Loss of ZNRF3/RNF43 Unleashes EGFR in Cancer.

ZNRF3 and RNF43 are closely related transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligases with significant roles in development and cancer. Conventionally, their biological functions have been associated with regulating WNT signaling receptor ubiquitination and degradation. However, our proteogenomic studies have revealed EGFR as the protein most negatively correlated with mRNA levels in multiple human cancers.

LGR4 and LGR5 form distinct homodimers that only LGR4 complexes with RNF43/ZNRF3 to provide high affinity binding of R-spondin ligands.

LGR4 and LGR5 are two homologous receptors that potentiate Wnt/β-catenin signaling in response to R-spondin (RSPO) ligands. The RSPO and LGR4 complex binds to and inhibits activities of two related E3 ubiquitin ligases, RNF43 and ZNRF3, and thus protects Wnt receptors from the E3 ligase-mediated degradation. The RSPO and LGR5 complex, however, does not interact with the E3 ligases, and the structural basis of this difference remained unknown.

Drug Conjugates of Antagonistic R-Spondin 4 Mutant for Simultaneous Targeting of Leucine-Rich Repeat-Containing G Protein-Coupled Receptors 4/5/6 for Cancer Treatment.

LGR4-6 (leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptors 4, 5, and 6) are three related receptors with an upregulated expression in gastrointestinal cancers to various extents, and LGR5 is enriched in cancer stem cells. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting LGR5 showed a robust antitumor effect in vivo but could not eradicate tumors due to plasticity of LGR5-positive cancer cells. As LGR5-negative cancer cells often express LGR4 or LGR6 or both, we reasoned that simultaneous targeting of all three LGRs may provide a more effective approach.

Unlike LGR4, LGR5 potentiates Wnt-β-catenin signaling without sequestering E3 ligases.

and encode two homologous receptors with critical, yet distinct, roles in organ development and adult stem cell survival. Both receptors are coexpressed in intestinal crypt stem cells, bind to R-spondins (RSPOs) with high affinity, and potentiate Wnt-β-catenin signaling, presumably by the same mechanism: forming RSPO-bridged complexes with the E3 ligases RNF43 and ZNRF3 to inhibit ubiquitylation of Wnt receptors. However, direct evidence for RSPO-bound, full-length LGR5 interacting with these E3 ligases in whole cells has not been reported, and only is essential for the self-renewal of intestinal stem cells.

The most common RNF43 mutant G659Vfs*41 is fully functional in inhibiting Wnt signaling and unlikely to play a role in tumorigenesis.

RNF43 is an E3 ligase that inhibits Wnt signaling by ubiquitinating Wnt receptors for degradation. It is mutated in various cancer types with the most recurrent mutation being the frameshift G659Vfs*41 with frequencies of ~5-8% in colon, stomach and endometrial cancers. This mutation, a deletion of G in a 7-G repeat, has been assumed to encode an inactive enzyme that would lead to increased Wnt signaling and drive tumorigenesis, yet no functional characterization has been reported.

Rosiglitazone via PPARγ-dependent suppression of oxidative stress attenuates endothelial dysfunction in rats fed homocysteine thiolactone.

To explore whether rosiglitazone (RSG), a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist, exerts beneficial effects on endothelial dysfunction induced by homocysteine thiolactone (HTL) and to investigate the potential mechanisms. Incubation of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells with HTL (1 mM) for 24 hrs significantly reduced cell viabilities assayed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide, as well as enhanced productions of reactive oxygen species, activation of nuclear factor kappa B, and increased intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 secretion. Pre-treatment of cells with RSG (0.

Effect of glycyrrhizin on the activity of CYP3A enzyme in humans.

Background: Glycyrrhizin is a major ingredient of licorice which is widely used in the treatment of various diseases such as chronic hepatitis. Licorice or glycyrrhizin has been shown to alter the activity of CYP3A in rodents. The influence of glycyrrhizin on CYP3A has not been elucidated in humans.

Rifampicin alters atorvastatin plasma concentration on the basis of SLCO1B1 521T>C polymorphism.

Background: Both atorvastatin and rifampicin are substrates of OATP1B1 (organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1) encoded by SLCO1B1 gene. Rifampicin is a potent inhibitor of SLCO1B1 (IC50 1.5 umol/l) and SLCO1B1 521T>C functional genetic polymorphism alters the kinetics of atorvastatin in vivo.

Simultaneous action of the flavonoid quercetin on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP2A6, N-acetyltransferase and xanthine oxidase activity in healthy volunteers.

1. Quercetin, one of the most abundant natural flavonoids, has been reported to modulate the activity of several drug-metabolising enzymes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of quercetin on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP2A6, N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in healthy volunteers using caffeine as a probe drug.

Hepatic nuclear factor 1alpha inhibitor ursodeoxycholic acid influences pharmacokinetics of the organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 substrate rosuvastatin and bilirubin.

Expression of the organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) is regulated by transcription factor hepatic nuclear factor (HNF) 1alpha. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), an inhibitor of transcription factor HNF1alpha, on rosuvastatin and bilirubin kinetics in human healthy volunteers. Both substances are substrates of OATP1B1.

Effects of genetic polymorphisms of CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and MDR1 on cyclosporine pharmacokinetics after renal transplantation.

1. The calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine is widely used to prevent allograft rejection after solid organ transplantation. It has a narrow therapeutic index and shows considerable interindividual differences in its pharmacokinetics.

[Protective effect of Na(+)-H+ exchanger inhibitor cariporide on the injury of vascular endothelial function induced by hypercholesterolemia].

Objective: To explore possible effects of cariporide, a new Na(+)-H+ exchanger (NHE-1) inhibitor, against injuries of vascular endothelial function induced by hypercholestrolemia.

Methods: Twenty-two healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups: Six were fed with normal diet as the control; eight were fed with high cholesterol plus high fat diet (HCHF) as the injured control group; and the other eight were fed with HCHF plus cariporide orally (0.1 mg/kg.