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Pickford J, Iosif CI, Bashir ZI, Apps R. Inhibiting cholinergic signalling in the cerebellar interpositus nucleus impairs motor behaviour. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:2208-2224. [PMID: 37455360 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The role of neuromodulators in the cerebellum is not well understood. In particular, the behavioural significance of the cholinergic system in the cerebellum is unknown. To investigate the importance of cerebellar cholinergic signalling in behaviour, we infused acetylcholine receptor antagonists, scopolamine and mecamylamine, bilaterally into the rat cerebellum (centred on interpositus nucleus) and observed the motor effects through a battery of behavioural tests. These tests included unrewarded behaviour during open field exploration and a horizontal ladder walking task and reward-based beam walking and pellet reaching tasks. Infusion of a mix of the antagonists did not impair motor learning in the horizontal ladder walking or the reaching task but reduced spontaneous movement during open field exploration, impaired coordination during beam walking and ladder walking, led to fewer reaches in the pellet reaching task, slowed goal-directed reaching behaviour and reduced reward pellet consumption in a free access to food task. Infusion of the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine on its own resulted in deficits in motor performance and a reduction in the number of reward pellets consumed in the free access to food task. By contrast, infusion of the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine on its own had no significant effect on any task, except beam walking traversal time, which was reduced. Together, these data suggest that acetylcholine in the cerebellar interpositus nucleus is important for the execution and coordination of voluntary movements mainly via muscarinic receptor signalling, especially in relation to reward-related behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Pickford
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Cristiana I Iosif
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Zafar I Bashir
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Richard Apps
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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2
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Habib M, Lalagkas PN, Melamed RD. Mapping drug biology to disease genetics to discover drug impacts on the human phenome. BIOINFORMATICS ADVANCES 2024; 4:vbae038. [PMID: 38736684 PMCID: PMC11087821 DOI: 10.1093/bioadv/vbae038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Motivation Medications can have unexpected effects on disease, including not only harmful drug side effects, but also beneficial drug repurposing. These effects on disease may result from hidden influences of drugs on disease gene networks. Then, discovering how biological effects of drugs relate to disease biology can both provide insight into the mechanism of latent drug effects, and can help predict new effects. Results Here, we develop Draphnet, a model that integrates molecular data on 429 drugs and gene associations of nearly 200 common phenotypes to learn a network that explains drug effects on disease in terms of these molecular signals. We present evidence that our method can both predict drug effects, and can provide insight into the biology of unexpected drug effects on disease. Using Draphnet to map a drug's known molecular effects to downstream effects on the disease genome, we put forward disease genes impacted by drugs, and we suggest a new grouping of drugs based on shared effects on the disease genome. Our approach has multiple applications, including predicting drug uses and learning drug biology, with implications for personalized medicine. Availability and implementation Code to reproduce the analysis is available at https://github.com/RDMelamed/drug-phenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamoon Habib
- Department of Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
| | | | - Rachel D Melamed
- Department of Biological Science, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
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3
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Kamens HM, Flarend G, Horton WJ. The role of nicotinic receptors in alcohol consumption. Pharmacol Res 2023; 190:106705. [PMID: 36813094 PMCID: PMC10083870 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The use of alcohol causes significant morbidity and mortality across the globe. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is defined by the excessive use of this drug despite a negative impact on the individual's life. While there are currently medications available to treat AUD, they have limited efficacy and several side effects. As such, it is essential to continue to look for novel therapeutics. One target for novel therapeutics is nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Here we systematically review the literature on the involvement of nAChRs in alcohol consumption. Data from both genetic and pharmacology studies provide evidence that nAChRs modulate alcohol intake. Interestingly, pharmacological modulation of all nAChR subtypes examined can decrease alcohol consumption. The reviewed literature demonstrates that nAChRs should continue to be investigated as novel therapeutics for AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen M Kamens
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
| | - Geneva Flarend
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - William J Horton
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
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4
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Kanasuwan A, Deuther-Conrad W, Chongruchiroj S, Sarasamkan J, Chotipanich C, Vajragupta O, Arunrungvichian K. Selective α 3β 4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Ligand as a Potential Tracer for Drug Addiction. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043614. [PMID: 36835028 PMCID: PMC9959096 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
α3β4 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) has been recognized as an emerging biomarker for the early detection of drug addiction. Herein, α3β4 nAChR ligands were designed and synthesized to improve the binding affinity and selectivity of two lead compounds, (S)-QND8 and (S)-T2, for the development of an α3β4 nAChR tracer. The structural modification was achieved by retaining the key features and expanding the molecular structure with a benzyloxy group to increase the lipophilicity for blood-brain barrier penetration and to extend the ligand-receptor interaction. The preserved key features are a fluorine atom for radiotracer development and a p-hydroxyl motif for ligand-receptor binding affinity. Four (R)- and (S)-quinuclidine-triazole (AK1-AK4) were synthesized and the binding affinity, together with selectivity to α3β4 nAChR subtype, were determined by competitive radioligand binding assay using [3H]epibatidine as a radioligand. Among all modified compounds, AK3 showed the highest binding affinity and selectivity to α3β4 nAChR with a Ki value of 3.18 nM, comparable to (S)-QND8 and (S)-T2 and 3069-fold higher affinity to α3β4 nAChR in comparison to α7 nAChR. The α3β4 nAChR selectivity of AK3 was considerably higher than those of (S)-QND8 (11.8-fold) and (S)-T2 (294-fold). AK3 was shown to be a promising α3β4 nAChR tracer for further development as a radiotracer for drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apinan Kanasuwan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, 447 Sri-Ayutthaya Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- National Cyclotron and PET Centre, Chulabhorn Hospital, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, 906 Kamphaengphet 6 Rd., Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Winnie Deuther-Conrad
- Department of Neuroradiopharmaceuticals, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sumet Chongruchiroj
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, 447 Sri-Ayutthaya Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Jiradanai Sarasamkan
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mittraphap Rd., Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Chanisa Chotipanich
- National Cyclotron and PET Centre, Chulabhorn Hospital, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, 906 Kamphaengphet 6 Rd., Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Opa Vajragupta
- Molecular Probes for Imaging Research Network, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Rd., Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kuntarat Arunrungvichian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, 447 Sri-Ayutthaya Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Correspondence:
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5
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Tangmanussukum P, Kawichai T, Suratanee A, Plaimas K. Heterogeneous network propagation with forward similarity integration to enhance drug-target association prediction. PeerJ Comput Sci 2022; 8:e1124. [PMID: 36262151 PMCID: PMC9575853 DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.1124] [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: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Identification of drug-target interaction (DTI) is a crucial step to reduce time and cost in the drug discovery and development process. Since various biological data are publicly available, DTIs have been identified computationally. To predict DTIs, most existing methods focus on a single similarity measure of drugs and target proteins, whereas some recent methods integrate a particular set of drug and target similarity measures by a single integration function. Therefore, many DTIs are still missing. In this study, we propose heterogeneous network propagation with the forward similarity integration (FSI) algorithm, which systematically selects the optimal integration of multiple similarity measures of drugs and target proteins. Seven drug-drug and nine target-target similarity measures are applied with four distinct integration methods to finally create an optimal heterogeneous network model. Consequently, the optimal model uses the target similarity based on protein sequences and the fused drug similarity, which combines the similarity measures based on chemical structures, the Jaccard scores of drug-disease associations, and the cosine scores of drug-drug interactions. With an accuracy of 99.8%, this model significantly outperforms others that utilize different similarity measures of drugs and target proteins. In addition, the validation of the DTI predictions of this model demonstrates the ability of our method to discover missing potential DTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyanut Tangmanussukum
