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Guarino A, Pignata P, Lovisari F, Asth L, Simonato M, Soukupova M. Cognitive comorbidities in the rat pilocarpine model of epilepsy. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1392977. [PMID: 38872822 PMCID: PMC11171745 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1392977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with epilepsy are prone to cognitive decline, depression, anxiety and other behavioral disorders. Cognitive comorbidities are particularly common and well-characterized in people with temporal lobe epilepsy, while inconsistently addressed in epileptic animals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to ascertain whether there is good evidence of cognitive comorbidities in animal models of epilepsy, in particular in the rat pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy. We searched the literature published between 1990 and 2023. The association of spontaneous recurrent seizures induced by pilocarpine with cognitive alterations has been evaluated by using various tests: contextual fear conditioning (CFC), novel object recognition (NOR), radial and T-maze, Morris water maze (MWM) and their variants. Combination of results was difficult because of differences in methodological standards, in number of animals employed, and in outcome measures. Taken together, however, the analysis confirmed that pilocarpine-induced epilepsy has an effect on cognition in rats, and supports the notion that this is a valid model for assessment of cognitive temporal lobe epilepsy comorbidities in preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annunziata Guarino
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paola Pignata
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francesca Lovisari
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Laila Asth
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Barker-Haliski M, Pitsch J, Galanopoulou AS, Köhling R. A companion to the preclinical common data elements for phenotyping seizures and epilepsy in rodent models. A report of the TASK3-WG1C: Phenotyping working group of the ILAE/AES joint translational task force. Epilepsia Open 2022. [PMID: 36461665 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12676] [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: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by spontaneous seizures and behavioral comorbidities. The underlying mechanisms of seizures and epilepsy across various syndromes lead to diverse clinical presentation and features. Similarly, animal models of epilepsy arise from numerous dissimilar inciting events. Preclinical seizure and epilepsy models can be evoked through many different protocols, leaving the phenotypic reporting subject to diverse interpretations. Serendipity can also play an outsized role in uncovering novel drivers of seizures or epilepsy, with some investigators even stumbling into epilepsy research because of a new genetic cross or unintentional drug effect. The heightened emphasis on rigor and reproducibility in preclinical research, including that which is conducted for epilepsy, underscores the need for standardized phenotyping strategies. To address this goal as part of the TASK3-WG1C Working Group of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)/American Epilepsy Society (AES) Joint Translational Task Force, we developed a case report form (CRF) to describe the common data elements (CDEs) necessary for the phenotyping of seizure-like behaviors in rodents. This companion manuscript describes the use of the proposed CDEs and CRF for the visual, behavioral phenotyping of seizure-like behaviors. These phenotyping CDEs and accompanying CRF can be used in parallel with video-electroencephalography (EEG) studies or as a first visual screen to determine whether a model manifests seizure-like behaviors before utilizing more specialized diagnostic tests, like video-EEG. Systematic logging of seizure-like behaviors may help identify models that could benefit from more specialized diagnostic tests to determine whether these are epileptic seizures, such as video-EEG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Barker-Haliski
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Julika Pitsch
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Aristea S Galanopoulou
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Isabelle Rapin Division of Child Neurology, Laboratory of Developmental Epilepsy, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Isabelle Rapin Division of Child Neurology, Laboratory of Developmental Epilepsy, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Rüdiger Köhling
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institut für Physiologie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Mishra MK, Kukal S, Paul PR, Bora S, Singh A, Kukreti S, Saso L, Muthusamy K, Hasija Y, Kukreti R. Insights into Structural Modifications of Valproic Acid and Their Pharmacological Profile. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 27:molecules27010104. [PMID: 35011339 PMCID: PMC8746633 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-established anticonvulsant drug discovered serendipitously and marketed for the treatment of epilepsy, migraine, bipolar disorder and neuropathic pain. Apart from this, VPA has potential therapeutic applications in other central nervous system (CNS) disorders and in various cancer types. Since the discovery of its anticonvulsant activity, substantial efforts have been made to develop structural analogues and derivatives in an attempt to increase potency and decrease adverse side effects, the most significant being teratogenicity and hepatotoxicity. Most of these compounds have shown reduced toxicity with improved potency. The simple structure of VPA offers a great advantage to its modification. This review briefly discusses the pharmacology and molecular targets of VPA. The article then elaborates on the structural modifications in VPA including amide-derivatives, acid and cyclic analogues, urea derivatives and pro-drugs, and compares their pharmacological profile with that of the parent molecule. The current challenges for the clinical use of these derivatives are also discussed. The review is expected to provide necessary knowledgebase for the further development of VPA-derived compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Kumar Mishra
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India; (M.K.M.); (S.K.); (P.R.P.); (S.B.)
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Main Bawana Road, Delhi 110042, India;
| | - Samiksha Kukal
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India; (M.K.M.); (S.K.); (P.R.P.); (S.B.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Priyanka Rani Paul
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India; (M.K.M.); (S.K.); (P.R.P.); (S.B.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Shivangi Bora
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India; (M.K.M.); (S.K.); (P.R.P.); (S.B.)
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Main Bawana Road, Delhi 110042, India;
| | - Anju Singh
- Nucleic Acids Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi 110007, India; (A.S.); (S.K.)
- Department of Chemistry, Ramjas College, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi 110007, India
| | - Shrikant Kukreti
- Nucleic Acids Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi 110007, India; (A.S.); (S.K.)
| | - Luciano Saso
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, P. le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Karthikeyan Muthusamy
- Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630004, Tamil Nadu, India;
| | - Yasha Hasija
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Main Bawana Road, Delhi 110042, India;
| | - Ritushree Kukreti
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India; (M.K.M.); (S.K.); (P.R.P.); (S.B.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +91-11-27662202; Fax: +91-11-27667471
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Malygin AS, Yasnetsov VV. Design and evaluation of pharmacological properties of a new 1,3,4-thiadiazolylamide derivative of 2-propylpentanoic acid. RESEARCH RESULTS IN PHARMACOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/rrpharmacology.7.70179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The use of the pharmacophoric approach is a promising direction for modifying the chemical structure of 2-propylpentanoic (valproic) acid in order to obtain new drugs.
Materials and methods: In the experiments on mice, acute toxicity, neurotoxicity, antiepileptic activity and analgesic effect of N-(5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-2-propylpentanamide (valprazolamide) were evaluated. LD50 was determined by probit analysis. Neurotoxicity was determined in a rotarod test and a bar test in mice. The effects of valprazolamide on the exploratory behavior of mice in open field test and in a light/dark transition test were evaluated. Its antiepileptic activity was tested in mice against seizures induced by maximal electroshock, pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ); isoniazid, thiosemicarbazide, pilocarpine, and camphor. The analgesic effect was studied in a hot plate test.
Results and discussion: N-(5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-2-propylpentanamide was obtained by introducing pharmacophores into the structure of 2-propylpentanoic acid: a substituted amide group and an electron-donor domain of 1,3,4-thiadiazole. The LD50 value for intraperitoneal administration of a new 2-propylpentanoic acid: derivative to mice was 924.8 mg/kg, and the TD50 value in the rotarod test and the bar test were 456.7 mg/kg and 546.7 mg/kg, respectively. The suppression of orienting responses in the animals was noted when it was administered in neurotoxic doses. Valprazolamide showed the most antiepileptic activity on models of MES, scPTZ and isoniazid antagonism tests. The ED50 values were 138.4 mg/kg, 74.5 mg/kg, and 126.8 mg/kg, respectively. The therapeutic indices for these models of epilepsy were 6.7; 12.4; 7.3, and protective index – 3.3; 6.1 and 3.6, respectively. In the hot plate test, valprazolamide increased the latency period before a defensive response to a thermal stimulus (ED50 165 mg/kg).
Conclusion: N-(5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-2-propylpentanamide is a new 1,3,4-thiadiazolylamide derivative of 2-propylpentanoic acid with antiepileptic and analgesic activities, which belongs to the group of low-toxic agents.
