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Morris DJ, Brem AS, Odermatt A. Modulation of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase functions by the cloud of endogenous metabolites in a local microenvironment: The glycyrrhetinic acid-like factor (GALF) hypothesis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 214:105988. [PMID: 34464733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2021.105988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD)-dependent conversion of cortisol to cortisone and corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone are essential in regulating transcriptional activities of mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR). Inhibition of 11β-HSD by glycyrrhetinic acid metabolites, bioactive components of licorice, causes sodium retention and potassium loss, with hypertension characterized by low renin and aldosterone. Essential hypertension is a major disease, mostly with unknown underlying mechanisms. Here, we discuss a putative mechanism for essential hypertension, the concept that endogenous steroidal compounds acting as glycyrrhetinic acid-like factors (GALFs) inhibit 11β-HSD dehydrogenase, and allow for glucocorticoid-induced MR and GR activation with resulting hypertension. Initially, several metabolites of adrenally produced glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids were shown to be potent 11β-HSD inhibitors. Such GALFs include modifications in the A-ring and/or at positions 3, 7 and 21 of the steroid backbone. These metabolites may be formed in peripheral tissues or by gut microbiota. More recently, metabolites of 11β-hydroxy-Δ4androstene-3,17-dione and 7-oxygenated oxysterols have been identified as potent 11β-HSD inhibitors. In a living system, 11β-HSD isoforms are not exposed to a single substrate but to several substrates, cofactors, and various inhibitors simultaneously, all at different concentrations depending on physical state, tissue and cell type. We propose that this "cloud" of steroids and steroid-like substances in the microenvironment determines the 11β-HSD-dependent control of MR and GR activity. A dysregulated composition of this cloud of metabolites in the respective microenvironment needs to be taken into account when investigating disease mechanisms, for forms of low renin, low aldosterone hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Morris
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Andrew S Brem
- Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Alex Odermatt
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology and Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
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Boudon S, Heidl M, Vuorinen A, Wandeler E, Campiche R, Odermatt A, Jackson E. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel selective peptide inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:5128-5139. [PMID: 30245006 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The enzyme 11β-HSD1 plays a crucial role in the tissue-specific regulation of cortisol levels and it has been associated with various diseases. Inhibition of 11β-HSD1 is an attractive intervention strategy and the discovery of novel selective 11β-HSD1 inhibitors is of high relevance. In this study, we identified and evaluated a new series of selective peptide 11β-HSD1 inhibitors with potential for skin care applications. This novel scaffold was designed with the aid of molecular modeling and two previously reported inhibitors. SAR optimization yielded highly active peptides (IC50 below 400 nM) that were inactive at 1 µM concentration against structurally related enzymes (11β-HSD2, 17β-HSD1 and 17β-HSD2). The best performing peptides inhibited the conversion of cortisone into cortisol in primary human keratinocytes and the most active compound, 5d, was further shown to reverse cortisone-induced collagen damage in human ex-vivo tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Boudon
- DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Wurmisweg 576, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland
| | - Marc Heidl
- DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Wurmisweg 576, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland
| | - Anna Vuorinen
- Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eliane Wandeler
- DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Wurmisweg 576, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland
| | - Remo Campiche
- DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Wurmisweg 576, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland
| | - Alex Odermatt
- Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Eileen Jackson
- DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Wurmisweg 576, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland.
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Taves MD, Plumb AW, Korol AM, Van Der Gugten JG, Holmes DT, Abraham N, Soma KK. Lymphoid organs of neonatal and adult mice preferentially produce active glucocorticoids from metabolites, not precursors. Brain Behav Immun 2016; 57:271-281. [PMID: 27165988 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are circulating adrenal steroid hormones that coordinate physiology, especially the counter-regulatory response to stressors. While systemic GCs are often considered immunosuppressive, GCs in the thymus play a critical role in antigen-specific immunity by ensuring the selection of competent T cells. Elevated thymus-specific GC levels are thought to occur by local synthesis, but the mechanism of such tissue-specific GC production remains unknown. Here, we found metyrapone-blockable GC production in neonatal and adult bone marrow, spleen, and thymus of C57BL/6 mice. This production was primarily via regeneration of adrenal metabolites, rather than de novo synthesis from cholesterol, as we found high levels of gene expression and activity of the GC-regenerating enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), but not the GC-synthetic enzyme CYP11B1. Furthermore, incubation with physiological concentrations of GC metabolites (11-dehydrocorticosterone, prednisone) induced 11β-HSD1- and GC receptor-dependent apoptosis (caspase activation) in both T and B cells, showing the functional relevance of local GC regeneration in lymphocyte GC signaling. Local GC production in bone marrow and spleen raises the possibility that GCs play a key role in B cell selection similar to their role in T cell selection. Our results also indicate that local GC production may amplify changes in adrenal GC signaling, rather than buffering against such changes, in the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Taves
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 4200-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Adam W Plumb
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 1365-2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Anastasia M Korol
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | | | - Daniel T Holmes
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, St Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Ninan Abraham
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 4200-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 1365-2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Kiran K Soma
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 4200-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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