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Dubois V, Lefebvre P, Staels B, Eeckhoute J. Nuclear receptors: pathophysiological mechanisms and drug targets in liver disease. Gut 2024; 73:1562-1569. [PMID: 38862216 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-331741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-dependent transcription factors required for liver development and function. As a consequence, NRs have emerged as attractive drug targets in a wide range of liver diseases. However, liver dysfunction and failure are linked to loss of hepatocyte identity characterised by deficient NR expression and activities. This might at least partly explain why several pharmacological NR modulators have proven insufficiently efficient to improve liver functionality in advanced stages of diseases such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In this perspective, we review the most recent advances in the hepatic NR field and discuss the contribution of multiomic approaches to our understanding of their role in the molecular organisation of an intricated transcriptional regulatory network, as well as in liver intercellular dialogues and interorgan cross-talks. We discuss the potential benefit of novel therapeutic approaches simultaneously targeting multiple NRs, which would not only reactivate the hepatic NR network and restore hepatocyte identity but also impact intercellular and interorgan interplays whose importance to control liver functions is further defined. Finally, we highlight the need of considering individual parameters such as sex and disease stage in the development of NR-based clinical strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Dubois
- Basic and Translational Endocrinology (BaTE), Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Philippe Lefebvre
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011-EGID, Lille, France
| | - Bart Staels
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011-EGID, Lille, France
| | - Jerome Eeckhoute
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011-EGID, Lille, France
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2
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Lee XY, Van Eynde W, Helsen C, Willems H, Peperstraete K, De Block S, Voet A, Claessens F. Structural mechanism underlying variations in DNA binding by the androgen receptor. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 241:106499. [PMID: 38604378 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is a steroid activated transcription factor which recognizes DNA motifs resembling inverted repeats of a conserved 5'-AGAACA-3'-like hexanucleotides separated by a three-nucleotide spacer from a similar, but less conserved hexanucleotide. Here, we report the structures of the human AR DNA binding domain (DBD) bound to two natural AREs (C3 and MTV) in head-to-head dimer conformations, diffracting at 2.05 Å and 2.25 Å, respectively. These structures help to explain the impact of androgen insensitivity mutations on the structure integrity, DNA binding and DBD dimerization. The binding affinity of the AR DBD to different DNA motifs were measured by the BioLayer Interferometry (BLI) and further validated by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. This shows that the high binding affinity of the first DBD to the upstream 5'-AGAACA-3' motif induces the cooperative binding of the second DBD to the second hexanucleotide. Our data indicate identical interaction of the DBDs to the upstream hexanucleotides, while forming an induced closer contact of the second DBD on the non-canonical hexanucleotides. The variation in binding between the DBD monomers are the result of differences in DNA occupancy, protein-protein interactions, DNA binding affinity, and DNA binding energy profiles. We propose this has functional consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yin Lee
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Campus Gasthuisberg ON1 Herestraat 49 - box 901, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Wout Van Eynde
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Heverlee 3001, Belgium
| | - Christine Helsen
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Campus Gasthuisberg ON1 Herestraat 49 - box 901, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Hanne Willems
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Campus Gasthuisberg ON1 Herestraat 49 - box 901, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Kaat Peperstraete
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Campus Gasthuisberg ON1 Herestraat 49 - box 901, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Sofie De Block
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Campus Gasthuisberg ON1 Herestraat 49 - box 901, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Arnout Voet
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Heverlee 3001, Belgium
| | - Frank Claessens
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Campus Gasthuisberg ON1 Herestraat 49 - box 901, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
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3
