Biological activity of new bioactive steroids deriving from biotransformation of cortisone.

Cortisone is a metabolite belonging to the corticosteroid class that is used pharmaceutically directly as a drug or prodrug. In addition to its large consumption, its use is linked to several side effects, so pharmaceutical research aims to develop effective drugs with low or no side effects, alternative compounds to cortisone are part of an active investment in ongoing research on drug discovery. Since biotransformation can be considered a source of new molecules with potential therapeutic use, the present work focuses on a preliminary in vitro study aimed at evaluating the mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective activity of SCA and SCB molecules obtained from the biotransformation of cortisone using Rh. Rhodnii strain DSM 43960. The results obtained are very encouraging due to the safety of biotransformed compounds with reference to genotoxicity checked by Ames test, to the very high antioxidant capacity and to the anti-inflammatory activity. In fact, thecompounds inhibited both the TNFα-stimulated expression and secretion of NFkB target cytokines, and COX activity, and can activate the glucocorticoid receptor. Finally SCA and SCB exhibited neuroprotective properties.

Pros and Cons of Pharmacological Manipulation of cGMP-PDEs in the Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer.

The cyclic nucleotides, cAMP and cGMP, are ubiquitous second messengers responsible for translating extracellular signals to intracellular biological responses in both normal and tumor cells. When these signals are aberrant or missing, cells may undergo neoplastic transformation or become resistant to chemotherapy. cGMP-hydrolyzing phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are attracting tremendous interest as drug targets for many diseases, including cancer, where they regulate cell growth, apoptosis and sensitization to radio- and chemotherapy. In breast cancer, PDE5 inhibition is associated with increased intracellular cGMP levels, which is responsible for the phosphorylation of PKG and other downstream molecules involved in cell proliferation or apoptosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the most relevant studies regarding the controversial role of PDE inhibitors as off-label adjuvants in cancer therapy.

Kynurenine pathway is altered in BDNF Val66Met knock-in mice: Effect of physical exercise.

The Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism has been correlated with increased predisposition to develop cognitive and psychiatric disorders, and with a reduced response to some therapeutic treatments. However, the mechanisms underlying these impairments are currently not completely understood. Remarkably, kynurenine pathway alterations have also been implicated in cognitive and psychiatric disorders. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that physical exercise may promote beneficial effects by controlling kynurenine metabolism in the muscle. The aim of the present study was to assess whether the kynurenine pathway was differentially regulated in sedentary and exercising wild-type (BDNFVal/Val) and homozygous knock-in BDNF Val66Met (BDNFMet/Met) mice. We found that plasma and hippocampal levels of kynurenic acid and the hippocampal mRNA levels of IDO1 and KAT2 protein levels were increased in BDNFMet/Met mice and were not modulated by physical exercise. On the contrary, KAT1 protein levels in the gastrocnemius muscle were reduced, whereas MCP1 mRNA in the gastrocnemius muscle and GFAP protein in the hippocampus were increased in BDNFMet/Met mice compared to BDNFVal/Val mice, and reduced by physical exercise. Physical exercise increased plasmatic kynurenine levels only in BDNFMet/Met mice, and protein levels of KAT1 and KAT4 in the gastrocnemius muscle and hippocampus respectively, regardless of the genotype. Finally, we found that physical exercise was able to enhance the hippocampal-dependent memory only in the BDNFVal/Val mice. Overall our results showing an overactivation of the kynurenine pathway in the BDNFMet/Met mice may suggest a possible mechanism underlying the cognitive deficits reported in the BDNF Val66Met carriers.

