EP1194778A2

EP1194778A2 - The use of the area postrema to identify therapeutic compounds

Info

Publication number: EP1194778A2
Application number: EP00948730A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrew Young; Bronislava Gedulin
Original assignee: Amylin Pharmaceuticals LLC
Current assignee: Amylin Pharmaceuticals LLC
Priority date: 1999-07-13
Filing date: 2000-07-13
Publication date: 2002-04-10
Also published as: AU6219100A; JP2003513281A; WO2001033220A2; WO2001033220A3

Abstract

Methods for identifying or screening or characterizing or assaying or isolating known or candidate compounds that stimulate or inhibit area postrema activity, for example area postrema activities relating to fuel homeostasis.

Description

THE USE OF MEMBRANES, CELLS AND TISSUE FROM THE AREA POSTREMA TO IDENTIFY THERAPEUTIC COMPOUNDS

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/143,830, filed July 13, 1999, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of materials from the area postrema and/or adjacent sections of the brain, namely, the nucleus tractus solitarius and/or the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. Particularly, it includes the use of membranes, cells, and/or tissue from the area postrema and/or these adjacent sections to identify physiologically active materials, for example materials having activity related to fuel homeostasis, by a variety of means. Such materials include proteins and chemical compounds. Area postrema preparations may be used to assess the ability of a material such as a protein or chemical compound to interact with naturally occurring or isolated or cloned receptor sites. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of area postrema biological activity, which involves assessing the ability of candidate compounds to bind to certain biologic preparations containing area postrema and/or adjacent brain components. Additionally, this invention relates to preparations generated from material originating from brain tissue adjacent to the area postrema, including materials from any part of the nucleus tractus solitarius and/or the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. Compounds and proteins identified in accordance with the invention may be useful in treating fuel homeostasis disorders, and may also be useful in treating other metabolic and cardiorenal diseases, including diabetes, obesity, hypertension and congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art to the presently claimed invention, nor that any of the publications specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art to or otherwise pertinent to the patentability of that invention.

The area postrema is a small volume of tissue situated at the posterior margin of the 4^th cerebral ventricle in the hindbrain. It is one of a family of circumventricular organs (CVOs) in which a fenestrated capillaries permit direct communication of circulating peptides with receptors on nerve cells. The CVOs have been described as sensory organs of the brain. Receptors for peptide hormones in the area postrema reportedly include those for IGF-2, insulin, glutamate, serotonin, substance P (NK1), arginine-vasopressin, imidazoline, angiotensin, GLP-1, NPY4, pancreatic polypeptide, PACAP, ANP, dopamine 3, melatonin, PTH/PTHrP, HCG/LH, oxytocin, VIP/secretin, somatostatin, Histamine 2, GRP, calcitonin, and amylin.

Lesioning of the area postrema has been reported to eliminate gastric emptying effects of amylin (Edwards GL, et al., Neurogastroenterol Motil 1998; 10(4) :365) and its satiety effect (Lutz TA, et al., Peptides 1998; 19 (2) : 309-17 ) . Neuronal connections between vagal and other cranial nerve afferent fibers, the area postrema , the nucleus of the tractus soli tarius and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus constitute a loop that is implicated m control of gastrointestinal function. In slice preparations of the area postrema , the same neurons that respond to the insulin- modulating hormones, amylin and GLP-1, are reportedly responsive to glucose concentration (Riediger T, et al . , Pfluegers Archiv 437(5); Suppl R142, March 1999). Amylin- responsive neurons in CVOs, furthermore, have been reported to respond to other peptides, including Angiotensin II (Rauch S, et al., Pfleugers Archiv. 1997; 433 (Suppl): 619) implicated in cardiorenal control. Amylm receptors and their use in various methods for screening and assaying for amylin agonist and antagonist compounds are described in co-owned United States Patent No. 5, 264,372, issued November 23, 1993.

The contents of the above-identified articles, patents, and/or patent applications, and all other documents mentioned or cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Applicants reserve the right to physically incorporate into this application any and all materials and information from any such articles, patents, patent applications, or other documents mentioned or cited herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of materials, including membranes, cells and tissue from the area postrema , the nucleus tractus solitarius and/or the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, to identify physiologically active materials, for example, materials having activity in fuel homeostasis. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for identifying materials that will stimulate or inhibit activity, or bind to preparations derived from the area postrema, the nucleus tractus solitarius, and/or the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. The compounds may be useful in treating metabolic and cardiorenal diseases, including diabetes, obesity, hypertension and congestive failure .

The present invention is related in part to the surprising observation that the insulin response to infused ammo acids is altered m animals with lesions of the area postrema . It is further based in part on the discovery that this organ is a central integrator of signals that control insulin secretion. The invention is further based on the discovery that this organ has a fuel-sensing function that ultimately drives hormonal responses important m fuel homeostasis .

