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Paudel P, Pandey P, Paris JJ, Ashpole NM, Mahdi F, Tian JM, Lee J, Wang M, Xu M, Chittiboyina AG, Khan IA, Ross SA, Li XC. Cannabinoid Receptor Type II Ligands from Sandalwood Oil and Synthetic α-Santalol Derivatives. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2023; 86:1786-1792. [PMID: 37450763 PMCID: PMC11214301 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioassay-guided fractionation of the essential oil of Santalum album led to the identification of α-santalol (1) and β-santalol (2) as new chemotypes of cannabinoid receptor type II (CB2) ligands with Ki values of 10.49 and 8.19 μM, respectively. Nine structurally new α-santalol derivatives (4a-4h and 5) were synthesized to identify more selective and potent CB2 ligands. Compound 4e with a piperazine structural moiety demonstrated a Ki value of 0.99 μM against CB2 receptor and did not show binding activity against cannabinoid receptor type I (CB1) at 10 μM. Compounds 1, 2, and 4e increased intracellular calcium influx in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells that were attenuated by CB2 antagonism or inverse agonism, supporting the results that these compounds are CB2 agonists. Molecular docking showed that 1 and 4e had similar binding poses, exhibiting a unique interaction with Thr114 within the CB2 receptor, and that the piperazine structural moiety is required for the binding affinity of 4e. A 200 ns molecular dynamics simulation of CB2 complexed with 4e confirmed the stability of the complex. This structural insight lays a foundation to further design and synthesize more potent and selective α-santalol-based CB2 ligands for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Paudel
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Pankaj Pandey
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Jason J. Paris
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Nicole M. Ashpole
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Fakhri Mahdi
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Jun-Mian Tian
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Joseph Lee
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Mei Wang
- Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Min Xu
- Center for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, P. R. China
| | - Amar G. Chittiboyina
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Ikhlas A. Khan
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Samir A. Ross
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Xing-Cong Li
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
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Vasincu A, Rusu RN, Ababei DC, Neamțu M, Arcan OD, Macadan I, Beșchea Chiriac S, Bild W, Bild V. Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists in Inflammation, Diabetes Mellitus, and Obesity. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1667. [PMID: 37371762 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, research has greatly expanded the knowledge of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its involvement in several therapeutic applications. Cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) are present in nearly every mammalian tissue, performing a vital role in different physiological processes (neuronal development, immune modulation, energy homeostasis). The ECS has an essential role in metabolic control and lipid signaling, making it a potential target for managing conditions such as obesity and diabetes. Its malfunction is closely linked to these pathological conditions. Additionally, the immunomodulatory function of the ECS presents a promising avenue for developing new treatments for various types of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. Preclinical investigations using peripherally restricted CBR antagonists that do not cross the BBB have shown promise for the treatment of obesity and metabolic diseases, highlighting the importance of continuing efforts to discover novel molecules with superior safety profiles. The purpose of this review is to examine the roles of CB1R and CB2Rs, as well as their antagonists, in relation to the above-mentioned disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Vasincu
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Răzvan-Nicolae Rusu
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Daniela-Carmen Ababei
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Monica Neamțu
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Oana Dana Arcan
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ioana Macadan
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Sorin Beșchea Chiriac
- Department of Toxicology, "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University of Life Sciences, 8 M. Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
| | - Walther Bild
- Department of Physiology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Center of Biomedical Research of the Romanian Academy, 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Veronica Bild
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Center of Biomedical Research of the Romanian Academy, 700506 Iasi, Romania
- Center for Advanced Research and Development in Experimental Medicine (CEMEX), "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
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Zielińska A, Eder P, Karczewski J, Szalata M, Hryhorowicz S, Wielgus K, Szalata M, Dobrowolska A, Atanasov AG, Słomski R, Souto EB. Tocilizumab-coated solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with cannabidiol as a novel drug delivery strategy for treating COVID-19: A review. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1147991. [PMID: 37033914 PMCID: PMC10073701 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1147991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Commonly used clinical strategies against coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), including the potential role of monoclonal antibodies for site-specific targeted drug delivery, are discussed here. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) tailored with tocilizumab (TCZ) and loading cannabidiol (CBD) are proposed for the treatment of COVID-19 by oral route. TCZ, as a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody and an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor agonist, can attenuate cytokine storm in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. CBD (an anti-inflammatory cannabinoid and TCZ agonist) alleviates anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. CBD, obtained from Cannabis sativa L., is known to modulate gene expression and inflammation and also shows anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been recognized to modulate angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) expression in SARS-CoV-2 target tissues. It has already been proven that immunosuppressive drugs targeting the IL-6 receptor may ameliorate lethal inflammatory responses in COVID-19 patients. TCZ, as an immunosuppressive drug, is mainly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, although several attempts have been made to use it in the active hyperinflammatory phase of COVID-19, with promising outcomes. TCZ is currently administered intravenously. It this review, we discuss the potential advances on the use of SLN for oral administration of TCZ-tailored CBD-loaded SLN, as an innovative platform for managing SARS-CoV-2 and related infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Zielińska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences Poznan, Poznan, Poland
- *Correspondence: Aleksandra Zielińska, ; Piotr Eder, ; Eliana B. Souto,
| | - Piotr Eder
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dietetics, and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- *Correspondence: Aleksandra Zielińska, ; Piotr Eder, ; Eliana B. Souto,
| | - Jacek Karczewski
- Department of Environmental Medicine/Department of Gastroenterology, Human Nutrition and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Marlena Szalata
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Szymon Hryhorowicz
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences Poznan, Poznan, Poland
| | - Karolina Wielgus
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Milena Szalata
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants National Research Institute, Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Dobrowolska
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dietetics, and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Atanas G. Atanasov
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Magdalenka, Poland
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ryszard Słomski
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences Poznan, Poznan, Poland
| | - Eliana B. Souto
- UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, MEDTECH, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Aleksandra Zielińska, ; Piotr Eder, ; Eliana B. Souto,
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Honig MG, Del Mar NA, Moore BM, Reiner A. Raloxifene Mitigates Emotional Deficits after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice. Neurotrauma Rep 2022; 3:534-544. [DOI: 10.1089/neur.2022.0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marcia G. Honig
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nobel A. Del Mar
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Bob M. Moore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Anton Reiner
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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5
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Honig MG, Del Mar NA, Henderson DL, O'Neal D, Yammanur M, Cox R, Li C, Perry AM, Moore BM, Reiner A. Raloxifene, a cannabinoid type-2 receptor inverse agonist, mitigates visual deficits and pathology and modulates microglia after ocular blast. Exp Eye Res 2022; 218:108966. [PMID: 35143834 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.108966] [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: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Visual deficits after ocular blast injury (OBI) are common, but pharmacological approaches to improve long-term outcomes have not been identified. Blast forces frequently damage the retina and optic nerves, and work on experimental animals has shown the pro-inflammatory actions of microglia can further exacerbate such injuries. Cannabinoid type-2 receptor (CB2) inverse agonists specifically target activated microglia, biasing them away from the harmful pro-inflammatory M1 state toward the helpful reparative M2 state. We previously found that treating mice with CB2 inverse agonists after traumatic brain injury, produced by either focal cranial air blast or dorsal cranial impact, greatly attenuated the visual deficits and pathology that otherwise resulted. Here we examined the consequences of single and repeat OBI and the benefit provided by raloxifene, an FDA-approved estrogen receptor drug that possesses noteworthy CB2 inverse agonism. After single OBI, although the amplitudes of the A- and B-waves of the electroretinogram and pupil light response appeared to be normal, the mice showed hints of deficits in contrast sensitivity and visual acuity, a trend toward optic nerve axon loss, and significantly increased light aversion, which were reversed by 2 weeks of daily treatment with raloxifene. Mice subjected to repeat OBI (5 blasts spaced 1 min apart), exhibited more severe visual deficits, including decreases in contrast sensitivity, visual acuity, the amplitudes of the A- and B-waves of the electroretinogram, light aversion, and resting pupil diameter (i.e. hyperconstriction), accompanied by the loss of photoreceptor cells and optic nerve axons, nearly all of which were mitigated by raloxifene. Interestingly, optic nerve axon abundance was strongly correlated with contrast sensitivity and visual acuity across all groups of experimental mice in the repeat OBI study, suggesting optic nerve axon loss with rOBI and its attenuation with raloxifene are associated with the extent of these two deficits while photoreceptor abundance was highly correlated with A-wave amplitude and resting pupil size, suggesting a prominent role for photoreceptors in these two deficits. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) showed levels of M1-type microglial markers (e.g. iNOS, IL1β, TNFα, and CD32) in retina, optic nerve, and thalamus were increased 3 days after repeat OBI. With raloxifene treatment, the overall expression of M1 markers was more similar to that in sham mice. Raloxifene treatment was also associated with the elevation of IL10 transcripts in all three tissues compared to repeat OBI alone, but the results for the three other M2 microglial markers we examined were more varied. Taken together, the qPCR results suggest that raloxifene benefit for visual function and pathology was associated with a lessening of the pro-inflammatory actions of microglia. The benefit we find for raloxifene following OBI provides a strong basis for phase-2 efficacy testing in human clinical trials for treating ocular injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia G Honig
