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Florido A, Velasco ER, Romero LR, Acharya N, Marin Blasco IJ, Nabás JF, Perez-Caballero L, Rivero G, Olabarrieta E, Nuñez-delMoral A, González-Parra JA, Porta-Casteràs D, Cano M, Steward T, Antony MS, Cardoner N, Torrubia R, Jackson AC, Fullana MA, Andero R. Sex differences in neural projections of fear memory processing in mice and humans. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk3365. [PMID: 38985873 PMCID: PMC11235172 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk3365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
It remains unexplored in the field of fear memory whether functional neuronal connectivity between two brain areas is necessary for one sex but not the other. Here, we show that chemogenetic silencing of centromedial (CeM)-Tac2 fibers in the lateral posterior BNST (BNSTpl) decreased fear memory consolidation in male mice but not females. Optogenetic excitation of CeM-Tac2 fibers in the BNSTpl exhibited enhanced inhibitory postsynaptic currents in males compared to females. In vivo calcium imaging analysis revealed a sex-dimorphic fear memory engram in the BNSTpl. Furthermore, in humans, the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the Tac2 receptor (rs2765) (TAC3R) decreased CeM-BNST connectivity in a fear task, impaired fear memory consolidation, and increased the expression of the TAC3R mRNA in AA-carrier men but not in women. These sex differences in critical neuronal circuits underlying fear memory formation may be relevant to human neuropsychiatric disorders with fear memory alterations such as posttraumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Florido
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eric R. Velasco
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leire R. Romero
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neha Acharya
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio J. Marin Blasco
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaime F. Nabás
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Perez-Caballero
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guadalupe Rivero
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Biobizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Estíbaliz Olabarrieta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Amaia Nuñez-delMoral
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose A. González-Parra
- IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Cell-Type Mechanisms in Normal and Pathological Behavior, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Porta-Casteràs
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Sant Pau Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Mental Health Department, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Tauli University Hospital, Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Sanitària Parc Taulí (I3PT), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine Bellaterra, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Cano
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Sant Pau Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Trevor Steward
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Monica S. Antony
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Narcís Cardoner
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Sant Pau Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Mental Health Department, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Tauli University Hospital, Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Sanitària Parc Taulí (I3PT), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine Bellaterra, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Torrubia
- Unitat de Psicologia Mèdica, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal and Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexander C. Jackson
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- The Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS), Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Miquel A. Fullana
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Adult Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raül Andero
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
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Ye L, Yang Y, Li C, Zhang J, Wang W, Ma M, Xu H, Zhang W, Zou F, Hu Z, Wang H, Tian J. Synthesis and evaluation of piperazinotriazoles. Discovery of a potent and orally bioavailable neurokinin-3 receptor inhibitor. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 257:115486. [PMID: 37247507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R) is one of three receptors that recognize neurokinins. The finding that pharmacological blockade of neurokinin B (NKB) signaling with an oral NK3R antagonist can significantly improve hot flash symptoms independent of any hormonal effect fits strongly suggest that NK3R is a viable drug target and that drugs targeting this receptor could be novel pharmacotherapies. Currently no NK3R ligands have been approved for the treatment of human disorders. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of novel imidazolepiperazine derivatives (16a-16x, 20a-20f, 29a-29m) and performed molecular docking to confirm the design, among which the target compound 16x exhibited promising inhibitory activity against NK3R (IC50 = 430.60 nM) with excellent membrane permeability (Papp, A-B = 37.6 × 10-6 cm/s, ER < 1) and oral bioavailability (F% = 93.6%). Our in vivo studies demonstrated that 16x was orally active, efficacious, and well-tolerated in ovariectomy (OVX) model to suppress blood luteinizing hormone levels, which suggests that 16x is a viable lead compound for further optimization and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ye
- School of Public Health and Management, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, PR China.
| | - Yifei Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Chunmei Li
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Jianzhao Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Yantai University, Yantai, Shangdong, 264005, PR China
| | - Wenyan Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Mingxu Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Hengwei Xu
- R & D Center, Luye Pharma Group Ltd., Yantai, 264003, PR China
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- R & D Center, Luye Pharma Group Ltd., Yantai, 264003, PR China
| | - Fangxia Zou
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Zhengping Hu
- Medicine & Pharmacy Research Center, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, PR China
| | - Hongbo Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China.
| | - Jingwei Tian
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China.