Thus, the present invention provides rapid, inexpensive and physiological methods for identifying, screening and characterizing potential stimulators and inhibitors of biological action m preparations derived from any of the area postrema , the nucleus tractus solitarius, and/or the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, alone or together in any combination (hereafter termed area postrema agonists and antagonists) for therapeutic utility. The methods comprise assessing the ability of such candidate molecules to compete against tracer concentrations of certain labeled peptides, including certain labeled peptide hormones and fragments and analogs thereof, for binding to - or activation of biological processes within - preparations from the area postrema , the nucleus tractus solitarius and/or the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. In humans, the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS; solitary nucleus) is a wishbone-shaped structure subdivided m pars gustatoria and pars cardiorespiratoπa . The area postrema is situated within the V. The dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve lies also within the V. Nieuwenhuys, R; Voogd, J; van Hui]zen, C, The human cen tral nervous system (3rd edition Spnnger-Verlag, Berlin, 1988) . In the rat the nucleus of the solitary tract is similar in shape and relationship to area postrema and dorsal nucleus of the vagus, and has been subdivided into common, central, dorsomedial, gelatinous, interstitial, intermediate, medial and ventrolateral parts. Paxmos, G; Watson, C, The rat brain in stereotaxic coordinates (Compact 3rd edition, Academic Press, San Diego, 1997) . In one aspect, the invention provides assay methods for use in identifying or screening for area postrema agonists or antagonists. Such assays include bringing together a test sample and an area postrema preparation, the test sample containing one or more test compounds, and the area postrema preparation containing the various components of the area postrema ; incubating the test sample and the area postrema preparation under conditions that allow the binding of, or activation by, known agonists or antagonists of area postrema biological function to components of the area postrema ; and, identifying those test samples containing one or more test compounds which detectably bind to, or activate, the area postrema preparation. An area postrema preparation, as indicated herein, is a preparation containing materials, typically membranes, cells, and/or tissues, from any of the area postrema , the nucleus tractus solitarius, and/or the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, alone or together m any combination. Thus, for example, a preparation containing membranes, cells, and/or tissue from the area postrema and the nucleus tractus solitarius is an "area postrema preparation." Area postrema preparations also include, without limitation, (1) preparations containing membranes, cells, and/or tissue from the area postrema , (2) membranes, cells, and/or tissue from the area postrema and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, (3) membranes, cells, and/or tissue from the nucleus tractus solitarius, (4) membranes, cells, and/or tissue from the nucleus tractus solitarius and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, and so on.

In another embodiment, this method further comprises the steps of screening test samples which detectably bind to the area postrema preparation for in vi tro or in vivo stimulation or inhibition of area postrema mediated activity, and identifying those test samples which act as agonists or antagonists of area postrema biological activity. Examples of activity assays applicable to area postrema preparations include electrophysiology m brain slices of area postrema and/or associated adjacent tissues, immunohistochemical detection of activation of area postrema and associated tissues via detection of cFos expression, detection of intracellular cGMP-formation and NOS activity, detection of activation of area postrema and associated adjacent tissues using a microphysiometer, and activation of area postrema and associated adjacent tissues detected by changes in ionic fluxes .

In a preferred embodiment, test samples which detectably bind to an area postrema preparation are identified by measuring displacement of a labeled first ligand from the area postrema preparation by the test sample, and comparing the measured displacement of the first labeled ligand from the area postrema preparation by the test sample with the measured displacement of the labeled first ligand from the area postrema preparation by one or more known second ligands. Test samples used in any of the above methods that contain more than one test compound and which yield positive results can then be divided and retested as many times as necessary, and as appropriate, to identify the compound or compounds in the test sample which are responsible for yielding the positive result.

In still another aspect, the invention provides for assay methods useful in determining the presence or amount of an area postrema preparation-binding compound in a test sample to be assayed. Such assays include an assay having steps for bringing together the test sample and an area postrema preparation; measuring the ability of the test sample to compete against a labeled ligand for binding to components of the area postrema preparation; and, optionally, relating the amount of area pos trema preparation-binding compound in the test sample with the amount of area postrema preparation- binding compound measured for a negative control sample, the negative control sample being known to be free of any area postrema preparation-binding compound, and/or relating the amount of area postrema preparation-binding compound in the test sample with the amounts of area postrema preparation- binding compound measured for positive control samples which contain known amounts of area postrema preparation-binding compound, in order to determine the presence or amount of area postrema preparation-binding compound present in the test sample. This assay method, in still further embodiments, can be utilized to evaluate the characteristics of an area postrema preparation.

In another aspect, components of the area postrema preparations of the invention may also be bound to a solid phase and used in various affinity chromatography methods and used, for example, for the purification of compounds capable of binding to components of the area postrema preparation or the evaluation of samples known or suspected to contain such compounds, or agonists or antagonists of such compounds. As noted above, the invention may utilize area postrema material as well as material originating from brain tissue adjacent to the area postrema , i . e . , the nucleus tractus solitarius and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes methods for screening, identifying, and characterizing potential compounds that bind to, or stimulate or inhibit activity of, the area postrema , for example compounds having activity in fuel homeostasis, which comprises assessing the relative abilities of candidate agonists and antagonists to compete against relevant chemical compounds for binding to components of area postrema preparations .

The present invention is based, at least in part, on the surprising discovery that the area postrema , like the pancreatic islet, is a fuel-sensing organ, and that agents that interact with this tissue will evoke responses that are potentially useful in the treatment of disorders of fuel homeostasis. The same structures involved in fuel sensing may also be involved in cardiorenal control, and agents that act there to restore metabolic functions will also be useful in restoring normal cardiorenal function.

One such method for use m identifying or evaluating the ability of a compound to play a role m fuel sensing involves bringing together a test sample and a test system, the test sample containing one or more test compounds, the test system containing a system for evaluating fuel sensing.

The following detailed description of the invention includes techniques for membrane preparation, binding reactions, data detection and data analysis. It also includes techniques for evaluating the activity of area postrema preparation-binding compounds. Additionally, this description includes techniques for pharmaceutical formulation and delivery of test substances. Finally, a number of applications of this invention are described, including its use in high throughput assays and assays to characterize agonists and antagonists of area postrema function.

