Biallelic Mutations in PDE10A Lead to Loss of Striatal PDE10A and a Hyperkinetic Movement Disorder with Onset in Infancy.

Deficits in the basal ganglia pathways modulating cortical motor activity underlie both Parkinson disease (PD) and Huntington disease (HD). Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) is enriched in the striatum, and animal data suggest that it is a key regulator of this circuitry. Here, we report on germline PDE10A mutations in eight individuals from two families affected by a hyperkinetic movement disorder due to homozygous mutations c.320A>G (p.Tyr107Cys) and c.346G>C (p.Ala116Pro). Both mutations lead to a reduction in PDE10A levels in recombinant cellular systems, and critically, positron-emission-tomography (PET) studies with a specific PDE10A ligand confirmed that the p.Tyr107Cys variant also reduced striatal PDE10A levels in one of the affected individuals. A knock-in mouse model carrying the homologous p.Tyr97Cys variant had decreased striatal PDE10A and also displayed motor abnormalities. Striatal preparations from this animal had an impaired capacity to degrade cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and a blunted pharmacological response to PDE10A inhibitors. These observations highlight the critical role of PDE10A in motor control across species.

Phosphodiesterase 10A Inhibitor Monotherapy Is Not an Effective Treatment of Acute Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Current treatments for psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia often provide inadequate efficacy with unacceptable adverse effects. Improved therapeutics have long been a goal of research. Preclinical testing suggests that phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitors may provide a novel approach to treating psychosis associated with schizophrenia. METHODS: The efficacy and safety of a highly selective PDE10A inhibitor, PF-02545920, was evaluated in a phase 2 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Eligible patients (18-65 years) with an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia were randomized 2:2:1:2 to PF-02545920 (5 or 15 mg every 12 hours [Q12H] titrated), risperidone (3 mg Q12H), or placebo for 28 days (n = 74:74:37:74). The primary objectives were to evaluate the efficacy of PF-02545920 using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANNS) and safety/tolerability. RESULTS: At day 28, PF-02545920 (either dose) was not significantly different from placebo for mean change from baseline in the PANNS total score (primary end point) or most other end points. Pharmacokinetics exposures seemed adequate for binding/inhibiting PDE10A enzyme. Risperidone was statistically different from placebo for the PANNS total score, demonstrating study sensitivity. Incidence rates for adverse events were similar among the groups. Both doses of PF-02545920 were generally well tolerated. Dystonia occurred in 1, 6, 0, and 3 patients in the PF-02545920 5 mg Q12H, PF-02545920 15 mg Q12H, risperidone, and placebo groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Neither dose of PF-02545920 was superior to placebo for the primary and most secondary end points. This indicates that PDE10A inhibition does not produce an antipsychotic effect in patients with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia.

A Proof-of-Concept Study Evaluating the Phosphodiesterase 10A Inhibitor PF-02545920 in the Adjunctive Treatment of Suboptimally Controlled Symptoms of Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Effective treatments for managing suboptimal clinical responses to current therapy for schizophrenia remain a critical unmet need. Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibition represents a mechanistically novel approach to the treatment of schizophrenia, with preclinical studies suggesting improvements in partially responsive symptoms could be achieved via adjunctive use of the PDE10A inhibitor PF-02545920. Therefore, the adjunctive safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of multiple repeat doses of PF-02545920 were investigated in a phase 1b study and subsequent phase 2 study. METHODS: The phase 1b study randomized 37 adult patients with stable symptomatology and stable antipsychotic regimens within 3 cohorts. Study participants received ascending doses of PF-02545920 or placebo for 10 to 18 days. The phase 2 study randomized 240 outpatients with stable symptomatology but suboptimal response to current antipsychotic regimens 1:1:1 to PF-02545920 5 mg, PF-02545920 15 mg, or placebo every 12 hours for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy end point of the phase 2 study was change in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score from baseline to week 12, with changes in other clinical assessments as secondary end points. RESULTS: Treatment was well tolerated, and observed PF-02545920 exposures were within the range predicted to be adequate for demonstrating efficacy. However, no significant differences in the prespecified efficacy end points between the 2 PF-02545920 treatment arms and placebo were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Current data and results of a prior monotherapy study in which PF-02545920 failed to differentiate from placebo refute the hypothesis that PDE10A inhibitors have use as antipsychotic agents for schizophrenia.

