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Liu H, Wang Q, Lan W, Liu D, Huang J, Yao J. Radiosensitization effect of quinoline-indole-schiff base derivative 10E on non-small cell lung cancer cells in vitro and in tumor xenografts. Invest New Drugs 2024:10.1007/s10637-024-01451-1. [PMID: 38880855 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-024-01451-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Radioresistance is an inevitable obstacle in the clinical treatment of inoperable patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Combining treatment with radiosensitizers may improve the efficacy of radiotherapy. Previously, the quinoline derivative 10E as new exporter of Nur77 has shown superior antitumor activity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, we aimed to investigate the radiosensitizing activity and acting mechanisms of 10E. In vitro, A549 and H460 cells were treated with control, ionizing radiation (IR), 10E, and 10E + IR. Cell viability, apoptosis, and cycle were examined using CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays. Protein expression and localization were examined using western blotting and immunofluorescence. Tumor xenograft models were established to evaluate the radiosensitizing effect of 10E in vivo. 10E significantly inhibited cell proliferation and increased their radiosensitivity while reducing level of p-BCRA1, p-DNA-PKs, and 53BP1 involved in the DNA damage repair pathway, indicating that its radiosensitizing activity is closely associated with repressing DNA damage repair. A549 cells showed low level of Nur77 and a low response to IR but 10E-treated A549 cells showed high level of Nur77 indicating that Nur77 is a core radiosensitivity factor and 10E restores the expression of Nur77. Nur77 and Ku80 extranuclear co-localization in the 10E-treated A549 cells suggested that 10E-modulated Nur77 nuclear exportation inhibits DNA damage repair pathways and increases IR-triggered apoptosis. The combination of 10E and IR significantly inhibits tumor growth in a tumor xenograft model. Our findings suggest that 10E acts as a radiosensitizer and that combining 10E with radiotherapy may be a potential strategy for NSCLC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Liu
- Centre for Translational Research in Cancer, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Wanying Lan
- Guixi Community Health Center of the Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Duanya Liu
- Centre for Translational Research in Cancer, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Jiangang Huang
- Xingzhi College, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Jie Yao
- Centre for Translational Research in Cancer, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610000, China.
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2
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Safe S. Natural products and synthetic analogs as selective orphan nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A) modulators. Histol Histopathol 2024; 39:543-556. [PMID: 38116863 DOI: 10.14670/hh-18-689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Although endogenous ligands for the orphan nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1, Nur77), NR4A2 (Nurr1), and NR4A3 (Nor-1) have not been identified, several natural products and synthetic analogs bind NR4A members. These studies are becoming increasingly important since members of the NR4A subfamily of 3 receptors are potential drug targets for treating cancer and non-cancer endpoints and particularly those conditions associated with inflammatory diseases. Ligands that bind NR4A1, NR4A2, and NR4A3 including Cytosporone B, celastrol, bis-indole derived (CDIM) compounds, tryptophan/indolic, metabolites, prostaglandins, resveratrol, piperlongumine, fatty acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, peptides, and drug families including statins and antimalarial drugs. The structural diversity of NR4A ligands and their overlapping and unique effects on NR4A1, NR4A2, and NR4A3 suggest that NR4A ligands are selective NR4A modulators (SNR4AMs) that exhibit tissue-, structure-, and response-specific activities. The SNR4AM activities of NR4A ligands are exemplified among the Cytosporone B analogs where n-pentyl-2-[3,5-dihydroxy-2-(nonanoyl)]phenyl acetate (PDNPA) binds NR4A1, NR4A2 and NR4A3 but activates only NR4A1 and exhibits significant functional differences with other Cytosporone B analogs. The number of potential clinical applications of agents targeting NR4A is increasing and this should spur future development of SNR4AMs as therapeutics that act through NR4A1, NR4A2 and NR4A3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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3
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Li L, Zhong W, Liu H, Espinosa-Artiles P, Xu YM, Wang C, Robles JMV, Paz TA, Inácio MC, Chen F, Xu Y, Gunatilaka AAL, Molnár I. Biosynthesis of Cytosporones in Leotiomycetous Filamentous Fungi. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:6189-6198. [PMID: 38386630 PMCID: PMC11106036 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c14066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Polyketides with the isochroman-3-one pharmacophore are rare among fungal natural products as their biosynthesis requires an unorthodox S-type aromatic ring cyclization. Genome mining uncovered a conserved gene cluster in select leotiomycetous fungi that encodes the biosynthesis of cytosporones, including isochroman-3-one congeners. Combinatorial biosynthesis in total biosynthetic and biocatalytic formats in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in vitro reconstitution of key reactions with purified enzymes revealed how cytosporone structural and bioactivity diversity is generated. The S-type acyl dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (ADA) core of cytosporones is assembled by a collaborating polyketide synthase pair. Thioesterase domain-catalyzed transesterification releases ADA esters, some of which are known Nur77 modulators. Alternatively, hydrolytic release allows C6 hydroxylation by a flavin-dependent monooxygenase, yielding a trihydroxybenzene moiety. Reduction of the C9 carbonyl by a short chain dehydrogenase/reductase initiates isochroman-3-one formation, affording cytosporones with cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity. Enoyl di- or trihydroxyphenylacetic acids are generated as shunt products, while isocroman-3,4-diones are formed by autoxidation. The cytosporone pathway offers novel polyketide biosynthetic enzymes for combinatorial synthetic biology to advance the production of "unnatural" natural products for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, Arizona, United States
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, P. R. China
| | - Weimao Zhong
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, Arizona, United States
| | - Hang Liu
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, Arizona, United States
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Patricia Espinosa-Artiles
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, Arizona, United States
