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Gimenez LE, Martin C, Yu J, Hollanders C, Hernandez CC, Wu Y, Yao D, Han GW, Dahir NS, Wu L, Van der Poorten O, Lamouroux A, Mannes M, Zhao S, Tourwé D, Stevens RC, Cone RD, Ballet S. Novel Cocrystal Structures of Peptide Antagonists Bound to the Human Melanocortin Receptor 4 Unveil Unexplored Grounds for Structure-Based Drug Design. J Med Chem 2024; 67:2690-2711. [PMID: 38345933 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4-R) antagonists are actively sought for treating cancer cachexia. We determined the structures of complexes with PG-934 and SBL-MC-31. These peptides differ from SHU9119 by substituting His6 with Pro6 and inserting Gly10 or Arg10. The structures revealed two subpockets at the TM7-TM1-TM2 domains, separated by N2857.36. Two peptide series based on the complexed peptides led to an antagonist activity and selectivity SAR study. Most ligands retained the SHU9119 potency, but several SBL-MC-31-derived peptides significantly enhanced MC4-R selectivity over MC1-R by 60- to 132-fold. We also investigated MC4-R coupling to the K+ channel, Kir7.1. Some peptides activated the channel, whereas others induced channel closure independently of G protein coupling. In cell culture studies, channel activation correlated with increased feeding, while a peptide with Kir7.1 inhibitory activity reduced eating. These results highlight the potential for targeting the MC4-R:Kir7.1 complex for treating positive and restrictive eating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E Gimenez
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Charlotte Martin
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
| | - Jing Yu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Ren Building, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Charlie Hollanders
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
| | - Ciria C Hernandez
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Yiran Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Ren Building, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Deqiang Yao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Ren Building, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Gye Won Han
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Naima S Dahir
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Lijie Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Ren Building, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Olivier Van der Poorten
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
| | - Arthur Lamouroux
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
| | - Morgane Mannes
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Ren Building, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Dirk Tourwé
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
| | - Raymond C Stevens
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Ren Building, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Roger D Cone
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
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2
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Mohammed I, Selvaraj S, Ahmed WS, Al-Barazenji T, Hammad AS, Dauleh H, Saraiva LR, Al-Shafai M, Hussain K. Functional Characterization of Novel MC4R Variants Identified in Two Unrelated Patients with Morbid Obesity in Qatar. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16361. [PMID: 38003551 PMCID: PMC10671262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The leptin-melanocortin pathway is pivotal in appetite and energy homeostasis. Pathogenic variants in genes involved in this pathway lead to severe early-onset monogenic obesity (MO). The MC4R gene plays a central role in leptin-melanocortin signaling, and heterozygous variants in this gene are the most common cause of MO. A targeted gene panel consisting of 52 obesity-related genes was used to screen for variants associated with obesity. Variants were analyzed and filtered to identify potential disease-causing activity and validated using Sanger sequencing. We identified two novel heterozygous variants, c.253A>G p.Ser85Gly and c.802T>C p.Tyr268His, in the MC4R gene in two unrelated patients with morbid obesity and evaluated the functional impact of these variants. The impact of the variants on the MC4R gene was assessed using in silico prediction tools and molecular dynamics simulation. To further study the pathogenicity of the identified variants, GT1-7 cells were transfected with plasmid DNA encoding either wild-type or mutant MC4R variants. The effects of allelic variations in the MC4R gene on cAMP synthesis, MC4R protein level, and activation of PKA, ERB, and CREB signaling pathways in both stimulated and unstimulated ɑ-MSH paradigms were determined for their functional implications. In silico analysis suggested that the variants destabilized the MC4R structure and affected the overall dynamics of the MC4R protein, possibly leading to intracellular receptor retention. In vitro analysis of the functional impact of these variants showed a significant reduction in cell surface receptor expression and impaired extracellular ligand binding activity, leading to reduced cAMP production. Our analysis shows that the variants do not affect total protein expression; however, they are predicted to affect the post-translational localization of the MC4R protein to the cell surface and impair downstream signaling cascades such as PKA, ERK, and CREB signaling pathways. This finding might help our patients to benefit from the novel therapeutic advances for monogenic forms of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idris Mohammed
- College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar; (I.M.); (W.S.A.); (L.R.S.)
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Sidra Medicine, Doha P.O. Box 26999, Qatar;
| | - Senthil Selvaraj
- Department of Disease Modeling and Therapeutics, Sidra Medicine, Doha P.O. Box 26999, Qatar;
| | - Wesam S. Ahmed
- College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar; (I.M.); (W.S.A.); (L.R.S.)
| | - Tara Al-Barazenji
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (T.A.-B.); (A.S.H.)
| | - Ayat S Hammad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (T.A.-B.); (A.S.H.)
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Hajar Dauleh
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Sidra Medicine, Doha P.O. Box 26999, Qatar;
| | - Luis R. Saraiva
- College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar; (I.M.); (W.S.A.); (L.R.S.)
- Department of Disease Modeling and Therapeutics, Sidra Medicine, Doha P.O. Box 26999, Qatar;
| | - Mashael Al-Shafai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (T.A.-B.); (A.S.H.)
