Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are membrane receptors involved in many physiological processes. Malfunction of muscarinic signaling is a cause of various internal diseases, as well as psychiatric and neurologic conditions. Cholesterol, neurosteroids, neuroactive steroids, and steroid hormones are molecules of steroid origin that, besides having well-known genomic effects, also modulate membrane proteins including muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Here, we review current knowledge on the allosteric modulation of muscarinic receptors by these steroids. We give a perspective on the research on the non-genomic effects of steroidal compounds on muscarinic receptors and drug development, with an aim to ultimately exploit such knowledge.

• Klíčová slova
• allosteric modulation, cholesterol, muscarinic receptors, neuroactive steroids, neurosteroids,
• MeSH
• cholesterol MeSH
• hormony metabolismus   MeSH
• neurosteroidy * farmakologie   MeSH
• receptory muskarinové MeSH
• steroidy farmakologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cholesterol MeSH
• hormony MeSH
• neurosteroidy * MeSH
• receptory muskarinové MeSH
• steroidy MeSH

Proper determination of agonist efficacy is indispensable in the evaluation of agonist selectivity and bias to activation of specific signalling pathways. The operational model (OM) of pharmacological agonism is a useful means for achieving this goal. Allosteric ligands bind to receptors at sites that are distinct from those of endogenous agonists that interact with the orthosteric domain on the receptor. An allosteric modulator and an orthosteric agonist bind simultaneously to the receptor to form a ternary complex, where the allosteric modulator affects the binding affinity and operational efficacy of the agonist. Allosteric modulators are an intensively studied group of receptor ligands because of their selectivity and preservation of physiological space-time pattern of the signals they modulate. We analysed the operational model of allosterically-modulated agonism (OMAM) including modulation by allosteric agonists. Similar to OM, several parameters of OMAM are inter-dependent. We derived equations describing mutual relationships among parameters of the functional response and OMAM. We present a workflow for the robust fitting of OMAM to experimental data using derived equations.

• MeSH
• alosterická regulace MeSH
• kinetika MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• receptory spřažené s G-proteiny agonisté   metabolismus   MeSH
• synergismus léků * MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ligandy MeSH
• receptory spřažené s G-proteiny MeSH

Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) is the most prevalent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. We utilized apoE4-targeted replacement mice (approved by the Tel Aviv University Animal Care Committee) to investigate whether cholinergic dysfunction, which increases during aging and is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, is accentuated by apoE4. This revealed that levels of the pre-synaptic cholinergic marker, vesicular acetylcholine transporter in the hippocampus and the corresponding electrically evoked release of acetylcholine, are similar in 4-month-old apoE4 and apolipoprotein E3 (apoE3) mice. Both parameters decrease with age. This decrease is, however, significantly more pronounced in the apoE4 mice. The levels of cholinacetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were similar in the hippocampus of young apoE4 and apoE3 mice and decreased during aging. For ChAT, this decrease was similar in the apoE4 and apoE3 mice, whereas it was more pronounced in the apoE4 mice, regarding their corresponding AChE and BuChE levels. The level of muscarinic receptors was higher in the apoE4 than in the apoE3 mice at 4 months and increased to similar levels with age. However, the relative representation of the M1 receptor subtype decreased during aging in apoE4 mice. These results demonstrate impairment of the evoked release of acetylcholine in hippocampus by apoE4 in 12-month-old mice but not in 4-month-old mice. The levels of ChAT and the extent of the M2 receptor-mediated autoregulation of ACh release were similar in the adult mice, suggesting that the apoE4-related inhibition of hippocampal ACh release in these mice is not driven by these parameters. Evoked ACh release from hippocampal and cortical slices is similar in 4-month-old apoE4 and apoE3 mice but is specifically and significantly reduced in hippocampus, but not cortex, of 12-month-old apoE4 mice. This effect is accompanied by decreased VAChT levels. These findings show that the hipocampal cholinergic nerve terminals are specifically affected by apoE4 and that this effect is age dependent.

• Klíčová slova
• Alzheimer's disease (AD), acetylcholine release, apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4), hippocampus,
• MeSH
• acetylcholin metabolismus   MeSH
• apolipoprotein E3 genetika   MeSH
• apolipoprotein E4 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• cholin-O-acetyltransferasa metabolismus   MeSH
• guanosin 5'-O-(3-thiotrifosfát) farmakologie   MeSH
• hipokampus účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši transgenní MeSH
• myši MeSH
• N-methylskopolamin farmakologie   MeSH
• receptory muskarinové metabolismus   MeSH
• tritium metabolismus   MeSH
• věkové faktory MeSH
• vezikulární transportní proteiny acetylcholinu metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• acetylcholin MeSH
• apolipoprotein E3 MeSH
• apolipoprotein E4 MeSH
• cholin-O-acetyltransferasa MeSH
• guanosin 5'-O-(3-thiotrifosfát) MeSH
• N-methylskopolamin MeSH
• receptory muskarinové MeSH
• Slc18a3 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• tritium MeSH
• vezikulární transportní proteiny acetylcholinu MeSH

An allosteric modulator is a ligand that binds to an allosteric site on the receptor and changes receptor conformation to produce increase (positive cooperativity) or decrease (negative cooperativity) in the binding or action of an orthosteric agonist (e.g., acetylcholine). Since the identification of gallamine as the first allosteric modulator of muscarinic receptors in 1976, this unique mode of receptor modulation has been intensively studied by many groups. This review summarizes over 30 years of research on the molecular mechanisms of allosteric interactions of drugs with the receptor and for new allosteric modulators of muscarinic receptors with potential therapeutic use. Identification of positive modulators of acetylcholine binding and function that enhance neurotransmission and the discovery of highly selective allosteric modulators are mile-stones on the way to novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and other disorders involving impaired cognitive function.

