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Breitwieser GE, Cippitelli A, Wang Y, Pelletier O, Dershem R, Wei J, Toll L, Fakhoury B, Brunori G, Metpally R, Carey DJ, Robishaw J. Rare GPR37L1 Variants Reveal Potential Association between GPR37L1 and Disorders of Anxiety and Migraine. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1226232024. [PMID: 38569927 PMCID: PMC11089846 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1226-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
GPR37L1 is an orphan receptor that couples through heterotrimeric G-proteins to regulate physiological functions. Since its role in humans is not fully defined, we used an unbiased computational approach to assess the clinical significance of rare G-protein-coupled receptor 37-like 1 (GPR37L1) genetic variants found among 51,289 whole-exome sequences from the DiscovEHR cohort. Rare GPR37L1 coding variants were binned according to predicted pathogenicity and analyzed by sequence kernel association testing to reveal significant associations with disease diagnostic codes for epilepsy and migraine, among others. Since associations do not prove causality, rare GPR37L1 variants were functionally analyzed in SK-N-MC cells to evaluate potential signaling differences and pathogenicity. Notably, receptor variants exhibited varying abilities to reduce cAMP levels, activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and/or upregulate receptor expression in response to the agonist prosaptide (TX14(A)), as compared with the wild-type receptor. In addition to signaling changes, knock-out (KO) of GPR37L1 or expression of certain rare variants altered cellular cholesterol levels, which were also acutely regulated by administration of the agonist TX14(A) via activation of the MAPK pathway. Finally, to simulate the impact of rare nonsense variants found in the large patient cohort, a KO mouse line lacking Gpr37l1 was generated. Although KO animals did not recapitulate an acute migraine phenotype, the loss of this receptor produced sex-specific changes in anxiety-related disorders often seen in chronic migraineurs. Collectively, these observations define the existence of rare GPR37L1 variants associated with neuropsychiatric conditions in the human population and identify the signaling changes contributing to pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerda E Breitwieser
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Yingcai Wang
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Oliver Pelletier
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Ridge Dershem
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Jianning Wei
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Bianca Fakhoury
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Gloria Brunori
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | | | - David J Carey
- Geisinger, Weis Center for Research, Danville, Pennsylvania
| | - Janet Robishaw
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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2
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Rusali LE, Lopez-Hernandez AM, Kremiller KM, Kulkarni GC, Gour A, Straub CJ, Argade MD, Peters CJ, Sharma A, Toll L, Cippitelli A, Riley AP. Synthesis of α3β4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Modulators Derived from Aristoquinoline That Reduce Reinstatement of Cocaine-Seeking Behavior. J Med Chem 2024; 67:529-542. [PMID: 38151460 PMCID: PMC10872344 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that inhibition of the α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) represents a promising therapeutic strategy to treat cocaine use disorder. Recently, aristoquinoline (1), an alkaloid from Aristotelia chilensis, was identified as an α3β4-selective nAChR inhibitor. Here, we prepared 22 derivatives of 1 and evaluated their ability to inhibit the α3β4 nAChR. These studies revealed structure-activity trends and several compounds with increased potency compared to 1 with few off-target liabilities. Additional mechanistic studies indicated that these compounds inhibit the α3β4 nAChR noncompetitively, but do not act as channel blockers, suggesting they are negative allosteric modulators. Finally, using a cocaine-primed reinstatement paradigm, we demonstrated that 1 significantly attenuates drug-seeking behavior in an animal model of cocaine relapse. The results from these studies further support a role for the α3β4 nAChR in the addictive properties of cocaine and highlight the possible utility of aristoquinoline derivatives in treating cocaine use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E. Rusali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Ana M. Lopez-Hernandez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Kyle M. Kremiller
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Gauri C. Kulkarni
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Abhishek Gour
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Carolyn J. Straub
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Malaika D. Argade
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Christian J. Peters
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Abhisheak Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, United States
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, United States
| | - Andrew P. Riley
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
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Sturaro C, Fakhoury B, Targowska-Duda KM, Zribi G, Schoch J, Ruzza C, Calò G, Toll L, Cippitelli A. Preclinical effects of cannabidiol in an experimental model of migraine. Pain 2023; 164:2540-2552. [PMID: 37310430 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Migraine is a disabling disorder characterized by recurrent headaches, accompanied by abnormal sensory sensitivity and anxiety. Despite extensive historical use of cannabis in headache disorders, there is limited research on the nonpsychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) for migraine and there is no scientific evidence to prove that CBD is an effective treatment. The effects of CBD are examined here using a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-induced migraine model that provides measures of cephalic allodynia, spontaneous pain, altered light sensitivity (photophobia), and anxiety-like behavior in C57BL/6J mice. A single administration of CGRP induced facial hypersensitivity in both female and male mice. Repeated CGRP treatment produced progressively decreased levels in basal thresholds of allodynia in females, but not in males. A single CBD administration protected both females and males from periorbital allodynia induced by a single CGRP injection. Repeated CBD administration prevented increased levels of basal allodynia induced by repeated CGRP treatment in female mice and did not lead to responses consistent with migraine headache as occurs with triptans. Cannabidiol, injected after CGRP, reversed CGRP-evoked allodynia. Cannabidiol also reduced spontaneous pain traits induced by CGRP administration in female mice. Finally, CBD blocked CGRP-induced anxiety in male mice, but failed in providing protection from CGRP-induced photophobia in females. These results demonstrate the efficacy of CBD in preventing episodic and chronic migraine-like states with reduced risk of causing medication overuse headache. Cannabidiol also shows potential as an abortive agent for treating migraine attacks and headache-related conditions such as spontaneous pain and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Sturaro
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Bianca Fakhoury
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Katarzyna M Targowska-Duda
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
- Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Gilles Zribi
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Jennifer Schoch
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Girolamo Calò
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
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Breitwieser GE, Cippitelli A, Wang Y, Pelletier O, Dershem R, Wei J, Toll L, Fakhoury B, Brunori G, Metpally R, Carey DJ, Robishaw J. Rare GPR37L1 variants reveal potential roles in anxiety and migraine disorders. bioRxiv 2023:2023.07.05.547546. [PMID: 37461723 PMCID: PMC10349990 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.05.547546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
GPR37L1 is an orphan receptor that couples through heterotrimeric G-proteins to regulate physiological functions. Since its role in humans is not fully defined, we used an unbiased computational approach to assess the clinical significance of rare GPR37L1 genetic variants found among 51,289 whole exome sequences from the DiscovEHR cohort. Briefly, rare GPR37L1 coding variants were binned according to predicted pathogenicity, and analyzed by Sequence Kernel Association testing to reveal significant associations with disease diagnostic codes for epilepsy and migraine, among others. Since associations do not prove causality, rare GPR37L1 variants were then functionally analyzed in SK-N-MC cells to evaluate potential signaling differences and pathogenicity. Notably, receptor variants exhibited varying abilities to reduce cAMP levels, activate MAPK signaling, and/or upregulate receptor expression in response to the agonist prosaptide (TX14(A)), as compared to the wild-type receptor. In addition to signaling changes, knockout of GPR37L1 or expression of certain rare variants altered cellular cholesterol levels, which were also acutely regulated by administration of the agonist TX14(A) via activation of the MAPK pathway. Finally, to simulate the impact of rare nonsense variants found in the large patient cohort, a knockout (KO) mouse line lacking Gpr37L1 was generated, revealing loss of this receptor produced sex-specific changes implicated in migraine-related disorders. Collectively, these observations define the existence of rare GPR37L1 variants in the human population that are associated with neuropsychiatric conditions and identify the underlying signaling changes that are implicated in the in vivo actions of this receptor in pathological processes leading to anxiety and migraine. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent a diverse group of membrane receptors that contribute to a wide range of diseases and serve as effective drug targets. However, a number of these receptors have no identified ligands or functions, i.e., orphan receptors. Over the past decade, advances have been made, but there is a need for identifying new strategies to reveal their roles in health and disease. Our results highlight the utility of rare variant analyses of orphan receptors for identifying human disease associations, coupled with functional analyses in relevant cellular and animal systems, to ultimately reveal their roles as novel drug targets for treatment of neurological disorders that lack wide-spread efficacy.
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de Guglielmo G, Kallupi M, Cippitelli A, Caprioli D, Lutfy K. Editorial: Opioids and opioid-use disorders. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1227174. [PMID: 37397475 PMCID: PMC10311202 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1227174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marsida Kallupi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, United States
| | - Daniele Caprioli
- Laboratory Affiliated to Institute Pasteur Italia—Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti—Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia), Rome, Italy
| | - Kabirullah Lutfy
- Department of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States
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Cippitelli A, Zribi G, Toll L. PPL-103: A mixed opioid partial agonist with desirable anti-cocaine properties. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 119:110599. [PMID: 35798174 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a persistent public health problem for which no effective medications are available. PPL-103 is an opioid receptor ligand with partial agonist activity at mu, kappa and delta opioid receptors, with a greater efficacy for kappa and low efficacy at mu receptors. Because chronic cocaine use induces changes in the kappa opioid receptor/dynorphin system, we hypothesized that a kappa partial agonist, such as PPL-103, would attenuate the aversive properties of the upregulated kappa system, resulting in effective treatment approach for CUD. We tested the effects of PPL-103 on cocaine self-administration models that recapitulate core aspects of CUD in humans. We found that PPL-103 reduced both long and short access cocaine self-administration, motivation to respond for cocaine, and binge-like cocaine taking, in rats. Operant responding for food, fentanyl and locomotor behavior were not altered at doses that decreased cocaine infusions. Repeated PPL-103 treatment did not lead to tolerance development. PPL-103 also reduced both priming- and cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking, being more effective in the former. Surprisingly, PPL-103 reduced self-administration parameters and reinstatement in rats previously treated with the long-acting kappa receptor antagonist JDTic more potently than in non-JDTic treated animals, whereas naltrexone injected to rats subsequent to JDTic administration increased self-administration, suggesting that the partial mu agonist activity, rather than kappa agonism is important for reduction in cocaine taking and seeking. However, partial kappa activation seems to increase safety by limiting dysphoria, tolerance and addiction development. PPL-103 displays a desirable profile as a possible CUD pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States.
| | - Gilles Zribi
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
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Cippitelli A, Martinez M, Zribi G, Cami-Kobeci G, Husbands SM, Toll L. PPL-138 (BU10038): A bifunctional NOP/mu partial agonist that reduces cocaine self-administration in rats. Neuropharmacology 2022; 211:109045. [PMID: 35378170 PMCID: PMC9074796 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The search for new and effective treatments for cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a priority. We determined whether PPL-138 (BU10038), a compound with partial agonist activity at both nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) and mu-opioid receptors, reduces cocaine consumption, reinstatement, and whether the compound itself produces reinforcing effects in rats. Using an intermittent access (IntA) cocaine self-administration procedure, we found that PPL-138 (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg) effectively decreased the total number of cocaine infusions and burst-like cocaine intake in both male and female rats. Responses for food in an IntA model of food self-administration were not altered for either sex, although locomotor activity was increased in female but not male rats. Blockade of NOP receptors with the selective antagonist J-113397 (5 mg/kg) did not prevent the PPL-138-induced suppression of cocaine self-administration, whereas blockade of mu-opioid receptors by naltrexone (1 mg/kg) reversed such effect. Consistently, treatment with morphine (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced IntA cocaine self-administration measures. PPL-138 also reduced reinstatement of cocaine seeking at all doses examined. Although an initial treatment with PPL-138 (2.5, 10, and 40 μg/kg/infusion) appeared rewarding, the compound did not maintain self-administration behavior. Animals treated with PPL-138 showed initial suppression of cocaine self-administration, which was eliminated following repeated daily dosing. However, suppression of cocaine self-administration was retained when subsequent PPL-138 treatments were administered 48 h apart. These findings demonstrate that the approach of combining partial NOP/mu-opioid activation successfully reduces cocaine use, but properties of PPL-138 seem to depend on the timing of drug administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States.
