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Samuel CS, Li Y, Wang Y, Widdop RE. Functional crosstalk between angiotensin receptors (types 1 and 2) and relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1): Implications for the therapeutic targeting of fibrosis. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:2302-2318. [PMID: 36560925 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16019] [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: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Class A, rhodopsin-like, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are by far the largest class of GPCRs and are integral membrane proteins used by various cells to convert extracellular signals into intracellular responses. Initially, class A GPCRs were believed to function as monomers, but a growing body of evidence has emerged to suggest that these receptors can function as homodimers and heterodimers and can undergo functional crosstalk to influence the actions of agonists or antagonists acting at each receptor. This review will focus on the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors, as well as the relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1), each of which have their unique characteristics but have been demonstrated to undergo some level of interaction when appropriately co-expressed, which influences the function of each receptor. In particular, this receptor functional crosstalk will be discussed in the context of fibrosis, the tissue scarring that results from a failed wound-healing response to injury, and which is a hallmark of chronic disease and related organ dysfunction. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue Therapeutic Targeting of G Protein-Coupled Receptors: hot topics from the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists 2021 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v181.14/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrishan S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yifang Li
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yan Wang
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robert E Widdop
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Zhang SS, Larrabee L, Chang AH, Desai S, Sloan L, Wang X, Wu Y, Parvez N, Amaratunga K, Hartman AC, Whitnall A, Mason J, Barton NP, Chu AY, Davitte JM, Csakai AJ, Tibbetts CV, Tolbert AE, O'Keefe H, Polanco J, Foley J, Kmett C, Kehler J, Kozejova G, Wang F, Mayer AP, Koenig P, Foletti D, Pitts SJ, Schnackenberg CG. Discovery of RXFP2 genetic association in resistant hypertensive men and RXFP2 antagonists for the treatment of resistant hypertension. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13209. [PMID: 38851835 PMCID: PMC11162469 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62804-7] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypertension remains a leading cause of cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Failure to control blood pressure with ≥ 3 medications or control requiring ≥ 4 medications is classified as resistant hypertension (rHTN) and new therapies are needed to reduce the resulting increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Here, we report genetic evidence that relaxin family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2) is associated with rHTN in men, but not in women. This study shows that adrenal gland gene expression of RXFP2 is increased in men with hypertension and the RXFP2 natural ligand, INSL3, increases adrenal steroidogenesis and corticosteroid secretion in human adrenal cells. To address the hypothesis that RXFP2 activation is an important mechanism in rHTN, we discovered and characterized small molecule and monoclonal antibody (mAb) blockers of RXFP2. The novel chemical entities and mAbs show potent, selective inhibition of RXFP2 and reduce aldosterone and cortisol synthesis and release. The RXFP2 mAbs have suitable rat pharmacokinetic profiles to evaluate the role of RXFP2 in the development and maintenance of rHTN. Overall, we identified RXFP2 activity as a potential new mechanism in rHTN and discovered RXFP2 antagonists for the future interrogation of RXFP2 in cardiovascular and renal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Zhang
- Therapeutics Division, 23andMe, 349 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Lance Larrabee
- Therapeutics Division, 23andMe, 349 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Andrew H Chang
- Therapeutics Division, 23andMe, 349 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Sapna Desai
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, Medicines Research Centre, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Lisa Sloan
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, Medicines Research Centre, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Xin Wang
- Research, 23andMe, 223 N Mathilda Ave., Sunnyvale, CA, 94086, USA
| | - Yixuan Wu
- Therapeutics Division, 23andMe, 349 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Nazia Parvez
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, Medicines Research Centre, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Karen Amaratunga
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, Medicines Research Centre, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Allison C Hartman
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, 1250 S. Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Abby Whitnall
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, Medicines Research Centre, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Joseph Mason
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, Medicines Research Centre, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Nicholas P Barton
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, Medicines Research Centre, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Audrey Y Chu
- Genomic Sciences, GSK, 300 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | | | - Adam J Csakai
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, 200 Cambridgepark Drive, Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA
| | | | - Audrey E Tolbert
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, 200 Cambridgepark Drive, Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA
| | - Heather O'Keefe
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, 200 Cambridgepark Drive, Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA
| | - Jessie Polanco
- Therapeutics Division, 23andMe, 349 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Joseph Foley
- Novel Human Genetics Research Unit, GSK, 1250 S. Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Casey Kmett
- DMPK, GSK, 1250 S. Collegeville Rd, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Jonathan Kehler
- Bioanalysis, Immunogenicity and Biomarkers, GSK, 1250 S. Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Gabriela Kozejova
- Medicinal Science and Technology, GSK, Medicines Research Centre, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Feng Wang
- DMPK, GSK, 1250 S. Collegeville Rd, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Andrew P Mayer
- Bioanalysis, Immunogenicity and Biomarkers, GSK, 1250 S. Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Patrick Koenig
- Therapeutics Division, 23andMe, 349 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Davide Foletti
- Therapeutics Division, 23andMe, 349 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Steven J Pitts
- Research, 23andMe, 223 N Mathilda Ave., Sunnyvale, CA, 94086, USA
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3
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Donizetti A, Calicchio M, Romano MZ, Rosati L, Turco M, Carrese AM, del Gaudio R, Ferrandino I, Aniello F. Expression of Insl3 Protein in Adult Danio rerio. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5419. [PMID: 38791457 PMCID: PMC11122137 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105419] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a biomarker for Leydig cells in the testes of vertebrates, and it is principally involved in spermatogenesis through specific binding with the RXFP2 receptor. This study reports the insl3 gene transcript and the Insl3 prepropeptide expression in both non-reproductive and reproductive tissues of Danio rerio. An immunohistochemistry analysis shows that the hormone is present at a low level in the Leydig cells and germ cells at all stages of Danio rerio testis differentiation. Considering that the insl3 gene is transcribed in Leydig cells, our results highlight an autocrine and paracrine function of this hormone in the Danio rerio testis, adding new information on the Insl3 mode of action in reproduction. We also show that Insl3 and Rxfp2 belonging to Danio rerio and other vertebrate species share most of the amino acid residues involved in the ligand-receptor interaction and activation, suggesting a conserved mechanism of action during vertebrate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Donizetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Mauro Calicchio
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Maria Zelinda Romano
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Luigi Rosati
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Manuela Turco
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Anna Maria Carrese
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Rosanna del Gaudio
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Ida Ferrandino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Francesco Aniello
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
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4
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Handley TNG, Praveen P, Tailhades J, Wu H, Bathgate RAD, Hossain MA. Further Developments towards a Minimal Potent Derivative of Human Relaxin-2. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12670. [PMID: 37628851 PMCID: PMC10454739 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612670] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Human relaxin-2 (H2 relaxin) is a peptide hormone with potent vasodilatory and anti-fibrotic effects, which is of interest for the treatment of heart failure and fibrosis. H2 relaxin binds to the Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 1 (RXFP1). Native H2 relaxin is a two-chain, three-disulfide-bond-containing peptide, which is unstable in human serum and difficult to synthesize efficiently. In 2016, our group developed B7-33, a single-chain peptide derived from the B-chain of H2 relaxin. B7-33 demonstrated poor affinity and potency in HEK cells overexpressing RXFP1; however, it displayed equivalent potency to H2 relaxin in fibroblasts natively expressing RXFP1, where it also demonstrated the anti-fibrotic effects of the native hormone. B7-33 reversed organ fibrosis in numerous pre-clinical animal studies. Here, we detail our efforts towards a minimal H2 relaxin scaffold and attempts to improve scaffold activity through Aib substitution and hydrocarbon stapling to re-create the peptide helicity present in the native H2 relaxin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Praveen Praveen
- The Florey, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (T.N.G.H.); (P.P.); (H.W.)
| | - Julien Tailhades
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia;
| | - Hongkang Wu
- The Florey, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (T.N.G.H.); (P.P.); (H.W.)
