SHIP1 therapeutic target enablement: Identification and evaluation of inhibitors for the treatment of late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

INTRODUCTION: The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is associated with genes involved in microglial function. Inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase (INPP5D), which encodes Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1), is a risk gene expressed in microglia. Because SHIP1 binds receptor immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs), competes with kinases, and converts PI(3,4,5)P3 to PI(3,4)P2, it is a negative regulator of microglia function. Validated inhibitors are needed to evaluate SHIP1 as a potential therapeutic target. METHODS: We identified inhibitors and screened the enzymatic domain of SHIP1. A protein construct containing two domains was used to evaluate enzyme inhibitor potency and selectivity versus SHIP2. Inhibitors were tested against a construct containing all ordered domains of the human and mouse proteins. A cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) provided evidence of target engagement in cells. Phospho-AKT levels provided further evidence of on-target pharmacology. A high-content imaging assay was used to study the pharmacology of SHIP1 inhibition while monitoring cell health. Physicochemical and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties were evaluated to select a compound suitable for in vivo studies. RESULTS: SHIP1 inhibitors displayed a remarkable array of activities and cellular pharmacology. Inhibitory potency was dependent on the protein construct used to assess enzymatic activity. Some inhibitors failed to engage the target in cells. Inhibitors that were active in the CETSA consistently destabilized the protein and reduced pAKT levels. Many SHIP1 inhibitors were cytotoxic either at high concentration due to cell stress or they potently induced cell death depending on the compound and cell type. One compound activated microglia, inducing phagocytosis at concentrations that did not result in significant cell death. A pharmacokinetic study demonstrated brain exposures in mice upon oral administration. DISCUSSION: 3-((2,4-Dichlorobenzyl)oxy)-5-(1-(piperidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) pyridine activated primary mouse microglia and demonstrated exposures in mouse brain upon oral dosing. Although this compound is our recommended chemical probe for investigating the pharmacology of SHIP1 inhibition at this time, further optimization is required for clinical studies. Highlights: Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and signaling (pAKT) assays were developed to provide evidence of src homology 2 (SH2) domain-contaning inositol phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) target engagement and on-target activity in cellular assays.A phenotypic high-content imaging assay with simultaneous measures of phagocytosis, cell number, and nuclear intensity was developed to explore cellular pharmacology and monitor cell health.SHIP1 inhibitors demonstrate a wide range of activity and cellular pharmacology, and many reported inhibitors are cytotoxic.The chemical probe 3-((2,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy)-5-(1-(piperidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) pyridine is recommended to explore SHIP1 pharmacology.

First-in-Human Assessment of 11C-LSN3172176, an M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor PET Radiotracer.

This was a first-in-human study of the PET radiotracer 11C-LSN3172176 for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype M1. The objectives of the study were to determine the appropriate kinetic model to quantify binding of the tracer to M1 receptors, and the reliability of the chosen quantification method. Methods: Six healthy subjects completed the test-retest protocol, and 5 healthy subjects completed the baseline-scopolamine blocking protocol. Multiple modeling methods were applied to calculate total distribution volume (VT) and nondisplaceable binding potential (BPND) in various brain regions. The reference region was selected from the blocking study. The occupancy plot was applied to compute receptor occupancy by scopolamine and nondisplaceable distribution volume. Results: Tracer uptake was highest in the striatum, followed by neocortical regions and white matter, and lowest in the cerebellum. Regional time-activity curves were fitted well by all models. The 2-tissue-compartment (2TC) model fits were good, but the 2TC parameters often could not be reliably estimated. Because VT correlated well between the 2TC and 1-tissue-compartment (1TC) models after exclusion of unreliable estimates, the 1TC model was chosen as the most appropriate. The cerebellum showed the lowest VT, consistent with preclinical studies showing little to no specific binding in the region. Further, cerebellar VT did not change between baseline and blocking scans, indicating that the cerebellum is a suitable reference region. The simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) slightly underestimated 1TC BPND, and the simplified reference tissue model 2 (SRTM2) improved BPND estimation. An 80-min scan was sufficient to quantify VT and BPND The test-retest study showed excellent absolute test-retest variability for 1TC VT (≤5%) and BPND (≤10%). In the baseline and blocking studies, occupancy values were lower in the striatum than in nonstriatal regions, as may be attributed to differences in regional acetylcholine concentrations. Conclusion: The 1TC and SRTM2 models are appropriate for quantitative analysis of 11C-LSN3172176 imaging data. 11C-LSN3172176 displayed excellent test-retest reproducibility and is a highly promising ligand to quantify M1 receptors in the human brain.

