Robert Johannes Lütjens

Lateral Allosterism in the Glucagon Receptor Family: Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Induces G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Heteromer Formation

Activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) results in a variety of cellular responses, such as binding to the same receptor of different ligands that activate distinct downstream cascades. Additional signaling complexity is achieved when two or more receptors are integrated into one signaling unit. Lateral receptor interactions can allosterically modulate the receptor response to a ligand, which creates a mechanism for tissue-specific fine tuning, depending on the cellular receptor coexpression pattern. GPCR homomers or heteromers have been explored widely for GPCR classes A and C but to lesser extent for class B. In the present study, we used bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) techniques, calcium flux measurements, and microscopy to study receptor interactions within the glucagon receptor family. We found basal BRET interactions for some of the receptor combinations tested that decreased upon ligand binding. A BRET increase was observed exclusively for the gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) receptor and the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor upon binding of GLP-1 that could be reversed with GIP addition. The interactions of GLP-1 receptor and GIP receptor were characterized with BRET donor saturation studies, shift experiments, and tests of glucagon-like ligands. The heteromer displayed specific pharmacological characteristics with respect to GLP-1-induced β-arrestin recruitment and calcium flux, which suggests a form of allosteric regulation between the receptors. This study provides the first example of ligand-induced heteromer formation in GPCR class B. In the body, the receptors are functionally related and coexpressed in the same cells. The physiological evidence for this heteromerization remains to be determined.

ADX71743, a Potent and Selective Negative Allosteric Modulator of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 7: In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGlu7) has been suggested to be a promising novel target for treatment of a range of disorders, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, drug abuse, and schizophrenia. Here we characterized a potent and selective mGlu7 negative allosteric modulator (NAM) (+)-6-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-2-ethyl-6,7-dihydrobenzo[d]oxazol-4(5H)-one (ADX71743). In vitro, Schild plot analysis and reversibility tests at the target confirmed the NAM properties of the compound and attenuation of l-(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid–induced synaptic depression confirmed activity at the native receptor. The pharmacokinetic analysis of ADX71743 in mice and rats revealed that it is bioavailable after s.c. administration and is brain penetrant (cerebrospinal fluid concentration/total plasma concentration ratio at Cmax = 5.3%). In vivo, ADX71743 (50, 100, 150 mg/kg, s.c.) caused no impairment of locomotor activity in rats and mice or activity on rotarod in mice. ADX71743 had an anxiolytic-like profile in the marble burying and elevated plus maze tests, dose-dependently reducing the number of buried marbles and increasing open arm exploration, respectively. Whereas ADX71743 caused a small reduction in amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in mice, it was inactive in the mouse 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine–induced head twitch and the rat conditioned avoidance response tests. In addition, the compound was inactive in the mouse forced swim test. These data suggest that ADX71743 is a suitable compound to help unravel the physiologic role of mGlu7 and to better understand its implication in central nervous system diseases. Our in vivo tests using ADX71743, reported here, suggest that pharmacological inhibition of mGlu7 is a valid approach for developing novel pharmacotherapies to treat anxiety disorders, but may not be suitable for treatment of depression or psychosis.

mGluR5 Negative Allosteric Modulators Overview: A Medicinal Chemistry Approach Towards a Series of Novel Therapeutic Agents

Allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) subtypes 1-8 have been shown to offer a valid way to develop small molecule non aminoacid-like therapeutics that can be administered orally and that readily cross the blood-brain barrier. Allosteric modulators of glutamatergic receptors and in particular mGluR5 have emerged as a novel and highly desirable class of compounds for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders and peripheral disorders. This article provides medicinal chemistry highlights around the chemical classes of potent and highly selective mGluR5 negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) and their therapeutic potential. In addition, it describes the medicinal chemistry approach from the discovery to the clinical candidate selection of a new series of heteroaryl-butynylpyridines targeting mGluR5. The multiparametric optimization of the initial starting point which ended in the selection of potential clinical candidates combining the best pharmacophoric features is presented. The pharmacological properties are reported and support the interest of these agents for new therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, a summary of the diverse mGluR5 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radioligands is reported.

Discovery of 1,5-disubstituted pyridones: a new class of positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate 2 receptor.

A series of 1,5-disubstituted pyridones was identified as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) via high throughput screening (HTS). Subsequent SAR exploration led to the identification of several compounds with improved in vitro activity. Lead compound 8 was further profiled and found to attenuate the increase in PCP induced locomotor activity in mice.

