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Olivier JDA, Janssen JA, Esquivel-Franco DC, de Prêtre S, Olivier B. A new approach to 'on-demand' treatment of lifelong premature ejaculation by treatment with a combination of a 5-HT 1A receptor antagonist and SSRI in rats. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1224959. [PMID: 37781259 PMCID: PMC10534979 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1224959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) in men lacks an adequate on-demand pharmacological treatment. Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used for PE they only work after chronic treatment, or if used on-demand, less adequately than chronic SSRI treatment. It has been shown that the addition of a behaviorally silent 5-HT1A-receptor antagonist to an SSRI can generate acute inhibitory effects on male rat sexual behavior. Atlas987 is a selective 5-HT1A-receptor antagonist with equal potency to displace agonist and antagonist binding to pre- and post-synaptic 5-HT1A receptors in rat and human brain. To investigate whether Atlas987 together with the SSRI paroxetine, a combination called Enduro, induces acute inhibitory effects on male rat sexual behavior, we tested Enduro in Wistar rats in a dose-dependent manner. We first tested the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist Atlas987 in 8-OH-DPAT induced serotonergic behavior in rats. Second, we tested Enduro in a dose-dependent manner in male sexual behavior. Third, we tested the effective time window of Enduro's action, and lastly, we measured the plasma levels of Atlas987 and paroxetine over an 8-h period. Results showed that Enduro acutely and dose-dependently reduced the number of ejaculations and increased the ejaculation latencies. The behavioral pattern induced reflected a specific effect on sexual behavior excluding non-specific effects like sedation or sensoric-motoric disturbances. The time-window of activity of Enduro showed that this sexual inhibitory activity was at least found in a 1-4 h' time window after administration. Plasma levels showed that in this time frame both Atlas987 and paroxetine are present. In conclusion, in rats, Enduro is successful in acutely inhibiting sexual behavior. These results may be therapeutically attractive as "on demand" treatment for life-long premature ejaculation in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelien D. A. Olivier
- Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Josien A. Janssen
- Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Diana C. Esquivel-Franco
- Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Berend Olivier
- Atlas Pharmaceuticals BV, Bruges, Belgium
- Psychopharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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Penjišević JZ, Šukalović VB, Dukic-Stefanovic S, Deuther-Conrad W, Andrić DB, Kostić-Rajačić SV. Synthesis of novel 5-HT1A arylpiperazine ligands: Binding data and computer-aided analysis of pharmacological potency. ARAB J CHEM 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2023.104636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
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Gul M, Bocu K, Serefoglu EC. Current and emerging treatment options for premature ejaculation. Nat Rev Urol 2022; 19:659-680. [PMID: 36008555 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-022-00639-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Premature ejaculation (PE) is a prevalent male sexual dysfunction. Current standard treatment regimens include behavioural therapies, topical anaesthetics, dapoxetine and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Most of the pharmacotherapeutic options target neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and oxytocin) that have a role in the ejaculation mechanism. However, these treatments are mildly effective and only provide a temporary delay in the ejaculation latency time, and PE recurs when the treatment is stopped. Thus, a treatment for PE is urgently needed and research is ongoing to find the ideal PE therapy. The efficacy and safety of topical anaesthetics and SSRIs in delaying ejaculation have been confirmed in many well-designed controlled trials. Both preclinical and clinical studies on new-generation SSRIs are ongoing. Moreover, promising results came from clinical trials in which the efficacy of on-demand PE therapies targeting neurotransmitters other than serotonin, such as α1-adrenoceptor antagonists and oxytocin antagonists, was assessed. Surgical intervention and neuromodulation have been proposed as potential treatment options for PE; however, current PE guidelines do not recommend these treatments owing to safety concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Gul
- Department of Urology, Selcuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Kadir Bocu
- Department of Urology, Silopi State Hospital, Sirnak, Turkey
| | - Ege Can Serefoglu
- Department of Urology, Biruni University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Czub N, Pacławski A, Szlęk J, Mendyk A. Do AutoML-Based QSAR Models Fulfill OECD Principles for Regulatory Assessment? A 5-HT1A Receptor Case. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14071415. [PMID: 35890310 PMCID: PMC9319483 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The drug discovery and development process requires a lot of time, financial, and workforce resources. Any reduction in these burdens might benefit all stakeholders in the healthcare domain, including patients, government, and companies. One of the critical stages in drug discovery is a selection of molecular structures with a strong affinity to a particular molecular target. The possible solution is the development of predictive models and their application in the screening process, but due to the complexity of the problem, simple and statistical models might not be sufficient for practical application. The manuscript presents the best-in-class predictive model for the serotonin 1A receptor affinity and its validation according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines for regulatory purposes. The model was developed based on a database with close to 9500 molecules by using an automatic machine learning tool (AutoML). The model selection was conducted based on the Akaike information criterion value and 10-fold cross-validation routine, and later good predictive ability was confirmed with an additional external validation dataset with over 700 molecules. Moreover, the multi-start technique was applied to test if an automatic model development procedure results in reliable results.
