Raffaella Bigoni

A new selective antagonist of the nociceptin receptor

[Phe1Ψ(CH2‐NH)Gly2]NC(1‐13)NH2 has been tested in the electrically stimulated guinea pig ileum and mouse vas deferens, two nociceptin sensitive preparations. The new compound showed per se little or no effect in the two tissues, but it displaced to the right the concentration‐response curves of nociceptin in a concentration‐dependent manner. Schild analyses of the data indicated a competitive type of antagonism and pA2 values of 7.02 and 6.75 in the guinea‐pig ileum and the mouse vas deferens, respectively. At 10 μM [Phe1Ψ(CH2‐NH)Gly2]NC(1‐13)NH2 does not modify either the inhibitory effect of deltorphin I (the selective δ opioid receptor agonist) in the mouse vas deferens or that of dermorphine (the selective μ opioid receptor agonist) in the guinea‐pig ileum. The present findings indicate that [Phe1Ψ(CH2‐NH)Gly2]NC(1‐13)NH2 is a selective antagonist of the nociceptin receptor.

Characterization of [Nphe1]nociceptin(1‐13)NH2, a new selective nociceptin receptor antagonist

Nociceptin (orphanin FQ) is a novel neuropeptide capable of inducing a variety of biological actions via activation of a specific G‐protein coupled receptor. However, the lack of a selective nociceptin receptor antagonist has hampered our understanding of nociceptin actions and the role of this peptide in pathophysiological states. As part of a broader programme of research, geared to the identification and characterization of nociceptin receptor ligands, we report that the novel peptide [Nphe1]nociceptin(1‐13)NH2 acts as the first truly selective and competitive nociceptin receptor antagonist and is devoid of any residual agonist activity. [Nphe1]nociceptin(1‐13)NH2 binds selectively to recombinant nociceptin receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells (pKi 8.4) and competitively antagonizes the inhibitory effects of nociceptin (i) on cyclic AMP accumulation in CHO cells (pA2 6.0) and (ii) on electrically evoked contractions in isolated tissues of the mouse, rat and guinea‐pig with pA2 values ranging from 6.0 to 6.4. [Nphe1]nociceptin(1‐13)NH2 is also active in vivo, where it prevents the pronociceptive and antimorphine actions of intracerebroventricularly applied nociceptin, measured in the mouse tail withdrawal assay. Moreover, [Nphe1]nociceptin(1‐13)NH2 produces per se a dose dependent, naloxone resistant antinociceptive action and, at relatively low doses, potentiates morphine‐induced analgesia. Collectively our data indicate that [Nphe1]nociceptin(1‐13)NH2, acting as a nociceptin receptor antagonist, may be the prototype of a new class of analgesics.

[Nphe1,Arg14,Lys15]Nociceptin‐NH2, a novel potent and selective antagonist of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) modulates several biological functions by activating a specific G‐protein coupled receptor (NOP). Few molecules are available that selectively activate or block the NOP receptor. Here we describe the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile of a novel NOP receptor ligand, [Nphe1,Arg14,Lys15]N/OFQ‐NH2 (UFP‐101). UFP‐101 binds to the human recombinant NOP receptor expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells with high affinity (pKi 10.2) and shows more than 3000 fold selectivity over classical opioid receptors. UFP‐101 competitively antagonizes the effects of N/OFQ on GTPγ35S binding in CHOhNOP cell membranes (pA2 9.1) and on cyclic AMP accumulation in CHOhNOP cells (pA2 7.1), being per se inactive at concentrations up to 10 μM. In isolated peripheral tissues of mice, rats and guinea‐pigs, and in rat cerebral cortex synaptosomes preloaded with [3H]‐5‐HT, UFP‐101 competitively antagonized the effects of N/OFQ with pA2 values in the range of 7.3–7.7. In the same preparations, the peptide was inactive alone and did not modify the effects of classical opioid receptor agonists. UFP‐101 is also active in vivo where it prevented the depressant action on locomotor activity and the pronociceptive effect induced by 1 nmol N/OFQ i.c.v. in the mouse. In the tail withdrawal assay, UFP‐101 at 10 nmol produces per se a robust and long lasting antinociceptive effect. UFP‐101 is a novel, potent and selective NOP receptor antagonist which appears to be a useful tool for future investigations of the N/OFQ‐NOP receptor system.

