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Gusach A, Lee Y, Khoshgrudi AN, Mukhaleva E, Ma N, Koers EJ, Chen Q, Edwards PC, Huang F, Kim J, Mancia F, Veprintsev DB, Vaidehi N, Weyand SN, Tate CG. Molecular recognition of an odorant by the murine trace amine-associated receptor TAAR7f. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7555. [PMID: 39215004 PMCID: PMC11364543 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51793-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
There are two main families of G protein-coupled receptors that detect odours in humans, the odorant receptors (ORs) and the trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs). Their amino acid sequences are distinct, with the TAARs being most similar to the aminergic receptors such as those activated by adrenaline, serotonin, dopamine and histamine. To elucidate the structural determinants of ligand recognition by TAARs, we have determined the cryo-EM structure of a murine receptor, mTAAR7f, coupled to the heterotrimeric G protein Gs and bound to the odorant N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA) to an overall resolution of 2.9 Å. DMCHA is bound in a hydrophobic orthosteric binding site primarily through van der Waals interactions and a strong charge-charge interaction between the tertiary amine of the ligand and an aspartic acid residue. This site is distinct and non-overlapping with the binding site for the odorant propionate in the odorant receptor OR51E2. The structure, in combination with mutagenesis data and molecular dynamics simulations suggests that the activation of the receptor follows a similar pathway to that of the β-adrenoceptors, with the significant difference that DMCHA interacts directly with one of the main activation microswitch residues, Trp6.48.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Gusach
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Yang Lee
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Armin Nikpour Khoshgrudi
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, NG7 2RD, UK
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Elizaveta Mukhaleva
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, 1218 S 5th Ave, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA
| | - Ning Ma
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, 1218 S 5th Ave, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA
| | - Eline J Koers
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, NG7 2RD, UK
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Qingchao Chen
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Patricia C Edwards
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Fanglu Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Kim
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Filippo Mancia
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Dmitry B Veprintsev
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, NG7 2RD, UK
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Nagarajan Vaidehi
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, 1218 S 5th Ave, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA
| | - Simone N Weyand
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Building, Heart & Lung Research Institute, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0BB, UK.
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Keith Peters Building, Biomedical Campus, Hills Rd, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, UK.
- EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SD, UK.
| | - Christopher G Tate
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
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Díaz-Holguín A, Saarinen M, Vo DD, Sturchio A, Branzell N, Cabeza de Vaca I, Hu H, Mitjavila-Domènech N, Lindqvist A, Baranczewski P, Millan MJ, Yang Y, Carlsson J, Svenningsson P. AlphaFold accelerated discovery of psychotropic agonists targeting the trace amine-associated receptor 1. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn1524. [PMID: 39110804 PMCID: PMC11305387 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn1524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing protein structure prediction, providing unprecedented opportunities for drug design. To assess the potential impact on ligand discovery, we compared virtual screens using protein structures generated by the AlphaFold machine learning method and traditional homology modeling. More than 16 million compounds were docked to models of the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), a G protein-coupled receptor of unknown structure and target for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. Sets of 30 and 32 highly ranked compounds from the AlphaFold and homology model screens, respectively, were experimentally evaluated. Of these, 25 were TAAR1 agonists with potencies ranging from 12 to 0.03 μM. The AlphaFold screen yielded a more than twofold higher hit rate (60%) than the homology model and discovered the most potent agonists. A TAAR1 agonist with a promising selectivity profile and drug-like properties showed physiological and antipsychotic-like effects in wild-type but not in TAAR1 knockout mice. These results demonstrate that AlphaFold structures can accelerate drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Díaz-Holguín
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marcus Saarinen
- Neuro Svenningsson, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Duc Duy Vo
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andrea Sturchio
- Neuro Svenningsson, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Niclas Branzell
- Neuro Svenningsson, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Israel Cabeza de Vaca
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Huabin Hu
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Núria Mitjavila-Domènech
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Annika Lindqvist
- Department of Pharmacy, SciLifeLab Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Uppsala University, Box 580, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pawel Baranczewski
- Department of Pharmacy, SciLifeLab Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Uppsala University, Box 580, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mark J. Millan
- Neuroinflammation Therapeutic Area, Institut de Recherches Servier, Centre de Recherches de Croissy, Paris, France and Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medicine, Vet and Life Sciences, Glasgow University, Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Yunting Yang
- Neuro Svenningsson, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jens Carlsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per Svenningsson
- Neuro Svenningsson, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Scarano N, Espinoza S, Brullo C, Cichero E. Computational Methods for the Discovery and Optimization of TAAR1 and TAAR5 Ligands. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8226. [PMID: 39125796 PMCID: PMC11312273 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent a family of druggable targets when treating several diseases and continue to be a leading part of the drug discovery process. Trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) are GPCRs involved in many physiological functions with TAAR1 having important roles within the central nervous system (CNS). By using homology modeling methods, the responsiveness of TAAR1 to endogenous and synthetic ligands has been explored. In addition, the discovery of different chemo-types as selective murine and/or human TAAR1 ligands has helped in the understanding of the species-specificity preferences. The availability of TAAR1-ligand complexes sheds light on how different ligands bind TAAR1. TAAR5 is considered an olfactory receptor but has specific involvement in some brain functions. In this case, the drug discovery effort has been limited. Here, we review the successful computational efforts developed in the search for novel TAAR1 and TAAR5 ligands. A specific focus on applying structure-based and/or ligand-based methods has been done. We also give a perspective of the experimental data available to guide the future drug design of new ligands, probing species-specificity preferences towards more selective ligands. Hints for applying repositioning approaches are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Scarano
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (N.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Stefano Espinoza
- Department of Health Sciences and Research Center on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy;
- Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16152 Genova, Italy
| | - Chiara Brullo
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (N.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Elena Cichero
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (N.S.); (C.B.)
