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Cavaleri D, Riboldi I, Crocamo C, Paglia G, Carrà G, Bartoli F. Evidence from preclinical and clinical metabolomics studies on the antidepressant effects of ketamine and esketamine. Neurosci Lett 2024; 831:137791. [PMID: 38670523 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137791] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The antidepressant effects of ketamine and esketamine are well-documented. Nonetheless, most of the underlying molecular mechanisms have to be uncovered yet. In the last decade, metabolomics has emerged as a useful means to investigate the metabolic phenotype associated with depression as well as changes induced by antidepressant treatments. This mini-review aims at summarizing the main findings from preclinical and clinical studies that used metabolomics to investigate the metabolic effects of subanesthetic, antidepressant doses of ketamine and esketamine and their relationship with clinical response. Both animal and human studies report alterations in several metabolic pathways - including the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, the kynurenine pathway, and the urea cycle - following the administration of ketamine or its enantiomers. Although more research is needed to clarify commonalities and differences in molecular mechanisms of action between the racemic compound and its enantiomers, these findings comprehensively support an influence of ketamine and esketamine on mitochondrial and cellular energy production, membrane homeostasis, neurotransmission, and signaling. Metabolomics may thus represent a promising strategy to clarify molecular mechanisms underlying treatment-resistant depression and related markers of clinical response to ketamine and esketamine. This body of preclinical and clinical evidence, if further substantiated, has the potential to guide clinicians towards personalized approaches, contributing to new paradigms in the clinical management of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Cavaleri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Ilaria Riboldi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Cristina Crocamo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Paglia
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Carrà
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy; Division of Psychiatry, University College London, 149 Tottenham Ct Rd, London W1T 7NF, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Bartoli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy.
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Brown KA, Gould TD. Targeting metaplasticity mechanisms to promote sustained antidepressant actions. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:1114-1127. [PMID: 38177353 PMCID: PMC11176041 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02397-1] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The discovery that subanesthetic doses of (R, S)-ketamine (ketamine) and (S)-ketamine (esketamine) rapidly induce antidepressant effects and promote sustained actions following drug clearance in depressed patients who are treatment-resistant to other therapies has resulted in a paradigm shift in the conceptualization of how rapidly and effectively depression can be treated. Consequently, the mechanism(s) that next generation antidepressants may engage to improve pathophysiology and resultant symptomology are being reconceptualized. Impaired excitatory glutamatergic synapses in mood-regulating circuits are likely a substantial contributor to the pathophysiology of depression. Metaplasticity is the process of regulating future capacity for plasticity by priming neurons with a stimulation that alters later neuronal plasticity responses. Accordingly, the development of treatment modalities that specifically modulate the duration, direction, or magnitude of glutamatergic synaptic plasticity events such as long-term potentiation (LTP), defined here as metaplastogens, may be an effective approach to reverse the pathophysiology underlying depression and improve depression symptoms. We review evidence that the initiating mechanisms of pharmacologically diverse rapid-acting antidepressants (i.e., ketamine mimetics) converge on consistent downstream molecular mediators that facilitate the expression/maintenance of increased synaptic strength and resultant persisting antidepressant effects. Specifically, while the initiating mechanisms of these therapies may differ (e.g., cell type-specificity, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subtype-selective inhibition vs activation, metabotropic glutamate receptor 2/3 antagonism, AMPA receptor potentiation, 5-HT receptor-activating psychedelics, etc.), the sustained therapeutic mechanisms of putative rapid-acting antidepressants will be mediated, in part, by metaplastic effects that converge on consistent molecular mediators to enhance excitatory neurotransmission and altered capacity for synaptic plasticity. We conclude that the convergence of these therapeutic mechanisms provides the opportunity for metaplasticity processes to be harnessed as a druggable plasticity mechanism by next-generation therapeutics. Further, targeting metaplastic mechanisms presents therapeutic advantages including decreased dosing frequency and associated diminished adverse responses by eliminating the requirement for the drug to be continuously present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Todd D Gould
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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Staudt M, Liu N, Malhaire F, Doroudian Y, Prézeau L, Renard E, Hasanpour Z, Pin JP, Bunch L. Synthesis and pharmacological characterization of conformationally restricted 2-amino-Adipic acid analogs and carboxycyclopropyl glycines as selective metabotropic glutamate 2 receptor agonists. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 266:116157. [PMID: 38245976 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate (Glu) receptors (mGluRs) are G-protein coupled receptors, which play a central role in modulating excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, the development of tool compounds thereto, continues to interest the scientific community. In this study, we report the design and synthesis of new conformationally restricted 2-aminoadipic acid (2AA) 2-4, and glutamic acid 5, 6 analogs, which share the cyclopropane ring as the restrictor. The analogs were characterized at rat mGlu1-8 in an IP-One functional assay. While the 2AA analogs 3a, 4a and CCG-I analog 5a were shown to be selective mGlu2 agonists with low micromolar potencies, CCG-II analog 5b was shown to be a potent full agonist at mGlu2 (EC50 = 82 nM) with ∼15-fold selectivity over mGlu3, >25-fold selectivity over group III, and >60-fold selectivity over group I subtypes. An in silico study was performed to address this significant change (>3500 fold) in potency upon introduction of this methyl group (L-CCG-II vs 5b).
