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Stott LA, la Rochelle AD, Brown S, Osborne G, Hutchings CJ, Poulter S, Bennett KA, Barnes M. The Neutrophil Dynamic Mass Redistribution Assay as a Medium throughput Primary Cell Screening Assay. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2024; 389:19-31. [PMID: 37863490 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.001787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In a typical G protein coupled receptor drug discovery campaign, an in vitro primary functional screening assay is often established in a recombinant system overexpressing the target of interest, which offers advantages with respect to overall throughput and robustness of compound testing. Subsequently, compounds are then progressed into more physiologically relevant but lower throughput ex vivo primary cell assays and finally in vivo studies. Here we describe a dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assay that has been developed in a format suitable to support medium throughput drug screening in primary human neutrophils. Neutrophils are known to express both CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR) 1 and CXCR2 that are thought to play significant roles in various inflammatory disorders and cancer. Using multiple relevant chemokine ligands and a range of selective and nonselective small and large molecule antagonists that block CXCR1 and CXCR2 responses, we demonstrate distinct pharmacological profiles in neutrophil DMR from those observed in recombinant assays but predictive of activity in neutrophil chemotaxis and CD11b upregulation, a validated target engagement marker previously used in clinical studies of CXCR2 antagonists. The primary human neutrophil DMR cell system is highly reproducible, robust, and less prone to donor variability observed in CD11b and chemotaxis assays and thus provides a unique, more physiologically relevant, and higher throughput assay to support drug discovery and translation to early clinical trials. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Neutrophil dynamic mass redistribution assays provide a higher throughput screening assay to profile compounds in primary cells earlier in the screening cascade enabling a higher level of confidence in progressing the development of compounds toward the clinic. This is particularly important for chemokine receptors where redundancy contributes to a lack of correlation between recombinant screening assays and primary cells, with the coexpression of related receptors confounding results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Stott
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, United Kingdom (L.A.S., A.D.R., S.B., G.O., S.P., K.A.B., M.B.); and Independent Consultant (C.J.H.)
| | - Armand Drieu la Rochelle
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, United Kingdom (L.A.S., A.D.R., S.B., G.O., S.P., K.A.B., M.B.); and Independent Consultant (C.J.H.)
| | - Susan Brown
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, United Kingdom (L.A.S., A.D.R., S.B., G.O., S.P., K.A.B., M.B.); and Independent Consultant (C.J.H.)
| | - Greg Osborne
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, United Kingdom (L.A.S., A.D.R., S.B., G.O., S.P., K.A.B., M.B.); and Independent Consultant (C.J.H.)
| | - Catherine J Hutchings
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, United Kingdom (L.A.S., A.D.R., S.B., G.O., S.P., K.A.B., M.B.); and Independent Consultant (C.J.H.)
| | - Simon Poulter
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, United Kingdom (L.A.S., A.D.R., S.B., G.O., S.P., K.A.B., M.B.); and Independent Consultant (C.J.H.)
| | - Kirstie A Bennett
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, United Kingdom (L.A.S., A.D.R., S.B., G.O., S.P., K.A.B., M.B.); and Independent Consultant (C.J.H.)
| | - Matt Barnes
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, United Kingdom (L.A.S., A.D.R., S.B., G.O., S.P., K.A.B., M.B.); and Independent Consultant (C.J.H.)
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2
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Buchwald P. Quantitative receptor model for responses that are left- or right-shifted versus occupancy (are more or less concentration sensitive): the SABRE approach. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1274065. [PMID: 38161688 PMCID: PMC10755021 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1274065] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Simple one-to three-parameter models routinely used to fit typical dose-response curves and calculate EC50 values using the Hill or Clark equation cannot provide the full picture connecting measured response to receptor occupancy, which can be quite complex due to the interplay between partial agonism and (pathway-dependent) signal amplification. The recently introduced SABRE quantitative receptor model is the first one that explicitly includes a parameter for signal amplification (γ) in addition to those for binding affinity (K d), receptor-activation efficacy (ε), constitutive activity (ε R0), and steepness of response (Hill slope, n). It can provide a unified framework to fit complex cases, where fractional response and occupancy do not match, as well as simple ones, where parameters constrained to specific values can be used (e.g., ε R0 = 0, γ = 1, or n = 1). Here, it is shown for the first time that SABRE can fit not only typical cases where response curves are left-shifted compared to occupancy (κ = K d/EC50 > 1) due to signal amplification (γ > 1), but also less common ones where they are right-shifted (i.e., less concentration-sensitive; κ = K d/EC50 < 1) by modeling them as apparent signal attenuation/loss (γ < 1). Illustrations are provided with μ-opioid receptor (MOPr) data from three different experiments with one left- and one right-shifted response (G protein activation and β-arrestin2 recruitment, respectively; EC50,Gprt < K d < EC50,βArr). For such cases of diverging pathways with differently shifted responses, partial agonists can cause very weak responses in the less concentration-sensitive pathway without having to be biased ligands due to the combination of low ligand efficacy and signal attenuation/loss-an illustration with SABRE-fitted oliceridine data is included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Buchwald
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Diabetes Research Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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3
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Randáková A, Nelic D, Jakubík J. A critical re-evaluation of the slope factor of the operational model of agonism: When to exponentiate operational efficacy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17587. [PMID: 37845324 PMCID: PMC10579308 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45004-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Agonist efficacy denoting the "strength" of agonist action is a cornerstone in the proper assessment of agonist selectivity and signalling bias. The simulation models are very accurate but complex and hard to fit experimental data. The parsimonious operational model of agonism (OMA) has become successful in the determination of agonist efficacies and ranking them. In 1983, Black and Leff introduced the slope factor to the OMA to make it more flexible and allow for fitting steep as well as flat concentration-response curves. First, we performed a functional analysis to indicate the potential pitfalls of the OMA. Namely, exponentiation of operational efficacy may break relationships among the OMA parameters. The fitting of the Black & Leff equation to the theoretical curves of several models of functional responses and the experimental data confirmed the fickleness of the exponentiation of operational efficacy affecting estimates of operational efficacy as well as other OMA parameters. In contrast, fitting The OMA based on the Hill equation to the same data led to better estimates of model parameters. In conclusion, Hill equation-based OMA should be preferred over the Black & Leff equation when functional-response curves differ in the slope factor. Otherwise, the Black & Leff equation should be used with extreme caution acknowledging potential pitfalls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Randáková
- Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Praha, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dominik Nelic
- Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Praha, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Jakubík
- Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Praha, Prague, Czech Republic.