Graphic abstract
N-(5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-2-propylpentanamide (3D)
LD50=924.8 mg/kg (mice, intraperitoneally)
TD50=456.7 mg/kg (rotarod, mice, intraperitoneally)
ED50=138.4 mg/kg (MES, mice, intraperitoneally)
ED50=74.5 mg/kg (scPTZ, mice, intraperitoneally)
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Knox KM, Zierath DK, White HS, Barker-Haliski M. Continuous seizure emergency evoked in mice with pharmacological, electrographic, and pathological features distinct from status epilepticus. Epilepsia 2021; 62:3076-3090. [PMID: 34625953 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17089] [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: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Benzodiazepines are the standard of care for the management of sustained seizure emergencies, including status epilepticus (SE) and seizure clusters. Seizure clusters are a variably defined seizure emergency wherein a patient has multiple seizures above a baseline rate, with intervening periods of recovery, distinguishing clusters from SE. Although these seizure emergencies are phenotypically distinct, the precise pathophysiological and mechanistic differences between SE and seizure clusters are understudied. Emergency-specific preclinical models may differentiate the behavioral and pathological mechanisms that are acutely associated with seizure emergencies and seizure termination to better manage these events. METHODS Herein we characterize a novel model of sustained seizure emergency induced in CF-1 mice through the combined administration of high-dose phenytoin (PHT; 50 mg/kg, i.p.) and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ; 100 mg/kg, s.c.). RESULTS We presently describe a mouse model of sustained seizure emergency that is pathologically, pharmacologically, and behaviorally distinct from SE. Acute administration of PHT 1 h prior to PTZ led to significantly more mice with unremitting continuous seizure activity (CSA; 73.4%) vs vehicle-pretreated mice (13.8%; p < .0001). CSA was sensitive to lorazepam and valproic acid when administered at seizure onset and 30 minutes later. Carbamazepine worsened seizure control and post-CSA survival. Mice in CSA exhibited electroencephalography (EEG) patterns distinct from kainic acid-induced SE and PTZ alone, clearly differentiating CSA from SE and PTZ-induced myoclonic seizures. Neuropathological assessment by Fluoro-Jade C staining of brains collected 24 h post-CSA revealed no neurodegeneration in any mouse that underwent CSA, whereas there was widespread neuronal death in brains from KA-SE mice. Finally, immunohistochemistry revealed acute seizure-induced astrogliosis (glial fibrillary acid protein; GFAP) in hippocampal structures, whereas hippocampal neuronal nuclei (NeuN) protein expression was only reduced in KA-SE mice. SIGNIFICANCE We present a novel mouse model on which to further elucidate the mechanistic differences between sustained seizure emergencies (ie, SE and seizure clusters) to improve clinical interventions and define mechanisms of seizure termination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Knox
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Dannielle K Zierath
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - H Steve White
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Melissa Barker-Haliski
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Morgan JE, Wilson SC, Travis BJ, Bagri KH, Pagarigan KT, Belski HM, Jackson C, Bounader KM, Coppola JM, Hornung EN, Johnson JE, McCarren HS. Refractory and Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus in Nerve Agent-Poisoned Rats Following Application of Standard Clinical Treatment Guidelines. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:732213. [PMID: 34566572 PMCID: PMC8462486 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.732213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve agents (NAs) induce a severe cholinergic crisis that can lead to status epilepticus (SE). Current guidelines for treatment of NA-induced SE only include prehospital benzodiazepines, which may not fully resolve this life-threatening condition. This study examined the efficacy of general clinical protocols for treatment of SE in the specific context of NA poisoning in adult male rats. Treatment with both intramuscular and intravenous benzodiazepines was entirely insufficient to control SE. Second line intervention with valproate (VPA) initially terminated SE in 35% of rats, but seizures always returned. Phenobarbital (PHB) was more effective, with SE terminating in 56% of rats and 19% of rats remaining seizure-free for at least 24 h. The majority of rats demonstrated refractory SE (RSE) and required treatment with a continuous third-line anesthetic. Both ketamine (KET) and propofol (PRO) led to high levels of mortality, and nearly all rats on these therapies had breakthrough seizure activity, demonstrating super-refractory SE (SRSE). For the small subset of rats in which SE was fully resolved, significant improvements over controls were observed in recovery metrics, behavioral assays, and brain pathology. Together these data suggest that NA-induced SE is particularly severe, but aggressive treatment in the intensive care setting can lead to positive functional outcomes for casualties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Morgan
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - Sara C Wilson
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - Benjamin J Travis
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - Kathryn H Bagri
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - Kathleen T Pagarigan
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - Hannah M Belski
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - Cecelia Jackson
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - Kevin M Bounader
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - Jessica M Coppola
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - Eden N Hornung
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - James E Johnson
- Comparative Pathology Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
| | - Hilary S McCarren
- Neuroscience Department, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United States
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miR-23a-3p is involved in drug resistance by directly targeting the influx drug transporter organic anion-transporting polypeptide 2. Childs Nerv Syst 2021; 37:2545-2555. [PMID: 33779805 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-021-05146-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Drug transporters are involved in the drug resistance of individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy by influencing the intracerebral transport of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The expression of drug transporters is associated with microRNAs. We previously revealed that miR-23a-3p levels were elevated in the blood of patients with intractable epilepsy. Additionally, the influx drug transporter organic anion-transporting polypeptide 2 (Oatp2) is involved in the intracerebral transport of valproic acid (VPA), the most commonly used AED; repeated seizures lead to decreased expression of Oatp2. However, the role of miR-23a-3p in the expression of Oatp2 and in the development of drug resistance has not been established. Herein, we aimed to determine the potential role of miR-23a-3p in VPA-resistant epilepsy through in vivo and in vitro experiments. METHODS Epilepsy was elicited after status epilepticus (SE) was induced by lithium-pilocarpine in adult Sprague-Dawley rats, followed by VPA treatment to select rats with VPA resistance. The expression of miR-23a-3p was detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A miR-23a-3p inhibitor was intracerebrally injected into VPA-resistant rats, and histological staining and Morris water maze tests were performed to evaluate brain damage and learning/memory functions in these rats. Subsequently, a dual-luciferase reporter assay and a VPA uptake assay were performed in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) to investigate the underlying mechanism of action of miR-23a-3p. RESULTS Our results indicated that compared to that in control rats, miR-23a-3p was elevated in VPA-resistant rats. Intracerebral injection of a miR-23a-3p inhibitor reduced brain damage and the associated deficits in learning and memory functions in rats with VPA resistance. Further investigation indicated that Oatp2 was the direct target of miR-23a-3p, and it was negatively regulated by miR-23a-3p in the brain and BMECs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-23a-3p reduced VPA uptake in BMECs by regulating Oatp2 expression. CONCLUSIONS miR-23a-3p is involved in VPA resistance in epilepsy by directly targeting the influx drug transporter Oatp2, indicating that miR-23a-3p could be a potential therapeutic target for intractable epilepsy.
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Morales JF, Chuguransky S, Alberca LN, Alice JI, Goicoechea S, Ruiz ME, Bellera CL, Talevi A. Positive Predictive Value Surfaces as a Complementary Tool to Assess the Performance of Virtual Screening Methods. Mini Rev Med Chem 2021; 20:1447-1460. [PMID: 32072906 DOI: 10.2174/1871525718666200219130229] [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: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since their introduction in the virtual screening field, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve-derived metrics have been widely used for benchmarking of computational methods and algorithms intended for virtual screening applications. Whereas in classification problems, the ratio between sensitivity and specificity for a given score value is very informative, a practical concern in virtual screening campaigns is to predict the actual probability that a predicted hit will prove truly active when submitted to experimental testing (in other words, the Positive Predictive Value - PPV). Estimation of such probability is however, obstructed due to its dependency on the yield of actives of the screened library, which cannot be known a priori. OBJECTIVE To explore the use of PPV surfaces derived from simulated ranking experiments (retrospective virtual screening) as a complementary tool to ROC curves, for both benchmarking and optimization of score cutoff values. METHODS The utility of the proposed approach is assessed in retrospective virtual screening experiments with four datasets used to infer QSAR classifiers: inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi trypanothione synthetase; inhibitors of Trypanosoma brucei N-myristoyltransferase; inhibitors of GABA transaminase and anticonvulsant activity in the 6 Hz seizure model. RESULTS Besides illustrating the utility of PPV surfaces to compare the performance of machine learning models for virtual screening applications and to select an adequate score threshold, our results also suggest that ensemble learning provides models with better predictivity and more robust behavior. CONCLUSION PPV surfaces are valuable tools to assess virtual screening tools and choose score thresholds to be applied in prospective in silico screens. Ensemble learning approaches seem to consistently lead to improved predictivity and robustness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Morales
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP) - 47 & 115, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sara Chuguransky
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP) - 47 & 115, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas N Alberca
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP) - 47 & 115, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan I Alice
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP) - 47 & 115, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sofía Goicoechea
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP) - 47 & 115, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María E Ruiz
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP) - 47 & 115, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina L Bellera
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP) - 47 & 115, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alan Talevi
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP) - 47 & 115, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Banono NS, Gawel K, De Witte L, Esguerra CV. Zebrafish Larvae Carrying a Splice Variant Mutation in cacna1d: A New Model for Schizophrenia-Like Behaviours? Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:877-894. [PMID: 33057948 PMCID: PMC7843589 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02160-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Persons with certain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CACNA1D gene (encoding voltage-gated calcium channel subunit alpha 1-D) have increased risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders such as bipolar, schizophrenia and autism. The molecular consequences of SNPs on gene expression and protein function are not well understood. Thus, the use of animal models to determine genotype-phenotype correlations is critical to understanding disease pathogenesis. Here, we describe the behavioural changes in larval zebrafish carrying an essential splice site mutation (sa17298) in cacna1da. Heterozygous mutation resulted in 50% reduction of splice variants 201 and 202 (haploinsufficiency), while homozygosity increased transcript levels of variant 201 above wild type (WT; gain-of-function, GOF). Due to low homozygote viability, we focused primarily on performing the phenotypic analysis on heterozygotes. Indeed, cacna1dasa17298/WT larvae displayed hyperlocomotion-a behaviour characterised in zebrafish as a surrogate phenotype for epilepsy, anxiety or psychosis-like behaviour. Follow-up tests ruled out anxiety or seizures, however, as neither thigmotaxis defects nor epileptiform-like discharges in larval brains were observed. We therefore focused on testing for potential "psychosis-like" behaviour by assaying cacna1dasa17298/WT larval locomotor activity under constant light, during light-dark transition and in startle response to dark flashes. Furthermore, exposure of larvae to the antipsychotics, risperidone and haloperidol reversed cacna1da-induced hyperactivity to WT levels while valproate decreased but did not reverse hyperactivity. Together, these findings demonstrate that cacna1da haploinsufficiency induces behaviours in larval zebrafish analogous to those observed in rodent models of psychosis. Future studies on homozygous mutants will determine how cacna1d GOF alters behaviour in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Saana Banono
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kinga Gawel
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego Str. 8b, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Linus De Witte
- Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, AP Hogeschool Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Camila V Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349, Oslo, Norway.
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Sem Sælandsvei 24, 0371, Oslo, Norway.