The Dual Role of Glutamatergic Neurotransmission in Alzheimer's Disease: From Pathophysiology to Pharmacotherapy.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related dementia and neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by Aß and tau protein deposition impairing learning, memory and suppressing synaptic plasticity of neurons. Increasing evidence suggests that there is a link between the glucose and glutamate alterations with age that down-regulates glucose utilization reducing glutamate levels in AD patients. Deviations in brain energy metabolism reinforce the development of AD by hampering glutamate levels in the brain. Glutamate is a nonessential amino acid and the major excitatory neurotransmitter synthesized from glucose. Alterations in cerebral glucose and glutamate levels precede the deposition of Aß plaques. In the brain, over 40% of neuronal synapses are glutamatergic and disturbances in glutamatergic function have been implicated in pathophysiology of AD. Nevertheless, targeting the glutamatergic system seems to be a promising strategy to develop novel, improved therapeutics for AD. Here, we review data supporting the involvement of the glutamatergic system in AD pathophysiology as well as the efficacy of glutamatergic agents in this neurodegenerative disorder. We also discuss exciting new prospects for the development of improved therapeutics for this devastating disorder.

Assessment of Prenatal Kynurenine Metabolism Using Tissue Slices: Focus on the Neosynthesis of Kynurenic Acid in Mice.

Several lines of evidence support the hypothesis that abnormally elevated brain levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA), a metabolite of the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation, play a pathophysiologically significant role in schizophrenia and other major neurodevelopmental disorders. Studies in experimental animal models suggest that KP impairments in these diseases may originate already in utero since prenatal administration of KYNA's bioprecursor, kynurenine, leads to biochemical and structural abnormalities as well as distinct cognitive impairments in adulthood. As KP metabolism during pregnancy is still insufficiently understood, we designed this study to examine the de novo synthesis of KYNA and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), an alternative biologically active product of kynurenine degradation, in tissue slices obtained from pregnant mice on gestational day (GD) 18. Fetal brain and liver, placenta, and maternal brain and liver were collected, and the tissues were incubated in vitroin the absence or presence of micromolar concentrations of kynurenine. KYNA and 3-HK were measured in the extracellular milieu. Basal and newly produced KYNA was detected in all cases. As KYNA formation exceeded 3-HK production by 2-3 orders of magnitude in the placenta and maternal brain, and as very little 3-HK neosynthesis was detectable in fetal brain tissue, detailed follow-up experiments focused on KYNA only. The fetal brain produced 3-4 times more KYNA than the maternal brain and placenta, though less than the maternal and fetal liver. No significant differences were observed when using tissues obtained on GD 14 and GD 18. Pharmacological inhibition of KYNA's main biosynthetic enzymes, kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) I and KAT II, revealed qualitative and quantitative differences between the tissues, with a preferential role of KAT I in the fetal and maternal brain and of KAT II in the fetal and maternal liver. Findings using tissue slices from KAT II knockout mice confirmed these conclusions. Together, these results clarify the dynamics of KP metabolism during pregnancy and provide the basis for the conceptualization of interventions aimed at manipulating cerebral KP function in the prenatal period.

Prenatal Dynamics of Kynurenine Pathway Metabolism in Mice: Focus on Kynurenic Acid.

The kynurenine pathway (KP), the major catabolic route of tryptophan in mammals, contains several neuroactive metabolites, including kynurenic acid (KYNA) and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK). KP metabolism, and especially the fate of KYNA, during pregnancy is poorly understood, yet it may play a significant role in the development of psychiatric disorders later in life. The present study was designed to investigate the prenatal features of KP metabolism in vivo, with special focus on KYNA. To this end, pregnant CD-1 mice were treated systemically with kynurenine (100 mg/kg), KYNA (10 mg/kg), or saline on embryonic day 18. As expected, administration of either kynurenine or KYNA increased KYNA levels in the maternal plasma and placenta. Maternal kynurenine treatment also raised kynurenine levels in the fetal plasma and brain, demonstrating the ability of this pivotal KP metabolite to cross the placenta and increase the levels of both KYNA and 3-HK in the fetal brain. In contrast, maternal administration of KYNA caused only a small, nonsignificant elevation in KYNA levels in fetal plasma and brain. Complementary experiments using an ex vivo placental perfusion procedure confirmed the significant transplacental transfer of kynurenine and demonstrated that only a very small fraction of maternal kynurenine is converted to KYNA in the placenta and released into the fetal compartment under physiological conditions. Jointly, these results help to clarify the contributions of the maternal circulation and the placenta to fetal KYNA in the late prenatal period.

