resynchronizing internal clocks. Food Funct 2021; 12:6136-6156. [PMID: 34057166 DOI: 10.1039/d1fo00661d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The internal circadian clock in mammals drives whole-body biological activity rhythms. The clock reflects changes in external signals by controlling enzyme functions and the release of hormones involved in metabolic processes. Thus, misalignments between the circadian clock and an individual's daily schedule are recognized to be related to various metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Although evidence has shown the existence of a complex relationship between circadian clock regulation and daily food intake, the regulatory effects of phytochemicals on the circadian clock remain unclarified. To better elucidate these relationships/effects, the circadian system components in mammals, circadian misalignment-related metabolic diseases, circadian rhythm-adjusting phytochemicals (including the heterocycles, acids, flavonoids and others) and the potential mechanisms (including the regulation of clock genes/proteins, metabolites of gut microbiota and secondary metabolites) are reviewed here. The bioactive components of functional foods discussed in this review could be considered potentially effective factors for the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders related to circadian misalignment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Qing Huang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Formula-pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Formula-pattern Research Center, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Shi Z, Ohno H, Satoh-Takayama N. Dietary Derived Micronutrients Modulate Immune Responses Through Innate Lymphoid Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 12:670632. [PMID: 33995407 PMCID: PMC8116705 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.670632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a group of innate immune cells that possess overlapping features with T cells, although they lack antigen-specific receptors. ILCs consist of five subsets-ILC1, ILC2, ILC3, lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi-like) cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. They have significant functions in mediating various immune responses, protecting mucosal barrier integrity and maintaining tissue homeostasis in the lung, skin, intestines, and liver. ILCs react immediately to signals from internal and external sources. Emerging evidence has revealed that dietary micronutrients, such as various vitamins and minerals can significantly modulate immune responses through ILCs and subsequently affect human health. It has been demonstrated that micronutrients control the development and proliferation of different types of ILCs. They are also potent immunoregulators in several autoimmune diseases and play vital roles in resolving local inflammation. Here, we summarize the interplay between several essential micronutrients and ILCs to maintain epithelial barrier functions in various mucosal tissues and discuss their limitations and potentials for promoting human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengzheng Shi
- Laboratory for Intestinal Ecosystem, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Laboratory for Immune Regulation, Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ohno
- Laboratory for Intestinal Ecosystem, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Laboratory for Immune Regulation, Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.,Immunobiology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan.,Intestinal Microbiota Project, Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Naoko Satoh-Takayama
- Laboratory for Intestinal Ecosystem, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Immunobiology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
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Saito N, Kanno Y, Yamashita N, Degawa M, Yoshinari K, Nemoto K. The Differential Selectivity of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) Agonists towards AHR-Dependent Suppression of Mammosphere Formation and Gene Transcription in Human Breast Cancer Cells. Biol Pharm Bull 2021; 44:571-578. [PMID: 33790107 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b20-00961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We had previously reported that treatment with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist β-naphthoflavone (βNF) suppressed mammosphere formation derived from cancer stem cells in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells (Cancer Lett., 317, 2012, Zhao et al.). Here, using several AHR agonists, we have investigated the association of this suppression with the classical ability to induce AHR-mediated gene transcription in the xenobiotic response element (XRE). The mammosphere formation assays were performed using wild-type and AHR-knockout MCF-7 cells in the presence of AHR agonists including 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), indirubin, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and kynurenine (KYN), followed by the XRE-reporter gene assays of the agonists. We showed that treatments with 3MC, BaP, and DMBA strongly suppressed mammosphere formation of the stem cells in an AHR-dependent manner, while other agonists showed weaker suppression. In reporter gene assays, the strength or duration of AHR/XRE-mediated gene transcription was found to be dependent on the agonist. Although strong transcriptional activation was observed with 3MC, FICZ, indirubin, I3C, IAA, or KYN after 6 h of treatment, only weak activation was seen with BaP or DMBA. While transcriptional activation was sustained or increased at 24 h with 3MC, BaP, or DMBA, appreciable reduction was observed with the other agonists. In conclusions, the results demonstrated that the suppressive effects of AHR agonists on mammosphere formation do not necessarily correlate with their abilities to induce AHR-mediated gene transcription. Hence, different AHR functions may be differentially induced in an agonist-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nao Saito
