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Carvour HM, Roemer CA, Underwood DP, Padilla ES, Sandoval O, Robertson M, Miller M, Parsadanyan N, Perry TW, Radke AK. Mu-opioid receptor knockout on Foxp2-expressing neurons reduces aversion-resistant alcohol drinking. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.29.569252. [PMID: 38077082 PMCID: PMC10705460 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.29.569252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2024]
Abstract
Mu-opioid receptors (MORs) in the amygdala and striatum are important in addictive and rewarding behaviors. The transcription factor Foxp2 is a genetic marker of intercalated (ITC) cells in the amygdala and a subset of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs), both of which express MORs in wild-type mice and are neuronal subpopulations of potential relevance to alcohol-drinking behaviors. For the current series of studies, we characterized the behavior of mice with genetic deletion of the MOR gene Oprm1 in Foxp2-expressing neurons (Foxp2-Cre/Oprm1fl/fl). Male and female Foxp2-Cre/Oprm1fl/fl mice were generated and heterozygous Cre+ (knockout) and homozygous Cre- (control) animals were tested for aversion-resistant alcohol consumption using an intermittent access (IA) task, operant responding for a sucrose reward, conditioned place aversion (CPA) to morphine withdrawal, and locomotor sensitization to morphine. The results demonstrate that deletion of MOR on Foxp2-expressing neurons renders mice more sensitive to quinine-adulterated ethanol (EtOH). Mice with the deletion (vs. Cre- controls) also consumed less alcohol during the final sessions of the IA task, responded less for sucrose under an FR3 schedule, and were less active at baseline and following morphine injection. Foxp2-MOR deletion did not impair the ability to learn to respond for reward or develop a conditioned aversion to morphine withdrawal. Together, these investigations demonstrate that Foxp2-expressing neurons may be involved in escalation of alcohol consumption and the development of compulsive-like alcohol drinking.
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Gooding SW, Felth L, Foxall R, Rosa Z, Ireton K, Sall I, Gipoor J, Gaur A, King M, Dirks N, Whistler CA, Whistler JL. Deletion of arrestin-3 does not improve compulsive drug-seeking behavior in a longitudinal paradigm of oral morphine self-administration. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.03.30.534994. [PMID: 38562752 PMCID: PMC10983877 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.30.534994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Opioid drugs are potent analgesics that mimic the endogenous opioid peptides, endorphins and enkephalins, by activating the μ-opioid receptor. Opioid use is limited by side effects, including significant risk of opioid use disorder. Improvement of the effect/side effect profile of opioid medications is a key pursuit of opioid research, yet there is no consensus on how to achieve this goal. One hypothesis is that the degree of arrestin-3 recruitment to the μ-opioid receptor impacts therapeutic utility. However, it is not clear whether increased or decreased interaction of the μ-opioid receptor with arrestin-3 would reduce compulsive drug-seeking. To examine this question, we utilized three genotypes of mice with varying abilities to recruit arrestin-3 to the μ-opioid receptor in response to morphine in a novel longitudinal operant self-administration model. We demonstrate that arrestin-3 knockout and wild type mice have highly variable drug-seeking behavior with few genotype differences. In contrast, in mice where the μ-opioid receptor strongly recruits arrestin-3, drug-seeking behavior is much less varied. We created a quantitative method to define compulsivity in drug-seeking and found that mice lacking arrestin-3 were more likely to meet the criteria for compulsivity whereas mice with enhanced arrestin-3 recruitment did not develop a compulsive phenotype. Our data suggest that opioids that engage both G protein and arrestin-3, recapitulating the endogenous signaling pattern, will reduce abuse liability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lindsey Felth
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Randi Foxall
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire
| | - Zachary Rosa
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kyle Ireton
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Izabella Sall
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire
| | - Joshua Gipoor
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Anirudh Gaur
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Madeline King
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Noah Dirks
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Cheryl A Whistler
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire
| | - Jennifer L Whistler
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
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3
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Gooding SW, Whistler JL. A Balancing Act: Learning from the Past to Build a Future-Focused Opioid Strategy. Annu Rev Physiol 2024; 86:1-25. [PMID: 38029388 PMCID: PMC10987332 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-042022-015914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The harmful side effects of opioid drugs such as respiratory depression, tolerance, dependence, and abuse potential have limited the therapeutic utility of opioids for their entire clinical history. However, no previous attempt to develop effective pain drugs that substantially ameliorate these effects has succeeded, and the current opioid epidemic affirms that they are a greater hindrance to the field of pain management than ever. Recent attempts at new opioid development have sought to reduce these side effects by minimizing engagement of the regulatory protein arrestin-3 at the mu-opioid receptor, but there is significant controversy around this approach. Here, we discuss the ongoing effort to develop safer opioids and its relevant historical context. We propose a new model that reconciles results previously assumed to be in direct conflict to explain how different signaling profiles at the mu-opioid receptor contribute to opioid tolerance and dependence. Our goal is for this framework to inform the search for a new generation of lower liability opioid analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer L Whistler
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, California, USA;