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Jiang K, Zheng Y, Zeng L, Wang L, Li F, Pu J, Lu Y, Zhao S, Xu F. The versatile binding landscape of the TAAR1 pocket for LSD and other antipsychotic drug molecules. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114505. [PMID: 39002128 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing global concerns about psychoactive substance addiction and psychotic disorders highlight the need for comprehensive research into the structure-function relationship governing ligand recognition between these substances and their receptors in the brain. Recent studies indicate the significant involvement of trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) in the signaling regulation of the hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other antipsychotic drugs. This study presents structures of the TAAR1-Gs protein complex recognizing LSD, which exhibits a polypharmacological profile, and the partial agonist RO5263397, which is a drug candidate for schizophrenia and addiction. Moreover, we elucidate the cross-species recognition and partial activation mechanism for TAAR1, which holds promising implications from a drug discovery perspective. Through mutagenesis, functional studies, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we provide a comprehensive understanding of a versatile TAAR1 pocket in recognizing various ligands as well as in the ligand-free state, underpinning the structural basis of its high adaptability. These findings offer valuable insights for the design of antipsychotic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Jiang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - You Zheng
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liting Zeng
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Wang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Li
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Pu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Yingli Lu
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fei Xu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China.
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5
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Shajan B, Marri S, Bastiampillai T, Gregory KJ, Hellyer SD, Nair PC. Trace amine associated receptor 1: predicted effects of single nucleotide variants on structure-function in geographically diverse populations. Hum Genomics 2024; 18:61. [PMID: 38863077 PMCID: PMC11165750 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-024-00620-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Trace Amine Associated Receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a novel pharmaceutical target under investigation for the treatment of several neuropsychiatric conditions. TAAR1 single nucleotide variants (SNV) have been found in patients with schizophrenia and metabolic disorders. However, the frequency of variants in geographically diverse populations and the functional effects of such variants are unknown. In this study, we aimed to characterise the distribution of TAAR1 SNVs in five different WHO regions using the Database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP) and conducted a critical computational analysis using available TAAR1 structural data to identify SNVs affecting ligand binding and/or functional regions. Our analysis shows 19 orthosteric, 9 signalling and 16 micro-switch SNVs hypothesised to critically influence the agonist induced TAAR1 activation. These SNVs may non-proportionally influence populations from discrete regions and differentially influence the activity of TAAR1-targeting therapeutics in genetically and geographically diverse populations. Notably, our dataset presented with orthosteric SNVs D1033.32N (found only in the South-East Asian Region and Western Pacific Region) and T1945.42A (found only in South-East Asian Region), and 2 signalling SNVs (V1253.54A/T2526.36A, found in African Region and commonly, respectively), all of which have previously demonstrated to influence ligand induced functions of TAAR1. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis using SIFT4G, MutationTaster 2, PROVEAN and MutationAssessor predicted all 16 micro-switch SNVs are damaging and may further influence the agonist activation of TAAR1, thereby possibly impacting upon clinical outcomes. Understanding the genetic basis of TAAR1 function and the impact of common mutations within clinical populations is important for the safe and effective utilisation of novel and existing pharmacotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britto Shajan
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Shashikanth Marri
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Tarun Bastiampillai
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Discipline of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Karen J Gregory
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Shane D Hellyer
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Pramod C Nair
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
- Discipline of Medicine, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
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Milanović S, Dedic N, Lew R, Burton D, Koblan KS, Camilleri M, Hopkins SC. TAAR1 agonist ulotaront delays gastric emptying of solids in patients with schizophrenia and concurrent metabolic syndrome with prediabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab 2024; 26:2466-2475. [PMID: 38533552 DOI: 10.1111/dom.15569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome (MetS), which can be induced or exacerbated by the current class of antipsychotic drugs, is highly prevalent in patients with schizophrenia and presents significant challenges to lifetime disease management. Supported by initial clinical results, trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonists have emerged as potential novel treatments for schizophrenia. Notably, non-clinical studies have also shown weight-lowering and glucoregulatory effects of TAAR1 agonists, including the investigational agent ulotaront. However, the translatability of these findings to humans has not been adequately assessed. Given that delayed gastric emptying (GE) was