I . Membrane Preparation In this particular embodiment, area postrema preparations are prepared using membranes. Area postrema membrane preparations are initiated by brief (4-10 seconds) homogenization of tissues at ice bath temperatures at a buffered pH of about neutrality. In one embodiment, an instrument such as a Polytron (Brinkman Instruments, N.Y.) is used, although other similar homogenizers may also be used. Following tissue disruption, membranes are isolated in the cold at g-forces of at least about 20,000 x g for an appropriate time, preferably above 40,000 x g for at least 10 minutes. Membranes are normally washed at least twice by re- homogemzation m fresh buffer, and reisolated as above, m order to remove endogenous interfering substances. Washed membranes are resuspended in buffer containing a proteolytic enzyme inhibitor such as phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) or bacitracm. Volumes of buffer may be added sufficient to adjust the final tissue concentration to a level suitable for the particular screening method embodiment employed.

As indicated herein, cells and/or tissue samples may also be utilized to make area postrema preparations. Cells and/or tissue samples are prepared by art-known methods.

II . Binding Reactions

In one embodiment, incubation mixtures for the screening method are set up as follows. To glass or polymeric tubes are added a small volume of Buffer Mixture ("HBBM") composed of a buffer solution such as HEPES containing a protease inhibitor such as bacitracm or PMSF, protease-free serum albumin (preferably fraction V BSA, protease-free) and, optionally, a Mg²⁺ salt. To this Buffer Mixture is added a small volume of buffer containing the unlabeled molecules to be tested for agonist or antagonist activity at concentrations of about from 10^~u to 10^"6 M. Control tubes contain buffer alone. To this mixture is added amounts of labeled area postrema preparation ligands, in buffer so as to produce final concentrations of from about 10 to about 100 p . Because of the high specific activities obtainable and ease of chemical labeling, ¹²⁵I is preferred to label the area postrema ligands. The peptide hormones may be isolated from human tissues, from animal tissues, or produced by chemical synthetic or recombmant means . Labeled area postrema preparation ligands are dissolved m sterile water containing protease-free Fraction V BSA, aliquoted, and stored frozen until use.

Reactions are begun by adding, for example, membranes to each incubation tube. The amount of tissue (or, more conveniently, the amount of membrane protein) required per tube will be dictated according to tissue type. Typically, membranes from about 2.5 mg of tissue (about 100 μg membrane protein) are added. Reaction mixtures are incubated for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to reach steady-state conditions within the period. The term "steady state" as used herein is intended to encompass the sum total of all reactions and processes that influence the net amount of bound hormone. It may or may not be synonymous with "equilibrium." Typically, tubes are incubated for about 60 minutes at room temperature.

Ill . Detection

When membranes are used, they are isolated following binding m order to determine the amount of labeled ligand bound after competition between labeled and unlabeled ligands. It is convenient to collect membranes by filtration with a vacuum-powered Brandel Cell Harvester (Brandel Instruments, Gaithersburg, Maryland, Model M-24) through glass fiber filters (e.g. , GF/B, Whatman) that have been presoaked with a reagent m order to reduce nonspecific binding (NSB) . Preferred is presoakmg filters for about 5 hours in about 0.3% polyethyleneimme . The skilled artisan will know of other plasma membrane collecting devices, such as the Millipore Filtration Assembly (Model 1225) or the Sandbeck filter box (Bennett, J.P., m Neurotransmitter Receptor Binding, H.I. Yamamura et al. , Raven, New York 1978, pages 57- 90) , collecting filters, and NSB-reducing reagents that can be used in practicing this invention. Both immediately before and immediately after filtration, filters are washed with large (milliliter) volumes of ice cold buffer to remove contaminating materials, e.g., unbound labeled ligand. Filters are removed and the amount of labeled ligand bound to plasma membranes is quantified. Where ¹²⁵I is the label, radioactivity may be assessed in a gamma ray counter. Where a chemiluminescent reporter molecule (e.g., AMPPD, Tropix, Inc., Bedford, MA) is used, the light produced may be quantified in a luminometer. Enzymatic and fluorescent labels may also be used.

Instead of by filtration, plasma membranes may be isolated following incubation by centrifugation (e.g., Beckman J-2-21-M refrigerated centrifuge at 21,000 rpm or a Beckman 12 or Eppendorf microfuge) , washed with ice cold buffer, then counted as such or following solubilization of membranes by detergent or alkali.

IV. Data Analysis

Scatchard plot saturation analyses of binding data, wherein bound/free (B/F) labeled ligand is plotted as a function of the amount bound, are performed by standard methods. See, e . g. , Blecher 1976, Blecher 1981, Chapter 1, and Boulton et al . 1986, Chapter 1.

Competition curves, wherein the amount bound (B) is plotted as a function of the log of the concentration of ligand may be analyzed by computer, e.g., analyses by nonlinear regression to a 4-parameter logistic equation (Prism program; GraphPAD Software, San Diego, California) or the ALLFIT program of DeLean et al. (ALLFIT, Version 2.7 (NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892)). Munsun, P.U. and Rodbard, D. , Anal. Biochem. 107:220-239 (1980).

To determine binding constants, Scatchard saturation curves may be generated and analyzed according to a modification of the method of Scatchard, as described by Bylund, D.B., et al . , "Methods for Receptor Binding," in H.I. Yamamura et al . , eds . , Methods in Neurotransmitter Analysis, Raven Press, New York, 1990 pp. 1-35. In order to obtain specific binding values experimentally, a broad range of tracer concentrations of labeled ligand (typically, 1-150 pM) is used to obtain total binding and duplicate tubes reassessed, in the presence of a very high concentration, e . g. , 100 nM, of unlabeled ligand, to obtain nonspecific binding (NSB) . The latter value is subtracted from each total binding value in order to obtain specific binding at every concentration of labeled ligand.

