scholarly journals A specific agonist of the orphan nuclear receptor NR2F1 suppresses metastasis through the induction of cancer cell dormancy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bassem D. Khalil ◽  
Roberto Sanchez ◽  
Tasrina Rahman ◽  
Carolina Rodriguez-Tirado ◽  
Stefan Moritsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Retinoic Acid Receptor ◽  
Growth Arrest ◽  
Chorioallantoic Membrane ◽  
Protein Accumulation ◽  
Orphan Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Ki 67 ◽  
Cell Dormancy

AbstractDisseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in secondary organs often remain dormant for a long period of time before re-awakening and growing into overt metastases. We have previously identified NR2F1/COUP-TF1, an orphan nuclear receptor, as a master regulator of tumor cell dormancy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and other cancer types. Here we describe the identification and function of a novel NR2F1 agonist herein referred to as compound 26 (C26). C26 was found to specifically activate NR2F1 in HNSCC cells, leading to increased NR2F1 transcription and nuclear protein accumulation. C26-mediated activation of NR2F1 induced growth arrest of HNSCC PDX line and cell lines in 3D cultures in vitro and on chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in vivo. The effect of C26 on growth arrest was lost when NR2F1 was knocked out by CRISPR/Cas9. C26-induced growth arrest was mediated by activation of an NR2F1-regulated dormancy program, including upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p27 and the transcription factors retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) and Sox9. In mice bearing HNSCC PDX tumors, combined adjuvant and neo-adjuvant treatment with C26 resulted in complete inhibition of lethal lung metastasis. Mechanistic analysis showed that lung DTCs in C26-treated mice displayed an NR2F1hi/p27hi/Ki-67lo phenotype, which kept them dormant in a single-cell state preventing their outgrowth into overt metastases. Our work reveals a novel NR2F1 agonist and provides a proof of principle strategy supporting that inducing DTC dormancy using NR2F1 agonists could be used as a therapeutic strategy to prevent metastasis.

scholarly journals Transcriptional repression of the gluconeogenic gene PEPCK by the orphan nuclear receptor SHP through inhibitory interaction with C/EBPα

2007 ◽  
Vol 402 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Jung Park ◽  
Hee Jeong Kong ◽  
Hye Young Kim ◽  
Hyeong Hoe Kim ◽  
Joon Hong Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Transcriptional Repression ◽  
Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Orphan Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Hepatic Gluconeogenesis ◽  
Inhibitory Interaction

SHP (short heterodimer partner) is an orphan nuclear receptor that plays an important role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. A variety of transcription factors are known to regulate transcription of the PEPCK (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) gene, which encodes a rate-determining enzyme in hepatic gluconeogenesis. Previous reports identified glucocorticoid receptor and Foxo1 as novel downstream targets regulating SHP inhibition [Borgius, Steffensen, Gustafsson and Treuter (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 49761–49796; Yamagata, Daitoku, Shimamoto, Matsuzaki, Hirota, Ishida and Fukamizu (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 23158–23165]. In the present paper, we show a new molecular mechanism of SHP-mediated inhibition of PEPCK transcription. We also show that the CRE1 (cAMP regulatory element 1; −99 to −76 bp relative to the transcription start site) of the PEPCK promoter is also required for the inhibitory regulation by SHP. SHP repressed C/EBPα (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α)-driven transcription of PEPCK through direct interaction with C/EBPα protein both in vitro and in vivo. The formation of an active transcriptional complex of C/EBPα and its binding to DNA was inhibited by SHP, resulting in the inhibition of PEPCK gene transcription. Taken together, these results suggest that SHP might regulate a level of hepatic gluconeogenesis driven by C/EBPα activation.

scholarly journals Orphan Nuclear Receptor NR4A1 Is a Negative Regulator of DHT-Induced Rat Preantral Follicular Growth

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 2004-2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Xue ◽  
Jia-yin Liu ◽  
Bruce D. Murphy ◽  
Benjamin K. Tsang
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Mrna Abundance ◽  
Orphan Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Follicular Growth ◽  
Preantral Follicle ◽  
Follicle Growth ◽  
Preantral Follicles

