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Pettersson M, Johnson DS, Humphrey JM, Am Ende CW, Butler TW, Dorff PH, Efremov IV, Evrard E, Green ME, Helal CJ, Kauffman GW, Mullins PB, Navaratnam T, O'Donnell CJ, O'Sullivan TJ, Patel NC, Stepan AF, Stiff CM, Subramanyam C, Trapa P, Tran TP, Vetelino BC, Yang E, Xie L, Pustilnik LR, Steyn SJ, Wood KM, Bales KR, Hajos-Korcsok E, Verhoest PR. Discovery of Clinical Candidate PF-06648671: A Potent γ-Secretase Modulator for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. J Med Chem 2024; 67:10248-10262. [PMID: 38848667 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Herein, we describe the design and synthesis of γ-secretase modulator (GSM) clinical candidate PF-06648671 (22) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. A key component of the design involved a 2,5-cis-tetrahydrofuran (THF) linker to impart conformational rigidity and lock the compound into a putative bioactive conformation. This effort was guided using a pharmacophore model since crystallographic information was not available for the membrane-bound γ-secretase protein complex at the time of this work. PF-06648671 achieved excellent alignment of whole cell in vitro potency (Aβ42 IC50 = 9.8 nM) and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) parameters. This resulted in favorable in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) profile in preclinical species, and PF-06648671 achieved a human PK profile suitable for once-a-day dosing. Furthermore, PF-06648671 was found to have favorable brain availability in rodent, which translated into excellent central exposure in human and robust reduction of amyloid β (Aβ) 42 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Pettersson
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Douglas S Johnson
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - John M Humphrey
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | | | - Todd W Butler
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Peter H Dorff
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Ivan V Efremov
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Edelweiss Evrard
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Michael E Green
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Christopher J Helal
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Gregory W Kauffman
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Patrick B Mullins
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Thayalan Navaratnam
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | | | - Theresa J O'Sullivan
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Nandini C Patel
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Antonia F Stepan
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Cory M Stiff
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | | | - Patrick Trapa
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Tuan P Tran
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Beth Cooper Vetelino
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Eddie Yang
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Longfei Xie
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Leslie R Pustilnik
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Stefanus J Steyn
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Kathleen M Wood
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Kelly R Bales
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Eva Hajos-Korcsok
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Patrick R Verhoest
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Zhao M, Ma G, Yan X, Li X, Wang E, Xu XX, Zhao JB, Ma X, Zeng J. Microbial infection promotes amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease via modulating γ-secretase. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:1491-1500. [PMID: 38273109 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02428-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Microbial infection as a type of environmental risk factors is considered to be associated with long-term increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is characterized by two neuropathologically molecular hallmarks of hyperphosphorylated tau and amyloid-β (Aβ), the latter generated by several biochemically reactive enzymes, including γ-secretase. However, how infectious risk factors contribute to pathological development of the AD core molecules remains to be addressed. In this work, we utilized a modified herpes simplex virus type 1 (mHSV-1) and found that its hippocampal infection locally promotes Aβ pathology in 5 × FAD mice, the commonly used amyloid model. Mechanistically, we identified HSV-1 membrane glycoprotein US7 (Envelope gI) that interacts with and modulates γ-secretase and consequently facilitates Aβ production. Furthermore, we presented evidence that adenovirus-associated virus-mediated locally hippocampal overexpression of the US7 aggravates Aβ pathology in 5 × FAD mice. Collectively, these findings identify a herpesviral factor regulating γ-secretase in the development and progression of AD and represent a causal molecular link between infectious pathogens and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhao
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Guanqin Ma
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaoxu Yan
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Erlin Wang
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiang-Xiong Xu
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Jie-Bin Zhao
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Xueling Ma
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Jianxiong Zeng
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China.
