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Williams T, Kuc R, Paterson A, Abraham G, Pullinger A, Maguire J, Sinha S, Greasley P, Ambery P, Davenport A. Co-localization of the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 channel (SGLT-2) with endothelin ETA and ETB receptors in human cardiorenal tissue. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20240604. [PMID: 38747277 PMCID: PMC11147812 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20240604] [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: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelin (ET) receptor antagonists are being investigated in combination with sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i). These drugs primarily inhibit the SGLT-2 transporter that, in humans, is thought to be mainly restricted to the renal proximal convoluted tubule, resulting in increased glucose excretion favouring improved glycaemic control and diuresis. This action reduces fluid retention with ET receptor antagonists. Studies have suggested SGLT-2 may also be expressed in cardiomyocytes of human heart. To understand the potential of combining the two classes of drugs, our aim was to compare the distribution of ET receptor sub-types in human kidney, with SGLT-2. Secondly, using the same experimental conditions, we determined if SGLT-2 expression could be detected in human heart and whether the transporter co-localised with ET receptors. METHODS Immunocytochemistry localised SGLT-2, ETA and ETB receptors in sections of histologically normal kidney, left ventricle from patients undergoing heart transplantation or controls. Primary antisera were visualised using fluorescent microscopy. Image analysis was used to measure intensity compared with background in adjacent control sections. RESULTS As expected, SGLT-2 localised to epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules, and co-localised with both ET receptor sub-types. Similarly, ETA receptors predominated in cardiomyocytes; low (compared with kidney but above background) positive staining was also detected for SGLT-2. DISCUSSION Whether low levels of SGLT-2 have a (patho)physiological role in cardiomyocytes is not known but results suggest the effect of direct blockade of sodium (and glucose) influx via SGLT-2 inhibition in cardiomyocytes should be explored, with potential for additive effects with ETA antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L. Williams
- Division of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge U.K
| | - Rhoda E. Kuc
- Division of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge U.K
| | - Anna L. Paterson
- Department of Pathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, U.K
| | - George R. Abraham
- Division of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge U.K
- Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, U.K
| | - Anna L. Pullinger
- Division of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge U.K
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K
| | - Janet J. Maguire
- Division of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge U.K
| | - Sanjay Sinha
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K
| | - Peter J. Greasley
- Early Clinical Development, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Philip Ambery
- Late-Stage Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anthony P. Davenport
- Division of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge U.K
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Şişli HB, Şenkal Turhan S, Bulut E, Şahin F, Doğan A. The Role of Aplnr Signaling in the Developmental Regulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300217. [PMID: 37840394 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300217] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells are invaluable resources for personalized medicine. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have received great attention as therapeutic tools due to being a safe, ethical, and accessible option with immunomodulatory and controlled differentiation properties. Apelin receptor (Aplnr) signaling is reported to be involved in biological events, including gastrulation, mesoderm migration, proliferation of MSCs. However, the knowledge about the exact role and mechanism of Aplnr signaling during mesoderm and MSCs differentiation is still primitive. The current study aims to unveil the role of Aplnr signaling during mesoderm and MSC differentiation from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) through peptide/small molecule activation, overexpression, knock down or CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knock out of the pathway components. Morphological changes, gene and protein expression analysis, including antibody array, LC/MS, mRNA/miRNA sequencing, reveal that Aplnr signaling promotes mesoderm commitment possibly via EGFR and TGF-beta signaling pathways and enhances migration of cells during mesoderm differentiation. Moreover, Aplnr signaling positively regulates MSCs differentiation from hPSCs and increases MSC characteristics and differentiation capacity by regulating pathways, such as EGFR, TGFβ, Wnt, PDGF, and FGF. Osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, and myogenic differentiations are significantly enhanced with Aplnr signaling activity. This study generates an important foundation to generate high potential MSCs from PSCs to be used in personalized cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hatice Burcu Şişli
- Faculty of Engineering, Genetics and Bioengineering Department, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, 34755, Turkey
| | - Selinay Şenkal Turhan
- Faculty of Engineering, Genetics and Bioengineering Department, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, 34755, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Bulut
- Faculty of Engineering, Genetics and Bioengineering Department, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, 34755, Turkey
| | - Fikrettin Şahin
- Faculty of Engineering, Genetics and Bioengineering Department, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, 34755, Turkey
| | - Ayşegül Doğan
- Faculty of Engineering, Genetics and Bioengineering Department, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, 34755, Turkey
