Biology subjects

Lucey, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Lucey, M..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Evaluation of efficacy- versus affinity-driven agonism with biased GLP-1R ligands P5 and exendin-F1

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is an important regulator of glucose homeostasis and has been successfully targeted for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Recently described biased GLP-1R agonists with selective reductions in {beta}-arrestin versus G protein coupling show improved metabolic actions in vivo. However, two prototypical G protein-favouring GLP-1R agonists, P5 and exendin-F1, are reported to show divergent effects on insulin secretion. In this study we aimed to resolve this discrepancy by performing a side-by-side characterisation of these two ligands across a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays. Exendin-F1 showed reduced acute efficacy versus P5 for several readouts, including recruitment of mini-G proteins, G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) and {beta}-arrestin-2. Maximal responses were also lower for both GLP-1R internalisation and the presence of active GLP-1R-mini-Gs complexes in early endosomes with exendin-F1 treatment. In contrast, prolonged insulin secretion in vitro and sustained anti-hyperglycaemic efficacy in mice were both greater with exendin-F1 than with P5. We conclude that the particularly low acute efficacy of exendin-F1 and associated reductions in GLP-1R downregulation appear to be more important than preservation of endosomal signalling to allow sustained insulin secretion responses. This has implications for the ongoing development of affinity- versus efficacy-driven biased GLP-1R agonists as treatments for metabolic disease.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2021

Acylation of the incretin peptide exendin-4 directly impacts GLP-1 receptor signalling and trafficking

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is a class B G protein-coupled receptor and mainstay therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Recent reports have highlighted how biased agonism at the GLP-1R affects sustained glucose-stimulated insulin secretion through avoidance of desensitisation and downregulation. A number of GLP-1R agonists (GLP-1RAs) feature a fatty acid moiety to promote albumin binding in order to prolong their pharmacokinetics, but the potential for these ligand changes to influence GLP-1R signalling has rarely been investigated beyond potency assessments for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). In this work we directly compare the prototypical GLP-1RA exendin-4 with its C-terminally acylated analogue, exendin-4-C16, for their relative propensities to recruit and activate G proteins and {beta}-arrestins, endocytic and post-endocytic trafficking profiles, and interactions with model and cellular membranes. Both ligands had similar cAMP potency but the exendin-4-C16 showed [~]2.5-fold bias towards G protein recruitment and a [~]60% reduction in {beta}-arrestin-2 recruitment efficacy compared to exendin-4, as well as reduced GLP-1R endocytosis and preferential targeting towards recycling pathways. These effects were associated with a reduced ability to promote the movement of the GLP-1R extracellular domain, as determined using a conformational biosensor approach, and a [~]70% increase in insulin secretion. Interactions with plasma membrane lipids were enhanced by the acyl chain. Exendin-4-C16 showed extensive albumin binding and was highly effective for lowering of blood glucose in mice over at least 72 hours. Overall, our study highlights the importance of a broad approach to the evaluation of GLP-1RA pharmacology. Significance statementAcylation is a common strategy to enhance the pharmacokinetics of peptide-based drugs. Our work shows how acylation can also affect various other pharmacological parameters, including biased agonism, receptor trafficking and interactions with the plasma membrane, which may be therapeutically important.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2021

Partial agonism improves the anti-hyperglycaemic efficacy of an oxyntomodulin-derived GLP-1R/GCGR co-agonist

ObjectiveGlucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon receptor (GLP-1R/GCGR) co-agonism can maximise weight loss and improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes and obesity. In this study we investigated the cellular and metabolic effects of modulating the balance between G protein activation and {beta}-arrestin-2 recruitment at GLP-1R and GCGR using oxyntomodulin (OXM)-derived co-agonists. This strategy has been previously shown to improve the duration of action of GLP-1R mono-agonists by reducing target desensitisation and downregulation. MethodsDipeptidyl dipeptidase-4 (DPP-4)-resistant OXM analogues were generated and assessed for a variety of cellular readouts. Molecular dynamic simulations were used to gain insights into the molecular interactions involved. In vivo studies were performed in mice to identify effects on glucose homeostasis and weight loss. ResultsLigand-specific reductions in {beta}-arrestin-2 recruitment led to reduced GLP-1R internalisation and prolonged glucose-lowering action in vivo. The putative benefits of GCGR agonism were retained, with equivalent weight loss compared to the GLP-1R mono-agonist liraglutide in spite of a lesser degree of food intake suppression. The compounds tested showed only a minor degree of biased agonism between G protein and {beta}-arrestin-2 recruitment at both receptors and were best classified as partial agonists for the two pathways measured. ConclusionsDiminishing {beta}-arrestin-2 recruitment may be an effective way to increase the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-1R/GCGR co-agonists. These benefits can be achieved by partial rather than biased agonism.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2020

A Universal Stress Protein upregulated by hypoxia may contribute to chronic lung colonisation and intramacrophage survival in cystic fibrosis.

