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Colombo G. Positive allosteric modulators of the GABAB receptor: a new class of ligands with therapeutic potential for alcohol use disorder. Alcohol Alcohol 2024; 59:agae018. [PMID: 38566580 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agae018] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor constitute a new class of GABAB-receptor ligands. GABAB PAMs reproduce several pharmacological effects of the orthosteric GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, although displaying a better safety profile. AIMS This paper reviews the reducing or, frequently, even suppressing effects of all GABAB PAMs tested to date on multiple alcohol-related behaviours in laboratory rodents exposed to validated experimental models of human alcohol use disorder. RESULTS Acute or repeated treatment with CGP7930, GS39783, BHF177, rac-BHFF, ADX71441, CMPPE, COR659, ASP8062, KK-92A, and ORM-27669 reduced excessive alcohol drinking, relapse- and binge-like drinking, operant alcohol self-administration, reinstatement of alcohol seeking, and alcohol-induced conditioned place preference in rats and mice. CONCLUSIONS These effects closely mirrored those of baclofen; notably, they were associated to remarkably lower levels of tolerance and toxicity. The recent transition of ASP8062 to clinical testing will soon prove whether these highly consistent preclinical data translate to AUD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
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Maccioni P, Mugnaini C, Carai MAM, Gessa GL, Corelli F, Colombo G. Anorectic effect of COR659 in a rat model of overeating. Behav Pharmacol 2023; 34:437-442. [PMID: 37712580 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
COR659 is a new compound, the action of which is exerted via a dual mechanism: positive allosteric modulation of the GABAB receptor; antagonism or inverse agonism at the cannabinoid CB1 receptor. Recent lines of experimental evidence have indicated that COR659 potently and effectively reduced operant self-administration of and reinstatement of seeking behaviour for a chocolate-flavoured beverage. The present study was designed to assess whether the ability of COR659 to diminish these addictive-like, food-motivated behaviours extended to a rat model of overeating palatable food. To this end, rats were habituated to feed on a standard rat chow for 3 h/day; every 4 days, the 3-hour chow-feeding session was followed by a 1-hour feeding session with highly palatable, calorie-rich Danish butter cookies. Even though satiated, rats overconsumed cookies. COR659 (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered before the start of the cookie-feeding session. Treatment with all 3 doses of COR659 produced a substantial decrease in intake of cookies and calories from cookies. These results extend the anorectic profile of COR659 to overconsumption of a highly palatable food and intake of large amounts of unnecessary calories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA)
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena (SI)
| | | | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA)
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena (SI)
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA)
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Lorrai I, Shankula C, Marquez Gaytan J, Maccioni R, Lobina C, Maccioni P, Brizzi A, Mugnaini C, Gessa GL, Sanna PP, Corelli F, Colombo G. Development of tolerance upon repeated administration with the GABA B receptor positive allosteric modulator, COR659, on alcohol drinking in rodents. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2022; 48:662-672. [PMID: 36095322 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2022.2116713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Background: Recent work has demonstrated that acute administration of the novel positive allosteric modulator of the GABAB receptor, COR659, reduces several alcohol-related behaviors in rodents.Objective: To assess whether COR659 continues to lessen alcohol intake after repeated administration, a fundamental feature of drugs with therapeutic potential.Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice (n = 40) were exposed to daily 2-hour drinking sessions (20% (v/v) alcohol) under the 1-bottle "drinking in the dark" protocol and male Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats (n = 40) were exposed to daily 1-hour drinking sessions under the 2-bottle "alcohol (10%, v/v) vs water" choice regimen. COR659 (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg in the mouse experiment; 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg in the rat experiment) was administered intraperitoneally before 7 consecutive drinking sessions.Results: Alcohol intake in vehicle-treated mice and rats averaged 2.5-3.0 and 1.5-1.6 g/kg/session, respectively, indicative of high basal levels. In both experiments, treatment with COR659 resulted in an initial, dose-related suppression of alcohol intake (up to 70-80% compared to vehicle treatment; P < .0005 and P < .0001 in mouse and rat experiments, respectively). The magnitude of the reducing effect of COR659 on alcohol drinking diminished progressively, until vanishing over the subsequent 2-4 drinking sessions.Conclusion: COR659 effectively reduced alcohol intake in two different rodent models of excessive alcohol drinking. However, tolerance to the anti-alcohol effects of COR659 developed rapidly. If theoretically transposed to humans, these data would represent a possible limitation to the clinical use of COR659.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Lorrai
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Chase Shankula
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jorge Marquez Gaytan
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Riccardo Maccioni
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Pietro Paolo Sanna
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