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4
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Ventriglia E, Rizzo A, Gomez JL, Friedman J, Lam S, Solís O, Rais R, Bonaventura J, Michaelides M. Essential role of P-glycoprotein in the mechanism of action of oliceridine. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:831-842. [PMID: 36434081 PMCID: PMC10066384 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01507-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists comprise the most effective analgesics, but their therapeutic utility is limited by adverse effects. One approach for limiting such effects has been to develop "biased" MOR agonists that show preference for activating G protein over β-Arrestin signaling. However, the notion of biased agonism has been challenged by recent studies. Oliceridine (Olinvyk®, TRV-130, OLC) is a selective MOR agonist approved by the FDA in 2020 for pain management in controlled clinical settings. Oliceridine purportedly demonstrates diminished adverse effects compared to morphine or other MOR agonists, a profile attributed to its biased agonism. However, recent studies suggest that oliceridine does not display biased agonism but instead weak intrinsic efficacy for G protein and β-Arrestin activation. Nevertheless, these insights have been derived from in vitro studies. To better understand oliceridine's in vivo efficacy profile, we performed a comprehensive assessment of its in vitro and in vivo pharmacology using both cultured cells and rodents. In vitro, oliceridine displayed high MOR affinity and weak intrinsic efficacy. In vivo, oliceridine showed impaired brain penetrance and rapid clearance, effects we attributed to its interaction with the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux transporter. Moreover, we found that P-gp was essential for oliceridine's in vivo efficacy and adverse effect profiles. Taken together with prior studies, our results suggest that oliceridine's in vivo efficacy and adverse effect profiles are not attributed solely to its weak intrinsic efficacy or biased agonism but, to a large extent, its interaction with P-gp as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilya Ventriglia
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Arianna Rizzo
- Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Institute de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
- Neuropharmacology & Pain Group, Neuroscience Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Juan L Gomez
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Jacob Friedman
- Medications Development Program, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sherry Lam
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Oscar Solís
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Rana Rais
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Jordi Bonaventura
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
- Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Institute de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
- Neuropharmacology & Pain Group, Neuroscience Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Michael Michaelides
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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5
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Tikhonova I, Dyukina A, Shaykhutdinova E, Safronova V. Modified Signaling of Membrane Formyl Peptide Receptors in NADPH-Oxidase Regulation in Obesity-Resistant Mice. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:306. [PMID: 36984693 PMCID: PMC10058262 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13030306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The signaling of membrane receptors is modified in obesity characterized by low-grade inflammation. The obesity-resistant state of organisms is poorly understood. We analyzed the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) initiated though membrane formyl peptide receptors (Fpr1, Fpr2) in bone-marrow granulocytes of obesity-resistant mice (ORM). A chemiluminescence assay was used to assess NADPH-oxidase-related intensity of ROS generation. ORM were chosen from animals that received high-fat diets and had metric body parameters as controls (standard diet). High spontaneous ROS production was observed in ORM cells. The EC50 for responses to bacterial or mitochondrial peptide N-formyl-MLF was higher in ORM with and without inflammation vs. the same control groups, indicating an insignificant role of high-affinity Fpr1. Increased responses to synthetic peptide WKYMVM (Fpr2 agonist) were observed in controls with acute inflammation, but they were similar in other groups. Fpr2 was possibly partially inactivated in ORM owing to the inflammatory state. Weakened Fpr1 and Fpr2 signaling via MAPKs was revealed in ORM using specific inhibitors for p38, ERK1/2, and JNK. P38 signaling via Fpr2 was lower in ORM with inflammation. Thus, a high-fat diet modified FPRs' role and suppressed MAPK signaling in NADPH-oxidase regulation in ORM. This result can be useful to understand the immunological features of obesity resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Tikhonova
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya St., 3, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
| | - Alsu Dyukina
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya St., 3, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
| | - Elvira Shaykhutdinova
- Branch of Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Nauki, 6, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
| | - Valentina Safronova
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya St., 3, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
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6
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Farmer JP, Mistry SN, Laughton CA, Holliday ND. Development of fluorescent peptide G protein-coupled receptor activation biosensors for NanoBRET characterization of intracellular allosteric modulators. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22576. [PMID: 36183332 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201024r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are widely therapeutically targeted, and recent advances in allosteric modulator development at these receptors offer further potential for exploitation. Intracellular allosteric modulators (IAM) represent a class of ligands that bind to the receptor-effector interface (e.g., G protein) and inhibit agonist responses noncompetitively. This potentially offers greater selectivity between receptor subtypes compared to classical orthosteric ligands. However, while examples of IAM ligands are well described, a more general methodology for assessing compound interactions at the IAM site is lacking. Here, fluorescent labeled peptides based on the Gα peptide C terminus are developed as novel binding and activation biosensors for the GPCR-IAM site. In TR-FRET binding studies, unlabeled peptides derived from the Gαs subunit were first characterized for their ability to positively modulate agonist affinity at the β2 -adrenoceptor. On this basis, a tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) labeled tracer was synthesized based on the 19 amino acid Gαs peptide (TMR-Gαs19cha18, where cha = cyclohexylalanine). Using NanoBRET technology to detect binding, TMR-Gαs19cha18 was recruited to Gs coupled β2 -adrenoceptor and EP2 receptors in an agonist-dependent manner, but not the Gi-coupled CXCR2 receptor. Moreover, NanoBRET competition binding assays using TMR-Gαs19cha18 enabled direct assessment of the affinity of unlabeled ligands for β2 -adrenoceptor IAM site. Thus, the NanoBRET platform using fluorescent-labeled G protein peptide mimetics offers novel potential for medium-throughput screens to identify IAMs, applicable across GPCRs coupled to a G protein class. Using the same platform, Gs peptide biosensors also represent useful tools to probe orthosteric agonist efficacy and the dynamics of receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Farmer
- School of Life Sciences, The Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | | | - Nicholas D Holliday
- School of Life Sciences, The Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Excellerate Bioscience, Biocity, Nottingham, UK
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7
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Grafinger KE, Vandeputte MM, Cannaert A, Ametovski A, Sparkes E, Cairns E, Juchli PO, Haschimi B, Pulver B, Banister SD, Stove CP, Auwärter V. Systematic evaluation of a panel of 30 synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists structurally related to MMB-4en-PICA, MDMB-4en-PINACA, ADB-4en-PINACA, and MMB-4CN-BUTINACA using a combination of binding and different CB1 receptor activation assays. Part III: The G protein pathway and critical comparison of different assays. Drug Test Anal 2021; 13:1412-1429. [PMID: 33908179 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The present work is the last of a three-part study investigating a panel of 30 systematically designed synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) including features such as the 4-pentenyl tail and varying head groups including amides and esters of l-valine (MMB, AB), l-tert-leucine (ADB), and l-phenylalanine (APP), as well as adamantyl (A) and cumyl moieties (CUMYL). Here, we evaluated these SCRAs for their capacity to activate the human cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1 ) via indirect measurement of G protein recruitment. Furthermore, we comparatively evaluated the results obtained from three in vitro assays, based on the recruitment of β-arrestin 2 (βarr2 assay) or Gαi protein (mini-Gαi assay), or binding of [35 S]-GTPγS. The observed efficacies (Emax ) varied depending on the conducted assay. Statistical analysis suggests that the population means of the relative intrinsic activity (RAi ) significantly differ for the [35 S]-GTPγS assay and the other two assays, but the population means of the βarr2 and mini-Gαi assays were not statistically different. Our data suggest that differences observed between the βarr2 and mini-Gαi assays are the best predictor for 'biased agonism' towards βarr or G protein recruitment in our study. SCRAs carrying an ADB or MPP moiety as a head group tended to produce elevated Emax values in the βarr2 assay, which might result in a tendency of these compounds to cause pronounced tolerance in users-a hypothesis that should be evaluated further by future studies. In general, a comparison of efficacies derived from different assays is difficult and should only be conducted very cautiously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Elisabeth Grafinger
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marthe M Vandeputte
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annelies Cannaert
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Adam Ametovski
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.,School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Eric Sparkes
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.,School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Cairns
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Belal Haschimi
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Hermann Staudinger Graduate School, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Benedikt Pulver
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Hermann Staudinger Graduate School, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Samuel D Banister
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.,School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Christophe P Stove
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Volker Auwärter
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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8
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Manning JJ, Green HM, Glass M, Finlay DB. Pharmacological selection of cannabinoid receptor effectors: Signalling, allosteric modulation and bias. Neuropharmacology 2021; 193:108611. [PMID: 34000272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1) is a promising drug target for a wide range of diseases. However, many existing and novel candidate ligands for CB1 have shown only limited therapeutic potential. Indeed, no ligands are currently approved for the clinic except formulations of the phytocannabinoids Δ9-THC and CBD and a small number of analogues. A key limitation of many promising CB1 ligands are their on-target adverse effects, notably including psychoactivity (agonists) and depression/suicidal ideation (inverse agonists). Recent drug development attempts have therefore focussed on altering CB1 signalling profiles in two ways. Firstly, with compounds that enhance or reduce the signalling of endogenous (endo-) cannabinoids, namely allosteric modulators. Secondly, with compounds that probe the capability of selectively targeting specific cellular signalling pathways that may mediate therapeutic effects using biased ligands. This review will summarise the current paradigm of CB1 signalling in terms of the intracellular transduction pathways acted on by the receptor. The development of compounds that selectively activate CB1 signalling pathways, whether allosterically or via orthosteric agonist bias, will also be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie J Manning
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Hayley M Green
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - David B Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
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9
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Dijon NC, Nesheva DN, Holliday ND. Luciferase Complementation Approaches to Measure GPCR Signaling Kinetics and Bias. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2268:249-274. [PMID: 34085274 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1221-7_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
An understanding of the kinetic contributions to G protein-coupled receptor pharmacology and signaling is increasingly important in compound profiling. Nonequilibrium conditions are commonly present in vivo, for example, as the drug competes with dynamic changes in hormone or neurotransmitter concentration for the receptor. Under such conditions individual binding kinetic properties of the ligands can influence duration of action, local ligand concentration, and functional properties such as the degree of insurmountable inhibition. Mapping the kinetic patterns of GPCR signaling events elicited by agonists, rather than a peak response at a single timepoint, is often key to predicting their functional impact. This is also a path to a better understanding of the origins of ligand bias, and whether such ligands demonstrate their effects through selection of distinct GPCR conformations, or via their kinetic properties. Recent developments in complementation approaches, based on a small bright shrimp luciferase Nanoluc, provide a new route to kinetic analysis of GPCR signaling in living cells that is amenable to the throughput required for compound profiling. In the NanoBiT luciferase complementation system, GPCRs and effector proteins are tagged with Nanoluc fragments optimized for their low interacting affinity and stability. The interactions brought about by GPCR recruitment of the effector are reproduced by a rapid and reversible increase in NanoBiT luminescence, in the presence of its substrate furimazine. Here we discuss the methods for optimizing and validating the GPCR NanoBiT assays, and protocols for their application to study endpoint and kinetic aspects of agonist and antagonist pharmacology. We also describe how timecourse families of agonist concentration response curves, derived from a single NanoBiT assay experiment, can be used to evaluate the kinetic components in operational model derived parameters of ligand bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola C Dijon
- School of Life Sciences, The Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Desislava N Nesheva
- School of Life Sciences, The Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Nicholas D Holliday
- School of Life Sciences, The Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. .,Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. .,Excellerate Bioscience, Biocity, Nottingham, UK.
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10
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Gillis A, Kliewer A, Kelly E, Henderson G, Christie MJ, Schulz S, Canals M. Critical Assessment of G Protein-Biased Agonism at the μ-Opioid Receptor. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2020; 41:947-959. [PMID: 33097283 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2020.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
G protein-biased agonists of the μ-opioid receptor (MOPr) have been proposed as an improved class of opioid analgesics. Recent studies have been unable to reproduce the original experiments in the β-arrestin2-knockout mouse that led to this proposal, and alternative genetic models do not support the G protein-biased MOPr agonist hypothesis. Furthermore, assessment of putatively biased ligands has been confounded by several factors, including assay amplification. As such, the extent to which current lead compounds represent mechanistically novel, extremely G protein-biased agonists is in question, as is the underlying assumption that β-arrestin2 mediates deleterious opioid effects. Addressing these current challenges represents a pressing issue to successfully advance drug development at this receptor and improve upon current opioid analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Gillis
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrea Kliewer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Eamonn Kelly
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Graeme Henderson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Macdonald J Christie
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany.
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, The Midlands, UK.
