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Kalinowski D, Bogus-Nowakowska K, Kozłowska A, Równiak M. Dopaminergic and cholinergic modulation of the amygdala is altered in female mice with oestrogen receptor β deprivation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:897. [PMID: 36650256 PMCID: PMC9845293 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28069-2] [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: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The amygdala is modulated by dopaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmission, and this modulation is altered in mood disorders. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the presence/absence of quantitative alterations in the expression of main dopaminergic and cholinergic markers in the amygdala of mice with oestrogen receptor β (ERβ) knock-out which exhibit increased anxiety, using immunohistochemistry and quantitative methods. Such alterations could either contribute to increased anxiety or be a compensatory mechanism for reducing anxiety. The results show that among dopaminergic markers, the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine transporter (DAT) and dopamine D2-like receptor (DA2) is significantly elevated in the amygdala of mice with ERβ deprivation when compared to matched controls, whereas the content of dopamine D1-like receptor (DA1) is not altered by ERβ knock-out. In the case of cholinergic markers, muscarinic acetylcholine type 1 receptor (AChRM1) and alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChRα7) display overexpression while the content of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) remains unchanged. In conclusion, in the amygdala of ERβ knock-out female the dopaminergic and cholinergic signalling is altered, however, to determine the exact role of ERβ in the anxiety-related behaviour further studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kalinowski
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, pl. Łódzki 3, 10-727, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Krystyna Bogus-Nowakowska
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, pl. Łódzki 3, 10-727, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Anna Kozłowska
- Department of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Maciej Równiak
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, pl. Łódzki 3, 10-727, Olsztyn, Poland
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Tan Y, Chu Z, Shan H, Zhangsun D, Zhu X, Luo S. Inflammation Regulation via an Agonist and Antagonists of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in RAW264.7 Macrophages. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20030200. [PMID: 35323499 PMCID: PMC8955479 DOI: 10.3390/md20030200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems and is closely related to a variety of nervous system diseases and inflammatory responses. The α7 nAChR subtype plays a vital role in the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. In vivo, ACh released from nerve endings stimulates α7 nAChR on macrophages to regulate the NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways, thereby inhibiting the production and release of downstream proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Despite a considerable level of recent research on α7 nAChR-mediated immune responses, much is still unknown. In this study, we used an agonist (PNU282987) and antagonists (MLA and α-conotoxin [A10L]PnIA) of α7 nAChR as pharmacological tools to identify the molecular mechanism of the α7 nAChR-mediated cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in RAW264.7 mouse macrophages. The results of quantitative PCR, ELISAs, and transcriptome analysis were combined to clarify the function of α7 nAChR regulation in the inflammatory response. Our findings indicate that the agonist PNU282987 significantly reduced the expression of the IL-6 gene and protein in inflammatory macrophages to attenuate the inflammatory response, but the antagonists MLA and α-conotoxin [A10L]PnIA had the opposite effects. Neither the agonist nor antagonists of α7 nAChR changed the expression level of the α7 nAChR subunit gene; they only regulated receptor function. This study provides a reference and scientific basis for the discovery of novel α7 nAChR agonists and their anti-inflammatory applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Tan
- Medical School, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (Y.T.); (H.S.)
| | - Zhaoli Chu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Z.C.); (D.Z.)
| | - Hongyu Shan
- Medical School, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (Y.T.); (H.S.)
| | - Dongting Zhangsun
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Z.C.); (D.Z.)
| | - Xiaopeng Zhu
- Medical School, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (Y.T.); (H.S.)
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (S.L.)
| | - Sulan Luo
- Medical School, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (Y.T.); (H.S.)
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Z.C.); (D.Z.)
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (S.L.)
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Ramos-Martínez IE, Rodríguez MC, Cerbón M, Ramos-Martínez JC, Ramos-Martínez EG. Role of the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Reflex in Central Nervous System Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413427. [PMID: 34948222 PMCID: PMC8705572 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In several central nervous system diseases, it has been reported that inflammation may be related to the etiologic process, therefore, therapeutic strategies are being implemented to control inflammation. As the nervous system and the immune system maintain close bidirectional communication in physiological and pathological conditions, the modulation of inflammation through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex has been proposed. In this review, we summarized the evidence supporting chemical stimulation with cholinergic agonists and vagus nerve stimulation as therapeutic strategies in the treatment of various central nervous system pathologies, and their effect on inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Emmanuel Ramos-Martínez
- Glycobiology, Cell Growth and Tissue Repair Research Unit (Gly-CRRET), Université Paris Est Créteil (UPEC), 94010 Créteil, France;
| | - María Carmen Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, SSA, Morelos 62100, Mexico;
| | - Marco Cerbón
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (E.G.R.-M.)
| | - Juan Carlos Ramos-Martínez
- Cardiology Department, Hospital General Regional Lic. Ignacio Garcia Tellez IMSS, Yucatán 97150, Mexico;
| | - Edgar Gustavo Ramos-Martínez
- Escuela de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Oaxaca 68120, Mexico
- Instituto de Cómputo Aplicado en Ciencias, Oaxaca 68044, Mexico
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (E.G.R.-M.)
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Wang Y, Xia YY, Xue M, Jiang Q, Huang Z, Huang C. Electroacupuncture ameliorates mechanical hypersensitivity by down-regulating spinal Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 and interleukin 6 in rats with spared nerve injury. Acupunct Med 2021; 39:358-366. [PMID: 32744065 DOI: 10.1177/0964528420938376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence shows that the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway participates in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Our previous study revealed that electroacupuncture (EA) attenuated neuropathic pain via activation of alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) in the spinal cord. However, whether 2 Hz EA alleviates neuropathic pain by regulating the downstream molecules JAK2/STAT3 has not been fully clarified. METHODS Paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was used as a marker of mechanical allodynia in rats with spared nerve injury (SNI). After applying 2 Hz EA on day 3, 7, 14 and 21 post-surgery, spinal expression of JAK2, STAT3 and pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 was examined using quantitative reverse transcription and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Intrathecal injection of the α7nAChR antagonist alpha-bungarotoxin (α-Bgtx) was used to further explore the mechanism underlying the effects of 2 Hz EA on expression of JAK2/STAT3 in SNI rats. RESULTS It was found that levels of spinal STAT3 and IL-6 mRNA, as well as levels of phosphorylated (p)-JAK2, p-STAT3 and IL-6 protein, were markedly increased in SNI rats. 2 Hz EA attenuated the SNI-induced up-regulation of p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and IL-6 expression in the spinal cord. Furthermore, intrathecal injection of α-Bgtx (1.0 μg/kg) not only inhibited the effect of 2 Hz EA on mechanical hypersensitivity but also ameliorated the down-regulation of p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and IL-6 expression induced by 2 Hz EA. CONCLUSION This study revealed that 2 Hz EA attenuated SNI-induced mechanical hypersensitivity and the concomitant up-regulation of spinal JAK2, STAT3 and IL-6 in SNI rats, suggesting that suppression of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway might be the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of 2 Hz EA on neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Physiology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yang-Yang Xia
- Department of Physiology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, P.R. China
| | - Meng Xue
- Department of Physiology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, P.R. China
| | - Qian Jiang
- Department of Physiology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, P.R. China
| | - Zhihua Huang
- Department of Physiology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, P.R. China
- Pain Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, P.R. China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Physiology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, P.R. China
- Pain Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, P.R. China
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Abstract
Tobacco smoking results in more than five million deaths each year and accounts for ∼90% of all deaths from lung cancer.3 Nicotine, the major reinforcing component of tobacco smoke, acts in the brain through the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The nAChRs are allosterically regulated, ligand-gated ion channels consisting of five membrane-spanning subunits. Twelve mammalian α subunits (α2-α10) and three β subunits (β2-β4) have been cloned. The predominant nAChR subtypes in mammalian brain are those containing α4 and β2 subunits (denoted as α4β2* nAChRs). The α4β2* nAChRs mediate many behaviors related to nicotine addiction and are the primary targets for currently approved smoking cessation agents. Considering the large number of nAChR subunits in the brain, it is likely that nAChRs containing subunits in addition to α4 and β2 also play a role in tobacco smoking. Indeed, genetic variation in the CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 gene cluster, encoding the α5, α3, and β4 nAChR subunits, respectively, has been shown to increase vulnerability to tobacco dependence and smoking-associated diseases including lung cancer. Moreover, mice, in which expression of α5 or β4 subunits has been genetically modified, have profoundly altered patterns of nicotine consumption. In addition to the reinforcing properties of nicotine, the effects of nicotine on appetite, attention, and mood are also thought to contribute to establishment and maintenance of the tobacco smoking habit. Here, we review recent insights into the behavioral actions of nicotine, and the nAChR subtypes involved, which likely contribute to the development of tobacco dependence in smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina R Picciotto
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06508, USA
| | - Paul J Kenny
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
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The nAChR Chaperone TMEM35a (NACHO) Contributes to the Development of Hyperalgesia in Mice. Neuroscience 2021; 457:74-87. [PMID: 33422618 PMCID: PMC7897319 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Pain is a major health problem, affecting over fifty million adults in the US alone, with significant economic cost in medical care and lost productivity. Despite evidence implicating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in pathological pain, their specific contribution to pain processing in the spinal cord remains unclear given their presence in both neuronal and non-neuronal cell types. Here we investigated if loss of neuronal-specific TMEM35a (NACHO), a novel chaperone for functional expression of the homomeric α7 and assembly of the heteromeric α3, α4, and α6-containing nAChRs, modulates pain in mice. Mice with tmem35a deletion exhibited thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Intrathecal administration of nicotine and the α7-specific agonist, PHA543613, produced analgesic responses to noxious heat and mechanical stimuli in tmem35a KO mice, respectively, suggesting residual expression of these receptors or off-target effects. Since NACHO is expressed only in neurons, these findings indicate that neuronal α7 nAChR in the spinal cord contributes to heat nociception. To further determine the molecular basis underlying the pain phenotype, we analyzed the spinal cord transcriptome. Compared to WT control, the spinal cord of tmem35a KO mice exhibited 72 differentially-expressed genes (DEGs). These DEGs were mapped onto functional gene networks using the knowledge-based database, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, and suggests increased neuroinflammation as a potential contributing factor for the hyperalgesia in tmem35a KO mice. Collectively, these findings implicate a heightened inflammatory response in the absence of neuronal NACHO activity. Additional studies are needed to determine the precise mechanism by which NACHO in the spinal cord modulates pain.