| | - Madeline Martinez
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Gilles Zribi
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Gerta Cami-Kobeci
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies & Science, University of Bedfordshire Luton, Luton, UK
| | | | - Lawrence Toll
- Biomedical Science Department, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
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8
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Toll L, Cippitelli A, Ozawa A. The NOP Receptor System in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders: Discrepancies, Peculiarities and Clinical Progress in Developing Targeted Therapies. CNS Drugs 2021; 35:591-607. [PMID: 34057709 PMCID: PMC8279133 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-021-00821-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptor and its endogenous ligand nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) are the fourth members of the opioid receptor and opioid peptide families. Although they have considerable sequence homology to the other family members, they are not considered opioid per se because they do not have pharmacological profiles similar to the other family members. The number of NOP receptors in the brain is higher than the other family members, and NOP receptors can be found throughout the brain. Because of the widespread distribution of NOP receptors, N/OFQ and other peptide and small molecule agonists and antagonists have extensive CNS activities. Originally thought to be anti-opioid, NOP receptor agonists block some opioid activities, potentiate others, and modulate other activities not affected by traditional opiates. Because the effect of receptor activation can be dependent upon site of administration, state of the animal, and other variables, the study of NOP receptors has been fraught with contradictions and inconsistencies. In this article, the actions and controversies pertaining to NOP receptor activation and inhibition are discussed with respect to CNS disorders including pain (acute, chronic, and migraine), drug abuse, anxiety and depression. In addition, progress towards clinical use of NOP receptor-directed compounds is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Toll
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Akihiko Ozawa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
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Cippitelli A, Barnes M, Zaveri NT, Toll L. Potent and selective NOP receptor activation reduces cocaine self-administration in rats by lowering hedonic set point. Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12844. [PMID: 31709687 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Developing new medications for the treatment of cocaine dependence continues to be a research priority. Compelling evidence indicates that mixed opioid receptor agonists, particularly bifunctional compounds that target nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) and mu opioid receptors, may be useful for the treatment of cocaine addiction. Here, we verify that potent and selective pharmacological activation of NOP receptors is sufficient to reduce relevant facets of cocaine addiction in animal models. Accordingly, we determined whether systemic injections of the small molecule AT-312 (0, 1, 3 mg/kg) could reduce operant cocaine self-administration, motivation for cocaine, and vulnerability to cocaine relapse in rats. Results indicate that a potent and selective NOP receptor agonist was equally efficacious in reducing the number of cocaine infusions in short (1-hour), as well as long (6-hour) access sessions. When tested on an economic-demand reinforcement schedule, AT-312 reduced Q0 , the parameter that describes the amount of drug consumed at zero price, while leaving the parameter α, a measure of motivation for drug consumption, unaltered. Furthermore, AT-312 successfully reduced conditioned reinstatement of cocaine seeking. In contrast, the NOP receptor agonist did not modify food self-administration. Blockade of the NOP receptor with the antagonist SB-612111 prevented the effect of AT-312 in decreasing cocaine-reinforced responding under a 2-hour fixed ratio 1 schedule, suggesting a NOP receptor-mediated mechanism. This work demonstrates that potent and selective activation of NOP receptors is sufficient to decrease cocaine taking and seeking behaviors in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Biomedical Science Department Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton FL United States
| | - Megan Barnes
- Biomedical Science Department Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton FL United States
| | | | - Lawrence Toll
- Biomedical Science Department Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton FL United States
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10
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Targowska-Duda KM, Ozawa A, Bertels Z, Cippitelli A, Marcus JL, Mielke-Maday HK, Zribi G, Rainey AN, Kieffer BL, Pradhan AA, Toll L. NOP receptor agonist attenuates nitroglycerin-induced migraine-like symptoms in mice. Neuropharmacology 2020; 170:108029. [PMID: 32278976 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Migraine is an extraordinarily prevalent and disabling headache disorder that affects one billion people worldwide. Throbbing pain is one of several migraine symptoms including sensitivity to light (photophobia), sometimes to sounds, smell and touch. The basic mechanisms underlying migraine remain inadequately understood, and current treatments (with triptans being the primary standard of care) are not well tolerated by some patients. NOP (Nociceptin OPioid) receptors, the fourth member of the opioid receptor family, are expressed in the brain and periphery with particularly high expression known to be in trigeminal ganglia (TG). The aim of our study was to further explore the involvement of the NOP receptor system in migraine. To this end, we used immunohistochemistry to examine NOP receptor distribution in TG and trigeminal nucleus caudalus (TNC) in mice, including colocalization with specific cellular markers, and used nitroglycerin (NTG) models of migraine to assess the influence of the selective NOP receptor agonist, Ro 64-6198, on NTG-induced pain (sensitivity of paw and head using von Frey filaments) and photophobia in mice. Our immunohistochemical studies with NOP-eGFP knock-in mice indicate that NOP receptors are on the majority of neurons in the TG and are also very highly expressed in the TNC. In addition, Ro 64-6198 can dose dependently block NTG-induced paw and head allodynia, an effect that is blocked by the NOP antagonist, SB-612111. Moreover, Ro 64-6198, can decrease NTG-induced light sensitivity in mice. These results suggest that NOP receptor agonists should be futher explored as treatment for migraine symptoms. This article is part of the special issue on Neuropeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna M Targowska-Duda
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States; Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Akihiko Ozawa
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Zachariah Bertels
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Jason L Marcus
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Hanna K Mielke-Maday
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Gilles Zribi
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Amanda N Rainey
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Brigitte L Kieffer
- Douglas Hospital Research Center, Dep. of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; INSERM U1114, Strasbourg, France
| | - Amynah A Pradhan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States.
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11
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Bifone A, Gozzi A, Cippitelli A, Matzeu A, Domi E, Li H, Scuppa G, Cannella N, Ubaldi M, Weiss F, Ciccocioppo. phMRI, neurochemical and behavioral responses to psychostimulants distinguishing genetically selected alcohol-preferring from genetically heterogenous rats. Addict Biol 2019; 24:981-993. [PMID: 30328656 PMCID: PMC6697752 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Alcoholism is often associated with other forms of drug abuse, suggesting that innate predisposing factors may confer vulnerability to addiction to diverse substances. However, the neurobiological bases of these factors remain unknown. Here, we have used a combination of imaging, neurochemistry and behavioral techniques to investigate responses to the psychostimulant amphetamine in Marchigian Sardinian (msP) alcohol-preferring rats, a model of vulnerability to alcoholism. Specifically, we employed pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the neural circuits engaged by amphetamine challenge, and to relate functional reactivity to neurochemical and behavioral responses. Moreover, we studied self-administration of cocaine in the msP rats. We found stronger functional responses in the extended amygdala, alongside with increased release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens shell and augmented vertical locomotor activity compared with controls. Wistar and msP rats did not differ in operant cocaine self-administration under short access (2 hours) conditions, but msP rats exhibited a higher propensity to escalate drug intake following long access (6 hours). Our findings suggest that neurobiological and genetic mechanisms that convey vulnerability to excessive alcohol drinking also facilitate the transition from psychostimulants use to abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bifone
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - A Gozzi
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - A Cippitelli
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, Camerino 62032, Italy
| | - A Matzeu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, United States
| | - E Domi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, Camerino 62032, Italy
| | - H Li
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, Camerino 62032, Italy
| | - G Scuppa
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, Camerino 62032, Italy
| | - N Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, Camerino 62032, Italy
| | - M Ubaldi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, Camerino 62032, Italy
| | - F Weiss
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, United States
| | - Ciccocioppo
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
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12
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Toll L, Ozawa A, Cippitelli A. Involvement of NOP receptors, the fourth opioid receptor, on pain and drug abuse. IBRO Rep 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ibror.2019.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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13
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Brunori G, Weger M, Schoch J, Targowska-Duda K, Barnes M, Borruto AM, Rorick-Kehn LM, Zaveri NT, Pintar JE, Ciccocioppo R, Toll L, Cippitelli A. NOP Receptor Antagonists Decrease Alcohol Drinking in the Dark in C57BL/6J Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:2167-2178. [PMID: 31386211 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nociceptin/orphanin FQ opioid peptide (NOP) receptor and its endogenous ligand N/OFQ have been implicated in the regulation of drug and alcohol use disorders (AUD). In particular, evidence demonstrated that NOP receptor activation blocks reinforcing and motivating effects of alcohol across a range of behavioral measures, including alcohol intake, conditioned place preference, and vulnerability to relapse. METHODS Here, we show the effects of pharmacological activation and inhibition of NOP receptors on binge-like alcohol consumption, as measured by the "drinking in the dark" (DID) model in C57BL/6J mice. RESULTS We found that 2 potent and selective NOP agonists AT-202 (0, 0.3, 1, 3 mg/kg) and AT-312 (0, 0.3, 1 mg/kg) did not affect binge alcohol drinking at doses that do not affect locomotor activity. AT-202 also failed to alter DID behavior when administered to mice previously exposed to chronic alcohol treatment with an alcohol-containing liquid diet. Conversely, treatment with either the high affinity NOP receptor antagonist SB-612111 (0, 3, 10, 30 mg/kg) or the selective antagonist LY2817412 (0, 3, 10, 30 mg/kg) decreased binge drinking. SB-612111 was effective at all doses examined, and LY2817412 was effective at 30 mg/kg. Consistently, NOP receptor knockout mice consumed less alcohol compared to wild type. SB-612111 reduced DID and increased sucrose consumption at doses that do not appear to affect locomotor activity. However, the high dose of SB-612111 (30 mg/kg) reduced alcohol intake but failed to inhibit preference in a 2-bottle choice DID model that can assess moderate alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS The present results suggest that NOP receptor inhibition rather than activation may represent a valuable approach for treatment of AUD characterized by excessive alcohol consumption such as binge drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Brunori
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.,Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, Florida.,Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Michelle Weger
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, Florida
| | - Jennifer Schoch
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.,Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, Florida
| | - Katarzyna Targowska-Duda
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.,Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Megan Barnes
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Anna Maria Borruto
- Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | | | | | - John E Pintar
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.,Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, Florida
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.,Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, Florida
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14
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Abstract
