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Durydivka O, Kuchar M, Blahos J. SGIP1 Deletion in Mice Attenuates Mechanical Hypersensitivity Elicited by Inflammation. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2024. [PMID: 38979622 DOI: 10.1089/can.2024.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) in the nervous system modulates the processing of acute and chronic pain. CB1R activity is regulated by desensitization and internalization. SH3-containing GRB2-like protein 3-interacting protein 1 (SGIP1) inhibits the internalization of CB1R. This causes increased and prolonged association of the desensitized receptor with G protein-coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3) and beta-arrestin on the cell membrane and results in decreased activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway. Genetic deletion of SGIP1 in mice leads to altered CB1R-related functions, such as decreased anxiety-like behaviors, modified cannabinoid tetrad behaviors, reduced acute nociception, and increased sensitivity to analgesics. In this work, we asked if deletion of SGIP1 affects chronic nociception and analgesic effect of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) in mice. Methods: We measured tactile responses of hind paws to increasing pressure in wild-type and SGIP1 knock-out mice. Inflammation in the paw was induced by local injection of carrageenan. To determine the mechanical sensitivity, the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was measured using an electronic von Frey instrument with the progression of the applied force. Results: The responses to mechanical stimuli varied depending on the sex, genotype, and treatment. SGIP1 knock-out male mice exhibited lower PWT than wild-type males. On the contrary, the female mice exhibited comparable PWT. Following THC or WIN treatment in male mice, SGIP1 knock-out males exhibited PWT lower than wild-type males. THC treatment in SGIP1 knock-out females resulted in PWT higher than after THC treatment of wild-type females. However, SGIP1 knock-out and wild-type female mice exhibited similar PWT after WIN treatment. Conclusions: We provide evidence that SGIP1, possibly by interacting with CB1R, is involved in processing the responses to chronic pain. The absence of SGIP1 results in enhanced sensitivity to mechanical stimuli in males, but not females. The antinociceptive effect of THC is superior to that of WIN in SGIP1 knock-out mice in the carrageenan-induced model of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleh Durydivka
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kuchar
- Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Prague, Czech Republic
- Psychedelic Research Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Blahos
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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2
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Yadav-Samudrala BJ, Dodson H, Ramineni S, Kim E, Poklis JL, Lu D, Ignatowska-Jankowska BM, Lichtman AH, Fitting S. Cannabinoid receptor 1 positive allosteric modulator ZCZ011 shows differential effects on behavior and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305868. [PMID: 38913661 PMCID: PMC11195999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) is a promising therapeutic target for various neurodegenerative diseases, including HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). However, the therapeutic potential of CB1R by direct activation is limited due to its psychoactive side effects. Therefore, research has focused on indirectly activating the CB1R by utilizing positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). Studies have shown that CB1R PAMs (ZCZ011 and GAT211) are effective in mouse models of Huntington's disease and neuropathic pain, and hence, we assess the therapeutic potential of ZCZ011 in a well-established mouse model of neuroHIV. The current study investigates the effect of chronic ZCZ011 treatment (14 days) on various behavioral paradigms and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice. Chronic ZCZ011 treatment (10 mg/kg) did not alter body mass, locomotor activity, or anxiety-like behavior regardless of sex or genotype. However, differential effects were noted in hot plate latency, motor coordination, and recognition memory in female mice only, with ZCZ011 treatment increasing hot plate latency and improving motor coordination and recognition memory. Only minor effects or no alterations were seen in the endocannabinoid system and related lipids except in the cerebellum, where the effect of ZCZ011 was more pronounced in female mice. Moreover, AEA and PEA levels in the cerebellum were positively correlated with improved motor coordination in female mice. In summary, these findings indicate that chronic ZCZ011 treatment has differential effects on antinociception, motor coordination, and memory, based on sex and HIV-1 Tat expression, making CB1R PAMs potential treatment options for HAND without the psychoactive side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barkha J. Yadav-Samudrala
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Hailey Dodson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Shreya Ramineni
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Kim
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Justin L. Poklis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Dai Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Aron H. Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Sylvia Fitting
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
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Shen S, Wu C, Lin G, Yang X, Zhou Y, Zhao C, Miao Z, Tian X, Wang K, Yang Z, Liu Z, Guo N, Li Y, Xia A, Zhou P, Liu J, Yan W, Ke B, Yang S, Shao Z. Structure-based identification of a G protein-biased allosteric modulator of cannabinoid receptor CB1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321532121. [PMID: 38830102 PMCID: PMC11181136 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321532121] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cannabis sativa is known for its therapeutic benefit in various diseases including pain relief by targeting cannabinoid receptors. The primary component of cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and other agonists engage the orthosteric site of CB1, activating both Gi and β-arrestin signaling pathways. The activation of diverse pathways could result in on-target side effects and cannabis addiction, which may hinder therapeutic potential. A significant challenge in pharmacology is the design of a ligand that can modulate specific signaling of CB1. By leveraging insights from the structure-function selectivity relationship (SFSR), we have identified Gi signaling-biased agonist-allosteric modulators (ago-BAMs). Further, two cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures reveal the binding mode of ago-BAM at the extrahelical allosteric site of CB1. Combining mutagenesis and pharmacological studies, we elucidated the detailed mechanism of ago-BAM-mediated biased signaling. Notably, ago-BAM CB-05 demonstrated analgesic efficacy with fewer side effects, minimal drug toxicity and no cannabis addiction in mouse pain models. In summary, our finding not only suggests that ago-BAMs of CB1 provide a potential nonopioid strategy for pain management but also sheds light on BAM identification for GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Shen
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Guifeng Lin
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yangli Zhou
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Chang Zhao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhuang Miao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaowen Tian
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Kexin Wang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiqian Yang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiyu Liu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Nihong Guo
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yueshan Li
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Anjie Xia
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Pei Zhou
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jingming Liu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Bowen Ke
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Shengyong Yang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhenhua Shao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu610212, Sichuan, China
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4
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Green HM, Manning JJ, Greig IR, Ross RA, Finlay DB, Glass M. Positive allosteric modulation of the cannabinoid CB 1 receptor potentiates endocannabinoid signalling and changes ERK1/2 phosphorylation kinetics. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38831545 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Activation of CB1 by exogenous agonists causes adverse effects in vivo. Positive allosteric modulation may offer improved therapeutic potential and a reduced on-target adverse effect profile compared with orthosteric agonists, due to reduced desensitisation/tolerance, but this has not been directly tested. This study investigated the ability of PAMs/ago-PAMs to induce receptor regulation pathways, including desensitisation and receptor internalisation. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assays in HEK293 cells were performed to investigate G protein dissociation, ERK1/2 phosphorylation and β-arrestin 2 translocation, while immunocytochemistry was performed to measure internalisation of CB1 in response to the PAMs ZCZ011, GAT229 and ABD1236 alone and in combination with the orthosteric agonists AEA, 2-AG, and AMB-FUBINACA. KEY RESULTS ZCZ011, GAT229 and ABD1236 were allosteric agonists in all pathways tested. The ago-PAM ZCZ011 induced a biphasic ERK1/2 phosphorylation time course compared to transient activation by orthosteric agonists. In combination with 2-AG but not AEA or AMB-FUBINACA, ZCZ011 and ABD1236 caused the transient peak of ERK1/2 phosphorylation to become sustained. All PAMs increased the potency and efficacy of AEA-induced signalling in all pathways tested; however, no notable potentiation of 2-AG or AMB-FUBINACA was observed. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Ago-PAMs can potentiate endocannabinoid CB1 agonism by AEA to a larger extent compared with 2-AG. However, all compounds were found to be allosteric agonists and induce activation of CB1 in the absence of endocannabinoid, including β-arrestin 2 recruitment and internalisation. Thus, the spatiotemporal signalling of endogenous cannabinoids will not be retained in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley M Green
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jamie J Manning
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ian R Greig
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Ruth A Ross
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - David B Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Zhang M, Chen T, Lu X, Lan X, Chen Z, Lu S. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): advances in structures, mechanisms, and drug discovery. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:88. [PMID: 38594257 PMCID: PMC11004190 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01803-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of human membrane proteins and an important class of drug targets, play a role in maintaining numerous physiological processes. Agonist or antagonist, orthosteric effects or allosteric effects, and biased signaling or balanced signaling, characterize the complexity of GPCR dynamic features. In this study, we first review the structural advancements, activation mechanisms, and functional diversity of GPCRs. We then focus on GPCR drug discovery by revealing the detailed drug-target interactions and the underlying mechanisms of orthosteric drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the past five years. Particularly, an up-to-date analysis is performed on available GPCR structures complexed with synthetic small-molecule allosteric modulators to elucidate key receptor-ligand interactions and allosteric mechanisms. Finally, we highlight how the widespread GPCR-druggable allosteric sites can guide structure- or mechanism-based drug design and propose prospects of designing bitopic ligands for the future therapeutic potential of targeting this receptor family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Affiliated to Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Xun Lu
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xiaobing Lan
- Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Ziqiang Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Changhai Hospital, Affiliated to Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Shaoyong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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Fraguas-Sánchez AI, Hernán D, Montejo C, Poklis JL, Lichtman AH, Torres-Suárez AI. Polycaprolactone microparticles for the subcutaneous administration of cannabidiol: in vitro and in vivo release. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024; 14:959-969. [PMID: 37824041 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01444-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) has become a highly attractive entity in therapeutics. However, its low aqueous solubility, instability and handling problems limit the development of effective CBD formulations. Subcutaneously administered CBD-loaded polycaprolactone microparticles (MP) represent an interesting strategy to overcome these challenges. This work focuses on evaluating the pharmacokinetics of CBD formulated in polymer microparticles for subcutaneous administration and characterising its release. The mean release time (MRLT) parameter is used to compare the release of CBD from two microparticle formulations in vitro and in a mouse model. After the administration of CBD in solution, a bicompartmental distribution is observed due to the extensive diffusion to the brain, being the brain/blood AUC ratio 1.29. The blood and brain mean residence time (MRT) are 0.507 ± 0.04 and 0.257 ± 0.0004 days, respectively. MP prepared with two drug/polymer ratios (15/150-MP and 30/150-MP) are designed, showing similar in vitro dissolution profiles (similarity factor (f2) is 63.21), without statistically significant differences between MRLTin vitro values (4.68 ± 0.63 and 4.32 ± 0.05 days). However, considerable differences in blood and brain profiles between both formulations are detected. The blood and brain MRT values of 15/150-MP are 6.44 ± 0.3 days and 6.15 ± 0.25 days, respectively, whereas significantly lower values 3.91 ± 0.29 days and 2.24 ± 0.64 days are obtained with 30/150-MP. The extended release of CBD during 10 days after a single subcutaneous administration is achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Isabel Fraguas-Sánchez
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Industrial Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dolores Hernán
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Consuelo Montejo
- Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, San Pablo CEU University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Justin L Poklis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA
| | - Ana Isabel Torres-Suárez
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
- Institute of Industrial Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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Mustafa MA, Poklis JL, Karin KN, Elmer JA, Porter JH, Parra V, Lu D, Schlosburg JE, Lichtman AH. Investigation of Cannabidiol in the Mouse Drug Discrimination Paradigm. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2024; 9:581-590. [PMID: 36656312 PMCID: PMC10998012 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained considerable public and scientific attention because of its known and potential medicinal properties, as well as its commercial success in a wide range of products. Although CBD lacks cannabimimetic intoxicating side effects in humans and fails to substitute for cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) agonists in laboratory animal models of drug discrimination paradigm, anecdotal reports describe it as producing a "pleasant" subjective effect in humans. Thus, we speculated that this phytocannabinoid may elicit distinct subjective effects. Accordingly, we investigated whether mice would learn to discriminate CBD from vehicle. Additionally, we examined whether CBD may act as a CB1R allosteric and whether it would elevate brain endocannabinoid concentrations. Materials and Methods: C57BL/6J mice underwent discrimination training of either CBD or the high-efficacy CB1R agonist CP55,940 from vehicle. Additionally, we examined whether CBD or the CB1R-positive allosteric modulator ZCZ011 would alter the CP55,940 discriminative cue. Finally, we tested whether an acute CBD injection would elevate endocannabinoid levels in brain, and also quantified blood and brain levels of CBD. Results: Mice failed to discriminate high doses of CBD from vehicle following 124 training days, though the same subjects subsequently acquired CP55,940 discrimination. In a second group of mice trained to discriminate CP55,940, CBD neither elicited substitution nor altered response rates. A single injection of 100 or 200 mg/kg CBD did not affect brain levels of endogenous cannabinoids and related lipids and resulted in high drug concentrations in blood and whole brain at 0.5 h and continued to increase at 3 h. Discussion: CBD did not engender an interoceptive stimulus, did not disrupt performance in a food-motivated operant task, and lacked apparent effectiveness in altering brain endocannabinoid levels or modulating the pharmacological effects of a CB1R agonist. These findings support the assertions that CBD lacks abuse liability and its acute administration does not appear to play a functional role in modulating key components of the endocannabinoid system in whole animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A. Mustafa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Justin L. Poklis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Kimberly N. Karin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jayden A. Elmer
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Joseph H. Porter
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Victoria Parra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Dai Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Joel E. Schlosburg
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Aron H. Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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8
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Karimi SA, Zahra FT, Martin LJ. IUPHAR review: Navigating the role of preclinical models in pain research. Pharmacol Res 2024; 200:107073. [PMID: 38232910 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a complex and challenging medical condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of chronic pain is a key goal of preclinical pain research so that more effective treatment strategies can be developed. In this review, we explore nociception, pain, and the multifaceted factors that lead to chronic pain by focusing on preclinical models. We provide a detailed look into inflammatory and neuropathic pain models and discuss the most used animal models for studying the mechanisms behind these conditions. Additionally, we emphasize the vital role of these preclinical models in developing new pain-relief drugs, focusing on biologics and the therapeutic potential of NMDA and cannabinoid receptor antagonists. We also discuss the challenges of TRPV1 modulation for pain treatment, the clinical failures of neurokinin (NK)- 1 receptor antagonists, and the partial success story of Ziconotide to provide valuable lessons for preclinical pain models. Finally, we highlight the overall success and limitations of current treatments for chronic pain while providing critical insights into the development of more effective therapies to alleviate the burden of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Asaad Karimi
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Fatama Tuz Zahra
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Loren J Martin
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada.
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9
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Green HM, Fellner DMJ, Finlay DB, Furkert DP, Glass M. Determination of the Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor's Positive Allosteric Modulator Binding Site through Mutagenesis Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:154. [PMID: 38399369 PMCID: PMC10892375 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1) offer potential therapeutic advantages in the treatment of neuropathic pain and addiction by avoiding the adverse effects associated with orthosteric CB1 activation. Here, molecular modeling and mutagenesis were used to identify residues central to PAM activity at CB1. Six putative allosteric binding sites were identified in silico, including novel sites previously associated with cholesterol binding, and key residues within each site were mutated to alanine. The recently determined ZCZ011 binding site was found to be essential for allosteric agonism, as GAT228, GAT229 and ZCZ011 all increased wild-type G protein dissociation in the absence of an orthosteric ligand; activity that was abolished in mutants F191A3.27 and I169A2.56. PAM activity was demonstrated for ZCZ011 in the presence of the orthosteric ligand CP55940, which was only abolished in I169A2.56. In contrast, the PAM activity of GAT229 was reduced for mutants R220A3.56, L404A8.50, F191A3.27 and I169A2.56. This indicates that allosteric modulation may represent the net effect of binding at multiple sites, and that allosteric agonism is likely to be mediated via the ZCZ011 site. This study underlines the need for detailed understanding of ligand receptor interactions in the search for pure CB1 allosteric modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley M. Green
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand; (H.M.G.); (D.B.F.)
| | - Daniel M. J. Fellner
- School of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; (D.M.J.F.); (D.P.F.)
| | - David B. Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand; (H.M.G.); (D.B.F.)
| | - Daniel P. Furkert
- School of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; (D.M.J.F.); (D.P.F.)
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand; (H.M.G.); (D.B.F.)
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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10
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Satapathy T, Singh G, Pandey RK, Shukla SS, Bhardwaj SK, Gidwani B. Novel Targets and Drug Delivery System in the Treatment of Postoperative Pain: Recent Studies and Clinical Advancement. Curr Drug Targets 2024; 25:25-45. [PMID: 38037995 DOI: 10.2174/0113894501271207231127063431] [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: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Pain is generated by a small number of peripheral targets. These can be made more sensitive by inflammatory mediators. The number of opioids prescribed to the patients can be reduced dramatically with better pain management. Any therapy that safely and reliably provides extended analgesia and is flexible enough to facilitate a diverse array of release profiles would be useful for improving patient comfort, quality of care, and compliance after surgical procedures. Comparisons are made between new and traditional methods, and the current state of development has been discussed; taking into account the availability of molecular and cellular level data, preclinical and clinical data, and early post-market data. There are a number of benefits associated with the use of nanotechnology in the delivery of analgesics to specific areas of the body. Nanoparticles are able to transport drugs to inaccessible bodily areas because of their small molecular size. This review focuses on targets that act specifically or primarily on sensory neurons, as well as inflammatory mediators that have been shown to have an analgesic effect as a side effect of their anti- inflammatory properties. New, regulated post-operative pain management devices that use existing polymeric systems were presented in this article, along with the areas for potential development. Analgesic treatments, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trilochan Satapathy
- Department of Pharmacology, Columbia Institute of Pharmacy, Raipur, Chhattisgarh-493111, India
| | - Gulab Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Columbia Institute of Pharmacy, Raipur, Chhattisgarh-493111, India
| | - Ravindra Kumar Pandey
- Department of Pharmacology, Columbia Institute of Pharmacy, Raipur, Chhattisgarh-493111, India
| | - Shiv Shankar Shukla
- Department of Pharmacology, Columbia Institute of Pharmacy, Raipur, Chhattisgarh-493111, India
| | - Shiv Kumar Bhardwaj
- Department of Pharmacology, Columbia Institute of Pharmacy, Raipur, Chhattisgarh-493111, India
| | - Beena Gidwani
- Department of Pharmacology, Columbia Institute of Pharmacy, Raipur, Chhattisgarh-493111, India
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11
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Zhu C, Lan X, Wei Z, Yu J, Zhang J. Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors as a novel therapeutic strategy in neuropathic pain. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:67-86. [PMID: 38239234 PMCID: PMC10792987 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a debilitating pathological condition that presents significant therapeutic challenges in clinical practice. Unfortunately, current pharmacological treatments for neuropathic pain lack clinical efficacy and often lead to harmful adverse reactions. As G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are widely distributed throughout the body, including the pain transmission pathway and descending inhibition pathway, the development of novel neuropathic pain treatments based on GPCRs allosteric modulation theory is gaining momentum. Extensive research has shown that allosteric modulators targeting GPCRs on the pain pathway can effectively alleviate symptoms of neuropathic pain while reducing or eliminating adverse effects. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the progress made in GPCRs allosteric modulators in the treatment of neuropathic pain, and discuss the potential benefits and adverse factors of this treatment. We will also concentrate on the development of biased agonists of GPCRs, and based on important examples of biased agonist development in recent years, we will describe universal strategies for designing structure-based biased agonists. It is foreseeable that, with the continuous improvement of GPCRs allosteric modulation and biased agonist theory, effective GPCRs allosteric drugs will eventually be available for the treatment of neuropathic pain with acceptable safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhao Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- School of Basic Medical Science, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Xiaobing Lan
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wei
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Jianqiang Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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12
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Hill MN, Haney M, Hillard CJ, Karhson DS, Vecchiarelli HA. The endocannabinoid system as a putative target for the development of novel drugs for the treatment of psychiatric illnesses. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7006-7024. [PMID: 37671673 PMCID: PMC10719691 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis is well established to impact affective states, emotion and perceptual processing, primarily through its interactions with the endocannabinoid system. While cannabis use is quite prevalent in many individuals afflicted with psychiatric illnesses, there is considerable controversy as to whether cannabis may worsen these conditions or provide some form of therapeutic benefit. The development of pharmacological agents which interact with components of the endocannabinoid system in more localized and discrete ways then via phytocannabinoids found in cannabis, has allowed the investigation if direct targeting of the endocannabinoid system itself may represent a novel approach to treat psychiatric illness without the potential untoward side effects associated with cannabis. Herein we review the current body of literature regarding the various pharmacological tools that have been developed to target the endocannabinoid system, their impact in preclinical models of psychiatric illness and the recent data emerging of their utilization in clinical trials for psychiatric illnesses, with a specific focus on substance use disorders, trauma-related disorders, and autism. We highlight several candidate drugs which target endocannabinoid function, particularly inhibitors of endocannabinoid metabolism or modulators of cannabinoid receptor signaling, which have emerged as potential candidates for the treatment of psychiatric conditions, particularly substance use disorder, anxiety and trauma-related disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Although there needs to be ongoing clinical work to establish the potential utility of endocannabinoid-based drugs for the treatment of psychiatric illnesses, the current data available is quite promising and shows indications of several potential candidate diseases which may benefit from this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew N. Hill
- Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy & Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Margaret Haney
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Cecilia J. Hillard
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
| | - Debra S. Karhson
- Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, USA
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13
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Maccarrone M, Di Marzo V, Gertsch J, Grether U, Howlett AC, Hua T, Makriyannis A, Piomelli D, Ueda N, van der Stelt M. Goods and Bads of the Endocannabinoid System as a Therapeutic Target: Lessons Learned after 30 Years. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:885-958. [PMID: 37164640 PMCID: PMC10441647 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The cannabis derivative marijuana is the most widely used recreational drug in the Western world and is consumed by an estimated 83 million individuals (∼3% of the world population). In recent years, there has been a marked transformation in society regarding the risk perception of cannabis, driven by its legalization and medical use in many states in the United States and worldwide. Compelling research evidence and the Food and Drug Administration cannabis-derived cannabidiol approval for severe childhood epilepsy have confirmed the large therapeutic potential of cannabidiol itself, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and other plant-derived cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids). Of note, our body has a complex endocannabinoid system (ECS)-made of receptors, metabolic enzymes, and transporters-that is also regulated by phytocannabinoids. The first endocannabinoid to be discovered 30 years ago was anandamide (N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine); since then, distinct elements of the ECS have been the target of drug design programs aimed at curing (or at least slowing down) a number of human diseases, both in the central nervous system and at the periphery. Here a critical review of our knowledge of the goods and bads of the ECS as a therapeutic target is presented to define the benefits of ECS-active phytocannabinoids and ECS-oriented synthetic drugs for human health. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The endocannabinoid system plays important roles virtually everywhere in our body and is either involved in mediating key processes of central and peripheral diseases or represents a therapeutic target for treatment. Therefore, understanding the structure, function, and pharmacology of the components of this complex system, and in particular of key receptors (like cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2) and metabolic enzymes (like fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase), will advance our understanding of endocannabinoid signaling and activity at molecular, cellular, and system levels, providing new opportunities to treat patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Maccarrone
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy (M.M.); European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (M.M.); Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada (V.D.); Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (J.G.); Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland (U.G.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (A.C.H.); iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China (T.H.); Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.); Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California (D.P.); Department of Biochemistry, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan (N.U.); Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy (M.M.); European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (M.M.); Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada (V.D.); Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (J.G.); Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland (U.G.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (A.C.H.); iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China (T.H.); Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.); Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California (D.P.); Department of Biochemistry, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan (N.U.); Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Jürg Gertsch
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy (M.M.); European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (M.M.); Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada (V.D.); Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (J.G.); Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland (U.G.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (A.C.H.); iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China (T.H.); Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.); Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California (D.P.); Department of Biochemistry, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan (N.U.); Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Uwe Grether
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy (M.M.); European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (M.M.); Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada (V.D.); Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (J.G.); Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland (U.G.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (A.C.H.); iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China (T.H.); Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.); Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California (D.P.); Department of Biochemistry, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan (N.U.); Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Allyn C Howlett
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy (M.M.); European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (M.M.); Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada (V.D.); Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (J.G.); Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland (U.G.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (A.C.H.); iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China (T.H.); Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.); Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California (D.P.); Department of Biochemistry, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan (N.U.); Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Tian Hua
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy (M.M.); European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (M.M.); Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada (V.D.); Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (J.G.); Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland (U.G.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (A.C.H.); iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China (T.H.); Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.); Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California (D.P.); Department of Biochemistry, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan (N.U.); Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Alexandros Makriyannis
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy (M.M.); European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (M.M.); Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada (V.D.); Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (J.G.); Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland (U.G.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (A.C.H.); iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China (T.H.); Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.); Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California (D.P.); Department of Biochemistry, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan (N.U.); Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy (M.M.); European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (M.M.); Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada (V.D.); Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (J.G.); Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland (U.G.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (A.C.H.); iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China (T.H.); Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.); Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California (D.P.); Department of Biochemistry, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan (N.U.); Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Natsuo Ueda
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy (M.M.); European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (M.M.); Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada (V.D.); Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (J.G.); Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland (U.G.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (A.C.H.); iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China (T.H.); Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.); Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California (D.P.); Department of Biochemistry, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan (N.U.); Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy (M.M.); European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (M.M.); Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada (V.D.); Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (J.G.); Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland (U.G.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (A.C.H.); iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China (T.H.); Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.); Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California (D.P.); Department of Biochemistry, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan (N.U.); Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands (M.S.)
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14
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Tyrtyshnaia A, Manzhulo O, Manzhulo I. Synaptamide Ameliorates Hippocampal Neurodegeneration and Glial Activation in Mice with Traumatic Brain Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10014. [PMID: 37373162 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major concern for public health worldwide, affecting 55 million people and being the leading cause of death and disability. To improve the outcomes and effectiveness of treatment for these patients, we conducted a study on the potential therapeutic use of N-docosahexaenoylethanolamine (synaptamide) in mice using the weight-drop injury (WDI) TBI model. Our study focused on exploring synaptamide's effects on neurodegeneration processes and changes in neuronal and glial plasticity. Our findings showed that synaptamide could prevent TBI-associated working memory decline and neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampus, and it could alleviate decreased adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Furthermore, synaptamide regulated the production of astro- and microglial markers during TBI, promoting the anti-inflammatory transformation of the microglial phenotype. Additional effects of synaptamide in TBI include stimulating antioxidant and antiapoptotic defense, leading to the downregulation of the Bad pro-apoptotic marker. Our data suggest that synaptamide has promising potential as a therapeutic agent to prevent the long-term neurodegenerative consequences of TBI and improve the quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tyrtyshnaia
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Palchevskogo Str. 17, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Olga Manzhulo
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Palchevskogo Str. 17, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Igor Manzhulo
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Palchevskogo Str. 17, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
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15
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Krishna Kumar K, Robertson MJ, Thadhani E, Wang H, Suomivuori CM, Powers AS, Ji L, Nikas SP, Dror RO, Inoue A, Makriyannis A, Skiniotis G, Kobilka B. Structural basis for activation of CB1 by an endocannabinoid analog. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2672. [PMID: 37160876 PMCID: PMC10169858 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37864-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are endogenous ligands of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), a G protein-coupled receptor that regulates a number of therapeutically relevant physiological responses. Hence, understanding the structural and functional consequences of eCB-CB1 interactions has important implications for designing effective drugs targeting this receptor. To characterize the molecular details of eCB interaction with CB1, we utilized AMG315, an analog of the eCB anandamide to determine the structure of the AMG315-bound CB1 signaling complex. Compared to previous structures, the ligand binding pocket shows some differences. Using docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and signaling assays we investigated the functional consequences of ligand interactions with the "toggle switch" residues F2003.36 and W3566.48. Further, we show that ligand-TM2 interactions drive changes to residues on the intracellular side of TM2 and are a determinant of efficacy in activating G protein. These intracellular TM2 rearrangements are unique to CB1 and are exploited by a CB1-specific allosteric modulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaavya Krishna Kumar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Michael J Robertson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Elina Thadhani
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Haoqing Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Carl-Mikael Suomivuori
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Alexander S Powers
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Lipin Ji
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Spyros P Nikas
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ron O Dror
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Alexandros Makriyannis
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Georgios Skiniotis
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Photon Science, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA.
| | - Brian Kobilka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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16
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Lee MT, Mackie K, Chiou LC. Alternative pain management via endocannabinoids in the time of the opioid epidemic: Peripheral neuromodulation and pharmacological interventions. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:894-909. [PMID: 34877650 PMCID: PMC9170838 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of opioids in pain management is hampered by the emergence of analgesic tolerance, which leads to increased dosing and side effects, both of which have contributed to the opioid epidemic. One promising potential approach to limit opioid analgesic tolerance is activating the endocannabinoid system in the CNS, via activation of CB1 receptors in the descending pain inhibitory pathway. In this review, we first discuss preclinical and clinical evidence revealing the potential of pharmacological activation of CB1 receptors in modulating opioid tolerance, including activation by phytocannabinoids, synthetic CB1 receptor agonists, endocannabinoid degradation enzyme inhibitors, and recently discovered positive allosteric modulators of CB1 receptors. On the other hand, as non-pharmacological pain relief is advocated by the US-NIH to combat the opioid epidemic, we also discuss contributions of peripheral neuromodulation, involving the electrostimulation of peripheral nerves, in addressing chronic pain and opioid tolerance. The involvement of supraspinal endocannabinoid systems in peripheral neuromodulation-induced analgesia is also discussed. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Advances in Opioid Pharmacology at the Time of the Opioid Epidemic. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v180.7/issuetoc.
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Grants
- MOST 108-2321-B-002-005 Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
- MOST 107-2811-B-002-008 Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
- R01 DA041229 NIDA NIH HHS
- MOST 107-2321-B-002-010 Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
- R01 DA047858 NIDA NIH HHS
- 107M4022-3 Ministry of Education, Taiwan
- MOST 106-2321-B-002-019 Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
- NHRI-EX111-11114NI National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
- FRGS/1/2021/WAB13/UCSI/02/1 Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia
- R21 DA042584 NIDA NIH HHS
- REIG-FPS-2020/065 UCSI University Research Excellence and Innovation Grant, Malaysia
- NHRI-EX109-10733NI National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
- MOST 104-2745-B-002-004 Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
- MOST 109-2320-B-002-042-MY3 Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
- MOST 107-2811-B-002 -008 Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
- MOST 108-2320-B-002-029-MY3 Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Tatt Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Ken Mackie
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Lih-Chu Chiou
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
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17
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Nan J, Liu J, Lin G, Zhang S, Xia A, Zhou P, Zhou Y, Zhang J, Zhao J, Zhang S, Huang C, Wang Y, Hu Q, Chen J, Xiang M, Yang X, Yang S. Discovery of 4-(1,2,4-Oxadiazol-5-yl)azepan-2-one Derivatives as a New Class of Cannabinoid Type 2 Receptor Agonists for the Treatment of Inflammatory Pain. J Med Chem 2023; 66:3460-3483. [PMID: 36821347 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Selectively targeting the cannabinoid receptor CB2 is an attractive therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammatory pain without psychiatric side effects mediated by the cannabinoid receptor CB1. Herein, we report the discovery of 4-(1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)azepan-2-one derivatives as a new class of CB2 agonists. Systematic structure-activity relationship investigations resulted in the identification of the most potent compound 25r. This compound displayed high selectivity for CB2 against CB1 (CB2 EC50 = 21.0 nM, Emax = 87%, CB1 EC50 > 30 μM, ratio CB1/CB2 > 1428) with favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Especially, 25r demonstrated significant efficacy in the analgesic model of rodent inflammatory pain. All the results suggest that compound 25r could serve as a lead compound for treating inflammatory pain and deserves further in-depth studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinshan Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jingming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Guifeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Anjie Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Pei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yangli Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jiahao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jinlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Shiyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Chong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Qian Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Junxian Chen
- Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Mingli Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Xin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Shengyong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
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18
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Xu B, Zhang Q, Chen D, Zhang M, Zhang R, Zhao W, Qiu Y, Xu K, Xiao J, Niu J, Shi Y, Li N, Fang Q. OCP002, a Mixed Agonist of Opioid and Cannabinoid Receptors, Produces Potent Antinociception With Minimized Side Effects. Anesth Analg 2023; 136:373-386. [PMID: 36638515 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000006266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing attention has been attracted to the development of bifunctional compounds to minimize the side effects of opioid analgesics. Pharmacological studies have verified the functional interaction between opioid and cannabinoid systems in pain management, suggesting that coactivation of the opioid and cannabinoid receptors may provide synergistic analgesia with fewer adverse reactions. Herein, we developed and characterized a novel bifunctional compound containing the pharmacophores of the mu-opioid receptor agonist DALDA and the cannabinoid peptide VD-Hpα-NH2, named OCP002. METHODS The opioid and cannabinoid agonistic activities of OCP002 were investigated in calcium mobilization and western blotting assays, respectively. Moreover, the central and peripheral antinociceptive effects of OCP002 were evaluated in mouse preclinical models of tail-flick test, carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain, and acetic acid-induced visceral pain, respectively. Furthermore, the potential opioid and cannabinoid side effects of OCP002 were systematically investigated in mice after intracerebroventricular (ICV) and subcutaneous (SC) administrations. RESULTS OCP002 functioned as a mixed agonist toward mu-opioid, kappa-opioid, and cannabinoid CB1 receptors in vitro. ICV and SC injections of OCP002 produced dose-dependent antinociception in mouse models of nociceptive (the median effective dose [ED50] values with 95% confidence interval [CI] are 0.14 [0.12-0.15] nmol and 0.32 [0.29-0.35] μmol/kg for ICV and SC injections, respectively), inflammatory (mechanical stimulation: ED50 values [95% CI] are 0.76 [0.64-0.90] nmol and 1.23 [1.10-1.38] μmol/kg for ICV and SC injections, respectively; thermal stimulation: ED50 values [95% CI] are 0.13 [0.10-0.17] nmol and 0.23 [0.08-0.40] μmol/kg for ICV and SC injections, respectively), and visceral pain (ED50 values [95% CI] are 0.0069 [0.0050-0.0092] nmol and 1.47 [1.13-1.86] μmol/kg for ICV and SC injections, respectively) via opioid and cannabinoid receptors. Encouragingly, OCP002 cannot cross the blood-brain barrier and exerted nontolerance-forming analgesia over 6-day treatment at both supraspinal and peripheral levels. Consistent with these behavioral results, repeated OCP002 administration did not elicit microglial hypertrophy and proliferation, the typical features of opioid-induced tolerance, in the spinal cord. Furthermore, at the effective analgesic doses, SC OCP002 exhibited minimized opioid and cannabinoid side effects on motor performance, body temperature, gastric motility, physical and psychological dependence, as well as sedation in mice. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that OCP002 produces potent and nontolerance-forming antinociception in mice with reduced opioid- and cannabinoid-related side effects, which strengthen the candidacy of bifunctional drugs targeting opioid/cannabinoid receptors for translational-medical development to replace or assist the traditional opioid analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Xu
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dan Chen
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mengna Zhang
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Run Zhang
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Weidong Zhao
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yu Qiu
- School of Medicine' Shanghai Jiao Tong University' Shanghai, China
| | - Kangtai Xu
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jian Xiao
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jiandong Niu
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yonghang Shi
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ning Li
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Quan Fang
- From the Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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19
