GlucocorticoidsGlucocorticoids are steroids secreted by the adrenal glands in response to stress signals from the brain. They help maintain normal concentrations of glucose in the blood and reduce inflammation, which can be beneficial in treating chronic autoimmune diseases and allergies. “Synthetic glucocorticoids, such as prednisone, dexamethasone and hydrocortisone have been prescribed for decades to stop inflammation. However, there are major side effects associated with steroid treatment, including immunosuppression that leaves a patient vulnerable to infection, and the exacerbation of metabolic diseases,” added Osborne.The yin and yang of metabolismThe new study, led by Manuel Roqueta-Rivera, a postdoctoral researcher in Osborne’s lab, sought to find the mechanism that the liver uses to transition between the fed and fasted states—two extreme metabolic conditions that require genes to switch “on and off” to promote either energy storage or energy use.
Roqueta-Rivera induced a fasting state in mice by depriving them of food for 24 hours. In the liver, one of the genes activated by fasting was SETDB2, an enzyme that modifies other proteins, including histones—the proteins whose association with DNA helps control whether genes can be read.Restoring metabolic equilibrium“These results suggest that inhibiting SETDB2 could lessen certain metabolic side effects such as weight gain and insulin resistance in patients taking steroids for inflammatory disease,” Osborne added. “Since SETDB2 only affects a subset of steroid hormone-regulated genes related to metabolism, we think this strategy would not interfere with steroids’ anti-inflammatory effects.
“Modulating SETDB2 activity might also benefit patients with other metabolic conditions, but it’s not clear yet whether it would be better to inhibit the enzyme or activate it. Blocking SETDB2 would likely lower blood glucose, which would be beneficial, but it might also enhance fat storage in the liver, which is damaging.”
“Future therapies targeting SETDB2 likely wouldn’t be one-size-fits-all,” commented Osborne. “Metabolic disease is complex—its presentation varies widely—so if these drugs are developed, they could be targeted to specific patients.”
This research was performed in collaboration with scientists at the Centre de Recherches des Cordeliers, Université Pierre et Marie Curie–Paris and the University of Central Florida, and supported by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.# # # #About SBPSanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) is an independent nonprofit medical research organization that conducts world-class, collaborative, biological research and translates its discoveries for the benefit of patients. SBP focuses its research on cancer, immunity, neurodegeneration, metabolic disorders and rare children’s diseases. The Institute invests in talent, technology and partnerships to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries that will have the greatest impact on patients. Recognized for its world-class NCI-designated Cancer Center and the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, SBP employs about 1,100 scientists and staff in San Diego (La Jolla), Calif., and Orlando (Lake Nona), Fla. For more information, visit us at SBPdiscovery.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/SBPdiscovery and on Twitter @SBPdiscovery.