1
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Haghdoost M, Young S, Roberts M, Krebs C, Bonn-Miller MO. Cannabielsoin (CBE), a CBD Oxidation Product, Is a Biased CB 1 Agonist. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1551. [PMID: 39062125 PMCID: PMC11275175 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cannabielsoin (CBE) is primarily recognized as an oxidation byproduct of cannabidiol (CBD) and a minor mammalian metabolite of CBD. The pharmacological interactions between CBE and cannabinoid receptors remain largely unexplored, particularly with respect to cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1). The present study aimed to elucidate the interaction dynamics of CBE in relation to CB1 by employing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and β-arrestin assays to assess its role as an agonist, antagonist, and positive allosteric modulator (PAM). To our knowledge, this is the first publication to investigate CBE's receptor activity in vitro. Our findings reveal that S-CBE acts as an agonist to CB1 with EC50 = 1.23 µg/mL (3.7 µM) in the cAMP assay. No agonist activity was observed in the β-arrestin assay in concentrations up to 12 µM, suggesting a noteworthy affinity towards G-protein activation and the cAMP signaling pathway. Furthermore, in silico molecular docking simulations were conducted to provide a structural basis for the interaction between CBE and CB1, offering insights into the molecular determinants of its receptor affinity and functional selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Haghdoost
- Nalu Bio Inc., 38 Keyes Avenue, Suite 117, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA (M.R.)
| | - Scott Young
- Charlotte’s Web, 700 Tech Court, Louisville, CO 80027, USA;
| | - Matthew Roberts
- Nalu Bio Inc., 38 Keyes Avenue, Suite 117, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA (M.R.)
| | - Caitlyn Krebs
- Nalu Bio Inc., 38 Keyes Avenue, Suite 117, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA (M.R.)
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2
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Green HM, Yang L, Zhu X, Finlay DB, Duffull SB, Glass M. Insight into the mechanism of action of ORG27569 at the cannabinoid type one receptor utilising a unified mathematical model. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:5105-5118. [PMID: 38227196 PMCID: PMC11166842 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02923-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Allosteric modulation of CB1 is therapeutically advantageous compared to orthosteric activation as it potentially offers reduced on-target adverse effects. ORG27569 is an allosteric modulator that increases orthosteric agonist binding to CB1 but decreases functional signalling. ORG27569 is characterised by a delay in disinhibition of agonist-induced cAMP inhibition (lag); however, the mechanism behind this kinetic lag is yet to be identified. We aimed to utilise a mathematical model to predict data and design in vitro experiments to elucidate mechanisms behind the unique signalling profile of ORG27569. The established kinetic ternary complex model includes the existence of a transitional state of CB1 bound to ORG27569 and CP55940 and was used to simulate kinetic cAMP data using NONMEM 7.4 and Matlab R2020b. These data were compared with empirical cAMP BRET data in HEK293 cells stably expressing hCB1. The pharmacometric model suggested that the kinetic lag in cAMP disinhibition by ORG27569 is caused by signal amplification in the cAMP assay and can be reduced by decreasing receptor number. This was confirmed experimentally, as reducing receptor number through agonist-induced internalisation resulted in a decreased kinetic lag by ORG27569. ORG27569 was found to have a similar interaction with CP55940 and the high efficacy agonist WIN55,212-2, and was suggested to have lower affinity for CB1 bound by the partial agonist THC compared to CP55940. Allosteric modulators have unique signalling profiles that are often difficult to interrogate exclusively in vitro. We have used a combined mathematical and in vitro approach to prove that ORG27569 causes a delay in disinhibition of agonist-induced cAMP inhibition due to large receptor reserve in this pathway. We also used the pharmacometric model to investigate the common phenomenon of probe dependence, to propose that ORG27569 binds with higher affinity to CB1 bound by high efficacy orthosteric agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley M Green
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Liang Yang
- Otago Pharmacometrics Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Xiao Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - David B Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Stephen B Duffull
- Otago Pharmacometrics Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- , Certara, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
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3
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Cao C, Yin H, Yang B, Yue Q, Wu G, Gu M, Zhang Y, Fan Y, Dong X, Wang T, Wang C, Zhu X, Mao Y, Zhang X, Lei Z, Li C. Intra-Operative Definition of Glioma Infiltrative Margins by Visualizing Immunosuppressive Tumor-Associated Macrophages. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2304020. [PMID: 37544917 PMCID: PMC10558635 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Accurate delineation of glioma infiltrative margins remains a challenge due to the low density of cancer cells in these regions. Here, a hierarchical imaging strategy to define glioma margins by locating the immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is proposed. A pH ratiometric fluorescent probe CP2-M that targets immunosuppressive TAMs by binding to mannose receptor (CD206) is developed, and it subsequently senses the acidic phagosomal lumen, resulting in a remarkable fluorescence enhancement. With assistance of CP2-M, glioma xenografts in mouse models with a tumor-to-background ratio exceeding 3.0 for up to 6 h are successfully visualized. Furthermore, by intra-operatively mapping the pH distribution of exposed tissue after craniotomy, the glioma allograft in rat models is precisely excised. The overall survival of rat models significantly surpasses that achieved using clinically employed fluorescent probes. This work presents a novel strategy for locating glioma margins, thereby improving surgical outcomes for tumors with infiltrative characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Cao