Since the discovery of the NOP receptor and N/OFQ as the endogenous ligand, evidence has appeared demonstrating the involvement of this receptor system in pain. This was not surprising for members of the opioid receptor and peptide families, particularly since both the receptor and N/OFQ are highly expressed in brain regions involved in pain, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia. What has been surprising is the complicated picture that has emerged from 25 years of research. The original finding that N/OFQ decreased tail flick and hotplate latency, when administered i.c.v., led to the hypothesis that NOP receptor antagonists could have analgesic activity without abuse liability. However, as data accumulated, it became clear that not only the potency but the activity per se was different when N/OFQ or small molecule NOP agonists were administered in the brain versus the spinal cord and it also depended upon the pain assay used. When administered systemically, NOP receptor agonists are generally ineffective in attenuating heat pain but are antinociceptive in an acute inflammatory pain model. Most antagonists administered systemically have no antinociceptive activity of their own, even though selective peptide NOP antagonists have potent antinociceptive activity when administered i.c.v. Chronic pain models provide different results as well, as small molecule NOP receptor agonists have potent anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic activity after systemic administration. A considerable number of electrophysiological and anatomical experiments, in particular with NOP-eGFP mice, have been conducted in an attempt to explain the complicated profile resulting from NOP receptor modulation, to examine receptor plasticity, and to elucidate mechanisms by which selective NOP agonists, bifunctional NOP/mu agonists, or NOP receptor antagonists modulate acute and chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Toll
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
| | - Akihiko Ozawa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
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15
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Ozawa A, Brunori G, Cippitelli A, Toll N, Schoch J, Kieffer BL, Toll L. Analysis of the distribution of spinal NOP receptors in a chronic pain model using NOP-eGFP knock-in mice. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 175:2662-2675. [PMID: 29582417 PMCID: PMC6003644 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The nociceptin/orphanin FQ opioid peptide (NOP) receptor system plays a significant role in the regulation of pain. This system functions differently in the spinal cord and brain. The mechanism by which the NOP receptor agonists regulate pain transmission in these regions is not clearly understood. Here, we investigate the peripheral and spinal NOP receptor distribution and antinociceptive effects of intrathecal nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) in chronic neuropathic pain. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We used immunohistochemistry to determine changes in NOP receptor distribution triggered by spinal nerve ligation (SNL) using NOP-eGFP knock-in mice. Antinociceptive effects of intrathecal N/OFQ on SNL-mediated allodynia and heat/cold hyperalgesia were assessed in wild-type mice. KEY RESULTS NOP-eGFP immunoreactivity was decreased by SNL in the spinal laminae I and II outer, regions that mediate noxious heat stimuli. In contrast, immunoreactivity of NOP-eGFP was unchanged in the ventral border of lamina II inner, which is an important region for the development of allodynia. NOP-eGFP expression was also decreased in a large number of primary afferents in the L4 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of SNL mice. However, SNL mice showed increased sensitivity, compared to sham animals to the effects of i.t administered N/OFQ with respect to mechanical as well as thermal stimuli. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our findings suggest that the spinal NOP receptor system attenuates injury-induced hyperalgesia by direct inhibition of the projection neurons in the spinal cord that send nociceptive signals to the brain and not by inhibiting presynaptic terminals of DRG neurons in the superficial lamina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Ozawa
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular StudiesPort St. LucieFL34987USA
| | - Gloria Brunori
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular StudiesPort St. LucieFL34987USA
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of MedicineFlorida Atlantic UniversityBoca RatonFL33431USA
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular StudiesPort St. LucieFL34987USA
| | - Nicholas Toll
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular StudiesPort St. LucieFL34987USA
| | - Jennifer Schoch
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular StudiesPort St. LucieFL34987USA
| | - Brigitte L Kieffer
- Douglas Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of MedicineMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH4H 1R3Canada
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular StudiesPort St. LucieFL34987USA
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of MedicineFlorida Atlantic UniversityBoca RatonFL33431USA
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16
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Cippitelli A, Brunori G, Schoch J, Armishaw CJ, Wu J, Zaveri NT, Giulianotti MA, Welmaker GS, Toll L. Differential regulation of alcohol taking and seeking by antagonism at α4β2 and α3β4 nAChRs. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:1745-1757. [PMID: 29572652 PMCID: PMC5949259 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-4883-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Alcoholism is a serious public health problem throughout the world. Current pharmacotherapies for the treatment of this disorder are poorly effective. Preclinical and clinical findings point to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) as a promising target for the development of novel and effective medications. Assuage Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, has discovered a new class of potent and selective α4β2 nAChR antagonists. OBJECTIVE Here, it was hypothesized that α4β2 nAChR antagonism is a viable approach for treatment of alcohol use disorders. RESULTS When tested in rats, one lead compound, AP-202, attenuated both operant alcohol and nicotine self-administration in a paradigm in which the two reinforcers were concurrently available. The conotoxin TP2212-59, a selective α3β4 nAChR antagonist, was only effective in reducing nicotine self-administration. AP-202 also reduced alcohol but not food responding when alcohol was presented as the only reinforcer, whereas the commercially available α4β2 nAChR antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine failed to alter alcohol self-administration. AP-202 did not block relapse-like behavior induced by previously alcohol-associated stimuli or yohimbine stress. In a reinstatement paradigm, in which alcohol seeking was triggered by a nicotine challenge, a behavior successfully inhibited by the nonselective nAChR antagonist mecamylamine, AP-202 was not effective, while pretreatment with TP2212-59 abolished nicotine-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest differential roles for α4β2 and α3β4 nAChR on alcohol taking and seeking with selective blockade of α4β2 nAChR being more implicated in modulating alcohol taking while selective blockade of α3β4 nAChR is involved in nicotine-induced alcohol seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987, USA.
| | - Gloria Brunori
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Jennifer Schoch
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Christopher J. Armishaw
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Jinhua Wu
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA,Assuage Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Nurulain T. Zaveri
- Astraea Therapeutics, LLC, 320 Logue Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
| | - Marc A. Giulianotti
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA,Assuage Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Gregory S. Welmaker
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA,Assuage Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA,Assuage Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
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17
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Wu J, Cippitelli A, Zhang Y, Debevec G, Schoch J, Ozawa A, Yu Y, Liu H, Chen W, Houghten RA, Welmaker GS, Giulianotti MA, Toll L. Highly Selective and Potent α4β2 nAChR Antagonist Inhibits Nicotine Self-Administration and Reinstatement in Rats. J Med Chem 2017; 60:10092-10104. [PMID: 29178785 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The α4β2 nAChR is the most predominant subtype in the brain and is a well-known culprit for nicotine addiction. Previously we presented a series of α4β2 nAChR selective compounds that were discovered from a mixture-based positional-scanning combinatorial library. Here we report further optimization identified highly potent and selective α4β2 nAChR antagonists 5 (AP-202) and 13 (AP-211). Both compounds are devoid of in vitro agonist activity and are potent inhibitors of epibatidine-induced changes in membrane potential in cells containing α4β2 nAChR, with IC50 values of approximately 10 nM, but are weak agonists in cells containing α3β4 nAChR. In vivo studies show that 5 can significantly reduce operant nicotine self-administration and nicotine relapse-like behavior in rats at doses of 0.3 and 1 mg/kg. The pharmacokinetic data also indicate that 5, via sc administration, is rapidly absorbed into the blood, reaching maximal concentration within 10 min with a half-life of less than 1 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhua Wu
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States.,Assuage Pharmaceuticals, Inc , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Yaohong Zhang
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States.,Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China.,School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Alternative Technologies for Fine Chemicals Process, Shaoxing University , Shaoxing 312000, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Ginamarie Debevec
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Jennifer Schoch
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Akihiko Ozawa
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Yongping Yu
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States.,Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Huan Liu
- Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Wenteng Chen
- Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Richard A Houghten
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States.,Assuage Pharmaceuticals, Inc , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Gregory S Welmaker
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States.,Assuage Pharmaceuticals, Inc , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Marc A Giulianotti
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States.,Assuage Pharmaceuticals, Inc , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States.,Assuage Pharmaceuticals, Inc , 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
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18
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Cippitelli A, Domi E, Ubaldi M, Douglas JC, Li HW, Demopulos G, Gaitanaris G, Roberto M, Drew PD, Kane CJM, Ciccocioppo R. Protection against alcohol-induced neuronal and cognitive damage by the PPARγ receptor agonist pioglitazone. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 64:320-329. [PMID: 28167117 PMCID: PMC5482782 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Binge alcohol drinking has emerged as a typical phenomenon in young people. This pattern of drinking, repeatedly leading to extremely high blood and brain alcohol levels and intoxication is associated with severe risks of neurodegeneration and cognitive damage. Mechanisms involved in excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation are pivotal elements in alcohol-induced neurotoxicity. Evidence has demonstrated that PPARγ receptor activation shows anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Here we examine whether treatment with the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone is beneficial in counteracting neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and cognitive damage produced by binge alcohol intoxication. Adult Wistar rats were subjected to a 4-day binge intoxication procedure, which is commonly used to model excessive alcohol consumption in humans. Across the 4-day period, pioglitazone (0, 30, 60mg/kg) was administered orally twice daily at 12-h intervals. Degenerative cells were detected by fluoro-jade B (FJ-B) immunostaining in brain regions where expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was also determined. The effects of pioglitazone on cognitive function were assessed in an operant reversal learning task and the Morris water maze task. Binge alcohol exposure produced selective neuronal degeneration in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and the adjacent entorhinal cortex. Pioglitazone reduced FJ-B positive cells in both regions and prevented alcohol-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pioglitazone also rescued alcohol-impaired reversal learning in the operant task and spatial learning deficits in the Morris water maze. These findings demonstrate that activation of PPARγ protects against neuronal and cognitive degeneration elicited by binge alcohol exposure. The protective effect of PPARγ agonist appears to be linked to inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino (MC) 62032, Italy
| | - Esi Domi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino (MC) 62032, Italy
| | - Massimo Ubaldi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino (MC) 62032, Italy
| | - James C. Douglas
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Hong Wu Li
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino (MC) 62032, Italy
| | | | | | - Marisa Roberto
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Paul D. Drew
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Cynthia J. M. Kane
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino (MC) 62032, Italy.