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Jaworski T. Control of neuronal excitability by GSK-3beta: Epilepsy and beyond. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2020; 1867:118745. [PMID: 32450268 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3β) is an enzyme with a variety of cellular functions in addition to the regulation of glycogen metabolism. In the central nervous system, different intracellular signaling pathways converge on GSK-3β through a cascade of phosphorylation events that ultimately control a broad range of neuronal functions in the development and adulthood. In mice, genetically removing or increasing GSK-3β cause distinct functional and structural neuronal phenotypes and consequently affect cognition. Precise control of GSK-3β activity is important for such processes as neuronal migration, development of neuronal morphology, synaptic plasticity, excitability, and gene expression. Altered GSK-3β activity contributes to aberrant plasticity within neuronal circuits leading to neurological, psychiatric disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Therapeutically targeting GSK-3β can restore the aberrant plasticity of neuronal networks at least in animal models of these diseases. Although the complete repertoire of GSK-3β neuronal substrates has not been defined, emerging evidence shows that different ion channels and their accessory proteins controlling excitability, neurotransmitter release, and synaptic transmission are regulated by GSK-3β, thereby supporting mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in cognition. Dysregulation of ion channel function by defective GSK-3β activity sustains abnormal excitability in the development of epilepsy and other GSK-3β-linked human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Jaworski
- Laboratory of Animal Models, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
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Wang ZY, Han QQ, Deng MY, Zhao MJ, Apryani E, Shoaib RM, Wei DQ, Wang YX. Lemairamin, isolated from the Zanthoxylum plants, alleviates pain hypersensitivity via spinal α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 525:1087-1094. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Sharma NK, Kaur S, Goel RK. Exploring the ameliorative role of α7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulation in epilepsy and associated comorbidities in post-PTZ-kindled mice. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 103:106862. [PMID: 31917144 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM The present study aimed to explore the ameliorative role of alpha7 (α7) neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulation in epilepsy and associated comorbidities in postpentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-kindled mice. MATERIAL AND METHODS The subconvulsive dose of PTZ (35 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce kindling-associated epileptogenesis in mice. After successful kindling, animals were treated intraperitoneally with saline, phenytoin (35 mg/kg), valproate (300 mg/kg), choline chloride (α7 agonist; 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg), and methyllycaconitine citrate (α7 antagonist; 3.5 mg/kg and 7.0 mg/kg) for 10 days. All the groups except naive were exposed to PTZ injections on day 3, 6, and 9 of treatment to assess seizure severity score. Epilepsy-associated comorbid depression was evaluated by tail suspension test, sucrose preference test, and plasma corticosterone levels, whereas epilepsy-associated memory deficit condition was assessed by step-through paradigm, Morris water maze, and nitrite levels. Neurochemical perturbations related to epilepsy and associated depression and memory deficit were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS Post-PTZ-kindled mice displayed significant depressive behavior and memory impairment as compared with naive mice as evidenced by corresponding behavioral and biochemical observations. Methyllycaconitine citrate treatment was unable to produce any ameliorative effect in diseased condition. Choline administration dose dependently ameliorated depression, memory impairment, and seizure severity in post-PTZ-kindled mice. The behavioral findings of the study were concurred with neurochemical and biochemical findings. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the amelioration of epilepsy, comorbid depression, and memory deficit by α7 nAChR agonist choline chloride in PTZ-kindled mice model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeraj Kumar Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab 147002, India
| | - Sukhdeep Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab 147002, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar Goel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab 147002, India.
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Toma W, Ulker E, Alqasem M, AlSharari SD, McIntosh JM, Damaj MI. Behavioral and Molecular Basis of Cholinergic Modulation of Pain: Focus on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2020; 45:153-166. [PMID: 32468494 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2020_135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy for pain and inflammatory disorders. In particular, α4β2∗, α7, and α9α10 nAChR subtypes have been investigated as potential targets to treat pain. The nAChRs are distributed on the pain transmission pathways, including central and peripheral nervous systems and immune cells as well. Several agonists for α4β2∗ nAChR subtypes have been investigated in multiple animal pain models with promising results. However, studies in human indicated a narrow therapeutic window for α4β2∗ agonists. Furthermore, animal studies suggest that using agonists for α7 nAChR subtype and antagonists for α9α10 nAChR subtypes are potential novel therapies for chronic pain management, including inflammatory and neuropathic pain. More recently, alternative nAChRs ligands such as positive allosteric modulators and silent agonists have shown potential to develop into new treatments for chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wisam Toma
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Esad Ulker
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Mashael Alqasem
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir D AlSharari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Abbas M, Alzarea S, Papke RL, Rahman S. The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor positive allosteric modulator attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of hippocampal IκB and CD11b gene expression in mice. Drug Discov Ther 2019; 11:206-211. [PMID: 28867753 DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2017.01038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
We have reported that 3a,4,5,9b-tetrahydro-4-(1-naphthalenyl)-3H-cyclopentan[c]quinoline-8-sulfonamide (TQS), α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) positive allosteric modulator (PAM) reduces lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hyperalgesia and allodynia in mice. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of TQS on LPS-induced activation of hippocampal inhibitor of κB (IκB) and cluster of differentiation 11b (CD11b) gene expression involving hyperalgesia and allodynia in mice. We also examined the effects of TQS on microglial phenotype following LPS administration. Pretreatment of TQS (4 mg/kg) reduced the expressions of IκB and CD11b mRNA. Pretreatment of methyllycaconitine (3 mg/kg), an α7 nAChR antagonist, reversed TQS-induced decrease in IκB and CD11b mRNA expressions in the hippocampus indicating the involvement of α7 nAChR. In addition, TQS (4 mg/kg) reversed the LPS-induced microglial morphological changes. These results suggest that TQS reduces LPS-induced IκB and CD11b gene expression and microglial activation associated with hyperalgesia and allodynia by targeting microglial α7 nAChR in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muzaffar Abbas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University
| | - Sami Alzarea
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University
| | - Roger L Papke
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida
| | - Shafiqur Rahman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University
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Chang H, Wei Y, Chen Y, Du L, Cong H, Zhang X, Geng X, Yin L. The antipsychotic-like effects of clozapine in C57BL/6 mice exposed to cuprizone: Decreased glial activation. Behav Brain Res 2019; 364:157-161. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Targowska-Duda KM, Budzynska B, Michalak A, Jozwiak K, Biala G, Arias HR. 3-Furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide, a highly selective positive allosteric modulator of α7 nicotinic receptors, produces anxiolytic-like activity in mice. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:558-567. [PMID: 30644335 DOI: 10.1177/0269881118821100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several lines of investigations support the idea that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors modulate neuronal pathways involved in anxiety and depression. AIMS The purpose of this study was to determine whether 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide, a highly selective positive allosteric modulator of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, influences anxiety-like behaviour in mice, and to determine the modulatory activity of 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide on mice pretreated with either nicotine or selective α7-agonists (i.e. PNU-282987 or (2.4)-dimethoxybenzylidene anabaseine dihydrochloride). METHODS The elevated plus maze and novelty suppressed feeding tests were selected to evaluate 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide and other nicotinic ligands on anxiety-like behaviour in mice. RESULTS The results indicated that: (a) 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide induces anxiolytic-like activity at 0.5 (elevated plus maze) and 1.0 (novelty suppressed feeding) mg/kg, respectively, after acute treatment, whereas its efficacy is increased after chronic treatments (i.e. active at 0.1 mg/kg; elevated plus maze). This is the first time showing anxiolytic-like activity elicited by 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide, contrary to the lack of activity for PNU-120596 (0.1 mg/kg); (b) the anxiolytic-like activity of 0.5 mg/kg 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide is inhibited by methyllycaconitine, a selective α7-antagonist, suggesting that α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are involved in this process; (c) 0.5 mg/kg 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide reverses the anxiogenic effects induced by 0.1 mg/kg nicotine but not by 10.0 mg/kg PNU-282987; and (d) inactive doses of both 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide (0.1 mg/kg) and (2.4)-dimethoxybenzylidene anabaseine dihydrochloride (1.0 mg/kg) produce anxiolytic-like effects, suggesting drug interactions, probably synergistic. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicated that anxiolytic-like activity is mediated by α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, supporting the concept that these receptors modulate anxiety processes. The results indicating that the chronic treatment with 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide is more efficient than the acute treatment in eliciting anxiolytic-like activity, and that 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide reverses the anxiogenic effects induced by nicotine, might be of therapeutic importance during smoking cessation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Barbara Budzynska