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University
| | - Yuichiro Kanno
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University.,Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | - Naoya Yamashita
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University.,Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts
| | - Masakuni Degawa
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University.,Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | - Kouichi Yoshinari
- Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | - Kiyomitsu Nemoto
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University
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Rico de Souza A, Traboulsi H, Wang X, Fritz JH, Eidelman DH, Baglole CJ. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Attenuates Acute Cigarette Smoke-Induced Airway Neutrophilia Independent of the Dioxin Response Element. Front Immunol 2021; 12:630427. [PMID: 33659010 PMCID: PMC7917085 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.630427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cigarette smoke is a prevalent respiratory toxicant that remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Cigarette smoke induces inflammation in the lungs and airways that contributes to the development of diseases such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Due to the presence of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands in cigarette smoke, activation of the AhR has been implicated in driving this inflammatory response. However, we have previously shown that the AhR suppresses cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary inflammation, but the mechanism by which the AhR achieves its anti-inflammatory function is unknown. In this study, we use the AhR antagonist CH-223191 to inhibit AhR activity in mice. After an acute (3-day) cigarette smoke exposure, AhR inhibition was associated with significantly enhanced neutrophilia in the airways in response to cigarette smoke, mimicking the phenotype of AhR-deficient mice. We then used genetically-modified mouse strains which express an AhR that can bind ligand but either cannot translocate to the nucleus or bind its cognate response element, to show that these features of the AhR pathway are not required for the AhR to suppress pulmonary neutrophilia. Finally, using the non-toxic endogenous AhR ligand FICZ, we provide proof-of-concept that activation of pulmonary AhR attenuates smoke-induced inflammation. Collectively, these results support the importance of AhR activity in mediating its anti-inflammatory function in response to cigarette smoke. Further investigation of the precise mechanisms by which the AhR exerts is protective functions may lead to the development of therapeutic agents to treat people with chronic lung diseases that have an inflammatory etiology, but for which few therapeutic options exist.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hussein Traboulsi
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jorg H. Fritz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Carolyn J. Baglole
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Li M, Yang T, Gao L, Xu H. An inadvertent issue of human retina exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals: A safety assessment. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 264:128484. [PMID: 33022499 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a group of chemical compounds that present a considerable public health problem due to their pervasiveness and associations with chronic diseases. EDCs can interrupt the endocrine system and interfere with hormone homeostasis, leading to abnormalities in human physiology. Much attention has been focused on the adverse effects EDCs have on the reproductive system, neurogenesis, neuroendocrine system, and thyroid dysfunction. The eye is usually directly exposed to the surrounding environment; however, the influences of EDCs on the eye have received comparatively little attention. Ocular diseases, such as ocular surface diseases and retinal diseases, have been implicated in hormone deficiency or excess. Epidemiologic studies have shown that EDC exposure not only causes ocular surface disorders, such as dry eye, but also associates with visual deficits and retinopathy. EDCs can pass through the human blood-retinal barrier and enter the neural retina, and can then accumulate in the retina. The retina is an embryologic extension of the central nervous system, and is extremely sensitive and vulnerable to EDCs that could be passed across the placenta during critical periods of retinal development. Subtle alterations in the retinal development process usually result in profound immediate, long-term, and delayed effects late in life. This review, based on extensive literature survey, briefly summarizes the current knowledge about the impact of representative manufactured EDCs on retinal toxicity, including retinal structure alterations and dysfunction. We also highlight the potential mechanism of action of EDCs on the retina, and the predictive retinal models of EDC exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Li
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Tian Yang
- Department of Cold Environmental Medicine, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Lixiong Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China.
