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Sun T, Zhen T, Harakandi CH, Wang L, Guo H, Chen Y, Sun H. New insights into butyrylcholinesterase: Pharmaceutical applications, selective inhibitors and multitarget-directed ligands. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 275:116569. [PMID: 38852337 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116569] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), also known as pseudocholinesterase and serum cholinesterase, is an isoenzyme of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). It mediates the degradation of acetylcholine, especially under pathological conditions. Proverbial pharmacological applications of BChE, its mutants and modulators consist of combating Alzheimer's disease (AD), influencing multiple sclerosis (MS), addressing cocaine addiction, detoxifying organophosphorus poisoning and reflecting the progression or prognosis of some diseases. Of interest, recent reports have shed light on the relationship between BChE and lipid metabolism. It has also been proved that BChE is going to increase abnormally as a compensator for AChE in the middle and late stages of AD, and BChE inhibitors can alleviate cognitive disorders and positively influence some pathological features in AD model animals, foreboding favorable prospects and potential applications. Herein, the selective BChE inhibitors and BChE-related multitarget-directed ligands published in the last three years were briefly summarized, along with the currently known pharmacological applications of BChE, aiming to grasp the latest research directions. Thereinto, some emerging strategies for designing BChE inhibitors are intriguing, and the modulators based on target combination of histone deacetylase and BChE against AD is unprecedented. Furthermore, the involvement of BChE in the hydrolysis of ghrelin, the inhibition of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake, and the down-regulation of LDL receptor (LDLR) expression suggests its potential to influence lipid metabolism disorders. This compelling prospect likely stimulates further exploration in this promising research direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Sun
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Tengfei Zhen
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Lei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanchao Guo
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.
| | - Haopeng Sun
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China.
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Inhibition of NMDA receptors through a membrane-to-channel path. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4114. [PMID: 35840593 PMCID: PMC9287434 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31817-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are transmembrane proteins that are activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate and are found at most excitatory vertebrate synapses. NMDAR channel blockers, an antagonist class of broad pharmacological and clinical significance, inhibit by occluding the NMDAR ion channel. A vast literature demonstrates that NMDAR channel blockers, including MK-801, phencyclidine, ketamine, and the Alzheimer’s disease drug memantine, can bind and unbind only when the NMDAR channel is open. Here we use electrophysiological recordings from transfected tsA201 cells and cultured neurons, NMDAR structural modeling, and custom-synthesized compounds to show that NMDAR channel blockers can enter the channel through two routes: the well-known hydrophilic path from extracellular solution to channel through the open channel gate, and also a hydrophobic path from plasma membrane to channel through a gated fenestration (“membrane-to-channel inhibition” (MCI)). Our demonstration that ligand-gated channels are subject to MCI, as are voltage-gated channels, highlights the broad expression of this inhibitory mechanism. Wilcox et al. (2022) show that NMDA receptor channel blockers, some of which are clinically important drugs, can access their binding site via 2 routes: a well-known path from the extracellular solution, and another path through the plasma membrane.
