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Mach L, Omran A, Bouma J, Radetzki S, Sykes DA, Guba W, Li X, Höffelmeyer C, Hentsch A, Gazzi T, Mostinski Y, Wasinska-Kalwa M, de Molnier F, van der Horst C, von Kries JP, Vendrell M, Hua T, Veprintsev DB, Heitman LH, Grether U, Nazare M. Highly Selective Drug-Derived Fluorescent Probes for the Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 (CB 1R). J Med Chem 2024; 67:11841-11867. [PMID: 38990855 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
The cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) is pivotal within the endocannabinoid system regulating various signaling cascades with effects in appetite regulation, pain perception, memory formation, and thermoregulation. Still, understanding of CB1R's cellular signaling, distribution, and expression dynamics is very fragmentary. Real-time visualization of CB1R is crucial for addressing these questions. Selective drug-like CB1R ligands with a defined pharmacological profile were investigated for the construction of CB1R fluorescent probes using a reverse design-approach. A modular design concept with a diethyl glycine-based building block as the centerpiece allowed for the straightforward synthesis of novel probe candidates. Validated by computational docking studies, radioligand binding, and cAMP assay, this systematic approach allowed for the identification of novel pyrrole-based CB1R fluorescent probes. Application in fluorescence-based target-engagement studies and live cell imaging exemplify the great versatility of the tailored CB1R probes for investigating CB1R localization, trafficking, pharmacology, and its pathological implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Mach
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anahid Omran
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jara Bouma
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University and Oncode Institute, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Silke Radetzki
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - David A Sykes
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH Nottingham, U.K
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham, Midlands, U.K
| | - Wolfgang Guba
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xiaoting Li
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210 Shanghai, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210 Shanghai, China
| | - Calvin Höffelmeyer
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Axel Hentsch
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thais Gazzi
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yelena Mostinski
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Fabio de Molnier
- IRR Chemistry Hub and Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, U.K
| | - Cas van der Horst
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University and Oncode Institute, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jens Peter von Kries
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marc Vendrell
- IRR Chemistry Hub and Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, U.K
| | - Tian Hua
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210 Shanghai, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210 Shanghai, China
| | - Dmitry B Veprintsev
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH Nottingham, U.K
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham, Midlands, U.K
| | - Laura H Heitman
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University and Oncode Institute, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Uwe Grether
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marc Nazare
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
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Soler-Cedeño O, Alton H, Bi GH, Linz E, Ji L, Makriyannis A, Xi ZX. AM6527, a neutral CB1 receptor antagonist, suppresses opioid taking and seeking, as well as cocaine seeking in rodents without aversive effects. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01861-y. [PMID: 38600154 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01861-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Preclinical research has demonstrated the efficacy of CB1 receptor (CB1R) antagonists in reducing drug-taking behavior. However, clinical trials with rimonabant, a CB1R antagonist with inverse agonist profile, failed due to severe adverse effects, such as depression and suicidality. As a result, efforts have shifted towards developing novel neutral CB1R antagonists without an inverse agonist profile for treating substance use disorders. Here, we assessed AM6527, a CB1R neutral antagonist, in addiction animal models. Our findings revealed that AM6527 did not affect cocaine self-administration under fixed-ratio reinforcement schedules but dose-dependently inhibited it under progressive-ratio reinforcement schedules. Additionally, AM6527 dose-dependently inhibited heroin self-administration under both fixed-ratio and progressive-ratio reinforcement schedules and oral sucrose self-administration under a fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule, as well as cocaine- or heroin-triggered reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior in rats. However, chronic AM6527 administration for five consecutive days significantly inhibited heroin self-administration only during the initial two days, indicating tolerance development. Notably, AM6527 did not produce rewarding or aversive effects by itself in classical electrical intracranial self-stimulation and conditioned place preference tests. However, in optical intracranial self-stimulation (oICSS) maintained by optogenetic stimulation of midbrain dopamine neurons in DAT-cre mice, both AM6527 and rimonabant dose-dependently inhibited dopamine-dependent oICSS behavior. Together, these findings suggest that AM6527 effectively reduces drug-taking and seeking behaviors without rimonabant-like adverse effects. Thus, AM6527 warrants further investigation as a potential pharmacotherapy for opioid and cocaine use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Soler-Cedeño
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Postdoctoral Research Associate Training (PRAT) Fellow, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Hannah Alton
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emily Linz
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lipin Ji
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexandros Makriyannis
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Hempel B, Crissman M, Pari S, Klein B, Bi GH, Alton H, Xi ZX. PPARα and PPARγ are expressed in midbrain dopamine neurons and modulate dopamine- and cannabinoid-mediated behavior in mice. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4203-4214. [PMID: 37479780 PMCID: PMC10799974 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02182-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a family of nuclear receptors that regulate gene expression. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is a PPARγ agonist and some endocannabinoids are natural activators of PPARα and PPARγ. However, little is known regarding their cellular distributions in the brain and functional roles in cannabinoid action. Here, we first used RNAscope in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry assays to examine the cellular distributions of PPARα and PPARγ expression in the mouse brain. We found that PPARα and PPARγ are expressed in ~70% of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons. In the amygdala, PPARα is expressed in ~60% of glutamatergic neurons, while PPARγ is expressed in ~60% of GABA neurons. However, no PPARα/γ signal was detected in GABA neurons in the nucleus accumbens. We then used a series of behavioral assays to determine the functional roles of PPARα/γ in the CNS effects of Δ9-THC. We found that optogenetic stimulation of midbrain DA neurons was rewarding as assessed by optical intracranial self-stimulation (oICSS) in DAT-cre mice. Δ9-THC and a PPARγ (but not PPARα) agonist dose-dependently inhibited oICSS. Pretreatment with PPARα or PPARγ antagonists attenuated the Δ9-THC-induced reduction in oICSS and Δ9-THC-induced anxiogenic effects. In addition, a PPARγ agonist increased, while PPARα or PPARγ antagonists decreased open-field locomotion. Pretreatment with PPARα or PPARγ antagonists potentiated Δ9-THC-induced hypoactivity and catalepsy but failed to alter Δ9-THC-induced analgesia, hypothermia and immobility. These findings provide the first anatomical and functional evidence supporting an important role of PPARα/γ in DA-dependent behavior and cannabinoid action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana Hempel
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Medication Development Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Madeline Crissman
- Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sruti Pari
- Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin Klein
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Medication Development Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Medication Development Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hannah Alton
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Medication Development Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Neutral CB1 Receptor Antagonists as Pharmacotherapies for Substance Use Disorders: Rationale, Evidence, and Challenge. Cells 2022; 11:cells11203262. [PMID: 36291128 PMCID: PMC9600259 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) has been one of the major targets in medication development for treating substance use disorders (SUDs). Early studies indicated that rimonabant, a selective CB1R antagonist with an inverse agonist profile, was highly promising as a therapeutic for SUDs. However, its adverse side effects, such as depression and suicidality, led to its withdrawal from clinical trials worldwide in 2008. Consequently, much research interest shifted to developing neutral CB1R antagonists based on the recognition that rimonabant’s side effects may be related to its inverse agonist profile. In this article, we first review rimonabant’s research background as a potential pharmacotherapy for SUDs. Then, we discuss the possible mechanisms underlying its therapeutic anti-addictive effects versus its adverse effects. Lastly, we discuss the rationale for developing neutral CB1R antagonists as potential treatments for SUDs, the supporting evidence in recent research, and the challenges of this strategy. We conclude that developing neutral CB1R antagonists without inverse agonist profile may represent attractive strategies for the treatment of SUDs.
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