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Florido A, Moreno E, Canela EI, Andero R. Nk3R blockade has sex-divergent effects on memory in mice. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:28. [PMID: 35690790 PMCID: PMC9188709 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00437-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Memory consolidation is a process required for the formation of long-term memories. The G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) neurokinin-3-receptor (Nk3R) and its interactions with sex hormones seem important for the modulation of fear memory consolidation: Nk3R antagonism in male mice impairs fear memory, but enhances it in females. However, the involvement of the Nk3R as a modulator of other memories in both sexes remains unexplored. Methods We use the novel object recognition paradigm to test the effect of a systemic blockade of Nk3R during memory consolidation. Further, we assess the expression of estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β, and androgen receptor and heterodimerization with Nk3R in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and dorsal hippocampus (DH) of mice. Results Nk3R systemic antagonism elicited decreased memory consolidation in males while it enhanced it in females during proestrus. Nk3R analysis in the different subregions of the mPFC and the DH showed a higher expression in males than females. Moreover, females presented upregulation of the androgen receptor in the CA1 and the estrogen receptor beta in the cingulate cortex, CA1, and dentate gyrus. Overall, males presented an upregulation of the estrogen receptor alpha. We also explored the heterodimerization of GCPR membrane sex hormone receptors with the Nk3R. We found a higher percentage of Nk3R-membrane G-protein estrogen receptors heterodimers in the prelimbic cortex of the mPFC in females, suggesting an interaction of estradiol with Nk3R in memory consolidation. However, males presented a higher percentage of Nk3R-membrane G-protein androgen receptors heterodimers compared to females, pointing to an interaction of testosterone with Nk3R in memory consolidation. Conclusion These data propose novel ideas on functional interactions between Nk3R, sex hormones, estrogen receptors, and androgen receptors in memory consolidation. Nk3R antagonism reduces recognition memory consolidation in male mice and increases it in proestrus females. Androgen receptor expression is higher in the CA1 compared to DG, CA3, and the mPFC. Estrogen repcetor α expression is higher in males than in females in the DH and mPFC. Estrogen receptor β expression is greater in females than in males in the DG, CA1, and CG. Over 60% of Nk3R in the DH and mPFC is heterodimerized with membrane estrogen receptor and androgen receptor. Nk3R–GPAR is more abundant in males than in proestrus females, whereas Nk3R–GPER is greater in proestrus females compared to males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Florido
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Psicobiologia i Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Estefanía Moreno
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biomedicina Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona i Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enric I Canela
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biomedicina Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona i Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raül Andero
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain. .,Departament de Psicobiologia i Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain. .,Unitat de Neurociència Translacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació I Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain. .,ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.
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Gadais C, Piekielna-Ciesielska J, De Neve J, Martin C, Janecka A, Ballet S. Harnessing the Anti-Nociceptive Potential of NK2 and NK3 Ligands in the Design of New Multifunctional μ/δ-Opioid Agonist-Neurokinin Antagonist Peptidomimetics. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175406. [PMID: 34500841 PMCID: PMC8434392 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid agonists are well-established analgesics, widely prescribed for acute but also chronic pain. However, their efficiency comes with the price of drastically impacting side effects that are inherently linked to their prolonged use. To answer these liabilities, designed multiple ligands (DMLs) offer a promising strategy by co-targeting opioid and non-opioid signaling pathways involved in nociception. Despite being intimately linked to the Substance P (SP)/neurokinin 1 (NK1) system, which is broadly examined for pain treatment, the neurokinin receptors NK2 and NK3 have so far been neglected in such DMLs. Herein, a series of newly designed opioid agonist-NK2 or -NK3 antagonists is reported. A selection of reported peptidic, pseudo-peptidic, and non-peptide neurokinin NK2 and NK3 ligands were covalently linked to the peptidic μ-opioid selective pharmacophore Dmt-DALDA (H-Dmt-d-Arg-Phe-Lys-NH2) and the dual μ/δ opioid agonist H-Dmt-d-Arg-Aba-βAla-NH2 (KGOP01). Opioid binding assays unequivocally demonstrated that only hybrids SBL-OPNK-5, SBL-OPNK-7 and SBL-OPNK-9, bearing the KGOP01 scaffold, conserved nanomolar range μ-opioid receptor (MOR) affinity, and slightly reduced affinity for the δ-opioid receptor (DOR). Moreover, NK binding experiments proved that compounds SBL-OPNK-5, SBL-OPNK-7, and SBL-OPNK-9 exhibited (sub)nanomolar binding affinity for NK2 and NK3, opening promising opportunities for the design of next-generation opioid hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlène Gadais
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Bioengineering Sciences and Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (J.D.N.); (C.M.)
- Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes, Equipe CORINT, UMR 6226, Université de Rennes 1, 2 Avenue du Pr. Léon Bernard, CEDEX, 35043 Rennes, France
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (S.B.); Tel.: +32-2-6293-292 (S.B.)
| | - Justyna Piekielna-Ciesielska
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (J.P.-C.); (A.J.)
| | - Jolien De Neve
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Bioengineering Sciences and Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (J.D.N.); (C.M.)
| | - Charlotte Martin
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Bioengineering Sciences and Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (J.D.N.); (C.M.)
| | - Anna Janecka
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (J.P.-C.); (A.J.)
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Bioengineering Sciences and Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (J.D.N.); (C.M.)
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (S.B.); Tel.: +32-2-6293-292 (S.B.)
