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Knowles LG, Armanious AJ, Peng Y, Welsh WJ, James MH. Recent advances in drug discovery efforts targeting the sigma 1 receptor system: Implications for novel medications designed to reduce excessive drug and food seeking. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 8:100126. [PMID: 37753198 PMCID: PMC10519676 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2023.100126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders characterized by uncontrolled reward seeking, such as substance use disorders (SUDs), alcohol use disorder (AUD) and some eating disorders, impose a significant burden on individuals and society. Despite their high prevalence and substantial morbidity and mortality rates, treatment options for these disorders remain limited. Over the past two decades, there has been a gradual accumulation of evidence pointing to the sigma-1 receptor (S1R) system as a promising target for therapeutic interventions designed to treat these disorders. S1R is a chaperone protein that resides in the endoplasmic reticulum, but under certain conditions translocates to the plasma membrane. In the brain, S1Rs are expressed in several regions important for reward, and following translocation, they physically associate with several reward-related GPCRs, including dopamine receptors 1 and 2 (D1R and D2R). Psychostimulants, alcohol, as well as palatable foods, all alter expression of S1R in regions important for motivated behavior, and S1R antagonists generally decrease behavioral responses to these rewards. Recent advances in structural modeling have permitted the development of highly-selective S1R antagonists with favorable pharmacokinetic profiles, thus providing a therapeutic avenue for S1R-based medications. Here, we provide an up-to-date overview of work linking S1R with motivated behavior for drugs of abuse and food, as well as evidence supporting the clinical utility of S1R antagonists to reduce their excessive consumption. We also highlight potential challenges associated with targeting the S1R system, including the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying neurobiology and careful consideration of the pharmacological properties of S1R-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam G. Knowles
- Harpur School of Arts and Sciences, Binghamton University, Vestal, NY, USA
| | - Abanoub J. Armanious
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Youyi Peng
- Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - William J. Welsh
- Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Morgan H. James
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
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2
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Pergolizzi J, Varrassi G, Coleman M, Breve F, Christo DK, Christo PJ, Moussa C. The Sigma Enigma: A Narrative Review of Sigma Receptors. Cureus 2023; 15:e35756. [PMID: 37020478 PMCID: PMC10069457 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.35756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptors were first discovered in the 1960s and were thought to be a form of opioid receptors initially. Over time, more was gradually learned about these receptors, which are actually protein chaperones, and many of their unique or unusual properties can contribute to a range of important new therapeutic applications. These sigma receptors translocate in the body and regulate calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial bioenergetics and they also have neuroprotective effects. The ligands to which these sigma receptors respond are several and dissimilar, including neurosteroids, neuroleptics, and cocaine. There is controversy as to their endogenous ligands. Sigma receptors are also involved in the complex processes of cholesterol homeostasis and protein folding. While previous work on this topic has been limited, research has been conducted in multiple disease states, such as addiction, aging. Alzheimer's disease, cancer, psychiatric disorders, pain and neuropathic pain, Parkinson's disease, and others. There is currently increasing interest in sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptors as they provide potential therapeutic targets for many disease indications.
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Quadir SG, Tanino SM, Rohl CD, Sahn JJ, Yao EJ, Cruz LDR, Cottone P, Martin SF, Sabino V. The Sigma-2 receptor / transmembrane protein 97 (σ2R/TMEM97) modulator JVW-1034 reduces heavy alcohol drinking and associated pain states in male mice. Neuropharmacology 2020; 184:108409. [PMID: 33221481 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive alcohol intake, loss of control over alcohol intake, and a negative emotional state when access to alcohol is prevented. AUD is also closely tied to pain, as repeated alcohol drinking leads to increased pain sensitivity during withdrawal. The sigma-2 receptor, recently identified as transmembrane protein 97 (σ2R/TMEM97), is an integral membrane protein involved in cholesterol homeostasis and lipid metabolism. Selective σ2R/Tmem97 modulators have been recently shown to relieve mechanical hypersensitivity in animal models of neuropathic pain as well as to attenuate alcohol withdrawal signs in C. elegans and to reduce alcohol drinking in rats, suggesting a potential key role for this protein in alcohol-related behaviors. In this study, we tested the effects of a potent and selective σ2R/TMEM97 ligand, JVW-1034, on heavy alcohol drinking and alcohol-induced heightened pain states in mice using an intermittent access model. Administration of JVW-1034 decreased both ethanol intake and preference for ethanol, without affecting water intake, total fluid intake, or food intake. Notably, this effect was specific for alcohol, as JVW-1034 had no effect on sucrose intake. Furthermore, JVW-1034 reduced both thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical hypersensitivity in ethanol withdrawn mice. Our data provide important evidence that modulation of σ2R/TMEM97 with small molecules can mediate heavy alcohol drinking as well as chronic alcohol-induced heightened pain sensitivity, thereby identifying a promising novel pharmacological target for AUD and associated pain states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sema G Quadir
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sean M Tanino
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christian D Rohl
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James J Sahn
- Department of Chemistry and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Emily J Yao
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luíza Dos Reis Cruz
- Department of Chemistry and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Pietro Cottone
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen F Martin
- Department of Chemistry and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Valentina Sabino
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St, Boston, MA, USA.