identified as a potential mechanism contributing to the metabolic benefits of TAAR1 agonists in rodents, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ulotaront on GE in patients with schizophrenia and concurrent MetS with prediabetes. METHODS Patients with schizophrenia were randomized to receive a single oral dose of ulotaront (150 mg) and their previous antipsychotic (PA) in an open-label, crossover, two-sequence design (NCT05402111). Eligible participants fulfilled at least three of five MetS criteria and had prediabetes defined by elevated glycated haemoglobin (5.7-6.4%) and/or fasting homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (i.e. ≥2.22). Following an overnight fast and 4 h post-dose, participants ingested a 99mTc-sulphur colloid radiolabelled egg meal (320 kcal, 30% fat). GE was measured by scintigraphy over 4 h. Endpoints included GE of solids half-time (T1/2) and percentage gastric retention at 1, 2 and 4 h. RESULTS Thirty-one adults were randomized and 27 completed the study. Ulotaront significantly delayed GE of solids [median GE T1/2 ulotaront at 139 min (119, 182) vs. the participant's PA of 124 min (109, 132), p = .006]. A significant increase in gastric retention was seen in the ulotaront versus the PA group at 1 h (80% vs. 75%, p = .015), 2 h (61% vs. 50%, p = .023) and 4 h (17% vs. 7%, p = .002) post-meal. CONCLUSION Ulotaront delayed the GE of solids in patients with schizophrenia and concurrent MetS with prediabetes. Additional studies are needed to assess whether treatment with TAAR1 agonists is associated with weight loss and glucoregulatory improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nina Dedic
- Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert Lew
- Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | - Seth C Hopkins
- Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA
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Nair PC, Shajan B, Bastiampillai T. Newly identified structures of trace-amine associated receptor-1 (TAAR1) will aid discovery of next generation neuropsychiatric drugs. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:1925-1928. [PMID: 38326558 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02466-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Pramod C Nair
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
| | - Britto Shajan
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Tarun Bastiampillai
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Discipline of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Siafis S, Chiocchia V, Macleod MR, Austin C, Homiar A, Tinsdeall F, Friedrich C, Ramage FJ, Kennett J, Nomura N, Maksym O, Rutigliano G, Vano LJ, McCutcheon RA, Gilbert D, Ostinelli EG, Stansfield C, Dehdarirad H, Juma DO, Wright S, Simple O, Elugbadebo O, Tonia T, Mantas I, Howes OD, Furukawa TA, Milligan L, Moreno C, Elliott JH, Hastings J, Thomas J, Michie S, Sena ES, Seedat S, Egger M, Potts J, Cipriani A, Salanti G, Leucht S. Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonism for psychosis: a living systematic review and meta-analysis of human and non-human data. Wellcome Open Res 2024; 9:182. [PMID: 39036710 PMCID: PMC11258611 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.21302.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonism shows promise for treating psychosis, prompting us to synthesise data from human and non-human studies. Methods We co-produced a living systematic review of controlled studies examining TAAR1 agonists in individuals (with or without psychosis/schizophrenia) and relevant animal models. Two independent reviewers identified studies in multiple electronic databases (until 17.11.2023), extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Primary outcomes were standardised mean differences (SMD) for overall symptoms in human studies and hyperlocomotion in animal models. We also examined adverse events and neurotransmitter signalling. We synthesised data with random-effects meta-analyses. Results Nine randomised trials provided data for two TAAR1 agonists (ulotaront and ralmitaront), and 15 animal studies for 10 TAAR1 agonists. Ulotaront and ralmitaront demonstrated few differences compared to placebo in improving overall symptoms in adults with acute schizophrenia (N=4 studies, n=1291 participants; SMD=0.15, 95%CI: -0.05, 0.34), and ralmitaront was less efficacious than risperidone (N=1, n=156, SMD=-0.53, 95%CI: -0.86, -0.20). Large placebo response was observed in ulotaront phase-III trials. Limited evidence suggested a relatively benign side-effect profile for TAAR1 agonists, although nausea and sedation were common after a single dose of ulotaront. In animal studies, TAAR1 agonists improved hyperlocomotion compared to control (N=13 studies, k=41 experiments, SMD=1.01, 95%CI: 0.74, 1.27), but seemed less efficacious compared to dopamine D 2 receptor antagonists (N=4, k=7, SMD=-0.62, 95%CI: -1.32, 0.08). Limited human and animal data indicated that TAAR1 agonists may regulate presynaptic dopaminergic signalling. Conclusions TAAR1 agonists may be less efficacious than dopamine D 2 receptor antagonists already licensed for schizophrenia. The results are preliminary due to the limited number of drugs examined, lack of longer-term data, publication bias, and assay sensitivity concerns in trials associated with large placebo response. Considering their unique mechanism of action, relatively benign side-effect profile and ongoing drug development, further research is warranted. Registration PROSPERO-ID: CRD42023451628.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyridon Siafis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site München/Augsburg, Germany
| | - Virginia Chiocchia
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Malcolm R. Macleod
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Charlotte Austin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Ava Homiar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Francesca Tinsdeall
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Claire Friedrich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Fiona J. Ramage
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Jaycee Kennett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Nobuyuki Nomura
