Therapeutic potential of histamine H3 receptor agonist for the treatment of obesity and diabetes mellitus

The Diverse Network of Brain Histamine in Feeding: Dissect its Functions in a Circuit-Specific Way

Feeding is an intrinsic and important behavior regulated by complex molecular, cellular and circuit-level mechanisms, one of which is the brain histaminergic network. In the past decades, many studies have provided a foundation of knowledge about the relationship between feeding and histamine receptors, which are deemed to have therapeutic potential but are not successful in treating feeding- related diseases. Indeed, the histaminergic circuits underlying feeding are poorly understood and characterized. This review describes current knowledge of histamine in feeding at the receptor level. Further, we provide insight into putative histamine-involved feeding circuits based on the classic feeding circuits. Understanding the histaminergic network in a circuit-specific way may be therapeutically relevant for increasing the drug specificity and precise treatment in feeding-related diseases.

Ligand-directed biased agonism at human histamine H3 receptor isoforms across Gαi/o- and β-arrestin2-mediated pathways

The histamine H3 receptor (H3R) is a neurotransmitter receptor that is primarily found in the brain, where it controls the release and synthesis of histamine, as well as the release of other neurotransmitters (e.g. dopamine, serotonin). Notably, 20 H3R isoforms are differentially expressed in the human brain as a consequence of alternative gene splicing. The hH3R-445, -415, -365 and -329 isoforms contain the prototypical GPCR (7TM) structure, yet exhibit deletions in the third intracellular loop, a structural domain that is pivotal for G protein-coupling, signaling and regulation. To date, the physiological relevance underlying the individual and combinatorial function of hH3R isoforms remains poorly understood. Nevertheless, given their significant implication in physiological processes (e.g. cognition, homeostasis) and neurological disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia), widespread targeting of hH3R isoforms by drugs may lead to on-target side effects in brain regions that are unaffected by disease. To this end, isoform- and/or pathway-selective targeting of hH3R isoforms by biased agonists could be of therapeutic relevance for the development of region- and disease-specific drugs. Hence, we have evaluated ligand biased signaling at the hH3R-445, -415, -365 and -329 isoforms across various Gαi/o-mediated (i.e. [35S]GTPγS accumulation, cAMP inhibition, pERK1/2 activation, pAKT T308/S473 activation) and non Gαi/o-mediated (i.e. β-arrestin2 recruitment) endpoints that are relevant to neurological diseases. Our findings indicate that H3R agonists display significantly altered patterns in their degree of ligand bias, in a pathway- and isoform-dependent manner, underlining the significance to investigate GPCRs with multiple isoforms to improve development of selective drugs. SUBJECT CATEGORY: Neuropharmacology.

Histaminergic regulation of food intake

Histamine is a biogenic amine that acts as a neuromodulator within the brain. In the hypothalamus, histaminergic signaling contributes to the regulation of numerous physiological and homeostatic processes, including the regulation of energy balance. Histaminergic neurons project extensively throughout the hypothalamus and two histamine receptors (H1R, H3R) are strongly expressed in key hypothalamic nuclei known to regulate energy homeostasis, including the paraventricular (PVH), ventromedial (VMH), dorsomedial (DMH), and arcuate (ARC) nuclei. The activation of different histamine receptors is associated with differential effects on neuronal activity, mediated by their different G protein-coupling. Consequently, activation of H1R has opposing effects on food intake to that of H3R: H1R activation suppresses food intake, while H3R activation mediates an orexigenic response. The central histaminergic system has been implicated in atypical antipsychotic-induced weight gain and has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity. It has also been demonstrated to interact with other major regulators of energy homeostasis, including the central melanocortin system and the adipose-derived hormone leptin. However, the exact mechanisms by which the histaminergic system contributes to the modification of these satiety signals remain underexplored. The present review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the central histaminergic system's role in regulating feeding and highlights unanswered questions remaining in our knowledge of the functionality of this system.

Structural and Molecular Determinants for Isoform Bias at Human Histamine H3 Receptor Isoforms

The human histamine H₃ receptor (hH₃R) is predominantly expressed in the CNS, where it regulates the synthesis and release of histamine and other neurotransmitters. Due to its neuromodulatory role, the hH₃R has been associated with various CNS disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Markedly, the hH₃R gene undergoes extensive splicing, resulting in 20 isoforms, of which 7TM isoforms exhibit variations in the intracellular loop 3 (IL3) and/or C-terminal tail. Particularly, hH₃R isoforms that display variations in IL3 (e.g., hH₃R-365) are shown to differentially signal via Gα_i-dependent pathways upon binding of biased agonists (e.g., immepip, proxifan, imetit). Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying biased agonism at hH₃R isoforms remain unknown. Using a structure-function relationship study with a broad range of H₃R agonists, we thereby explored determinants underlying isoform bias at hH₃R isoforms that exhibit variations in IL3 (i.e., hH₃R-445, -415, -365, and -329) in a Gα_i-dependent pathway (cAMP inhibition). Hence, we systematically characterized hH₃R isoforms on isoform bias by comparing various ligand properties (i.e., structural and molecular) to the degree of isoform bias. Importantly, our study provides novel insights into the structural and molecular basis of receptor isoform bias, highlighting the importance to study GPCRs with multiple isoforms to better tailor drugs.

Untargeted metabolomics confirms the association between plasma branched chain amino acids and residual feed intake in beef heifers

This study explored plasma biomarkers and metabolic pathways underlying feed efficiency measured as residual feed intake (RFI) in Charolais heifers. A total of 48 RFI extreme individuals (High-RFI, n = 24; Low-RFI, n = 24) were selected from a population of 142 heifers for classical plasma metabolite and hormone quantification and plasma metabolomic profiling through untargeted LC-MS. Most efficient heifers (Low-RFI) had greater (P = 0.03) plasma concentrations of IGF-1 and tended to have (P = 0.06) a lower back fat depth compared to least efficient heifers. However, no changes were noted (P ≥ 0.10) for plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate and urea. The plasma metabolomic dataset comprised 3,457 ions with none significantly differing between RFI classes after false discovery rate correction (FDR > 0.10). Among the 101 ions having a raw P < 0.05 for the RFI effect, 13 were putatively annotated by using internal databases and 6 compounds were further confirmed with standards. Metabolic pathway analysis from these 6 confirmed compounds revealed that the branched chain amino acid metabolism was significantly (FDR < 0.05) impacted by the RFI classes. Our results confirmed for the first time in beef heifers previous findings obtained in male beef cattle and pointing to changes in branched-chain amino acids metabolism along with that of body composition as biological mechanisms related to RFI. Further studies are warranted to ascertain whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship between these mechanisms and RFI.

