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N Mohammadi E, Louwies T, Pietra C, Northrup SR, Greenwood-Van Meerveld B. Attenuation of Visceral and Somatic Nociception by Ghrelin Mimetics. J Exp Pharmacol 2020; 12:267-274. [PMID: 32801950 PMCID: PMC7415447 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s249747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The anti-nociceptive properties of ghrelin have been demonstrated in alleviating inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Whether a ghrelin receptor-mediated mechanism attenuates visceral and somatic pain in the absence of active inflammation remains to be explored. Here, we investigate the efficacy of peripherally restricted (ipamorelin) and a globally active (HM01) selective ghrelin receptor agonist in an experimental model of non-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity and somatic mechanical allodynia. Materials and Methods Visceral hypersensitivity was induced by dilute acetic acid (0.6%) infusion in the colon of rats in the absence of colonic epithelial inflammation. Ghrelin mimetics HM01 and ipamorelin were administered orally or intravenously, respectively. The ghrelin receptor antagonist H0900 was administered orally. Colonic sensitivity was assessed via a visceromotor behavioral response (VMR) quantified as the number of abdominal contractions in response to graded isobaric pressures (0-60 mmHg) of colorectal distension (CRD). Somatic mechanical allodynia was quantified by the number of ipsilateral paw withdrawals in response to a calibrated von Frey filament. Results Compared to vehicle controls, ghrelin mimetics HM01 and ipamorelin significantly attenuated colonic hypersensitivity and somatic allodynia. The anti-nociceptive effects of the ghrelin mimetics were blocked after administration of the ghrelin receptor antagonist H0900. Conclusion We have shown that ghrelin receptor-mediated mechanisms are involved in visceral and somatic hypersensitivity in the absence of active colonic inflammation. Furthermore, visceral and somatic hypersensitivity could be attenuated by a peripherally restricted ghrelin mimetic. These results highlight a potential novel approach for treating acute visceral and somatic pain by ghrelin mimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan N Mohammadi
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Tijs Louwies
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | | | | | - Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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Mayo BJ, Secombe KR, Wignall AD, Bateman E, Thorpe D, Pietra C, Keefe DM, Bowen JM. The GLP-2 analogue elsiglutide reduces diarrhoea caused by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib in rats. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2020; 85:793-803. [PMID: 32060615 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-020-04040-0] [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: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Lapatinib is a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to treat breast cancer, often in combination with chemotherapy. Diarrhoea commonly occurs in up to 78% of patients undertaking lapatinib treatment. The mechanism of this diarrhoea is currently unknown. Elsiglutide is a GLP-2 analogue known to increase cell proliferation and reduce apoptosis in the intestine. METHODS We used a previously developed rat model of lapatinib-induced diarrhoea to determine if co-treatment with elsiglutide was able to reduce diarrhoea caused by lapatinib. Additionally, we analysed the caecal microbiome of these rats to assess changes in the microbiome due to lapatinib. RESULTS Rats treated with lapatinib and elsiglutide had less severe diarrhoea than rats treated with lapatinib alone. Serum lapatinib levels, blood biochemistry, myeloperoxidase levels and serum limulus amebocyte lysate levels were not significantly different between groups. Rats treated with lapatinib alone had significantly higher histopathological damage in the ileum than vehicle controls. This increase was not seen in rats also receiving elsiglutide. Rats receiving lapatinib alone had lower microbial diversity than rats who also received elsiglutide. CONCLUSIONS Elsiglutide was able to reduce diarrhoea from lapatinib treatment. This does not appear to be via reduction in inflammation or barrier permeability, and may be due to thickening of mucosa, leading to increased surface area for fluid absorption in the distal small intestine. Microbial changes seen in this study require further research to fully elucidate their role in the development of diarrhoea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronwen J Mayo
- Division of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Level 4, Playford Building, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.
| | - Kate R Secombe
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Anthony D Wignall
- Division of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Level 4, Playford Building, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Emma Bateman
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Daniel Thorpe
- Division of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Level 4, Playford Building, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | | | - Dorothy M Keefe
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Joanne M Bowen
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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3
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Shankar K, Gupta D, Mani BK, Findley BG, Lord CC, Osborne-Lawrence S, Metzger NP, Pietra C, Liu C, Berglund ED, Zigman JM. Acyl-ghrelin Is Permissive for the Normal Counterregulatory Response to Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia. Diabetes 2020; 69:228-237. [PMID: 31685528 PMCID: PMC6971486 DOI: 10.2337/db19-0438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Insulin-induced hypoglycemia leads to far-ranging negative consequences in patients with diabetes. Components of the counterregulatory response (CRR) system that help minimize and reverse hypoglycemia and coordination between those components are well studied but not yet fully characterized. Here, we tested the hypothesis that acyl-ghrelin, a hormone that defends against hypoglycemia in a preclinical starvation model, is permissive for the normal CRR to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Ghrelin knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates underwent an insulin bolus-induced hypoglycemia test and a low-dose hyperinsulinemic-hypoglycemic clamp procedure. Clamps also were performed in ghrelin-KO mice and C57BL/6N mice administered the growth hormone secretagogue receptor agonist HM01 or vehicle. Results show that hypoglycemia, as induced by an insulin bolus, was more pronounced and prolonged in ghrelin-KO mice, supporting previous studies suggesting increased insulin sensitivity upon ghrelin deletion. Furthermore, during hyperinsulinemic-hypoglycemic clamps, ghrelin-KO mice required a 10-fold higher glucose infusion rate (GIR) and exhibited less robust corticosterone and growth hormone responses. Conversely, HM01 administration, which reduced the GIR required by ghrelin-KO mice during the clamps, increased plasma corticosterone and growth hormone. Thus, our data suggest that endogenously produced acyl-ghrelin not only influences insulin sensitivity but also is permissive for the normal CRR to insulin-induced hypoglycemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kripa Shankar
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Deepali Gupta
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Bharath K Mani
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Brianna G Findley
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Caleb C Lord
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Sherri Osborne-Lawrence
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Nathan P Metzger
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | | | - Chen Liu
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Eric D Berglund
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Jeffrey M Zigman
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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4
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Mensah AA, Spriano F, Gaudio E, Bonifacio A, Lovati E, Pietra C, Bertoni F. Abstract B009: The histone deacetylase inhibitor pracinostat and its metabolite SB991 are active as single agents and in combination with 5-azacitidine in acute myeloid leukemia cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-19-b009] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Pracinostat (SB939) is a class I, II and IV histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), currently in phase 3 in combination with azacitidine for acute myeloid leukemia (NCT03151408). We have reported its strong preclinical activity in lymphomas as a single agent and in combination with several targeted anti-lymphoma agents (AACR 2018, AACR 2019). Here we report the anti-proliferative activities of pracinostat and its primary metabolite SB991 as single agents and in combination with the demethylating agent 5-azacitidine in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines. Methods. To assess anti-proliferative activity cells were exposed to increasing doses of pracinostat, SB991 (Helsinn) and vorinostat (LC Laboratories) alone or in combination (pracinostat and SB991) with increasing doses of 5-azacitidine (Selleckchem) for 72h, followed by the MTT assay. The Chou-Talalay index was used to determine synergism. Combination indexes (CI) defined the following: additive effect (CI 0.9-1.1), synergism (CI 0.3-0.9) and antagonism (CI > 1.1).For apoptosis and cell cycle analyses cells were treated with 250 nM pracinostat for 72 hours. Results. HL-60 and MV-4-11 cells responded well to pracinostat with IC50 values of 362 nM and 93 nM, respectively. IC50 values obtained for SB991, the main metabolite of pracinostat, were 233 nM and 85 nM for HL60 and MV-4-11, respectively. These IC50 values compared well with those obtained for vorinostat, which equaled 710 nM for HL-60 and 205 nM for MV-4-11. Combination of pracinostat with 5-azacitidine showed synergism in both AML cell lines (CI = 0.51 for HL-60 and CI = 0.69 for MV-4-11). Combination of SB991 with 5-azacitidine achieved synergism in MV-4-11 cells (CI = 0.54) but was not beneficial in HL-60 cells (CI = 1.23). Pracinostat moderately induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells while MV-4-11 cells underwent massive apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis revealed marked G2/M arrest plus moderate accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase for HL-60 cells, which was in agreement with the moderate induction of apoptosis measured by Annexin V staining. Also in agreement with the apoptosis analysis, MV-4-11 cells treated with pracinostat all accumulated in the sub-G1 phase. Conclusions. Pracinostat and its main metabolite SB991 exhibited robust anti-proliferative activity as single agents in HL-60 and MV-4-11, comparing favourably with the FDA approved HDACi vorinostat. Pracinostat mediated its anti-proliferative action by inducing apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Combination of pracinostat with 5-azacitidine enhanced its activity in AML cells. These results provide pre-clinical rationale for the ongoing phase 3 trials of pracinostat in combination with azacitidine in AML.
Citation Format: Afua Adjeiwaa Mensah, Filippo Spriano, Eugenio Gaudio, Annalisa Bonifacio, Emanuela Lovati, Claudio Pietra, Francesco Bertoni. The histone deacetylase inhibitor pracinostat and its metabolite SB991 are active as single agents and in combination with 5-azacitidine in acute myeloid leukemia cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B009. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-B009
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Affiliation(s)
- Afua Adjeiwaa Mensah
- 1IOR Institute of Oncology Research, USI Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona
| | - Filippo Spriano
- 1IOR Institute of Oncology Research, USI Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- 1IOR Institute of Oncology Research, USI Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona
| | | | | | | | - Francesco Bertoni
- 1IOR Institute of Oncology Research, USI Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona
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5
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Tu L, Lu Z, Ngan MP, Lam FFY, Giuliano C, Lovati E, Pietra C, Rudd JA. The brain-penetrating, orally bioavailable, ghrelin receptor agonist HM01 ameliorates motion-induced emesis in Suncus murinus (house musk shrew). Br J Pharmacol 2019; 177:1635-1650. [PMID: 31722444 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE HM01, a novel, orally bioavailable, brain-penetrating agonist of ghrelin receptors, ameliorates emesis in Suncus murinus. This study compared HM01's activity against motion sickness with that of the less brain-penetrating ghrelin receptor agonist, HM02. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The potential of HM01 and HM02 to relax isolated mesenteric arteries and to increase feeding was investigated. Radio telemetry was used to record gastric slow waves and body temperature. Plethysmography was used to measure respiratory function. HM01 and HM02 were administered p.o. 1 hr prior to provocative motion, and c-Fos expression in brain sections was assessed. KEY RESULTS HM01 and HM02 both relaxed precontracted arteries, yielding EC50 values of 2.5 ± 0.5 and 3.5 ± 0.4 nM respectively. HM01 increased feeding, but HM02 did not. Both compounds caused hypothermia and bradygastria. Motion induced 123 ± 24 emetic events. HM01, but not HM02, reduced motion-induced emesis by 67.6%. Motion increased c-Fos expression in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMNV), medial vestibular nucleus (MVe), central nucleus of the amygdala, and paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH). HM01 alone increased c-Fos expression in the area postrema, NTS, DMNV, PVH, and arcuate hypothalamic nucleus; HM02 had a similar pattern except it did not increase c-Fos in the PVH. Both compounds antagonized the motion-induced increases in c-Fos expression in the MVe. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS HM01 is more effective than HM02 in preventing motion-induced emesis. The difference in potency may relate to activation of ghrelin receptors in the PVH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longlong Tu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Zengbing Lu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Man P Ngan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Francis F Y Lam
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Claudio Giuliano
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Emanuela Lovati
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - John A Rudd
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,The Laboratory Animal Services Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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6
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Mensah AA, Spriano F, Gaudio E, Tarantelli CC, Cascione L, Rinaldi A, Lovati E, Zucca E, Stathis A, Pietra C, Bertoni F. Abstract 4735: The histone deacetylase inhibitor pracinostat modulates the transcriptome of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells and is active in combination with several targeted agents. Cancer Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-4735] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Pracinostat (SB939) is a class I, II and IV histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), in phase 3 in combination with azacitidine for acute myeloid leukemia (NCT03151408). We reported a strong preclinical activity as a single agent in lymphomas (Mensah et al, AACR 2018). Interestingly, anti-tumor activity differed between metabolically-defined subtypes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL): lower in OxPhos than in B cell receptor (BCR) cell lines. Thus, we now report RNA-Seq on OxPhos and BCR DLBCL cell lines treated with pracinostat. We also present results of a combination screening with 9 anti-lymphoma drugs for future clinical development of this HDACi.