Selective Phosphodiesterase 1 Inhibitor BTTQ Reduces Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive and Dahl Salt Sensitive Rats: Role of Peripheral Vasodilation.

Regulation of the peripheral vascular resistance via modulating the vessel diameter has been considered as a main determinant of the arterial blood pressure. Phosphodiesterase enzymes (PDE1-11) hydrolyse cyclic nucleotides, which are key players controlling the vessel diameter and, thus, peripheral resistance. Here, we have tested and reported the effects of a novel selective PDE1 inhibitor (BTTQ) on the cardiovascular system. Normal Sprague Dawley, spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), and Dahl salt-sensitive rats were used to test in vivo the efficacy of the compound. Phosphodiesterase radiometric enzyme assay revealed that BTTQ inhibited all three isoforms of PDE1 in nanomolar concentration, while micromolar concentrations were needed to induce effective inhibition for other PDEs. The myography study conducted on mesenteric arteries revealed a potent vasodilatory effect of the drug, which was confirmed in vivo by an increase in the blood flow in the rat ear arteriols reflected by the rise in the temperature. Furthermore, BTTQ proved a high efficacy in lowering the blood pressure about 9, 36, and 24 mmHg in normal Sprague Dawley, SHR and, Dahl salt-sensitive rats, respectively, compared to the vehicle-treated group. Moreover, additional blood pressure lowering of about 22 mmHg could be achieved when BTTQ was administered on top of ACE inhibitor lisinopril, a current standard of care in the treatment of hypertension. Therefore, PDE1 inhibition induced efficient vasodilation that was accompanied by a significant reduction of blood pressure in different hypertensive rat models. Administration of BTTQ was also associated with increased heart rate in both models of hypertension as well as in the normotensive rats. Thus, PDE1 appears to be an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of resistant hypertension, while tachycardia needs to be addressed by further compound structural optimization.

PET ligands [18F]LSN3316612 and [11C]LSN3316612 quantify O-linked-ß-N-acetyl-glucosamine hydrolase in the brain.

We aimed to develop effective radioligands for quantifying brain O-linked-ß-N-acetyl-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) hydrolase (OGA) using positron emission tomography in living subjects as tools for evaluating drug target engagement. Posttranslational modifications of tau, a biomarker of Alzheimer's disease, by O-GlcNAc through the enzyme pair OGA and O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) are inversely related to the amounts of its insoluble hyperphosphorylated form. Increase in tau O-GlcNAcylation by OGA inhibition is believed to reduce tau aggregation. LSN3316612, a highly selective and potent OGA ligand [half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 1.9 nM], emerged as a lead ligand after in silico analysis and in vitro evaluations. [3H]LSN3316612 imaged and quantified OGA in postmortem brains of rat, monkey, and human. The presence of fluorine and carbonyl functionality in LSN3316612 enabled labeling with positron-emitting fluorine-18 or carbon-11. Both [18F]LSN3316612 and [11C]LSN3316612 bound reversibly to OGA in vivo, and such binding was blocked by pharmacological doses of thiamet G, an OGA inhibitor of different chemotype, in monkeys. [18F]LSN3316612 entered healthy human brain avidly (~4 SUV) without radiodefluorination or adverse effect from other radiometabolites, as evidenced by stable brain total volume of distribution (VT) values by 110 min of scanning. Overall, [18F]LSN3316612 is preferred over [11C]LSN3316612 for future human studies, whereas either may be an effective positron emission tomography radioligand for quantifying brain OGA in rodent and monkey.

