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Mahardhika AB, Ressemann A, Kremers SE, Gregório Castanheira MS, Schoeder CT, Müller CE, Pillaiyar T. Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of diindolylmethane derivatives as cannabinoid CB 2 receptor agonists. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2200493. [PMID: 36437108 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202200493] [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: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM), a natural product-derived compound formed upon ingestion of cruciferous vegetables, was recently described to act as a partial agonist of the anti-inflammatory cannabinoid (CB) receptor subtype CB2 . In the present study, we synthesized and evaluated a series of DIM derivatives and determined their affinities for human CB receptor subtypes in radioligand binding studies. Potent compounds were additionally evaluated in functional cAMP accumulation and β-arrestin recruitment assays. Small substituents in the 4-position of both indole rings of DIM were beneficial for high CB2 receptor affinity and efficacy. Di-(4-cyano-1H-indol-3-yl)methane (46, PSB-19837, EC50 : cAMP, 0.0144 µM, 95% efficacy compared to the full standard agonist CP55,940; β-arrestin, 0.0149 µM, 67% efficacy) was the most potent CB2 receptor agonist of the present series. Di-(4-bromo-1H-indol-3-yl)methane (44, PSB-19571) showed higher potency in β-arrestin (EC50 0.0450 µM, 61% efficacy) than in cAMP accumulation assays (EC50 0.509 µM, 85% efficacy) while 3-((1H-indol-3-yl)methyl)-4-methyl-1H-indole (149, PSB-18691) displayed a 19-fold bias for the G protein pathway (EC50 : cAMP, 0.0652 µM; β-arrestin, 1.08 µM). DIM and its analogs act as allosteric CB2 receptor agonists. These potent CB2 receptor agonists have potential as novel drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andhika B Mahardhika
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Research Training Group 1873, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anastasiia Ressemann
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sarah E Kremers
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mariana S Gregório Castanheira
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Clara T Schoeder
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Research Training Group 1873, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christa E Müller
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Research Training Group 1873, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thanigaimalai Pillaiyar
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Institute of Pharmacy, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
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Schoeder CT, Mahardhika AB, Drabczyńska A, Kieć-Kononowicz K, Müller CE. Discovery of Tricyclic Xanthines as Agonists of the Cannabinoid-Activated Orphan G-Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR18. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:2024-2031. [PMID: 33062188 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
GPR18 is a rhodopsin-like orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is activated by the natural cannabinoid (CB) Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is highly expressed in immune cells and represents a promising new drug target. However, THC is much more potent in activating CB receptors than GPR18, and several other proposed lipidic agonists for GPR18 have not been independently confirmed. Herein we describe the first non-lipid-like agonists for GPR18 based on a tricyclic xanthine-derived scaffold, along with initial structure-activity relationships. PSB-KD107 (5) and PSB-KD477 (16) displayed significantly higher potency and efficacy than THC, determined in a GPR18-dependent β-arrestin recruitment assay, and were found to be selective versus the CB-sensitive receptors CB1, CB2, and GPR55. Structure-activity relationships were steep, and indole substitution was crucial for biological activity. These first selective agonists, which are structurally distinct from the lipidic agonist(s), will allow target validation studies and may eventually contribute to the deorphanization of GPR18.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara T. Schoeder
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, Bonn 53121, Germany
- Research Training Group 1873, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Andhika B. Mahardhika
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, Bonn 53121, Germany
- Research Training Group 1873, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Anna Drabczyńska
- Department of Technology and Biotechnology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kieć-Kononowicz
- Department of Technology and Biotechnology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Christa E. Müller
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, Bonn 53121, Germany
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Myorelaxant Effect of Transdermal Cannabidiol Application in Patients with TMD: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8111886. [PMID: 31698733 PMCID: PMC6912397 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8111886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The healing properties of cannabidiol (CBD) have been known for centuries. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the myorelaxant effect of CBD after the transdermal application in patients with myofascial pain. (2) Methods: The Polish version of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD Ia and Ib) was used. A total of 60 patients were enrolled in the study and were randomly divided into two groups: Group1 and Group2. The average age in Group1 was 23.2 years (SD) = 1.6 years) and in Group2, it was 22.6 years (SD = 1.86). This was a parallel and double-blind trial. Group1 received CBD formulation, whereas Group2 received placebo formulation for topical use. The masseter muscle activity was measured on days 0 and 14, with surface electromyography (sEMG) (Neurobit Optima 4, Neurobit System, Gdynia, Poland). Pain intensity in VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) was measured on days 0 and 14. (3) Results: in Group1, the sEMG masseter activity significantly decreased (11% in the right and 12.6% in the left masseter muscles). In Group2, the sEMG masseter activity was recorded as 0.23% in the right and 3.3% in the left masseter muscles. Pain intensity in VAS scale was significantly decreased in Group1: 70.2% compared to Group2: 9.81% reduction. Patients were asked to apply formulation twice a day for a period of 14 days. (4) Conclusion: The application of CBD formulation over masseter muscle reduced the activity of masseter muscles and improved the condition of masticatory muscles in patients with myofascial pain.
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