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Roth HG, Das M, Sulima A, Luo D, Kaska S, Prisinzano TE, Kerr AT, Jacobson AE, Rice KC. Functional Activity of Enantiomeric Oximes and Diastereomeric Amines and Cyano Substituents at C9 in 3-Hydroxy- N-phenethyl-5-phenylmorphans. Molecules 2024; 29:1926. [PMID: 38731416 PMCID: PMC11085448 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29091926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of stereochemically pure oximes, amines, saturated and unsaturated cyanomethyl compounds, and methylaminomethyl compounds at the C9 position in 3-hydroxy-N-phenethyl-5-phenylmorphans provided μ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists with varied efficacy and potency. One of the most interesting compounds, (2-((1S,5R,9R)-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenethyl-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-yl)acetonitrile), was found to be a potent partial MOR agonist (EC50 = 2.5 nM, %Emax = 89.6%), as determined in the forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation assay. Others ranged in potency and efficacy at the MOR, from nanomolar potency with a C9 cyanomethyl compound (EC50 = 0.85 nM) to its totally inactive diastereomer, and three compounds exhibited weak MOR antagonist activity (the primary amine 3, the secondary amine 8, and the cyanomethyl compound 41). Many of the compounds were fully efficacious; their efficacy and potency were affected by both the stereochemistry of the molecule and the specific C9 substituent. Most of the MOR agonists were selective in their receptor interactions, and only a few had δ-opioid receptor (DOR) or κ-opioid receptor (KOR) agonist activity. Only one compound, a C9-methylaminomethyl-substituted phenylmorphan, was moderately potent and fully efficacious as a KOR agonist (KOR EC50 = 18 nM (% Emax = 103%)).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudson G. Roth
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA; (H.G.R.); (M.D.); (A.S.)
| | - Madhurima Das
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA; (H.G.R.); (M.D.); (A.S.)
| | - Agnieszka Sulima
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA; (H.G.R.); (M.D.); (A.S.)
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (D.L.); (S.K.); (T.E.P.)
| | - Sophia Kaska
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (D.L.); (S.K.); (T.E.P.)
| | - Thomas E. Prisinzano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (D.L.); (S.K.); (T.E.P.)
| | - Andrew T. Kerr
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-0001, USA;
| | - Arthur E. Jacobson
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA; (H.G.R.); (M.D.); (A.S.)
| | - Kenner C. Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA; (H.G.R.); (M.D.); (A.S.)
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Lutz JA, Sulima A, Gutman ES, Bow EW, Luo D, Kaska S, Prisinzano TE, Paronis CA, Bergman J, Imler GH, Kerr AT, Jacobson AE, Rice KC. Discovery of a Potent Highly Biased MOR Partial Agonist among Diastereomeric C9-Hydroxyalkyl-5-phenylmorphans. Molecules 2023; 28:4795. [PMID: 37375350 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28124795] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
All possible diastereomeric C9-hydroxymethyl-, hydroxyethyl-, and hydroxypropyl-substituted 5-phenylmorphans were synthesized to explore the three-dimensional space around the C9 substituent in our search for potent MOR partial agonists. These compounds were designed to lessen the lipophilicity observed with their C9-alkenyl substituted relatives. Many of the 12 diastereomers that were obtained were found to have nanomolar or subnanomolar potency in the forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation assay. Almost all these potent compounds were fully efficacious, and three of those chosen for in vivo evaluation, 15, 21, and 36, were all extremely G-protein biased; none of the three compounds recruited beta-arrestin2. Only one of the 12 diastereomers, 21 (3-((1S,5R,9R)-9-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-phenethyl-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-5-yl)phenol), was a MOR partial agonist with good, but not full, efficacy (Emax = 85%) and subnanomolar potency (EC50 = 0.91 nM) in the cAMP assay. It did not have any KOR agonist activity. This compound was unlike morphine in that it had a limited ventilatory effect in vivo. The activity of 21 could be related to one or more of three well-known theories that attempt to predict a dissociation of the desired analgesia from the undesirable opioid-like side-effects associated with clinically used opioids. In accordance with the theories, 21 was a potent MOR partial agonist, it was highly G-protein biased and did not attract beta-arrestin2, and it was found to have both MOR and DOR agonist activity. All the other diastereomers that were synthesized were either much less potent than 21 or had either too little or too much efficacy for our purposes. It was also noted that a C9-methoxymethyl compound with 1R,5S,9R stereochemistry (41) was more potent than the comparable C9-hydroxymethyl compound 11 (EC50 = 0.65 nM for 41 vs. 2.05 nM for 11). Both 41 and 11 were fully efficacious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Lutz
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA
| | - Agnieszka Sulima
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA
| | - Eugene S Gutman
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA
| | - Eric W Bow
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Sophia Kaska
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Thomas E Prisinzano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Carol A Paronis
- McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Jack Bergman
- McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Gregory H Imler
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-0001, USA
| | - Andrew T Kerr
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-0001, USA
| | - Arthur E Jacobson
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-3373, USA
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3
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Hedrick SL, Luo D, Kaska S, Niloy KK, Jackson K, Sarma R, Horn J, Baynard C, Leggas M, Butelman ER, Kreek MJ, Prisinzano TE. Design, synthesis, and preliminary evaluation of a potential synthetic opioid rescue agent. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:62. [PMID: 34503531 PMCID: PMC8427951 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00758-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background One of the most prominent opioid analgesics in the United States is the high potency agonist fentanyl. It is used in the treatment of acute and chronic pain and as an anesthetic adjuvant. When used inappropriately, however, ingestion of just a few milligrams of fentanyl or other synthetic opioid can cause opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD), often leading to death. Currently, the treatment of choice for OIRD is the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. Recent reports, however, suggest that higher doses or repeated dosing of naloxone (due to recurrence of respiratory depression) may be required to reverse fully fentanyl-induced respiratory depression, rendering this treatment inadequate. To combat this synthetic opioid overdose crisis, this research aims at identifying a novel opioid reversal agent with enhanced efficacy towards fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Methods A series of naltrexone analogues were characterized for their ability to antagonize the effects of fentanyl in vitro utilizing a modified forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation assay. Lead analogue 29 was chosen to undergo further PK studies, followed by in vivo pharmacological analysis to determine its ability to antagonize opioid-induced antinociception in the hot plate assay. Results A series of potent MOR antagonists were identified, including the highly potent analogue 29 (IC50 = 2.06 nM). Follow-up PK studies revealed 29 to possess near 100% bioavailability following IP administration. Brain concentrations of 29 surpassed plasma concentrations, with an apparent terminal half-life of ~ 80 min in mice. In the hot plate assay, 29 dose-dependently (0.01–0.1 mg/kg; IP) and fully antagonized the antinociception induced by oxycodone (5.6 mg/kg; IP). Furthermore, the dose of 29 that is fully effective in preventing oxycodone-induced antinociception (0.1 mg/kg) was ineffective against locomotor deficits caused by the KOR agonist U50,488. Conclusions Methods have been developed that have utility to identify enhanced rescue agents for the treatment of OIRD. Analogue 29, possessing potent MOR antagonist activity in vitro and in vivo, provides a promising lead in our search for an enhanced synthetic opioid rescue agent. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-021-00758-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidnee L Hedrick
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Sophia Kaska
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Kumar Kulldeep Niloy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Karen Jackson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.,Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Rupam Sarma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.,Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Jamie Horn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.,Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Caroline Baynard
- Laboratory on the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Markos Leggas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.,Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Eduardo R Butelman
- Laboratory on the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Mary Jeanne Kreek
- Laboratory on the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Thomas E Prisinzano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA. .,Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
