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Saleh AH, Abdelwaly A, Darwish KM, Eissa AAHM, Chittiboyina A, Helal MA. Deciphering the molecular basis of the kappa opioid receptor selectivity: A Molecular Dynamics study. J Mol Graph Model 2021; 106:107940. [PMID: 34015577 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2021.107940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Selective antagonists for the kappa opioid receptor (KOP) have the potential to treat opiate and alcohol addiction, as well as depression and other CNS disorders. Over the years, the development of KOP-selective antagonists yielded very few successful compounds. Recently, N-substituted trans-3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidines have emerged as a novel class of pure opioid receptor antagonists, including the marketed Mu opioid receptor (MOP) peripheral antagonist Alvimopan and the potent KOP antagonist JDTic. However, the selectivity determinants of this class of compounds towards the opioid receptor subtypes are still vague and understudied. In this work, we have performed Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation to gain insights into the differential binding of this class of compounds into KOP, as exemplified by Alvimopan and JDTic. Our study indicated that the selectivity largely depends on ligands interaction with the selectivity pocket formed by Val108, Thr111, and Val118, supported by two additional polar and hydrophobic contacts with Asp138 and Trp287, respectively. Our results also demonstrate, for the first time, that non-morphinan ligands can still adopt the "message-address model" for KOP efficacy and selectivity by binding to Glu297.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr H Saleh
- University of Science and Technology, Biomedical Sciences Program, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October, Giza, 12578, Egypt
| | - Ahmad Abdelwaly
- University of Science and Technology, Biomedical Sciences Program, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October, Giza, 12578, Egypt
| | - Khaled M Darwish
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
| | - Amal A H M Eissa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amar Chittiboyina
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, United States
| | - Mohamed A Helal
- University of Science and Technology, Biomedical Sciences Program, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October, Giza, 12578, Egypt; Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt.
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Caputi FF, Stopponi S, Rullo L, Palmisano M, Ubaldi M, Candeletti S, Ciccocioppo R, Romualdi P. Dysregulation of Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ and Dynorphin Systems in the Extended Amygdala of Alcohol Preferring Marchigian Sardinian (msP) Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052448. [PMID: 33671048 PMCID: PMC7957504 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats consume excessive amounts of ethanol to self-medicate from negative moods and to relieve innate hypersensitivity to stress. This phenotype resembling a subset of alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients, appears to be linked to a dysregulation of the equilibrium between stress and antistress mechanisms in the extended amygdala. Here, comparing water and alcohol exposed msP and Wistar rats we evaluate the transcript expression of the anti-stress opioid-like peptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and its receptor NOP as well as of dynorphin (DYN) and its cognate κ-opioid receptor (KOP). In addition, we measured the transcript levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), CRF receptor 1 (CRF1R), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and of the tropomyosin receptor kinase B receptor (Trk-B). Results showed an innately up-regulation of the CRFergic system, mediating negative mood and stress responses, as well as an inherent up-regulation of the anti-stress N/OFQ system, both in the amygdala (AMY) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) of msP rats. The up-regulation of this latter system may reflect an attempt to buffer the negative condition elicited by the hyperactivity of pro-stress mechanisms since results showed that voluntary alcohol consumption dampened N/OFQ. Alcohol exposure also reduced the expression of dynorphin and CRF transmissions in the AMY of msP rats. In the BNST, alcohol intake led to a more complex reorganization of these systems increasing receptor transcripts in msP rats, along with an increase of CRF and a decrease of N/OFQ transcripts, respectively. Moreover, mimicking the effects of alcohol in the AMY we observed that the activation of NOP receptor by intracerebroventricular administration of N/OFQ in msP rats caused an increase of BDNF and a decrease of CRF transcripts. Our study indicates that both stress and anti-stress mechanisms are dysregulated in the extended AMY of msP rats. The voluntary alcohol drinking, as well as NOP agonism, have a significant impact on neuropeptidergic systems arrangement, bringing the systems back to normalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Felicia Caputi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.C.); (L.R.); (M.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Serena Stopponi
- Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.S.); (M.U.)
| | - Laura Rullo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.C.); (L.R.); (M.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Martina Palmisano
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.C.); (L.R.); (M.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Massimo Ubaldi
- Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.S.); (M.U.)
| | - Sanzio Candeletti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.C.); (L.R.); (M.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.S.); (M.U.)
- Correspondence: (R.C.); (P.R.)
| | - Patrizia Romualdi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.C.); (L.R.); (M.P.); (S.C.)
- Correspondence: (R.C.); (P.R.)