| | - Ya-ming Xu
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, Arizona, United States
| | - Chen Wang
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, Arizona, United States
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Jose Manuel Verdugo Robles
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, Arizona, United States
| | - Tiago Antunes Paz
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Marielle Cascaes Inácio
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, Arizona, United States
| | - Fusheng Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, P. R. China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Yuquan Xu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - A. A. Leslie Gunatilaka
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, Arizona, United States
| | - István Molnár
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, Arizona, United States
- VTT Technical Research Center of Finland Ltd., Espoo 02150, Finland
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4
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Wang L, Xiao Y, Luo Y, Master RP, Mo J, Kim MC, Liu Y, Maharjan CK, Patel UM, De U, Carelock ME, Tithi TI, Li X, Shaffer DR, Guertin KR, Zhuang H, Moser E, Smalley KS, Lv D, Zhou D, Zheng G, Zhang W. PROTAC-mediated NR4A1 degradation as a novel strategy for cancer immunotherapy. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20231519. [PMID: 38334978 PMCID: PMC10857906 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20231519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
An effective cancer therapy requires killing cancer cells and targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME). Searching for molecules critical for multiple cell types in the TME, we identified NR4A1 as one such molecule that can maintain the immune suppressive TME. Here, we establish NR4A1 as a valid target for cancer immunotherapy and describe a first-of-its-kind proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC, named NR-V04) against NR4A1. NR-V04 degrades NR4A1 within hours in vitro and exhibits long-lasting NR4A1 degradation in tumors with an excellent safety profile. NR-V04 inhibits and frequently eradicates established tumors. At the mechanistic level, NR-V04 induces the tumor-infiltrating (TI) B cells and effector memory CD8+ T (Tem) cells and reduces monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (m-MDSC), all of which are known to be clinically relevant immune cell populations in human melanomas. Overall, NR-V04-mediated NR4A1 degradation holds promise for enhancing anticancer immune responses and offers a new avenue for treating various types of cancers such as melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yufeng Xiao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yuewan Luo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Rohan P. Master
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jiao Mo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Myung-Chul Kim
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, South Korea
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chandra K. Maharjan
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Urvi M. Patel
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Umasankar De
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Madison E. Carelock
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tanzia Islam Tithi
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | | | - Haoyang Zhuang
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Emily Moser
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Keiran S.M. Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Dongwen Lv
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center of Innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Daohong Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center of Innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Guangrong Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Weizhou Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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5
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Upadhyay S, Hailemariam AE, Mariyam F, Hafiz Z, Martin G, Kothari J, Farkas E, Sivaram G, Bell L, Tjalkens R, Safe S. Bis-Indole Derivatives as Dual Nuclear Receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) and NR4A2 Ligands. Biomolecules 2024; 14:284. [PMID: 38540704 PMCID: PMC10967861 DOI: 10.3390/biom14030284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Bis-indole derived compounds such as 1,1-bis(3'-indolyl)-1-(3,5-disubstitutedphenyl) methane (DIM-3,5) and the corresponding 4-hydroxyl analogs (DIM8-3,5) are NR4A1 ligands that act as inverse NR4A1 agonists and are potent inhibitors of tumor growth. The high potency of several DIM-3,5 analogs (IC50 < 1 mg/kg/day), coupled with the >60% similarity of the ligand-binding domains (LBDs) of NR4A1 and NR4A2 and the pro-oncogenic activities of both receptors lead us to hypothesize that these compounds may act as dual NR4A1 and NR4A2 ligands. Using a fluorescence binding assay, it was shown that 22 synthetic DIM8-3,5 and DIM-3,5 analogs bound the LBD of NR4A1 and NR4A2 with most KD values in the low µM range. Moreover, the DIM-3,5 and DIM8-3,5 analogs also decreased NR4A1- and NR4A2-dependent transactivation in U87G glioblastoma cells transfected with GAL4-NR4A1 or GAL4-NR4A2 chimeras and a UAS-luciferase reporter gene construct. The DIM-3,5 and DIM8-3,5 analogs were cytotoxic to U87 glioblastoma and RKO colon cancer cells and the DIM-3,5 compounds were more cytotoxic than the DIM8-3,5 compounds. These studies show that both DIM-3,5 and DIM8-3,5 compounds previously identified as NR4A1 ligands bind both NR4A1 and NR4A2 and are dual NR4A1/2 ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srijana Upadhyay
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
| | - Amanuel Esayas Hailemariam
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
| | - Fuada Mariyam
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
| | - Zahin Hafiz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Gregory Martin
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
| | - Jainish Kothari
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Evan Farkas
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
| | - Gargi Sivaram
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Logan Bell
- Department of Chemistry, University of La Verne, La Verne, CA 91750, USA;
| | - Ronald Tjalkens
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA;
| | - Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
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6