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Khalid Hussain
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Sidra Medicine, Doha P.O. Box 26999, Qatar;
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3
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Feng W, Zhou Q, Chen X, Dai A, Cai X, Liu X, Zhao F, Chen Y, Ye C, Xu Y, Cong Z, Li H, Lin S, Yang D, Wang MW. Structural insights into ligand recognition and subtype selectivity of the human melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-5 receptors. Cell Discov 2023; 9:81. [PMID: 37524700 PMCID: PMC10390531 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00586-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the melanocortin receptor (MCR) family that recognize different melanocortin peptides mediate a broad spectrum of cellular processes including energy homeostasis, inflammation and skin pigmentation through five MCR subtypes (MC1R-MC5R). The structural basis of subtype selectivity of the endogenous agonist γ-MSH and non-selectivity of agonist α-MSH remains elusive, as the two agonists are highly similar with a conserved HFRW motif. Here, we report three cryo-electron microscopy structures of MC3R-Gs in complex with γ-MSH and MC5R-Gs in the presence of α-MSH or a potent synthetic agonist PG-901. The structures reveal that α-MSH and γ-MSH adopt a "U-shape" conformation, penetrate into the wide-open orthosteric pocket and form massive common contacts with MCRs via the HFRW motif. The C-terminus of γ-MSH occupies an MC3R-specific complementary binding groove likely conferring subtype selectivity, whereas that of α-MSH distances itself from the receptor with neglectable contacts. PG-901 achieves the same potency as α-MSH with a shorter length by rebalancing the recognition site and mimicking the intra-peptide salt bridge in α-MSH by cyclization. Solid density confirmed the calcium ion binding in MC3R and MC5R, and the distinct modulation effects of divalent ions were demonstrated. Our results provide insights into ligand recognition and subtype selectivity among MCRs, and expand the knowledge of signal transduction among MCR family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Feng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingtong Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianyue Chen
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Antao Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqing Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fenghui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenyu Ye
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingna Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaotong Cong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Li
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Shi Lin
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Dehua Yang
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China.
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- School of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China.
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4
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Gravina AG, Pellegrino R, Durante T, Palladino G, Imperio G, D'Amico G, Trotta MC, Dallio M, Romeo M, D'Amico M, Federico A. The Melanocortin System in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Insights into Its Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potentials. Cells 2023; 12:1889. [PMID: 37508552 PMCID: PMC10378568 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin system is a complex set of molecular mediators and receptors involved in many physiological and homeostatic processes. These include the regulation of melanogenesis, steroidogenesis, neuromodulation and the modulation of inflammatory processes. In the latter context, the system has assumed importance in conditions of chronic digestive inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), in which numerous experiences have been accumulated in mouse models of colitis. Indeed, information on how such a system can counteract colitis inflammation and intervene in the complex cytokine imbalance in the intestinal microenvironment affected by chronic inflammatory damage has emerged. This review summarises the evidence acquired so far and highlights that molecules interfering with the melanocortin system could represent new drugs for treating IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Gerarda Gravina
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Raffaele Pellegrino
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Tommaso Durante
- Mental Health Department, S. Pio Hospital, Via dell'Angelo, 82100 Benevento, Italy
| | - Giovanna Palladino
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Imperio
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Maria Consiglia Trotta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Marcello Dallio
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Romeo
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Michele D'Amico
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Federico
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
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5
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Jia X, Fan S, Dong W, Li S, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Wang S. Setmelanotide optimization through fragment-growing, molecular docking in-silico method targeting MC4 receptor. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:15411-15420. [PMID: 37126536 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2204385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Obesity has emerged as a global issue, but with the complex structures of multiple related important targets and their agonists or antagonists determined, the mechanism of ligand-protein interaction may offer new chances for developing new generation agonists anti-obesity. Based on the molecule surface of the cryo-EM protein structure 7AUE, we tried to replace D-Ala3 with D-Met in setmelanotide as the linker site for fragment-growing with De novo evolution. The simulation results indicate that the derivatives could improve the binding abilities with the melanocortin 4 receptor and the selectivity over the melanocortin 1 receptor. The improved selectivity of the newly designed derivatives is mainly due to the shape difference of the molecular surface at the orthosteric peptide-binding pocket between melanocortin 4 receptor and melanocortin 1 receptor. The new extended fragments could not only enhance the binding affinities but also function as a gripper to seize the pore, making it easier to balance and stabilize the other component of the new derivatives. Although it is challenging to synthesize the compounds designed in silico, this study may perhaps serve as a trigger for additional anti-obesity research.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopu Jia
- School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuai Fan
- School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Weili Dong
- School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shaoyong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Centre for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Ying Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuqing Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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6
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Du YY, Yao MX, Yu HX, Mo HL, Yang QY, Yu JJ, Wang LX, Zhou JS, Li Y. Molecular cloning, tissue distribution, and pharmacologic function of melanocortin-3 receptor in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 330:114149. [PMID: 36336108 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) not only regulates energy homeostasis in animals, but also is an important regulator of inflammation. As one of the most widely farmed freshwater fish, common carp has attracted great interest for its feeding and inflammation regulation. In this study, we cloned the coding sequence (CDS) of common carp Mc3r (ccMc3r), examined its tissue expression profile, and investigated the function of this receptor in mediating downstream signaling pathways. The results showed that the CDS of ccMc3r was 975 bp, encoding a putative protein of 324 amino acids. Homology, phylogeny, and chromosomal synteny analyses revealed that ccMc3r is evolutionarily close to the orthologs of cyprinids. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) indicated that ccMc3r was highly expressed in the brain and intestine. The luciferase reporter systems showed that four ligands, ACTH (1-24), α-MSH, β-MSH, and NDP-MSH, were able to activate the cAMP and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways downstream of ccMc3r with different potencies. For the cAMP signaling pathway, ACTH (1-24) had the highest activation potency; while for the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, β-MSH had the greatest activation effect. In addition, we found that the four agonists were able to inhibit TNF-α-induced NF-κB signaling in approximately the same order of potency as cAMP signaling activation. This study may facilitate future studies on the role of Mc3r in common carp feed efficiency and immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-You Du
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Ming-Xing Yao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Hui-Xia Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Hao-Lin Mo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Qi-Yuan Yang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jia-Jia Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Li-Xin Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Ji-Shu Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yang Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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7
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Luo P, Feng W, Ma S, Dai A, Wu K, Chen X, Yuan Q, Cai X, Yang D, Wang MW, Eric Xu H, Jiang Y. Structural basis of signaling regulation of the human melanocortin-2 receptor by MRAP1. Cell Res 2023; 33:46-54. [PMID: 36588120 PMCID: PMC9810661 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-022-00751-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are regulated by various downstream proteins, of which the melanocortin receptor accessory protein 1 (MRAP1) is closely involved in the regulation of melanocortin receptor 2 (MC2R). Assisted by MRAP1, MC2R responds to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and stimulates glucocorticoid biogenesis and cortisol secretion. MC2R activation plays an essential role in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that regulates stress response, while its dysfunction causes glucocorticoid insufficiency- or cortisol excess-associated disorders. Here, we present a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the ACTH-bound MC2R-Gs-MRAP1 complex. Our structure, together with mutagenesis analysis, reveals a unique sharp kink at the extracellular region of MRAP1 and the 'seat-belt' effect of MRAP1 on stabilizing ACTH binding and MC2R activation. Mechanisms of ACTH recognition by MC2R and receptor activation are also demonstrated. These findings deepen our understanding of GPCR regulation by accessory proteins and provide valuable insights into the ab initio design of therapeutic agents targeting MC2R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Luo
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenbo Feng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shanshan Ma
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Antao Dai
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Wu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianyue Chen
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Qingning Yuan
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqing Cai
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dehua Yang
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - H Eric Xu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yi Jiang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, China.
