Estrogens, acting through the estrogen receptors, ER? and ER?, control many physiological and pathological processes in numerous target tissues. While progress has been made in developing ER ligands having more desirable patterns of selective activity, such as selective ER modulators (SERMs) and ER-subtype selective ligands, the diversity of modes and pathways through which the ERs act offers intriguing but as yet unexplored mechanisms through which one should be able to obtain new compounds having higher levels of desired selectivity. Our overall goal is to develop potent ER ligands optimized to deliver the full range of desired, long sought-after selectivity in three medically important areas, achieved by three distinct mechanisms: (A) brain neuroprotection mediated through ER? with carefully selected ligands of novel structure; (B) cardiovascular protection afforded by selective activation of extranuclear-initiated ER signaling pathways by estrogen-dendrimer conjugates (EDCs) and small molecules of novel design; and (C) combined anti-proliferative/anti-inflammatory activity as optimized therapy for estrogen-dependent breast cancer and endometriosis, through unique ER conformations induced by structurally novel ligands. Each effort is centered on a distinct mechanistic paradigm and is supported by active, ongoing collaborations with established research groups that should lead to excellent opportunities for further pre-clinical development.
Aims : (1) Develop Novel ER? Ligands Having Selective Brain Neuroprotective Activities. A subset of our ER? ligands, acting through an endogenous autocrine anti-inflammatory pathway, is neuroprotective and is active in animal models of multiple sclerosis, reversing established disease. We will develop structure-activity relationships to enhance potency and selectivity of these novel compounds. (2) Develop Novel Pathway-Specific ER Ligands that Afford Selective Vascular, Cardiac, and Bone Protection. Our EDC blocks hormone entry into the nucleus and activates only the extranuclear-initiated ER signaling pathway, yet it provides cardiovascular protection equivalent to that of estradiol without stimulation of uterus or breast tumors. We will develop orally active conjugates with highly stable dendrimers and carefully designed small molecules having pathway selectivity. (3) Develop Novel ER Ligands that Combine Anti- Inflammatory and Anti-Proliferative Activities for Improved Therapy for Endocrine-Resistant Breast Cancers and Endometriosis. Our 3-dimensional ER ligands stabilize a previously unseen ER conformation and inhibit hormone-resistant breast cancer lines and endometriotic lesions. Using structure-guided design, we will develop higher potency and more selective compounds.

Public Health Relevance

There have been tremendous advances in our understanding of how estrogens regulate diverse physiological and pathological processes, through the two estrogen receptors, ER? and ER?, using multiple pathways, and relying on different receptor conformations and interaction partners. At this particularly opportune time, we will explore novel mechanisms to obtain important forms of selective estrogen action by developing new ER ligands that will provide neuroprotection of the brain and protect the cardiovascular system without putting the uterus and breast at risk, and afford improved therapy for breast cancer and the management of endometriosis. New compounds working by these novel mechanisms should be excellent starting points for the clinical development of important, new therapeutic agents.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK015556-45
Application #
8897327
Study Section
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Study Section (MCE)
Program Officer
Silva, Corinne M
Project Start
1992-09-01
Project End
2016-08-31
Budget Start
2015-09-01
Budget End
2016-08-31
Support Year
45
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041544081
City
Champaign
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
61820
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Amzaleg, Yonatan; Ji, Jie; Kittivanichkul, Donlaporn et al. (2018) Estrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators differentially antagonize Runx2 in ST2 mesenchymal progenitor cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 183:10-17
Chen, Karen Lee Ann; Liu, Xiaoji; Zhao, Yiru Chen et al. (2018) Long-Term Administration of Conjugated Estrogen and Bazedoxifene Decreased Murine Fecal ?-Glucuronidase Activity Without Impacting Overall Microbiome Community. Sci Rep 8:8166
Miranda, Cristobal L; Johnson, Lance A; de Montgolfier, Oriane et al. (2018) Non-estrogenic Xanthohumol Derivatives Mitigate Insulin Resistance and Cognitive Impairment in High-Fat Diet-induced Obese Mice. Sci Rep 8:613
Sharma, Abhishek; Toy, Weiyi; Guillen, Valeria Sanabria et al. (2018) Antagonists for Constitutively Active Mutant Estrogen Receptors: Insights into the Roles of Antiestrogen-Core and Side-Chain. ACS Chem Biol :
Wang, Lucia; Guillen, Valeria S; Sharma, Naina et al. (2018) New Class of Selective Estrogen Receptor Degraders (SERDs): Expanding the Toolbox of PROTAC Degrons. ACS Med Chem Lett 9:803-808
Zhao, Yuechao; Laws, Mary J; Guillen, Valeria Sanabria et al. (2017) Structurally Novel Antiestrogens Elicit Differential Responses from Constitutively Active Mutant Estrogen Receptors in Breast Cancer Cells and Tumors. Cancer Res 77:5602-5613
Sharma, Naina; Carlson, Kathryn E; Nwachukwu, Jerome C et al. (2017) Exploring the Structural Compliancy versus Specificity of the Estrogen Receptor Using Isomeric Three-Dimensional Ligands. ACS Chem Biol 12:494-503
Martin, Anthony; Yu, Jiali; Xiong, Jian et al. (2017) Estrogens and androgens inhibit association of RANKL with the pre-osteoblast membrane through post-translational mechanisms. J Cell Physiol 232:3798-3807
Farman, H H; Wu, J; Gustafsson, K L et al. (2017) Extra-nuclear effects of estrogen on cortical bone in males require ER?AF-1. J Mol Endocrinol 58:105-111

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