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology(,) the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Nobel A Del Mar
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology(,) the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Desmond L Henderson
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology(,) the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Dylan O'Neal
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology(,) the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Meghna Yammanur
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology(,) the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Rachel Cox
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology(,) the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Chunyan Li
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology(,) the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Aaron M Perry
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology(,) the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Bob M Moore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Anton Reiner
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology(,) the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
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6
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Honig MG, Del Mar NA, Henderson DL, O'Neal D, Doty JB, Cox R, Li C, Perry AM, Moore BM, Reiner A. Raloxifene Modulates Microglia and Rescues Visual Deficits and Pathology After Impact Traumatic Brain Injury. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:701317. [PMID: 34776838 PMCID: PMC8585747 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.701317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves widespread axonal injury and activation of microglia, which initiates secondary processes that worsen the TBI outcome. The upregulation of cannabinoid type-2 receptors (CB2) when microglia become activated allows CB2-binding drugs to selectively target microglia. CB2 inverse agonists modulate activated microglia by shifting them away from the harmful pro-inflammatory M1 state toward the helpful reparative M2 state and thus can stem secondary injury cascades. We previously found that treatment with the CB2 inverse agonist SMM-189 after mild TBI in mice produced by focal cranial blast rescues visual deficits and the optic nerve axon loss that would otherwise result. We have further shown that raloxifene, which is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved as an estrogen receptor modulator to treat osteoporosis, but also possesses CB2 inverse agonism, yields similar benefit in this TBI model through its modulation of microglia. As many different traumatic events produce TBI in humans, it is widely acknowledged that diverse animal models must be used in evaluating possible therapies. Here we examine the consequences of TBI created by blunt impact to the mouse head for visual function and associated pathologies and assess raloxifene benefit. We found that mice subjected to impact TBI exhibited decreases in contrast sensitivity and the B-wave of the electroretinogram, increases in light aversion and resting pupil diameter, and optic nerve axon loss, which were rescued by daily injection of raloxifene at 5 or 10 mg/ml for 2 weeks. Raloxifene treatment was associated with reduced M1 activation and/or enhanced M2 activation in retina, optic nerve, and optic tract after impact TBI. Our results suggest that the higher raloxifene dose, in particular, may be therapeutic for the optic nerve by enhancing the phagocytosis of axonal debris that would otherwise promote inflammation, thereby salvaging less damaged axons. Our current work, together with our prior studies, shows that microglial activation drives secondary injury processes after both impact and cranial blast TBI and raloxifene mitigates microglial activation and visual system injury in both cases. The results thus provide a strong basis for phase 2 human clinical trials evaluating raloxifene as a TBI therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia G Honig
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Nobel A Del Mar
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Desmond L Henderson
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Dylan O'Neal
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - John B Doty
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Rachel Cox
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Chunyan Li
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Aaron M Perry
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Bob M Moore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Anton Reiner
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2: A Possible Target in SARS-CoV-2 (CoV-19) Infection? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21113809. [PMID: 32471272 PMCID: PMC7312493 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In late December 2019, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or CoV-19) appeared in Wuhan, China, causing a global pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 causes mild to severe respiratory tract inflammation, often developing into lung fibrosis with thrombosis in pulmonary small vessels and causing even death. COronaVIrus Disease (COVID-19) patients manifest exacerbated inflammatory and immune responses, cytokine storm, prevalence of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages and increased levels of resident and circulating immune cells. Men show higher susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection than women, likely due to estrogens production. The protective role of estrogens, as well as an immune-suppressive activity that limits the excessive inflammation, can be mediated by cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2). The role of this receptor in modulating inflammation and immune response is well documented in fact in several settings. The stimulation of CB2 receptors is known to limit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, shift the macrophage phenotype towards the anti-inflammatory M2 type and enhance the immune-modulating properties of mesenchymal stromal cells. For these reasons, we hypothesize that CB2 receptor can be a therapeutic target in COVID-19 pandemic emergency.