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Hang Yin
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Biao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Qi Yue
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Guoqing Wu
- School of Information Science and TechnologyFudan UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Meng Gu
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Yuwen Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain‐Inspired IntelligenceMOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain‐Inspired IntelligenceMOE Frontiers Center for Brain ScienceFudan University220 Handan RoadShanghai200433China
| | - Yang Fan
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Xiaoyan Dong
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Ting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Cong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Xiao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Ying Mao
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Xiao‐Yong Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain‐Inspired IntelligenceMOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain‐Inspired IntelligenceMOE Frontiers Center for Brain ScienceFudan University220 Handan RoadShanghai200433China
| | - Zuhai Lei
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Cong Li
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of EducationInnovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, Ministry of EducationSchool of PharmacyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai201203China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical NeurobiologyZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
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4
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Yang L, Zhu X, Finlay DB, Green H, Glass M, Duffull SB. A kinetic model for positive allosteric modulator (PAM)-antagonists for the type 1 cannabinoid (CB 1 ) receptor. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:2661-2676. [PMID: 37277184 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The cannabinoid (CB1 ) receptor is among the most abundant G protein-coupled receptors in brain. Allosteric ligands bind to a different site on receptors than the orthosteric ligand can have effects that are unique to the allosteric ligand and modulate orthosteric ligand activity. We propose a unified mathematical model describing the interaction effects of the allosteric ligand Org27569 and the orthosteric agonist CP55940 on CB1 receptor. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH A ternary complex model was constructed, which incorporated kinetic properties to describe the time course of effects of Org27569 and CP55940 reported in the literature: (i) enhanced receptor binding of CP55940, (ii) reduced internalisation and (iii), time-dependent modulation of cAMP. Underlying mechanisms of time-dependent modulation by Org27569 were evaluated by simulation. KEY RESULTS A hypothetical transitional state of CP55940-CB1 -Org27569, which can internalise but cannot inhibit cAMP, was shown to be necessary and was sufficient to describe the allosteric modulation by Org27569, prior to receptors adopting an inactive conformation. The model indicated that the formation of this transitional CP55940-CB1 -Org27569 state and final inactive CP55940-CB1 -Org27569 state contributes to the enhanced CP55940 binding. The inactive CP55940-CB1 -Org27569 cannot internalise or inhibit cAMP, leading to reduced internalisation and cessation of cAMP inhibition. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS In conclusion, a kinetic mathematical model for CB1 receptor allosteric modulation was developed. However, a standard ternary complex model was not sufficient to capture the data and a hypothetical transitional state was required to describe the allosteric modulation properties of Org27569.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Yang
- Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Otago Pharmacometrics Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Xiao Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - David B Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Hayley Green
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stephen B Duffull
- Otago Pharmacometrics Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Certara, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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5
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Bouma J, Soethoudt M, van Gils N, Xia L, van der Stelt M, Heitman LH. Cellular Assay to Study β-Arrestin Recruitment by the Cannabinoid Receptors 1 and 2. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2576:189-199. [PMID: 36152187 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2728-0_15] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that activate a variety of pathways upon activation by (partial) agonists including the G protein pathway and the recruitment of β-arrestins. Differences in the activation level of these pathways lead to biased signaling. Here, we describe a detailed protocol to characterize the potency and efficacy of ligands to induce or inhibit β-arrestin recruitment to the human CB1R and CB2R using the PathHunter® assay. This is a cellular assay that uses a β-galactosidase complementation system which has a chemiluminescent read-out and can be performed in 384-well plates. We have successfully used this assay to characterize a set of reference ligands (both agonists, antagonists, and an inverse agonist) on human CB1R and CB2R, of which some examples will be presented here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jara Bouma
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Soethoudt