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Alexander C, Vasefi M. Cannabidiol and the corticoraphe circuit in post-traumatic stress disorder. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2021; 11:88-102. [PMID: 34485973 PMCID: PMC8408530 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), characterized by re-experiencing, avoidance, negative affect, and impaired memory processing, may develop after traumatic events. PTSD is complicated by impaired plasticity and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity, hyperactivity of the amygdala, and impaired fear extinction. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a promising candidate for treatment due to its multimodal action that enhances plasticity and calms hyperexcitability. CBD’s mechanism in the mPFC of PTSD patients has been explored extensively, but literature on the mechanism in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is lacking. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we examined current literature regarding CBD in PTSD and overlapping symptomologies to propose a mechanism by which CBD treats PTSD via corticoraphe circuit. Acute CBD inhibits excess 5-HT release from DRN to amygdala and releases anandamide (AEA) onto amygdala inputs. By first reducing amygdala and DRN hyperactivity, CBD begins to ameliorate activity disparity between mPFC and amygdala. Chronic CBD recruits the mPFC, creating harmonious corticoraphe signaling. DRN releases enough 5-HT to ameliorate mPFC hypoactivity, while the mPFC continuously excites DRN 5-HT neurons via glutamate. Meanwhile, AEA regulates corticoraphe activity to stabilize signaling. AEA prevents DRN GABAergic interneurons from inhibiting 5-HT release so the DRN can assist the mPFC in overcoming its hypoactivity. DRN-mediated restoration of mPFC activity underlies CBD’s mechanism on fear extinction and learning of stress coping. CBD reduces PTSD symptoms via the DRN and corticoraphe circuit. Acute effects of CBD reduce DRN-amygdala excitatory signaling to lessen the activity disparity between amygdala and mPFC. Chronic CBD officially resolves mPFC hypoactivity by facilitating 5-HT release from DRN to mPFC. CBD-facilitated endocannabinoid signaling stabilizes DRN activity and restores mPFC inhibitory control. Chronically administered CBD acts via the corticoraphe circuit to favor fear extinction over fear memory reconsolidation.
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Key Words
- 2-AG, 2-arachidonoylglycerol
- 5-HT, Serotonin
- 5-HT1AR, 5-HT Receptor Type 1A
- 5-HT2AR, 5-HT Receptor Type 2 A
- AEA, Anandamide
- CB1R, Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1
- CB2R, Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2
- CBD, Cannabidiol
- COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2
- Cannabidiol
- DRN, Dorsal Raphe Nucleus
- ERK1/2, Extracellular Signal-Related Kinases Type 1 or Type 2
- FAAH, Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase
- GABA, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
- GPCRs, G-Protein Coupled Receptors
- NMDAR, N-Methyl-D-aspartate Receptors
- PET, Positron Emission Tomography
- PFC, DRN and Raphe
- PFC, Prefrontal Cortex
- PTSD
- PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- SSNRI, Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor
- SSRI, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
- Serotonin
- TRPV1, Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Channels
- Traumatic Stress
- fMRI, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- mPFC, Medial Prefrontal Cortex
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Alexander
- Department of Biology, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA
| | - Maryam Vasefi
- Department of Biology, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA
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Kumar RR, Sahu B, Pathania S, Singh PK, Akhtar MJ, Kumar B. Piperazine, a Key Substructure for Antidepressants: Its Role in Developments and Structure-Activity Relationships. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:1878-1901. [PMID: 33751807 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Depression is the single largest contributor to global disability with a huge economic and social burden on the world. There are a number of antidepressant drugs on the market, but treatment-resistant depression and relapse of depression in a large number of patients have increased problems for clinicians. One peculiarity observed in most of the marketed antidepressants is the presence of a piperazine substructure. Although piperazine is also used in the optimization of other pharmacological agents, it is almost extensively used for the development of novel antidepressants. One common understanding is that this is due to its favorable CNS pharmacokinetic profile; however, in the case of antidepressants, piperazine plays a much bigger role and is involved in specific binding conformations of these agents. Therefore, in this review, a critical analysis of the significance of the piperazine moiety in the development of antidepressants has been performed. An overview of current developments in the designing and synthesis of piperazine-based antidepressants (2015 onwards) along with SAR studies is also provided. The various piperazine-based therapeutic agents in early- or late-phase human testing for depression are also discussed. The preclinical compounds discussed in this review will help researchers understand how piperazine actually influences the design and development of novel antidepressant compounds. The SAR studies discussed will provide crucial clues about the structural features and optimizations required to enhance the efficacy and potency of piperazine-based antidepressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Ranjan Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Ghal Kalan, G.T Road, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Bhaskar Sahu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Ghal Kalan, G.T Road, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Shelly Pathania
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Ghal Kalan, G.T Road, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - M Jawaid Akhtar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Ghal Kalan, G.T Road, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Bhupinder Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Ghal Kalan, G.T Road, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
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A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Parallel Group Study to Evaluate the Effect of a Single Oral Dose of 5-HT1A Antagonist GSK958108 on Ejaculation Latency Time in Male Patients Suffering From Premature Ejaculation. J Sex Med 2020; 18:63-71. [PMID: 33223426 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common male neurobiological sexual disorder, related to a disturbance in central serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) neurotransmission. AIM To assess the efficacy of a single oral dose of 5HT1A receptor antagonist GSK958108 on ejaculation latency time (ELT) in male subjects suffering from PE. METHODS A total of 35 male subjects were enrolled in a Phase 1 double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group masturbation-model study. All subjects completed the study. No subject was withdrawn from the study. There were no major protocol deviations reported during the study. OUTCOMES The primary outcome of the study was to evaluate the effect of a single oral dose of 5HT1A receptor antagonist GSK958108 on ELT as measured in the masturbation model; additionally, we investigated drug's safety and tolerability. RESULTS In the 3 mg GSK958108 treatment group, the ELT was estimated to be 16% longer (1.542 vs 1.328, 95% CI: -16% to +61%) than if the subjects had taken placebo. In the 7 mg GSK958108 treatment group, the ELT was estimated to be 77% longer (2.346 vs 1.328, 95% CI: +28% to +144%) than in the placebo group. The systemic exposure to GSK958108 increased with dosage between 3 mg and 7 mg. A significant trend toward an increase of ELT was observed with increasing plasma concentrations of GSK958108. A total of 4 patients all treated with 7 mg dose experienced minor drug related adverse events (5 adverse events in 4 patients): somnolence (n = 3), headache (n = 1), tinnitus (n = 1). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS In the current double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study the 5HT1A receptor antagonist GSK958108 was tested in 3 mg and 7 mg doses for PE treatment in humans. It was shown that GSK958108 significantly delayed ejaculation showing a new and safe alternative in PE treatment. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS The present study showed innovative results suggesting an important role of 5HT1A receptor antagonist in the PE treatment. However, the use of masturbation model and the small population are the main limitations of this investigation. CONCLUSION 5HT1A receptor antagonist GSK958108 3 mg per day and 7 mg per day was found to be well-tolerated, safe and effective for the treatment of PE subjects and demonstrated a strong association between 5HT1A receptors and ejaculation control in humans (NCT00861484). Migliorini F, Tafuri A, Bettica P, et al. A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Parallel Group Study to Evaluate the Effect of a Single Oral Dose of 5-HT1A Antagonist GSK958108 on Ejaculation Latency Time in Male Patients Suffering From Premature Ejaculation. J Sex Med 2021;18:63-71.
