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Nguyen QA, Klein PM, Xie C, Benthall KN, Iafrati J, Homidan J, Bendor JT, Dudok B, Farrell JS, Gschwind T, Porter CL, Keravala A, Dodson GS, Soltesz I. Acetylcholine receptor based chemogenetics engineered for neuronal inhibition and seizure control assessed in mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:601. [PMID: 38238329 PMCID: PMC10796428 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44853-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a prevalent disorder involving neuronal network hyperexcitability, yet existing therapeutic strategies often fail to provide optimal patient outcomes. Chemogenetic approaches, where exogenous receptors are expressed in defined brain areas and specifically activated by selective agonists, are appealing methods to constrain overactive neuronal activity. We developed BARNI (Bradanicline- and Acetylcholine-activated Receptor for Neuronal Inhibition), an engineered channel comprised of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligand-binding domain coupled to an α1 glycine receptor anion pore domain. Here we demonstrate that BARNI activation by the clinical stage α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-selective agonist bradanicline effectively suppressed targeted neuronal activity, and controlled both acute and chronic seizures in male mice. Our results provide evidence for the use of an inhibitory acetylcholine-based engineered channel activatable by both exogenous and endogenous agonists as a potential therapeutic approach to treating epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quynh-Anh Nguyen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Peter M Klein
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Cheng Xie
- CODA Biotherapeutics, 240 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Katelyn N Benthall
- CODA Biotherapeutics, 240 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Jillian Iafrati
- CODA Biotherapeutics, 240 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Jesslyn Homidan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jacob T Bendor
- CODA Biotherapeutics, 240 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Barna Dudok
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jordan S Farrell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Tilo Gschwind
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Charlotte L Porter
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Annahita Keravala
- CODA Biotherapeutics, 240 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - G Steven Dodson
- CODA Biotherapeutics, 240 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Ivan Soltesz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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2
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Burns LH, Pei Z, Wang HY. Targeting α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and their protein interactions in Alzheimer's disease drug development. Drug Dev Res 2023; 84:1085-1095. [PMID: 37291958 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The decades-old cholinergic hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) led to clinical testing and FDA approval of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drugs. Subsequently, the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) was proposed as a new drug target for enhancing cholinergic neurotransmission. Nearly simultaneously, soluble amyloid β1-42 (Aβ42 ) was shown to bind α7nAChR with picomolar affinity to activate kinases that hyperphosphorylate tau, the precursor to tau-containing tangles. Multiple biopharmaceutical companies explored α7nAChR as a drug target for AD, mostly to enhance neurotransmission. Directly targeting α7nAChR proved to be a drug development challenge. The ultra-high-affinity interaction between Aβ42 and α7nAChR posed a significant hurdle for direct competition in the AD brain. The receptor rapidly desensitizes, undermining efficacy of agonists. Drug discovery approaches therefore included partial agonists and allosteric modulators of α7nAChR. After substantial effort, numerous drug candidates were abandoned due to lack of efficacy or drug-related toxicities. As alternatives, proteins interacting with α7nAChR were sought. In 2016, a novel nAChR regulator was identified, but no drug candidates have emerged from this effort. In 2012, the interaction of filamin A with α7nAChR was shown to be critical to Aβ42 's toxic signaling via α7nAChR, presenting a new drug target. The novel drug candidate simufilam disrupts the filamin A-α7nAChR interaction, reduces Aβ42 's high-affinity binding to α7nAChR, and suppresses Aβ42 's toxic signaling. Early clinical trials of simufilam showed improvements in experimental CSF biomarkers and indications of cognitive improvement in mild AD patients at 1 year. Simufilam is currently in phase 3 clinical trials as a disease-modifying treatment for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhe Pei
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hoau-Yan Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Biology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
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3
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Giraudo A, Pallavicini M, Bolchi C. Small molecule ligands for α9* and α7 nicotinic receptors: a survey and an update, respectively. Pharmacol Res 2023; 193:106801. [PMID: 37236412 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The α9- and α7-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) mediate numerous physiological and pathological processes by complex mechanisms that are currently the subject of intensive study and debate. In this regard, selective ligands serve as invaluable investigative tools and, in many cases, potential therapeutics for the treatment of various CNS disfunctions and diseases, neuropathic pain, inflammation, and cancer. However, the present scenario differs significantly between the two aforementioned nicotinic subtypes. Over the past few decades, a large number of selective α7-nAChR ligands, including full, partial and silent agonists, antagonists, and allosteric modulators, have been described and reviewed. Conversely, reports on selective α9-containing nAChR ligands are relatively scarce, also due to a more recent characterization of this receptor subtype, and hardly any focusing on small molecules. In this review, we focus on the latter, providing a comprehensive overview, while providing only an update over the last five years for α7-nAChR ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Giraudo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, via Mangiagalli 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Pallavicini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, via Mangiagalli 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Cristiano Bolchi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, via Mangiagalli 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy.
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4
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Qiu W, Liu H, Liu Y, Lu X, Wang L, Hu Y, Feng F, Li Q, Sun H. Regulation of beta-amyloid for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: Research progress of therapeutic strategies and bioactive compounds. Med Res Rev 2023. [PMID: 36945751 DOI: 10.1002/med.21947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is difficult to treat. Extracellular amyloid is the principal pathological criterion for the diagnosis of AD. Amyloid β (Aβ) interacts with various receptor molecules on the plasma membrane and mediates a series of signaling pathways that play a vital role in the occurrence and development of AD. Research on receptors that interact with Aβ is currently ongoing. Overall, there are no effective medications to treat AD. In this review, we first discuss the importance of Aβ in the pathogenesis of AD, then summarize the latest progress of Aβ-related targets and compounds. Finally, we put forward the challenges and opportunities in the development of effective AD therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weimin Qiu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yijun Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Lu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanyu Hu
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Feng
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceuticals Science College, Institute of Food and Pharmaceuticals Research, Jiangsu, Huaian, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Haopeng Sun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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5
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Mazurov A, Ho J, Low T, Hoeng J. Novel α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulators as potential antitussive agents. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2023; 80:129067. [PMID: 36395996 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.129067] [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: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A novel series of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulators was designed and evaluated for antitussive activity in an in vivo guinea pig model of chemically induced cough. Compound 16 at all tested doses (9.5, 3 and 1 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the cumulative number of coughs and showed similar results to a positive control (codeine at 30 mg/kg). Among three different administration routes (intraperitoneal, oral and inhalation), compound 16 exerted a significant antitussive effect in guinea pigs at an inhaled dose as low as 0.4 mg/kg (p < 0.05). α7 nAChR modulators may provide a novel, non-narcotic approach to therapy in patients with acute and chronic cough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatoly Mazurov
- Philip Morris International, R&D Innovation Cube, Quai Jeanrenaud 5, 2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Jenny Ho
- Philip Morris International, R&D Innovation Cube, Quai Jeanrenaud 5, 2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Tiffany Low
- Philip Morris International, R&D Innovation Cube, Quai Jeanrenaud 5, 2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Julia Hoeng
- Philip Morris International, R&D Innovation Cube, Quai Jeanrenaud 5, 2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland.
