Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alena Randakova, Dominik Nelic, Jan Jakubik
Summary: This study investigates potential problems in the parsimonious operational model of agonism (OMA) and compares the fitting performance of OMA based on the Hill equation and the Black & Leff equation in cases where functional-response curves differ in the slope factor. The conclusion is that Hill equation-based OMA should be preferred in such cases.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Siavash Shahbazi Nia, Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Guangchen Ji, Sravan K. Jonnalagadda, Samuel Obeng, Md Ashrafur Rahman, Ali Ehsan Sifat, Saeideh Nozohouri, Collin Blackwell, Dhavalkumar Patel, Jon Thompson, Scott Runyon, Takato Hiranita, Christopher R. McCurdy, Lance McMahon, Thomas J. Abbruscato, Paul C. Trippier, Volker Neugebauer, Nadezhda A. German
Summary: Based on the structure of gliotoxin, two chemotypes with selective affinity to the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) were synthesized. Through medicinal chemistry and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, the required structural features for high affinity were identified, and advanced molecules with favorable properties were prepared. Compound 2 was shown to block the pain-relieving effect of a KOR agonist both in vitro and in vivo, indicating its potential application as a pain therapeutic.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tomasz Maciej Stepniewski, Arturo Mancini, Richard Agren, Mariona Torrens-Fontanals, Meriem Semache, Michel Bouvier, Kristoffer Sahlholm, Billy Breton, Jana Selent
Summary: This research combines various techniques to study the actions of dopamine on the dopaminergic D-2 receptor, revealing how neurotransmitter binding leads to the activation of different effectors. Experiments show that key residues in TM5 and TM6 are involved in coupling with effectors, while sequence variation at position 6.55 can fine-tune beta-arrestin recruitment and regulate receptor signaling and internalization of neurotransmitter receptors.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Eamonn Kelly, Alexandra Conibear, Graeme Henderson
Summary: In ligand bias, different agonist drugs activate distinct signaling pathways, leading to different therapeutic and adverse effects. While it was believed that selectively activating the G protein-dependent pathway of the mu-opioid receptor would result in effective analgesia without adverse effects, recent data suggest that most effects are mediated by this pathway and some drugs described as biased may actually be low-intrinsic-efficacy agonists. This review discusses the current understanding of bias at the mu-opioid receptor and other opioid receptor subtypes.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ram Kandasamy, Todd M. Hillhouse, Kathryn E. Livingston, Kelsey E. Kochan, Claire Meurice, Shainnel O. Eans, Ming-Hua Li, Andrew D. White, Bernard P. Roques, Jay P. McLaughlin, Susan L. Ingram, Neil T. Burford, Andrew Alt, John R. Traynor
Summary: Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) have been suggested as potentially safer analgesics compared to traditional opioid drugs, enhancing the activity of endogenous opioid peptides while reducing side effects. Experimental evidence shows that a specific mu-PAM, BMS-986122, can enhance the potency of endogenous opioid peptides and produce antinociceptive effects in mouse models of acute and inflammatory pain. This innovative approach to pain management may offer a safer alternative to conventional opioid medications.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Graciela Pineyro, Karim Nagi
Summary: Opioid analgesics are effective in treating pain, but their severe side effects restrict their use. Signaling bias is proposed as a means to improve this situation. Challenges remain in exploiting biased signaling for opioids, including uncertainty in side effects and signaling kinetics.
CELLULAR SIGNALLING
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Justyna Piekielna-Ciesielska, Davide Malfacini, Francine Medjiofack Djeujo, Chantal Marconato, Karol Wtorek, Girolamo Calo', Anna Janecka
Summary: Recent research has found that certain ligands can selectively activate receptor pathways, allowing for a separation of analgesic effects from opioid-related side effects. Thirteen endomorphin-2 analogs were tested and nearly half showed bias towards G protein, with four compounds being inactive towards beta-arrestin 2 recruitment. This research provides insight into the interaction between EM-2 and the mu opioid receptor, and offers new tools for studying biased agonism in vivo.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yang Yang
Summary: Recent research on dopamine D-1 receptors has highlighted the complexity of their signaling pathways, with a focus on the potential of functional selectivity in drug discovery to enhance the benefits of D-1 signaling.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Kelly E. Dunn, H. Elizabeth Bird, Cecilia L. Bergeria, Orrin D. Ware, Eric C. Strain, Andrew S. Huhn
Summary: In this study, 106 people with opioid use disorder were given naloxone, and it was found that within 60 minutes, most participants experienced severe withdrawal symptoms such as tearing, yawning, and runny nose. The study also identified that an increase of 10 points on the SOWS scale and 6 points on the COWS scale within this timeframe were clinically significant indicators of worsened withdrawal symptoms.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
WenYang Deng, Yi Chen, Zhen Wang, XiaoHong Chen, Min Gao, FangFang Chen, WenQing Chen, TianQi Ao
Summary: This article discusses the application of capacitive deionization (CDI) in wastewater treatment and demonstrates the improved ion selectivity by regulating different acid/base functional group distributions. The results show that specific functional groups significantly enhance the selectivity of certain ions. Additionally, a CDI stack system is constructed to achieve high-standard wastewater treatment with a high water production rate.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fernando B. de Moura, Jack Bergman
Summary: Nicotine and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists can selectively enhance the antinociceptive effects of opioid receptor agonists, without exacerbating behavioral disruption. This suggests potential for nAChR agonists as adjuvants in opioid pharmacotherapy for pain management.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Norbert Weiss, Gerald W. Zamponi
Summary: Neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels play a crucial role in regulating calcium entry into nerve endings and neurotransmitter release. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) not only modulate channel activity through second messengers, but also physically interact with calcium channels to regulate their function. Studying the regulation of calcium channels by classical opioid and nociceptin receptors is important for understanding neuronal functions and developing potential treatments for diseases.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edward L. Stahl, Laura M. Bohn
Summary: A recent study suggests that low intrinsic efficacy, rather than biased agonism, is responsible for the improvement in the separation of potency in opioid-induced respiratory suppression versus antinociception. However, reanalysis of the data presented in the study supports the conclusion that biased agonism, favoring G protein signaling, was observed. The findings provide strong evidence that G protein signaling bias can improve opioid analgesia while avoiding certain undesirable side effects.