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Al Abed AS, Reynolds NJ, Dehorter N. A Second Wave for the Neurokinin Tac2 Pathway in Brain Research. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:156-164. [PMID: 33867115 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite promising advances in basic research of the neurokinin B/Tac2 pathway in both animals and humans, clinical applications are yet to be implemented. This is likely because of our limited understanding of the action of the pathway in the brain. While this system controls neuronal activity in multiple regions, the precise impact of Tac2-induced cellular responses on behavior remains unclear. Recently, elegant studies revealed a key contribution to stress-related behaviors and memory. Here, we discuss the crucial importance of bridging the gap between the Tac2 pathway's involvement in cell physiology and cognition to comprehend its role in health and disease. We propose that a better understanding of the Tac2 pathway in the brain could provide an essential perspective for basic investigations, which in turn will feed clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Shaam Al Abed
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nathan J Reynolds
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nathalie Dehorter
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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Florido A, Velasco ER, Soto-Faguás CM, Gomez-Gomez A, Perez-Caballero L, Molina P, Nadal R, Pozo OJ, Saura CA, Andero R. Sex differences in fear memory consolidation via Tac2 signaling in mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2496. [PMID: 33941789 PMCID: PMC8093426 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22911-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory formation is key for brain functioning. Uncovering the memory mechanisms is helping us to better understand neural processes in health and disease. Moreover, more specific treatments for fear-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder and phobias may help to decrease their negative impact on mental health. In this line, the Tachykinin 2 (Tac2) pathway in the central amygdala (CeA) has been shown to be sufficient and necessary for the modulation of fear memory consolidation. CeA-Tac2 antagonism and its pharmacogenetic temporal inhibition impair fear memory in male mice. Surprisingly, we demonstrate here the opposite effect of Tac2 blockade on enhancing fear memory consolidation in females. Furthermore, we show that CeA-testosterone in males, CeA-estradiol in females and Akt/GSK3β/β-Catenin signaling both mediate the opposite-sex differential Tac2 pathway regulation of fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Florido
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E R Velasco
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C M Soto-Faguás
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Gomez-Gomez
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Perez-Caballero
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - P Molina
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Unitat de Fisiologia Animal, Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia. Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - R Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - O J Pozo
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - C A Saura
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - R Andero
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain.
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Sucquart IE, Nagarkar R, Edwards MC, Rodriguez Paris V, Aflatounian A, Bertoldo MJ, Campbell RE, Gilchrist RB, Begg DP, Handelsman DJ, Padmanabhan V, Anderson RA, Walters KA. Neurokinin 3 Receptor Antagonism Ameliorates Key Metabolic Features in a Hyperandrogenic PCOS Mouse Model. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6125280. [PMID: 33522579 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine condition characterized by a range of endocrine, reproductive, and metabolic abnormalities. At present, management of women with PCOS is suboptimal as treatment is only symptomatic. Clinical and experimental advances in our understanding of PCOS etiology support a pivotal role for androgen neuroendocrine actions in PCOS pathogenesis. Hyperandrogenism is a key PCOS trait and androgen actions play a role in regulating the kisspeptin-/neurokinin B-/dynorphin (KNDy) system. This study aimed to investigate if targeted antagonism of neurokinin B signaling through the neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) would reverse PCOS traits in a dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced mouse model of PCOS. After 3 months, DHT exposure induced key reproductive PCOS traits of cycle irregularity and ovulatory dysfunction, and PCOS-like metabolic traits including increased body weight; white and brown fat pad weights; fasting serum triglyceride and glucose levels, and blood glucose incremental area under the curve. Treatment with a NK3R antagonist (MLE4901) did not impact the observed reproductive defects. In contrast, following NK3R antagonist treatment, PCOS-like females displayed decreased total body weight, adiposity, and adipocyte hypertrophy, but increased respiratory exchange ratio, suggesting NK3R antagonism altered the metabolic status of the PCOS-like females. NK3R antagonism did not improve circulating serum triglyceride or fasted glucose levels. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that NK3R antagonism may be beneficial in the treatment of adverse metabolic features associated with PCOS and support neuroendocrine targeting in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene E Sucquart
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ruchi Nagarkar
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Melissa C Edwards
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Valentina Rodriguez Paris
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ali Aflatounian
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Michael J Bertoldo
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Rebecca E Campbell
- Centre of Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Robert B Gilchrist
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Denovan P Begg
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - David J Handelsman
- Andrology Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, NSW 2139, Australia
| | | | - Richard A Anderson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Kirsty A Walters
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Limbic Neuropeptidergic Modulators of Emotion and Their Therapeutic Potential for Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. J Neurosci 2021; 41:901-910. [PMID: 33472824 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1647-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by hypervigilance, increased reactivity to unpredictable versus predictable threat signals, deficits in fear extinction, and an inability to discriminate between threat and safety. First-line pharmacotherapies for psychiatric disorders have limited therapeutic efficacy in PTSD. However, recent studies have advanced our understanding of the roles of several limbic neuropeptides in the regulation of defensive behaviors and in the neural processes that are disrupted in PTSD. For example, preclinical studies have shown that blockers of tachykinin pathways, such as the Tac2 pathway, attenuate fear memory consolidation in mice and thus might have unique potential as early post-trauma interventions to prevent PTSD development. Targeting this pathway might also be beneficial in regulating other symptoms of PTSD, including trauma-induced aggressive behavior. In addition, preclinical and clinical studies have shown the important role of angiotensin receptors in fear extinction and the promise of using angiotensin II receptor blockade to reduce PTSD symptom severity. Additional preclinical studies have demonstrated that the oxytocin receptors foster accurate fear discrimination by facilitating fear responses to predictable versus unpredictable threats. Complementary human imaging studies demonstrate unique neural targets of intranasal oxytocin and compare its efficacy with well-established anxiolytic treatments. Finally, promising data from human subjects have demonstrated that a selective vasopressin 1A receptor antagonist reduces anxiety induced by unpredictable threats. This review highlights these novel promising targets for the treatment of unique core elements of PTSD pathophysiology.
