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Pinares-Garcia P, Spyrou J, McKenzie CE, Forster IC, Soh MS, Mohamed Syazwan E, Atif M, Reid CA. Antidepressant-like activity of a brain penetrant HCN channel inhibitor in mice. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1159527. [PMID: 37234718 PMCID: PMC10206048 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1159527] [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] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated (HCN) channel function have been linked to depressive-like traits, making them potential drug targets. However, there is currently no peer-reviewed data supporting the use of a small molecule modulator of HCN channels in depression treatment. Org 34167, a benzisoxazole derivative, has been patented for the treatment of depression and progressed to Phase I trials. In the current study, we analysed the biophysical effects of Org 34167 on HCN channels in stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells and mouse layer V neurons using patch-clamp electrophysiology, and we utilised three high-throughput screens for depressive-like behaviour to assess the activity of Org 34167 in mice. The impact of Org 34167 on locomotion and coordination were measured by performing rotarod and ledged beam tests. Org 34167 is a broad-spectrum inhibitor of HCN channels, slowing activation and causing a hyperpolarising shift in voltage-dependence of activation. It also reduced I h-mediated sag in mouse neurons. Org 34167 (0.5 mg/kg) reduced marble burying and increased the time spent mobile in the Porsolt swim and tail suspension tests in both male and female BALB/c mice, suggesting reduced depressive-like behaviour. Although no adverse effects were seen at 0.5 mg/kg, an increase in dose to 1 mg/kg resulted in visible tremors and impaired locomotion and coordination. These data support the premise that HCN channels are valid targets for anti-depressive drugs albeit with a narrow therapeutic index. Drugs with higher HCN subtype selectivity are needed to establish if a wider therapeutic window can be obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Pinares-Garcia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - James Spyrou
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Chaseley E. McKenzie
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ian C. Forster
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ming S. Soh
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Erlina Mohamed Syazwan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Mohammed Atif
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher A. Reid
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
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D'Addario SL, Di Segni M, Ledonne A, Piscitelli R, Babicola L, Martini A, Spoleti E, Mancini C, Ielpo D, D'Amato FR, Andolina D, Ragozzino D, Mercuri NB, Cifani C, Renzi M, Guatteo E, Ventura R. Resilience to anhedonia-passive coping induced by early life experience is linked to a long-lasting reduction of I h current in VTA dopaminergic neurons. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 14:100324. [PMID: 33937445 PMCID: PMC8079665 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to aversive events during sensitive developmental periods can affect the preferential coping strategy adopted by individuals later in life, leading to either stress-related psychiatric disorders, including depression, or to well-adaptation to future adversity and sources of stress, a behavior phenotype termed “resilience”. We have previously shown that interfering with the development of mother-pups bond with the Repeated Cross Fostering (RCF) stress protocol can induce resilience to depression-like phenotype in adult C57BL/6J female mice. Here, we used patch-clamp recording in midbrain slice combined with both in vivo and ex vivo pharmacology to test our hypothesis of a link between electrophysiological modifications of dopaminergic neurons in the intermediate Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) of RCF animals and behavioral resilience. We found reduced hyperpolarization-activated (Ih) cation current amplitude and evoked firing in VTA dopaminergic neurons from both young and adult RCF female mice. In vivo, VTA-specific pharmacological manipulation of the Ih current reverted the pro-resilient phenotype in adult early-stressed mice or mimicked behavioral resilience in adult control animals. This is the first evidence showing how pro-resilience behavior induced by early events is linked to a long-lasting reduction of Ih current and excitability in VTA dopaminergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Luca D'Addario
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5 00184, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Rosamaria Piscitelli
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Dept. of Motor Science and Wellness, 'Parthenope' University, Via Medina 40, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Lucy Babicola
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Elena Spoleti
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Camilla Mancini
- University of Camerino School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Products, Camerino, Italy
| | - Donald Ielpo
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca R D'Amato
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Institute, National Research Council, Via E Ramarini 32, 00015, Monterotondo Scalo, Roma, Italy
| | - Diego Andolina
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - Davide Ragozzino
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Nicola B Mercuri
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Dept. of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Cifani
- University of Camerino School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Products, Camerino, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Renzi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Ezia Guatteo
