Arylacetamides as peripherally restricted kappa opioid receptor agonists.

Analogues of the kappa (kappa) opioid receptor agonist, ICI 199441, were prepared. Ki values for these analogues at the cloned human kappa opioid receptor ranged from 0.058 to 25 nM. Trifluoromethylaryl derivatives were potent analgesics when administered subcutaneously in the rat and were more peripherally restricted than the parent compound, ICI 199441.

[Pro(3)]Dyn A(1-11)-NH(2): a dynorphin analogue with high selectivity for the kappa opioid receptor.

A proline scan at positions 2 and 3 of the opioid peptide dynorphin A(1-11)-NH(2) led to the discovery of the analogue [Pro(3)]Dyn A(1-11)-NH(2). This analogue possesses high affinity and selectivity for the kappa opioid receptor (K(i)(kappa) = 2.7 nM, K(i) ratio kappa/micro/delta = 1/2110/3260). The gain in selectivity is achieved through an overall reduction of opioid receptor affinity which is most pronounced at micro and delta receptors. The Pro(3) analogue exhibits antagonist properties. Despite its high kappa affinity, [Pro(3)]Dyn A(1-11)-NH(2) is a relatively weak antagonist in both the [(35)S]GTPgammaS assay (IC(50) = 380 nM) and the guinea pig ileum assay (K(e) = 244 nM). Discrepancies between GPI and binding assay have often been ascribed to differential kappa receptor subtypes prevailing in central vs peripheral neurons. Since the [(35)S]GTPgammaS assay uses the same membrane preparations as the binding assay, differential kappa subtypes can be ruled out as an explanation in this case, and the observed behavior rather seems to reflect an intrinsic property of the ligand.

Peripheral effects of the kappa-opioid agonist EMD 61753 on pain and inflammation in rats and humans.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of EMD 61753 (asimadoline), a kappa-opioid receptor agonist with restricted access to the central nervous system, on postoperative pain in patients who underwent knee surgery and on nociceptive thresholds and inflammation in rats treated with Freund's complete adjuvant. Patients treated with EMD 61753 (10 mg p.o.) tended to report an increase in pain, as evaluated by a visual analog scale and by the time to the first request for and the total amount of supplemental analgesic medication. The global tolerability of EMD 61753 was assessed as significantly inferior to that of a placebo by the investigator. In rats, the bilateral intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of EMD 61753 (0.1-3.2 mg) resulted in dose-dependent antinociception in both inflamed and noninflamed paws, with a peak at 5 min after injection, as evaluated by the paw pressure method. However, at later time points (1 h-4 days), a significant decrease in the paw pressure threshold was observed, confirming its tendency toward a hyperalgesic action in humans. This was accompanied by an increase in paw volume and paw temperature, with a peak at 6 h after injection. EMD 61753 (1.6 mg)-induced analgesia was blocked by the peripheral opioid receptor antagonist naloxone methiodide (2.5-10 mg/kg s.c.) and by the kappa receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (0.1 mg; i.pl.). In contrast, EMD 61753 (1.6 mg)-induced hyperalgesia and increases in paw volume and paw temperature were blocked neither by naloxone methiodide (10-40 mg/kg s.c.) nor by dizocilpine maleate (0.003-0.009 mg i.pl.), a N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist. These data show differentially mediated peripheral actions of EMD 61753: kappa-opioid receptor-induced analgesia and nonopioid, non-N-methyl-D-aspartic acid hyperalgesic and proinflammatory effects.

Loperamide (ADL 2-1294), an opioid antihyperalgesic agent with peripheral selectivity.

The antihyperalgesic properties of the opiate antidiarrheal agent loperamide (ADL 2-1294) were investigated in a variety of inflammatory pain models in rodents. Loperamide exhibited potent affinity and selectivity for the cloned micro (Ki = 3 nM) compared with the delta (Ki = 48 nM) and kappa (Ki = 1156 nM) human opioid receptors. Loperamide potently stimulated [35S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate binding (EC50 = 56 nM), and inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation (IC50 = 25 nM) in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the human mu opioid receptor. The injection of 0.3 mg of loperamide into the intra-articular space of the inflamed rat knee joint resulted in potent antinociception to knee compression that was antagonized by naloxone, whereas injection into the contralateral knee joint or via the i.m. route failed to inhibit compression-induced changes in blood pressure. Loperamide potently inhibited late-phase formalin-induced flinching after intrapaw injection (A50 = 6 microgram) but was ineffective against early-phase flinching or after injection into the paw contralateral to the formalin-treated paw. Local injection of loperamide also produced antinociception against Freund's adjuvant- (ED50 = 21 microgram) or tape stripping- (ED50 = 71 microgram) induced hyperalgesia as demonstrated by increased paw pressure thresholds in the inflamed paw. In all animal models examined, the potency of loperamide after local administration was comparable to or better than that of morphine. Loperamide has potential therapeutic use as a peripherally selective opiate antihyperalgesic agent that lacks many of the side effects generally associated with administration of centrally acting opiates.

