Analgesic effects of a substituted N-triazole oxindole (TROX-1), a state-dependent, voltage-gated calcium channel 2 blocker.

Authors:
Abbadie C, McManus OB, Sun SY, Bugianesi RM, Dai G, Haedo RJ, Herrington JB, Kaczorowski GJ, Smith MM, Swensen AM, Warren VA, Williams B, Arneric SP, Eduljee C, Snutch TP, Tringham EW, Jochnowitz N, Liang A, Euan MacIntyre D, McGowan E, Mistry S, White VV, Hoyt SB, London C, Lyons KA, Bunting PB, Volksdorf S, Duffy JL.
In:
Source: J Pharmacol Exp Ther
Publication Date: (2010)
Issue: 334(2): 545-55
Research Area:
Neurobiology
Basic Research
Cells used in publication:
Dorsal root gang. (DRG), rat
Species: rat
Tissue Origin: brain
Abstract
Voltage-gated calcium channel (Ca(v))2.2 (N-type calcium channels) are key components in nociceptive transmission pathways. Ziconotide, a state-independent peptide inhibitor of Ca(v)2.2 channels, is efficacious in treating refractory pain but exhibits a narrow therapeutic window and must be administered intrathecally. We have discovered an N-triazole oxindole, (3R)-5-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-3-methyl-3-(pyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one (TROX-1), as a small-molecule, state-dependent blocker of Ca(v)2 channels, and we investigated the therapeutic advantages of this compound for analgesia. TROX-1 preferentially inhibited potassium-triggered calcium influx through recombinant Ca(v)2.2 channels under depolarized conditions (IC(50) = 0.27 microM) compared with hyperpolarized conditions (IC(50) > 20 microM). In rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, TROX-1 inhibited omega-conotoxin GVIA-sensitive calcium currents (Ca(v)2.2 channel currents), with greater potency under depolarized conditions (IC(50) = 0.4 microM) than under hyperpolarized conditions (IC(50) = 2.6 microM), indicating state-dependent Ca(v)2.2 channel block of native as well as recombinant channels. TROX-1 fully blocked calcium influx mediated by a mixture of Ca(v)2 channels in calcium imaging experiments in rat DRG neurons, indicating additional block of all Ca(v)2 family channels. TROX-1 reversed inflammatory-induced hyperalgesia with maximal effects equivalent to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and it reversed nerve injury-induced allodynia to the same extent as pregabalin and duloxetine. In contrast, no significant reversal of hyperalgesia was observed in Ca(v)2.2 gene-deleted mice. Mild impairment of motor function in the Rotarod test and cardiovascular functions were observed at 20- to 40-fold higher plasma concentrations than required for analgesic activities. TROX-1 demonstrates that an orally available state-dependent Ca(v)2 channel blocker may achieve a therapeutic window suitable for the treatment of chronic pain.