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Anderson RA, Cormier J, Thieroff-Ekerdt R, Boyce M, van den Berg F, Grau D, Turnquist D, Corzo D, Graham P. Pharmacodynamic Activity of the Novel Neurokinin-3 Receptor Antagonist SJX-653 in Healthy Men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 105:5908704. [PMID: 32946574 PMCID: PMC7571451 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT SJX-653 is a novel neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) antagonist. The NK3 pathway is a central regulator of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion and has also been implicated in the generation of hot flashes. Therefore, decreases of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone in men serve as sensitive pharmacodynamic (PD) markers of central NK3 antagonism. OBJECTIVE To characterize the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic activity of SJX-653 in healthy men. DESIGN A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single ascending dose study. SETTING Phase 1 unit. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Seven cohorts of 6 healthy men 18-45 years of age (4:2 randomization to SJX-653/placebo per cohort). INTERVENTION(S) Single oral doses of 0.5-90 mg SJX-653. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Safety assessments and serial pharmacokinetic (PK)/PD measurements. RESULTS SJX-653 was well tolerated at all dose levels. Cmax and AUC0-24 increased in a dose-proportional manner. The terminal elimination half-life ranged between 9.8 and 12.5 hours independent of dose. A statistically significant, dose-dependent, reversible reduction of LH and testosterone was observed with near maximal effect after 15 mg and little to no effect at 4.5 mg. Maximal LH reduction was 70 ± 7% (mean ± sd) at 6 hours after 30 mg SJX-653 versus 10 ± 43% for placebo (P = 0.0006); maximal T reduction was of 68 ± 5% at 8 hours after 60 mg SJX-653 versus 18 ± 11% for placebo (P < 0.0001). The plasma IC50 for LH reduction was 33 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate clinical proof-of-mechanism for SJX-653 as a potent centrally-acting NK3R antagonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Anderson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Correspondence and Reprint Requests: Professor RA Anderson, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK. E-mail:
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10
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Cui WQ, Zhang WW, Chen T, Li Q, Xu F, Mao-Ying QL, Mi WL, Wang YQ, Chu YX. Tacr3 in the lateral habenula differentially regulates orofacial allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors in a mouse model of trigeminal neuralgia. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:44. [PMID: 32264959 PMCID: PMC7137530 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-00922-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is debilitating and is usually accompanied by mood disorders. The lateral habenula (LHb) is considered to be involved in the modulation of pain and mood disorders, and the present study aimed to determine if and how the LHb participates in the development of pain and anxiety in TN. To address this issue, a mouse model of partial transection of the infraorbital nerve (pT-ION) was established. pT-ION induced stable and long-lasting primary and secondary orofacial allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors that correlated with the increased excitability of LHb neurons. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated expression of hM4D(Gi) in glutamatergic neurons of the unilateral LHb followed by clozapine-N-oxide application relieved pT-ION-induced anxiety-like behaviors but not allodynia. Immunofluorescence validated the successful infection of AAV in the LHb, and microarray analysis showed changes in gene expression in the LHb of mice showing allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors after pT-ION. Among these differentially expressed genes was Tacr3, the downregulation of which was validated by RT-qPCR. Rescuing the downregulation of Tacr3 by AAV-mediated Tacr3 overexpression in the unilateral LHb significantly reversed pT-ION-induced anxiety-like behaviors but not allodynia. Whole-cell patch clamp recording showed that Tacr3 overexpression suppressed nerve injury-induced hyperexcitation of LHb neurons, and western blotting showed that the pT-ION-induced upregulation of p-CaMKII was reversed by AAV-mediated Tacr3 overexpression or chemicogenetic inhibition of glutamatergic neurons in the LHb. Moreover, not only anxiety-like behaviors, but also allodynia after pT-ION were significantly alleviated by chemicogenetic inhibition of bilateral LHb neurons or by bilateral Tacr3 overexpression in the LHb. In conclusion, Tacr3 in the LHb plays a protective role in treating trigeminal nerve injury-induced allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors by suppressing the hyperexcitability of LHb neurons. These findings provide a rationale for suppressing unilateral or bilateral LHb activity by targeting Tacr3 in treating the anxiety and pain associated with TN.
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Ückert S, Kedia GT, Tsikas D, Simon A, Bannowsky A, Kuczyk MA. Emerging drugs to target lower urinary tract symptomatology (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): focus on the prostate. World J Urol 2019; 38:1423-1435. [PMID: 31506747 DOI: 10.1007/s00345-019-02933-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The benign prostatic syndrome, comprising lower urinary tract symptomatology secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia/enlargement, represents a major health care issue in westernized countries. The pharmacological management involves alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists, intervention into the hormonal control of prostate growth using inhibitors of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, and stimulation of the nitric oxide/cyclic GMP pathway by tadalafil, an inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase type 5. METHODS This review summarizes the achievements which have been made in the development of drug candidates assumed to offer opportunities as beneficial treatment options in the management of the benign prostatic syndrome. RESULTS A review of the literature has revealed that the line of development is focusing on drugs interfering with peripheral neuromuscular/neuronal mechanisms (nitric oxide donor drugs, agonists/antagonists of endogenous peptides, botulinum toxin, NX-1207), the steroidal axis (cetrorelix) or the metabolic turn-over (lonidamine), as well as the combination of drugs already established in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptomatology/benign prostatic hyperplasia (phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor plus alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist). CONCLUSION Many research efforts have provided the basis for the development of new therapeutic modalities for the management of lower urinary tract dysfunctions, some of which might be offered to the patients in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Ückert
- Division of Surgery, Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30623, Hannover, Germany.
