thyrotropin-releasing-hormone and Cognition-Disorders

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-like peptides were synthesized by replacing critical histidine and pGlu residues in the native peptide. The peptides were evaluated in vitro for receptor binding activity assay and in the cell functional assay; the peptides exhibit selective basal signaling agonist behavior toward TRH-R2. For example, peptides 8a, 8b, 8c, 8 f, 8 h, 8 l and 12 d activated TRH-R2 with potency (EC50) of 0.53 μM, 0.048 μM, 0.05 μM, 0.006 μM, 0.31 μM, 0.034 μM and 0.004 μM, respectively. In contrast for signaling activation of TRH-R1, the same peptide required higher concentration of 19.35 μM, 3.98 μM, 2.54 μM, 0.287 μM, 11.28 μM, 0.986 μM and 0.944 μM, respectively. The results showed that peptides were 36.5, 82.9, 50.8, 47.8, 36.3, 32.6 and 235-fold selective to TRH-R2 receptor subtype. The peptides were investigated for CNS activity at 10 μmol/kg in pentobarbital-induced sleep assay study. Peptides 8c (16.5 ± 1.4 min) and 8l (16.5 ± 2.1 min) displayed excellent CNS activity. In an in vivo study, peptide 8c did not cause significant change in the rat plasma TSH levels. The peptide 8c was further investigated for neuroprotective potential, and significantly reduced infracts volume and neurological score in the focal cerebral ischemia model in mice. Peptide 8c also significantly lowered MDA levels, indicating reduction of oxidative and enhanced percentage cell survival in CA1 region, when compared to ischemic brain.

Topics: Animals; Brain Ischemia; Cognition Disorders; Mice; Molecular Structure; Peptides; Rats; Receptors, Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone

The design and synthesis of peptide mimetics of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in which the peptide backbone is entirely replaced by a cyclohexane framework are described. The cis-1,3,5-trisubstituted ring was expected to permit key pharmacophoric groups to adopt conformations consistent with proposed bioactive conformations of the peptide. Compounds were synthesized by a stereoselective synthesis starting from L-glutamic acid. In a behavioral model of cognition in which TRH is active, the mimetics are potent, active compounds, exhibiting oral activity. One analog (26, (1S,3R,5(2S),5S)-5-[[5-oxo-1-(phenylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl]-methyl]-5- [(1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]cyclohexaneacetamide) was radiolabeled for binding studies and evaluated in other binding assays and pharmacological tests. Competition binding of 26 vs [3H]MeTRH to rat brain slices suggests a two-site model for ligand binding with IC50's of 1 microM and 3 mM. Direct binding of [3H]-26 shows a biphasic curve with IC50's of 80 and 49 microM, respectively. Further studies would be needed to establish a link between the novel binding site(s) and the behavioral activity of 26 and TRH analogs.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Cognition; Cognition Disorders; Cyclohexanes; Drug Design; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Molecular Sequence Data; Peptides; Protein Conformation; Rats; Structure-Activity Relationship; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone