Species specificity of pharmacological characteristics of CCK-B receptors

Strategies for the construction of γ-spirocyclic butenolides in natural product synthesis

Over the last four decades, a number of γ-spirocyclic butenolide containing natural products, drugs, and medicinally useful synthetic compounds have been reported. In this review, we discuss diverse chemical approaches to synthesize γ-spiro butenolides and their application towards natural product synthesis. The collective perception of various methods may allow superior approaches capable of delivering efficient synthetic approaches to obtain γ-spiro butenolide comprising natural products and their hybrid analogues for further drug discovery and development.

Interaction between the cholecystokinin and endogenous cannabinoid systems in cued fear expression and extinction retention

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is thought to develop, in part, from improper inhibition of fear. Accordingly, one of the most effective treatment strategies for PTSD is exposure-based psychotherapy. Ideally, neuroscience would inform adjunct therapies that target the neurotransmitter systems involved in extinction processes. Separate studies have implicated the cholecystokinin (CCK) and endocannabinoid systems in fear; however, there is a high degree of anatomical colocalization between the cannabinoid 1 receptor (Cnr1) and CCK in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a brain region critical for emotion regulation. Although most research has focused on GABA and GABAergic plasticity as the mechanism by which Cnr1 mediates fear inhibition, we hypothesize that a functional interaction between Cnr1 and CCKB receptor (CCKBR) is critical for fear extinction processes. In this study, systemic pharmacological manipulation of the cannabinoid system modulated cued fear expression in C57BL/6J mice after consolidation of auditory fear conditioning. Knockout of the CCKBR, however, had no effect on fear- or anxiety-like behaviors. Nonetheless, administration of a Cnr1 antagonist increased freezing behavior during a cued fear expression test in wild-type subjects, but had no effect on freezing behavior in CCKBR knockout littermates. In addition, we found that Cnr1-positive fibers form perisomatic clusters around CCKBR-positive cell bodies in the BLA. These CCKBR-positive cells comprise a molecularly heterogenous population of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. These findings provide novel evidence that Cnr1 contributes to cued fear expression via an interaction with the CCK system. Dysfunctional Cnr1-CCKBR interactions might contribute to the etiology of, or result from, fear-related psychiatric disease.

Arginine-vasopressin and oxytocin response to cholecystokinin-tetrapeptide

This study examined the effects of i.v. administration of cholecystokinin-tetrapeptide (CCK-4) on plasma release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and control women, during both the follicular phase and the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. Plasma AVP and OT concentrations increased following CCK-4 administration. AVP and OT response to CCK-4 was similar for PMDD and control women and unaffected by menstrual cycle phase. AVP and OT may play a role in the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity associated with the panic response induced by CCK-4.

Pharmacological evaluation of IQM-95,333, a highly selective CCKA receptor antagonist with anxiolytic-like activity in animal models

1. The pyridopyrimidine derivative IQM-95,333 ((4aS,5R)-2-benzyl-5-[N alpha-tert-butoxicarbonyl)L-tryptophyl] amino-1,3dioxoperhydropyrido[1,2-c]pyrimidine), a new non-peptide antagonist of cholecystokinin type A (CCKA) receptors, has been evaluated in vitro and in vivo in comparison with typical CCKA and CCKB receptor antagonists, such as devazepide, lorglumide, L-365,260 and PD-135,158. 2. IQM-95,333 displaced [3H]-CCK-8S binding to CCKA receptors from rat pancreas with a high potency in the nanomolar range. Conversely, the affinity of this new compound at brain CCKB receptors was negligible (IC50 > 10 microM). IQM-95,333 was a more selective CCKA receptor ligand than devazepide and other CCKA receptor antagonists. 3. Like devazepide, IQM-95,333 was a more potent antagonist of CCK-8S- than of CCK-4-induced contraction of the longitudinal muscle from guinea-pig ileum, suggesting selective antagonism at CCKA receptors. 4. IQM-95,333 and devazepide were also potent inhibitors of CCK-8S-stimulated amylase release from isolated pancreatic acini, a CCKA receptor-mediated effect. The drug concentrations required (IC50s around 20 nM) were higher than in binding studies to pancreas homogenates. 5. Low doses (50-100 micrograms kg-1, i.p.) of IQM-95,333 and devazepide, without any intrinsic effect on food intake or locomotion, blocked the hypophagia and the hypolocomotion induced by systemic administration of CCK-8S, two effects associated with stimulation of peripheral CCKA receptors. 6. IQM-95,333 showed an anxiolytic-like profile in the light/dark exploration test in mice over a wide dose range (10-5,000 micrograms kg-1). Typical CCKA and CCKB antagonists, devazepide and L-365,260 respectively, were only effective within a more limited dose range. 7. In a classical conflict paradigm for the study of anxiolytic drugs, the punished-drinking test, IQM-95,333, devazepide and L-365,260 were effective within a narrow dose range. The dose-response curve for the three drugs was biphasic, suggesting that other mechanisms are operative at higher doses. 8. In conclusion, IQM-95,333 is a potent and selective CCKA receptor antagonist both in vitro and in vivo with an anxiolytic-like activity in two different animal models, which can only be attributed to blockade of this CCK receptor subtype.