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Noortje van Gils
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lizi Xia
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Laura H Heitman
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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6
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Hoare SRJ, Tewson PH, Sachdev S, Connor M, Hughes TE, Quinn AM. Quantifying the Kinetics of Signaling and Arrestin Recruitment by Nervous System G-Protein Coupled Receptors. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 15:814547. [PMID: 35110998 PMCID: PMC8801586 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.814547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons integrate inputs over different time and space scales. Fast excitatory synapses at boutons (ms and μm), and slow modulation over entire dendritic arbors (seconds and mm) are all ultimately combined to produce behavior. Understanding the timing of signaling events mediated by G-protein-coupled receptors is necessary to elucidate the mechanism of action of therapeutics targeting the nervous system. Measuring signaling kinetics in live cells has been transformed by the adoption of fluorescent biosensors and dyes that convert biological signals into optical signals that are conveniently recorded by microscopic imaging or by fluorescence plate readers. Quantifying the timing of signaling has now become routine with the application of equations in familiar curve fitting software to estimate the rates of signaling from the waveform. Here we describe examples of the application of these methods, including (1) Kinetic analysis of opioid signaling dynamics and partial agonism measured using cAMP and arrestin biosensors; (2) Quantifying the signaling activity of illicit synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists measured using a fluorescent membrane potential dye; (3) Demonstration of multiplicity of arrestin functions from analysis of biosensor waveforms and quantification of the rates of these processes. These examples show how temporal analysis provides additional dimensions to enhance the understanding of GPCR signaling and therapeutic mechanisms in the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam R. J. Hoare
- Pharmechanics LLC, Owego, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Sam R. J. Hoare
| | | | - Shivani Sachdev
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mark Connor
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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7
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Leo LM, Abood ME. CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor Signaling and Biased Signaling. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175413. [PMID: 34500853 PMCID: PMC8433814 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The CB1 cannabinoid receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor highly expressed throughout the central nervous system that is a promising target for the treatment of various disorders, including anxiety, pain, and neurodegeneration. Despite the wide therapeutic potential of CB1, the development of drug candidates is hindered by adverse effects, rapid tolerance development, and abuse potential. Ligands that produce biased signaling—the preferential activation of a signaling transducer in detriment of another—have been proposed as a strategy to dissociate therapeutic and adverse effects for a variety of G-protein coupled receptors. However, biased signaling at the CB1 receptor is poorly understood due to a lack of strongly biased agonists. Here, we review studies that have investigated the biased signaling profile of classical cannabinoid agonists and allosteric ligands, searching for a potential therapeutic advantage of CB1 biased signaling in different pathological states. Agonist and antagonist bound structures of CB1 and proposed mechanisms of action of biased allosteric modulators are used to discuss a putative molecular mechanism for CB1 receptor activation and biased signaling. Current studies suggest that allosteric binding sites on CB1 can be explored to yield biased ligands that favor or hinder conformational changes important for biased signaling.
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8
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Yang L, Zhu X, Finlay DB, Glass M, Duffull SB. Exploring group size for statistical analysis of real-time signalling experiments. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:3997-4004. [PMID: 34031869 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Classical pharmacological bioassays generally use observed effects from a concentration series, at a single equilibrium time point to construct a concentration-effect curve, representing one experiment. However, if the full kinetic profile of the effect data for each concentration was evaluated simultaneously, then the analysis would be more powerful. In this work, we explore if more precise parameters can be achieved by using the full kinetic method. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We used a simulation estimation study to explore the influence of kinetic analysis on the precision of the Emax model parameter estimates (Emax and C50 ). We compared a full kinetic approach in which all effect versus time data from a theoretical real-time signalling experiment were analysed simultaneously with a 'reference' approach. The theoretical real-time signalling experiment was based on a previously published CB2 receptor-binding experiment. KEY RESULTS The reference method with a group size (n) of 5 provided highly precise parameter estimates (coefficient of variation [CV] 3.4% for Emax and 0.72% for C50 ). A full kinetic method provided more precise estimates than the reference with equal or smaller group sizes. Note that group size 'n' here refers to the number of technical replicates rather than the number of biological replicates. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS A full kinetic method can yield more precise parameter estimates than the equilibrium method. Such an approach may be more useful for researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Yang