Methods: For RNA-Seq, OxPhos (Toledo, Pfeiffer, WSU-DLCL2) and BCR (SU-DHL-4, SU-DHL-6, OCI-LY-1) cell lines were treated with pracinostat or DMSO for 6 hours (h) or 14 days (d). Absolute fold change > 2 with adjusted P <0.01 were used as thresholds.
Combinations (72 h) with 5-azacytidine, ibrutinib, lenalidomide, bendamustine, everolimus, rituximab, idelalisib, bortezomib and copanlisib were evaluated on germinal center B-cell (GCB: SU-DHL-6, VAL) and activated B cell-like (ABC: OCI-LY-10, TMD8) DLBCL using the Chou-Talalay combination index (CI).
Results: At transcriptome level, pracinostat determined a time-dependent modulation of proliferation and cell cycle genes with differences between OxPhos and BCR cell lines.
The more sensitive BCR showed a higher number of modulated genes at both timepoints than the less sensitive OxPhos DLBCL. Moreover, while the upregulated transcripts increased with time in both metabolic clusters [doubled in BCR (1201 vs 591) and almost tripled in OxPhos (330 vs 120)], the opposite was true for downregulated genes in BCR (358 vs 600) but not in less sensitive OxPhos (186 vs 187).
Combinations of pracinostat with ibrutinib [0.37 (0.01 - 0.73)] or lenalidomide [0.29 (0.11 - 0.46)] were synergistic in ABC. Idelalisib [0.67 (0.46 - 0.92)] and everolimus [0.78 (0.57 - 1.11)] were both effective in combination with pracinostat in all ABC and 1 GCB, while rituximab was synergistic in 1 ABC and all GCB [0.61 (0.32 - >1.1)]. Copanlisib [0.87 (0.45 - 0.94)] and 5-azacytidine [0.96 (0.64 - 1.14)] were additive with pracinostat in 3/4 cell lines and were synergistic in the remaining. Combination with bortezomib was beneficial in 3 cell lines [0.94 (0.5 - 1.53)] and bendamustine combined effectively with pracinostat in 2 of the 4 cell lines [1.1 (0.89 - 1.3)].
Conclusions: Modulation of the DLBCL transcriptome by pracinostat occurs already at 6 h, suggestive of a rapid effect of pracinostat on chromatin architecture, but it differs between OxPhos and BCR DLBCL. In terms of combinations, pracinostat addition to other targeted agents was largely beneficial.
Citation Format: Afua A. Mensah, Filippo Spriano, Eugenio Gaudio, Chiara Chiara Tarantelli, Luciano Cascione, Andrea Rinaldi, Emanuela Lovati, Emanuele Zucca, Anastasios Stathis, Claudio Pietra, Francesco Bertoni. The histone deacetylase inhibitor pracinostat modulates the transcriptome of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells and is active in combination with several targeted agents [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4735.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afua A. Mensah
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Filippo Spriano
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | | | - Luciano Cascione
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Rinaldi
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | | | - Emanuele Zucca
- 3Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Francesco Bertoni
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
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Minalyan A, Gabrielyan L, Pietra C, Taché Y, Wang L. Multiple Beneficial Effects of Ghrelin Agonist, HM01 on Homeostasis Alterations in 6-Hydroxydopamine Model of Parkinson's Disease in Male Rats. Front Integr Neurosci 2019; 13:13. [PMID: 31031602 PMCID: PMC6474391 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2019.00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objective: Developing therapy for non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is important for improving patients’ quality of life. Previously, we reported that the ghrelin receptor agonist, HM01 normalized the decreased 4-h fecal output and levodopa-inhibited gastric emptying in 6-OHDA rats, and activated selective areas in brain and spinal cord. In this study, we evaluated whether chronic HM01 treatment influences motor functions and/or has beneficial effects on non-motor symptoms including alterations of body weight and composition, defecation, feeding and water intake in 6-OHDA rats. Methods: Male rats were microinjected unilaterally into the medial forebrain bundle with either vehicle or 6-OHDA. Three weeks later, we assessed basal body weight, and 24-h fecal output (pellets, weight, dry weight and water content), water intake and food intake (ingested and spillage). Then, HM01 (3 mg/kg) or vehicle was given per gavage daily for 10–12 days and the same parameters were re-assessed daily. Motor behavior (stepping and rotations tests), body composition were monitored before and after the HM01 treatment. Results: 6-OHDA rats showed motor deficits in rotation test induced by apomorphine and stepping test. They also displayed a significant reduction in body weight, water consumption, fecal weight and water content and an increase in food spillage compared to vehicle microinjected rats. Daily oral treatment of HM01 did not modify motor alterations compared to vehicle but significantly increased the body weight, fat mass, and 24-h fecal weight, fecal water content, food and water intake in 6-OHDA rats, while HM01 had no significant effect in vehicle microinjected rats. Fecal weight and water content were both correlated with water intake, but not with food intake. Fat mass, but not body weight, was correlated with food intake. HM01 effects were significant after 24 h and remained similar during the treatment. Conclusions: Chronic treatment with ghrelin agonist, HM01 improved several non-motor symptoms in the rat PD model induced by 6-OHDA lesion including the decrease in body weight, water consumption, fecal weight and water content, and increased food intake while not improving the motor deficits. These findings provide pre-clinical evidence of potential benefits of ghrelin agonists to alleviate non-motor symptoms in PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem Minalyan
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lilit Gabrielyan
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Yvette Taché
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lixin Wang
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Rodriguez JA, Bruggeman EC, Mani BK, Osborne-Lawrence S, Lord CC, Roseman HF, Viroslav HL, Vijayaraghavan P, Metzger NP, Gupta D, Shankar K, Pietra C, Liu C, Zigman JM. Ghrelin Receptor Agonist Rescues Excess Neonatal Mortality in a Prader-Willi Syndrome Mouse Model. Endocrinology 2018; 159:4006-4022. [PMID: 30380028 PMCID: PMC6260060 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In the current study, we sought to determine the significance of the ghrelin system in Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). PWS is characterized by hypotonia and difficulty feeding in neonates and hyperphagia and obesity beginning later in childhood. Other features include low GH, neonatal hypoglycemia, hypogonadism, and accelerated mortality. Although the hyperphagia and obesity in PWS have been attributed to elevated levels of the orexigenic hormone ghrelin, this link has never been firmly established, nor have ghrelin's potentially protective actions to increase GH secretion, blood glucose, and survival been investigated in a PWS context. In the current study, we show that placing Snord116del mice modeling PWS on ghrelin-deficient or ghrelin receptor [GH secretagogue receptor (GHSR)]-deficient backgrounds does not impact their characteristically reduced body weight, lower plasma IGF-1, delayed sexual maturation, or increased mortality in the period prior to weaning. However, blood glucose was further reduced in male Snord116del pups on a ghrelin-deficient background, and percentage body weight gain and percentage fat mass were further reduced in male Snord116del pups on a GHSR-deficient background. Strikingly, 2 weeks of daily administration of the GHSR agonist HM01 to Snord116del neonates markedly improved survival, resulting in a nearly complete rescue of the excess mortality owing to loss of the paternal Snord116 gene. These data support further exploration of the therapeutic potential of GHSR agonist administration in limiting PWS mortality, especially during the period characterized by failure to thrive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan A Rodriguez
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Emily C Bruggeman
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Bharath K Mani
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Sherri Osborne-Lawrence
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Caleb C Lord
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Henry F Roseman
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Hannah L Viroslav
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Prasanna Vijayaraghavan
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Nathan P Metzger
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Deepali Gupta
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Kripa Shankar
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | | | - Chen Liu
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jeffrey M Zigman
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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Mohammadi EN, Pietra C, Giuliano C, Fugang L, Greenwood-Van Meerveld B. A Comparison of the Central versus Peripheral Gastrointestinal Prokinetic Activity of Two Novel Ghrelin Mimetics. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2018; 368:116-124. [PMID: 30377215 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.118.250738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The gastrointestinal (GI) prokinetic effects of ghrelin occur through direct peripheral effects on ghrelin receptors within the enteric nervous system and via the ghrelin receptor on the vagus nerve, which activate a centrally mediated mechanism. However, the relative contribution of peripheral versus central effects to the overall prokinetic effect of ghrelin agonists requires further investigation. Here, we investigated the central versus peripheral prokinetic effect of ghrelin by using two novel ghrelin agonists: HM01 (N'-[(1S)-1-(2,3-dichloro-4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-N-methyl-N-[1,3,3-trimethyl-(4R)-piperidyl]-urea HCL) with high brain penetration compared with HM02 (N'-[(1S)-1-(2,3-dichloro-4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-N-hydroxy-N-(1-methyl-4-piperidinyl)-urea), a more peripherally acting ghrelin agonist. The pharmacokinetic profiles of both ghrelin agonists were evaluated after intravenous and oral administration in rats. The efficacy of HM01 and HM02 was assessed in a rat model of postoperative ileus (POI) induced by abdominal surgery and in a rodent defecation assay. Pharmacokinetic results in our models confirmed that HM01, but not HM02, was a brain-penetrant ghrelin agonist. Administration of either HM01 or HM02 reversed the delayed upper and lower gastrointestinal transit induced by abdominal surgery to levels resembling the non-POI controls. In the defecation test, HM01, but not HM02, significantly increased the weight of fecal pellets. Our findings suggest that, in a rodent model of POI, synthetic ghrelin agonists stimulate GI transit through a peripheral site of action. However, in the defecation assay, our data suggest that a ghrelin-mediated mechanism is located at a central site. Taken together, a ghrelin agonist with both central and peripheral prokinetic activity may show therapeutic potential to treat delayed GI transit disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan N Mohammadi
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience (E.N.M., B.G.-V.M.), Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), and VA Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; HDB Biosciences Co. Ltd., Shanghai, People's Republic of China (L.F.); and Helsinn Healthcare SA, RPD Department, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P., C.G.)
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience (E.N.M., B.G.-V.M.), Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), and VA Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; HDB Biosciences Co. Ltd., Shanghai, People's Republic of China (L.F.); and Helsinn Healthcare SA, RPD Department, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P., C.G.)
| | - Claudio Giuliano
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience (E.N.M., B.G.-V.M.), Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), and VA Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; HDB Biosciences Co. Ltd., Shanghai, People's Republic of China (L.F.); and Helsinn Healthcare SA, RPD Department, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P., C.G.)
| | - Li Fugang
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience (E.N.M., B.G.-V.M.), Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), and VA Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; HDB Biosciences Co. Ltd., Shanghai, People's Republic of China (L.F.); and Helsinn Healthcare SA, RPD Department, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P., C.G.)
| | - Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience (E.N.M., B.G.-V.M.), Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), and VA Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; HDB Biosciences Co. Ltd., Shanghai, People's Republic of China (L.F.); and Helsinn Healthcare SA, RPD Department, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P., C.G.)
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10
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Rudd JA, Chan SW, Ngan MP, Tu L, Lu Z, Giuliano C, Lovati E, Pietra C. Corrigendum: Anti-emetic Action of the Brain-Penetrating New Ghrelin Agonist, HM01, Alone and in Combination With the 5-HT 3 Antagonist, Palonosetron and With the NK 1 Antagonist, Netupitant, Against Cisplatin- and Motion-Induced Emesis in Suncus murinus (House Musk Shrew). Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1102. [PMID: 30310382 PMCID: PMC6173214 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01102] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00869.].
