1
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Tobin AB. A golden age of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor modulation in neurological diseases. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024:10.1038/s41573-024-01007-1. [PMID: 39143241 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-01007-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Over the past 40 years, the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor family, particularly the M1-receptor and M4-receptor subtypes, have emerged as validated targets for the symptomatic treatment of neurological diseases such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer disease. However, despite considerable effort and investment, no drugs have yet gained clinical approval. This is largely attributable to cholinergic adverse effects that have halted the majority of programmes and resulted in a waning of interest in these G-protein-coupled receptor targets. Recently, this trend has been reversed. Driven by advances in structure-based drug design and an appreciation of the optimal pharmacological properties necessary to deliver clinical efficacy while minimizing adverse effects, a new generation of M1-receptor and M4-receptor orthosteric agonists and positive allosteric modulators are now entering the clinic. These agents offer the prospect of novel therapeutic solutions for 'hard to treat' neurological diseases, heralding a new era of muscarinic drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B Tobin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, School of Molecular Biosciences, The Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
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2
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Butler CR, Popiolek M, McAllister LA, LaChapelle EA, Kramer M, Beck EM, Mente S, Brodney MA, Brown M, Gilbert A, Helal C, Ogilvie K, Starr J, Uccello D, Grimwood S, Edgerton J, Garst-Orozco J, Kozak R, Lotarski S, Rossi A, Smith D, O'Connor R, Lazzaro J, Steppan C, Steyn SJ. Design and Synthesis of Clinical Candidate PF-06852231 (CVL-231): A Brain Penetrant, Selective, Positive Allosteric Modulator of the M 4 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor. J Med Chem 2024; 67:10831-10847. [PMID: 38888621 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00293] [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: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Selective activation of the M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype offers a novel strategy for the treatment of psychosis in multiple neurological disorders. Although the development of traditional muscarinic activators has been stymied due to pan-receptor activation, muscarinic receptor subtype selectivity can be achieved through the utilization of a subtype of a unique allosteric site. A major challenge in capitalizing on this allosteric site to date has been achieving a balance of suitable potency and brain penetration. Herein, we describe the design of a brain penetrant series of M4 selective positive allosteric modulators (PAMs), ultimately culminating in the identification of 21 (PF-06852231, now CVL-231/emraclidine), which is under active clinical development as a novel mechanism and approach for the treatment of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Butler
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Michael Popiolek
- Internal Medicine, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Laura A McAllister
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Erik A LaChapelle
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Melissa Kramer
- Medicine Design, Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Elizabeth M Beck
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Scot Mente
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Michael A Brodney
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Matthew Brown
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Adam Gilbert
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Chris Helal
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Kevin Ogilvie
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Jeremy Starr
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Daniel Uccello
- Medicine Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Sarah Grimwood
- Internal Medicine, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jeremy Edgerton
- Internal Medicine, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | | | - Rouba Kozak
- Internal Medicine, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Susan Lotarski
- Internal Medicine, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Amie Rossi
- Internal Medicine, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Deborah Smith
- Internal Medicine, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Rebecca O'Connor
- Discovery Sciences, Primary Pharmacology, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - John Lazzaro
- Discovery Sciences, Primary Pharmacology, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Claire Steppan
- Discovery Sciences, Primary Pharmacology, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Stefanus J Steyn
- Medicine Design, Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
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3
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Widman CJ, Ventresca S, Dietrich J, Elmslie G, Smith H, Kaup G, Wesley A, Doenecke M, Williams FE, Schiefer IT, Ellis J, Messer WS. Allosteric modulators of M 1 muscarinic receptors enhance acetylcholine efficacy and decrease locomotor activity and turning behaviors in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14901. [PMID: 38942828 PMCID: PMC11213934 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65445-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) has been identified as a potential strategy for regulating cholinergic signaling in the treatment of various neurological disorders. Most positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of mAChR enhance agonist affinity and potency, while very few PAMs (e.g., amiodarone) selectively enhance G protein coupling efficacy. The key structural features of amiodarone responsible for enhancement of mAChR efficacy were examined in CHO cells expressing M1 receptors. Subsequent incorporation of these structural features into previously identified allosteric modulators of potency (i.e., n-benzyl isatins) generated ligands that demonstrated similar or better enhancement of mAChR efficacy, lower in vivo toxicity, and higher allosteric binding affinity relative to amiodarone. Notable ligands include 8a, c which respectively demonstrated the strongest binding affinity and the most robust enhancement of mAChR efficacy as calculated from an allosteric operational model. Amiodarone derivatives and hybrid ligands were additionally screened in wildtype zebrafish (Danio rerio) to provide preliminary in vivo toxicity data as well as to observe effects on locomotor and turning behaviors relative to other mAChR PAMs. Several compounds, including 8a, c, reduced locomotor activity and increased measures of turning behaviors in zebrafish, suggesting that allosteric modulation of muscarinic receptor efficacy might be useful in the treatment of repetitive behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey J Widman
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #1015, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Sestina Ventresca
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Jillian Dietrich
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Gwendolynne Elmslie
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Hazel Smith
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #1015, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Gina Kaup
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #1015, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Aaron Wesley
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Madeline Doenecke
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Frederick E Williams
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Isaac T Schiefer
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #1015, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
- Center for Drug Design and Development, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - John Ellis
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - William S Messer
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #1015, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.
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4
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Widman CJ, Ventresca S, Dietrich J, Elmslie G, Smith H, Kaup G, Wesley A, Doenecke M, Williams FE, Schiefer IT, Ellis J, Messer WS. Hybrid Allosteric Modulators of M1 Muscarinic Receptors Enhance Acetylcholine Efficacy and Decrease Locomotor Activity and Turning Behaviors in Zebrafish. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3901189. [PMID: 38410427 PMCID: PMC10896388 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3901189/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Allosteric modulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) has been identified as a potential strategy for regulating cholinergic signaling in the treatment of various neurological disorders. Most positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of mAChR enhance agonist affinity and potency, while very few PAMs selectively enhance G-protein coupling efficacy (e.g., amiodarone). The key structural features of amiodarone responsible for enhancement of mAChR efficacy were examined in CHO cells expressing M1 receptors. Subsequent incorporation of these structural features into previously identified allosteric modulators of potency (i.e., n-benzyl isatins) generated hybrid ligands that demonstrated similar or better enhancement of mAChR efficacy, lower in vivo toxicity, and higher allosteric binding affinity relative to amiodarone. Notable hybrid ligands include 8a and 8b which respectively demonstrated the strongest binding affinity and the most robust enhancement of mAChR efficacy as calculated from an allosteric operational model. Amiodarone derivatives and hybrid ligands were additionally screened in wildtype zebrafish (Danio rerio) to provide preliminary in vivo toxicity data as well as to observe effects on locomotor and turning behaviors relative to other mAChR PAMs. Several compounds, including 8a and 8c, reduced locomotor activity and increased measures of turning behaviors in zebrafish, suggesting that allosteric modulation of muscarinic receptor efficacy might be useful in the treatment of repetitive behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
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5
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Paul D, Agrawal R, Singh S. Alzheimer's disease and clinical trials. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2024; 35:31-44. [PMID: 38491747 DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2023-0264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is spreading its root disproportionately among the worldwide population. Many genes have been identified as the hallmarks of AD. Based upon the knowledge, many clinical trials have been designed and conducted. Attempts have been made to alleviate the pathology associated with AD by targeting the molecular products of these genes. Irrespective of the understanding on the genetic component of AD, many clinical trials have failed and imposed greater challenges on the path of drug discovery. Therefore, this review aims to identify research and review articles to pinpoint the limitations of drug candidates (thiethylperazine, CT1812, crenezumab, CNP520, and lecanemab), which are under or withdrawn from clinical trials. Thorough analysis of the cross-talk pathways led to the identification of many confounding factors, which could interfere with the success of clinical trials with drug candidates such as thiethylperazine, CT1812, crenezumab, and CNP520. Though these drug candidates were enrolled in clinical trials, yet literature review shows many limitations. These limitations raise many questions on the rationale behind the enrollments of these drug candidates in clinical trials. A meticulous prior assessment of the outcome of clinical studies may stop risky clinical trials at their inceptions. This may save time, money, and resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepraj Paul
- Department of Pharmacology, 621320 College of Pharmacy JSS Academy of Technical Education , Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rohini Agrawal
- Department of Pharmacology, 621320 College of Pharmacy JSS Academy of Technical Education , Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Swati Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, 621320 College of Pharmacy JSS Academy of Technical Education , Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
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6
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Jones SE, Harvey PD. Cross-diagnostic determinants of cognitive functioning: the muscarinic cholinergic receptor as a model system. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:100. [PMID: 36973270 PMCID: PMC10042838 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02400-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a predictor of disability across different neuropsychiatric conditions, and cognitive abilities are also strongly related to educational attainment and indices of life success in the general population. Previous attempts at drug development for cognitive enhancement have commonly attempted to remedy defects in transmitters systems putatively associated with the conditions of interest such as the glutamate system in schizophrenia. Recent studies of the genomics of cognitive performance have suggested influences that are common in the general population and in different neuropsychiatric conditions. Thus, it seems possible that transmitter systems that are implicated for cognition across neuropsychiatric conditions and the general population would be a viable treatment target. We review the scientific data on cognition and the muscarinic cholinergic receptor system (M1 and M4) across different diagnoses, in aging, and in the general population. We suggest that there is evidence suggesting potential beneficial impacts of stimulation of critical muscarinic receptors for the enhancement of cognition in a broad manner, as well as the treatment of psychotic symptoms. Recent developments make stimulation of the M1 receptor more tolerable, and we identify the potential benefits of M1 and M4 receptor stimulation as a trans-diagnostic treatment model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Philip D Harvey
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
- Research Service, Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA.