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8
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Venkatesh K, Mishra C, Pradhan SK. Integrative molecular characterization and in silico analyses of caprine MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R genes. Small Rumin Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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9
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Zhang X, Su J, Huang T, Wang X, Wu C, Li J, Li J, Zhang J, Wang Y. Characterization of the chicken melanocortin 5 receptor and its potential role in regulating hepatic glucolipid metabolism. Front Physiol 2022; 13:917712. [PMID: 36277187 PMCID: PMC9583845 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.917712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanocortin receptors (MC1R-MC5R) and their accessory proteins (MRAPs) are involved in a variety of physiological processes, including pigmentation, lipolysis, adrenal steroidogenesis, and immunology. However, the physiological roles of MC5R are rarely characterized in vertebrates, particularly in birds. In this work, we cloned the full-length cDNA of chicken MC5R and identified its core promoter region. Functional studies revealed that cMC5R was more sensitive to ACTH/α-MSH than β-MSH/γ-MSH, and was coupled to the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. We demonstrated that MRAP2 decreased MC5R sensitivity to α-MSH, whereas MRAP1 did not have a similar effect, and that both MRAPs significantly reduced MC5R expression on the cell membrane surface. Transcriptome and qPCR data showed that both MRAP1 and MC5R were highly expressed in chicken liver. Additionally, we observed that ACTH might increase hepatic glucose production and decrease lipogenesis in primary hepatocytes, and dose-dependently downregulated the expression levels of ELOVL6 and THRSPA genes. These findings indicated that ACTH may act directly on hepatocytes to regulate glucolipid metabolism, which will help to understand the function of MC5R in avian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiancheng Su
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tianjiao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinglong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chenlei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiannan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yajun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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10
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Liu Z, Hruby VJ. MC4R biased signalling and the conformational basis of biological function selections. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:4125-4136. [PMID: 35818295 PMCID: PMC9344818 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The MC4R, a GPCR, has long been a major target for obesity treatment. As the most well‐studied melanocortin receptor subtype, the evolutionary knowledge pushes the drug development and structure–activity relationship (SAR) moving forward. The past decades have witnessed the evolution of scientists' view on GPCRs gradually from the control of a single canonical signalling pathway via a bilateral ‘active‐inactive’ model to a multi‐state alternative model where the ligands' binding affects the selection of the downstream signalling. This evolution brings the concept of biased signalling and the beginning of the next generation of peptide drug development, with the aim of turning from receptor subtype specificity to signalling pathway selectivity. The determination of the value structures of the MC4R revealed insights into the working mechanism of MC4R activation upon binding of agonists. However, new challenge has risen as we seek to unravel the mystery of MC4R signalling selection. Thus, more biased agonists and ligands with representative biological functions are needed to solve the rest of the puzzle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zekun Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Victor J Hruby
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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11
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Wang X, Xue S, Lei X, Song W, Li L, Li X, Fu Y, Zhang C, Zhang H, Luo Y, Wang M, Lin G, Zhang C, Guo J. Pharmacological Evaluation of Melanocortin 2 Receptor Accessory Protein 2 on Axolotl Neural Melanocortin Signaling. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:820896. [PMID: 35250878 PMCID: PMC8891371 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.820896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) and Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), two members of the key hypothalamic neuropeptide signaling, function as complex mediators to control the central appetitive and energy homeostasis. The melanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) is well-known for its modulation on the trafficking and signaling of MC3R and MC4R in mammals. In this study, we cloned and elucidated the pharmacological profiles of MRAP2 on the regulation of central melanocortin signaling in a relatively primitive poikilotherm amphibian species, the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). Our results showed the higher conservation of axolotl mc3r and mc4r across species than mrap2, especially the transmembrane regions in these proteins. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the axolotl MC3R/MC4R clustered closer to their counterparts in the clawed frog, whereas MRAP2 fell in between the reptile and amphibian clade. We also identified a clear co-expression of mc3r, mc4r, and mrap2 along with pomc and agrp in the axolotl brain tissue. In the presence of MRAP2, the pharmacological stimulation of MC3R by α-MSH or ACTH significantly decreased. MRAP2 significantly decreased the cell surface expression of MC4R in a dose dependent manner. The co-localization and formation of the functional complex of axolotl MC3R/MC4R and MRAP2 on the plasma membrane were further confirmed in vitro. Dramatic changes of the expression levels of mc3r, mrap2, pomc, and agrp in the fasting axolotl hypothalamus indicated their critical roles in the metabolic regulation of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis in the poikilotherm aquatic amphibian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhu Wang
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Song Xue
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaowei Lei
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenqi Song
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan Li
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanbin Fu
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hailin Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Luo
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Gufa Lin
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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12
