LASSBio-1135: a dual TRPV1 antagonist and anti-TNF-alpha compound orally effective in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 18;9(6):e99510. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099510. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

LASSBio-1135 is an imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative with high efficacy in screening models of nociception and inflammation, presumed as a weak COX-2 inhibitor. In order to tease out its mechanism of action, we investigated others possible target for LASSBio-1135, such as TNF-α and TRPV1, to better characterize it as a multitarget compound useful in the treatment of chronic pain. TRPV1 modulation was assessed in TRPV1-expressing Xenopus oocytes against capsaicin and low pH-induced current. Modulation of TNF-α production was evaluated in culture of macrophages stimulated with LPS. In vivo efficacy of LASSBio-1135 was investigated in carrageenan and partial sciatic ligation-induced thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Corroborating its previous demonstration of efficacy in a model of capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia, LASSBio-1135 blocks capsaicin-elicited currents in a non-competitive way with an IC50 of 580 nM as well as low pH-induced current at 50 µM. As an additional action, LASSBio-1135 inhibited TNF-α release in these cells stimulated by LPS with an IC50 of 546 nM by reducing p38 MAPK phosphorilation. Oral administration of 100 µmol x Kg(-1) LASSBio-1135 markedly reduced thermal hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan, however at 10 µmol x Kg(-1) only a partial reduction was observed at the 4th h. Neutrophil recruitment and TNF-α production after carrageenan stimulus was also inhibited by the treatment with LASSBio-1135. Modulating TRPV1 and TNF-α production, two key therapeutic targets of neuropathic pain, 100 µmol x Kg(-1) LASSBio-1135 was orally efficacious in reversing thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia produced by partial sciatic ligation 7-11 days after surgery without provoking hyperthermia, a common side effect of TRPV1 antagonists. In conclusion LASSBio-1135, besides being a weak COX-2 inhibitor, is a non-competitive TRPV1 antagonist and a TNF-α inhibitor. As a multitarget compound, LASSBio-1135 is orally efficacious in a model of neuropathic pain without presenting hyperthermia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Capsaicin / pharmacology
  • Carrageenan
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hyperalgesia / complications
  • Hyperalgesia / drug therapy
  • Imidazoles / administration & dosage*
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Imidazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Inflammation / complications
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / drug effects
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neuralgia / complications
  • Neuralgia / drug therapy*
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / drug effects
  • Oocytes / metabolism
  • Pyridines / administration & dosage*
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • TRPV Cation Channels / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • TRPV Cation Channels / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Xenopus laevis
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • 2-phenyl-N-(2-pyridinyl)imidazo(1,2-a)pyridin-3-amine
  • Imidazoles
  • Pyridines
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Carrageenan
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Capsaicin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (BR), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (BR), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (BR), and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Fármacos e Medicamentos (BR). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.