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6
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Canning BJ, Liu Q, Tao M, DeVita R, Perelman M, Hay DW, Dicpinigaitis PV, Liang J. Evidence for Alpha 7 Nicotinic Receptor Activation During the Cough Suppressing Effects Induced by Nicotine and Identification of ATA-101 as a Potential Novel Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Cough. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2022; 380:94-103. [PMID: 34782407 PMCID: PMC8969114 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies performed in healthy smokers have documented a diminished responsiveness to tussive challenges, and several lines of experimental evidence implicate nicotine as an antitussive component in both cigarette smoke and the vapors generated by electronic cigarettes (eCigs). We set out to identify the nicotinic receptor subtype involved in the antitussive actions of nicotine and to further evaluate the potential of nicotinic receptor-selective agonists as cough-suppressing therapeutics. We confirmed an antitussive effect of nicotine in guinea pigs. We additionally observed that the alpha-4 beta-2 (α 4 β 2)-selective agonist Tc-6683 was without effect on evoked cough responses in guinea pigs, while the α 7-selective agonist PHA 543613 dose-dependently inhibited evoked coughing. We subsequently describe the preclinical evidence in support of ATA-101, a potent and highly selective (α 7) selective nicotinic receptor agonist, as a potential candidate for antitussive therapy in humans. ATA-101, formerly known as Tc-5619, was orally bioavailable and moderately central nervous system (CNS) penetrant and dose-dependently inhibited coughing in guinea pigs evoked by citric acid and bradykinin. Comparing the effects of airway targeted administration versus systemic dosing and the effects of repeated dosing at various times prior to tussive challenge, our data suggest that the antitussive actions of ATA-101 require continued engagement of α 7 nicotinic receptors, likely in the CNS. Collectively, the data provide the preclinical rationale for α 7 nicotinic receptor engagement as a novel therapeutic strategy for cough suppression. The data also suggest that α 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activation by nicotine may be permissive to nicotine delivery in a way that may promote addiction. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study documents the antitussive actions of nicotine and identifies the α7 nicotinic receptor subtype as the target for nicotine during cough suppression described in humans. We additionally present evidence suggesting that ATA-101 and other α7 nicotinic receptor-selective agonists may be promising candidates for the treatment of chronic refractory cough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J Canning
- The Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland (B.J.C, Q.L.); Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan (M.T.); RJD Medicinal Chemistry Consulting LLC, Westfield, New Jersey (R.D.); Michael Perelman Consulting, Winter Park, Florida (M.P.); Hay Drug Discovery Consulting, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (D.W.H.); Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (P.V.D.); Apple Helix Bioventures, New York, New York (J.L.)
| | - Qi Liu
- The Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland (B.J.C, Q.L.); Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan (M.T.); RJD Medicinal Chemistry Consulting LLC, Westfield, New Jersey (R.D.); Michael Perelman Consulting, Winter Park, Florida (M.P.); Hay Drug Discovery Consulting, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (D.W.H.); Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (P.V.D.); Apple Helix Bioventures, New York, New York (J.L.)
| | - Mayuko Tao
- The Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland (B.J.C, Q.L.); Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan (M.T.); RJD Medicinal Chemistry Consulting LLC, Westfield, New Jersey (R.D.); Michael Perelman Consulting, Winter Park, Florida (M.P.); Hay Drug Discovery Consulting, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (D.W.H.); Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (P.V.D.); Apple Helix Bioventures, New York, New York (J.L.)
| | - Robert DeVita
- The Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland (B.J.C, Q.L.); Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan (M.T.); RJD Medicinal Chemistry Consulting LLC, Westfield, New Jersey (R.D.); Michael Perelman Consulting, Winter Park, Florida (M.P.); Hay Drug Discovery Consulting, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (D.W.H.); Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (P.V.D.); Apple Helix Bioventures, New York, New York (J.L.)
| | - Michael Perelman
- The Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland (B.J.C, Q.L.); Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan (M.T.); RJD Medicinal Chemistry Consulting LLC, Westfield, New Jersey (R.D.); Michael Perelman Consulting, Winter Park, Florida (M.P.); Hay Drug Discovery Consulting, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (D.W.H.); Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (P.V.D.); Apple Helix Bioventures, New York, New York (J.L.)
| | - Douglas W Hay
- The Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland (B.J.C, Q.L.); Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan (M.T.); RJD Medicinal Chemistry Consulting LLC, Westfield, New Jersey (R.D.); Michael Perelman Consulting, Winter Park, Florida (M.P.); Hay Drug Discovery Consulting, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (D.W.H.); Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (P.V.D.); Apple Helix Bioventures, New York, New York (J.L.)
| | - Peter V Dicpinigaitis
- The Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland (B.J.C, Q.L.); Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan (M.T.); RJD Medicinal Chemistry Consulting LLC, Westfield, New Jersey (R.D.); Michael Perelman Consulting, Winter Park, Florida (M.P.); Hay Drug Discovery Consulting, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (D.W.H.); Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (P.V.D.); Apple Helix Bioventures, New York, New York (J.L.)
| | - Jing Liang
- The Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland (B.J.C, Q.L.); Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan (M.T.); RJD Medicinal Chemistry Consulting LLC, Westfield, New Jersey (R.D.); Michael Perelman Consulting, Winter Park, Florida (M.P.); Hay Drug Discovery Consulting, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (D.W.H.); Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (P.V.D.); Apple Helix Bioventures, New York, New York (J.L.)
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7
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Base‐Promoted Intramolecular Cyclization and Hydrolysis of 2‐(2‐Formylaryloxy)acetonitriles: An Efficient Domino to Approach Benzofuran‐2‐carboxamides. ChemistrySelect 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202000650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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8
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Functional characterization of multifunctional ligands targeting acetylcholinesterase and alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 177:114010. [PMID: 32360492 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cholinergic dysfunction, provoking memory loss and cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients. The cholinergic hypothesis provided over the years with molecular targets for developing palliative treatments for AD, acting on the cholinergic system, namely, acetylcholinesterase and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR). In our synthetic work, we used "click-chemistry" to synthesize two Multi Target Directed Ligands (MTDLs) MB105 and MB118 carrying tacrine and quinuclidine scaffolds which are known for their anticholinesterase and α7 nAChR agonist activities, respectively. Both, MB105 and MB118, inhibit human acetylcholinesterase and human butyrylcholinesterase in the nanomolar range. Electrophysiological recordings on Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing human α7 nAChR showed that MB105 and MB118 acted as partial agonists of the referred nicotinic receptor, albeit, with different potencies despite their similar structure. The different substitution at C-3 on the 2,3-disubstituted quinuclidine scaffold may account for the significantly lower potency of MB118 compared to MB105. Electrophysiological recordings also showed that the tacrine precursor MB320 behaved as a competitive antagonist of human α7 nAChR, in the micromolar range, while the quinuclidine synthetic precursor MB099 acted as a partial agonist. Taken all together, MB105 behaved as a partial agonist of α7 nAChR at concentrations where it completely inhibited human acetylcholinesterase activity paving the way for the design of novel MTDLs for palliative treatment of AD.
