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A W Lipkowski

Publications and source records attributed to A W Lipkowski.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Blood-to-central nervous system entry and stability of biphalin, a unique double-enkephalin analog, and its halogenated derivatives.

Biphalin (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-NH)2 is a unique opioid peptide analog that contains two active enkephalin pharmacophores and is more potent than morphine and etorphine in eliciting analgesia after intrathecal administration. After systemic administration, only a small amount was detected in the brain, but analgesia was observed. Because halogenation of enkephalin analogs has been shown to increase the brain uptake after systemic administration, our research group synthesized both p-[Cl-Phe4,4']biphalin and p-[F-Phe4,4']biphalin. The aim of the present study was to characterize and compare the blood-to-central nervous system (CNS) pharmacokinetics and biological stability of biphalin and related halogenated analogs. The initial screening used an in vitro blood-brain barrier model and identified p-[Cl-Phe4,4')biphalin as the enkephalin analog with the best potential for greater CNS entry. The CNS uptake and stability of biphalin and p-[Cl-Phe4,4']biphalin was examined further using an in situ brain perfusion technique coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Both biphalin and its chlorohalogenated analog, were found to significantly enter the CNS through both the blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers. Chlorohalogenation of biphalin was shown to both improve CNS entry, most likely through an enhancement in lipophilicity, and increase biological stability. This study suggests that incorporation of chlorohalogens at the p-Phe4,4' position is a promising structural modification in the development of biphalin as a successful opioid drug for the clinic.

Analgesics↗

The synthesis and opioid receptor binding affinities of analogues of dermorphin and its N-terminal tetrapeptide fragment with dibasic acids in position 2.

Analysis of possible mu opioid receptor active conformations for dermorphin suggested that the topographical location of the tyramine moiety of the N-terminal tyrosine can be simulated with the phenol of tyrosine or desamino-tyrosine (4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid) and a basic group located on the side chain of a dibasic acid residue located in position 2. The biological properties of respective analogs with D- or L-arginine, and D- or L-lysine in the position 2 of dermorphin or desamino-dermorphin and their N-terminal tetrapeptide fragments, has provided evidence in support of this prediction, and questions the dogma that an N-terminal tyrosine is a necessary element for opioid agonist peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Design of cyclic deltorphins and dermenkephalins with a disulfide bridge leads to analogues with high selectivity for delta-opioid receptors.

We earlier suggested that the low receptor selectivity observed for previously synthesized constrained analogues of deltorphin I (DT I) was the result of a reduction in the lipophilic surface of the C-terminal of the peptide. To confirm this prediction and to further test a previously proposed conformational model for bioactivity at delta opioid receptors, we have synthesized several new cyclic analogues with the general structure [D-Xaa2,Yaa5]deltorphin I and II in which Xaa2 is D-cysteine or D-penicillamine (D-Pen), and Yaa5 is an L- or D-penicillamine residue. Additional substitutions at positions 4, 6, and 7 also were examined. The analogues were tested for binding to mu- and delta-opioid receptors and in mouse vas deferens and guinea pig ileum biological assays. The introduction of a lipophilic L-Pen in position 5 and D-Cys or D-Pen in position 2 resulted in a highly delta-selective series of analogues, which fully confirmed our prediction. The cyclic analogues formula; see text: DT I are among the most delta-selective analogues described thus far.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Spinal co-administration of peptide substance P antagonist increases antinociceptive effect of the opioid peptide biphalin.

Intrathecal injection of 0.25 micrograms of undecapeptide substance P antagonist (SPA) produced transient antinociception with a peak effect at 5 min. Increasing the SPA dose resulted in neurotoxicity. Intrathecal injection of the opioid peptide biphalin (BIP) produced antinociception for over 3 hrs without neurotoxicity. Co-administration of SPA (at subtoxic doses) increased BIP's antinociceptive effect. Naltrexone reversed analgesia due to BIP alone as well as after BIP+SPA.

Analgesics↗

Enhanced potency of intravenous, but not intrathecal, morphine and morphine-6-glucuronide after burn trauma.

We examined the analgesic effect of morphine (M) and its metabolite morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) in a rat model of acute thermal trauma. M or M6G were given by intrathecal (IT) or intravenous (i.v.) routes after brief burn or sham burn delivered during inhalational anesthesia. In the sham group, M6G was significantly less potent than M when given i.v., yet tended to be more potent than M when given IT. For both drugs, thermal injury increased i.v. potency, yet decreased (for M) or displayed a trend to decrease (for M6G) It potency. The increased potency seen with i.v. but not IT opioid administration may reflect pharmacokinetic (e.g., diminished clearance) and/or pharmacodynamic responses (e.g., activation of peripheral opioid receptors) after thermal injury.

Analgesia↗

Morphine-3-glucuronide: silent regulator of morphine actions.

