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Conibear A, Bailey CP, Kelly E. Biased signalling in analgesic research and development. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2024; 76:102465. [PMID: 38830321 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2024.102465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Ligand bias offers a novel means to improve the therapeutic profile of drugs. With regard to G protein-coupled receptors involved in analgesia, it could be advantageous to develop such drugs if the analgesic effect is mediated by a different cellular signalling pathway than the adverse effects associated with the drug. Whilst this has been explored over a number of years for the μ receptor, it remains unclear whether this approach offers significant benefit for the treatment of pain. Nevertheless, the development of biased ligands at other G protein-coupled receptors in the CNS does offer some promise for the development of novel analgesic drugs in the future. Here we summarise and discuss the recent evidence to support this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Conibear
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Chris P Bailey
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Eamonn Kelly
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
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Zhang M, Xu B, Li N, Zhang Q, Chen D, Wu S, Yu B, Zhang X, Hu X, Zhang S, Jing Y, Yang Z, Jiang J, Fang Q. All-Hydrocarbon Stapled Peptide Multifunctional Agonists at Opioid and Neuropeptide FF Receptors: Highly Potent, Long-Lasting Brain Permeant Analgesics with Diminished Side Effects. J Med Chem 2023; 66:17138-17154. [PMID: 38095323 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Our previous study reported the multifunctional agonist for opioid and neuropeptide FF receptors DN-9, along with its cyclic peptide analogues c[D-Cys2, Cys5]-DN-9 and c[D-Lys2, Asp5]-DN-9. These analogues demonstrated potent antinociceptive effects with reduced opioid-related side effects. To develop more stable and effective analgesics, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated seven hydrocarbon-stapled cyclic peptides based on DN-9. In vitro calcium mobilization assays revealed that most of the stapled peptides, except 3, displayed multifunctional agonistic activities at opioid and neuropeptide FF receptors. Subcutaneous administration of all stapled peptides resulted in effective and long-lasting antinociceptive activities lasting up to 360 min. Among these stapled peptides, 1a and 1b emerged as the optimized compounds, producing potent central antinociception following subcutaneous, intracerebroventricular, and oral administrations. Additionally, subcutaneous administration of 1a and 1b caused nontolerance antinociception, with limited occurrence of constipation and addiction. Furthermore, 1a was selected as the final optimized compound due to its wider safety window compared to 1b.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengna Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Biao Xu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Ning Li
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Dan Chen
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Shuyuan Wu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Bowen Yu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Xiaodi Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Xuanran Hu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Shichao Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Yuhong Jing
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Zhenyun Yang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Jinhong Jiang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Rd, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Quan Fang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
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Wang A, Murphy J, Shteynman L, Daksla N, Gupta A, Bergese S. Novel Opioids in the Setting of Acute Postoperative Pain: A Narrative Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 17:29. [PMID: 38256863 PMCID: PMC10819619 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010029] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Although traditional opioids such as morphine and oxycodone are commonly used in the management of acute postoperative pain, novel opioids may play a role as alternatives that provide potent pain relief while minimizing adverse effects. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of action, findings from preclinical studies and clinical trials, and potential advantages of several novel opioids. The more established include oliceridine (biased ligand activity to activate analgesia and downregulate opioid-related adverse events), tapentadol (mu-opioid agonist and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), and cebranopadol (mu-opioid agonist with nociceptin opioid peptide activity)-all of which have demonstrated success in the clinical setting when compared to traditional opioids. On the other hand, dinalbuphine sebacate (DNS; semi-synthetic mu partial antagonist and kappa agonist), dual enkephalinase inhibitors (STR-324, PL37, and PL265), and endomorphin-1 analog (CYT-1010) have shown good efficacy in preclinical studies with future plans for clinical trials. Rather than relying solely on mu-opioid receptor agonism to relieve pain and risk opioid-related adverse events (ORAEs), novel opioids make use of alternative mechanisms of action to treat pain while maintaining a safer side-effect profile, such as lower incidence of nausea, vomiting, sedation, and respiratory depression as well as reduced abuse potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (A.W.); (N.D.); (A.G.)
| | - Jasper Murphy
- Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (J.M.); (L.S.)
| | - Lana Shteynman
- Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (J.M.); (L.S.)
| | - Neil Daksla
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (A.W.); (N.D.); (A.G.)
| | - Abhishek Gupta
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (A.W.); (N.D.); (A.G.)
| | - Sergio Bergese
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (A.W.); (N.D.); (A.G.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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Fairbanks CA, Peterson CD. The opioid receptor: emergence through millennia of pharmaceutical sciences. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:960389. [PMID: 38028425 PMCID: PMC10646403 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.960389] [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: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout history humanity has searched for an optimal approach to the use of opioids that maximizes analgesia while minimizing side effects. This review reflects upon the conceptualization of the opioid receptor and the critical role that the pharmaceutical sciences played in its revelation. Opium-containing formulations have been delivered by various routes of administration for analgesia and other therapeutic indications for millennia. The concept of a distinct site of opium action evolved as practitioners developed innovative delivery methods, such as intravenous administration, to improve therapeutic outcomes. The introduction of morphine and synthetic opioids engendered the prevalent assumption of a common opioid receptor. Through consideration of structure-activity relationships, spatial geometry, and pharmacological differences of known ligands, the idea of multiple opioid receptors emerged. By accessing the high-affinity property of naloxone, the opioid receptor was identified in central and peripheral nervous system tissue. The endogenous opioid neuropeptides were subsequently discovered. Application of mu-, delta-, and kappa- opioid receptor-selective ligands facilitated the pharmacological characterization and distinctions between the three receptors, which were later cloned and sequenced. Opioid receptor signal transduction pathways were described and attributed to specific physiological outcomes. The crystal structures of mu, delta, kappa, and nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptors bound to receptor-selective ligands have been elucidated. Comparison of these structures reveal locations of ligand binding and engagement of signal transduction pathways. Expanding knowledge regarding the structure and actions of the opioid receptor fuels contemporary strategies for driving the activity of opioid receptors toward maximizing therapeutic and minimizing adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn A. Fairbanks
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Cristina D. Peterson
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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Junker H, Meiler J, Schoeder CT. Interplay of thermodynamics and evolution within the ternary ligand-GPCR-G protein complex. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 82:102656. [PMID: 37467526 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) dynamics report that GPCRs adopt a wide range of conformations that coexist in equilibrium, with the apo state of a GPCR having a high entropy. The formation of a ligand-GPCR-transducer complex comes with a reduction of conformational space and therefore with an entropic cost. We hypothesize that the availability of binding partners, their binding affinity and the rigidity of the respective binding sites are reflected in a distinct degree of sequence conservation to balance the energetic cost of intra- and extracellular binding events. Here, we outline the current findings in delineating the conformational space and include sequential conservation of many-to-many ligand-receptor systems to discuss the entropic cost that comes with GPCR signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Junker
- Institute for Drug Discovery, University Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Meiler
- Institute for Drug Discovery, University Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Clara T Schoeder
- Institute for Drug Discovery, University Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany.
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Tabanelli R, Brogi S, Calderone V. Targeting Opioid Receptors in Addiction and Drug Withdrawal: Where Are We Going? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10888. [PMID: 37446064 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This review article offers an outlook on the use of opioids as therapeutics for treating several diseases, including cancer and non-cancer pain, and focuses the analysis on the opportunity to target opioid receptors for treating opioid use disorder (OUD), drug withdrawal, and addiction. Unfortunately, as has been well established, the use of opioids presents a plethora of side effects, such as tolerance and physical and physiological dependence. Accordingly, considering the great pharmacological potential in targeting opioid receptors, the identification of opioid receptor ligands devoid of most of the adverse effects exhibited by current therapeutic agents is highly necessary. To this end, herein, we analyze some interesting molecules that could potentially be useful for treating OUD, with an in-depth analysis regarding in vivo studies and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Tabanelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Simone Brogi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Calderone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Li M, Zhang K, Li T, Chen Y, Zang H, Hu Y, Yao W. Sciatic Nerve Block Combined with Flurbiprofen Inhibits Spinal Cord Inflammation and Improves Postoperative Pain in Rats with Plantar Incision. J Pain Res 2023; 16:1533-1546. [PMID: 37193359 PMCID: PMC10182802 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s404226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose Peripheral nerve block is often used to relieve postoperative pain. But the effect of nerve block on inflammatory response is not fully understood. Spinal cord is the primary center of pain processing. This study is to investigate the effect of single sciatic nerve block on the inflammatory response of the spinal cord in rats with plantar incision and the combined effect with flurbiprofen. Methods The plantar incision was used to establish a postoperative pain model. Single sciatic nerve block, intravenous flurbiprofen or the combination of both were used for intervention. The sensory and motor functions after nerve block and incision were evaluated. The changes of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, microglia and astrocytes in the spinal cord were examined by qPCR and immunofluorescence respectively. Results Sciatic nerve block with 0.5% ropivacaine in rats induced sensory block for 2h and motor block for 1.5h. In the rats with plantar incision, the single sciatic nerve block did not alleviate postoperative pain or inhibit the activation of spinal microglia and astrocytes, but the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in spinal cord were decreased when the nerve block wore off. The combined effect of a single sciatic nerve block and intravenous flurbiprofen not only decreased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, but also relieved the pain and alleviated the activation of microglia and astrocytes. Conclusion The single sciatic nerve block cannot improve postoperative pain or inhibit the activation of spinal cord glial cells, but can reduce the expression of spinal inflammatory factors. Nerve block combined with flurbiprofen can inhibit spinal cord inflammation and improve postoperative pain. This study provides a reference for rational clinical application of nerve block.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihong Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kaiwen Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ting Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuye Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hu Zang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yingjie Hu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenlong Yao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Wenlong Yao, Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, and Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13720271159, Email
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