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Gaitonde SA, Avet C, de la Fuente Revenga M, Blondel-Tepaz E, Shahraki A, Pastor AM, Talagayev V, Robledo P, Kolb P, Selent J, González-Maeso J, Bouvier M. Pharmacological fingerprint of antipsychotic drugs at the serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:2753-2764. [PMID: 38561467 PMCID: PMC11420065 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02531-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The intricate involvement of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) both in schizophrenia and in the activity of antipsychotic drugs is widely acknowledged. The currently marketed antipsychotic drugs, although effective in managing the symptoms of schizophrenia to a certain extent, are not without their repertoire of serious side effects. There is a need for better therapeutics to treat schizophrenia for which understanding the mechanism of action of the current antipsychotic drugs is imperative. With bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assays, we trace the signaling signature of six antipsychotic drugs belonging to three generations at the 5-HT2AR for the entire spectrum of signaling pathways activated by serotonin (5-HT). The antipsychotic drugs display previously unidentified pathway preference at the level of the individual Gα subunits and β-arrestins. In particular, risperidone, clozapine, olanzapine and haloperidol showed G protein-selective inverse agonist activity. In addition, G protein-selective partial agonism was found for aripiprazole and cariprazine. Pathway-specific apparent dissociation constants determined from functional analyses revealed distinct coupling-modulating capacities of the tested antipsychotics at the different 5-HT-activated pathways. Computational analyses of the pharmacological and structural fingerprints support a mechanistically based clustering that recapitulate the clinical classification (typical/first generation, atypical/second generation, third generation) of the antipsychotic drugs. The study provides a new framework to functionally classify antipsychotics that should represent a useful tool for the identification of better and safer neuropsychiatric drugs and allows formulating hypotheses on the links between specific signaling cascades and in the clinical outcomes of the existing drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supriya A Gaitonde
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Charlotte Avet
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Mario de la Fuente Revenga
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Elodie Blondel-Tepaz
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Aida Shahraki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Adrian Morales Pastor
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Valerij Talagayev
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Patricia Robledo
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Peter Kolb
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jana Selent
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Michel Bouvier
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
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Lerer E, Botvinnik A, Shahar O, Grad M, Blakolmer K, Shomron N, Lotan A, Lerer B, Lifschytz T. Effects of psilocybin, psychedelic mushroom extract and 5-hydroxytryptophan on brain immediate early gene expression: Interaction with serotonergic receptor modulators. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1391412. [PMID: 38698823 PMCID: PMC11063716 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1391412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Immediate early genes (IEGs) are rapidly activated and initiate diverse cellular processes including neuroplasticity. We report the effect of psilocybin (PSIL), PSIL-containing psychedelic mushroom extract (PME) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on expression of the IEGs, cfos, egr1, and egr2 in mouse somatosensory cortex (SSC). Methods: In our initial experiment, male C57Bl/6j mice were injected with PSIL 4.4 mg/kg or 5-HTP 200 mg/kg, alone or immediately preceded by serotonergic receptor modulators. IEG mRNA expression 1 hour later was determined by real time qPCR. In a replication study a group of mice treated with PME was added. Results: In our initial experiment, PSIL but not 5-HTP significantly increased expression of all three IEGs. No correlation was observed between the head twitch response (HTR) induced by PSIL and its effect on the IEGs. The serotonergic receptor modulators did not significantly alter PSIL-induced IEG expression, with the exception of the 5-HT2C antagonist (RS102221), which significantly enhanced PSIL-induced egr2 expression. 5-HTP did not affect IEG expression. In our replication experiment, PSIL and PME upregulated levels of egr1 and cfos while the upregulation of egr2 was not significant. Conclusions: We have shown that PSIL and PME but not 5-HTP (at a dose sufficient to induce HTR), induced a significant increase in cfos and egr1 expression in mouse SSC. Our findings suggest that egr1 and cfos expression may be associated with psychedelic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elad Lerer
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
- Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Alexander Botvinnik
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Orr Shahar
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Meitar Grad
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Karin Blakolmer
- Parow Entheobiosciences (ParowBio), Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Noam Shomron
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Amit Lotan
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Bernard Lerer
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tzuri Lifschytz
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Hadassah BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