Review
Neurosciences
Kaitlin C. Reeves, Nikhil Shah, Braulio Munoz, Brady K. Atwood
Summary: Opioids mediate their effects through opioid receptors, which regulate neurotransmission and neuronal function in the brain. The expression pattern and mechanism of opioid receptors vary across different brain regions, determining the effects of opioids on brain function.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ronak N. Patel, Sandra E. Yuter, Matthew A. Miller, Spencer R. Rhodes, Lily Bain, Toby W. Peele
Summary: This study evaluates the near-surface air temperature errors in NOAA's GFS and HRRR weather models compared to observations at 210 airports across the United States during the winter season. It finds that GFS has a diurnal cycle of errors with a warm bias at night and a cold bias during the day under certain sky cover conditions, while HRRR does not exhibit a strong diurnal cycle under the same conditions. Identifying these errors helps improve the accuracy of weather forecasts.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karim Nagi, Iness Charfi, Graciela Pineyro
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2015)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Karim Nagi, Graciela Pineyro
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Derek N. Robertson, Rory Sleno, Karim Nagi, Darlaine Petrin, Terence E. Hebert, Graciela Pineyro
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jean-Louis Beaudeau, Veronique Blais, Brian J. Holleran, Alexandre Bergeron, Graciela Pineyro, Brigitte Guerin, Louis Gendron, Yves L. Dory
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoon Namkung, Christian LeGouill, Sahil Kumar, Yubo Cao, Larissa B. Teixeira, Viktoriya Lukasheva, Jenna Giubilaro, Sarah C. Simoes, Jean-Michel Longpre, Dominic Devost, Terence E. Hebert, Graciela Pineyro, Richard Leduc, Claudio M. Costa-Neto, Michel Bouvier, Stephane A. Laporte
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Besma Benredjem, Jonathan Gallion, Dennis Pelletier, Paul Dallaire, Johanie Charbonneau, Darren Cawkill, Karim Nagi, Mark Gosink, Viktoryia Lukasheva, Stephen Jenkinson, Yong Ren, Christopher Somps, Brigitte Murat, Emma Van Der Westhuizen, Christian Le Gouill, Olivier Lichtarge, Anne Schmidt, Michel Bouvier, Graciela Pineyro
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2019)
Article
Cell Biology
Hanieh Bagheri Tudashki, Youssef Haddad, Iness Charfi, Rejean Couture, Graciela Pineyro
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2020)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Besma Benredjem, Jonathan Gallion, Dennis Pelletier, Paul Dallaire, Johanie Charbonneau, Darren Cawkill, Karim Nagi, Mark Gosink, Viktoryia Lukasheva, Stephen Jenkinson, Yong Ren, Christopher Somps, Brigitte Murat, Emma van der Westhuizen, Christian Le Gouill, Olivier Lichtarge, Anne Schmidt, Michel Bouvier, Graciela Pineyro
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Viktoriya Lukasheva, Dominic Devost, Christian Le Gouill, Yoon Namkung, Ryan D. Martin, Jean-Michel Longpre, Mohammad Amraei, Yuji Shinjo, Mireille Hogue, Monique Lagace, Billy Breton, Junken Aoki, Jason C. Tanny, Stephane A. Laporte, Graciela Pineyro, Asuka Inoue, Michel Bouvier, Terence E. Hebert
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Graciela Pineyro, Karim Nagi
Summary: Opioid analgesics are effective in treating pain, but their severe side effects restrict their use. Signaling bias is proposed as a means to improve this situation. Challenges remain in exploiting biased signaling for opioids, including uncertainty in side effects and signaling kinetics.
CELLULAR SIGNALLING
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dominique Bella Ndong, Veronique Blais, Brian J. Holleran, Arnaud Proteau-Gagne, Isabelle Cantin-Savoie, William Robert, Jean-Francois Nadon, Sophie Beauchemin, Richard Leduc, Graciela Pineyro, Brigitte Guerin, Louis Gendron, Yves L. Dory
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Iness Charfi, Khaled Abdallah, Louis Gendron, Graciela Pineyro
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2018)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Besma Benredjem, Paul Dallaire, Graciela Pineyro
CURRENT OPINION IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2017)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Louis Gendron, Catherine M. Cahill, Mark von Zastrow, Peter W. Schiller, Graciela Pineyro
PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2016)