| | - George T Kedia
- Division of Surgery, Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30623, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dimitrios Tsikas
- Core Unit Proteomics, Center of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Annika Simon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Markus A Kuczyk
- Division of Surgery, Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30623, Hannover, Germany
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Gadais C, Ballet S. The Neurokinins: Peptidomimetic Ligand Design and Therapeutic Applications. Curr Med Chem 2018; 27:1515-1561. [PMID: 30209994 DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180913095918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The neurokinins are indisputably essential neurotransmitters in numerous pathoand physiological events. Being widely distributed in the Central Nervous System (CNS) and peripheral tissues, their discovery rapidly promoted them to drugs targets. As a necessity for molecular tools to understand the biological role of this class, endogenous peptides and their receptors prompted the scientific community to design ligands displaying either agonist and antagonist activity at the three main neurokinin receptors, called NK1, NK2 and NK3. Several strategies were implemented for this purpose. With a preference to small non-peptidic ligands, many research groups invested efforts in synthesizing and evaluating a wide range of scaffolds, but only the NK1 antagonist Aprepitant (EMENDT) and its prodrug Fosaprepitant (IVEMENDT) have been approved by the Food Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced and Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting (CINV and PONV, respectively). While non-peptidic drugs showed limitations, especially in side effect control, peptidic and pseudopeptidic compounds progressively regained attention. Various strategies were implemented to modulate affinity, selectivity and activity of the newly designed ligands. Replacement of canonical amino acids, incorporation of conformational constraints, and fusion with non-peptidic moieties gave rise to families of ligands displaying individual or dual NK1, NK2 and NK3 antagonism, that ultimately were combined with non-neurokinin ligands (such as opioids) to target enhanced biological impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlène Gadais
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Skorupskaite K, George JT, Veldhuis JD, Millar RP, Anderson RA. Neurokinin 3 receptor antagonism decreases gonadotropin and testosterone secretion in healthy men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2017; 87:748-756. [PMID: 28802064 DOI: 10.1111/cen.13445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients with mutations of neurokinin B (NKB) and its receptor show hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, but there is little evidence for the importance of this pathway in reproductive function in normal men, or its functional hierarchy with kisspeptin. DESIGN An open label study wherein men (n = 6) were administered the NK3R antagonist MLE4901 40 mg orally twice a day for 7 days. Kisspeptin-10 (0.3 μg/kg iv bolus) was given before and on day 7 of NK3R antagonist treatment. PATIENTS Subjects were healthy men. MEASUREMENTS Reproductive hormones were measured before and during the NK3R antagonist administration, including frequent sampling on two occasions for analysis of pulsatile LH secretion. RESULTS LH, FSH and testosterone secretion were decreased during NK3R antagonist administration. LH showed a biphasic response, being reduced after 24 hours of treatment (4.5 ± 0.6 IU/L pretreatment to 1.7 ± 0.2 IU/L, P < .05), with partial recovery thereafter, but it was again decreased on day 7 (2.5 ± 0.6 IU/L, P < .05 vs pretreatment). FSH secretion was also suppressed, with a similar temporal pattern to that of LH. Testosterone secretion was decreased from 24 hours (18.4 ± 1.6 pretreatment vs 5.6 ± 1.5 nmol/L, P < .01) and remained suppressed throughout the treatment period. Analysis of LH pulsatility showed that both basal and pulsatile LH secretion were markedly suppressed but there was no detected change in LH pulse frequency. Kisspeptin-10 stimulated LH secretion, with similar responses before and during NK3R antagonist administration. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate a central role for NKB/NK3R in the physiological regulation of reproductive function in men, and that this is functionally upstream of kisspeptin-mediated GnRH secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Skorupskaite
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jyothis T George
- Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK
- Boehringer Ingelheim, Bracknell, UK
| | - Johannes D Veldhuis
- Endocrine Research Unit, Center for Translational Science Activities, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Robert P Millar
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard A Anderson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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14
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Schooling CM. Tachykinin neurokinin 3 receptor antagonists: a new treatment for cardiovascular disease? Lancet 2017; 390:709-711. [PMID: 28359648 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(16)31648-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Great progress has been made in reducing cardiovascular mortality over the past 50 years. Nevertheless, prevalence is rising in some settings and remains higher in men than in women, even with the same level of established risk factors. To gain new insights, researchers are now considering cardiovascular disease in relation to the well known evolutionary biology model of growth and reproduction trading off against longevity, with trials of calorie restriction underway. However, calorie restriction has not been as successful as expected in primates and it is increasingly realised that effects on the reproductive axis might also be important. In this paper, the modulation of the reproductive axis using existing agents that have such properties-tachykinin neurokinin 3 receptor antagonists-is proposed as a way of reducing cardiovascular disease and combating a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Mary Schooling
- Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA; School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
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15
