Further In Vitro and Ex Vivo Pharmacological and Kinetic Characterizations of CCF219B: A Positive Allosteric Modulator of the α<sub>1A</sub>-Adrenergic Receptor

<b>Background:</b> Alterations in the adrenergic system have been associated with the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A novel α<sub>1A</sub>-adrenergic receptor (AR)-positive allosteric modulator (PAM), CCF219B, has been shown to outperform donepezil with rescue...

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Main Authors: Robert S. Papay, Dianne M. Perez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/4/476
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author Robert S. Papay
Dianne M. Perez
author_facet Robert S. Papay
Dianne M. Perez
author_sort Robert S. Papay
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Alterations in the adrenergic system have been associated with the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A novel α<sub>1A</sub>-adrenergic receptor (AR)-positive allosteric modulator (PAM), CCF219B, has been shown to outperform donepezil with rescue of AD cognition/memory deficits with a reduction in amyloid biomarkers and without cardiovascular side effects. Initial pharmacological analysis in transfected cell lines revealed a signal bias with increased efficacy (but not potency) of cAMP signaling and ligand selectivity for norepinephrine (NE). As most GPCR allosteric modulators change the potency of agonists, we hypothesized and now report that CCF219B induced additional aspects of its allosteric interactions with NE that may provide mechanistic insight. <b>Methods:</b> Using Rat-1 fibroblasts stably transfected with α<sub>1A</sub>-AR, we determined the activation profile of pERK and p38 messengers by CCF219B in the presence of NE. Using membranes prepared from the stably transfected fibroblasts or from the brain of WT mice or the AD mouse model, hAPP(lon), equilibrium or kinetic radioligand-binding analyses were performed. <b>Results:</b> We identified p-ERK1/2 but not p38 as an additional signal pathway that is potentiated by CCF219B in the presence of NE. An analysis of binding studies of CCF219B in membranes derived from the brains of WT or hAPP(lon) mice revealed profiles that were time-dependent and resulted in an increase in α<sub>1A</sub>-AR expression that was unaltered in the presence of cycloheximide or when performed at 37 °C. hAPP(lon) mice displayed a reduction in α<sub>1A</sub>-AR-binding sites that were rescued upon prolonged incubation with CCF219B but also displayed a compensatory increase in α<sub>1B/D</sub>-AR subtype expression. Binding kinetics reveal that CCF219B can decrease the association rate of <sup>3</sup>H-NE but only in the presence of GTP. The association rate increased for the radiolabeled antagonist, <sup>125</sup>I-HEAT. There were no changes in the dissociation rate of either radiolabel. <b>Conclusions:</b> CCF219B affects the association but not the dissociation rate of NE and explains its ability to increase the active state of the receptor by promoting a pre-coupled conformation, consistent with increasing efficacy but not potency. Potentiation of pERK may contribute to CCF219B’s ability to confer neuroprotection and be pro-cognitive in AD. CCF219B’s ability to increase the expression of α<sub>1A</sub>-AR provides a positive feedback loop and strengthens the hypothesis that α<sub>1</sub>-AR subtypes may be involved in AD etiology and/or progression.
