Virtual screening as a strategy for the identification of xenobiotics disrupting corticosteroid action.
BACKGROUND
Impaired corticosteroid action caused by genetic and environmental influence, including exposure to hazardous xenobiotics, contributes to the development and progression of metabolic diseases, cardiovascular complications and immune disorders. Novel strategies are thus needed for identifying xenobiotics that interfere with corticosteroid homeostasis. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11β-HSD2) and mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) are major regulators of corticosteroid action. 11β-HSD2 converts the active glucocorticoid cortisol to the inactive cortisone and protects MR from activation by glucocorticoids. 11β-HSD2 has also an essential role in the placenta to protect the fetus from high maternal cortisol concentrations.


RESULTS
We employed a previously constructed 3D-structural library of chemicals with proven and suspected endocrine disrupting effects for virtual screening using a chemical feature-based 11β-HSD pharmacophore. We tested several in silico predicted chemicals in a 11β-HSD2 bioassay. The identified antibiotic lasalocid and the silane-coupling agent AB110873 were found to concentration-dependently inhibit 11β-HSD2. Moreover, the silane AB110873 was shown to activate MR and stimulate mitochondrial ROS generation and the production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Finally, we constructed a MR pharmacophore, which successfully identified the silane AB110873.


CONCLUSIONS
Screening of virtual chemical structure libraries can facilitate the identification of xenobiotics inhibiting 11β-HSD2 and/or activating MR. Lasalocid and AB110873 belong to new classes of 11β-HSD2 inhibitors. The silane AB110873 represents to the best of our knowledge the first industrial chemical shown to activate MR. Furthermore, the MR pharmacophore can now be used for future screening purposes.
Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology and Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Lyubomir G
LG
Nashev
Anna
A
Vuorinen
Lukas
L
Praxmarer
Boonrat
B
Chantong
Diego
D
Cereghetti
Rahel
R
Winiger
Daniela
D
Schuster
Alex
A
Odermatt
D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D062313:Databases, Pharmaceutical; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D062105:Molecular Docking Simulation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D012821:Silanes; D015262:Xenobiotics; D013481:Superoxides; D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2