- Otago Pharmacometrics Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Xiao Zhu
- Otago Pharmacometrics Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David B Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stephen B Duffull
- Otago Pharmacometrics Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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9
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Manning JJ, Green HM, Glass M, Finlay DB. Pharmacological selection of cannabinoid receptor effectors: Signalling, allosteric modulation and bias. Neuropharmacology 2021; 193:108611. [PMID: 34000272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1) is a promising drug target for a wide range of diseases. However, many existing and novel candidate ligands for CB1 have shown only limited therapeutic potential. Indeed, no ligands are currently approved for the clinic except formulations of the phytocannabinoids Δ9-THC and CBD and a small number of analogues. A key limitation of many promising CB1 ligands are their on-target adverse effects, notably including psychoactivity (agonists) and depression/suicidal ideation (inverse agonists). Recent drug development attempts have therefore focussed on altering CB1 signalling profiles in two ways. Firstly, with compounds that enhance or reduce the signalling of endogenous (endo-) cannabinoids, namely allosteric modulators. Secondly, with compounds that probe the capability of selectively targeting specific cellular signalling pathways that may mediate therapeutic effects using biased ligands. This review will summarise the current paradigm of CB1 signalling in terms of the intracellular transduction pathways acted on by the receptor. The development of compounds that selectively activate CB1 signalling pathways, whether allosterically or via orthosteric agonist bias, will also be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie J Manning
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Hayley M Green
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - David B Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
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10
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Pike E, Grafinger KE, Cannaert A, Ametovski A, Luo JL, Sparkes E, Cairns EA, Ellison R, Gerona R, Stove CP, Auwärter V, Banister SD. Systematic evaluation of a panel of 30 synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists structurally related to MMB-4en-PICA, MDMB-4en-PINACA, ADB-4en-PINACA, and MMB-4CN-BUTINACA using a combination of binding and different CB 1 receptor activation assays: Part I-Synthesis, analytical characterization, and binding affinity for human CB 1 receptors. Drug Test Anal 2021; 13:1383-1401. [PMID: 33787091 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are one of the largest and most structurally diverse classes of new psychoactive substances (NPS). Despite this, pharmacological data are often lacking following the identification of a new SCRA in drug markets. In this first of a three-part series, we describe the synthesis, analytical characterization, and binding affinity of a proactively generated, systematic library of 30 indole, indazole, and 7-azaindole SCRAs related to MMB-4en-PICA, MDMB-4en-PINACA, ADB-4en-PINACA, and MMB-4CN-BUTINACA featuring a 4-pentenyl (4en-P), butyl (B/BUT), or 4-cyanobutyl (4CN-B/BUT) tail and a methyl l-valinate (MMB), methyl l-tert-leucinate (MDMB), methyl l-phenylalaninate (MPP), l-valinamide (AB), l-tert-leucinamide (ADB), l-phenylalaninamide (APP), adamantyl (A), or cumyl head group. Competitive radioligand binding assays demonstrated that the indazole core conferred the highest CB1 binding affinity (Ki = 0.17-39 nM), followed by indole- (Ki = 0.95-160 nM) and then 7-azaindole-derived SCRAs (Ki = 5.4-271 nM). Variation of the head group had the greatest effect on binding, with tert-leucine amides and methyl esters (Ki = 0.17-14 nM) generally showing the greatest affinities, followed by valine derivatives (Ki = 0.72-180 nM), and then phenylalanine derivatives (Ki = 2.5-271 nM). Adamantyl head groups (Ki = 8.8-59 nM) were suboptimal for binding, whereas the cumyl analogues consistently conferred high affinity (Ki = 0.62-36 nM). Finally, both butyl (Ki = 3.1-163 nM) and 4-cyanobutyl (Ki = 5.5-44 nM) tail groups were less favorable for CB1 binding than their corresponding 4-pentenyl counterparts (Ki = 0.72-25 nM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Pike
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, UK
| | - Katharina Elisabeth Grafinger
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annelies Cannaert
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Adam Ametovski
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jia Lin Luo
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Eric Sparkes
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Cairns
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ross Ellison
- Clinical Toxicology and Environmental Biomonitoring Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Roy Gerona
- Clinical Toxicology and Environmental Biomonitoring Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Christophe P Stove
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Volker Auwärter
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Samuel D Banister
