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Alwood JS, Mulavara AP, Iyer J, Mhatre SD, Rosi S, Shelhamer M, Davis C, Jones CW, Mao XW, Desai RI, Whitmire AM, Williams TJ. Circuits and Biomarkers of the Central Nervous System Relating to Astronaut Performance: Summary Report for a NASA-Sponsored Technical Interchange Meeting. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1852. [PMID: 37763256 PMCID: PMC10532466 DOI: 10.3390/life13091852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers, ranging from molecules to behavior, can be used to identify thresholds beyond which performance of mission tasks may be compromised and could potentially trigger the activation of countermeasures. Identification of homologous brain regions and/or neural circuits related to operational performance may allow for translational studies between species. Three discussion groups were directed to use operationally relevant performance tasks as a driver when identifying biomarkers and brain regions or circuits for selected constructs. Here we summarize small-group discussions in tables of circuits and biomarkers categorized by (a) sensorimotor, (b) behavioral medicine and (c) integrated approaches (e.g., physiological responses). In total, hundreds of biomarkers have been identified and are summarized herein by the respective group leads. We hope the meeting proceedings become a rich resource for NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) and the community of researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Janani Iyer
- Universities Space Research Association (USRA), Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | | | - Susanna Rosi
- Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Mark Shelhamer
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Catherine Davis
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Christopher W. Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Xiao Wen Mao
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences (BMES), Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Rajeev I. Desai
- Integrative Neurochemistry Laboratory, Behavioral Biology Program, McLean Hospital-Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
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2
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Xu YM, Wijeratne EMK, Calderon-Rivera A, Loya-López S, Perez-Miller S, Khanna R, Gunatilaka AAL. Argentatin C Analogues with Potential Antinociceptive Activity and Other Triterpenoid Constituents from the Aerial Parts of Parthenium incanum. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:20085-20095. [PMID: 37305315 PMCID: PMC10249386 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Four new triterpenes, 25-dehydroxy-25-methoxyargentatin C (1), 20S-hydroxyargentatin C (2), 20S-hydroxyisoargentatin C (3), and 24-epi-argentatin C (4), together with 10 known triterpenes (5-14) were isolated from the aerial parts of Parthenium incanum. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated by detailed analysis of their spectroscopic data, and the known compounds 5-14 were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported. Since argentatin C (11) was found to exhibit antinociceptive activity by decreasing the excitability of rat and macaque dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, 11 and its new analogues 1-4 were evaluated for their ability to decrease the excitability of rat DRG neurons. Of the argentatin C analogues tested, 25-dehydroxy-25-methoxyargentatin C (1) and 24-epi-argentatin C (4) decreased neuronal excitability in a manner comparable to 11. Preliminary structure-activity relationships for the action potential-reducing effects of argentatin C (11) and its analogues 1-4, and their predicted binding sites in pain-relevant voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels (VGSCs and VGCCs) in DRG neurons are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-ming Xu
- Southwest
Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources
and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, 1064 E. Lowell St., Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - E. M. Kithsiri Wijeratne
- Southwest
Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources
and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, 1064 E. Lowell St., Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - Aida Calderon-Rivera
- NYU
Pain Research Center and Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College
of Dentistry, New York University, 433 First Avenue, New York, New York 10010, United States
| | - Santiago Loya-López
- NYU
Pain Research Center and Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College
of Dentistry, New York University, 433 First Avenue, New York, New York 10010, United States
| | - Samantha Perez-Miller
- NYU
Pain Research Center and Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College
of Dentistry, New York University, 433 First Avenue, New York, New York 10010, United States
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- NYU
Pain Research Center and Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College
of Dentistry, New York University, 433 First Avenue, New York, New York 10010, United States
- Department
of Neuroscience and Physiology and Neuroscience Institute, School
of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York 10010, United States
| | - A. A. Leslie Gunatilaka
- Southwest
Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources
and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, 1064 E. Lowell St., Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
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3
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Puls K, Wolber G. Solving an Old Puzzle: Elucidation and Evaluation of the Binding Mode of Salvinorin A at the Kappa Opioid Receptor. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28020718. [PMID: 36677775 PMCID: PMC9861206 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The natural product Salvinorin A (SalA) was the first nitrogen-lacking agonist discovered for the opioid receptors and exhibits high selectivity for the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) turning SalA into a promising analgesic to overcome the current opioid crisis. Since SalA's suffers from poor pharmacokinetic properties, particularly the absence of gastrointestinal bioavailability, fast metabolic inactivation, and subsequent short duration of action, the rational design of new tailored analogs with improved clinical usability is highly desired. Despite being known for decades, the binding mode of SalA within the KOR remains elusive as several conflicting binding modes of SalA were proposed hindering the rational design of new analgesics. In this study, we rationally determined the binding mode of SalA to the active state KOR by in silico experiments (docking, molecular dynamics simulations, dynophores) in the context of all available mutagenesis studies and structure-activity relationship (SAR) data. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive evaluation of SalA's binding mode since the determination of the active state KOR crystal structure. SalA binds above the morphinan binding site with its furan pointing toward the intracellular core while the C2-acetoxy group is oriented toward the extracellular loop 2 (ECL2). SalA is solely stabilized within the binding pocket by hydrogen bonds (C210ECL2, Y3127.35, Y3137.36) and hydrophobic contacts (V1182.63, I1393.33, I2946.55, I3167.39). With the disruption of this interaction pattern or the establishment of additional interactions within the binding site, we were able to rationalize the experimental data for selected analogs. We surmise the C2-substituent interactions as important for SalA and its analogs to be experimentally active, albeit with moderate frequency within MD simulations of SalA. We further identified the non-conserved residues 2.63, 7.35, and 7.36 responsible for the KOR subtype selectivity of SalA. We are confident that the elucidation of the SalA binding mode will promote the understanding of KOR activation and facilitate the development of novel analgesics that are urgently needed.