Histamine H3 receptor antagonists - Roles in neurological and endocrine diseases and diabetes mellitus

Human histamine H3 receptor (H3R) was initially described in the brain of rat in 1983 and cloned in 1999. It can be found in the human brain and functions as a regulator of histamine synthesis and release. H3 receptors are predominantly resident in the presynaptic region of neurons containing histamine, where they modulate the synthesis and release of histamine (autoreceptor) or other neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, acetylcholine and serotonin (all heteroreceptors). The human histamine H3 receptor has twenty isoforms of which eight are functional. H3 receptor expression is seen in the cerebral cortex, neurons of the basal ganglia and hippocampus, which are important for process of cognition, sleep and homoeostatic regulation. In addition, histamine H3R antagonists stimulate insulin release, through inducing the release of acetylcholine and cause significant reduction in total body weight and triglycerides in obese subjects by causing a feeling of satiety in the hypothalamus. The ability of histamine H3R antagonist to reduce diabetes-induced hyperglycaemia is comparable to that of metformin. It is reasonable therefore, to claim that H3 receptor antagonists may play an important role in the therapy of disorders of cognition, the ability to sleep, oxidative stress, inflammation and anomaly of glucose homoeostasis. A large number of H3R antagonists are being developed by pharmaceutical companies and university research centres. As examples of these new drugs, this review will discuss a number of drugs, including the first histamine H3R receptor antagonist produced.

CNS-Sparing Histamine H3 Receptor Antagonist as a Candidate to Prevent the Diabetes-Associated Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Among the histamine receptors, growing evidence points to the histamine H₃ receptor as a pharmacological candidate to counteract the autonomic neuropathy associated with diabetes. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of PF00868087 (also known as ZPL-868), a CNS-sparing histamine H₃ receptor antagonist, on the autonomic neuropathy of the intestinal tract associated with diabetes. Diabetes was induced in male BALB/c mice by a single high dose of streptozotocin (150 mg/kg). Colorectal specimens from control and diabetic mice, randomized to vehicle or PF0086087 (10, 30, 100 mg/kg/day by oral gavage for 14 days), were processed for morphological and immunohistochemical analysis. A significant overproduction of mucus in the intestinal mucosa of diabetic mice compared to the controls was observed. PF0086087 at the highest dose prevented mucin overproduction. The immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that diabetes causes a decrease in the inhibitory component of enteric motility, measured as the percentage of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-positive neurons (p < 0.05) and a parallel increase in the excitatory component evaluated as substance P-positive fibres (p < 0.01). PF0086087 dose-dependently prevented these pathophysiological events. In conclusion, PF0086087 may be an essential tool in preventing nitrergic dysfunction in the myenteric plexus of the distal colon and diabetes-induced gastrointestinal complications.

Potential Therapeutic Targeting Neurotransmitter Receptors in Diabetes

Neurotransmitters are signaling molecules secreted by neurons to coordinate communication and proper function among different sections in the central neural system (CNS) by binding with different receptors. Some neurotransmitters as well as their receptors are found in pancreatic islets and are involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Neurotransmitters can act with their receptors in pancreatic islets to stimulate or inhibit the secretion of insulin (β cell), glucagon (α cell) or somatostatin (δ cell). Neurotransmitter receptors are either G-protein coupled receptors or ligand-gated channels, their effects on blood glucose are mainly decided by the number and location of them in islets. Dysfunction of neurotransmitters receptors in islets is involved in the development of β cell dysfunction and type 2 diabetes (T2D).Therapies targeting different transmitter systems have great potential in the prevention and treatment of T2D and other metabolic diseases.

Whole Grain Qingke Attenuates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice With Alterations in Gut Microbiota and Metabolite Profile

Whole grain Qingke (WGQK) displays anti-obesity and lipid-lowering properties; however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. This study investigated the alteration of gut microbiota composition and metabolite profile induced by WGQK intervention in mice through the integration of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing and an untargeted metabolomics study. C57BL/6J male mice were fed a normal control diet (NC), high-fat diet (HFD), and HFD plus 30% WGQK (HFD+QK) for 16 weeks. The WGQK intervention decreased body weight gain, glucose tolerance, and serum lipid levels, and alleviated liver function damage induced by HFD. Moreover, WGQK changed gut microbiota composition and enriched specific genera such as Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus. Fecal metabolomics analysis indicated that WGQK enhanced the abundance of tryptophan metabolism-related metabolites (indole, 3-indoleacetic acid, indole acetic acid (IAA), 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid), histidine metabolism-related metabolites (histamine), and some unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid, 9,10-dihydroxy-12Z-octadecenoic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that these metabolites were negatively correlated with obesity-related parameters and positively correlated with the gut genera enriched by WGQK. Moreover, WGQK promoted the expression of Cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) responsible for primary bile acids production, accompanied by a decline in intestinal FXR-FGF15 expression levels. The transcript levels of two genes associated with lipogenesis, such as lipid fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were also decreased in the HFD+QK group. Overall, our results suggest interactions between gut microbial shifts and host amino acid/lipid metabolism, and shed light on the mechanisms underlying the anti-obesity effect of WGQK.

Patho-Pharmacological Research of Anti-allergic Natural Products Targeting Antihistamine-Sensitive and -Insensitive Allergic Mechanisms

Histamine H₁ receptor (H1R) has a special up-regulation mechanism by the stimulation of H1R, mediated by protein kinase C-delta (PKCδ) signaling and H1R gene expression, resulting increase in H1R signaling. Increase in H1R mRNA in nasal mucosa was induced after the provocation of nasal hypersensitivity model rats and suppressed by the pre-treatment of antihistamines. Improvement of nasal symptoms and suppression of H1R mRNA expression in nasal mucosa were also observed by the pre-treatment of antihistamines in pollinosis patients. Elucidation of a correlation between symptoms and H1R mRNA level suggests that H1R gene is an allergic disease (AD)-susceptibility gene, targeted by antihistamines. Similar to antihistamines, pre-treatment of Kujin extract, an anti-allergic Kampo medicine improved nasal symptoms and suppressed H1R mRNA expression in nasal hypersensitivity model rats. (-)-Maackiain targeting heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) was isolated as an inhibitor of PKCδ signaling-mediated H1R gene expression from Kujin extract. In addition to H1R-mediated activation of H1R gene expression as the first mechanism, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT)-mediated IL-9 gene expression is suggested to participate to allergic symptoms as the second mechanism insensitive to antihistamines. Pyrogallol and proanthocyanidin suppressing IL-9 gene expression were discovered from Awa-tea and lotus root knots, respectively. Combination therapy using medicines suppressing both H1R gene expression and IL-9 gene expression is promising for outstanding alleviation of AD. Multifactorial diseases involving H1R gene expression may be treated by the combination therapy with antihistamine and complementary drugs, and diseases involving PKCδ signaling may be treated by drugs targeting Hsp90.

