Engineering a Potent, Long-Acting, and Periphery-Restricted Oxytocin Receptor Agonist with Anorexigenic and Body Weight Reducing Effects

J Med Chem. 2020 Jan 9;63(1):382-390. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01862. Epub 2019 Dec 18.

Abstract

The effects of oxytocin on food intake and body weight reduction have been demonstrated in both animal models and human clinical studies. Despite being efficacious, oxytocin is enzymatically unstable and thus considered to be unsuitable for long-term use in patients with obesity. Herein, a series of oxytocin derivatives were engineered through conjugation with fatty acid moieties that are known to exhibit high binding affinities to serum albumin. One analog (OT-12) in particular was shown to be a potent full agonist at the oxytocin receptor (OTR) in vitro with good selectivity and long half-life (24 h) in mice. Furthermore, OT-12 is peripherally restricted, with very limited brain exposure (1/190 of the plasma level). In a diet-induced obesity mouse model, daily subcutaneous administration of OT-12 exhibited more potent anorexigenic and body weight reducing effects than carbetocin. Thus, our results suggest that the long-acting, peripherally restricted OTR agonist may offer potential therapeutic benefits for obesity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Appetite Depressants / chemical synthesis
  • Appetite Depressants / pharmacokinetics
  • Appetite Depressants / therapeutic use*
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lipopeptides / chemical synthesis
  • Lipopeptides / pharmacokinetics
  • Lipopeptides / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Obesity / drug therapy
  • Oxytocin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Oxytocin / pharmacokinetics
  • Oxytocin / therapeutic use*
  • Protein Engineering
  • Receptors, Oxytocin / agonists*
  • Weight Loss / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Appetite Depressants
  • Lipopeptides
  • Receptors, Oxytocin
  • Oxytocin