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De Neve J, Elhabazi K, Gonzalez S, Herby C, Schneider S, Utard V, Fellmann-Clauss R, Petit-Demouliere N, Lecat S, Kremer M, Ces A, Daubeuf F, Martin C, Ballet S, Bihel F, Simonin F. Multitarget μ-Opioid Receptor Agonists─Neuropeptide FF Receptor Antagonists Induce Potent Antinociception with Reduced Adverse Side Effects. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 38687204 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The design of bifunctional compounds is a promising approach toward the development of strong analgesics with reduced side effects. We here report the optimization of the previously published lead peptide KGFF09, which contains opioid receptor agonist and neuropeptide FF receptor antagonist pharmacophores and is shown to induce potent antinociception and reduced side effects. We evaluated the novel hybrid peptides for their in vitro activity at MOP, NPFFR1, and NPFFR2 and selected four of them (DP08/14/32/50) for assessment of their acute antinociceptive activity in mice. We further selected DP32 and DP50 and observed that their antinociceptive activity is mostly peripherally mediated; they produced no respiratory depression, no hyperalgesia, significantly less tolerance, and strongly attenuated withdrawal syndrome, as compared to morphine and the recently FDA-approved TRV130. Overall, these data suggest that MOP agonist/NPFF receptor antagonist hybrids might represent an interesting strategy to develop novel analgesics with reduced side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien De Neve
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Khadija Elhabazi
- Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, UMR 7242, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Simon Gonzalez
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Claire Herby
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, UMR 7200, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Séverine Schneider
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, UMR 7200, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Valérie Utard
- Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, UMR 7242, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Rosine Fellmann-Clauss
- Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, UMR 7242, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Nathalie Petit-Demouliere
- Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, UMR 7242, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Sandra Lecat
- Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, UMR 7242, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Mélanie Kremer
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (INCI), 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Aurelia Ces
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (INCI), 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - François Daubeuf
- Plateforme de Chimie Biologique Intégrative de Strasbourg, UAR 3286, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Charlotte Martin
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Bihel
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, UMR 7200, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Frédéric Simonin
- Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, UMR 7242, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
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Central Kisspeptin Does Not Affect ERK1/2 or p38 Phosphorylation in Oxytocin Neurons of Late-Pregnant Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147729. [PMID: 35887077 PMCID: PMC9319833 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is secreted by hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) oxytocin neurons to induce uterine contractions during parturition. Increased activation of oxytocin neurons at parturition involves a network of afferent inputs that increase oxytocin neuron excitability. Kisspeptin fibre density increases around oxytocin neurons during pregnancy, and central kisspeptin administration excites oxytocin neurons only in late pregnancy. Kisspeptin signals via extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38. Therefore, to determine whether kisspeptin excites oxytocin neurons via ERK1/2-p38 signalling in late-pregnant rats, we performed immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) in oxytocin neurons of non-pregnant and late-pregnant rats. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) kisspeptin administration (2 µg) did not affect pERK1/2 or p-p38 expression in SON and PVN oxytocin neurons of non-pregnant or late-pregnant rats. Furthermore, ICV kisspeptin did not affect pERK1/2 or p-p38 expression in brain areas with major projections to the SON and PVN: the nucleus tractus solitarius, rostral ventrolateral medulla, locus coeruleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, median preoptic nucleus, subfornical organ, anteroventral periventricular nucleus, periventricular nucleus and arcuate nucleus. Hence, kisspeptin-induced excitation of oxytocin neurons in late pregnancy does not appear to involve ERK1/2 or p38 activation in oxytocin neurons or their afferent inputs.