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9
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Wang X, Bell IM, Uslaner JM. Activators of α7 nAChR as Potential Therapeutics for Cognitive Impairment. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2020; 45:209-245. [PMID: 32451955 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2020_140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a promising target for the treatment of cognitive deficits associated with psychiatric and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several α7 nAChR agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) have demonstrated procognitive effects in preclinical models and early clinical trials. However, despite intense research efforts in the pharmaceutical industry and academia, none of the α7 nAChR ligands has been approved for clinical use. This chapter will focus on the α7 nAChR ligands that have advanced to clinical studies and explore the reasons why these agents have not met with unequivocal clinical success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohai Wang
- Department of Neuroscience Research, Merck & Co. Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | - Ian M Bell
- Department of Discovery Chemistry, Merck & Co. Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | - Jason M Uslaner
- Department of Neuroscience Research, Merck & Co. Inc., West Point, PA, USA.
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10
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Camacho-Hernandez GA, Stokes C, Duggan BM, Kaczanowska K, Brandao-Araiza S, Doan L, Papke RL, Taylor P. Synthesis, Pharmacological Characterization, and Structure-Activity Relationships of Noncanonical Selective Agonists for α7 nAChRs. J Med Chem 2019; 62:10376-10390. [PMID: 31675224 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A lack of selectivity of classical agonists for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) has prompted us to identify and develop a distinct scaffold of α7 nAChR-selective ligands. Noncanonical 2,4,6-substituted pyrimidine analogues were framed around compound 40 for a structure-activity relationship study. The new lead compounds activate selectively the α7 nAChRs with EC50's between 30 and 140 nM in a PNU-120596-dependent, cell-based calcium influx assay. After characterizing the expanded lead landscape, we ranked the compounds for rapid activation using Xenopus oocytes expressing human α7 nAChR with a two-electrode voltage clamp. This approach enabled us to define the molecular determinants governing rapid activation, agonist potency, and desensitization of α7 nAChRs after exposure to pyrimidine analogues, thereby distinguishing this subclass of noncanonical agonists from previously defined types of agonists (agonists, partial agonists, silent agonists, and ago-PAMs). By NMR, we analyzed pKa values for ionization of lead candidates, demonstrating distinctive modes of interaction for this landscape of ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisela Andrea Camacho-Hernandez
- Department of Pharmacology, Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of California-San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093-0751 , United States
| | - Clare Stokes
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics , University of Florida , P.O. Box 100267, Gainesville , Florida 32610-0267 , United States
| | - Brendan M Duggan
- Department of Pharmacology, Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of California-San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093-0751 , United States
| | - Katarzyna Kaczanowska
- Department of Pharmacology, Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of California-San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093-0751 , United States
| | - Stefania Brandao-Araiza
- Department of Pharmacology, Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of California-San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093-0751 , United States
| | - Lisa Doan
- Department of Pharmacology, Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of California-San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093-0751 , United States
| | - Roger L Papke
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics , University of Florida , P.O. Box 100267, Gainesville , Florida 32610-0267 , United States
| | - Palmer Taylor
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics , University of Florida , P.O. Box 100267, Gainesville , Florida 32610-0267 , United States
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11
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Jankowska A, Satała G, Partyka A, Wesołowska A, Bojarski AJ, Pawłowski M, Chłoń-Rzepa G. Discovery and Development of Non-Dopaminergic Agents for the Treatment of Schizophrenia: Overview of the Preclinical and Early Clinical Studies. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:4885-4913. [PMID: 31291870 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190710172002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder that affects about 1 in 100 people around the world and results in persistent emotional and cognitive impairments. Untreated schizophrenia leads to deterioration in quality of life and premature death. Although the clinical efficacy of dopamine D2 receptor antagonists against positive symptoms of schizophrenia supports the dopamine hypothesis of the disease, the resistance of negative and cognitive symptoms to these drugs implicates other systems in its pathophysiology. Many studies suggest that abnormalities in glutamate homeostasis may contribute to all three groups of schizophrenia symptoms. Scientific considerations also include disorders of gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic and serotonergic neurotransmissions as well as the role of the immune system. The purpose of this review is to update the most recent reports on the discovery and development of non-dopaminergic agents that may reduce positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, and may be alternative to currently used antipsychotics. This review collects the chemical structures of representative compounds targeting metabotropic glutamate receptor, gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor, alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, glycine transporter type 1 and glycogen synthase kinase 3 as well as results of in vitro and in vivo studies indicating their efficacy in schizophrenia. Results of clinical trials assessing the safety and efficacy of the tested compounds have also been presented. Finally, attention has been paid to multifunctional ligands with serotonin receptor affinity or phosphodiesterase inhibitory activity as novel strategies in the search for dedicated medicines for patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jankowska
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Satała
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, 31-343 Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Partyka
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Wesołowska
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrzej J Bojarski
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, 31-343 Krakow, Poland
| | - Maciej Pawłowski
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Grażyna Chłoń-Rzepa
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
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12
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Novel 5-(quinuclidin-3-ylmethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazoles to investigate the activation of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtype: Synthesis and electrophysiological evaluation. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 160:207-228. [PMID: 30342362 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are relevant therapeutic targets for a variety of disorders including neurodegeneration, cognitive impairment, and inflammation. Although traditionally identified as an ionotropic receptor, the α7 subtype showed metabotropic-like functions, mainly linked to the modulation of immune responses. In the present work, we investigated the structure-activity relationships in a set of novel α7 ligands incorporating the 5-(quinuclidin-3-ylmethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole scaffold, i.e. derivatives 21a-34a and 21b-34b, aiming to identify the structural requirements able to preferentially trigger one of the two activation modes of this receptor subtype. The new compounds were characterized as partial and silent α7 nAChR agonists in electrophysiological assays, which allowed to assess the contribution of the different groups towards the final pharmacological profile. Overall, modifications of the selected structural backbone mainly afforded partial agonists, among them tertiary bases 27a-33a, whereas additional hydrogen-bond acceptor groups in permanently charged ligands, such as 29b and 31b, favored a silent desensitizing profile at the α7 nAChR.