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Maccioni P, Kaczanowska K, McDonald P, Colombo G. Development of Partial Tolerance to the Suppressing Effect of the Positive Allosteric Modulator of the GABAB Receptor, KK-92A, on Alcohol Self-Administration in Rats. Alcohol Alcohol 2022; 57:706-711. [PMID: 35589119 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agac026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS A recent study reported how acute treatment with KK-92A, a newly synthesized positive allosteric modulator (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor (GABAB PAMs), suppressed a series of alcohol-related behaviors, including operant oral alcohol self-administration, in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. These findings lead to the addition of KK-92A to the long list of GABAB PAMs capable of reducing, after acute treatment, alcohol self-administration in rats. As a further step toward a more complete characterization of the anti-addictive properties of KK-92A, the present study was designed to assess the effect of repeated treatment with the compound on alcohol self-administration. METHODS sP rats were trained to lever-respond for oral alcohol (15%, v/v) under the fixed ratio 5 (FR5) schedule of reinforcement. Once lever-responding behavior had stabilized, KK-92A (0, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 30 min prior to 10 consecutive daily self-administration sessions (likewise occurring under the FR5 schedule). RESULTS The first injection of KK-92A produced a dose-related suppression in number of lever-responses for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol. Magnitude of the suppressing effect of KK-92A decreased over the following two self-administration sessions and then tended to stabilize on continuation of treatment. Statistical significance at post hoc analysis was maintained only by the highest dose tested (20 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest the development of partial tolerance to the reducing effect of repeatedly administered KK-92A on alcohol self-administration. The agonistic component of the ago-allosteric profile of KK-92A is discussed as the likely key element underlying the observed tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | | | - Patricia McDonald
- Department of Cancer Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato, Italy
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Reducing effect of the novel positive allosteric modulator of the GABA B receptor, COR659, on binge-like alcohol drinking in male mice and rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:201-213. [PMID: 34812900 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-06022-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Binge drinking (BD) is a widespread drinkingpattern that may contribute to promote the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The comprehension of its neurobiological basis and the identification of molecules that may prevent BD are critical. Preclinical studies demonstrated that positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor effectively reduced, and occasionally suppressed, the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol in rodents, suggesting their potential use as pharmacotherapy for AUD, including BD. Recently, we demonstrated that COR659, a novel GABAB PAM, effectively reduced (i) alcohol drinking under the 2-bottle choice regimen, (ii) alcohol self-administration under both fixed and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement, and (iii) cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. OBJECTIVES The present study investigated whether the "anti-alcohol" properties of COR659 extend to binge-like drinking in rodents. METHODS COR659 was tested on the "drinking in the dark" (DID) paradigm in C57BL/6J mice and the 4-bottle "alcohol [10%, 20%, 30% (v/v)] versus water" choice regimen with limited and unpredictable access to alcohol in sP rats. RESULTS Acute administration of non-sedative doses of COR659 (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg; i.p.) effectively and selectively suppressed the intake of intoxicating amounts of alcohol (> 2 g/kg) consumed by C57BL/6J mice and sP rats exposed to these binge-like drinking experimental procedures. CONCLUSIONS The present data demonstrate the ability of COR659 to suppress binge-like drinking in rodents and strengthen the hypothesis that GABAB PAMs may represent a potentially effective pharmacotherapy for alcohol misuse.
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Abstract
Preclinical research over the past several decades has demonstrated a role for the γ-aminobutyric acidB (GABAB) receptor in alcohol use disorder (AUD). This chapter offers an examination of preclinical evidence on the role of the GABAB receptor on alcohol-related behaviors with a particular focus on the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen, for which effects have been most extensively studied, and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor. Studies employing rodent and non-human primate models have shown that activation of the GABAB receptor can reduce (1) stimulating and rewarding effects of alcohol; (2) signs of alcohol withdrawal in rats made physically dependent on alcohol; (3) acquisition and maintenance of alcohol drinking under a two-bottle alcohol versus water choice procedure; (4) alcohol intake under oral operant self-administration procedures; (5) motivational properties of alcohol measured using extinction and progressive ratio procedures; (6) the increase in alcohol intake after a period of alcohol abstinence (the alcohol deprivation effect or ADE); and (7) the ability of alcohol cues and stress to reinstate alcohol seeking when alcohol is no longer available. Baclofen and GABAB PAMs reduce the abovementioned behaviors across different preclinical models, which provides strong evidence for a significant role of the GABAB receptor in alcohol-related behaviors and supports development of medications targeting GABAB receptors for the treatment of AUD. This chapter highlights the value of examining mechanisms of alcohol-related behaviors across multiple animal models to increase the confidence in identification of new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- August F Holtyn
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Elise M Weerts
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Maccioni P, Kaczanowska K, Lawrence H, Yun S, Bratzu J, Gessa GL, McDonald P, Colombo G. The Novel Positive Allosteric Modulator of the GABA B Receptor, KK-92A, Suppresses Alcohol Self-Administration and Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Alcohol Seeking in Rats. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:727576. [PMID: 34778249 PMCID: PMC8585307 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.727576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor (GABAB PAMs) are of interest in the addiction field due to their ability to suppress several behaviors motivated by drugs of abuse. KK-92A is a novel GABAB PAM found to attenuate intravenous self-administration of nicotine and reinstatement of nicotine seeking in rats. This present study was aimed at extending to alcohol the anti-addictive properties of KK-92A. To this end, Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats were trained to lever-respond for oral alcohol (15% v/v) or sucrose (0.7% w/v) under the fixed ratio (FR) 5 (FR5) schedule of reinforcement. Once lever-responding behavior had stabilized, rats were exposed to tests with acutely administered KK-92A under FR5 and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement and cue-induced reinstatement of previously extinguished alcohol seeking. KK-92A effect on spontaneous locomotor activity was also evaluated. Treatment with 10 and 20 mg/kg KK-92A suppressed lever-responding for alcohol, amount of self-administered alcohol, and breakpoint for alcohol. Treatment with 20 mg/kg KK-92A reduced sucrose self-administration. Combination of per se ineffective doses of KK-92A (2.5 mg/kg) and the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen (1 mg/kg), reduced alcohol self-administration. Treatment with 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg KK-92A suppressed reinstatement of alcohol seeking. Only treatment with 80 mg/kg KK-92A affected spontaneous locomotor activity. These results demonstrate the ability of KK-92A to inhibit alcohol-motivated behaviors in rodents and confirm that these effects are common to the entire class of GABAB PAMs. The remarkable efficacy of KK-92A is discussed in terms of its ago-allosteric properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Kaczanowska
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Harshani Lawrence
- Chemical Biology Core, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Sang Yun
- Chemical Biology Core, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Jessica Bratzu
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Patricia McDonald
- Department of Cancer Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, Italy
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Domi E, Domi A, Adermark L, Heilig M, Augier E. Neurobiology of alcohol seeking behavior. J Neurochem 2021; 157:1585-1614. [PMID: 33704789 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse consequences. A main challenge of addiction treatment is to prevent relapse, which occurs in more than >50% of newly abstinent patients with alcohol disorder within 3 months. In people suffering from alcohol addiction, stressful events, drug-associated cues and contexts, or re-exposure to a small amount of alcohol trigger a chain of behaviors that frequently culminates in relapse. In this review, we first present the preclinical models that were developed for the study of alcohol seeking behavior, namely the reinstatement model of alcohol relapse and compulsive alcohol seeking under a chained schedule of reinforcement. We then provide an overview of the neurobiological findings obtained using these animal models, focusing on the role of opioids systems, corticotropin-release hormone and neurokinins, followed by dopaminergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic neurotransmissions in alcohol seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esi Domi
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, BKV, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ana Domi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Louise Adermark
- Addiction Biology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Markus Heilig
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, BKV, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Eric Augier
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, BKV, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Lobina C, Maccioni P, Lorrai I, Zaru A, Collu M, Carai MAM, Brizzi A, Mugnaini C, Gessa GL, Corelli F, Colombo G. Suppressing effect of the novel positive allosteric modulator of the GABA B receptor, COR659, on locomotor hyperactivity induced by different drugs of abuse. Behav Brain Res 2020; 400:113045. [PMID: 33309750 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
COR659 is a recently synthesized positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABAB receptor. Similarly to all GABAB PAMs tested to date, COR659 has been reported to suppress different alcohol-related behaviors in rodents. The present study was designed to assess whether the anti-addictive properties of COR659 extend to drugs of abuse other than alcohol. Specifically, it investigated the effect of COR659 on cocaine-, amphetamine-, nicotine-, and morphine-induced locomotor hyperactivity in mice. To this aim, independent groups of CD1 mice were acutely pretreated with COR659 (0, 10, and 20 mg/kg; i.p.), then acutely treated with cocaine (0 and 10 mg/kg, s.c.), amphetamine (0 and 5 mg/kg; s.c.), nicotine (0 and 0.05 mg/kg; s.c.), or morphine (0 and 20 mg/kg; s.c.), and finally exposed for 60 min to a photocell-equipped motility cage. When given alone, both doses of COR659 were ineffective on spontaneous locomotor activity. Pretreatment with COR659 reduced, or even suppressed, the increase in motility counts induced by cocaine, amphetamine, nicotine, and morphine. Since locomotor hyperactivity is an attribute common to drugs of abuse, the results of the present study constitute the first line of evidence on the extension of the preclinical, anti-addictive profile of COR659 to cocaine, amphetamine, nicotine, and morphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Irene Lorrai
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zaru
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Maria Collu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Cagliari Pharmacological Research, Cagliari, CA, I-09127, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, SI, I-53100, Italy
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, SI, I-53100, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, SI, I-53100, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato, CA, I-09042, Italy.