Abstract Nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member1 (NR4A1), an orphan nuclear receptor, is involved in the transcriptional regulation of thecal cell androgen biosynthesis and paracrine factor insulin-like 3 (INSL3) expression. Androgens are known to play an important regulatory role in ovarian follicle growth. Using a chronically androgenized rat model, a preantral follicle culture model and virus-mediated gene delivery, we examined the role and regulation of NR4A1 in the androgenic control of preantral follicular growth. In the present study, Ki67 staining was increased in preantral follicles on ovarian sections from 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated rats. Preantral follicles from DHT-treated rats cultured for 4 d exhibited increased growth and up-regulation of mRNA abundance of G1/S-specific cyclin-D2 (Ccnd2) and FSH receptor (Fshr). Similarly, DHT (1 μm) increased preantral follicular growth and Ccnd2 and Fshr mRNA abundance in vitro. The NR4A1 expression was high in theca cells and was down-regulated by DHT in vivo and in vitro. Forced expression of NR4A1 augmented preantral follicular growth, androstenedione production, and Insl3 expression in vitro. Inhibiting the action of androgen (with androgen receptor antagonist flutamide) or INSL3 (with INSL3 receptor antagonist INSL3 B-chain) reduced NR4A1-induced preantral follicular growth. Furthermore, NR4A1 overexpression enhanced DHT-induced preantral follicular growth, a response attenuated by inhibiting INSL3. In conclusion, DHT promotes preantral follicular growth and attenuates thecal NR4A1 expression in vivo and in vitro. Our findings are consistent with the notion that NR4A1 serves as an important point of negative feedback to minimize the excessive preantral follicle growth in hyperandrogenism.

scholarly journals Orphan Nuclear Receptor ERRγ Is a Novel Transcriptional Regulator of IL-6 Mediated Hepatic BMP6 Gene Expression in Mice

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 7148
Author(s):  
Kamalakannan Radhakrishnan ◽  
Yong-Hoon Kim ◽  
Yoon Seok Jung ◽  
Jina Kim ◽  
Don-Kyu Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Molecular Mechanism ◽  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Orphan Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Knock Out

Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) is a multifunctional growth factor involved in organ development and homeostasis. BMP6 controls expression of the liver hormone, hepcidin, and thereby plays a crucial role in regulating iron homeostasis. BMP6 gene transcriptional regulation in liver is largely unknown, but would be of great help to externally modulate iron load in pathologic conditions. Here, we describe a detailed molecular mechanism of hepatic BMP6 gene expression by an orphan nuclear receptor, estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ), in response to the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6). Recombinant IL-6 treatment increases hepatic ERRγ and BMP6 expression. Overexpression of ERRγ is sufficient to increase BMP6 gene expression in hepatocytes, suggesting that IL-6 is upstream of ERRγ. In line, knock-down of ERRγ in cell lines or a hepatocyte specific knock-out of ERRγ in mice significantly decreases IL-6 mediated BMP6 expression. Promoter studies show that ERRγ directly binds to the ERR response element (ERRE) in the mouse BMP6 gene promoter and positively regulates BMP6 gene transcription in IL-6 treatment conditions, which is further confirmed by ERRE mutated mBMP6-luciferase reporter assays. Finally, an inverse agonist of ERRγ, GSK5182, markedly inhibits IL-6 induced hepatic BMP6 expression in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, these results reveal a novel molecular mechanism on ERRγ mediated transcriptional regulation of hepatic BMP6 gene expression in response to IL-6.

Discovery and Optimization of a Series of Sulfonamide Inverse Agonists for the Retinoic Acid Receptor-Related Orphan Receptor-α

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 676-684
Author(s):  
Christelle Doebelin ◽  
Yuanjun He ◽  
Sean Campbell ◽  
Philippe Nuhant ◽  
Naresh Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinoic Acid Receptor ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Profile ◽  
Orphan Receptor ◽  
Orphan Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Inverse Agonists ◽  
Close Family Member ◽  
Per Oral

Background: Despite a massive industry endeavor to develop RORγ-modulators for autoimmune disorders, there has been no indication of efforts to target the close family member RORα for similar indications. This may be due to the misconception that RORα is redundant to RORγ, or the inherent difficulty in cultivating tractable starting points for RORα. RORα-selective modulators would be useful tools to interrogate the biology of this understudied orphan nuclear receptor. Objectives: he goal of this research effort was to identify and optimize synthetic ligands for RORα starting from the known LXR agonist T0901317. Methods: Fourty-five analogs of the sulfonamide lead (1) were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to suppress the transcriptional activity of RORα, RORγ, and LXRα in cell-based assays. Analogs were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and LC-MS analysis. The pharmacokinetic profile of the most selective RORα inverse agonist was evaluated in rats with intraperitoneal (i.p.) and per oral (p.o.)dosing. Results: Structure-activity relationship studies led to potent dual RORα/RORγ inverse agonists as well as RORα-selective inverse agonists (20, 28). LXR activity could be reduced by removing the sulfonamide nitrogen substituent. Attempts to improve the potency of these selective leads by varying substitution patterns throughout the molecule proved challenging. Conclusion: The synthetic RORα-selective inverse agonists identified (20, 28) can be utilized as chemical tools to probe the function of RORα in vitro and in vivo.

