Discovery of Novel and Potent N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulators with Antidepressant-like Activity in Rodent Models

J Med Chem. 2021 May 13;64(9):5551-5576. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02018. Epub 2021 May 3.

Abstract

N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are glutamate-gated Na+ and Ca2+-permeable ion channels involved in excitatory synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. NMDAR hypofunction has long been implicated in the pathophysiology including major depressive disorders (MDDs). Herein, we report a series of furan-2-carboxamide analogues as novel NMDAR-positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). Through structure-based virtual screen and electrophysiological tests, FS2921 was identified as a novel NMDAR PAM with potential antidepressant effects. Further structure-activity relationship studies led to the discovery of novel analogues with increased potentiation. Compound 32h caused a significant increase in NMDAR excitability in vitro and impressive activity in the forced swimming test. Moreover, compound 32h showed no significant inhibition of hERG or cell viability and possessed a favorable PK/PD profile. Our study presented a series of novel NMDAR PAMs and provided potential opportunities for discovering of new antidepressants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Allosteric Regulation / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Antidepressive Agents / chemistry*
  • Antidepressive Agents / metabolism
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / drug therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Furans / chemistry
  • Furans / metabolism
  • Furans / pharmacology
  • Furans / therapeutic use
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / chemistry
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / genetics
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Furans
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • furan