Sigma 2 receptors as potential biomarkers of proliferation in breast cancer.

sigma 1 and sigma 2 receptors have been shown to exist in a number of rodent and human tumor cell lines. Although their expression is heterogeneous and their function is unknown, sigma receptors have been proposed as potential targets for diagnostic tumor-imaging agents. In this study, the density of sigma 2 receptors in proliferative (P) and quiescent (Q) cells of the mouse mammary adenocarcinoma, line 66, was examined. Scatchard analyses of sigma 2 receptors were performed on membrane preparations of 66 P cells from 3-day cultures and 66 Q cells from 7-, 10-, and 12-day cultures. The Scatchard studies revealed that 66 P cells had approximately 10 times more sigma 2 receptors/cell than the 66 Q cells from 10-day cultures. Although > 97% of the cells were quiescent after 7 days in culture, the maximum differential in the sigma 2 expression between 66 P and 66 Q cells was not attained until these cells had been in culture for 10 days. These data suggest that ligands labeled with positron-emitting or single photon-emitting radionuclides, which selectively bind sigma 2 receptors, have the potential to noninvasively assess the proliferative status of human breast tumors.

Synthesis and quantitative structure-activity relationships of N-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)phenylacetamides and related analogues as potent and selective sigma1 receptor ligands.

A series of N-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)phenylacetamide derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for affinity at sigma1 and sigma2 receptors. Most of these compounds showed a high affinity for sigma1 receptors and a low to moderate affinity for sigma2 receptors. The unsubstituted compound N-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)phenylacetamide, 1, displayed a high affinity and selectivity for sigma1 receptors (Ki values of 3.90 nM for sigma1 receptors and 240 nM for sigma2 receptors). The influence of substitutions on the phenylacetamide aromatic ring on binding at both the sigma1 and sigma2 receptor has been examined through Hansch-type quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies. In general, all 3-substituted compounds, except for the OH group, had a higher affinity for both sigma1 and sigma2 receptors when compared with the corresponding 2- and 4-substituted analogues. The selectivity for sigma1 receptors displayed a trend of 3 > 2 approximately 4 for Cl, Br, F, NO2, and OMe substituted analogues. Halogen substitution on the aromatic ring generally increased the affinity for sigma2 receptors while maintaining a similar affinity for sigma1 receptors. Substitution with electron-donating groups, such as OH, OMe, or NH2, resulted in weak or negligible affinity for sigma2 receptors and a moderate affinity for sigma1 receptors. The 2-fluoro-substituted analogue, 11, exhibited the highest selectivity for sigma1 receptors among all compounds tested, with a Ki value of 3.56 nM for sigma1 receptors and 667 nM for sigma2 receptors. Compounds 1, 5, 9, 11, and 20 had no affinity for dopamine D2 (IC50 > 10 000 nM) and D3 (IC50 > 10 000 nM) receptors. The nanomolar binding affinity and high selectivity for sigma1 receptors suggest that these compounds may be developed as potential radiotracers for positron emission tomography or single photon emission computerized tomography imaging studies.

The analgesic tropane analogue (+/-)-SM 21 has a high affinity for sigma2 receptors.

The analgesic properties of the tropane analogue (+/-)-SM 21 have been attributed to the antagonism of presynaptic m2 receptors resulting in a potentiation of acetylcholine release. However, drugs targeting a number of other neurotransmitter receptors have been shown to enhance acetylcholine release. In the current study, in vitro studies were conducted in order to determine the affinity of (+/-)-SM 21 for serotonin 5-HT3, 5-HT4, and sigma receptors. Our results indicate that (+/-)-SM 21, and its structural congeners, have a relatively high affinity for sigma2 receptors relative to their reported affinity for muscarinic receptors. The higher affinity for sigma2 versus sigma1 receptors indicates that (+/-)-SM 21 may be a suitable lead compound for developing sigma2-selective ligands.