| | - Ross A. D. Bathgate
- The Florey, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (T.N.G.H.); (P.P.); (H.W.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- The Florey, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (T.N.G.H.); (P.P.); (H.W.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Bio21, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
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5
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Praveen P, Wang C, Handley TNG, Wu H, Samuel CS, Bathgate RAD, Hossain MA. A Lipidated Single-B-Chain Derivative of Relaxin Exhibits Improved In Vitro Serum Stability without Altering Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076616. [PMID: 37047588 PMCID: PMC10094921 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human relaxin-2 (H2 relaxin) is therapeutically very important due to its strong anti-fibrotic, vasodilatory, and cardioprotective effects. Therefore, relaxin’s receptor, relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1), is a potential target for the treatment of fibrosis and related disorders, including heart failure. H2 relaxin has a complex two-chain structure (A and B) and three disulfide bridges. Our laboratory has recently developed B7-33 peptide, a single-chain agonist based on the B-chain of H2 relaxin. However, the peptide B7-33 has a short circulation time in vitro in serum (t1/2 = ~6 min). In this study, we report structure-activity relationship studies on B7-33 utilizing different fatty-acid conjugations at different positions. We have shown that by fatty-acid conjugation with an appropriate spacer length, the in vitro half-life of B7-33 can be increased from 6 min to 60 min. In the future, the lead lipidated molecule will be studied in animal models to measure its PK/PD properties, which will lead to their pre-clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Praveen
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Chao Wang
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Thomas N. G. Handley
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Hongkang Wu
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Chrishan S. Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Ross A. D. Bathgate
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, School of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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6
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Esteban-Lopez M, Wilson KJ, Myhr C, Kaftanovskaya EM, Henderson MJ, Southall NT, Xu X, Wang A, Hu X, Barnaeva E, Ye W, George ER, Sherrill JT, Ferrer M, Morello R, Agoulnik IU, Marugan JJ, Agoulnik AI. Discovery of small molecule agonists of the Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 2. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1183. [PMCID: PMC9636434 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04143-9] [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] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2) belongs to the family of class A G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and it is the only known target for the insulin-like factor 3 peptide (INSL3). The importance of this ligand-receptor pair in the development of the gubernacular ligament during the transabdominal phase of testicular descent is well established. More recently, RXFP2 has been implicated in maintaining healthy bone formation. In this report, we describe the discovery of a small molecule series of RXFP2 agonists. These compounds are highly potent, efficacious, and selective RXFP2 allosteric agonists that induce gubernacular invagination in mouse embryos, increase mineralization activity in human osteoblasts in vitro, and improve bone trabecular parameters in adult mice. The described RXFP2 agonists are orally bioavailable and display favorable pharmacokinetic properties, which allow for future evaluation of the therapeutic benefits of modulating RXFP2 activation in disease models. Specific small molecule RXFP2 agonists with favorable pharmacokinetic properties induce gubernacular invagination in mouse embryos, increase mineralization activity in human osteoblasts in vitro, and improve bone trabecular parameters in adult mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Esteban-Lopez
- grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
| | - Kenneth J. Wilson
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Courtney Myhr
- grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
| | - Elena M. Kaftanovskaya
- grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
| | - Mark J. Henderson
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Noel T. Southall
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Xin Xu
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Amy Wang
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Xin Hu
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Elena Barnaeva
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Wenjuan Ye
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Emmett R. George
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - John T. Sherrill
- grid.241054.60000 0004 4687 1637Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Marc Ferrer
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Roy Morello
- grid.241054.60000 0004 4687 1637Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Irina U. Agoulnik
- grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA ,grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
| | - Juan J. Marugan
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Early Translation Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Alexander I. Agoulnik
- grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA ,grid.65456.340000 0001 2110 1845Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
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7
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Niego A, Benítez-Burraco A. Are feralization and domestication truly mirror processes? ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2021.1975314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Niego
- PhD Program, Faculty of Philology, University of Seville, C/Palos de la Frontera s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Antonio Benítez-Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics, and Theory of Literature (Linguistics), Faculty of Philology, University of Seville, C/Palos de la Frontera s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain (E-mail: )
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8
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Zloto O, Skaat A, Fabian ID, Rosner M, Ziv H, Leshno A, Melamed S. The distribution of relaxin receptors in the anterior segment of primary open-angle glaucoma patients. Indian J Ophthalmol 2021; 68:2117-2120. [PMID: 32971620 PMCID: PMC7728022 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_2008_19] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Relaxin is a polypeptide hormone produced by the corpus luteum and the decidua in females and by the prostate in males. It has vasodilatory and antifibrotic effects. In the past, it has been reported that injection of relaxin hormone has caused a reduction in the intraocular pressure although its mechanism has not yet been fully understood and the expression of relaxin receptors has not yet been evident in the human eye. Therefore, the purpose of this current study was to examine the presence of relaxin receptors in the human eye anterior segment. Methods: This is an interventional non-randomized study. Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma who underwent trabeculectomy were recruited. During the surgery, a punch biopsy (including the cornea, sclera, trabecular meshwork, and Schlemm's canal) was taken and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and immunohistochemistry staining for relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1). Results: A positive staining was noted for RXFP1 in the inner uveal, corneoscleral, and cribriform meshwork and Schlemm's canal's endothelium. Negative staining for RXFP1 was noted in the cornea and sclera. Conclusion: RXFP1 is present in the anterior segment drainage system of the human eye. Therefore, this receptor may have an active role in regulating the outflow facility and in the reduction of intraocular pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofira Zloto
- The Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center, Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical, Ramat Gan; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Alon Skaat
- The Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center, Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical, Ramat Gan; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ido Didi Fabian
- The Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center, Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical, Ramat Gan; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Mordechai Rosner
- The Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center, Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical, Ramat Gan; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hana Ziv
- The Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center, Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical, Ramat Gan; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ari Leshno
- The Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center, Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical, Ramat Gan; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shlomo Melamed
- The Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center, Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical, Ramat Gan; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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9
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Mallart S, Ingenito R, Bianchi E, Bresciani A, Esposito S, Gallo M, Magotti P, Monteagudo E, Orsatti L, Roversi D, Santoprete A, Tucci F, Veneziano M, Bartsch R, Boehm C, Brasseur D, Bruneau P, Corbier A, Froissant J, Gauzy-Lazo L, Gervat V, Marguet F, Menguy I, Minoletti C, Nicolas MF, Pasquier O, Poirier B, Raux A, Riva L, Janiak P, Strobel H, Duclos O, Illiano S. Identification of Potent and Long-Acting Single-Chain Peptide Mimetics of Human Relaxin-2 for Cardiovascular Diseases. J Med Chem 2021; 64:2139-2150. [PMID: 33555858 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The insulin-like peptide human relaxin-2 was identified as a hormone that, among other biological functions, mediates the hemodynamic changes occurring during pregnancy. Recombinant relaxin-2 (serelaxin) has shown beneficial effects in acute heart failure, but its full therapeutic potential has been hampered by its short half-life and the need for intravenous administration limiting its use to intensive care units. In this study, we report the development of long-acting potent single-chain relaxin peptide mimetics. Modifications in the B-chain of relaxin, such as the introduction of specific mutations and the trimming of the sequence to an optimal size, resulted in potent, structurally simplified peptide agonists of the relaxin receptor Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 1 (RXFP1) (e.g., 54). Introduction of suitable spacers and fatty acids led to the identification of single-chain lipidated peptide agonists of RXFP1, with sub-nanomolar activity, high subcutaneous bioavailability, extended half-lives, and in vivo efficacy (e.g., 64).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Mallart
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Raffaele Ingenito
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bianchi
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Alberto Bresciani
- Department of Translational Biology, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Simone Esposito
- DMPK, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Mariana Gallo
- Structural Biology, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Paola Magotti
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Edith Monteagudo
- DMPK, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Laura Orsatti
- DMPK, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Daniela Roversi
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Alessia Santoprete
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Federica Tucci
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Maria Veneziano
- DMPK, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Régine Bartsch
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Claudius Boehm
- Industrial Affairs, iCMC, Sanofi-Aventis R&D, Industriepark Höchst, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Denis Brasseur
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Patricia Bruneau
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Alain Corbier
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Jacques Froissant
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Laurence Gauzy-Lazo
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Vincent Gervat
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Frank Marguet
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Isabelle Menguy
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Claire Minoletti
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Marie-Françoise Nicolas
- Preclinical Development Sciences, Sanofi R&D, 13 quai Jules Guesde, Vitry sur Seine 94400, France
| | - Olivier Pasquier
- DMPK France, Sanofi R&D, 3 digue d'Alfortville, Alfortville 94140, France
| | - Bruno Poirier
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Alexandre Raux
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Laurence Riva
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Philip Janiak
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Hartmut Strobel
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Olivier Duclos
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Stephane Illiano
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
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Krivoruchko AY, Yatsyk OA, Safaryan EY. Candidate genes for productivity identified by genome-wide association study with indicators of class in the Russian meat merino sheep breed. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2020; 24:836-843. [PMID: 35087996 PMCID: PMC8763718 DOI: 10.18699/vj20.681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies allow identification of loci and polymorphisms associated with the formation of relevant phenotypes. When conducting a full genome analysis of sheep, particularly promising is the study
of individuals with outstanding productivity indicators – exhibition animals, representatives of the super-elite class.
