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Rafe MR, Saha P, Bello ST. Targeting NMDA receptors with an antagonist is a promising therapeutic strategy for treating neurological disorders. Behav Brain Res 2024; 472:115173. [PMID: 39097148 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Glutamate activates the NMDARs, significantly affecting multiple processes such as learning, memory, synaptic integration, and excitatory transmission in the central nervous system. Uncontrolled activation of NMDARs is a significant contributor to synaptic dysfunction. Having a properly functioning NMDAR and synapse is crucial for maintaining neuronal communication. In addition, the dysfunction of NMDAR and synapse function could contribute to the development of neurological disorders at the neuronal level; hence, targeting NMDARs with antagonists in the fight against neurological disorders is a promising route. Recently published results from the animal study on different kinds of brain diseases like stroke, epilepsy, tinnitus, ataxia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injury have demonstrated promising therapeutic scopes. Several NMDA receptor antagonists, such as memantine, MK801, ketamine, ifenprodil, gacyclidine, amantadine, agmatine, etc., showed encouraging results against different brain disease mouse models. Given the unique expression of different subunits of the well-organized NMDA receptor system by neurons. It could potentially lead to the development of medications specifically targeting certain receptor subtypes. For a future researcher, conducting more targeted research and trials is crucial to fully understand and develop highly specific medications with good clinical effects and potential neuroprotective properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Rajdoula Rafe
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Pharmacy, Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh
| | - Pranoy Saha
- Department of Pharmacy, Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh
| | - Stephen Temitayo Bello
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, New Territories, Hong Kong.
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Ladagu AD, Olopade FE, Adejare A, Olopade JO. GluN2A and GluN2B N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (NMDARs) Subunits: Their Roles and Therapeutic Antagonists in Neurological Diseases. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1535. [PMID: 38004401 PMCID: PMC10674917 DOI: 10.3390/ph16111535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are ion channels that respond to the neurotransmitter glutamate, playing a crucial role in the permeability of calcium ions and excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). Composed of various subunits, NMDARs are predominantly formed by two obligatory GluN1 subunits (with eight splice variants) along with regulatory subunits GluN2 (GluN2A-2D) and GluN3 (GluN3A-B). They are widely distributed throughout the CNS and are involved in essential functions such as synaptic transmission, learning, memory, plasticity, and excitotoxicity. The presence of GluN2A and GluN2B subunits is particularly important for cognitive processes and has been strongly implicated in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Understanding the roles of GluN2A and GluN2B NMDARs in neuropathologies provides valuable insights into the underlying causes and complexities of major nervous system disorders. This knowledge is vital for the development of selective antagonists targeting GluN2A and GluN2B subunits using pharmacological and molecular methods. Such antagonists represent a promising class of NMDA receptor inhibitors that have the potential to be developed into neuroprotective drugs with optimal therapeutic profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amany Digal Ladagu
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria; (A.D.L.); (J.O.O.)
| | - Funmilayo Eniola Olopade
- Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria
| | - Adeboye Adejare
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - James Olukayode Olopade
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria; (A.D.L.); (J.O.O.)
