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Hamouda AK, Bautista MR, Akinola LS, Alkhlaif Y, Jackson A, Carper M, Toma WB, Garai S, Chen YC, Thakur GA, Fowler CD, Damaj MI. Potentiation of (α4)2(β2)3, but not (α4)3(β2)2, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors reduces nicotine self-administration and withdrawal symptoms. Neuropharmacology 2021; 190:108568. [PMID: 33878302 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The low sensitivity (α4)3(β2)2 (LS) and high sensitivity (α4)2(β2)3 (HS) nAChR isoforms may contribute to a variety of brain functions, pathophysiological processes, and pharmacological effects associated with nicotine use. In this study, we examined the contributions of the LS and HS α4β2 nAChR isoforms in nicotine self-administration, withdrawal symptoms, antinociceptive and hypothermic effects. We utilized two nAChR positive allosteric modulators (PAMs): desformylflustrabromine (dFBr), a PAM of both the LS and HS α4β2 nAChRs, and CMPI, a PAM selective for the LS nAChR. We found that dFBr, but not CMPI, decreased intravenous nicotine self-administration in male mice in a dose-dependent manner. Unlike dFBr, which fully reverses somatic and affective symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, CMPI at doses up to 15 mg/kg in male mice only partially reduced nicotine withdrawal-induced somatic signs, anxiety-like behavior and sucrose preference, but had no effects on nicotine withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia. These results indicate that potentiation of HS α4β2 nAChRs is necessary to modulate nicotine's reinforcing properties that underlie nicotine intake and to reverse nicotine withdrawal symptoms that influence nicotine abstinence. In contrast, both dFBr and CMPI enhanced nicotine's hypothermic effect and reduced nicotine's antinociceptive effects in male mice. Therefore, these results indicate a more prevalent role of HS α4β2 nAChR isoforms in mediating various behavioral effects associated with nicotine, whereas the LS α4β2 nAChR isoform has a limited role in mediating body temperature and nociceptive responses. These findings will facilitate the development of more selective, efficacious, and safe nAChR-based therapeutics for nicotine addiction treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman K Hamouda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA.
| | - Malia R Bautista
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Lois S Akinola
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Yasmin Alkhlaif
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Asti Jackson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Moriah Carper
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Wisam B Toma
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sumanta Garai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yen-Chu Chen
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ganesh A Thakur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christie D Fowler
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Deba F, Ramos K, Vannoy M, Munoz K, Akinola LS, Damaj MI, Hamouda AK. Examining the Effects of (α4)3(β2)2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Selective Positive Allosteric Modulator on Acute Thermal Nociception in Rats. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25122923. [PMID: 32630476 PMCID: PMC7355939 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25122923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-based therapeutics are sought as a potential alternative strategy to opioids for pain management. In this study, we examine the antinociceptive effects of 3-(2-chlorophenyl)-5-(5-methyl-1-(piperidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)isoxazole (CMPI), a novel positive allosteric modulator (PAM), with preferential selectivity to the low agonist sensitivity (α4)3(β2)2 nAChR and desformylflustrabromine (dFBr), a PAM for α4-containing nAChRs. We used hot plate and tail flick tests to measure the effect of dFBr and CMPI on the latency to acute thermal nociceptive responses in rats. Intraperitoneal injection of dFBr, but not CMPI, dose-dependently increased latency in the hot plate test. In the tail flick test, the effect achieved at the highest dFBr or CMPI dose tested was only <20% of the maximum possible effects reported for nicotine and other nicotinic agonists. Moreover, the coadministration of dFBr did not enhance the antinociceptive effect of a low dose of nicotine. Our results show that the direct acute effect of dFBr is superior to that for CMPI, indicating that selectivity to (α4)3(β2)2 nAChR is not advantageous in alleviating responses to acute thermal nociceptive stimulus. However, further studies are necessary to test the suitability of (α4)3(β2)2 nAChR-selective PAMs in chronic pain models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Deba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 75799, USA;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center MS 131, 1010 W. Ave. B, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; (K.R.); (M.V.); (K.M.)
| | - Kara Ramos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center MS 131, 1010 W. Ave. B, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; (K.R.); (M.V.); (K.M.)
| | - Matthew Vannoy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center MS 131, 1010 W. Ave. B, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; (K.R.); (M.V.); (K.M.)
| | - Kemburli Munoz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center MS 131, 1010 W. Ave. B, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; (K.R.); (M.V.); (K.M.)
| | - Lois S. Akinola
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Kontos Medical Science Building, 1217 E. Marshall St., P.O. Box 980613, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (L.S.A.); (M.I.D.)
