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Rakoczy RJ, Runge GN, Sen AK, Sandoval O, Wells HG, Nguyen Q, Roberts BR, Sciortino JH, Gibbons WJ, Friedberg LM, Jones JA, McMurray MS. Pharmacological and behavioural effects of tryptamines present in psilocybin-containing mushrooms. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:3627-3641. [PMID: 38825326 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16466] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Demand for new antidepressants has resulted in a re-evaluation of the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs. Several tryptamines found in psilocybin-containing "magic" mushrooms share chemical similarities with psilocybin. Early work suggests they may share biological targets. However, few studies have explored their pharmacological and behavioural effects. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We compared baeocystin, norbaeocystin and aeruginascin with psilocybin to determine if they are metabolized by the same enzymes, similarly penetrate the blood-brain barrier, serve as ligands for similar receptors and modulate behaviour in rodents similarly. We also assessed the stability and optimal storage and handling conditions for each compound. KEY RESULTS In vitro enzyme kinetics assays found that all compounds had nearly identical rates of dephosphorylation via alkaline phosphatase and metabolism by monoamine oxidase. Further, we found that only the dephosphorylated products of baeocystin and norbaeocystin crossed a blood-brain barrier mimetic to a similar degree as the dephosphorylated form of psilocybin, psilocin. The dephosphorylated form of norbaeocystin was found to activate the 5-HT2A receptor with similar efficacy to psilocin and norpsilocin in in vitro cell imaging assays. Behaviourally, only psilocybin induced head twitch responses in rats, a marker of 5-HT2A-mediated psychedelic effects and hallucinogenic potential. However, like psilocybin, norbaeocystin improved outcomes in the forced swim test. All compounds caused minimal changes to metrics of renal and hepatic health, suggesting innocuous safety profiles. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Collectively, this work suggests that other naturally occurring tryptamines, especially norbaeocystin, may share overlapping therapeutic potential with psilocybin, but without causing hallucinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Rakoczy
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Grace N Runge
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Abhishek K Sen
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Oscar Sandoval
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Hunter G Wells
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Quynh Nguyen
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Jon H Sciortino
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - William J Gibbons
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Lucas M Friedberg
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - J Andrew Jones
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
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2
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Roth BL, Krumm BE. Molecular glues as potential GPCR therapeutics. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 228:116402. [PMID: 38945274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116402] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
"Molecular Glues" are defined as small molecules that can either be endogenous or synthetic which promote interactions between proteins at their interface. Allosteric modulators, specifically GPCR allosteric modulators, can promote both the association and the dissociation of a given receptor's transducer but accomplishes this "at a distance" from the interface. However, recent structures of GPCR G protein complexes in the presence of allosteric modulators indicate that some GPCR allosteric modulators can act as "molecular glues" interacting with both the receptor and the transducer at the interface biasing transducer signaling in both a positive and negative manner depending on the transducer. Given these phenomena we discuss the implications for this class of allosteric modulators to be used as molecular tools and for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; National Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive Drug Screening Program (NIMH PDSP), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Brian E Krumm
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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3
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Sun Y, Chebolu S, Darmani NA. Ultra-low doses of methamphetamine suppress 5-hydroxytryptophan-induced head-twitch response in mice during aging. Behav Pharmacol 2024; 35:367-377. [PMID: 39206775 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The head-twitch response (HTR) in mice is considered a behavioral assay for activation of 5-HT 2A receptors in rodents. It can be evoked by direct-acting 5-HT 2A receptor agonists such as (±)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine precursors [e.g. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)], and selective 5-hydroxytryptamine releasers (e.g. d -fenfluramine). The nonselective monoamine releaser methamphetamine by itself does not produce the HTR but can suppress both (±)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine- and d -fenfluramine-evoked HTRs across ages via concomitant activation of the inhibitory serotonergic 5-HT 1A or adrenergic α 2 receptors. Currently, we investigated: (1) the ontogenic development of 5-HTP-induced HTR in 20-, 30-, and 60-day-old mice; (2) whether pretreatment with ultra-low doses of methamphetamine (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) can suppress the frequency of 5-HTP-induced HTR at different ages; and (3) whether the inhibitory serotonergic 5-HT 1A or adrenergic α 2 receptors may account for the potential inhibitory effect of methamphetamine on 5-HTP-induced HTR. In the presence of a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor (carbidopa), 5-HTP produced maximal frequency of HTRs in 20-day-old mice which rapidly subsided during aging. Methamphetamine dose-dependently suppressed 5-HTP-evoked HTR in 20- and 30-day-old mice. The selective 5-HT 1A -receptor antagonist WAY 100635 reversed the inhibitory effect of methamphetamine on 5-HTP-induced HTR in 30-day-old mice, whereas the selective adrenergic α 2 -receptor antagonist RS 79948 failed to reverse methamphetamine's inhibition at any tested age. These findings suggest an ontogenic rationale for methamphetamine's inhibitory 5-HT 1A receptor component of action in its suppressive effect on 5-HTP-induced HTR during development which is not maximally active at a very early age.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Methamphetamine/pharmacology
- Mice
- Aging/drug effects
- 5-Hydroxytryptophan/pharmacology
- Male
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Head Movements/drug effects
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/metabolism
- Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/drug effects
- Central Nervous System Stimulants/pharmacology
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A/drug effects
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A/metabolism
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/drug effects
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Yina Sun
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
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4
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Higa GSV, Viana FJC, Francis-Oliveira J, Cruvinel E, Franchin TS, Marcourakis T, Ulrich H, De Pasquale R. Serotonergic neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity. Neuropharmacology 2024; 257:110036. [PMID: 38876308 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity constitutes a fundamental process in the reorganization of neural networks that underlie memory, cognition, emotional responses, and behavioral planning. At the core of this phenomenon lie Hebbian mechanisms, wherein frequent synaptic stimulation induces long-term potentiation (LTP), while less activation leads to long-term depression (LTD). The synaptic reorganization of neuronal networks is regulated by serotonin (5-HT), a neuromodulator capable of modify synaptic plasticity to appropriately respond to mental and behavioral states, such as alertness, attention, concentration, motivation, and mood. Lately, understanding the serotonergic Neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity has become imperative for unraveling its impact on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions. Through a comparative analysis across three main forebrain structures-the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, this review discusses the actions of 5-HT on synaptic plasticity, offering insights into its role as a neuromodulator involved in emotional and cognitive functions. By distinguishing between plastic and metaplastic effects, we provide a comprehensive overview about the mechanisms of 5-HT neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity and associated functions across different brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Shigueto Vilar Higa
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química (USP), Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Felipe José Costa Viana
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - José Francis-Oliveira
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Emily Cruvinel
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Thainá Soares Franchin
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Tania Marcourakis
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química (USP), Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Roberto De Pasquale
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
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5
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Tiwari P, Davoudian PA, Kapri D, Vuruputuri RM, Karaba LA, Sharma M, Zanni G, Balakrishnan A, Chaudhari PR, Pradhan A, Suryavanshi S, Bath KG, Ansorge MS, Fernandez-Ruiz A, Kwan AC, Vaidya VA. Ventral hippocampal parvalbumin interneurons gate the acute anxiolytic action of the serotonergic psychedelic DOI. Neuron 2024:S0896-6273(24)00640-8. [PMID: 39321791 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.08.016] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
There has been a recent renewal of interest in the therapeutic potential of serotonergic psychedelics. Here, we uncover the essential role of ventral hippocampus (vHpc) GABAergic interneurons in the anxiolytic effect evoked by the serotonergic psychedelic 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI). Integrating anatomical, pharmacological, and genetic approaches, we show that 5-HT2A receptors in the CA1/subiculum (CA1/sub) region of the vHpc are required for the anxiolytic action of DOI. In vivo electrophysiology and opto-tagging experiments indicate that DOI enhances the firing rate of hippocampal fast-spiking parvalbumin (PV)-positive interneurons, most of which express the 5-HT2A receptors. Restoration of 5-HT2A receptors in PV-positive interneurons in a loss-of-function background reinstated the anxiolytic responses evoked by DOI in the vHpc CA1/sub region. Collectively, our results localize the acute anxiolytic action of a serotonergic psychedelic to 5-HT2A receptors in the ventral hippocampus and specifically identify PV-positive fast-spiking cells as a cellular trigger for the psychedelic-induced relief of anxiety-like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praachi Tiwari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India.
| | - Pasha A Davoudian
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Darshana Kapri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
| | | | - Lindsay A Karaba
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mukund Sharma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Giulia Zanni
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Angarika Balakrishnan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Pratik R Chaudhari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Amartya Pradhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Shital Suryavanshi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Kevin G Bath
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Mark S Ansorge
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | - Alex C Kwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Vidita A Vaidya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India.
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6
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Brunello CA, Cannarozzo C, Castrén E. Rethinking the role of TRKB in the action of antidepressants and psychedelics. Trends Neurosci 2024:S0166-2236(24)00154-1. [PMID: 39304417 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.08.011] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Antidepressant drugs promote neuronal plasticity, and activation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling through its receptor neuronal receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (NTRK2 or TRKB) is among the critical steps in this process. These mechanisms are shared by typical slow-acting antidepressants, fast-acting ketamine, and psychedelic compounds, although the cellular targets of each drug differ. In this opinion, we propose that some of these antidepressants may directly bind to TRKB and allosterically potentiate BDNF signaling, among other possible effects. TRKB activation in parvalbumin-containing interneurons disinhibits cortical networks and reactivates a juvenile-like plasticity window. Subsequent rewiring of aberrant networks, coupled with environmental stimuli, may underlie its clinical antidepressant effects. The end-to-end hypothesis proposed may stimulate the search for new treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eero Castrén
- Neuroscience Center - HILIFE, University of Helsinki, Finland.