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Manickasamy MK, Sajeev A, BharathwajChetty B, Alqahtani MS, Abbas M, Hegde M, Aswani BS, Shakibaei M, Sethi G, Kunnumakkara AB. Exploring the nexus of nuclear receptors in hematological malignancies. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:78. [PMID: 38334807 PMCID: PMC10858172 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05085-z] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Hematological malignancies (HM) represent a subset of neoplasms affecting the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic systems, categorized primarily into leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Their prognosis varies considerably, with a frequent risk of relapse despite ongoing treatments. While contemporary therapeutic strategies have extended overall patient survival, they do not offer cures for advanced stages and often lead to challenges such as acquisition of drug resistance, recurrence, and severe side effects. The need for innovative therapeutic targets is vital to elevate both survival rates and patients' quality of life. Recent research has pivoted towards nuclear receptors (NRs) due to their role in modulating tumor cell characteristics including uncontrolled proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis evasion, invasion and migration. Existing evidence emphasizes NRs' critical role in HM. The regulation of NR expression through agonists, antagonists, or selective modulators, contingent upon their levels, offers promising clinical implications in HM management. Moreover, several anticancer agents targeting NRs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This review highlights the integral function of NRs in HM's pathophysiology and the potential benefits of therapeutically targeting these receptors, suggesting a prospective avenue for more efficient therapeutic interventions against HM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Kumar Manickasamy
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Anjana Sajeev
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Bandari BharathwajChetty
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Mohammed S Alqahtani
- Radiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, 61421, Abha, Saudi Arabia
- BioImaging Unit, Space Research Centre, University of Leicester, Michael Atiyah Building, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Mohamed Abbas
- Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, 61421, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mangala Hegde
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Babu Santha Aswani
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Mehdi Shakibaei
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Department of Human-Anatomy, Musculoskeletal Research Group and Tumor Biology, Institute of Anatomy, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117600, Singapore.
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore.
| | - Ajaikumar B Kunnumakkara
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India.
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7
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Qin J, Niu B, Chen X, Hu C, Lu S, Li H, Liu W, Li J, Teng Z, Yang Y, Hu H, Xu Y, Huo S, Wu Z, Qiu Y, Zhou H, Fang M. Discovery of 5-(Pyrimidin-2-ylamino)-1 H-indole-2-carboxamide Derivatives as Nur77 Modulators with Selective and Potent Activity Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. J Med Chem 2023; 66:15847-15866. [PMID: 37983615 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 has been validated as a potential drug target for treating breast cancer. Therefore, focusing on the SAR study of the lead 8b (KDSPR(Nur77) = 354 nM), we found the active compound ja which exhibited improved Nur77-binding capability (KDSPR(Nur77) = 91 nM) and excellent antiproliferative activities against breast cancer cell lines. Interestingly, ja acted as a potent and selective Nur77 antagonist, displaying good potency against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines but did not inhibit human normal breast cancer cell line MCF-10A (SI > 20). Exceptionally, ja Nur77-dependently caused mitochondria dysfunction and induced the caspase-dependent apoptosis by mediating the TP53 phosphorylation pathway. Moreover, ja significantly suppressed MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumor growth but had no apparent side effects in mice and zebrafish. Overall, ja demonstrated to be the first Nur77 modulator mediating the TP53 phosphorylation pathway that has the potential as a novel anticancer agent for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingbo Qin
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Boning Niu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Cheng Hu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Sheng Lu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Hongsheng Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Weihao Liu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Zihao Teng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yinghuang Yang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Hongyu Hu
- Xingzhi College, Zhejiang Normal University, Lanxi 321004, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Shuaidong Huo
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Zhen Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yingkun Qiu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Hu Zhou
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Meijuan Fang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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8
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Stiller T, Merk D. Exploring Fatty Acid Mimetics as NR4A Ligands. J Med Chem 2023; 66:15362-15369. [PMID: 37918435 PMCID: PMC10683012 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The ligand-activated transcription factors Nur77, Nurr1, and NOR-1 forming the NR4A family of nuclear receptors are considered as potential targets in various pathologies, including neurodegeneration and cancer. However, chemical tools for pharmacological NR4A modulation as a prerequisite for target validation are rare. Recent findings suggest that NR4As bind fatty acid metabolites and fatty acid mimetic (FAM) drugs, opening new opportunities for NR4A modulator development. We have explored the chemical space of FAM NR4A ligands by using fragment screening, in silico analysis, and systematic structure-activity relationship evaluation. From a chemically diverse library of 92 fragments, we identified 11 new FAM NR4A agonist and inverse agonist scaffolds. Structural optimization of the most active FAM fragment yielded NR4A agonists with submicromolar potency and binding affinity, demonstrating remarkable potential of FAM as NR4A-modulating tools and drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Stiller
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Merk
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, 81377 Munich, Germany
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9