Discovery of 1-Butyl-3-chloro-4-(4-phenyl-1-piperidinyl)-(1H)-pyridone (JNJ-40411813): A Novel Positive Allosteric Modulator of the Metabotropic Glutamate 2 Receptor

We previously reported the discovery of 4-aryl-substituted pyridones with mGlu2 PAM activity starting from the HTS hit 5. In this article, we describe a different exploration from 5 that led to the discovery of a novel subseries of phenylpiperidine-substituted pyridones. The optimization strategy involved the introduction of different spacers between the pyridone core and the phenyl ring of 5. The fine tuning of metabolism and hERG followed by differentiation of advanced leads that were identified on the basis of PK profiles and in vivo potency converged on lead compound 36 (JNJ-40411813). Full in vitro and in vivo profiles indicate that 36 displayed an optimal interplay between potency, selectivity, favorable ADMET/PK and cardiovascular safety profile, and central EEG activity. Compound 36 has been investigated in the clinic for schizophrenia and anxious depression disorders.

Discovery of 1,4-disubstituted 3-cyano-2-pyridones: a new class of positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate 2 receptor.

The discovery and characterization of compound 48, a selective and in vivo active mGlu2 receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM), are described. A key to the discovery was the rational exploration of the initial HTS hit 13 guided by an overlay model built with reported mGlu2 receptor PAM chemotypes. The initial weak in vitro activity of the hit 13 was quickly improved, although compounds still had suboptimal druglike properties. Subsequent modulation of the physicochemical properties resulted in compounds having a more balanced profile, combining good potency and in vivo pharmacokinetic properties. Final refinement by addressing cardiovascular safety liabilities led to the discovery of compound 48. Besides good potency, selectivity, and ADME properties, compound 48 displayed robust in vivo activity in a sleep-wake electroencephalogram (sw-EEG) assay consistent with mGlu2 receptor activation, in accordance with previous work from our laboratories.

Preclinical evaluation of the antipsychotic potential of the mGlu2‐positive allosteric modulator JNJ‐40411813

JNJ‐40411813/ADX71149 (1‐butyl‐3‐chloro‐4‐(4‐phenylpiperidin‐1‐yl) pyridin‐2(1H)‐one) is a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the mGlu2 receptor, which also displays 5‐Hydroxytryptamine (5HT2A) antagonism after administration in rodents due to a rodent‐specific metabolite. JNJ‐40411813 was compared with the orthosteric mGlu2/3 agonist LY404039 (4‐amino‐2‐thiabicyclo [3.1.0] hexane‐4,6‐dicarboxylic acid 2,2‐dioxide), the selective mGlu2 PAM JNJ‐42153605 (3‐(cyclopropylmethyl)‐7‐(4‐phenylpiperidin‐1‐yl)‐8‐(trifluoromethyl)[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]pyridine) and the 5HT2A antagonist ritanserin in rodent models for antipsychotic activity and potential side effects, attempting to differentiate between the various compounds and mechanisms of action. In mice, JNJ‐40411813, JNJ‐42153605, and LY404039 inhibited spontaneous locomotion and phencyclidine‐ and scopolamine‐induced but not d‐amphetamine‐induced hyperlocomotion; the 5HT2A antagonist ritanserin inhibited only spontaneous locomotion and phencyclidine‐induced hyperlocomotion. As measured by 2‐deoxyglucose uptake, all compounds reversed memantine‐induced brain activation in mice. The two mGlu2 PAMs and LY404039, but not ritanserin, inhibited conditioned avoidance behavior in rats. Like ritanserin, the mGlu2 ligands antagonized 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐methylamphetamine‐induced head twitches in rats. LY404039 but not the mGlu2 PAMs impaired rotarod performance in rats and increased the acoustic startle response in mice. Our results show that although 5HT2A antagonism has effect in some models, mGlu2 receptor activation is sufficient for activity in several animal models of antipsychotic activity. The mGlu2 PAMs mimicked the in vivo pharmacodynamic effects observed with LY404039 except for effects on the rotarod and acoustic startle, suggesting that they produce a primary activity profile similar to that of the mGlu2/3 receptor agonist while they can be differentiated based on their secondary activity profile. The results are discussed in light of clinical data available for some of these molecules, in particular JNJ‐40411813.

New positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2): identification and synthesis of N-propyl-8-chloro-6-substituted isoquinolones.

