Metabolites of the ring-substituted stimulants MDMA, methylone and MDPV differentially affect human monoaminergic systems

Bruce E. Blough; Dino Luethi; Karolina E Kolaczynska; Melanie Walter; Masaki Suzuki; Kenner C Rice; Bruce E. Blough; Marius C Hoener; Michael H Baumann; Matthias E Liechti

Metabolites of the ring-substituted stimulants MDMA, methylone and MDPV differentially affect human monoaminergic systems

Luethi, D., Kolaczynska, K. E., Walter, M., Suzuki, M., Rice, K. C., Blough, B. E., Hoener, M. C., Baumann, M. H., & Liechti, M. E. (2019). Metabolites of the ring-substituted stimulants MDMA, methylone and MDPV differentially affect human monoaminergic systems. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 33(7), 831-841. Article 269881119844185. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881119844185

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Amphetamine analogs with a 3,4-methylenedioxy ring-substitution are among the most popular illicit drugs of abuse, exerting stimulant and entactogenic effects. Enzymatic N-demethylation or opening of the 3,4-methylenedioxy ring via O-demethylenation gives rise to metabolites that may be pharmacologically active. Indeed, previous studies in rats show that specific metabolites of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone (methylone) and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) can interact with monoaminergic systems.

AIM: Interactions of metabolites of MDMA, methylone and MDPV with human monoaminergic systems were assessed.

METHODS: The ability of parent drugs and their metabolites to inhibit uptake of tritiated norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin (5-HT) was assessed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells transfected with human monoamine transporters. Binding affinities and functional activity at monoamine transporters and various receptor subtypes were also determined.

RESULTS: MDMA and methylone displayed greater potency to inhibit norepinephrine uptake as compared to their effects on dopamine and 5-HT uptake. N-demethylation of MDMA failed to alter uptake inhibition profiles, whereas N-demethylation of methylone decreased overall transporter inhibition potencies. O-demethylenation of MDMA, methylone and MDPV resulted in catechol metabolites that maintained norepinephrine and dopamine uptake inhibition potencies, but markedly reduced activity at 5-HT uptake. O-methylation of the catechol metabolites significantly decreased norepinephrine uptake inhibition, resulting in metabolites lacking significant stimulant properties.

CONCLUSIONS: Several metabolites of MDMA, methylone and MDPV interact with human transporters and receptors at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. In particular, N-demethylated metabolites of MDMA and methylone circulate in unconjugated form and could contribute to the in vivo activity of the parent compounds in human users.