Cytosporone B is a naturally occurring agonist for the nuclear receptor Nur77 (IC50 = 0.278 nM). Activation of Nur77 with cytosporone B induces the expression of Nur77-dependent genes, including the gene for Nur77 itself. Signaling through Nur77 induces apoptosis in cancer cells and retards xenograft tumor growth. It also induces genes related to gluconeogenesis and decreases atherosclerosis progression in mice fed a high fat and high cholesterol diet. Cytosporone B is brain penetrant and aggravates early brain injury in rats when given (13 mg/kg intraperitoneally) after experimentally-induced subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cytosporone B also has antibacterial properties.
