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Mhlekude B, Postmus D, Stenzel S, Weiner J, Jansen J, Zapatero-Belinchón FJ, Olmer R, Richter A, Heinze J, Heinemann N, Mühlemann B, Schroeder S, Jones TC, Müller MA, Drosten C, Pich A, Thiel V, Martin U, Niemeyer D, Gerold G, Beule D, Goffinet C. Pharmacological inhibition of bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins induces an NRF-2-mediated antiviral state that is subverted by SARS-CoV-2 infection. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011657. [PMID: 37747932 PMCID: PMC10629670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins (iBETs), including JQ-1, have been suggested as potential prophylactics against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, molecular mechanisms underlying JQ-1-mediated antiviral activity and its susceptibility to viral subversion remain incompletely understood. Pretreatment of cells with iBETs inhibited infection by SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV, but not MERS-CoV. The antiviral activity manifested itself by reduced reporter expression of recombinant viruses, and reduced viral RNA quantities and infectious titers in the culture supernatant. While we confirmed JQ-1-mediated downregulation of expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), multi-omics analysis addressing the chromatin accessibility, transcriptome and proteome uncovered induction of an antiviral nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF-2)-mediated cytoprotective response as an additional mechanism through which JQ-1 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication. Pharmacological inhibition of NRF-2, and knockdown of NRF-2 and its target genes reduced JQ-1-mediated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication. Serial passaging of SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of JQ-1 resulted in predominance of ORF6-deficient variant, which exhibited resistance to JQ-1 and increased sensitivity to exogenously administered type I interferon (IFN-I), suggesting a minimised need for SARS-CoV-2 ORF6-mediated repression of IFN signalling in the presence of JQ-1. Importantly, JQ-1 exhibited a transient antiviral activity when administered prophylactically in human airway bronchial epithelial cells (hBAECs), which was gradually subverted by SARS-CoV-2, and no antiviral activity when administered therapeutically following an established infection. We propose that JQ-1 exerts pleiotropic effects that collectively induce an antiviral state in the host, which is ultimately nullified by SARS-CoV-2 infection, raising questions about the clinical suitability of the iBETs in the context of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baxolele Mhlekude
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Virology and Innate Immunity Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute of Genetics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dylan Postmus
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Saskia Stenzel
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - January Weiner
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Jansen
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francisco J. Zapatero-Belinchón
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology & Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ruth Olmer
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, REBIRTH—Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anja Richter
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian Heinze
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicolas Heinemann
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Barbara Mühlemann
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon Schroeder
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Terry C. Jones
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Centre for Pathogen Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marcel A. Müller
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Pich
- Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Core Facility Proteomics, Hannover, Germany
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Martin
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, REBIRTH—Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniela Niemeyer
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gisa Gerold
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology & Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dieter Beule
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Goffinet
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool United Kingdom
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2
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Ali HA, Li Y, Bilal AHM, Qin T, Yuan Z, Zhao W. A Comprehensive Review of BET Protein Biochemistry, Physiology, and Pathological Roles. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:818891. [PMID: 35401196 PMCID: PMC8990909 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.818891] [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: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications, specifically acetylation of histone plays a decisive role in gene regulation and transcription of normal cellular mechanisms and pathological conditions. The bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) proteins (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT), being epigenetic readers, ligate to acetylated regions of histone and synchronize gene transcription. BET proteins are crucial for normal cellular processing as they control cell cycle progression, neurogenesis, differentiation, and maturation of erythroids and spermatogenesis, etc. Research-based evidence indicated that BET proteins (mainly BRD4) are associated with numeral pathological ailments, including cancer, inflammation, infections, renal diseases, and cardiac diseases. To counter the BET protein-related pathological conditions, there are some BET inhibitors developed and also under development. BET proteins are a topic of most research nowadays. This review, provides an ephemeral but comprehensive knowledge about BET proteins’ basic structure, biochemistry, physiological roles, and pathological conditions in which the role of BETs have been proven. This review also highlights the current and future approaches to pledge BET protein-related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafiz Akbar Ali
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yalan Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Akram Hafiz Muhammad Bilal
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tingting Qin
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ziqiao Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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3
