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Stamellou E, Agrawal S, Siegerist F, Buse M, Kuppe C, Lange T, Buhl EM, Alam J, Strieder T, Boor P, Ostendorf T, Gröne HJ, Floege J, Smoyer WE, Endlich N, Moeller MJ. Inhibition of the glucocorticoid receptor attenuates proteinuric kidney diseases in multiple species. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2023:gfad254. [PMID: 38037533 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfad254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Glucocorticoids are the treatment of choice for proteinuric patients with minimal-change disease (MCD) and primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Immunosuppressive as well as direct effects on podocytes are believed to mediate their actions. In this study, we analyzed the anti-proteinuric effects of inhibition of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in glomerular epithelial cells, including podocytes. METHODS We employed genetic and pharmacological approaches to inhibit the GR. Genetically, we used Pax8-Cre/GRfl/fl mice to specifically inactivate the GR in kidney epithelial cells. Pharmacologically, we utilized a glucocorticoid antagonist called mifepristone. RESULTS Genetic inactivation of GR, specifically in kidney epithelial cells, using Pax8-Cre/GRfl/fl mice, ameliorated proteinuria following protein overload. We further tested the effects of pharmacological GR inhibition in three models and species: the puromycin-aminonucleoside-induced nephrosis model in rats, the protein overload model in mice and the inducible transgenic NTR/MTZ zebrafish larvae with specific and reversible podocyte injury. In all three models, both pharmacological GR activation and inhibition consistently and significantly ameliorated proteinuria. Additionally, we translated our findings to humans, where three nephrotic adult patients with MCD or primary FSGS with contraindications or insufficient responses to corticosteroids, were treated with mifepristone. This treatment resulted in a clinically relevant reduction of proteinuria. CONCLUSIONS Thus, across multiple species and proteinuria models, both genetic and pharmacological GR inhibition was at least as effective as pronounced GR activation. While, the mechanism remains perplexing, GR inhibition may be a novel and targeted therapeutic approach to treat glomerular proteinuria potentially bypassing adverse actions of steroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Stamellou
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Pathology and Electron Microscopy Facility, RWTH University of Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Nephrology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Shipra Agrawal
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Florian Siegerist
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Marc Buse
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christoph Kuppe
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tim Lange
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Eva Miriam Buhl
- Institute of Pathology and Electron Microscopy Facility, RWTH University of Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jessica Alam
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thiago Strieder
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Peter Boor
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Pathology and Electron Microscopy Facility, RWTH University of Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tammo Ostendorf
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen Floege
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - William E Smoyer
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, College of Medicine, Columbus, OH,USA
| | - Nicole Endlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- NIPOKA, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Marcus J Moeller
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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2
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Menezes IC, von Werne Baes C, Fígaro-Drumond FV, Dias Macedo BB, Bueno AC, Lacchini R, Feijó de Mello M, de Castro M, Juruena MF. Differential Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder: Genetic and Hormonal Assessment and the Influence of Early-Life Stress. Brain Sci 2022; 12:1476. [PMID: 36358401 PMCID: PMC9688727 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12111476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Few studies have assessed biomarkers for the differentiation of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). However, some elements of depression such as hormones and receptors of the renin-angiotensin-adrenal system (RAAS), the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and history of early-life stress (ELS) could be considered for differential diagnosis. Therefore, this study aimed to assess aldosterone and cortisol levels, MR and GR gene polymorphisms, and ELS as potential biomarkers for differentiating MDD and BD. This study presents a case-control design. Groups comprised samples for genetic, cortisol, and aldosterone analysis: healthy control (HC; n = 113/97/103), MDD (n = 78/69/67) and BD (n = 82/68/65) subjects. Furthermore, all subjects were assessed for diagnostic screening, the severity of depression, and history of ELS by applying MINI-PLUS, GRID-HDRS, and CTQ, respectively. In addition, genotype and allelic frequencies of GR (N363S, R22/23K and BclI) and MR (MI180V and -2G/C) polymorphisms were evaluated via PCR. Our findings demonstrate that basal aldosterone levels may be a biomarker for differentiating BD and MDD. Furthermore, ELS affects the HPA axis in BD, cortisol may be considered a biomarker for distinguishing BD and MDD, but only in the absence of ELS, and, finally, history of ELS and MR-2G/C variant alleles are factors that contribute to the severity of depressive symptoms in MDD and BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itiana Castro Menezes
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14015-130, Brazil
| | - Cristiane von Werne Baes
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14015-130, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Viana Fígaro-Drumond
- Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Human Sciences, Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-902, Brazil
| | - Brisa Burgos Dias Macedo
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14015-130, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Bueno
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14015-130, Brazil
| | - Riccardo Lacchini
- Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Human Sciences, Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-902, Brazil
| | | | - Margaret de Castro