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Paton KF, Atigari DV, Kaska S, Prisinzano T, Kivell BM. Strategies for Developing κ Opioid Receptor Agonists for the Treatment of Pain with Fewer Side Effects. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2020; 375:332-348. [PMID: 32913006 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.120.000134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There is significant need to find effective, nonaddictive pain medications. κ Opioid receptor (KOPr) agonists have been studied for decades but have recently received increased attention because of their analgesic effects and lack of abuse potential. However, a range of side effects have limited the clinical development of these drugs. There are several strategies currently used to develop safer and more effective KOPr agonists. These strategies include identifying G-protein-biased agonists, developing peripherally restricted KOPr agonists without centrally mediated side effects, and developing mixed opioid agonists, which target multiple receptors at specific ratios to balance side-effect profiles and reduce tolerance. Here, we review the latest developments in research related to KOPr agonists for the treatment of pain. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review discusses strategies for developing safer κ opioid receptor (KOPr) agonists with therapeutic potential for the treatment of pain. Although one strategy is to modify selective KOPr agonists to create peripherally restricted or G-protein-biased structures, another approach is to combine KOPr agonists with μ, δ, or nociceptin opioid receptor activation to obtain mixed opioid receptor agonists, therefore negating the adverse effects and retaining the therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly F Paton
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand (K.P., D.V.A., B.M.K.) and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky (S.K., T.P.)
| | - Diana V Atigari
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand (K.P., D.V.A., B.M.K.) and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky (S.K., T.P.)
| | - Sophia Kaska
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand (K.P., D.V.A., B.M.K.) and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky (S.K., T.P.)
| | - Thomas Prisinzano
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand (K.P., D.V.A., B.M.K.) and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky (S.K., T.P.)
| | - Bronwyn M Kivell
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand (K.P., D.V.A., B.M.K.) and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky (S.K., T.P.)
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5
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Paton KF, Biggerstaff A, Kaska S, Crowley RS, La Flamme AC, Prisinzano TE, Kivell BM. Evaluation of Biased and Balanced Salvinorin A Analogs in Preclinical Models of Pain. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:765. [PMID: 32792903 PMCID: PMC7385413 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In the search for safer, non-addictive analgesics, kappa opioid receptor (KOPr) agonists are a potential target, as unlike mu-opioid analgesics, they do not have abuse potential. Salvinorin A (SalA) is a potent and selective KOPr agonist, however, clinical utility is limited by the short duration of action and aversive side effects. Biasing KOPr signaling toward G-protein activation has been highlighted as a key cellular mechanism to reduce the side effects of KOPr agonists. The present study investigated KOPr signaling bias and the acute antinociceptive effects and side effects of two novel analogs of SalA, 16-Bromo SalA and 16-Ethynyl SalA. 16-Bromo SalA showed G-protein signaling bias, whereas 16-Ethynyl SalA displayed balanced signaling properties. In the dose-response tail-withdrawal assay, SalA, 16-Ethynyl SalA and 16-Bromo SalA were more potent than the traditional KOPr agonist U50,488, and 16-Ethynyl SalA was more efficacious. 16-Ethynyl SalA and 16-Bromo SalA both had a longer duration of action in the warm water tail-withdrawal assay, and 16-Ethynyl had greater antinociceptive effect in the hot-plate assay, compared to SalA. In the intraplantar 2% formaldehyde test, 16-Ethynyl SalA and 16-Bromo SalA significantly reduced both nociceptive and inflammatory pain-related behaviors. Moreover, 16-Ethynyl SalA and 16-Bromo SalA had no anxiogenic effects in the marble burying task, and 16-Bromo SalA did not alter behavior in the elevated zero maze. Overall, 16-Ethynyl SalA significantly attenuated acute pain-related behaviors in multiple preclinical models, while the biased KOPr agonist, 16-Bromo SalA, displayed modest antinociceptive effects, and lacked anxiogenic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly F Paton
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Faculty of Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Andrew Biggerstaff
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Faculty of Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Sophia Kaska
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Rachel S Crowley
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Anne C La Flamme
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Faculty of Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.,Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Thomas E Prisinzano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Bronwyn M Kivell
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Faculty of Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Crowley RS, Riley AP, Alder AF, Anderson RJ, Luo D, Kaska S, Maynez P, Kivell BM, Prisinzano TE. Synthetic Studies of Neoclerodane Diterpenes from Salvia divinorum: Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Analogues with Improved Potency and G-protein Activation Bias at the μ-Opioid Receptor. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:1781-1790. [PMID: 32383854 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies identified the first centrally acting, non-nitrogenous μ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist, kurkinorin (1), derived from salvinorin A. In an effort to further probe the physiological effects induced upon activation of MORs with this nonmorphine scaffold, a variety of analogues were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their ability to activate G-proteins and recruit β-arrestin-2 upon MOR activation. Through these studies, compounds that are potent agonists at MORs and either biased toward β-arrestin-2 recruitment or biased toward G-protein activation have been identified. One such compound, 25, has potent activity and selectivity at the MOR over KOR with bias for G-protein activation. Impressively, 25 is over 100× more potent than morphine and over 5× more potent than fentanyl in vitro and elicits antinociception with limited tolerance development in vivo. This is especially significant given that 25 lacks a basic nitrogen and other ionizable groups present in other opioid ligand classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S. Crowley
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Andrew P. Riley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Amy F. Alder
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Richard J. Anderson
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Sophia Kaska
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Pamela Maynez
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Bronwyn M. Kivell
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Thomas E. Prisinzano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
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7
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Gutman ES, Bow E, Li F, Sulima A, Kaska S, Crowley R, Prisinzano TE, Lee YS, Hassan SA, Imler GH, Deschamps JR, Jacobson AE, Rice KC. G-Protein biased opioid agonists: 3-hydroxy- N-phenethyl-5-phenylmorphans with three-carbon chain substituents at C9. RSC Med Chem 2020; 11:896-904. [PMID: 33479684 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00104j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of compounds have been synthesized with a variety of substituents based on a three-carbon chain at the C9-position of 3-hydroxy-N-phenethyl-5-phenylmorphan (3-(2-phenethyl-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-5-yl)phenol). Three of these were found to be μ-opioid receptor agonists in the inhibition of forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation assay and they did not recruit β-arrestin at all in the PathHunter assay and in the Tango assay. Compound 12 (3-((1S,5R,9R)-2-phenethyl-9-propyl-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-5-yl)phenol), 13 (3-((1S,5R,9R)-9-((E)-3-hydroxyprop-1-en-1-yl)-2-phenethyl-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-5-yl)phenol), and 15a (3-((1S,5R,9R)-9-(2-hydroxypropyl)-2-phenethyl-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-5-yl)phenol) were partial μ-agonists. Two of them had moderate efficacies (E MAX ca. 65%) and one had lower efficacy, and they were ca. 5, 3, and 4 times more potent, respectively, than morphine in vitro. Computer simulations were carried out to provide a molecular basis for the high bias ratios of the C9-substituted 5-phenylmorphans toward G-protein activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene S Gutman
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section , Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch , Intramural Research Program , National Institute on Drug Abuse , National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , National Institutes of Health , Department of Health and Human Services , 9800 Medical Center Drive , Bethesda , MD 20892-3373 , USA . ; ; ; Tel: +1 301 240 5216 ; Tel: +1 301 217 5200
| | - Eric Bow
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section , Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch , Intramural Research Program , National Institute on Drug Abuse , National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , National Institutes of Health , Department of Health and Human Services , 9800 Medical Center Drive , Bethesda , MD 20892-3373 , USA . ; ; ; Tel: +1 301 240 5216 ; Tel: +1 301 217 5200
| | - Fuying Li
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section , Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch , Intramural Research Program , National Institute on Drug Abuse , National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , National Institutes of Health , Department of Health and Human Services , 9800 Medical Center Drive , Bethesda , MD 20892-3373 , USA . ; ; ; Tel: +1 301 240 5216 ; Tel: +1 301 217 5200
| | - Agnieszka Sulima
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section , Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch , Intramural Research Program , National Institute on Drug Abuse , National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , National Institutes of Health , Department of Health and Human Services , 9800 Medical Center Drive , Bethesda , MD 20892-3373 , USA . ; ; ; Tel: +1 301 240 5216 ; Tel: +1 301 217 5200