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Chen J, Tang P, Wang Y, Wang J, Yang C, Li Y, Yang G, Wu F, Zhang J, Ouyang L. Targeting Bromodomain-Selective Inhibitors of BET Proteins in Drug Discovery and Development. J Med Chem 2022; 65:5184-5211. [PMID: 35324195 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Blocking the interactions between bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) proteins and acetylated lysines of histones by small molecules has important implications for the treatment of cancers and other diseases. Many pan-BET inhibitors have shown satisfactory results in clinical trials, but their potential for poor tolerability and toxicity persist. However, recently reported studies illustrate that some BET bromodomain (BET-BD1 or BET-BD2)-selective inhibitors have advantage over pan-inhibitors, including reduced toxicity concerns. Furthermore, some selective BET inhibitors have similar or even better therapeutic efficacy in inflammatory diseases or cancers. Therefore, the development of selective BET inhibitors has become a hot spot for medicinal chemists. Here, we summarize the known selective BET-BD1 and BET-BD2 inhibitors and review the methods for enhancing the selectivity and potency of these inhibitors based on their different modes of interactions with BET-BD1 or BET-BD2. Finally, we discuss prospective strategies that selectively target the bromodomains of BET proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juncheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Pan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuxi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Chengcan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Gaoxia Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Fengbo Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
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4
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Hu R, Wang WL, Yang YY, Hu XT, Wang QW, Zuo WQ, Xu Y, Feng Q, Wang NY. Identification of a selective BRD4 PROTAC with potent antiproliferative effects in AR-positive prostate cancer based on a dual BET/PLK1 inhibitor. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 227:113922. [PMID: 34700270 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BRD4-targeted proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) have exhibited promising in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity in a number of cancer models. However, the clinical development of current reported BRD4-PROTACs have stagnated, largely due to the safety risks caused by their poor degradation selectivity. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of PROTACs based on our recently reported dual BET/PLK1 inhibitor WNY0824, which led to the discovery of an isoform-selective and potent BRD4-PROTAC 12a (WWL0245). WWL0245 exhibited excellent selective cytotoxicity in the BETi sensitive cancer cell lines, including AR-positive prostate cancer cell lines. It could also efficiently induce ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of BRD4 in AR-positive prostate cancer cell lines, with sub-nanomolar half-maximal degrading concentration (DC50) and maximum degradation (Dmax) > 99%. Moreover, WWL0245 induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and apoptosis in AR-positive prostate cancer by downregulation of the protein levels of AR, PSA and c-Myc as well as transcriptionally suppressed AR-regulated genes. WWL0245 was thus expected to be developed as a promising drug candidate for AR-positive prostate cancer and a valuable tool compound to study the biological function of BRD4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Hu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wan-Li Wang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying-Yue Yang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xia-Tong Hu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qi-Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, And Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei-Qiong Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, And Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Xu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, No.229 North Taibai Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710069, PR China
| | - Qiang Feng
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Ning-Yu Wang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China.
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5
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Liu L, Li Z, Chen S, Cui H, Li X, Dai G, Zhong F, Hao W, Zhang K, Liu H. BRD4 promotes heterotopic ossification through upregulation of LncRNA MANCR. Bone Joint Res 2021; 10:668-676. [PMID: 34657451 PMCID: PMC8559974 DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.1010.bjr-2020-0454.r1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Acquired heterotopic ossification (HO) is a debilitating disease characterized by abnormal extraskeletal bone formation within soft-tissues after injury. The exact pathogenesis of HO remains unknown. It was reported that BRD4 may contribute to osteoblastic differentiation. The current study aims to determine the role of BRD4 in the pathogenesis of HO and whether it could be a potential target for HO therapy. Methods Achilles tendon puncture (ATP) mouse model was performed on ten-week-old male C57BL/6J mice. One week after ATP procedure, the mice were given different treatments (e.g. JQ1, shMancr). Achilles tendon samples were collected five weeks after treatment for RNA-seq and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis; the legs were removed for micro-CT imaging and subsequent histology. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) were isolated and purified bone marrow collected during surgeries by using density gradient centrifugation. After a series of interventions such as knockdown or overexpressing BRD4, Alizarin red staining, RT-qPCR, and Western Blot (Runx2, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Osx) were performed on hBMSCs. Results Overexpression of BRD4 enhanced while inhibition of Brd4 suppressed the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs in vitro. Overexpression of Brd4 increased the expression of mitotically associated long non-coding RNA (Mancr). Downregulation of Mancr suppressed the osteoinductive effect of BRD4. In vivo, inhibition of BRD4 by JQ1 significantly attenuated pathological bone formation in the ATP model (p = 0.001). Conclusion BRD4 was found to be upregulated in HO and Brd4-Mancr-Runx2 signalling was involved in the modulation of new bone formation in HO. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2021;10(10):668–676.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - ZiHao Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Siwen Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haowen Cui