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Bialer M, Johannessen SI, Koepp MJ, Levy RH, Perucca E, Perucca P, Tomson T, White HS. Progress report on new antiepileptic drugs: A summary of the Fifteenth Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs and Devices (EILAT XV). I. Drugs in preclinical and early clinical development. Epilepsia 2020; 61:2340-2364. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.16725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Meir Bialer
- Faculty of Medicine School of Pharmacy and David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy Institute for Drug Research Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
| | - Svein I. Johannessen
- National Center for Epilepsy Sandvika Norway
- Department of Pharmacology Oslo University Hospital Oslo Norway
| | - Matthias J. Koepp
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy UCL Institute of Neurology London UK
| | - René H. Levy
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Neurological Surgery University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Emilio Perucca
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics University of Pavia Pavia Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation (member of the ERN EpiCARE) Pavia Italy
| | - Piero Perucca
- Department of Neuroscience Central Clinical School Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Departments of Medicine and Neurology Royal Melbourne Hospital University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Department of Neurology Alfred Health Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Torbjörn Tomson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience Karolinska Institute Stockholm Sweden
| | - H. Steve White
- Department of Pharmacy School of Pharmacy University of Washington Seattle WA USA
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11
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Gawel K, Langlois M, Martins T, van der Ent W, Tiraboschi E, Jacmin M, Crawford AD, Esguerra CV. Seizing the moment: Zebrafish epilepsy models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 116:1-20. [PMID: 32544542 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish are now widely accepted as a valuable animal model for a number of different central nervous system (CNS) diseases. They are suitable both for elucidating the origin of these disorders and the sequence of events culminating in their onset, and for use as a high-throughput in vivo drug screening platform. The availability of powerful and effective techniques for genome manipulation allows the rapid modelling of different genetic epilepsies and of conditions with seizures as a core symptom. With this review, we seek to summarize the current knowledge about existing epilepsy/seizures models in zebrafish (both pharmacological and genetic) and compare them with equivalent rodent and human studies. New findings obtained from the zebrafish models are highlighted. We believe that this comprehensive review will highlight the value of zebrafish as a model for investigating different aspects of epilepsy and will help researchers to use these models to their full extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawel
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego St. 8b, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | | | - Teresa Martins
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Belval, Luxembourg
| | - Wietske van der Ent
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ettore Tiraboschi
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Neurophysics Group, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Piazza Manifattura 1, Building 14, 38068, Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Maxime Jacmin
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Belval, Luxembourg
| | - Alexander D Crawford
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Belval, Luxembourg; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | - Camila V Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349, Oslo, Norway.
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12
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Krivoshein AV. α-Substituted Lactams and Acetamides: Ion Channel Modulators that Show Promise in Treating Drug-resistant Epilepsy. Cent Nerv Syst Agents Med Chem 2020; 20:79-87. [PMID: 32386500 DOI: 10.2174/1871524920666200510005458] [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: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The two main problems in the pharmacotherapy of epilepsy are resistance to currently available first-line medications (which occurs in about one third of patients) and the high incidence of side effects. To address these two challenges, extensive efforts are being undertaken to design new, structurally distinct antiepileptic drugs with a broad spectrum of anticonvulsant activity. Tests in animal models of epilepsy indicate that α-substituted lactams and acetamides show a broad spectrum of anticonvulsant activity (including very promising activity in drug-resistant models) as well as an excellent safety profile. Limited clinical results confirm these preclinical findings. In the first part of this review, pharmacology and toxicology of α-substituted lactams and acetamides and their putative protein targets in the brain have been discussed. This is followed by a discussion of structure-activity relationships among α-alkyl-, α-aryl-, and α-aryl-α-alkyl-substituted derivatives. The most promising structures seem to be those related to 3-ethyl-3-phenylpyrrolidin-2-one, 2-phenylbutyramide, and 2- sec-butylvaleramide. The information presented in this review is expected to facilitate rational drug design and development efforts for α-substituted lactams and acetamides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arcadius V Krivoshein
- Chemistry Program, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX 77058, United States
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13
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Wilcox KS, West PJ, Metcalf CS. The current approach of the Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program contract site for identifying improved therapies for the treatment of pharmacoresistant seizures in epilepsy. Neuropharmacology 2020; 166:107811. [PMID: 31790717 PMCID: PMC7054975 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP), formerly known as the Anticonvulsant Screening Program (ASP), has played an important role in the preclinical evaluation of many of the antiseizure drugs (ASDs) that have been approved by the FDA and thus made available for the treatment of seizures. Recent changes to the animal models used at the contract site of the ETSP at the University of Utah have been implemented in an attempt to better model the unmet clinical needs of people with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and thus identify improved therapies. In this review, we describe the changes that have occurred over the last several years in the screening approach used at the contract site and, in particular, detail the pharmacology associated with several of the animal models and assays that are either new to the program or have been recently characterized in more depth. There is optimism that the refined approach used by the ETSP contract site, wherein etiologically relevant models that include those with spontaneous seizures are used, will identify novel, potentially disease modifying therapies for people with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and those at risk for developing epilepsy. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'New Epilepsy Therapies for the 21st Century - From Antiseizure Drugs to Prevention, Modification and Cure of Epilepsy'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen S Wilcox
- Anticonvulsant Drug Development (ADD) Program, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Utah, USA.
| | - Peter J West
- Anticonvulsant Drug Development (ADD) Program, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Utah, USA.
| | - Cameron S Metcalf
- Anticonvulsant Drug Development (ADD) Program, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Utah, USA.
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14
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Bibi D, Bialer M. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis of (2S,3S)‐
sec
‐butylpropylacetamide (SPD) in rats and pigs—A CNS‐active stereoisomer of SPD. Epilepsia 2020; 61:149-156. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.16411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Bibi
- Institute of Drug Research School of Pharmacy Faculty of Medicine The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
| | - Meir Bialer
- Institute of Drug Research School of Pharmacy Faculty of Medicine The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
- Affiliated with the David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
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15
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Novel treatment approaches and pediatric research networks in status epilepticus. Epilepsy Behav 2019; 101:106564. [PMID: 31708430 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This paper contains five contributions which were presented as part of the novel therapies section of the 7th London-Innsbruck Colloquium on Status Epilepticus and Acute Seizures. These illustrate recent advances being made in the management and therapy of status epilepticus. The five contributions concern: genetic variations in Na + channel genes and their importance in status epilepticus; the European Reference Network for rare and complex epilepsies EpiCARE; the North American Pediatric Status Epilepticus Research Group (pSERG); Fenfluramine as a potential therapy for status epilepticus' and the valproate derivatives, valnoctamide and sec-butylpropylacetamide (SPD), as potential therapies for status epilepticus. This article is part of the Special Issue "Proceedings of the 7th London-Innsbruck Colloquium on Status Epilepticus and Acute Seizures".
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16
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Muthukumar A, Rao GN, Sekar G. Zn(OTf) 2-catalyzed access to symmetrical and unsymmetrical bisindoles from α-keto amides. Org Biomol Chem 2019; 17:3921-3933. [PMID: 30941387 DOI: 10.1039/c9ob00114j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Zn(OTf)2-catalyzed synthesis of 3,3'-bisindolyl acetamides from α-keto amides is developed. Both aromatic α-keto amides substituted with electron-donating as well as -withdrawing groups and aliphatic α-keto amides are well tolerated to provide symmetrical bisindoles in moderate to excellent yields. The chemoselective bisindolylation of the keto group of α-keto amides in the presence of a simple keto functionality is successfully achieved in good yields. The transformation is further extended to the synthesis of challenging unsymmetrical bisindoles by treating indolyl α-hydroxy amides with substituted indoles. The unsymmetrical bisindoles are isolated in good to excellent yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alagesan Muthukumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India.