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Sniecikowska J, Newman-Tancredi A, Kolaczkowski M. From Receptor Selectivity to Functional Selectivity: The Rise of Biased Agonism in 5-HT1A Receptor Drug Discovery. Curr Top Med Chem 2019; 19:2393-2420. [PMID: 31544717 DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666190911122040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite extensive efforts to design serotonin 5-HT1A receptor compounds, there are currently no clinically available selective agonists to explore the therapeutic potential of activating this receptor. Commonly used drugs targeting 5-HT1A receptors, such as buspirone or other azapirone compounds, possess only limited selectivity over cross-reacting sites, act as partial agonists for 5-HT1A receptor activation, and are metabolically labile, generating active metabolites. In addition, drug discovery has been hampered by the multiplicity of 5-HT1A receptor subpopulations, expressed in different brain regions, that are coupled to distinct molecular signaling mechanisms and mediate a wide variety of physiological responses, both desired and undesired. In this context, advances in 5-HT1A receptor drug discovery have attracted attention of novel 'biased agonists' that are selective, efficacious and preferentially target the brain regions that mediate therapeutic activity without triggering side effects. The prototypical first-in-class compound NLX-101 (a.k.a. F15599; 3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl-[4-fluoro-4-[[(5-methylpyrimidin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl]piperidin- 1-yl]methanone), preferentially activates 5-HT1A receptors in cortical regions and exhibits potent, rapidacting and sustained antidepressant-like and procognitive properties in animal models. Here the background has been reviewed that led to the discovery of the class of 1-(1-benzoylpiperidin-4- yl)methanamine derivatives, including NLX-101, as well as recent advances in discovery of novel 5-HT1A receptor biased agonists, notably aryloxyethyl derivatives of 1‑(1-benzoylpiperidin-4yl)methanamine which show promising pharmacological activity both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, the results suggest that opportunities exist for innovative drug discovery of selective 5-HT1A receptor biased agonists that may open new avenues for the treatment of CNS disorders involving dysfunction of serotonergic neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Sniecikowska
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | | | - Marcin Kolaczkowski
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
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Vidal B, Bolbos R, Redouté J, Langlois JB, Costes N, Newman-Tancredi A, Zimmer L. Pharmacological MRI to investigate the functional selectivity of 5-HT 1A receptor biased agonists. Neuropharmacology 2019; 172:107867. [PMID: 31783063 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The emerging concept of "biased agonism" denotes the phenomenon whereby agonists can preferentially direct receptor signalling to specific intracellular responses among the different transduction pathways, thus potentially avoiding side effects and improving therapeutic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate biased agonism by using pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging (phMRI). The cerebral blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal changes induced by increasing doses of two serotonin 5-HT1A receptor biased agonists, NLX-112 and NLX-101, were mapped in anaesthetized rats. Although both compounds display high affinity, selectivity and agonist efficacy for 5-HT1A receptors, NLX-101 is known to preferentially activate post-synaptic receptors, whereas NLX-112 targets both pre- and post-synaptic receptors. We used several doses of agonists in order to determine if the regional selectivity of NLX-101 was dose-dependent. NLX-112 and NLX-101 induced different positive and negative hemodynamic changes patterns at equal doses. Importantly, NLX-101 had no significant effect in regions expressing pre-synaptic receptors contrary to NLX-112. NLX-112 also produced higher BOLD changes than NLX-101 in the orbital cortex, the somatosensory cortex, and the magnocellular preoptic nuclei. In other regions such as the retrosplenial cortex and the dorsal thalamus, the drugs had similar effects. In terms of functional connectivity, NLX-112 induced more widespread changes than NLX-101. The present phMRI study demonstrates that two closely-related agonists display notable differences in their hemodynamic "fingerprints". These data support the concept of biased agonism at 5-HT1A receptors and raise the prospect of identifying novel therapeutics which exhibit improved targeting of brain regions implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'Serotonin Research: Crossing Scales and Boundaries'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Vidal
- Université de Lyon, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM, CNRS, Bron, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Luc Zimmer
- Université de Lyon, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM, CNRS, Bron, France; CERMEP-Imagerie du Vivant, Bron, France; Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; National Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology, Saclay, France.
