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Justinussen JL, Egebjerg C, Kornum BR. How hypocretin agonists may improve the quality of wake in narcolepsy. Trends Mol Med 2023; 29:61-69. [PMID: 36400667 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a complex symptom characterized by a strong urge to sleep during daytime accompanied by problems such as attention deficits, anxiety, and lower cognitive performance. The efficacy of treatments for EDS is determined by their ability to decrease sleepiness, and less attention has been given to the effects these compounds have on the quality of the wake itself. Hypocretin (HCRT; orexin) signalling is implicated in narcolepsy, and hypocretin receptor 2 (HCRTR2) agonists are in clinical trials for treating EDS in narcolepsy. Here, we review preclinical research to determine how HCRTR2 agonists may affect attention and anxiety compared with other EDS treatment strategies. We conclude that such compounds may improve not only the quantity but also the quality of wake, and we hope that they will create opportunities for more nuanced treatment strategies in narcolepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine Egebjerg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Birgitte R Kornum
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Kitanaka N, Hall FS, Tanaka KI, Tomita K, Igarashi K, Nishiyama N, Sato T, Uhl GR, Kitanaka J. Are Histamine H 3 Antagonists the Definitive Treatment for Acute Methamphetamine Intoxication? Curr Drug Res Rev 2022; 14:162-170. [PMID: 35431009 DOI: 10.2174/2589977514666220414122847] [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: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methamphetamine (METH) is classified as a Schedule II stimulant drug under the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. METH and other amphetamine analogues (AMPHs) are powerful addictive drugs. Treatments are needed to treat the symptoms of METH addiction, chronic METH use, and acute METH overdose. No effective treatment for METH abuse has been established because alterations of brain functions under the excessive intake of abused drug intake are largely irreversible due in part to brain damage that occurs in the course of chronic METH use. OBJECTIVE Modulation of brain histamine neurotransmission is involved in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders. This review discusses the possible mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of histamine H3 receptor antagonists on symptoms of methamphetamine abuse. CONCLUSION Treatment of mice with centrally acting histamine H3 receptor antagonists increases hypothalamic histamine contents and reduces high-dose METH effects while potentiating lowdose effects via histamine H3 receptors that bind released histamine. On the basis of experimental evidence, it is hypothesized that histamine H3 receptors may be an effective target for the treatment METH use disorder or other adverse effects of chronic METH use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobue Kitanaka
- Department of Pharmacology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan
| | - F Scott Hall
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA
| | - Koh-Ichi Tanaka
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Hyogo University of Health Sciences, Hyogo 650-8530, Japan
| | - Kazuo Tomita
- Department of Applied Pharmacology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan
| | - Kento Igarashi
- Neurology and Research Services, New Mexico VA Healthcare System, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108, USA
| | - Nobuyoshi Nishiyama
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Hyogo University of Health Sciences, Hyogo 650-8530, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Sato
- Department of Applied Pharmacology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan
| | - George R Uhl
- Neurology and Research Services, New Mexico VA Healthcare System, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Junichi Kitanaka
- Department of Pharmacology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan
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Network medicine for disease module identification and drug repurposing with the NeDRex platform. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6848. [PMID: 34824199 PMCID: PMC8617287 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27138-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional drug discovery faces a severe efficacy crisis. Repurposing of registered drugs provides an alternative with lower costs and faster drug development timelines. However, the data necessary for the identification of disease modules, i.e. pathways and sub-networks describing the mechanisms of complex diseases which contain potential drug targets, are scattered across independent databases. Moreover, existing studies are limited to predictions for specific diseases or non-translational algorithmic approaches. There is an unmet need for adaptable tools allowing biomedical researchers to employ network-based drug repurposing approaches for their individual use cases. We close this gap with NeDRex, an integrative and interactive platform for network-based drug repurposing and disease module discovery. NeDRex integrates ten different data sources covering genes, drugs, drug targets, disease annotations, and their relationships. NeDRex allows for constructing heterogeneous biological networks, mining them for disease modules, prioritizing drugs targeting disease mechanisms, and statistical validation. We demonstrate the utility of NeDRex in five specific use-cases.
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de Biase S, Pellitteri G, Gigli GL, Valente M. Evaluating pitolisant as a narcolepsy treatment option. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2020; 22:155-162. [PMID: 32941089 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2020.1817387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by a pentad of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, and disturbed nocturnal sleep. Treatment of narcolepsy remains challenging and current therapy is strictly symptomatically based. AREAS COVERED The present manuscript is based on an extensive Internet and PubMed search from 1990 to 2020. It is focused on the clinical and pharmacological properties of pitolisant in the treatment of narcolepsy. EXPERT OPINION Currently there is no cure for narcolepsy. Although efforts have been made, current treatments do not always allow to obtain an optimal control of symptoms. Pitolisant is an antagonist/inverse agonist of the histamine H3 autoreceptor. Its mechanism of action is novel and distinctive compared to the other available therapies for narcolepsy. Clinical trials suggest that pitolisant administered at a dose of ≤36 mg/day is an effective treatment option for narcolepsy, reducing EDS and cataplexy. Pitolisant is available as oral tablets and offers a convenient once-daily regimen. Pitolisant is generally well tolerated and showed minimal abuse potential in animals and humans. Long-term studies comparing the effectiveness and tolerability of pitolisant with active drugs (e.g. modafinil, sodium oxybate) are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gaia Pellitteri
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital of Udine , Udine, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gigli
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital of Udine , Udine, Italy.,Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Physics (DMIF), University of Udine , Udine, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Valente
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital of Udine , Udine, Italy.,Department of Medical Area (DAME), University of Udine , Udine, Italy
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Yin Z, Hu W, Zhang W, Konno H, Moriwaki H, Izawa K, Han J, Soloshonok VA. Tailor-made amino acid-derived pharmaceuticals approved by the FDA in 2019. Amino Acids 2020; 52:1227-1261. [PMID: 32880009 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-020-02887-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Amino acids (AAs) are among a handful of paramount classes of compounds innately involved in the origin and evolution of all known life-forms. Along with basic scientific explorations, the major goal of medicinal chemistry research in the area of tailor-made AAs is the development of more selective and potent pharmaceuticals. The growing acceptance of peptides and peptidomimetics as drugs clearly indicates that AA-based molecules become the most successful structural motif in the modern drug design. In fact, among 24 small-molecule drugs approved by FDA in 2019, 13 of them contain a residue of AA or di-amines or amino-alcohols, which are commonly considered to be derived from the parent AAs. In the present review article, we profile 13 new tailor-made AA-derived pharmaceuticals introduced to the market in 2019. Where it is possible, we will discuss the development form drug-candidates, total synthesis, with emphasis on the core-AA, therapeutic area, and the mode of biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zizhen Yin
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Wenfei Hu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA, 02125, USA.
| | - Hiroyuki Konno
- Department of Biological Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroki Moriwaki
- Hamari Chemicals Ltd, 1-4-29 Kunijima, Higashi-Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, 533-0024, Japan
| | - Kunisuke Izawa
- Hamari Chemicals Ltd, 1-4-29 Kunijima, Higashi-Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, 533-0024, Japan
| | - Jianlin Han
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
| | - Vadim A Soloshonok
- Department of Organic Chemistry I, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel Lardizábal 3, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain. .,Basque Foundation for Science, IKERBASQUE, Alameda Urquijo 36-5, Plaza Bizkaia, 48011, Bilbao, Spain.
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