Pharmacological and biochemical evidence for the simultaneous expression of CCKB/gastrin and CCKA receptors in the pig pancreas

1. In the pig, the secretory response of the pancreas is not inhibited by the antagonist MK329 suggesting that cholecystokininA (CCKA) receptors are not involved. 2. Membranes were isolated from the pancreas of 6 Large White pigs to characterize their CCK receptors. 3. The binding of [125I]-BH-[Thr, Nle]CCK-9 was dependent on pH, maximal after a 90 min incubation period, saturable and reversible. Saturation analysis of the binding demonstrated a single class of high affinity sites (Kd = 0.22 +/- 0.02 nM) and a binding capacity, Bmax = 110.64 +/- 12.50 fmol mg-1 protein. 4. Competition binding by agonists and antagonists of CCKA and CCKB/gastrin receptors demonstrated the presence of two distinct binding components, sites presenting a high affinity for [Thr, Nle]CCK-9, gastrin, PD 135158, L-365, 260 and a low affinity for MK329, SR 27897, and sites presenting a high affinity for [Thr, Nle]CCK-9, MK329, SR 27897 and a low affinity for gastrin, PD 135158, L-365,260. 5. These pharmacological data demonstrate the presence of both CCKA and CCKB/gastrin receptors in the pig pancreas, the latter being predominant. 6. Two distinct membrane proteins (50 and 85-100 kDa, respectively) display pharmacological features of CCKB/gastrin and CCKA receptors. 7. In pigs, as in calves and humans, CCKB/gastrin receptors are predominant in the pancreas.

Pharmacological characterization of CCKB receptors in human brain: no evidence for receptor heterogeneity

In this paper, cholecystokinin (CCK) B-type binding sites were characterized with receptor binding studies in different human brain regions (various parts of cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus, thalamus, cerebellar cortex) collected from 22 human postmortem brains. With the exception of the thalamus, where no specific CCK binding sites were found, a pharmacological characterization demonstrated a single class of high affinity CCK sites in all brain areas investigated. Receptor densities ranged from 0.5 fmol/mg protein (hippocampus) to 8.4 fmol/mg protein (nucleus caudatus). These CCK binding sites displayed a typical CCKA binding profile as shown in competition studies by using different CCK-related compounds and non peptide CCK antagonists discriminating between CCKA and CCKB sites. The rank order of agonist or antagonist potency in inhibiting specific sulphated [propionyl-3H]cholecystokinin octapeptide binding was similar and highly correlated for the brain regions investigated as demonstrated by a computer-assisted analysis. Therefore it is concluded that CCKB binding sites in human cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellar cortex share identical ligand binding characteristics.