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, California, USA
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Welsch L, Colantonio E, Falconnier C, Champagnol-DiLiberti C, Allain F, Ben Hamida S, Darcq E, Lutz PE, Kieffer BL. Mu Opioid Receptor-Positive Neurons in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Are Impaired by Morphine Abstinence. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:852-862. [PMID: 37393045 PMCID: PMC10851617 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic opioid exposure leads to hedonic deficits and enhanced vulnerability to addiction, which are observed and even strengthen after a period of abstinence, but the underlying circuit mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, using both molecular and behavioral approaches, we tested the hypothesis that neurons expressing mu opioid receptors (MORs) in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) are involved in addiction vulnerability associated with morphine abstinence. METHODS MOR-Cre mice were exposed to chronic morphine and then went through spontaneous withdrawal for 4 weeks, a well-established mouse model of morphine abstinence. We studied DRN-MOR neurons of abstinent mice using 1) viral translating ribosome affinity for transcriptome profiling, 2) fiber photometry to measure neuronal activity, and 3) an opto-intracranial self-stimulation paradigm applied to DRN-MOR neurons to assess responses related to addiction vulnerability including persistence to respond, motivation to obtain the stimulation, self-stimulation despite punishment, and cue-induced reinstatement. RESULTS DRN-MOR neurons of abstinent animals showed a downregulation of genes involved in ion conductance and MOR-mediated signaling, as well as altered responding to acute morphine. Opto-intracranial self-stimulation data showed that abstinent animals executed more impulsive-like and persistent responses during acquisition and scored higher on addiction-like criteria. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that protracted abstinence to chronic morphine leads to reduced MOR function in DRN-MOR neurons and abnormal self-stimulation of these neurons. We propose that DRN-MOR neurons have partially lost their reward-facilitating properties, which in turn may lead to increased propensity to perform addiction-related behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola Welsch
- Douglas Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; INSERM U1114, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Camille Falconnier
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives UPR3212, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Florence Allain
- Douglas Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; INSERM U1114, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sami Ben Hamida
- Douglas Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; INSERM UMR 1247, Research Group on Alcohol & Pharmacodependences, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Emmanuel Darcq
- Douglas Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; INSERM U1114, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre-Eric Lutz
- Douglas Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives UPR3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - Brigitte L Kieffer
- Douglas Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; INSERM U1114, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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5
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Falconnier C, Caparros-Roissard A, Decraene C, Lutz PE. Functional genomic mechanisms of opioid action and opioid use disorder: a systematic review of animal models and human studies. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4568-4584. [PMID: 37723284 PMCID: PMC10914629 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02238-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
In the past two decades, over-prescription of opioids for pain management has driven a steep increase in opioid use disorder (OUD) and death by overdose, exerting a dramatic toll on western countries. OUD is a chronic relapsing disease associated with a lifetime struggle to control drug consumption, suggesting that opioids trigger long-lasting brain adaptations, notably through functional genomic and epigenomic mechanisms. Current understanding of these processes, however, remain scarce, and have not been previously reviewed systematically. To do so, the goal of the present work was to synthesize current knowledge on genome-wide transcriptomic and epigenetic mechanisms of opioid action, in primate and rodent species. Using a prospectively registered methodology, comprehensive literature searches were completed in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Of the 2709 articles identified, 73 met our inclusion criteria and were considered for qualitative analysis. Focusing on the 5 most studied nervous system structures (nucleus accumbens, frontal cortex, whole striatum, dorsal striatum, spinal cord; 44 articles), we also conducted a quantitative analysis of differentially expressed genes, in an effort to identify a putative core transcriptional signature of opioids. Only one gene, Cdkn1a, was consistently identified in eleven studies, and globally, our results unveil surprisingly low consistency across published work, even when considering most recent single-cell approaches. Analysis of sources of variability detected significant contributions from species, brain structure, duration of opioid exposure, strain, time-point of analysis, and batch effects, but not type of opioid. To go beyond those limitations, we leveraged threshold-free methods to illustrate how genome-wide comparisons may generate new findings and hypotheses. Finally, we discuss current methodological development in the field, and their implication for future research and, ultimately, better care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Falconnier
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives UPR 3212, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Alba Caparros-Roissard
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives UPR 3212, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Charles Decraene
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives UPR 3212, 67000, Strasbourg, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives UMR 7364, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre-Eric Lutz
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives UPR 3212, 67000, Strasbourg, France.