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Hashimoto K. Are "mystical experiences" essential for antidepressant actions of ketamine and the classic psychedelics? Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01770-7. [PMID: 38411629 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01770-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The growing interest in the rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of the dissociative anesthetic ketamine and classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, is remarkable. However, both ketamine and psychedelics are known to induce acute mystical experiences; ketamine can cause dissociative symptoms such as out-of-body experience, while psychedelics typically bring about hallucinogenic experiences, like a profound sense of unity with the universe or nature. The role of these mystical experiences in enhancing the antidepressant outcomes for patients with depression is currently an area of ongoing investigation and debate. Clinical studies have shown that the dissociative symptoms following the administration of ketamine or (S)-ketamine (esketamine) are not directly linked to their antidepressant properties. In contrast, the antidepressant potential of (R)-ketamine (arketamine), thought to lack dissociative side effects, has yet to be conclusively proven in large-scale clinical trials. Moreover, although the activation of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor is crucial for the hallucinogenic effects of psychedelics in humans, its precise role in their antidepressant action is still under discussion. This article explores the importance of mystical experiences in enhancing the antidepressant efficacy of both ketamine and classic psychedelics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Hashimoto
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
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Zhu H, Liu X, Wang X, Li Y, Ma F, Tan B, Zhou P, Fu F, Su R. Gβγ subunit inhibitor decreases DOM-induced head twitch response via the PLCβ/IP3/Ca 2+/ERK and cAMP signaling pathways. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 957:176038. [PMID: 37657742 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176038] [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: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS (-)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) induces the head-twitch response (HTR) primarily by activating the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HT2A receptor) in mice. However, the mechanisms underlying 5-HT2A receptor activation and the HTR remain elusive. Gβγ subunits are a potential treatment target in numerous diseases. The present study investigated the mechanism whereby Gβγ subunits influence DOM-induced HTR. MAIN METHODS The effects of the Gβγ inhibitor 3',4',5',6'-tetrahydroxyspiro[2-benzofuran-3,9'-xanthene]-1-one (gallein) and antagonistic peptide βARKct (β-adrenergic receptor kinase C-terminal fragment) on DOM-induced HTR were studied via an HTR test. The activation of the phospholipase C β (PLCβ)/inositol triphosphate (IP3)/calcium (Ca2+) signaling pathway and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) following Gβγ subunit inhibition was detected by western blotting, Homogeneous Time-Resolved Fluorescence (HTRF) inositol phosphate (IP1) assay and Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR) calcium 6 assay. The Gβγ subunit-mediated regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was assessed via a GloSensor™ cAMP assay. KEY FINDINGS The Gβγ subunit inhibitors gallein and βARKct reduced DOM-induced HTR in C57BL/6J mice. Like the 5-HT2A receptor-selective antagonist (R)-[2,3-di(methoxy)phenyl]-[1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl]methanol (M100907), gallein inhibited PLCβ phosphorylation (pPLCβ), IP1 production, Ca2+ transients, ERK1/2 phosphorylation (pERK1/2) and cAMP accumulation induced by DOM in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells stably or transiently transfected with the human 5-HT2A receptor. Moreover, PLCβ protein inhibitor 1-[6-[[(8R,9S,13S,14S,17S)-3-methoxy-13-methyl-6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl]amino]hexyl]pyrrole-2,5-dione (U73122) (10 nmol/mouse), intracellular Ca2+ blocker 6-[6-[6-[5-acetamido-4,6-dihydroxy-2-(sulfooxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxy-2-carboxy-4-hydroxy-5-sulfooxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-5-(sulfoamino)-4-sulfooxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-3,4-dihydroxy-5-sulfooxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid (heparin) (5 nmol/mouse), L-type Ca2+ channel blocker 3-O-(2-methoxyethyl) 5-O-propan-2-yl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (nimodipine) (4 mg/kg), mitogen extracellular regulating kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) inhibitor (Z)-3-amino-3-(4-aminophenyl)sulfanyl-2-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]prop-2-enenitrile (SL327) (30 mg/kg), and Gαs protein selective antagonist 4,4',4″,4‴-(Carbonylbis-(imino-5,1,3-benzenetriylbis(carbonylimino)))tetrakisbenzene-1,3-disulfonic acid (NF449) (10 nmol/mouse) reduced DOM-induced HTR in C57BL/6J mice. SIGNIFICANCE The Gβγ subunits potentially mediate the HTR after 5-HT2A receptor activation via the PLCβ/IP3/Ca2+/ERK1/2 and cAMP signaling pathways. Inhibitors targeting the Gβγ subunits potentially inhibit the hallucinogenic effects of 5-HT2A receptor agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huili Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China; School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Xiaoqian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yulei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Fang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Bo Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Peilan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Fenghua Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Ruibin Su
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China.
