Donna L. Maier

Characterization of IMPY as a potential imaging agent for β-amyloid plaques in double transgenic PSAPP mice

Deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques in the brain is likely linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Developing specific Aβ aggregate-binding ligands as in vivo imaging agents may be useful for diagnosis and monitoring the progression of AD. We have prepared a thioflavin derivative, 6-iodo-2-(4’-dimethylamino-)phenyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, IMPY, which is readily radiolabeled with 125I/123I for binding or single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) imaging studies. Characterization of [125I]IMPY binding to plaque-like structures was evaluated in double transgenic PSAPP mice. [125I]IMPY labeled Aβ plaques in transgenic mouse brain sections, and the labeling was consistent with fluorescent staining and Aβ-specific antibody labeling. Significant amounts of Aβ plaques present in the cortical, hippocampal, and entorhinal regions of the transgenic mouse brain were clearly detected with [125I]IMPY via ex vivo autoradiography. In contrast, [125I]IMPY showed little labeling in the age-matched control mouse brain. Tissue homogenate binding further corroborated the Aβ plaque-specific distribution in various brain regions of transgenic mouse, and correlated well with the known density of Aβ deposition. Using a tissue dissection technique, [125I]IMPY showed a moderate increase in the cortical region of transgenic mice as compared to the age-matched controls. In vitro blocking of [125I]IMPY by “carrier” observed via autoradiography in mouse brain sections was not replicated by an in vivo blocking experiment in living TT mouse brain. The failure was most likely due to a significant carrier effect, which slows down the tracer in vivo metabolism, leading to an increased brain uptake. Taken together, these data indicate that [123I]IMPY is a potentially useful SPECT imaging agent for in vivo labeling of Aβ plaques in the living brain.

Ultra-low exposure to alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonists elicits an improvement in cognition that corresponds with an increase in alpha-7 receptor expression in rodents: implications for low dose clinical efficacy

Αlpha-7 neuronal nicotinic receptors (NNRs) are considered targets for cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia and Alzheimers disease. AZD0328 is an alpha-7 NNR partial agonist that enhances cognition in rodents and nonhuman primates at sub-microgram to microgram doses. We hypothesized that increased expression of the alpha-7 receptor contributes to this beneficial activity at low doses and tested this by examining the effect of AZD0328 using in vivo and ex vivo binding, RT-PCR and cognitive function in rodents. AZD0328 (0.00178 mg/kg) was subcutaneously administered to mice 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours prior to testing in novel object recognition and produced a significant increase in cognition at 4, 24 and 48 h post-dosing. In vivo binding was examined in rat brain using [(3)H]AZ11637326 and there was a dose-dependent reduction in receptor binding at higher doses of AZD0328 (0.001-3 mg/kg), and a second alpha-7 partial agonist, SSR180711 (0.01-30 mg/kg). Lower doses of both compounds (0.0001 mg/kg) produced a significant increase in binding of [(3)H]AZ11637326. Ex vivo binding using [(125)I]-α-bungarotoxin, showed a significant increase in receptor number (B(max.)) in the frontal cortex or hippocampus with no significant effect on receptor affinity (K(d)) 2 h post administration of AZD0328. [(3)H]AZ11637326 administered 1.5 h following AZD0328 produced a significant increase in specific binding in rat brain regions. We found that the effect on receptor number was long-lasting, with [(125)I]-α-bungarotoxin binding increased in rats given AZD0328 for 2-48 h, but this was not accompanied by increased mRNA synthesis. SSR180711 produced a similar increase in B(max.) and specific binding with no effect on K(d). Therefore, trace dose of alpha-7 partial agonists has rapid onset and produces a profound, sustained effect on novel object recognition in mice that corresponds by dose to an increase in receptor number in rat brain. These findings provide an explanation for the acute and sustained benefit of alpha-7 receptor activation in working memory in nonhuman primates and guidance for drug development initiatives and treatment regimens for nicotinic partial agonists.

[N-methyl-3H3]AZ10419369 Binding to the 5-HT1B Receptor: In Vitro Characterization and in Vivo Receptor Occupancy