- Advanced Virtual and Intelligent Computing (AVIC) Center, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thitipong Kawichai
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Academic Division, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand
| | - Apichat Suratanee
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Applied Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
- Intelligent and Nonlinear Dynamics Innovations Research Center, Science and Technology Research Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kitiporn Plaimas
- Advanced Virtual and Intelligent Computing (AVIC) Center, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Omics Science and Bioinformatics Center, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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6
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Kaneko S, Niki Y, Yamada K, Nasukawa D, Ujihara Y, Toda K. Systemic injection of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist mecamylamine affects licking, eyelid size, and locomotor and autonomic activities but not temporal prediction in male mice. Mol Brain 2022; 15:77. [PMID: 36068635 PMCID: PMC9450238 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-022-00959-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are thought to be associated with a wide range of phenomena, such as movement, learning, memory, attention, and addiction. However, the causal relationship between nicotinic receptor activity and behavior remains unclear. Contrary to the studies that examined the functions of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, the role of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on behavior has not been examined as extensively. Here, we examined the effects of intraperitoneal injection of mecamylamine, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, on the performance of male mice in a head-fixed temporal conditioning task and a free-moving open-field task. The head-fixed experimental setup allowed us to record and precisely quantify the licking response while the mice performed the behavioral task with no external cues. In addition, by combining the utility of the head-fixed experimental design with computer vision analysis based on deep learning algorithms, we succeeded in quantifying the eyelid size of awake mice. In the temporal conditioning task, we delivered a 10% sucrose solution every 10 s using a blunt-tipped needle placed within the licking distance of the mice. After the training, the mice showed increased anticipatory licking toward the timing of sucrose delivery, suggesting that the mice could predict the timing of the reward. Systemic injection of mecamylamine decreased licking behavior and caused eye closure but had no effect on learned conditioned predictive behavior in the head-fixed temporal conditioning task. In addition, the injection of mecamylamine decreased spontaneous locomotor activity in a dose-dependent manner in the free-moving open-field task. The results in the open-field experiments further revealed that the effect of mecamylamine on fecal output and urination, suggesting the effects on autonomic activities. Our achievement of successful eyelid size recording has potential as a useful approach in initial screening for drug discovery. Our study paves a way forward to understanding the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on learning and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Kaneko
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Mita 2-15-45, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Niki
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Mita 2-15-45, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kota Yamada
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Mita 2-15-45, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.,Japan Society for Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daiki Nasukawa
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Mita 2-15-45, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Ujihara
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, TN, Memphis, USA
| | - Koji Toda
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Mita 2-15-45, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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7
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Lesmana MHS, Le NQK, Chiu WC, Chung KH, Wang CY, Irham LM, Chung MH. Genomic-Analysis-Oriented Drug Repurposing in the Search for Novel Antidepressants. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081947. [PMID: 36009493 PMCID: PMC9405592 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
From inadequate prior antidepressants that targeted monoamine neurotransmitter systems emerged the discovery of alternative drugs for depression. For instance, drugs targeted interleukin 6 receptor (IL6R) in inflammatory system. Genomic analysis-based drug repurposing using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) inclined a promising method for several diseases. However, none of the diseases was depression. Thus, we aimed to identify drug repurposing candidates for depression treatment by adopting a genomic-analysis-based approach. The 5885 SNPs obtained from the machine learning approach were annotated using HaploReg v4.1. Five sets of functional annotations were applied to determine the depression risk genes. The STRING database was used to expand the target genes and identify drug candidates from the DrugBank database. We validated the findings using the ClinicalTrial.gov and PubMed databases. Seven genes were observed to be strongly associated with depression (functional annotation score = 4). Interestingly, IL6R was auspicious as a target gene according to the validation outcome. We identified 20 drugs that were undergoing preclinical studies or clinical trials for depression. In addition, we identified sarilumab and satralizumab as drugs that exhibit strong potential for use in the treatment of depression. Our findings indicate that a genomic-analysis-based approach can facilitate the discovery of drugs that can be repurposed for treating depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nguyen Quoc Khanh Le
- Professional Master Program in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Translational Imaging Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Che Chiu
- Department of Psychiatry, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei 10630, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242062, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Hsuan Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yang Wang
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Lalu Muhammad Irham
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ahmad Dahlan, Yogyakarta 55164, Indonesia
- Correspondence: (L.M.I.); (M.-H.C.); Tel.: +62-851-322-55-414 (L.M.I.); +886-02-2736-1661 (M.-H.C.)
| | - Min-Huey Chung
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (L.M.I.); (M.-H.C.); Tel.: +62-851-322-55-414 (L.M.I.); +886-02-2736-1661 (M.-H.C.)
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8
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Wigenstam E, Artursson E, Bucht A, Thors L. Supplemental treatment to atropine improves the efficacy to reverse nerve agent induced bronchoconstriction. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 364:110061. [PMID: 35872047 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to highly toxic organophosphorus compounds causes inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase resulting in a cholinergic toxidrome and innervation of receptors in the neuromuscular junction may cause life-threatening respiratory effects. The involvement of several receptor systems was therefore examined for their impact on bronchoconstriction using an ex vivo rat precision-cut lung slice (PCLS) model. The ability to recover airways with therapeutics following nerve agent exposure was determined by quantitative analyses of muscle contraction. PCLS exposed to nicotine resulted in a dose-dependent bronchoconstriction. The neuromuscular nicotinic antagonist tubocurarine counteracted the nicotine-induced bronchoconstriction but not the ganglion blocker mecamylamine or the common muscarinic antagonist atropine. Correspondingly, atropine demonstrated a significant airway relaxation following ACh-exposure while tubocurarine did not. Atropine, the M3 muscarinic receptor antagonist 4-DAMP, tubocurarine, the β2-adrenergic receptor agonist formoterol, the Na+-channel blocker tetrodotoxin and the KATP-channel opener cromakalim all significantly decreased airway contractions induced by electric field stimulation. Following VX-exposure, treatment with atropine and the Ca2+-channel blocker magnesium sulfate resulted in significant airway relaxation. Formoterol, cromakalim and magnesium sulfate administered in combinations with atropine demonstrated an additive effect. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated improved airway function following nerve agent exposure by adjunct treatment to the standard therapy of atropine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisabet Artursson
- Swedish Defence Research Agency, CBRN Defence and Security, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anders Bucht
- Swedish Defence Research Agency, CBRN Defence and Security, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lina Thors
- Swedish Defence Research Agency, CBRN Defence and Security, Umeå, Sweden.
