1
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Duncan EM, Vita L, Dibnah B, Hudson BD. Metabolite-sensing GPCRs controlling interactions between adipose tissue and inflammation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1197102. [PMID: 37484963 PMCID: PMC10357040 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1197102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic disorders including obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are a group of conditions characterised by chronic low-grade inflammation of metabolic tissues. There is now a growing appreciation that various metabolites released from adipose tissue serve as key signalling mediators, influencing this interaction with inflammation. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of signal transduction proteins and most historically successful drug targets. The signalling pathways for several key adipose metabolites are mediated through GPCRs expressed both on the adipocytes themselves and on infiltrating macrophages. These include three main groups of GPCRs: the FFA4 receptor, which is activated by long chain free fatty acids; the HCA2 and HCA3 receptors, activated by hydroxy carboxylic acids; and the succinate receptor. Understanding the roles these metabolites and their receptors play in metabolic-immune interactions is critical to establishing how these GPCRs may be exploited for the treatment of metabolic disorders.
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2
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Abstract
The succinate receptor (SUCNR1) has emerged as a potential target for the treatment of various metabolic and inflammatory diseases, including hypertension, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. While several ligands for this receptor have been reported, species differences in pharmacology between human and rodent orthologs have limited the validation of SUCNR1's therapeutic potential. Here, we describe the development of the first potent fluorescent tool compounds for SUCNR1 and use these to define key differences in ligand binding to human and mouse SUCNR1. Starting from known agonist scaffolds, we developed a potent agonist tracer, TUG-2384 (22), with affinity for both human and mouse SUCNR1. In addition, we developed a novel antagonist tracer, TUG-2465 (46), which displayed high affinity for human SUCNR1. Using 46 we demonstrate that three humanizing mutations on mouse SUCNR1, N181.31E, K2697.32N, and G84EL1W, are sufficient to restore high-affinity binding of SUCNR1 antagonists to the mouse receptor ortholog.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Ciba
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bethany Dibnah
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland United Kingdom
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland United Kingdom
| | - Elisabeth Rexen Ulven
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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3
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Bremner SK, Al Shammari WS, Milligan RS, Hudson BD, Sutherland C, Bryant NJ, Gould GW. Pleiotropic effects of Syntaxin16 identified by gene editing in cultured adipocytes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1033501. [PMID: 36467416 PMCID: PMC9716095 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1033501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Adipocytes play multiple roles in the regulation of glucose metabolism which rely on the regulation of membrane traffic. These include secretion of adipokines and serving as an energy store. Central to their energy storing function is the ability to increase glucose uptake in response to insulin, mediated through translocation of the facilitative glucose transporter GLUT4 to the cell surface. The trans-Golgi reticulum localized SNARE protein syntaxin 16 (Sx16) has been identified as a key component of the secretory pathway required for insulin-regulated trafficking of GLUT4. We used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate 3T3-L1 adipocytes lacking Sx16 to understand the role of the secretory pathway on adipocyte function. GLUT4 mRNA and protein levels were reduced in Sx16 knockout adipocytes and insulin stimulated GLUT4 translocation to the cell surface was reduced. Strikingly, neither basal nor insulin-stimulated glucose transport were affected. By contrast, GLUT1 levels were upregulated in Sx16 knockout cells. Levels of sortilin and insulin regulated aminopeptidase were also increased in Sx16 knockout adipocytes which may indicate an upregulation of an alternative GLUT4 sorting pathway as a compensatory mechanism for the loss of Sx16. In response to chronic insulin stimulation, Sx16 knockout adipocytes exhibit elevated insulin-independent glucose transport and significant alterations in lactate metabolism. We further show that the adipokine secretory pathways are impaired in Sx16 knockout cells. Together this demonstrates a role for Sx16 in the control of glucose transport, the response to elevated insulin, cellular metabolic profiles and adipocytokine secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun K. Bremner
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Woroud S. Al Shammari
- The Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Roderick S. Milligan
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Brian D. Hudson
- The Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Calum Sutherland
- Department of Cellular Medicine, Ninewells Hospital, University of Dundee, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Nia J. Bryant
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Gwyn W. Gould
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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4
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Barki N, Bolognini D, Börjesson U, Jenkins L, Riddell J, Hughes DI, Ulven T, Hudson BD, Ulven ER, Dekker N, Tobin AB, Milligan G. Chemogenetics defines a short-chain fatty acid receptor gut-brain axis. eLife 2022; 11:73777. [PMID: 35229717 PMCID: PMC8887895 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Volatile small molecules, including the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), acetate and propionate, released by the gut microbiota from the catabolism of nondigestible starches, can act in a hormone-like fashion via specific G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The primary GPCR targets for these SCFAs are FFA2 and FFA3. Using transgenic mice in which FFA2 was replaced by an altered form called a Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (FFA2-DREADD), but in which FFA3 is unaltered, and a newly identified FFA2-DREADD agonist 4-methoxy-3-methyl-benzoic acid (MOMBA), we demonstrate how specific functions of FFA2 and FFA3 define a SCFA-gut-brain axis. Activation of both FFA2/3 in the lumen of the gut stimulates spinal cord activity and activation of gut FFA3 directly regulates sensory afferent neuronal firing. Moreover, we demonstrate that FFA2 and FFA3 are both functionally expressed in dorsal root- and nodose ganglia where they signal through different G proteins and mechanisms to regulate cellular calcium levels. We conclude that FFA2 and FFA3, acting at distinct levels, provide an axis by which SCFAs originating from the gut microbiota can regulate central activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasja Barki
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Daniele Bolognini
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ulf Börjesson
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceutical R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Laura Jenkins
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - John Riddell
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David I Hughes
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Elisabeth Rexen Ulven
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niek Dekker
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceutical R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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5
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Brown AJH, Bradley SJ, Marshall FH, Brown GA, Bennett KA, Brown J, Cansfield JE, Cross DM, de Graaf C, Hudson BD, Dwomoh L, Dias JM, Errey JC, Hurrell E, Liptrot J, Mattedi G, Molloy C, Nathan PJ, Okrasa K, Osborne G, Patel JC, Pickworth M, Robertson N, Shahabi S, Bundgaard C, Phillips K, Broad LM, Goonawardena AV, Morairty SR, Browning M, Perini F, Dawson GR, Deakin JFW, Smith RT, Sexton PM, Warneck J, Vinson M, Tasker T, Tehan BG, Teobald B, Christopoulos A, Langmead CJ, Jazayeri A, Cooke RM, Rucktooa P, Congreve MS, Weir M, Tobin AB. From structure to clinic: Design of a muscarinic M1 receptor agonist with potential to treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Cell 2021; 184:5886-5901.e22. [PMID: 34822784 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Current therapies for Alzheimer's disease seek to correct for defective cholinergic transmission by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, these however have limited clinical efficacy. An alternative approach is to directly activate cholinergic receptors responsible for learning and memory. The M1-muscarinic acetylcholine (M1) receptor is the target of choice but has been hampered by adverse effects. Here we aimed to design the drug properties needed for a well-tolerated M1-agonist with the potential to alleviate cognitive loss by taking a stepwise translational approach from atomic structure, cell/tissue-based assays, evaluation in preclinical species, clinical safety testing, and finally establishing activity in memory centers in humans. Through this approach, we rationally designed the optimal properties, including selectivity and partial agonism, into HTL9936-a potential candidate for the treatment of memory loss in Alzheimer's disease. More broadly, this demonstrates a strategy for targeting difficult GPCR targets from structure to clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alastair J H Brown
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Sophie J Bradley
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK; The Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Fiona H Marshall
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Giles A Brown
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Kirstie A Bennett
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Jason Brown
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Julie E Cansfield
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - David M Cross
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK; Cross Pharma Consulting Ltd, 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N17GU, UK
| | - Chris de Graaf
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Louis Dwomoh
- The Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - João M Dias
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - James C Errey
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Edward Hurrell
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Jan Liptrot
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Giulio Mattedi
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Colin Molloy
- The Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Pradeep J Nathan
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK; Brain Mapping Unit, University of Cambridge, Department of Psychiatry, Herchel Smith Building, Cambridge, CB20SZ, UK
| | - Krzysztof Okrasa
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Greg Osborne
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Jayesh C Patel
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Mark Pickworth
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Nathan Robertson
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Shahram Shahabi
- Eli Lilly & Co, Neuroscience Discovery, Erl Wood Manor, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH, UK
| | - Christoffer Bundgaard
- Eli Lilly & Co, Neuroscience Discovery, Erl Wood Manor, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH, UK; H. Lundbeck A/S, Neuroscience Research, Ottiliavej 9, 2500 Valby, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Keith Phillips
- Eli Lilly & Co, Neuroscience Discovery, Erl Wood Manor, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH, UK
| | - Lisa M Broad
- Eli Lilly & Co, Neuroscience Discovery, Erl Wood Manor, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH, UK
| | - Anushka V Goonawardena
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Stephen R Morairty
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Michael Browning
- University Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX12JD, UK; P1vital, Manor house, Howbery Buisness Park, Wallingford, OX108BA, UK
| | - Francesca Perini
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience - Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore
| | - Gerard R Dawson
- University Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX12JD, UK
| | - John F W Deakin
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester, M139PT UK
| | - Robert T Smith
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Patrick M Sexton
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia; ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Julie Warneck
- Protogenia Consulting Ltd, PO-Box 289, Ely, CB79DR, UK
| | - Mary Vinson
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Tim Tasker
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Benjamin G Tehan
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Barry Teobald
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher J Langmead
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK; Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ali Jazayeri
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Robert M Cooke
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Prakash Rucktooa
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Miles S Congreve
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Malcolm Weir
- Sosei-Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK.