Radiotracers suitable for positron emission tomography studies often serve as preclinical tools for in vivo receptor occupancy. The serotonin 1B receptor (5-HT1B) subtype is a pharmacological target used to discover treatments for various psychiatric and neurological disorders. In psychiatry, 5-HT1B antagonists may provide novel therapeutics for depression and anxiety. We report on the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of tritiated 5-methyl-8-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxylicacid (4-morpholin-4-yl-phenyl)-amide ([N-methyl-3H3]AZ10419369), a potent 5-HT1B radiotracer. [N-methyl-3H3]-AZ10419369 showed saturable single-site high-affinity in vitro binding (guinea pig, Kd = 0.38 and human, Kd = 0.37) to guinea pig or human 5-HT1B receptors in recombinant membranes and high-affinity (Kd = 1.9 nM) saturable (Bmax = 0.099 pmol/mg protein) binding in membranes from guinea pig striatum. When [N-methyl-3H3]AZ10419369 was administered to guinea pigs by intravenous bolus, the measured radioactivity was up to 5-fold higher in brain areas containing the 5-HT1B receptor (striatum/globus pallidus, midbrain, hypothalamus, and frontal cortex) compared with the cerebellum, the nonspecific binding region. Specific uptake peaked 30 min after injection with slow dissociation from target regions, as suggested by the in vitro binding kinetic profile. Pretreatment with 6-fluoro-8-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxylic acid [4-(4-propionyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-amide (AZD1134) and 2-aminotetralin (AR-A000002), 5-HT1B-selective ligands, inhibited [N-methyl-3H3]AZ10419369-specific binding in a dose-dependent manner. In the guinea pig striatum, AZD1134 (ED50 = 0.017 mg/kg) occupies a greater percentage of the 5-HT1B receptors at a lower administered dose than AR-A000002 (ED50 = 2.5 mg/kg). In vivo receptor occupancy is an essential component to build binding-efficacy-exposure relationships and compare novel compound pharmacology. [N-methyl-3H3]AZ10419369 is a useful preclinical tool for investigating 5-HT1B receptor occupancy for novel compounds targeting this receptor.

EEG-β/γ spectral power elevation in rat: a translatable biomarker elicited by GABAAα2/3-positive allosteric modulators at nonsedating anxiolytic doses

Benzodiazepine drugs, through interaction with GABA(Aα1), GABA(Aα2,3), and GABA(Aα5) subunits, modulate cortical network oscillations, as reflected by a complex signature in the EEG power spectrum. Recent drug discovery efforts have developed GABA(Aα2,3)-subunit-selective partial modulators in an effort to dissociate the side effect liabilities from the efficacy imparted by benzodiazepines. Here, we evaluated rat EEG and behavioral end points during dosing of nine chemically distinct compounds that we confirmed statistically to selectively to enhance GABA(Aα2,3)-mediated vs. GABA(Aα1) or GABA(Aα5) currents in voltage clamped oocytes transfected with those GABA(A) subunits. These compounds were shown with in vivo receptor occupancy techniques to competitively displace [(3)H]flumazenil in multiple brain regions following peripheral administration at increasing doses. Over the same dose range, the compounds all produced dose-dependent EEG spectral power increases in the β- and and γ-bands. Finally, the dose range that increased γ-power coincided with that eliciting punished over unpunished responding in a behavioral conflict model of anxiety, indicative of anxiolysis without sedation. EEG γ-band power increases showed a significant positive correlation to in vitro GABA(Aα2,3) modulatory intrinsic activity across the compound set, further supporting a hypothesis that this EEG signature was linked specifically to pharmacological modulation of GABA(Aα2,3) signaling. These findings encourage further evaluation of this EEG signature as a noninvasive clinical translational biomarker that could ultimately facilitate development of GABA(Aα2,3)-subtype-selective drugs for anxiety and potentially other indications.

[3H]Chiba-1001(methyl-SSR180711) has low in vitro binding affinity and poor in vivo selectivity to nicotinic alpha-7 receptor in rodent brain

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists active at the alpha‐7 (α‐7) receptor subtype are potential therapeutics for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, Alzheimers disease, and other mental disorders. SSR180711, an α‐7 selective partial agonist, has been shown to improve preclinical cognition. A novel positron emission tomography (PET) radioligand, 11C‐Chiba1001, is a close analog of SSR180711. We labeled Chiba‐1001 with tritium in order to evaluate its utility as a preclinical radioligand tool. In vitro, the binding affinity of [3H]Chiba‐1001 at the α‐7 receptor was low (Kd = 120–180 nM) in both HEK239 cell membranes expressing human α‐7 receptor and in native rat hippocampus membranes. The α‐7 selective ligands AZD0328, ARR17779, and MLA did not inhibit [3H]Chiba‐1001 binding (Ki > 10,000 nM). In rat hippocampal membranes, Chiba‐1001 and SSR180711 inhibited [3H]Chiba‐1001 binding (Ki = 220 and 230 nM, respectively), consistent with the literature reports. The in vivo binding profile of the radioligand was examined in normal rat, wild type mouse, and α‐7 knockout mouse brain. We found that [3H]Chiba‐1001 lacks adequate and specific brain regional uptake in rat and mouse brain. No significant inhibition of the radioligand binding was obtained following pretreatment of the animal with AZ11637326, AZD0328, or MLA. Our results indicate that [3H]Chiba‐1001 has low affinity for α‐7 nAChRs in vitro and poor α‐7 regional and pharmacological selectivity in the rodent brain. Synapse, 2012.

2,6-Disubstituted pyrazines and related analogs as NR2B site antagonists of the NMDA receptor with anti-depressant activity.