Endomorphins fully activate a cloned human mu opioid receptor.

Endomorphins were recently identified as endogenous ligands with high selectivity for mu opioid receptors. We have characterized the ability of endomorphins to bind to and functionally activate the cloned human mu opioid receptor. Both endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 exhibited binding selectivity for the mu opioid receptor over the delta and kappa opioid receptors. Both agonists inhibited forskolin-stimulated increase of cAMP in a dose-dependent fashion. When the mu opioid receptor was coexpressed in Xenopus oocytes with G protein-activated K+ channels, application of either endomorphin activated an inward K+ current. This activation was dose-dependent and blocked by naloxone. Both endomorphins acted as full agonists with efficacy similar to that of [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO). These data indicate that endomorphins act as full agonists at the human mu opioid receptor, capable of stimulating the receptor to inhibit the cAMP/adenylyl cyclase pathway and activate G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels.

Synthesis and biological activity of a novel methylamine-bridged enkephalin analogue (MABE): a new route to cyclic peptides and peptidomimetics.

The synthesis and biological activity of a methylamine-bridged enkephalin analogue (MABE) is presented. The key step in the synthesis of the target compound involves the ring opening of Cbz-d-serine beta-lactone with Boc-Phe-NHCH2CH2NHCH3. Further synthetic elaboration of the resulting building block yielded compound 1 (MABE, Tyr-c[(NbetaCH3)-D-A2pr-Gly-Phe-NHCH2CH2-], where A2pr is a 2,3-diaminopropionic acid residue). Utilizing a combination of NMR and molecular modeling, the structure-biological activity relationships for compound 1 were studied. Using an in vitro isolated receptor assay, MABE was found to have affinities for isolated mu delta, and kappa opioid receptors of 1.6, 2.1, and 340 nM, respectively. By an in vivo thermal escape assay, MABE was found to have an ED50 of 0.027 microg in the rat when administered intrathecally. This effect was reversed by naloxone. By comparison, DAMGO, morphine, and DPDPE were found to yield ED50 values of 0.14, 2.4, and 54 microg, respectively, in the same assay.

Dynorphin A as a potential endogenous ligand for four members of the opioid receptor gene family.

Dynorphin A is an endogenous opioid peptide that activates the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) with high potency. Some studies also showed that the distribution and functional activity of dynorphin A are not completely correlated with those of KOR, suggesting that dynorphin A may interact with other receptors. To investigate the possibility that dynorphin A may serve as an agonist for other opioid receptors, we took the advantage of the cloning of the three major types of opioid receptors, mu (MOR), delta (DOR) and KOR, and examined their affinity for and their activation by dynorphin A. We used mammalian cells transfected with each of the cDNA clones for the human receptors hMOR, hDOR, hKOR and showed that dynorphin A displaced [3H]-diprenorphine binding with Ki values in the nanomolar range at all three receptors. We also showed that, when hMOR, hDOR or hKOR was coexpressed with a G protein-activated potassium channel in Xenopus oocytes, dynorphin A induced a potassium current with EC50 values in the nanomolar range for all three receptors. Furthermore, we showed that the human hORLI, an opioid receptor-like receptor that has been identified as a novel member of the opioid receptor gene family, displayed dynorphin A binding and functional activation. These results indicate that dynorphin A is capable of binding to and functional activation of all members of the opioid receptor family, suggesting that, as a potential endogenous agonist, its activity in humans may involve interaction with other members of the opioid receptor family in addition to kappa receptors.

Development of a novel series of styrylquinoline compounds as high-affinity leukotriene D4 receptor antagonists: synthetic and structure-activity studies leading to the discovery of (+-)-3-[[[3-[2-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)-(E)-ethenyl]phenyl][[3- (dimethylamino)-3-oxopropyl]thio]methyl]thio]propionic acid.

