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Ebrahimi Z, Gholipour P, Mohammadkhani R, Ghahremani R, Sarihi A, Komaki A, Salehi I, Karimi SA. Effect of intrahippocampal microinjection of VU0155041, a positive allosteric modulator of mGluR4, on long term potentiation in a valproic acid-induced autistic male rat model. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2024; 16:629-634. [PMID: 38832089 PMCID: PMC11144792 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The precise cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not fully understood. Despite the involvement of glutamatergic dysregulation in autism, the specific contribution of mGlu4 receptors to synaptic plasticity remains unclear. Using the positive allosteric modulator VU0155041, we aimed to restore long-term potentiation (LTP) in the perforant path-dentate gyrus (PP-DG) pathway in VPA-induced autistic rat model. High-frequency stimulation was applied to the PP-DG synapse to induce LTP, while the VU0155041 was administered into the DG. Unexpectedly, VU0155041 failed to alleviate the observed LTP reduction in VPA-exposed rats, further resulting in a significant decrease in population spike LTP. This unexpected outcome prompts discussion on the complex nature of mGlu4 receptor modulation, highlighting potential interference with physiological processes underlying synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Ebrahimi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Parsa Gholipour
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
| | | | - Reza Ghahremani
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
| | - Abdolrahman Sarihi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Science and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Alireza Komaki
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Science and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Iraj Salehi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Seyed Asaad Karimi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Science and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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Le Merrer J, Detraux B, Gandía J, De Groote A, Fonteneau M, de Kerchove d'Exaerde A, Becker JAJ. Balance Between Projecting Neuronal Populations of the Nucleus Accumbens Controls Social Behavior in Mice. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:123-135. [PMID: 37207936 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficient social interactions are a hallmark of major neuropsychiatric disorders, and accumulating evidence points to altered social reward and motivation as key underlying mechanisms of these pathologies. In the present study, we further explored the role of the balance of activity between D1 and D2 receptor-expressing striatal projection neurons (D1R- and D2R-SPNs) in the control of social behavior, challenging the hypothesis that excessive D2R-SPN activity, rather than deficient D1R-SPN activity, compromises social behavior. METHODS We selectively ablated D1R- and D2R-SPNs using an inducible diphtheria toxin receptor-mediated cell targeting strategy and assessed social behavior as well as repetitive/perseverative behavior, motor function, and anxiety levels. We tested the effects of optogenetic stimulation of D2R-SPNs in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and pharmacological compounds repressing D2R-SPN. RESULTS Targeted deletion of D1R-SPNs in the NAc blunted social behavior in mice, facilitated motor skill learning, and increased anxiety levels. These behaviors were normalized by pharmacological inhibition of D2R-SPN, which also repressed transcription in the efferent nucleus, the ventral pallidum. Ablation of D1R-SPNs in the dorsal striatum had no impact on social behavior but impaired motor skill learning and decreased anxiety levels. Deletion of D2R-SPNs in the NAc produced motor stereotypies but facilitated social behavior and impaired motor skill learning. We mimicked excessive D2R-SPN activity by optically stimulating D2R-SPNs in the NAc and observed a severe deficit in social interaction that was prevented by D2R-SPN pharmacological inhibition. CONCLUSIONS Repressing D2R-SPN activity may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to relieve social deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Le Merrer
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Unité Mixte de Recherche Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 7247, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement 0085, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France; iBrain, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1253 Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Tours, Tours, France.
| | - Bérangère Detraux
- Neurophy Lab, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jorge Gandía
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Unité Mixte de Recherche Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 7247, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement 0085, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Aurélie De Groote
- Neurophy Lab, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Fonteneau
- iBrain, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1253 Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Alban de Kerchove d'Exaerde
- Neurophy Lab, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO, Wavre, Belgium.
| | - Jérôme A J Becker
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Unité Mixte de Recherche Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 7247, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement 0085, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France; iBrain, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1253 Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Tours, Tours, France
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Finlay CJ, Jackson MJ, Fisher R, Bundgaard C, Rose S, Duty S. Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 4 (mGlu4) Positive Allosteric Modulators Lack Efficacy in Rat and Marmoset Models of L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2024; 14:245-259. [PMID: 38427500 PMCID: PMC10977372 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-230296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Background Increased activity across corticostriatal glutamatergic synapses may contribute to L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease. Given the weak efficacy and side-effect profile of amantadine, alternative strategies to reduce glutamate transmission are being investigated. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGlu4) is a promising target since its activation would reduce glutamate release. Objective We hypothesized that two mGlu4 positive allosteric modulators, Lu AF21934 ((1 S,2 R)-N1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxamide) and ADX88178 (5-Methyl-N-(4-methylpyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)thiazol-2-amine), would provide relief in rat and primate models of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. Methods The ability of Lu AF21934 or ADX88178 to reverse pre-established dyskinesia was examined in L-DOPA-primed 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats expressing abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) or in 1-methyl-4-phenyl,1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated common marmosets expressing L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. Additionally, the ability of Lu AF21934 to prevent the development of de novo L-DOPA-induced AIMs was explored in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. Results Neither Lu AF21934 (10 or 30 mg/kg p.o.) nor ADX88178 (10 or 30 mg/kg p.o.) reduced pre-established AIMs in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. Similarly, in L-DOPA-primed common marmosets, no reduction in established dyskinesia was observed with Lu AF21934 (3 or 10 mg/kg p.o.). Conversely, amantadine significantly reduced (>40%) the expression of dyskinesia in both models. Lu AF21934 also failed to suppress the development of AIMs in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. Conclusions This study found no benefit of mGlu4 positive allosteric modulators in tackling L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. These findings are concordant with the recent failure of foliglurax in phase II clinical trials supporting the predictive validity of these pre-clinical dyskinesia models, while raising further doubt on the anti-dyskinetic potential of mGlu4 positive allosteric modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare J. Finlay
- Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Michael J. Jackson
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Ria Fisher
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | - Sarah Rose
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Susan Duty
- Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
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Rabeh N, Hajjar B, Maraka JO, Sammanasunathan AF, Khan M, Alkhaaldi SMI, Mansour S, Almheiri RT, Hamdan H, Abd-Elrahman KS. Targeting mGluR group III for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115733. [PMID: 37862967 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, is essential for neuronal function, and it acts on ionotropic or metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). A disturbance in glutamatergic signaling is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. Developing disease-modifying treatments for neurodegenerative diseases targeting glutamate receptors is a promising avenue. The understudied group III mGluR 4, 6-8 are commonly found in the presynaptic membrane, and their activation inhibits glutamate release. Thus, targeted mGluRs therapies could aid in treating neurodegenerative diseases. This review describes group III mGluRs and their pharmacological ligands in the context of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's diseases. Attempts to evaluate the efficacy of these drugs in clinical trials are also discussed. Despite a growing list of group III mGluR-specific pharmacological ligands, research on the use of these drugs in neurodegenerative diseases is limited, except for Parkinson's disease. Future efforts should focus on delineating the contribution of group III mGluR to neurodegeneration and developing novel ligands with superior efficacy and a favorable side effect profile for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Rabeh
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates; Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Baraa Hajjar
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jude O Maraka
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ashwin F Sammanasunathan
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Khan
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saif M I Alkhaaldi
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Samy Mansour
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rashed T Almheiri
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hamdan Hamdan
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates; Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center (HEIC), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled S Abd-Elrahman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Science, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21521, Egypt.
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Martín R, Suárez-Pinilla AS, García-Font N, Laguna-Luque ML, López-Ramos JC, Oset-Gasque MJ, Gruart A, Delgado-García JM, Torres M, Sánchez-Prieto J. The activation of mGluR4 rescues parallel fiber synaptic transmission and LTP, motor learning and social behavior in a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome. Mol Autism 2023; 14:14. [PMID: 37029391 PMCID: PMC10082511 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-023-00547-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited intellectual disability, is caused by the loss of expression of the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein (FMRP). FMRP is an RNA-binding protein that negatively regulates the expression of many postsynaptic as well as presynaptic proteins involved in action potential properties, calcium homeostasis and neurotransmitter release. FXS patients and mice lacking FMRP suffer from multiple behavioral alterations, including deficits in motor learning for which there is currently no specific treatment. METHODS We performed electron microscopy, whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology and behavioral experiments to characterise the synaptic mechanisms underlying the motor learning deficits observed in Fmr1KO mice and the therapeutic potential of positive allosteric modulator of mGluR4. RESULTS We found that enhanced synaptic vesicle docking of cerebellar parallel fiber to Purkinje cell Fmr1KO synapses was associated with enhanced asynchronous release, which not only prevents further potentiation, but it also compromises presynaptic parallel fiber long-term potentiation (PF-LTP) mediated by β adrenergic receptors. A reduction in extracellular Ca2+ concentration restored the readily releasable pool (RRP) size, basal synaptic transmission, β adrenergic receptor-mediated potentiation, and PF-LTP. Interestingly, VU 0155041, a selective positive allosteric modulator of mGluR4, also restored both the RRP size and PF-LTP in mice of either sex. Moreover, when injected into Fmr1KO male mice, VU 0155041 improved motor learning in skilled reaching, classical eyeblink conditioning and vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) tests, as well as the social behavior alterations of these mice. LIMITATIONS We cannot rule out that the activation of mGluR4s via systemic administration of VU0155041 can also affect other brain regions. Further studies are needed to stablish the effect of a specific activation of mGluR4 in cerebellar granule cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that an increase in synaptic vesicles, SV, docking may cause the loss of PF-LTP and motor learning and social deficits of Fmr1KO mice and that the reversal of these changes by pharmacological activation of mGluR4 may offer therapeutic relief for motor learning and social deficits in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Martín
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Alberto Samuel Suárez-Pinilla
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria García-Font
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and Simon Initiative for Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH89JZ, UK
| | | | - Juan C López-Ramos
- Division de Neurociencias, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - María Jesús Oset-Gasque
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, Instituto Universitario Investigación en Neuroquímica, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Agnes Gruart
- Division de Neurociencias, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Magdalena Torres
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Sánchez-Prieto
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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Kwan C, Kang W, Kim E, Belliveau S, Frouni I, Huot P. Metabotropic glutamate receptors in Parkinson's disease. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 168:1-31. [PMID: 36868628 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex disorder that leads to alterations in multiple neurotransmitter systems, notably glutamate. As such, several drugs acting at glutamatergic receptors have been assessed to alleviate the manifestation of PD and treatment-related complications, culminating with the approval of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist amantadine for l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA)-induced dyskinesia. Glutamate elicits its actions through several ionotropic and metabotropic (mGlu) receptors. There are 8 sub-types of mGlu receptors, with sub-types 4 (mGlu4) and 5 (mGlu5) modulators having been tested in the clinic for endpoints pertaining to PD, while sub-types 2 (mGlu2) and 3 (mGlu3) have been investigated in pre-clinical settings. In this book chapter, we provide an overview of mGlu receptors in PD, with a focus on mGlu5, mGlu4, mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors. For each sub-type, we review, when applicable, their anatomical localization and possible mechanisms underlying their efficacy for specific disease manifestation or treatment-induced complications. We then summarize the findings of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials with pharmacological agents and discuss the potential strengths and limitations of each target. We conclude by offering some perspectives on the potential use of mGlu modulators in the treatment of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Kwan
- Neurodegenerative Disease Group, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Woojin Kang
- Neurodegenerative Disease Group, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Esther Kim
- Neurodegenerative Disease Group, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sébastien Belliveau
- Neurodegenerative Disease Group, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Imane Frouni
- Neurodegenerative Disease Group, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), Montreal, QC, Canada; Département de Pharmacologie et Physiologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Philippe Huot
- Neurodegenerative Disease Group, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), Montreal, QC, Canada; Département de Pharmacologie et Physiologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Movement Disorder Clinic, Division of Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Pereira V, Arias JA, Llebaria A, Goudet C. Photopharmacological manipulation of amygdala metabotropic glutamate receptor mGlu4 alleviates neuropathic pain. Pharmacol Res 2023; 187:106602. [PMID: 36529205 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a common health problem resulting in exacerbated response to noxious and non noxious stimuli, as well as impaired emotional and cognitive responses. Unfortunately, neuropathic pain is also one of the most difficult pain syndromes to manage, highlighting the importance of better understanding the brain regions and neuromodulatory mechanisms involved in its regulation. Among the many interconnected brain areas which process pain, the amygdala is known to play an important role in the integration of sensory and emotional pain signals. Here we questioned the ability of a recently identified neuromodulatory mechanism associated with the metabotropic glutamate receptors mGlu4 in the amygdala to modulate neuropathic pain. In a murine model of peripheral mononeuropathy, we demonstrate that pharmacological activation of amygdala mGlu4 efficiently alleviates sensory and depressive-like symptoms in both male and female mice. Moreover, we reveal a differential modulation of these symptoms. Activating mGlu4 in the contralateral amygdala relative to the side of the mononeuropathy, is necessary and sufficient to relieve both sensory and depressive-like symptoms, while ipsilateral activation solely reduces depressive-like symptoms. Furthermore, using photopharmacology, a recent strategy allowing precise photocontrol of endogenous proteins, we further demonstrate the dynamic alleviation of neuropathic pain through light-dependent facilitation of mGlu4 by a photoswitchable positive allosteric modulator. Finally, coupling photopharmacology and analgesic conditioned place preference, we show a significant pain-reducing effect of mGlu4 activation. Taken together, these data highlight the analgesic potential of enhancing amygdala mGlu4 activity to counteract neuropathy reinforcing its therapeutic interest for the treatment of pathological pain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amadeu Llebaria
- MCS, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry & Synthesis, Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cyril Goudet
- IGF, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France.