The isozyme selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, ABI-4, attenuates the effects of lipopolysaccharide in human cells and rodent models of peripheral and CNS inflammation.

Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) have been approved for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, but are associated with dose-limiting nausea and vomiting. These side effects are hypothesized to be mediated by inhibition of the PDE4D isozyme. Here we demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects of the novel brain penetrant PDE4D-sparing PDE4 inhibitor, ABI-4. ABI-4 was a potent (EC50∼14nM) inhibitor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced TNF-α release from mouse microglia and human PBMCs. ABI-4 (0.32mg/kg) blocked LPS-induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6) in blood and brain of mice. In a rat model of endotoxin induced uveitis, ABI-4 (0.03-0.3mg/kg) demonstrated steroid-like efficacy in preventing leucocyte infiltration of the aqueous humor when administered 4h after LPS. LPS (0.32mg/kg×5days) caused a 30% upregulation of translocator protein (TSPO) binding which was prevented by co-administration of ABI-4 (0.32mg/kg). In a paradigm to assess motivation, LPS (0.32mg/kg) reduced the number of rewards received, whereas the effect was significantly blunted in mice dosed with ABI-4 (P<0.05) or in PDE4B-/- mice. PDE4B was also shown to modulate brain and plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß in aged mice. Aged mice dosed chronically with ABI-4 (0.32mg/kg) as well as aged PDE4B-/- mice, had significantly lower levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß in brain and plasma relative to vehicle treated or PDE4+/+ mice. Together these data demonstrate that the PDE4D sparing, PDE4 inhibitor, ABI-4 retains potency and efficacy in exerting anti-inflammatory effects. This mechanism warrants further investigation in human disorders involving neuroinflammation.

Facilitation of corticostriatal transmission following pharmacological inhibition of striatal phosphodiesterase 10A: role of nitric oxide-soluble guanylyl cyclase-cGMP signaling pathways.

The striatum contains a rich variety of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which play a critical role in the regulation of cAMP and cGMP signaling. The dual-substrate enzyme PDE10A is the most highly expressed PDE in striatal medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) with low micromolar affinity for both cyclic nucleotides. Previously, we have shown that systemic and local administration of the selective PDE10A inhibitor TP-10 potently increased the responsiveness of MSNs to cortical stimulation. However, the signaling mechanisms underlying PDE10A inhibitor-induced changes in corticostriatal transmission are only partially understood. The current studies assessed the respective roles of cAMP and cGMP in the above effects using soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) or adenylate cyclase (AC) specific inhibitors. Cortically evoked spike activity was monitored in urethane-anesthetized rats using in vivo extracellular recordings performed proximal to a microdialysis probe during local infusion of vehicle, the selective sGC inhibitor ODQ, or the selective AC inhibitor SQ 22536. Systemic administration of TP-10 (3.2 mg/kg) robustly increased cortically evoked spike activity in a manner that was blocked following intrastriatal infusion of ODQ (50 µm). The effects of TP-10 on evoked activity were due to accumulation of cGMP, rather than cAMP, as the AC inhibitor SQ was without effect. Consistent with these observations, studies in neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) knock-out (KO) mice confirmed that PDE10A operates downstream of nNOS to limit cGMP production and excitatory corticostriatal transmission. Thus, stimulation of PDE10A acts to attenuate corticostriatal transmission in a manner largely dependent on effects directed at the NO-sGC-cGMP signaling cascade.

Positive allosteric modulation of AMPA receptors from efficacy to toxicity: the interspecies exposure-response continuum of the novel potentiator PF-4778574.

