The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
-
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Jan 2010
An alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-selective agonist reduces weight gain and metabolic changes in a mouse model of diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes has become a pervasive public health problem. The etiology of the disease has not been fully defined but appears to involve abnormalities in peripheral and central nervous system pathways, as well as prominent inflammatory components. Because nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are known to interact with anti-inflammatory pathways and have been implicated in control of appetite and body weight, as well as lipid and energy metabolism, we examined their role in modulating biological parameters associated with the disease. ⋯ These changes were reversed by the alpha7-selective antagonist methyllycaconitine, confirming the involvement of alpha7 nAChRs. Prevention of weight gain, decreased food intake, and normalization of glucose levels were also blocked by the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor alpha-cyano-(3,4-dihydroxy)-N-benzylcinnamide (AG-490), suggesting that these effects involve linkage of alpha7 nAChRs to the JAK2-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway. The results show that alpha7 nAChRs play a central role in regulating biological parameters associated with diabetes and support the potential of targeting these receptors as a new therapeutic strategy for treatment.
-
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Dec 2009
Comparative StudyComparison of the antinociceptive and antirewarding profiles of novel bifunctional nociceptin receptor/mu-opioid receptor ligands: implications for therapeutic applications.
The nociceptin receptor (NOPr), a member of the opioid receptor family, is a target for the treatment of pain and drug abuse. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), the endogenous peptide for NOPr, not only modulates opioid antinociception, but also blocks the rewarding effects of several abused drugs, such as morphine, cocaine, and amphetamine. We hypothesized that NOPr agonists, with bifunctional activity at the mu-opioid receptor (MOPr), may function as nonaddicting analgesics or as drug abuse medications. ⋯ SR14150 did not induce CPP alone, nor did it attenuate morphine-induced CPP. 3-Ethyl-1-(1-(4-isopropylcyclohexyl)piperidin-4-yl)-indolin-2-one (SR16507), which has high affinity for both NOPr and MOPr, full agonist activity at NOPr, and partial agonist activity at MOPr, was also a potent analgesic and produced CPP alone, but also modestly attenuated morphine CPP. 1-(1-(2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydro-1H-phenalen-1-yl)piperidinl-4-yl)-indolin-2-one (SR16835), a NOPr full agonist and low-affinity MOPr partial agonist, was not antinociceptive, did not produce CPP alone, but attenuated morphine CPP. Our results suggest that NOPr full-agonist activity is required to modulate opioid-induced reward, whereas a bifunctional NOPr/MOPr partial agonist profile may be suitable as a nonaddicting analgesic. The opioid-modulating effects of the NOPr ligands may be used effectively to produce better medications for treatment of drug abuse and pain.
-
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Dec 2009
Effect of Intra-articular 4-(S)-amino-5-(4-{4-[2,4-dichloro-3-(2,4-dimethyl-8-quinolyloxymethyl)phenylsulfonamido]-tetrahydro-2H-4-pyranylcarbonyl} piperazino)-5-oxopentyl](trimethyl)ammonium chloride hydrochloride (MEN16132), a kinin B2 receptor antagonist, on nociceptive response in monosodium iodoacetate-induced experimental osteoarthritis in rats.
The present study was designed to investigate the role of bradykinin (BK) in the knee joint osteoarthritis induced by intra-articular (i.ar.) administration of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) in the rat, and to determine the efficacy of the kinin B(2) receptor antagonists, 4-(S)-amino-5-(4-{4-[2,4-dichloro-3-(2,4-dimethyl-8-quinolyloxymethyl)phenylsulfonamido]-tetrahydro-2H-4-pyranylcarbonyl} piperazino)-5-oxopentyl](trimethyl)ammonium chloride hydrochloride (MEN16132) and icatibant, in reducing pain. Rats received MIA (1 mg/25 microl i.ar.) in the right knee. MEN16132, icatibant (1, 3, and 10 microg/25 microl i.ar.), or saline were administered 7 days after MIA treatment, and their antinociceptive effect was observed for 2 weeks. ⋯ Indomethacin at high doses (100-625 microg/knee) inhibited by approximately 40% but with a short duration the MIA-induced pain. MIA treatment produced a significant increase of BK and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) metabolite levels in synovial fluid up to 21 days, and PGE(2) metabolite levels were reduced almost to basal values by MEN16132. In conclusion the potent and long-lasting analgesic effect of MEN16132 in MIA-induced osteoarthritis indicates an important role for BK in osteoarthritic pain, and suggests that MEN16132 can be a candidate for the treatment of this chronic disease.
-
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Dec 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialAnti-inflammatory properties of a novel N-phenyl pyridinone inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase: preclinical-to-clinical translation.
Signal transduction through the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway is central to the transcriptional and translational control of cytokine and inflammatory mediator production. p38 MAP kinase inhibition hence constitutes a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, based upon its potential to inhibit key pathways driving the inflammatory and destructive processes in these debilitating diseases. The present study describes the pharmacological properties of the N-phenyl pyridinone p38 MAP kinase inhibitor benzamide [3- [3-bromo-4-[(2,4-difluorophenyl)methoxy]-6-methyl-2- oxo-1(2H)-pyridinyl]-N,4-dimethyl-, (-)-(9CI); PH-797804]. PH-797804 is an ATP-competitive, readily reversible inhibitor of the alpha isoform of human p38 MAP kinase, exhibiting a K(i) = 5.8 nM. ⋯ Finally, PH-797804 reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 production in clinical studies after endotoxin administration in a dose-dependent manner, paralleling inhibition of the target enzyme. Low-nanomolar biochemical enzyme inhibition potency correlated with p38 MAP kinase inhibition in human cells and in vivo studies. In addition, a direct correspondence between p38 MAP kinase inhibition and anti-inflammatory activity was observed with PH-797804, thus providing confidence in dose projections for further human studies in chronic inflammatory disease.
-
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Dec 2009
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor activation attenuates antinociception induced by mixed nociceptin/orphanin FQ/mu-opioid receptor agonists.
Activation of brain nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOP) receptors leads to attenuation of mu-opioid receptor (MOP receptor)-mediated antinociception. Buprenorphine, a high-affinity partial MOP receptor agonist also binds to NOP receptors with 80 nM affinity. The buprenorphine-induced inverted U-shaped dose-response curve for antinociception may be due to NOP receptor activation, given that, in the presence of the NOP receptor antagonist, 1-[(3R,4R)-1-cyclooctylmethyl-3-hydroxymethyl-4-piperidyl]-3-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (J113397), or in NOP receptor knockout mice, buprenorphine has a steeper dose-response curve and acts as a full agonist. ⋯ SB-612111 potentiated antinociception induced by buprenorphine and the other mixed NOP/MOP receptor agonists SR16435 and SR16507. However, SB-612111 had no effect on pentazocine or morphine antinociception, two compounds with no NOP receptor-binding affinity. These results further support the hypothesis that activation of NOP receptors can lead to attenuation of MOP receptor-mediated antinociception elicited by mixed NOP/MOP receptor compounds such as buprenorphine, SR16435, and SR16507 and that, although buprenorphine has low efficacy in vitro, it has significant NOP receptor agonist activity in vivo.