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11
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Sadee W, Oberdick J, Wang Z. Biased Opioid Antagonists as Modulators of Opioid Dependence: Opportunities to Improve Pain Therapy and Opioid Use Management. Molecules 2020; 25:E4163. [PMID: 32932935 PMCID: PMC7571197 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid analgesics are effective pain therapeutics but they cause various adverse effects and addiction. For safer pain therapy, biased opioid agonists selectively target distinct μ opioid receptor (MOR) conformations, while the potential of biased opioid antagonists has been neglected. Agonists convert a dormant receptor form (MOR-μ) to a ligand-free active form (MOR-μ*), which mediates MOR signaling. Moreover, MOR-μ converts spontaneously to MOR-μ* (basal signaling). Persistent upregulation of MOR-μ* has been invoked as a hallmark of opioid dependence. Contrasting interactions with both MOR-μ and MOR-μ* can account for distinct pharmacological characteristics of inverse agonists (naltrexone), neutral antagonists (6β-naltrexol), and mixed opioid agonist-antagonists (buprenorphine). Upon binding to MOR-μ*, naltrexone but not 6β-naltrexol suppresses MOR-μ*signaling. Naltrexone blocks opioid analgesia non-competitively at MOR-μ*with high potency, whereas 6β-naltrexol must compete with agonists at MOR-μ, accounting for ~100-fold lower in vivo potency. Buprenorphine's bell-shaped dose-response curve may also result from opposing effects on MOR-μ and MOR-μ*. In contrast, we find that 6β-naltrexol potently prevents dependence, below doses affecting analgesia or causing withdrawal, possibly binding to MOR conformations relevant to opioid dependence. We propose that 6β-naltrexol is a biased opioid antagonist modulating opioid dependence at low doses, opening novel avenues for opioid pain therapy and use management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Sadee
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Aether Therapeutics Inc., 4200 Marathon Blvd. Austin, TX 78756, USA
- Pain and Addiction Research Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - John Oberdick
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Zaijie Wang
- Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Neurology, University of Illinois at Chicago. Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
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12
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Gillis A, Sreenivasan V, Christie MJ. Intrinsic Efficacy of Opioid Ligands and Its Importance for Apparent Bias, Operational Analysis, and Therapeutic Window. Mol Pharmacol 2020; 98:410-424. [PMID: 32665252 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.119214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence from several novel opioid agonists and knockout animals suggests that improved opioid therapeutic window, notably for analgesia versus respiratory depression, is a result of ligand bias downstream of activation of the µ-opioid receptor (MOR) toward G protein signaling and away from other pathways, such as arrestin recruitment. Here, we argue that published claims of opioid bias based on application of the operational model of agonism are frequently confounded by failure to consider the assumptions of the model. These include failure to account for intrinsic efficacy and ceiling effects in different pathways, distortions introduced by analysis of amplified (G protein) versus linear (arrestin) signaling mechanisms, and nonequilibrium effects in a dynamic signaling cascade. We show on both theoretical and experimental grounds that reduced intrinsic efficacy that is unbiased across different downstream pathways, when analyzed without due considerations, does produce apparent but erroneous MOR ligand bias toward G protein signaling, and the weaker the G protein partial agonism is the greater the apparent bias. Experimentally, such apparently G protein-biased opioids have been shown to exhibit low intrinsic efficacy for G protein signaling when ceiling effects are properly accounted for. Nevertheless, such agonists do display an improved therapeutic window for analgesia versus respiratory depression. Reduced intrinsic efficacy for G proteins rather than any supposed G protein bias provides a more plausible, sufficient explanation for the improved safety. Moreover, genetic models of G protein-biased opioid receptors and replication of previous knockout experiments suggest that reduced or abolished arrestin recruitment does not improve therapeutic window for MOR-induced analgesia versus respiratory depression. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Efforts to improve safety of µ-opioid analgesics have focused on agonists that show signaling bias for the G protein pathway versus other signaling pathways. This review provides theoretical and experimental evidence showing that failure to consider the assumptions of the operational model can lead to large distortions and overestimation of actual bias. We show that low intrinsic efficacy is a major determinant of these distortions, and pursuit of appropriately reduced intrinsic efficacy should guide development of safer opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Gillis
- Discipline of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (A.G., M.J.C.) and EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia (V.S.)
| | - Varun Sreenivasan
- Discipline of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (A.G., M.J.C.) and EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia (V.S.)
| | - Macdonald J Christie
- Discipline of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (A.G., M.J.C.) and EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia (V.S.)
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13
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Richardson RR, Groenen M, Liu M, Mountford SJ, Briddon SJ, Holliday ND, Thompson PE. Heterodimeric Analogues of the Potent Y1R Antagonist 1229U91, Lacking One of the Pharmacophoric C-Terminal Structures, Retain Potent Y1R Affinity and Show Improved Selectivity over Y4R. J Med Chem 2020; 63:5274-5286. [PMID: 32364733 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The cyclic dimeric peptide 1229U91 (GR231118) has an unusual structure and displays potent, insurmountable antagonism of the Y1 receptor. To probe the structural basis for this activity, we have prepared ring size variants and heterodimeric compounds, identifying the specific residues underpinning the mechanism of 1229U91 binding. The homodimeric structure was shown to be dispensible, with analogues lacking key pharmacophoric residues in one dimer arm retaining high antagonist affinity. Compounds 11d-h also showed enhanced Y1R selectivity over Y4R compared to 1229U91.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R Richardson
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Institute of Cell Signalling, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K
| | - Marleen Groenen
- Institute of Cell Signalling, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K
| | - Mengjie Liu
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Simon J Mountford
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Stephen J Briddon
- Institute of Cell Signalling, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K
| | - Nicholas D Holliday
- Institute of Cell Signalling, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K
| | - Philip E Thompson
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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14
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Wouters E, Walraed J, Banister SD, Stove CP. Insights into biased signaling at cannabinoid receptors: synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 169:113623. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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15
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Bonifazi A, Yano H, Guerrero AM, Kumar V, Hoffman AF, Lupica CR, Shi L, Newman AH. Novel and Potent Dopamine D 2 Receptor Go-Protein Biased Agonists. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2019; 2:52-65. [PMID: 30775693 PMCID: PMC6371206 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.8b00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The
discovery of functionally biased and physiologically beneficial
ligands directed toward G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) has provided
the impetus to design dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) targeted molecules that may be therapeutically advantageous for
the treatment of certain neuropsychiatric or basal ganglia related
disorders. Here we describe the synthesis of a novel series of D2R agonists linking the D2R unbiased agonist sumanirole
with privileged secondary molecular fragments. The resulting ligands
demonstrate improved D2R affinity and selectivity over
sumanirole. Extensive in vitro functional studies
and bias factor analysis led to the identification of a novel class
of highly potent Go-protein biased full D2R agonists with
more than 10-fold and 1000-fold bias selectivity toward activation
of specific G-protein subtypes and β-arrestin, respectively.
