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Holanda VAD, de Almeida RN, de Oliveira MC, da Silva Junior ED, Galvão-Coelho NL, Calo' G, Ruzza C, Gavioli EC. Activation of NOP receptor increases vulnerability to stress: role of glucocorticoids and CRF signaling. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1001-1010. [PMID: 38270614 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06533-9] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Recently, we demonstrated that the activation of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor (NOP) signaling facilitates depressive-like behaviors. Additionally, literature findings support the ability of the N/OFQ-NOP system to modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. OBJECTIVES Considering that dysfunctional HPA axis is strictly related to stress-induced psychopathologies, we aimed to study the role of the HPA axis in the pro-depressant effects of NOP agonists. METHODS Mice were treated prior to stress with the NOP agonist Ro 65-6570, and immobility time in the forced swimming task and corticosterone levels were measured. Additionally, the role of endogenous glucocorticoids and CRF was investigated using the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone and the CRF1 antagonist antalarmin in the mediation of the effects of Ro 65-6570. RESULTS The NOP agonist in a dose-dependent manner further increased the immobility of mice in the second swimming session compared to vehicle. By contrast, under the same conditions, the administration of the NOP antagonist SB-612111 before stress reduced immobility, while the antidepressant nortriptyline was inactive. Concerning in-serum corticosterone in mice treated with vehicle, nortriptyline, or SB-612111, a significant decrease was observed after re-exposition to stress, but no differences were detected in Ro 65-6570-treated mice. Administration of mifepristone or antalarmin blocked the Ro 65-6570-induced increase in the immobility time in the second swimming session. CONCLUSIONS Present findings suggest that NOP agonists increase vulnerability to depression by hyperactivating the HPA axis and then increasing stress circulating hormones and CRF1 receptor signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor A D Holanda
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Senador salgado Filho, 3000, Campus Universitário - Lagoa Nova, Natal, 59078-900, Brazil
| | - Raissa N de Almeida
- Department of Physiology and Behavior and Postgraduate Program in Psychobiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Matheus C de Oliveira
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Senador salgado Filho, 3000, Campus Universitário - Lagoa Nova, Natal, 59078-900, Brazil
| | - Edilson D da Silva Junior
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Senador salgado Filho, 3000, Campus Universitário - Lagoa Nova, Natal, 59078-900, Brazil
| | - Nicole L Galvão-Coelho
- Department of Physiology and Behavior and Postgraduate Program in Psychobiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Girolamo Calo'
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Technopole of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elaine C Gavioli
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Senador salgado Filho, 3000, Campus Universitário - Lagoa Nova, Natal, 59078-900, Brazil.
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2
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Wang A, Murphy J, Shteynman L, Daksla N, Gupta A, Bergese S. Novel Opioids in the Setting of Acute Postoperative Pain: A Narrative Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 17:29. [PMID: 38256863 PMCID: PMC10819619 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Although traditional opioids such as morphine and oxycodone are commonly used in the management of acute postoperative pain, novel opioids may play a role as alternatives that provide potent pain relief while minimizing adverse effects. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of action, findings from preclinical studies and clinical trials, and potential advantages of several novel opioids. The more established include oliceridine (biased ligand activity to activate analgesia and downregulate opioid-related adverse events), tapentadol (mu-opioid agonist and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), and cebranopadol (mu-opioid agonist with nociceptin opioid peptide activity)-all of which have demonstrated success in the clinical setting when compared to traditional opioids. On the other hand, dinalbuphine sebacate (DNS; semi-synthetic mu partial antagonist and kappa agonist), dual enkephalinase inhibitors (STR-324, PL37, and PL265), and endomorphin-1 analog (CYT-1010) have shown good efficacy in preclinical studies with future plans for clinical trials. Rather than relying solely on mu-opioid receptor agonism to relieve pain and risk opioid-related adverse events (ORAEs), novel opioids make use of alternative mechanisms of action to treat pain while maintaining a safer side-effect profile, such as lower incidence of nausea, vomiting, sedation, and respiratory depression as well as reduced abuse potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (A.W.); (N.D.); (A.G.)
| | - Jasper Murphy
- Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (J.M.); (L.S.)
| | - Lana Shteynman
- Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (J.M.); (L.S.)
| | - Neil Daksla
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (A.W.); (N.D.); (A.G.)
| | - Abhishek Gupta
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (A.W.); (N.D.); (A.G.)
| | - Sergio Bergese
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (A.W.); (N.D.); (A.G.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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3
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Illuminati D, Trapella C, Zanirato V, Guerrini R, Albanese V, Sturaro C, Stragapede S, Malfacini D, Compagnin G, Catani M, Fantinati A. (L)-Monomethyl Tyrosine (Mmt): New Synthetic Strategy via Bulky 'Forced-Traceless' Regioselective Pd-Catalyzed C(sp 2)-H Activation. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1592. [PMID: 38004457 PMCID: PMC10675785 DOI: 10.3390/ph16111592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The enormous influence in terms of bioactivity, affinity, and selectivity represented by the replacement of (L)-2,6-dimethyl tyrosine (Dmt) instead of Phenylalanine (Phe) into Nociceptin/orphanin (N/OFQ) neuropeptide analogues has been well documented in the literature. More recently, the non-natural amino acid (L)-2-methyl tyrosine (Mmt), with steric hindrance included between Tyr and Dmt, has been studied because of the modulation of steric effects in opioid peptide chains. Here, we report a new synthetic strategy to obtain Mmt based on the well-known Pd-catalyzed ortho-C(sp2)-H activation approach, because there is a paucity of other synthetic routes in the literature to achieve it. The aim of this work was to force only the mono-ortho-methylation process over the double ortho-methylation one. In this regard, we are pleased to report that the introduction of the dibenzylamine moiety on a Tyr aromatic nucleus is a convenient and traceless solution to achieve such a goal. Interestingly, our method provided the aimed Mmt either as N-Boc or N-Fmoc derivatives ready to be inserted into peptide chains through solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Importantly, the introduction of Mmt in place of Phe1 in the sequence of N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 was very well tolerated in terms of pharmacological profile and bioactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Illuminati
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/d, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Claudio Trapella
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.T.); (V.Z.); (R.G.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Vinicio Zanirato
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.T.); (V.Z.); (R.G.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.T.); (V.Z.); (R.G.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Valentina Albanese
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Chiara Sturaro
- U.O. Neurological Clinic, University Hospital of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro, 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy; (C.S.)
| | - Simona Stragapede
- U.O. Neurological Clinic, University Hospital of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro, 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy; (C.S.)
| | - Davide Malfacini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via 8 Febbraio, 2, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Greta Compagnin
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.T.); (V.Z.); (R.G.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Martina Catani
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.T.); (V.Z.); (R.G.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Anna Fantinati
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
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Piekielna-Ciesielska J, Malfacini D, Djeujo FM, Marconato C, Wtorek K, Calo' G, Janecka A. Functional selectivity of EM-2 analogs at the mu-opioid receptor. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1133961. [PMID: 36909169 PMCID: PMC9998502 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1133961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The mu opioid receptor agonists are the most efficacious pain controlling agents but their use is accompanied by severe side effects. More recent developments indicate that some ligands can differentially activate receptor downstream pathways, possibly allowing for dissociation of analgesia mediated through the G protein from the opioid-related side effects mediated by β-arrestin pathway. In an effort to identify such biased ligands, here we present a series of thirteen endomorphin-2 (EM-2) analogs with modifications in positions 1, 2, and/or 3. All obtained analogs behaved as mu receptor selective agonists in calcium mobilization assay carried out on cells expressing opioid receptors and chimeric G proteins. A Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) approach was employed to determine the ability of analogs to promote the interaction of the mu opioid receptor with G protein or β-arrestin 2. Nearly half of the developed analogs showed strong bias towards G protein, in addition four compounds were nearly inactive towards β-arrestin 2 recruitment while blocking the propensity of EM-2 to evoke mu-β-arrestin 2 interaction. The data presented here contribute to our understanding of EM-2 interaction with the mu opioid receptor and of the transductional propagation of the signal. In addition, the generation of potent and selective mu receptor agonists strongly biased towards G protein provides the scientific community with novel tools to investigate the in vivo consequences of biased agonism at this receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Davide Malfacini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francine Medjiofack Djeujo
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chantal Marconato
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Karol Wtorek
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Girolamo Calo'
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Anna Janecka
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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Synthesis, Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Chimeric Peptides Targeting Opioid and NOP Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012700. [PMID: 36293553 PMCID: PMC9604311 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, mixed opioid/NOP agonists came to the spotlight for their favorable functional profiles and promising outcomes in clinical trials as novel analgesics. This study reports on two novel chimeric peptides incorporating the fragment Tyr-c[D-Lys-Phe-Phe]Asp-NH2 (RP-170), a cyclic peptide with high affinity for µ and κ opioid receptors (or MOP and KOP, respectively), conjugated with the peptide Ac-RYYRIK-NH2, a known ligand of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor (NOP), yielding RP-170-RYYRIK-NH2 (KW-495) and RP-170-Gly3-RYYRIK-NH2 (KW-496). In vitro, the chimeric KW-496 gained affinity for KOP, hence becoming a dual KOP/MOP agonist, while KW-495 behaved as a mixed MOP/NOP agonist with low nM affinity. Hence, KW-495 was selected for further in vivo experiments. Intrathecal administration of this peptide in mice elicited antinociceptive effects in the hot-plate test; this action was sensitive to both the universal opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and the selective NOP antagonist SB-612111. The rotarod test revealed that KW-495 administration did not alter the mice motor coordination performance. Computational studies have been conducted on the two chimeras to investigate the structural determinants at the basis of the experimental activities, including any role of the Gly3 spacer.
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Cebranopadol as a Novel Promising Agent for the Treatment of Pain. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27133987. [PMID: 35807228 PMCID: PMC9268744 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27133987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioids are used to treat pain, but despite their effectiveness, they possess several side effects such as respiratory depression, tolerance and physical dependence. Cebranopadol has been evaluated as a solution to this problem. The compound acts on the mu opioid receptor and the nociceptin/orphanin receptor and these receptors co-activation can reduce opioid side-effects without compromising analgesia. In the present review, we have compiled information on the effects of cebranopadol, its pharmacokinetics, and clinical trials involving cebranopadol, to further explore its promise in pain management.
