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Jászberényi M, Thurzó B, Bagosi Z, Vécsei L, Tanaka M. The Orexin/Hypocretin System, the Peptidergic Regulator of Vigilance, Orchestrates Adaptation to Stress. Biomedicines 2024; 12:448. [PMID: 38398050 PMCID: PMC10886661 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The orexin/hypocretin neuropeptide family has emerged as a focal point of neuroscientific research following the discovery that this family plays a crucial role in a variety of physiological and behavioral processes. These neuropeptides serve as powerful neuromodulators, intricately shaping autonomic, endocrine, and behavioral responses across species. Notably, they serve as master regulators of vigilance and stress responses; however, their roles in food intake, metabolism, and thermoregulation appear complementary and warrant further investigation. This narrative review provides a journey through the evolution of our understanding of the orexin system, from its initial discovery to the promising progress made in developing orexin derivatives. It goes beyond conventional boundaries, striving to synthesize the multifaceted activities of orexins. Special emphasis is placed on domains such as stress response, fear, anxiety, and learning, in which the authors have contributed to the literature with original publications. This paper also overviews the advancement of orexin pharmacology, which has already yielded some promising successes, particularly in the treatment of sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miklós Jászberényi
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (M.J.); (B.T.); (Z.B.)
| | - Balázs Thurzó
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (M.J.); (B.T.); (Z.B.)
- Emergency Patient Care Unit, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Centre, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Bagosi
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (M.J.); (B.T.); (Z.B.)
| | - László Vécsei
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary;
- HUN-REN-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Hungarian Research Network, University of Szeged (HUN-REN-SZTE), Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Tisza Lajos krt. 113, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Masaru Tanaka
- HUN-REN-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Hungarian Research Network, University of Szeged (HUN-REN-SZTE), Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Tisza Lajos krt. 113, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
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2
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Kukkonen JP. The G protein preference of orexin receptors is currently an unresolved issue. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3162. [PMID: 37264034 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38764-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jyrki P Kukkonen
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, POB 63, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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Dale NC, Hoyer D, Jacobson LH, Pfleger KDG, Johnstone EKM. Orexin Signaling: A Complex, Multifaceted Process. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:812359. [PMID: 35496914 PMCID: PMC9044999 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.812359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The orexin system comprises two G protein-coupled receptors, OX1 and OX2 receptors (OX1R and OX2R, respectively), along with two endogenous agonists cleaved from a common precursor (prepro-orexin), orexin-A (OX-A) and orexin-B (OX-B). For the receptors, a complex array of signaling behaviors has been reported. In particular, it becomes obvious that orexin receptor coupling is very diverse and can be tissue-, cell- and context-dependent. Here, the early signal transduction interactions of the orexin receptors will be discussed in depth, with particular emphasis on the direct G protein interactions of each receptor. In doing so, it is evident that ligands, additional receptor-protein interactions and cellular environment all play important roles in the G protein coupling profiles of the orexin receptors. This has potential implications for our understanding of the orexin system’s function in vivo in both central and peripheral environments, as well as the development of novel agonists, antagonists and possibly allosteric modulators targeting the orexin system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha C. Dale
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Daniel Hoyer
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Laura H. Jacobson
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Kevin D. G. Pfleger
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Perth, WA, Australia
- Dimerix Limited, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Kevin D. G. Pfleger,
| | - Elizabeth K. M. Johnstone
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Perth, WA, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Elizabeth K. M. Johnstone,
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Coleman P, de Lecea L, Gotter A, Hagan J, Hoyer D, Kilduff T, Kukkonen JP, Porter R, Renger J, Siegel JM, Sutcliffe G, Upton N, Winrow CJ. Orexin receptors in GtoPdb v.2021.3. IUPHAR/BPS GUIDE TO PHARMACOLOGY CITE 2021; 2021. [PMID: 34927075 DOI: 10.2218/gtopdb/f51/2021.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Orexin receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Orexin receptors [42]) are activated by the endogenous polypeptides orexin-A and orexin-B (also known as hypocretin-1 and -2; 33 and 28 aa) derived from a common precursor, preproorexin or orexin precursor, by proteolytic cleavage and some typical peptide modifications [109]. Currently the only orexin receptor ligands in clinical use are suvorexant and lemborexant, which are used as hypnotics. Orexin receptor crystal structures have been solved [134, 133, 54, 117, 46].
