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Veland N, Gleneadie HJ, Brown KE, Sardini A, Pombo J, Dimond A, Burns V, Sarkisyan K, Schiering C, Webster Z, Merkenschlager M, Fisher AG. Bioluminescence imaging of Cyp1a1-luciferase reporter mice demonstrates prolonged activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the lung. Commun Biol 2024; 7:442. [PMID: 38600349 PMCID: PMC11006662 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06089-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signalling integrates biological processes that sense and respond to environmental, dietary, and metabolic challenges to ensure tissue homeostasis. AHR is a transcription factor that is inactive in the cytosol but upon encounter with ligand translocates to the nucleus and drives the expression of AHR targets, including genes of the cytochrome P4501 family of enzymes such as Cyp1a1. To dynamically visualise AHR activity in vivo, we generated reporter mice in which firefly luciferase (Fluc) was non-disruptively targeted into the endogenous Cyp1a1 locus. Exposure of these animals to FICZ, 3-MC or to dietary I3C induced strong bioluminescence signal and Cyp1a1 expression in many organs including liver, lung and intestine. Longitudinal studies revealed that AHR activity was surprisingly long-lived in the lung, with sustained Cyp1a1 expression evident in discrete populations of cells including columnar epithelia around bronchioles. Our data link diet to lung physiology and also reveal the power of bespoke Cyp1a1-Fluc reporters to longitudinally monitor AHR activity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Veland
- Epigenetic Memory Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 OHS, UK
| | - Hannah J Gleneadie
- Epigenetic Memory Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 OHS, UK
| | - Karen E Brown
- Epigenetic Memory Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 OHS, UK
| | - Alessandro Sardini
- Whole Animal Physiology and Imaging, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Joaquim Pombo
- Senescence Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Andrew Dimond
- Epigenetic Memory Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 OHS, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Vanessa Burns
- Epigenetic Memory Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 OHS, UK
| | - Karen Sarkisyan
- Synthetic Biology Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Chris Schiering
- Inflammation and Obesity Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Zoe Webster
- Transgenics & Embryonic Stem Cell Facility, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Matthias Merkenschlager
- Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Amanda G Fisher
- Epigenetic Memory Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 OHS, UK.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
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2
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Sládeková L, Mani S, Dvořák Z. Ligands and agonists of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor AhR: Facts and myths. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 213:115626. [PMID: 37247746 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) belongs to the essential helix-loop-helix transcription factors family. This receptor has a central role in determining host physiology and a variety of pathophysiologies ranging from inflammation and metabolism to cancer. AhR is a ligand-driven receptor with intricate pharmacology of activation depending on the type and quantity of ligand present. Therefore, a better understanding of AhR ligands per se is critical to move the field forward. In this minireview, we clarify some facts and myths about AhR ligands and how further studies could shed light on the true nature of AhR activation by these ligands. The review covers select chemical classes and explores parameters that qualify them as true receptor ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Sládeková
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Sridhar Mani
- Department of Genetics and Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Zdeněk Dvořák
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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3
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Flegel J, Shaaban S, Jia ZJ, Schulte B, Lian Y, Krzyzanowski A, Metz M, Schneidewind T, Wesseler F, Flegel A, Reich A, Brause A, Xue G, Zhang M, Dötsch L, Stender ID, Hoffmann JE, Scheel R, Janning P, Rastinejad F, Schade D, Strohmann C, Antonchick AP, Sievers S, Moura-Alves P, Ziegler S, Waldmann H. The Highly Potent AhR Agonist Picoberin Modulates Hh-Dependent Osteoblast Differentiation. J Med Chem 2022; 65:16268-16289. [PMID: 36459434 PMCID: PMC9791665 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Identification and analysis of small molecule bioactivity in target-agnostic cellular assays and monitoring changes in phenotype followed by identification of the biological target are a powerful approach for the identification of novel bioactive chemical matter in particular when the monitored phenotype is disease-related and physiologically relevant. Profiling methods that enable the unbiased analysis of compound-perturbed states can suggest mechanisms of action or even targets for bioactive small molecules and may yield novel insights into biology. Here we report the enantioselective synthesis of natural-product-inspired 8-oxotetrahydroprotoberberines and the identification of Picoberin, a low picomolar inhibitor of Hedgehog (Hh)-induced osteoblast differentiation. Global transcriptome and proteome profiling revealed the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) as the molecular target of this compound and identified a cross talk between Hh and AhR signaling during osteoblast differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Flegel
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Technical
University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Saad Shaaban
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Vienna Währinger Str. 38, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Zhi Jun Jia
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Key
Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children,
Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Britta Schulte
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Technical
University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Yilong Lian
- Ludwig
Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United
Kingdom
| | - Adrian Krzyzanowski
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Technical
University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Malte Metz
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Tabea Schneidewind
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Technical
University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Fabian Wesseler
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Technical
University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Anke Flegel
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Alisa Reich
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Alexandra Brause
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Gang Xue
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Minghao Zhang
- Nuffield
Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Lara Dötsch
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Technical
University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Isabelle D. Stender
- Protein
Chemistry Facility, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Jan-Erik Hoffmann
- Protein
Chemistry Facility, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Rebecca Scheel
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Technical
University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Petra Janning
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Fraydoon Rastinejad
- Nuffield
Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Dennis Schade
- Dept.