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19
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Khroyan TV, Cippitelli A, Toll N, Lawson JA, Crossman W, Polgar WE, Toll L. In Vitro and In Vivo Profile of PPL-101 and PPL-103: Mixed Opioid Partial Agonist Analgesics with Low Abuse Potential. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:52. [PMID: 28446883 PMCID: PMC5388777 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Opiates are still the most effective and widely used treatments for acute and chronic pain. However, the problems associated with morphine and other standard opioid analgesics severely limit their effectiveness in the clinic. PPL-101 and PPL-103 derived from morphine and morphinan ring systems contain a chiral N-substituent, which confers it with a unique combination of high-binding affinities and partial agonist activities at mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors, leading to unique in vivo pharmacology compared to other conventional opioids. Acute antinociceptive and reward acquisition of PPL-101 and PPL-103 were assessed in mice using the tail flick assay and conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm, respectively. The reinforcing effects of these compounds were assessed in rats using the self-administration paradigm. In mice, PPL-101 and PPL-103 produced antinociception reaching maximal effects that were equivalent to morphine at approximately 1/3 and 1/10 of morphine's dose, respectively. PPL-101-induced antinociception was attenuated following pretreatment with the kappa antagonist JDTic, but not the mu opioid antagonist beta-FNA. In mice, PPL-101 and PPL-103 produced dose-dependent decreases in activity, similar to other kappa agonists; however, they did not produce conditioned place aversion, and in fact elicited a trend toward CPP. In rats, neither PPL-101 nor PPL-103 were self-administered when substituted for morphine and PPL-101 attenuated morphine self-administration, when administered systemically prior to the self-administration session. Collectively, these results indicate that mixed opioid receptor partial agonists can produce potent antinociceptive activity with a lack of aversion in mice and without being self-administered in rats. Compounds with this profile could be superior analgesics with greatly reduced addiction liability and fewer side-effects compared to traditional opiates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
| | - Nicholas Toll
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
| | | | | | | | - Lawrence Toll
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
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20
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Bilbao A, Serrano A, Cippitelli A, Pavón FJ, Giuffrida A, Suárez J, García-Marchena N, Baixeras E, Gómez de Heras R, Orio L, Alén F, Ciccocioppo R, Cravatt BF, Parsons LH, Piomelli D, Rodríguez de Fonseca F. Role of the satiety factor oleoylethanolamide in alcoholism. Addict Biol 2016; 21:859-72. [PMID: 26037332 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is a satiety factor that controls motivational responses to dietary fat. Here we show that alcohol administration causes the release of OEA in rodents, which in turn reduces alcohol consumption by engaging peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α). This effect appears to rely on peripheral signaling mechanisms as alcohol self-administration is unaltered by intracerebral PPAR-α agonist administration, and the lesion of sensory afferent fibers (by capsaicin) abrogates the effect of systemically administered OEA on alcohol intake. Additionally, OEA is shown to block cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior (an animal model of relapse) and reduce the severity of somatic withdrawal symptoms in alcohol-dependent animals. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a homeostatic role for OEA signaling in the behavioral effects of alcohol exposure and highlight OEA as a novel therapeutic target for alcohol use disorders and alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainhoa Bilbao
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto IBIMA-Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
- Institute of Psychopharmacology; Central Institute of Mental Health; Medical Faculty of Mannheim; University of Heidelberg; Germany
| | - Antonia Serrano
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto IBIMA-Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders; The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla CA USA
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- School of Pharmacy; Pharmacology Unit; University of Camerino; Italy
| | - Francisco J. Pavón
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto IBIMA-Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders; The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla CA USA
| | - Andrea Giuffrida
- Department of Pharmacology; University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; San Antonio TX USA
| | - Juan Suárez
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto IBIMA-Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | - Nuria García-Marchena
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto IBIMA-Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
- Departamento de Psicobiología; Facultad de Psicología; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Spain
| | - Elena Baixeras
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto IBIMA-Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | - Raquel Gómez de Heras
- Departamento de Psicobiología; Facultad de Psicología; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Spain
| | - Laura Orio
- Departamento de Psicobiología; Facultad de Psicología; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Spain
| | - Francisco Alén
- Departamento de Psicobiología; Facultad de Psicología; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Spain
| | | | - Benjamin F. Cravatt
- Department of Chemical Physiology; The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla CA USA
| | - Loren H. Parsons
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders; The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla CA USA
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Pharmacology, and Biological Chemistry; University of California; Irvine CA USA
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development; Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Italy
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto IBIMA-Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
- Departamento de Psicobiología; Facultad de Psicología; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Spain
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Galesi FL, Ayanwuyi LO, Mijares MG, Cippitelli A, Cannella N, Ciccocioppo R, Ubaldi M. Role of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis and corticotropin-releasing factor stress system on cue-induced relapse to alcohol seeking. Eur J Pharmacol 2016; 788:84-89. [PMID: 27316790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A large body of evidence has shown that the Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) system, which plays a key role in stress modulation, is deeply involved in relapse to alcohol seeking induced by exposure to stressful events such as foot shock or yohimbine injections. Exposure to environmental cues is also known to be a trigger for alcohol relapse, nevertheless, the relationship between the relapse evoked by the cue-induced model and the CRF stress systems remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in male Wistar rats, the involvement of the CRF system and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis in relapse induced by environmental cues. Antalarmin, a selective CRF1 receptor antagonist, Metyrapone, a corticosterone (CORT) synthesis inhibitor and CORT were evaluated for their effects on the reinstatement test in a cue-induced relapse model. Antalarmin (20mg/kg) blocked relapse to alcohol seeking induced by environmental cues. Metyrapone (50 and 100mg/kg) also blocked relapse in Wistar rats but only at the highest dose (100mg/kg). Corticosterone had no effect on relapse at the doses tested. The results obtained from this study suggest that the CRF stress system and the HPA axis are involved in cue-induced alcohol relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda L Galesi
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Psicologia, Departamento de Psicologia Experimental, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lydia O Ayanwuyi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC 62032, Italy
| | - Miriam Garcia Mijares
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Psicologia, Departamento de Psicologia Experimental, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC 62032, Italy
| | - Nazzareno Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC 62032, Italy
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC 62032, Italy
| | - Massimo Ubaldi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC 62032, Italy.
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Scuppa G, Cippitelli A, Toll L, Ciccocioppo R, Ubaldi M. Varenicline decreases nicotine but not alcohol self-administration in genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats. Drug Alcohol Depend 2015; 156:126-132. [PMID: 26383997 PMCID: PMC4633345 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2015] [Revised: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol and nicotine are largely co-abused. Here, we investigated whether concurrent exposure to both addictive drugs influences each other's consumption and whether varenicline attenuates alcohol consumption in the presence of nicotine. METHODS Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats trained to simultaneously self-administer oral alcohol (10% v/v) and intravenous nicotine (30μg/kg/inf) were used. Additional groups of rats were trained to self-administer either alcohol or nicotine. Further, msP rats were also trained to self-administer nicotine followed by 22-h/day access to alcohol and water in a two bottle free choice paradigm or water alone. The effects of varenicline (0.0, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0mg/kg, p.o.) on alcohol and nicotine consumption were tested. RESULTS In a self-administration paradigm, msP rats showed a significantly high level of alcohol and nicotine intake when the drugs were administered alone. However, when access to both drugs occurred concomitantly, the number of nicotine infusions self-administered was significantly decreased. Nicotine self-administration was markedly reduced by varenicline regardless of whether it was self-administered alone or concurrently with alcohol. In a two bottle choice test, varenicline significantly decreased nicotine self-administration but had no influence on alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION Varenicline is highly efficacious in decreasing nicotine self-administration either alone or in combination with alcohol. However, varenicline failed to influence both operant responding for alcohol and home-cage alcohol drinking in msP animals. Taken together, our findings suggest that the effects of varenicline could be specific to nicotine under conditions where excessive alcohol drinking is facilitated by genetic factors as in msP rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Scuppa
- University of Camerino, School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Camerino, Italy
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Department of Neuropharmacology, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
| | - Lawrence Toll
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Department of Neuropharmacology, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- University of Camerino, School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Camerino, Italy
| | - Massimo Ubaldi
- University of Camerino, School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Camerino, Italy.
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23
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Ayanwuyi LO, Stopponi S, Ubaldi M, Cippitelli A, Nasuti C, Damadzic R, Heilig M, Schank J, Cheng K, Rice KC, Ciccocioppo R. Neurokinin 1 receptor blockade in the medial amygdala attenuates alcohol drinking in rats with innate anxiety but not in Wistar rats. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:5136-46. [PMID: 26275374 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Revised: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Substance P and its preferred neurokinin receptor NK1 have been implicated in stress and anxiety and have been proposed as possible therapeutic targets for the treatment of anxiety/depression. Attention is also being focused on the role this neuropeptide system may play in drug addiction, because stress-related mechanisms promote drug abuse. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The effects of the rat-specific NK1 receptor antagonist, L822429, on alcohol intake and seeking behaviour was investigated in genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol preferring rats. These rats demonstrate an anxious phenotype and are highly sensitive to stress and stress-induced drinking. KEY RESULTS Systemic administration of L822429 significantly reduced operant alcohol self-administration in Marchigian Sardinian alcohol preferring rats, but did not reduce alcohol self-administration in stock Wistar rats. NK1 receptor antagonism also attenuated yohimbine-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking at all doses tested but had no effect on cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking. L822429 reduced operant alcohol self-administration when injected into the lateral cerebroventricles or the medial amygdala. L822429 injected into the medial amygdala also significantly reduced anxiety-like behaviour in the elevated plus maze test. No effects on alcohol intake were observed following injection of L822429 into the dorsal or the ventral hippocampus. Conclusions and Implications Our results suggest that NK1 receptor antagonists may be useful for the treatment of alcohol addiction associated with stress or comorbid anxiety disorders. The medial amygdala appears to be an important brain site of action of NK1 receptor antagonism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia O Ayanwuyi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, 62032, Italy
| | - Serena Stopponi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, 62032, Italy
| | - Massimo Ubaldi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, 62032, Italy
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, 62032, Italy
| | - Cinzia Nasuti
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, 62032, Italy
| | - Ruslan Damadzic
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892-1108, USA
| | - Markus Heilig
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892-1108, USA
| | - Jesse Schank
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Kejun Cheng
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Chemical Biology Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Chemical Biology Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, 62032, Italy
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de Guglielmo G, Melis M, De Luca MA, Kallupi M, Li HW, Niswender K, Giordano A, Senzacqua M, Somaini L, Cippitelli A, Gaitanaris G, Demopulos G, Damadzic R, Tapocik J, Heilig M, Ciccocioppo R. PPARγ activation attenuates opioid consumption and modulates mesolimbic dopamine transmission. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:927-37. [PMID: 25311134 PMCID: PMC4330506 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Revised: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
PPARγ is one of the three isoforms identified for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and is the receptor for the thiazolidinedione class of anti-diabetic medications including pioglitazone. PPARγ has been long studied for its role in adipogenesis and glucose metabolism, but the discovery of the localization in ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons opens new vistas for a potential role in the regulation of reward processing and motivated behavior in drug addiction. Here, we demonstrate that activation of PPARγ by pioglitazone reduces the motivation for heroin and attenuates its rewarding properties. These effects are associated with a marked reduction of heroin-induced increase in phosphorylation of DARPP-32 protein in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and with a marked and selective reduction of acute heroin-induced elevation of extracellular dopamine (DA) levels in the NAc shell, as measured by in vivo microdialysis. Through ex vivo electrophysiology in acute midbrain slices, we also show that stimulation of PPARγ attenuates opioid-induced excitation of VTA DA neurons via reduction of presynaptic GABA release from the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg). Consistent with this finding, site-specific microinjection of pioglitazone into the RMTg but not into the VTA reduced heroin taking. Our data illustrate that activation of PPARγ may represent a new pharmacotherapeutic option for the treatment of opioid addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta De Luca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- INN, National Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marsida Kallupi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Hong Wu Li
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Kevin Niswender
- Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Martina Senzacqua
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Somaini
- Addiction Treatment Centre, Health Local Unit, ASL 12 Biella, Biella, Italy
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | | | | | - Ruslan Damadzic
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jenica Tapocik
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Markus Heilig
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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de Guglielmo G, Melis M, De Luca MA, Kallupi M, Li HW, Niswender K, Giordano A, Senzacqua M, Somaini L, Cippitelli A, Gaitanaris G, Demopulos G, Damadzic R, Tapocik J, Heilig M, Ciccocioppo R. PPARc activation attenuates opioid consumption and modulates mesolimbic dopamine transmission. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:1052. [PMID: 25668637 PMCID: PMC4330520 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Cippitelli A, Brunori G, Gaiolini KA, Zaveri NT, Toll L. Pharmacological stress is required for the anti-alcohol effect of the α3β4* nAChR partial agonist AT-1001. Neuropharmacology 2015; 93:229-36. [PMID: 25689019 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Revised: 02/01/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol and nicotine are often taken together. The mechanisms underlying this frequent co-abuse are not well known. Genetic and pharmacological evidence suggests that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) containing the α3 and β4 subunits play a role in alcohol as well as nicotine addiction. AT-1001 is a high affinity α3β4 nAChR partial agonist recently found to block nicotine self-administration and relapse-like behavior in rats. Here, to study the involvement of α3β4 nAChRs in the mechanisms that regulate alcohol abuse we evaluated the effects of AT-1001 on alcohol taking and seeking in Sprague-Dawley rats. AT-1001 reduced operant alcohol self-administration at the highest dose examined (3.0 mg/kg), an effect also observed for food self-administration. A dose of 1.5 mg/kg AT-1001, which had no effect on alcohol or food self-administration, essentially eliminated reinstatement of alcohol seeking induced by yohimbine (0.625 mg/kg) whereas, reinstatement induced by alcohol-associated cues was not altered, nor did AT-1001 induce reinstatement of extinguished self-administration on its own. Finally, AT-1001 showed an anxiolytic activity when measured in the presence or absence of yohimbine stress in the elevated plus maze paradigm. Together, these observations do not support a specific involvement of the α3β4 nAChR in mediating alcohol reward or cue-induced relapse to alcohol seeking but rather indicate that the α3β4 nAChR partial agonism may constitute an attractive approach for treating alcohol use disorders exacerbated by elevated stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA.
