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Abbondanza A, Urushadze A, Alves-Barboza AR, Janickova H. Expression and function of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in specific neuronal populations: Focus on striatal and prefrontal circuits. Pharmacol Res 2024; 204:107190. [PMID: 38704107 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107190] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely expressed in the central nervous system and play an important role in the control of neural functions including neuronal activity, transmitter release and synaptic plasticity. Although the common subtypes of nAChRs are abundantly expressed throughout the brain, their expression in different brain regions and by individual neuronal types is not homogeneous or incidental. In recent years, several studies have emerged showing that particular subtypes of nAChRs are expressed by specific neuronal populations in which they have major influence on the activity of local circuits and behavior. It has been demonstrated that even nAChRs expressed by relatively rare neuronal types can induce significant changes in behavior and contribute to pathological processes. Depending on the identity and connectivity of the particular nAChRs-expressing neuronal populations, the activation of nAChRs can have distinct or even opposing effects on local neuronal signaling. In this review, we will summarize the available literature describing the expression of individual nicotinic subunits by different neuronal types in two crucial brain regions, the striatum and the prefrontal cortex. The review will also briefly discuss nicotinic expression in non-neuronal, glial cells, as they cannot be ignored as potential targets of nAChRs-modulating drugs. The final section will discuss options that could allow us to target nAChRs in a neuronal-type-specific manner, not only in the experimental field, but also eventually in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Abbondanza
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 14200, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Urushadze
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 14200, Czech Republic
| | - Amanda Rosanna Alves-Barboza
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 14200, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Janickova
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 14200, Czech Republic.
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2
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Bono F, Fiorentini C, Mutti V, Tomasoni Z, Sbrini G, Trebesova H, Marchi M, Grilli M, Missale C. Central nervous system interaction and crosstalk between nAChRs and other ionotropic and metabotropic neurotransmitter receptors. Pharmacol Res 2023; 190:106711. [PMID: 36854367 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely distributed in both the peripheral and the central nervous systems. nAChRs exert a crucial modulatory influence on several brain biological processes; they are involved in a variety of neuronal diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and nicotine addiction. The influence of nAChRs on brain function depends on the activity of other neurotransmitter receptors that co-exist with nAChRs on neurons. In fact, the crosstalk between receptors is an important mechanism of neurotransmission modulation and plasticity. This may be due to converging intracellular pathways but also occurs at the membrane level, because of direct physical interactions between receptors. In this line, this review is dedicated to summarizing how nAChRs and other ionotropic and metabotropic receptors interact and the relevance of nAChRs cross-talks in modulating various neuronal processes ranging from the classical modulation of neurotransmitter release to neuron plasticity and neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Bono
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Fiorentini
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Veronica Mutti
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Zaira Tomasoni
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giulia Sbrini
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Hanna Trebesova
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, 16148 Genoa, Italy
| | - Mario Marchi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, 16148 Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Grilli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, 16148 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Cristina Missale
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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3
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Design and Applications of Bifunctional Small Molecules in Biology. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2020; 1869:140534. [PMID: 32871274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2020.140534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Bono F, Mutti V, Fiorentini C, Missale C. Dopamine D3 Receptor Heteromerization: Implications for Neuroplasticity and Neuroprotection. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10071016. [PMID: 32659920 PMCID: PMC7407647 DOI: 10.3390/biom10071016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The dopamine (DA) D3 receptor (D3R) plays a pivotal role in the control of several functions, including motor activity, rewarding and motivating behavior and several aspects of cognitive functions. Recently, it has been reported that the D3R is also involved in the regulation of neuronal development, in promoting structural plasticity and in triggering key intracellular events with neuroprotective potential. A new role for D3R-dependent neurotransmission has thus been proposed both in preserving DA neuron homeostasis in physiological conditions and in preventing pathological alterations that may lead to neurodegeneration. Interestingly, there is evidence that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) located on DA neurons also provide neurotrophic support to DA neurons, an effect requiring functional D3R and suggesting the existence of a positive cross-talk between these receptor systems. Increasing evidence suggests that, as with the majority of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), the D3R directly interacts with other receptors to form new receptor heteromers with unique functional and pharmacological properties. Among them, we recently identified a receptor heteromer containing the nAChR and the D3R as the molecular effector of nicotine-mediated neurotrophic effects. This review summarizes the functional and pharmacological characteristics of D3R, including the capability to form active heteromers as pharmacological targets for specific neurodegenerative disorders. In particular, the molecular and functional features of the D3R-nAChR heteromer will be especially discussed since it may represent a possible key etiologic effector for DA-related pathologies, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), and a target for drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Bono
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (C.F.); (C.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0303717506
| | - Veronica Mutti
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (C.F.); (C.M.)
| | - Chiara Fiorentini
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (C.F.); (C.M.)
| | - Cristina Missale
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (C.F.); (C.M.)
