Stable expression of human H1-histamine-receptor cDNA in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Pharmacological characterisation of the protein, tissue distribution of messenger RNA and chromosomal localisation of the gene

Calcium and Neural Stem Cell Proliferation

Intracellular calcium plays a pivotal role in central nervous system (CNS) development by regulating various processes such as cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and maturation. However, understanding the involvement of calcium (Ca2+) in these processes during CNS development is challenging due to the dynamic nature of this cation and the evolving cell populations during development. While Ca2+ transient patterns have been observed in specific cell processes and molecules responsible for Ca2+ homeostasis have been identified in excitable and non-excitable cells, further research into Ca2+ dynamics and the underlying mechanisms in neural stem cells (NSCs) is required. This review focuses on molecules involved in Ca2+ entrance expressed in NSCs in vivo and in vitro, which are crucial for Ca2+ dynamics and signaling. It also discusses how these molecules might play a key role in balancing cell proliferation for self-renewal or promoting differentiation. These processes are finely regulated in a time-dependent manner throughout brain development, influenced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors that directly or indirectly modulate Ca2+ dynamics. Furthermore, this review addresses the potential implications of understanding Ca2+ dynamics in NSCs for treating neurological disorders. Despite significant progress in this field, unraveling the elements contributing to Ca2+ intracellular dynamics in cell proliferation remains a challenging puzzle that requires further investigation.

Function and Role of Histamine H1 Receptor in the Mammalian Heart

Histamine can change the force of cardiac contraction and alter the beating rate in mammals, including humans. However, striking species and regional differences have been observed. Depending on the species and the cardiac region (atrium versus ventricle) studied, the contractile, chronotropic, dromotropic, and bathmotropic effects of histamine vary. Histamine is present and is produced in the mammalian heart. Thus, histamine may exert autocrine or paracrine effects in the mammalian heart. Histamine uses at least four heptahelical receptors: H₁, H₂, H₃ and H₄. Depending on the species and region studied, cardiomyocytes express only histamine H₁ or only histamine H₂ receptors or both. These receptors are not necessarily functional concerning contractility. We have considerable knowledge of the cardiac expression and function of histamine H₂ receptors. In contrast, we have a poor understanding of the cardiac role of the histamine H₁ receptor. Therefore, we address the structure, signal transduction, and expressional regulation of the histamine H₁ receptor with an eye on its cardiac role. We point out signal transduction and the role of the histamine H₁ receptor in various animal species. This review aims to identify gaps in our knowledge of cardiac histamine H₁ receptors. We highlight where the published research shows disagreements and requires a new approach. Moreover, we show that diseases alter the expression and functional effects of histamine H₁ receptors in the heart. We found that antidepressive drugs and neuroleptic drugs might act as antagonists of cardiac histamine H₁ receptors, and believe that histamine H₁ receptors in the heart might be attractive targets for drug therapy. The authors believe that a better understanding of the role of histamine H₁ receptors in the human heart might be clinically relevant for improving drug therapy.

The skeletal muscle relaxer cyclobenzaprine is a potent non-competitive antagonist of histamine H1 receptors

Cyclobenzaprine is a tricyclic dimethylpropanamine skeletal muscle relaxant, which is used clinically to decrease muscle spasm and hypercontractility, as well as acute musculoskeletal pain. Although the absolute mechanism of action of cyclobenzaprine remains elusive, it is known to mediate its effects centrally, via inhibition of tonic somatic motor function, likely through modulation of noradrenergic and serotonergic systems. While cyclobenzaprine is effective as a muscle relaxant, greater than 30% of patients experience drowsiness and sedative/hypnotic effects, yet, the mechanisms that cause this adverse effect is also undescribed. Based on this common adverse effect profile and the structural similarity of cyclobenzaprine to tricyclic antidepressants, as well as ethanolamine first-generation antihistamines, we hypothesized that cyclobenzaprine facilitates sedative effects via off-target antagonism of central histamine H1 receptors (H1R). Here, for the first time, we present data that demonstrate that cyclobenzaprine exhibits low nanomolar affinity for the cloned human H1R, as well as that expressed in both rat and mouse brain. Using saturation radioligand binding, we also demonstrate that cyclobenzaprine binds to the H1R in a non-competitive manner. Similarly, functional assays measuring both Ca⁺² influx and novel TRUPATH G-protein subunit BRET biosensors reveal that cyclobenzaprine also blocks histamine-mediated H1R functional activity in a non-competitive manner, whereas the classical H1R antagonist diphenhydramine does so competitively. Given that cyclobenzaprine readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and its muscle relaxant effects occur centrally, our data suggest that off-target central antagonism of H1R by cyclobenzaprine facilitates the significant sedative effect of this agent seen in patients. Significance Statement Cyclobenzaprine, a clinically used muscle relaxant that is strongly linked to sedation, demonstrates high affinity non-competitive antagonism at the histamine H1 receptor. This effect likely modulates the high degree of sedation patients experience.

