Abstract: The substance P (neurokinin‐1) receptor belongs to the family of seven putative transmembrane domain receptors that are coupled via G proteins to phospholipase C activation. Homologous desensitization of substance P‐stimulated responses has been described in various systems. The rat neurokinin‐1 receptor and a truncated mutant lacking the carboxyl‐terminal region were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells to examine the mechanisms of substance P‐induced desensitization. Wild‐type and truncated receptor‐bearing cells were indistinguishable in agonist binding affinity and EC50 of substance P‐induced accumulation of 3H‐inositol phosphates. Substance P‐induced responses continued for 30–45 min in cells expressing wild‐type and truncated receptors as well as in rat LRM‐55 and human U373 cells, which express endogenous neurokinin‐1 receptors. In transfected cells expressing the wild‐type receptor, CP‐96,345 added 15 min after substance P blocked further responses, demonstrating the continuing presence of responsive receptors. The rates of accumulation of 3H‐inositol phosphates were four times greater in the initial 15 s of stimulation than for the next 20 min for both wild‐type and truncated receptor types. This decrease in rate of substance P‐stimulated phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis is therefore not dependent on the carboxyl‐terminal region of the rat neurokinin‐1 receptor, which contains 26 serine and threonine residues. These results are discussed in relation to current ideas regarding neurokinin‐1 receptor desensitization.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) accumulate within the airways during acute and chronic bronchitis and can adhere to bronchial epithelium. Substance P (SP), a neuropeptide released from the primary afferent nerve endings, has been shown to have a proinflammatory effect on PMNs. To test the hypothesis that SP could modulate PMN bronchial epithelial cell adherence, bovine bronchial epithelial cells (BBECs) were isolated and cultured, and the capacity of SP to modulate PMN-BBEC adherence was evaluated. SP interacted with BBECs to induce an increase in PMN adhesion (14.7 +/- 1.2% vs 5.3 +/- 0.7% adherence, p < 0.01). The effect of SP was both time- and dose-dependent with maximal responses at 6 h and 10(-10) M. The effect was reproduced by the carboxyl-terminal sequence of the molecule (SP 6-11). Importantly, pretreatment of the BBECs with the tachykinin SP receptor (NK1) antagonist, CP-96,345, significantly reduced the increase in adhesion induced by SP (p < 0.01). Furthermore, treatment of the BBECs with antibodies against CD11 a (LFA-1), CD11b (MAC-1), or ICAM-1 significantly decreased SP-induced adherence (p < 0.01 all comparisons). Conversely, SP stimulation of PMN induced a dose-dependent, rapid (within 5 min) increase in adherence. This effect was also mediated by the carboxy end of the molecule and was decreased by CP-96,345, again suggesting that this effect was NK1 mediated. These data demonstrate the SP has the capacity for modulating PMN-BBEC interactions and suggest an important role for SP in modulating airway inflammation.

The synthesis and SAR of a series of 2-aryl-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes structurally related to the nonpeptide substance P antagonists CP-96,345 and CP-99,994 are described. The novel SAR observed at the 2-position in these derivatives represents a hybrid between that seen in the two previous series.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a series of aza-tricyclic analogs of the quinuclidine substance P (SP) antagonist 1 are described. The SP receptor affinity of these compounds was found to vary according to the size of the new ring fused to the quinuclidine and the mode of fusion. Correlations between receptor affinity and (1) the steric bulk of the newly introduced ring fusion and (2) the dihedral angle between the benzhydryl and benzylamino substituents of these aza-tricyclic compounds were explored.

Toxin A from Clostridium difficile mediates acute inflammatory enterocolitis in experimental animals, while cholera toxin causes noninflammatory secretory diarrhea. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an antagonist to the peptide substance P, a constituent of primary sensory neurons known to participate in inflammatory responses, would inhibit toxin A-mediated enteritis in the rat ileum. Pretreatment of rats with CP-96,345 (2.5 mg per kg of body weight), a substance P antagonist, dramatically inhibited fluid secretion (P < 0.01) and mannitol permeability (P < 0.01) in ileal loops exposed to toxin A. The protective effects, which were dose dependent, caused a significant reduction of inflammation in the lamina propria, reduction of the necrosis of intestinal epithelial cells, and complete inhibition of toxin A-mediated release of rat mast cell protease II, a specific product of rat mucosal mast cells. An inactive enantiomer of the substance P antagonist, CP-96,344, had no effect. In contrast, pretreatment with CP-96,345 had no inhibitory effect on the intestinal effects caused by administration of cholera toxin into the ileal loops. From these data, we conclude that the peptide substance P is involved in the secretory and inflammatory effects of toxin A but not of cholera toxin.