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site München/Augsburg, Germany
| | - Olena Maksym
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Grazia Rutigliano
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England, UK
| | - Luke J. Vano
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England, UK
| | - Robert A. McCutcheon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - David Gilbert
- GALENOS Global Experiential Advisory Board, InHealth Associates, London, UK
| | - Edoardo G. Ostinelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Claire Stansfield
- EPPI Centre, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, England, UK
| | - Hossein Dehdarirad
- EPPI Centre, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, England, UK
| | - Damian Omari Juma
- My Mind Our Humanity, Young Leaders for Global Mental Health, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Simonne Wright
- Stellenbosch University/South African Medical Research Council Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Ouma Simple
- Stellenbosch University/South African Medical Research Council Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Olufisayo Elugbadebo
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
| | - Thomy Tonia
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ioannis Mantas
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oliver D. Howes
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, England, UK
| | - Toshi A. Furukawa
- Department of Health Promotion and Human Behavior, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Carmen Moreno
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, IiSGM, CIBERSAM, ISCIII, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain
| | - Julian H. Elliott
- Cochrane Australia, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Future Evidence Foundation, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Janna Hastings
- Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- School of Medicine, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - James Thomas
- EPPI Centre, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, England, UK
| | - Susan Michie
- Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London, England, UK
| | - Emily S. Sena
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Stellenbosch University/South African Medical Research Council Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Matthias Egger
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Potts
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea Cipriani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Georgia Salanti
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Leucht
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site München/Augsburg, Germany
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9
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Zhou Z, Zhang W, Zhao F, Sun Y, Wang N, Cheng J, Zhan P, Yang F, Sun JP, Liu X, Kang D. Structure-Based Design of Novel G-Protein-Coupled Receptor TAAR1 Agonists as Potential Antipsychotic Drug Candidates. J Med Chem 2024; 67:4234-4249. [PMID: 38416116 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The existing available antipsychotics have failed to manage the cognitive impairment of schizophrenia and induced a number of seriously undesirable effects. Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) has emerged as an ideal target for the design of antischizophrenia drugs, with the ability to mediate multiple psychological functions by sensing endogenous amine-containing metabolites without the side effects of catalepsy. In this work, a series of novel TAAR1 agonists were designed based on the structural analysis of the TAAR1 activation pocket. Among them, 6e displayed a potent TAAR1-Gs/Gq dual-pathway activation property, being different from that of the clinical drug candidate SEP-363856 with only TAAR1-Gs pathway activation. In rodent models, 6e significantly alleviated MK-801-induced schizophrenia-like cognitive phenotypes without inducing catalepsy. Furthermore, 6e·HCl exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic (T1/2 = 2.31 h, F = 39%) and safety properties. All these demonstrated that 6e·HCl may be used as a novel drug candidate for schizophrenia treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Zhou
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Weifeng Zhang
- Advanced Medical Research Institute and Meili Lake Translational Research Park, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Fabao Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yanying Sun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Na Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Jie Cheng
- Advanced Medical Research Institute and Meili Lake Translational Research Park, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Advanced Medical Research Institute and Meili Lake Translational Research Park, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Jin-Peng Sun
- Advanced Medical Research Institute and Meili Lake Translational Research Park, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Dongwei Kang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
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10
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Yu J, Xu Z, Yan W, Shao Z. Elucidating the molecular pharmacology of trace amine-associated receptor 1 to advance antipsychotic drug discovery. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1576. [PMID: 38317588 PMCID: PMC10844839 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Yu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research InstituteState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zheng Xu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research InstituteState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Wei Yan
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research InstituteState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zhenhua Shao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research InstituteState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng LaboratoryChengduChina
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