Long-lasting alterations of hippocampal GABAergic neurotransmission in adult rats following perinatal Δ9-THC exposure.

The long-lasting effects of gestational cannabinoids exposure on the adult brain of the offspring are still controversial. It has already been shown that pre- or perinatal cannabinoids exposure induces learning and memory disruption in rat adult offspring, associated with permanent alterations of cortical glutamatergic neurotransmission and cognitive deficits. In the present study, the risk of long-term consequences induced by perinatal exposure to cannabinoids on rat hippocampal GABAergic system of the offspring, has been explored. To this purpose, pregnant rats were treated daily with Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC; 5mg/kg) or its vehicle. Perinatal exposure to Δ9-THC induced a significant reduction (p<0.05) in basal and K+-evoked [3H]-GABA outflow of 90-day-old rat hippocampal slices. These effects were associated with a reduction of hippocampal [3H]-GABA uptake compared to vehicle exposed group. Perinatal exposure to Δ9-THC induced a significant reduction of CB1 receptor binding (Bmax) in the hippocampus of 90-day-old rats. However, a pharmacological challenge with either Δ9-THC (0.1µM) or WIN55,212-2 (2µM), similarly reduced K+-evoked [3H]-GABA outflow in both experimental groups. These reductions were significantly blocked by adding the selective CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A. These findings suggest that maternal exposure to cannabinoids induces long-term alterations of hippocampal GABAergic system. Interestingly, previous behavioral studies demonstrated that, under the same experimental conditions as in the present study, perinatal cannabinoids exposure induced cognitive impairments in adult rats, thus resembling some effects observed in humans. Although it is difficult and sometimes misleading to extrapolate findings obtained from animal models to humans, the possibility that an alteration of hippocampus aminoacidergic transmission might underlie, at least in part, some of the cognitive deficits affecting the offspring of marijuana users, is supported.

Striatal adenosine-cannabinoid receptor interactions in rats over-expressing adenosine A2A receptors.

Adenosine A2A receptors (A2 A Rs) and cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1 Rs) are highly expressed in the striatum, where they functionally interact and form A2A /CB1 heteroreceptor complexes. We investigated the effects of CB1 R stimulation in a transgenic rat strain over-expressing A2 A Rs under the control of the neural-specific enolase promoter (NSEA2A rats) and in age-matched wild-type (WT) animals. The effects of the CB1 R agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) were significantly lower in NSEA2A rats than in WT animals, as demonstrated by i) electrophysiological recordings of synaptic transmission in corticostriatal slices; ii) the measurement of glutamate outflow from striatal synaptosomes and iii) in vivo experiments on locomotor activity. Moreover, while the effects of WIN were modulated by both A2 A R agonist (CGS 21680) and antagonists (ZM 241385, KW-6002 and SCH-442416) in WT animals, the A2 A R antagonists failed to influence WIN-mediated effects in NSEA2A rats. The present results demonstrate that in rats with genetic neuronal over-expression of A2 A Rs, the effects mediated by CB1 R activation in the striatum are significantly reduced, suggesting a change in the stoichiometry of A2A and CB1 receptors and providing a strategy to dissect the involvement of A2 A R forming or not forming heteromers in the modulation of striatal functions. These findings add additional evidence for the existence of an interaction between striatal A2 A Rs and CB1 Rs, playing a fundamental role in the regulation of striatal functions. We studied A2A -CB1 receptor interaction in transgenic rats over-expressing adenosine A2A receptors under the control of the neuron-specific enolase promoter (NSEA2A ). In these rats, we demonstrated a reduced effect of the CB1 receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 in the modulation of corticostriatal synaptic transmission and locomotor activity, while CB1 receptor expression level did not change with respect to WT rats. A reduction in the expression of A2A -CB1 receptor heteromers is postulated.

Functional role of striatal A2A, D2, and mGlu5 receptor interactions in regulating striatopallidal GABA neuronal transmission.

