Small-molecule probe for IBD risk variant GPR65 I231L alters cytokine signaling networks through positive allosteric modulation

Sci Adv. 2024 Jul 19;10(29):eadn2339. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adn2339. Epub 2024 Jul 19.

Abstract

The proton-sensing heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptor GPR65 is expressed in immune cells and regulates tissue homeostasis in response to decreased extracellular pH, which occurs in the context of inflammation and tumorigenesis. Genome-wide association studies linked GPR65 to several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The loss-of-function GPR65 I231L IBD risk variant alters cellular metabolism, impairs protective tissue functions, and increases proinflammatory cytokine production. Hypothesizing that a small molecule designed to potentiate GPR65 at subphysiological pH could decrease inflammatory responses, we found positive allosteric modulators of GPR65 that engage and activate both human and mouse orthologs of the receptor. We observed that the chemical probe BRD5075 alters cytokine and chemokine programs in dendritic cells, establishing that immune signaling can be modulated by targeting GPR65. Our investigation offers improved chemical probes to further interrogate the biology of human GPR65 and its clinically relevant genetic variants.

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation
  • Animals
  • Cytokines* / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / genetics
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Molecular Probes / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled* / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • GPR65 protein, human
  • Cytokines
  • Molecular Probes