Synthesis of novel 5-substituted pyrazole derivatives as cannabinoid antagonists

A facile seven-step sequence was developed from 4′-bromopropiophenone, utilizing a Suzuki-type coupling with an alkene, to give several novel 5-substituted pyrazole derivatives in overall yields of 11-31%. They are potent CB1 antagonists and have binding affinities similar to SR 141716A. Like SR 141716A, they may prove to be clinically useful for the treatment of obesity.     

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, An Endogenous Ligand for Cannabinoid Receptors

A simple and efficient synthesis of 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, an endogenous agonist for cannabinoid receptors was achieved using Novozym 435, immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica.     

One-step,stereoselective synthesis of octahydrochromanes via the Prins reaction and their cannabinoid activities

Novel, functionalized octahydrochromane derivatives were synthesized in a single step via the Prins reaction. Enantiomerically pure (+)-isopulegol was reacted with benzaldehyde to stereoselectively yield the corresponding octahydro-2H-chromen-4-ol derivative containing five stereocenters. A total of 10 compounds were synthesized by altering the enantiomer of isopulegol and the substituted benzaldehyde, and the resulting enantiopure octahydrochromanes were screened in vitro against the cannabinoid receptor isoforms CB1 and CB2. Compounds containing an olefin at the C4 position [(+)-3c, (?)-3c, (?)-7c, (?)-9c and (?)-11c] of the octahydrochromane scaffold were found to exhibit reasonable displacement of [³H] CP55,940 from the CB receptors, whereas the corresponding hydroxy analogs [(+)-3a, (+)-3b, (?)-3a, (?)-3b and (+)-5a] had very little or no effect.     

Novel Method for Synthesis of Diarylpyrazole Derivatives as Cannabinoid CB_1 Receptor Antagonists

A novel and efficient method was developed for the synthesis of diarylpyrazole derivatives as cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist via four step reactions. The key step was the synthesis of a diarylpyrazole skeleton, which involved initial condensation of the sodium salt of compound 12 with diazonium compounds, and further cyclization by heating at reflux in acetic acid. Eight diarylpyrazole derivatives and nine new synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, IR, MS, and elemental analysis. The react...     

Comparative proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells treated with CB1 or CB2 agonists

The pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line Panc1 was treated with cannabinoid receptor ligands (arachidonylcyclopropylamide or GW405833) in order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of their anticancer effect. A proteomic approach was used to analyze the protein and phosphoprotein profiles. Western blot and functional data mining were also employed in order to validate results, classify proteins, and explore their potential relationships. We demonstrated that the two cannabinoids act through a widely common mechanism involving up‐ and down‐regulation of proteins related to energetic metabolism and cell growth regulation. Overall, the results reported might contribute to the development of a therapy based on cannabinoids for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.     

Novel derivatives of 3-alkyl-1,5-diaryl-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-1,2,4-triazoles and their pharmacological evaluation as CB<Subscript>1</Subscript> cannabinoid ligands

In a previous study, we have identified 3-alkyl-1,5-diaryl-1H-1,2,4-triazoles to be a novel class of cannabinoid type-1 (CB₁) receptor antagonists. However, the synthesis yields for the ligands were low. Here we present an alternative synthesis pathway with improved yields. In addition, we have synthezised new structural derivatives and studied their results in competitive radioligand binding assays for cannabinoid receptors. Correspondence: Nadine Jagerovic, Instituto de Química Médica (CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, E-28006-Madrid, Spain.     

脑胶质瘤中脂肪酸酰胺水解酶的表达及意义

目的研究内源性大麻素代谢酶脂肪酸酰胺水解酶(FAAH)在脑胶质瘤组织中的表达情况及其与胶质瘤病理级别的关系,探讨其临床意义.方法选取首次手术切除并经病理检查证实的脑胶质瘤标本23例,其中WHOⅠ级1例,Ⅱ级7例,Ⅲ级5例,Ⅲ~Ⅳ级2例,Ⅳ级8例.另取8例因颅脑外伤行内减压术切除的正常脑组织作为对照.应用实时荧光定量PCR和高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术分别检测各组织标本中FAAH mRNA和FAAH活性的表达.结果 FAAH mRNA、FAAH活性在低级别(WHOⅠ~Ⅱ级)和高级别(WHOⅢ~Ⅳ级)脑胶质瘤组织中的表达水平较正常脑组织明显降低,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.01),且随着肿瘤病理级别的增高而降低,与肿瘤的病理分级呈负相关(均P<0.01).FAAH mRNA与FAAH活性的表达水平呈正相关(P<0.01).结论 FAAH可能参与了脑胶质瘤的发生、发展过程,检测FAAH的表达可评价脑胶质瘤的生物学行为,为脑胶质瘤的临床治疗和预后判断提供参考.     