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Tanaka M, Sackett S, Zhang Y. Endocannabinoid Modulation of Microglial Phenotypes in Neuropathology. Front Neurol 2020; 11:87. [PMID: 32117037 PMCID: PMC7033501 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, mediate brain homeostasis by controlling neuronal proliferation/differentiation and synaptic activity. In response to external signals from neuropathological conditions, homeostatic (M0) microglia can adopt one of two activation states: the classical (M1) activation state, which secretes mediators of the proinflammatory response, and the alternative (M2) activation state, which presumably mediates the resolution of neuroinflammation and tissue repair/remodeling. Since chronic inflammatory activation of microglia is correlated with several neurodegenerative diseases, functional modulation of microglial phenotypes has been considered as a potential therapeutic strategy. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system, composed of cannabinoid receptors and ligands and their metabolic/biosynthetic enzymes, has been shown to activate anti-inflammatory signaling pathways that modulate immune cell functions. Growing evidence has demonstrated that endogenous, synthetic, and plant-derived eCB agonists possess therapeutic effects on several neuropathologies; however, the molecular mechanisms that mediate the anti-inflammatory effects have not yet been identified. Over the last decade, it has been revealed that the eCB system modulates microglial activation and population. In this review, we thoroughly examine recent studies on microglial phenotype modulation by eCB in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease conditions. We hypothesize that cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2R) signaling shifts the balance of expression between neuroinflammatory (M1-type) genes, neuroprotective (M2-type) genes, and homeostatic (M0-type) genes toward the latter two gene expressions, by which microglia acquire therapeutic functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikiei Tanaka
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Scott Sackett
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yumin Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
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9
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Shrader SH, Song ZH. Discovery of endogenous inverse agonists for G protein-coupled receptor 6. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 522:1041-1045. [PMID: 31818461 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The orphan G protein-coupled receptor 6 (GPR6) is highly expressed in the striatum and has been linked to multiple striatal pathologies. The identification of endogenous ligands and their mechanisms of action at GPR6 will help to elucidate the physiological and pathological roles of the receptor. In the current study, we tested the concentration-dependent effects of a variety of endocannabinoid-like N-acylamides on GPR6 signaling. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that N-arachidonoyl dopamine, N-docosahexaenoyl dopamine, N-oleoyl dopamine and N-palmitoyl dopamine exert inverse agonism at GPR6. This effect was concentration-dependent, with potencies in the micromolar range, and functionally selective for β-arrestin2 recruitment. Structure-activity relationship studies demonstrate that both the N-acyl side chain and the dopamine head group are important for these ligands to act on GPR6. Our discovery of these N-acyl dopamines as endogenous inverse agonists for GPR6 moves us one step further in understanding the roles GPR6 play in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders related to striatal dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Shrader
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40292, United States
| | - Zhao-Hui Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40292, United States.
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Honig MG, Del Mar NA, Henderson DL, Ragsdale TD, Doty JB, Driver JH, Li C, Fortugno AP, Mitchell WM, Perry AM, Moore BM, Reiner A. Amelioration of visual deficits and visual system pathology after mild TBI via the cannabinoid Type-2 receptor inverse agonism of raloxifene. Exp Neurol 2019; 322:113063. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.113063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Laun AS, Shrader SH, Song ZH. Novel inverse agonists for the orphan G protein-coupled receptor 6. Heliyon 2018; 4:e00933. [PMID: 30480157 PMCID: PMC6240797 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The orphan G protein-coupled receptor 6 (GPR6) displays unique promise as a therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders due to its high expression in the striatopallidal neurons of the basal ganglia. GPR6, along with closely related orphan receptors GPR3 and GPR12, are phylogenetically related to CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. In the current study, we performed concentration-response studies on the effects of three different classes of cannabinoids: endogenous, phyto-, and synthetic, on both GPR6-mediated cAMP accumulation and β-arrestin2 recruitment. In addition, structure-activity relationship studies were conducted on cannabidiol (CBD), a recently discovered inverse agonist for GPR6. We have identified four additional cannabinoids, cannabidavarin (CBDV), WIN55212-2, SR141716A and SR144528, that exert inverse agonism on GPR6. Furthermore, we have discovered that these cannabinoids exhibit functional selectivity toward the β-arrestin2 recruitment pathway. These novel, functionally selective inverse agonists for GPR6 can be used as research tools and potentially developed into therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa S Laun
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40292, United States
| | - Sarah H Shrader
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40292, United States
| | - Zhao-Hui Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40292, United States
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12
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Franks LN, Ford BM, Fujiwara T, Zhao H, Prather PL. The tamoxifen derivative ridaifen-B is a high affinity selective CB 2 receptor inverse agonist exhibiting anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoclastogenic effects. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2018; 353:31-42. [PMID: 29906493 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) target estrogen receptors (ERs) to treat breast cancer and osteoporosis. Several SERMs exhibit anti-cancer activity not related to ERs. To discover novel anti-cancer drugs acting via ER-independent mechanisms, derivatives of the SERM tamoxifen, known as the "ridaifen" compounds, have been developed that exhibit reduced or no ER affinity, while maintaining cytotoxicity. Tamoxifen and other SERMs bind to cannabinoid receptors with moderate affinity. Therefore, ER-independent effects of SERMs might be mediated via cannabinoid receptors. This study determined whether RID-B, a first generation ridaifen compound, exhibits affinity and/or activity at CB1 and/or CB2 cannabinoid receptors. RID-B binds with high affinity (Ki = 43.7 nM) and 17-fold selectivity to CB2 over CB1 receptors. RID-B acts as an inverse agonist at CB2 receptors, modulating G-protein and adenylyl cyclase activity with potency values predicted by CB2 affinity. Characteristic of an antagonist, RID-B co-incubation produces a parallel-rightward shift in the concentration-effect curve of CB2 agonist WIN-55,212-2 to inhibit adenylyl cyclase activity. CB2 inverse agonists are reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-ostoeclastogenic effects. In LPS-activated macrophages, RID-B exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by reducing levels of nitric oxide (NO), IL-6 and IL-1α, but not TNFα. Only reduction of NO concentration by RID-B is mediated by cannabinoid receptors. RID-B also exhibits pronounced anti-osteoclastogenic effects, reducing the number of osteoclasts differentiating from primary bone marrow macrophages in a cannabinoid receptor-dependent manner. In summary, the tamoxifen derivative RID-B, developed with reduced affinity for ERs, is a high affinity selective CB2 inverse agonist with anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoclastogenic properties.