The aim of this study was to identify new candidate genes for economically valuable traits based on the search for
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with belonging to different evaluation classes in rams of the Russian meat merino breed. Animal genotyping was performed using Ovine Infinium HD BeadChip 600K DNA, association search was performed using PLINK v. 1.07 software. Highly reliable associations were found between animals
belonging to different evaluation classes and the frequency of occurrence of individual SNPs on chromosomes 2, 6,
10, 13, and 20. Most of the substitutions with high association reliability are concentrated on chromosome 10 in the
region 10: 30859297–31873769. To search for candidate genes, 15 polymorphisms with the highest association reliability were selected (–log10(р) > 9). Determining the location of the analyzed SNPs relative to the latest annotation
Oar_rambouillet_v1.0 allowed to identify 11 candidate genes presumably associated with the formation of a complex
of phenotypic traits of animals in the exhibition group: RXFP2, ALOX5AP, MEDAG, OPN5, PRDM5, PTPRT, TRNAS-GGA,
EEF1A1, FRY, ZBTB21-like, and B3GLCT-like. The listed genes encode proteins involved in the control of the cell cycle and
DNA replication, regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, the development
of the inflammatory process and the work of circadian rhythms. Thus, the candidate genes under consideration can
influence the formation of exterior features and productive qualities of sheep. However, further research is needed
to confirm the influence of genes and determine the exact mechanisms for implementing this influence on the phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Y. Krivoruchko
- All-Russian Research Institute of Sheep and Goat Breeding – Branch of the North Caucasus Federal Agricultural Research Center
| | - O. A. Yatsyk
- All-Russian Research Institute of Sheep and Goat Breeding – Branch of the North Caucasus Federal Agricultural Research Center
| | - E. Y. Safaryan
- All-Russian Research Institute of Sheep and Goat Breeding – Branch of the North Caucasus Federal Agricultural Research Center
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11
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Ng HH, Esteban-Lopez M, Agoulnik AI. Targeting the relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1 and 2 with small molecule compounds. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 487:40-44. [PMID: 30590098 PMCID: PMC6451876 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The peptide hormone relaxin has beneficial roles in several organs through its action on its cognate G protein-coupled receptor, RXFP1. Relaxin administration is limited to intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or spinal injection. Another drawback of peptide-based therapy is the short half-life, which requires continuous delivery of the drug to achieve efficient concentration in target organs. The discovery of a non-peptide small molecule agonist of RXFP1, ML290, provides an alternative to the natural ligand. This review summarizes the development of ML290 and its potential future therapeutic applications in various diseases, including liver fibrosis and cardiovascular diseases. We also discuss the development of small molecule agonists targeting the insulin-like 3 receptor, RXFP2, and propose the potential use of these small molecules in the context of bone and muscle remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hooi Hooi Ng
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
| | - Maria Esteban-Lopez
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
| | - Alexander I Agoulnik
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
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12
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Wang JH, Nie WH, Shao XX, Li HZ, Hu MJ, Liu YL, Xu ZG, Guo ZY. Exploring electrostatic interactions of relaxin family peptide receptor 3 and 4 with ligands using a NanoBiT-based binding assay. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1861:776-786. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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13
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Hoare BL, Bruell S, Sethi A, Gooley PR, Lew MJ, Hossain MA, Inoue A, Scott DJ, Bathgate RAD. Multi-Component Mechanism of H2 Relaxin Binding to RXFP1 through NanoBRET Kinetic Analysis. iScience 2018; 11:93-113. [PMID: 30594862 PMCID: PMC6309025 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The peptide hormone H2 relaxin has demonstrated promise as a therapeutic, but mimetic development has been hindered by the poorly understood relaxin receptor RXFP1 activation mechanism. H2 relaxin is hypothesized to bind to two distinct ECD sites, which reorientates the N-terminal LDLa module to activate the transmembrane domain. Here we provide evidence for this model in live cells by measuring bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) between nanoluciferase-tagged RXFP1 constructs and fluorescently labeled H2 relaxin (NanoBRET). Additionally, we validate these results using the related RXFP2 receptor and chimeras with an inserted RXFP1-binding domain utilizing NanoBRET and nuclear magnetic resonance studies on recombinant proteins. We therefore provide evidence for the multi-component molecular mechanism of H2 relaxin binding to RXFP1 on the full-length receptor in cells. Also, we show the utility of NanoBRET real-time binding kinetics to reveal subtle binding complexities, which may be overlooked in traditional equilibrium binding assays. NanoBRET was used to assess relaxin binding kinetics to its receptor RXFP1 Binding on wild-type and mutant RXFP1 demonstrated a multi-component mechanism This binding mode was validated using RXFP2/RXFP1 chimeras and protein NMR studies NanoBRET binding can reveal subtle GPCR binding modes to aid drug development
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley L Hoare
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Shoni Bruell
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ashish Sethi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Bio21 Molecular and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul R Gooley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Bio21 Molecular and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael J Lew
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Mohammed A Hossain
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
| | - Daniel J Scott
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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14
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Bathgate RA, Kocan M, Scott DJ, Hossain MA, Good SV, Yegorov S, Bogerd J, Gooley PR. The relaxin receptor as a therapeutic target – perspectives from evolution and drug targeting. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 187:114-132. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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15
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Yong KJ, Vaid TM, Shilling PJ, Wu FJ, Williams LM, Deluigi M, Plückthun A, Bathgate RAD, Gooley PR, Scott DJ. Determinants of Ligand Subtype-Selectivity at α 1A-Adrenoceptor Revealed Using Saturation Transfer Difference (STD) NMR. ACS Chem Biol 2018. [PMID: 29537256 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
α1A- and α1B-adrenoceptors (α1A-AR and α1B-AR) are closely related G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that modulate the cardiovascular and nervous systems in response to binding epinephrine and norepinephrine. The GPCR gene superfamily is made up of numerous subfamilies that, like α1A-AR and α1B-AR, are activated by the same endogenous agonists but may modulate different physiological processes. A major challenge in GPCR research and drug discovery is determining how compounds interact with receptors at the molecular level, especially to assist in the optimization of drug leads. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) can provide great insight into ligand-binding epitopes, modes, and kinetics. Ideally, ligand-based NMR methods require purified, well-behaved protein samples. The instability of GPCRs upon purification in detergents, however, makes the application of NMR to study ligand binding challenging. Here, stabilized α1A-AR and α1B-AR variants were engineered using Cellular High-throughput Encapsulation, Solubilization, and Screening (CHESS), allowing the analysis of ligand binding with Saturation Transfer Difference NMR (STD NMR). STD NMR was used to map the binding epitopes of epinephrine and A-61603 to both receptors, revealing the molecular determinants for the selectivity of A-61603 for α1A-AR over α1B-AR. The use of stabilized GPCRs for ligand-observed NMR experiments will lead to a deeper understanding of binding processes and assist structure-based drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin J. Yong
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Tasneem M. Vaid
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