V. Activity of Area Postrema Preparation-Binding Compounds

Examples of activity assays useful for detecting the activity of compounds that bind to area postrema preparations include electrophysiology brain slices of area postrema and/or associated adjacent tissues, lmmunohistochemical detection of activation of area postrema and associated tissues via detection of cFos expression, detection of intracellular cGMP-formation and NOS activity, detection of activation of area postrema and associated adjacent tissues using a microphysiometer, and activation of area postrema and associated adjacent tissues detected by changes in ionic fluxes . In a method for performing electrophysiology in brain slices of area postrema and associated adjacent tissues, extracellular recordings are made from brain slices approximately 0.5mm thick of area postrema. Slices are typically superfused with artificial cerebrospmal fluid

(aCSF) of the following composition (m mM) : NaCl 124; KC1 5; KH2P04 1.2; MgS04 1.3; CaC12 1.2; NaHC03 26; glucose 10; pH : 7.4, equilibrated with 95% 02 and 5% C02, 290 mOsm/kg, at 37.0°C. Extracellular electrodes are used to record spontaneous or stimulated action potentials of neurones in the slice. Signals from electrodes are suitably amplified and processed by signal discriminators and counters to derive measures of neuronal activity. Test substances are applied via the superfusion. Additionally, stimuli may be applied that identify the activity recorded from the brain slice as being relevant to metabolic control, such as responsiveness to changes in ambient glucose (eg steps of 2, 4 or 6mM) or other fuels .

In a method for performing lmmunohistochemical detection of activation of area postrema and associated adjacent tissues via detection of cFos expression, neuronal activation is associated with the induction of a protein, cFos . Appearance of this protein, or of RNA coding for its expression, can be used to indicate that a structure has been activated. To test if a compound activates area postrema and associated tissues, the test substance (or a control) is administered to a live animal. Following a suitable period to allow induction of cFos expression, for example 90 mm, animals are anaesthetized and perfused transcardially with 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) . Brains are removed and cryoprotected by 24h incubation in phosphate buffer containing 10% sucrose before cutting 20 μm thick cryosections . Sections are then incubated for 48 h on poly-L-lysine covered slides in phosphate buffered saline containing an antibody directed against cFos protein. Immunoreactivity was detected performing the avidm-biotin- peroxidase method. Differences m cFos immunoreactivity in area postrema and associated tissues between brains from animals treated with test substances versus control substances can be used to identify substances activating those structures . In a method for detecting mtracellular cGMP-formation and NOS activity, activation of area postrema and associated adjacent tissues can be detected by measuring changes in mtracellular second messenger. For example, where cyclic GMP mediates activation via surface receptors, area postrema activation can be detected either in vi tro or m vivo . For m vivo studies, a test substance or saline (control) is subcutaneously injected into rats which have been pretreated with mtrapeπtoneal injection of lOmg/kg 3-ιsobutyl-l- methylxanthme (IBMX) to inhibit degradation of the second messenger. Some time after administration of the test substance (eg 25 mm) , rats are perfused and cryosections of the brain are cut. For m vi tro studies, a slice preparation of area postrema is made as for electrophysiological recordings. Slices are incubated at 37 °C m 2 ml oxygenated aCSF containing ImM IBMX. Test substances at a range of concentrations are added for between 10 and 40 mm. Effects of test substances on generation of cyclic GMP are then assessed lmmunohistochemically . A similar test can be employed for detection of activation of other second messengers, such as nitric oxide, by immunodetection of nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) activity by NADPH-diaphorase staining at area postrema and associated adjacent tissues.

With regard to detecting activation of area postrema and associated adjacent tissues using a microphysiometer, it is understood that changes in cellular activity, such as following stimulation with a ligand, typically result in changes on rate of energy metabolism. General activation of cells in culture, dissociated cells, subcellular components, or slices of tissues can be detected by the rate at which they produce acid, a byproduct of metabolism. Changes m rates of acidifiction, indicative of activation, may be detected in preparations from area postrema and associated tissues using a physiometer .

With regard to activation of area postrema and associated adjacent tissues detected by changes m ionic fluxes, it is also known that signals impinging upon nerve cells typically affect processes that are associated with controlling conductances through various ion channels that traverse the cell membrane or other cellular compartments. Activation of neuronal tissue can be detected by changes m ionic fluxes, and these latter events can be detected via a variety of means, including by electrophysiologic recordings (mtracellular, extracellular and by patch clamping) and by other means of detecting changes in voltage or current, such as with dye-based systems that are sensitive to changes in charge distribution (eg voltage-sensitive dyes). Other detection systems may be sensitive to the presence of particular ionic species, such as with calcium-sensitive dyes. Other systems can indirectly report ionic events via induction of reporter genes whose products can be easily detected, for example, by color change. Systems such as these are used singly, or in combination, to detect activation of preparations from area postrema and associated adjacent tissues .

VI . Pharmaceutical Formulations / Routes of Delivery Compounds identified using the methods of the present invention will be useful as agents to modulate area postrema function. Formulations and dosages for such compounds as described herein are useful in view of their pharmacological properties. Area postrema preparation-binding compounds may conveniently be provided in the form of formulations suitable for parenteral (including intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous) administration. Also described herein are formulations and dosages useful in alternative delivery routes, including oral, nasal, buccal, sublmgual and pulmonary.

