Gianfranco Balboni

Peptidic delta opioid receptor agonists produce antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test and regulate BDNF mRNA expression in rats

Systemically active, nonpeptidic delta opioid receptor agonists have been shown to produce antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in animal models in rodents. In addition, delta agonists have been shown to increase expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA, an effect of some antidepressants, which may be important for the clinical efficacy of antidepressant drugs. The present study examined whether a variety of peptidic delta agonists, DPDPE, JOM-13, a systemically active derivative of DPDPE, deltorphin II, and H-Dmt-Tic-NH-CH2-Bid could produce convulsions and antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test. In addition, some of these compounds were examined for their influence on BDNF mRNA expression. All four agonists dose-dependently decreased immobility in the forced swim test, indicating an antidepressant-like effect. Only JOM-13 produced convulsions at doses required for antidepressant-like effects. In addition, DPDPE increased BDNF mRNA expression, as measured by in situ hybridization, in the frontal cortex. The antidepressant-like effect of the agonists in the forced swim test and the increase in BDNF mRNA expression produced by DPDPE were blocked by the delta antagonist naltrindole. Therefore, activation of the delta receptor by centrally administered peptidic agonists and intravenously administered JOM-13 produces behavioral antidepressant-like effects without producing convulsions, and some peptidic agonists can increase BDNF mRNA expression, however, not as consistently as the systemically active nonpeptidic agonists.

δ‐, but not µ‐, opioid receptor stabilizes K+ homeostasis by reducing Ca2+ influx in the cortex during acute hypoxia

Past work has shown that δ‐opioid receptor (DOR) activation by [D‐Ala2,D‐Leu5]‐enkephalin (DADLE) attenuated the disruption of K+ homeostasis induced by hypoxia or oxygen‐glucose deprivation (OGD) in the cortex, while naltrindole, a DOR antagonist blocked this effect, suggesting that DOR activity stabilizes K+ homeostasis in the cortex during hypoxic/ischemic stress. However, several important issues remain unclear regarding this new observation, especially the difference between DOR and other opioid receptors in the stabilization of K+ homeostasis and the underlying mechanism. In this study, we asked whether DOR is different from µ‐opioid receptors (MOR) in stabilizing K+ homeostasis and which membrane channel(s) is critically involved in the DOR effect. The main findings are that (1) similar to DADLE (10 µM), H‐Dmt‐Tic‐NH‐CH (CH2COOH)‐Bid (1–10 µM), a more specific and potent DOR agonist significantly attenuated anoxic K+ derangement in cortical slice; (2) [D‐Ala2, N‐Me‐Phe4, glycinol5]‐enkephalin (DAGO; 10 µM), a MOR agonist, did not produce any appreciable change in anoxic disruption of K+ homeostasis; (3) absence of Ca2+ greatly attenuated anoxic K+ derangement; (4) inhibition of Ca2+‐activated K+ (BK) channels with paxilline (10 µM) reduced anoxic K+ derangement; (5) DADLE (10 µM) could not further reduce anoxic K+ derangement in the Ca2+‐free perfused slices or in the presence of paxilline; and (6) glybenclamide (20 µM), a KATP channel blocker, decreased anoxia‐induced K+ derangement, but DADLE (10 µM) could further attenuate anoxic K+ derangement in the glybenclamide‐perfused slices. These data suggest that DOR, but not MOR, activation is protective against anoxic K+ derangement in the cortex, at least partially via an inhibition of hypoxia‐induced increase in Ca2+ entry‐BK channel activity. J. Cell. Physiol. 212: 60–67, 2007.

