Medicinal chemistry strategies to 5-HT(6) receptor ligands as potential cognitive enhancers and antiobesity agents.
Although the 5-hydroxytryptamine(6) (5-HT(6)) receptor was discovered only recently, its almost exclusive distribution in the brain makes it a promising, novel, target for central nervous system (CNS)-mediated diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (cognitive function), schizophrenia, anxiety and obesity. In the past few years a significant research interest has advanced the understanding of the functional roles and the pharmacophore requirements of this receptor. Two 5-HT(6) receptor antagonists have already entered Phase II clinical trials for the enhancement of cognitive function. Since the first discovery of selective ligands for the 5-HT(6) receptor by HTS in 1998, several medicinal-chemistry-driven approaches have delivered highly selective lead structures with well-defined functionalities, starting from either the endogenous ligand 5-HT or the chemical structures identified by HTS. The concept of 'scaffold hopping' has been employed to expand the variability of the available chemical scaffolds and to generate patentable ligands. Supported by pharmacophore models, which have been established recently, the binding and functionality (structure-activity relationships) of the lead structures have been optimized further.
Laboratorios Dr. Esteve S.A., Av. Mare de Déu de Montserrat 221, E-08041 Barcelona, Spain. j.holenz@esteve.es
Jörg
J
Holenz
Petrus J
PJ
Pauwels
José Luis
JL
Díaz
Ramon
R
Mercè
Xavier
X
Codony
Helmut
H
Buschmann
D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D008024:Ligands; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C097216:serotonin 6 receptor