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G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 58476

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Dr. Alessandro Cannavo

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Guest Editor

Department of Translational Medical Science, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
Interests: heart failure; cardiovascular disease; G protein coupled receptor; Ischemia; neurodegeneration; periodontitis; inflammation; metabolism; pharmacology; gene-therapy
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past three decades, after that Nobel prizes Robert Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka characterized G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) structure, several clinical and pharmacological evidence advanced our knowledge on how these receptors, and their signaling pathways, influence almost every aspect of mammals physiology. Indeed, GPCRs can transduce cellular signals from neurohormones, sensory stimuli, and ions and their activity is directly modulated by GPCR kinases (GRKs) by phosphorylation and subsequent desensitization. Nevertheless, an alteration in GRKs expression, with subsequent GPCR dysfunction, may induce, or at least influence, the development and progression of different systemic disorders. Thus, several drugs able to directly inhibit or enhance GPCR signaling have been developed and are currently used in clinical practice.

This Special Issue is calling both original articles and reviews providing to the readers of IJMS a comprehensive elucidation about GPCR and GRK functions in cell biology necessary for developing novel research approaches as well as therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Cannavo Alessandro
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Cell Biology
Cardiovascular Disease
G protein coupled receptor
GRK Ischemia
Neurodegeneration
Inflammation
Metabolism
Pharmacology

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 183 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease

by Alessandro Cannavo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(10), 5501; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105501 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1585

Abstract

Over the past three decades, after Nobel prizes, Robert Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka characterized G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) structure [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

21 pages, 9267 KiB

Open AccessArticle

β2-Adrenergic Receptors Increase Cardiac Fibroblast Proliferation Through the Gαs/ERK1/2-Dependent Secretion of Interleukin-6

by Miles A. Tanner, Toby P. Thomas, Charles A. Maitz and Laurel A. Grisanti

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(22), 8507; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21228507 - 12 Nov 2020

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3426

Abstract

Fibroblasts are an important resident cell population in the heart involved in maintaining homeostasis and structure during normal conditions. They are also crucial in disease states for sensing signals and initiating the appropriate repair responses to maintain the structural integrity of the heart. This sentinel role of cardiac fibroblasts occurs, in part, through their ability to secrete cytokines. β-adrenergic receptors (βAR) are also critical regulators of cardiac function in the normal and diseased state and a major therapeutic target clinically. βAR are known to influence cytokine secretion in various cell types and they have been shown to be involved in cytokine production in the heart, but their role in regulating cytokine production in cardiac fibroblasts is not well understood. Thus, we hypothesized that βAR activation on cardiac fibroblasts modulates cytokine production to influence fibroblast function. Using primary fibroblast cultures from neonatal rats and adult mice, increased interleukin (IL)-6 expression and secretion occurred following β2AR activation. The use of pharmacological inhibitors and genetic manipulations showed that IL-6 elevations occurred through the Gαs-mediated activation of ERK1/2 and resulted in increased fibroblast proliferation. In vivo, a lack of β2AR resulted in increased infarct size following myocardial infarction and impaired wound closure in a murine dermal wound healing assay. These findings identify an important role for β2AR in regulating fibroblast proliferation through Gαs/ERK1/2-dependent alterations in IL-6 and may lead to the development of improved heart failure therapies through targeting fibrotic function of β2AR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

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13 pages, 2149 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Extracellular Nucleotides Selectively Induce Migration of Chondrocytes and Expression of Type II Collagen

by Marcin Szustak and Edyta Gendaszewska-Darmach

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(15), 5227; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21155227 - 23 Jul 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3004

Abstract

The migration of chondrocytes from healthy to injured tissues is one of the most important challenges during cartilage repair. Additionally, maintenance of the chondrogenic phenotype remains another limitation, especially during monolayer culture in vitro. Using both the differentiated and undifferentiated chondrogenic ATDC5 cell line, we showed that extracellular nucleotides are able to increase the migration rate of chondrocytes without affecting their chondrogenic phenotype. We checked the potency of natural nucleotides (ATP, ADP, UTP, and UDP) as well as their stable phosphorothioate analogs, containing a sulfur atom in the place of one nonbridging oxygen atom in a phosphate group. We also detected P2y1, P2y2, P2y4, P2y6, P2y12, P2y13, and P2y14 mRNA transcripts for nucleotide receptors, demonstrating that P2y1 and P2y13 are highly upregulated in differentiated ATDC5 cells. We showed that ADPβS, UDPβS, and ADP are the best stimulators of migration of differentiated chondrocytes. Additionally, ADP and ADPβS positively affected the expression of type II collagen, a structural component of the cartilage matrix. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

19 pages, 2426 KiB

Open AccessReview

G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs): Signaling Pathways, Characterization, and Functions in Insect Physiology and Toxicology

by Nannan Liu, Yifan Wang, Ting Li and Xuechun Feng

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5260; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22105260 - 17 May 2021

