Affinity For Somatostatin Receptors Research Articles

Review article: future therapies for management of metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP NETs) are relatively uncommon tumours that occur anywhere within the gastrointestinal tract. The prevalence of GEP NETs is estimated to be 35 per 100 000 population. Patients often present with metastatic disease and consequently, palliative treatments form the mainstay of therapy. To review the current and novel therapeutic options for management of GEP NETs. Searches for all studies related to GEP NETs, NETs and carcinoid tumours in Medline and abstracts from international meetings. Somatostatin analogues remain the first line therapy for management of symptoms of GEP NETs and may have anti-proliferative action. New somatostatin analogues with different somatostatin receptor affinity have been developed. Radionuclide peptide receptor therapy is established in patients with positive somatostatin scintigraphy. A number of new agents and targeted therapies are currently being evaluated in a phase I and II studies and these include angiogenic inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors and immune therapies. A number of nonsurgical therapies are available for management of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. It is hoped, the development of some of these promising novel therapies will expand the therapeutic armamentarium.

RADIOGUIDED IMPROVED RESECTION OF A CRANIAL BASE MENINGIOMA

In meningioma surgery, the completeness of resection is of great importance with regard to prognosis and recurrence. This is more difficult in meningiomas en plaque and cranial base meningiomas, which often involve the bone of the cranial base. We present a case in which radioguided resection of a meningioma using indium-labeled somatostatin receptors enhanced the extent of the resection and describe how this could be of potential use in maximizing resection of meningiomas involving the cranial base region. A 45-year-old woman presented with a history of headache and no neurological deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a large enhancing extra-axial mass involving the left sphenoid wing region, suggestive of a meningioma. A somatostatin analog scintigram using In-labeled pentetreotide was obtained 24 hours preoperatively. This showed abnormal uptake in the left frontal region, consistent with a meningioma, because of the abundance and high affinity of somatostatin receptors in meningiomas. Intraoperatively, a radiation detection probe guided the resection until no gamma radiation could be discerned. A postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scan and scintigram showed complete resection of the meningioma. Radioguided surgery of meningiomas by labeling them with In is an innovative and feasible approach to help guide and maximize meningioma resection, especially those involving the cranial base region. This technique should be used further and studied to achieve better resection of meningiomas in general and of those involving the cranial base in particular.

Radiothérapie métabolique des tumeurs endocrines gastro-entéro-pancréatiques par les analogues radio-marqués de la somatostatine

Surgery is the only curative treatment of gastro-entero-pancreatic endocrine tumors. In inoperable or metastasized forms, therapeutic options are limited. The metabolic or systemic radiotherapy, using radiolabeled somatostatin analogs, constitutes a new therapeutic alternative, currently in development which requires the presence of high affinity somatostatin receptors on tumoral cells. Using (111)In-pentetreotide, the main result is a symptomatic effect. With new somatostatin analogs coupled to B- emitters, such as Octreother or (177)Lu-DOTA-Octreotate, 10 to 30% of objective tumoral responses are observed in progressive patients, unresponsive to conventional treatments. Such results are explained by the high affinity for somatostatin receptors and the large emission diameter of these radiolabeled compounds. Renal toxicity is limited by amino-acid infusion whereas changes in blood count are usually moderate and transient. Multicentric prospective studies are necessary to identify the predictive factors of tumoral response and toxicity. The prospects are related to the development of new radiopharmaceuticals, even more specific of somatostatin receptors sub-types and to the use of other peptide analogues whose applications will overflow the framework of endocrine tumours.

NMR Studies Reveal Structural Differences between the Gallium and Yttrium Complexes of DOTA-d-Phe-Tyr3-octreotide

The somatostatin analogue DOTATOC, DOTA-[Tyr(3)]octreotide, is used for in vivo diagnosis and targeted therapy of somatostatin-receptor-positive tumors. DOTATOC consists of a disulfide-bridged octapeptide, d-Phe(1)-Cys(2)-Tyr(3)-d-Trp(4)-Lys(5)-Thr(6)-Cys(7)-Thr(8)-ol, connected to the metal chelator DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid). Two metal complexes, Ga(III)- and Y(III)-DOTATOC, were reported to differ significantly in somatostatin receptor affinity and tumor uptake. Our (1)H and (13)C solution NMR data and modeling studies of both compounds are in agreement with a fast conformational equilibrium of the peptide part, as previously reported for octreotide itself. However, the different coordination geometry of Ga(3+) and Y(3+) (6-fold and 8-fold, respectively, as known from model compounds) causes pronounced differences for the d-Phe(1) residue. For Y(III)-DOTATOC this leads to two conformers exchanging slowly on the NMR time scale. From various NMR measurements, they could be identified as cis-trans isomers at the amide bond between DOTA chelator and first residue (d-Phe(1)H(N)) of the peptide.

