1
|
Buzzi B, AlSharari SD, Walentiny DM, Damaj MI. Nelotanserin, a selective 5-HT2A receptor inverse agonist, attenuates aspects of nicotine withdrawal but not reward in mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 467:115019. [PMID: 38677331 PMCID: PMC11250952 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115019] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Nicotine smoking contributes to many preventable disabilities, diseases and deaths. Targeting nicotine reward and withdrawal is a basis for the majority of smoking cessation pharmacotherapies. Due to the emergence of interest in 5-HT2A receptor modulators for numerous psychiatric disorders, we investigated the effect of nelotanserin, a 5-HT2A receptor inverse agonist, on nicotine reward and withdrawal in ICR mice. In nicotine-dependent mice, nelotanserin dose-dependently reduced somatic signs of nicotine withdrawal and thermal hyperalgesia as measured in the hot plate test. However, nelotanserin had no effect on anxiety-like behavior and failed to reduce nicotine reward as measured in the conditioned place preference test. Our results suggest that inverse agonism of the 5-HT2A receptor may be a feasible novel mechanism for smoking cessation by reducing both physical withdrawal and thermal hyperalgesia associated with nicotine abstinence but may require complementary pharmacotherapies targeting affective and reward-associated decrements to improve cessation outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Belle Buzzi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Shakir D AlSharari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - David M Walentiny
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Malin DH, Tsai PH, Campbell JR, Moreno GL, Chapman HL, Suzaki A, Keivan MS, Gibbons KM, Morales ER, Burstein ES, Ward CP. Pimavanserin reverses multiple measures of anxiety in a rodent model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 939:175437. [PMID: 36502961 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Pimavanserin is a highly selective 5-HT2A inverse agonist in current medical use. Prior studies suggest that 5-HT2A serotonin receptors may play a role in anxiety and emotional memory. Therefore, pimavanserin was tested in a rat model of PTSD to determine whether it might ameliorate PTSD-like symptoms. The lifetime prevalence of PTSD is estimated to be 125% higher in women than men. Consequently, in an effort to create a robust model of PTSD that was more representative of human PTSD prevalence, 20-week old female rats of the emotionally hyperreactive Lewis strain were used for these studies. The rats were single-housed and exposed twice to restraint stress coupled with predator odor or to a sham-stressed condition. Twenty days after the second stress or sham-stress exposure, rats were injected with saline alone or with 0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg pimavanserin, doses that were confirmed to substantially block 5-HT2A receptor activity in this study without causing any non-specific behavioral or adverse effects. One hour later, rats were tested for anxiety through acoustic startle response, the elevated plus-maze and three parameters of open field behavior. Five days later, blood was sampled for plasma corticosterone. The stressed/saline-injected rats had higher anxiety scores and corticosterone levels than sham-stressed/saline-injected rats. Pimavanserin significantly and generally dose-dependently reversed these persistent stress effects, but had no significant effect on the behavioral measures in normal, non-stressed rats. These results, consistent with a role for the 5-HT2A receptor, suggest that pimavanserin might have potential to reduce some consequences of traumatic stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Aoi Suzaki
- University of Houston-Clear Lake, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Median raphe serotonergic neurons projecting to the interpeduncular nucleus control preference and aversion. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7708. [PMID: 36550097 PMCID: PMC9780347 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35346-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Appropriate processing of reward and aversive information is essential for survival. Although a critical role of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in reward processing has been shown, the lack of rewarding effects with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) implies the presence of a discrete serotonergic system playing an opposite role to the DRN in the processing of reward and aversive stimuli. Here, we demonstrated that serotonergic neurons in the median raphe nucleus (MRN) of mice process reward and aversive information in opposite directions to DRN serotonergic neurons. We further identified MRN serotonergic neurons, including those projecting to the interpeduncular nucleus (5-HTMRN→IPN), as a key mediator of reward and aversive stimuli. Moreover, 5-HT receptors, including 5-HT2A receptors in the interpeduncular nucleus, are involved in the aversive properties of MRN serotonergic neural activity. Our findings revealed an essential function of MRN serotonergic neurons, including 5-HTMRN→IPN, in the processing of reward and aversive stimuli.
