Synthesis and Pharmacology of a Novel μ-δOpioid Receptor Heteromer-Selective Agonist Based on the Carfentanyl Template

Abdelfattah Faouzi, Rajendra Uprety, Ivone Gomes, Nicolas Massaly, Attila I. Keresztes, Valerie Le Rouzic, Achla Gupta, Tiffany Zhang, Hye Jean Yoon, Michael Ansonoff, Abdullah Allaoa, Ying Xian Pan, John Pintar, Jose A. Morón, John M. Streicher, Lakshmi A. Devi, Susruta Majumdar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this work, we studied a series of carfentanyl amide-based opioid derivatives targeting the mu opioid receptor (μOR) and the delta opioid receptor (δOR) heteromer as a credible novel target in pain management therapy. We identified a lead compound named MP135 that exhibits high G-protein activity at μ-δheteromers compared to the homomeric δOR or μOR and low β-arrestin2 recruitment activity at all three. Furthermore, MP135 exhibits distinct signaling profile, as compared to the previously identified agonist targeting μ-δheteromers, CYM51010. Pharmacological characterization of MP135 supports the utility of this compound as a molecule that could be developed as an antinociceptive agent similar to morphine in rodents. In vivo characterization reveals that MP135 maintains untoward side effects such as respiratory depression and reward behavior; together, these results suggest that optimization of MP135 is necessary for the development of therapeutics that suppress the classical side effects associated with conventional clinical opioids.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)13618-13637
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
Volume63
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 25 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Drug Discovery

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