PTR-3173 (Somatoprim™), a novel somatostatin analog with affinity for somatostatin receptors 2, 4 and 5 is a potent inhibitor of human GH secretion

SS, a natural cyclic tetradecapeptide, is a potent suppressor of pituitary GH and TSH secretion. At least five distinct SS receptor (SSTR) subtypes have been cloned and termed SSTRs 1-5. Both SSTR2 and SSTR5 regulate human GH and TSH secretion. Recently, a novel enzymatically stable SS analog, PTR-3173 (Somatoprim), with affinity for human SSTR2, SSTR4 and SSTR5, has been identified. This cyclic heptapeptide analog suppressed rat GH in vivo with no effect on insulin and minimal effect on glucagon secretion. Using primary cultures of human fetal pituitaries (20-24-week gestation) and GH-secreting adenomas, we studied the in vitro inhibitory effects of PTR-3173 on human pituitary secretion. PTR-3173 suppressed GH release from both fetal pituitaries (maximal suppression of 54% with 10 nM) and cultures of GH-cell adenomas (35% suppression with 100 nM). Octreotide and PTR-3173 had comparable inhibitory effects on GH secretion from fetal human pituitaries. TSH was mildly suppressed by PTR-3173, whereas ACTH secretion was not affected in fetal pituitary cultures. In cultures of eight GH-secreting adenomas, octreotide was superior to PTR-3173 in suppressing GH from two adenomas, PTR-3173 was more potent in three other tumors, and three adenomas did not respond significantly to either analog. PTR-3173 suppressed PRL in several mixed GH-PRL adenomas. In conclusion, PTR-3173, a novel SS analog with a unique SSTRs binding combination, is a potent in vitro suppressor of human GH. Combining this inhibitory effect with the lack of effect on insulin secretion, it is suggested that PTR-3173 may be clinically useful for the treatment of acromegaly.

DOTA-NOC, a high-affinity ligand of somatostatin receptor subtypes 2, 3 and 5 for labelling with various radiometals

Earlier studies have shown that modification of the octapeptide octreotide in positions 3 and 8 may result in compounds with increased somatostatin receptor affinity that, if radiolabelled, display improved uptake in somatostatin receptor-positive tumours. The aim of a recent research study in our laboratory was to employ the parallel peptide synthesis approach by further exchanging the amino acid in position 3 of octreotide and coupling the macrocyclic chelator DOTA(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) to these peptides for labelling with radiometals like gallium-67 or -68, indium-111, yttrium-90 and lutetium-177. The purpose was to find radiopeptides with an improved somatostatin receptor binding profile in order to extend the spectrum of targeted tumours. A first peptide, [111In,90Y-DOTA]-1-Nal3-octreotide (111In,90Y-DOTA-NOC), was isolated which showed an improved profile. InIII-DOTA-NOC exhibited the following IC50 values (nM) when studied in competition with [125I][Leu8, d-Trp22, Tyr25]somatostatin-28 (values for YIII-DOTA-NOC are shown in parentheses): sstr2, 2.9 +/- 0.1 (3.3 +/- 0.2); sstr3, 8 +/- 2 (26 +/- 1.9); sstr5, 11.2 +/- 3.5 (10.4 +/- 1.6). Affinity towards sstr1 and 4 was very low or absent. InIII-DOTA-NOC is superior to all somatostatin-based radiopeptides having this particular type of binding profile, including DOTA-lanreotide, and has three to four times higher binding affinity to sstr2 than InIII,YIII-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide (InIII,YIII-DOTA-TOC). In addition, [111In]DOTA-NOC showed a specific and high rate of internalization into AR4-2J rat pancreatic tumour cells which, after 4 h, was about two times higher than that of [111In]DOTA-TOC and three times higher than that of [111In]DOTA-octreotide ([111In]DOTA-OC). The internalized radiopeptides were externalized intact upon 2 h of internalization followed by an acid wash. After 2-3 h of externalization a plateau is reached, indicating a steady-state situation explained by reactivation of the receptors followed by re-endocytosis. Biodistribution studies in CA 20948 tumour-bearing rats showed rapid clearance from all sstr-negative tissues except the kidneys. At 4 h the uptake of [111In]DOTA-NOC in the tumour and sstr-positive tissues, such as adrenals, stomach and pancreas, was three to four times higher than that of [111In]DOTA-TOC. Differential blocking studies indicate that this is at least partially due to the uptake mediated by sstr3 and sstr5. These very promising preclinical data justify the use of this new radiopeptide for imaging and potentially internal radiotherapy studies in patients.

Pharmacological characterization of SB-710411 (Cpa-c[D-Cys-Pal-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Cys]-Cpa-amide), a novel peptidic urotensin-II receptor antagonist.

1. Human urotensin-II (hU-II), a cyclic undecapeptide, is amongst the most potent mammalian vasoconstrictors identified, suggesting that hU-II and its G-protein-coupled receptor (UT) may regulate cardiovascular homeostasis. Such a hypothesis would benefit greatly from the development of selective UT antagonists. 2. Although the somatostatin (SST) antagonist SB-710411 (Cpa-c[D-Cys-Pal-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Cys]-Cpa-amide) is purported to block U-II-induced contractions in rat isolated aorta, little is known about its specific pharmacological properties. 3. SB-710411 (10 micro M) inhibited hU-II-induced contraction in rat isolated aorta causing a significant, parallel shift in the agonist concentration-response curve (pK(b) 6.28+/-0.11; n=8) with no suppression of the E(max). In contrast, SB-710411 did not alter the contractile actions of angiotensin-II, phenylephrine, or KCl. Paradoxically, however, SB-710411 potentiated the contractile response to endothelin-1 (pEC(50) 8.02+/-0.16 and 8.54+/-0.11, P<0.01; n=8). Rather than being specific toSB-710411, this phenomenon appears to be related to somatostatin receptor affinity and not intrinsic activity since the SST agonist somatostatin-14 and antagonist cyclo-somatostatin also potentiated endothelin-1-induced contraction. 4. SB-710411 (10 micro M) did not inhibit carbachol, sodium nitroprusside, IBMX, isoprenaline, and levcromakalim-induced reversal of tone established with noradrenaline. In contrast, however, SB-710411 significantly inhibited the reversal of tone established with endothelin-1 using the same vasorelaxants. 5. In summary, although SB-710411 inhibits the vasoconstrictor actions of hU-II in a competitive, surmountable manner, it also possesses additional pharmacological actions. Thus, whilst the present study is amongst the first to detail the properties of a functional U-II receptor antagonist, the data suggest caution be used when assessing data generated utilizing this moiety and other SST analogues.

Fluorescent Somatostatin Receptor Probes for the Intraoperative Detection of Tumor Tissue with Long-Wavelength Visible Light

Targeted fluorescent dyes are of substantial value for the intraoperative delineation of primary tumors and metastatic lesions. For this purpose long-wavelength red light (λ=550–650 nm) offers advantages because of good tissue penetration and direct visibility. Since somatostatin receptors (SSTR) are overexpressed in a number of tumors, a series of potentially tumor-selective peptide–dye conjugates were synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). The octapeptides octreotate, Tyr3-octreotate and Tyr3-octreotide were employed and exhibited high affinity for somatostatin receptors (SSTR). The fluorescent dyes rhodamine 101, sulforhodamine B acid chloride, sulforhodamine 101 or rhodamine B isothiocyanate were conjugated either directly or via spacers, for example the peptidase-labile pentapeptide sequence Ala-Leu-Ala-Leu-Ala. The conjugates were completely assembled on the solid support: Fmoc-SPPS, cyclization via a disulfide linkage, N-terminal attachment of a spacer, and linkage to the fluorescent dye. An in vitro competition assay revealed that the conjugates bind to SSTRs with IC50 values between 0.7 and 89 nM. The conjugates were generally stable to hydrolysis at pH 7–8 in buffer or serum. However, the rhodamine 101 conjugates revealed a loss of absorption at alkaline pH due to conversion to a neutral spirolactam form, as characterized by NMR.

