LIT-001 is a small-molecule oxytocin receptor agonist and vasopressin receptor mixed agonist and antagonist that was first described in the literature in 2018.[1][2][3] Along with TC OT 39 and WAY-267464, it is one of the first small-molecule oxytocin receptor agonists to have been developed.[1][2] LIT-001 has greatly improved pharmacokinetic properties relative to oxytocin, reduces social deficits in animal models, and may have potential as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of social disorders like autism in humans.[1][2]
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| Drug class | Oxytocin receptor agonist |
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| Formula | C28H33N7O2S |
| Molar mass | 531.68 g·mol−1 |
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Pharmacology
editLIT-001 has greater selectivity for the oxytocin receptor over the vasopressin V1A receptor than the related compounds TC OT 39 and WAY-267464.[1][2] It shows antagonism of the V1A receptor only at high concentrations.[1][2] LIT-001 additionally acts as an agonist of the vasopressin V2 receptor, with this action occurring at similar concentrations as for the oxytocin receptor.[2][1] This is unlikely to influence the oxytocin receptor-related behavioral effects of LIT-001, as V2 receptors are not expressed in the brain.[1][2] However, it may influence fluid homeostasis, analogously to vasopressin.[1][2]
Given via peripheral administration, LIT-001 reduces social deficits in a mouse model of autism, specifically the μ-opioid receptor knockout mouse model.[1][2][3] It was the first small-molecule oxytocin receptor agonist to be shown to reduce social dysfunction in animals.[1][2] LIT-001 shows blood–brain barrier permeability and has a relatively long elimination half-life in rodents, giving it an advantageous drug profile relative to peptide oxytocin receptor agonists like oxytocin.[1][3][4] In the case of oxytocin, the amount estimated to enter the cerebrospinal fluid is only 0.002% with subcutaneous injection and at most 0.005% with intranasal administration, its half-life is only about 20 to 60 minutes, and it is not orally bioavailable, all of which greatly limit its potential usefulness as a central nervous system-acting medication.[1][2] These limitations of oxytocin may underlie limited effectiveness with oxytocin nasal spray in clinical trials.[1][2] Based on its positive social effects in animal models and its favorable pharmacokinetic properties, LIT-001 may have potential as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of social disorders in humans.[1][2][3]
The affinity (Ki) of LIT-001 for the human oxytocin receptor, where it acts as an agonist, is 226 nM, and its half maximal effective concentration (EC50) is 25 nM.[2] At the human vasopressin V1A receptor, where LIT-001 is an antagonist, its affinity (Ki) and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) are 1253 nM and 5900 nM, respectively.[2] Finally, at the human vasopressin V2 receptor, where the drug functions as an agonist, its affinity (Ki) and EC50 are 1666 nM and 41 nM, respectively.[2] Based on the preceding EC50 and IC50 values, LIT-001 shows 236-fold selectivity for activating the oxytocin receptor over antagonizing the V1A receptor, whereas it has no appreciable selectivity for activating the oxytocin receptor over activating the V2 receptor (only 1.64-fold greater preference).[2]
Chemistry
editLIT-001 is a small-molecule compound with the molecular formula C28H33N7O2S, a molecular weight of 531.7 g/mol, and a predicted log P of 1.95 to 2.8.[5][6] It is similar in structure to the earlier small-molecule oxytocin receptor agonists TC OT 39 and WAY-267,464.[1][2]
Research
editLIT-001 is reported to be in the preclinical stage of development for potential treatment of autistic spectrum disorders in France.[7] It is under development by the University of Strasbourg and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (French National Centre for Scientific Research).[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Nashar PE, Whitfield AA, Mikusek J, Reekie TA (2022). "The Current Status of Drug Discovery for the Oxytocin Receptor". Oxytocin. Methods Mol Biol. Vol. 2384. pp. 153–174. doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-1759-5_10. ISBN 978-1-0716-1758-8. PMID 34550574. S2CID 239090096.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Gulliver D, Werry E, Reekie TA, Katte TA, Jorgensen W, Kassiou M (January 2019). "Targeting the Oxytocin System: New Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches". Trends Pharmacol Sci. 40 (1): 22–37. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2018.11.001. hdl:1959.4/unsworks_81554. PMID 30509888. S2CID 54559394.
- ^ a b c d Frantz MC, Pellissier LP, Pflimlin E, Loison S, Gandía J, Marsol C, Durroux T, Mouillac B, Becker JA, Le Merrer J, Valencia C, Villa P, Bonnet D, Hibert M (October 2018). "LIT-001, the First Nonpeptide Oxytocin Receptor Agonist that Improves Social Interaction in a Mouse Model of Autism" (PDF). J Med Chem. 61 (19): 8670–8692. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00697. PMID 30199637. S2CID 52181935.
- ^ Hilfiger L, Zhao Q, Kerspern D, Inquimbert P, Andry V, Goumon Y, Darbon P, Hibert M, Charlet A (February 2020). "A Nonpeptide Oxytocin Receptor Agonist for a Durable Relief of Inflammatory Pain". Sci Rep. 10 (1): 3017. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-59929-w. PMC 7033278. PMID 32080303.
- ^ "LIT-001 (free base)". PubChem. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "(2S)-2-(Dimethylcarbamothioyl)-N-{2-methyl-4-[(1-methyl-4,10-dihydropyrazolo[3,4-b][1,5]benzodiazepin-5(1H)-yl)carbonyl]benzyl}-1-pyrrolidinecarboxamide". ChemSpider. 2024-08-31. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ a b "Delving into the Latest Updates on LIT-001 with Synapse". Synapse. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.