Label-Free Investigations on the G Protein Dependent Signaling Pathways of Histamine Receptors

G protein activation represents an early key event in the complex GPCR signal transduction process and is usually studied by label-dependent methods targeting specific molecular events. However, the constrained environment of such "invasive" techniques could interfere with biological processes. Although histamine receptors (HRs) represent (evolving) drug targets, their signal transduction is not fully understood. To address this issue, we established a non-invasive dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assay for the human H1-4Rs expressed in HEK cells, showing excellent signal-to-background ratios above 100 for histamine (HIS) and higher than 24 for inverse agonists with pEC50 values consistent with literature. Taking advantage of the integrative nature of the DMR assay, the involvement of endogenous Gαq/11, Gαs, Gα12/13 and Gβγ proteins was explored, pursuing a two-pronged approach, namely that of classical pharmacology (G protein modulators) and that of molecular biology (Gα knock-out HEK cells). We showed that signal transduction of hH1-4Rs occurred mainly, but not exclusively, via their canonical Gα proteins. For example, in addition to Gαi/o, the Gαq/11 protein was proven to contribute to the DMR response of hH3,4Rs. Moreover, the Gα12/13 was identified to be involved in the hH2R mediated signaling pathway. These results are considered as a basis for future investigations on the (patho)physiological role and the pharmacological potential of H1-4Rs.

Human corticospinal-motoneuronal output is reduced with 5-HT2 receptor antagonism

Animal models indicate that serotonin (5-HT) release onto motoneurons facilitates motor output, particularly during strong motor activities. However, evidence for 5-HT effects during human movement are limited. This study examined how antagonism of the 5-HT₂ receptor, which is a 5-HT receptor that promotes motoneuron excitability, affects human movement. Ten healthy participants (24.2 ± 1.9 yr) ingested 8 mg of cyproheptadine (competitive 5-HT₂ antagonist) in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures design. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex was used to elicit motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from biceps brachii. First, stimulus-response curves (90%-160% active motor threshold) were obtained during very weak elbow flexions (10% of maximal). Second, to determine if 5-HT effects are scaled to the intensity of muscle contraction, TMS at a fixed intensity was applied during elbow flexions of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of maximal. Cyproheptadine reduced the size of MEPs across the stimulus-response curves (P = 0.045). Notably, MEP amplitude was 22.3% smaller for the cyproheptadine condition for the strongest TMS intensity. In addition, cyproheptadine reduced maximal torque (P = 0.045), lengthened the biceps silent period during maximal elbow flexions (P = 0.037), and reduced superimposed twitch amplitude during moderate-intensity elbow flexions (P = 0.035). This study presents novel evidence that 5-HT₂ receptors influence corticospinal-motoneuronal output, which was particularly evident when a large number of descending inputs to motoneurons were active. Although it is likely that antagonism of 5-HT₂ receptors reduces motoneuron gain to ionotropic inputs, supraspinal mechanisms may have also contributed to the study findings.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Voluntary contractions and responses to magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex are dependent on serotonin activity in the central nervous system. 5-HT₂ antagonism decreased evoked potential size to high-intensity stimulation, and reduced torque and lengthened inhibitory silent periods during maximal contractions. We provide novel evidence that 5-HT₂ receptors are involved in muscle activation, where 5-HT effects are strongest when a large number of descending inputs activate motoneurons.

A split luciferase-based probe for quantitative proximal determination of Gαq signalling in live cells

The earlier an activation of a G protein-dependent signalling cascade at a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) is probed, the less amplificatory effects contribute to the measured signal. This is especially useful in case of a precise quantification of agonist efficacies, and is of paramount importance, when determining agonist bias in relation to the β-arrestin pathway. As most canonical assays with medium to high throughput rely on the quantification of second messengers, and assays affording more proximal readouts are often limited in throughput, we developed a technique with a proximal readout and sufficiently high throughput that can be used in live cells. Split luciferase complementation (SLC) was applied to assess the interaction of Gα_q with its effector phospholipase C-β3. The resulting probe yielded an excellent Z' value of 0.7 and offers a broad and easy applicability to various Gα_q-coupling GPCRs (hH₁R, hM_1,3,5R, hNTS₁R), expressed in HEK293T cells, allowing the functional characterisation of agonists and antagonists. Furthermore, the developed sensor enabled imaging of live cells by luminescence microscopy, as demonstrated for the hM₃R. The versatile SLC-based probe is broadly applicable e.g. to the screening and the pharmacological characterisation of GPCR ligands as well as to molecular imaging.