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7
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Coluzzi F, Rullo L, Scerpa MS, Losapio LM, Rocco M, Billeci D, Candeletti S, Romualdi P. Current and Future Therapeutic Options in Pain Management: Multi-mechanistic Opioids Involving Both MOR and NOP Receptor Activation. CNS Drugs 2022; 36:617-632. [PMID: 35616826 PMCID: PMC9166888 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-022-00924-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Opioids are widely used in chronic pain management, despite major concerns about their risk of adverse events, particularly abuse, misuse, and respiratory depression from overdose. Multi-mechanistic opioids, such as tapentadol and buprenorphine, have been widely studied as a valid alternative to traditional opioids for their safer profile. Special interest was focused on the role of the nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptor in terms of analgesia and improved tolerability. Nociceptin opioid peptide receptor agonists were shown to reinforce the antinociceptive effect of mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists and modulate some of their adverse effects. Therefore, multi-mechanistic opioids involving both MOR and NOP receptor activation became a major field of pharmaceutical and clinical investigations. Buprenorphine was re-discovered in a new perspective, as an atypical analgesic and as a substitution therapy for opioid use disorders; and buprenorphine derivatives have been tested in animal models of nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Similarly, cebranopadol, a full MOR/NOP receptor agonist, has been clinically evaluated for its potent analgesic efficacy and better tolerability profile, compared with traditional opioids. This review overviews pharmacological mechanisms of the NOP receptor system, including its role in pain management and in the development of opioid tolerance. Clinical data on buprenorphine suggest its role as a safer alternative to traditional opioids, particularly in patients with non-cancer pain; while data on cebranopadol still require phase III study results to approve its introduction on the market. Other bifunctional MOR/NOP receptor ligands, such as BU08028, BU10038, and AT-121, are currently under pharmacological investigations and could represent promising analgesic agents for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flaminia Coluzzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy
- Unit Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Rullo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Maria Sole Scerpa
- Unit Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Loredana Maria Losapio
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Monica Rocco
- Department of Surgical and Medical Science and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Sanzio Candeletti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, Bologna, 40126, Italy.
| | - Patrizia Romualdi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, Bologna, 40126, Italy
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8
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Spotlight on Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Receptor in the Treatment of Pain. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27030595. [PMID: 35163856 PMCID: PMC8838650 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In our society today, pain has become a main source of strain on most individuals. It is crucial to develop novel treatments against pain while focusing on decreasing their adverse effects. Throughout the extent of development for new pain therapies, the nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor (NOP receptor) has appeared to be an encouraging focal point. Concentrating on NOP receptor to treat chronic pain with limited range of unwanted effects serves as a suitable alternative to prototypical opioid morphine that could potentially lead to life-threatening effects caused by respiratory depression in overdose, as well as generate abuse and addiction. In addition to these harmful effects, the uprising opioid epidemic is responsible for becoming one of the most disastrous public health issues in the US. In this article, the contributing molecular and cellular structure in controlling the cellular trafficking of NOP receptor and studies that support the role of NOP receptor and its ligands in pain management are reviewed.
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Ubaldi M, Cannella N, Borruto AM, Petrella M, Micioni Di Bonaventura MV, Soverchia L, Stopponi S, Weiss F, Cifani C, Ciccocioppo R. Role of Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ-NOP Receptor System in the Regulation of Stress-Related Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12956. [PMID: 34884757 PMCID: PMC8657682 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is a 17-residue neuropeptide that binds the nociceptin opioid-like receptor (NOP). N/OFQ exhibits nucleotidic and aminoacidics sequence homology with the precursors of other opioid neuropeptides but it does not activate either MOP, KOP or DOP receptors. Furthermore, opioid neuropeptides do not activate the NOP receptor. Generally, activation of N/OFQ system exerts anti-opioids effects, for instance toward opioid-induced reward and analgesia. The NOP receptor is widely expressed throughout the brain, whereas N/OFQ localization is confined to brain nuclei that are involved in stress response such as amygdala, BNST and hypothalamus. Decades of studies have delineated the biological role of this system demonstrating its involvement in significant physiological processes such as pain, learning and memory, anxiety, depression, feeding, drug and alcohol dependence. This review discusses the role of this peptidergic system in the modulation of stress and stress-associated psychiatric disorders in particular drug addiction, mood, anxiety and food-related associated-disorders. Emerging preclinical evidence suggests that both NOP agonists and antagonists may represent a effective therapeutic approaches for substances use disorder. Moreover, the current literature suggests that NOP antagonists can be useful to treat depression and feeding-related diseases, such as obesity and binge eating behavior, whereas the activation of NOP receptor by agonists could be a promising tool for anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Ubaldi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.U.); (N.C.); (A.M.B.); (M.P.); (M.V.M.D.B.); (L.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Nazzareno Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.U.); (N.C.); (A.M.B.); (M.P.); (M.V.M.D.B.); (L.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Anna Maria Borruto
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.U.); (N.C.); (A.M.B.); (M.P.); (M.V.M.D.B.); (L.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Michele Petrella
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.U.); (N.C.); (A.M.B.); (M.P.); (M.V.M.D.B.); (L.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Maria Vittoria Micioni Di Bonaventura
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.U.); (N.C.); (A.M.B.); (M.P.); (M.V.M.D.B.); (L.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Laura Soverchia
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.U.); (N.C.); (A.M.B.); (M.P.); (M.V.M.D.B.); (L.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Serena Stopponi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.U.); (N.C.); (A.M.B.); (M.P.); (M.V.M.D.B.); (L.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Friedbert Weiss
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
| | - Carlo Cifani
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.U.); (N.C.); (A.M.B.); (M.P.); (M.V.M.D.B.); (L.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.U.); (N.C.); (A.M.B.); (M.P.); (M.V.M.D.B.); (L.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.)
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De Neve J, Barlow TMA, Tourwé D, Bihel F, Simonin F, Ballet S. Comprehensive overview of biased pharmacology at the opioid receptors: biased ligands and bias factors. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:828-870. [PMID: 34223156 PMCID: PMC8221262 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00041a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the main challenges in contemporary medicinal chemistry is the development of safer analgesics, used in the treatment of pain. Currently, moderate to severe pain is still treated with the "gold standard" opioids whose long-term often leads to severe side effects. With the discovery of biased agonism, the importance of this area of pharmacology has grown exponentially over the past decade. Of these side effects, tolerance, opioid misuse, physical dependence and substance use disorder (SUD) stand out, since these have led to many deaths over the past decades in both USA and Europe. New therapeutic molecules that induce a biased response at the opioid receptors (MOR, DOR, KOR and NOP receptor) are able to circumvent these side effects and, consequently, serve as more advantageous therapies with great promise. The concept of biased signaling extends far beyond the already sizeable field of GPCR pharmacology and covering everything would be vastly outside the scope of this review which consequently covers the biased ligands acting at the opioid family of receptors. The limitation of quantifying bias, however, makes this a controversial subject, where it is dependent on the reference ligand, the equation or the assay used for the quantification. Hence, the major issue in the field of biased ligands remains the translation of the in vitro profiles of biased signaling, with corresponding bias factors to in vivo profiles showing the presence or the lack of specific side effects. This review comprises a comprehensive overview of biased ligands in addition to their bias factors at individual members of the opioid family of receptors, as well as bifunctional ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien De Neve
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium
| | - Thomas M A Barlow
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium
| | - Dirk Tourwé
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium
| | - Frédéric Bihel
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, UMR 7200, CNRS Université de Strasbourg Illkirch France
| | - Frédéric Simonin
- Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, UMR 7242, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg Illkirch France
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium
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11
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Toll L, Cippitelli A, Ozawa A. The NOP Receptor System in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders: Discrepancies, Peculiarities and Clinical Progress in Developing Targeted Therapies. CNS Drugs 2021; 35:591-607. [PMID: 34057709 PMCID: PMC8279133 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-021-00821-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptor and its endogenous ligand nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) are the fourth members of the opioid receptor and opioid peptide families. Although they have considerable sequence homology to the other family members, they are not considered opioid per se because they do not have pharmacological profiles similar to the other family members. The number of NOP receptors in the brain is higher than the other family members, and NOP receptors can be found throughout the brain. Because of the widespread distribution of NOP receptors, N/OFQ and other peptide and small molecule agonists and antagonists have extensive CNS activities. Originally thought to be anti-opioid, NOP receptor agonists block some opioid activities, potentiate others, and modulate other activities not affected by traditional opiates. Because the effect of receptor activation can be dependent upon site of administration, state of the animal, and other variables, the study of NOP receptors has been fraught with contradictions and inconsistencies. In this article, the actions and controversies pertaining to NOP receptor activation and inhibition are discussed with respect to CNS disorders including pain (acute, chronic, and migraine), drug abuse, anxiety and depression. In addition, progress towards clinical use of NOP receptor-directed compounds is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Toll
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Akihiko Ozawa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
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12
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Pacifico S, Albanese V, Illuminati D, Marzola E, Fabbri M, Ferrari F, Holanda VAD, Sturaro C, Malfacini D, Ruzza C, Trapella C, Preti D, Lo Cascio E, Arcovito A, Della Longa S, Marangoni M, Fattori D, Nassini R, Calò G, Guerrini R. Novel Mixed NOP/Opioid Receptor Peptide Agonists. J Med Chem 2021; 64:6656-6669. [PMID: 33998786 PMCID: PMC8279409 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ)/N/OFQ receptor (NOP) system
controls different biological functions including pain and cough reflex.
Mixed NOP/opioid receptor agonists elicit similar effects to strong
opioids but with reduced side effects. In this work, 31 peptides with
the general sequence [Tyr/Dmt1,Xaa5]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 were synthesized and pharmacologically characterized for
their action at human recombinant NOP/opioid receptors. The best results
in terms of NOP versus mu opioid receptor potency were obtained by
substituting both Tyr1 and Thr5 at the N-terminal
portion of N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 with the noncanonical amino
acid Dmt. [Dmt1,5]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 has been identified
as the most potent dual NOP/mu receptor peptide agonist so far described.