- 2 Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Michalak
- 2 Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Jozwiak
- 1 Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Grazyna Biala
- 2 Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Hugo R Arias
- 3 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, American University of Health Sciences, Signal Hill, CA, USA
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Subramaniam SR, Magen I, Bove N, Zhu C, Lemesre V, Dutta G, Elias CJ, Lester HA, Chesselet MF. Chronic nicotine improves cognitive and social impairment in mice overexpressing wild type α-synuclein. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 117:170-180. [PMID: 29859873 PMCID: PMC6051902 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to dopaminergic and motor deficits, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) suffer from non-motor symptoms, including early cognitive and social impairment, that do not respond well to dopaminergic therapy. Cholinergic deficits may contribute to these problems, but cholinesterase inhibitors have limited efficacy. Mice over-expressing α-synuclein, a protein critically associated with PD, show deficits in cognitive and social interaction tests, as well as a decrease in cortical acetylcholine. We have evaluated the effects of chronic administration of nicotine in mice over-expressing wild type human α-synuclein under the Thy1-promoter (Thy1-aSyn mice). Nicotine was administered subcutaneously by osmotic minipump for 6 months from 2 to 8 months of age at 0.4 mg/kg/h and 2.0 mg/kg/h. The higher dose was toxic in the Thy1-aSyn mice, but the low dose was well tolerated and both doses ameliorated cognitive impairment in Y-maze performance after 5 months of treatment. In a separate cohort of Thy1-aSyn mice, nicotine was administered at the lower dose for one month beginning at 5 months of age. This treatment partially eliminated the cognitive deficit in novel object recognition and social impairment. In contrast, chronic nicotine did not improve motor deficits after 2, 4 or 6 months of treatment, nor modified α-synuclein aggregation, tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining, synaptic and dendritic markers, or microglial activation in Thy1-aSyn mice. These results suggest that cognitive and social impairment in synucleinopathies like PD may result from deficits in cholinergic neurotransmission and may benefit from chronic administration of nicotinic agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhakar R Subramaniam
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Iddo Magen
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas Bove
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chunni Zhu
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vincent Lemesre
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Garima Dutta
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chris Jean Elias
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Henry A Lester
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Marie-Francoise Chesselet
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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15
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Bagdas D, Meade JA, Alkhlaif Y, Muldoon PP, Carroll FI, Damaj MI. Effect of nicotine and alpha-7 nicotinic modulators on visceral pain-induced conditioned place aversion in mice. Eur J Pain 2018; 22:10.1002/ejp.1231. [PMID: 29633429 PMCID: PMC6179949 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical assays of affective and sensorial aspects of nociception play a key role in research on both the neurobiology of pain and the development of novel analgesics. Therefore, we investigated the effects of nicotine and alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulators in the negative affective and sensory components of visceral pain in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS Intraperitoneal acetic acid (AA) administration resulted in a robust stretching behaviour and conditioned place aversion (CPA) in mice. We observed a dose-dependent reduction in AA-induced stretching and CPA by the nonselective nAChRs agonist nicotine. Mecamylamine, a nonselective nAChRs agonist, was able to block its effects; however, hexamethonium, a peripherally restricted nonselective nicotinic antagonist, was able to block nicotine's effect on stretching behaviour but not on CPA. In addition, systemic administration of α7 nAChR full agonists PHA543613 and PNU282987 was failed to block stretching and CPA behaviour induced by AA. However, the α7 nAChR-positive allosteric modulator PNU120596 blocked AA-induced CPA in a dose-dependent manner without reducing stretching behaviours. CONCLUSIONS Our data revealed that while nonselective nAChR activation induces antinociceptive properties on the sensorial and affective signs of visceral pain in mice, α7 nAChRS activation has no effect on these responses. In addition, nonselective nAChR activation-induced antinociceptive effect on stretching behaviour was mediated by central and peripheral mechanisms. However, the effect of nonselective nAChR activation on CPA was mediated centrally. Furthermore, our data suggest a pivotal role of allosteric modulation of α7 nAChRS in the negative affective, but not sensory, component of visceral pain. SIGNIFICANCE The present results suggest that allosteric modulation of α7 nAChR may provide new strategies in affective aspects of nociception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Bagdas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613
- The Center for the Study for Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Julie A. Meade
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613
| | - Yasmin Alkhlaif
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613
| | - Pretal P. Muldoon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613
| | - F. Ivy Carroll
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194
| | - M. Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613
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16
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Wang Y, Jiang Q, Xia YY, Huang ZH, Huang C. Involvement of α7nAChR in electroacupuncture relieving neuropathic pain in the spinal cord of rat with spared nerve injury. Brain Res Bull 2018; 137:257-264. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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17
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Bagdas D, Gurun MS, Flood P, Papke RL, Damaj MI. New Insights on Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors as Targets for Pain and Inflammation: A Focus on α7 nAChRs. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 16:415-425. [PMID: 28820052 PMCID: PMC6018191 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x15666170818102108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nicotine and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been explored for the past three decades as targets for pain control. The aim of this review is to introduce readers particularly to α7 nAChRs in a perspective of pain and its modulation. METHODS Developments for α7 nAChR modulators and recent animal studies related to pain are reviewed. RESULTS Accumulating evidences suggest that selective ligands for α7 nAChRs hold promise in the treatment of chronic pain conditions as they lack many of side effects associated with other nicotinic receptor types. CONCLUSION This review provides the reader recent insights on α7 nAChRs from structure and function to the latest findings on the pharmacology and therapeutic targeting of these receptors for the treatment of pain and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Bagdas
- Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613; Tel/Fax: +1-804-828-9256; E-mail:
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18
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Xu KL, Liu XQ, Yao YL, Ye MR, Han YG, Zhang T, Chen G, Lei M. Effect of dexmedetomidine on rats with convulsive status epilepticus and association with activation of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 495:421-426. [PMID: 29080744 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.10.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is a neurological disease with contraction and extension of limbs, leading to damage of hippocampus and cognition. This study aimed to explore the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on the cognitive function and neuroinflammation in CSE rats. All rats were divided into control group, CSE group and DEX group. Morris water maze test was used to measure cognitive function. Acute hippocampal slices were made to detect long-term potentiation (LTP). Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), S-100β and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Our results showed that DEX improved the memory damage caused by CSE. DEX reduced seizure severity and increased the amplitudes and sustainable time of LTP, and also inhibited the hippocampal expression of α7-nAChR and IL-1β in CSE rats. DEX treatment decreased serum IL-1β, TNF-α and S-100β levels and increased BDNF levels. The effects of DEX on seizure severity and LTP could be simulated by nicotine or attenuated by concurrent α-bungarotoxin (α-BGT) treatment. In conclusions, DEX significantly improved spatial cognitive dysfunction, reduced seizure severity and increased LTP in CSE rats. Improvements by DEX were closely related to enhancement of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Liang Xu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200137, PR China
| | - Xin-Qiu Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Genetics, Shanghai Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao-Tong University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Yu-Long Yao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200137, PR China
| | - Ming-Rong Ye
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200137, PR China
| | - Yao-Guo Han
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200137, PR China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200137, PR China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200137, PR China
| | - Ming Lei
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200137, PR China.
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19
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The current agonists and positive allosteric modulators of α7 nAChR for CNS indications in clinical trials. Acta Pharm Sin B 2017; 7:611-622. [PMID: 29159020 PMCID: PMC5687317 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR), consisting of homomeric α7 subunits, is a ligand-gated Ca2+-permeable ion channel implicated in cognition and neuropsychiatric disorders. Enhancement of α7 nAChR function is considered to be a potential therapeutic strategy aiming at ameliorating cognitive deficits of neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia. Currently, a number of α7 nAChR modulators have been reported and several of them have advanced into clinical trials. In this brief review, we outline recent progress made in understanding the role of the α7 nAChR in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders and the pharmacological effects of α7 nAChR modulators used in clinical trials.
