Discovering Small Molecule Biased Agonists for the Neuropeptide S Receptor

与事件或事物有关的焦虑症（例如创伤后应激障碍（PTSD），恐惧症） 将受益于同时缓解焦虑以及与之相关的记忆。 诱发事件。虽然目前可用的抗焦虑药能够治疗急性焦虑，但已经显示， 削弱新记忆的形成一些焦虑症的症状反应急性和快速 作用型苯二氮卓类药物（例如，惊恐障碍和广泛性焦虑症的初始和短期治疗 紊乱）。然而，其他人，如创伤后应激障碍，有持续的，高度侵入性的症状（闪回）， 对目前的治疗有抵抗力。此外，PTSD与抑郁、自杀和药物的共病率较高 虐待，这本身是很难治疗的，特别是在一个衰弱的焦虑症的存在。一 选择性药物治疗既可以减少治疗期间的焦虑，又可以增强记忆， 缺乏神经肽S系统具有一个内源性配体（NPSR）和一个受体（NPSR）， 表达相对受限。NPS系统的治疗潜力在于其独特的行为 配置文件，这与大多数系统不同。中枢给药能增强小鼠的学习能力， 增加兴奋并产生类似抗焦虑的效果。小分子NPSR激动剂的发现， 偏向性激动剂是非常困难的。据我们所知，还没有小分子激动剂被用于治疗。 公开于专利或同行评审文献中。根据我们实验室的研究，我们发现 第一个也是唯一一个在钙离子中保留完全激动剂特性的偏置小分子支架， 动员测定，但具有减弱的增加cAMP水平的能力。这不同于天然肽 (NPS)对两种第二信使途径显示出大致相同的功效。我们的一种偏见激动剂 在小鼠中产生类似的抗焦虑和记忆增强作用，并可被RTI-118 a阻断。 NPS有效拮抗剂。基于这些数据，我们假设神经肽S受体的偏向性激动剂 缺乏cAMP激活的NPSR将可用于治疗PTSD和其他焦虑症， 晋升是有益的。本申请的化学成分旨在提高NPSR效力， 信号偏差，并增强先导化合物的药物样性质。的行为组成部分 申请将集中于进一步建立我们的偏向性激动剂的行为特征。这些目标将是 通过化学，体外药理学和行为药理学的合作完成 程序.

Anxiety disorders that are linked to events or things (e.g. post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias) would benefit from the simultaneous mitigation of the anxiety as well as the memories associated with the inducing event. Although currently available anxiolytics are able to treat acute anxiety, they have been shown to impair the formation of new memories. The symptoms of some anxiety disorders respond to acute and fast acting benzodiazepines (e.g. initial and short-term treatment of panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder). However, others, such as PTSD, have persistent, highly intrusive symptoms (flashbacks) that are resistant to current treatments. Moreover, PTSD has high comorbidity with depression, suicide, and drug abuse, which are themselves difficult to treat especially in the presence of a debilitating anxiety disorder. A selective pharmacotherapy that can both reduce anxiety within therapy sessions and is memory enhancing is lacking. The neuropeptide S system has one endogenous ligand (NPS) and one receptor (NPSR) whose expression is relatively restricted. The therapeutic potential for the NPS-system resides in its unique behavioral profile, which is distinct from most systems. Central administration of NPS in mice enhances learning, increases arousal and produces anxiolytic-like effects. Discovery of small molecule NPSR agonists, let alone biased agonists has been extremely difficult. To our knowledge, no small molecule agonists have been disclosed in the patent or peer reviewed literature. Based on research conducted in our lab, we have identified the first and only biased, small molecule, NPS scaffold that retains full agonist properties in calcium mobilization assays, but has attenuated ability to increase cAMP levels. This is distinct from the native peptide (NPS) that displays roughly equal efficacy for both second messenger pathways. One of our biased agonists produces similar anxiolytic and memory enhancing effects as NPS in mice and can be blocked with RTI-118 a potent NPS antagonist. Based on this data we hypothesize biased agonists of the neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR) lacking cAMP activation will be useful for treating PTSD and other anxiety disorders where memory promotion is beneficial. The chemistry component of this application aims to improve NPSR potency, maintain signaling bias, and enhance drug-like properties of the lead compounds. The behavioral component of the application will focus on further establishing the behavioral profiles for our biased agonists. These aims will be accomplished through a collaboration of chemistry, in vitro pharmacology, and behavioral pharmacology programs.