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Focus on the Complex Interconnection between Cancer, Narcolepsy and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Possible Case of Orexin-Dependent Inverse Comorbidity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112612. [PMID: 34073579 PMCID: PMC8198883 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This narrative review first describes from several points of view the complex interrelationship between cancer and neurodegeneration, with special attention to the mechanisms that might underlie an inverse relationship between them. In particular, the mechanisms that might induce an imbalance between cell apoptotic and proliferative stimuli are discussed. Second, the review summarizes findings on orexins and their involvement in narcolepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer, starting from epidemiological data then addressing laboratory findings, animal models, and human clinical observational and interventional investigations. Important research efforts are warranted on these topics, as they might lead to novel therapeutic approaches to both neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Abstract Conditions such as Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s diseases (PD) are less prevalent in cancer survivors and, overall, cancer is less prevalent in subjects with these neurodegenerative disorders. This seems to suggest that a propensity towards one type of disease may decrease the risk of the other. In addition to epidemiologic data, there is also evidence of a complex biological interconnection, with genes, proteins, and pathways often showing opposite dysregulation in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. In this narrative review, we focus on the possible role played by orexin signaling, which is altered in patients with narcolepsy type 1 and in those with AD and PD, and which has been linked to β-amyloid brain levels and inflammation in mouse models and to cancer in cell lines. Taken together, these lines of evidence depict a possible case of inverse comorbidity between cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, with a role played by orexins. These considerations suggest a therapeutic potential of orexin modulation in diverse pathologies such as narcolepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer.
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Turku A, Leino TO, Karhu L, Yli-Kauhaluoma J, Kukkonen JP, Wallén EAA, Xhaard H. Structure-Activity Relationships of 1-Benzoylazulenes at the OX 1 and OX 2 Orexin Receptors. ChemMedChem 2019; 14:965-981. [PMID: 30892823 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201900074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated the potential of di- or trisubstituted azulenes as ligands (potentiators, weak agonists, and antagonists) of the orexin receptors. In this study we investigated 27 1-benzoylazulene derivatives, uncovering seven potentiators of the orexin response on OX1 and two weak dual orexin receptor agonists. For potentiators, replacement of the azulene scaffold by indole retained the activity of four out of six compounds. The structure-activity relationships for agonism and potentiation can be summarized into a bicyclic aromatic ring system substituted with two hydrogen-bond acceptors (1-position, benzoyl; 6-position, carboxyl/ester) within 7-8 Å of each other; a third acceptor at the 3-position is also well tolerated. The same pharmacophoric signature is found in the preferred conformations of the orexin receptor agonist Nag26 from molecular dynamics simulations. Subtle changes switch the activity between weak agonism and potentiation, suggesting overlapping binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainoleena Turku
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teppo O Leino
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lasse Karhu
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jyrki P Kukkonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Erik A A Wallén
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Henri Xhaard
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
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Rinne MK, Leino TO, Turku A, Turunen PM, Steynen Y, Xhaard H, Wallén EA, Kukkonen JP. Pharmacological characterization of the orexin/hypocretin receptor agonist Nag 26. Eur J Pharmacol 2018; 837:137-144. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Leino TO, Turku A, Yli-Kauhaluoma J, Kukkonen JP, Xhaard H, Wallén EA. Azulene-based compounds for targeting orexin receptors. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 157:88-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Dong XY, Feng Z. Wake-promoting effects of vagus nerve stimulation after traumatic brain injury: upregulation of orexin-A and orexin receptor type 1 expression in the prefrontal cortex. Neural Regen Res 2018; 13:244-251. [PMID: 29557373 PMCID: PMC5879895 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.226395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Orexins, produced in the lateral hypothalamus, are important neuropeptides that participate in the sleep/wake cycle, and their expression coincides with the projection area of the vagus nerve in the brain. Vagus nerve stimulation has been shown to decrease the amounts of daytime sleep and rapid eye movement in epilepsy patients with traumatic brain injury. In the present study, we investigated whether vagus nerve stimulation promotes wakefulness and affects orexin expression. A rat model of traumatic brain injury was established using the free fall drop method. In the stimulated group, rats with traumatic brain injury received vagus nerve stimulation (frequency, 30 Hz; current, 1.0 mA; pulse width, 0.5 ms; total stimulation time, 15 minutes). In the antagonist group, rats with traumatic brain injury were intracerebroventricularly injected with the orexin receptor type 1 (OX1R) antagonist SB334867 and received vagus nerve stimulation. Changes in consciousness were observed after stimulation in each group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot assay and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the levels of orexin-A and OX1R expression in the prefrontal cortex. In the stimulated group, consciousness was substantially improved, orexin-A protein expression gradually increased within 24 hours after injury and OX1R expression reached a peak at 12 hours, compared with rats subjected to traumatic brain injury only. In the antagonist group, the wake-promoting effect of vagus nerve stimulation was diminished, and orexin-A and OX1R expression were decreased, compared with that of the stimulated group. Taken together, our findings suggest that vagus nerve stimulation promotes the recovery of consciousness in comatose rats after traumatic brain injury. The upregulation of orexin-A and OX1R expression in the prefrontal cortex might be involved in the wake-promoting effects of vagus nerve stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yang Dong
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Zhen Feng
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
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Koesema E, Kodadek T. Global analysis of gene expression mediated by OX1 orexin receptor signaling in a hypothalamic cell line. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188082. [PMID: 29145494 PMCID: PMC5690679 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The orexins and their cognate G-protein coupled receptors have been widely studied due to their associations with various behaviors and cellular processes. However, the detailed downstream signaling cascades that mediate these effects are not completely understood. We report the generation of a neuronal model cell line that stably expresses the OX1 orexin receptor (OX1) and an RNA-Seq analysis of changes in gene expression seen upon receptor activation. Upon treatment with orexin, several families of related transcription factors are transcriptionally regulated, including the early growth response genes (Egr), the Kruppel-like factors (Klf), and the Nr4a subgroup of nuclear hormone receptors. Furthermore, some of the transcriptional effects observed have also been seen in data from in vivo sleep deprivation microarray studies, supporting the physiological relevance of the data set. Additionally, inhibition of one of the most highly regulated genes, serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (Sgk1), resulted in the diminished orexin-dependent induction of a subset of genes. These results provide new insight into the molecular signaling events that occur during OX1 signaling and support a role for orexin signaling in the stimulation of wakefulness during sleep deprivation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Koesema
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, United States of America
| | - Thomas Kodadek
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, United States of America
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Thompson MD, Sakurai T, Rainero I, Maj MC, Kukkonen JP. Orexin Receptor Multimerization versus Functional Interactions: Neuropharmacological Implications for Opioid and Cannabinoid Signalling and Pharmacogenetics. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2017; 10:ph10040079. [PMID: 28991183 PMCID: PMC5748636 DOI: 10.3390/ph10040079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Orexins/hypocretins are neuropeptides formed by proteolytic cleavage of a precursor peptide, which are produced by neurons found in the lateral hypothalamus. The G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for these ligands, the OX₁ and OX₂ orexin receptors, are more widely expressed throughout the central nervous system. The orexin/hypocretin system has been implicated in many pathways, and its dysregulation is under investigation in a number of diseases. Disorders in which orexinergic mechanisms are being investigated include narcolepsy, idiopathic sleep disorders, cluster headache and migraine. Human narcolepsy has been associated with orexin deficiency; however, it has only rarely been attributed to mutations in the gene encoding the precursor peptide. While gene variations within the canine OX₂ gene hcrtr2 have been directly linked with narcolepsy, the majority of human orexin receptor variants are weakly associated with diseases (the idiopathic sleep disorders, cluster headache and polydipsia-hyponatremia in schizophrenia) or are of potential pharmacogenetic significance. Evidence for functional interactions and/or heterodimerization between wild-type and variant orexin receptors and opioid and cannabinoid receptors is discussed in the context of its relevance to depression and epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles D Thompson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego 92093, CA, USA.
| | - Takeshi Sakurai
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience and Integrative Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8620, Japan.
| | - Innocenzo Rainero
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino 10124, Italy.
| | - Mary C Maj
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Saint George's University, Saint George's 11739, Grenada.
| | - Jyrki P Kukkonen
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 11739, Finland.
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00100, Finland.