Herein we describe the discovery of compounds that are competitive antagonists of the CP101-606 binding site within the NR2B subtype of the NMDA receptor. The compounds identified do not possess phenolic functional groups such as those in ifenprodil and related analogs. Initial identification of hits in this series focused on a basic, secondary amine side chain which led to good potency, but also presented a hERG liability. Further modifications led to examples of non-basic replacements which demonstrated much less liability in this regard. Finally, one compound in the series, 6a, was tested in the mouse forced swim depression assay and found to show activity (s.c. 60 mg/kg).

D2 receptor occupancy in conscious rat brain is not significantly distinguished with [3H]‐MNPA, [3H]‐(+)‐PHNO, and [3H]‐raclopride

Positron emission tomography (PET) antagonist ligands such as [11C]‐raclopride are commonly used to study dopamine D2 receptor (D2) binding of antipsychotics. It has been suggested that agonist radioligands bind preferentially to the high‐affinity state of D2 receptor and may provide a more relevant means of assessing D2 occupancy. The main objective of this study was to determine if D2 receptor occupancy (RO) could be differentiated with agonist and antagonist radioligands in vivo. Agonist radioligands [3H]‐MNPA and [3H]‐(+)‐PHNO were synthesized and compared to antagonist [3H]‐raclopride in the in vitro binding and in vivo occupancy studies. In vivo, unanesthetized rats were pretreated with quinpirole (full agonist), aripiprazole (partial agonist), or haloperidol (antagonist) prior to administration of the agonist or antagonist radioligand. All three pretreatment compounds showed equivalent dose‐dependent D2 receptor occupancy in the rat striatum with each radioligand. The in vivo receptor occupancy results suggested that the binding of quinpirole, aripiprazole, and haloperidol to the high or low affinity state of the D2 receptor could not be differentiated using radiolabeled agonists or antagonists, presumably due to a predominance of high affinity states of the D2 receptor in vivo. This hypothesis was supported in part by the in vitro binding results. Our in vitro results show that [3H]‐MNPA binds to D2S transfected CHO cell membranes at a single high affinity site. Displacement of [3H]‐(+)‐PHNO binding by quinpirole and elimination of most [3H]‐(+)‐PHNO binding by the guanine nucleotide GppNHp in striatal membranes suggest that the majority of D2 in striatal tissue is G‐protein coupled. Together, these findings suggest that D2 agonist radioligands produce in vivo receptor occupancy comparable to [3H]‐raclopride. Synapse, 2010.

Azepines and piperidines with dual norepinephrine dopamine uptake inhibition and antidepressant activity.

Herein, we describe the discovery of inhibitors of norepinephrine (NET) and dopamine (DAT) transporters with reduced activity relative to serotonin transporters (SERT). Two compounds, 8b and 21a, along with nomifensine were tested in a rodent receptor occupancy study and demonstrated dose-dependent displacement of radiolabeled NET and DAT ligands. These compounds were efficacious in a rat forced swim assay (model of depression) and also had activity in rat spontaneous locomotion assay.

In vitro binding of a radio-labeled positive allosteric modulator for metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5

The positive allosteric modulator (PAM) binding site for metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGlu5) lacks a readily available radio‐labeled tracer fordetailed structure‐activity studies. This communication describes a selective mGlu5 compound, 7‐methyl‐2‐(4‐(pyridin‐2‐yloxy)benzyl)‐5‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)isoindolin‐1‐one (PBPyl) that binds with high affinity to human mGlu5 and exhibits functional PAM activity. Analysis of PBPyl by FLIPR revealed an EC50 of 87 nM with an 89% effect in transfected HEK293 cells and an EC50 of 81 nM with a 42% effect in rat primary neurons. PBPyl exhibited 5‐fold higher functional selectivity for mGlu5 in a full mGlu receptor panel. Unlabeled PBPyl was tested for specific binding using a liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)‐based filtration binding assay and exhibited 40% specific binding in recombinant membranes, a value higher than any candidate compound tested. In competition binding studies with [3H]MPEP, the mGlu5 receptor negative allosteric modulator (NAM), PBPyl exhibited a k i value of 34 nM. PBPyl also displaced [3H]ABP688, a mGluR5 receptor NAM, in tissue sections from mouse and rat brain using autoradiography. Areas of specific binding included the frontal cortex, striatum and nucleus accumbens. PBPyl was radiolabeled to a specific activity of 15 Ci/mmol and tested for specific binding in a filter plate format. In recombinant mGlu5b membranes, [3H] PBPyl exhibited saturable binding with a Kd value of 18.6 nM. In competition binding experiments, [3H] PBPyl was displaced by high affinity mGlu5 positive and negative modulators. Further tests showed that PBPyl displays less than optimal characteristics as an in vivo tool, including a high volume of distribution and ClogP, making it more suitable as an in vitro compound. However, as a first report of direct binding of an mGlu5 receptor PAM, this study offers value toward the development of novel PET imaging agents for this important therapeutic target. Synapse, 2013.