In this study, the functional role of individual striatal receptors for adenosine (A2AR), dopamine (D2R), and the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGlu5R in regulating rat basal ganglia activity was characterized in vivo using dual-probe microdialysis in freely moving rats. In particular, intrastriatal perfusion with the D2R agonist quinpirole (10 µM, 60 min) decreased ipsilateral pallidal GABA and glutamate levels, whereas intrastriatal CGS21680 (A2AR agonist; 1 µM, 60 min) was ineffective on either pallidal GABA and glutamate levels or the quinpirole-induced effects. Intrastriatal perfusion with the mGlu5R agonist (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (600 µM, 60 min), by itself ineffective on pallidal GABA and glutamate levels, partially counteracted the effects of quinpirole. When combined with CGS21680 (1 µM, 60 min), (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG; 600 µM, 60 min) fully counteracted the quinpirole (10 µM, 60 min)-induced reduction in ipsilateral pallidal GABA and glutamate levels. These effects were fully counteracted by local perfusion with the mGlu5R antagonist MPEP (300 µM) or the A2AR antagonist ZM 241385 (100 nM). These results suggest that A2ARs and mGlu5Rs interact synergistically in modulating the D2R-mediated control of striatopallidal GABA neurons. Using dual-probe microdialysis, we characterized the functional role of striatal adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR), dopamine D2 receptor (D2R), and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) interactions in regulating rat basal ganglia activity. The results suggest the possible usefulness of using an A2AR antagonist and mGluR5 antagonist combination in the treatment of Parkinson's disease to increase the inhibitory D2 signaling on striatopallidal GABA neurons.

GET73 Prevents Ethanol-Induced Neurotoxicity in Primary Cultures of Rat Hippocampal Neurons.

AIMS: N-[(4-trifluoromethyl) benzyl] 4-methoxybutyramide (GET73) may be considered a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of alcohol use disorders. The compound displayed anti-alcohol and anxiolytic properties in rat. In the present study, an in vitro experimental model of chronic ethanol treatment was used to investigate the ability of the compound to counteract the ethanol-induced neurotoxicity. METHODS: Primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons were exposed to ethanol (75 mM; 4 days) and the neuroprotective effects of GET73 were assessed by evaluating cell viability, cell morphology, glutamate levels and reactive oxygen species production. RESULTS: The exposure to ethanol induced a reduction of cell viability, an alteration of cytoskeleton, a decrease in extracellular glutamate levels and an increase of reactive oxygen species production. The addiction of GET73 (1 and 10 µM) 1 h before and during chronic ethanol exposure prevented all the above ethanol-induced effects. Based on the proposed GET73 mechanism of action, the effects of mGlu5 receptor negative allosteric modulator, 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP), on ethanol-induced reduction of cell viability were also assessed. The results indicated that the addiction of MPEP (100 µM) 1 h before and during chronic ethanol exposure prevented the ethanol-induced cell viability reduction. CONCLUSION: The present findings provide the first evidence that GET73 shows a neuroprotective role against ethanol-induced neurotoxicity in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons. Together with previous findings, these results suggest that GET73 possesses multifaceted properties thus lending further support to the significance of developing GET73 as a therapeutic tool for use in the treatment of alcohol use disorders.

Indomethacin co-crystals and their parent mixtures: does the intestinal barrier recognize them differently?

