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Xylazine Interaction with Opioid Receptors: Binding and Signaling

Award Number: R21DA061044
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2025
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

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Xylazine Interaction with Opioid Receptors: Binding and Signaling - Project Summary/Abstract This resubmitted R21 proposal is in response to the Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Xylazine: Understanding Its Use and Consequences, NOT-DA-24-012. The goal of this study is to determine if xylazine and its metabolites act as agonists or positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) at the mu and kappa opioid receptors (MOR, KOR). Additional studies will determine if xylazine and its metabolites are agonists, antagonists, or inverse agonists at the sigma 1 (s1R) and sigma 2 receptors (s2R). Xylazine binds with nM affinity to the sigma receptors. Illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl and stimulants, are being mixed with xylazine to enhance drugs effects or increase street value by increasing weight. Xylazine is not approved for human use. Xylazine is historically regarded as an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist based on physiological studies using α2-adrenergic receptor antagonists. However, a recent studies showed that the opioid antagonist naloxone induced withdrawal from xylazine in mice and xylazine had micromolar affinity for the α2-adrenergic receptor. Our preliminary data shows that xylazine had a Ki value of 330 ± 13 nM for inhibiting binding to the human KOR. Xylazine also inhibited forskolin-induced cyclic AMP levels in CHO cells expressing the human KOR and stimulated G protein activity as measured by a BRET assay. The following Specific Aims will characterize the potency and pharmacological properties of xylazine. Aim 1 will determine if xylazine and its metabolites act as PAMs at the MOR and KOR as shown with G protein and β-arrestin signaling. Bias signaling through the six Gαi/o/z proteins will be determined and compared with results obtained with β-arrestin recruitment. In addition, experiments will determine if xylazine and its metabolites inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP as an agonist or as a PAM. Radioligand binding experiments will determine if xylazine acts as a PAM by increasing the affinity of agonists such as fentanyl for the MOR or if xylazine increases the potency of an agonist in a functional assay by enhancing coupling of the receptor with the G protein or β- arrestin without affecting the affinity. Experiments will determine if the opioid receptor PAM BMS986122 will increase the potency of xylazine at the KOR and MOR. Xylazine binds to s1R and s2R with Ki values of less than 200 nM. The pharmacological properties of xylazine at the s1R and s2R are not known. The proposed experiments will use a BRET assay and cell proliferation assays to determine if xylazine and its metabolites are agonists, antagonists, or PAMs at the s1R and s2R. Collectively, this study will determine the pharmacological properties of xylazine and its metabolites, which may help explain physiological effects observed in people taking illegal drugs mixed with xylazine.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $192,500 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	910 GENESEE ST	ROCHESTER	NY	14611	MONROE	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	4/29/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$192,500
														Subtotal = $192,500

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $231,000 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	910 GENESEE ST	ROCHESTER	NY	14611	MONROE	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	4/18/2025	NEW	$231,000
														Subtotal = $231,000

Grand Total All Awards = $423,500

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Xylazine Interaction with Opioid Receptors: Binding and Signaling

Award Number: R21DA061044

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2025

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

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