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14015-130, Brazil
| | - Mario Francisco Juruena
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
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Saunders JM, Muguruza C, Sierra S, Moreno JL, Callado LF, Meana JJ, Beardsley PM, González-Maeso J. Glucocorticoid receptor dysregulation underlies 5-HT 2AR-dependent synaptic and behavioral deficits in a mouse neurodevelopmental disorder model. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102481. [PMID: 36100039 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal environmental insults increase the risk of neurodevelopmental psychiatric conditions in the offspring. Structural modifications of dendritic spines are central to brain development and plasticity. Using maternal immune activation (MIA) as a rodent model of prenatal environmental insult, previous results have reported dendritic structural deficits in the frontal cortex. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying MIA-induced synaptic structural alterations in the offspring. Using prenatal (E12.5) injection with poly-(I:C) as a mouse MIA model, we show here that upregulation of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) is at least in part responsible for some of the effects of prenatal insults on frontal cortex dendritic spine structure and sensorimotor gating processes. Mechanistically, we report that this upregulation of frontal cortex 5-HT2AR expression is associated with MIA-induced reduction of nuclear translocation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and, consequently, a decrease in the enrichment of GR at the 5-HT2AR promoter. The translational significance of these preclinical findings is supported by data in postmortem human brain samples suggesting dysregulation of GR translocation in frontal cortex of schizophrenia subjects. We also found that repeated corticosterone administration augmented frontal cortex 5-HT2AR expression and reduced GR binding to the 5-HT2AR promoter. However, virally (AAV)-mediated augmentation of GR function reduced frontal cortex 5-HT2AR expression and improved sensorimotor gating processes via 5-HT2AR. Together, these data support a negative regulatory relationship between GR signaling and 5-HT2AR expression in the mouse frontal cortex that may carry implications for the pathophysiology underlying 5-HT2AR dysregulation in neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Saunders
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Carolina Muguruza
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, CIBERSAM, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, E-48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Salvador Sierra
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - José L Moreno
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Luis F Callado
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, CIBERSAM, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, E-48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - J Javier Meana
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, CIBERSAM, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, E-48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Patrick M Beardsley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Center for Biomarker Research and Precision Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
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Wijesekera N, Hazell N, Jones C. Independent Cis-Regulatory Modules within the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infected Cell Protein 0 (ICP0) Promoter Are Transactivated by Krüppel-like Factor 15 and Glucocorticoid Receptor. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061284. [PMID: 35746756 PMCID: PMC9228413 DOI: 10.3390/v14061284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A corticosteroid antagonist impairs Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) productive infection and explant-induced reactivation from latency, suggesting corticosteroids and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mediate certain aspects of these complex virus-host interactions. GR-hormone complexes regulate transcription positively and negatively, in part, by binding GR response elements (GREs). Recent studies revealed infected cell protein 0 (ICP0), ICP4, and ICP27 promoter/cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) are cooperatively transactivated by GR and Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15), which forms a feed-forward transcription loop. We hypothesized the ICP0 promoter contains independent CRMs that are transactivated by GR, KLF15, and the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone (DEX). This hypothesis is based on the finding that the ICP0 promoter contains multiple transcription factor binding sites, and GR and KLF15 cooperatively transactivate the full-length ICP0 promoter. ICP0 promoter sequences spanning -800 to -635 (fragment A) were efficiently transactivated by GR, KLF15, and DEX in monkey kidney cells (Vero), whereas GR and DEX significantly enhanced promoter activity in mouse neuroblastoma cells (Neuro-2A). Furthermore, ICP0 fragment B (-458 to -635) was efficiently transactivated by GR, KLF15, and DEX in Vero cells, but not Neuro-2A cells. Finally, fragment D (-232 to -24) was transactivated significantly in Vero cells by GR, KLF15, and DEX, whereas KLF15 and DEX were sufficient for transactivation in Neuro-2A cells. Collectively, these studies revealed efficient transactivation of three independent CRMs within the ICP0 promoter by GR, KLF15, and/or DEX. Finally, GC-rich sequences containing specificity protein 1 (Sp1) binding sites were essential for transactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishani Wijesekera
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 208 N McFarland Street, RM 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA;
| | - Nicholas Hazell
- Experimental Pathology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA;
| | - Clinton Jones
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 208 N McFarland Street, RM 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-405-744-1842
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5
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Zhao JY, Yan J, Wang HY, Liu QQ, Zhang TS, Hao CY. [Effect of wheat-grain moxibustion on the expression of 5-HT and cortisol in the serum, and MR and GR in the hippocampus in rats with hypothyroidism complicated with depression]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2022; 42:525-532. [PMID: 35543943 DOI: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20211115-k0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of wheat-grain moxibustion on behavior, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and cortisol in the serum, mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hippocampus in rats with hypothyroidism complicated with depression, and to explore the possible mechanism of wheat-grain moxibustion on improving depression in rats with hypothyroidism. METHODS A total of 32 SPF SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a medication group and a wheat-grain moxibustion group, 8 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the rats in the remaining groups were treated with intragastric administration of 0.1% propylthiouracil (PTU) suspension at 1 mL/100 g, once a day for 4 weeks to establish the rat model of hypothyroidism, and whether the rats were accompanied with depression-like behavior determined through behavioristics evaluation. The rats in the medication group were intervened with euthyrox at 0.9 mL/100 g, once a day, for 4 weeks; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion group were treated with wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Mingmen" (GV 4), "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Pishu" (BL 20), 7 cones each acupoint, once a day, six times a week for 4 weeks. After the intervention, the depression status was observed by behavioristics test; the contents of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (TT4), 5-HT and cortisol in the serum were detected by ELISA; the protein expressions of MR and GR in hippocampus were detected by Western blot; the expressions of MR mRNA and GR mRNA in the hippocampus were detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS Before the intervention, compared with the blank group, the scores of open field test (OFT) were decreased and the immobility time of tail suspension test (TST) was prolonged (P<0.05); the serum TSH contents were increased and TT4 contents were decreased (P<0.01) in the other three groups. After the intervention, compared with the model group, the vertical score of OFT was increased and the immobility time of forced swimming test (FST) was prolonged in the medication group (P<0.05), while the scores of three items of OFT were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the immobility time of FST and TST was shortened in the wheat-grain moxibustion group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the medication group, the immobility time of TST and FST in the wheat-grain moxibustion group was shorter (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the contents of serum TSH and cortisol were increased (P<0.01, P<0.001), while the contents of serum TT4 and 5-HT were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001). Compared with the model group, the contents of serum TT4 and 5-HT were increased, while the contents of serum TSH and cortisol were decreased in the medication group and wheat-grain moxibustion group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the protein and mRNA expression of MR, GR in the hippocampus in the model group was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001); compared with the model group, the protein and mRNA expression of MR in the hippocampus in the medication group were increased (P<0.05), and the protein expression of MR, GR and mRNA expression of MR in the hippocampus in the wheat-grain moxibustion group were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the medication group, the expression of MR mRNA in the wheat-grain moxibustion group was increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Wheat-grain moxibustion could significantly improve thyroid function and depression in rats with hypothyroidism. Its mechanism may be related to up-regulating the protein and mRNA expression of MR and GR in the hippocampus, and then affecting the expression of serum cortisol and 5-HT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Yu Zhao
- Shanxi University of TCM, Jinzhong 030619, China
| | - Jing Yan
- Shanxi University of TCM, Jinzhong 030619, China
| | | | | | | | - Chong-Yao Hao
- Shanxi University of TCM, Jinzhong 030619, China; Shanxi Acupuncture-Moxibustion Hospital, Taiyuan 030006
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6
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Kraus KL, Chordia AP, Drake AW, Herman JP, Danzer SC. Hippocampal interneurons are direct targets for circulating glucocorticoids. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:2100-2112. [PMID: 35397117 PMCID: PMC9232959 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus has become a significant target of stress research in recent years because of its role in cognitive functioning, neuropathology, and regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Despite the pervasive impact of stress on psychiatric and neurological disease, many of the circuit- and cell-dependent mechanisms giving rise to the limbic regulation of the stress response remain unknown. Hippocampal excitatory neurons generally express high levels of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and are therefore positioned to respond directly to serum glucocorticoids. These neurons are, in turn, regulated by neighboring interneurons, subtypes of which have been shown to respond to stress exposure. However, GR expression among hippocampal interneurons is not well characterized. To determine whether key interneuron populations are direct targets for glucocorticoid action, we used two transgenic mouse lines to label parvalbumin-positive (PV+) and somatostatin-positive (SST+) interneurons. GR immunostaining of labeled interneurons was characterized within the dorsal and ventral dentate hilus, dentate cell body layer, and CA1 and CA3 stratum oriens and stratum pyramidale. While nearly all hippocampal SST+ interneurons expressed GR across all regions, GR labeling of PV+ interneurons showed considerable subregion variability. The percentage of PV+, GR+ cells was highest in the CA3 stratum pyramidale and lowest in the CA1 stratum oriens, with other regions showing intermediate levels of expression. Together, these findings indicate that, under baseline conditions, hippocampal SST+ interneurons are a ubiquitous glucocorticoid target, while only distinct populations of PV+ interneurons are direct targets. This anatomical diversity suggests functional differences in the regulation of stress-dependent hippocampal responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly L Kraus
- Department of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Arihant P Chordia
- Department of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Austin W Drake
- Department of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - James P Herman
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Steve C Danzer
- Department of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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7
