Synthesis and evaluation of 2-amido-3-carboxamide thiophene CB2 receptor agonists for pain management.

SAR studies on a series of thiophene amide derivatives provided CB(2) receptor agonists. The activity of the compounds was characterized by radioligand binding determination, multiple functional assays, ADME, and pharmacokinetic studies. A representative compound with selectivity for CB(2) over CB(1) effectively produced analgesia in behavioral models of neuropathic, inflammatory, and postsurgical pain. Control experiments using a CB(2) antagonist demonstrated the efficacy in the pain models resulted from CB(2) agonism.

Indol-3-yl-tetramethylcyclopropyl ketones: effects of indole ring substitution on CB2 cannabinoid receptor activity.

A series of potent indol-3-yl-tetramethylcyclopropyl ketones have been prepared as CB 2 cannabinoid receptor ligands. Two unsubstituted indoles ( 5, 32) were the starting points for an investigation of the effect of indole ring substitutions on CB 2 and CB 1 binding affinities and activity in a CB 2 in vitro functional assay. Indole ring substitutions had varying effects on CB 2 and CB 1 binding, but were generally detrimental to agonist activity. Substitution on the indole ring did lead to improved CB 2/CB 1 binding selectivity in some cases (i.e., 7- 9, 15- 20). All indoles with the morpholino-ethyl side chain ( 32- 43) exhibited weaker binding affinity and less agonist activity relative to that of their tetrahydropyranyl-methyl analogs ( 5- 31). Several agonists were active in the complete Freund's adjuvant model of chronic inflammatory thermal hyperalgesia ( 32, 15).

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 3,8-diazabicyclo[4.2.0]octane ligands, potent nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists.

A series of potent neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands based on a 3,8-diazabicyclo[4.2.0]octane core have been synthesized and evaluated for affinity and agonist efficacy at the human high affinity nicotine recognition site (halpha4beta2) and in a rat model of persistent nociceptive pain (formalin model). Numerous analogs in this series exhibit picomolar affinity in radioligand binding assays and nanomolar agonist potency in functional assays, placing them among the most potent nAChR ligands known for the halpha4beta2 receptor. Several of the compounds reported in this study (i.e., 24, 25, 28, 30, 32, and 47) exhibit equivalent or greater affinity for the halpha4beta2 receptor relative to epibatidine, and like epibatidine, many exhibit robust analgesic efficacy in the rat formalin model of persistent pain.

Indol-3-ylcycloalkyl ketones: effects of N1 substituted indole side chain variations on CB(2) cannabinoid receptor activity.

Several 3-acylindoles with high affinity for the CB(2) cannabinoid receptor and selectivity over the CB(1) receptor have been prepared. A variety of 3-acyl substituents were investigated, and the tetramethylcyclopropyl group was found to lead to high affinity CB(2) agonists (5, 16). Substitution at the N1-indole position was then examined. A series of aminoalkylindoles was prepared and several substituted aminoethyl derivatives were active (23-27, 5) at the CB(2) receptor. A study of N1 nonaromatic side chain variants provided potent agonists at the CB(2) receptor (16, 35-41, 44-47, 49-54, and 57-58). Several polar side chains (alcohols, oxazolidinone) were well-tolerated for CB(2) receptor activity (41, 50), while others (amide, acid) led to weaker or inactive compounds (55 and 56). N1 aromatic side chains also afforded several high affinity CB(2) receptor agonists (61, 63, 65, and 69) but were generally less potent in an in vitro CB(2) functional assay than were nonaromatic side chain analogues.

Octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole: a diamine scaffold for construction of either alpha4beta2 or alpha7-selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands. Substitutions that switch subtype selectivity.

A series of 5-(pyridine-3-yl)octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrroles have been prepared that exhibit high affinity to alpha4beta2 and/or alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Simple substitution patterns have been identified that allow construction of ligands that are highly selective for either nAChR subtype. The effects of substitution on subtype selectivity provide some insight into the differences in the ligand binding domains of the alpha4beta2 and alpha7 receptors, especially in regions removed from the cation binding pocket.

Preclinical characterization of A-582941: a novel alpha7 neuronal nicotinic receptor agonist with broad spectrum cognition-enhancing properties.

Among the diverse sets of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), the alpha7 subtype is highly expressed in the hippocampus and cortex and is thought to play important roles in a variety of cognitive processes. In this review, we describe the properties of a novel biaryl diamine alpha7 nAChR agonist, A-582941. A-582941 was found to exhibit high-affinity binding and partial agonism at alpha7 nAChRs, with acceptable pharmacokinetic properties and excellent distribution to the central nervous system (CNS). In vitro and in vivo studies indicated that A-582941 activates signaling pathways known to be involved in cognitive function such as ERK1/2 and CREB phosphorylation. A-582941 enhanced cognitive performance in behavioral models that capture domains of working memory, short-term recognition memory, memory consolidation, and sensory gating deficit. A-582941 exhibited a benign secondary pharmacodynamic and tolerability profile as assessed in a battery of assays of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and CNS function. The studies summarized in this review collectively provide preclinical validation that alpha7 nAChR agonism offers a mechanism with potential to improve cognitive deficits associated with various neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.