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Dept. of Motor Science and Wellness, 'Parthenope' University, Via Medina 40, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Rossella Ventura
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
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da Silva Calixto P, de Almeida RN, Stiebbe Salvadori MGS, Dos Santos Maia M, Filho JMB, Scotti MT, Scotti L. In Silico Study Examining New Phenylpropanoids Targets with Antidepressant Activity. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 22:539-554. [PMID: 32881667 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666200902171838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural products, such as phenylpropanoids, which are found in essential oils derived from aromatic plants, have been explored during non-clinical psychopharmacology studies, to discover new molecules with relevant pharmacological activities in the central nervous system, especially antidepressant and anxiolytic activities. Major depressive disorder is a highly debilitating psychiatric disorder and is considered to be a disabling public health problem, worldwide, as a primary factor associated with suicide. Current clinically administered antidepressants have late-onset therapeutic actions, are associated with several side effects, and clinical studies have reported that some patients do not respond well to treatment or reach complete remission. OBJECTIVE To review important new targets for antidepressant activity and to select phenylpropanoids with antidepressant activity, using Molegro Virtual Docker and Ossis Data Warris, and to verify substances with more promising antidepressant activity. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION An in silico molecular modeling study, based on homology, was conducted to determine the three-dimensional structure of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5- HT2AR), then molecular docking studies were performed and the predisposition for cytotoxicity risk among identified molecules was examined. A model for 5-HT2AR homology, with satisfactory results, was obtained indicating the good stereochemical quality of the model. The phenylpropanoid 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol showed the lowest binding energy for 5-HT2AR, with results relevant to the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP pathway, and showed no toxicity within the parameters of mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive system toxicity, and skin-tissue irritability, when evaluated in silico; therefore, this molecule can be considered promising for the investigation of antidepressant activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reinaldo Nóbrega de Almeida
- Department of Physiology and Pathology, Laboratory of Psychopharmacology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | | | - José Maria Barbosa Filho
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Technology Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | - Luciana Scotti
- Laboratory of Chemoinformatics, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
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Muscat SA, Hartelius G, Crouch CR, Morin KW. An Integrative Approach to Ketamine Therapy May Enhance Multiple Dimensions of Efficacy: Improving Therapeutic Outcomes With Treatment Resistant Depression. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:710338. [PMID: 34899408 PMCID: PMC8653702 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.710338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Research over the last two decades has established ketamine as a safe, effective, fast-acting, and sustained antidepressant that significantly reduces adverse symptoms associated with depression, even in patients who are treatment resistant. Much of this research has evolved within the framework of several independent branches of scientific inquiry: in addition to the study of ketamine is a non-selective NMDAR antagonist with rapid antidepressant effects, it has also been found effective as a psychoplastogen that stimulates synaptogenesis and increases neuroplasticity, as a powerful anti-inflammatory that may improve inflammation-related depressive symptoms, as a substance that induces beneficial high entropy brain states, and as a subjectively impactful psychedelic agent. Each branch of inquiry has generated independent evidence of ketamine's efficacy but has advanced without substantive coordination or communication with other lines of inquiry. Integrative research that considers these branches of research together may lead toward a better understanding of ketamine's effects and improved treatment protocols and clinical outcomes. Such an overview can inform more comprehensive patient care through: (a) informed patient psychoeducation that encompasses all of ketamine's mechanisms of action; (b) calibration of optimal dosage to ensure induction and maintenance of high entropy brain states during each ketamine session utilizing EEG measurement; (c) Improved management of emergence side effects through proper care for set and setting; (d) inclusion of pre-selected appropriate music to enhance the emotional experience; (e) increased monitoring of ketamine effects on cortical activity, inter-hemispheric imbalance, and inflammation-related levels of cytokines to further improvements in ketamine protocols; and (f) appropriate timing of any adjunctive psychotherapy sessions to coincide with peak neurogenesis at 24-48 h post ketamine treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry-Anne Muscat
- Youth Forensic Psychiatry, Alberta Hospital, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Integral and Transpersonal Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Glenn Hartelius
- Integral and Transpersonal Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Courtenay Richards Crouch
- Integral and Transpersonal Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Kevin W Morin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Acute Adult Psychiatry, Alberta Hospital, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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