Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a neurodegenerative disease caused by extended CAG trinucleotide repeats in the androgen receptor gene,which encodes a ligand-dependent transcription facto r.The mutant androgen r...Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a neurodegenerative disease caused by extended CAG trinucleotide repeats in the androgen receptor gene,which encodes a ligand-dependent transcription facto r.The mutant androgen receptor protein,characterized by polyglutamine expansion,is prone to misfolding and forms aggregates in both the nucleus and cytoplasm in the brain in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patients.These aggregates alter protein-protein interactions and compromise transcriptional activity.In this study,we reported that in both cultured N2a cells and mouse brain,mutant androgen receptor with polyglutamine expansion causes reduced expression of mesencephalic astrocyte-de rived neurotrophic factor.Overexpressio n of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor amelio rated the neurotoxicity of mutant androgen receptor through the inhibition of mutant androgen receptor aggregation.Conversely.knocking down endogenous mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor in the mouse brain exacerbated neuronal damage and mutant androgen receptor aggregation.Our findings suggest that inhibition of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor expression by mutant androgen receptor is a potential mechanism underlying neurodegeneration in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.展开更多
AIM To identify neuron-selective androgen receptor(AR) signaling inhibitors, which could be useful in the treatment of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy(SBMA), or Kennedy's disease, a neuromuscular disorder in wh...AIM To identify neuron-selective androgen receptor(AR) signaling inhibitors, which could be useful in the treatment of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy(SBMA), or Kennedy's disease, a neuromuscular disorder in which deterioration of motor neurons leads to progressive muscle weakness. METHODS Cell lines representing prostate, kidney, neuron, adipose, and muscle tissue were developed that stably expressed the CFP-AR-YFP FRET reporter. We used these cells to screen a library of small molecules for cell typeselective AR inhibitors. Secondary screening in luciferase assays was used to identify the best cell-type specific AR inhibitors. The mechanism of action of a neuronselective AR inhibitor was examined in vitro using luciferase reporter assays, immunofluorescence microscopy, and immunoprecipitations. Rats were treated with the most potent compound and tissue-selective AR inhibition was examined using RT-q PCR of AR-regulated genes and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS We identified the thiazole class of antibiotics as com-pounds able to inhibit AR signaling in a neuronal cell line but not a muscle cell line. One of these antibiotics, thiostrepton is able to inhibit the activity of both wild type and polyglutamine expanded AR in neuronal GT1-7 cells with nanomolar potency. The thiazole antibiotics are known to inhibit FOXM1 activity and accordingly, a novel FOXM1 inhibitor FDI-6 also inhibited AR activity in a neuron-selective fashion. The selective inhibition of AR is likely indirect as the varied structures of these compounds would not suggest that they are competitive antagonists. Indeed, we found that FOXM1 expression correlates with cell-type selectivity, FOXM1 co-localizes with AR in the nucleus, and that sh RNA-mediated knock down of FOXM1 reduces AR activity and thiostrepton sensitivity in a neuronal cell line. Thiostrepton treatment reduces FOXM1 levels and the nuclear localization of beta-catenin, a known co-activator of both FOXM1 and AR, and reduces the association between beta-catenin and AR. Treatment of rats with thiostrepton demonstrated AR signaling inhibition in neurons, but not muscles. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that thiazole antibiotics, or other inhibitors of the AR-FOXM1 axis, can inhibit AR signaling selectively in motor neurons and may be useful in the treatment or prevention of SBMA symptoms.展开更多
目的定点改变突变雄激素受体(AR)的第651位丝氨酸,建立脊髓延髓肌肉萎缩症细胞模型,探究该位点不同磷酸化状况对致病AR蛋白核转位的影响。方法体外培养小鼠神经母细胞瘤Neuro 2a细胞系,以AR-65Q质粒作为模板,将AR-65Q第651位丝氨酸分别...目的定点改变突变雄激素受体(AR)的第651位丝氨酸,建立脊髓延髓肌肉萎缩症细胞模型,探究该位点不同磷酸化状况对致病AR蛋白核转位的影响。方法体外培养小鼠神经母细胞瘤Neuro 2a细胞系,以AR-65Q质粒作为模板,将AR-65Q第651位丝氨酸分别定点突变为丙氨酸和天冬氨酸,构建AR-65Q的去磷酸化S651A质粒和拟磷酸化S651D质粒,以及带绿色荧光蛋白的重组质粒EGFP AR-65Q、EGFP AR S651A和EGFP AR S651D。将上述质粒测序鉴定后转入细胞系,应用激光共聚焦显微镜观察不同磷酸化状况致病AR蛋白在胞内的分布,采用实时定量PCR验证磷酸化对致病AR m RNA水平的影响,用Western blot分析验证致病AR蛋白的胞质胞核分布情况以及稳定性。结果 (1)以AR-65Q质粒构建的致病AR蛋白第651位丝氨酸拟磷酸化AR S651D质粒和去磷酸化AR S651A质粒,相应的EGFP AR-65Q、EGFP AR S651D和EGFP AR S651A质粒测序正确;(2)第651位丝氨酸磷酸化可使致病AR蛋白在细胞核的聚集减少(P<0.05);(3)致病AR蛋白第651位丝氨酸磷酸化不影响致病AR m RNA表达水平(P>0.05)和蛋白表达水平(P>0.05)。结论致病AR蛋白第651位丝氨酸的磷酸化可以减少致病AR蛋白在细胞核内聚集,调控该位点磷酸化有望成为治疗脊髓延髓肌肉萎缩症的药物新靶点。展开更多
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China,No.2021YFA0805200(to SY)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31970954(to SY)two grants from the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province,Nos.2021ZT09Y007,2020B121201006(both to XJL)。
文摘Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a neurodegenerative disease caused by extended CAG trinucleotide repeats in the androgen receptor gene,which encodes a ligand-dependent transcription facto r.The mutant androgen receptor protein,characterized by polyglutamine expansion,is prone to misfolding and forms aggregates in both the nucleus and cytoplasm in the brain in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patients.These aggregates alter protein-protein interactions and compromise transcriptional activity.In this study,we reported that in both cultured N2a cells and mouse brain,mutant androgen receptor with polyglutamine expansion causes reduced expression of mesencephalic astrocyte-de rived neurotrophic factor.Overexpressio n of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor amelio rated the neurotoxicity of mutant androgen receptor through the inhibition of mutant androgen receptor aggregation.Conversely.knocking down endogenous mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor in the mouse brain exacerbated neuronal damage and mutant androgen receptor aggregation.Our findings suggest that inhibition of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor expression by mutant androgen receptor is a potential mechanism underlying neurodegeneration in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.
