scholarly journals A Molecular Mechanism To Switch the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor from a Transcription Factor to an E3 Ubiquitin Ligase

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Luecke-Johansson ◽  
Michael Gralla ◽  
Helene Rundqvist ◽  
Jolene Caifeng Ho ◽  
Randall S. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽  
Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
E3 Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Mcf7 Cells ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon ◽  
Ligase Function ◽  
Dual Functions

ABSTRACT The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that is known as a mediator of toxic responses. Recently, it was shown that the AhR has dual functions. Besides being a transcription factor, it also possesses an intrinsic E3 ubiquitin ligase function that targets, e.g., the steroid receptors for proteasomal degradation. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular switch that determines whether the AhR acts as a transcription factor or an E3 ubiquitin ligase. To do this, we used the breast cancer cell line MCF7, which expresses a functional estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) signaling pathway. Our data suggest that aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) plays an important role in the modulation of the dual functions of the AhR. ARNT knockdown dramatically impaired the transcriptional activation properties of the ligand-activated AhR but did not affect its E3 ubiquitin ligase function. The availability of ARNT itself is modulated by another basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)–Per-ARNT-SIM (PAS) protein, the repressor of AhR function (AhRR). MCF7 cells overexpressing the AhRR showed lower ERα protein levels, reduced responsiveness to estradiol, and reduced growth rates. Importantly, when these cells were used to produce estrogen-dependent xenograft tumors in SCID mice, we also observed lower ERα protein levels and a reduced tumor mass, implying a tumor-suppressive-like function of the AhR in MCF7 xenograft tumors.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Activation of BRCA1 by Genistein In Vivo and Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells Linked to Antagonism toward Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donovan ◽  
Selmin ◽  
Doetschman ◽  
Romagnolo
Keyword(s):  
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Brca1 Gene ◽  
Cpg Methylation ◽  
Breast Cancers ◽  
Mcf7 Cells ◽  
Brca1 Protein ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) are the most aggressive and lethal breast cancers (BC). The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is often overexpressed in TNBC, and its activation results in the epigenetic silencing of BRCA1, which is a necessary factor for the transcriptional activation of estrogen receptor (ER)α. The dietary isoflavone genistein (GEN) modulates BRCA1 CpG methylation in BC cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of GEN on BRCA1 epigenetic regulation and AHR activity in vivo and TNBC cells. Mice were administered a control or GEN-enriched (4 and 10 ppm) diet from gestation through post-natal day 50. Mammary tissue was analyzed for changes in BRCA1 regulation and AhR activity. TNBC cells with constitutively hypermethylated BRCA1 (HCC38) and MCF7 cells were used. Protein levels and mRNA expression were measured by Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. BRCA1 promoter occupancy and CpG methylation were analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation and methylation-specific PCR, respectively. Cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. GEN administered in the diet dose-dependently decreased basal Brca1 methylation and AHR activity in the mammary gland of adult mice. HCC38 cells were found to overexpress constitutively active AHR in parallel with BRCA1 hypermethylation. The treatment of HCC38 cells with GEN upregulated BRCA1 protein levels, which was attributable to decreased CpG methylation and AHR binding at BRCA1 exon 1a. In MCF7 cells, GEN prevented the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-dependent localization of AHR at the BRCA1 gene. These effects were consistent with those elicited by control AHR antagonists galangin (GAL), CH-223191, and α-naphthoflavone. The pre-treatment with GEN sensitized HCC38 cells to the antiproliferative effects of 4-hydroxytamoxifen. We conclude that the dietary compound GEN may be effective for the prevention and reversal of AHR-dependent BRCA1 hypermethylation, and the restoration of ERα-mediated response, thus imparting the sensitivity of TNBC to antiestrogen therapy.

scholarly journals Expression, Localization, and Activity of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in the Human Placenta

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaïs Wakx ◽  
Margaux Nedder ◽  
Céline Tomkiewicz-Raulet ◽  
Jessica Dalmasso ◽  
Audrey Chissey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽  
Human Placenta ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Cell Fractionation ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon ◽  
Epithelial Barriers ◽  
Expression And Activity

