Molecular Determinants Responsible for Sedative and Non-sedative Properties of Histamine H1–Receptor Antagonists

Potential Anti-Amnesic Activity of a Novel Multimodal Derivative of Salicylamide, JJGW08, in Mice

Memory impairments constitute a significant problem worldwide, and the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the prevalence of cognitive deficits. Patients with cognitive deficits, specifically memory disturbances, have underlying comorbid conditions such as schizophrenia, anxiety, or depression. Moreover, the available treatment options have unsatisfactory effectiveness. Therefore, there is a need to search for novel procognitive and anti-amnesic drugs with additional pharmacological activity. One of the important therapeutic targets involved in the modulation of learning and memory processes are serotonin receptors, including 5-HT1A, 5-HT6, and 5-HT7, which also play a role in the pathophysiology of depression. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the anti-amnesic and antidepressant-like potential of JJGW08, a novel arylpiperazine alkyl derivative of salicylamide with strong antagonistic properties at 5-HT1A and D2 receptors and weak at 5-HT2A and 5-HT7 receptors in rodents. First, we investigated the compound’s affinity for 5-HT6 receptors using the radioligand assays. Next, we assessed the influence of the compound on long-term emotional and recognition memory. Further, we evaluated whether the compound could protect against MK-801-induced cognitive impairments. Finally, we determined the potential antidepressant-like activity of the tested compound. We found that JJGW08 possessed no affinity for 5-HT6 receptors. Furthermore, JJGW08 protected mice against MK-801-induced recognition and emotional memory deficits but showed no antidepressant-like effects in rodents. Therefore, our preliminary study may suggest that blocking serotonin receptors, especially 5-HT1A and 5-HT7, might be beneficial in treating cognitive impairments, but it requires further investigation.

Molecular Docking and QSAR Study of 2-Benzoxazolinone, Quinazoline and Diazocoumarin Derivatives as Anti-HIV-1 Agents

A series of 2-benzoxazolinone, diazocoumarin and quinazoline derivatives have been shown to inhibit HIV replication in cell culture. To understand the pharmacophore properties of selected molecules and design new anti-HIV agents, quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) study was developed using a descriptor selection approach based on the stepwise method. Multiple linear regression method was applied to relate the anti-HIV activities of dataset molecules to the selected descriptors. Obtained QSAR model was statistically significant with correlation coefficient R² of 0.84 and leave one out coefficient Q² of 0.73. The model was validated by test set molecules giving satisfactory prediction value (R²_test) of 0.79. Molecules also were docked on HIV integrase enzyme and showed important interactions with the key residues in enzyme active site. These data might be helpful for design and discovery of novel anti-HIV compounds.

Asp73-dependent and -independent regulation of the affinity of ligands for human histamine H1 receptors by Na. Biochem Pharmacol 2016;128:46-54. [PMID: 28040476 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.12.021]

The affinity of ligands for G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is allosterically regulated by Na⁺ via a highly conserved aspartate residue (Asp^2.50) in the second transmembrane domain of GPCRs. In the present study, we examined the Na⁺-mediated regulation of the affinity of ligands for G_q/11-protein-coupled human histamine H₁ receptors in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The affinities of 3 agonists and 20 antihistamines were evaluated by their displacement curves against the binding of [³H]-mepyramine to membrane preparations in the presence or absence of 100mM NaCl. The affinities of most drugs including histamine, an agonist, and d-chlorpheniramine, a first-generation antihistamine, were reduced by NaCl, with the extent of NaCl-mediated changes varying widely between drugs. In contrast, the affinities of some second-generation antihistamines such as fexofenadine were increased by NaCl. These changes were retained in intact cells. The mutation of Asp^2.50 (Asp73) to asparagine abrogated NaCl-induced reductions in affinities for histamine and d-chlorpheniramine, but not NaCl-induced increases in the affinity for fexofenadine. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analyses showed that these Na⁺-mediated changes were explained and predicted by a combination of the molecular energies and implicit solvation energies of the compounds. These results suggest that Na⁺ diversely regulates the affinity of ligands for H₁ receptors from the extracellular sites of receptors via Asp73-dependent and -independent mechanisms in a manner that depends on the physicochemical properties of ligands. These results may contribute to a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms by which the affinity of ligands for their receptors is allosterically regulated by Na⁺.

Brain histamine H1 receptor occupancy measured by PET after oral administration of levocetirizine, a non-sedating antihistamine

OBJECTIVE

Histamine H1 receptor (H1R) antagonists often have sedative side effects, which are caused by the blockade of the neural transmission of the histaminergic neurons. We examined the brain H1R occupancy (H1RO) and the subjective sleepiness of levocetirizine, a new second-generation antihistamine, comparing fexofenadine, another non-sedating antihistamine, as a negative active control.

METHODS

Eight healthy volunteers underwent positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [(11)C]doxepin, a PET tracer that specifically binds to H1Rs, after a single oral administration of levocetirizine (5 mg), fexofenadine (60 mg) or placebo in a double-blind crossover study. Binding potential ratios and H1ROs in the cerebral cortices regions were calculated using placebo. Subjective sleepiness was assessed with the Line Analogue Rating Scale and the Stanford Sleepiness Scale.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the mean brain H1RO after levocetirizine administration (8.1%; 95% CI: -9.8 to 26.0%) and fexofenadine administration (-8.0%; 95% CI: -26.7 to 10.6%). Similarly, subjective sleepiness was not significantly different between the two antihistamines and placebo. Neither subjective sleepiness nor plasma concentrations was significantly correlated with the brain H1RO of the two antihistamines.

CONCLUSION

At therapeutic dose, levocetirizine does not bind significantly to the brain H1Rs and does not induce significant sedation.

Differential thermodynamic driving force of first- and second-generation antihistamines to determine their binding affinity for human H1 receptors

Differential binding sites for first- and second-generation antihistamines were indicated on the basis of the crystal structure of human histamine H1 receptors. In this study, we evaluated differences between the thermodynamic driving forces of first- and second-generation antihistamines for human H1 receptors and their structural determinants. The binding enthalpy and entropy of 20 antihistamines were estimated with the van't Hoff equation using their dissociation constants obtained from their displacement curves against the binding of [(3)H]mepyramine to membrane preparations of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human H1 receptors at various temperatures from 4°C to 37°C. Structural determinants of antihistamines for their thermodynamic binding properties were assessed by quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analyses. We found that entropy-dependent binding was more evident in second- than first-generation antihistamines, resulting in enthalpy-entropy compensation between the binding forces of first- and second-generation antihistamines. QSAR analyses indicated that enthalpy-entropy compensation was determined by the sum of degrees, maximal electrostatic potentials, water-accessible surface area and hydrogen binding acceptor count of antihistamines to regulate their affinity for receptors. In conclusion, it was revealed that entropy-dependent hydrophobic interaction was more important in the binding of second-generation antihistamines, even though the hydrophilicity of second-generation antihistamines is generally increased. Furthermore, their structural determinants responsible for enthalpy-entropy compensation were explored by QSAR analyses. These findings may contribute to understanding the fundamental mechanisms of how the affinity of ligands for their receptors is regulated.