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9
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Nirogi R, Abraham R, Jayarajan P, Goura V, Kallepalli R, Medapati RB, Tadiparthi J, Goyal VK, Pandey SK, Subramanian R, Petlu S, Thentu JB, Palacharla VRC, Gagginapally SR, Mohammed AR, Jasti V. Ropanicant (SUVN-911), an α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist intended for the treatment of depressive disorders: pharmacological, behavioral, and neurochemical characterization. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:2215-2232. [PMID: 35298691 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06108-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Ropanicant (SUVN-911) (3-(6-Chloropyridine-3-yloxymethyl)-2-azabicyclo (3.1.0) hexane hydrochloride) is a novel α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist being developed for the treatment of depressive disorders. OBJECTIVES Pharmacological and neurochemical characterization of Ropanicant to support a potential molecule for the treatment of depressive disorders. METHODS Ropanicant was assessed for antidepressant-like activity using the rat forced swimming test (FST) and differential reinforcement of low rate -72 s (DRL-72 s). Alleviation of anhedonia was assessed in chronic mild stress model using sucrose preference test. To understand the mechanism of action, serotonin levels, ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were determined. The onset of antidepressant-like activity was determined using the reduction in submissive behavior assay. The effects on cognition and sexual functions were assessed using the object recognition task and sexual dysfunction assay respectively. Interaction of Ropanicant, TC-5214, and methyllycaconitine (MLA) with citalopram was investigated individually in mice FST. RESULTS Ropanicant exhibited antidepressant like properties in the FST and DRL-72 s. A significant reduction in anhedonia was observed in the sucrose preference test. Oral administration of Ropanicant produced a significant increase in serotonin and BDNF levels, with a reduction in the Iba1 activity. The onset of antidepressant like effect with Ropanicant was within a week of treatment, and was devoid of cognitive dulling and sexual dysfunction. While Ropanicant potentiated the effect of citalopram in FST, such an effect was not observed with MLA or TC-5214. CONCLUSIONS Preclinical studies with Ropanicant support the likelihood of its therapeutic utility in the treatment of depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Venkat Jasti
- Suven Life Sciences Ltd, Hyderabad, 500034, India
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10
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Borbély É, Simon M, Fuchs E, Wiborg O, Czéh B, Helyes Z. Novel drug developmental strategies for treatment-resistant depression. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:1146-1186. [PMID: 34822719 PMCID: PMC9303797 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Because conventional therapies are ineffective in many patients, novel strategies are needed to overcome treatment‐resistant depression (TRD). Limiting factors of successful drug development in the last decades were the lack of (1) knowledge of pathophysiology, (2) translational animal models and (3) objective diagnostic biomarkers. Here, we review novel drug targets and drug candidates currently investigated in Phase I–III clinical trials. The most promising approaches are inhibition of glutamatergic neurotransmission by NMDA and mGlu5 receptor antagonists, modulation of the opioidergic system by κ receptor antagonists, and hallucinogenic tryptamine derivates. The only registered drug for TRD is the NMDA receptor antagonist, S‐ketamine, but add‐on therapies with second‐generation antipsychotics, certain nutritive, anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective agents seem to be effective. Currently, there is an intense research focus on large‐scale, high‐throughput omics and neuroimaging studies. These results might provide new insights into molecular mechanisms and potential novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éva Borbély
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Hungary.,Molecular Pharmacology Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Mária Simon
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Centre, Medical School, University of Pécs, Hungary
| | - Eberhard Fuchs
- German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ove Wiborg
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Boldizsár Czéh
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Helyes
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Hungary.,Molecular Pharmacology Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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11
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Zapukhliak O, Netsyk O, Romanov A, Maximyuk O, Oz M, Holmes GL, Krishtal O, Isaev D. Mecamylamine inhibits seizure-like activity in CA1-CA3 hippocampus through antagonism to nicotinic receptors. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0240074. [PMID: 33711021 PMCID: PMC7954330 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic modulation of hippocampal network function is implicated in multiple behavioral and cognitive states. Activation of nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors affects neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission and rhythmic oscillations in the hippocampus. In this work, we studied the ability of the cholinergic system to sustain hippocampal epileptiform activity independently from glutamate and GABA transmission. Simultaneous CA3 and CA1 field potential recordings were obtained during the perfusion of hippocampal slices with the aCSF containing AMPA, NMDA and GABA receptor antagonists. Under these conditions, spontaneous epileptiform discharges synchronous between CA3 and CA1 were recorded. Epileptiform discharges were blocked by addition of the calcium-channel blocker Cd2+ and disappeared in CA1 after a surgical cut between CA3 and CA1. Cholinergic antagonist mecamylamine abolished CA3-CA1 synchronous epileptiform discharges, while antagonists of α7 and α4β2 nAChRs, MLA and DhβE, had no effect. Our results suggest that activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors can sustain CA3-CA1 synchronous epileptiform activity independently from AMPA, NMDA and GABA transmission. In addition, mecamylamine, but not α7 and α4β2 nAChRs antagonists, reduced bicuculline-induced seizure-like activity. The ability of mecamylamine to decrease hippocampal network synchronization might be associated with its therapeutic effects in a wide variety of CNS disorders including addiction, depression and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olha Zapukhliak
- Department of Cellular Membranology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Olga Netsyk
- Department of Cellular Membranology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Artur Romanov
- Department of Cellular Membranology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Oleksandr Maximyuk
- Department of Cellular Membranology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Murat Oz
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Gregory L. Holmes
- Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Oleg Krishtal
- Department of Cellular Membranology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Dmytro Isaev
- Department of Cellular Membranology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kiev, Ukraine
- * E-mail:
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Shukla R, Henkel ND, Alganem K, Hamoud AR, Reigle J, Alnafisah RS, Eby HM, Imami AS, Creeden JF, Miruzzi SA, Meller J, Mccullumsmith RE. Signature-based approaches for informed drug repurposing: targeting CNS disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:116-130. [PMID: 32604402 PMCID: PMC7688959 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0752-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
CNS disorders, and in particular psychiatric illnesses, lack definitive disease-altering therapeutics. The limited understanding of the mechanisms driving these illnesses with the slow pace and high cost of drug development exacerbates this issue. For these reasons, drug repurposing - both a less expensive and time-efficient practice compared to de novo drug development - has been a promising strategy to overcome the paucity of treatments available for these debilitating disorders. While empirical drug-repurposing has been a routine practice in clinical psychiatry, innovative, informed, and cost-effective repurposing efforts using big data ("omics") have been designed to characterize drugs by structural and transcriptomic signatures. These strategies, in conjunction with ontological integration, provide an important opportunity to address knowledge-based challenges associated with drug development for CNS disorders. In this review, we discuss various signature-based in silico approaches to drug repurposing, its integration with multiple omics platforms, and how this data can be used for clinically relevant, evidence-based drug repurposing. These tools provide an exciting translational avenue to merge omics-based drug discovery platforms with patient-specific disease signatures, ultimately facilitating the identification of new therapies for numerous psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rammohan Shukla
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
| | | | - Khaled Alganem
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | | | - James Reigle
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Hunter M Eby
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ali S Imami
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Justin F Creeden
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Scott A Miruzzi
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Jaroslaw Meller