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Rudd
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Sze W Chan
- School of Health Sciences, Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Tseung Kwan O New Town, Hong Kong
| | - Man P Ngan
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Longlong Tu
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Zengbing Lu
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Claudio Giuliano
- Helsinn Healthcare SA, Research and Development, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Emanuela Lovati
- Helsinn Healthcare SA, Research and Development, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Helsinn Healthcare SA, Research and Development, Lugano, Switzerland
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11
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Daina A, Giuliano C, Pietra C, Wang J, Chi Y, Zou Z, Li F, Yan Z, Zhou Y, Guainazzi A, Garcia Rubio S, Zoete V. Rational Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Characterization of Novel Ghrelin Receptor Inverse Agonists as Potential Treatment against Obesity-Related Metabolic Diseases. J Med Chem 2018; 61:11039-11060. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Daina
- Molecular Modeling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Giuliano
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare, CH-6912 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare, CH-6912 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Junbo Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism, Sundia MediTech, 388 Jialilue Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yushi Chi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism, Sundia MediTech, 388 Jialilue Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zack Zou
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism, Sundia MediTech, 388 Jialilue Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Fugang Li
- Department of Discovery Biology, HD Biosciences, 590 Ruiqing Road Zhangjiang East Campus, Shanghai 201201, China
| | - Zhonghua Yan
- Department of Discovery Biology, HD Biosciences, 590 Ruiqing Road Zhangjiang East Campus, Shanghai 201201, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- Department of Discovery Biology, HD Biosciences, 590 Ruiqing Road Zhangjiang East Campus, Shanghai 201201, China
| | - Angelo Guainazzi
- Research and Development Department, Helsinn Therapeutics (US), Inc., Iselin, New Jersey 08830, United-States
| | - Silvina Garcia Rubio
- Research and Development Department, Helsinn Therapeutics (US), Inc., Iselin, New Jersey 08830, United-States
| | - Vincent Zoete
- Molecular Modeling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Fundamental Oncology, Lausanne University, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Route de la Corniche 9A, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
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12
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Rudd JA, Chan SW, Ngan MP, Tu L, Lu Z, Giuliano C, Lovati E, Pietra C. Anti-emetic Action of the Brain-Penetrating New Ghrelin Agonist, HM01, Alone and in Combination With the 5-HT 3 Antagonist, Palonosetron and With the NK 1 Antagonist, Netupitant, Against Cisplatin- and Motion-Induced Emesis in Suncus murinus (House Musk Shrew). Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:869. [PMID: 30127745 PMCID: PMC6087754 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ghrelin has well-known activity to stimulate appetite and weight gain. Evidence suggests that ghrelin may also have effects in reducing chemotherapy-induced emesis via growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHS-R1A) in the brain. However, it is not known whether the stimulation of GHS-R1A has broad inhibitory anti-emetic effects. In the present studies, we used Suncus murinus to investigate the potential of the new and novel orally bioavailable brain-penetrating GHS-R1A mimetic, HM01 (1-[(1S)-1-(2,3-dichloro-4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-methyl-3-[(4R)-1-Methyl-3,3-dimethyl-4-piperidyl]urea), to reduce emesis induced by a variety of emetic challenges. HM01 (1 to 30 mg/kg, p.o.) antagonized emesis induced by cisplatin (30 mg/kg, i.p.) and by motion (4 cm horizontal displacement, 1 Hz) but was ineffective against emesis induced by nicotine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) and copper sulfate (120 mg/kg by intragastric gavage). In other experiments, HM01 (3 mg/kg, p.o.) enhanced the anti-emetic control of a regimen of palonosetron (0.01 mg/kg, p.o.) alone and palonosetron (0.01 mg/kg p.o.) plus netupitant (1 mg/kg, p.o.). HM01 (10 mg/kg, p.o.) also had positive effects in increasing feeding and drinking in nicotine-treated animals, and it shortened the latency to drink in animals treated with cisplatin. These data indicate that brain-penetrating GHS-R1A agonists may have use alone and/or in combination with standard anti-emetic regimens for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and motion sickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Rudd
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Sze W Chan
- School of Health Sciences, Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Tseung Kwan O New Town, Hong Kong
| | - Man P Ngan
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Longlong Tu
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Zengbing Lu
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Claudio Giuliano
- Helsinn Healthcare SA, Research and Development, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Emanuela Lovati
- Helsinn Healthcare SA, Research and Development, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Helsinn Healthcare SA, Research and Development, Lugano, Switzerland
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13
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Mensah AA, Spriano F, Gaudio E, Tarantelli C, Cascione L, Aresu L, Lovati E, Zucca E, Stathis A, Pietra C, Bertoni F. Abstract 799: The novel histone deacetylase inhibitor pracinostat is an effective anti-lymphoma agent. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-799] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background. Currently, 3 histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are clinically approved for the treatment of T-cell lymphomas: vorinostat, romidepsin and belinostat. Pracinostat (SB939) is a class I, II and IV HDACi (Novotny-Diermayr et al, Mol Cancer Ther 2010), in phase 3 in combination with azacitidine for acute myeloid leukemia patients who are unfit to receive intensive remission induction chemotherapy (NCT03151408). Here, we tested it on a large panel of lymphoma cell lines alone or in combination with a BCL2 inhibitor, venetoclax and with 5-azacitidine.
Methods. 60 cell lines derived from T-cell lymphoma (10), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL, 25), mantle cell lymphoma (10), marginal zone lymphoma (5), Hodgkin lymphoma (4), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (2), primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (1), murine (2) and canine (1) lymphomas were exposed to increasing doses of pracinostat and vorinostat alone or to pracinostat in combination with venetoclax or 5-azacitidine for 72h. Cell proliferation was assessed using the MTT assay. Chou-Talalay index was used to determine synergism. For apoptosis and cell cycle analyses, cells were treated with 250 nM pracinostat for 72h then stained with Annexin V and 7-AAD (apoptosis) or fixed then stained with 7-AAD (cell cycle) before flow cytometry.
Results. All lymphoma subtypes responded well to pracinostat (median IC50 250 nM; 95%C.I., 171-324 nM). Pracinostat compared favorably with vorinostat (306 nM; 95%C.I., 241-363 nM), and the anti-proliferative activity of the two compounds was correlated (R=0.8, P<0.0001).
Comparison of consensus cluster classification DLBCL subgroups showed that BCR DLBCL were more sensitive to HDACi than OxPhos DLBCL (pracinostat median IC50 BCR: 171 nM, OxPhos: 865 nM, P 0.001; vorinostat median IC50 BCR: 246 nM, OxPhos: 829 nM, P 0.01. No differences were observed between the DLBCL subtypes based on the cell of origin.
Pracinostat mostly provoked cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases with S-phase arrest associated with OxPhos and G2/M arrest with BCR DLBCL. Pracinostat caused pronounced apoptosis in 2/8 DLBCL cell lines.
Functional annotation analysis to compare DLBCL with IC50 values < 200 nM (n=12) and DLBCL with IC50 > 400 nM (n=7) revealed an enrichment of mitochondrial metabolic pathways, DNA repair and cell cycle regulation in DLBCL with IC50 >400 nM. Combination with venetoclax was beneficial in 3/3 cell lines, while the addition of 5-azacitidine benefited 2 out of 3 cell lines.
Conclusions. Pracinostat robustly inhibits the proliferation of lymphoma cells with a similar IC50 range to vorinostat. Its anti-proliferative activity can be cytotoxic or cytostatic. Combination of pracinostat with other compounds further inhibits lymphoma cell proliferation. In DLBCL, the OxPhos phenotype and an enrichment of mitochondrial metabolism, DNA repair and cell cycle pathways are associated with a poorer response to pracinostat.
Citation Format: Afua A. Mensah, Filippo Spriano, Eugenio Gaudio, Chiara Tarantelli, Luciano Cascione, Luca Aresu, Emanuela Lovati, Emanuele Zucca, Anastasios Stathis, Claudio Pietra, Francesco Bertoni. The novel histone deacetylase inhibitor pracinostat is an effective anti-lymphoma agent [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 799.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afua A. Mensah
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Filippo Spriano
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Tarantelli
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Luciano Cascione
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Luca Aresu
- 2Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Emanuele Zucca
- 4IOSI Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Anastasios Stathis
- 4IOSI Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | | | - Francesco Bertoni
- 1Università della Svizzera italiana, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
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14
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Pustovit RV, Callaghan B, Ringuet MT, Kerr NF, Hunne B, Smyth IM, Pietra C, Furness JB. Evidence that central pathways that mediate defecation utilize ghrelin receptors but do not require endogenous ghrelin. Physiol Rep 2018; 5:5/15/e13385. [PMID: 28801520 PMCID: PMC5555902 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In laboratory animals and in human, centrally penetrant ghrelin receptor agonists, given systemically or orally, cause defecation. Animal studies show that the effect is due to activation of ghrelin receptors in the spinal lumbosacral defecation centers. However, it is not known whether there is a physiological role of ghrelin or the ghrelin receptor in the control of defecation. Using immunohistochemistry and immunoassay, we detected and measured ghrelin in the stomach, but were unable to detect ghrelin by either method in the lumbosacral spinal cord, or other regions of the CNS. In rats in which the thoracic spinal cord was transected 5 weeks before, the effects of a ghrelin agonist on colorectal propulsion were significantly enhanced, but defecation caused by water avoidance stress (WAS) was reduced. In knockout rats that expressed no ghrelin and in wild‐type rats, WAS‐induced defecation was reduced by a ghrelin receptor antagonist, to similar extents. We conclude that the ghrelin receptors of the lumbosacral defecation centers have a physiological role in the control of defecation, but that their role is not dependent on ghrelin. This implies that a transmitter other than ghrelin engages the ghrelin receptor or a ghrelin receptor complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan V Pustovit
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brid Callaghan
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mitchell T Ringuet
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicole F Kerr
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Billie Hunne
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ian M Smyth
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Helsinn Research and Preclinical Department, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - John B Furness
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia .,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Abegg K, Bernasconi L, Hutter M, Whiting L, Pietra C, Giuliano C, Lutz TA, Riediger T. Ghrelin receptor inverse agonists as a novel therapeutic approach against obesity-related metabolic disease. Diabetes Obes Metab 2017; 19:1740-1750. [PMID: 28544245 DOI: 10.1111/dom.13020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Ghrelin is implicated in the control of energy balance and glucose homeostasis. The ghrelin receptor exhibits ligand-independent constitutive activity, which can be pharmacologically exploited to induce inverse ghrelin actions. Because ghrelin receptor inverse agonists (GHSR-IA) might be effective for the treatment of obesity-related metabolic disease, we tested 2 novel synthetic compounds GHSR-IA1 and GHSR-IA2. MATERIALS AND METHODS In functional cell assays, electrophysiogical and immunohistochemical experiments, we demonstrated inverse agonist activity for GHSR-IA1 and GHSR-IA2. We used healthy mice, Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice to explore effects on food intake (FI), body weight (BW), conditioned taste aversion (CTA), oral glucose tolerance (OGT), pancreatic islet morphology, hepatic steatosis (HS), and blood lipids. RESULTS Both compounds acutely reduced FI in mice without inducing CTA. Chronic GHSR-IA1 increased metabolic rate in chow-fed mice, suppressed FI, and improved OGT in ZDF rats. Moreover, the progression of islet hyperplasia to fibrosis in ZDF rats slowed down. GHSR-IA2 reduced FI and BW in DIO mice, and reduced fasting and stimulated glucose levels compared with pair-fed and vehicle-treated mice. GHSR-IA2-treated DIO mice showed decreased blood lipids. GHSR-IA1 treatment markedly decreased HS in DIO mice. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates therapeutic actions of novel ghrelin receptor inverse agonists, suggesting a potential to treat obesity-related metabolic disorders including diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Abegg
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lara Bernasconi
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Hutter
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lynda Whiting
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn SA, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Giuliano
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn SA, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Thomas A Lutz
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Riediger
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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16