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Yu HX, Li Y, Song WJ, Wang H, Mo HL, Liu Q, Zhang XM, Jiang ZB, Wang LX. Functional characterization of melanocortin-3 receptor in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2022; 48:241-252. [PMID: 35098384 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-021-01033-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) is an important regulator of energy homeostasis and inflammation in mammals. However, its function in teleost fish needs to be further explored. In this study, we characterized rainbow trout MC3R (rtMC3R), which encoded a putative protein of 331 amino acids. Phylogenetic and chromosomal synteny analyses showed that rtMC3R was closely related to bony fishes. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) revealed that the transcripts of rtMC3R were highly expressed in the brain and muscle. The cellular function of rtMC3R was further verified by the signal-pathway-specific luciferase reporter assays. Four agonists such as α-MSH, β-MSH, ACTH (1-24), and NDP-MSH can active rtMC3R, increasing the production of intracellular cAMP and upregulating MAPK/ERK signals. Moreover, we found that rtMC3R stimulated with α-MSH and NDP-MSH can significantly inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway. This research will be helpful for further studies on the function of MC3R in rainbow trout, especially the role of energy metabolism and immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Xia Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yang Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wei-Jia Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hui Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hao-Lin Mo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qiao Liu
- Department of Pathology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710038, China
| | - Xin-Miao Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ze-Bin Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Li-Xin Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
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13
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Wu L, Yu H, Mo H, Lan X, Pan C, Wang L, Zhao H, Zhou J, Li Y. Functional Characterization of Melanocortin-3 Receptor in a Hibernating Cavefish Onychostoma macrolepis. Animals (Basel) 2021; 12:ani12010038. [PMID: 35011144 PMCID: PMC8749556 DOI: 10.3390/ani12010038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In this study we isolated and characterized a gene called omMc3r from a hibernating cavefish Onychostoma macrolepis. This gene was confirmed by our study to be involved in the regulation of signal pathways related to energy balance and food efficiency. These results can provide clues for exploring the adaptive mechanisms of fish, especially cavefish, with respect to nutrient-poor conditions. Abstract Melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) plays an important role in the energy homeostasis of animals under different nutritional conditions. Onychostoma macrolepis is a hibernating cavefish found in the northern part of the Yangtze River, and its adaptation to a nutrient-poor environment has attracted growing interest. In this study, we characterized the protein structure of Onychostoma macrolepis Mc3r (omMc3r), examined its tissue distribution, and investigated its function in mediating cellular signaling. We showed that the CDS of omMc3r is 978 bp, encoding a putative protein of 325 amino acids. Homology and phylogenetic analyses indicated that omMc3r is evolutionary close to cyprinids. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed that omMc3r was highly expressed in the liver and brain. The functions of omMc3r to mediate ligands activating downstream signaling have also been confirmed by using signal pathway-specific reporters. The four agonists α-MSH, β-MSH, NDP-MSH, and ACTH (1–24) can all activate the cAMP and MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, albeit with different potency orders. The “primitive” ligand ACTH (1–24) had the highest potency on the cAMP signaling pathway, while the synthetic ligand NDP-MSH had the highest activation effect on the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. This research will lay the foundation for studying the energy regulation mechanism of cavefish in an oligotrophic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.W.); (H.Y.); (H.M.); (X.L.); (L.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Huixia Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.W.); (H.Y.); (H.M.); (X.L.); (L.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Haolin Mo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.W.); (H.Y.); (H.M.); (X.L.); (L.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Xianyong Lan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.W.); (H.Y.); (H.M.); (X.L.); (L.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Chuanying Pan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.W.); (H.Y.); (H.M.); (X.L.); (L.W.); (J.Z.)
- Correspondence: (C.P.); (Y.L.)
| | - Lixin Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.W.); (H.Y.); (H.M.); (X.L.); (L.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Haiyu Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
| | - Jishu Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.W.); (H.Y.); (H.M.); (X.L.); (L.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Yang Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.W.); (H.Y.); (H.M.); (X.L.); (L.W.); (J.Z.)
- Correspondence: (C.P.); (Y.L.)
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14
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Leysen H, Walter D, Christiaenssen B, Vandoren R, Harputluoğlu İ, Van Loon N, Maudsley S. GPCRs Are Optimal Regulators of Complex Biological Systems and Orchestrate the Interface between Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413387. [PMID: 34948182 PMCID: PMC8708147 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
GPCRs arguably represent the most effective current therapeutic targets for a plethora of diseases. GPCRs also possess a pivotal role in the regulation of the physiological balance between healthy and pathological conditions; thus, their importance in systems biology cannot be underestimated. The molecular diversity of GPCR signaling systems is likely to be closely associated with disease-associated changes in organismal tissue complexity and compartmentalization, thus enabling a nuanced GPCR-based capacity to interdict multiple disease pathomechanisms at a systemic level. GPCRs have been long considered as controllers of communication between tissues and cells. This communication involves the ligand-mediated control of cell surface receptors that then direct their stimuli to impact cell physiology. Given the tremendous success of GPCRs as therapeutic targets, considerable focus has been placed on the ability of these therapeutics to modulate diseases by acting at cell surface receptors. In the past decade, however, attention has focused upon how stable multiprotein GPCR superstructures, termed receptorsomes, both at the cell surface membrane and in the intracellular domain dictate and condition long-term GPCR activities associated with the regulation of protein expression patterns, cellular stress responses and DNA integrity management. The ability of these receptorsomes (often in the absence of typical cell surface ligands) to control complex cellular activities implicates them as key controllers of the functional balance between health and disease. A greater understanding of this function of GPCRs is likely to significantly augment our ability to further employ these proteins in a multitude of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Leysen
- Receptor Biology Lab, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.L.); (D.W.); (B.C.); (R.V.); (İ.H.); (N.V.L.)
| | - Deborah Walter
- Receptor Biology Lab, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.L.); (D.W.); (B.C.); (R.V.); (İ.H.); (N.V.L.)
| | - Bregje Christiaenssen
- Receptor Biology Lab, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.L.); (D.W.); (B.C.); (R.V.); (İ.H.); (N.V.L.)
| | - Romi Vandoren
- Receptor Biology Lab, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.L.); (D.W.); (B.C.); (R.V.); (İ.H.); (N.V.L.)
| | - İrem Harputluoğlu
- Receptor Biology Lab, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.L.); (D.W.); (B.C.); (R.V.); (İ.H.); (N.V.L.)
