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Zhang Q, Xu B, Chen D, Wu S, Hu X, Zhang X, Yu B, Zhang S, Yang Z, Zhang M, Fang Q. Structure-Activity Relationships of a Novel Cyclic Hexapeptide That Exhibits Multifunctional Opioid Agonism and Produces Potent Antinociceptive Activity. J Med Chem 2024; 67:272-288. [PMID: 38118143 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
The cyclic peptide c[d-Lys2, Asp5]-DN-9 has recently been identified as a multifunctional opioid/neuropeptide FF receptor agonist, displaying potent analgesic activity with reduced side effects. This study utilized Tyr-c[d-Lys-Gly-Phe-Asp]-d-Pro-NH2 (0), a cyclic hexapeptide derived from the opioid pharmacophore of c[d-Lys2, Asp5]-DN-9, as a chemical template. We designed, synthesized, and characterized 22 analogs of 0 with a single amino acid substitution to investigate its structure-activity relationship. Most of these cyclic hexapeptide analogs exhibited multifunctional activity at μ and δ opioid receptors (MOR and DOR, respectively) and produced antinociceptive effects following subcutaneous administration. The lead compound analog 15 showed potent agonistic activities at the MOR, κ opioid receptor (KOR), and DOR in vitro and produced a strong and long-lasting analgesic effect through peripheral MOR and KOR in the tail-flick test. Further biological evaluation identified that analog 15 did not cause significant side effects such as tolerance, withdrawal, or reward liability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinqin Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Biao Xu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Dan Chen
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Shuyuan Wu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Xuanran Hu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Xiaodi Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Bowen Yu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Shichao Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Zhenyun Yang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Mengna Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Quan Fang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
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Zhang M, Xu B, Li N, Zhang Q, Chen D, Wu S, Yu B, Zhang X, Hu X, Zhang S, Jing Y, Yang Z, Jiang J, Fang Q. All-Hydrocarbon Stapled Peptide Multifunctional Agonists at Opioid and Neuropeptide FF Receptors: Highly Potent, Long-Lasting Brain Permeant Analgesics with Diminished Side Effects. J Med Chem 2023; 66:17138-17154. [PMID: 38095323 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Our previous study reported the multifunctional agonist for opioid and neuropeptide FF receptors DN-9, along with its cyclic peptide analogues c[D-Cys2, Cys5]-DN-9 and c[D-Lys2, Asp5]-DN-9. These analogues demonstrated potent antinociceptive effects with reduced opioid-related side effects. To develop more stable and effective analgesics, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated seven hydrocarbon-stapled cyclic peptides based on DN-9. In vitro calcium mobilization assays revealed that most of the stapled peptides, except 3, displayed multifunctional agonistic activities at opioid and neuropeptide FF receptors. Subcutaneous administration of all stapled peptides resulted in effective and long-lasting antinociceptive activities lasting up to 360 min. Among these stapled peptides, 1a and 1b emerged as the optimized compounds, producing potent central antinociception following subcutaneous, intracerebroventricular, and oral administrations. Additionally, subcutaneous administration of 1a and 1b caused nontolerance antinociception, with limited occurrence of constipation and addiction. Furthermore, 1a was selected as the final optimized compound due to its wider safety window compared to 1b.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengna Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Biao Xu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Ning Li
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Dan Chen
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Shuyuan Wu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Bowen Yu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Xiaodi Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Xuanran Hu
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Shichao Zhang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Yuhong Jing
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Zhenyun Yang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Jinhong Jiang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Rd, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Quan Fang
- Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
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Zhao L, Ma Y, Song X, Wu Y, Jin P, Chen G. PD-1: A New Candidate Target for Analgesic Peptide Design. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2023; 24:1142-1150. [PMID: 36781089 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a common health problem in humans. The unique properties and valuable clinical applications of analgesic peptides make them attractive pharmacotherapy options for pain control. Numerous targets for pain modulation processes are currently known, including opioid receptors, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, voltage-gated ion channels, neuronal nicotinic receptors, and neurotensin receptors. However, these targets are not able to address the development needs of peptide-based drugs. Recent studies revealed that programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) is widely expressed in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), spinal cord, and cerebral cortex. PD-1 signaling in neurons is involved in the regulation of neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, and synaptic plasticity. PD-1 is able to silence nociceptive neurons upon activation. Consistently, Pd1 deficiency or blockade increases the pain sensitivity in naïve mice. PD-1 agonists, including PD-L1 and H-20, evoke Src homology 2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) phosphorylation, modulate neuronal excitability, and attenuate acute and chronic pain with minimal opioid-related adverse effects, suggesting a superior therapeutic index and a sound strategy for the development novel nonopioid analgesics. In addition, PD-1 signaling in non-neuronal cells could alleviate chronic pain by regulating neuroinflammation. Here, we review the potential and challenges of PD-1 as a candidate target for the development of analgesic peptides. PERSPECTIVE: This review paper aims to review recent advances in research on PD-1 in the domain of pain interference, explore how to obtain more promising PD-1 receptor-targeting analgesic peptides based on PD-L1 and analgesic peptide H-20 for relieving pathological pain, and offer potential optimization strategies for follow-up work of H-20.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Zhao
- Center for Basic Medical Research, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yu Ma
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and the Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiaofei Song
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and the Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yongjiang Wu
- Center for Basic Medical Research, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Pengjie Jin
