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Kline T, Xu C, Kreitzer FR, Hurst DP, Eldeeb KM, Wager-Miller J, Olivas K, Hepburn SA, Huffman JW, Mackie K, Howlett AC, Reggio P, Stella N. Design, synthesis, and evaluation of substituted alkylindoles that activate G protein-coupled receptors distinct from the cannabinoid CB 1 and CB 2 receptors. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 249:115123. [PMID: 36708677 PMCID: PMC10917149 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The alkylindole (AI), WIN55212-2, modulates the activity of several proteins, including cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1R, CB2R), and at least additional G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that remains uncharacterized with respect to its molecular identity and pharmacological profile. Evidence suggests that such AI-sensitive GPCRs are expressed by the human kidney cell line HEK293. We synthesized fourteen novel AI analogues and evaluated their activities at AI-sensitive GPCRs using [35S]GTPγS and [3H]WIN55212-2 binding in HEK293 cell membranes, and performed in silico pharmacophore modeling to identify characteristics that favor binding to AI-sensitive GPCRs versus CB1R/CB2R. Compounds 10 and 12 stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding (EC50s = 3.5 and 1.1 nM, respectively), and this response was pertussis toxin-sensitive, indicating that AI-sensitive GPCRs couple to Gi/o proteins. Five AI analogues reliably distinguished two binding sites that correspond to the high and low affinity state of AI-sensitive GPCRs coupled or not to G proteins. In silico pharmacophore modeling suggest 3 characteristics that favor binding to AI-sensitive GPCRs versus CB1R/CB2R: 1) an s-cis orientation of the two aromatic rings in AI analogues, 2) a narrow dihedral angle between the carbonyl group and the indole ring plane [i.e., O-C(carbonyl)-C3-C2] and 3) the presence of a carbonyl oxygen. The substituted alkylindoles reported here represent novel chemical tools to study AI-sensitive GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Kline
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Cong Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Faith R Kreitzer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Dow P Hurst
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA
| | - Khalil M Eldeeb
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University, School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Jim Wager-Miller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and the Gill Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Kathleen Olivas
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Seon A Hepburn
- Howard L. Hunter Laboratory, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - John W Huffman
- Howard L. Hunter Laboratory, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Ken Mackie
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and the Gill Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Allyn C Howlett
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University, School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Patricia Reggio
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA
| | - Nephi Stella
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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Martín-Fontecha M, Angelina A, Rückert B, Rueda-Zubiaurre A, Martín-Cruz L, van de Veen W, Akdis M, Ortega-Gutiérrez S, López-Rodríguez ML, Akdis CA, Palomares O. A Fluorescent Probe to Unravel Functional Features of Cannabinoid Receptor CB 1 in Human Blood and Tonsil Immune System Cells. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:382-389. [PMID: 29314831 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The human endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) regulates key physiological processes and alterations in its signaling pathways, and endocannabinoid levels are associated with diseases such as neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, cancer, pain and inflammation, obesity, and metabolic and different immune related disorders. Immune system cells express the G-protein coupled cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), but its functional role has not been fully understood, likely due to the lack of appropriate tools. The availability of novel tools to investigate the role of CB1 in immune regulation might contribute to identify CB1 as a potential novel therapeutic target or biomarker for many diseases. Herein, we report the development and validation of the first fluorescent small molecule probe to directly visualize and quantify CB1 in blood and tonsil immune cells by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. We coupled the cannabinoid agonist HU210 to the fluorescent tag Alexa Fluor 488, generating a fluorescent probe with high affinity for CB1 and selectivity over CB2. We validate HU210-Alexa488 for the rapid, simultaneous, and reproducible identification of CB1 in human monocytes, T cells, and B cells by multiplexed flow cytometry. This probe is also suitable for the direct visualization of CB1 in tonsil tissues, allowing the in vivo identification of tonsil CB1-expressing T and B cells. This study provides the first fluorescent chemical tool to investigate CB1 expression and function in human blood and tonsil immune cells, which might well pave the way to unravel essential features of CB1 in different immune and ECS-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Beate Rückert
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich , CH-7270, Davos, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Willem van de Veen
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich , CH-7270, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Mübeccel Akdis
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich , CH-7270, Davos, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Cezmi A Akdis
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich , CH-7270, Davos, Switzerland
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Foster SR, Bräuner-Osborne H. Investigating Internalization and Intracellular Trafficking of GPCRs: New Techniques and Real-Time Experimental Approaches. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2017; 245:41-61. [PMID: 29018878 DOI: 10.1007/164_2017_57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The ability to regulate the interaction between cells and their extracellular environment is essential for the maintenance of appropriate physiological function. For G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), this regulation occurs through multiple mechanisms that provide spatial and temporal control for signal transduction. One of the major mechanisms for GPCR regulation involves their endocytic trafficking, which serves to internalize the receptors from the plasma membrane and thereby attenuate G protein-dependent signaling. However, there is accumulating evidence to suggest that GPCRs can signal independently of G proteins, as well as from intracellular compartments including endosomes. It is in this context that receptor internalization and intracellular trafficking have attracted renewed interest within the GPCR field. In this chapter, we will review the current understanding and methodologies that have been used to investigate internalization and intracellular signaling of GPCRs, with a particular focus on emerging real-time techniques. These recent developments have improved our understanding of the complexities of GPCR internalization and intracellular signaling and suggest that the broader biological relevance and potential therapeutic implications of these processes remain to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon R Foster
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hans Bräuner-Osborne
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Fung S, Xu C, Hamel E, Wager-Miller JB, Woodruff G, Miller A, Sanford C, Mackie K, Stella N. Novel indole-based compounds that differentiate alkylindole-sensitive receptors from cannabinoid receptors and microtubules: Characterization of their activity on glioma cell migration. Pharmacol Res 2016; 115:233-241. [PMID: 27832960 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Indole-based compounds, such as the alkyl-indole (AI) compound WIN55212-2, activate the cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, two well-characterized G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Reports indicate that several indole-based cannabinoid agonists, including WIN55212-2, lack selectivity and interact with at least two additional targets: AI-sensitive GPCRs and microtubules. Studying how indole-based compounds modulate the activity of these 4 targets has been difficult as selective chemical tools were not available. Here we report the pharmacological characterization of six newly-developed indole-based compounds (ST-11, ST-23, ST-25, ST-29, ST-47 and ST-48) that exhibit distinct binding affinities at AI-sensitive receptors, cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors and the colchicine site of tubulin. Several compounds exhibit some level of selectivity for AI-sensitive receptors, including ST-11 that binds AI-sensitive receptors with a Kd of 52nM and appears to have a weaker affinity for the colchicine site of tubulin (Kd=3.2μM) and does not bind CB1/CB2 receptors. Leveraging these characteristics, we show that activation of AI-sensitive receptors with ST-11 inhibits both the basal and stimulated migration of the Delayed Brain Tumor (DBT) mouse glioma cell line. Our study describes a new series of indole-based compounds that enable the pharmacological and functional differentiation of alkylindole-sensitive receptors from cannabinoid receptors and microtubules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Fung
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Way, Seattle, WA, United States; Graduate Program in Neurobiology and Behavior, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Cong Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Way, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ernest Hamel
- Screening Technologies Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, United States
| | - James B Wager-Miller
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Way, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Grace Woodruff
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Way, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Aaron Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Way, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Christina Sanford
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Way, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ken Mackie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Way, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nephi Stella
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Way, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 702 N. Walnut Grove Ave, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
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