- Department of Chemistry, Middle East Technical University, Çankaya, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Nore Van Loon
- Receptor Biology Lab, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.L.); (D.W.); (B.C.); (R.V.); (İ.H.); (N.V.L.)
| | - Stuart Maudsley
- Receptor Biology Lab, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.L.); (D.W.); (B.C.); (R.V.); (İ.H.); (N.V.L.)
- Correspondence:
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15
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El Fessikh M, Belghiti H, Elkarhat Z, Guerinech H, Dakka N, El Baghdadi J. Identification of p.Met215Ile mutation of the MC4R gene in a Moroccan woman with obesity. Clin Case Rep 2021; 9:e05059. [PMID: 34815872 PMCID: PMC8593808 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.5059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Screening the MC4R gene showed one rare mutation p.Met215Ile in a Moroccan patient with morbid obesity, which leads to a change in the protein structure. The analysis of MC4R variants may be useful for future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem El Fessikh
- Genetics UnitMilitary Hospital Mohammed VRabatMorocco
- Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, and Genomic Center of Human PathologiesFaculty of SciencesMohammed V University in RabatRabatMorocco
| | - Hakim Belghiti
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Hygiene and Collectivity Medicine WardMilitary Hospital Mohammed VRabatMorocco
| | - Zouhair Elkarhat
- Laboratory of Genomics and Human GeneticsPasteur Institute of CasablancaCasablancaMorocco
| | - Hassania Guerinech
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Hygiene and Collectivity Medicine WardMilitary Hospital Mohammed VRabatMorocco
| | - Nadia Dakka
- Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, and Genomic Center of Human PathologiesFaculty of SciencesMohammed V University in RabatRabatMorocco
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16
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Structural mechanism of calcium-mediated hormone recognition and Gβ interaction by the human melanocortin-1 receptor. Cell Res 2021; 31:1061-1071. [PMID: 34453129 PMCID: PMC8486761 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-021-00557-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanocortins are peptide hormones critical for the regulation of stress response, energy homeostasis, inflammation, and skin pigmentation. Their functions are mediated by five G protein-coupled receptors (MC1R-MC5R), predominately through the stimulatory G protein (Gs). MC1R, the founding member of melanocortin receptors, is mainly expressed in melanocytes and is involved in melanogenesis. Dysfunction of MC1R is associated with the development of melanoma and skin cancer. Here we present three cryo-electron microscopy structures of the MC1R-Gs complexes bound to endogenous hormone α-MSH, a marketed drug afamelanotide, and a synthetic agonist SHU9119. These structures reveal the orthosteric binding pocket for the conserved HFRW motif among melanocortins and the crucial role of calcium ion in ligand binding. They also demonstrate the basis of differential activities among different ligands. In addition, unexpected interactions between MC1R and the Gβ subunit were discovered from these structures. Together, our results elucidate a conserved mechanism of calcium-mediated ligand recognition, a specific mode of G protein coupling, and a universal activation pathway of melanocortin receptors.
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17
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Guida S, Guida G, Goding CR. MC1R Functions, Expression, and Implications for Targeted Therapy. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:293-302.e1. [PMID: 34362555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The G protein-coupled MC1R is expressed in melanocytes and has a pivotal role in human skin pigmentation, with reduced function in human genetic variants exhibiting a red hair phenotype and increased melanoma predisposition. Beyond its role in pigmentation, MC1R is increasingly recognized as promoting UV-induced DNA damage repair. Consequently, there is mounting interest in targeting MC1R for therapeutic benefit. However, whether MC1R expression is restricted to melanocytes or is more widely expressed remains a matter of debate. In this paper, we review MC1R function and highlight that unbiased analysis suggests that its expression is restricted to melanocytes, granulocytes, and the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Guida
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Gabriella Guida
- Molecular Biology Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Colin Ronald Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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18
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Tang L, Xiang Q, Xiang J, Li J, Chen D. A variant in the 3'-untranslated region of the MC2R gene decreases the risk of schizophrenia in a female Han Chinese population. J Int Med Res 2021; 49:3000605211029504. [PMID: 34266338 PMCID: PMC8287359 DOI: 10.1177/03000605211029504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder with high heritability. The
hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the stress system of the
neuroendocrine system, is considered to impact psychotic disorders. We
hypothesized that polymorphisms of HPA axis genes might be involved in the
development of schizophrenia. Methods A case–control study comprising 234 patients with schizophrenia and 399
matched healthy controls was conducted to investigate the association
between the human melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) gene and schizophrenia
risk. Seven tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs16941303,
rs16941314, rs2186944, rs28926188, rs7230126, rs948322, and rs948331) of
MC2R were genotyped by direct sequencing. Results No significant associations were observed between any of the alleles,
genotypes, or haplotypes examined within the MC2R gene and the risk of
schizophrenia in the total group or in subgroups stratified by smoking or
alcoholism. However, a subgroup analysis stratified by sex revealed that
under the additive model, the C allele of the MC2R rs948331 SNP
significantly decreased the risk of schizophrenia in females (odds
ratio=0.18). Conclusion The C allele of the MC2R rs948331 locus may be a protective factor, reducing
the risk of schizophrenia in the female Han Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Tang
- Department of Basic Biology, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Department of Basic Biology, Wuzhou Medical College, Wuzhou, China.,Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Academic Work Station, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China
| | - Qin Xiang
- Department of Basic Biology, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Academic Work Station, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China
| | - Ju Xiang
- Department of Basic Biology, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Academic Work Station, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China
| | - Jianming Li
- Department of Basic Biology, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Academic Work Station, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Department of Rehabilitation, Xiangya Boai Rehabilitation Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Danna Chen
- Department of Basic Biology, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China.,Academic Work Station, Changsha Medical College, Changsha, China
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19