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Piszczek L, Constantinescu A, Kargl D, Lazovic J, Pekcec A, Nicholson JR, Haubensak W. Dissociation of impulsive traits by subthalamic metabotropic glutamate receptor 4. eLife 2022; 11:62123. [PMID: 34982027 PMCID: PMC8803315 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral strategies require gating of premature responses to optimize outcomes. Several brain areas control impulsive actions, but the neuronal basis of natural variation in impulsivity between individuals remains largely unknown. Here, by combining a Go/No-Go behavioral assay with resting-state (rs) functional MRI in mice, we identified the subthalamic nucleus (STN), a known gate for motor control in the basal ganglia, as a major hotspot for trait impulsivity. In vivo recorded STN neural activity encoded impulsive action as a separable state from basic motor control, characterized by decoupled STN/substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) mesoscale networks. Optogenetic modulation of STN activity bidirectionally controlled impulsive behavior. Pharmacological and genetic manipulations showed that these impulsive actions are modulated by metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGlu4) function in STN and its coupling to SNr in a behavioral trait-dependent manner, and independently of general motor function. In conclusion, STN circuitry multiplexes motor control and trait impulsivity, which are molecularly dissociated by mGlu4. This provides a potential mechanism for the genetic modulation of impulsive behavior, a clinically relevant predictor for developing psychiatric disorders associated with impulsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Piszczek
- The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Department of Neuroscience, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreea Constantinescu
- The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Department of Neuroscience, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dominic Kargl
- The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Department of Neuroscience, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Neuronal Cell Biology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jelena Lazovic
- Preclinical Imaging Facility, Vienna BioCenter Core Facilities (VBCF), Vienna, Austria
| | - Anton Pekcec
- Div Research Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Janet R Nicholson
- Div Research Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Wulf Haubensak
- The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Department of Neuroscience, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Neuronal Cell Biology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Membrane trafficking and positioning of mGluRs at presynaptic and postsynaptic sites of excitatory synapses. Neuropharmacology 2021; 200:108799. [PMID: 34592242 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The plethora of functions of glutamate in the brain are mediated by the complementary actions of ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). The ionotropic glutamate receptors carry most of the fast excitatory transmission, while mGluRs modulate transmission on longer timescales by triggering multiple intracellular signaling pathways. As such, mGluRs mediate critical aspects of synaptic transmission and plasticity. Interestingly, at synapses, mGluRs operate at both sides of the cleft, and thus bidirectionally exert the effects of glutamate. At postsynaptic sites, group I mGluRs act to modulate excitability and plasticity. At presynaptic sites, group II and III mGluRs act as auto-receptors, modulating release properties in an activity-dependent manner. Thus, synaptic mGluRs are essential signal integrators that functionally couple presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms of transmission and plasticity. Understanding how these receptors reach the membrane and are positioned relative to the presynaptic glutamate release site are therefore important aspects of synapse biology. In this review, we will discuss the currently known mechanisms underlying the trafficking and positioning of mGluRs at and around synapses, and how these mechanisms contribute to synaptic functioning. We will highlight outstanding questions and present an outlook on how recent technological developments will move this exciting research field forward.
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Klotz L, Enz R. MGluR7 is a presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor at ribbon synapses of inner hair cells. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21855. [PMID: 34644430 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100672r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Glutamate is the most pivotal excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) dimerize and can couple to inhibitory intracellular signal cascades, thereby protecting glutamatergic neurons from excessive excitation and cell death. MGluR7 is correlated with age-related hearing deficits and noise-induced hearing loss; however its exact localization in the cochlea is unknown. Here, we analyzed the expression and localization of mGluR7a and mGluR7b in mouse cochlear wholemounts in detail, using confocal microscopy and 3D reconstructions. We observed a presynaptic localization of mGluR7a at inner hair cells (IHCs), close to the synaptic ribbon. To detect mGluR7b, newly generated antibodies were characterized and showed co-localization with mGluR7a at IHC ribbon synapses. Compared to the number of synaptic ribbons, the numbers of mGluR7a and mGluR7b puncta were reduced at higher frequencies (48 to 64 kHz) and in older animals (6 and 12 months). Previously, we reported a presynaptic localization of mGluR4 and mGluR8b at this synapse type. This enables the possibility for the formation of homo- and/or heterodimeric receptors composed of mGluR4, mGluR7a, mGluR7b and mGluR8b at IHC ribbon synapses. These receptor complexes might represent new molecular targets suited for pharmacological concepts to protect the cochlea against noxious stimuli and excitotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Klotz
- Institute for Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ralf Enz
- Institute for Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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11
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Zieger HL, Choquet D. Nanoscale synapse organization and dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 158:105453. [PMID: 34314857 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders such as those linked to intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder are thought to originate in part from genetic defects in synaptic proteins. Single gene mutations linked to synapse dysfunction can broadly be separated in three categories: disorders of transcriptional regulation, disorders of synaptic signaling and disorders of synaptic scaffolding and structures. The recent developments in super-resolution imaging technologies and their application to synapses have unraveled a complex nanoscale organization of synaptic components. On the one hand, part of receptors, adhesion proteins, ion channels, scaffold elements and the pre-synaptic release machinery are partitioned in subsynaptic nanodomains, and the respective organization of these nanodomains has tremendous impact on synaptic function. For example, pre-synaptic neurotransmitter release sites are partly aligned with nanometer precision to postsynaptic receptor clusters. On the other hand, a large fraction of synaptic components is extremely dynamic and constantly exchanges between synaptic domains and extrasynaptic or intracellular compartments. It is largely the combination of the exquisitely precise nanoscale synaptic organization of synaptic components and their high dynamic that allows the rapid and profound regulation of synaptic function during synaptic plasticity processes that underlie adaptability of brain function, learning and memory. It is very tempting to speculate that genetic defects that lead to neurodevelopmental disorders and target synaptic scaffolds and structures mediate their deleterious impact on brain function through perturbing synapse nanoscale dynamic organization. We discuss here how applying super-resolution imaging methods in models of neurodevelopmental disorders could help in addressing this question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna L Zieger
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Daniel Choquet
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
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12
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Facilitating mGluR4 activity reverses the long-term deleterious consequences of chronic morphine exposure in male mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1373-1385. [PMID: 33349673 PMCID: PMC8136479 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00927-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of abstinence from drugs of abuse is critical to allow better recovery and ensure relapse prevention in addicted subjects. By comparing the long-term transcriptional consequences of morphine and cocaine exposure, we identified the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4) as a promising pharmacological target in morphine abstinence. We evaluated the behavioral and molecular effects of facilitating mGluR4 activity in abstinent mice. Transcriptional regulation of marker genes of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) allowed best discriminating between 4-week morphine and cocaine abstinence in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Among these markers, Grm4, encoding mGluR4, displayed down-regulated expression in the caudate putamen and NAc of morphine, but not cocaine, abstinent mice. Chronic administration of the mGluR4 positive allosteric modulator (PAM) VU0155041 (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) rescued social behavior, normalized stereotypies and anxiety and blunted locomotor sensitization in morphine abstinent mice. This treatment improved social preference but increased stereotypies in cocaine abstinent mice. Finally, the beneficial behavioral effects of VU0155041 treatment in morphine abstinent mice were correlated with restored expression of key MSN and neural activity marker genes in the NAc. This study reports that chronic administration of the mGluR4 PAM VU0155041 relieves long-term deleterious consequences of morphine exposure. It illustrates the neurobiological differences between opiate and psychostimulant abstinence and points to pharmacological repression of excessive activity of D2-MSNs in the NAc as a promising therapeutic lever in drug addiction.