scholarly journals The orphan nuclear receptor LRH-1/NR5a2 critically regulates T cell functions

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
pp. eaav9732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Seitz ◽  
Juan Huang ◽  
Anna-Lena Geiselhöringer ◽  
Pamela Galbani-Bianchi ◽  
Svenja Michalek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Orphan Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Cell Functions

LRH-1 (liver receptor homolog-1/NR5a2) is an orphan nuclear receptor, which regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as intestinal inflammation via the transcriptional control of intestinal glucocorticoid synthesis. Predominantly expressed in epithelial cells, its expression and role in immune cells are presently enigmatic. LRH-1 was found to be induced in immature and mature T lymphocytes upon stimulation. T cell–specific deletion of LRH-1 causes a drastic loss of mature peripheral T cells. LRH-1–depleted CD4+ T cells exert strongly reduced activation-induced proliferation in vitro and in vivo and fail to mount immune responses against model antigens and to induce experimental intestinal inflammation. Similarly, LRH-1–deficient cytotoxic CD8+ T cells fail to control viral infections. This study describes a novel and critical role of LRH-1 in T cell maturation, functions, and immopathologies and proposes LRH-1 as an emerging pharmacological target in the treatment of T cell–mediated inflammatory diseases.

scholarly journals Bile acids inhibit duodenal secretin expression via orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP)

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (1) ◽  
pp. G90-G97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian P. Y. Lam ◽  
Leo T. O. Lee ◽  
Hueng-Sik Choi ◽  
Gianfranco Alpini ◽  
Billy K. C. Chow
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Bile Acids ◽  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Orphan Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Small Heterodimer Partner

Small heterodimer partner (SHP) is an orphan nuclear receptor in which gene expression can be upregulated by bile acids. It regulates its target genes by repressing the transcriptional activities of other nuclear receptors including NeuroD, which has been shown to regulate secretin gene expression. Here, we evaluated the regulation on duodenal secretin gene expression by SHP and selected bile acids, cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). In vitro treatment of CDCA or fexaramine elevated the SHP transcript level and occupancy on secretin promoter. The increase in the SHP level, induced by bile acid treatment or overexpression, reduced secretin gene expression, whereas this gene inhibitory effect was reversed by silencing of endogenous SHP. In in vivo studies, double-immunofluorescence staining demonstrated the coexpression of secretin and SHP in mouse duodenum. Feeding mice with 1% CA-enriched rodent chow resulted in upregulation of SHP and a concomitant decrease in secretin transcript and protein levels in duodenum compared with the control group fed with normal chow. A diet enriched with 5% cholestyramine led to a decrease in SHP level and a corresponding increase in secretin expression. Overall, this study showed that bile acids via SHP inhibit duodenal secretin gene expression. Because secretin is a key hormone that stimulates bile flow in cholangiocytes, this pathway thus provides a novel means to modulate secretin-stimulated choleresis in response to intraduodenal bile acids.

scholarly journals Two differentially active alternative promoters control the expression of the zebrafish orphan nuclear receptor gene Rev-erbα

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 555-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoko Kakizawa ◽  
Shin-ichi Nishio ◽  
Gerard Triqueneaux ◽  
Stephanie Bertrand ◽  
Juliette Rambaud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Orphan Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Alternative Promoters ◽  
Developmentally Regulated ◽  
Morpholino Knockdown

