New characterization of dihydroergotamine receptor pharmacology in the context of migraine: utilization of a β-arrestin recruitment assay.

Introduction: Dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE) is an established effective acute therapy for migraine and is often characterized by its broad receptor pharmacology. Knowledge of DHE pharmacology largely comes from studies employing older methodologies.

Objective: To assess DHE receptor activity using high-throughput methods to screen for functional ß-arrestin activity at G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Methods: Functional receptor activities of DHE and sumatriptan succinate (both 10 μM) were screened against 168 GPCRs using the gpcrMAX assay. Agonist and antagonist effects were considered significant if receptor activity was >30% or inhibited by >50%, respectively. Radiolabeled ligand binding assays were performed for DHE (0.01-300 nM for 5-HT and ; 0.3-10,000 nM for 5-HT, α-adrenergic [i.e., α-adrenoceptor], D, and D) to assess specific binding to select receptors.

Results: DHE (10 μM) exhibited agonist activity at α-adrenergic, CXC chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7), dopamine (D), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors and antagonist activity at α-adrenergic (i.e., α-adrenoceptors), calcitonin receptor-receptor activity modifying protein 2 (CTR-RAMP2) or amylin 2 (AMY), D, and 5-HT receptors. Sumatriptan succinate (10 μM) exhibited agonist activity at the 5-HT receptors. DHE demonstrated a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC) of 149 nM at the 5-HT receptor and a half-maximal effective concentration (EC) of 6 μM at the CXCR7 receptor. DHE did not bind to the 5-HT receptor at concentrations up to 300 nM and bound poorly to 5-HT and D receptors (IC of 230 and 370 nM, respectively). DHE bound strongly to the D, 5-HT, and α-adrenergic receptors (IC of 0.47, 0.58, and 2.8 nM, respectively).

Conclusion: By using a high-throughput β-arrestin recruitment assay, this study confirmed the broad receptor profile of DHE and provided an update on DHE receptor pharmacology as it relates to migraine.