Supriya A. Bavadekar

Pharmacological Effects of Ephedrine Alkaloids on Human α1- and α2-Adrenergic Receptor Subtypes

Ephedra species of plants have both beneficial and adverse effects primarily associated with the presence of ephedrine alkaloids. Few reports have appeared that examine the direct actions of ephedrine alkaloids on human subtypes of adrenergic receptors (ARs). In the present study, ephedrine alkaloids were evaluated for their binding affinities on human α1A-, α1B-, α1D-, α2A-, α2B-, and α2C-AR subtypes expressed in HEK and Chinese hamster ovary cells. Cell-based reporter gene assays were used to establish functional activity of ephedrine alkaloids at α1A-, α2A-, and α2C-ARs. The data showed that ephedrine alkaloids did not activate α1- and α2-ARs and that they antagonized the agonist-mediated effects of phenylephrine and medetomidine on α1- and α2-ARs, respectively. As in the binding studies, 1R,2R- and 1R,2S-ephedrine showed greater functional antagonist activity than the 1S,2R- and 1S,2S-isomers. The rank order of affinity for the isomers was 1R,2R > 1R,2S > 1S,2R > 1S,2S. The rank order of potencies of alkaloids containing a 1R,2S-configuration was norephedrine ≥ ephedrine ≫ N-methylephedrine. These studies have demonstrated that orientation of the β-hydroxyl group on the ethylamino side chain and the state of N-methyl substitution are important for α-AR binding and functional activity of the ephedrine alkaloids. In conclusion, the ephedrine isomers and analogs studied did not exhibit any direct agonist activity and were found to possess moderate antagonist activities on cloned human α-ARs. The blockade of presynaptic α2A- and α2C-ARs may have a pharmacological role in the direct actions of Ephedra alkaloids.

Effects of Synephrine and β-Phenethylamine on Human α-Adrenoceptor Subtypes

Synephrine and beta-phenethylamine, two naturally occurring compounds, are structurally related to ephedrine. In this study, the effects of synephrine and beta-phenethylamine on alpha-adrenergic receptor (alpha-AR) subtypes are investigated in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) or Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, and compared to that of 1R,2S-norephedrine. The rank order of binding affinities was found to be the same for the subtypes tested (alpha(1A)-, alpha(2A)-, and alpha(2C)-AR) viz, 1R,2S-norephedrine > beta-phenethylamine > synephrine. Functional studies on the alpha(1A)-AR subtype showed that synephrine was a partial agonist giving a maximal response at 100 microM that was equal to 55.3 % of the L-phenylephrine maximum. In contrast, neither 1R,2S-norephedrine nor beta-phenethylamine exhibited agonist activity at the highest concentration tested (300 microM). beta-Phenethylamine was more potent as an antagonist than 1R,2S-norephedrine and synephrine on the alpha(1A)-AR subtype. Functional studies on the alpha(2A)- and alpha(2C)-AR subtypes indicated that synephrine and beta-phenethylamine did not act as agonists. Similar to 1R,2S-norephedrine, both of these analogs reversed the effect of medetomidine against forskolin-induced cAMP elevations at 300 microM, and the rank order of antagonist potency was: 1R,2S-norephedrine = beta-phenethylamine > synephrine; and beta-phenethylamine > 1R,2S-norephedrine > synephrine, respectively. These differences suggest that the presence of a 4-hydroxy group, as in synephrine, reduced the potency in these subtypes. In conclusion, at the alpha(1A)-AR, synephrine acted as a partial agonist, while beta-phenethylamine did not exhibit any direct agonist activity. Both, synephrine and beta-phenethylamine, may act as antagonists of pre-synaptic alpha(2A/2C)-ARs present in nerve terminals.

Effects of synephrine and beta-phenethylamine on human alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes.

Synephrine and beta-phenethylamine, two naturally occurring compounds, are structurally related to ephedrine. In this study, the effects of synephrine and beta-phenethylamine on alpha-adrenergic receptor (alpha-AR) subtypes are investigated in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) or Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, and compared to that of 1R,2S-norephedrine. The rank order of binding affinities was found to be the same for the subtypes tested (alpha(1A)-, alpha(2A)-, and alpha(2C)-AR) viz, 1R,2S-norephedrine > beta-phenethylamine > synephrine. Functional studies on the alpha(1A)-AR subtype showed that synephrine was a partial agonist giving a maximal response at 100 microM that was equal to 55.3 % of the L-phenylephrine maximum. In contrast, neither 1R,2S-norephedrine nor beta-phenethylamine exhibited agonist activity at the highest concentration tested (300 microM). beta-Phenethylamine was more potent as an antagonist than 1R,2S-norephedrine and synephrine on the alpha(1A)-AR subtype. Functional studies on the alpha(2A)- and alpha(2C)-AR subtypes indicated that synephrine and beta-phenethylamine did not act as agonists. Similar to 1R,2S-norephedrine, both of these analogs reversed the effect of medetomidine against forskolin-induced cAMP elevations at 300 microM, and the rank order of antagonist potency was: 1R,2S-norephedrine = beta-phenethylamine > synephrine; and beta-phenethylamine > 1R,2S-norephedrine > synephrine, respectively. These differences suggest that the presence of a 4-hydroxy group, as in synephrine, reduced the potency in these subtypes. In conclusion, at the alpha(1A)-AR, synephrine acted as a partial agonist, while beta-phenethylamine did not exhibit any direct agonist activity. Both, synephrine and beta-phenethylamine, may act as antagonists of pre-synaptic alpha(2A/2C)-ARs present in nerve terminals.