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17
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Haines KM, Matson LM, Dunn EN, Ardinger CE, Lee-Stubbs R, Bibi D, McDonough JH, Bialer M. Comparative efficacy of valnoctamide and sec-butylpropylacetamide (SPD) in terminating nerve agent-induced seizures in pediatric rats. Epilepsia 2019; 60:315-321. [PMID: 30615805 DOI: 10.1111/epi.14630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Children and adults are likely to be among the casualties in a civilian nerve agent exposure. This study evaluated the efficacy of valnoctamide (racemic-VCD), sec-butylpropylacetamide (racemic-SPD), and phenobarbital for stopping nerve agent seizures in both immature and adult rats. METHODS Female and male postnatal day (PND) 21, 28, and 70 (adult) rats, previously implanted with electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes were exposed to seizure-inducing doses of the nerve agents sarin or VX and EEG was recorded continuously. Five minutes after seizure onset, animals were treated with SPD, VCD, or phenobarbital. The up-down method was used over successive animals to determine the anticonvulsant median effective dose (ED50 ) of the drugs. RESULTS SPD-ED50 values in the VX model were the following: PND21, 53 mg/kg (male) and 48 mg/kg (female); PND28, 108 mg/kg (male) and 43 mg/kg (female); and PND70, 101 mg/kg (male) and 40 mg/kg (female). SPD-ED50 values in the sarin model were the following: PND21, 44 mg/kg (male) and 28 mg/kg (female); PND28, 79 mg/kg (male) and 34 mg/kg (female); and PND70, 53 mg/kg (male) and 53 mg/kg (female). VCD-ED50 values in the VX model were the following: PND21, 34 mg/kg (male) and 43 mg/kg (female); PND28, 165 mg/kg (male) and 59 mg/kg (female); and PND70, 87 mg/kg (male) and 91 mg/kg (female). VCD-ED50 values in the sarin model were the following: PND21, 45 mg/kg (male), 48 mg/kg (female); PND28, 152 mg/kg (male) 79 mg/kg (female); and PND70, 97 mg/kg (male) 79 mg/kg (female). Phenobarbital-ED50 values in the VX model were the following: PND21, 43 mg/kg (male) and 18 mg/kg (female); PND28, 48 mg/kg (male) and 97 mg/kg (female). Phenobarbital-ED50 values in the sarin model were the following: PND21, 32 mg/kg (male) and 32 mg/kg (female); PND28, 58 mg/kg (male) and 97 mg/kg (female); and PND70, 65 mg/kg (female). SIGNIFICANCE SPD and VCD demonstrated anticonvulsant activity in both immature and adult rats in the sarin- and VX-induced status epilepticus models. Phenobarbital was effective in immature rats, whereas in adult rats, higher doses were required that were accompanied by toxicity. Overall, significantly less drug was required to stop seizures in PND21 animals than in the older animals, and overall, males required higher amounts of drug than females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari M Haines
- Nerve Agent Countermeasures, Medical Toxicology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
| | - Liana M Matson
- Nerve Agent Countermeasures, Medical Toxicology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
| | - Emily N Dunn
- Nerve Agent Countermeasures, Medical Toxicology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
| | - Cherish E Ardinger
- Nerve Agent Countermeasures, Medical Toxicology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
| | - Robyn Lee-Stubbs
- Research Support Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
| | - David Bibi
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - John H McDonough
- Nerve Agent Countermeasures, Medical Toxicology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
| | - Meir Bialer
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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18
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Barker-Haliski M, Harte-Hargrove LC, Ravizza T, Smolders I, Xiao B, Brandt C, Löscher W. A companion to the preclinical common data elements for pharmacologic studies in animal models of seizures and epilepsy. A Report of the TASK3 Pharmacology Working Group of the ILAE/AES Joint Translational Task Force. Epilepsia Open 2018; 3:53-68. [PMID: 30450485 PMCID: PMC6210039 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical pharmacology studies in animal models of seizures and epilepsy have provided a platform to identify more than 20 antiseizure drugs in recent decades. To minimize variability in lab‐to‐lab studies and to harmonize approaches to data collection and reporting methodology in pharmacologic evaluations of the next generation of therapies, we present common data elements (CDEs), case report forms (CRFs), and this companion manuscript to help with the implementation of methods for studies in established preclinical seizure and epilepsy models in adult rodents. The development of and advocacy for CDEs in preclinical research has been encouraged previously by both clinical and preclinical groups. It is anticipated that adoption and implementation of these CDEs in preclinical studies may help standardize approaches to minimize variability and increase the reproducibility of preclinical studies. Moreover, they may provide a methodologic framework for pharmacology studies in atypical animal models or models in development, which may ultimately promote novel therapy development. In the present document, we refer selectively to animal models that have a long history of preclinical use, and in some cases, are clinically validated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Barker-Haliski
- Department of Pharmacy School of Pharmacy University of Washington Seattle Washington U.S.A
| | - Lauren C Harte-Hargrove
- ILAE/AES Joint Translational Task Force International League Against Epilepsy West Hartford Connecticut U.S.A
| | - Teresa Ravizza
- Department of Neuroscience IRCCS-Institute for Pharmacological Research Mario Negri Milan Italy
| | - Ilse Smolders
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Drug Analysis and Drug Information Center for Neurosciences Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium
| | - Bo Xiao
- Department of Neurology Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha China
| | - Claudia Brandt
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Hannover Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover Germany
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Hannover Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover Germany
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19
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Amengual-Gual M, Sánchez Fernández I, Wainwright MS. Novel drugs and early polypharmacotherapy in status epilepticus. Seizure 2018; 68:79-88. [PMID: 30473267 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Rescue medications for status epilepticus (SE) have a relatively high rate of failure. The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidence for the efficacy of novel drugs and early polypharmacotherapy for SE. METHOD Literature review. RESULTS New drugs and treatment strategies aim to target the pathophysiology of SE in order to improve seizure control and outcomes. Changes at the synapse level during SE include a progressive decrease in synaptic GABAA receptors and increase in synaptic NMDA receptors. These changes tend to promote self-sustaining seizures. Current SE guidelines recommend a rapid stepwise treatment using benzodiazepines in monotherapy as the first-line treatment, targeting GABAA synaptic receptors. Novel treatment approaches target GABAA synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors with allopregnanolone, and NMDA receptors with ketamine. Novel rescue treatments used for SE include topiramate, brivaracetam, and perampanel, which are already marketed in epilepsy. Some available drugs not marketed for use in epilepsy have been used in the treatment of SE, and other agents are being studied for this purpose. Early polytherapy, most frequently combining a benzodiazepine with a second-line drug or an NMDA receptor antagonist, might potentially increase seizure control with relatively minor increase in side effects. Although many preclinical studies support novel drugs and early polytherapy in SE, human studies are scarce and inconclusive. Currently, evidence is lacking to recommend specific combinations of these new agents. CONCLUSIONS Novel drugs and strategies target the underlying pathophysiology of SE with the intent to improve seizure control and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Amengual-Gual
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Pediatric Neurology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma, Spain.
| | - Iván Sánchez Fernández
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Child Neurology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universidad de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mark S Wainwright
- Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric Neurology. University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
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20
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide. Despite many advances in epilepsy research, nearly a third of patients with epilepsy have refractory or pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Despite the approval of a dozen antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) over the past decade, there are no agents that halt the development of epilepsy. Thus, newer and better AEDs that can prevent refractory seizures and modify the disease are needed for curing epilepsy. Areas covered: In this article, we highlight the recent advances and emerging trends in new and innovative drugs for epilepsy and seizure disorders. We review in detail top new drugs that are currently in clinical trials or agents that are under development and have novel mechanisms of action. Expert commentary: Among the new agents under clinical investigation, the majority were originally developed for treating other neurological diseases (everolimus, fenfluramine, nalutozan, bumetanide, and valnoctamide); several have mechanisms of action similar to those of conventional AEDs (AP, ganaxolone, and YKP3089); and some new agents represent novel mechanisms of actions (huperzine-A, cannabidiol, tonabersat, and VX-765).
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Affiliation(s)
- Iyan Younus
- a Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine , Texas A&M Health Science Center , Bryan , TX , USA
| | - Doodipala Samba Reddy
- a Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine , Texas A&M Health Science Center , Bryan , TX , USA
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21
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Kudin AP, Mawasi H, Eisenkraft A, Elger CE, Bialer M, Kunz WS. Mitochondrial Liver Toxicity of Valproic Acid and Its Acid Derivatives Is Related to Inhibition of α-Lipoamide Dehydrogenase. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18091912. [PMID: 28878165 PMCID: PMC5618561 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18091912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver toxicity of valproic acid (VPA) is an established side effect of this widely used antiepileptic drug, which is extremely problematic for patients with metabolic epilepsy and particularly epilepsy due to mitochondrial dysfunction. In the present report, we investigated the reason for liver mitochondrial toxicity of VPA and several acid and amide VPA analogues. While the pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate oxidation rates of rat brain mitochondria were nearly unaffected by VPA, rat liver mitochondrial pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate oxidation was severely impaired by VPA concentrations above 100 µM. Among the reactions involved in pyruvate oxidation, pyruvate transport and dehydrogenation steps were not affected by VPA, while α-lipoamide dehydrogenase was strongly inhibited. Strong inhibition of α-lipoamide dehydrogenase was also noted for the VPA one-carbon homolog sec -butylpropylacetic acid (SPA) and to a lesser extent for the VPA constitutional isomer valnoctic acid (VCA), while the corresponding amides of the above three acids valpromide (VPD), sec -butylpropylacetamide (SPD) and valnoctamide (VCD) showed only small effects. We conclude that the active inhibitors of pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate oxidation are the CoA conjugates of VPA and its acid analogues affecting selectively α-lipoamide dehydrogenase in liver. Amide analogues of VPA, like VCD, show low inhibitory effects on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the liver, which might be relevant for treatment of patients with mitochondrial epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei P Kudin
- Department of Epileptology and Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Hafiz Mawasi
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
| | - Arik Eisenkraft
- Institute for Research in Military Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
| | - Christian E Elger
- Department of Epileptology and Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Meir Bialer
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
| | - Wolfram S Kunz
- Department of Epileptology and Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
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22
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Kehne JH, Klein BD, Raeissi S, Sharma S. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP). Neurochem Res 2017; 42:1894-1903. [PMID: 28462454 PMCID: PMC5504134 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-017-2275-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
For over 40 years, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/National Institutes of Health-funded Anticonvulsant Screening Program has provided a preclinical screening service for participants world-wide that helped identify/characterize new antiseizure compounds, a number of which advanced to the market for the treatment of epilepsy. The newly-renamed Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP) has a refocused mission to identify novel agents which will help address the considerable remaining unmet medical needs in epilepsy. These include identifying antiseizure agents for treatment-resistant epilepsy, as well as anti-epileptogenic agents that will prevent the development of epilepsy or disease-modifying agents that will ameliorate or even cure established epilepsy and its comorbidities. This manuscript provides an overview of the ETSP's efforts aimed at identifying the next generation of therapeutic agents to further reduce the suffering from and burden of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Kehne
- National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
| | - Brian D Klein
- National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Shamsi Raeissi
- National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Shalini Sharma
- National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
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23
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Poblete R, Sung G. Status Epilepticus and Beyond: A Clinical Review of Status Epilepticus and an Update on Current Management Strategies in Super-refractory Status Epilepticus. Korean J Crit Care Med 2017; 32:89-105. [PMID: 31723624 PMCID: PMC6786704 DOI: 10.4266/kjccm.2017.00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Status epilepticus and refractory status epilepticus represent some of the most complex conditions encountered in the neurological intensive care unit. Challenges in management are common as treatment options become limited and prolonged hospital courses are accompanied by complications and worsening patient outcomes. Antiepileptic drug treatments have become increasingly complex. Rational polytherapy should consider the pharmacodynamics and kinetics of medications. When seizures cannot be controlled with medical therapy, alternative treatments, including early surgical evaluation can be considered; however, evidence is limited. This review provides a brief overview of status epilepticus, and a recent update on the management of refractory status epilepticus based on evidence from the literature, evidence-based guidelines, and experiences at our institution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Poblete
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gene Sung
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Design and Comparative Evaluation of the Anticonvulsant Profile, Carbonic-Anhydrate Inhibition and Teratogenicity of Novel Carbamate Derivatives of Branched Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids with 4-Aminobenzensulfonamide. Neurochem Res 2017; 42:1972-1982. [PMID: 28275953 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-017-2216-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, with between 34 and 76 per 100,000 people developing epilepsy annually. Epilepsy therapy for the past 100+ years is based on the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Despite the availability of more than twenty old and new AEDs, approximately 30% of patients with epilepsy are not seizure-free with the existing medications. In addition, the clinical use of the existing AEDs is restricted by their side-effects, including the teratogenicity associated with valproic acid that restricts its use in women of child-bearing age. Thus, there is an unmet clinical need to develop new, effective AEDs. In the present study, a novel class of carbamates incorporating phenethyl or branched aliphatic chains with 6-9 carbons in their side-chain, and 4-benzenesulfonamide-carbamate moieties were synthesized and evaluated for their anticonvulsant activity, teratogenicity and carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibition. Three of the ten newly synthesized carbamates showed anticonvulsant activity in the maximal-electroshock (MES) and 6 Hz tests in rodents. In mice, 3-methyl-2-propylpentyl(4-sulfamoylphenyl)carbamate(1), 3-methyl-pentan-2-yl-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)carbamate (9) and 3-methylpentyl, (4-sulfamoylphenyl)carbamate (10) had ED50 values of 136, 31 and 14 mg/kg (MES) and 74, 53, and 80 mg/kg (6 Hz), respectively. Compound (10) had rat-MES-ED50 = 13 mg/kg and ED50 of 59 mg/kg at the mouse-corneal-kindling test. These potent carbamates (1,9,10) induced neural tube defects only at doses markedly exceeding their anticonvuslnat-ED50 values. None of these compounds were potent inhibitors of CA IV, but inhibited CA isoforms I, II and VII. The anticonvulsant properties of these compounds and particularly compound 10 make them potential candidates for further evaluation and development as new AEDs.