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Chen H, Zhou Y, Wang X, Chai X, Wang Z, Wang E, Xu L, Hou T, Li D, Duan M. Discovery of Novel Anti-Resistance AR Antagonists Guided by Funnel Metadynamics Simulation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2309261. [PMID: 38481034 PMCID: PMC11109662 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) antagonists are widely used for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), but their therapeutic efficacy is usually compromised by the rapid emergence of drug resistance. However, the lack of the detailed interaction between AR and its antagonists poses a major obstacle to the design of novel AR antagonists. Here, funnel metadynamics is employed to elucidate the inherent regulation mechanisms of three AR antagonists (hydroxyflutamide, enzalutamide, and darolutamide) on AR. For the first time it is observed that the binding of antagonists significantly disturbed the C-terminus of AR helix-11, thereby disrupting the specific internal hydrophobic contacts of AR-LBD and correspondingly the communication between AR ligand binding pocket (AR-LBP), activation function 2 (AF2), and binding function 3 (BF3). The subsequent bioassays verified the necessity of the hydrophobic contacts for AR function. Furthermore, it is found that darolutamide, a newly approved AR antagonist capable of fighting almost all reported drug resistant AR mutants, can induce antagonistic binding structure. Subsequently, docking-based virtual screening toward the dominant binding conformation of AR for darolutamide is conducted, and three novel AR antagonists with favorable binding affinity and strong capability to combat drug resistance are identified by in vitro bioassays. This work provides a novel rational strategy for the development of anti-resistant AR antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyi Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
- National Centre for Magnetic Resonance in WuhanState Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular PhysicsInnovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanHubei430071China
- Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang University Medical CenterHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Yuxin Zhou
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Xinyue Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Xin Chai
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
- Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang University Medical CenterHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Zhe Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | | | - Lei Xu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical EngineeringSchool of Electrical and Information EngineeringJiangsu University of TechnologyChangzhou213001China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Dan Li
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Mojie Duan
- National Centre for Magnetic Resonance in WuhanState Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular PhysicsInnovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanHubei430071China
- NMR and Molecular Sciences, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and MetallurgyWuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430081China
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4
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Helsen C, Karypidou K, Thomas J, De Leger W, Nguyen T, Joniau S, Voet A, Dehaen W, Claessens F. Discovery of a novel androgen receptor antagonist, MEL-6, with stereoselective activity and optimization of its metabolic stability. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 239:106476. [PMID: 38311010 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
A new chemical scaffold with antagonistic activity towards the androgen receptor (AR) was identified. The parent compound, (3-Methoxy-N-[1-methyl-2-(4-phenyl-1-piperazinyl)-2-(2-thienyl)ethyl]benzamide) referred to as MEL-6, binds in the ligand binding pocket of AR and induces an antagonistic conformation of the ligand binding domain, even in presence of the antagonist-to-agonist switch mutations W741C, T877A and F876L-T877A. MEL-6 has antiproliferative effects on several AR positive prostate cancer cell lines. We further identified AR as the specific target of MEL-6 since it demonstrates little effect on other steroid receptors. In LNCaP cells it also inhibits the androgen-regulated transcriptome. These findings identify MEL-6 as a promising candidate for treatment of patients with prostate tumors that have become resistant to current clinically used AR antagonists. Analytical studies on the chemical composition of MEL-6 identified the presence of four isomers (two enantiomeric pairs), among which one isomer is responsible for the antiandrogenic activity. We therefore developed a synthetic route towards the selective preparation of the active enantiomeric pair. Various MEL-6-like analogues had improved metabolic stability while maintaining antiandrogenic activity. Metabolite identification of MEL-6 derivatives pinpointed N-dealkylation of the piperazine as the main mode for inactivation by liver enzymes. For further structural optimization, MEL-6 derivatives were purchased or synthesized having alterations on the N-phenyl group of the piperazine, the benzoyl group and additionally substituting the thiophen-2-yl ring of MEL-6 to a phenyl ring. This optimization process resulted in compound 12b with sustained AR inhibition and a 4-fold increased half-life due to the 1-(5-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-piperazine substitution, thienyl-to-phenyl substitution and chloro in para-position of the benzoyl group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Helsen
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Konstantina Karypidou
- Sustainable Chemistry for Metals and Molecules, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joice Thomas
- Sustainable Chemistry for Metals and Molecules, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wout De Leger
- Sustainable Chemistry for Metals and Molecules, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tien Nguyen