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7
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Xu R, Wan M, Shi X, Ma S, Zhang L, Yi P, Zhang R. A Rab10-ACAP1-Arf6 GTPases cascade modulates M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor trafficking and signaling. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:87. [PMID: 36917255 PMCID: PMC11072986 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04722-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Membrane trafficking processes regulate the G protein-coupled receptor activity. The muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are highly pursued drug targets for neurological diseases, but the cellular machineries that control the trafficking of these receptors remain largely elusive. Here, we revealed the role of the small GTPase Rab10 as a negative regulator for the post-activation trafficking of M4 mAChR and the underlying mechanism. We show that constitutively active Rab10 arrests the receptor within Rab5-positive early endosomes and significantly hinders the resensitization of M4-mediated Ca2+ signaling. Mechanistically, M4 binds to Rab10-GTP, which requires the motif 386RKKRQMAA393 (R386-A393) within the third intracellular loop. Moreover, Rab10-GTP inactivates Arf6 by recruiting the Arf6 GTPase-activating protein, ACAP1. Strikingly, deletion of the motif R386-A393 causes M4 to bypass the control by Rab10 and switch to the Rab4-facilitated fast recycling pathway, thus reusing the receptor. Therefore, Rab10 couples the cargo sorting and membrane trafficking regulation through cycle between GTP-bound and GDP-bound state. Our findings suggest a model that Rab10 binds to the M4 like a molecular brake and controls the receptor's transport through endosomes, thus modulating the signaling, and this regulation is specific among the mAChR subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongmei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Min Wan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA
| | - Xuemeng Shi
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- College of Life Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shumin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ping Yi
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Rongying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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8
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Sawagashira R, Tanaka M. Nicotine promotes the utility of short-term memory during visual search in macaque monkeys. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:3019-3029. [PMID: 35802143 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06186-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The central cholinergic system is a major therapeutic target for restoring cognitive functions. Although manipulation of cholinergic signaling is known to alter working memory (WM), the underlying mechanism remains unclear. It is widely accepted that WM consists of multiple functional modules, one storing short-term memory and the other manipulating and utilizing it. A recently developed visual search task and a relevant model can be used to assess multiple components of WM during administration of acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-related substances. OBJECTIVES The effects of systemic administration of AChR-related agents on WM and eye movements were examined during the oculomotor foraging task. METHODS Three monkeys performing the task received an intramuscular injection of saline or the following AChR-related agents: nicotine (24 or 56 μg/kg), mecamylamine (nicotinic AChR antagonist, 1.0 mg/kg), oxotremorine (muscarinic AChR agonist, 3.0 µg/kg), and scopolamine (muscarinic AChR antagonist, 20 μg/kg). The task was to find a target among 15 identical objects by making eye movements within 6 s. The data were analyzed according to the foraging model that incorporated three parameters. RESULTS Nicotine and mecamylamine significantly increased the utility but not the capacity of short-term memory, while muscarinic AChR-related agents did not alter any WM parameters. Further regression analyses with a mixed-effect model showed that the beneficial effect of nicotine on memory utility remained after considering eye movement variability, but the beneficial effect of mecamylamine disappeared. CONCLUSIONS Nicotine improves visual search, mainly by increasing the utility of short-term memory, with minimal changes in oculomotor parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Sawagashira
- Department of Physiology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan. .,Department of Psychiatry, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan.
| | - Masaki Tanaka
- Department of Physiology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan.
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9
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Barman B, Kushwaha A, Thakur MK. Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors-Mediated Activation of PKC Restores the Hippocampal Immediate Early Gene Expression and CREB Phosphorylation in Scopolamine-Induced Amnesic Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:5722-5733. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02940-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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10
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Intrinsically disordered proteins and proteins with intrinsically disordered regions in neurodegenerative diseases. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:679-707. [DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-00968-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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11
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Cikowski J, Holt C, Arthur B, Smith M, Gonzalez S, Lindsley CW, Niswender CM, Gogliotti RG. Optimized Administration of the M 4 PAM VU0467154 Demonstrates Broad Efficacy, but Limited Effective Concentrations in Mecp2+/- Mice. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1891-1901. [PMID: 35671352 PMCID: PMC9266622 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypofunction of cholinergic circuits and diminished cholinergic tone have been associated with the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome (RTT). Specifically, deletion of Mecp2 in cholinergic neurons evokes the same social and cognitive phenotypes in mice seen with global Mecp2 knockout, and decreased choline acetyltransferase activity and vesamicol binding have been reported in RTT autopsy samples. Further, we recently identified significant decreases in muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype 4 (M4) expression in both the motor cortex and cerebellum of RTT patient autopsies and established proof of concept that an acute dose of the positive allosteric modulator (PAM) VU0467154 (VU154) rescued phenotypes in Mecp2+/- mice. Here, we expand the assessment of M4 PAMs in RTT to address clinically relevant questions of tolerance, scope of benefit, dose response, chronic treatment, and mechanism. We show that VU154 has efficacy on anxiety, social preference, cognitive, and respiratory phenotypes in Mecp2+/- mice; however, the therapeutic range is narrow, with benefits seen at 3 mg/kg concentrations, but not 1 or 10 mg/kg. Further, sociability was diminished in VU154-treated Mecp2+/- mice, suggestive of a potential adverse effect. Compound efficacy on social, cognitive, and respiratory phenotypes was conserved with a 44-day treatment paradigm, with the caveat that breath rate was moderately decreased with chronic treatment in Mecp2+/+ and Mecp2+/- mice. VU154 effects on respiratory function correlated with an increase in Gsk3β inhibition in the brainstem. These results identify the core symptom domains where efficacy and adverse effects may present with M4 administration in RTT model mice and advocate for the continued evaluation as potential RTT therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Cikowski
- Department
of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153, United States,Edward
Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois 60141, United States
| | - Calista Holt
- Department
of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153, United States,Edward
Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois 60141, United States
| | - Bright Arthur
- Department
of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Vanderbilt
Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical
Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Mackenzie Smith
- Department
of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153, United States,Edward
Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois 60141, United States
| | - Sonia Gonzalez
- Department
of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153, United States,Edward
Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois 60141, United States
| | - Craig W. Lindsley
- Department
of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Vanderbilt
Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical
Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Vanderbilt
Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Department
of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Colleen M. Niswender
- Department
of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Vanderbilt
Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical
Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Vanderbilt
Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Vanderbilt
Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Rocco G. Gogliotti
- Department
of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153, United States,Edward
Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois 60141, United States,Department
of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States,. Phone: 708-216-9021. Fax: 708-216-8318
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12
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Drug Design Targeting the Muscarinic Receptors and the Implications in Central Nervous System Disorders. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020398. [PMID: 35203607 PMCID: PMC8962391 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is substantial evidence that cholinergic system function impairment plays a significant role in many central nervous system (CNS) disorders. During the past three decades, muscarinic receptors (mAChRs) have been implicated in various pathologies and have been prominent targets of drug-design efforts. However, due to the high sequence homology of the orthosteric binding site, many drug candidates resulted in limited clinical success. Although several advances in treating peripheral pathologies have been achieved, targeting CNS pathologies remains challenging for researchers. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made in recent years to develop functionally selective orthosteric and allosteric ligands targeting the mAChRs with limited side effect profiles. This review highlights past efforts and focuses on recent advances in drug design targeting these receptors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), schizophrenia (SZ), and depression.
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13
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Fisher VL, Ortiz LS, Powers AR. A computational lens on menopause-associated psychosis. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:906796. [PMID: 35990063 PMCID: PMC9381820 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.906796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychotic episodes are debilitating disease states that can cause extreme distress and impair functioning. There are sex differences that drive the onset of these episodes. One difference is that, in addition to a risk period in adolescence and early adulthood, women approaching the menopause transition experience a second period of risk for new-onset psychosis. One leading hypothesis explaining this menopause-associated psychosis (MAP) is that estrogen decline in menopause removes a protective factor against processes that contribute to psychotic symptoms. However, the neural mechanisms connecting estrogen decline to these symptoms are still not well understood. Using the tools of computational psychiatry, links have been proposed between symptom presentation and potential algorithmic and biological correlates. These models connect changes in signaling with symptom formation by evaluating changes in information processing that are not easily observable (latent states). In this manuscript, we contextualize the observed effects of estrogen (decline) on neural pathways implicated in psychosis. We then propose how estrogen could drive changes in latent states giving rise to cognitive and psychotic symptoms associated with psychosis. Using computational frameworks to inform research in MAP may provide a systematic method for identifying patient-specific pathways driving symptoms and simultaneously refine models describing the pathogenesis of psychosis across all age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Fisher
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Liara S Ortiz
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Albert R Powers
- Yale University School of Medicine and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
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14
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Neuropharmacology of Cevimeline and Muscarinic Drugs-Focus on Cognition and Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168908. [PMID: 34445613 PMCID: PMC8396258 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168908] [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: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
At present, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias cannot be cured. Therefore, scientists all over the world are trying to find a new approach to prolong an active life of patients with initial dementia. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological pathways are investigated to improve the key symptom of the disease, memory loss. In this respect, influencing the neuromodulator acetylcholine via muscarinic receptors, such as cevimeline, might be one of the therapeutic alternatives. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of cevimeline on the cognitive functions of AD patients. The methodology is based on a systematic literature review of available studies found in Web of Science, PubMed, Springer, and Scopus on the research topic. The findings indicate that cevimeline has shown an improvement in experimentally induced cognitive deficits in animal models. Furthermore, it has demonstrated to positively influence tau pathology and reduce the levels of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in the cerebral spinal fluid of Alzheimer’s patients. Although this drug has not been approved by the FDA for its use among AD patients and there is a lack of clinical studies confirming and extending this finding, cevimeline might represent a breakthrough in the treatment of AD.
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15
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Cholinesterase inhibitory activity of tinosporide and 8-hydroxytinosporide isolated from Tinospora cordifolia: In vitro and in silico studies targeting management of Alzheimer's disease. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:3893-3900. [PMID: 34220245 PMCID: PMC8241625 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.03.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tinosporide and 8-hydroxytinosporide isolated from Tinospora cordifolia were evaluated for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitory activities. The structure of the compound was confirmed by spectroscopic analysis, whereas cholinesterase inhibition was investigated by Ellman method using donepezil as standard drug and the data were presented as IC50 (μg/ml ± SEM). Furthermore, donepezil, tinosporide and 8-hydroxytinosporide were executed for docking analysis. The results from the isolated compounds TC-16R confirmed as tinosporide promisingly inhibited AChE with IC50 value of 13.45 ± 0.144, whereas TC-19R confirmed as 8-hydroxytinosporide moderately inhibited AChE with IC50 value of 46.71 ± 0.511. In case of BuChE inhibition, the IC50 values were found to be 408.50 ± 17.197 and 317.26 ± 6.918 for tinosporide and 8-hydroxytinosporide, respectively. The in silico studies revealed that the ligand tinosporide fit with the binding sites and inhibited AChE. Overall, the study findings suggested that tinosporide would be a complementary noble molecule of donepezil which is correlated with its pharmacological activity through in vitro studies, while 8-hydroxytinosporide modestly inhibited BuChE and the results are very close to the standard donepezil.
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16
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Hatzipantelis C, Langiu M, Vandekolk TH, Pierce TL, Nithianantharajah J, Stewart GD, Langmead CJ. Translation-Focused Approaches to GPCR Drug Discovery for Cognitive Impairments Associated with Schizophrenia. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:1042-1062. [PMID: 33344888 PMCID: PMC7737210 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
There are no effective therapeutics for cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia (CIAS), which includes deficits in executive functions (working memory and cognitive flexibility) and episodic memory. Compounds that have entered clinical trials are inadequate in terms of efficacy and/or tolerability, highlighting a clear translational bottleneck and a need for a cohesive preclinical drug development strategy. In this review we propose hippocampal-prefrontal-cortical (HPC-PFC) circuitry underlying CIAS-relevant cognitive processes across mammalian species as a target source to guide the translation-focused discovery and development of novel, procognitive agents. We highlight several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) enriched within HPC-PFC circuitry as therapeutic targets of interest, including noncanonical approaches (biased agonism and allosteric modulation) to conventional clinical targets, such as dopamine and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, along with prospective novel targets, including the orphan receptors GPR52 and GPR139. We also describe the translational limitations of popular preclinical cognition tests and suggest touchscreen-based assays that probe cognitive functions reliant on HPC-PFC circuitry and reflect tests used in the clinic, as tests of greater translational relevance. Combining pharmacological and behavioral testing strategies based in HPC-PFC circuit function creates a cohesive, translation-focused approach to preclinical drug development that may improve the translational bottleneck currently hindering the development of treatments for CIAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra
J. Hatzipantelis
- Drug
Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Monica Langiu
- Drug
Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Teresa H. Vandekolk
- Drug
Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Tracie L. Pierce
- Drug
Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jess Nithianantharajah
- Florey
Institute of Neuroscience
and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Gregory D. Stewart
- Drug
Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Christopher J. Langmead
- Drug
Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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17
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Azam S, Haque ME, Jakaria M, Jo SH, Kim IS, Choi DK. G-Protein-Coupled Receptors in CNS: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Intervention in Neurodegenerative Disorders and Associated Cognitive Deficits. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020506. [PMID: 32102186 PMCID: PMC7072884 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a large group of neurological disorders with diverse etiological and pathological phenomena. However, current therapeutics rely mostly on symptomatic relief while failing to target the underlying disease pathobiology. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the most frequently targeted receptors for developing novel therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Many currently available antipsychotic therapeutics also act as either antagonists or agonists of different GPCRs. Therefore, GPCR-based drug development is spreading widely to regulate neurodegeneration and associated cognitive deficits through the modulation of canonical and noncanonical signals. Here, GPCRs’ role in the pathophysiology of different neurodegenerative disease progressions and cognitive deficits has been highlighted, and an emphasis has been placed on the current pharmacological developments with GPCRs to provide an insight into a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shofiul Azam
- Department of Applied Life Science & Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; (S.A.); (M.E.H.); (M.J.); (S.-H.J.)
| | - Md. Ezazul Haque
- Department of Applied Life Science & Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; (S.A.); (M.E.H.); (M.J.); (S.-H.J.)
| | - Md. Jakaria
- Department of Applied Life Science & Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; (S.A.); (M.E.H.); (M.J.); (S.-H.J.)
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Song-Hee Jo
- Department of Applied Life Science & Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; (S.A.); (M.E.H.); (M.J.); (S.-H.J.)
| | - In-Su Kim
- Department of Integrated Bioscience & Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, and Research Institute of Inflammatory Disease (RID), Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea
- Correspondence: (I.-S.K.); (D.-K.C.); Tel.: +82-010-3876-4773 (I.-S.K.); +82-43-840-3610 (D.-K.C.); Fax: +82-43-840-3872 (D.-K.C.)
| | - Dong-Kug Choi
- Department of Applied Life Science & Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; (S.A.); (M.E.H.); (M.J.); (S.-H.J.)
- Department of Integrated Bioscience & Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, and Research Institute of Inflammatory Disease (RID), Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea
- Correspondence: (I.-S.K.); (D.-K.C.); Tel.: +82-010-3876-4773 (I.-S.K.); +82-43-840-3610 (D.-K.C.); Fax: +82-43-840-3872 (D.-K.C.)
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18
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Marcinkowska M, Śniecikowska J, Fajkis N, Paśko P, Franczyk W, Kołaczkowski M. Management of Dementia-Related Psychosis, Agitation and Aggression: A Review of the Pharmacology and Clinical Effects of Potential Drug Candidates. CNS Drugs 2020; 34:243-268. [PMID: 32052375 PMCID: PMC7048860 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-020-00707-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Along with cognitive decline, 90% of patients with dementia experience behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, such as psychosis, aggression, agitation, and depression. Atypical antipsychotics are commonly prescribed off-label to manage certain symptoms, despite warnings from the regulatory agencies regarding the increased risk of mortality associated with their use in elderly patients. Moreover, these compounds display a limited clinical efficacy, mostly owing to the fact that they were developed to treat schizophrenia, a disease characterized by neurobiological deficits. Thus, to improve clinical efficacy, it has been suggested that patients with dementia should be treated with exclusively designed and developed drugs that interact with pharmacologically relevant targets. Within this context, numerous studies have suggested druggable targets that might achieve therapeutically acceptable pharmacological profiles. Based on this, several different drug candidates have been proposed that are being investigated in clinical trials for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. We highlight the recent advances toward the development of therapeutic agents for dementia-related psychosis and agitation/aggression and discuss the relationship between the relevant biological targets and their etiology. In addition, we review the compounds that are in the early stage of development (discovery or preclinical phase) and those that are currently being investigated in clinical trials for dementia-related psychosis and agitation/aggression. We also discuss the mechanism of action of these compounds and their pharmacological utility in patients with dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Marcinkowska
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, Kraków, 30-688, Poland.
| | - Joanna Śniecikowska
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, Kraków, 30-688 Poland ,Adamed Pharma S.A., Czosnow, Poland
| | - Nikola Fajkis
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, Kraków, 30-688 Poland
| | - Paweł Paśko
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, Kraków, 30-688 Poland
| | - Weronika Franczyk
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, Kraków, 30-688 Poland
| | - Marcin Kołaczkowski
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, Kraków, 30-688 Poland ,Adamed Pharma S.A., Czosnow, Poland
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19
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Neuromodulators and Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity in Learning and Memory: A Steered-Glutamatergic Perspective. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9110300. [PMID: 31683595 PMCID: PMC6896105 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9110300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular pathways underlying the induction and maintenance of long-term synaptic plasticity have been extensively investigated revealing various mechanisms by which neurons control their synaptic strength. The dynamic nature of neuronal connections combined with plasticity-mediated long-lasting structural and functional alterations provide valuable insights into neuronal encoding processes as molecular substrates of not only learning and memory but potentially other sensory, motor and behavioural functions that reflect previous experience. However, one key element receiving little attention in the study of synaptic plasticity is the role of neuromodulators, which are known to orchestrate neuronal activity on brain-wide, network and synaptic scales. We aim to review current evidence on the mechanisms by which certain modulators, namely dopamine, acetylcholine, noradrenaline and serotonin, control synaptic plasticity induction through corresponding metabotropic receptors in a pathway-specific manner. Lastly, we propose that neuromodulators control plasticity outcomes through steering glutamatergic transmission, thereby gating its induction and maintenance.