Co-crystals are crystalline complexes of two or more molecules bound together in crystal lattices through noncovalent interactions. The solubility and dissolution properties of co-crystals can allow to increase the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). It is currently believed that the co-crystallization strategy should not induce changes on the pharmacological profile of the APIs, even if it is not yet clear whether a co-crystal would be defined as a physical mixture or as a new chemical entity. In order to clarify these aspects, we chose indomethacin as guest poorly aqueous soluble molecule and compared its properties with those of its co-crystals obtained with 2-hydroxy-4-methylpyridine (co-crystal 1), 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline (co-crystal 2), and saccharine (co-crystal 3). In particular, we performed a systematic comparison among indomethacin, its co-crystals, and their parent physical mixtures by evaluating via HPLC analysis the API dissolution profile, its ability to permeate across intestinal cell monolayers (NCM460), and its oral bioavailability in rat. The indomethacin dissolution profile was not altered by the presence of co-crystallizing agents as physical mixtures, whereas significant changes were observed by the dissolution of the co-crystals. Furthermore, there was a qualitative concordance between the API dissolution patterns and the relative oral bioavailabilities in rats. Co-crystal 1 induced a drastic decrease of the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value of NCM460 cell monolayers, whereas its parent mixture did not evidence any effect. The saccharin-indomethacin mixture induced a drastic decrease of the TEER value of monolayers, whereas its parent co-crystal 3 did not induce any effects on their integrity, being anyway able to increase the permeation of indomethacin. Taken together, these results demonstrate for the first time different effects induced by co-crystals and their parent physical mixtures on a biologic system, findings that could raise serious concerns about the use of co-crystal strategy to improve API bioavailability without performing appropriate investigations.

Alterations of prefrontal cortex GABAergic transmission in the complex psychotic-like phenotype induced by adolescent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure in rats.

Although several findings indicate an association between adolescent cannabis abuse and the risk to develop schizophrenia later in life, the evidence for a causal relationship is still inconclusive. In the present study, we investigated the emergence of psychotic-like behavior in adult female rats chronically exposed to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) during adolescence. To this aim, female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with THC during adolescence (PND 35-45) and, in adulthood (PND 75), a series of behavioral tests and biochemical assays were performed in order to investigate the long-term effects of adolescent THC exposure. Adolescent THC pretreatment leads to long-term behavioral alterations, characterized by recognition memory deficits, social withdrawal, altered emotional reactivity and sensitization to the locomotor activating effects of acute PCP. Moreover, since cortical disinhibition seems to be a key feature of many different animal models of schizophrenia and GABAergic hypofunction in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been observed in postmortem brains from schizophrenic patients, we then investigated the long-lasting consequences of adolescent THC exposure on GABAergic transmission in the adult rat PFC. Biochemical analyses revealed that adolescent THC exposure results in reduced GAD67 and basal GABA levels within the adult PFC. GAD67 expression is reduced both in parvalbumin (PV)- and cholecystokinin (CCK)-containing interneurons; this alteration may be related to the altered emotional reactivity triggered by adolescent THC, as silencing PFC GAD67 expression through a siRNA-mediated approach is sufficient to impact rats' behavior in the forced swim test. Finally, the cellular underpinnings of the observed sensitized response to acute PCP in adult THC-treated rats could be ascribed to the increased cFos immunoreactivity and glutamate levels in the PFC and dorsal striatum. The present findings support the hypothesis that adolescent THC exposure may represent a risk factor for the development of a complex psychotic-like behavior in adulthood.

Expression, pharmacology and functional activity of adenosine A1 receptors in genetic models of Huntington's disease.

Adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) stimulation exerts beneficial effects in response to various insults to the brain and, although it was found neuroprotective in a lesional model of Huntington's disease (HD), the features of this receptor in genetic models of HD have never been explored. In the present study we characterized the expression, affinity and functional effects of A1Rs in R6/2 mice (the most widely used transgenic model of HD) and in a cellular model of HD. Binding studies revealed that the density of A1Rs was significantly reduced in the cortex and the striatum of R6/2 mice compared to age-matched wild-type (WT), while receptor affinity was unchanged. The selective A1R agonist cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, 300nM) was significantly more effective in reducing synaptic transmission in corticostriatal slices from symptomatic R6/2 than in age-matched WT mice. Such an effect was due to a stronger inhibition of glutamate release from the pre-synaptic terminal. The different functional activities of A1Rs in HD mice were associated also to a different intracellular signaling pathway involved in the synaptic effect of CPA. In fact, while the PKA pathway was involved in both genotypes, p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 partially prevented synaptic effects of CPA in R6/2, but not in WT, mice; moreover, CPA differently modulated the phosphorylation status of p38 in the two genotypes. In vitro studies confirmed a different behavior of A1Rs in HD: CPA (100 nM for 5h) modulated cell viability in STHdh(Q111/Q111) (mhttHD cells), without affecting the viability of STHdh(Q7/Q7) (wthtt cells). This effect was prevented by the application of SB203580. Our results demonstrate that in the presence of the HD mutation A1Rs undergo profound changes in terms of expression, pharmacology and functional activity. These changes have to be taken in due account when considering A1Rs as a potential therapeutic target for this disease.