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Ostler JB, Jones C. Stress Induced Transcription Factors Transactivate the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infected Cell Protein 27 (ICP27) Transcriptional Enhancer. Viruses 2021; 13:2296. [PMID: 34835102 PMCID: PMC8622287 DOI: 10.3390/v13112296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Following acute infection, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) establishes lifelong latency in neurons, including sensory neurons within trigeminal ganglia. During latency, lytic cycle viral gene expression is silenced. However, stressful stimuli can trigger reactivation from latency. The viral tegument protein, VP-16, transactivates all immediate early (IE) promoters during productive infection. Conversely, cellular factors are expected to trigger viral gene expression during early stages of reactivation from latency and in non-neuronal cells that do not support high levels of productive infection. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR), synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone, and certain stress-induced transcription factors cooperatively transactivate infected cell protein 0 (ICP0) and ICP4 promoters. Since ICP27 protein expression is required for productive infection, we hypothesized that the ICP27 promoter is transactivated by stress-induced transcription factors. New studies have demonstrated that ICP27 enhancer sequences were transactivated by GR and Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15). Mutation of a consensus Sp1 binding site within ICP27 enhancer sequences impaired transactivation by GR and KLF15. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies have demonstrated that GR and KLF15 occupy ICP27 promoter sequences during productive infection. Cells transfected with an ICP27 enhancer fragment revealed the GR and KLF15 occupancy of ICP27 enhancer sequences required the intact Sp1 binding site. Notably, GR and KLF15 form a feed-forward transcription loop in response to stress, suggesting these cellular factors promote viral replication following stressful stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clinton Jones
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA;
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Kang C, Kim S, Lee E, Ryu J, Lee M, Kwon Y. Genetically Encoded Sensor Cells for the Screening of Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) Effectors in Herbal Extracts. Biosensors (Basel) 2021; 11:bios11090341. [PMID: 34562931 PMCID: PMC8465347 DOI: 10.3390/bios11090341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Although in vitro sensors provide facile low-cost ways to screen for biologically active targets, their results may not accurately represent the molecular interactions in biological systems. Cell-based sensors have emerged as promising platforms to screen targets in biologically relevant environments. However, there are few examples where cell-based sensors have been practically applied for drug screening. Here, we used engineered cortisol-detecting sensor cells to screen for natural mimetics of cortisol. The sensor cells were designed to report the presence of a target through signal peptide activation and subsequent fluorescence signal translocation. The developed sensor cells were able to detect known biological targets from human-derived analytes as well as natural product extracts, such as deer antlers and ginseng. The multi-use capability and versatility to screen in different cellular environments were also demonstrated. The sensor cells were used to identify novel GR effectors from medicinal plant extracts. Our results suggest that decursin from dongquai had the GR effector function as a selective GR agonist (SEGRA), making it a potent drug candidate with anti-inflammatory activity. We demonstrated the superiority of cell-based sensing technology over in vitro screening, proving its potential for practical drug screening applications that leads to the function-based discovery of target molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chungwon Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
| | - Soyoun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
| | - Euiyeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jeahee Ryu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
| | - Minhyeong Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
| | - Youngeun Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-31-961-5151
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9
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Kino T, Burd I, Segars JH. Dexamethasone for Severe COVID-19: How Does It Work at Cellular and Molecular Levels? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136764. [PMID: 34201797 PMCID: PMC8269070 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by infection of the severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) significantly impacted human society. Recently, the synthetic pure glucocorticoid dexamethasone was identified as an effective compound for treatment of severe COVID-19. However, glucocorticoids are generally harmful for infectious diseases, such as bacterial sepsis and severe influenza pneumonia, which can develop respiratory failure and systemic inflammation similar to COVID-19. This apparent inconsistency suggests the presence of pathologic mechanism(s) unique to COVID-19 that renders this steroid effective. We review plausible mechanisms and advance the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 infection is accompanied by infected cell-specific glucocorticoid insensitivity as reported for some other viruses. This alteration in local glucocorticoid actions interferes with undesired glucocorticoid to facilitate viral replication but does not affect desired anti-inflammatory properties in non-infected organs/tissues. We postulate that the virus coincidentally causes glucocorticoid insensitivity in the process of modulating host cell activities for promoting its replication in infected cells. We explore this tenet focusing on SARS-CoV-2-encoding proteins and potential molecular mechanisms supporting this hypothetical glucocorticoid insensitivity unique to COVID-19 but not characteristic of other life-threatening viral diseases, probably due to a difference in specific virally-encoded molecules and host cell activities modulated by them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoshige Kino
- Laboratory of Molecular and Genomic Endocrinology, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +974-4003-7566
| | - Irina Burd
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (I.B.); (J.H.S.)
| | - James H. Segars
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (I.B.); (J.H.S.)