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- The Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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6
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Hansen AH, Christensen HB, Pandey SK, Sergeev E, Valentini A, Dunlop J, Dedeo D, Fratta S, Hudson BD, Milligan G, Ulven T, Rexen Ulven E. Structure-Activity Relationship Explorations and Discovery of a Potent Antagonist for the Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:3326-3341. [PMID: 34288488 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2) is a sensor for short-chain fatty acids that has been identified as an interesting potential drug target for treatment of metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Although several ligand series are known for the receptor, there is still a need for improved compounds. One of the most potent and frequently used antagonists is the amide-substituted phenylbutanoic acid known as CATPB ( 1 ). We here report the structure-activity relationship exploration of this compound, leading to the identification of homologues with increased potency. The preferred compound 37 (TUG-1958) was found, besides improved potency, to have high solubility and favorable pharmacokinetic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Højgaard Hansen
- University of Southern Denmark: Syddansk Universitet, Department of Physics,Chemistry and Pharmacy, DENMARK
| | - Henriette B Christensen
- University of Southern Denmark: Syddansk Universitet, Department of Physics, Chemsitry and Pharmacy, DENMARK
| | - Sunil K Pandey
- University of Southern Denmark: Syddansk Universitet, FKF, DENMARK
| | - Eugenia Sergeev
- University of Glasgow, Center for Translational Pharmacology, UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Alice Valentini
- University of Copenhagen: Kobenhavns Universitet, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacoloy, DENMARK
| | - Julia Dunlop
- University of Glasgow, Center for Translational Medicine, DENMARK
| | - Domonkos Dedeo
- University of Glasgow, Center for Translational Research, DENMARK
| | - Simone Fratta
- University of Copenhagen: Kobenhavns Universitet, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, DENMARK
| | - Brian D Hudson
- University of Glasgow, Center for Translational Medicine, DENMARK
| | - Graeme Milligan
- University of Glasgow, Center for Translational Research, DENMARK
| | - Trond Ulven
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Jagtvej 162, DK-2100, Copenhagen, DENMARK
| | - Elisabeth Rexen Ulven
- University of Copenhagen: Kobenhavns Universitet, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, DENMARK
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7
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Ulven ER, Quon T, Sergeev E, Barki N, Brvar M, Hudson BD, Dutta P, Hansen AH, Bielefeldt LØ, Tobin AB, McKenzie CJ, Milligan G, Ulven T. Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Tetrahydroquinolone Free Fatty Acid Receptor 3 Modulators. J Med Chem 2020; 63:3577-3595. [PMID: 32141297 PMCID: PMC7307922 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b02036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Free fatty acid receptor 3 (FFA3, previously GPR41) is activated by short-chain fatty acids, mediates health effects of the gut microbiota, and is a therapeutic target for metabolic and inflammatory diseases. The shortage of well-characterized tool compounds has however impeded progress. Herein, we report structure-activity relationship of an allosteric modulator series and characterization of physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of selected compounds, including previous and new tools. Two representatives, 57 (TUG-1907) and 63 (TUG-2015), showed improved solubility and preserved potency. Of these, 57, with EC50 = 145 nM and a solubility of 33 μM, showed high clearance in vivo but is a preferred tool in vitro. In contrast, 63, with EC50 = 162 nM and a solubility of 9 μM, showed lower clearance and seems better suited for in vivo studies. Using 57, we demonstrate for the first time that FFA3 activation leads to calcium mobilization in murine dorsal root ganglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Rexen Ulven
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University
of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University
of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Tezz Quon
- Centre
for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems
Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
| | - Eugenia Sergeev
- Centre
for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems
Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
| | - Natasja Barki
- Centre
for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems
Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
| | - Matjaz Brvar
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University
of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Brian D. Hudson
- Centre
for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems
Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
| | - Palash Dutta
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University
of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Højgaard Hansen
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University
of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Line Ø. Bielefeldt
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University
of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Andrew B. Tobin
- Centre
for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems
Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
| | - Christine J. McKenzie
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University
of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre
for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems
Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University
of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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8
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Bolognini D, Barki N, Butcher AJ, Hudson BD, Sergeev E, Molloy C, Moss CE, Bradley SJ, Le Gouill C, Bouvier M, Tobin AB, Milligan G. Chemogenetics defines receptor-mediated functions of short chain free fatty acids. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 15:489-498. [DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0270-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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9
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Mackenzie AE, Quon T, Lin LC, Hauser AS, Jenkins L, Inoue A, Tobin AB, Gloriam DE, Hudson BD, Milligan G. Receptor selectivity between the G proteins Gα 12 and Gα 13 is defined by a single leucine-to-isoleucine variation. FASEB J 2019; 33:5005-5017. [PMID: 30601679 PMCID: PMC6436656 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801956r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent advances in structural definition of GPCR-G protein complexes, the basis of receptor selectivity between G proteins remains unclear. The Gα12 and Gα13 subtypes together form the least studied group of heterotrimeric G proteins. G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) has been suggested to couple efficiently to Gα13 but weakly to Gα12. Using combinations of cells genome-edited to not express G proteins and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based sensors, we confirmed marked selectivity of GPR35 for Gα13. Incorporating Gα12/Gα13 chimeras and individual residue swap mutations into these sensors defined that selectivity between Gα13 and Gα12 was imbued largely by a single leucine-to-isoleucine variation at position G.H5.23. Indeed, leucine could not be substituted by other amino acids in Gα13 without almost complete loss of GPR35 coupling. The critical importance of leucine at G.H5.23 for GPR35-G protein interaction was further demonstrated by introduction of this leucine into Gαq, resulting in the gain of coupling to GPR35. These studies demonstrate that Gα13 is markedly the most effective G protein for interaction with GPR35 and that selection between Gα13 and Gα12 is dictated largely by a single conservative amino acid variation.-Mackenzie, A. E., Quon, T., Lin, L.-C., Hauser, A. S., Jenkins, L., Inoue, A., Tobin, A. B., Gloriam, D. E., Hudson, B. D., Milligan, G. Receptor selectivity between the G proteins Gα12 and Gα13 is defined by a single leucine-to-isoleucine variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E Mackenzie
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Tezz Quon
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Li-Chiung Lin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander S Hauser
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; and
| | - Laura Jenkins
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David E Gloriam
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; and
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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10
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Mahmud ZA, Jenkins L, Ulven T, Labéguère F, Gosmini R, De Vos S, Hudson BD, Tikhonova IG, Milligan G. Three classes of ligands each bind to distinct sites on the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR84. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17953. [PMID: 29263400 PMCID: PMC5738391 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18159-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Medium chain fatty acids can activate the pro-inflammatory receptor GPR84 but so also can molecules related to 3,3′-diindolylmethane. 3,3′-Diindolylmethane and decanoic acid acted as strong positive allosteric modulators of the function of each other and analysis showed the affinity of 3,3′-diindolylmethane to be at least 100 fold higher. Methyl decanoate was not an agonist at GPR84. This implies a key role in binding for the carboxylic acid of the fatty acid. Via homology modelling we predicted and confirmed an integral role of arginine172, located in the 2nd extracellular loop, in the action of decanoic acid but not of 3,3′-diindolylmethane. Exemplars from a patented series of GPR84 antagonists were able to block agonist actions of both decanoic acid and 3,3′-diindolylmethane at GPR84. However, although a radiolabelled form of a related antagonist, [3H]G9543, was able to bind with high affinity to GPR84, this was not competed for by increasing concentrations of either decanoic acid or 3,3′-diindolylmethane and was not affected adversely by mutation of arginine172. These studies identify three separable ligand binding sites within GPR84 and suggest that if medium chain fatty acids are true endogenous regulators then co-binding with a positive allosteric modulator would greatly enhance their function in physiological settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zobaer Al Mahmud
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Jenkins
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Frédéric Labéguère
- Galapagos SASU, 102 Avenue Gaston Roussel, 93230, Romainville, France.,Evotec, 195 Route d'Espagne, 31100, Toulouse, France
| | - Romain Gosmini
- Galapagos SASU, 102 Avenue Gaston Roussel, 93230, Romainville, France
| | - Steve De Vos
- Galapagos NV, Generaal De Wittelaan L11 A3, 2800, Mechelen, Belgium
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Irina G Tikhonova
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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11
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Sergeev E, Hansen AH, Bolognini D, Kawakami K, Kishi T, Aoki J, Ulven T, Inoue A, Hudson BD, Milligan G. A single extracellular amino acid in Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 defines antagonist species selectivity and G protein selection bias. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13741. [PMID: 29061999 PMCID: PMC5653858 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14096-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 is a GPCR activated by short chain fatty acids produced in high levels in the lower gut by microbial fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates. A major challenge in studying this receptor is that the mouse ortholog does not have significant affinity for antagonists that are able to block the human receptor. Docking of exemplar antagonists from two chemical series to homology models of both human and mouse Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 suggested that a single lysine - arginine variation at the extracellular face of the receptor might provide the basis for antagonist selectivity and mutational swap studies confirmed this hypothesis. Extending these studies to agonist function indicated that although the lysine - arginine variation between human and mouse orthologs had limited effect on G protein-mediated signal transduction, removal of positive charge from this residue produced a signalling-biased variant of Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 in which Gi-mediated signalling by both short chain fatty acids and synthetic agonists was maintained whilst there was marked loss of agonist potency for signalling via Gq/11 and G12/13 G proteins. A single residue at the extracellular face of the receptor thus plays key roles in both agonist and antagonist function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Sergeev
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Anders Højgaard Hansen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Daniele Bolognini