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Bagher AM, Binmahfouz LS, Shaik RA, Eid BG. Cannabinoid receptor 1 positive allosteric modulator (GAT229) attenuates cisplatin-induced neuropathic pain in mice. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:255-264. [PMID: 36942271 PMCID: PMC10023546 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2022.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of chemotherapies' most often documented side effects. Patients with CIPN experience spontaneous burning, numbness, tingling, and neuropathic pain in their feet and hands. Currently, there is no effective pharmacological treatment to prevent or treat CIPN. Activating the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) by orthosteric agonists has shown promising results in alleviating the pain and neuroinflammation associated with CIPN. However, the use of CB1 orthosteric agonists is linked to undesirable side effects. Unlike the CB1 orthosteric agonists, CB1 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) don't produce any psychoactive effects, tolerance, or dependence. Previous studies have shown that CB1 PAMs exhibit antinociceptive effects in inflammatory and neuropathic rodent models. This study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of the newly synthesized GAT229, a pure CB1 PAM, in alleviating neuropathic pain and slowing the progression of CIPN. GAT229 was evaluated in a cisplatin-induced (CIS) mouse model of peripheral neuropathic pain (3 mg/kg/d, 28 d, i.p.). GAT229 attenuated and slowed the progression of thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia induced by CIS, as evaluated by the hotplate test and von Frey filament test. GAT229 reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. Furthermore, GAT229 attenuated nerve injuries by normalizing the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the nerve growth factor mRNA expression levels in the DRG neurons. The CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist AM251 blocked GAT229-mediated beneficial effects. According to our data, we suggest that CB1 PAMs might be beneficial in alleviating neuropathic pain and slowing the progression of CIPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina M. Bagher
- Corresponding author at: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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20
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Martinez Ramirez CE, Ruiz-Pérez G, Stollenwerk TM, Behlke C, Doherty A, Hillard CJ. Endocannabinoid signaling in the central nervous system. Glia 2023; 71:5-35. [PMID: 36308424 PMCID: PMC10167744 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
It is hard to overestimate the influence of the endocannabinoid signaling (ECS) system on central nervous system (CNS) function. In the 40 years since cannabinoids were found to trigger specific cell signaling cascades, studies of the ECS system continue to cause amazement, surprise, and confusion! CB1 cannabinoid receptors are expressed widely in the CNS and regulate cell-cell communication via effects on the release of both neurotransmitters and gliotransmitters. CB2 cannabinoid receptors are difficult to detect in the CNS but seem to "punch above their weight" as compounds targeting these receptors have significant effects on inflammatory state and behavior. Positive and negative allosteric modulators for both receptors have been identified and examined in preclinical studies. Concentrations of the endocannabinoid ligands, N-arachidonoylethanolamine and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), are regulated by a combination of enzymatic synthesis and degradation and inhibitors of these processes are available and making their way into clinical trials. Importantly, ECS regulates many essential brain functions, including regulation of reward, anxiety, inflammation, motor control, and cellular development. While the field is on the cusp of preclinical discoveries providing impactful clinical and therapeutic insights into many CNS disorders, there is still much to be learned about this remarkable and versatile modulatory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- César E Martinez Ramirez
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Gonzalo Ruiz-Pérez
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Todd M Stollenwerk
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Christina Behlke
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ashley Doherty
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Cecilia J Hillard
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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21
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Scheyer A, Yasmin F, Naskar S, Patel S. Endocannabinoids at the synapse and beyond: implications for neuropsychiatric disease pathophysiology and treatment. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:37-53. [PMID: 36100658 PMCID: PMC9700791 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01438-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are lipid neuromodulators that suppress neurotransmitter release, reduce postsynaptic excitability, activate astrocyte signaling, and control cellular respiration. Here, we describe canonical and emerging eCB signaling modes and aim to link adaptations in these signaling systems to pathological states. Adaptations in eCB signaling systems have been identified in a variety of biobehavioral and physiological process relevant to neuropsychiatric disease states including stress-related disorders, epilepsy, developmental disorders, obesity, and substance use disorders. These insights have enhanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of neurological and psychiatric disorders and are contributing to the ongoing development of eCB-targeting therapeutics. We suggest future studies aimed at illuminating how adaptations in canonical as well as emerging cellular and synaptic modes of eCB signaling contribute to disease pathophysiology or resilience could further advance these novel treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Farhana Yasmin
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Saptarnab Naskar
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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22
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Green H, Finlay DB, Ross RA, Greig IR, Duffull SB, Glass M. In Vitro Characterization of 6-Methyl-3-(2-nitro-1-(thiophen-2-yl)ethyl)-2-phenyl-1 H-indole (ZCZ011) at the Type 1 Cannabinoid Receptor: Allosteric Agonist or Allosteric Modulator? ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2022; 5:1279-1291. [PMID: 36524007 PMCID: PMC9745890 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.2c00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Orthosteric activation of CB1 is known to cause a plethora of adverse side effects in vivo. Allosteric modulation is an exciting therapeutic approach and is hoped to offer improved therapeutic potential and a reduced on-target side effect profile compared to orthosteric agonists. This study aimed to systematically characterize the in vitro activity of the positive allosteric modulator ZCZ011, explicitly considering its effects on receptor regulation. HEK293 cells expressing hCB1 receptors were used to characterize ZCZ011 alone and in combination with orthosteric agonists. Real-time BRET approaches were employed for G protein dissociation, cAMP signaling, and β-arrestin translocation. Characterization also included ERK1/2 phosphorylation (PerkinElmer AlphaLISA) and receptor internalization. ZCZ011 is an allosteric agonist of CB1 in all pathways tested, with a similar signaling profile to that of the partial orthosteric agonist Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. ZCZ011 also showed limited positive allosteric modulation in increasing the potency and efficacy of THC-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, β-arrestin translocation, and receptor internalization. However, no positive allosteric modulation was observed for ZCZ011 in combination with either CP55940 or AMB-FUBINACA, in G protein dissociation, nor cAMP inhibition. Our study suggests that ZCZ011 is an allosteric agonist, with effects that are often difficult to differentiate from those of orthosteric agonists. Together with its pronounced agonist activity, the limited extent of ZCZ011 positive allosteric modulation suggests that further investigation into the differences between allosteric and orthosteric agonism is required, especially in receptor regulation end points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley
M. Green
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin9054, New
Zealand
| | - David B. Finlay
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin9054, New
Zealand
| | - Ruth A. Ross
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, TorontoM5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Iain R. Greig
- School
of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, AberdeenAB24 3FX, U.K.
| | - Stephen B. Duffull
- Otago
Pharmacometrics Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin9016, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin9054, New
Zealand
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23
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Iyer V, Rangel-Barajas C, Woodward TJ, Kulkarni A, Cantwell L, Crystal JD, Mackie K, Rebec GV, Thakur GA, Hohmann AG. Negative allosteric modulation of CB 1 cannabinoid receptor signaling suppresses opioid-mediated reward. Pharmacol Res 2022; 185:106474. [PMID: 36179954 PMCID: PMC9948526 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Blockade of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1)-receptor signaling decreases the rewarding properties of many drugs of abuse and has been proposed as an anti-addiction strategy. However, psychiatric side-effects limit the clinical potential of orthosteric CB1 antagonists. Negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) represent a novel and indirect approach to attenuate CB1 signaling by decreasing affinity and/or efficacy of CB1 ligands. We hypothesized that a CB1-NAM would block opioid reward while avoiding the unwanted effects of orthosteric CB1 antagonists. GAT358, a CB1-NAM, failed to elicit cardinal signs of direct CB1 activation or inactivation when administered by itself. GAT358 decreased catalepsy and hypothermia but not antinociception produced by the orthosteric CB1 agonist CP55,940, suggesting that a CB1-NAM blocked cardinal signs of CB1 activation. Next, GAT358 was evaluated using in vivo assays of opioid-induced dopamine release and reward in male rodents. In the nucleus accumbens shell, a key component of the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway, morphine increased electrically-evoked dopamine efflux and this effect was blocked by a dose of GAT358 that lacked intrinsic effects on evoked dopamine efflux. Moreover, GAT358 blocked morphine-induced reward in a conditioned place preference (CPP) assay without producing reward or aversion alone. GAT358-induced blockade of morphine CPP was also occluded by GAT229, a CB1 positive allosteric modulator (CB1-PAM), and absent in CB1-knockout mice. Finally, GAT358 also reduced oral oxycodone (but not water) consumption in a two-bottle choice paradigm. Our results support the therapeutic potential of CB1-NAMs as novel drug candidates aimed at preventing opioid reward and treating opioid abuse while avoiding unwanted side-effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishakh Iyer
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | | | - Taylor J. Woodward
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Abhijit Kulkarni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lucas Cantwell
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathon D. Crystal
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Ken Mackie
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - George V. Rebec
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Ganesh A. Thakur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea G. Hohmann
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Corresponding Author: Andrea G. Hohmann, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7007,
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24
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Mechanisms Underlining Inflammatory Pain Sensitivity in Mice Selected for High and Low Stress-Induced Analgesia-The Role of Endocannabinoids and Microglia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911686. [PMID: 36232988 PMCID: PMC9570076 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work we strived to determine whether endocannabinoid system activity could account for the differences in acute inflammatory pain sensitivity in mouse lines selected for high (HA) and low (LA) swim-stress-induced analgesia (SSIA). Mice received intraplantar injections of 5% formalin and the intensity of nocifensive behaviours was scored. To assess the contribution of the endocannabinoid system, mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with rimonabant (0.3–3 mg/kg) prior to formalin. Minocycline (45 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to investigate microglial activation. The possible involvement of the endogenous opioid system was investigated with naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Cannabinoid receptor types 1 and 2 (Cnr1, Cnr2) and opioid receptor subtype (Oprm1, Oprd1, Oprk1) mRNA levels were quantified by qPCR in the structures of the central nociceptive circuit. Levels of anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) were measured by liquid chromatography coupled with the mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS). In the interphase, higher pain thresholds in the HA mice correlated with increased spinal anandamide and 2-AG release and higher Cnr1 transcription. Downregulation of Oprd1 and Oprm1 mRNA was noted in HA and LA mice, respectively, however no differences in naloxone sensitivity were observed in either line. As opposed to the LA mice, inflammatory pain sensitivity in the HA mice in the tonic phase was attributed to enhanced microglial activation, as evidenced by enhanced Aif1 and Il-1β mRNA levels. To conclude, Cnr1 inhibitory signaling is one mechanism responsible for decreased pain sensitivity in HA mice in the interphase, while increased microglial activation corresponds to decreased pain thresholds in the tonic inflammatory phase.
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Targeting G protein coupled receptors for alleviating neuropathic pain. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 193:99-117. [PMID: 36357081 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Pain sensation is a normal physiological response to alert and prevent further tissue damage. It involves the perception of external stimuli by somatosensory neurons, then transmission of the message to various other types of neurons present in the spinal cord and brain to generate an appropriate response. Currently available analgesics exhibit very modest efficacy, and that too in only a subset of patients with chronic pain conditions, particularly neuropathic pain. The G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are expressed on presynaptic, postsynaptic terminals, and soma of somatosensory neurons, which binds to various types of ligands to modulate neuronal activity and thus pain sensation in both directions. Fundamentally, neuropathic pain arises due to aberrant neuronal plasticity, which includes the sensitization of peripheral primary afferents (dorsal root ganglia and trigeminal ganglia) and the sensitization of central nociceptive neurons in the spinal cord or trigeminal nucleus or brain stem and cortex. Owing to the expression profiles of GPCRs in somatosensory neurons and other neuroanatomical regions involved in pain processing and transmission, this article shall focus only on four families of GPCRs: 1- Opioid receptors, 2-Cannabinoid receptors, 3-Adenosine receptors, and 4-Chemokine receptors.
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Kozakiewicz ML, Zhang J, Leone-Kabler S, Yamaleyeva LM, McDonald AG, Brost BC, Howlett AC. Differential Expression of CB 1 Cannabinoid Receptor and Cannabinoid Receptor Interacting Protein 1a in Labor. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022; 7:279-288. [PMID: 33998898 PMCID: PMC9225407 DOI: 10.1089/can.2020.0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The endocannabinoid system is present in multiple organ systems and is involved in smooth muscle regulation, immune function, neuroendocrine modulation, and metabolism of tissues. Limited data are available regarding the presence and role of this system in reproductive tissues. Components of the endocannabinoid system have been identified in myometrial and placental tissues. However, no study has investigated differential expression of the endocannabinoid system in labor. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify two components of the endocannabinoid system, the CB1 cannabinoid receptor and cannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1a (CRIP1a) in uterine and placental tissues, and to determine if there is differential expression in tissues exposed to labor. We hypothesized that CB1 cannabinoid receptor concentration would be altered in uterine and placental tissue exposed to labor compared with tissues not exposed to labor. Study Design: Uterine and placental tissue samples were collected in nine laboring and 11 nonlaboring women undergoing cesarean delivery. CB1 cannabinoid receptor and CRIP1a presence and quantification were evaluated using western blot, immunohistochemistry, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Statistical comparisons of laboring and nonlaboring subjects were made for uterine and placental tissue using a Mann-Whitney test. Results: Immunohistochemistry demonstrated positive staining for CB1 cannabinoid receptors and CRIP1a in uterine tissue. The protein abundance of CB1 cannabinoid receptor in uterine tissue was significantly lower in tissues exposed to labor (p=0.01). The protein abundance of CRIP1a was lower in uterine tissue exposed to labor but did not reach statistical significance (p=0.06). mRNA expression of CB1 cannabinoid receptor (p=0.20) and CRIP1a (p=0.63) did not differ in labored compared with nonlabored uterine tissues. Conclusions: Our findings of diminished protein density of CB1 cannabinoid receptor in uterine tissue exposed to labor support the hypothesis that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in parturition. Our data add to the growing body of evidence indicating the endocannabinoid system is of importance for successful reproduction and support the need for additional research investigating this complex system as it pertains to labor. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03752021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L. Kozakiewicz
- Section on Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jie Zhang
- Section on Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sandra Leone-Kabler
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Liliya M. Yamaleyeva
- Department of Surgery, Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine BioTech Place, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anna G. McDonald
- Department of Pathology, Perinatal/Autopsy Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brian C. Brost
- Section on Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Allyn C. Howlett
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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Molecular mechanism of allosteric modulation for the cannabinoid receptor CB1. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:831-840. [DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01038-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Badiola I, Doshi A, Narouze S. Cannabis, cannabinoids, and cannabis-based medicines: future research directions for analgesia. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2022; 47:rapm-2021-103109. [PMID: 35534020 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2021-103109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The use of cannabis spans thousands of years and encompasses almost all dimensions of the human experience, including consumption for recreational, religious, social, and medicinal purposes. Its use in the management of pain has been anecdotally described for millennia. However, an evidence base has only developed over the last 100 years, with an explosion in research occurring in the last 20-30 years, as more states in the USA as well as countries worldwide have legalized and encouraged its use in pain management. Pain remains one of the most common reasons for individuals deciding to use cannabis medicinally. However, cannabis remains illegal at the federal level in the USA and in most countries of the world, making it difficult to advance quality research on its efficacy for pain treatment. Nonetheless, new products derived both from the cannabis plant and the chemistry laboratory are being developed for use as analgesics. This review examines the current landscape of cannabinoids research and future research directions in the management of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Badiola
- Anesthesiology & Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amit Doshi
- Anesthesiology & Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Samer Narouze
- Center for Pain Medicine, Western Reserve Hospital, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
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Vasincu A, Rusu RN, Ababei DC, Larion M, Bild W, Stanciu GD, Solcan C, Bild V. Endocannabinoid Modulation in Neurodegenerative Diseases: In Pursuit of Certainty. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11030440. [PMID: 35336814 PMCID: PMC8945712 DOI: 10.3390/biology11030440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Neurodegenerative diseases represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Existing therapeutic options are limited and focus mostly on improving symptoms and reducing exacerbations. The endocannabinoid system is involved in the pathophysiology of such disorders, an idea which has been highlighted by recent scientific work. The current work focusses its attention on the importance and implications of this system and its synthetic and natural ligands in disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and multiple sclerosis. Abstract Neurodegenerative diseases are an increasing cause of global morbidity and mortality. They occur in the central nervous system (CNS) and lead to functional and mental impairment due to loss of neurons. Recent evidence highlights the link between neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases of the CNS. These are typically associated with several neurological disorders. These diseases have fundamental differences regarding their underlying physiology and clinical manifestations, although there are aspects that overlap. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is comprised of receptors (type-1 (CB1R) and type-2 (CB2R) cannabinoid-receptors, as well as transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)), endogenous ligands and enzymes that synthesize and degrade endocannabinoids (ECBs). Recent studies revealed the involvement of the ECS in different pathological aspects of these neurodegenerative disorders. The present review will explore the roles of cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) and pharmacological agents that modulate CBRs or ECS activity with reference to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Huntington’s Disease (HD) and multiple sclerosis (MS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Vasincu
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, “Grigore T Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (A.V.); (D.-C.A.); (V.B.)
| | - Răzvan-Nicolae Rusu
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, “Grigore T Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (A.V.); (D.-C.A.); (V.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Daniela-Carmen Ababei
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, “Grigore T Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (A.V.); (D.-C.A.); (V.B.)
| | - Mădălina Larion
- Department of Anaesthesiology Intensive Therapy, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor”, 19 Croitorilor Street, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Department of Anaesthetics, Midland Regional Hospital, Longford Road, Mullingar, N91 NA43 Co. Westmeath, Ireland
| | - Walther Bild
- Department of Physiology, “Grigore T Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
- Center of Biomedical Research of the Romanian Academy, 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Gabriela Dumitrița Stanciu
- Center for Advanced Research and Development in Experimental Medicine (CEMEX), “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Carmen Solcan
- Preclinics Department, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences, 8 M. Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Veronica Bild
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, “Grigore T Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (A.V.); (D.-C.A.); (V.B.)
- Center of Biomedical Research of the Romanian Academy, 700506 Iasi, Romania
- Center for Advanced Research and Development in Experimental Medicine (CEMEX), “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
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Anderson LL, Doohan PT, Hawkins NA, Bahceci D, Thakur GA, Kearney JA, Arnold JC, Arnold JC. The endocannabinoid system impacts seizures in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome. Neuropharmacology 2022; 205:108897. [PMID: 34822817 PMCID: PMC9514665 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Dravet syndrome is a catastrophic childhood epilepsy with multiple seizure types that are refractory to treatment. The endocannabinoid system regulates neuronal excitability so a deficit in endocannabinoid signaling could lead to hyperexcitability and seizures. Thus, we sought to determine whether a deficiency in the endocannabinoid system might contribute to seizure phenotypes in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome and whether enhancing endocannabinoid tone is anticonvulsant. Scn1a+/- mice model the clinical features of Dravet syndrome: hyperthermia-induced seizures, spontaneous seizures and reduced survival. We examined whether Scn1a+/- mice exhibit deficits in the endocannabinoid system by measuring brain cannabinoid receptor expression and endocannabinoid concentrations. Next, we determined whether pharmacologically enhanced endocannabinoid tone was anticonvulsant in Scn1a+/- mice. We used GAT229, a positive allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid (CB1) receptor, and ABX-1431, a compound that inhibits the degradation of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The Scn1a+/- phenotype is strain-dependent with mice on a 129S6/SvEvTac (129) genetic background having no overt phenotype and those on an F1 (129S6/SvEvTac x C57BL/6J) background exhibiting a severe epilepsy phenotype. We observed lower brain cannabinoid CB1 receptor expression in the seizure-susceptible F1 compared to seizure-resistant 129 strain, suggesting an endocannabinoid deficiency might contribute to seizure susceptibility. GAT229 and ABX-1431 were anticonvulsant against hyperthermia-induced seizures. However, subchronic ABX1431 treatment increased spontaneous seizure frequency despite reducing seizure severity. Cnr1 is a putative genetic modifier of epilepsy in the Scn1a+/- mouse model of Dravet syndrome. Compounds that increase endocannabinoid tone could be developed as novel treatments for Dravet syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyndsey L. Anderson
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia,Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia,Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Peter T. Doohan
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia,Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia,Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Nicole A. Hawkins
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, IL 60611, USA
| | - Dilara Bahceci
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia,Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia,Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Ganesh A. Thakur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Kearney
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jonathon C. Arnold
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia,Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia,Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Jonathon C Arnold
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia.