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Synthesis and evaluation of anticonvulsant properties of new N -Mannich bases derived from pyrrolidine-2,5-dione and its 3-methyl-, 3-isopropyl, and 3-benzhydryl analogs. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:1412-1415. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Revised: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Bialer M, Johannessen SI, Levy RH, Perucca E, Tomson T, White HS. Progress report on new antiepileptic drugs: A summary of the Thirteenth Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs and Devices (EILAT XIII). Epilepsia 2017; 58:181-221. [PMID: 28111749 DOI: 10.1111/epi.13634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The Thirteenth Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs and Devices (EILAT XIII) took place in Madrid, Spain, on June 26-29, 2016, and was attended by >200 delegates from 31 countries. The present Progress Report provides an update on experimental and clinical results for drugs presented at the Conference. Compounds for which summary data are presented include an AED approved in 2016 (brivaracetam), 12 drugs in phase I-III clinical development (adenosine, allopregnanolone, bumetanide, cannabidiol, cannabidivarin, 2-deoxy-d-glucose, everolimus, fenfluramine, huperzine A, minocycline, SAGE-217, and valnoctamide) and 6 compounds or classes of compounds for which only preclinical data are available (bumetanide derivatives, sec-butylpropylacetamide, FV-082, 1OP-2198, NAX 810-2, and SAGE-689). Overall, the results presented at the Conference show that considerable efforts are ongoing into discovery and development of AEDs with potentially improved therapeutic profiles compared with existing agents. Many of the drugs discussed in this report show innovative mechanisms of action and many have shown promising results in patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsies, including previously neglected rare and severe epilepsy syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meir Bialer
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Pharmacy and David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Svein I Johannessen
- The National Center for Epilepsy, Sandvika, Norway.,Department of Pharmacology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - René H Levy
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A
| | - Emilio Perucca
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy
| | - Torbjörn Tomson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - H Steve White
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A
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sec-Butylpropylacetamide (SPD), a new amide derivative of valproic acid for the treatment of neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Pharmacol Res 2016; 117:129-139. [PMID: 27890817 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a multifactorial disease comprised of both inflammatory and neuropathic components that affect ∼20% of the world's population. sec-Butylpropylacetamide (SPD) is a novel amide analogue of valproic acid (VPA) previously shown to possess a broad spectrum of anticonvulsant activity. In this study, we defined the pharmacokinetic parameters of SPD in rat and mouse, and then evaluated its antinociceptive potential in neuropathic and acute inflammatory pain models. In the sciatic nerve ligation (SNL) model of neuropathic pain, SPD was equipotent to gabapentin and more potent than its parent compound VPA. SPD also showed either higher or equal potency to VPA in the formalin, carrageenan, and writhing tests of inflammatory pain. SPD showed no effects on compound action potential properties in a sciatic nerve preparation, suggesting that its mechanism of action is distinct from local anesthetics and membrane stabilizing drugs. SPD's activity in both neuropathic and inflammatory pain warrants its development as a potential broad-spectrum anti-nociceptive drug.
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Krivoshein AV, Ordonez C, Khrustalev VN, Timofeeva TV. Distinct molecular structures and hydrogen bond patterns of α,α-diethyl-substituted cyclic imide, lactam, and acetamide derivatives in the crystalline phase. J Mol Struct 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2016.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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29
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Mawasi H, Bibi D, Bialer M. Design and comparative anticonvulsant activity assessment of CNS-active alkyl-carbamoyl imidazole derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem 2016; 24:4246-4253. [PMID: 27469980 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2016] [Revised: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A novel series of carbamoyl derivatives of alkylimidazole has been designed and their anticonvulsant activity was comparatively evaluated in the mice- and rats-maximal-electroshock (MES), subcutaneous-metrazol (scMet) seizure tests and the mice-6Hz psychomotor (6Hz) models. The ten new designed molecules contain in their chemical structure imidazole, alkyl side-chain and carbamate as three potential active moieties. In spite of the close structural features of the carbamoyl imidazole derivatives only compounds 7, 8, 13 and 16 were active at the MES test with ED50 values ranging from 12 to 20mg/kg coupled with high protective index (PI=TD50/ED50) values of 4.1-7.3 after ip administration to rats. A similar phenomenon was observed in mice where compounds 7, 8, 9, 12 had MES-ED50 values of 14-26mg/kg. Compounds 7 and 13 also demonstrated anticonvulsant activity in the 6Hz model with ED50 values of 32 and 44mg/kg, respectively. As the most active entities, compounds 7, 8 followed by 13 and 16, thus offer an optimal efficacy-safety profile and consequently, might be promising candidates for development as new antiepileptics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafiz Mawasi
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO 12065, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - David Bibi
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO 12065, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Meir Bialer
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO 12065, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
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Kaufmann D, Bates EA, Yagen B, Bialer M, Saunders GH, Wilcox K, White HS, Brennan KC. sec-Butylpropylacetamide (SPD) has antimigraine properties. Cephalalgia 2016; 36:924-35. [PMID: 26568161 PMCID: PMC4887413 DOI: 10.1177/0333102415612773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Though migraine is disabling and affects 12%-15% of the population, there are few drugs that have been developed specifically for migraine prevention. Valproic acid (VPA) is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug (AED) that is also used for migraine prophylaxis, but its clinical use is limited by its side effect profile. sec-Butylpropylacetamide (SPD) is a novel VPA derivative, designed to be more potent and tolerable than VPA, that has shown efficacy in animal seizure and pain models. METHODS We evaluated SPD's antimigraine potential in the cortical spreading depression (CSD) and nitroglycerin (NTG) models of migraine. To evaluate SPD's mechanism of action, we performed whole-cell recordings on cultured cortical neurons and neuroblastoma cells. RESULTS In the CSD model, the SPD-treated group showed a significantly lower median number of CSDs compared to controls. In the NTG-induced mechanical allodynia model, SPD dose-dependently reduced mechanical sensitivity compared to controls. SPD showed both a significant potentiation of GABA-mediated currents and a smaller but significant decrease in NMDA currents in cultured cortical neurons. Kainic acid-evoked currents and voltage-dependent sodium channel currents were not changed by SPD. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate SPD's potential as a promising novel antimigraine compound, and suggest a GABAergic mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Kaufmann
- Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, USA Department of Neurology, University of Utah, USA
| | - Emily A Bates
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, USA
| | - Boris Yagen
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Meir Bialer
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gerald H Saunders
- Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, USA
| | - Karen Wilcox
- Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, USA
| | - H Steve White
- Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, USA
| | - K C Brennan
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, USA
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Pouliot W, Bealer SL, Roach B, Dudek FE. A rodent model of human organophosphate exposure producing status epilepticus and neuropathology. Neurotoxicology 2016; 56:196-203. [PMID: 27527991 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Revised: 07/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to organophosphates (OPs) often results in seizures and/or status epilepticus (SE) that produce neural damage within the central nervous system (CNS). Early control of SE is imperative for minimizing seizure-related CNS neuropathology. Although standard therapies exist, more effective agents are needed to reduce OP-induced SE and neuronal loss, particularly therapies with efficacy when administered 10's of minutes after the onset of SE. To evaluate novel antiseizure compounds, animal models should simulate the CNS effects of OP exposure observed in humans. We characterized in rats the effects of the OP, diisopropyl flourophosphate (DFP) as a function of dose and route of administration of supporting agents (pyridostigmine, 2-PAM, atropine); outcome measures were mortality, electrographic seizure activity during SE, and subsequent CNS neuropathology. Doses of DFP between 3 and 7mg/kg consistently caused SE, and the latency to behavioral tremors and to subsequent initiation of SE were dose related. In distinction, all doses of DFP that resulted in electrographic SE (3-7mg/kg) produced seizures of similar intensity and duration, and similar CNS neuropathology (i.e., the effects were all-or-none). Although SE was similar across doses, mortality progressively increased with higher doses of DFP. Mortality was significantly lower when the route of administration of therapeutic agents was intramuscular compared to intraperitoneal. This rodent model of OP poisoning demonstrates pathological characteristics similar to those observed in humans, and thus begins to validate this model for investigating potential new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Pouliot
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-9999, United States
| | - S L Bealer
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-9999, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah School of Medicine and College of Pharmacy, United States.