Experimental data have been complemented by in silico studies to shed light on the molecular mechanisms by which the peptide
binds the active form of the mu receptor. Finally, the compound exerted
antitussive effects in an in vivo model of cough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Pacifico
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Valentina Albanese
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Davide Illuminati
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Erika Marzola
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Martina Fabbri
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Federica Ferrari
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Victor A D Holanda
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Chiara Sturaro
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Davide Malfacini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Largo Meneghetti 2, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, Ferrara 44121, Italy.,Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, via Fossato di Mortara 70, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Claudio Trapella
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy.,Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, via Fossato di Mortara 70, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Delia Preti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Ettore Lo Cascio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, Roma 00168, Italy
| | - Alessandro Arcovito
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, Roma 00168, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo F. Vito 1, Roma 00168, Italy
| | - Stefano Della Longa
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Pza S. Tommasi 1, L'Aquila 67100, Italy
| | - Martina Marangoni
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 6, Florence 50139, Italy
| | - Davide Fattori
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 6, Florence 50139, Italy
| | - Romina Nassini
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 6, Florence 50139, Italy
| | - Girolamo Calò
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Largo Meneghetti 2, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy.,Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, via Fossato di Mortara 70, Ferrara 44121, Italy
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13
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Costanzini A, Ruzza C, Neto JA, Sturaro C, Malfacini D, Sternini C, De Giorgio R, Calò G. Pharmacological characterization of naloxegol: In vitro and in vivo studies. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 903:174132. [PMID: 33933466 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Opioid-induced constipation is the most prevalent adverse effect of opioid drugs. Peripherally acting mu opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs), including naloxegol, are indicated for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation. The aim of this study was the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization of naloxegol in comparison with naloxone. In vitro experiments were performed to measure calcium mobilization in cells coexpressing opioid receptors and chimeric G proteins and mu receptor interaction with G protein and β-arrestin 2 using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer. In vivo experiments were performed in mice to measure pain threshold using the tail withdrawal assay and colonic transit using the bead expulsion assay. In vitro, naloxegol behaved as a selective and competitive mu receptor antagonist similarly to naloxone, being 3-10-fold less potent. In vivo, naloxone was effective in blocking fentanyl actions when given subcutaneously (sc), but not per os (po). In contrast, naloxegol elicited very similar effects with sc or po administration counteracting in a dose dependent manner the constipating effects of fentanyl without interfering with the fentanyl mediated analgesia. Thus, a useful PAMORA action could be obtained with naloxegol both after po and sc administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Costanzini
- Department Translational Medicine, St. Anna University Hospital, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Technopole of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Joaquim Azevedo Neto
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Sturaro
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Davide Malfacini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Catia Sternini
- Digestive Disease Division, Departments of Medicine and Neurobiology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Roberto De Giorgio
- Department Translational Medicine, St. Anna University Hospital, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Girolamo Calò
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Italy
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14
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Azevedo Neto J, Ruzza C, Sturaro C, Malfacini D, Pacifico S, Zaveri NT, Calò G. Functional Selectivity Does Not Predict Antinociceptive/Locomotor Impairing Potencies of NOP Receptor Agonists. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:657153. [PMID: 33859548 PMCID: PMC8042269 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.657153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ controls several functions, including pain transmission, via stimulation of the N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor. Here we tested the hypothesis that NOP biased agonism may be instrumental for identifying innovative analgesics. In vitro experiments were performed with the dynamic mass redistribution label free assay and the NOP non-peptide agonists Ro 65-6570, AT-403 and MCOPPB. In vivo studies were performed in wild type and β-arrestin 2 knockout mice using the formalin, rotarod and locomotor activity tests. In vitro all compounds mimicked the effects of N/OFQ behaving as potent NOP full agonists. In vivo Ro 65-6570 demonstrated a slightly higher therapeutic index (antinociceptive vs. motor impairment effects) in knockout mice. However, all NOP agonists displayed very similar therapeutic index in normal mice despite significant differences in G protein biased agonism. In conclusion the different ability of inducing G protein vs. β-arrestin 2 recruitment of a NOP agonist cannot be applied to predict its antinociceptive vs. motor impairment properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Azevedo Neto
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Sturaro
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Davide Malfacini
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Salvatore Pacifico
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Girolamo Calò
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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15
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Pacifico S, Ferrari F, Albanese V, Marzola E, Neto JA, Ruzza C, Calò G, Preti D, Guerrini R. Biased Agonism at Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Receptors: A Structure Activity Study on N/OFQ(1-13)-NH 2. J Med Chem 2020; 63:10782-10795. [PMID: 32901477 PMCID: PMC8011926 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b02057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) controls different biological functions via selective stimulation of the N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor. The pleiotropic actions of N/OFQ may limit the development of NOP ligands as innovative drugs in different therapeutic areas. The pharmacological concept of functional selectivity (aka biased agonism) might be useful for amplifying beneficial actions and/or counteracting side effects. Thus, molecules with large bias factors toward G protein or β arrestin are required for investigating the translational value of NOP biased modulation. Herein, the biased behavior of a heterogeneous library of NOP-targeting peptide derivatives was evaluated in vitro with the aim to provide possible insights into the structural determinants that govern the selective activation of G protein versus β-arrestin. Our results demonstrate that lipidation of N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 is a useful strategy for obtaining G protein biased agonists for the NOP receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Pacifico
- Department
of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Federica Ferrari
- Department
of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valentina Albanese
- Department
of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Erika Marzola
- Department
of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Joaquim Azevedo Neto
- Department
of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department
of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- LTTA
Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Technopole
of Ferrara, Via Fossato
di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Girolamo Calò
- Department
of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Delia Preti
- Department
of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department
of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- LTTA
Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Technopole
of Ferrara, Via Fossato
di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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16
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Gibula-Tarlowska E, Kotlinska JH. Crosstalk between Opioid and Anti-Opioid Systems: An Overview and Its Possible Therapeutic Significance. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1376. [PMID: 32998249 PMCID: PMC7599993 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid peptides and receptors are broadly expressed throughout peripheral and central nervous systems and have been the subject of intense long-term investigations. Such studies indicate that some endogenous neuropeptides, called anti-opioids, participate in a homeostatic system that tends to reduce the effects of endogenous and exogenous opioids. Anti-opioid properties have been attributed to various peptides, including melanocyte inhibiting factor (MIF)-related peptides, cholecystokinin (CCK), nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), and neuropeptide FF (NPFF). These peptides counteract some of the acute effects of opioids, and therefore, they are involved in the development of opioid tolerance and addiction. In this work, the anti-opioid profile of endogenous peptides was described, mainly taking into account their inhibitory influence on opioid-induced effects. However, the anti-opioid peptides demonstrated complex properties and could show opioid-like as well as anti-opioid effects. The aim of this review is to detail the phenomenon of crosstalk taking place between opioid and anti-opioid systems at the in vivo pharmacological level and to propose a cellular and molecular basis for these interactions. A better knowledge of these mechanisms has potential therapeutic interest for the control of opioid functions, notably for alleviating pain and/or for the treatment of opioid abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Gibula-Tarlowska
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University, 20-059 Lublin, Poland;
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17
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Abstract
Achieving effective pain management is one of the major challenges associated with modern day medicine. Opioids, such as morphine, have been the reference treatment for moderate to severe acute pain not excluding chronic pain modalities. Opioids act through the opioid receptors, the family of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that mediate pain relief through both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Four types of opioid receptors have been described, including the μ-opioid receptor (MOR), κ-opioid receptor (KOR), δ-opioid receptor (DOR), and the nociceptin opioid peptide receptor (NOP receptor). Despite the proven success of opioids in treating pain, there are still some inherent limitations. All clinically approved MOR analgesics are associated with adverse effects, which include tolerance, dependence, addiction, constipation, and respiratory depression. On the other hand, KOR selective analgesics have found limited clinical utility because they cause sedation, anxiety, dysphoria, and hallucinations. DOR agonists have also been investigated but they have a tendency to cause convulsions. Ligands targeting NOP receptor have been reported in the preclinical literature to be useful as spinal analgesics and as entities against substance abuse disorders while mixed MOR/NOP receptor agonists are useful as analgesics. Ultimately, the goal of opioid-related drug development has always been to design and synthesize derivatives that are equally or more potent than morphine but most importantly are devoid of the dangerous residual side effects and abuse potential. One proposed strategy is to take advantage of biased agonism, in which distinct downstream pathways can be activated by different molecules working through the exact same receptor. It has been proposed that ligands not recruiting β-arrestin 2 or showing a preference for activating a specific G-protein mediated signal transduction pathway will function as safer analgesic across all opioid subtypes. This review will focus on the design and the pharmacological outcomes of biased ligands at the opioid receptors, aiming at achieving functional selectivity.
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18
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Azevedo Neto J, Costanzini A, De Giorgio R, Lambert DG, Ruzza C, Calò G. Biased versus Partial Agonism in the Search for Safer Opioid Analgesics. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25173870. [PMID: 32854452 PMCID: PMC7504468 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25173870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioids such as morphine—acting at the mu opioid receptor—are the mainstay for treatment of moderate to severe pain and have good efficacy in these indications. However, these drugs produce a plethora of unwanted adverse effects including respiratory depression, constipation, immune suppression and with prolonged treatment, tolerance, dependence and abuse liability. Studies in β-arrestin 2 gene knockout (βarr2(−/−)) animals indicate that morphine analgesia is potentiated while side effects are reduced, suggesting that drugs biased away from arrestin may manifest with a reduced-side-effect profile. However, there is controversy in this area with improvement of morphine-induced constipation and reduced respiratory effects in βarr2(−/−) mice. Moreover, studies performed with mice genetically engineered with G-protein-biased mu receptors suggested increased sensitivity of these animals to both analgesic actions and side effects of opioid drugs. Several new molecules have been identified as mu receptor G-protein-biased agonists, including oliceridine (TRV130), PZM21 and SR–17018. These compounds have provided preclinical data with apparent support for bias toward G proteins and the genetic premise of effective and safer analgesics. There are clinical data for oliceridine that have been very recently approved for short term intravenous use in hospitals and other controlled settings. While these data are compelling and provide a potential new pathway-based target for drug discovery, a simpler explanation for the behavior of these biased agonists revolves around differences in intrinsic activity. A highly detailed study comparing oliceridine, PZM21 and SR–17018 (among others) in a range of assays showed that these molecules behave as partial agonists. Moreover, there was a correlation between their therapeutic indices and their efficacies, but not their bias factors. If there is amplification of G-protein, but not arrestin pathways, then agonists with reduced efficacy would show high levels of activity at G-protein and low or absent activity at arrestin; offering analgesia with reduced side effects or ‘apparent bias’. Overall, the current data suggests—and we support—caution in ascribing biased agonism to reduced-side-effect profiles for mu-agonist analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Azevedo Neto
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.A.N.); (G.C.)
| | - Anna Costanzini
- Department of Morphology, Surgery, Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.C.); (R.D.G.)
| | - Roberto De Giorgio
- Department of Morphology, Surgery, Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.C.); (R.D.G.)
| | - David G. Lambert
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Management, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK;
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.A.N.); (G.C.)
- Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Girolamo Calò
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.A.N.); (G.C.)
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19
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Asth L, Tiago PRF, Costa LRF, Holanda VAD, Pacifico S, Zaveri NT, Calo' G, Ruzza C, Gavioli EC. Effects of non-peptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor ligands on methylphenidate-induced hyperactivity in mice: Implications for bipolar disorders. Neuropeptides 2020; 82:102059. [PMID: 32600667 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2020.102059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric pathology characterized by biphasic mood episodes of mania or hypomania and depression. The pharmacotherapy of bipolar disorder has significant adverse effects impairing treatment adherence and patient quality of life. The N/OFQ-NOP receptor system has been widely implicated with mood disorders. Clinical and preclinical findings suggest antidepressants actions for NOP antagonists. More recently, the administration of NOP agonists has shown to promote depressant states. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of non-peptide NOP ligands in methylphenidate-induced manic-like behavior in mice. The NOP agonist Ro 65-6570 (0.01-1 mg/kg, ip), at the higher dose, did not affect spontaneous locomotion per se, but prevented the methylphenidate (10 mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion. The NOP partial agonist AT-090 (0.001-0.03 mg/kg, ip) and the NOP antagonist SB-612111 (1-10 mg/kg, ip) did not significantly affect the psychostimulant-induced hyperactivity. Experiments performed with mice lacking the NOP receptor (NOP(-/-)) demonstrated that the treatment with methylphenidate induced similar hyperlocomotion in NOP(-/-) and NOP(+/+) mice. In conclusion, these findings suggest a potential role for NOP agonists in the prevention of manic states, especially by counteracting the hyperactivity symptom of bipolar patients. However, more studies are necessary in order to evaluate these compounds in other features of bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Asth
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Pamella R F Tiago
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Layse R F Costa
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Victor A D Holanda
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Salvatore Pacifico
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nurulain T Zaveri
- Astraea Therapeutics, LLC., 320 Logue Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States
| | - Girolamo Calo'
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elaine C Gavioli
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
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20
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Effects of Cebranopadol on Cocaine-induced Hyperactivity and Cocaine Pharmacokinetics in Rats. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9254. [PMID: 32518276 PMCID: PMC7283222 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66250-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cebranopadol is known as a highly potent analgesic. Recent studies also demonstrated that administration of cebranopadol significantly decreased cocaine self-administration and significantly reduced cue-induced cocaine-seeking behaviors in rats. However, it was unclear whether these interesting behavioral observations are related to any potential effects of cebranopadol on cocaine pharmacokinetics or cocaine-induced hyperactivity. In principle, a promising therapeutic candidate for cocaine dependence treatment may alter the cocaine pharmacokinetics and/or attenuate cocaine-induced reward and hyperactivity and, thus, decrease cocaine self-administration and reduce cue-induced cocaine-seeking behaviors. In this study, we examined possible effects of cebranopadol on cocaine pharmacokinetics and cocaine-induced hyperactivity for the first time. According to our animal data in rats, cebranopadol did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of cocaine. According to our more extensive locomotor activity testing data, cebranopadol itself also dose-dependently induced hyperactivity in rats at doses higher than 50 µg/kg. Cebranopadol at a low dose of 25 µg/kg (p.o.) did not induce significant hyperactivity itself, but significantly potentiated cocaine-induced hyperactivity on Days 4 to 7 after the repeated daily dosing of the drug.
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21
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Bilel S, Azevedo NJ, Arfè R, Tirri M, Gregori A, Serpelloni G, De-Giorgio F, Frisoni P, Neri M, Calò G, Marti M. In vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization of the synthetic opioid MT-45. Neuropharmacology 2020; 171:108110. [PMID: 32344007 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
MT-45 is a synthetic opioid that was developed in the 1970s as an analgesic compound. However, in recent years MT-45 has been associated with multiple deaths in Europe and has been included in the class of novel psychoactive substances known as novel synthetic opioids (NSOs). Little is known about the pharmaco-toxicological effects of MT-45. Therefore, we used a dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assay to investigate the pharmacodynamic profile of this NSO in vitro compared with morphine. We then used in vivo studies to investigate the effect of the acute systemic administration of MT-45 (0.01-15 mg/kg i.p.) on motor and sensorimotor (visual, acoustic and tactile) responses, mechanical and thermal analgesia, muscle strength and body temperature in CD-1 male mice. Higher doses of MT-45 (6-30 mg/kg i.p.) were used to investigate cardiorespiratory changes (heart rate, respiratory rate, SpO2 saturation and pulse distention). All effects of MT-45 were compared with those of morphine. In vitro DMR assay results demonstrated that at human recombinant opioid receptors MT-45 behaves as a potent selective mu agonist with a slightly higher efficacy than morphine. In vivo results showed that MT-45 progressively induces tail elevation at the lowest dose tested (0.01 mg/kg), increased mechanical and thermal antinociception (starting from 1 to 6 mg/kg), decreased visual sensorimotor responses (starting from 3 to 6 mg/kg) and reduced tactile responses, modulated motor performance and induced muscle rigidity at higher doses (15 mg/kg). In addition, at higher doses (15-30 mg/kg) MT-45 impaired the cardiorespiratory functions. All effects were prevented by the administration of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. These findings reveal the risks associated with the ingestion of opioids and the importance of studying these drugs and undertaking more clinical studies of the current molecules to better understand possible therapeutic interventions in the case of toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bilel
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - N J Azevedo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - R Arfè
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy; Institute of Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - M Tirri
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - A Gregori
- Carabinieri, Department of Scientific Investigation (RIS), 00191, Rome, Italy
| | - G Serpelloni
- Department of Psychiatry in the College of Medicine, Drug Policy Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - F De-Giorgio
- Institute of Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - P Frisoni
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - M Neri
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - G Calò
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - M Marti
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy; Collaborative Center of the National Early Warning System, Department for Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy.
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22
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Kiguchi N, Ding H, Ko MC. Therapeutic potentials of NOP and MOP receptor coactivation for the treatment of pain and opioid abuse. J Neurosci Res 2020; 100:191-202. [PMID: 32255240 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Following the identification of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide (NOP) as an endogenous ligand for the NOP receptor, ample evidence has revealed unique functional profiles of the N/OFQ-NOP receptor system. NOP receptors are expressed in key neural substrates involved in pain and reward modulation. In nonhuman primates (NHPs), NOP receptor activation effectively exerts antinociception and anti-hypersensitivity at the spinal and supraspinal levels. Moreover, NOP receptor activation inhibits dopaminergic transmission and synergistically enhances mu-opioid peptide (MOP) receptor-mediated analgesia. In this article, we have discussed the functional profiles of ligands with dual NOP and MOP receptor agonist activities and highlight their optimal functional efficacy for pain relief and drug abuse treatment. Through coactivation of NOP and MOP receptors, bifunctional NOP/MOP receptor "partial" agonists (e.g., AT-121, BU08028, and BU10038) reveal a wider therapeutic window with fewer side effects. These newly developed ligands potently induce antinociception without MOP receptor agonist-associated side effects such as abuse potential, respiratory depression, itching sensation, and physical dependence. In addition, in both rodent and NHP models, bifunctional NOP/MOP receptor agonists can attenuate reward processing and/or the reinforcing effects of opioids and other abused drugs. While a mixed NOP/opioid receptor "full" agonist cebranopadol is undergoing clinical trials, bifunctional NOP/MOP "partial" agonists exhibit promising therapeutic profiles in translational NHP models for the treatment of pain and opioid abuse. This class of drugs demonstrates the therapeutic advantage of NOP and MOP receptor coactivation, indicating a greater potential for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norikazu Kiguchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Huiping Ding
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Mei-Chuan Ko
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.,W.G. Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salisbury, NC, USA
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23
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Senese NB, Kandasamy R, Kochan KE, Traynor JR. Regulator of G-Protein Signaling (RGS) Protein Modulation of Opioid Receptor Signaling as a Potential Target for Pain Management. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:5. [PMID: 32038168 PMCID: PMC6992652 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid drugs are the gold standard for the management of pain, but their use is severely limited by dangerous and unpleasant side effects. All clinically available opioid analgesics bind to and activate the mu-opioid receptor (MOR), a heterotrimeric G-protein-coupled receptor, to produce analgesia. The activity of these receptors is modulated by a family of intracellular RGS proteins or regulators of G-protein signaling proteins, characterized by the presence of a conserved RGS Homology (RH) domain. These proteins act as negative regulators of G-protein signaling by serving as GTPase accelerating proteins or GAPS to switch off signaling by both the Gα and βγ subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins. Consequently, knockdown or knockout of RGS protein activity enhances signaling downstream of MOR. In this review we discuss current knowledge of how this activity, across the different families of RGS proteins, modulates MOR activity, as well as activity of other members of the opioid receptor family, and so pain and analgesia in animal models, with particular emphasis on RGS4 and RGS9 families. We discuss inhibition of RGS proteins with small molecule inhibitors that bind to sensitive cysteine moieties in the RH domain and the potential for targeting this family of intracellular proteins as adjuncts to provide an opioid sparing effect or as standalone analgesics by promoting the activity of endogenous opioid peptides. Overall, we conclude that RGS proteins may be a novel drug target to provide analgesia with reduced opioid-like side effects, but that much basic work is needed to define the roles for specific RGS proteins, particularly in chronic pain, as well as a need to develop newer inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas B Senese
- Department of Pharmacology, Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ram Kandasamy
- Department of Pharmacology, Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Psychology, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA, United States
| | - Kelsey E Kochan
- Department of Pharmacology, Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - John R Traynor
- Department of Pharmacology, Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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24