Universal stress proteins (USPs) are ubiquitously expressed in bacteria, plants and eukaryotes and play a lead role in adaptation to environmental conditions. In Gram negative bacteria they enable adaption of bacterial pathogens to the conditions encountered in the human niche, including hypoxia, oxidative stress, osmotic stress, nutrient deficiency or acid stress, thereby facilitating colonisation. We previously reported that all six USP proteins encoded within a low-oxygen responsive locus in Burkholderia cenocepacia showed increased abundance during chronic colonisation of the CF lung. However, the role of USPs in chronic infection is not known. Using mutants derived from B. cenocepacia strain, K56-2, we show that USP76 is required for growth and survival in many conditions associated with the CF lung including, hypoxia, acidic conditions, oxidative stress. Moreover, it is involved in attachment to host epithelial cells, but not virulence. It also has a role in survival in macrophages isolated from people with CF. In contrast, another USP encoded in the same locus, USP92 had no effect on host cell attachment or oxidative stress, but was responsible for a 3-fold increase in virulence. Overall this shows that these USPs, both upregulated during chronic infection, have distinct roles in Burkholderia pathogenesis and may support the survival of B. cenocepacia in the CF lung. Specifically, USP76 is involved in its survival within CF macrophages, a hallmark of Burkholderia infection.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Disconnect between signalling potency and in vivo efficacy of pharmacokinetically optimised biased glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists

ObjectiveTo determine how pharmacokinetically advantageous acylation impacts on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) signal bias, trafficking, anti-hyperglycaemic efficacy and appetite suppression. MethodsIn vitro signalling responses were measured using biochemical and biosensor assays. GLP-1 receptor trafficking was determined by confocal microscopy and diffusion-enhanced resonance energy transfer. Pharmacokinetics, glucoregulatory effects and appetite suppression were measured in acute, sub-chronic and chronic settings in mice. ResultsA C-terminally acylated ligand, exendin-phe1-C16, was identified with undetectable {beta}-arrestin recruitment and GLP-1R internalisation. Depending on the cellular system used, this molecule was up to 1000-fold less potent than the comparator exendin-asp-3-C16 for cyclic AMP signalling, yet was considerably more effective in vivo, particularly for glucose regulation. ConclusionsC-terminal acylation of biased GLP-1R agonists increases their degree of signal bias in favour of cAMP production and improves their therapeutic potential.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2019

Differences in signalling, trafficking and glucoregulatory properties of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists exendin-4 and lixisenatide

Background and purposeAmino acid substitutions at the N-termini of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) peptides result in distinct patterns of intracellular signalling, sub-cellular trafficking and efficacy in vivo. Here we aimed to determine whether sequence differences at the ligand C-termini of clinically approved GLP-1RAs exendin-4 and lixisenatide lead to similar phenomena. We also sought to establish the impact of the C-terminus on signal bias resulting from modifications elsewhere in the molecule. Experimental approachExendin-4, lixisenatide, and N-terminally substituted analogues with biased signalling characteristics were compared across a range of in vitro trafficking and signalling assays in different cell types. Fluorescent ligands and new time-resolved FRET approaches were developed to study agonist behaviours at the cellular and sub-cellular level. Anti-hyperglycaemic and anorectic effects of each parent ligand, and their biased derivatives, were assessed in mice. Key resultsLixisenatide and exendin-4 showed equal binding affinity, but lixisenatide was 5-fold less potent for cAMP signalling. Both peptides were rapidly endocytosed, but the GLP-1R recycled more slowly to the plasma membrane after lixisenatide treatment. These combined deficits resulted in reduced maximal sustained insulin secretion and reduced anti-hyperglycaemic and anorectic effects in mice. N-terminal substitutions to both ligands had favourable effects on their pharmacology, resulting in improved insulin release and lowering of blood glucose. Conclusion and implicationsChanges to the C-terminus of exendin-4 affect signalling potency and GLP-1R trafficking via mechanisms unrelated to GLP-1R occupancy. These differences were associated with changes in their ability to control blood glucose and therefore may be therapeutically relevant.

pharmacology and toxicology↗