| | - B Roach
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-9999, United States
| | - F E Dudek
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-9999, United States
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Barker-Haliski ML, Vanegas F, Mau MJ, Underwood TK, White HS. Acute cognitive impact of antiseizure drugs in naive rodents and corneal-kindled mice. Epilepsia 2016; 57:1386-97. [PMID: 27466022 DOI: 10.1111/epi.13476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Some antiseizure drugs (ASDs) are associated with cognitive liability in patients with epilepsy, thus ASDs without this risk would be preferred. Little comparative pharmacology exists with ASDs in preclinical models of cognition. Few pharmacologic studies exist on the acute effects in rodents with chronic seizures. Predicting risk for cognitive impact with preclinical models may supply valuable ASD differentiation data. METHODS ASDs (phenytoin [PHT]; carbamazepine [CBZ]; valproic acid [VPA]; lamotrigine [LTG]; phenobarbital [PB]; tiagabine [TGB]; retigabine [RTG]; topiramate [TPM]; and levetiracetam [LEV]) were administered equivalent to maximal electroshock median effective dose ([ED50]; mice, rats), or median dose necessary to elicit minimal motor impairment (median toxic dose [TD50]; rats). Cognition models with naive adult rodents were novel object/place recognition (NOPR) task with CF-1 mice, and Morris water maze (MWM) with Sprague-Dawley rats. Selected ASDs were also administered to rats prior to testing in an open field. The effect of chronic seizures and ASD administration on cognitive performance in NOPR was also determined with corneal-kindled mice. Mice that did not achieve kindling criterion (partially kindled) were included to examine the effect of electrical stimulation on cognitive performance. Sham-kindled and age-matched mice were also tested. RESULTS No ASD (ED50) affected latency to locate the MWM platform; TD50 of PB, RTG, TPM, and VPA reduced this latency. In naive mice, CBZ and VPA (ED50) reduced time with the novel object. Of interest, no ASD (ED50) affected performance of fully kindled mice in NOPR, whereas CBZ and LEV improved cognitive performance of partially kindled mice. SIGNIFICANCE Standardized approaches to the preclinical evaluation of an ASD's potential cognitive impact are needed to inform drug development. This study demonstrated acute, dose- and model-dependent effects of therapeutically relevant doses of ASDs on cognitive performance of naive mice and rats, and corneal-kindled mice. This study highlights the challenge of predicting clinical adverse effects with preclinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Barker-Haliski
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A
| | - Fabiola Vanegas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A
| | - Matthew J Mau
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A
| | - Tristan K Underwood
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A
| | - H Steve White
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A
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Mawasi H, Bibi D, Shekh-Ahmad T, Shaul C, Blotnik S, Bialer M. Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Correlation and Brain Penetration of sec-Butylpropylacetamide, a New CNS Drug Possessing Unique Activity against Status Epilepticus. Mol Pharm 2016; 13:2492-6. [PMID: 27218460 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.6b00221] [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] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
sec-Butylpropylacetamide (SPD) is the amide derivative of valproic acid (VPA). SPD possess a wide-spectrum anticonvulsant profile better than that of VPA and blocks status epilepticus (SE) induced by pilocarpine and organophosphates. The activity of SPD on SE is better than that of benzodiazepines (BZDs) in terms of the ability to block SE when given 20-60 min after the beginning of a seizure. However, intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration to rats cannot be extrapolated to humans. Consequently, in the current study a comparative pharmacokinetic (PK)-pharmacodynamic analysis of SPD was conducted following i.p., intramuscular (i.m.), and intravenous (i.v.) administrations to rats. SPD brain and plasma levels were quantified at various times after dosing following i.p. (60 mg/kg), i.v. (60 mg/kg), and i.m. administrations (120 mg/kg) to rats, and the major PK parameters of SPD were estimated. The antiseizure (SE) efficacies of SPD and its individual stereoisomers were assessed in the pilocarpine-induced BZD-resistant SE model following i.p. and i.m. administrations to rats at 30 min after seizure onset. The absolute bioavailabilities of SPD following i.p. and i.m. administrations were 76% (i.p.) and 96% (i.p.), and its clearance and half-life were 1.8-1.5 L h(-1) kg(-1) and 0.5-1.7 h, respectively. The SPD brain-to-plasma AUC ratios were 1.86 (i.v.), 2.31 (i.p.), and 0.77 (i.m.). Nevertheless, the ED50 values of SPD and its individual stereoisomers were almost identical in the rat pilocarpine-induced SE model following i.p. and i.m. administrations. In conclusion, in rats SPD is completely or almost completely absorbed after i.m. and i.p. administration and readily penetrates into the brain. Consequently, in spite of PK differences, the activities of SPD in the BZD-resistant SE model following i.m. and i.p. administrations are similar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafiz Mawasi
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - David Bibi
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Tawfeeq Shekh-Ahmad
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Chanan Shaul
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91120, Israel.,Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Division of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital , Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Simcha Blotnik
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Division of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital , Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Meir Bialer
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91120, Israel.,David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 91120, Israel
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Krivoshein AV. Anticonvulsants Based on the α-Substituted Amide Group Pharmacophore Bind to and Inhibit Function of Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. ACS Chem Neurosci 2016; 7:316-26. [PMID: 26741746 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.5b00259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the antiepileptic properties of α-substituted lactams, acetamides, and cyclic imides have been known for over 60 years, the mechanism by which they act remains unclear. I report here that these compounds bind to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and inhibit its function. Using transient kinetic measurements with functionally active, nondesensitized receptors, I have discovered that (i) α-substituted lactams and cyclic imides are noncompetitive inhibitors of heteromeric subtypes (such as α4β2 and α3β4) of neuronal nAChRs and (ii) the binding affinity of these compounds toward the nAChR correlates with their potency in preventing maximal electroshock (MES)-induced convulsions in mice. Based on the hypothesis that α-substituted amide group is the essential pharmacophore of these drugs, I found and tested a simple compound, 2-phenylbutyramide. This compound indeed inhibits nAChR and shows good anticonvulsant activity in mice. Molecular docking simulations suggest that α-substituted lactams, acetamides, and cyclic imides bind to the same sites on the extracellular domain of the receptor. These new findings indicate that inhibition of brain nAChRs may play an important role in the action of these antiepileptic drugs, a role that has not been previously recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arcadius V. Krivoshein
- Department of Basic and Social
Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 106
New Scotland Avenue, Albany, New York 12208, United States
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Piermartiri T, Pan H, Figueiredo TH, Marini AM. α-Linolenic Acid, A Nutraceutical with Pleiotropic Properties That Targets Endogenous Neuroprotective Pathways to Protect against Organophosphate Nerve Agent-Induced Neuropathology. Molecules 2015; 20:20355-80. [PMID: 26569216 PMCID: PMC6332275 DOI: 10.3390/molecules201119698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Linolenic acid (ALA) is a nutraceutical found in vegetable products such as flax and walnuts. The pleiotropic properties of ALA target endogenous neuroprotective and neurorestorative pathways in brain and involve the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a major neuroprotective protein in brain, and downstream signaling pathways likely mediated via activation of TrkB, the cognate receptor of BDNF. In this review, we discuss possible mechanisms of ALA efficacy against the highly toxic OP nerve agent soman. Organophosphate (OP) nerve agents are highly toxic chemical warfare agents and a threat to military and civilian populations. Once considered only for battlefield use, these agents are now used by terrorists to inflict mass casualties. OP nerve agents inhibit the critical enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) that rapidly leads to a cholinergic crisis involving multiple organs. Status epilepticus results from the excessive accumulation of synaptic acetylcholine which in turn leads to the overactivation of muscarinic receptors; prolonged seizures cause the neuropathology and long-term consequences in survivors. Current countermeasures mitigate symptoms and signs as well as reduce brain damage, but must be given within minutes after exposure to OP nerve agents supporting interest in newer and more effective therapies. The pleiotropic properties of ALA result in a coordinated molecular and cellular program to restore neuronal networks and improve cognitive function in soman-exposed animals. Collectively, ALA should be brought to the clinic to treat the long-term consequences of nerve agents in survivors. ALA may be an effective therapy for other acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsade Piermartiri
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate School Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Hongna Pan
- Department of Neurology and Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Taiza H Figueiredo
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Ann M Marini
- Department of Neurology and Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
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Salgado PRR, da Fonsêca DV, Braga RM, de Melo CGF, Andrade LN, de Almeida RN, de Sousa DP. Comparative Anticonvulsant Study of Epoxycarvone Stereoisomers. Molecules 2015; 20:19660-73. [PMID: 26528962 PMCID: PMC6332048 DOI: 10.3390/molecules201119649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Stereoisomers of the monoterpene epoxycarvone (EC), namely (+)-cis-EC, (-)-cis-EC, (+)-trans-EC, and (-)-trans-EC, were comparatively evaluated for anticonvulsant activity in specific methodologies. In the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced anticonvulsant test, all of the stereoisomers (at 300 mg/kg) increased the latency to seizure onset, and afforded 100% protection against the death of the animals. In the maximal electroshock-induced seizures (MES) test, prevention of tonic seizures was also verified for all of the isomers tested. However, the isomeric forms (+) and (-)-trans-EC showed 25% and 12.5% inhibition of convulsions, respectively. In the pilocarpine-induced seizures test, all stereoisomers demonstrated an anticonvulsant profile, yet the stereoisomers (+) and (-)-trans-EC (at 300 mg/kg) showed a more pronounced effect. A strychnine-induced anticonvulsant test was performed, and none of the stereoisomers significantly increased the latency to onset of convulsions; the stereoisomers probably do not act in this pathway. However, the stereoisomers (+)-cis-EC and (+)-trans-EC greatly increased the latency to death of the animals, thus presenting some protection. The four EC stereoisomers show promise for anticonvulsant activity, an effect emphasized in the isomers (+)-cis-EC, (+)-trans-EC, and (-)-trans-EC for certain parameters of the tested methodologies. These results serve as support for further research and development of antiepileptic drugs from monoterpenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Regina Rodrigues Salgado
- Instituto de Pesquisa em Fármacos e Medicamentos, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, CP 5009, João Pessoa, CEP 58051-900, PB, Brazil; (P.R.R.S.); (D.V.F.); (R.M.B.); (C.G.F.M.); (R.N.A.)