of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel 24118, Germany
| | - Carsten Strohmann
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Technical
University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Andrey P. Antonchick
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Technical
University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Department
of Chemistry and Forensics, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, United Kingdom
| | - Sonja Sievers
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Compound
Management and Screening Center, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Pedro Moura-Alves
- Ludwig
Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United
Kingdom
- i3S-Instituto
de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto
de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade
do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Slava Ziegler
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute
of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Technical
University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
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Current Therapeutic Landscape and Safety Roadmap for Targeting the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Inflammatory Gastrointestinal Indications. Cells 2022; 11:cells11101708. [PMID: 35626744 PMCID: PMC9139855 DOI: 10.3390/cells11101708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Target modulation of the AhR for inflammatory gastrointestinal (GI) conditions holds great promise but also the potential for safety liabilities both within and beyond the GI tract. The ubiquitous expression of the AhR across mammalian tissues coupled with its role in diverse signaling pathways makes development of a “clean” AhR therapeutically challenging. Ligand promiscuity and diversity in context-specific AhR activation further complicates targeting the AhR for drug development due to limitations surrounding clinical translatability. Despite these concerns, several approaches to target the AhR have been explored such as small molecules, microbials, PROTACs, and oligonucleotide-based approaches. These various chemical modalities are not without safety liabilities and require unique de-risking strategies to parse out toxicities. Collectively, these programs can benefit from in silico and in vitro methodologies that investigate specific AhR pathway activation and have the potential to implement thresholding parameters to categorize AhR ligands as “high” or “low” risk for sustained AhR activation. Exploration into transcriptomic signatures for AhR safety assessment, incorporation of physiologically-relevant in vitro model systems, and investigation into chronic activation of the AhR by structurally diverse ligands will help address gaps in our understanding regarding AhR-dependent toxicities. Here, we review the role of the AhR within the GI tract, novel therapeutic modality approaches to target the AhR, key AhR-dependent safety liabilities, and relevant strategies that can be implemented to address drug safety concerns. Together, this review discusses the emerging therapeutic landscape of modalities targeting the AhR for inflammatory GI indications and offers a safety roadmap for AhR drug development.
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Liang Y, Xie S, He Y, Xu M, Qiao X, Zhu Y, Wu W. Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites as Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:9484217. [PMID: 35096208 PMCID: PMC8791723 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9484217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that deteriorates cognitive function. Patients with AD generally exhibit neuroinflammation, elevated beta-amyloid (Aβ), tau phosphorylation (p-tau), and other pathological changes in the brain. The kynurenine pathway (KP) and several of its metabolites, especially quinolinic acid (QA), are considered to be involved in the neuropathogenesis of AD. The important metabolites and key enzymes show significant importance in neuroinflammation and AD. Meanwhile, the discovery of changed levels of KP metabolites in patients with AD suggests that KP metabolites may have a prominent role in the pathogenesis of AD. Further, some KP metabolites exhibit other effects on the brain, such as oxidative stress regulation and neurotoxicity. Both analogs of the neuroprotective and antineuroinflammation metabolites and small molecule enzyme inhibitors preventing the formation of neurotoxic and neuroinflammation compounds may have potential therapeutic significance. This review focused on the KP metabolites through the relationship of neuroinflammation in AD, significant KP metabolites, and associated molecular mechanisms as well as the utility of these metabolites as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AD. The objective is to provide references to find biomarkers and therapeutic targets for patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Liang
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Shan Xie
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Yanyun He
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Manru Xu
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Xi Qiao
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Yue Zhu
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Wenbin Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
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Greytak AB, Abiodun SL, Burrell JM, Cook EN, Jayaweera NP, Islam MM, Shaker AE. Thermodynamics of nanocrystal–ligand binding through isothermal titration calorimetry. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:13037-13058. [DOI: 10.1039/d2cc05012a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Manipulations of nanocrystal (NC) surfaces have propelled the applications of colloidal NCs across various fields such as bioimaging, catalysis, electronics, and sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B. Greytak
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
| | - Sakiru L. Abiodun
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
| | - Jennii M. Burrell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
| | - Emily N. Cook
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
| | - Nuwanthaka P. Jayaweera
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
| | - Md Moinul Islam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
| | - Abdulla E Shaker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
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Flagellin lysine methyltransferase FliB catalyzes a [4Fe-4S] mediated methyl transfer reaction. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010052. [PMID: 34788341 PMCID: PMC8598068 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The methyltransferase FliB posttranslationally modifies surface-exposed ɛ-N-lysine residues of flagellin, the protomer of the flagellar filament in Salmonella enterica (S. enterica). Flagellin methylation, reported originally in 1959, was recently shown to enhance host cell adhesion and invasion by increasing the flagellar hydrophobicity. The role of FliB in this process, however, remained enigmatic. In this study, we investigated the properties and mechanisms of FliB from S. enterica in vivo and in vitro. We show that FliB is an S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) dependent methyltransferase, forming a membrane associated oligomer that modifies flagellin in the bacterial cytosol. Using X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, zero-field 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, methylation assays and chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, we further found that FliB contains an oxygen sensitive [4Fe-4S] cluster that is essential for the methyl transfer reaction and might mediate a radical mechanism. Our data indicate that the [4Fe-4S] cluster is coordinated by a cysteine rich motif in FliB that is highly conserved among multiple genera of the Enterobacteriaceae family.
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