Reduced Serum Levels of Soluble Interleukin-15 Receptor α in Schizophrenia and Its Relationship to the Excited Phenotype

Our previous studies documented that interleukin-15 receptor α (IL-15Rα) knockout (KO) mice exhibited hyperactivity, memory impairment, and desperate behavior, which are core features of schizophrenia and depression. Due to the overlapping symptomology and pathogenesis observed for schizophrenia and depression, the present study attempted to determine whether IL-15Rα was associated with the risk of schizophrenia or depression. One hundred fifty-six participants, including 63 schizophrenia patients, 29 depressive patients, and 64 age-matched healthy controls, were enrolled in the study. We investigated the circulating levels of soluble IL-15Rα and analyzed potential links between the IL-15Rα levels and clinical symptoms present in schizophrenia or depressive patients. We observed reduced serum IL-15Rα levels in schizophrenia patients, but not depressive patients compared with controls. Moreover, a significant negative association was observed between the circulating IL-15Rα levels and excited phenotypes in the schizophrenia patients. The IL-15Rα KO mice displayed pronounced pre-pulse inhibition impairment, which was a typical symptom of schizophrenia. Interestingly, the IL-15Rα KO mice exhibited a remarkable elevation in the startle amplitude in the startle reflex test compared to wild type mice. These results demonstrated that serum levels of soluble IL-15Rα were reduced in schizophrenia and highlighted the relationship of IL-15Rα and the excited phenotype in schizophrenia patients and mice.

Potential Biological Targets Prediction, ADME Profiling, & Molecular Docking studies of Novel Steroidal Products from Cunninghamella Blakesleana

BACKGROUND

New potential biological targets prediction through inverse molecular docking technique is an another smart strategy to forecast the possibility of compounds being biologically active against various target receptors.

OBJECTIVES

In this case of designed study, we screened our recently obtained novel acetylinic steroidal biotransformed products [(1) 8-β-methyl-14-α-hydroxy∆4tibolone (2) 9-α-Hydroxy∆4 tibolone (3) 8-β-methyl-11-β-hydroxy∆4tibolone (4) 6-β-hydroxy∆4tibolone, (5) 6-β-9-α-dihydroxy∆4tibolone (6) 7-β-hydroxy∆4tibolone) ] from fungi Cunninghemella Blakesleana to predict their possible biological targets and profiling of ADME properties.

METHOD

The prediction of pharmacokinetics properties membrane permeability as well as bioavailability radar properties were carried out by using Swiss target prediction, and Swiss ADME tools, respectively these metabolites were also subjected to predict the possible mechanism of action along with associated biological network pathways by using Reactome data-base.

RESULTS

All the six screened compounds possess excellent drug ability criteria, and exhibited exceptionally excellent non inhibitory potential against all five isozymes of CYP450 enzyme complex, including (CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4) respectively. All the screened compounds are lying within the acceptable pink zone of bioavailability radar and showing excellent descriptive properties. Compounds [1-4 & 6] are showing high BBB (Blood Brain Barrier) permeation, while compound 5 is exhibiting high HIA (Human Intestinal Absorption) property of (Egan Egg).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the results of this study smartly reveals that in-silico based studies are considered to provide robustness towards a rational drug designing and development approach, therefore in this way it helps to avoid the possibility of failure of drug candidates in the later experimental stages of drug development phases.

The synthetic cannabinoid dehydroxylcannabidiol restores the function of a major GABAA receptor isoform in a cell model of hyperekplexia

The functions of the glycine receptor (GlyR) and GABAA receptor (GABAAR) are both impaired in hyperekplexia, a neurological disorder usually caused by GlyR mutations. Although emerging evidence indicates that cannabinoids can directly restore normal GlyR function, whether they affect GABAAR in hyperekplexia remains unknown. Here we show that dehydroxylcannabidiol (DH-CBD), a synthetic nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, restores the GABA- and glycine-activated currents (IGABA and IGly , respectively) in HEK293 cells coexpressing a major GABAAR isoform (α1β2γ2) and GlyRα1 carrying a human hyperekplexia-associated mutation (GlyRα1R271Q). Using coimmunoprecipitation and FRET assays, we found that DH-CBD disrupts the protein interaction between GABAAR and GlyRα1R271Q Furthermore, a point mutation of GlyRα1, changing Ser-296 to Ala-296, which is critical for cannabinoid binding on GlyR, significantly blocked DH-CBD-induced restoration of IGABA and IGly currents. This S296A substitution also considerably attenuated DH-CBD-induced disruption of the interaction between GlyRα1R271Q and GABAAR. These findings suggest that, because it restores the functions of both GlyRα1 and GABAAR, DH-CBD may represent a potentially valuable candidate drug to manage hyperekplexia.