Based on LTD4 receptor antagonist activity of 3-(2-quinolinyl-(E)-ethenyl)pyridine (2) found in broad screening, structure-activity studies were carried out which led to the identification of 3-[[[3-[2-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)-(E)-ethenyl]phenyl][[3- (dimethylamino)-3-oxopropyl]thio]methyl]thio]propionic acid (1, MK-571) as a potent and orally active LTD4 receptor antagonist. These studies demonstrated that a phenyl ring could replace the pyridine in 2 without loss of activity, that 7-halogen substitution in the quinoline group was optimal for binding, that the (E)-ethenyl linkage was optimal, that binding was enhanced by incorporation of a polar acidic group or groups in the 3-position of the aryl ring, and that two acidic groups could be incorporated via a dithioacetal formed from thiopropionic acid and the corresponding styrylquinoline 3-aldehyde to yield compounds such as 20 (IC50 = 3 nM vs [3H]LTD4 binding to the guinea pig lung membrane). It was found that one of the acidic groups could be transformed into a variety of the amides without loss of potency and that the dimethylamide 1 embodied the optimal properties of intrinsic potency (IC50 = 0.8 nM on guinea pig lung LTD4 receptor) and oral in vivo potency in the guinea pig, hyperreactive rat, and squirrel monkey. The evolution of 2 to 1 involves the increase of > 6000-fold in competition for [3H]LTD4 binding to guinea pig lung membrane and a > 40-fold increase in oral activity as measured by inhibition of antigen-induced dyspnea in hyperreactive rats.

Stereospecific synthesis, assignment of absolute configuration, and biological activity of the enantiomers of 3-[[[3-[2-(7-chloroquinolin-2-yl)-(E)-ethenyl]phenyl] [[3-(dimethylamino)-3-oxopropyl]thio]methyl]thio]propionic acid, a potent and specific leukotriene D4 receptor antagonist.

The enantiomers of the leukotriene D4 antagonist 3-[[[3-[2-(7-chloroquinolin-2-yl)-(E)-ethenyl]phenyl] [[3-(dimethylamino)-3-oxopropyl]thio]methyl]thio]propionic acid (L-660,711)(MK-571) have been prepared, their absolute stereochemistry has been assigned as S for (+)-1 and R for (-)-1 by X-ray analysis of a synthetic intermediate (5), and the biological activity of the enantiomers has been explored. Unexpectedly, the enantiomers are both comparably biologically active with (+)-1 slightly more intrinsically active at the LTD4 receptor in vitro.

Identification of allosteric antagonists of receptor-guanine nucleotide-binding protein interactions.

A series of compounds that inhibit the coupling of the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor and the beta 2-adrenergic receptor to the guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) Gi and Gs, respectively, have been identified. This inhibition of G protein coupling was detected by the ability of the compounds to reduce the affinity of these receptors for agonists without affecting antagonist affinity. Analysis of the structure-activity relationships of these compounds revealed a requirement for regularly spaced anionic substituents on amphipathic structures for this inhibition to occur. The compounds do not interact at the ligand binding site of the receptor or at the GTP binding site of the G protein. The identification of compounds that can uncouple receptors from G proteins demonstrates the potential for the discovery of small molecule inhibitors of receptor-G protein interactions that act as allosteric antagonists at this site.

Lung tissue receptors for sulfidopeptide leukotrienes.

Studies of the binding of tritiated sulfidopeptide leukotrienes (LTs) to a membrane preparation from rat lung tissue revealed a site specific for LTC4 with a dissociation constant of 4.1 X 10(-8)M. Similar experiments with a guinea pig lung preparation demonstrated binding specific for LTD4 with a dissociation constant of 2.1 X 10(-10)M. The divalent cations Ca++, Mg++, and Mn++ significantly enhanced the affinity of binding of the respective LTs to both sites. The binding of LTC4 to guinea pig lung and rat lung exhibited similar characteristics, but the former was observed only in the presence of the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase inhibitor, serineborate complex. The binding affinities of various isomers of both sulfidopeptide LTs paralleled the potency of their pharmacologic effects, which supports the contention that the sites are receptors specific for LTC4 and LTD4. The slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis antagonist, FPL 55712, had a higher affinity for the LTD4 receptor, which is consistent with its more effective antagonism of the LTD4-induced contractile response of guinea pig lung parenchymal strips. The ability of Na+ and guanosine triphosphate to inhibit the binding of LTD4 suggests that the action of LTD4 is associated with a depression of intracellular concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

Characterization of a leukotriene D4 receptor in guinea pig lung.