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Kouki Kawakami
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kishi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Junken Aoki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.,Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (AMED-CREST), Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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12
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Milligan G, Alvarez-Curto E, Hudson BD, Prihandoko R, Tobin AB. FFA4/GPR120: Pharmacology and Therapeutic Opportunities. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2017; 38:809-821. [PMID: 28734639 PMCID: PMC5582618 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Free Fatty Acid receptor 4 (FFA4), also known as GPR120, is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) responsive to long-chain fatty acids that is attracting considerable attention as a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although no clinical studies have yet been initiated to assess efficacy in this indication, a significant number of primary publications and patents have highlighted the ability of agonists with potency at FFA4 to improve glucose disposition and enhance insulin sensitivity in animal models. However, the distribution pattern of the receptor suggests that targeting FFA4 may also be useful in other conditions, ranging from cancer to lung function. Here, we discuss and contextualise the basis for these ideas and the results to support these conclusions. Substantial focus on the therapeutic potential of FFA4/GPR120 is currently directed towards type 2 diabetes. Progress in the identification and characterisation of FFA4/GPR120 agonist ligands is apparent in both the primary scientific and patent literatures. In models of glucose handling, FFA4/GPR120 agonists appear highly effective. Recent indications provide support for consideration of FFA4/GPR120 ligands in areas of cancer treatment. High levels of expression of FFA4/GPR120 in the lung suggest utility in analysis of the potential therapeutic roles of FFA4/GPR120 ligands in both acute and chronic airway inflammatory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
| | - Elisa Alvarez-Curto
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Rudi Prihandoko
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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13
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Hansen AH, Sergeev E, Pandey SK, Hudson BD, Christiansen E, Milligan G, Ulven T. Development and Characterization of a Fluorescent Tracer for the Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 (FFA2/GPR43). J Med Chem 2017; 60:5638-5645. [PMID: 28570808 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2/GPR43) is considered a potential target for treatment of metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Here we describe the development of the first fluorescent tracer for FFA2 intended as a tool for assessment of thermodynamic and kinetic binding parameters of unlabeled ligands. Starting with a known azetidine FFA2 antagonist, we used a carboxylic acid moiety known not to be critical for receptor interaction as attachment point for a nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) fluorophore. This led to the development of 4 (TUG-1609), a fluorescent tracer for FFA2 with favorable spectroscopic properties and high affinity, as determined by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based saturation and kinetic binding experiments, as well as a high specific to nonspecific BRET binding signal. A BRET-based competition binding assay with 4 was also established and used to determine binding constants and kinetics of unlabeled ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Højgaard Hansen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Eugenia Sergeev
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Sunil K Pandey
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Elisabeth Christiansen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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14
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Watterson KR, Hansen SVF, Hudson BD, Alvarez-Curto E, Raihan SZ, Azevedo CMG, Martin G, Dunlop J, Yarwood SJ, Ulven T, Milligan G. Probe-Dependent Negative Allosteric Modulators of the Long-Chain Free Fatty Acid Receptor FFA4. Mol Pharmacol 2017; 91:630-641. [PMID: 28385906 PMCID: PMC5438128 DOI: 10.1124/mol.116.107821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
High-affinity and selective antagonists that are able to block the actions of both endogenous and synthetic agonists of G protein–coupled receptors are integral to analysis of receptor function and to support suggestions of therapeutic potential. Although there is great interest in the potential of free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFA4) as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of type II diabetes, the broad distribution pattern of this receptor suggests it may play a range of roles beyond glucose homeostasis in different cells and tissues. To date, a single molecule, 4-methyl-N-9H-xanthen-9-yl-benzenesulfonamide (AH-7614), has been described as an FFA4 antagonist; however, its mechanism of antagonism remains unknown. We synthesized AH-7614 and a chemical derivative and demonstrated these to be negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of FFA4. Although these NAMs did inhibit FFA4 signaling induced by a range of endogenous and synthetic agonists, clear agonist probe dependence in the nature of allosteric modulation was apparent. Although AH-7614 did not antagonize the second long-chain free fatty acid receptor, free fatty acid receptor 1, the simple chemical structure of AH-7614 containing features found in many anticancer drugs suggests that a novel close chemical analog of AH-7614 devoid of FFA4 activity, 4-methyl-N-(9H-xanthen-9-yl)benzamide (TUG-1387), will also provide a useful control compound for future studies assessing FFA4 function. Using TUG-1387 alongside AH-7614, we show that endogenous activation of FFA4 expressed by murine C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells is required for induced differentiation of these cells toward a more mature, adipocyte-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth R Watterson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
| | - Steffen V F Hansen
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
| | - Elisa Alvarez-Curto
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
| | - Sheikh Zahir Raihan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
| | - Carlos M G Azevedo
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
| | - Gabriel Martin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
| | - Julia Dunlop
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
| | - Stephen J Yarwood
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
| | - Trond Ulven
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (K.R.W., B.D.H., E.A.-C., S.Z.R., J.D., S.J.Y., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (S.V.F.H., C.M.G.A., G.M., T.U.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (S.J.Y.)
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15
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Houthuijzen JM, Oosterom I, Hudson BD, Hirasawa A, Daenen LGM, McLean CM, Hansen SVF, van Jaarsveld MTM, Peeper DS, Jafari Sadatmand S, Roodhart JML, van de Lest CHA, Ulven T, Ishihara K, Milligan G, Voest EE. Fatty acid 16:4(n-3) stimulates a GPR120-induced signaling cascade in splenic macrophages to promote chemotherapy resistance. FASEB J 2017; 31:2195-2209. [PMID: 28183801 PMCID: PMC5388545 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201601248r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Although chemotherapy is designed to eradicate tumor cells, it also has significant effects on normal tissues. The platinum-induced fatty acid 16:4(n-3) (hexadeca-4,7,10,13-tetraenoic acid) induces systemic resistance to a broad range of DNA-damaging chemotherapeutics. We show that 16:4(n-3) exerts its effect by activating splenic F4/80+/CD11blow macrophages, which results in production of chemoprotective lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs). Pharmacologic studies, together with analysis of expression patterns, identified GPR120 on F4/80+/CD11blow macrophages as the relevant receptor for 16:4(n-3). Studies that used splenocytes from GPR120-deficient mice have confirmed this conclusion. Activation of the 16:4(n-3)-GPR120 axis led to enhanced cPLA2 activity in these splenic macrophages and secretion of the resistance-inducing lipid mediator, lysophosphatidylcholine(24:1). These studies identify a novel and unexpected function for GPR120 and suggest that antagonists of this receptor might be effective agents to limit development of chemotherapy resistance.—Houthuijzen, J. M., Oosterom, I., Hudson, B. D., Hirasawa, A., Daenen, L. G. M., McLean, C. M., Hansen, S. V. F., van Jaarsveld, M. T. M., Peeper, D. S., Jafari Sadatmand, S., Roodhart, J. M. L., van de Lest, C. H. A., Ulven, T., Ishihara, K., Milligan, G., Voest, E. E. Fatty acid 16:4(n-3) stimulates a GPR120-induced signaling cascade in splenic macrophages to promote chemotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Houthuijzen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ilse Oosterom
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Akira Hirasawa
- Department of Genomic Drug Discovery Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Laura G M Daenen
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Chelsea M McLean
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steffen V F Hansen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Daniel S Peeper
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sahar Jafari Sadatmand
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeanine M L Roodhart
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Chris H A van de Lest
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kenji Ishihara
- National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Kanazawaku, Japan
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Emile E Voest
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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16
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Azevedo CMG, Watterson KR, Wargent ET, Hansen SVF, Hudson BD, Kępczyńska MA, Dunlop J, Shimpukade B, Christiansen E, Milligan G, Stocker CJ, Ulven T. Non-Acidic Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4 Agonists with Antidiabetic Activity. J Med Chem 2016; 59:8868-8878. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos M. G. Azevedo
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Kenneth R. Watterson
- Institute
of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary
and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K
| | - Ed T. Wargent
- Buckingham
Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Buckingham, Hunter
Street, Buckingham MK18
1EG, U.K
| | - Steffen V. F. Hansen
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Brian D. Hudson
- Institute
of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary
and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K
| | - Małgorzata A. Kępczyńska
- Buckingham
Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Buckingham, Hunter
Street, Buckingham MK18
1EG, U.K
| | - Julia Dunlop
- Institute
of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary
and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K
| | - Bharat Shimpukade
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Elisabeth Christiansen
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Institute
of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary
and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K
| | - Claire J. Stocker
- Buckingham
Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Buckingham, Hunter
Street, Buckingham MK18
1EG, U.K
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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17
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Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are historically the most successful family of drug targets. In recent times it has become clear that the pharmacology of these receptors is far more complex than previously imagined. Understanding of the pharmacological regulation of GPCRs now extends beyond simple competitive agonism or antagonism by ligands interacting with the orthosteric binding site of the receptor to incorporate concepts of allosteric agonism, allosteric modulation, signaling bias, constitutive activity, and inverse agonism. Herein, we consider how evolving concepts of GPCR pharmacology have shaped understanding of the complex pharmacology of receptors that recognize and are activated by nonesterified or "free" fatty acids (FFAs). The FFA family of receptors is a recently deorphanized set of GPCRs, the members of which are now receiving substantial interest as novel targets for the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Further understanding of the complex pharmacology of these receptors will be critical to unlocking their ultimate therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Bharat Shimpukade
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
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18
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Christiansen E, Hudson BD, Hansen AH, Milligan G, Ulven T. Development and Characterization of a Potent Free Fatty Acid Receptor 1 (FFA1) Fluorescent Tracer. J Med Chem 2016; 59:4849-58. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Christiansen