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van Gastel J, Leysen H, Boddaert J, Vangenechten L, Luttrell LM, Martin B, Maudsley S. Aging-related modifications to G protein-coupled receptor signaling diversity. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 223:107793. [PMID: 33316288 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a highly complex molecular process, affecting nearly all tissue systems in humans and is the highest risk factor in developing neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The intense complexity of the aging process creates an incentive to develop more specific drugs that attenuate or even reverse some of the features of premature aging. As our current pharmacopeia is dominated by therapeutics that target members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily it may be prudent to search for effective anti-aging therapeutics in this fertile domain. Since the first demonstration of GPCR-based β-arrestin signaling, it has become clear that an enhanced appreciation of GPCR signaling diversity may facilitate the creation of therapeutics with selective signaling activities. Such 'biased' ligand signaling profiles can be effectively investigated using both standard molecular biological techniques as well as high-dimensionality data analyses. Through a more nuanced appreciation of the quantitative nature across the multiple dimensions of signaling bias that drugs possess, researchers may be able to further refine the efficacy of GPCR modulators to impact the complex aberrations that constitute the aging process. Identifying novel effector profiles could expand the effective pharmacopeia and assist in the design of precision medicines. This review discusses potential non-G protein effectors, and specifically their potential therapeutic suitability in aging and age-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaana van Gastel
- Receptor Biology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Faculty of Pharmacy, Biomedical and Veterinary Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hanne Leysen
- Receptor Biology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Faculty of Pharmacy, Biomedical and Veterinary Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan Boddaert
- Molecular Pathology Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Laura Vangenechten
- Receptor Biology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Louis M Luttrell
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Medical Genetics, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Bronwen Martin
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Biomedical and Veterinary Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stuart Maudsley
- Receptor Biology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Faculty of Pharmacy, Biomedical and Veterinary Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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20
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A compendium of G-protein-coupled receptors and cyclic nucleotide regulation of adipose tissue metabolism and energy expenditure. Clin Sci (Lond) 2020; 134:473-512. [PMID: 32149342 DOI: 10.1042/cs20190579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
With the ever-increasing burden of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, it is generally acknowledged that there remains a need for developing new therapeutics. One potential mechanism to combat obesity is to raise energy expenditure via increasing the amount of uncoupled respiration from the mitochondria-rich brown and beige adipocytes. With the recent appreciation of thermogenic adipocytes in humans, much effort is being made to elucidate the signaling pathways that regulate the browning of adipose tissue. In this review, we focus on the ligand-receptor signaling pathways that influence the cyclic nucleotides, cAMP and cGMP, in adipocytes. We chose to focus on G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), guanylyl cyclase and phosphodiesterase regulation of adipocytes because they are the targets of a large proportion of all currently available therapeutics. Furthermore, there is a large overlap in their signaling pathways, as signaling events that raise cAMP or cGMP generally increase adipocyte lipolysis and cause changes that are commonly referred to as browning: increasing mitochondrial biogenesis, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression and respiration.
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21
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Yu J, Gimenez LE, Hernandez CC, Wu Y, Wein AH, Han GW, McClary K, Mittal SR, Burdsall K, Stauch B, Wu L, Stevens SN, Peisley A, Williams SY, Chen V, Millhauser GL, Zhao S, Cone RD, Stevens RC. Determination of the melanocortin-4 receptor structure identifies Ca 2+ as a cofactor for ligand binding. Science 2020; 368:428-433. [PMID: 32327598 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz8995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is involved in energy homeostasis and is an important drug target for syndromic obesity. We report the structure of the antagonist SHU9119-bound human MC4R at 2.8-angstrom resolution. Ca2+ is identified as a cofactor that is complexed with residues from both the receptor and peptide ligand. Extracellular Ca2+ increases the affinity and potency of the endogenous agonist α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone at the MC4R by 37- and 600-fold, respectively. The ability of the MC4R crystallized construct to couple to ion channel Kir7.1, while lacking cyclic adenosine monophosphate stimulation, highlights a heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G protein)-independent mechanism for this signaling modality. MC4R is revealed as a structurally divergent G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), with more similarity to lipidic GPCRs than to the homologous peptidic GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Luis E Gimenez
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ciria C Hernandez
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yiran Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ariel H Wein
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Gye Won Han
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Kyle McClary
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Sanraj R Mittal
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Kylie Burdsall
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Benjamin Stauch
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Lijie Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Sophia N Stevens
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Alys Peisley
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Valerie Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Glenn L Millhauser
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Roger D Cone
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. .,Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Raymond C Stevens
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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22
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Yang Y, Harmon CM. Molecular determinants of ACTH receptor for ligand selectivity. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 503:110688. [PMID: 31866318 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) receptor, known as the melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R), plays a key role in regulating adrenocortical function. ACTH receptor is a subtype of the melanocortin receptor family which is a member of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. ACTH receptor has unique characteristics among MCRs. α-MSH, β-MSH, γ-MSH and ACTH are agonists for MCRs but only ACTH is the agonist for ACTH receptor. In addition, the melanocortin receptor accessory protein (MRAP) is required for ACTH receptor expression at cell surface and function. In this review, we summarized the information available on the relationship between ACTH and ACTH receptor and provide the latest understanding of the molecular basis of the ACTH receptor responsible for ligand selectivity and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingkui Yang
- Department of Surgery, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.