- The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Patrick J. Shilling
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
- The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Feng-Jie Wu
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
- The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Lisa M. Williams
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Mattia Deluigi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ross A. D. Bathgate
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gooley
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
- The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Daniel J. Scott
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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16
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Gutiérrez-Gil B, Esteban-Blanco C, Wiener P, Chitneedi PK, Suarez-Vega A, Arranz JJ. High-resolution analysis of selection sweeps identified between fine-wool Merino and coarse-wool Churra sheep breeds. Genet Sel Evol 2017; 49:81. [PMID: 29115919 PMCID: PMC5674817 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-017-0354-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the aim of identifying selection signals in three Merino sheep lines that are highly specialized for fine wool production (Australian Industry Merino, Australian Merino and Australian Poll Merino) and considering that these lines have been subjected to selection not only for wool traits but also for growth and carcass traits and parasite resistance, we contrasted the OvineSNP50 BeadChip (50 K-chip) pooled genotypes of these Merino lines with the genotypes of a coarse-wool breed, phylogenetically related breed, Spanish Churra dairy sheep. Genome re-sequencing datasets of the two breeds were analyzed to further explore the genetic variation of the regions initially identified as putative selection signals. RESULTS Based on the 50 K-chip genotypes, we used the overlapping selection signals (SS) identified by four selection sweep mapping analyses (that detect genetic differentiation, reduced heterozygosity and patterns of haplotype diversity) to define 18 convergence candidate regions (CCR), five associated with positive selection in Australian Merino and the remainder indicating positive selection in Churra. Subsequent analysis of whole-genome sequences from 15 Churra and 13 Merino samples identified 142,400 genetic variants (139,745 bi-allelic SNPs and 2655 indels) within the 18 defined CCR. Annotation of 1291 variants that were significantly associated with breed identity between Churra and Merino samples identified 257 intragenic variants that caused 296 functional annotation variants, 275 of which were located across 31 coding genes. Among these, four synonymous and four missense variants (NPR2_His847Arg, NCAPG_Ser585Phe, LCORL_Asp1214Glu and LCORL_Ile1441Leu) were included. CONCLUSIONS Here, we report the mapping and genetic variation of 18 selection signatures that were identified between Australian Merino and Spanish Churra sheep breeds, which were validated by an additional contrast between Spanish Merino and Churra genotypes. Analysis of whole-genome sequencing datasets allowed us to identify divergent variants that may be viewed as candidates involved in the phenotypic differences for wool, growth and meat production/quality traits between the breeds analyzed. The four missense variants located in the NPR2, NCAPG and LCORL genes may be related to selection sweep regions previously identified and various QTL reported in sheep in relation to growth traits and carcass composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Gutiérrez-Gil
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, León, 24071 Spain
| | - Cristina Esteban-Blanco
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, León, 24071 Spain
- Fundación Centro Supercomputación de Castilla y León, Campus de Vegazana, León, 24071 Spain
| | - Pamela Wiener
- Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG UK
| | - Praveen Krishna Chitneedi
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, León, 24071 Spain
| | - Aroa Suarez-Vega
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, León, 24071 Spain
| | - Juan-Jose Arranz
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, León, 24071 Spain
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17
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Nowak M, Gram A, Boos A, Aslan S, Ay SS, Önyay F, Kowalewski MP. Functional implications of the utero-placental relaxin (RLN) system in the dog throughout pregnancy and at term. Reproduction 2017; 154:415-431. [PMID: 28667126 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin (RLN) is a key hormone of pregnancy in mammals best known for its involvement in connective tissue remodeling. In the domestic dog, placental RLN is the only known endocrine marker of pregnancy. However, knowledge is sparse regarding the spatio-temporal expression of RLN and its receptors (RXFP1 and RXFP2) in the canine uterus and placenta. Here, their expression was investigated in the pre-implantation uterus and utero-placental compartments (UtPl) at selected time points during gestation: post-implantation, mid-gestation, and at normal and antigestagen-induced luteolysis/abortion. Immunohistochemistry with newly generated, canine-specific antisera, in situ hybridization and semi-quantitative PCR were applied. In compartmentalization studies, placental and endometrial RLN increased continuously toward prepartum. The placental RXFP1 was time-related and highest during post-implantation and decreased together with RXFP2 at prepartum luteolysis. The endometrial levels of both receptors did not vary greatly, but myometrial RXFP2 decreased from mid-gestation to prepartum luteolysis. Antigestagen treatment resulted in suppression of RLN in UtPl and decreased RXFP1 and RXFP2 in the uterus. The placental RLN was localized mainly in the cytotrophoblast. Additionally, RXFP1 stained strongly in placental endothelial cells while RXFP2 was found mainly in maternal decidual cells. Uterine staining for all targets was found in epithelial cellular constituents and in myometrium. Finally, besides its endocrine functions, RLN seems to be involved in auto-/paracrine regulation of utero-placental functions in dogs in a time-dependent manner. New insights into feto-maternal communication was provided, in particular regarding the localization of RXFP2 in the maternal decidual cells, implying functional roles of RLN during the decidualization process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Nowak
- Institute of Veterinary AnatomyVetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aykut Gram
- Institute of Veterinary AnatomyVetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alois Boos
- Institute of Veterinary AnatomyVetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Selim Aslan
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyVeterinary Faculty, Near East University, Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey
| | - Serhan S Ay
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ondokuz Mayis, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Firdevs Önyay
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ondokuz Mayis, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Mariusz P Kowalewski
- Institute of Veterinary AnatomyVetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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18
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Distinct activation modes of the Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 2 in response to insulin-like peptide 3 and relaxin. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3294. [PMID: 28607406 PMCID: PMC5468325 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03638-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2) is a GPCR known for its role in reproductive function. It is structurally related to the human relaxin receptor RXFP1 and can be activated by human gene-2 (H2) relaxin as well as its cognate ligand insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3). Both receptors possess an N-terminal low-density lipoprotein type a (LDLa) module that is necessary for activation and is joined to a leucine-rich repeat domain by a linker. This linker has been shown to be important for H2 relaxin binding and activation of RXFP1 and herein we investigate the role of the equivalent region of RXFP2. We demonstrate that the linker’s highly-conserved N-terminal region is essential for activation of RXFP2 in response to both ligands. In contrast, the linker is necessary for H2 relaxin, but not INSL3, binding. Our results highlight the distinct mechanism by which INSL3 activates RXFP2 whereby ligand binding mediates reorientation of the LDLa module by the linker region to activate the RXFP2 transmembrane domains in conjunction with the INSL3 A-chain. In contrast, relaxin activation of RXFP2 involves a more RXFP1-like mechanism involving binding to the LDLa-linker, reorientation of the LDLa module and activation of the transmembrane domains by the LDLa alone.