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Zmora N, Wong TT, Stubblefield J, Levavi-Sivan B, Zohar Y. Neurokinin B regulates reproduction via inhibition of kisspeptin in a teleost, the striped bass. J Endocrinol 2017; 233:159-174. [PMID: 28330973 DOI: 10.1530/joe-16-0575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) are neuropeptides co-expressed in the mammalian hypothalamus and coordinately control GnRH signaling. We have found that Nkb and kisspeptin neurons are distinct in the teleost, striped bass (STB) and capitalized on this phenomenon to study the mode of action of Nkb and its related neuropeptide-F (Nkf), both of which are encoded by the tac3 gene. In vitro brain slices and in vivo administration studies revealed that Nkb/f consistently downregulated kiss2, whereas antagonist (AntD) administration restored this effect. Overall, a minor effect was noted on gnrh1 expression, whereas Gnrh1 content in the pituitaries was reduced after Nkb/f treatment and increased with AntD. Concomitantly, immunostaining demonstrated that hypothalamic Nkb neurons border and densely innervate the largest kiss2 neuronal population in the hypothalamus, which also coexpresses Nkb receptor. No expression of Nkb receptor or Nkb neuronal projections was detected near/in Gnrh1 soma in the preoptic area. At the level of the pituitary, however, the picture was more complex: both Nkb/f and AntD upregulated lhb and fshb expression and Lh secretion in vivo Together with the stimulatory effect of Nkb/f on Lh/Fsh secretion from pituitary cells, in vitro, this may indicate an additional independent action of Nkb/f within the pituitary, in which the hypothalamic pathway is more dominant. The current study demonstrates that Nkb/f utilizes multiple pathways to regulate reproduction in the STB and that in the brain, Nkb mainly acts as a negative modulator of kiss2 to regulate the release of Gnrh1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilli Zmora
- Department of Marine BiotechnologyInstitute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ten-Tsao Wong
- Department of Marine BiotechnologyInstitute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - John Stubblefield
- Department of Marine BiotechnologyInstitute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Berta Levavi-Sivan
- Department of Animal SciencesFaculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University, Rehobot, Israel
| | - Yonathan Zohar
- Department of Marine BiotechnologyInstitute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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George JT, Kakkar R, Marshall J, Scott ML, Finkelman RD, Ho TW, Veldhuis J, Skorupskaite K, Anderson RA, McIntosh S, Webber L. Neurokinin B Receptor Antagonism in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2016; 101:4313-4321. [PMID: 27459523 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2016-1202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrinopathy in women, is characterized by high secretion levels of LH and T. Currently, there is no treatment licensed specifically for PCOS. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate whether a targeted therapy would decrease LH pulse frequency in women with PCOS, subsequently reducing serum LH and T concentrations and thereby presenting a novel therapeutic approach to the management of PCOS. DESIGN This study is a double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. SETTINGS University hospitals and private clinical research centers were included. PARTICIPANTS Women with PCOS aged 18-45 years participated. INTERVENTION Intervention included AZD4901 (a specific neurokinin-3 [NK3] receptor antagonist) at a dose of 20, 40, or 80 mg/day or matching placebo for 28 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Change from baseline in the area under the LH serum concentration-time curve over 8 hours (area under the curve) on day 7 relative to placebo was measured. RESULTS Of a total 67 randomized patients, 65 were evaluable. On day 7, the following baseline-adjusted changes relative to placebo were observed in patients receiving AZD4901 80 mg/day: 1) a reduction of 52.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 29.6-67.3%) in LH area under the curve; 2) a reduction of 28.7% (95% CI, 13.9-40.9%) in total T concentration; and 3) a reduction of 3.55 LH pulses/8 hours (95% CI, 2.0-5.1) (all nominal P < .05). CONCLUSIONS The NK3 receptor antagonist AZD4901 specifically reduced LH pulse frequency and subsequently serum LH and T concentrations, thus presenting NK3 receptor antagonism as a potential approach to treating the central neuroendocrine pathophysiology of PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyothis T George
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rahul Kakkar
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jayne Marshall
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Martin L Scott
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Richard D Finkelman
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tony W Ho
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Johannes Veldhuis
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Karolina Skorupskaite
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A Anderson
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart McIntosh
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lorraine Webber
- Diabetes Trials Unit (J.T.G.), Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts (R.K., M.L.S.) Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom (J.M., S.M., L.W.), Wilmington, Delaware (R.D.F.); and Gaithersburg Maryland (T.W.H.); Endocrine Research Unit (J.V.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, Rochester, Minnesota; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (K.S., R.A.A.), The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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17
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Amygdala-Dependent Molecular Mechanisms of the Tac2 Pathway in Fear Learning. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:2714-22. [PMID: 27238620 PMCID: PMC5026739 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2016.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Recently we determined that activation of the tachykinin 2 (Tac2) pathway in the central amygdala (CeA) is necessary and sufficient for the modulation of fear memories. The Tac2 pathway includes the Tac2 gene, which encodes the neuropeptide neurokinin B and its corresponding receptor neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R). In this study, using Tac2-cre and Tac2-GFP mice, we applied a combination of in vivo (optogenetics) and multiple in vitro techniques to further explore the mechanisms of action within the Tac2 pathway. In transgenic mice that express ChR2 solely in Tac2 neurons, in vivo optogenetic stimulation of CeA Tac2-expressing neurons during fear acquisition enhanced fear memory consolidation and drove action potential firing in vitro. In addition, Tac2-CeA neurons were shown to co-express striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase, which may have an important role in regulating Nk3R signaling during fear conditioning. These data extend our current understanding for the underlying mechanism(s) for the role of the Tac2 pathway in the regulation of fear memory, which may serve as a new therapeutic target in the treatment of fear-related disorders.
