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Giorgioni G, Del Bello F, Quaglia W, Botticelli L, Cifani C, Micioni Di Bonaventura E, Micioni Di Bonaventura MV, Piergentili A. Advances in the Development of Nonpeptide Small Molecules Targeting Ghrelin Receptor. J Med Chem 2022; 65:3098-3118. [PMID: 35157454 PMCID: PMC8883476 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Ghrelin is an octanoylated peptide acting by the activation of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, namely, GHS-R1a. The involvement of ghrelin in several physiological processes, including stimulation of food intake, gastric emptying, body energy balance, glucose homeostasis, reduction of insulin secretion, and lipogenesis validates the considerable interest in GHS-R1a as a promising target for the treatment of numerous disorders. Over the years, several GHS-R1a ligands have been identified and some of them have been extensively studied in clinical trials. The recently resolved structures of GHS-R1a bound to ghrelin or potent ligands have provided useful information for the design of new GHS-R1a drugs. This perspective is focused on the development of recent nonpeptide small molecules acting as GHS-R1a agonists, antagonists, and inverse agonists, bearing classical or new molecular scaffolds, as well as on radiolabeled GHS-R1a ligands developed for imaging. Moreover, the pharmacological effects of the most studied ligands have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfabio Giorgioni
- School of Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Fabio Del Bello
- School of Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Wilma Quaglia
- School of Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Luca Botticelli
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Carlo Cifani
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - E Micioni Di Bonaventura
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - M V Micioni Di Bonaventura
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Alessandro Piergentili
- School of Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
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Childs MD, Luyt LG. A Decade's Progress in the Development of Molecular Imaging Agents Targeting the Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor. Mol Imaging 2020; 19:1536012120952623. [PMID: 33104445 PMCID: PMC8865914 DOI: 10.1177/1536012120952623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR), also called the ghrelin receptor, is a G protein-coupled receptor known to play an important metabolic role in the regulation of various physiological processes, including energy expenditure, growth hormone secretion, and cell proliferation. This receptor has been implicated in numerous health issues including obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, type II diabetes, and regulation of body weight in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome, and there has been growing interest in studying its mechanism of behavior to unlock further applications of GHSR-targeted therapeutics. In addition, the GHSR is expressed in various types of cancer including prostate, breast, and testicular cancers, while aberrant expression has been reported in cardiac disease. Targeted molecular imaging of the GHSR could provide insights into its role in biological processes related to these disease states. Over the past decade, imaging probes targeting this receptor have been discovered for the imaging modalities PET, SPECT, and optical imaging. High-affinity analogues of ghrelin, the endogenous ligand for the GHSR, as well as small molecule inhibitors have been developed and evaluated both in vitro and in pre-clinical models. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular imaging agents targeting the GHSR reported to the end of 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina D Childs
- Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leonard G Luyt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Oncology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Imaging, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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3
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Lunder M, Vodnik M, Kubale V, Grgurevič N, Majdič G, Štrukelj B. Peptide mimetic of N-terminal ghrelin enhances ghrelin-induced growth hormone secretion and c-Fos expression in mice. J Neuroendocrinol 2018; 30:e12656. [PMID: 30394584 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Orexigenic peptide ghrelin and its receptor have been extensively investigated as potential therapeutic targets, primarily because of their role in feeding initiation and growth hormone (GH) release. However, no specific ghrelin targeting anti-obesity or cachexia therapeutics are available for clinical use thus far and further efforts in this direction are warranted. The present study aimed to find new peptide drug leads modulating ghrelin signal transduction. By targeting neutralising antibodies against ghrelin with phage display libraries, we aimed to identify peptides binding to the cognate receptor. Four synthetic peptides were selected and tested using calcium screening assays. The most effective competitive antagonist FSFLPPE was further tested in vivo. Administration of the peptide produced no significant effect on either food intake or GH release. Surprisingly, when co-administered with ghrelin, the peptide significantly enhanced GH secretion and c-Fos expression. The evidence obtained in the present study indicates that FSFLPPE might act as an ago-allosteric modulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojca Lunder
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Vodnik
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Valentina Kubale
- Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Neža Grgurevič
- Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Majdič
- Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Borut Štrukelj
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Daina A, Giuliano C, Pietra C, Wang J, Chi Y, Zou Z, Li F, Yan Z, Zhou Y, Guainazzi A, Garcia Rubio S, Zoete V. Rational Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Characterization of Novel Ghrelin Receptor Inverse Agonists as Potential Treatment against Obesity-Related Metabolic Diseases. J Med Chem 2018; 61:11039-11060. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Daina