The chemokine Bv8/prokineticin 2 is up-regulated in inflammatory granulocytes and modulates inflammatory pain

Neutrophil migration into injured tissues is invariably accompanied by pain. Bv8/prokineticin 2 (PK2), a chemokine characterized by a unique structural motif comprising five disulfide bonds, is highly expressed in inflamed tissues associated to infiltrating cells. Here, we demonstrate the fundamental role of granulocyte-derived PK2 (GrPK2) in initiating inflammatory pain and driving peripheral sensitization. In animal models of complete Freunds adjuvant-induced paw inflammation the development and duration of pain temporally correlated with the expression levels of PK2 in the inflamed sites. Such an increase in PK2 mRNA depends mainly on a marked up-regulation of PK2 gene transcription in granulocytes. A substantially lower up-regulation was also detected in macrophages. From a pool of peritoneal granulocytes, elicited in rats by oyster glycogen, we purified the GrPK2 protein, which displayed high affinity for the prokineticin receptors (PKRs) and, when injected into the rat paw, induced hypersensitivity to noxious stimuli as the amphibian prokineticin Bv8 did. Mice lacking PKR1 or PKR2 developed significantly less inflammation-induced hyperalgesia in comparison with WT mice, confirming the involvement of both PKRs in inflammatory pain. The inflammation-induced up-regulation of PK2 was significantly less in pkr1 null mice than in WT and pkr2 null mice, demonstrating a role of PKR1 in setting PK2 levels during inflammation. Pretreatment with a nonpeptide PKR antagonist, which preferentially binds PKR1, dose-dependently reduced and eventually abolished both prokineticin-induced hypernociception and inflammatory hyperalgesia. Inhibiting PK2 formation or antagonizing PKRs may represent another therapeutic approach for controlling inflammatory pain.

Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like activities of H-Dmt-Tic-NH-CH(CH2-COOH)-Bid (UFP-512), a novel selective delta opioid receptor agonist

Knockout and pharmacological studies have shown that delta opioid peptide (DOP) receptor signalling regulates emotional responses. In the present study, the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile of the DOP ligand, H-Dmt-Tic-NH-CH(CH2-COOH)-Bid (UFP-512) was investigated. In receptor binding experiments performed on membranes of CHO cells expressing the human recombinant opioid receptors, UFP-512 displayed very high affinity (pKi 10.20) and selectivity (>150-fold) for DOP sites. In functional studies ([35S]GTP gamma S binding in CHOhDOP membranes and electrically stimulated mouse vas deferens) UFP-512 behaved as a DOP selective full agonist showing potency values more than 100-fold higher than DPDPE. In vivo, in the mouse forced swimming test, UFP-512 reduced immobility time both after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration. Similar effects were recorded in rats. Moreover, UFP-512 evoked anxiolytic-like effects in the mouse elevated plus maze and light-dark aversion assays. All these in vivo actions of UFP-512 were fully prevented by the selective DOP antagonist naltrindole (3 mg/kg, s.c.). In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that UFP-512 behaves as a highly potent and selective agonist at DOP receptors and corroborate the proposal that the selective activation of DOP receptors elicits robust anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in rodents.

Triazine compounds as antagonists at Bv8-prokineticin receptors.

On the basis of a Janssens patent, we approached a new synthesis of some 1,3,5-triazin-4,6-diones as potential non peptidic prokineticin receptor antagonists, containing the following substitutions: (N(1) and N(5) link a 4-methoxybenzyl and a 4-ethylbenzyl, respectively; C(2) can link an amino-ethyl-guanidine (reference compound 1) or an ethylendiamine (2) or an amino-ethyl-amino-2-imidazoline (3). New compounds were assessed for PKR1 and PKR2 affinity. Antagonist properties were evaluated as inhibition of 1 nM Bv8-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization.

Agonists at the δ-opioid receptor modify the binding of µ-receptor agonists to the µ–δ receptor hetero-oligomer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE µ‐ and δ‐opioid receptors form heteromeric complexes with unique ligand binding and G protein‐coupling profiles linked to G protein α z‐subunit (Gαz) activation. However, the mechanism of action of agonists and their regulation of the µ–δ receptor heteromer are not well understood.