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guo Dai
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fangling Zhong
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjun Hao
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kuibo Zhang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou, China
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Rodriguez RM, Hernández-Fuentes MP, Corte-Iglesias V, Saiz ML, Lozano JJ, Cortazar AR, Mendizabal I, Suarez-Fernandez ML, Coto E, López-Vázquez A, Díaz-Corte C, Aransay AM, López-Larrea C, Suarez-Álvarez B. Defining a Methylation Signature Associated With Operational Tolerance in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:709164. [PMID: 34489960 PMCID: PMC8417883 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.709164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Operational tolerance after kidney transplantation is defined as stable graft acceptance without the need for immunosuppression therapy. However, it is not clear which cellular and molecular pathways are driving tolerance in these patients. We performed genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from kidney transplant recipients with chronic rejection and operational tolerance from the Genetic Analysis of Molecular Biomarkers of Immunological Tolerance (GAMBIT) study. Our results showed that both clinical stages diverge in 2737 genes, indicating that each one has a specific methylation signature associated with transplant outcome. We also observed that tolerance is associated with demethylation in genes involved in immune function, including B and T cell activation and Th17 differentiation, while in chronic rejection it is associated with intracellular signaling and ubiquitination pathways. Using co-expression network analysis, we selected 12 genomic regions that are specifically hypomethylated or hypermethylated in tolerant patients. Analysis of these genes in transplanted patients with low dose of steroids showed that these have a similar methylation signature to that of tolerant recipients. Overall, these results demonstrate that methylation analysis can mirror the immune status associated with transplant outcome and provides a starting point for understanding the epigenetic mechanisms associated with tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon M Rodriguez
- Translation Immunology Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias-ISPA, Oviedo, Spain.,Red de Investigación Renal (REDinREN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Lipids in Human Pathology, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBa, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands), Palma, Spain
| | - María P Hernández-Fuentes
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's Health Partners, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Viviana Corte-Iglesias
- Translation Immunology Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias-ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - María Laura Saiz
- Translation Immunology Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias-ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Juan José Lozano
- Bioinformatics Platform, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana R Cortazar
- Genome Analysis Platform, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Derio, Spain
| | - Isabel Mendizabal
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | | | - Eliecer Coto
- Red de Investigación Renal (REDinREN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Antonio López-Vázquez
- Translation Immunology Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias-ISPA, Oviedo, Spain.,Red de Investigación Renal (REDinREN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Carmen Díaz-Corte
- Red de Investigación Renal (REDinREN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ana M Aransay
- Genome Analysis Platform, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Derio, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos López-Larrea
- Translation Immunology Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias-ISPA, Oviedo, Spain.,Red de Investigación Renal (REDinREN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Beatriz Suarez-Álvarez
- Translation Immunology Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias-ISPA, Oviedo, Spain.,Red de Investigación Renal (REDinREN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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7
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BET Protein Inhibition Prolongs Cardiac Transplant Survival via Enhanced Myocardial Autophagy. Transplantation 2021; 104:2317-2326. [PMID: 32433238 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Graft rejection continues to be a major barrier to long-term engraftment after transplantation. Autophagy plays an important role in cardiac injury pathogenesis. The bromodomain and extraterminal protein inhibitor (S)-tert-butyl2-(4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3,9-trimethyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepin-6-yl)acetate (JQ1) inhibits inflammatory responses. However, the beneficial effect of JQ1 on transplant and the potential role of autophagy in the protective effect of graft survival are yet to be investigated. METHODS Syngeneic or allogeneic heterotopic heart transplantation was performed using C57BL/6 or BALB/c donors for C57BL/6 recipients through different treatments. Some mice were used to observe the survival of the grafts. The other mice were euthanized on the third, fifth, and seventh days after surgery. The graft samples were taken for cytokines and autophagy pathway analyses. RESULTS Our study revealed that JQ1 treatment prolonged cardiac allograft survival. JQ1 increased the expression levels of liver kinase beta 1, autophagy-specific gene 5, and microtubule-associated protein light chain3-II (LC3-II) and potentiated the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, unc-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1), and autophagy-specific gene 14 in allografts. A conditional autophagy-specific gene 5 deletion donor was utilized to abrogate the effect induced by JQ1. The combined use of JQ1 with bafilomycin A1 partially reversed the effect of JQ1, suggesting that autophagy is involved in the signaling pathway in graft survival. JQ1 downregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ, which was abrogated when autophagy was inhibited. CONCLUSIONS JQ1 prolonged cardiac allograft survival by potentiating myocardial autophagy through the liver kinase beta 1-AMP-activated protein kinase-ULK1 signaling pathway and inhibiting the subsequent release of inflammatory cytokines. This result might provide novel insights for extending transplant survival.