Brain uptake of a Zidovudine prodrug after nasal administration of solid lipid microparticles.

Our previous results demonstrated that a prodrug obtained by the conjugation of the antiretroviral drug zidovudine (AZT) with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) represents a potential carrier for AZT in the central nervous system, thus possibly increasing AZT efficiency as an anti-HIV drug. Based on these results and in order to enhance AZT brain targeting, the present study focuses on solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) as a carrier system for the nasal administration of UDCA-AZT prodrug. SLMs were produced by the hot emulsion technique, using tristearin and stearic acid as lipidic carriers, whose mean diameters were 16 and 7 µm, respectively. SLMs were of spherical shape, and their prodrug loading was 0.57 ± 0.03% (w/w, tristearin based) and 1.84 ± 0.02% (w/w, stearic acid based). The tristearin SLMs were able to control the prodrug release, whereas the stearic acid SLMs induced a significant increase of the dissolution rate of the free prodrug. The free prodrug was rapidly hydrolyzed in rat liver homogenates with a half-life of 2.7 ± 0.14 min (process completed within 30 min). The tristearin SLMs markedly enhanced the stability of the prodrug (75% of the prodrug still present after 30 min), whereas the stabilization effect of the stearic acid SLMs was lower (14% of the prodrug still present after 30 min). No AZT and UDCA-AZT were detected in the rat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after an intravenous prodrug administration (200 µg). Conversely, the nasal administration of stearic acid based SLMs induced the uptake of the prodrug in the CSF, demonstrating the existence of a direct nose-CNS pathway. In the presence of chitosan, the CSF prodrug uptake increased six times, up to 1.5 µg/mL within 150 min after nasal administration. The loaded SLMs appear therefore as a promising nasal formulation for selective zidovudine brain uptake.

GET73 modulates lipopolysaccharide- and ethanol-induced increase in cytokine/chemokine levels in primary cultures of microglia of rat cerebral cortex.

BACKGROUND: - Alcohol-induced pro-inflammatory activation might influence cellular and synaptic pathology, thus contributing to the behavioral phenotypes associated with alcohol use disorders. In the present study, the possible anti-inflammatory properties of N-[(4-trifluoromethyl)-benzyl]4-methoxybutyramide (GET73), a promising therapeutic agent for alcohol use disorder treatment, were evaluated in primary cultures of rat cortical microglia. METHODS: - Primary cultures of cerebral cortex microglial cells were treated with 100 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 8 h, 37 °C) or 75 mM ethanol (EtOH; 4 days, 37 °C) alone or in the presence of GET73 (1-30 µM). At the end of the incubation period, multiparametric quantification of cytokines/chemokines was performed by using the xMAP technology and Luminex platform. Furthermore, cultured microglial cell viability following the treatment with EtOH and GET73, alone or in combination, has been measured by a colorimetric assay (i.e. MTT assay). RESULTS: - GET73 (10 and 30 µM) partially or fully prevented the LPS-induced increase of IL-6, IL-1ß, RANTES/CCL5 protein and MCP-1/CCL2 levels. On the contrary, GET73 failed to attenuate the TNF-α level increase induced by LPS. Furthermore, GET73 treatment (10-30 µM) significantly attenuated or prevented the EtOH-induced increase of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß and MCP-1/CCL2 levels. Finally, at all the concentrations tested (1-30 µM), the GET73 treatment did not alter the EtOH-induced reduction of microglial cell viability. CONCLUSIONS: - The current results provide the first in vitro evidence of GET73 protective properties against EtOH-induced neuroinflammation. These data add more information on the complex and multifactorial profile of action of the compound, further supporting the significance of developing GET73 as a therapeutic tool for the treatment of individuals with alcohol use disorders.

