Discovery of novel selective norepinephrine inhibitors: 1-(2-morpholin-2-ylethyl)-3-aryl-1,3-dihydro-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole 2,2-dioxides (WYE-114152).

Sequential modification of the previously identified 4-[3-aryl-2,2-dioxido-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-1(3H)-yl]-1-(methylamino)butan-2-ols led to the identification of a new series of 1-(2-morpholin-2-ylethyl)-3-aryl-1,3-dihydro-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole 2,2-dioxides that are potent and selective inhibitors of the norepinephrine transporter over both the serotonin and dopamine transporters. One representative compound 10b (WYE-114152) had low nanomolar hNET potency (IC(50) = 15 nM) and good selectivity for hNET over hSERT (>430-fold) and hDAT (>548-fold). 10b was additionally bioavailable following oral dosing and demonstrated efficacy in rat models of acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain.

Monoacylglycerol lipase activity is a critical modulator of the tone and integrity of the endocannabinoid system.

Endocannabinoids are lipid molecules that serve as natural ligands for the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. They modulate a diverse set of physiological processes such as pain, cognition, appetite, and emotional states, and their levels and functions are tightly regulated by enzymatic biosynthesis and degradation. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is the most abundant endocannabinoid in the brain and is believed to be hydrolyzed primarily by the serine hydrolase monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL). Although 2-AG binds and activates cannabinoid receptors in vitro, when administered in vivo, it induces only transient cannabimimetic effects as a result of its rapid catabolism. Here we show using a mouse model with a targeted disruption of the MAGL gene that MAGL is the major modulator of 2-AG hydrolysis in vivo. Mice lacking MAGL exhibit dramatically reduced 2-AG hydrolase activity and highly elevated 2-AG levels in the nervous system. A lack of MAGL activity and subsequent long-term elevation of 2-AG levels lead to desensitization of brain CB1 receptors with a significant reduction of cannabimimetic effects of CB1 agonists. Also consistent with CB1 desensitization, MAGL-deficient mice do not show alterations in neuropathic and inflammatory pain sensitivity. These findings provide the first genetic in vivo evidence that MAGL is the major regulator of 2-AG levels and signaling and reveal a pivotal role for 2-AG in modulating CB1 receptor sensitization and endocannabinoid tone.

Discovery of novel selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: 4-[3-aryl-2,2-dioxido-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-1(3H)-yl]-1-(methylamino)butan-2-ols (WYE-103231).

Structural modification of a virtual screening hit led to the identification of a new series of 4-[3-aryl-2,2-dioxido-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-1(3H)-yl]-1-(methylamino)butan-2-ols which are potent and selective inhibitors of the norepinephrine transporter over both the serotonin and dopamine transporters. One representative compound S-17b (WYE-103231) had low nanomolar hNET potency (IC(50) = 1.2 nM) and excellent selectivity for hNET over hSERT (>1600-fold) and hDAT (>600-fold). S-17b additionally had a good pharmacokinetic profile and demonstrated oral efficacy in rat models of ovariectomized-induced thermoregulatory dysfunction and morphine dependent flush as well as the hot plate and spinal nerve ligation (SNL) models of acute and neuropathic pain.

Pharmacological comparison of muscarinic ligands: historical versus more recent muscarinic M1-preferring receptor agonists.

In functional assay assessments using the five muscarinic receptor subtypes, a second generation of muscarinic M(1)-preferring receptor agonists [AC-42 (1), AC-260584 (2), 77-LH-28-1 (3) and LY-593039 (4)] was shown to have higher selectivity for muscarinic M(1) over M(3) receptor as compared to historical agonists [talsaclidine (8), sabcomeline (10), xanomeline (11), WAY-132983 (12), cevimeline (9) and NGX-267 (6)]. Another striking difference of these more recent compounds is their affinities for the dopamine D(2) and 5-HT(2B) receptors. Taken together, these results suggest that the newer compounds may have a greater clinical safety profile, especially with regard to muscarinic M(3) receptor-mediated events, than the historical agonists, but their affinities for other receptors may still compromise their use to validate the therapeutic potential of muscarinic M(1) receptor agonists.

Pharmacological characterization of the muscarinic agonist (3R,4R)-3-(3-hexylsulfanyl-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-1-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (WAY-132983) in in vitro and in vivo models of chronic pain.

