Analysis of multiple histamine H₄ receptor compound classes uncovers Gαi protein- and β-arrestin2-biased ligands

Mol Pharmacol. 2012 Dec;82(6):1174-82. doi: 10.1124/mol.112.080911. Epub 2012 Sep 12.

Abstract

After the recent description of β-arrestin2 recruitment to the human histamine H₄ receptor (hH₄R) in response to the well known H₄R antagonist 1-[(5-chloro-1H-indol-2-yl)carbonyl]-4-methyl-piperazine (JNJ 7777120), we evaluated in this study the efficacy of 31 known hH₄R ligands to induce Gα(i) protein signaling and β-arrestin2 recruitment by the hH₄R. The selected hH(4)R ligands belong to nine different structural classes that partly cover (pre)clinical trial candidates. We have identified hH₄R ligands with a significant bias for the Gα(i) protein or β-arrestin2 pathway on the basis of efficacy differences. In addition, hH₄R antagonists that did not show positive efficacy in either functional readouts were found. A common trend in pathway preference for the nine different ligand classes could not be observed. In particular, the isothiourea class shows very diverse results, varying from Gα(i) protein-biased or β-arrestin2-biased to nonbiased antagonists upon minor structural changes. The identified biased hH₄R ligands are important pharmacological tools to unravel the significance of biased hH₄R signaling in H₄R pharmacology.

MeSH terms

  • Arrestins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Ligands
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Histamine / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Histamine H4
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • beta-Arrestins

Substances

  • Arrestins
  • HRH4 protein, human
  • Indoles
  • Ligands
  • Piperazines
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Histamine
  • Receptors, Histamine H4
  • beta-Arrestins
  • 1-((5-chloro-1H-indol-2-yl)carbonyl)-4-methylpiperazine
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go