Development of a peptide targeting dopamine transporter to improve ADHD-like deficits

• Published in: Molecular brain Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 66
• Main Authors: Lai, Terence K Y, Su, Ping, Zhang, Hailong, Liu, Fang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 09.11.2018; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - physiopathology; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Care and treatment; Dopamine - metabolism; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - metabolism; Dopamine receptors; Health aspects; Male; Motor Activity - drug effects; Movement - drug effects; Peptides - chemistry; Peptides - pharmacology; Peptides - therapeutic use; Rats
• ISSN: 1756-6606; 1756-6606
• DOI: 10.1186/s13041-018-0409-0

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurocognitive disorder characterized by hyperactivity, inattention, working memory deficits and impulsivity. Its worldwide prevalence is estimated to be 3-5% in children and adolescents. The mainstay treatment for ADHD is stimulant medications (e.g. methylphenidate), which increase synaptic dopamine by directly blocking dopamine transporter (DAT). Although these pharmacological agents are effective, they are often associated with various side effects including risks for future substance use disorders in ADHD patients. Here, we investigated an interaction between DAT and dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) as a novel target to develop potential therapeutics for the treatment of ADHD by using an interfering peptide (TAT-DAT ) to dissociate this protein complex. We found that TAT-DAT promotes locomotor behavior in Sprague-Dawley rats. Furthermore, using in vivo microdialysis and high-performance liquid chromatography, we found that the disruption of D2R-DAT elevates extracellular dopamine level. More importantly, the interfering peptide, TAT-DAT , attenuates hyperactivity and improves spontaneous alternation behavior in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) --- a common animal model of ADHD. This work presents a different means (i.e. other than direct blockade by a DAT inhibitor) to regulate the activity of DAT and dopaminergic neurotransmission, and a potential target site for future development of ADHD treatments.