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10
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Levigoureux E, Vidal B, Fieux S, Bouillot C, Emery S, Newman-Tancredi A, Zimmer L. Serotonin 5-HT 1A Receptor Biased Agonists Induce Different Cerebral Metabolic Responses: A [ 18F]-Fluorodesoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Study in Conscious and Anesthetized Rats. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:3108-3119. [PMID: 30576601 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin 5-HT1A receptors constitute an attractive therapeutic target for various psychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders. These receptors are expressed in multiple brain regions on different neuronal populations and can be coupled with distinct G-protein subtypes; such functional diversity complicates the use of 5-HT1A ligands in several pathologies where it would be desirable to stimulate the receptors in a precise region. Therefore, using "biased agonists" able to target specifically certain subpopulations of 5-HT1A receptors would enable achievement of better therapeutic benefit. Several 5-HT1A receptor biased agonists are currently in development, including NLX-101 (aka F15599) and NLX-112 (aka F13640, befiradol), with preclinical data suggesting that they preferentially target different populations of 5-HT1A receptors. However, most previous studies used invasive and regionally limited approaches. In this context, [18F]-fluorodesoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging constitutes an interesting technique as it enables noninvasive mapping of the regional brain activity changes following a pharmacological challenge in conscious animals. We report here the evaluation of cerebral glucose metabolism following intraperitoneal injection of different doses of NLX-112 or NLX-101 in conscious or isoflurane-anesthetized rats. The biased agonists produced different metabolic "fingerprints" with distinct regional preferences, consistent with previous studies. At equal doses, the effect of NLX-101 was less marked than NLX-112 in the piriform cortex, in the striatum (in terms of inhibition), and in the pontine nuclei and the cerebellum (in terms of activation); furthermore, only NLX-112 increased the glucose metabolism in the parietal cortex, whereas only NLX-101 induced a clear activation in the colliculi and the frontal cortex, which may be related to its distinctive procognitive profile. Both agonist effects were almost completely unapparent in anesthetized animals, underlining the importance of studying serotonergic neurotransmission in the conscious state. In this regard, [18F]FDG-PET imaging seems very complementary with other functional imaging techniques such as pharmacological MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Levigoureux
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Lyon 69677, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 69677, France
| | - Benjamin Vidal
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Lyon 69677, France
| | - Sylvain Fieux
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Lyon 69677, France
| | | | - Stéphane Emery
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Lyon 69677, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 69677, France
| | | | - Luc Zimmer
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Lyon 69677, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 69677, France
- CERMEP-Imaging Platform, Bron 69677, France
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11
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Neves BJ, Braga RC, Melo-Filho CC, Moreira-Filho JT, Muratov EN, Andrade CH. QSAR-Based Virtual Screening: Advances and Applications in Drug Discovery. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1275. [PMID: 30524275 PMCID: PMC6262347 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Virtual screening (VS) has emerged in drug discovery as a powerful computational approach to screen large libraries of small molecules for new hits with desired properties that can then be tested experimentally. Similar to other computational approaches, VS intention is not to replace in vitro or in vivo assays, but to speed up the discovery process, to reduce the number of candidates to be tested experimentally, and to rationalize their choice. Moreover, VS has become very popular in pharmaceutical companies and academic organizations due to its time-, cost-, resources-, and labor-saving. Among the VS approaches, quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) analysis is the most powerful method due to its high and fast throughput and good hit rate. As the first preliminary step of a QSAR model development, relevant chemogenomics data are collected from databases and the literature. Then, chemical descriptors are calculated on different levels of representation of molecular structure, ranging from 1D to nD, and then correlated with the biological property using machine learning techniques. Once developed and validated, QSAR models are applied to predict the biological property of novel compounds. Although the experimental testing of computational hits is not an inherent part of QSAR methodology, it is highly desired and should be performed as an ultimate validation of developed models. In this mini-review, we summarize and critically analyze the recent trends of QSAR-based VS in drug discovery and demonstrate successful applications in identifying perspective compounds with desired properties. Moreover, we provide some recommendations about the best practices for QSAR-based VS along with the future perspectives of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno J Neves
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.,Laboratory of Cheminformatics, Centro Universitário de Anápolis (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis, Brazil
| | - Rodolpho C Braga
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Cleber C Melo-Filho
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - José Teófilo Moreira-Filho
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Eugene N Muratov
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Department of Chemical Technology, Odessa National Polytechnic University, Odessa, Ukraine
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
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Staroń J, Bugno R, Hogendorf AS, Bojarski AJ. 5-HT1A receptor ligands and their therapeutic applications: review of new patents. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2018; 28:679-689. [DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2018.1514011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Staroń
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Ryszard Bugno
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Adam S. Hogendorf
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