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MESH Headings
- Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology
- Benzoxazines/pharmacology
- Binding, Competitive/drug effects
- Bone Marrow Cells/drug effects
- CHO Cells
- Cell Differentiation/drug effects
- Cricetinae
- Cricetulus
- Drug Inverse Agonism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Morpholines/pharmacology
- Naphthalenes/pharmacology
- Osteoclasts/drug effects
- Pyrrolidines/metabolism
- Pyrrolidines/pharmacology
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/drug effects
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/agonists
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators/metabolism
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators/pharmacology
- Tamoxifen/analogs & derivatives
- Tamoxifen/metabolism
- Tamoxifen/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Lirit N Franks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Benjamin M Ford
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Toshifumi Fujiwara
- Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Division, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Haibo Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Division, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
| | - Paul L Prather
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
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13
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Barton M, Prossnitz ER. Rapid vasodilation to raloxifene: role of oestrogen receptors and off-target effects. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:4201-4202. [PMID: 28983907 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Barton
- Molecular Internal Medicine, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Eric R Prossnitz
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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14
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Brown KJ, Laun AS, Song ZH. Cannabidiol, a novel inverse agonist for GPR12. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 493:451-454. [PMID: 28888984 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
GPR12 is a constitutively active, Gs protein-coupled receptor that currently has no confirmed endogenous ligands. GPR12 may be involved in physiological processes such as maintenance of oocyte meiotic arrest and brain development, as well as pathological conditions such as metastatic cancer. In this study, the potential effects of various classes of cannabinoids on GPR12 were tested using a cAMP accumulation assay. Our data demonstrate that cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, acted as an inverse agonist to inhibit cAMP accumulation stimulated by the constitutively active GPR12. Thus, GPR12 is a novel molecular target for CBD. The structure-activity relationship studies of CBD indicate that both the free hydroxyl and the pentyl side chain are crucial for the effects of CBD on GPR12. Furthermore, studies using cholera toxin, which blocks Gs protein and pertussis toxin, which blocks Gi protein, revealed that Gs, but not Gi is involved in the inverse agonism of CBD on GPR12. CBD is a promising novel therapeutic agent for cancer, and GPR12 has been shown to alter viscoelasticity of metastatic cancer cells. Since we have demonstrated that CBD is an inverse agonist for GPR12, this provides novel mechanism of action for CBD, and an initial chemical scaffold upon which highly potent and efficacious agents acting on GPR12 may be developed with the ultimate goal of blocking cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Brown
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, United States
| | - Alyssa S Laun
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, United States
| | - Zhao-Hui Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, United States.
