Given the large size and predominantly extracellular receptor interaction of endogenous chemokines, small molecules often act more deeply in an allosteric mode. However, opposed to the well described molecular interaction of allosteric modulators

in class C7-transmembrane helix (7TM) receptors, the interaction in class A, to which the chemokine receptors belong, is more sparsely described. Using the CCR5 chemokine receptor as a model system, we studied the molecular interaction and conformational interchange required for proper action of various orthosteric chemokines selleck chemical and allosteric small molecules, including the well known CCR5 antagonists TAK-779, SCH-C, and aplaviroc, and four novel CCR5 ago-allosteric molecules. A chimera was successfully constructed between CCR5 and the closely related

CCR2 by transferring all extracellular regions of CCR2 to CCR5, i.e. a Trojan horse that resembles CCR2 extracellularly but signals through a CCR5 transmembrane unit. The chimera bound CCR2 (CCL2 and CCL7), but not CCR5 chemokines (CCL3 and CCL5), with CCR2-like high affinities and potencies throughout the CCR5 signaling unit. Concomitantly, high affinity binding of small molecule CCR5 agonists and antagonists was retained in the transmembrane region. Importantly, selleck compound whereas the agonistic and antagonistic properties were preserved, the allosteric enhancement of chemokine binding was disrupted. In summary, the Trojan horse chimera revealed that orthosteric and allosteric sites could be structurally separated and still act together with transmission of agonism and antagonism across the different receptor units.”
“Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a significant problem underlying the poor prognosis associated with gliomas. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) is thought to induce the genes expression involved in MDR. To evaluate the effect of silencing HIF-1 alpha in human glioma T98G cells, cells were transfected with HIF-1 alpha-small interference RNA (HIF-1 alpha-siRNA) and cultured under hypoxic conditions. The effect of HIF-1 alpha-siRNA on HIF-1 alpha and multidrug resistance-associated

protein 1 gene (MRP1) and protein levels was determined. Silencing rates of HIF-1 Selleckchem CX-6258 alpha were 90%, 85%, and 88% at 24, 48, 72 h post-transfection, respectively. Corresponding rates of HIF-1 alpha protein were 74.5%, 61.1% and 59.1%. MRP1 protein levels decreased by 7.6%, 36.8% and 45.2%. HIF-1 alpha-siRNA transfected cells were significantly more sensitive to doxorubicin and etoposide compared to non-transfected cells. These findings suggest that the HIF-1 alpha plays a role in mediating chemotherapeutic drug resistance in glioma cells. HIF-1 alpha silencing may prove to be an effective therapeutic means of treating gliomas.”
“Background: The true benefit of pharmacologic intervention to improve cognition in schizophrenia may not be evident without regular cognitive enrichment.