Synthesis and biological evaluation of chemokine receptor ligands with 2-benzazepine scaffold

Targeting CCR2 and CCR5 receptors is considered as promising concept for the development of novel antiinflammatory drugs. Herein, we present the development of the first probe-dependent positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of CCR5 receptors with a 2-benzazepine scaffold. Compound 14 (2-isobutyl-N-({[N-methyl-N-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)amino]methyl}phenyl)-1-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-2-benzazepine-4-carboxamide) activates the CCR5 receptor in a CCL4-dependent manner, but does not compete with [3H]TAK-779 binding at the CCR5. Furthermore, introduction of a p-tolyl moiety at 7-position of the 2-benzazepine scaffold turns the CCR5 PAM 14 into the selective CCR2 receptor antagonist 26b. The structure affinity and activity relationships presented here offer new insights into ligand recognition by CCR2 and CCR5 receptors.Medicinal Chemistr

The role of kinetic context in apparent biased agonism at GPCRs

Biased agonism describes the ability of ligands to stabilize different conformations of a GPCR linked to distinct functional outcomes and offers the prospect of designing pathway-specific drugs that avoid on-target side effects. This mechanism is usually inferred from pharmacological data with the assumption that the confounding influences of observational (that is, assay dependent) and system (that is, cell background dependent) bias are excluded by experimental design and analysis. Here we reveal that ‘kinetic context’, as determined by ligand-binding kinetics and the temporal pattern of receptor-signalling processes, can have a profound influence on the apparent bias of a series of agonists for the dopamine D2 receptor and can even lead to reversals in the direction of bias. We propose that kinetic context must be acknowledged in the design and interpretation of studies of biased agonism

The Azulene Framework as a Novel Bioisostere: Design of Potent Dopamine D4 Receptor Ligands Inducing Penile Erection

Blue makes it happen: The non-uniform charge distribution of the blue colored azulene framework is highly suitable for the bioisosteric replacement of bicyclic heteroarene moieties. Showing an analogous binding mode as heterocyclic dopamine D4 receptor-selective lead compounds, the induction of penile erection in rats over a greater range of doses indicates a putative advantage of the rationally developed azulene derivative 2 b over apomorphine

Discovery of dopamine D(4) receptor antagonists with planar chirality

Employing the D(4) selective phenylpiperazine 2 as a lead compound, planar chiral analogs with paracyclophane substructure were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to bind and activate dopamine receptors. The study revealed that the introduction of a [2.2]paracyclophane moiety is tolerated by dopamine receptors of the D(2) family. Subtype selectivity for D(4) and ligand efficacy depend on the absolute configuration of the test compounds. Whereas the achiral single-layered lead 2 and the double-layered paracyclophane (R)-3 showed partial agonist properties, the enantiomer (S)-3 behaved as a neutral antagonist

Visualization and ligand-induced modulation of dopamine receptor dimerization at the single molecule level

G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs), including dopamine receptors, represent a group of important pharmacological targets. An increased formation of dopamine receptor D(2) homodimers has been suggested to be associated with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Selective labeling and ligand-induced modulation of dimerization may therefore allow the investigation of the pathophysiological role of these dimers. Using TIRF microscopy at the single molecule level, transient formation of homodimers of dopamine receptors in the membrane of stably transfected CHO cells has been observed. The equilibrium between dimers and monomers was modulated by the binding of ligands; whereas antagonists showed a ratio that was identical to that of unliganded receptors, agonist-bound D(2) receptor-ligand complexes resulted in an increase in dimerization. Addition of bivalent D(2) receptor ligands also resulted in a large increase in D(2) receptor dimers. A physical interaction between the protomers was confirmed using high resolution cryogenic localization microscopy, with ca. 9 nm between the centers of mass

Development of the first potential nonpeptidic positron emission tomography tracer for the imaging of CCR2 receptors

Herein we report the design and synthesis of a series of highly selective CCR2 antagonists as18F‐labeled PET tracers. The derivatives were evaluated extensively for their off-target profile at 48 different targets. The most potent and selective candidate was applied in vivo in a biodistribution study, demonstrating a promising profile for further preclinical development. This compound represents the first potential nonpeptidic PET tracer for the imaging of CCR2 receptors.Medicinal Chemistr