The molecular mechanism of action for two chemically distinct and highly selective, nonpeptide antagonists, CP-96,345 and SR-48,968, was studied by development of a series of chimeric constructs between their respective target receptors, the NK1 (substance P) and NK2 (neurokinin A) receptors. The binding affinities of the natural peptide ligands, substance P and neurokinin A, were not affected by exchanging almost the entire C-terminal half of the NK1 receptor with the corresponding segment of the NK2 receptor. In contrast, it was found that transfer from the NK2 to the NK1 receptor of a segment corresponding to transmembrane segment VI, the amino-terminal half of transmembrane segment VII, and the connecting extracellular loop 3 completely switched the susceptibility for the nonpeptide antagonists. This chimeric exchange, corresponding to 17 nonconserved residues, conveyed full susceptibility for the NK2-specific compound SR-48,968 to the previously unresponsive NK1 receptor--i.e., the Ki value for inhibition of binding of 125I-labeled substance P decreased from > 10,000 to 0.97 nM. At the same time the affinity for the NK1-selective compound CP-96,345 decreased > 30-fold. The actual binding site for SR-48,968 was localized to this region of the NK2 receptor by use of [3H]SR-48,968, which did not bind to the NK1 receptor but bound with similar high affinities to the wild-type NK2 receptor and to the chimeric NK1 receptor with the NK2 receptor segment incorporated around transmembrane segments VI and VII, Kd = 1.5 nM and 1.0 nM, respectively. Our data indicate that two chemically very different nonpeptide antagonists, CP-96,345 and SR-48,968, act through epitopes located around transmembrane segment VI on their respective target receptors and that at least the nonconserved residues in these epitopes are not important for the binding of the natural peptide ligands, substance P and neurokinin A.

In the present study, we describe the role of cytoplasmic terminal (C-tail) domain in regulating coupling to adenylyl cyclase, signaling, and apoptosis in human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells transfected with wild type (wt)-hSSTR3 and C-tail deleted mutants. Cells transfected with wt-hSSTR3 and C-tail mutants show comparable membrane expression; however, display decreased expression in presence of agonist. wt-hSSTR3 exists as preformed homodimer at cell surface in basal conditions and decreases in response to agonist. Cells expressing C-tail mutants also show evidence of homodimerization with the same intensity as wt-hSSTR3. The agonist-dependent inhibition of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was lost in cells expressing C-tail mutants. Agonist treatment in cells expressing wt-hSSTR3 resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation, increased expression of PARP-1, and TUNEL positivity in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells. The agonist mediated increase in membrane expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) seen with wt-hSSTR3 was diminished in C-tail mutants, which was accompanied with the loss of receptor's ability to induce apoptosis. Taken together, our data provide new insights into C-tail-dependent regulation of cell signaling and apoptosis by hSSTR3.

The purpose of this study was to determine the receptor subtype(s) that mediates tachykinin-induced neurogenic plasma extravasation in the hamster cheek pouch. Changes in microvascular clearance were quantified by counting the number of leaky sites and calculating the clearance of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran [mol wt 70,000 (Dextran 70)] during suffusion of the cheek pouch with substance P, neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and capsaicin. Suffusion of substance P, capsaicin, and neurokinin A, but not neurokinin B, was associated with a significant concentration-dependent increase in leaky site formation and clearance of fluorescein isothiocyanate-Dextran 70 (P < 0.05). However, the responses to substance P and capsaicin were significantly greater than those to neurokinin A. Pretreatment with the selective, nonpeptide NK1 receptor antagonist, CP-96,345, significantly attenuated substance P- and capsaicin-induced but not neurokinin A-induced responses (P < 0.05). These effects were specific, since the 2R,3R enantiomer, CP-96,344, was inactive, and CP-96,345 had no significant effect on adenosine-induced responses. We conclude that, in the hamster cheek pouch, NK1 receptors are the predominant receptors that mediate neurogenic plasma extravasation.

The non-peptide substance P (SP) antagonist CP-96,345 has a 90-fold selectivity for the human neurokinin-1 (NK-1) or SP receptor over the rat NK-1 receptor, while the agonist SP shows no such selectivity. The cloned NK-1 receptors from these two species have primary protein structures that differ in only 22 of 407 residues. Wild type, chimeric, and point-mutated NK-1 receptors have been created and functionally expressed to understand the structural basis of this species selectivity. Residue 290 in the seventh putative membrane-spanning region is responsible for 20-fold of the affinity difference seen for CP-96,345 between the rat and human NK-1 receptors. Residues in the second extracellular loop and in membrane-spanning region six contribute the additional 3-5-fold of the species difference. The direct or indirect action of these residues with this nonpeptidic antagonist is discussed. This study serves to emphasize the need for species-appropriate in vitro models for the screening of antagonists in the search for therapeutics, and provides useful information to model nonpeptidic antagonist interactions with peptide hormone receptors.

Carotid bodies are sensory organs for monitoring arterial oxygen and CO2. Previous studies have shown that chemoreceptor tissue contains substance P (SP) and exogenously administered SP augments chemosensory discharge. In the present study, we examined the physiological importance of SP in carotid body chemoreception by using a selective nonpeptide SP [neurokinin (NK) 1] receptor antagonist CP-96,345. In experiments performed on anesthetized cats, sensory discharge was recorded from the carotid body in situ. To control for alterations in blood flow, additional studies were conducted on the carotid body in vitro. In in vivo studies, close carotid body (intraarterial) administration of CP-96,345 attenuated the sensory response to hypoxia in a dose-dependent manner with 73% of the response abolished at doses of 0.3-0.6 mg/kg. Comparable doses of the (2R,3R)-enantiomer had no effect on hypoxia-induced excitation, indicating that the effect of CP-96,345 was not due to nonspecific action. In contrast, the carotid body response to high CO2 was not affected by CP-96,345, implying that only the hypoxic response is mediated by NK-1 receptor and confirming that the effect of the SP antagonist was not due to nonspecific actions. Marked attenuation of the sensory response to hypoxia was also obtained in the carotid body in vitro, suggesting that the effects of the NK-1 antagonist were not secondary to cardiovascular changes. These results demonstrate that CP-96,345 attenuates or abolishes the chemosensory response to hypoxia but not to CO2 and suggest that SP mediates the hypoxia-induced sensory excitation in the cat carotid body via NK-1 receptor activation.

We studied the effect of neurogenic inflammation on airway blood flow in anesthetized F-344 rats. Three successive determinations of blood flow were made by injecting radionuclide-labeled microspheres suspended in 70% dextrose into the left ventricle. A selective agonist of the tachykinin receptor neurokinin 1 (NK1) increased airway blood flow, but NK2- and NK3-selective agonists were without effect. The natural agonist of NK1 receptors, substance P (1 micrograms/kg), increased airway blood flow, an effect that was abolished by the selective NK1 receptor antagonist CP-99,994 [(+)-(2S,3S)-3-(2-methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenylpiperidine] but not by the (2R,3R)-enantiomer CP-100,263. Capsaicin (25 micrograms/kg), a drug that releases tachykinins and calcitonin gene-related peptide from sensory nerves, increased airway blood flow, and again this effect was abolished by CP-99,994. We also studied the effect of a selective inhibitor (captopril, 2.5 mg/kg) of the tachykinin-degrading enzyme kininase II [or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)] on substance P-induced airway vasodilation. Captopril potentiated and prolonged the vasodilator effect of substance P. We conclude that neurogenic vasodilation in rat airways is due to the release of substance P, acts via NK1 receptors, and may be modulated by ACE.

We studied the role of different tachykinin receptors in mediating neurogenic vasodilation in the nasal mucosa of anesthetized pathogen-free rats. Three successive determinations of blood flow were made by injecting radionuclide-labeled microspheres suspended in 70% dextrose into the left ventricle. A selective agonist of the tachykinin NK1 receptor increased nasal blood flow, but neurokinin NK2- and NK3-selective agonists were without effect. The natural agonist of NK1 receptors, substance P (1 microgram/kg), increased nasal blood flow, an effect that was abolished by the selective NK1 receptor antagonist (+)-(2S,3S)-3-(2-methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenylpiperidine (CP-99,994). Capsaicin (25 micrograms/kg), a drug that releases tachykinins from sensory nerves, increased nasal blood flow, and this effect was significantly reduced by CP-99,994. We conclude that a significant component of neurogenic vasodilation in rat nasal mucosa is due to the stimulation of NK1 tachykinin receptors.