| | - Gloria Brunori
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
| | - Kelly A Gaiolini
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
| | | | - Lawrence Toll
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
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Cippitelli A, Wu J, Gaiolini KA, Mercatelli D, Schoch J, Gorman M, Ramirez A, Ciccocioppo R, Khroyan TV, Yasuda D, Zaveri NT, Pascual C, Xie XS, Toll L. AT-1001: a high-affinity α3β4 nAChR ligand with novel nicotine-suppressive pharmacology. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:1834-45. [PMID: 25440006 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/23/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The α3β4 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) has been implicated in mediating nicotine reinforcement processes. AT-1001 has been recently described as a high-affinity and selective α3β4 nAChR antagonist that blocks nicotine self-administration in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action underlying the nicotine-suppressive effects of AT-1001. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Effects of AT-1001 were determined using in vitro assays and rat models of nicotine addiction, and compared with varenicline. KEY RESULTS AT-1001 and its analogue AT-1012 were functionally selective as antagonists for α3β4 over α4β2 nAChRs, but not to the same extent as the binding selectivity, and had partial agonist activity at α3β4 nAChRs. In contrast, varenicline was a partial agonist at α4β2, a weak agonist at α3β4 and inhibited α4β2 at a much lower concentration than it inhibited α3β4 nAChRs. AT-1001 and varenicline also had very different in vivo properties. Firstly, AT-1001 did not exhibit reinforcing properties per se while varenicline was self-administered. Secondly, systemic treatment with AT-1001 did not induce reinstatement of nicotine seeking but rather attenuated reinstatement induced by varenicline, as well as nicotine. Finally, unlike varenicline, AT-1001 selectively blocked nicotine self-administration without altering alcohol lever pressing as assessed in an operant co-administration paradigm. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These findings describe a more complex AT-1001 in vitro profile than previously appreciated and provide further support for the potential of AT-1001 and congeners as clinically useful compounds for smoking cessation, with a mechanism of action distinct from currently available medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
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Stopponi S, Soverchia L, Ubaldi M, Cippitelli A, Serpelloni G, Ciccocioppo R. Chronic THC during adolescence increases the vulnerability to stress-induced relapse to heroin seeking in adult rats. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 24:1037-45. [PMID: 24412506 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2013.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis derivatives are among the most widely used illicit substances among young people. The addictive potential of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major active ingredient of cannabis is well documented in scientific literature. However, the consequence of THC exposure during adolescence on occurrence of addiction for other drugs of abuse later in life is still controversial. To explore this aspect of THC pharmacology, in the present study, we treated adolescent rats from postnatal day (PND) 35 to PND-46 with increasing daily doses of THC (2.5-10mg/kg). One week after intoxication, the rats were tested for anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. One month later (starting from PND 75), rats were trained to operantly self-administer heroin intravenously. Finally, following extinction phase, reinstatement of lever pressing elicited by the pharmacological stressor, yohimbine (1.25mg/kg) was evaluated. Data revealed that in comparison to controls, animals treated with chronic THC during adolescence showed a higher level of anxiety-like behavior. When tested for heroin (20μg per infusion) self-administration, no significant differences were observed in both the acquisition of operant responding and heroin intake at baseline. Noteworthy, following the extinction phase, administration of yohimbine elicited a significantly higher level of heroin seeking in rats previously exposed to THC. Altogether these findings demonstrate that chronic exposure to THC during adolescence is responsible for heightened anxiety and increased vulnerability to drug relapse in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Stopponi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Laura Soverchia
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Massimo Ubaldi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Giovanni Serpelloni
- Dipartimento Politiche Antidroga, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, Italy
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy.
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Cippitelli A, Damadzic R, Hamelink C, Brunnquell M, Thorsell A, Heilig M, Eskay RL. Binge-like ethanol consumption increases corticosterone levels and neurodegneration whereas occupancy of type II glucocorticoid receptors with mifepristone is neuroprotective. Addict Biol 2014; 19:27-36. [PMID: 22500955 DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2012.00451.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Excessive ethanol (EtOH) use leads to impaired memory and cognition. Using a rat model of binge-like intoxication, we tested whether elevated corticosterone (Cort) levels contribute to the neurotoxic consequences of EtOH exposure. Rats were adrenalectomized (Adx) and implanted with cholesterol pellets, or cholesterol pellets containing Cort in order to achieve basal, medium, or high blood concentrations of Cort. Intragastric EtOH or an isocaloric control solution was given three times daily for 4 days to achieve blood alcohol levels ranging between 200 and 350 mg/dl. Mean 24-hour plasma levels of Cort were ∼110 and ∼40 ng/ml in intact EtOH-treated and intact control animals, respectively. Basal Cort replacement concentrations in EtOH-treated Adx animals did not exacerbate alcohol-induced neurodegeneration in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) or the entorhinal cortex (EC) as observed by amino-cupric silver staining. In contrast, Cort replacement pellets resulting in plasma Cort levels twofold higher (medium) than normal, or greater than twofold higher (high) in Adx-Cort-EtOH animals increased neurodegeneration. In separate experiments, pharmacological blockade of the Type II glucocorticoid (GC) receptor was initiated with mifepristone (RU38486; 0, 5, 15 mg/kg/day, i.p.). At the higher dose, mifepristone decreased the number of degenerating hippocampal DG cells in binge-EtOH-treated intact animals, whereas, only a trend for reduction was observed in 15 mg/kg/day mifepristone-treated animals in the EC, as determined by fluoro-jade B staining. These results suggest that elevated circulating Cort in part mediates EtOH-induced neurotoxicity in the brain through activation of Type II GC receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA Section on Molecular Neuroscience, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
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de Guglielmo G, Cippitelli A, Somaini L, Gerra G, Li H, Stopponi S, Ubaldi M, Kallupi M, Ciccocioppo R. Pregabalin reduces cocaine self-administration and relapse to cocaine seeking in the rat. Addict Biol 2013; 18:644-53. [PMID: 22734646 DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2012.00468.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pregabalin (Lyrica™) is a structural analog of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and is approved by the FDA for partial epilepsy, neuropathic pain and generalized anxiety disorders. Pregabalin also reduces excitatory neurotransmitter release and post-synaptic excitability. Recently, we demonstrated that pregabalin reduced alcohol intake and prevented relapse to the alcohol seeking elicited by stress or environmental stimuli associated with alcohol availability. Here, we sought to extend these findings by examining the effect of pregabalin on cocaine self-administration (0.25 mg/infusion) and on cocaine seeking elicited by both conditioned stimuli and stress, as generated by administration of yohimbine (1.25 mg/kg). The results showed that oral administration of pregabalin (0, 10 or 30 mg/kg) reduced self-administration of cocaine over an extended period (6 hours), whereas it did not modify self-administration of food. In cocaine reinstatement studies, pregabalin (10 and 30 mg/kg) abolished the cocaine seeking elicited by both the pharmacological stressor yohimbine and the cues predictive of cocaine availability. Overall, these results demonstrate that pregabalin may have potential in the treatment of some aspects of cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giordano de Guglielmo
- Pharmacology Unit; School of Pharmacy; University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri; Camerino; Italy
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Pharmacology Unit; School of Pharmacy; University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri; Camerino; Italy
| | - Lorenzo Somaini
- Addiction Treatment Centre; Health Local Unit; Biella; Italy
| | - Gilberto Gerra
- Drug Prevention and Health Branch; Division for Operations; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Vienna; Austria
| | - Hongwu Li
- Pharmacology Unit; School of Pharmacy; University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri; Camerino; Italy
| | - Serena Stopponi
- Pharmacology Unit; School of Pharmacy; University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri; Camerino; Italy
| | - Massimo Ubaldi
- Pharmacology Unit; School of Pharmacy; University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri; Camerino; Italy
| | - Marsida Kallupi
- Pharmacology Unit; School of Pharmacy; University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri; Camerino; Italy
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- Pharmacology Unit; School of Pharmacy; University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri; Camerino; Italy