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Key Words
- 5-CSRTT, five-choice serial reaction time task
- 5-HT, serotonin
- ACh, acetylcholine
- AD, Alzheimer's disease
- ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Acetylcholine
- Alpha7
- Alzheimer's disease
- Aβ, amyloid-β peptide
- CNS, central nervous system
- DMTS, delayed matching-to-sample
- ECD, extracellular domain
- GABA, γ-aminobutyric acid
- Ion channel
- MLA, methyllycaconitine
- NOR, novel object recognition
- PAMs, positive allosteric modulators
- PCP, neonatal phencyclidine
- PD, Parkinson's disease
- PPI, prepulse inhibition
- Positive allosteric modulators
- SAR, structure–activity relationship
- Schizophrenia
- TMD, transmembrane domains
- nAChR
- nAChR, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
- α-Btx, α-bungarotoxin
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20
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AlSharari SD, Bagdas D, Akbarali HI, Lichtman PA, Raborn ES, Cabral GA, Carroll FI, McGee EA, Damaj MI. Sex Differences and Drug Dose Influence the Role of the α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor in the Mouse Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis Model. Nicotine Tob Res 2017; 19:460-468. [PMID: 27639096 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntw245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play an important role in vagus nerve-based cholinergic anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to assess the role of α7 nAChRs in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in male and female mouse. We first compared disease activity and pathogenesis of colitis in α7 knockout and wild-type mice. We then evaluated the effect of several α7 direct and indirect agonists on the severity of disease in the DSS-induced colitis. Methods Male and female adult mice were administered 2.5% DSS solution freely in the drinking water for 7 consecutive days and the colitis severity (disease activity index) was evaluated as well as colon length, colon histology, and levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha colonic levels. Results Male, but not female, α7 knockout mice displayed a significantly increased colitis severity and higher tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels as compared with their littermate wild-type mice. Moreover, pretreatment with selective α7 ligands PHA-543613, choline, and PNU-120596 decreased colitis severity in male but not female mice. The anti-colitis effects of these α7 compounds dissipated when administered at higher doses. Conclusions Our results suggest the presence of a α7-dependent anti-colitis endogenous tone in male mice. Finally, our results show for the first time that female mice are less sensitive to the anti-colitis activity of α7 agonists. Ovarian hormones may play a key role in the sex difference effect of α7 nAChRs modulation of colitis in the mouse. Implications Our collective results suggest that targeting α7 nAChRs could represent a viable therapeutic approach for intestinal inflammation diseases such as ulcerative colitis with the consideration of sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakir D AlSharari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - Deniz Bagdas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.,Experimental Animals Breeding and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Hamid I Akbarali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - Patraic A Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - Erinn S Raborn
- Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - Guy A Cabral
- Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - F Ivy Carroll
- Center for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Elizabeth A McGee
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
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21
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Yoshimura RF, Tran MB, Hogenkamp DJ, Ayala NL, Johnstone T, Dunnigan AJ, Gee TK, Gee KW. Allosteric modulation of nicotinic and GABA A receptor subtypes differentially modify autism-like behaviors in the BTBR mouse model. Neuropharmacology 2017; 126:38-47. [PMID: 28842344 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with two core symptoms (social communication deficits and stereotyped repetitive behaviors) in addition to a number of comorbidities. There are no FDA-approved drugs for the core symptoms and the changes that underlie these behaviors are not fully understood. One hypothesis is an imbalance of the excitation (E)/inhibition (I) ratio with excessive E and diminished I occurring in specific neuronal circuits. Data suggests that both gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) significantly impact E/I. BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) mice are a model that display an autism-like phenotype with impaired social interaction and stereotyped behavior. A β2/3-subunit containing GABAA receptor (GABAAR) subtype selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM), 2-261, and an α7 nAChR subtype selective PAM, AVL-3288, were tested in social approach and repetitive self-grooming paradigms. 2-261 was active in the social approach but not the self-grooming paradigm, whereas AVL-3288 was active in both. Neither compound impaired locomotor activity. Modulating α7 nAChRs alone may be sufficient to correct these behavioral and cognitive deficits. GABAergic and nicotinic compounds are already in various stages of clinical testing for treatment of the core symptoms and comorbidities associated with ASD. Our findings and those of others suggest that compounds that have selective activities at GABAAR subtypes and the α7 nAChR may address not only the core symptoms, but many of the associated comorbidities as well and warrant further investigation in other models of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan F Yoshimura
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, United States
| | - Minhtam B Tran
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, United States
| | - Derk J Hogenkamp
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, United States
| | - Narielle L Ayala
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, United States
| | - Timothy Johnstone
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, United States
| | - Andrew J Dunnigan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, United States
| | - Timothy K Gee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, United States
| | - Kelvin W Gee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, United States.
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22
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Hone AJ, Servent D, McIntosh JM. α9-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and the modulation of pain. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 175:1915-1927. [PMID: 28662295 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a complex and debilitating syndrome for which there are few effective pharmacological treatments. Opioid-based medications are initially effective for acute pain, but tolerance to their analgesic effects quickly develops, and long-term use often leads to physical dependence and addiction. Furthermore, neuropathic pain is generally resistant to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Other classes of medications including antidepressants, antiepileptics and voltage-gated calcium channel inhibitors are only partially effective in most patients, may be associated with significant side effects and have few disease-modifying effects on the underlying pathology. Medications that act through new mechanisms of action, and particularly ones that have disease-modifying properties, would be highly desirable. In the last decade, a potential new target for the treatment of neuropathic pain has emerged: the α9-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). Recent studies indicate that antagonists of α9-containing nAChRs are analgesic in animal models of neuropathic pain. These nerve injury models include chronic constriction injury, partial sciatic nerve ligation, streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy and chemotherapeutic-induced neuropathy. This review details the history and state of the field regarding the role that α9-containing nAChRs may play in neuropathic pain. An alternative hypothesis that α-conotoxins exert their therapeutic effect through blocking N-type calcium channels via activation of GABAB receptors is also reviewed. Understanding how antagonists of α9-containing nAChRs exert their therapeutic effects may ultimately result in the development of medications that not only treat but also prevent the development of neuropathic pain states. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.11/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arik J Hone
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Denis Servent
- Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), IBITECS, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,George E. Whalen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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23
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The interaction between alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α represents a new antinociceptive signaling pathway in mice. Exp Neurol 2017; 295:194-201. [PMID: 28606623 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recently, α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), primarily activated by binding of orthosteric agonists, represent a target for anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug development. These receptors may also be modulated by positive allosteric modulators (PAMs), ago-allosteric ligands (ago-PAMs), and α7-silent agonists. Activation of α7 nAChRs has been reported to increase the brain levels of endogenous ligands for nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors type-α (PPAR-α), palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA), in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Here, we investigated potential crosstalk between α7 nAChR and PPAR-α, using the formalin test, a mouse model of tonic pain. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we found that PNU282987, a full α7 agonist, attenuated formalin-induced nociceptive behavior in α7-dependent manner. Interestingly, the selective PPAR-α antagonist GW6471 blocked the antinociceptive effects of PNU282987, but did not alter the antinociceptive responses evoked by the α7 nAChR PAM PNU120596, ago-PAM GAT107, and silent agonist NS6740. Moreover, GW6471 administered systemically or spinally, but not via the intraplantar surface of the formalin-injected paw blocked PNU282987-induced antinociception. Conversely, exogenous administration of the naturally occurring PPAR-α agonist PEA potentiated the antinociceptive effects of PNU282987. In contrast, the cannabinoid CB1 antagonist rimonabant and the CB2 antagonist SR144528 failed to reverse the antinociceptive effects of PNU282987. These findings suggest that PPAR-α plays a key role in a putative antinociceptive α7 nicotinic signaling pathway.
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24
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Werner FM, Coveñas R. Classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides involved in generalized epilepsy in a multi-neurotransmitter system: How to improve the antiepileptic effect? Epilepsy Behav 2017; 71:124-129. [PMID: 25819950 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Here, we describe in generalized epilepsies the alterations of classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides acting at specific subreceptors. In order to consider a network context rather than one based on focal substrates and in order to make the interaction between neurotransmitters and neuropeptides and their specific subreceptors comprehensible, neural networks in the hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebral cortex are described. In this disease, a neurotransmitter imbalance between dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons and between presynaptic GABAergic neurons (hypoactivity) and glutaminergic neurons (hyperactivity) occurs. Consequently, combined GABAA agonists and NMDA antagonists could furthermore stabilize the neural networks in a multimodal pharmacotherapy. The antiepileptic effect and the mechanisms of action of conventional and recently developed antiepileptic drugs are reviewed. The GASH:Sal animal model can contribute to examine the efficacy of antiepileptic drugs. The issues of whether the interaction of classical neurotransmitters with other subreceptors (5-HT7, metabotropic 5 glutaminergic, A2A adenosine, and alpha nicotinic 7 cholinergic receptors) or whether the administration of agonists/antagonists of neuropeptides might improve the therapeutic effect of antiepileptic drugs should be addressed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Genetic and Reflex Epilepsies, Audiogenic Seizures and Strains: From Experimental Models to the Clinic".