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20
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Dar KB, Bhat AH, Amin S, Reshi BA, Zargar MA, Masood A, Ganie SA. Elucidating Critical Proteinopathic Mechanisms and Potential Drug Targets in Neurodegeneration. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2019; 40:313-345. [PMID: 31584139 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-019-00741-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegeneration entails progressive loss of neuronal structure as well as function leading to cognitive failure, apathy, anxiety, irregular body movements, mood swing and ageing. Proteomic dysregulation is considered the key factor for neurodegeneration. Mechanisms involving deregulated processing of proteins such as amyloid beta (Aβ) oligomerization; tau hyperphosphorylation, prion misfolding; α-synuclein accumulation/lewy body formation, chaperone deregulation, acetylcholine depletion, adenosine 2A (A2A) receptor hyperactivation, secretase deregulation, leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) mutation and mitochondrial proteinopathies have deeper implications in neurodegenerative disorders. Better understanding of such pathological mechanisms is pivotal for exploring crucial drug targets. Herein, we provide a comprehensive outlook about the diverse proteomic irregularities in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD). We explicate the role of key neuroproteomic drug targets notably Aβ, tau, alpha synuclein, prions, secretases, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), LRRK2, molecular chaperones, A2A receptors, muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAchR), N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family ligands (GFLs) and mitochondrial/oxidative stress-related proteins for combating neurodegeneration and associated cognitive and motor impairment. Cross talk between amyloidopathy, synucleinopathy, tauopathy and several other proteinopathies pinpoints the need to develop safe therapeutics with ability to strike multiple targets in the aetiology of the neurodegenerative disorders. Therapeutics like microtubule stabilisers, chaperones, kinase inhibitors, anti-aggregation agents and antibodies could serve promising regimens for treating neurodegeneration. However, drugs should be target specific, safe and able to penetrate blood-brain barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Bashir Dar
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Aashiq Hussain Bhat
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Shajrul Amin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Bilal Ahmad Reshi
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Mohammad Afzal Zargar
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Akbar Masood
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Showkat Ahmad Ganie
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
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21
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Konar A, Gupta R, Shukla RK, Maloney B, Khanna VK, Wadhwa R, Lahiri DK, Thakur MK. M1 muscarinic receptor is a key target of neuroprotection, neuroregeneration and memory recovery by i-Extract from Withania somnifera. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13990. [PMID: 31570736 PMCID: PMC6769020 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48238-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory loss is one of the most tragic symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Our laboratory has recently demonstrated that 'i-Extract' of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) restores memory loss in scopolamine (SC)-induced mice. The prime target of i-Extract is obscure. We hypothesize that i-Extract may primarily target muscarinic subtype acetylcholine receptors that regulate memory processes. The present study elucidates key target(s) of i-Extract via cellular, biochemical, and molecular techniques in a relevant amnesia mouse model and primary hippocampal neuronal cultures. Wild type Swiss albino mice were fed i-Extract, and hippocampal cells from naïve mice were treated with i-Extract, followed by muscarinic antagonist (dicyclomine) and agonist (pilocarpine) treatments. We measured dendritic formation and growth by immunocytochemistry, kallikrein 8 (KLK8) mRNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and levels of KLK8 and microtubule-associated protein 2, c isoform (MAP2c) proteins by western blotting. We performed muscarinic receptor radioligand binding. i-Extract stimulated an increase in dendrite growth markers, KLK8 and MAP2. Scopolamine-mediated reduction was significantly reversed by i-Extract in mouse cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Our study identified muscarinic receptor as a key target of i-Extract, providing mechanistic evidence for its clinical application in neurodegenerative cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Konar
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Brain Research Centre, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Richa Gupta
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Devision of ECD, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Rajendra K Shukla
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Department of Biochemistry, Autonomous State Medical College, Bahraich, Utter Pradesh, 271801, India
| | - Bryan Maloney
- Departments of Psychiatry, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 West 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN-46202, USA
| | - Vinay K Khanna
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Renu Wadhwa
- DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Central 4, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305 8562, Japan.
| | - Debomoy K Lahiri
- Departments of Psychiatry, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 West 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN-46202, USA.
- Departments of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana Alzheimer Disesae Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN-46202, USA.
| | - Mahendra K Thakur
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Brain Research Centre, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
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22
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Molecular pharmacology of metabotropic receptors targeted by neuropsychiatric drugs. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2019; 26:535-544. [PMID: 31270468 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0252-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic receptors are responsible for so-called 'slow synaptic transmission' and mediate the effects of hundreds of peptide and non-peptide neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Over the past decade or so, a revolution in membrane-protein structural determination has clarified the molecular determinants responsible for the actions of these receptors. This Review focuses on the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are targets of neuropsychiatric drugs and shows how insights into the structure and function of these important synaptic proteins are accelerating understanding of their actions. Notably, elucidating the structure and function of GPCRs should enhance the structure-guided discovery of novel chemical tools with which to manipulate and understand these synaptic proteins.
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23
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Abstract
There are 3 common physiological estrogens, of which estradiol (E2) is seen to decline rapidly over the menopausal transition. This decline in E2 has been associated with a number of changes in the brain, including cognitive changes, effects on sleep, and effects on mood. These effects have been demonstrated in both rodent and non-human preclinical models. Furthermore, E2 interactions have been indicated in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and depression. In normal brain aging, there are a number of systems that undergo changes and a number of these show interactions with E2, particularly the cholinergic system, the dopaminergic system, and mitochondrial function. E2 treatment has been shown to ameliorate some of the behavioral and morphological changes seen in preclinical models of menopause; however, in clinical populations, the effects of E2 treatment on cognitive changes after menopause are mixed. The future use of sex hormone treatment will likely focus on personalized or precision medicine for the prevention or treatment of cognitive disturbances during aging, with a better understanding of who may benefit from such treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason K Russell
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Carrie K Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Paul A Newhouse
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Tennessee VA Health Systems, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
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24
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Holschneider DP, Guo Y, Wang Z, Vidal M, Scremin OU. Positive Allosteric Modulation of Cholinergic Receptors Improves Spatial Learning after Cortical Contusion Injury in Mice. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:2233-2245. [PMID: 30688147 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined benzyl quinolone carboxylic acid (BQCA), a novel M1 muscarinic-positive allosteric modulator, for improving memory and motor dysfunction after cerebral cortical contusion injury (CCI). Adult mice received unilateral motorsensory cortical CCI or sham injury. Benzyl quinolone carboxylic acid (BQCA; 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.] × 2/day × 3-4 weeks) or vehicle (Veh) were administered, and weekly evaluations were undertaken using a battery of motor tests, as well as the Morris water maze. Thereafter, cerebral metabolic activation was investigated in awake animals during walking with [14C]-2-deoxygIucose autoradiography, comparing CCI mice previously treated with BQCA (20 mg/kg) or vehicle. Relative changes in local cerebral glucose uptake (rCGU) were evaluated in three-dimensional-reconstructed brains using statistical parametric mapping. CCI resulted in mild hyperactivity in the open field, and modest significant motor deficits, as well as significantly decreased spatial learning at 3 weeks. BQCA in CCI mice resulted in significantly improved spatial recall during the third week, with minimal effects on motor outcomes. CCI significantly decreased rCGU in the ipsilesional basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit and in somatosensory regions, with relative increases noted contralaterally, as well as in the cerebellum. Significant decreases in rCGU were noted in subregions of the ipsilesional hippocampal formation, with significant increases noted contralesionally. BQCA compared to vehicle-treated mice showed modest, though significantly increased, rCGU in motor regions, as well as a partial reversal of lesion-related rCGU findings in subregions of the hippocampal formation. rCGU in ipsilesional posterior CA1 demonstrated a significant inverse correlation with latency to find the submerged platform. BQCA at 20 mg/kg had no significant effect on general motor activity, body weight, or acute motor, secretory, or respiratory symptoms. Results suggest that BQCA is a candidate compound to improve learning and memory function after brain trauma and may not suffer the associated central nervous system side effects typically associated with even modest doses of other cholinergic enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Holschneider
- 1 Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,2 Department of Neurology, Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,3 Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
| | - Yumei Guo
- 1 Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Zhuo Wang
- 1 Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Milagros Vidal
- 1 Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Oscar U Scremin
- 3 Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
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25
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Thorn CA, Moon J, Bourbonais CA, Harms J, Edgerton JR, Stark E, Steyn SJ, Butter CR, Lazzaro JT, O’Connor RE, Popiolek M. Striatal, Hippocampal, and Cortical Networks Are Differentially Responsive to the M4- and M1-Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Mediated Effects of Xanomeline. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:1753-1764. [PMID: 30480428 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical and clinical data suggest that muscarinic acetylcholine receptor activation may be therapeutically beneficial for the treatment of schizophrenia and Alzheimer's diseases. This is best exemplified by clinical observations with xanomeline, the efficacy of which is thought to be mediated through co-activation of the M1 and M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). Here we examined the impact of treatment with xanomeline and compared it to the actions of selective M1 and M4 mAChR activators on in vivo intracellular signaling cascades in mice, including 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and inositol phosphate-1 (IP1) accumulation in the striatum, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. We additionally assessed the effects of xanomeline on hippocampal electrophysiological signatures in rats using ex vivo recordings from CA1 (Cornu Ammonis 1) as well as in vivo hippocampal theta. As expected, xanomeline's effects across these readouts were consistent with activation of both M1 and M4 mAChRs; however, differences were observed across different brain regions, suggesting non-uniform activation of these receptor subtypes in the central nervous system. Interestingly, despite having nearly equal in vitro potency at the M1 and the M4 mAChRs, during in vivo assays xanomeline produced M4-like effects at significantly lower brain exposures than those at which M1-like effects were observed. Our results raise the possibility that clinical efficacy observed with xanomeline was driven, in part, through its non-uniform activation of mAChR subtypes in the central nervous system and, at lower doses, through preferential agonism of the M4 mAChR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John T. Lazzaro
- Primary Pharmacology Group, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Rebecca E. O’Connor
- Primary Pharmacology Group, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
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The muscarinic agonist pilocarpine modifies cocaine-reinforced and food-reinforced responding in rats: comparison with the cholinesterase inhibitor tacrine. Behav Pharmacol 2019; 30:478-489. [PMID: 30724803 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Activation of muscarinic receptors in the brain antagonizes the actions of cocaine, blocking both its discriminative stimulus and reinforcing properties. Pilocarpine is a nonselective muscarinic agonist that is used clinically, but has not been well characterized for its actions during cocaine-reinforced behavior. This study evaluated its effects on cocaine-reinforced and food-reinforced behaviors in rats, using the cholinesterase inhibitor tacrine as a comparator. Intraperitoneal pilocarpine or tacrine at doses of 1.0 mg/kg or more attenuated self-administration of low-dose cocaine (0.1 mg/kg injection) but also increased oral movements. Pilocarpine was less potent than tacrine in decreasing responding supported by low or intermediate amounts of liquid food. Combined treatment with pilocarpine and tacrine was more effective than either compound alone in attenuating self-administration of intermediate-dose cocaine. At a low (0.66 mg/kg) dose which did not modify reinforced responding, pilocarpine increased nonspecific behavior (sniffing, rearing, and activity) in cocaine-reinforced but not in food-reinforced animals; with greater doses increasing cholinergic or gastrointestinal signs. These effects were most consistently correlated with changes in reinforcement in rats responding for cocaine relative to food-reinforced animals. Overall, pilocarpine exhibited modest selectivity for attenuating self-administration of low-dose cocaine without affecting a nondrug reinforcer.
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Lago SG, Bahn S. Clinical Trials and Therapeutic Rationale for Drug Repurposing in Schizophrenia. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:58-78. [PMID: 29944339 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a paucity of efficacious novel drugs to address high rates of treatment resistance and refractory symptoms in schizophrenia. The identification of novel therapeutic indications for approved drugs-drug repurposing-has the potential to expedite clinical trials and reduce the costly risk of failure which currently limits central nervous system drug discovery efforts. In the present Review we discuss the historical role of drug repurposing in schizophrenia drug discovery and review the main classes of repurposing candidates currently in clinical trials for schizophrenia in terms of their therapeutic rationale, mechanisms of action, and preliminary results from clinical trials. Subsequently we outline the challenges and limitations which face the clinical repurposing pipeline and how novel technologies might serve to address these.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago G. Lago
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, U.K
| | - Sabine Bahn
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, U.K
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Pokharel S, Lee CH, Gilyazova N, Ibeanu GC. Analysis of Gene Expression and Neuronal Phenotype in Neuroscreen-1 (NS-1) Cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL INVESTIGATION 2018; 1:115. [PMID: 30687846 PMCID: PMC6345259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Neuroscreen-1 (NS-1) a sub-clone of pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell is gaining broad acceptance as in vitro neuronal model for biochemical and phenotypic assays due to robust growth and differentiation profiles. However, the molecular characteristics of the cell remains to be documented. In this study, we performed comparative analysis for expression of neuronal marker genes in undifferentiated and nerve growth factor (NGF) differentiated NS-1 and PC12 by qPCR and immunoblot assays. We show that differentiation of NS-1 occurred under low concentrations of NGF relative to PC12. Cell growth also occurred more rapidly in NS-1. Transcriptional analysis of neuronal marker genes showed comparable expression of tyrosine receptor kinases (Ntrk1, Ntrk2, NGFR/p75NTR) and muscarinic acetylcholine (Chrm1, Chrm2, Chrm3, Chrm4) receptors in unspecialized cells. Ntrk2, adenosine receptors (Adora1, Adora2A) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were altered in undifferentiated NS-1. In contrast, Ntrk1, Ntrk2, Chrm2 transcripts were vastly increased in NS-1 with NGF exposure, while Ntrk3, Adora1 and Adora2A transcripts were reduced. In differentiated PC12, Chrm4 and ChAT were markedly upregulated. Our data suggests that differences in morphological and phenotypic characteristics that distinguish NS-1 from PC12 is likely the product of altered gene expression. Furthermore, expression of neuron type genes in NS-1 support its use as an alternative model to PC12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smritee Pokharel
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Chang Hun Lee
- School of Dentistry, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Nailya Gilyazova
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Gordon C. Ibeanu
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina United States of America
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Khajehali E, Valant C, Jörg M, Tobin AB, Conn PJ, Lindsley CW, Sexton PM, Scammells PJ, Christopoulos A. Probing the binding site of novel selective positive allosteric modulators at the M 1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 154:243-254. [PMID: 29777683 PMCID: PMC6066355 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Subtype-selective allosteric modulation of the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor (M1 mAChR) is an attractive approach for the treatment of numerous disorders, including cognitive deficits. The discovery of benzyl quinolone carboxylic acid, BQCA, a selective M1 mAChR positive allosteric modulator (PAM), spurred the subsequent development of newer generation M1 PAMs representing diverse chemical scaffolds, different pharmacodynamic properties and, in some instances, improved pharmacokinetics. Key exemplar molecules from such efforts include PF-06767832 (N-((3R,4S)-3-hydroxytetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)-5-methyl-4-(4-(thiazol-4-yl)benzyl)pyridine-2-carboxamide), VU6004256 (4,6-difluoro-N-(1S,2S)-2-hydroxycyclohexyl-1-((6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyridine-3-yl)methyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxamide) and MIPS1780 (3-(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)-6-(2-((4-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-benzyl)oxy)phenyl)pyrimidin-4(3H)-one). Given these diverse scaffolds and pharmacodynamics, the current study combined pharmacological analysis and site-directed mutagenesis to explore the potential binding site and function of newer M1 mAChR PAMs relative to BQCA. Interestingly, the mechanism of action of the novel PAMs was consistent with a common model of allostery, as previously described for BQCA. Key residues involved in the activity of BQCA, including Y179 in the second extracellular loop (ECL) and W4007.35 in transmembrane domain (TM) 7, were critical for the activity of all PAMs tested. Overall, our data indicate that structurally distinct PAMs share a similar binding site with BQCA, specifically, an extracellular allosteric site defined by residues in TM2, TM7 and ECL2. These findings provide valuable insights into the structural basis underlying modulator binding, cooperativity and signaling at the M1 mAChR, which is essential for the rational design of PAMs with tailored pharmacological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Khajehali
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Celine Valant
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Manuela Jörg
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - P Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Nashville, TN 37232, United States
| | - Craig W Lindsley
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Nashville, TN 37232, United States
| | - Patrick M Sexton
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Peter J Scammells
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
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A serine protease KLK8 emerges as a regulator of regulators in memory: Microtubule protein dependent neuronal morphology and PKA-CREB signaling. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9928. [PMID: 29967374 PMCID: PMC6028475 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27640-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The multitude of molecular pathways underlying memory impairment in neurological disorders and aging-related disorders has been a major hurdle against therapeutic targeting. Over the years, neuronal growth promoting factors, intracellular kinases, and specific transcription factors, particularly cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), have emerged as crucial players of memory storage, and their disruption accompanies many cognitive disabilities. However, a molecular link that can influence these major players and can be a potential recovery target has been elusive. Recent reports suggest that extracellular cues at the synapses might evoke an intracellular signaling cascade and regulate memory function. Herein, we report novel function of an extracellular serine protease, kallikrein 8 (KLK8/Neuropsin) in regulating the expression of microtubule associated dendrite growth marker microtubule-associated protein (MAP2)c, dendrite architecture and protein kinase A (PKA)-CREB signaling. Both knockdown of KLK8 via siRNA transfection in mouse primary hippocampal neurons and via intra-hippocampal administration of KLK8 antisense oligonucleotides in vivo reduced expression of MAP2c, dendrite length, dendrite branching and spine density. The KLK8 mediated MAP2c deficiency in turn inactivated PKA and downstream transcription factor phosphorylated CREB (pCREB), leading to downregulation of memory-linked genes and consequent impaired memory consolidation. These findings revealed a protease associated novel pathway of memory impairment in which KLK8 may act as a “regulator of regulators”, suggesting its exploration as an important therapeutic target of memory disorders.