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10
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Huang Y, Zhao N, Wang YH, Truillet C, Wei J, Parker MFL, Blecha JE, Drake CR, VanBrocklin HF, Garrido-Ruiz D, Jacobson MP, Aggarwal R, Behr SC, Flavell RR, Wilson DM, Seo Y, Evans MJ. The Synthesis and Structural Requirements for Measuring Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression In Vivo with (±)- 11C-YJH08 PET. J Nucl Med 2021; 62:723-731. [PMID: 32887758 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.249755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Noninvasive methods to study glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling are urgently needed to elaborate the complexity of GR signaling in normal physiology and human disorders, as well as to identify selective GR modulators to treat diseases. Here, we report evidence supporting translational studies with (±)-11C-5-(4-fluorobenzyl)-10-methoxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-chromeno[3,4-f]-quinoline ((±)-11C-YJH08), a radioligand for PET that engages the ligand binding domain on GR. Methods: (±)-11C-YJH08 was synthesized by reacting the phenol precursor with 11C-methyl iodide. The biodistribution was studied in vivo. Specific binding was tested in vivo with adrenalectomy and ligand competition. A library of analogs was synthesized and studied in vitro and in vivo to understand the (±)-11C-YJH08 structure-activity relationship. Rodent dosimetry studies were performed to estimate the human-equivalent doses of (±)-11C-YJH08. Results: (±)-11C-YJH08 was synthesized by reaction of the phenolic precursor with 11C-methyl iodide, giving a radiochemical yield of 51.7% ± 4.7% (decay-corrected to starting 11C-methyl iodide). Specific binding was observed in many tissues, including the brain. An analysis of the (±)-YJH08 structure-activity relationship showed that (R)- and (S)-enantiomers are equally avid for GR by occupying discrete binding modes. A focused chemical screen revealed that the aryl fluoride motif on YJH08 is essential for high-affinity GR binding in vitro, high tissue uptake in vivo, and efficient passage across the blood-brain barrier. Lastly, we performed dosimetry studies on rodents, from which we estimated the human-equivalent doses of (±)-11C-YJH08 to be commensurate with the widely used 11C and 18F tracers. Conclusion: These studies reveal the molecular determinants of a high-affinity and high-selectivity ligand-receptor interaction and support the use of (±)-11C-YJH08 PET to make the first measurements of GR expression in human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangjie Huang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Ning Zhao
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Yung-Hua Wang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Charles Truillet
- Imagerie Moleculaire in Vivo, INSERM, CEA, Université Paris Sud, CNRS, Universite Paris Saclay, CEA-Service Hospitalier Frederic Joliot, Orsay, France
| | - Junnian Wei
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Matthew F L Parker
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Joseph E Blecha
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Henry F VanBrocklin
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Diego Garrido-Ruiz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; and
| | - Matthew P Jacobson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; and
| | - Rahul Aggarwal
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Spencer C Behr
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Robert R Flavell
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - David M Wilson
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Youngho Seo
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Michael J Evans
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California .,Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; and
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11
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Ryu J, Lee E, Kang C, Lee M, Kim S, Park S, Lee D, Kwon Y. Rapid Screening of Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) Effectors Using Cortisol-Detecting Sensor Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4747. [PMID: 33947115 PMCID: PMC8124850 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortisol, a stress hormone, plays key roles in mediating stress and anti-inflammatory responses. As abnormal cortisol levels can induce various adverse effects, screening cortisol and cortisol analogues is important for monitoring stress levels and for identifying drug candidates. A novel cell-based sensing system was adopted for rapid screening of cortisol and its functional analogues under complex cellular regulation. We used glucocorticoid receptor (GR) fused to a split intein which reconstituted with the counterpart to trigger conditional protein splicing (CPS) in the presence of targets. CPS generates functional signal peptides which promptly translocate the fluorescent cargo. The sensor cells exhibited exceptional performance in discriminating between the functional and structural analogues of cortisol with improved sensitivity. Essential oil extracts with stress relief activity were screened using the sensor cells to identify GR effectors. The sensor cells responded to peppermint oil, and L-limonene and L-menthol were identified as potential GR effectors from the major components of peppermint oil. Further analysis indicated L-limonene as a selective GR agonist (SEGRA) which is a potential anti-inflammatory agent as it attenuates proinflammatory responses without causing notable adverse effects of GR agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Youngeun Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (J.R.); (E.L.); (C.K.); (M.L.); (S.K.); (S.P.); (D.L.)