A series of N-propyl-8-chloro-6-substituted isoquinolones was identified as positive allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2 PAM) via high throughput screening (HTS). The subsequent synthesis and initial SAR exploration that led to the identification of compound 28 is described.

Pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of JNJ-40411813, a positive allosteric modulator of the mGlu2 receptor

Compounds modulating metabotropic glutamate type 2 (mGlu2) receptor activity may have therapeutic benefits in treating psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and anxiety. The pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of a novel mGlu2 receptor‐positive allosteric modulator (PAM), 1‐butyl‐3‐chloro‐4‐(4‐phenyl‐1‐piperidinyl)‐2(1H)‐pyridinone (JNJ‐40411813/ADX71149) are described here. JNJ‐40411813 acts as a PAM at the cloned mGlu2 receptor: EC50 = 147 ± 42 nmol/L in a [35S]GTPγS binding assay with human metabotropic glutamate type 2 (hmGlu2) CHO cells and EC50 = 64 ± 29 nmol/L in a Ca2+ mobilization assay with hmGlu2 Gα16 cotransfected HEK293 cells. [35S]GTPγS autoradiography on rat brain slices confirmed PAM activity of JNJ‐40411813 on native mGlu2 receptor. JNJ‐40411813 displaced [3H]JNJ‐40068782 and [3H]JNJ‐46281222 (mGlu2 receptor PAMs), while it failed to displace [3H]LY341495 (a competitive mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist). In rats, JNJ‐40411813 showed ex vivo mGlu2 receptor occupancy using [3H]JNJ‐46281222 with ED50 of 16 mg/kg (p.o.). PK‐PD modeling using the same radioligand resulted in an EC50 of 1032 ng/mL. While JNJ‐40411813 demonstrated moderate affinity for human 5HT2A receptor in vitro (Kb = 1.1 μmol/L), higher than expected 5HT2A occupancy was observed in vivo (in rats, ED50 = 17 mg/kg p.o.) due to a metabolite. JNJ‐40411813 dose dependently suppressed REM sleep (LAD, 3 mg/kg p.o.), and promoted and consolidated deep sleep. In fed rats, JNJ‐40411813 (10 mg/kg p.o.) was rapidly absorbed (Cmax 938 ng/mL at 0.5 h) with an absolute oral bioavailability of 31%. Collectively, our data show that JNJ‐40411813 is an interesting candidate to explore the therapeutic potential of mGlu2 PAMs, in in vivo rodents experiments as well as in clinical studies.

Targeting type-2 metabotropic glutamate receptors to protect vulnerable hippocampal neurons against ischemic damage

BackgroundTo examine whether metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors have any role in mechanisms that shape neuronal vulnerability to ischemic damage, we used the 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO) model of transient global ischemia in rats. 4-VO in rats causes a selective death of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region, leaving neurons of the CA3 region relatively spared. We wondered whether changes in the expression of individual mGlu receptor subtypes selectively occur in the vulnerable CA1 region during the development of ischemic damage, and whether post-ischemic treatment with drugs targeting the selected receptor(s) affords neuroprotection.ResultsWe found that 4-VO caused significantly reduction in the transcript of mGlu2 receptors in the CA1 region at times that preceded the anatomical evidence of neuronal death. Down-regulation of mGlu2 receptors was associated with reduced H3 histone acetylation at the Grm2 promoter. The transcripts of other mGlu receptor subtypes were unchanged in the CA1 region of 4-VO rats. Ischemia did not cause changes in mGlu2 receptor mRNA levels in the resistant CA3 region, which, interestingly, were lower than in the CA1 region. Targeting the mGlu2 receptors with selective pharmacologic ligands had profound effects on ishemic neuronal damage. Post-ischemic oral treatment with the selective mGlu2 receptor NAM (negative allosteric modulator), ADX92639 (30 mg/kg), was highly protective against ischemic neuronal death. In contrast, s.c. administration of the mGlu2 receptor enhancer, LY487379 (30 mg/kg), amplified neuronal damage in the CA1 region and extended the damage to the CA3 region.ConclusionThese findings suggest that the mGlu2 receptor is an important player in mechanisms regulating neuronal vulnerability to ischemic damage, and that mGlu2 receptor NAMs are potential candidates in the experimental treatments of disorders characterized by brain hypoperfusion, such as hypovolemic shock and cardiac arrest.