To assess whether stoichiometric manipulation of morphine (M) metabolism can enhance analgesia or slow the development of M tolerance we co-administered M-3- glucuronide (M3G) during single or repeated doses of morphine in rats. Although M3G itself lacked analgesic activity, co-injection of M3G with M increased and prolonged analgesia beyond that seen with M. In addition, diminution of the acute analgesic effect of M after 3 once-daily doses of M did not occur after daily co-injection of M3G and M. Thus the traditional view that tolerance to the effects of M is due solely to effects mediated through opioid receptors must be broadened to include the contributions of enzyme induction or stoichiometric equilibration of M3G in this process.

Analgesia↗

Delta opioid receptor selective ligands; DPLPE-deltorphin chimeric peptide analogues.

Further efforts to correlate the topography of the bioactive structures of DPDPE and the deltorphins, two delta-opioid receptor active peptide families, are reported. A number of DPLPE-deltorphin chimeric peptides have been synthesized in which the C-terminal dipeptide delta-address of the deltorphins (-Val-GlyNH2, -Nle-GlyNH2) have been linked to the highly delta-opioid selective cyclic peptides DPDPE or DPLPE. These studies demonstrate that a major structural feature determining high potency of hybrid analogues is the chirality of the amino acid residue in position 5. The radioligand binding assays have revealed a decrease in potency (compared to DPDPE) at delta-receptors when the C-terminal dipeptides were added to DPDPE. On the other hand, chimeric peptides of DPLPE with these same C-terminal dipeptides retained high delta-selectivity and affinity. Similar results were obtained using the mouse vas deferens (MVD) and guinea pig ileum (GPI) bioassays. The importance of the hydrophilicity of amino acids in positions 2 and 5 for delta-selectivity is consistent with the previous finding for DPLPE and DPDPE. On the other hand, the replacement of phenylalanine-4 with p-chlorophenylalanine-4 did not increase delta-selectivity as in DPDPE. These findings suggest that the delta-receptor interacts with hybridized enkephalins and deltorphins somewhat differently than with DPDPE.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Assessment of an in vitro blood-brain barrier model using several [Met5]enkephalin opioid analogs.

Confluent monolayers of primary and continuous passaged cultures of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMEC) have been suggested to model the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Increased lipophilicity has been previously suggested to increase BBB penetration. The intent of this study was to examine the effect that structural modifications of the [Met5]enkephalin analog DPDPE had on lipophilicity and passage across the BMEC. The BMEC consisted of a monolayer of confluent primary BMEC grown on polycarbonate (10 microns) filters. Permeability coefficients were calculated on the basis of the diffusion of peptides across the BMEC in a Side-Bi-Side diffusion chamber. Lipophilicity of the peptides examined was determined by using reversed-phase HPLC and calculating the capacity factor (k). Diffusion across the BMEC (for all peptides examined) was linear from 15 to 120 min; therefore, these time points were used to calculate permeability coefficients. Permeability coefficients ranged from 14.34 to 92.00 cm/min (x 10(-4), with [rho-ClPhe4,4']biphalin the highest. Analysis of variance coupled with the Newman-Keuls test showed significantly greater (P < .01) passage of select peptide analogs across the BMEC, including [rho-ClPhe4,4']biphalin, [rho-ClPhe4]DPDPE and reduced DPDPE. Interestingly, upon passage across the confluent monolayer, reduced DPDPE was converted to cyclized DPDPE. Calculated HPLC capacity factors ranged from 3.82 to 12.50. The most lipophilic peptide (highest) examined was acetylated Phe0-DPDPE. Analysis of the regression line of permeability coefficients plotted against capacity factors yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.745 (P < .01). The data provided in this study offer strong evidence that increasing peptide lipophilicity enhances passage across the BMEC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Topographical requirements for delta opioid ligands: common structural features of dermenkephalin and deltorphin.

We propose a common topographical model for the bioactive conformation of deltorphin and dermenkephalin at the delta opioid receptor. In this model a hydrophilic surface from the N- to C-termini is surrounded by lipophilic residues ("hot dog" structure). The important element that orients the N-terminal tyramine is the interaction of the N-terminal amino group, with the carboxyl group of Asp4 in deltorphin I and with Asp7 through His4 (as a triad) in dermenkephalin. The biological properties of synthetic analogues designed to test this model demonstrate that the hydrophilic amino acid residues of these peptides are interchangeable. In addition, incorporation of Aib residues that change the lipophilic topography of these molecule, strongly reduces affinity for the delta opioid receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Topographical requirements for delta opioid ligands: presence of a carboxyl group in position 4 is not critical for deltorphin high delta receptor affinity and analgesic activity.