- Molecular Modeling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Giuliano
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare, CH-6912 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare, CH-6912 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Junbo Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism, Sundia MediTech, 388 Jialilue Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yushi Chi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism, Sundia MediTech, 388 Jialilue Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zack Zou
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism, Sundia MediTech, 388 Jialilue Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Fugang Li
- Department of Discovery Biology, HD Biosciences, 590 Ruiqing Road Zhangjiang East Campus, Shanghai 201201, China
| | - Zhonghua Yan
- Department of Discovery Biology, HD Biosciences, 590 Ruiqing Road Zhangjiang East Campus, Shanghai 201201, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- Department of Discovery Biology, HD Biosciences, 590 Ruiqing Road Zhangjiang East Campus, Shanghai 201201, China
| | - Angelo Guainazzi
- Research and Development Department, Helsinn Therapeutics (US), Inc., Iselin, New Jersey 08830, United-States
| | - Silvina Garcia Rubio
- Research and Development Department, Helsinn Therapeutics (US), Inc., Iselin, New Jersey 08830, United-States
| | - Vincent Zoete
- Molecular Modeling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Fundamental Oncology, Lausanne University, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Route de la Corniche 9A, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
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Havlickova T, Charalambous C, Lapka M, Puskina N, Jerabek P, Sustkova-Fiserova M. Ghrelin Receptor Antagonism of Methamphetamine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference and Intravenous Self-Administration in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19102925. [PMID: 30261633 PMCID: PMC6213741 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19102925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 09/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Methamphetamine abuse imposes a significant burden on individuals and society worldwide, and an effective therapy of methamphetamine addiction would provide distinguished social benefits. Ghrelin significantly participates in reinforcing neurobiological mechanisms of stimulants, including amphetamines; thus, ghrelin antagonism is proposed as a promising addiction treatment. The aim of our study was to elucidate whether the pretreatment with growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1A) antagonist, substance JMV2959, could reduce the methamphetamine intravenous self-administration (IVSA) and the tendency to relapse, and whether JMV2959 could reduce or prevent methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats. Following an adequate maintenance period, JMV2959 3 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally 20 min before three consequent daily 180 min sessions of methamphetamine IVSA under a fixed ratio FR1, which significantly reduced the number of active lever-pressings, the number of infusions, and the amount of the consumed methamphetamine dose. Pretreatment with JMV2959 also reduced or prevented relapse-like behavior tested in rats on the 12th day of the abstinence period. Pretreatment with JMV2959 significantly reduced the expression of methamphetamine-induced CPP. Simultaneous administration of JMV2959 with methamphetamine during the conditioning period significantly reduced the methamphetamine-CPP. Our results encourage further research of the ghrelin antagonism as a potential new pharmacological tool for methamphetamine addiction treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Havlickova
- Department of Pharmacology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruska 87, 1010034 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Chrysostomos Charalambous
- Department of Pharmacology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruska 87, 1010034 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Marek Lapka
- Department of Pharmacology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruska 87, 1010034 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Nina Puskina
- Department of Addictology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Apolinarska 4, 212800 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Pavel Jerabek
- Department of Pharmacology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruska 87, 1010034 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Magdalena Sustkova-Fiserova
- Department of Pharmacology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruska 87, 1010034 Prague, Czech Republic.
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Rikkunshito (TJ-43) Improved Reduction of Food Intake in a Murine Cardiac Transplantation Model. Transplant Proc 2018; 50:283-292. [PMID: 29407323 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2017.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Rikkunshito (TJ-43), an eight-component traditional Japanese herbal medicine, has been used in clinics for gastritis, vomiting, and appetite loss. We investigated the effects of TJ-43 on the amelioration of appetite loss in the surgical-exposed model of murine cardiac allograft transplantation. CBA mice underwent transplantation of a CBA (syngeneic group) or C57BL/6 heart (allogeneic group) and received oral administration of 2 g/kg/d of TJ-43 from the day of transplantation until 7 days afterward. The amount of food intake (FI) and weight change after operation were recorded from 1 to 28 postoperative days. The allogeneic group had less average amounts of FI for 1 week compared with the syngeneic group (FI was 1.90 ± 0.43 g and 2.66 ± 0.46 g, respectively). Average FIs between the syngeneic and allogeneic groups with TJ-43 for 1 week were 2.36 ± 0.44 g and 2.30 ± 0.13 g, respectively, and those with distilled water were 2.66 ± 0.46 g and 1.90 ± 0.43 g, respectively, suggesting that exposure with TJ-43 tended to ameliorate the reduction of FI. Similarly, the effect on the amelioration of average FI in syngeneic and allogeneic groups exposed for 2 weeks was confirmed. However, exposure to with TJ-43 had no effects on FI after 4 weeks. TJ-43 could prevent reduction of average FI induced by the surgical-exposed model of murine cardiac allograft transplantation.