(2-[18F]fluoropropionyl-(d)phe1)-octreotide, a potential radiopharmaceutical for quantitative somatostatin receptor imaging with PET: Synthesis, radiolabeling, in vitro validation and biodistribution in mice

Octreotide is labeled with fluorine-18 as a potential radiopharmaceutical for quantitative in vivo mapping of somatostatin receptors. [18F]-fluoroacylation is achieved with n.c.a. 2-[18F]fluoropropionic acid 4-nitrophenylester which is reacted with ϵ-Boc-Lys5-octreotide. After deprotection the desired Nα-[18F]fluoropropionylated octreotide ([18F]SDZ 223–228) is obtained. Final HPLC purification gives rise to radiochemical yields of 65 ± 5% based on the fluoroacylation agent. Binding experiments using rat cortex membranes indicate an affinity for somatostatin receptors of pKi = 8.6 ± 0.2. The biological activity of this SRIF analog is demonstrated by the inhibition of growth hormone release from cultured pituitary cells. The pIC50 in this test system is 8.75, indicating full biological activity. Biodistribution studies with NMRI mice show predominantly renal excretion, rapid blood clearance and only negligible bone activity, i.e. formation of free fluoride.

Desmethylimipramine pretreatment prevents 6-hydroxydopamine induced somatostatin receptor reduction in the rat hippocampus

Several studies have shown anatomical and functional interconnections between catecholaminergic and somatostatinergic systems. To assess whether somatostatin (SS) may act presynaptically on catecholamine neurons, SS receptors were measured using radioligand test-tube binding assays on synaptosomes from hippocampus and frontoparietal cortex — areas that are innervated by catecholaminergic neurons with different densities and that have a high number of SS receptors — from control and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-treated rats. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of the catecholamine neurotoxin 6-OHDA (0.78 mg free base/kg of body weight in saline with 0.1% ascorbic acid) lowered hippocampal and frontoparietal cortical noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) levels at 1 week following the injection. Pretreatment of rats with desmethylimipramine (DMI) (40 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) prevented the drop in NA levels, but was not effective in attenuating DA depletion in the two brain areas studied. Treatment with 6-OHDA lowered the number of 125I-Tyr 11-SS receptors in the hippocampus ( 130 ± 19 vs. 266 ± 16 fmol/mg protein , P < 0.001), whereas in the frontoparietal cortex a non significant 20% reduction in receptor number was found. The dissociation constants of 125I-Tyr 11-SS binding to synaptosomes from frontoparietal cortex ( 0.65 ± 0.06 vs. 0.60 ± 0.04, P not significant) and hippocampus ( 0.44 ± 0.04 vs. 0.63 ± 0.14, P not significant) were similar in control and treated groups. Pretreatment with DMI reversed up to 80% of the effect of 6-OHDA on hippocampus SS receptors. DMI alone had no observable effect on the number and affinity of SS receptors. The 6-OHDA and the DMI treatment did not affect SLI levels in the brain areas studied. These results suggest that a portion of the hippocampal SS receptors may be localized presynaptically on the noradrenergic and dopaminergic nerve terminals.

Dissociation of antiproliferative and antihormonal effects of the somatostatin analog octreotide on 7315b pituitary tumor cells.