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13
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Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 1,4-Diazobicylco[3.2.2]nonane derivatives as α7-Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor PET/CT imaging agents and agonists for Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 159:255-266. [PMID: 30296684 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.09.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
α7-Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) agonists are promising therapeutic drug candidates for treating the cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, a novel class of derivatives of 1,4-diazobicylco[3.2.2]nonane has been synthesized and evaluated as α7-nAChR ligands. Five of them displayed high binding affinity (Ki = 0.001-25 nM). In particular, the Ki of 14 was 0.0069 nM, which is superior to that of the most potent ligand that was previously reported by an order of magnitude. Four of them had high selectivity for α7-nAChRs over α4β2-nAChRs and no significant hERG (human ether-a-go-go-related gene) inhibition. Their agonist activity was also discussed preliminarily. One of the compounds, 15 (Ki = 2.98 ± 1.41 nM), was further radiolabeled with 18F to afford [18F]15 for PET imaging, which exhibited high initial brain uptake (11.60 ± 0.14%ID/g at 15 min post injection), brain/blood value (9.57 at 30 min post injection), specific labeling of α7-nAChRs and fast clearance from the brain. Blocking studies demonstrated that [18F]15 was α7-nAChR selective. In addition, micro-PET/CT imaging in normal rats further indicated that [18F]15 had obvious accumulation in the brain. Therefore, [18F]15 was proved to be a potential PET radiotracer for α7-nAChR imaging.
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14
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Plaza M, Parisotto S, Valdés C. Heterocyclization and Spirocyclization Processes Based on Domino Reactions of N
-Tosylhydrazones and Boronic Acids Involving Intramolecular Allylborylations of Nitriles. Chemistry 2018; 24:14836-14843. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201803309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Plaza
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica; Instituto Universitario de Química Organometálica “Enrique Moles”; Universidad de Oviedo; c/ Julián Clavería 8. Oviedo 33006 Spain
| | - Stefano Parisotto
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica; Instituto Universitario de Química Organometálica “Enrique Moles”; Universidad de Oviedo; c/ Julián Clavería 8. Oviedo 33006 Spain
| | - Carlos Valdés
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica; Instituto Universitario de Química Organometálica “Enrique Moles”; Universidad de Oviedo; c/ Julián Clavería 8. Oviedo 33006 Spain
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15
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Designing selective modulators for the nicotinic receptor subtypes: challenges and opportunities. Future Med Chem 2018; 10:433-459. [PMID: 29451400 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2017-0169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic receptors are membrane proteins involved in several physiological processes. They are considered suitable drug targets for various CNS disorders or conditions, as shown by the large number of compounds which have entered clinical trials. In recent years, nonconventional agonists have been discovered: positive allosteric modulators, allosteric agonists, site-specific agonists and silent desensitizers are compounds able to modulate the receptor interacting at sites different from the orthodox one, or to desensitize the receptor without prior opening. While these new findings can further complicate the pharmacology of these proteins and the design and optimization of ligands, they undoubtedly offer new opportunities to find drugs for the many therapeutic indications involving nicotinic receptors.
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16
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Coughlin JM, Du Y, Rosenthal HB, Slania S, Min Koo S, Park A, Solomon G, Vranesic M, Antonsdottir I, Speck CL, Rootes-Murdy K, Lerner A, Rowe SP, Wang Y, Lesniak WG, Minn I, Bakker A, Smith GS, Dannals RF, Kuwabara H, Horti A, Wong DF, Pomper MG. The distribution of the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in healthy aging: An in vivo positron emission tomography study with [ 18F]ASEM. Neuroimage 2018; 165:118-124. [PMID: 28993233 PMCID: PMC5738927 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered function of the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) is implicated in several neuropsychiatric diseases. Nevertheless, studies of the human cerebral α7-nAChR even in healthy aging are limited in number and to postmortem tissue. METHODS The distribution of the cerebral α7-nAChR was estimated in nine brain regions in 25 healthy volunteers (ages 21-86 years; median 57 years, interquartile range 52 years) using [18F]ASEM with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Regional total distribution volume (VT) measurements were calculated using the Logan method from each subject's 90 min dynamic PET data and their metabolite-corrected plasma input function. Spearman's rank or Pearson's correlation analysis was used depending on the normality of the data. Correlation between age and regional 1) volume relative to intracranial volume (volume ratio) and 2) [18F]ASEM VT was tested. Correlation between regional volume ratio and [18F]ASEM VT was also evaluated. Finally, the relationship between [18F]ASEM VT and neuropsychological measures was investigated in a subpopulation of 15 elderly healthy participants (those 50 years of age and older). Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was applied to statistical analyses. RESULTS A negative correlation between tissue volume ratio and age was observed in six of the nine brain regions including striatum and five cortical (temporal, occipital, cingulate, frontal, or parietal) regions. A positive correlation between [18F]ASEM VT and age was observed in all nine brain regions of interest (ROIs). There was no correlation between [18F]ASEM VT and volume ratio in any ROI after controlling for age. Regional [18F]ASEM VT and neuropsychological performance on each of eight representative subtests were not correlated among the well-performing subpopulation of elderly healthy participants. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest an increase in cerebral α7-nAChR distribution over the course of healthy aging that should be tested in future longitudinal studies. The preservation of the α7-nAChR in the aging human brain supports the development of therapeutic agents that target this receptor for use in the elderly. Further study of the relationship between α7-nAChR availability and cognitive impairment over aging is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Coughlin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yong Du
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hailey B Rosenthal
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephanie Slania
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Soo Min Koo
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew Park
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ghedem Solomon
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Melin Vranesic
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Inga Antonsdottir
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Caroline L Speck
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kelly Rootes-Murdy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexandria Lerner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Steven P Rowe
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yuchuan Wang
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wojciech G Lesniak
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Il Minn
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Arnold Bakker
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gwenn S Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert F Dannals
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hiroto Kuwabara
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew Horti
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dean F Wong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Martin G Pomper
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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17
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The current agonists and positive allosteric modulators of α7 nAChR for CNS indications in clinical trials. Acta Pharm Sin B 2017; 7:611-622. [PMID: 29159020 PMCID: PMC5687317 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR), consisting of homomeric α7 subunits, is a ligand-gated Ca2+-permeable ion channel implicated in cognition and neuropsychiatric disorders. Enhancement of α7 nAChR function is considered to be a potential therapeutic strategy aiming at ameliorating cognitive deficits of neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia. Currently, a number of α7 nAChR modulators have been reported and several of them have advanced into clinical trials. In this brief review, we outline recent progress made in understanding the role of the α7 nAChR in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders and the pharmacological effects of α7 nAChR modulators used in clinical trials.