The orphan nuclear receptor Rev-erbα (NR1D1) plays an important role in the regulation of the circadian pacemaker and its expression has been shown to be regulated with a robust circadian rhythm in zebrafish and mammals. In addition, in zebrafish its expression has been shown to be developmentally regulated. In order to analyze the mechanisms of the zfRev-erbα gene regulation, we have isolated its 5′-upstream region. We found that two promoters control the zfRev-erbα expression. The first one (ZfP1) is characterized by a very high degree of sequence identity with the mammalian P1 promoter and contains, as the mammalian P1, a functional Rev-erbα-binding site (RevDR2). Inhibition of zfRev-erbα activity in zebrafish embryos using antisense-morpholino knockdown results in an increase of zfRev-erbα gene expression suggesting that zfRev-erbα is repressing its own transcription in vivo. In addition, we show that ROR orphan receptors also regulate in vitro and in vivo zfRev-erbα gene expression through the same RevDR2 element. In contrast, the second promoter ZfP2 is strikingly different from the mammalian P2: its sequence is not conserved between zebrafish and mammals and is not regulated by the same transcription factors. Together, these data suggest that ZfP1 is orthologous to the mammalian P1 promoter, whereas zebrafish ZfP2 has no mammalian ortholog and does not function like ZfP1 to control Rev-erbα expression.

scholarly journals CR6-Interacting Factor 1 Interacts with Orphan Nuclear Receptor Nur77 and Inhibits Its Transactivation

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki Cheol Park ◽  
Kwang-Hoon Song ◽  
Hyo Kyun Chung ◽  
Ho Kim ◽  
Dong Wook Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Trichostatin A ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Orphan Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Trichostatin ◽  
Responsive Element

Abstract CR6-interacting factor 1 (CRIF1) was recently identified as a nuclear protein that interacts with the Gadd45 (growth arrest and DNA damage inducible 45) family of proteins and participates in the regulation of the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. However, the nuclear action of CRIF1 is largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that CRIF1 acts as a novel coregulator of transactivation of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77. Both in vitro and in vivo studies show that CRIF1 interacts with Nur77 via the Nur77 AB domain and that it dramatically inhibits the AB domain-mediated transactivation of Nur77. Transient transfection assays demonstrate that CRIF1 inhibits steroid receptor coactivator-2-mediated Nur77 transactivation, and silencing of endogenous CRIF1 by small interfering RNA relieves this repression. CRIF1 possesses intrinsic repressor activities that are not affected by the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A. In addition, overexpression of CRIF1 inhibits TSH/protein kinase A-induced Nur-responsive element promoter activity. CRIF1 inhibited Nur77-dependent induction of E2F1 promoter activity, mRNA expression, and Nur77-mediated G1/S progression in cell cycle. These results suggest that CRIF1 acts as a repressor of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 by inhibiting AB domain-mediated transcriptional activity.

scholarly journals Orphan Nuclear Receptor Nur77 Mediates Fasting-Induced Hepatic Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Expression

Endocrinology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (8) ◽  
pp. 2924-2931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ae-Kyung Min ◽  
Kwi-Hyun Bae ◽  
Yun-A Jung ◽  
Yeon-Kyung Choi ◽  
Mi-Jin Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Fibroblast Growth Factor ◽  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 ◽  
Orphan Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Fibroblast Growth ◽  
Cultured Hepatocytes ◽  
Fgf21 Expression

The fasting-induced hepatic hormone, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), is a potential candidate for the treatment of metabolic syndromes. Although peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α is known to play a major role in the induction of hepatic FGF21 expression, other fasting-induced transcription factors that induce FGF21 expression have not yet been fully studied. In the present study, we investigated whether the fasting-induced activation of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 increases hepatic FGF21 expression. We found that fasting induced hepatic Nur77 and FGF21 expression. Glucagon and forskolin increased Nur77 and FGF21 expression in vivo and in vitro, respectively, and adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Nur77 (Ad-Nur77) increased FGF21 expression in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, knockdown of endogenous Nur77 expression by siRNA-Nur77 abolished the effect of forskolin on FGF21 expression. The results of ChIP assays, EMSA, and mutagenesis analysis showed that Nur77 bound to the putative NBRE of the FGF21 promoter in cultured hepatocytes and fasting induced Nur77 binding to the FGF21 promoter in vivo. Knockdown of PPARα partially inhibited forskolin-induced FGF21 expression, suggesting PPARα involvement in glucagon-stimulated FGF21 expression. In addition, double knockdown of PPARα and Nur77 further diminished FGF21 expression in cultured hepatocytes. In conclusion, this study shows that Nur77 mediates fasting-induced hepatic FGF21 expression, and suggests an alternative mechanism via which hepatic FGF21 transcription is mediated under fasting conditions.

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