The somatostatin (SS) analog octreotide has been successfully used in the treatment of (neuro)endocrine tumors. The mechanism of action of the tumor (growth) inhibitory action by octreotide is not fully understood. We have investigated the effect of octreotide on 7315b rat pituitary tumor cell growth, PRL release, and intracellular PRL concentrations in vitro. When cultured in medium with 10% fetal calf serum, the number of high affinity SS receptors increased with increasing culture time. On days 7, 14, and 21 of culture, the number of SS receptors amounted to 978 +/- 217, 3588 +/- 705, and 5865 +/- 3332 fmol/mg protein, respectively, whereas they were not measurable on day 0. From days 0-7, 7-14, and 14-21 of culture, octreotide (1 pM to 1 microM) inhibited PRL release and the intracellular PRL concentration, with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. However, no inhibition of cell growth was observed by these octreotide concentrations from day 0-7 of culture, while octreotide inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent fashion from days 7-14 and 14-21 of culture (maximal inhibition by 25% and 26%, respectively). In a series of nine consecutive experiments we found a significant positive correlation between the percent inhibition of cell growth induced by 1 microM octreotide and the number of SS receptors on 7315b cells (r = 0.7865; P = 0.012). Inhibition of PRL release did not correlate with SS receptor numbers. Octreotide (1 microM) inhibited forskolin (0.5 microM)-stimulated cell growth and intracellular PRL concentrations, while in the presence of a high concentration of forskolin (10 microM), octreotide had no effect on forskolin-stimulated cell growth and intracellular PRL concentrations. In addition, its PRL release inhibitory effect was significantly lower in forskolin-stimulated cultures. Pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (10 micrograms/liter) completely prevented the inhibition of cell growth by octreotide and diminished the inhibitory effect of octreotide on PRL release. Finally, 1 microM octreotide significantly inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP production (by 29% and 53% on days 7 and 14 of culture, respectively). We conclude that 1) octreotide inhibits 7315b rat pituitary tumor cell proliferation via a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein- and adenylate cyclase-dependent mechanism; and 2) the number of SS receptors on 7315b pituitary tumor cells may determine whether octreotide exerts a direct antiproliferative effect, whereas its antihormonal effect occurs in the presence of relatively low numbers of SS receptors. This suggests a dissociation of the antiproliferative and antihormonal effects induced by octreotide.

The binding of bombesin and somatostatin and their analogs to human colon cancers.

Specific receptors for bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide, somatostatin, and EGF were investigated in 15 human colon cancer specimens. Eight of 15 clinical specimens (15%) of colon cancer showed the presence of somatostatin receptors. Octapeptide somatostatin analogs, RC-160 and RC-121, showed 10 times higher binding affinity for somatostatin receptors on colon cancer membranes than somatostatin. Analysis of 125I-Tyr4-bombesin binding data revealed the presence of specific binding sites in six (40%) specimens of human colon cancer. Scatchard analysis of 125I-labeled bombesin indicated a single class of receptors in three specimens with an apparent Kd value of 2.5 nM and two classes of receptors with high (Kd = 0.4 +/- 0.2 nM) and low affinity (Kd = 1.6 +/- 0.4 microM) in three other specimens. The 125I-Tyr4-bombesin binding capacities in the colon cancers for high affinity binding sites were from 6 to 228 fmol/mg protein and for low affinity binding sites 76 +/- 15 pmol/mg protein. None of the membrane preparations made from normal colonic mucosa specimens showed specific binding for 125I-Tyr4-bombesin. Five pseudononapeptide (psi 13-14) bombesin (6-14) antagonists, with different modifications at Positions 6 and 14, synthesized in our laboratory, inhibited the binding of 125I-Tyr4-bombesin in nanomolar concentrations. No correlation was found between the degree of differentiation and the presence of binding sites for somatostatin or bombesin. Specific binding of EGF was detected in 80% of colon cancer specimens. EGF binding capacity in colon cancer membranes was on average twice as high as in normal colon mucosa (50 +/- 21 vs 28 +/- 14 fmol/mg protein, respectively). Specific binding sites for somatostatin and EGF, but not bombesin, were also demonstrated in human colon cancer cell line HT-29. In HCT-116 colon cancer line only EGF receptors were found. These receptor findings and our in vivo studies on inhibition of colon cancer growth support the merit of continued evaluation of somatostatin analogs and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide antagonists in the management of colonic carcinoma.

Inhibition of the growth of transplanted rat pancreatic acinar carcinoma with octreotide

The effects of octreotide on transplanted azaserine-induced pancreatic acinar tumours were investigated in the rat. When tumours became palpable, rats were treated either with octreotide (40 μg/kg per day, by infusion) or NaCl 0.9% (controls) for 14 days. Tumours were then analysed for their size, composition and somatostatin receptors. Octreotide induced a 80% reduction in tumour growth rate during the first 2 days of treatment. This rate was less marked from day 4 to day 15. The tumour weight, protein, DNA, RNA and enzyme content were reduced in parallel by 50 to 60%. A homogeneous distribution density and a high affinity of somatostatin receptors were found by receptor autoradiography and in vitro binding assays in tumours of both groups. These findings indicate that octreotide reduces the growth rate of the transplanted pancreatic acinar tumour and may exert its inhibitory effect directly via specific somatostatin receptors on tumour cells.

