Project description:The project is directed to the development of selective glucocorticoid receptor agonists for anticancer therapy. Glucocorticoids (GC) are widely used in treatment of many types of cancer due to its ability to induce apoptosis in malignant cells (in blood cancer therapy) and to prevent nausea and emesis (in the chemotherapy of solid tumors). However, severe dose-limiting side effects occur, including osteoporosis, muscle wasting, diabetes and other metabolic complications. Both beneficial and harmful effects of glucocorticoids are due to selective activation or repression of particular genes by glucocorticoid receptor (GR). GR regulates gene expression via transactivation that requires GR homodimer binding to gene promoters and transrepression mediated via negative interaction between GR and other transcription factors as well as binding with negative glucocorticoid response elements (nGRE) in genes. GR transactivation is linked to metabolic side effects, while GR transrepression underlies glucocorticoid therapeutic action. Novel selective GR agonist Compound A (CpdA) prevents GR dimerization and transactivation, specifically activates GR transrepression, and has fewer side effects compared to glucocorticoids. Here we compare the gene expression profiles in prostate cancer cells treated with glucocorticoid Dexamethasone (Dex) or CpdA
Project description:Glucocorticoids (GC) have been widely used as coadjuvants in the treatment of solid tumors, but GC treatment may be associated with poor pharmacotherapeutic response and/or prognosis. The genomic action of GC in these tumors is largely unknown. Here we find that dexamethasone (Dex, a synthetic GC) regulated genes in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells are associated with drug resistance. Importantly, these GC-regulated genes are aberrantly expressed in TNBC patients and associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Interestingly, in TNBC cells, Compound A (CpdA, a selective GR modulator) only regulates a small number of genes not involved in carcinogenesis and therapy resistance. Mechanistic studies using a ChIP-exo approach reveal that Dex- but not CpdA-liganded glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binds to a single glucocorticoid response element (GRE), which drives the expression of pro-tumorigenic genes. Our data suggest that development of safe coadjuvant therapy should consider the distinct genomic function between Dex- and CpdA-liganded GR. To study GR-regulated genes and define GRE in human genome, RNA-seq and GR ChIP-exo are performed in MDA-MB-231 cells before/after dex and CpdA stimulation. Each experiment includes two replicates.
Project description:Glucocorticoids (GC) have been widely used as coadjuvants in the treatment of solid tumors, but GC treatment may be associated with poor pharmacotherapeutic response and/or prognosis. The genomic action of GC in these tumors is largely unknown. Here we find that dexamethasone (Dex, a synthetic GC) regulated genes in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells are associated with drug resistance. Importantly, these GC-regulated genes are aberrantly expressed in TNBC patients and associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Interestingly, in TNBC cells, Compound A (CpdA, a selective GR modulator) only regulates a small number of genes not involved in carcinogenesis and therapy resistance. Mechanistic studies using a ChIP-exo approach reveal that Dex- but not CpdA-liganded glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binds to a single glucocorticoid response element (GRE), which drives the expression of pro-tumorigenic genes. Our data suggest that development of safe coadjuvant therapy should consider the distinct genomic function between Dex- and CpdA-liganded GR.
Project description:Glucocorticoids are widely used to treat inflammatory disorders. Prolonged use results in side effects including osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity. The selective glucocorticoid receptor (GR) modulator Compound A (CpdA) exhibits an inflammation-suppressive effect, largely in absence of detrimental side effects. To understand the mechanistic differences between the classic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) and CpdA, we looked for proteins oppositely regulated using an unbiased proteomics approach. We found that the autophagy receptor p62 but not GR mediates the anti-inflammatory action of CpdA in macrophages. CpdA drives the upregulation of p62 by recruiting the NRF2 transcription factor to its promoter. Contrarily, the classic GR ligand dexamethasone recruits GR to p62 and other NRF2 controlled gene promoters, resulting in gene downregulation. Both DEX and CpdA are able to induce autophagy, albeit in a cell-type and time-dependent manner. Suppression of LPS-induced IL-6 and MCP1 genes in bone marrow-derived macrophages by CpdA is hampered upon p62 silencing, confirming that p62 is essential for the anti-inflammatory capacity of CpdA. Together, these results demonstrate how off-target mechanisms of selective GR ligands may establish a more efficient anti-inflammatory therapy
Project description:Glucocorticoids are widely used to treat inflammatory disorders; however, prolonged use of glucocorticoids results in side effects including osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity. Compound A (CpdA), identified as a selective NR3C1/glucocorticoid receptor (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1) modulator, exhibits an inflammation-suppressive effect, largely in the absence of detrimental side effects. To understand the mechanistic differences between the classic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) and CpdA, we looked for proteins oppositely regulated in bone marrow-derived macrophages using an unbiased proteomics approach. We found that the autophagy receptor SQSTM1 but not NR3C1 mediates the anti-inflammatory action of CpdA. CpdA drives SQSTM1 upregulation by recruiting the NFE2L2 transcription factor to its promoter. In contrast, the classic NR3C1 ligand dexamethasone recruits NR3C1 to the Sqstm1 promoter and other NFE2L2-controlled gene promoters, resulting in gene downregulation. Both DEX and CpdA induce autophagy, with marked different autophagy characteristics and morphology. Suppression of LPS-induced Il6 and Ccl2 genes by CpdA in macrophages is hampered upon Sqstm1 silencing, confirming that SQSTM1 is essential for the anti-inflammatory capacity of CpdA, at least in this cell type. Together, these results demonstrate how off-target mechanisms of selective NR3C1 ligands may contribute to a more efficient anti-inflammatory therapy.
Project description:The project is directed to the development of selective glucocorticoid receptor agonists for anticancer therapy. Glucocorticoids (GC) are widely used in treatment of many types of cancer due to its ability to induce apoptosis in malignant cells (in blood cancer therapy) and to prevent nausea and emesis (in the chemotherapy of solid tumors). However, severe dose-limiting side effects occur, including osteoporosis, muscle wasting, diabetes and other metabolic complications. Both beneficial and harmful effects of glucocorticoids are due to selective activation or repression of particular genes by glucocorticoid receptor (GR). GR regulates gene expression via transactivation that requires GR homodimer binding to gene promoters and transrepression mediated via negative interaction between GR and other transcription factors as well as binding with negative glucocorticoid response elements (nGRE) in genes. GR transactivation is linked to metabolic side effects, while GR transrepression underlies glucocorticoid therapeutic action. Novel selective GR agonist Compound A (CpdA) prevents GR dimerization and transactivation, specifically activates GR transrepression, and has fewer side effects compared to glucocorticoids. Here we compare the gene expression profiles in lymphoma cells treated with glucocorticoid Dexamethasone (Dex) or CpdA