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Tapia MA, Lever JR, Lever SZ, Will MJ, Park ES, Miller DK. Sigma-1 receptor ligand PD144418 and sigma-2 receptor ligand YUN-252 attenuate the stimulant effects of methamphetamine in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:3147-3158. [PMID: 31139878 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05268-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Previous research indicates that the selective sigma-1 receptor ligand PD144418 and the selective sigma-2 ligands YUN-252 can inhibit cocaine-induced hyperactivity. The effects of these ligands on other stimulants, such as methamphetamine, have not been reported. OBJECTIVES The present study examined the effects of PD144418 and YUN-252 pretreatment on methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity after acute treatment. METHODS Mice (n = 8-14/group) were injected with PD144418 (3.16, 10, or 31.6 μmol/kg), YUN-252 (0.316, 3.16, 31.6 μmol/kg), or saline. After 15 min, mice injected with 2.69 μmol/kg methamphetamine or saline vehicle, where distance traveled during a 60-min period was recorded. Additionally, the effect of PD144418 on the initiation and expression of methamphetamine sensitization was determined by treating mice (n = 8-14/group) with PD144418, methamphetamine or saline repeatedly over a 5-day period, and testing said mice with a challenge dose after a 7-day withdrawal period. RESULTS Results indicate that both PD144418 and YUN-252, in a dose-dependent manner, attenuated hyperactivity induced by an acute methamphetamine injection. Specifically, 10 μmol/kg or 31.6 μmol/kg of PD144418 and 31 μmol/kg of YUN-252 suppressed methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity. In regard to methamphetamine sensitization, while 10 μmol/kg PD144418 prevented the initiation of methamphetamine sensitization, it did not have an effect on the expression. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the current results suggest an intriguing potential for this novel sigma receptor ligand as a treatment for the addictive properties of methamphetamine. Future analysis of this novel sigma receptor ligand in assays directly measuring reinforcement properties will be critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Tapia
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| | - John R Lever
- Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, and Department of Radiology and Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Susan Z Lever
- Department of Chemistry and MU Research Reactor Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Matthew J Will
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Eric S Park
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Dennis K Miller
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
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Small molecule modulators of σ2R/Tmem97 reduce alcohol withdrawal-induced behaviors. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1867-1875. [PMID: 29728649 PMCID: PMC6046036 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0067-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Repeated cycles of intoxication and withdrawal enhance the negative reinforcing properties of alcohol and lead to neuroadaptations that underlie withdrawal symptoms driving alcohol dependence. Pharmacotherapies that target these neuroadaptations may help break the cycle of dependence. The sigma-1 receptor (σ1R) subtype has attracted interest as a possible modulator of the rewarding and reinforcing effects of alcohol. However, whether the sigma-2 receptor, recently cloned and identified as transmembrane protein 97 (σ2R/TMEM97), plays a role in alcohol-related behaviors is currently unknown. Using a Caenorhabditis elegans model, we identified two novel, selective σ2R/Tmem97 modulators that reduce alcohol withdrawal behavior via an ortholog of σ2R/TMEM97. We then show that one of these compounds blunted withdrawal-induced excessive alcohol drinking in a well-established rodent model of alcohol dependence. These discoveries provide the first evidence that σ2R/TMEM97 is involved in alcohol withdrawal behaviors and that this receptor is a potential new target for treating alcohol use disorder.