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
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3
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Abdallah AE. Review on anti-alzheimer drug development: approaches, challenges and perspectives. RSC Adv 2024; 14:11057-11088. [PMID: 38586442 PMCID: PMC10995770 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra08333k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer is an irreversible progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes failure of cerebral neurons and disability of the affected person to practice normal daily life activities. There is no concrete evidence to identify the exact reason behind the disease, so several relevant hypotheses emerged, highlighting many possible therapeutic targets, such as acetylcholinesterase, cholinergic receptors, N-methyl d-aspartate receptors, phosphodiesterase, amyloid β protein, protein phosphatase 2A, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, β-secretase, γ-secretase, α-secretase, serotonergic receptors, glutaminyl cyclase, tumor necrosis factor-α, γ-aminobutyric acid receptors, and mitochondria. All of these targets have been involved in the design of new potential drugs. An extensive number of these drugs have been studied in clinical trials. However, only galantamine, donepezil, and rivastigmine (ChEIs), memantine (NMDA antagonist), and aducanumab and lecanemab (selective anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies) have been approved for AD treatment. Many drugs failed in the clinical trials to such an extent that questions have been posed about the significance of some of the aforementioned targets. On the contrary, the data of other drugs were promising and shed light on the significance of their targets for the development of new potent anti-alzheimer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah E Abdallah
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University 11884 Cairo Egypt
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4
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Azargoonjahromi A, Abutalebian F. Unraveling the therapeutic efficacy of resveratrol in Alzheimer's disease: an umbrella review of systematic evidence. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2024; 21:15. [PMID: 38504306 PMCID: PMC10953289 DOI: 10.1186/s12986-024-00792-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Resveratrol (RV), a natural compound found in grapes, berries, and peanuts, has been extensively studied for its potential in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). RV has shown promise in inhibiting the formation of beta-amyloid plaques (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), protecting against neuronal damage and oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, promoting neuroprotection, and improving the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, conflicting results have been reported, necessitating a comprehensive umbrella review of systematic reviews to provide an unbiased conclusion on the therapeutic effectiveness of RV in AD. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to systematically synthesize and evaluate systematic and meta-analysis reviews investigating the role of RV in AD using data from both human and animal studies. DATA SOURCES AND EXTRACTION Of the 34 systematic and meta-analysis reviews examining the association between RV and AD that were collected, six were included in this study based on specific selection criteria. To identify pertinent studies, a comprehensive search was conducted in English-language peer-reviewed journals without any restrictions on the publication date until October 15, 2023. The search was carried out across multiple databases, including Embase, MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, utilizing appropriate terms relevant to the specific research field. The AMSTAR-2 and ROBIS tools were also used to evaluate the quality and risk of bias of the included systematic reviews, respectively. Two researchers independently extracted and analyzed the data, resolving any discrepancies through consensus. Of note, the study adhered to the PRIOR checklist. DATA ANALYSIS This umbrella review presented robust evidence supporting the positive impacts of RV in AD, irrespective of the specific mechanisms involved. It indeed indicated that all six systematic and meta-analysis reviews unanimously concluded that the consumption of RV can be effective in the treatment of AD. CONCLUSION RV exhibits promising potential for benefiting individuals with AD through various mechanisms. It has been observed to enhance cognitive function, reduce Aβ accumulation, provide neuroprotection, protect the BBB, support mitochondrial function, facilitate synaptic plasticity, stabilize tau proteins, mitigate oxidative stress, and reduce neuroinflammation commonly associated with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fatemeh Abutalebian
- Department of Biotechnology and Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Tehran Central Branch, Tehran, Iran