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 12614

Abstract

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known to play central roles in the physiology of many organisms. Members of this seven α-helical transmembrane protein family transduce the extracellular signals and regulate intracellular second messengers through coupling to heterotrimeric G-proteins, adenylate cyclase, cAMPs, and protein kinases. As a result of the critical function of GPCRs in cell physiology and biochemistry, they not only play important roles in cell biology and the medicines used to treat a wide range of human diseases but also in insects’ physiological functions. Recent studies have revealed the expression and function of GPCRs in insecticide resistance, improving our understanding of the molecular complexes governing the development of insecticide resistance. This article focuses on the review of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathways in insect physiology, including insects’ reproduction, growth and development, stress responses, feeding, behaviors, and other physiological processes. Hormones and polypeptides that are involved in insect GPCR regulatory pathways are reviewed. The review also gives a brief introduction of GPCR pathways in organisms in general. At the end of the review, it provides the recent studies on the function of GPCRs in the development of insecticide resistance, focusing in particular on our current knowledge of the expression and function of GPCRs and their downstream regulation pathways and their roles in insecticide resistance and the regulation of resistance P450 gene expression. The latest insights into the exciting technological advances and new techniques for gene expression and functional characterization of the GPCRs in insects are provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

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23 pages, 1607 KiB

Open AccessReview

Atypical p38 Signaling, Activation, and Implications for Disease

by Jeremy C. Burton, William Antoniades, Jennifer Okalova, Morgan M. Roos and Neil J. Grimsey

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(8), 4183; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22084183 - 17 Apr 2021

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 7711

Abstract

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 is an essential family of kinases, regulating responses to environmental stress and inflammation. There is an ever-increasing plethora of physiological and pathophysiological conditions attributed to p38 activity, ranging from cell division and embryonic development to the control of a multitude of diseases including retinal, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Despite the decades of intense investigation, a viable therapeutic approach to disrupt p38 signaling remains elusive. A growing body of evidence supports the pathological significance of an understudied atypical p38 signaling pathway. Atypical p38 signaling is driven by a direct interaction between the adaptor protein TAB1 and p38α, driving p38 autophosphorylation independent from the classical MKK3 and MKK6 pathways. Unlike the classical MKK3/6 signaling pathway, atypical signaling is selective for just p38α, and at present has only been characterized during pathophysiological stimulation. Recent studies have linked atypical signaling to dermal and vascular inflammation, myocardial ischemia, cancer metastasis, diabetes, complications during pregnancy, and bacterial and viral infections. Additional studies are required to fully understand how, when, where, and why atypical p38 signaling is induced. Furthermore, the development of selective TAB1-p38 inhibitors represents an exciting new opportunity to selectively inhibit pathological p38 signaling in a wide array of diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

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11 pages, 1355 KiB

Open AccessReview

Relationship between Orexigenic Peptide Ghrelin Signal, Gender Difference and Disease

by Chihiro Yamada

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3763; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073763 - 5 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3129

Abstract

Growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1a), which is one of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), is involved in various physiological actions such as energy consumption, growth hormone secretion promoting action, and cardiovascular protective action. The ligand was searched for as an orphan receptor for a while, but the ligand was found to be acylated ghrelin (ghrelin) discovered by Kangawa and Kojima et al. in 1999. Recently, it has also been reported that dysregulation of GHS-R1a mediates reduced feeding in various diseases. On the other hand, since the physiological effects of ghrelin have been studied exclusively in male mice, few studies have been conducted on gender differences in ghrelin reactivity. In this review, we describe (1) the characteristics of GHS-R1a, (2) the role of ghrelin in hypophagia due to stress or anticancer drugs, and (3) the gender differences in the physiological effects of GHS-R1a and the influence of stress on it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

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25 pages, 1690 KiB

Open AccessReview

The GRKs Reactome: Role in Cell Biology and Pathology

by Preeti Kumari Chaudhary and Soochong Kim

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3375; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073375 - 25 Mar 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4324

Abstract

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) are protein kinases that function in concert with arrestins in the regulation of a diverse class of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) signaling. Although GRKs and arrestins are key participants in the regulation of GPCR cascades, the complex regulatory mechanisms of GRK expression, its alternation, and their function are not thoroughly understood. Several studies together with the work from our lab in recent years have revealed the critical role of these kinases in various physiological and pathophysiological processes, including cardiovascular biology, inflammation and immunity, neurodegeneration, thrombosis, and hemostasis. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying functional interactions with multiple receptor proteins and how these interactions take part in the development of various pathobiological processes may give rise to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the current research linking the role of GRKs to various aspects of cell biology, pathology, and therapeutics, with a particular focus on thrombosis and hemostasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

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17 pages, 2566 KiB

Open AccessReview

Targeting GRK5 for Treating Chronic Degenerative Diseases

by Federica Marzano, Antonio Rapacciuolo, Nicola Ferrara, Giuseppe Rengo, Walter J. Koch and Alessandro Cannavo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(4), 1920; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22041920 - 15 Feb 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3506

