Method of treating bladder and lower urinary tract syndromes

Abstract

The present invention relates to bladder and lower urinary tract syndromes, particularly, irrative symptoms, and to a method of treating same using α1d-adrenergic receptor (α1dAR) antagonists. The invention further relates to a method of screening compounds for their ability to serve as α1dAR selective antagonists.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to bladder and lower urinary tract syndromes, particularly, irritative symptoms, and to a method of treating same using α1d-adrenergic receptor (α1dAR) antagonists. The invention further relates to a method of screening compounds for their ability to serve as α1dAR antagonists.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) resulting from bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) remains one of the most commonly encountered disorders in urology, and can be secondary to fixed anatomical and/or functional causes (Steers et al, Voiding dysfunction: diagnosis, classification. and management, in Adult and Pediatric Urology; Third Edition, J. Y. Gillenwater. et al., Editors. 1996, Mosby-Year Book, Inc.: St. Louis. p. 1220-1325.). Causes of BOO include prostatic enlargement (benign or malignant), bladder neck contracture, urethral stricture, and meatal stricture (Steers et al, Voiding dysfunction: diagnosis, classification, and management, in Adult and Pediatric Urology; Third Edition, J. Y. Gillenwater, et al., Editors. 1996, Mosby-Year Book, Inc.: St. Louis. p. 1220-1325.). Symptoms associated with BOO typically fall into obstructive or irritative categories; obstructive symptoms include hesitancy, poor stream, prolonged urination, and feelings of incomplete emptying, while irritative symptoms consist of frequency, urgency. nocturia. and unstable bladder contractions. The bladder is functionally and anatomically divided into the detrusor (body and ventral base) and trigone (dorsal portion of base extending between the ureteral orifices and the bladder neck) (Zderic et al. Voiding function: relevant anatomy, physiology. pharmacology, and molecular aspects, in Adult and Pediatric Urology; Third Edition, J. Y. Gillenwater, et al., Editors. 1996, Mosby-Year Book, Inc.: St. Louis. p. 1159-1219), with distinct histology, histochemistry, and pharmacology. In contrast, the prostate and trigone have similar vascular supply, innervation, and receptor expression (Gosling et al. Detrusor morphology in relation to bladder outflow obstruction and instability, in Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. F. Hinman, Editor. 1983, Springer-Verlag: Berlin. p. 666-71).

[0004] The physiology of LUTS secondary to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) has two components: (1) a static component related to the increase in prostatic cellular mass and (2) a dynamic component related to variations in prostatic smooth muscle tone (Caine et al, Brit. J. Urol. 47:193-202 (1975)). Histologically BPH is characterized by glandular (epithelial) and stromal (fibromuscular) hyperplasia, with the latter being the dominant factor in the pathogenesis of clinically significant BPH (Shapiro et al, J. Urol. 147:1293-1297 (1992)). Therefore much attention has focused on the role of the sympathetic nervous system and α1-adrenergic receptors (α1ARs) in the dynamic component of BOO, leading to clinical studies of α1AR antagonists as agents to relieve outlet obstruction. These studies have found that α1AR antagonists relax prostatic smooth muscle, relieving obstructive symptoms (Chapple, Brit. J. Urol. 1:47-55 (1995), Caine, Urol. Clin. N. Am. 17:641-649 (1990), Kawabe and Niijima, Urol. Int. 42:280-284 (1987), Lepor et al, J. Urol. 148:1467-1474 (1992), Reuther and Aagaard, Urol. Int. 39:312-313 (1984), Matyus and Horvath. Med. Res. Rev. 17:523-535 (1997)). In addition, α1AR antagonists have been found to relieve the irritative bladder symptoms in men (most often associated with BPH) and women (Matyus and Horvath, Med. Res. Rev. 17:523-535 (1997), Serels and Stein, Neurourol. Urodyn. 17:31-36 (1998)). While it is logical to assume that elimination of BOO would relieve irritative symptoms, a number of recent studies suggest that the relationship between bladder irritability and outlet obstruction is not straightforward (Caine, Urol. Clin. N. Am. 17:641-649 (1990), Chapple and Smith, Brit. J. Urol. 73:117-123 (1994), Steers and De, J. Urol. 140:864-71 (1988), Steers et al, Am. J. Physiol. 266:R20 (1994)).