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Dodu JC, Moncayo RK, Damaj MI, Schlosburg JE, Akbarali HI, O'Brien LD, Kendall DA, Wu Z, Lu D, Lichtman AH. The Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 Positive Allosteric Modulator ZCZ011 Attenuates Naloxone-Precipitated Diarrhea and Weight Loss in Oxycodone-Dependent Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2022; 380:1-14. [PMID: 34625464 PMCID: PMC8969135 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioid use disorder reflects a major public health crisis of morbidity and mortality in which opioid withdrawal often contributes to continued use. However, current medications that treat opioid withdrawal symptoms are limited by their abuse liability or lack of efficacy. Although cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor agonists, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, ameliorate opioid withdrawal in both clinical and preclinical studies of opioid dependence, this strategy elicits cannabimimetic side effects as well as tolerance and dependence after repeated administration. Alternatively, CB1 receptor positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) enhance CB1 receptor signaling and show efficacy in rodent models of pain and cannabinoid dependence but lack cannabimimetic side effects. We hypothesize that the CB1 receptor PAM ZCZ011 attenuates naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs in opioid-dependent mice. Accordingly, male and female mice given an escalating dosing regimen of oxycodone, a widely prescribed opioid, and challenged with naloxone displayed withdrawal signs that included diarrhea, weight loss, jumping, paw flutters, and head shakes. ZCZ011 fully attenuated naloxone-precipitated withdrawal-induced diarrhea and weight loss and reduced paw flutters by approximately half, but its effects on head shakes were unreliable, and it did not affect jumping behavior. The antidiarrheal and anti-weight loss effects of ZCZ0111 were reversed by a CB1 not a cannabinoid receptor type 2 receptor antagonist and were absent in CB1 (-/-) mice, suggesting a necessary role of CB1 receptors. Collectively, these results indicate that ZCZ011 completely blocked naloxone-precipitated diarrhea and weight loss in oxycodone-dependent mice and suggest that CB1 receptor PAMs may offer a novel strategy to treat opioid dependence. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Opioid use disorder represents a serious public health crisis in which current medications used to treat withdrawal symptoms are limited by abuse liability and side effects. The CB1 receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM) ZCZ011, which lacks overt cannabimimetic behavioral effects, ameliorated naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs through a CB1 receptor mechanism of action in a mouse model of oxycodone dependence. These results suggest that CB1 receptor PAMs may represent a viable strategy to treat opioid withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien C Dodu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Rebecca K Moncayo
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Joel E Schlosburg
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Hamid I Akbarali
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Lesley D O'Brien
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Debra A Kendall
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Zhixing Wu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Dai Lu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (J.C.D., R.K.M., M.I.D., J.E.S., H.I.A., L.D.O., A.H.L.), and Department of Medicinal Chemistry (A.H.L.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut (D.A.K.); and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas (Z.W., D.L.)
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Rapaka D, Bitra VR, Challa SR, Adiukwu PC. Potentiation of microglial endocannabinoid signaling alleviates neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. Neuropeptides 2021; 90:102196. [PMID: 34508923 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2021.102196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) isaprogressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by chronic inflammation due to the presence of neurotoxic Aβ and tau proteins. Increased microglial activation and inflated immune response are the other factors to be considered in AD pathology. Microglial cells own biochemical machinery that synthesizes and release endocannabinoids. The exploitation of therapeutic actions of endocannabinoid system has newly emerged in the field of Alzheimer's disease. The activation of cannabinoid receptors/ cannabinoid system modulates inflammatory responses. This review assesses the association between the microglial endocannabinoid system and neuroinflammation in AD. The data supporting the anti-inflammatory role of pharmacological agents modulating cannabinoid system are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepthi Rapaka
- A.U. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530003, India.
| | | | - Siva Reddy Challa
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL 61614, USA
| | - Paul C Adiukwu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Botswana, P/Bag-0022, Gaborone, Botswana
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Gado F, Ceni C, Ferrisi R, Sbrana G, Stevenson LA, Macchia M, Pertwee RG, Bertini S, Manera C, Ortore G. CB1 receptor binding sites for NAM and PAM: A first approach for studying, new n‑butyl‑diphenylcarboxamides as allosteric modulators. Eur J Pharm Sci 2021; 169:106088. [PMID: 34863873 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.106088] [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: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The development of cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1R) modulators has been implicated in multiple pathophysiological events ranging from memory deficits to neurodegenerative disorders among others, even if their central psychiatric side effects such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies, have limited their clinical use. Thus, the identification of ligands which selectively act on peripheral CB1Rs, is becoming more interesting. A recent study reported a class of peripheral CB1R selective antagonists, characterized by a 5-aryl substituted nicotinamide core. These derivatives have structural similarities with the biphenyl compounds, endowed with CB2R antagonist activity, previously synthesized by our research group. In this work we combined the pharmacophoric portion of both classes, in order to obtain novel CBR antagonists. Among the synthesized compounds rather unexpectedly two compounds of this series, C7 and C10, did not show the radioligand ([3H]CP55940) displacement on CB1R but increased binding (∼ 150%), suggesting a possible allosteric behavior. Computational studies were performed to investigate the role of these compounds in CB1R modulation. The analysis of their binding poses in two different binding cavities of the CB1R surface, revealed a preferred interaction with the experimental binding site for negative allosteric modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gado
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Costanza Ceni
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa Italy; Doctoral school in Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Rebecca Ferrisi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Giulia Sbrana
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Lesley A Stevenson
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Marco Macchia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Roger G Pertwee
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Simone Bertini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa Italy
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Xiong B, You W, Luo Y, Jin G, Wu M, Xu Y, Yang J, Huang H, Yu C. Investigation of the Possible Allostery of Koumine Extracted From Gelsemium elegans Benth. And Analgesic Mechanism Associated With Neurosteroids. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:739618. [PMID: 34671258 PMCID: PMC8520994 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.739618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) is an evolutionarily conserved 5-transmembrane domain protein, and has been considered as an important therapeutic target for the treatment of pain. We have recently reported the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization of koumine as a TSPO positive allosteric modulator (PAM), more precisely ago-PAM. However, the probe dependence in the allostery of koumine is an important question to resolve, and the possible analgesic mechanism of koumine remains to be clarified. Here, we report the in vivo evaluation of the allostery of koumine when orthosteric ligand PK11195 was used and preliminarily explore the possible analgesic mechanism of koumine associated with neurosteroids. We find that koumine is an ago-PAM of the PK11195-mediated analgesic effect at TSPO, and the analgesic mechanism of this TSPO ago-PAM may be associated with neurosteroids as the analgesic effects of koumine in the formalin-induced inflammatory pain model and chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain model can be antagonized by neurosteroid synthesis inhibitor aminoglutethimide. Although our results cannot fully clarify the allosteric modulatory effect of koumine, it further prove the allostery in TSPO and provide a solid foundation for koumine to be used as a new clinical candidate drug to treat pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojun Xiong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wenbing You
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yufei Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guilin Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Minxia Wu
- Public Technology Service Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huihui Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Changxi Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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Hillhouse TM, Olson KM, Hallahan JE, Rysztak LG, Sears BF, Meurice C, Ostovar M, Koppenhaver PO, West JL, Jutkiewicz EM, Husbands SM, Traynor JR. The Buprenorphine Analogue BU10119 Attenuates Drug-Primed and Stress-Induced Cocaine Reinstatement in Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 378:287-299. [PMID: 34183434 PMCID: PMC11047085 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There are no Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for cocaine use disorder, including relapse. The μ-opioid receptor (MOPr) partial agonist buprenorphine alone or in combination with naltrexone has been shown to reduce cocaine-positive urine tests and cocaine seeking in rodents. However, there are concerns over the abuse liability of buprenorphine. Buprenorphine's partial agonist and antagonist activity at the nociception receptor (NOPr) and κ-opioid receptor (KOPr), respectively, may contribute to its ability to inhibit cocaine seeking. Thus, we hypothesized that a buprenorphine derivative that exhibits antagonist activity at MOPr and KOPr with enhanced agonist activity at the NOPr could provide a more effective treatment. Here we compare the pharmacology of buprenorphine and two analogs, BU10119 and BU12004, in assays for antinociception and for cocaine- and stress-primed reinstatement in the conditioned place preference paradigm. In vitro and in vivo assays showed that BU10119 acts as an antagonist at MOPr, KOPr, and δ-opioid receptor (DOPr) and a partial agonist at NOPr, whereas BU12004 showed MOPr partial agonist activity and DOPr, KOPr, and NOPr antagonism. BU10119 and buprenorphine but not BU12004 lessened cocaine-primed reinstatement. In contrast, BU10119, BU12004, and buprenorphine blocked stress-primed reinstatement. The selective NOPr agonist SCH221510 but not naloxone decreased cocaine-primed reinstatement. Together, these findings are consistent with the concept that NOPr agonism contributes to the ability of BU10119 and buprenorphine to attenuate reinstatement of cocaine-conditioned place preference in mice. The findings support the development of buprenorphine analogs lacking MOPr agonism with increased NOPr agonism for relapse prevention to cocaine addiction. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: There are no Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for cocaine use disorder. Buprenorphine has shown promise as a treatment for cocaine relapse prevention; however, there are concerns over the abuse liability of buprenorphine. Here we show a buprenorphine analogue, BU10119, which lacks μ-opioid receptor agonism and inhibits cocaine-primed and stress-primed reinstatement in a conditioned place-preference paradigm. The results suggest the development of BU10119 for the management of relapse to cocaine seeking.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Buprenorphine/pharmacology
- Buprenorphine/analogs & derivatives
- Mice
- Male
- Cocaine/pharmacology
- Stress, Psychological/drug therapy
- Stress, Psychological/metabolism
- Cocaine-Related Disorders/drug therapy
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/agonists
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/metabolism
- Drug-Seeking Behavior/drug effects
- Humans
- Receptors, Opioid/metabolism
- Receptors, Opioid/agonists
- Narcotic Antagonists/pharmacology
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/agonists
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd M Hillhouse
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - Keith M Olson
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - James E Hallahan
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - Lauren G Rysztak
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - Bryan F Sears
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - Claire Meurice
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - Mehrnoosh Ostovar
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - Peyton O Koppenhaver
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - Joshua L West
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - Emily M Jutkiewicz
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - Stephen M Husbands
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
| | - John R Traynor
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin (T.M.H., P.O.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Edward F. Domino Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (K.M.O., J.E.H., L.G.R., B.F.S., C.M., J.W., E.M.J., J.R.T.); Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom (M.O., S.M.H.); and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.R.T.)