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Bergström CAS, Charman WN, Porter CJH. Computational prediction of formulation strategies for beyond-rule-of-5 compounds. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2016; 101:6-21. [PMID: 26928657 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The physicochemical properties of some contemporary drug candidates are moving towards higher molecular weight, and coincidentally also higher lipophilicity in the quest for biological selectivity and specificity. These physicochemical properties move the compounds towards beyond rule-of-5 (B-r-o-5) chemical space and often result in lower water solubility. For such B-r-o-5 compounds non-traditional delivery strategies (i.e. those other than conventional tablet and capsule formulations) typically are required to achieve adequate exposure after oral administration. In this review, we present the current status of computational tools for prediction of intestinal drug absorption, models for prediction of the most suitable formulation strategies for B-r-o-5 compounds and models to obtain an enhanced understanding of the interplay between drug, formulation and physiological environment. In silico models are able to identify the likely molecular basis for low solubility in physiologically relevant fluids such as gastric and intestinal fluids. With this baseline information, a formulation scientist can, at an early stage, evaluate different orally administered, enabling formulation strategies. Recent computational models have emerged that predict glass-forming ability and crystallisation tendency and therefore the potential utility of amorphous solid dispersion formulations. Further, computational models of loading capacity in lipids, and therefore the potential for formulation as a lipid-based formulation, are now available. Whilst such tools are useful for rapid identification of suitable formulation strategies, they do not reveal drug localisation and molecular interaction patterns between drug and excipients. For the latter, Molecular Dynamics simulations provide an insight into the interplay between drug, formulation and intestinal fluid. These different computational approaches are reviewed. Additionally, we analyse the molecular requirements of different targets, since these can provide an early signal that enabling formulation strategies will be required. Based on the analysis we conclude that computational biopharmaceutical profiling can be used to identify where non-conventional gateways, such as prediction of 'formulate-ability' during lead optimisation and early development stages, are important and may ultimately increase the number of orally tractable contemporary targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christel A S Bergström
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala Biomedical Center, P.O. Box 580, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - William N Charman
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Christopher J H Porter
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Nano-Bio Science and Technology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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19
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Hallberg M. Neuropeptides: metabolism to bioactive fragments and the pharmacology of their receptors. Med Res Rev 2015; 35:464-519. [PMID: 24894913 DOI: 10.1002/med.21323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023]
Abstract
The proteolytic processing of neuropeptides has an important regulatory function and the peptide fragments resulting from the enzymatic degradation often exert essential physiological roles. The proteolytic processing generates, not only biologically inactive fragments, but also bioactive fragments that modulate or even counteract the response of their parent peptides. Frequently, these peptide fragments interact with receptors that are not recognized by the parent peptides. This review discusses tachykinins, opioid peptides, angiotensins, bradykinins, and neuropeptide Y that are present in the central nervous system and their processing to bioactive degradation products. These well-known neuropeptide systems have been selected since they provide illustrative examples that proteolytic degradation of parent peptides can lead to bioactive metabolites with different biological activities as compared to their parent peptides. For example, substance P, dynorphin A, angiotensin I and II, bradykinin, and neuropeptide Y are all degraded to bioactive fragments with pharmacological profiles that differ considerably from those of the parent peptides. The review discusses a selection of the large number of drug-like molecules that act as agonists or antagonists at receptors of neuropeptides. It focuses in particular on the efforts to identify selective drug-like agonists and antagonists mimicking the effects of the endogenous peptide fragments formed. As exemplified in this review, many common neuropeptides are degraded to a variety of smaller fragments but many of the fragments generated have not yet been examined in detail with regard to their potential biological activities. Since these bioactive fragments contain a small number of amino acid residues, they provide an ideal starting point for the development of drug-like substances with ability to mimic the effects of the degradation products. Thus, these substances could provide a rich source of new pharmaceuticals. However, as discussed herein relatively few examples have so far been disclosed of successful attempts to create bioavailable, drug-like agonists or antagonists, starting from the structure of endogenous peptide fragments and applying procedures relying on stepwise manipulations and simplifications of the peptide structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Hallberg
- Beijer Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Division of Biological Research on Drug Dependence, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Uppsala, Sweden
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20
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Hoveyda HR, Fraser GL, Roy MO, Dutheuil G, Batt F, El Bousmaqui M, Korac J, Lenoir F, Lapin A, Noël S, Blanc S. Discovery and optimization of novel antagonists to the human neurokinin-3 receptor for the treatment of sex-hormone disorders (Part I). J Med Chem 2015; 58:3060-82. [PMID: 25738882 DOI: 10.1021/jm5017413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R) has recently emerged as important in modulating the tonic pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release. We therefore decided to explore NK3R antagonists as therapeutics for sex-hormone disorders that can potentially benefit from lowering GnRH pulsatility with consequent diminished levels of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and correspondingly attenuated levels of circulating androgens and estrogens. The discovery and lead optimization of a novel N-acyl-triazolopiperazine NK3R antagonist chemotype achieved through bioisosteric lead change from the high-throughput screening (HTS) hit is described. A concomitant improvement in the antagonist bioactivity and ligand lipophilic efficiency (LLE) parameter were the principal guidelines in the lead optimization efforts. Examples of advanced lead analogues to demonstrate the amenability of this chemotype to achieving a suitable pharmacokinetic (PK) profile are provided as well as pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) correlations to analyze the trends observed for LH inhibition in castrated rats and monkeys that served as preliminary in vivo efficacy models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid R Hoveyda
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Graeme L Fraser