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Martikainen IK, Hagelberg N, Jääskeläinen SK, Hietala J, Pertovaara A. Dopaminergic and serotonergic mechanisms in the modulation of pain: In vivo studies in human brain. Eur J Pharmacol 2018; 834:337-345. [PMID: 30036531 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Here we review the literature assessing the roles of the brain dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in the modulation of pain as revealed by in vivo human studies using positron emission tomography. In healthy subjects, dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability particularly in the striatum and serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor availabilities in the cortex predict the subject's response to tonic experimental pain. High availability of dopamine D2/D3 or serotonin 5-HT2A receptors is associated with high pain intensity, whereas high availability of 5-HT1A receptors associates with low pain intensity. Chronic neuropathic pain is associated with high striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability, for which low endogenous dopamine tone is a plausible explanation, although a compensatory increase in striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor density may also contribute. In contrast, chronic musculoskeletal pain is associated with low baseline availability of striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptors. In healthy subjects, brain serotonin 5-HT1A as well as dopamine D2/D3 receptor availabilities associate with the subject's response criterion rather than the capacity to discriminate painful thermal stimuli suggesting that these neurotransmitter systems act mainly on non-sensory rather than sensory factors of thermally induced pain experience. Additionally, 5-HT1A receptor availability predicts the subject's discriminative ability but not response criterion for non-painful tactile test stimuli, while no such correlation is observed with dopamine D2/D3 receptors. These findings suggest that dopamine acting on striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptors and serotonin acting on cortical 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors contribute to top-down pain regulation in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilkka K Martikainen
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland; Medical Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Tampere University Hospital, 33521 Tampere, Finland
| | - Nora Hagelberg
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Turku University Central Hospital and University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku PET Centre, Turku University Central Hospital and University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Satu K Jääskeläinen
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Turku University Central Hospital and University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Jarmo Hietala
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Central Hospital and University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Central Hospital and University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Antti Pertovaara
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
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Effects of tandospirone augmentation in major depressive disorder patients with high anxiety: A multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled, open-label study. J Psychiatr Res 2018; 99:104-110. [PMID: 29433063 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High levels of anxiety symptoms are common in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). Adjunctive anxiolytics are widely used in such patients; however, only a few studies have examined the strategy using tandospirone. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive tandospirone in individuals with MDD and high level of anxiety symptoms. METHODS A multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled, open-label study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tandospirone coupled with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in patients with MDD and high level of anxiety symptoms. Two hundred and forty-five patients fulfilling the DSM-IV-TR criteria for MDD were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of either SSRIs and tandospirone or SSRIs alone treatment. The efficacy was measured by HAMA total scores, HAMD-17 total scores, and Clinical Global Impressions severity subscale (CGI-S) score. RESULTS After a 6-week follow-up, two hundred and thirty patients completed this study. Tandospirone coupled with SSRIs significantly improved depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to monotherapy with SSRIs as assessed by HAMD-17 total score (P = 0.003), HAMA total score (P = 0.010), and CGI-S score at week 6 (P = 0.003). The incidence rate of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was similar in both groups; the therapy was well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS Short-term tandospirone augmentation was effective and well-tolerated in this study. Addition of tandospirone may improve outcomes in MDD patients with high anxiety.
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Lyubashina OA, Busygina II, Panteleev SS, Nozdrachev AD. Antinociceptive effect of the agonist of 5-HT1A receptors buspirone in the model of abdominal pain in dogs. DOKLADY BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES : PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE USSR, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SECTIONS 2017; 473:46-49. [PMID: 28508197 DOI: 10.1134/s0012496617020119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
We have demonstrated that activation of 5-HT1A receptors with buspirone promotes visceral analgesia in awake dogs. The administration of 0.035 mg/kg (i.m.) of the drug caused depression of viscero-motor (contraction of the abdominal muscles) and pressor (increase in the heart rate) responses to noxious distension of the large intestine. An increase in the dose to 0.07 and 0.14 mg/kg did not enhance the antinociceptive effect of buspirone but triggered basal tachycardia. The obtained results provide evidence of the inhibitory role of 5-HT1A receptors in modulating visceral pain sensitivity and the possibility of an exciting effect of their activation on the cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- O A Lyubashina
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - I I Busygina
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - S S Panteleev
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A D Nozdrachev
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Li S, Han J, Wang DS, Feng B, Deng YT, Wang XS, Yang Q, Zhao MG. Echinocystic acid reduces reserpine-induced pain/depression dyad in mice. Metab Brain Dis 2016; 31:455-63. [PMID: 26729203 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-015-9786-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain has consistently been correlated with depression. Echinocystic acid (EA), a natural triterpone enriched in various herbs and used for medicinal purpose in many Asian countries, exhibits anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. However, little is known the effects of EA on the depression. In present study, we investigated the anti-depression activities in the mouse model of reserpine-induced pain-depression dyad. Reserpine (1 mg/kg subcutaneously daily for 3 days) caused significant depression-like behaviors and pain sensation. Subsequent treatment of EA (5 mg/kg intragastrically daily for 5 days) attenuated the reserpine-induced pain/depression dyad as shown by the increase of pain threshold and the behaviors in forced swimming test, tail suspension test, and open field test. Furthermore, treatment of EA reversed the decrease of biogenic amines (norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin) in the brain region of hippocampus, a structure involved in the formation of emotional disorders. Levels of serotonin receptor 5-HT1A were decreased and levels of 5-HT2A were increased in the reserpine-injected mice. Treatment of EA could restore the alterations of serotonin receptors. At the same time, the increase in GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors, p-GluA1-Ser831, PSD-95 and CaMKII were integrated with the increase in caspase-3 and iNOS levels in the hippocampus of the reserpine-injected mice. EA significantly reversed the changes of above proteins. However, EA did not affect the levels of GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors and the total levels of GluA1 and p-GluA1-Ser845. Our study provides strong evidence that EA attenuates reserpine-induced pain/depression dyad partially through regulating the biogenic amines levels and GluN2B receptors in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jing Han