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13
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Kryszkowski W, Boczek T. The G Protein-Coupled Glutamate Receptors as Novel Molecular Targets in Schizophrenia Treatment-A Narrative Review. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10071475. [PMID: 33918323 PMCID: PMC8038150 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10071475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disease with an unknown etiology. The research into the neurobiology of this disease led to several models aimed at explaining the link between perturbations in brain function and the manifestation of psychotic symptoms. The glutamatergic hypothesis postulates that disrupted glutamate neurotransmission may mediate cognitive and psychosocial impairments by affecting the connections between the cortex and the thalamus. In this regard, the greatest attention has been given to ionotropic NMDA receptor hypofunction. However, converging data indicates metabotropic glutamate receptors as crucial for cognitive and psychomotor function. The distribution of these receptors in the brain regions related to schizophrenia and their regulatory role in glutamate release make them promising molecular targets for novel antipsychotics. This article reviews the progress in the research on the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors in schizophrenia etiopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waldemar Kryszkowski
- General Psychiatric Ward, Babinski Memorial Hospital in Lodz, 91229 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Tomasz Boczek
- Department of Molecular Neurochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92215 Lodz, Poland
- Correspondence:
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14
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Ebrahimi Z, Kahvandi N, Komaki A, Karimi SA, Naderishahab M, Sarihi A. The role of mGlu4 receptors within the nucleus accumbens in acquisition and expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in male rats. BMC Neurosci 2021; 22:17. [PMID: 33743609 PMCID: PMC7981834 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-021-00627-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several studies have shown that glutamate neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is required for the development of morphine-induced conditional place preference (CPP). In addition, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in NAc play important roles in the reward pathways. However, the precise role of mGluR4 in different steps of the morphine-induced CPP is less well known. In the present study the effect of bilateral intra-accumbal infusion of VU0155041, as a specific mGluR4 agonist on the acquisition and expression of morphine induced CPP in male Wistar rats was investigated. The animals were bilaterally implanted with guide cannulae above the NAc. In the first step of the study, the VU0155041 was administered at doses of 10, 30 and 50 μg/0.5 μL saline per side into the NAc during the 3 days of morphine (5 mg/kg) conditioning (acquisition) phase of morphine-induced CPP. In the second step of the study, the rats bilaterally received VU0155041 at the dose of 50 μg/0.5 μL, 5 min before the post-conditioning test in order to check the effect of VU0155041 on the expression of morphine-induced CPP. Results The results showed that the intra-accumbal injection of VU0155041 inhibits the acquisition of morphine-induced CPP in a dose dependent manner, but had no effect on expression. Conclusions The data indicated that intra-NAc administration of VU0155041 dose dependently blocks the establishment of morphine-induced CPP and reduces the rewarding properties of morphine. These effects may be related to changes in glutamate activity in the NAC and/or learning dependent mechanism of glutamate neurotransmission in reward pathway(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Ebrahimi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Nazanin Kahvandi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Alireza Komaki
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Sciences and Advanced Technology in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Seyed Asaad Karimi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Sciences and Advanced Technology in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Marzieh Naderishahab
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Abdolrahman Sarihi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. .,Department of Neuroscience, School of Sciences and Advanced Technology in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
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15
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De Sa Nogueira D, Bourdy R, Filliol D, Quessada C, McCort-Tranchepain I, Acher F, Zwiller J, Romieu P, Befort K. LSP2-9166, an orthosteric mGlu4 and mGlu7 receptor agonist, reduces cocaine self-administration under a progressive ratio schedule in rats. Neurosci Lett 2020; 764:135603. [PMID: 33387661 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135603] [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: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine addiction is a serious health issue in Western countries. Despite the regular increase in cocaine consumption across the population, there is no specific treatment for cocaine addiction. Critical roles for glutamate neurotransmission in the rewarding effects of psychostimulants as well as relapse have been suggested and accumulating evidence indicates that targeting mGlu group III receptors could represent a promising strategy to develop therapeutic compounds to treat addiction. In this context, the aim of our study was to examine the effect of LSP2-9166, a mGlu4/mGlu7 receptor orthosteric agonist, on the motivation for cocaine intake. We used an intravenous self-administration paradigm in male Wistar rats as a reliable model of voluntary drug intake. We first evaluated the direct impact of cocaine on Grm4 and Grm7 gene expression. Voluntary cocaine intake under a fixed ratio schedule of injections induced an increase of both mGlu4 and mGlu7 receptor transcripts in nucleus accumbens and hippocampus. We then evaluated the ability of LSP2-9166 to affect cocaine self-administration under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. We found that this compound inhibits the motivation to obtain the drug, although it induced a hypolocomotor effect which could biais motivation index. Our findings demonstrate that mGlu group III receptors represent new targets for decreasing motivation to self-administer cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- David De Sa Nogueira
- Université de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Faculté de Psychologie, UMR 7364, CNRS 12 rue Goethe, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Romain Bourdy
- Université de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Faculté de Psychologie, UMR 7364, CNRS 12 rue Goethe, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Dominique Filliol
- Université de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Faculté de Psychologie, UMR 7364, CNRS 12 rue Goethe, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Cyril Quessada
- Université de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Faculté de Psychologie, UMR 7364, CNRS 12 rue Goethe, F-67000, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, UMR-S1118, 11 rue Humann, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Isabelle McCort-Tranchepain
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques, CNRS UMR8601, Université de Paris 45 rue des Saints-Pères, F-75270, Paris Cedex 6, France
| | - Francine Acher
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques, CNRS UMR8601, Université de Paris 45 rue des Saints-Pères, F-75270, Paris Cedex 6, France
| | - Jean Zwiller
- Université de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Faculté de Psychologie, UMR 7364, CNRS 12 rue Goethe, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pascal Romieu
- Université de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Faculté de Psychologie, UMR 7364, CNRS 12 rue Goethe, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Katia Befort
- Université de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Faculté de Psychologie, UMR 7364, CNRS 12 rue Goethe, F-67000, Strasbourg, France.
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16
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Gregory KJ, Goudet C. International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. CXI. Pharmacology, Signaling, and Physiology of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. Pharmacol Rev 2020; 73:521-569. [PMID: 33361406 DOI: 10.1124/pr.119.019133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors respond to glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain, mediating a modulatory role that is critical for higher-order brain functions such as learning and memory. Since the first mGlu receptor was cloned in 1992, eight subtypes have been identified along with many isoforms and splice variants. The mGlu receptors are transmembrane-spanning proteins belonging to the class C G protein-coupled receptor family and represent attractive targets for a multitude of central nervous system disorders. Concerted drug discovery efforts over the past three decades have yielded a wealth of pharmacological tools including subtype-selective agents that competitively block or mimic the actions of glutamate or act allosterically via distinct sites to enhance or inhibit receptor activity. Herein, we review the physiologic and pathophysiological roles for individual mGlu receptor subtypes including the pleiotropic nature of intracellular signal transduction arising from each. We provide a comprehensive analysis of the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties of prototypical and commercially available orthosteric agonists and antagonists as well as allosteric modulators, including ligands that have entered clinical trials. Finally, we highlight emerging areas of research that hold promise to facilitate rational design of highly selective mGlu receptor-targeting therapeutics in the future. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The metabotropic glutamate receptors are attractive therapeutic targets for a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Over the past three decades, intense discovery efforts have yielded diverse pharmacological tools acting either competitively or allosterically, which have enabled dissection of fundamental biological process modulated by metabotropic glutamate receptors and established proof of concept for many therapeutic indications. We review metabotropic glutamate receptor molecular pharmacology and highlight emerging areas that are offering new avenues to selectively modulate neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J Gregory
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (K.J.G.) and Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), Montpellier, France (C.G.)
| | - Cyril Goudet
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (K.J.G.) and Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), Montpellier, France (C.G.)
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17
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Cieślik P, Wierońska JM. Regulation of Glutamatergic Activity via Bidirectional Activation of Two Select Receptors as a Novel Approach in Antipsychotic Drug Discovery. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228811. [PMID: 33233865 PMCID: PMC7699963 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects approximately 1-2% of the population and develops in early adulthood. The disease is characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. A large percentage of patients with schizophrenia have a treatment-resistant disease, and the risk of developing adverse effects is high. Many researchers have attempted to introduce new antipsychotic drugs to the clinic, but most of these treatments failed, and the diversity of schizophrenic symptoms is one of the causes of disappointing results. The present review summarizes the results of our latest papers, showing that the simultaneous activation of two receptors with sub-effective doses of their ligands induces similar effects as the highest dose of each compound alone. The treatments were focused on inhibiting the increased glutamate release responsible for schizophrenia arousal, without interacting with dopamine (D2) receptors. Ligands activating metabotropic receptors for glutamate, GABAB or muscarinic receptors were used, and the compounds were administered in several different combinations. Some combinations reversed all schizophrenia-related deficits in animal models, but others were active only in select models of schizophrenia symptoms (i.e., cognitive or negative symptoms).