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7
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Mantas I, Flais I, Masarapu Y, Ionescu T, Frapard S, Jung F, Le Merre P, Saarinen M, Tiklova K, Salmani BY, Gillberg L, Zhang X, Chergui K, Carlén M, Giacomello S, Hengerer B, Perlmann T, Svenningsson P. Claustrum and dorsal endopiriform cortex complex cell-identity is determined by Nurr1 and regulates hallucinogenic-like states in mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8176. [PMID: 39289358 PMCID: PMC11408527 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52429-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The Claustrum/dorsal endopiriform cortex complex (CLA) is an enigmatic brain region with extensive glutamatergic projections to multiple cortical areas. The transcription factor Nurr1 is highly expressed in the CLA, but its role in this region is not understood. By using conditional gene-targeted mice, we show that Nurr1 is a crucial regulator of CLA neuron identity. Although CLA neurons remain intact in the absence of Nurr1, the distinctive gene expression pattern in the CLA is abolished. CLA has been hypothesized to control hallucinations, but little is known of how the CLA responds to hallucinogens. After the deletion of Nurr1 in the CLA, both hallucinogen receptor expression and signaling are lost. Furthermore, functional ultrasound and Neuropixel electrophysiological recordings revealed that the hallucinogenic-receptor agonists' effects on functional connectivity between prefrontal and sensorimotor cortices are altered in Nurr1-ablated mice. Our findings suggest that Nurr1-targeted strategies provide additional avenues for functional studies of the CLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Mantas
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ivana Flais
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- CNSDR, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
- Department of Neuroimaging King's College London, London, UK
| | - Yuvarani Masarapu
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tudor Ionescu
- CNSDR, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Solène Frapard
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Felix Jung
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pierre Le Merre
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcus Saarinen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katarina Tiklova
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Linda Gillberg
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiaoqun Zhang
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karima Chergui
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marie Carlén
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefania Giacomello
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bastian Hengerer
- CNSDR, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Thomas Perlmann
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Svenningsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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8
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Zhao S, Liu M, Chen J, Meng L, Wang Y. Pathophysiological impacts of 5-MeO-MiPT on zebrafish (Danio rerio) via the Gα q/11-PLC β signaling pathway. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 283:116969. [PMID: 39216220 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) derived from tryptamines has been detected in aquatic environments, leading to environmental toxicology concerns. However, the specific toxicological mechanism, underlying these NPS, remains unclear. In our previous work, we used 5-Methoxy-N-isopropyl-N-methyltryptamine (5-MeO-MiPT) as the representative drug for NPS, and found that, 5-MeO-MiPT led to obvious behavioral inhibition and oxidative stress responses in zebrafishes model. In this study, Zebrafish were injected with varying concentrations of 5-MeO-MiPT for 30 days. RNA-seq, qPCR, metabolomics, and histopathological analyses were conducted to assess gene expression and tissue integrity. This study confirms that 5-MeO-MiPT substantially influences the transcription and expression of 13 selected genes, including ucp1, pet100, grik3, and grik4, mediated by the Gαq/11-PLCβ signaling pathway. We elucidate the molecular mechanism that 5-MeO-MiPT can inhibit DAG-Ca2+/Pkc/Erk, Pkc/Pla2/PLCs and Ca2+/Camk Ⅱ/NMDA, while enhance Ca2+/Creb. Those secondary signaling pathways may be the mechanisms mediating 5-MeO-MiPT inhibiting normal behavior in zebrafish. These findings offer novel insights into the toxicological effects and addiction mechanisms of 5-MeO-MiPT. Moreover, it presents promising avenues for investigating other tryptamine-based NPS and offers a new direction for diagnosing and treating liver-brain pathway-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Zhao
- Zhejiang Police College, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Drug Prevention and Control Technology, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Meng Liu
- Zhejiang Police College, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Drug Prevention and Control Technology, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Jinyuan Chen
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, PR China
| | - Liang Meng
- Department of Forensic Science, Fujian Police College, Fuzhou 350007, PR China.
| | - Yanjiao Wang
- Inovia Materials (HangZhou) Co. Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, PR China.
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9
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Low ZXB, Ng WS, Lim ESY, Goh BH, Kumari Y. The immunomodulatory effects of classical psychedelics: A systematic review of preclinical studies. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024:111139. [PMID: 39251080 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that classical psychedelics possess immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties; however, these effects are yet to be well-established. This systematic review aims to provide a timely and comprehensive overview of the immunomodulatory effects of classical psychedelics in preclinical studies. A systematic search was conducted on six databases, including CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. Eligible studies targeting classical psychedelics for evaluation of their effects on inflammatory markers and immunomodulation have been included for analysis. Data was extracted from 40 out of 2822 eligible articles, and their risk of bias was assessed using the Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool and Quality Assessment Tool for In Vitro Studies (QUIN). Studies examined 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI; n = 18); psilocybin (4-PO-DMT; n = 9); N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT; n = 8); lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD; n = 6); 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT; n = 3); psilocin (4-HO-DMT; n = 3); and mescaline (n = 2). In 36 studies where inflammatory cytokine levels were measured following psychedelic administration, a decrease in at least one inflammatory cytokine was observed in 29 studies. Immune cell activity was assessed in 10 studies and findings were mixed, with an equal number of studies (n = 5 out of 10) reporting either an increase or decrease in immune cell activity. Classical psychedelics were found to alleviate pre-existing inflammation but promote inflammation when administered under normal physiological conditions. This information is anticipated to inform future clinical trials, exploring classical psychedelics' potential to alleviate inflammation in various pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Xuen Brandon Low
- Neurological Disorder and Aging (NDA) Research Group, Neuroscience Research Strength (NRS), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Wei Shen Ng
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Eugene Sheng Yao Lim
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Bey Hing Goh
- Sunway Biofunctional Molecules Discovery Centre, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan 47500, Malaysia; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yatinesh Kumari
- Neurological Disorder and Aging (NDA) Research Group, Neuroscience Research Strength (NRS), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Selangor, Malaysia.
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10
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Zhen Z, Sun X, Yuan S, Zhang J. Psychoactive substances for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 101:104193. [PMID: 39243659 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 08/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
In the contemporary landscape of psychiatric medicine, critical advancements have been noted in the utilization of psychoactive substances such as hallucinogens, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and ketamine for the treatment of severe mental health disorders. This review provides a detailed evaluation of these substances, focusing on their mechanisms of action and the profound clinical outcomes observed in controlled environments. Hallucinogens like lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin primarily target the 5-HT2A receptor agonist-2 (5-HT2AR), inducing substantial perceptual and cognitive shifts that facilitate deep psychological introspection and significant therapeutic advances, particularly in patients suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. MDMA, influencing multiple neurotransmitter systems including 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine, and norepinephrine, has been demonstrated to effectively alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, enhancing patients' emotional engagement and resilience during psychotherapy. Meanwhile, ketamine, a glutamate receptor antagonist, rapidly alleviates depressive symptoms, offering a lifeline for individuals with treatment-resistant depression through its fast-acting antidepressant properties. The integration of these substances into psychiatric practice has shown promising results, fundamentally changing the therapeutic landscape for patients unresponsive to traditional treatment modalities. However, the potent effects of these agents also necessitate a cautious approach in clinical application, ensuring careful dosage control, monitoring, and risk management to prevent potential abuse and mitigate adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifan Zhen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China; Institute of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Xueqiang Sun
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China; Institute of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Shiying Yuan
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China; Institute of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China.
| | - Jiancheng Zhang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China; Institute of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China.
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11
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Caspani G, Ruffell SGD, Tsang W, Netzband N, Rohani-Shukla C, Swann JR, Jefferies WA. Mind over matter: the microbial mindscapes of psychedelics and the gut-brain axis. Pharmacol Res 2024; 207:107338. [PMID: 39111558 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107338] [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: 07/16/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Psychedelics have emerged as promising therapeutics for several psychiatric disorders. Hypotheses around their mechanisms have revolved around their partial agonism at the serotonin 2 A receptor, leading to enhanced neuroplasticity and brain connectivity changes that underlie positive mindset shifts. However, these accounts fail to recognise that the gut microbiota, acting via the gut-brain axis, may also have a role in mediating the positive effects of psychedelics on behaviour. In this review, we present existing evidence that the composition of the gut microbiota may be responsive to psychedelic drugs, and in turn, that the effect of psychedelics could be modulated by microbial metabolism. We discuss various alternative mechanistic models and emphasize the importance of incorporating hypotheses that address the contributions of the microbiome in future research. Awareness of the microbial contribution to psychedelic action has the potential to significantly shape clinical practice, for example, by allowing personalised psychedelic therapies based on the heterogeneity of the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Caspani
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, East Mall, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, Level 6, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.
| | - Simon G D Ruffell
- Psychae Institute, Melbourne, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie St, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
| | - WaiFung Tsang
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King'sCollege London, Department of Psychology, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Nigel Netzband
- University of West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Cyrus Rohani-Shukla
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Rd, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - Jonathan R Swann
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, 12 University Rd, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Wilfred A Jefferies
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, East Mall, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, Level 6, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.
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12
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Zhang R, Anguiano M, Aarrestad IK, Lin S, Chandra J, Vadde SS, Olson DE, Kim CK. Rapid, biochemical tagging of cellular activity history in vivo. Nat Methods 2024; 21:1725-1735. [PMID: 39103446 PMCID: PMC11399108 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02375-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Intracellular calcium (Ca2+) is ubiquitous to cell signaling across biology. While existing fluorescent sensors and reporters can detect activated cells with elevated Ca2+ levels, these approaches require implants to deliver light to deep tissue, precluding their noninvasive use in freely behaving animals. Here we engineered an enzyme-catalyzed approach that rapidly and biochemically tags cells with elevated Ca2+ in vivo. Ca2+-activated split-TurboID (CaST) labels activated cells within 10 min with an exogenously delivered biotin molecule. The enzymatic signal increases with Ca2+ concentration and biotin labeling time, demonstrating that CaST is a time-gated integrator of total Ca2+ activity. Furthermore, the CaST readout can be performed immediately after activity labeling, in contrast to transcriptional reporters that require hours to produce signal. These capabilities allowed us to apply CaST to tag prefrontal cortex neurons activated by psilocybin, and to correlate the CaST signal with psilocybin-induced head-twitch responses in untethered mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run Zhang
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Maribel Anguiano
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Isak K Aarrestad
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sophia Lin
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Chandra
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sruti S Vadde
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - David E Olson
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Christina K Kim
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
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13
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Gaitonde SA, Avet C, de la Fuente Revenga M, Blondel-Tepaz E, Shahraki A, Pastor AM, Talagayev V, Robledo P, Kolb P, Selent J, González-Maeso J, Bouvier M. Pharmacological fingerprint of antipsychotic drugs at the serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:2753-2764. [PMID: 38561467 PMCID: PMC11420065 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02531-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The intricate involvement of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) both in schizophrenia and in the activity of antipsychotic drugs is widely acknowledged. The currently marketed antipsychotic drugs, although effective in managing the symptoms of schizophrenia to a certain extent, are not without their repertoire of serious side effects. There is a need for better therapeutics to treat schizophrenia for which understanding the mechanism of action of the current antipsychotic drugs is imperative. With bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assays, we trace the signaling signature of six antipsychotic drugs belonging to three generations at the 5-HT2AR for the entire spectrum of signaling pathways activated by serotonin (5-HT). The antipsychotic drugs display previously unidentified pathway preference at the level of the individual Gα subunits and β-arrestins. In particular, risperidone, clozapine, olanzapine and haloperidol showed G protein-selective inverse agonist activity. In addition, G protein-selective partial agonism was found for aripiprazole and cariprazine. Pathway-specific apparent dissociation constants determined from functional analyses revealed distinct coupling-modulating capacities of the tested antipsychotics at the different 5-HT-activated pathways. Computational analyses of the pharmacological and structural fingerprints support a mechanistically based clustering that recapitulate the clinical classification (typical/first generation, atypical/second generation, third generation) of the antipsychotic drugs. The study provides a new framework to functionally classify antipsychotics that should represent a useful tool for the identification of better and safer neuropsychiatric drugs and allows formulating hypotheses on the links between specific signaling cascades and in the clinical outcomes of the existing drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supriya A Gaitonde
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Charlotte Avet
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Mario de la Fuente Revenga
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Elodie Blondel-Tepaz
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Aida Shahraki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Adrian Morales Pastor
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Valerij Talagayev
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Patricia Robledo
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Peter Kolb
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jana Selent
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Michel Bouvier
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
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14
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Anderson TL, Keady JV, Songrady J, Tavakoli NS, Asadipooya A, Neeley RE, Turner JR, Ortinski PI. Distinct 5-HT receptor subtypes regulate claustrum excitability by serotonin and the psychedelic, DOI. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 240:102660. [PMID: 39218140 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2024.102660] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates that neuronal activity within the claustrum (CLA) may be central to cellular and behavioral responses to psychedelic hallucinogens. The CLA prominently innervates many cortical targets and displays exceptionally high levels of serotonin (5-HT) binding. However, the influence of serotonin receptors, prime targets of psychedelic drug action, on CLA activity remains unexplored. We characterize the CLA expression of all known 5-HT subtypes and contrast the effects of 5-HT and the psychedelic hallucinogen, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI), on excitability of cortical-projecting CLA neurons. We find that the CLA is particularly enriched with 5-HT2C receptors, expressed predominantly on glutamatergic neurons. Electrophysiological recordings from CLA neurons that project to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) indicate that application of 5-HT inhibits glutamate receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs). In contrast, application of DOI stimulates EPSCs. We find that the opposite effects of 5-HT and DOI on synaptic signaling can both be reversed by inhibition of the 5-HT2C, but not 5-HT2A, receptors. We identify specific 5-HT receptor subtypes as serotonergic regulators of the CLA excitability and argue against the canonical role of 5-HT2A in glutamatergic synapse response to psychedelics within the CLA-ACC circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner L Anderson
- University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Jack V Keady
- University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Judy Songrady
- University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Navid S Tavakoli
- University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Artin Asadipooya
- University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Ryson E Neeley
- University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Jill R Turner
- University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Pavel I Ortinski
- University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Lexington, KY 40536, United States.