Tethered Yohimbine Analogs as Selective Human α2C-Adrenergic Receptor Ligands

Yohimbine is a potent and relatively nonselective α2-adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonist. In an earlier report, we demonstrated that dimeric yohimbine analogs containing methylene and methylene-diglycine tethers were highly selective human α2C-AR ligands. Little work has been done to examine the role of the tether group or the absence of the second yohimbine pharmacophore on selectivity for human α2-AR subtypes. The goal of our study was to determine the binding affinities and functional subtype selectivities of a series of tethered yohimbine ligands in the absence of the second pharmacophore. The profiles of pharmacological activity for the yohimbine analogs on the three human α2-AR subtypes expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells were examined using receptor binding and cAMP inhibition assays. All of the tethered yohimbine analogs exhibited higher binding affinities at the α2C- versus α2A- and α2B-AR subtypes. Notably, the benzyl carboxy alkyl amine and the carboxy alkyl amine analogs exhibited 43- and 1995-fold and 295- and 54-fold selectivities in binding to the α2C- versus α2A- and α2B-ARs, respectively. Data from luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed the functional antagonist activities and selectivity profiles of selected compounds from the tethered series. The data demonstrate that the second pharmacophore may not be essential to obtain α2C-AR subtype selectivity, previously observed with the dimers. Further changes in the nature of the tether will help in optimization of the structure-activity relationship to obtain potent and selective α2C-AR ligands. These compounds may be used as pharmacological probes and in the treatment of human disorders.

Bioisosteric phentolamine analogs as selective human α2- versus α1-adrenoceptor ligands☆

Phentolamine is known to act as a competitive, non-subtype-selective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist. In an attempt to improve alpha(2)- versus alpha(1)-adrenoceptor selectivity and alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtype-selectivity, two new chemical series of bioisosteric phentolamine analogs were prepared and evaluated. These compounds were evaluated for binding affinities on alpha(1)- (alpha(1A)-, alpha(1B)-, alpha(1D)-) and alpha(2)- (alpha(2A)-, alpha(2B)-, alpha(2C)-) adrenoceptor subtypes that had been stably expressed in human embryonic kidney and Chinese hamster ovary cell lines, respectively. Methylation of the phenolic hydroxy group and replacement of the 4-methyl group of phentolamine with varying lipophilic substituents yielded bioisosteric analogs selective for the alpha(2)- versus alpha(1)-adrenoceptors. Within the alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, these analogs bound with higher affinity at the alpha(2A)- and alpha(2C)-subtypes as compared to the alpha(2B)-subtype. In particular, the t-butyl analog was found to be the most selective, its binding at the alpha(2C)-adrenoceptor (Ki=3.6 nM) being 37- to 173-fold higher than that at the alpha(1)-adrenoceptors, and around 2- and 19-fold higher than at the alpha(2A)- and alpha(2B)-adrenoceptors, respectively. Data from luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed the functional antagonist activities of selected compounds from the bioisosteric series on human alpha(1A)- and alpha(2C)-adrenoceptors. Thus, the results with these bioisosteric analogs of phentolamine provide a lead to the rational design of potent and selective alpha(2)-adrenoceptor ligands that may be useful in improving the therapeutic profile of this drug class for human disorders.

Effects of Synephrine andβ-Phenethylamine on Humanα-Adrenoceptor Subtypes

Synephrine and beta-phenethylamine, two naturally occurring compounds, are structurally related to ephedrine. In this study, the effects of synephrine and beta-phenethylamine on alpha-adrenergic receptor (alpha-AR) subtypes are investigated in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) or Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, and compared to that of 1R,2S-norephedrine. The rank order of binding affinities was found to be the same for the subtypes tested (alpha(1A)-, alpha(2A)-, and alpha(2C)-AR) viz, 1R,2S-norephedrine > beta-phenethylamine > synephrine. Functional studies on the alpha(1A)-AR subtype showed that synephrine was a partial agonist giving a maximal response at 100 microM that was equal to 55.3 % of the L-phenylephrine maximum. In contrast, neither 1R,2S-norephedrine nor beta-phenethylamine exhibited agonist activity at the highest concentration tested (300 microM). beta-Phenethylamine was more potent as an antagonist than 1R,2S-norephedrine and synephrine on the alpha(1A)-AR subtype. Functional studies on the alpha(2A)- and alpha(2C)-AR subtypes indicated that synephrine and beta-phenethylamine did not act as agonists. Similar to 1R,2S-norephedrine, both of these analogs reversed the effect of medetomidine against forskolin-induced cAMP elevations at 300 microM, and the rank order of antagonist potency was: 1R,2S-norephedrine = beta-phenethylamine > synephrine; and beta-phenethylamine > 1R,2S-norephedrine > synephrine, respectively. These differences suggest that the presence of a 4-hydroxy group, as in synephrine, reduced the potency in these subtypes. In conclusion, at the alpha(1A)-AR, synephrine acted as a partial agonist, while beta-phenethylamine did not exhibit any direct agonist activity. Both, synephrine and beta-phenethylamine, may act as antagonists of pre-synaptic alpha(2A/2C)-ARs present in nerve terminals.