scholarly journals Identification and Characterization of Cannabimovone, a Cannabinoid from Cannabis sativa, as a Novel PPARγ Agonist via a Combined Computational and Functional Study

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Arturo Iannotti ◽  
Fabrizia De Maio ◽  
Elisabetta Panza ◽  
Giovanni Appendino ◽  
Orazio Taglialatela-Scafati ◽  
...  

Phytocannabinoids (pCBs) are a large family of meroterpenoids isolated from the plant Cannabis sativa. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the best investigated phytocannabinoids due to their relative abundance and interesting bioactivity profiles. In addition to various targets, THC and CBD are also well-known agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a nuclear receptor involved in energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism. In the search of new pCBs potentially acting as PPARγ agonists, we identified cannabimovone (CBM), a structurally unique abeo-menthane pCB, as a novel PPARγ modulator via a combined computational and experimental approach. The ability of CBM to act as dual PPARγ/α agonist was also evaluated. Computational studies suggested a different binding mode toward the two isoforms, with the compound able to recapitulate the pattern of H-bonds of a canonical agonist only in the case of PPARγ. Luciferase assays confirmed the computational results, showing a selective activation of PPARγ by CBM in the low micromolar range. CBM promoted the expression of PPARγ target genes regulating the adipocyte differentiation and prevented palmitate-induced insulin signaling impairment. Altogether, these results candidate CBM as a novel bioactive compound potentially useful for the treatment of insulin resistance-related disorders.

Author(s):  
Sharon Ann Barretto ◽  
Frederic Lasserre ◽  
Anne Fougerat ◽  
Lorraine Smith ◽  
Tiffany Fougeray ◽  
...  

The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is the main nuclear receptor regulating the expression of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and is highly expressed in the liver and intestine. Recent studies have highlighted its additional role in lipid homeostasis, however, the mechanisms of these regulations are not fully elucidated. We investigated the transcriptomic signature of PXR activation in the liver of adult wild-type vs Pxr-/- C57Bl6/J male mice treated with the rodent specific ligand pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile (PCN). PXR activation increased liver triglyceride accumulation and significantly regulated the expression of 1215 genes mostly xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes. Among the down-regulated genes, we identified a strong peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) signature. Comparison of this signature with a list of fasting-induced PPARα target genes confirmed that PXR activation decreased the expression of more than 25 PPARα target genes, among which the hepatokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (Fgf21). PXR activation abolished plasmatic levels of FGF21. We provide a comprehensive signature of PXR activation in the liver and identify new PXR target genes that might be involved in the steatogenic effect of PXR. Moreover, we show that PXR activation down-regulates hepatic PPARα activity and FGF21 circulation, which could participate in the pleiotropic role of PXR in energy homeostasis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 3767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Ann Barretto ◽  
Frédéric Lasserre ◽  
Anne Fougerat ◽  
Lorraine Smith ◽  
Tiffany Fougeray ◽  
...  

The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is the main nuclear receptor regulating the expression of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and is highly expressed in the liver and intestine. Recent studies have highlighted its additional role in lipid homeostasis, however, the mechanisms of these regulations are not fully elucidated. We investigated the transcriptomic signature of PXR activation in the liver of adult wild-type vs. Pxr-/- C57Bl6/J male mice treated with the rodent specific ligand pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile (PCN). PXR activation increased liver triglyceride accumulation and significantly regulated the expression of 1215 genes, mostly xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. Among the down-regulated genes, we identified a strong peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) signature. Comparison of this signature with a list of fasting-induced PPARα target genes confirmed that PXR activation decreased the expression of more than 25 PPARα target genes, among which was the hepatokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (Fgf21). PXR activation abolished plasmatic levels of FGF21. We provide a comprehensive signature of PXR activation in the liver and identify new PXR target genes that might be involved in the steatogenic effect of PXR. Moreover, we show that PXR activation down-regulates hepatic PPARα activity and FGF21 circulation, which could participate in the pleiotropic role of PXR in energy homeostasis.


PPAR Research ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Rakhshandehroo ◽  
Bianca Knoch ◽  
Michael Müller ◽  
Sander Kersten

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is a ligand-activated transcription factor involved in the regulation of a variety of processes, ranging from inflammation and immunity to nutrient metabolism and energy homeostasis. PPARαserves as a molecular target for hypolipidemic fibrates drugs which bind the receptor with high affinity. Furthermore, PPARαbinds and is activated by numerous fatty acids and fatty acid-derived compounds. PPARαgoverns biological processes by altering the expression of a large number of target genes. Accordingly, the specific role of PPARαis directly related to the biological function of its target genes. Here, we present an overview of the involvement of PPARαin lipid metabolism and other pathways through a detailed analysis of the different known or putative PPARαtarget genes. The emphasis is on gene regulation by PPARαin liver although many of the results likely apply to other organs and tissues as well.