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Center for Basic Medical Research, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China; Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and the Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China; Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Zhang M, Xu B, Li N, Zhang R, Zhang Q, Chen D, Rizvi SFA, Xu K, Shi Y, Yu B, Fang Q. OFP011 Cyclic Peptide as a Multifunctional Agonist for Opioid/Neuropeptide FF Receptors with Improved Blood-Brain Barrier Penetration. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3078-3092. [PMID: 36262082 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence indicates that the neuropeptide FF (NPFF) system is involved in the side effects of opioid usage, including antinociceptive tolerance, hyperalgesia, abuse, constipation, and respiratory depression. Our group recently discovered that the multitarget opioid/NPFF receptor agonist DN-9 exhibits peripheral antinociceptive activity. To improve its metabolic stability, antinociceptive potency, and duration, in this study, we designed and synthesized a novel cyclic disulfide analogue of DN-9, OFP011, and examined its bioactivity through in vitro cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) functional assays and in vivo behavioral experiments. OFP011 exhibited multifunctional agonistic effects at the μ-opioid and the NPFF1 and NPFF2 receptors and partial agonistic effects at the δ- and κ-opioid in vitro, as determined via the cAMP functional assays. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacological experiments revealed improvement in its blood-brain barrier permeability after systemic administration. In addition, subcutaneous OFP011 exhibited potent and long-lasting antinociceptive activity via the central μ- and κ-opioid receptors, as observed in different physiological and pathological pain models. At the highest antinociceptive doses, subcutaneous OFP011 exhibited limited tolerance, gastrointestinal transit, motor coordination, addiction, reward, and respiration depression. Notably, OFP011 exhibited potent oral antinociceptive activities in mouse models of acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain. These results suggest that the multifunctional opioid/NPFF receptor agonists with improved blood-brain barrier penetration are a promising strategy for long-term treatment of moderate to severe nociceptive and pathological pain with fewer side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengna Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Biao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Run Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Syed Faheem Askari Rizvi
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Kangtai Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Yonghang Shi
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Bowen Yu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Quan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
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Zhang Q, Li T, Niu J, Xiao J, Zhang M, Zhang R, Chen D, Shi Y, Zhang X, Hu X, Yu B, Feng J, Fang Q. Inhibitory effects of antibiotic-induced gut microbiota depletion on acute itch behavior in mice. Brain Res Bull 2022; 190:50-61. [PMID: 36126873 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.09.014] [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: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiota is known to be associated with the regulation of many neurological diseases and behaviors, including chronic pain. However, it is unclear whether the gut microbiota is critical to the itch sensation. In this study, we investigated the effects of gut microbiota depletion on acute itch. METHODS First, an antibiotic cocktail was orally administered to deplete the gut microbiota in male C57BL/6 mice. Then, pruritogens were intradermally injected to induce acute itch behavior. In addition, antibiotic-treated mice received transplantation of fecal microbiota from untreated mice, followed by tests for acute itch. The changes in c-Fos expression in trigeminal ganglia (TG) neurons were also investigated by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS Our results indicated that chronic antibiotic treatment significantly reduced the diversity and richness of the gut microbiota of mice. Compared to vehicle-treated mice, antibiotic-treated mice showed reductions in acute itch behavior induced by compound 48/80, chloroquine (CQ), and serotonin (5-HT), respectively. Moreover, repositioning of microbiota reversed the reductions in acute itch behavior in antibiotic-treated mice. In addition, immunofluorescence staining revealed that antibiotic-treated mice displayed decreased c-Fos expression in ipsilateral TG compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Our study, for the first time, discovered that antibiotic-induced gut microbiota depletion could reduce acute itch behavior, which may be connected with decreased TG neuronal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jiandong Niu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mengna Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Run Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yonghang Shi
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaodi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuanran Hu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bowen Yu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jie Feng
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
| | - Quan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
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Fmoc solid-phase synthesis of RF9 optimization with mass spectrometry verification. CURRENT ISSUES IN PHARMACY AND MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/cipms-2022-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The RF9 compound, which is an antagonist of the FF neuropeptide receptors is used as a therapeutic substance to improve the effectiveness of opioids in the chronic treatment of pain. The purpose of this study was to find the most efficient method of RF9 synthesis. The optimization experiment involved solid-phase peptide synthesis. The Fmoc strategy is based on the usage of the 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl group to block reactive amino groups. Commonly applied RF9 synthesis is based on DIC/HOBt activation of 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid prior to its substitution. The experiments carried out in this research were based on the routinely applied DIC/HOBt carboxylic group activation and this scheme was compared with the COMU/DIPEA and DIC approach. The obtained results showed that COMU/DIPEA was the most efficient and effective method of RF9 synthesis. Using this strategy, pure compound was obtained, without any by-products, and at a highest yield. The use of COMU/DIPEA can be an excellent alternative to the routinely used RF9 synthesis.
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Lipiński PFJ, Matalińska J. Fentanyl Structure as a Scaffold for Opioid/Non-Opioid Multitarget Analgesics. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052766. [PMID: 35269909 PMCID: PMC8910985 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the strategies in the search for safe and effective analgesic drugs is the design of multitarget analgesics. Such compounds are intended to have high affinity and activity at more than one molecular target involved in pain modulation. In the present contribution we summarize the attempts in which fentanyl or its substructures were used as a μ-opioid receptor pharmacophoric fragment and a scaffold to which fragments related to non-opioid receptors were attached. The non-opioid ‘second’ targets included proteins as diverse as imidazoline I2 binding sites, CB1 cannabinoid receptor, NK1 tachykinin receptor, D2 dopamine receptor, cyclooxygenases, fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase and σ1 receptor. Reviewing the individual attempts, we outline the chemistry, the obtained pharmacological properties and structure-activity relationships. Finally, we discuss the possible directions for future work.