Intracellular electrophysiological recordings from midbrain dopamine
neurons demonstrated that Go-protein selective agonists can elicit
prolonged ligand-induced GIRK activity via D2Rs, which
may be beneficial in the treatment of dyskinesias associated with
dopamine system dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Bonifazi
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Hideaki Yano
- Computational Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Adrian M Guerrero
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Vivek Kumar
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Alexander F Hoffman
- Electrophysiology Research Section, Cellular Neurobiology Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Carl R Lupica
- Electrophysiology Research Section, Cellular Neurobiology Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Lei Shi
- Computational Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Amy Hauck Newman
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
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16
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Stępnicki P, Kondej M, Kaczor AA. Current Concepts and Treatments of Schizophrenia. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23082087. [PMID: 30127324 PMCID: PMC6222385 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23082087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 255] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness which involves three groups of symptoms, i.e., positive, negative and cognitive, and has major public health implications. According to various sources, it affects up to 1% of the population. The pathomechanism of schizophrenia is not fully understood and current antipsychotics are characterized by severe limitations. Firstly, these treatments are efficient for about half of patients only. Secondly, they ameliorate mainly positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations and thought disorders which are the core of the disease) but negative (e.g., flat affect and social withdrawal) and cognitive (e.g., learning and attention disorders) symptoms remain untreated. Thirdly, they involve severe neurological and metabolic side effects and may lead to sexual dysfunction or agranulocytosis (clozapine). It is generally agreed that the interactions of antipsychotics with various neurotransmitter receptors are responsible for their effects to treat schizophrenia symptoms. In particular, several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), mainly dopamine, serotonin and adrenaline receptors, are traditional molecular targets for antipsychotics. Comprehensive research on GPCRs resulted in the exploration of novel important signaling mechanisms of GPCRs which are crucial for drug discovery: intentionally non-selective multi-target compounds, allosteric modulators, functionally selective compounds and receptor oligomerization. In this review, we cover current hypotheses of schizophrenia, involving different neurotransmitter systems, discuss available treatments and present novel concepts in schizophrenia and its treatment, involving mainly novel mechanisms of GPCRs signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Stępnicki
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Medical Analytics, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Magda Kondej
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Medical Analytics, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka A Kaczor
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Medical Analytics, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland.
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
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17
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Livingston KE, Mahoney JP, Manglik A, Sunahara RK, Traynor JR. Measuring ligand efficacy at the mu-opioid receptor using a conformational biosensor. eLife 2018; 7:32499. [PMID: 29932421 PMCID: PMC6042960 DOI: 10.7554/elife.32499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic efficacy of orthosteric ligands acting at G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) reflects their ability to stabilize active receptor states (R*) and is a major determinant of their physiological effects. Here, we present a direct way to quantify the efficacy of ligands by measuring the binding of a R*-specific biosensor to purified receptor employing interferometry. As an example, we use the mu-opioid receptor (µ-OR), a prototypic class A GPCR, and its active state sensor, nanobody-39 (Nb39). We demonstrate that ligands vary in their ability to recruit Nb39 to µ-OR and describe methadone, loperamide, and PZM21 as ligands that support unique R* conformation(s) of µ-OR. We further show that positive allosteric modulators of µ-OR promote formation of R* in addition to enhancing promotion by orthosteric agonists. Finally, we demonstrate that the technique can be utilized with heterotrimeric G protein. The method is cell-free, signal transduction-independent and is generally applicable to GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Livingston
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States.,Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Jacob P Mahoney
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States.,Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Aashish Manglik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Roger K Sunahara
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, United States
| | - John R Traynor
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States.,Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
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18
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Alhosaini K, Bahattab O, Qassam H, Challiss RAJ, Willars GB. Ligand-Specific Signaling Profiles and Resensitization Mechanisms of the Neuromedin U2 Receptor. Mol Pharmacol 2018; 94:674-688. [PMID: 29724789 DOI: 10.1124/mol.117.111070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The structurally related, but distinct neuropeptides, neuromedin U (NmU) and neuromedin S (NmS) are ligands of two G protein-coupled NmU receptors (NMU1 and NMU2). Hypothalamic NMU2 regulates feeding behavior and energy expenditure and has therapeutic potential as an anti-obesity target, making an understanding of its signaling and regulation of particular interest. NMU2 binds both NmU and NmS with high affinity, resulting in receptor-ligand co-internalization. We have investigated whether receptor trafficking events post-internalization are biased by the ligand bound and can therefore influence signaling function. Using recombinant cell lines expressing human NMU2, we demonstrate that acute Ca2+ signaling responses to NmU or NmS are indistinguishable and that restoration of responsiveness (resensitization) requires receptor internalization and endosomal acidification. The rate of NMU2 resensitization is faster following NmU compared with NmS exposure, but is similar if endothelin-converting enzyme-1 activity is inhibited or knocked down. Although acute activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is also similar, activation by NMU2 is longer lasting if NmS is the ligand. Furthermore, when cells are briefly challenged before removal of free, but not receptor-bound ligand, activation of ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase by NmS is more sustained. However, only NmU responses are potentiated and extended by endothelin-converting enzyme-1 inhibition. These data indicate that differential intracellular ligand processing produces different signaling and receptor resensitization profiles and add to the findings of other studies demonstrating that intracellular ligand processing can shape receptor behavior and signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Alhosaini
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Omar Bahattab
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Heider Qassam
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - R A John Challiss
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Gary B Willars
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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19
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Bridge LJ, Mead J, Frattini E, Winfield I, Ladds G. Modelling and simulation of biased agonism dynamics at a G protein-coupled receptor. J Theor Biol 2018; 442:44-65. [PMID: 29337260 PMCID: PMC5811930 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Theoretical models of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) concentration-response relationships often assume an agonist producing a single functional response via a single active state of the receptor. These models have largely been analysed assuming steady-state conditions. There is now much experimental evidence to suggest that many GPCRs can exist in multiple receptor conformations and elicit numerous functional responses, with ligands having the potential to activate different signalling pathways to varying extents-a concept referred to as biased agonism, functional selectivity or pluri-dimensional efficacy. Moreover, recent experimental results indicate a clear possibility for time-dependent bias, whereby an agonist's bias with respect to different pathways may vary dynamically. Efforts towards understanding the implications of temporal bias by characterising and quantifying ligand effects on multiple pathways will clearly be aided by extending current equilibrium binding and biased activation models to include G protein activation dynamics. Here, we present a new model of time-dependent biased agonism, based on ordinary differential equations for multiple cubic ternary complex activation models with G protein cycle dynamics. This model allows simulation and analysis of multi-pathway activation bias dynamics at a single receptor for the first time, at the level of active G protein (αGTP), towards the analysis of dynamic functional responses. The model is generally applicable to systems with NG G proteins and N* active receptor states. Numerical simulations for NG=N*=2 reveal new insights into the effects of system parameters (including cooperativities, and ligand and receptor concentrations) on bias dynamics, highlighting new phenomena including the dynamic inter-conversion of bias direction. Further, we fit this model to 'wet' experimental data for two competing G proteins (Gi and Gs) that become activated upon stimulation of the adenosine A1 receptor with adenosine derivative compounds. Finally, we show that our model can qualitatively describe the temporal dynamics of this competing G protein activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Bridge
- Department of Mathematics, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; Department of Engineering Design and Mathematics, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
| | - J Mead
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - E Frattini
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - I Winfield
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK; Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - G Ladds
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK.