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Mnemonic and behavioral effects of biperiden, an M1-selective antagonist, in the rat. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:2013-2025. [PMID: 29680966 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-4899-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE There is a persistent pressing need for valid animal models of cognitive and mnemonic disruptions (such as seen in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias) usable for preclinical research. OBJECTIVES We have set out to test the validity of administration of biperiden, an M1-acetylcholine receptor antagonist with central selectivity, as a potential tool for generating a fast screening model of cognitive impairment, in outbred Wistar rats. METHODS We used several variants of the Morris water maze task: (1) reversal learning, to assess cognitive flexibility, with probe trials testing memory retention; (2) delayed matching to position (DMP), to evaluate working memory; and (3) "counter-balanced acquisition," to test for possible anomalies in acquisition learning. We also included a visible platform paradigm to reveal possible sensorimotor and motivational deficits. RESULTS A significant effect of biperiden on memory acquisition and retention was found in the counter-balanced acquisition and probe trials of the counter-balanced acquisition and reversal tasks. Strikingly, a less pronounced deficit was observed in the DMP. No effects were revealed in the reversal learning task. CONCLUSIONS Based on our results, we do not recommend biperiden as a reliable tool for modeling cognitive impairment.
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Yohn SE, Conn PJ. Positive allosteric modulation of M 1 and M 4 muscarinic receptors as potential therapeutic treatments for schizophrenia. Neuropharmacology 2018; 136:438-448. [PMID: 28893562 PMCID: PMC5844786 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Current antipsychotic drugs provide symptomatic relief for positive symptoms of schizophrenia, but do not offer symptom management for negative and cognitive symptoms. In addition, many patients discontinue treatment due to adverse side effects. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop more effective and safe treatment options. Although the etiology of schizophrenia is unclear, considerable data from post-mortem, neuroimaging and neuropharmacology studies support a role of the muscarinic acetylcholine (mAChRs) in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Substantial evidence suggests that activation of mAChRs has the potential to treat all symptom domains of schizophrenia. Despite encouraging results in demonstrating efficacy, clinical trials of nonselective mAChR agonists were limited in their clinical utility due to dose-limiting peripheral side effects. Accordingly, efforts have been made to specifically target centrally located M1 and M4 mAChR subtypes devoid of adverse-effect liability. To circumvent this limitation, there have been tremendous advances in the discovery of ligands that bind at allosteric sites, binding sites distinct from the orthosteric site, which are structurally less conserved and thereby afford high levels of receptor subtype selectivity. The discovery of subtype-specific allosteric modulators has greatly advanced our understanding of the physiological role of various muscarinic receptor subtypes in schizophrenia and the potential utility of M1 and M4 mAChR subtypes as targets for the development of novel treatments for schizophrenia and related disorders. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Neuropharmacology on Muscarinic Receptors'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha E Yohn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, United States; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, United States
| | - P Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, United States; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, United States.
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Gogliotti RG, Fisher NM, Stansley BJ, Jones CK, Lindsley CW, Conn PJ, Niswender CM. Total RNA Sequencing of Rett Syndrome Autopsy Samples Identifies the M 4 Muscarinic Receptor as a Novel Therapeutic Target. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2018; 365:291-300. [PMID: 29523700 PMCID: PMC5878667 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.117.246991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the MeCP2 gene are responsible for the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome (RTT). MeCP2 is a DNA-binding protein whose abundance and ability to complex with histone deacetylase 3 is linked to the regulation of chromatin structure. Consequently, loss-of-function mutations in MeCP2 are predicted to have broad effects on gene expression. However, to date, studies in mouse models of RTT have identified a limited number of gene or pathway-level disruptions, and even fewer genes have been identified that could be considered amenable to classic drug discovery approaches. Here, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on nine motor cortex and six cerebellar autopsy samples from RTT patients and controls. This approach identified 1887 significantly affected genes in the motor cortex and 2110 genes in the cerebellum, with a global trend toward increased expression. Pathway-level analysis identified enrichment in genes associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, long-term potentiation, and axon guidance. A survey of our RNA-seq results also identified a significant decrease in expression of the CHRM4 gene, which encodes a receptor [muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 4 (M4)] that is the subject of multiple large drug discovery efforts for schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. We confirmed that CHRM4 expression was decreased in RTT patients, and, excitingly, we demonstrated that M4 potentiation normalizes social and cognitive phenotypes in Mecp2+/- mice. This work provides an experimental paradigm in which translationally relevant targets can be identified using transcriptomics in RTT autopsy samples, back-modeled in Mecp2+/- mice, and assessed for preclinical efficacy using existing pharmacological tool compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocco G Gogliotti
- Departments of Pharmacology (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.) and Chemistry (C.W.L.), and Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.J.C., C.M.N.)
| | - Nicole M Fisher
- Departments of Pharmacology (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.) and Chemistry (C.W.L.), and Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.J.C., C.M.N.)
| | - Branden J Stansley
- Departments of Pharmacology (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.) and Chemistry (C.W.L.), and Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.J.C., C.M.N.)
| | - Carrie K Jones
- Departments of Pharmacology (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.) and Chemistry (C.W.L.), and Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.J.C., C.M.N.)
| | - Craig W Lindsley
- Departments of Pharmacology (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.) and Chemistry (C.W.L.), and Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.J.C., C.M.N.)
| | - P Jeffrey Conn
- Departments of Pharmacology (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.) and Chemistry (C.W.L.), and Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.J.C., C.M.N.)
| | - Colleen M Niswender
- Departments of Pharmacology (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.) and Chemistry (C.W.L.), and Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (R.G.G., N.M.F., B.J.S., C.K.J., C.W.L., P.J.C., C.M.N.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.J.C., C.M.N.)