Abstract

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell-surface receptors and they are responsible for the transduction of extracellular signals, regulating almost all aspects of mammalian physiology. These receptors are specifically regulated by a family of serine/threonine kinases, called GPCR kinases (GRKs). Given the biological role of GPCRs, it is not surprising that GRKs are also involved in several pathophysiological processes. Particular importance is emerging for GRK5, which is a multifunctional protein, expressed in different cell types, and it has been found located in single or multiple subcellular compartments. For instance, when anchored to the plasma membrane, GRK5 exerts its canonical function, regulating GPCRs. However, under certain conditions (e.g., pro-hypertrophic stimuli), GRK5 translocates to the nucleus of cells where it can interact with non-GPCR-related proteins as well as DNA itself to promote “non-canonical” signaling, including gene transcription. Importantly, due to these actions, several studies have demonstrated that GRK5 has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of chronic-degenerative disorders. This is true in the cardiac cells, tumor cells, and neurons. For this reason, in this review article, we will inform the readers of the most recent evidence that supports the importance of targeting GRK5 to prevent the development or progression of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

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17 pages, 1437 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nitric Oxide and S-Nitrosylation in Cardiac Regulation: G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase-2 and β-Arrestins as Targets

by Gizem Kayki-Mutlu and Walter J. Koch

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(2), 521; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22020521 - 7 Jan 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6339

Abstract

Cardiac diseases including heart failure (HF), are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Among the prominent characteristics of HF is the loss of β-adrenoceptor (AR)-mediated inotropic reserve. This is primarily due to the derangements in myocardial regulatory signaling proteins, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) and β-arrestins (β-Arr) that modulate β-AR signal termination via receptor desensitization and downregulation. GRK2 and β-Arr2 activities are elevated in the heart after injury/stress and participate in HF through receptor inactivation. These GPCR regulators are modulated profoundly by nitric oxide (NO) produced by NO synthase (NOS) enzymes through S-nitrosylation due to receptor-coupled NO generation. S-nitrosylation, which is NO-mediated modification of protein cysteine residues to generate an S-nitrosothiol (SNO), mediates many effects of NO independently from its canonical guanylyl cyclase/cGMP/protein kinase G signaling. Herein, we review the knowledge on the NO system in the heart and S-nitrosylation-dependent modifications of myocardial GPCR signaling components GRKs and β-Arrs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

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17 pages, 1261 KiB

Open AccessReview

Insights on the Functional Interaction between Group 1 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors (mGluRI) and ErbB Receptors

by Ada Ledonne and Nicola B. Mercuri

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(21), 7913; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21217913 - 24 Oct 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5542

Abstract

It is well-appreciated that phosphorylation is an essential post-translational mechanism of regulation for several proteins, including group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRI), mGluR1, and mGluR5 subtypes. While contributions of various serine/threonine protein kinases on mGluRI modulation have been recognized, the functional role of tyrosine kinases (TKs) is less acknowledged. Here, while describing current evidence supporting that mGluRI are targets of TKs, we mainly focus on the modulatory roles of the ErbB tyrosine kinases receptors—activated by the neurotrophic factors neuregulins (NRGs)—on mGluRI function. Available evidence suggests that mGluRI activity is tightly dependent on ErbB signaling, and that ErbB’s modulation profoundly influences mGluRI-dependent effects on neurotransmission, neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and learning and memory processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

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36 pages, 934 KiB

Open AccessReview

Targeting the SphK-S1P-SIPR Pathway as a Potential Therapeutic Approach for COVID-19

by Eileen M McGowan, Nahal Haddadi, Najah T. Nassif and Yiguang Lin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(19), 7189; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21197189 - 29 Sep 2020

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 6044

Abstract

The world is currently experiencing the worst health pandemic since the Spanish flu in 1918—the COVID-19 pandemic—caused by the coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This pandemic is the world’s third wake-up call this century. In 2003 and 2012, the world experienced two major coronavirus outbreaks, SARS-CoV-1 and Middle East Respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), causing major respiratory tract infections. At present, there is neither a vaccine nor a cure for COVID-19. The severe COVID-19 symptoms of hyperinflammation, catastrophic damage to the vascular endothelium, thrombotic complications, septic shock, brain damage, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and acute neurological and psychiatric complications are unprecedented. Many COVID-19 deaths result from the aftermath of hyperinflammatory complications, also referred to as the “cytokine storm syndrome”, endotheliitus and blood clotting, all with the potential to cause multiorgan dysfunction. The sphingolipid rheostat plays integral roles in viral replication, activation/modulation of the immune response, and importantly in maintaining vasculature integrity, with sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) and its cognate receptors (SIPRs: G-protein-coupled receptors) being key factors in vascular protection against endotheliitus. Hence, modulation of sphingosine kinase (SphK), S1P, and the S1P receptor pathway may provide significant beneficial effects towards counteracting the life-threatening, acute, and chronic complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This review provides a comprehensive overview of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease, prospective vaccines, and current treatments. We then discuss the evidence supporting the targeting of SphK/S1P and S1P receptors in the repertoire of COVID-19 therapies to control viral replication and alleviate the known and emerging acute and chronic symptoms of COVID-19. Three clinical trials using FDA-approved sphingolipid-based drugs being repurposed and evaluated to help in alleviating COVID-19 symptoms are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue G Protein-Coupled Receptor and Their Kinases in Cell Biology and Disease)

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