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Kumari L, Mishra L, Sharma Y, Chahar K, Kumar M, Patel P, Gupta GD, Kurmi BD. NOTCH Signaling Pathway: Occurrence, Mechanism, and NOTCH-Directed Therapy for the Management of Cancer. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2024; 39:19-34. [PMID: 37797218 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2023.0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It is now well understood that many signaling pathways are vital in carrying out and controlling essential pro-survival and pro-growth cellular functions. The NOTCH signaling pathway, a highly conserved evolutionary signaling pathway, has been thoroughly studied since the discovery of NOTCH phenotypes about 100 years ago in Drosophila melanogaster. Abnormal NOTCH signaling has been linked to the pathophysiology of several diseases, notably cancer. In tumorigenesis, NOTCH plays the role of a "double-edged sword," that is, it may act as an oncogene or as a tumor suppressor gene depending on the nature of the context. However, its involvement in several cancers and inhibition of the same provides targeted therapy for the management of cancer. The use of gamma (γ)-secretase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies for cancer treatment involved NOTCH receptors inhibition, leading to the possibility of a targeted approach for cancer treatment. Likewise, several natural compounds, including curcumin, resveratrol, diallyl sulfide, and genistein, also play a dynamic role in the management of cancer by inhibition of NOTCH receptors. This review outlines the functions and structure of NOTCH receptors and their associated ligands with the mechanism of the signaling pathway. In addition, it also emphasizes the role of NOTCH-targeted nanomedicine in various cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Kumari
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College Pharmacy, Moga, India
| | | | - Yash Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, ISF College Pharmacy, Moga, India
| | - Kanak Chahar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, ISF College Pharmacy, Moga, India
| | - Mritunjay Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, ISF College Pharmacy, Moga, India
| | - Preeti Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College Pharmacy, Moga, India
| | | | - Balak Das Kurmi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College Pharmacy, Moga, India
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6
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Chen SY, Koch M, Chávez-Gutiérrez L, Zacharias M. How Modulator Binding at the Amyloidβ-γ-Secretase Interface Enhances Substrate Binding and Attenuates Membrane Distortion. J Med Chem 2023; 66:16772-16782. [PMID: 38059872 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of γ-secretase, an intramembrane protease, to reduce secretion of Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides has been considered for treating Alzheimer's disease. However, γ-secretase inhibitors suffer from severe side effects. As an alternative, γ-secretase modulators (GSM) reduce the generation of toxic peptides by enhancing the cleavage processivity without diminishing the enzyme activity. Starting from a known γ-secretase structure without substrate but in complex with an E2012 GSM, we generated a structural model that included a bound Aβ43 peptide and studied interactions among enzyme, substrate, GSM, and lipids. Our result suggests that E2012 binding at the enzyme-substrate-membrane interface attenuates the membrane distortion by shielding the substrate-membrane interaction. The model predicts that the E2012 modulation is charge-dependent and explains the preserved hydrogen acceptor and the aromatic ring observed in many imidazole-based GSM. Predicted effects of γ-secretase mutations on E2012 modulation were confirmed experimentally. We anticipate that the study will facilitate the future development of effective GSMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Yu Chen
- Center for Functional Protein Assemblies, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - Matthias Koch
- VIB/KU Leuven, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | | | - Martin Zacharias
- Center for Functional Protein Assemblies, Garching 85748, Germany
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7
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Li J, Wu X, Tan X, Wang S, Qu R, Wu X, Chen Z, Wang Z, Chen G. The efficacy and safety of anti-Aβ agents for delaying cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1257973. [PMID: 38020763 PMCID: PMC10661413 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1257973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of amyloid-β (Aβ) targeted therapies for delaying cognitive deterioration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched to identify relevant studies published before January 18, 2023. Results We pooled 33,689 participants from 42 studies. The meta-analysis showed no difference between anti-Aβ drugs and placebo in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog), and anti-Aβ drugs were associated with a high risk of adverse events [ADAS-Cog: MDs = -0.08 (-0.32 to 0.15), p = 0.4785; AEs: RR = 1.07 (1.02 to 1.11), p = 0.0014]. Monoclonal antibodies outperformed the placebo in delaying cognitive deterioration as measured by ADAS-Cog, Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL), without increasing the risk of adverse events [ADAS-Cog: MDs = -0.55 (-0.89 to 0.21), p = 0.001; CDR-SB: MDs = -0.19 (-0.29 to -0.10), p < 0.0001; MMSE: MDs = 0.19 (0.00 to 0.39), p = 0.05; ADCS-ADL: MDs = 1.26 (0.84 to 1.68), p < 0.00001]. Intravenous immunoglobulin and γ-secretase modulators (GSM) increased cognitive decline in CDR-SB [MDs = 0.45 (0.17 to 0.74), p = 0.002], but had acceptable safety profiles in AD patients. γ-secretase inhibitors (GSI) increased cognitive decline in ADAS-Cog, and also in MMSE and ADCS-ADL. BACE-1 inhibitors aggravated cognitive deterioration in the outcome of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). GSI and BACE-1 inhibitors caused safety concerns. No evidence indicates active Aβ immunotherapy, MPAC, or tramiprosate have effects on cognitive function and tramiprosate is associated with serious adverse events. Conclusion Current evidence does not show that anti-Aβ drugs have an effect on cognitive performance in AD patients. However, monoclonal antibodies can delay cognitive decline in AD. Development of other types of anti-Aβ drugs should be cautious. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/), identifier CRD42023391596.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxuan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xin Tan