α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) positive allosteric modulation (i.e., "potentiation") has been proposed to overcome cognitive impairments in schizophrenia, but AMPAR overstimulation can be excitotoxic. Thus, it is critical to define carefully a potentiator's mechanism-based therapeutic index (TI) and to determine confidently its translatability from rodents to higher-order species. Accordingly, the novel AMPAR potentiator N-{(3R,4S)-3-[4-(5-cyano-2-thienyl)phenyl]tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl}propane-2-sulfonamide (PF-4778574) was characterized in a series of in vitro assays and single-dose animal studies evaluating AMPAR-mediated activities related to cognition and safety to afford an unbound brain compound concentration (Cb,u)-normalized interspecies exposure-response relationship. Because it is unknown which AMPAR subtype(s) may be selectively potentiated for an optimal TI, PF-4778574 binding affinity and functional potency were determined in rodent tissues expected to express a native mixture of AMPAR subunits and their associated proteins to afford composite pharmacological values. Functional activity was also quantified in recombinant cell lines stably expressing human GluA2 flip or flop homotetramers. Procognitive effects of PF-4778574 were evaluated in both rat electrophysiological and nonhuman primate (nhp) behavioral models of pharmacologically induced N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor hypofunction. Safety studies assessed cerebellum-based AMPAR activation (mouse) and motor coordination disruptions (mouse, dog, and nhp), as well as convulsion (mouse, rat, and dog). The resulting empirically derived exposure-response continuum for PF-4778574 defines a single-dose-based TI of 8- to 16-fold for self-limiting tremor, a readily monitorable clinical adverse event. Importantly, the Cb,u mediating each physiological effect were highly consistent across species, with efficacy and convulsion occurring at just fractions of the in vitro-derived pharmacological values.

Phosphodiesterase 9A regulates central cGMP and modulates responses to cholinergic and monoaminergic perturbation in vivo.

Cyclic nucleotides are critical regulators of synaptic plasticity and participate in requisite signaling cascades implicated across multiple neurotransmitter systems. Phosphodiesterase 9A (PDE9A) is a high-affinity, cGMP-specific enzyme widely expressed in the rodent central nervous system. In the current study, we observed neuronal staining with antibodies raised against PDE9A protein in human cortex, cerebellum, and subiculum. We have also developed several potent, selective, and brain-penetrant PDE9A inhibitors and used them to probe the function of PDE9A in vivo. Administration of these compounds to animals led to dose-dependent accumulation of cGMP in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid, producing a range of biological effects that implied functional significance for PDE9A-regulated cGMP in dopaminergic, cholinergic, and serotonergic neurotransmission and were consistent with the widespread distribution of PDE9A. In vivo effects of PDE9A inhibition included reversal of the respective disruptions of working memory by ketamine, episodic and spatial memory by scopolamine, and auditory gating by amphetamine, as well as potentiation of risperidone-induced improvements in sensorimotor gating and reversal of the stereotypic scratching response to the hallucinogenic 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A agonist mescaline. The results suggested a role for PDE9A in the regulation of monoaminergic circuitry associated with sensory processing and memory. Thus, PDE9A activity regulates neuronal cGMP signaling downstream of multiple neurotransmitter systems, and inhibition of PDE9A may provide therapeutic benefits in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases promoted by the dysfunction of these diverse neurotransmitter systems.

First-in-Human Evaluation of 18F-PF-06445974, a PET Radioligand That Preferentially Labels Phosphodiesterase-4B.

Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), which metabolizes the second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), has 4 isozymes: PDE4A, PDE4B, PDE4C, and PDE4D. PDE4B and PDE4D have the highest expression in the brain and may play a role in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression and dementia. This study evaluated the properties of the newly developed PDE4B-selective radioligand 18F-PF-06445974 in the brains of rodents, monkeys, and humans. Methods: Three monkeys and 5 healthy human volunteers underwent PET scans after intravenous injection of 18F-PF-06445974. Brain uptake was quantified as total distribution volume (V T) using the standard 2-tissue-compartment model and serial concentrations of parent radioligand in arterial plasma. Results: 18F-PF-06445974 readily distributed throughout monkey and human brain and had the highest binding in the thalamus. The value of V T was well identified by a 2-tissue-compartment model but increased by 10% during the terminal portions (40 and 60 min) of the monkey and human scans, respectively, consistent with radiometabolite accumulation in the brain. The average human V T values for the whole brain were 9.5 ± 2.4 mL ⋅ cm-3 Radiochromatographic analyses in knockout mice showed that 2 efflux transporters-permeability glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)-completely cleared the problematic radiometabolite but also partially cleared the parent radioligand from the brain. In vitro studies with the human transporters suggest that the parent radioligand was a partial substrate for BCRP and, to a lesser extent, for P-gp. Conclusion: 18F-PF-06445974 quantified PDE4B in the human brain with reasonable, but not complete, success. The gold standard compartmental method of analyzing brain and plasma data successfully identified the regional densities of PDE4B, which were widespread and highest in the thalamus, as expected. Because the radiometabolite-induced error was only about 10%, the radioligand is, in the opinion of the authors, suitable to extend to clinical studies.

Chronic suppression of phosphodiesterase 10A alters striatal expression of genes responsible for neurotransmitter synthesis, neurotransmission, and signaling pathways implicated in Huntington's disease.

Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) promotes cyclic nucleotide signaling, increases striatal activation, and decreases behavioral activity. Enhanced cyclic nucleotide signaling is a well established route to producing changes in gene expression. We hypothesized that chronic suppression of PDE10A activity would have significant effects on gene expression in the striatum. A comparison of the expression profile of PDE10A knockout (KO) mice and wild-type mice after chronic PDE10A inhibition revealed altered expression of 19 overlapping genes with few significant changes outside the striatum or after administration of a PDE10A inhibitor to KO animals. Chronic inhibition of PDE10A produced up-regulation of mRNAs encoding genes that included prodynorphin, synaptotagmin10, phosphodiesterase 1C, glutamate decarboxylase 1, and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase and a down-regulation of mRNAs encoding choline acetyltransferase and Kv1.6, suggesting long-term suppression of the PDE10A enzyme is consistent with altered striatal excitability and potential utility as a antipsychotic therapy. In addition, up-regulation of mRNAs encoding histone 3 (H3) and down-regulation of histone deacetylase 4, follistatin, and claspin mRNAs suggests activation of molecular cascades capable of neuroprotection. We used lentiviral delivery of cAMP response element (CRE)-luciferase reporter constructs into the striatum and live animal imaging of 2-{4-[-pyridin-4-yl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]-phenoxymethyl}-quinoline succinic acid (TP-10)-induced luciferase activity to further demonstrate PDE10 inhibition results in CRE-mediated transcription. Consistent with potential neuroprotective cascades, we also demonstrate phosphorylation of mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1 and H3 in vivo after TP-10 treatment. The observed changes in signaling and gene expression are predicted to provide neuroprotective effects in models of Huntington's disease.

An octahydro-cyclopenta[c]pyrrole series of inhibitors of the type 1 glycine transporter.

We describe a novel series of inhibitors of the type 1 glycine transporter (GlyT1) as an approach to relieving the glutamatergic deficit that is thought to underlie schizophrenia. Synthesis and SAR follow-up of a series of octahydro-cyclopenta[c]pyrrole derivatives afforded potent in vitro inhibition of GlyT1 as well as in vivo activity in elevating CSF glycine. We also found that a 3-O(c-pentyl), 4-F substituent may serve as a surrogate for the widely used 3-trifluoromethoxy group, suggesting its application as an isostere for future medicinal chemistry studies.

PDE10A Inhibitors-Clinical Failure or Window Into Antipsychotic Drug Action?