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18
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Vaseghi S, Nasehi M, Zarrindast MR. How do stupendous cannabinoids modulate memory processing via affecting neurotransmitter systems? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 120:173-221. [PMID: 33171142 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we wanted to review the role of cannabinoids in learning and memory in animal models, with respect to their interaction effects with six principal neurotransmitters involved in learning and memory including dopamine, glutamate, GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), serotonin, acetylcholine, and noradrenaline. Cannabinoids induce a wide-range of unpredictable effects on cognitive functions, while their mechanisms are not fully understood. Cannabinoids in different brain regions and in interaction with different neurotransmitters, show diverse responses. Previous findings have shown that cannabinoids agonists and antagonists induce various unpredictable effects such as similar effect, paradoxical effect, or dualistic effect. It should not be forgotten that brain neurotransmitter systems can also play unpredictable roles in mediating cognitive functions. Thus, we aimed to review and discuss the effect of cannabinoids in interaction with neurotransmitters on learning and memory. In addition, we mentioned to the type of interactions between cannabinoids and neurotransmitter systems. We suggested that investigating the type of interactions is a critical neuropharmacological issue that should be considered in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salar Vaseghi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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19
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Doller D, Bespalov A, Miller R, Pietraszek M, Kalinichev M. A case study of foliglurax, the first clinical mGluR4 PAM for symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease: translational gaps or a failing industry innovation model? Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:1323-1338. [PMID: 33074728 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1839047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Approximately 40% of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients that take mostly dopamine receptor agonists for motor fluctuations, experience the return of symptoms between regular doses. This is a phenomenon known as 'OFF periods.' Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4) are a promising non-dopaminergic mechanism with potential to address the unmet need of patients suffering from OFF periods. Foliglurax is the first mGluR4 PAM that has advanced into clinical testing in PD patients. AREAS COVERED We summarize the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and preclinical pharmacology of foliglurax. Translational PET imaging studies, clinical efficacy data, and a competitive landscape analysis of available therapies are presented to the readers. In this Perspective article, foliglurax is used as a case study to illustrate the inherent R&D challenges that companies face when developing drugs. These challenges include the delivery of drugs acting through novel mechanisms, long-term scientific investment, and commercial success and shorter-term positive financial returns. EXPERT OPINION Failure to meet the primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase 2 study led Lundbeck to discontinue the development of foliglurax. Understanding the evidence supporting compound progression into Phase 2 will enable the proper assessment of the therapeutic potential of mGluR4 PAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anton Bespalov
- Partnership for Assessment and Accreditation of Scientific Practice , Heidelberg, Germany.,Valdman Institute of Pharmacology, Pavlov Medical University , St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Rob Miller
- Ventral Stream Consulting LLC ., IL, USA
| | - Malgorzata Pietraszek
- Partnership for Assessment and Accreditation of Scientific Practice , Heidelberg, Germany
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20
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Kim JH, Marton J, Ametamey SM, Cumming P. A Review of Molecular Imaging of Glutamate Receptors. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25204749. [PMID: 33081223 PMCID: PMC7587586 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a well-established and important in vivo technique to evaluate fundamental biological processes and unravel the role of neurotransmitter receptors in various neuropsychiatric disorders. Specific ligands are available for PET/SPECT studies of dopamine, serotonin, and opiate receptors, but corresponding development of radiotracers for receptors of glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter in mammalian brain, has lagged behind. This state of affairs has persisted despite the central importance of glutamate neurotransmission in brain physiology and in disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent years have seen extensive efforts to develop useful ligands for molecular imaging of subtypes of the ionotropic (N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainate, and AMPA/quisqualate receptors) and metabotropic glutamate receptors (types I, II, and III mGluRs). We now review the state of development of radioligands for glutamate receptor imaging, placing main emphasis on the suitability of available ligands for reliable in vivo applications. We give a brief account of the radiosynthetic approach for selected molecules. In general, with the exception of ligands for the GluN2B subunit of NMDA receptors, there has been little success in developing radiotracers for imaging ionotropic glutamate receptors; failure of ligands for the PCP/MK801 binding site in vivo doubtless relates their dependence on the open, unblocked state of the ion channel. Many AMPA and kainite receptor ligands with good binding properties in vitro have failed to give measurable specific binding in the living brain. This may reflect the challenge of developing brain-penetrating ligands for amino acid receptors, compounded by conformational differences in vivo. The situation is better with respect to mGluR imaging, particularly for the mGluR5 subtype. Several successful PET ligands serve for investigations of mGluRs in conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, substance abuse and aging. Considering the centrality and diversity of glutamatergic signaling in brain function, we have relatively few selective and sensitive tools for molecular imaging of ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Further radiopharmaceutical research targeting specific subtypes and subunits of the glutamate receptors may yet open up new investigational vistas with broad applications in basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-Hoon Kim
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon 21565, Korea
- Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology, Graduate School, Incheon 21565, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21565, Korea
- Correspondence: (J.-H.K.); (P.C.); Tel.: +41-31-664-0498 (P.C.); Fax: +41-31-632-7663 (P.C.)
| | - János Marton
- ABX Advanced Biochemical Compounds, Biomedizinische Forschungsreagenzien GmbH, Heinrich-Glaeser-Strasse 10-14, D-1454 Radeberg, Germany;
| | - Simon Mensah Ametamey
- Centre for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ETH-PSI-USZ, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences ETH, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Paul Cumming
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Bern, Inselspital, Freiburgstrasse 18, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane QLD 4059, Australia
- Correspondence: (J.-H.K.); (P.C.); Tel.: +41-31-664-0498 (P.C.); Fax: +41-31-632-7663 (P.C.)
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21
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Zhang Z, Liu Y, Luan Y, Zhu K, Hu B, Ma B, Chen L, Liu X, Lu H, Chen X, Liu Y, Zheng X. Activation of Type 4 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Regulates Proliferation and Neuronal Differentiation in a Cultured Rat Retinal Progenitor Cell Through the Suppression of the cAMP/PTEN/AKT Pathway. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:141. [PMID: 32973444 PMCID: PMC7469868 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) remain in the eye throughout life and can be characterized by their ability for self-renewal as well as their specialization into different cell types. A recent study has suggested that metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) participate in the processes of multiple types of stem cells. Therefore, clarifying the functions of different subtypes of mGluRs in RPCs may provide a novel treatment strategy for regulating the proliferation and differentiation of endogenous RPCs after retinal degeneration. In this study, we observed that mGluR4 was functionally expressed in RPCs, with an effect on cell viability and intracellular cAMP concentration. The activation of mGluR4 by VU0155041 (VU, mGluR4 positive allosteric selective modulator) reduced the number of BrdU+/Pax6+ double-positive cells and Cyclin D1 expression levels while increasing the number of neuron-specific class III beta-tubulin (Tuj1)- and Doublecortin (DCX)-positive cells. The knockdown of mGluR4 by target-specific siRNA abolished the effects of VU on RPC proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Further investigation demonstrated that mGluR4 activation inhibited AKT phosphorylation and up-regulated PTEN protein expression. Moreover, the VU0155041-induced inhibition of proliferation and enhancement of neuronal differentiation in RPCs were significantly hampered by Forskolin (adenylyl cyclase activator) and VO-OHpic trihydrate (PTEN inhibitor). In contrast, the effect of LY294002 (a highly selective Akt inhibitor) on proliferation and differentiation was similar to that of VU. These results indicate that mGluR4 activation can suppress proliferation and promote the neural differentiation of cultured rat RPCs through the cAMP/PTEN/AKT pathway. Our research lays the foundation for further pharmacological work exploring a novel potential therapy for several retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Zhang
- Institute of Neurobiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Yingfei Liu
- Institute of Neurobiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Yan Luan
- Institute of Neurobiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Kun Zhu
- Institute of Neurobiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Baoqi Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bo Ma
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Haixia Lu
- Institute of Neurobiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Xinlin Chen
- Institute of Neurobiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Institute of Neurobiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zheng
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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22
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Zhou JJ, Pachuau J, Li DP, Chen SR, Pan HL. Group III metabotropic glutamate receptors regulate hypothalamic presympathetic neurons through opposing presynaptic and postsynaptic actions in hypertension. Neuropharmacology 2020; 174:108159. [PMID: 32454125 PMCID: PMC7315613 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) plays a major role in generating increased sympathetic output in hypertension. Although group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are expressed in the hypothalamus, little is known about their contribution to regulating PVN presympathetic neurons in hypertension. Here we show that activating group III mGluRs with L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4) consistently inhibited the firing activity of spinally projecting PVN neurons in normotensive rats. However, in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), L-AP4 inhibited 45% of PVN neurons but excited 37%. L-AP4 significantly reduced glutamatergic and GABAergic input to PVN neurons in both groups. Blocking postsynaptic G protein signaling eliminated the excitatory but not the inhibitory effect of L-AP4 on PVN neurons in SHRs. Remarkably, prior activation of group I mGluRs converted the L-AP4 effect from inhibitory to excitatory in PVN neurons, and L-AP4 consistently inhibited PVN neurons when mGluR5 was blocked in SHRs. Furthermore, the expression level of mGluR4 and mGluR6 in the PVN was significantly higher in SHRs than in normotensive rats. Microinjection of L-AP4 into the PVN decreased blood pressure and lumbar sympathetic nerve discharges in normotensive rats and SHRs. Additionally, blocking group I mGluRs in the PVN potentiated L-AP4's sympathoinhibitory effect in SHRs. Therefore, activation of presynaptic group III mGluRs inhibits the excitability of PVN presympathetic neurons to attenuate sympathetic vasomotor activity. Through crosstalk with mGluR5, postsynaptic group III mGluR stimulation paradoxically excites PVN presympathetic neurons in SHRs. Concurrently blocking mGluR5 and activating group III mGluRs in the PVN can effectively reduce sympathetic outflow in hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Jing Zhou
- Center for Neuroscience and Pain Research, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Judith Pachuau
- Center for Neuroscience and Pain Research, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - De-Pei Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Shao-Rui Chen
- Center for Neuroscience and Pain Research, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Hui-Lin Pan
- Center for Neuroscience and Pain Research, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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23
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Boccella S, Marabese I, Guida F, Luongo L, Maione S, Palazzo E. The Modulation of Pain by Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors 7 and 8 in the Dorsal Striatum. Curr Neuropharmacol 2020; 18:34-50. [PMID: 31210112 PMCID: PMC7327935 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x17666190618121859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The dorsal striatum, apart from controlling voluntary movement, displays a recently demonstrated pain inhibition. It is connected to the descending pain modulatory system and in particular to the rostral ventromedial medulla through the medullary dorsal reticular nucleus. Diseases of the basal ganglia, such as Parkinson's disease, in addition to being characterized by motor disorders, are associated with pain and hyperactivation of the excitatory transmission. A way to counteract glutamatergic hyperactivation is through the activation of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which are located on presynaptic terminals inhibiting neurotransmitter release. So far the mGluRs of group III have been the least investigated, owing to a lack of selective tools. More recently, selective ligands for each mGluR of group III, in particular positive and negative allosteric modulators, have been developed and the role of each subtype is starting to emerge. The neuroprotective potential of group III mGluRs in pathological conditions, such as those characterized by elevate glutamate, has been recently shown. In the dorsal striatum, mGluR7 and mGluR8 are located at glutamatergic corticostriatal terminals and their stimulation inhibits pain in pathological conditions such as neuropathic pain. The two receptors in the dorsal striatum have instead a different role in pain control in normal conditions. This review will discuss recent results focusing on the contribution of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in the dorsal striatal control of pain. The role of mGluR4, whose antiparkinsonian activity is widely reported, will also be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Boccella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Ida Marabese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Guida
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Livio Luongo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Sabatino Maione
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Enza Palazzo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy
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24
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Siddig S, Aufmkolk S, Doose S, Jobin ML, Werner C, Sauer M, Calebiro D. Super-resolution imaging reveals the nanoscale organization of metabotropic glutamate receptors at presynaptic active zones. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaay7193. [PMID: 32494600 PMCID: PMC7159906 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay7193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a fundamental role in the modulation of synaptic transmission. A pivotal example is provided by the metabotropic glutamate receptor type 4 (mGluR4), which inhibits glutamate release at presynaptic active zones (AZs). However, how GPCRs are organized within AZs to regulate neurotransmission remains largely unknown. Here, we applied two-color super-resolution imaging by direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) to investigate the nanoscale organization of mGluR4 at parallel fiber AZs in the mouse cerebellum. We find an inhomogeneous distribution, with multiple nanodomains inside AZs, each containing, on average, one to two mGluR4 subunits. Within these nanodomains, mGluR4s are often localized in close proximity to voltage-dependent CaV2.1 channels and Munc-18-1, which are both essential for neurotransmitter release. These findings provide previously unknown insights into the molecular organization of GPCRs at AZs, suggesting a likely implication of a close association between mGluR4 and the secretory machinery in modulating synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Siddig
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Bio-Imaging Center, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Sarah Aufmkolk
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Montréal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sören Doose
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marie-Lise Jobin
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Bio-Imaging Center, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Werner
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Corresponding author. (M.S.); (D.C.)
| | - Davide Calebiro
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Bio-Imaging Center, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Corresponding author. (M.S.); (D.C.)
