Activity, Motor Control & Coordination
Pain - Thermal Allodynia / Hyperalgesia
Pain - Spontaneous Pain - Postural Deficit
Pain - Mechanical Allodynia / Hyperalgesia
Anxiety & Depression Disorder
Learning/Memory - Attention - Addiction
Physiology & Respiratory Research
Metabolism - Food & Drink Intake
Pain
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Neurodegeneration
Sensory system
Motor control
Mood Disorders
Other disorders
Muscular system
Joints
Metabolism
Cross-disciplinary subjects
Preclinical studies and opioids: role in crisis management in the United States Authors
Lab
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Sweden
Journal
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Abstract
Substance P 17 (SP17, Arg1-Pro2-Lys3-Pro4-Gln5-Gln6-Phe7) is the major bioactive metabolite formed after proteolytic degradation of the tachykinin substance P (SP). This heptapeptide often opposes the effects of the mother peptide. Hence, SP17 is having anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic effects in experimental models. Despite all encouraging properties of SP17 its exact mode of action has not yet been elucidated which has hampered further development of this heptapeptide in drug discovery. Contrary to SP that mediates its biological activity via the NK-1 receptor, the N-terminal fragment SP17 acts through an unknown target that is distinct from all known opioid and tachykinin receptors. The SP17 amide 1 (Arg1-Pro2-Lys3-Pro4-Gln5-Gln6-Phe7-NH2) was previously shown to be superior to the endogenous SP17 in all experimental pain models where the two compounds were compared. Herein, we report that N-methylation scan of the backbone of the SP17 amide (1) results in peptides that are significantly less prone to undergo proteolysis in plasma from both mouse and human. However, with the two exceptions of the [MeLys3]SP17 amide (3) and the [MeGln5]SP17 amide (4), the peptides with a methyl group attached to the backbone are devoid of significant anti-allodynic effects after peripheral administration in the spared nerve injury (SNI) mouse model of neuropathic pain. It is suggested that the N-methylation does not allow these peptides to form the accurate bioactive conformations or interactions required for efficient binding to the macromolecular target. The importance of intact N-terminal Arg1 and C-terminal Phe7, anticipated to serve as address and message residues, respectively, for achieving the anti-allodynic effect is emphasized. Notably, the three heptapeptides: the SP17 amide (1), the [MeLys3]SP17 amide (3) amide and the [MeGln5]SP17 amide (4) are all considerably more effective in the SNI mouse model than gabapentin that is widely used in the clinic for treatment of neuropathic pain.
BIOSEB Instruments Used:
Von Frey Filaments (Bio-VF-M)