PDE10A, a phosphodiesterase that inactivates both cAMP and cGMP, is a unique signaling molecule in being highly and nearly exclusively expressed in striatal medium spiny neurons. These neurons dynamically integrate cortical information with dopamine-signaled value to mediate action selection among available behavioral options. Medium spiny neurons are components of either the direct or indirect striatal output pathways. Selective activation of indirect pathway medium spiny neurons by dopamine D2 receptor antagonists is putatively a key element in the mechanism of their antipsychotic efficacy. While PDE10A is expressed in all medium spiny neurons, studies in rodents indicated that PDE10A inhibition has behavioral effects in several key assays that phenocopy dopamine D2 receptor inhibition. This finding gave rise to the hypothesis that PDE10A inhibition also preferentially activates indirect pathway medium spiny neurons, a hypothesis that is consistent with electrophysiological, neurochemical, and molecular effects of PDE10A inhibitors. These data underwrote industry-wide efforts to investigate and develop PDE10A inhibitors as novel antipsychotics. Disappointingly, PDE10A inhibitors from 3 companies failed to evidence antipsychotic activity in patients with schizophrenia to the same extent as standard-of-care D2 antagonists. Given the notable similarities between PDE10A inhibitors and D2 antagonists, gaining an understanding of why only the latter class is antipsychotic affords a unique window into the basis for this therapeutic efficacy. With this in mind, we review the data on PDE10A inhibition as a step toward back-translating the limited antipsychotic efficacy of PDE10A inhibitors, hopefully to inform new efforts to develop better therapeutics to treat psychosis and schizophrenia.

Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 10A Increases the Responsiveness of Striatal Projection Neurons to Cortical Stimulation.

The cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) is highly expressed in striatal medium-sized spiny projection neurons (MSNs), apparently playing a critical role in the regulation of both cGMP and cAMP signaling cascades. Genetic disruption or pharmacological inhibition of PDE10A reverses behavioral abnormalities associated with subcortical hyperdopaminergia. Here, we investigate the effect of PDE10A inhibition on the activity of MSNs using single-unit extracellular recordings performed in the dorsal striatum of anesthetized rats. Antidromic stimulation of the substantia nigra pars reticulata was used to identify striatonigral (SNr+) MSNs. Intrastriatal infusion of the selective PDE10A inhibitors papaverine or TP-10 [2-{4-[-pyridin-4-yl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]-phenoxymethyl}-quinoline succinic acid] by reverse microdialysis did not affect spontaneous firing but robustly increased measures of cortically evoked spike activity in a stimulus intensity-dependent manner. Systemic administration of TP-10 also increased cortically evoked spike activity in a stimulus intensity- and dose-dependent manner. A robust increase in cortically evoked activity was apparent in SNr- MSNs (primarily striatopallidal). It is interesting that TP-10 administration did not affect cortically evoked activity in SNr+ MSNs. However, TP-10 administration increased the incidence of antidromically activated (i.e., SNr+) MSNs. These findings indicate that inhibition of striatal PDE10A activity increases the responsiveness of MSNs to depolarizing stimuli. Furthermore, given the lack of effect of TP-10 on SNr+ MSNs, we speculate that PDE10A inhibition may have a greater facilitatory effect on corticostriatal synaptic activity in striatopallidal MSNs. These data support further investigation of selective targeting of PDE signaling pathways in MSN subpopulations because this may represent a promising novel approach for treating brain disorders involving dysfunctional glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission.

Phosphodiesterases in the CNS: targets for drug development.

The therapeutic and commercial success of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis has sparked renewed interest in the phosphodiesterases as drug discovery targets. Virtually all the phosphodiesterases are expressed in the CNS, making this gene family a particularly attractive source of new targets for the treatment of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Significantly, all neurons express multiple phosphodiesterases, which differ in cyclic nucleotide specificity, affinity, regulatory control and subcellular compartmentalization. Therefore, phosphodiesterase inhibition represents a mechanism through which it could be possible to precisely modulate neuronal activity. In this article, we review the current state of the art in the burgeoning field of phosphodiesterase pharmacology in the CNS.

