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Biomedical subjects

Nathalie Hennuyer

Publications and source records attributed to Nathalie Hennuyer.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Novel 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds having 2(3H)-benzazolonic heterocycles as PPARgamma agonists.

A series of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds having 2(3H)-benzazolonic heterocycles has been synthesized and tested for PPARgamma agonist activity. SAR were developed and revealed that 6-acyl-2(3H)-benzothiazolone derivatives with 1,3-dicarbonyl group were the most potent. IP administration of compound 22 exhibited comparable levels of glucose and triglyceride correction to PO administration of rosiglitazone in the ob/ob mouse studies.

Animals↗

Studies towards the conception of new selective PPARbeta/delta ligands.

In order to define new PPARbeta/delta ligands, SAR study on the selective PPARbeta/delta activator L-165,041 led to the identification of one key functional group for selective PPARbeta/delta activation. Furthermore, taking advantage of SAR studies done elsewhere on the most selective PPARbeta/delta ligand GW501516, the conception of new ligands showing good affinity for PPARbeta/delta is reported. Finally, synthesis and biological evaluation of pyridine analogues have shown the benefical effect of the pyridine ring on the PPARbeta/delta subtype selectivity.

Animals↗

Paullinia pinnata extracts rich in polyphenols promote vascular relaxation via endothelium-dependent mechanisms.

Paullinia pinnata L. (Sapindaceae) is an African tropical plant whose roots and leaves are used in traditional medicine for many purposes, especially for erectile dysfunction, but its action mechanism is unknown. P. pinnata root and leaf methanolic extracts are rich in phenolic compounds. This study shows that both extracts are highly antioxidative and induce a slight transcriptional activity of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha. They also increased and decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase and endothelin-1 mRNA levels in bovine aortic endothelial cells, respectively. In this study P. pinnata methanolic extracts in cumulative doses elicited in a dose-dependent manner the relaxation of phenylephrine precontracted isolated rat aortic rings. N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester significantly attenuated the capacity of both extracts to induce arterial relaxation, indicating that this arterial relaxation was mediated by endothelial nitric oxide release. It could be suggested that the arterial relaxation induced by both extracts could be mainly linked to their capacities to inhibit nitric oxide oxidation through their antioxidant properties.

Animals↗

A fully dissociated compound of plant origin for inflammatory gene repression.

The identification of selective glucocorticoid receptor (GR) modifiers, which separate transactivation and transrepression properties, represents an important research goal for steroid pharmacology. Although the gene-activating properties of GR are mainly associated with undesirable side effects, its negative interference with the activity of transcription factors, such as NF-kappaB, greatly contributes to its antiinflammatory and immune-suppressive capacities. In the present study, we found that Compound A (CpdA), a plant-derived phenyl aziridine precursor, although not belonging to the steroidal class of GR-binding ligands, does mediate gene-inhibitory effects by activating GR. We demonstrate that CpdA exerts an antiinflammatory potential by down-modulating TNF-induced proinflammatory gene expression, such as IL-6 and E-selectin, but, interestingly, does not at all enhance glucocorticoid response element-driven genes or induce GR binding to glucocorticoid response element-dependent genes in vivo. We further show that the specific gene-repressive effect of CpdA depends on the presence of functional GR, displaying a differential phosphorylation status with CpdA as compared with dexamethasone treatment. The antiinflammatory mechanism involves both a reduction of the in vivo DNA-binding activity of p65 as well as an interference with the transactivation potential of NF-kappaB. Finally, we present evidence that CpdA is as effective as dexamethasone in counteracting acute inflammation in vivo and does not cause a hyperglycemic side effect. Taken together, this compound may be a lead compound of a class of antiinflammatory agents with fully dissociated properties and might thus hold great potential for therapeutic use.

Animals↗

PPARalpha, but not PPARgamma, activators decrease macrophage-laden atherosclerotic lesions in a nondiabetic mouse model of mixed dyslipidemia.