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Rossin D, Vanni R, Lo Iacono M, Cristallini C, Giachino C, Rastaldo R. APJ as Promising Therapeutic Target of Peptide Analogues in Myocardial Infarction- and Hypertension-Induced Heart Failure. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15051408. [PMID: 37242650 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051408] [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: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The widely expressed G protein-coupled apelin receptor (APJ) is activated by two bioactive endogenous peptides, apelin and ELABELA (ELA). The apelin/ELA-APJ-related pathway has been found involved in the regulation of many physiological and pathological cardiovascular processes. Increasing studies are deepening the role of the APJ pathway in limiting hypertension and myocardial ischaemia, thus reducing cardiac fibrosis and adverse tissue remodelling, outlining APJ regulation as a potential therapeutic target for heart failure prevention. However, the low plasma half-life of native apelin and ELABELA isoforms lowered their potential for pharmacological applications. In recent years, many research groups focused their attention on studying how APJ ligand modifications could affect receptor structure and dynamics as well as its downstream signalling. This review summarises the novel insights regarding the role of APJ-related pathways in myocardial infarction and hypertension. Furthermore, recent progress in designing synthetic compounds or analogues of APJ ligands able to fully activate the apelinergic pathway is reported. Determining how to exogenously regulate the APJ activation could help to outline a promising therapy for cardiac diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rossin
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Roberto Vanni
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Marco Lo Iacono
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Caterina Cristallini
- Institute for Chemical and Physical Processes, IPCF ss Pisa, CNR, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudia Giachino
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Raffaella Rastaldo
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
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Regulatory role of apelin receptor signaling in migration and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived mesoderm cells and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. Hum Cell 2023; 36:612-630. [PMID: 36692671 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00861-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Mesoderm-derived cells, including bone, muscle, and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), constitute various parts of vertebrate body. Cell therapy with mesoderm specification in vitro may be a promising treatment for diseases affecting organs of mesodermal origin. Repair and regeneration of damaged organs with in vitro generation of mesoderm-derived tissues and MSCs hold a great potential for regenerative therapy. Therefore, understanding the signaling pathways involving mesoderm and mesoderm-derived cellular differentiation is important. Previous findings indicated the importance of Apelin receptor (Aplnr) signaling, during embryonic development, in gastrulation, cell migration, and differentiation. Nevertheless, regulatory role of Aplnr pathway in differentiation of mesoderm and mesoderm-derived MSCs remains unclear. In the current study, we tried to elucidate the role of Aplnr signaling during mesoderm cell migration and differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). By activating and suppressing Aplnr signaling pathway via peptide, small molecule, and genetic modifications including siRNA- and shRNA-mediated knockdown and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout (KO), we revealed that Aplnr signaling not only induces migration of cells during germ layer formation but also enhances mesoderm differentiation through FGF/MAPK pathway. Antibody array and LC/MS protein profiling data demonstrated that Apelin-13 treatment enhanced cell cycle, EGFR, FGF, Wnt, and Integrin signaling pathway proteins. Furthermore, Aplelin-13 treatment improved MSC characteristics, with mesenchymal phenotype and high expression of MSC markers, and silencing Aplnr signaling components resulted in significantly reduced expression of MSC markers. Also, Aplnr signaling activity enhanced proliferation and survival of the cells during MSC derivation from mesoderm.
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Williams TL, Macrae RGC, Kuc RE, Brown AJH, Maguire JJ, Davenport AP. Expanding the apelin receptor pharmacological toolbox using novel fluorescent ligands. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1139121. [PMID: 36967803 PMCID: PMC10034064 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1139121] [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: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The apelin receptor binds two distinct endogenous peptides, apelin and ELA, which act in an autocrine/paracrine manner to regulate the human cardiovascular system. As a class A GPCR, targeting the apelin receptor is an attractive therapeutic strategy. With improvements in imaging techniques, and the stability and brightness of dyes, fluorescent ligands are becoming increasingly useful in studying protein targets. Here, we describe the design and validation of four novel fluorescent ligands; two based on [Pyr1]apelin-13 (apelin488 and apelin647), and two based on ELA-14 (ELA488 and ELA647). METHODS Fluorescent ligands were pharmacologically assessed using radioligand and functional in vitro assays. Apelin647 was validated in high content imaging and internalisation studies, and in a clinically relevant human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte model. Apelin488 and ELA488 were used to visualise apelin receptor binding in human renal tissue. RESULTS All four fluorescent ligands retained the ability to bind and activate the apelin receptor and, crucially, triggered receptor internalisation. In high content imaging studies, apelin647 bound specifically to CHO-K1 cells stably expressing apelin receptor, providing proof-of-principle for a platform that could screen novel hits targeting this GPCR. The ligand also bound specifically to endogenous apelin receptor in stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Apelin488 and ELA488 bound specifically to apelin receptor, localising to blood vessels and tubules of the renal cortex. DISCUSSION Our data indicate that the described novel fluorescent ligands expand the pharmacological toolbox for studying the apelin receptor across multiple platforms to facilitate drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L. Williams
- Experimental Medicine & Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Robyn G. C. Macrae
- Experimental Medicine & Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rhoda E. Kuc
- Experimental Medicine & Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Janet J. Maguire
- Experimental Medicine & Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony P. Davenport
- Experimental Medicine & Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Anthony P. Davenport,
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