Targeting Histamine and Histamine Receptors for the Precise Regulation of Feeding

Histamine has long been accepted as an anorexigenic agent. However, lines of evidence have suggested that the roles of histamine in feeding behaviors are much more complex than previously thought, being involved in satiety, satiation, feeding motivation, feeding circadian rhythm, and taste perception and memory. The functional diversity of histamine makes it a viable target for clinical management of obesity and other feeding-related disorders. Here, we update the current knowledge about the functions of histamine in feeding and summarize the underlying molecular and neural circuit mechanisms. Finally, we review the main clinical studies about the impacts of histamine-related compounds on weight control and discuss insights into future research on the roles of histamine in feeding. Despite the recent progress in histamine research, the histaminergic feeding circuits are poorly understood, and it is also worth verifying the functions of histamine receptors in a more spatiotemporally specific manner.

Chemical Probes for Histamine Receptor Subtypes

Ligands with different properties and different selectivity are highly needed for in vitro and in vivo studies on the (patho)physiological influence of the chemical mediator histamine and its receptor subtypes. A selection of well-described ligands for the different receptor subtypes and different studies is shown with a particular focus on affinity and selectivity. In addition, compounds with radioactive or fluorescence elements will be presented with their beneficial use for other species or different investigations.

Food Intolerance: The Role of Histamine

Histamine is a natural amine derived from L-histidine. Although it seems that our knowledge about this molecule is wide and diverse, the importance of histamine in many regulatory processes is still enigmatic. The interplay between different types of histamine receptors and the compound may cause ample effects, including histamine intoxication and so-called histamine intolerance or non-allergic food intolerance, leading to disturbances in immune regulation, manifestation of gastroenterological symptoms, and neurological diseases. Most cases of clinical manifestations of histamine intolerance are non-specific due to tissue-specific distribution of different histamine receptors and the lack of reproducible and reliable diagnostic markers. The diagnosis of histamine intolerance is fraught with difficulties, in addition to challenges related to the selection of a proper treatment strategy, the regular course of recovery, and reduced amelioration of chronic symptoms due to inappropriate treatment prescription. Here, we reviewed a history of histamine uptake starting from the current knowledge about its degradation and the prevalence of histamine precursors in daily food, and continuing with the receptor interactions after entering and the impacts on the immune, central nervous, and gastrointestinal systems. The purpose of this review is to build an extraordinarily specific method of histamine cycle assessment in regard to non-allergic intolerance and its possible dire consequences that can be suffered.

Structural modifications in the distal, regulatory region of histamine H3 receptor antagonists leading to the identification of a potent anti-obesity agent

A series of 4-pyridylpiperazine derivatives with varying regulatory region substituents proved to be potent histamine H3 receptor (H3R) ligands in the nanomolar concentration range. The most influential modification that affected the affinity toward the H3R appeared by introducing electron-withdrawing moieties into the distal aromatic ring. In order to finally discuss the influence of the characteristic 4-pyridylpiperazine moiety on H3R affinity, two Ciproxifan analogues 2 and 3 with a slight modification in their basic part were obtained. The replacement of piperazine in 3 with piperidine in compound 2, led to slightly reduced affinity towards the H3R (Ki = 3.17 and 7.70 nM, respectively). In fact, 3 showed the highest antagonistic properties among all compounds in this series, hence affirming our previous assumptions, that the 4-pyridylpiperazine moiety is the key element for suitable interaction with the human histamine H3 receptor. While its structural replacement to piperidine is also tolerated for H3R binding, the heteroaromatic 4-pyridyl moiety seems to be essential for proper ligand-receptor interaction. The putative protein-ligand interactions responsible for their high affinity were demonstrated using molecular modeling techniques. Furthermore, selectivity, intrinsic activity at the H3R, as well as drug-like properties of ligands were evaluated using in vitro methods. Moreover, pharmacological in vivo test results of compound 9 (structural analogue of Abbott's A-331440) clearly indicate that it may affect the amount of calories consumed, thus act as an anorectic compound.

New insights into the associations among feed efficiency, metabolizable efficiency traits and related QTL regions in broiler chickens

Background

Improving the feed efficiency would increase profitability for producers while also reducing the environmental footprint of livestock production. This study was conducted to investigate the relationships among feed efficiency traits and metabolizable efficiency traits in 180 male broilers. Significant loci and genes affecting the metabolizable efficiency traits were explored with an imputation-based genome-wide association study. The traits measured or calculated comprised three growth traits, five feed efficiency related traits, and nine metabolizable efficiency traits.

Results

The residual feed intake (RFI) showed moderate to high and positive phenotypic correlations with eight other traits measured, including average daily feed intake (ADFI), dry excreta weight (DEW), gross energy excretion (GEE), crude protein excretion (CPE), metabolizable dry matter (MDM), nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), abdominal fat weight (AbF), and percentage of abdominal fat (AbP). Greater correlations were observed between growth traits and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) than RFI. In addition, the RFI, FCR, ADFI, DEW, GEE, CPE, MDM, AMEn, AbF, and AbP were lower in low-RFI birds than high-RFI birds (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), whereas the coefficients of MDM and MCP of low-RFI birds were greater than those of high-RFI birds (P < 0.01). Five narrow QTLs for metabolizable efficiency traits were detected, including one 82.46-kb region for DEW and GEE on Gallus gallus chromosome (GGA) 26, one 120.13-kb region for MDM and AMEn on GGA1, one 691.25-kb region for the coefficients of MDM and AMEn on GGA5, one region for the coefficients of MDM and MCP on GGA2 (103.45–103.53 Mb), and one 690.50-kb region for the coefficient of MCP on GGA14. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis indicated that the five regions contained high LD blocks, as well as the genes chromosome 26 C6orf106 homolog (C26H6orf106), LOC396098, SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 2 (SHANK2), ETS homologous factor (EHF), and histamine receptor H3-like (HRH3L), which are known to be involved in the regulation of neurodevelopment, cell proliferation and differentiation, and food intake.