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25
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Wang J, Qu X, Shoup TM, Yuan G, Afshar S, Pan C, Zhu A, Choi JK, Kang HJ, Poutiainen P, ElFakhri G, Zhang Z, Brownell AL. Synthesis and Characterization of Fluorine-18-Labeled N-(4-Chloro-3-((fluoromethyl- d2)thio)phenyl)picolinamide for Imaging of mGluR4 in Brain. J Med Chem 2020; 63:3381-3389. [PMID: 32081008 PMCID: PMC7261135 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We have synthesized and characterized [18F]-N-(4-chloro-3-((fluoromethyl-d2)thio)phenyl)-picolinamide ([18F]15) as a potential ligand for the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of mGluR4 in the brain. Radioligand [18F]15 displays central nervous system drug-like properties, including mGluR4 affinity, potent mGluR4 PAM activity, and selectivity against other mGluRs, as well as sufficient metabolic stability. Radiosynthesis was carried out in two steps. The radiochemical yield of [18F]15 was 11.6 ± 2.9% (n = 7, decay corrected) with a purity of 99% and a molar activity of 84.1 ± 11.8 GBq/μmol. Ex vivo biodistribution studies showed reversible binding of [18F]15 in all investigated tissues including the brain, liver, heart, lungs, and kidneys. PET imaging studies in male Sprague Dawley rats showed that [18F]15 accumulates in the brain regions known to express mGluR4. Pretreatment with the unlabeled mGluR4 PAM compounds 13 (methylthio analogue) and 15 showed significant dose-dependent blocking effects. These results suggest that [18F]15 is a promising radioligand for PET imaging mGluR4 in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Wang
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Xiying Qu
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Timothy M. Shoup
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Gengyang Yuan
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Sepideh Afshar
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Chuzhi Pan
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 510630, China
| | - Aijun Zhu
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Ji-Kyung Choi
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 149 Thirteenth Street, Suite 2301 Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Hye Jin Kang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, United States
| | | | - Georges ElFakhri
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Zhaoda Zhang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 149 Thirteenth Street, Suite 2301 Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Anna-Liisa Brownell
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
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26
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Jullié D, Stoeber M, Sibarita JB, Zieger HL, Bartol TM, Arttamangkul S, Sejnowski TJ, Hosy E, von Zastrow M. A Discrete Presynaptic Vesicle Cycle for Neuromodulator Receptors. Neuron 2020; 105:663-677.e8. [PMID: 31837915 PMCID: PMC7035187 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
A major function of GPCRs is to inhibit presynaptic neurotransmitter release, requiring ligand-activated receptors to couple locally to effectors at terminals. The current understanding of how this is achieved is through receptor immobilization on the terminal surface. Here, we show that opioid peptide receptors, GPCRs that mediate highly sensitive presynaptic inhibition, are instead dynamic in axons. Opioid receptors diffuse rapidly throughout the axon surface and internalize after ligand-induced activation specifically at presynaptic terminals. We delineate a parallel regulated endocytic cycle for GPCRs operating at the presynapse, separately from the synaptic vesicle cycle, which clears activated receptors from the surface of terminals and locally reinserts them to maintain the diffusible surface pool. We propose an alternate strategy for achieving local control of presynaptic effectors that, opposite to using receptor immobilization and enforced proximity, is based on lateral mobility of receptors and leverages the inherent allostery of GPCR-effector coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Jullié
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Miriam Stoeber
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA,Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Baptiste Sibarita
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 33077 Bordeaux, France,Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Hanna L. Zieger
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 33077 Bordeaux, France,Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas M. Bartol
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Seksiri Arttamangkul
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
| | - Terrence J. Sejnowski
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Eric Hosy
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 33077 Bordeaux, France,Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Mark von Zastrow
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA,Lead contact,Correspondence:
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27
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Griego E, Galván EJ. Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors at the Aged Mossy Fiber - CA3 Synapse of the Hippocampus. Neuroscience 2020; 456:95-105. [PMID: 31917351 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are a group of G-protein-coupled receptors that exert a broad array of modulatory actions at excitatory synapses of the central nervous system. In the hippocampus, the selective activation of the different mGluRs modulates the intrinsic excitability, the strength of synaptic transmission, and induces multiple forms of long-term plasticity. Despite the relevance of mGluRs in the normal function of the hippocampus, we know very little about the changes that mGluRs functionality undergoes during the non-pathological aging. Here, we review data concerning the physiological actions of mGluRs, with particular emphasis on hippocampal area CA3. Later, we examine changes in the expression and functionality of mGluRs during the aging process. We complement this review with original data showing an array of electrophysiological modifications observed in the synaptic transmission and intrinsic excitability of aged CA3 pyramidal cells in response to the pharmacological stimulation of the different mGluRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Griego
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav Sede Sur, México City, Mexico
| | - Emilio J Galván
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav Sede Sur, México City, Mexico.
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28
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Buceta I, Elezgarai I, Rico‐Barrio I, Gerrikagoitia I, Puente N, Grandes P. Deletion of the cannabinoid CB
1
receptor impacts on the ultrastructure of the cerebellar parallel fiber‐Purkinje cell synapses. J Comp Neurol 2019; 528:1041-1052. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ianire Buceta
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience Science Park of the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
| | - Izaskun Elezgarai
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience Science Park of the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
| | - Irantzu Rico‐Barrio
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience Science Park of the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
| | - Inmaculada Gerrikagoitia
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience Science Park of the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
| | - Nagore Puente
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience Science Park of the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
| | - Pedro Grandes
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience Science Park of the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Leioa Spain
- Division of Medical Sciences University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
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29
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Klotz L, Wendler O, Frischknecht R, Shigemoto R, Schulze H, Enz R. Localization of group II and III metabotropic glutamate receptors at pre- and postsynaptic sites of inner hair cell ribbon synapses. FASEB J 2019; 33:13734-13746. [PMID: 31585509 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901543r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS binding to a variety of glutamate receptors. Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1 to mGluR8) can act excitatory or inhibitory, depending on associated signal cascades. Expression and localization of inhibitory acting mGluRs at inner hair cells (IHCs) in the cochlea are largely unknown. Here, we analyzed expression of mGluR2, mGluR3, mGluR4, mGluR6, mGluR7, and mGluR8 and investigated their localization with respect to the presynaptic ribbon of IHC synapses. We detected transcripts for mGluR2, mGluR3, and mGluR4 as well as for mGluR7a, mGluR7b, mGluR8a, and mGluR8b splice variants. Using receptor-specific antibodies in cochlear wholemounts, we found expression of mGluR2, mGluR4, and mGluR8b close to presynaptic ribbons. Super resolution and confocal microscopy in combination with 3-dimensional reconstructions indicated a postsynaptic localization of mGluR2 that overlaps with postsynaptic density protein 95 on dendrites of afferent type I spiral ganglion neurons. In contrast, mGluR4 and mGluR8b were expressed at the presynapse close to IHC ribbons. In summary, we localized in detail 3 mGluR types at IHC ribbon synapses, providing a fundament for new therapeutical strategies that could protect the cochlea against noxious stimuli and excitotoxicity.-Klotz, L., Wendler, O., Frischknecht, R., Shigemoto, R., Schulze, H., Enz, R. Localization of group II and III metabotropic glutamate receptors at pre- and postsynaptic sites of inner hair cell ribbon synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Klotz
- Institute for Biochemistry (Emil-Fischer-Zentrum), Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Olaf Wendler
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Renato Frischknecht
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ryuichi Shigemoto
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Holger Schulze
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Experimental Otolaryngology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ralf Enz
- Institute for Biochemistry (Emil-Fischer-Zentrum), Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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30
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Xiang Y, Han H, Ji S, Wei L, Yang P, Zhang J. The developmental expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 in prenatal human frontal lobe and neurogenesis regions. Brain Dev 2019; 41:567-576. [PMID: 30954358 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Metabotropic glutamate receptors, besides ionotropic receptors, mediate the complicated effect of glutamate on neurogenesis. Previous studies showed that metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4) regulated the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells in vitro. However, little is known about the expression pattern of mGluR4 on prenatal central nervous system in vivo, especially the human being. METHODS The normal brain tissues of human fetus were collected and divided into 4 groups according to the gestational age: 9-11 W, 14-16 W, 22-24 W and 32-36 W. Then the expression of mGluR4 was evaluated at mRNA and protein levels by means of PCR or immunohistochemistry method, respectively. The type of cell expressing mGluR4 was further investigated using double-labeling immunofluorescence. RESULTS RT-PCR showed that the mRNA of mGluR4 could be detected in frontal lobe from 9 W to 32 W and real-time PCR quantificationally demonstrated the mRNA increased with development. Similarly, immnoreactivity was found in all layers of frontal lobe, VZ/SVZ. The intensity scores analysis showed that the staining became stronger and the range extended gradually with development. The double-labeling immunofluorescence showed that mGluR4 was present in neural stem/progenitor cells (nestin-positive cells after 9 W), young neurons (DCX-positive cells after 9 W), mature neurons (NeuN-positive cells in cortex after 32 W), as well as typical astrocytes (GFAP-positive cells in medulla after 32 W). CONCLUSION These results supply an important evidence that mGluR4 is expressed in prenatal human cerebrum, and main kinds of cells related to neurogenesis are involved in its expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xiang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Xi'an Huashan Central Hospital, China
| | - Hua Han
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, China
| | - Shengfeng Ji
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, China
| | - Liang Wei
- Department of Human Anatomy & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi'an Medical University, China
| | - Pengbo Yang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, China.
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi'an Medical University, China.