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4
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Mitra S, Thomas SA, Martin JA, Williams J, Woodhouse K, Chandra R, Li JX, Lobo MK, Sim FJ, Dietz DM. EGR3 regulates opioid-related nociception and motivation in male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:3539-3550. [PMID: 36098762 PMCID: PMC10094589 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06226-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain can be a debilitating condition, leading to profound changes in nearly every aspect of life. However, the reliance on opioids such as oxycodone for pain management is thought to initiate dependence and addiction liability. The neurobiological intersection at which opioids relieve pain and possibly transition to addiction is poorly understood. Using RNA sequencing pathway analysis in rats with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced chronic inflammation, we found that the transcriptional signatures in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC; a brain region where pain and reward signals integrate) elicited by CFA in combination with oxycodone differed from those elicited by CFA or oxycodone alone. However, the expression of Egr3 was augmented in all animals receiving oxycodone. Furthermore, virus-mediated overexpression of EGR3 in the mPFC increased mechanical pain relief but not the affective aspect of pain in animals receiving oxycodone, whereas pharmacological inhibition of EGR3 via NFAT attenuated mechanical pain relief. Egr3 overexpression also increased the motivation to obtain oxycodone infusions in a progressive ratio test without altering the acquisition or maintenance of oxycodone self-administration. Taken together, these data suggest that EGR3 in the mPFC is at the intersection of nociceptive and addictive-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarup Mitra
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, John C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, 1700, 3rd Avenue, Huntington, WV, 25755, USA.
| | - Shruthi A Thomas
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Jennifer A Martin
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Jamal Williams
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Kristen Woodhouse
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jun Xu Li
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fraser J Sim
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
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5
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Paton KF, Robichon K, Templeton N, Denny L, Al Abadey A, Luo D, Prisinzano TE, La Flamme AC, Kivell BM. The Salvinorin Analogue, Ethoxymethyl Ether Salvinorin B, Promotes Remyelination in Preclinical Models of Multiple Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2021; 12:782190. [PMID: 34987466 PMCID: PMC8721439 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.782190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease associated with demyelination and neuroinflammation in the central nervous system. There is an urgent need to develop remyelinating therapies to better treat multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases. The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) has been identified as a potential target for the development of remyelinating therapies; however, prototypical KOR agonists, such as U50,488 have side effects, which limit clinical use. In the current study, we investigated a Salvinorin A analog, ethoxymethyl ether Salvinorin B (EOM SalB) in two preclinical models of demyelination in C57BL/6J mice. We showed that in cellular assays EOM SalB was G-protein biased, an effect often correlated with fewer KOR-mediated side effects. In the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model, we found that EOM SalB (0.1-0.3 mg/kg) effectively decreased disease severity in a KOR-dependent manner and led to a greater number of animals in recovery compared to U50,488 treatment. Furthermore, EOM SalB treatment decreased immune cell infiltration and increased myelin levels in the central nervous system. In the cuprizone-induced demyelination model, we showed that EOM SalB (0.3 mg/kg) administration led to an increase in the number of mature oligodendrocytes, the number of myelinated axons and the myelin thickness in the corpus callosum. Overall, EOM SalB was effective in two preclinical models of multiple sclerosis and demyelination, adding further evidence to show KOR agonists are a promising target for remyelinating therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly F. Paton
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Katharina Robichon
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Nikki Templeton
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Lisa Denny
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Afnan Al Abadey
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Thomas E. Prisinzano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Anne C. La Flamme
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Bronwyn M. Kivell
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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6
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Abstract