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Rudd JA, Ngan MP, Lu Z, Higgins GA, Giuliano C, Lovati E, Pietra C. Profile of Antiemetic Activity of Netupitant Alone or in Combination with Palonosetron and Dexamethasone in Ferrets and Suncus murinus (House Musk Shrew). Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:263. [PMID: 27630563 PMCID: PMC5005416 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims: Chemotherapy-induced acute and delayed emesis involves the activation of multiple pathways, with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) playing a major role in the initial response. Substance P tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonists can reduce emesis induced by disparate emetic challenges and therefore have a clinical utility as broad inhibitory anti-emetic drugs. In the present studies, we investigate the broad inhibitory anti-emetic profile of a relatively new NK1 receptor antagonist, netupitant, alone or in combination with the long acting 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, palonosetron, for a potential to reduce emesis in ferrets and shrews. Materials and Methods: Ferrets were pretreated with netupitant and/or palonosetron, and then administered apomorphine (0.125 mg/kg, s.c.), morphine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.), ipecacuanha (1.2 mg/kg, p.o.), copper sulfate (100 mg/kg, intragastric), or cisplatin (5–10 mg/kg, i.p.); in other studies netupitant was administered to Suncus murinus before motion (4 cm horizontal displacement, 2 Hz for 10 min). Results: Netupitant (3 mg/kg, p.o.) abolished apomorphine-, morphine-, ipecacuanha- and copper sulfate-induced emesis. Lower doses of netupitant (0.03–0.3 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently reduced cisplatin (10 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced emesis in an acute (8 h) model, and motion-induced emesis in S. murinus. In a ferret cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced acute and delayed emesis model, netupitant administered once at 3 mg/kg, p.o., abolished the first 24 h response and reduced the 24–72 h response by 94.6%; the reduction was markedly superior to the effect of a three times per day administration of ondansetron (1 mg/kg, i.p.). A single administration of netupitant (1 mg/kg, p.o.) plus palonosetron (0.1 mg/kg, p.o.) combined with dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, i.p., once per day), also significantly antagonized cisplatin-induced acute and delayed emesis and was comparable with a once-daily regimen of ondansetron (1 mg/kg, p.o.) plus aprepitant (1 mg/kg, p.o.) in combination with dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Conclusion: In conclusion, netupitant has potent and long lasting anti-emetic activity against a number of emetic challenges indicating broad inhibitory properties. The convenience of protection afforded by the single dosing of netupitant together with palonosetron was demonstrated and also is known to provide an advantage over other therapeutic strategies to control emesis in man.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Rudd
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, China; Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, China
| | - Man P Ngan
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China
| | - Zengbing Lu
- Emesis Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Claudio Giuliano
- Research and Preclinical, Helsinn Healthcare SA., Lugano Switzerland
| | - Emanuela Lovati
- Research and Preclinical, Helsinn Healthcare SA., Lugano Switzerland
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Research and Preclinical, Helsinn Healthcare SA., Lugano Switzerland
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17
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Palea S, Guilloteau V, Rekik M, Lovati E, Guerard M, Guardia MA, Lluel P, Pietra C, Yoshiyama M. Netupitant, a Potent and Highly Selective NK1 Receptor Antagonist, Alleviates Acetic Acid-Induced Bladder Overactivity in Anesthetized Guinea-Pigs. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:234. [PMID: 27540361 PMCID: PMC4972833 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00234] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Tachykinins potently contract the isolated urinary bladder from a number of animal species and play an important role in the regulation of the micturition reflex. On the guinea-pig isolated urinary bladder we examined the effects of a new potent and selective NK1 receptor antagonist (netupitant) on the contractions induced by a selective NK1 receptor agonist, SP-methylester (SP-OMe). Moreover, the effects of netupitant and another selective NK1 antagonist (L-733,060) were studied in anesthetized guinea-pigs using two experimental models, the isovolumetric bladder contractions and a model of bladder overactivity induced by intravesical administration of acetic acid (AA). Methods and Results. Detrusor muscle strips were mounted in 5 mL organ baths and isometric contractions to cumulative concentrations of SP-OME were recorded before and after incubation with increasing concentrations of netupitant. In anesthetized female guinea-pigs, reflex bladder activity was examined under isovolumetric conditions with the bladder distended with saline or during cystometry using intravesical infusion of AA. After a 30 min stabilization period, netupitant (0.1-3 mg/kg, i.v.) or L-733,060 (3-10 mg/kg, i.v.) were administered. In the detrusor muscle, netupitant produced a concentration-dependent inhibition (mean pKB = 9.24) of the responses to SP-OMe. Under isovolumetric conditions, netupitant or L-733,060 reduced bladder contraction frequency in a dose-dependent manner, but neither drug changed bladder contraction amplitude. In the AA model, netupitant dose-dependently increased intercontraction interval (ICI) but had no effect on the amplitude of micturition (AM). L-733,060 dose-dependently increased ICI also but this effect was paralleled by a significant reduction of AM. Conclusion. Netupitant decreases the frequency of reflex bladder contractions without altering their amplitude, suggesting that this drug targets the afferent limb of the micturition reflex circuit and therefore may be useful clinically in treating bladder overactivity symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Palea
- UROsphereToulouse, France; Palea Pharma and Biotech ConsultingToulouse, France
| | | | | | - Emanuela Lovati
- Research and Preclinical Development, Helsinn Healthcare S.A. Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Claudio Pietra
- Research and Preclinical Development, Helsinn Healthcare S.A. Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Mitsuharu Yoshiyama
- Department of Urology, University of Yamanashi Graduate School of Medical Science Chuo, Japan
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Borner T, Loi L, Pietra C, Giuliano C, Lutz TA, Riediger T. The ghrelin receptor agonist HM01 mimics the neuronal effects of ghrelin in the arcuate nucleus and attenuates anorexia-cachexia syndrome in tumor-bearing rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2016; 311:R89-96. [PMID: 27147616 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00044.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The gastric hormone ghrelin positively affects energy balance by increasing food intake and reducing energy expenditure. Ghrelin mimetics are a possible treatment against cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS). This study aimed to characterize the action of the nonpeptidergic ghrelin receptor agonist HM01 on neuronal function, energy homeostasis and muscle mass in healthy rats and to evaluate its possible usefulness for the treatment of CACS in a rat tumor model. Using extracellular single-unit recordings, we tested whether HM01 mimics the effects of ghrelin on neuronal activity in the arcuate nucleus (Arc). Furthermore, we assessed the effect of chronic HM01 treatment on food intake (FI), body weight (BW), lean and fat volumes, and muscle mass in healthy rats. Using a hepatoma model, we investigated the possible beneficial effects of HM01 on tumor-induced anorexia, BW loss, muscle wasting, and metabolic rate. HM01 (10(-7)-10(-6) M) mimicked the effect of ghrelin (10(-8) M) by increasing the firing rate in 76% of Arc neurons. HM01 delivered chronically for 12 days via osmotic minipumps (50 μg/h) increased FI in healthy rats by 24%, paralleled by increased BW, higher fat and lean volumes, and higher muscle mass. Tumor-bearing rats treated with HM01 had 30% higher FI than tumor-bearing controls and were protected against BW loss. HM01 treatment resulted in higher muscle mass and fat mass. Moreover, tumor-bearing rats reduced their metabolic rate following HM01 treatment. Our studies substantiate the possible therapeutic usefulness of ghrelin receptor agonists like HM01 for the treatment of CACS and possibly other forms of disease-related anorexia and cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tito Borner
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center of Human Integrative Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; and
| | - Laura Loi
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Helsinn Healthcare SA, Zurich Center of Integrative Human Physiology, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Giuliano
- Helsinn Healthcare SA, Zurich Center of Integrative Human Physiology, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Thomas A Lutz
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center of Human Integrative Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; and
| | - Thomas Riediger
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center of Human Integrative Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; and
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Naitou K, Mamerto TP, Pustovit RV, Callaghan B, Rivera LR, Chan AJ, Ringuet MT, Pietra C, Furness JB. Site and mechanism of the colokinetic action of the ghrelin receptor agonist, HM01. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2015; 27:1764-71. [PMID: 26416336 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.12688] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has been recently demonstrated that the ghrelin receptor agonist, HM01, caused defecation in rats that were treated to provide a model for the constipation of Parkinson's disease. HM01 significantly increased fecal output and increased Fos activity in neurons of the hypothalamus and hindbrain, but not in the spinal defecation center. Other ghrelin agonists act on the defecation center. METHODS Receptor pharmacology was examined in ghrelin receptor (GHSR1a) transfected cells. Anesthetized rats were used to investigate sites and mechanisms of action. KEY RESULTS HM01 activated rat GHSR1a at nanomolar concentrations and was antagonized by the GHSR1a antagonist, YIL781. HM01, intravenous, was potent to activate propulsive colorectal contractions. This was prevented by pelvic nerve section and by intravenous YIL781, but not by spinal cord section rostral to the defecation centers. Direct intrathecal application of HM01 to the defecation center at spinal level L6-S1 initiated propulsive contractions of the colorectum. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES HM01 stimulates GHSR1a receptors on neurons in the lumbosacral defecation centers to cause propulsive contractions and emptying of the colorectum. It has greater potency when given systemically, compared with other GHSR1a agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Naitou
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Basic Veterinary Science, Laboratory of Physiology, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - T P Mamerto
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - R V Pustovit
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - B Callaghan
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - L R Rivera
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - A J Chan
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - M T Ringuet
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - C Pietra
- Helsinn Research and Preclinical Department, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - J B Furness
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Ruzza C, Rizzi A, Malfacini D, Molinari S, Giuliano C, Lovati E, Pietra C, Calo' G. In vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization of Pronetupitant, a prodrug of the neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist Netupitant. Peptides 2015; 69:26-32. [PMID: 25843024 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2015.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Revised: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the pharmacological activity of Pronetupitant, a novel compound designed to act as prodrug of the NK1 antagonist Netupitant. In receptor binding experiments Pronetupitant displayed high selectivity for the NK1 receptor. In a calcium mobilization assay performed on CHONK1 cells Pronetupitant (100 nM, 15 min preincubation) behaved as an NK1 antagonist more potent than Netupitant (pK(B) 8.72 and 7.54, respectively). In the guinea pig ileum bioassay Pronetupitant antagonized the contractile effect of SP showing a similar potency as Netupitant (pK(B)≈9). Similar results were obtained with 5 min preincubation time while at 2 min only Pronetupitant produced significant effects. In vivo in mice the intrathecal injection of 0.1 nmol SP elicited the typical scratching, biting and licking (SBL) nociceptive response. This effect of SP was dose dependently (0.1-10 mg/kg) antagonized by Pronetupitant given intravenously 2 h before the peptide. Superimposable results were obtained using Netupitant. Pharmacokinetic studies performed in rats demonstrate that Pronetupitant, after i.v. administration, is quickly (few minutes) and completely converted to Netupitant. Collectively the present results indicated that Pronetupitant acts in vitro as selective NK1 antagonist more potent than Netupitant. However based on the short half-life measured for Pronetupitant in rats, the in vivo action of Pronetupitant can be entirely interpreted as due to its conversion to Netupitant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Anna Rizzi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Davide Malfacini
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefano Molinari
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Claudio Giuliano
- Preclinical Research and Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Emanuela Lovati
- Preclinical Research and Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Preclinical Research and Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Girolamo Calo'
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