| | - Carroll M Harmon
- Department of Surgery, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA
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23
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Min T, Liu M, Zhang H, Liu Y, Wang Z. Molecular and pharmacological characterization of poultry (Gallus gallus, Anas platyrhynchos, Anser cygnoides domesticus) and pig (Sus scrofa domestica) melanocortin-5 receptors and their mutants. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 283:113233. [PMID: 31356812 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The melanocortin-5 receptor (MC5R) is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily that plays a critical role in lipid production, skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation, and adipocyte lipolysis. Although multiple functions and important value of MC5R in human beings have been fully demonstrated, however, the potential molecular cloning, pharmacological characteristics and key amino acids in poultry and pig were still not fully understood. Herein, we successfully cloned MC5R genes from chicken (Gallus gallus, cMC5R), duck (Anas platyrhynchos, dMC5R), goose (Anser cygnoides domesticus, gMC5R) and pig (Sus scrofa domestica, pMC5R), and compared their genetic and protein difference with hMC5R through phylogenetic analysis and homology models. Besides, we constructed three alanine-substitution mutants for each of MC5Rs through homologous reorganization, including c/d/gMC5R-D119A/F254A/H257A and pMC5R-D204A/F339A/H342A. Subsequently, we focused our investigation on the pharmacological characterization of four wide-type MC5Rs and their mutants in HEK293T cells, including the intracellular cAMP generation and phosphorylation level of ERK1/2. The results showed that these mutants had decreased cAMP levels under the stimulation of ligands, in spite of enhanced basal activity for c/d/gF254A and pH342A, indicating their important roles in the location and activation of receptors. Notably, these MC5Rs and mutants displayed significant species-specific phenotypes in the activation of pERK1/2 with ligands, which was not completely consistent with hMC5R. These findings demonstrated that presence of interspecies differences for MC5Rs, particularly for the pERK1/2 pathway. Taken together, our study expands current knowledge about the molecular and pharmacological characterization of c/d/g/pMC5Rs, providing preliminary data for MC5R-targeted drug screening or genetic breeding of economic animals in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Min
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haijie Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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24
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Yang Y, Chen M, Ventro G, Harmon CM. Amino acid residue L112 in the ACTH receptor plays a key role in ACTH or α-MSH selectivity. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 482:11-17. [PMID: 30553806 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) receptor, known as the melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R), plays a key role in regulating adrenocortical function. MC2R is a subtype of the melanocortin receptor family and ACTH is only agonist for MC2R. Our previous result indicates that ACTH1-17 is the minimal peptide required for MC2R activation but DPhe7-ACTH1-17 has no activity at MC2R. In this study, we examined the molecular basis of the MC2R responsible for ligand selectivity using ACTH analogues and MC2R mutagenesis. Our results indicate that substitution of the 3TM of the MC2R with the corresponding region of the MC3R switches DPhe-ACTH1-17 from no activity to agonist. Further experiment indicates that substitution of the amino acid residue leucine to isoleucine in 112 (L112I) of the 3TM of the MC2R changes both DPhe-ACTH1-17 and ACTH1-15 from no activity to agonists. Surprisingly, mutation L112I switches α-MSH from no activity to agonist, suggesting that this residue plays a key role at MC2R for ligand ACTH or α-MSH selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingkui Yang
- Department of Surgery, State University of New York at Buffalo, United States.
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Surgery, State University of New York at Buffalo, United States
| | - George Ventro
- Department of Surgery, State University of New York at Buffalo, United States
| | - Carroll M Harmon
- Department of Surgery, State University of New York at Buffalo, United States
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25
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Zhang Y, Jiang D, Li H, Sun Y, Jiang X, Gong S, Qian Z, Tao J. Melanocortin type 4 receptor-mediated inhibition of A-type K + current enhances sensory neuronal excitability and mechanical pain sensitivity in rats. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:5496-5507. [PMID: 30745360 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) has been shown to be involved in nociception, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we report that α-MSH suppresses the transient outward A-type K+ current (I A) in trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons and thereby modulates neuronal excitability and peripheral pain sensitivity in rats. Exposing small-diameter TG neurons to α-MSH concentration-dependently decreased I A This α-MSH-induced I A decrease was dependent on the melanocortin type 4 receptor (MC4R) and associated with a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of A-type K+ channel inactivation. Chemical inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) with wortmannin or of class I PI3Ks with the selective inhibitor CH5132799 prevented the MC4R-mediated I A response. Blocking Gi/o-protein signaling with pertussis toxin or by dialysis of TG neurons with the Gβγ-blocking synthetic peptide QEHA abolished the α-MSH-mediated decrease in I A Further, α-MSH increased the expression levels of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and pharmacological or genetic inhibition of p38α abrogated the α-MSH-induced I A response. Additionally, α-MSH significantly increased the action potential firing rate of TG neurons and increased the sensitivity of rats to mechanical stimuli applied to the buccal pad area, and both effects were abrogated by I A blockade. Taken together, our findings suggest that α-MSH suppresses I A by activating MC4R, which is coupled sequentially to the Gβγ complex of the Gi/o-protein and downstream class I PI3K-dependent p38α signaling, thereby increasing TG neuronal excitability and mechanical pain sensitivity in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhang
- From the Department of Geriatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215004, China.,the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology and Centre for Ion Channelopathy, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Dongsheng Jiang
- the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology and Centre for Ion Channelopathy, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.,the Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich 81377, Germany, and
| | - Hua Li
- the National Shanghai Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yufang Sun
- the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology and Centre for Ion Channelopathy, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xinghong Jiang
- the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology and Centre for Ion Channelopathy, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shan Gong
- the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology and Centre for Ion Channelopathy, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zhiyuan Qian
- From the Department of Geriatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215004, China,
| | - Jin Tao
- the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology and Centre for Ion Channelopathy, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China, .,the Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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26