Conclusions

Selection for low RFI significantly decreased chicken feed intake, excreta output, and abdominal fat deposition, and increased nutrient digestibility without changing the weight gain. Five novel QTL regions involved in the control of metabolizable efficiency in chickens were identified. These results, combined through nutritional and genetic approaches, should facilitate novel insights into improving feed efficiency in poultry and other species.

Novel pyrrolidinone derivative lacks claimed histamine H3 receptor stimulation in receptor binding and functional studies

Since the discovery and early characterization of the histamine H₃ receptor (H₃R) in the 1980's, predominantly imidazole-based agonists were presented to the scientific community such as N^α-methylhistamine (N^α-MeHA) or (R)-α-methylhistamine ((R)α-MeHA). Whereas therapeutic applications have been prompted for H₃R agonists such as treatment of pain, asthma and obesity, several drawbacks associated with imidazole-containing ligands makes the search for new agonists for this receptor demanding. Accordingly, high interest arose after publication of several pyrrolidindione-based, highly affine H₃R agonists within this journal that avoid the imidazole moiety and thus, presenting a novel type of potential pharmacophores (Ghoshal, Anirban et al., 2018). In our present study performed in two independent laboratories, we further evaluated the exposed lead-compound (EC₅₀ = 0.1 nM) of the previous research project with regards to pharmacological behavior at H₃R. Thereby, no binding affinity was observed in neither [³H]N^α-MeHA nor bodilisant displacement assays that contradicts the previously published activity. Additional functional exploration employing GTPγ[³⁵S], cAMP-accumulation assay and cAMP response element (CRE)-driven reporter gene assays exhibited slight partial agonist properties of such pyrrolidindiones but acting apart from the reported concentration range. We conclude, that the previously reported actions of such pyrrolidindiones result from an overestimation based on the method of measurement and thus, we cast doubt on the new pharmacophores with H₃R agonist activity.

Attenuation of Weight Gain and Prevention of Associated Pathologies by Inhibiting SSAO

Obesity is a worldwide prevalent metabolic disorder that is associated with diabetes, among many other diseases. Bearing this in mind, prevention and treatment ways need to be improved. Notably, activity of the enzyme semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) is found to be elevated in overweight subjects. Moreover, SSAO inhibition has resulted in an increase of histamine activity in adipose tissue and the limitation of body fat. The current review aims to overview the risks of obesity, rationalize the molecular ways of SSAO activity, and outline the strategies of inhibiting upregulated enzyme levels. It describes the differences between SSAO inhibitors and advances the prospective agents. Based on evidence, caffeine is proposed as an effective, safe, and reliable choice to inhibit SSAO activity. Furthermore, the histamine in adipocytes has been associated with SSAO activity. Therefore, it is suggested as one of the key compounds to be studied for obesity management. To conclude, inhibiting SSAO may attenuate weight gain and prevent related diseases.

4-(3-Aminoazetidin-1-yl)pyrimidin-2-amines as High-Affinity Non-imidazole Histamine H3 Receptor Agonists with in Vivo Central Nervous System Activity

Despite the high diversity of histamine H3 receptor (H3R) antagonist/inverse agonist structures, partial or full H3R agonists have typically been imidazole derivatives. An in-house screening campaign intriguingly afforded the non-imidazole 4-(3-azetidin-1-yl)pyrimidin-2-amine 11b as a partial H3R agonist. Here, the design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of 11b analogues are described. This series yields several non-imidazole full agonists with potencies varying with the alkyl substitution pattern on the basic amine following the in vitro evaluation of H3R agonism using a cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-luciferase reporter gene assay. The key compound VUF16839 (14d) combines nanomolar on-target activity (pKi = 8.5, pEC50 = 9.5) with weak activity on cytochrome P450 enzymes and good metabolic stability. The proposed H3R binding mode of 14d indicates key interactions similar to those attained by histamine. In vivo evaluation of 14d in a social recognition test in mice revealed an amnesic effect at 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally. The excellent in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profiles and the non-imidazole structure of 14d make it a promising tool compound in H3R research.

Histamine H3 receptor antagonists/inverse agonists: Where do they go?

Since the discovery of the histamine H₃ receptor in 1983, tremendous advances in the pharmacological aspects of H₃ receptor antagonists/inverse agonists have been accomplished in preclinical studies. At present, there are several drug candidates that reached clinical trial studies for various indications. However, entrance of these candidates to the pharmaceutical market is not free from challenges, and a variety of difficulties is engaged with their developmental process. In this review, the potential role of H₃ receptors in the pathophysiology of various central nervous system, metabolic and allergic diseases is discussed. Thereafter, the current status for H₃ receptor antagonists/inverse agonists in ongoing clinical trial studies is reviewed and obstacles in developing these agents are emphasized.

The Role of Histamine and Histamine Receptors in Mast Cell-Mediated Allergy and Inflammation: The Hunt for New Therapeutic Targets

Histamine and its receptors (H1R–H4R) play a crucial and significant role in the development of various allergic diseases. Mast cells are multifunctional bone marrow-derived tissue-dwelling cells that are the major producer of histamine in the body. H1R are expressed in many cells, including mast cells, and are involved in Type 1 hypersensitivity reactions. H2R are involved in Th1 lymphocyte cytokine production. H3R are mainly involved in blood–brain barrier function. H4R are highly expressed on mast cells where their stimulation exacerbates histamine and cytokine generation. Both H1R and H4R have important roles in the progression and modulation of histamine-mediated allergic diseases. Antihistamines that target H1R alone are not entirely effective in the treatment of acute pruritus, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, and other allergic diseases. However, antagonists that target H4R have shown promising effects in preclinical and clinical studies in the treatment of several allergic diseases. In the present review, we examine the accumulating evidence suggesting novel therapeutic approaches that explore both H1R and H4R as therapeutic targets for histamine-mediated allergic diseases.

Activation of histamine H4 receptor suppresses the proliferation and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via both metabolism and non-metabolism signaling pathways

Although dysregulation of histamine H₄ receptor (H4R) has widely and frequently been documented in digestive carcinomas and correlates with the malignancy and proliferation of these tumors, the existence of H4R and its pathophysiological function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. In our present study, we explored the expression and function of H4R in human ESCC samples and cell lines. H4R was overexpressed in poorly differentiated ESCC samples and cell lines and correlated with the median survival of ESCC patients. H4R activation not only significantly blocked cell proliferation, cell cycle, and invasion but also inhibited the growth of TE-2 xenografts and increased the survival of xenograft-bearing mice. According to the mechanistic experiments, both metabolism (acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase 2 (ACSS2))- and non-metabolism (mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK))-related pathways were involved in the effect of H4R activation on suppressing tumor proliferation and invasion. Based on these findings, H4R was overexpressed in esophageal cancer and exerted antitumor effects on ESCC proliferation and invasion, suggesting that H4R may be a novel potential target of therapies for ESCC.

KEY MESSAGES

The function of H4R in ESCC and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. H4R expression was correlated with ESCC cell differentiation and patients' survival. Both metabolism (ACSS2) and non-metabolism (MAPK)-related pathways were involved. This study provided new insight into the relationship between H4R and ESCC. H4R may be a novel potential therapeutic target for ESCC.

The histamine H3 receptor inverse agonist pitolisant reduces body weight in obese mice

The pharmacological profile of pitolisant, a histamine H₃ receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, indicates that this compound might reduce body weight and metabolic disturbances. Therefore, we studied the influence of pitolisant on body weight, water and sucrose intake as well as metabolic disturbances in the high-fat and high-sugar diet-induced obesity model in mice. To induce obesity, male CD-1 mice were fed a high-fat diet consisting of 40% fat blend for 14 weeks, water and 30% sucrose solution available ad libitum. Glucose tolerance test was performed at the beginning of week 15. Insulin tolerance was tested the day after. At the end of study, plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were determined. Pitolisant at dose of 10 mg/kg bw (ip) was administrated during 14 days, starting from the beginning of week 13. Metformin at dose of 100 mg/kg bw (ip) was used as reference drug. Mice fed with high-fat diet and sucrose solution showed more weight gain throughout the 12-week period of inducing obesity. Animals fed with high-fat diet and treated with pitolisant (for the next 14 days) showed significantly less weight gain than mice from the control group consuming a high-fat feed. In the group treated with pitolisant, glucose levels were significantly lower than glucose levels of control obese mice after glucose load. The plasma triglyceride levels in pitolisant-treated mice were significantly lower compared with those in control obese group. In conclusion, pitolisant has a favorable influence of body weight and improves glucose tolerance and the lipid profile in obese mice.

Knockout of histamine receptor H3 alters adaptation to sudden darkness and monoamine levels in the zebrafish

AIM

Histamine receptor H3 (HRH3) has substantial neuropharmacological potential. Currently, knockout models of this receptor have been investigated only in mice. We characterized the expression of this receptor in the zebrafish and generated a zebrafish HRH3 knockout line. Using this model, we studied the role of HRH3 in important behaviours. We also analysed the effect of HRH3 knockout on monoaminergic systems, which has not been thoroughly studied in any animal model.

METHODS

Generation of a mutant zebrafish line using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Analysis of locomotor and social behaviour. Expression of HRH3 was characterized using in situ hybridization. Analysis of monoamine networks using HPLC, immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

We found that HRH3 knockout zebrafish larvae showed a shorter period of increased locomotion after a sudden onset of darkness, while the knockout larvae had a wild-type-like acute response to sudden darkness. Adult knockout fish showed decreased swimming velocity, although locomotor activity of knockout larvae was unaltered. Additionally, levels of dopamine and serotonin were significantly decreased in the knockout fish, while monoamine-related gene expression and immunohistochemistry patterns were unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that HRH3 knockout larvae adapt faster to sudden darkness, suggesting a role for this receptor in regulating responses to changes in the environment. The decreased levels of dopamine and serotonin provide the first direct evidence that knockout of HRH3 alters these systems.

Antipsychotic Polypharmacy and Its Relation to Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Schizophrenia: An Egyptian Study

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined the relationship between antipsychotic polypharmacy and metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia. Some studies suggest that antipsychotic polypharmacy may be associated with greater metabolic risk, whereas other studies suggest that this is uncertain. To date, there have been no studies in Egypt or the Arab world that have investigated this relationship. We sought to compare subjects with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotic polypharmacy and monotherapy as regards metabolic outcomes and to investigate medication-related factors associated with metabolic syndrome.

METHODS/PROCEDURES

We recruited 118 subjects with schizophrenia and compared between those receiving antipsychotic polypharmacy (86 subjects) and monotherapy (32 subjects) as regards demographic, clinical, metabolic, and antipsychotic medication characteristics. We examined the effect of antipsychotic-related factors an outcome of metabolic syndrome.

FINDINGS/RESULTS

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our sample was 38.1%. Except for gender, there was no statistically significant difference as regards demographic and clinical characteristics, rates of metabolic syndrome, or for individual metabolic parameters. We found a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the 2 groups as regards the number, dose, and duration of intake and for the number of subjects receiving typical antipsychotics (oral and depot) and a number of individual antipsychotic medications. Using logistic regression, receiving haloperidol depot was the only antipsychotic-related factor predictive for metabolic syndrome.

IMPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome does not differ in schizophrenia whether patients are receiving polypharmacy and monotherapy nor do they differ for individual metabolic parameters. Most antipsychotic-related characteristics did not predict for metabolic syndrome.

Interactions Between the Neuroendocrine System and T Lymphocytes in Diabetes

It is well established that there is a fine-tuned bidirectional communication between the immune and neuroendocrine tissues in maintaining homeostasis. Several types of immune cells, hormones, and neurotransmitters of different chemical nature are involved as communicators between organs. Apart of being key players of the adaptive arm of the immune system, it has been recently described that T lymphocytes are involved in the modulation of metabolism of several tissues in health and disease. Diabetes may result mainly from lack of insulin production (type 1 diabetes) or insufficient insulin and insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes), both influenced by genetic and environmental components. Herein, we discuss accumulating data regarding the role of the adaptive arm of the immune system in the pathogenesis of diabetes; including the action of several hormones and neurotransmitters influencing on central and peripheral T lymphocytes development and maturation, particularly under the metabolic burden triggered by diabetes. In addition, we comment on the role of T-effector lymphocytes in adipose and liver tissues during diabetes, which together enhances pancreatic β-cell stress aggravating the disease.

Mast cell activation disease and the modern epidemic of chronic inflammatory disease

A large and growing portion of the human population, especially in developed countries, suffers 1 or more chronic, often quite burdensome ailments which either are overtly inflammatory in nature or are suspected to be of inflammatory origin, but for which investigations to date have failed to identify specific causes, let alone unifying mechanisms underlying the multiple such ailments that often afflict such patients. Relatively recently described as a non-neoplastic cousin of the rare hematologic disease mastocytosis, mast cell (MC) activation syndrome-suspected to be of greatly heterogeneous, complex acquired clonality in many cases-is a potential underlying/unifying explanation for a diverse assortment of inflammatory ailments. A brief review of MC biology and how aberrant primary MC activation might lead to such a vast range of illness is presented.

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. XCVIII. Histamine Receptors

Histamine is a developmentally highly conserved autacoid found in most vertebrate tissues. Its physiological functions are mediated by four 7-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors (H1R, H2R, H3R, H4R) that are all targets of pharmacological intervention. The receptors display molecular heterogeneity and constitutive activity. H1R antagonists are long known antiallergic and sedating drugs, whereas the H2R was identified in the 1970s and led to the development of H2R-antagonists that revolutionized stomach ulcer treatment. The crystal structure of ligand-bound H1R has rendered it possible to design new ligands with novel properties. The H3R is an autoreceptor and heteroreceptor providing negative feedback on histaminergic and inhibition on other neurons. A block of these actions promotes waking. The H4R occurs on immuncompetent cells and the development of anti-inflammatory drugs is anticipated.

Role of the Histamine H3 Receptor in the Central Nervous System

The G_i/o protein-coupled histamine H₃ receptor is distributed throughout the central nervous system including areas like cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum with the density being highest in the posterior hypothalamus, i.e. the area in which the histaminergic cell bodies are located. In contrast to the other histamine receptor subtypes (H₁, H₂ and H₄), the H₃ receptor is located presynaptically and shows a constitutive activity. In detail, H₃ receptors are involved in the inhibition of histamine release (presynaptic autoreceptor), impulse flow along the histaminergic neurones (somadendritic autoreceptor) and histamine synthesis. Moreover, they occur as inhibitory presynaptic heteroreceptors on serotoninergic, noradrenergic, dopaminergic, glutamatergic, GABAergic and perhaps cholinergic neurones. This review shows for four functions of the brain that the H₃ receptor represents a brake against the wake-promoting, anticonvulsant and anorectic effect of histamine (via postsynaptic H₁ receptors) and its procognitive activity (via postsynaptic H₁ and H₂ receptors). Indeed, H₁ agonists and H₃ inverse agonists elicit essentially the same effects, at least in rodents; these effects are opposite in direction to those elicited by brain-penetrating H₁ receptor antagonists in humans. Although the benefit for H₃ inverse agonists for the symptomatic treatment of dementias is inconclusive, several members of this group have shown a marked potential for the treatment of disorders associated with excessive daytime sleepiness. In March 2016, the European Commission granted a marketing authorisation for pitolisant (Wakix^R) (as the first representative of the H₃ inverse agonists) for the treatment of narcolepsy.

Cherry-picked ligands at histamine receptor subtypes

Histamine, a biogenic amine, is considered as a principle mediator of multiple physiological effects through binding to its H1, H2, H3, and H4 receptors (H1-H4Rs). Currently, the HRs have gained attention as important targets for the treatment of several diseases and disorders ranging from allergy to Alzheimer's disease and immune deficiency. Accordingly, medicinal chemistry studies exploring histamine-like molecules and their physicochemical properties by binding and interacting with the four HRs has led to the development of a diversity of agonists and antagonists that display selectivity for each HR subtype. An overview on H1-R4Rs and developed ligands representing some key steps in development is provided here combined with a short description of structure-activity relationships for each class. Main chemical diversities, pharmacophores, and pharmacological profiles of most innovative H1-H4R agonists and antagonists are highlighted. Therefore, this overview should support the rational choice for the optimal ligand selection based on affinity, selectivity and efficacy data in biochemical and pharmacological studies. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Histamine Receptors'.

Histidine Decarboxylase Deficiency Prevents Autoimmune Diabetes in NOD Mice

Recent evidence has highlighted the role of histamine in inflammation. Since this monoamine has also been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of type-1 diabetes, we assessed its effect in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model. To this end, we used mice (inactivated) knocked out for the gene encoding histidine decarboxylase, the unique histamine-forming enzyme, backcrossed on a NOD genetic background. We found that the lack of endogenous histamine in NOD HDC(-/-) mice decreased the incidence of diabetes in relation to their wild-type counterpart. Whereas the proportion of regulatory T and myeloid-derived suppressive cells was similar in both strains, histamine deficiency was associated with increased levels of immature macrophages, as compared with wild-type NOD mice. Concerning the cytokine pattern, we found a decrease in circulating IL-12 and IFN-γ in HDC(-/-) mice, while IL-6 or leptin remained unchanged, suggesting that histamine primarily modulates the inflammatory environment. Paradoxically, exogenous histamine given to NOD HDC(-/-) mice provided also protection against T1D. Our study supports the notion that histamine is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes, thus providing additional evidence for its role in the regulation of the immune response.

Unexpectedly high affinity of a novel histamine H(3) receptor antagonist, GSK239512, in vivo in human brain, determined using PET

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the plasma concentration (PK) of the novel histamine H3 receptor antagonist, GSK239512, and the brain occupancy of H(3) receptors (RO) in healthy human volunteers.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

PET scans were obtained after i.v. administration of the H(3) -specific radioligand [(11) C]GSK189254. Each subject was scanned before and after single oral doses of GSK239512, at 4 and 24 h after dose. PET data were analysed by compartmental analysis, and regional RO estimates were obtained by graphical analysis of changes in the total volumes of distribution of the radioligand, followed by a correction for occupancy by the high affinity radioligand. The PK/RO relationship was analysed by a population-modelling approach, using the average PK of GSK239512 during each scan.

KEY RESULTS

Following administration of GSK239512, there was a reduction in the brain uptake of [(11) C]GSK189254 in all regions, including cerebellum. RO at 4 h was higher than at 24 h, and the PK/RO model estimated a PK associated with 50% of RO of 0.0068 ng·mL(-1) . This corresponds to a free concentration of 4.50 × 10(-12 ) M (pK = 11.3).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The affinity of GSK239512 for brain H3 receptors in humans in vivo is much higher than that expected from studies in vitro, and higher than that observed in PET studies in pigs. The study illustrates the utility of carrying out PET studies in humans early in drug development, providing accurate quantification of GSK239512 RO in vivo as a function of time and dose.

Histamine and gut mucosal immune regulation

Histamine is a biogenic amine with extensive effects on many cell types, mediated by the activation of its four receptors (H1R-H4R). Distinct effects are dependent on receptor subtypes and their differential expression. Within the gastrointestinal tract, histamine is present at relatively high concentrations, particularly during inflammatory responses. In this review, we discuss the immunoregulatory influence of histamine on a number of gastrointestinal disorders, including food allergy, scombroid food poisoning, histamine intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. It is clear that the effects of histamine on mucosal immune homeostasis are dependent on expression and activity of the four currently known histamine receptors; however, the relative protective or pathogenic effects of histamine on inflammatory processes within the gut are still poorly defined and require further investigation.

Discovery of aryl ureas and aryl amides as potent and selective histamine H3 receptor antagonists for the treatment of obesity (part I)

A series of structurally novel aryl ureas was derived from optimization of the HTS lead as selective histamine H3 receptor (H3R) antagonists. The SAR was explored and the data obtained set up the starting point and foundation for further optimization. The most potent tool compounds, as exemplified by compounds 2l, 5b, 5d, and 5e, displayed antagonism potencies in the subnanomolar range in in vitro human-H3R FLIPR assays and rhesus monkey H3R binding assays.

New advances in models and strategies for developing anti-obesity drugs

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a worldwide pandemic. Obesity-related health and economic costs are staggering. Existing strategies to combat obesity through lifestyle improvements and medical intervention have had limited success. Pharmacotherapy, in combination with lifestyle modification, may play a vital role in reversing the disease burden. However, past and current weight-loss medications have had serious safety risks, notably cardiovascular and psychiatric events.

AREAS COVERED

The authors review the strategies for designing new anti-obesity drugs by describing those currently in development. They describe their target, mechanism of action and developmental or regulatory status. Furthermore, they discuss the problem of weight regain following weight loss, and its relevance to the long-term success of anti-obesity pharmacotherapy.

EXPERT OPINION

For weight management drugs to achieve the safety and efficacy required to be impactful, current studies are uncovering and characterizing new targets, including new signaling circuits and hormones regulating appetite and metabolism, and re-evaluating the role of pharmacotherapy in weight management. To avoid the safety failures of many past weight-loss drugs, the models and strategies covered in this article incorporate recent advances in knowledge and technology. We discuss the emergence of cGMP signaling as a potentially transformative target in weight management. Modulating cGMP signaling may represent an ideal goal for an anti-obesity pharmacotherapy, reflecting some of the major themes described in the present review: targeting pathways that are newly realized as relevant for weight management; promoting safety by re-purposing drugs that are safe, proven, and approved for clinical use; and having a synergistic effect on multiple, reinforcing pathways.

Proxyfan acts as a neutral antagonist of histamine H3 receptors in the feeding-related hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Centrally acting histamine H(3) receptor ligands are proposed as potential treatments for obesity, although the value of inverse agonists at these receptors is still debated. Functional inhibition of H(3) autoreceptors activates neurones in a hypothalamic 'satiety' centre. The H(3) receptor antagonist, proxyfan was used as a tool to assess the action of histaminergic compounds in this model.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We compared the actions of histamine on feeding with those of an H(3) receptor agonist (imetit) and inverse agonist (thioperamide) in rats and mice. Sites of action were identified by immunohistochemistry and the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMN) was investigated using electrophysiological techniques.

KEY RESULTS

Central histamine or thioperamide decreased fast-induced feeding, whereas imetit increased feeding. Systemic thioperamide entered the brain to activate hypothalamic feeding centres and to reduce feeding without causing any adverse behaviours. Thioperamide activated neurones in the VMN through an action on histamine autoreceptors, whilst imetit had the opposite effect. Proxyfan administered alone did not affect either feeding or electrical activity. However, it blocked the actions of both thioperamide and imetit, acting as a neutral antagonist in this system.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The H(3) receptor inverse agonist, thioperamide, potently reduced appetite without adverse behavioural effects. This action was blocked by proxyfan, acting as a neutral antagonist in this model and, therefore, this compound is useful in determining the selectivity of H(3) receptor-directed drugs. A major action of thioperamide is through presynaptic autoreceptors, inducing stimulation by endogenous histamine of postsynaptic H(1 ) receptors on anorectic hypothalamic neurones.

Obesity pharmacotherapy: what is next?

The increase in obesity in the Unites States and around the world in the last decade is overwhelming. The number of overweight adults in the world surpassed 1 billion in 2008. Health hazards associated with obesity are serious and include heart disease, sleep apnea, diabetes, and cancer. Although lifestyle modifications are the most straightforward way to control weight, a large portion of the population may not be able to rely on this modality alone. Thus, the development of anti-obesity therapeutics represents a major unmet medical need. Historically, anti-obesity pharmacotherapies have been unsafe and minimally efficacious. A better understanding of the biology of appetite and metabolism provides an opportunity to develop drugs that may offer safer and more effective alternatives for weight management. This review discusses drugs that are currently on the market and in development as anti-obesity therapeutics based on their target and mechanism of action. It should serve as a roadmap to establish expectations for the near future for anti-obesity drug development.

Identification and characterization of ZEL-H16 as a novel agonist of the histamine H3 receptor

The histamine H3 receptor (H3R) has been recognized as a promising target for the treatment of various central and peripheral nervous system diseases. In this study, a non-imidazole compound, ZEL-H16, was identified as a novel histamine H3 receptor agonist. ZEL-H16 was found to bind to human H3R with a Ki value of approximately 2.07 nM and 4.36 nM to rat H3R. Further characterization indicated that ZEL-H16 behaved as a partial agonist on the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation (the efficacy was 60% of that of histamine) and activation of ERK1/2 signaling (the efficacy was 50% of that of histamine) at H3 receptors, but acted as a full agonist just like histamin in the guinea-pig ileum contraction assay. These effects were blocked by pertussis toxin and H3 receptor specific antagonist thioperamide. ZEL-H16 showed no agonist or antagonist activities at the cloned human histamine H1, H2, and H4 receptors and other biogenic amine GPCRs in the CRE-driven reporter assay. Furthermore, our present data demonstrated that treatment of ZEL-H16 resulted in intensive H3 receptor internalization and delayed recycling to the cell surface as compared to that of control with treatment of histamine. Thus, ZEL-H16 is a novel and potent nonimidazole agonist of H3R, which might serve as a pharmacological tool for future investigations or as possible therapeutic agent of H3R.

Desipramine inhibits histamine H1 receptor-induced Ca2+ signaling in rat hypothalamic cells

The hypothalamus in the brain is the main center for appetite control and integrates signals from adipose tissue and the gastrointestinal tract. Antidepressants are known to modulate the activities of hypothalamic neurons and affect food intake, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which antidepressants modulate hypothalamic function remain unclear. Here we have investigated how hypothalamic neurons respond to treatment with antidepressants, including desipramine and sibutramine. In primary cultured rat hypothalamic cells, desipramine markedly suppressed the elevation of intracellular Ca(2+) evoked by histamine H1 receptor activation. Desipramine also inhibited the histamine-induced Ca(2+) increase and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing hormone in hypothalamic GT1-1 cells. The effect of desipramine was not affected by pretreatment with prazosin or propranolol, excluding catecholamine reuptake activity of desipramine as an underlying mechanism. Sibutramine which is also an antidepressant but decreases food intake, had little effect on the histamine-induced Ca(2+) increase or AMP-activated protein kinase activity. Our results reveal that desipramine and sibutramine have different effects on histamine H1 receptor signaling in hypothalamic cells and suggest that distinct regulation of hypothalamic histamine signaling might underlie the differential regulation of food intake between antidepressants.

Involvement of histamine receptors in the atypical antipsychotic profile of clozapine: a reassessment in vitro and in vivo

RATIONALE

The basis of the unique clinical profile of the antipsychotic clozapine is not yet elucidated. Brain histamine receptors may play a role in schizophrenia and its treatment, but their involvement in the profile of clozapine remained unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We explored the properties of clozapine and its two metabolites, N-desmethylclozapine (NDMC) and clozapine N-oxide, at the four human histaminergic receptors. We compared their active concentrations with their blood concentrations in patients treated by clozapine. We investigated the changes in receptor densities induced in rat brain by repeated administration of a therapeutic dose of clozapine.

RESULTS

Clozapine and NDMC behaved as very potent, and partial, H(1)-receptor inverse agonists, weak, and full, H(2)-receptor inverse agonists, moderate, and protean, H(3)-receptor agonists, and moderate, and partial, H(4)-receptor agonists. Taking into account their micromolar mean blood concentrations found in 75 treated patients, and assuming that they are enriched in human brain as they are in rat brain, a full occupation of H(1)-, H(3)-, and H(4)-receptors, and a partial occupation of H(2) receptors, is expected. In agreement, repeated administration of clozapine at a therapeutic dose (20 mg/kg/day for 20 days) induced an up-regulation of H(1)- and H(2)-receptors in rat brain.

CONCLUSIONS

Clozapine and its active metabolite NDMC interact with the four human histamine receptors at clinically relevant concentrations. This interaction may substantiate, at least in part, the atypical antipsychotic profile of clozapine, as well as its central and peripheral side effects such as sedation and weight gain.

Effects of neonatal methamphetamine and thioperamide exposure on spatial memory retention and circadian activity later in life

Methamphetamine (MA) use increases the likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behavior and most MA-using women are of child-bearing age. Therefore, cognitive effects following MA exposure to the developing brain are concerning. Exposure of mice to MA during hippocampal development causes cognitive impairments in adulthood. These effects are more severe in female than male mice and mimicked by the H(3) receptor antagonist thioperamide (THIO). In this study, we assessed whether neonatal exposure to MA or THIO also affects cognition in adolescence. As these effects might be associated with alterations in circadian activity, we also assessed circadian activity in a subgroup of neonatally exposed mice. Sex-dependent treatment effects were seen in the water maze. While THIO-, but not MA-treated female mice showed hippocampus-dependent spatial memory retention in the first probe trial, MA-, but not THIO-treated female mice showed spatial memory retention in the probe trial following reversal training. In contrast, MA- and THIO-treated male mice showed spatial memory retention in both probe trials. When sensorimotor gating was assessed, MA-treated male mice showed greater pre-pulse inhibition than MA-treated female mice. Regardless of sex, THIO-treated mice gained on average more weight each day and showed an enhanced startle response. In addition, MA increased the length of the circadian period, with an intermediate effect following THIO treatment were observed. No treatment effects in exploratory behavior, measures of anxiety, or contextual or cued fear conditioning. Thus, the water maze is particularly sensitive to detect sex-dependent effects of neonatal MA and THIO exposure on spatial memory retention in adolescence.

Blockade of the brain histamine H3 receptor by JNJ-39220675: preclinical PET studies with [¹¹C]GSK189254 in anesthetized baboon

RATIONALE

The preclinical characterization of a series of aryloxypyridine amides has identified JNJ-39220675 ((4-cyclobutyl-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)(6-(4-fluorophenoxy)pyridin-3-yl)methanone) as a high-affinity histamine H(3) receptor antagonist and a candidate for further drug development particularly in the treatment of alcohol-related behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

This study measured brain histamine H(3) receptor blockade by JNJ-39220675 (1 mg/kg) in the female baboon.

METHODS

Positron emission tomography imaging and [(11)C]GSK189254, a reversible high-affinity radiotracer with specificity for the histamine H(3) receptor, was used to measure histamine H(3) receptor availability at baseline and after i.v. and oral administration of JNJ-39220675 (1 mg/kg) in the anesthetized baboon. Histamine H(3) receptor availability was estimated as the total distribution volume (V (T)) in brain regions. The sensitivity of [(11)C]GSK189254 binding to injected mass and carryover effects was determined.

RESULTS

JNJ-39220675 produces robust (ca. 90 %) blockade of [(11)C]GSK189254 binding after i.v. and oral administration. After oral administration of JNJ-39220675 (1 mg/kg), the fractional receptor occupancy was >0.9 at 90 min with a slight increase from 90 to 240 min. Similar to prior studies in humans, V (T) was highly sensitive to the mass of GSK189254 with ED(50) estimated to be 0.16 μg/kg.

CONCLUSIONS

The robust blockade of binding of [(11)C]GSK189254 by JNJ-39220675 demonstrates that this compound readily penetrates the blood-brain barrier and occupies the histamine H(3) receptor after oral administration at low plasma concentrations (∼1 ng/cc) supporting further drug development for alcohol addiction and other disorders. This study corroborates prior reports of the high sensitivity of [(11)C]GSK189254 to injected mass at doses >0.1 μg/kg.