To investigate the role of the carboxyl group in deltorphin molecules, we have synthesized three new analogues in which the acidic amino acid residues in position 4 of the deltorphins were replaced by non-acidic but hydrophilic amino acids residues. The three analogues, [Ser4]-, [Gln4]-, and [Cys4]-deltorphin, all are as potent or more potent than either deltorphin I or II at delta opioid receptors and possess good delta selectivities. The excellent correlation between their in vitro delta receptor potencies and their intrathecal antinociception activity forms a strong argument for involvement of those receptors in spinal nociceptive modulation in the rats.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Opioid and neurokinin activities of substance P fragments and their analogs.

Newly developed substance P (SP) analogs with altered N-terminal sequences which equalize the lipophilicity of the N-terminal and C-terminal elements and of their fusion product were examined using i.t. injection in mice. I.t. injection of either the full length analog or the C-terminal hexapeptide (CP) produced biting and scratching behavior similar to that elicited by SP. SPF was approximately 5-fold and CP 14-fold less potent than native SP. The N-terminal peptide (NP) was inactive by itself but inhibited CP-elicited behavior. Naloxone antagonized this action of NP and shifted the SPF dose-response curve 4-fold to the left. However, naloxone had no effect on the action of CP or on the action of any of the native neurokinins. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that N- and C-terminal analogs of SP can have opioid and SP-like actions, respectively, in the CNS of rodents. Furthermore, analogs of SP which include at least the terminal tetrapeptide retain neurokinin activity.

Animals↗

Analgesic activity of a novel bivalent opioid peptide compared to morphine via different routes of administration.

A novel bivalent opioid tetrapeptide, biphalin (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-NH)2, was synthesized based on structure-activity relationships. The analgesic activity of biphalin was assessed in comparison to morphine in rats. Drugs were administered subcutaneously (s.c.), intravenously (i.v.) and intrathecally (i.t.). Tail flick and tail pinch were used as tests for analgesia. Biphalin s.c. showed negligible analgesic activity, but when given i.v. produced significant analgesia, although less potent than morphine via this route. In contrast, intrathecal biphalin was more potent than morphine. These results indicate that biphalin has intrinsic activity that is compromised by enzymatic degradation or redistribution in the periphery, properties that may render it useful in exploring analgesic actions of locally applied opioids in the periphery without the likelihood of unwanted central effects.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Use of hydrophilic diamines for bridging of two opioid peptide pharmacophores. Synthesis and receptor binding of two new analogues.

The bivalent ligand approach, which assumes that two pharmacophores are connected by a spacer, was used to design receptor type-selective ligands for opioid receptors. The first two opioid peptide bivalent ligands with different spacer lengths containing different numbers of hydroxyl groups, (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-NH-CH2-CHOH-)2 (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-NH-CH2-CHOH-CHOH-)2, were synthesized and their binding to mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors was characterized. Both analogues were found to possess high opioid in vitro activities. The length of the hydrophilic spacer does not affect the affinity for delta receptors, whereas shorter spacer length increases affinity for mu and even more so for kappa receptors. Thus receptor type-selective peptides for opioid receptors can be designed using the bivalent approach.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Enhanced potency of receptor-selective opioids after acute burn injury.

Dose-response curves of three receptor-selective opioids were established in a group of nonburned and a group of burned rats. Morphine (mu-agonist), biphalin (mu- and delta-agonist), and U50488H (kappa-agonist) were administered to each group, and analgesia was measured by tail flick latency testing. Each opioid had a significant increase in potency (i.e., a decrease in ED50 values) in the burned (15% body surface area) compared with the nonburned groups. Moderate doses of each drug (i.e., ED50 doses estimated from nonburned group data) in each case augmented stress-induced analgesia in the burned group. Analgesic doses failed to prevent a significant increase in plasma beta-endorphin and corticosterone after larger surface area (25%) burns. Regardless of receptor specificity, opioid analgesic potency is increased acutely after burn injuries.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗

Neuropeptides and pain.

Peptides have recently been found to function as neuromodulators or neuromediators within nociceptive pathways at central and peripheral sites. More complex and varied in their chemistry compared to "classical" low molecular weight monoamine neurotransmitters, peptides may nonetheless co-exist with these within a single neuron. The biological activity of a peptide results from an "address" segment that permits receptor binding and a "message" segment that initiates reactions within the cell. Opioid peptides (endorphins) are derived from three precursors and act by altering ionic fluxes of potassium or calcium across cell membranes. Nonopioid peptides active in nociception include calcitonin and its gene-related peptide C.G.R.P., bradykinin, substance P, somatostatin, cholecystokinin, and corticotropin-releasing hormone, among others. Ongoing investigations show significant responses of several peptide systems in experimental models relevant to vascular pain. Although the creation of novel peptide analogues has therapeutic promise, their present clinical use must be cautious in light of reports of neurotoxicity after intraspinal application of some of these compounds in animal models.

Animals↗