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20
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Hoare SRJ, Pierre N, Moya AG, Larson B. Kinetic operational models of agonism for G-protein-coupled receptors. J Theor Biol 2018; 446:168-204. [PMID: 29486201 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The application of kinetics to research and therapeutic development of G-protein-coupled receptors has become increasingly valuable. Pharmacological models provide the foundation of pharmacology, providing concepts and measurable parameters such as efficacy and potency that have underlain decades of successful drug discovery. Currently there are few pharmacological models that incorporate kinetic activity in such a way as to yield experimentally-accessible drug parameters. In this study, a kinetic model of pharmacological response was developed that provides a kinetic descriptor of efficacy (the transduction rate constant, kτ) and allows measurement of receptor-ligand binding kinetics from functional data. The model assumes: (1) receptor interacts with a precursor of the response ("Transduction potential") and converts it to the response. (2) The response can decay. Familiar response vs time plots emerge, depending on whether transduction potential is depleted and/or response decays. These are the straight line, the "association" exponential curve, and the rise-and-fall curve. Convenient, familiar methods are described for measuring the model parameters and files are provided for the curve-fitting program Prism (GraphPad Software) that can be used as a guide. The efficacy parameter kτ is straightforward to measure and accounts for receptor reserve; all that is required is measurement of response over time at a maximally-stimulating concentration of agonist. The modular nature of the model framework allows it to be extended. Here this is done to incorporate antagonist-receptor binding kinetics and slow agonist-receptor equilibration. In principle, the modular framework can incorporate other cellular processes, such as receptor desensitization. The kinetic response model described here can be applied to measure kinetic pharmacological parameters than can be used to advance the understanding of GPCR pharmacology and optimize new and improved therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R J Hoare
- Pharmechanics, LLC, 14 Sunnyside Drive South, Owego NY 13827, USA.
| | | | | | - Brad Larson
- BioTek Instruments, Inc, 100 Tigan Street, Winooski, VT 05404, USA
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21
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Michel MC, Charlton SJ. Biased Agonism in Drug Discovery-Is It Too Soon to Choose a Path? Mol Pharmacol 2018; 93:259-265. [PMID: 29326242 DOI: 10.1124/mol.117.110890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A single receptor can activate multiple signaling pathways that have distinct or even opposite effects on cell function. Biased agonists stabilize receptor conformations preferentially stimulating one of these pathways, and therefore allow a more targeted modulation of cell function and treatment of disease. Dedicated development of biased agonists has led to promising drug candidates in clinical development, such as the G protein-biased µ opioid receptor agonist oliceridine. However, leveraging the theoretical potential of biased agonism for drug discovery faces several challenges. Some of these challenges are technical, such as techniques for quantitative analysis of bias and development of suitable screening assays; others are more fundamental, such as the need to robustly identify in a very early phase which cell type harbors the cellular target of the drug candidate, which signaling pathway leads to the desired therapeutic effect, and how these pathways may be modulated in the disease to be treated. We conclude that biased agonism has potential mainly in the treatment of conditions with a well-understood pathophysiology; in contrast, it may increase effort and commercial risk under circumstances where the pathophysiology has been less well defined, as is the case with many highly innovative treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin C Michel
- Department of Pharmacology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (M.C.M.); Department of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom (S.J.C.); and Excellerate Biosciences Ltd., MediCity, Nottingham, United Kingdom (S.J.C.)
| | - Steven J Charlton
- Department of Pharmacology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (M.C.M.); Department of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom (S.J.C.); and Excellerate Biosciences Ltd., MediCity, Nottingham, United Kingdom (S.J.C.)
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22
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Receptor partial agonism and method to express receptor partial activation with respect to novel Full Logistic Model of mixture toxicology. Toxicology 2018; 393:26-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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23
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Sergeev E, Hansen AH, Bolognini D, Kawakami K, Kishi T, Aoki J, Ulven T, Inoue A, Hudson BD, Milligan G. A single extracellular amino acid in Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 defines antagonist species selectivity and G protein selection bias. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13741. [PMID: 29061999 PMCID: PMC5653858 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14096-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 is a GPCR activated by short chain fatty acids produced in high levels in the lower gut by microbial fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates. A major challenge in studying this receptor is that the mouse ortholog does not have significant affinity for antagonists that are able to block the human receptor. Docking of exemplar antagonists from two chemical series to homology models of both human and mouse Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 suggested that a single lysine - arginine variation at the extracellular face of the receptor might provide the basis for antagonist selectivity and mutational swap studies confirmed this hypothesis. Extending these studies to agonist function indicated that although the lysine - arginine variation between human and mouse orthologs had limited effect on G protein-mediated signal transduction, removal of positive charge from this residue produced a signalling-biased variant of Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 in which Gi-mediated signalling by both short chain fatty acids and synthetic agonists was maintained whilst there was marked loss of agonist potency for signalling via Gq/11 and G12/13 G proteins. A single residue at the extracellular face of the receptor thus plays key roles in both agonist and antagonist function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Sergeev
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Anders Højgaard Hansen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Daniele Bolognini
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Kouki Kawakami
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kishi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Junken Aoki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.,Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (AMED-CREST), Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan
| | - Brian D Hudson
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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Madariaga-Mazón A, Marmolejo-Valencia AF, Li Y, Toll L, Houghten RA, Martinez-Mayorga K. Mu-Opioid receptor biased ligands: A safer and painless discovery of analgesics? Drug Discov Today 2017; 22:1719-1729. [PMID: 28743488 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2017.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 06/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Biased activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is shifting drug discovery efforts and appears promising for the development of safer drugs. The most effective analgesics to treat acute pain are agonists of the μ opioid receptor (μ-OR), a member of the GPCR superfamily. However, the analgesic use of opioid drugs, such as morphine, is hindered by adverse effects. Only a few μ-OR agonists have been reported to selectively activate the Gi over β-arrestin signaling pathway, resulting in lower gastrointestinal dysfunction and respiratory suppression. Here, we discuss the strategies that led to the development of biased μ-OR agonists, and potential areas for improvement, with an emphasis on structural aspects of the ligand-receptor recognition process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Madariaga-Mazón
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Andrés F Marmolejo-Valencia
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Yangmei Li
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Pkwy, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Pkwy, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Richard A Houghten
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Pkwy, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Karina Martinez-Mayorga
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico.