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Brian D. Hudson
- Molecular
Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology,
College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Anders Højgaard Hansen
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Molecular
Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology,
College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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19
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Grundmann M, Tikhonova IG, Hudson BD, Smith NJ, Mohr K, Ulven T, Milligan G, Kenakin T, Kostenis E. A Molecular Mechanism for Sequential Activation of a G Protein-Coupled Receptor. Cell Chem Biol 2016; 23:392-403. [PMID: 26991104 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2016.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Ligands targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are currently classified as either orthosteric, allosteric, or dualsteric/bitopic. Here, we introduce a new pharmacological concept for GPCR functional modulation: sequential receptor activation. A hallmark feature of this is a stepwise ligand binding mode with transient activation of a first receptor site followed by sustained activation of a second topographically distinct site. We identify 4-CMTB (2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-N-(thiazol-2-yl)butanamide), previously classified as a pure allosteric agonist of the free fatty acid receptor 2, as the first sequential activator and corroborate its two-step activation in living cells by tracking integrated responses with innovative label-free biosensors that visualize multiple signaling inputs in real time. We validate this unique pharmacology with traditional cellular readouts, including mutational and pharmacological perturbations along with computational methods, and propose a kinetic model applicable to the analysis of sequential receptor activation. We envision this form of dynamic agonism as a common principle of nature to spatiotemporally encode cellular information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Grundmann
- Molecular-, Cellular- and Pharmacobiology Section, Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Irina G Tikhonova
- Molecular Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN Northern Ireland
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ Scotland
| | - Nicola J Smith
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ Scotland; Molecular Cardiology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Klaus Mohr
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Bonn, 53347 Bonn, Germany
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ Scotland
| | - Terry Kenakin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Evi Kostenis
- Molecular-, Cellular- and Pharmacobiology Section, Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
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20
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Hansen SVF, Christiansen E, Urban C, Hudson BD, Stocker CJ, Due-Hansen ME, Wargent ET, Shimpukade B, Almeida R, Ejsing CS, Cawthorne MA, Kassack MU, Milligan G, Ulven T. Discovery of a Potent Free Fatty Acid 1 Receptor Agonist with Low Lipophilicity, Low Polar Surface Area, and Robust in Vivo Efficacy. J Med Chem 2016; 59:2841-6. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steffen V. F. Hansen
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Elisabeth Christiansen
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Christian Urban
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Brian D. Hudson
- Institute
of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary
and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K
| | - Claire J. Stocker
- Clore
Laboratory, University of Buckingham, Hunter Street, Buckingham MK18 1EG, U.K
| | - Maria E. Due-Hansen
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Ed T. Wargent
- Clore
Laboratory, University of Buckingham, Hunter Street, Buckingham MK18 1EG, U.K
| | - Bharat Shimpukade
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Reinaldo Almeida
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, VILLUM Center for Bioanalytical
Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Christer S. Ejsing
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, VILLUM Center for Bioanalytical
Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Michael A. Cawthorne
- Clore
Laboratory, University of Buckingham, Hunter Street, Buckingham MK18 1EG, U.K
| | - Matthias U. Kassack
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Institute
of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary
and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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21
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Prihandoko R, Alvarez-Curto E, Hudson BD, Butcher AJ, Ulven T, Miller AM, Tobin AB, Milligan G. Distinct Phosphorylation Clusters Determine the Signaling Outcome of Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4/G Protein–Coupled Receptor 120. Mol Pharmacol 2016; 89:505-20. [DOI: 10.1124/mol.115.101949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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22
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Abstract
The free fatty acid (FFA) family of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) has generated significant interest for exploiting its members as potential drug targets. However, unravelling the complex pharmacology of this family of receptors has proven challenging. In recent years the use of biosensor technologies capable of assessing biological functions in living cells, and in real time, has greatly enhanced our ability to study GPCR pharmacology and function. These include genetically encoded sensors that change the intensity or wavelength of light emitted from a bioluminescent or fluorescent protein in response to a stimulus, as well as non-genetically encoded sensors able to measure more global cellular changes, such as mass redistribution within a cell. This chapter will examine how these sensors can be used to study GPCRs, and in particular how they are helping uncover the pharmacology of the FFA family of receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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23
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Sergeev E, Hansen AH, Pandey SK, MacKenzie AE, Hudson BD, Ulven T, Milligan G. Non-equivalence of Key Positively Charged Residues of the Free Fatty Acid 2 Receptor in the Recognition and Function of Agonist Versus Antagonist Ligands. J Biol Chem 2015; 291:303-17. [PMID: 26518871 PMCID: PMC4697166 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.687939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced in the gut by bacterial fermentation of poorly digested carbohydrates. A key mediator of their actions is the G protein-coupled free fatty acid 2 (FFA2) receptor, and this has been suggested as a therapeutic target for the treatment of both metabolic and inflammatory diseases. However, a lack of understanding of the molecular determinants dictating how ligands bind to this receptor has hindered development. We have developed a novel radiolabeled FFA2 antagonist to probe ligand binding to FFA2, and in combination with mutagenesis and molecular modeling studies, we define how agonist and antagonist ligands interact with the receptor. Although both agonist and antagonist ligands contain negatively charged carboxylates that interact with two key positively charged arginine residues in transmembrane domains V and VII of FFA2, there are clear differences in how these interactions occur. Specifically, although agonists require interaction with both arginine residues to bind the receptor, antagonists require an interaction with only one of the two. Moreover, different chemical series of antagonist interact preferentially with different arginine residues. A homology model capable of rationalizing these observations was developed and provides a tool that will be invaluable for identifying improved FFA2 agonists and antagonists to further define function and therapeutic opportunities of this receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Sergeev
- From the Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom and
| | - Anders Højgaard Hansen
- the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Sunil K Pandey
- the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Amanda E MacKenzie
- From the Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom and
| | - Brian D Hudson
- From the Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom and
| | - Trond Ulven
- the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Graeme Milligan
- From the Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom and
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24
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Milligan G, Alvarez-Curto E, Watterson KR, Ulven T, Hudson BD. Characterizing pharmacological ligands to study the long-chain fatty acid receptors GPR40/FFA1 and GPR120/FFA4. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:3254-65. [PMID: 25131623 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The free fatty acid receptors (FFA) 1 (previously designated GPR40) and FFA4 (previously GPR120) are two GPCRs activated by saturated and unsaturated longer-chain free fatty acids. With expression patterns and functions anticipated to directly or indirectly promote insulin secretion, provide homeostatic control of blood glucose and improve tissue insulin sensitivity, both receptors are being studied as potential therapeutic targets for the control of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, genetic and systems biology studies in both humans and mouse models link FFA4 receptors to diabetes and obesity. Although activated by the same group of free fatty acids, FFA1 and FFA4 receptors are not closely related and, while the basis of recognition of fatty acids by FFA1 receptors is similar to that of the short-chain fatty acid receptors FFA2 and FFA3, the amino acid residues involved in endogenous ligand recognition by FFA4 receptors are more akin to those of the sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor S1P1 . Screening and subsequent medicinal chemistry programmes have developed a number of FFA1 receptor selective agonists that are effective in promoting insulin secretion in a glucose concentration-dependent manner, and in lowering blood glucose levels. However, the recent termination of Phase III clinical trials employing TAK-875/fasiglifam has caused a setback and raises important questions over the exact nature and mechanistic causes of the problems. Progress in the identification and development of highly FFA4 receptor-selective pharmacological tools has been less rapid and several issues remain to be clarified to fully validate this receptor as a therapeutic target. Despite this, the ongoing development of a range of novel ligands offers great opportunities to further unravel the contributions of these receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Milligan
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - E Alvarez-Curto
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - K R Watterson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - T Ulven
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - B D Hudson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
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25
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Dranse HJ, Kelly MEM, Hudson BD. Drugs or diet?--Developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting the free fatty acid family of GPCRs. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 170:696-711. [PMID: 23937426 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2013] [Revised: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Free fatty acids (FFAs) are metabolic intermediates that may be obtained through the diet, synthesized endogenously, or produced via fermentation of carbohydrates by gut microbiota. In addition to serving as an important source of energy, FFAs are known to produce a variety of both beneficial and detrimental effects on metabolic and inflammatory processes. While historically, FFAs were believed to produce these effects only through intracellular targets such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, it has now become clear that FFAs are also agonists for several GPCRs, including a family of four receptors now termed FFA1-4. Increasing evidence suggests that FFA1-4 mediate many of the beneficial properties of FFAs and not surprisingly, this has generated significant interest in the potential of these receptors as therapeutic targets for the treatment of a variety of metabolic and inflammatory disorders. In addition to the traditional strategy of developing small-molecule therapeutics targeting these receptors, there has also been some consideration given to alternate therapeutic approaches, specifically by manipulating endogenous FFA concentrations through alteration of either dietary intake, or production by gut microbiota. In this review, the current state of knowledge for FFA1-4 will be discussed, together with their potential as therapeutic targets in the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory disorders. In particular, the evidence in support of small molecule versus dietary and microbiota-based therapeutic approaches will be considered to provide insight into the development of novel multifaceted strategies targeting the FFA receptors for the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Dranse