[0005] α1ARs are members of the larger family of G protein-coupled adrenergic receptors which mediate actions of the endogenous catecholamines norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine, resulting in smooth muscle contraction. cDNAs encoding three distinct α1AR subtypes (α1a, α1b, α1d) have been cloned, expressed in cells, and resultant protein characterized pharmacologically (Schwinn et al, J. Pharmacol. Exper. Ther. 272:134-142 (1995), Hieble et al, Pharmacol. Rev. 47:267-70 (1995)). α1aARs predominate in prostate and bladder trigone (Price et al, J. Urol. 150:546-551 (1993)), and have been shown to be functionally important in mediating prostate smooth muscle contraction (Forray et al, Mol. Pharmacol. 45:703-708 (1994), Lepor et al., J. Pharmacol. Exper. Ther. 270:722-727 (1994)). In addition to the three cloned α1AR subtypes which have high affinity for the antagonist prazosin, a fourth type of α1AR with low affinity for prazosin (α1L) has been postulated (Muramatsu et al, Brit. J. Urol. 74:572-578 (1994)). In spite of initial evidence suggesting a role for the α1LAR in human prostate smooth muscle contraction (Ford et al, Mol. Pharmacol. 49:209-215 (1996)), more recent data suggests RS17053 (the compound used in these studies) detects a low affinity state of the α1aAR in tissues rather than a distinct α1LAR (Ford et al. Br. J. Pharmacol. 121:1127-1135 (1997)). Since non-selective α1AR antagonists currently used to treat BPH have undesirable side-effects including light headedness, dizziness, and asthenia (Carruthers. Drug Safety 11:12-20 (1994)), many investigators have suggested that α1aAR subtype selective antagonists might be beneficial in improving BPH-related symptoms via relieving BOO (Matyus and Horvath, Med. Res. Rev. 17:523-535 (1997), Hieble and Ruffolo, Jr., Exp. Opin. Invest. Drugs 6:367-387 (1997)). However, this approach does not take into account that irritative symptoms may persist in spite of relief of outlet obstruction (Hieble and Ruffolo, Jr., Exp. Opin. Invest. Drugs 6:367-387 (1997)).

[0006] Very little information exists regarding the role of α1ARs in human detrusor. One of the few studies addressing this issue suggests human bladder (dome) contains only α1aARs (Walden et al. J. Urol. 157:1032-1038 (1997)). However, since irritative bladder symptoms persist in some patients despite relief of BOO, nonselective α1AR antagonists may relieve the irritative effects of BPH through direct effects on bladder detrusor or other sites involved in micturation. The present invention results from the realization that human detrusor expresses two α1AR subtypes (α1d>α1a). This realization makes possible the identification of α1AR subtype selective antagonists that can be used to treat irritative symptoms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates generally to bladder and lower urinary tract syndromes and, more particularly, to a method of identifying α1dAR antagonists that can be used to treat irritative symptoms. The invention also relates to a method of treating irritative symptoms using such agents.

[0008] Objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIGS. 1A-1C. Schematic of the location of α1AR subtype probes. Highlighted in bold are regions of α1a (FIG. 1A), α1b (FIG. 1B), and α1d (FIG. 1C) ARs encoded by probes used in RNase protection assays.

[0010] FIG. 2. Representative saturation binding isotherm generated using increasing concentrations of the α1AR radiolabeled antagonist [(125I]HEAT in human detrusor membranes. Kd is 130±1.09 pM (n=5), similar to that reported for cells stably expressing each cloned human α1AR subtype (Schwinn et al, J Pharmacol. Exper. Ther. 272:134-142 (1995)—α1a/dAR of the reference refers to the α1dAR subtype described herein since the α1AR nomenclature used here is the IUPHAR nomenclature (Hieble et al. Phar. Rev. 97:267 (1995)).

[0011] FIG. 3. RNase protection assays examining α1AR subtype expression in detrusor were performed in all patients (n=13). A representative RNase protection assay showing results from five patients is shown. In this experiment, radiolabeled probe for each α1AR subtype is shown at the far left along with (from left to right) protected fragments resulting from total RNA extracted from rat-1 fibroblast cells stably expressing each cloned human α1AR subtype (20 mg; positive probe control), yeast tRNA (20 mg; negative control); and total RNA isolated from human detrusor (20 mg) from five patients (lanes 1-5). Gel exposure times are 24 hrs for probe and positive control lanes and 72 hrs for tRNA and human detrusor samples. Although the α1dAR subtype mRNA band is stronger than the α1aAR protected fragment, the α1aAR probe contains 73% more radiolabeled αUTP compared with the α1d; hence, after normalization for radioactive label incorporation, two-fold predominance of the α1dAR subtype in human detrusor is apparent.

[0012] FIGS. 4A and 4B. Results from RT-PCR experiments on human detrusor (FIG. 4A) and rat whole bladder (FIG. 4B) RNA. α1dAR subtype specific cDNA in plasmid vectors served as positive controls.

[0013] FIG. 5. α1AR subtype expression in human detrusor was determined using competition analysis with the α1dAR-subtype selective ligand BMY7378. Results from a representative curve are shown demonstrating a two-site fit with high affinity Ki corresponding to the α1dAR.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention is based on the recognition of α1dAR as the α1AR subtype responsible for irritative symptoms associated with bladder and lower urinary tract diseases. The invention provides, in one embodiment. a method of selecting α1dAR antagonists and, in a further embodiment, a method of treating irritative symptoms using α1dAR antagonists. (The nomenclature used herein is the new nomenclature provided in Hieble et al, Phar. Rev. 97:267 (1995)).