Characterization of nociceptin receptors in the periphery: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Nociceptin (NC), a series of NC fragments, naloxone as well as the pseudopeptide [Phe1Ψ(CH2-NH)Gly2]NC(1–13)NH2 ([F/G]NC(1–13)NH2) were used to characterize NC receptors in peripheral isolated organs and in vivo. Experiments on isolated organs were performed in the mouse (mVD) and rat (rVD) vas deferens (noradrenergic nerve terminals), in the guinea pig ileum (gpI; cholinergic nerves) and in the renal pelvis (gpRP; sensory nerves), and, in vivo, by measuring the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in anaesthetised rats. NC, NCNH2 and NC(1–13)NH2 acted as full agonists with similar affinities, while shorter fragments (e.g. NC(1–12)NH2, NC(1–9)NH2, NC(1–5)NH2) were much weaker or inactive. The inhibitory effects of NC were not modified by naloxone. [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2 acted as an antagonist with similar pA2-values (6.75 mVD, 6.83 rVD, 7.26 gpI) in the three species. In addition, it blocked NC actions in the rat in vivo. Linear Schild plots with slopes near to unity indicated that [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2 is a competitive antagonist, specific for NC receptors both in vitro (since it was inactive on opioid receptors) and in vivo (since it was inactive against carbachol). [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2 showed a residual agonistic activity in vitro (α = 0.2-0.3 in the rVD and gpI) and especially in vivo (α = 0.4 BP, 0.2 HR). These pharmacological data indicate that NC and related peptides exert their inhibitory effects in peripheral organs of various species by activating the same receptor type. Moreover, [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2 appears to be a useful tool for receptor characterization and classification.

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor ligands

Nociceptin (NC), alias Orphanin FQ (OFQ) is a heptadecapeptide structurally related to opioid peptides, especially Dynorphin A, which, however, does not interact with classic opioid receptors. NC selectively activates its own receptor (OP(4)), which has been shown to be insensitive to the naturally occurring opioid peptides as well as to a large number of non-peptide opioid receptor ligands, including naloxone. Thus, the NC/OP(4) system represents a new peptide-based signaling pathway, which is pharmacologically distinct from the opioid systems. The pharmacological tools available for investigating NC actions are at present rather limited and include: 1) peptide ligands obtained from structure activity studies performed using NC(1-13)NH(2) as a template or discovered by screening peptide combinatorial libraries; 2) nonpeptide ligands that are either molecules already known to interact with classic opioid receptors or novel molecules designed and synthesized as selective ligands of the OP(4) receptor. In the present paper the functional data obtained from both in vitro and in vivo studies with each relevant OP(4) receptor ligand will be analyzed and discussed comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each molecule. We hope that the present work will aid investigators, working in the NC/OP(4) field, in the choice of the pharmacological tools suitable for their experiments.

Comparison of the effects of [Phe1Ψ(CH2‐NH)Gly2]Nociceptin (1–13)NH2 in rat brain, rat vas deferens and CHO cells expressing recombinant human nociceptin receptors

Nociceptin(NC) is the endogenous ligand for the opioid receptor like‐1 receptor (NC‐receptor). [Phe1ΨC(CH2‐NH)Gly2]Nociceptin(1–13)NH2 ([F/G]NC(1–13)NH2) has been reported to antagonize NC actions in peripheral guinea‐pig and mouse tissues. In this study, we investigated the effects of a range of NC C‐terminal truncated fragments and [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2 on NC receptor binding, glutamate release from rat cerebrocortical slices (rCX), inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation in CHO cells expressing the NC receptor (CHONCR) and electrically evoked contractions of the rat vas deferens (rVD). In radioligand binding assays, a range of ligands inhibited [125I]‐Tyr14‐NC binding in membranes from rCX and CHONCR cells. As the peptide was truncated there was a general decline in pKi. [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2 was as potent as NC(1–13)NH2. The order of potency for NC fragments to inhibit cyclic AMP accumulation in whole CHONCR cells was NCNH2NC=NC(1–13)NH2>NC(1–12)NH2>>NC(1–11)NH2. [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2 was a full agonist with a pEC50 value of 8.65. NCNH2 and [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2 both inhibited K+ evoked glutamate release from rCX with pEC50 and maximum inhibition of 8.16, 48.5±4.9% and 7.39, 58.9±6.8% respectively. In rVD NC inhibited electrically evoked contractions with a pEC50 of 6.63. Although [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2, displayed a small (instrinsic activity α=0.19) but consistent residual agonist activity, it acted as a competitive antagonist (pA2 6.76) in the rVD. The differences between [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2 action on central and peripheral NC signalling could be explained if [F/G]NC(1–13)NH2 was a partial agonist with high strength of coupling in the CNS and low in the periphery. An alternative explanation could be the existence of central and peripheral receptor isoforms.