OBJECTIVE: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and gamma are nuclear receptors that may modulate atherogenesis, not only by correcting metabolic disorders predisposing to atherosclerosis but also by directly acting at the level of the vascular wall. The accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages in the arterial wall is an early pivotal event participating in the initiation and promotion of atherosclerotic lesion formation. Because PPARalpha and gamma modulate macrophage gene expression and cellular function, it has been suggested that their ligands may modulate atherosclerosis development via direct effects on macrophages. In this report, we investigated the effect of a PPARalpha ligand (fenofibrate) and 2 PPARgamma ligands (rosiglitazone and pioglitazone) on atherogenesis in a dyslipidemic nondiabetic murine model that develops essentially macrophage-laden lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice were fed a Western diet supplemented or not with fenofibrate (100 mpk), rosiglitazone (10 mpk), or pioglitazone (40 mpk) for 10 weeks. Atherosclerotic lesions together with metabolic parameters were measured after treatment. Fenofibrate treatment significantly improved lipoprotein metabolism toward a less atherogenic phenotype but did not affect insulin sensitivity. Contrarily, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone improved glucose homeostasis, whereas they did not improve lipoprotein metabolism. Fenofibrate treatment significantly decreased the accumulation of lipids and macrophages in the aortic sinus. However, surprisingly, neither rosiglitazone nor pioglitazone had an effect on lesion lipid accumulation or macrophage content. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that in a dyslipidemic nondiabetic murine model, PPARalpha, but not PPARgamma, activators protect against macrophage foam cell formation.

Animals↗

The farnesoid X receptor modulates hepatic carbohydrate metabolism during the fasting-refeeding transition.

The liver plays a central role in the control of blood glucose homeostasis by maintaining a balance between glucose production and utilization. The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a bile acid-activated nuclear receptor. Hepatic FXR expression is regulated by glucose and insulin. Here we identify a role for FXR in the control of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism. When submitted to a controlled fasting-refeeding schedule, FXR(-/-) mice displayed an accelerated response to high carbohydrate refeeding with an accelerated induction of glycolytic and lipogenic genes and a more pronounced repression of gluconeogenic genes. Plasma insulin and glucose levels were lower in FXR(-/-) mice upon refeeding the high-carbohydrate diet. These alterations were paralleled by decreased hepatic glycogen content. Hepatic insulin sensitivity was unchanged in FXR(-/-) mice. Treatment of isolated primary hepatocytes with a synthetic FXR agonist attenuated glucose-induced mRNA expression as well as promoter activity of L-type pyruvate kinase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, and Spot14. Moreover, activated FXR interfered negatively with the carbohydrate response elements regions. These results identify a novel role for FXR as a modulator of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism.

Animals↗

Molecular characterization of new selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma modulators with angiotensin receptor blocking activity.

Selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma modulation is a new pharmacological approach that, based on selective receptor-cofactor interactions and target gene regulation, should result in potent insulin sensitization in the absence of PPARgamma-mediated adverse effects. Here, we characterize two angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), telmisartan and irbesartan, as new selective PPAR modulators (SPPARMs). Analysis of PPARgamma protein conformation using protease protection showed that telmisartan directly interacts with the receptor, producing a distinct conformational change compared with a glitazone. Glutathione S-transferase pull-down and fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays revealed selective cofactor binding by the ARBs compared with glitazones with an attenuated release of the nuclear receptor corepressor and absence of transcriptional intermediary factor 2 recruitment by ARBs. Consistently, selective cofactor binding resulted in differential gene expression profiles in adipocytes (ARB versus glitazone treated) assessed by oligo microarray analysis. Finally, telmisartan improved insulin sensitivity in diet-induced obese mice in the absence of weight gain. The present study identifies two ARBs as new SPPARMs. SPPARM activity by ARBs could retain the metabolic efficacy of PPARgamma activation with reduction in adverse effects exerting in parallel AT1 receptor blockade. This may provide a new therapeutic option for better cardiovascular risk management in metabolic diseases and may initiate the development of new classes of drugs combining potent antihypertensive and antidiabetic actions.

3T3 Cells↗

Increased ABCA1 activity protects against atherosclerosis.

The ABC transporter ABCA1 plays a key role in the first steps of the reverse cholesterol transport pathway by mediating lipid efflux from macrophages. Previously, it was demonstrated that human ABCA1 overexpression in vivo in transgenic mice results in a mild elevation of plasma HDL levels and increased efflux of cholesterol from macrophages. In this study, we determined the effect of overexpression of ABCA1 on atherosclerosis development. Human ABCA1 transgenic mice (BAC(+)) were crossed with ApoE(-/-) mice, a strain that spontaneously develop atherosclerotic lesions. BAC(+)ApoE(-/-) mice developed dramatically smaller, less-complex lesions as compared with their ApoE(-/-) counterparts. In addition, there was increased efflux of cholesterol from macrophages isolated from the BAC(+)ApoE(-/-) mice. Although the increase in plasma HDL cholesterol levels was small, HDL particles from BAC(+)ApoE(-/-) mice were significantly better acceptors of cholesterol. Lipid analysis of HDL particles from BAC(+)ApoE(-/-) mice revealed an increase in phospholipid levels, which was correlated significantly with their ability to enhance cholesterol efflux.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1↗