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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26
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Hudson BD, Christiansen E, Murdoch H, Jenkins L, Hansen AH, Madsen O, Ulven T, Milligan G. Complex Pharmacology of Novel Allosteric Free Fatty Acid 3 Receptor Ligands. Mol Pharmacol 2014; 86:200-10. [DOI: 10.1124/mol.114.093294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
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27
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Abstract
The long-chain fatty acid receptor FFA4 (previously GPR120) is receiving substantial interest as a novel target for the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory disease. This study examines for the first time the detailed mode of binding of both long-chain fatty acid and synthetic agonist ligands at FFA4 by integrating molecular modeling, receptor mutagenesis, and ligand structure-activity relationship approaches in an iterative format. In doing so, residues required for binding of fatty acid and synthetic agonists to FFA4 have been identified. This has allowed for the refinement of a well validated model of the mode of ligand-FFA4 interaction that will be invaluable in the identification of novel ligands and the future development of this receptor as a therapeutic target. The model reliably predicted the effects of substituent variations on agonist potency, and it was also able to predict the qualitative effect of binding site mutations in the majority of cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hudson
- From the Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom and
| | - Bharat Shimpukade
- the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Graeme Milligan
- From the Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom and
| | - Trond Ulven
- the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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28
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Butcher AJ, Hudson BD, Shimpukade B, Alvarez-Curto E, Prihandoko R, Ulven T, Milligan G, Tobin AB. Concomitant action of structural elements and receptor phosphorylation determines arrestin-3 interaction with the free fatty acid receptor FFA4. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:18451-65. [PMID: 24817122 PMCID: PMC4140278 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.568816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to being nutrients, free fatty acids act as signaling molecules by activating a family of G protein-coupled receptors. Among these is FFA4, previously called GPR120, which responds to medium and long chain fatty acids, including health-promoting ω-3 fatty acids, which have been implicated in the regulation of metabolic and inflammatory responses. Here we show, using mass spectrometry, mutagenesis, and phosphospecific antibodies, that agonist-regulated phosphorylation of the human FFA4 receptor occurred primarily at five residues (Thr347, Thr349, Ser350, Ser357, and Ser360) in the C-terminal tail. Mutation of these residues reduced both the efficacy and potency of ligand-mediated arrestin-3 recruitment as well as affecting recruitment kinetics. Combined mutagenesis of all five of these residues was insufficient to fully abrogate interaction with arrestin-3, but further mutagenesis of negatively charged residues revealed additional structural components for the interaction with arrestin-3 within the C-terminal tail of the receptor. These elements consist of the acidic residues Glu341, Asp348, and Asp355 located close to the phosphorylation sites. Receptor phosphorylation thus operates in concert with structural elements within the C-terminal tail of FFA4 to allow for the recruitment of arrestin-3. Importantly, these mechanisms of arrestin-3 recruitment operate independently from Gq/11 coupling, thereby offering the possibility that ligands showing stimulus bias could be developed that exploit these differential coupling mechanisms. Furthermore, this provides a strategy for the design of biased receptors to probe physiologically relevant signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian J Butcher
- From the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Hodgkin building, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, United Kingdom
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom, and
| | - Bharat Shimpukade
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Elisa Alvarez-Curto
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom, and
| | - Rudi Prihandoko
- From the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Hodgkin building, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, United Kingdom
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom, and
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- From the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Hodgkin building, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, United Kingdom,
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29
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Fjære E, Aune UL, Røen K, Keenan AH, Ma T, Borkowski K, Kristensen DM, Novotny GW, Mandrup-Poulsen T, Hudson BD, Milligan G, Xi Y, Newman JW, Haj FG, Liaset B, Kristiansen K, Madsen L. Indomethacin treatment prevents high fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance but not glucose intolerance in C57BL/6J mice. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:16032-45. [PMID: 24742673 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.525220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic low grade inflammation is closely linked to obesity-associated insulin resistance. To examine how administration of the anti-inflammatory compound indomethacin, a general cyclooxygenase inhibitor, affected obesity development and insulin sensitivity, we fed obesity-prone male C57BL/6J mice a high fat/high sucrose (HF/HS) diet or a regular diet supplemented or not with indomethacin (±INDO) for 7 weeks. Development of obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance was monitored, and the effect of indomethacin on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was measured in vivo and in vitro using MIN6 β-cells. We found that supplementation with indomethacin prevented HF/HS-induced obesity and diet-induced changes in systemic insulin sensitivity. Thus, HF/HS+INDO-fed mice remained insulin-sensitive. However, mice fed HF/HS+INDO exhibited pronounced glucose intolerance. Hepatic glucose output was significantly increased. Indomethacin had no effect on adipose tissue mass, glucose tolerance, or GSIS when included in a regular diet. Indomethacin administration to obese mice did not reduce adipose tissue mass, and the compensatory increase in GSIS observed in obese mice was not affected by treatment with indomethacin. We demonstrate that indomethacin did not inhibit GSIS per se, but activation of GPR40 in the presence of indomethacin inhibited glucose-dependent insulin secretion in MIN6 cells. We conclude that constitutive high hepatic glucose output combined with impaired GSIS in response to activation of GPR40-dependent signaling in the HF/HS+INDO-fed mice contributed to the impaired glucose clearance during a glucose challenge and that the resulting lower levels of plasma insulin prevented the obesogenic action of the HF/HS diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Even Fjære
- From the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark, the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - Ulrike L Aune
- From the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark, the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - Kristin Røen
- From the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alison H Keenan
- From the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark, the Departments of Nutrition and
| | - Tao Ma
- From the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kamil Borkowski
- From the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David M Kristensen
- the INSERM U1085-IRSET, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France, the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Guy W Novotny
- the Section for Endocrinological Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of 2200 Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Mandrup-Poulsen
- the Section for Endocrinological Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of 2200 Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Solna, Sweden
| | - Brian D Hudson
- the Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom, and
| | - Graeme Milligan
- the Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom, and
| | | | - John W Newman
- the Departments of Nutrition and the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service-Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis, California 95616
| | - Fawaz G Haj
- the Departments of Nutrition and Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Bjørn Liaset
- the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - Karsten Kristiansen
- From the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark,
| | - Lise Madsen
- From the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark, the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway,
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30
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Abstract
Dietary free fatty acids (FFAs), such as ω-3 fatty acids, regulate metabolic and anti-inflammatory processes, with many of these effects attributed to FFAs interacting with a family of G protein-coupled receptors. Selective synthetic ligands for free fatty acid receptors (FFA1-4) have consequently been developed as potential treatments for type 2 diabetes (T2D). In particular, clinical studies show that Fasiglifam, an agonist of the long-chain FFA receptor, FFA1, improved glycemic control and reduced HbA1c levels in T2D patients, with a reduced risk of hypoglycemia. However, this ligand was removed from clinical trials due to potential liver toxicity and determining if this is a target or a ligand-specific feature is now of major importance. Pre-clinical studies also show that FFA4 agonism increases insulin sensitivity, induces weight loss, and reduces inflammation and the metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are linked with FFA2 and FFA3 activation. In this review, we therefore show that FFA receptor agonism is a potential clinical target for T2D treatment and discuss ongoing drug development programs within industry and academia aimed at improving the safety and effectiveness of these potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth R. Watterson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Brian D. Hudson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- *Correspondence: Graeme Milligan, Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK e-mail:
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MacKenzie AE, Caltabiano G, Kent TC, Jenkins L, McCallum JE, Hudson BD, Nicklin SA, Fawcett L, Markwick R, Charlton SJ, Milligan G. The antiallergic mast cell stabilizers lodoxamide and bufrolin as the first high and equipotent agonists of human and rat GPR35. Mol Pharmacol 2013; 85:91-104. [PMID: 24113750 DOI: 10.1124/mol.113.089482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lack of high potency agonists has restricted analysis of the G protein-coupled receptor GPR35. Moreover, marked variation in potency and/or affinity of current ligands between human and rodent orthologs of GPR35 has limited their productive use in rodent models of physiology. Based on the reported modest potency of the antiasthma and antiallergic ligands cromolyn disodium and nedocromil sodium, we identified the related compounds lodoxamide and bufrolin as high potency agonists of human GPR35. Unlike previously identified high potency agonists that are highly selective for human GPR35, both lodoxamide and bufrolin displayed equivalent potency at rat GPR35. Further synthetic antiallergic ligands, either sharing features of the standard surrogate agonist zaprinast, or with lodoxamide and bufrolin, were also shown to display agonism at either human or rat GPR35. Because both lodoxamide and bufrolin are symmetric di-acids, their potential mode of binding was explored via mutagenesis based on swapping between the rat and human ortholog nonconserved arginine residues within proximity of a key conserved arginine at position 3.36. Computational modeling and ligand docking predicted the contributions of different arginine residues, other than at 3.36, in human GPR35 for these two ligands and were consistent with selective loss of potency of either bufrolin or lodoxamide at distinct arginine mutants. The computational models also suggested that bufrolin and lodoxamide would display reduced potency at a low-frequency human GPR35 single nucleotide polymorphism. This prediction was confirmed experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E MacKenzie
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology (A.E.M., G.C., L.J., J.E.M., B.D.H., G.M.) and Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, (J.E.M., S.A.N.), College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom; Laboratory of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain (G.C.); and Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Horsham, United Kingdom (T.C.K., L.F., R.M., S.J.C.)