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Karasawa H, Pietra C, Giuliano C, Garcia-Rubio S, Xu X, Yakabi S, Taché Y, Wang L. New ghrelin agonist, HM01 alleviates constipation and L-dopa-delayed gastric emptying in 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2014; 26:1771-82. [PMID: 25327342 PMCID: PMC4457321 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.12459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Constipation and L-dopa-induced gastric dysmotility are common gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated the novel ghrelin agonist, HM01 influence on GI motor dysfunctions in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rats. METHODS HM01 pharmacological profiles were determined in vitro and in vivo in rats. We assessed changes in fecal output and water content, and gastric emptying (GE) in 6-OHDA rats treated with orogastric (og) HM01 and L-dopa/carbidopa (LD/CD, 20/2 mg/kg). Fos immunoreactivity (ir) cells in specific brain and lumbosacral spinal cord were quantified. KEY RESULTS HM01 displayed a high binding affinity to ghrelin receptor (Ki: 1.42 ± 0.36 nM), 4.3 ± 1.0 h half-life and high brain/plasma ratio. 6-OHDA rats had reduced daily fecal output (22%) and water intake (23%) compared to controls. HM01 (3 and 10 mg/kg) similarly reversed the decreased 4-h fecal weight and water content in 6-OHDA rats. Basal GE was not modified in 6-OHDA rats, however, LD/CD (once or daily for 8 days) delayed GE in 6-OHDA and control rats that was prevented by HM01 (3 mg/kg acute or daily before LD/CD). HM01 increased Fos-ir cell number in the area postrema, arcuate nucleus, nucleus tractus solitarius, and lumbosacral intermediolateral column of 6-OHDA rats where 6-OHDA had a lowering effect compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES 6-OHDA rats display constipation- and adipsia-like features of PD and L-dopa-inhibited GE. The new orally active ghrelin agonist, HM01 crosses the blood-brain barrier and alleviates these alterations suggesting a potential benefit for PD with GI disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Karasawa
- Department of Medicine, CURE/Digestive Diseases Center, Digestive Diseases Division, University of California at Los Angeles, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Pietra C, Takeda Y, Tazawa-Ogata N, Minami M, Yuanfeng X, Duus EM, Northrup R. Anamorelin HCl (ONO-7643), a novel ghrelin receptor agonist, for the treatment of cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome: preclinical profile. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2014; 5:329-37. [PMID: 25267366 PMCID: PMC4248409 DOI: 10.1007/s13539-014-0159-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [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: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anamorelin HCl (ANAM) is a novel, orally active, ghrelin receptor agonist in clinical development for the treatment of cancer cachexia. We report in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating the preclinical pharmacologic profile of ANAM. METHODS Fluorescent imaging plate reader and binding assays in HEK293 and baby hamster kidney cells determined the agonist and antagonist activity of ANAM, and its affinity for the ghrelin receptor. Rat pituitary cells were incubated with ANAM to evaluate its effect on growth hormone (GH) release. In vivo, rats were treated with ANAM 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg, or control orally, once daily for 6 days to evaluate the effect on food intake (FI) and body weight (BW), and once to assess GH response. In pigs, single (3.5 mg/kg) or continuous (1 mg/kg/day) ANAM doses were administered to assess GH and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) response. RESULTS ANAM showed significant agonist and binding activity on the ghrelin receptor, and stimulated GH release in vitro. In rats, ANAM significantly and dose-dependently increased FI and BW at all dose levels compared with control, and significantly increased GH levels at 10 or 30 mg/kg doses. Increases in GH and IGF-1 levels were observed following ANAM administration in pigs. CONCLUSION ANAM is a potent and highly specific ghrelin receptor agonist with significant appetite-enhancing activity, leading to increases in FI and BW, and a stimulatory effect on GH secretion. These results support the continued investigation of ANAM as a potential treatment of cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Pietra
- Helsinn Healthcare SA, Research and Preclinical Department, 6915, Lugano, Switzerland,
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Greenwood-Van Meerveld B, Mohammadi E, Tyler K, Pietra C, Bee LA, Dickenson A. Synergistic effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 and neurokinin 1 receptor antagonism in rodent models of somatic and visceral pain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2014; 351:146-52. [PMID: 25077526 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.114.216028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [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] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Synergistic activity has been observed between serotonergic 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) and tachykinergic neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor-mediated responses. This study investigated the efficacy of a 5-HT3 antagonist, palonosetron, and a NK1 antagonist, netupitant, alone or in combination in rodent models of somatic and visceral colonic hypersensitivity. In a rat model of experimental neuropathic pain, somatic hypersensitivity was quantified by the number of ipsilateral paw withdrawals to a von Frey filament (6g). Electrophysiologic responses were recorded in the dorsal horn neurons after mechanical or thermal stimuli. Acute colonic hypersensitivity was induced experimentally in rats by infusing dilute acetic acid (0.6%) directly into the colon. Colonic sensitivity was assessed by a visceromotor behavioral response quantified as the number of abdominal contractions in response to graded isobaric pressures (0-60 mm Hg) of colorectal distension. Palonosetron or netupitant was administered alone or in combination via oral gavage. When dosed alone, both significantly reduced somatic sensitivity, decreased the evoked response of spinal dorsal horn neurons to mechanical or thermal stimulation, and caused significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of colonic hypersensitivity in a dose-dependent manner. The combined administration of palonosetron and netupitant at doses that were ineffective alone significantly reduced both somatic and visceral sensitivity and decreased the evoked response of spinal dorsal horn neurons to mechanical or thermal stimulation. In summary, the combination of palonosetron with a NK1 receptor antagonist showed synergistic analgesic activity in rodent models of somatic and visceral hypersensitivity, and may prove to be a useful therapeutic approach to treat pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld
- Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), Veterans Affairs Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (B.G.-V.M., E.M., K.T.), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Research and Preclinical Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P.); and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom (L.A.B., A.D.)
| | - Ehsan Mohammadi
- Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), Veterans Affairs Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (B.G.-V.M., E.M., K.T.), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Research and Preclinical Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P.); and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom (L.A.B., A.D.)
| | - Karl Tyler
- Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), Veterans Affairs Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (B.G.-V.M., E.M., K.T.), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Research and Preclinical Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P.); and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom (L.A.B., A.D.)
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), Veterans Affairs Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (B.G.-V.M., E.M., K.T.), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Research and Preclinical Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P.); and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom (L.A.B., A.D.)
| | - Lucy A Bee
- Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), Veterans Affairs Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (B.G.-V.M., E.M., K.T.), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Research and Preclinical Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P.); and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom (L.A.B., A.D.)
| | - Anthony Dickenson
- Department of Physiology (B.G.-V.M.), Veterans Affairs Medical Center (B.G.-V.M.), Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (B.G.-V.M., E.M., K.T.), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Research and Preclinical Department, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Lugano, Switzerland (C.P.); and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom (L.A.B., A.D.)
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Szitter I, Pintér E, Perkecz A, Kemény A, Kun J, Kereskai L, Pietra C, Quinn JP, Zimmer A, Berger A, Paige CJ, Helyes Z. Role of neurokinin 1 receptors in dextran sulfate-induced colitis: studies with gene-deleted mice and the selective receptor antagonist netupitant. Inflamm Res 2014; 63:399-409. [PMID: 24468892 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-014-0712-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Revised: 01/12/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN The function of the neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor was investigated in the DSS-induced mouse colitis model using NK1 receptor-deficient mice and the selective antagonist netupitant. SUBJECTS Colitis was induced by oral administration of 20 mg/ml DSS solution for 7 days in C57BL/6 and Tacr1 KO animals (n = 5-7). TREATMENT During the induction, one-half of the C57BL/6 and Tacr1 KO group received one daily dose of 6 mg/kg netupitant, administered intraperitoneally, the other half of the group received saline, respectively. METHODS Disease activity index (DAI), on the basis of stool consistency, blood and weight loss, was determined over 7 days. Histological evaluation, myeloperoxidase (MPO) measurement, cytokine concentrations and receptor expression analysis were performed on the colon samples. RESULTS NK1 receptors are up-regulated in the colon in response to DSS treatment. DSS increased DAI, histopathological scores, BLC, sICAM-1, IFN-γ, IL-16 and JE in wildtype mice, which were significantly reduced in NK1 receptor-deficient ones. NK1 receptor antagonism with netupitant significantly diminished DAI, inflammatory histopathological alterations, BLC, IFN-γ, IL-13 and IL-16 in wildtype mice, but not in the NK1-deficient ones. MPO was similarly elevated and netupitant significantly decreased its activity in both groups. CONCLUSIONS NK1 receptor antagonism could be beneficial for colitis via inhibiting different inflammatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- István Szitter
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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Haab F, Braticevici B, Krivoborodov G, Palmas M, Zufferli Russo M, Pietra C. Efficacy and safety of repeated dosing of netupitant, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, in treating overactive bladder. Neurourol Urodyn 2013; 33:335-40. [PMID: 23765630 DOI: 10.1002/nau.22406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
AIM NK-1 receptors in sensory nerves, the spinal cord and bladder smooth muscle participate in complex sensory mechanisms that regulate bladder activity. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of a new NK-1 receptor antagonist, netupitant, in patients with OAB. METHODS This was a phase II, multicenter, double-blind study in which adults with OAB symptoms >6 months were randomized to receive 1 of 3 doses of netupitant (50, 100, 200 mg) or placebo once daily for 8 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was percentage change from baseline in average number of daily micturitions at week 8. Urinary incontinence, urge urinary incontinence (UUI), and urgency episodes were also assessed. RESULTS The primary efficacy endpoint was similar in the treatment groups (-13.85 for placebo to -16.17 in the netupitant 200 mg group) with no statistically significant differences between netupitant and placebo. The same was true for most secondary endpoints although a significant difference for improvement in UUI episodes and a trend for the greatest decrease in urgency episodes were seen in the netupitant 100 mg group. Netupitant was well tolerated with most treatment emergent adverse events (AEs) being mild. While the overall incidence of AEs increased with netupitant dose, there was no evidence for this dose dependency based on relationship to treatment, intensity, or time to onset. CONCLUSIONS The study failed to demonstrate superiority of netupitant versus placebo in decreasing OAB symptoms, despite a trend favoring netupitant 100 mg. There were no safety concerns with daily administration of netupitant over 8 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Haab
- Department of Urology, Hopital Tenon, Paris, France
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Northrup R, Kuroda K, Duus EM, Barnes SR, Cheatham L, Wiley T, Pietra C. Effect of ghrelin and anamorelin (ONO-7643), a selective ghrelin receptor agonist, on tumor growth in a lung cancer mouse xenograft model. Support Care Cancer 2013; 21:2409-15. [PMID: 23579947 PMCID: PMC3728440 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-013-1800-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 03/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Anamorelin (ONO-7643) is an orally active ghrelin receptor agonist in development for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-related anorexia/cachexia. It displays both orexigenic and anabolic properties via ghrelin mimetic activity and transient increases in growth hormone (GH). However, increasing GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 in cancer patients raises concerns of potentially stimulating tumor growth. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ghrelin and anamorelin on tumor growth in a murine NSCLC xenograft model. Methods Female nude mice (15–21/group) with established A549 tumors were administered ghrelin (2 mg/kg i.p.), anamorelin (3, 10, or 30 mg/kg p.o.), or vehicle controls daily for 28 days. Tumor growth, food consumption, and body weight were monitored. Murine growth hormone (mGH) and murine insulin-like growth factor-1 (mIGF-1) were measured in plasma. Results Tumor growth progressed throughout the study, with no significant differences between treatment groups. Daily food consumption was also relatively unchanged, while the percentage of mean body weight gain at the end of treatment was significantly increased in animals administered 10 and 30 mg/kg compared with controls (p < 0.01). Peak mGH levels were significantly higher in ghrelin- and anamorelin-treated animals than in controls, while peak mIGF-1 levels were slightly elevated but not statistically significant. All regimens were well tolerated. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that neither anamorelin nor ghrelin promoted tumor growth in this model, despite increased levels of mGH and a trend of increased mIGF-1. Together with anamorelin’s ability to increase body weight, these results support the clinical development of ghrelin receptor agonist treatments for managing NSCLC-related anorexia/cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Northrup
- Research and Development, Helsinn Therapeutics (US), Inc., Bridgewater, NJ 08807, USA.