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12
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Zeng Z, Ma W, Zhao R, Dong X. Airway exposure to perfluorooctanoate exacerbates airway hyperresponsiveness and downregulates glucocorticoid receptor expression in asthmatic mice. Transl Pediatr 2021; 10:323-332. [PMID: 33708518 PMCID: PMC7944165 DOI: 10.21037/tp-20-246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple environmental risk factors play a vital role in the pathogenesis of asthma, which contribute to the phenotypic expression of asthma. Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) is the most common and abundant perfluorocarbon (PFC) in humans, and it has been detected in water and the atmosphere worldwide. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is considered to exert a protective effect on asthma and is associated with the sensitivity to glucocorticoids. Dermal or oral exposure to PFOA has been shown to contribute various effects on airway inflammation in individuals with ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma. Notably, airway exposure has a critical contribution to the pathogenesis of asthma. However, the effect of airway exposure to PFOA on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in patients with asthma is not currently understood. METHODS BALB/c mice were administered OVA to induce asthma. PFOA was then administered intratracheally to OVA-induced mice for seven days. Then we assessed the effect of airway exposure to PFOA on AHR and the regulation of the GR expression in asthmatic mice. RESULTS The results showed aggravated AHR and T helper type 2 (Th2) airway inflammation in asthmatic mice. Furthermore, these mice show a substantial decrease in the expression of the GR mRNA and protein. CONCLUSIONS These data strongly suggest that acute airway exposure to PFOA leads to Th2-related AHR and decreases GR expression, which may increase the difficulty in the treatment of asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Zeng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihui Ma
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ran Zhao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Dong
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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13
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Heck AL, Thompson MK, Uht RM, Handa RJ. Sex-Dependent Mechanisms of Glucocorticoid Regulation of the Mouse Hypothalamic Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Gene. Endocrinology 2020; 161:bqz012. [PMID: 31754709 PMCID: PMC7188085 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqz012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
To limit excessive glucocorticoid secretion following hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stimulation, circulating glucocorticoids inhibit corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) expression in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons. As HPA function differs between sexes and depends on circulating estradiol (E2) levels in females, we investigated sex/estrous stage-dependent glucocorticoid regulation of PVN Crh. Using NanoString nCounter technology, we first demonstrated that adrenalectomized (ADX'd) diestrous female (low E2), but not male or proestrous female (high E2), mice exhibited a robust decrease in PVN CRH mRNA following 2-day treatment with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonist RU28362. Immunohistochemical analysis of PVN CRH neurons in Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai14 mice, where TdTomato fluorescence permanently tags CRH-expressing neurons, showed similarly abundant co-expression of GR-immunoreactivity in males, diestrous females, and proestrous females. However, we identified sex/estrous stage-related glucocorticoid regulation or expression of GR transcriptional coregulators. Out of 17 coregulator genes examined using nCounter multiplex analysis, mRNAs that were decreased by RU28362 in ADX'd mice in a sex/estrous stage-dependent fashion included: GR (males = diestrous females > proestrous females), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (males < diestrous = proestrous), and HDAC1 (males < diestrous > proestrous). Steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3), nuclear corepressor 1 (NCoR1), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (hnrnpu), CREB binding protein (CBP) and CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CRTC2) mRNAs were lower in ADX'd diestrous and proestrous females versus males. Additionally, most PVN CRH neurons co-expressed methylated CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2)-immunoreactivity in diestrous female and male Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai14 mice. Our findings collectively suggest that GR's sex-dependent regulation of PVN Crh may depend upon differences in the GR transcriptional machinery and an underlying influence of E2 levels in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L Heck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Maranda K Thompson
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Rosalie M Uht
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas
| | - Robert J Handa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
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14
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Gross M, Romi H, Gilimovich Y, Drori E, Pinhasov A. Placental glucocorticoid receptor and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 recruitment indicates impact of prenatal adversity upon postnatal development in mice. Stress 2018; 21:474-483. [PMID: 29648494 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2018.1460660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress may increase concentrations of maternal glucocorticoids, which restrict fetal growth, with variable impact upon postnatal development. Among key regulators of stress hormone effects are the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (11βHSD2), the enzyme that inactivates glucocorticoid. This study utilized mice selectively bred for social dominance (Dom) or submissiveness (Sub), respectively exhibiting resilience or sensitivity to stress, to test whether stress-induced alterations in placental GR and 11βHSD2 protein expression may mediate divergent effects of prenatal adversity upon postnatal development. Pregnant Dom and Sub dams underwent prenatal restraint stress (PRS) for 45 min on gestational days (GD) 15-17. PRS induced a similar spike in serum corticosterone concentrations of dams from each strain on GD15 (p < .001, n = 8), and impaired fetal growth (p < .01, n = 5 litters), although Dom placentae were larger than Sub placentae (p < .01). Among placentae from Dom dams, PRS elevated protein contents of both GR (p < .05, n = 5 litters) and 11βHSD2 (p < .01) on GD19. In contrast, GR contents were reduced among placentae from PRS-exposed Sub mice (p < .01), without changes in 11βHSD2 content. Correspondingly, Dom PRS pup growth recovered by PND14, yet Sub PRS pups remained underweight into adolescence (p < .0001, n = 40 pups). Thus, prenatal stress more strongly increased placental GR and 11βHSD2 levels among Dom mice than in Subs. Increased GR may improve placental function and up-regulate 11βHSD2 expression, protecting fetuses from effects of prenatal stress upon postnatal development. Placental recruitment of GR and 11βHSD2 are potential markers of stress-induced developmental disorders, in accordance with maternal resilience or sensitivity to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Gross
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Hava Romi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Elyashiv Drori
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Agriculture and Oenology Research Department, Eastern R&D center, Ariel, Israel
| | - Albert Pinhasov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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15
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Di T, Zhang S, Hong J, Zhang T, Chen L. Hyperactivity of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Due to Dysfunction of the Hypothalamic Glucocorticoid Receptor in Sigma-1 Receptor Knockout Mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:287. [PMID: 28932185 PMCID: PMC5592243 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sigma-1 receptor knockout (σ1R-KO) mice exhibit a depressive-like phenotype. Because σ1R is highly expressed in the neuronal cells of hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei (PVN), this study investigated the influence of σ1R deficiency on the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. Here, we show that the levels of basal serum corticosterone (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) as well as the level of CRF mRNA in PVN did not significantly differ between adult male σ1R-KO mice and wild-type (WT) mice. Acute mild restraint stress (AMRS) induced a higher and more sustainable increase in activity of HPA axis and CRF expression in σ1R-KO mice. Percentage of dexamethasone (Dex)-induced reduction in level of CORT was markedly attenuated in σ1R-/- mice. The levels of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation were reduced in the PVN of σ1R-KO mice and σ1R antagonist NE100-treated WT mice. The exposure to AMRS in σ1R-KO mice induced a stronger phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) in PVN than that in WT mice. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of PKC activator PMA for 3 days in σ1R-KO mice not only recovered the GR phosphorylation and the percentage of Dex-reduced CORT but also corrected the AMRS-induced hyperactivity of HPA axis and enhancement of CRF mRNA and CREB phosphorylation. Furthermore, the injection (i.c.v.) of PMA in σ1R-KO mice corrected the prolongation of immobility time in forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). These results indicate that σ1R deficiency causes down-regulation of GR by reducing PKC phosphorylation, which attenuates GR-mediated feedback inhibition of HPA axis and facilitates the stress response of HPA axis leading to the production of depressive-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Di
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, China.,Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, China
| | - Suyun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, China
| | - Juan Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, China.,Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, China
| | - Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, China.,Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, China
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16
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Youssef SES, El-Khateeb EA, Aly DG, Moussa MH. Striae distensae: Immunohistochemical assessment of hormone receptors in multigravida and nulligravida. J Cosmet Dermatol 2017; 16:279-286. [PMID: 28374517 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.12337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Striae distensae (SD), a type of dermal scarring, are psychologically disappointing. To date, information and scientific research behind the role of hormonal factors in the development of SD are still unclear. It is vital to understand striae to offer patients the best therapeutic options. OBJECTIVES To investigate early alterations regarding the expression of estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid receptors (estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in skin samples of multigravida (MG) and nulligravida (NG) cases and to compare them with normal controls. METHODS This study included 30 subjects (10 MG and 10 NG cases with early SD and 10 healthy controls). Biopsies from SD lesions, perilesional normal skin of cases and normal skin of controls were examined immunohistochemically for ER, AR, and GR expression using immune peroxidase technique. RESULTS Comparing MG and NG with controls, ER expression appeared reduced in MG and NG (P-value<.001), AR was elevated in MG (P-value<.05) with no considerable difference in NG (P-value>.05), while GR was elevated in both MG and NG (P-value<.05). On comparing perilesional skin with SD lesions in each of MG and NG groups, SD lesions revealed reduced ER expression in both groups (P-value<.05), whereas in MG group: AR expression was elevated with no difference detected regarding GR (P-value˃.05); meanwhile in NG, elevated expression in both AR and GR expression was noted (P-Value<.001) CONCLUSIONS: Striae distansae lesions demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of AR and GR and a declined expression of ER indicating their involvement in the development of early SD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar El Sayed Youssef
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Dalia Gamal Aly
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
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17
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Agarwal N, Balasubramanyam A. Viral mechanisms of adipose dysfunction: lessons from HIV-1 Vpr. Adipocyte 2015; 4:55-9. [PMID: 26167403 DOI: 10.4161/adip.29852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Revised: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-associated lipodystrophy is a heterogeneous, evolving condition associated with fundamental defects in adipose tissue differentiation, turnover and function. Although many antiretroviral drugs can affect adipose tissues adversely, clinical evidence suggests that factors associated with the virus per se could play a role. We have focused on the possibility that an HIV accessory protein, viral protein R (Vpr) could dysregulate metabolically critical transcription factors to cause the adipose dysfunction. In a recent study published in Science Translational Medicine, we utilized 2 animal models to show that Vpr, produced in tissues that sequester HIV after antiretroviral therapy, can act in a paracrine or endocrine fashion to disrupt adipocyte differentiation and function by inhibiting PPARγ target gene expression and activating glucocorticoid target gene expression. The phenotypic consequences included many features typical of the human syndrome, including accelerated lipolysis, increased macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue, diminished size of white adipose depots and hepatic steatosis. In this commentary, we summarize the background, results, and implications of these studies, and raise important questions for future investigation. More broadly, these studies suggest that chronic viral infections may be a causative factor in the pathogenesis of some forms of lipid metabolic disease, insulin resistance, and diabetes.
