We examined the effects of gut microbial catabolites of tryptophan on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Using a reporter gene assay, we show that all studied catabolites are low-potency agonists of human AhR. The efficacy of catabolites differed substantially, comprising agonists with no or low (i3-propionate, i3-acetate, i3-lactate, i3-aldehyde), medium (i3-ethanol, i3-acrylate, skatole, tryptamine), and high (indole, i3-acetamide, i3-pyruvate) efficacies. We displayed ligand-selective antagonist activities by i3-pyruvate, i3-aldehyde, indole, skatole, and tryptamine. Ligand binding assay identified low affinity (skatole, i3-pyruvate, and i3-acetamide) and very low affinity (i3-acrylate, i3-ethanol, indole) ligands of the murine AhR. Indole, skatole, tryptamine, i3-pyruvate, i3-acrylate, and i3-acetamide induced CYP1A1 mRNA in intestinal LS180 and HT-29 cells, but not in the AhR-knockout HT-29 variant. We observed a similar CYP1A1 induction pattern in primary human hepatocytes. The most AhR-active catabolites (indole, skatole, tryptamine, i3-pyruvate, i3-acrylate, i3-acetamide) elicited nuclear translocation of the AhR, followed by a formation of AhR-ARNT heterodimer and enhanced binding of the AhR to the CYP1A1 gene promoter. Collectively, we comprehensively characterized the interactions of gut microbial tryptophan catabolites with the AhR, which may expand the current understanding of their potential roles in intestinal health and disease.

• MeSH
• cytochrom P-450 CYP1A1 genetika   MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• indoly MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• metabolické sítě a dráhy MeSH
• multimerizace proteinu MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• promotorové oblasti (genetika) MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků agonisté   metabolismus   MeSH
• reportérové geny MeSH
• střevní mikroflóra * účinky léků   MeSH
• transkripční faktory bHLH agonisté   metabolismus   MeSH
• tryptofan metabolismus   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The human PXR (pregnane X receptor), a master regulator of drug metabolism, has essential roles in intestinal homeostasis and abrogating inflammation. Existing PXR ligands have substantial off-target toxicity. Based on prior work that established microbial (indole) metabolites as PXR ligands, we proposed microbial metabolite mimicry as a novel strategy for drug discovery that allows exploiting previously unexplored parts of chemical space. Here, we report functionalized indole derivatives as first-in-class non-cytotoxic PXR agonists as a proof of concept for microbial metabolite mimicry. The lead compound, FKK6 (Felix Kopp Kortagere 6), binds directly to PXR protein in solution, induces PXR-specific target gene expression in cells, human organoids, and mice. FKK6 significantly represses pro-inflammatory cytokine production cells and abrogates inflammation in mice expressing the human PXR gene. The development of FKK6 demonstrates for the first time that microbial metabolite mimicry is a viable strategy for drug discovery and opens the door to underexploited regions of chemical space.

• MeSH
• cytokiny MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• molekulární mimikry * MeSH
• myši MeSH
• organoidy MeSH
• pregnanový X receptor chemie   MeSH
• střeva MeSH
• zánět MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH

Mono-methylindoles (MMI) were described as agonists and/or antagonists of the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Here, we investigated the effects of MMI on AhR-CYP1A pathway in human hepatocytes and HepaRG cells derived from human progenitor hepatic cells. All MMI, except of 2-methylindole, strongly induced CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 mRNAs in HepaRG cells. Induction of CYP1A genes was absent in AhR-knock-out HepaRG cells. Consistently, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 mRNAs and proteins were induced by all MMIs (except 2-methylindole), in human hepatocytes. The enzyme activity of CYP1A1 was inhibited by MMIs in human hepatocytes and LS180 colon cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 values from 1.2 μM to 23.8 μM and from 3.4 μM to 11.4 μM, respectively). Inhibition of CYP1A1 activity by MMI in human liver microsomes was much weaker as compared to that in intact cells. Incubation of parental MMI with human hepatocytes either diminished (4-methylindole, 6-methylindole) or enhanced (7-methylindole) their agonist effects on AhR in AZ-AHR reporter cells. In conclusion, overall effects of MMI on AhR-CYP1A pathway in human cells comprise the induction of CYP1A genes through AhR, the inhibition of CYP1A catalytic activity and possibly the metabolic transformation causing loss or gain of AhR agonist activity of parental compounds.

• MeSH
• cytochrom P-450 CYP1A1 antagonisté a inhibitory   biosyntéza   genetika   MeSH
• enzymová indukce MeSH
• hepatocyty účinky léků   enzymologie   MeSH
• indoly farmakologie   MeSH
• induktory cytochromu P450 farmakologie   MeSH
• inhibitory cytochromu P450 farmakologie   MeSH
• jaterní mikrozomy účinky léků   enzymologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory tračníku enzymologie   MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků agonisté   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• transkripční faktory bHLH agonisté   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH