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Howes OD, Dawkins E, Lobo MC, Kaar SJ, Beck K. New Drug Treatments for Schizophrenia: A Review of Approaches to Target Circuit Dysfunction. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 96:638-650. [PMID: 38815885 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a leading cause of global disease burden. Current drug treatments are associated with significant side effects and have limited efficacy for many patients, highlighting the need to develop new approaches that target other aspects of the neurobiology of schizophrenia. Preclinical, in vivo imaging, postmortem, genetic, and pharmacological studies have highlighted the key role of cortical GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acidergic)-glutamatergic microcircuits and their projections to subcortical dopaminergic circuits in the pathoetiology of negative, cognitive, and psychotic symptoms. Antipsychotics primarily act downstream of the dopaminergic component of this circuit. However, multiple drugs are currently in development that could target other elements of this circuit to treat schizophrenia. These include drugs for GABAergic or glutamatergic targets, including glycine transporters, D-amino acid oxidase, sodium channels, or potassium channels. Other drugs in development are likely to primarily act on pathways that regulate the dopaminergic system, such as muscarinic or trace amine receptors or 5-HT2A receptors, while PDE10A inhibitors are being developed to modulate the downstream consequences of dopaminergic dysfunction. Our review considers where new drugs may act on this circuit and their latest clinical trial evidence in terms of indication, efficacy, and side effects. Limitations of the circuit model, including whether there are neurobiologically distinct subgroups of patients, and future directions are also considered. Several drugs based on the mechanisms reviewed have promising clinical data, with the muscarinic agonist KarXT most advanced. If these drugs are approved for clinical use, they have the potential to revolutionize understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver D Howes
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Eleanor Dawkins
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria C Lobo
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen J Kaar
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Greater Manchester Mental Health National Health Service Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Beck
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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Uliana DL, Lisboa JRF, Gomes FV, Grace AA. The excitatory-inhibitory balance as a target for the development of novel drugs to treat schizophrenia. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 228:116298. [PMID: 38782077 PMCID: PMC11410545 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116298] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The intricate balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I) in the brain plays a crucial role in normative information processing. Dysfunctions in the E/I balance have been implicated in various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ). In particular, abnormalities in GABAergic signaling, specifically in parvalbumin (PV)-containing interneurons, have been consistently observed in SCZ pathophysiology. PV interneuron function is vital for maintaining an ideal E/I balance, and alterations in PV interneuron-mediated inhibition contribute to circuit deficits observed in SCZ, including hippocampus hyperactivity and midbrain dopamine system overdrive. While current antipsychotic medications primarily target D2 dopamine receptors and are effective primarily in treating positive symptoms, novel therapeutic strategies aiming to restore the E/I balance could potentially mitigate not only positive symptoms but also negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. This could involve, for instance, increasing the inhibitory drive onto excitatory neurons or decreasing the putative enhanced pyramidal neuron activity due to functional loss of PV interneurons. Compounds targeting the glycine site at glutamate NMDA receptors and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on PV interneurons that can increase PV interneuron drive, as well as drugs that increase the postsynaptic action of GABA, such as positive allosteric modulators of α5-GABA-A receptors, and decrease glutamatergic output, such as mGluR2/3 agonists, represent promising approaches. Preventive strategies aiming at E/I balance also represent a path to reduce the risk of transitioning to SCZ in high-risk individuals. Therefore, compounds with novel mechanisms targeting E/I balance provide optimism for more effective and tailored interventions in the management of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela L Uliana
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Joao Roberto F Lisboa
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe V Gomes
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Anthony A Grace
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Ye N, Wang Q, Li Y, Zhen X. Current emerging therapeutic targets and clinical investigational agents for schizophrenia: Challenges and opportunities. Med Res Rev 2024. [PMID: 39300769 DOI: 10.1002/med.22086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Since the first discovery of antipsychotics in the 1950s, targeting dopaminergic drugs has manifested to well manage the positive symptoms of schizophrenia with limited efficacy for the negative and cognitive symptoms. In past decades, extensive efforts have been undertaken towards the development of innovative agents that can effectively stabilize the dopamine and serotonin systems or target to nondopaminergic pathways, leading to various promising drug candidates entering into clinical trials. Notably, the sigma-2, 5-HT2A, and α1A receptor antagonist roluperidone, as well as a fixed-dose combination of the M1/4 receptor agonist KarXT, have been submitted for NDA applications. The dual agonist ulotaront, which targets TAAR1 and 5-HT1A receptors, and the GlyT1 inhibitor iclepertin have advanced into phase 3 clinical trials. Nevertheless, satisfactory therapeutic strategies for schizophrenia remain elusive. This review highlights current clinical endeavors in developing novel chemical small-molecule entities and fixed-dose combinations for the treatment of schizophrenia since 2017, thus facilitating the efficient development of the next generation of antipsychotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Ye
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases & College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases & College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases & College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuechu Zhen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases & College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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Feng H, Clatot J, Kaneko K, Flores-Mendez M, Wengert ER, Koutcher C, Hoddeson E, Lopez E, Lee D, Arias L, Liang Q, Zhang X, Somarowthu A, Covarrubias M, Gunthorpe MJ, Large CH, Akizu N, Goldberg EM. Targeted therapy improves cellular dysfunction, ataxia, and seizure susceptibility in a model of a progressive myoclonus epilepsy. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101389. [PMID: 38266642 PMCID: PMC10897515 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101389] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The recurrent variant KCNC1-p.Arg320His causes progressive myoclonus epilepsy (EPM) type 7, defined by progressive myoclonus, epilepsy, and ataxia, and is without effective treatment. KCNC1 encodes the voltage-gated potassium channel subunit Kv3.1, specifically expressed in high-frequency-firing neurons. Variant subunits act via loss of function; hence, EPM7 pathogenesis may involve impaired excitability of Kv3.1-expressing neurons, while enhancing Kv3 activity could represent a viable therapeutic strategy. We generate a mouse model, Kcnc1-p.Arg320His/+, which recapitulates the core features of EPM7, including progressive ataxia and seizure susceptibility. Kv3.1-expressing cerebellar granule cells and neocortical parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons exhibit abnormalities consistent with Kv3 channel dysfunction. A Kv3-specific positive modulator (AUT00206) selectively enhances the firing frequency of Kv3.1-expressing neurons and improves motor function and seizure susceptibility in Kcnc1-Arg320His/+ mice. This work identifies a cellular and circuit basis of dysfunction in EPM7 and demonstrates that Kv3 positive modulators such as AUT00206 have therapeutic potential for the treatment of EPM7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijie Feng
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jerome Clatot
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; The Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Keisuke Kaneko
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Nihon University, 1-8-13 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8310, Japan
| | - Marco Flores-Mendez
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Eric R Wengert
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Carly Koutcher
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Emily Hoddeson
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Emily Lopez
- The University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Demetrius Lee
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Leroy Arias
- The University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qiansheng Liang
- Department of Neuroscience and Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ala Somarowthu
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Manuel Covarrubias
- Department of Neuroscience and Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Martin J Gunthorpe
- Autifony Therapeutics, Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage SG1 2FX, UK
| | - Charles H Large
- Autifony Therapeutics, Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage SG1 2FX, UK
| | - Naiara Akizu
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ethan M Goldberg
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; The Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neurology, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neuroscience, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Howes OD, Bukala BR, Beck K. Schizophrenia: from neurochemistry to circuits, symptoms and treatments. Nat Rev Neurol 2024; 20:22-35. [PMID: 38110704 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00904-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a leading cause of global disability. Current pharmacotherapy for the disease predominantly uses one mechanism - dopamine D2 receptor blockade - but often shows limited efficacy and poor tolerability. These limitations highlight the need to better understand the aetiology of the disease to aid the development of alternative therapeutic approaches. Here, we review the latest meta-analyses and other findings on the neurobiology of prodromal, first-episode and chronic schizophrenia, and the link to psychotic symptoms, focusing on imaging evidence from people with the disorder. This evidence demonstrates regionally specific neurotransmitter alterations, including higher glutamate and dopamine measures in the basal ganglia, and lower glutamate, dopamine and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in cortical regions, particularly the frontal cortex, relative to healthy individuals. We consider how dysfunction in cortico-thalamo-striatal-midbrain circuits might alter brain information processing to underlie psychotic symptoms. Finally, we discuss the implications of these findings for developing new, mechanistically based treatments and precision medicine for psychotic symptoms, as well as negative and cognitive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver D Howes
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Bernard R Bukala
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Katherine Beck
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Musselman M, Huynh E, Kelshikar R, Lee E, Malik M, Faden J. Potassium channel modulators and schizophrenia: an overview of investigational drugs. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2023. [PMID: 37247333 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2023.2219385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schizophrenia is severe mental illness comprised of positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Existing pharmacologic options exert their actions on the dopamine receptor but are largely ineffective at treating negative and cognitive symptoms. Alternative pharmacologic options that do not act directly on the dopamine receptor are being investigated, including potassium channel modulators. It has been hypothesized that dysfunctional fast-spiking parvalbumin-positive GABA interneurons, regulated by Kv 3.1 and Kv 3.2 potassium channels, contribute to the symptoms of schizophrenia, making potassium channels an area of clinical interest. AREAS COVERED This review will highlight potassium channel modulators for the treatment of schizophrenia, with a focus on AUT00206. Background on Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 potassium channels will be explored. Our search strategy included a literature review utilizing PubMed, Clinicaltrials.gov, and sources available on the manufacturer's website. EXPERT OPINION Initial data on potassium channel modulators is promising, however, further study is needed, and existing evidence is limited. Early data suggests that dysfunctional GABA interneurons can be ameliorated through modulators of Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 channels. AUT00206 has been shown to improve dopaminergic dysfunction induced by ketamine and PCP, improve resting gamma power in patients with schizophrenia, impact dopamine synthesis capacity in a subgroup of individuals with schizophrenia, and affect reward anticipation-related neural activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Musselman
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 100 E. Lehigh Ave, Suite 305B, Philadelphia PA 19125, USA
| | - Eric Huynh
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 100 E. Lehigh Ave, Suite 305B, Philadelphia PA 19125, USA
| | - Rachana Kelshikar
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 100 E. Lehigh Ave, Suite 305B, Philadelphia PA 19125, USA
| | - Eric Lee
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 100 E. Lehigh Ave, Suite 305B, Philadelphia PA 19125, USA
| | - Mohammed Malik
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 100 E. Lehigh Ave, Suite 305B, Philadelphia PA 19125, USA
| | - Justin Faden
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 100 E. Lehigh Ave, Suite 305B, Philadelphia PA 19125, USA
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