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Ruan Q, Yu Z, Zhang W, Ruan J, Liu C, Zhang R. Cholinergic Hypofunction in Presbycusis-Related Tinnitus With Cognitive Function Impairment: Emerging Hypotheses. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:98. [PMID: 29681847 PMCID: PMC5897739 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) is a potential risk factor for tinnitus and cognitive deterioration, which result in poor life quality. Presbycusis-related tinnitus with cognitive impairment is a common phenotype in the elderly population. In these individuals, the central auditory system shows similar pathophysiological alterations as those observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD), including cholinergic hypofunction, epileptiform-like network synchronization, chronic inflammation, and reduced GABAergic inhibition and neural plasticity. Observations from experimental rodent models indicate that recovery of cholinergic function can improve memory and other cognitive functions via acetylcholine-mediated GABAergic inhibition enhancement, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-mediated anti-inflammation, glial activation inhibition and neurovascular protection. The loss of cholinergic innervation of various brain structures may provide a common link between tinnitus seen in presbycusis-related tinnitus and age-related cognitive impairment. We hypothesize a key component of the condition is the withdrawal of cholinergic input to a subtype of GABAergic inhibitory interneuron, neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurogliaform cells. Cholinergic denervation might not only cause the degeneration of NPY neurogliaform cells, but may also result in decreased AChR activation in GABAergic inhibitory interneurons. This, in turn, would lead to reduced GABA release and inhibitory regulation of neural networks. Reduced nAChR-mediated anti-inflammation due to the loss of nicotinic innervation might lead to the transformation of glial cells and release of inflammatory mediators, lowering the buffering of extracellular potassium and glutamate metabolism. Further research will provide evidence for the recovery of cholinergic function with the use of cholinergic input enhancement alone or in combination with other rehabilitative interventions to reestablish inhibitory regulation mechanisms of involved neural networks for presbycusis-related tinnitus with cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingwei Ruan
- Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital, and Research Center of Aging and Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuowei Yu
- Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital, and Research Center of Aging and Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weibin Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital, and Research Center of Aging and Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Ruan
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunhui Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Huadong Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruxin Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Huadong Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Del Bello F, Bonifazi A, Giorgioni G, Cifani C, Micioni Di Bonaventura MV, Petrelli R, Piergentili A, Fontana S, Mammoli V, Yano H, Matucci R, Vistoli G, Quaglia W. 1-[3-(4-Butylpiperidin-1-yl)propyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-2-one (77-LH-28-1) as a Model for the Rational Design of a Novel Class of Brain Penetrant Ligands with High Affinity and Selectivity for Dopamine D4 Receptor. J Med Chem 2018; 61:3712-3725. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Del Bello
- Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bonifazi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse−Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Gianfabio Giorgioni
- Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Carlo Cifani
- Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Petrelli
- Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Alessandro Piergentili
- Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Stefano Fontana
- Center for Drug Discovery and Development-DMPK, Aptuit, an Evotec Company, Via A. Fleming, 4, 37135 Verona, Italy
| | - Valerio Mammoli
- Center for Drug Discovery and Development-DMPK, Aptuit, an Evotec Company, Via A. Fleming, 4, 37135 Verona, Italy
| | - Hideaki Yano
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse−Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Rosanna Matucci
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), Sezione di Farmacologia e Tossicologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Firenze, Italy
| | - Giulio Vistoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Wilma Quaglia
- Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino, Italy
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36
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article reviews recent advances in drug discovery and development for geriatric psychiatry. Drug discovery for disorders of the central nervous system is a long and challenging process, with a high attrition rate from the preclinical stages through to marketing a compound. Developing drugs for geriatric neuropsychiatric conditions presents additional challenges, due to the complexity of the symptoms, comorbid diagnoses, and the variability of the population. Despite there being limited success over the past two decades, a number of new approaches have identified potential targets for preclinical development and ultimately clinical testing. RECENT FINDINGS Recent approaches have tried to address specific mechanisms that relate to the disease progression. These approaches include combining a number of ligands into to multi-target compounds, or targeting specific types of cells such as protein kinases or myeloid cells. In addition, the increased use of induced pluripotent stem cell cultures has enabled new compounds to be tested on disease-specific tissues, increasing the success rate of the lead compounds going through the preclinical stages. New pharmacological agents designed with advanced screening techniques and the shift towards systems pharmacology is changing the landscape of drug discovery in geriatric psychiatry. There is potential for these new agents to produce targeted effects in the framework of disorders that have long been untreatable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C Conley
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Ave., Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Paul A Newhouse
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Ave., Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Health System, Nashville, TN, USA.
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37
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Thomsen M, Sørensen G, Dencker D. Physiological roles of CNS muscarinic receptors gained from knockout mice. Neuropharmacology 2017; 136:411-420. [PMID: 28911965 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Because the five muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes have overlapping distributions in many CNS tissues, and because ligands with a high degree of selectivity for a given subtype long remained elusive, it has been difficult to determine the physiological functions of each receptor. Genetically engineered knockout mice, in which one or more muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype has been inactivated, have been instrumental in identifying muscarinic receptor functions in the CNS, at the neuronal, circuit, and behavioral level. These studies revealed important functions of muscarinic receptors modulating neuronal activity and neurotransmitter release in many brain regions, shaping neuronal plasticity, and affecting functions ranging from motor and sensory function to cognitive processes. As gene targeting technology evolves including the use of conditional, cell type specific strains, knockout mice are likely to continue to provide valuable insights into brain physiology and pathophysiology, and advance the development of new medications for a range of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and addictions, as well as non-opioid analgesics. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Neuropharmacology on Muscarinic Receptors'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Thomsen
- Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry, Psychiatric Center Copenhagen and University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.
| | - Gunnar Sørensen
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Ditte Dencker
- Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry, Psychiatric Center Copenhagen and University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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38
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Davoren JE, Garnsey M, Pettersen B, Brodney MA, Edgerton JR, Fortin JP, Grimwood S, Harris AR, Jenkinson S, Kenakin T, Lazzaro JT, Lee CW, Lotarski SM, Nottebaum L, O’Neil SV, Popiolek M, Ramsey S, Steyn SJ, Thorn CA, Zhang L, Webb D. Design and Synthesis of γ- and δ-Lactam M1 Positive Allosteric Modulators (PAMs): Convulsion and Cholinergic Toxicity of an M1-Selective PAM with Weak Agonist Activity. J Med Chem 2017; 60:6649-6663. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Stephen Jenkinson
- Drug Safety
Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Terry Kenakin
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel
Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | | | | | | | - Lisa Nottebaum
- Drug Safety
Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, La Jolla, California 92121, United States
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39
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Thorn CA, Popiolek M, Stark E, Edgerton JR. Effects of M1 and M4 activation on excitatory synaptic transmission in CA1. Hippocampus 2017; 27:794-810. [PMID: 28422371 PMCID: PMC5573954 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Hippocampal networks are particularly susceptible to dysfunction in many neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, and schizophrenia. CA1, a major output region of the hippocampus, receives glutamatergic input from both hippocampal CA3 and entorhinal cortex, via the Schaffer collateral (SC) and temporoammonic (TA) pathways, respectively. SC and TA inputs to CA1 are thought to be differentially involved in the retrieval of previously stored memories versus the encoding of novel information, and switching between these two crucial hippocampal functions is thought to critically depend on acetylcholine (ACh) acting at muscarinic receptors. In this study, we aimed to determine the roles of specific subtypes of muscarinic receptors in mediating the neuromodulatory effects of ACh on glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the SC and TA pathways of CA1. Using selective pharmacological activation of M1 or M4 receptors along with extracellular and intracellular electrophysiology recordings from adult rat hippocampal slices, we demonstrate that activation of M1 receptors increases spontaneous spike rates of neuronal ensembles in CA1 and increases the intrinsic excitability of pyramidal neurons and interneurons. Selective activation of M4 receptors inhibits glutamate release in the SC pathway, while leaving synaptic transmission in the TA pathway comparatively intact. These results suggest specific mechanisms by which M1 and M4 activation may normalize CA1 circuit activity following disruptions of signaling that accompany neurodegenerative dementias or neuropsychiatric disorders. These findings are of particular interest in light of clinical findings that xanomeline, an M1/M4 preferring agonist, was able to improve cognitive and behavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Popiolek
- Pfizer Internal Medicine Research UnitCambridgeMassachusetts02139
| | - Eda Stark
- Pfizer Internal Medicine Research UnitCambridgeMassachusetts02139
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40
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Abstract
Schizophrenia is a devastating illness that affects up to 1% of the population; it is characterized by a combination of positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Currently, treatment consists of one class of medications known as antipsychotics, which include typical (first-generation) and atypical (second-generation) agents. Unfortunately, antipsychotic medications have limited efficacy, with up to a third of patients lacking a full response. Clozapine, the first atypical antipsychotic developed, is the only medication shown to be superior to all other antipsychotics. However, owing to several life-threatening side effects and required enrollment in a registry with routine blood monitoring, clozapine is greatly underutilized in the US. Developing a medication as efficacious as clozapine with limited side effects would likely become the first-line therapy for schizophrenia and related disorders. In this review, we discuss the history of clozapine, landmark studies, and its clinical advantages and disadvantages. We further discuss the hypotheses for clozapine's superior efficacy based on neuroreceptor binding, and the limitations of a receptor-based approach to antipsychotic development. We highlight some of the advances from pharmacogenetic studies on clozapine and then focus on studies of clozapine using unbiased approaches such as pharmacogenomics and gene expression profiling. Finally, we examine how these approaches could provide insights into clozapine's mechanism of action and side-effect profile, and lead to novel and improved therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick C Nucifora
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | | | - Brian J Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Akira Sawa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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41
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Svoboda J, Popelikova A, Stuchlik A. Drugs Interfering with Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors and Their Effects on Place Navigation. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:215. [PMID: 29170645 PMCID: PMC5684124 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) have been found to regulate many diverse functions, ranging from motivation and feeding to spatial navigation, an important and widely studied type of cognitive behavior. Systemic administration of non-selective antagonists of mAChRs, such as scopolamine or atropine, have been found to have adverse effects on a vast majority of place navigation tasks. However, many of these results may be potentially confounded by disruptions of functions other than spatial learning and memory. Although studies with selective antimuscarinics point to mutually opposite effects of M1 and M2 receptors, their particular contribution to spatial cognition is still poorly understood, partly due to a lack of truly selective agents. Furthermore, constitutive knock-outs do not always support results from selective antagonists. For modeling impaired spatial cognition, the scopolamine-induced amnesia model still maintains some limited validity, but there is an apparent need for more targeted approaches such as local intracerebral administration of antagonists, as well as novel techniques such as optogenetics focused on cholinergic neurons and chemogenetics aimed at cells expressing metabotropic mAChRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Svoboda
- Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Anna Popelikova
- Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ales Stuchlik
- Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
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42
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Popiolek M, Nguyen DP, Reinhart V, Edgerton JR, Harms J, Lotarski SM, Steyn SJ, Davoren JE, Grimwood S. Inositol Phosphate Accumulation in Vivo Provides a Measure of Muscarinic M 1 Receptor Activation. Biochemistry 2016; 55:7073-7085. [PMID: 27958713 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The rationale for using M1 selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor activators for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with psychiatric and neurodegenerative disease is well-established in the literature. Here, we investigate measurement of inositol phosphate accumulation, an end point immediately downstream of the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor signaling cascade, as an in vivo biochemical readout for M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor activation. Five brain penetrant M1-subtype selective activators from three structurally distinct chemical series were pharmacologically profiled for functional activity in vitro using recombinant cell calcium mobilization and inositol phosphate assays, and a native tissue hippocampal slice electrophysiology assay, to show that all five compounds presented a positive allosteric modulator agonist profile, within a narrow range of potencies. In vivo characterization using an amphetamine-stimulated locomotor activity behavioral assay and the inositol phosphate accumulation biochemical assay demonstrated that the latter has utility for assessing functional potency of M1 activators. Efficacy measured by inositol phosphate accumulation in mouse striatum compared favorably to efficacy in reversing amphetamine-induced locomotor activity, suggesting that the inositol phosphate accumulation assay has utility for the evaluation of M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor activators in vivo. The benefits of this in vivo biochemical approach include a wide response window, interrogation of specific brain circuit activation, an ability to model responses in the context of brain exposure, an ability to rank order compounds based on in vivo efficacy, and minimization of animal use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Popiolek
- Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, ‡Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, and §Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - David P Nguyen
- Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, ‡Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, and §Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Veronica Reinhart
- Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, ‡Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, and §Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jeremy R Edgerton
- Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, ‡Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, and §Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - John Harms
- Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, ‡Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, and §Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Susan M Lotarski
- Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, ‡Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, and §Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Stefanus J Steyn
- Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, ‡Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, and §Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jennifer E Davoren
- Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, ‡Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, and §Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Sarah Grimwood
- Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, ‡Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, and §Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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43
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Foster DJ, Wilson JM, Remke DH, Mahmood MS, Uddin MJ, Wess J, Patel S, Marnett LJ, Niswender CM, Jones CK, Xiang Z, Lindsley CW, Rook JM, Conn PJ. Antipsychotic-like Effects of M4 Positive Allosteric Modulators Are Mediated by CB2 Receptor-Dependent Inhibition of Dopamine Release. Neuron 2016; 91:1244-1252. [PMID: 27618677 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Muscarinic receptors represent a promising therapeutic target for schizophrenia, but the mechanisms underlying the antipsychotic efficacy of muscarinic modulators are not well understood. Here, we report that activation of M4 receptors on striatal spiny projection neurons results in a novel form of dopaminergic regulation resulting in a sustained depression of striatal dopamine release that is observed more than 30 min after removal of the muscarinic receptor agonist. Furthermore, both the M4-mediated sustained inhibition of dopamine release and the antipsychotic-like efficacy of M4 activators were found to require intact signaling through CB2 cannabinoid receptors. These findings highlight a novel mechanism by which striatal cholinergic and cannabinoid signaling leads to sustained reductions in dopaminergic transmission and concurrent behavioral effects predictive of antipsychotic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Foster
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jermaine M Wilson
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Daniel H Remke
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - M Suhaib Mahmood
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - M Jashim Uddin
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jürgen Wess
- Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Lawrence J Marnett
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Colleen M Niswender
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Carrie K Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Zixiu Xiang
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Craig W Lindsley
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jerri M Rook
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - P Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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44
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Davoren JE, Lee CW, Garnsey M, Brodney MA, Cordes J, Dlugolenski K, Edgerton JR, Harris AR, Helal CJ, Jenkinson S, Kauffman GW, Kenakin TP, Lazzaro JT, Lotarski SM, Mao Y, Nason DM, Northcott C, Nottebaum L, O’Neil SV, Pettersen B, Popiolek M, Reinhart V, Salomon-Ferrer R, Steyn SJ, Webb D, Zhang L, Grimwood S. Discovery of the Potent and Selective M1 PAM-Agonist N-[(3R,4S)-3-Hydroxytetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl]-5-methyl-4-[4-(1,3-thiazol-4-yl)benzyl]pyridine-2-carboxamide (PF-06767832): Evaluation of Efficacy and Cholinergic Side Effects. J Med Chem 2016; 59:6313-28. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Stephen Jenkinson
- Drug
Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | | | - Terrence P. Kenakin
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lisa Nottebaum
- Drug
Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, La Jolla, California 92121, United States
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45
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Blass B. Pyrrolopyridine or Pyrazolopyridine Derivatives. ACS Med Chem Lett 2015; 6:726-8. [PMID: 26191354 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5b00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Blass
- Temple University School of Pharmacy, 3307 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
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46
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Lustig C, Sarter M. Attention and the Cholinergic System: Relevance to Schizophrenia. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2015; 28:327-62. [PMID: 27418070 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2015_5009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Traditional methods of drug discovery often rely on a unidirectional, "bottom-up" approach: A search for molecular compounds that target a particular neurobiological substrate (e.g., a receptor type), the refinement of those compounds, testing in animal models using high-throughput behavioral screening methods, and then human testing for safety and effectiveness. Many attempts have found the "effectiveness" criterion to be a major stumbling block, and we and others have suggested that success may be improved by an alternative approach that considers the neural circuits mediating the effects of genetic and molecular manipulations on behavior and cognition. We describe our efforts to understand the cholinergic system's role in attention using parallel approaches to test main hypotheses in both rodents and humans as well as generating converging evidence using methods and levels of analysis tailored to each species. The close back-and-forth between these methods has enhanced our understanding of the cholinergic system's role in attention both "bottom-up" and "top-down"-that is, the basic neuroscience identifies potential neuronal circuit-based mechanisms of clinical symptoms, and the patient and genetic populations serve as natural experiments to test and refine hypotheses about its contribution to specific processes. Together, these studies have identified (at least) two major and potentially independent contributions of the cholinergic system to attention: a neuromodulatory component that influences cognitive control in response to challenges from distractors that either make detection more difficult or draw attention away from the distractor, and a phasic or transient cholinergic signal that instigates a shift from ongoing behavior and the activation of cue-associated response. Right prefrontal cortex appears to play a particularly important role in the neuromodulatory component integrating motivational and cognitive influences for top-down control across populations, whereas the transient cholinergic signal involves orbitofrontal regions associated with shifts between internal and external attention. Understanding how these two modes of cholinergic function interact and are perturbed in schizophrenia will be an important prerequisite for developing effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Lustig
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103, USA.
| | - Martin Sarter
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103, USA
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47
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Rich ME, Caldwell HK. A Role for Oxytocin in the Etiology and Treatment of Schizophrenia. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:90. [PMID: 26089815 PMCID: PMC4453483 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder estimated to affect 51 million people worldwide. Several symptom domains characterize schizophrenia, including negative symptoms, such as social withdrawal and anhedonia, cognitive impairments, such as disorganized thinking and impaired memory, and positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. While schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with no single "cause," there is evidence that the oxytocin (Oxt) system may be dysregulated in some individuals. Further, treatment with intranasal Oxt reduces some of the heterogeneous symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Since Oxt is known for its modulatory effects on a variety of social and non-social behaviors, it is perhaps not surprising that it may contribute to some aspects of schizophrenia and could also be a useful therapeutic agent. In this review, we highlight what is known about Oxt's contributions to schizophrenia and schizophrenia-related behaviors and discuss its potential as a therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Elizabeth Rich
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, The School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Heather Kingsley Caldwell
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, The School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- *Correspondence: Heather Kingsley Caldwell, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, The School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, PO Box 5190, 121 Cunningham Hall, Kent, OH 44242, USA,
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48
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Abdul-Ridha A, Lane JR, Mistry SN, López L, Sexton PM, Scammells PJ, Christopoulos A, Canals M. Mechanistic insights into allosteric structure-function relationships at the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:33701-11. [PMID: 25326383 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.604967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Benzylquinolone carboxylic acid (BQCA) is the first highly selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) for the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), but it possesses low affinity for the allosteric site on the receptor. More recent drug discovery efforts identified 3-((1S,2S)-2-hydroxycyclohexyl)-6-((6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyridin-3-yl)methyl)benzo[h]quinazolin-4(3H)-one (referred to herein as benzoquinazolinone 12) as a more potent M1 mAChR PAM with a structural ancestry originating from BQCA and related compounds. In the current study, we optimized the synthesis of and fully characterized the pharmacology of benzoquinazolinone 12, finding that its improved potency derived from a 50-fold increase in allosteric site affinity as compared with BQCA, while retaining a similar level of positive cooperativity with acetylcholine. We then utilized site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling to validate the allosteric binding pocket we previously described for BQCA as a shared site for benzoquinazolinone 12 and provide a molecular basis for its improved activity at the M1 mAChR. This includes a key role for hydrophobic and polar interactions with residues Tyr-179, in the second extracellular loop (ECL2) and Trp-400(7.35) in transmembrane domain (TM) 7. Collectively, this study highlights how the properties of affinity and cooperativity can be differentially modified on a common structural scaffold and identifies molecular features that can be exploited to tailor the development of M1 mAChR-targeting PAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shailesh N Mistry
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Laura López
- From the Departments of Drug Discovery Biology and
| | | | - Peter J Scammells
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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