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Holanda VAD, Pacifico S, Azevedo Neto J, Finetti L, Lobão-Soares B, Calo G, Gavioli EC, Ruzza C. Modulation of the NOP receptor signaling affects resilience to acute stress. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:1540-1549. [PMID: 31337258 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119864942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The peptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and its receptor (NOP) are implicated in the modulation of emotional states. Previous human and rodent findings support NOP antagonists as antidepressants. However, the role played by the N/OFQ-NOP receptor system in resilience to stress is unclear. AIMS The present study investigated the effects of activation or blockade of NOP receptor signaling before exposure to acute stress. METHODS The behavioral effects of the administration before stress of the NOP agonists Ro 65-6570 (0.01-1 mg/kg) and MCOPPB (0.1-10 mg/kg), and the NOP antagonist SB-612111 (1-10 mg/kg) were assessed in mice exposed to inescapable electric footshock and forced swim as stressors. The behavioral phenotype of mice lacking the NOP receptor (NOP(-/-)) exposed to inescapable electric footshock was also investigated. RESULTS The activation of NOP receptor signaling with the agonists increased the percentage of mice developing helpless behavior and facilitated immobile posture. In contrast, the blockade of NOP receptor reduced the acquisition of depressive-like phenotypes, and similar resistance to develop helpless behaviors was observed in NOP(-/-) mice. Under the same stressful conditions, the antidepressant nortriptyline (20 mg/kg) did not change the acquisition of helpless behavior and immobile posture. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the view that NOP activation during acute stress facilitates the development of depressive-related behaviors, whereas NOP blockade has a protective outcome. This study showed for first time that NOP antagonists are worthy of investigation as preemptive treatments in patients with severe risk factors for depression.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Benzimidazoles/administration & dosage
- Benzimidazoles/pharmacology
- Cycloheptanes/administration & dosage
- Cycloheptanes/pharmacology
- Depression/drug therapy
- Depression/physiopathology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Female
- Imidazoles/administration & dosage
- Imidazoles/pharmacology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Nortriptyline/pharmacology
- Opioid Peptides/metabolism
- Piperidines/administration & dosage
- Piperidines/pharmacology
- Receptors, Opioid/drug effects
- Receptors, Opioid/genetics
- Receptors, Opioid/metabolism
- Resilience, Psychological/drug effects
- Spiro Compounds/administration & dosage
- Spiro Compounds/pharmacology
- Stress, Psychological/drug therapy
- Stress, Psychological/physiopathology
- Nociceptin Receptor
- Nociceptin
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor A D Holanda
- Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Salvatore Pacifico
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Joaquim Azevedo Neto
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Luca Finetti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Bruno Lobão-Soares
- Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Girolamo Calo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elaine C Gavioli
- Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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25
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Chao PK, Chang HF, Chang WT, Yeh TK, Ou LC, Chuang JY, Tsu-An Hsu J, Tao PL, Loh HH, Shih C, Ueng SH, Yeh SH. BPR1M97, a dual mu opioid receptor/nociceptin-orphanin FQ peptide receptor agonist, produces potent antinociceptive effects with safer properties than morphine. Neuropharmacology 2019; 166:107678. [PMID: 31278929 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
There is unmet need to design an analgesic with fewer side effects for severe pain management. Although traditional opioids are the most effective painkillers, they are accompanied by severe adverse responses, such as respiratory depression, constipation symptoms, tolerance, withdrawal, and addiction. We indicated BPR1M97 as a dual mu opioid receptor (MOP)/nociceptin-orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor full agonist and investigated the pharmacology of BPR1M97 in multiple animal models. In vitro studies on BPR1M97 were assessed using cyclic-adenosine monophosphate production, β-arrestin, internalization, and membrane potential assays. In vivo studies were characterized using the tail-flick, tail-clip, lung functional, heart functional, acetone drop, von Frey hair, charcoal meal, glass bead, locomotor activity, conditioned place preference (CPP) and naloxone precipitation tests. BPR1M97 elicited full agonist properties for all cell-based assays tested in MOP-expressing cells. However, it acted as a G protein-biased agonist for NOP. BPR1M97 initiated faster antinociceptive effects at 10 min after subcutaneous injection and elicited better analgesia in cancer-induced pain than morphine. Unlike morphine, BPR1M97 caused less respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. In addition, BPR1M97 decreased global activity and induced less withdrawal jumping precipitated by naloxone. Thus, BPR1M97 could serve as a novel small molecule dual receptor agonist for antinociception with fewer side effects than morphine. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'New Vistas in Opioid Pharmacology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Kuan Chao
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Fu Chang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ting Chang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Teng-Kuang Yeh
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Li-Chin Ou
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Jian-Ying Chuang
- The PhD Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan
| | - John Tsu-An Hsu
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Pao-Luh Tao
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Heath Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Horace H Loh
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455-0217, USA
| | - Chuan Shih
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Shau-Hua Ueng
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Shiu-Hwa Yeh
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan; The PhD Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.
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26
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Hot topics in opioid pharmacology: mixed and biased opioids. Br J Anaesth 2019; 122:e136-e145. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
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27
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Mann A, Moulédous L, Froment C, O'Neill PR, Dasgupta P, Günther T, Brunori G, Kieffer BL, Toll L, Bruchas MR, Zaveri NT, Schulz S. Agonist-selective NOP receptor phosphorylation correlates in vitro and in vivo and reveals differential post-activation signaling by chemically diverse agonists. Sci Signal 2019; 12:12/574/eaau8072. [PMID: 30914485 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aau8072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Agonists of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ opioid peptide (NOP) receptor, a member of the opioid receptor family, are under active investigation as novel analgesics, but their modes of signaling are less well characterized than those of other members of the opioid receptor family. Therefore, we investigated whether different NOP receptor ligands showed differential signaling or functional selectivity at the NOP receptor. Using newly developed phosphosite-specific antibodies to the NOP receptor, we found that agonist-induced NOP receptor phosphorylation occurred primarily at four carboxyl-terminal serine (Ser) and threonine (Thr) residues, namely, Ser346, Ser351, Thr362, and Ser363, and proceeded with a temporal hierarchy, with Ser346 as the first site of phosphorylation. G protein-coupled receptor kinases 2 and 3 (GRK2/3) cooperated during agonist-induced phosphorylation, which, in turn, facilitated NOP receptor desensitization and internalization. A comparison of structurally distinct NOP receptor agonists revealed dissociation in functional efficacies between G protein-dependent signaling and receptor phosphorylation. Furthermore, in NOP-eGFP and NOP-eYFP mice, NOP receptor agonists induced multisite phosphorylation and internalization in a dose-dependent and agonist-selective manner that could be blocked by specific antagonists. Our study provides new tools to study ligand-activated NOP receptor signaling in vitro and in vivo. Differential agonist-selective NOP receptor phosphorylation by chemically diverse NOP receptor agonists suggests that differential signaling by NOP receptor agonists may play a role in NOP receptor ligand pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Mann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Drackendorfer Str. 1, Jena 07747, Germany.
| | - Lionel Moulédous
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, Toulouse University, CNRS, UPS, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 09, France
| | - Carine Froment
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
| | - Patrick R O'Neill
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Pooja Dasgupta
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Drackendorfer Str. 1, Jena 07747, Germany
| | - Thomas Günther
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Drackendorfer Str. 1, Jena 07747, Germany
| | - Gloria Brunori
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Brigitte L Kieffer
- Douglas Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Departments of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Stefan Schulz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Drackendorfer Str. 1, Jena 07747, Germany.
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28
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Ruzza C, Holanda VA, Gavioli EC, Trapella C, Calo G. NOP agonist action of cebranopadol counteracts its liability to promote physical dependence. Peptides 2019; 112:101-105. [PMID: 30550769 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cebranopadol is a mixed NOP/opioid receptor agonist currently under development as innovative analgesic. In this study the liability of cebranopadol to produce opioid-type physical dependence has been evaluated in comparison with morphine in wild type mice and in mice knockout for the NOP receptor gene (NOP(-/-)). Mice were treated twice a day for 5 days with increasing doses of cebranopadol or morphine (cumulative doses 10.2 and 255 mg/kg, respectively) and the number of jumping in response to naloxone 10 mg/kg were measured after 2 h from the last injection. In wild type mice naloxone evoked a similar withdrawal jumping behavior in animal pretreated with morphine or cebranopadol. In NOP(-/-) mice morphine treatment produced the same signs of withdrawal as in NOP(+/+) animals, while cebranopadol treatment elicited a stronger withdrawal syndrome in NOP(-/-) than of NOP(+/+) mice. These results demonstrated that the activation of the NOP receptor reduces the liability of cebranopadol to produce opioid-like physical dependence. Thus, the simultaneous activation of NOP and opioid receptors can be an effective pharmacological strategy to counteract physical dependence to opioid drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Victor A Holanda
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Elaine C Gavioli
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Claudio Trapella
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Girolamo Calo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
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29
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Assessment of the Abuse Potential of Cebranopadol in Nondependent Recreational Opioid Users: A Phase 1 Randomized Controlled Study. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2019; 39:46-56. [PMID: 30531478 PMCID: PMC6319565 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000000995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cebranopadol is a nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide/opioid receptor agonist with central antinociceptive activity. We hypothesize that this novel mechanism of action may lead to a lower risk of abuse compared with pure μ-opioid peptide receptor agonists. METHODS We conducted a single-dose, nested-randomized, double-blind crossover study in nondependent recreational opioid users to evaluate the abuse potential of single doses of cebranopadol relative to hydromorphone immediate release and placebo. The study consisted of a qualification phase and a 7-period treatment phase (cebranopadol 200, 400, and 800 μg; hydromorphone 8 and 16 mg; and 2 placebos). The primary end point was the peak effect of drug liking at this moment, measured by visual analog scale (VAS). Various secondary end points (eg, VAS rating for good drug effects, high, bad drug effects, take drug again, drug similarity, and pupillometry) were also investigated. RESULTS Forty-two subjects completed the study. Cebranopadol 200 and 400 μg did not differentiate from placebo on the abuse potential assessments and generated smaller responses than hydromorphone. Responses observed with cebranopadol 800 μg were similar to hydromorphone 8 mg and smaller than hydromorphone 16 mg. The maximum effect for VAS drug liking at this moment was delayed compared with hydromorphone (3 and 1.5 hours, respectively). Cebranopadol administration was safe; no serious adverse events or study discontinuation due to treatment-emergent adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS These results confirm our hypothesis that cebranopadol, a nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide/opioid receptor agonist, has lower abuse potential than hydromorphone immediate release, a pure μ-opioid peptide agonist.