[0015] The method of treatment to which the invention relates comprises administering to a patient suffering irritative symptoms an amount of an α1dAR antagonist sufficient to relieve such symptoms. In accordance with the invention, irritative symptoms include excessive frequency of urination, urgency of urination, nocturia and unstable bladder contractions. Patients amenable to treatment include men and women, children and adults. In males, a preferred antagonist is both an α1aAR and an α1dAR antagonist. In females, preferred antagonists are α1dAR specific antagonists. The amount of the antagonist to be administered and the treatment regimen will vary with the antagonist, the patient and the effect sought. Optimum doses and regimens, however, can be readily determined by one skilled in the relevant art.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a method of screening compounds for their ability to bind primarily to α1dAR and thereby to function, potentially. as α1dAR antagonists Preferred α1dAR selective antagonists show at least a two fold selectivity for α1dAR relative to α1aAR or α1bAR. Binding assays of this embodiment invention include cell-free assays in which α1dAR. or portion thereof (e.g. relevant transmembrane portion—see, generally. Hwa et al. J. Biol. Chem. 271:7956 (1996)). is incubated with a test compound (proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous) which. advantageously, bears a detectable label (e.g., a radioactive or fluorescent label). Preparations of membranes that bear α1dAR can be used in this assay. including commercially available preparations (e.g. the NEN multireceptor kit (NET 1034)). Following incubation. the α1dAR, or portion thereof. free or bound to test compound. can be separated from unbound test compound using any of a variety of techniques (for example, the α1dAR (or portion thereof) (e.g., associated with a membrane) can be bound to a solid support (e.g., a plate or a column) and washed free of unbound test compound). The amount of test compound bound to or α1dAR. portion thereof is then determined using a technique appropriate for detecting the label used (e.g., liquid scintillation counting in the case of a radiolabelled test compound). (See Schwinn et al, J. Pharm. Exp. Ther. 272:134 (1995).)

[0017] Binding assays of this embodiment can also take the form of cell-free competition binding assays. Such assays can be conducted as described in the Examples that follow (see particularly Example 2 (the test compound being substituted for BMY7378)—see also Schwinn et al, J. Pharm. Exp. Ther. 272:134 (1995)). Alternatively, α1dAR, or portion thereof, can be incubated with a compound known to interact, specifically. with α1dAR (e.g., BMY7378), which compound, advantageously, bears a detectable label (e.g., a radioactive or fluorescent label). A test compound (proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous) is added to the reaction and assayed for its ability to compete with the known (labeled) compound for binding to α1dAR, or portion thereof. Free known (labeled) compound can be separated from bound known compound, and the amount of bound known compound determined to assess the ability of the test compound to compete. This assay can be formatted so as to facilitate screening of large numbers of test compounds by linking the α1dAR. or portion thereof or, to a solid support so that it can be readily washed free of unbound reactants.

[0018] α1dAR. or portion thereof. suitable for use in the cell-free assays described above can be isolated from natural sources (e.g., as membrane preparations derived from bladder, e.g., human bladder) or prepared recombinantly or chemically. The α1dAR. or portion thereof, or can be prepared as a fusion protein using, for example, known recombinant techniques. Preferred fusion proteins include a HIS tag, a FLAG tag, a GFP tag or other tag (moiety) suitable for use in colorimetric assays. Typically, the non-α1dAR moiety is present in the fusion protein N-terminal to the α1dAR, or portion thereof domain, but it can also be C-terminal.

[0019] As indicated above, the α1dAR, or portion thereof, can be present linked to a solid support, including a plastic or glass plate or bead, a chromatographic resin, a filter or a membrane. Methods of attachment of proteins, or membranes containing same. to such supports are well known in the art.

[0020] The binding assays of the invention also include cell-based assays in which α1dAR, or portion thereof, is associated with the cell membrane of an intact cell. Cells suitable for use in such assays include cells that naturally express α1dAR and cells that have been engineered to express, advantageously, over express, α1dAR (or portion thereof). Advantageously, cells expressing human α1dAR are used. Suitable cells are preferably eucaryotic, including mammalian (human and nonhuman) cells. insect cells and yeast cells.

[0021] Cells can be engineered to express α1dAR (advantageously. human α1dAR. or portion thereof) by introducing into a selected host (e.g. a eucaryotic host) an expression construct comprising a sequence encoding α1dAR, or portion thereof, operably linked to a promoter. A variety of vectors and promoters can be used. (See Schwinn et al, J. Pharm. Exp. Ther. 272:134 (1995).) Introduction of the construct into the host can be effected using any of a variety of standard transfection/transformation protocols (see Molecular Biology, A Laboratory Manual, second edition. J. Sambrook, E. F. Fritsch and T. Maniatis, Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1989). Cells thus produced can be cultured using established culture techniques suitable for the involved host. Culture conditions can be optimized to ensure expression of the α1dAR (or portion thereof) encoding sequence.