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Shixin Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ruisi Qu
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhouqing Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
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8
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Kepp KP, Robakis NK, Høilund-Carlsen PF, Sensi SL, Vissel B. The amyloid cascade hypothesis: an updated critical review. Brain 2023; 146:3969-3990. [PMID: 37183523 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Results from recent clinical trials of antibodies that target amyloid-β (Aβ) for Alzheimer's disease have created excitement and have been heralded as corroboration of the amyloid cascade hypothesis. However, while Aβ may contribute to disease, genetic, clinical, imaging and biochemical data suggest a more complex aetiology. Here we review the history and weaknesses of the amyloid cascade hypothesis in view of the new evidence obtained from clinical trials of anti-amyloid antibodies. These trials indicate that the treatments have either no or uncertain clinical effect on cognition. Despite the importance of amyloid in the definition of Alzheimer's disease, we argue that the data point to Aβ playing a minor aetiological role. We also discuss data suggesting that the concerted activity of many pathogenic factors contribute to Alzheimer's disease and propose that evolving multi-factor disease models will better underpin the search for more effective strategies to treat the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasper P Kepp
- Section of Biophysical and Biomedicinal chemistry, DTU Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nikolaos K Robakis
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Poul F Høilund-Carlsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Stefano L Sensi
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology-CAST, and Institute for Advanced Biotechnology (ITAB), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, 66013, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, 66013, Italy
| | - Bryce Vissel
- St Vincent's Hospital Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, St Vincent's Healthcare Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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9
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Lee S, Love MS, Modukuri R, Chatterjee AK, Huerta L, Lawson AP, McNamara CW, Mead JR, Hedstrom L, Cuny GD. Structure-activity relationship of BMS906024 derivatives for Cryptosporidium parvum growth inhibition. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2023; 90:129328. [PMID: 37196868 PMCID: PMC10290938 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BMS906024, a γ-secretase inhibitor that blocks Notch signaling, was previously shown to inhibit Cryptosporidium parvum growth in vitro. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of BMS906024 reported herein demonstrates the importance of the stereochemistry of the C-3 benzodiazepine and the succinyl β-substituent. However, concomitant removal of the succinyl α-substituent and switching the primary amide with secondary amides was tolerated. For example, 32 (SH287) inhibited C. parvum growth in HCT-8 host cells with an EC50 = 6.4 nM and an EC90 = 16 nM; however, blocking C. parvum growth with BMS906024 derivatives was correlative with inhibition of Notch signaling, highlighting that additional SAR analysis will be needed to separate these two activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungheon Lee
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston, Health Building 2, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Melissa S Love
- Calibr, a Division of The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ramkumar Modukuri
- Calibr, a Division of The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Arnab K Chatterjee
- Calibr, a Division of The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Lauren Huerta
- Calibr, a Division of The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ann P Lawson
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Case W McNamara
- Calibr, a Division of The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Jan R Mead
- Atlanta VA Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Lizbeth Hedstrom
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02454, USA; Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Gregory D Cuny
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston, Health Building 2, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
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10
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Yao W, Yang H, Yang J. Small-molecule drugs development for Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1019412. [PMID: 36389082 PMCID: PMC9664938 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1019412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder with no effective therapeutic drugs currently. The complicated pathophysiology of AD is not well understood, although beta-amyloid (Aβ) cascade and hyperphosphorylated tau protein were regarded as the two main causes of AD. Other mechanisms, such as oxidative stress, deficiency of central cholinergic neurotransmitters, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation, were also proposed and studied as targets in AD. This review aims to summarize the small-molecule drugs that were developed based on the pathogenesis and gives a deeper understanding of the AD. We hope that it could help scientists find new and better treatments to gradually conquer the problems related to AD in future.