Endocrinology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (9) ◽  
pp. 4287-4294 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Muhlhausler ◽  
J. L. Morrison ◽  
I. C. McMillen

Abstract Exposure to maternal overnutrition increases the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) in adipose tissue before birth, and it has been proposed that the precocial activation of PPARγ target genes may lead to increased fat deposition in postnatal life. In this study, we determined the effect of intrafetal administration of a PPARγ agonist, rosiglitazone, on PPARγ target gene expression in fetal adipose tissue as well indirect actions of rosiglitazone on fetal liver and skeletal muscle. Osmotic pumps containing rosiglitazone (n = 7) or vehicle (15% ethanol, n = 7) were implanted into fetuses at 123–126 d gestation (term = 150 ± 3 d gestation). At 137–141 d gestation, tissues were collected and mRNA expression of PPARγ, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), adiponectin, and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH) in adipose tissue, PPARα and PPARγ-coactivator 1α (PGC1α) in liver and muscle and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in liver determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Plasma insulin concentrations were lower in rosiglitazone-treated fetuses (P < 0.02). Rosiglitazone treatment resulted in increased expression of LPL and adiponectin mRNA (P < 0.01) in fetal adipose tissue. The expression of PPARα mRNA in liver (P < 0.05) and PGC1α mRNA (P < 0.02) in skeletal muscle were also increased by rosiglitazone treatment. Rosiglitazone treatment increased expression of PPARγ target genes within fetal adipose tissue and also had direct or indirect actions on the fetal liver and muscle. The effects of activating PPARγ in fetal adipose tissue mimic those induced by prenatal overnutrition, and it is therefore possible that activation of PPARγ may be the initiating mechanism in the pathway from prenatal overnutrition to postnatal obesity.


2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry L. Keen ◽  
Michael J. Ryan ◽  
Andreas Beyer ◽  
Satya Mathur ◽  
Todd E. Scheetz ◽  
...  

Diminished activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) may play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and vascular dysfunction. To better understand what genes are regulated by PPARγ, an experimental data set was generated by microarray analysis, in duplicate, of pooled aortic mRNA isolated from mice treated for 21 days with a PPARγ agonist (rosiglitazone) or vehicle. Of the 12,488 probe sets present on the array (Affymetrix MG-U74Av2), 181 were differentially expressed between groups according to a statistical metric generated using Affymetrix software. A significant correlation was observed between the microarray results and real-time RT-PCR analysis of 39 of these genes. Cluster analysis revealed 3 expression patterns, 29 transcripts of moderate abundance that were decreased (−93%) to very low levels, 106 transcripts that were downregulated (−42%), and 46 transcripts that were upregulated (+70%). Functional groups that were decreased included inflammatory response (−93%, n = 6), immune response (−86%, n = 7), and cytokines (−82%, n = 7). There was an overall upregulation in the oxidoreductase activity group (+47%, n = 9). Individually, six transcripts in this group were increased (+72%), and three were decreased (−34%). Fourteen of the genes map to regions in the rat genome that have been linked to increased blood pressure, and of 142 upstream regions analyzed, sequences resembling the DNA binding site for PPARγ were identified in 101 of the differentially expressed genes.


Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 3195-3203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qinqiang Long ◽  
Ting Lei ◽  
Bin Feng ◽  
Changjun Yin ◽  
Dan Jin ◽  
...  

Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, is a versatile player involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Within adipocytes, adiponectin is retained in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by binding to the thiol protein ER resident protein 44 kDa (ERp44), which is apparently regulated by the activation of nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ. However, the precise role of ERp44 in adiponectin secretion remains elusive. In the present study, we investigated the functional correlation between ERp44 and adiponectin in a pig model. The transcription of porcine ERp44 was regulated by PPARγ, which was consistent with the finding of putative peroxisome proliferator response element sites within ERp44 promoter. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays, we demonstrated that the transcription of porcine ERp44 is repressed through binding of PPARγ to a peroxisome proliferator response element site located between positions −981 and −1004 in its 5′-flanking region. In human embryonic kidney 293 cells stably transfected with cDNA encoding porcine adiponectin, the secretion of adiponectin was significantly up-regulated and the ERp44 mRNA was down-regulated observably, by either the treatment of PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone or the overexpression of PPARγ in these cells. Taken together, our results indicated that PPARγ is an essential regulatory factor for the transcriptional activity of ERp44, which in turn controls the secretion of adiponectin.


Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 154 (2) ◽  
pp. 698-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Mikkonen ◽  
Johanna Hirvonen ◽  
Olli A. Jänne

Properly functioning adipose tissue is essential for normal insulin sensitivity of the body. When mice are kept on high-fat diet (HFD), adipose tissue expands, adipocytes increase in size and number, and the mice become obese. Many of these changes are mediated by the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), the activity of which is regulated by multiple posttranslational modifications, including SUMOylation. To address the role of small ubiquitin-like modifier-1 (SUMO-1) in PPARγ function in vivo, particularly in fat cell biology, we subjected Sumo1-knockout mice to HFD. Sumo1-null mice gained less weight and had smaller and fewer adipocytes in their gonadal fat tissue on HFD, but their glucose tolerance was similar to that of wild-type littermates. Adipogenesis was impaired in Sumo1-null cells, and expression of PPARγ target genes was attenuated. In addition, both Sumo1-null cells and Sumo1-null mice responded less efficiently to rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist. These findings indicate that SUMO-1 is important also for transcriptional activation by the PPARγ signaling pathway and not only for trans-repressive functions of PPARγ as previously reported.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Liu ◽  
Tingting Feng ◽  
Ningyu Zhu ◽  
Peng Liu ◽  
Xiaowan Han ◽  
...  

Abstract Nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) plays an important role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism. However, current PPARγ-targeting drugs such as thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are associated with undesirable side effects. We identified a small molecular compound, F12016, as a selective PPARγ agonist by virtual screening, which showed moderate PPARγ agonistic activity and binding ability for PPARγ. F12016 did not activate other PPAR subtypes at 30 μM and selectively modulated PPARγ target gene expression. In diabetic KKAy mice, F12016 had insulin-sensitizing and glucose-lowering properties and suppressed weight gain. In vitro, F12016 effectively increased glucose uptake and blocked cyclin-dependent kinase 5-mediated phosphorylation of PPARγ at Ser273, but slightly triggered adipogenesis and less inhibited osteoblastogenesis than rosiglitazone. Moreover, compared with the full agonist rosiglitazone, F12016 had a distinct group of coregulators and a different predicted binding mode for the PPARγ ligand-binding domain. A site mutation assay confirmed the key epitopes, especially Tyr473 in AF-2. In summary, our study shows that F12016 is a non-TZD, novel selective PPARγ agonist without the classical lipogenic side effects, which may provide a new structural strategy for designing PPARγ ligands with advantages over TZDs.


2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (12) ◽  
pp. E1461-E1471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Kobayashi ◽  
Ko Fujimori

Here, we show that Elovl3 (elongation of very long-chain fatty acids 3) was involved in the regulation of the progression of adipogenesis through activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ in mouse adipocytic 3T3-L1 cells. The expression of the Elovl3 gene increased during adipogenesis, the expression pattern of which was similar to that of the PPARγ gene. Troglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, enhanced Elovl3 expression in adipocytes, as it did that of other PPARγ target genes. Promoter-reporter analysis demonstrated that three PPAR-responsive elements in the Elovl3 gene promoter had the potential to activate its expression in 3T3-L1 cells. Moreover, a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that PPARγ bound these PPAR-responsive elements of the Elovl3 promoter. When the Elovl3 mRNA level was suppressed by its siRNAs, the level of intracellular triglycerides was significantly decreased, and the expression levels of adipogenic, lipolytic, and lipogenic genes were also repressed. In a mammalian two-hybrid assay, C18:1 and C20:1 very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), which are the products of Elovl3 and activated PPARγ function. In addition, these same VLCFAs could prevent the Elovl3 siRNA-mediated suppression of adipogenesis by enhancing the expression of adipogenic, lipolytic, and lipogenic genes in adipocytes. Moreover, this VLCFAs-mediated activation was repressed by a PPARγ antagonist. These results indicate that the expression of the Elovl3 gene was activated by PPARγ during adipogenesis. Elovl3-produced C18:1 and C20:1 VLCFAs acted as agonists of PPARγ in 3T3-L1 cells. Thus, the Elovl3-PPARγ cascade is a novel regulatory circuit for the regulation of adipogenesis through improvement of PPARγ function in adipocytes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 778
Author(s):  
Anna Stasiłowicz ◽  
Anna Tomala ◽  
Irma Podolak ◽  
Judyta Cielecka-Piontek

Cannabis sativa L. turned out to be a valuable source of chemical compounds of various structures, showing pharmacological activity. The most important groups of compounds include phytocannabinoids and terpenes. The pharmacological activity of Cannabis (in epilepsy, sclerosis multiplex (SM), vomiting and nausea, pain, appetite loss, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), Parkinson’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, schizophrenia, glaucoma, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)), which has been proven so far, results from the affinity of these compounds predominantly for the receptors of the endocannabinoid system (the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), type two (CB2), and the G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55)) but, also, for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), glycine receptors, serotonin receptors (5-HT), transient receptor potential channels (TRP), and GPR, opioid receptors. The synergism of action of phytochemicals present in Cannabis sp. raw material is also expressed in their increased bioavailability and penetration through the blood–brain barrier. This review provides an overview of phytochemistry and pharmacology of compounds present in Cannabis extracts in the context of the current knowledge about their synergistic actions and the implications of clinical use in the treatment of selected diseases.


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