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Borgonetti V, Galeotti N. Combined inhibition of histone deacetylases and BET family proteins as epigenetic therapy for nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. Pharmacol Res 2021; 165:105431. [PMID: 33529752 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Current treatments for neuropathic pain have often moderate efficacy and present unwanted effects showing the need to develop effective therapies. Accumulating evidence suggests that histone acetylation plays essential roles in chronic pain and the analgesic activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors is documented. Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins are epigenetic readers that interact with acetylated lysine residues on histones, but little is known about their implication in neuropathic pain. Thus, the current study was aimed to investigate the effect of the combination of HDAC and BET inhibitors in the spared nerve injury (SNI) model in mice. Intranasal administration of i-BET762 (BET inhibitor) or SAHA (HDAC inhibitor) attenuated thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity and this antiallodynic activity was improved by co-administration of both drugs. Spinal cord sections of SNI mice showed an increased expression of HDAC1 and Brd4 proteins and combination produced a stronger reduction compared to each epigenetic agent alone. SAHA and i-BET762, administered alone or in combination, counteracted the SNI-induced microglia activation by inhibiting the expression of IBA1, CD11b, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) with comparable efficacy. Conversely, the epigenetic inhibitors showed a modest effect on spinal proinflammatory cytokines content that was significantly potentiated by their combination. Present results indicate a key role of acetylated histones and their recruitment by BET proteins on microglia-mediated spinal neuroinflammation. Targeting neuropathic pain with the combination of HDAC and BET inhibitors may represent a promising new therapeutic option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Borgonetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Galeotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy.
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Ordikhani F, Pothula V, Sanchez-Tarjuelo R, Jordan S, Ochando J. Macrophages in Organ Transplantation. Front Immunol 2020; 11:582939. [PMID: 33329555 PMCID: PMC7734247 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.582939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Current immunosuppressive therapy has led to excellent short-term survival rates in organ transplantation. However, long-term graft survival rates are suboptimal, and a vast number of allografts are gradually lost in the clinic. An increasing number of animal and clinical studies have demonstrated that monocytes and macrophages play a pivotal role in graft rejection, as these mononuclear phagocytic cells recognize alloantigens and trigger an inflammatory cascade that activate the adaptive immune response. Moreover, recent studies suggest that monocytes acquire a feature of memory recall response that is associated with a potent immune response. This form of memory is called “trained immunity,” and it is retained by mechanisms of epigenetic and metabolic changes in innate immune cells after exposure to particular ligands, which have a direct impact in allograft rejection. In this review article, we highlight the role of monocytes and macrophages in organ transplantation and summarize therapeutic approaches to promote tolerance through manipulation of monocytes and macrophages. These strategies may open new therapeutic opportunities to increase long-term transplant survival rates in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farideh Ordikhani
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Venu Pothula
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rodrigo Sanchez-Tarjuelo
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stefan Jordan
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jordi Ochando
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Immunología de Trasplantes, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Epigenetic Modifiers as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Diabetic Kidney Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114113. [PMID: 32526941 PMCID: PMC7312774 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic kidney disease is one of the fastest growing causes of death worldwide. Epigenetic regulators control gene expression and are potential therapeutic targets. There is functional interventional evidence for a role of DNA methylation and the histone post-translational modifications-histone methylation, acetylation and crotonylation-in the pathogenesis of kidney disease, including diabetic kidney disease. Readers of epigenetic marks, such as bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) proteins, are also therapeutic targets. Thus, the BD2 selective BET inhibitor apabetalone was the first epigenetic regulator to undergo phase-3 clinical trials in diabetic kidney disease with an endpoint of kidney function. The direct therapeutic modulation of epigenetic features is possible through pharmacological modulators of the specific enzymes involved and through the therapeutic use of the required substrates. Of further interest is the characterization of potential indirect effects of nephroprotective drugs on epigenetic regulation. Thus, SGLT2 inhibitors increase the circulating and tissue levels of β-hydroxybutyrate, a molecule that generates a specific histone modification, β-hydroxybutyrylation, which has been associated with the beneficial health effects of fasting. To what extent this impact on epigenetic regulation may underlie or contribute to the so-far unclear molecular mechanisms of cardio- and nephroprotection offered by SGLT2 inhibitors merits further in-depth studies.
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Wang X, Zhou Y, Peng Y, Huang T, Xia F, Yang T, Duan Q, Zhang W. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 contributes to renal fibrosis through the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Exp Cell Res 2019; 383:111507. [PMID: 31356816 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2019.111507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a common pathology in renal disease. Hypertensive nephropathy (HN) is one of the most common secondary nephropathies that often progresses to severe renal fibrosis with limited treatment options beyond hypertension control. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (Brd4) was recently recognized as a target in signaling pathways that underlie the pathologies of inflammatory diseases and tumors. A recently developed inhibitor of Brd4, JQ1, has been shown to exert antifibrotic effects and is being clinically explored as an anti-inflammatory and antitumor drug. Here, using human kidney biopsies and Angiotensin II-induced mouse fibrotic kidney samples, we show that Brd4 was upregulated in renal tissue from HN patients and hypertensive mouse models. In mice, JQ1 alleviated Angiotensin II-induced kidney fibrosis and blocked epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by altering the expression of EMT-related proteins. Using an in vitro model of HK2 cells exposed to Angiotensin II, we also demonstrated that JQ1 suppressed the protein expression of fibrotic genes in these cells. These results further implicate Brd4 in the fibrotic response in HN and reveal that Brd4 is a potential antifibrotic target. BET inhibitors are currently being investigated in clinical trials as antitumor agents and show potent pharmacological effects. Our findings suggest that BET inhibitors may also be potential translational therapies for HN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yueyuan Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yi Peng
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ting Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Cardiovascular, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Tianlun Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qiong Duan
- Department of Cardiovascular, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Weiru Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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Spinal bromodomain-containing protein 4 contributes to neuropathic pain induced by HIV glycoprotein 120 with morphine in rats. Neuroreport 2019; 29:441-446. [PMID: 29465625 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000000992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The symptoms of HIV-sensory neuropathy are dominated by neuropathic pain. Recent data show that repeated use of opiates enhances the chronic pain states in HIV patients. Limited attention has so far been devoted to exploring the exact pathogenesis of HIV painful disorder and opiate abuse in vivo, for which there is no effective treatment. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (Brd4) is a member of the bromodomain and extraterminal domain protein (BET) family and functions as a chromatin 'reader' that binds acetylated lysines in histones in brain neurons to mediate the transcriptional regulation underlying learning and memory. Here, we established a neuropathic pain model of interaction of intrathecal HIV envelope glycoprotein 120 (gp120) and chronic morphine in rats. The combination of gp120 and morphine (gp120/M, for 5 days) induced persistent mechanical allodynia compared with either gp120 or morphine alone. Mechanical allodynia reached the lowest values at day 10 from gp120/M application, beginning to recover from day 21. In the model, gp120/M induced overexpression of Brd4 mRNA and protein at day 10 using RT-qPCR and western blots, respectively. Immunohistochemical studies showed that Brd4 at day 10 was expressed in the neurons of spinal cord dorsal horn. BET inhibitor I-BET762 dose-dependently increased the mechanical threshold in the gp120/M pain state. The present study provides preclinical evidence for treating HIV neuropathic pain with opioids using the BET inhibitor.
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