| | - Sophia Kaska
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , College of Pharmacy , University of Kentucky , 789 S. Limestone Street , Lexington , Kentucky 40536 , USA
| | - Rachel Crowley
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry , School of Pharmacy , University of Kansas , 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, 4070 Malott , Lawrence , Kansas 66045 , USA
| | - Thomas E Prisinzano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , College of Pharmacy , University of Kentucky , 789 S. Limestone Street , Lexington , Kentucky 40536 , USA.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry , School of Pharmacy , University of Kansas , 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, 4070 Malott , Lawrence , Kansas 66045 , USA
| | - Yong-Sok Lee
- Center for Molecular Modeling, Center for Information Technology , National Institutes of Health , Department of Health and Human Services , 9800 Medical Center Drive , Bethesda , MD 20892-5624 , USA
| | - Sergio A Hassan
- Center for Molecular Modeling, Center for Information Technology , National Institutes of Health , Department of Health and Human Services , 9800 Medical Center Drive , Bethesda , MD 20892-5624 , USA
| | - Gregory H Imler
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering , Naval Research Laboratory , Washington DC , 20375-0001 , USA
| | - Jeffrey R Deschamps
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering , Naval Research Laboratory , Washington DC , 20375-0001 , USA
| | - Arthur E Jacobson
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section , Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch , Intramural Research Program , National Institute on Drug Abuse , National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , National Institutes of Health , Department of Health and Human Services , 9800 Medical Center Drive , Bethesda , MD 20892-3373 , USA . ; ; ; Tel: +1 301 240 5216 ; Tel: +1 301 217 5200
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section , Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch , Intramural Research Program , National Institute on Drug Abuse , National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , National Institutes of Health , Department of Health and Human Services , 9800 Medical Center Drive , Bethesda , MD 20892-3373 , USA . ; ; ; Tel: +1 301 240 5216 ; Tel: +1 301 217 5200
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Kaska S, Kornberger L, Biggerstaff A, Kivell B, Prisinzano T. Pharmacological Characterization of Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonists. FASEB J 2019. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.663.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Kaska
- Medicinal ChemistryUniversity of KansasLawrenceKS
| | | | - Andrew Biggerstaff
- School of Biological SciencesVictoria University of WellingtonWellingtonNew Zealand
| | - Bronwyn Kivell
- School of Biological SciencesVictoria University of WellingtonWellingtonNew Zealand
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Cooper SE, Kechner M, Caraballo-Pérez D, Kaska S, Robison AJ, Mazei-Robison MS. Comparison of chronic physical and emotional social defeat stress effects on mesocorticolimbic circuit activation and voluntary consumption of morphine. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8445. [PMID: 28814751 PMCID: PMC5559445 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09106-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) is a well-established rodent model of depression that induces persistent social avoidance. CSDS triggers molecular adaptations throughout the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit, including changes in the activity of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), that may also influence drug reward. One limitation of traditional, physical CSDS (PS) is that injury complicates the study of opiate drugs like morphine. Thus, we sought to characterize a variation of CSDS, termed emotional CSDS (ES), that eliminates this confound. We assessed the effect of PS and ES on mesocorticolimbic circuit activation, VTA gene expression, and morphine intake. We found that PS and ES similarly induced ΔFosB in the hippocampus, but only PS significantly increased ΔFosB expression in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. In contrast, cFos expression was similarly reduced by both PS and ES. Interestingly, we found that PS and ES similarly increased voluntary morphine consumption immediately following stress, despite differences in the magnitude of the depressive phenotype and striatal ΔFosB expression at this time point. Combined, these data suggest that both stress paradigms may be useful for investigation of stress-induced changes in drug behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Cooper
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - M Kechner
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - D Caraballo-Pérez
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - S Kaska
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - A J Robison
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Dept. of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - M S Mazei-Robison