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15
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Salort G, Álvaro-Bartolomé M, García-Sevilla JA. Regulation of cannabinoid CB 2 receptor constitutive activity in vivo: repeated treatments with inverse agonists reverse the acute activation of JNK and associated apoptotic signaling in mouse brain. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:925-941. [PMID: 28127623 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4537-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE CB2 receptors express constitutive activity and inverse agonists regulate receptor basal activity, which might be involved in death mechanisms. This study assessed the effects of a selective CB2 agonist (JWH133) and different CB2 inverse agonists (AM630, JTE907, raloxifene) on death pathways in brain. OBJECTIVES The acute (JWH13) and the acute/chronic effects (AM630, JTE907, raloxifene) of CB2 ligands regulating pro-apoptotic c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (p-JNK/JNK ratio) and associated signaling of extrinsic (Fas receptor, Fas-Associated death domain protein, FADD) and intrinsic (Bax, cytochrome c) death pathways (nuclear poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase PARP) were investigated in mouse brain. METHODS Mice were treated with CB2 drugs and target protein contents were assessed by western blot analysis. RESULTS JWH133 reduced cortical JNK (-27-45%) whereas AM630 acutely increased JNK in cortex (+61-148%), cerebellum (+34-40%), and striatum (+33-42%). JTE907 and raloxifene also increased cortical JNK (+31%-57%). Acute AM630, but not JWH133, increased cortical FADD, Bax, cytochrome c, and PARP cleavage. Repeated treatments with the three CB2 inverse agonists were associated with a reversal of the acute effects resulting in decreases in cortical JNK (AM630: -36%; JTE907: -25%; raloxifene: -11%). Chronic treatments also induced a reversal with down-regulation (AM630) or only tolerance (JTE907 and raloxifene) on other apoptotic markers (FADD, Bax, cytochrome c, PARP). CONCLUSIONS AM630 and JTE907 are CB2 protean ligands. Thus, chronic inverse agonists abolished CB2 constitutive activity and then the ligands behaved as agonists reducing (like JWH133) JNK activity. Acute and chronic treatments with CB2 inverse agonists regulate in opposite directions brain death markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glòria Salort
- Laboratori de Neurofarmacologia, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS/IdisPa), Universitat de les Illes Balears, Cra. Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.,Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud-Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RETICS-RTA), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Álvaro-Bartolomé
- Laboratori de Neurofarmacologia, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS/IdisPa), Universitat de les Illes Balears, Cra. Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.,Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud-Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RETICS-RTA), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús A García-Sevilla
- Laboratori de Neurofarmacologia, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS/IdisPa), Universitat de les Illes Balears, Cra. Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. .,Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud-Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RETICS-RTA), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
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16
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Franks LN, Ford BM, Prather PL. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators: Cannabinoid Receptor Inverse Agonists with Differential CB1 and CB2 Selectivity. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:503. [PMID: 28066250 PMCID: PMC5177629 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are used to treat estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer and osteoporosis. Interestingly, tamoxifen and newer classes of SERMs also exhibit cytotoxic effects in cancers devoid of ERs, indicating a non-estrogenic mechanism of action. Indicative of a potential ER-independent target, reports demonstrate that tamoxifen binds to cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) with affinity in the low μM range and acts as an inverse agonist. To identify cannabinoids with improved pharmacological properties relative to tamoxifen, and further investigate the use of different SERM scaffolds for future cannabinoid drug development, this study characterized the affinity and activity of SERMs in newer structural classes at CBRs. Fourteen SERMs from five structurally distinct classes were screened for binding to human CBRs. Compounds from four of five SERM classes examined bound to CBRs. Subsequent studies fully characterized CBR affinity and activity of one compound from each class. Ospemifine (a triphenylethylene) selectively bound to CB1Rs, while bazedoxifine (an indole) bound to CB2Rs with highest affinity. Nafoxidine (a tetrahydronaphthalene) and raloxifene (RAL; a benzothiaphene) bound to CB1 and CB2Rs non-selectively. All four compounds acted as inverse agonists at CB1 and CB2Rs, reducing basal G-protein activity with IC50 values in the nM to low μM range. Ospemifine, bazedoxifene and RAL also acted as inverse agonists to elevate basal intracellular cAMP levels in intact CHO-hCB2 cells. The four SERMs examined also acted as CB1 and CB2R antagonists in the cAMP assay, producing rightward shifts in the concentration-effect curve of the CBR agonist CP-55,940. In conclusion, newer classes of SERMs exhibit improved pharmacological characteristics (e.g., in CBR affinity and selectivity) relative to initial studies with tamoxifen, and thus suggest that different SERM scaffolds may be useful for development of safe and selective drugs acting via CBRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lirit N Franks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock AR, USA
| | - Benjamin M Ford
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock AR, USA
| | - Paul L Prather
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock AR, USA
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17
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Ford BM, Franks LN, Radominska-Pandya A, Prather PL. Tamoxifen Isomers and Metabolites Exhibit Distinct Affinity and Activity at Cannabinoid Receptors: Potential Scaffold for Drug Development. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167240. [PMID: 27936172 PMCID: PMC5147891 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tamoxifen (Tam) is a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator (SERM) that is an essential drug to treat ER-positive breast cancer. Aside from known actions at ERs, recent studies have suggested that some SERMs like Tam also exhibit novel activity at cannabinoid subtype 1 and 2 receptors (CB1R and CB2Rs). Interestingly, cis- (E-Tam) and trans- (Z-Tam) isomers of Tam exhibit over a 100-fold difference in affinity for ERs. Therefore, the current study assessed individual isomers of Tam and subsequent cytochrome P450 metabolic products, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT) and 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyl tamoxifen (End) for affinity and activity at CBRs. Results showed that Z-4OHT, but not Z-Tam or Z-End, exhibits higher affinity for both CB1 and CB2Rs relative to the E-isomer. Furthermore, Z- and E-isomers of Tam and 4OHT show slightly higher affinity for CB2Rs, while both End isomers are relatively CB1R-selective. When functional activity was assessed by G-protein activation and regulation of the downstream effector adenylyl cyclase, all isomers examined act as full CB1 and CB2R inverse agonists. Interestingly, Z-Tam appears to be more efficacious than the full inverse agonist AM630 at CB2Rs, while both Z-Tam and Z-End exhibit characteristics of insurmountable antagonism at CB1 and CB2Rs, respectively. Collectively, these results suggest that the SERMs Tam, 4OHT and End elicit ER-independent actions via CBRs in an isomer-specific manner. As such, this novel structural scaffold might be used to develop therapeutically useful drugs for treatment of a variety of diseases mediated via CBRs.