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computing Systems, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Robert E Mccullumsmith
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
- Neurosciences Institute, ProMedica, Toledo, OH, USA
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Hernández-González O, Mondragón-García A, Hernández-López S, Castillo-Rolon DE, Arenas-López G, Tapia D, Mihailescu S. Mechanisms of stimulatory effects of mecamylamine on the dorsal raphe neurons. Brain Res Bull 2020; 164:289-298. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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14
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Ebrahimi-Ghiri M, Mohammadi-Mahdiabadi-Hasani MH, Nasehi M, Zarrindast MR. Better antidepressant efficacy of mecamylamine in combination with L-NAME than with L-arginine. Behav Brain Res 2020; 386:112604. [PMID: 32198105 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aff ;ective disorders, including anxiety and mood disorders, are a constellation of psychiatric diseases that aff ;ect over 10 % of the world's population. It has been proposed that drugs that change nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activity can affect mood- and anxiety-related behaviors. Also, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is closely associated with the pathophysiology of these disorders. To limit the potential adverse effects of alteration in cholinergic and nitric oxide (NO) systems, we investigated the combined efficacy of subthreshold doses of nAChR antagonist mecamylamine and NO ligands (L-arginine as agonist and l-NAME as an antagonist) on depression- and anxiety-related behaviors in male NMRI mice. Depression-related behaviors using the forced swim test (FST) and anxiety-like activity using the hole-board test were assessed. In our results, mecamylamine (3 mg/kg) showed antidepressant-like properties, and it also tended to have anxiolytic-like effects, though not significant. Concomitant treatment of subthreshold doses of mecamylamine (1 mg/kg) and l-arginine (25 mg/kg), l-NAME (1 mg/kg), or l-arginine/L-NAME were antidepressive. In contrast, l-arginine/L-NAME alone or in associated with mecamylamine showed anxiogenic-like efficacy. Isobolographic analysis exhibited an additive antidepressant effect of the combined subthreshold doses of mecamylamine and l-arginine, and a synergistic antidepressant effect of the combined subthreshold doses of mecamylamine and l-NAME. It should be noted that mecamylamine (3 mg/kg) elicited hypolocomotion. Our results suggest that mecamylamine produces a better antidepressant efficacy in combination with l-NAME than with l-arginine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Tehran Medical Sciences, Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Department of Pharmacology School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Department of Neuroendocrinology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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15
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Javad-Moosavi BZ, Nasehi M, Vaseghi S, Jamaldini SH, Zarrindast MR. Activation and Inactivation of Nicotinic Receptnors in the Dorsal Hippocampal Region Restored Negative Effects of Total (TSD) and REM Sleep Deprivation (RSD) on Memory Acquisition, Locomotor Activity and Pain Perception. Neuroscience 2020; 433:200-211. [PMID: 32200080 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sleep deprivation (SD) is a common issue in today's society. Sleep is essential for proper cognitive functions, including learning and memory. Furthermore, sleep disorders can alter pain information processing. Meanwhile, hippocampal nicotinic receptors have a role in modulating pain and memory. The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of dorsal hippocampal (CA1) nicotinic receptors on behavioral changes induced by Total (TSD) and REM Sleep Deprivation (RSD). A modified water box and multi-platform apparatus were used to induce TSD and RSD, respectively. To investigate the interaction between nicotinic receptors and hippocampus-dependent memory, nicotinic receptor agonist (nicotine) or antagonist (mecamylamine) was injected into the CA1 region. The results showed, nicotine at the doses of 0.001 and 0.1 µg/rat and mecamylamine at the doses of 0.01 and 0.1 µg/rat decreased memory acquisition, while both at the doses of 0.01 and 0.1 µg/rat enhanced locomotor activity. Additionally, all doses used for both drugs did not alter pain perception. Also, 24 h TSD or RSD attenuated memory acquisition with no effect on locomotor activity and only TSD induced an analgesic effect. Intra-CA1 administration of subthreshold dose of nicotine (0.0001 µg/rat) and mecamylamine (0.001 µg/rat) did not alter memory acquisition, pain perception and locomotor activity in sham of TSD/RSD rats. Both drugs reversed all behavioral changes induced by TSD. Furthermore, both drugs reversed the effect of RSD on memory acquisition, while only mecamylamine reversed the effect of RSD on locomotor activity. In conclusion, CA1 nicotinic receptors play a significant role in TSD/RSD-induced behavioral changes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Salar Vaseghi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Hamid Jamaldini
- Department of Genetic, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neuroendocrinology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran
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16
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Shivange AV, Borden PM, Muthusamy AK, Nichols AL, Bera K, Bao H, Bishara I, Jeon J, Mulcahy MJ, Cohen B, O'Riordan SL, Kim C, Dougherty DA, Chapman ER, Marvin JS, Looger LL, Lester HA. Determining the pharmacokinetics of nicotinic drugs in the endoplasmic reticulum using biosensors. J Gen Physiol 2019; 151:738-757. [PMID: 30718376 PMCID: PMC6571994 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201812201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine dependence is thought to arise in part because nicotine permeates into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it binds to nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) and begins an "inside-out" pathway that leads to up-regulation of nAChRs on the plasma membrane. However, the dynamics of nicotine entry into the ER are unquantified. Here, we develop a family of genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors for nicotine, termed iNicSnFRs. The iNicSnFRs are fusions between two proteins: a circularly permutated GFP and a periplasmic choline-/betaine-binding protein engineered to bind nicotine. The biosensors iNicSnFR3a and iNicSnFR3b respond to nicotine by increasing fluorescence at [nicotine] <1 µM, the concentration in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of a smoker. We target iNicSnFR3 biosensors either to the plasma membrane or to the ER and measure nicotine kinetics in HeLa, SH-SY5Y, N2a, and HEK293 cell lines, as well as mouse hippocampal neurons and human stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons. In all cell types, we find that nicotine equilibrates in the ER within 10 s (possibly within 1 s) of extracellular application and leaves as rapidly after removal from the extracellular solution. The [nicotine] in the ER is within twofold of the extracellular value. We use these data to run combined pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic simulations of human smoking. In the ER, the inside-out pathway begins when nicotine becomes a stabilizing pharmacological chaperone for some nAChR subtypes, even at concentrations as low as ∼10 nM. Such concentrations would persist during the 12 h of a typical smoker's day, continually activating the inside-out pathway by >75%. Reducing nicotine intake by 10-fold decreases activation to ∼20%. iNicSnFR3a and iNicSnFR3b also sense the smoking cessation drug varenicline, revealing that varenicline also permeates into the ER within seconds. Our iNicSnFRs enable optical subcellular pharmacokinetics for nicotine and varenicline during an early event in the inside-out pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amol V Shivange
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA
| | - Philip M Borden
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA
| | - Anand K Muthusamy
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
| | - Aaron L Nichols
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
| | - Kallol Bera
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
| | - Huan Bao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | - Ishak Bishara
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
| | - Janice Jeon
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
| | - Matthew J Mulcahy
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
| | - Bruce Cohen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
| | - Saidhbhe L O'Riordan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
| | - Charlene Kim
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
| | - Dennis A Dougherty
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
| | - Edwin R Chapman
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | - Jonathan S Marvin
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA
| | - Loren L Looger
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA
| | - Henry A Lester
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA
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17
