Angelo Blasio1, Jingyi Wang1, Dan Wang2, Florence P Varodayan3, Matthew B Pomrenze1, Jacklyn Miller2, Anna M Lee4, Thomas McMahon2, Sandeep Gyawali1, Hua-Yu Wang5, Marisa Roberto3, Stanton McHardy5, Michael A Pleiss2, Robert O Messing6. 1. Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, San Antonio, Texas. 2. Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California. 3. Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California. 4. Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, San Antonio, Texas; Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California. 5. Center for Innovative Drug Discovery, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. 6. Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, San Antonio, Texas; Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California. Electronic address: romessing@austin.utexas.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the high cost and widespread prevalence of alcohol use disorders, treatment options are limited, underscoring the need for new, effective medications. Previous results using protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) knockout mice, RNA interference against PKCε, and peptide inhibitors of PKCε predict that small-molecule inhibitors of PKCε should reduce alcohol consumption in humans. METHODS: We designed a new class of PKCε inhibitors based on the Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632. In vitro kinase and binding assays were used to identify the most potent compounds. Their effects on ethanol-stimulated synaptic transmission; ethanol, sucrose, and quinine consumption; ethanol-induced loss of righting; and ethanol clearance were studied in mice. RESULTS: We identified two compounds that inhibited PKCε with Ki <20 nM, showed selectivity for PKCε over other kinases, crossed the blood-brain barrier, achieved effective concentrations in mouse brain, prevented ethanol-stimulated gamma-aminobutyric acid release in the central amygdala, and reduced ethanol consumption when administered intraperitoneally at 40 mg/kg in wild-type but not in Prkce-/- mice. One compound also reduced sucrose and saccharin consumption, while the other was selective for ethanol. Both transiently impaired locomotion through an off-target effect that did not interfere with their ability to reduce ethanol intake. One compound prolonged recovery from ethanol-induced loss of righting but this was also due to an off-target effect since it was present in Prkce-/- mice. Neither altered ethanol clearance. CONCLUSIONS: These results identify lead compounds for development of PKCε inhibitors that reduce alcohol consumption.
BACKGROUND: Despite the high cost and widespread prevalence of alcohol use disorders, treatment options are limited, underscoring the need for new, effective medications. Previous results using protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) knockout mice, RNA interference against PKCε, and peptide inhibitors of PKCε predict that small-molecule inhibitors of PKCε should reduce alcohol consumption in humans. METHODS: We designed a new class of PKCε inhibitors based on the Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632. In vitro kinase and binding assays were used to identify the most potent compounds. Their effects on ethanol-stimulated synaptic transmission; ethanol, sucrose, and quinine consumption; ethanol-induced loss of righting; and ethanol clearance were studied in mice. RESULTS: We identified two compounds that inhibited PKCε with Ki <20 nM, showed selectivity for PKCε over other kinases, crossed the blood-brain barrier, achieved effective concentrations in mouse brain, prevented ethanol-stimulated gamma-aminobutyric acid release in the central amygdala, and reduced ethanol consumption when administered intraperitoneally at 40 mg/kg in wild-type but not in Prkce-/- mice. One compound also reduced sucrose and saccharin consumption, while the other was selective for ethanol. Both transiently impaired locomotion through an off-target effect that did not interfere with their ability to reduce ethanol intake. One compound prolonged recovery from ethanol-induced loss of righting but this was also due to an off-target effect since it was present in Prkce-/- mice. Neither altered ethanol clearance. CONCLUSIONS: These results identify lead compounds for development of PKCε inhibitors that reduce alcohol consumption.
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