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix-Martin Werner
- Höhere Berufsfachschule für Altenpflege und Ergotherapie der Euro Akademie Pößneck, Pößneck, Germany; Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León (INCYL), Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems (Lab. 14), University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Rafael Coveñas
- Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León (INCYL), Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems (Lab. 14), University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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25
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Soares JI, Valente MC, Andrade PA, Maia GH, Lukoyanov NV. Reorganization of the septohippocampal cholinergic fiber system in experimental epilepsy. J Comp Neurol 2017; 525:2690-2705. [PMID: 28472854 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The septohippocampal cholinergic neurotransmission has long been implicated in seizures, but little is known about the structural features of this projection system in epileptic brain. We evaluated the effects of experimental epilepsy on the areal density of cholinergic terminals (fiber varicosities) in the dentate gyrus. For this purpose, we used two distinct post-status epilepticus rat models, in which epilepsy was induced with injections of either kainic acid or pilocarpine. To visualize the cholinergic fibers, we used brain sections immunostained for the vesicular acetylcholine transporter. It was found that the density of cholinergic fiber varicosities was higher in epileptic rats versus control rats in the inner and outer zones of the dentate molecular layer, but it was reduced in the dentate hilus. We further evaluated the effects of kainate treatment on the total number, density, and soma volume of septal cholinergic cells, which were visualized in brain sections stained for either vesicular acetylcholine transporter or choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Both the number of septal cells with cholinergic phenotype and their density were increased in epileptic rats when compared to control rats. The septal cells stained for vesicular acetylcholine transporter, but not for ChAT, have enlarged perikarya in epileptic rats. These results revealed previously unknown details of structural reorganization of the septohippocampal cholinergic system in experimental epilepsy, involving fiber sprouting into the dentate molecular layer and a parallel fiber retraction from the dentate hilus. We hypothesize that epilepsy-related neuroplasticity of septohippocampal cholinergic neurons is capable of increasing neuronal excitability of the dentate gyrus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana I Soares
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.,Neuronal Networks Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Programa Doutoral em Neurociências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria C Valente
- Departamento de Biologia Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro A Andrade
- Programa Doutoral em Neurociências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Neurobiology, A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Gisela H Maia
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.,Neuronal Networks Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Programa Doutoral em Neurociências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nikolai V Lukoyanov
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.,Neuronal Networks Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Departamento de Anatomia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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26
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Abbas M, Alzarea S, Papke RL, Rahman S. The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor positive allosteric modulator attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of hippocampal IκB and CD11b gene expression in mice. Drug Discov Ther 2017. [DOI: https://doi.org/10.5582/ddt.2017.01038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Muzaffar Abbas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University
| | - Sami Alzarea
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University
| | - Roger L Papke
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida
| | - Shafiqur Rahman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University
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27
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Jareczek FJ, White SR, Hammond DL. Plasticity in Brainstem Mechanisms of Pain Modulation by Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Rat. eNeuro 2017; 4:ENEURO.0364-16.2017. [PMID: 28197544 PMCID: PMC5286660 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0364-16.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with chronic pain may be driven to smoke more because the analgesic efficacy of nicotine diminishes. To determine whether persistent pain diminishes the actions of a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist in pain modulatory pathways, we examined the effects of epibatidine in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) of rats with and without inflammatory injury induced by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). In uninjured rats, epibatidine produced a dose-dependent antinociception that was completely blocked by dihydro-β-erythroidine (DHβE; α4β2 antagonist) and partially blocked by methyllycaconitine (MLA; α7 antagonist). Epibatidine reversed heat hyperalgesia when microinjected in the RVM 4 h, 4 d, or 2 weeks after CFA treatment. Although DHβE completely blocked epibatidine's antihyperalgesic effect at 4 h, at 2 weeks it elicited only partial antagonism. Methyllycaconitine was ineffective at both time points. Epibatidine's antinociceptive efficacy in the uninjured hind paw progressively declined, and it was without effect 2 weeks after CFA. Moreover, as early as 4 h after CFA, the antinociceptive effect of epibatidine was no longer antagonized by DHβE. Neither antagonist alone altered paw withdrawal latency in uninjured or CFA-treated rats, suggesting that neither α4β2 nor α7 nAChRs are tonically active in the RVM. The Bmax and Kd of α4β2 nAChRs in the RVM were unchanged after CFA treatment. These observations provide the first evidence of pharmacological plasticity of the actions of α4β2 nAChR agonists in a critical brainstem pain modulatory pathway and may in part explain why people with chronic pain smoke more than the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis J. Jareczek
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | | | - Donna L. Hammond
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
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28
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Erfanparast A, Tamaddonfard E, Nemati S. Effects of intra-hippocampal microinjection of vitamin B 12 on the orofacial pain and memory impairments induced by scopolamine and orofacial pain in rats. Physiol Behav 2016; 170:68-77. [PMID: 27998753 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the effects of microinjection of vitamin B12 into the hippocampus on the orofacial pain and memory impairments induced by scopolamine and orofacial pain. In ketamine-xylazine anesthetized rats, the right and left sides of the dorsal hippocampus (CA1) were implanted with two guide cannulas. Orofacial pain was induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin (1.5%, 50μl) into the right vibrissa pad, and the durations of face rubbing were recorded at 3-min blocks for 45min. Morris water maze (MWM) was used for evaluation of learning and memory. Finally, locomotor activity was assessed using an open-field test. Vitamin B12 attenuated both phases of formalin-induced orofacial pain. Prior administration of naloxone and naloxonazine, but not naltrindole and nor-binaltorphimine, prevented this effect. Vitamin B12 and physostigmine decreased latency time as well as traveled distance in Morris water maze. In addition, these chemicals improved scopolamine-induced memory impairment. The memory impairment induced by orofacial pain was improved by vitamin B12 and physostigmine used alone. Naloxone prevented, whereas physostigmine enhanced the memory improving effect of vitamin B12 in the pain-induced memory impairment. All the above-mentioned chemicals did not alter locomotor activity. The results of the present study showed that at the level of the dorsal hippocampus, vitamin B12 modulated orofacial pain through a mu-opioid receptor mechanism. In addition, vitamin B12 contributed to hippocampal cholinergic system in processing of memory. Moreover, cholinergic and opioid systems may be involved in improving effect of vitamin B12 on pain-induced memory impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Erfanparast
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
| | - Esmaeal Tamaddonfard
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran
| | - Shaghayegh Nemati
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran
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29
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Drinkenburg WHIM, Ruigt GSF, Ahnaou A. Pharmaco-EEG Studies in Animals: An Overview of Contemporary Translational Applications. Neuropsychobiology 2016; 72:151-64. [PMID: 26901596 DOI: 10.1159/000442210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The contemporary value of animal pharmaco-electroencephalography (p-EEG)-based applications are strongly interlinked with progress in recording and neuroscience analysis methodology. While p-EEG in humans and animals has been shown to be closely related in terms of underlying neuronal substrates, both translational and back-translational approaches are being used to address extrapolation issues and optimize the translational validity of preclinical animal p-EEG paradigms and data. Present applications build further on animal p-EEG and pharmaco-sleep EEG findings, but also on stimulation protocols, more specifically pharmaco-event-related potentials. Pharmaceutical research into novel treatments for neurological and psychiatric diseases has employed an increasing number of pharmacological as well as transgenic models to assess the potential therapeutic involvement of different neurochemical systems and novel drug targets as well as underlying neuronal connectivity and synaptic function. Consequently, p-EEG studies, now also readily applied in modeled animals, continue to have an important role in drug discovery and development, with progressively more emphasis on its potential as a central readout for target engagement and as a (translational) functional marker of neuronal circuit processes underlying normal and pathological brain functioning. In a similar vein as was done for human p-EEG studies, the contribution of animal p-EEG studies can further benefit by adherence to guidelines for methodological standardization, which are presently under construction by the International Pharmaco-EEG Society (IPEG).
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The Novel, Nicotinic Alpha7 Receptor Partial Agonist, BMS-933043, Improves Cognition and Sensory Processing in Preclinical Models of Schizophrenia. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159996. [PMID: 27467081 PMCID: PMC4965148 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists is considered a promising approach for the treatment of cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia patients. In the present studies we characterized the novel agent, (2R)-N-(6-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-4-pyrimidinyl)-4'H-spiro[4-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,5'-[1,3]oxazol]-2'-amine (BMS-933043), in vitro and in rodent models of schizophrenia-like deficits in cognition and sensory processing. BMS-933043 showed potent binding affinity to native rat (Ki = 3.3 nM) and recombinant human alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (Ki = 8.1 nM) and agonist activity in a calcium fluorescence assay (EC50 = 23.4 nM) and whole cell voltage clamp electrophysiology (EC50 = 0.14 micromolar (rat) and 0.29 micromolar (human)). BMS-933043 exhibited a partial agonist profile relative to acetylcholine; the relative efficacy for net charge crossing the cell membrane was 67% and 78% at rat and human alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors respectively. BMS-933043 showed no agonist or antagonist activity at other nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes and was at least 300 fold weaker at binding to and antagonizing human 5-HT3A receptors (Ki = 2,451 nM; IC50 = 8,066 nM). BMS-933043 treatment i) improved 24 hour novel object recognition memory in mice (0.1-10 mg/kg, sc), ii) reversed MK-801-induced deficits in Y maze performance in mice (1-10 mg/kg, sc) and set shift performance in rats (1-10 mg/kg, po) and iii) reduced the number of trials required to complete the extradimensional shift discrimination in neonatal PCP treated rats performing the intra-dimensional/extradimensional set shifting task (0.1-3 mg/kg, po). BMS-933043 also improved auditory gating (0.56-3 mg/kg, sc) and mismatch negativity (0.03-3 mg/kg, sc) in rats treated with S(+)ketamine or neonatal phencyclidine respectively. Given this favorable preclinical profile BMS-933043 was selected for further development to support clinical evaluation in humans.
