Dual histamine H3R/serotonin 5-HT4R ligands with antiamnesic properties: pharmacophore-based virtual screening and polypharmacology

J Chem Inf Model. 2014 Jun 23;54(6):1773-84. doi: 10.1021/ci500157n. Epub 2014 Jun 10.

Abstract

In recent years, preclinical and clinical studies have generated considerable interest in the development of histamine H3 receptor (H3R) antagonists as novel treatment for degenerative disorders associated with impaired cholinergic function. To identify novel scaffolds for H3R antagonism, a common feature-based pharmacophore model was developed and used to screen the 17,194 compounds of the CERMN (Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament de Normandie) chemical library. Out of 268 virtual hits which have been gathered in 34 clusters, we were particularly interested in tricyclic derivatives also exhibiting a potent 5HT4R affinity. Benzo[h][1,6]naphthyridine derivatives showed the highest H3R affinity, and compound 17 (H3R Ki = 41.6 nM; 5-HT4R Ki = 208 nM) completely reversed the amnesiant effect of scopolamine at 3 mg/kg in a spatial working memory experiment. For the first time we demonstrated the feasibility to combine H3R and 5-HT4R activities in a single molecule, raising the exciting possibility that dual H3R antagonist/5HT4R agonist have potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetulus
  • Drug Design*
  • Histamine H3 Antagonists / chemistry*
  • Histamine H3 Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Male
  • Memory / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Polypharmacology
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Histamine H3 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 / metabolism*
  • Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists / chemistry*
  • Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists / pharmacology
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology

Substances

  • Histamine H3 Antagonists
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Histamine H3
  • Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4