[0022] While for the cell-based binding assays it is appropriate that the α1dAR (or portion thereof) be associated with the cell membrane, for other purposes the expression product can be secreted into the culture medium or present in the cell cytoplasm.

[0023] The cell-based binding assays of the invention can be carried out essentially as described above with respect to the cell free assays. Advantageously. the cell used expresses predominantly the α1dAR subtype. By way of example. the cell-based binding assay can be carried out by adding test compound (advantageously. bearing a detectable (e.g., radioactive or fluorescent) label), to medium in which the α1dAR (or portion thereof) expressing cells are cultured, incubating the test compound with the cells under conditions favorable to binding and then removing unbound test compound and determining the amount of test compound associated with the cells.

[0024] As in the case of the cell-free assays, the cell-based assays can also take the form of competitive assays, as described above. For example. a compound known to bind α1dAR (and preferably labelled with a detectable label) can be incubated with α1dAR (or portion thereof) expressing cells in the presence and absence of test compound. The affinity of a test compound for α1dAR can be assessed by determining the amount of known compound associated with the cells incubated in the presence of the test compound. as compared to the amount associated with the cells in the absence of the test compound.

[0025] A test compound identified in one or more of the above-described assays as being capable of binding to α1dAR can. potentially. serve as an α1dAR antagonist and therefore be suitable for use in the irritative symptom treatment method of the invention. To determine the specific effect of any particular test compound selected on the basis of its ability to bind α1dAR, various assays can be used including IP assays (see Schwinn et al, J. Pharm. Exp. Ther. 272:134 (1995)) and bladder (e.g. human bladder) smooth muscle contraction assays (Ford et al, Mol. Pharm. 49:209 (1996)). Compounds suitable for use in treating irritative symptoms will be associated with antagonistic (inhibitory) effects in the IP assay and contraction inhibitory effects in the contraction assay.

[0026] In another embodiment, the invention relates to compounds identified using the above-described assays as being α1dAR antagonist. The compounds identified in accordance with the above assays can be formulated as pharmaceutical compositions. Such compositions comprise the compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. The compound can be present in dosage unit form (e.g., as a tablet or capsule) or as a solution, preferably sterile, particularly when administration by injection is anticipated. The dose and dosage regimen will vary, for example, with the patient. the compound and the effect sought. Optimum doses and regimens can be determined readily by one skilled in the art.

[0027] In another embodiment, the invention relates to antibodies specific for a α1dAR, and antigen binding fragments thereof. including F(ab)2′ or F(ab) fragments. The antibodies can be monoclonal or polyclonal and can be prepared using standard techniques. The antibodies can be used in α1dAR purification protocols or the antibodies can be formulated as pharmaceutical compositions and used therapeutically as α1dAR antagonists.

[0028] In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a gene therapy approach to treating irritative symptoms. In this embodiment, oligonucleotides (constructs) are used that, upon administration, result in the production of a molecule that down regulates production of α1dAR. In a related embodiment, the present invention relates to α1dAR antisense constructs and to a method of using same to treat irritative symptoms. Such constructs can be designed to target any of a variety of regions of the α1dAR gene, including the encoding sequence (e.g., regions encoding the intracellular portion that interacts with G protein and participates in the signal transduction pathway) and the 5′-untranslated region.

[0029] Delivery of the above-described constructs can be effected using any of a variety of approaches, including installation into the bladder (e.g. via the uretha) and introduction into the cerebrospinal fluid. The constructs can also be administered systemically, in which case targeting can be effected using, for example, smooth muscle (e.g. bladder smooth muscle) specific promoters.

[0030] Effective vectors for use in the above-described gene therapy/antisense embodiments include viral vectors, such as retroviral vectors, adenoviral vectors and adenoassociated viral vectors. The constructs can also be present in association with a lipid, e.g. a liposome. (For details of antisense constructs and delivery systems, etc. see, for example, Wagner Nature 372:333 (1994).) The amount of construct to be administered will vary, for example, with the construct. the patient and the effect sought. One skilled in the relevant art can readily optimize the dose and treatment regimen.

[0031] In yet another embodiment, the invention relates to kits, for example. kits suitable for conducting assays described herein. Such kits can include α1dAR, or portion thereof, for example, bound to a solid support. The kit can include an α1dAR-encoding sequence, α1dAR antisense construct or α1dAR-specific antibody. The kit can include any of the above components disposed within one or more container means. The kit can further include ancillary reagents (e.g., buffers) for use in the assays.

[0032] Certain aspects of the present invention are described in greater detail in the non-limiting Examples that follow.

EXAMPLES

[0033] The following experimental details are relevant to the specific Examples that follow.

