Alternate glucocorticoid receptor ligand binding structures influence outcomes in an in vivo tissue regeneration model.

TitleAlternate glucocorticoid receptor ligand binding structures influence outcomes in an in vivo tissue regeneration model.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsSengupta, S, Bisson, WH, Mathew, LK, Kolluri, SK, Tanguay, RL
JournalComp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol
Volume156
Issue2
Pagination121-9
Date Published2012 Aug
ISSN1532-0456
KeywordsAmino Acid Sequence, Animals, Beclomethasone, Databases, Protein, Dexamethasone, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Ligands, Models, Animal, Molecular Conformation, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Molecular Structure, Protein Binding, Receptors, Glucocorticoid, Regeneration, Sequence Alignment, Structure-Activity Relationship, Zebrafish
Abstract

Since their characterization, glucocorticoids (GCs), the most commonly prescribed immunomodulatory drugs, have undergone numerous structural modifications designed to enhance their activity. In vivo assessment of these corticosteroid analogs is essential to understand the difference in molecular signaling of the ligands that share the corticosteroid backbone. Our research identified a novel function of GCs as modulators of tissue regeneration and demonstrated that GCs activate the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to inhibit early stages of tissue regeneration in zebrafish (Danio rerio). We utilized this phenomenon to assess the effect of different GC analogs on tissue regeneration and identified that some GCs such as beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) possess inhibitory properties, while others, such as dexamethasone and hydrocortisone have no effect on regeneration. We performed in silico molecular docking and dynamic studies and demonstrated that type and size of substitution at the C17 position of the cortisol backbone confer a unique stable conformation to GR on ligand binding that is critical for inhibitory activity. In the field of tissue regeneration, our study is one of the first Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) investigations performed in vertebrates demonstrating that the in vivo tissue regeneration model is a powerful tool to probe structure function relationships, to understand regenerative biology, and to assist in rational drug design.

DOI10.1016/j.cbpc.2012.05.003
Alternate JournalComp. Biochem. Physiol. C Toxicol. Pharmacol.
PubMed ID22634227
PubMed Central IDPMC3758230
Grant ListP30 ES000210 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
R01 ES010820 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P30 ES00210 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
R01 ES10820 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States