The involvement of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) in prostaglandin F2α production by porcine endometrium

In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) ligands on PGF_2α secretion and mRNA expression of prostaglandin F synthase (PGFS) in porcine endometrial explants collected on days 10–12 and 14–16 of the estrous cycle or pregnancy. The explants were incubated for 6 h with: PPARα ligands – WY-14643 (agonist) and MK 886 (antagonist); PPARβ ligands – l-165,041 (agonist) and GW 9662 (antagonist); PPARγ ligands – 15d-prostaglandin J₂ (PGJ₂, agonist), rosiglitazone (agonist) and T0070907 (antagonist). The expression of PGFS mRNA in the endometrium and the concentration of PGF_2α in culture media were determined by real time RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay, respectively. During the estrous cycle (days 10–12 and 14–16), the agonists – WY-14643 (PPARα), l-165,041 (PPARβ), PGJ₂ and rosiglitazone (PPARγ) – increased PGF_2α secretion but did not affect PGFS mRNA abundance. During pregnancy (days 10–12 and 14–16), PPARα and PPARγ ligands did not change PGF_2α release, whereas PPARβ agonist augmented PGF_2α release on days 14–16 of pregnancy. In addition, WY-14643 and l-165,041 increased PGFS mRNA level in both examined periods of pregnancy. PPARγ agonist (PGJ₂) and antagonist (T0070907) enhanced PGFS mRNA abundance in the endometrium on days 10–12 and 14–16 of pregnancy, respectively. The results indicate that PPARs are involved in the production of PGF_2α by porcine endometrium, and that the sensitivity of the endometrium to PPAR ligands depends on reproductive status of animals.     

卡介苗作用大鼠膀胱肿瘤细胞／正常移行上皮细胞后TNF—α．、IL-10、IFN-γ的检测及意义

目的：观察卡介苗（BCG）单独作用膀胱肿瘤细胞、正常膀胱移行上皮细胞及其代谢产物作用上述细胞后细胞生长情况及各自细胞培养液上清液中细胞因子（TNF-α．、IL-10、IFN-γ）浓度的变化,探讨其在卡介苗治疗膀胱肿瘤中可能的作用机制。方法：构建大鼠膀胱肿瘤模型,并原代培养大鼠膀胱肿瘤细胞及正常膀胱移行上皮细胞。分别用BCG,普通培养液和细胞培养的代谢产物作用上述细胞。酶联接免疫吸附剂测定法（ELISA法）检测各组细胞上清液中肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素-10（IL-10）、干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）的浓度。结果：ELISA法检测各组细胞上清液中TNF-α、IL-10的浓度改变有显著差异,而IFN-γ的浓度无显著差异。结论：BCG可以直接刺激肿瘤细胞自身分泌细胞因子（TNF-α、IL-10）参与调节抑制肿瘤细胞的生长。     

Identification and characterization of bi-thiazole-2,2′-diamines as kinase inhibitory scaffolds

Based on bioinformatics interrogation of the genome, > 500 mammalian protein kinases can be clustered within seven different groups. Of these kinases, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family forms part of the CMGC group of serine/threonine kinases that includes extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs), cJun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and p38 MAPKs. With the JNKs considered attractive targets in the treatment of pathologies including diabetes and stroke, efforts have been directed to the discovery of new JNK inhibitory molecules that can be further developed as new therapeutics. Capitalizing on our biochemical understanding of JNK, we performed in silico screens of commercially available chemical databases to identify JNK1-interacting compounds and tested their in vitro JNK inhibitory activity. With in vitro and cell culture studies, we showed that the compound, 4′-methyl-N²-3-pyridinyl-4,5′-bi-1,3-thiazole-2,2′-diamine (JNK Docking (JD) compound 123, but not the related compound (4′-methyl-N ~ 2 ~ -(6-methyl-2-pyridinyl)-4,5′-bi-1,3-thiazole-2,2′-diamine (JD124), inhibited JNK1 activity towards a range of substrates. Molecular docking, saturation transfer difference NMR experiments and enzyme kinetic analyses revealed both ATP- and substrate-competitive inhibition of JNK by JD123. In characterizing JD123 further, we noted its ATP-competitive inhibition of the related p38-γ MAPK, but not ERK1, ERK2, or p38-α, p38-β or p38-δ. Further screening of a broad panel of kinases using 10 μM JD123, identified inhibition of kinases including protein kinase Bβ (PKBβ/Aktβ). Appropriately modified thiazole diamines, as typified by JD123, thus provide a new chemical scaffold for development of inhibitors for the JNK and p38-γ MAPKs as well as other kinases that are also potential therapeutic targets such as PKBβ/Aktβ.     