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30
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Abstract
Since the discovery of the NOP receptor and N/OFQ as the endogenous ligand, evidence has appeared demonstrating the involvement of this receptor system in pain. This was not surprising for members of the opioid receptor and peptide families, particularly since both the receptor and N/OFQ are highly expressed in brain regions involved in pain, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia. What has been surprising is the complicated picture that has emerged from 25 years of research. The original finding that N/OFQ decreased tail flick and hotplate latency, when administered i.c.v., led to the hypothesis that NOP receptor antagonists could have analgesic activity without abuse liability. However, as data accumulated, it became clear that not only the potency but the activity per se was different when N/OFQ or small molecule NOP agonists were administered in the brain versus the spinal cord and it also depended upon the pain assay used. When administered systemically, NOP receptor agonists are generally ineffective in attenuating heat pain but are antinociceptive in an acute inflammatory pain model. Most antagonists administered systemically have no antinociceptive activity of their own, even though selective peptide NOP antagonists have potent antinociceptive activity when administered i.c.v. Chronic pain models provide different results as well, as small molecule NOP receptor agonists have potent anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic activity after systemic administration. A considerable number of electrophysiological and anatomical experiments, in particular with NOP-eGFP mice, have been conducted in an attempt to explain the complicated profile resulting from NOP receptor modulation, to examine receptor plasticity, and to elucidate mechanisms by which selective NOP agonists, bifunctional NOP/mu agonists, or NOP receptor antagonists modulate acute and chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Toll
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
| | - Akihiko Ozawa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
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31
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Abstract
The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide receptor (NOP) is a G protein-coupled receptor involved in the regulation of several physiological functions and pathological conditions. Thus, researchers from academia and industry are pursuing NOP to discover and study novel pharmacological entities. In a multidisciplinary effort of pharmacologists, medicinal chemists, and molecular and structural biologists the mechanisms of NOP activation and inhibition have been, at least partially, disentangled. Here, we review the in vitro methodologies employed, which have contributed to our understanding of this target. We hope this chapter guides the reader through the mostly established assay platforms to investigate NOP pharmacology, and gives some hints taking advantage from what has already illuminated the function of other GPCRs. We analyzed the pharmacological results obtained with a large panel of NOP ligands investigated in several assays including receptor binding, stimulation of GTPγS binding, decrease of cAMP levels, calcium flux stimulation via chimeric G proteins, NOP/G protein and NOP/β-arrestin interaction, label-free assays such as dynamic mass redistribution, and bioassays such as the electrically stimulated mouse vas deferens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Malfacini
- Molecular, Cellular and Pharmacobiology Section, Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Girolamo Caló
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
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32
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Abstract
The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide (NOP) receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor with wide distribution throughout the peripheral and central nervous system. Similar to other opioid receptors, NOP receptors couple to intracellular second messengers and regulatory proteins to affect biological systems. In this chapter, we review the current literature for NOP signaling cascades including their role as classic GPCRs, the investigation of their kinase and arrestin signaling pathways, and the importance of examining biased signaling to critically evaluate the therapeutic potential of novel NOP agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle E Parker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Basic Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Center for Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Tzschentke TM, Linz K, Koch T, Christoph T. Cebranopadol: A Novel First-in-Class Potent Analgesic Acting via NOP and Opioid Receptors. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2019; 254:367-398. [PMID: 30927089 DOI: 10.1007/164_2019_206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cebranopadol is a novel first-in-class analgesic with highly potent agonistic activity at nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) and opioid receptors. It is highly potent and efficacious across a broad range of preclinical pain models. Its side effect profile is better compared to typical opioids. Mechanistic studies have shown that cebranopadol's activity at NOP receptors contributes to its anti-hyperalgesic effects while ameliorating some of its opioid-type side effects, including respiratory depression and abuse potential. Phase II of clinical development has been completed, demonstrating efficacy and good tolerability in acute and chronic pain conditions.This article focusses on reviewing data on the preclinical in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, safety, and tolerability, as well as clinical trials with cebranopadol.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Klaus Linz
- Grünenthal GmbH, Global Innovation, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Koch
- Grünenthal GmbH, Global Innovation, Aachen, Germany
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Christoph T, Raffa R, De Vry J, Schröder W. Synergistic interaction between the agonism of cebranopadol at nociceptin/orphanin FQ and classical opioid receptors in the rat spinal nerve ligation model. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2018; 6:e00444. [PMID: 30519474 PMCID: PMC6262002 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cebranopadol (trans-6'-fluoro-4',9'-dihydro-N,N-dimethyl-4-phenyl-spiro[cyclohexane-1,1'(3'H)-pyrano[3,4-b]indol]-4-amine) is a novel analgesic nociceptin/orphanin FQ opioid peptide (NOP) and classical opioid receptor (MOP, DOP, and KOP) agonist with highly efficacious and potent activity in a broad range of rodent models of nociceptive, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain as well as limited opioid-type side effects such as respiratory depression. This study was designed to explore contribution and interaction of NOP and classical opioid receptor agonist components to cebranopadol analgesia in the rat spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model. Assessing antihypersensitive activity in SNL rats intraperitoneal (IP) administration of cebranopadol resulted in ED 50 values of 3.3 and 3.58 μg/kg in two independent experiments. Pretreatment (IP) with J-113397 (4.64 mg/kg) a selective antagonist for the NOP receptor or naloxone (1 mg/kg), naltrindole (10 mg/kg), or nor-BNI (10 mg/kg), selective antagonists for MOP, DOP, and KOP receptors, yielded ED 50 values of 14.1, 16.9, 17.3, and 15 μg/kg, respectively. This 4-5 fold rightward shift of the dose-response curves suggested agonistic contribution of all four receptors to the analgesic activity of cebranopadol. Combined pretreatment with a mixture of the antagonists for the three classical opioid receptors resulted in an 18-fold potency shift with an ED 50 of 65.5 μg/kg. The concept of dose equivalence was used to calculate the expected additive effects of the parent compound for NOP and opioid receptor contribution and to compare them with the observed effects, respectively. This analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the expected additive and the observed effects suggesting intrinsic synergistic analgesic interaction of the NOP and the classical opioid receptor components of cebranopadol. Together with the observation of limited respiratory depression in rats and humans the synergistic interaction of NOP and classical opioid receptor components in analgesia described in the current study may contribute to the favorable therapeutic index of cebranopadol observed in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Raffa
- Temple University School of PharmacyPhiladelphiaPennsylvania
- University of Arizona College of PharmacyTucsonArizona
| | - Jean De Vry
- Grünenthal InnovationGrünenthal GmbHAachenGermany
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35
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Calo G, Lambert DG. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor ligands and translational challenges: focus on cebranopadol as an innovative analgesic. Br J Anaesth 2018; 121:1105-1114. [PMID: 30336855 PMCID: PMC6208290 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2018.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioids are characterised as classical (mu, delta, and kappa) along with the non-classical nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor or NOP. Targeting NOP has therapeutic indications in control of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and micturition, and a profile as an antidepressant. For all of these indications, there are translational human data. Opioids such as morphine and fentanyl (activating the mu receptor) are the mainstay of pain treatment in the perioperative period, despite a challenging side-effect profile. Opioids in general have poor efficacy in neuropathic pain. Moreover, longer term use is associated with tolerance. There is good evidence interactions between opioid receptors, and receptor co-activation can reduce side-effects without compromising analgesia; this is particularly true for mu and NOP co-activation. Recent pharmaceutical development has produced a mixed opioid/NOP agonist, cebranopadol. This new chemical entity is effective in animal models of nociceptive and neuropathic pain with greater efficacy in the latter. In animal models, there is little evidence for respiratory depression, and tolerance (compared with morphine) only develops after long treatment periods. There is now early phase clinical development in diabetic neuropathy, cancer pain, and low back pain where cebranopadol displays significant efficacy. In 1996, N/OFQ was formally identified with an innovative analgesic profile. Approximately 20 yr later, cebranopadol as a clinical ligand is advancing through the human trials process.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Calo
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - D G Lambert
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Management, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK
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Pergolizzi JV, LeQuang JA, Taylor R, Ossipov MH, Colucci D, Raffa RB. Designing safer analgesics: a focus on μ-opioid receptor pathways. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2018; 13:965-972. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2018.1511539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michael H. Ossipov
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Daniel Colucci
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert B. Raffa
- University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Tzschentke TM, Kögel BY, Frosch S, Linz K. Limited potential of cebranopadol to produce opioid-type physical dependence in rodents. Addict Biol 2018; 23:1010-1019. [PMID: 28944554 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cebranopadol is a novel potent analgesic agonist at the nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) and classical opioid receptors. As NOP receptor activation has been shown to reduce side effects related to the activation of μ-opioid peptide (MOP) receptors, the present study evaluated opioid-type physical dependence produced by cebranopadol in mice and rats. In a naloxone-precipitated withdrawal assay in mice, a regimen of seven escalating doses of cebranopadol over 2 days produced only very limited physical dependence as evidenced by very little withdrawal symptoms (jumping) even at cebranopadol doses clearly exceeding the analgesic dose range. In contrast, mice showed clear withdrawal symptoms when treated with morphine within the analgesic dose range. In the rat, spontaneous withdrawal (by cessation of drug treatment; in terms of weight loss and behavioral score) was studied after 4-week subacute administration. Naloxone-precipitated withdrawal (in terms of weight loss and behavioral score) was studied in the same groups of rats after 1-week re-administration following the spontaneous withdrawal period. In both tests, cebranopadol-treated rats showed only few signs of withdrawal, while withdrawal effects in rats treated with morphine were clearly evident. These findings demonstrate a low potential of cebranopadol to produce opioid-type physical dependence in rodents. The prospect of this promising finding into the clinical setting remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M. Tzschentke
- Department of Pharmacology; Grünenthal GmbH; Germany
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Medical Faculty; RWTH Aachen; Germany
| | - Babette Y. Kögel
- Department of Pharmacology; Grünenthal GmbH; Germany
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Medical Faculty; RWTH Aachen; Germany
| | | | - Klaus Linz
- Preclinical Drug Development; Grünenthal GmbH; Germany
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38
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Walentiny DM, Wiebelhaus JM, Beardsley PM. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptors modulate the discriminative stimulus effects of oxycodone in C57BL/6 mice. Drug Alcohol Depend 2018; 187:335-342. [PMID: 29705547 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.02.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOP) receptor ligands have shown efficacy as putative analgesics and can modulate the abuse-related effects of opioids, suggesting therapeutic applications. The discriminative stimulus effects of a drug are related to their subjective effects, a predictor of abuse potential. To determine whether activation of NOP receptors could alter the subjective effects of an abused opioid analgesic, a novel oxycodone discrimination was established in mice, characterized with positive and negative controls, and its expression evaluated with a NOP receptor agonist. METHODS Adult male C57BL/6 mice were trained to discriminate 1.3 mg/kg oxycodone from vehicle in a two-lever operant procedure. The discrimination was characterized with naloxone challenge, and generalization tests with the μ-opioid receptor agonists, heroin and morphine, and the κ-opioid receptor selective agonist, U50488. Subsequently, effects of the NOP agonist Ro64-6198 were evaluated with and without oxycodone. RESULTS Oxycodone generalization occurred in a dose-dependent manner and was reversed by naloxone pretreatment. Heroin and morphine, but not U50488, substituted for oxycodone. Co-treatment of 1 mg/kg Ro64-6198 with the oxycodone training dose reduced % oxycodone lever responding (%OLR) and restored response rates to vehicle control levels. J-113397, a NOP antagonist, reversed these effects. Co-administration of 1 mg/kg Ro64-6198 with a range of oxycodone doses resulted in rightward dose-effect curve shifts in %OLR and response rates compared to oxycodone alone. CONCLUSIONS These results provide additional evidence that NOP receptor activation can modulate the subjective effects of opioid analgesics and represent the first characterization of oxycodone's discriminative stimulus effects in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Matthew Walentiny
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1217 E. Marshall Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, United States.