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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6
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Cao DN, Li F, Wu N, Li J. Insights into the mechanisms underlying opioid use disorder and potential treatment strategies. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:862-878. [PMID: 34128238 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid use disorder is a worldwide societal problem and public health burden. Strategies for treating opioid use disorder can be divided into those that target the opioid receptor system and those that target non-opioid receptor systems, including the dopamine and glutamate receptor systems. Currently, the clinical drugs used to treat opioid use disorder include the opioid receptor agonists methadone and buprenorphine, which are limited by their abuse liability, and the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone, which is limited by poor compliance. Therefore, the development of effective medications with lower abuse liability and better potential for compliance is urgently needed. Based on recent advances in the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying opioid use disorder, potential treatment strategies and targets have emerged. This review focuses on the progress made in identifying potential targets and developing medications to treat opioid use disorder, including progress made by our laboratory, and provides insights for future medication development. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Advances in Opioid Pharmacology at the Time of the Opioid Epidemic. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v180.7/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Ni Cao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
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7
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Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamides as novel opioid receptor agonists with potent analgesic effect and reduced constipation. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 243:114728. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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8
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Pharmacological and genetic manipulations at the µ-opioid receptor reveal arrestin-3 engagement limits analgesic tolerance and does not exacerbate respiratory depression in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:2241-2249. [PMID: 34257415 PMCID: PMC8581001 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01054-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Opioid drugs are widely used analgesics that activate the G protein-coupled µ-opioid receptor, whose endogenous neuropeptide agonists, endorphins and enkephalins, are potent pain relievers. The therapeutic utility of opioid drugs is hindered by development of tolerance to the analgesic effects, requiring dose escalation for persistent pain control and leading to overdose and fatal respiratory distress. The prevailing hypothesis is that the intended analgesic effects of opioid drugs are mediated by µ-opioid receptor signaling to G protein, while the side-effects of respiratory depression and analgesic tolerance are caused by engagement of the receptor with the arrestin-3 protein. Consequently, opioid drug development has focused exclusively on identifying agonists devoid of arrestin-3 engagement. Here, we challenge the prevailing hypothesis with a panel of six clinically relevant opioid drugs and mice of three distinct genotypes with varying abilities to promote morphine-mediated arrestin-3 engagement. With this genetic and pharmacological approach, we demonstrate that arrestin-3 recruitment does not impact respiratory depression, and effective arrestin-3 engagement reduces, rather than exacerbates, the development of analgesic tolerance. These studies suggest that future development of safer opioids should focus on identifying opioid ligands that recruit both G protein and arrestin-3, thereby mimicking the signaling profile of most endogenous µ-opioid receptor agonists.
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9
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Belzeaux R, Lalanne L, Kieffer BL, Lutz PE. Focusing on the Opioid System for Addiction Biomarker Discovery. Trends Mol Med 2018; 24:206-220. [PMID: 29396147 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUD) and behavioral addictions are devastating conditions that impose a severe burden on all societies, and represent difficult challenges for clinicians. Therefore, biomarkers are urgently needed to help predict vulnerability, clinical course, and response to treatment. Here, we elaborate on the potential for addiction biomarker discovery of the opioid system, particularly within the emerging framework aiming to probe opioid function in peripheral tissues. Mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors all critically regulate neurobiological and behavioral processes that define addiction, and are also targeted by major pharmacotherapies used in the management of patients with SUD. We propose that opioid biomarkers may have the potential to improve and guide diagnosis and therapeutic decisions in the addiction field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoul Belzeaux
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Pôle de Psychiatrie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France; INT-UMR7289,CNRS Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; These authors contributed equally to this article
| | - Laurence Lalanne
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg and Medical School of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, University Hospital of Strasbourg and Medical School of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; INSERM 1114, Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; These authors contributed equally to this article
| | - Brigitte L Kieffer
- Douglas Hospital Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre-Eric Lutz
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Current address: Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France.