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25
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Methodical Challenges and a Possible Resolution in the Assessment of Receptor Reserve for Adenosine, an Agonist with Short Half-Life. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22050839. [PMID: 28534854 PMCID: PMC6154002 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22050839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The term receptor reserve, first introduced and used in the traditional receptor theory, is an integrative measure of response-inducing ability of the interaction between an agonist and a receptor system (consisting of a receptor and its downstream signaling). The underlying phenomenon, i.e., stimulation of a submaximal fraction of receptors can apparently elicit the maximal effect (in certain cases), provides an opportunity to assess the receptor reserve. However, determining receptor reserve is challenging for agonists with short half-lives, such as adenosine. Although adenosine metabolism can be inhibited several ways (in order to prevent the rapid elimination of adenosine administered to construct concentration–effect (E/c) curves for the determination), the consequent accumulation of endogenous adenosine biases the results. To address this problem, we previously proposed a method, by means of which this bias can be mathematically corrected (utilizing a traditional receptor theory-independent approach). In the present investigation, we have offered in silico validation of this method by simulating E/c curves with the use of the operational model of agonism and then by evaluating them using our method. We have found that our method is suitable to reliably assess the receptor reserve for adenosine in our recently published experimental setting, suggesting that it may be capable for a qualitative determination of receptor reserve for rapidly eliminating agonists in general. In addition, we have disclosed a possible interference between FSCPX (8-cyclopentyl-N3-[3-(4-(fluorosulfonyl)benzoyloxy)propyl]-N1-propylxanthine), an irreversible A1 adenosine receptor antagonist, and NBTI (S-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine), a nucleoside transport inhibitor, i.e., FSCPX may blunt the effect of NBTI.
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26
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Truong PM, Hassan SA, Lee YS, Kopajtic TA, Katz JL, Chadderdon AM, Traynor JR, Deschamps JR, Jacobson AE, Rice KC. Modulation of opioid receptor affinity and efficacy via N-substitution of 9β-hydroxy-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)morphan: Synthesis and computer simulation study. Bioorg Med Chem 2017; 25:2406-2422. [PMID: 28314512 PMCID: PMC5407189 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.02.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The enantiomers of a variety of N-alkyl-, N-aralkyl-, and N-cyclopropylalkyl-9β-hydroxy-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)morphans were synthesized employing cyanogen bromide and K2CO3 to improve the original N-demethylation procedure. Their binding affinity to the μ-, δ-, and κ-opioid receptors (ORs) was determined and functional (GTPγ35S) assays were carried out on those with reasonable affinity. The 1R,5R,9S-enantiomers (1R,5R,9S)-(-)-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenethyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ol (1R,5R,9S-16), (1R,5R,9S)-(-) 2-cinnamyl-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ol (1R,5R,9S-20), and (1R,5R,9S)-(-)-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenethyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ol (1R,5R,9S-15), had high affinity for the μ-opioid receptor (e.g., 1R,5R,9S-16: Ki=0.073, 0.74, and 1.99nM, respectively). The 1R,5R,9S-16 and 1R,5R,9S-15 were full, high efficacy μ-agonists (EC50=0.74 and 18.5nM, respectively) and the former was found to be a partial agonist at δ-OR and an antagonist at κ-OR, while the latter was a partial agonist at δ-OR and κ-OR in the GTPγ35S assay. The enantiomer of 1R,5R,9S-16, (+)-1S,5S,9R-16 was unusual, it had good affinity for the μ-OR (Ki=26.5nM) and was an efficacious μ-antagonist (Ke=29.1nM). Molecular dynamics simulations of the μ-OR were carried out with the 1R,5R,9S-16 μ-agonist and the previously synthesized (1R,5R,9S)-(-)-5-(9-hydroxy-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl-2-phenylethyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (1R,5R,9S-(-)-NIH 11289) to provide a structural basis for the observed high affinities and efficacies. The critical roles of both the 9β-OH and the p-nitro group are elucidated, with the latter forming direct, persistent hydrogen bonds with residues deep in the binding cavity, and the former interacting with specific residues via highly structured water bridges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phong M Truong
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, United States
| | - Sergio A Hassan
- Center for Molecular Modeling, Office of Intramural Research, Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Yong-Sok Lee
- Center for Molecular Modeling, Office of Intramural Research, Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Theresa A Kopajtic
- Psychobiology Section, Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Jonathan L Katz
- Psychobiology Section, Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Aaron M Chadderdon
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - John R Traynor
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Jeffrey R Deschamps
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC 20375, United States
| | - Arthur E Jacobson
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, United States
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, United States.
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27
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Xu W, Wang X, Tocker AM, Huang P, Reith MEA, Liu-Chen LY, Smith AB, Kortagere S. Functional Characterization of a Novel Series of Biased Signaling Dopamine D3 Receptor Agonists. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:486-500. [PMID: 27801563 PMCID: PMC5813806 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.6b00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine receptors play an integral role in controlling brain physiology. Importantly, subtype selective agonists and antagonists of dopamine receptors with biased signaling properties have been successful in treating psychiatric disorders with a low incidence of side effects. To this end, we recently designed and developed SK609, a dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) selective agonist that has atypical signaling properties. SK609 has shown efficacy in reversing akinesia and reducing L-dopa-induced dyskinesia in a hemiparkinsonian rats. In the current study, we demonstrate that SK609 has high selectivity for D3R with no binding affinity on D2R high- or low-affinity state when tested at a concentration of 10 μM. In addition, SK609 and its analogues do not induce desensitization of D3R as determined by repeated agonist treatment response in phosphorylation of ERK1/2 functional assay. Most significantly, SK609 and its analogues preferentially signal through the G-protein-dependent pathway and do not recruit β-arrestin-2, suggesting a functional bias toward the G-protein-dependent pathway. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies using analogues of SK609 demonstrate that the molecules bind at the orthosteric site by maintaining the conserved salt bridge interactions with aspartate 110 on transmembrane 3 and aryl interactions with histidine 349 on transmembrane 6, in addition to several hydrophobic interactions with residues from transmembranes 5 and 6. The compounds follow a strict SAR with reference to the three pharmacophore elements: substituted phenyl ring, length of the linker connecting phenyl ring and amine group, and orientation and hydrophobic branching groups at the amine among SK609 analogues for efficacy and functional selectivity. These features of SK609 and the analogues suggest that biased signaling is an inherent property of this series of molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, United States
| | - Xiaozhao Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, United States
| | - Aaron M. Tocker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, United States
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - Maarten E. A. Reith
- Department of Psychiatry, Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Lee-Yuan Liu-Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - Amos B. Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, United States
| | - Sandhya Kortagere
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, United States
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, United States
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28