| | - Jason M Wiebelhaus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1217 E. Marshall Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, United States
| | - Patrick M Beardsley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1217 E. Marshall Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, United States; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies and Center for Biomarker Research and Personalized Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 410 N. 12th Street, PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, United States
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Camilleri M. Toward an effective peripheral visceral analgesic: responding to the national opioid crisis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2018; 314:G637-G646. [PMID: 29470146 PMCID: PMC6032061 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00013.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
This minireiew summarizes recent new developments in visceral analgesics. This promising field is important, as a new approach to address abdominal pain with peripheral visceral analgesics is considered a key approach to addressing the current opioid crisis. Some of the novel compounds address peripheral pain mechanisms through modulation of opioid receptors via biased ligands, nociceptin/orphanin FQ opioid peptide (NOP) receptor, or dual action on NOP and μ-opioid receptor, buprenorphine and morphiceptin analogs. Other compounds target nonopioid mechanisms, including cannabinoid (CB2), N-methyl-d-aspartate, calcitonin gene-related peptide, estrogen, and adenosine A2B receptors and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (TRPV1, TRPV4, and TRPM8). Although current evidence is based predominantly on animal models of visceral pain, early human studies also support the evidence from the basic and animal research. This augurs well for the development of nonaddictive, visceral analgesics for treatment of chronic abdominal pain, an unmet clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Camilleri
- Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational and Epidemiological Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-ninth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2016 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, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia, stress and social status, tolerance and dependence, learning and memory, eating and drinking, drug abuse and alcohol, sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology, mental illness and mood, seizures and neurologic disorders, electrical-related activity and neurophysiology, general activity and locomotion, gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions, cardiovascular responses, respiration and thermoregulation, and immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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41
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Tzschentke TM, Rutten K. Mu-opioid peptide (MOP) and nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor activation both contribute to the discriminative stimulus properties of cebranopadol in the rat. Neuropharmacology 2018; 129:100-108. [PMID: 29155273 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The novel potent analgesic cebranopadol is an agonist at nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) and classical opioid receptors, with the highest in-vitro activity at NOP and mu-opioid peptide (MOP) receptors, and somewhat lower activity at kappa-opioid peptide (KOP) and delta-opioid peptide (DOP) receptors. We addressed the question of which of these pharmacological activities contribute to the stimulus properties of cebranopadol using a rat drug discrimination procedure. First, cebranopadol was tested in generalization tests against a morphine cue, including receptor-specific antagonism. Second, cebranopadol was established as a cue, and MOP, NOP, KOP and DOP receptor-selective agonists were tested in generalization tests. Third, cebranopadol in combination with receptor-selective antagonists was tested against the cebranopadol cue. Cebranopadol generalized to the morphine cue. Full generalization was only seen at clearly supra-analgesic doses. The effect of cebranopadol was reduced by naloxone, but was enhanced by the NOP receptor antagonist J-113397. In cebranopadol-trained rats, cebranopadol as well as morphine produced generalization. A NOP receptor agonist did not, while a DOP receptor agonist and a KOP receptor agonist weakly generalized to the cebranopadol cue. Conversely, generalization of cebranopadol was reduced by naloxone and J-113397, but not by a DOP or a KOP receptor antagonist. These results suggest a contribution of MOP receptor activity and a relative lack of contribution of DOP and KOP receptor activity to cebranopadol's stimulus properties. The findings regarding the contribution of NOP receptor activity were equivocal, but interestingly, the morphine-like stimulus property of cebranopadol appears to be reduced by its intrinsic NOP receptor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Tzschentke
- Dept. Pharmacology, Grünenthal Innovation, Grünenthal GmbH, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Kris Rutten
- Dept. Pharmacology, Grünenthal Innovation, Grünenthal GmbH, Aachen, Germany
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42
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Calo' G, Rizzi A, Ruzza C, Ferrari F, Pacifico S, Gavioli EC, Salvadori S, Guerrini R. Peptide welding technology - A simple strategy for generating innovative ligands for G protein coupled receptors. Peptides 2018; 99:195-204. [PMID: 29031796 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Based on their high selectivity of action and low toxicity, naturally occurring peptides have great potential in terms of drug development. However, the pharmacokinetic properties of peptides, in particular their half life, are poor. Among different strategies developed for reducing susceptibility to peptidases, and thus increasing the duration of action of peptides, the generation of branched peptides has been described. However, the synthesis and purification of branched peptides are extremely complicated thus limiting their druggability. Here we present a novel and facile synthesis of tetrabranched peptides acting as GPCR ligands and their in vitro and vivo pharmacological characterization. Tetrabranched derivatives of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), N/OFQ related peptides, opioid peptides, tachykinins, and neuropeptide S were generated with the strategy named peptide welding technology (PWT) and characterized by high yield and purity of the desired final product. In general, PWT derivatives displayed a pharmacological profile similar to that of the natural sequence in terms of affinity, pharmacological activity, potency, and selectivity of action in vitro. More importantly, in vivo studies demonstrated that PWT peptides are characterized by increased potency associated with long lasting duration of action. In conclusion, PWT derivatives of biologically active peptides can be viewed as innovative pharmacological tools for investigating those conditions and states in which selective and prolonged receptor stimulation promotes beneficial effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girolamo Calo'
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Anna Rizzi
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Federica Ferrari
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Salvatore Pacifico
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elaine C Gavioli
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Severo Salvadori
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Italy
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Imam MZ, Kuo A, Ghassabian S, Smith MT. Progress in understanding mechanisms of opioid-induced gastrointestinal adverse effects and respiratory depression. Neuropharmacology 2017; 131:238-255. [PMID: 29273520 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Opioids evoke analgesia through activation of opioid receptors (predominantly the μ opioid receptor) in the central nervous system. Opioid receptors are abundant in multiple regions of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system including enteric neurons. Opioid-related adverse effects such as constipation, nausea, and vomiting pose challenges for compliance and continuation of the therapy for chronic pain management. In the post-operative setting opioid-induced depression of respiration can be fatal. These critical limitations warrant a better understanding of their underpinning cellular and molecular mechanisms to inform the design of novel opioid analgesic molecules that are devoid of these unwanted side-effects. Research efforts on opioid receptor signalling in the past decade suggest that differential signalling pathways and downstream molecules preferentially mediate distinct pharmacological effects. Additionally, interaction among opioid receptors and, between opioid receptor and non-opioid receptors to form signalling complexes shows that opioid-induced receptor signalling is potentially more complicated than previously thought. This complexity provides an opportunity to identify and probe relationships between selective signalling pathway specificity and in vivo production of opioid-related adverse effects. In this review, we focus on current knowledge of the mechanisms thought to transduce opioid-induced gastrointestinal adverse effects (constipation, nausea, vomiting) and respiratory depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zafar Imam
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andy Kuo
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sussan Ghassabian
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Maree T Smith
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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44
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Rekik K, Faria Da Silva R, Colom M, Pacifico S, Zaveri NT, Calo' G, Rampon C, Frances B, Mouledous L. Activation of nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptors inhibits contextual fear memory reconsolidation. Neuropharmacology 2017; 125:39-49. [PMID: 28705439 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Several neuropeptidergic systems act as modulators of cognitive performances. Among them, nociceptin, an opioid-like peptide also known as orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), has recently gained attention. Stimulation of its receptor, the N/OFQ opioid receptor (NOP), which is expressed in brain regions involved in emotion, memory and stress response, has inhibitory effects on the acquisition and/or consolidation of spatial and emotional memory in rodents. Recently, N/OFQ was also proposed to be linked to the pathogenesis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in humans. However, until now the effect of the activation of the N/OFQ-NOP system on already consolidated memory, such as during retrieval and reconsolidation phases, has never been explored. In the present study, we investigated the consequences of systemic injection of NOP agonists or i.c.v. injection of the N/OFQ peptide on the retrieval and the reconsolidation of contextual fear memory in mice. We demonstrate that the activation of the N/OFQ system impairs the reconsolidation of context-dependent but not cue-dependent aversive memories. We also show that this amnestic effect is associated with decreased c-Fos expression in the hippocampus and amygdala. Our data thus provide the first evidence that the NOP receptor could be targeted during the reconsolidation process to weaken maladaptive memories. The N/OFQ-NOP system might constitute in the future an interesting pharmacological target for interfering with so-called "pathological memories", in particular those involving maladaptive contextual memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaoula Rekik
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, Toulouse University, CNRS, UPS, France
| | - Raquel Faria Da Silva
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, Toulouse University, CNRS, UPS, France
| | - Morgane Colom
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, Toulouse University, CNRS, UPS, France
| | - Salvatore Pacifico
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nurulain T Zaveri
- Astraea Therapeutic LLC, 320 Logue Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
| | - Girolamo Calo'
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Claire Rampon
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, Toulouse University, CNRS, UPS, France
| | - Bernard Frances
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, Toulouse University, CNRS, UPS, France
| | - Lionel Mouledous
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, Toulouse University, CNRS, UPS, France.