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
- Dept. of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
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Kaska S, Brunk R, Bali V, Kechner M, Mazei-Robison MS. Deletion of Rictor in catecholaminergic neurons alters locomotor activity and ingestive behavior. Neuropharmacology 2017; 117:158-170. [PMID: 28167137 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
While the etiology of depression is not fully understood, increasing evidence from animal models suggests a role for the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in pathogenesis. In this paper, we investigate the potential role of VTA mechanistic target of rapamycin 2 (TORC2) signaling in mediating susceptibility to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), a well-established mouse model of depression. Utilizing genetic and viral knockout of Rictor (rapamycin-insensitive companion of target of rapamycin), a requisite component of TORC2, we demonstrate that decreasing Rictor-dependent TORC2 signaling in catecholaminergic neurons, or within the VTA specifically, does not alter susceptibility to CSDS. Opiate abuse and mood disorders are often comorbid, and previous data demonstrate a role for VTA TORC2 in mediating opiate reward. Thus, we also investigated its potential role in mediating changes in opiate reward following CSDS. Catecholaminergic deletion of Rictor increases water, sucrose, and morphine intake but not preference in a two-bottle choice assay in stress-naïve mice, and these effects are maintained after stress. VTA-specific knockout of Rictor increases water and sucrose intake after physical CSDS, but does not alter consummatory behavior in the absence of stress. These findings suggest a novel role for TORC2 in mediating stress-induced changes in consummatory behaviors that may contribute to some aspects of mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Kaska
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Rebecca Brunk
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Vedrana Bali
- Dept. of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Megan Kechner
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Michelle S Mazei-Robison
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Dept. of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States.
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Vialou V, Thibault M, Kaska S, Cooper S, Gajewski P, Eagle A, Mazei-Robison M, Nestler EJ, Robison AJ. Differential induction of FosB isoforms throughout the brain by fluoxetine and chronic stress. Neuropharmacology 2015; 99:28-37. [PMID: 26164345 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [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: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is thought to arise in part from dysfunction of the brain's "reward circuitry", consisting of the mesolimbic dopamine system and the glutamatergic and neuromodulatory inputs onto this system. Both chronic stress and antidepressant treatment regulate gene transcription in many of the brain regions that make up these circuits, but the exact nature of the transcription factors and target genes involved in these processes remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate induction of the FosB family of transcription factors in ∼25 distinct regions of adult mouse brain, including many parts of the reward circuitry, by chronic exposure to the antidepressant fluoxetine. We further uncover specific patterns of FosB gene product expression (i.e., differential expression of full-length FosB, ΔFosB, and Δ2ΔFosB) in brain regions associated with depression--the nucleus accumbens (NAc), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and hippocampus--in response to chronic fluoxetine treatment, and contrast these patterns with differential induction of FosB isoforms in the chronic social defeat stress model of depression with and without fluoxetine treatment. We find that chronic fluoxetine, in contrast to stress, causes induction of the unstable full-length FosB isoform in the NAc, PFC, and hippocampus even 24 h following the final injection, indicating that these brain regions may undergo chronic activation when fluoxetine is on board, even in the absence of stress. We also find that only the stable ΔFosB isoform correlates with behavioral responses to stress. These data suggest that NAc, PFC, and hippocampus may present useful targets for directed intervention in mood disorders (ie, brain stimulation or gene therapy), and that determining the gene targets of FosB-mediated transcription in these brain regions in response to fluoxetine may yield novel inroads for pharmaceutical intervention in depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Vialou
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UM CR18, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Mackenzie Thibault
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Sophia Kaska
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Sarah Cooper
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Paula Gajewski
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Andrew Eagle
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | | | - Eric J Nestler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - A J Robison