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Salinsky LM, Merritt CR, Zamora JC, Giacomini JL, Anastasio NC, Cunningham KA. μ-opioid receptor agonists and psychedelics: pharmacological opportunities and challenges. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1239159. [PMID: 37886127 PMCID: PMC10598667 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1239159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioid misuse and opioid-involved overdose deaths are a massive public health problem involving the intertwined misuse of prescription opioids for pain management with the emergence of extremely potent fentanyl derivatives, sold as standalone products or adulterants in counterfeit prescription opioids or heroin. The incidence of repeated opioid overdose events indicates a problematic use pattern consistent with the development of the medical condition of opioid use disorder (OUD). Prescription and illicit opioids reduce pain perception by activating µ-opioid receptors (MOR) localized to the central nervous system (CNS). Dysregulation of meso-corticolimbic circuitry that subserves reward and adaptive behaviors is fundamentally involved in the progressive behavioral changes that promote and are consequent to OUD. Although opioid-induced analgesia and the rewarding effects of abused opioids are primarily mediated through MOR activation, serotonin (5-HT) is an important contributor to the pharmacology of opioid abused drugs (including heroin and prescription opioids) and OUD. There is a recent resurgence of interest into psychedelic compounds that act primarily through the 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT 2A R) as a new frontier in combatting such diseases (e.g., depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders). Emerging data suggest that the MOR and 5-HT2AR crosstalk at the cellular level and within key nodes of OUD circuitry, highlighting a major opportunity for novel pharmacological intervention for OUD. There is an important gap in the preclinical profiling of psychedelic 5-HT2AR agonists in OUD models. Further, as these molecules carry risks, additional analyses of the profiles of non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2AR agonists and/or 5-HT2AR positive allosteric modulators may provide a new pathway for 5-HT2AR therapeutics. In this review, we discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with utilizing 5-HT2AR agonists as therapeutics for OUD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Noelle C. Anastasio
- Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, John Sealy School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Kathryn A. Cunningham
- Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, John Sealy School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
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Maguire DR. Effects of 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine (DOM) and 2-Piperazin-1-yl-Quinoline (Quipazine) on Fentanyl Versus Food Choice in Rhesus Monkeys. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2023; 384:155-162. [PMID: 36272734 PMCID: PMC9827501 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been increasing interest in the potential therapeutic effects of drugs with agonist properties at serotonin 2A subtype (5-HT2A) receptors (e.g., psychedelics), including treatment of substance use disorders. Studying interactions between 5-HT2A receptor agonists and other drugs is important for understanding potential therapeutic effects as well as adverse interactions. Direct-acting 5-HT2A receptor agonists such as 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) and 2-piperazin-1-yl-quinoline (quipazine) enhance some (e.g., antinociceptive) effects of opioids; however, it is unclear whether they alter the abuse-related effects of opioids. This study examined whether DOM and quipazine alter the reinforcing effects of fentanyl in rhesus monkeys (n = 6) responding under a food versus drug choice procedure. Responding on one lever delivered sucrose pellets and responding on the other lever delivered intravenous (i.v.) infusions. In one set of experiments, fentanyl (0.1-3.2 µg/kg/infusion) versus food choice sessions were preceded by noncontingent i.v. pretreatments with DOM (0032-0.32 mg/kg), quipazine (0.32-1.0 mg/kg), naltrexone (0.032 mg/kg), or heroin (0.1 mg/kg). In another set of experiments, fentanyl was available during choice sessions in combination with DOM (0.32-100 µg/kg/infusion) or quipazine (3.2-320 µg/kg/infusion) in varying dose ratios. Naltrexone decreased and heroin increased fentanyl choice, demonstrating sensitivity of responding to pharmacological manipulation. However, whether given as a pretreatment or made available in combination with fentanyl as a mixture, neither DOM nor quipazine significantly altered fentanyl choice. These results suggest that 5-HT2A receptor agonists do not enhance the reinforcing effects of opioids and, thus, will not likely enhance abuse potential. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Serotonin 2A subtype receptor agonists enhance some (e.g., antinociceptive) effects of opioids, suggesting they could be combined with opioids in some therapeutic contexts such as treating pain. However, it is unclear whether they also enhance adverse effects of opioids, including abuse. Results of this study indicate that serotonin 2A subtype receptor agonists do not reliably enhance opioid self-administration and, thus, are unlikely to enhance the abuse potential of opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Maguire
- Department of Pharmacology and Addiction Research, Treatment & Training Center of Excellence, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
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7
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Jaster AM, González-Maeso J. Automated Detection of Psychedelic-Induced Head-Twitch Response in Mice. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2687:65-76. [PMID: 37464163 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3307-6_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Head-twitch response (HTR) allows for the detection and classification of behavior associated with serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) activation upon psychedelic administration in rodent models. This activation and functional output can be utilized to provide insights into molecular mechanisms associated with psychosis and to identify signaling processes related to existing and novel antipsychotic and psychedelic compounds. Here we describe the use of a magnetic ear tag reporter coupled with automated quantification and biphasic detection to identify HTR in mice treated with the classical psychedelic 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaina M Jaster
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
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8
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Shahar O, Botvinnik A, Esh-Zuntz N, Brownstien M, Wolf R, Lotan A, Wolf G, Lerer B, Lifschytz T. Role of 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HT1A and TAAR1 Receptors in the Head Twitch Response Induced by 5-Hydroxytryptophan and Psilocybin: Translational Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214148. [PMID: 36430623 PMCID: PMC9698447 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin. In rodents, the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and psilocybin induce a characteristic 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR)-mediated head twitch response (HTR), which is correlated with the human psychedelic trip. We examined the role of other serotonergic receptors and the trace amine -associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) in modulating 5-HTP- and psilocybin-induced HTR. Male C57BL/6J mice (11 weeks, ~30 g) were administered 5-HTP, 50-250 mg/kg i.p., 200 mg/kg i.p. after pretreatment with 5-HT/TAAR1 receptor modulators, psilocybin 0.1-25.6 mg/kg i.p. or 4.4 mg/kg i.p., immediately preceded by 5-HT/TAAR1 receptor modulators. HTR was assessed in a custom-built magnetometer. 5-HTP and psilocybin induced a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of HTR over 20 min with attenuation by the 5-HT2AR antagonist, M100907, and the 5-HT1AR agonist, 8-OH-DPAT. The 5-HT2CR antagonist, RS-102221, enhanced HTR at lower doses but reduced it at higher doses. The TAAR1 antagonist, EPPTB, reduced 5-HTP- but not psilocybin-induced HTR. We have confirmed the key role of 5-HT2AR in HTR, an inhibitory effect of 5-HT1AR, a bimodal contribution of 5-HT2CR and a role of TAAR1 in modulating HTR induced by 5-HTP. Compounds that modulate psychedelic-induced HTR have important potential in the emerging therapeutic use of these compounds.