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Fernández-Cabezudo MJ, George JA, Bashir G, Mohamed YA, Al-Mansori A, Qureshi MM, Lorke DE, Petroianu G, Al-Ramadi BK. Involvement of Acetylcholine Receptors in Cholinergic Pathway-Mediated Protection Against Autoimmune Diabetes. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1038. [PMID: 31156627 PMCID: PMC6529936 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Type I diabetes (T1D) is a T cell-driven autoimmune disease that results in the killing of pancreatic β-cells and, consequently, loss of insulin production. Using the multiple low-dose streptozotocin (MLD-STZ) model of experimental autoimmune diabetes, we previously reported that pretreatment with a specific acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), paraoxon, prevented the development of hyperglycemia in C57BL/6 mice. This correlated with an inhibition of T cell infiltration into the pancreatic islets and a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines. The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway utilizes nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs and mAChRs, respectively) expressed on a variety of cell types. In this study, we carried out a comparative analysis of the effect of specific antagonists of nAChRs or mAChRs on the development of autoimmune diabetes. Co-administration of mecamylamine, a non-selective antagonist of nAChRs maintained the protective effect of AChEI on the development of hyperglycemia. In contrast, co-administration of atropine, a non-selective antagonist of mAChRs, mitigated AChEI-mediated protection. Mice pretreated with mecamylamine had an improved response in glucose tolerance test (GTT) than mice pretreated with atropine. These differential effects of nAChR and mAChR antagonists correlated with the extent of islet cell infiltration and with the structure and functionality of the β-cells. Taken together, our data suggest that mAChRs are essential for the protective effect of cholinergic stimulation in autoimmune diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J Fernández-Cabezudo
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Junu A George
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ghada Bashir
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Yassir A Mohamed
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Alreem Al-Mansori
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed M Qureshi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Dietrich E Lorke
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Georg Petroianu
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Basel K Al-Ramadi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
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18
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Anti-cholinergics mecamylamine and scopolamine alleviate motion sickness-induced gastrointestinal symptoms through both peripheral and central actions. Neuropharmacology 2019; 146:252-263. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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McMahon LR. Green tobacco sickness: mecamylamine, varenicline, and nicotine vaccine as clinical research tools and potential therapeutics. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2019; 12:189-195. [PMID: 30650314 PMCID: PMC6786486 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2019.1570844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Green tobacco sickness occurs from transdermal absorption of chemicals from freshly harvested, green tobacco leaves. Signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headache, and abdominal cramps. Prevalence has shifted from the United States and Europe to China, India, and Brazil. Worldwide 8 million individuals are afflicted, including women and children. Areas covered: Mecamylamine (Inversine®, Vecamyl®), a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist, should be tested as a remedy for green tobacco sickness. Mecamylamine is approved as an oral tablet for the treatment of hypertension, is safe, and is off-patent. Mecamylamine attenuates many of the effects of nicotine and tobacco including seizures, thereby supporting its use as an effective pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence. Varenicline (Chantix®) and cytisine (Tabex®) are low efficacy (i.e. intrinsic activity) nAChR agonists, are used as smoking cessation aids, and are viable options to test as remedies against green tobacco sickness. Nicotine immunization strategies may provide further options for future testing. Expert commentary: Efforts to demonstrate reversal and/or prevention of green tobacco sickness by mecamylamine will underscore the importance of nicotine in this illness and highlight a new medication for effective treatment of tobacco poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance R McMahon
- a Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
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20
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Shimizu R, Ibaragi S, Eguchi T, Kuwajima D, Kodama S, Nishioka T, Okui T, Obata K, Takabatake K, Kawai H, Ono K, Okamoto K, Nagatsuka H, Sasaki A. Nicotine promotes lymph node metastasis and cetuximab resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Oncol 2018; 54:283-294. [PMID: 30431077 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2018.4631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is overexpressed in many cancers and is associated with worse prognosis. EGF binds to its cell surface receptor (EGFR), which induces EGFR phosphorylation. Phosphorylated EGFR (p‑EGFR) is translocated into the nucleus, which increases cancer cell activity. Nicotine, which is one of the main components of tobacco, is absorbed through pulmonary alveoli and mucosal epithelia in the head and neck region by smoking and moves into the blood. Nicotine in blood binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in the central nervous system and serves a crucial role in tobacco addiction. Although nAChR localization is thought to be limited in the nervous system, nAChR is present in a wide variety of non‑neuronal cells, including cancer cells. Recent studies suggest that nicotine contributes to the metastasis and resistance to anti‑cancer drugs of various cancer cells. However, it remains unknown whether head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells can utilize nicotine‑nAChR signaling to metastasize and acquire resistance to anti‑cancer drugs, even though the mucosal epithelia of the head and neck region are the primary sites of exposure to tobacco smoke. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate the role of nicotine in metastasis and anti‑EGFR‑therapy resistance of HNSCC. The present findings demonstrated that nicotine increased proliferation, migration, invasion, p‑EGFR nuclear translocation and protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation in HNSCC cells. It was also demonstrated that nicotine restored cetuximab‑inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of HNSCC cells. Finally, an in vivo experiment revealed that nicotine increased lymph node metastasis of xenografted tumors, whereas an nAChR inhibitor suppressed lymph node metastasis and p‑EGFR nuclear localization of xenografted tumors. Taken together, these results demonstrated that nicotine induced nuclear accumulation of p‑EGFR, and activation of Akt signaling. These signaling pathways elevated the activities of HNSCC cells, causing lymph node metastasis and serving a role in cetuximab resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rieko Shimizu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Soichiro Ibaragi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Takanori Eguchi
- Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kuwajima
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Shinichi Kodama
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Takashi Nishioka
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai 980‑8575, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Okui
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Kyoichi Obata
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Kiyofumi Takabatake
- Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Hotaka Kawai
- Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Kisho Ono
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Kuniaki Okamoto
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Nagatsuka
- Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
| | - Akira Sasaki
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700‑8525, Japan
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Self-administration of the synthetic cathinone MDPV enhances reward function via a nicotinic receptor dependent mechanism. Neuropharmacology 2018; 137:286-296. [PMID: 29778945 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is an addictive synthetic drug with severe side effects. Previous studies have shown that MDPV has positive reinforcing properties. However, little is known about the effect of MDPV self-administration on the state of the brain reward system and the neuronal mechanisms by which MDPV mediates its effects. The goal of the present studies was to determine the effect of MDPV self-administration on reward function and the role of cholinergic neurotransmission in the reinforcing effects of MDPV. To study the effect of MDPV self-administration on the brain reward system, rats were prepared with intravenous catheters and intracranial self-stimulation electrodes (ICSS). For 10 days, the reward thresholds were assessed immediately before (23 h post prior session) and after 1 h of MDPV self-administration. The reward thresholds were decreased immediately after MDPV self-administration, which is indicative of a potentiation of brain reward function. The reward thresholds 23 h after MDPV intake gradually increased over time, which is indicative of anhedonia. Pretreatment with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist mecamylamine decreased the self-administration of MDPV and completely prevented the decrease in reward thresholds. A control study with palatable chocolate pellets showed that responding for a natural reinforcer does not affect the state of the brain reward system. Furthermore, mecamylamine did not affect responding for food pellets. In conclusion, the self-administration of MDPV potentiates reward function and nAChR blockade prevents the reward enhancing effects of MDPV self-administration. Preventing the MDPV-induced increase in cholinergic neurotransmission might be a safe approach to diminish MDPV abuse.
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Nishizawa Y, Takahashi K, Oguma N, Tominaga M, Ohta T. Possible involvement of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 in Ca2+
signaling via T-type Ca2+
channel in mouse sensory neurons. J Neurosci Res 2017; 96:901-910. [DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Nishizawa
- Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Faculty of Agriculture; Tottori University; Tottori Japan
| | - Kenji Takahashi
- Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Faculty of Agriculture; Tottori University; Tottori Japan
| | - Naoko Oguma
- Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Faculty of Agriculture; Tottori University; Tottori Japan
| | - Makoto Tominaga
- Division of Cell Signaling; Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience (National Institute for Physiological Sciences), National Institutes of Natural Sciences; Okazaki Japan
| | - Toshio Ohta
- Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Faculty of Agriculture; Tottori University; Tottori Japan
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23
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Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Modulators Reduce Sugar Intake. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150270. [PMID: 27028298 PMCID: PMC4814119 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150270] [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: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Excess sugar consumption has been shown to contribute directly to weight gain, thus contributing to the growing worldwide obesity epidemic. Interestingly, increased sugar consumption has been shown to repeatedly elevate dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), in the mesolimbic reward pathway of the brain similar to many drugs of abuse. We report that varenicline, an FDA-approved nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist that modulates dopamine in the mesolimbic reward pathway of the brain, significantly reduces sucrose consumption, especially in a long-term consumption paradigm. Similar results were observed with other nAChR drugs, namely mecamylamine and cytisine. Furthermore, we show that long-term sucrose consumption increases α4β2 * and decreases α6β2* nAChRs in the nucleus accumbens, a key brain region associated with reward. Taken together, our results suggest that nAChR drugs such as varenicline may represent a novel treatment strategy for reducing sugar consumption.
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Van Skike CE, Maggio SE, Reynolds AR, Casey EM, Bardo MT, Dwoskin LP, Prendergast MA, Nixon K. Critical needs in drug discovery for cessation of alcohol and nicotine polysubstance abuse. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2016; 65:269-87. [PMID: 26582145 PMCID: PMC4679525 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2015.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Polysubstance abuse of alcohol and nicotine has been overlooked in our understanding of the neurobiology of addiction and especially in the development of novel therapeutics for its treatment. Estimates show that as many as 92% of people with alcohol use disorders also smoke tobacco. The health risks associated with both excessive alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking create an urgent biomedical need for the discovery of effective cessation treatments, as opposed to current approaches that attempt to independently treat each abused agent. The lack of treatment approaches for alcohol and nicotine abuse/dependence mirrors a similar lack of research in the neurobiology of polysubstance abuse. This review discusses three critical needs in medications development for alcohol and nicotine co-abuse: (1) the need for a better understanding of the clinical condition (i.e. alcohol and nicotine polysubstance abuse), (2) the need to better understand how these drugs interact in order to identify new targets for therapeutic development and (3) the need for animal models that better mimic this human condition. Current and emerging treatments available for the cessation of each drug and their mechanisms of action are discussed within this context followed by what is known about the pharmacological interactions of alcohol and nicotine. Much has been and will continue to be gained from studying comorbid alcohol and nicotine exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Van Skike
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - S E Maggio
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - A R Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - E M Casey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - M T Bardo
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Center for Drug Abuse and Research Translation, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - L P Dwoskin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Center for Drug Abuse and Research Translation, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - M A Prendergast
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - K Nixon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States.
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Mohamed TS, Jayakar SS, Hamouda AK. Orthosteric and Allosteric Ligands of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors for Smoking Cessation. Front Mol Neurosci 2015; 8:71. [PMID: 26635524 PMCID: PMC4658446 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2015.00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine addiction, the result of tobacco use, leads to over six million premature deaths world-wide per year, a number that is expected to increase by a third within the next two decades. While more than half of smokers want and attempt to quit, only a small percentage of smokers are able to quit without pharmacological interventions. Therefore, over the past decades, researchers in academia and the pharmaceutical industry have focused their attention on the development of more effective smoking cessation therapies, which is now a growing 1.9 billion dollar market. Because the role of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in nicotine addiction is well established, nAChR based therapeutics remain the leading strategy for smoking cessation. However, the development of neuronal nAChR drugs that are selective for a nAChR subpopulation is challenging, and only few neuronal nAChR drugs are clinically available. Among the many neuronal nAChR subtypes that have been identified in the brain, the α4β2 subtype is the most abundant and plays a critical role in nicotine addiction. Here, we review the role of neuronal nAChRs, especially the α4β2 subtype, in the development and treatment of nicotine addiction. We also compare available smoking cessation medications and other nAChR orthosteric and allosteric ligands that have been developed with emphasis on the difficulties faced in the development of clinically useful compounds with high nAChR subtype selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasnim S Mohamed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center Kingsville, TX, USA
| | - Selwyn S Jayakar
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ayman K Hamouda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center Kingsville, TX, USA ; Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center Bryan, TX, USA
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Schmidt CE, Manbeck KE, Shelley D, Harris AC. Blockade of cholinergic transmission elicits somatic signs in nicotine-naïve adolescent rats. Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:239. [PMID: 26539119 PMCID: PMC4611158 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
High doses of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist mecamylamine can elicit somatic signs resembling those associated with nicotine withdrawal in nicotine-naïve adult rats. Understanding this phenomenon, and its possible modulation by acute nicotine and age, could inform the use of mecamylamine as both an experimental tool and potential pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence and other disorders. This study evaluated the ability of high-dose mecamylamine to elicit somatic signs in adolescent rats, and the potential for acute nicotine pretreatment to potentiate this effect as previously reported in adults. Single or repeated injections of mecamylamine (1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg, s.c.) elicited somatic signs in nicotine-naïve adolescents, but this effect was not influenced by 2 h pretreatment with acute nicotine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.). In an initial evaluation of the effects of age in this model, mecamylamine (2.25 mg/kg, s.c.) elicited somatic signs in nicotine-naïve adolescents and adults. This effect was modestly enhanced following acute nicotine injections in adults but not in adolescents, even when a higher nicotine dose (1.0 rather than 0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) was used in adolescents to account for age differences in nicotine pharmacokinetics. These studies are the first to show that mecamylamine elicits somatic signs in nicotine-naïve adolescent rats, an effect that should be considered when designing and interpreting studies examining effects of high doses of mecamylamine in adolescents. Our findings also provide preliminary evidence that these signs may be differentially modulated by acute nicotine pretreatment in adolescents versus adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare E Schmidt
- Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation , Minneapolis, MN, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Katherine E Manbeck
- Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation , Minneapolis, MN, USA ; Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - David Shelley
- Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Andrew C Harris
- Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation , Minneapolis, MN, USA ; Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Möller HJ, Demyttenaere K, Olausson B, Szamosi J, Wilson E, Hosford D, Dunbar G, Tummala R, Eriksson H. Two Phase III randomised double-blind studies of fixed-dose TC-5214 (dexmecamylamine) adjunct to ongoing antidepressant therapy in patients with major depressive disorder and an inadequate response to prior antidepressant therapy. World J Biol Psychiatry 2015; 16:483-501. [PMID: 25602163 DOI: 10.3109/15622975.2014.989261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the neuronal nicotinic channel modulator TC-5214 (dexmecamylamine) as adjunct therapy in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and inadequate response to prior antidepressant treatment. METHODS Study 004 (D4130C00004) and Study 005 (D4130C00005) comprised an 8-week open-label antidepressant (SSRI/SNRI) treatment period followed by an 8-week randomised, active treatment with twice-daily TC-5214 (0.5, 2 or 4 mg in Study 004; 0.1, 1 or 4 mg in Study 005) or placebo, adjunct to ongoing SSRI/SNRI. Primary efficacy endpoint was change in MADRS total score from randomisation (Week 8) to treatment end (Week 16). Secondary endpoints included MADRS response and remission, and changes in SDS and HAM-D-17-item scores. Safety and tolerability were monitored throughout. RESULTS Studies 004 and 005 randomised 640 and 696 patients, respectively, to TC-5214 or placebo. No statistically significant improvements in MADRS total score or any secondary endpoints were seen with TC-5214 versus placebo in either study at treatment end. The most commonly reported adverse events (> 10%) with TC-5214 were constipation, dizziness and dry mouth. CONCLUSIONS TC-5214 adjunct to antidepressant was generally well tolerated. However, the studies were not supportive of an antidepressant effect for TC-5214 in patients with MDD and inadequate response to prior antidepressant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Jürgen Möller
- a Department of Psychiatry , Ludwig-Maximilians University , Munich , Germany
| | - Koen Demyttenaere
- b Department of Psychiatry , University Hospital Gasthuisberg , Leuven , Belgium
| | | | | | - Ellis Wilson
- d Formerly AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals , Wilmington , DE , USA
| | | | | | - Raj Tummala
- g AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals , Wilmington , DE , USA
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Forcelli PA, Turner JR, Lee BG, Olson TT, Xie T, Xiao Y, Blendy JA, Kellar KJ. Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of the methadone metabolite 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-pyrroline (EMDP). Neuropharmacology 2015; 101:46-56. [PMID: 26365569 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The enhancement of GABAergic and monoaminergic neurotransmission has been the mainstay of pharmacotherapy and the focus of drug-discovery for anxiety and depressive disorders for several decades. However, the significant limitations of drugs used for these disorders underscores the need for novel therapeutic targets. Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) may represent one such target. For example, mecamylamine, a non-competitive antagonist of nAChRs, displays positive effects in preclinical tests for anxiolytic and antidepressant activity in rodents. In addition, nicotine elicits similar effects in rodent models, possibly by receptor desensitization. Previous studies (Xiao et al., 2001) have identified two metabolites of methadone, EMDP (2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-pyrroline) and EDDP (2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine), which are considered to be inactive at opiate receptors, as relatively potent noncompetitive channel blockers of rat α3β4 nAChRs. Here, we show that these compounds are likewise highly effective blockers of human α3β4 and α4β2 nAChRs. Moreover, we show that they display relatively low affinity for opiate binding sites labeled by [(3)H]-naloxone. We then evaluated these compounds in rats and mice in preclinical behavioral models predictive of potential anxiolytic and antidepressant efficacy. We found that EMDP, but not EDDP, displayed robust effects predictive of anxiolytic and antidepressant efficacy without significant effects on locomotor activity. Moreover, EMDP at behaviorally active doses, unlike mecamylamine, did not produce eyelid ptosis, suggesting it may produce fewer autonomic side effects than mecamylamine. Thus, the methadone metabolite EMDP may represent a novel therapeutic avenue for the treatment of some affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A Forcelli
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Jill R Turner
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Bridgin G Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Thao T Olson
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Teresa Xie
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Yingxian Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Julie A Blendy
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kenneth J Kellar
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
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Differential Gene Expression Profile in the Rat Caudal Vestibular Nucleus is Associated with Individual Differences in Motion Sickness Susceptibility. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124203. [PMID: 25910039 PMCID: PMC4409317 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify differentially expressed genes associated with motion sickness (MS) susceptibility in the rat caudal vestibular nucleus. METHODS We identified MS susceptible (MSS) and insusceptible (inMSS) rats by quantifying rotation-induced MS symptoms: defecation and spontaneous locomotion activity. Microarray analysis was used to screen differentially expressed genes in the caudal vestibular nucleus (CVN) after rotation. Plasma stress hormones were identified by radioimmunoassay. Candidate genes were selected by bioinformatics analysis and the microarray results were verified by real-time quantitative-PCR (RT-qPCR) methods. By using Elvax implantation, receptor antagonists or recombinant adenovirus targeting the candidate genes were applied to the CVN to evaluate their contribution to MS susceptibility variability. Validity of gene expression manipulation was verified by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. RESULTS A total of 304 transcripts were differentially expressed in the MSS group compared with the inMSS group. RT-qPCR analysis verified the expression pattern of candidate genes, including nicotinic cholinergic receptor (nAchR) α3 subunit, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 (5-HT4R), tachykinin neurokinin-1 (NK1R), γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABAAR) α6 subunit, olfactory receptor 81 (Olr81) and homology 2 domain-containing transforming protein 1 (Shc1). In MSS animals, the nAchR antagonist mecamylamine significantly alleviated rotation-induced MS symptoms and the plasma β-endorphin response. The NK1R antagonist CP99994 and Olr81 knock-down were effective for the defecation response, while the 5-HT4R antagonist RS39604 and Shc1 over-expression showed no therapeutic effect. In inMSS animals, rotation-induced changes in spontaneous locomotion activity and the plasma β-endorphin level occurred in the presence of the GABAAR antagonist gabazine. CONCLUSION Our findings suggested that the variability of the CVN gene expression profile after motion stimulation might be a putative molecular basis for individual differences in MS susceptibility and provide information for the development of new therapeutic strategies for MSS individuals.
