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Raiteri L. Interactions Involving Glycine and Other Amino Acid Neurotransmitters: Focus on Transporter-Mediated Regulation of Release and Glycine-Glutamate Crosstalk. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1518. [PMID: 39062091 PMCID: PMC11275102 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Glycine plays a pivotal role in the Central Nervous System (CNS), being a major inhibitory neurotransmitter as well as a co-agonist of Glutamate at excitatory NMDA receptors. Interactions involving Glycine and other neurotransmitters are the subject of different studies. Functional interactions among neurotransmitters include the modulation of release through release-regulating receptors but also through transporter-mediated mechanisms. Many transporter-mediated interactions involve the amino acid transmitters Glycine, Glutamate, and GABA. Different studies published during the last two decades investigated a number of transporter-mediated interactions in depth involving amino acid transmitters at the nerve terminal level in different CNS areas, providing details of mechanisms involved and suggesting pathophysiological significances. Here, this evidence is reviewed also considering additional recent information available in the literature, with a special (but not exclusive) focus on glycinergic neurotransmission and Glycine-Glutamate interactions. Some possible pharmacological implications, although partly speculative, are also discussed. Dysregulations in glycinergic and glutamatergic transmission are involved in relevant CNS pathologies. Pharmacological interventions on glycinergic targets (including receptors and transporters) are under study to develop novel therapies against serious CNS pathological states including pain, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. Although with limitations, it is hoped to possibly contribute to a better understanding of the complex interactions between glycine-mediated neurotransmission and other major amino acid transmitters, also in view of the current interest in potential drugs acting on "glycinergic" targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Raiteri
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy;
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 16148 Genoa, Italy
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Mortensen JS, Mikkelsen ANL, Wellendorph P. Ways of modulating GABA transporters to treat neurological disease. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2024; 28:529-543. [PMID: 39068514 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2024.2383611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is involved in a multitude of neurological and psychiatric disorders characterized by an imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory signaling. Regulation of extracellular levels of GABA is maintained by the four GABA transporters (GATs; GAT1, GAT2, GAT3, and BGT1), Na+/Cl--coupled transporters of the solute carrier 6 (SLC6) family. Despite mounting evidence for the involvement of the non-GAT1 GABA transporters in diseases, only GAT1 has successfully been translated into clinical practice via the drug tiagabine. AREAS COVERED In this review, all four GATs will be described in terms of their involvement in disease, and the most recent data on structure, function, expression, and localization discussed in relation to their potential role as drug targets. This includes an overview of various ways to modulate the GATs in relation to treatment of diseases caused by imbalances in the GABAergic system. EXPERT OPINION The recent publication of various GAT1 structures is an important milestone for future development of compounds targeting the GATs. Such information can provide much needed insight into mechanistic aspects of all GAT subtypes and be utilized to design improved ligands for this highly interesting drug target class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas S Mortensen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amalie N L Mikkelsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Petrine Wellendorph
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Zaręba P, Łątka K, Mazur G, Gryzło B, Pasieka A, Godyń J, Panek D, Skrzypczak-Wiercioch A, Höfner GC, Latacz G, Maj M, Espargaró A, Sabaté R, Jóźwiak K, Wanner KT, Sałat K, Malawska B, Kulig K, Bajda M. Discovery of novel multifunctional ligands targeting GABA transporters, butyrylcholinesterase, β-secretase, and amyloid β aggregation as potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 261:115832. [PMID: 37837674 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a global health problem in the medical sector that will increase over time. The limited treatment of AD leads to the search for a new clinical candidate. Considering the multifactorial nature of AD, a strategy targeting number of regulatory proteins involved in the development of the disease is an effective approach. Here, we present a discovery of new multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs), purposely designed as GABA transporter (GAT) inhibitors, that successfully provide the inhibitory activity against butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), β-secretase (BACE1), amyloid β aggregation and calcium channel blockade activity. The selected GAT inhibitors, 19c and 22a - N-benzylamide derivatives of 4-aminobutyric acid, displayed the most prominent multifunctional profile. Compound 19c (mGAT1 IC50 = 10 μM, mGAT4 IC50 = 12 μM and BuChE IC50 = 559 nM) possessed the highest hBACE1 and Aβ40 aggregation inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.57 μM and 99 % at 10 μM, respectively). Additionally, it showed a decrease in both the elongation and nucleation constants of the amyloid aggregation process. In contrast compound 22a represented the highest activity and a mixed-type of eqBuChE inhibition (IC50 = 173 nM) with hBACE1 (IC50 = 9.42 μM), Aβ aggregation (79 % at 10 μM) and mGATs (mGAT1 IC50 = 30 μM, mGAT4 IC50 = 25 μM) inhibitory activity. Performed molecular docking studies described the mode of interactions with GATs and enzymatic targets. In ADMET in vitro studies both compounds showed acceptable metabolic stability and low neurotoxicity. Successfully, compounds 19c and 22a at the dose of 30 mg/kg possessed statistically significant antiamnesic properties in a mouse model of amnesia caused by scopolamine and assessed in the novel object recognition (NOR) task or the passive avoidance (PA) task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Zaręba
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Kamil Łątka
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Gabriela Mazur
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Beata Gryzło
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Pasieka
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Justyna Godyń
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Dawid Panek
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Skrzypczak-Wiercioch
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Preclinical Sciences, University Centre of Veterinary Medicine JU-UA, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Mickiewicz 24/28 St., 30-059, Kraków, Poland
| | - Georg C Höfner
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Butenandtstr., 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Gniewomir Latacz
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Maciej Maj
- Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, W. Chodzki 4a St., 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Krzysztof Jóźwiak
- Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, W. Chodzki 4a St., 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Klaus T Wanner
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Butenandtstr., 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Kinga Sałat
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kulig
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marek Bajda
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland.