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Zhang M, Xu B, Li N, Zhang R, Zhang Q, Shi X, Xu K, Xiao J, Chen D, Niu J, Shi Y, Fang Q. Development of Multifunctional and Orally Active Cyclic Peptide Agonists of Opioid/Neuropeptide FF Receptors that Produce Potent, Long-Lasting, and Peripherally Restricted Antinociception with Diminished Side Effects. J Med Chem 2021; 64:13394-13409. [PMID: 34465090 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
We previously reported that a multifunctional opioid/neuropeptide FF receptor agonist, DN-9, achieved peripherally restricted analgesia with reduced side effects. To develop stable and orally bioavailable analogues of DN-9, eight lactam-bridged cyclic analogues of DN-9 between positions 2 and 5 were designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated. In vitro cAMP assays revealed that these analogues, except 7, were multifunctional ligands that activated opioid and neuropeptide FF receptors. Analogue 1 exhibited improved potency for κ-opioid and NPFF2 receptors. All analogues exhibited potent, long-lasting, and peripherally restricted antinociception in the tail-flick test without tolerance development after subcutaneous administration and produced oral analgesia. Oral administration of the optimized compound analogue 1 exhibited powerful, peripherally restricted antinociceptive effects in mouse models of acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain. Remarkably, orally administered analogue 1 had no significant side effects, such as tolerance, dependence, constipation, or respiratory depression, at effective analgesic doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengna Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Biao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Run Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Xuerui Shi
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Kangtai Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Jiandong Niu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Yonghang Shi
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Quan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
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9
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Zhang M, Xu B, Li N, Liu H, Shi X, Zhang Q, Shi Y, Xu K, Xiao J, Chen D, Zhu H, Sun Y, Zhang T, Zhang R, Fang Q. Synthesis and Biological Characterization of Cyclic Disulfide-Containing Peptide Analogs of the Multifunctional Opioid/Neuropeptide FF Receptor Agonists That Produce Long-Lasting and Nontolerant Antinociception. J Med Chem 2020; 63:15709-15725. [PMID: 33271020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In a previously described chimeric peptide, we reported that the multifunctional opioid/neuropeptide FF (NPFF) receptor agonist 0 (BN-9) produced antinociception for 1.5 h after supraspinal administration. Herein, four cyclic disulfide analogs containing l- and/or d-type cysteine at positions 2 and 5 were synthesized. The cyclized analogs and their linear counterparts behaved as multifunctional agonists at both opioid and NPFF receptors in vitro and produced potent analgesia without tolerance development. In comparison to 0, cyclized peptide 6 exhibited sevenfold more potent μ-opioid receptor agonistic activity in vitro. Interestingly, the cyclized analog 6 possessed an improved stability in the brain and an increased blood-brain barrier permeability compared to the parent peptide 0 and produced more potent analgesia after supraspinal or subcutaneous administration with improved duration of action of 4 h. In addition, antinociceptive tolerance of analog 6 was greatly reduced after subcutaneous injection compared to fentanyl, as was the rewarding effect, withdrawal reaction, and gastrointestinal inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengna Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Biao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Hui Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Xuerui Shi
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Yanbin Shi
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Kangtai Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Hanwen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Yulong Sun
- Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences & Biotechnology, Institute of Special Environmental Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710000, PR China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Run Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Quan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
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10
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Matalińska J, Lipiński PFJ, Kosson P, Kosińska K, Misicka A. In Vivo, In Vitro and In Silico Studies of the Hybrid Compound AA3266, an Opioid Agonist/NK1R Antagonist with Selective Cytotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7738. [PMID: 33086743 PMCID: PMC7588979 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AA3266 is a hybrid compound consisting of opioid receptor agonist and neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist pharmacophores. It was designed with the desire to have an analgesic molecule with improved properties and auxiliary anticancer activity. Previously, the compound was found to exhibit high affinity for μ- and δ-opioid receptors, while moderate binding to NK1R. In the presented contribution, we report on a deeper investigation of this hybrid. In vivo, we have established that AA3266 has potent antinociceptive activity in acute pain model, comparable to that of morphine. Desirably, with prolonged administration, our hybrid induces less tolerance than morphine does. AA3266, contrary to morphine, does not cause development of constipation, which is one of the main undesirable effects of opioid use. In vitro, we have confirmed relatively strong cytotoxic activity on a few selected cancer cell lines, similar to or greater than that of a reference NK1R antagonist, aprepitant. Importantly, our compound affects normal cells to smaller extent what makes our compound more selective against cancer cells. In silico methods, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and fragment molecular orbital calculations, have been used to investigate the interactions of AA3266 with MOR and NK1R. Insights from these will guide structural optimization of opioid/antitachykinin hybrid compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Matalińska
- Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (A.M.)
| | - Piotr F. J. Lipiński
- Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (A.M.)
| | - Piotr Kosson
- Toxicology Research Laboratory, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Katarzyna Kosińska
- Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (A.M.)
| | - Aleksandra Misicka
- Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (A.M.)