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Stopponi S, de Guglielmo G, Somaini L, Cippitelli A, Cannella N, Kallupi M, Ubaldi M, Heilig M, Demopulos G, Gaitanaris G, Ciccocioppo R. Activation of PPARγ by pioglitazone potentiates the effects of naltrexone on alcohol drinking and relapse in msP rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2013; 37:1351-60. [PMID: 23550625 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pioglitazone is a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist used for the treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies conducted in our laboratory showed that activation of PPARγ by pioglitazone reduces alcohol drinking, stress-induced relapse, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome in rats. Pioglitazone was not able to prevent relapse elicited by alcohol cues. Conversely, the nonselective opioid antagonist naltrexone has been shown to reduce alcohol drinking and cue- but not stress-induced relapse in rodents. METHODS Based on these findings, this study was sought to determine the efficacy of pioglitazone and naltrexone combination on alcohol intake and relapse behavior. Genetically selected alcohol-preferring Marchigian Sardinian (msP) rats were used for the study. RESULTS Pioglitazone (10 and 30 mg/kg) and naltrexone (0.25 and 1.0 mg/kg) each individually reduced alcohol drinking in msP rats. The combination of the 2 drugs resulted in a more potent alcohol drinking reduction than single agents. Confirming previous studies, pioglitazone (10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly reduced relapse induced by the pharmacological stressor yohimbine (1.25 mg/kg) but not by cues predictive of alcohol availability. Conversely, naltrexone reduced reinstatement of drug seeking elicited by alcohol cues but not by yohimbine. CONCLUSIONS The drug combination was effective in reducing both relapse behaviors. These findings open new vistas in the use pioglitazone in combination with naltrexone for the treatment of alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Stopponi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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Ayanwuyi LO, Carvajal F, Lerma-Cabrera JM, Domi E, Björk K, Ubaldi M, Heilig M, Roberto M, Ciccocioppo R, Cippitelli A. Role of a genetic polymorphism in the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 gene in alcohol drinking and seeking behaviors of marchigian sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Front Psychiatry 2013; 4:23. [PMID: 23630503 PMCID: PMC3624086 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats exhibit innate preference for alcohol, are highly sensitive to stress and stress-induced alcohol seeking. Genetic analysis showed that over-expression of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system of msP rats is correlated with the presence of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) occurring in the promoter region (position -1836 and -2097) of the CRF1 receptor (CRF1-R) gene. Here we examined whether these point mutations were associated to the innate alcohol preference, stress-induced drinking, and seeking. We have recently re-derived the msP rats to obtain two distinct lines carrying the wild type (GG) and the point mutations (AA), respectively. The phenotypic characteristics of these two lines were compared with those of unselected Wistar rats. Both AA and GG rats showed similar patterns of voluntary alcohol intake and preference. Similarly, the pharmacological stressor yohimbine (0.0, 0.625, 1.25, and 2.5 mg/kg) elicited increased operant alcohol self-administration under fixed and progressive ratio reinforcement schedules in all three lines. Following extinction, yohimbine (0.0, 0.625, 1.25, and 2.5 mg/kg) significantly reinstated alcohol seeking in the three groups. However, at the highest dose this effect was no longer evident in AA rats. Treatment with the CRF1-R antagonist antalarmin (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) significantly reduced alcohol-reinforced lever pressing in the AA line (10 and 20 mg/kg) while a weaker or no effect was observed in the Wistar and the GG group, respectively. Finally, antalarmin significantly reduced yohimbine-induced increase in alcohol drinking in all three groups. In conclusion, these specific SNPs in the CRF1-R gene do not seem to play a primary role in the expression of the msP excessive drinking phenotype or stress-induced drinking but may be associated with a decreased threshold for stress-induced alcohol seeking and an increased sensitivity to the effects of pharmacological blockade of CRF1-R on alcohol drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia O Ayanwuyi
- Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino Camerino, Italy
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Stopponi S, Somaini L, Cippitelli A, de Guglielmo G, Kallupi M, Cannella N, Gerra G, Massi M, Ciccocioppo R. Pregabalin reduces alcohol drinking and relapse to alcohol seeking in the rat. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2012; 220:87-96. [PMID: 21887495 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-011-2457-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2011] [Accepted: 08/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Pregabalin (Lyrica™) is a structural analogue of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) approved by FDA for partial epilepsy, neuropathic pain and recently generalized anxiety disorder. While the exact cellular mechanism of action of pregabalin is still unclear, evidence from several studies suggests that it reduces excitatory neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic excitability. OBJECTIVES Based on these mechanisms we sought interesting to evaluate the effect of pregabalin on alcohol-abuse-related behaviours. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this purpose, using genetically selected alcohol-preferring Marchigian Sardinian (msP) rats, we evaluated the effect of pregabalin on alcohol drinking and relapse to alcohol seeking elicited by environmental conditioning factors or stress. RESULTS Our results showed that treatment with pregabalin (0, 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg) given orally selectively reduced home cage alcohol drinking in msP rat. This effect was confirmed in self-administration experiments where pregabalin (0, 10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly reduced operant responding for alcohol but not for food. Using alcohol reinstatement models we also found that pregabalin (0, 10 and 30 mg/kg) abolished seeking behaviour elicited by the pharmacological stressor yohimbine as well as cues predictive of alcohol availability. CONCLUSIONS Results demonstrate that pregabalin may have potential in the treatment of alcohol addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Stopponi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
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Cippitelli A, Astarita G, Duranti A, Caprioli G, Ubaldi M, Stopponi S, Kallupi M, Sagratini G, Rodrìguez de Fonseca F, Piomelli D, Ciccocioppo R. Endocannabinoid regulation of acute and protracted nicotine withdrawal: effect of FAAH inhibition. PLoS One 2011; 6:e28142. [PMID: 22140525 PMCID: PMC3227620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2011] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence shows that the endocannabinoid system modulates the addictive properties of nicotine. In the present study, we hypothesized that spontaneous withdrawal resulting from removal of chronically implanted transdermal nicotine patches is regulated by the endocannabinoid system. A 7-day nicotine dependence procedure (5.2 mg/rat/day) elicited occurrence of reliable nicotine abstinence symptoms in Wistar rats. Somatic and affective withdrawal signs were observed at 16 and 34 hours following removal of nicotine patches, respectively. Further behavioral manifestations including decrease in locomotor activity and increased weight gain also occurred during withdrawal. Expression of spontaneous nicotine withdrawal was accompanied by fluctuation in levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) in several brain structures including the amygdala, the hippocampus, the hypothalamus and the prefrontal cortex. Conversely, levels of 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol were not significantly altered. Pharmacological inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the enzyme responsible for the intracellular degradation of AEA, by URB597 (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg, i.p.), reduced withdrawal-induced anxiety as assessed by the elevated plus maze test and the shock-probe defensive burying paradigm, but did not prevent the occurrence of somatic signs. Together, the results indicate that pharmacological strategies aimed at enhancing endocannabinoid signaling may offer therapeutic advantages to treat the negative affective state produced by nicotine withdrawal, which is critical for the maintenance of tobacco use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
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Cippitelli A, Damadzic R, Singley E, Thorsell A, Ciccocioppo R, Eskay RL, Heilig M. Pharmacological blockade of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRH1R) reduces voluntary consumption of high alcohol concentrations in non-dependent Wistar rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2011; 100:522-9. [PMID: 22036774 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2011] [Revised: 09/15/2011] [Accepted: 10/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A dysregulation of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) system has been implicated in the development of excessive alcohol consumption and dependence. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the CRH system is also recruited when non-dependent Wistar rats escalate to high alcohol intake in the intermittent (alternate days) model of drinking. METHODS We compared intermittent and continuous access to 20% (v/v) alcohol in a two-bottle free choice drinking paradigm. Following a total of twenty 24-hour exposures for every experimental group, we assessed signs of alcohol withdrawal, including anxiety-like behavior and sensitivity to stress. The selective CRH1 receptor (CRH1R) antagonist antalarmin (0, 10, 20 mg/kg, i.p.) was tested on alcohol consumption. RESULTS Intermittent access to 20% alcohol led non-selected Wistar rats to escalate their voluntary intake to a high and stable level, whereas continuously exposed animals maintained a lower consumption. These groups did not differ in physical withdrawal signs. In addition, no differences were found when anxiogenic-like behavior was studied, neither under basal conditions or following restraint stress. Nevertheless, sensitivity to the treatment with the CRH1R antalarmin was observed since a reduction of 20% alcohol intake was found in both groups of animals regardless of the regimen of alcohol exposure. In addition, antalarmin was effective when injected to animals exposed to intermittent 10% (v/v) alcohol whereas it failed to suppress 10% continuous alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacological blockade of CRH1R reduced alcohol drinking when sustained high levels of intake were achieved suggesting that the CRH system plays a key role when high doses of ethanol are consumed by non-dependent subjects. This supports the notion that CRH system not only maintains the dependent state but also engages the transition to dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892-1108, USA.
