Thyrotropin Receptor Antagonism by a Novel Small Molecule: Preclinical Observations.

Treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism (GH) and Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is far from adequate, and hence, new substances that specifically target the autoantigens in GH/GO are warranted. This study determined the preclinical efficacy of SYD5115, a novel low-molecular-weight compound that inhibits the thyrotropin receptor (TSH-R). The TSH-R inhibiting capability of SYD5115 was tested through stimulation of wild-type and chimeric TSH-R expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using two functional (stimulatory and blocking) cell-based TSH-R-Ab bioassays.

Discovery of SYD5115, a novel orally active small molecule TSH-R antagonist.

The thyrotropin receptor (TSH-R) regulates the thyroid gland and is normally activated by thyrotropin. In patients with Graves' disease, TSH-R is also stimulated by stimulatory TSH-R autoantibodies leading to hyperthyroidism. In this paper, we describe the discovery of SYD5115 (67), a novel small molecule TSH-R antagonist with nanomolar potency.

Signaling of an allosteric, nanomolar potent, low molecular weight agonist for the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) activates FSH receptors (FSHR) in granulosa cells to induce follicle differentiation, growth and estradiol production. FSH is used clinically to treat female infertility and is administered by injection. To increase patient convenience and compliance, compound homogeneity and composition, low molecular weight (LMW), orally bioavailable, FSHR agonists are now being developed to replace FSH.

Mechanism of action of a nanomolar potent, allosteric antagonist of the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor.

Background And Purpose: Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid is overactive, producing excessive amounts of thyroid hormones, caused by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs). Many GD patients also suffer from thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy or GO), as TSIs also activate TSH receptors in orbital tissue. We recently developed low molecular weight (LMW) TSH receptor antagonists as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of GD and GO.

Gene expression profiling of resting and activated vascular smooth muscle cells by serial analysis of gene expression and clustering analysis.

Migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are key events in atherosclerosis. However, little is known about alterations in gene expression upon transition of the quiescent, contractile SMC to the proliferative SMC. We performed serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) of cultured, human SMCs, either grown under resting circumstances or activated with an atherogenic stimulus.

Cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP) expression in human and murine atherosclerotic lesions: activin induces CARP in smooth muscle cells.

Objective: Cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP) is a transcription factor-related protein that has been studied most extensively in the heart. In the present study, we investigated the expression and the potential function of CARP in human and murine atherosclerosis.

Methods And Results: CARP expression was observed by in situ hybridization in endothelial cells lining human atherosclerotic plaques, whereas lesion macrophages were devoid of CARP.

Protective function of transcription factor TR3 orphan receptor in atherogenesis: decreased lesion formation in carotid artery ligation model in TR3 transgenic mice.

Background: Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) play a key role in intimal thickening in atherosclerosis and restenosis. The precise signaling pathways by which the proliferation of SMCs is regulated are largely unknown. The TR3 orphan receptor, the mitogen-induced nuclear orphan receptor (MINOR), and the nuclear receptor of T cells (NOT) are a subfamily of transcription factors belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily and are induced in activated SMCs.

Human sprouty 4, a new ras antagonist on 5q31, interacts with the dual specificity kinase TESK1.

The Drosophila melanogaster protein sprouty is induced upon fibroblast growth factor (FGF)- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor tyrosine kinase activation and acts as an inhibitor of the ras/MAP kinase pathway downstream of these receptors. By differential display RT-PCR of activated vs. resting umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (SMCs) we detected a new human sprouty gene, which we designated human sprouty 4 (hspry4) based on its homology with murine sprouty 4.

Neuronal and mesodermal differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells is characterized by expression of specific marker genes and modulated by activin and fibroblast growth factors.

We have used the P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) aggregation system as a model for early mouse development to study induction and modulation of mesodermal and neuronal differentiation. By studying the expression of marker genes for differentiated cells in this model we have shown that there is a good correlation between the differentiation direction induced in P19 EC aggregates and the expression of these genes. Expression of the neuronal gene midkine is exclusively upregulated when P19 EC cells are induced to form neurons while expression of early mesodermal genes such as Brachyury T, evx-1, goosecoid and nodal is elevated after induction to the mesodermal pathway.