Evaluation of 11C-LSN3172176 as a Novel PET Tracer for Imaging M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Nonhuman Primates.

The M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) plays an important role in learning and memory, and therefore is a target for development of drugs for treatment of cognitive impairments in Alzheimer disease and schizophrenia. The availability of M1-selective radiotracers for PET will help in developing therapeutic agents by providing an imaging tool for assessment of drug dose-receptor occupancy relationship. Here we report the synthesis and evaluation of 11C-LSN3172176 (ethyl 4-(6-(methyl-11C)-2-oxoindolin-1-yl)-[1,4'-bipiperidine]-1'-carboxylate) in nonhuman primates. Methods:11C-LSN3172176 was radiolabeled via the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling method. PET scans in rhesus macaques were acquired for 2 h with arterial blood sampling and metabolite analysis to measure the input function. Blocking scans with scopolamine (50 µg/kg) and the M1-selective agent AZD6088 (0.67 and 2 mg/kg) were obtained to assess tracer binding specificity and selectivity. Regional brain time-activity curves were analyzed with the 1-tissue-compartment model and the multilinear analysis method (MA1) to calculate regional distribution volume. Nondisplaceable binding potential values were calculated using the cerebellum as a reference region. Results:11C-LSN3172176 was synthesized with greater than 99% radiochemical purity and high molar activity. In rhesus monkeys, 11C-LSN3172176 metabolized rapidly (29% ± 6% parent remaining at 15 min) and displayed fast kinetics and extremely high uptake in the brain. Imaging data were modeled well with the 1-tissue-compartment model and MA1 methods. MA1-derived distribution volume values were high (range, 10-81 mL/cm3) in all known M1 mAChR-rich brain regions. Pretreatment with scopolamine and AZD6088 significantly reduced the brain uptake of 11C-LSN3172176, thus demonstrating its binding specificity and selectivity in vivo. The cerebellum appeared to be a suitable reference region for derivation of nondisplaceable binding potential, which ranged from 2.42 in the globus pallidus to 8.48 in the nucleus accumbens. Conclusion:11C-LSN3172176 exhibits excellent in vivo binding and imaging characteristics in nonhuman primates and appears to be the first appropriate radiotracer for PET imaging of human M1 AChR.

Evaluation of a PET Radioligand to Image O-GlcNAcase in Brain and Periphery of Rhesus Monkey and Knock-Out Mouse.

Accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau, a microtubule-associated protein, plays an important role in the progression of Alzheimer disease. Animal studies suggest that one strategy for treating Alzheimer disease and related tauopathies may be inhibition of O-GlcNAcase (OGA), which may subsequently decrease pathologic tau phosphorylation. Here, we report the pharmacokinetics of a novel PET radioligand, 18F-LSN3316612, which binds with high affinity and selectivity to OGA. Methods: PET imaging was performed on rhesus monkeys at baseline and after administration of either thiamet-G, a potent OGA inhibitor, or nonradioactive LSN3316612. The density of the enzyme was calculated as distribution volume using a 2-tissue-compartment model and serial concentrations of parent radioligand in arterial plasma. The radiation burden for future studies was based on whole-body imaging of monkeys. Oga∆Br, a mouse brain-specific knockout of Oga, was also scanned to assess the specificity of the radioligand for its target enzyme. Results: Uptake of radioactivity in monkey brain was high (∼5 SUV) and followed by slow washout. The highest uptake was in the amygdala, followed by striatum and hippocampus. Pretreatment with thiamet-G or nonradioactive LSN3316612 reduced brain uptake to a low and uniform concentration in all regions, corresponding to an approximately 90% decrease in distribution volume. Whole-body imaging of rhesus monkeys showed high uptake in kidney, spleen, liver, and testes. In Oga∆Br mice, brain uptake of 18F-LSN3316612 was reduced by 82% compared with control mice. Peripheral organs were unaffected in Oga∆Br mice, consistent with loss of OGA expression exclusively in the brain. The effective dose of 18F-LSN3316612 in humans was calculated to be 22 µSv/MBq, which is typical for 18F-labeled radioligands. Conclusion: These results show that 18F-LSN3316612 is an excellent radioligand for imaging and quantifying OGA in rhesus monkeys and mice. On the basis of these data, 18F-LSN3316612 merits evaluation in humans.