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3
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Liu J, Zhao X, Wei X, Yan D, Ou W, Liao M, Ji S, Peng Y, Wu S, Wang M, Ju Y, Zhang L, Li Z, Liu B, Li L, Zhang Y. Empirical evidence for the neurocognitive effect of nitrous oxide as an adjunctive therapy in patients with treatment resistant depression: A randomized controlled study. Psychiatry Res 2023; 326:115326. [PMID: 37390601 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N2O) has demonstrated an antidepressant effect for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but no studies investigated the effects of N2O on different cognition domains. This study aimed to test whether N2O would display pro-cognitive effects. We conducted a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trial, 44 patients with TRD were randomized to N2O group (one-hour inhalation of 50% N2O/50% oxygen) or placebo group (50% air/50% oxygen). Thirty-four patients completed cognitive tests at the pre-treatment phase, 1-week, and 2 weeks post-treatment including subjective cognitive function, processing speed, attention, and executive function. Although the antidepressant effect of N2O was not significant at 1 week, patients still showed better performance of executive function at 1 week after receiving N2O compared with the placebo. Moreover, this significant improvement still existed at 1 week after controlling for the change in depressive symptoms over-time. Additionally, no significant difference was observed in subjective cognitive function, processing speed, and attention between these two groups across the 2-week follow-up period. As the first study investigating the treatment effects of N2O on improving cognitive function in TRD patients, the current study indicated that N2O has a potential pro-cognitive effect on executive function and this effect might be independent from improvements in depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Xiaotian Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Xiyu Wei
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Danfeng Yan
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Shanxi Mental Health Center, Taiyuan Fifth People's Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030045, China
| | - Wenwen Ou
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Mei Liao
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Shanling Ji
- Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Yan Peng
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Shibin Wu
- Nanning Fifth People's Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi 530028, China
| | - Mi Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Yumeng Ju
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Zexuan Li
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Bangshan Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
| | - Lingjiang Li
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
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Di Maio G, Villano I, Ilardi CR, Messina A, Monda V, Iodice AC, Porro C, Panaro MA, Chieffi S, Messina G, Monda M, La Marra M. Mechanisms of Transmission and Processing of Pain: A Narrative Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3064. [PMID: 36833753 PMCID: PMC9964506 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge about the mechanisms of transmission and the processing of nociceptive information, both in healthy and pathological states, has greatly expanded in recent years. This rapid progress is due to a multidisciplinary approach involving the simultaneous use of different branches of study, such as systems neurobiology, behavioral analysis, genetics, and cell and molecular techniques. This narrative review aims to clarify the mechanisms of transmission and the processing of pain while also taking into account the characteristics and properties of nociceptors and how the immune system influences pain perception. Moreover, several important aspects of this crucial theme of human life will be discussed. Nociceptor neurons and the immune system play a key role in pain and inflammation. The interactions between the immune system and nociceptors occur within peripheral sites of injury and the central nervous system. The modulation of nociceptor activity or chemical mediators may provide promising novel approaches to the treatment of pain and chronic inflammatory disease. The sensory nervous system is fundamental in the modulation of the host's protective response, and understanding its interactions is pivotal in the process of revealing new strategies for the treatment of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girolamo Di Maio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Ines Villano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Ciro Rosario Ilardi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Antonietta Messina
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Monda
- Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Ashlei Clara Iodice
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Porro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71100 Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Panaro
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Sergio Chieffi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Messina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71100 Foggia, Italy
| | - Marcellino Monda
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Marco La Marra
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
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da Silva Calixto P, de Almeida RN, Stiebbe Salvadori MGS, Dos Santos Maia M, Filho JMB, Scotti MT, Scotti L. In Silico Study Examining New Phenylpropanoids Targets with Antidepressant Activity. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 22:539-554. [PMID: 32881667 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666200902171838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural products, such as phenylpropanoids, which are found in essential oils derived from aromatic plants, have been explored during non-clinical psychopharmacology studies, to discover new molecules with relevant pharmacological activities in the central nervous system, especially antidepressant and anxiolytic activities. Major depressive disorder is a highly debilitating psychiatric disorder and is considered to be a disabling public health problem, worldwide, as a primary factor associated with suicide. Current clinically administered antidepressants have late-onset therapeutic actions, are associated with several side effects, and clinical studies have reported that some patients do not respond well to treatment or reach complete remission. OBJECTIVE To review important new targets for antidepressant activity and to select phenylpropanoids with antidepressant activity, using Molegro Virtual Docker and Ossis Data Warris, and to verify substances with more promising antidepressant activity. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION An in silico molecular modeling study, based on homology, was conducted to determine the three-dimensional structure of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5- HT2AR), then molecular docking studies were performed and the predisposition for cytotoxicity risk among identified molecules was examined. A model for 5-HT2AR homology, with satisfactory results, was obtained indicating the good stereochemical quality of the model. The phenylpropanoid 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol showed the lowest binding energy for 5-HT2AR, with results relevant to the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP pathway, and showed no toxicity within the parameters of mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive system toxicity, and skin-tissue irritability, when evaluated in silico; therefore, this molecule can be considered promising for the investigation of antidepressant activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reinaldo Nóbrega de Almeida
- Department of Physiology and Pathology, Laboratory of Psychopharmacology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | | | - José Maria Barbosa Filho
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Technology Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | - Luciana Scotti
- Laboratory of Chemoinformatics, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
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Neis VB, Moretti M, Rosa PB, Dalsenter YDO, Werle I, Platt N, Kaufmann FN, Rosado AF, Besen MH, Rodrigues ALS. The involvement of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/GSK3β signaling pathways in the antidepressant-like effect of AZD6765. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2020; 198:173020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2020.173020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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