5-HT1F Receptor Agonist Research Articles

The biology of serotonin receptors: focus on migraine pathophysiology and treatment.

Serotonin receptors are highly heterogeneous and they have been regrouped within seven different families (5-HT1-5-HT7). With the exception of the 5-HT3 which is a ligand-gated ion channel, all others are G-protein coupled receptors with each family sharing structural, pharmacological and transductional characteristics. 5-HT receptors have been implicated in the regulation of several psychiatric and neurological disorders related to serotonergic neurotransmission, and specific receptor subtypes have recently been associated with either the pathogenesis or the treatment of migraine headache. In this respect, activation of vascular 5-HT2B and/or 5-HT7 receptors, possibly as a consequence of the sudden rise in 5-HT levels reported at the onset of a migraine attack, would hypothetically result in dilation of cerebral blood vessels and concomitant activation of sensory trigeminovascular afferents, hence initiating the manifestation of head pain. At this stage in the migraine process, activation of specific subtypes of 5-HT1 receptors has proven clinically effective in relieving migraine pain. Neural 5-HT1D and/or 5-HT1F receptors localized pre-junctionally on trigeminovascular afferents appear to mediate the triptan-induced inhibition of the neurogenic inflammatory response, with possible additional sites of action for brain penetrant 5-HT1 receptor agonists in inhibiting the transmission of pain centrally. In contrast, activation of vascular 5-HT1B receptors would constrict meningeal vessels hence recovering their pre-migraine diameter. The recent availability of subtype selective 5-HT1D and 5-HT1F receptor agonists should allow a further test of the neural/vascular hypothesis and could possibly lead to antimigraine drugs with a safer cardiovascular profile.

G-protein activation at 5-HT1A receptors by the 5-ht1F ligand LY334370 in guinea-pig brain sections and recombinant cell lines.

1. G-protein activation by the 5-ht1F receptor agonist 5-(4-fluorobenzoyl)amino-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole fumarate (LY334370) was investigated by use of autoradiography of receptor-activated G-proteins in guinea-pig brain sections and [35S]-GTPgammaS binding responses in cell lines stably expressing human 5-HT1A (h 5-HT1A) receptors. 2. LY334370 (10 microM) caused little or no stimulation of [35S]-GTPgammaS binding in guinea-pig brain regions enriched in 5-ht1F binding sites (e.g., claustrum, caudate/putamen and thalamic nuclei), as identified by labelling with 10 nM [3H]-sumatriptan plus 10 nM 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT). 3. Application of LY334370 (10 microM) to guinea-pig brain sections resulted in an increase of [35S]-GTPgammaS binding in hippocampus (123+/-17%), lateral septum (58+/-14%), dorsal raphe (57+/-10%), entorhinal (37+/-11%) and cingulate cortex (28+/-10%). This distribution fits with the G-protein activation mediated by 5-HT1A receptors as found with lisuride (10 microM), and labelling of 5-HT1A receptors by 140 pM [125I]-4-(2'-methoxy-phenyl)- -[2'-(n-2"-pyridinyl)-p-iodobenzamido]-ethyl-piperazine (p-MPPI). 4. The LY334370-mediated [35S]-GTPgammaS response was antagonized by the selective, silent 5-HT1A receptor antagonist N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohex anecarboxa-mide (WAY100635, 1 microM) in each of the brain structures investigated. The distribution pattern of the [35S]-GTPgammaS binding response and the antagonist profile suggest that the LY334370-induced response in guinea-pig brain is mediated by 5-HT1A receptors. 5. The maximal LY334370-induced [35S]-GTPgammaS binding response (83 to 94%) in membranes of recombinant C6-glial/h 5-HT1A and HeLa/h 5-HT1A cells was close to that of 5-HT, suggesting LY334370 to exert high intrinsic activity at h 5-HT1A receptors. 6. In conclusion, in guinea-pig brain sections and recombinant cell lines the 5-ht1F receptor agonist LY334370 causes G-protein activation that is mediated by 5-HT1A receptors. Caution should be taken when employing this ligand as a putative selective 5-ht1F agonist.

5-Hydroxytryptamine1A and 5-hydroxytryptamine1B receptors stimulate [35S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate binding to rodent brain sections as visualized by in vitro autoradiography.

[35S]Guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate ([35S]GTPgammaS) binding to G proteins was measured by in vitro autoradiography in guinea pig and rat brain sections after activation by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor agonists. 5-Carboxamidotryptamine stimulated binding strongly in hippocampus and lateral septum and weakly in substantia nigra. This effect was blocked in the substantia nigra by the 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonist GR-127,935 and in the former two regions by the 5-HT1A antagonist NAN-190. 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonists stimulated binding in substantia nigra and in areas containing 5-HT1A receptors. In guinea pig substantia nigra, 5-(nonyloxy)-tryptamine maximally stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding by 54%, with an EC50 value of 62 nM; at 100 microM, this agonist increased binding by approximately 200% in hippocampus (with a 2-fold weaker EC50 value). The distribution of [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding sites was identical to that of the [35S]GTPgammaS labeling stimulated by the 5-HT1A agonist (R)-8-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin [(R)-8-OH-DPAT)]. (R)-8-OH-DPAT, (S)-8-OH-DPAT, and buspirone stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding in hippocampus by 340%, 140%, and 78%, with EC50 values of 71, 51, and 132 nM. Enhanced [35S]GTPgammaS binding was not detected in the presence of 5-HT1F, 5-HT2, 5-HT4, and 5-HT7 receptor agonists. Because activation of mu-opioid, muscarinic M2, histamine H3, and cannabinoid receptors was also visualized successfully, these data suggest that only receptors coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins can be seen by [35S]GTPgammaS binding autoradiography. This study also shows that different 5-HT receptors coupled to these proteins can show a wide range of [35S]GTPgammaS binding stimulation. Although the functional significance of these variations is unclear, this technique offers advantages over receptor autoradiography because it does not require high affinity radioligands and provides a measure of agonist efficacies in various brain regions.

5-HT1F receptor agonists inhibit neurogenic dural inflammation in guinea pigs.

The serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtype mediating inhibition of neurogenic dural inflammation in guinea pigs was investigated using a series of serotonin agonists with differing affinities for the 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D and 5-HT1F receptors. When agonist potencies for inhibiting neurogenic inflammation were compared with affinities for these receptor subtypes, a significant positive correlation was seen only with the 5-HT1F receptor. The potency of agonists in inhibiting adenylate cyclase in cells transfected with human 5-HT1F receptor was also highly correlated with their potency in the animal model of migraine. In situ hybridization demonstrated 5-HT1F receptor mRNA in guinea pig trigeminal ganglion neurons. These data suggest that the 5-HT1F receptor is a rational target for migraine therapeutics.