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9
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Jaster AM, Younkin J, Cuddy T, de la Fuente Revenga M, Poklis JL, Dozmorov MG, González-Maeso J. Differences across sexes on head-twitch behavior and 5-HT 2A receptor signaling in C57BL/6J mice. Neurosci Lett 2022; 788:136836. [PMID: 35963476 PMCID: PMC10114867 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Psychedelics, also known as classical hallucinogens, affect processes related to perception, cognition and sensory processing mostly via the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR). This class of psychoactive substances, which includes lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, mescaline and the substituted amphetamine 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI), is receiving renewed attention for their potential therapeutic properties as it relates to psychiatric conditions such as depression and substance use disorders. Current studies focused on the potentially clinical effects of psychedelics on human subjects tend to exclude sex as a biological variable. Much of the understanding of psychedelic pharmacology is derived from rodent models, but most of this preclinical research has only focused on male mice. Here we tested the effects of DOI on head-twitch behavior (HTR) - a mouse behavioral proxy of human psychedelic potential - in male and female mice. DOI elicited more HTR in female as compared to male C57BL/6J mice, a sex-specific exacerbated behavior that was not observed in 129S6/SvEv animals. Volinanserin (or M100907) - a 5-HT2AR antagonist - fully prevented DOI-induced HTR in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Accumulation of inositol monophosphate (IP1) in the frontal cortex upon DOI administration showed no sex-related effect in C57BL/6J mice. However, the pharmacokinetic properties of DOI differed among sexes - brain and plasma concentrations of DOI were lower 30 and 60 min after drug administration in female as compared to male C57BL/6J mice. Together, these results suggest strain-dependent and sex-related differences in the behavioral and pharmacokinetic profiles of the 5-HT2AR agonist DOI in C57BL/6J mice, and support the importance of studying sex as a biological variable in preclinical psychedelic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaina M Jaster
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, United States; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, United States
| | - Jason Younkin
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, United States; Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, United States
| | - Travis Cuddy
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, United States
| | - Mario de la Fuente Revenga
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, United States; Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, United States
| | - Justin L Poklis
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, United States
| | - Mikhail G Dozmorov
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, United States
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, United States.
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de la Fuente Revenga M, Jaster AM, McGinn J, Silva G, Saha S, González-Maeso J. Tolerance and Cross-Tolerance among Psychedelic and Nonpsychedelic 5-HT 2A Receptor Agonists in Mice. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:2436-2448. [PMID: 35900876 PMCID: PMC10411500 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Classical psychedelics represent a subgroup of serotonergic psychoactive substances characterized by their distinct subjective effects on the human psyche. Another unique attribute of this drug class is that such effects become less apparent after repeated exposure within a short time span. The classification of psychedelics as a subgroup within the serotonergic drug family and the tolerance to their effects are replicated by the murine head twitch response (HTR) behavioral paradigm. Here, we aimed to assess tolerance and cross-tolerance to HTR elicited by psychedelic and nonpsychedelic serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonists in mice. We show that repeated (4 days) administration of the psychedelic 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) induced a progressive decrease in HTR behavior. Tolerance to DOI-induced HTR was also observed 24 h after a single administration of this psychedelic. Pretreatment with the 5-HT2AR antagonist M100907 reduced not only the acute manifestation of DOI-induced HTR, but also the development of tolerance to HTR. Additionally, cross-tolerance became apparent between the psychedelics DOI and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), whereas repeated administration of the nonpsychedelic 5-HT2AR agonist lisuride did not affect the ability of these two psychedelics to induce HTR. At the molecular level, DOI administration led to down-regulation of 5-HT2AR density in mouse frontal cortex membrane preparations. However, development of tolerance to the effect of DOI on HTR remained unchanged in β-arrestin-2 knockout mice. Together, these data suggest that tolerance to HTR induced by psychedelics involves activation of the 5-HT2AR, is not observable upon repeated administration of nonpsychedelic 5-HT2AR agonists, and occurs via a signaling mechanism independent of β-arrestin-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario de la Fuente Revenga
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
| | - Alaina M Jaster
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
| | - John McGinn
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
| | - Gabriella Silva
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
| | - Somdatta Saha
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
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11