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31
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Bagdas D, Wilkerson JL, Kulkarni A, Toma W, AlSharari S, Gul Z, Lichtman AH, Papke RL, Thakur GA, Damaj MI. The α7 nicotinic receptor dual allosteric agonist and positive allosteric modulator GAT107 reverses nociception in mouse models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 173:2506-20. [PMID: 27243753 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Orthosteric agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the α7 nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR) represent novel therapeutic approaches for pain modulation. Moreover, compounds with dual function as allosteric agonists and PAMs, known as ago-PAMs, add further regulation of receptor function. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Initial studies examined the α7 ago-PAM, GAT107, in the formalin, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), LPS inflammatory pain models, the chronic constriction injury neuropathic pain model and the tail flick and hot plate acute thermal nociceptive assays. Additional studies examined the locus of action of GAT107 and immunohistochemical markers in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in the CFA model. KEY RESULTS Complementary pharmacological and genetic approaches confirmed that the dose-dependent antinociceptive effects of GAT107 were mediated through α7 nAChR. However, GAT107 was inactive in the tail flick and hot plate assays. In addition, GAT107 blocked conditioned place aversion elicited by acetic acid injection. Furthermore, intrathecal, but not intraplantar, injections of GAT107 reversed nociception in the CFA model, suggesting a spinal component of action. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed an increase in the expression of astrocyte-specific glial fibrillary acidic protein and phosphorylated p38MAPK within the spinal cords of mice treated with CFA, which was attenuated by intrathecal GAT107 treatment. Importantly, GAT107 did not elicit motor impairment and continued to produce antinociceptive effects after subchronic administration in both phases of the formalin test. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Collectively, these results provide the first proof of principle that α7 ago-PAMs represent an effective pharmacological strategy for treating inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Bagdas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Experimental Animals Breeding and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Jenny L Wilkerson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Abhijit Kulkarni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wisam Toma
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Shakir AlSharari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zulfiye Gul
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Roger L Papke
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ganesh A Thakur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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32
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Gass N, Weber-Fahr W, Sartorius A, Becker R, Didriksen M, Stensbøl TB, Bastlund JF, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Schwarz AJ. An acetylcholine alpha7 positive allosteric modulator rescues a schizophrenia-associated brain endophenotype in the 15q13.3 microdeletion, encompassing CHRNA7. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2016; 26:1150-60. [PMID: 27061851 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2016] [Revised: 03/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The 15q13.3 microdeletion copy number variation is strongly associated with schizophrenia and epilepsy. The CHRNA7 gene, encoding nicotinic acetylcholine alpha 7 receptors (nAChA7Rs), is hypothesized to be one of the main genes in this deletion causing the neuropsychiatric phenotype. Here we used a recently developed 15q13.3 microdeletion mouse model to explore whether an established schizophrenia-associated connectivity phenotype is replicated in a murine model, and whether positive modulation of nAChA7 receptor might pharmacologically normalize the connectivity patterns. Resting-state fMRI data were acquired from male mice carrying a hemizygous 15q13.3 microdeletion (N=9) and from wild-type mice (N=9). To study the connectivity profile of 15q13.3 mice and test the effect of nAChA7 positive allosteric modulation, the 15q13.3 mice underwent two imaging sessions, one week apart, receiving a single intraperitoneal injection of either 15mg/kg Lu AF58801 or saline. The control group comprised wild-type mice treated with saline. We performed seed-based functional connectivity analysis to delineate aberrant connectivity patterns associated with the deletion (15q13.3 mice (saline treatment) versus wild-type mice (saline treatment)) and their modulation by Lu AF58801 (15q13.3 mice (Lu AF58801 treatment) versus 15q13.3 mice (saline treatment)). Compared to wild-type mice, 15q13.3 mice evidenced a predominant hyperconnectivity pattern. The main effect of Lu AF58801 was a normalization of elevated functional connectivity between prefrontal and frontal, hippocampal, striatal, thalamic and auditory regions. The strongest effects were observed in brain regions expressing nAChA7Rs, namely hippocampus, cerebral cortex and thalamus. These effects may underlie the antiepileptic, pro-cognitive and auditory gating deficit-reversal effects of nAChA7R stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gass
- Research Group Translational Imaging, Department of Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Weber-Fahr
- Research Group Translational Imaging, Department of Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Sartorius
- Research Group Translational Imaging, Department of Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert Becker
- Research Group Translational Imaging, Department of Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adam J Schwarz
- Tailored Therapeutics - Neuroscience, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Kalkman HO, Feuerbach D. Modulatory effects of α7 nAChRs on the immune system and its relevance for CNS disorders. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:2511-30. [PMID: 26979166 PMCID: PMC4894934 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2175-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The clinical development of selective alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) agonists has hitherto been focused on disorders characterized by cognitive deficits (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia). However, α7 nAChRs are also widely expressed by cells of the immune system and by cells with a secondary role in pathogen defense. Activation of α7 nAChRs leads to an anti-inflammatory effect. Since sterile inflammation is a frequently observed phenomenon in both psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, melancholic and bipolar depression) and neurological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis), α7 nAChR agonists might show beneficial effects in these central nervous system disorders. In the current review, we summarize information on receptor expression, the intracellular signaling pathways they modulate and reasons for receptor dysfunction. Information from tobacco smoking, vagus nerve stimulation, and cholinesterase inhibition is used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of selective α7 nAChR agonists in these inflammation-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans O Kalkman
- Neuroscience Research, NIBR, Fabrikstrasse 22-3.001.02, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.
- , Gänsbühlgartenweg 7, 4132, Muttenz, Switzerland.
| | - Dominik Feuerbach
- Neuroscience Research, NIBR, Fabrikstrasse 22-3.001.02, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
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34
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Abbas M, Rahman S. Effects of alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor positive allosteric modulator on lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammatory pain in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2016. [DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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35
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Yan H, Zhang E, Feng C, Zhao X. Role of A3 adenosine receptor in diabetic neuropathy. J Neurosci Res 2016; 94:936-46. [PMID: 27319979 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Heng Yan
- Department of Anesthesiology; The Second Hospital of Shandong University; Jinan Shandong China
| | - Enshui Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics; Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University; Jinan Shandong China
| | - Chang Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology; The Second Hospital of Shandong University; Jinan Shandong China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology; The Second Hospital of Shandong University; Jinan Shandong China
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36
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Corradi J, Bouzat C. Understanding the Bases of Function and Modulation of α7 Nicotinic Receptors: Implications for Drug Discovery. Mol Pharmacol 2016; 90:288-99. [PMID: 27190210 DOI: 10.1124/mol.116.104240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) belongs to a superfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels involved in many physiologic and pathologic processes. Among nAChRs, receptors comprising the α7 subunit are unique because of their high Ca(2+) permeability and fast desensitization. nAChR agonists elicit a transient ion flux response that is further sustained by the release of calcium from intracellular sources. Owing to the dual ionotropic/metabotropic nature of α7 receptors, signaling pathways are activated. The α7 subunit is highly expressed in the nervous system, mostly in regions implicated in cognition and memory and has therefore attracted attention as a novel drug target. Additionally, its dysfunction is associated with several neuropsychiatric and neurologic disorders, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. α7 is also expressed in non-neuronal cells, particularly immune cells, where it plays a role in immunity, inflammation, and neuroprotection. Thus, α7 potentiation has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for several neurologic and inflammatory disorders. With unique activation properties, the receptor is a sensitive drug target carrying different potential binding sites for chemical modulators, particularly agonists and positive allosteric modulators. Although macroscopic and single-channel recordings have provided significant information about the underlying molecular mechanisms and binding sites of modulatory compounds, we know just the tip of the iceberg. Further concerted efforts are necessary to effectively exploit α7 as a drug target for each pathologic situation. In this article, we focus mainly on the molecular basis of activation and drug modulation of α7, key pillars for rational drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremías Corradi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Universidad Nacional del Sur, CONICET/UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Bouzat
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Universidad Nacional del Sur, CONICET/UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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37
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Effects of alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor positive allosteric modulator on lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammatory pain in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2016; 783:85-91. [PMID: 27154173 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Evidence indicates that microglial activation contributes to the pathophysiology and maintenance of neuroinflammatory pain involving central nervous system alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of 3a,4,5,9b-Tetrahydro-4-(1-naphthalenyl)-3H-cyclopentan[c]quinoline-8-sulfonamide (TQS), an alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM), on tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia following lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation in hippocampus, a neuroinflammatory pain model in mice. In addition, we examined the effects of TQS on microglial activation marker, an ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), in the hippocampus may be associated with neuroinflammatory pain. Pretreatment of TQS (4mg/kg) significantly reduced LPS (1mg/kg)-induced tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Moreover, pretreatment of methyllycaconitine (3mg/kg) significantly reversed TQS-induced antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic responses indicating the involvement of alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Pretreatment of TQS significantly decreased LPS-induced increased in hippocampal Iba-1 expression. Overall, these results suggest that TQS reduces LPS-induced neuroinflammatory pain like symptoms via modulating microglial activation likely in the hippocampus and/or other brain region by targeting alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Therefore, alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor PAM such as TQS could be a potential drug candidate for the treatment of neuroinflammatory pain.