Phosphodiesterase 9A in Brain Regulates cGMP Signaling Independent of Nitric-Oxide.

PDE9A is a cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase expressed in neurons throughout the brain that has attracted attention as a therapeutic target to treat cognitive disorders. Indeed, PDE9A inhibitors are under evaluation in clinical trials as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. However, little is known about the cGMP signaling cascades regulated by PDE9A. Canonical cGMP signaling in brain follows the activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the generation of nitric oxide, which activates soluble guanylyl cyclase and cGMP synthesis. However, we show that in mice, PDE9A regulates a pool of cGMP that is independent of nNOS, specifically, and nitric oxide signaling in general. This PDE9A-regulated cGMP pool appears to be highly compartmentalized and independent of cGMP pools regulated by several PDEs. These findings provide a new foundation for study of the upstream and downstream signaling elements regulated by PDE9A and its potential as a therapeutic target for brain disease.

In vitro phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) binding in whole hemisphere human brain using the PET radioligand [18F]MNI-659.

Highly specific and sensitive biomarkers for pathologies related to dysfunctions in the basal ganglia circuit are of great value to assess therapeutic efficacy not only clinically to establish an early diagnosis, but also in terms of monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic interventions and decelerated neurodegeneration. The phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) enzyme plays a central role in striatal signaling and is implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders involving striatal pathology, such as Huntingtons disease (HD) and schizophrenia. Inhibition of PDE10A activates the neurons in the striatum and consequently leads to alteration of behavioral aspects modulated by the striatal circuit. [18F]MNI-659, (2-(2-(3-(4-(2-[18F]fluoroethoxy)phenyl)-7-methyl-4-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2-yl)ethyl)-4-isopropoxyisoindoline-1,3-dione), is a newly developed PET radioligand that shows a high binding to PDE10A in the human brain in vivo. In the present study, we examined the in vitro binding of [18F]MNI-659 in human postmortem brain to gain a better understanding of the presence, density, disease-related alterations and therapy related to changes in PDE10A expression. The results show high specific binding of [18F]MNI-659 in the caudate nucleus, putamen and the hippocampal formation. Low specific [18F]MNI-659 binding was detected in nucleus accumbens in comparison to the caudate nucleus and putamen. In vitro binding studies with [18F]MNI-659 will facilitate in elucidating better understanding of the role of PDE10A activity in health and disease that may lead to new diagnostic opportunities in HD.

Behavioral characterization of mice deficient in the phosphodiesterase-10A (PDE10A) enzyme on a C57/Bl6N congenic background.

The phenotype of genetically modified animals is strongly influenced by both the genetic background of the animal as well as environmental factors. We have previously reported the behavioral and neurochemical characterization of PDE10A knockout mice maintained on a DBA1LacJ (PDE10A(DBA)) genetic background. The aim of the present studies was to assess the behavioral and neurochemical phenotype of PDE10A knockout mice on an alternative congenic C57BL/6N (PDE10A(C57)) genetic background. Consistent with our previous results, PDE10A(C57) knockout mice showed a decrease in exploratory locomotor activity and a delay in the acquisition of conditioned avoidance responding. Also consistent with previous studies, the elimination of PDE10A did not alter basal levels of striatal cGMP or cAMP or affect behavior in several other well-characterized behavioral assays. PDE10A(C57) knockout mice showed a blunted response to MK-801, although to a lesser degree than previously observed in the PDE10A(DBA) knockout mice, and no differences were observed following a PCP challenge. PDE10A(C57) knockout mice showed a significant change in striatal dopamine turnover, which was accompanied by an enhanced locomotor response to AMPH, These studies demonstrate that while many of the behavioral effects of the PDE10A gene deletion appear to be independent of genetic background, the impact of the deletion on behavior can vary in magnitude. Furthermore, the effects on the dopaminergic system appear to be background-dependent, with significant effects observed only in knockout mice on the C57BL6N genetic background.