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Nanjing, Second Military Medical University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Bin Feng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Ya-Ting Deng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Xin-Shang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Ming-Gao Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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Yang L, Song G, Ning Y, Poon CS. A latent serotonin-1A receptor-gated spinal afferent pathway inhibiting breathing. Brain Struct Funct 2015; 221:4159-4168. [PMID: 26659645 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-015-1155-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Spinal afferents such as nociceptive afferents and group III-IV muscle afferents are known to exert an acute excitatory effect on breathing when activated. Here, we report the surprising existence of latent spinal afferents which exerted tonic inhibitory influence on breathing subliminally in anesthetized rats, an effect which was reversed upon activation of serotonin-1A receptors (5-HT1ARs) in lumbar spinal cord, lesion of pontine lateral parabrachial nucleus or suppression of the adjacent Kölliker-Fuse nucleus with NMDA receptor blockade. Small-interfering RNA knockdown of 5-HT1ARs in lumbar spinal cord unequivocally localized the site of 5-HT1AR-mediated gating of these respiratory-inhibiting interoceptive afferents to relay neurons in the spinal superficial dorsal horn at the lumbar level and not cervical spinal or supraspinal levels. Our results reveal a novel somatosensory/viscerosensory mechanism which exerts tonic inhibitory influence on homeostatic regulation of breathing independent from the classical chemoreflex excitatory pathways, and suggest a hitherto unrecognized therapeutic target in spinal dorsal horn for 5-HT1AR-based treatment of a variety of respiratory abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Yang
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bldg E25-250, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Gang Song
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bldg E25-250, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Yinghui Ning
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bldg E25-250, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Chi-Sang Poon
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bldg E25-250, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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Abstract
The logic of total synthesis transformed a stagnant state of medicinal and synthetic organic chemistry when there was a paucity of methods and reagents to synthesize drug molecules and/or natural products. Molecular imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) is now experiencing a renaissance in the way radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging are synthesized, however, a paradigm shift is desperately needed in the discovery pipeline to accelerate in vivo imaging studies. A significant challenge in radiochemistry is the limited choice of labeled reagents (or building blocks) available for the synthesis of novel radiopharmaceuticals with the most commonly used short-lived radionuclides carbon-11 (11C; half-life ~20 minutes) and fluorine-18 (18F; half-life ~2 hours). In fact, most drugs cannot be labeled with 11C or 18F due to a lack of efficient and diverse radiosynthetic methods. In general, routine radiopharmaceutical production relies on the incorporation of the isotope at the last or penultimate step of synthesis, ideally within one half-life of the radionuclide, to maximize radiochemical yields and specific activities thereby reducing losses due to radioactive decay. Reliance on radiochemistry conducted within the constraints of an automated synthesis unit ("box") has stifled the exploration of multi-step reactions with short-lived radionuclides. Radiopharmaceutical synthesis can be transformed by considering logic of total synthesis to develop novel approaches for 11C- and 18F-radiolabeling complex molecules via retrosynthetic analysis and multi-step reactions. As a result of such exploration, new methods, reagents and radiopharmaceuticals for in vivo imaging studies are discovered. A new avenue to develop radiotracers that were previously unattainable due to the lack of efficient radiosynthetic methods is necessary to work towards our ultimate, albeit impossible goal - the concept we term total radiosynthesis - to radiolabel virtually any molecule. As with the vast majority of drugs, most radiotracers also fail, therefore expeditious evaluation of tracers in preclinical models prior to optimization or derivatization of the lead molecules/drugs is necessary. Furthermore the exact position of the 11C and 18F radionuclide in tracers is often critical for metabolic considerations, and flexible methodologies to introduce the radiolabel are needed. Using the principles of total synthesis our laboratory and others have shown that multi-step radiochemical reactions are indeed suitable for preclinical and even clinical use. As the goal of total synthesis is to be concise, we have also simplified the syntheses of radiopharmaceuticals. We are presently developing new strategies via [11C]CO2 fixation which has enabled library radiosynthesis as well as labeling non-activated arenes using [18F]fluoride via iodonium ylides. Both of which have proven to be suitable for human PET imaging. We concurrently utilize state-of-the-art automation technologies including microfluidic flow chemistry and rapid purification strategies for radiopharmaceutical production. In this account we highlight how total radiosynthesis has impacted our radiochemistry program, with prominent examples from others, focusing on its impact towards preclinical and clinical research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven H. Liang
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital & Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Neil Vasdev
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital & Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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Pittalà V, Siracusa MA, Salerno L, Romeo G, Modica MN, Madjid N, Ogren SO. Analysis of mechanisms for memory enhancement using novel and potent 5-HT1A receptor ligands. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 25:1314-23. [PMID: 25963581 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Revised: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In light of the involvement of serotonergic 5-HT1A receptors in the mediation of the memory of aversive events, the potent and selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonists, MC18 fumarate and VP08/34 fumarate, were tested in the passive avoidance task (PA), a rodent model of instrumental conditioning. Either alone or in combination with the prototypical agonist 8-OH-DPAT, MC18 fumarate at doses (0.1, 0.3 and 1mg/kg given 15min prior to training) exerted a dose-dependent facilitation of PA memory retention. When administered 15min prior to 8-OH-DPAT (0.3 and 1mg/kg), MC18 fumarate at a dose of 0.3mg/kg, enhanced significantly the impairment of PA retention caused by 8-OH-DPAT (1mg/kg). However, VP08/34 fumarate given at the same doses exerted no statistically effect on PA retention memory. Furthermore, VP08/34 fumarate given 15min prior to 8-OH-DPAT (0.3 and 1mg/kg) only slightly enhanced the PA impairment induced by 8-OH-DPAT. In conclusion, the profile of MC18 fumarate is intriguing since it behaves in a manner which differs from both full receptor antagonists such as NAD-299 or partial receptor agonists. The results also illustrate the importance of subtle receptor interaction and probably ligand efficacy in determining the actions of two almost identical 5-HT1A receptor ligands in cognitive function such as instrumental learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Pittalà
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy.
| | - Maria A Siracusa
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Loredana Salerno
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Romeo
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria N Modica
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Nather Madjid
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Retzius väg 8, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sven Ove Ogren
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Retzius väg 8, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
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21
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Lian P, Li L, Geng C, Zhen X, Fu W. Higher-Affinity Agonists of 5-HT1AR Discovered through Tuning the Binding-Site Flexibility. J Chem Inf Model 2015; 55:1616-27. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5b00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Lian
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - LinLang Li
- Jiangsu
Key Laboratory for Translational Research for Neuropsychiatric-Diseases,
Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Chuanrong Geng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xuechu Zhen
- Jiangsu
Key Laboratory for Translational Research for Neuropsychiatric-Diseases,
Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Wei Fu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
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Murata Y, Yanagihara Y, Mori M, Mine K, Enjoji M. Chronic treatment with tandospirone, a serotonin 1A receptor partial agonist, inhibits psychosocial stress-induced changes in hippocampal neurogenesis and behavior. J Affect Disord 2015; 180:1-9. [PMID: 25879718 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.03.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 1A receptors are considered a potential target for the treatment of mental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Several studies have indicated that 5-HT1A receptor agonists increase hippocampal neurogenesis, which is implicated in the action mechanism of antidepressants. However, these agents have not been applied to humans due to intolerable side effects. We recently showed that chronic administration of tandospirone, a clinically available 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist, increased hippocampal neurogenesis dose-dependently. The present study was done to determine if chronic tandospirone treatment has antidepressant potential from the standpoint of hippocampal neurogenesis and behavior. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally administered a vehicle or tandospirone (10mg/kg) once daily for 28 days. Two weeks after starting the injections, animals were exposed to intermittent social defeat (four times over two weeks). The effects of stress and tandospirone on the rodents׳ behavior were evaluated by the Novelty-Suppressed Feeding (NSF) test. The quantification of hippocampal neurogenesis was estimated using immunostaining with Ki-67 and doublecortin (DCX). RESULTS Chronic tandospirone treatment reversed the psychosocial stress-induced increase in the latency in the NSF test and decrease in the density of DCX-positive cells in the dentate gyrus of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. However, no difference in the density of Ki-67-positive cells was observed between the vehicle- and tandospirone-administered groups. LIMITATIONS To clarify the antidepressant potential of TDS, the other behavioral tests for depression will be required. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that tandospirone has antidepressant potential through an inhibiting effect on stress-induced changes in hippocampal neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Murata
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.
| | - Yuki Yanagihara
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Mori
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
| | - Kazunori Mine
- Faculty of Neurology and Psychiatry, Mito Hospital, 4-1-1, Shime-Higashi, Shime-Machi, Kasuya-Gun, Fukuoka 811-2243, Japan
| | - Munechika Enjoji
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
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Stroth N, Niso M, Colabufo NA, Perrone R, Svenningsson P, Lacivita E, Leopoldo M. Arylpiperazine agonists of the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor preferentially activate cAMP signaling versus recruitment of β-arrestin-2. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:4824-4830. [PMID: 26081758 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate biological signal transduction through complex molecular pathways. Therapeutic effects of GPCR-directed drugs are typically accompanied by unwanted side effects, owing in part to the parallel engagement of multiple signaling mechanisms. The discovery of drugs that are 'functionally selective' towards therapeutic effects, based on their selective control of cellular responses through a given GPCR, is thus a major goal in pharmacology today. In the present study, we show that several arylpiperazine ligands of the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor (5-HT1AR) preferentially activate 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling versus β-arrestin-2 recruitment. The pharmacology of these compounds is thus qualitatively different from the endogenous agonist serotonin, indicating functional selectivity of 5-HT1AR-mediated response pathways. Preliminary evidence suggests that phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) downstream of 5-HT1AR is a substrate of functionally selective signaling by partial agonists. We propose that the compounds described in the present study are useful starting points for the development of signaling pathway-selective drugs targeting 5-HT1AR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas Stroth
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mauro Niso
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari 'A. Moro', via Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola A Colabufo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari 'A. Moro', via Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Roberto Perrone
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari 'A. Moro', via Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Per Svenningsson
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Enza Lacivita
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari 'A. Moro', via Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Marcello Leopoldo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari 'A. Moro', via Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy.