Non-peptide ligands for peptide receptors have been discovered in several systems through file screening programs, but the mechanism of action for these candidate drugs is obscure as they do not chemically resemble the native peptides. The compound CP 96345 is a high-affinity, non-peptide antagonist of the substance P (NK1) receptor, which is important in pain perception and neurogenic inflammation. Here we identify epitopes on the NK1 receptor responsible for the specific binding of CP 96345 by systematic exchange of corresponding segments between the NK1 receptor and the homologous NK3 (neurokinin B) receptor, which does not bind the non-peptide ligand. Non-conserved residues, in two epitopes around the top of transmembrane segment V and in one epitope at the top of transmembrane segment VI, are essential for the specific action of CP 96345 on the NK1 receptor, but are surprisingly not important for the binding of the natural peptide ligand, substance P. Susceptibility to the non-peptide antagonists can be conveyed to the previously unresponsive NK3 receptor by mutational transfer of this discontinuous epitope from the NK1 receptor.

(+)-(2S,3S)-3-(2-methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenylpiperidine (CP-99,994) binds selectively and with high affinity (Ki = 0.25 nM) to neurokinin (NK)-1 tachykinin receptors in a human cell line and in guinea pigs where it acts as an antagonist as evidenced by its blockade of substance P-induced excitation of locus coeruleus neurons in vitro. Subcutaneously administered CP-99,994 antagonized locomotor activity in guinea pigs induced by intraventricular infusion of [Sar9,Met(O2)11]-substance P (50 micrograms) with an ID50 = 0.59 mg/kg, indicating that CP-99,994 penetrates into the central nervous system. Orally administered CP-99,994 potently blocked (ID50 = 4 mg/kg) the leakage of Evans blue dye into trachea and bronchi elicited by exposure of guinea pigs to aerosol capsaicin (1 mM). CP-99,994 has reduced affinity (IC50 = 3 microM) for the L-type calcium channel in contrast to CP-96,345 (IC50 = 27 nM) an earlier nonpeptide antagonist. Thus, CP-99,994 represents an important pharmacological tool for investigating the physiological role of substance P and a potentially novel therapeutic agent for treating a variety of diseases.

The synthesis and SAR of a series of 1-azabicyclo[3.2.2] analogues of the nonpeptide substance P antagonist CP-96,345 are described. The results demonstrate the sensitivity of the substance P receptor toward alterations in the nuclear structure of CP-96,345.

The increase in tracheal vascular permeability evoked by hypertonic saline depends on capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves, which contain substance P and other neuropeptides. The present study was performed to determine whether a novel, nonpeptide, selective antagonist of the NK1 tachykinin receptor CP-99,994, [(+)-(2S-3S)-3-(2-methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenylpiperidine], can prevent the effect of substance P, capsaicin and hypertonic saline on tracheal vascular permeability. CP-99,994 was also tested against a nonpeptide inflammatory mediator, platelet-activating factor (PAF), to assess the selectivity of its action. Anesthetized F-344 rats were injected with either substance P (5 micrograms/kg i.v.), capsaicin (100 micrograms/kg i.v.) or PAF (10 micrograms/kg i.v.), or were exposed to ultrasonically nebulized 3.6% NaCl. In each group, some of the rats were pretreated with CP-99,994 (1 to 4 mg/kg i.v.), and some with its vehicle (0.9% NaCl). Groups of rats injected with substance P or exposed to hypertonic saline were pretreated with the (2R, 3R)-enantiomer CP-100,263, [(-)-(2R-3R)-3-(2-methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenylpiperidine] (2 or 4 mg/kg i.v.). The magnitude of the increase in tracheal vascular permeability was measured by quantifying the extravasation of Evans blue dye. CP-99,994 prevented the increase in tracheal vascular permeability produced by inhalation of hypertonic saline, by substance P and by capsaicin, but did not prevent the effect of PAF. CP-100,263 did not affect substance P- and hypertonic saline-induced increase in vascular permeability. These results indicate that the NK1 receptor antagonist CP-99,994 produces stereoselective inhibition of neurogenic plasma extravasation evoked by inhalation of hypertonic saline.

CP 96,345 is a nonpeptide high affinity antagonist of the substance P (NK1) receptor. The radiosynthesis of [11C]CP 96,345 suitable for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) applications is described. [11C]CP 96,345 was prepared by O-methylation of a desmethyl precursor via in situ generation of its phenolate salt. The in vivo tissue distribution of [11C]CP 96,345 in guinea pigs (n = 2) at 5 and 30 min was determined. Uptake was low in brain (≈ 0.04% dose/g) and highest (≈ 1–2% dose/g) in the spleen and lungs. The present findings indicate that the use of [11C]CP 96,345 in PET might be more applicable to the study of substance P receptors in peripheral tissues involved with inflammatory disease and arthritis.