Glycine Transporters and Its Coupling with NMDA Receptors

Glycine plays two roles in neurotransmission. In caudal areas like the spinal cord and the brainstem, it acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, but in all regions of the CNS, it also works as a co-agonist with L-glutamate at N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). The glycine fluxes in the CNS are regulated by two specific transporters for glycine, GlyT1 and GlyT2, perhaps with the cooperation of diverse neutral amino acid transporters like Asc-1 or SNAT5/SN2. While GlyT2 and Asc-1 are neuronal proteins, GlyT1 and SNAT5 are mainly astrocytic, although neuronal forms of GlyT1 also exist. GlyT1 has attracted considerable interest from the medical community and the pharmaceutical industry since compelling evidence indicates a clear association with the functioning of NMDARs, whose activity is decreased in various psychiatric illnesses. By controlling extracellular glycine, transporter inhibitors might potentiate the activity of NMDARs without activating excitotoxic processes. Physiologically, GlyT1 is a central actor in the cross talk between glutamatergic, glycinergic, dopaminergic, and probably other neurotransmitter systems. Many of these relationships begin to be unraveled by studies performed in recent years using genetic and pharmacological models. These studies are also clarifying the interactions between glycine, glycine transporters, and other co-agonists of the glycine site of NMDARs like D-serine. These findings are also relevant to understand the pathophysiology of devastating diseases like schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, stroke, and chronic pain.

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as an innovative preclinical ADME model for solute carrier membrane transporters, with consequences for pharmacology and drug therapy

Solute carrier membrane transporters (SLCs) control cell exposure to small-molecule drugs, thereby contributing to drug efficacy and failure and/or adverse effects. Moreover, SLCs are genetically linked to various diseases. Hence, in-depth knowledge of SLC function is fundamental for a better understanding of disease pathophysiology and the drug development process. Given that the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) expresses SLCs, such as for the excretion of endogenous and toxic compounds by the hindgut and Malpighian tubules, equivalent to human intestine and kidney, this system appears to be a promising preclinical model to use to study human SLCs. Here, we systematically compare current knowledge of SLCs in Drosophila and humans and describe the Drosophila model as an innovative tool for drug development.

Identification of a novel missense GLRA1 gene mutation in hyperekplexia: a case report

Introduction

Hereditary hyperekplexia is a neurological disorder characterized by excessive startle responses with violent jerking to noise or touch, stiffening of the trunk and limbs, clenching of the fists and attacks of a high-frequency trembling. Hyperekplexia has a heterogeneous genetic background with several identified causative genes and demonstrates both dominant and recessive inheritance. Mutations in the glycine receptor alpha 1 subunit gene occur in about 30 percent of hyperekplexia cases.

Case presentation

In this study, we report the case of a Hungarian boy whose abnormal movements, muscle stiffness and convulsions were first noted when he was 4 days old. Neurological and electrophysiological investigation suggested the clinical diagnosis of hyperekplexia.

Conclusions

Direct sequencing of the coding regions and the flanking introns of the glycine receptor alpha 1 subunit gene revealed a novel heterozygous missense mutation (c.211A/T, p.Ile71Phe). Genetic screening of our patient’s family revealed that the clinically unaffected parents and sister do not carry the mutation, suggesting that the identified sequence change is a de novo mutation. Since hyperekplexia can have severe consequences, including sudden infant death due to laryngospasm and cardiorespiratory failure, identification of the causative genetic alteration(s) of the disease is high priority. Such knowledge is necessary for prenatal diagnosis, which would allow informed family planning and greater parental sensitivity to hyperekplexia 1-associated risks.