Preclinical and Phase II clinical data have shown that muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonists, such as the M1/M4 preferring agonist xanomeline, are effective in improving both positive and negative symptoms and cognitive impairments observed in individuals with schizophrenia. However, the relative contributions of M1 and M4 mAChRs to the clinical effects of xanomeline or its effects in associated animal models remain unknown. Recently, we reported the development of a novel approach to selectively activating individual mAChR subtypes, particularly the M4 mAChR, using highly selective positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). These compounds do not activate M4 directly, but dramatically potentiate the response of the receptor to ACh. The first series of M4 PAMs, represented by VU10010, induces a 47-fold potentiation of the M4 ACh concentration response curve, possesses an EC50 in the 400 nM range, and causes no activation of the other mAChR subtypes. While VU10010 provides an important tool for proof of concept studies on the role of positive allosteric modulation of M4 at molecular and cellular levels, this compound is not suitable for in vivo studies. We have now developed several novel analogs of VU10010 that are systemically active and more readily cross the blood brain barrier. These compounds, represented by VU152100, provide an unprecedented opportunity to investigate whether the neurochemical and behavioral effects of mAChR agonists, such as xanomeline, thought to be important for antipsychotic activity and enhancement of cognition are mediated by M4. Our preliminary studies suggest that VU152100 has robust efficacy in at least one animal model used to predict antipsychotic efficacy. In the proposed studies, we will take advantage of these novel M4 PAMs along with mAChR KO mice to rigorously test the hypothesis that selective potentiation of M4 activity will have activity in animal models that predict efficacy in the treatment of schizophrenia comparable to the effects observed with xanomeline and to test the hypothesis that increased activity of M4 will regulate mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission and transmission at glutamatergic synapses in the mPFC that are thought to be important for antipsychotic efficacy of know therapeutic agents.

Public Health Relevance

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonists, such as the M1/M4 preferring agonist xanomeline, are effective in improving both positive and negative symptoms and cognitive impairments observed in individuals with schizophrenia and in animal models predictive of antipsychotic-like activity. However, the relative contribution of the M1 and M4 mAChRs to the clinical effects of xanomeline or its effects in associated animal models remain unknown. The focus of this application will be to test the hypothesis that selective potentiation of M4 activity, using a recently developed positive allosteric modulator of the M4 mAChR VU152100 described by our group, will have activity in animal models that predict efficacy in the treatment of schizophrenia comparable to the effects observed with xanomeline and to test the hypothesis that increased activity of M4, will regulate mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission and transmission at glutamatergic synapses in the mPFC that are thought to be important for antipsychotic efficacy of know therapeutic agents.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH086601-04
Application #
8269701
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-PMDA-A (01))
Program Officer
Winsky, Lois M
Project Start
2009-08-28
Project End
2014-05-31
Budget Start
2012-06-01
Budget End
2013-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$386,100
Indirect Cost
$138,600
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004413456
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37212
Grannan, Michael D; Mielnik, Catharine A; Moran, Sean P et al. (2016) Prefrontal Cortex-Mediated Impairments in a Genetic Model of NMDA Receptor Hypofunction Are Reversed by the Novel M1 PAM VU6004256. ACS Chem Neurosci 7:1706-1716
Gould, Robert W; Nedelcovych, Michael T; Gong, Xuewen et al. (2016) State-dependent alterations in sleep/wake architecture elicited by the M4 PAM VU0467154 - Relation to antipsychotic-like drug effects. Neuropharmacology 102:244-53
Nedelcovych, Michael T; Gould, Robert W; Zhan, Xiaoyan et al. (2015) A rodent model of traumatic stress induces lasting sleep and quantitative electroencephalographic disturbances. ACS Chem Neurosci 6:485-93
Gould, R W; Dencker, D; Grannan, M et al. (2015) Role for the M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor in Top-Down Cognitive Processing Using a Touchscreen Visual Discrimination Task in Mice. ACS Chem Neurosci 6:1683-95
Byun, Nellie E; Grannan, Michael; Bubser, Michael et al. (2014) Antipsychotic drug-like effects of the selective M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor positive allosteric modulator VU0152100. Neuropsychopharmacology 39:1578-93
Bubser, Michael; Bridges, Thomas M; Dencker, Ditte et al. (2014) Selective activation of M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors reverses MK-801-induced behavioral impairments and enhances associative learning in rodents. ACS Chem Neurosci 5:920-42
Le, Uyen; Melancon, Bruce J; Bridges, Thomas M et al. (2013) Discovery of a selective M? positive allosteric modulator based on the 3-amino-thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxamide scaffold: development of ML253, a potent and brain penetrant compound that is active in a preclinical model of schizophrenia. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 23:346-50
Jones, Carrie K; Byun, Nellie; Bubser, Michael (2012) Muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists and allosteric modulators for the treatment of schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology 37:16-42
Digby, Gregory J; Noetzel, Meredith J; Bubser, Michael et al. (2012) Novel allosteric agonists of M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors induce brain region-specific responses that correspond with behavioral effects in animal models. J Neurosci 32:8532-44
Foster, Daniel J; Jones, Carrie K; Conn, P Jeffrey (2012) Emerging approaches for treatment of schizophrenia: modulation of cholinergic signaling. Discov Med 14:413-20

Showing the most recent 10 out of 13 publications