Here, we have investigated the in vitro pharmacology of a muscarinic agonist, (3R,4R)-3-(3-hexylsulfanyl-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-1-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (WAY-132983), and we demonstrated its activity in several models of pain. WAY-132983 had a similar affinity for the five muscarinic receptors (9.4-29.0 nM); however, in calcium mobilization studies it demonstrated moderate selectivity for M(1) (IC(50) = 6.6 nM; E(max) = 65% of 10 muM carbachol-stimulation) over the M(3) (IC(50) = 23 nM; E(max) = 41%) and M(5) receptors (IC(50) = 300 nM; E(max) = 18%). WAY-132983 also activated the M(4) receptor, fully inhibiting forskolin-induced increase in cAMP levels (IC(50) = 10.5 nM); at the M(2) receptor its potency was reduced by 5-fold (IC(50) = 49.8 nM). In vivo, WAY-132983 demonstrated good systemic bioavailability and high brain penetration (>20-fold over plasma levels). In addition, WAY-1329823 produced potent and efficacious antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects in rodent models of chemical irritant, chronic inflammatory, neuropathic, and incisional pain. It is noteworthy that efficacy in these models was observed at doses that did not produce analgesia or ataxia. Furthermore, a series of antagonist studies demonstrated that the in vivo activity of WAY-132983 is mediated through activation of muscarinic receptors primarily through the M(4) receptor. The data presented herein suggest that muscarinic agonists, such as WAY-132983, may have a broad therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of pain.

Tissue distribution and functional analyses of the constitutively active orphan G protein coupled receptors, GPR26 and GPR78.

GPR26 and GPR78 are orphan GPCRs (oGPCRs) that share 51% amino acid sequence identity and are widely expressed in selected tissues of the human brain as well as the developing and adult mouse brain. Investigation of the functional activity of GPR26 and GPR78 via expression in HEK293 cells showed that both proteins are constitutively active and coupled to elevated cAMP production. Accordingly, in yeast, GPR26 demonstrated apparent agonist-independent coupling to a chimeric Gpa1 protein in which the 5 C-terminal amino acids were from Galphas. A comparison of the proteins revealed an atypical glutamine residue in GPR78 in place of the conserved arginine residue (R3.50) in the so-called DRY box. Site-directed mutants R3.50 in GPR26 were constructed and retained their constitutive activity suggesting that these 2 receptors activate G proteins in a manner that is distinct from other group 1 GPCRs.

Synthesis and activity of a new class of dual acting norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors: 3-(1H-indol-1-yl)-3-arylpropan-1-amines.

Compounds with a combination of norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibition have been approved in the US and Europe for a number of indications, including major depressive disorder and pain disorders such as diabetic neuropathy and fibromyalgia. Efforts to design selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors based on SAR from the aryloxypropanamine series of monoamine reuptake inhibitors have led to the identification of a potent new class of dual acting norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors, namely the 3-(1H-indol-1-yl)-3-arylpropan-1-amines.

A novel scintillation proximity assay for fatty acid amide hydrolase compatible with inhibitor screening.

A binding assay for human fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) using the scintillation proximity assay (SPA) technology is described. This SPA uses the specific interactions of [3H]R(+)-methanandamide (MAEA) and FAAH expressing microsomes to evaluate the displacement activity of FAAH inhibitors. We observed that a competitive nonhydrolyzed FAAH inhibitor, [3H]MAEA, bound specifically to the FAAH microsomes. Coincubation with an FAAH inhibitor, URB-597, competitively displaced the [3H]MAEA on the FAAH microsomes. The released radiolabel was then detected through an interaction with the SPA beads. The assay is specific for FAAH given that microsomes prepared from cells expressing the inactive FAAH-S241A mutant or vector alone had no significant ability to bind [3H]MAEA. Furthermore, the binding of [3H]MAEA to FAAH microsomes was abolished by selective FAAH inhibitors in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values comparable to those seen in a functional assay. This novel SPA has been validated and demonstrated to be simple, sensitive, and amenable to high-throughput screening.

The role of transmembrane helix 5 in agonist binding to the human H3 receptor.

We have used alanine scanning mutagenesis to identify residues in transmembrane domain 5 of the histamine H3 receptor that are important for agonist binding. All of the mutants generated were functionally expressed as demonstrated by their ability to bind [(125)I]iodoproxyfan with comparable affinity to the wild-type receptor and their ability to inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation when activated by histamine. Many mutations produced small changes in the potency of histamine, but the most pronounced reduction in potency and affinity of the agonists, histamine, R-alpha-methylhistamine, imetit, and impentamine, was seen with mutation of glutamate 206. Our modeling suggests that this residue plays a key role in ligand binding by interacting with the imidazole ring of histamine. Interestingly, L199A greatly reduced agonist potency in functional assays but had only minor effects on agonist affinity, implicating a role for this residue in the mechanism of receptor activation. We also studied the functional effects of the mutations by linking the receptor to calcium signaling using a chimeric G protein. A comparison of the two functional assays demonstrated contrasting effects on agonist activity. Histamine, imetit, and impentamine were full agonists in the cAMP assay, but imetit exhibited only partial agonist activity through the chimeric G protein. Furthermore, impentamine, another potent agonist in the cAMP assay, was only able to activate the E206A mutant in the calcium assay despite being inactive at the wild-type receptor. These observations suggest that the agonist receptor complexes formed by these three different H3 agonists are not conformationally equivalent.