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19
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Wei D, Hu MJ, Shao XX, Wang JH, Nie WH, Liu YL, Xu ZG, Guo ZY. Development of a selective agonist for relaxin family peptide receptor 3. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3230. [PMID: 28607363 PMCID: PMC5468247 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03465-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin family peptides perform a variety of biological functions by activating four G protein-coupled receptors, namely RXFP1–4. Among these receptors, RXFP3 lacks a specific natural or synthetic agonist at present. A previously designed chimeric R3/I5 peptide, consisting of the B-chain of relaxin-3 and the A-chain of INSL5, displays equal activity towards the homologous RXFP3 and RXFP4. To increase its selectivity towards RXFP3, in the present study we conducted extensive mutagenesis around the B-chain C-terminal region of R3/I5. Decreasing or increasing the peptide length around the B23–B25 position dramatically lowered the activation potency of R3/I5 towards both RXFP3 and RXFP4. Substitution of B23Gly with Ala or Ser converted R3/I5 from an efficient agonist to a strong antagonist for RXFP3, but the mutants retained considerable activation potency towards RXFP4. Substitution of B24Gly increased the selectivity of R3/I5 towards RXFP3 over the homologous RXFP4. The best mutant, [G(B24)S]R3/I5, displayed 20-fold higher activation potency towards RXFP3 than towards RXFP4, meanwhile retained full activation potency at RXFP3. Thus, [G(B24)S]R3/I5 is the best RXFP3-selective agonist known to date. It is a valuable tool for investigating the physiological functions of RXFP3, and also a suitable template for developing RXFP3-specific agonists in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Wei
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng-Jun Hu
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Shao
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Hui Wang
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Han Nie
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Li Liu
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zeng-Guang Xu
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhan-Yun Guo
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
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Agoulnik AI, Agoulnik IU, Hu X, Marugan J. Synthetic non-peptide low molecular weight agonists of the relaxin receptor 1. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:977-989. [PMID: 27771940 PMCID: PMC5406302 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin is a small heterodimeric peptide hormone of the insulin/relaxin superfamily produced mainly in female and male reproductive organs. It has potent antifibrotic, vasodilatory and angiogenic effects and regulates the normal function of various physiological systems. Preclinical studies and recent clinical trials have shown the promise of recombinant relaxin as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of cardiovascular and fibrotic diseases. However, there are the universal drawbacks of peptide-based pharmacology that apply to relaxin: a short half-life in vivo requires its continuous delivery, and there are high costs of production, storage and treatment, as well as the possibility of immune responses. All these issues can be resolved by the development of low non-peptide MW agonists of the relaxin receptors which are stable, bioavailable, easily synthesized and specific. In this review, we describe the discovery and characterization of the first series of such compounds. The lead compound, ML290, binds to an allosteric site of the relaxin GPCR, RXFP1. ML290 shows high activity and efficacy, measured by cAMP response, in cells expressing endogenous or transfected RXFP1. Relaxin-like effects of ML290 were shown in various functional cellular assays in vitro. ML290 has excellent absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion properties and in vivo stability. The identified series of low MW agonists does not activate rodent RXFP1 receptors and thus, the production of a RXFP1 humanized mouse model is needed for preclinical studies. The future analysis and clinical perspectives of relaxin receptor agonists are discussed. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander I Agoulnik
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of MedicineFlorida International UniversityMiamiFLUSA
| | - Irina U Agoulnik
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of MedicineFlorida International UniversityMiamiFLUSA
| | - Xin Hu
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational SciencesNational Institutes of HealthRockvilleMDUSA
| | - Juan Marugan
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational SciencesNational Institutes of HealthRockvilleMDUSA
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Hu MJ, Shao XX, Wang JH, Wei D, Guo YQ, Liu YL, Xu ZG, Guo ZY. Mechanism for insulin-like peptide 5 distinguishing the homologous relaxin family peptide receptor 3 and 4. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29648. [PMID: 27404393 PMCID: PMC4939597 DOI: 10.1038/srep29648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The relaxin family peptides play a variety of biological functions by activating four G protein-coupled receptors, RXFP1-4. Among them, insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) and relaxin-3 share the highest sequence homology, but they have distinct receptor preference: INSL5 can activate RXFP4 only, while relaxin-3 can activate RXFP3, RXFP4, and RXFP1. Previous studies suggest that the A-chain is responsible for their different selectivity for RXFP1. However, the mechanism by which INSL5 distinguishes the homologous RXFP4 and RXFP3 remains unknown. In the present work, we chemically evolved INSL5 in vitro to a strong agonist of both RXFP4 and RXFP3 through replacement of its five B-chain residues with the corresponding residues of relaxin-3. We identified four determinants (B2Glu, B9Leu, B17Tyr, and a rigid B-chain C-terminus) on INSL5 that are responsible for its inactivity at RXFP3. In reverse experiments, we grafted these determinants onto a chimeric R3/I5 peptide, which contains the B-chain of relaxin-3 and the A-chain of INSL5, and retains full activation potency at RXFP3 and RXFP4. All resultant R3/I5 mutants retained high activation potency towards RXFP4, but most displayed significantly decreased or even abolished activation potency towards RXFP3, confirming the role of these four INSL5 determinants in distinguishing RXFP4 from RXFP3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Jun Hu
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Shao
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Hui Wang
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dian Wei
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Qi Guo
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Li Liu
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zeng-Guang Xu
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhan-Yun Guo
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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22
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Kim JH, Lee SK, Lee SK, Kim JH, Fredericson M. Relaxin Receptor RXFP1 and RXFP2 Expression in Ligament, Tendon, and Shoulder Joint Capsule of Rats. J Korean Med Sci 2016; 31:983-8. [PMID: 27247510 PMCID: PMC4853680 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.6.983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous musculoskeletal disorders are caused by thickened ligament, tendon stiffness, or fibrosis of joint capsule. Relaxin, a peptide hormone, can exert collagenolytic effect on ligamentous and fibrotic tissues. We hypothesized that local injection of relaxin could be used to treat entrapment neuropathy and adhesive capsulitis. Because hormonal effect depends on the receptor of the hormone on the target cell, it is important to confirm the presence of such hormonal receptor at the target tissue before the hormone therapy is initiated. The aim of this study was to determine whether there were relaxin receptors in the ligament, tendon, and joint capsular tissues of rats and to identify the distribution of relaxin receptors in these tissues. Transverse carpal ligaments (TCLs), inguinal ligaments, anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs), Achilles tendons, and shoulder joint capsules were obtained from male Wistar rats. Western blot analysis was used to identify relaxin receptor isoforms RXFP1 and RXFP2. The distribution of relaxin receptors was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The RXFP1 isoform was found in all tissues examined. The RXFP2 isoform was present in all tissues but the TCLs. Its expression in ACLs tissues was relatively weak compared to that in other tissues. Our results revealed that RXFP1 and RXFP2 were distributed in distinctly different patterns according to the type of tissue (vascular endothelial cells, fibroblast-like cells) they were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hyung Kim
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Eulji University Hospital and Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | | | - Seong Kyu Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Joo Heon Kim
- Department of Pathology, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Michael Fredericson
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Sethi A, Bruell S, Patil N, Hossain MA, Scott DJ, Petrie EJ, Bathgate RAD, Gooley PR. The complex binding mode of the peptide hormone H2 relaxin to its receptor RXFP1. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11344. [PMID: 27088579 PMCID: PMC4837482 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
H2 relaxin activates the relaxin family peptide receptor-1 (RXFP1), a class A G-protein coupled receptor, by a poorly understood mechanism. The ectodomain of RXFP1 comprises an N-terminal LDLa module, essential for activation, tethered to a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain by a 32-residue linker. H2 relaxin is hypothesized to bind with high affinity to the LRR domain enabling the LDLa module to bind and activate the transmembrane domain of RXFP1. Here we define a relaxin-binding site on the LDLa-LRR linker, essential for the high affinity of H2 relaxin for the ectodomain of RXFP1, and show that residues within the LDLa-LRR linker are critical for receptor activation. We propose H2 relaxin binds and stabilizes a helical conformation of the LDLa-LRR linker that positions residues of both the linker and the LDLa module to bind the transmembrane domain and activate RXFP1. The mechanism by which relaxin activates the relaxin family peptide receptor-1 is poorly understood. Here, Sethi et al. identify a relaxin binding site in an extracellular linker between the LDLa and LRR domains and propose that relaxin binding stabilizes a helical conformation that leads to receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Sethi
- Department of Biochemistry &Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Shoni Bruell