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11
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Liu T, Xie Q, Dong Z, Peng Q. Nanoparticles-based delivery system and its potentials in treating central nervous system disorders. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 33. [PMID: 35917704 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac85f3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), have become severe health concern worldwide. The treatment of the CNS diseases is of great challenges due largely to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). On the one hand, BBB protects brain from the harmful exogenous molecules via inhibiting their entry into the brain. On the other hand, it also hampers the transport of therapeutic drugs into the brain, resulting in the difficulties in treating the CNS diseases. In the past decades, nanoparticles-based drug delivery systems have shown great potentials in overcoming the BBB owing to their unique physicochemical properties, such as small size and specific morphology. In addition, functionalization of nanomaterials confers these nanocarriers controlled drug release features and targeting capacities. These properties make nanocarriers the potent delivery systems for treating the CNS disorders. Herein, we summarize the recent progress in nanoparticles-based systems for the CNS delivery, including the conventional and innovative systems. The prerequisites, drawbacks and challenges of nanocarriers (such as protein corona formation) in the CNS delivery are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyou Liu
- Sichuan University, No.37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, CHINA
| | - Qinglian Xie
- Sichuan University, No.37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, CHINA
| | - Zaiquan Dong
- Mental Health Center of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, CHINA
| | - Qiang Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, No.14, Block 3, Renmin Road South, Chengdu, 610041, CHINA
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12
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Gao J, Wu P, Chi Y, Xu H, Zhao Y, Song N, Mao Y. LY450139 Inhibited Ti-Particle-Induced Bone Dissolution via Suppressing Notch and NF-κB Signaling Pathways. Calcif Tissue Int 2022; 111:211-223. [PMID: 35588014 PMCID: PMC9300553 DOI: 10.1007/s00223-022-00980-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Aseptic loosening of the prosthesis caused by wear-particle-induced osteolysis is a long-term complication and one of the most common reasons for the failure of joint implants. The primary cause of aseptic loosening of the prosthesis is overactive bone resorption caused by wear-particle-activated osteoclasts in both direct and indirect ways. Therefore, drugs that can inhibit differentiation and bone resorption of osteoclasts need investigation as a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent and treat peri-prosthetic osteolysis and thereby prolong the service life of the prosthesis. This study has verified the potential inhibitory effect of LY450139 on inflammatory osteolysis induced by titanium particles in a mice skull model. In addition, we found that LY450139 inhibited receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis, bone resorption, and podosomal actin belt formation in a dose-dependent manner without evidence of cytotoxicity in vitro. In addition, LY450139 significantly decreased the expression of osteoclast-specific markers, including TRAP, CTSK, V-ATPase d2, CTR, DC-STAMP, NFATc1, and the downstream target gene Hes1 in Notch signaling pathway. Further investigation of the molecular mechanism demonstrated that LY450139 inhibited the formation of osteoclasts via inhibition of the NF-κB and Notch signaling pathways. In summary, LY450139 inhibited the formation of RANKL-mediated osteoclasts via NF-κB and Notch signaling and inhibited Ti particle-induced inflammatory osteolysis in vivo. LY450139 is a potential targeted drug for the treatment of peri-prosthetic osteolysis and other osteolytic disease associated with overactive osteoclasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jijian Gao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengzhou People's Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peng Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Huating First People's Hospital, Pingliang, 744000, Gansu, China
| | - Yingjun Chi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengzhou People's Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongyu Xu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengzhou People's Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengzhou People's Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Nanyan Song
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengzhou People's Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Yuanqing Mao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implants, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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13
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Hur JY. γ-Secretase in Alzheimer's disease. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:433-446. [PMID: 35396575 PMCID: PMC9076685 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00754-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by synaptic and neuronal loss in the brain. One of the characteristic hallmarks of AD is senile plaques containing amyloid β-peptide (Aβ). Aβ is produced from amyloid precursor protein (APP) by sequential proteolytic cleavages by β-secretase and γ-secretase, and the polymerization of Aβ into amyloid plaques is thought to be a key pathogenic event in AD. Since γ-secretase mediates the final cleavage that liberates Aβ, γ-secretase has been widely studied as a potential drug target for the treatment of AD. γ-Secretase is a transmembrane protein complex containing presenilin, nicastrin, Aph-1, and Pen-2, which are sufficient for γ-secretase activity. γ-Secretase cleaves >140 substrates, including APP and Notch. Previously, γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) were shown to cause side effects in clinical trials due to the inhibition of Notch signaling. Therefore, more specific regulation or modulation of γ-secretase is needed. In recent years, γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) have been developed. To modulate γ-secretase and to understand its complex biology, finding the binding sites of GSIs and GSMs on γ-secretase as well as identifying transiently binding γ-secretase modulatory proteins have been of great interest. In this review, decades of findings on γ-secretase in AD are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Yeun Hur
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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14
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Verteporfin is a Substrate-Selective γ-Secretase Inhibitor that Binds the Amyloid Precursor Protein Transmembrane Domain. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101792. [PMID: 35247387 PMCID: PMC8968665 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This work reports substrate-selective inhibition of a protease with broad substrate specificity based on direct binding of a small molecule inhibitor to the substrate. The target for these studies was γ-secretase protease, which cleaves dozens of different single span membrane protein substrates, including both the C99 domain of the human amyloid precursor protein and the Notch receptor. Substrate-specific inhibition of C99 cleavage is desirable to reduce production of the amyloid-β polypeptide without inhibiting Notch cleavage, a major source of toxicity associated with broad specificity γ-secretase inhibitors. In order to identify a C99-selective inhibitors of the human γ-secretase, we conducted an NMR-based screen of FDA-approved drugs against C99 in model membranes. From this screen, we identified the small molecule verteporfin with these properties. We observed that verteporfin formed a direct 1:1 complex with C99, with a KD of 15-47 μM (depending on the membrane mimetic used), and that it did not bind the transmembrane domain of the Notch-1 receptor. Biochemical assays showed that direct binding of verteporfin to C99 inhibits γ-secretase cleavage of C99 with IC50 values in the range of 15- 164 μM, while Notch-1 cleavage was inhibited only at higher concentrations, and likely via a mechanism that does not involve binding to Notch-1. This work documents a robust NMR-based approach to discovery of small molecule binders to single-span membrane proteins and confirmed that it is possible to inhibit γ-secretase in a substrate-specific manner.