[0034] Tissue preparation. Full-thickness human bladder detrusor was obtained as discarded “normal” tissue adjacent to tumor specimens (n=1 radical cystectomy, n=12 radical cystoprostatectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder) with appropriate institutional approval. Each sample was inspected by a pathologist and normal tissue confirmed. Detrusor smooth muscle was grossly teased from urothelial and serosal layers, snap frozen in liquid nitrogen within 30 minutes of excision, and stored at −70° C. for later use. Whole rat bladder was obtained from euthanized male Sprague-Dawley rats (Charles River Laboratories; Wilmington, Mass.) with institutional animal care committee approval. Rat tissue was harvested within two minutes of death, snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. and stored at −70° C. for later use.

[0035] Human detrusor and rat bladder membrane preparation. Human detrusor and rat whole bladder was minced over dry ice, and suspended in cold lysis buffer (5 mM Tris HCl and 5 mM EDTA, pH7.4) with protease inhibitors benzamidine (10 mg/ml), leupeptin (5 mg/ml), and soybean trypsin inhibitor (10 mg/ml) (Sigma Chemical Company; St. Louis, Mo.). A lysate was prepared with a Polytron PT 3000 (Brinklmann; Westbury, N.Y.) at 10,000 rpm for 10 seconds. After pelleting at 40,000×g for 15 minutes (Sorvall SM24 rotor), membranes were suspended in cold resuspension buffer (150 mN NaCl, 50 mN Tris HCl, 5 mM EDTA, pH7.4) with protease inhibitors. and kept on ice for immediate use (or stored at −70° C. for later use). Protein content was determined using the bicinchoninic assay (BCA) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) standards (Pierce; Rockford, Ill.).

[0036] Radioligand binding. All mNA and protein studies described were performed using detrusor from each patient described above (n=13). In order to conserve sample, and yet fully characterize a1ARs in human detrusor. additional full saturation binding isotherms were generated in human detrusor samples from a subset of patients (n=5) using a buffer consisting of 150 mM NaCl. 50 mN Tris HCl and 5 mM EDTA, pH7.4, with protease inhibitors. Each reaction was performed in triplicate. in a total volume of 0.25 ml. including diluted human detrusor membranes (50 to 100 mg protein) and the α1AR antagonist [125I]HEAT (NEN Research Products-DuPont; Boston, Mass.) ranging in concentration from 2-900 pM; nonspecific binding was measured in the presence of 1 mM prazosin (Sigma). The reaction proceeded at 25° C. for 45 minutes. and was terminated with five-fold dilution of ice-cold 50 mM Tris HCl, pH7.4 buffer, followed by rapid filtration over GF/C filters using a Brandel harvester. Dried filters were then counted in a gamma counter. Specific binding was calculated by subtracting nonspecific binding from total binding. Saturation curves were fit with noniterative regression analysis using InPlot software (GraphPad; San Diego, Calif.). Total α1AR density was then determined in each detrusor sample as described above, using a saturating concentration of [125I]HEAT (300 pM). Results are reported as mean±SEM to two significant figures.

[0037] To determine Ki values in human detrusor for α1AR subtype discriminating ligands, competition binding was performed in triplicate in a total volume of 0.25 ml using binding buffer (see saturation binding above). Human detrusor membranes (50 to 100 μg protein) were incubated with a Kd concentration (120 pM) of the α1AR antagonist [125I]HEAT, and increasing concentrations (10−12 to 10−3M) of the non-radiolabeled α1dAR-selective ligand BMY7378 (Research Biochemicals International; Natick, Mass.). Reaction conditions were as described above. Curves were fit with noniterative regression analysis using InPlot software (GrapiPad).

[0038] Preparation of RNA. Total RNA was extracted from human detrusor or rat whole bladder samples using the RNazol method (Tel-Test, Inc.; Friendswood, Tex.). RNA was quantitated using a spectrophotometer at 260/280 nm, and aliquoted into 20 mg samples for immediate use.

[0039] Human α1AR cDNA constructs. The human α1aAR probe consists of a 0.326 kb (PvuII/HindIII) fragment in pGEM-4Z (Promega Corporation; Madison, Wis.), corresponding to nucleotides 958-1283 of the cloned human α1aAR cDNA (GenBank #L31774). The human α1bAR probe consists of a 0.673 kb (XhoI/BamHI) fragment in pGEM-4Z (Promega), corresponding to nucleotides 94-766 of the cloned human α1dAR cDNA (GenBank #L31773). The human α1dAR probe consists of a 0.377 kb (EcoRI/PstI) fragment, corresponding to nucleotides 520-896 of the cloned human α1dAR cDNA (GenBank #L31772). FIG. 1 shows the location of each α1AR subtype probe within a schematic of the encoded protein. The human cyclophilin probe consists of a 0.103 kb (KpnI/EcoRI) fragment in pTRI (Ambion, Inc.; Austin, Tex.), corresponding to nucleotides 38-140 of the cloned human cyclophilin gene (GenBank #X52856).