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11
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Zhang R, Xu B, Zhang Q, Chen D, Zhang M, Zhao G, Xu K, Xiao J, Zhu H, Niu J, Li N, Fang Q. Spinal administration of the multi-functional opioid/neuropeptide FF agonist BN-9 produced potent antinociception without development of tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 880:173169. [PMID: 32416184 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Chronic opioids treatment is impeded by the development of analgesic tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Recent studies have shown that multi-functional opioid compounds produce analgesic activities with limited side effects. We developed a novel multi-functional peptide targeting opioid and neuropeptide FF receptors named BN-9, which produced potent and non-tolerance forming antinociceptive effect after supraspinal and systemic administrations. In the present study, the analgesic properties and potential side effects of intrathecal BN-9 were investigated in a range of preclinical rodent models. In complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammatory pain model, intrathecal BN-9 dose-dependently produced analgesic effect via opioid receptors, and the spinal antinociceptive effect was augmented by the neuropeptide FF receptor antagonist RF9. In contrast, in plantar incision-induced postoperative pain model, BN-9 exhibited potent anti-allodynic effect via opioid receptors and, at least partially, neuropeptide FF receptors. In mouse models of acetic acid-induced visceral pain and formalin pain, BN-9-induced spinal antinociception was mainly mediated by opioid receptors, independent of neuropeptide FF receptors. Furthermore, at the spinal level, chronic treatments with BN-9 did not lead to analgesic tolerance and cross-tolerance to morphine. Moreover, opioid-induced hyperalgesia was observed after repeated administration of morphine, but not BN-9. Taken together, our present study suggests that intrathecal BN-9 produces potent and non-tolerance forming antinociception, and does not cause opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Thus, BN-9 might serve as a promising lead compound in the development of multi-functional opioid analgesics with minimized side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Biao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Mengna Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Guanghai Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Kangtai Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Hanwen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Jiandong Niu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Quan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
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12
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Xu B, Guo Y, Zhang M, Zhang R, Chen D, Zhang Q, Xiao J, Xu K, Li N, Qiu Y, Zhu H, Niu J, Zhang X, Fang Q. Central and peripheral modulation of gastrointestinal transit in mice by DN-9, a multifunctional opioid/NPFF receptor agonist. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2020; 32:e13848. [PMID: 32281198 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nonapeptide DN-9 functions as a multifunctional agonist to opioid and neuropeptide FF (NPFF) receptors and exhibits antinociceptive effects at the central and peripheral levels. METHODS The effects of DN-9 on small and colonic intestinal transit were evaluated using the upper gastrointestinal (GI) transit test and colonic bead expulsion assay, respectively. Opioid and NPFF receptor antagonists were used to investigate the mechanisms of DN-9-induced GI inhibition. Furthermore, the agonism of the DN-9 analog [Phg9 ]-DN-9 to opioid and NPFF receptors was tested by the cAMP assay. KEY RESULTS Intracerebroventricular administration of DN-9 dose-dependently slowed upper GI transit and colonic expulsion via mu- and kappa-opioid receptors in the brain, independent of the delta-opioid receptor. Similarly, intraperitoneal injection of DN-9 dose-dependently inhibited GI propulsion via the peripheral opioid receptors. DN-9-induced GI transit inhibitions were significantly aggravated by the NPFF receptor antagonist RF9. Moreover, the DN-9 analog [Phg9 ]-DN-9, an agonist at mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors but not NPFF receptors, inhibited GI more potently than DN-9. In addition, intracerebroventricular NPFF significantly attenuated the central inhibitory effects induced by [Phg9 ]-DN-9 and morphine. However, central and peripheral injections of NPFF or RF9 almost had no significant effects on GI transit by itself. CONCLUSION AND INFERENCES Intracerebroventricular and intraperitoneal administrations of DN-9 inhibit GI transit via opioid receptors in mice by central and peripheral mechanisms, respectively. In addition, the NPFF agonism of DN-9 possesses antiopioid effects on GI transit, which might explain the reduced constipation at the antinociceptive doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mengna Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Run Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kangtai Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yu Qiu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanwen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jiandong Niu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Quan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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13
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Nguyen T, Marusich J, Li JX, Zhang Y. Neuropeptide FF and Its Receptors: Therapeutic Applications and Ligand Development. J Med Chem 2020; 63:12387-12402. [PMID: 32673481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The endogenous neuropeptide FF (NPFF) and its two cognate G protein-coupled receptors, Neuropeptide FF Receptors 1 and 2 (NPFFR1 and NPFFR2), represent a relatively new target system for many therapeutic applications including pain regulation, modulation of opioid side effects, drug reward, anxiety, cardiovascular conditions, and other peripheral effects. Since the cloning of NPFFR1 and NPFFR2 in 2000, significant progress has been made to understand their pharmacological roles and interactions with other receptor systems, notably the opioid receptors. A variety of NPFFR ligands with different mechanisms of action (agonists or antagonists) have been discovered although with limited subtype selectivities. Differential pharmacological effects have been observed for many of these NPFFR ligands, depending on assays/models employed and routes of administration. In this Perspective, we highlight the therapeutic potentials, current knowledge gaps, and latest updates of the development of peptidic and small molecule NPFFR ligands as tool compounds and therapeutic candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy Nguyen
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Julie Marusich
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Jun-Xu Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
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14
