1
|
Disease-Modifying Activity of Huperzine A on Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence from Preclinical Studies on Rodent Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315238. [PMID: 36499562 PMCID: PMC9738397 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Huperzine A, a natural cholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor isolated from the Chinese herb Huperzia Serrata, has been used as a dietary supplement in the United States and a drug in China for therapeutic intervention on Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review aims to determine whether Huperzine A exerts disease-modifying activity through systematic analysis of preclinical studies on rodent AD models. (2) Methods: Sixteen preclinical studies were included based on specific criteria, and the methodological qualities were analyzed by SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. Some outcomes were meta-analyzed: latencies and time spent in quadrant of Morris water maze, soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) level measured by ELISA in the cortex and hippocampus, Aβ plaque numbers measured by immunohistochemistry in hippocampus, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, and AChE activity. Finally, the mechanisms of Huperzine A on AD models were summarized. (3) Conclusions: The outcomes showed that Huperzine A displayed AChE inhibition, ChAT activity enhancement, memory improvement, and Aβ decreasing activity, indicating the disease-modifying effect of Huperzine A. However, due to the uneven methodological quality, the results need to be rationally viewed, and extensively repeated.
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang S, Sun-Waterhouse D, Neil Waterhouse GI, Zheng L, Su G, Zhao M. Effects of food-derived bioactive peptides on cognitive deficits and memory decline in neurodegenerative diseases: A review. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.04.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
3
|
Horak M, Holubova K, Nepovimova E, Krusek J, Kaniakova M, Korabecny J, Vyklicky L, Kuca K, Stuchlik A, Ricny J, Vales K, Soukup O. The pharmacology of tacrine at N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 75:54-62. [PMID: 28089695 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism of tacrine as a precognitive drug has been considered to be complex and not fully understood. It has been reported to involve a wide spectrum of targets involving cholinergic, gabaergic, nitrinergic and glutamatergic pathways. Here, we review the effect of tacrine and its derivatives on the NMDA receptors (NMDAR) with a focus on the mechanism of action and biological consequences related to the Alzheimer's disease treatment. Our findings indicate that effect of tacrine on glutamatergic neurons is both direct and indirect. Direct NMDAR antagonistic effect is often reported by in vitro studies; however, it is achieved by high tacrine concentrations which are not likely to occur under clinical conditions. The impact on memory and behavioral testing can be ascribed to indirect effects of tacrine caused by influencing the NMDAR-mediated currents via M1 receptor activation, which leads to inhibition of Ca2+-activated potassium channels. Such inhibition prevents membrane repolarization leading to prolonged NMDAR activation and subsequently to long term potentiation. Considering these findings, we can conclude that tacrine-derivatives with dual cholinesterase and NMDARs modulating activity may represent a promising approach in the drug development for diseases associated with cognitive dysfunction, such as the Alzheimer disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Horak
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Kristina Holubova
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Eugenie Nepovimova
- Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Krusek
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Kaniakova
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Korabecny
- Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Ladislav Vyklicky
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Kamil Kuca
- Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Stuchlik
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Ricny
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Vales
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Soukup
- Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xu ZQ, Liang XM, Zhang YF, Zhu CX, Jiang XJ. Treatment with Huperzine A improves cognition in vascular dementia patients. Cell Biochem Biophys 2012; 62:55-8. [PMID: 21833673 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-011-9258-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED In the present study, we tested the efficacy and safety of Huperzine A in treatment of mild to moderate vascular dementia (VaD). This was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study with 78 patients with mild to moderate VaD. The participants were randomized to receive either vitamin C (100-mg bid) as placebo (n = 39) or Huperzine A (0.1-mg bid) (n = 39) for 12 consecutive weeks. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE), clinical dementia rating (CDR), and activities of daily living (ADL) scores were used for the assessment of cognition. The assessments were made prior to treatment, and 4, 8, and 12 weeks of the treatment. The adverse effects of the treatment were also recorded. After 12 weeks of treatment, the MMSE, CDR, and ADL scores significantly improved in the Huperzine A group (P < 0.01 for all comparisons), whereas the placebo group did not show any such improvement (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). No serious adverse events were recorded during the treatment. CONCLUSION Huperzine A can significantly improve the cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate vascular dementia. Further, the medicament is safe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qiang Xu
