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Ding H, Kiguchi N, Dobbins M, Romero-Sandoval EA, Kishioka S, Ko MC. Nociceptin Receptor-Related Agonists as Safe and Non-addictive Analgesics. Drugs 2023; 83:771-793. [PMID: 37209211 PMCID: PMC10948013 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-023-01878-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
As clinical use of currently available opioid analgesics is often impeded by dose-limiting adverse effects, such as abuse liability and respiratory depression, new approaches have been pursued to develop safe, effective, and non-addictive pain medications. After the identification of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide (NOP) receptor more than 25 years ago, NOP receptor-related agonists have emerged as a promising target for developing novel and effective opioids that modulate the analgesic and addictive properties of mu-opioid peptide (MOP) receptor agonists. In this review, we highlight the effects of the NOP receptor-related agonists compared with those of MOP receptor agonists in experimental rodent and more translational non-human primate (NHP) models and the development status of key NOP receptor-related agonists as potential safe and non-addictive analgesics. Several lines of evidence demonstrated that peptidic and non-peptidic NOP receptor agonists produce potent analgesic effects by intrathecal delivery in NHPs. Moreover, mixed NOP/MOP receptor partial agonists (e.g., BU08028, BU10038, and AT-121) display potent analgesic effects when administered intrathecally or systemically, without eliciting adverse effects, such as respiratory depression, itch behavior, and signs of abuse liability. More importantly, cebranopadol, a mixed NOP/opioid receptor agonist with full efficacy at NOP and MOP receptors, produces robust analgesic efficacy with reduced adverse effects, conferring promising outcomes in clinical studies. A balanced coactivation of NOP and MOP receptors is a strategy that warrants further exploration and refinement for the development of novel analgesics with a safer and effective profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiping Ding
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Norikazu Kiguchi
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, 640-8156, Japan
| | - MaryBeth Dobbins
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - E Alfonso Romero-Sandoval
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Shiroh Kishioka
- Faculty of Wakayama Health Care Sciences, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care, Wakayama, 640-8392, Japan
| | - Mei-Chuan Ko
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
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2
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Sturaro C, Malfacini D, Argentieri M, Djeujo FM, Marzola E, Albanese V, Ruzza C, Guerrini R, Calo’ G, Molinari P. Pharmacology of Kappa Opioid Receptors: Novel Assays and Ligands. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:873082. [PMID: 35529436 PMCID: PMC9068900 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.873082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the in vitro pharmacology of the human kappa opioid receptor using multiple assays, including calcium mobilization in cells expressing chimeric G proteins, the dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) label-free assay, and a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assay that allows measurement of receptor interaction with G protein and β-arrestin 2. In all assays, dynorphin A, U-69,593, and [D-Pro10]dyn(1-11)-NH2 behaved as full agonists with the following rank order of potency [D-Pro10]dyn(1-11)-NH2 > dynorphin A ≥ U-69,593. [Dmt1,Tic2]dyn(1-11)-NH2 behaved as a moderate potency pure antagonist in the kappa-β-arrestin 2 interaction assay and as low efficacy partial agonist in the other assays. Norbinaltorphimine acted as a highly potent and pure antagonist in all assays except kappa-G protein interaction, where it displayed efficacy as an inverse agonist. The pharmacological actions of novel kappa ligands, namely the dynorphin A tetrameric derivative PWT2-Dyn A and the palmitoylated derivative Dyn A-palmitic, were also investigated. PWT2-Dyn A and Dyn A-palmitic mimicked dynorphin A effects in all assays showing similar maximal effects but 3–10 fold lower potency. In conclusion, in the present study, multiple in vitro assays for the kappa receptor have been set up and pharmacologically validated. In addition, PWT2-Dyn A and Dyn A-palmitic were characterized as potent full agonists; these compounds are worthy of further investigation in vivo for those conditions in which the activation of the kappa opioid receptor elicits beneficial effects e.g. pain and pruritus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Sturaro
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Davide Malfacini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Davide Malfacini,
| | - Michela Argentieri
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francine M. Djeujo
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Erika Marzola
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valentina Albanese
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Girolamo Calo’
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Molinari
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
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de Lartigue G, Raybould H, Dockray G. Introduction to special issue on feeding peptides. Peptides 2022; 147:170687. [PMID: 34774722 PMCID: PMC10831925 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume de Lartigue
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Helen Raybould
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, CA, USA
| | - Graham Dockray
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Liverpool, UK
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4
