1Psychopharmacology (Berl.) 2014 Aug 231: 3151-67
PMID24577516
TitleIn vitro and in vivo characterisation of Lu AF64280, a novel, brain penetrant phosphodiesterase (PDE) 2A inhibitor: potential relevance to cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
AbstractHere, we present the pharmacological characterisation of Lu AF64280, a novel, selective, brain penetrant phosphodiesterase (PDE) 2A inhibitor, in in vitro/in vivo assays indicative of PDE2A inhibition, and in vivo models/assays relevant to cognitive processing or antipsychotic-like activity. The in vitro selectivity of Lu AF64280 was determined against a panel of PDE enzymes and 3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in the hippocampus were determined using in vivo microdialysis. Lu AF64280 potently inhibited hPDE2A (Ki = 20 nM), 50-fold above moderate inhibition of both hPDE9A (Ki = 1,000 nM) and hPDE10A (Ki = 1,800 nM), and displayed a >250-fold selectivity over all other full-length human recombinant PDE family members (Ki above 5,000 nM). Lu AF64280 (20 mg/kg) significantly increased cGMP levels in the hippocampus (p < 0.01 versus vehicle-treated mice), attenuated sub-chronic phencyclidine-induced deficits in novel object exploration in rats (10 mg/kg, p < 0.001 versus vehicle-treated), blocked early postnatal phencyclidine-induced deficits in the intradimensional/extradimensional shift task in rats (1 and 10 mg/kg, p < 0.001 versus vehicle-treated) and attenuated spontaneous P20-N40 auditory gating deficits in DBA/2 mice (20 mg/kg, p < 0.05 versus vehicle-treated). In contrast, Lu AF64280 failed to attenuate phencyclidine-induced hyperactivity in mice, and was devoid of antipsychotic-like activity in the conditioned avoidance response paradigm in rats, at any dose tested. Lu AF64280 represents a novel tool compound for selective PDE2A inhibition that substantiates a critical role of this enzyme in cognitive processes under normal and pathological conditions.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia
2Synapse 2015 Oct 69: 484-96
PMID26178667
TitleInhibition of PDE2A, but not PDE9A, modulates presynaptic short-term plasticity measured by paired-pulse facilitation in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.
AbstractPhosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors are currently considered promising therapeutic targets for treatment of cognitive impairment in diseases such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. Inhibitors of PDE2A and PDE9A have emerged as potential candidates shown to improve synaptic plasticity and memory function in animals. However, the functional relevance of their putative different localization in the neuron is not understood. Thus, this study aims at elucidating potential presynaptic effects of PDE2A inhibition in comparison to the inhibition of PDE9A. For this purpose, we used paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), a model of short-term synaptic plasticity related to presynaptic function. First, we performed a series of experiments to validate the model in acute rat hippocampal slices using several reference substances including calcium channel blockers, glutamatergic receptor antagonists, and GPCR agonists. Second, we analysed the effect of PDE2A and PDE9A inhibition and their role regulating the influence that the second messengers cAMP and cGMP exert on basal transmission. Our results show that the interplay between the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin, the soluble guanylyl cyclase activator BAY 41-8543 and the PDE2A inhibitor PF-999 reveals a primarily presynaptic mechanism of action of PDE2A inhibition. On the contrary, inhibition of PDE9A did not alter PPF under similar conditions. In conclusion, these data provide new evidence supporting a role of PDE2A modulating short-term synaptic plasticity. Moreover, this function of PDE2A is suggested to rely on an active modulation of the cAMP hydrolysis as a response to changes in cGMP levels at the presynaptic level.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia
3Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2015 Aug 761: 79-85
PMID25941078
TitleCharacterisation of Lu AF33241: A novel, brain-penetrant, dual inhibitor of phosphodiesterase (PDE) 2A and PDE10A.
AbstractHere, we present a preliminary pharmacological characterisation of Lu AF33241, a novel, brain penetrant phosphodiesterase inhibitor of (PDE) 2A and 10A tool compound, in in vitro/in vivo assays indicative of PDE2A and/or PDE10A inhibition, and in vivo models/assays relevant to cognitive processing and antipsychotic-like activity. An assay was also included to investigate potential effects on motor activity. The in vitro selectivity of Lu AF33241 was determined against a panel of PDE enzymes. Lu AF33241 potently inhibited both full-length recombinant hPDE2A (Ki=4.2nM) and hPDE10A (Ki=42nM). The compound moderately inhibited both hPDE1C (Ki=1200nM), hPDE7B (Ki=890nM), and hPDE11A (Ki=1800nM). Lu AF33241 displayed a Ki above 5000nM against all other tested members of the PDE family. Albeit within a narrow dose range, Lu AF33241 attenuated sub-chronic phencyclidine-induced deficits in novel object recognition (3 and 10mg/kg), displayed antipsychotic-like activity in the conditioned avoidance response paradigm (10mg/kg), and did not induce catalepsy within a dose-range of 2-6mg/kg. Further catalepsy studies are needed to investigate a predictive safety window. Lu AF33241 represents a novel PDE2A/PDE10A inhibitor tool compound that may serve to further the understanding of the roles played by these enzymes in various CNS disorders.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia