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Kenakin T. Know your molecule: pharmacological characterization of drug candidates to enhance efficacy and reduce late-stage attrition. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:626-644. [PMID: 38890494 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00958-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Despite advances in chemical, computational and biological sciences, the rate of attrition of drug candidates in clinical development is still high. A key point in the small-molecule discovery process that could provide opportunities to help address this challenge is the pharmacological characterization of hit and lead compounds, culminating in the selection of a drug candidate. Deeper characterization is increasingly important, because the 'quality' of drug efficacy, at least for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), is now understood to be much more than activation of commonly evaluated pathways such as cAMP signalling, with many more 'efficacies' of ligands that could be harnessed therapeutically. Such characterization is being enabled by novel assays to characterize the complex behaviour of GPCRs, such as biased signalling and allosteric modulation, as well as advances in structural biology, such as cryo-electron microscopy. This article discusses key factors in the assessments of the pharmacology of hit and lead compounds in the context of GPCRs as a target class, highlighting opportunities to identify drug candidates with the potential to address limitations of current therapies and to improve the probability of them succeeding in clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry Kenakin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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2
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Elnaga AAA, Alsaied MA, Elettreby AM, Ramadan A. Effectiveness and safety of fezolinetant in alleviating vasomotor symptoms linked to Menopause.: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 297:142-152. [PMID: 38640780 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.04.017] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are the most common symptoms during menopause including hot flushes and night sweats. They are highly disruptive to the quality of life. Fezolinetant is an FDA-approved non-hormonal selective neurokinin3 receptor antagonist for the treatment of VMS. In this study, we aim to assess the efficacy and safety of fezolinetant for VMS associated with menopause. METHODS Databases were searched until September 2023 for relevant studies comparing fezolinetant against placebo. Data was extracted into an online form and analyzed using RevMan (Version 5.4.1). The GRADE approach was conducted to evaluate the quality of evidence regarding efficacy outcomes. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing fezolinetant to placebo in postmenopausal women experiencing VMS. Exclusion criteria comprised studies involving participants with contraindications to fezolinetant or those evaluating its efficacy for indications other than VMS associated with menopause. RESULTS Six studies were included in this study involving 3301 patients. Compared to placebo, fezolinetant reduced the frequency of VMS episodes from baseline (SMD = -0.64, 95 % CI [-0.77, -0.5]) and (SMD = -0.63, 95 % CI [-0.72, -0.53] at weeks 4 and 12 respectively. Additionally, fezolinetant reduced VMS severity score (SMD = -0.59, 95 %CI [-0.77, -0.42]) and (SMD = -0.4, 95 % CI [-0.54, -0.27]) at weeks 4 at 12 respectively. These reductions were positively reflected on Menopause specific quality of life score (SMD = -0.46, 95 %CI [-57, -0.34]), (SMD = -0.37, 95 %CI [-0.48, -0.25]) at weeks 4 and 12 respectively. Regarding safety analysis, fezolinetant showed increased risk for drug-related TEAEs (RR = 1.47, 95 %CI [1.06,2.04]), serious TEAEs (RR = 1.67, 95 %CI [1.09,2.55]), fatigue (RR = 4.05, 95 %CI [1.27,12.88]), arthralgia (RR = 2.83, 95 %CI [1.02,7.8]) and ALT or AST > 3 times (RR = 2, 95 %CI [1.12,3.57]), with no other statistically significant difference regarding other safety terms. CONCLUSION Fezolinetant has demonstrated efficacy in reducing the frequency and severity of VMS in postmenopausal women, leading to an improvement in their quality of life. These findings suggest that Fezolinetant may serve as a viable alternative to hormonal therapy for managing VMS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alaa Ramadan
- Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.
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3
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Li H, Cheng J. 2-Phenylcyclopropylmethylamine (PCPMA) as a privileged scaffold for central nervous system drug design. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2024; 101:129654. [PMID: 38360418 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2024.129654] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The use of privileged scaffolds in medicinal chemistry is an effective way to accelerate the drug discovery process, especially at the hit/lead optimization stage. 2-Phenylcyclopropylmethylamine (PCPMA) is a less commonly used chemical scaffold in medicinal chemistry, but many PCPMA-containing compounds exert therapeutic effects for various diseases, in particular central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, sleep disorder, and Parkinson's disease. The backbone of the PCPMA scaffold enables a unique structure of an amino group linked to a benzene ring through an alkyl linker, making it a useful template for the design of bioactive compounds especially for CNS drug targets including aminergic GPCRs and transporters. This review summarizes the medicinal chemistry studies of PCPMA-containing drugs and drug-like molecules, their mechanisms of action, and biological activities. We conclude that PCPMA is a unique and useful privileged scaffold for CNS drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiqiong Li
- iHuman Institute and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jianjun Cheng
- iHuman Institute and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China.
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4
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Ficarra F, Silvi M. Atom-swap chemistry could aid drug discovery. Nature 2023; 623:36-37. [PMID: 37914944 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-03297-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
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5
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Sun W, Yang F, Zhang H, Yuan Q, Ling S, Wang Y, Lv P, Li Z, Luo Y, Liu D, Yin W, Shi P, Xu HE, Tian C. Structural insights into neurokinin 3 receptor activation by endogenous and analogue peptide agonists. Cell Discov 2023; 9:66. [PMID: 37391393 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00564-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) is a tachykinin receptor essential for the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The endogenous peptide agonist neurokinin B (NKB) preferentially activates NK3R, while substance P (SP) binds preferentially to NK1R. In addition, the SP analogue senktide more potently activates NK3R than NKB and SP. However, the mechanisms of preferential binding of peptide and NK3R activation remain elusive. Herein, we determined the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the NK3R-Gq complex bound to NKB, SP and senktide. The three NK3R-Gq/peptide complexes utilize a class of noncanonical receptor activation mechanisms. Combining the structural analysis and functional assay illustrated that the consensus C-termini of the three peptide agonists share a conserved binding mode to NK3R, while the divergent N-termini of the peptides confer the preferential binding of the agonist to NK3R. In addition, the specific interactions between the N-terminus of senktide and the N-terminus and extracellular loops (ECL2 and ECL3) of NK3R lead to the improved activation displayed by senktide compared to SP and NKB. These findings pave the way to understand tachykinin receptor subtype selectivity and provide ideas to rationally develop drugs targeting NK3R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Sun
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Huanhuan Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qingning Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenglong Ling
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuanxia Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Pei Lv
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zelin Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yifan Luo
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Dongsheng Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanchao Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Pan Shi
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - H Eric Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Changlin Tian
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Resonance Image, High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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6
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Kunimura K, Fukui Y. The molecular basis for IL-31 production and IL-31-mediated itch transmission: from biology to drug development. Int Immunol 2021; 33:731-736. [PMID: 34491348 PMCID: PMC8633599 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxab065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory skin diseases in the world. It is characterized by recurrent eczematous lesions and intense itch, and many cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Among them, much attention has been paid to interleukin 31 (IL-31) as an AD-associated itch mediator. IL-31 is mainly produced by CD4+ helper T cells and transmits the signals via a heterodimeric receptor composed of IL-31 receptor A (IL-31RA) and oncostatin M receptor (OSMR), both of which are expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. However, the molecular mechanisms of how IL-31 is produced in helper T cells upon stimulation and transmits the itch sensation to the brain were largely unknown. Recently, by using original mouse models of AD, we have identified endothelial PAS domain 1 (EPAS1) and neurokinin B (NKB) as key molecules critical for IL-31 production and IL-31-mediated itch transmission, respectively. These molecules could be novel drug targets for AD-associated itch. This review highlights our recent findings, which show the functional significance of these molecules in the IL-31-induced itch sensation, referring to their application to drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazufumi Kunimura
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Fukui
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
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7
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Al Abed AS, Reynolds NJ, Dehorter N. A Second Wave for the Neurokinin Tac2 Pathway in Brain Research. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:156-164. [PMID: 33867115 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite promising advances in basic research of the neurokinin B/Tac2 pathway in both animals and humans, clinical applications are yet to be implemented. This is likely because of our limited understanding of the action of the pathway in the brain. While this system controls neuronal activity in multiple regions, the precise impact of Tac2-induced cellular responses on behavior remains unclear. Recently, elegant studies revealed a key contribution to stress-related behaviors and memory. Here, we discuss the crucial importance of bridging the gap between the Tac2 pathway's involvement in cell physiology and cognition to comprehend its role in health and disease. We propose that a better understanding of the Tac2 pathway in the brain could provide an essential perspective for basic investigations, which in turn will feed clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Shaam Al Abed
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nathan J Reynolds
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nathalie Dehorter
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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8
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Rodríguez B, Nani JV, Almeida PGC, Brietzke E, Lee RS, Hayashi MAF. Neuropeptides and oligopeptidases in schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 108:679-693. [PMID: 31794779 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder with severe impact on patient's livelihood. In the last years, the importance of neuropeptides in SCZ and other CNS disorders has been recognized, mainly due to their ability to modulate the signaling of classical monoaminergic neurotransmitters as dopamine. In addition, a class of enzymes coined as oligopeptidases are able to cleave several of these neuropeptides, and their potential implication in SCZ was also demonstrated. Interestingly, these enzymes are able to play roles as modulators of neuropeptidergic systems, and they were also implicated in neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth, neuron migration, and therefore, in neurodevelopment and brain formation. Altered activity of oligopeptidases in SCZ was described only more recently, suggesting their possible utility as biomarkers for mental disorders diagnosis or treatment response. We provide here an updated and comprehensive review on neuropeptides and oligopeptidases involved in mental disorders, aiming to attract the attention of physicians to the potential of targeting this system for improving the therapy and for understanding the neurobiology underlying mental disorders as SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamín Rodríguez
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - João Victor Nani
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Priscila G C Almeida
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Elisa Brietzke
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University School of Medicine, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Richard S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mirian A F Hayashi
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
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9
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Sakata D, Uruno T, Matsubara K, Andoh T, Yamamura K, Magoshi Y, Kunimura K, Kamikaseda Y, Furue M, Fukui Y. Selective role of neurokinin B in IL-31–induced itch response in mice. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019; 144:1130-1133.e8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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10
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Zelikowsky M, Hui M, Karigo T, Choe A, Yang B, Blanco MR, Beadle K, Gradinaru V, Deverman BE, Anderson DJ. The Neuropeptide Tac2 Controls a Distributed Brain State Induced by Chronic Social Isolation Stress. Cell 2019; 173:1265-1279.e19. [PMID: 29775595 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic social isolation causes severe psychological effects in humans, but their neural bases remain poorly understood. 2 weeks (but not 24 hr) of social isolation stress (SIS) caused multiple behavioral changes in mice and induced brain-wide upregulation of the neuropeptide tachykinin 2 (Tac2)/neurokinin B (NkB). Systemic administration of an Nk3R antagonist prevented virtually all of the behavioral effects of chronic SIS. Conversely, enhancing NkB expression and release phenocopied SIS in group-housed mice, promoting aggression and converting stimulus-locked defensive behaviors to persistent responses. Multiplexed analysis of Tac2/NkB function in multiple brain areas revealed dissociable, region-specific requirements for both the peptide and its receptor in different SIS-induced behavioral changes. Thus, Tac2 coordinates a pleiotropic brain state caused by SIS via a distributed mode of action. These data reveal the profound effects of prolonged social isolation on brain chemistry and function and suggest potential new therapeutic applications for Nk3R antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moriel Zelikowsky
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - May Hui
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Tomomi Karigo
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Andrea Choe
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Bin Yang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Mario R Blanco
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Keith Beadle
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Viviana Gradinaru
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Benjamin E Deverman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - David J Anderson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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11
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Exploring the involvement of Tac2 in the mouse hippocampal stress response through gene networking. Gene 2019; 696:176-185. [PMID: 30769143 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Tachykinin 2 (Tac2) is expressed in a number of areas throughout the brain, including the hippocampus. However, knowledge about its function has been only well explored in the hypothalamus in the context of reproductive health. In this study, we identified and validated increased hippocampal Tac2 mRNA expression in response to chronic mild stress in mice. Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis showed Tac2 is cis-regulated in the hippocampus. Using a systems genetics approach, we constructed a Tac2 co-expression network to better understand the relationship between Tac2 and the hippocampal stress response. Our network identified 69 total genes associated with Tac2, several of which encode major neuropeptides involved in hippocampal stress signaling as well as critical genes for producing neural plasticity, indicating that Tac2 is involved in these processes. Pathway analysis for the member of Tac2 gene network revealed a strong connection between Tac2 and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway, as well as cardiac muscle contraction. In addition, we also identified 46 stress-related phenotypes, specifically fear conditioning response, that were significantly correlated with Tac2 expression. Our results provide evidence for Tac2 as a strong candidate gene who likely plays a role in hippocampal stress processing and neural plasticity.
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12
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Schöppe J, Ehrenmann J, Klenk C, Rucktooa P, Schütz M, Doré AS, Plückthun A. Crystal structures of the human neurokinin 1 receptor in complex with clinically used antagonists. Nat Commun 2019; 10:17. [PMID: 30604743 PMCID: PMC6318301 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07939-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurokinins (or tachykinins) are peptides that modulate a wide variety of human physiology through the neurokinin G protein-coupled receptor family, implicated in a diverse array of pathological processes. Here we report high-resolution crystal structures of the human NK1 receptor (NK1R) bound to two small-molecule antagonist therapeutics – aprepitant and netupitant and the progenitor antagonist CP-99,994. The structures reveal the detailed interactions between clinically approved antagonists and NK1R, which induce a distinct receptor conformation resulting in an interhelical hydrogen-bond network that cross-links the extracellular ends of helices V and VI. Furthermore, the high-resolution details of NK1R bound to netupitant establish a structural rationale for the lack of basal activity in NK1R. Taken together, these co-structures provide a comprehensive structural basis of NK1R antagonism and will facilitate the design of new therapeutics targeting the neurokinin receptor family. Neurokinin receptors are G protein-coupled receptors. Here the authors present three crystal structures of the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) in complex with small-molecule antagonists including aprepitant and netupitant and observe that these clinically approved compounds induce a conformational change in the receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jendrik Schöppe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Janosch Ehrenmann
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Klenk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Prakash Rucktooa
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Marco Schütz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland.,Heptares Therapeutics Zürich AG, Grabenstrasse 11a, 8952, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew S Doré
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
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The past and future of novel, non-dopamine-2 receptor therapeutics for schizophrenia: A critical and comprehensive review. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 108:57-83. [PMID: 30055853 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of chlorpromazine in the 1950's, antipsychotic drugs have been the cornerstone of treatment of schizophrenia, and all attenuate dopamine transmission at the dopamine-2 receptor. Drug development for schizophrenia since that time has led to improvements in side effects and tolerability, and limited improvements in efficacy, with the exception of clozapine. However, the reasons for clozapine's greater efficacy remain unclear, despite the great efforts and resources invested therewith. We performed a comprehensive review of the literature to determine the fate of previously tested, non-dopamine-2 receptor experimental treatments. Overall we included 250 studies in the review from the period 1970 to 2017 including treatments with glutamatergic, serotonergic, cholinergic, neuropeptidergic, hormone-based, dopaminergic, metabolic, vitamin/naturopathic, histaminergic, infection/inflammation-based, and miscellaneous mechanisms. Despite there being several promising targets, such as allosteric modulation of the NMDA and α7 nicotinic receptors, we cannot confidently state that any of the mechanistically novel experimental treatments covered in this review are definitely effective for the treatment of schizophrenia and ready for clinical use. We discuss potential reasons for the relative lack of progress in developing non-dopamine-2 receptor treatments for schizophrenia and provide recommendations for future efforts pursuing novel drug development for schizophrenia.
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Gadais C, Ballet S. The Neurokinins: Peptidomimetic Ligand Design and Therapeutic Applications. Curr Med Chem 2018; 27:1515-1561. [PMID: 30209994 DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180913095918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The neurokinins are indisputably essential neurotransmitters in numerous pathoand physiological events. Being widely distributed in the Central Nervous System (CNS) and peripheral tissues, their discovery rapidly promoted them to drugs targets. As a necessity for molecular tools to understand the biological role of this class, endogenous peptides and their receptors prompted the scientific community to design ligands displaying either agonist and antagonist activity at the three main neurokinin receptors, called NK1, NK2 and NK3. Several strategies were implemented for this purpose. With a preference to small non-peptidic ligands, many research groups invested efforts in synthesizing and evaluating a wide range of scaffolds, but only the NK1 antagonist Aprepitant (EMENDT) and its prodrug Fosaprepitant (IVEMENDT) have been approved by the Food Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced and Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting (CINV and PONV, respectively). While non-peptidic drugs showed limitations, especially in side effect control, peptidic and pseudopeptidic compounds progressively regained attention. Various strategies were implemented to modulate affinity, selectivity and activity of the newly designed ligands. Replacement of canonical amino acids, incorporation of conformational constraints, and fusion with non-peptidic moieties gave rise to families of ligands displaying individual or dual NK1, NK2 and NK3 antagonism, that ultimately were combined with non-neurokinin ligands (such as opioids) to target enhanced biological impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlène Gadais
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
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15
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Potential drug targets and treatment of schizophrenia. Inflammopharmacology 2017; 25:277-292. [DOI: 10.1007/s10787-017-0340-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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16
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Talele TT. The "Cyclopropyl Fragment" is a Versatile Player that Frequently Appears in Preclinical/Clinical Drug Molecules. J Med Chem 2016; 59:8712-8756. [PMID: 27299736 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 565] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Recently, there has been an increasing use of the cyclopropyl ring in drug development to transition drug candidates from the preclinical to clinical stage. Important features of the cyclopropane ring are, the (1) coplanarity of the three carbon atoms, (2) relatively shorter (1.51 Å) C-C bonds, (3) enhanced π-character of C-C bonds, and (4) C-H bonds are shorter and stronger than those in alkanes. The present review will focus on the contributions that a cyclopropyl ring makes to the properties of drugs containing it. Consequently, the cyclopropyl ring addresses multiple roadblocks that can occur during drug discovery such as (a) enhancing potency, (b) reducing off-target effects,
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanaji T Talele
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University , 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, New York 11439, United States
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17
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Varnäs K, Finnema SJ, Stepanov V, Takano A, Tóth M, Svedberg M, Møller Nielsen S, Khanzhin NA, Juhl K, Bang-Andersen B, Halldin C, Farde L. Neurokinin-3 Receptor Binding in Guinea Pig, Monkey, and Human Brain: In Vitro and in Vivo Imaging Using the Novel Radioligand, [18F]Lu AF10628. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2016; 19:pyw023. [PMID: 26993630 PMCID: PMC5006196 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyw023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous autoradiography studies have suggested a marked interspecies variation in the neuroanatomical localization and expression levels of the neurokinin 3 receptor, with high density in the brain of rat, gerbil, and guinea pig, but at the time offered no conclusive evidence for its presence in the human brain. Hitherto available radioligands have displayed low affinity for the human neurokinin 3 receptor relative to the rodent homologue and may thus not be optimal for cross-species analyses of the expression of this protein. METHODS A novel neurokinin 3 receptor radioligand, [(18)F]Lu AF10628 ((S)-N-(cyclobutyl(3-fluorophenyl)methyl)-8-fluoro-2-((3-[(18)F]-fluoropropyl)amino)-3-methyl-1-oxo-1,2-dihydroisoquinoline-4-carboxamide), was synthesized and used for autoradiography studies in cryosections from guinea pig, monkey, and human brain as well as for positron emission tomography studies in guinea pig and monkey. RESULTS The results confirmed previous observations of interspecies variation in the neurokinin 3 receptor brain localization with more extensive distribution in guinea pig than in primate brain. In the human brain, specific binding to the neurokinin 3 receptor was highest in the amygdala and in the hypothalamus and very low in other regions examined. Positron emission tomography imaging showed a pattern consistent with that observed using autoradiography. The radioactivity was, however, found to accumulate in skull bone, which limits the use of this radioligand for in vivo quantification of neurokinin 3 receptor binding. CONCLUSION Species differences in the brain distribution of neurokinin 3 receptors should be considered when using animal models for predicting human neurokinin 3 receptor pharmacology. For positron emission tomography imaging of brain neurokinin 3 receptors, additional work is required to develop a radioligand with more favorable in vivo properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Varnäs
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm, Sweden (Drs Varnäs, Finnema, Stepanov, Takano, Tóth, Svedberg, Halldin, and Farde); Lundbeck Research, H. Lundbeck A/S, 9 Ottiliavej, DK-2500 Copenhagen-Valby, Denmark (Drs Møller Nielsen, Khanzhin, Juhl, and Bang-Andersen); AstraZeneca Translational Science Centre at Karolinska Institutet, PET CoE, Stockholm, Sweden (Dr Farde).Present address: Glycom A/S, Diplomvej 373, 1, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark (N.A.K.).
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18
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Shahzad R, Jones MR, Viles JH, Jones CE. Endocytosis of the tachykinin neuropeptide, neurokinin B, in astrocytes and its role in cellular copper uptake. J Inorg Biochem 2016; 162:319-325. [PMID: 26948444 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The tachykinin neuropeptide, neurokinin B (NKB), belongs to a family of peptides having diverse roles in the brain. NKB, along with several other tachykinins, has been identified as a copper-binding peptide, however the physiological relevance of the binding is unclear. Previously, NKB was shown to limit the ability of copper to enter astrocytes and disrupt calcium homeostasis and it was thought that the peptide was sequestering the metal extracellularly. Here we use a fluorescein-labelled NKB peptide (F-NKB) to show that NKB is not retained extracellularly, but is endocytosed within 10-20min after addition to the cell media. The endocytosis is not inhibited when NKB is delivered as a copper-complex, [CuII(F-NKB)2]. Endocytosis of NKB can increase intracellular copper. Comparison to cells cultured in copper-free buffer indicated that apo-NKB can facilitate uptake of copper found in normal culture media. To achieve this NKB must compete with a variety of copper proteins, and we show that NKB can successfully compete with copper-binding peptides derived from the prion protein, itself associated with Cu(II) and Zn(II) metabolism. We suggest a mechanism of receptor mediated endocytosis to account for the observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reeha Shahzad
- The School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, 2759, NSW, Australia
| | - Mark R Jones
- The School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, 2759, NSW, Australia
| | - John H Viles
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Christopher E Jones
- The School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, 2759, NSW, Australia.
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19
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Xu H, Li J, Webber L, Kakkar R, Chen Y, Al-Huniti N. Population Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Modeling of AZD4901 and Simulation to Support Dose Selection for the Phase 2a Study. J Clin Pharmacol 2016; 56:999-1008. [PMID: 26626581 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Significant and reversible reductions in testosterone levels were observed with AZD4901 in both preclinical and clinical testing. A comprehensive population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling of AZD4901 concentration and testosterone relationship from 3 phase 1 studies was performed using NONMEM to support dose selection for phase 2a development. A 2-compartment model with first-order absorption and first-order elimination best described AZD4901 PK. Circadian rhythm of baseline testosterone concentrations was well described by a cosine function. An indirect response model with inhibition of testosterone production was used to link the AZD4901 concentration to testosterone response. The AZD4901 concentration to yield 50% maximum testosterone suppression (IC50) was estimated to be 230 ng/mL. Based on simulations, following 40 mg twice daily (BID) treatment, the AZD4901 steady-state trough concentration will be much higher compared to 80 mg once daily (QD). The AZD4901 concentration time above IC50 after 40 mg BID is 84% of the time of the dosing interval compared to only 49% after 80 mg QD. The mean predicted testosterone concentrations at steady state are lower and overall less variable over 24 hours for 40 mg BID dosing compared to 80 mg QD dosing. Population PK and PK/PD analyses demonstrated that AZD4901 40 mg BID is a better dosing strategy to more consistently suppress testosterone during the entire dosing interval. Consequently, 40 mg BID dosing was suggested in a phase 2a trial in females with polycystic ovary syndrome, and the trial resulted in a positive outcome as shown by significant testosterone decrease compared to placebo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Xu
- Quantitative Clinical Pharmacology, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Jianguo Li
- Quantitative Clinical Pharmacology, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Lorraine Webber
- Scientific Partnering & Alliances, Innovative Medicines, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rahul Kakkar
- Scientific Partnering & Alliances, Innovative Medicines, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Yingxue Chen
- Quantitative Clinical Pharmacology, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Nidal Al-Huniti
- Quantitative Clinical Pharmacology, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
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20
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Primi MC, Maltarollo VG, Magalhães JG, de Sá MM, Rangel-Yagui CO, Trossini GHG. Convergent QSAR studies on a series of NK₃ receptor antagonists for schizophrenia treatment. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2015; 31:283-94. [PMID: 25856571 DOI: 10.3109/14756366.2015.1021250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The dopamine hypothesis states that decreased dopaminergic neurotransmission reduces schizophrenia symptoms. Neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3) antagonists reduce dopamine release and have shown positive effects in pre-clinical and clinical trials. We employed 2D and 3D-QSAR analysis on a series of 40 non-peptide NK3 antagonists. Multivariate statistical analysis, PCA and HCA, were performed to rational training/test set splitting and PLS regression was employed to construct all QSAR models. We constructed one highly predictive CoMFA model (q(2)= 0.810 and r(2)= 0.929) and acceptable HQSAR and CoMSIA models (HQSAR q(2)= 0.644 and r(2)= 0.910; CoMSIA q(2)= 0.691, r(2)= 0.911). The three different techniques provided convergent physicochemical results. All models indicate cyclopropane, piperidine and di-chloro-phenyl ring attached to cyclopropane ring and also the amide group attached to the piperidine ring could play an important role in ligand-receptor interactions. These findings may contribute to develop potential NK3 receptor antagonists for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Candido Primi
- a Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | | | | | - Matheus Malta de Sá
- b Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology , Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School , SP , Brazil , and
| | - Carlota Oliveira Rangel-Yagui
- c Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of São Paulo , SP , Brazil
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21
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Hoveyda HR, Fraser GL, Roy MO, Dutheuil G, Batt F, El Bousmaqui M, Korac J, Lenoir F, Lapin A, Noël S, Blanc S. Discovery and optimization of novel antagonists to the human neurokinin-3 receptor for the treatment of sex-hormone disorders (Part I). J Med Chem 2015; 58:3060-82. [PMID: 25738882 DOI: 10.1021/jm5017413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R) has recently emerged as important in modulating the tonic pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release. We therefore decided to explore NK3R antagonists as therapeutics for sex-hormone disorders that can potentially benefit from lowering GnRH pulsatility with consequent diminished levels of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and correspondingly attenuated levels of circulating androgens and estrogens. The discovery and lead optimization of a novel N-acyl-triazolopiperazine NK3R antagonist chemotype achieved through bioisosteric lead change from the high-throughput screening (HTS) hit is described. A concomitant improvement in the antagonist bioactivity and ligand lipophilic efficiency (LLE) parameter were the principal guidelines in the lead optimization efforts. Examples of advanced lead analogues to demonstrate the amenability of this chemotype to achieving a suitable pharmacokinetic (PK) profile are provided as well as pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) correlations to analyze the trends observed for LH inhibition in castrated rats and monkeys that served as preliminary in vivo efficacy models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid R Hoveyda
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Graeme L Fraser
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Marie-Odile Roy
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | | | - Frédéric Batt
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | | | - Julien Korac
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - François Lenoir
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Alexey Lapin
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Sophie Noël
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Blanc
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
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22
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Jayasena CN, Comninos AN, Stefanopoulou E, Buckley A, Narayanaswamy S, Izzi-Engbeaya C, Abbara A, Ratnasabapathy R, Mogford J, Ng N, Sarang Z, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR, Hunter MS, Dhillo WS. Neurokinin B administration induces hot flushes in women. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8466. [PMID: 25683060 PMCID: PMC4329553 DOI: 10.1038/srep08466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurokinin B (NKB) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide binding preferentially to the neurokinin 3 receptor. Expression of the gene encoding NKB is elevated in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, rodent studies suggest that NKB signalling may mediate menopausal hot flushes. However, the effects of NKB administration on hot flushes have not been investigated in humans. To address this, we performed a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, 2-way cross-over study. Ten healthy women were admitted to a temperature and humidity-controlled research unit. Participants received 30 minute intravenous infusions of NKB and vehicle in random order. Symptoms, heart rate, blood pressure, sweating and skin temperature were compared between NKB and vehicle in a double-blinded manner. Eight of ten participants experienced flushing during NKB infusion with none experiencing flushing during vehicle infusion (P = 0.0007). Significant elevations in heart rate (P = 0.0106 vs. pre-symptoms), and skin temperature measured using skin probe (P = 0.0258 vs. pre-symptoms) and thermal imaging (P = 0.0491 vs. pre-symptoms) characteristic of menopausal flushing were observed during hot flush episodes. Our findings provide evidence that NKB administration can cause hot flushes in women. Further studies are required to determine if pharmacological blockade of NKB signalling could inhibit hot flushes during the menopause and during treatment for sex-steroid dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Channa N Jayasena
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Alexander N Comninos
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Evgenia Stefanopoulou
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Adam Buckley
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Ali Abbara
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Risheka Ratnasabapathy
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Julianne Mogford
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Noel Ng
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Zubair Sarang
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Mohammad A Ghatei
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Stephen R Bloom
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Myra S Hunter
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Waljit S Dhillo
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
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23
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De Luca MA, Lai F, Corrias F, Caboni P, Bimpisidis Z, Maccioni E, Fadda AM, Di Chiara G. Lactoferrin- and antitransferrin-modified liposomes for brain targeting of the NK3 receptor agonist senktide: preparation and in vivo evaluation. Int J Pharm 2015; 479:129-37. [PMID: 25560308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2014.12.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Revised: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the capability of lactoferrin- and antitransferrin-modified long circulating liposomes to deliver the hydrophilic peptide senktide, a selective NK3 receptor agonist unable to cross the blood brain barrier, to central nervous system by using an indirect method based on in vivo microdialysis studies to estimate the responsiveness of nucleus accumbens shell dopamine to senktide. To this purpose, senktide was encapsulated in different targeted and not-targeted stealth liposomes prepared using film hydration method. Formulations were characterized in terms of morphology, size distribution, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and antibody presence on the liposome surface. In vivo microdialysis studies were performed injecting intravenously the senktide-loaded liposomes and comparing obtained dopamine levels with those found with the free senktide given intracerebroventricularly. Results showed that all vesicles were spherical, small in size (around 120 nm), homogeneously dispersed, and slightly negatively charged. TEM analysis, using an anti IgG secondary antibody with 10nm gold nanoparticles at its distal end, demonstrated the successful linkage of the antibody on the liposomal surface. Intravenously administered in rats, senktide-loaded targeted stealth liposomes elicited a significant increase of dialysate dopamine in the nucleus accumbens shell, which was comparable to that of the free senktide given intracerebroventricularly when antitransferrin-targeted liposomes were tested. On the contrary, control stealth liposomes did not affect dopamine levels. Senktide brain levels were higher using the antitransferrin-targeted liposomes in comparison with the lactoferrin ones, while the opposite was obtained in the liver tissue where the highest senktide accumulation was always found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonietta De Luca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy; INN, National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco Lai
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy; CNBS, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco Corrias
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Caboni
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Zisis Bimpisidis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Elias Maccioni
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Fadda
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy; CNBS, University of Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Gaetano Di Chiara
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy; INN, National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, Cagliari Section, Italy
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24
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Mapping the binding pocket of a novel, high-affinity, slow dissociating tachykinin NK3 receptor antagonist: biochemical and electrophysiological characterization. Neuropharmacology 2014; 86:259-72. [PMID: 25107588 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The NK3 receptor is a GPCR that is prominently expressed in limbic areas of the brain, many of which have been implicated in schizophrenia. Phase II clinical trials in schizophrenia with two selective NK3 antagonists (osanetant and talnetant) have demonstrated significant improvement in positive symptoms. The objective of this study was to characterize the properties of a novel dual NK2/NK3 antagonist, RO5328673. [(3)H]RO5328673 bound to a single saturable site on hNK2, hNK3 and gpNK3 with high-affinity. RO5328673 acted as an insurmountable antagonist at both human and guinea-pig NK3 receptors in the [(3)H]IP accumulation assay. In binding kinetic analyses, [(3)H]RO5328673 had fast association and dissociation rates at hNK2 while it had a fast association rate and a remarkably slow dissociation rate at gp and hNK3. In electrophysiological recordings of gp SNpc, RO5328673 inhibited the senktide-induced potentiation of spontaneous activity of dopaminergic neurons with an insurmountable mechanism of action. RO5328673 exhibited in-vivo activity in gerbils, robustly reversing the senktide-induced locomotor activity. The TM2 residue gpNK3-A114(2.58) (threonine in all other species) was identified as the critical residue for the RO5328673's slower dissociation kinetics and stronger insurmountable mode of antagonism in the guinea-pig as compared to hNK3-T139(2.58). Using site-directed mutagenesis, [(3)H]RO5328673 binding and rhodopsin-based modeling, the important molecular determinants of the RO5328673-binding pocket of hNK3 were determined. A comparison of the RO5328673-binding pocket with that of osanetant showed that two antagonists have similar contact sides on hNK3 binding crevice except for three mutations V95L(1.42), Y247W(5.38), V255I(5.46), which behaved differently between interacting modes of two antagonists in hNK3.
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25
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Hanessian S, Jennequin T, Boyer N, Babonneau V, Soma U, Mannoury la Cour C, Millan MJ, De Nanteuil G. Design, Synthesis, and Optimization of Balanced Dual NK1/NK3 Receptor Antagonists. ACS Med Chem Lett 2014; 5:550-5. [PMID: 24900878 DOI: 10.1021/ml400528y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In connection with a program directed at potent and balanced dual NK1/NK3 receptor ligands, a focused exploration of an original class of peptidomimetic derivatives was performed. The rational design and molecular hybridization of a novel phenylalanine core series was achieved to maximize the in vitro affinity and antagonism at both human NK1 and NK3 receptors. This study led to the identification of a new potent dual NK1/NK3 antagonist with pK i values of 8.6 and 8.1, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Hanessian
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Thomas Jennequin
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Nicolas Boyer
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Vincent Babonneau
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Udaykumar Soma
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Clotilde Mannoury la Cour
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy-sur-Seine, France
| | - Mark J. Millan
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy-sur-Seine, France
| | - Guillaume De Nanteuil
- Neuroscience Chemistry Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy-sur-Seine, France
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Ridler K, Gunn RN, Searle GE, Barletta J, Passchier J, Dixson L, Hallett WA, Ashworth S, Gray FA, Burgess C, Poggesi I, Bullman JN, Ratti E, Laruelle MA, Rabiner EA. Characterising the plasma-target occupancy relationship of the neurokinin antagonist GSK1144814 with PET. J Psychopharmacol 2014; 28:244-53. [PMID: 24429221 DOI: 10.1177/0269881113517953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
GSK1144814 is a potent, insurmountable antagonist at human NK₁ and NK₃ receptors. Understanding the relationship between plasma pharmacokinetics and receptor occupancy in the human brain, was crucial for dose selection in future clinical studies. GSK1144814 occupancy data were acquired in parallel with the first-time-in-human safety and tolerability study. [¹¹C]GR-205171 a selective NK₁ receptor PET ligand was used to estimate NK₁ occupancy at several time-points following single dose administration of GSK1144814. The time-plasma concentration-occupancy relationship post-single dose administration was assessed, and used to predict the plasma concentration-occupancy relationship following repeat dose administration. Repeat dose predictions were tested in a subsequent cohort of subjects examined following approximately 7 and 14 days dosing with GSK1144814. GSK1144814 was shown to demonstrate a dose-dependent occupancy of the NK₁ receptor with an estimated in vivo EC₅₀~0.9 ng/mL in the human brain. A direct relationship was seen between the GSK1144814 plasma concentration and its occupancy of the brain NK₁ receptor, indicating that in future clinical trials the occupancy of brain receptors can be accurately inferred from the measured plasma concentration. Our data provided support for the further progression of this compound and have optimised the likely therapeutic dose range.
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Hanessian S, Babonneau V, Boyer N, Mannoury la Cour C, Millan MJ, De Nanteuil G. Design and synthesis of potential dual NK(1)/NK(3) receptor antagonists. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 24:510-4. [PMID: 24374277 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Revised: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The tachykinin NK1 and NK3 receptors are a novel drug target for schizophrenia in order to treat not only the positive and cognitive symptoms, but also the associated co-morbid depression and sleep disturbances associated with the disease. A novel class of peptidomimetic derivatives based on a versatile phenylglycine central core was synthesized and tested in vitro as dual NK1/NK3 receptor antagonists. From this series emerged compounds with good NK1 receptor affinity, although only modest dual NK1/NK3 receptor affinity was observed with one of these analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Hanessian
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada.
| | - Vincent Babonneau
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Nicolas Boyer
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Clotilde Mannoury la Cour
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy/Seine, France
| | - Mark J Millan
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy/Seine, France
| | - Guillaume De Nanteuil
- Neuroscience Chemistry Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy-sur-Seine, France
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Russino D, McDonald E, Hejazi L, Hanson GR, Jones CE. The tachykinin peptide neurokinin B binds copper forming an unusual [CuII(NKB)2] complex and inhibits copper uptake into 1321N1 astrocytoma cells. ACS Chem Neurosci 2013; 4:1371-81. [PMID: 23875773 DOI: 10.1021/cn4000988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurokinin B (NKB) is a member of the tachykinin family of neuropeptides that have neuroinflammatory, neuroimmunological, and neuroprotective functions. In a neuroprotective role, tachykinins can help protect cells against the neurotoxic processes observed in Alzheimer's disease. A change in copper homeostasis is a clear feature of Alzheimer's disease, and the dysregulation may be a contributory factor in toxicity. Copper has recently been shown to interact with neurokinin A and neuropeptide γ and can lead to generation of reactive oxygen species and peptide degradation, which suggests that copper may have a place in tachykinin function and potentially misfunction. To explore this, we have utilized a range of spectroscopic techniques to show that NKB, but not substance P, can bind Cu(II) in an unusual [Cu(II)(NKB)2] neutral complex that utilizes two N-terminal amine and two imidazole nitrogen ligands (from each molecule of NKB) and the binding substantially alters the structure of the peptide. Using 1321N1 astrocytoma cells, we show that copper can enter the cells and subsequently open plasma membrane calcium channels but when bound to neurokinin B copper ion uptake is inhibited. This data suggests a novel role for neurokinin B in protecting cells against copper-induced calcium changes and implicates the peptide in synaptic copper homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Russino
- The School of Science
and Health, The University of Western Sydney, Locked bag 1797, Penrith, New South Wales 2759, Australia
| | - Elle McDonald
- The School of Science
and Health, The University of Western Sydney, Locked bag 1797, Penrith, New South Wales 2759, Australia
| | - Leila Hejazi
- Mass Spectroscopy Laboratory, The University of Western Sydney, Locked bag 1797,
Penrith, New South Wales 2759, Australia
| | - Graeme R. Hanson
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Christopher E. Jones
- The School of Science
and Health, The University of Western Sydney, Locked bag 1797, Penrith, New South Wales 2759, Australia
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te Beek ET, Hay JL, Bullman JN, Burgess C, Nahon KJ, Klaassen ES, Gray FA, van Gerven JMA. Pharmacokinetics and central nervous system effects of the novel dual NK1 /NK3 receptor antagonist GSK1144814 in alcohol-intoxicated volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2013; 75:1328-39. [PMID: 23067311 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2012] [Accepted: 10/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Antagonism of both NK1 and NK3 receptors may be an effective strategy in the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia, drug addiction or depression. GSK1144814 is a novel selective dual NK1 /NK3 receptor antagonist. The potential influence of GSK1144814 on the effects of alcohol was investigated. METHODS In a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, two period crossover study, the pharmacokinetics and central nervous system (CNS) effects of single oral doses of 200 mg GSK1144814 were evaluated in 20 healthy volunteers, using a controlled alcohol infusion paradigm to maintain stable alcohol concentrations with subsequent analysis of eye movements, adaptive tracking, body sway, visual analogue scales, Epworth sleepiness scale and the verbal visual learning test. RESULTS Frequent adverse effects were mild somnolence, fatigue and headache. Plasma concentration of GSK1144814 in the presence of alcohol was maximal 1.5 h after dose administration. GSK1144814 did not affect alcohol pharmacokinetics. Co-administration of GSK1144814 and alcohol impaired saccadic reaction time and peak velocity, adaptive tracking, alertness, sleepiness, word recognition and recognition reaction time compared with administration of alcohol alone, but the size of the interaction was small. CONCLUSIONS Administration of GSK1144814 in the presence of alcohol was generally well tolerated and not likely to produce clinically relevant additional impairments after alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik T te Beek
- Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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The neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R) antagonist SB222200 prevents the apomorphine-evoked surface but not nuclear NK3R redistribution in dopaminergic neurons of the rat ventral tegmental area. Neuroscience 2013; 247:12-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2012] [Revised: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Thakar A, Sylar E, Flynn FW. Activation of tachykinin, neurokinin 3 receptors affects chromatin structure and gene expression by means of histone acetylation. Peptides 2012; 38:282-90. [PMID: 22985858 PMCID: PMC3513652 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2012.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2012] [Revised: 09/06/2012] [Accepted: 09/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The tachykinin, neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) is a g-protein coupled receptor that is broadly distributed in the nervous system and exerts its diverse physiological actions through multiple signaling pathways. Despite the role of the receptor system in a range of biological functions, the effects of NK3R activation on chromatin dynamics and gene expression have received limited attention. The present work determined the effects of senktide, a selective NK3R agonist, on chromatin organization, acetylation, and gene expression, using qRT-PCR, in a hypothalamic cell line (CLU 209) that expresses the NK3R. Senktide (1 nM, 10nM) caused a relaxation of chromatin, an increase in global acetylation of histone H3 and H4, and an increase in the expression of a common set of genes involved in cell signaling, cell growth, and synaptic plasticity. Pretreatment with histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibitor (garcinol and 2-methylene y-butylactone), that inhibits p300, p300/CREB binding protein (CBP) associated factor (PCAF), and GCN 5, prevented the senktide-induced increase in expression of most, but not all, of the genes upregulated in response to 1 nM and 10nM senktide. Treatment with 100 nM had the opposite effect: a reduction in chromatin relaxation and decreased acetylation. The expression of four genes was significantly decreased and the HAT inhibitor had a limited effect in blocking the upregulation of genes in response to 100 nM senktide. Activation of the NK3R appears to recruit multiple pathways, including acetylation, and possibly histone deactylases, histone methylases, or DNA methylases to affect chromatin structure and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Thakar
- Graduate Neuroscience Program and Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82072, United States