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Kiguchi N, Ding H, Kishioka S, Ko MC. Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Peptide Receptor-Related Ligands as Novel Analgesics. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 20:2878-2888. [PMID: 32384033 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200508082615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Despite similar distribution patterns and intracellular events observed in the nociceptin/ orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor and other opioid receptors, NOP receptor activation displays unique pharmacological profiles. Several researchers have identified a variety of peptide and nonpeptide ligands to determine the functional roles of NOP receptor activation and observed that NOP receptor- related ligands exhibit pain modality-dependent pain processing. Importantly, NOP receptor activation results in anti-nociception and anti-hypersensitivity at the spinal and supraspinal levels regardless of the experimental settings in non-human primates (NHPs). Given that the NOP receptor agonists synergistically enhance mu-opioid peptide (MOP) receptor agonist-induced anti-nociception, it has been hypothesized that dual NOP and MOP receptor agonists may display promising functional properties as analgesics. Accumulating evidence indicates that the mixed NOP/opioid receptor agonists demonstrate favorable functional profiles. In NHP studies, bifunctional NOP/MOP partial agonists (e.g., AT-121, BU08028, and BU10038) exerted potent anti-nociception via NOP and MOP receptor activation; however, dose-limiting adverse effects associated with the MOP receptor activation, including respiratory depression, itch sensation, physical dependence, and abuse liability, were not observed. Moreover, a mixed NOP/opioid receptor agonist, cebranopadol, presented promising outcomes in clinical trials as a novel analgesic. Collectively, the dual agonistic actions on NOP and MOP receptors, with appropriate binding affinities and efficacies, may be a viable strategy to develop innovative and safe analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norikazu Kiguchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Huiping Ding
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Shiroh Kishioka
- Department of Pharmacology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Mei-Chuan Ko
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
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De Neve J, Barlow TMA, Tourwé D, Bihel F, Simonin F, Ballet S. Comprehensive overview of biased pharmacology at the opioid receptors: biased ligands and bias factors. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:828-870. [PMID: 34223156 PMCID: PMC8221262 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00041a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the main challenges in contemporary medicinal chemistry is the development of safer analgesics, used in the treatment of pain. Currently, moderate to severe pain is still treated with the "gold standard" opioids whose long-term often leads to severe side effects. With the discovery of biased agonism, the importance of this area of pharmacology has grown exponentially over the past decade. Of these side effects, tolerance, opioid misuse, physical dependence and substance use disorder (SUD) stand out, since these have led to many deaths over the past decades in both USA and Europe. New therapeutic molecules that induce a biased response at the opioid receptors (MOR, DOR, KOR and NOP receptor) are able to circumvent these side effects and, consequently, serve as more advantageous therapies with great promise. The concept of biased signaling extends far beyond the already sizeable field of GPCR pharmacology and covering everything would be vastly outside the scope of this review which consequently covers the biased ligands acting at the opioid family of receptors. The limitation of quantifying bias, however, makes this a controversial subject, where it is dependent on the reference ligand, the equation or the assay used for the quantification. Hence, the major issue in the field of biased ligands remains the translation of the in vitro profiles of biased signaling, with corresponding bias factors to in vivo profiles showing the presence or the lack of specific side effects. This review comprises a comprehensive overview of biased ligands in addition to their bias factors at individual members of the opioid family of receptors, as well as bifunctional ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien De Neve
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium
| | - Thomas M A Barlow
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium
| | - Dirk Tourwé
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium
| | - Frédéric Bihel
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, UMR 7200, CNRS Université de Strasbourg Illkirch France
| | - Frédéric Simonin
- Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, UMR 7242, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg Illkirch France
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium
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Nicoli F, Pacifico S, Gallerani E, Marzola E, Albanese V, Finessi V, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Price DA, Appay V, Marconi P, Guerrini R, Caputo A, Gavioli R. Use of a Novel Peptide Welding Technology Platform for the Development of B- and T-Cell Epitope-Based Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:526. [PMID: 34069535 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide vaccines incorporating B- and T-cell epitopes have shown promise in the context of various cancers and infections. These vaccines are relatively simple to manufacture, but more immunogenic formulations are considered a priority. We developed tetrabranched derivatives for this purpose based on a novel peptide welding technology (PWT). PWTs provide molecular scaffolds for the efficient synthesis of ultrapure peptide dendrimers, which allow the delivery of multiple ligands within a single macromolecular structure. Peptide vaccines incorporating T-cell epitopes derived from melanoma and B-cell epitopes derived from human immunodeficiency virus, synthesized using this approach, elicited primary immune responses in vitro and in vivo. Subcutaneous administration of the B-cell epitope-based vaccines also elicited more potent humoral responses than subcutaneous administration of the corresponding peptides alone. Highly immunogenic peptide epitope-based vaccines can therefore be generated quickly and easily using a novel PWT.
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Kiguchi N, Ding H, Ko MC. Therapeutic potentials of NOP and MOP receptor coactivation for the treatment of pain and opioid abuse. J Neurosci Res 2020; 100:191-202. [PMID: 32255240 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Following the identification of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide (NOP) as an endogenous ligand for the NOP receptor, ample evidence has revealed unique functional profiles of the N/OFQ-NOP receptor system. NOP receptors are expressed in key neural substrates involved in pain and reward modulation. In nonhuman primates (NHPs), NOP receptor activation effectively exerts antinociception and anti-hypersensitivity at the spinal and supraspinal levels. Moreover, NOP receptor activation inhibits dopaminergic transmission and synergistically enhances mu-opioid peptide (MOP) receptor-mediated analgesia. In this article, we have discussed the functional profiles of ligands with dual NOP and MOP receptor agonist activities and highlight their optimal functional efficacy for pain relief and drug abuse treatment. Through coactivation of NOP and MOP receptors, bifunctional NOP/MOP receptor "partial" agonists (e.g., AT-121, BU08028, and BU10038) reveal a wider therapeutic window with fewer side effects. These newly developed ligands potently induce antinociception without MOP receptor agonist-associated side effects such as abuse potential, respiratory depression, itching sensation, and physical dependence. In addition, in both rodent and NHP models, bifunctional NOP/MOP receptor agonists can attenuate reward processing and/or the reinforcing effects of opioids and other abused drugs. While a mixed NOP/opioid receptor "full" agonist cebranopadol is undergoing clinical trials, bifunctional NOP/MOP "partial" agonists exhibit promising therapeutic profiles in translational NHP models for the treatment of pain and opioid abuse. This class of drugs demonstrates the therapeutic advantage of NOP and MOP receptor coactivation, indicating a greater potential for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norikazu Kiguchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Huiping Ding
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Mei-Chuan Ko
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.,W.G. Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salisbury, NC, USA
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Perinelli M, Guerrini R, Albanese V, Marchetti N, Bellotti D, Gentili S, Tegoni M, Remelli M. Cu(II) coordination to His-containing linear peptides and related branched ones: Equalities and diversities. J Inorg Biochem 2020; 205:110980. [PMID: 31931375 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2019.110980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The two branched peptides (AAHAWG)4-PWT2 and (HAWG)4-PWT2 where synthesized by mounting linear peptides on a cyclam-based scaffold (PWT2), provided with four maleimide chains, through a thio-Michael reaction. The purpose of this study was primarily to verify if the two branched ligands had a Cu(II) coordination behavior reproducing that of the single-chain peptides, namely AAHAWG-NH2, which bears an Amino Terminal Cu(II)- and Ni(II)-Binding (ATCUN) Motif, and HAWG-NH2, which presents a His residue as the N-terminal amino acid, in a wide pH range. The study of Cu(II) binding was performed by potentiometric, spectroscopic (UV-vis absorption, CD, fluorescence) and ESI-MS techniques. ATCUN-type ligands ((AAHAWG)4-PWT2 and AAHAWG-NH2) were confirmed to bind one Cu(II) per peptide fragment at both pH 7.4 and pH 9.0, with a [NH2, 2N-, NIm] coordination mode. On the other hand, the ligand HAWG-NH2 forms a [CuL2]2+ species at neutral pH, while, at pH 9, the formation of 1:2 Cu(II):ligand adducts is prevented by amidic nitrogen deprotonation and coordination, to give rise solely to 1:1 species. Conversely, Cu(II) binding to (HAWG)4-PWT2 resulted in the formation of 1:2 copper:peptide chain also at pH 9: hence, through the latter branched peptide we obtained, at alkaline pH, the stabilization of a specific Cu(II) coordination mode which results unachievable using the corresponding single-chain peptide. This behavior could be explained in terms of high local peptide concentration on the basis of the speciation of the Cu(II)/single-chain peptide systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Perinelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Ferrara, via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valentina Albanese
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Ferrara, via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nicola Marchetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Ferrara, via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Denise Bellotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Ferrara, via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Gentili
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Matteo Tegoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Remelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Ferrara, via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
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Pacifico S, Albanese V, Illuminati D, Fantinati A, Marzola E, Ferrari F, Neto JA, Sturaro C, Ruzza C, Calò G, Preti D, Guerrini R. Tetrabranched Hetero-Conjugated Peptides as Bifunctional Agonists of the NOP and Mu Opioid Receptors. Bioconjug Chem 2019; 30:2444-2451. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Pacifico
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Valentina Albanese
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Davide Illuminati
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Anna Fantinati
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Erika Marzola
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Federica Ferrari
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Joaquim Azevedo Neto
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Chiara Sturaro
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Girolamo Calò
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara Via Fossato di Mortara 17/19, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Delia Preti
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
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Abstract
The nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor-related ligands have been demonstrated in preclinical studies for several therapeutic applications. This article highlights (1) how nonhuman primates (NHP) were used to facilitate the development and application of positron emission tomography tracers in humans; (2) effects of an endogenous NOP ligand, nociceptin/orphanin FQ, and its interaction with mu opioid peptide (MOP) receptor agonists; and (3) promising functional profiles of NOP-related agonists in NHP as analgesics and treatment for substance use disorders. NHP models offer the most phylogenetically appropriate evaluation of opioid and non-opioid receptor functions and drug effects. Based on preclinical and clinical data of ligands with mixed NOP/MOP receptor agonist activity, several factors including their intrinsic efficacies for activating NOP versus MOP receptors and different study endpoints in NHP could contribute to different pharmacological profiles. Ample evidence from NHP studies indicates that bifunctional NOP/MOP receptor agonists have opened an exciting avenue for developing safe, effective medications with fewer side effects for treating pain and drug addiction. In particular, bifunctional NOP/MOP partial agonists hold a great potential as (1) effective spinal analgesics without itch side effects; (2) safe, nonaddictive analgesics without opioid side effects such as respiratory depression; and (3) effective medications for substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norikazu Kiguchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Mei-Chuan Ko
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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Ruzza C, Ferrari F, Guerrini R, Marzola E, Preti D, Reinscheid RK, Calo G. Pharmacological profile of the neuropeptide S receptor: Dynamic mass redistribution studies. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2018; 6:e00445. [PMID: 30534379 PMCID: PMC6277375 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide S (NPS) is the endogenous ligand of the neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR). NPS modulates several biological functions including anxiety, wakefulness, pain, and drug abuse. The aim of this study was the investigation of the pharmacological profile of NPSR using the dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assay. DMR is a label-free assay that offers a holistic view of cellular responses after receptor activation. HEK293 cells stably transfected with the murine NPSR (HEK293mNPSR) have been used. To investigate the nature of the NPS-evoked DMR signaling, FR900359 (Gq inhibitor), pertussis toxin (Gi inhibitor), and rolipram (phosphodiesterase inhibitor) were used. To determine the pharmacology of NPSR, several selective ligands (agonists, partial agonists, antagonists) have been tested. NPS, through selective NPSR activation, evoked a robust DMR signal with potency in the nanomolar range. This signal was predominantly, but not completely, blocked by FR900359, suggesting the involvement of the Gq-dependent signaling cascade. NPSR ligands (agonists and antagonists) displayed potency values in DMR experiments similar, but not identical, to those reported in the literature. Furthermore, partial agonists produced a higher efficacy in DMR than in calcium experiments. DMR can be successfully used to study the pharmacology and signaling properties of novel NPSR ligands. This innovative approach will likely increase the translational value of in vitro pharmacological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Medical SciencesSection of PharmacologyNational Institute of NeuroscienceUniversity of FerraraFerraraItaly
| | - Federica Ferrari
- Department of Medical SciencesSection of PharmacologyNational Institute of NeuroscienceUniversity of FerraraFerraraItaly
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTAUniversity of FerraraFerraraItaly
| | - Erika Marzola
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTAUniversity of FerraraFerraraItaly
| | - Delia Preti
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTAUniversity of FerraraFerraraItaly
| | - Rainer K. Reinscheid
- Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyJena University HospitalFriedrich Schiller University JenaJenaGermany
- Institute of Physiology IUniversity Hospital MünsterUniversity of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Girolamo Calo
- Department of Medical SciencesSection of PharmacologyNational Institute of NeuroscienceUniversity of FerraraFerraraItaly
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12
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Malfacini D, Simon K, Trapella C, Guerrini R, Zaveri NT, Kostenis E, Calo’ G. NOP receptor pharmacological profile - A dynamic mass redistribution study. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203021. [PMID: 30161182 PMCID: PMC6117024 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide NOP receptor is coupled to pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G proteins (Gi/o) whose activation leads to the inhibition of both cAMP production and calcium channel activity, and to the stimulation of potassium currents. The label free dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) approach has been demonstrated useful for investigating the pharmacological profile of G protein-coupled receptors. Herein, we employ DMR technology to systematically characterize the pharmacology of a large panel of NOP receptor ligands. These are of peptide and non-peptide nature and display varying degrees of receptor efficacy, ranging from full agonism to pure antagonism. Using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing the human NOP receptor we provide rank orders of potency for full and partial agonists as well as apparent affinities for selective antagonists. We find the pharmacological profile of NOP receptor ligands to be similar but not identical to values reported in the literature using canonical assays for Gi/o-coupled receptors. Our data demonstrate that holistic label-free DMR detection can be successfully used to investigate the pharmacology of the NOP receptor and to characterize the cellular effects of novel NOP receptor ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Malfacini
- Molecular, Cellular and Pharmacobiology Section, Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Katharina Simon
- Molecular, Cellular and Pharmacobiology Section, Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Claudio Trapella
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Evi Kostenis
- Molecular, Cellular and Pharmacobiology Section, Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Girolamo Calo’
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Abstract
The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ)-N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor system is widely distributed at both the peripheral and central level where it modulates important biological functions with increasing therapeutic implications. This chapter wants to provide a comprehensive and updated overview focused on the available structure-activity relationship studies on NOP receptor peptide ligands developed through different rational approaches. Punctual modifications and cyclizations of the N/OFQ sequence have been properly combined furnishing potent NOP selective ligands with different pharmacological activities (full and partial agonists, pure antagonists) and enhanced metabolic stability in vivo. The screening of peptide libraries provided a second family of NOP ligands that have been successfully optimized. Moreover, recent findings suggest the possibility to apply different multimerization strategies for the realization of multi-target NOP/opioid receptor ligands or tetrabranched N/OFQ derivatives with extraordinarily prolonged duration of action in vivo. The diverse approaches led to the identification of important pharmacological tools along with drug candidates currently in clinical development such as Rec 0438 (aka UFP-112) for the treatment of overactive bladder and SER 100 (aka ZP120) for the clinical management of systolic hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delia Preti
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Girolamo Caló
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neurosciences, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
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