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spelling doaj-art-ee7b2724b8274b3cbc83e03bfd6b2b8d2025-08-20T02:18:10ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-03-0118447610.3390/ph18040476Further In Vitro and Ex Vivo Pharmacological and Kinetic Characterizations of CCF219B: A Positive Allosteric Modulator of the α<sub>1A</sub>-Adrenergic ReceptorRobert S. Papay0Dianne M. Perez1The Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44195, USAThe Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA<b>Background:</b> Alterations in the adrenergic system have been associated with the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A novel α<sub>1A</sub>-adrenergic receptor (AR)-positive allosteric modulator (PAM), CCF219B, has been shown to outperform donepezil with rescue of AD cognition/memory deficits with a reduction in amyloid biomarkers and without cardiovascular side effects. Initial pharmacological analysis in transfected cell lines revealed a signal bias with increased efficacy (but not potency) of cAMP signaling and ligand selectivity for norepinephrine (NE). As most GPCR allosteric modulators change the potency of agonists, we hypothesized and now report that CCF219B induced additional aspects of its allosteric interactions with NE that may provide mechanistic insight. <b>Methods:</b> Using Rat-1 fibroblasts stably transfected with α<sub>1A</sub>-AR, we determined the activation profile of pERK and p38 messengers by CCF219B in the presence of NE. Using membranes prepared from the stably transfected fibroblasts or from the brain of WT mice or the AD mouse model, hAPP(lon), equilibrium or kinetic radioligand-binding analyses were performed. <b>Results:</b> We identified p-ERK1/2 but not p38 as an additional signal pathway that is potentiated by CCF219B in the presence of NE. An analysis of binding studies of CCF219B in membranes derived from the brains of WT or hAPP(lon) mice revealed profiles that were time-dependent and resulted in an increase in α<sub>1A</sub>-AR expression that was unaltered in the presence of cycloheximide or when performed at 37 °C. hAPP(lon) mice displayed a reduction in α<sub>1A</sub>-AR-binding sites that were rescued upon prolonged incubation with CCF219B but also displayed a compensatory increase in α<sub>1B/D</sub>-AR subtype expression. Binding kinetics reveal that CCF219B can decrease the association rate of <sup>3</sup>H-NE but only in the presence of GTP. The association rate increased for the radiolabeled antagonist, <sup>125</sup>I-HEAT. There were no changes in the dissociation rate of either radiolabel. <b>Conclusions:</b> CCF219B affects the association but not the dissociation rate of NE and explains its ability to increase the active state of the receptor by promoting a pre-coupled conformation, consistent with increasing efficacy but not potency. Potentiation of pERK may contribute to CCF219B’s ability to confer neuroprotection and be pro-cognitive in AD. CCF219B’s ability to increase the expression of α<sub>1A</sub>-AR provides a positive feedback loop and strengthens the hypothesis that α<sub>1</sub>-AR subtypes may be involved in AD etiology and/or progression.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/4/476Alzheimer’s diseaseadrenergic receptorGPCRallosteric modulatorkinetics
spellingShingle Robert S. Papay
Dianne M. Perez
Further In Vitro and Ex Vivo Pharmacological and Kinetic Characterizations of CCF219B: A Positive Allosteric Modulator of the α<sub>1A</sub>-Adrenergic Receptor
Pharmaceuticals
Alzheimer’s disease
adrenergic receptor
GPCR
allosteric modulator
kinetics
title Further In Vitro and Ex Vivo Pharmacological and Kinetic Characterizations of CCF219B: A Positive Allosteric Modulator of the α<sub>1A</sub>-Adrenergic Receptor
title_full Further In Vitro and Ex Vivo Pharmacological and Kinetic Characterizations of CCF219B: A Positive Allosteric Modulator of the α<sub>1A</sub>-Adrenergic Receptor
title_fullStr Further In Vitro and Ex Vivo Pharmacological and Kinetic Characterizations of CCF219B: A Positive Allosteric Modulator of the α<sub>1A</sub>-Adrenergic Receptor
title_full_unstemmed Further In Vitro and Ex Vivo Pharmacological and Kinetic Characterizations of CCF219B: A Positive Allosteric Modulator of the α<sub>1A</sub>-Adrenergic Receptor
title_short Further In Vitro and Ex Vivo Pharmacological and Kinetic Characterizations of CCF219B: A Positive Allosteric Modulator of the α<sub>1A</sub>-Adrenergic Receptor
title_sort further in vitro and ex vivo pharmacological and kinetic characterizations of ccf219b a positive allosteric modulator of the α sub 1a sub adrenergic receptor
topic Alzheimer’s disease
adrenergic receptor
GPCR
allosteric modulator
kinetics
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/4/476
work_keys_str_mv AT robertspapay furtherinvitroandexvivopharmacologicalandkineticcharacterizationsofccf219bapositiveallostericmodulatoroftheasub1asubadrenergicreceptor
AT diannemperez furtherinvitroandexvivopharmacologicalandkineticcharacterizationsofccf219bapositiveallostericmodulatoroftheasub1asubadrenergicreceptor