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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Kaska S, Kechner M, Mazei‐Robison M. Role of Ventral Tegmental Area TORC2 Signaling in Stress‐Induced Morphine Reward. FASEB J 2015. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.768.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Kaska
- Pharmacology and ToxicologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUnited States
| | - Megan Kechner
- Neuroscience and PhysiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUnited States
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Heller EA, Kaska S, Fallon B, Ferguson D, Kennedy PJ, Neve RL, Nestler EJ, Mazei-Robison MS. Morphine and cocaine increase serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 activity in the ventral tegmental area. J Neurochem 2014; 132:243-53. [PMID: 25099208 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 07/13/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Drugs of abuse modulate the function and activity of the mesolimbic dopamine circuit. To identify novel mediators of drug-induced neuroadaptations in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), we performed RNA sequencing analysis on VTA samples from mice administered repeated saline, morphine, or cocaine injections. One gene that was similarly up-regulated by both drugs was serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1). SGK1 activity, as measured by phosphorylation of its substrate N-myc downstream regulated gene (NDRG), was also increased robustly by chronic drug treatment. Increased NDRG phosphorylation was evident 1 but not 24 h after the last drug injection. SGK1 phosphorylation itself was similarly modulated. To determine the role of increased SGK1 activity on drug-related behaviors, we over-expressed constitutively active (CA) SGK1 in the VTA. SGK1-CA expression reduced locomotor sensitization elicited by repeated cocaine, but surprisingly had the opposite effect and promoted locomotor sensitization to morphine, without affecting the initial locomotor responses to either drug. SGK1-CA expression did not significantly affect morphine or cocaine conditioned place preference, although there was a trend toward increased conditioned place preference with both drugs. Further characterizing the role of this kinase in drug-induced changes in VTA may lead to improved understanding of neuroadaptations critical to drug dependence and addiction. We find that repeated, but not acute, morphine or cocaine administration induces an increase in serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK1) gene expression and activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). This increase in SGK1 activity may play a role in drug-dependent behaviors and suggests a novel signaling cascade for potential intervention in drug dependence and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Heller
- Fishberg Dept. of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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Copple BL, Kaska S, Wentling C. Hypoxia-inducible factor activation in myeloid cells contributes to the development of liver fibrosis in cholestatic mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2012; 341:307-16. [PMID: 22271822 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.111.189340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages play an integral role in the development of liver fibrosis by releasing mediators, such as platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) and transforming growth factor-β1, which stimulate hepatic stellate cell proliferation, chemotaxis, and collagen production. However, the mechanism by which chronic liver injury stimulates macrophages to release these mediators is not completely understood. We tested the hypothesis that chronic liver injury activates hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors in macrophages that regulate the production of mediators that promote fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, Cre/lox technology was used to generate myeloid cell-specific HIF-1α or HIF-1β knockout mice. When these mice were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL), levels of α-smooth muscle actin and type I collagen in the liver were reduced compared with those of mice with normal levels of HIFs. The deficiency of HIFs in macrophages did not affect liver injury or inflammation after BDL but reduced PDGF-B mRNA and protein, suggesting that HIF activation in macrophages may promote fibrosis by regulating the production of PDGF-B. Consistent with a role for HIFs in liver fibrosis in cholestatic liver disease, nuclear HIF-1α protein was present in macrophages, hepatocytes, and fibroblasts in the livers from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. These studies demonstrate that HIFs are important regulators of profibrotic mediator production by macrophages during the development of liver fibrosis and suggest that HIFs may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic liver disease in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan L Copple
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, B403 Life Sciences Building, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA.
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