Cannabinoid CB1 receptor recognition of endocannabinoids via the lipid bilayer: molecular dynamics simulations of CB1 transmembrane helix 6 and anandamide in a phospholipid bilayer

The phospholipid bilayer plays a central role in the lifecycle of the endogenous cannabinoid, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA). Therefore, the orientation and location of AEA in the phospholipid bilayer with respect to key membrane associated proteins, is a central issue in understanding the mechanism of endocannabinoid signaling. In this paper, we report a test of the hypothesis that a βXXβ motif (formed by beta branching amino acids, V6.43 and I6.46) on the lipid face of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor in its inactive state may serve as an initial CB1 interaction site for AEA. Eight 6 ns NAMD2 molecular dynamics simulations of AEA were conducted in a model system composed of CB1 transmembrane helix 6 (TMH6) in a 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) bilayer. In addition, eight 6 ns NAMD2 molecular dynamics simulations of a low CB1 affinity (20:2, n−6) analog of AEA were conducted in the same model system. AEA was found to exhibit a higher incidence of V6.43/I6.46 groove insertion than did the (20:2, n−6) analog. In certain cases, AEA established a high energy of interaction with TMH6 by first associating with the V6.43/I6.46 groove and then molding itself to the lipid face of TMH6 to establish a hydrogen bonding interaction with the exposed backbone carbonyl of P6.50. Based upon these results, we propose that the formation of this hydrogen bonded AEA/TMH6 complex may be the initial step in CB1 recognition of AEA in the lipid bilayer.     

Synthesis and evaluation of various heteroaromatic benzamides as analogues of –ylidene-benzamide cannabinoid type 2 receptor agonists

The CB₂ receptor is an attractive target for the treatment of a wide range of diseases and pathological conditions. Compounds that selectively activate the CB₂ receptor are desirable as this avoids CB₁-mediated psychoactive effects. Heteroarylidene-benzamides have demonstrated efficacy as selective CB₂ receptor agonists. We aimed to expand the structure-activity relationship studies of this series of compounds by investigating the heteroaromatic core via the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a small library of various heteroaromatic benzamide analogues. As heteroaromatic amides are privileged scaffolds in drug design, methods to synthesise them are of interest. Concise and reliable synthetic strategies were developed to access these novel analogues. The –ylidene-benzamide moiety is shown to be essential for CB activity as all amide derivatives exhibit no functional activity at either CB₂ or CB₁ receptors.     

1,2,3-Triazole derivatives as highly selective cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) agonists

The cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2 receptor) has attracted considerable interest, mainly due to its potential as a target for therapeutics for treating various diseases that have a neuroinflammatory or neurodegenerative component while avoiding the adverse psychotropic effects that accompany CB1 receptor-based therapies. With the appreciation that CB2-selective ligands show marked functional selectivity, there is a renewed opportunity to explore this promising area of research from both a mechanistic as well as a therapeutic perspective. In this research, we are interested in the discovery of new chemotypes as highly selective CB2 modulators, which may serve as good starting points for further optimization towards the development of CB2 therapeutics. In search of new chemotypes as CB2 selective agents, we screened a series of triazole derivatives with interesting bioactive scaffolds, which led to the discovery of two novel and highly selective ligands for CB2 receptors. Compounds 6 and 11 produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of specific [³H]-CP55,940 (CB2) binding with K_i ± SEM values of 105.3 ± 22.6 and 116.4 ± 19.5 nM, respectively, while no binding affinity towards CB1 receptors or opioid receptors was observed. The CB2 functional activity of 6 and 11, as measured by a GPCR Tango assay (G-protein independent β-arrestin translocation assay), revealed that these compounds act as CB2 agonists with EC₅₀ values ± SEM of 1.83 ± 0.16 and 1.14 ± 0.52 µM, respectively. Molecular modeling results showed that both compounds fit well into the active site of the CB2 receptor and showed strong hydrophobic interactions with key residues. In conclusion, the new triazole derivatives (6 and 11) showed promising activity towards CB2 receptors and have great potential to be developed into therapeutically useful CB2 agonists through hit-to-lead optimization.