Differentiation between partial and silent 5-HT1D beta receptor antagonists using rat C6-glial and Chinese hamster ovary cell lines permanently transfected with a cloned human 5-HT1D beta receptor gene

Efficacy of selective 5-HT6 receptor ligands determined by monitoring 5-HT6 receptor-mediated cAMP signaling pathways

1. Two novel selective 5-HT6 receptor ligands E-6801 (6-chloro-N-(3-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl)imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-5-sulfonamide) and E-6837 (5-chloro-N-(3-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl)naphthalene-2-sulfonamide) were investigated and compared to the putative 5-HT6 receptor antagonists SB-271046 (5-chloro-N-(4-methoxy-3-(piperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-3-methylbenzo[b]thiophene-2-sulfonamide) and Ro 04-06790 (N-(2,6-bis(methylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-4-aminobenzenesulfonamide) using a cAMP-mediated pathway. 2. Forskolin stimulation, to increase the magnitude of agonist cAMP responses, and site-directed mutagenesis of the 5-HT6 receptor, in order to yield constitutively active receptor, were applied. 3. 5-HT (E(max), % over basal: 200), E-6801 (120) and E-6837 (23) induced cAMP formation at the rat 5-HT6 receptor. In the copresence of forskolin, cAMP responses were more potent and enhanced to 294 (5-HT, % over forskolin), 250 (E-6801) and 207 (E-6837), respectively. 5-HT-mediated cAMP formation was dose-dependently blocked by SB-271046 (pA(2): 8.76+/-0.22) and Ro 04-6790 (pA(2): 7.89+/-0.10) and not affected by the copresence of forskolin. Both E-6801 and E-6837 yielded partial antagonism of the 5-HT response in the absence of forskolin, whereas antagonism was either completely absent (E-6801) or attenuated (E-6837) in the copresence of forskolin. Intrinsic activity of these 5-HT6 receptor ligands at a constitutively active human S267K 5-HT6 receptor in Cos-7 cells indicated similar efficacy (E(max), % over basal) for 5-HT (97), E-6801 (91) and E-6837 (100), while Ro 04-6790 (-33) and SB-271046 (-39) were equi-efficacious inverse agonists. 4. The use of either forskolin or a constitutively active S267K 5-HT6 receptor enhances the resolution for monitoring the efficacy of 5-HT6 receptor ligands. E-6801 and E-6837 are potent partial agonists at the 5-HT6 receptor. Ro 04-6790 and SB-271046 appear to act as inverse agonists/antagonists.

Agonistic properties of alniditan, sumatriptan and dihydroergotamine on human 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors expressed in various mammalian cell lines

1. Alniditan, a novel migraine abortive agent, is a potent 5-HT1B/5-HT1D receptor agonist of nM affinity. We compared the agonistic properties of alniditan, sumatriptan and dihydroergotamine on the cloned human 5-HT1B receptor expressed at 200 fmol mg(-1) protein (Bmax) in non-induced L929sA cells, at 740 fmol mg(-1) protein in HEK 293 and at 2300 fmol mg(-1) protein in mIFNbeta-induced L929sA cells, and on the human cloned 5-HT1D receptor expressed in C6 glioma cells (Bmax 780 fmol mg(-1) protein). 2. Sodium butyrate treatment increased the expression level of human (h)5-HT1B receptors in HEK 293 cells and h5-HT1D receptors in C6 glioma cells approximately 3 fold, the binding affinities of [3H]-5-HT and [3H]-alniditan were unaffected. 3. Agonistic properties were evaluated based on inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation in the cells after stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by forskolin or isoproterenol. Alniditan, sumatriptan and dihydroergotamine were full agonists at the hS-HT1B receptor (IC50 values were 1.7, 20 and 2 nM, respectively in HEK 293 cells) and hS-HT1D receptors (IC50 values of 1.3, 2.6 and 2.2 nM, respectively). At the h5-HT1B receptor the agonist potency of the compounds slightly increased with higher receptor density. The opposite was seen for antagonists (ocaperidone, risperidone and ritanserin). 4. This comparative study demonstrated that alniditan was 10 times more potent than sumatriptan at the h5-HT1B receptor, and twice as potent at the h5-HT1D receptor. Dihydroergotamine was more potent an agonist at the h5-HT1B receptor when expressed at high and low level in L929sA cells (but not in HEK 293 cells), and was less potent at the hS-HT1D receptor.

5-HT1B receptor antagonist properties of novel arylpiperazide derivatives of 1-naphthylpiperazine

A new series of arylpiperazide derivatives of 1-naphthylpiperazine of general formula 4 has been prepared and evaluated as 5-HT1B antagonists. Binding experiments at cloned human 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT1D receptors show that these derivatives are potent and selective ligands for 5-HT1B/1D subtypes with increased binding selectivity versus the 5-HT1A receptor when compared to 1-naphthylpiperazine (1-NP). Studies of inhibition of the forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation mediated by the human 5-HT1B receptor demonstrate that the nature of the arylpiperazide substituent modulates the intrinsic activity of these 1-NP derivatives. Among them, 2-[[8-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)naphthalen-2-yl]oxy] -1-(4-o-tolylpiperazin-1-yl)ethanone (4a) was identified as a potent neutral 5-HT1B antagonist able to antagonize the inhibition of 5-HT release induced by 5-CT (5-carbamoyltryptamine) in guinea pig hypothalamus slices. Moreover, 4a was found to potently antagonize the hypothermia induced by a selective 5-HT1B/1D agonist in vivo in the guinea pig following oral administration (ED50 = 0.13 mg/kg).

Involvement of 5-HT(1B/1D) and 5-HT2A receptors in 5-HT-induced contraction of endothelium-denuded rabbit epicardial coronary arteries

1. The receptors responsible for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-mediated contraction of rabbit isolated epicardial coronary artery denuded of endothelium was examined by bioassay. 2. A variety of 5-HT mimetics caused concentration-dependent contractions. The rank order of agonist potency was 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) > 5-HT > (+/-)-alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine ((+/-)-alpha-me-5-HT) = sumatriptan. This was not consistent with relative potencies at any single recognized 5-HT receptor, suggesting the presence of a mixed receptor population. In one subset of preparations precontracted with U46619 (10-30 nM) with the endothelium intact, none of the agonists caused a relaxation. 3. Contractions to 5-HT were antagonized by ketanserin, a 5-HT2A-selective antagonist, but the displacement of concentration-response curves was inconsistent with an interaction between 5-HT and a single receptor population; the slope of regression between antagonist log M concentration and agonist log (concentration-ratio -1) was shallow (0.57). Responses to 5-HT were also antagonized by the 5-HT(1B/1D)-receptor antagonist GR127935 and, again, the slope of regression was shallow (0.68). These data suggest a possible involvement of 5-HT2A and 5-HT1B or 5-HT1D receptors in the response to 5-HT. 4. Contractions to (+/-)-alpha-me-5-HT, which is selective for 5-HT2A over 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors, were competitively antagonized by low concentrations of ketanserin. The regression between antagonist log M concentration and agonist log (concentration-ratio -1) fitted the Schild equation with a slope that was not significantly different from unity (0.95), giving a pA2 value of 9.0. GR127935 (3-30 nM), had no effect on the contractile response to (+/-)-alpha-me-5-HT. These data establish, unequivocally, the presence of 5-HT2A receptors in the tissue. 5. Sumatriptan, a relatively selective 5-HT(1B/1D)-receptor agonist, induced contractions that were antagonized competitively by GR127935 (3-30 nM), although there was a reduction in the maximum response when concentrations of GR127935 exceeded 3 nM. The apparent pA2 (estimated by imposing a unit slope on the log agonist (concentration-ratio -1) value in the presence of 3 nM GR127935) was 8.92. Contractions to sumatriptan were not affected by low (5-HT2A receptor-selective) concentrations of ketanserin, but were antagonized in a competitive manner at higher concentrations (pA2 6.5). These data appear to confirm the presence of 5-HT1B and/or 5-HT1D receptors in the tissue. 6. Antagonism of 5-HT responses by GR127935 was reassessed after blockade of 5-HT2A receptors with 1 microM ketanserin. Under these conditions, GR127935 was able to antagonize 5-HT-induced contractions fully. The slope of regression between log M antagonist concentration and log agonist (concentration-ratio -1) fitted the Schild equation with a slope not significantly different from unity (1.1) (albeit there was still a reduction in maximum response when GR127935 concentration exceeded 3 nM). The apparent pA2 value was 8.8. This reinforces the evidence that 5-HT1B and/or 5-HT1D receptors contribute to the effects of 5-HT in the tissue. 7. In conclusion, in endothelium denuded rabbit epicardial coronary arteries, 5-HT activates 5-HT2A and 5-HT1D and/or 5-HT1B receptors to cause contraction. This appears to be similar to the situation in man.