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Xu B, Xiao J, Xu K, Zhang Q, Chen D, Zhang R, Zhang M, Zhu H, Niu J, Zheng T, Li N, Zhang X, Fang Q. VF-13, a chimeric peptide of VD-hemopressin(α) and neuropeptide VF, produces potent antinociception with reduced cannabinoid-related side effects. Neuropharmacology 2020; 175:108178. [PMID: 32544481 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Pharmacological evidence indicated a functional interaction between neuropeptide FF (NPFF) and cannabinoid systems, and the cannabinoids combined with the NPFF receptor agonist neuropeptide VF (NPVF) produced antinociception without tolerance. In the present study, VF-13, a chimeric peptide containing the pharmacophores of the endogenous cannabinoid peptide VD-hemopressin(α) (VD-Hpα) and NPVF, was synthesized and pharmacologically evaluated. In vitro, VF-13 significantly upregulated the phosphorylated level of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in CHO cells stably expressing CB1 receptors and inhibited forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation in HEK293 cells stably expressing NPFF1 or NPFF2 receptors. Moreover, VF-13 induced neurite outgrowth in Neuro 2A cells via CB1 and NPFF receptors. These results suggest that VF-13 exhibits multifunctional agonism at CB1, NPFF1 and NPFF2 receptors in vitro. Interestingly, intracerebroventricular VF-13 produced dose-dependent antinociception in mouse models of tail-flick and carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain via the TRPV1 receptor. In contrast, the reference compound (m)VD-Hpα-NH2 induced CB1 receptor-mediated supraspinal antinociception. Additionally, subcutaneous injection of (m)VD-Hpα-NH2 and VF-13 produced significant antinociception in carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain model. In the tetrad assay, our data demonstrated that VF-13 elicited hypothermia, but not catalepsy and hypoactivity after intracerebroventricular injection. Notably, VF-13 produced non-tolerance forming antinociception over 6 days treatment in both acute and inflammatory pain models. Furthermore, VF-13 had no apparent effects on gastrointestinal transit, pentobarbitone-induced sedation, food intake, and motor coordination at the supraspinal level. In summary, VF-13, a novel chimeric peptide of VD-Hpα and NPVF, produced non-tolerance forming antinociception in preclinical pain models with reduced cannabinoid-related side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Kangtai Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Run Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Mengna Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Hanwen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Jiandong Niu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Ting Zheng
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Gansu Health Vocational College, 60 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Quan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, And Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
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15
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Yang S, Yu Z, Sun W, Jiang C, Ba X, Zhou Q, Xiong D, Xiao L, Deng Q, Hao Y. The antiviral alkaloid berberine ameliorates neuropathic pain in rats with peripheral nerve injury. Acta Neurol Belg 2020; 120:557-564. [PMID: 30168114 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-018-1006-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a major public health problem. There is a need to develop safer and more effective analgesia compounds with less side effects. Berberine has been used to treat diarrhea and gastroenteritis due to its anti-microbial, anti-motility and anti-secretory properties. Berberine has also been reported to play an analgesic role in some pathological conditions of pain. However, the analgesic roles of berberine in neuropathic pain are still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the analgesic effects of berberine in neuropathic pain. Partial sciatic nerve ligation (pSNL) was performed to create neuropathic pain model. Paw withdrawal responses to mechanical and thermal stimuli were measured using a set of electronic von Frey apparatus and hot plate, respectively. The time that rats spent licking, flinching and lifting its paw during 5 min following capsaicin application was recorded. mRNA and protein expression levels were examined by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Berberine administration (i.p.) increased both mechanical and thermal pain thresholds in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, berberine administration reversed the mRNA and protein expression of TRPV1 in dorsal root ganglion neurons after peripheral nerve injury. In addition, berberine significantly inhibited capsaicin-induced pain behaviors. The amelioration of neuropathic pain by berberine may be associated with the down-regulation of TRPV1 in DRG of neuropathic pain rats. This study highlighted the potential of berberine in the treatment of neuropathic pain originated in the peripheral nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaomin Yang
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Zhijian Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Endogenous Infection, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Wuping Sun
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Changyu Jiang
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Xiyuan Ba
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Donglin Xiong
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Lizu Xiao
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Qiwen Deng
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Endogenous Infection, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
| | - Yue Hao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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16
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Zhao L, Luo K, Wang Z, Wang Y, Zhang X, Yang D, Ma M, Zhou J, Cui J, Wang J, Han CZY, Liu X, Wang R. Design, synthesis, and biological activity of new endomorphin analogs with multi-site modifications. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115438. [PMID: 32199689 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Endomorphin (EM)-1 and EM-2 are the most effective endogenous analgesics with efficient separation of analgesia from the risk of adverse effects. Poor metabolic stability and ineffective analgesia after peripheral administration were detrimental for the use of EMs as novel clinical analgesics. Therefore, here, we aimed to establish new EM analogs via introducing different bifunctional d-amino acids at position 2 of [(2-furyl)Map4]EMs. The combination of [(2-furyl)Map4]EMs with D-Arg2 or D-Cit2 yielded analogs with enhanced binding affinity to the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) and increased stability against enzymatic degradation (t1/2 > 300 min). However, the agonistic activities of these analogs toward MOR were slightly reduced. Similar to morphine, peripheral administration of the analog [D-Cit2, (2-furyl)Map4]EM-1 (10) significantly inhibited the pain behavior of mice in multiple pain models. In addition, this EM-1 analog was associated with reduced tolerance, less effect on gastrointestinal mobility, and no significant motor impairment. Compared to natural EMs, the EM analogs synthesized herein had enhanced metabolic stability, bioavailability, and analgesic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Keyao Luo
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Zhaojuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
| | - Xianghui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Dongxu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Mengtao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Jingjing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Jiaming Cui
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Chao-Zhen-Yi Han
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Xin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
| | - Rui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