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Wang J, Shoup TM, Brownell AL, Zhang Z. Improved Synthesis of the Thiophenol Precursor N-(4-Chloro-3-mercaptophenyl)picolinamide for Making the mGluR4 PET Ligand. Tetrahedron 2019; 75:3917-3922. [PMID: 32831413 PMCID: PMC7442123 DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2019.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recently [11C]mG4P012 (previously [11C]KALB012 and presently named as [11C]PXT012253 by Prexton Therapeutics) had been used as a biomarker during the preclinical development of a potential therapeutic drug, PXT0002331 (an mGluR4 PAM), for PD and L-dopa-induced dyskinesia. [11C]mG4P012 was shown to be a promising PET radioligand for mGluR4 in the monkey brain and for further development in human subjects. However, the previously reported multi-step synthesis of the thiophenol precursor suffered from low yields and difficult workup procedures. To support the translational research of [11C]mG4P012 and the other potential applications, we have developed a new route for synthesis of the thiophenol precursor and optimized the reaction conditions. The synthesis of N-(4-chloro-3-mercaptophenyl)picolinamide from 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene has been greatly improved from 8% to 52% total yield with easy handling and in gram scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Wang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 149 Thirteenth Street, Suite 2301 Charlestown, MA 02129
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Timothy M. Shoup
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Anna-Liisa Brownell
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 660, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Zhaoda Zhang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 149 Thirteenth Street, Suite 2301 Charlestown, MA 02129
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Abstract
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common (after Alzheimer’s) neurodegenerative disease. All over the world, there is a search for new drugs aimed at the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Till up to the present, there is no “ideal” medicine that can completely cure this disease and has minimal adverse side effects. Belgorod research institute of pharmacology of living systems is studying Rapitalam, a new drug for the treatment of tremulous Parkinson’s disease. This is an agonist of the mGluR4 group of metabotropic receptors.The aim of the article is to study Rapitalam influence on the oxotremorine-induced tremor in rats.Methods. The study comprised 60 rats (6 groups of 10 males), which were administered intragastrically with the studied substances for 10 days. All the animal groups except Control group 1, were administered with Rapitalam and the reference drug Levodopa. 30 minutes after Rapitalam and Levodopa, they were administered abdominally with the solution of Oxotremorine at the dose of 1.5 mg/kg. The animals of Control group 1, instead of Oxotremorine, were similarly administered with a solvent of 0.9% sodium chloride in the equivalent volume.Results. In comparison with the reference group, Rapitalam at the dose of 3 mg/kg significantly reduced the severity of tremor 50 min. after its administration. The same effect took place 30 min after the administration of Oxotremorine at the dose of 10 mg/kg. At the dose of 3 and 10 mg/kg, Rapitalam also decreased the number of rats in the group (in %) with the signs of tremor 60 min. and 50 min. after the administration of Oxotremorine, respectively.Conclusion. The study revealed that Rapitalam has a pronounced anti-tremor effect. Its administration at the studied doses reduced the symptoms of Oxotremorine-induced tremor in rats.
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Zoicas I, Kornhuber J. The Role of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Social Behavior in Rodents. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061412. [PMID: 30897826 PMCID: PMC6470515 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The appropriate display of social behavior is critical for the well-being and survival of an individual. In many psychiatric disorders, including social anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorders, depression and schizophrenia social behavior is severely impaired. Selective targeting of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) has emerged as a novel treatment strategy for these disorders. In this review, we describe some of the behavioral paradigms used to assess different types of social behavior, such as social interaction, social memory, aggressive behavior and sexual behavior. We then focus on the effects of pharmacological modulation of mGluR1-8 on these types of social behavior. Indeed, accumulating evidence indicates beneficial effects of selective ligands of specific mGluRs in ameliorating innate or pharmacologically-induced deficits in social interaction and social memory as well as in reducing aggression in rodents. We emphasize the importance of future studies investigating the role of selective mGluR ligands on different types of social behavior to provide a better understanding of the neural mechanisms involved which, in turn, might promote the development of selective mGluR-targeted tools for the improved treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Zoicas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen 91054, Germany.
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen 91054, Germany.
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Panarese JD, Engers DW, Wu YJ, Bronson JJ, Macor JE, Chun A, Rodriguez AL, Felts AS, Engers JL, Loch MT, Emmitte KA, Castelhano AL, Kates MJ, Nader MA, Jones CK, Blobaum AL, Conn PJ, Niswender CM, Hopkins CR, Lindsley CW. Discovery of VU2957 (Valiglurax): An mGlu 4 Positive Allosteric Modulator Evaluated as a Preclinical Candidate for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease. ACS Med Chem Lett 2019; 10:255-260. [PMID: 30891122 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.8b00426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein, we report the discovery of a novel potent, selective, CNS penetrant, and orally bioavailable mGlu4 PAM, VU0652957 (VU2957, Valiglurax). VU2957 possessed attractive in vitro and in vivo pharmacological and DMPK properties across species. To advance toward the clinic, a spray-dried dispersion (SDD) formulation of VU2957 was developed to support IND-enabling toxicology studies. Based on its overall profile, VU2957 was evaluated as a preclinical development candidate for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. Panarese
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Darren W. Engers
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Yong-Jin Wu
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Research & Development, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492 United States
| | - Joanne J. Bronson
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Research & Development, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492 United States
| | - John E. Macor
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Research & Development, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492 United States
| | - Aspen Chun
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Alice L. Rodriguez
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Andrew S. Felts
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Julie L. Engers
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Matthew T. Loch
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Kyle A. Emmitte
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Arlindo L. Castelhano
- Davos Pharma, A Davos Chemical Company, 600 East Crescent Ave., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, United States
| | - Michael J. Kates
- Davos Pharma, A Davos Chemical Company, 600 East Crescent Ave., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, United States
| | - Michael A. Nader
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction Treatment, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
| | - Carrie K. Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Anna L. Blobaum
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - P. Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Colleen M. Niswender
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Corey R. Hopkins
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Craig W. Lindsley
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
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35
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Crupi R, Impellizzeri D, Cuzzocrea S. Role of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Neurological Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:20. [PMID: 30800054 PMCID: PMC6375857 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate is a fundamental excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), playing key roles in memory, neuronal development, and synaptic plasticity. Moreover, excessive glutamate release has been implicated in neuronal cell death. There are both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), the latter of which can be divided into eight subtypes and three subgroups based on homology sequence and their effects on cell signaling. Indeed, mGluRs exert fine control over glutamate activity by stimulating several cell-signaling pathways via the activation of G protein-coupled (GPC) or G protein-independent cell signaling. The involvement of specific mGluRs in different forms of synaptic plasticity suggests that modulation of mGluRs may aid in the treatment of cognitive impairments related to several neurodevelopmental/psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, which are associated with a high economic and social burden. Preclinical and clinical data have shown that, in the CNS, mGluRs are able to modulate presynaptic neurotransmission by fine-tuning neuronal firing and neurotransmitter release in a dynamic, activity-dependent manner. Current studies on drugs that target mGluRs have identified promising, innovative pharmacological tools for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions, including chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalia Crupi
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Daniela Impellizzeri
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Cuzzocrea
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States
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36
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Bocchio M, Lukacs IP, Stacey R, Plaha P, Apostolopoulos V, Livermore L, Sen A, Ansorge O, Gillies MJ, Somogyi P, Capogna M. Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Mediate Presynaptic Inhibition of Excitatory Transmission in Pyramidal Neurons of the Human Cerebral Cortex. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 12:508. [PMID: 30670948 PMCID: PMC6333023 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) ligands are potential novel drugs for neurological and psychiatric disorders, but little is known about the effects of these compounds at synapses of the human cerebral cortex. Investigating the effects of neuropsychiatric drugs in human brain tissue with preserved synaptic circuits might accelerate the development of more potent and selective pharmacological treatments. We have studied the effects of group II mGluR activation on excitatory synaptic transmission recorded from pyramidal neurons of cortical layers 2-3 in acute slices derived from surgically removed cortical tissue of people with epilepsy or tumors. The application of a selective group II mGluR agonist, LY354740 (0.1-1 μM) inhibited the amplitude and frequency of action potential-dependent spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs). This effect was prevented by the application of a group II/III mGluR antagonist, CPPG (0.1 mM). Furthermore, LY354740 inhibited the frequency, but not the amplitude, of action potential-independent miniature EPSCs (mEPSCs) recorded in pyramidal neurons. Finally, LY354740 did slightly reduce cells' input resistance without altering the holding current of the neurons recorded in voltage clamp at -90 mV. Our results suggest that group II mGluRs are mainly auto-receptors that inhibit the release of glutamate onto pyramidal neurons in layers 2-3 in the human cerebral cortex, thereby regulating network excitability. We have demonstrated the effect of a group II mGluR ligand at human cortical synapses, revealing mechanisms by which these drugs could exert pro-cognitive effects and treat human neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bocchio
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Istvan P. Lukacs
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Stacey
- Department of Neurosurgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Puneet Plaha
- Department of Neurosurgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Vasileios Apostolopoulos
- Department of Neurosurgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Laurent Livermore
- Department of Neurosurgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Arjune Sen
- Oxford Epilepsy Research Group, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Olaf Ansorge
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J. Gillies
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Somogyi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Capogna
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine – Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Bossi S, Helleringer R, Galante M, Monlleó E, Trapero A, Rovira X, Daniel H, Llebaria A, McLean H. A Light-Controlled Allosteric Modulator Unveils a Role for mGlu 4 Receptors During Early Stages of Ischemia in the Rodent Cerebellar Cortex. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:449. [PMID: 30542267 PMCID: PMC6277836 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlus) are G Protein coupled-receptors that modulate synaptic transmission and plasticity in the central nervous system. Some act as autoreceptors to control neurotransmitter release at excitatory synapses and have become attractive targets for drug therapy to treat certain neurological disorders. However, the high degree of sequence conservation around the glutamate binding site makes the development of subtype-specific orthosteric ligands difficult to achieve. This problem can be circumvented by designing molecules that target specific less well conserved allosteric sites. One such allosteric drug, the photo-switchable compound OptoGluNAM4.1, has been recently employed to reversibly inhibit the activity of metabotropic glutamate 4 (mGlu4) receptors in cell cultures and in vivo. We studied OptoGluNAM4.1 as a negative modulator of neurotransmission in rodent cerebellar slices at the parallel fiber – Purkinje cell synapse. Our data show that OptoGluNAM4.1 antagonizes pharmacological activation of mGlu4 receptors in a fully reversible and photo-controllable manner. In addition, for the first time, this new allosteric modulator allowed us to demonstrate that, in brain slices from the rodent cerebellar cortex, mGlu4 receptors are endogenously activated in excitotoxic conditions, such as the early phases of simulated cerebellar ischemia, which is associated with elevated levels of extracellular glutamate. These findings support OptoGluNAM4.1 as a promising new tool for unraveling the role of mGlu4 receptors in the central nervous system in physio-pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Bossi
- Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud - CNRS, UMR 9197, Orsay, France
| | - Romain Helleringer
- Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud - CNRS, UMR 9197, Orsay, France
