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Zhao Y, Zhang Z, Gou D, Li P, Yang T, Niu Z, Simon JP, Guan X, Li X, He C, Dong S. Intrathecal administration of MCRT produced potent antinociception in chronic inflammatory pain models via μ-δ heterodimer with limited side effects. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 179:117389. [PMID: 39243426 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117389] [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: 07/10/2024] [Revised: 08/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
An important goal in the opioid field is to discover effective analgesic drugs with minimal side effects. MCRT demonstrated potent antinociceptive effects with limited side effects, making it a promising candidate. However, its pharmacological properties and how it minimizes side effects remain unknown. Various mouse pain and opioid side effect models were used to evaluate the antinociceptive properties and safety at the spinal level. The targets of MCRT were identified through cAMP measurement, isolated tissue assays, and pharmacological experiments. Immunofluorescence was employed to visualize protein expression. MCRT displayed distinct antinociceptive effects between acute and chronic inflammatory pain models due to its multifunctional properties at the μ opioid receptor (MOR), µ-δ heterodimer (MDOR), and neuropeptide FF receptor 2 (NPFFR2). Activation of NPFFR2 reduced MOR-mediated antinociception, leading to bell-shaped response curves in acute pain models. However, activation of MDOR produced more effective antinociception in chronic inflammatory pain models. MCRT showed limited tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia in both acute and chronic pain models and did not develop cross-tolerance to morphine. Additionally, MCRT did not exhibit addictive properties, gastrointestinal inhibition, and effects on motor coordination. Mechanistically, peripheral chronic inflammation or repeated administration of morphine and MCRT induced an increase in MDOR in the spinal cord. Chronic administration of MCRT had no apparent effect on microglial activation in the spinal cord. These findings suggest that MCRT is a versatile compound that provides potent antinociception with minimal opioid-related side effects. MDOR could be a promising target for managing chronic inflammatory pain and addressing the opioid crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaofeng Zhao
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhonghua Zhang
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Dingnian Gou
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Pengtao Li
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tong Yang
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhanyu Niu
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jerine Peter Simon
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xuyan Guan
- Cuiying Honors College, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Cuiying Honors College, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chunbo He
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shouliang Dong
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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Simon JP, Dong S. In-silico screening of missense nsSNPs in Delta-opioid receptor protein and their restoring tendency on MCRT interaction; focusing on dynamic nature. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 275:133710. [PMID: 38977046 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133710] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Delta-opioid receptor protein (OPRD1) is one of the potential targets for treating pain. The presently available opioid agonists are known to cause unnecessary side effects. To discover a novel opioid agonist, our research group has synthesized a chimeric peptide MCRT and proved its potential activity through in vivo analysis. Non-synonymous SNPs (nsSNPs) missense mutations affect the functionality and stability of proteins leading to diseases. The current research was focused on understanding the role of MCRT in restoring the binding tendency of OPRD1 nsSNPs missense mutations on dynamic nature in comparison with Deltorphin-II and morphiceptin. The deleterious effects of nsSNPs were analyzed using various bioinformatics tools for predicting structural, functional, and oncogenic influence. The shortlisted nine nsSNPs were predicted for allergic reactions, domain changes, post-translation modification, multiple sequence alignment, secondary structure, molecular dynamic simulation (MDS), and peptide docking influence. Further, the docked complex of three shortlisted deleterious nsSNPs was analyzed using an MDS study, and the highly deleterious shortlisted nsSNP A149T was further analyzed for higher trajectory analysis. MCRT restored the binding tendency influence caused by nsSNPs on the dynamics of stability, functionality, binding affinity, secondary structure, residues connection, motion, and folding of OPRD1 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerine Peter Simon
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shouliang Dong
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China,; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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Mei C, Zhang J, Niu Z, Simon JP, Yang T, Huang M, Zhang Z, Zhou L, Dong S. MP-13, a novel chimeric peptide of morphiceptin and pepcan-9, produces potent antinociception with limited side effects. Neuropeptides 2024; 107:102440. [PMID: 38875739 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2024.102440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Pharmacological investigations have substantiated the potential of bifunctional opioid/cannabinoid agonists in delivering potent analgesia while minimizing adverse reactions. Peptide modulators of cannabinoid receptors, known as pepcans, have been investigated before. In this study, we designed a series of chimeric peptides based on pepcans and morphiceptin (YPFP-NH2). Here, we combined injections of pepcans and morphiceptin to investigate the combination treatment of opioids and cannabis and compared the analgesic effect with chimeric compounds. Subsequently, we employed computational docking to screen the compounds against opioid and cannabinoid receptors, along with an acute pain model, to identify the most promising peptide. Among these peptides, MP-13, a morphiceptin and pepcan-9 (PVNFKLLSH) construct, exhibited superior supraspinal analgesic efficacy in the tail-flick test, with an ED50 value at 1.43 nmol/mouse, outperforming its parent peptides and other chimeric analogs. Additionally, MP-13 displayed potent analgesic activity mediated by mu-opioid receptor (MOR), delta-opioid receptor (DOR), and cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor pathways. Furthermore, MP-13 did not induce psychological dependence and gastrointestinal motility inhibition at the effective analgesic doses, and it maintained non-tolerance-forming antinociception throughout a 7-day treatment regimen, with an unaltered count of microglial cells in the periaqueductal gray region, supporting this observation. Moreover, intracerebroventricular administration of MP-13 demonstrated dose-dependent antinociception in murine models of neuropathic, inflammatory, and visceral pain. Our findings provide promising insights for the development of opioid/cannabinoid peptide agonists, addressing a crucial gap in the field and holding significant potential for future research and development. PERSPECTIVE: This article offers insights into the combination treatment of pepcans with morphiceptin. Among the chimeric peptides, MP-13 exhibited potent analgesic effects in a series of preclinical pain models with a favorable side-effect profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Mei
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhanyu Niu
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jerine Peter Simon
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tong Yang
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Mingmin Huang
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhonghua Zhang
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Lanxia Zhou
- Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Cytogenetics and Immunology, the First Hospital, Lanzhou University, 1 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shouliang Dong
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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Lin YT, Wu KH, Jhang JJ, Jhang JL, Yu Z, Tsai SC, Chen JC, Hsu PH, Li HY. Hypothalamic NPFFR2 attenuates central insulin signaling and its knockout diminishes metabolic dysfunction in mouse models of diabetes mellitus. Clin Nutr 2024; 43:603-619. [PMID: 38301284 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.01.013] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hypothalamus is a crucial brain region that mediates the effects of insulin and leptin signals on peripheral metabolic functions. Previous research has shown that insulin signals in the hypothalamus act via multiple neuronal circuits and anabolic/catabolic pathways that converge on the vagus nerve and sympathetic fibers to coordinate energy metabolism in peripheral organs. Additionally, neuropeptide FF (NPFF) has been identified as a regulator of feeding behaviors and energy homeostasis in the hypothalamus, but the mechanisms underlying its involvement in metabolic control remain unclear. This study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of NPFF in modulating metabolic disorders. METHODS In this study, we investigated the physiological role of NPFF in insulin-related energy homeostasis and metabolic health. First, we evaluated the effects of NPFF and its receptors on central insulin signaling using mouse hypothalamic cell lines and Npffr2-overexpressing mice. To further explore the effects of NPFFR2 on insulin-related metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, we used Npffr2-deleted mice in combination with the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes and high-fat diet/STZ-induced type 2 diabetic mouse models. The impacts of central NPFFR2 were demonstrated specifically through Npffr2 overexpression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, which subsequently induced type 2 diabetes. RESULTS We found that stimulating NPFFR2 in the hypothalamus blocked hypothalamic insulin activity. Npffr2 deletion improved central and peripheral metabolic symptoms in both mouse models of diabetes mellitus, exerting effects on central and systemic insulin resistance, feeding behaviors, glucose and insulin intolerance, lipid metabolism, liver steatosis, and inflammation of white adipose tissues. The overexpression of ARC Npffr2 augmented the metabolic dysregulation in the mouse model of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that hypothalamic NPFFR2 negatively regulates insulin signaling in the central nervous system and plays an important role in maintaining systemic metabolic health, thereby providing valuable insights for potential clinical interventions targeting these health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Tin Lin
- Graduate Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences, College of Nutrition & TMU Research Center for Digestive Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110301, Taiwan; Nutrition Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110301, Taiwan.
| | - Kuan-Hsuan Wu
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hua 1st Road, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Jie-Jhu Jhang
- Department of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hua 1st Road, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Jie-Lan Jhang
- Department of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hua 1st Road, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Zachary Yu
- Department of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hua 1st Road, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Sze-Chi Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences, College of Nutrition & TMU Research Center for Digestive Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
| | - Jin-Chung Chen
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology & Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hua 1st Road, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fuxing Street, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
| | - Po-Hung Hsu
- Department of Medical Research and Development, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou 33305, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Yun Li
- Department of Natural Sciences, Oregon Institute of Technology, 3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, USA
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