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Greenwood-Van Meerveld B, Tyler K, Mohammadi E, Pietra C. Efficacy of ipamorelin, a ghrelin mimetic, on gastric dysmotility in a rodent model of postoperative ileus. J Exp Pharmacol 2012; 4:149-55. [PMID: 27186127 PMCID: PMC4863553 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s35396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Delayed gastric emptying is a common disorder with few effective therapeutic options. The goal of this study was to investigate whether ipamorelin, a synthetic peptidomimetic that acts on the ghrelin receptor, accelerates gastric emptying in a rodent model of gastroparesis induced by abdominal surgery and intestinal manipulation. Methods Fasted adult male rats were subjected to laparotomy and intestinal manipulation. Following the surgery rats received ipamorelin (0.014–0.14 µmol/kg) or vehicle control via intravenous administration. Gastric emptying was measured by the percent of total recovered radioactivity remaining in the stomach 15 minutes after intragastric gavage of 1.5 mL of 99mTc (technicium-99m) sulfur colloid in 0.5% methylcellulose. In a separate group of rats subjected to laparotomy and intestinal manipulation, the gastric fundus was isolated and tissue segments were suspended in an organ bath to assess the effect of ipamorelin (1 µM) on gastric smooth muscle contractility induced by acetylcholine and electrical field stimulation. Results Abdominal surgery caused a delay in gastric emptying with 78% ± 5% of the meal remaining in the stomach in vehicle controls. Ipamorelin (0.014 µmol/kg intravenous) resulted in a significant acceleration (P < 0.05 vs vehicle-treated rat) of gastric emptying with 52% ± 11% of the meal remaining in the stomach compared to nonsurgical control animals with 44% ± 6%. Following abdominal surgery and intestinal manipulation, isolated preparations of gastric smooth muscle exhibited a marked inhibition of acetylcholine and electrical field stimulation-induced contractile responses, which were reversed by ipamorelin and ghrelin. Conclusion These results suggest that ipamorelin accelerates gastric emptying in a rodent model of postoperative ileus through the stimulation of gastric contractility by activating a ghrelin receptor-mediated mechanism involving cholinergic excitatory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld
- VA Medical Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Karl Tyler
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Ehsan Mohammadi
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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Rizzi A, Campi B, Camarda V, Molinari S, Cantoreggi S, Regoli D, Pietra C, Calo' G. In vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization of the novel NK₁ receptor selective antagonist Netupitant. Peptides 2012; 37:86-97. [PMID: 22732666 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2012.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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: 05/14/2012] [Revised: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The novel NK(1) receptor ligand Netupitant has been characterized in vitro and in vivo. In calcium mobilization studies CHO cells expressing the human NK receptors responded to a panel of agonists with the expected order of potency. In CHO NK(1) cells Netupitant concentration-dependently antagonized the stimulatory effects of substance P (SP) showing insurmountable antagonism (pK(B) 8.87). In cells expressing NK(2) or NK(3) receptors Netupitant was inactive. In the guinea pig ileum Netupitant concentration-dependently depressed the maximal response to SP (pK(B) 7.85) and, in functional washout experiments, displayed persistent (up to 5h) antagonist effects. In mice the intrathecal injection of SP elicited the typical scratching, biting and licking response that was dose-dependently inhibited by Netupitant given intraperitoneally in the 1-10mg/kg dose range. In gerbils, foot tapping behavior evoked by the intracerebroventricular injection of a NK(1) agonist was dose-dependently counteracted by Netupitant given intraperitoneally (ID(50) 1.5mg/kg) or orally (ID(50) 0.5mg/kg). In time course experiments in gerbils Netupitant displayed long lasting effects. In all the assays Aprepitant elicited similar effects as Netupitant. These results suggest that Netupitant behaves as a brain penetrant, orally active, potent and selective NK(1) antagonist. Thus this molecule can be useful for investigating the NK(1) receptor role in the control of central and peripheral functions. Netupitant has clinical potential in conditions such as chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, in which the blockade of NK(1) receptors has been demonstrated valuable for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rizzi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
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Giuliano C, Lovati E, Funk C, Potthast M, Pietra C. In Vitro Drug-Drug Interaction Studies with the Antiemetic Drug Netupitant and its Major Metabolites M1 and M2, Involving Several Human Cytochrome P450 Isoenzymes. Ann Oncol 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s0923-7534(20)34168-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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Zhang X, Pietra C, Lovati E, de Groat WC. Activation of neurokinin-1 receptors increases the excitability of guinea pig dorsal root ganglion cells. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2012; 343:44-52. [PMID: 22736506 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.112.196113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The suppression of overactive bladder symptoms in patients and overactive bladder reflexes in animal models by neurokinin (NK)-1 receptor antagonists raises the possibility that these drugs target sensory neurons. This mechanism was evaluated by examining the interactions between a specific NK-1 agonist, [Sar(9),Met(O(2))(11)]-substance P (Sar-Met-SP), and a potent NK-1 antagonist, netupitant (NTP), on small size (20-30 μm) dissociated L6 and S1 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from female guinea pigs. Current-clamp recording revealed that Sar-Met-SP (1 μM) elicited membrane depolarization (average 8.05 ± 1.38 mV) in 27% (18 of 65) of DRG neurons. In 74% of the remaining neurons (35 of 47) Sar-Met-SP decreased the rheobase for action potential (AP) generation and increased the response to a suprathreshold stimulus (3 times rheobase) without changing the membrane potential. Sar-Met-SP also induced changes in the action potential (AP) wave form, including 1) an increase in overshoot (average 5 mV, n = 35 neurons), 2) a prolongation of AP duration (from 4.64 to 5.29 ms, n = 34), and 3) a reduction in the maximal rate of AP repolarization. NTP (200 nM) reversed the Sar-Met-SP-induced changes. Ca(2+) imaging showed that application of Sar-Met-SP (1 μM) decreased the tachyphylaxis induced by repeated application of capsaicin (0.5 μM), an effect blocked by pretreatment with NTP (200 nM). These results raise the possibility that activation of NK-1 receptors in primary sensory neurons plays a role in the generation of overactive bladder and that block of NK-1 receptors in these neurons may contribute to efficacy of NK-1 antagonists in the treatment of overactive bladder symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiulin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Northrup R, Kuroda K, Manning Duus E, Routt Barnes S, Wiley T, Pietra C. Effect of anamorelin/ONO-7643, a selective ghrelin receptor agonist, on tumor growth in a lung cancer mouse xenograft model. J Clin Oncol 2012. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2012.30.15_suppl.e19577] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
e19577 Background: Anamorelin/ONO-7643 is an orally-active ghrelin receptor agonist in development for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-related cachexia/anorexia. It displays both anabolic and orexigenic properties via its ghrelin and growth hormone (GH) secretagogue activity. However, increasing GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in cancer patients raises potential concerns of stimulating tumor growth. In this study, we investigated the effect of ghrelin and Anamorelin/ONO-7643 on tumor growth in a NSCLC xenograft model. Methods: On Day 1 (D1), 21 days after implanting A549 tumors, female nude mice were sorted into six groups (n=15/group) and administered ghrelin (2 mg/kg i.p.), Anamorelin/ONO-7643 (3, 10, or 30 mg/kg p.o.) or vehicles (saline i.p. or de-ionized water p.o.) for 28 days, starting on D3. Tumor growth, body weight, and food consumption were monitored. Mice used to assess plasma levels of murine GH (mGH) and IGF-1 (mIGF-1) were sorted into three groups (n=21/group) and treated for 28 days with ghrelin, the high dose of Anamorelin/ONO-7643 or vehicle (de-ionized water p.o.). Results: After 28 days of treatment, there was no difference in median tumor volumes (D30 values: 1008, 936, 1080, 666 and 847 mm3 for vehicle, ghrelin and Anamorelin/ONO-7643 at 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg, respectively). Ghrelin significantly increased mGH compared to controls, while Anamorelin/ONO-7643 modestly increased mGH. Peak mIGF-1 levels were slightly higher in animals given ghrelin or Anamorelin/ONO-7643 compared to vehicle, although not significantly. Anamorelin/ONO-7643 at 10 and 30 mg/kg/day showed a statistically significant (p<0.01) increase in body weight from D1 to D30 compared to control animals, with no change in food consumption. Ghrelin treatment had no effect on body weight or food consumption. Conclusions: Anamorelin/ONO-7643 or ghrelin treatment for 28 days had no effect on tumor growth in A549 tumor-bearing nude mice, despite increased mGH and a trend of increased mIGF-1. Anamorelin/ONO-7643 also significantly increased body weight at 10 and 30 mg/kg/day. These results support using ghrelin receptor agonist-based treatments in managing NSCLC-related cachexia/anorexia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ken Kuroda
- Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Fukui, Japan
| | | | | | - Tim Wiley
- Piedmont Research Center, Morrisville, NC
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Rojas C, Li Y, Zhang J, Stathis M, Alt J, Thomas AG, Cantoreggi S, Sebastiani S, Pietra C, Slusher BS. The antiemetic 5-HT3 receptor antagonist Palonosetron inhibits substance P-mediated responses in vitro and in vivo. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2010; 335:362-8. [PMID: 20724484 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.110.166181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Palonosetron is the only 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Accumulating evidence suggests that substance P (SP), the endogenous ligand acting preferentially on neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptors, not serotonin (5-HT), is the dominant mediator of delayed emesis. However, palonosetron does not bind to the NK-1 receptor. Recent data have revealed cross-talk between the NK-1 and 5HT(3) receptor signaling pathways; we postulated that if palonosetron differentially inhibited NK-1/5-HT(3) cross-talk, it could help explain its efficacy profile in delayed emesis. Consequently, we evaluated the effect of palonosetron, granisetron, and ondansetron on SP-induced responses in vitro and in vivo. NG108-15 cells were preincubated with palonosetron, granisetron, or ondansetron; antagonists were removed and the effect on serotonin enhancement of SP-induced calcium release was measured. In the absence of antagonist, serotonin enhanced SP-induced calcium-ion release. After preincubation with palonosetron, but not ondansetron or granisetron, the serotonin enhancement of the SP response was inhibited. Rats were treated with cisplatin and either palonosetron, granisetron, or ondansetron. At various times after dosing, single neuronal recordings from nodose ganglia were collected after stimulation with SP; nodose ganglia neuronal responses to SP were enhanced when the animals were pretreated with cisplatin. Palonosetron, but not ondansetron or granisetron, dose-dependently inhibited the cisplatin-induced SP enhancement. The results are consistent with previous data showing that palonosetron exhibits distinct pharmacology versus the older 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists and provide a rationale for the efficacy observed with palonosetron in delayed CINV in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Rojas
- The Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Suite 270, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Lluel P, Guilloteau V, Guerard M, Pietra C, Lovati E, Palea S. NETUPITANT, A NEW SELECTIVE NK1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST, REVERSES ACETIC ACID-INDUCED BLADDER OVERACTIVITY IN ANESTHETIZED FEMALE GUINEA-PIGS. J Urol 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s0022-5347(09)61607-4] [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: 11/16/2022]
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Capsoni S, Giannotta S, Stebel M, Garcia AA, De Rosa R, Villetti G, Imbimbo BP, Pietra C, Cattaneo A. Ganstigmine and donepezil improve neurodegeneration in AD11 antinerve growth factor transgenic mice. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2004; 19:153-60. [PMID: 15214201 PMCID: PMC10833932 DOI: 10.1177/153331750401900303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ganstigmine (CHF2819) is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that increases acetylcholine in rat hippocampus and ameliorates scopolamine-induced amnesia. In this article, we examined whether and how ganstigmine might prevent or rescue the neurodegenerative phenotype in AD11 antinerve growth factor (anti-NGF) mice, a transgenic model for Alzheimer's disease. The effects of ganstigmine were compared with those obtained after administration of donepezil. Results demonstrate that intraperitoneal and oral administration of ganstigmine and donepezil can reverse the cholinergic and behavioral deficit in AD11 mice but not the amyloid and phosphotau accumulation, uncovering different mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration in AD11 mice.
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35
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Villetti G, Bergamaschi M, Bassani F, Bolzoni PT, Maiorino M, Pietra C, Rondelli I, Chamiot-Clerc P, Simonato M, Barbieri M. Antinociceptive activity of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist N-(2-Indanyl)-glycinamide hydrochloride (CHF3381) in experimental models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2003; 306:804-14. [PMID: 12750440 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.103.050039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [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: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
N-(2-Indanyl)-glycinamide hydrochloride (CHF3381) is a novel low-affinity, noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist. The current study compared the antinociceptive effects of CHF3381 with those of gabapentin and memantine in in vitro and in vivo models of pain. In isolated rat spinal cord, CHF3381 and memantine, but not gabapentin, produced similar inhibition of the wind-up phenomenon. CHF3381 suppressed the maintenance of carrageenan-induced thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in the rat with a minimum significantly effective dose (MED) of 30 mg/kg p.o. Memantine produced a partial reversal of both thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia (MED = 10 and 15 mg/kg i.p., respectively). Gabapentin reversed mechanical hyperalgesia (MED = 10 mg/kg s.c.), but did not affect thermal hyperalgesia. In the mouse formalin test, CHF3381 and memantine preferentially inhibited the late phase (MED = 30 and 20 mg/kg i.p., respectively); gabapentin inhibited only the late phase (MED = 30 mg/kg s.c.). Unlike morphine, CHF3381 chronic administration was not accompanied by the development of tolerance in the formalin test. Furthermore, morphine tolerance did not cross-generalize to CHF3381. In rats with a sciatic nerve injury, CHF3381 relieved both cold and mechanical allodynia (MED = 100 mg/kg p.o.). In contrast, memantine was inactive. Gabapentin blocked cold allodynia (MED = 30 mg/kg s.c.), but had marginal effects on mechanical allodynia. In diabetic neuropathy, CHF3381 reversed mechanical hyperalgesia (MED = 50 mg/kg p.o.). Memantine (15 mg/kg i.p.) produced an antinociceptive effect, whereas gabapentin (100 mg/kg p.o.) had no significant effect. Thus, CHF3381 may be useful for the therapy of peripheral painful neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gino Villetti
- Research and Development Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, Parma, Italy.