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Hudson BD, Shimpukade B, Mackenzie AE, Butcher AJ, Pediani JD, Christiansen E, Heathcote H, Tobin AB, Ulven T, Milligan G. The pharmacology of TUG-891, a potent and selective agonist of the free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFA4/GPR120), demonstrates both potential opportunity and possible challenges to therapeutic agonism. Mol Pharmacol 2013; 84:710-25. [PMID: 23979972 DOI: 10.1124/mol.113.087783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
TUG-891 [3-(4-((4-fluoro-4'-methyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl)methoxy)phenyl)propanoic acid] was recently described as a potent and selective agonist for the long chain free fatty acid (LCFA) receptor 4 (FFA4; previously G protein-coupled receptor 120, or GPR120). Herein, we have used TUG-891 to further define the function of FFA4 and used this compound in proof of principle studies to indicate the therapeutic potential of this receptor. TUG-891 displayed similar signaling properties to the LCFA α-linolenic acid at human FFA4 across various assay end points, including stimulation of Ca²⁺ mobilization, β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 recruitment, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. Activation of human FFA4 by TUG-891 also resulted in rapid phosphorylation and internalization of the receptor. While these latter events were associated with desensitization of the FFA4 signaling response, removal of TUG-891 allowed both rapid recycling of FFA4 back to the cell surface and resensitization of the FFA4 Ca²⁺ signaling response. TUG-891 was also a potent agonist of mouse FFA4, but it showed only limited selectivity over mouse FFA1, complicating its use in vivo in this species. Pharmacologic dissection of responses to TUG-891 in model murine cell systems indicated that activation of FFA4 was able to mimic many potentially beneficial therapeutic properties previously reported for LCFAs, including stimulating glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion from enteroendocrine cells, enhancing glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and inhibiting release of proinflammatory mediators from RAW264.7 macrophages, which suggests promise for FFA4 as a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes and obesity. Together, these results demonstrate both potential but also significant challenges that still need to be overcome to therapeutically target FFA4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hudson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom (B.D.H., A.E.M., J.D.P., H.H., G.M.); Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (B.S., E.C., T.U.); and MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (A.J.B., A.B.T.)
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Abstract
Although it is widely assumed that species orthologs of hormone-responsive G protein-coupled receptors will be activated by the same endogenously produced ligand(s), variation in potency, particularly in cases in which more than 1 receptor responds to the same hormone, can result in challenges in defining the contribution of individual receptors in different species. This can create considerably greater issues when using synthetic chemical ligands and, in some cases, may result in a complete lack of efficacy of such a ligand when used in animal models of pathophysiology. In man, the concept that distinct responses of individuals to medicines may reflect differences in the ability of such drugs to bind to or activate single nucleotide polymorphism variants of receptors is more established as a concept but, in many cases, clear links between such variants that are associated with disease phenotypes and substantial differences in receptor ligand pharmacology have been more difficult to obtain. Herein we consider each of these issues for the group of free fatty acid receptors, FFA1-FFA4, defined to be activated by free fatty acids of varying chain length, which, based on their production by 1 tissue or location and action in distinct locations, have been suggested to possess characteristics of hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hudson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Christiansen E, Hansen SVF, Urban C, Hudson BD, Wargent ET, Grundmann M, Jenkins L, Zaibi M, Stocker CJ, Ullrich S, Kostenis E, Kassack MU, Milligan G, Cawthorne MA, Ulven T. Discovery of TUG-770: A Highly Potent Free Fatty Acid Receptor 1 (FFA1/GPR40) Agonist for Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. ACS Med Chem Lett 2013; 4:441-445. [PMID: 23687558 PMCID: PMC3654565 DOI: 10.1021/ml4000673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
![]()
Free
fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1 or GPR40) enhances glucose-stimulated
insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells and currently attracts
high interest as a new target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
We here report the discovery of a highly potent FFA1 agonist with
favorable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. The compound
efficiently normalizes glucose tolerance in diet-induced obese mice,
an effect that is fully sustained after 29 days of chronic dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Christiansen
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Steffen V. F. Hansen
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Christian Urban
- Institute of Pharmaceutical
and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Brian D. Hudson
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and
Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K
| | - Edward T. Wargent
- Clore Laboratory, University of Buckingham, Hunter Street, Buckingham
MK18 1EG, U.K
| | - Manuel Grundmann
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 6, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Laura Jenkins
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and
Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K
| | - Mohamed Zaibi
- Clore Laboratory, University of Buckingham, Hunter Street, Buckingham
MK18 1EG, U.K
| | - Claire J. Stocker
- Clore Laboratory, University of Buckingham, Hunter Street, Buckingham
MK18 1EG, U.K
| | - Susanne Ullrich
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology,
Vascular Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str.
10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Evi Kostenis
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 6, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Matthias U. Kassack
- Institute of Pharmaceutical
and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and
Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K
| | - Michael A. Cawthorne
- Clore Laboratory, University of Buckingham, Hunter Street, Buckingham
MK18 1EG, U.K
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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35
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Hudson BD, Due-Hansen ME, Christiansen E, Hansen AM, Mackenzie AE, Murdoch H, Pandey SK, Ward RJ, Marquez R, Tikhonova IG, Ulven T, Milligan G. Defining the molecular basis for the first potent and selective orthosteric agonists of the FFA2 free fatty acid receptor. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:17296-312. [PMID: 23589301 PMCID: PMC3682533 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.455337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
FFA2 is a G protein-coupled receptor that responds to short chain fatty acids and has generated interest as a therapeutic target for metabolic and inflammatory conditions. However, definition of its functions has been slowed by a dearth of selective ligands that can distinguish it from the closely related FFA3. At present, the only selective ligands described for FFA2 suffer from poor potency, altered signaling due to allosteric modes of action, or a lack of function at non-human orthologs of the receptor. To address the need for novel selective ligands, we synthesized two compounds potentially having FFA2 activity and examined the molecular basis of their function. These compounds were confirmed to be potent and selective orthosteric FFA2 agonists. A combination of ligand structure-activity relationship, pharmacological analysis, homology modeling, species ortholog comparisons, and mutagenesis studies were then employed to define the molecular basis of selectivity and function of these ligands. From this, we identified key residues within both extracellular loop 2 and the transmembrane domain regions of FFA2 critical for ligand function. One of these ligands was active with reasonable potency at rodent orthologs of FFA2 and demonstrated the role of FFA2 in inhibition of lipolysis and glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion in murine-derived 3T3-L1 and STC-1 cell lines, respectively. Together, these findings describe the first potent and selective FFA2 orthosteric agonists and demonstrate key aspects of ligand interaction within the binding site of FFA2 that will be invaluable in future ligand development at this receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hudson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, Wolfson Link Building 253, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
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Mackenzie AE, Neetoo‐Isseljee Z, Southern C, Jerman J, McIver EG, Hudson BD, Taylor DL, Milligan G. Novel and potent GPR35 agonists aid identification of residues important in ligand interaction. FASEB J 2013. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.655.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Elaine Mackenzie
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems BiologyThe University of GlasgowGLASGOWUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Craig Southern
- MRC Technology Centre for Therapeutics DiscoveryMRC TechnologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Jeff Jerman
- MRC Technology Centre for Therapeutics DiscoveryMRC TechnologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Edward G. McIver
- MRC Technology Centre for Therapeutics DiscoveryMRC TechnologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Brian D. Hudson
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems BiologyThe University of GlasgowGLASGOWUnited Kingdom
| | - Debra L. Taylor
- MRC Technology Centre for Therapeutics DiscoveryMRC TechnologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems BiologyThe University of GlasgowGLASGOWUnited Kingdom