The human placenta is an organ between the blood of the mother and the fetus, which is essential for fetal development. It also plays a role as a selective barrier against environmental pollutants that may bypass epithelial barriers and reach the placenta, with implications for the outcome of pregnancy. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is one of the most important environmental-sensor transcription factors and mediates the metabolism of a wide variety of xenobiotics. Nevertheless, the identification of dietary and endogenous ligands of AhR suggest that it may also fulfil physiological functions with which pollutants may interfere. Placental AhR expression and activity is largely unknown. We established the cartography of AhR expression at transcript and protein levels, its cellular distribution, and its transcriptional activity toward the expression of its main target genes. We studied the profile of AhR expression and activity during different pregnancy periods, during trophoblasts differentiation in vitro, and in a trophoblast cell line. Using diverse methods, such as cell fractionation and immunofluorescence microscopy, we found a constitutive nuclear localization of AhR in every placental model, in the absence of any voluntarily-added exogenous activator. Our data suggest an intrinsic activation of AhR due to the presence of endogenous placental ligands.

scholarly journals Inhibition of cIAP1 as a strategy for targeting c-MYC–driven oncogenic activity

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (40) ◽  
pp. E9317-E9324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoyan Li ◽  
Yanjia Fang ◽  
Chunyi Niu ◽  
Hengyi Cao ◽  
Ting Mi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
E3 Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
E3 Ligase ◽  
Pharmacological Agents ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Ubiquitin Ligase Activity ◽  
Molecule Inhibitor ◽  
Smac Mimetics ◽  
High Throughput Assay ◽  
In Cells

Protooncogenec-MYC, a master transcription factor, is a major driver of human tumorigenesis. Development of pharmacological agents for inhibiting c-MYC as an anticancer therapy has been a longstanding but elusive goal in the cancer field. E3 ubiquitin ligase cIAP1 has been shown to mediate the activation of c-MYC by destabilizing MAD1, a key antagonist of c-MYC. Here we developed a high-throughput assay for cIAP1 ubiquitination and identified D19, a small-molecule inhibitor of E3 ligase activity of cIAP1. We show that D19 binds to the RING domain of cIAP1 and inhibits the E3 ligase activity of cIAP1 by interfering with the dynamics of its interaction with E2. Blocking cIAP1 with D19 antagonizes c-MYC by stabilizing MAD1 protein in cells. Furthermore, we show that D19 and an improved analog (D19-14) promote c-MYC degradation and inhibit the oncogenic function of c-MYC in cells and xenograft animal models. In contrast, we show that activating E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of cIAP1 by Smac mimetics destabilizes MAD1, the antagonist of MYC, and increases the protein levels of c-MYC. Our study provides an interesting example using chemical biological approaches for determining distinct biological consequences from inhibiting vs. activating an E3 ubiquitin ligase and suggests a potential broad therapeutic strategy for targeting c-MYC in cancer treatment by pharmacologically modulating cIAP1 E3 ligase activity.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Can Trigger Hepatocyte Release of Extracellular Vesicles by Various Mechanisms of Action Depending on Their Affinity for the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

2019 ◽  
Vol 171 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nettie van Meteren ◽  
Dominique Lagadic-Gossmann ◽  
Martine Chevanne ◽  
Isabelle Gallais ◽  
Dimitri Gobart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Cell Membrane Fluidity

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed nanostructures released by cells into the extracellular environment. As major actors of physiological intercellular communication, they have been shown to be pathogenic mediators of several liver diseases. Extracellular vesicles also appear to be potential actors of drug-induced liver injury but nothing is known concerning environmental pollutants. We aimed to study the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), major contaminants, on hepatocyte-derived EV production, with a special focus on hepatocyte death. Three PAHs were selected, based on their presence in food and their affinity for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR): benzo[a]pyrene (BP), dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DBA), and pyrene (PYR). Treatment of primary rat and WIF-B9 hepatocytes by all 3 PAHs increased the release of EVs, mainly comprised of exosomes, in parallel with modifying exosome protein marker expression and inducing apoptosis. Moreover, PAH treatment of rodents for 3 months also led to increased EV levels in plasma. The EV release involved CYP metabolism and the activation of the transcription factor, the AhR, for BP and DBA and another transcription factor, the constitutive androstane receptor, for PYR. Furthermore, all PAHs increased cholesterol levels in EVs but only BP and DBA were able to reduce the cholesterol content of total cell membranes. All cholesterol changes very likely participated in the increase in EV release and cell death. Finally, we studied changes in cell membrane fluidity caused by BP and DBA due to cholesterol depletion. Our data showed increased cell membrane fluidity, which contributed to hepatocyte EV release and cell death.

scholarly journals Tryptophan Metabolism Activates Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Pathway To Promote HIV-1 Infection and Reactivation