A concise enantioselective total synthesis of the neoclerodane diterpene (-)-salvinorin A is reported. The stereogenic center at C-12 was installed by catalytic asymmetric propargylation with excellent enantioselectivity, and the remaining six stereogenic centers were set up highly diastereoselectively under substrate control. As for our previous synthesis of racemic salvinorin A, two intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions were applied to generate the tricyclic core. A chemoselective Mitsunobu inversion of a syn 1,2-diol allowed for further streamlining of the original reaction sequence by two steps. Overall, (-)-salvinorin A was synthesized in only 16 steps starting from 3-furaldehyde with 1.4 % total yield. Furthermore, an alternative intramolecular Diels-Alder strategy employing a 2-bromo-1,3-diene moiety was investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Zimdars
- Fakultät Chemie und LebensmittelchemieOrganische Chemie ITechnische Universität DresdenBergstraße 6601069DresdenGermany
| | - Yuzhou Wang
- Fakultät Chemie und LebensmittelchemieOrganische Chemie ITechnische Universität DresdenBergstraße 6601069DresdenGermany
| | - Peter Metz
- Fakultät Chemie und LebensmittelchemieOrganische Chemie ITechnische Universität DresdenBergstraße 6601069DresdenGermany
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7
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Chakraborty S, Majumdar S. Natural Products for the Treatment of Pain: Chemistry and Pharmacology of Salvinorin A, Mitragynine, and Collybolide. Biochemistry 2021; 60:1381-1400. [PMID: 32930582 PMCID: PMC7982354 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pain remains a very pervasive problem throughout medicine. Classical pain management is achieved through the use of opiates belonging to the mu opioid receptor (MOR) class, which have significant side effects that hinder their utility. Pharmacologists have been trying to develop opioids devoid of side effects since the isolation of morphine from papaver somniferum, more commonly known as opium by Sertürner in 1804. The natural products salvinorin A, mitragynine, and collybolide represent three nonmorphinan natural product-based targets, which are potent selective agonists of opioid receptors, and emerging next-generation analgesics. In this work, we review the phytochemistry and medicinal chemistry efforts on these templates and their effects on affinity, selectivity, analgesic actions, and a myriad of other opioid-receptor-related behavioral effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumen Chakraborty
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States; Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Susruta Majumdar
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States; Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
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8
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Hill SJ, Brion AUCM, Shenvi RA. Chemical syntheses of the salvinorin chemotype of KOR agonist. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 37:1478-1496. [PMID: 32808003 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00028k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Covering: 2000 to 2020 The hallucinogenic diterpene salvinorin A potently and selectively agonizes the human kappa-opioid receptor (KOR). Its unique attributes-lack of a basic nitrogen, rapid brain penetrance, short half-life-combined with the potential of KOR as an emerging target for analgesics have stimulated extensive medicinal chemistry based on semi-synthesis from extracts of Salvia divinorum. Total synthesis efforts have delivered multiple, orthogonal routes to salvinorin A, its congeners and related analogs with the goal of optimizing its activity towards multiple functional endpoints. Here we review total syntheses of the salvinorin chemotype and discuss outstanding problems that synthesis can address in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Hill
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
| | - Aurélien U C M Brion
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
| | - Ryan A Shenvi
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
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9
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Talhami A, Swed A, Hess S, Ovadia O, Greenberg S, Schumacher-Klinger A, Rosenthal D, Shalev DE, Hurevich M, Lazarovici P, Hoffman A, Gilon C. Cyclizing Painkillers: Development of Backbone-Cyclic TAPS Analogs. Front Chem 2020; 8:532577. [PMID: 33282822 PMCID: PMC7689096 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.532577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Painkillers are commonly used medications. Native peptide painkillers suffer from various pharmacological disadvantages, while small molecule painkillers like morphine are highly addictive. We present a general approach aimed to use backbone-cyclization to develop a peptidomimetic painkiller. Backbone-cyclization was applied to transform the linear peptide Tyr-Arg-Phe-Sar (TAPS) into an active backbone-cyclic peptide with improved drug properties. We designed and synthesized a focused backbone-cyclic TAPS library with conformational diversity, in which the members of the library have the generic name TAPS c(n-m) where n and m represent the lengths of the alkyl chains on the nitrogens of Gly and Arg, respectively. We used a combined screening approach to evaluate the pharmacological properties and the potency of the TAPS c(n-m) library. We focused on an in vivo active compound, TAPS c(2-6), which is metabolically stable and has the potential to become a peripheral painkiller being a full μ opioid receptor functional agonist. To prepare a large quantity of TAPS c(2-6), we optimized the conditions of the on-resin reductive alkylation step to increase the efficiency of its SPPS. NMR was used to determine the solution conformation of the peptide lead TAPS c(2-6).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa Talhami
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Avi Swed
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shmuel Hess
