Synthesis and Biological Characterization of Cyclic Disulfide-Containing Peptide Analogs of the Multifunctional Opioid/Neuropeptide FF Receptor Agonists That Produce Long-Lasting and Nontolerant Antinociception

J Med Chem. 2020 Dec 24;63(24):15709-15725. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01367. Epub 2020 Dec 3.

Abstract

In a previously described chimeric peptide, we reported that the multifunctional opioid/neuropeptide FF (NPFF) receptor agonist 0 (BN-9) produced antinociception for 1.5 h after supraspinal administration. Herein, four cyclic disulfide analogs containing l- and/or d-type cysteine at positions 2 and 5 were synthesized. The cyclized analogs and their linear counterparts behaved as multifunctional agonists at both opioid and NPFF receptors in vitro and produced potent analgesia without tolerance development. In comparison to 0, cyclized peptide 6 exhibited sevenfold more potent μ-opioid receptor agonistic activity in vitro. Interestingly, the cyclized analog 6 possessed an improved stability in the brain and an increased blood-brain barrier permeability compared to the parent peptide 0 and produced more potent analgesia after supraspinal or subcutaneous administration with improved duration of action of 4 h. In addition, antinociceptive tolerance of analog 6 was greatly reduced after subcutaneous injection compared to fentanyl, as was the rewarding effect, withdrawal reaction, and gastrointestinal inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Analgesics, Opioid / chemistry*
  • Analgesics, Opioid / metabolism
  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disulfides / chemistry*
  • Fentanyl / pharmacology
  • Fentanyl / therapeutic use
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / pathology
  • Peptides, Cyclic / chemistry*
  • Peptides, Cyclic / metabolism
  • Peptides, Cyclic / pharmacology
  • Peptides, Cyclic / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide / agonists*
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide / metabolism
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / agonists*
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / metabolism

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Disulfides
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • neuropeptide FF receptor
  • Cysteine
  • Fentanyl