Biomedical subjects

Xiaohu Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Xiaohu Zhang.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Disruption of estrogen receptor DNA-binding domain and related intramolecular communication restores tamoxifen sensitivity in resistant breast cancer.

A serious obstacle to successful treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive human breast cancer is cell resistance to tamoxifen (TAM) therapy. Here we show that the electrophile disulfide benzamide (DIBA), an ER zinc finger inhibitor, blocks ligand-dependent and -independent cell growth of TAM-resistant breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Such inhibition depends on targeting disruption of the ER DNA-binding domain and its communication with neighboring functional domains, facilitating ERalpha dissociation from its coactivator AIB1 and concomitant association with its corepressor NCoR bound to chromatin. DIBA does not affect phosphorylation of HER2, MAPK, AKT, and AIB1, suggesting that DIBA-modified ERalpha may induce a switch from agonistic to antagonistic effects of TAM on resistant breast cancer cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Design and synthesis of tricyclic imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones as corticotropin-releasing factor-1 antagonists.

The synthesis and SAR studies of tricyclic imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones as human corticotropin-releasing factor receptor (CRF(1)) antagonists are discussed herein. Compound 16g was identified as a functional antagonist that inhibited CRF-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate production and CRF-induced adrenocorticotrophic hormone release. Pharmacokinetics studies in rats showed that 16g was orally bioavailable, had good brain penetration, and had a moderate half-life. In our effort to identify CRF(1) antagonists with improved pharmacokinetics properties, 16g exhibited a favorably lower volume of distribution.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2005

Potent, orally active corticotropin-releasing factor receptor-1 antagonists containing a tricyclic pyrrolopyridine or pyrazolopyridine core.

Two new classes of tricyclic-based corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF(1)) receptor-1 antagonists were designed by constraining known 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine and 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine ligands. Pyrrole- and pyrazole-based molecules 19g and 22a, respectively, were discovered that potently bind the recombinant CRF(1) receptor (K(i) = 3.5, 2.9 nM) and inhibit adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release from rat pituitary cell culture (IC(50) = 14, 6.8 nM). These compounds show good oral bioavailabity (F = 24%, 7.0%) and serum half-lives in rats (t(1/2) = 6.3, 12 h) and penetrate the rat brain ([brain]/[plasma] = 0.27, 0.52) but tend toward large volumes of distribution (V(D) = 38, 44 L kg(-1)) and rapid clearances (CL = 70, 43 mL min(-1) kg(-1)). When given orally, both the pyrazole and the pyrrole leads dose-dependently inhibit stress-induced ACTH release in vivo. ACTH reductions of 84-86% were observed for 30 mg kg(-1) doses.