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven Joniau
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arnout Voet
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wim Dehaen
- Sustainable Chemistry for Metals and Molecules, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frank Claessens
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Mehralivand S, Thomas C, Puhr M, Claessens F, van de Merbel AF, Dubrovska A, Jenster G, Bernemann C, Sommer U, Erb HHH. New advances of the androgen receptor in prostate cancer: report from the 1st International Androgen Receptor Symposium. J Transl Med 2024; 22:71. [PMID: 38238739 PMCID: PMC10795409 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04878-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is a crucial player in various aspects of male reproduction and has been associated with the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Therefore, the protein is the linchpin of current PCa therapies. Despite great research efforts, the AR signaling pathway has still not been deciphered, and the emergence of resistance is still the biggest problem in PCa treatment. To discuss the latest developments in AR research, the "1st International Androgen Receptor Symposium" offered a forum for the exchange of clinical and scientific innovations around the role of the AR in prostate cancer (PCa) and to stimulate new collaborative interactions among leading scientists from basic, translational, and clinical research. The symposium included three sessions covering preclinical studies, prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers, and ongoing prostate cancer clinical trials. In addition, a panel discussion about the future direction of androgen deprivation therapy and anti-AR therapy in PCa was conducted. Therefore, the newest insights and developments in therapeutic strategies and biomarkers are discussed in this report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherif Mehralivand
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Thomas
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Puhr
- Department of Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Frank Claessens
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Anna Dubrovska
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Radiooncology-OncoRay, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Guido Jenster
- Department of Urology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ulrich Sommer
- Institut für Pathologie, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Holger H H Erb
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Helsen C, Rocca MS, Nguyen TT, Eerlings R, Lee XY, De Block S, Vinanzi C, Di Millo F, Giagulli V, Voet A, Ferlin A, Claessens F. Study of novel androgen receptor V770 variant in androgen insensitivity syndrome patients reveals the transitional state of the androgen receptor ligand binding domain homodimer. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4599. [PMID: 36806291 PMCID: PMC10019450 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
We report the discovery of the androgen receptor missense mutation V770D, that was found in two sisters suffering from complete androgen insensitivity. Experimental validation of AR V770 variants demonstrated that AR V770D was transcriptionally inactive due to the inability to dimerize and a reduced ligand binding affinity. The more conservative AR V770A variant showed a dimerization defect at low levels of DHT with a partial recovery of the transcriptional activity and of the receptor's ability to dimerize when increasing the DHT levels. With V770 located outside of the proposed LBD dimerization interface of the AR LBD homodimer crystal structure, the effects of the V770A mutation on AR dimerization were unexpected. We therefore explored whether the AR LBD dimerization interface would be better described by an alternative dimerization mode based on available human homodimeric LBD crystal structures of other nuclear receptors. Superposition of the monomeric AR LBD in the homodimeric crystal structures of GR, PR, ER, CAR, TRβ, and HNF-4α showed that the GR-like LBD dimer model was energetically the most stable. Moreover, V770 was a key energy residue in the GR-like LBD dimer while it was not involved in the stabilization of the AR LBD homodimer according to the crystal structure. Additionally, the observation that 4 AIS mutations impacted the stability of the AR LBD dimer while 16 mutations affected the GR-like LBD dimer, suggested that the AR LBD dimer crystal is a snapshot of a breathing AR LBD homodimer that can transition into the GR-like LBD dimer model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Santa Rocca
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive MedicineUniversity Hospital of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - Tien T. Nguyen
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, the Chemistry DepartmentKU LeuvenHeverleeBelgium
| | - Roy Eerlings
- Molecular Endocrinology LaboratoryKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Xiao Yin Lee
- Molecular Endocrinology LaboratoryKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Sofie De Block
- Molecular Endocrinology LaboratoryKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Cinzia Vinanzi
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive MedicineUniversity Hospital of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | | | - Vito Giagulli
- Santa Maria and Villa Lucia HospitalGVM Care & ResearchBariItaly
| | - Arnout Voet
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, the Chemistry DepartmentKU LeuvenHeverleeBelgium
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