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Cippitelli A, Rezvani AH, Robinson JE, Eisenberg L, Levin ED, Bonaventure P, Motley ST, Lovenberg TW, Heilig M, Thorsell A. The novel, selective, brain-penetrant neuropeptide Y Y2 receptor antagonist, JNJ-31020028, tested in animal models of alcohol consumption, relapse, and anxiety. Alcohol 2011; 45:567-76. [PMID: 21145691 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2010.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2010] [Revised: 09/02/2010] [Accepted: 09/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) signaling has been shown to modulate stress responses and to be involved in regulation of alcohol intake and dependence. The present study explores the possibility that blockade of NPY Y2 autoreceptors using a novel, blood-brain barrier penetrant NPY Y2 receptor antagonist, JNJ-31020028 (N-(4-{4-[2-(diethylamino)-2-oxo-1-phenylethyl]piperazin-1-yl}-3-fluorophenyl)-2-pyridin-3-ylbenzamide), may achieve a therapeutically useful activation of the NPY system in alcohol- and anxiety-related behavioral models. We examined JNJ-31020028 in operant alcohol self-administration, stress-induced reinstatement to alcohol seeking, and acute alcohol withdrawal (hangover)-induced anxiety. Furthermore, we tested its effects on voluntary alcohol consumption in a genetic animal model of alcohol preference, the alcohol-preferring (P) rat. Neither systemic (0, 15, 30, and 40 mg/kg, subcutaneously [s.c.]) nor intracerebroventricular (0.0, 0.3, and 1.0 nmol/rat) administration of JNJ-31020028 affected alcohol-reinforced lever pressing or relapse to alcohol seeking behavior following stress exposure. Also, when its effects were tested on unlimited access to alcohol in P rats, preference for alcohol solution was transiently suppressed but without affecting voluntary alcohol intake. JNJ-31020028 (15 mg/kg, s.c.) did reverse the anxiogenic effects of withdrawal from a single bolus dose of alcohol on the elevated plus-maze, confirming the anxiolytic-like properties of NPY Y2 antagonism. Our data do not support Y2 antagonism as a mechanism for reducing alcohol consumption or relapse-like behavior, but the observed effects on withdrawal-induced anxiety suggest that NPY Y2 receptor antagonists may be a putative treatment for the negative affective states following alcohol withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Stopponi S, Somaini L, Cippitelli A, Cannella N, Braconi S, Kallupi M, Ruggeri B, Heilig M, Demopulos G, Gaitanaris G, Massi M, Ciccocioppo R. Activation of nuclear PPARγ receptors by the antidiabetic agent pioglitazone suppresses alcohol drinking and relapse to alcohol seeking. Biol Psychiatry 2011; 69:642-9. [PMID: 21276964 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2010] [Revised: 12/01/2010] [Accepted: 12/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone belong to the class of thiazolidinediones (TZDs). They were first developed as antioxidants and then approved for the clinical treatment of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. TZDs bind with high affinity and activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) receptors, which in the brain are expressed both in neurons and in glia. METHODS We evaluated the effect of PPARγ activation by TZDs on alcohol drinking, relapse-like behavior, and withdrawal in the rat. We also tested the effect of TZDs on alcohol and saccharin self-administration. RESULTS We showed that activation of PPARγ receptors by pioglitazone (0, 10, and 30 mg/kg) and rosiglitazone (0, 10 and 30 mg/kg) given orally selectively reduced alcohol drinking. The effect was blocked by pretreatment with the selective PPARγ antagonist GW9662 (5 μg/rat) given into the lateral cerebroventricle, suggesting that this TZD's effect is mediated by PPARγ receptors in the central nervous system. Pioglitazone abolished reinstatement of alcohol seeking, a relapse-like behavior, induced by yohimbine, a pharmacologic stressor, but did not affect cue-induced relapse. In the self-administration experiments, pioglitazone reduced lever pressing for alcohol but not for saccharin. Finally, pioglitazone prevented the expression of somatic signs of alcohol withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide new information about the role of brain PPARγ receptors and identify pioglitazone as candidate treatments for alcoholism and possibly other addictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Stopponi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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Economidou D, Cippitelli A, Stopponi S, Braconi S, Clementi S, Ubaldi M, Martin-Fardon R, Weiss F, Massi M, Ciccocioppo R. Activation of brain NOP receptors attenuates acute and protracted alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the rat. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2011; 35:747-55. [PMID: 21223310 PMCID: PMC3066303 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01392.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol withdrawal refers to a cluster of symptoms that may occur from suddenly ceasing the use of alcohol after chronic or prolonged ingestion. These symptoms make alcohol abstinence difficult and increase the risk of relapse in recovering alcoholics. In previous studies, we demonstrated that treatment with Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) significantly reduces alcohol consumption and attenuates alcohol-seeking behavior induced by environmental conditioning factors or by stress in rats. In this study, we evaluated whether activation of brain NOP receptors may also attenuate alcohol withdrawal signs in rats. METHODS For this purpose, animals were subjected to a 6-day chronic alcohol intoxication (by intragastric administration), and at 8, 10, and 12 hours following cessation of alcohol exposure, they were treated intracerebroventricularly (ICV) with N/OFQ (0.0, 1.0, and 3.0 μg/rat). Somatic withdrawal signs were scored after ICV treatment. In a subsequent experiment, to evaluate N/OFQ effects on alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety, another group of rats was subjected to ethanol intoxication and after 1 week was tested for anxiety behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM). In the last experiment, an additional group of rats was tested for anxiety elicited by acute ethanol intoxication (hangover anxiety). For this purpose, animals received an acute dose (3.0 g/kg) of 20% alcohol and 12 hour later were tested in the EPM following ICV N/OFQ (0.0, 1.0, and 2.0 μg/rat). RESULTS Results showed that N/OFQ significantly reduced the expression of somatic withdrawal signs and reversed anxiety-like behaviors associated with both chronic and acute alcohol intoxication. N/OFQ did not affect anxiety scores in nondependent animals. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the N/OFQ-NOP receptor system may represent a promising target for the development of new treatments to ameliorate alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daina Economidou
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Serena Stopponi
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Simone Braconi
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Stefano Clementi
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Massimo Ubaldi
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Rèmi Martin-Fardon
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Friedbert Weiss
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Maurizio Massi
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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Leggio L, Addolorato G, Cippitelli A, Jerlhag E, Kampov-Polevoy AB, Swift RM. Role of feeding-related pathways in alcohol dependence: A focus on sweet preference, NPY, and ghrelin. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2010; 35:194-202. [PMID: 21058960 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01334.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Converging research evidence suggests that alcohol and food-seeking behaviors share common neural pathways. There is preclinical and clinical evidence linking the consumption of sweets to alcohol intake in both animals and humans. In addition, a growing body of animal and human literature suggests the involvement of "feeding-related" peptides in alcohol-seeking behavior. In particular, both central and peripheral appetitive peptides have shown a possible role in alcohol dependence. The present mini-review will summarize the literature on the link between sweet preference and alcohol dependence, and on the role of feeding-related peptides in alcohol dependence. Specifically, in an attempt to narrow the field, the present mini-review will focus on 2 specific pathways, the central neuropeptide Y and the peripheral gut peptide ghrelin. Although more research is needed, data available suggest that studying feeding-related pathways in alcohol dependence may have theoretic, biologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Leggio
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
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Cippitelli A, Zook M, Bell L, Damadzic R, Eskay RL, Schwandt M, Heilig M. Reversibility of object recognition but not spatial memory impairment following binge-like alcohol exposure in rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2010; 94:538-46. [PMID: 20849966 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2010.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2010] [Revised: 07/31/2010] [Accepted: 09/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Excessive alcohol use leads to neurodegeneration in several brain structures including the hippocampal dentate gyrus and the entorhinal cortex. Cognitive deficits that result are among the most insidious and debilitating consequences of alcoholism. The object exploration task (OET) provides a sensitive measurement of spatial memory impairment induced by hippocampal and cortical damage. In this study, we examine whether the observed neurotoxicity produced by a 4-day binge ethanol treatment results in long-term memory impairment by observing the time course of reactions to spatial change (object configuration) and non-spatial change (object recognition). Wistar rats were assessed for their abilities to detect spatial configuration in the OET at 1 week and 10 weeks following the ethanol treatment, in which ethanol groups received 9-15 g/kg/day and achieved blood alcohol levels over 300 mg/dl. At 1 week, results indicated that the binge alcohol treatment produced impairment in both spatial memory and non-spatial object recognition performance. Unlike the controls, ethanol treated rats did not increase the duration or number of contacts with the displaced object in the spatial memory task, nor did they increase the duration of contacts with the novel object in the object recognition task. After 10 weeks, spatial memory remained impaired in the ethanol treated rats but object recognition ability was recovered. Our data suggest that episodes of binge-like alcohol exposure result in long-term and possibly permanent impairments in memory for the configuration of objects during exploration, whereas the ability to detect non-spatial changes is only temporarily affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies (LCTS), National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH) Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Cippitelli A, Karlsson C, Shaw JL, Thorsell A, Gehlert DR, Heilig M. Suppression of alcohol self-administration and reinstatement of alcohol seeking by melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCH1-R) antagonism in Wistar rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2010; 211:367-75. [PMID: 20628734 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-1891-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2010] [Accepted: 05/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is involved in regulation of appetitive behaviors as well as emotional reactivity and reward, behavioral domains relevant to alcohol addiction. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated the effects of the non-peptide MCH1 receptor antagonist, GW803430 [6-(4-chloro-phenyl)-3-[3-methoxy-4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl]-3H-thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-one; 3-30 mg/kg, i.p.] on alcohol-related behaviors in Wistar rats. RESULTS Ex vivo binding experiments demonstrated that the GW803430 dose range used resulted in high central MCH1 receptor occupancy. Alcohol self-administration was dose-dependently and potently suppressed, by approximately 80% at the highest dose. Reinstatement of alcohol-seeking induced by alcohol-associated cues was essentially eliminated. In contrast, reinstatement induced by footshock stress was not significantly altered. Taste preference for a quinine/saccharin solution, locomotor activity, and alcohol elimination were unaffected. CONCLUSION Together, these observations support a specific involvement of the MCH system in mediating alcohol reward and cue-induced relapse to alcohol seeking. MCH1-R antagonism may constitute an attractive treatment target for alcohol use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 10 Center Dr., 1/5330, Bethesda, MD 20892-1108, USA
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Cippitelli A, Damadzic R, Frankola K, Goldstein A, Thorsell A, Singley E, Eskay RL, Heilig M. Alcohol-induced neurodegeneration, suppression of transforming growth factor-beta, and cognitive impairment in rats: prevention by group II metabotropic glutamate receptor activation. Biol Psychiatry 2010; 67:823-30. [PMID: 20132926 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2009] [Revised: 12/05/2009] [Accepted: 12/11/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutamatergic neurotransmission has been implicated in mechanisms of alcohol-induced neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here, we examined whether the group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist LY379268 prevents neuronal death and learning deficits in a rat model of binge-like exposure to alcohol. METHODS Following 4-day binge alcohol exposure concurrent with LY379268 or vehicle treatment, Fluoro-Jade B and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) staining were carried out, and reversal learning in the Morris water maze was assessed. RESULTS Fluoro-Jade B staining indicating neurodegeneration was most extensive in the ventral hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex (EC). LY379268 was potently neuroprotective in the EC but not in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. In parallel, binge alcohol exposure suppressed TGF-beta expression in both the EC and dentate gyrus, whereas LY379268 increased TGF-beta in the EC only. Finally, neuroprotective effects of LY379268 were accompanied by prevention of deficits in spatial reversal learning. CONCLUSIONS Our data support a neuroprotective role for group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists and TGF-beta in alcohol-induced neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1108, USA
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Cippitelli A, Damadzic R, Hansson AC, Singley E, Sommer WH, Eskay R, Thorsell A, Heilig M. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) suppresses yohimbine-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2010; 208:417-26. [PMID: 20012021 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-009-1741-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2009] [Accepted: 11/18/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Reinstatement of responding to a previously alcohol-associated lever following extinction is an established model of relapse-like behavior and can be triggered by stress exposure. Here, we examined whether neuropeptide Y (NPY), an endogenous anti-stress mediator, blocks reinstatement of alcohol-seeking induced by the pharmacological stressor yohimbine. MATERIALS AND METHODS NPY [5.0 or 10.0 mug/rat, intracerebroventricularly (ICV)] dose-dependently blocked the reinstatement of alcohol seeking induced by yohimbine (1.25 mg/kg, i.p.) but failed to significantly suppress the maintenance of alcohol self-administration. We then used c-fos expression mapping to examine neuronal activation following treatment with yohimbine or NPY alone or yohimbine following NPY pre-treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The analysis was focused on a network of structures previously implicated in yohimbine-induced reinstatement, comprised of central (CeA) and basolateral (BLA) amygdala and the shell of the nucleus accumbens (Nc AccS). Within this network, both yohimbine and NPY potently induced neuronal activation, and their effects were additive, presumably indicating activation of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations, respectively. CONCLUSION These results suggest that NPY selectively suppresses relapse to alcohol seeking induced by stressful events and support the NPY system as an attractive target for the treatment of alcohol addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 10 Center Dr. 1/5330, Bethesda, MD 20892-1108, USA
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Gerra G, Zaimovic A, Gerra M, Ciccocioppo R, Cippitelli A, Serpelloni G, Somaini L. Pharmacology and Toxicology of Cannabis Derivatives and Endocannabinoid Agonists. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 5:46-52. [DOI: 10.2174/157488910789753521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2009] [Accepted: 08/21/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Ciccocioppo R, Gehlert DR, Ryabinin A, Kaur S, Cippitelli A, Thorsell A, Lê AD, Hipskind PA, Hamdouchi C, Lu J, Hembre EJ, Cramer J, Song M, McKinzie D, Morin M, Economidou D, Stopponi S, Cannella N, Braconi S, Kallupi M, de Guglielmo G, Massi M, George DT, Gilman J, Hersh J, Tauscher JT, Hunt SP, Hommer D, Heilig M. Stress-related neuropeptides and alcoholism: CRH, NPY, and beyond. Alcohol 2009; 43:491-8. [PMID: 19913192 PMCID: PMC2804869 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2009.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2009] [Accepted: 08/12/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This article summarizes the proceedings of a symposium held at the conference on "Alcoholism and Stress: A Framework for Future Treatment Strategies" in Volterra, Italy, May 6-9, 2008. Chaired by Markus Heilig and Roberto Ciccocioppo, this symposium offered a forum for the presentation of recent data linking neuropetidergic neurotransmission to the regulation of different alcohol-related behaviors in animals and in humans. Dr. Donald Gehlert described the development of a new corticotrophin-releasing factor receptor 1 antagonist and showed its efficacy in reducing alcohol consumption and stress-induced relapse in different animal models of alcohol abuse. Dr. Andrey Ryabinin reviewed recent findings in his laboratory, indicating a role of the urocortin 1 receptor system in the regulation of alcohol intake. Dr. Annika Thorsell showed data supporting the significance of the neuropeptide Y receptor system in the modulation of behaviors associated with a history of ethanol intoxication. Dr. Roberto Ciccocioppo focused his presentation on the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptors as treatment targets for alcoholism. Finally, Dr. Markus Heilig showed recent preclinical and clinical evidence suggesting that neurokinin 1 antagonism may represent a promising new treatment for alcoholism. Collectively, these investigators highlighted the significance of neuropeptidergic neurotransmission in the regulation of neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol addiction. Data also revealed the importance of these systems as treatment targets for the development of new medication for alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ciccocioppo
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Macerata, Italy.