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Kang Q, Chai W, Min J, Qu X. Yin Yang 1 suppresses apoptosis and oxidative stress injury in SH-SY5Y cells by facilitating NR4A1 expression. J Neurogenet 2023; 37:115-123. [PMID: 37922205 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2023.2270745] [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: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous studies implicate nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1) in oxidative stress associated with PD. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of NR4A1 expression remains incompletely understood. In the present study, a PD cell model was established by using 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) in SH-SY5Y cells. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by using CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The activities of LDH and SOD, and ROS generation were used as an indicators of oxidative stress. ChIP-PCR was performed to detect the interaction between Yin Yang 1 (YY1) and the NR4A1 promoter. MPP+ treatment inhibited SH-SY5Y cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. NR4A1 and YY1 expression were decreased in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Increasing NR4A1 or YY1 alleviated MPP+-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells, whereas reduction of NR4A1 aggravated MPP+-induced cell injury. Transcription factor YY1 facilitated NR4A1 expression by binding with NR4A1 promoter. In addition, in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells, the inhibition of NR4A1 to apoptosis and oxidative stress was further enhanced by overexpression of YY1. The reduction of NR4A1 led to an elevation of apoptosis and oxidative stress in MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cells, and this effect was partially reversed by the overexpression of YY1. In conclusion, YY1 suppresses MPP+-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells by binding with NR4A1 promoter and boosting NR4A1 expression. Our findings suggest that NR4A1 may be a candidate target for PD treatment.HIGHLIGHTSNR4A1 and YY1 are decreased in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells.NR4A1 prevents oxidative stress and apoptosis in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells.YY1 binds with NR4A1 promoter and increases NR4A1 expression.YY1 enhances the inhibition of NR4A1 to SH-SY5Y cell apoptosis and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Kang
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, P.R. China
| | - Wen Chai
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, P.R. China
| | - Jun Min
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, P.R. China
| | - Xinhui Qu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, P.R. China
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10
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Wang L, Xiao Y, Luo Y, Master RP, Mo J, Kim MC, Liu Y, Patel UM, Li X, Shaffer D, Guertin KR, Moser E, Smalley KS, Zhou D, Zheng G, Zhang W. Unleashing the Power of NR4A1 Degradation as a Novel Strategy for Cancer Immunotherapy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.09.552650. [PMID: 37609171 PMCID: PMC10441411 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.09.552650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
An effective cancer therapy requires both killing cancer cells and targeting tumor-promoting pathways or cell populations within the tumor microenvironment (TME). We purposely search for molecules that are critical for multiple tumor-promoting cell types and identified nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1) as one such molecule. NR4A1 has been shown to promote the aggressiveness of cancer cells and maintain the immune suppressive TME. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we establish NR4A1 as a valid therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Importantly, we have developed the first-of-its kind proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC, named NR-V04) against NR4A1. NR-V04 effectively degrades NR4A1 within hours of treatment in vitro and sustains for at least 4 days in vivo, exhibiting long-lasting NR4A1-degradation in tumors and an excellent safety profile. NR-V04 leads to robust tumor inhibition and sometimes eradication of established melanoma tumors. At the mechanistic level, we have identified an unexpected novel mechanism via significant induction of tumor-infiltrating (TI) B cells as well as an inhibition of monocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (m-MDSC), two clinically relevant immune cell populations in human melanomas. Overall, NR-V04-mediated NR4A1 degradation holds promise for enhancing anti-cancer immune responses and offers a new avenue for treating various types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yufeng Xiao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yuewan Luo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Current: Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, Copenhagen N DK-2200, Denmark
| | - Rohan P Master
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Current: College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Jiao Mo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Current: R & D, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Myung-Chul Kim
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea 63243
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Urvi M Patel
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | | | - Kevin R Guertin
- Sanofi Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA 01890
| | - Emily Moser
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, the College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Keiran S Smalley
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Current: Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, Copenhagen N DK-2200, Denmark
- Current: College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
- Current: R & D, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea 63243
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA 01890
- Sanofi Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA 01890
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, the College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 12902
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology, Center of innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Daohong Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology, Center of innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Guangrong Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Weizhou Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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11
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Niu T, Wei Z, Fu J, Chen S, Wang R, Wang Y, Zheng R. Venlafaxine, an anti-depressant drug, induces apoptosis in MV3 human melanoma cells through JNK1/2-Nur77 signaling pathway. Front Pharmacol 2023; 13:1080412. [PMID: 36686679 PMCID: PMC9846499 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1080412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Venlafaxine is one of the most commonly used anti-depressant and antineoplastic drug. Previous studies have predicted venlafaxine as an anti-cancer compound, but the therapeutic effects of venlafaxine in melanoma have not yet been demonstrated. Nur77 is an orphan nuclear receptor that highly expressed in melanoma cells and can interact with Bcl-2 to convert Bcl-2 from an antiapoptotic to a pro-apoptotic protein. Method: We examined the effects of venlafaxine in MV3 cells in vitro and MV3 xenograft tumor in nude mice. Western-blot, PCR, TUNEL assay and immunofluorescence were used to reveal the growth of melanoma cells. Results: Here, our data revealed that venlafaxine could reduce the growth, and induce apoptosis of melanoma cells through a Nur77-dependent way. Our results also showed that treatment with venlafaxine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) potently inhibited the growth of melanoma cells in nude mice. Mechanistically, venlafaxine activated JNK1/2 signaling, induced Nur77 expressions and mitochondrial localization, thereby promoting apoptosis of melanoma cells. Knockdown of Nur77 and JNK1/2, or inhibition of JNK1/2 signaling with its inhibitor SP600125 attenuated the anti-cancer effects of venlafaxine. Conclusion: In summary, our results suggested venlafaxine as a potential therapy for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Niu
