Role of hydrogen bonding in ligand interaction with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor ion channel

Lurasidone inhibits NMDA receptor antagonist-induced functional abnormality of thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission via 5-HT7 receptor blockade

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Lurasidone is an atypical mood-stabilizing antipsychotic with a unique receptor-binding profile, including 5-HT₇ receptor antagonism; however, the detailed effects of 5-HT₇ receptor antagonism on various transmitter systems relevant to schizophrenia, particularly the thalamo-insular glutamatergic system and the underlying mechanisms, are yet to be clarified.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We examined the mechanisms underlying the clinical effects of lurasidone by measuring the release of l-glutamate, GABA, dopamine, and noradrenaline in the reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN), mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MDTN) and insula of freely moving rats in response to systemic injection or local infusion of lurasidone or MK-801 using multiprobe microdialysis with ultra-HPLC.

KEY RESULTS

Systemic MK-801 (0.5 mg·kg^-1 ) administration increased insular release of l-glutamate, dopamine, and noradrenaline but decreased GABA release. Systemic lurasidone (1 mg·kg^-1 ) administration also increased insular release of l-glutamate, dopamine, and noradrenaline but without affecting GABA. Local lurasidone administration into the insula (3 μM) did not affect MK-801-induced insular release of l-glutamate or catecholamine, whereas local lurasidone administration into the MDTN (1 μM) inhibited MK-801-induced insular release of l-glutamate and catecholamine, similar to the 5-HT₇ receptor antagonist SB269970.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The present results indicate that MK-801-induced insular l-glutamate release is generated by activation of thalamo-insular glutamatergic transmission via MDTN GABAergic disinhibition resulting from NMDA receptor inhibition in the MDTN and RTN. Lurasidone inhibited this MK-801-evoked insular l-glutamate release through inhibition of excitatory 5-HT₇ receptor in the MDTN. These effects on thalamo-insular glutamatergic transmission may contribute to the antipsychotic and mood-stabilizing actions of lurasidone.

Clozapine Normalizes a Glutamatergic Transmission Abnormality Induced by an Impaired NMDA Receptor in the Thalamocortical Pathway via the Activation of a Group III Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor

Pharmacological mechanisms of gold-standard antipsychotics against treatment-refractory schizophrenia, such as clozapine (CLZ), remain unclear. We aimed to explore the mechanisms of CLZ by investigating the effects of MK801 and CLZ on tripartite synaptic transmission in the thalamocortical glutamatergic pathway using multi-probe microdialysis and primary cultured astrocytes. l-glutamate release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was unaffected by local MK801 administration into mPFC but was enhanced in the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MDTN) and reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN) via GABAergic disinhibition in the RTN–MDTN pathway. The local administration of therapeutically relevant concentrations of CLZ into mPFC and MDTN increased and did not affect mPFC l-glutamate release. The local administration of the therapeutically relevant concentration of CLZ into mPFC reduced MK801-induced mPFC l-glutamate release via presynaptic group III metabotropic glutamate receptor (III-mGluR) activation. However, toxic concentrations of CLZ activated l-glutamate release associated with hemichannels. This study demonstrated that RTN is a candidate generator region in which impaired N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)/glutamate receptors likely produce thalamocortical hyperglutamatergic transmission. Additionally, we identified several mechanisms of CLZ relating to its superiority in treatment-resistant schizophrenia and its severe adverse effects: (1) the prevention of thalamocortical hyperglutamatergic transmission via activation of mPFC presynaptic III-mGluR and (2) activation of astroglial l-glutamate release associated with hemichannels. These actions may contribute to the unique clinical profile of CLZ.

Memantine protects thalamocortical hyper-glutamatergic transmission induced by NMDA receptor antagonism via activation of system xc<sup/>

Deficiencies in N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)/glutamate receptor (NMDAR) signaling have been considered central to the cognitive impairments of schizophrenia; however, an NMDAR antagonist memantine (MEM) improves cognitive impairments of Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. These mechanisms of paradoxical clinical effects of NMDAR antagonists remain unclear. To explore the mechanisms by which MK801 and MEM affect thalamocortical transmission, we determined interactions between local administrations of MK801, MEM, system xc^- (Sxc), and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) on extracellular glutamate and GABA levels in the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MDTN) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using dual-probe microdialysis with ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography. Effects of MK801 and MEM on Sxc activity were also determined using primary cultured astrocytes. Sxc activity was enhanced by MEM, but was unaffected by MK801. MK801 enhanced thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission by GABAergic disinhibition in the MDTN. In the MDTN and the mPFC, MEM weakly increased glutamate release by activating Sxc, whereas MEM inhibited thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission. Paradoxical effects of MEM were induced following secondary activation of inhibitory II-mGluR and III-mGluR by exporting glutamate from astroglial Sxc. The present results suggest that the effects of therapeutically relevant concentrations of MEM on thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission are predominantly caused by activation of Sxc rather than inhibition of NMDAR. These demonstrations suggest that the combination between reduced NMDAR and activated Sxc contribute to the neuroprotective effects of MEM. Furthermore, activation of Sxc may compensate for the cognitive impairments that are induced by hyperactivation of thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission following activation of Sxc/II-mGluR in the MDTN and Sxc/II-mGluR/III-mGluR in the mPFC.