| | - Diogo Vilar da Fonsêca
- Instituto de Pesquisa em Fármacos e Medicamentos, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, CP 5009, João Pessoa, CEP 58051-900, PB, Brazil; (P.R.R.S.); (D.V.F.); (R.M.B.); (C.G.F.M.); (R.N.A.)
| | - Renan Marinho Braga
- Instituto de Pesquisa em Fármacos e Medicamentos, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, CP 5009, João Pessoa, CEP 58051-900, PB, Brazil; (P.R.R.S.); (D.V.F.); (R.M.B.); (C.G.F.M.); (R.N.A.)
| | - Cynthia Germoglio Farias de Melo
- Instituto de Pesquisa em Fármacos e Medicamentos, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, CP 5009, João Pessoa, CEP 58051-900, PB, Brazil; (P.R.R.S.); (D.V.F.); (R.M.B.); (C.G.F.M.); (R.N.A.)
| | - Luciana Nalone Andrade
- Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão-SE, CEP 49100-000, Brazil;
| | - Reinaldo Nóbrega de Almeida
- Instituto de Pesquisa em Fármacos e Medicamentos, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, CP 5009, João Pessoa, CEP 58051-900, PB, Brazil; (P.R.R.S.); (D.V.F.); (R.M.B.); (C.G.F.M.); (R.N.A.)
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, CP 5009, João Pessoa, CEP 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Damião Pergentino de Sousa
- Instituto de Pesquisa em Fármacos e Medicamentos, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, CP 5009, João Pessoa, CEP 58051-900, PB, Brazil; (P.R.R.S.); (D.V.F.); (R.M.B.); (C.G.F.M.); (R.N.A.)
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, CP 5009, João Pessoa, CEP 58051-900, PB, Brazil
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Mishra RK, Baker MT. Seizure prevention by the naturally occurring phenols, carvacrol and thymol in a partial seizure-psychomotor model. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2015; 24:5446-9. [PMID: 25454269 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The natural compounds carvacrol and thymol completely prevented seizures in the 6 Hz, 32 mA partial seizure model. Carvacrol and thymol, both exhibited an ED₅₀ = 35.8 mg/kg, ip and yielded protective indices of 5.3 and 3.4, respectively. At 44 mA current intensity, carvacrol and thymol exhibited ED₅₀s of 88.82 mg/kg (PI = 2.15) and 73.0 mg/kg (PI = 1.65), respectively. Thymol, but not carvacrol showed partial inhibitory activity in the maximal electroshock (MES), sc Metrazol (scMET) and Corneal-kindled models. These results suggest that carvacrol and thymol are more efficacious anticonvulsants than suggested by their lower efficacies in the conventional MES and scMET tests.
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Shekh-Ahmad T, Mawasi H, McDonough JH, Yagen B, Bialer M. The potential of sec-butylpropylacetamide (SPD) and valnoctamide and their individual stereoisomers in status epilepticus. Epilepsy Behav 2015; 49:298-302. [PMID: 25979572 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
sec-Butylpropylacetamide (SPD) is a one-carbon homologue of valnoctamide (VCD), a chiral constitutional isomer of valproic acid's (VPA) corresponding amide--valpromide. Racemic-SPD and racemic-VCD possess a unique and broad-spectrum antiseizure profile superior to that of VPA. In addition, SPD blocks behavioral and electrographic status epilepticus (SE) induced by pilocarpine and the organophosphates soman and paraoxon. Valnoctamide has similar activity as SPD in the soman-induced SE model. The activity of SPD and VCD against SE is superior to that of diazepam and midazolam in terms of rapid onset, potency, and ability to block SE when given 20 to 60 min after seizure onset. sec-Butylpropylacetamide and VCD possess two stereogenic carbons in their chemical structure and, thus, exist as a racemic mixture of four individual stereoisomers. The anticonvulsant activity of the individual stereoisomers of SPD and VCD was comparatively evaluated in several anticonvulsant rodent models including the benzodiazepine-resistant SE model. sec-Butylpropylacetamide has stereoselective pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). The higher clearance of (2R,3S)-SPD and (2S,3R)-SPD led to a 50% lower plasma exposure and, consequently, to a lower anticonvulsant activity compared to racemic-SPD and its two other stereoisomers. Racemic-SPD, (2S,3S)-SPD, and (2R,3R)-SPD have similar anticonvulsant activities and PK profiles that are better than those of (2R,3S)-SPD and (2S,3R)-SPD. Valnoctamide has a stereoselective PK with (2S,3S)-VCD exhibiting the lowest clearance and, consequently, a twice-higher plasma exposure than all other stereoisomers. Nevertheless, there was less stereoselectivity in VCD anticonvulsant activity, and each stereoisomer had similar ED50 values in most models. sec-Butylpropylacetamide and VCD stereoisomers did not cause teratogenicity (i.e., neural tube defect) in mice at doses 3-12 times higher than their anticonvulsant-ED50 values. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Status Epilepticus".