- Department of Biochemistry &Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Nitin Patil
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Daniel J Scott
- Department of Biochemistry &Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Emma J Petrie
- Department of Biochemistry &Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- Department of Biochemistry &Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R Gooley
- Department of Biochemistry &Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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24
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Hu X, Myhr C, Huang Z, Xiao J, Barnaeva E, Ho BA, Agoulnik IU, Ferrer M, Marugan JJ, Southall N, Agoulnik AI. Structural Insights into the Activation of Human Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 1 by Small-Molecule Agonists. Biochemistry 2016; 55:1772-83. [PMID: 26866459 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b01195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The GPCR relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) mediates the action of relaxin peptide hormone, including its tissue remodeling and antifibrotic effects. The peptide has a short half-life in plasma, limiting its therapeutic utility. However, small-molecule agonists of human RXFP1 can overcome this limitation and may provide a useful therapeutic approach, especially for chronic diseases such as heart failure and fibrosis. The first small-molecule agonists of RXFP1 were recently identified from a high-throughput screening, using a homogeneous cell-based cAMP assay. Optimization of the hit compounds resulted in a series of highly potent and RXFP1 selective agonists with low cytotoxicity, and excellent in vitro ADME and pharmacokinetic properties. Here, we undertook extensive site-directed mutagenesis studies in combination with computational modeling analysis to probe the molecular basis of the small-molecule binding to RXFP1. The results showed that the agonists bind to an allosteric site of RXFP1 in a manner that closely interacts with the seventh transmembrane domain (TM7) and the third extracellular loop (ECL3). Several residues were determined to play an important role in the agonist binding and receptor activation, including a hydrophobic region at TM7 consisting of W664, F668, and L670. The G659/T660 motif within ECL3 is crucial to the observed species selectivity of the agonists for RXFP1. The receptor binding and activation effects by the small molecule ML290 were compared with the cognate ligand, relaxin, providing valuable insights on the structural basis and molecular mechanism of receptor activation and selectivity for RXFP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Hu
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health , 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | | | | | - Jingbo Xiao
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health , 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Elena Barnaeva
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health , 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | | | | | - Marc Ferrer
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health , 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Juan J Marugan
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health , 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Noel Southall
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health , 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
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25
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Dschietzig TB, Krause-Relle K, Hennequin M, von Websky K, Rahnenführer J, Ruppert J, Grön HJ, Armbruster FP, Bathgate RAD, Aschenbach JR, Forssmann WG, Hocher B. Relaxin-2 does not ameliorate nephropathy in an experimental model of type-1 diabetes. Kidney Blood Press Res 2016; 40:77-88. [PMID: 25791819 DOI: 10.1159/000368484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS In diabetic nephropathy (DN), the current angiotensin-II-blocking pharmacotherapy is frequently failing. For diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC), there is no specific remedy available. Relaxin-2 (Rlx) - an anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and vasoprotecting peptide – is a candidate drug for both. METHODS Low-dose (32 μg/kg/day) and high-dose (320 μg/kg/day) Rlx were tested against vehicle (n = 20 each) and non-diabetic controls (n = 14) for 12 weeks in a model of type-1 diabetes induced in endothelial nitric oxide synthase knock-out (eNOS-KO) mice by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. RESULTS Diabetic animals showed normal plasma creatinine, markedly increased albuminuria and urinary malonyldialdehyde, elevated relative kidney weight, glomerulosclerosis, and increased glomerular size, but no relevant interstitial fibrosis. Neither dose of Rlx affected these changes although the drug was active and targeted plasma levels were achieved. Of note, we found no activation of the renal TGF-β pathway in this model. In the hearts of diabetic animals, no fibrotic alterations indicative of DC could be determined which precluded testing of the initial hypothesis. CONCLUSIONS We investigated a model showing early DN without overt tubulointerstitial fibrosis and activation of the TGF-β-Smad-2/3 pathway. In this model, Rlx proved ineffective; however, the same may not apply to other models and types of diabetes.
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26
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Kardos M, Luikart G, Bunch R, Dewey S, Edwards W, McWilliam S, Stephenson J, Allendorf FW, Hogg JT, Kijas J. Whole‐genome resequencing uncovers molecular signatures of natural and sexual selection in wild bighorn sheep. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:5616-32. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2014] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marty Kardos
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Montana Missoula MT 59812 USA
- Evolutionary Biology Centre Uppsala University SE‐75236 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Gordon Luikart
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Montana Missoula MT 59812 USA
- Division of Biological Sciences Flathead Lake Biological Station Fish and Wildlife Genomics Group University of Montana Polson MT 59860 USA
| | - Rowan Bunch
- CSIRO Agriculture 306 Carmody Road St Lucia Brisbane Qld 4067 Australia
| | - Sarah Dewey
- Grand Teton National Park Moose WY 83012 USA
| | - William Edwards
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department Wildlife Disease Laboratory Laramie WY 82070 USA
| | - Sean McWilliam
- CSIRO Agriculture 306 Carmody Road St Lucia Brisbane Qld 4067 Australia
| | | | - Fred W. Allendorf
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Montana Missoula MT 59812 USA
| | - John T. Hogg
- Montana Conservation Science Institute Missoula MT 59803 USA
| | - James Kijas
- CSIRO Agriculture 306 Carmody Road St Lucia Brisbane Qld 4067 Australia
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27
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Halls ML, Bathgate RAD, Sutton SW, Dschietzig TB, Summers RJ. International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. XCV. Recent advances in the understanding of the pharmacology and biological roles of relaxin family peptide receptors 1-4, the receptors for relaxin family peptides. Pharmacol Rev 2015; 67:389-440. [PMID: 25761609 DOI: 10.1124/pr.114.009472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Relaxin, insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), relaxin-3, and INSL5 are the cognate ligands for the relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors 1-4, respectively. RXFP1 activates pleiotropic signaling pathways including the signalosome protein complex that facilitates high-sensitivity signaling; coupling to Gα(s), Gα(i), and Gα(o) proteins; interaction with glucocorticoid receptors; and the formation of hetero-oligomers with distinctive pharmacological properties. In addition to relaxin-related ligands, RXFP1 is activated by Clq-tumor necrosis factor-related protein 8 and by small-molecular-weight agonists, such as ML290 [2-isopropoxy-N-(2-(3-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)phenylcarbamoyl)phenyl)benzamide], that act allosterically. RXFP2 activates only the Gα(s)- and Gα(o)-coupled pathways. Relaxin-3 is primarily a neuropeptide, and its cognate receptor RXFP3 is a target for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and autism. A variety of peptide agonists, antagonists, biased agonists, and an allosteric modulator target RXFP3. Both RXFP3 and the related RXFP4 couple to Gα(i)/Gα(o) proteins. INSL5 has the properties of an incretin; it is secreted from the gut and is orexigenic. The expression of RXFP4 in gut, adipose tissue, and β-islets together with compromised glucose tolerance in INSL5 or RXFP4 knockout mice suggests a metabolic role. This review focuses on the many advances in our understanding of RXFP receptors in the last 5 years, their signal transduction mechanisms, the development of novel compounds that target RXFP1-4, the challenges facing the field, and current prospects for new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Halls
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (M.L.H., R.J.S.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (R.A.D.B.); Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (S.W.S.); Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany (T.B.D.); and Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Berlin, Germany (T.B.D.)
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (M.L.H., R.J.S.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (R.A.D.B.); Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (S.W.S.); Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany (T.B.D.); and Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Berlin, Germany (T.B.D.)
| | - Steve W Sutton
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (M.L.H., R.J.S.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (R.A.D.B.); Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (S.W.S.); Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany (T.B.D.); and Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Berlin, Germany (T.B.D.)
| | - Thomas B Dschietzig
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (M.L.H., R.J.S.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (R.A.D.B.); Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (S.W.S.); Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany (T.B.D.); and Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Berlin, Germany (T.B.D.)
| | - Roger J Summers
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (M.L.H., R.J.S.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (R.A.D.B.); Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (S.W.S.); Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany (T.B.D.); and Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Berlin, Germany (T.B.D.)
