Therapeutical application of voltage-gated calcium channel modulators

Association of CACNA1C polymorphisms (rs1006737, rs4765905, rs2007044) with schizophrenia: A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

Schizophrenia is a complex neurological disorder characterized by significant impairment in the perception of reality and changes in behavior. Genetic and environmental factors influence the development of schizophrenia. CACNA1C, which encodes a subunit of a voltage-dependent calcium channel, has been associated with various neurological disorders, including schizophrenia. Several studies have been performed in different populations to explore the association of common genetic variants in the CACNA1C gene with susceptibility to the development of schizophrenia, but results remain contradictory. To draw a definitive conclusion on the association between CACNA1C polymorphisms and schizophrenia, we conducted a meta-analysis focusing on three commonly studied polymorphisms: rs1006737, rs4765905, and rs2007044. For the meta-analysis, a comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases. Data was retrieved, and the meta-analysis was performed using CMA v4 software. The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between rs1006737 and rs2007044 and schizophrenia in the overall population, while no such association was found for rs4765905. Population-wise analysis suggested that all three polymorphisms were significantly associated with schizophrenia in the Asian population and that rs1006737 was significantly associated with schizophrenia in Europeans. We also performed a Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA), which supported our findings. Some report-based assay studies have suggested a role for these polymorphisms in schizophrenia, but further case-control studies are needed to confirm the association of rs4765905 and rs2007044 with the disorder.

Effect of Crude Extract from the Sea Anemone Bunodeopsis globulifera on Voltage-Gated Ion Channels from Central and Peripheral Murine Nervous Systems

Sea anemones are an important source of bioactive compounds with potential pharmacological applications. Their toxins are produced and stored in organelles called nematocysts and act on specific targets, including voltage-gated ion channels. To date, sea anemone toxins have demonstrated effects on voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels, facilitating investigations into the structure and function of these proteins. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Bunodeopsis globulifera sea anemone crude extract, and of a low molecular weight fraction, on voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels within the murine nervous system. Notably, the crude extract led to a significant reduction in total sodium current, while also triggering calcium-dependent glutamate release. Furthermore, the low molecular weight fraction, in particular, enhanced total calcium currents and current density. These findings underscore the existence of sea anemone toxins with diverse mechanisms of action beyond those previously documented.

Neuroprotective Role of the B Vitamins in the Modulation of the Central Glutamatergic Neurotransmission

BACKGROUND

Regulation of glutamate release is crucial for maintaining normal brain function, but excess glutamate release is implicated in many neuropathological conditions. Therefore, the minimum glutamate release from presynaptic nerve terminals is an important neuroprotective mechanism.

OBJECTIVE

In this mini-review, we analyze the three B vitamins, namely vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), that affect the 4-aminopyridine (4- AP)-evoked glutamate release from presynaptic nerve terminal in rat and discuss their neuroprotective role.

METHODS

In this study, the measurements include glutamate release, DiSC3(5), and Fura-2.

RESULTS

The riboflavin, pyridoxine, and cyanocobalamin produced significant inhibitory effects on 4-aminopyridine-evoked glutamate release from rat cerebrocortical nerve terminals (synaptosomes) in a dose-dependent relationship. These presynaptic inhibitory actions of glutamate release are attributed to inhibition of physiologic Ca2+-dependent vesicular exocytosis but not Ca2+-independent nonvesicular release. These effects also did not affect membrane excitability, while diminished cytosolic (Ca2+)c through a reduction of direct Ca2+ influx via Cav2.2 (N-type) and Cav2.1 (P/Q-type) Ca2+ channels, rather than through indirect Ca2+induced Ca2+ release from ryanodine-sensitive intracellular stores. Furthermore, their effects were attenuated by GF109203X and Ro318220, two protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, suggesting suppression of PKC activity. Taken together, these results suggest that riboflavin, pyridoxine, and cyanocobalamin inhibit presynaptic vesicular glutamate release from rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes, through the depression Ca2+ influx via voltage- dependent Cav2.2 (N-type) and Cav2.1 (P/Q-type) Ca2+ channels, and PKC signaling cascade.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, these B vitamins may reduce the strength of glutamatergic synaptic transmission and is of considerable importance as potential targets for therapeutic agents in glutamate- induced excitation-related diseases.

