Screening effects of HCN channel blockers on sleep/wake behavior in zebrafish.

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) ion channels generate electrical rhythmicity in various tissues although primarily heart, retina and brain. The HCN channel blocker compound, Ivabradine (Corlanor), is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medication to lower heart rate by blocking hyperpolarization activated inward current in the sinoatrial node. In addition, a growing body of evidence suggests a role for HCN channels in regulation of sleep/wake behavior. Zebrafish larvae are ideal model organisms for high throughput drug screening, drug repurposing and behavioral phenotyping studies. We leveraged this model system to investigate effects of three HCN channel blockers (Ivabradine, Zatebradine Hydrochloride and ZD7288) at multiple doses on sleep/wake behavior in wild type zebrafish. Results of interest included shorter latency to daytime sleep at 0.1 µM dose of Ivabradine (ANOVA, p: 0.02), moderate reduction in average activity at 30 µM dose of Zatebradine Hydrochloride (ANOVA, p: 0.024) in daytime, and increased nighttime sleep at 4.5 µM dose of ZD7288 (ANOVA, p: 0.036). Taken together, shorter latency to daytime sleep, decrease in daytime activity and increased nighttime sleep indicate that different HCN channel antagonists affected different parameters of sleep and activity.

Efficacy and Safety of Iloperidone in Bipolar Mania: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Objective: To determine if iloperidone, a second-generation antipsychotic, reduces symptoms of bipolar mania.Methods: This phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in adults with bipolar mania at 27 US and international sites between April 2021 and September 2022. Participants were randomized 1:1 to iloperidone (up to 24 mg/d given twice daily) or placebo for 4 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline to week 4 in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) total score versus placebo. Secondary efficacy endpoints included change from baseline in the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity and Clinical Global Impression of Change scales.Results: Altogether, 414 participants were randomized and administered at least 1 dose of study medication (iloperidone, n = 206; placebo, n = 208). Overall, 139 (67.1%) iloperidone patients and 153 (72.9%) placebo patients completed the study. Iloperidone demonstrated significant improvement versus placebo at week 4 for the primary and secondary endpoints. Differences in the least-squares mean (95% CI; P value) of change from baseline for YMRS total scores were -4.0 (-5.70 to -2.25; adjusted P = .000008). The most encountered adverse events with iloperidone were tachycardia, dizziness, dry mouth, alanine aminotransferase increased, nasal congestion, increased weight, and somnolence. The incidence of akathisia and extrapyramidal symptom-related treatment-emergent adverse events was low.Conclusions: Iloperidone is effective in treating patients with bipolar mania. The tolerability and safety profile of iloperidone in bipolar mania is consistent with previous clinical studies of patients with schizophrenia, and no new safety concerns were identified.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04819776; EudraCT: 2020-000405-83.

Case report: A patient with Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder and Optic Nerve Hypoplasia treated with tasimelteon: a case study.

We present a case of an adult female diagnosed with Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (DSWPD) and Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH), with a confirmed delayed Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO), who reports the inability to fall asleep at their desired bedtime and obtain adequate sleep nightly, despite the ability to have a full night's sleep when not required to be up at a specific time for societal requirements. The participant was enrolled in an 11-month Open-Label Extension (OLE) following the randomized portion of a clinical study and was successfully treated with tasimelteon. DSWPD symptoms were resolved, and their previously delayed sleep-wake cycle was advanced. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04652882, identifier NCT04652882.

Enrichment of Patients With Ehlers Danlos Syndrome in Idiopathic Gastroparesis-A Gene Set Enrichment Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a heritable disorder of the connective tissue usually inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. We observe an enrichment of EDS cases in a gastroparesis clinical study. METHODS: We explored the frequency of EDS cases in 2 consecutive gastroparesis clinical studies. To explore the genetic surrogates of EDS, we have performed whole-genome sequencing analysis and we focused the analyses on the frequencies of consequential variants in core EDS genes. RESULTS: We report a significant enrichment of EDS cases in a set of patients with gastroparesis (14/686 vs 1/5,000 OR 104 (confidence interval 13.7-793.3) P value <0.0001). We report a significant enrichment of variants in EDS genes in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis. DISCUSSION: The enrichment may be suggestive of converging pathways at the heart of etiology or predisposing patients to EDS with gastroparesis.