In Vitro Pharmacological Characterization and In Vivo Validation of LSN3172176 a Novel M1 Selective Muscarinic Receptor Agonist Tracer Molecule for Positron Emission Tomography.

In the search for improved symptomatic treatment options for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, muscarinic acetylcholine M1 receptors (M1 mAChRs) have received significant attention. Drug development efforts have identified a number of novel ligands, some of which have advanced to the clinic. However, a significant issue for progressing these therapeutics is the lack of robust, translatable, and validated biomarkers. One valuable approach to assessing target engagement is to use positron emission tomography (PET) tracers. In this study we describe the pharmacological characterization of a selective M1 agonist amenable for in vivo tracer studies. We used a novel direct binding assay to identify nonradiolabeled ligands, including LSN3172176, with the favorable characteristics required for a PET tracer. In vitro functional and radioligand binding experiments revealed that LSN3172176 was a potent partial agonist (EC50 2.4-7.0 nM, Emax 43%-73%), displaying binding selectivity for M1 mAChRs (Kd = 1.5 nM) that was conserved across species (native tissue Kd = 1.02, 2.66, 8, and 1.03 at mouse, rat, monkey, and human, respectively). Overall selectivity of LSN3172176 appeared to be a product of potency and stabilization of the high-affinity state of the M1 receptor, relative to other mAChR subtypes (M1 > M2, M4, M5 > M3). In vivo, use of wild-type and mAChR knockout mice further supported the M1-preferring selectivity profile of LSN3172176 for the M1 receptor (78% reduction in cortical occupancy in M1 KO mice). These findings support the development of LSN3172176 as a potential PET tracer for assessment of M1 mAChR target engagement in the clinic and to further elucidate the function of M1 mAChRs in health and disease.

Orexin-1 and orexin-2 receptor antagonists reduce ethanol self-administration in high-drinking rodent models.

To examine the role of orexin-1 and orexin-2 receptor activity on ethanol self-administration, compounds that differentially target orexin (OX) receptor subtypes were assessed in various self-administration paradigms using high-drinking rodent models. Effects of the OX1 antagonist SB334867, the OX2 antagonist LSN2424100, and the mixed OX1/2 antagonist almorexant (ACT-078573) on home cage ethanol consumption were tested in ethanol-preferring (P) rats using a 2-bottle choice procedure. In separate experiments, effects of SB334867, LSN2424100, and almorexant on operant ethanol self-administration were assessed in P rats maintained on a progressive ratio operant schedule of reinforcement. In a third series of experiments, SB334867, LSN2424100, and almorexant were administered to ethanol-preferring C57BL/6J mice to examine effects of OX receptor blockade on ethanol intake in a binge-like drinking (drinking-in-the-dark) model. In P rats with chronic home cage free-choice ethanol access, SB334867 and almorexant significantly reduced ethanol intake, but almorexant also reduced water intake, suggesting non-specific effects on consummatory behavior. In the progressive ratio operant experiments, LSN2424100 and almorexant reduced breakpoints and ethanol consumption in P rats, whereas the almorexant inactive enantiomer and SB334867 did not significantly affect the motivation to consume ethanol. As expected, vehicle-injected mice exhibited binge-like drinking patterns in the drinking-in-the-dark model. All three OX antagonists reduced both ethanol intake and resulting blood ethanol concentrations relative to vehicle-injected controls, but SB334867 and LSN2424100 also reduced sucrose consumption in a different cohort of mice, suggesting non-specific effects. Collectively, these results contribute to a growing body of evidence indicating that OX1 and OX2 receptor activity influences ethanol self-administration, although the effects may not be selective for ethanol consumption.