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Haugaard-Kedström LM, Hossain MA, Daly NL, Bathgate RAD, Rinderknecht E, Wade JD, Craik DJ, Rosengren KJ. Solution structure, aggregation behavior, and flexibility of human relaxin-2. ACS Chem Biol 2015; 10:891-900. [PMID: 25547165 DOI: 10.1021/cb500918v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin is a member of the relaxin/insulin peptide hormone superfamily and is characterized by a two-chain structure constrained by three disulfide bonds. Relaxin is a pleiotropic hormone and involved in a number of physiological and pathogenic processes, including collagen and cardiovascular regulation and tissue remodelling during pregnancy and cancer. Crystallographic and ultracentrifugation experiments have revealed that the human form of relaxin, H2 relaxin, self-associates into dimers, but the significance of this is poorly understood. Here, we present the NMR structure of a monomeric, amidated form of H2 relaxin and compare its features and behavior in solution to those of native H2 relaxin. The overall structure of H2 relaxin is retained in the monomeric form. H2 relaxin amide is fully active at the relaxin receptor RXFP1 and thus dimerization is not required for biological activity. Analysis of NMR chemical shifts and relaxation parameters identified internal motion in H2 relaxin at the pico-nanosecond and milli-microsecond time scales, which is commonly seen in other relaxin and insulin peptides and might be related to function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Norelle L. Daly
- Centre for
Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, AITHM, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia
| | | | - Ernst Rinderknecht
- Corthera, c/o
Novartis Corporation, San Carlos, California 94070, United States
| | | | | | - K. Johan Rosengren
- School
of Natural Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden
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Petrie EJ, Lagaida S, Sethi A, Bathgate RAD, Gooley PR. In a Class of Their Own - RXFP1 and RXFP2 are Unique Members of the LGR Family. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:137. [PMID: 26441827 PMCID: PMC4561518 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptors (LGRs) family consists of three groups: types A, B, and C and all contain a large extracellular domain (ECD) made up of the structural motif - the leucine-rich repeat (LRR). In the LGRs, the ECD binds the hormone or ligand, usually through the LRRs, that ultimately results in activation and signaling. Structures are available for the ECD of type A and B LGRs, but not the type C LGRs. This review discusses the structural features of LRR proteins, and describes the known structures of the type A and B LGRs and predictions that can be made for the type C LGRs. The mechanism of activation of the LGRs is discussed with a focus on the role of the low-density lipoprotein class A (LDLa) module, a unique feature of the type C LGRs. While the LDLa module is essential for activation of the type C LGRs, the molecular mechanism for this process is unknown. Experimental data for the potential interactions of the type C LGR ligands with the LRR domain, the transmembrane domain, and the LDLa module are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J. Petrie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Samantha Lagaida
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ashish Sethi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ross A. D. Bathgate
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gooley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Paul R. Gooley, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia,
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30
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Hossain MA, Wade JD. Synthetic relaxins. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2014; 22:47-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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31
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Duarte C, Kobayashi Y, Kawamoto T, Moriyama K. RELAXIN enhances differentiation and matrix mineralization through Relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 2 (Rxfp2) in MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro. Bone 2014; 65:92-101. [PMID: 24857857 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2014.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
RELAXIN (RLN) is a polypeptide hormone of the insulin-like hormone family; it facilitates birth by softening and widening the pubic symphysis and cervix in many mammals, including humans. The role of RLN in bone metabolism was recently suggested by its ability to induce osteoclastogenesis and activate osteoclast function. RLN binds to RELAXIN/INSULIN-LIKE FAMILY PEPTIDE 1 (RXFP1) and 2 (RXFP2), with varying species-specific affinities. Young men with mutated RXFP2 are at high risk for osteoporosis, as RXFP2 influences osteoblast metabolism by binding to INSULIN-LIKE PEPTIDE 3 (INSL3). However, there have been no reports on RLN function in osteoblast differentiation and mineralization or on the functionally dominant receptors for RLN in osteoblasts. We previously described Rxfp1 and 2 expression patterns in developing mouse oral components, including the maxillary and mandibular bones, Meckel's cartilage, tongue, and tooth primordia. We hypothesized that Rln/Rxfp signaling is a key mediator of skeletal development and metabolism. Here, we present the gene expression patterns of Rxfp1 and 2 in developing mouse calvarial frontal bones as determined by in situ hybridization. In addition, RLN enhanced osteoblastic differentiation and caused abnormal mineralization and extracellular matrix metabolism through Rxfp2, which was predominant over Rxfp1 in MC3T3-E1 mouse calvarial osteoblasts. Our data suggest a novel role for Rln in craniofacial skeletal development and metabolism through Rxfp2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Duarte
- Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Department of Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Function, Division of Maxillofacial/Neck Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
| | - Yukiho Kobayashi
- Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Department of Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Function, Division of Maxillofacial/Neck Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; Hard Tissue Genome Research Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510 Japan.
| | - Tatsuo Kawamoto
- Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Department of Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Function, Division of Maxillofacial/Neck Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
| | - Keiji Moriyama
- Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Department of Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Function, Division of Maxillofacial/Neck Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; Hard Tissue Genome Research Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510 Japan.
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Kong RCK, Bathgate RAD, Bruell S, Wade JD, Gooley PR, Petrie EJ. Mapping Key Regions of the RXFP2 Low-Density Lipoprotein Class-A Module That Are Involved in Signal Activation. Biochemistry 2014; 53:4537-48. [DOI: 10.1021/bi500797d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roy C. K. Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Bio21 Molecular
Science and Biotechnology Institute, ‡Florey Institute of Neuroscience
and Mental Health, and §School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ross A. D. Bathgate
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Bio21 Molecular
Science and Biotechnology Institute, ‡Florey Institute of Neuroscience
and Mental Health, and §School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Shoni Bruell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Bio21 Molecular
Science and Biotechnology Institute, ‡Florey Institute of Neuroscience
and Mental Health, and §School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - John D. Wade
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Bio21 Molecular
Science and Biotechnology Institute, ‡Florey Institute of Neuroscience
and Mental Health, and §School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gooley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Bio21 Molecular
Science and Biotechnology Institute, ‡Florey Institute of Neuroscience
and Mental Health, and §School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Emma J. Petrie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Bio21 Molecular
Science and Biotechnology Institute, ‡Florey Institute of Neuroscience
and Mental Health, and §School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Testosterone reduces knee passive range of motion and expression of relaxin receptor isoforms via 5α-dihydrotestosterone and androgen receptor binding. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:4619-34. [PMID: 24642882 PMCID: PMC3975417 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15034619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Revised: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian steroids such as estrogen and progesterone have been reported to influence knee laxity. The effect of testosterone, however, remains unknown. This study investigated the effect of testosterone on the knee range of motion (ROM) and the molecular mechanisms that might involve changes in the expression of relaxin receptor isoforms, Rxfp1 and Rxfp2 in the patella tendon and lateral collateral ligament of the female rat knee. Ovariectomized adult female Wistar rats received three days treatment with peanut oil (control), testosterone (125 and 250 μg/kg) and testosterone (125 and 250 μg/kg) plus flutamide, an androgen receptor blocker or finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor. Duplicate groups received similar treatment however in the presence of relaxin (25 ng/kg). A day after the last drug injection, knee passive ROM was measured by using a digital miniature goniometer. Both tendon and ligament were harvested and then analysed for protein and mRNA expression for Rxfp1 and Rxfp2 respectively. Knee passive ROM, Rxfp1 and Rxfp2 expression were significantly reduced following treatment with testosterone. Flutamide or finasteride administration antagonized the testosterone effect. Concomitant administration of testosterone and relaxin did not result in a significant change in knee ROM as compared to testosterone only treatment; however this was significantly increased following flutamide or finasteride addition. Testosterone effect on knee passive ROM is likely mediated via dihydro-testosterone (DHT), and involves downregulation of Rxfp1 and Rxfp2 expression, which may provide the mechanism underlying testosterone-induced decrease in female knee laxity.
