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Zhang Y, Sharma S, Jonnalagadda S, Kumari S, Queen A, Esfahani SH, Archie SR, Nozohouri S, Patel D, Trippier PC, Karamyan VT, Abbruscato TJ. Discovery of the Next Generation of Non-peptidomimetic Neurolysin Activators with High Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability: a Pharmacokinetics Study in Healthy and Stroke Animals. Pharm Res 2023; 40:2747-2758. [PMID: 37833570 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-023-03619-5] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is growing interest in seeking pharmacological activation of neurolysin (Nln) for stroke treatment. Discovery of central nervous system drugs remains challenging due to the protection of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The previously reported peptidomimetic Nln activators display unsatisfactory BBB penetration. Herein, we investigate the next generation of non-peptidomimetic Nln activators with high BBB permeability. METHODS A BBB-mimicking model was used to evaluate their in vitro BBB permeability. Protein binding, metabolic stability, and efflux assays were performed to determine their unbound fraction, half-lives in plasma and brains, and dependence of BBB transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles were elucidated in healthy and stroke mice. RESULTS Compounds KS52 and KS73 out of this generation exhibit improved peptidase activity and BBB permeability compared to the endogenous activator and previous peptidomimetic activators. They show reasonable plasma and brain protein binding, improved metabolic stability, and independence of P-gp-mediated efflux. In healthy animals, they rapidly distribute into brains and reach peak levels of 18.69% and 12.10% injected dose (ID)/ml at 10 min. After 4 h, their total brain concentrations remain 7.78 and 12.34 times higher than their A50(minimal concentration required for enhancing 50% peptidase activity). Moreover, the ipsilateral hemispheres of stroke animals show comparable uptake to the corresponding contralateral hemispheres and healthy brains. CONCLUSIONS This study provides essential details about the pharmacokinetic properties of a new generation of potent non-peptidomimetic Nln activators with high BBB permeability and warrants the future development of these agents as potential neuroprotective pharmaceutics for stroke treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
- Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
| | - Sejal Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
- Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
| | - Shirisha Jonnalagadda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, 68106, USA
- UNMC Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, 68106, USA
| | - Shikha Kumari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, 68106, USA
- UNMC Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, 68106, USA
| | - Aarfa Queen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, 68106, USA
- UNMC Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, 68106, USA
| | - Shiva Hadi Esfahani
- Department of Foundational Medical Studies, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease & Drug Discovery, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
| | - Sabrina Rahman Archie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
- Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
| | - Saeideh Nozohouri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
- Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
| | - Dhavalkumar Patel
- Office of Sciences, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
| | - Paul C Trippier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, 68106, USA
- UNMC Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, 68106, USA
| | - Vardan T Karamyan
- Department of Foundational Medical Studies, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease & Drug Discovery, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
| | - Thomas J Abbruscato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA.
- Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research, Jerry. H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA.
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Sharma S, Zhang Y, Akter KA, Nozohouri S, Archie SR, Patel D, Villalba H, Abbruscato T. Permeability of Metformin across an In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Model during Normoxia and Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation Conditions: Role of Organic Cation Transporters (Octs). Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15051357. [PMID: 37242599 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Our lab previously established that metformin, a first-line type two diabetes treatment, activates the Nrf2 pathway and improves post-stroke recovery. Metformin's brain permeability value and potential interaction with blood-brain barrier (BBB) uptake and efflux transporters are currently unknown. Metformin has been shown to be a substrate of organic cationic transporters (Octs) in the liver and kidneys. Brain endothelial cells at the BBB have been shown to express Octs; thus, we hypothesize that metformin uses Octs for its transport across the BBB. We used a co-culture model of brain endothelial cells and primary astrocytes as an in vitro BBB model to conduct permeability studies during normoxia and hypoxia using oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions. Metformin was quantified using a highly sensitive LC-MS/MS method. We further checked Octs protein expression using Western blot analysis. Lastly, we completed a plasma glycoprotein (P-GP) efflux assay. Our results showed that metformin is a highly permeable molecule, uses Oct1 for its transport, and does not interact with P-GP. During OGD, we found alterations in Oct1 expression and increased permeability for metformin. Additionally, we showed that selective transport is a key determinant of metformin's permeability during OGD, thus, providing a novel target for improving ischemic drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sejal Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
- Center for Blood-Brain Barrier Research, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
- Center for Blood-Brain Barrier Research, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Khondker Ayesha Akter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
- Center for Blood-Brain Barrier Research, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Saeideh Nozohouri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
- Center for Blood-Brain Barrier Research, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Sabrina Rahman Archie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
- Center for Blood-Brain Barrier Research, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Dhavalkumar Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
- Center for Blood-Brain Barrier Research, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Heidi Villalba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
- Center for Blood-Brain Barrier Research, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Thomas Abbruscato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
- Center for Blood-Brain Barrier Research, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
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Ronaldson PT, Davis TP. Transport Mechanisms at the Blood–Brain Barrier and in Cellular Compartments of the Neurovascular Unit: Focus on CNS Delivery of Small Molecule Drugs. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:1501. [PMID: 35890396 PMCID: PMC9324459 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is a primary origin of morbidity and mortality in the United States and around the world. Indeed, several research projects have attempted to discover new drugs or repurpose existing therapeutics to advance stroke pharmacotherapy. Many of these preclinical stroke studies have reported positive results for neuroprotective agents; however, only one compound (3K3A-activated protein C (3K3A-APC)) has advanced to Phase III clinical trial evaluation. One reason for these many failures is the lack of consideration of transport mechanisms at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and neurovascular unit (NVU). These endogenous transport processes function as a “gateway” that is a primary determinant of efficacious brain concentrations for centrally acting drugs. Despite the knowledge that some neuroprotective agents (i.e., statins and memantine) are substrates for these endogenous BBB transporters, preclinical stroke studies have largely ignored the role of transporters in CNS drug disposition. Here, we review the current knowledge on specific BBB transporters that either limit drug uptake into the brain (i.e., ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters) or can be targeted for optimized drug delivery (i.e., solute carrier (SLC) transporters). Additionally, we highlight the current knowledge on transporter expression in astrocytes, microglia, pericytes, and neurons with an emphasis on transport mechanisms in these cell types that can influence drug distribution within the brain.
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Zhang Y, Archie SR, Ghanwatkar Y, Sharma S, Nozohouri S, Burks E, Mdzinarishvili A, Liu Z, Abbruscato TJ. Potential role of astrocyte angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in the neural transmission of COVID-19 and a neuroinflammatory state induced by smoking and vaping. Fluids Barriers CNS 2022; 19:46. [PMID: 35672716 PMCID: PMC9171490 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-022-00339-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Knowledge of the entry receptors responsible for SARS-CoV-2 is key to understand the neural transmission and pathogenesis of COVID-19 characterized by a neuroinflammatory scenario. Understanding the brain distribution of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the primary entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2, remains mixed. Smoking has been shown as a risk factor for COVID-19 severity and it is not clear how smoking exacerbates the neural pathogenesis in smokers. Methods Immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR and western blot assays were used to systemically examine the spatial-, cell type- and isoform-specific expression of ACE2 in mouse brain and primary cultured brain cells. Experimental smoking exposure was conducted to evaluate the effect of smoking on brain expression. Results We observed ubiquitous expression of ACE2 but uneven brain distribution, with high expression in the cerebral microvasculature, medulla oblongata, hypothalamus, subventricular zones, and meninges around medulla oblongata and hypothalamus. Co-staining with cell type-specific markers demonstrates ACE2 is primarily expressed in astrocytes around the microvasculature, medulla oblongata, hypothalamus, ventricular and subventricular zones of cerebral ventricles, and subependymal zones in rhinoceles and rostral migratory streams, radial glial cells in the lateral ventricular zones, tanycytes in the third ventricle, epithelial cells and stroma in the cerebral choroid plexus, as well as cerebral pericytes, but rarely detected in neurons and cerebral endothelial cells. ACE2 expression in astrocytes is further confirmed in primary cultured cells. Furthermore, isoform-specific analysis shows astrocyte ACE2 has the peptidase domain responsible for SARS-CoV-2 entry, indicating astrocytes are indeed vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, our data show experimental tobacco smoking and electronic nicotine vaping exposure increase proinflammatory and/or immunomodulatory cytokine IL-1a, IL-6 and IL-5 without significantly affecting ACE2 expression in the brain, suggesting smoking may pre-condition a neuroinflammatory state in the brain. Conclusions The present study demonstrates a spatial- and cell type-specific expression of ACE2 in the brain, which might help to understand the acute and lasting post-infection neuropsychological manifestations in COVID-19 patients. Our data highlights a potential role of astrocyte ACE2 in the neural transmission and pathogenesis of COVID-19. This also suggests a pre-conditioned neuroinflammatory and immunocompromised scenario might attribute to exacerbated COVID-19 severity in the smokers.
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