Acenaphthenes↗

PubMed2005

Nuclear receptors as negative modulators of STAT3 in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains largely incurable despite conventional and high-dose therapies. Therefore, novel biologically based treatment approaches are urgently required. Particularly, STAT3 activated by IL-6 has a key role in preventing apoptosis and stimulating growth of multiple myeloma cells. Nuclear receptors, a distinct class of ligand-activated transcriptional factors, can interact and modify the function of transcriptional factors intrinsic to the cytokine signal transduction pathways. We have investigated regulation of two nuclear receptors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) and estrogen receptor (ER), and their crosstalk with STAT3 in multiple myeloma. These results indicate that ligand-activated nuclear receptors can function as negative modulators of STAT3 through direct mechanisms, or in turn, by facilitating coregulators such as PIAS or SMRT. Therefore, different classes of nuclear receptors affect suppression of STAT3 functions through diverse mechanisms resulting in downregulating IL-6-mediated cell growth and gene expression. Given the importance of IL-6 in multiple myeloma, the estrogen receptor-STAT3 or PPARgamma-STAT3 interaction may have significant therapeutic implications in multiple myeloma.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Co-operative functions between nuclear factors NFkappaB and CCAT/enhancer-binding protein-beta (C/EBP-beta) regulate the IL-6 promoter in autocrine human prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: IL-6 is a growth and survival factor for prostate cancer cells through autocrine pathways. Here, we have systematically examined the transcriptional regulation mechanisms of IL-6 in autocrine prostate cancer cells. METHODS: RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining were used to determine IL-6 production in the cells. Serial mutant IL-6 promoter luciferase reporters were generated and their transcriptional activities were examined. The transcription factors involved in IL-6 regulation were identified with super-shift EMSA. Overexpression of NFkappaB p65 and C/EBP-beta, and blockade of NFkappaB with IkappaBalpha or CAPE were performed to demonstrate the cooperation between NFkappaB p65 and C/EBP-beta in activation of IL-6. RESULTS: Transcription factor regulatory sites IL6-NFkappaB, IL6-C/EBP, IL6-CREB, and IL6-AP1, are responsive to constitutively activated IL-6 production in autocrine prostate cancer cell lines. Among these sites, IL6-AP1 and IL6-C/EBP appear most important, while IL6-NFkappaB shows the least effect for IL-6 promoter activity as determined by mutant IL-6 promoter luciferase reporter assay. Nevertheless, nuclear factor NFkappaB is activated and required. Such activation is minimally dependent upon the IL6-NFkappaB site, occurring through cooperation with other transcription factors that bind the IL-6 promoter. Cooperation between NFkappaB p65 and C/EBP-beta did not require a functional IL6-NFkappaB binding site. CONCLUSIONS: These data support a unique role for NFkappaB p65 as the primary trigger in autocrine production of IL-6 in prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, we describe a novel transcriptional activation mechanism for NFkappaB that is independent of its regulatory binding site, occurring through cooperation with other transcription factors that facilitate the neighboring regulatory site.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2004

NF-kappaB activates IL-6 expression through cooperation with c-Jun and IL6-AP1 site, but is independent of its IL6-NFkappaB regulatory site in autocrine human multiple myeloma cells.

IL-6 stimulates the growth and survival of a variety of tumors. In multiple myeloma (MM), IL-6 prevents spontaneous, drug-induced, and Fas-induced apoptosis. The sources of IL-6 in multiple myeloma appear to be both autocrine and paracrine in nature, with autocrine MM cells exhibiting a constitutively activated expression of the cytokine. Here we present a systematic analysis of the functional roles of the four major transcriptional regulatory sites present in the IL-6 promoter region, IL6-NFkappaB, IL6-C/EBP, IL6-CREB and IL6-AP1. Among these regulatory sites, IL6-AP1 is the most important cis-regulatory site, and plays a vital role in the constitutive expression of IL-6 in IM9 cells. Conversely, the IL6-CREB site, when bound by the transcription factor CREB, exhibits a repression of IL-6 autocrine expression, a result of possible steric hinderence of C/EBP-beta, due to the close proximity and site overlap between the IL6-C/EBP and IL6-CREB sites. Uniquely, although the presence of NF-kappaB protein is fundamental for constitutive expression of IL-6, a functional NF-kappaB site on the IL-6 promoter region is not required. The mechanism of NF-kappaB activation of IL-6 appears to occur through the cooperation with c-Jun protein, that constitutively occupies the IL6-AP1 site, and this indicates a novel transcriptional mechanism for NF-kappaB in the activation of NF-kappaB-driven genes.

CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta↗

PubMed2004

Analytical method for camera calibration from a single image with four coplanar control lines.

An analytical method to calibrate a camera's extrinsic parameters and effective focal lengths is presented. We used a single image with four coplanar control lines. Unique solutions of the camera's extrinsic parameters and the two effective focal lengths are derived linearly and analytically. If the effective focal lengths are known, unique solutions of the extrinsic parameters can be derived more easily. Our method can easily be implemented and has better precision than the analogous method by use of control points. The results of simulated experiments are presented.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Transcriptional inactivation of STAT3 by PPARgamma suppresses IL-6-responsive multiple myeloma cells.