| | - M. Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Kontos Medical Science Building, 1217 E. Marshall St., P.O. Box 980613, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (L.S.A.); (M.I.D.)
| | - Ayman K. Hamouda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 75799, USA;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center MS 131, 1010 W. Ave. B, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; (K.R.); (M.V.); (K.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-903-565-6578
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Wilkerson JL, Deba F, Crowley ML, Hamouda AK, McMahon LR. Advances in the In vitro and In vivo pharmacology of Alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor positive allosteric modulators. Neuropharmacology 2020; 168:108008. [PMID: 32113032 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Receptors containing α4 and β2 subunits are a major neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtype in the brain. This receptor plays a critical role in nicotine addiction, with potential smoking cessation therapeutics producing modulation of α4β2 nAChR. In addition, compounds that act as agonists at α4β2 nAChR may be useful for the treatment of pathological pain. Further, as the α4β2 nAChR has been implicated in cognition, therapeutics that act as α4β2 nAChR agonists are also being examined as treatments for cognitive disorders and neurological diseases that impact cognitive function, such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. This review will cover the molecular in vitro evidence that allosteric modulators of the α4β2 neuronal nAChR provide several advantages over traditional α4β2 nAChR orthosteric ligands. Specifically, we explore the concept that nAChR allosteric modulators allow for greater pharmacological selectivity, while minimizing potential deleterious off-target effects. Further, here we discuss the development and preclinical in vivo behavioral assessment of allosteric modulators at the α4β2 neuronal nAChR as therapeutics for smoking cessation, pathological pain, as well as cognitive disorders and neurological diseases that impact cognitive function. This article is part of the special issue on 'Contemporary Advances in Nicotine Neuropharmacology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L Wilkerson
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, United States.
| | - Farah Deba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, 75799, United States
| | - Morgan L Crowley
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, United States
| | - Ayman K Hamouda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, 75799, United States.
| | - Lance R McMahon
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, United States.
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Toma W, Ulker E, Alqasem M, AlSharari SD, McIntosh JM, Damaj MI. Behavioral and Molecular Basis of Cholinergic Modulation of Pain: Focus on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2020; 45:153-166. [PMID: 32468494 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2020_135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy for pain and inflammatory disorders. In particular, α4β2∗, α7, and α9α10 nAChR subtypes have been investigated as potential targets to treat pain. The nAChRs are distributed on the pain transmission pathways, including central and peripheral nervous systems and immune cells as well. Several agonists for α4β2∗ nAChR subtypes have been investigated in multiple animal pain models with promising results. However, studies in human indicated a narrow therapeutic window for α4β2∗ agonists. Furthermore, animal studies suggest that using agonists for α7 nAChR subtype and antagonists for α9α10 nAChR subtypes are potential novel therapies for chronic pain management, including inflammatory and neuropathic pain. More recently, alternative nAChRs ligands such as positive allosteric modulators and silent agonists have shown potential to develop into new treatments for chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wisam Toma
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Esad Ulker
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Mashael Alqasem
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir D AlSharari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Evaluation of Natural Extracts in Animal Models of Pain and Inflammation for a Potential Therapy of Hemorrhoidal Disease. Sci Pharm 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/scipharm87020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work was to assess the analgesic effect of three Vitis vinifera L. leaf extracts and the anti-inflammatory effect of three gels obtained from Aesculus hippocastanum L. seed extracts using animal models, as a preliminary study for the future development of topical preparations based on the combination of extracts with synergistic therapeutic effects on hemorrhoid disease. The analgesic effect was determined by means of the writhing test in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect was determined after administration of carrageenan or kaolin in the rat paw. Extraction using glycerol yielded the highest amounts of flavonoids for both V. vinifera leaves (37.27 ± 1.174 mg/L) and A. hippocastanum seeds (53.48 ± 0.212 mg/L). The highest total phenolic contents were registered for the V. vinifera 20% ethanolic extract (615.3 ± 34.44 mg/L) and for the A. hippocastanum glycerolic extract (247.8 ± 6.991 mg/L). The writhing test revealed that the V. vinifera ethanolic extract induced the most efficient analgesia (57.20%, p < 0.01), better than that induced by the positive control. In the carrageenan inflammation model, only the gel obtained from the A. hippocastanum glycerolic extract significantly reduced paw edema (17.27%, p < 0.05). An anti-inflammatory effect was also observed in the kaolin inflammation model but was not statistically significant (10.12%, p > 0.05). Our findings indicate that V. vinifera and A. hippocastanum extracts may have potential uses for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with hemorrhoid disease.
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