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10
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Porter-Stransky KA, Weinshenker D. Arresting the Development of Addiction: The Role of β-Arrestin 2 in Drug Abuse. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2017; 361:341-348. [PMID: 28302862 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.117.240622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The protein β-arrestin (βarr) 2 directly interacts with receptors and signaling pathways that mediate the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse, making it a prime candidate for therapeutic interventions. βarr2 drives desensitization and internalization of G protein-coupled receptors, including dopamine, opioid, and cannabinoid receptors, and it can also trigger G protein-independent intracellular signaling. βarr2 mediates several drug-induced behaviors, but the relationship is complex and dependent on the type of behavior (e.g., psychomotor versus reward), the class of drug (e.g., psychostimulant versus opioid), and the circuit being interrogated (e.g., brain region, cell type, and specific receptor ligand). Here we discuss the current state of research concerning the contribution of βarr2 to the psychomotor and rewarding effects of addictive drugs. Next we identify key knowledge gaps and suggest new tools and approaches needed to further elucidate the neuroanatomical substrates and neurobiological mechanisms to explain how βarr2 modulates behavioral responses to drugs of abuse, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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11
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Johnson TA, Milan-Lobo L, Che T, Ferwerda M, Lambu E, McIntosh NL, Li F, He L, Lorig-Roach N, Crews P, Whistler JL. Identification of the First Marine-Derived Opioid Receptor "Balanced" Agonist with a Signaling Profile That Resembles the Endorphins. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:473-485. [PMID: 27744679 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.6b00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid therapeutics are excellent analgesics, whose utility is compromised by dependence. Morphine (1) and its clinically relevant derivatives such as OxyContin (2), Vicodin (3), and Dilaudid (4) are "biased" agonists at the μ opioid receptor (OR), wherein they engage G protein signaling but poorly engage β-arrestin and the endocytic machinery. In contrast, endorphins, the endogenous peptide agonists for ORs, are potent analgesics, show reduced liability for tolerance and dependence, and engage both G protein and β-arrestin pathways as "balanced" agonists. We set out to determine if marine-derived alkaloids could serve as novel OR agonist chemotypes with a signaling profile distinct from morphine and more similar to the endorphins. Screening of 96 sponge-derived extracts followed by LC-MS-based purification to pinpoint the active compounds and subsequent evaluation of a mini library of related alkaloids identified two structural classes that modulate the ORs. These included the following: aaptamine (10), 9-demethyl aaptamine (11), demethyl (oxy)-aaptamine (12) with activity at the δ-OR (EC50: 5.1, 4.1, 2.3 μM, respectively) and fascaplysin (17), and 10-bromo fascaplysin (18) with activity at the μ-OR (EC50: 6.3, 4.2 μM respectively). An in vivo evaluation of 10 using δ-KO mice indicated its previously reported antidepressant-like effects are dependent on the δ-OR. Importantly, 17 functioned as a balanced agonist promoting both G protein signaling and β-arrestin recruitment along with receptor endocytosis similar to the endorphins. Collectively these results demonstrate the burgeoning potential for marine natural products to serve as novel lead compounds for therapeutic targets in neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler A. Johnson
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
- Department
of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California 94901, United States
| | - Laura Milan-Lobo
- Department
of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Tao Che
- National
Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive Drug Screening Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, United States
| | - Madeline Ferwerda
- Department
of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Eptisam Lambu
- Department
of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California 94901, United States
| | - Nicole L. McIntosh
- Department
of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California 94901, United States
| | - Fei Li
- Department
of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Li He
- Department
of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Nicholas Lorig-Roach
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Phillip Crews
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Jennifer L. Whistler
- Department
of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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12
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Unique Behavioral and Neurochemical Effects Induced by Repeated Adolescent Consumption of Caffeine-Mixed Alcohol in C57BL/6 Mice. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158189. [PMID: 27380261 PMCID: PMC4933367 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of highly caffeinated products has increased dramatically in the past few years. Among these products, highly caffeinated energy drinks are the most heavily advertised and purchased, which has resulted in increased incidences of co-consumption of energy drinks with alcohol. Despite the growing number of adolescents and young adults reporting caffeine-mixed alcohol use, knowledge of the potential consequences associated with co-consumption has been limited to survey-based results and in-laboratory human behavioral testing. Here, we investigate the effect of repeated adolescent (post-natal days P35-61) exposure to caffeine-mixed alcohol in C57BL/6 mice on common drug-related behaviors such as locomotor sensitivity, drug reward and cross-sensitivity, and natural reward. To determine changes in neurological activity resulting from adolescent exposure, we monitored changes in expression of the transcription factor ΔFosB in the dopaminergic reward pathway as a sign of long-term increases in neuronal activity. Repeated adolescent exposure to caffeine-mixed alcohol exposure induced significant locomotor sensitization, desensitized cocaine conditioned place preference, decreased cocaine locomotor cross-sensitivity, and increased natural reward consumption. We also observed increased accumulation of ΔFosB in the nucleus accumbens following repeated adolescent caffeine-mixed alcohol exposure compared to alcohol or caffeine alone. Using our exposure model, we found that repeated exposure to caffeine-mixed alcohol during adolescence causes unique behavioral and neurochemical effects not observed in mice exposed to caffeine or alcohol alone. Based on similar findings for different substances of abuse, it is possible that repeated exposure to caffeine-mixed alcohol during adolescence could potentially alter or escalate future substance abuse as means to compensate for these behavioral and neurochemical alterations.