[0040] Labeling of RNA probes. Antisense single-stranded radiolabeled RNA probes were generated from linearized α1AR cDNA constructs using RNA polymerase T7 (α1a, cyclophilin) and SP6 (α1b, α1d)as described in the Promega Protocols and Applications Guide (Promega Corporation; Madison, Wis.). α1aAR and α1dAR cDNA constructs were linearized with EcoRI, and the α1bAR cDNA construct was linearized with HindIII. 32P-αUTP (NEN Research Products-DuPont) was incorporated into RNA probes at the time of probe synthesis. All probes were purified on a 5% polyacrylaminde gel (300V for 1.5 hr); after exposure to film for 3 min, radiolabeled RNA probes were excised from the gel and passively eluted overnight into 400 μl of RPA II kit (Ambion) elution buffer at 37° C.

[0041] RNase protection assays. RNase protection assays were conducted as previously described (Zinn et al, Cell 34:865-879 (1983)) with a few modifications. In brief, total RNA samples (20 mg) were dissolved in 20 ml of hybridization buffer containing >20-fold excess of radiolabeled probe (2×105 cpm/reaction for α1a, α1b, α1d, and 1×105 cpm/reaction for cyclophilin). and incubated overnight at 55° C. (α1a, α1b) and 65° C. (α1d, cyclophilin). To ensure specificity of the synthesized radiolabeled antisense human α1AR subtype selective probes, RNase protection assays were performed in tandom with total RNA extracted from rat-1 fibroblast cells stably expressing each cloned human α1AR subtype. As a negative control, RNase protection assays for each α1AR subtype selective probe were performed in tandom with yeast tRNA samples and other non-hybridizing α1AR subtypes. Antisense radiolabeled probe to the highly conserved region of the constitutively expressed human cyclophilin gene was also utilized as a control to ensure identical amounts of total RNA in each assay. The final gel was exposed to X-Omat AR film (Eastman Kodak Company: Rochester, N.Y.) for 24-72 hours.

[0042] α1AR mRNA quantitation in human detrusor smooth muscle from RNase protection assays. In order to quantitate relative α1AR subtype mRNA, each RNase protection assay final gel was exposed to Phosphorimager plates (Molecular Dynamics: Sunnyvale, Calif.) for 24 hours. Volume integration of specific protected radiolabeled bands for each mRNA resulting from hybridization products was corrected for background, normalized for cyclophilin signal, and expressed as arbitrary density units, using ImageQuant gel image-analysis software (Molecular Dynamics). α1AR probes contained the following number of UTP sites for 32P-αUTP incorporation: α1a 88, α1b 117, α1d 51. Arbitrary density units were normalized to the lowest 32P-αUTP incorporating probe (α1dAR) and then expressed as a fraction (±SEM) of total α1AR mRNA signal strength.

[0043] Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). RT-PCR was used to confirm expression of human detrusor α1AR subtypes (to ensure low concentrations of a subtype were not missed in human bladder) and to compare α1AR subtype mRNA expression in rat whole bladder with previously published rat data (Walden et al, J. Urol. 157:1032-1038 (1997), Scofield et al, J. Pharmacol. Exper. Ther. 275:1035-1042 (1995)). Human and rat α1AR subtype primers were synthesized at Duke University Medical Center. Reverse transcription of 1 mg of DNase-treated human detrusor or rat bladder RNA was performed in triplicate in a 20 ml reaction mixture containing 5 mM MgCl2, 1 mM each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP, 10 mM Tris HCl, 50 mM KCl, 2 ml DEPC treated water, 2.5 mM random hexamers, 1 unit of RNase inhibitor, and 2.5 units of MuLV Reverse Transcriptase (Perkin Elmer; Foster City. Calif.); simultaneous control samples not treated with reverse transcriptase were used to rule out amplification of genomic DNA. Reverse transcriptase reactions were run for 60 min at 42° C. 5 min at 95° C. and 10 min at 4° C. Each α1AR mRNA subtype was amplified by PCR in triplicate in a 100 ml reaction containing 50 mM KCl, 10 mM Tris HCl pH8.3, 2 mM MgCl2, 200 mM each of dATP, dCTP. dGTP and dTTP, 15 pM of sense and antisense primer. 5% DMSO, and 2.5 units of AmpliTaq DNA polymerase (Perkin Elmer). PCR reactions were performed in a DeltaCycler II™ temperature cycler (ERICOMP; San Diego, Calif.). The following conditions were established for all three rat primer sets: one denaturation cycle for 3 minutes at 95° C., 35 cycles of 1 min at 95° C., 1 min annealing at 58° C. and a 1 min extension at 72° C. The following conditions were established for all three human primer sets: one denaturation cycle for 3 minutes at 95° C., 35 cycles of 1 min at 95° C. 1 min annealing at 60° C. for α1a and α1b, and 68° C. for α1d, and a 1 min extension at 72° C. A final extension cycle was performed for 10 min at 72° C. Reaction mixtures were then cooled at 4° C. 10 ml of each PCR product was separated by gel electrophoresis in 0.8% agarose. Since PCR experiments were only confirmatory in nature by design, exact quantitation (requiring competitive PCR) was not performed. However, to ensure that any statement regarding relative mRNA levels is appropriate, it is important to note that conditions described above (e.g. different annealing temperatures) were chosen after extensive preliminary analysis with each primer set to ensure optimal amplification conditions with similar primer product efficiency. Equality of reverse transcription efficiency for products was checked using equal concentrations of starting control cDNA: these reactions also served as a positive control for use of correct primer sets. Thirty-five cycles of amplification was chosen since it is at the upper end of the linear amplification range for all six primer sets (α1AR mRNAs are rare at baseline in many human tissues and in our hands 40 cycles of amplification is where the curve becomes non-linear).