- “C. Golgi” Women Health Center, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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Matera C, Flammini L, Riefolo F, Domenichini G, De Amici M, Barocelli E, Dallanoce C, Bertoni S. Novel analgesic agents obtained by molecular hybridization of orthosteric and allosteric ligands. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 876:173061. [PMID: 32179086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite the high incidence of acute and chronic pain in the general population, the efficacy of currently available medications is unsatisfactory. Insufficient management of pain has a profound impact on the quality of life and can have serious physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences. This unmet need reflects a failure to develop novel classes of analgesic drugs with superior clinical properties and lower risk of abuse. Nevertheless, recent advances in our understanding of the neurobiology of pain are offering new opportunities for developing different therapeutic approaches. Among those, the activation of M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, which play a key role in the cholinergic regulation of the nociceptive transmission, constitutes one of the most promising strategies. We have recently developed a small library of novel pharmacological agents by merging the structures of known orthosteric and allosteric muscarinic ligands through their molecular hybridization, an emerging approach in medicinal chemistry based on the combination of pharmacophoric moieties of different bioactive substances to produce a new compound with improved pharmacological properties. Herein we report the functional characterization of the new ligands in vitro and the assessment of their efficacy as analgesic agents and tolerability in mice. This work provides new insights for the development and optimization of novel muscarinic hybrid compounds for the management of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Matera
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy.
| | - Lisa Flammini
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Fabio Riefolo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Domenichini
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco De Amici
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Barocelli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Clelia Dallanoce
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Simona Bertoni
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
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Matera C, Bono F, Pelucchi S, Collo G, Bontempi L, Gotti C, Zoli M, De Amici M, Missale C, Fiorentini C, Dallanoce C. The novel hybrid agonist HyNDA-1 targets the D3R-nAChR heteromeric complex in dopaminergic neurons. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 163:154-168. [PMID: 30772268 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we designed, synthesized and tested a small set of three new derivatives potentially targeting the D3R-nAChR heteromer, a receptor complex recently identified and characterized as the molecular entity that, in dopaminergic neurons, mediates the neurotrophic effects of nicotine. By means of a partially rigidified spacer of variable length, we incorporated in the new compounds (1a-c) the pharmacophoric substructure of a known β2-subunit-containing nAChR agonist (A-84543) and that of the D2/D3R agonist drug ropinirole. All the compounds retained the ability to bind with high affinity both β2-subunit-containing nAChR and D3R. Compound 1a, renamed HyNDA-1, which is characterized by the shortest linker moiety, was the most interesting ligand. We found, in fact, that HyNDA-1 significantly modulated structural plasticity on both mice and human dopaminergic neurons, an effect strongly prevented by co-incubating this ligand with either nAChR or D3R antagonists. Moreover, the neurotrophic effects of HyNDA-1 were specifically lost by disrupting the complex with specific interfering peptides. Interestingly, by using the Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer 2 (BRET2) assay in HEK-293 transfected cells, we also found that HyNDA-1 has the ability to increase the affinity of interaction between nAChR and D3R. Overall, our results indicate that the neurotrophic effects of HyNDA-1 are mediated by activation of the D3R-nAChR heteromeric complex specifically expressed on dopaminergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Matera
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche - Sezione di Chimica Farmaceutica "Pietro Pratesi", Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Bono
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Traslazionale - Sezione di Farmacologia, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Pelucchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Ginetta Collo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Traslazionale - Sezione di Farmacologia, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Leonardo Bontempi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Traslazionale - Sezione di Farmacologia, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Cecilia Gotti
- Istituto di Neuroscienze, CNR, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Zoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Metaboliche e Neuroscienze, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Marco De Amici
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche - Sezione di Chimica Farmaceutica "Pietro Pratesi", Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Missale
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Traslazionale - Sezione di Farmacologia, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Fiorentini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Traslazionale - Sezione di Farmacologia, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Clelia Dallanoce
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche - Sezione di Chimica Farmaceutica "Pietro Pratesi", Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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7
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Matera C, Dondio G, Braida D, Ponzoni L, De Amici M, Sala M, Dallanoce C. In vivo and in vitro ADMET profiling and in vivo pharmacodynamic investigations of a selective α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist with a spirocyclic Δ 2 -isoxazoline molecular skeleton. Eur J Pharmacol 2018; 820:265-273. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.12.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Zhu J, Enamorado MF, Comins DL. Synthesis of C-4 Substituted Amido Nicotine Derivatives via Copper(I)- and (II)-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions. J Org Chem 2016; 81:11529-11534. [PMID: 27768301 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.6b02319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The syntheses of seven novel amido nicotine derivatives 12-18 from (S)-nicotine are presented. (S)-Nicotine and (S)-6-chloronicotine derivatives were cross-coupled with the corresponding amides 6-10 at the C-4 position of the pyridine ring via copper(I)-mediated reactions. Derivatives 16-18 were also obtained via copper(II)-mediated reactions from (S)-nicotine containing a C-4 boronic acid pinacol ester group. The optimization of reaction conditions for both routes provided a useful method for preparing C-4 amide-containing nicotine analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiancheng Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8204, United States
| | - Monica F Enamorado
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8204, United States
| | - Daniel L Comins
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8204, United States
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9
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Reyes-Parada M, Iturriaga-Vasquez P. The development of novel polypharmacological agents targeting the multiple binding sites of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2016; 11:969-81. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2016.1227317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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10
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Synthesis and biological activities of indolizine derivatives as alpha-7 nAChR agonists. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 115:94-108. [PMID: 26994846 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of schizophrenia accompanied with cognitive impairment. Herein, we report the synthesis and agonistic activities of a series of indolizine derivatives targeting to α7 nAChR. The results show that all synthesized compounds have affinity to α7 nAChR and some give strong agonistic activity, particularly most active agonists show higher potency than control EVP-6124. The docking and structure-activity relationship studies provide insights to develop more potent novel α7 nAChR agonists.
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Modification of the anabaseine pyridine nucleus allows achieving binding and functional selectivity for the α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtype. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 108:392-405. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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