- Department of Neurology, Research Institute of Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Daping, Chongqing, China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Peng Y, Lee DYW, Jiang L, Ma Z, Schachter SC, Lemere CA. Huperzine A regulates amyloid precursor protein processing via protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells over-expressing wild type human amyloid precursor protein 695. Neuroscience 2007; 150:386-95. [PMID: 17945434 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2007] [Revised: 09/04/2007] [Accepted: 10/04/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Alpha-secretase (alpha-secretase), cleaves the amyloid precursor protein (APP) within the amyloid-beta (Abeta) sequence, resulting in the release of a secreted fragment of APP (alphaAPPs) and precluding Abeta generation. We investigated the effects of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, huperzine A (Hup A), on APP processing and Abeta generation in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells overexpressing wild-type human APP695. Hup A dose-dependently (0-10 microM) increased alphaAPPs release. Therefore, we evaluated two alpha-secretase candidates, a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) 10 and ADAM17 in Hup A-induced non-amyloidogenic APP metabolism. Hup A enhanced the level of ADAM10, and the inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme (TACE)/ADAM17 inhibited the Hup A-induced rise in alphaAPPs levels, further suggesting Hup A directed APP metabolism toward the non-amyloidogenic alpha-secretase pathway. Hup A had no effect on Abeta generation in this cell line. The steady-state levels of full-length APP and cell viability were unaffected by Hup A. Alpha-APPs release induced by Hup A treatment was significantly reduced by muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists (particularly by an M1 antagonist), protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, GF109203X and calphostin C, and the mitogen-activated kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors, U0126 and PD98059. Furthermore, Hup A markedly increased the phosphorylation of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, which was blocked by treatment with U0126 and PD98059. In addition, Hup A inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity by 20% in neuroblastoma cells. Our results indicate that the activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, PKC and MAP kinase may be involved in Hup A-induced alphaAPPs secretion in neuroblastoma cells and suggest multiple pharmacological mechanisms of Hup A regarding the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Peng
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard New Research Building, Room 636F, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Peng Y, Jiang L, Lee DYW, Schachter SC, Ma Z, Lemere CA. Effects of huperzine A on amyloid precursor protein processing and beta-amyloid generation in human embryonic kidney 293 APP Swedish mutant cells. J Neurosci Res 2006; 84:903-11. [PMID: 16862548 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.20987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The amyloid precursor protein (APP) is cleaved enzymatically by nonamyloidogenic and amyloidogenic pathways. alpha-Secretase (alpha-secretase), cleaves APP within the beta-amyloid (Abeta) sequence, resulting in the release of a secreted fragment of APP (alphaAPPs) and precluding Abeta generation. In this study, we investigated the effects of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, huperzine A (Hup A), on APP processing and Abeta generation in human embryonic kidney 293 cells transfected with human APP bearing the Swedish mutation (HEK293 APPsw). Hup A dose dependently (0-10 microM) increased alphaAPPs release and membrane-coupled APP CTF-C83, suggesting increased APP metabolism toward the nonamyloidogenic alpha-secretase pathway. The metalloprotease inhibitor TAPI-2 inhibited the Hup A-induced increase in alphaAPPs release, further suggesting a modulatory effect of Hup A on alpha-secretase activity. The synthesis of full-length APP and cell viability were unchanged after Hup A incubation, whereas the level of Abeta(Total) was significantly decreased, suggesting an inhibitory effect of Hup A on Abeta production. Hup A-induced alphaAPPs release was significantly reduced by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors GF109203X and Calphostin C. These data, together with the finding that the PKCalpha level was enhanced prior to the increase of alphaAPPs secretion, indicate that PKC may be involved in Hup A-induced alphaAPPs secretion by HEK293 APPsw cells. Our data suggest alternative pharmacological mechanisms of Hup A relevant to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Peng
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|