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Miyamoto S, Miyake N, Jarskog LF, Fleischhacker WW, Lieberman JA. Pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia: a critical review of the pharmacology and clinical effects of current and future therapeutic agents. Mol Psychiatry 2012; 17:1206-27. [PMID: 22584864 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2012.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 371] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Since the introduction of chlorpromazine and throughout the development of the new-generation antipsychotic drugs (APDs) beginning with clozapine, the D(2) receptor has been the target for the development of APDs. Pharmacologic actions to reduce neurotransmission through the D(2) receptor have been the only proven therapeutic mechanism for psychoses. A number of novel non-D(2) mechanisms of action of APDs have been explored over the past 40 years but none has definitively been proven effective. At the same time, the effectiveness of treatments and range of outcomes for patients are far from satisfactory. The relative success of antipsychotics in treating positive symptoms is limited by the fact that a substantial number of patients are refractory to current medications and by their lack of efficacy for negative and cognitive symptoms, which often determine the level of functional impairment. In addition, while the newer antipsychotics produce fewer motor side effects, safety and tolerability concerns about weight gain and endocrinopathies have emerged. Consequently, there is an urgent need for more effective and better-tolerated antipsychotic agents, and to identify new molecular targets and develop mechanistically novel compounds that can address the various symptom dimensions of schizophrenia. In recent years, a variety of new experimental pharmacological approaches have emerged, including compounds acting on targets other than the dopamine D(2) receptor. However, there is still an ongoing debate as to whether drugs selective for singe molecular targets (that is, 'magic bullets') or drugs selectively non-selective for several molecular targets (that is, 'magic shotguns', 'multifunctional drugs' or 'intramolecular polypharmacy') will lead to more effective new medications for schizophrenia. In this context, current and future drug development strategies can be seen to fall into three categories: (1) refinement of precedented mechanisms of action to provide drugs of comparable or superior efficacy and side-effect profiles to existing APDs; (2) development of novel (and presumably non-D(2)) mechanism APDs; (3) development of compounds to be used as adjuncts to APDs to augment efficacy by targeting specific symptom dimensions of schizophrenia and particularly those not responsive to traditional APD treatment. In addition, efforts are being made to determine if the products of susceptibility genes in schizophrenia, identified by genetic linkage and association studies, may be viable targets for drug development. Finally, a focus on early detection and early intervention aimed at halting or reversing progressive pathophysiological processes in schizophrenia has gained great influence. This has encouraged future drug development and therapeutic strategies that are neuroprotective. This article provides an update and critical review of the pharmacology and clinical profiles of current APDs and drugs acting on novel targets with potential to be therapeutic agents in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Miyamoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
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Routledge JD, Hallett AJ, Platts JA, Horton PN, Coles SJ, Pope SJA. Tuning the Electronics of Phosphorescent, Amide-Functionalized, Cyclometalated IrIIIComplexes: Syntheses, Structures, Spectroscopy and Theoretical Studies. Eur J Inorg Chem 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201200647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Bissantz C, Bohnert C, Hoffmann T, Marcuz A, Schnider P, Malherbe P. Identification of a Crucial Amino Acid in the Helix Position 6.51 of Human Tachykinin Neurokinin 1 and 3 Receptors Contributing to the Insurmountable Mode of Antagonism by Dual NK1/NK3 Antagonists. J Med Chem 2012; 55:5061-76. [DOI: 10.1021/jm2017072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Bissantz
- Medicinal Chemistry and ‡DTA CNS, pRED, Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Bohnert
- Medicinal Chemistry and ‡DTA CNS, pRED, Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Torsten Hoffmann
- Medicinal Chemistry and ‡DTA CNS, pRED, Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anne Marcuz
- Medicinal Chemistry and ‡DTA CNS, pRED, Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Schnider
- Medicinal Chemistry and ‡DTA CNS, pRED, Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pari Malherbe
- Medicinal Chemistry and ‡DTA CNS, pRED, Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH4070, Basel, Switzerland
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Griebel G, Holsboer F. Neuropeptide receptor ligands as drugs for psychiatric diseases: the end of the beginning? Nat Rev Drug Discov 2012; 11:462-78. [PMID: 22596253 DOI: 10.1038/nrd3702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The search for novel drugs for treating psychiatric disorders is driven by the growing medical need to improve on the effectiveness and side-effect profile of currently available therapies. Given the wealth of preclinical data supporting the role of neuropeptides in modulating behaviour, pharmaceutical companies have been attempting to target neuropeptide receptors for over two decades. However, clinical studies with synthetic neuropeptide ligands have been unable to confirm the promise predicted by studies in animal models. Here, we analyse preclinical and clinical results for neuropeptide receptor ligands that have been studied in clinical trials for psychiatric diseases, including agents that target the receptors for tachykinins, corticotropin-releasing factor, vasopressin and neurotensin, and suggest new ways to exploit the full potential of these candidate drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Griebel
- Sanofi, Exploratory Unit, 91385 Chilly-Mazarin, France.
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36
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Misono K, Lessard A. Apomorphine-evoked redistribution of neurokinin-3 receptors in dopaminergic dendrites and neuronal nuclei of the rat ventral tegmental area. Neuroscience 2012; 203:27-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2011] [Revised: 12/06/2011] [Accepted: 12/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Is there still a future for neurokinin 3 receptor antagonists as potential drugs for the treatment of psychiatric diseases? Pharmacol Ther 2012; 133:116-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2011.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Geldenhuys WJ, Simmons MA. 3D-Quantitative structure-activity relationship and docking studies of the tachykinin NK3 receptor. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2011; 21:7405-11. [PMID: 22056747 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2011] [Revised: 09/29/2011] [Accepted: 10/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The tachykinin NK(3) receptor (NK(3)R) is a novel drug target for schizophrenia and drug abuse. Since few non-peptide antagonists of this G protein-coupled receptor are available, we have initiated this study to gain a better understanding of the structure-activity relationships of NK(3) antagonist compounds. We developed a 3D comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSIA) model that gave cross-validated PLS values with q(2) >0.5 which were validated using a test set. We also describe the development of a homology model of the NK(3)R. The model was then used to develop a pharmacophore for docked ligands. This pharmacophore showed two aromatic, two hydrogen donor and one acceptor/aromatic points. These data will be useful for future structure-based drug discovery of ligands for the NK(3)R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner J Geldenhuys
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA
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Ganjiwale AD, Rao GS, Cowsik SM. Molecular Modeling of Neurokinin B and Tachykinin NK3 Receptor Complex. J Chem Inf Model 2011; 51:2932-8. [DOI: 10.1021/ci2000264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anjali D. Ganjiwale
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi − 110 067, India
| | - Gita Subba Rao
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sudha M. Cowsik
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi − 110 067, India
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Effect of subchronic administration of tachykinin antagonists on response of guinea-pigs to mild and severe stress. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 168:59-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.regpep.2011.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2010] [Revised: 02/19/2011] [Accepted: 03/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Malherbe P, Knoflach F, Hernandez MC, Hoffmann T, Schnider P, Porter RH, Wettstein JG, Ballard TM, Spooren W, Steward L. Characterization of RO4583298 as a novel potent, dual antagonist with in vivo activity at tachykinin NK₁ and NK₃ receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2011; 162:929-46. [PMID: 21039418 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01096.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Clinical results of osanetant and talnetant (selective-NK₃ antagonists) indicate that blocking the NK₃ receptor could be beneficial for the treatment of schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to characterize the in vitro and in vivo properties of a novel dual NK₁/NK₃ antagonist, RO4583298 (2-phenyl-N-(pyridin-3-yl)-N-methylisobutyramide derivative). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH RO4583298 in vitro pharmacology was investigated using radioligand binding ([³H]-SP, [³H]-osanetant, [³H]-senktide), [³H]-inositol-phosphate accumulation Schild analysis (SP- or [MePhe⁷]-NKB-induced) and electrophysiological studies in guinea-pig substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The in vivo activity of RO4583298 was assessed using reversal of GR73632-induced foot tapping in gerbils (GFT; NK₁) and senktide-induced tail whips in mice (MTW; NK₃). KEY RESULTS RO4583298 has a high-affinity for NK₁ (human and gerbil) and NK₃ (human, cynomolgus monkey, gerbil and guinea-pig) receptors and behaves as a pseudo-irreversible antagonist. Unusually it binds with high-affinity to mouse and rat NK₃, yet with a partial non-competitive mode of antagonism. In guinea-pig SNpc, RO4583298 inhibited the senktide-induced potentiation of spontaneous activity of dopaminergic neurones with an apparent non-competitive mechanism of action. RO4583298 (p.o.) robustly blocked the GFT response, and inhibited the MTW. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS RO4583298 is a high-affinity, non-competitive, long-acting in vivo NK₁/NK₃ antagonist; hence providing a useful in vitro and in vivo pharmacological tool to investigate the roles of NK₁ and NK₃ receptors in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Malherbe
- Discovery Research CNS, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland.