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Trenkwalder C, Berg D, Rascol O, Eggert K, Ceballos-Baumann A, Corvol JC, Storch A, Zhang L, Azulay JP, Broussolle E, Defebvre L, Geny C, Gostkowski M, Stocchi F, Tranchant C, Derkinderen P, Durif F, Espay AJ, Feigin A, Houeto JL, Schwarz J, Di Paolo T, Feuerbach D, Hockey HU, Jaeger J, Jakab A, Johns D, Linazasoro G, Maruff P, Rozenberg I, Sovago J, Weiss M, Gomez-Mancilla B. A Placebo-Controlled Trial of AQW051 in Patients With Moderate to Severe Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia. Mov Disord 2016; 31:1049-54. [PMID: 26990766 DOI: 10.1002/mds.26569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 agonist AQW051 in patients with Parkinson's disease and levodopa-induced dyskinesia. METHODS Patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and moderate to severe levodopa-induced dyskinesia were randomized to AQW051 10 mg (n = 24), AQW051 50 mg (n = 24), or placebo (n = 23) once daily for 28 days. Coprimary end points were change in Modified Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III scores. Secondary outcomes included pharmacokinetics. RESULTS In total, 67 patients completed the study. AQW051-treated patients experienced no significant improvements in Modified Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale or Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III scores by day 28. AQW051 was well tolerated; the most common adverse events were dyskinesia, fatigue, nausea, and falls. CONCLUSIONS AQW051 did not significantly reduce dyskinesia or parkinsonian severity. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Trenkwalder
- Paracelsus-Elena Hospital, Kassel, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany.,German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Berg
- German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olivier Rascol
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Neurosciences, NeuroToul Excellence Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University UPS of Toulouse III, CIC-9302/INSERM UMR825, Hôpital Purpan - Pavillon Riser, Toulouse, France.,NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France
| | - Karla Eggert
- German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andres Ceballos-Baumann
- German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany.,Schön Klinik München-Schwabing, München, Germany
| | - Jean-Christophe Corvol
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, and INSERM UMRS 1127 /CIC-1422, and CNRS UMR 7225, and AP-HP, and ICM, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Département des maladies du système nerveux, Paris, France
| | - Alexander Storch
- German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany.,Division of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, UC Davis MIND Institute, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Azulay
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Service de Neurologie et pathologie du Mouvement, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille Cedex, France
| | - Emmanuel Broussolle
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Univisité Lyon 1, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Service de Neurologie C, Lyon, France.,CNRS UMR 5229, Centre de Neurosciences Cognitives, Team Basal Ganglia, Bron, France
| | - Luc Defebvre
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Service de Neurologie et Pathologie du movement, EA 1046, CHU de Lille, Hôpital Roger Salengro, Lille, France
| | - Christian Geny
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Movement to Health (M2H) laboratory, Euromov, University Montpellier 1, Hôpital gui de Chauliac, Montpellier, France
| | - Michal Gostkowski
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Fabrizio Stocchi
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Research and Medical Care, IROCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Christine Tranchant
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Service de Neurologie, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pascal Derkinderen
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Centre Investigation Clinique Neurologie, CHU Nantes, Hôpital G&R Laennec, Nantes, France
| | - Franck Durif
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Gabriel Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Alberto J Espay
- Department of Neurology, James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew Feigin
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore - LIJ Health System, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Jean-Luc Houeto
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Service de Neurologie, CIC-INSERM 1402, CHU de Poitiers, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Johannes Schwarz
- German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany.,Klinik Haag, Haag, Germany
| | - Thérèse Di Paolo
- Neuroscience Research Unit, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec, Canada.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Hans-Ulrich Hockey
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Biometrics Matters Ltd, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Judith Jaeger
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA, and CognitionMetrics, LLC, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | - Annamaria Jakab
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Donald Johns
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | - Judit Sovago
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Weiss
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Baltazar Gomez-Mancilla
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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Synthesis and biological activities of indolizine derivatives as alpha-7 nAChR agonists. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 115:94-108. [PMID: 26994846 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of schizophrenia accompanied with cognitive impairment. Herein, we report the synthesis and agonistic activities of a series of indolizine derivatives targeting to α7 nAChR. The results show that all synthesized compounds have affinity to α7 nAChR and some give strong agonistic activity, particularly most active agonists show higher potency than control EVP-6124. The docking and structure-activity relationship studies provide insights to develop more potent novel α7 nAChR agonists.
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40
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Janes K, Symons-Liguori AM, Jacobson KA, Salvemini D. Identification of A3 adenosine receptor agonists as novel non-narcotic analgesics. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 173:1253-67. [PMID: 26804983 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain negatively impacts the quality of life in a variety of patient populations. The current therapeutic repertoire is inadequate in managing patient pain and warrants the development of new therapeutics. Adenosine and its four cognate receptors (A1 , A2A , A2B and A3 ) have important roles in physiological and pathophysiological states, including chronic pain. Preclinical and clinical studies have revealed that while adenosine and agonists of the A1 and A2A receptors have antinociceptive properties, their therapeutic utility is limited by adverse cardiovascular side effects. In contrast, our understanding of the A3 receptor is only in its infancy, but exciting preclinical observations of A3 receptor antinociception, which have been bolstered by clinical trials of A3 receptor agonists in other disease states, suggest pain relief without cardiovascular side effects and with sufficient tolerability. Our goal herein is to briefly discuss adenosine and its receptors in the context of pathological pain and to consider the current data regarding A3 receptor-mediated antinociception. We will highlight recent findings regarding the impact of the A3 receptor on pain pathways and examine the current state of selective A3 receptor agonists used for these studies. The adenosine-to-A3 receptor pathway represents an important endogenous system that can be targeted to provide safe, effective pain relief from chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Janes
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - A M Symons-Liguori
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - K A Jacobson
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - D Salvemini
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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41
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Bagdas D, Targowska-Duda KM, López JJ, Perez EG, Arias HR, Damaj MI. The Antinociceptive and Antiinflammatory Properties of 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide, a Positive Allosteric Modulator of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Mice. Anesth Analg 2016; 121:1369-77. [PMID: 26280585 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000000902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) facilitate endogenous neurotransmission and/or enhance the efficacy of agonists without directly acting on the orthosteric binding sites. In this regard, selective α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor type II PAMs display antinociceptive activity in rodent chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain models. This study investigates whether 3-furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide (PAM-2), a new putative α7-selective type II PAM, attenuates experimental inflammatory and neuropathic pains in mice. METHODS We tested the activity of PAM-2 after intraperitoneal administration in 3 pain assays: the carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain, the complete Freund adjuvant-induced inflammatory pain, and the chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain in mice. We also tested whether PAM-2 enhanced the effects of the selective α7 agonist choline in the mouse carrageenan test given intrathecally. Because the experience of pain has both sensory and affective dimensions, we also evaluated the effects of PAM-2 on acetic acid-induced aversion by using the conditioned place aversion test. RESULTS We observed that systemic administration of PAM-2 significantly reversed mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in inflammatory and neuropathic pain models in a dose- and time-dependent manner without motor impairment. In addition, by attenuating the paw edema in inflammatory models, PAM-2 showed antiinflammatory properties. The antinociceptive effect of PAM-2 was inhibited by the selective competitive antagonist methyllycaconitine, indicating that the effect is mediated by α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Furthermore, PAM-2 enhanced the antiallodynic and antiinflammatory effects of choline, a selective α7 agonist, in the mouse carrageenan test. PAM-2 was also effective in reducing acetic acid-induced aversion in the conditioned place aversion assay. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the administration of PAM-2, a new α7-selective type II PAM, reduces the neuropathic and inflammatory pain sensory and affective behaviors in the mouse. Thus, this drug may have therapeutic applications in the treatment and management of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Bagdas
- From the *Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; †Experimental Animals Breeding and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey; ‡Department of Biopharmacy, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Neuroengineering, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland; §Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and ‖Department of Medical Education, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, California
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42
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Wan D, Wang D, Sun Q, Song Y, Jiang Y, Li R, Ye J. Antinociception of spirocyclopiperazinium salt compound LXM-10-M targeting α7 nicotinic receptor and M4 muscarinic receptor and inhibiting CaMKIIα/CREB/CGRP signaling pathway in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2015; 770:92-8. [PMID: 26658370 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.11.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the antinociception of spirocyclopiperazinium salt compound LXM-10-M (2,4-dimethyl-9-β-m-hydroxyphenylethyl-3-oxo-6, 9-diazaspiro [5.5] undecane chloride) in thermal and chemical pain models, and further to explore the molecular target and potential signal pathway. We assessed the antinociception of LXM-10-M in hot-plate test, formalin test and acetic acid writhing test in mice. The possible changes of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)/calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) signaling pathway were detected by Western Blot in mice. Administration of LXM-10-M produced significant antinociception in hot-plate test, formalin test and acetic acid writhing test in mice, with no obvious toxicity. The antinociceptive effects were blocked by pretreatment with methyllycaconitine citrate (MLA, α7 nicotinic receptor antagonist) or tropicamide (TRO, M4 muscarinic receptor antagonist). Western blot analysis showed that the upregulations of p-CaMKIIα, p-CREB and CGRP in the spinal cord were reduced by LXM-10-M in chemical pain model in mice, and the effects were blocked by MLA or TRO pretreatment. This is the first paper to report that LXM-10-M exerted significant antinociception, which may be attributed to the activation of α7 nicotinic receptor and M4 muscarinic receptor and thereby triggering the inhibition of CaMKIIα/CREB/CGRP signaling pathway in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ding Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Sun
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Song
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - YiMin Jiang
- Medical and Healthy Analysis Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - RunTao Li
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Ye
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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43
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Bertrand D, Lee CHL, Flood D, Marger F, Donnelly-Roberts D. Therapeutic Potential of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Pharmacol Rev 2015; 67:1025-73. [DOI: 10.1124/pr.113.008581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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44
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Featherstone RE, Siegel SJ. The Role of Nicotine in Schizophrenia. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2015; 124:23-78. [PMID: 26472525 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is associated with by severe disruptions in thought, cognition, emotion, and behavior. Patients show a marked increase in rates of smoking and nicotine dependence relative to nonaffected individuals, a finding commonly ascribed to the potential ameliorative effects of nicotine on symptom severity and cognitive impairment. Indeed, many studies have demonstrated improvement in patients following the administration of nicotine. Such findings have led to an increased emphasis on the development of therapeutic agents to target the nicotinic system as well as increasing the impetus to understand the genetic basis for nicotinic dysfunction in schizophrenia. The goal of this review article is to provide a critical summary of evidence for the role of the nicotinic system in schizophrenia. The first part will review the role of nicotine in normalization of primary dysfunctions and endophenotypical changes found in schizophrenia. The second part will provide a summary of genetic evidence linking polymorphisms in nicotinic receptor genes to smoking and schizophrenia. The third part will summarize attempts to treat schizophrenia using agents specifically targeting nicotinic and nicotinic receptor subtypes. Although currently available antipsychotic treatments are generally able to manage some aspects of schizophrenia (e.g., positive symptoms) they fail to address several other critically effected aspects of the disease. As such, the search for novel mechanisms to treat this disease is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Featherstone
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Steven J Siegel
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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45
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Neural Stem Cell Transplant-Induced Effect on Neurogenesis and Cognition in Alzheimer Tg2576 Mice Is Inhibited by Concomitant Treatment with Amyloid-Lowering or Cholinergic α7 Nicotinic Receptor Drugs. Neural Plast 2015; 2015:370432. [PMID: 26257960 PMCID: PMC4518185 DOI: 10.1155/2015/370432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Stimulating regeneration in the brain has the potential to rescue neuronal networks and counteract progressive pathological changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study investigated whether drugs with different mechanisms of action could enhance neurogenesis and improve cognition in mice receiving human neural stem cell (hNSC) transplants. Six- to nine-month-old AD Tg2576 mice were treated for five weeks with the amyloid-modulatory and neurotrophic drug (+)-phenserine or with the partial α7 nicotinic receptor (nAChR) agonist JN403, combined with bilateral intrahippocampal hNSC transplantation. We observed improved spatial memory in hNSC-transplanted non-drug-treated Tg2576 mice but not in those receiving drugs, and this was accompanied by an increased number of Doublecortin- (DCX-) positive cells in the dentate gyrus, a surrogate marker for newly generated neurons. Treatment with (+)-phenserine did however improve graft survival in the hippocampus. An accumulation of α7 nAChR-expressing astrocytes was observed around the injection site, suggesting their involvement in repair and scarring processes. Interestingly, JN403 treatment decreased the number of α7 nAChR-expressing astrocytes, correlating with a reduction in the number of DCX-positive cells in the dentate gyrus. We conclude that transplanting hNSCs enhances endogenous neurogenesis and prevents further cognitive deterioration in Tg2576 mice, while simultaneous treatments with (+)-phenserine or JN403 result in countertherapeutic effects.