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Kuo A, Magiera J, Rethwan N, Andersson Å, Leen Lam A, Wyse B, Meutermans W, Lewis R, Smith M. In vitro profiling of opioid ligands using the cAMP formation inhibition assay and the β-arrestin2 recruitment assay: No two ligands have the same profile. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 872:172947. [PMID: 31991138 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.172947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we showed that no two of seven opioids administered by the intracerebroventricular route had the same potency rank order for evoking antinociception, constipation and respiratory depression in rats. To gain insight at the cellular level, this study was designed to systematically investigate the activity profiles of six commonly used opioid ligands using the forskolin-stimulated cAMP assay and a β-arrestin2 recruitment assay in cultured HEK-293 cells transfected with MOP(μ), DOP(δ) or KOP(κ) receptors(-r). Morphine was a potent agonist at the MOP-r in the cAMP assay whereas it was a weak agonist at the KOP-r and DOP-r. Oxycodone had moderate efficacy and low potency at the MOP-r. Buprenorphine was a potent MOP-r and DOP-r agonist; its efficacy rank order was DOP > MOP > KOP. Fentanyl was a potent agonist at the MOP-r; its efficacy rank order was MOP > DOP > KOP. For DPDPE, its agonist efficacy was confined to the DOP-r, whereas for U69593, its efficacy rank order was KOP>> MOP. For the β-arrestin2 assay, fentanyl had full efficacy at the MOP-r whereas morphine and oxycodone were weak with insignificant efficacy at DOP and KOP receptors. Buprenorphine did not recruit β-arrestin2 at all three opioid-receptors. DPDPE and U69593 had full efficacy for β-arrestin2 recruitment to the DOP-r and KOP-r respectively. Despite the low efficacy and potency of morphine, oxycodone and buprenorphine in recruiting β-arrestin2 to the MOP-r herein, these opioids all evoked respiratory depression and constipation in rats. Together, our findings discount a key role for β-arrestin2 recruitment at the MOP-r in evoking opioid-related side-effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy Kuo
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Julia Magiera
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nursyazwani Rethwan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Åsa Andersson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ai Leen Lam
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Bruce Wyse
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Wim Meutermans
- VAST Bioscience Pty Ltd, Toowong, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard Lewis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Maree Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Abstract
Since the isolation of morphine from the opium poppy over 200 years ago, the molecular basis of opioid action has remained the subject of intense inquiry. The identification of specific receptors responsible for opioid function and the discovery of many chemically diverse molecules with unique opioid-like efficacies have provided glimpses into the molecular logic of opioid action. Recent revolutions in the structural biology of transmembrane proteins have, for the first time, yielded high-resolution views into the 3-dimensional shapes of all 4 opioid receptors. These studies have begun to decode the chemical logic that enables opioids to specifically bind and activate their receptor targets. A combination of spectroscopic experiments and computational simulations has provided a view into the molecular movements of the opioid receptors, which itself gives rise to the complex opioid pharmacology observed at the cellular and behavioral levels. Further diversity in opioid receptor structure is driven by both genetic variation and receptor oligomerization. These insights have enabled computational drug discovery efforts, with some evidence of success in the design of completely novel opioids with unique efficacies. The combined progress over the past few years provides hope for new, efficacious opioids devoid of the side effects that have made them the scourge of humanity for millennia.
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Caputi FF, Di Benedetto M, Carretta D, Bastias del Carmen Candia S, D'Addario C, Cavina C, Candeletti S, Romualdi P. Dynorphin/ KOP and nociceptin/NOP gene expression and epigenetic changes by cocaine in rat striatum and nucleus accumbens. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 49:36-46. [PMID: 24184686 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Revised: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine induces neurochemical changes of endogenous prodynorphin-kappa opioid receptor (pDYN-KOP) and pronociceptin/orphaninFQ-nociceptin receptor (pN/OFQ-NOP) systems. Both systems play an important role in rewarding mechanisms and addictive stimulus processing by modulating drug-induced dopaminergic activation in the mesocortico-limbic brain areas. They are also involved in regulating stress mechanisms related to addiction. The aim of this study was to investigate possible changes of gene expression of the dynorphinergic and nociceptinergic system components in the nucleus accumbens (NA) and in medial and lateral caudate putamen (mCPu and lCPu, respectively) of rats, following chronic subcutaneous infusion of cocaine. In addition, the epigenetic histone modifications H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 (an activating and a repressive marker, respectively) at the promoter level of the pDYN, KOP, pN/OFQ and NOP genes were investigated. Results showed that cocaine induced pDYN gene expression up-regulation in the NA and lCPu, and its down-regulation in the mCPu, whereas KOP mRNA levels were unchanged. Moreover, cocaine exposure decreased pN/OFQ gene expression in the NA and lCPu, while NOP mRNA levels appeared significantly increased in the NA and decreased in the lCPu. Specific changes of the H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 levels were found at pDYN, pN/OFQ, and NOP gene promoter, consistent with the observed gene expression alterations. The present findings contribute to better define the role of endogenous pDYN-KOP and pN/OFQ-NOP systems in neuroplasticity mechanisms following chronic cocaine treatment. The epigenetic histone modifications underlying the gene expression changes likely mediate the effects of cocaine on transcriptional regulation of specific gene promoters that result in long-lasting drug-induced plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Felicia Caputi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Manuela Di Benedetto
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Donatella Carretta
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Claudio D'Addario
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Cavina
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Sanzio Candeletti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Romualdi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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