Dibenzo[b,f][1,4]oxazepines and dibenzo[b,e]oxepines: Influence of the chlorine substitution pattern on the pharmacology at the H1R, H4R, 5-HT2AR and other selected GPCRs

Inspired by VUF6884 (7-Chloro-11-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)dibenzo[b,f][1,4]oxazepine), reported as a dual H₁/H₄ receptor ligand (pK_i: 8.11 (human H₁R (hH₁R)), 7.55 (human H₄R (hH₄R))), four known and 28 new oxazepine and related oxepine derivatives were synthesised and pharmacologically characterized at histamine receptors and selected aminergic GPCRs. In contrast to the oxazepine series, within the oxepine series, the new compounds showed high affinity to the hH₁R (pK_i: 6.8-8.7), but no or moderate affinity to the hH₄R (pK_i:≤5.3). For one oxepine derivative (1-(2-Chloro-6,11-dihydrodibenzo[b,e]oxepin-11-yl)-4-methylpiperazine), the enantiomers were separated and the R-enantiomer was identified as the eutomer at the hH₁R (pK_i: 8.83 (R), 7.63 (S)) and the guinea-pig H₁R (gpH₁R) (pK_i: 8.82 (R), 7.41 (S)). Molecular dynamic studies suggest that the tricyclic core of the compounds is bound in a similar mode into the binding pocket, as described for doxepine in the hH₁R crystal structure. Moreover, docking studies of all oxepine derivatives at the hH₁R indicate that the oxygen and the position of the chlorine in the tricyclic core determines, if the R- or the S-enantiomer is the eutomer. For some of the oxazepines and oxepines the affinity to other aminergic GPCRs is in the same range as to hH₁R or hH₄R, thus, those compounds have to be classified as dirty drugs. However, one oxazepine derivative (3,7-Dichloro-11-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)dibenzo[b,f][1,4]oxazepine was identified as dual hH₁/h5-HT_2A receptor ligand (pK_i: 9.23 (hH₁R), 8.74 (h5-HT_2AR), ≤7 at other analysed GPCRs), whereas one oxepine derivative (1-(3,8-Dichloro-6,11-dihydrodibenzo[b,e]oxepin-11-yl)-4-methylpiperazine) was identified as selective hH₁R antagonist (pK_i: 8.44 (hH₁R), ≤6.7 at other analyzed GPCRs). Thus, the pharmacological results suggest that the oxazepine/oxepine moiety and additionally the chlorine substitution pattern toggles receptor selectivity and specificity.

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.

2,4-Diaminopyrimidines as dual ligands at the histamine H1 and H4 receptor-H1/H4-receptor selectivity

Distinct diaminopyrimidines, for example, 4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]quinazolin-2-amine are histamine H4 receptor (H4R) antagonists and show high affinity to the H4R, but only a moderate affinity to the histamine H1 receptor (H1R). Within previous studies it was shown that an aromatic side chain with a distinct distance to the basic amine and aromatic core is necessary for affinity to the human H1R (hH1R). Thus, a rigid aminopyrimidine with a tricyclic core was used as a lead structure. There, (1) the flexible aromatic side chain was introduced, (2) the substitution pattern of the pyrimidine core was exchanged and (3) rigidity was decreased by opening the tricyclic core. Within the present study, two compounds with similar affinity in the one digit μM range to the human H1R and H4R were identified. While the affinity at the hH1R increased about 4- to 8-fold compared to the parent diaminopyrimidine, the affinity to the hH4R decreased about 5- to 8-fold. In addition to the parent diaminopyrimidine, two selected compounds were docked into the H1R and H4R and molecular dynamic studies were performed to predict the binding mode and explain the experimental results on a molecular level. The two new compounds may be good lead structures for the development of dual H1/H4 receptor ligands with affinities in the same range.

The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2013/14: G protein-coupled receptors

The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2013/14 provides concise overviews of the key properties of over 2000 human drug targets with their pharmacology, plus links to an open access knowledgebase of drug targets and their ligands (www.guidetopharmacology.org), which provides more detailed views of target and ligand properties. The full contents can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.12444/full. G protein-coupled receptors are one of the seven major pharmacological targets into which the Guide is divided, with the others being G protein-coupled receptors, ligand-gated ion channels, ion channels, catalytic receptors, nuclear hormone receptors, transporters and enzymes. These are presented with nomenclature guidance and summary information on the best available pharmacological tools, alongside key references and suggestions for further reading. A new landscape format has easy to use tables comparing related targets. It is a condensed version of material contemporary to late 2013, which is presented in greater detail and constantly updated on the website www.guidetopharmacology.org, superseding data presented in previous Guides to Receptors and Channels. It is produced in conjunction with NC-IUPHAR and provides the official IUPHAR classification and nomenclature for human drug targets, where appropriate. It consolidates information previously curated and displayed separately in IUPHAR-DB and the Guide to Receptors and Channels, providing a permanent, citable, point-in-time record that will survive database updates.

Molecular and cellular analysis of human histamine receptor subtypes

The human histamine receptors hH(1)R and hH(2)R constitute important drug targets, and hH(3)R and hH(4)R have substantial potential in this area. Considering the species-specificity of pharmacology of H(x)R orthologs, it is important to analyze hH(x)Rs. Here, we summarize current knowledge of hH(x)Rs endogenously expressed in human cells and hH(x)Rs recombinantly expressed in mammalian and insect cells. We present the advantages and disadvantages of the various systems. We also discuss problems associated with the use of hH(x)R antibodies, an issue of general relevance for G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). There is much greater overlap in activity of 'selective' ligands for other hH(x)Rs than the cognate receptor subtype than generally appreciated. Studies with native and recombinant systems support the concept of ligand-specific receptor conformations, encompassing agonists and antagonists. It is emerging that for characterization of hH(x)R ligands, one cannot rely on a single test system and a single parameter. Rather, multiple systems and parameters have to be studied. Although such studies are time-consuming and expensive, ultimately, they will increase drug safety and efficacy.

Constitutively active 5-HT2/α1 receptors facilitate muscle spasms after human spinal cord injury

In animals, the recovery of motoneuron excitability in the months following a complete spinal cord injury is mediated, in part, by increases in constitutive serotonin (5-HT2) and norepinephrine (α1) receptor activity, which facilitates the reactivation of calcium-mediated persistent inward currents (CaPICs) without the ligands serotonin and norepinephrine below the injury. In this study we sought evidence for a similar role of constitutive monoamine receptor activity in the development of spasticity in human spinal cord injury. In chronically injured participants with partially preserved sensory and motor function, the serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram facilitated long-lasting reflex responses (spasms) previously shown to be mediated by CaPICs, suggesting that in incomplete spinal cord injury, functional descending sources of monoamines are present to activate monoamine receptors below the lesion. However, in participants with motor or motor/sensory complete injuries, the inverse agonist cyproheptadine, which blocks both ligand and constitutive 5-HT2/α1 receptor activity, decreased long-lasting reflexes, whereas the neutral antagonist chlorpromazine, which only blocks ligand activation of these receptors, had no effect. When tested in noninjured control participants having functional descending sources of monoamines, chlorpromazine was effective in reducing CaPIC-mediated motor unit activity. On the basis of these combined results, it appears that in severe spinal cord injury, facilitation of persistent inward currents and muscle spasms is mainly mediated by the activation of constitutive 5-HT2 and α1 receptor activity. Drugs that more selectively block these constitutively active monoamine receptors may provide better oral control of spasticity, especially in motor complete spinal cord injury where reducing motoneuron excitability is the primary goal.

Pulicatins A-E, neuroactive thiazoline metabolites from cone snail-associated bacteria

The cone snail Conus pulicarius from the Philippines provides a specific habitat for actinomycetes and other bacteria. A phenotypic screen using primary cultures of mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons revealed that one C. pulicarius associate, Streptomyces sp. CP32, produces a series of natural products that enhance or diminish whole-cell Ca(2+) flux. These compounds include known thiazoline compounds and a series of new derivatives, pulicatins A-E (6-10). Individual compounds were shown to bind to a series of human receptors, with selective binding to the human serotonin 5-HT(2B) receptor. Here, we report the structure elucidation of the new compounds and results of the neurological assays.

Interactions of histamine H1-receptor agonists and antagonists with the human histamine H4-receptor

The human histamine H(4)-receptor (hH(4)R) possesses high constitutive activity and, like the human H(1)-receptor (hH(1)R), is involved in the pathogenesis of type-I allergic reactions. The study aims were to explore the value of dual H(1)/H(4)R antagonists as antiallergy drugs and to address the question of whether H(1)R ligands bind to hH(4)R. In an acute murine asthma model, the H(1)R antagonist mepyramine and the H(4)R antagonist 1-[(5-chloro-1H-indol-2-yl)carbonyl]-4-methyl-piperazine (JNJ 7777120) exhibited synergistic inhibitory effects on eosinophil accumulation in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. At the hH(4)R expressed in Sf9 insect cells, 18 H(1)R antagonists and 22 H(1)R agonists showed lower affinity to hH(4)R than to hH(1)R as assessed in competition binding experiments. For a small number of H(1)R antagonists, hH(4)R partial agonism was observed in the steady-state GTPase assay. Most compounds were neutral antagonists or inverse agonists. Twelve phenylhistamine-type hH(1)R partial agonists were also hH(4)R partial agonists. Four histaprodifen-type hH(1)R partial agonists were hH(4)R inverse agonists. Dimeric histaprodifen was a more efficacious hH(4)R inverse agonist than the reference compound thioperamide. Suprahistaprodifen was the only histaprodifen acting as hH(4)R partial agonist. Suprahistaprodifen was docked into the binding pocket of inactive and active hH(4)R models in two different orientations, predominantly stabilizing the active state of hH(4)R. Collectively, the synergistic effects of H(1)R and H(4)R antagonists in an acute asthma model and the overlapping interaction of structurally diverse H(1)R ligands with hH(1)R and hH(4)R indicate that the development of dual H(1)R/H(4)R antagonists is a worthwhile and technically feasible goal for the treatment of type-I allergic reactions.

The noncompetitive antagonism of histamine H1 receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells by olopatadine hydrochloride: its potency and molecular mechanism

Calcium responses to various concentrations of histamine were monitored in Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing the human histamine H(1) receptor. The effects of various histamine H(1) receptor antagonists on the dose-response curve for histamine were evaluated. Olopatadine hydrochloride (olopatadine) inhibited the histamine-induced maximum response (pD(2)': 7.5) but had insignificant effects on histamine EC(50) values. This noncompetitive property exhibited by olopatadine, which was also observed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, was the most striking among the antihistamines tested in this study. The geometrical isomer of olopatadine (E-isomer), which had a similar binding affinity to the histamine H(1) receptor as olopatadine, showed a mixed antagonistic profile (competitive and noncompetitive). These results indicate that the geometry around the double bond in the dimethylaminopropylidene group is critical for the potent noncompetitive property of olopatadine. Furthermore, binding mode analyses suggest that the protonated amine group in the dimethylaminopropylidene moiety of olopatadine forms an ionic bond with Glu 181 that is present in the second extracellular loop of the histamine H(1) receptor, whereas the amine group of the E-isomer does not. The second extracellular loop in aminergic G-protein-coupled receptors contributes to ligand binding and therefore the noncompetitive property of olopatadine may be explained by the interaction with Glu 181.

Histamine receptors in mammalian retinas

Mammalian retinas are innervated by histaminergic axons that originate from perikarya in the posterior hypothalamus. To identify the targets of these retinopetal axons, we localized histamine receptors (HR) in monkey and rat retinas by light and electron microscopy. In monkeys, puncta containing HR3 were found at the tips of ON-bipolar cell dendrites in cone pedicles and rod spherules, closer to the photoreceptors than the other neurotransmitter receptors. This is the first ultrastructural localization of any histamine receptor and the first direct evidence that HR3 is present on postsynaptic membranes in the central nervous system. In rat retinas, most HR1 were localized to dopaminergic amacrine cells. The differences in histamine receptor localization may reflect the differences in the activity patterns of the two species.

Changes in pH differently affect the binding properties of histamine H1 receptor antagonists

We investigated the effect of acidic pH, a condition that can be encountered during inflammation accompanying allergic reaction, on the binding properties of histamine H1 receptor antagonists, including levocetirizine ((2-(4-[(R)-(4-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl)ethoxy)acetic acid; Xyzal ), fexofenadine (rac-2-[4-[1-Hydroxy-4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl) piperidin-1-yl]butyl]phenyl]-2-methylpropionic acid hydrochloride; Allegra) and desloratadine (8-Chloro-6,11-dihydro-11-(4-piperidylidene)-5H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridine; Clarinex ). Lowering the pH from 7.4 to 5.8 decreased the affinity of [3H]mepyramine for histamine H1 receptors from 1.7 to 7.5 nM while the opposite was observed with [3H]levocetirizine, whose affinity increased from 4.1 to 1.5 nM. Competition curves with [3H]mepyramine indicated that decreasing the pH from 7.4 to 5.8 led to a 2- to 5-fold increase in the affinity of fexofenadine and levocetirizine, no change in affinity for desloratadine and a 5- to 10-fold decrease in affinity for mepyramine and histamine. Kinetic experiments showed that the increase in affinity of levocetirizine and, to a lesser extent, fexofenadine were totally attributable to a lower dissociation rate at acidic pH (t1/2 increasing from 77 to 266 min and from 71 to 135 min, respectively). Although the affinity of desloratadine remained unchanged, lowering the pH caused a decrease in its dissociation rate (t1/2 of 50 and 256 min at pH 7.5 and 5.8, respectively) accompanied by a concomitant 3.5-fold decrease in its association rate constant. The loss of affinity of mepyramine at acidic pH was driven by a decrease in its association rate constant. Interaction between the carboxylic moiety of levocetirizine and Lys191 is responsible for its slow dissociation rate from the receptor. We found that the magnitude of the pH effect on the dissociation rate of levocetirizine was maintained after mutating Lys191 into alanine, suggesting that a tighter interaction of levocetirizine with Lys191 at lower pH is not the cause of its even slower dissociation rate from the receptor. Although these changes may seem limited in amplitude, we show that they may have substantial effects on receptor occupancy in vivo.

Successful expression of a functional yeast G-protein-coupled receptor (Ste2) in mammalian cells

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-embedded cell signaling devices transducing ligand binding to activation of heterotrimeric G-proteins, providing a paradigm for signaling for yeast and mammals alike. Probing the extent to which yeast GPCRs may couple to mammalian G-proteins has been problematic. In the current work, we explored conditions that enable the cell-surface expression of a yeast alpha-factor pheromone receptor (Ste2). When expressed in human HEK293 cells, Ste2 is shown to bind its ligand alpha-factor, to be functional and catalyze activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, and to demonstrate agonist-induced internalization. In response to agonist Ste2 as maintained intracellularly for several hours and avoids the degradation process observed for Ste2 in yeast cells. This is the first successful demonstration of the ability to express a functional yeast GPCR in mammalian cells.

5-lipoxygenase inhibitors with histamine H(1) receptor antagonist activity

A series of novel compounds with both 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitory and histamine H(1) receptor antagonist activity were designed for the treatment of asthma. These dual-function compounds were made by connecting 5-LO and H(1) pharmacophores,N-hydroxyureas and benzhydryl piperazines, respectively. A range of in vitro activities was observed, with the furan analog 10 demonstrating both activities in an animal model. The activities observed were compared to single-function drugs.

Cetirizine and loratadine-based antihistamines with 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity

A series of compounds possessing both H(1) histamine receptor antagonist and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitory activities was synthesized. The H(1)-binding scaffolds of cetirizine, efletirizine, and loratadine were linked to a lipophilic N-hydroxyurea, the 5-LO inhibiting moiety of zileuton. Both activities were observed in vivo, as was increased CYP3A4 inhibition compared to their respective single-function drugs. Selected analogs in the series were shown to be orally active in guinea pig models.

Identification of Amino Acid Residues Responsible for Agonist-Induced Down-Regulation of Histamine H1 Receptors

The histamine H(1) receptor (H1R) level is dynamically regulated in vivo under various physiological and pathological conditions. The H1R regulation may consist of various processes, and this study focused on the process of receptor trafficking, that is, receptor internalization to endosomes and the following receptor degradation. First, we identified five possible phosphorylation residues of human H1R, Thr(140), Thr(142), Ser(396), Ser(398), and Thr(478), based on in vitro phosphorylation studies. Then to determine the role of these residues, we constructed a mutant H1R in which all of these five residues were substituted with alanine. Both wild-type and the mutant receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells had similar values of K(d) for [(3)H]mepyramine binding and K(i) for histamine, and these cells showed similar levels of histamine-stimulated inositol phosphate formation. Both types of H1Rs were internalized essentially in the same way upon stimulation with histamine (100 microM) for 30 min. However, down-regulation of the mutant H1R was completely impaired, whereas that of wild-type H1R occurred by approximately 60% by the treatment with 100 microM histamine for 24 h. These results suggest that these residues are responsible for receptor down-regulation but not for receptor internalization. Possibly, phosphorylation of the residues is required for receptor transport from endosomes to lysosomes.

Synthesis and Pharmacological Identification of Neutral Histamine H1-Receptor Antagonists

In the present study we searched for neutral antagonists for the human histamine H(1)-receptor (H(1)R) by screening newly synthesized ligands that are structurally related to H(1)R agonists for their affinity using radioligand displacement studies and by assessing their functional activity via performing a NF-kappaB driven reporter-gene assay that allows for the detection of both agonistic and inverse agonistic responses. Starting from the endogenous agonist for the H(1)R, histamine, we synthesized and tested various analogues and ultimately identified several compounds with partial inverse agonistic properties and two neutral H(1)-receptor antagonists, namely 2-[2-(4,4-diphenylbutyl)-1H-imidazol-4-yl]ethylamine (histabudifen, 18d) (pK(i) = 5.8, alpha = 0.02) and 2-[2-(5,5-diphenylpentyl)-1H-imidazol-4-yl]ethylamine (histapendifen, 18e) (pK(i) = 5.9, alpha = -0.09).

Biochemical characterization of desloratadine, a potent antagonist of the human histamine H(1) receptor

We have characterized desloratadine (5H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridine, 8-chloro-6,11-dihydro-11-(4-piperidinylidene), CAS 100643-71-8) as a potent antagonist of the human histamine H(1) receptor. [3H]Desloratadine bound to membranes expressing the recombinant human histamine H(1) receptor in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-H(1)) in a specific and saturable manner with a K(d) of 1.1+/-0.2 nM, a B(max) of 7.9+/-2.0 pmol/mg protein, and an association rate constant of 0.011 nM(-1) x min(-1). The K(d) calculated from the kinetic measurements was 1.5 nM. Dissociation of [3H]desloratadine from the human histamine H(1) receptor was slow, with only 37% of the binding reversed at 6 h in the presence of 5 microM unlabeled desloratadine. Seventeen histamine H(1)-receptor antagonists were evaluated in competition-binding studies. Desloratadine had a K(i) of 0.9+/-0.1 nM in these competition studies. In CHO-H(1) cells, histamine stimulation resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in [Ca(2+)](i) with an EC(50) of 170+/-30 nM. After a 90-min preincubation with desloratadine, the histamine-stimulated increase in [Ca(2+)](i) was shifted to the right, with a depression of the maximal response at higher concentrations of antagonist. The apparent K(b) value was 0.2+/-0.14 nM with a slope of 1.6+/-0.1. The slow dissociation from the receptor and noncompetitive antagonism suggests that desloratadine may be a pseudoirreversible antagonist of the human histamine H(1) receptor. The mechanism of desloratadine antagonism of the human histamine H(1) receptor may help to explain the high potency and 24-h duration of action observed in clinical studies.

Binding characteristics of cetirizine and levocetirizine to human H(1) histamine receptors: contribution of Lys(191) and Thr(194)

Competition experiments with [(3)H]mepyramine showed that cetirizine and its enantiomers, levocetirizine and (S)-cetirizine, bound with high affinity and stereoselectivity to human H(1) histamine receptors (K(i) values of 6, 3, and 100 nM, respectively). Cetirizine and levocetirizine were 600-fold more selective for H(1) receptors compared with a panel of receptors and channels. Binding results indicated that the interaction between cetirizine, its enantiomers, and histamine is compatible with a competitive behavior, in contrast with the noncompetitive profile of cetirizine and levocetirizine observed in isolated organs. Binding kinetics provided a suitable explanation for this observation, because levocetirizine dissociated from H(1) receptors with a half-time of 142 min; that of (S)-cetirizine was only 6 min, implying that the former could act as a pseudo-irreversible antagonist in functional studies. The carboxylic function of levocetirizine seemed responsible for its long dissociation time. Indeed, hydroxyl or methyl ester analogs dissociated more rapidly from H(1) receptors, with half-times of 31 min and 7 min, respectively. The importance of the carboxylic function of levocetirizine for the interaction with the H(1) receptor was further supported by the results from the mutation of Lys(191) to Ala(191). This mutation decreased the dissociation half-time of levocetirizine from 142 to 13 min and reduced its affinity from 3 to 12 nM, whereas the affinity and dissociation kinetics of hydroxyl and methyl ester analogs were hardly affected. The mutation of Thr(194) reduced the binding stereoselectivity by selectively enhancing the affinity of the distomer.

Mutational analysis of the antagonist-binding site of the histamine H(1) receptor

We combined in a previously derived three-dimensional model of the histamine H(1) receptor (Ter Laak, A. M., Timmerman, H., Leurs, H., Nederkoorn, P. H. J., Smit, M. J., and Donne-Op den Kelder, G. M. (1995) J. Comp. Aid. Mol. Design. 9, 319-330) a pharmacophore for the H(1) antagonist binding site (Ter Laak, A. M., Venhorst, J., Timmerman, H., and Donné-Op de Kelder, G. M. (1994) J. Med. Chem. 38, 3351-3360) with the known interacting amino acid residue Asp(116) (in transmembrane domain III) of the H(1) receptor and verified the predicted receptor-ligand interactions by site-directed mutagenesis. This resulted in the identification of the aromatic amino acids Trp(167), Phe(433), and Phe(436) in transmembrane domains IV and VI of the H(1) receptor as probable interaction points for the trans-aromatic ring of the H(1) antagonists. Subsequently, a specific interaction of carboxylate moieties of two therapeutically important, zwitterionic H(1) antagonists with Lys(200) in transmembrane domain V was predicted. A Lys(200) --> Ala mutation results in a 50- (acrivastine) to 8-fold (d-cetirizine) loss of affinity of these zwitterionic antagonists. In contrast, the affinities of structural analogs of acrivastine and cetirizine lacking the carboxylate group, triprolidine and meclozine, respectively, are unaffected by the Lys(200) --> Ala mutation. These data strongly suggest that Lys(200), unique for the H(1) receptor, acts as a specific anchor point for these "second generation" H(1) antagonists.

Receptor-stimulated phospholipase C activity in human umbilical artery cultured endothelial cells grown in a low oxygen environment

Endothelial cells of the human umbilical blood vessels are widely cultured in an oxygen tension (21%) far above that in which they exist in vivo (3%). This study investigates the effect of the long term culture (ca. 1 month) of human umbilical artery endothelial cells in a reduced oxygen environment (3%: HUAEC3) in comparison to cells grown in a 'normoxic' environment (21%: HUAEC21). Despite reports of altered metabolic pathways and reduced membrane integrity in other cell types, the characteristics of HUAEC3 were found to be similar to those of HUAEC21 with respect to morphology, immunocytochemical profile and in vitro growth rates. Cellular glutathione was maintained in these cells although ATP levels in HUAEC3 were found to be significantly lower than those observed in HUAEC21. The phosphoinositide responses of the HUAEC3 to a variety of agonists were also found to be of similar magnitude to those observed in HUAEC21. In addition, the pharmacological characteristics of the phospholipase C-linked histamine H1 and P2y2 (P2U) receptors were not changed by culture of cells in a low oxygen environment.

Regulation of the human histamine H1 receptor stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells

1. The human H1 receptor gene expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHOhumH1) encodes a classical histamine H1 receptor with a pharmacology similar to that of the H1 receptor found in guinea-pig cerebellum and the endogenously expressed human H1 receptor in 1321N1 astrocytoma cells as determined by [3H]-mepyramine binding studies. 2. In CHOhumH1 cells, histamine induced a concentration-dependent rise in inositol phosphates (EC50 2.23 +/- 0.97 microM) and a rapid increase of [Ca2+]i, followed by a sustained increase of [Ca2+]i upon addition of 100 microM histamine. 3. Short-term exposure of CHOhumH1 cells to histamine (100 microM) resulted in a decrease of subsequent histamine-induced Ca2+ responses. The histamine-induced desensitization appeared to be heterologous as the ATP-induced Ca2+ response was also found to be affected. 4. The process of heterologous histamine-induced desensitization of the Ca2+ response in CHOhumH1 cells can be ascribed to an alteration at the level of the intracellular Ca2+ pool, as the Ca2+ response of caffeine (10 mM), which releases Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores was also attenuated upon short-term histamine exposure. 5. In CHOhumH1 cells the PKC activator, PMA, was found to inhibit the histamine (100 microM)-induced Ca2+ response concentration-dependently (IC50 0.2 +/- 0.03 microM) as well as the ATP (100 microM)-induced Ca2+ response. However, this inhibition was only partial and less effective than histamine-pretreatment. Moreover, in CHOhumH1 cells PKC downregulation induced by long-term exposure to PMA (1 microM) did not affect the histamine-induced desensitization nor did pretreatment with the specific PKC inhibitor Ro-31-8220 (10 microM), indicating that in CHOhumH1 cells PKC is probably not involved in the heterologous desensitization. 6. Long-term treatment of CHOhumH1 cells with histamine or other H1 agonists resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in the number of H1 receptor binding sites (maximal reduction: 47 +/- 5%). 7. Long-term exposure of CHOhumH1 cells to ATP or PMA did not affect H1 receptor density. 8. Both histamine (100 microM)- and ATP (100 microM)-induced Ca2+ responses were affected upon long-term exposure of cells to histamine (100 microM), which might be explained by an alteration at a level distant from the receptor. 9. These results show that in CHOhumH1 cells the human histamine H1 receptor is susceptible to short-term and long-term receptor regulation in which PKC does not seem to play a role. The CHOhumH1 cells therefore provide an excellent model system for studying the mechanism(s) of PKC-independent H1 receptor regulation.