基金Supported by National High Technology Research and Development of China(863 Program,No.2012AA020505 2012-2016)Major State Basic Research Development Program of China(973 Program,No.2011CB510200 2011-2015No.2011CB7077002011-2015)~~
文摘AIM To identify neuron-selective androgen receptor(AR) signaling inhibitors, which could be useful in the treatment of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy(SBMA), or Kennedy's disease, a neuromuscular disorder in which deterioration of motor neurons leads to progressive muscle weakness. METHODS Cell lines representing prostate, kidney, neuron, adipose, and muscle tissue were developed that stably expressed the CFP-AR-YFP FRET reporter. We used these cells to screen a library of small molecules for cell typeselective AR inhibitors. Secondary screening in luciferase assays was used to identify the best cell-type specific AR inhibitors. The mechanism of action of a neuronselective AR inhibitor was examined in vitro using luciferase reporter assays, immunofluorescence microscopy, and immunoprecipitations. Rats were treated with the most potent compound and tissue-selective AR inhibition was examined using RT-q PCR of AR-regulated genes and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS We identified the thiazole class of antibiotics as com-pounds able to inhibit AR signaling in a neuronal cell line but not a muscle cell line. One of these antibiotics, thiostrepton is able to inhibit the activity of both wild type and polyglutamine expanded AR in neuronal GT1-7 cells with nanomolar potency. The thiazole antibiotics are known to inhibit FOXM1 activity and accordingly, a novel FOXM1 inhibitor FDI-6 also inhibited AR activity in a neuron-selective fashion. The selective inhibition of AR is likely indirect as the varied structures of these compounds would not suggest that they are competitive antagonists. Indeed, we found that FOXM1 expression correlates with cell-type selectivity, FOXM1 co-localizes with AR in the nucleus, and that sh RNA-mediated knock down of FOXM1 reduces AR activity and thiostrepton sensitivity in a neuronal cell line. Thiostrepton treatment reduces FOXM1 levels and the nuclear localization of beta-catenin, a known co-activator of both FOXM1 and AR, and reduces the association between beta-catenin and AR. Treatment of rats with thiostrepton demonstrated AR signaling inhibition in neurons, but not muscles. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that thiazole antibiotics, or other inhibitors of the AR-FOXM1 axis, can inhibit AR signaling selectively in motor neurons and may be useful in the treatment or prevention of SBMA symptoms.
文摘目的定点改变突变雄激素受体(AR)的第651位丝氨酸,建立脊髓延髓肌肉萎缩症细胞模型,探究该位点不同磷酸化状况对致病AR蛋白核转位的影响。方法体外培养小鼠神经母细胞瘤Neuro 2a细胞系,以AR-65Q质粒作为模板,将AR-65Q第651位丝氨酸分别定点突变为丙氨酸和天冬氨酸,构建AR-65Q的去磷酸化S651A质粒和拟磷酸化S651D质粒,以及带绿色荧光蛋白的重组质粒EGFP AR-65Q、EGFP AR S651A和EGFP AR S651D。将上述质粒测序鉴定后转入细胞系,应用激光共聚焦显微镜观察不同磷酸化状况致病AR蛋白在胞内的分布,采用实时定量PCR验证磷酸化对致病AR m RNA水平的影响,用Western blot分析验证致病AR蛋白的胞质胞核分布情况以及稳定性。结果 (1)以AR-65Q质粒构建的致病AR蛋白第651位丝氨酸拟磷酸化AR S651D质粒和去磷酸化AR S651A质粒,相应的EGFP AR-65Q、EGFP AR S651D和EGFP AR S651A质粒测序正确;(2)第651位丝氨酸磷酸化可使致病AR蛋白在细胞核的聚集减少(P<0.05);(3)致病AR蛋白第651位丝氨酸磷酸化不影响致病AR m RNA表达水平(P>0.05)和蛋白表达水平(P>0.05)。结论致病AR蛋白第651位丝氨酸的磷酸化可以减少致病AR蛋白在细胞核内聚集,调控该位点磷酸化有望成为治疗脊髓延髓肌肉萎缩症的药物新靶点。