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Xu B, Zhang M, Shi X, Zhang R, Chen D, Chen Y, Wang Z, Qiu Y, Zhang T, Xu K, Zhang X, Liedtke W, Wang R, Fang Q. The multifunctional peptide DN-9 produced peripherally acting antinociception in inflammatory and neuropathic pain via μ- and κ-opioid receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2019; 177:93-109. [PMID: 31444977 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Considerable effort has recently been directed at developing multifunctional opioid drugs to minimize the unwanted side effects of opioid analgesics. We have developed a novel multifunctional opioid agonist, DN-9. Here, we studied the analgesic profiles and related side effects of peripheral DN-9 in various pain models. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Antinociceptive effects of DN-9 were assessed in nociceptive, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain. Whole-cell patch-clamp and calcium imaging assays were used to evaluate the inhibitory effects of DN-9 to calcium current and high-K+ -induced intracellular calcium ([Ca2+ ]i ) on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons respectively. Side effects of DN-9 were evaluated in antinociceptive tolerance, abuse, gastrointestinal transit, and rotarod tests. KEY RESULTS DN-9, given subcutaneously, dose-dependently produced antinociception via peripheral opioid receptors in different pain models without sex difference. In addition, DN-9 exhibited more potent ability than morphine to inhibit calcium current and high-K+ -induced [Ca2+ ]i in DRG neurons. Repeated treatment with DN-9 produced equivalent antinociception for 8 days in multiple pain models, and DN-9 also maintained potent analgesia in morphine-tolerant mice. Furthermore, chronic DN-9 administration had no apparent effect on the microglial activation of spinal cord. After subcutaneous injection, DN-9 exhibited less abuse potential than morphine, as was gastroparesis and effects on motor coordination. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS DN-9 produces potent analgesia with minimal side effects, which strengthen the candidacy of peripherally acting opioids with multifunctional agonistic properties to enter human studies to alleviate the current highly problematic misuse of classic opioids on a large scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mengna Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuerui Shi
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Run Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Zilong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yu Qiu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kangtai Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wolfgang Liedtke
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Quan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Spinal DN-9, a Peptidic Multifunctional Opioid/Neuropeptide FF Agonist Produced Potent Nontolerance Forming Analgesia With Limited Side Effects. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2019; 21:477-493. [PMID: 31521796 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The development of multitarget opioid drugs has emerged as an attractive therapeutic strategy to eliminate opioid-related side effects. Our previous study developed a series of opioid and neuropeptide FF pharmacophore-containing chimeric peptides, including DN-9 (Tyr-D.Ala-Gly-NMe.Phe-Gly-Pro-Gln-Arg-Phe-NH2), which produced potent nontolerance forming analgesia at the supraspinal level. In the present study, the antinociceptive effects of DN-9 in a series of preclinical pain models and the potential side-effects were investigated at the spinal level in mice. In the tail-flick test, intrathecal injection of DN-9 produced potent analgesia with an ED50 value at 1.33 pmol, and the spinal antinociception of DN-9 was mainly mediated by μ- and κ-opioid receptors. In addition, DN-9-induced spinal antinociception was augmented by the neuropeptide FF receptors antagonist. Furthermore, DN-9 could decrease both the frequency and amplitude of sEPSCs in lamina IIo neurons of the spinal cord, which were mediated by opioid receptors. In contrast to morphine, chronic intrathecal treatments with DN-9 did not induce analgesic tolerance, c-Fos expression or microglial activation. Intrathecal injection of DN-9 showed potent analgesia with antinociceptive ED50 values between .66 and 55.04 pmol in different pain models, including the formalin test, acetic acid-induced writhing test, carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain. Moreover, DN-9 did not show side effects in locomotor function and coordination, gastrointestinal transit inhibition, the cardiovascular system, and body temperature regulation at antinociceptive doses. Taken together, the present study showed DN-9 produced effective, nontolerance forming analgesia with reduced side effects at the spinal level. DN-9 might be a promising compound for developing multifunctional opioid analgesics with limited adverse effects. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents the potent and nontolerance forming analgesia effects of DN-9 in a series of preclinical pain models with less opioid related adverse effects at the spinal level in mice. This study also demonstrates that DN-9 has translational potential into an intrathecal analgesic.
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Luo Y, Sun W, Feng X, Ba X, Liu T, Guo J, Xiao L, Jiang J, Hao Y, Xiong D, Jiang C. (-)-menthol increases excitatory transmission by activating both TRPM8 and TRPA1 channels in mouse spinal lamina II layer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 516:825-830. [PMID: 31262448 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.06.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
(-)-menthol, a major form of menthol, is one of the most commonly used chemicals. Many studies have demonstrated that (-)-menthol produces analgesic action through peripheral mechanisms which are mainly mediated by activation of TRPM8. Moreover, intrathecal injection of menthol induces analgesia as well. However, the central actions and mechanisms of (-)-menthol remain unclear. Here, we have investigated the action of (-)-menthol on excitatory synaptic transmission in spinal lamina II layer which plays a pivotal role in modulating nociceptive transmission from the periphery by using patch-clamp technique in mice spinal cord. We found that (-)-menthol increased miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency. The frequency increases which (-)-menthol induced were in a dose-dependent manner (EC50: 0.1079 mM). However, neither genetic knockout nor pharmacological inhibition of TRPM8 could block (-)-menthol-induced effects entirely. Furthermore, this increase was also impaired by TRPA1 antagonist HC030031, but abolished utterly by co-application of TRPM8 and TRPA1 antagonist. Our results indicate that (-)-menthol increases the excitatory synaptic transmission by activating either TRPA1 or TRPM8 channels in spinal lamina II layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Luo
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Wuping Sun
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Xiaojin Feng
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, China
| | - Xiyuan Ba
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shenzhen University General Hospital and Shenzhen University Academy of Clinical Medical Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Lizu Xiao
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Jin Jiang
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Yue Hao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Donglin Xiong
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Changyu Jiang