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D. Hudson B, Ulven T, Milligan G. The Therapeutic Potential of Allosteric Ligands for Free Fatty Acid Sensitive GPCRs. Curr Top Med Chem 2013; 13:14-25. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026611313010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Revised: 11/29/2012] [Accepted: 11/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Christiansen E, Due-Hansen ME, Urban C, Grundmann M, Schmidt J, Hansen SVF, Hudson BD, Zaibi M, Markussen SB, Hagesaether E, Milligan G, Cawthorne MA, Kostenis E, Kassack MU, Ulven T. Discovery of a potent and selective free fatty acid receptor 1 agonist with low lipophilicity and high oral bioavailability. J Med Chem 2013; 56:982-92. [PMID: 23294321 DOI: 10.1021/jm301470a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1, also known as GPR40) mediates enhancement of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and is emerging as a new target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Several FFA1 agonists are known, but the majority of these suffer from high lipophilicity. We have previously reported the FFA1 agonist 3 (TUG-424). We here describe the continued structure-activity exploration and optimization of this compound series, leading to the discovery of the more potent agonist 40, a compound with low lipophilicity, excellent in vitro metabolic stability and permeability, complete oral bioavailability, and appreciable efficacy on glucose tolerance in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Christiansen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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Hudson BD, Tikhonova IG, Pandey SK, Ulven T, Milligan G. Extracellular ionic locks determine variation in constitutive activity and ligand potency between species orthologs of the free fatty acid receptors FFA2 and FFA3. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:41195-209. [PMID: 23066016 PMCID: PMC3510819 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.396259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Free fatty acid receptors 2 and 3 (FFA2 and FFA3) are G protein-coupled receptors for short chain free fatty acids (SCFAs). They respond to the same set of endogenous ligands but with distinct rank-order of potency such that acetate (C2) has been described as FFA2-selective, whereas propionate (C3) is non-selective. Although C2 was confirmed to be selective for human FFA2 over FFA3, this ligand was not selective between the mouse orthologs. Moreover, although C3 was indeed not selective between the human orthologs, it displayed clear selectivity for mouse FFA3 over mouse FFA2. This altered selectivity to C2 and C3 resulted from broad differences in SCFAs potency at the mouse orthologs. In studies to define the molecular basis for these observations, marked variation in ligand-independent constitutive activity was identified using a [35S]GTPγS assay. The orthologs with higher potency for the SCFAs, human FFA2 and mouse FFA3, displayed high constitutive activity in this assay, whereas the orthologs with lower potency for the agonist ligands, mouse FFA2 and human FFA3, did not. Sequence alignments of the second extracellular loop identified single negatively charged residues in FFA2 and FFA3 not conserved between species and predicted to form ionic lock interactions with arginine residues within the FFA2 or FFA3 agonist binding pocket to regulate constitutive activity and SCFA potency. Reciprocal mutation of these residues between species orthologs resulted in the induction (or repression) of constitutive activity and in most cases also yielded corresponding changes in SCFA potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hudson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
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40
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Hudson BD, Christiansen E, Tikhonova IG, Grundmann M, Kostenis E, Adams DR, Ulven T, Milligan G. Chemically engineering ligand selectivity at the free fatty acid receptor 2 based on pharmacological variation between species orthologs. FASEB J 2012; 26:4951-65. [PMID: 22919070 PMCID: PMC3509056 DOI: 10.1096/fj.12-213314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
When it is difficult to develop selective ligands within a family of related G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), chemically engineered receptors activated solely by synthetic ligands (RASSLs) are useful alternatives for probing receptor function. In the present work, we explored whether a RASSL of the free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2) could be developed on the basis of pharmacological variation between species orthologs. For this, bovine FFA2 was characterized, revealing distinct ligand selectivity compared with human FFA2. Homology modeling and mutational analysis demonstrated a single mutation in human FFA2 of C4.57G resulted in a human FFA2 receptor with ligand selectivity similar to the bovine receptor. This was exploited to generate human FFA2-RASSL by the addition of a second mutation at a known orthosteric ligand interaction site, H6.55Q. The resulting FFA2-RASSL displayed a >100-fold loss of activity to endogenous ligands, while responding to the distinct ligand sorbic acid with pEC50 values for inhibition of cAMP, 5.83 ± 0.11; Ca2+ mobilization, 4.63 ± 0.05; ERK phosphorylation, 5.61 ± 0.06; and dynamic mass redistribution, 5.35 ± 0.06. This FFA2-RASSL will be useful in future studies on this receptor and demonstrates that exploitation of pharmacological variation between species orthologs is a powerful method to generate novel chemically engineered GPCRs.—Hudson, B. D., Christiansen, E., Tikhonova, I. G., Grundmann, M., Kostenis, E., Adams, D. R., Ulven, T., Milligan, G. Chemically engineering ligand selectivity at the free fatty acid receptor 2 based on pharmacological variation between species orthologs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hudson
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Christiansen E, Due-Hansen ME, Urban C, Grundmann M, Schröder R, Hudson BD, Milligan G, Cawthorne MA, Kostenis E, Kassack MU, Ulven T. Free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1/GPR40) agonists: mesylpropoxy appendage lowers lipophilicity and improves ADME properties. J Med Chem 2012; 55:6624-8. [PMID: 22724451 DOI: 10.1021/jm3002026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
FFA1 (GPR40) is a new target for treatment of type 2 diabetes. We recently identified the potent FFA1 agonist TUG-469 (5). Inspired by the structurally related TAK-875, we explored the effects of a mesylpropoxy appendage on 5. The appendage significantly lowers lipophilicity and improves metabolic stability while preserving potency, resulting in discovery of the potent FFA1 agonist 13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Christiansen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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Abstract
GPR120 is a receptor of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids reported to mediate GLP-1 secretion, insulin sensitization, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity effects and is therefore emerging as a new potential target for treatment of type 2 diabetes and metabolic diseases. Further investigation is however hindered by the lack of suitable receptor modulators. Screening of FFA1 ligands provided a lead with moderate activity on GPR120 and moderate selectivity over FFA1. Optimization led to the discovery of the first potent and selective GPR120 agonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Shimpukade
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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Terhzaz S, Cabrero P, Robben JH, Radford JC, Hudson BD, Milligan G, Dow JAT, Davies SA. Mechanism and function of Drosophila capa GPCR: a desiccation stress-responsive receptor with functional homology to human neuromedinU receptor. PLoS One 2012; 7:e29897. [PMID: 22253819 PMCID: PMC3256212 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2011] [Accepted: 12/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The capa peptide receptor, capaR (CG14575), is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) for the D. melanogaster capa neuropeptides, Drm-capa-1 and -2 (capa-1 and -2). To date, the capa peptide family constitutes the only known nitridergic peptides in insects, so the mechanisms and physiological function of ligand-receptor signalling of this peptide family are of interest. Capa peptide induces calcium signaling via capaR with EC₅₀ values for capa-1 = 3.06 nM and capa-2 = 4.32 nM. capaR undergoes rapid desensitization, with internalization via a b-arrestin-2 mediated mechanism but is rapidly re-sensitized in the absence of capa-1. Drosophila capa peptides have a C-terminal -FPRXamide motif and insect-PRXamide peptides are evolutionarily related to vertebrate peptide neuromedinU (NMU). Potential agonist effects of human NMU-25 and the insect -PRLamides [Drosophila pyrokinins Drm-PK-1 (capa-3), Drm-PK-2 and hugin-gamma [hugg]] against capaR were investigated. NMU-25, but not hugg nor Drm-PK-2, increases intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]i) levels via capaR. In vivo, NMU-25 increases [Ca²⁺]i and fluid transport by the Drosophila Malpighian (renal) tubule. Ectopic expression of human NMU receptor 2 in tubules of transgenic flies results in increased [Ca²⁺]i and fluid transport. Finally, anti-porcine NMU-8 staining of larval CNS shows that the most highly immunoreactive cells are capa-producing neurons. These structural and functional data suggest that vertebrate NMU is a putative functional homolog of Drm-capa-1 and -2. capaR is almost exclusively expressed in tubule principal cells; cell-specific targeted capaR RNAi significantly reduces capa-1 stimulated [Ca²⁺]i and fluid transport. Adult capaR RNAi transgenic flies also display resistance to desiccation. Thus, capaR acts in the key fluid-transporting tissue to regulate responses to desiccation stress in the fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selim Terhzaz
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (S-AD); (ST)
| | - Pablo Cabrero
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Joris H. Robben
- Department of Physiology, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jonathan C. Radford
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Brian D. Hudson
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Julian A. T. Dow
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shireen-A. Davies
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (S-AD); (ST)
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Hudson BD, Beazley M, Szczesniak AM, Straiker A, Kelly MEM. Indirect sympatholytic actions at β-adrenoceptors account for the ocular hypotensive actions of cannabinoid receptor agonists. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2011; 339:757-67. [PMID: 21885619 PMCID: PMC11047145 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.111.185769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2011] [Accepted: 08/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the primary risk factor for glaucoma, a blinding eye disease. Cannabinoid agonists have long been known to decrease IOP, suggesting they may be useful in glaucoma treatment. However, the specific mechanism by which cannabinoids generate this ocular hypotensive effect remains unknown. The current evidence suggests the cannabinoids reduce IOP through actions at cannabinoid 1 (CB(1)) receptors within the eye, and adrenergic receptors (ARs) may also contribute to this action of cannabinoids. Considering this, the present study aimed to elucidate the mechanism behind the ocular hypotensive properties of cannabinoids through the use of mice genetically lacking either cannabinoid receptors or βARs. Cannabinoid agonists, βAR antagonists, and βAR agonists decreased IOP in wild-type mice and CB(2)(-/-) mice. In contrast, none of these compounds were found to reduce IOP in βAR(-/-) or CB(1)(-/-) mice. Desensitization of the βARs and depletion of catecholamines in wild-type mice also eliminated the ability of the cannabinoid agonist (R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-(4-morpholinylmethyl)pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-1-naphthalenylmethanone mesylate (WIN 55,212-2) to reduce IOP, strongly implicating a role for both βARs and catecholamines in the ocular hypotensive properties of cannabinoids. Finally, CB(1) receptors were shown to colocalize with tyrosine hydroxylase, a marker for adrenergic neurons. Taken together, these findings suggest that βARs are required for the ocular hypotensive properties of cannabinoids, and cannabinoids reduce IOP by acting as indirect sympatholytics and inhibiting norepinephrine release within the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hudson
- Department of Pharmacology, Sir Charles Tupper Building, Dalhousie University, 5850 College St. Halifax, NS, Canada B3H1X5