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Klawonn AM, Wilhelms DB, Lindström SH, Singh AK, Jaarola M, Wess J, Fritz M, Engblom D. Muscarinic M4 Receptors on Cholinergic and Dopamine D1 Receptor-Expressing Neurons Have Opposing Functionality for Positive Reinforcement and Influence Impulsivity. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:139. [PMID: 29740282 PMCID: PMC5928231 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurotransmitter acetylcholine has been implicated in reward learning and drug addiction. However, the roles of the various cholinergic receptor subtypes on different neuron populations remain elusive. Here we study the function of muscarinic M4 receptors (M4Rs) in dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) expressing neurons and cholinergic neurons (expressing choline acetyltransferase; ChAT), during various reward-enforced behaviors and in a “waiting”-impulsivity test. We applied cell-type-specific gene deletions targeting M4Rs in D1RCre or ChATCre mice. Mice lacking M4Rs in D1R-neurons displayed greater cocaine seeking and drug-primed reinstatement than their littermate controls in a Pavlovian conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Furthermore, the M4R-D1RCre mice initiated significantly more premature responses (PRs) in the 5-choice-serial-reaction-time-task (5CSRTT) than their littermate controls, indicating impaired waiting impulse control. In contrast, mice lacking M4Rs in cholinergic neurons did not acquire cocaine Pavlovian conditioning. The M4R-ChATCre mice were also unable to learn positive reinforcement to either natural reward or cocaine in an operant runway paradigm. Immediate early gene (IEG) expression (cFos and FosB) induced by repeated cocaine injections was significantly increased in the forebrain of M4R-D1RCre mice, whereas it remained normal in the M4R-ChATCre mice. Our study illustrates that muscarinic M4Rs on specific neural populations, either cholinergic or D1R-expressing, are pivotal for learning processes related to both natural reward and drugs of abuse, with opposing functionality. Furthermore, we found that neurons expressing both M4Rs and D1Rs are important for signaling impulse control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Klawonn
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Daniel B Wilhelms
- Department of Medical and Health Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sarah H Lindström
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anand Kumar Singh
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Maarit Jaarola
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jürgen Wess
- Molecular Signaling Section, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Michael Fritz
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - David Engblom
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Aguinaga D, Medrano M, Vega-Quiroga I, Gysling K, Canela EI, Navarro G, Franco R. Cocaine Effects on Dopaminergic Transmission Depend on a Balance between Sigma-1 and Sigma-2 Receptor Expression. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:17. [PMID: 29483862 PMCID: PMC5816031 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sigma σ1 and σ2 receptors are targets of cocaine. Despite sharing a similar name, the two receptors are structurally unrelated and their physiological role is unknown. Cocaine increases the level of dopamine, a key neurotransmitter in CNS motor control and reward areas. While the drug also affects dopaminergic signaling by allosteric modulations exerted by σ1R interacting with dopamine D1 and D2 receptors, the potential regulation of dopaminergic transmission by σ2R is also unknown. We here demonstrate that σ2R may form heteroreceptor complexes with D1 but not with D2 receptors. Remarkably σ1, σ2, and D1 receptors may form heterotrimers with particular signaling properties. Determination of cAMP levels, MAP kinase activation and label-free assays demonstrate allosteric interactions within the trimer. Importantly, the presence of σ2R induces bias in signal transduction as σ2R ligands increase cAMP signaling whereas reduce MAP kinase activation. These effects, which are opposite to those exerted via σ1R, suggest that the D1 receptor-mediated signaling depends on the degree of trimer formation and the differential balance of sigma receptor and heteroreceptor expression in acute versus chronic cocaine consumption. Although the physiological role is unknown, the heteroreceptor complex formed by σ1, σ2, and D1 receptors arise as relevant to convey the cocaine actions on motor control and reward circuits and as a key factor in acquisition of the addictive habit.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Aguinaga
- Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, School of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Medrano
- Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, School of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Vega-Quiroga
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Katia Gysling
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Enric I Canela
- Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, School of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Navarro
- Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Franco
- Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, School of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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