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan-Heng Zhou ◽  
Li Sun ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Wei-Wei Sun ◽  
Li Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Hiv Pathogenesis ◽  
Downstream Target ◽  
Potential Target ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Multiple cellular metabolic pathways are altered by HIV-1 infection, with an impact on immune activation, inflammation, and acquisition of non-AIDS comorbid diseases. The dysfunction of tryptophan (Trp) metabolism has been observed clinically in association with accelerated HIV-1 pathogenesis, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, is activated by Trp metabolites to promote HIV-1 infection and reactivation. AHR directly binds to the HIV-1 5′ long terminal repeat (5′-LTR) at the molecular level to activate viral transcription and infection, and AHR activation by Trp metabolites increases its nuclear translocation and association with the HIV 5′-LTR; moreover, the binding of AHR with HIV-1 Tat facilitates the recruitment of positive transcription factors to viral promoters. These findings not only elucidate a previously unappreciated mechanism through which cellular Trp metabolites affect HIV pathogenesis but also suggest that a downstream target AHR may be a potential target for modulating HIV-1 infection. IMPORTANCE Cellular metabolic pathways that are altered by HIV-1 infection may accelerate disease progression. Dysfunction in tryptophan (Trp) metabolism has been observed clinically in association with accelerated HIV-1 pathogenesis, but the mechanism responsible was not known. This study demonstrates that Trp metabolites augment the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, to promote HIV-1 infection and transcription. These findings not only elucidate a previously unappreciated mechanism through which cellular Trp metabolites affect HIV pathogenesis but also suggest that a downstream target AHR may be a potential target for modulating HIV-1 infection.

scholarly journals Role of Mediator in Transcriptional Activation by the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

2004 ◽  
Vol 279 (14) ◽  
pp. 13593-13600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Wang ◽  
Kai Ge ◽  
Robert G. Roeder ◽  
Oliver Hankinson
Keyword(s):  
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon

Role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in modulation of the expression of the hypoxia marker carbonic anhydrase IX

2009 ◽  
Vol 419 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Takacova ◽  
Tereza Holotnakova ◽  
Jan Vondracek ◽  
Miroslav Machala ◽  
Katerina Pencikova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbonic Anhydrase ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Carbonic Anhydrase Ix ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Hypoxic Induction ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon ◽  
Ca Ix ◽  
Tcdd Treatment

Tumour-associated expression of CA IX (carbonic anhydrase IX) is to a major extent regulated by HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor-1) which is important for transcriptional activation and consists of the oxygen-regulated subunit HIF-1α and the partner factor ARNT [AhR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor) nuclear translocator]. We have previously observed that HIF-1α competes with the AhR for interaction with ARNT under conditions when both conditionally regulated factors are activated. We have therefore investigated whether TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin)-induced activation of the AhR pathway might interfere with CA IX expression. The results from the present study suggest that TCDD treatment reduces hypoxic induction of both CA IX mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, the transcriptional activity of the CA9 promoter was significantly reduced by expression of CAAhR (constitutively active AhR), which activates transcription in a ligand-independent manner. Finally, we found that ARNT is critical for both hypoxic induction and the TCDD-mediated inhibition of CA9 expression.

scholarly journals Down-Regulation of p23 in Normal Lung Epithelial Cells Reduces Toxicities From Exposure to Benzo[a]pyrene and Cigarette Smoke Condensate via an Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Dependent Mechanism

2018 ◽  
Vol 167 (1) ◽  
pp. 239-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinyun Chen ◽  
Poonam Yakkundi ◽  
William K Chan
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽  
Cigarette Smoke ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Normal Lung ◽  
Cigarette Smoke Condensate ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon ◽  
Lung Epithelial

Abstract The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated signaling molecule which controls tumor growth and metastasis, T cell differentiation, and liver development. Expression levels of this receptor protein is sensitive to the cellular p23 protein levels in immortalized cancer cell lines. As little as 30% reduction of the p23 cellular content can suppress the AHR function. Here we reported that down-regulation of the p23 protein content in normal, untransformed human bronchial/tracheal epithelial cells to 48% of its content also suppresses the AHR protein levels to 54% of its content. This p23-mediated suppression of AHR is responsible for the suppression of (1) the ligand-dependent induction of the cyp1a1 gene transcription; (2) the benzo[a]pyrene- or cigarette smoke condensate-induced CYP1A1 enzyme activity, and (3) the benzo[a]pyrene and cigarette smoke condensate-mediated production of reactive oxygen species. Reduction of the p23 content does not alter expression of oxidative stress genes and production of PGE2. Down regulation of p23 suppresses the AHR protein levels in two other untransformed cell types, namely human breast MCF-10A and mouse immune regulatory Tr1 cells. Collectively, down-regulation of p23 suppresses the AHR protein levels in normal and untransformed cells and can in principle protect our lung epithelial cells from AHR-dependent oxidative damage caused by exposure to agents from environment and cigarette smoking.

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