cgp-7930 and Disease-Models--Animal

When Zika virus emerged as a public health emergency there were no drugs or vaccines approved for its prevention or treatment. We used a high-throughput screen for Zika virus protease inhibitors to identify several inhibitors of Zika virus infection. We expressed the NS2B-NS3 Zika virus protease and conducted a biochemical screen for small-molecule inhibitors. A quantitative structure-activity relationship model was employed to virtually screen ∼138,000 compounds, which increased the identification of active compounds, while decreasing screening time and resources. Candidate inhibitors were validated in several viral infection assays. Small molecules with favorable clinical profiles, especially the five-lipoxygenase-activating protein inhibitor, MK-591, inhibited the Zika virus protease and infection in neural stem cells. Members of the tetracycline family of antibiotics were more potent inhibitors of Zika virus infection than the protease, suggesting they may have multiple mechanisms of action. The most potent tetracycline, methacycline, reduced the amount of Zika virus present in the brain and the severity of Zika virus-induced motor deficits in an immunocompetent mouse model. As Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, the tetracyclines could be quickly translated to the clinic. The compounds identified through our screening paradigm have the potential to be used as prophylactics for patients traveling to endemic regions or for the treatment of the neurological complications of Zika virus infection.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Artificial Intelligence; Chlorocebus aethiops; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Immunocompetence; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Methacycline; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Protease Inhibitors; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Small Molecule Libraries; Vero Cells; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection

There is a major clinical need for new therapies for the treatment of chronic itch. Many of the molecular components involved in itch neurotransmission are known, including the neuropeptide NPPB, a transmitter required for normal itch responses to multiple pruritogens in mice. Here, we investigated the potential for a novel strategy for the treatment of itch that involves the inhibition of the NPPB receptor NPR1 (natriuretic peptide receptor 1). Because there are no available effective human NPR1 (hNPR1) antagonists, we performed a high-throughput cell-based screen and identified 15 small-molecule hNPR1 inhibitors. Using in vitro assays, we demonstrated that these compounds specifically inhibit hNPR1 and murine NPR1 (mNPR1). In vivo, NPR1 antagonism attenuated behavioral responses to both acute itch- and chronic itch-challenged mice. Together, our results suggest that inhibiting NPR1 might be an effective strategy for treating acute and chronic itch.

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cell-Free System; Dermatitis, Contact; Disease Models, Animal; Ganglia, Spinal; Humans; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Neurons; Pruritus; Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Reproducibility of Results; Signal Transduction; Small Molecule Libraries

Possible anticonvulsant action of GABAB receptor positive allosteric modulator CGP7930 was studied in cortical epileptic afterdischarges (ADs) in rat pups 12, 18, and 25 days old. Afterdischarges were induced by six series of stimulation of sensorimotor cortex, and CGP7930 (20 or 40 mg/kgi.p.) was administered after the first AD. In addition, the effects of CGP7930 on sensorimotor performance and behavior in open field and elevated plus maze were assessed. CGP7930 decreased duration of ADs in 12-day-old but not in older rats. Motor phenomena (movements accompanying stimulation and clonic seizures) were not changed. CGP7930 only moderately affected sensorimotor performance, altered slightly spontaneous behavior in the open field, and did not influence behavior in the elevated plus maze in terms of an adaptive form of learning or anxiety-like behavior. Marked anticonvulsant action with subtle deficits in sensorimotor performance in 12-day-old rats suggests a possible use of CGP7930 as an age-specific anticonvulsant.

Topics: Age Factors; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Anticonvulsants; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electric Stimulation; Epilepsy; Exploratory Behavior; Grooming; Male; Maze Learning; Motor Activity; Phenols; Psychomotor Performance; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reaction Time; Rotarod Performance Test; Sensory Gating