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15
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Emmanuel NS, Yusuf T, Bako IG, Malgwi IS, Eze ED, Ali Z, Aliyu M. Hematological changes, oxidative stress assessment, and dysregulation of aquaporin-3 channel, prolactin, and oxytocin receptors in kidneys of lactating Wistar rats treated with monosodium glutamate. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:6213-6229. [PMID: 38446217 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03008-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
High consumption of locally produced delicacies could expose nursing mothers to high monosodium glutamate (MSG) levels, frequently used as a necessary condiment in low-income countries. Thus, this study evaluated some novel preliminary changes in renal hormonal receptors, the aquaporin-3 channel, oxidative stress markers, and hematological indices induced by monosodium glutamate in lactating rats. Post-parturition, twenty-four (24) lactating Wistar rats were divided into four (4) groups of six rats each (n = 6). Oral administration of distilled water and MSG started three (3) days postpartum as follows: group 1: distilled water (1 ml/kg BW), group 2: MSG (925 mg/kg BW), group 3: MSG (1850 mg/kg BW), and group 4: MSG (3700 mg/kg BW). At the end of the experiment, which lasted fourteen (14) days, animals were sacrificed and samples of blood and tissues were obtained for biochemical analysis. MSG administration significantly (p < 0.05) increased ROS and MDA, with a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in kidney antioxidants. Serum creatinine, total, conjugated, and unconjugated bilirubin significantly (p < 0.05) increased with MSG administration. The prolactin receptor was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), while the oxytocin receptor and aquaporin-3 channel were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the MSG-administered groups. There were significant (p < 0.05) changes in the hematological indices of the MSG-administered animals. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that high MSG consumption causes hematological alterations and may alter renal function via increased ROS production and dysregulation of the AQP-3 channel, prolactin, and oxytocin receptors in the kidneys of lactating Wistar rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nachamada Solomon Emmanuel
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria.
| | - Tanko Yusuf
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | - Ibrahim Gaya Bako
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | - Ibrahim Samaila Malgwi
- Department of Human Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria
| | - Ejike Daniel Eze
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye Campus, Huye, Rwanda
| | - Zubairu Ali
- Department of Human Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
| | - Mohammed Aliyu
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
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16
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Warren HT, Chow WL, Chytil M, Rasmussen K, Olson DE. Identification of Psychoplastogenic Tropanes Lacking Muscarinic Activity. J Med Chem 2024; 67:12410-12427. [PMID: 38979862 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01204] [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: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Tropane-containing small molecules like scopolamine are a promising class of psychoplastogens. However, their potent antagonism of all muscarinic receptor subtypes presents the potential for undesirable anticholinergic side effects. In an effort to decouple their neuroplasticity-promoting effects from their muscarinic activity, we performed phenotypic structure-activity relationship studies across a variety of structurally distinct subclasses of tropanes. We discovered several novel tropanes capable of significantly increasing cortical neuronal growth while exhibiting drastically reduced activity at all muscarinic receptor subtypes compared to scopolamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter T Warren
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Winston L Chow
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Milan Chytil
- Delix Therapeutics, Inc., Bedford, Massachusetts 01730, United States
| | - Kurt Rasmussen
- Delix Therapeutics, Inc., Bedford, Massachusetts 01730, United States
| | - David E Olson
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
- Delix Therapeutics, Inc., Bedford, Massachusetts 01730, United States
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2102, Sacramento, California 95817, United States
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, 1544 Newton Ct, Davis, California 95618, United States
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17
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Xie L, Liu X, Yao Y, Tan B, Su R. Serine 3.39 and isoleucine 4.60 are key sites for 5-HT 2AR-mediated G s signaling. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:1783-1791. [PMID: 38757247 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14904] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Certain amino acid sites of 5-HT2AR play crucial roles in interacting with various G proteins. Hallucinogens and non-hallucinogens both act on 5-HT2AR but mediate different pharmacological effects, possibly due to the coupling of different G proteins. Therefore, this study identified the binding sites of hallucinogens and non-hallucinogens with 5-HT2AR through molecular docking. We conducted site mutation to examine the impact of these sites on G proteins, in order to find out the sites that can distinguish the pharmacological effects of hallucinogens and non-hallucinogens. Our results indicate that I4.60A and S3.39A did not affect the ability of hallucinogens to activate Gq signaling, but significantly reduced Gs signaling activation by hallucinogens. These results suggest that S3.39 and I4.60 are important for the activation of Gs signaling by hallucinogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, China
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China
| | - Xiaoqian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, China
| | - Yishan Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, China
| | - Bo Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, China
| | - Ruibin Su
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, China
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18
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Brockett AT, Francis NA. Psilocybin decreases neural responsiveness and increases functional connectivity while preserving pure-tone frequency selectivity in mouse auditory cortex. J Neurophysiol 2024; 132:45-53. [PMID: 38810366 PMCID: PMC11383378 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00124.2024] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic believed to have therapeutic potential for neuropsychiatric conditions. Despite well-documented prevalence of perceptual alterations, hallucinations, and synesthesia associated with psychedelic experiences, little is known about how psilocybin affects sensory cortex or alters the activity of neurons in awake animals. To investigate, we conducted two-photon imaging experiments in auditory cortex of awake mice and collected video of free-roaming mouse behavior, both at baseline and during psilocybin treatment. In comparison with pre-dose neural activity, a 2 mg/kg ip dose of psilocybin initially increased the amplitude of neural responses to sound. Thirty minutes post-dose, behavioral activity and neural response amplitudes decreased, yet functional connectivity increased. In contrast, control mice given intraperitoneal saline injections showed no significant changes in either neural or behavioral activity across conditions. Notably, neuronal stimulus selectivity remained stable during psilocybin treatment, for both tonotopic cortical maps and single-cell pure-tone frequency tuning curves. Our results mirror similar findings regarding the effects of serotonergic psychedelics in visual cortex and suggest that psilocybin modulates the balance of intrinsic versus stimulus-driven influences on neural activity in auditory cortex.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Recent studies have shown promising therapeutic potential for psychedelics in treating neuropsychiatric conditions. Musical experience during psilocybin-assisted therapy is predictive of treatment outcome, yet little is known about how psilocybin affects auditory processing. Here, we conducted two-photon imaging experiments in auditory cortex of awake mice that received a dose of psilocybin. Our results suggest that psilocybin modulates the roles of intrinsic neural activity versus stimulus-driven influences on auditory perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam T Brockett
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States
| | - Nikolas A Francis
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
- Center for Comparative and Evolutionary Biology of Hearing, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
- Brain and Behavior Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
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19
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Zhu H, Wang L, Wang X, Yao Y, Zhou P, Su R. 5-hydroxytryptamine 2C/1A receptors modulate the biphasic dose response of the head twitch response and locomotor activity induced by DOM in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06635-4. [PMID: 38916640 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06635-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE The phenylalkylamine hallucinogen (-)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) exhibits an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve for both head twitch response (HTR) and locomotor activity in mice. Accumulated studies suggest that HTR and locomotor hyperactivity induced by DOM are mainly caused by the activation of serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2 A receptor (5-HT2A receptor). However, the mechanisms underlying the biphasic dose response of HTR and locomotor activity induced by DOM, particularly at high doses, remain unclear. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study is to investigate the modulation of 5-HT2A/2C/1A receptors in HTR and locomotor activity, while also exploring the potential receptor mechanisms underlying the biphasic dose response of DOM. METHODS In this study, we employed pharmacological methods to identify the specific 5-HT receptor subtypes responsible for mediating the biphasic dose-response effects of DOM on HTR and locomotor activity in C57BL/6J mice. RESULTS The 5-HT2A receptor selective antagonist (R)-[2,3-di(methoxy)phenyl]-[1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl]methanol (M100907) (500 µg/kg, i.p.) fully blocked the HTR at every dose of DOM (0.615-10 mg/kg, i.p.) in C57BL/6J mice. M100907 (50 µg/kg, i.p.) decreased the locomotor hyperactivity induced by a low dose of DOM (0.625, 1.25 mg/kg, i.p.), but had no effect on the locomotor hypoactivity induced by a high dose of DOM (10 mg/kg) in C57BL/6J mice. The 5-HT2C antagonist 6-chloro-5-methyl-1-[(2-[2-methylpyrid-3yloxy]pyrid-5yl)carbamoyl]indoline (SB242084) (0.3, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the HTR induced by a dose of 2.5 mg/kg DOM, but did not affect the response to other doses. SB242084 (1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the locomotor activity induced by DOM (0.615-10 mg/kg, i.p.) in mice. The 5-HT1A antagonist N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexane carboxamide maleate (WAY100635) (1 mg/kg, i.p.) increased both HTR and locomotor activity induced by DOM in mice. The 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) (1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced both the HTR and locomotor activity induced by DOM in mice. Additionally, pretreatment with the Gαi/o inhibitor PTX (0.25 µg/mouse, i.c.v.) enhanced the HTR induced by DOM and attenuated the effect of DOM on locomotor activity in mice. CONCLUSIONS Receptor subtypes 5-HT2C and 5-HT1A are implicated in the inverted U-shaped dose-response curves of HTR and locomotor activity induced by DOM in mice. The biphasic dose-response function of HTR and locomotor activity induced by DOM has different mechanisms in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huili Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
- School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Longyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yishan Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Peilan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Ruibin Su
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China.