- Central Laboratory, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Zhiying Wei
- Department of Pharmacy, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Jiao Fu
- Central Laboratory, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Shu Chen
- Central Laboratory, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Ru Wang
- Central Laboratory, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Yuya Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Ruihe Zheng
- Department of Pharmacy, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China,*Correspondence: Ruihe Zheng, ,
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12
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Deng S, Chen B, Huo J, Liu X. Therapeutic potential of NR4A1 in cancer: Focus on metabolism. Front Oncol 2022; 12:972984. [PMID: 36052242 PMCID: PMC9424640 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.972984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is a vital hallmark of cancer, and it provides the necessary energy and biological materials to support the continuous proliferation and survival of tumor cells. NR4A1 is belonging to nuclear subfamily 4 (NR4A) receptors. NR4A1 plays diverse roles in many tumors, including melanoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and hepatocellular cancer, to regulate cell growth, apoptosis, metastasis. Recent reports shown that NR4A1 exhibits unique metabolic regulating effects in cancers. This receptor was first found to mediate glycolysis via key enzymes glucose transporters (GLUTs), hexokinase 2 (HK2), fructose phosphate kinase (PFK), and pyruvate kinase (PK). Then its functions extended to fatty acid synthesis by modulating CD36, fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), glutamine by Myc, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and hypoxia-inducible factors alpha (HIF-1α), respectively. In addition, NR4A1 is involving in amino acid metabolism and tumor immunity by metabolic processes. More and more NR4A1 ligands are found to participate in tumor metabolic reprogramming, suggesting that regulating NR4A1 by novel ligands is a promising approach to alter metabolism signaling pathways in cancer therapy. Basic on this, this review highlighted the diverse metabolic roles of NR4A1 in cancers, which provides vital references for the clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Deng
- Third School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Materials Science and Devices Institute, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiege Huo
- Third School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Xin Liu, ; Jiege Huo,
| | - Xin Liu
- Third School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Nanjing Lishui Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Xin Liu, ; Jiege Huo,
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13
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Potenza RL, Lodeserto P, Orienti I. Fenretinide in Cancer and Neurological Disease: A Two-Face Janus Molecule. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137426. [PMID: 35806431 PMCID: PMC9266536 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, several chemotherapeutic drugs have been repositioned in neurological diseases, based on common biological backgrounds and the inverse comorbidity between cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Fenretinide (all-trans-N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide, 4-HPR) is a synthetic derivative of all-trans-retinoic acid initially proposed in anticancer therapy for its antitumor effects combined with limited toxicity. Subsequently, fenretinide has been proposed for other diseases, for which it was not intentionally designed for, due to its ability to influence different biological pathways, providing a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects. Here, we review the most relevant preclinical and clinical findings from fenretinide and discuss its therapeutic role towards cancer and neurological diseases, highlighting the hormetic behavior of this pleiotropic molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Luisa Potenza
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-49902389
| | - Pietro Lodeserto
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (P.L.); (I.O.)
| | - Isabella Orienti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (P.L.); (I.O.)
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14
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Lee HS, Kim DH, Lee IS, Park JH, Martin G, Safe S, Kim KJ, Kim JH, Jang BI, Lee SO. Plant Alkaloid Tetrandrine Is a Nuclear Receptor 4A1 Antagonist and Inhibits Panc-1 Cell Growth In Vitro and In Vivo. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5280. [PMID: 35563670 PMCID: PMC9104798 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The orphan nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) is highly expressed in human pancreatic cancer cells and exerts pro-oncogenic activity. In a previous study, we demonstrated that fangchinoline (FCN), a natural inhibitor of nuclear NR4A1, induces NR4A1-dependent apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated FCN and its structural analogs (berbamine, isotetrandrine, tetrandrine, and tubocurarine) for their inhibitory effects on NR4A1 transactivity, and confirmed that tetrandrine (TTD) showed the highest inhibitory effect in pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, in a tryptophan fluorescence quenching assay, TTD directly bound to the ligand binding domain (LBD) of NR4A1 with a KD value of 10.60 μM. Treatment with TTD decreased proliferation and induced apoptosis in Panc-1 human pancreatic cancer cells in part through the reduced expression of the Sp1-dependent anti-apoptotic gene survivin and induction of ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress, which are the well-known NR4A1-dependent proapoptotic pathways. Furthermore, at a dose of 25 mg/kg/day, TTD reduced tumor growth in an athymic nude mouse xenograft model bearing Panc-1 cells. These data show that TTD is an NR4A1 antagonist and that modulation of the NR4A1-mediated pro-survival pathways is involved in the antitumor effects of TTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo-Seon Lee
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Korea; (H.-S.L.); (I.-S.L.); (J.-H.P.)