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Ferlenghi F, Maccioni P, Mugnaini C, Brizzi A, Fara F, Mostallino R, Castelli MP, Colombo G, Mor M, Vacondio F, Corelli F. The GABAB receptor positive allosteric modulator COR659: In vitro metabolism, in vivo pharmacokinetics in rats, synthesis and pharmacological characterization of metabolically protected derivatives. Eur J Pharm Sci 2020; 155:105544. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Mugnaini C, Brizzi A, Mostallino R, Castelli MP, Corelli F. Structure optimization of positive allosteric modulators of GABA B receptors led to the unexpected discovery of antagonists/potential negative allosteric modulators. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127443. [PMID: 32730942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of GABAB receptor represent an interesting alternative to receptor agonists such as baclofen, as they act on the receptor in a more physiological way and thus are devoid of the side effects typically exerted by the agonists. Based on our interest in the identification of new GABAB receptor PAMs, we followed a merging approach to design new chemotypes starting from selected active compounds, such as GS39783, rac-BHFF, and BHF177, and we ended up with the synthesis of four different classes of compounds. The new compounds were tested alone or in the presence of 10 µM GABA using [35S]GTPγS binding assay to assess their functionality at the receptor. Unexpectedly, a number of them significantly inhibited GABA-stimulated GTPγS binding thus revealing a functional switch with respect to the prototype molecules. Further studies on selected compounds will clarify if they act as negative modulators of the receptor or, instead, as antagonists at the orthosteric binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100 Siena, SI, Italy.
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100 Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Rafaela Mostallino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Castelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; Guy Everett Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; Center of Excellence "Neurobiology of Addiction", University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100 Siena, SI, Italy
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Cannella N, Ubaldi M, Masi A, Bramucci M, Roberto M, Bifone A, Ciccocioppo R. Building better strategies to develop new medications in Alcohol Use Disorder: Learning from past success and failure to shape a brighter future. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 103:384-398. [PMID: 31112713 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic disease that develops over the years. The complexity of the neurobiological processes contributing to the emergence of AUD and the neuroadaptive changes occurring during disease progression make it difficult to improve treatments. On the other hand, this complexity offers researchers the possibility to explore new targets. Over years of intense research several molecules were tested in AUD; in most cases, despite promising preclinical data, the clinical efficacy appeared insufficient to justify futher development. A prototypical example is that of corticotropin releasing factor type 1 receptor (CRF1R) antagonists that showed significant effectiveness in animal models of AUD but were largely ineffective in humans. The present article attempts to analyze the most recent venues in the development of new medications in AUD with a focus on the most promising drug targets under current exploration. Moreover, we delineate the importance of using a more integrated translational framework approach to correlate preclinical findings and early clinical data to enhance the probability to validate biological targets of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazzareno Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Massimo Ubaldi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Alessio Masi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Massimo Bramucci
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Marisa Roberto
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Neuroscience, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Angelo Bifone
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy; Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Torino, Italy
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy.
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Abstract
The orthosteric γ-aminobutyric acidB (GABAB) receptor agonist baclofen is currently considered a therapeutic option for alcohol use disorder (AUD); however, the safety profile of baclofen is a concern, thus arousing interest in the positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor (GABAB PAMs), a new class of ligands expected to possess a better safety profile. The present paper summarizes the several lines of experimental evidence indicating the ability of GABAB PAMs to inhibit multiple alcohol-motivated behaviors in rodents. All GABAB PAMs tested to date have invariably been reported to reduce, or even suppress, excessive alcohol drinking, relapse- and binge-like drinking, operant oral alcohol self-administration, reinstatement of alcohol seeking, and alcohol-induced locomotor stimulation and conditioned place preference in rats and mice. The use of validated animal models of several aspects of AUD confers translational value to these findings. The reducing effects of GABAB PAMs on alcohol-motivated behaviors (1) occurred at doses largely lower than those inducing sedation, suggesting that GABAB PAMs may possess, if compared with baclofen, a higher therapeutic index and a more favorable safety profile, and (2) were often not associated with reductions on other non-drug consummatory behaviors. Additional findings with therapeutic potential were (1) the lack of tolerance, after repeated treatment, to the reducing effect of GABAB PAMs on alcohol drinking and self-administration; (2) the efficacy of GABAB PAMs after intragastric administration; and (3) the ability of GABAB PAMs to selectively potentiate the suppressing effect of baclofen on alcohol self-administration. The recent transition of the first GABAB PAMs to the initial steps of clinical testing makes investigation of the efficacy of GABAB PAMs in AUD patients a feasible option.
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