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Finn DP, Haroutounian S, Hohmann AG, Krane E, Soliman N, Rice ASC. Cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, and pain: a review of preclinical studies. Pain 2021; 162:S5-S25. [PMID: 33729211 PMCID: PMC8819673 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT This narrative review represents an output from the International Association for the Study of Pain's global task force on the use of cannabis, cannabinoids, and cannabis-based medicines for pain management, informed by our companion systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies in this area. Our aims in this review are (1) to describe the value of studying cannabinoids and endogenous cannabinoid (endocannabinoid) system modulators in preclinical/animal models of pain; (2) to discuss both pain-related efficacy and additional pain-relevant effects (adverse and beneficial) of cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system modulators as they pertain to animal models of pathological or injury-related persistent pain; and (3) to identify important directions for future research. In service of these goals, this review (1) provides an overview of the endocannabinoid system and the pharmacology of cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system modulators, with specific relevance to animal models of pathological or injury-related persistent pain; (2) describes pharmacokinetics of cannabinoids in rodents and humans; and (3) highlights differences and discrepancies between preclinical and clinical studies in this area. Preclinical (rodent) models have advanced our understanding of the underlying sites and mechanisms of action of cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system in suppressing nociceptive signaling and behaviors. We conclude that substantial evidence from animal models supports the contention that cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system modulators hold considerable promise for analgesic drug development, although the challenge of translating this knowledge into clinically useful medicines is not to be underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Finn
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, Human Biology Building, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Simon Haroutounian
- Department of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrea G Hohmann
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Program in Neuroscience, and Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Elliot Krane
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, & Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Nadia Soliman
- Pain Research, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Andrew SC Rice
- Pain Research, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
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37
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Shim JY. Prediction of essential binding domains for the endocannabinoid N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) in the brain cannabinoid CB1 receptor. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0229879. [PMID: 34181638 PMCID: PMC8238219 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the main active ingredient of Cannabis sativa (marijuana), interacts with the human brain cannabinoid (CB1) receptor and mimics pharmacological effects of endocannabinoids (eCBs) like N-arachidonylethanolamide (AEA). Due to its flexible nature of AEA structure with more than 15 rotatable bonds, establishing its binding mode to the CB1 receptor is elusive. The aim of the present study was to explore possible binding conformations of AEA within the binding pocket of the CB1 receptor confirmed in the recently available X-ray crystal structures of the CB1 receptor and predict essential AEA binding domains. We performed long time molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of plausible AEA docking poses until its receptor binding interactions became optimally established. Our simulation results revealed that AEA favors to bind to the hydrophobic channel (HC) of the CB1 receptor, suggesting that HC holds essential significance in AEA binding to the CB1 receptor. Our results also suggest that the Helix 2 (H2)/H3 region of the CB1 receptor is an AEA binding subsite privileged over the H7 region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joong-Youn Shim
- Department of Physical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Dalton State College, Dalton, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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38
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Garai S, Leo LM, Szczesniak AM, Hurst DP, Schaffer PC, Zagzoog A, Black T, Deschamps JR, Miess E, Schulz S, Janero DR, Straiker A, Pertwee RG, Abood ME, Kelly MEM, Reggio PH, Laprairie RB, Thakur GA. Discovery of a Biased Allosteric Modulator for Cannabinoid 1 Receptor: Preclinical Anti-Glaucoma Efficacy. J Med Chem 2021; 64:8104-8126. [PMID: 33826336 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We apply the magic methyl effect to improve the potency/efficacy of GAT211, the prototypic 2-phenylindole-based cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) agonist-positive allosteric modulator (ago-PAM). Introducing a methyl group at the α-position of nitro group generated two diastereomers, the greater potency and efficacy of erythro, (±)-9 vs threo, (±)-10 constitutes the first demonstration of diastereoselective CB1R-allosteric modulator interaction. Of the (±)-9 enantiomers, (-)-(S,R)-13 evidenced improved potency over GAT211 as a CB1R ago-PAM, whereas (+)-(R,S)-14 was a CB1R allosteric agonist biased toward G protein- vs β-arrestin1/2-dependent signaling. (-)-(S,R)-13 and (+)-(R,S)-14 were devoid of undesirable side effects (triad test), and (+)-(R,S)-14 reduced intraocular pressure with an unprecedentedly long duration of action in a murine glaucoma model. (-)-(S,R)-13 docked into both a CB1R extracellular PAM and intracellular allosteric-agonist site(s), whereas (+)-(R,S)-14 preferentially engaged only the latter. Exploiting G-protein biased CB1R-allosteric modulation can offer safer therapeutic candidates for glaucoma and, potentially, other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumanta Garai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Luciana M Leo
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - Anna-Maria Szczesniak
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Dow P Hurst
- Center for Drug Discovery, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina 27402, United States
| | - Peter C Schaffer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ayat Zagzoog
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Pl, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N2Z4, Canada
| | - Tallan Black
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Pl, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N2Z4, Canada
| | - Jeffrey R Deschamps
- Naval Research Laboratory, Code 6930, 4555 Overlook Avenue, Washington, District of Columbia 20375, United States
| | - Elke Miess
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital-Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital-Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07747 Jena, Germany
| | - David R Janero
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Alex Straiker
- The Gill Center and the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th St, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Roger G Pertwee
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, U.K
| | - Mary E Abood
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - Melanie E M Kelly
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Patricia H Reggio
- Center for Drug Discovery, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina 27402, United States
| | - Robert B Laprairie
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Pl, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N2Z4, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Ganesh A Thakur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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Manning JJ, Green HM, Glass M, Finlay DB. Pharmacological selection of cannabinoid receptor effectors: Signalling, allosteric modulation and bias. Neuropharmacology 2021; 193:108611. [PMID: 34000272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1) is a promising drug target for a wide range of diseases. However, many existing and novel candidate ligands for CB1 have shown only limited therapeutic potential. Indeed, no ligands are currently approved for the clinic except formulations of the phytocannabinoids Δ9-THC and CBD and a small number of analogues. A key limitation of many promising CB1 ligands are their on-target adverse effects, notably including psychoactivity (agonists) and depression/suicidal ideation (inverse agonists). Recent drug development attempts have therefore focussed on altering CB1 signalling profiles in two ways. Firstly, with compounds that enhance or reduce the signalling of endogenous (endo-) cannabinoids, namely allosteric modulators. Secondly, with compounds that probe the capability of selectively targeting specific cellular signalling pathways that may mediate therapeutic effects using biased ligands. This review will summarise the current paradigm of CB1 signalling in terms of the intracellular transduction pathways acted on by the receptor. The development of compounds that selectively activate CB1 signalling pathways, whether allosterically or via orthosteric agonist bias, will also be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie J Manning
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Hayley M Green
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - David B Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
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Wilkerson JL, Bilbrey JA, Felix JS, Makriyannis A, McMahon LR. Untapped endocannabinoid pharmacological targets: Pipe dream or pipeline? Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 206:173192. [PMID: 33932409 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173192] [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: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
It has been established that the endogenous cannabinoid (endocannabinoid) system plays key modulatory roles in a wide variety of pathological conditions. The endocannabinoid system comprises both cannabinoid receptors, their endogenous ligands including 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), N-arachidonylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA), and enzymes that regulate the synthesis and degradation of endogenous ligands which include diacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGL-α), diacylglycerol lipase beta (DAGL-β), fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), α/β hydrolase domain 6 (ABHD6). As the endocannabinoid system exerts considerable involvement in the regulation of homeostasis and disease, much effort has been made towards understanding endocannabinoid-related mechanisms of action at cellular, physiological, and pathological levels as well as harnessing the various components of the endocannabinoid system to produce novel therapeutics. However, drug discovery efforts within the cannabinoid field have been slower than anticipated to reach satisfactory clinical endpoints and raises an important question into the validity of developing novel ligands that therapeutically target the endocannabinoid system. To answer this, we will first examine evidence that supports the existence of an endocannabinoid system role within inflammatory diseases, neurodegeneration, pain, substance use disorders, mood disorders, as well as metabolic diseases. Next, this review will discuss recent clinical studies, within the last 5 years, of cannabinoid compounds in context to these diseases. We will also address some of the challenges and considerations within the cannabinoid field that may be important in the advancement of therapeutics into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L Wilkerson
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Joshua A Bilbrey
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jasmine S Felix
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Alexandros Makriyannis
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lance R McMahon
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Positive allosteric modulation of the mu-opioid receptor produces analgesia with reduced side effects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2000017118. [PMID: 33846240 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2000017118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) have been hypothesized as potentially safer analgesics than traditional opioid drugs. This is based on the idea that PAMs will promote the action of endogenous opioid peptides while preserving their temporal and spatial release patterns and so have an improved therapeutic index. However, this hypothesis has never been tested. Here, we show that a mu-PAM, BMS-986122, enhances the ability of the endogenous opioid Methionine-enkephalin (Met-Enk) to stimulate G protein activity in mouse brain homogenates without activity on its own and to enhance G protein activation to a greater extent than β-arrestin recruitment in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing human mu-opioid receptors. Moreover, BMS-986122 increases the potency of Met-Enk to inhibit GABA release in the periaqueductal gray, an important site for antinociception. We describe in vivo experiments demonstrating that the mu-PAM produces antinociception in mouse models of acute noxious heat pain as well as inflammatory pain. These effects are blocked by MOR antagonists and are consistent with the hypothesis that in vivo mu-PAMs enhance the activity of endogenous opioid peptides. Because BMS-986122 does not bind to the orthosteric site and has no inherent agonist action at endogenously expressed levels of MOR, it produces a reduced level of morphine-like side effects of constipation, reward as measured by conditioned place preference, and respiratory depression. These data provide a rationale for the further exploration of the action and safety of mu-PAMs as an innovative approach to pain management.
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Antipsychotic potential of the type 1 cannabinoid receptor positive allosteric modulator GAT211: preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:1087-1098. [PMID: 33442771 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05755-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Antipsychotics help alleviate the positive symptoms associated with schizophrenia; however, their debilitating side effects have spurred the search for better treatment options. Novel compounds can be screened for antipsychotic potential in neuronal cell cultures and following acute N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blockade with non-competitive antagonists such as MK-801 in rodent behavioral models. Given the known interactions between NMDA receptors and type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R), compounds that modulate CB1Rs may have therapeutic potential for schizophrenia. OBJECTIVES This study assessed whether the CB1R positive allosteric modulator GAT211, when compared to ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has potential to reduce psychiatric behavioral phenotypes following acute MK-801 treatment in rats, and block hyperdopaminergic signalling associated with those behaviors. METHODS The effects of GAT211 and THC on cellular signaling were compared in Neuro2a cells, and behavioral effects of GAT211 and THC on altered locomotor activity and prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response caused by acute MK-801 treatment were assessed in male, Long Evans rats. RESULTS GAT211 limited dopamine D2 receptor-mediated extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in Neuro2a cells, whereas THC did not. As expected, acute MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg) produced a significant increase in locomotor activity and impaired PPI. GAT211 treatment alone (0.3-3.0 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced locomotor activity and the acoustic startle response. GAT211 (3.0 mg/kg) also prevented hyperlocomotion caused by MK-801 but did not significantly affect PPI impairments. CONCLUSION Taken together, these findings support continued preclinical research regarding the usefulness of CB1R positive allosteric modulators as antipsychotics.
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Mielnik CA, Lam VM, Ross RA. CB 1 allosteric modulators and their therapeutic potential in CNS disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 106:110163. [PMID: 33152384 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
CB1 is the most abundant GPCR found in the mammalian brain. It has garnered considerable attention as a potential therapeutic drug target. CB1 is involved in a wide range of physiological and psychiatric processes and has the potential to be targeted in a wide range of disease states. However, most of the selective and non-selective synthetic CB1 agonists and antagonists/inverse agonists developed to date are primarily used as research tools. No novel synthetic cannabinoids are currently in the clinic for use in psychiatric illness; synthetic analogues of the phytocannabinoid THC are on the market to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, along with off-label use for pain. Novel strategies are being explored to target CB1, but with emphasis on the elimination or mitigation of the potential psychiatric adverse effects that are observed by central agonism/antagonism of CB1. New pharmacological options are being pursued that may avoid these adverse effects while preserving the potential therapeutic benefits of CB1 modulation. Allosteric modulation of CB1 is one such approach. In this review, we will summarize and critically analyze both the in vitro characterization and in vivo validation of CB1 allosteric modulators developed to date, with a focus on CNS therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catharine A Mielnik
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Vincent M Lam
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ruth A Ross
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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Saldaña-Shumaker SL, Grenning AJ, Cunningham CW. Modern approaches to the development of synthetic cannabinoid receptor probes. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 203:173119. [PMID: 33508249 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system, which spans the central and peripheral nervous systems and regulates many biologic processes, is an important target for probe discovery and medications development. Whereas the earliest endocannabinoid receptor probes were derivatives of the non-selective phytocannabinoids isolated from Cannabis species, modern drug discovery techniques have expanded the definitions of what constitutes a CB1R or CB2R cannabinoid receptor ligand. This review highlights recent advances in synthetic cannabinoid receptor chemistry and pharmacology. We provide examples of new CB1R- and CB2R-selective probes, and discuss rational approaches to the design of peripherally-restricted agents. We also describe structural classes of positive- and negative allosteric modulators (PAMs and NAMs) of CB1R and CB2R. Finally, we introduce new opportunities for cannabinoid receptor probe development that have emerged in recent years, including biased agonists that may lead to medications lacking adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savanah L Saldaña-Shumaker
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Concordia University Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53097, USA
| | - Alexander J Grenning
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Christopher W Cunningham
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Concordia University Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53097, USA.