| | - Dae Hwan Kim
- Department of Laboratory Animal Research Support Team, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu 42415, Korea;
| | - In-Seon Lee
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Korea; (H.-S.L.); (I.-S.L.); (J.-H.P.)
| | - Ji-Hyun Park
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Korea; (H.-S.L.); (I.-S.L.); (J.-H.P.)
| | - Gregory Martin
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4466, USA; (G.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4466, USA; (G.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Keuk-Jun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Daekyeung College, Gyeongsan 38547, Korea; (K.-J.K.); (J.-H.K.)
| | - Joung-Hee Kim
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Daekyeung College, Gyeongsan 38547, Korea; (K.-J.K.); (J.-H.K.)
| | - Byung Ik Jang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu 42415, Korea;
| | - Syng-Ook Lee
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Korea; (H.-S.L.); (I.-S.L.); (J.-H.P.)
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15
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Xu Y, Tian J, Kang Q, Yuan H, Liu C, Li Z, Liu J, Li M. Knockout of Nur77 Leads to Amino Acid, Lipid, and Glucose Metabolism Disorders in Zebrafish. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:864631. [PMID: 35547009 PMCID: PMC9084189 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.864631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 has been reported to be implicated in a diverse range of metabolic processes, including carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism. However, the detailed mechanism of Nur77 in the regulation of metabolic pathway still needs to be further investigated. In this study, we created a global nur77 knockout zebrafish model by CRISPR/Cas9 technique, and then performed whole-organism RNA sequencing analysis in wildtype and nur77-deficient zebrafish to dissect the genetic changes in metabolic-related pathways. We found that many genes involved in amino acid, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism changed by more than twofold. Furthermore, we revealed that nur77-/- mutant displayed increased total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG), alteration in total amino acids, as well as elevated glucose. We also demonstrated that the elevated glucose was not due to the change of glucose uptake but was likely caused by the disorder of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and the impaired β-cell function, including downregulated insb expression, reduced β-cell mass, and suppressed insulin secretion. Importantly, we also verified that targeted expression of Nur77 in the β cells is sufficient to rescue the β-cell defects in global nur77-/- larvae zebrafish. These results provide new information about the global metabolic network that Nur77 signaling regulates, as well as the role of Nur77 in β-cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Juanjuan Tian
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qi Kang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hang Yuan
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chengdong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ministry of Education), Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhehui Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Mingyu Li, ; Jie Liu,
| | - Mingyu Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Mingyu Li, ; Jie Liu,
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16
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Deng Z, Yang Z, Cui C, Wei H, Wang L, Tian D, Xiao F, Peng J. NR4A1 suppresses pyroptosis by transcriptionally inhibiting NLRP3 and IL-1β and co-localizing with NLRP3 in trans-Golgi to alleviate pathogenic bacteria-induced colitis. Clin Transl Med 2021; 11:e639. [PMID: 34923769 PMCID: PMC8684771 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Deng
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Zhipeng Yang
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Chenbin Cui
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Hongkui Wei
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Lijia Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Dean Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Fang Xiao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Jian Peng
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
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17
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Safe S, Shrestha R, Mohankumar K. Orphan nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) and novel ligands. Essays Biochem 2021; 65:877-886. [PMID: 34096590 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of transcription factors encodes expression of 48 human genes that are important for maintaining cellular homeostasis and in pathophysiology, and this has been observed for all sub-families including orphan receptors for which endogenous ligands have not yet been identified. The orphan NR4A1 (Nur77 and TR3) and other members of this sub-family (NR4A2 and NR4A3) are immediate early genes induced by diverse stressors, and these receptors play an important role in the immune function and are up-regulated in some inflammatory diseases including solid tumors. Although endogenous ligands for NR4A have not been identified, several different classes of compounds have been characterized as NR4A1 ligands that bind the receptor. These compounds include cytosporone B and structurally related analogs, bis-indole derived (CDIM) compounds, the triterpenoid celastrol and a number of other chemicals including polyunsaturated fatty acids. NR4A1 ligands bind different regions/surfaces of NR4A1 and exhibit selective NR4A1 modulator (SNR4AM) activities that are dependent on ligand structure and cell/tissue context. NR4A1 ligands exhibit pharmacologic activities in studies on cancer, endometriosis metabolic and inflammatory diseases and are promising agents with clinical potential for treating multiple diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, U.S.A
| | - Rupesh Shrestha
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, U.S.A
| | - Kumaravel Mohankumar
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, U.S.A
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18