• Klíčová slova
• Alzheimer’s disease, allosteric modulation, muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, schizophrenia,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

BACKGROUND: Many neuromuscular blockers act as negative allosteric modulators of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors by decreasing affinity and potency of acetylcholine. The neuromuscular blocker rapacuronium has been shown to have facilitatory effects at muscarinic receptors leading to bronchospasm. We examined the influence of rapacuronium on acetylcholine (ACh) binding to and activation of individual subtypes of muscarinic receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells to determine its receptor selectivity. RESULTS: At equilibrium rapacuronium bound to all subtypes of muscarinic receptors with micromolar affinity (2.7-17 microM) and displayed negative cooperativity with both high- and low-affinity ACh binding states. Rapacuronium accelerated [3H]ACh association with and dissociation from odd-numbered receptor subtypes. With respect to [35S]GTPgammaS binding rapacuronium alone behaved as an inverse agonist at all subtypes. Rapacuronium concentration-dependently decreased the potency of ACh-induced [35S]GTPgammaS binding at M2 and M4 receptors. In contrast, 0.1 microM rapacuronium significantly increased ACh potency at M1, M3, and M5 receptors. Kinetic measurements at M3 receptors showed acceleration of the rate of ACh-induced [35S]GTPgammaS binding by rapacuronium. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate a novel dichotomy in rapacuronium effects at odd-numbered muscarinic receptors. Rapacuronium accelerates the rate of ACh binding but decreases its affinity under equilibrium conditions. This results in potentiation of receptor activation at low concentrations of rapacuronium (1 microM) but not at high concentrations (10 microM). These observations highlight the relevance and necessity of performing physiological tests under non-equilibrium conditions in evaluating the functional effects of allosteric modulators at muscarinic receptors. They also provide molecular basis for potentiating M3 receptor-mediated bronchoconstriction.

• MeSH
• acetylcholin metabolismus   MeSH
• agonisté muskarinových receptorů farmakologie   MeSH
• alosterická regulace účinky léků   MeSH
• alosterické místo účinky léků   MeSH
• CHO buňky MeSH
• Cricetulus MeSH
• guanosin 5'-O-(3-thiotrifosfát) metabolismus   MeSH
• kompetitivní vazba účinky léků   MeSH
• křečci praví MeSH
• N-methylskopolamin metabolismus   MeSH
• nedepolarizující myorelaxancia farmakologie   MeSH
• radioligandová zkouška metody   MeSH
• receptory muskarinové účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• vekuronium analogy a deriváty   farmakologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• křečci praví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• acetylcholin MeSH
• agonisté muskarinových receptorů MeSH
• guanosin 5'-O-(3-thiotrifosfát) MeSH
• N-methylskopolamin MeSH
• nedepolarizující myorelaxancia MeSH
• rapacuronium MeSH Prohlížeč
• receptory muskarinové MeSH
• vekuronium MeSH

We investigated the influence of membrane cholesterol content on preferential and non-preferential signaling through the M(2) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor expressed in CHO cells. Cholesterol depletion by 39% significantly decreased the affinity of M(2) receptors for [(3)H]-N-methylscopolamine ([(3)H]-NMS) binding and increased B(max) in intact cells and membranes. Membranes displayed two-affinity agonist binding sites for carbachol and cholesterol depletion doubled the fraction of high-affinity binding sites. In intact cells it also reduced the rate of agonist-induced receptor internalization and changed the profile of agonist binding from a single site to two affinity states. Cholesterol enrichment by 137% had no effects on carbachol E(max) of cAMP synthesis inhibition and on cAMP synthesis stimulation and inositolphosphates (IP) accumulation at higher agonist concentrations (non-preferred pathways). On the other hand, cholesterol depletion significantly increased E(max) of cAMP synthesis inhibition or stimulation without change in potency, and decreased E(max) of IP accumulation. Noteworthy, modifications of membrane cholesterol had no effect on membrane permeability, oxidative activity, protein content, or relative expression of G(s), G(i/o), and G(q/11) alpha subunits. These results demonstrate distinct changes of M(2) receptor signaling through both preferential and non-preferential G-proteins consequent to membrane cholesterol depletion that occur at the level of receptor/G-protein/effector protein interactions in the cell membrane. The significant decrease of IP accumulation by cholesterol depletion was also observed in cells expressing M(3) receptors and by both cholesterol depletion and enrichment in cells expressing M(1) receptors indicating relevance of reduced G(q/11) signaling for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

• MeSH
• acetylcholin analogy a deriváty   MeSH
• antagonisté muskarinových receptorů farmakologie   MeSH
• beta-cyklodextriny farmakologie   MeSH
• buněčná membrána účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• CHO buňky MeSH
• cholesterol metabolismus   MeSH
• Cricetulus MeSH
• karbachol analogy a deriváty   metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• křečci praví MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• N-methylskopolamin metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• proteiny vázající GTP metabolismus   MeSH
• receptor muskarinový M2 metabolismus   MeSH
• systémy druhého messengeru * účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• křečci praví MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• acetylcholin MeSH
• antagonisté muskarinových receptorů MeSH
• beta-cyklodextriny MeSH
• cholesterol MeSH
• karbachol MeSH
• methyl-beta-cyclodextrin MeSH Prohlížeč
• N-methylskopolamin MeSH
• proteiny vázající GTP MeSH
• receptor muskarinový M2 MeSH