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Bryson N, Alexander R, Asnis-Alibozek A, Ehlers MD. RE104: Synthesis and Activity of a Novel Serotonergic Psychedelic Prodrug of 4-Hydroxy- N, N-diisopropyltryptamine. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2386-2395. [PMID: 38758589 PMCID: PMC11191588 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00058] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Results from randomized clinical trials of psilocybin in depressive disorders highlight the therapeutic potential of serotonergic psychedelic compounds in mental health disorders. The synthetic 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor agonist 4-hydroxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (4-OH-DiPT) is structurally similar to psilocin but is reported to have a shorter duration (2-3 h) of psychedelic effects, suggesting the potential for psilocybin-like therapeutic activity with reduced clinical resource burden. Here, we describe the preclinical and translational characterization of RE104, a 4-OH-DiPT prodrug comprising a glutarate moiety designed to cleave rapidly in situ and thus provide reasonable bioavailability of the active drug. Plasma concentration of 4-HO-DiPT over time in PK experiments in rats was correlated with head-twitch intensity. The half-life of 4-OH-DiPT was 40 min after subcutaneous administration of RE104 in rats. In a forced swim test, a single dose of RE104 (1 mg/kg) significantly reduced mean immobility time at 1 week compared with vehicle (P < 0.001), confirming translational antidepressant potential. Taken together, these data with RE104 show that the glutarate ester can act as an efficient prodrug strategy for 4-HO-DiPT, a unique short-duration psychedelic with potential in depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Bryson
- Reunion
Neuroscience, Inc., Toronto, Ontario M5V 2C3, Canada
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21
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Wright SC, Avet C, Gaitonde SA, Muneta-Arrate I, Le Gouill C, Hogue M, Breton B, Koutsilieri S, Diez-Alarcia R, Héroux M, Lauschke VM, Bouvier M. Conformation- and activation-based BRET sensors differentially report on GPCR-G protein coupling. Sci Signal 2024; 17:eadi4747. [PMID: 38889226 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adi4747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate cellular signaling processes by coupling to diverse combinations of heterotrimeric G proteins composed of Gα, Gβ, and Gγ subunits. Biosensors based on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) have advanced our understanding of GPCR functional selectivity. Some BRET biosensors monitor ligand-induced conformational changes in the receptor or G proteins, whereas others monitor the recruitment of downstream effectors to sites of G protein activation. Here, we compared the ability of conformation-and activation-based BRET biosensors to assess the coupling of various class A and B GPCRs to specific Gα proteins in cultured cells. These GPCRs included serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT7 receptors, the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R), and the M3 muscarinic receptor. We observed different signaling profiles between the two types of sensors, highlighting how data interpretation could be affected by the nature of the biosensor. We also found that the identity of the Gβγ subunits used in the assay could differentially influence the selectivity of a receptor toward Gα subtypes, emphasizing the importance of the receptor-Gβγ pairing in determining Gα coupling specificity. Last, the addition of epitope tags to the receptor could affect stoichiometry and coupling selectivity and yield artifactual findings. These results highlight the need for careful sensor selection and experimental design when probing GPCR-G protein coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane C Wright
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Avet
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Supriya A Gaitonde
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Itziar Muneta-Arrate
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Christian Le Gouill
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Mireille Hogue
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Billy Breton
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Stefania Koutsilieri
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rebeca Diez-Alarcia
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Madeleine Héroux
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Volker M Lauschke
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, 70376 Stuttgart, Germany
- University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michel Bouvier
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
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22
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Xu M, Kiss AJ, Jones JA, McMurray MS, Shi H. Effect of oral tryptamines on the gut microbiome of rats-a preliminary study. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17517. [PMID: 38846751 PMCID: PMC11155674 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Psilocybin and related tryptamines have come into the spotlight in recent years as potential therapeutics for depression. Research on the mechanisms of these effects has historically focused on the direct effects of these drugs on neural processes. However, in addition to such neural effects, alterations in peripheral physiology may also contribute to their therapeutic effects. In particular, substantial support exists for a gut microbiome-mediated pathway for the antidepressant efficacy of other drug classes, but no prior studies have determined the effects of tryptamines on microbiota. Methods To address this gap, in this preliminary study, male Long Evans rats were treated with varying dosages of oral psilocybin (0.2 or 2 mg/kg), norbaeocystin (0.25 or 2.52 mg/kg), or vehicle and their fecal samples were collected 1 week and 3 weeks after exposure for microbiome analysis using integrated 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing to determine gut microbiome composition. Results We found that although treatment with neither psilocybin nor norbaeocystin significantly affected overall microbiome diversity, it did cause significant dose- and time-dependent changes in bacterial abundance at the phylum level, including increases in Verrucomicrobia and Actinobacteria, and decreases in Proteobacteria. Conclusion and Implications These preliminary findings support the idea that psilocybin and other tryptamines may act on the gut microbiome in a dose- and time-dependent manner, potentially identifying a novel peripheral mechanism for their antidepressant activity. The results from this preliminary study also suggest that norbaeocystin may warrant further investigation as a potential antidepressant, given the similarity of its effects to psilocybin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyang Xu
- Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Andor J. Kiss
- Center for Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - J. Andrew Jones
- Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | | | - Haifei Shi
- Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
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23
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Kossatz E, Diez-Alarcia R, Gaitonde SA, Ramon-Duaso C, Stepniewski TM, Aranda-Garcia D, Muneta-Arrate I, Tepaz E, Saen-Oon S, Soliva R, Shahraki A, Moreira D, Brea J, Loza MI, de la Torre R, Kolb P, Bouvier M, Meana JJ, Robledo P, Selent J. G protein-specific mechanisms in the serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor regulate psychosis-related effects and memory deficits. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4307. [PMID: 38811567 PMCID: PMC11137019 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48196-2] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are sophisticated signaling machines able to simultaneously elicit multiple intracellular signaling pathways upon activation. Complete (in)activation of all pathways can be counterproductive for specific therapeutic applications. This is the case for the serotonin 2 A receptor (5-HT2AR), a prominent target for the treatment of schizophrenia. In this study, we elucidate the complex 5-HT2AR coupling signature in response to different signaling probes, and its physiological consequences by combining computational modeling, in vitro and in vivo experiments with human postmortem brain studies. We show how chemical modification of the endogenous agonist serotonin dramatically impacts the G protein coupling profile of the 5-HT2AR and the associated behavioral responses. Importantly, among these responses, we demonstrate that memory deficits are regulated by Gαq protein activation, whereas psychosis-related behavior is modulated through Gαi1 stimulation. These findings emphasize the complexity of GPCR pharmacology and physiology and open the path to designing improved therapeutics for the treatment of stchizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elk Kossatz
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rebeca Diez-Alarcia
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Biobizkaia, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Supriya A Gaitonde
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Carla Ramon-Duaso
- Cell-type mechanisms in normal and pathological behaviour Research Group, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tomasz Maciej Stepniewski
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- InterAx Biotech AG, PARK InnovAARE, 5234, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - David Aranda-Garcia
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Itziar Muneta-Arrate
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elodie Tepaz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Suwipa Saen-Oon
- NBD NOSTRUM BIODISCOVERY, Av. de Josep Tarradellas, 8-10, 3-2, 08029, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Robert Soliva
- NBD NOSTRUM BIODISCOVERY, Av. de Josep Tarradellas, 8-10, 3-2, 08029, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aida Shahraki
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Marburg, Marbacher Weg 8, Marburg, 35037, Germany
| | - David Moreira
- Innopharma Drug Screening and Pharmacogenomics Platform. BioFarma research group. Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS). Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (SERGAS), Trav. Choupana s/n, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jose Brea
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Marburg, Marbacher Weg 8, Marburg, 35037, Germany
- Innopharma Drug Screening and Pharmacogenomics Platform. BioFarma research group. Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS). Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Maria Isabel Loza
- Innopharma Drug Screening and Pharmacogenomics Platform. BioFarma research group. Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS). Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (SERGAS), Trav. Choupana s/n, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Peter Kolb
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Marburg, Marbacher Weg 8, Marburg, 35037, Germany
| | - Michel Bouvier
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - J Javier Meana
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Biobizkaia, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Patricia Robledo
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jana Selent
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain.
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24
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Ozols AB, Wei J, Campbell JM, Hu C, Qiu S, Gallitano AL. Activity of prefrontal cortex serotonin 2A receptor expressing neurons is necessary for the head-twitch response of mice to psychedelic drug DOI in a sex-dependent manner. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.21.595211. [PMID: 38826361 PMCID: PMC11142205 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.21.595211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Serotonin 2A receptors (5-HT 2A Rs) mediate the effects of psychedelic drugs. 5-HT 2A R agonists, such as (-)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine hydrochloride (DOI), that produce a psychedelic experience in humans induce a head-twitch response (HTR) behavior in rodents. However, it is unknown whether the activity of 5-HT 2A R expressing neurons is sufficient to produce the HTR in the absence of an agonist, or in which brain region 5-HT 2A Rs control the HTR. Here, we use an optogenetic approach to examine whether activation of 5-HT 2A R expressing neurons in the mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC) is sufficient to induce HTRs alone, or may augment the HTR produced by DOI, and if inhibition of these neurons prevents DOI-induced HTRs in mice. We crossed Htr2a -Cre mice to Cre-dependent optogenetic lines Ai32 (channelrhodopsin) and Ai39 (halorhodopsin) to selectively activate and inhibit (respectively) 5-HT 2A R-expressing neurons in the PFC of adult mice. We found that optogenetic stimulation of PFC 5-HT 2A R expressing neurons in the absence of an agonist does not increase HTRs in mice. In both male and female Ai32 mice that received vehicle, there was no difference in HTRs in mice that expressed Htr2a -Cre compared with control mice, indicating that optogenetic activation of 5-HT 2A R+ cells in the PFC was not sufficient to produce HTRs in the absence of an agonist. In female mice, activation of PFC 5-HT 2A R expressing neurons augmented the HTR produced by DOI. However, this result was not seen in male mice. In contrast, inhibition of 5-HT 2A R expressing neurons in the PFC prevented the increase in HTR produced by DOI in male, but not in female, mice. Together, these findings suggest that activation of 5-HT 2A Rs in the PFC is not sufficient to induce HTRs in the absence of a 5-HT 2A R agonist but is necessary for induction of HTRs by a 5-HT 2A R agonist in a sex-dependent manner.
