Altered functional brain network connectivity and glutamate system function in transgenic mice expressing truncated Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1.

Considerable evidence implicates DISC1 as a susceptibility gene for multiple psychiatric diseases. DISC1 has been intensively studied at the molecular, cellular and behavioral level, but its role in regulating brain connectivity and brain network function remains unknown. Here, we utilize a set of complementary approaches to assess the functional brain network abnormalities present in mice expressing a truncated Disc1 gene (Disc1tr Hemi mice). Disc1tr Hemi mice exhibited hypometabolism in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and reticular thalamus along with a reorganization of functional brain network connectivity that included compromised hippocampal-PFC connectivity. Altered hippocampal-PFC connectivity in Disc1tr Hemi mice was confirmed by electrophysiological analysis, with Disc1tr Hemi mice showing a reduced probability of presynaptic neurotransmitter release in the monosynaptic glutamatergic hippocampal CA1-PFC projection. Glutamate system dysfunction in Disc1tr Hemi mice was further supported by the attenuated cerebral metabolic response to the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine and decreased hippocampal expression of NMDAR subunits 2A and 2B in these animals. These data show that the Disc1 truncation in Disc1tr Hemi mice induces a range of translationally relevant endophenotypes underpinned by glutamate system dysfunction and altered brain connectivity.

Negative allosteric modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 results in broad spectrum activity relevant to treatment resistant depression.

Evidence suggests that 30-50% of patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) are classified as suffering from treatment resistant depression (TRD) as they have an inadequate response to standard antidepressants. A key feature of this patient population is the increased incidence of co-morbid symptoms like anxiety and pain. Recognizing that current standards of care are largely focused on monoaminergic mechanisms of action (MOAs), innovative approaches to drug discovery for TRD are targeting glutamate hyperfunction. Here we describe the in vitro and in vivo profile of GRN-529, a novel negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). In cell based pharmacology assays, GRN-529 is a high affinity (Ki 5.4 nM), potent (IC50 3.1 nM) and selective (>1000-fold selective vs mGluR1) mGluR5 NAM. Acute administration of GRN-529 (0.1-30 mg/kg p.o.) had dose-dependent efficacy across a therapeutically relevant battery of animal models, comprising depression (decreased immobility time in tail suspension and forced swim tests) and 2 of the co-morbid symptoms overrepresented in TRD, namely anxiety (attenuation of stress-induced hyperthermia, and increased punished crossings in the four plate test) and pain (reversal of hyperalgesia due to sciatic nerve ligation or inflammation). The potential side effect liability of GRN-529 was also assessed using preclinical models: GRN-529 had no effect on rat sexual behavior or motor co-ordination (rotarod), however it impaired cognition in mice (social odor recognition). Efficacy and side effects of GRN-529 were compared to standard of care agents (antidepressant, anxiolytic or analgesics) and the tool mGluR5 NAM, MTEP. To assess the relationship between target occupancy and efficacy, ex vivo receptor occupancy was measured in parallel with efficacy testing. This revealed a strong correlation between target engagement, exposure and efficacy across behavioral endpoints, which supports the potential translational value of PET imaging to dose selection in patients. Collectively this broad spectrum profile of efficacy of GRN-529 supports our hypothesis that negative allosteric modulation of mGluR5 could represent an innovative therapeutic approach to the treatment of TRD. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors'.

Inhibition of the glutamate transporter EAAC1 expressed in Xenopus oocytes by phorbol esters.

Recent evidence indicates that second messengers and protein kinases regulate the activity and expression of glutamate transporters. The aim of the present study was to determine if direct activation of protein kinases C or A modulates the activity of the sodium-dependent glutamate transporter EAAC1. EAAC1 modulation was studied in cRNA-injected Xenopus oocytes by measuring [3H]L-glutamate uptake or glutamate-evoked uptake currents. We found that activation of PKA was ineffective, whereas treatment with the PKC agonist phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused a significant decrease in EAAC1 transport activity (IC(50)=44.7+/-12 nM). PMA-induced EAAC1 inhibition was PKC-mediated because the inhibition could be blocked by specific PKC inhibitors and incubation with the inactive 4alpha-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (4alpha-PDD) did not affect EAAC1. Saturation studies of glutamate-evoked uptake currents showed that PMA-mediated inhibition was due to a decrease in I(max) with no change in K(m). PMA simultaneously decreased membrane capacitance (C(m)) and transport-associated current and increased cytosolic accumulation of EAAC1 protein, compared to control. These results suggest that PKC activation inhibits EAAC1 by promoting its retrieval from the plasma membrane. PMA also significantly decreased glutamate uptake in a Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line stably transfected with EAAC1 but enhanced EAAC1-mediated glutamate uptake in the rat C6 glioma cells, consistent with previous observations. Because activation of PKC by phorbol esters leads to opposite effects on EAAC1 activity in different culture models, we conclude that the PKC-mediated regulation of EAAC1 is cell-type specific.

