Prostaglandin EP(1) receptor subtype selectivity takes shape.

The studies of Ungrin et al. (2001) describe the ligand binding and activation of the human prostaglandin (PG) receptor assayed with an extensive panel of ligands. PGs are a diverse family of autocoids whose synthesis is initiated by cyclooxygenase-mediated metabolism of the unsaturated 20carbon fatty acid arachidonic acid to PGG/H2, generating five primary bioactive prostanoids: PGE2, PGD2, PGF2a, PGI2, and TXA2 (Bonvalet et al., 1987; Smith, 1992). These arachidonic acid metabolites, including PGE2, are potent modulators of a wide variety of physiological responses including inflammation, pain, fever, and modulation of smooth muscle tone (Needleman et al., 1986; Coleman et al., 1990; Gardiner, 1990). The importance of this pathway in the treatment or promotion of a broad array of pathophysiologic conditions including of cancer, arthritis and hypertension is underscored by the classic and novel uses of cyclooxygenase-inhibiting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which nonselectively inhibit the synthesis of all of these compounds. PGs act within the tissue where they are synthesized, in part via specific G protein-coupled receptors, designated EP (for Eprostanoid), DP, FP, IP, and TP receptors, for the other prostanoids (Coleman et al., 1994; Narumiya et al., 1999). PGE2, a major cyclooxygenase product, may have multiple and at times apparently opposing functional effects on a given target tissue such as vascular smooth muscle (Bonvalet et al., 1987; Smith, 1992). The differential effects of PGE2 analogs are important functional evidence for the existence of multiple PGE2 receptors (EP receptors) and molecular cloning has now confirmed the existence of multiple PGE2 receptor subtypes, each encoded by distinct genes. These receptors are designated EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4 (Boie et al., 1997; Kiriyama et al., 1997) and probably account for the diverse effects of PGE2 (Fig. 1). Although some EP receptor subtype selective ligands exist, many of these compounds act at multiple PG receptor subtypes. The development of subtype selective EP receptor ligands has been attempted for more than 20 years with only partial success, partly because of the relatively recent discovery of the existence of multiple EP receptor subtypes and partly because of the difficulties associated with the synthesis of prostanoid analogs. Thus, the structural requirements for EP subtype selectivity are largely uncharacterized. Selective agonists that bind to the EP1 receptor exist; however, these also have significant affinity for other receptor subtypes: the EP1/3 selective agent sulprostone and the EP1/IP selective agonist iloprost. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies may identify key structural requirements that would allow the synthesis of novel EP selective agonists and/or antagonists as well as provide insights as to the mechanism of receptor ligand selectivity. In the studies by Ungrin et al. (2001), an extensive panel of PG analogs was used in a high-throughput screening assay to perform SAR analysis for the cloned human EP1 receptor. The EP1 receptor was originally described as a smooth muscle constrictor (Kennedy et al., 1982) and, consistent with this function, activation of the recombinant human EP1 receptor leads to signals via increased intercellular Ca (Funk et al., 1993). Ungrin et al. (2001) used a calcium-responsive, aequorin-based reporter assay to analyze the activity of 55 prostanoid compounds (Ungrin et al., 2001). Their SAR studies at the EP1 receptor uncovered several notable findings. One of the most sensitive positions for agonist-activity at the EP1 receptor is the hydroxyl group at the carbon 15 position. This is especially notable because conversion of PGE2 to the 15-keto derivative is one of the primary pathways of metabolic inactivation in vivo (Anggard and Larsson, 1971). Moreover, the EP1 receptor is more sensitive to 15 OH oxidation than the other EP receptors by 3to 10-fold. This enhanced sensitivity of the EP1 receptor to the metabolism of PGE2 suggests that there may be differential inactivation of the signaling response at the EP receptors as a result. Modifications of the C-1 carboxylate have been well characterized to cause a decrease in agonist affinity for the EP2, EP3, and EP4 receptors. A similar sensitivity to modification of the C-1 carboxylate by esterification was seen for the EP1 receptor. One notable exception to the low affinity of methyl ester analogs is the agonist enprostil, which has a relatively