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13
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Valenza M, Picetti R, Yuferov V, Butelman ER, Kreek MJ. Strain and cocaine-induced differential opioid gene expression may predispose Lewis but not Fischer rats to escalate cocaine self-administration. Neuropharmacology 2016; 105:639-650. [PMID: 26777278 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Revised: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate alterations in gene expression of opioid system components induced by extended access (18 h) cocaine self-administration and to determine the impact of genetic background in the vulnerability to escalate cocaine intake. Comparing two inbred rat strains, we previously reported that Lewis rats progressively escalated cocaine consumption compared to Fischer rats, in a new translational model of intravenous cocaine self-administration, which included 14 sessions of 18-h operant sessions in which rats were allowed to select the cocaine unit dose to self-administer. We compare here Fischer and Lewis rats in the gene expression of endogenous opioid peptides (Pomc, Penk, Pdyn) and cognate receptors (Oprm, Oprk and Oprd) in reward-related brain regions, after exposure to either cocaine self-administration or yoked-saline, in the aforementioned translational paradigm. We performed a correlation analysis between the mRNA level, found in the Dorsal Striatum (DS), Nucleus accumbens (NAcc) shell and core respectively, and individual cocaine intake. Our findings show that the gene expression of all the aforementioned opioid genes exhibit strain-dependent differences in the DS, in absence of cocaine exposure. Also, different strain-specific cocaine-induced mRNA expression of Oprm and Oprk was found in DS. Only few differences were found in the ventral parts of the striatum. Moreover, gene expression level of Pdyn, Penk, Oprk, and Oprm in the DS was significantly correlated with cocaine intake only in Fischer rats. Overall, these data shed light on potential genetic differences which may predispose of subjects to initiate and escalate cocaine consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Valenza
- Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Roberto Picetti
- Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Vadim Yuferov
- Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eduardo R Butelman
- Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Jeanne Kreek
- Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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Fattore L, Fadda P, Antinori S, Fratta W. Role of opioid receptors in the reinstatement of opioid-seeking behavior: an overview. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1230:281-293. [PMID: 25293335 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1708-2_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Opioid abuse in humans is characterized by discontinuous periods of drug use and abstinence. With time, the probability of falling into renewed drug consumption becomes particularly high and constitutes a considerable problem in the management of heroin addicts. The major problem in the treatment of opioid dependence still remains the occurrence of relapse, to which stressful life events, renewed use of heroin, and exposure to drug-associated environmental cues are all positively correlated. To study the neurobiology of relapse, many research groups currently use the reinstatement animal model, which greatly contributed to disentangle the mechanisms underlying relapse to drug-seeking in laboratory animals. The use of this model is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, and new versions have been recently developed to better appreciate the differential contribution of each opioid receptor subtype to the relapse phenomenon. In this chapter we review the state of the art of our knowledge on the specific role of the opioid receptors as unrevealed by the reinstatement animal model of opioid-seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liana Fattore
- CNR National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Neuroscience-Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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15
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Cheng MF, Ou LC, Chen SC, Chang WT, Law PY, Loh HH, Chao YS, Shih C, Yeh SH, Ueng SH. Discovery, structure–activity relationship studies, and anti-nociceptive effects of 1-phenyl-3,6,6-trimethyl-1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4H-indazol-4-one as novel opioid receptor agonists. Bioorg Med Chem 2014; 22:4694-703. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Revised: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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16
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Erbs E, Faget L, Scherrer G, Matifas A, Filliol D, Vonesch JL, Koch M, Kessler P, Hentsch D, Birling MC, Koutsourakis M, Vasseur L, Veinante P, Kieffer BL, Massotte D. A mu-delta opioid receptor brain atlas reveals neuronal co-occurrence in subcortical networks. Brain Struct Funct 2014; 220:677-702. [PMID: 24623156 PMCID: PMC4341027 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-014-0717-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Opioid receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that modulate brain function at all levels of neural integration, including autonomic, sensory, emotional and cognitive processing. Mu (MOR) and delta (DOR) opioid receptors functionally interact in vivo, but whether interactions occur at circuitry, cellular or molecular levels remains unsolved. To challenge the hypothesis of MOR/DOR heteromerization in the brain, we generated redMOR/greenDOR double knock-in mice and report dual receptor mapping throughout the nervous system. Data are organized as an interactive database offering an opioid receptor atlas with concomitant MOR/DOR visualization at subcellular resolution, accessible online. We also provide co-immunoprecipitation-based evidence for receptor heteromerization in these mice. In the forebrain, MOR and DOR are mainly detected in separate neurons, suggesting system-level interactions in high-order processing. In contrast, neuronal co-localization is detected in subcortical networks essential for survival involved in eating and sexual behaviors or perception and response to aversive stimuli. In addition, potential MOR/DOR intracellular interactions within the nociceptive pathway offer novel therapeutic perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Erbs