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MESH Headings
- Adenylyl Cyclases/metabolism
- Animals
- Binding, Competitive
- Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- CHO Cells
- Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists/metabolism
- Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists/pharmacology
- Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists/metabolism
- Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists/pharmacology
- Colforsin/metabolism
- Colforsin/pharmacology
- Cricetinae
- Cricetulus
- Cyclic AMP/metabolism
- Cyclohexanols/metabolism
- Cyclohexanols/pharmacology
- Female
- GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate)/metabolism
- Humans
- Indoles/metabolism
- Indoles/pharmacology
- Isomerism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/agonists
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/agonists
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators/chemistry
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators/metabolism
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators/pharmacology
- Tamoxifen/analogs & derivatives
- Tamoxifen/chemistry
- Tamoxifen/metabolism
- Tamoxifen/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M. Ford
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
| | - Lirit N. Franks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
| | - Anna Radominska-Pandya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
| | - Paul L. Prather
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Synthesis and biological evaluation of (3',5'-dichloro-2,6-dihydroxy-biphenyl-4-yl)-aryl/alkyl-methanone selective CB2 inverse agonist. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:5390-401. [PMID: 26275680 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.07.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) selective agonists and inverse agonists possess significant potential as therapeutic agents for regulating inflammation and immune function. Although CB2 agonists have received the greatest attention, it is emerging that inverse agonists also manifest anti-inflammatory activity. In process of designing new cannabinoid ligands we discovered that the 2,6-dihydroxy-biphenyl-aryl methanone scaffold imparts inverse agonist activity at CB2 receptor without functional activity at CB1. To further explore the scaffold we synthesized a series of (3',5'-dichloro-2,6-dihydroxy-biphenyl-4-yl)-aryl/alkyl-methanone analogs and evaluated the CB1 and CB2 affinity, potency, and efficacy. The studies reveal that an aromatic C ring is required for inverse agonist activity and that substitution at the 4 position is optimum. The resorcinol moiety is required for optimum CB2 inverse agonist activity and selectivity. Antagonist studies against CP 55,940 demonstrate that the compounds 41 and 45 are noncompetitive antagonists at CB2.
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19
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Hojnik M, Dobovišek L, Knez Ž, Ferk P. A synergistic interaction of 17-β-estradiol with specific cannabinoid receptor type 2 antagonist/inverse agonist on proliferation activity in primary human osteoblasts. Biomed Rep 2015; 3:554-558. [PMID: 26171165 DOI: 10.3892/br.2015.469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The bone remodeling process is influenced by various factors, including estrogens and transmitters of the endocannabinoid system. In osteoblasts, cannabinoid receptors 2 (CB-2) are expressed at a much higher level compared to CB-1 receptors. Previous studies have shown that estrogens could influence CB-2 receptor expression. In the present study, the possible interactions of a specific CB-2 agonist and a specific CB-2 antagonist/inverse agonist with 17-β-estradiol were investigated in primary human osteoblasts (HOB). HOB cells were cultured in phenol red-free osteoblast growth medium (37°C, 5% CO2). In their 5th passage, HOB were exposed to different concentrations of i) 17-β-estradiol (1, 10 and 100 nM); ii) a specific CB-2 agonist (R,S)-AM1241 (1 and 7.5 µM); and iii) a specific CB-2 antagonist/inverse agonist AM630 (10 µM) and to selected combinations of the substances. After 24 and 48 h of incubation, HOB proliferation activity was measured using a WST-8 assay. Alkaline phosphatase activity was also evaluated using spectrophotometry. Concomitant exposure of HOB to 17-β-estradiol (10 nM) and to specific CB-2 antagonist/inverse agonist (10 µM) showed similar HOB proliferation activity to HOB incubated with 17-β-estradiol only at a 100 nM concentration. By contrast, concomitant incubation of HOB with 17-β-estradiol (10 nM) and specific CB-2 agonist (7.5 µM) resulted in decreased HOB proliferation activity as compared to HOB incubated with 17-β-estradiol only (10 nM). Similar findings were observed after 24 and 48 h of incubation. In all the experiments, HOB successfully passed the alkaline phosphatase differentiation test. In conclusion, for the first time a synergistic interaction between 17-β-estradiol and specific CB-2 antagonist/inverse agonist was observed in HOB. Understanding the molecular pathways of this interaction would be of great importance in developing more efficient and safer drugs for treating or preventing bone diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Hojnik
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor SI-2000, Slovenia
| | - Luka Dobovišek
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor SI-2000, Slovenia
| | - Željko Knez
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Maribor SI-2000, Slovenia
| | - Polonca Ferk
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor SI-2000, Slovenia
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20