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46
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Hall FS, Der-Avakian A, Gould TJ, Markou A, Shoaib M, Young JW. Negative affective states and cognitive impairments in nicotine dependence. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 58:168-85. [PMID: 26054790 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Smokers have substantial individual differences in quit success in response to current treatments for nicotine dependence. This observation may suggest that different underlying motivations for continued tobacco use across individuals and nicotine cessation may require different treatments in different individuals. Although most animal models of nicotine dependence emphasize the positive reinforcing effects of nicotine as the major motivational force behind nicotine use, smokers generally report that other consequences of nicotine use, including the ability of nicotine to alleviate negative affective states or cognitive impairments, as reasons for continued smoking. These states could result from nicotine withdrawal, but also may be associated with premorbid differences in affective and/or cognitive function. Effects of nicotine on cognition and affect may alleviate these impairments regardless of their premorbid or postmorbid origin (e.g., before or after the development of nicotine dependence). The ability of nicotine to alleviate these symptoms would thus negatively reinforce behavior, and thus maintain subsequent nicotine use, contributing to the initiation of smoking, the progression to dependence and relapse during quit attempts. The human and animal studies reviewed here support the idea that self-medication for pre-morbid and withdrawal-induced impairments may be more important factors in nicotine addiction and relapse than has been previously appreciated in preclinical research into nicotine dependence. Given the diverse beneficial effects of nicotine under these conditions, individuals might smoke for quite different reasons. This review suggests that inter-individual differences in the diverse effects of nicotine associated with self-medication and negative reinforcement are an important consideration in studies attempting to understand the causes of nicotine addiction, as well as in the development of effective, individualized nicotine cessation treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Scott Hall
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
| | - Andre Der-Avakian
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Thomas J Gould
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Athina Markou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mohammed Shoaib
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Jared W Young
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
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Xanthos DN, Beiersdorf JW, Thrun A, Ianosi B, Orr-Urtreger A, Huck S, Scholze P. Role of α5-containing nicotinic receptors in neuropathic pain and response to nicotine. Neuropharmacology 2015; 95:37-49. [PMID: 25725336 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinic receptors in the central nervous system (nAChRs) are known to play important roles in pain processing and modulate behavioral responses to analgesic drugs, including nicotine. The presence of the α5-neuronal nicotinic accessory subunit in the nicotinic receptor complex is increasingly understood to modulate reward and aversive states, addiction, and possibly pathological pain. In the current study, using α5-knockout (KO) mice and subunit-specific antibodies, we assess the role of α5-containing neuronal nicotinic receptors in neuropathic pain and in the analgesic response to nicotine. After chronic constriction injury (CCI) or partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL), no differences in mechanical, heat, or cold hyperalgesia were found in wild-type (WT) versus α5-KO littermate mice. The number of α5-containing nAChRs was decreased (rather than increased) after CCI in the spinal cord and in the thalamus. Nevertheless, thermal analgesic response to nicotine was marginally reduced in CCI α5-KO mice at 4 days after CCI, but not at later timepoints or after PSNL. Interestingly, upon daily intermittent nicotine injections in unoperated mice, WT animals developed tolerance to nicotine-induced analgesia to a larger extent than α5-KO mice. Our results suggest that α5-containing nAChRs mediate analgesic tolerance to nicotine but do not play a major role in neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris N Xanthos
- Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, 1090 Austria.
| | - Johannes W Beiersdorf
- Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, 1090 Austria
| | - Ariane Thrun
- Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, 1090 Austria
| | - Bogdan Ianosi
- Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, 1090 Austria
| | - Avi Orr-Urtreger
- The Genetic Institute, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel; The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Sigismund Huck
- Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, 1090 Austria
| | - Petra Scholze
- Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, 1090 Austria.
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48
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Feuerbach D, Pezous N, Weiss M, Shakeri-Nejad K, Lingenhoehl K, Hoyer D, Hurth K, Bilbe G, Pryce CR, McAllister K, Chaperon F, Kucher K, Johns D, Blaettler T, Lopez Lopez C. AQW051, a novel, potent and selective α7 nicotinic ACh receptor partial agonist: pharmacological characterization and phase I evaluation. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:1292-304. [PMID: 25363835 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Activation of the α7 nicotinic ACh receptor (nACh receptor) is considered an attractive target for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with neurological disorders. Here we describe the novel α7-nACh receptor agonist AQW051 as a promising drug candidate for this indication. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH AQW051 was functionally characterized in vitro and cognitive effects evaluated in rodent behavioural models. Pharmacokinetics and tolerability were evaluated in three phase I placebo-controlled studies in 180 healthy subjects. KEY RESULTS In vitro, AQW051 bound with high affinity to α7-nACh receptors and stimulated calcium influx in cells recombinantly expressing the human α7-nACh receptor. In vivo, AQW051 demonstrated good oral bioavailability and rapid penetration into the rodent brain. AQW051 administered over a broad dose range facilitated learning/memory performance in the object recognition and social recognition test in mice and the water maze model in aged rats. Clinically, AQW051 was well tolerated in healthy young and elderly subjects, with an adverse event (AE) profile comparable with placebo. No serious AEs were reported and all AEs were either mild or moderate in severity at single oral doses up to 200 mg and multiple daily doses up to 75 mg. Once-daily oral administration of AQW051 resulted in continuous exposure and a two- to threefold accumulation compared with steady state was achieved by 1 week. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These data support further development of AQW051 as a cognitive-enhancing agent, as a therapeutic, for example, in Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia.
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49
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Fan H, Gu R, Wei D. The α7 nAChR selective agonists as drug candidates for Alzheimer's disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2015; 827:353-65. [PMID: 25387975 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-9245-5_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ion channels distribute in the central or peripheral nervous system. They are receptors of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and activation of them by agonists mediates synaptic transmission in the neuron and muscle contraction in the neuromuscular junction. Current studies reveal relationship between the nAChRs and the learning and memory as well as cognation deficit in various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and drug addiction. There are various subtypes in the nAChR family and the α7 nAChR is one of the most abundant subtypes in the brain. The α7 nAChR is significantly reduced in the patients of Alzheimer's disease and is believed to interact with the Aβ amyloid. Aβ amyloid is co-localized with α7 nAChR in the senile plaque and interaction between them induces neuron apoptosis and reduction of the α7 nAChR expression. Treatment with α7 agonist in vivo shows its neuron protective and procognation properties and significantly improves the learning and memory ability of the animal models. Therefore, the α7 nAChR agonists are excellent drug candidates for Alzheimer's disease and we summarized here the current agonists that have selectivity of the α7 nAChR over the other nAChR, introduced recent molecular modeling works trying to explain the molecular mechanism of their selectivity and described the design of novel allosteric modulators in our lab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaimeng Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Shen J, Wu J. Nicotinic Cholinergic Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2015; 124:275-92. [PMID: 26472533 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by increased accumulation of Aβ and degeneration of cholinergic signaling between basal forebrain and hippocampus. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are important mediators of cholinergic signaling in modulation of learning and memory function. Accumulating lines of evidence indicate that a nAChR subtype, α7 receptor (α7-nAChR), plays an important role in modulations of excitatory neurotransmitter release, improvement of learning and memory ability, and enhancement of cognitive function. Importantly, the expression and function of α7-nAChRs is altered in the brain of AD animal models and AD patients, suggesting that this nAChR subtype participates in AD pathogenesis and may serve as a novel therapeutic target for AD treatment. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of α7-nAChRs in AD pathogenesis are very complex, and either neuroprotective effects or neurotoxic effects may occur through the α7-nAChRs. These effects depend on the levels of α7-nAChR expression and function, disease stages, or the use of α7-nAChR agonists, antagonists, or allosteric modulators. In this chapter, we summarize recent progresses in the roles of α7-nAChRs played in AD pathogenesis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxin Shen
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China; Divisions of Neurology and Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix Arizona, USA.
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