Bindings of PPARγ ligand-binding domain with 5-cholesten-3β, 25-diol, 3-sulfate: accurate prediction by molecular simulation

Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR_γ) has recently been identified as an attractive target for atherosclerosis intervention. Given potential relevance of 5-cholesten-3β, 25-diol, 3-sulphate (CHOS) and PPAR_γ, an integrated docking method was used to study their interaction mechanisms, with the full considerations to distinct CHOS conformations and dynamic ensembles of PPAR_γ ligand-binding domain (PPAR_γ-LBD). The results revealed that this novel platform is satisfactory to the accurate determination of binding profiles, and the binding pattern of CHOS is rather similar as those of current PPAR_γ full/partial agonists. CHOS contributes to the stabilization of the AF2 and β-sheet surfaces of PPAR_γ-LBD and promotes the configuration adjustment of Ω loop, in order to inhibit the Cdk5-mediated PPAR_γ phosphorylation. Nonetheless, there are clear differences in term of occupation of full or partial agonist-like binding models. The energetic and geometric analyses further revealed that CHOS may be fond of partial agonist-like binding, and its sulfonic group and carbon skeleton are helpful for the binding process. We hope that the results will aid our understanding of recognitions involving CHOS with PPAR_γ-LBD and warrant the further aspects to pharmacological experiments.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Agonism activities of lyso-phosphatidylcholines (LPC) Ligands binding to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)

Abstract

PPARγ is an isoform of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) belonging to a super family of nuclear receptors and is a primary target of the effective drug to treat the type II diabetes. The experiments found that Lyso-phosphatidylcholines (LPC) could bind to PPARγ, but the binding modes remain unknown. We used the Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulations to study the binding of four LPC ligands (LPC16:0, LPC18:0, LPC18:1-1 and LPC18:1-2) to PPARγ. The two-step MD simulations were employed to determine the final binding modes. The 20?ns MD simulations for four final LPC-PPARγ complexes were performed to analyze their structures, the binding key residues, and agonism activities. The results reveal that three LPC ligands (LPC16:0, LPC18:0 and LPC18:1-1) bind to Arm II and III regions of the Ligand Binding Domain (LBD) pocket, whereas they do not interact with Tyr473 of Helix 12 (H12). In contrast, LPC18:1-2 can form the hydrogen bonds with Tyr473 and bind into Arm I and II regions. Comparing with the paradigm systems of the full agonist (Rosiglitazone–PPARγ) and the partial agonist (MRL24–PPARγ), our results indicate that LPC16:0, LPC18:0 and LPC18:1-1 could be the potential partial agonists and LPC18:1-2 could be a full agonist. The in-depth analysis of the residue fluctuations and structure alignment confirm the present prediction of the LPC agonism activities.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