Corrigendum: Case report: A patient with Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder and Optic Nerve Hypoplasia treated with tasimelteon: a case study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1287514.].

Case report: A novel missense variant in melanopsin associates with delayed sleep phenotype: Whole genome sequencing study.

Melanopsin (OPN4) is a blue light-sensitive opsin-type G-protein coupled receptor. It is highly expressed in photosensitive retinal ganglion cells which mediate responses to light, including regulation of sleep, circadian photoentrainment, and pupillary light response. Mutations in OPN4 were shown to affect responses to light, ultimately affecting the regulation of circadian rhythms and sleep. In this study, we describe a male carrier of the OPN4 missense variant diagnosed with delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD), with a consistent recurrent pattern of delayed sleep onset The rs143641898 [NM_033282.4:c.502C>T p.(Arg168Cys)] variant in the OPN4 gene was shown in a functional study to render the OPN4 protein non-functional. The variant is rare and likely increases the risk of DSWPD via its direct effect on the melanopsin pathway. This study offers useful insights for the differential diagnosis and ultimately treatment of DSWPD risk in which patients carry pathogenic variants in the OPN4 gene.

Once-daily tasimelteon (VEC-162) for jet lag following transmeridian travel: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Jet Lag Disorder is a Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorder resulting from a misalignment of the endogenous circadian clock and the sleep and wake pattern required by a change in time zone. Jet lag is most severe following eastward travel. This multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (JET) assessed the physiological mechanism of jet lag induced by a real-life transmeridian flight and evaluated the efficacy of tasimelteon-a circadian regulator acting as a dual melatonin receptor agonist, in the treatment of Jet Lag Disorder (JLD). Tasimelteon-treated participants slept 76 min longer on Night 3 during their second trip (evaluation phase) as compared to their first (observational phase). Over the three travel nights evaluated, transmeridian jet travelers in the tasimelteon group slept 131 min more (TST2/3) than those in the placebo group. The JET study demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in nighttime sleep and daytime alertness in both objective and subjective measures as well as global functioning after a real-world flight. These results suggest that tasimelteon can be an effective therapeutic tool to treat JLD in the context of transmeridian travel.

Enrichment of Motilin Receptor Loss-of-Function Variants in Gastroparesis.

INTRODUCTION: Gastroparesis is a serious medical condition characterized by delayed gastric emptying and symptoms of nausea, vomiting, bloating, fullness after meals, and abdominal pain. METHODS: To ascertain the genetic risk factors for gastroparesis, we conducted the largest thus far whole-genome sequencing study of gastroparesis. We investigated the frequency and effect of rare loss-of-function variants in patients with both idiopathic and diabetic gastroparesis enrolled in a clinical study of gastroparesis. RESULTS: Among rare loss-of-function variants, we reported an increased frequency of a frameshift mutation p.Leu202ArgfsTer105, within the motilin receptor gene, variant rs562138828 (odds ratio 4.9). We currently replicated this finding in an independent large cohort of gastroparesis samples obtained from patients participating in the ongoing phase III gastroparesis clinical study. DISCUSSION: Motilin receptor is an important therapeutic target for the treatment of hypomotility disorders. The identified genetic variants may be important risk factors for disease as well as may inform treatments, especially those targeting motilin receptor.

Elevated plasma levels of CXCL16 in severe COVID-19 patients.

Genome-wide association studies have recently identified 3p21.31, with lead variant pointing to the CXCR6 gene, as the strongest thus far reported susceptibility risk locus for severe manifestation of COVID-19. In order the determine its role, we measured plasma levels of Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 16 (CXCL16) in the plasma of COVID-19 hospitalized patients. CXCL16 interacts with CXCR6 promoting chemotaxis or cell adhesion. The CXCR6/CXCL16 axis mediates homing of T cells to the lungs in disease and hyper-expression is associated with localised cellular injury. To characterize the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19, plasma concentrations of CXCL16 collected at baseline from 115 hospitalized COVID-19 patients participating in ODYSSEY COVID-19 clinical trial were assessed together with a set of controls. We report elevated levels of CXCL16 in a cohort of COVID-19 hospitalized patients. Specifically, we report significant elevation of CXCL16 plasma levels in association with severity of COVID-19 (as defined by WHO scale) (P-value < 0.02). Our current study is the largest thus far study reporting CXCL16 levels in COVID-19 hospitalized patients (with whole-genome sequencing data available). The results further support the significant role of the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis in the immunopathogenesis of severe COVID-19 and warrants further studies to understand which patients would benefit most from targeted treatments.