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O’Brien VP, Lewis AL, Gilbert NM. Bladder Exposure to Gardnerella Activates Host Pathways Necessary for Escherichia coli Recurrent UTI. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:788229. [PMID: 34938672 PMCID: PMC8685330 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.788229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI) are a costly clinical problem affecting millions of women worldwide each year. The majority of rUTI cases are caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Data from humans and mouse models indicate that some instances of rUTI are caused by UPEC emerging from latent reservoirs in the bladder. Women with vaginal dysbiosis, typically characterized by high levels of Gardnerella and other anaerobes, are at increased risk of UTI. Multiple studies have detected Gardnerella in urine collected by transurethral catheterization (to limit vaginal contamination), suggesting that some women experience routine urinary tract exposures. We recently reported that inoculation of Gardnerella into the bladder triggers rUTI from UPEC bladder reservoirs in a mouse model. Here we performed whole bladder RNA-seq to identify host pathways involved in Gardnerella-induced rUTI. We identified a variety host pathways differentially expressed in whole bladders following Gardnerella exposure, such as pathways involved in inflammation/immunity and epithelial turnover. At the gene level, we identified upregulation of Immediate Early (IE) genes, which are induced in various cell types shortly following stimuli like infection and inflammation. One such upregulated IE gene was the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 (aka Nr4a1). Pilot experiments in Nur77-/- mice suggest that Nur77 is necessary for Gardnerella exposure to trigger rUTI from UPEC reservoirs. These findings demonstrate that bladder gene expression can be impacted by short-lived exposures to urogenital bacteria and warrant future examination of responses in distinct cell types, such as with single cell transcriptomic technologies. The biological validation studies in Nur77-/- mice lay the groundwork for future studies investigating Nur77 and the Immediate Early response in rUTI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie P. O’Brien
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Amanda L. Lewis
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Nicole M. Gilbert
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
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19
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Payapilly A, Guilbert R, Descamps T, White G, Magee P, Zhou C, Kerr A, Simpson KL, Blackhall F, Dive C, Malliri A. TIAM1-RAC1 promote small-cell lung cancer cell survival through antagonizing Nur77-induced BCL2 conformational change. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109979. [PMID: 34758330 PMCID: PMC8595642 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), an aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy, has limited treatment options beyond platinum-based chemotherapy, whereafter acquired resistance is rapid and common. By analyzing expression data from SCLC tumors, patient-derived models, and established cell lines, we show that the expression of TIAM1, an activator of the small GTPase RAC1, is associated with a neuroendocrine gene program. TIAM1 depletion or RAC1 inhibition reduces viability and tumorigenicity of SCLC cells by increasing apoptosis associated with conversion of BCL2 from its pro-survival to pro-apoptotic function via BH3 domain exposure. This conversion is dependent upon cytoplasmic translocation of Nur77, an orphan nuclear receptor. TIAM1 interacts with and sequesters Nur77 in SCLC cell nuclei and TIAM1 depletion or RAC1 inhibition promotes Nur77 translocation to the cytoplasm. Mutant TIAM1 with reduced Nur77 binding fails to suppress apoptosis triggered by TIAM1 depletion. In conclusion, TIAM1-RAC1 signaling promotes SCLC cell survival via Nur77 nuclear sequestration.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Cell Proliferation
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Lung Neoplasms/genetics
- Lung Neoplasms/metabolism
- Lung Neoplasms/pathology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1/genetics
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1/metabolism
- Protein Conformation
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/chemistry
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism
- Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/genetics
- Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/metabolism
- Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/pathology
- T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1/genetics
- T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1/metabolism
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- rac1 GTP-Binding Protein/genetics
- rac1 GTP-Binding Protein/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Payapilly
- Cell Signalling Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK
| | - Ryan Guilbert
- Cell Signalling Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK
| | - Tine Descamps
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK; Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute Cancer Biomarker Centre, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Gavin White
- Cell Signalling Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK
| | - Peter Magee
- Cell Signalling Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK
| | - Cong Zhou
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK; Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute Cancer Biomarker Centre, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Alastair Kerr
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK; Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute Cancer Biomarker Centre, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Kathryn L Simpson
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK; Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute Cancer Biomarker Centre, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Fiona Blackhall
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK; The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK; Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Caroline Dive
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK; Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute Cancer Biomarker Centre, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Angeliki Malliri
- Cell Signalling Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, UK.
