Structure-Based Optimization of Multifunctional Agonists for Opioid and Neuropeptide FF Receptors with Potent Nontolerance Forming Analgesic Activities

J Med Chem. 2016 Nov 23;59(22):10198-10208. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01181. Epub 2016 Nov 11.

Abstract

The opioid and neuropeptide FF pharmacophore-containing chimeric peptide 0 (BN-9) was recently developed and produced potent nontolerance forming analgesia. In this study, 11 analogues of 0 were designed and synthesized. An in vitro cAMP assay demonstrated that these analogues behaved as multifunctional agonists at both opioid and NPFF receptors. In mouse tail-flick test, most of the analogues produced potent nontolerance forming antinociception. Notably, 11 (DN-9) was 33-fold more potent than 0 at analgesic effects, which was mediated by μ- and κ-opioid receptors. In addition, 11 also produced powerful analgesic effects in the formalin pain and CFA-induced chronic inflammatory pain models. Strikingly, following its repeated administration for 6 days, 11 did not produce antinociceptive tolerance in the tail-flick test and CFA-induced pain model. The present work indicates that it is reasonable to design multifunctional peptide ligands for opioid and NPFF receptors in a single molecule producing effective nontolerance forming antinociception.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / chemical synthesis
  • Analgesics / chemistry
  • Analgesics / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide / agonists*
  • Receptors, Opioid, kappa / agonists*
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / agonists*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide
  • Receptors, Opioid, kappa
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • neuropeptide FF receptor