scholarly journals Novel Molecular Targets of Antidepressants

Molecules ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 533
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Jarończyk ◽  
Jarosław Walory

Antidepressants target a variety of proteins in the central nervous system (CNS), the most important belonging to the family of G-protein coupled receptors and the family of neurotransmitter transporters. The increasing number of crystallographic structures of these proteins have significantly contributed to the knowledge of their mechanism of action, as well as to the design of new drugs. Several computational approaches such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and virtual screening are useful for elucidating the mechanism of drug action and are important for drug design. This review is a survey of molecular targets for antidepressants in the CNS and computer based strategies to discover novel compounds with antidepressant activity.

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (25) ◽  
pp. 2772-2787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghu P. Mailavaram ◽  
Omar H.A. Al-Attraqchi ◽  
Supratik Kar ◽  
Shinjita Ghosh

Adenosine receptors (ARs) belongs to the family of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) that are responsible for the modulation of a wide variety of physiological functions. The ARs are also implicated in many diseases such as cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular and renal diseases. The adenosine A3 receptor (A3AR) has emerged as a potential drug target for the progress of new and effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of various pathological conditions. This receptor’s involvement in many diseases and its validity as a target has been established by many studies. Both agonists and antagonists of A3AR have been extensively investigated in the last decade with the goal of developing novel drugs for treating diseases related to immune disorders, inflammation, cancer, and others. In this review, we shall focus on the medicinal chemistry of A3AR ligands, exploring the diverse chemical classes that have been projected as future leading drug candidates. Also, the recent advances in the therapeuetic applications of A3AR ligands are highlighted.


Author(s):  
Gabriele Stephan ◽  
Niklas Ravn-Boess ◽  
Dimitris G Placantonakis

Abstract Members of the adhesion family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have received attention for their roles in health and disease, including cancer. Over the past decade, several members of the family have been implicated in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma. Here, we discuss the basic biology of adhesion GPCRs and review in detail specific members of the receptor family with known functions in glioblastoma. Finally, we discuss the potential use of adhesion GPCRs as novel treatment targets in neuro-oncology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Lattanzi ◽  
Cinzia Severini ◽  
Daniela Maftei ◽  
Luciano Saso ◽  
Aldo Badiani

The prokineticin (PK) family, prokineticin 1 and Bv8/prokineticin 2 (PROK2), initially discovered as regulators of gastrointestinal motility, interacts with two G protein-coupled receptors, PKR1 and PKR2, regulating important biological functions such as circadian rhythms, metabolism, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, muscle contractility, hematopoiesis, immune response, reproduction and pain perception. PROK2 and PK receptors, in particular PKR2, are widespread distributed in the central nervous system, in both neurons and glial cells. The PROK2 expression levels can be increased by a series of pathological insults, such as hypoxia, reactive oxygen species, beta amyloid and excitotoxic glutamate. This suggests that the PK system, participating in different cellular processes that cause neuronal death, can be a key mediator in neurological/neurodegenerative diseases. While many PROK2/PKRs effects in physiological processes have been documented, their role in neuropathological conditions is not fully clarified, since PROK2 can have a double function in the mechanisms underlying to neurodegeneration or neuroprotection. Here, we briefly outline the latest findings on the modulation of PROK2 and its cognate receptors following different pathological insults, providing information about their opposite neurotoxic and neuroprotective role in different pathological conditions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (1) ◽  
pp. C2-C32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyrki P. Kukkonen

The neuropeptides orexins and their G protein-coupled receptors, OX1and OX2, were discovered in 1998, and since then, their role has been investigated in many functions mediated by the central nervous system, including sleep and wakefulness, appetite/metabolism, stress response, reward/addiction, and analgesia. Orexins also have peripheral actions of less clear physiological significance still. Cellular responses to the orexin receptor activity are highly diverse. The receptors couple to at least three families of heterotrimeric G proteins and other proteins that ultimately regulate entities such as phospholipases and kinases, which impact on neuronal excitation, synaptic plasticity, and cell death. This article is a 10-year update of my previous review on the physiology of the orexinergic/hypocretinergic system. I seek to provide a comprehensive update of orexin physiology that spans from the molecular players in orexin receptor signaling to the systemic responses yet emphasizing the cellular physiological aspects of this system.


2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Lestanova ◽  
Z. Bacova ◽  
Jan Bakos

AbstractThe present knowledge, regarding the neuronal growth and neurite extension, includes neuropeptide action in the central nervous system. Research reports have brought much information about the multiple intracellular signaling pathways of neuropeptides. However, regardless of the differences in the local responses elicited by neuropeptides, there exist certain functional similarities in the effects of neuropeptides, mediated by their receptors. In the present review, data of the relevant studies, focused on G protein-coupled receptors activated by neuropeptides, are summarized. Particularly, receptors that activate phosphatidylinositol-calcium system and protein kinase C pathways, resulting in the reorganization of the neuronal cytoskeleton and changes in the neuronal morphology, are discussed. Based on our data received, we are showing that oxytocin increases the gene expression of GTPase cell division cycle protein 42 (Cdc42), implicated in many aspects of the neuronal growth and morphology. We are also paying a special attention to neurite extension and retraction in the context of neuropeptide regulation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hefei Li ◽  
Junfeng Liu ◽  
Xixuan Zhang ◽  
Zhiwei Lai ◽  
Zhen Gao ◽  
...  

As a neurotransmitter and avascular active substance, the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) is widely distributed in the central nervous system and surrounding tissues. The 5-HT can play its role by acting on its corresponding 5-HT receptor. Nowadays, the 5-HT receptor can be classified into seven, according to different signal transduction method of receptors, the 5-HT3 receptor belongs to the ligand-gated ion channels, while other six 5-HT receptors are involved into the G protein-coupled receptors and play the biological role by binding to specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) on the surface of the cell membrane. The 5-HT plays an important role in the brain-gut information transmission and studies showed that the physiological stimulations like having meals, and pathological stimulations like ischemia and stress could promote the release of the 5-HT. In the gastrointestinal tract, the 5-HT is closely related to gastrointestinal sensitivity, gastrointestinal movement and secretion regulation, as well as many gastrointestinal dysfunction disorders, such as gastrointestinal power and visceral sensitivity abnormality and abnormalities of brain-gut axis.


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