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CB2 cannabinoid receptor is a novel target for third-generation selective estrogen receptor modulators bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 443:144-9. [PMID: 24275139 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.11.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to investigate the ability of the third-generation selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene to bind and act on CB2 cannabinoid receptor. We have identified, for the first time, that CB2 is a novel target for bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene. Our results showed that bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene were able to compete for specific [(3)H]CP-55,940 binding to CB2 in a concentration-dependent manner. Our data also demonstrated that by acting on CB2, bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene concentration-dependently enhanced forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Furthermore, bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene caused parallel, rightward shifts of the CP-55,940, HU-210, and WIN55,212-2 concentration-response curves without altering the efficacy of these cannabinoid agonists on CB2, which indicates that bazedoxifene- and lasofoxifene-induced CB2 antagonism is most likely competitive in nature. Our discovery that CB2 is a novel target for bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene suggests that these third-generation SERMs can potentially be repurposed for novel therapeutic indications for which CB2 is a target. In addition, identifying bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene as CB2 inverse agonists also provides important novel mechanisms of actions to explain the known therapeutic effects of these SERMs.
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21
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Kumar P, Kumar A, Song ZH. Structure-activity relationships of fatty acid amide ligands in activating and desensitizing G protein-coupled receptor 119. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 723:465-72. [PMID: 24184668 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Revised: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to apply a high throughput assay to investigate the structure-activity relationships of fatty acid amides for activating and desensitizing G protein-coupled receptor 119, a promising therapeutic target for both type 2 diabetes and obesity. A cell-based, homogenous time resolved fluorescence (HTRF) method for measuring G protein-coupled receptor 119-mediated increase of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels was validated and applied in this study. Using novel fatty acid amides and detailed potency and efficacy analyses, we have demonstrated that degree of saturation in acyl chain and charged head groups of fatty acid amides have profound effects on the ability of these compounds to activate G protein-coupled receptor 119. In addition, we have demonstrated for the first time that pretreatments with G protein-coupled receptor 119 agonists desensitize the receptor and the degrees of desensitization caused by fatty acid amides correlate well with their structure-activity relationships in activating the receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritesh Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville KY 40292, United States of America
| | - Akhilesh Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville KY 40292, United States of America
| | - Zhao-Hui Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville KY 40292, United States of America.
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22
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CB1 and CB2 receptors are novel molecular targets for Tamoxifen and 4OH-Tamoxifen. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 441:339-43. [PMID: 24148245 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.10.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Tamoxifen (Tam) is classified as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and is used for treatment of patients with ER-positive breast cancer. However, it has been shown that Tam and its cytochrome P450-generated metabolite 4-hydroxy-Tam (4OH-Tam) also exhibit cytotoxic effects in ER-negative breast cancer cells. These observations suggest that Tam and 4OH-Tam can produce cytotoxicity via estrogen receptor (ER)-independent mechanism(s) of action. The molecular targets responsible for the ER-independent effects of Tam and its derivatives are poorly understood. Interestingly, similar to Tam and 4OH-Tam, cannabinoids have also been shown to exhibit anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects in ER-negative breast cancer cells, and estrogen can regulate expression levels of cannabinoid receptors (CBRs). Therefore, this study investigated whether CBRs might serve as novel molecular targets for Tam and 4OH-Tam. We report that both compounds bind to CB1 and CB2Rs with moderate affinity (0.9-3 μM). Furthermore, Tam and 4OH-Tam exhibit inverse activity at CB1 and CB2Rs in membrane preparations, reducing basal G-protein activity. Tam and 4OH-Tam also act as CB1/CB2R-inverse agonists to regulate the downstream intracellular effector adenylyl cyclase in intact cells, producing concentration-dependent increases in intracellular cAMP. These results suggest that CBRs are molecular targets for Tam and 4OH-Tam and may contribute to the ER-independent cytotoxic effects reported for these drugs. Importantly, these findings also indicate that Tam and 4OH-Tam might be used as structural scaffolds for development of novel, efficacious, non-toxic cancer drugs acting via CB1 and/or CB2Rs.
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