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Companys-Alemany J, Turcu AL, Schneider M, Müller CE, Vázquez S, Griñán-Ferré C, Pallàs M. NMDA receptor antagonists reduce amyloid-β deposition by modulating calpain-1 signaling and autophagy, rescuing cognitive impairment in 5XFAD mice. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:408. [PMID: 35810220 PMCID: PMC9271115 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04438-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Overstimulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) is the leading cause of brain excitotoxicity and often contributes to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. This study aimed to evaluate a new NMDA receptor antagonist (UB-ALT-EV) and memantine in 6-month-old female 5XFAD mice that were exposed orally to a chronic low-dose treatment. Behavioral and cognitive tests confirmed better cognitive performance in both treated groups. Calcium-dependent protein calpain-1 reduction was found after UB-ALT-EV treatment but not after memantine. Changes in spectrin breakdown products (SBDP) and the p25/p35 ratio confirmed diminished calpain-1 activity. Amyloid β (Aβ) production and deposition was evaluated in 5XFAD mice and demonstrated a robust effect of NMDAR antagonists on reducing Aβ deposition and the number and size of Thioflavin-S positive plaques. Furthermore, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) active form and phosphorylated tau (AT8) levels were diminished after UB-ALT-EV treatment, revealing tau pathology improvement. Because calpain-1 is involved in autophagy activation, autophagic proteins were studied. Strikingly, results showed changes in the protein levels of unc-51-like kinase (ULK-1), beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3(LC3B-II)/LC3B-I ratio, and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP-1) after NMDAR antagonist treatments, suggesting an accumulation of autophagolysosomes in 5XFAD mice, reversed by UB-ALT-EV. Likewise, treatment with UB-ALT-EV recovered a WT mice profile in apoptosis markers Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3. In conclusion, our results revealed the potential neuroprotective effect of UB-ALT-EV by attenuating NMDA-mediated apoptosis and reducing Aβ deposition and deposition jointly with the autophagy rescue to finally reduce cognitive alterations in a mice model of familial AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlia Companys-Alemany
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andreea L Turcu
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marion Schneider
- PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christa E Müller
- PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Santiago Vázquez
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christian Griñán-Ferré
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Pallàs
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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Turcu AL, Companys-Alemany J, Phillips MB, Patel DS, Griñán-Ferré C, Loza MI, Brea JM, Pérez B, Soto D, Sureda FX, Kurnikova MG, Johnson JW, Pallàs M, Vázquez S. Design, synthesis, and in vitro and in vivo characterization of new memantine analogs for Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 236:114354. [PMID: 35453065 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Currently, of the few accessible symptomatic therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD), memantine is the only N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) blocker approved by the FDA. This work further explores a series of memantine analogs featuring a benzohomoadamantane scaffold. Most of the newly synthesized compounds block NMDARs in the micromolar range, but with lower potency than previously reported hit IIc, results that were supported by molecular dynamics simulations. Subsequently, electrophysiological studies with the more potent compounds allowed classification of IIc, a low micromolar, uncompetitive, voltage-dependent, NMDAR blocker, as a memantine-like compound. The excellent in vitro DMPK properties of IIc made it a promising candidate for in vivo studies in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and in the 5XFAD mouse model of AD. Administration of IIc or memantine improved locomotion and rescues chemotaxis behavior in C. elegans. Furthermore, both compounds enhanced working memory in 5XFAD mice and modified NMDAR and CREB signaling, which may prevent synaptic dysfunction and modulate neurodegenerative progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea L Turcu
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació i Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Júlia Companys-Alemany
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences (NeuroUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Matthew B Phillips
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Dhilon S Patel
- Chemistry Department, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Christian Griñán-Ferré
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences (NeuroUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Isabel Loza
- Innopharma Screening Platform, Biofarma Research Group, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Edificio CIMUS, Av. Barcelona, S/N, E, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José M Brea
- Innopharma Screening Platform, Biofarma Research Group, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Edificio CIMUS, Av. Barcelona, S/N, E, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Belén Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - David Soto
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain; August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc X Sureda
- Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C./ St. Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Maria G Kurnikova
- Chemistry Department, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Jon W Johnson
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Mercè Pallàs
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences (NeuroUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Santiago Vázquez