Effects of acute and chronic cocaine administration on somatostatin level and binding in the rat brain

The effects of acute and chronic cocaine (40 mg/Kg i.p.) in vivo administration, on 125I-Tyr 11-somatostatin binding and somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) in the rat frontoparietal cortex, hippocampus and olfactory bulb were explored. Acute and chronic cocaine administration did not affect the levels of SLI in the three brain areas studies. Acute cocaine administration resulted in an 55% and 32% decrease in the total number of specific somatostatin receptors in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb respectively, but not in the frontoparietal cortex. Somatostatin receptor affinity increased in the hippocampus and was unaltered in frontoparietal cortex and olfactory bulb. After two weeks of daily cocaine injections the somatostatin binding in the hippocamus and olfactory bulb returned to control values. The in vitro addition of cocaine to a brain membrane preparation obtained from untreated rats did not markedly affect somatostatin binding characteristics. These results are suggestive of a possible role for somatostatin in the limbic structures as a response to cocaine administration.

Regional distribution of somatostatin receptor affinity states in rat brain: effects of divalent cations and GTP

In the present work, we have characterized by film radioautography the effects of divalent cations and guanine nucleotide on specific receptor for somatostatin (SRIF) using 125I-TyrO-DTrp8-SRIF14 ( 125I-ToD8-SRIF) as a ligand. The experiments were performed on coronal 20-μM-thick sections cut at the level of the amygdala, thus allowing to study binding sites in several regions enriched in binding sites (frontal cortex, hippocampus CAl and dentate gyrus, habenula, basolateral nucleus of the amygdala). In a preliminary set of experiments using brain cortical membranes it was found that 3 mM Mg 2+ ions doubled the specific binding of 125I-ToD8-SRIF. However, Mg 2+ enhanced equally by a factor of 3 affinities of high- and low-affinity binding sites as evidenced by SMS 201.995 displacement curves without modifying the ratio between high and low affinity sites. In radioautographic studies while SRIF14 and SRIF28 elicited monophasic displacement curves, SMS 201.995 displaced 125I-ToD8-SRIF binding in a biphasic manner in all regions tested but the baso-lateral nucleus of the amygdala. Radioautographic distribution of 125I-ToD8-SRIF binding sites was identical whether the sections were incubated with MgCl 2 or with MnCl 2 and almost undetectable in the absence of ions. In all structures investigated increasing concentrations of GTP totally inhibited 125I-ToD8-SRIF binding with an IC 50 value of 3 μM. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that 125I-ToD8-SRIF-binding sites in brain occur on two different affinity states as assessed by a displacement curve using endogenous ligands and SMS 201.995. According to the comparable effects of divalent cations and GTP, the two subtypes of 125I-ToD8-SRIF-binding sites discriminated by SMS 201.995 are likely to correspond to interconvertible forms of the same receptor coupled to a G protein-transducing system.

Cysteamine normalizes cerebral somatostatin level and binding in pentylenetetrazol-kindled rats

Rats were kindled by intraperitoneal injection of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) (30 mg/Kg) every 48 h. Once kindled, some of the animals received a single injection of cysteamine (200 mg/Kg). Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) and 125 I-Tyr 11 -somatostatin binding were measured in the frontoparietal cortex and hippocampus of the two experimental groups and the control rats. After PTZ kindling the following was observed: 1) SLI content was increased in the two areas; 2) Somatostatin receptor affinity decreased in the frontoparietal cortex and was unaltered in the hippocampus; 3) The number of somatostatin receptors decreased in the hippocampus and was unaltered in the frontoparietal cortex. Cysteamine, an agent which depletes brain somatostatin and suppresses kindled seizures in PTZ-treated rats, reversed the altered SLI levels and binding in these rats.

Somatostatin content and receptors in the cerebral cortex of depressed and control subjects.

Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity is reduced in the cerebrospinal fluid in depression and this is presumed to reflect alterations in cerebral somatostatinergic systems. We have examined this hypothesis by measuring this immunoreactivity and somatostatin receptors in post-mortem cortical tissue from depressed patients and control subjects. There was no significant difference in the temporal and occipital cortex in somatostatin-like immunoreactivity or in somatostatin receptor affinity and binding capacity between depressed and control groups. It is concluded that there may not be an alteration of cortical somatostatin function in depression.

ChemInform Abstract: Design and Synthesis of Conformationally Constrained Somatostatin Analogues with High Potency and Specificity for μ Opioid Receptors.

A series of cyclic, conformationally constrained peptides related to somatostatin were designed and synthesized in an effort to develop highly selective and potent peptides for the mu opioid receptor. The following new peptides were prepared and tested for their mu opioid receptor potency and selectively in rat brain binding assays: D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (2, CTOP); D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (3, CTAP); D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Nle-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (4); D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Pen-Thr-NH2 (5); D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Gly-Pen-Thr-NH2 (6); D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-Trp-Lys-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (7); D-Tyr-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys-Thr-OH (8); D-PhGly-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (9); and D-PhGly-Pen-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys-Thr-OH (10). The most selective peptide, 2 (CTOP), displayed both high affinity (IC50 = 3.5 nM) and exceptional selectivity (IC50 delta/IC50 mu = 4,000) for mu opioid receptors. Furthermore, 2 exhibited very low affinity for somatostatin receptors in the rat brain (IC50 greater than 24,000 nM), with an IC50 somatostatin/IC50 mu receptor selectivity of 8,750. These conformationally constrained cyclic peptides should provide new insight into the structural and conformational requirements for the mu opioid receptor and the physiological role of this receptor.

Design and synthesis of conformationally constrained somatostatin analogues with high potency and specificity for mu opioid receptors.

A series of cyclic, conformationally constrained peptides related to somatostatin were designed and synthesized in an effort to develop highly selective and potent peptides for the mu opioid receptor. The following new peptides were prepared and tested for their mu opioid receptor potency and selectively in rat brain binding assays: D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (2, CTOP); D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (3, CTAP); D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Nle-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (4); D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Pen-Thr-NH2 (5); D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Gly-Pen-Thr-NH2 (6); D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-Trp-Lys-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (7); D-Tyr-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys-Thr-OH (8); D-PhGly-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (9); and D-PhGly-Pen-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys-Thr-OH (10). The most selective peptide, 2 (CTOP), displayed both high affinity (IC50 = 3.5 nM) and exceptional selectivity (IC50 delta/IC50 mu = 4,000) for mu opioid receptors. Furthermore, 2 exhibited very low affinity for somatostatin receptors in the rat brain (IC50 greater than 24,000 nM), with an IC50 somatostatin/IC50 mu receptor selectivity of 8,750. These conformationally constrained cyclic peptides should provide new insight into the structural and conformational requirements for the mu opioid receptor and the physiological role of this receptor.

Cyclic somatostatin octapeptide analogues with high affinity and selectivity toward mu opioid receptors

A series of cyclic conformationally restricted penicillamine containing somatostatin octapeptide analogues have been prepared by standard solid phase synthetic techniques and tested for their ability to inhibit specific [ 125I]CGP 23,996 (des-Ala 1-,Gly 2-[desamino-Cys 3Tyr 11]-dicarba 3,14- somatostatin), [ 3H]naloxone or [ 3H]DPDPE ([D-Pen 2-D-Pen 5]enkephalin) binding in rat brain membrane preparations. We now report structure-activity relationship studies with the syntheis of our most potent and selective mu opioid receptor compound DPheCysTyrDTrpOrnThrPenThrNH 2, which we refer to as Cys 2Tyr 3Orn 5Pen 7-amide. While this octapeptide exhibited high affinity (IC 50 = 2.80 nM) for an apparently single population of binding sites (n H = 0.89 ± 0.1) and exceptional selectivity for mu opioid receptos with an IC 51(DPDPE)/IC 50 (naloxone) ratio of 4,829, it also displayed very low affinity for somatostatin receptors (IC 50 = 22,700 nM). Thus, Cys 2Tyr 3Orn 5 Pen 7-amide may be the ligand of choice for further characterization of mu opioid receptors and for examining the physiological role of this class of receptors.