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Dehghan F, Muniandy S, Yusof A, Salleh N. Sex-steroid regulation of relaxin receptor isoforms (RXFP1 & RXFP2) expression in the patellar tendon and lateral collateral ligament of female WKY rats. Int J Med Sci 2014; 11:180-91. [PMID: 24465164 PMCID: PMC3894403 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.6283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The incidence of non-contact knee injury was found higher in female than in male and is related to the phases of the menstrual cycle. This raised the possibility that female sex-steroids are involved in the mechanism underlying this injury via affecting the expression of the receptors for relaxin, a peptide hormone known to modulate ligament laxity. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of sex-steroids on relaxin receptor isoforms (RXFP1 & RXFP2) expression in the ligaments and tendons of the knee. METHODS Ovariectomized adult female WKY rats were treated with different doses of estrogen (0.2, 2, 20 μg/kg), progesterone (4mg) and testosterone (125 & 250μg/kg) for three consecutive days. At the end of the treatment, the animals were sacrificed and the patellar tendon and lateral collateral ligament were harvested for mRNA and protein expression analyses by Real Time PCR and Western blotting respectively. RESULTS RXFP1, the main isoform expressed in these knee structures and RXFP2 showed a dose-dependent increase in expression with estrogen. Progesterone treatment resulted in an increase while testosterone caused a dose-dependent decrease in the mRNA and protein expression of both relaxin receptor isoforms. DISCUSSION Progesterone and high dose estrogen up-regulate while testosterone down-regulates RXFP1 and RXFP2 expression in the patellar tendon and lateral collateral ligament of rat's knee. CONCLUSION Relaxin receptor isoforms up-regulation by progesterone and high dose estrogen could provide the basis for the reported increase in knee laxity while down-regulation of these receptor isoforms by testosterone could explain low incidence of non-contact knee injury in male.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firouzeh Dehghan
- 1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sekaran Muniandy
- 2. Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ashril Yusof
- 3. Department of Physiology, Sport Center, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Naguib Salleh
- 1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Dehghan F, Haerian BS, Muniandy S, Yusof A, Dragoo JL, Salleh N. The effect of relaxin on the musculoskeletal system. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2013; 24:e220-9. [PMID: 24283470 PMCID: PMC4282454 DOI: 10.1111/sms.12149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin is a hormone structurally related to insulin and insulin-like growth factor, which exerts its regulatory effect on the musculoskeletal and other systems through binding to its receptor in various tissues, mediated by different signaling pathways. Relaxin alters the properties of cartilage and tendon by activating collagenase. This hormone is also involved in bone remodeling and healing of injured ligaments and skeletal muscle. In this review, we have summarized the literature on the effect of relaxin in musculoskeletal system to provide a broad perspective for future studies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Dehghan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - B S Haerian
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - S Muniandy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - A Yusof
- Department of Physiology, Sports Center, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - J L Dragoo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - N Salleh
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Kong RCK, Petrie EJ, Mohanty B, Ling J, Lee JCY, Gooley PR, Bathgate RAD. The relaxin receptor (RXFP1) utilizes hydrophobic moieties on a signaling surface of its N-terminal low density lipoprotein class A module to mediate receptor activation. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:28138-51. [PMID: 23926099 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.499640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The peptide hormone relaxin is showing potential as a treatment for acute heart failure. Although it is known that relaxin mediates its actions through the G protein-coupled receptor relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1), little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which relaxin binding results in receptor activation. Previous studies have highlighted that the unique N-terminal low density lipoprotein class A (LDLa) module of RXFP1 is essential for receptor activation, and it has been hypothesized that this module is the true "ligand" of the receptor that directs the conformational changes necessary for G protein coupling. In this study, we confirmed that an RXFP1 receptor lacking the LDLa module binds ligand normally but cannot signal through any characterized G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway. Furthermore, we comprehensively examined the contributions of amino acids in the LDLa module to RXFP1 activity using both gain-of-function and loss-of-function mutational analysis together with NMR structural analysis of recombinant LDLa modules. Gain-of-function studies with an inactive RXFP1 chimera containing the LDLa module of the human LDL receptor (LB2) demonstrated two key N-terminal regions of the module that were able to rescue receptor signaling. Loss-of-function mutations of residues in these regions demonstrated that Leu-7, Tyr-9, and Lys-17 all contributed to the ability of the LDLa module to drive receptor activation, and judicious amino acid substitutions suggested this involves hydrophobic interactions. Our results demonstrate that these key residues contribute to interactions driving the active receptor conformation, providing further evidence of a unique mode of G protein-coupled receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy C K Kong
- From the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health
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Bathgate RAD, Oh MHY, Ling WJJ, Kaas Q, Hossain MA, Gooley PR, Rosengren KJ. Elucidation of relaxin-3 binding interactions in the extracellular loops of RXFP3. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2013; 4:13. [PMID: 23440673 PMCID: PMC3579193 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 01/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin-3 is a highly conserved neuropeptide in vertebrate species and binds to the Class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) RXFP3. Relaxin-3 is involved in a wide range of behaviors, including feeding, stress responses, arousal, and cognitive processes and therefore targeting of RXFP3 may be relevant for a range of neurological diseases. Structural knowledge of RXFP3 and its interaction with relaxin-3 would both increase our understanding of ligand recognition in GPCRs that respond to protein ligands and enable acceleration of the design of drug leads. In this study we have used comparative sequence analysis, molecular modeling and receptor mutagenesis to investigate the binding site of the native ligand human relaxin-3 (H3 relaxin) on the human RXFP3 receptor. Previous structure function studies have demonstrated that arginine residues in the H3 relaxin B-chain are critical for binding interactions with the receptor extracellular loops and/or N-terminal domain. Hence we have concentrated on determining the ligand interacting sites in these domains and have focused on glutamic (E) and aspartic acid (D) residues in these regions that may form electrostatic interactions with these critical arginine residues. Conserved D/E residues identified from vertebrate species multiple sequence alignments were mutated to Ala in human RXFP3 to test the effect of loss of amino acid side chain on receptor binding using a Eu-labeled relaxin-3 agonist. Finally data from mutagenesis experiments have been used in ligand docking simulations to a homology model of human RXFP3 based on the peptide-bound chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) structure. These studies have resulted in a model of the relaxin-3 interaction with RXFP3 which will inform further interrogation of the agonist binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross A. D. Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Ross A. D. Bathgate, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, 3010 Victoria, Australia. e-mail:
| | - Maria H. Y. Oh
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - W. J. Jason Ling
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - M. Akhter Hossain
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- School of Chemistry, University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gooley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - K. Johan Rosengren
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
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Bruell S, Kong RCK, Petrie EJ, Hoare B, Wade JD, Scott DJ, Gooley PR, Bathgate RAD. Chimeric RXFP1 and RXFP2 Receptors Highlight the Similar Mechanism of Activation Utilizing Their N-Terminal Low-Density Lipoprotein Class A Modules. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2013; 4:171. [PMID: 24273532 PMCID: PMC3822782 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors 1 and 2 are unique G-protein coupled receptors in that they contain an N-terminal low-density lipoprotein type A (LDLa) module which is necessary for receptor activation. The current hypothesis suggests that upon ligand binding the LDLa module interacts with the transmembrane (TM) domain of a homodimer partner receptor to induce the active receptor conformations. We recently demonstrated that three residues in the N-terminus of the RXFP1 LDLa module are potentially involved in hydrophobic interactions with the receptor to drive activation. RXFP2 shares two out of three of the residues implicated, suggesting that the two LDLa modules could be interchanged without adversely affecting activity. However, in 2007 it was shown that a chimera consisting of the RXFP1 receptor with its LDLa swapped for that of RXFP2 did not signal. We noticed this construct also contained the RXFP2 region linking the LDLa to the leucine-rich repeats. We therefore constructed chimeric RXFP1 and RXFP2 receptors with their LDLa modules swapped immediately C-terminally to the final cysteine residue of the module, retaining the native linker. In addition, we exchanged the TM domains of the chimeras to explore if matching the LDLa module with the TM domain of its native receptor altered activity. All of the chimeras were expressed at the surface of HEK293T cells with ligand binding profiles similar to the wild-type receptors. Importantly, as predicted, ligand binding was able to induce cAMP-based signaling. Chimeras of RXFP1 with the LDLa of RXFP2 demonstrated reduced H2 relaxin potency with the pairing of the RXFP2 TM with the RXFP2 LDLa necessary for full ligand efficacy. In contrast the ligand-mediated potencies and efficacies on the RXFP2 chimeras were similar suggesting the RXFP1 LDLa module has similar efficacy on the RXFP2 TM domain. Our studies demonstrate the LDLa modules of RXFP1 and RXFP2 modulate receptor activation via a similar mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoni Bruell
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health , Melbourne, VIC , Australia ; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , Melbourne, VIC , Australia
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The Importance of Tryptophan B28 in H2 Relaxin for RXFP2 Binding and Activation. Int J Pept Res Ther 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-012-9332-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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