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Key Words
- 5-CSRTT, five-choice serial reaction time task
- 5-HT, serotonin
- ACh, acetylcholine
- AD, Alzheimer's disease
- ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Acetylcholine
- Alpha7
- Alzheimer's disease
- Aβ, amyloid-β peptide
- CNS, central nervous system
- DMTS, delayed matching-to-sample
- ECD, extracellular domain
- GABA, γ-aminobutyric acid
- Ion channel
- MLA, methyllycaconitine
- NOR, novel object recognition
- PAMs, positive allosteric modulators
- PCP, neonatal phencyclidine
- PD, Parkinson's disease
- PPI, prepulse inhibition
- Positive allosteric modulators
- SAR, structure–activity relationship
- Schizophrenia
- TMD, transmembrane domains
- nAChR
- nAChR, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
- α-Btx, α-bungarotoxin
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18
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Patel H, McIntire J, Ryan S, Dunah A, Loring R. Anti-inflammatory effects of astroglial α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are mediated by inhibition of the NF-κB pathway and activation of the Nrf2 pathway. J Neuroinflammation 2017; 14:192. [PMID: 28950908 PMCID: PMC5615458 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-017-0967-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely distributed throughout the central nervous system and are reported to have neuroprotective properties. α7 nAChRs are expressed on astrocytes, which are key regulators of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in several neurodegenerative diseases. However, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of astroglial α7 nAChRs are not well studied. Therefore, we evaluated the role of astroglial α7 nAChR activation in neuroinflammation. Methods Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of α7 nAChR activation were evaluated in an in vitro mouse model of neuroinflammation using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in primary astrocyte cultures. α7 nAChR anti-inflammatory effects on the NF-κB pathway were evaluated using ELISA, gene expression analysis, immunofluorescence, and western blotting. Antioxidant effect of α7 nAChR activation on expression profiles of canonical Nrf2 target genes was examined by quantitative PCR and western blotting. The role of the Nrf2 pathway in α7 nAChR-mediated anti-inflammatory response was evaluated using Nrf2 knockout astrocytes. Brain ex vivo NF-κB luciferase signals were evaluated after treatment with an α7 nAChR agonist in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-injected NF-κB luciferase reporter mouse model. Results Astrocytes treated with the α7 nAChR partial agonist (GTS21) showed significantly reduced LPS-mediated secretion of inflammatory cytokines and this effect was reversed by the α7 nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) and by knockdown of α7 nAChR expression with a short hairpin RNA. Further, α7 nAChR activation blocked LPS-mediated NF-κB nuclear translocation indicating that the observed anti-inflammatory effect may be mediated through inhibition of the NF-κB pathway. Treatment with GTS21 also upregulated canonical Nrf2 antioxidant genes and proteins suggesting antioxidant properties of α7 nAChR in astrocytes. Using an astrocyte conditioned media approach, we demonstrated reduction in neuronal apoptosis when astrocytes were pretreated with GTS21. Finally, in an in vivo neuroinflammation model using LPS in NF-κB luciferase reporter mice, we demonstrated reduction in LPS-induced NF-κB activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines with GTS21 treatment in brain tissue. Conclusion Our results suggest that activating astroglial α7 nAChRs may have a role in neuroprotection by decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress, and therefore could have therapeutic implication for disease modifying treatments of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiral Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. .,Neurology Research, Biogen, 225 Binney street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
| | | | - Sarah Ryan
- Pre-Clinical Imaging & Pharmacology, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anthone Dunah
- Neurology Research, Biogen, 225 Binney street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Ralph Loring
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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19
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King D, Iwuagwu C, Cook J, McDonald IM, Mate R, Zusi FC, Hill MD, Fang H, Zhao R, Wang B, Easton AE, Miller R, Post-Munson D, Knox RJ, Gallagher L, Westphal R, Molski T, Fan J, Clarke W, Benitex Y, Lentz KA, Denton R, Morgan D, Zaczek R, Lodge NJ, Bristow LJ, Macor JE, Olson RE. BMS-933043, a Selective α7 nAChR Partial Agonist for the Treatment of Cognitive Deficits Associated with Schizophrenia. ACS Med Chem Lett 2017; 8:366-371. [PMID: 28337332 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.7b00032] [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: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic treatment of negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction associated with schizophrenia is a significant unmet medical need. Preclinical literature indicates that α7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptor agonists may provide an effective approach to treating cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. We report herein the discovery and evaluation of 1c (BMS-933043), a novel and potent α7 nACh receptor partial agonist with high selectivity against other nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes (>100-fold) and the 5-HT3A receptor (>300-fold). In vivo activity was demonstrated in a preclinical model of cognitive impairment, mouse novel object recognition. BMS-933043 has completed Phase I clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalton King
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Christiana Iwuagwu
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Jim Cook
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Ivar M. McDonald
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Robert Mate
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - F. Christopher Zusi
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Matthew D. Hill
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Haiquan Fang
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Rulin Zhao
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Bei Wang
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Amy E. Easton
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Regina Miller
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Debra Post-Munson
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Ronald J. Knox
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Lizbeth Gallagher
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Ryan Westphal
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Thaddeus Molski
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Jingsong Fan
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Wendy Clarke
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Yulia Benitex
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Kimberley A. Lentz
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Rex Denton
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Daniel Morgan
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Robert Zaczek
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Nicholas J. Lodge
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Linda J. Bristow
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - John E. Macor
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
| | - Richard E. Olson
- Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, United States
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20
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Ramprasad N, Gowda KVA, Gowda R, Basanagouda M, Kantharaj KS, Gowda GVJ. 2-(5-Methyl-1-benzofuran-3-yl)- N-(2-phenylethyl)acetamide. IUCRDATA 2017. [DOI: 10.1107/s2414314617002000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The title compound, C19H19NO2, is non-planar with the phenyl ring of the phenethylacetamide residue inclined to the benzofuran ring system by 84.8 (3)°. The methyl group lies in the plane of the fused ring system [C—C—C—C torsion angle = −179.6 (3)°]. In the crystal, N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into chains along thea-axis direction. π–π stacking interactions with a centroid-to-centroid distances of 3.497 (3) Å further stabilize the structure, stacking the molecules alonga.
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21
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Iwuagwu C, King D, McDonald IM, Cook J, Zusi FC, Hill MD, Mate RA, Fang H, Knox R, Gallagher L, Post-Munson Amy Easton D, Miller R, Benitex Y, Siuciak J, Lodge N, Zaczek R, Morgan D, Bristow L, Macor JE, Olson RE. Design and synthesis of a novel series of 4-heteroarylamino-1'-azaspiro[oxazole-5,3'-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes as α7 nicotinic receptor agonists 2. Development of 4-heteroaryl SAR. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:1261-1266. [PMID: 28169167 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.01.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Quinuclidine-containing spirooxazolines, as described in the previous report in this series, were demonstrated to have utility as α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) partial agonists. In this work, the SAR of this chemotype was expanded to include an array of diazine heterocyclic substitutions. Many of the heterocyclic analogs were potent partial agonists of the α7 receptor, selective against other nicotinic receptors and the serotinergic 5HT3A receptor. (1'S,3'R,4'S)-N-(6-phenylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4H-1'-azaspiro[oxazole-5,3'-bicyclo[2.2.2]octan]-2-amine, a potent and selective α7 nAChR partial agonist, was demonstrated to improve cognition in the mouse novel object recognition (NOR) model of episodic memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana Iwuagwu
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA.