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Hudson BD, Kelly MEM. Identification of novel competing β2AR phospho-extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathways in human trabecular meshwork cells. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2011; 28:17-25. [PMID: 22010988 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2011.0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE β-Adrenergic receptor (βAR) agonists reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) by increasing aqueous outflow through the trabecular meshwork (TM). However, although this effect is well established, the specific signaling mechanisms responsible are less clear. To address this, the current study examined βAR signaling in primary human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMCs), specifically, focusing on the effect of βAR activation on the extracellular signal regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK). METHODS HTMCs were cultured and assessed for βAR expression by both immunofluorescence and reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The effect of βAR activation on ERK phosphorylation was examined in these cells by In-Cell Western™ analysis. Pharmacological approaches were used to characterize the mechanism of the βAR effect on ERK. RESULTS Treatment of HTMCs with the nonselective βAR agonist, isoproterenol (ISO), decreased the basal phospho-ERK (pERK) level, through actions at the β2AR. The response was insensitive to pertussis toxin (PTx), but pretreatment with cholera toxin (CTx) resulted in a reversal of the response, such that ISO treatment instead increased pERK, thus implicating Gα(s) in the inhibitory pERK response. The adenylyl cyclase activator, forskolin, also decreased pERK, suggesting the involvement of adenylyl cyclase and cAMP, whereas a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H-89, blocked both ISO and forskolin-mediated pERK inhibition in HTMCs. Finally, a closer examination of the pERK increase generated in the presence of CTx demonstrated that it was also insensitive to PTx, and appeared to have differing rank orders of efficacy for various βAR agonists compared with the inhibitory pERK pathway in HTMCs. CONCLUSION A novel β(2)AR-signaling pathway leading to a decrease in pERK, which was dependent on Gα(s), cAMP, and PKA, was identified in HTMCs. A competing β(2)AR signaling pathway resulting in increased pERK was also identified. Since βAR effects on aqueous humor (AH) outflow have been linked to cAMP, and inhibition of ERK in TM cells has recently been suggested as increasing AH outflow, our findings suggest that the inhibitory β(2)AR-pERK pathway likely represents the mechanism by which βAR agonists decrease IOP. The presence of a competing β(2)AR-ERK activation pathway in the same cells suggests that this is an ideal system for the development and validation of functionally selective β(2)AR agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hudson
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
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Smith NJ, Ward RJ, Stoddart LA, Hudson BD, Kostenis E, Ulven T, Morris JC, Tränkle C, Tikhonova IG, Adams DR, Milligan G. Extracellular loop 2 of the free fatty acid receptor 2 mediates allosterism of a phenylacetamide ago-allosteric modulator. Mol Pharmacol 2011; 80:163-73. [PMID: 21498659 DOI: 10.1124/mol.110.070789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Allosteric agonists are powerful tools for exploring the pharmacology of closely related G protein-coupled receptors that have nonselective endogenous ligands, such as the short chain fatty acids at free fatty acid receptors 2 and 3 (FFA2/GPR43 and FFA3/GPR41, respectively). We explored the molecular mechanisms mediating the activity of 4-chloro-α-(1-methylethyl)-N-2-thiazolylbenzeneacetamide (4-CMTB), a recently described phenylacetamide allosteric agonist and allosteric modulator of endogenous ligand function at human FFA2, by combining our previous knowledge of the orthosteric binding site with targeted examination of 4-CMTB structure-activity relationships and mutagenesis and chimeric receptor generation. Here we show that 4-CMTB is a selective agonist for FFA2 that binds to a site distinct from the orthosteric site of the receptor. Ligand structure-activity relationship studies indicated that the N-thiazolyl amide is likely to provide hydrogen bond donor/acceptor interactions with the receptor. Substitution at Leu(173) or the exchange of the entire extracellular loop 2 of FFA2 with that of FFA3 was sufficient to reduce or ablate, respectively, allosteric communication between the endogenous and allosteric agonists. Thus, we conclude that extracellular loop 2 of human FFA2 is required for transduction of cooperative signaling between the orthosteric and an as-yet-undefined allosteric binding site of the FFA2 receptor that is occupied by 4-CMTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola J Smith
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Tikhonova IG, Smith NJ, Ward RJ, Stoddart LA, Hudson BD, Kostenis E, Ulven T, Morris JC, Adams D, Milligan G. Probing Allosteric Binding Site Mapping in the Free Fatty Acid 2 receptor. Biophys J 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.12.483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Schmidt J, Smith NJ, Christiansen E, Tikhonova IG, Grundmann M, Hudson BD, Ward RJ, Drewke C, Milligan G, Kostenis E, Ulven T. Selective orthosteric free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2) agonists: identification of the structural and chemical requirements for selective activation of FFA2 versus FFA3. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:10628-40. [PMID: 21220428 PMCID: PMC3060514 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.210872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2; GPR43) is a G protein-coupled seven-transmembrane receptor for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that is implicated in inflammatory and metabolic disorders. The SCFA propionate has close to optimal ligand efficiency for FFA2 and can hence be considered as highly potent given its size. Propionate, however, does not discriminate between FFA2 and the closely related receptor FFA3 (GPR41). To identify FFA2-selective ligands and understand the molecular basis for FFA2 selectivity, a targeted library of small carboxylic acids was examined using holistic, label-free dynamic mass redistribution technology for primary screening and the receptor-proximal G protein [35S]guanosine 5′-(3-O-thio)triphosphate activation, inositol phosphate, and cAMP accumulation assays for hit confirmation. Structure-activity relationship analysis allowed formulation of a general rule to predict selectivity for small carboxylic acids at the orthosteric binding site where ligands with substituted sp3-hybridized α-carbons preferentially activate FFA3, whereas ligands with sp2- or sp-hybridized α-carbons prefer FFA2. The orthosteric binding mode was verified by site-directed mutagenesis: replacement of orthosteric site arginine residues by alanine in FFA2 prevented ligand binding, and molecular modeling predicted the detailed mode of binding. Based on this, selective mutation of three residues to their non-conserved counterparts in FFA3 was sufficient to transfer FFA3 selectivity to FFA2. Thus, selective activation of FFA2 via the orthosteric site is achievable with rather small ligands, a finding with significant implications for the rational design of therapeutic compounds selectively targeting the SCFA receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Schmidt
- Molecular, Cellular, and Pharmacobiology Section, Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 6, 53115 Bonn, Germany
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The CB(1) cannabinoid receptor and the beta(2)-adrenoceptor are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) co-expressed in many tissues. The present study examined physical and functional interactions between these receptors in a heterologous expression system and in primary human ocular cells. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Physical interactions between CB(1) receptors and beta(2)-adrenoceptors were assessed using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). Functional interactions between these receptors were evaluated by examining receptor trafficking, as well as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) signalling. KEY RESULTS Physical interactions between CB(1) receptors and beta(2)-adrenoceptors were demonstrated using BRET. In human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293H cells, co-expression of beta(2)-adrenoceptors tempered the constitutive activity and increased cell surface expression of CB(1) receptors. Co-expression altered the signalling properties of CB(1 )receptors, resulting in increased Galpha(i)-dependent ERK phosphorylation, but decreased non-Galpha(i)-mediated CREB phosphorylation. The CB(1) receptor inverse agonist AM251 (N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-iodophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide) attenuated beta(2)-adrenoceptor-pERK signalling in cells expressing both receptors, while the CB(1) receptor neutral antagonist O-2050 ((6aR,10aR)-3-(1-methanesulfonylamino-4-hexyn-6-yl)-6a,7,10,10a-tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran) did not. The actions of AM251 and O-2050 were further examined in primary human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells, which are ocular cells endogenously co-expressing CB(1) receptors and beta(2)-adrenoceptors. In HTM cells, as in HEK 293H cells, AM251 but not O-2050, altered the beta(2)-adrenoceptor-pERK response. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS A complex interaction was demonstrated between CB(1) receptors and beta(2)-adrenoceptors in HEK 293H cells. As similar functional interactions were also observed in HTM cells, such interactions may affect the pharmacology of these receptors in tissues where they are endogenously co-expressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hudson
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Yamamoto BJ, Elias PD, Masino JA, Hudson BD, McCoy AT, Anderson ZJ, Varnum MD, Sardinia MF, Wright JW, Harding JW. The angiotensin IV analog Nle-Tyr-Leu-psi-(CH2-NH2)3-4-His-Pro-Phe (norleual) can act as a hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met inhibitor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2010; 333:161-73. [PMID: 20086056 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.109.161711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The angiotensin (Ang) IV analog norleual [Nle-Tyr-Leu-psi-(CH2-NH2)(3-4)-His-Pro-Phe] exhibits structural homology with the hinge (linker) region of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and is hypothesized to act as a hinge region mimic. Norleual competitively inhibited the binding of HGF to its receptor c-Met in mouse liver membranes, with an IC(50) value of 3 pM. Predictably, norleual was able to inhibit HGF-dependent signaling, proliferation, migration, and invasion in multiple cell types at concentrations in the picomolar range. Ex vivo studies demonstrated that norleual exhibited potent antiangiogenic activity, an attribute that would be predicted for a HGF/c-Met antagonist. Furthermore, norleual suppressed pulmonary colonization by B16-F10 murine melanoma cells, which are characterized by an overactive HGF/c-Met system. Together, these data suggest that AngIV analogs exert at least some of their biological activity through interference with the HGF/c-Met system and may have utility as therapeutic agents in disorders that are dependent on an intact HGF/c-Met system. Finally, the ability of norleual to induce marked biological responses in human embryonic kidney cells, which do not express insulin-responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP), coupled with the observed effects of norleual on the HGF/c-Met system, casts doubt on the physiological significance of AngIV-dependent inhibition of IRAP. [Corrected]
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Yamamoto
- Department of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Physiology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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