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Safety and tolerability of dexmecamylamine (TC-5214) adjunct to ongoing antidepressant therapy in patients with major depressive disorder and an inadequate response to antidepressant therapy: results of a long-term study. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2015; 35:77-81. [PMID: 25514064 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000000269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Safety and tolerability are important considerations when selecting patients' treatment for major depressive disorder. We report the long-term safety and tolerability of the nicotinic channel modulator dexmecamylamine (TC-5214), adjunct to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)/serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) in patients with major depressive disorder and who had an inadequate response to antidepressants. This 52-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study explored the long-term safety and tolerability of dexmecamylamine. Patients were randomized 3:1 to receive flexibly dosed dexmecamylamine 1 to 4 mg adjunct to SSRI/SNRI or placebo plus SSRI/SNRI. The patient population comprised inadequate responders from 2 Phase III acute dexmecamylamine studies (NCT01157078 [study 002], NCT01153347 [study 004]) and de novo patients who responded inadequately during a 6-week open-label antidepressant treatment period preceding randomization. Safety and tolerability were assessed by monitoring adverse events, vital signs, and physical and laboratory parameters. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed on most efficacy-related end points. Sustained efficacy was analyzed using logistic regression. Overall, 813 patients were randomized (610 received dexmecamylamine, 203 received placebo). In total, 82.4% and 84.6% of patients, respectively, experienced an adverse event. Adverse events occurring more frequently with dexmecamylamine vs placebo were constipation (19.6% vs 6.0%), dizziness (12.0% vs 7.0%), and dry mouth (9.7% vs 5.0%). Back pain (2.8% vs 8.5%), weight increase (4.4% vs 7.0%), and fatigue (5.6 % vs 7.5%) occurred more frequently in placebo-treated patients. No notable differences were observed between dexmecamylamine and placebo for any secondary end point. In this long-term study, safety and tolerability of dexmecamylamine were consistent with that reported in acute Phase III studies of dexmecamylamine.
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Stockdale TP, Williams CM. Pharmaceuticals that contain polycyclic hydrocarbon scaffolds. Chem Soc Rev 2015; 44:7737-63. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cs00477a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
This review comprehensively explores approved pharmaceutical compounds that contain polycyclic scaffolds and the properties that these skeletons convey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan P. Stockdale
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
- University of Queensland
- St Lucia
- Australia
| | - Craig M. Williams
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
- University of Queensland
- St Lucia
- Australia
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Kasten CR, Boehm SL. Intra-nucleus accumbens shell injections of R(+)- and S(-)-baclofen bidirectionally alter binge-like ethanol, but not saccharin, intake in C57Bl/6J mice. Behav Brain Res 2014; 272:238-47. [PMID: 25026094 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Revised: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The GABAB agonist baclofen has been widely researched clinically and preclinically as a treatment of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). However, the efficacy of baclofen remains uncertain. The clinically used racemic compound can be separated into separate enantiomers. These enantiomers have produced different profiles in behavioral assays, with the S- compound often being ineffective compared to the R- compound, or the S- compound antagonizing the effects of the R- compound. We have previously demonstrated that the R(+)-baclofen enantiomer decreases binge-like ethanol intake in the Drinking-in-the-Dark (DID) paradigm, whereas the S(-)-baclofen enantiomer increases ethanol intake. One area implicated in drug abuse is the nucleus accumbens shell (NACsh).The current study sought to define the role of the NACsh in the enantioselective effects of baclofen on binge-like ethanol consumption by directly microinjecting each enantiomer into the structure. Following bilateral cannulation of the NACsh, C57Bl/6J mice were given 5 days of access to ethanol or saccharin for 2h, 3h into the dark cycle. On Day 5 mice were given an injection of aCSF, 0.02 R(+)-, 0.04R(+)-, 0.08 S(-)-, or 0.16 S(-)-baclofen (μg/side dissolved in 200nl of aCSF). It was found that the R(+)-baclofen dose-dependently decreased ethanol consumption, whereas the high S(-)-baclofen dose increased ethanol consumption, compared to the aCSF group. Saccharin consumption was not affected. These results further confirm that GABAB receptors and the NACsh shell are integral in mediating ethanol intake. They also demonstrate that baclofen displays bidirectional, enantioselective effects which are important when considering therapeutic uses of the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea R Kasten
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, 402 N Blackford St LD 124 Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Stephen L Boehm
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, 402 N Blackford St LD 124 Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Indiana Alcohol Research Center, 545 Barnhill Drive EH 317 Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Yu LF, Zhang HK, Caldarone BJ, Eaton JB, Lukas RJ, Kozikowski AP. Recent developments in novel antidepressants targeting α4β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. J Med Chem 2014; 57:8204-23. [PMID: 24901260 PMCID: PMC4207546 DOI: 10.1021/jm401937a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
(nAChRs) have been investigated
for developing drugs that can potentially treat various central nervous
system disorders. Considerable evidence supports the hypothesis that
modulation of the cholinergic system through activation and/or desensitization/inactivation
of nAChR holds promise for the development of new antidepressants.
The introductory portion of this Miniperspective discusses the basic
pharmacology that underpins the involvement of α4β2-nAChRs
in depression, along with the structural features that are essential
to ligand recognition by the α4β2-nAChRs. The remainder
of this Miniperspective analyzes reported nicotinic ligands in terms
of drug design considerations and their potency and selectivity, with
a particular focus on compounds exhibiting antidepressant-like effects
in preclinical or clinical studies. This Miniperspective aims to provide
an in-depth analysis of the potential for using nicotinic ligands
in the treatment of depression, which may hold some promise in addressing
an unmet clinical need by providing relief from depressive symptoms
in refractory patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Fang Yu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago , 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
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Zacche MM, Giarenis I, Cardozo L. Phase II drugs that target cholinergic receptors for the treatment of overactive bladder. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2014; 23:1365-74. [PMID: 24899225 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2014.925877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Overactive bladder (OAB) is a term used to describe the symptom syndrome of urgency, with or without urgency incontinence, usually associated with frequency and nocturia. Antimuscarinics are the most widely prescribed class of drugs for OAB, although their systemic adverse effects limit their use in clinical practice as compliance. This has led to developments in the field. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors describe Phase II drugs that target cholinergic receptors. First, the authors present the new antimuscarinics (tarafenacin and afacifenacin). This is followed by reports on a combination drug (tolenix) containing a muscarinic antagonist (tolterodine) associated with a muscarinic agonist (pilocarpine). Further, the authors discuss the trials of well-known drugs in either new combination therapy (solifenacin and mirabegron) or with new routes of delivery (oxybutynin vaginal ring). Finally, the authors examine the option of targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (dexmecamylamine). EXPERT OPINION Different strategies have been adopted to improve the efficacy and tolerability of therapeutics for OAB. Nicotinic receptors represent a novel therapeutic target; however, it is unlikely that antimuscarinic agents will be replaced as standard first-line therapy in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martino Maria Zacche
- King's College Hospital, Department of Urogynaecology , Denmark Hill, SE5 9 RS, London , UK
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