{"title":"Clinical applications of small-molecule GABA<sub>A</sub>R modulators for neurological disorders.","authors":"Guangyong Chen, Meiling Xu, Zhuo Chen, Fuwei Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107983","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABA<sub>A</sub>R) modulators are crucial in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. This review examines the synthetic approaches and clinical applications of representative small-molecule GABA<sub>A</sub>R modulators. Benzodiazepines, such as Diazepam, are well-known positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) that enhance GABA<sub>A</sub>R function, providing therapeutic effects but also associated with side effects like sedation and dependence. Non-benzodiazepine modulators, including Z-drugs like Zolpidem and Zaleplon, offer improved selectivity for the α1 subunit of GABA<sub>A</sub>R, reducing some of these side effects. Neurosteroids such as allopregnanolone and its synthetic analogs, including Brexanolone, have emerged as potent GABA<sub>A</sub>R modulators with applications in conditions like postpartum depression and refractory epilepsy. Advances in molecular biology and pharmacology have facilitated the development of isoform-specific modulators, potentially reducing off-target effects and enhancing therapeutic profiles. Additionally, combining GABA<sub>A</sub>R modulators with other therapeutic agents has shown promise in enhancing efficacy and minimizing side effects. This review highlights the design strategies, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, and safety profiles of these compounds, emphasizing the opportunities for developing novel GABA<sub>A</sub>R modulators with improved therapeutic outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":257,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic Chemistry","volume":"153 ","pages":"107983"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Bioorganic Chemistry","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107983","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/11/22 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR) modulators are crucial in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. This review examines the synthetic approaches and clinical applications of representative small-molecule GABAAR modulators. Benzodiazepines, such as Diazepam, are well-known positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) that enhance GABAAR function, providing therapeutic effects but also associated with side effects like sedation and dependence. Non-benzodiazepine modulators, including Z-drugs like Zolpidem and Zaleplon, offer improved selectivity for the α1 subunit of GABAAR, reducing some of these side effects. Neurosteroids such as allopregnanolone and its synthetic analogs, including Brexanolone, have emerged as potent GABAAR modulators with applications in conditions like postpartum depression and refractory epilepsy. Advances in molecular biology and pharmacology have facilitated the development of isoform-specific modulators, potentially reducing off-target effects and enhancing therapeutic profiles. Additionally, combining GABAAR modulators with other therapeutic agents has shown promise in enhancing efficacy and minimizing side effects. This review highlights the design strategies, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, and safety profiles of these compounds, emphasizing the opportunities for developing novel GABAAR modulators with improved therapeutic outcomes.
期刊介绍:
Bioorganic Chemistry publishes research that addresses biological questions at the molecular level, using organic chemistry and principles of physical organic chemistry. The scope of the journal covers a range of topics at the organic chemistry-biology interface, including: enzyme catalysis, biotransformation and enzyme inhibition; nucleic acids chemistry; medicinal chemistry; natural product chemistry, natural product synthesis and natural product biosynthesis; antimicrobial agents; lipid and peptide chemistry; biophysical chemistry; biological probes; bio-orthogonal chemistry and biomimetic chemistry.
For manuscripts dealing with synthetic bioactive compounds, the Journal requires that the molecular target of the compounds described must be known, and must be demonstrated experimentally in the manuscript. For studies involving natural products, if the molecular target is unknown, some data beyond simple cell-based toxicity studies to provide insight into the mechanism of action is required. Studies supported by molecular docking are welcome, but must be supported by experimental data. The Journal does not consider manuscripts that are purely theoretical or computational in nature.
The Journal publishes regular articles, short communications and reviews. Reviews are normally invited by Editors or Editorial Board members. Authors of unsolicited reviews should first contact an Editor or Editorial Board member to determine whether the proposed article is within the scope of the Journal.