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Harari R, Chatterjee I, Getselter D, Elliott E. Psilocybin induces acute anxiety and changes in amygdalar phosphopeptides independently from the 5-HT2A receptor. iScience 2024; 27:109686. [PMID: 38660396 PMCID: PMC11039401 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Psilocybin, and its metabolite psilocin, induces psychedelic effects through activation of the 5-HT2A receptor. Psilocybin has been proposed as a treatment for depression and anxiety but sometimes induces anxiety in humans. An understanding of mechanisms underlying the anxiety response will help to better develop therapeutic prospects of psychedelics. In the current study, psilocybin induced an acute increase in anxiety in behavioral paradigms in mice. Importantly, pharmacological blocking of the 5-HT2A receptor attenuates psilocybin-induced head twitch response, a behavioral proxy for the psychedelic response, but does not rescue psilocybin's effect on anxiety-related behavior. Phosphopeptide analysis in the amygdala uncovered signal transduction pathways that are dependent or independent of the 5-HT2A receptor. Furthermore, presynaptic proteins are specifically involved in psilocybin-induced acute anxiety. These insights into how psilocybin may induce short-term anxiety are important for understanding how psilocybin may best be used in the clinical framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Harari
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 13215, Israel
| | - Ipsita Chatterjee
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 13215, Israel
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Dmitriy Getselter
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 13215, Israel
| | - Evan Elliott
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 13215, Israel
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26
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Ilyin NP, Nabiullin AD, Kozlova AD, Kupriyanova OV, Shevyrin VA, Gloriozova T, Filimonov D, Lagunin A, Galstyan DS, Kolesnikova TO, Mor MS, Efimova EV, Poroikov V, Yenkoyan KB, de Abreu MS, Demin KA, Kalueff AV. Chronic Behavioral and Neurochemical Effects of Four Novel N-Benzyl-2-phenylethylamine Derivatives Recently Identified as "Psychoactive" in Adult Zebrafish Screens. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2006-2017. [PMID: 38683969 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00017] [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] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Potently affecting human and animal brain and behavior, hallucinogenic drugs have recently emerged as potentially promising agents in psychopharmacotherapy. Complementing laboratory rodents, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a powerful model organism for screening neuroactive drugs, including hallucinogens. Here, we tested four novel N-benzyl-2-phenylethylamine (NBPEA) derivatives with 2,4- and 3,4-dimethoxy substitutions in the phenethylamine moiety and the -F, -Cl, and -OCF3 substitutions in the ortho position of the phenyl ring of the N-benzyl moiety (34H-NBF, 34H-NBCl, 24H-NBOMe(F), and 34H-NBOMe(F)), assessing their behavioral and neurochemical effects following chronic 14 day treatment in adult zebrafish. While the novel tank test behavioral data indicate anxiolytic-like effects of 24H-NBOMe(F) and 34H-NBOMe(F), neurochemical analyses reveal reduced brain norepinephrine by all four drugs, and (except 34H-NBCl) - reduced dopamine and serotonin levels. We also found reduced turnover rates for all three brain monoamines but unaltered levels of their respective metabolites. Collectively, these findings further our understanding of complex central behavioral and neurochemical effects of chronically administered novel NBPEAs and highlight the potential of zebrafish as a model for preclinical screening of small psychoactive molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita P Ilyin
- Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg 197341, Russia
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Arslan D Nabiullin
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | - Anna D Kozlova
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Olga V Kupriyanova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
- Kazan State Medical University, Kazan 420012, Russia
| | - Vadim A Shevyrin
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira Str. ,Ekaterinburg 620002, Russia
| | - Tatyana Gloriozova
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya str., 10, bldg. 8 ,Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Dmitry Filimonov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya str., 10, bldg. 8 ,Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Alexey Lagunin
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya str., 10, bldg. 8 ,Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - David S Galstyan
- Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg 197341, Russia
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Tatiana O Kolesnikova
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
- Neuroscience Laboratory, Cobrain Center, Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan 0025, Armenia
| | - Mikael S Mor
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Evgeniya V Efimova
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Vladimir Poroikov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya str., 10, bldg. 8 ,Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Konstantin B Yenkoyan
- Neuroscience Laboratory, Cobrain Center, Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan 0025, Armenia
- Biochemistry Department, Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan 0025, Armenia
| | - Murilo S de Abreu
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre 900050, Brazil
| | - Konstantin A Demin
- Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg 197341, Russia
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg 197341, Russia
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology and Cell Signalling, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
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Zhang R, Anguiano M, Aarrestad IK, Lin S, Chandra J, Vadde SS, Olson DE, Kim CK. Rapid, biochemical tagging of cellular activity history in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.06.556431. [PMID: 38798353 PMCID: PMC11118534 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.06.556431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Intracellular calcium (Ca2+) is ubiquitous to cell signaling across all biology. While existing fluorescent sensors and reporters can detect activated cells with elevated Ca2+ levels, these approaches require implants to deliver light to deep tissue, precluding their noninvasive use in freely-behaving animals. Here we engineered an enzyme-catalyzed approach that rapidly and biochemically tags cells with elevated Ca2+ in vivo. Ca2+-activated Split-TurboID (CaST) labels activated cells within 10 minutes with an exogenously-delivered biotin molecule. The enzymatic signal increases with Ca2+ concentration and biotin labeling time, demonstrating that CaST is a time-gated integrator of total Ca2+ activity. Furthermore, the CaST read-out can be performed immediately after activity labeling, in contrast to transcriptional reporters that require hours to produce signal. These capabilities allowed us to apply CaST to tag prefrontal cortex neurons activated by psilocybin, and to correlate the CaST signal with psilocybin-induced head-twitch responses in untethered mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run Zhang
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
| | - Maribel Anguiano
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
| | - Isak K. Aarrestad
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Sophia Lin
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817
| | - Joshua Chandra
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
| | - Sruti S. Vadde
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817
| | - David E. Olson
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817
| | - Christina K. Kim
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817
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28
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Geyer MA. A Brief Historical Overview of Psychedelic Research. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024; 9:464-471. [PMID: 38000715 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Classical serotonergic psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide or the naturally occurring compounds psilocybin and mescaline produce profound changes in mood, thought, intuition, sensory perception, the experience of time and space, and even the experience of self. Research examining psychedelic compounds has had a complex and turbulent evolution. Many cultures throughout the world have used psychedelic plants not only for mystical, ritualistic, or divinatory purposes but also for curing illnesses. Much of the genesis and progress of modern investigations into the effects and underlying mechanisms of action of psychedelics have been intertwined with studies of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Early hypotheses that serotonergic systems mediate psychedelic effects were supported initially by preclinical animal studies and subsequently confirmed by pharmacological studies in healthy humans. The use of psychedelic compounds as putative psychotomimetics that reproduce some features of naturally occurring psychotic disorders met with some limited success. More recent studies are exploring psychedelics as potential psychotherapeutic agents. Recent indications that even 1 or 2 psychedelic treatments produce robust and sustained reductions in clinical symptoms in a variety of psychiatric disorders have prompted an enormous resurgence of interest in the nature and mechanisms contributing to their effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Geyer
- UC San Diego Center for Psychedelic Research, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.
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Holze F, Singh N, Liechti ME, D'Souza DC. Serotonergic Psychedelics: A Comparative Review of Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Binding Profile. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024; 9:472-489. [PMID: 38301886 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), DMT (N,N -dimethyltryptamine), and 5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), all of which are serotonin 2A receptor agonists, are being investigated as potential treatments. This review aims to summarize the current clinical research on these 4 compounds and mescaline to guide future research. Their mechanism(s) of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety were reviewed. While evidence for therapeutic indications, with the exception of psilocybin for depression, is still relatively scarce, we noted no differences in psychedelic effects beyond effect duration. Therefore, it remains unclear whether different receptor profiles contribute to the therapeutic potential of these compounds. More research is needed to differentiate these compounds in order to inform which compounds might be best for different therapeutic uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Holze
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine and Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Nirmal Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Matthias E Liechti
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine and Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Deepak Cyril D'Souza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, Connecticut; VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut.
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30
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Yao Y, Guo D, Lu TS, Liu FL, Huang SH, Diao MQ, Li SX, Zhang XJ, Kosten TR, Shi J, Bao YP, Lu L, Han Y. Efficacy and safety of psychedelics for the treatment of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res 2024; 335:115886. [PMID: 38574699 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115886] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
We aim to systematically review and meta-analyze the effectiveness and safety of psychedelics [psilocybin, ayahuasca (active component DMT), LSD and MDMA] in treating symptoms of various mental disorders. Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, and PubMed were searched up to February 2024 and 126 articles were finally included. Results showed that psilocybin has the largest number of articles on treating mood disorders (N = 28), followed by ayahuasca (N = 7) and LSD (N = 6). Overall, psychedelics have therapeutic effects on mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Specifically, psilocybin (Hedges' g = -1.49, 95% CI [-1.67, -1.30]) showed the strongest therapeutic effect among four psychedelics, followed by ayahuasca (Hedges' g = -1.34, 95% CI [-1.86, -0.82]), MDMA (Hedges' g = -0.83, 95% CI [-1.33, -0.32]), and LSD (Hedges' g = -0.65, 95% CI [-1.03, -0.27]). A small amount of evidence also supports psychedelics improving tobacco addiction, eating disorders, sleep disorders, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder. The most common adverse event with psychedelics was headache. Nearly a third of the articles reported that no participants reported lasting adverse effects. Our analyses suggest that psychedelics reduce negative mood, and have potential efficacy in other mental disorders, such as substance-use disorders and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Yao
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Dan Guo
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Tang-Sheng Lu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Fang-Lin Liu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Shi-Hao Huang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Meng-Qi Diao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Su-Xia Li
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiu-Jun Zhang
- School of Psychology, College of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, Hebei Province, China
| | - Thomas R Kosten
- Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jie Shi
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yan-Ping Bao
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Lin Lu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing 100191, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood Cognitive Disorder, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No.2018RU006).
| | - Ying Han
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
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31
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Takaba R, Ibi D, Yoshida K, Hosomi E, Kawase R, Kitagawa H, Goto H, Achiwa M, Mizutani K, Maeda K, González-Maeso J, Kitagaki S, Hiramatsu M. Ethopharmacological evaluation of antidepressant-like effect of serotonergic psychedelics in C57BL/6J male mice. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:3019-3035. [PMID: 37874338 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02778-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and DOI exert a hallucinatory effect through serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2A) activation. Recent studies have revealed that serotonergic psychedelics have therapeutic potential for neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depressive and anxiety-related disorders. However, the involvement of 5-HT2A in mediating the therapeutic effects of these drugs remains unclear. In this study, we ethopharmacologically analyzed the role of 5-HT2A in the occurrence of anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocin, an active metabolite of psilocybin, DOI, and TCB-2 in mice 24 h post-treatment. Mice with acute intraperitoneal psychedelic treatment exhibited significantly shorter immobility times in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail-suspension test (TST) than vehicle-treated control mice. These effects were eliminated by pretreatment with volinanserin, a 5-HT2A antagonist. Surprisingly, the decreasing immobility time in the FST in response to acute psilocin treatment was sustained for at least three weeks. In the novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), the latency to feed, an indicator of anxiety-like behavior, was decreased by acute administration of psilocin; however, pretreatment with volinanserin did not diminish this effect. In contrast, DOI and TCB-2 did not affect the NSFT performance in mice. Furthermore, psilocin, DOI, and TCB-2 treatment did not affect the spontaneous locomotor activity or head-twitch response, a hallucination-like behavior in rodents. These results suggest that 5-HT2A contributes to the antidepressant effects of serotonergic psychedelics rather than anxiolytic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rika Takaba
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502.
| | - Daisuke Ibi
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502.
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502.
| | - Keisuke Yoshida
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502
| | - Eri Hosomi
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502
| | - Ririna Kawase
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502
| | - Hiroko Kitagawa
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502
| | - Hirotaka Goto
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502
| | - Mizuki Achiwa
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502
| | - Kento Mizutani
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502
| | - Kyosuke Maeda
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Shinji Kitagaki
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502
| | - Masayuki Hiramatsu
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502.
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan, 468-8502.