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A novel allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid CB 1 receptor ameliorates hyperdopaminergia endophenotypes in rodent models. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:413-422. [PMID: 33036015 PMCID: PMC7852560 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00876-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (eCBs) encompasses the endocannabinoids, their synthetic and degradative enzymes, and cannabinoid (CB) receptors. The eCBs mediates inhibition of neurotransmitter release and acts as a major homeostatic system. Many aspects of the eCBs are altered in a number of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, which is characterized by dysregulation of dopaminergic signaling. The GluN1-Knockdown (GluN1KD) and Dopamine Transporter Knockout (DATKO) mice are models of hyperdopaminergia, which display abnormal psychosis-related behaviors, including hyperlocomotion and changes in pre-pulse inhibition (PPI). Here, we investigate the ability of a novel CB1 receptor (CB1R) allosteric modulator, ABM300, to ameliorate these dysregulated behaviors. ABM300 was characterized in vitro (receptor binding, β-arrestin2 recruitment, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, cAMP inhibition) and in vivo (anxiety-like behaviors, cannabimimetic effects, novel environment exploratory behavior, pre-pulse inhibition, conditioned avoidance response) to assess the effects of the compound in dysregulated behaviors within the transgenic models. In vitro, ABM300 increased CB1R agonist binding but acted as an inhibitor of CB1R agonist induced signaling, including β-arrestin2 translocation, ERK phosphorylation and cAMP inhibition. In vivo, ABM300 did not elicit anxiogenic-like or cannabimimetic effects, but it decreased novelty-induced hyperactivity, exaggerated stereotypy, and vertical exploration in both transgenic models of hyperdopaminergia, as well as normalizing PPI in DATKO mice. The data demonstrate for the first time that a CB1R allosteric modulator ameliorates the behavioral deficits in two models of increased dopamine, warranting further investigation as a potential therapeutic target in psychiatry.
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Hou L, Rong J, Haider A, Ogasawara D, Varlow C, Schafroth MA, Mu L, Gan J, Xu H, Fowler CJ, Zhang MR, Vasdev N, Ametamey S, Cravatt BF, Wang L, Liang SH. Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of the Endocannabinoid System: Opportunities and Challenges in Radiotracer Development. J Med Chem 2020; 64:123-149. [PMID: 33379862 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in a wide range of biological functions and comprises cannabinoid receptors and enzymes responsible for endocannabinoid synthesis and degradation. Over the past 2 decades, significant advances toward developing drugs and positron emission tomography (PET) tracers targeting different components of the ECS have been made. Herein, we summarized the recent development of PET tracers for imaging cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1R) and 2 (CB2R) as well as the key enzymes monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), particularly focusing on PET neuroimaging applications. State-of-the-art PET tracers for the ECS will be reviewed including their chemical design, pharmacological properties, radiolabeling, as well as preclinical and human PET imaging. In addition, this review addresses the current challenges for ECS PET biomarker development and highlights the important role of PET ligands to study disease pathophysiology as well as to facilitate drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Hou
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Jian Rong
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Ahmed Haider
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Daisuke Ogasawara
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, SR107, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Cassis Varlow
- Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry, Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Department of Psychiatry/Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, M5T 1R8 ON, Canada
| | - Michael A Schafroth
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, SR107, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Linjing Mu
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences of ETH, PSI, and USZ, and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jiefeng Gan
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Christopher J Fowler
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ming-Rong Zhang
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals Development, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Neil Vasdev
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States.,Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry, Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Department of Psychiatry/Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, M5T 1R8 ON, Canada
| | - Simon Ametamey
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences of ETH, PSI, and USZ, and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin F Cravatt
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, SR107, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Lu Wang
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Steven H Liang
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
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Positive allosteric modulation of the cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) in periaqueductal gray (PAG) antagonizes anti-nociceptive and cellular effects of a mu-opioid receptor agonist in morphine-withdrawn rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:3729-3739. [PMID: 32857187 PMCID: PMC7687722 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05650-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Opioid drugs are a first-line treatment for severe acute pain and other chronic pain conditions, but long-term opioid drug use produces opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). Co-administration of cannabinoids with opioid receptor agonists produce anti-nociceptive synergy, but cannabinoid receptor agonists may also produce undesirable side effects. Therefore, positive allosteric modulators (PAM) of cannabinoid type-1 receptors (CB1R) may provide an option reducing pain and/or enhancing the anti-hyperalgesic effects of opioids without the side effects, tolerance, and dependence observed with the use of ligands that target the orthosteric binding sites. This study tested GAT211, a PAM of cannabinoid type-1 receptors (CB1R), for its ability to enhance the anti-hyperalgesic effects of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist DAMGO in rats treated chronically with morphine (or saline) and tested during withdrawal. We tested the effects of intra-periaqueductal gray (PAG) injections of (1) DAMGO, (2) GAT211, or (3) DAMGO + GAT211 on thermal nociception in chronic morphine-treated rats that were hyperalgesic and also in saline-treated control rats. We used slice electrophysiology to test the effects of DAMGO/GAT211 bath application on synaptic transmission in the vlPAG. Intra-PAG DAMGO infusions dose-dependently reversed chronic morphine-induced hyperalgesia, but intra-PAG GAT211 did not alter nociception at the doses we tested. When co-administered into the PAG, GAT211 antagonized the anti-nociceptive effects of DAMGO in morphine-withdrawn rats. DAMGO suppressed synaptic inhibition in the vlPAG of brain slices taken from saline- and morphine-treated rats, and GAT211 attenuated DAMGO-induced suppression of synaptic inhibition in vlPAG neurons via actions at CB1R. These findings show that positive allosteric modulation of CB1R antagonizes the behavioral and cellular effects of a MOR agonist in the PAG of rats.
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Feng Z, Liang T, Wang S, Chen M, Hou T, Zhao J, Chen H, Zhou Y, Xie XQ. Binding Characterization of GPCRs-Modulator by Molecular Complex Characterizing System (MCCS). ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:3333-3345. [PMID: 32941011 PMCID: PMC10063373 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing attention has been devoted to allosteric modulators as the preferred therapeutic agents for their colossal advantages such as higher selectivity, fewer side effects, and lower toxicity since they bind at allosteric sites that are topographically distinct from the classic orthosteric sites. However, the allosteric binding pockets are not conserved and there are no cogent methods to comprehensively characterize the features of allosteric sites with the binding of modulators. To overcome this limitation, our lab has developed a novel algorithm that can quantitatively characterize the receptor-ligand binding feature named Molecular Complex Characterizing System (MCCS). To illustrate the methodology and application of MCCS, we take G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) as an example. First, we summarized and analyzed the reported allosteric binding pockets of class A GPCRs using MCCS. Sequentially, a systematic study was conducted between cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and its allosteric modulators, where we used MCCS to analyze the residue energy contribution and the interaction pattern. Finally, we validated the predicted allosteric binding site in CB2 via MCCS in combination with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Our results demonstrate that the MCCS program is advantageous in recapitulating the allosteric regulation pattern of class A GPCRs of the reported pockets as well as in predicting potential allosteric binding pockets. This MCCS program can serve as a valuable tool for the discovery of small-molecule allosteric modulators for class A GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Feng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Tianjian Liang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Siyi Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Maozi Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Tianling Hou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Jack Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Yuehan Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Xiang-Qun Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research; Drug Discovery Institute; Departments of Computational Biology and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
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Focused structure-activity relationship profiling around the 2-phenylindole scaffold of a cannabinoid type-1 receptor agonist-positive allosteric modulator: site-III aromatic-ring congeners with enhanced activity and solubility. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115727. [PMID: 33065437 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Specific tuning of cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) activity by small-molecule allosteric modulators is a therapeutic modality with multiple properties inherently advantageous to therapeutic applications. We previously generated a library of unique CB1R positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) derived from GAT211, which has three pharmacophoric sites critical to its ago-PAM activity. To elaborate our CB1R PAM library, we report the rational design and molecular-pharmacology profiling of several 2-phenylindole analogs modified at the "site-III" aromatic ring. The comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) investigation demonstrates that attaching small lipophilic functional groups on the ortho-position of the GAT211 site-III phenyl ring could markedly enhance CB1R ago-PAM activity. Select site-III modifications also improved GAT211's water solubility. The SAR reported both extends the structural diversity of this compound class and demonstrates the utility of GAT211's site-III for improving the parent compound's drug-like properties of potency and/or aqueous solubility.
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Eckard ML, Trexler KR, Kotson BT, Anderson KG, Kinsey SG. Precipitated Δ9-THC withdrawal reduces motivation for sucrose reinforcement in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2020; 195:172966. [PMID: 32526216 PMCID: PMC7415667 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2020.172966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Withdrawal from Δ9-tetrahyrocannibidol (THC) is associated with a host of dysphoric symptoms that increase probability of relapse. To date, many animal models of THC withdrawal rely on withdrawal-induced somatic withdrawal signs leaving withdrawal-suppressed behavior relatively unexplored. As compared with withdrawal-induced behaviors, ongoing behavior that is suppressed by withdrawal is a useful behavioral endpoint because it 1) more effectively models the subjective aspects of withdrawal and 2) identifies pharmacotherapies that restore behavior to baseline levels, rather than eliminate behavior induced by withdrawal. The current study assessed effects of spontaneous and rimonabant-precipitated THC withdrawal in mice responding on a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule of sucrose water reinforcement. Once behavior stabilized, male and female mice were administered THC (10 mg/kg, s.c.) or vehicle for five or six days. THC was either discontinued and behavior monitored for three days during abstinence, or the CB1 antagonist rimonabant (2 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to precipitate withdrawal. Whereas spontaneous THC withdrawal had no effect on PR performance, THC-treated mice were differentially sensitive to rimonabant administration via large decreases in break point, overall response rate, and run rate relative to vehicle-treated mice. Importantly, pretreatment with the CB1 positive allosteric modulator ZCZ011 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not prevent precipitated-withdrawal-induced behavioral impairment. These extend findings of earlier studies suggesting operant baselines are useful tools to study subjective effects of cannabinoid withdrawal. Additionally, operant baselines allow withdrawal pharmacotherapies to be tested in a restoration-of-function context, which may be more sensitive, selective, and clinically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Eckard
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
| | - K R Trexler
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - B T Kotson
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - K G Anderson
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA
| | - S G Kinsey
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA; School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
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