Puerarin attenuates glutamate-induced neurofilament axonal transport impairment

AIM OF THE STUDY

Puerarin (Pur) is a primary component of the most functional extracts of Pueraria lobata used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Since it has been postulated that Pur protects the brain against glutamate (Glu) neurotoxicity, we investigated the effects of Pur on Glu-induced axonal transport impairment in primary hippocampal neurons in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Primary hippocampal cultures were prepared from 2-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Intracellular calcium concentration [Ca(2+)](i), neurofilament (NF) phosphorylation and protein kinase activity for Cdk5 were measured. Time-lapse imaging technology was used to capture the NF axonal transport in the cultured neurons with transiently transfected fluorescence protein linked to the N-terminus of NF-M (EGFP-NFM).

RESULTS

The results showed that Pur significantly diminished the Glu-induced elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) in dose-dependent manner and antagonized the Glu-evoked increases in NF phosphorylation at protein levels. The neurons under the Glu treatment displayed the accumulation of immobile NF clusters in the cell body and the reduced rates of axonal transport of NFs by 72.8% compared to the control neurons. Intriguingly, Pur reversed the slowed rate of the axonal transport by 35.6%. Pur also remarkably attenuated Glu-evoked activation of Cdk5.

CONCLUSIONS

Pur may play a role in protecting against Glu-induced NF axonal transport impairment in rat primary hippocampal neurons by inhibiting the increased [Ca(2+)](i) and by impeding the activation of Cdk5.

Synthesis and structure/NMDA receptor affinity relationships of 1-substituted tetrahydro-3-benzazepines

A novel synthesis of 1-substituted tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepines 4 is described. Starting with (2-bromophenyl)acetaldehyde acetal 5, the nitrostyrene 9 was prepared in three steps allowing the addition of various nucleophiles to yield the nitroacetals 10. The one-pot Zn/HCl reductive cyclization of the nitroacetals 10 provided the 3-benzazepines 4, which were investigated for their affinity to the phencyclidine binding site of the NMDA receptor. A one-atomic spacer between the 3-benzazepine system and the phenyl residue in position 1 seems to be favorable for high NMDA receptor binding. In this series the benzazepine 4l substituted with the conformationally restricted and H-bond accepting acetanilide substituent in position 1 displays the highest NMDA receptor affinity (K(i)=89 nM).

Quantitative analysis of the structural requirements for blockade of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor at the phencyclidine binding site

Blockade of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor by uncompetitive antagonists has implications for symptomatic and neuroprotective therapy of various neuropsychiatric diseases. Since the three-dimensional (3D) structure of this ion channel is unknown, the structural requirements for uncompetitive inhibition were investigated by application of a three-step strategy: At first, Ki values were measured for a number of structurally diverse compounds at the phencyclidine (PCP) binding site in postmortem human frontal cortex. Second, a pharmacophore model was developed for this set of molecules employing a mathematical method called graph theory. The resulting pharmacophore provided a very good explanation for the ability of structurally diverse compounds to bind to the same binding site. Using the experimental data and the pharmacophore as a basis for the third step, a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) applying comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was performed. The QSAR proved to be highly consistent and showed good predictiveness for several additional molecules. The results give a deeper insight into the structural requirements for effective NMDA receptor antagonism and offer the opportunity for improved drug design. The study represents the first quantitative 3D-QSAR model for NMDA receptor blockade, and it comprises structurally very different molecules. That the alignment for a highly consistent CoMFA is based on an automated 3D pharmacophore analysis has important methodological implications.

Noncompetitive NMDA antagonists: a novel synthesis of 1-phenyltetrahydro-3-benzazepines

The key step in the synthesis of the pharmacologically interesting 1-phenyltetrahydro-3-benzazepine skeleton is the Michael addition of (2-lithiophenyl)acetaldehyde acetals, which are generated in situ upon treatment of the bromo acetals 5a,b with n-butyllithium, to beta-nitrostyrene (6). The reductive ring closure of the nitro acetals 7a,b succeeded with zinc dust and hydrochloric acid to give the 3-benzazepines 11a,b in good yields. The unsubstituted 3-benzazepine 11a showed a considerable affinity for the phencyclidine binding site of the NMDA receptor (Ki = 6.41 microM), whereas donor substituents in the aryl moiety (11b,c) reduce the affinity for the NMDA receptor.