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32
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Conn K, Milton LK, Huang K, Munguba H, Ruuska J, Lemus MB, Greaves E, Homman-Ludiye J, Oldfield BJ, Foldi CJ. Psilocybin restrains activity-based anorexia in female rats by enhancing cognitive flexibility: contributions from 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mechanisms. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02575-9. [PMID: 38678087 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02575-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Psilocybin has shown promise for alleviating symptoms of depression and is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN), a condition that is characterised by persistent cognitive inflexibility. Considering that enhanced cognitive flexibility after psilocybin treatment is reported to occur in individuals with depression, it is plausible that psilocybin could improve symptoms of AN by breaking down cognitive inflexibility. A mechanistic understanding of the actions of psilocybin is required to tailor the clinical application of psilocybin to individuals most likely to respond with positive outcomes. This can only be achieved using incisive neurobiological approaches in animal models. Here, we use the activity-based anorexia (ABA) rat model and comprehensively assess aspects of reinforcement learning to show that psilocybin (post-acutely) improves body weight maintenance in female rats and facilitates cognitive flexibility, specifically via improved adaptation to the initial reversal of reward contingencies. Further, we reveal the involvement of signalling through the serotonin (5-HT) 1 A and 5-HT2A receptor subtypes in specific aspects of learning, demonstrating that 5-HT1A antagonism negates the cognitive enhancing effects of psilocybin. Moreover, we show that psilocybin elicits a transient increase and decrease in cortical transcription of these receptors (Htr2a and Htr1a, respectively), and a further reduction in the abundance of Htr2a transcripts in rats exposed to the ABA model. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that psilocybin could ameliorate cognitive inflexibility in the context of AN and highlight a need to better understand the therapeutic mechanisms independent of 5-HT2A receptor binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Conn
- Monash University, Department of Physiology, 26 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - L K Milton
- Monash University, Department of Physiology, 26 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - K Huang
- Monash University, Department of Physiology, 26 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - H Munguba
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - J Ruuska
- University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M B Lemus
- Monash University, Department of Physiology, 26 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - E Greaves
- Monash University, Department of Physiology, 26 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - J Homman-Ludiye
- Monash Micro Imaging, Monash University, 15 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - B J Oldfield
- Monash University, Department of Physiology, 26 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - C J Foldi
- Monash University, Department of Physiology, 26 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
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33
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Varty GB, Canal CE, Mueller TA, Hartsel JA, Tyagi R, Avery K, Morgan ME, Reichelt AC, Pathare P, Stang E, Palfreyman MG, Nivorozhkin A. Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Substituted Phenethylamines and the Discovery of CYB210010: A Potent, Orally Bioavailable and Long-Acting Serotonin 5-HT 2 Receptor Agonist. J Med Chem 2024; 67:6144-6188. [PMID: 38593423 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01961] [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: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Structure-activity studies of 4-substituted-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamines led to the discovery of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-thiotrifluoromethylphenethylamines, including CYB210010, a potent and long-acting serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonist. CYB210010 exhibited high agonist potency at 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors, modest selectivity over 5-HT2B, 5-HT1A, 5-HT6, and adrenergic α2A receptors, and lacked activity at monoamine transporters and over 70 other proteins. CYB210010 (0.1-3 mg/kg) elicited a head-twitch response (HTR) and could be administered subchronically at threshold doses without behavioral tolerance. CYB210010 was orally bioavailable in three species, readily and preferentially crossed into the CNS, engaged frontal cortex 5-HT2A receptors, and increased the expression of genes involved in neuroplasticity in the frontal cortex. CYB210010 represents a new tool molecule for investigating the therapeutic potential of 5-HT2 receptor activation. In addition, several other compounds with high 5-HT2A receptor potency, yet with little or no HTR activity, were discovered, providing the groundwork for the development of nonpsychedelic 5-HT2A receptor ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey B Varty
- Cybin IRL Limited, North Wall Quay, 1 Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 DO1 X9R7, Ireland
| | - Clinton E Canal
- Cybin IRL Limited, North Wall Quay, 1 Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 DO1 X9R7, Ireland
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Tina A Mueller
- Cybin IRL Limited, North Wall Quay, 1 Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 DO1 X9R7, Ireland
- BioIVT, Hicksville, New York 11803, United States
| | - Joshua A Hartsel
- Cybin IRL Limited, North Wall Quay, 1 Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 DO1 X9R7, Ireland
- Consultant, UPS PO Box #105-650, 25422 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest, California 92630, United States
| | - Richa Tyagi
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Ken Avery
- Cybin IRL Limited, North Wall Quay, 1 Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 DO1 X9R7, Ireland
| | - Michael E Morgan
- Cybin IRL Limited, North Wall Quay, 1 Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 DO1 X9R7, Ireland
| | - Amy C Reichelt
- Cybin IRL Limited, North Wall Quay, 1 Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 DO1 X9R7, Ireland
- Faculty of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Pradip Pathare
- Cybin IRL Limited, North Wall Quay, 1 Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 DO1 X9R7, Ireland
| | - Erik Stang
- Cybin IRL Limited, North Wall Quay, 1 Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 DO1 X9R7, Ireland
| | | | - Alex Nivorozhkin
- Cybin IRL Limited, North Wall Quay, 1 Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 DO1 X9R7, Ireland
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Zhu B, Ainsworth RI, Wang Z, Liu Z, Sierra S, Deng C, Callado LF, Meana JJ, Wang W, Lu C, González-Maeso J. Antipsychotic-induced epigenomic reorganization in frontal cortex of individuals with schizophrenia. eLife 2024; 12:RP92393. [PMID: 38648100 PMCID: PMC11034945 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92393] [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] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have revealed >270 loci associated with schizophrenia risk, yet these genetic factors do not seem to be sufficient to fully explain the molecular determinants behind this psychiatric condition. Epigenetic marks such as post-translational histone modifications remain largely plastic during development and adulthood, allowing a dynamic impact of environmental factors, including antipsychotic medications, on access to genes and regulatory elements. However, few studies so far have profiled cell-specific genome-wide histone modifications in postmortem brain samples from schizophrenia subjects, or the effect of antipsychotic treatment on such epigenetic marks. Here, we conducted ChIP-seq analyses focusing on histone marks indicative of active enhancers (H3K27ac) and active promoters (H3K4me3), alongside RNA-seq, using frontal cortex samples from antipsychotic-free (AF) and antipsychotic-treated (AT) individuals with schizophrenia, as well as individually matched controls (n=58). Schizophrenia subjects exhibited thousands of neuronal and non-neuronal epigenetic differences at regions that included several susceptibility genetic loci, such as NRG1, DISC1, and DRD3. By analyzing the AF and AT cohorts separately, we identified schizophrenia-associated alterations in specific transcription factors, their regulatees, and epigenomic and transcriptomic features that were reversed by antipsychotic treatment; as well as those that represented a consequence of antipsychotic medication rather than a hallmark of schizophrenia in postmortem human brain samples. Notably, we also found that the effect of age on epigenomic landscapes was more pronounced in frontal cortex of AT-schizophrenics, as compared to AF-schizophrenics and controls. Together, these data provide important evidence of epigenetic alterations in the frontal cortex of individuals with schizophrenia, and remark for the first time on the impact of age and antipsychotic treatment on chromatin organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohan Zhu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
| | - Richard I Ainsworth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Zengmiao Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Zhengzhi Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
| | - Salvador Sierra
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of MedicineRichmondUnited States
| | - Chengyu Deng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
| | - Luis F Callado
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, CIBERSAM, Biocruces Health Research InstituteBizkaiaSpain
| | - J Javier Meana
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, CIBERSAM, Biocruces Health Research InstituteBizkaiaSpain
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Chang Lu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of MedicineRichmondUnited States
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35
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Glynos NG, Huels ER, Nelson A, Kim Y, Kennedy RT, Mashour GA, Pal D. Neurochemical and Neurophysiological Effects of Intravenous Administration of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in Rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.19.589047. [PMID: 38712161 PMCID: PMC11071436 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.19.589047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic that is being investigated clinically for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Although the neurophysiological effects of DMT in humans are well-characterized, similar studies in animal models as well as data on the neurochemical effects of DMT are generally lacking, which are critical for mechanistic understanding. In the current study, we combined behavioral analysis, high-density (32-channel) electroencephalography, and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to simultaneously quantify changes in behavior, cortical neural dynamics, and levels of 17 neurochemicals in medial prefrontal and somatosensory cortices before, during, and after intravenous administration of three different doses of DMT (0.75 mg/kg, 3.75 mg/kg, 7.5 mg/kg) in male and female adult rats. All three doses of DMT produced head twitch response with most twitches observed after the low dose. DMT caused dose-dependent increases in serotonin and dopamine levels in both cortical sites along with a reduction in EEG spectral power in theta (4-10 Hz) and low gamma (25-55 Hz), and increase in power in delta (1-4 Hz), medium gamma (65-115), and high gamma (125-155 Hz) bands. Functional connectivity decreased in the delta band and increased across the gamma bands. In addition, we provide the first measurements of endogenous DMT in these cortical sites at levels comparable to serotonin and dopamine, which together with a previous study in occipital cortex, suggests a physiological role for endogenous DMT. This study represents one of the most comprehensive characterizations of psychedelic drug action in rats and the first to be conducted with DMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas G. Glynos
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Emma R. Huels
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Amanda Nelson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Youngsoo Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Robert T. Kennedy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - George A. Mashour
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Dinesh Pal
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Muneta-Arrate I, Miranda-Azpiazu P, Horrillo I, Diez-Alarcia R, Meana JJ. Ligand bias and inverse agonism on 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated modulation of G protein activity in post-mortem human brain. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38644550 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16368] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Whereas biased agonism on the 5-HT2A receptor has been ascribed to hallucinogenic properties of psychedelics, no information about biased inverse agonism on this receptor is available. In schizophrenia, increased 5-HT2A receptor constitutive activity has been suggested, highlighting the therapeutic relevance of inverse agonism. This study characterized the modulation of G protein activity promoted by different drugs, commonly considered as 5-HT2A receptor antagonists, in post-mortem human brain cortex. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Modulation of [35S]GTPγS binding to different subtypes of Gα proteins exerted by different 5-HT2A receptor drugs was determined by scintillation proximity assays in brain from human, WT and 5-HT2A receptor KO mice. KEY RESULTS MDL-11,939 was the only drug having no effect on the basal activity of 5-HT2A receptor. Altanserin and pimavanserin decreased basal activation of Gi1, but not Gq/11 proteins. This effect was blocked by MDL-11,939 and absent in 5-HT2A receptor KO mice. Volinanserin showed 5-HT2A receptor-mediated inverse agonism both on Gi1 and Gq/11 proteins. Ketanserin exhibited 5-HT2A receptor partial agonism exclusively on Gq/11 proteins. On the other hand, eplivanserin and nelotanserin displayed inverse agonism on Gq/11 and/or Gi1 proteins, which was insensitive to MDL-11,939 and was present in KO mice suggesting a role for another receptor. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS The results reveal the existence of constitutively active 5-HT2A receptors in human pre-frontal cortex and demonstrate different pharmacological profiles of various 5-HT2A receptor drugs previously considered antagonists. These findings indicate that altanserin and pimavanserin possess biased inverse agonist profile towards 5-HT2A receptor activation of Gi1 proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itziar Muneta-Arrate
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Leioa, Spain
- Current address: Department of Basic Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patricia Miranda-Azpiazu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Leioa, Spain
| | - Igor Horrillo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Leioa, Spain
- Biobizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Rebeca Diez-Alarcia
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Leioa, Spain
- Biobizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - J Javier Meana
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Leioa, Spain
- Biobizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