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36
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Barbieri M, Bregola G, Buzzi A, Marino S, Zucchini S, Stables JP, Bergamaschi M, Pietra C, Villetti G, Simonato M. Mechanisms of action of CHF3381 in the forebrain. Br J Pharmacol 2003; 139:1333-41. [PMID: 12890713 PMCID: PMC1573965 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Aim of this study was to gain insight into the mechanism of action of CHF3381, a novel putative antiepileptic and neuroprotective drug. (2) CHF3381 blocked NMDA currents in primary cultures of cortical neurons: maximal effect was nearly -80% of the NMDA-evoked current, with EC(50) of approximately 5 micro M. This effect was selective, reversible, use-dependent and elicited at the concentrations reached in the rodent brain after peripheral administration of therapeutic doses. (3) CHF3381 also inhibited voltage-gated Na(+) currents in an apparently voltage-dependent manner. However, this effect could be obtained only at relatively high concentrations (100 micro M). (4) Consistent with the mild effects on voltage-gated Na(+) channels, CHF3381 (100 micro M) failed to affect electrical stimulation-evoked glutamate overflow in hippocampal slices. In contrast, the anti-convulsant agent and Na(+) channel blocker lamotrigine (100 micro M) inhibited stimulation-evoked glutamate overflow by approximately 50%. (5) CHF3381 reduced kindled seizure-induced c-fos mRNA levels within the same brain regions, and to a similar level, as the selective NMDA receptor antagonist MK801, providing circumstantial evidence to the idea that CHF3381 blocks NMDA receptors in vivo. (6) The present mechanistic studies suggest that the primary mechanism of action of CHF3381 in the forebrain is blockade of NMDA receptors. On this basis, this compound may have a potential use in other diseases caused by or associated with a pathologically high level of NMDA receptor activation.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Anticonvulsants/pharmacology
- Dizocilpine Maleate/pharmacokinetics
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Electrophysiology
- Glutamic Acid/metabolism
- Glycine/analogs & derivatives
- Glycine/pharmacology
- Hippocampus/drug effects
- Hippocampus/metabolism
- Indans/pharmacology
- Injections, Intraperitoneal
- Ion Channel Gating/drug effects
- Male
- N-Methylaspartate/pharmacology
- Neurons/cytology
- Neurons/drug effects
- Neurons/metabolism
- Prosencephalon/cytology
- Prosencephalon/drug effects
- Prosencephalon/physiology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/biosynthesis
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/genetics
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptors, GABA-A/drug effects
- Receptors, GABA-A/physiology
- Receptors, Glutamate/drug effects
- Receptors, Glutamate/physiology
- Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/drug effects
- Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/physiology
- Signal Transduction
- Sodium Channels/drug effects
- Sodium Channels/metabolism
- gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Barbieri
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Section of Pharmacology) and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gianni Bregola
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Section of Pharmacology) and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Andrea Buzzi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Section of Pharmacology) and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Marino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Section of Pharmacology) and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Section of Pharmacology) and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
| | - James P Stables
- Epilepsy Branch, Preclinical Pharmacolgy Service, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, U.S.A
| | | | - Claudio Pietra
- R&D Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici Spa, 43100 Parma, Italy
| | - Gino Villetti
- R&D Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici Spa, 43100 Parma, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Section of Pharmacology) and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
- Author for correspondence:
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Mazzucchelli M, Porrello E, Villetti G, Pietra C, Govoni S, Racchi M. Characterization of the effect of ganstigmine (CHF2819) on amyloid precursor protein metabolism in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2003; 110:935-47. [PMID: 12898348 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-003-0006-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We have investigated the effect of ganstigmine (CHF2819), a novel geneserine derived acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, on the expression and metabolism of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) in neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. The rationale was based on the suggestion that cholinergic activity may also be involved in the regulation of APP metabolism. We studied the acute effect on APP metabolism following the secretion of sAPPalpha in the conditioned medium of cells. Following short term treatment (2h), ganstigmine promoted a slight increase in the release of sAPPalpha, the maximal effect approaching on average 1.5 fold baseline value. The data obtained in the long term experiments demonstrate that continuous inhibition of AchE obtained with 100 nM ganstigmine following an exposure of 24 hours did not influence APP isoforms expression. However, the compound appeared to increase the constitutive release of sAPPalpha, with a mechanism that is derived from an indirect cholinergic stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mazzucchelli
- Department of Experimental and Applied Pharmacology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Zucchini S, Buzzi A, Bergamaschi M, Pietra C, Villetti G, Simonato M. Neuroprotective activity of CHF3381, a putative N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist. Neuroreport 2002; 13:2071-4. [PMID: 12438928 DOI: 10.1097/00001756-200211150-00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of CHF3381, a novel putative NMDA antagonist characterized by a good therapeutic index. We have compared the effects of CHF3381 on kainate seizure-induced neurodegeneration with those produced by the non competitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 and by the Na channel blocker lamotrigine. All compounds have been employed at doses incapable of preventing or attenuating seizures. The fluorescent marker Fluoro-Jade B has been used to identify degenerating cells. Animals pretreated with lamotrigine presented the same degree of cell damage as the controls. As for the controls, a clear correlation was also observed between seizure severity and neurodegeneration. In contrast, MK-801 and CHF3381 completely prevented cell damage. These data indicate that CHF3381 may be successfully utilized in neurological disorders characterized by or associated with neurodegenerative excitotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara, 17-19, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
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Abstract
The aim of this contribution is to summarize recent findings on the potential use of cyclodextrins and their derivatives as carriers for oligonucleotide agents. Their peculiar properties could be exploited in such an emerging therapeutic area by virtue of their capability of interacting with cellular membranes, thus giving rise to improved cellular uptake. In particular, some specific derivatives could be considered as promising future excipients for the delivery of "naked" antisense and/or decoy oligonucleotides which are difficult to formulate with existing pharmaceutical excipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Redenti
- R&D Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Via Palermo 26/A, 43100 Parma, Italy.
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Gandolfi O, Bonfante V, Voltattorni M, Dall'Olio R, Poli A, Pietra C, Villetti G. Anticonvulsant preclinical profile of CHF 3381: dopaminergic and glutamatergic mechanisms. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2001; 70:157-66. [PMID: 11566153 DOI: 10.1016/s0091-3057(01)00591-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Following intraperitoneal or oral administrations, CHF 3381 ([n-(2-indanyl)-glycinamide hydrochloride]) protected rats against maximal electroshock (MES) test seizures. As glutamatergic pathways play a pivotal role in epilepsy, to better characterize the molecular mechanisms of action of CHF 3381, the drug effects on the binding of the excitatory amino acid antagonist [3H]-MK-801 in the presence of n-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), spermidine, or the combination of both ligands, were studied. CHF 3381 inhibited the [3H]-MK-801 specific binding in a noncompetitive fashion in respect to NMDA and polyamines recognition sites. CHF 3381 failed to change the kinetic characteristic of glycine B receptors labeled with [3H]-glycine; in contrast, it significantly increased K(d) values when the receptors were labeled with the more specific compound [3H]-MDL 105,519. CHF 3381 antagonized dopamine (DA)-induced behavioral responses and inhibited, in a glycine-dependent manner, the NMDA-induced [3H]-DA release from rat striatal slices, but it failed to change either the kinetic characteristics of D1, D2, or D3 receptors in synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) or the [3H]-DA uptake from striatal synaptosomes. Moreover, in primary cell cultures of cortical neurons, this drug exhibited glycine-independent neuroprotective effects against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. It is concluded that this compound could have a potential use in several disease states where a pathological high level of NMDA receptor activation is thought to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Gandolfi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 48, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
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Trabace L, Cassano T, Cagiano R, Tattoli M, Pietra C, Steardo L, Kendrick KM, Cuomo V. Effects of ENA713 and CHF2819, two anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs, on rat amino acid levels. Brain Res 2001; 910:182-6. [PMID: 11489269 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-8993(01)02653-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The effects of oral ENA713 and CHF2819 (0.5, 1.5 and 4.5 mg/kg), two novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, on extracellular concentrations of amino acids in rat hippocampus, were evaluated using in vivo microdialysis. ENA713, at 4.5 mg/kg, but not CHF2819, significantly decreased glutamate, taurine, arginine and citrulline levels, without affecting aspartate concentrations. These results suggest that the modulation of amino acidergic transmission could represent an additional mechanism of action in Alzheimer's disease for some acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Trabace
- Department of Pharmacology and Human Physiology, Medical School, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 70124 Bari, Italy.
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Villetti G, Bregola G, Bassani F, Bergamaschi M, Rondelli I, Pietra C, Simonato M. Preclinical Evaluation of CHF3381 as a Novel Antiepileptic Agent. Neuropharmacology 2001; 40:866-78. [PMID: 11378157 DOI: 10.1016/s0028-3908(01)00026-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
CHF3381 [n-(2-indanyl)-glycinamide hydrochloride] has been selected on the basis of a screening program as the compound displaying the highest anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) test and the best therapeutic index with reference to the rotarod test in mice and rats. In this study, the antiepileptic activity and the behavioural toxicity of CHF3381 were characterised in multiple model systems. CHF3381 effectively prevented MES-induced convulsions when administered i.p. (ED50, 24 mg/kg and 7.5 mg/kg) or p.o. (ED50, 21 mg/kg and 21 mg/kg) in both mice and rats, respectively. The time course of oral anti-MES activity in the rat was related to the brain concentration profile of unchanged CHF3381. Interestingly, the brain drug levels were about 4-5 times higher than in plasma. CHF3381 was very effective in mice against picrotoxin-, and i.c.v. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced hind limb tonic extension (ED50 Approximately/=10 mg/kg), but was a weaker antagonist of 4-amynopyridine- and bicuculline-induced tonic seizures (ED50 approximately/=100 mg/kg), and ineffective against pentylentetrazole- and picrotoxin-induced clonic seizures. CHF3381 antagonised the behavioural effects and lethality of i.p. administered NMDA (ED50 = 57 mg/kg p.o.), indicating that the compound may act as a functional NMDA antagonist. In keeping with this idea, CHF3381 weakly displaced [(3)H]-TCP from binding to NMDA receptor channels (Ki, 8.8 microM). In the rat amygdala kindling model, CHF3381 was more efficient against kindling development than against kindled seizures (minimally active dose = 80 vs. 120 mg/kg i.p). Furthermore, it significantly increased the seizure threshold in kindled rats at relatively low doses (40 mg/kg i.p.). In contrast with MK-801-induced hyperactivity, CHF3381 moderately reduced the spontaneous locomotor activity in mice at anticonvulsant doses. Toxic effects on motor performance (rotarod test) were found at high doses only (TD50 approximately/= 300 mg/kg p.o., congruent with 100 mg/kg i.p. in both mice and rats). Furthermore, CHF3381 did not impair passive avoidance and Morris water maze responding in the therapeutic range of doses. Finally, the development of tolerance after repeated doses was negligible. These data indicate that CHF3381 exerts anticonvulsant and antiepileptogenic effects in various seizure models and possesses good therapeutic window, with scarce propensity to cause neurological side-effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Villetti
- Chiesi Farmaceutici Spa, via Palermo 26/A, 43100, Parma, Italy.