- Meytav Technologies Incubator, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Oded Ovadia
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Sarit Greenberg
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Adi Schumacher-Klinger
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - David Rosenthal
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Deborah E Shalev
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Wolfson Centre for Applied Structural Biology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Mattan Hurevich
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Philip Lazarovici
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Amnon Hoffman
- School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Chaim Gilon
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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10
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Arillotta D, Schifano F, Napoletano F, Zangani C, Gilgar L, Guirguis A, Corkery JM, Aguglia E, Vento A. Novel Opioids: Systematic Web Crawling Within the e-Psychonauts' Scenario. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:149. [PMID: 32256304 PMCID: PMC7093327 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A wide range of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) are regularly searched and discussed online by e-psychonauts. Among NPSs, the range of prescription/non-prescription opioids (fentanyl and non-fentanyl analogs) and herbal derivatives currently represents a challenge for governments and clinicians. Methods Using a web crawler (i.e., NPS.Finder®), the present study aimed at assessing psychonaut fora/platforms to better understand the online situation regarding opioids. Results The open-web crawling/navigating software identified some 426 opioids, including 234 fentanyl analogs. Of these, 176 substances (162 were very potent fentanyls, including two ohmefentanyl and seven carfentanyl analogs) were not listed in either international or European NPS databases. Conclusion A web crawling approach helped in identifying a large number, indeed higher than that listed by European/international agencies, of unknown opioids likely to possess a significant misuse potential. Most of these novel/emerging substances are still relatively unknown. This is a reason of concern; each of these analogs potentially presents with different toxicodynamic profiles, and there is a lack of docking, preclinical, and clinical observations. Strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration between clinicians and bioinformatics may prove useful in better assessing public health risks associated with opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Arillotta
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.,Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Fabrizio Schifano
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Flavia Napoletano
- East London Foundation Trust (ELFT), Homerton University Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Zangani
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Liam Gilgar
- Gabalfa Clinic, Cardiff and Vale NHS Health Board, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Amira Guirguis
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom.,Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - John Martin Corkery
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Eugenio Aguglia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vento
- Addictions' Observatory (ODDPSS), Rome, Italy.,School of Psychology, G. Marconi, Telematic University, Rome, Italy.,Department of Mental Health, Rome, Italy
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11
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A Survey of Molecular Imaging of Opioid Receptors. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24224190. [PMID: 31752279 PMCID: PMC6891617 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24224190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of endogenous peptide ligands for morphine binding sites occurred in parallel with the identification of three subclasses of opioid receptor (OR), traditionally designated as μ, δ, and κ, along with the more recently defined opioid-receptor-like (ORL1) receptor. Early efforts in opioid receptor radiochemistry focused on the structure of the prototype agonist ligand, morphine, although N-[methyl-11C]morphine, -codeine and -heroin did not show significant binding in vivo. [11C]Diprenorphine ([11C]DPN), an orvinol type, non-selective OR antagonist ligand, was among the first successful PET tracers for molecular brain imaging, but has been largely supplanted in research studies by the μ-preferring agonist [11C]carfentanil ([11C]Caf). These two tracers have the property of being displaceable by endogenous opioid peptides in living brain, thus potentially serving in a competition-binding model. Indeed, many clinical PET studies with [11C]DPN or [11C]Caf affirm the release of endogenous opioids in response to painful stimuli. Numerous other PET studies implicate μ-OR signaling in aspects of human personality and vulnerability to drug dependence, but there have been very few clinical PET studies of μORs in neurological disorders. Tracers based on naltrindole, a non-peptide antagonist of the δ-preferring endogenous opioid enkephalin, have been used in PET studies of δORs, and [11C]GR103545 is validated for studies of κORs. Structures such as [11C]NOP-1A show selective binding at ORL-1 receptors in living brain. However, there is scant documentation of δ-, κ-, or ORL1 receptors in healthy human brain or in neurological and psychiatric disorders; here, clinical PET research must catch up with recent progress in radiopharmaceutical chemistry.
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