Pharmacological characterization of a Chinese hamster ovary cell line transfected with the human CCK-B receptor gene

A stable Chinese hamster ovary cell line expressing the human CCK-B receptor gene is described (hCCK-B.CHO). In radioligand binding experiments employing membranes derived from these cells the rank order of affinity estimated for a series of CCK receptor ligands (CCK-8S > CI988 > PD 135158 > pentagastrin > CCK-8NS > L-365,260 > CCK-4 > LY 288513 > devazepide > A71378 > lorglumide) was found to be in excellent agreement with CCK-B receptor pharmacology described in guinea-pig cortex. Functional coupling in hCCK-B.CHO cells was demonstrated using agonist stimulated mobilization of intracellular Ca2+, measured with the FURA-2 technique. The CCK-B receptor selective agonist CCK-4 stimulated the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ with an estimated pEC50 value of 7.4. Consistent with CCK-B receptor pharmacology, the rank order of potency for antagonism of this response was observed to be PD 135158 > CI988 > L-365,260 >> devazepide > lorglumide. This cell line provides a powerful new tool for the evaluation and development of novel ligands acting at the human CCK-B receptor subtype.

Changes in hypothalamic cholecystokininA and cholecystokininB receptor subtypes and associated neuropeptide expression in response to salt-stress in the rat and mouse

This study demonstrates cholecystokinin receptor plasticity in response to salt-loading in the rat and mouse hypothalamus. It identifies, for the first time, the cholecystokinin receptor subtypes involved, firstly by receptor autoradiography and secondly by in situ hybridization. Both species showed increases in hypothalamic [125I]Bolton Hunter-cholecystokinin-8 binding. Co-incubation with the specific cholecystokininA and cholecystokininB antagonists, devazepide and CI-988, indicated that in the rat cholecystokininB receptor binding markedly increased, with a small increase in cholecystokininA receptor binding. In the mouse the response was comprised solely of cholecystokininA receptors. In situ hybridization studies were carried out on a range of peptide messenger ribonucleic acids after salt-loading. In the rat large increases in hypothalamic gene expression were detected for oxytocin, vasopressin, corticotrophin-releasing factor and preprocholecystokinin. In the mouse only vasopressin messenger ribonucleic acid increased, whilst hypothalamic oxytocin, preprocholecystokinin and corticotropin-releasing factor remained unchanged. However, corticotrophin-releasing factor messenger ribonucleic acid increased in the mouse amygdala. In situ hybridization was performed using oligonucleotide probes specific for either the cholecystokininA or cholecystokininB receptor messenger ribonucleic acid, and this showed good agreement with the receptor autoradiography. CholecystokininB receptor expression was upregulated in the rat hypothalamus along with a small but significant increase in cholecystokininA receptors. In the mouse only cholecystokininA receptor expression was increased. In addition to these molecular changes rats lost about 25% of their body weight during six days of salt-challenge, whilst mice continued to grow in line with controls. This work demonstrates differential changes in cholecystokinin receptor subtype binding between the rat and the mouse. It represents the first report of differential changes in cholecystokininA and cholecystokininB receptor messenger ribonucleic acids within the brain, and shows that cholecystokinin receptors within the rodent hypothalamus are capable of plastic responses to chronic osmotic stress.

Attenuation of CCK-induced aversion in rats on the elevated x-maze by the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonists (+) WAY100135 and WAY100635

The present study determined the effect of pretreatment with "silent" selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonists on cholecystokinin (CCK)-mediated effects on rat behaviour in the elevated x-maze model of anxiety. In the absence of 5-HT1A receptor antagonists, non-sulphated cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8ns; 10 and 50 micrograms/kg, i.p.; 30 min prior to testing) produced an anxiogenic profile of behaviour on the x-maze, reducing the number of open arm entries and the number of exploratory head dips, while increasing the level of risk-assessment as measured by the number of stretched-attend postures. CCK-8ns did not, however, alter ambulatory activity. Two 5-HT1A receptor antagonists were employed in these experiments: (+)WAY100135 (the active enantiomer of N-tert-butyl-3-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperzin-1-yl)- 2-phenylpropronamine) [sequence: see text] and WAY100635 (N-[2-[4(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl-1-piperazinyl]-N-2- pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarbonate [sequence: see text] trihydrochloride). When administered 10 min prior to CCK-8ns, (+) WAY100135 and 0.3 mg/kg s.c.) significantly attenuated profile of CCK-8ns. (+)WAY100135 was also demonstrated to significantly inhibit postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor-mediated 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin)-induced 5-HT syndrome at the same dose used in the x-maze experiment. Neither (+)WAY100135 nor WAY100635 had any affects on ambulatory activity. These results support a CCK/5-HT1A receptor interaction in the modulation of aversion in rats exposed to the elevated x-maze.