Identification of a Potent, Highly Selective, and Brain Penetrant Phosphodiesterase 2A Inhibitor Clinical Candidate.

Computational modeling was used to direct the synthesis of analogs of previously reported phosphodiesterase 2A (PDE2A) inhibitor 1 with an imidazotriazine core to yield compounds of significantly enhanced potency. The analog PF-05180999 (30) was subsequently identified as a preclinical candidate targeting cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. Compound 30 demonstrated potent binding to PDE2A in brain tissue, dose responsive mouse brain cGMP increases, and reversal of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist-induced (MK-801, ketamine) effects in electrophysiology and working memory models in rats. Preclinical pharmacokinetics revealed unbound brain/unbound plasma levels approaching unity and good oral bioavailability resulting in an average concentration at steady state (Cav,ss) predicted human dose of 30 mg once daily (q.d.). Modeling of a modified release formulation suggested that 25 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) could maintain plasma levels of 30 at or above targeted efficacious plasma levels for 24 h, which became part of the human clinical plan.

Discovery of a series of 6,7-dimethoxy-4-pyrrolidylquinazoline PDE10A inhibitors.

A papaverine based pharmacophore model for PDE10A inhibition was generated via SBDD and used to design a library of 4-amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolines. From this library emerged an aryl ether pyrrolidyl 6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline series that became the focal point for additional modeling, X-ray, and synthetic efforts toward increasing PDE10A inhibitory potency and selectivity versus PDE3A/B. These efforts culminated in the discovery of 29, a potent and selective brain penetrable inhibitor of PDE10A.

Phosphodiesterase 10A inhibitors: a novel approach to the treatment of the symptoms of schizophrenia.

A disruption of corticostriatal signaling is believed to underlie the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia and also contribute to many of the cognitive deficits associated with this disorder. Phosphodiesterase (PDE)10A is a dual substrate PDE highly expressed in striatal medium spiny neurons. Biochemical and behavioral studies indicate that the inhibition of PDE10A enhances striatal output by increasing activity in the cGMP and cAMP signaling pathways. PDE10A inhibitors reduce exploratory activity and antagonize the stimulant response to both amphetamine and N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonists such as phencyclidine. Consistent with their potential as antipsychotic agents, PDE10A inhibitors are potent antagonists of conditioned avoidance responding. The presence of PDE10A in both striatal output pathways may reduce the incidence and severity of dopamine D2 receptor antagonist-like side effects, including extrapyramidal symptoms. In addition, by enhancing corticostriatal signaling, PDE10A inhibitors have the potential to improve some of the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Dopamine D3/D2 Receptor Antagonist PF-4363467 Attenuates Opioid Drug-Seeking Behavior without Concomitant D2 Side Effects.

Dopamine receptor antagonism is a compelling molecular target for the treatment of a range of psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders. From our corporate compound file, we identified a structurally unique D3 receptor (D3R) antagonist scaffold, 1. Through a hybrid approach, we merged key pharmacophore elements from 1 and D3 agonist 2 to yield the novel D3R/D2R antagonist PF-4363467 (3). Compound 3 was designed to possess CNS drug-like properties as defined by its CNS MPO desirability score (≥4/6). In addition to good physicochemical properties, 3 exhibited low nanomolar affinity for the D3R (D3 Ki = 3.1 nM), good subtype selectivity over D2R (D2 Ki = 692 nM), and high selectivity for D3R versus other biogenic amine receptors. In vivo, 3 dose-dependently attenuated opioid self-administration and opioid drug-seeking behavior in a rat operant reinstatement model using animals trained to self-administer fentanyl. Further, traditional extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), adverse side effects arising from D2R antagonism, were not observed despite high D2 receptor occupancy (RO) in rodents, suggesting that compound 3 has a unique in vivo profile. Collectively, our data support further investigation of dual D3R and D2R antagonists for the treatment of drug addiction.