Assessing the potential correlation of polymorphisms in the IL6R with relative IL6 elevation in severely ill COVID-19 patients'.

BACKGROUND: Elevated Interleukin-6 (IL-6) may play an important role in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 yet attenuated response is not seen across all severe patients. We aimed to determine the effect of IL-6 baseline levels and other clinical variables on mortality and outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients as well as to explore genetic variants associated with attenuated IL-6 response. METHODS: Baseline IL-6 cytokine levels were measured in hospitalized patients participating in ongoing ODYSSEY phase 3 randomized study of tradipitant and placebo in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 who are receiving supplemental oxygen support. Furthermore blood samples for whole genome sequencing analysis were collected from 150 participants. RESULTS: We report significantly elevated IL-6 in COVID-19 infected hospitalized patients, n = 100 (p-value < 0.0001) when compared to controls n = 324. We also report a significantly increased level of IL-6 (p-value < 0.01) between the severe and mild COVID-19 patients with severity defined on a WHO scale. Excessive IL-6 plasma levels correlate with higher mortality (p-value 0.001). Additionally, based on our classification analysis, combination of IL-6 elevation and high levels of serum glucose can identify highest risk-group of COVID19 patients. Furthermore, we explore the role of genetic regulatory variants affecting baseline IL-6 levels specifically in COVID-19 patients. We have directly tested the association between variants in the IL6 and IL6R gene region and IL6 plasma levels. We provide results for a common IL-6 variant previously associated with pneumonia, rs1800795, and rs2228145 that was previously shown to affect IL-6 plasma levels, as well as report on novel variants associated with IL-6 plasma levels detected in our study patients. CONCLUSIONS: While it is unlikely that "cytokine storm" is the norm in severe COVID19, baseline elevations above 150 pg/ml may be associated with worst outcomes and as such may warrant treatment considerations. So far no clinical studies used IL-6 baseline assessment to stratify the patient population participating in clinical studies. We believe that careful examination and interpretation of the IL-6 levels and genetic variants can help to determine a patient population with a potentially very robust clinical response to IL-6 inhibition. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04326426.

Loss-of-function mutations in IFNAR2 in COVID-19 severe infection susceptibility.

Recent COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) host genetics studies suggest enrichment of mutations in genes involved in the regulation of type I and type III interferon (IFN) immunity in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. We performed whole-genome sequencing analysis of samples obtained from patients participating in the ongoing ODYSSEY phase 3 study of hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19 infection receiving supplemental oxygen support. We focused on burden testing of categories of rare and common loss-of-function (LOF) variants in all of the IFN pathway genes, specifically with MAF < 0.1% and MAF < 1%. In a model including LOF and missense variants (MAF < 1%), we report a significant signal in both INFAR1 and IFNAR2. We report carriers of rare variants in our COVID-19 cohort, including a stop-gain IFNAR2 (NM_000874:exon9:c.C966A:p.Y322X) amongst carriers of several other IFNAR rare nonsynonymous variants. Furthermore, we report an increased allelic frequency of common IFNAR2 variants in our data, reported also by the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative.

Tasimelteon safely and effectively improves sleep in Smith-Magenis syndrome: a double-blind randomized trial followed by an open-label extension.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of tasimelteon to improve sleep in Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS). METHODS: A 9-week, double-blind, randomized, two-period crossover study was conducted at four US clinical centers. Genetically confirmed patients with SMS, aged 3 to 39, with sleep complaints participated in the study. Patients were assigned to treatment with tasimelteon or placebo in a 4-week crossover study with a 1-week washout between treatments. Eligible patients participated in an open-label study and were followed for >3 months. RESULTS: Improvement of sleep quality (DDSQ50) and total sleep time (DDTST50) on the worst 50% of nights were primary endpoints. Secondary measures included actigraphy and behavioral parameters. Over three years, 52 patients were screened, and 25 patients completed the randomized portion of the study. DDSQ50 significantly improved over placebo (0.4, p = 0.0139), and DDTST50 also improved (18.5 minutes, p = 0.0556). Average sleep quality (0.3, p = 0.0155) and actigraphy-based total sleep time (21.1 minutes, p = 0.0134) improved significantly, consistent with the primary outcomes. Patients treated for ≥90 days in the open-label study showed persistent efficacy. Adverse events were similar between placebo and tasimelteon. CONCLUSION: Tasimelteon safely and effectively improved sleep in SMS.

Tradipitant in the Treatment of Motion Sickness: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Introduction: Novel therapies are needed for the treatment of motion sickness given the inadequate relief and bothersome and dangerous adverse effects of currently approved therapies. Neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonists have the potential to be effective in improving the symptoms of motion sickness, given the involvement of Substance P in nauseogenic and emetic pathways and the expression of NK1 receptors in the gastrointestinal system. Here we evaluated the efficacy of tradipitant, a novel NK1 receptor antagonist, in preventing motion sickness in variable sea conditions. Methods: A total of 126 adults participated in the Motion Sifnos study. Groups of participants were assigned to one of seven boat trips lasting ~4 h on the Pacific Ocean. Participants were randomized 1:1 to tradipitant 170 mg or placebo and completed the Motion Sickness Severity Scale (MSSS) every 30 min, in addition to other assessments. Severity of motion sickness was assessed with the incidence of vomiting and the MSSS. Results: Participants on tradipitant had a significantly lower incidence of vomiting as compared to those on placebo across all boat trips (tradipitant = 17.5%, placebo = 39.7%, p = 0.0039). For trips exposed to rough sea conditions, the difference in the incidence of vomiting between the groups was more dramatic (tradipitant = 15.79%, placebo = 72.22%, p = 0.0009). Across these trips, motion sickness symptoms were significantly lower in the tradipitant group compared to the placebo group (tradipitant = 3.19, placebo = 4.57, p = 0.0235). Discussion: Tradipitant has the potential to be an effective therapy for the prevention of vomiting and treatment of nausea in people with motion sickness.

Efficacy of Tasimelteon (HETLIOZ®) in the Treatment of Jet Lag Disorder Evaluated in an 8-h Phase Advance Model; a Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Most travelers experience Jet Lag Disorder (JLD) symptoms due to misalignment of their circadian rhythms with respect to the new time zone. We assessed the efficacy and safety of tasimelteon (HETLIOZ®) in healthy participants using a laboratory model of JLD induced by an 8-h phase advance of the sleep-wake cycle (JET8 Study). We hypothesized that tasimelteon treatment in participants experiencing JLD would cause increased sleep time, increased next-day alertness, and reduced next-day sleepiness. Methods: We undertook a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 12 US clinical research sleep centers. We screened healthy adults ages 18-73 years, who were eligible for the randomization phase of JET8 if they typically went to bed between 21:00 and 01:00, slept between 7 and 9 h each night, and slept at a consistent bedtime. We used block randomization stratified by site to assign participants (1:1) to receive a single oral dose of tasimelteon (20 mg) or placebo 30 min before their 8-h phase-advanced bedtime. The primary endpoint was Total Sleep Time in the first 2/3 of the night (TST2/3), which was measured by polysomnography during the 8-h sleep episode, and assessed in the intent-to-treat population. The trial is completed and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03373201. Results: Between October 16, 2017 and January 17, 2018, we screened 607 healthy participants for JET8, of whom 320 (53%) were assigned to receive tasimelteon (n = 160) or placebo (n = 160). Tasimelteon treatment increased TST2/3 (primary endpoint) by 60.3 min (95%CI 44.0 to 76.7, P < 0.0001) and whole night TST by 85.5 min (95% CI 64.3 to 106.6, P < 0.0001), improved next day alertness, next day sleepiness, and shortened latency to persistent sleep by -15.1 min (95% CI -26.2 to -4.0, P = 0.0081). Conclusion: A single dose of tasimelteon improves the primary symptoms of JLD, including nighttime insomnia and next day functioning among participants in a laboratory model of JLD simulating eastward trans-meridian travel by inducing an 8-h phase advance of the sleep-wake cycle.