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Qian M, Liu J, Zhao D, Cai P, Pan C, Jia W, Gao Y, Zhang Y, Zhang N, Zhang Y, Zhang Q, Wu D, Shan C, Zhang M, Schnabl B, Yang S, Shen X, Wang L. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Deficiency in Intestinal Epithelial Cells Aggravates Alcohol-Related Liver Disease. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 13:233-256. [PMID: 34454169 PMCID: PMC8599170 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The ligand-activated transcription factor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) can sense xenobiotics, dietary, microbial, and metabolic cues. Roles of Ahr in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) have been much less elucidated compared with those in intestinal innate immune cells. Here, we explored whether the IEC intrinsic Ahr could modulate the development of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) via the gut-liver axis. METHODS Mice with IEC specific Ahr deficiency (AhrΔIEC) were generated and fed with a control or ethanol diet. Alterations of intestinal microbiota and metabolites were investigated by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, metagenomics, and untargeted metabolomics. AHR agonists were used to evaluate the therapeutic potentials of intestinal Ahr activation for ALD treatment. RESULTS AhrΔIEC mice showed more severe liver injury after ethanol feeding than control mice. Ahr deficiency in IECs altered the intestinal metabolite composition, creating an environment that promoted the overgrowth of Helicobacter hepaticus and Helicobacter ganmani in the gut, enhancing their translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes and liver. Among the altered metabolites, isobutyric acid was increased in the cecum of ethanol-fed AhrΔIEC mice relative to control mice. Furthermore, both H.hepaticus and isobutyric acid administration aggravated ethanol-induced liver injury in vivo and in vitro. Supplementation with AHR agonists, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole and indole-3-carbinol, protected mice from ALD development by specifically activating intestinal Ahr without affecting liver Ahr function. Alcoholic patients showed lower intestinal AHR expression and higher H.hepaticus levels compared with healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that targeted restoration of IEC intrinsic Ahr function may present as a novel approach for ALD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyi Qian
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China,Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China,School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Liu
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China,Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Danyang Zhao
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China,Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pengpeng Cai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chuyue Pan
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China,Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenxin Jia
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China,Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingsheng Gao
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China,Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yufei Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China,Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substances of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yinan Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substances of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Quan Zhang
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Dalei Wu
- Helmholtz International Lab, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chengjie Shan
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meiling Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bernd Schnabl
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Song Yang
- Department of Hepatology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Shen
- School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Lirui Wang
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China,Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China,Correspondence Address correspondence to: Lirui Wang, PhD, Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, 22 Hankou Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210093 China.
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Wu H, Liu B, Yang K, Winston-McPherson GN, Leisten ED, Vezina CM, Ricke WA, Peterson RE, Tang W. Synthesis and biological evaluation of FICZ analogues as agonists of aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:126959. [PMID: 31952965 PMCID: PMC7007633 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.126959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand activated transcription factor involved in multiple biological processes including immune cell differentiation, intestinal function and inflammation. Based on the scaffold of naturally occurring AhR ligand 6-formylindolo (3,2-b) carbazole (FICZ, 2), a series of analogues has been designed, synthesized and evaluated by cell-based assays. The structure-activity relationships study has successfully led to the discovery of compound 11e with extremely potent activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Binkai Liu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Ka Yang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | | | - Eric D Leisten
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Chad M Vezina
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI 53706, USA; University of Wisconsin-Madison, O'Brien Urology Research Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - William A Ricke
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, O'Brien Urology Research Center, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Urology and Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Richard E Peterson
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Weiping Tang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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Zhang C, Creech KL, Zuercher WJ, Willson TM. Gram-scale synthesis of FICZ, a photoreactive endogenous ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9982. [PMID: 31292477 PMCID: PMC6620467 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46374-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of an efficient and scalable synthesis of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), a naturally-occurring aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand, allowed its biological and physical properties to be studied. FICZ was shown to be the most potent among a series of 6-substituted indolo[3,2-b]carbazoles for activation of AhR in cells. Photostability studies of FICZ revealed a non-enzymatic mechanism for its conversion to a biologically active quinone. These results further support the hypothesis that FICZ is a light-dependent hormone that links sun exposure to regulation of biological pathways in peripheral tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cunyu Zhang
- Platform Technology Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Katrina L Creech
- Platform Technology Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - William J Zuercher
- Structural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Timothy M Willson
- Structural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Janosik T, Rannug A, Rannug U, Wahlström N, Slätt J, Bergman J. Chemistry and Properties of Indolocarbazoles. Chem Rev 2018; 118:9058-9128. [PMID: 30191712 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The indolocarbazoles are an important class of nitrogen heterocycles which has evolved significantly in recent years, with numerous studies focusing on their diverse biological effects, or targeting new materials with potential applications in organic electronics. This review aims at providing a broad survey of the chemistry and properties of indolocarbazoles from an interdisciplinary point of view, with particular emphasis on practical synthetic aspects, as well as certain topics which have not been previously accounted for in detail, such as the occurrence, formation, biological activities, and metabolism of indolo[3,2- b]carbazoles. The literature of the past decade forms the basis of the text, which is further supplemented with older key references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Janosik
- Research Institutes of Sweden , Bioscience and Materials, RISE Surface, Process and Formulation , SE-151 36 Södertälje , Sweden
| | - Agneta Rannug
- Institute of Environmental Medicine , Karolinska Institutet , SE-171 77 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Ulf Rannug
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute , Stockholm University , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | | | - Johnny Slätt
- Department of Chemistry, Applied Physical Chemistry , KTH Royal Institute of Technology , SE-100 44 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Jan Bergman
- Karolinska Institutet , Department of Biosciences and Nutrition , SE-141 83 Huddinge , Sweden
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