- Department of Neurogenetics and Translational Medicine, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP10142, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
| | - Lauren Faget
- Department of Neurogenetics and Translational Medicine, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP10142, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
- Present Address: University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Gregory Scherrer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neurosciences, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305 CA USA
| | - Audrey Matifas
- Department of Neurogenetics and Translational Medicine, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP10142, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
| | - Dominique Filliol
- Department of Neurogenetics and Translational Medicine, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP10142, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
| | - Jean-Luc Vonesch
- Imaging Centre, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, BP 10142, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
| | - Marc Koch
- Imaging Centre, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, BP 10142, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
| | - Pascal Kessler
- Imaging Centre, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, BP 10142, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
| | - Didier Hentsch
- Imaging Centre, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, BP 10142, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
| | | | - Manoussos Koutsourakis
- Institut Clinique de la Souris, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
- Present Address: Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB 10 1SA UK
| | - Laurent Vasseur
- Institut Clinique de la Souris, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
| | - Pierre Veinante
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives CNRS UPR 3212, 5 rue Blaise Pascal, 67084 Strasbourg cedex 03, France
| | - Brigitte L. Kieffer
- Department of Neurogenetics and Translational Medicine, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP10142, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
| | - Dominique Massotte
- Department of Neurogenetics and Translational Medicine, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP10142, 67404 Illkirch cedex, France
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives CNRS UPR 3212, 5 rue Blaise Pascal, 67084 Strasbourg cedex 03, France
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17
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Sobczak M, Sałaga M, Storr MA, Fichna J. Physiology, signaling, and pharmacology of opioid receptors and their ligands in the gastrointestinal tract: current concepts and future perspectives. J Gastroenterol 2014; 49:24-45. [PMID: 23397116 PMCID: PMC3895212 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-013-0753-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Opioid receptors are widely distributed in the human body and are crucially involved in numerous physiological processes. These include pain signaling in the central and the peripheral nervous system, reproduction, growth, respiration, and immunological response. Opioid receptors additionally play a major role in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. This review discusses the physiology and pharmacology of the opioid system in the GI tract. We additionally focus on GI disorders and malfunctions, where pathophysiology involves the endogenous opioid system, such as opioid-induced bowel dysfunction, opioid-induced constipation or abdominal pain. Based on recent reports in the field of pharmacology and medicinal chemistry, we will also discuss the opportunities of targeting the opioid system, suggesting future treatment options for functional disorders and inflammatory states of the GI tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Sobczak
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Maciej Sałaga
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Martin A. Storr
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jakub Fichna
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
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18
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MOR is not enough: identification of novel mu-opioid receptor interacting proteins using traditional and modified membrane yeast two-hybrid screens. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67608. [PMID: 23840749 PMCID: PMC3695902 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mu-opioid receptor (MOR) is the G-protein coupled receptor primarily responsible for mediating the analgesic and rewarding properties of opioid agonist drugs such as morphine, fentanyl, and heroin. We have utilized a combination of traditional and modified membrane yeast two-hybrid screening methods to identify a cohort of novel MOR interacting proteins (MORIPs). The interaction between the MOR and a subset of MORIPs was validated in pulldown, co-immunoprecipitation, and co-localization studies using HEK293 cells stably expressing the MOR as well as rodent brain. Additionally, a subset of MORIPs was found capable of interaction with the delta and kappa opioid receptors, suggesting that they may represent general opioid receptor interacting proteins (ORIPS). Expression of several MORIPs was altered in specific mouse brain regions after chronic treatment with morphine, suggesting that these proteins may play a role in response to opioid agonist drugs. Based on the known function of these newly identified MORIPs, the interactions forming the MOR signalplex are hypothesized to be important for MOR signaling and intracellular trafficking. Understanding the molecular complexity of MOR/MORIP interactions provides a conceptual framework for defining the cellular mechanisms of MOR signaling in brain and may be critical for determining the physiological basis of opioid tolerance and addiction.