Peptide neurotoxins that affect voltage-gated calcium channels: a close-up on ω-agatoxins

Peptide neurotoxins found in animal venoms have gained great interest in the field of neurotransmission. As they are high affinity ligands for calcium, potassium and sodium channels, they have become useful tools for studying channel structure and activity. Peptide neurotoxins represent the clinical potential of ion-channel modulators across several therapeutic fields, especially in developing new strategies for treatment of ion channel-related diseases. The aim of this review is to overview the latest updates in the domain of peptide neurotoxins that affect voltage-gated calcium channels, with a special focus on ω-agatoxins.

Synthesis of cyclooctapeptides: constraints analogues of the peptidic neurotoxin, omega-agatoxine IVB-an experimental point of view

omega-AGA IVB is an important lead structure when considering the design of effectors of glutamate release inducting P/Q-type calcium channels. The best route to achieve the analogues possessing the three-dimensional arrangement corresponding to the native binding loop was the introduction of constraint by ring formation via side chain to side chain lactamization for suitably protected Lys and Glu residues. Since tryptophane residue located at position 14 of this neuropeptide has been suggested as essential for binding, analogues in which this amino acid was replaced by aza-tryptophane and alanine were synthesized. The synthesis was carried out on various acid-labile resins (BARLOS chlorotrityl, Rink amide, PEG-based or Wang resins), by Fmoc strategy. In this paper, we describe optimization of the peptide cyclization with various protecting groups, and on resin or in solution cyclization experimental parameters.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of 1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxamide derivatives as T-type calcium channel blockers

A small molecule library of 1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxamides 4 was designed based on the pharmacophore model, synthesized and biologically evaluated as potential T-type calcium channel blockers. The most active compounds 4d and 4n show T-type calcium channel blocking activity with IC50 values of 0.93 and 0.96 microM, respectively.

Structure-activity study of L-amino acid-based N-type calcium channel blockers

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of L-amino acid-based N-type calcium channel blockers are described. The compounds synthesized were evaluated for inhibitory activity against both N-type and L-type calcium channels focusing on selectivity to reduce cardiovascular side effects due to blocking of L-type calcium channels. In the course of screening of our compound library, N-(t-butoxycarbonyl)-L-aspartic acid derivative 1a was identified as an initial lead compound for a new series of N-type calcium channel blockers, which inhibited calcium influx into IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells with an IC(50) of 3.4 microM. Compound 1a also exhibited blockade of N-type calcium channel current in electrophysiological experiment using IMR-32 cells (34% inhibition at 10 microM, n=3). As a consequence of conversion of amino acid residue of 1a, compound 12a, that include N-(t-butoxycarbonyl)-L-cysteine, was found to be a potent N-type calcium channel blocker with an IC(50) of 0.61 microM. Thus, L-cysteine was selected as a potential structural motif for further modification. Optimization of C- and N-terminals of L-cysteine using S-cyclohexylmethyl-L-cysteine as a central scaffold led to potent and selective N-type calcium channel blocker 21f, which showed improved inhibitory potency (IC(50) 0.12 microM) and 12-fold selectivity for N-type calcium channels over L-type channels.

L-Cysteine based N-type calcium channel blockers: structure-activity relationships of the C-terminal lipophilic moiety, and oral analgesic efficacy in rat pain models

This study was performed to determine the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of L-cysteine based N-type calcium channel blockers. Basic nitrogen was introduced into the C-terminal lipophilic moiety of L-cysteine with a view toward improvement of its physicochemical properties. L-Cysteine derivative 9 was found to be a potent and selective N-type calcium channel blocker with IC(50) of 0.33 microM in calcium influx assay using IMR-32 cells and was 15-fold selective for N-type calcium channels over L-type channels. Compound 9 showed improved oral analgesic efficacy in the rat formalin induced pain model and the rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) model, which is one of the most reliable models of chronic neuropathic pain, without any significant effect on blood pressure or neurological behavior.