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Armstrong M, Castellanos J, Christie D. Chronic pain as an emergent property of a complex system and the potential roles of psychedelic therapies. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2024; 5:1346053. [PMID: 38706873 PMCID: PMC11066302 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1346053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite research advances and urgent calls by national and global health organizations, clinical outcomes for millions of people suffering with chronic pain remain poor. We suggest bringing the lens of complexity science to this problem, conceptualizing chronic pain as an emergent property of a complex biopsychosocial system. We frame pain-related physiology, neuroscience, developmental psychology, learning, and epigenetics as components and mini-systems that interact together and with changing socioenvironmental conditions, as an overarching complex system that gives rise to the emergent phenomenon of chronic pain. We postulate that the behavior of complex systems may help to explain persistence of chronic pain despite current treatments. From this perspective, chronic pain may benefit from therapies that can be both disruptive and adaptive at higher orders within the complex system. We explore psychedelic-assisted therapies and how these may overlap with and complement mindfulness-based approaches to this end. Both mindfulness and psychedelic therapies have been shown to have transdiagnostic value, due in part to disruptive effects on rigid cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns as well their ability to promote neuroplasticity. Psychedelic therapies may hold unique promise for the management of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Armstrong
- Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Joel Castellanos
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Devon Christie
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Lerer E, Botvinnik A, Shahar O, Grad M, Blakolmer K, Shomron N, Lotan A, Lerer B, Lifschytz T. Effects of psilocybin, psychedelic mushroom extract and 5-hydroxytryptophan on brain immediate early gene expression: Interaction with serotonergic receptor modulators. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1391412. [PMID: 38698823 PMCID: PMC11063716 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1391412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Immediate early genes (IEGs) are rapidly activated and initiate diverse cellular processes including neuroplasticity. We report the effect of psilocybin (PSIL), PSIL-containing psychedelic mushroom extract (PME) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on expression of the IEGs, cfos, egr1, and egr2 in mouse somatosensory cortex (SSC). Methods: In our initial experiment, male C57Bl/6j mice were injected with PSIL 4.4 mg/kg or 5-HTP 200 mg/kg, alone or immediately preceded by serotonergic receptor modulators. IEG mRNA expression 1 hour later was determined by real time qPCR. In a replication study a group of mice treated with PME was added. Results: In our initial experiment, PSIL but not 5-HTP significantly increased expression of all three IEGs. No correlation was observed between the head twitch response (HTR) induced by PSIL and its effect on the IEGs. The serotonergic receptor modulators did not significantly alter PSIL-induced IEG expression, with the exception of the 5-HT2C antagonist (RS102221), which significantly enhanced PSIL-induced egr2 expression. 5-HTP did not affect IEG expression. In our replication experiment, PSIL and PME upregulated levels of egr1 and cfos while the upregulation of egr2 was not significant. Conclusions: We have shown that PSIL and PME but not 5-HTP (at a dose sufficient to induce HTR), induced a significant increase in cfos and egr1 expression in mouse SSC. Our findings suggest that egr1 and cfos expression may be associated with psychedelic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elad Lerer
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
- Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Alexander Botvinnik
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Orr Shahar
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Meitar Grad
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Karin Blakolmer
- Parow Entheobiosciences (ParowBio), Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Noam Shomron
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Amit Lotan
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Bernard Lerer
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tzuri Lifschytz
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
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Kim YJ, Kook WA, Ma SX, Lee BR, Ko YH, Kim SK, Lee Y, Lee JG, Lee S, Kim KM, Lee SY, Jang CG. The novel psychoactive substance 25E-NBOMe induces reward-related behaviors via dopamine D1 receptor signaling in male rodents. Arch Pharm Res 2024; 47:360-376. [PMID: 38551761 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-024-01491-4] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) are new psychotropic drugs designed to evade substance regulatory policies. 25E-NBOMe (2-(4-ethyl-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)ethanamine) has recently been identified as an NPS, and its recreational misuse has been reported to be rapidly increasing. However, the psychopharmacological effects and mechanisms of 25E-NBOMe have not been studied. We examined the abuse potential of 25E-NBOMe using the conditioned place preference in male mice and self-administration paradigms in male rats. Additionally, immunoblot assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and microdialysis were used to determine the molecular effects of 25E-NBOMe in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Our data demonstrated that 25E-NBOMe induces conditioned place preference, and the dopaminergic signaling in the NAc mediates these. Following 25E-NBOMe administration, expression of dopamine transporter and dopamine D1 receptor (D1DR) were enhanced in the NAc of male mice, and NAc dopamine levels were reduced in both male mice and rats. Induction of intracellular dopaminergic pathways, DARPP32, and phosphorylation of CREB in the NAc of male mice was also observed. Significantly, pharmacological blockade of D1DR or chemogenetic inhibition of D1DR-expressing medium spiny neurons in the NAc attenuated 25E-NBOMe-induced conditioned place preference in male mice. We also examined the hallucinogenic properties of 25E-NBOMe using the head twitch response test in male mice and found that this behavior was mediated by serotonin 2A receptor activity. Our findings demonstrate that D1DR signaling may govern the addictive potential of 25E-NBOMe. Moreover, our study provides new insights into the potential mechanisms of substance use disorder and the improvement of controlled substance management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Jung Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Wun-A Kook
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Shi-Xun Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Ram Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Hyun Ko
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Kyung Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Youyoung Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Gyeong Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Sooyeun Lee
- Analytical Toxicology Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, Daegu, 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong-Man Kim
- Pharmacology Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 81186, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Yong Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Choon-Gon Jang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
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Laabi S, LeMmon C, Vogel C, Chacon M, Jimenez VM. Deciphering psilocybin: Cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory effects, and mechanistic insights. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 130:111753. [PMID: 38401463 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111753] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
A decade of clinical research has indicated psilocybin's effectiveness in treating various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and substance abuse. The correlation between increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms, along with the known anti-inflammatory potential of some psychedelics, suggests an immunomodulatory role for psilocybin. This study aims to understand the mechanism of action of psilocybin by investigating the cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of psilocybin and psilocin on both resting and LPS-activated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. The study evaluated the cytotoxicity of psilocybin and psilocin using an LDH assay across various doses and assessed their impact on cytokine production in RAW 264.7 cells, measuring cytokine expression via ELISA. Different doses, including those above and below the LC50, were used in both pre-treatment and post-treatment approaches. The LDH assay revealed that psilocybin is almost twice as cytotoxic as psilocin, with an LC50 of 12 ng/ml and 28 ng/ml, respectively. In resting macrophages, both psilocybin and psilocin triggered significant release of TNF- α after 4 h, with the lowest doses inducing higher levels of the cytokine than the highest doses. IL-10 expression in resting cells was only triggered by the highest dose of psilocin in the 4-hour incubation group. In LPS-stimulated cells, psilocin reduced TNF- α levels more than psilocybin in pre-treatment and post-treatment, with no significant effects on IL-10 in pre-treatment. Psilocin, but not psilocybin, induced a significant increase of IL-10 in post-treatment, leading to the conclusion that psilocin, but not psilocybin, exerts anti-inflammatory effects on classically activated macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Laabi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2162 S 180 E, Provo, UT 84606, United States
| | - Claire LeMmon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2162 S 180 E, Provo, UT 84606, United States
| | - Callie Vogel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2162 S 180 E, Provo, UT 84606, United States
| | - Mariana Chacon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2162 S 180 E, Provo, UT 84606, United States
| | - Victor M Jimenez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2162 S 180 E, Provo, UT 84606, United States; Department of Pharmacy, Roseman University of Health Sciences, 10920 S River Front Pkwy, South Jordan, UT 84095, United States.
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41
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Arias HR, Rudin D, Hines DJ, Contreras A, Gulsevin A, Manetti D, Anouar Y, De Deurwaerdere P, Meiler J, Romanelli MN, Liechti ME, Chagraoui A. The novel non-hallucinogenic compound DM506 (3-methyl-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroazepino[4,5-b]indole) induces sedative- and anxiolytic-like activity in mice by a mechanism involving 5-HT 2A receptor activation. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 966:176329. [PMID: 38253116 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176329] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The anxiolytic and sedative-like effects of 3-methyl-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroazepino[4,5-b]indole (DM506), a non-hallucinogenic compound derived from ibogamine, were studied in mice. The behavioral effects were examined using Elevated O-maze and novelty suppressed feeding (NSFT) tests, open field test, and loss of righting reflex (LORR) test. The results showed that 15 mg/kg DM506 induced acute and long-lasting anxiolytic-like activity in naive and stressed/anxious mice, respectively. Repeated administration of 5 mg/kg DM506 did not cause cumulative anxiolytic activity or any side effects. Higher doses of DM506 (40 mg/kg) induced sedative-like activity, which was inhibited by a selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, volinanserin. Electroencephalography results showed that 15 mg/kg DM506 fumarate increased the transition from a highly alert state (fast γ wavelength) to a more synchronized deep-sleeping activity (δ wavelength), which is reflected in the sedative/anxiolytic activity in mice but without the head-twitch response observed in hallucinogens. The functional, radioligand binding, and molecular docking results showed that DM506 binds to the agonist sites of human 5-HT2A (Ki = 24 nM) and 5-HT2B (Ki = 16 nM) receptors and activates them with a potency (EC50) of 9 nM and 3 nM, respectively. DM506 was relatively less potent and behaved as a partial agonist (efficacy <80%) for both receptor subtypes compared to the full agonist DOI (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine). Our study showed for the first time that the non-hallucinogenic compound DM506 induces anxiolytic- and sedative-like activities in naïve and stressed/anxious mice in a dose-, time-, and volinanserin-sensitive manner, likely through mechanisms involving 5-HT2A receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo R Arias
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tahlequah, OK, USA
| | - Deborah Rudin
- Divison of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dustin J Hines
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - April Contreras
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Alican Gulsevin
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dina Manetti
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Youssef Anouar
- UNIROUEN, Inserm U1239, Neuroendocrine, Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication (NorDiC), Rouen Normandie University, 76000, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Philippe De Deurwaerdere
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Integratives et Cognitives d'Aquitaine, UMR, 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jens Meiler
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University Medical School, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maria Novella Romanelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Matthias E Liechti
- Divison of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Abdeslam Chagraoui
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Rouen University Hospital, CHU de Rouen, France; UNIROUEN, Inserm U1239, Neuroendocrine, Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication (NorDiC), Rouen Normandie University, 76000, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.
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Barksdale BR, Doss MK, Fonzo GA, Nemeroff CB. The mechanistic divide in psychedelic neuroscience: An unbridgeable gap? Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00322. [PMID: 38278658 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00322] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, psychedelics have generated considerable excitement and interest as potential novel therapeutics for an array of conditions, with the most advanced evidence base in the treatment of certain severe and/or treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. An array of clinical and pre-clinical evidence has informed our current understanding of how psychedelics produce profound alterations in consciousness. Mechanisms of psychedelic action include receptor binding and downstream cellular and transcriptional pathways, with long-term impacts on brain structure and function-from the level of single neurons to large-scale circuits. In this perspective, we first briefly review and synthesize separate lines of research on potential mechanistic processes underlying the acute and long-term effects of psychedelic compounds, with a particular emphasis on highlighting current theoretical models of psychedelic drug action and their relationships to therapeutic benefits for psychiatric and brain-based disorders. We then highlight an existing area of ongoing controversy we argue is directly informed by theoretical models originating from disparate levels of inquiry, and we ultimately converge on the notion that bridging the current chasm in explanatory models of psychedelic drug action across levels of inquiry (molecular, cellular, circuit, and psychological/behavioral) through innovative methods and collaborative efforts will ultimately yield the comprehensive understanding needed to fully capitalize on the potential therapeutic properties of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan R Barksdale
- Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Manoj K Doss
- Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Gregory A Fonzo
- Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Charles B Nemeroff
- Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA.