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Staudt
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Fanny Malhaire
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, 34094, Montpellier, France
| | - Yasaman Doroudian
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laurent Prézeau
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, 34094, Montpellier, France
| | - Emma Renard
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zahra Hasanpour
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jean-Philippe Pin
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, 34094, Montpellier, France
| | - Lennart Bunch
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Liu N, Eshak F, Malhaire F, Brabet I, Prézeau L, Renard E, Pin JP, Acher FC, Staudt M, Bunch L. Design, Synthesis, Pharmacology, and In Silico Studies of (1 S,2 S,3 S)-2-(( S)-Amino(carboxy)methyl)-3-(carboxymethyl)cyclopropane-1-carboxylic Acid (LBG30300): A Picomolar Potency Subtype-Selective mGlu 2 Receptor Agonist. J Med Chem 2024; 67:1314-1326. [PMID: 38170918 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate (Glu) receptors (mGlu receptors) play a key role in modulating excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we report the structure-based design and pharmacological evaluation of densely functionalized, conformationally restricted glutamate analogue (1S,2S,3S)-2-((S)-amino(carboxy)methyl)-3-(carboxymethyl)cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (LBG30300). LBG30300 was synthesized in a stereocontrolled fashion in nine steps from a commercially available optically active epoxide. Functional characterization of all eight mGlu receptor subtypes showed that LBG30300 is a picomolar agonist at mGlu2 with excellent selectivity over mGlu3 and the other six mGlu receptor subtypes. Bioavailability studies on mice (IV administration) confirm CNS exposure, and an in silico study predicts a binding mode of LBG30300 which induces a flipping of Tyr144 to allow for a salt bridge interaction of the acetate group with Arg271. The Tyr144 residue now prevents Arg271 from interacting with Asp146, which is a residue of differentiation between mGlu2 and mGlu3 and thus could explain the observed subtype selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Liu
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, OE, Denmark
| | - Floriane Eshak
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, SPPIN CNRS UMR 8003, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Fanny Malhaire
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, 34094 Inserm, Montpellier, France
| | - Isabelle Brabet
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, 34094 Inserm, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent Prézeau
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, 34094 Inserm, Montpellier, France
| | - Emma Renard
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, OE, Denmark
| | - Jean-Philippe Pin
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, 34094 Inserm, Montpellier, France
| | - Francine C Acher
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, SPPIN CNRS UMR 8003, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Markus Staudt
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, OE, Denmark
| | - Lennart Bunch
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, OE, Denmark
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Chruścicka-Smaga B, Machaczka A, Szewczyk B, Pilc A. Interaction of hallucinogenic rapid-acting antidepressants with mGlu2/3 receptor ligands as a window for more effective therapies. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:1341-1349. [PMID: 37932583 PMCID: PMC10660980 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00547-4] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The desire to find a gold-standard therapy for depression is still ongoing. Developing one universal and effective pharmacotherapy remains troublesome due to the high complexity and variety of symptoms. Over the last decades, the understanding of the mechanism of pathophysiology of depression and its key consequences for brain functioning have undergone significant changes, referring to the monoaminergic theory of the disease. After the breakthrough discovery of ketamine, research began to focus on the modulation of glutamatergic transmission as a new pharmacological target. Glutamate is a crucial player in mechanisms of a novel class of antidepressants, including hallucinogens such as ketamine. The role of glutamatergic transmission is also suggested in the antidepressant (AD) action of scopolamine and psilocybin. Despite fast, robust, and sustained AD action hallucinogens belonging to a group of rapid-acting antidepressants (RAA) exert significant undesired effects, which hamper their use in the clinic. Thus, the synergistic action of more than one substance in lower doses instead of monotherapy may alleviate the likelihood of adverse effects while improving therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we explore AD-like behavioral, synaptic, and molecular action of RAAs such as ketamine, scopolamine, and psilocybin, in combination with mGlu2/3 receptor antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Chruścicka-Smaga
- Department of Neurobiology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Agata Machaczka
- Department of Neurobiology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Bernadeta Szewczyk
- Department of Neurobiology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Andrzej Pilc
- Department of Neurobiology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
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Pilc A, Chaki S. Role of mGlu receptors in psychiatric disorders - Recent advances. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 232:173639. [PMID: 37734493 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Pilc
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
| | - Shigeyuki Chaki
- Research Headquarters, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Japan.
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Hashimoto K, Schmitt A. New treatment strategies for mental health. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:1399-1401. [PMID: 37603079 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01682-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Hashimoto
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Andrea Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Witkin JM, Golani LK, Smith JL. Clinical pharmacological innovation in the treatment of depression. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2023; 16:349-362. [PMID: 37000975 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2023.2198703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Deficiencies in standard of care antidepressants are driving novel drug discovery. A new age of antidepressant medications has emerged with the introduction of rapid-acting antidepressants with efficacy in treatment-resistant patients. AREAS COVERED The newly approved medicines and those in clinical development for major depressive disorder (MDD) are documented in this scoping review of newly approved and emerging antidepressants. Compounds are evaluated for clinical efficacy, tolerability, and safety and compared to those of standard of care medicines. EXPERT OPINION A new age of antidepressant discovery relies heavily on glutamatergic mechanisms. New medicines based upon the model of ketamine have been delivered and are in clinical development. Rapid onset and the ability to impact treatment-resistant depression, raises the question of the best first-line medicines for patients. Drugs with improvements in tolerability are being investigated (e.g. mGlu2/3 receptor antagonists, AMPA receptor potentiators, and novel NMDA receptor modulators). Multiple companies are working toward the identification of novel psychedelic drugs where the requirement for psychedelic activity is not fully known. Gaps still exist - methods for matching patients with specific medicines are needed, and medicines for the prevention of MDD and its disease progression need research attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Witkin
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Departments of Neuroscience and Trauma Research, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Lalit K Golani
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jodi L Smith
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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