| | - Micaela Galante
- Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud - CNRS, UMR 9197, Orsay, France
| | - Ester Monlleó
- MCS, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Trapero
- MCS, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Rovira
- Molecular Photopharmacology Research Group, The Tissue Repair and Regeneration Laboratory, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Spain
| | - Hervé Daniel
- Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud - CNRS, UMR 9197, Orsay, France
| | - Amadeu Llebaria
- MCS, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Heather McLean
- Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud - CNRS, UMR 9197, Orsay, France
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38
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Bollinger SR, Engers DW, Panarese JD, West M, Engers JL, Loch MT, Rodriguez AL, Blobaum AL, Jones CK, Thompson Gray A, Conn PJ, Lindsley CW, Niswender CM, Hopkins CR. Discovery, Structure-Activity Relationship, and Biological Characterization of a Novel Series of 6-((1 H-Pyrazolo[4,3- b]pyridin-3-yl)amino)-benzo[ d]isothiazole-3-carboxamides as Positive Allosteric Modulators of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 4 (mGlu 4). J Med Chem 2018; 62:342-358. [PMID: 30247901 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
This work describes the discovery and characterization of novel 6-(1 H-pyrazolo[4,3- b]pyridin-3-yl)amino-benzo[ d]isothiazole-3-carboxamides as mGlu4 PAMs. This scaffold provides improved metabolic clearance and CYP1A2 profiles compared to previously discovered mGlu4 PAMs. From this work, 27o (VU6001376) was identified as a potent (EC50 = 50.1 nM, 50.5% GluMax) and selective mGlu4 PAM with an excellent rat DMPK profile ( in vivo rat CLp = 3.1 mL/min/kg, t1/2 = 445 min, CYP1A2 IC50 > 30 μM). Compound 27o was also active in reversing haloperidol induced catalepsy in a rodent preclinical model of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R Bollinger
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Darren W Engers
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Joseph D Panarese
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Mary West
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Julie L Engers
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Matthew T Loch
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Alice L Rodriguez
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Anna L Blobaum
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Carrie K Jones
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Analisa Thompson Gray
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - P Jeffrey Conn
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center , Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Craig W Lindsley
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Chemistry , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Biochemistry , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Colleen M Niswender
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center , Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Corey R Hopkins
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Department of Chemistry , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
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Charvin D, Di Paolo T, Bezard E, Gregoire L, Takano A, Duvey G, Pioli E, Halldin C, Medori R, Conquet F. An mGlu4-Positive Allosteric Modulator Alleviates Parkinsonism in Primates. Mov Disord 2018; 33:1619-1631. [PMID: 30216534 DOI: 10.1002/mds.27462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Levodopa remains the gold-standard treatment for PD. However, it becomes less effective as the disease progresses and produces debilitating side effects, such as motor fluctuations and l-dopa-induced dyskinesia. Modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 represents a promising antiparkinsonian approach in combination with l-dopa, but it has not been demonstrated in primates. OBJECTIVE We studied whether a novel positive allosteric modulator of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 4, PXT002331 (foliglurax), could reduce parkinsonism in primate models. METHODS We assessed the therapeutic potential of PXT002331 in three models of MPTP-induced parkinsonism in macaques. These models represent three different stages of disease evolution: early stage and advanced stage with and without l-dopa-induced dyskinesia. RESULTS As an adjunct to l-dopa, PXT002331 induced a robust and dose-dependent reversal of parkinsonian motor symptoms in macaques, including bradykinesia, tremor, posture, and mobility. Moreover, PXT002331 strongly decreased dyskinesia severity, thus having therapeutic efficacy on both parkinsonian motor impairment and l-dopa-induced dyskinesia. PXT002331 brain penetration was also assessed using PET imaging in macaques, and pharmacodynamic analyses support target engagement in the therapeutic effects of PXT002331. CONCLUSIONS This work provides a demonstration that a positive allosteric modulator of metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 can alleviate the motor symptoms of PD and the motor complications induced by l-dopa in primates. PXT002331 is the first compound of its class to enter phase IIa clinical trials. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Charvin
- Prexton Therapeutics SA, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Therese Di Paolo
- Neuroscience Research Unit CHU de Québec, CHUL Pavillon and Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Erwan Bezard
- Motac Neuroscience Ltd, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Laurent Gregoire
- Neuroscience Research Unit CHU de Québec, CHUL Pavillon and Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Akihiro Takano
- Karolinska Institutet, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Guillaume Duvey
- Prexton Therapeutics SA, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Elsa Pioli
- Motac Neuroscience Ltd, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Christer Halldin
- Karolinska Institutet, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rossella Medori
- Prexton Therapeutics SA, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François Conquet
- Prexton Therapeutics SA, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
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Caprioli D, Justinova Z, Venniro M, Shaham Y. Effect of Novel Allosteric Modulators of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors on Drug Self-administration and Relapse: A Review of Preclinical Studies and Their Clinical Implications. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:180-192. [PMID: 29102027 PMCID: PMC5837933 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Results from preclinical rodent studies during the last 20 years implicated glutamate neurotransmission in different brain regions in drug self-administration and rodent models of relapse. These results, along with evidence for drug-induced neuroadaptations in glutamatergic neurons and receptors, suggested that addiction might be treatable by medications that inhibit glutamatergic responses to drugs of abuse, drug-associated cues, and stressors. This idea is supported by findings in rodent and primate models that drug self-administration and relapse are reduced by systemic injections of antagonists of ionotropic glutamate receptors or metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) or orthosteric agonists of mGluR2/3. However, these compounds have not advanced to clinical use because of potential side effects and other factors. This state of affairs has led to the development of positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) and negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of mGluRs. PAMs and NAMs of mGluRs, either of which can inhibit evoked glutamate release, may be suitable for testing in humans. We reviewed results from recent studies of systemically injected PAMs and NAMs of mGluRs in rodents and monkeys, focusing on whether they reduce drug self-administration, reinstatement of drug seeking, and incubation of drug craving. We also review results from rat studies in which PAMs or NAMs of mGluRs were injected intracranially to reduce drug self-administration and reinstatement. We conclude that PAMs and NAMs of mGluRs should be considered for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Caprioli
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Zuzana Justinova
- Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, NIDA, NIH, DHHS, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marco Venniro
- Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, NIDA, NIH, DHHS, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yavin Shaham
- Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, NIDA, NIH, DHHS, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Ngomba RT, van Luijtelaar G. Metabotropic glutamate receptors as drug targets for the treatment of absence epilepsy. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2018; 38:43-50. [PMID: 29547778 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are expressed in key regions of the cortex and the thalamus and are known to regulate spike and wave discharges (SWDs), the electroclinical hallmarks of absence seizures. Recent preclinical studies have highlighted the therapeutic potential of selective group I and III mGlu receptor subtype allosteric modulators, which can suppress pathological SWDs. Of particular interest are positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) for mGlu5 receptors, as they currently show the most promise as novel anti-absence epilepsy drugs. The rational design of novel selective positive and negative allosteric mGlu modulators, especially for the mGlu5 receptor, has been made possible following the recent crystallographic structure determination of group I mGlu receptors. Our current knowledge of the role of different mGlu receptor subtypes in absence epilepsy is outlined in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Teke Ngomba
- School of Pharmacy in College of Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK.
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Volpi C, Fallarino F, Mondanelli G, Macchiarulo A, Grohmann U. Opportunities and challenges in drug discovery targeting metabotropic glutamate receptor 4. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2018; 13:411-423. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2018.1443076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Volpi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Giada Mondanelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Antonio Macchiarulo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ursula Grohmann
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Rubio-Casillas A, Fernández-Guasti A. The dose makes the poison: from glutamate-mediated neurogenesis to neuronal atrophy and depression. Rev Neurosci 2018; 27:599-622. [PMID: 27096778 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2015-0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Experimental evidence has demonstrated that glutamate is an essential factor for neurogenesis, whereas another line of research postulates that excessive glutamatergic neurotransmission is associated with the pathogenesis of depression. The present review shows that such paradox can be explained within the framework of hormesis, defined as biphasic dose responses. Low glutamate levels activate adaptive stress responses that include proteins that protect neurons against more severe stress. Conversely, abnormally high levels of glutamate, resulting from increased release and/or decreased removal, cause neuronal atrophy and depression. The dysregulation of the glutamatergic transmission in depression could be underlined by several factors including a decreased inhibition (γ-aminobutyric acid or serotonin) or an increased excitation (primarily within the glutamatergic system). Experimental evidence shows that the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors (AMPAR) can exert two opposite effects on neurogenesis and neuron survival depending on the synaptic or extrasynaptic concentration. Chronic stress, which usually underlies experimental and clinical depression, enhances glutamate release. This overactivates NMDA receptors (NMDAR) and consequently impairs AMPAR activity. Various studies show that treatment with antidepressants decreases plasma glutamate levels in depressed individuals and regulates glutamate receptors by reducing NMDAR function by decreasing the expression of its subunits and by potentiating AMPAR-mediated transmission. Additionally, it has been shown that chronic treatment with antidepressants having divergent mechanisms of action (including tricyclics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and ketamine) markedly reduced depolarization-evoked glutamate release in the hippocampus. These data, taken together, suggest that the glutamatergic system could be a final common pathway for antidepressant treatments.
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Cuzon Carlson VC. GABA and Glutamate Synaptic Coadaptations to Chronic Ethanol in the Striatum. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2018; 248:79-112. [PMID: 29460153 DOI: 10.1007/164_2018_98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol (ethanol) is a widely used and abused drug with approximately 90% of adults over the age of 18 consuming alcohol at some point in their lifetime. Alcohol exerts its actions through multiple neurotransmitter systems within the brain, most notably the GABAergic and glutamatergic systems. Alcohol's actions on GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission have been suggested to underlie the acute behavioral effects of ethanol. The striatum is the primary input nucleus of the basal ganglia that plays a role in motor and reward systems. The effect of ethanol on GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission within striatal circuitry has been thought to underlie ethanol taking, seeking, withdrawal and relapse. This chapter reviews the effects of ethanol on GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission, highlighting the dynamic changes in striatal circuitry from acute to chronic exposure and withdrawal.
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Caraci F, Nicoletti F, Copani A. Metabotropic glutamate receptors: the potential for therapeutic applications in Alzheimer's disease. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2017; 38:1-7. [PMID: 29278824 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A dysfunction of glutamate signaling is implicated at several levels in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Currently, metabotropic glutamate receptors, which have a wide distribution in the central nervous system and activate a multitude of cell signaling pathways, are pursued as targets for therapeutic intervention in Alzheimer's disease. Research is still limited, but results underscore the relevance of ongoing studies. Here we discuss the latest updates regarding metabotropic glutamate receptors and their role in Alzheimer's disease, as well as promising metabotropic glutamate receptor ligands that have been investigated in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Caraci
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Oasi Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging (IRCCS), Troina, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Nicoletti
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy; Neuromed (IRCCS), Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Agata Copani
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Catania, Italy.