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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He C, Li H, Zhang J, Zhou L, Dong S. In vitro and in vivo characterization of the bifunctional μ- and δ- opioid receptors ligand MCRT on mouse gastrointestinal motility. Neuropeptides 2019; 74:82-87. [PMID: 30738575 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chimeric opioid MCRT was a novel multi-target ligand based on morphiceptin and PFRTic-NH2, and produced potent analgesia (ED50 = 0.03 nmol/mouse) with less upper gastrointestinal dysmotility. In this study, we sought to perform the tests to evaluate the pharmacological effects of MCRT on distal colon motility and defecation function. Moreover, opioid receptor antagonists and neuropeptide FF (NPFF) receptor antagonists were utilized to explore the mechanisms. METHODS Isolated mouse colon bioassay and colonic bead expulsion were to characterize MCRT-induced inhibition of colonic motility in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Fecal pellet output was to evaluate the defecation function. RESULTS (1) In vitro, MCRT increased colonic contraction via μ- and δ- opioid receptors (MOR and DOR). (2) In vivo, MCRT delayed colonic bead expulsion (ED50 = 1.1 nmol/mouse) independent of opioid and NPFF receptors. (3) In vivo, MCRT inhibited fecal number (ED50 = 1.43 nmol/mouse) and dry weight (ED50 = 1.63 nmol/mouse), which was mediated by DOR partially but not MOR. CONCLUSIONS (1) Data indicated that MCRT was less prone to induce gastrointestinal dysmotility at analgesic doses, and provided a possibility for safer opioid analgesic. (2) Based on the mechanism explorations, we speculated on the existence of such an opioid receptor subtype or MOR/DOR heterodimer, which was involved in the central analgesia and the in vitro colonic contractions but not the central colonic dysmotility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunbo He
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hailan Li
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Lanxia Zhou
- The Central Laboratory, The First Hospital, Lanzhou University, 1 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Shouliang Dong
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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21
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Hussain A, AlAjmi MF, Rehman MT, Amir S, Husain FM, Alsalme A, Siddiqui MA, AlKhedhairy AA, Khan RA. Copper(II) complexes as potential anticancer and Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents: In vitro and in vivo studies. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5237. [PMID: 30918270 PMCID: PMC6437194 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41063-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Copper-based compounds are promising entities for target-specific next-generation anticancer and NSAIDS therapeutics. In lieu of this, benzimidazole scaffold plays an important role, because of their wide variety of potential functionalizations and coordination modes. Herein, we report three copper complexes 1-3 with benzimidazole-derived scaffolds, a biocompatible molecule, and secondary ligands viz, 1-10-phenanthroline and 2,2'-bipyridyl. All the copper complexes have been designed, synthesized and adequately characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. In-vitro, human serum albumin (HSA) binding was also carried out using fluorescence technique and in-silico molecular modeling studies, which exhibited significant binding affinities of the complexes with HSA. Furthermore, copper complexes 1-3 were tested for biological studies, i.e., anticancer as well as NSAIDS. In vitro cytotoxicity results were carried out on cultured MCF-7 cell lines. To get the insight over the mechanism of action, GSH depletion and change in lipid peroxidation were tested and thus confirmed the role of ROS generation, responsible for the cytotoxicity of the complexes 1-3. Moreover, the copper complexes 1-3 were tested for potential to act as NSAIDS on albino rats and mice in animal studies in-vivo. Additionally, we also predicted the mechanism of action of the copper complexes 1-3 using molecular modeling studies with COX-2 inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afzal Hussain
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Fahad AlAjmi
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md Tabish Rehman
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samira Amir
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science and General Studies, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fohad Mabood Husain
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Alsalme
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maqsood Ahmad Siddiqui
- Al-Jeraisy Chair for DNA Research, Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz A AlKhedhairy
- Al-Jeraisy Chair for DNA Research, Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rais Ahmad Khan
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
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Discovery of two novel branched peptidomimetics containing endomorphin-2 and RF9 pharmacophores: Synthesis and neuropharmacological evaluation. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:630-643. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 12/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Zhang T, Zhao W, Zhang M, Xu B, Shi X, Zhang Q, Guo Y, Xiao J, Chen D, Zheng T, Fang Q. Analgesic activities of the mixed opioid and NPFF receptors agonist DN-9 in a mouse model of formalin-induced orofacial inflammatory pain. Peptides 2018; 110:30-39. [PMID: 30391423 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Revised: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Orofacial pain is one of the most common pain conditions and compromises the quality of life of the sufferer. Several studies have shown that opioid agonists produced significant analgesia in the orofacial pain, and combination of opioids with drugs belonging to other classes induced synergism in the orofacial pain. However, combination therapy of different analgesic drugs improves the risk of drug-drug interactions. Against this background, we sought to investigate the analgesic effects of the multi-functional opioid peptide DN-9, a mixed opioid and NPFF receptors agonist that produced robust analgesia in acute and inflammatory pain models, on formalin-induced orofacial pain. Our results showed that formalin injection caused significant spontaneous pain behaviors and increased the expressions of the mu-opioid receptor, c-Fos and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK1/2) in the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglion (TG). In mice pretreated with DN-9, there was a significant reduction in nociceptive behaviors, which was selectively mediated by the mu- and kappa-opioid receptors, independently of the NPFF system. Four hours after formalin injection, the level of c-Fos immunoreactivity in the ipsilateral TG neurons was much lower in mice pretreated with DN-9 or morphine. In addition, DN-9 exhibited a significant inhibition in the expression of p-ERK1/2, which was reversed by the selective antagonists of the mu- and kappa-opioid receptors. In conclusion, our present results demonstrate that central administration of DN-9 produces potential antinociceptive effects via the mu- and kappa-opioid receptors, independently of the NPFF system, and this antinociceptive action is tightly linked with the intracellular ERK activation in TG neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Weidong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Mengna Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Biao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xuerui Shi
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yuanyuan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Ting Zheng
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Gansu Health Vocational College, 60 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Quan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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Yang J, Sun W, He Z, Yu C, Bao G, Li Y, Liu Y, Hong L, Wang R. Access to α,γ-Diamino Diacid Derivatives via Organocatalytic Asymmetric 1,4-Addition of Azlactones and Dehydroalanines. Org Lett 2018; 20:7080-7084. [PMID: 30398880 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b03020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A convenient and functional-group-tolerant organocatalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition of azlactones and dehydroalanine is disclosed. The reaction is used for the first synthesis of chiral α,γ-diamino diacid derivatives with nonadjacent stereogenic centers in moderate to high yields, with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities, under the catalysis of a chiral thiourea catalyst. In addition, the reaction could be conducted in gram-scale, and the products of the reaction could be readily converted to various α,γ-diamino diacid derivatives, α,γ-diamino dialcohols, and modified peptides with nonproteinogenic amino acid residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxian Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000 , China