Area postrema preparation-binding compounds useful in the invention can be provided as parenteral compositions for injection or infusion. They can, for example, be suspended in an inert oil, suitably a vegetable oil such as sesame, peanut, olive oil, or other acceptable carrier. Preferably, they are suspended in an aqueous carrier, for example, m an lsotomc buffer solution at a pH of about 5.6 to 7.4. These compositions may be sterilized by conventional sterilization techniques, or may be sterile filtered. The compositions may contain pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances as required to approximate physiological conditions, such as pH buffering agents. Useful buffers include for example, sodium acetate/acetic acid buffers. A form of repository or "depot" slow release preparation may be used so that therapeutically effective amounts of the preparation are delivered into the bloodstream over many hours or days following transdermal injection or delivery.

Desired isotonicity may be accomplished using sodium chloride or other pharmaceutically acceptable agents such as dextrose, boric acid, sodium tartrate, propylene glycol, polyols (such as mannitol and sorbitol), or other inorganic or organic solutes. Sodium chloride is preferred particularly for buffers containing sodium ions .

Area postrema preparation-binding compounds can also be formulated as pharmaceutically acceptable salts ( e . g. , acid addition salts) and/or complexes thereof. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are non-toxic salts at the concentration at which they are administered. The preparation of such salts can facilitate the pharmacological use by altering the physical-chemical characteristics of the composition without preventing the composition from exerting its physiological effect. Examples of useful alterations m physical properties include lowering the melting point to facilitate transmucosal administration and increasing the solubility to facilitate the administration of higher concentrations of the drug.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include acid addition salts such as those containing sulfate, hydrochloride, phosphate, sulfamate, acetate, citrate, lactate, tartrate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p- toluenesulfonate, cyclohexylsulfamate and quinate.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be obtained from acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuπc acid, phosphoric acid, sulfamic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, tartaπc acid, malonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, cyclohexylsulfamic acid, and quinic acid. Such salts may be prepared by, for example, reacting the free acid or base forms of the product with one or more equivalents of the appropriate base or acid m a solvent or medium m which the salt is insoluble, or in a solvent such as water which is then removed m va cuo or by freeze-drymg or by exchanging the ions of an existing salt for another ion on a suitable ion exchange resin.

If desired, solutions of the above compositions may be thickened with a thickening agent such as methyl cellulose. They may be prepared m emulsified form, either water in oil or oil in water. Any of a wide variety of pharmaceutically acceptable emulsifying agents may be employed including, for example, acacia powder, a non-ionic surfactant (such as a Tween) , or an ionic surfactant (such as alkali polyether alcohol sulfates or sulfonates, e.g., a Triton) .

Area postrema preparation-binding compounds useful in the invention are prepared by mixing the ingredients following generally accepted procedures. For example, the selected components may be simply mixed m a blender or other standard device to produce a concentrated mixture which may then be adjusted to the final concentration and viscosity by the addition of water or thickening agent and possibly a buffer to control pH or an additional solute to control tomcity.

The optimal formulation and mode of administration of area postrema preparation-binding compounds identified in accordance with the present application to a patient depend on factors known in the art such as the particular disease or disorder, the desired effect, and the type of patient. While the compounds will typically be used to treat human patients, they may also be used to treat similar or identical diseases in other vertebrates such as other primates, farm animals such as swine, cattle and poultry, and sports animals and pets such as horses, dogs and cats.

VII. Utility The results of the Examples below establish that the method described herein for measuring the ability of chemical compounds to compete against labeled known ligands for binding to specific components of an area postrema preparations represents a particularly useful means for identifying peptides and other chemical compounds that interact with such preparations. Certain of the utilities of the invention described and claimed herein are further highlighted below.

A. Measurement of Test Compounds In one aspect, the Examples further demonstrate that area postrema preparation assays can be used to determine the concentration of a test compound in unknown solutions or mixtures. For example, test compounds may be assayed as described in Example II below. A membrane or cell preparation of area pos trema components, for example, is incubated with radiolabelled test compound and unlabelled test compound at concentrations of 10^~6M. In this manner, a competition curve is generated relating the amount of test compound m the assay tube to the inhibition of radiolabelled test compound binding produced. In additional tubes, unlabelled peptide is replaced by a solution containing an unknown amount of test compound to be quantified. This solution may be plasma, serum or other fluid, or solid mixture dissolved in assay buffers. The unknown solution is preferably added m a volume of less than or equal to about 10% of the final assay volume, so as not to significantly alter the ionic content of the solution. If larger volumes of unknown are used, a solution containing an equivalent salt content is included as a control for effects of altered ionic content on binding. Nonspecific binding, i.e., binding of radiolabelled test compound in the presence of a high concentration (10^~6M) of unlabelled test compound or other known binding compound, is subtracted from total binding for each sample to yield specific binding. The amount of inhibition of specific binding of radiolabelled test compound produced by the unknown is compared to the inhibition curve produced by test compound m order to determine the content of substances capable of binding area postrema components in the unknown sample. Methods for performing these calculations are described in several sources, such as Neurotransmitter Receptor Binding, eds H. Yamamura, S.J. Enna, and M.J. Kuhar (Raven Press, New York, 1991) .