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18
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Varricchio L, Migliaccio AR. The role of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) polymorphisms in human erythropoiesis. Am J Blood Res 2014; 4:53-72. [PMID: 25755906 PMCID: PMC4348794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are endogenous steroid hormones that regulate several biological functions including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in numerous cell types in response to stress. Synthetic glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone (Dex) are used to treat a variety of diseases ranging from allergy to depression. Glucocorticoids exert their effects by passively entering into cells and binding to a specific Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) present in the cytoplasm. Once activated by its ligand, GR may elicit cytoplasmic (mainly suppression of p53), and nuclear (regulation of transcription of GR responsive genes), responses. Human GR is highly polymorphic and may encode > 260 different isoforms. This polymorphism is emerging as the leading cause for the variability of phenotype and response to glucocorticoid therapy observed in human populations. Studies in mice and clinical observations indicate that GR controls also the response to erythroid stress. This knowledge has been exploited in-vivo by using synthetic GR agonists for treatment of the erythropoietin-refractory congenic Diamond Blackfan Anemia and in-vitro to develop culture conditions that may theoretically generate red cells in numbers sufficient for transfusion. However, the effect exerted by GR polymorphism on the variability of the phenotype of genetic and acquired erythroid disorders observed in the human population is still poorly appreciated. This review will summarize current knowledge on the biological activity of GR and of its polymorphism in non-hematopoietic diseases and discuss the implications of these observations for erythropoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Varricchio
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of MedicineNew York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Anna Rita Migliaccio
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of MedicineNew York, NY 10029, USA
- Istituto Superiore di Sanita’ Viale Regina Elena 299Italy
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19
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Abstract
Inflammatory responses are elicited after injury, involving release of inflammatory mediators that ultimately lead, at the molecular level, to the activation of specific transcription factors (TFs; mainly activator protein 1 and nuclear factor-κB). These TFs propagate inflammation by inducing the expression of cytokines and chemokines. The neuroendocrine system has a determinant role in the maintenance of homeostasis, to avoid exacerbated inflammatory responses. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the key neuroendocrine regulators of the inflammatory response. In this study, we describe the molecular mechanisms involved in the interplay between inflammatory cytokines, the neuroendocrine axis and GCs necessary for the control of inflammation. Targeting and modulation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and its activity is a common therapeutic strategy to reduce pathological signaling. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the addition of PAR on target proteins, a post-translational modification termed PARylation. PARP1 has a central role in transcriptional regulation of inflammatory mediators, both in neuroendocrine tumors and in CNS cells. It is also involved in modulation of several nuclear receptors. Therefore, PARP1 and GR share common inflammatory pathways with antagonic roles in the control of inflammatory processes, which are crucial for the effective maintenance of homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Aprile-Garcia
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Partner Institute of the Max Planck SocietyBuenos AiresArgentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y NaturalesUniversidad de Buenos AiresBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - María Antunica-Noguerol
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Partner Institute of the Max Planck SocietyBuenos AiresArgentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y NaturalesUniversidad de Buenos AiresBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Maia Ludmila Budziñski
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Partner Institute of the Max Planck SocietyBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Ana C Liberman
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Partner Institute of the Max Planck SocietyBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Eduardo Arzt
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Partner Institute of the Max Planck SocietyBuenos AiresArgentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y NaturalesUniversidad de Buenos AiresBuenos AiresArgentina
- Correspondence should be addressed to E Arzt
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20
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Matsumura Y. Heterogeneity of glucocorticoid resistance in patients with bronchial asthma. Int J Biomed Sci 2010; 6:158-66. [PMID: 23675190 PMCID: PMC3615268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2010] [Accepted: 05/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Bronchial asthma is assumed to be the result of excessive inflammation driven by an aberrant T-helper-2 (Th2) response. Recently, it has begun to be recognized that asthma is a heterogeneous disorder. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are effective treatment for bronchial asthma; however, the inflammation in bronchial asthma cannot always be fully controlled. A recent study demonstrated a new underlying mechanism of glucocorticoid resistance that acts in a Th2-independent manner. Thus, responses to GCs are highly heterogeneous.
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