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Pastwińska J, Karaś K, Sałkowska A, Karwaciak I, Chałaśkiewicz K, Wojtczak BA, Bachorz RA, Ratajewski M. Identification of Corosolic and Oleanolic Acids as Molecules Antagonizing the Human RORγT Nuclear Receptor Using the Calculated Fingerprints of the Molecular Similarity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031906. [PMID: 35163824 PMCID: PMC8837092 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RORγT is a protein product of the RORC gene belonging to the nuclear receptor subfamily of retinoic-acid-receptor-related orphan receptors (RORs). RORγT is preferentially expressed in Th17 lymphocytes and drives their differentiation from naive CD4+ cells and is involved in the regulation of the expression of numerous Th17-specific cytokines, such as IL-17. Because Th17 cells are implicated in the pathology of autoimmune diseases (e.g., psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis), RORγT, whose activity is regulated by ligands, has been recognized as a drug target in potential therapies against these diseases. The identification of such ligands is time-consuming and usually requires the screening of chemical libraries. Herein, using a Tanimoto similarity search, we found corosolic acid and other pentacyclic tritepenes in the library we previously screened as compounds highly similar to the RORγT inverse agonist ursolic acid. Furthermore, using gene reporter assays and Th17 lymphocytes, we distinguished compounds that exert stronger biological effects (ursolic, corosolic, and oleanolic acid) from those that are ineffective (asiatic and maslinic acids), providing evidence that such combinatorial methodology (in silico and experimental) might help wet screenings to achieve more accurate results, eliminating false negatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Pastwińska
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 93-232 Lodz, Poland; (J.P.); (K.K.); (A.S.); (I.K.); (K.C.)
| | - Kaja Karaś
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 93-232 Lodz, Poland; (J.P.); (K.K.); (A.S.); (I.K.); (K.C.)
| | - Anna Sałkowska
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 93-232 Lodz, Poland; (J.P.); (K.K.); (A.S.); (I.K.); (K.C.)
| | - Iwona Karwaciak
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 93-232 Lodz, Poland; (J.P.); (K.K.); (A.S.); (I.K.); (K.C.)
| | - Katarzyna Chałaśkiewicz
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 93-232 Lodz, Poland; (J.P.); (K.K.); (A.S.); (I.K.); (K.C.)
| | - Błażej A. Wojtczak
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Rafał A. Bachorz
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 93-232 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Marcin Ratajewski
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 93-232 Lodz, Poland; (J.P.); (K.K.); (A.S.); (I.K.); (K.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-42-209-33-89
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Ebenryter-Olbińska K, Kaniowski D, Sobczak M, Wojtczak BA, Janczak S, Wielgus E, Nawrot B, Leśnikowski ZJ. Versatile Method for the Site-Specific Modification of DNA with Boron Clusters: Anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Antisense Oligonucleotide Case. Chemistry 2017; 23:16535-16546. [PMID: 28881435 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201702957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
A general and convenient approach for the incorporation of different types of boron clusters into specific locations of the DNA-oligonucleotide chain based on the automated phosphoramidite method of oligonucleotide synthesis and post-synthetic "click chemistry" modification has been developed. Pronounced effects of boron-cluster modification on the physico- and biochemical properties of the antisense oligonucleotides were observed. The silencing activity of antisense oligonucleotides bearing a single boron cluster modification in the middle of the oligonucleotide chain was substantially higher than that of unmodified oligonucleotides. This finding may be of importance for the design of therapeutic nucleic acids with improved properties. The proposed synthetic methodology broadens the availability of nucleic acid-boron cluster conjugates and opens up new avenues for their potential practical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Ebenryter-Olbińska
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363, Lodz, Poland
| | - Damian Kaniowski
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363, Lodz, Poland
| | - Milena Sobczak
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363, Lodz, Poland
| | - Błażej A Wojtczak
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Biological Chemistry, Institute of Medical Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 106 Lodowa St., 92-232, Lodz, Poland.,Present address: University of Warsaw, Center of New Technologies, S. Banacha 2c, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sławomir Janczak
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Biological Chemistry, Institute of Medical Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 106 Lodowa St., 92-232, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ewelina Wielgus
- Laboratory for Analysis of Organic Compounds and Polymers, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363, Lodz, Poland
| | - Barbara Nawrot
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363, Lodz, Poland
| | - Zbigniew J Leśnikowski
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Biological Chemistry, Institute of Medical Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 106 Lodowa St., 92-232, Lodz, Poland
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