This method is used to quantitate the amount of area postre-ϋa binding compounds m a known or an unknown sample, and may be used to quantitate area postrema binding compounds m plasma or other body fluids and tissues, for use in identifying active metabolites, pharmacokmetics, stability, solubility, or distribution of test compounds, agonists and test compound antagonists. In order to increase the specificity of the assay for the test substance where this is necessary, the quantity of other binding substances in the unknown sample can be determined through a radio-receptor assay for these substances. Such a radio-receptor assay can be performed using known ligand that has been radiolabled, an area postrema membrane preparation and the unknown test sample . B. High Throughput Screens In still another aspect, the area postrema component preparations are used m a high througnput screen, optionally utilizing robotic systems such as those known m the art, for identifying compounds that activate various biological processes, or which displace known compounds, sometimes referred to by some as "ligands," from their binding sites and, thus, identifying candidate area postrema agonists or antagonists. The assay can be used to screen, for example, libraries of synthetic compounds, extracts of plants, extracts of marine organisms, or bacterial or fungal fermentation broths. In one embodiment, an initial step brings together about 50fL of the area postrema preparation described above, pre-mcubated with about 10 to about 15 pM labeled known ligand as described above, and approximately 50fL of the solution of test compound, m assay buffer containing, for example, up to 10% ethanol, or 1% DMSO, or 5% acetonitrile to facilitate dissolution of compound, if required. For organic extracts, the final concentration of solvent should generally not exceed that which displaces the standard displacement curve of labeled ligand by cold compound by 25%, i . e . , shifts the measured IC₅₀ by less than 25%. This can be evaluated for each selected solvent. For identified compounds from synthetic libraries, the test concentration will be about lOOnM, lμM or lOμM depending on the frequency with which positive tests occur. A positive will typically be represented by at least about a 20% reduction of specific binding of labeled ligand. With broths and extracts, a positive test will be denoted by at least about 20%, 50% or 80% reduction in specific ligand binding, according to the frequency of positive tests. For compounds meeting defined criteria, the potency of interaction with the area postrema is determined by measuring the magnitude of activation of a biological process, or the displacement of ligand from the membrane or other preparations by a range of concentrations of the test compound. With mixtures of unknown compounds, as in broths and extracts, the desired activity is isolated and purified by art-known methods including HPLC, followed by testing the separated materials to determine which retain the desired activity. When pure or relatively pure active material is obtained, its potency at the area postrema can be determined. Art-known methods including NMR, mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis may be used to make a chemical identification of any isolated material having the desired area postrema activating and/or binding activities.

At any desired stage following identification of selective displacement of ligand, a positive testing material can be assessed in a functional assay to assess area postrema agonist activity. Activity assays such as those described above may be used. Also, by applying different concentrations of the test material in these assays, the potency of agonist or antagonist action can be determined.

C. Agonists and Antagonists In other embodiments, for assessment of whether materials testing positive in an area postrema preparation binding assay are agonist or antagonists, the test materials are brought together with, for example, area postrema membrane or cell systems m which known ligand changes rates of synthesis of cyclic AMP. Such preparations include membranes prepared from cultured cell lines with abundant area postrema components, or the cells themselves. Changes m cAMP levels are measured by radioimmunoassay following exposure of the membrane or cell preparations, incubated according to art-known methods. In another aspect, other indicators of cellular response may be used. Examples of analytes include cyclic GMP, NO, mtracellular Ca⁺⁺. More general indicators of cellular response include change in rate of acidification, as measured in a microphysiometer, changes in membrane potential, as measured by mtracellular electrodes or voltage-sensitive dyes, and change in neuronal activity, as indicated by changes in firing rate detected with extracellular electrodes. Also included in cellular responses are changes rate of gene transcription and expression as measured, for example, by the appearance of various functional or reporter products. Materials testing positive in displacing known ligands from its receptors and having no effect on second messenger production can be expected to be area postrema antagonists. Antagonist action can be further evaluated by incubating various concentrations of the material analog with known ligand or a known ligand agonist and measuring the degree of inhibition of the changes m cAMP evoked by the known ligand or an known ligand agonist.

In another aspect, the invention is used to screen materials for area pos trema components. Such materials may include cell lines, cells disaggregated from tissue, and cells from human or animal blood.

Other preparations from area postrema and adjacent tissues include brain slice preparations, brain "chunks," superfused m si tu preparations, and whole animal preparations where some aspect of area postrema response is being measured. These area pos trema preparations will be used as a readily available source for development of agonists and antagonists of area postrema function. For example, in one embodiment, membranes from cells are obtained by homogenization of cells with an instrument such as Polytron (Brinkman Instruments) followed by centrifugation. Membranes so obtained are combined with labeled known ligand in a buffer system such as that described in Example II, and are incubated and collected as described in that Example. Specific binding of labeled known ligand to the cell membrane or other material used is identified by measuring the decrease in binding obtained in the presence of, for example, 10^~7 M unlabeled known ligand. Cells in which there is a significant difference between total binding (triplicate tubes) and nonspecific binding (triplicate tubes) at the P<0.05 level will be used for further study of area postrema component function.

The area postrema preparation binding assay described and claimed herein can also be used to further purify area pos trema components. Membranes are obtained as described in Example II from the area postrema . Subcellular membrane fractions obtained by differential or density gradient centrifugation are assayed for specific binding of radiolabeled known ligand in order to identify the membrane fraction containing the highest density of specific area postrema component per milligram protein (as assayed by Bradford or Lowry protein assays) . The membrane fraction with highest component density is preferably used for further purification .

This membrane fraction is collected and treated in a buffered solution with several membrane solubilizing agents, including triton, digitonin, octyl glucoside, deoxycholate, and cholate, at concentrations of from 0.001% to 1% detergent at reduced temperature (4°C) for about 1 hour. Protease inhibitors (including phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, EDTA, aprotinin) are included in the buffer system to prevent component degradation during or after solubilization. After treatment of membranes with detergents, unsolubilized membranes are sedimented by centrifugation at high speed (100,000 x g for 1 hour) and resulting supernatants containing solubilized components are assayed for binding of radiolabeled metolazone as described above. Solubilized components can be collected by filtration on polyethyleneimine-coated filters (Bruns, R.F., et al . Anal. Biochem. 132:74-81 (1983). Alternatively, solubilized components are collected by methods such as precipitation with polyethyleneglycol, gel filtration, or equilibrium dialysis. Binding characteristics of solubilized components are assessed and should match the characteristics of membrane-localized components.

