Effects of ICI 182, 780, an ERα and ERß antagonist, and G-1, a GPER agonist, on autophagy in breast cancer cells / Efeitos do antagonista seletivo do REα e do REß ICI 182, 780 e do agonista de GPER G-1 no processo de autofagia em células de câncer de mama

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate if ICI 182,780 (fulvestrant), a selective estrogen receptor alpha/beta (ERα/ERβ) antagonist, and G-1, a selective G-protein-coupled receptor (GPER) agonist, can potentially induce autophagy in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and SKBr3, and how G-1 affects cell viability. Methods Cell viability in MCF-7 and SKBr3 cells was assessed by the MTT assay. To investigate the autophagy flux, MCF-7 cells were transfected with GFP-LC3, a marker of autophagosomes, and analyzed by real-time fluorescence microscopy. MCF-7 and SKBr3 cells were incubated with acridine orange for staining of acidic vesicular organelles and analyzed by flow cytometry as an indicator of autophagy. Results Regarding cell viability in MCF-7 cells, ICI 182,780 and rapamycin, after 48 hours, led to decreased cell proliferation whereas G-1 did not change viability over the same period. The data showed that neither ICI 182,780 nor G-1 led to increased GFP-LC3 puncta in MCF-7 cells over the 4-hour observation period. The cytometry assay showed that ICI 182,780 led to a higher number of acidic vesicular organelles in MCF-7 cells. G-1, in turn, did not have this effect in any of the cell lines. In contrast, ICI 182,780 and G-1 did not decrease cell viability of SKBr3 cells or induce formation of acidic vesicular organelles, which corresponds to the final step of the autophagy process in this cell line. Conclusion The effect of ICI 182,780 on increasing acidic vesicular organelles in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells appears to be associated with its inhibitory effect on estrogen receptors, and GPER does notseem to be involved. Understanding these mechanisms may guide further investigations of these receptors' involvement in cellular processes of breast cancer resistance.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar o efeito dos compostos ICI 182,780 (fulvestranto), um antagonista seletivo dos receptores de estrógeno alfa/beta (REα/REβ), e do G-1, um agonista seletivo de receptores de estrógeno acoplados a proteínas-G (GPER), na possível indução de autofagia em linhagens de câncer de mama MCF-7 e SKBr3, bem como o efeito de G-1 na viabilidade celular. Métodos A viabilidade celular de células MCF-7 e SKBr3 foi avaliada pelo ensaio com MTT. Para investigar a indução da autofagia, células MCF-7 foram transfectadas com GFP-LC3, um marcador de autofagossomos, e analisadas por microscopia de fluorescência em tempo real. As células MCF-7 e SKBr3 foram incubadas com o indicador de compartimentos ácidos laranja de acridina e analisadas por citometria de fluxo como indicativo para autofagia. Resultados Em células MCF-7, o ICI 182,780 e rapamicina após 48 horas levaram à diminuição da viabilidade celular, enquanto o G-1 não alterou a viabilidade no mesmo período de tratamento. Nem o ICI 182,780 e nem o G-1 induziram aumento na pontuação de GFP-LC3 em células MCF-7 até 4 horas. Já os ensaios de citometria de fluxo demonstraram que ICI 182,780 levou ao aumento de compartimentos ácidos em células MCF-7. O G-1 não aumentou estes parâmetros em ambas as linhagens. Por outro lado, ICI 182,780 e G-1 não induziram à redução da viabilidade em células SKBr3 e nem à formação de compartimentos ácidos, como etapa final do processo autofágico. Conclusão O aumento de compartimentos ácidos pelo ICI 182,780 em células de câncer de mama positivas para receptores de estrógeno parece estar associado com seu efeito inibidor de receptores de estrógeno, mas sem o envolvimento de GPER. A compreensão desses mecanismos pode direcionar estudos sobre o envolvimento dos receptores nos processos celulares de resistência do câncer de mama.

Search for a platelet-activating factor receptor in the Trypanosoma cruzi proteome: a potential target for Chagas disease chemotherapy

Chagas disease (CD) causes the highest burden of parasitic diseases in the Western Hemisphere and is therefore a priority for drug research and development. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) causes the CD parasite Trypanosoma cruzi to differentiate, which suggests that the parasite may express PAF receptors. Here, we explored the T. cruzi proteome for PAF receptor-like proteins. From a total of 23,000 protein sequences, we identified 29 hypothetical proteins that are predicted to have seven transmembrane domains (TMDs), which is the main characteristic of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including the PAF receptor. The TMDs of these sequences were independently aligned with domains from 25 animal PAF receptors and the sequences were analysed for conserved residues. The conservation score mean values for the TMDs of the hypothetical proteins ranged from 31.7-44.1 percent, which suggests that if the putative T. cruzi PAF receptor is among the sequences identified, the TMDs are not highly conserved. These results suggest that T. cruzi contains several GPCR-like proteins and that one of these GPCRs may be a PAF receptor. Future studies may further validate the PAF receptor as a target for CD chemotherapy.

Receptor acoplado a proteína G familia C6A: Posible blanco molecular en hueso / G Protein-Coupled Receptor Family C 6A (GPRC6A): Possible molecular target in Bone

El GPRC6A es un miembro recientemente identificado de la familia C de receptores acoplados a proteínas G (GPCRs) que está estrechamente emparentado con el receptor sensor de calcio (CASR). Se ha demostrado que este receptor es capaz de sensar cationes extracelulares y aminoácidos y que requiere tanto de los cationes extracelulares y de los aminoácidos para su óptima estimulación in vitro. El estudio del perfil de ligandos ha mostrado que la l-ornithine es el más potente eficaz l-aminoácido agonista seguido de varios otros aminoácidos alifáticos, neutros, y básicos. Algunos estudios han mostrado la activación por cationes del GPRC6A, pero comparado con el CASR, se necesitan concentraciones extracelulares más altas de calcio para activar este receptor. Es más, el Mg(2+) ha mostrado ser un modulador positivo de la respuesta a la l-ornithine. Se lo ha propuesto como el candidato para el elusivo mecanismo de sensado de calcio extracelular del osteoblasto, que se sabe responde a altas concentraciones locales de Ca²+. También se ha propuesto al GPRC6A como candidato a receptor de la osteocalcina, regulando el metabolismo energético y como blanco molecular para la acción del estroncio sobre el hueso.

GPRC6A is a recently identified member of family C of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that is closely related to the calcium-sensing receptor CASR. It has recently been shown that GPRC6A extracellular cations and amino acids and requires both extracellular cations and amino acids for optimal stimulation in vitro. The study of the ligand profile of GPRC6A has shown that l-ornithine is the most potent and efficacious l-amino acid agonist, followed by several other aliphatic, neutral, and basic amino acids. Some studies show cation-dependent activation of GPRC6A, but compared to CASR, much higher extracellular calcium concentrations are needed to activate this receptor. Furthermore, the divalent cation Mg(2+) was found to be a positive modulator of the l-ornithine response. GPRC6A may be a candidate for the elusive extracellular calcium-sensing mechanism known to be present in osteoblasts, which respond to high local Ca²+ concentrations. GPRC6A has also been proposed as a candidate receptor for ostocalcin, regulating energy metabolism and as a molecular target for the action of strontium on bone.