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Patel M, Finlay DB, Glass M. Biased agonism at the cannabinoid receptors - Evidence from synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists. Cell Signal 2020; 78:109865. [PMID: 33259937 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The type 1 and type 2 cannabinoid receptors are G protein-coupled receptors implicated in a variety of physiological processes and diseases. Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) were originally developed to explore the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoid receptor activation, although more recently, these compounds have been diverted to the recreational drug market and are increasingly associated with incidences of toxicity. A prominent concept in contemporary pharmacology is functional selectivity or biased agonism, which describes the ability of ligands to elicit differential activation of signalling pathways through stabilisation of distinct receptor conformations. Biased agonists may maximise drug effectiveness by reducing on-target adverse effects if they are mediated by signalling pathways distinct from those that drive the therapeutic effects. For the cannabinoid receptors, it remains unclear as to which signalling pathways mediate desirable and adverse effects. However, given their structural diversity and potential to induce a plethora of signalling effects, SCRAs provide the most promising prospect for detecting and studying bias at the cannabinoid receptors. This review summarises the emerging evidence of SCRA bias at the cannabinoid receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Patel
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David B Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Hoare SRJ, Tewson PH, Quinn AM, Hughes TE, Bridge LJ. Analyzing kinetic signaling data for G-protein-coupled receptors. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12263. [PMID: 32704081 PMCID: PMC7378232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67844-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In classical pharmacology, bioassay data are fit to general equations (e.g. the dose response equation) to determine empirical drug parameters (e.g. EC50 and Emax), which are then used to calculate chemical parameters such as affinity and efficacy. Here we used a similar approach for kinetic, time course signaling data, to allow empirical and chemical definition of signaling by G-protein-coupled receptors in kinetic terms. Experimental data are analyzed using general time course equations (model-free approach) and mechanistic model equations (mechanistic approach) in the commonly-used curve-fitting program, GraphPad Prism. A literature survey indicated signaling time course data usually conform to one of four curve shapes: the straight line, association exponential curve, rise-and-fall to zero curve, and rise-and-fall to steady-state curve. In the model-free approach, the initial rate of signaling is quantified and this is done by curve-fitting to the whole time course, avoiding the need to select the linear part of the curve. It is shown that the four shapes are consistent with a mechanistic model of signaling, based on enzyme kinetics, with the shape defined by the regulation of signaling mechanisms (e.g. receptor desensitization, signal degradation). Signaling efficacy is the initial rate of signaling by agonist-occupied receptor (kτ), simply the rate of signal generation before it becomes affected by regulation mechanisms, measurable using the model-free analysis. Regulation of signaling parameters such as the receptor desensitization rate constant can be estimated if the mechanism is known. This study extends the empirical and mechanistic approach used in classical pharmacology to kinetic signaling data, facilitating optimization of new therapeutics in kinetic terms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam R J Hoare
- Pharmechanics, LLC, 14 Sunnyside Drive South, Owego, NY, 13827, USA.
| | - Paul H Tewson
- Montana Molecular, 366 Gallatin Park Dr. Suite A, Bozeman, MT, 59715, USA
| | - Anne Marie Quinn
- Montana Molecular, 366 Gallatin Park Dr. Suite A, Bozeman, MT, 59715, USA
| | - Thomas E Hughes
- Montana Molecular, 366 Gallatin Park Dr. Suite A, Bozeman, MT, 59715, USA
| | - Lloyd J Bridge
- Department of Engineering Design and Mathematics, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
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Zhu X, Finlay DB, Glass M, Duffull SB. Evaluation of the profiles of CB 1 cannabinoid receptor signalling bias using joint kinetic modelling. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 177:3449-3463. [PMID: 32293708 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Biased agonism describes the ability of ligands to differentially regulate multiple signalling pathways when coupled to a single receptor. Signalling is affected by rapid agonist-induced receptor internalisation. Hence, the conventional use of equilibrium models may not be optimal, because (i) receptor numbers vary with time and, in addition, (ii) some pathways may show non-monotonic profiles over time. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Data were available from internalisation, cAMP inhibition and phosphorylation of ERK (pERK) of the cannabinoid-1 (CB1 ) receptor using a concentration series of six CB1 ligands (CP55,940, WIN55,212-2, anandamide, 2-arachidonylglycerol, Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol and BAY59,3074). The joint kinetic model of CB1 signalling was developed to simultaneously describe the time-dependent activities in three signalling pathways. Based on the insights from the kinetic model, fingerprint profiles of CB1 ligand bias were constructed and visualised. KEY RESULTS A joint kinetic model was able to capture the signalling profiles across all pathways for the CB1 receptor simultaneously for a system that was not at equilibrium. WIN55,212-2 had a similar pattern as 2-arachidonylglycerol (reference). The other agonists displayed bias towards internalisation compared to cAMP inhibition. However, only Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol and BAY59,3074 demonstrated bias in the pERK-cAMP pathway comparison. Furthermore, all the agonists exhibited little preference between internalisation and pERK. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS This is the first joint kinetic assessment of biased agonism at a GPCR (e.g. CB1 receptor) under non-equilibrium conditions. Kinetic modelling is a natural method to handle time-varying data when traditional equilibria are not present and enables quantification of ligand bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhu
- Otago Pharmacometrics Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David B Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Stephen B Duffull
- Otago Pharmacometrics Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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