| | - Dalton King
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Ivar M McDonald
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - James Cook
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - F Christopher Zusi
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Matthew D Hill
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Robert A Mate
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Haiquan Fang
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Ronald Knox
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Lizbeth Gallagher
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | | | - Regina Miller
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Yulia Benitex
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Judy Siuciak
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Nicholas Lodge
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Robert Zaczek
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Daniel Morgan
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Linda Bristow
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - John E Macor
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
| | - Richard E Olson
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660, USA
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22
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Discovery, synthesis, biological evaluation and structure-based optimization of novel piperidine derivatives as acetylcholine-binding protein ligands. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2017; 38:146-155. [PMID: 27917874 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2016.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The homomeric α7 nicotinic receptor (α7 nAChR) is widely expressed in the human brain that could be activated to suppress neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and neuropathic pain. Consequently, a number of α7 nAChR agonists have entered clinical trials as anti-Alzheimer's or anti-psychotic therapies. However, high-resolution crystal structure of the full-length α7 receptor is thus far unavailable. Since acetylcholine-binding protein (AChBP) from Lymnaea stagnalis is most closely related to the α-subunit of nAChRs, it has been used as a template for the N-terminal domain of α-subunit of nAChR to study the molecular recognition process of nAChR-ligand interactions, and to identify ligands with potential nAChR-like activities.Here we report the discovery and optimization of novel acetylcholine-binding protein ligands through screening, structure-activity relationships and structure-based design. We manually screened in-house CNS-biased compound library in vitro and identified compound 1, a piperidine derivative, as an initial hit with moderate binding affinity against AChBP (17.2% inhibition at 100 nmol/L). During the 1st round of optimization, with compound 2 (21.5% inhibition at 100 nmol/L) as the starting point, 13 piperidine derivatives with different aryl substitutions were synthesized and assayed in vitro. No apparent correlation was demonstrated between the binding affinities and the steric or electrostatic effects of aryl substitutions for most compounds, but compound 14 showed a higher affinity (Ki=105.6 nmol/L) than nicotine (Ki=777 nmol/L). During the 2nd round of optimization, we performed molecular modeling of the putative complex of compound 14 with AChBP, and compared it with the epibatidine-AChBP complex. The results suggested that a different piperidinyl substitution might confer a better fit for epibatidine as the reference compound. Thus, compound 15 was designed and identified as a highly affinitive acetylcholine-binding protein ligand. In this study, through two rounds of optimization, compound 15 (Ki=2.8 nmol/L) has been identified as a novel, piperidine-based acetylcholine-binding protein ligand with a high affinity.
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1,3-diphenylpropan-1-ones as allosteric modulators of α7 nACh receptors with analgesic and antioxidant properties. Future Med Chem 2016; 8:731-49. [PMID: 27161515 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2015-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Nicotine acethylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play critical roles in cognitive processes, neuroprotection and inflammation. RESULTS According to their substituents, 1,3-diphenylpropan-1-one derivatives act as α7 nAChRs negative allosteric modulators (NAM, OMe) or Type I positive allosteric modulators (PAMs, OH). Compounds 7 and 31 were the most effective (989 and 666% enhancement of ACh-induced currents) and potent (EC50: 12.9 and 6.85 μM) PAMs. They exhibited strong radical scavenging values. Compound 31, selective over other neuronal nAChR subtypes and with acceptable pharmacokinetic profile, showed antinociceptive effects in a model of inflammatory pain. CONCLUSION Compound 31 is a novel, potent and selective α7 nAChR PAM, displaying antioxidant and analgesic activities. The 1,3-diphenylpropan-1-one scaffold could be the base toward more advanced type I PAMs for the treatment of nAChR-mediated diseases.
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Trenkwalder C, Berg D, Rascol O, Eggert K, Ceballos-Baumann A, Corvol JC, Storch A, Zhang L, Azulay JP, Broussolle E, Defebvre L, Geny C, Gostkowski M, Stocchi F, Tranchant C, Derkinderen P, Durif F, Espay AJ, Feigin A, Houeto JL, Schwarz J, Di Paolo T, Feuerbach D, Hockey HU, Jaeger J, Jakab A, Johns D, Linazasoro G, Maruff P, Rozenberg I, Sovago J, Weiss M, Gomez-Mancilla B. A Placebo-Controlled Trial of AQW051 in Patients With Moderate to Severe Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia. Mov Disord 2016; 31:1049-54. [PMID: 26990766 DOI: 10.1002/mds.26569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 agonist AQW051 in patients with Parkinson's disease and levodopa-induced dyskinesia. METHODS Patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and moderate to severe levodopa-induced dyskinesia were randomized to AQW051 10 mg (n = 24), AQW051 50 mg (n = 24), or placebo (n = 23) once daily for 28 days. Coprimary end points were change in Modified Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III scores. Secondary outcomes included pharmacokinetics. RESULTS In total, 67 patients completed the study. AQW051-treated patients experienced no significant improvements in Modified Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale or Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III scores by day 28. AQW051 was well tolerated; the most common adverse events were dyskinesia, fatigue, nausea, and falls. CONCLUSIONS AQW051 did not significantly reduce dyskinesia or parkinsonian severity. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Trenkwalder
- Paracelsus-Elena Hospital, Kassel, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany.,German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Berg
- German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olivier Rascol
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Neurosciences, NeuroToul Excellence Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University UPS of Toulouse III, CIC-9302/INSERM UMR825, Hôpital Purpan - Pavillon Riser, Toulouse, France.,NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France
| | - Karla Eggert
- German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andres Ceballos-Baumann
- German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany.,Schön Klinik München-Schwabing, München, Germany
| | - Jean-Christophe Corvol
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, and INSERM UMRS 1127 /CIC-1422, and CNRS UMR 7225, and AP-HP, and ICM, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Département des maladies du système nerveux, Paris, France
| | - Alexander Storch
- German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany.,Division of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, UC Davis MIND Institute, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Azulay
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Service de Neurologie et pathologie du Mouvement, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille Cedex, France
| | - Emmanuel Broussolle
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Univisité Lyon 1, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Service de Neurologie C, Lyon, France.,CNRS UMR 5229, Centre de Neurosciences Cognitives, Team Basal Ganglia, Bron, France
| | - Luc Defebvre
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Service de Neurologie et Pathologie du movement, EA 1046, CHU de Lille, Hôpital Roger Salengro, Lille, France
| | - Christian Geny
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Movement to Health (M2H) laboratory, Euromov, University Montpellier 1, Hôpital gui de Chauliac, Montpellier, France
| | - Michal Gostkowski
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Fabrizio Stocchi
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Research and Medical Care, IROCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Christine Tranchant
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Service de Neurologie, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pascal Derkinderen
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Centre Investigation Clinique Neurologie, CHU Nantes, Hôpital G&R Laennec, Nantes, France
| | - Franck Durif
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Gabriel Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Alberto J Espay
- Department of Neurology, James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew Feigin
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore - LIJ Health System, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Jean-Luc Houeto
- NS PARK/FCRIN Network, France.,Service de Neurologie, CIC-INSERM 1402, CHU de Poitiers, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Johannes Schwarz
- German Parkinson Study Group, Marburg, Germany.,Klinik Haag, Haag, Germany
| | - Thérèse Di Paolo
- Neuroscience Research Unit, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec, Canada.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Hans-Ulrich Hockey
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Biometrics Matters Ltd, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Judith Jaeger
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA, and CognitionMetrics, LLC, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | - Annamaria Jakab
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Donald Johns
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | - Judit Sovago
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Weiss
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Baltazar Gomez-Mancilla
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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Synthesis and biological activities of indolizine derivatives as alpha-7 nAChR agonists. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 115:94-108. [PMID: 26994846 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of schizophrenia accompanied with cognitive impairment. Herein, we report the synthesis and agonistic activities of a series of indolizine derivatives targeting to α7 nAChR. The results show that all synthesized compounds have affinity to α7 nAChR and some give strong agonistic activity, particularly most active agonists show higher potency than control EVP-6124. The docking and structure-activity relationship studies provide insights to develop more potent novel α7 nAChR agonists.
