Sesquiterpene lactones from Tithonia diversifolia act as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists

Tithonia diversifolia is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine treating diabetes, hepatitis, and hepatocarcinoma but its molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) α and γ are members of nuclear receptor superfamily. Their agonists are prescribed as antihyperlipidemic and antihyperglycemic drugs now. In this study, sesquiterpene lactones, tirotundin and tagitinin A, were isolated from T. diversifolia and evaluated for their activity against PPARs by the transient transfection reporter assay. Tirotundin and tagitinin A transactivated PPARγ dependent promoters including PPRE (PPARγ response element), SHP, and ABCA1 gene promoters in dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the fluorescence polarization competitive binding assay showed that tirotundin (IC(50)=27 μM) and tagitinin A (IC(50)=55 μM) enhanced PPARγ transactivation activity by directly binding to PPARγ ligand binding domain. Additionally, they stimulated the transactivation of PPARα dependent SULT2A1 gene promoter by 2.3-fold of vehicle effect at 10 μM. These results highly indicated that tirotundin and tagitinin A are the active components of T. diversifolia to exert anti-diabetic effect through PPARγ pathway. Moreover, these sesquiterpene lactones behaved as PPARα/γ dual agonists so they might be useful as the potential herbal treatment for diabetes.     

Structural determinants of the agonist-independent association of human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors with coactivators

Lipid homeostasis is controlled by various nuclear receptors (NRs), including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARalpha, delta, and gamma), which sense lipid levels and regulate their metabolism. Here we demonstrate that human PPARs have a high basal activity and show ligand-independent coactivator (CoA) association comparable with the NR constitutive androstane receptor. Using PPARgamma as an example, we found that four different amino acid groups contribute to the ligand-independent stabilization of helix 12 of the PPAR ligand-binding domain. These are: (i) Lys329 and Glu499, mediating a charge clamp-type stabilization of helix 12 via a CoA bridge; (ii) Glu352, Arg425, and Tyr505, directly stabilizing the helix via salt bridges and hydrogen bonds; (iii) Lys347 and Asp503, interacting with each other as well as contacting the CoA; and (iv) His351, Tyr(355), His477, and Tyr501, forming a hydrogen bond network. These amino acids are highly conserved within the PPAR subfamily, suggesting that the same mechanism may apply for all three PPARs. Phylogenetic trees of helix 12 amino acid and nucleotide sequences of all crystallized NRs and all human NRs, respectively, indicated a close relationship of PPARs with constitutive androstane receptor and other constitutive active members of the NR superfamily. Taking together, the ligand-independent tight control of the position of the PPAR helix 12 provides an effective alternative for establishing an interaction with CoA proteins. This leads to high basal activity of PPARs and provides an additional view on PPAR signaling.     

PPAR基因与脂肪代谢调控

过氧化物酶体增值剂激活受体(PPARs)基因属于类固醇/甲状腺/维甲酸受体超家族,有3个亚型,即：PPAR-α、PPAR-β和PPAR-γ。PPARs具有多种生物学功能,如增强机体对胰岛素敏感性,调节体内糖平衡等,尤其在脂肪分化、生成等多方面起到重要作用,是目前的研究热点,文章从PPARs基因的结构,表达及功能等方面讨论了其与脂肪代谢调控的关系。     

Fluorescence imaging reveals the nuclear behavior of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor/retinoid X receptor heterodimers in the absence and presence of ligand

In a global approach combining fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), we address the behavior in living cells of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), a family of nuclear receptors involved in lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation control, and wound healing. We first demonstrate that unlike several other nuclear receptors, PPARs do not form speckles upon ligand activation. The subnuclear structures that may be observed under some experimental conditions result from overexpression of the protein and our immunolabeling experiments suggest that these structures are subjected to degradation by the proteasome. Interestingly and in contrast to a general assumption, PPARs readily heterodimerize with retinoid X receptor (RXR) in the absence of ligand in living cells. PPAR diffusion coefficients indicate that all the receptors are engaged in complexes of very high molecular masses and/or interact with relatively immobile nuclear components. PPARs are not immobilized by ligand binding. However, they exhibit a ligand-induced reduction of mobility, probably due to enhanced interactions with cofactors and/or chromatin. Our study draws attention to the limitations and pitfalls of fluorescent chimera imaging and demonstrates the usefulness of the combination of FCS, FRAP, and FRET to assess the behavior of nuclear receptors and their mode of action in living cells.     

PPAR家族及其与代谢综合征的关系

过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors,PPARs)是配体激活的转录因子核受体超家族成员之一。目前已知有三种亚型：PPARα、-β／δ和-γ。它们在脂肪生成、脂质代谢、胰岛素敏感性、炎症和血压调节中起着关键作用,因而近年来倍受关注。越来越多的研究表明,PPARs与代谢综合征,包括胰岛素抵抗、糖耐量受损、2型糖尿病、肥胖、高脂血症、高血压病、动脉粥样硬化和蛋白尿之间存在因果关系。重要的是,PPARα的激动剂如贝丁酸类降脂药(Fibrate)和PPARγ的激动剂如噻唑烷二酮(Thiazolidinedione,TZD)均已被证实有改善代谢综合征的作用。此外,三种PPAR亚型在2型糖尿病及糖尿病肾病的发展中均有重要作用。不断增加的证据提示,PPARs有可能成为代谢综合征及其相关并发症的潜在治疗靶点。本文将就PPARs的生物学活性、配体选择性和生理学功能作一综述,并对其在代谢综合征发病机制中的作用和PPAR配体对2型糖尿病的治疗效用进行重点讨论。