Synthesis, radiosynthesis, and biological evaluation of fluorinated thienylcyclohexyl piperidine derivatives as potential radiotracers for the NMDA receptor-linked calcium ionophore

Various thienylcyclohexyl piperidine (TCP) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as potential candidates for use as radiotracers for the in vivo study of the NMDA receptor ion-channel. Modification of the thienylcyclohexylpiperidine was accomplished by substituting its piperidine ring either with other cycloamine rings or N-alkyl-substituted amines, and these two classes of TCP derivatives were synthesized using two different methods. The compounds exhibited affinities ranging from 65 nM up to micromolar in competition assays for the receptor ion-channel labeled with 3H-(+)-MK-801 in rat brain homogenates. Radiosynthesis of 1-[1-(2-thienyl)-4-([18F]fluoro)-cyclohexyl]-1,2,5, 6-tetrahydropyridine was carried out by nucleophilic substitution reaction of 1-[1-(2-thienyl)-4-tosyloxycyclohexyl]-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine with no carrier added 18F-, and the yield was approximately 5-10% (decay corrected) in specific activities of 500-1000 Ci/mmol after reverse-phase HPLC purification. The tracer showed good uptake in rat brains after i.v. injection (approx. 0.10% injected dose/g at 30 min. p.i.). However, the specific uptake in receptor-rich regions (striata, hippocampus, frontal cortex, and parietal cortex) improved only marginally with time compared to cerebellum. Three hours postinjection, parietal cortex showed a maximum ratio of 1.9. Preliminary PET experiment with this radiotracer in a rhesus monkey showed good uptake in the brain regions. However, little retention of the radiotracer was observed in the receptor-rich regions.

Molecular design of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor binding site for phencyclidine and dizolcipine

The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), a pivotal entity for synaptic plasticity and excitotoxicity in the brain, is a target of psychotomimetic drugs such as phencyclidine (PCP) and dizolcipine (MK-801). In contrast, a related glutamate receptor, the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate/kainate receptor GluR1, is weakly sensitive to these drugs. Three point mutations on GluR1, mimicking homologous residues on the NMDAR, confer the PCP and MK-801 blockade properties that are characteristic of the NMDAR--namely, high potency, voltage dependence, and use dependence. The molecular determinants that specify the PCP block appear confined to the putative M2 transmembrane segment, whereas the sensitivity to MK-801 requires an interplay between residues from M2 and M3. Given the plausible involvement of the NMDAR in the etiology of several neurodegenerative diseases and in excitotoxic neuronal cell death, tailored glutamate receptors with specific properties may be models for designing and screening new drugs targeted to prevent glutamate-mediated neural damage.

Interaction of the NMDA receptor noncompetitive antagonist MK-801 with model and native membranes

MK-801, a noncompetitive antagonist of the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor, has protective effects against excitotoxicity and ethanol withdrawal seizures. We have determined membrane/buffer partition coefficients (Kp[mem]) of MK-801 and its rates of association with and dissociation from membranes. Kp[mem] (+/- SD) = 1137 (+/- 320) in DOPC membranes and 485 (+/- 99) in synaptoneurosomal (SNM) lipid membranes from rat cerebral cortex (unilamellar vesicles). In multilamellar vesicles, Kp[mem] was higher: 3374 (+/- 253) in DOPC and 6879 (+/- 947) in SNM. In cholesterol/DOPC membranes, Kp[mem] decreased as the cholesterol content increased. MK-801 associated with and dissociated from membranes rapidly. Addition of ethanol to SNM did not affect Kp[mem]. MK-801 decreased the cooperative unit size of DMPC membranes. The decrease was smaller than that caused by 1,4-dihydropyridine drugs, indicating a weaker interaction with the hydrocarbon core. Small angle x-ray diffraction, with multilayer autocorrelation difference function modeling, indicated that MK-801 in a cholesterol/DOPC membrane (mole ratio = 0.6) causes a perturbation at approximately 16.0 A from the bilayer center. In bilayers of cholesterol/DOPC = 0.15 (mole ratio) or pure DOPC, the perturbation caused by MK-801 was more complex. The physical chemical interactions of MK-801 with membranes in vitro are consistent with a fast onset and short duration of action in vivo.

Nematocidal activity of MK-801 analogs and related drugs. Structure-activity relationships

A series of dibenzo[a,d]cycloalkenimines were evaluated for their affinity to the (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801) binding site in Caenorhabditis elegans membranes and their nematocidal activity. The (+)-MK-801 enantiomer (1) had a higher affinity (Kd = 240 nM) for its specific binding site and was a more potent nematocidal agent than the (-)-MK-801 enantiomer (-1). Ring expansion to form the dibenzo[a,d]cyclooctenimine analogs generally resulted in more potent compounds. The most potent of this series (23) was approximately 7-fold more potent than (+)-MK-801. A good correlation was established between binding affinities and nematocidal activity for all of the analogs that were tested. However, there was no correlation between binding to C. elegans membranes and affinity for mammalian MK-801 binding sites. Other noncompetitive inhibitors of the mammalian N-methyl-D-aspartate site were examined, and a series of diphenylguanidines were identified as potent competitive inhibitors of MK-801 binding to C. elegans membranes, in addition to displaying potent nematocidal activity. The most potent diphenylguanidine analog (24) was approximately 80-fold more potent than (+)-MK-801 in both its affinity for the MK-801 binding site and as a nematocidal agent. Molecular modeling studies support the hypothesis that the diphenylguanidines and MK-801 are binding to the same site and suggest that more potent compounds may be developed by effective modeling of the existing compounds.