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The immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecule has a long circulating serum half-life (~3 weeks) through pH- dependent FcRn binding-mediated recycling. To hijack the intracellular trafficking and recycling mechanism of IgG as a way to extend serum persistence of non-antibody therapeutic proteins, we have evolved the ectodomain of a low-affinity human FcγRIIa for enhanced binding to the lower hinge and upper CH2 region of IgG, which is very far from the FcRn binding site (CH2–CH3 interface). High-throughput library screening enabled isolation of an FcγRIIa variant (2A45.1) with 32-fold increased binding affinity to human IgG1 Fc (equilibrium dissociation constant: 9.04 × 10⁻⁷ M for wild type FcγRIIa and 2.82 × 10⁻⁸ M for 2A45.1) and significantly improved affinity to mouse serum IgG compared to wild type human FcγRIIa. The in vivo pharmacokinetic profile of PD-L1 fused with engineered FcγRIIa (PD-L1–2A45.1) was compared with that of PD-L1 fused with wild type FcγRIIa (PD-L1–wild type FcγRIIa) and human PD-L1 in mice. PD-L1–2A45.1 showed 11.7- and 9.7-fold prolonged circulating half-life (t_1/2) compared to PD-L1 when administered intravenously and intraperitoneally, respectively. In addition, the AUC_inf of PD-L1–2A45.1 was two-fold higher compared to that of PD-L1–wild type FcγRIIa. These results demonstrate that engineered FcγRIIa fusion offers a novel and successful strategy for prolonging serum half-life of therapeutic proteins.     

p120-catenin suppresses proliferation and tumor growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma via inhibiting nuclear phospholipase C-γ1 signaling

p120-catenin (p120) serves as a stabilizer of the calcium-dependent cadherin-catenin complex and loss of p120 expression has been observed in several types of human cancers. The p120-dependent E-cadherin-β-catenin complex has been shown to mediate calcium-induced keratinocyte differentiation via inducing activation of plasma membrane phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1). On the other hand, PLC-γ1 has been shown to interact with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase enhancer in the nucleus and plays a critical role in epidermal growth factor-induced proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. To determine whether p120 suppresses OSCC proliferation and tumor growth via inhibiting PLC-γ1, we examined effects of p120 knockdown or p120 and PLC-γ1 double knockdown on proliferation of cultured OSCC cells and tumor growth in xenograft OSCC in mice. The results showed that knockdown of p120 reduced levels of PLC-γ1 in the plasma membrane and increased levels of PLC-γ1 and its signaling in the nucleus in OSCC cells and OSCC cell proliferation as well as xenograft OSCC tumor growth. However, double knockdown of p120 and PLC-γ1 or knockdown of PLC-γ1 alone did not have any effect. Immunohistochemical analysis of OSCC tissue from patients showed a lower expression level of p120 and a higher expression level of PLC-γ1 compared with that of adjacent noncancerous tissue. These data indicate that p120 suppresses OSCC cell proliferation and tumor growth by inhibiting signaling mediated by nuclear PLC-γ1.     

Honokiol: A non-adipogenic PPARγ agonist from nature

Background

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists are clinically used to counteract hyperglycemia. However, so far experienced unwanted side effects, such as weight gain, promote the search for new PPARγ activators.

Methods

We used a combination of in silico, in vitro, cell-based and in vivo models to identify and validate natural products as promising leads for partial novel PPARγ agonists.

Results

The natural product honokiol from the traditional Chinese herbal drug Magnolia bark was in silico predicted to bind into the PPARγ ligand binding pocket as dimer. Honokiol indeed directly bound to purified PPARγ ligand-binding domain (LBD) and acted as partial agonist in a PPARγ-mediated luciferase reporter assay. Honokiol was then directly compared to the clinically used full agonist pioglitazone with regard to stimulation of glucose uptake in adipocytes as well as adipogenic differentiation in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. While honokiol stimulated basal glucose uptake to a similar extent as pioglitazone, it did not induce adipogenesis in contrast to pioglitazone. In diabetic KKAy mice oral application of honokiol prevented hyperglycemia and suppressed weight gain.

Conclusion

We identified honokiol as a partial non-adipogenic PPARγ agonist in vitro which prevented hyperglycemia and weight gain in vivo.

General significance

This observed activity profile suggests honokiol as promising new pharmaceutical lead or dietary supplement to combat metabolic disease, and provides a molecular explanation for the use of Magnolia in traditional medicine.