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42
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Hoveyda HR, Roy MO, Blanc S, Noël S, Salvino JM, Ator MA, Fraser G. Discovery of 3-aryl-5-acylpiperazinyl-pyrazoles as antagonists to the NK3 receptor. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2011; 21:1991-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2010] [Revised: 02/06/2011] [Accepted: 02/08/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Werkman TR, Mccreary AC, Kruse CG, Wadman WJ. NK3 receptors mediate an increase in firing rate of midbrain dopamine neurons of the rat and the guinea pig. Synapse 2011; 65:814-26. [DOI: 10.1002/syn.20908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2010] [Accepted: 12/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Malherbe P, Ballard TM, Ratni H. Tachykinin neurokinin 3 receptor antagonists: a patent review (2005 - 2010). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2011; 21:637-55. [PMID: 21417773 DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2011.568482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The neurokinin 3 (NK(3)) receptor is a GPCR that has been shown to modulate monoaminergic systems within regions of the brain implicated in schizophrenia. Preclinical and Phase II clinical results of osanetant and talnetant in schizophrenic patients have indicated that NK(3) antagonists may provide significant improvement of the positive symptoms and cognitive impairment associated with this disorder. Recent findings have also indicated that neurokinin B (NKB)-NK(3) signaling plays a key role in the hypothalamic regulation of reproduction in humans. AREAS COVERED This review article discusses the latest medicinal chemistry strategies used to derive novel NK(3) receptor antagonists which have been patented during the period 2005 - 2010. EXPERT OPINION Since the report of a beneficial effect of osanetant in schizophrenic patients, major pharmaceutical companies have been involved in this field, leading to a very large number of patent applications disclosed. Nevertheless, only three NK(3) selective antagonists entered into Phase II, but were then terminated for various reasons. Currently, the main challenge to move forward a selective NK(3) antagonist into the clinic would be to define a safety margin between the desired therapeutic effect and the effect on testosterone levels. The involvement of NKB-NK(3) signaling in reproduction in humans may also lead to new exciting indications, such as treatment for sex steroid-sensitive cancers of breast and prostate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pari Malherbe
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Discovery Research CNS, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland.
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De Brito Gariepy H, Couture R. Blockade of tachykinin NK3 receptor reverses hypertension through a dopaminergic mechanism in the ventral tegmental area of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Br J Pharmacol 2011; 161:1868-84. [PMID: 20804497 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01008.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Intracerebroventricularly injected tachykinin NK(3) receptor (R) antagonists normalize mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). This study was pursued to define the role played by NK(3)R located on dopamine neurones of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the regulation of MAP in SHR. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH SHR (16 weeks) were implanted permanently with i.c.v. and/or VTA guide cannulae. Experiments were conducted 24 h after catheterization of the abdominal aorta to measure MAP and heart rate (HR) in freely behaving rats. Cardiovascular responses to i.c.v. or VTA-injected NK(3)R agonist (senktide) and antagonists (SB222200 and R-820) were measured before and after systemic administration of selective antagonists for D(1)R (SCH23390), D(2)R (raclopride) or non-selective D(2)R (haloperidol), and after destruction of the VTA with ibotenic acid. KEY RESULTS I.c.v. or VTA-injected SB222200 and R-820 (500 pmol) evoked anti-hypertension, which was blocked by raclopride. Senktide (10, 25, 65 and 100 pmol) elicited greater increases of MAP and HR when injected in the VTA, and the cardiovascular response was blocked by R-820, SCH23390 and haloperidol. VTA-injected SB222200 prevented the pressor response to i.c.v. senktide, and vice versa, i.c.v. senktide prevented the anti-hypertension to VTA SB222200. Destruction of the VTA prevented the pressor response to i.c.v. senktide and the anti-hypertension to i.c.v. R-820. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The NK(3)R in the VTA is implicated in the maintenance of hypertension by increasing midbrain dopaminergic transmission in SHR. Hence, this receptor may represent a therapeutic target in the treatment of hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helaine De Brito Gariepy
- Département de Physiologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
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Xiong H, Kang J, Woods JM, McCauley JP, Koether GM, Albert JS, Hinkley L, Li Y, Gadient RA, Simpson TR. Synthesis and SAR of sulfoxide substituted carboxyquinolines as NK3 receptor antagonists. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2011; 21:1896-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2010.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2010] [Accepted: 11/01/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Elmore CS, Dorff PN, Powell ME, Hall JE, Simpson TR. Synthesis of the NK3 receptor antagonist AZD2624 in C-14-, H-3- and C-13-labeled forms. J Labelled Comp Radiopharm 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.1858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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48
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Fleury A, Lavé T, Jonsson F, Schmitt M, Hirkaler G, Polonchuk L, Breidenbach A. A pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic model for cardiovascular safety assessment of R1551. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2011; 63:123-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2010.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2009] [Revised: 08/13/2010] [Accepted: 08/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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49
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Geldenhuys WJ, Kuzenko SR, Simmons MA. Virtual screening to identify novel antagonists for the G protein-coupled NK3 receptor. J Med Chem 2010; 53:8080-8. [PMID: 21047106 DOI: 10.1021/jm1010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The NK(3) subtype of tachykinin receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor that is a potential therapeutic target for several neurological diseases, including schizophrenia. In this study, we have screened compound databases for novel NK(3) receptor antagonists using a virtual screening protocol of similarity analysis. The lead compound for this study was the potent NK(3) antagonist talnetant. Compounds of the quinoline type found in the virtual screen were additionally evaluated in a comparative molecular field analysis model to predict activity a priori to testing in vitro. Selected members of this latter set were tested for their ability to inhibit ligand binding to the NK(3) receptor as well as to inhibit senktide-induced calcium responses in cells expressing the human NK(3) receptor. Two novel compounds were identified that inhibited NK(3) receptor agonist binding, with potencies in the nM range and antagonized NK(3) receptor-mediated increases in intracellular calcium. These results demonstrate the utility of similarity analysis in identifying novel antagonist ligands for neuropeptide receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner J Geldenhuys
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, Rootstown, Ohio 44272, USA
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50
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Ratni H, Ballard TM, Bissantz C, Hoffmann T, Jablonski P, Knoflach F, Knust H, Malherbe P, Nettekoven M, Patiny-Adam A, Riemer C, Schmitt M, Spooren W. Rational design of novel pyrrolidine derivatives as orally active neurokinin-3 receptor antagonists. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2010; 20:6735-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2010.08.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2010] [Revised: 08/26/2010] [Accepted: 08/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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