Example 1

Human Patient Population

[0044] Human detrusor smooth muscle was obtained from male (n=12) and female (n=1) patients. Patient age ranged from 56 to 76 years old (mean=59.6). Significant past medical history included tobacco abuse, coronary artery disease, hypertension controlled with α1AR or βAR antagonists (n=3), and a history of BOO (n=2) necessitating previous transurethral resection of prostate. Comparison of results from patients with hypertension and/or BOO (n=5) suggests medical history did not affect the results. A larger study would be required to make any definitive statement in this regard.

Example 2

α1AR Ligand Saturation Binding

[0045] Pharmacological characteristics of α1ARs in human detrusor include a Kd for the radiolabeled α1AR antagonist [125I]HEAT of 130±1.9 pM, similar to that reported for cells stably expressing the cloned human α1aAR subtype ((Schwinn et al, J Pharmacol. Exper. Ther. 272:134-142 (1995)). A representative saturation binding isotherm is shown in FIG. 2. Total α1AR density as measured by saturation binding in human detrusor membrane preparations with the α1AR antagonist [125I]HEAT is 6.3±1.0 fmol/mg protein (mean±SEM, range 2.7-9.0, n=13). Although low (with corresponding high non-specific binding of 70-80% as expected), α1AR expression is reproducible and consistent within and between patients.

Example 3

Identification and Quantification of the α1AR mRNA Subtypes in Human Bladder Detrusor

[0046] In order to determine which α1AR subtypes are present in human detrusor, molecular approaches were chosen due to their sensitivity and specificity. To ensure specificity of the synthesized radiolabeled antisense human α1AR subtype selective probes. RNase protection assays were performed simultaneously with total RNA extracted from rat-1 fibroblast cells stably expressing each cloned human α1AR subtype. Each α1AR subtype specific probe protects a single predominant fragment of predicted size without cross-hybridization (FIG. 3. positive control cells); a lack of cross-hybridization between subtypes with each probe (Price et al, Mol. Pharmacol. 46:221-226 (1994)). As was previously demonstrated a further negative control, RFNase protection assays for each α1AR subtype selective probe were performed in tandom with yeast tRNA samples, where no hybridization is demonstrated (FIG. 3, tRNA lane). Human detrusor contains α1dAR >α1aAR mRNA, but no α1bAR mRNA in every patient studied (n=13; FIG. 3 shows representative results from patients number 1 through 5). This data, when corrected for background, normalized for cyclophilin content. and corrected for probe 32P-αUTP incorporation. reveals that α1dAR mRNA constitutes 66±4.8% and α1aAR mRNA 34±4.8% of the total α1AR mRNA in human detrusor.

Example 4

Confirmation of α1AR Subtype mRNA in Human Detrusor and Comparison with Rat Whole Bladder using RT-PCR

[0047] In order to confirm results from RNase protection assays and to compare with another frequently used animal model (rat), α1AR subtype expression was examined using RT-PCR in each patient. Primer nucleotide sequences, melting temperatures (Tm), and primer positions relative to the cDNA sequence are shown in Table 1 and Table 2; these primers do not span an intron.

TABLE 1
Oligonucleotide primers used for rat α1AR subtype RT-PCR.
	nucleotide sequences		primer position
Rat α1AR primers	5′ 3′	Tm	relative to cDNA
α1aAR sense	GTAGCCAAGAGAAAGCCG	62° C.	628-647
α1aAR antisense	CAACCCACCACGATGCCCAG	66° C.	839-820
α1bAR sense	GCTCCTTCTACATCCCGCTCG	68° C.	629-649
α1bAR antisense	AGGGGAGCCAACATAAGATGA	62° C.	928-908
α1dAR sense	CGTGTGCTCCTTCTACCTACC	66° C.	759-779
α1dAR antisense	GCACAGGACGAAGACACCCAC	68° C.	1062-1042

[0048]

TABLE 2
Oligonucleotide primers used for human α1AR subtype RT-PCR.
Human α1AR	nucleotide sequences		primer position
primers	5′ 3′	Tm	relative to cDNA
α1aAR sense	ATCATCTCCATCGACCGCTACA	66° C.	355-376
α1aAR antisense	TCACTTGCTCCGAGTCCGACTT	68° C.	697-676
α1bAR sense	GCTCCTTCTACATCCCTCTGG	68° C.	629-649
α1bAR antisense	AGGGTAGCCAGCACAAGATGA	67° C.	928-908
α1dAR sense	ACCACGCGCAGCCTCGAGGCAGGC	84° C.	850-873
α1dAR antisense	GAGCGAGCTGCGGAAGGTGTGGCC	82° C.	999-976