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Dammann F, Kirschstein T, Guli X, Müller S, Porath K, Rohde M, Tokay T, Köhling R. Bidirectional shift of group III metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated synaptic depression in the epileptic hippocampus. Epilepsy Res 2017; 139:157-163. [PMID: 29224956 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
A common function of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) located at the presynaptic site of a glutamatergic synapse is synaptic depression. Here, we studied synaptic depression mediated by group III mGluR activation at Schaffer collateral-CA1 (SC-CA1) synapses and associational-commissural-CA3 (AC-CA3) synapses by recording field excitatory postsynaptic potentials in the in vitro brain slice preparation. In order to gauge the impact of synaptic depression in chronically epileptic tissue, we compared rats after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (post-SE) with control animals. We observed that synaptic transmission at control AC-CA3 synapses was sensitive to the group III mGluR agonist L-AP4 (10μM), while there was no effect of this compound at SC-CA1 synapses in the same tissue. In contrast, synaptic depression at AC-CA3 synapses by L-AP4 was lost in chronically epileptic tissue, and we found a significant synaptic depression at SC-CA1 synapses in post-SE tissue by L-AP4 and by the mGluR8-selective agonist DCPG. The depression by L-AP4 and DCPG in CA1 was also demonstrated in immature control tissue suggesting developmental down-regulation of mGluR8 at this synapse as well as re-appearance of this isoform under pathological conditions. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR was used to identify mGluR isoforms and to assess their transcriptional changes in post-SE tissue. These analyses revealed down-regulation of mGluR4 and mGluR6 at AC-CA3 and up-regulation of mGluR8 at SC-CA1 synapses. We conclude that group III mGluR-mediated synaptic depression is differentially altered in chronically epileptic tissue by a bidirectional shift of the transcriptional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Dammann
- Oscar Langendorff Institute of Physiology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Timo Kirschstein
- Oscar Langendorff Institute of Physiology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Xiati Guli
- Oscar Langendorff Institute of Physiology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Steffen Müller
- Oscar Langendorff Institute of Physiology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Katrin Porath
- Oscar Langendorff Institute of Physiology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Marco Rohde
- Oscar Langendorff Institute of Physiology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Tursonjan Tokay
- Oscar Langendorff Institute of Physiology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Köhling
- Oscar Langendorff Institute of Physiology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Moreno Delgado D, Møller TC, Ster J, Giraldo J, Maurel D, Rovira X, Scholler P, Zwier JM, Perroy J, Durroux T, Trinquet E, Prezeau L, Rondard P, Pin JP. Pharmacological evidence for a metabotropic glutamate receptor heterodimer in neuronal cells. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28661401 PMCID: PMC5540479 DOI: 10.7554/elife.25233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are mandatory dimers playing important roles in regulating CNS function. Although assumed to form exclusive homodimers, 16 possible heterodimeric mGluRs have been proposed but their existence in native cells remains elusive. Here, we set up two assays to specifically identify the pharmacological properties of rat mGlu heterodimers composed of mGlu2 and 4 subunits. We used either a heterodimer-specific conformational LRET-based biosensor or a system that guarantees the cell surface targeting of the heterodimer only. We identified mGlu2-4 specific pharmacological fingerprints that were also observed in a neuronal cell line and in lateral perforant path terminals naturally expressing mGlu2 and mGlu4. These results bring strong evidence for the existence of mGlu2-4 heterodimers in native cells. In addition to reporting a general approach to characterize heterodimeric mGluRs, our study opens new avenues to understanding the pathophysiological roles of mGlu heterodimers. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.25233.001
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Affiliation(s)
- David Moreno Delgado
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Thor C Møller
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jeanne Ster
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jesús Giraldo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology and Bioinformatics, Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Bioestadística, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.,Network Biomedical Research Center on Mental Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Damien Maurel
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Xavier Rovira
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Pauline Scholler
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Julie Perroy
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Thierry Durroux
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Laurent Prezeau
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Rondard
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Pin
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), CNRS, INSERM, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Isherwood SN, Robbins TW, Nicholson JR, Dalley JW, Pekcec A. Selective and interactive effects of D 2 receptor antagonism and positive allosteric mGluR4 modulation on waiting impulsivity. Neuropharmacology 2017; 123:249-260. [PMID: 28487067 PMCID: PMC5522528 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4) and dopamine D2 receptors are specifically expressed within the indirect pathway neurons of the striato-pallidal-subthalamic pathway. This unique expression profile suggests that mGluR4 and D2 receptors may play a cooperative role in the regulation and inhibitory control of behaviour. We investigated this possibility by testing the effects of a functionally-characterised positive allosteric mGluR4 modulator, 4-((E)-styryl)-pyrimidin-2-ylamine (Cpd11), both alone and in combination with the D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride, on two distinct forms of impulsivity. Methods Rats were trained on the five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) of sustained visual attention and segregated according to low, mid, and high levels of motor impulsivity (LI, MI and HI, respectively), with unscreened rats used as an additional control group. A separate group of rats was trained on a delay discounting task (DDT) to assess choice impulsivity. Results Systemic administration of Cpd11 dose-dependently increased motor impulsivity and impaired attentional accuracy on the 5-CSRTT in all groups tested. Eticlopride selectively attenuated the increase in impulsivity induced by Cpd11, but not the accompanying attentional impairment, at doses that had no significant effect on behavioural performance when administered alone. Cpd11 also decreased choice impulsivity on the DDT (i.e. increased preference for the large, delayed reward) and decreased locomotor activity. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that mGluR4s, in conjunction with D2 receptors, affect motor- and choice-based measures of impulsivity, and therefore may be novel targets to modulate impulsive behaviour associated with a number of neuropsychiatric syndromes. Positive allosteric mGluR4 modulation increases motor impulsivity and impairs aspects of visual attention. Positive allosteric mGluR4 modulation decreases choice impulsivity as well as indices of motor function. Blocking D2 receptors selectively attenuates the effect of positive allosteric mGluR4 modulation on motor impulsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Isherwood
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Div. Research Germany, Birkendorfer Strasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Janet R Nicholson
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Div. Research Germany, Birkendorfer Strasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Jeffrey W Dalley
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK
| | - Anton Pekcec
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Div. Research Germany, Birkendorfer Strasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany.
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49
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Maksymetz J, Moran SP, Conn PJ. Targeting metabotropic glutamate receptors for novel treatments of schizophrenia. Mol Brain 2017; 10:15. [PMID: 28446243 PMCID: PMC5405554 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-017-0293-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Support for the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction hypothesis of schizophrenia has led to increasing focus on restoring proper glutamatergic signaling as an approach for treatment of this devastating disease. The ability of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors to modulate glutamatergic neurotransmission has thus attracted considerable attention for the development of novel antipsychotics. Consisting of eight subtypes classified into three groups based on sequence homology, signal transduction, and pharmacology, the mGlu receptors provide a wide range of targets to modulate NMDAR function as well as glutamate release. Recently, allosteric modulators of mGlu receptors have been developed that allow unprecedented selectivity among subtypes, not just groups, facilitating the investigation of the effects of subtype-specific modulation. In preclinical animal models, positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the group I mGlu receptor mGlu5 have efficacy across all three symptom domains of schizophrenia (positive, negative, and cognitive). The discovery and development of mGlu5 PAMs that display unique signal bias suggests that efficacy can be retained while avoiding the neurotoxic effects of earlier compounds. Interestingly, mGlu1 negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) appear efficacious in positive symptom models of the disease but are still in early preclinical development. While selective group II mGlu receptor (mGlu2/3) agonists have reached clinical trials but were unsuccessful, specific mGlu2 or mGlu3 receptor targeting still hold great promise. Genetic studies implicated mGlu2 in the antipsychotic effects of group II agonists and mGlu2 PAMs have since entered into clinical trials. Additionally, mGlu3 appears to play an important role in cognition, may confer neuroprotective effects, and thus is a promising target to alleviate cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Although group III mGlu receptors (mGlu4/6/7/8) have attracted less attention, mGlu4 agonists and PAMs appear to have efficacy across all three symptoms domains in preclinical models. The recent discovery of heterodimers comprising mGlu2 and mGlu4 may explain the efficacy of mGlu4 selective compounds but this remains to be determined. Taken together, compounds targeting mGlu receptors, specifically subtype-selective allosteric modulators, provide a compelling alternative approach to fill the unmet clinical needs for patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Maksymetz
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Sean P. Moran
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - P. Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
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50
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Chardonnet S, Bessiron T, Ramos CI, Dammak R, Richard MA, Boursier C, Cadilhac C, Coquelle FM, Bossi S, Ango F, Le Maréchal P, Decottignies P, Berrier C, McLean H, Daniel H. Native metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 depresses synaptic transmission through an unusual Gα q transduction pathway. Neuropharmacology 2017; 121:247-260. [PMID: 28456688 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Revised: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
In cerebellar cortex, mGlu4 receptors located on parallel fibers play an essential role in normal motor function, but the molecular mechanisms involved are not yet completely understood. Using a strategy combining biochemical and electrophysiological approaches in the rodent cerebellum, we demonstrate that presynaptic mGlu4 receptors control synaptic transmission through an atypical activation of Gαq proteins. First, the Gαq subunit, PLC and PKC signaling proteins present in cerebellar extracts are retained on affinity chromatography columns grafted with different sequences of the cytoplasmic domain of mGlu4 receptor. The i2 loop and the C terminal domain were used as baits, two domains that are known to play a pivotal role in coupling selectivity and efficacy. Second, in situ proximity ligation assays show that native mGlu4 receptors and Gαq subunits are in close physical proximity in cerebellar cortical slices. Finally, electrophysiological experiments demonstrate that the molecular mechanisms underlying mGlu4 receptor-mediated inhibition of transmitter release at cerebellar Parallel Fiber (PF) - Molecular Layer Interneuron (MLI) synapses involves the Gαq-PLC signaling pathway. Taken together, our results provide compelling evidence that, in the rodent cerebellar cortex, mGlu4 receptors act by coupling to the Gαq protein and PLC effector system to reduce glutamate synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solenne Chardonnet
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Thomas Bessiron
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Cathy Isaura Ramos
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Raoudha Dammak
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Marie-Ange Richard
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Céline Boursier
- Plateforme de Transcriptomique et Protéomique (Trans-Prot), UMS-IPSIT, Univ Paris Sud CNRS Inserm, F- 92296 Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Christelle Cadilhac
- Equipe Mise en place des circuits GABAergiques, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS UMR 5203, F-34094 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Frédéric M Coquelle
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Simon Bossi
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Fabrice Ango
- Equipe Mise en place des circuits GABAergiques, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS UMR 5203, F-34094 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Pierre Le Maréchal
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Paulette Decottignies
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Catherine Berrier
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Heather McLean
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Hervé Daniel
- Equipe Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, NeuroPSI - UMR 9197 « Univ Paris-sud - CNRS », Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France.
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