Inducible expression and pharmacology of the human excitatory amino acid transporter 2 subtype of L-glutamate transporter.

1. In this study we have examined the use of the ecdysone-inducible mammalian expression system (Invitrogen) for the regulation of expression of the predominant L-glutamate transporter EAAT2 (Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter) in HEK 293 cells. 2. HEK 293 cells which were stably transformed with the regulatory vector pVgRXR (EcR 293 cells) were used for transfection of the human EAAT2 cDNA using the inducible vector pIND and a clone designated HEK/EAAT2 was selected for further characterization. 3. Na+-dependent L-glutamate uptake activity (3.2 pmol min-1 mg-1) was observed in EcR 293 cells and this was increased approximately 2 fold in the uninduced HEK/EAAT2 cells, indicating a low level of basal EAAT2 activity in the absence of exogenous inducing agent. Exposure of HEK/EAAT2 cells to the ecdysone analogue Ponasterone A (10 microM for 24 h) resulted in a > or = 10 fold increase in the Na+-dependent activity. 4. L-glutamate uptake into induced HEK/EAAT2 cells followed first-order Michaelis-Menten kinetics and Eadie-Hofstee transformation of the saturable uptake data produced estimates of kinetic parameters as follows; Km 52.7+/-7.5 microM, Vmax 3.8+/-0.9 nmol min-1 mg-1 protein. 5. The pharmacological profile of the EAAT2 subtype was characterized using a series of L-glutamate transport inhibitors and the rank order of inhibitory potency was similar to that described previously for the rat homologue GLT-1 and in synaptosomal preparations from rat cortex. 6. Addition of the EAAT2 modulator arachidonic acid resulted in an enhancement (155+/-5% control in the presence of 30 microM) of the L-glutamate transport capacity in the induced HEK/EAAT2 cells. 7. This study demonstrates that the expression of EAAT2 can be regulated in a mammalian cell line using the ecdysone-inducible mammalian expression system.

Action of gold salts in some inflammatory and immunological models.

Several gold salts were compared in kaolin-induced rat paw oedema, u.v. erythema in guinea pigs, delayed type hypersensitivity and humoral immunity in mice, and adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat. In the latter the additional parameters of serum gold and copper levels and lysosomal enzyme activity were determined. In addition, the in vitro inhibition of several lysosomal enzymes derived from mouse macrophages was studied. The gold compounds examined were aurothiomalate, aurothioglucose, triethylphosphine gold chloride (SK & F 36914) and its glucopyranoside derivative (SK & F D-39162), triphenylphosphine gold chloride and sodium gold chloride dihydrate. SK & F 36914 and SK & F D-39162 has significant activity after oral dosage upon paw kaolin and u.v. erythema in rats and guinea pigs, respectively. Gastric swelling also occurred. In Wistar rats, adjuvant arthritis was little affected by the gold salts but in the Lewis rats there was suppression. In both strains there was less elevation in serum copper levels with treatment by SK & F 36914 and SK & F D-39162, but not by aurothiomalate. None of the compounds had any measurable effect on delayed hypersensitivity or humoral antibody levels in mice. The in vitro activities of cathepsin B1 and cathepsin D were inhibited by all the gold compounds. Reactivity of gold compounds with glutathione and cysteine in vitro was dependent on compound solubility and the nature of the gold ligand. Considerable differences exist between the profiles of activity for the different gold salts evaluated. These observations indicate that some gold salts do possess anti-inflammatory activity with a potency similar to that of indomethacin.