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Sierra S, Muchhala KH, Jessup DK, Contreras KM, Shah UH, Stevens DL, Jimenez J, Cuno Lavilla XK, de la Fuente Revenga M, Lippold KM, Shen S, Poklis JL, Qiao LY, Dewey WL, Akbarali HI, Damaj MI, González-Maeso J. Sex-specific role for serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor in modulation of opioid-induced antinociception and reward in mice. Neuropharmacology 2022; 209:108988. [PMID: 35183539 PMCID: PMC8934299 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.108988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Opioids are among the most effective analgesics and the mainstay of pain management. However, concerns about safety and abuse liability have challenged their widespread use by the medical community. Opioid-sparing therapies include drugs that in combination with opioids have the ability to enhance analgesia while decreasing opioid requirement as well as their side effects. Sex differences in antinociceptive responses to opioids have received increasing attention in recent years. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying sex differences related to opioid-sparing adjuncts remain largely unexplored. Using warm water tail-withdrawal as a mouse model of acute thermal nociception, our data suggest that adjunctive administration of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) antagonist volinanserin dose-dependently enhanced potency of the opioid analgesic oxycodone in male, but not female, mice. This antinociceptive-like response induced by oxycodone was also augmented in 5-HT2AR knockout (5-HT2AR-/-) male, but not female mice; an effect that was reversed by Cre-loxP-mediated selective expression of 5-HT2AR in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of 5-HT2AR-/- littermates. Pharmacological inhibition with volinanserin or genetic deletion in 5-HT2AR-/- animals potentiated the ability of oxycodone to reduce DRG excitability in male mice. Adjunctive volinanserin did not affect oxycodone-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), whereas it reduced oxycodone-induced locomotor sensitization in male and female mice. Together, these results suggest that adjunctive volinanserin augments opioid-induced antinociception, but not abuse-related behavior, through a sex-specific signaling crosstalk mechanism that requires 5-HT2AR expression in mouse DRG neurons. Ultimately, our results may pave the way for the clinical evaluation of volinanserin as a potential sex-specific opioid adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador Sierra
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Karan H Muchhala
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Donald K Jessup
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Katherine M Contreras
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Urjita H Shah
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - David L Stevens
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Jennifer Jimenez
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Xiomara K Cuno Lavilla
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Mario de la Fuente Revenga
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA; Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Kumiko M Lippold
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Shanwei Shen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Justin L Poklis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Liya Y Qiao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - William L Dewey
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Hamid I Akbarali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
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12
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Jaster AM, de la Fuente Revenga M, González-Maeso J. Molecular targets of psychedelic-induced plasticity. J Neurochem 2021; 162:80-88. [PMID: 34741320 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Psychedelic research across different disciplines and biological levels is growing at a remarkably fast pace. In the prospect of a psychedelic drug becoming again an approved treatment, much of these efforts have been oriented toward exploring the relationship between the actual psychedelic effects and those manifestations of therapeutic interest. Considering the central role of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor in the distinct effects of psychedelics in human psyche, neuropharmacology sits at the center of this debate and exploratory continuum. Here we discuss some of the most recent findings in human studies and contextualize them considering previous preclinical models studying phenomena related to synaptic plasticity. A special emphasis is placed on knowledge gaps, challenges, and limitations to evaluate the underpinnings of psychedelics' potential antidepressant action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaina M Jaster
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA.,Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Mario de la Fuente Revenga
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA.,Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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13
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Fierro A, Matthies DJ, Cassels BK, Jaque P, Zapata-Torres G. 5-HT 2 Receptor Subfamily and the Halogen Bond Promise. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:5001-5012. [PMID: 34617740 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The binding of C-4-halogenated 1-(4-X-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOX) serotonin agonist psychedelics at all three 5-HT2 receptor subtypes is up to two orders of magnitude stronger for X = Cl, Br, or I (but not F) than when C-4 bears a hydrogen atom and more than expected from their hydrophobicities. Our docking and molecular dynamics simulations agree with the fact that increasing the polarizability of halogens results in halogen-oxygen distances to specific backbone C═O groups, and C-X···O angles, in ranges expected for halogen bonds (XBs), which could contribute to the high affinities observed. Good linear correlations are found for each receptor type, indicating that the binding pocket-ligand affinity is enhanced as the XB interaction becomes stronger (i.e., I ≈ Br > Cl > F). It is also striking to note how the linear equations unveil that the receptor's response on the strength of the XB interaction is quite similar among 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C, whereas the 5-HT2B's sensitivity is less. The calculated dipole polarizabilities in the binding pocket of the receptors reflect the experimental affinity values, indicating that less-polarizable and harder binding sites are more prone to XB formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Fierro
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Douglas J Matthies
- Unidad de Gráfica Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingstone 1007, Independencia, Santiago 8380494, Chile
| | - Bruce K Cassels
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7800003, Chile
| | - Pablo Jaque
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingstone 1007, Independencia, Santiago 8380492, Chile
| | - Gerald Zapata-Torres
- Unidad de Gráfica Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingstone 1007, Independencia, Santiago 8380494, Chile
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