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Heyder N, Kleinau G, Szczepek M, Kwiatkowski D, Speck D, Soletto L, Cerdá-Reverter JM, Krude H, Kühnen P, Biebermann H, Scheerer P. Signal Transduction and Pathogenic Modifications at the Melanocortin-4 Receptor: A Structural Perspective. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:515. [PMID: 31417496 PMCID: PMC6685040 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) can be endogenously activated by binding of melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH), which mediates anorexigenic effects. In contrast, the agouti-related peptide (AgRP) acts as an endogenous inverse agonist and suppresses ligand-independent basal signaling activity (orexigenic effects). Binding of ligands to MC4R leads to the activation of different G-protein subtypes or arrestin and concomitant signaling pathways. This receptor is a key protein in the hypothalamic regulation of food intake and energy expenditure and naturally-occurring inactivating MC4R variants are the most frequent cause of monogenic obesity. In general, obesity is a growing problem on a global scale and is of social, medical, and economic relevance. A significant goal is to develop optimized pharmacological tools targeting MC4R without adverse effects. To date, this has not been achieved because of inter alia non-selective ligands across the five functionally different MCR subtypes (MC1-5R). This motivates further investigation of (i) the three-dimensional MC4R structure, (ii) binding mechanisms of various ligands, and (iii) the molecular transfer process of signal transduction, with the aim of understanding how structural features are linked with functional-physiological aspects. Unfortunately, experimentally elucidated structural information is not yet available for the MC receptors, a group of class A G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). We, therefore, generated MC4R homology models and complexes with interacting partners to describe approximate structural properties associated with signaling mechanisms. In addition, molecular insights from pathogenic mutations were incorporated to discriminate more precisely their individual malfunction of the signal transfer mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Heyder
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gunnar Kleinau
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Gunnar Kleinau
| | - Michal Szczepek
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Kwiatkowski
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Speck
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lucia Soletto
- Departamento de Fisiología de Peces y Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal, Ribera de Cabanes, Spain
| | - José Miguel Cerdá-Reverter
- Departamento de Fisiología de Peces y Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal, Ribera de Cabanes, Spain
| | - Heiko Krude
- Institute of Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Kühnen
- Institute of Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heike Biebermann
- Institute of Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Scheerer
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Patrick Scheerer
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27
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Saleh N, Kleinau G, Heyder N, Clark T, Hildebrand PW, Scheerer P. Binding, Thermodynamics, and Selectivity of a Non-peptide Antagonist to the Melanocortin-4 Receptor. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:560. [PMID: 29910730 PMCID: PMC5992272 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a potential drug target for treatment of obesity, anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction. Crystal structures for MC4R are not yet available, which has hindered successful structure-based drug design. Using microsecond-scale molecular-dynamics simulations, we have investigated selective binding of the non-peptide antagonist MCL0129 to a homology model of human MC4R (hMC4R). This approach revealed that, at the end of a multi-step binding process, MCL0129 spontaneously adopts a binding mode in which it blocks the agonistic-binding site. This binding mode was confirmed in subsequent metadynamics simulations, which gave an affinity for human hMC4R that matches the experimentally determined value. Extending our simulations of MCL0129 binding to hMC1R and hMC3R, we find that receptor subtype selectivity for hMC4R depends on few amino acids located in various structural elements of the receptor. These insights may support rational drug design targeting the melanocortin systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noureldin Saleh
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin, Germany.,Computational Modelling and Dynamics of Molecular Complexes, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gunnar Kleinau
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin, Germany.,Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicolas Heyder
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin, Germany.,Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Berlin, Germany
| | - Timothy Clark
- Computer-Chemie-Centrum, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter W Hildebrand
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin, Germany.,Computational Modelling and Dynamics of Molecular Complexes, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Patrick Scheerer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin, Germany.,Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Berlin, Germany
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28
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Zhang X, Saarinen AM, Campbell LE, De Filippis EA, Liu J. Regulation of Lipolytic Response and Energy Balance by Melanocortin 2 Receptor Accessory Protein (MRAP) in Adipocytes. Diabetes 2018; 67:222-234. [PMID: 29217655 PMCID: PMC5780064 DOI: 10.2337/db17-0862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Melanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein (MRAP) is highly expressed in adrenal gland and adipose tissue. In adrenal cells, MRAP is essential for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-induced activation of the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway by melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R), leading to glucocorticoid production and secretion. Although ACTH was known to stimulate PKA-dependent lipolysis, the functional involvement of MRAP in adipocyte metabolism remains incompletely defined. Herein, we found that knockdown or overexpression of MRAP in 3T3-L1 adipocytes reduced or increased ACTH-induced lipolysis, respectively. Moreover, an unbiased proteomics screen and coimmunoprecipitation analysis identified Gαs as a novel interacting partner of MRAP. An MRAP mutant disabled in Gαs association failed to augment the activation of PKA and lipolytic response to ACTH. Furthermore, compared with wild-type mice, transgenic mice (aP2-MRAP) overexpressing MRAP fat specifically exhibited increased lipolytic response to ACTH. When fed a high-fat diet (HFD), the transgenic mice displayed a significant decrease in the gain of adiposity and body weight as well as an improvement in glucose and insulin tolerance. These phenotypes were accompanied by increased adipose expression of genes for mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis, and overall energy expenditure. Collectively, our data strongly suggest that MRAP plays a critical role in the regulation of ACTH-induced adipose lipolysis and whole-body energy balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ
- HEALth Program, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
| | | | | | - Elena A De Filippis
- HEALth Program, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
- Division of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ
- HEALth Program, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
- Division of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
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29
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30
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Melanocortins, Melanocortin Receptors and Multiple Sclerosis. Brain Sci 2017; 7:brainsci7080104. [PMID: 28805746 PMCID: PMC5575624 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci7080104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The melanocortins and their receptors have been extensively investigated for their roles in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, but to a lesser extent in immune cells and in the nervous system outside the hypothalamic axis. This review discusses corticosteroid dependent and independent effects of melanocortins on the peripheral immune system, central nervous system (CNS) effects mediated through neuronal regulation of immune system function, and direct effects on endogenous cells in the CNS. We have focused on the expression and function of melanocortin receptors in oligodendroglia (OL), the myelin producing cells of the CNS, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic approaches to decrease CNS damage in multiple sclerosis as well as to promote repair. It is clear that melanocortin signaling through their receptors in the CNS has potential for neuroprotection and repair in diseases like MS. Effects of melanocortins on the immune system by direct effects on the circulating cells (lymphocytes and monocytes) and by signaling through CNS cells in regions lacking a mature blood brain barrier are clear. However, additional studies are needed to develop highly effective MCR targeted therapies that directly affect endogenous cells of the CNS, particularly OL, their progenitors and neurons.
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