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Mori M, Murata Y, Matsuo A, Takemoto T, Mine K. Chronic Treatment with the 5-HT1A Receptor Partial Agonist Tandospirone Increases Hippocampal Neurogenesis. Neurol Ther 2014; 3:67-77. [PMID: 26000223 PMCID: PMC4381917 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-013-0015-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A large-scale clinical trial, the Sequence Trial Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study, concluded that about one-third of the studied patients with major depressive disorder remitted during the initial treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and that approximately half of the remitted subjects relapsed over a 1-year follow-up. The development of new therapeutic approaches with potent efficacy and good tolerability for the treatment of depressive disorders is of great importance. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis has been proposed to be important for understanding and treating depression and anxiety. The present study aimed to elucidate whether or not 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT1A) receptor partial agonists have a potential therapeutic effect for the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders, from the standpoint of neurogenesis. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subcutaneously administered a vehicle or tandospirone (TDS) (1 or 10 mg/kg) once daily for 14 days. The effects of chronic TDS treatment on neurogenesis were evaluated on the day after the last injection. The quantification of hippocampal neurogenesis was estimated using immunostaining with doublecortin (DCX), a marker protein of newborn neurons. RESULTS Chronic TDS treatment resulted in a significant increase in the number of DCX-positive cells per volume of dentate gyrus in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION The results strongly suggest that 5-HT1A receptor partial agonists would be useful and beneficial in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders through increased hippocampal neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayoshi Mori
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180 Japan
| | - Yusuke Murata
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180 Japan
| | - Asami Matsuo
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180 Japan
| | - Tomoyo Takemoto
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180 Japan
| | - Kazunori Mine
- Faculty of Neurology and Psychiatry, Mito Hospital, Shime-Higashi, Shime-Machi, Kasuya-Gun, Fukuoka, Japan
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Fiorino F, Severino B, Magli E, Ciano A, Caliendo G, Santagada V, Frecentese F, Perissutti E. 5-HT(1A) receptor: an old target as a new attractive tool in drug discovery from central nervous system to cancer. J Med Chem 2013; 57:4407-26. [PMID: 24295064 DOI: 10.1021/jm400533t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The serotonin receptor subtype 5-HT(1A) was one of the first serotonin receptor subtypes pharmacologically characterized. This receptor subtype has long been object of intense research and is implicated in the pathogenesis and treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders. In recent years, new chemical entities targeting the 5-HT(1A) receptor (alone or in combination with other molecular targets) have been proposed for novel therapeutic uses in neuroprotection, cognitive impairment, Parkinson's disease, pain treatment, malignant carcinoid syndrome, and prostate cancer. This Perspective compares existing data on expression and signaling activity of the 5-HT(1A) receptor to a ligand with an intrinsic agonist or antagonist profile. Our purpose is also to make a complete overview, useful for underlining the features needed to select a specific pharmacological profile rather than another one. This aspect could be really interesting to consider and justify the 5-HT(1A) receptor as a new attractive target for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando Fiorino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II" , Via D. Montesano, 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy
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Xu L, Zhou S, Yu K, Gao B, Jiang H, Zhen X, Fu W. Molecular modeling of the 3D structure of 5-HT(1A)R: discovery of novel 5-HT(1A)R agonists via dynamic pharmacophore-based virtual screening. J Chem Inf Model 2013; 53:3202-11. [PMID: 24245825 DOI: 10.1021/ci400481p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The serotonin receptor subtype 1A (5-HT(1A)R) has been implicated in several neurological conditions, and potent 5-HT(1A)R agonists have therapeutic potential for the treatment of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease. In the present study, a homology model of 5-HT(1A)R was built based on the latest released high-resolution crystal structure of the β₂AR in its active state (PDB: 3SN6). A dynamic pharmacophore model, which takes the receptor flexibility into account, was constructed, validated, and applied to our dynamic pharmacophore-based virtual screening approach with the aim to identify potential 5-5-HT(1A)R agonists. The obtained hits were subjected to 55-HT(1A)R binding and functional assays, and 10 compounds with medium or high K(i) and EC₅₀ values were identified. Among them, FW01 (K(i) = 51.9 nM, EC₅₀ = 7 nM) was evaluated as the strongest agonist for 5-HT(1A)R. The active 5-HT(1A)R model and dynamic pharmacophore model obtained from this study can be used for future discovery and design of novel 5-HT(1A)R agonists. Also, by integrating all computational and available experimental data, a stepwise 5-HT(1A)R signal transduction model induced by agonist FW01 was proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Xu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University , Shanghai 201203, China
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Valhondo M, Marco I, Martín-Fontecha M, Vázquez-Villa H, Ramos JA, Berkels R, Lauterbach T, Benhamú B, López-Rodríguez ML. New serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonists endowed with antinociceptive activity in vivo. J Med Chem 2013; 56:7851-61. [PMID: 24050112 DOI: 10.1021/jm400766k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We report the synthesis of new compounds 4-35 based on two different openings (A and B) of the chromane ring present in the previously identified 5-HT1A receptor (5-HT1AR) ligand 3. The synthesized compounds were assessed for binding affinity, selectivity, and functional activity at the 5-HT1AR. Selected candidates resulting from B opening were also evaluated for their potential antinociceptive effect in vivo and pharmacokinetic properties in vitro. Analogue 19 [2-(4-{[2-(2-ethoxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino}butyl)tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole-1,3(2H)-dione] has been characterized as a high-affinity and potent 5-HT1AR agonist (Ki = 2.3 nM; EC50 = 19 nM). Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that compound 19 displays a good metabolic stability in human liver microsomes (t1/2 ∼ 3 h and CLint = 3.5 mL/min/kg, at 5 μM), and a low level of protein binding (25%, at 5 μM). Interestingly, 19 (3 mg/kg, ip, and 30 mg/kg, po) caused significant attenuation of formalin-induced behavior in early and late phases of the mouse intradermal formalin test of pain, and this in vivo effect was reversed by the selective 5-HT1AR antagonist WAY-100635. Thus, the new 5-HT1AR agonist identified in this work, 19, exhibits oral analgesic activity, and the results herein represent a step toward identifying new therapeutics for the control of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Valhondo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , E-28040 Madrid, Spain
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High dose of 8-OH-DPAT decreases maximal dentate gyrus activation and facilitates granular cell plasticity in vivo. Exp Brain Res 2013; 230:441-51. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-013-3594-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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