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45
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Rizzi A, Ruzza C, Bianco S, Trapella C, Calo' G. Antinociceptive action of NOP and opioid receptor agonists in the mouse orofacial formalin test. Peptides 2017; 94:71-77. [PMID: 28697954 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2017.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) modulates several biological functions, including pain transmission via selective activation of a specific receptor named NOP. The aim of this study was the investigation of the antinociceptive properties of NOP agonists and their interaction with opioids in the trigeminal territory. The orofacial formalin (OFF) test in mice was used to investigate the antinociceptive potential associated to the activation of NOP and opioid receptors. Mice subjected to OFF test displayed the typical biphasic nociceptive response and sensitivity to opioid and NSAID drugs. Mice knockout for the NOP gene displayed a robust pronociceptive phenotype. The NOP selective agonist Ro 65-6570 (0.1-1mgkg-1) and morphine (0.1-10mgkg-1) elicited dose dependent antinociceptive effects in the OFF with the alkaloid showing larger effects; the isobologram analysis of their actions demonstrated an additive type of interaction. The mixed NOP/opioid receptor agonist cebranopadol elicited potent (0.01-0.1mgkg-1) and robust antinociceptive effects. In the investigated dose range, all drugs did not modify the motor performance of the mice in the rotarod test. Collectively the results of this study demonstrated that selective NOP agonists and particularly mixed NOP/opioid agonists are worthy of development as innovative drugs to treat painful conditions of the trigeminal territory.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Rizzi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - C Ruzza
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - S Bianco
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - C Trapella
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - G Calo'
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
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Ferrari F, Malfacini D, Journigan BV, Bird MF, Trapella C, Guerrini R, Lambert DG, Calo' G, Zaveri NT. In vitro pharmacological characterization of a novel unbiased NOP receptor-selective nonpeptide agonist AT-403. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2017; 5. [PMID: 28805972 PMCID: PMC5684865 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) regulates several biological functions via selective activation of the N/OFQ receptor (NOP), a member of the opioid receptor family. We recently identified a new high affinity and highly selective NOP agonist AT-403. In this study, we characterized the functional profile of AT-403 and compared it to other known nonpeptide NOP agonists Ro 65-6570, Ro 2q, SCH-221510, MCOPPB, AT-202 and SCH-486757, using the following assays: GTPγ[35 S] stimulated binding, calcium mobilization assay in cells-expressing human NOP or classical opioid receptors and chimeric G proteins, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) based assay for studying NOP receptor interaction with G protein and arrestin, and the electrically stimulated mouse vas deferens bioassay. All compounds behaved as NOP full agonists consistently showing the following rank order of potency MCOPPB > AT-403 > Ro 65-6570 = Ro 2q > SCH-221510 > AT-202 > SCH-486757. AT-403 and MCOPPB displayed the highest NOP selectivity both at human and murine receptors. Interestingly, while all the other nonpeptide NOP agonists displayed bias toward G protein-mediated signaling in the BRET assay, AT-403, similar to the natural ligand N/OFQ, behaved as an unbiased agonist, activating G-protein-mediated function as well as arrestin recruitment. AT-403 may be a useful nonpeptide tool compound to study the pharmacology of NOP activation in disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Ferrari
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Davide Malfacini
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Blair V Journigan
- Astraea Therapeutics, LLC. 320 Logue Avenue, Mountain View, California
| | - Mark F Bird
- Division of Anaesthesia, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Critical Care and Pain Management, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Claudio Trapella
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - David G Lambert
- Division of Anaesthesia, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Critical Care and Pain Management, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Girolamo Calo'
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nurulain T Zaveri
- Astraea Therapeutics, LLC. 320 Logue Avenue, Mountain View, California
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Shen Q, Deng Y, Ciccocioppo R, Cannella N. Cebranopadol, a Mixed Opioid Agonist, Reduces Cocaine Self-administration through Nociceptin Opioid and Mu Opioid Receptors. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:234. [PMID: 29180970 PMCID: PMC5693905 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cocaine addiction is a widespread psychiatric condition still waiting for approved efficacious medications. Previous studies suggested that simultaneous activation of nociceptin opioid (NOP) and mu opioid (MOP) receptors could be a successful strategy to treat cocaine addiction, but the paucity of molecules co-activating both receptors with comparable potency has hampered this line of research. Cebranopadol is a non-selective opioid agonist that at nanomolar concentration activates both NOP and MOP receptors and that recently reached phase-III clinical trials for cancer pain treatment. Here, we tested the effect of cebranopadol on cocaine self-administration (SA) in the rat. We found that under a fixed-ratio-5 schedule of reinforcement, cebranopadol (25 and 50 µg/kg) decreased cocaine but not saccharin SA, indicating a specific inhibition of psychostimulant consumption. In addition, cebranopadol (50 µg/kg) decreased the motivation for cocaine as detected by reduction of the break point measured in a progressive-ratio paradigm. Next, we found that cebranopadol retains its effect on cocaine consumption throughout a 7-day chronic treatment, suggesting a lack of tolerance development toward its effect. Finally, we found that only simultaneous blockade of NOP and MOP receptors by concomitant administration of the NOP antagonist SB-612111 (30 mg/kg) and naltrexone (2.5 mg/kg) reversed cebranopadol-induced decrease of cocaine SA, demonstrating that cebranopadol activates both NOP and classical opioid receptors to exert its effect. Our data, together with the fairly advanced clinical development of cebranopadol and its good tolerability profile in humans, indicate that cebranopadol is an appealing candidate for cocaine addiction treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianwei Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Yulin Deng
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Nazzareno Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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Pharmacological studies on the NOP and opioid receptor agonist PWT2-[Dmt 1]N/OFQ(1-13). Eur J Pharmacol 2016; 794:115-126. [PMID: 27871910 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
An innovative chemical strategy named peptide welding technology (PWT) has been developed for the facile synthesis of tetrabranched peptides. [Dmt1]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 acts as a universal agonist for nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and classical opioid receptors. The present study investigated the pharmacological profile of the PWT derivative of [Dmt1]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (PWT2-[Dmt1]) in several assays in vitro and in vivo after spinal administration in monkeys subjected to the tail withdrawal assay. PWT2-[Dmt1] mimicked the effects of [Dmt1]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 displaying full agonist activity, similar affinity/potency and selectivity at human recombinant N/OFQ (NOP) and opioid receptors in receptor binding, stimulation of [35S]GTPγS binding, calcium mobilization in cells expressing chimeric G proteins, and BRET studies for measuring receptor/G-protein and receptor/β-arrestin 2 interaction. In vivo in monkeys PWT2-[Dmt1] elicited dose-dependent and robust antinociceptive effects being more potent and longer lasting than [Dmt1]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2. The analgesic action of PWT2-[Dmt1] was sensitive to the NOP receptor antagonist J-113397, but not naltrexone. Thus, the present study demonstrated that the tetrabranched derivative of [Dmt1]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 obtained with the PWT technology maintains the in vitro pharmacological profile of the parent peptide but displays higher potency and longer lasting action in vivo.
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Rizzi A, Cerlesi MC, Ruzza C, Malfacini D, Ferrari F, Bianco S, Costa T, Guerrini R, Trapella C, Calo' G. Pharmacological characterization of cebranopadol a novel analgesic acting as mixed nociceptin/orphanin FQ and opioid receptor agonist. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2016; 4:e00247. [PMID: 28116100 PMCID: PMC5242173 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile of cebranopadol, a novel agonist for opioid and nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptors (NOP). In vitro cebranopadol was assayed in calcium mobilization studies in cells coexpressing NOP or opioid receptors and chimeric G‐proteins and in a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assay for studying receptor interaction with G‐protein and β‐arrestin 2. The mouse tail withdrawal and formalin tests were used for investigating cebranopadol antinociceptive properties. In calcium mobilization studies cebranopadol showed the following rank order of potency NOP = mu > kappa ≥ delta. In BRET studies, cebranopadol promoted NOP and mu receptors interaction with G‐protein with similar high potency and efficacy. However, cebranopadol did not stimulated NOP–β‐arrestin 2 interactions and displayed reduced potency at mu/β‐arrestin 2. In vivo, cebranopadol exhibits highly potent and extremely long‐lasting antinociceptive effects. The effects of cebranopadol in the tail withdrawal assay were sensitive to both SB‐612111 and naloxone. Collectively the present results confirm and extend previous finding demonstrating that cebranopadol, by acting as mixed NOP/opioid receptor agonist, elicits robust analgesic effects in different pain models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rizzi
- Department of Medical Sciences Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
| | - Maria Camilla Cerlesi
- Department of Medical Sciences Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Medical Sciences Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
| | - Davide Malfacini
- Department of Medical Sciences Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
| | - Federica Ferrari
- Department of Medical Sciences Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
| | - Sara Bianco
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
| | - Tommaso Costa
- Department of Pharmacology Istituto Superiore di Sanita' Rome Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
| | - Claudio Trapella
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
| | - Girolamo Calo'
- Department of Medical Sciences Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
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