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Economidou D, Hansson AC, Weiss F, Terasmaa A, Sommer WH, Cippitelli A, Fedeli A, Martin-Fardon R, Massi M, Ciccocioppo R, Heilig M. Dysregulation of nociceptin/orphanin FQ activity in the amygdala is linked to excessive alcohol drinking in the rat. Biol Psychiatry 2008; 64:211-8. [PMID: 18367152 PMCID: PMC4275225 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2007] [Revised: 02/04/2008] [Accepted: 02/05/2008] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcoholism is a complex behavioral disorder in which interactions between stressful life events and heritable susceptibility factors contribute to the initiation and progression of disease. Neural substrates of these interactions remain largely unknown. Here, we examined the role of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) system, with an animal model in which genetic selection for high alcohol preference has led to co-segregation of elevated behavioral sensitivity to stress (Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring [msP]). METHODS The msP and Wistar rats trained to self-administer alcohol received central injections of N/OFQ. In situ hybridization and receptor binding assays were also performed to evaluate N/OFQ receptor (NOP) function in naïve msP and Wistar rats. RESULTS Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of N/OFQ significantly inhibited alcohol self-administration in msP but not in nonselected Wistar rats. The NOP receptor messenger RNA expression and binding was upregulated across most brain regions in msP compared with Wistar rats. However, in msP rats [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding revealed a selective impairment of NOP receptor signaling in the central amygdala (CeA). Ethanol self-administration in msP rats was suppressed after N/OFQ microinjection into the CeA but not into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis or the basolateral amygdala. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that dysregulation of N/OFQ-NOP receptor signaling in the CeA contributes to excessive alcohol intake in msP rats and that this phenotype can be rescued by local administration of pharmacological doses of exogenous N/OFQ. Data are interpreted on the basis of the anti-corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) actions of N/OFQ and the significance of the CRF system in promoting excessive alcohol drinking in msP rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daina Economidou
- Department of Experimental Medicine & Public Health, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino (MC), Italy
| | - Anita C. Hansson
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, NIAAA/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Friedbert Weiss
- The Scripps Research Institute, Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Wolfgang H. Sommer
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, NIAAA/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine & Public Health, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino (MC), Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, NIAAA/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Amalia Fedeli
- Department of Experimental Medicine & Public Health, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino (MC), Italy
| | - Rèmi Martin-Fardon
- The Scripps Research Institute, Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maurizio Massi
- Department of Experimental Medicine & Public Health, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino (MC), Italy
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- Department of Experimental Medicine & Public Health, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino (MC), Italy
| | - Markus Heilig
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, NIAAA/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Cippitelli A, Bilbao A, Gorriti MA, Navarro M, Massi M, Piomelli D, Ciccocioppo R, Rodríguez de Fonseca F. The anandamide transport inhibitor AM404 reduces ethanol self-administration. Eur J Neurosci 2007; 26:476-86. [PMID: 17650118 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05665.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system mediates in the pharmacological actions of ethanol and genetic studies link endocannabinoid signaling to alcoholism. Drugs activating cannabinoid CB1 receptors have been found to promote alcohol consumption but their effects on self-administration of alcohol are less clear because of the interference with motor performance. To avoid this problem, a novel pharmacological approach to the study of the contribution of the cannabinoid system in alcoholism may be to use drugs that locally amplify the effects of alcohol on endogenous cannabinoids. In the present study we addressed this model by studying the effects of the anandamide transport inhibitor N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) arachidonoyl-ethanolamide (AM404) on both ethanol self-administration and reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior in rats. The results show that AM404 significantly reduced ethanol self-administration in a dose-dependent manner but failed to modify reinstatement for lever pressing induced by the stimulus associated with alcohol. This effect was not due to a motor depressant effect and was not related to a decrease in general motivational state, as it was not effective in other reward paradigms such as lever pressing for a saccharin solution. The mechanism of action of AM404 does not involve cannabinoid CB1 receptors as the CB1-selective antagonist SR141716A did not block the reduction of ethanol self-administration induced by the anandamide uptake blocker. Moreover, 3-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-(-)-11-hydroxy-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol (HU-210), a classical cannabinoid receptor agonist, did not affect ethanol self-administration. The effects of AM404 are not mediated by either vanilloid VR1 receptors or cannabinoid CB2 receptors because it is not antagonized by either the VR1 receptor antagonist capsazepine or the CB2 antagonist AM630. These results indicate that AM404 may be considered as an innovative approach to reduce alcohol consumption.
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MESH Headings
- Alcohol Drinking/psychology
- Animals
- Arachidonic Acids/metabolism
- Arachidonic Acids/pharmacology
- Capsaicin/analogs & derivatives
- Capsaicin/pharmacology
- Central Nervous System Depressants/pharmacology
- Conditioning, Operant/drug effects
- Depression, Chemical
- Endocannabinoids
- Ethanol/pharmacology
- Extinction, Psychological/drug effects
- Hypothermia/chemically induced
- Hypothermia/physiopathology
- Male
- Motor Activity/drug effects
- Polyunsaturated Alkamides/metabolism
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/agonists
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Reinforcement, Psychology
- Saccharin/pharmacology
- Self Administration
- TRPV Cation Channels/antagonists & inhibitors
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cippitelli
- Fundación IMABIS (The European TARGALC Consortium), Hospital Carlos Haya, Avenida Carlos Haya s/n, 7 Planta, Pabellón A, 29010 Málaga, Spain
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Massi M, Fedeli A, Economidou D, Braconi S, Cippitelli A, Ciccocioppo R. Interactions between neuropeptide S and corticotropin releasing factor in the control of palatable food intake in rats. Appetite 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2007.03.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Gehlert DR, Cippitelli A, Thorsell A, Lê AD, Hipskind PA, Hamdouchi C, Lu J, Hembre EJ, Cramer J, Song M, McKinzie D, Morin M, Ciccocioppo R, Heilig M. 3-(4-Chloro-2-morpholin-4-yl-thiazol-5-yl)-8-(1-ethylpropyl)-2,6-dimethyl-imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine: a novel brain-penetrant, orally available corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 antagonist with efficacy in animal models of alcoholism. J Neurosci 2007; 27:2718-26. [PMID: 17344409 PMCID: PMC6672492 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4985-06.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a novel corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRF1) antagonist with advantageous properties for clinical development, and its in vivo activity in preclinical alcoholism models. 3-(4-Chloro-2-morpholin-4-yl-thiazol-5-yl)-8-(1-ethylpropyl)-2,6-dimethyl-imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine (MTIP) inhibited 125I-sauvagine binding to rat pituitary membranes and cloned human CRF1 with subnanomolar affinities, with no detectable activity at the CRF2 receptor or other common drug targets. After oral administration to rats, MTIP inhibited 125I-sauvagine binding to rat cerebellar membranes ex vivo with an ED50 of approximately 1.3 mg/kg and an oral bioavailability of 91.1%. Compared with R121919 (2,5-dimethyl-3-(6-dimethyl-4-methylpyridin-3-yl)-7-dipropylamino-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine) and CP154526 (N-butyl-N-ethyl-4,9-dimethyl-7-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.3.0]nona-2,4,8,10-tetraen-2-amine), MTIP had a markedly reduced volume of distribution and clearance. Neither open-field activity nor baseline exploration of an elevated plus-maze was affected by MTIP (1-10 mg/kg). In contrast, MTIP dose-dependently reversed anxiogenic effects of withdrawal from a 3 g/kg alcohol dose. Similarly, MTIP blocked excessive alcohol self-administration in Wistar rats with a history of dependence, and in a genetic model of high alcohol preference, the msP rat, at doses that had no effect in nondependent Wistar rats. Also, MTIP blocked reinstatement of stress-induced alcohol seeking both in postdependent and in genetically selected msP animals, again at doses that were ineffective in nondependent Wistar rats. Based on these findings, MTIP is a promising candidate for treatment of alcohol dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald R. Gehlert
- Discovery Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Andrea Cippitelli
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism–National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Annika Thorsell
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism–National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Anh Dzung Lê
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1, and
| | - Philip A. Hipskind
- Discovery Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Chafiq Hamdouchi
- Discovery Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Jianliang Lu
- Discovery Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Erik J. Hembre
- Discovery Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Jeffrey Cramer
- Discovery Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Min Song
- Discovery Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - David McKinzie
- Discovery Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Michelle Morin
- Discovery Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Markus Heilig
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism–National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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Hansson AC, Cippitelli A, Sommer WH, Ciccocioppo R, Heilig M. Region-specific down-regulation of Crhr1 gene expression in alcohol-preferring msP rats following ad lib access to alcohol. Addict Biol 2007; 12:30-4. [PMID: 17407495 DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2007.00050.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing hormone 1 receptors (CRH-R1) mediate increased behavioral sensitivity to stress and excessive alcohol self-administration following a history of dependence. It was recently demonstrated that the genetically selected alcohol-preferring msP rat line replicates many characteristics of the post-dependent state, due to an innate up-regulation of the Crhr1 transcript in several limbic areas related to alcohol drinking motivation. Here, we examined whether voluntary alcohol consumption might be able to down-regulate Crhr1 transcript levels in msP rats in brain areas where elevated expression previously has been shown. Within central and medial amygdala (CeA, MeA), as well as the Nc. Accumbens, 2 weeks'ad lib access to alcohol led to a highly significant down-regulation of the Crhr1 transcript. Alcohol-induced Crhr1 down-regulation was not seen in cingulate cortex. These data support that recruitment of CRH-R1 signaling within components of the extended amygdala drives excessive alcohol intake, and that alcohol is voluntarily consumed in part for its ability to reduce CRH-R1 activity in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita C Hansson
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, NIAAA/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-1108, USA
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