[0049] Although RNase protection assays are considered the “gold standard” for quantitating mRNA present in a given tissue, this approach is not as sensitive as PCR, therefore very small amounts of mRNA can be missed in a RNase protection assay but demonstrated by PCR. As shown in FIG. 4, RT-PCR performed on human detrusor total RNA demonstrates the presence of α1aAR and α1dAR mRNA, and lack of α1bAR mRNA, consistent with data from the RNase protection assays. Of note, α1dAR mRNA accounts for approximately 60-70% of total α1AR mRNA in human derrusor with α1aAR mRNA accounting for 30-40%. again confirming the RNase protection assay results. Species heterogeneity (human versus rat) of α1AR subtype mRNA expression has been previously reported for many tissues (Price et al, Mol. Pharmacol. 46:221-226 (1994), Price et al, Mol. Pharmacol. 45:171-175 (1994)). Indeed, as seen in FIG. 4, RT-PCR performed on pooled rat bladder total RNA demonstrates the presence of all three α1AR mRNAs in roughly equal concentrations in rat.

Example 5

Determination of α1AR Subtype Expression at a Protein Level

[0050] Competition analysis was used to determine α1AR subtype expression at a protein level in human detrusor. Since molecular studies demonstrate a predominance of α1dAR mRNA, the α1dAR -selective compound BMY7378 was used in these studies. As graphically represented in FIG. 5, a two-site fit was evident in every patient studied (n=13), with high affinity binding predominating (high pKi, =8.6±0.2 [66±3.1% total] vs. low pKi, =4.9±0.2 [35±3.1% total]) (Table 3).

TABLE 3
Results from competition binding experiments utilizing membranes
from rat-1 fibroblasts stably transfected with each α1AR
subtype (controls) and human detrusor (n = 13). Since no α1bAR
was found in human detrusor by RNase protection assays and RT-PCR,
one versus two site fit of the data was utilized.
	BMY7378 (pK1)
	α1aAR	α1bAR	α1dAR	% High	% Low
Human	4.9 ± 0.2	—	8.6 ± 0.2	66 ± 3.1	35 ± 3.1
detrusor
Control α1a	4.8 ± 0.1	—	—
Control α1b	—	5.1 ± 0.3	—
Control α1d	—	—	8.5 ± 0.1

[0051] All documents cited above are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

[0052] One skilled in the art will appreciate from a reading of this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of treating irritative symptoms of bladder or lower urinary tract disease comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment an amount of an α1-adrenergic receptor (α1dAR) antagonist sufficient to effect said treatment.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said patient suffers from a disease of the bladder.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said patient suffers from a disease of the lower urinary tract.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the patient is a female.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said α1dAR antagonist is specific for α1dAR.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the patient is male.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said α1dAR antagonist is an α1dAR antagonist and an α1aAR antagonist.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said symptoms are selected from the group consisting of frequent urination, urgent urination, nocturia and unstable bladder contractions.

9. A method of treating irritative symptoms of bladder or lower urinary tract disease comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment an effective amount of a construct comprising an oligonucleotide that inhibits production of α1dAR or that encodes a molecule that inhibits production of α1dAR.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said construct is an antisense construct.

11. A method of screening a test compound for its ability to bind α1dAR comprising incubating said test compound with α1dAR, or portion thereof, and determining the amount of said test compound bound to said α1dAR, or portion thereof.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said portion comprises the transmembrane portion of α1dAR.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein said test compound bears a detectable label.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein said α1dAR, or portion thereof, is present in a cell membrane.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said membrane is the membrane of an intact cell.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said cell is a eucaryotic cell.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein said cell is a cell that has been engineered to express or over-express said α1dAR, or portion thereof.

18. The method according to claim 11 wherein said test compound is incubated with said α1dAR, or portion thereof, in the presence of an agent known to bind to α1dAR, or portion thereof, and the amount of said test compound that binds to said α1dAR, or portion thereof, is determined indirectly by determining the amount of said agent that binds to said α1dAR, or portion thereof.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said agent bears a detectable label.

20. The method according to claim 18 wherein said agent is BMY7378 or tamsulosin.

21. A compound identified using the method according to claim 11.

22. A composition comprising the compound according to claim 21, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

23. A kit comprising α1dAR, or portion thereof, bound to a solid support.

24. A kit comprising α1dAR, or portion thereof, labeled with a detectable label.

25. A cell engineered to express or over-express α1dAR, or portion thereof.

26. An antibody specific for α1dAR.

27. An antisense construct comprising an oligonucleotides, operably linked to a promoter, the transcript of said oligonucleotide being complementary to α1dAR mRNA.