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Bertrand D, Lee CHL, Flood D, Marger F, Donnelly-Roberts D. Therapeutic Potential of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Pharmacol Rev 2015; 67:1025-73. [DOI: 10.1124/pr.113.008581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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Wallace TL, Bertrand D. Neuronal α7 Nicotinic Receptors as a Target for the Treatment of Schizophrenia. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2015; 124:79-111. [PMID: 26472526 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a lifelong disease, the burden of which is often underestimated. Characterized by positive (e.g., hallucinations) and negative (e.g., avolition, amotivation) symptoms, schizophrenia is also accompanied with profound impairments in cognitive function that progress throughout the development of the disease. Although treatment with antipsychotic medications can effectively dampen some of the positive symptoms, these medications largely fail to reverse cognitive deficits or to mitigate negative symptoms. With a worldwide prevalence of approximately 1%, schizophrenia remains a large unmet medical need that stands to benefit greatly from (1) continued research to better understand the biological underpinnings of the disease and (2) the targeted development of novel therapeutics to improve the lives of those affected individuals. Improvements in our understanding of the neuronal networks associated with schizophrenia as well as progress in identifying genetic risk factors and environmental conditions that may predispose individuals to developing the disease are advancing new strategies to study and treat it. Herein, we review the evidence that supports the role of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the central nervous system and why these receptors constitute a promising target to treat some of the prominent symptoms of schizophrenia.
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Jaikhan P, Boonyarat C, Arunrungvichian K, Taylor P, Vajragupta O. Design and Synthesis of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Antagonists and their Effect on Cognitive Impairment. Chem Biol Drug Des 2015; 87:39-56. [DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pattaporn Jaikhan
- Center of Excellence for Innovation in Drug Design and Discovery; Faculty of Pharmacy; Mahidol University; 447 Sri-Ayudya Road Bangkok 10400 Thailand
| | - Chantana Boonyarat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science; KhonKaen University; KhonKaen 4000 Thailand
| | - Kuntarat Arunrungvichian
- Center of Excellence for Innovation in Drug Design and Discovery; Faculty of Pharmacy; Mahidol University; 447 Sri-Ayudya Road Bangkok 10400 Thailand
- Department of Pharmacology; Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; University of California; San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093-0657 USA
| | - Palmer Taylor
- Department of Pharmacology; Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; University of California; San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093-0657 USA
| | - Opa Vajragupta
- Center of Excellence for Innovation in Drug Design and Discovery; Faculty of Pharmacy; Mahidol University; 447 Sri-Ayudya Road Bangkok 10400 Thailand
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Feuerbach D, Pezous N, Weiss M, Shakeri-Nejad K, Lingenhoehl K, Hoyer D, Hurth K, Bilbe G, Pryce CR, McAllister K, Chaperon F, Kucher K, Johns D, Blaettler T, Lopez Lopez C. AQW051, a novel, potent and selective α7 nicotinic ACh receptor partial agonist: pharmacological characterization and phase I evaluation. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:1292-304. [PMID: 25363835 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Activation of the α7 nicotinic ACh receptor (nACh receptor) is considered an attractive target for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with neurological disorders. Here we describe the novel α7-nACh receptor agonist AQW051 as a promising drug candidate for this indication. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH AQW051 was functionally characterized in vitro and cognitive effects evaluated in rodent behavioural models. Pharmacokinetics and tolerability were evaluated in three phase I placebo-controlled studies in 180 healthy subjects. KEY RESULTS In vitro, AQW051 bound with high affinity to α7-nACh receptors and stimulated calcium influx in cells recombinantly expressing the human α7-nACh receptor. In vivo, AQW051 demonstrated good oral bioavailability and rapid penetration into the rodent brain. AQW051 administered over a broad dose range facilitated learning/memory performance in the object recognition and social recognition test in mice and the water maze model in aged rats. Clinically, AQW051 was well tolerated in healthy young and elderly subjects, with an adverse event (AE) profile comparable with placebo. No serious AEs were reported and all AEs were either mild or moderate in severity at single oral doses up to 200 mg and multiple daily doses up to 75 mg. Once-daily oral administration of AQW051 resulted in continuous exposure and a two- to threefold accumulation compared with steady state was achieved by 1 week. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These data support further development of AQW051 as a cognitive-enhancing agent, as a therapeutic, for example, in Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia.
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Hashimoto K. Targeting of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Treatment of Schizophrenia and the Use of Auditory Sensory Gating as a Translational Biomarker. Curr Pharm Des 2015; 21:3797-806. [PMID: 26044974 PMCID: PMC5024727 DOI: 10.2174/1381612821666150605111345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that the α7 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) plays a key role in inflammatory processes, thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. Preclinical and clinical studies showed that the diminished suppression of P50 auditory evoked potentials in patients with schizophrenia may be associated with a decreased density of α7 nAChRs in the brain. This points to a role for auditory sensory gating (P50) as a translational biomarker. A number of agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) for α7 nAChR promoted beneficial effects in animal models with sensory gating and cognitive deficits. Additionally, several clinical studies showed that α7 nAChR agonists could improve suppression in auditory P50 evoked potentials, as well as cognitive deficits, and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Taken together, α7 nAChR presents as an extremely attractive therapeutic target for schizophrenia. In this article, the author discusses recent findings on α7 nAChR agonists such as DMXB-A, RG3487, TC-5619, tropisetron, EVP-6124 (encenicline), ABT-126, AQW051 and α7 nAChR PAMs such as JNJ-39393406, PNU- 120596 and AVL-3288 (also known as UCI-4083), and their potential as therapeutic drugs for neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia.