Signature of paraoxonases in the altered redox homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease.

Paraoxonase (PON) enzymes (PON1, PON2 and PON3) exert antioxidant properties through arylesterase, lactonase and paraoxonase activities. Increasing findings suggested their potential involvement, particularly PON1 and PON2, in Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative pathology characterized by early oxidative stress. Specifically, decreased serum PON1-arylesterase and lactonase activities seem to be associated with an increased brain oxidative damage in early AD, leading to hypothesize that PON activity alterations might be an early event in AD. To address this hypothesis, the levels of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE; i.e. a marker of oxidative stress damage) along with the protein expression and enzymatic activity of PON1 and PON2 have been investigated in the brain and serum of young [Postnatal day (PD)8-10, 20-25 and 60-65] asymptomatic 3xTg-AD female mice, one of the most used transgenic models of AD. At PD 8-10, there were no differences in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) 4-HNE expression levels between 3xTg-AD mice compared to controls (Non-Tg mice). On the other hand, significant increased levels of 4-HNE were detected in PD 20-30 3xTg-AD mice hippocampus, while a significant reduction was observed in 3xTg-AD group at PD 60-65. In the PFC, 4-HNE levels were significantly reduced in 3xTg-AD mice brain at PD 20-30, while no differences in 4-HNE levels were detected at PD 60-65. No significant differences in arylesterase and lactonase activities were observed in the plasma of 3xTg-AD and Non-Tg mice at the different considered ages. Compared to Non-Tg mice, a reduction of brain arylesterase activity was found in 3xTg-AD female at PD 20-30 and PD 60-65, but it was significant only in the younger group. Finally, a similar trend was observed also for PON1 and PON2 protein levels, with both significantly, and solely, decreased in 3xTg-AD mice brain at PD 20-30. Overall, these findings suggest that the altered oxidative stress homeostasis in the 3xTg-AD female mice may be related to an early reduction in activity and expression of PONs enzymes most likely via a reduced brain arylesterases activity.

Prenatal MAM exposure raises kynurenic acid levels in the prefrontal cortex of adult rats.

BACKGROUND: Elevated brain levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA), a metabolite in the kynurenine pathway, are associated with cognitive dysfunctions, which are nowadays often considered as fundamental characteristics of several psychopathologies; however, the role of KYNA in mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to assess KYNA levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rats prenatally treated with methylazoxymethanol (MAM) acetate, i.e., a well-validated neurodevelopmental animal model of schizophrenia. The effects of an early pharmacological modulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system were also evaluated. METHODS: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with MAM (22 mg/kg, ip) or its vehicle at gestational day 17. Male offspring were treated with the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist AM251 (0.5 mg/kg/day, ip) or with the typical antipsychotic haloperidol (0.6 mg/kg/day, ip) from postnatal day (PND) 19 to PND39. The locomotor activity and cognitive performance were assessed in the novel object recognition test and the open field test in adulthood. KYNA levels in the PFC of prenatally MAM-treated rats were also assessed. RESULTS: A significant cognitive impairment was observed in prenatally MAM-treated rats (p < 0.01), which was associated with enhanced PFC KYNA levels (p < 0.05). The peripubertal AM251, but not haloperidol, treatment ameliorated the cognitive deficit (p < 0.05), by normalizing the PFC KYNA content in MAM rats. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that the cognitive deficit observed in MAM rats may be related to enhanced PFC KYNA levels which could be, in turn, mediated by the activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptor. These results further support the modulation of brain KYNA levels as a potential therapeutic strategy to ameliorate the cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia.

Supramolecular eutectogel as new oral paediatric delivery system to enhance benznidazole bioavailability.

