Background and purpose: Some neurosteroids, notably 3 alpha-hydroxysteroids, positively modulate GABA(A) receptors, but sulphated steroids negatively modulate these receptors. Recently, other lipophilic amphiphiles have been suggested to positively modulate GABA receptors. We examined whether there was similarity among the actions of these agents and the mechanisms of neurosteroids. Significant similarity would affect theories about the specificity of steroid actions. Experimental approach: Xenopus laevis oocytes were challenged with Triton X-100, octyl-beta-glucoside, capsaicin, docosahexaenoic acid and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), along with different GABA concentrations. Key results: These compounds have both positive and negative effects on GABA currents, which can be accentuated according to the degree of receptor activation. A low GABA concentration (1 mu M) promoted potentiation and a high concentration (20 mu M) promoted inhibition of current, except for SDS that inhibited function even at low GABA concentrations. Amphiphile inhibition was characterized by enhanced apparent desensitization and by weak voltage dependence, similar to pregnenolone sulphate antagonism. We then tested amphiphile effects on mutated receptor subunits that are insensitive to negative (alpha 1V256S) and positive (alpha 1Q241L or alpha 1N407A/Y410F) steroid modulation. Negative regulation by amphiphiles was nearly abolished in alpha 1V256S-mutated receptors, but potentiation was unaffected. In alpha 1Q241L- or alpha 1N407A/Y410F-mutated receptors, potentiation by amphiphiles remained intact. Conclusions and implications: Structurally diverse amphiphiles have antagonist actions at GABA(A) receptors very similar to those of sulphated neurosteroids, while the potentiating mechanisms of these amphiphiles are distinct from those of neurosteroid-positive modulators. Thus, such antagonism at GABA(A) receptors does not have a clear pharmacophore requirement.

Structurally diverse amphiphiles exhibit biphasic modulation of GABA(A) receptors: similarities and differences with neurosteroid actions

CHISARI, Mariangela;
2010-01-01

Abstract

Background and purpose: Some neurosteroids, notably 3 alpha-hydroxysteroids, positively modulate GABA(A) receptors, but sulphated steroids negatively modulate these receptors. Recently, other lipophilic amphiphiles have been suggested to positively modulate GABA receptors. We examined whether there was similarity among the actions of these agents and the mechanisms of neurosteroids. Significant similarity would affect theories about the specificity of steroid actions. Experimental approach: Xenopus laevis oocytes were challenged with Triton X-100, octyl-beta-glucoside, capsaicin, docosahexaenoic acid and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), along with different GABA concentrations. Key results: These compounds have both positive and negative effects on GABA currents, which can be accentuated according to the degree of receptor activation. A low GABA concentration (1 mu M) promoted potentiation and a high concentration (20 mu M) promoted inhibition of current, except for SDS that inhibited function even at low GABA concentrations. Amphiphile inhibition was characterized by enhanced apparent desensitization and by weak voltage dependence, similar to pregnenolone sulphate antagonism. We then tested amphiphile effects on mutated receptor subunits that are insensitive to negative (alpha 1V256S) and positive (alpha 1Q241L or alpha 1N407A/Y410F) steroid modulation. Negative regulation by amphiphiles was nearly abolished in alpha 1V256S-mutated receptors, but potentiation was unaffected. In alpha 1Q241L- or alpha 1N407A/Y410F-mutated receptors, potentiation by amphiphiles remained intact. Conclusions and implications: Structurally diverse amphiphiles have antagonist actions at GABA(A) receptors very similar to those of sulphated neurosteroids, while the potentiating mechanisms of these amphiphiles are distinct from those of neurosteroid-positive modulators. Thus, such antagonism at GABA(A) receptors does not have a clear pharmacophore requirement.
2010
GABA(A) receptors; current modulation; neurosteroid; amphiphiles
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
BJP2010.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione Editoriale (PDF)
Licenza: Non specificato
Dimensione 812.14 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
812.14 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/35971
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 20
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 19
social impact