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Marie-Odile Roy
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | | | - Frédéric Batt
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | | | - Julien Korac
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - François Lenoir
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Alexey Lapin
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Sophie Noël
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Blanc
- Euroscreen SA, 47 Rue Adrienne Bolland, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
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The selective neurokinin 3 antagonist AZD2624 does not improve symptoms or cognition in schizophrenia: a proof-of-principle study. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2014; 34:199-204. [PMID: 24525659 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000000071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Problems with the efficacy of second-generation antipsychotics on negative symptoms and cognition have highlighted the need for further development of drugs targeting central nervous system neurotransmitter systems other than dopamine. One target in development is neurokinin 3 (NK(3)) tachykinin receptors, which are coreleased and interact with dopamine. This study investigates the efficacy, tolerability, and cognitive effects of AZD2624, a selective, orally active NK(3) receptor antagonist, in symptomatic patients with schizophrenia. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: AZD2624 40 mg, placebo, or olanzapine 15 mg. Treatment lasted for 28 days, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale and Improvement Scales, and cognition as assessed by CogState were used as primary outcome measures. There were no significant differences in patients treated with AZD2624 versus placebo on change in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score and Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale; in addition, no change in CogState measures was found. Results of the trial do not support a role for the NK(3) antagonist AZD2624 as a therapeutic treatment for acute schizophrenia when used as monotherapy.
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22
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Progress in the development of neurokinin 3 modulators for the treatment of schizophrenia: molecule development and clinical progress. Future Med Chem 2014; 5:1525-46. [PMID: 24024945 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.13.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide NK3 receptor is expressed almost exclusively within the mammalian nervous system and its localization is commensurate with a role in modulating central monoaminergic neurotransmission. Following on from our previous work we review the rationale for NK3 receptor antagonists as wide spectrum antipsychotics and the recent scientific and patent literature that has highlighted new chemical strategies to identify selective NK3 and dual activity NK1/3 receptor ligands for the putative treatment of schizophrenia. We discuss the emerging structural biology and its use in the design of molecules with increased structural diversity and predictable receptor pharmacology. Particular attention is paid to the progress in improving ligand drug-like properties. The status of imaging and the development of translational technologies in the neurokinin field are also discussed. Finally, we summarize the available clinical information on the compounds that have progressed into psychiatric patient populations and evaluate the potential therapeutic utility of NK3 receptor targeted ligands.
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Hanessian S, Babonneau V, Boyer N, Mannoury la Cour C, Millan MJ, De Nanteuil G. Design and synthesis of potential dual NK(1)/NK(3) receptor antagonists. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 24:510-4. [PMID: 24374277 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Revised: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The tachykinin NK1 and NK3 receptors are a novel drug target for schizophrenia in order to treat not only the positive and cognitive symptoms, but also the associated co-morbid depression and sleep disturbances associated with the disease. A novel class of peptidomimetic derivatives based on a versatile phenylglycine central core was synthesized and tested in vitro as dual NK1/NK3 receptor antagonists. From this series emerged compounds with good NK1 receptor affinity, although only modest dual NK1/NK3 receptor affinity was observed with one of these analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Hanessian
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada.
| | - Vincent Babonneau
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Nicolas Boyer
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Que. H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Clotilde Mannoury la Cour
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy/Seine, France
| | - Mark J Millan
- Department of Psychopharmacology, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy/Seine, France
| | - Guillaume De Nanteuil
- Neuroscience Chemistry Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy-sur-Seine, France
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A rapid alternative to X-ray crystallography for chiral determination: Case studies of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) to advance drug discovery projects. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:4019-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Revised: 04/27/2013] [Accepted: 05/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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25
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Griebel G, Holsboer F. Neuropeptide receptor ligands as drugs for psychiatric diseases: the end of the beginning? Nat Rev Drug Discov 2012; 11:462-78. [PMID: 22596253 DOI: 10.1038/nrd3702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The search for novel drugs for treating psychiatric disorders is driven by the growing medical need to improve on the effectiveness and side-effect profile of currently available therapies. Given the wealth of preclinical data supporting the role of neuropeptides in modulating behaviour, pharmaceutical companies have been attempting to target neuropeptide receptors for over two decades. However, clinical studies with synthetic neuropeptide ligands have been unable to confirm the promise predicted by studies in animal models. Here, we analyse preclinical and clinical results for neuropeptide receptor ligands that have been studied in clinical trials for psychiatric diseases, including agents that target the receptors for tachykinins, corticotropin-releasing factor, vasopressin and neurotensin, and suggest new ways to exploit the full potential of these candidate drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Griebel
- Sanofi, Exploratory Unit, 91385 Chilly-Mazarin, France.
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26
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Is there still a future for neurokinin 3 receptor antagonists as potential drugs for the treatment of psychiatric diseases? Pharmacol Ther 2012; 133:116-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2011.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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27
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Altamura M. Tachykinin NK2 receptor antagonists. A patent review (2006 – 2010). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2011; 22:57-77. [DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2012.645537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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