Novel 3-(1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)-1H-indole-Based Multifunctional Ligands with Antipsychotic-Like, Mood-Modulating, and Procognitive Activity

J Med Chem. 2017 Sep 14;60(17):7483-7501. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00839. Epub 2017 Aug 18.

Abstract

The most troublesome aspects of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are nowadays addressed by antidepressant, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic drugs, often administered off-label. Considering their modest effectiveness in dementia patients, the increased risk of adverse events and cognitive decline, there is an unmet need for well-tolerated and effective therapy of BPSD. We designed and synthesized multifunctional ligands characterized in vitro as high-affinity partial agonists of D2R, antagonists of 5-HT6R, and blockers of SERT. Moreover, the molecules activated 5-HT1AR and blocked 5-HT7R while having no relevant affinity for off-target M1R and hERG channel. Compound 16 (N-{2-[4-(5-chloro-1H-indol-3-yl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]ethyl}-3-methylbenzene-1-sulfonamide) exhibited a broad antipsychotic-, antidepressant-, and anxiolytic-like activity, not eliciting motor impairments in mice. Most importantly, 16 showed memory-enhancing properties and it ameliorated memory deficits induced by scopolamine. The molecule outperformed most important comparators in selected tests, indicating its potential in the treatment of both cognitive and noncognitive (behavioral and psychological) symptoms of dementia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Affect / drug effects*
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antidepressive Agents / chemistry
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / chemistry
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Dementia / complications
  • Dementia / metabolism
  • Dementia / psychology*
  • Dopamine Agonists / chemistry
  • Dopamine Agonists / pharmacology
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / pharmacology*
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Pyridines / chemistry
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / agonists
  • Receptors, Serotonin / metabolism
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists / chemistry
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists / pharmacology
  • Serotonin Antagonists / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Indoles
  • Ligands
  • Pyridines
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists
  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • serotonin 6 receptor
  • serotonin 7 receptor