[Nphe1]nociceptin-(1–13)-NH2 antagonizes nociceptin effects in the mouse colon

Nociceptin, nociceptin-(1-13)-NH(2), Ac-RYYRWK-NH(2), [Phe(1)psi(CH(2)&z.sbnd;NH)Gly(2)]nociceptin-(1-13)-NH(2), the new nociceptin analog [Nphe(1)]nociceptin-(1-13)-NH(2), and endomorphin-1 have been tested in the isolated mouse colon. All peptides, except [Nphe(1)]nociceptin-(1-13)-NH(2), caused concentration-dependent, tetrodotoxin-sensitive contractions showing similar maximal effects. Naloxone (1 microM) blocked the effect of endomorphin-1 but not that of the other peptides. [Nphe(1)]nociceptin-(1-13)-NH(2) (10 microM) was inactive against endomorphin-1, but antagonized the contractile effects of nociceptin receptor ligands showing similar pA(2) values (approximately 6.0). The present findings indicate that [Nphe(1)]nociceptin-(1-13)-NH(2) is a low-potency, selective nociceptin receptor antagonist, devoid of residual agonist activity.

Pharmacological Profile Of Nociceptin/Orphanin Fq Receptors

1. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NC) and its receptor (OP4) represent a novel peptide/receptor system pharmacologically distinct from classical opioid systems.

The nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor antagonist, [Nphe1]NC(1-13)NH2, potentiates morphine analgesia.

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NC) and its receptor (OP4) represent a novel peptide/receptor system which has been implicated in the regulation of various central functions, including pain. The aim of the present study was to explore the involvement of the endogenous NC/OP4 system in the modulation of opioid analgesia using the selective OP4 receptor antagonist [Nphe1]NC(1–13)NH2. Experiments were performed in mice exposed to acute as well as chronic treatment with morphine. [Nphe1]NC(1–13)NH2, injected i.c.v. at 30 nmol, strongly potentiated the analgesic effect of supraspinal morphine (1 nmol, i.c.v.) while it only slightly increased the antinociceptive activity of morphine given systemically (5 mg/kg, s.c.). [Nphe1]NC(1–13)NH, (30 nmol, i.c.v.) also potentiated morphine analgesia in mice made tolerant to the opiate (30 mg/kg/day for 4 days). These findings implicate the endogenous NC signaling as a modulator of morphine analgesia and tolerance.

Structure-activity relationships of nociceptin and related peptides: comparison with dynorphin A.

Nociceptin and its receptor (OP(4)) share sequence homologies with the opioid peptide ligand dynorphin A and its receptor OP(2). Cationic residues in the C-terminal sequence of both peptides seem to be required for selective receptor occupation, but the number and the distribution of these basic residues are different and quite critical. Both receptors are presumably activated by the peptides N-terminal sequence (Xaa-Gly Gly-Phe, where Xaa = Phe or Tyr); however, although OP(4) requires Phe(4) as a determinant pharmacophore, OP(2) requires Tyr(1) as do the other opioid receptors. An extensive structure-activity analysis of the N-terminal tetrapeptide has led to conclude that the presence of aromatic residues in position one and four, preferably Phe, as well as the distance between Phe(1) and Phe(4) are extremely critical for occupation and activation of OP(4) in contrast with other opioid receptors (e.g. OP(1), OP(3), OP(2)). Modification of distance between the side chains of Phe(1) and Phe(4) (as obtained with Nphe(1) substitution in both NC and NC(1-13)-NH(2)) and/or conformational orientation of Phe(1) (as in Phe(1)psi(CH(2)-NH)-Gly(2)) has brought to discovery of pure antagonist ([Nphe(1)]-NC(1-13)-NH(2)) and a partial agonist ([Phe(1) psi(CH(2)-NH)-Gly(2)]-NC(1-13)-NH(2)), which have allowed us to characterize and classify the OP(4) receptor in several species. Thus, although antagonist activities at the OP(4) receptor are obtained by chemical modification of Phe(1)-Gly(2) peptide bond or by a shift of Phe(1) side chain of NC peptides, antagonism at the OP(2) receptor requires the diallylation of the N-terminal amino function, for instance, of dynorphin A. These considerations support the interpretation that the two systems nociceptin/OP(4) and dynorphin A/OP(2) are distinct pharmacological entities that differs in both their active sites (Tyr(1) for Dyn A and Phe(4) for NC) and the number and position of cationic residues in the C-terminal portions of the molecules. The chemical features of novel OP(4) receptor ligands either pseudopeptides obtained by combinatorial library screening or molecules of nonpeptide structure are reported and discussed in comparison with NC and NC related peptides.