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48
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Kou Z, Dai W. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor: Its roles in physiology. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 185:114428. [PMID: 33515530 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) was initially discovered as a cellular protein involved in mediating the detoxification of xenobiotic compounds. Extensive research in the past two decades has identified several families of physiological ligands and uncovered important functions of AHR in normal development and homeostasis. Deficiency in AHR expression disrupts major signaling systems and transcriptional programs, which appear to be responsible for the development of numerous developmental abnormalities including cardiac hypertrophy and epidermal hyperplasia. This mini review primarily summarizes recent advances in our understanding of AHR functions in normal physiology with an emphasis on the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, integumentary, nervous, and immunomodulatory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyue Kou
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center, NY 10010, United States
| | - Wei Dai
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center, NY 10010, United States.
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Kazzaz SA, Giani Tagliabue S, Franks DG, Denison MS, Hahn ME, Bonati L, Powell WH. An aryl hydrocarbon receptor from the caecilian Gymnopis multiplicata suggests low dioxin affinity in the ancestor of all three amphibian orders. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 299:113592. [PMID: 32858041 PMCID: PMC7771225 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) plays pleiotropic roles in the development and physiology of vertebrates in conjunction with xenobiotic and endogenous ligands. It is best known for mediating the toxic effects of dioxin-like pollutants such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). While most vertebrates possess at least one AHR that binds TCDD tightly, amphibian AHRs bind TCDD with very low affinity. Previous analyses of AHRs from Xenopus laevis (a frog; order Anura) and Ambystoma mexicanum (a salamander; order Caudata) identified three amino acid residues in the ligand-binding domain (LBD) that underlie low-affinity binding. In X. laevis AHR1β, these are A354, A370, and N325. Here we extend the analysis of amphibian AHRs to the caecilian Gymnopis multiplicata, representing the remaining extant amphibian order, Gymnophiona. G. multiplicata AHR groups with the monophyletic vertebrate AHR/AHR1 clade. The LBD includes all three signature residues of low TCDD affinity, and a structural homology model suggests that its architecture closely resembles those of other amphibians. In transactivation assays, the EC50 for reporter gene induction by TCDD was 17.17 nM, comparable to X. laevis AhR1β (26.23 nM) and Ambystoma AHR (34.09 nM) and dramatically higher than mouse AhR (0.13 nM), a trend generally reflected in direct measures of TCDD binding. These shared properties distinguish amphibian AHRs from the high-affinity proteins typical of both vertebrate groups that diverged earlier (teleost fish) and those that appeared more recently (other tetrapods). These findings suggest the hypothesis that AHRs with low TCDD affinity represent a characteristic that evolved in a common ancestor of all three extant amphibian groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Kazzaz
- Biology Department, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH 43022, USA
| | - Sara Giani Tagliabue
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan 20126, Italy
| | - Diana G Franks
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Michael S Denison
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Mark E Hahn
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Laura Bonati
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan 20126, Italy
| | - Wade H Powell
- Biology Department, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH 43022, USA.
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50
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Malaisé Y, Le Mentec H, Sparfel L, Guzylack-Piriou L. Differential influences of the BPA, BPS and BPF on in vitro IL-17 secretion by mouse and human T cells. Toxicol In Vitro 2020; 69:104993. [PMID: 32911021 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.104993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The endocrine disruptor and food contaminant bisphenol A (BPA) is frequently present in consumer plastics and can produce several adverse health effects participating in the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Regulatory restrictions have been established to prevent risks for human health, leading to the substitution of BPA by structural analogues, such as bisphenol S (BPS) and F (BPF). In this study, we aimed at comparing the in vitro impact of these bisphenols from 0.05 to 50,000 nM on Th17 differentiation, frequency and function in mouse systemic and intestinal immune T cells and in human blood T cells. This study reports the ability of these bisphenols, at low and environmentally relevant concentration, i.e, 0.05 nM, to increase significantly IL-17 production in mouse T cells but not in human T lymphocytes. The use of an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) specific inhibitor demonstrated its involvement in this bisphenol-induced IL-17 production. We also observed an increased IL-17 secretion by BPS and BPF, and not by BPA, in mouse naive T cells undergoing in vitro Th17 differentiation. In total, this study emphasizes the link between bisphenol exposures and the susceptibility to develop immune diseases, questioning thus the rational of their use to replace BPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Malaisé
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31300 Toulouse, France
| | - Hélène Le Mentec
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Lydie Sparfel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Laurence Guzylack-Piriou
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31300 Toulouse, France.
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