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19
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Law PY, Reggio PH, Loh HH. Opioid receptors: toward separation of analgesic from undesirable effects. Trends Biochem Sci 2013; 38:275-82. [PMID: 23598157 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2013.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Revised: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The use of opioid analgesics for pain has always been hampered by their many side effects; in particular, the addictive liability associated with chronic use. Recently, attempts to develop analgesic agents with reduced side effects have targeted either the putative opioid receptor splice variants or the receptor hetero-oligomers. This review discusses the potential for receptor splice variant- and the hetero-oligomer-based discovery of new opioid analgesics. We also examine an alternative approach of using receptor mutants for pain management. Finally, we discuss the role of the biased agonism observed and the recently reported opioid receptor crystal structures in guiding the future development of opioid analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Yee Law
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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20
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Pradhan AA, Smith ML, Kieffer BL, Evans CJ. Ligand-directed signalling within the opioid receptor family. Br J Pharmacol 2013; 167:960-9. [PMID: 22708627 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02075.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The classic model of GPCR activation proposed that all agonists induce the same active receptor conformation. However, research over the last decade has shown that GPCRs exist in multiple conformations, and that agonists can stabilize different active states. The distinct receptor conformations induced by ligands result in distinct receptor-effector complexes, which produce varying levels of activation or inhibition of subsequent signalling cascades. This concept, referred to as ligand-directed signalling or biased agonism has important biological and therapeutic implications. Opioid receptors are G(i/o) GPCRs and regulate a number of important physiological functions, including pain, reward, mood, stress, gastrointestinal transport and respiration. A number of in vitro studies have shown biased agonism at the three opioid receptors (µ, δ and κ); however, in vivo consequences of this phenomenon have only recently been demonstrated. For the µ and δ opioid receptors, the majority of reported ligand selective behavioural effects are observed as differential adaptations to repeated drug administration. In terms of the κ opioid receptor, clear links between ligand-selective signalling events and specific in vivo responses have been recently characterized. Drugs for all three receptors are either already used or are being developed for clinical applications. There is clearly a need to better characterize the specific events that occur following agonist stimulation and how these relate to in vivo responses. This understanding could eventually lead to the development of tailor-made pharmacotherapies where advantageous drug effects can be selectively targeted over adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amynah A Pradhan
- Semel Institute for Neuropsychiatry & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1759, USA.
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21
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Lutz PE, Kieffer BL. The multiple facets of opioid receptor function: implications for addiction. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2013; 23:473-9. [PMID: 23453713 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2013.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Revised: 01/12/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Addiction is characterized by altered reward processing, disrupted emotional responses and poor decision-making. Beyond a central role in drug reward, increasing evidence indicate that opioid receptors are broadly involved in all these processes. Recent studies establish the mu opioid receptor as a main player in social reward, which attracts increasing attention in psychiatric research. There is growing interest in blocking the kappa opioid receptor to prevent relapse, and alleviate the negative affect of withdrawal. The delta opioid receptor emerges as a potent mood enhancer, whose involvement in addiction is less clear. All three opioid receptors are likely implicated in addiction-depression comorbidity, and understanding of their roles in cognitive deficits associated to drug abuse is only beginning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Eric Lutz
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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22
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-fourth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2011 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (Section 2), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (Section 3); stress and social status (Section 4); tolerance and dependence (Section 5); learning and memory (Section 6); eating and drinking (Section 7); alcohol and drugs of abuse (Section 8); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (Section 9); mental illness and mood (Section 10); seizures and neurologic disorders (Section 11); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (Section 12); general activity and locomotion (Section 13); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (Section 14); cardiovascular responses (Section 15); respiration (Section 16); and immunological responses (Section 17).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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23
