Structural development of tetrachlorophthalimides as liver X receptor β (LXRβ)-selective agonists with improved aqueous solubility

LXRβ-selective agonists are promising candidates to improve atherosclerosis without increasing plasma or hepatic TG levels. We have reported a series of tetrachlorophthalimide analogs as an LXRβ-selective agonist. However, they exhibited poor aqueous solubility probably due to its high hydrophobicity and highly rigid and plane structure. In this report, we present further structural development of tetrachloro(styrylphenyl)phthalimides as the LXRβ-selective agonists with improved aqueous solubility.     

Modulation of liver X receptor signaling as novel therapy for prostate cancer

Liver X receptors (LXRs) are important regulators of cholesterol, fatty acid, and glucose homeostasis. LXR agonists are effective for treatment of murine models of atherosclerosis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Recently we observed that LXR agonists suppressed proliferation of prostate and breast cancer cells in vitro and treatment of mice with the LXR agonist T0901317 suppressed the growth of prostate tumor xenografts. LXR agonists appear to cause G1 cell cycle arrest in cells by reducing expression of Skp2 and inducing the accumulation of p27^Kip. T0901317 induced expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and delayed the progression of androgen-dependent human prostate tumor xenografts towards androgen-independency in mice. Phytosterols, the plant equivalent of mammalian cholesterol, have recently been shown to be agonists for LXRs. β-Sitosterol and campesterol, the two most common phytosterols, suppressed proliferation of prostate and breast cancer cells. The anticancer activity of phytosterols may be due to LXR signaling. This review examines the potential use of LXR signaling as a therapeutic target in prostate and other cancers.     

肝X受体与神经免疫研究进展

肝X受体(liver X receptor,LXR)包括LXRα和LXRβ两种亚型,是一种氧化型固醇激活的核受体,因最早发现在肝脏中富集而命名.近年研究发现LXR在中枢神经系统(CNS)中有重要功能,包括参与皮质板层神经元发育、维持运动神经元的存活和调节脂代谢等多种生理功能.新近研究发现,内源性LXRs在神经免疫调节方面亦有重要功能,LXRs激动剂通过抑制病理条件下神经系统的炎症反应而有效保护神经元,因而LXRs有可能通过抑制炎症反应成为治疗CNS相关疾病的新靶点.本文就近年来LXR在调节神经免疫方面的研究进展作一综述.     

细胞核受体LXRβ的体外酶标测活方法的建立与应用

目的:克隆并表达大鼠细胞核受体LXRβ配体结合区(LBD)序列,并进行配体依赖性受体与共激活因子结合区短肽相互作用的酶标法分析,建立简易经济可靠的体外高通量筛选LXR调节剂方法.方法:从含大鼠LXRβ cDNA序列的pSG5/rLXRβ上扩增LBD区序列,测序核实序列后,将此序列克隆入表达载体,构建原核表达载体pET28a(+)-rLXRβ-LBD;将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导表达重组蛋白,通过SDS-PAGE、Western blotting检测及Ni2+亲和层析柱分离纯化;建立ELISA方法检测配体依赖性受体-共激活短肽相互作用.结果:重组蛋白rLXRβ-LBD在大肠杆菌中高效表达(占菌体总蛋白30%),SDS-PAGE显示在36kDa处有免疫特异性蛋白,纯化后全长蛋白占90%以上.ELISA结合测试显示在激动剂猪脱氧胆酸二甲酰胺存在时,rLXRβ-LBD能与共激活短肽结合,亲和力与双荧光酶报告基因测活结果吻合.结论:成功克隆并表达rLXRβ-LBD序列,建立起ELISA筛选方法,为LXR-LBD配体功能活性的研究和配体的高通量筛选提供新方法.     

核受体LXR在糖代谢中的作用

最新研究表明,核受体LXR是糖代谢的关键调节因子。LXR在肌肉和脂肪组织中通过葡糖转运蛋白(GLUT)使葡萄糖上调控,在肝脏中通过抑制重要的糖合成酶的表达来抑制糖合成。     

The marine-derived furanone reduces intracellular lipid accumulation in vitro by targeting LXRα and PPARα

Recent studies have demonstrated that commercially available lipid-lowering drugs cause various side effects; therefore, searching for anti-hyperlipidaemic compounds with lower toxicity is a research hotspot. This study was designed to investigate whether the marine-derived compound, 5-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methyl-4-butylfuran-2(5H)-one, has an anti-hyperlipidaemic activity, and the potential underlying mechanism in vitro. Results showed that the furanone had weaker cytotoxicity compared to positive control drugs. In RAW 264.7 cells, the furanone significantly lowered ox-LDL-induced lipid accumulation (~50%), and its triglyceride (TG)-lowering effect was greater than that of liver X receptor (LXR) agonist T0901317. In addition, it significantly elevated the protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα) and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, which could be partially inhibited by LXR antagonists, GSK2033 and SR9243. In HepG2 cells, it significantly decreased oleic acid-induced lipid accumulation, enhanced the protein levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), ABCG5, ABCG8 and PPARα, and reduced the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (~32%). PPARα antagonists, GW6471 and MK886, could significantly inhibit the furanone-induced lipid-lowering effect. Furthermore, the furanone showed a significantly lower activity on the activation of the expression of lipogenic genes compared to T0901317. Taken together, the furanone exhibited a weak cytotoxicity but had powerful TC- and TG-lowering effects most likely through targeting LXRα and PPARα, respectively. These findings indicate that the furanone has a potential application for the treatment of dyslipidaemia.     

LXR和ABCA1对体内胆固醇代谢的调节作用

肝外组织胆固醇返回肝脏,在肝脏通过生成胆汁酸排出,这一过程称为胆固醇逆转运。研究表明LXRs在维持体内胆固醇平衡方面起着感受器作用,通过关键靶基因转录的控制来调节胆固醇分解、储存、吸收和转运。LXR和RXR激动剂可上调巨噬细胞三磷酸腺苷结合盒转运体A1和G1(ABCAl,ABCGl)的表达,导致细胞内胆固醇流出。以LXR作为靶点的药物将为治疗高胆固醇血症和抗As提供新的希望。     

LXR对胆固醇稳态影响的研究进展

胆固醇是细胞膜的重要组成部分,构成生命的基本分子之一,也是胆汁酸和类固醇激素合成的底物,其代谢平衡受到诸多因素的精密调节.虽然胆固醇是细胞和人体生理功能所必需的,但血清总胆固醇增高可导致2型糖尿病、高胆固醇血症以及动脉粥样硬化等疾病.肝X受体(LXR)是一种重要的细胞核受体,是配体依赖的转录因子,包含LXRα和LXRβ两种亚型,LXRα在肝脏、小肠、巨噬细胞、脂肪组织中均有表达,而LXRβ有着广泛的表达.LXR与视黄醇类X受体结合后,形成异二聚体,刺激靶基因的表达.激活的LXR通过调节肠道对饮食胆固醇的吸收、肝脏对胆固醇的合成和降解以及胆汁酸的代谢,控制着胆固醇稳态.此外,LXR还参与调节脂肪形成、糖代谢、巨噬细胞的天然免疫和炎症反应等生理活动.因此,LXRs有望成为治疗动脉粥样硬化、阿尔茨海默氏等疾病的药物靶点.