RESUMO
The identification of the novel, selective, orally bioavailable Sortilin inhibitor AF38469 is described. Structure-activity relationships and syntheses are reported, along with an X-ray crystal structure of the sortilin-AF38469 protein-inhibitor complex.
Assuntos
Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transporte Vesicular/antagonistas & inibidores , Hidrocarbonetos Fluorados/farmacologia , Piridinas/farmacologia , Administração Oral , Animais , Disponibilidade Biológica , Cristalografia por Raios X , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Ensaios de Triagem em Larga Escala , Hidrocarbonetos Fluorados/síntese química , Hidrocarbonetos Fluorados/química , Modelos Moleculares , Estrutura Molecular , Piridinas/síntese química , Piridinas/química , Ratos , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
Neuropathic pain is a major incurable clinical problem resulting from peripheral nerve trauma or disease. A central mechanism is the reduced expression of the potassium chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2) in dorsal horn neurons induced by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), causing neuronal disinhibition within spinal nociceptive pathways. Here, we demonstrate how neurotensin receptor 2 (NTSR2) signaling impairs BDNF-induced spinal KCC2 down-regulation, showing how these two pathways converge to control the abnormal sensory response following peripheral nerve injury. We establish how sortilin regulates this convergence by scavenging neurotensin from binding to NTSR2, thus modulating its inhibitory effect on BDNF-mediated mechanical allodynia. Using sortilin-deficient mice or receptor inhibition by antibodies or a small-molecule antagonist, we lastly demonstrate that we are able to fully block BDNF-induced pain and alleviate injury-induced neuropathic pain, validating sortilin as a clinically relevant target.