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Sekssaoui M, Bockaert J, Marin P, Bécamel C. Antidepressant-like effects of psychedelics in a chronic despair mouse model: is the 5-HT 2A receptor the unique player? Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:747-756. [PMID: 38212441 PMCID: PMC10876623 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01794-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most disabling psychiatric disorders in the world. First-line treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) still have many limitations, including a resistance to treatment in 30% of patients and a delayed clinical benefit that is observed only after several weeks of treatment. Increasing clinical evidence indicates that the acute administration of psychedelic agonists of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR), such as psilocybin, to patients with MDD induce fast antidepressant effects, which persist up to five weeks after the treatment. However, the involvement of the 5-HT2AR in these antidepressant effects remains controversial. Furthermore, whether the hallucinogenic properties of 5-HT2AR agonists are mandatory to their antidepressant activity is still an open question. Here, we addressed these issues by investigating the effect of two psychedelics of different chemical families, DOI and psilocybin, and a non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2AR agonist, lisuride, in a chronic despair mouse model exhibiting a robust depressive-like phenotype. We show that a single injection of each drug to wild type mice induces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in the novelty-suppressed feeding, sucrose preference and forced swim tests, which last up to 15 days. DOI and lisuride administration did not produce antidepressant-like effects in 5-HT2A-/- mice, whereas psilocybin was still effective. Moreover, neither 5-HT1AR blockade nor dopamine D1 or D2 receptor blockade affected the antidepressant-like effects of psilocybin in 5-HT2A-/- mice. Collectively, these findings indicate that 5-HT2AR agonists can produce antidepressant-like effects independently of hallucinogenic properties through mechanisms involving or not involving the receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Sekssaoui
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, F-34094, Montpellier, France
| | - Joël Bockaert
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, F-34094, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Marin
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, F-34094, Montpellier, France
| | - Carine Bécamel
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, F-34094, Montpellier, France.
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Gao H, Liu X, Xie L, Tan B, Su R. Modulation of DOM-Induced Head-Twitch Response by mGluR2 Agonist/Inverse Agonist is Associated with 5-HT 2AR-Mediated G s Signaling Pathway. Neurochem Res 2024; 49:636-648. [PMID: 37989895 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-04055-y] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Hallucinogenic 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonists-induced head-twitch response (HTR) is regulated by Gs signaling pathway. Formation of heterodimers between 5-HT2AR and metabotropic glutamate mGlu2 receptor (mGluR2) is essential for the hallucinogenic 5-HT2AR agonist-induced HTR. In order to investigate the effects of mGluR2 agonists and inverse agonists on hallucinogenic 5-HT2AR agonists DOM-induced HTR, C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with mGluR2 agonists (LY379268, LY354740, LY404039) or the inverse agonist LY341495, and the HTR was manually counted after administering DOM immediately. IP-One (IP1) HTRF assay and cAMP assay were performed to evaluate the effect of LY341495 or LY354740 on DOM-induced Gq and Gs activation in Human Embryonic Kidney-293 (HEK-293) T-type cells co-expressing 5-HT2AR and mGluR2. The results showed that DOM-induced HTR in mice was dose-dependently inhibited by LY379268, LY354740, and LY404039, while it was dose-dependently enhanced by LY341495. Moreover, LY341495 reversed the inhibitory effect of LY354740 on DOM-induced HTR. In HEK-293T cells co-expressing 5-HT2AR and mGluR2, DOM-induced cAMP level was decreased by LY354740 and increased by LY341495, but DOM-induced IP1 level was not regulated by LY354740 or LY341495. The regulation of DOM-induced HTR by mGluR2 agonists and inverse agonists is closely related to 5-HT2AR-mediated Gs signaling pathway. In HEK-293T cells co-expressing 5-HT2AR and mGluR2 A677S/A681P/A685G mutant (mGluR2 3 A mutant), DOM-induced cAMP level was not regulated by LY354740, but was significantly enhanced by LY341495. The 5-HT2AR/mGluR2 heterodimers is critical for DOM-induced HTR and cAMP level, both of which are inhibited by mGluR2 agonists and enhanced by mGluR2 inverse agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, China
- School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, China
| | - Xiaoqian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, China
| | - Lulu Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, China.
| | - Ruibin Su
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, China.
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45
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Ledesma-Corvi S, Jornet-Plaza J, Gálvez-Melero L, García-Fuster MJ. Novel rapid treatment options for adolescent depression. Pharmacol Res 2024; 201:107085. [PMID: 38309382 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107085] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for novel fast-acting antidepressants for adolescent treatment-resistant depression and/or suicidal risk, since the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that are clinically approved for that age (i.e., fluoxetine or escitalopram) take weeks to work. In this context, one of the main research lines of our group is to characterize at the preclinical level novel approaches for rapid-acting antidepressants for adolescence. The present review summarizes the potential use in adolescence of non-pharmacological options, such as neuromodulators (electroconvulsive therapy and other innovative types of brain stimulation), as well as pharmacological options, including consciousness-altering drugs (mainly ketamine but also classical psychedelics) and cannabinoids (i.e., cannabidiol), with promising fast-acting responses. Following a brief analytical explanation of adolescent depression, we present a general introduction for each therapeutical approach together with the clinical evidence supporting its potential beneficial use in adolescence (mainly extrapolated from prior successful examples for adults), to then report recent and/or ongoing preclinical studies that will aid in improving the inclusion of these therapies in the clinic, by considering potential sex-, age-, and dose-related differences, and/or other factors that might affect efficacy or long-term safety. Finally, we conclude the review by providing future avenues to maximize treatment response, including the need for more clinical studies and the importance of designing and/or testing novel treatment options that are safe and fast-acting for adolescent depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Ledesma-Corvi
- Neuropharmacology Research Group, IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Jordi Jornet-Plaza
- Neuropharmacology Research Group, IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Laura Gálvez-Melero
- Neuropharmacology Research Group, IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - M Julia García-Fuster
- Neuropharmacology Research Group, IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.
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46
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Hashimoto K. Are "mystical experiences" essential for antidepressant actions of ketamine and the classic psychedelics? Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01770-7. [PMID: 38411629 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01770-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The growing interest in the rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of the dissociative anesthetic ketamine and classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, is remarkable. However, both ketamine and psychedelics are known to induce acute mystical experiences; ketamine can cause dissociative symptoms such as out-of-body experience, while psychedelics typically bring about hallucinogenic experiences, like a profound sense of unity with the universe or nature. The role of these mystical experiences in enhancing the antidepressant outcomes for patients with depression is currently an area of ongoing investigation and debate. Clinical studies have shown that the dissociative symptoms following the administration of ketamine or (S)-ketamine (esketamine) are not directly linked to their antidepressant properties. In contrast, the antidepressant potential of (R)-ketamine (arketamine), thought to lack dissociative side effects, has yet to be conclusively proven in large-scale clinical trials. Moreover, although the activation of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor is crucial for the hallucinogenic effects of psychedelics in humans, its precise role in their antidepressant action is still under discussion. This article explores the importance of mystical experiences in enhancing the antidepressant efficacy of both ketamine and classic psychedelics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Hashimoto
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
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Yao H, Wang X, Chi J, Chen H, Liu Y, Yang J, Yu J, Ruan Y, Xiang X, Pi J, Xu JF. Exploring Novel Antidepressants Targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors and Key Membrane Receptors Based on Molecular Structures. Molecules 2024; 29:964. [PMID: 38474476 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29050964] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a complex mental disorder that involves alterations in signal transmission across multiple scales and structural abnormalities. The development of effective antidepressants (ADs) has been hindered by the dominance of monoamine hypothesis, resulting in slow progress. Traditional ADs have undesirable traits like delayed onset of action, limited efficacy, and severe side effects. Recently, two categories of fast-acting antidepressant compounds have surfaced, dissociative anesthetics S-ketamine and its metabolites, as well as psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). This has led to structural research and drug development of the receptors that they target. This review provides breakthroughs and achievements in the structure of depression-related receptors and novel ADs based on these. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has enabled researchers to identify the structures of membrane receptors, including the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) receptor. These high-resolution structures can be used for the development of novel ADs using virtual drug screening (VDS). Moreover, the unique antidepressant effects of 5-HT1A receptors in various brain regions, and the pivotal roles of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) and tyrosine kinase receptor 2 (TrkB) in regulating synaptic plasticity, emphasize their potential as therapeutic targets. Using structural information, a series of highly selective ADs were designed based on the different role of receptors in MDD. These molecules have the favorable characteristics of rapid onset and low adverse drug reactions. This review offers researchers guidance and a methodological framework for the structure-based design of ADs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanbo Yao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Jiaxin Chi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Haorong Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yilin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Jiayi Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Jiaqi Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yongdui Ruan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Xufu Xiang
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Jiang Pi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Jun-Fa Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
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Hatzipantelis CJ, Olson DE. The Effects of Psychedelics on Neuronal Physiology. Annu Rev Physiol 2024; 86:27-47. [PMID: 37931171 PMCID: PMC10922499 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-042022-020923] [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] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Psychedelics are quite unique among drugs that impact the central nervous system, as a single administration of a psychedelic can both rapidly alter subjective experience in profound ways and produce sustained effects on circuits relevant to mood, fear, reward, and cognitive flexibility. These remarkable properties are a direct result of psychedelics interacting with several key neuroreceptors distributed across the brain. Stimulation of these receptors activates a variety of signaling cascades that ultimately culminate in changes in neuronal structure and function. Here, we describe the effects of psychedelics on neuronal physiology, highlighting their acute effects on serotonergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission as well as their long-lasting effects on structural and functional neuroplasticity in the cortex. We propose that the neurobiological changes leading to the acute and sustained effects of psychedelics might be distinct, which could provide opportunities for engineering compounds with optimized safety and efficacy profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra J Hatzipantelis
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA;
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - David E Olson
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA;
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
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49
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De Filippo R, Schmitz D. Synthetic surprise as the foundation of the psychedelic experience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 157:105538. [PMID: 38220035 PMCID: PMC10839673 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105538] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Psychedelic agents, such as LSD and psilocybin, induce marked alterations in consciousness via activation of the 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2ARs). We hypothesize that psychedelics enforce a state of synthetic surprise through the biased activation of the 5-HTRs system. This idea is informed by recent insights into the role of 5-HT in signaling surprise. The effects on consciousness, explained by the cognitive penetrability of perception, can be described within the predictive coding framework where surprise corresponds to prediction error, the mismatch between predictions and actual sensory input. Crucially, the precision afforded to the prediction error determines its effect on priors, enabling a dynamic interaction between top-down expectations and incoming sensory data. By integrating recent findings on predictive coding circuitry and 5-HT2ARs transcriptomic data, we propose a biological implementation with emphasis on the role of inhibitory interneurons. Implications arise for the clinical use of psychedelics, which may rely primarily on their inherent capacity to induce surprise in order to disrupt maladaptive patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto De Filippo
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Dietmar Schmitz
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Einstein Center for Neuroscience, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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50
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Fordyce BA, Roth BL. Making Sense of Psychedelics in the CNS. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2024; 27:pyae007. [PMID: 38289825 PMCID: PMC10888522 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
For centuries, ancient lineages have consumed psychedelic compounds from natural sources. In the modern era, scientists have since harnessed the power of computational tools, cellular assays, and behavioral metrics to study how these compounds instigate changes on molecular, cellular, circuit-wide, and system levels. Here, we provide a brief history of psychedelics and their use in science, medicine, and culture. We then outline current techniques for studying psychedelics from a pharmacological perspective. Finally, we address known gaps in the field and potential avenues of further research to broaden our collective understanding of physiological changes induced by psychedelics, the limits of their therapeutic capabilities, and how researchers can improve and inform treatments that are rapidly becoming accessible worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake A Fordyce
- Department of Neuroscience, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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