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Abbasi M, Perkinson MR, Seymour AJ, Piet R, Campbell RE, Iremonger KJ, Brown CH. Local kisspeptin excitation of rat oxytocin neurones in late pregnancy. J Physiol 2022; 600:1753-1770. [PMID: 35045190 PMCID: PMC9303251 DOI: 10.1113/jp282531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract The hormone, oxytocin, is synthesised by magnocellular neurones of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei and is released from the posterior pituitary gland into the circulation to trigger uterine contractions during parturition. Kisspeptin fibre density increases around the supraoptic nucleus over pregnancy and intracerebroventricular kisspeptin excites oxytocin neurones only in late pregnancy. However, the mechanism of this excitation is unknown. Here, we found that microdialysis administration of kisspeptin into the supraoptic nucleus consistently increased the action potential (spike) firing rate of oxytocin neurones in urethane‐anaesthetised late‐pregnant rats (gestation day 18–21) but not in non‐pregnant rats. Hazard analysis of action potential firing showed that kisspeptin specifically increased the probability of another action potential firing immediately after each action potential (post‐spike excitability) in late‐pregnant rats. Patch‐clamp electrophysiology in hypothalamic slices showed that bath application of kisspeptin did not affect action potential frequency or baseline membrane potential in supraoptic nucleus neurones. Moreover, kisspeptin superfusion did not affect the frequency or amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic currents or inhibitory postsynaptic currents in supraoptic nucleus neurones. Taken together, these studies suggest that kisspeptin directly activates oxytocin neurones in late pregnancy, at least in part, via increased post‐spike excitability. Key points Oxytocin secretion is triggered by action potential firing in magnocellular neurones of the hypothalamic supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei to induce uterine contractions during birth. In late pregnancy, kisspeptin expression increases in rat periventricular nucleus neurones that project to the oxytocin system. Here, we show that intra‐supraoptic nucleus administration of kisspeptin increases the action potential firing rate of oxytocin neurones in anaesthetised late‐pregnant rats, and that the increased firing rate is associated with increased oxytocin neurone excitability immediately after each action potential. By contrast, kisspeptin superfusion of hypothalamic slices did not affect the activity of supraoptic nucleus neurones or the strength of local synaptic inputs to supraoptic nucleus neurones. Hence, kisspeptin might activate oxytocin neurons in late pregnancy by transiently increasing oxytocin neuron excitability after each action potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehwish Abbasi
- Brain Health Research Centre, Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Aotearoa, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Michael R Perkinson
- Brain Health Research Centre, Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Aotearoa, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Alexander J Seymour
- Brain Health Research Centre, Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Aotearoa, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Richard Piet
- Brain Health Research Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Rebecca E Campbell
- Brain Health Research Centre, Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Aotearoa, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Karl J Iremonger
- Brain Health Research Centre, Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Aotearoa, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Colin H Brown
- Brain Health Research Centre, Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Aotearoa, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Brown CH, Ludwig M, Tasker JG, Stern JE. Somato-dendritic vasopressin and oxytocin secretion in endocrine and autonomic regulation. J Neuroendocrinol 2020; 32:e12856. [PMID: 32406599 PMCID: PMC9134751 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Somato-dendritic secretion was first demonstrated over 30 years ago. However, although its existence has become widely accepted, the function of somato-dendritic secretion is still not completely understood. Hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory cells were among the first neuronal phenotypes in which somato-dendritic secretion was demonstrated and are among the neurones for which the functions of somato-dendritic secretion are best characterised. These neurones secrete the neuropeptides, vasopressin and oxytocin, in an orthograde manner from their axons in the posterior pituitary gland into the blood circulation to regulate body fluid balance and reproductive physiology. Retrograde somato-dendritic secretion of vasopressin and oxytocin modulates the activity of the neurones from which they are secreted, as well as the activity of neighbouring populations of neurones, to provide intra- and inter-population signals that coordinate the endocrine and autonomic responses for the control of peripheral physiology. Somato-dendritic vasopressin and oxytocin have also been proposed to act as hormone-like signals in the brain. There is some evidence that somato-dendritic secretion from magnocellular neurosecretory cells modulates the activity of neurones beyond their local environment where there are no vasopressin- or oxytocin-containing axons but, to date, there is no conclusive evidence for, or against, hormone-like signalling throughout the brain, although it is difficult to imagine that the levels of vasopressin found throughout the brain could be underpinned by release from relatively sparse axon terminal fields. The generation of data to resolve this issue remains a priority for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin H. Brown
- Department of Physiology, Brain Health Research Centre, Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Mike Ludwig
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Immunology, Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jeffrey G. Tasker
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Javier E. Stern
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-ninth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2016 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia, stress and social status, tolerance and dependence, learning and memory, eating and drinking, drug abuse and alcohol, sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology, mental illness and mood, seizures and neurologic disorders, electrical-related activity and neurophysiology, general activity and locomotion, gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions, cardiovascular responses, respiration and thermoregulation, and immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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