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Abstract
Orexin/hypocretin peptide (orexin-A and orexin-B) signaling is believed to take place via the two G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), named OX1 and OX2 orexin receptors, as described in the previous chapters. Signaling of orexin peptides has been investigated in diverse endogenously orexin receptor-expressing cells - mainly neurons but also other types of cells - and in recombinant cells expressing the receptors in a heterologous manner. Findings in the different systems are partially convergent but also indicate cellular background-specific signaling. The general picture suggests an inherently high degree of diversity in orexin receptor signaling.In the current chapter, I present orexin signaling on the cellular and molecular levels. Discussion of the connection to (potential) physiological orexin responses is only brief since these are in focus of other chapters in this book. The same goes for the post-synaptic signaling mechanisms, which are dealt with in Burdakov: Postsynaptic actions of orexin. The current chapter is organized according to the tissue type, starting from the central nervous system. Finally, receptor signaling pathways are discussed across tissues, cell types, and even species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyrki P Kukkonen
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, POB 66, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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Turku A, Rinne MK, Boije af Gennäs G, Xhaard H, Lindholm D, Kukkonen JP. Orexin receptor agonist Yan 7874 is a weak agonist of orexin/hypocretin receptors and shows orexin receptor-independent cytotoxicity. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178526. [PMID: 28575023 PMCID: PMC5456073 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Two promising lead structures of small molecular orexin receptor agonist have been reported, but without detailed analyses of the pharmacological properties. One of them, 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-[2-imino-3-(4-methylbenzyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl]ethan-1-ol (Yan 7874), is commercially available, and we set out to analyze its properties. As test system we utilized human OX1 and OX2 orexin receptor-expressing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) K1 cells as well as control CHO-K1 and neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells. Gq-coupling was assessed by measurement of intracellular Ca2+ and phospholipase C activity, and the coupling to Gi and Gs by adenylyl cyclase inhibition and stimulation, respectively. At concentrations above 1 μM, strong Ca2+ and low phospholipase C responses to Yan 7874 were observed in both OX1- and OX2-expressing cells. However, a major fraction of the response was not mediated by orexin receptors, as determined utilizing the non-selective orexin receptor antagonist N-biphenyl-2-yl-1-{[(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)sulfanyl]acetyl}-L-prolinamide (TCS 1102) as well as control CHO-K1 cells. Yan 7874 did not produce any specific adenylyl cyclase response. Some experiments suggested an effect on cell viability by Yan 7874, and we thus analyzed this. Within a few hours of exposure, Yan 7874 markedly changed cell morphology (shrunken, rich in vacuoles), reduced growth, promoted cell detachment, and induced necrotic cell death. The effect was equal in cells expressing orexin receptors or not. Thus, Yan 7874 is a weak partial agonist of orexin receptors. It also displays strong off-target effects in the same concentration range, culminating in necrotic cell demise. This makes Yan 7874 unsuitable as orexin receptor agonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainoleena Turku
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maiju K. Rinne
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gustav Boije af Gennäs
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Henri Xhaard
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dan Lindholm
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jyrki P. Kukkonen
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- * E-mail:
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14
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Role of orexin-2 and CB1 receptors within the periaqueductal gray matter in lateral hypothalamic-induced antinociception in rats. Behav Pharmacol 2017; 28:83-89. [DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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15
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Turku A, Borrel A, Leino TO, Karhu L, Kukkonen JP, Xhaard H. Pharmacophore Model To Discover OX1 and OX2 Orexin Receptor Ligands. J Med Chem 2016; 59:8263-75. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ainoleena Turku
- Faculty of Pharmacy,
Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alexandre Borrel
- Faculty of Pharmacy,
Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teppo O. Leino
- Faculty of Pharmacy,
Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lasse Karhu
- Faculty of Pharmacy,
Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jyrki P. Kukkonen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Henri Xhaard
- Faculty of Pharmacy,
Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Kukkonen JP. G-protein-dependency of orexin/hypocretin receptor signalling in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 476:379-385. [PMID: 27237973 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.05.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Multiple signalling pathways for orexin receptors have been discovered, and most thoroughly mapped in Chinese hamster ovary K1 (CHO-K1) cells. It is also known that orexin receptors can couple to the G-protein families Gi, Gs and Gq. However, the connection between the G-proteins and the downstream signals is only vaguely established, and we now set out to resolve this for human orexin receptors expressed in CHO-K1 cells. Adenylyl cyclase (AC), phospholipase A2, C and D, and diacylglycerol lipase activities were assessed by precursor radiolabelling and chromatographic separation, and calcium by fluorescent methods. Pertussis toxin, cholera toxin and the cyclic depsipeptide, UBO-QIC a.k.a. FR900359, were used to assess the involvement of Gi-, Gs- and Gq-family G-proteins, respectively. Calcium elevations as well as activation of the phospholipases and diacylglycerol lipase were dependent on Gq, as they were fully blocked by UBO-QIC. The low-potency AC activation fully depended on Gs. Surprisingly, the assumed Gi-dependent inhibition of AC was (fully or partially) inhibited by UBO-QIC, in opposition to the previous findings of no sensitivity of Gi proteins to UBO-QIC. Orexin receptor signalling is indeed mostly Gq-driven in CHO-K1 cells, even with respect to the less clearly mapped cascades such as phospholipase A2 and C and calcium influx, underlining the importance of Gq even under physiological conditions. AC regulation warrants more studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyrki P Kukkonen
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, POB 66, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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