After determining desired conditions suitable for solubilizmg area postrema components and for assaying solubilized components, these solubilized components are purified away from other solubilized membrane proteins by chromatographic procedures, such as affinity chromatography on supports to which known ligand has been coupled, ion exchange chromatography, lectm agarose chromatography, gel filtration, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Chromatography column eluates are tested for specific area postrema component binding to protein content, in order to identify peaks containing components and the extent of purification. Before inclusion m the final purification protocol, each chromatographic step is tested to determine the extent to which it contributes to component purification, as measured by an increase in specific radiolabelled ligand binding per milligram protein. Desired chromatography steps are combined sequentially, using large quantities of starting material, in order to obtain partially or completely purified components, as desired. Components which have been partially or completely purified by this method can be used to generate area postrema- specific antibodies for use in diagnosis (disease states with altered component density, distribution, or antigenicity) and for use in screening recombmant libraries for area postrema component expression. Purified component preparations can also be used to obtain partial sequence information, which is useful preparing oligonucleotide probes for screening recombmant libraries for area postrema component-encoding gene sequences. In another aspect of the invention, changes m cellular response m area postrema preparations, or changes m whole- body response attributable to action at area postrema , can be used to identify ligands expected to be useful in metabolic conditions. This embodiment differs from those above in that comparison with, or knowledge of, an endogenous ligand is not required. Where area postrema-mediated actions are sought m whole animal preparations, assignment of function to area postrema can be verified in animals where this tissue has been destroyed by, for example, cautery, radio-frequency lesionmg, aspiration, or local application of neurotoxic substances of general or selective toxicity.

Examples To assist in understanding the present invention the following Examples are included which describe the results of a series of experiments. The experiments relating to this invention may not, of course, be construed as specifically limiting the invention and such variations of the invention, now known or later developed, which would be within the purview of one skilled in the art are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as described herein and hereinafter claimed.

EXAMPLE I

PREPARATION OF MEMBRANES Membranes are prepared from male Wistar or Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 grams). Following decapitation brain regions are removed to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4 at 4EC. Tissues are weighed then placed in 5 ml/g tissue of ice-cold 20 mM HEPES buffer, pH 7.4, and homogenized with a Polytron at setting 4 for 10 seconds. An additional 30 ml of cold HEPES is added, and the homogenates centrifuged for 15 minutes at 48,000 x g. After discarding the supernatant fluids, membrane pellets are homogenized in 40 ml of fresh HEPES buffer and centrifuged as before. Membranes are washed again by homogenization in buffer and centrifugation .

The final membrane pellet is resuspended in a volume of 20 mM HEPES buffer containing 0.2 mM PMSF added immediately before use from a stock 0.2 M solution in ethanol. A volume of buffer is used sufficient to yield a concentration of about 0 to about 20 mg original tissue/ml.

EXAMPLE II

BINDING ASSAYS WITH BRAIN MEMBRANES The area pos trema is obtained by first cutting the medulla caudally at the obex and rostrally where the floor of the fourth ventricle has just reached its maximum width. Cuts are then made along the lateral margin of the gracile nucleus and the area postrema and underlying tissue removed to a depth of l-2mm. The membranes are then prepared as in Example I. Binding assay are carried out by incubating membrane preparations with 0.1-0.3nM labelled ligand, for example, [- ¹²⁵I] angiotensin II (1.1-1.8 mCi/μg) for 10-15min. After incubation the samples are placed on ice, diluted with 1ml of cold buffer (150mM NaCl, 50mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.2) and filtered through Whatman GF/C glass fibre discs (2.5cm diameter). The filters are washed with 10ml of cold buffer and the radioactivity retained on the filter is determined. Representative procedures and data for this example are based on Sirett, N., et al., Distribution of Angiotensin II Receptors in Rat Brain, Brain Research, 122: 299-312 (1977).

[ 125I] ngiotensin II Binding

Region (fmoles/mg protein) Ratio to Cortex

Cortex .015 +/- 0.05 1

Medulla Area postrema (A. P.) 1.09 +/- 0.17 7.3

Anterior to A. P. 0.31 +/- 0.08 2.1

Ventral to A. P. 0.76 +/- 0.05 5.1

Anterior Pituitary 3.34 +/- 0.54 22

Adrenals 17.07 +/- 0.91 114

EXAMPLE III WHOLE-ANIMAL VERIFICATION THAT A METABOLICALLY-RELEVANT RESPONSE RESIDES IN AREA POSTREMA OR STRUCTURES CONNECTED THERETO The area postrema in eight male Sprague Dauley rats, was destroyed by local aspiration following surgical exposure of the dorsal medulla oblongata (APX) . Seven controls were similarly surgically treated, except the area postrema was left intact (SHAM). Following recovery from surgery, animals were anesthetized with halothane and subjected to a glucose- clamp procedure whereby plasma glucose was held constant by a glucose infusion varied in response to frequently determined plasma glucose concentration. After 60 minutes of glucose- clamp, 2mmol L-arginine was infused intravenously over 10 minutes. Plasma glucose, lactate, and insulin were measured for 90 min after L-arginine. There was a large increase in plasma insulin concentration m APX animals that was not observed in SHAM rats. These results demonstrate that pathways controlling insulin secretion, a key hormone involved in fuel homeostasis, include the area postrema . One skilled in the art would readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The molecular complexes and the methods, procedures, treatments, molecules, specific compounds described herein are presently representative of preferred embodiments are exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled m the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention are defined by the scope of the claims.