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Analysis of Binding Determinants for Different Classes of Competitive and Noncompetitive Inhibitors of Glycine Transporters. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23148050. [PMID: 35887394 PMCID: PMC9317360 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23148050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycine transporters are interesting therapeutic targets as they play significant roles in glycinergic and glutamatergic systems. The search for new selective inhibitors of particular types of glycine transporters (GlyT-1 and GlyT-2) with beneficial kinetics is hampered by limited knowledge about the spatial structure of these proteins. In this study, a pool of homology models of GlyT-1 and GlyT-2 in different conformational states was constructed using the crystal structures of related transporters from the SLC6 family and the recently revealed structure of GlyT-1 in the inward-open state, in order to investigate their binding sites. The binding mode of the known GlyT-1 and GlyT-2 inhibitors was determined using molecular docking studies, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA free energy calculations. The results of this study indicate that two amino acids, Gly373 and Leu476 in GlyT-1 and the corresponding Ser479 and Thr582 in GlyT-2, are mainly responsible for the selective binding of ligands within the S1 site. Apart from these, one pocket of the S2 site, which lies between TM3 and TM10, may also be important. Moreover, selective binding of noncompetitive GlyT-1 inhibitors in the intracellular release pathway is affected by hydrophobic interactions with Ile399, Met382, and Leu158. These results can be useful in the rational design of new glycine transporter inhibitors with desired selectivity and properties in the future.
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Lai W, Du D, Chen L. Metabolomics Provides Novel Insights into Epilepsy Diagnosis and Treatment: A Review. Neurochem Res 2022; 47:844-859. [PMID: 35067830 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03510-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system. The diagnosis of epilepsy mainly depends on electroencephalograms and symptomatology, while diagnostic biofluid markers are still lacking. In addition, approximately 30% of patients with epilepsy (PWE) show a poor response to the currently available anti-seizure medicines. An increasing number of studies have reported alterations in the blood, brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid and urine metabolome in PWE and animal models of epilepsy. The aim of this review was to identify potential metabolic biomarkers and pathways that might facilitate diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic determination in PWE and the understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease. The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for metabolomic studies of PWE and epileptic models published before December 2020. The study objectives, types of models and reported differentially altered metabolites were examined and compared. Pathway analyses were performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 online software. Thirty-five studies were included in this review. Metabolites such as glutamate, lactate and citrate were disturbed in both PWE and epileptic models, which might be potential biomarkers of epilepsy. Metabolic pathways including alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism; glycine, serine and threonine metabolism; glycerophospholipid metabolism; glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism; and arginine and proline metabolism were involved in epilepsy. These pathways might play important roles in the pathogenesis of the disease. This review summarizes metabolites and metabolic pathways related to epilepsy and provides a novel perspective for the identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanlin Lai
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Du
- West China-Washington Mitochondria and Metabolism Center, Advanced Mass Spectrometry Centre, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
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Gryzło B, Zaręba P, Malawska K, Mazur G, Rapacz A, Ła̧tka K, Höfner GC, Latacz G, Bajda M, Sałat K, Wanner KT, Malawska B, Kulig K. Novel Functionalized Amino Acids as Inhibitors of GABA Transporters with Analgesic Activity. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:3073-3100. [PMID: 34347423 PMCID: PMC8397297 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
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Neuropathic pain
resistance to pharmacotherapy has encouraged researchers
to develop effective therapies for its treatment. γ-Aminobutyric
acid (GABA) transporters 1 and 4 (mGAT1 and mGAT4) have been increasingly
recognized as promising drug targets for neuropathic pain (NP) associated
with imbalances in inhibitory neurotransmission. In this context,
we designed and synthesized new functionalized amino acids as inhibitors
of GABA uptake and assessed their activities toward all four mouse
GAT subtypes (mGAT1–4). According to the obtained results,
compounds 2RS,4RS-39c (pIC50 (mGAT4) = 5.36), 50a (pIC50 (mGAT2) = 5.43), and 56a (with moderate subtype selectivity
that favored mGAT4, pIC50 (mGAT4) = 5.04) were of particular
interest and were therefore evaluated for their cytotoxic and hepatotoxic
effects. In a set of in vivo experiments, both compounds 50a and 56a showed antinociceptive properties
in three rodent models of NP, namely, chemotherapy-induced neuropathic
pain models (the oxaliplatin model and the paclitaxel model) and the
diabetic neuropathic pain model induced by streptozotocin; however
compound 56a demonstrated predominant activity. Since
impaired motor coordination is also observed in neuropathic pain conditions,
we have pointed out that none of the test compounds induced motor
deficits in the rotarod test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Gryzło
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Paula Zaręba
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Malawska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Gabriela Mazur
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Rapacz
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Kamil Ła̧tka
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Georg C. Höfner
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Gniewomir Latacz
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Marek Bajda
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Kinga Sałat
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Klaus T. Wanner
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kulig
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna Street, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
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