Collapse
|
4
|
Guner S, Akhayeva T, Nichols CD, Gurdal H. The Ca2+/CaM, Src kinase and/or PI3K-dependent EGFR transactivation via 5-HT2A and 5-HT1B receptor subtypes mediates 5-HT-induced vasoconstriction. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 206:115317. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
|
5
|
Li B, Jiang J, Zhou L, Tao X, Sun Q, Liu J, Liu Y, Pang G. Blockade of 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2A Receptor Attenuates Precipitation of Naloxone-Induced Withdrawal Symptoms in Opioid-Exposed Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:797217. [PMID: 35221941 PMCID: PMC8864093 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.797217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Heroin dependency has become a global problem and has caused significant clinical and socioeconomic burdens along with devastating medical consequences. Chronic drug exposure alters the expression and functional activity of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) in the brain. Furthermore, pharmacological blockade of 5-HT2ARs reduces cue-induced cocaine craving behaviors. In this study, we explored the influence of 5-HT2ARs on heroin-withdrawal behaviors in mice. Black C57BL/6J mice were given gradually increasing (10–50 mg/kg over 4.5 days) doses of heroin to induce heroin dependency, after which naloxone was given to precipitate withdrawal symptoms. MDL100907, a selective and potent 5-HT2AR antagonist, attenuated naloxone-precipitated withdrawal symptoms in these mice. In addition, 5-HT2AR protein levels increased significantly in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), while phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) decreased in the mPFC after heroin exposure. In conclusion, these results suggest that 5-HT2ARs might be involved in the development of opioid dependency and that pharmacological blocking of 5-HT2ARs might be a new therapeutic strategy for heroin dependency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bing Li
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Junyu Jiang
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Xinrong Tao
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Qixian Sun
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Jiaxin Liu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Gang Pang
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Gang Pang,
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Higgins GA, Sellers EM. 5-HT 2A and 5-HT 2C receptors as potential targets for the treatment of nicotine use and dependence. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2021; 259:229-263. [PMID: 33541678 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine use and dependence, typically achieved through cigarette smoking, but increasingly through vape products, is the leading cause of preventable death today. Despite a recognition that many current smokers would like to quit, the success rate at doing so is low and indicative of the persistent nature of nicotine dependence and the high urge to relapse. There are currently three main forms of pharmacotherapy approved as aids to treat nicotine dependence: a variety of nicotine replacement products (NRT's), the mixed NA/DA reuptake inhibitor bupropion (Zyban®), and the preferential nicotinic α4β2 receptor agonist drug, varenicline (Chantix®); the latter being generally recognized to be the most effective. However, each of these approaches afford only limited efficacy, and various other pharmacological approaches are being explored. This chapter focusses on approaches targeted to the serotonin (5-HT) system, namely, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) which served a pioneer role in the investigation of serotoninergic modulators in human smoking cessation trials; and secondly drugs selectively interacting with the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor systems. From an efficacy perspective, measured as smoking abstinence, the 5-HT2A agonist psychedelics, namely psilocybin, seem to show the most promise; although as the article highlights, these findings are both preliminary and there are significant challenges to the route to approval, and therapeutic use of this class should they reach approval status. Additional avenues include 5-HT2C receptor agonists, which until recently was pioneered by lorcaserin, and 5-HT2A receptor antagonists represented by pimavanserin. Each of these approaches has distinct profiles across preclinical tests of nicotine dependence, and may have therapeutic potential. It is anticipated as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers emerge, they may provide opportunities for subject stratification and opportunities for personalizing smoking cessation treatment. The clinical assessment of SSRI, 5-HT2A and/or 5-HT2C receptor-based treatments may be best served by this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guy A Higgins
- Intervivo Solutions Inc, Fergus, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Edward M Sellers
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; DL Global Partners Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Acute and Chronic Nicotine Exposures Differentially Affect Central Serotonin 2A Receptor Function: Focus on the Lateral Habenula. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051873. [PMID: 32182934 PMCID: PMC7084359 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine addiction is a serious public health problem causing millions of deaths worldwide. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is involved in central nervous system (CNS) nicotine effects, and it has been suggested as a promising pharmacological target for smoking cessation. In this regard, what is particularly interesting are the 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) and the lateral habenula (LHb), a central area in nicotine addiction that we showed to be under a strong 5-HT2AR-modulation. Single-cell extracellular recording of LHb neurons was used to study the 5-HT2AR function by intravenously administrating the potent agonist TCB-2. Acute nicotine (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, i.p.) and chronic nicotine (6 mg/kg/day for 14 days) differently affected both the 5-HT2AR-immuno reactive (IR) neuron number and the 5-HT2AR immunostaining area in the different brain areas studied. After acute nicotine, TCB-2 cumulative doses (5–640 µg/kg, intravenous, i.v.) bidirectionally affected the activity of 74% of LHb recorded neurons. After chronic nicotine treatment, TCB-2 was only capable of decreasing the LHb firing rate. The expression of 5-HT2AR under acute and chronic nicotine exposure was studied in the LHb and in other brain areas involved in nicotine effects in rats by using immunohistochemistry. These data reveal that acute and chronic nicotine differentially affect the 5-HT2AR function in different brain areas and this might be relevant in nicotine addiction and its treatment.
Collapse
|