Activation of GABA(B) receptors by the selective agonist baclofen produces anti-nociceptive effects in animal models of somatic pain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of baclofen and the GABA(B) receptor positive allosteric modulator CGP7930 on pseudo-affective responses to colorectal distension in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to repeated, noxious colorectal distension (CRD) (12 distensions at 80 mmHg, for 30 s with 5 min intervals). The visceromotor response (VMR) and cardiovascular responses (mean arterial blood pressure (ABP) and heart rate (HR)) to CRD were monitored in conscious, telemetrized animals. Baclofen (0.3-3 micromol/kg, i.v.) reduced the VMR to CRD dose-dependently, reaching a 61% maximal inhibition (p < 0.001). The highest doses of baclofen attenuated CRD-evoked increases in ABP by 17% (p > 0.05) and reduced the change in HR by 48% (p < 0.01). CGP7930 (3-30 micromol/kg, i.v.) reduced the VMR to CRD in a dose-dependent fashion with a maximal inhibition of 31% (p < 0.05). The highest dose of CGP7930 also attenuated the increase in ABP by 18% (p > 0.05) and inhibited the increase in HR by 24% (p < 0.05) associated with CRD. Neither baclofen nor CGP7930 affected colorectal compliance. The results suggest that activation of GABA(B) receptors produces anti-nociceptive effects in a rat model of mechanically induced visceral pain. While CGP7930 was less efficacious than baclofen overall, positive allosteric modulation of GABA(B) receptors may represent a valid approach in the treatment of visceral pain conditions, with the possibility of an improved safety profile compared to full agonism.

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Animals; Baclofen; Blood Pressure; Colon; Compliance; Dilatation, Pathologic; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; GABA Agonists; Heart Rate; Pain Measurement; Phenols; Physical Stimulation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

In the present study we investigated the effects of the GABA(B) receptor antagonist (2S)-(+)-5,5-dimethyl-2-morpholineacetic acid (SCH 50911), the agonists baclofen and 3-aminopropyl(methyl)phosphinic acid (SKF 97541), and the allosteric positive modulator 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-beta,beta-dimethylbenzenepropanol (CGP 7930) on cocaine seeking behavior. The effects of the above drugs on the reinstatement of responding induced by natural reinforcer (food) were also studied. Male Wistar rats were trained to self-administer either cocaine (0.5 mg/kg/infusion) or food (sweet milk) and responding on the reinforcer-paired lever was extinguished. Reinstatement of responding was induced by a noncontingent presentation of the self-administered reinforcer (10 mg/kg cocaine, i.p.), a discrete contextual cue, or a contingent presentation of food. SCH 50911 (3-10 mg/kg) dose-dependently attenuated responding on the previously cocaine-paired lever during both reinstatement conditions, with slightly greater efficacy at reducing conditioned cue reinstatement. At the same time, it failed to alter reinstatement of food-seeking behavior. Baclofen (1.25-5 mg/kg) and SKF 97541 (0.03-0.3 mg/kg) attenuated cocaine- or food-seeking behavior; the effect of the drug appeared more effective for cocaine-seeking than food-seeking. CGP 7930 (10-30 mg/kg) reduced cocaine seeking without affecting food-induced reinstatement on reward seeking. Our results indicate that tonic activation of GABA(B) receptors is required for cocaine seeking behavior in rats. Moreover, the GABA(B) receptor antagonist SCH 50911 was effective in reducing relapse to cocaine at doses that failed to alter reinstatement of food-seeking behavior (present study), basal locomotor activity, cocaine and food self-administration (Filip et al., submitted for publication), suggesting its selective effects on motivated drug-seeking behavior. The potent inhibitory responses on cocaine seeking behavior were also seen following the GABA(B) receptor agonists or the allosteric positive modulator, however, doses of baclofen and SKF 97541 that inhibited cocaine-seeking were only threefold lower of those that inhibited food-seeking. In addition, the direct GABA(B) receptor agonists and the allosteric positive modulator cause decreases in cocaine or food self-administration (Filip et al., submitted for publication), indicating their nonspecific effects on relapse to drug-seeking and drug-taking behavior. In conclusion,

Topics: Animals; Baclofen; Behavior, Animal; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Extinction, Psychological; Feeding Behavior; GABA Agonists; GABA Antagonists; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Morpholines; Organophosphorus Compounds; Phenols; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, GABA-B; Reinforcement, Psychology; Secondary Prevention; Self Administration