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Enquist J, Ferwerda M, Madhavan A, Hok D, Whistler JL. Chronic ethanol potentiates the effect of neuropeptide s in the basolateral amygdala and shows increased anxiolytic and anti-depressive effects. Neuropsychopharmacology 2012; 37:2436-45. [PMID: 22739468 PMCID: PMC3445991 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2012.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Alleviating anxiety and depression is pivotal for reducing the risk of relapse in alcoholics. Currently available anxiolytic treatments are limited by side effects, including reduced efficacy in alcoholics, addiction, and sedation. We examined whether the neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR) was effective at controlling ethanol consumption and the anxiety and depression produced by forced abstinence from ethanol. We found that the anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects of NPS are enhanced in acute ethanol abstinent mice. In addition, we found that NPS reduced ethanol consumption and is not in and of itself rewarding. We also provide evidence that ethanol consumption increases the ability of NPS to modulate neuronal activity in the basolateral amygdala. Finally, we found that local injection of NPS in the basolateral amygdala promotes anxiolysis after chronic ethanol consumption, thereby providing insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the changes in behavioral response to NPS. In light of the improved anxiolytic efficacy and benign side effects of NPS in ethanol-withdrawn animals, the NPSR may prove a suitable target for reducing relapse in alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Enquist
- Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Derek Hok
- Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Whistler
- Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Emeryville, CA, USA,Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA,Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, 5858 Horton Street, Business Suite No. 200, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA, Tel: +1 510 9853127, Fax: +1 510 9853101, E-mail:
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24
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Whistler JL. Examining the role of mu opioid receptor endocytosis in the beneficial and side-effects of prolonged opioid use: from a symposium on new concepts in mu-opioid pharmacology. Drug Alcohol Depend 2012; 121:189-204. [PMID: 22226706 PMCID: PMC4224378 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2011] [Revised: 10/20/2011] [Accepted: 10/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Opioid drugs remain the gold standard for the treatment of severe pain, both acute/post-surgical and chronic. However, the utility of opioid drugs for the treatment of chronic pain is compromised by the development of analgesic tolerance which, in turn, leads to dose-escalation and increased likelihood of dangerous side effects, including dependence. Consequently, there remains resistance among clinicians and the general population to using opiates for pain management because of risk of "addiction." These fears are not unwarranted. More than 2.5 million people begin abusing opioid painkillers each year, and prescription opioid abuse is now the second most common type of illegal drug use after marijuana. Some abusers become dependent due to recreational use of prescription painkillers. However, many abusers are among the 40 million people suffering from chronic pain, and developed dependence while using the drugs for legitimate purposes. Both of these trends highlight the need to develop opioid therapeutics with a reduced liability to cause tolerance, dependence and addiction. Identifying the ideal properties of opioid drugs that would retain analgesia but reduce these side-effects has been a goal of my laboratory for more than a decade. During this time, we have proposed the novel hypothesis that opioid drugs that promote desensitization, endocytosis and recycling of the mu-opioid-receptor (MOR) will retain analgesic efficacy, but will have a reduced liability to cause tolerance, dependence and addiction. We have generated substantial data, both pharmacological and genetic to suggest that our hypothesis is a valid one. These data are summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Whistler
- Department of Neurology, Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, 5858 Horton St. Suite 200, Emeryville, CA 94608, tel: 510 985-3127, fax: 510 985-3101,
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Lau EK, Trester-Zedlitz M, Trinidad JC, Kotowski SJ, Krutchinsky AN, Burlingame AL, von Zastrow M. Quantitative encoding of the effect of a partial agonist on individual opioid receptors by multisite phosphorylation and threshold detection. Sci Signal 2011; 4:ra52. [PMID: 21868358 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2001748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
In comparison to endogenous ligands of seven-transmembrane receptors, which typically act as full agonists, many drugs act as partial agonists. Partial agonism is best described as a "macroscopic" property that is manifest at the level of physiological systems or cell populations; however, whether partial agonists also encode discrete regulatory information at the "microscopic" level of individual receptors is not known. Here, we addressed this question by focusing on morphine, a partial agonist drug for μ-type opioid peptide receptors (MORs), and by combining quantitative mass spectrometry with cell biological analysis to investigate the reduced efficacy of morphine, compared to that of a peptide full agonist, in promoting receptor endocytosis. We showed that these chemically distinct ligands produced a complex and qualitatively similar mixture of phosphorylated opioid receptor forms in intact cells. Quantitatively, however, the different agonists promoted disproportionate multisite phosphorylation of a specific serine and threonine motif, and we found that modification at more than one residue was essential for the efficient recruitment of the adaptor protein β-arrestin that mediated subsequent endocytosis of MORs. Thus, quantitative encoding of agonist-selective endocytosis at the level of individual opioid receptors was based on the conserved biochemical principles of multisite phosphorylation and threshold detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine K Lau
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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