It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that varying substitutions and modifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. All patents and publications mentioned m the specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations which is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, m each instance herein any of the terms "comprising", "consisting essentially of" and "consisting of" may be replaced with either of the other two terms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention m the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be withm the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is also thereby described terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

The invention has been described broadly and generically herein. Each of the narrower species and subgeneπc groupings falling within the generic disclosure also form part of the invention. This includes the generic description of the invention with a proviso or negative limitation removing any subject matter from the genus, regardless of whether or not the excised material is specifically recited herein. Other embodiments are within the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An assay method for use in identifying or screening for compounds that stimulate or inhibit area postrema biological function, which comprises the steps of,

(a) bringing together a test sample and an area postrema preparation, said test sample containing one or more test compounds;

(b) incubating said test sample and said area pos trema preparation under conditions which would permit activation by said test compound of a biological process in, or the binding of said test compound to, said a rea postrema preparation; and,

(c) identifying those test samples containing one or more test compounds which detectably activate, or bind to, said area pos trema preparation.

2. The assay method of claim 1 which further comprises,

(d) screening said test samples which detectably bind to said area pos trema preparation for in vi tro or in vivo stimulation or inhibition of area pos trema mediated activity; and,

(e) identifying those test samples which act as agonists or antagonists of said area pos trema biological function.

3. The assay method of claim 1, wherein said area pos trema preparation comprises isolated cells.

4. The assay method of claim 1, wherein said area postrema preparation comprises isolated membranes.

5. The assay method of claim 1, wherein said area postrema preparation comprises isolated tissue.

6. The assay method of claim 1, wherein said test samples which detectably bind to said area postrema preparation are identified by measuring the displacement of a labeled first ligand from said area postrema preparation by said test sample, and comparing the measured displacement of said first labeled ligand from said area postrema preparation by said test sample with the measured displacement of said first labeled ligand from said area postrema preparation by one or more known second ligands.

7. The assay method of claim 1, wherein said test sample contains more than one test compound, which further comprises the steps of,

(d) preparing two or more additional test samples from said test sample, said additional test samples being characterized in that they contain a lesser number of test compounds than said test sample from which they were prepared; and,

(e) repeating steps (a) -(d) as many times as required until the test compound or compounds which activate, or bind to, said a rea pos trema preparation have been identified.

8. The assay method of claim 2, wherein said test samples which detectably bind to said area postrema preparation are identified by measuring the displacement of a labeled first ligand from said area postrema preparation by said test sample, and comparing the measured displacement of said first labeled ligand from said area postrema preparation by said test sample with the measured displacement of said first labeled ligand from said area postrema preparation by one or more known second ligands.

9. The assay method of claim 8, wherein said test sample contains more than one test compound, which further comprises the steps of,

(f) preparing two or more additional test samples from said test sample, said additional test samples being characterized in that they contain a lesser number of test compounds than said test sample from which they were prepared; and,

(g) repeating steps (a) -(f) as many times as required until the test compound or compounds which bind to said area pos trema preparation have been identified.

10. An assay method for evaluating one or more receptor binding characteristics sought to be determined for a known or candidate area postrema biological function agonist or antagonist compound, which comprises the steps of,

(a) assessing or measuring the ability of said compound to compete against a labeled ligand for binding to said area postrema preparation; (b) assessing or measuring the ability of said compound to compete against said labeled ligand of claim .

11. An assay method for determining the presence or amount of an area postrema binding compound in a test sample to be assayed for said compound, which comprises the steps of, (a) bringing together said test sample to be assayed and an area postrema preparation;

(b) measuring the ability of said test sample to compete against a labelled ligand for binding to said area postrema preparation; and, optionally, (c) relating the amount of area postrema binding compound in said test sample with the amount of area postrema binding compound measured for a control sample in accordance with steps (a) and (b) , said control sample being known to be free of any area postrema binding compound, and/or relating the amount of area postrema binding compound in said test sample with the amounts of area postrema binding compound measured for control samples containing known amounts of area postrema binding compound in accordance with steps (a) and (b) , to determine the presence or amount of area postrema binding compound in said test sample.

12. A method for separating area postrema binding compounds from a sample, which comprises the steps of,

(a) bringing together said sample and an area postrema preparation, said area pos trema preparation comprising components of said area postrema bound to a solid carrier; and

(b) separating any area pos trema binding compound which is bound to said area pos trema preparation from the remainder of said test sample which is unbound.

13. A method for screening a biological substance for the presence of components of said area of postrema, which comprises the steps of,

(a) bringing together said biological substance with first area pos trema binding compound;

(b) bringing together said biological substance with a second area postrema binding compound;

(c) optionally bringing together said biological substance with one or more additional area pos trema binding compounds; and,

(d) determining the relative binding affinities of said area postrema binding compounds for said area postrema preparation in said biological substance.

14. A method of screening for a compound able to modulate a biological function of the area pos trema related to fuel homeostasis, comprising adding a compound to an area pos trema preparation, and measuring the effect on said biological function.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said area postrema preparation comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of area postrema , nucleus tractus solitarius material, and material from the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve.

16. The method of any of claims 14 or 15, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of a membrane, a cell and a tissue.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said biological function is modulation of pancreatic endocrine secretion.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said biological function is modulation of body energy content.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said biological function is linked to a metabolic disease.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said metabolic disease is selected from the group consisting of diabetes and obesity.