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Affiliation(s)
- Tawfeeq Shekh-Ahmad
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hafiz Mawasi
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - John H McDonough
- Pharmacology Branch, Research Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (MRICD), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA
| | - Boris Yagen
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Meir Bialer
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
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Mawasi H, Shekh-Ahmad T, Finnell RH, Wlodarczyk BJ, Bialer M. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic analysis of CNS-active constitutional isomers of valnoctamide and sec-butylpropylacetamide--Amide derivatives of valproic acid. Epilepsy Behav 2015; 46:72-8. [PMID: 25863940 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.02.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Valnoctamide (VCD) and sec-butylpropylacetamide (SPD) are CNS-active closely related amide derivatives of valproic acid with unique anticonvulsant activity. This study evaluated how small chemical changes affect the pharmacodynamics (PD; anticonvulsant activity and teratogenicity) and pharmacokinetics (PK) of three constitutional isomers of SPD [sec-butylisopropylacetamide (SID) and tert-butylisopropylacetamide (TID)] and of VCD [tert-butylethylacetamide (TED)]. The anticonvulsant activity of SID, TID, and TED was comparatively evaluated in several rodent anticonvulsant models. The PK-PD relationship of SID, TID, and TED was evaluated in rats, and their teratogenicity was evaluated in a mouse strain highly susceptible to teratogen-induced neural tube defects (NTDs). sec-Butylisopropylacetamide and TID have a similar PK profile to SPD which may contribute to their similar anticonvulsant activity. tert-Butylethylacetamide had a better PK profile than VCD (and SPD); however, this did not lead to a superior anticonvulsant activity. sec-Butylisopropylacetamide and TED did not cause NTDs at doses 4-7 times higher than their anticonvulsant ED50 values. In rats, SID, TID (ip), and TED exhibited a broad spectrum of anticonvulsant activity. However, combined anticonvulsant analysis in mice and rats shows SID as the most potent compound with similar activity to that of SPD, demonstrating that substitution of the isobutyl moiety in the SPD or VCD molecule by tert-butyl as well as a propyl-to-isopropyl replacement in the SPD molecule did not majorly affect the anticonvulsant activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafiz Mawasi
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Tawfeeq Shekh-Ahmad
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Bogdan J Wlodarczyk
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Meir Bialer
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
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Barker-Haliski ML, Friedman D, French JA, White HS. Disease Modification in Epilepsy: From Animal Models to Clinical Applications. Drugs 2015; 75:749-67. [DOI: 10.1007/s40265-015-0395-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Bialer M, Johannessen SI, Levy RH, Perucca E, Tomson T, White HS. Progress report on new antiepileptic drugs: A summary of the Twelfth Eilat Conference (EILAT XII). Epilepsy Res 2015; 111:85-141. [PMID: 25769377 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2015.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Shekh-Ahmad T, Mawasi H, McDonough JH, Finnell RH, Wlodarczyk BJ, Yavin E, Bialer M. Enantioselective pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic analysis of two chiral CNS-active carbamate derivatives of valproic acid. Epilepsia 2014; 55:1944-52. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.12857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tawfeeq Shekh-Ahmad
- Faculty of Medicine; Institute for Drug Research; School of Pharmacy; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem Israel
| | - Hafiz Mawasi
- Faculty of Medicine; Institute for Drug Research; School of Pharmacy; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem Israel
| | - John H. McDonough
- Pharmacology Branch; Research Division; US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense; Aberdeen Proving Ground; Maryland U.S.A
| | - Richard H. Finnell
- Department of Nutritional Sciences; Dell Pediatric Research Institute; The University of Texas at Austin; Austin Texas U.S.A
| | - Bogdan J. Wlodarczyk
- Department of Nutritional Sciences; Dell Pediatric Research Institute; The University of Texas at Austin; Austin Texas U.S.A
| | - Eylon Yavin
- Faculty of Medicine; Institute for Drug Research; School of Pharmacy; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem Israel
| | - Meir Bialer
- Faculty of Medicine; Institute for Drug Research; School of Pharmacy; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem Israel
- David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem Israel
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Bar-Klein G, Swissa E, Kamintsky L, Shekh-Ahmad T, Saar-Ashkenazy R, Hubary Y, Shrot S, Stetlander L, Eisenkraft A, Friedman A, Bialer M. sec-Butyl-propylacetamide (SPD) and two of its stereoisomers rapidly terminate paraoxon-induced status epilepticus in rats. Epilepsia 2014; 55:1953-8. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.12838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Guy Bar-Klein
- Departments of Physiology & Cell Biology, Cognitive and Brain Sciences; The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Beer-Sheva Israel
| | - Evyatar Swissa
- Departments of Physiology & Cell Biology, Cognitive and Brain Sciences; The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Beer-Sheva Israel
| | - Lyn Kamintsky
- Departments of Physiology & Cell Biology, Cognitive and Brain Sciences; The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Beer-Sheva Israel
| | - Tawfeeq Shekh-Ahmad
- Faculty of Medicine; Institute for Drug Research; School of Pharmacy; Hebrew University; Ein Karem Jerusalem Israel
| | - Rotem Saar-Ashkenazy
- Departments of Physiology & Cell Biology, Cognitive and Brain Sciences; The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Beer-Sheva Israel
| | | | - Shai Shrot
- Medical Corps Headquarters; IDF; Tel Aviv Israel
| | | | - Arik Eisenkraft
- NBC Protection Division; IMOD; Tel Aviv Israel
- Medical Corps Headquarters; IDF; Tel Aviv Israel
- Faculty of Medicine; The Institute for Research in Military Medicine; Hebrew University; Jerusalem Israel
| | - Alon Friedman
- Departments of Physiology & Cell Biology, Cognitive and Brain Sciences; The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Beer-Sheva Israel
| | - Meir Bialer
- Faculty of Medicine; Institute for Drug Research; School of Pharmacy; Hebrew University; Ein Karem Jerusalem Israel
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Prevention of organophosphate-induced chronic epilepsy by early benzodiazepine treatment. Toxicology 2014; 323:19-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2014.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Revised: 05/10/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Shekh-Ahmad T, Hen N, Yagen B, McDonough JH, Finnell RH, Wlodarczyk BJ, Bialer M. Stereoselective anticonvulsant and pharmacokinetic analysis of valnoctamide, a CNS-active derivative of valproic acid with low teratogenic potential. Epilepsia 2014; 55:353-61. [PMID: 24313671 PMCID: PMC4963464 DOI: 10.1111/epi.12480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Valnoctamide (VCD), a central nervous system (CNS)-active chiral constitutional isomer of valpromide, the corresponding amide of valproic acid (VPA), is currently undergoing phase IIb clinical trials in acute mania. VCD exhibits stereoselective pharmacokinetics (PK) in animals and humans. The current study comparatively evaluated the pharmacodynamics (PD; anticonvulsant activity and teratogenicity) and PK of the four individual stereoisomers of VCD. METHODS The anticonvulsant activity of VCD individual stereoisomers was evaluated in several rodent anticonvulsant models including maximal electroshock, 6 Hz psychomotor, subcutaneous metrazol, and the pilocarpine-induced and soman-induced status epilepticus (SE). The PK-PD (anticonvulsant activity) relationship of VCD stereoisomers was evaluated following intraperitoneal administration (70 mg/kg) to rats. Induction of neural tube defects (NTDs) by VCD stereoisomers was evaluated in a mouse strain that was highly susceptible to teratogen-induced NTDs. RESULTS VCD had a stereoselective PK, with (2S,3S)-VCD exhibiting the lowest clearance, and consequently a twice-higher plasma exposure than all other stereoisomers. Nervertheless, there was less stereoselectivity in VCD anticonvulsant activity and each stereoisomer had similar median effective dose (ED)50 values in most models. VCD stereoisomers (258 or 389 mg/kg) did not cause NTDs. These doses are 3-12 times higher than VCD anticonvulsant ED50 values. SIGNIFICANCE VCD displayed stereoselective PK that did not lead to significant stereoselective activity in various anticonvulsant rodent models. If VCD exerted its broad-spectrum anticonvulsant activity using a single mechanism of action (MOA), it is likely that it would exhibit a stereoselective PD. The fact that there was no significant difference between racemic VCD and its individual stereoisomers suggests that VCD's anticonvulsant activity is due to multiple MOAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tawfeeq Shekh-Ahmad
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Naama Hen
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Boris Yagen
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
- David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - John H. McDonough
- Pharmacology Branch, Research Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard H. Finnell
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Bogdan J. Wlodarczyk
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Meir Bialer
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
- David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
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Shekh-Ahmad T, Hen N, McDonough JH, Yagen B, Bialer M. Valnoctamide and sec-butyl-propylacetamide (SPD) for acute seizures and status epilepticus. Epilepsia 2013; 54 Suppl 6:99-102. [PMID: 24001086 DOI: 10.1111/epi.12290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
sec-Butyl-propylacetamide (SPD) is a one-carbon homolog of valnoctamide (VCD), a chiral constitutional isomer of valproic acid's (VPA) corresponding amide valpromide. VCD has potential as a therapy in epilepsy including status epilepticus (SE) and neuropathic pain, and is currently being developed for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Both VCD and SPD possess two stereogenic carbons in their chemical structure. SPD possesses a unique and broad-spectrum antiseizure profile superior to that of valproic acid (VPA) and better than that of VCD. In addition SPD blocked behavioral- and electrographic-SE induced by pilocarpine and soman (organophosphate nerve gas) and afforded in vivo neuroprotection that was associated with cognitive sparing. VCD has activity similar to that of SPD in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE), although at higher doses. The activity of SPD and VCD against SE is superior to that of diazepam in terms of rapid onset, potency, and ability to block SE when given 20-60 min after seizure onset. When administered 20 and 40 min after SE onset, SPD (100-174 mg/kg) produced long-lasting efficacy (e.g., 4-8 h) against soman-induced convulsive and electrographic SE in both rats and guinea pigs. SPD activity in the pilocarpine and soman-induced SE models when administered 20-60 min after seizure onset, differentiates SPD from benzodiazepines and all other antiepileptic drugs .
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Affiliation(s)
- Tawfeeq Shekh-Ahmad
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein-Karem, Jerusalem, Israel
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49
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Neuman MG, Nanau RM, Shekh-Ahmad T, Yagen B, Bialer M. Valproic acid derivatives signal for apoptosis and repair in vitro. Clin Biochem 2013; 46:1532-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2013.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Revised: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Vargas JR, Takahashi DK, Thomson KE, Wilcox KS. The expression of kainate receptor subunits in hippocampal astrocytes after experimentally induced status epilepticus. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2013; 72:919-32. [PMID: 24042195 PMCID: PMC3880830 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e3182a4b266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes have emerged as active participants of synaptic transmission and are increasingly implicated in neurologic disorders including epilepsy. Adult glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive hippocampal astrocytes are not known for ionotropic glutamate receptor expression under basal conditions. Using a chemoconvulsive status epilepticus (SE) model of temporal lobe epilepsy, we show by immunohistochemistry and colocalization analysis that reactive hippocampal astrocytes express kainate receptor (KAR) subunits after SE. In the CA1 region, GluK1, GluK2/3, GluK4, and GluK5 subunit expression was observed in GFAP-positive astrocytes during the seizure-free or "latent" period 1 week after SE. At 8 weeks after SE, a time after SE when spontaneous behavioral seizures occur, the GluK1 and GluK5 subunits remained expressed at significant levels. Kainate receptor subunit expression was found in astrocytes in the hippocampus and surrounding cortex but not in GFAP-positive astrocytes of striatum, olfactory bulb, or brainstem. To examine hippocampal KAR expression more broadly, astroglial-enriched tissue fractions were prepared from dissected hippocampi and were found to have greater GluK4 expression after SE than controls. These results demonstrate that astrocytes begin to express KARs after seizure activity and suggest that their expression may contribute to the pathophysiology of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay R. Vargas
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Daniel K. Takahashi
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Kyle E. Thomson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Karen S. Wilcox
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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