Mechanism of actions of sumatriptan on coronary flow before and after endothelial dysfunction in guinea-pig isolated heart

1. The mechanism of action of sumatriptan on coronary flow was examined before and after two different forms of endothelial ablation in guinea-pig isolated hearts. The mechanism was assessed in terms of the influence of the integrity of the coronary endothelium, the role of release of nitric oxide (NO) from the endothelium, and the receptor subtypes mediating the effects. 2. Continuous perfusion with sumatriptan reduced coronary flow, but the concentration-response curve was v-shaped. Sumatriptan (0.001-0.1 microM) caused a concentration-dependent decrease in coronary flow with the maximum effect achieved at 0.23 +/- 0.04 microM. The pEC50 was 8.49 +/- 0.07. At higher concentrations (0.1-10 microM) there was a concentration-dependent diminution of the vasoconstrictor effect. Endothelial ablation by saponin removed the diminution in the vasoconstrictor effect. In contrast pretreatment with NG-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (100 microM. 45 min perfusion) did not affect it. This was despite both saponin and L-NAME being effective in reducing basal release of NO into the coronary effluent (measured by chemiluminescence) to the same extent (71 +/- 3 and 73 +/- 2%, respectively). 3. GR127935, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine1D (5-HT1D) receptor antagonist (3 and 10 nM), which by itself had no effect on coronary flow or NO release, antagonized the vasoconstrictor response to sumatriptan and unmasked a sumatriptan-induced concentration-dependent increase in coronary flow and NO release. These increases in coronary flow and NO release were abolished by pretreatment with either saponin or L-NAME. 4. Mesulergine, a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist which had no effect by itself on basal coronary flow or NO release, inhibited the vasodilator response to sumatriptan that occurred in the presence of GR127935, and actually enhanced the vasoconstrictor response, increasing the max mum fall in coronary flow from -3.9 +/- 0.4 to -5.2 +/- 0.4 ml min-1 g-1 (P < 0.05). The diminution of vasoconstrictor effect of sumatriptan was abolished by mesulergine and by pretreatment with saponin, but not by L-NAME. 5. In conclusion, guinea-pig coronary arteries constrict to low concentrations of sumatriptan, causing a reduction in coronary flow. This effect appears to be caused by 5-HT1D agonism with the receptors located on the coronary vascular smooth muscle. With higher concentrations of sumatriptan this is partially offset by a weaker vasodilator effect, which is caused by low affinity 5-HT2 agonism. Although this effect is endothelium-dependent. It is not caused by the release of NO. Interestingly, when the vasoconstrictor effect of sumatriptan was inhibited by the 5-HT1D antagonist GR127935, a high affinity vasodilator effect of sumatriptan was unmasked. This is 5-HT2 receptor mediated and is caused by release of NO from the coronary endothelium. 6. In man, sumatriptan, and 5-HT may both be capable of causing pathogenic coronary vasoconstriction. The implications of the present data are that the scope for this may depend greatly on (i) the extent of underlying endothelial dysfunction, (ii) the extent of endothelial 5-HT2 receptor-mediated release of vasodilator autacoids (which include NO) and (iii) the extent of smooth muscle 5-HT1D receptor-mediated vasoconstriction.