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Reggiani A, Pietra C, Arban R, Marzola P, Guerrini U, Ziviani L, Boicelli A, Sbarbati A, Osculati F. The neuroprotective activity of the glycine receptor antagonist GV150526: an in vivo study by magnetic resonance imaging. Eur J Pharmacol 2001; 419:147-53. [PMID: 11426836 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(01)00948-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The neuroprotective activity of GV150526 (3-[2-(Phenylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl]-4,6-dichloroindole-2-carboxylic acid sodium salt), a selective glycine receptor antagonist of the NMDA receptor, has been evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion. The aim of the work was to evaluate, using an in vivo method, whether GV150526 was able to reduce the extent of ischemic brain damage when administered both before and after (6 h) middle cerebral artery occlusion. GV150526 was administered at a dose of 3 mg/kg i.v. T2-weighted (T2W) and diffusion weighted (DW) images were acquired at 6, 24 and 144 h after the establishment of the cerebral ischemia. Substantial neuroprotection was demonstrated at all investigated time points when GV150526 was administered before the ischemic insult. The ischemic volume was reduced by 84% and 72%, compared to control values, when measured from T2W and DW images, acquired 24 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Administration of the same dose of GV150526, 6 h post-ischemia, also resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) neuroprotection. The ischemic volume was reduced by 48% from control values when measured from T2W images and by 45% when measured from DW images. No significant difference was found between volumes of brain ischemia obtained by either MRI or triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. These data confirm the potential neuroprotective activity of the glycine receptor antagonist GV150526 when administered either before or up to 6 h after ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Reggiani
- Glaxo-Wellcome S.p.A., Research Laboratories, Verona, Italy
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Trabace L, Cassano T, Steardo L, Pietra C, Villetti G, Kendrick KM, Cuomo V. Biochemical and neurobehavioral profile of CHF2819, a novel, orally active acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for Alzheimer's disease. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2000; 294:187-94. [PMID: 10871311] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
1,2,3,3a,8,8a-Hexahydro-1,3a,8-trimethylpyrrolo¿2,3-bĭndol-5-ol 2-ethylphenylcarbamate N-oxide hydrochloride (3aS-cis) (CHF2819) is a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that produces central cholinergic stimulation after oral administration in rats. In vivo studies show that CHF2819 (0.5, 1.5, and 4.5 mg/kg p.o.) significantly increases acetylcholine levels in young adult rat hippocampus in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, aged animals, which show a significant decrease in basal acetylcholine levels with respect to young adult rats, also exhibit a marked increase in the hippocampal concentrations of this neurotransmitter after the administration of CHF2819. This compound (1.5 mg/kg p.o.) significantly attenuates scopolamine-induced amnesia in a passive avoidance task. Furthermore, CHF2819 induces a significant decrease in dopamine levels and a significant elevation of extracellular concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine, whereas it does not modify norepinephrine and gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in the hippocampus of young adult rats. Functional observational battery screening demonstrates that CHF2819 (1.5 and 4.5 mg/kg p.o.) does not affect activity, excitability, autonomic, neuromuscular, and sensorimotor domains, as well as physiological end points (body weight and temperature). However, this compound induces involuntary motor movements (ranging from mild tremors to myoclonic jerks) in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that the anti-amnestic properties of CHF2819, together with its stimulatory effect on cholinergic and serotonergic functions, might have a therapeutic potential mainly for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease patients in which the cognitive impairment is accompanied by a depressive syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Trabace
- Department of Pharmacology and Human Physiology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
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Trabace L, Coluccia A, Gaetani S, Tattoli M, Cagiano R, Pietra C, Kendrick KM, Cuomo V. In vivo neurochemical effects of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor ENA713 in rat hippocampus. Brain Res 2000; 865:268-71. [PMID: 10821930 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-8993(00)02266-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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]
Abstract
Oral ENA713 (0.5, 1.5 and 4.5 mg/kg), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), dose-dependently enhanced extracellular acetylcholine concentrations in the hippocampus of freely moving rats. This effect was paralleled by changes in both noradrenergic and dopaminergic transmission. In particular, ENA713 significantly decreased noradrenaline concentrations, whereas it significantly increased homovanillic acid levels, without affecting dopamine concentrations. Neither serotonin nor gamma-aminobutyric acid levels were modified by ENA713. These findings extend the neurochemical profile of ENA713 and suggest that it could be useful for the treatment of Alzheimer-type dementia which is associated with multiple neurotransmitter abnormalities in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Trabace
- Department of Pharmacology and Human Physiology, Medical School, University of Bari, Policlinico-Piazza Giulio Cesare 11 70124, Bari, Italy
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Abstract
Acetylcholine (Ach) enhancement, useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), may be obtained by means of ion channel modulators such as 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). 4-AP is also the central ring of tacrine, the first drug approved for the treatment of AD. The synthesis and pharmacological activity of three 4-AP derivatives, prepared with the aim of improving their antiamnesic activity, is here described. In two of these compounds 4-AP is connected to 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA), whereas in the third it is connected to 2-indolinone, i.e., the skeleton of linopirdine, another Ach enhancing agent. The new compounds showed potent antiamnesic activity in comparison with piracetam.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Andreani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Universita' di Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
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Palea S, Pietra C. Involvement of spinal NK1 and opioids receptors in modulating the inhibitory effect of capsaicin on micturition reflex in the acute spinalized guinea pig. J Urol 1999; 161:998-1005. [PMID: 10022740] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this work was to study the role of capsaicin-sensitive afferent fibers in modulating the micturition reflex at spinal level in urethane-anesthetized guinea pigs after spinal cord transection at level T3-T4. MATERIALS AND METHODS The intravesical effect of capsaicin was investigated in a series of cystometrograms performed in intact and spinalized animals. RESULTS In both intact and spinalized animals capsaicin, at 30 microM, induced a significant increase of volume threshold only, whereas at 100 microM it induced a complete inhibition of the spinal micturition reflex in 60% and 85% of the animals tested, respectively. This capsaicin inhibitory effect (CIE) was unaffected by intravenous phentolamine and propranolol (0.5 and 1 mg./kg., respectively), indomethacin at 100 nmoles intrathecally (i.t.), the CGRP receptor antagonist hCGRP8-37 (3 nmoles i.t.) and the NK2 receptor selective antagonist GR 94800 (1 nmol. i.t.). However, both naloxone (30 microg. i.t.) and the NK1 antagonist GR 82334 (10 to 20 nmoles i.t.) prevented CIE in the majority of spinalized animals. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that CIE could be mediated by enkephalines released by dorsal root ganglion neurons through substance P release and subsequent activation of NK1 receptors in acutely spinalized guinea pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Palea
- Department of Pharmacology, Glaxo Wellcome S. p. A., Medicines Research Centre, Verona, Italy
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Palea S, Toson G, Pietra C, Trist DG, Artibani W, Romano O, Corsi M. Pharmacological characterization of thromboxane and prostanoid receptors in human isolated urinary bladder. Br J Pharmacol 1998; 124:865-72. [PMID: 9692770 PMCID: PMC1565461 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0701903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
1. Cumulative concentration-response curves (CRC) to prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), PGE2, PGD2 and PGF2alpha (0.01-30 microM) and to the thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor agonist U-46619 (0.01-30 microM) were constructed in human isolated detrusor muscle strips both in basal conditions and during electrical field stimulation. 2. All the agonists tested contracted the detrusor muscle. The rank order of agonist potency was: PGF2alpha > U-46619 > PGE2 whereas weak contractile responses were obtained with PGD2 and PGE1. Any of the agonists tested was able to induce a clear plateau of response even at 30 microM. 3. The selective TXA2 antagonist, GR 32191B (vapiprost), antagonized U-46619-induced contractions with an apparent pK(B) value of 8.27+/-0.12 (n = 4 for each antagonist concentration). GR 32191B (0.3 microM) did not antagonize the contractile responses to PGF2alpha and it was a non-surmountable antagonist of PGE2 (apparent pK(B) of 7.09+/-0.04; n = 5). The EP receptor antagonist AH 6809 at 10 microM shifted to the right the CRC to U-46619 (apparent pK(B) value of 5.88+/-0.04; n = 4). 4. Electrical field stimulation (20 Hz, 70 V, pulse width 0.1 ms, trains of 5 s every 60 s) elicited contractions fully sensitive to TTX (0.3 microM) and atropine (1 microM). U-46619 (0.01-3 microM) potentiated the twitch contraction in a dose-dependent manner and this effect was competitively antagonized by GR 32191B with an estimated pK(B) of 8.54+/-0.14 (n = 4 for each antagonist concentration). PGF2alpha in the range 0.01-10 microM (n = 7), but not PGE2 and PGE1 (n = 3 for each), also potentiated the twitch contraction of detrusor muscle strips (23.5+/-0.3% of KCl 100 mM-induced contraction) but this potentiation was unaffected by 0.3 microM GR 32191B (n = 5). 5. Cumulative additions of U-46619 (0.01-30 microM) were without effect on contractions induced by direct smooth muscle excitation (20 Hz, 40 V, 6 ms pulse width, trains of 2 s every 60 s, in the presence of TTX 1 microM; n = 3). Moreover, pretreatment of the tissue with 0.3 microM U-46619 did not potentiate the smooth muscle response to 7 microM bethanecol (n = 2). 6. We concluded that TXA2 can induce direct contraction of human isolated urinary bladder through the classical TXA2 receptor. Prostanoid receptors, fully activated by PGE2 and PGF2alpha are also present. All these receptors are probably located post-junctionally. The rank order of agonist potency and the fact that GR 32191B, but not AH6809, antagonized responses to PGE2 seem to indicate the presence of a new EP receptor subtype. Moreover, we suggest the presence of prejunctional TXA2 and FP receptors, potentiating acetylcholine release from cholinergic nerve terminals.
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MESH Headings
- 15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid/pharmacology
- Alprostadil/pharmacology
- Biphenyl Compounds/pharmacology
- Dinoprost/pharmacology
- Dinoprostone/pharmacology
- Electric Stimulation
- Heptanoic Acids/pharmacology
- Humans
- In Vitro Techniques
- Muscle Contraction/drug effects
- Muscle, Smooth/drug effects
- Muscle, Smooth/physiology
- Prostaglandin Antagonists/pharmacology
- Prostaglandin D2/pharmacology
- Receptors, Prostaglandin/agonists
- Receptors, Prostaglandin/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP1 Subtype
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype
- Receptors, Thromboxane/agonists
- Receptors, Thromboxane/antagonists & inhibitors
- Thromboxane A2/pharmacology
- Thromboxane A2/physiology
- Urinary Bladder/drug effects
- Urinary Bladder/physiology
- Xanthenes/pharmacology
- Xanthones
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Affiliation(s)
- S Palea
- Glaxo Wellcome Medicines Research Center, Verona, Italy
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Crespi F, Pietra C. Middle cerebral artery occlusion alters neurotransmitter activities in ipsilateral and contralateral rat brain regions: an ex vivo voltammetric study. Neurosci Lett 1997; 230:77-80. [PMID: 9259468 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(97)00479-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Differential pulse voltammetry with treated carbon fibre micro-electrodes has been successfully employed in in vivo analysis of neurotransmitter release and metabolism. This methodology has been now applied to ex vivo preparations (brain slices) in order to study diverse neurotransmitter activities in various brain regions ipsilateral and controlateral to a middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion performed in anaesthetised adult male rats. Data demonstrated that significant changes of voltammetric ascorbic acid levels related to the ischaemic state were monitored within the ipsilateral to MCA occlusion frontal cortex, striatum, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus which were the brain area studied. Furthermore, it appeared that voltammetric catecholaminergic and 5-hydroxy indolaminergic values measured within the nucleus accumbens controlateral to MCA occlusion differ significantly from the results monitored with the same technique in brain slices obtained from sham rats. In various studies, the brain regions contralateral to MCA occlusion are generally considered as control areas, however, the present data suggest that the nucleus accumbens contralateral to the MCA occlusion side is specifically affected by the ischaemic state.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Crespi
- Department of Pharmacology, Glaxo Wellcome S.p.A., Medicine Research Centre, Verona, Italy.
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Ferraguti F, Pietra C, Valerio E, Corti C, Chiamulera C, Conquet F. Evidence against a permissive role of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 in acute excitotoxicity. Neuroscience 1997; 79:1-5. [PMID: 9178862 DOI: 10.1016/s0306-4522(97)00074-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Excitotoxicity has been proposed to contribute to neuronal loss in a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative conditions such as ischemia, hypoglycaemic coma or cerebral trauma. Excitotoxic neuronal injury appears to be mediated mainly by the over-activation of glutamate receptors, especially N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, with subsequent excessive Ca2+ influx. Concurrent with the activation of glutamate-gated ion channels, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR), which are G-protein coupled receptors, are also expected to be activated. Excessive stimulation of phospholipase C-coupled mGluR, mGluR1 and mGluRS, has been suggested to have neurotoxic consequences. However, the contribution of mGluR activation on excitotoxicity is still unclear and controversial. Here we report that, following ischemic and excitotoxic brain injuries, inactivation of mGluR1 does not prevent excitotoxic neuronal damage. Given the evidence that agonists at this group of mGluR promoted neuronal death in cerebrocortical cultures after oxygen-glucose deprivation or after N-methyl-D-aspartate exposure, our findings suggest that mGluR-mediated excitotoxicity is unlikely associated with mGluR1 but rather with other PLC-coupled mGluR.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Ferraguti
- GlaxoWellcome S.p.A. Medicines Research Centre, Verona, Italy
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