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains largely incurable despite conventional and high-dose therapies. Therefore, novel biologically based treatment approaches are urgently required. Here we demonstrate that expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) in MM cells and its agonists 15-d-PGJ2 and troglitazone completely abolished IL-6-inducible MM cell proliferation and induced apoptosis through affecting expression of multiple cell cycle or apoptosis genes, whereas PPARgamma antagonist GW9662 and PPARalpha agonist WY14643 did not display this inhibitory effect. These PPARgamma agonists significantly inhibited DNA binding and transactivation of STAT3 bound to the promoter of target genes in chromatin, but did not affect the expression of IL-6 receptor and phosphorylation of JAK/STAT3, MAPK, and PI3K/Akt. Interestingly, although inactivation of STAT3 by PPARgamma agonists is in a PPARgamma-dependent manner, the molecular mechanism by which two structurally distinct PPARgamma agonists suppress IL-6-activated STAT3 shows the divergent interactions between PPARgamma and STAT3 including direct or SMRT-mediated association.

Anilides↗

PubMed2004

Transcriptional crosstalk between nuclear receptors and cytokine signal transduction pathways in immunity.

The nuclear receptor superfamily and the transcriptional factors associated with cytokines are inherently different families of signaling molecules and activate gene transcription by binding to their respective responsive element. However, it has become increasingly clear from our works and others that nuclear receptors are important regulators of cytokine production and function through complex and varied interactions between these distinct transcriptional factors. This review provides a general overview of the mechanism of action of nuclear receptors and their transcriptional crosstalk with transcriptional factors associated with cytokine transduction pathways. One of the most important mechanistic aspects is protein to protein interaction through a direct or co-regulator-mediated indirect manner. Such crosstalk is crucially involved in physiological and therapeutic roles of nuclear receptors and their ligands in immunity, inflammation and cytokine-related tumors.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Suppression of breast cancer by chemical modulation of vulnerable zinc fingers in estrogen receptor.

Current antiestrogen therapy for breast cancer is limited by the mixed estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity of selective estrogen receptor modulators. Here we show that the function of zinc fingers in the estrogen receptor DNA-binding domain (DBD) is susceptible to chemical inhibition by electrophilic disulfide benzamide and benzisothiazolone derivatives, which selectively block binding of the estrogen receptor to its responsive element and subsequent transcription. These compounds also significantly inhibit estrogen-stimulated cell proliferation, markedly reduce tumor mass in nude mice bearing human MCF-7 breast cancer xenografts, and interfere with cell-cycle and apoptosis regulatory gene expression. Functional assays and computational analysis support a molecular mechanism whereby electrophilic agents preferentially disrupt the vulnerable C-terminal zinc finger, thus suppressing estrogen receptor-mediated breast carcinoma progression. Our results provide the proof of principle for a new strategy to inhibit breast cancer at the level of DNA binding, rather than the classical antagonism of estrogen binding.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

PubMed2003

The cis decoy against the estrogen response element suppresses breast cancer cells via target disrupting c-fos not mitogen-activated protein kinase activity.

Breast cancer, the most common malignancy in women, has been demonstrated to be associated with the steroid hormone estrogen and its receptor (ER), a ligand-activated transcription factor. Therefore, we developed a phosphorothiolate cis-element decoy against the estrogen response element (ERE decoy) to target disruption of ER DNA binding and transcriptional activity. Here, we showed that the ERE decoy potently ablated the 17beta-estrogen-inducible cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of human breast carcinoma cells by functionally affecting expression of c-fos gene and AP-1 luciferase gene reporter activity. Specificity of the decoy was demonstrated by its ability to directly block ER binding to a cis-element probe and transactivation. Moreover, the decoy failed to inhibit ER-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways and cell growth of ER-negative breast cancer cells. Taken together, these data suggest that estrogen-mediated cell growth of breast cancer cells can be preferentially restricted via targeted disruption of ER at the level of DNA binding by a novel and specific decoy strategy applied to steroid nuclear receptors.

Apoptosis↗