Benznidazole (BNZ) serves as the primary drug for treating Chagas Disease and is listed in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children. Herein, a new child-friendly oral BNZ delivery platform is developed in the form of supramolecular eutectogels (EGs). EGs address BNZ's poor oral bioavailability and provide a flexible twice-daily dose in stick-pack format. This green and sustainable formulation strategy relies on the gelation of drug-loaded Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NaDES) with xanthan gum (XG) and water. Specifically, choline chloride-based NaDES form stable and biocompatible 5 mg/mL BNZ-loaded EGs. Rheological and Low-field NMR investigations indicate that EGs are viscoelastic materials comprised of two co-existing regions in the XG network generated by different crosslink distributions between the biopolymer, NaDES and water. Remarkably, the shear modulus and relaxation spectrum of EGs remain unaffected by temperature variations. Upon dilution with simulated gastrointestinal fluids, EGs results in BNZ supersaturation, serving as the primary driving force for its absorption. Interestingly, after oral administration of EGs to rats, drug bioavailability increases by 2.6-fold, with a similar increase detected in their cerebrospinal fluid. The noteworthy correlation between in vivo results and in vitro release profiles confirms the efficacy of EGs in enhancing both peripheral and central BNZ oral bioavailability.

CHF5074 restores visual memory ability and pre-synaptic cortical acetylcholine release in pre-plaque Tg2576 mice.

CHF5074, a new microglial modulator, attenuates memory deficit in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice. In this study, the effect of an acute or subacute CHF5074 treatment on in vivo novel object recognition test and on [³H]Acetylcholine (ACh) and GABA release in pre-plaque (7-month-old) Tg2576 mice have been compared with those induced by the γ-secretase inhibitor LY450139 (semagacestat). Vehicle-treated Tg2576 mice displayed an impairment of recognition memory compared with wild-type animals. This impairment was recovered in transgenic animals acutely treated with CHF5074 (30 mg/kg), while LY450139 (1, 3, 10 mg/kg) was ineffective. In frontal cortex synaptosomes from vehicle-treated Tg2576 mice, K⁺-evoked [³H]ACh release was lower than that measured in wild-type mice. This reduction was absent in transgenic animals subacutely treated with CHF5074 (30 mg/kg daily for 8 days), while it was slightly, not significantly, amplified by LY450139 (3 mg/kg daily for 8 days). There were no differences between the groups on spontaneous [³H]ACh release as well as spontaneous and K⁺-evoked GABA release. These results suggest that CHF5074 has beneficial effects on visual memory and cortical cholinergic dysfunctions in pre-plaque Tg2576 mice. Together with previous findings, these data suggest that CHF5074 could be a possible candidate for early Alzheimer's disease therapeutic regimens.

Kynurenic acid, by targeting α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, modulates extracellular GABA levels in the rat striatum in vivo.

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is an astrocyte-derived non-competitive antagonist of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) and inhibits the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) competitively. The main aim of the present study was to examine the possible effects of KYNA (30 - 1000 nm), applied locally by reverse dialysis for 2 h, on extracellular GABA levels in the rat striatum. KYNA concentration-dependently reduced GABA levels, with 300 nm KYNA causing a maximal reduction to ~60% of baseline concentrations. The effect of KYNA (100 nm) was prevented by co-application of galantamine (5 µm), an agonist at a site of the α7nAChR that is very similar to that targeted by KYNA. Infusion of 7-chlorokynurenic acid (100 nm), an NMDAR antagonist acting selectively at the glycineB site of the receptor, affected neither basal GABA levels nor the KYNA-induced reduction in GABA. Inhibition of endogenous KYNA formation by reverse dialysis of (S)-4-(ethylsulfonyl)benzoylalanine (ESBA; 1 mm) increased extracellular GABA levels, reaching a peak of 156% of baseline levels after 1 h. Co-infusion of 100 nm KYNA abolished the effect of ESBA. Qualitatively and quantitatively similar, bi-directional effects of KYNA on extracellular glutamate were observed in the same microdialysis samples. Taken together, the present findings suggest that fluctuations in endogenous KYNA levels, by modulating α7nAChR function, control extracellular GABA levels in the rat striatum. This effect may be relevant for a number of physiological and pathological processes involving the basal ganglia.