LSN2424100: a novel, potent orexin-2 receptor antagonist with selectivity over orexin-1 receptors and activity in an animal model predictive of antidepressant-like efficacy.

We describe a novel, potent and selective orexin-2 (OX2)/hypocretin-2 receptor antagonist with in vivo activity in an animal model predictive of antidepressant-like efficacy. N-biphenyl-2-yl-4-fluoro-N-(1H-imidazol-2-ylmethyl) benzenesulfonamide HCl (LSN2424100) binds with high affinity to recombinant human OX2 receptors (Ki = 4.5 nM), and selectivity over OX1 receptors (Ki = 393 nM). LSN2424100 inhibited OXA-stimulated intracellular calcium release in HEK293 cells expressing human and rat OX2 receptors (Kb = 0.44 and 0.83 nM, respectively) preferentially over cells expressing human and rat OX1 (Kb = 90 and 175 nM, respectively). LSN2424100 exhibits good exposure in Sprague-Dawley rats after IP, but not PO, administration of a 30 mg/kg dose (AUC0-6 h = 1300 and 269 ng(*)h/mL, respectively). After IP administration in rats and mice, LSN2424100 produces dose-dependent antidepressant-like activity in the delayed-reinforcement of low-rate (DRL) assay, a model predictive of antidepressant-like efficacy. Efficacy in the DRL model was lost in mice lacking OX2, but not OX1 receptors, confirming OX2-specific activity. Importantly, antidepressant-like efficacy of the tricyclic antidepressant, imipramine, was maintained in both OX1 and OX2 receptor knock-out mice. In conclusion, the novel OX2 receptor antagonist, LSN2424100, is a valuable tool compound that can be used to explore the role of OX2 receptor-mediated signaling in mood disorders.

Combination of a Beta adrenoceptor modulator and a norepinephrine-serotonin uptake inhibitor for the treatment of obesity.

We report the novel combination of a selective beta adrenoceptor modulator and a norepinephrine-serotonin uptake inhibitor (sibutramine) with potential for the treatment of obesity. The synthesis and characterization of 6-[4-[2-[[(2S)-3-(9H-carbazol-4-yloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl]amino]-2-methylpropyl]phenoxy]pyridine-3-carboxamide (LY377604), a human ß3-adrenergic receptor agonist and ß1- and ß2-adrenergic receptor antagonist with no sympathomimetic activity at the ß1- and ß2-adrenergic receptors, is reported. Some in vivo data in both rats and humans is presented.

Potent oxindole based human beta3 adrenergic receptor agonists.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of oxindole beta(3) adrenergic receptor agonists is described. A modulation of rat atrial tachycardia was observed with substitution at the 3-position of the oxindole moiety.

Potent benzimidazolone based human beta(3)-adrenergic receptor agonists.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of benzimidazolone beta(3) adrenergic receptor agonists are described. A trend toward the reduction of rat atrial tachycardia upon increasing steric bulk at the 3-position of the benzimidazolone moiety was observed.

Synthesis and SAR of novel histamine H3 receptor antagonists.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of novel tetrahydroisoquinoline, tetrahydroquinoline, and tetrahydroazepine antagonists of the human and rat H(3) receptors are described. The substitution around these rings as well as the nature of the substituent on nitrogen is explored. Several compounds with high affinity and selectivity for the human and rat H(3) receptors are reported.