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Wang L, Mogami S, Yakabi S, Karasawa H, Yamada C, Yakabi K, Hattori T, Taché Y. Patterns of Brain Activation and Meal Reduction Induced by Abdominal Surgery in Mice and Modulation by Rikkunshito. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139325. [PMID: 26421719 PMCID: PMC4589401 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abdominal surgery inhibits food intake and induces c-Fos expression in the hypothalamic and medullary nuclei in rats. Rikkunshito (RKT), a Kampo medicine improves anorexia. We assessed the alterations in meal microstructure and c-Fos expression in brain nuclei induced by abdominal surgery and the modulation by RKT in mice. RKT or vehicle was gavaged daily for 1 week. On day 8 mice had no access to food for 6–7 h and were treated twice with RKT or vehicle. Abdominal surgery (laparotomy-cecum palpation) was performed 1–2 h before the dark phase. The food intake and meal structures were monitored using an automated monitoring system for mice. Brain sections were processed for c-Fos immunoreactivity (ir) 2-h after abdominal surgery. Abdominal surgery significantly reduced bouts, meal frequency, size and duration, and time spent on meals, and increased inter-meal interval and satiety ratio resulting in 92–86% suppression of food intake at 2–24 h post-surgery compared with control group (no surgery). RKT significantly increased bouts, meal duration and the cumulative 12-h food intake by 11%. Abdominal surgery increased c-Fos in the prelimbic, cingulate and insular cortexes, and autonomic nuclei, such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, central amygdala, hypothalamic supraoptic (SON), paraventricular and arcuate nuclei, Edinger-Westphal nucleus (E-W), lateral periaqueduct gray (PAG), lateral parabrachial nucleus, locus coeruleus, ventrolateral medulla and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). RKT induced a small increase in c-Fos-ir neurons in the SON and E-W of control mice, and in mice with surgery there was an increase in the lateral PAG and a decrease in the NTS. These findings indicate that abdominal surgery inhibits food intake by increasing both satiation (meal duration) and satiety (meal interval) and activates brain circuits involved in pain, feeding behavior and stress that may underlie the alterations of meal pattern and food intake inhibition. RKT improves food consumption post-surgically that may involve modulation of pain pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Wang
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Center and Center for Neurobiology of Stress, Department of Medicine, Digestive Diseases Division, University of California at Los Angeles, and VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Sachiko Mogami
- Tsumura Research Laboratories, Kampo Scientific Strategies Division, Tsumura & Co., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Seiichi Yakabi
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Center and Center for Neurobiology of Stress, Department of Medicine, Digestive Diseases Division, University of California at Los Angeles, and VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Hiroshi Karasawa
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Center and Center for Neurobiology of Stress, Department of Medicine, Digestive Diseases Division, University of California at Los Angeles, and VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Chihiro Yamada
- Tsumura Research Laboratories, Kampo Scientific Strategies Division, Tsumura & Co., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Koji Yakabi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tomohisa Hattori
- Tsumura Research Laboratories, Kampo Scientific Strategies Division, Tsumura & Co., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yvette Taché
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Center and Center for Neurobiology of Stress, Department of Medicine, Digestive Diseases Division, University of California at Los Angeles, and VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Abstract
After many years of research, obesity is still a disease with an unmet medical need. Very few compounds have been approved, acting mainly on neuromediators; researches, in recent years, pointed toward compounds potentially safer than first-generation antiobesity drugs, able to interact with one or more (multitarget therapy) receptors for substances produced by the gut, adipose tissue and other targets outside CNS. Other holistic approaches, such as those involving gut microbiota and plant extracts, appeared recently in the literature, and undoubtedly will contribute to the discovery of a valuable therapy for this disease. This review deals with the positive results and the pitfalls obtained following these approaches, with a view on their clinical trial studies.
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