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Wallach J, Cao AB, Calkins MM, Heim AJ, Lanham JK, Bonniwell EM, Hennessey JJ, Bock HA, Anderson EI, Sherwood AM, Morris H, de Klein R, Klein AK, Cuccurazzu B, Gamrat J, Fannana T, Zauhar R, Halberstadt AL, McCorvy JD. Identification of 5-HT 2A receptor signaling pathways associated with psychedelic potential. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8221. [PMID: 38102107 PMCID: PMC10724237 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44016-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics possess considerable therapeutic potential. Although 5-HT2A receptor activation mediates psychedelic effects, prototypical psychedelics activate both 5-HT2A-Gq/11 and β-arrestin2 transducers, making their respective roles unclear. To elucidate this, we develop a series of 5-HT2A-selective ligands with varying Gq efficacies, including β-arrestin-biased ligands. We show that 5-HT2A-Gq but not 5-HT2A-β-arrestin2 recruitment efficacy predicts psychedelic potential, assessed using head-twitch response (HTR) magnitude in male mice. We further show that disrupting Gq-PLC signaling attenuates the HTR and a threshold level of Gq activation is required to induce psychedelic-like effects, consistent with the fact that certain 5-HT2A partial agonists (e.g., lisuride) are non-psychedelic. Understanding the role of 5-HT2A Gq-efficacy in psychedelic-like psychopharmacology permits rational development of non-psychedelic 5-HT2A agonists. We also demonstrate that β-arrestin-biased 5-HT2A receptor agonists block psychedelic effects and induce receptor downregulation and tachyphylaxis. Overall, 5-HT2A receptor Gq-signaling can be fine-tuned to generate ligands distinct from classical psychedelics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Wallach
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Andrew B Cao
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Maggie M Calkins
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Andrew J Heim
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Chemical Computing Group ULC, 910-1010 Sherbrooke W, Montréal, QC, H3A 2R7, Canada
| | - Janelle K Lanham
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Emma M Bonniwell
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Joseph J Hennessey
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Hailey A Bock
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Emilie I Anderson
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | | | - Hamilton Morris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Robbin de Klein
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
| | - Adam K Klein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Bruna Cuccurazzu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - James Gamrat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Tilka Fannana
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Randy Zauhar
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Artemis Discovery, LLC, Suite 300, 709 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19123, USA
| | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Center for Psychedelic Research, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - John D McCorvy
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
- Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
- Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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Wallach J, Cao AB, Calkins MM, Heim AJ, Lanham JK, Bonniwell EM, Hennessey JJ, Bock HA, Anderson EI, Sherwood AM, Morris H, de Klein R, Klein AK, Cuccurazzu B, Gamrat J, Fannana T, Zauhar R, Halberstadt AL, McCorvy JD. Identification of 5-HT 2A Receptor Signaling Pathways Responsible for Psychedelic Potential. bioRxiv 2023:2023.07.29.551106. [PMID: 37577474 PMCID: PMC10418054 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.29.551106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics possess considerable therapeutic potential. Although 5-HT2A receptor activation mediates psychedelic effects, prototypical psychedelics activate both 5-HT2A-Gq/11 and β-arrestin2 signaling, making their respective roles unclear. To elucidate this, we developed a series of 5-HT2A-selective ligands with varying Gq efficacies, including β-arrestin-biased ligands. We show that 5-HT2A-Gq but not 5-HT2A-β-arrestin2 efficacy predicts psychedelic potential, assessed using head-twitch response (HTR) magnitude in male mice. We further show that disrupting Gq-PLC signaling attenuates the HTR and a threshold level of Gq activation is required to induce psychedelic-like effects, consistent with the fact that certain 5-HT2A partial agonists (e.g., lisuride) are non-psychedelic. Understanding the role of 5-HT2A-Gq efficacy in psychedelic-like psychopharmacology permits rational development of non-psychedelic 5-HT2A agonists. We also demonstrate that β-arrestin-biased 5-HT2A receptor agonists induce receptor downregulation and tachyphylaxis, and have an anti-psychotic-like behavioral profile. Overall, 5-HT2A receptor signaling can be fine-tuned to generate ligands with properties distinct from classical psychedelics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Wallach
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Andrew B. Cao
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Maggie M. Calkins
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Andrew J. Heim
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Janelle K. Lanham
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Emma M. Bonniwell
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Joseph J. Hennessey
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Hailey A. Bock
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Emilie I. Anderson
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | | | - Hamilton Morris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Robbin de Klein
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California 92161, United States
| | - Adam K. Klein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Bruna Cuccurazzu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - James Gamrat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Tilka Fannana
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Randy Zauhar
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Adam L. Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California 92161, United States
| | - John D. McCorvy
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
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Vargas MV, Dunlap LE, Dong C, Carter SJ, Tombari RJ, Jami SA, Cameron LP, Patel SD, Hennessey JJ, Saeger HN, McCorvy JD, Gray JA, Tian L, Olson DE. Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity through the activation of intracellular 5-HT2A receptors. Science 2023; 379:700-706. [PMID: 36795823 PMCID: PMC10108900 DOI: 10.1126/science.adf0435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 83.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Decreased dendritic spine density in the cortex is a hallmark of several neuropsychiatric diseases, and the ability to promote cortical neuron growth has been hypothesized to underlie the rapid and sustained therapeutic effects of psychedelics. Activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) is essential for psychedelic-induced cortical plasticity, but it is currently unclear why some 5-HT2AR agonists promote neuroplasticity, whereas others do not. We used molecular and genetic tools to demonstrate that intracellular 5-HT2ARs mediate the plasticity-promoting properties of psychedelics; these results explain why serotonin does not engage similar plasticity mechanisms. This work emphasizes the role of location bias in 5-HT2AR signaling, identifies intracellular 5-HT2ARs as a therapeutic target, and raises the intriguing possibility that serotonin might not be the endogenous ligand for intracellular 5-HT2ARs in the cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxemiliano V. Vargas
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Lee E. Dunlap
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Chunyang Dong
- Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Samuel J. Carter
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Robert J. Tombari
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Shekib A. Jami
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Lindsay P. Cameron
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Seona D. Patel
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Joseph J. Hennessey
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin; Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Hannah N. Saeger
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - John D. McCorvy
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin; Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - John A. Gray
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Lin Tian
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - David E. Olson
- Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis; Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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Morrissette DL, Goodrich GL, Hennessey JJ. A Follow-up Study of the Mowat Sensor's Applications, Frequency of Use, and Maintenance Reliability. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/0145482x8107500603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A survey was conducted of fifteen veterans who had been issued Mowat Sensors to determine applications, frequency of use, and device reliability. All subjects reported the aid to be helpful and continued to employ it although the amount of use varied. Reports of mechanical reliability were high. Particular uses of the Mowat are specified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane L. Morrissette
- Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Palo Alto, California
| | - Gregory L. Goodrich
- Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Palo Alto, California
| | - Joseph J. Hennessey
- Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Palo Alto, California
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