| | - Wangsheng Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000 , China
| | - Zeyuan He
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000 , China
| | - Changjun Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000 , China
| | - Guangjun Bao
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000 , China
| | - Yiping Li
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000 , China
| | - Yuyang Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000 , China
| | - Liang Hong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510006 , China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000 , China
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Li N, Han ZL, Xu B, Zhang MN, Zhang T, Shi XR, Zhao WD, Guo YY, Zhang QQ, Fang Q. Systemic administration of the bifunctional opioid/neuropeptide FF receptors agonist BN-9 produced peripheral antinociception in preclinical mouse models of pain. Eur J Pharmacol 2018; 837:53-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Chen C, Xu B, Shi X, Zhang M, Zhang Q, Zhang T, Zhao W, Zhang R, Wang Z, Li N, Fang Q. GpTx-1 and [Ala 5 , Phe 6 , Leu 26 , Arg 28 ]GpTx-1, two peptide Na V 1.7 inhibitors: analgesic and tolerance properties at the spinal level. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 175:3911-3927. [PMID: 30076786 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The voltage-gated sodium channel NaV 1.7 is considered a therapeutic target for pain treatment based on human genetic evidence. GpTx-1 and its potent analogue [Ala5 , Phe6 , Leu26 , Arg28 ]GpTx-1 (GpTx-1-71) were recently characterized as NaV 1.7 inhibitors in vitro. Furthermore, the present work was conducted to investigate the analgesic properties of these two peptides in different pain models after spinal administration. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The antinociceptive activities of both GpTx-1 and GpTx-1-71 were investigated in mouse models of acute, visceral, inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Furthermore, the side effects of GpTx-1 and GpTx-1-71 were evaluated in rotarod, antinociceptive tolerance, acute hyperlocomotion and gastrointestinal transit tests. KEY RESULTS The i.t. administration of both GpTx-1 and GpTx-1-71 dose-dependently produced powerful antinociception in the different pain models. This effect was attenuated by the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone, suggesting the involvement of the opioid system. In this study, repeated administration of these two_peptides produced spinal analgesia without a loss of potency over 8 days in mouse models of acute, inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Moreover, spinal administration of GpTx-1 and GpTx-1-71 did not induce significant effects on motor coordination, evoke acute hyperlocomotion or increase gastrointestinal transit time. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our data indicate that the NaV 1.7 peptide inhibitors GpTx-1 and GpTx-1-71 produce powerful, nontolerance-forming analgesia in preclinical pain models, which might be dependent on the endogenous opioid system. In addition, at the spinal level, the limited side effects imply that these NaV 1.7 peptide inhibitors could be potentially developed as GpTx-1-based drugs for pain relief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nano-Micro Materials Research, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Biao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuerui Shi
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mengna Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Weidong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Run Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zilong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Quan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Sun W, Zhou Q, Ba X, Feng X, Hu X, Cheng X, Liu T, Guo J, Xiao L, Jiang J, Xiong D, Hao Y, Chen Z, Jiang C. Oxytocin Relieves Neuropathic Pain Through GABA Release and Presynaptic TRPV1 Inhibition in Spinal Cord. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:248. [PMID: 30065629 PMCID: PMC6056657 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Oxytocin (OT) is synthesized within the paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. In addition to its role in uterine contraction, OT plays an important antinociceptive role; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms of antinociceptive role of OT remain elusive. We hypothesized that the antinociceptive effect of OT on neuropathic pain may occur via inhibition of TRPV1 activation in the spinal cord. The present study explores the antinociceptive role of OT and its mechanisms in neuropathic pain. Methods: Partial sciatic nerve ligation (pSNL) was performed to induce neuropathic pain. Animal behaviors were measured using a set of electronic von Frey apparatus and hot plate. Electrophysiological recordings and molecular biological experiments were performed. Results: Intrathecal administration of OT alleviated both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in pSNL rats (n = 6, per group, P < 0.0001, saline vs. OT group). Electrophysiological data revealed that OT significantly inhibited the enhancement of frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents induced presynaptically by TRPV1 activation in the spinal cord. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of OT on capsaicin-induced facilitation of excitatory transmission was blocked by co-treatment with saclofen, while intrathecal administration of OT dramatically inhibited capsaicin-induced ongoing pain in rats, (n = 6, per group, P < 0.0001, saline vs. OT group). The paw withdrawal latency in response to heat stimulation was significantly impaired in TRPV1KO mice 3 days after pSNL upon OT (i.t.) treatment, compared with wild type mice (n = 6, P < 0.05). Finally, OT prevented TRPV1 up-regulation in spinal cords of pSNL model rats. Conclusion: OT relieves neuropathic pain through GABA release and presynaptic TRPV1 inhibition in the spinal cord. OT and its receptor system might be an intriguing target for the treatment and prevention of neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuping Sun
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Department of Pain Medicine, The Third People's Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiyuan Ba
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaojin Feng
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xuexue Hu
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaoe Cheng
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lizu Xiao
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jin Jiang
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Donglin Xiong
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yue Hao
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zixian Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Changyu Jiang
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-ninth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2016 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia, stress and social status, tolerance and dependence, learning and memory, eating and drinking, drug abuse and alcohol, sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology, mental illness and mood, seizures and neurologic disorders, electrical-related activity and neurophysiology, general activity and locomotion, gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions, cardiovascular responses, respiration and thermoregulation, and immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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