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Mallipeddi S, Janero DR, Zvonok N, Makriyannis A. Functional selectivity at G-protein coupled receptors: Advancing cannabinoid receptors as drug targets. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 128:1-11. [PMID: 27890725 PMCID: PMC5470118 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The phenomenon of functional selectivity, whereby a ligand preferentially directs the information output of a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) along (a) particular effector pathway(s) and away from others, has redefined traditional GPCR signaling paradigms to provide a new approach to structure-based drug design. The two principal cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) 1 and 2 belong to the class-A GPCR subfamily and are considered tenable therapeutic targets for several indications. Yet conventional orthosteric ligands (agonists, antagonists/inverse agonists) for these receptors have had very limited clinical utility due to their propensity to incite on-target adverse events. Chemically distinct classes of cannabinergic ligands exhibit signaling bias at CBRs towards individual subsets of signal transduction pathways. In this review, we discuss the known signaling pathways regulated by CBRs and examine the current evidence for functional selectivity at CBRs in response to endogenous and exogenous cannabinergic ligands as biased agonists. We further discuss the receptor and ligand structural features allowing for selective activation of CBR-dependent functional responses. The design and development of biased ligands may offer a pathway to therapeutic success for novel CBR-targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikrishnan Mallipeddi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - David R Janero
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Nikolai Zvonok
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Alexandros Makriyannis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
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29
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Benredjem B, Dallaire P, Pineyro G. Analyzing biased responses of GPCR ligands. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2017; 32:71-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2016.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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31
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Liu M, Richardson RR, Mountford SJ, Zhang L, Tempone MH, Herzog H, Holliday ND, Thompson PE. Identification of a Cyanine-Dye Labeled Peptidic Ligand for Y1R and Y4R, Based upon the Neuropeptide Y C-Terminal Analogue, BVD-15. Bioconjug Chem 2016; 27:2166-75. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.6b00376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Liu
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Rachel R. Richardson
- Cell
Signalling Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J. Mountford
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Lei Zhang
- Neuroscience
Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Matheus H. Tempone
- Cell
Signalling Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Herbert Herzog
- Neuroscience
Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Nicholas D. Holliday
- Cell
Signalling Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Philip E. Thompson
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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32
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Liu M, Mountford SJ, Richardson RR, Groenen M, Holliday ND, Thompson PE. Optically Pure, Structural, and Fluorescent Analogues of a Dimeric Y4 Receptor Agonist Derived by an Olefin Metathesis Approach. J Med Chem 2016; 59:6059-69. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Liu
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Simon J. Mountford
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Rachel R. Richardson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre. Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Marleen Groenen
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre. Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas D. Holliday
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre. Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Philip E. Thompson
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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Lowin T, Pongratz G, Straub RH. The synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212-2 mesylate decreases the production of inflammatory mediators in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts by activating CB2, TRPV1, TRPA1 and yet unidentified receptor targets. JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION-LONDON 2016; 13:15. [PMID: 27158245 PMCID: PMC4858820 DOI: 10.1186/s12950-016-0114-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), synovial fibroblasts (SF) secrete large amounts of IL-6, IL-8 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which are crucial for cartilage destruction. RASFs are sensitive to the action of cannabinoids and they not only express cannabinoid receptors type I and II (CB1 and CB2) but also transient receptor potential channels type vanilloid (TRPV1) and ankyrin (TRPA1). The synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212-2 mesylate (WIN) demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory effects in monocytes and synovial fibroblasts only in high concentrations in a non-cannabinoid receptor dependent manner. In this study we assessed the ability of WIN to modulate cytokine and MMP-3 production in SFs over a wide concentration range and identified specific receptor targets that mediate the effects of this synthetic cannabinoid. Methods MMP-3, IL-6 and IL-8 were determined by ELISA. Adhesion was measured by the XCELLigence system. Proliferation was assessed by cell titer blue assays. Results WIN significantly reduced TNF-induced IL-6, IL-8 and MMP-3 production in concentrations below 2 μM, while higher concentrations completely inhibited production of IL-6 and IL-8 but increased extracellular MMP-3 levels. The inhibitory effect at low concentrations (<2 μM) was independent on activation of either CB1 or CB2 but was attenuated by TRPV1 or TRPA1 inhibition in OASFs and RASFs. The effects of high concentrations of WIN on cytokine and MMP-3 production were decreased by the calcium chelating agent BAPTA, the AMPK activator metformin, the TRPA1 antagonist A967079 and the CB2 antagonist COR170. Furthermore, fetal calf serum content in culture media strongly influenced the efficacy of WIN at high concentrations. In addition, high concentrations of WIN also diminished SF adhesion and proliferation without altering cell viability whereas low concentrations promoted SF adhesion without any influence on proliferation. Conclusion The synthetic cannabinoid WIN in low concentrations exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in synovial fibroblasts independent of CB1 and CB2 while CB2 and yet unidentified receptor targets are responsible for WIN effects in micromolar concentrations. Our results indicate a TRPV1/TRPA1 dependent mechanism of SF regulation that might be coupled to cellular energy status and calcium content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Lowin
- Funktionsbereich & Hiller Forschungszentrum für Rheumatologie, Life Science Center, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Merowingerplatz1A, 1. Etage, D-40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Georg Pongratz
- Funktionsbereich & Hiller Forschungszentrum für Rheumatologie, Life Science Center, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Merowingerplatz1A, 1. Etage, D-40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Rainer H Straub
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Neuroendocrine Immunology, University Hospital of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
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Galandrin S, Onfroy L, Poirot MC, Sénard JM, Galés C. Delineating biased ligand efficacy at 7TM receptors from an experimental perspective. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2016; 77:251-63. [PMID: 27107932 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2016.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
During the last 10 years, the concept of "biased agonism" also called "functional selectivity" swamped the pharmacology of 7 transmembrane receptors and paved the way for developing signaling pathway-selective drugs with increased efficacy and less adverse effects. Initially thought to select the activation of only a subset of the signaling pathways by the reference agonist, bias ligands revealed higher complexity as they have been shown to stabilize variable receptor conformations that associate with distinct signaling events from the reference. Today, one major challenge relies on the in vitro determination of the bias and classification of these ligands, as a prerequisite for future in vivo and clinical translation. In this review, current experimental considerations for the bias evaluation related to choice of the cellular model, of the signaling pathway as well as of the assays are presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ségolène Galandrin
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC), INSERM, UMR 1048, Université Toulouse, F-31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Lauriane Onfroy
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC), INSERM, UMR 1048, Université Toulouse, F-31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Mathias Charles Poirot
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC), INSERM, UMR 1048, Université Toulouse, F-31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Michel Sénard
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC), INSERM, UMR 1048, Université Toulouse, F-31432 Toulouse, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de médecine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, F-31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Céline Galés
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC), INSERM, UMR 1048, Université Toulouse, F-31432 Toulouse, France.
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