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Chrestia JF, Oliveira AS, Mulholland AJ, Gallagher T, Bermúdez I, Bouzat C. A Functional Interaction Between Y674-R685 Region of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and the Human α7 Nicotinic Receptor. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:6076-6090. [PMID: 35859025 PMCID: PMC9299415 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02947-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is present in neuronal and non-neuronal cells and has anti-inflammatory actions. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that α7 nAChR interacts with a region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S), and a potential contribution of nAChRs to COVID-19 pathophysiology has been proposed. We applied whole-cell and single-channel recordings to determine whether a peptide corresponding to the Y674-R685 region of the S protein can directly affect α7 nAChR function. The S fragment exerts a dual effect on α7. It activates α7 nAChRs in the presence of positive allosteric modulators, in line with our previous molecular dynamics simulations showing favourable binding of this accessible region of the S protein to the nAChR agonist binding site. The S fragment also exerts a negative modulation of α7, which is evidenced by a profound concentration-dependent decrease in the durations of openings and activation episodes of potentiated channels and in the amplitude of macroscopic responses elicited by ACh. Our study identifies a potential functional interaction between α7 nAChR and a region of the S protein, thus providing molecular foundations for further exploring the involvement of nAChRs in COVID-19 pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Facundo Chrestia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (CONICET), Camino La Carrindanga Km 7-8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ana Sofia Oliveira
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | | | - Isabel Bermúdez
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
| | - Cecilia Bouzat
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (CONICET), Camino La Carrindanga Km 7-8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
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Viscarra F, González-Gutierrez J, Esparza E, Figueroa C, Paillali P, Hödar-Salazar M, Cespedes C, Quiroz G, Sotomayor-Zárate R, Reyes-Parada M, Bermúdez I, Iturriaga-Vásquez P. Nicotinic Antagonist UFR2709 Inhibits Nicotine Reward and Decreases Anxiety in Zebrafish. Molecules 2020; 25:E2998. [PMID: 32630020 PMCID: PMC7412259 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25132998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish is becoming a popular animal model in neuropharmacology and drug discovery, mainly due to its ease of handling and low costs involved in maintenance and experimental work. This animal displays a series of complex behaviours that makes it useful for assessing the effects of psychoactive drugs. Here, adult zebrafish were used for assessment of the anxiolytic and anti-addictive properties of UFR2709, a nicotinic receptor (nAChR) antagonist, using two behavioural paradigms to test for addiction, the novel tank diving test to assess anxiety and the conditioned place preference (CPP). Furthermore, the expression of nAChR subunits α4 and α7 was measured in the zebrafish brain. The results show that UFR2709 exhibits an anxiolytic effect on zebrafish and blocks the effect evoked by nicotine on CPP. Moreover, UFR2709 significantly decreased the expression of α4 nicotinic receptor subunit. This indicates that UFR2709 might be a useful drug for the treatment of nicotine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Viscarra
- Laboratorio de Síntesis Orgánica y Farmacología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile; (F.V.); (E.E.); (C.F.); (P.P.); (M.H.-S.); (C.C.)
| | - Juan González-Gutierrez
- Programa de Doctorado en Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7800003, Chile;
| | - Erica Esparza
- Laboratorio de Síntesis Orgánica y Farmacología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile; (F.V.); (E.E.); (C.F.); (P.P.); (M.H.-S.); (C.C.)
| | - Carla Figueroa
- Laboratorio de Síntesis Orgánica y Farmacología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile; (F.V.); (E.E.); (C.F.); (P.P.); (M.H.-S.); (C.C.)
| | - Pablo Paillali
- Laboratorio de Síntesis Orgánica y Farmacología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile; (F.V.); (E.E.); (C.F.); (P.P.); (M.H.-S.); (C.C.)
| | - Martin Hödar-Salazar
- Laboratorio de Síntesis Orgánica y Farmacología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile; (F.V.); (E.E.); (C.F.); (P.P.); (M.H.-S.); (C.C.)
| | - Camilo Cespedes
- Laboratorio de Síntesis Orgánica y Farmacología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile; (F.V.); (E.E.); (C.F.); (P.P.); (M.H.-S.); (C.C.)
| | - Gabriel Quiroz
- Programa de Doctorado en Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380494, Chile;
| | - Ramón Sotomayor-Zárate
- Laboratorio de Neuroquímica y Neurofarmacología, Centro de Neurobiología y Fisiopatología Integrativa (CENFI), Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile;
| | - Miguel Reyes-Parada
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile;
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca 3467987 Chile
| | - Isabel Bermúdez
- Department of Biological & Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Patricio Iturriaga-Vásquez
- Laboratorio de Síntesis Orgánica y Farmacología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile; (F.V.); (E.E.); (C.F.); (P.P.); (M.H.-S.); (C.C.)
- Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Research Applied to the Environment, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
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Iturriaga-Vásquez P, Pérez EG, Slater EY, Bermúdez I, Cassels BK. Aporphine metho salts as neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor blockers. Bioorg Med Chem 2007; 15:3368-72. [PMID: 17391965 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2007.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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] [Received: 12/29/2006] [Revised: 02/24/2007] [Accepted: 03/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
(S)-Aporphine metho salts with the 1,2,9,10 oxygenation pattern displaced radioligands from recombinant human alpha7 and alpha4beta2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) at low micromolar concentrations. The affinity of the nonphenolic glaucine methiodide (4) (vs [(3)H]cytisine) was the lowest at alpha4beta2 nAChR (K(i)=10 microM), and predicentrine methiodide (2) and xanthoplanine iodide (3), with free hydroxyl groups at C-2 or C-9, respectively, had the highest affinity at these receptors (K(i) approximately 1 microM), while the affinity of the diphenolic boldine methiodide (1) was intermediate between these values. At homomeric alpha7 nAChR, xanthoplanine had the highest affinity (K(i)=10 microM) vs [(125)I]alpha-bungarotoxin while the other three compounds displaced the radioligand with K(i) values between 15 and 21 microM. At 100 microM, all four compounds inhibited the responses of these receptors to EC(50) concentrations of ACh. The effects of xanthoplanine iodide (3) were studied in more detail. Xanthoplanine fully inhibited the EC(50) ACh responses of both alpha7 and alpha4beta2 nACh receptors with estimated IC(50) values of 9+/-3 microM (alpha7) and 5+/-0.8 microM (alpha4beta2).
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Cassels BK, Bermúdez I, Dajas F, Abin-Carriquiry JA, Wonnacott S. From ligand design to therapeutic efficacy: the challenge for nicotinic receptor research. Drug Discov Today 2005; 10:1657-65. [PMID: 16376826 DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6446(05)03665-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
S-Nicotine, the principal psychoactive constituent of Nicotiana tabacum, underpins addiction to tobacco smoking. Although tobacco consumption is a leading cause of death worldwide, nicotine itself is also proposed to have potential therapeutic benefits for a diverse range of conditions. Nicotine interacts with its cognate receptors in the central nervous system to exert a predominantly modulatory influence, making neuronal nicotinic receptors attractive therapeutic targets. Here, we focus on three natural products as lead compounds for drug discovery programs, nicotine, epibatidine and cytisine, and consider the aims and limitations that shape these drug discovery endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce K Cassels
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile.
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Slater YE, Houlihan LM, Maskell PD, Exley R, Bermúdez I, Lukas RJ, Valdivia AC, Cassels BK. Halogenated cytisine derivatives as agonists at human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes. Neuropharmacology 2003; 44:503-15. [PMID: 12646287 DOI: 10.1016/s0028-3908(03)00025-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Cytisine (cy) is a potent and competitive partial agonist at alpha4 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors while at homomeric alpha7-nACh receptors it behaves as a full agonist with a relatively lower potency. In the present study, we assessed the effects of bromination or iodination of the pyridone ring of cy and N-methylcytisine (N-Me-cy) on the effects of these compounds on recombinant human (h) alpha7, halpha4beta2 and halpha4beta4 nACh receptors expressed in clonal cell lines and Xenopus oocytes. Halogenation at C(3) of cy or N-Me-cy usually brings about a marked increase in both affinity and efficacy at halpha7, halpha4beta2 and halpha4beta4 nACh, the extent of which depends on whether the halogen is bromine or iodine, and upon receptor subtype. The effects of halogenation at C(5) are strongly influenced by the specific halogen substituent so that bromination causes a decrease in both affinity and efficacy while iodination decreases affinity but its effects on efficacy range from a decrease (halpha7, halpha4beta4 nACh receptors) to a marked increase (halpha4beta2 nACh receptors). Based on these findings, which differ from those showing that neither the affinity nor efficacy of nicotine, 3-(2-azetidinylmethoxy)-pyridine or epibatidine are greatly affected by halogenation, dehalogenation or halogen exchange at equivalent positions, we suggest that cy, N-Me-cy and their halo-isosteres bind to neuronal nACh receptors in a different orientation allowing the halogen atom to interact with a hydrophobic halogen-accepting region within the predominantly hydrophobic agonist-binding pocket of the receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y E Slater
- School of Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane Campus, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
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Abstract
Functional effects of the well-characterized antagonist of L-type Ca(2+) channels tetrandrine on recombinant human gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) (alpha1beta2gamma2s) receptor or human alpha7, alpha4beta2, alpha1beta1deltagamma and alpha1beta1delta epsilon nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes were examined using two-electrode voltage clamp. Tetrandrine inhibited the function of acetylcholine nicotinic receptors, but it had no effect on GABA(A) receptors. Potency of inhibition was influenced by the receptor subtype and the rank order was alpha4beta2>alpha7>alpha1beta1deltagamma congruent with alpha1beta1delta epsilon. Functional inhibition of alpha4beta2 and alpha1beta1deltagamma receptors was noncompetitive, but only inhibition of alpha1beta1deltagamma receptors was voltage-dependent. Binding of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin to alpha1beta1deltagamma or 3H-cytisine to alpha4beta2 receptors was also inhibited by tetrandrine, but inhibition was noncompetitive and required concentrations higher than those needed to inhibit receptor function. Inhibition of both alpha7 receptor function and binding of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin to alpha7 receptor were mixed competitive/noncompetitive and occurred at a similar concentration range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Slater
- Department of Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
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Grom E, Bermúdez A, Sotillo M, Bermúdez I. [Purkynĕ and his contribution to ophthalmology: on the bicentennial of his birth]. Rev Soc Venez Hist Med 2001; 39:94-100. [PMID: 11640759] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- E Grom
- Director del Instituto Nacional de Oftalmología
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de la Iglesia F, García JC, Iraburu M, Armesto A, Bermúdez I, Lorenzo-Porto JA. [Amebic liver abscess and amebic colitis in a couple]. An Med Interna 1994; 11:26-8. [PMID: 8025187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Amebiasis is a disease commonly extended all around the world, its prevalence depending on the population under study. In Spain, most cases published are of exotic acquisition. We present the case of a married couple from Venezuela presenting two different forms of invasive amebiasis: acute colitis and hepatic abscess. In our environment, once the diagnosis of amebiasis is established, a close follow-up of the patients must be made, including the evaluation of the closest contacts. Regarding the treatment, we think that the asymptomatic forms must be treated with a luminal amebicidal and the symptomatic forms, with hystic amebicidal followed by luminal amebicidal.
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Affiliation(s)
- F de la Iglesia
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Juan Canalejo, La Coruña
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