This application is in response to PAS-15-029 Promoting Research in Basic Neuroscience which aims to stimulate research addressing fundamental questions in basic neuroscience. Modulation of the CB1 receptor has been a research topic of great interest due to the promise of the CB1 receptor in the treatment of a range of disorders such as obesity, drug addiction, pain and inflammation. The untoward side effects associated with the use of the CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist rimonabant (SR141716), including anxiety and depression, have adversely impacted the development of cannabinoid receptor antagonists and their clinical application. Recently, several classes of small molecule CB1 allosteric modulators have been discovered which offer a much needed alternative strategy to modulate CB1 signaling for therapeutic benefit. However, the specific nature of the allosteric modulation of these molecules remains unclear and there seems to be a lack of correlation between the in vitro and in vivo pharmacology. While Org27569 and PSNCBAM-1 acted as antagonists in a number of in vitro functional assays, Org27569 did not enhance or block CB1 agonist-induced effects in several animal models in mice or rats. Interestingly, we found that Org27569 dose-dependently attenuated both cue- and drug-induced reinstatement of cocaine- and methamphetamine-seeking behavior. These findings suggest CB1 allosteric modulator signaling is highly pathway and probe dependent. To better understand the signaling mechanism of CB1 allosteric modulators and develop improved molecular probes that may be pathway selective, we herein propose to design and synthesize CB1 allosteric modulators, and use an array of in vitro assays to characterize probe dependent effects on signaling, and employ these probes to investigate different signaling pathways in in vivo models to link quantifiable patterns of efficacy with in vivo phenotypic responses.

Public Health Relevance

Allosteric modulation has shown promise in targeting CB1 receptor for therapeutic benefits; however, the signaling of these modulators is highly assay and probe dependent and there seems to be a lack of correlation between the in vitro and in vivo pharmacology. This project aims to develop CB1 allosteric modulators that may be pathway selective as molecular probes to study the signaling of the CB1 receptor and to validate allosteric modulation as a viable alternative therapeutic strategy involving the CB1 receptor system.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01DA040693-01A1
Application #
9121687
Study Section
Molecular Neuropharmacology and Signaling Study Section (MNPS)
Program Officer
Hillery, Paul
Project Start
2016-04-15
Project End
2021-01-31
Budget Start
2016-04-15
Budget End
2017-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Research Triangle Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
004868105
City
Research Triangle
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27709
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Perrey, David A; Decker, Ann M; Zhang, Yanan (2018) Synthesis and Evaluation of Orexin-1 Receptor Antagonists with Improved Solubility and CNS Permeability. ACS Chem Neurosci 9:587-602
Gamage, Thomas F; Farquhar, Charlotte E; Lefever, Timothy W et al. (2017) The great divide: Separation between in vitro and in vivo effects of PSNCBAM-based CB1 receptor allosteric modulators. Neuropharmacology 125:365-375
Nguyen, Thuy; German, Nadezhda; Decker, Ann M et al. (2017) Novel Diarylurea Based Allosteric Modulators of the Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor: Evaluation of Importance of 6-Pyrrolidinylpyridinyl Substitution. J Med Chem 60:7410-7424
Nguyen, Thuy; Li, Jun-Xu; Thomas, Brian F et al. (2017) Allosteric Modulation: An Alternate Approach Targeting the Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor. Med Res Rev 37:441-474