Activation of DOR Attenuates Anoxic K+ Derangement via Inhibition of Na+ Entry in Mouse Cortex

We have recently found that in the mouse cortex, activation of delta-opioid receptor (DOR) attenuates the disruption of K(+) homeostasis induced by hypoxia or oxygen-glucose deprivation. This novel observation suggests that DOR may protect neurons from hypoxic/ischemic insults via the regulation of K(+) homeostasis because the disruption of K(+) homeostasis plays a critical role in neuronal injury under hypoxic/ischemic stress. The present study was performed to explore the ionic mechanism underlying the DOR-induced neuroprotection. Because anoxia causes Na(+) influx and thus stimulates K(+) leakage, we investigated whether DOR protects the cortex from anoxic K(+) derangement by targeting the Na(+)-based K(+) leakage. By using K(+)-sensitive microelectrodes in mouse cortical slices, we showed that 1) lowering Na(+) concentration and substituting with impermeable N-methyl-D-glucamine caused a concentration-dependent attenuation of anoxic K(+) derangement; 2) lowering Na(+) concentration by substituting with permeable Li(+) tended to potentiate the anoxic K(+) derangement; and 3) the DOR-induced protection against the anoxic K(+) responses was largely abolished by low-Na(+) perfusion irrespective of the substituted cation. We conclude that external Na(+) concentration greatly influences anoxic K(+) derangement and that DOR activation likely attenuates anoxic K(+) derangement induced by the Na(+)-activated mechanisms in the cortex.

Conformational properties of deltorphin: new features of the δ-opioid receptor

Deltorphin is an opioid peptide with the sequence H‐Tyr‐D‐Met‐Phe‐His‐Leu‐Met‐Asp‐NH2, recently isolated from the skin of Phyllomedusa sauvagei. Its enormous selectivity towards the δ‐opioid receptor and the similarity of the N‐terminal part of the sequence with that of dermorphin (H‐Tyr‐D‐Ala‐Phe‐Gly‐Tyr‐Pro‐Ser‐NH2), a μ selective peptide isolated from the same natural source, prompted a comparative conformational study. A 1H‐NMR study in two different solvent systems showed that the conformational preferences of the N‐terminal sequences of the two peptides are similar. The different selectivities towards opioid receptors have been interpreted in terms of charge effects. Besides a general trend consistent with the role of the membrane in the preselection of the peptides, the present study demonstrates the crucial role played by charged residues in the interaction inside the receptors.

δ-Opioid receptors protect from anoxic disruption of Na+ homeostasis via Na+ channel regulation

Hypoxic/ischemic disruption of ionic homeostasis is a critical trigger of neuronal injury/death in the brain. There is, however, no promising strategy against such pathophysiologic change to protect the brain from hypoxic/ischemic injury. Here, we present a novel finding that activation of δ-opioid receptors (DOR) reduced anoxic Na+ influx in the mouse cortex, which was completely blocked by DOR antagonism with naltrindole. Furthermore, we co-expressed DOR and Na+ channels in Xenopus oocytes and showed that DOR expression and activation indeed play an inhibitory role in Na+ channel regulation by decreasing the amplitude of sodium currents and increasing activation threshold of Na+ channels. Our results suggest that DOR protects from anoxic disruption of Na+ homeostasis via Na+ channel regulation. These data may potentially have significant impacts on understanding the intrinsic mechanism of neuronal responses to stress and provide clues for better solutions of hypoxic/ischemic encephalopathy, and for the exploration of acupuncture mechanism since acupuncture activates opioid system.

Design of δ-opioid peptide antagonists for emerging drug applications

Abstract The need for δ-receptor-selective opioid antagonists has led to their development based on structure–activity relationships of δ- and μ-opioid agonists. The unusual amino acid 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (Tic), found in a series of H-Tyr-Tic-Phe-(Phe)-OH peptides, is an essential feature of derivatives discussed in this article. Elimination of Phe yields the H-Tyr-Tic-OH dipeptide antagonists, while substitution of Tyr by 2′,6′-dimethyl- l -tyrosine (Dmt) gives H-Dmt-Tic-OH and numerous potent, high-affinity and ultraselective δ-opioid antagonists. This article reviews the emergence of derivatives based on the Tyr-Tic and Dmt-Tic pharmacophores as lead structures, and discusses potential clinical and therapeutic applications.