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20
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Simonett SP, Shin S, Herring JA, Bacher R, Smith LA, Dong C, Rabaglia ME, Stapleton DS, Schueler KL, Choi J, Bernstein MN, Turkewitz DR, Perez-Cervantes C, Spaeth J, Stein R, Tessem JS, Kendziorski C, Keleş S, Moskowitz IP, Keller MP, Attie AD. Identification of direct transcriptional targets of NFATC2 that promote β cell proliferation. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:e144833. [PMID: 34491912 PMCID: PMC8553569 DOI: 10.1172/jci144833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor NFATC2 induces β cell proliferation in mouse and human islets. However, the genomic targets that mediate these effects have not been identified. We expressed active forms of Nfatc2 and Nfatc1 in human islets. By integrating changes in gene expression with genomic binding sites for NFATC2, we identified approximately 2200 transcriptional targets of NFATC2. Genes induced by NFATC2 were enriched for transcripts that regulate the cell cycle and for DNA motifs associated with the transcription factor FOXP. Islets from an endocrine-specific Foxp1, Foxp2, and Foxp4 triple-knockout mouse were less responsive to NFATC2-induced β cell proliferation, suggesting the FOXP family works to regulate β cell proliferation in concert with NFATC2. NFATC2 induced β cell proliferation in both mouse and human islets, whereas NFATC1 did so only in human islets. Exploiting this species difference, we identified approximately 250 direct transcriptional targets of NFAT in human islets. This gene set enriches for cell cycle-associated transcripts and includes Nr4a1. Deletion of Nr4a1 reduced the capacity of NFATC2 to induce β cell proliferation, suggesting that much of the effect of NFATC2 occurs through its induction of Nr4a1. Integration of noncoding RNA expression, chromatin accessibility, and NFATC2 binding sites enabled us to identify NFATC2-dependent enhancer loci that mediate β cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane P. Simonett
- Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Sunyoung Shin
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | - Jacob A. Herring
- Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Rhonda Bacher
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Linsin A. Smith
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Chenyang Dong
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mary E. Rabaglia
- Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Donnie S. Stapleton
- Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kathryn L. Schueler
- Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jeea Choi
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Daniel R. Turkewitz
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Carlos Perez-Cervantes
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jason Spaeth
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Roland Stein
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jeffery S. Tessem
- Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Christina Kendziorski
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Sündüz Keleş
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ivan P. Moskowitz
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mark P. Keller
- Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Alan D. Attie
- Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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21
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Ding X, Zhao Z, Wu Y, Zhang H, Chen K, Luo C, Luo X, Xu H. Identification of novel anti-inflammatory Nur77 modulators by virtual screening. Bioorg Chem 2021; 112:104912. [PMID: 33933804 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 is a unique member of the NR4A nuclear receptor subfamily, which is critical for cellular processes especially the inflammatory responses. Many efforts have been made to discover novel scaffold small molecules targeting Nur77. Herein, we evaluated the previously reported binding sites in crystal structures of Nur77 with small molecules, and then discovered compound 13 as a hit of Nur77 via virtual screening targeting the best-scored binding site. Based on the results of fluorescence titration assay, structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis was summarized for compound 13 and its analogs. Among these analogs, compound 13e displayed the most potent binding affinity (0.54 ± 0.02 μM). The binding mode of compound 13e was predicted via molecule docking. Moreover, 13e exhibited significant anti-inflammation activity in TNF-α induced HepG2 cell model. Taken together, these results provided a new insight into the understanding the functions of specific binding sites on Nur77 for small molecular compounds, and the development of new scaffold Nur77 modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Ding
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zijie Zhao
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Kaixian Chen
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China; Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Xiaomin Luo
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Heng Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China; Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
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22
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Liu L, Ma D, Zhuo L, Pang X, You J, Feng J. Progress and Promise of Nur77-based Therapeutics for Central Nervous System Disorders. Curr Neuropharmacol 2021; 19:486-497. [PMID: 32504502 PMCID: PMC8206462 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x18666200606231723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nur77 belongs to the NR4A subgroup of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Unlike other nuclear receptors, a natural ligand for Nur77 has not been identified yet. However, a few small molecules can interact with this receptor and induce a conformational change to mediate its activity. The expression and activation of Nur77 can be rapidly increased using various physiological and pathological stimuli. In vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated its regulatory role in tissues and cells of multiple systems by means of participation in cell differentiation, apoptosis, metabolism, mitochondrial homeostasis, and other processes. Although research on Nur77 in the pathophysiology of the central nervous system (CNS) is currently limited, the present data support the fact that Nur77 is involved in many neurological disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease. This indicates that activation of Nur77 has considerable potential in treating these diseases. This review summarizes the regulatory mechanisms of Nur77 in CNS diseases and presents available evidence for its potential as targeted therapy, especially for cerebrovascular and inflammation-related CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Di Ma
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - La Zhuo
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xinyuan Pang
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jiulin You
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jiachun Feng
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
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23
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Chen L, Fan F, Wu L, Zhao Y. The nuclear receptor 4A family members: mediators in human disease and autophagy. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2020; 25:48. [PMID: 33292165 PMCID: PMC7640683 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-020-00241-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A) subfamily, which belongs to the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily, has three members: NR4A1 (Nur77), NR4A2 (Nurr1) and NR4A3 (Nor1). They are gene regulators with broad involvement in various signaling pathways and human disease responses, including autophagy. Here, we provide a concise overview of the current understanding of the role of the NR4A subfamily members in human diseases and review the research into their regulation of cell autophagy. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms has potential to improve drug development processes and disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Chen
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
| | - Fengtian Fan
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Lingjuan Wu
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Yiyi Zhao
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
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24
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Cancer Treatment Goes Viral: Using Viral Proteins to Induce Tumour-Specific Cell Death. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11121975. [PMID: 31817939 PMCID: PMC6966515 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell death is a tightly regulated process which can be exploited in cancer treatment to drive the killing of the tumour. Several conventional cancer therapies including chemotherapeutic agents target pathways involved in cell death, yet they often fail due to the lack of selectivity they have for tumour cells over healthy cells. Over the past decade, research has demonstrated the existence of numerous proteins which have an intrinsic tumour-specific toxicity, several of which originate from viruses. These tumour-selective viral proteins, although from distinct backgrounds, have several similar and interesting properties. Though the mechanism(s) of action of these proteins are not fully understood, it is possible that they can manipulate several cell death modes in cancer exemplifying the intricate interplay between these pathways. This review will discuss our current knowledge on the topic and outstanding questions, as well as deliberate the potential for viral proteins to progress into the clinic as successful cancer therapeutics.
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