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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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31
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Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older persons. Pathognomonic hallmarks of the disease include the development of amyloid senile plaques and deposits of neurofibrillary tangles. These changes occur in the brain long before the clinical manifestations of AD (cognitive impairment in particular) become apparent. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), particularly the α7 subtype, are highly expressed in brain regions relevant to cognitive and memory functions and involved in the processing of sensory information. There is strong evidence that implicates the participation of AChRs in AD. This review briefly introduces current strategies addressing the pathophysiologic findings (amyloid-β-peptide plaques, neurofibrillary tangles) and then focuses on more recent efforts of pharmacologic intervention in AD, specifically targeted to the α7 AChR. Whereas cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil, galantamine, or rivastigmine, together with the non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist memantine are at the forefront of present-day clinical intervention for AD, new insights into AChR molecular pharmacology are bringing other drugs, directed at AChRs, to center stage. Among these are the positive allosteric modulators that selectively target α7 AChRs and are aimed at unleashing the factors that hinder agonist-mediated, α7 AChR channel activation. This calls for more detailed knowledge of the distribution, functional properties, and involvement of AChRs in various signaling cascades-together with the corresponding abnormalities in all these properties-to be able to engineer strategies in drug design and evaluate the therapeutic possibilities of new compounds targeting this class of neurotransmitter receptors.
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Breman AC, Ruiz-Olalla A, van Maarseveen JH, Ingemann S, Hiemstra H. Synthesis of Quinuclidines by Intramolecular Silver-Catalysed Amine Additions to Alkynes. European J Org Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201403099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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33
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Microwave-assisted parallel synthesis of benzofuran-2-carboxamide derivatives bearing anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic agents. Tetrahedron Lett 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2014.02.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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34
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Zefirova ON, Zefirov NS. Targeted application of bridged fragments in the design of physiologically active compounds. Russ Chem Bull 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s11172-013-0044-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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35
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Kombo DC, Bencherif M. Comparative study on the use of docking and Bayesian categorization to predict ligand binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) subtypes. J Chem Inf Model 2013; 53:3212-22. [PMID: 24328365 DOI: 10.1021/ci400493a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
We have carried out a comparative study between docking into homology models and Bayesian categorization, as applied to virtual screening of nicotinic ligands for binding at various nAChRs subtypes (human and rat α4β2, α7, α3β4, and α6β2β3). We found that although results vary with receptor subtype, Bayesian categorization exhibits higher accuracy and enrichment than unconstrained docking into homology models. However, docking accuracy is improved when one sets up a hydrogen-bond (HB) constraint between the cationic center of the ligand and the main-chain carbonyl group of the conserved Trp-149 or its homologue (a residue involved in cation-π interactions with the ligand basic nitrogen atom). This finding suggests that this HB is a hallmark of nicotinic ligands binding to nAChRs. Best predictions using either docking or Bayesian were obtained with the human α7 nAChR, when 100 nM was used as cutoff for biological activity. We also found that ligand-based Bayesian-derived enrichment factors and structure-based docking-derived enrichment factors highly correlate to each other. Moreover, they correlate with the mean molecular fractional polar surface area of actives ligands and the fractional hydrophobic/hydrophilic surface area of the binding site, respectively. This result is in agreement with the fact that hydrophobicity strongly contributes in promoting nicotinic ligands binding to their cognate nAChRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Kombo
- Targacept, Inc., 100 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101, United States
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36
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Posadas I, López-Hernández B, Ceña V. Nicotinic receptors in neurodegeneration. Curr Neuropharmacol 2013; 11:298-314. [PMID: 24179465 PMCID: PMC3648781 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x11311030005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2012] [Revised: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many studies have focused on expanding our knowledge of the structure and diversity of peripheral and central nicotinic receptors. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are members of the Cys-loop superfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, which include GABA (A and C), serotonin, and glycine receptors. Currently, 9 alpha (α2-α10) and 3 beta (β2-β4) subunits have been identified in the central nervous system (CNS), and these subunits assemble to form a variety of functional nAChRs. The pentameric combination of several alpha and beta subunits leads to a great number of nicotinic receptors that vary in their properties, including their sensitivity to nicotine, permeability to calcium and propensity to desensitize. In the CNS, nAChRs play crucial roles in modulating presynaptic, postsynaptic, and extrasynaptic signaling, and have been found to be involved in a complex range of CNS disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), schizophrenia, Tourette´s syndrome, anxiety, depression and epilepsy. Therefore, there is growing interest in the development of drugs that modulate nAChR functions with optimal benefits and minimal adverse effects. The present review describes the main characteristics of nAChRs in the CNS and focuses on the various compounds that have been tested and are currently in phase I and phase II trials for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases including PD, AD and age-associated memory and mild cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Posadas
- Unidad Asociada Neurodeath. CSIC-Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Departamento de Ciencias Médicas. Albacete, Spain and CIBERNED, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
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Computational studies of novel carbonyl-containing diazabicyclic ligands interacting with α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) reveal alternative binding modes. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:5105-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Revised: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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38
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QM-polarized ligand docking accurately predicts the trend in binding affinity of a series of arylmethylene quinuclidine-like derivatives at the α4β2 and α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:4842-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.06.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Revised: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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39
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Qiu Y, Ma D, Fu C, Ma S. General approach to benzo[b]thiophenes, benzo[b]furans, and dibenzofurans via gold-catalyzed cyclization of 1-heteroarylalka-2,3-dienyl acetates. Tetrahedron 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2013.04.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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40
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Kombo DC, Tallapragada K, Jain R, Chewning J, Mazurov AA, Speake JD, Hauser TA, Toler S. 3D molecular descriptors important for clinical success. J Chem Inf Model 2013; 53:327-42. [PMID: 23244494 DOI: 10.1021/ci300445e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The pharmacokinetic and safety profiles of clinical drug candidates are greatly influenced by their requisite physicochemical properties. In particular, it has been shown that 2D molecular descriptors such as fraction of Sp3 carbon atoms (Fsp3) and number of stereo centers correlate with clinical success. Using the proteomic off-target hit rate of nicotinic ligands, we found that shape-based 3D descriptors such as the radius of gyration and shadow indices discriminate off-target promiscuity better than do Fsp3 and the number of stereo centers. We have deduced the relevant descriptor values required for a ligand to be nonpromiscuous. Investigating the MDL Drug Data Report (MDDR) database as compounds move from the preclinical stage toward the market, we have found that these shape-based 3D descriptors predict clinical success of compounds at preclinical and phase1 stages vs compounds withdrawn from the market better than do Fsp3 and LogD. Further, these computed 3D molecular descriptors correlate well with experimentally observed solubility, which is among well-known physicochemical properties that drive clinical success. We also found that about 84% of launched drugs satisfy either Shadow index or Fsp3 criteria, whereas withdrawn and discontinued compounds fail to meet the same criteria. Our studies suggest that spherical compounds (rather than their elongated counterparts) with a minimal number of aromatic rings may exhibit a high propensity to advance from clinical trials to market.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Kombo
- Targacept, Inc., 200 East First Street, Suite 300, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101-4165, USA.
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