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació i Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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Obeng S, Hiranita T, León F, McMahon LR, McCurdy CR. Correction to "Novel Approaches, Drug Candidates, and Targets in Pain Drug Discovery". J Med Chem 2021; 64:11746. [PMID: 34264657 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Obeng S, Hiranita T, León F, McMahon LR, McCurdy CR. Novel Approaches, Drug Candidates, and Targets in Pain Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2021; 64:6523-6548. [PMID: 33956427 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Because of the problems associated with opioids, drug discovery efforts have been employed to develop opioids with reduced side effects using approaches such as biased opioid agonism, multifunctional opioids, and allosteric modulation of opioid receptors. Receptor targets such as adrenergic, cannabinoid, P2X3 and P2X7, NMDA, serotonin, and sigma, as well as ion channels like the voltage-gated sodium channels Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 have been targeted to develop novel analgesics. Several enzymes, such as soluble epoxide hydrolase, sepiapterin reductase, and MAGL/FAAH, have also been targeted to develop novel analgesics. In this review, old and recent targets involved in pain signaling and compounds acting at these targets are summarized. In addition, strategies employed to reduce side effects, increase potency, and efficacy of opioids are also elaborated. This review should aid in propelling drug discovery efforts to discover novel analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Obeng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States.,Department Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Takato Hiranita
- Department Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Francisco León
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208, United States
| | - Lance R McMahon
- Department Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Christopher R McCurdy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States.,Translational Drug Development Core, Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
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A Novel NMDA Receptor Antagonist Protects against Cognitive Decline Presented by Senescent Mice. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12030284. [PMID: 32235699 PMCID: PMC7151078 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12030284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia. Non-competitive N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist memantine improved cognition and molecular alterations after preclinical treatment. Nevertheless, clinical results are discouraging. In vivo efficacy of the RL-208, a new NMDA receptor blocker described recently, with favourable pharmacokinetic properties was evaluated in Senescence accelerated mice prone 8 (SAMP8), a mice model of late-onset AD (LOAD). Oral administration of RL-208 improved cognitive performance assessed by using the three chamber test (TCT), novel object recognition test (NORT), and object location test (OLT). Consistent with behavioural results, RL-208 treated-mice groups significantly changed NMDAR2B phosphorylation state levels but not NMDAR2A. Calpain-1 and Caspase-3 activity was reduced, whereas B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) levels increased, indicating reduced apoptosis in RL-208 treated SAMP8. Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) and Glutathione Peroxidase 1 (GPX1), as well as a reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), was also determined in RL-208 mice. RL-208 treatment induced an increase in mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF), prevented Tropomyosin-related kinase B full-length (TrkB-FL) cleavage, increased protein levels of Synaptophysin (SYN) and Postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95). In whole, these results point out to an improvement in synaptic plasticity. Remarkably, RL-208 also decreased the protein levels of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 (CDK5), as well as p25/p35 ratio, indicating a reduction in kinase activity of CDK5/p25 complex. Consequently, lower levels of hyperphosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) were found. In sum, these results demonstrate the neuroprotectant role of RL-208 through NMDAR blockade.
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Dual action of amitriptyline on NMDA receptors: enhancement of Ca-dependent desensitization and trapping channel block. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19454. [PMID: 31857688 PMCID: PMC6923474 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56072-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline (ATL) is widely used in the clinic, the mechanism underlying its high therapeutic efficacy against neuropathic pain remains unclear. NMDA receptors (NMDARs) represent a target for ATL and are involved in sensitization of neuropathic pain. Here we describe two actions of ATL on NMDARs: 1) enhancement of Ca2+-dependent desensitization and 2) trapping channel block. Inhibition of NMDARs by ATL was found to be dependent upon external Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]) in a voltage-independent manner, with an IC50 of 0.72 μM in 4 mM [Ca2+]. The ATL IC50 value increased exponentially with decreasing [Ca2+], with an e-fold change observed per 0.69 mM decrease in [Ca2+]. Loading neurons with BAPTA abolished Ca2+-dependent inhibition, suggesting that Ca2+ affects NMDARs from the cytosol. Since there is one known Ca2+-dependent process in gating of NMDARs, we conclude that ATL most likely promotes Ca2+-dependent desensitization. We also found ATL to be a trapping open-channel blocker of NMDARs with an IC50 of 220 µM at 0 mV. An e-fold change in ATL IC50 was observed to occur with a voltage shift of 50 mV in 0.25 mM [Ca2+]. Thus, we disclose here a robust dependence of ATL potency on extracellular [Ca2+], and demonstrate that ATL bound in the NMDAR pore can be trapped by closure of the channel.
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