[3H]Leukotriene D4 was found to bind, in a saturable manner and with exceedingly high affinity, to a membrane preparation from guinea pig lung. Measurement of saturation at equilibrium yielded Kd values of 5.46 +/- 0.31 X 10(-11) M at 20 degrees C and 2.12 +/- 0.37 X 10(-10) M at 0 degree C while the numbers of binding sites (Bmax) were 384 +/- 34 and 302 +/- 44 fmol/mg of protein at 20 and at 0 degree C, respectively. The time courses of both association and dissociation were slow but the rate of dissociation was accelerated by either NaCl or GTP. Binding was enhanced by Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+ and inhibited by Na+ but not by Li+ or K+, suggesting that the binding of leukotriene D4 may be regulated by ions. Leukotriene E4, but not leukotriene C4, had a high affinity for the putative receptor, consistent with the pharmacological evidence that the actions of leukotrienes D4 and E4 are mediated by a receptor distinct from that for leukotriene C4. Affinities of stereoisomers and related compounds for the leukotriene D4 binding sites closely paralleled their contractile activities in guinea pig lung parenchymal strips. In addition, the antagonist of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis, FPL 55712, inhibited the binding of [3H]leukotriene D4 with a Ki value of 1 X 10(-7) M, which is in agreement with reported Kb values obtained in pharmacological studies.

Leukotriene C4 binding to rat lung membranes.

A high affinity binding site for leukotriene C4 (LTC4), one component of slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis, has been identified in a membrane preparation from rat lung. As measured by a filtration technique, [3H]LTC4 binding was saturable, specific, reversible, and heat-sensitive. In the presence of 20 mM CaCl2, the dissociation constant (KD) was 41 +/- 9 nM and the maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) was 31 +/- 10 pmol/mg of protein. Specificity was demonstrated by competition studies in which LTC4 had a Ki of 40 nM against specifically bound [3H]LTC4, whereas leukotriene D4 (LTD4) had a Ki of 4 microM. The stereoisomers (5R, 6R) LTC4, (5S, 6S) LTC4, and (5R, 6S) LTC4 had Ki values 3-, 15-, and 25-fold higher than that of natural (5S, 6R) LTC4. Leukotrienes E4 and B4, several prostaglandins and fatty acids, glutathione, and platelet activating factor were even less effective with Ki values above 10 microM. A slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis antagonist, FPL 55712, which, in some systems, distinguishes LTC4- from LTD4-induced contractions, was a weak competitor with a Ki of 16 microM. Serine-borate complex which inhibits gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, an enzyme responsible for LTC4 metabolism, did not alter binding. In addition, 100 microM FPL 55712 did not reduce metabolism. These observations suggest that the binding observed for LTC4 may represent association with a physiological receptor for this molecule which has a relatively low affinity for LTD4.

A comparative study of avermectin B1a and other modulators of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor . chloride ion channel complex.

The interactions of the anthelmintic agent avermectin B1a, the anticonvulsant pentobarbital, and the anxiolytic tracazolate with the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor . chloride ion channel complex in rat brain membrane were studied. The results indicated that they all potentiated ligand binding to the GABA and benzodiazepine receptors. The stimulatory effects of avermectin B1a and pentobarbital, but not tracazolate, on GABA receptor binding were inhibited by picrotoxin. The effect of avermectin B1a was not additive with those of tracazolate and pentobarbital. On the other hand, the stimulatory effect of GABA on benzodiazepine binding was additive with those of avermectin B1a and pentobarbital, but tracazolate and pentobarbital inhibited the effect of avermectin B1a. In the receptor heat inactivation experiments, avermectin B1a and clonazepam protected GABA receptors, whereas avermectin B1a and GABA protected benzodiazepine receptors. Tracazolate, pentobarbital, and picrotoxin did not protect either receptor. These findings suggest that the recognition sites for the benzodiazepines, avermectin B1a, pentobarbital, and picrotoxin are coupled allosterically to the GABA receptor . chloride ion channel complex in different ways. The binding sites for avermectin B1a may be partially shared by picrotoxin, pentobarbital, and tracazolate.

Stimulation of benzodiazepine binding to rat brain membranes and solubilized receptor complex by avermectin B1a and gamma-aminobutyric acid.

The binding of [3H]flunitrazepam to benzodiazepine receptors in synaptic membranes and a digitonin-solubilized receptor fraction of rat brain is increased by avermectin B1a and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The effects of avermectin B1a and GABA are both sensitive to inhibition by (+)-bicuculline. Avermectin B1a and GABA both decrease the Kd and increase the Bmax of [3H]flunitrazepam binding to membranes. Kinetic analysis of the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam to rat brain membranes indicates that avermectin B1a and GABA reduce the rate constants of both association and dissociation between the ligand and the receptor. These results suggest a similar mechanism of modulation of benzodiazepine binding by avermectin B1a and GABA. This modulation may involve in interaction among the receptors for benzodiazepine, GABA and avermectin B1a.