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15
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Nugent TC, Vos AE, Hussain I, El Damrany Hussein HA, Goswami F. A 2000 to 2020 Practitioner's Guide to Chiral Amine‐Based Enantioselective Aldol Reactions: Ketone Substrates, Best Methods, in Water Reaction Environments, and Defining Nuances. European J Org Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.202100529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C. Nugent
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry Jacobs University Bremen 28759 Bremen Germany
| | - Alice E. Vos
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry Jacobs University Bremen 28759 Bremen Germany
| | - Ishtiaq Hussain
- Department of Pharmacy Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian Abbottabad 22010 Pakistan
| | | | - Falguni Goswami
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry Jacobs University Bremen 28759 Bremen Germany
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16
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Luo JE, Li YM. Turning the tide on Alzheimer's disease: modulation of γ-secretase. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:2. [PMID: 34983641 PMCID: PMC8725520 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00738-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of neurodegenerative disorder. Amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques are integral to the "amyloid hypothesis," which states that the accumulation of Aβ peptides triggers a cascade of pathological events leading to neurodegeneration and ultimately AD. While the FDA approved aducanumab, the first Aβ-targeted therapy, multiple safe and effective treatments will be needed to target the complex pathologies of AD. γ-Secretase is an intramembrane aspartyl protease that is critical for the generation of Aβ peptides. Activity and specificity of γ-secretase are regulated by both obligatory subunits and modulatory proteins. Due to its complex structure and function and early clinical failures with pan inhibitors, γ-secretase has been a challenging drug target for AD. γ-secretase modulators, however, have dramatically shifted the approach to targeting γ-secretase. Here we review γ-secretase and small molecule modulators, from the initial characterization of a subset of NSAIDs to the most recent clinical candidates. We also discuss the chemical biology of γ-secretase, in which small molecule probes enabled structural and functional insights into γ-secretase before the emergence of high-resolution structural studies. Finally, we discuss the recent crystal structures of γ-secretase, which have provided valuable perspectives on substrate recognition and molecular mechanisms of small molecules. We conclude that modulation of γ-secretase will be part of a new wave of AD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna E Luo
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA. .,Program of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
| | - Yue-Ming Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA. .,Program of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
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17
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Velasco-Bolom JL, Domínguez L. Mechanistic regulation of γ-secretase by their substrates. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:19223-19232. [DOI: 10.1039/d2cp01714h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
γ-Secretase (GS) is a transmembrane (TM) enzyme that plays important roles in the processing of approximately 90 substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- José-Luis Velasco-Bolom
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Laura Domínguez
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
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18
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Cullen N, Janelidze S, Palmqvist S, Stomrud E, Mattsson-Carlgren N, Hansson O. Association of CSF Aβ38 Levels With Risk of Alzheimer Disease-Related Decline. Neurology 2021; 98:e958-e967. [PMID: 34937781 PMCID: PMC8901176 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000013228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Experimental studies suggest that the balance between short and long Aβ species might modulate the toxic effects of Aβ in Alzheimer's disease (AD) but clinical evidence is lacking. We studied whether Aβ38 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) relate to risk of AD dementia and cognitive decline. METHODS CSF Aβ38 levels were measured in 656 individuals across two clinical cohorts - the Swedish BioFINDER study and the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association between baseline Aβ38 levels and risk of AD dementia in AD-biomarker positive individuals (AD+; determined by CSF P-tau/Aβ42 ratio) with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Linear mixed effects models were used to evaluate the association between baseline Aβ38 levels and cognitive decline as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in AD+ participants with SCD, MCI or AD dementia. RESULTS In the BioFINDER cohort, high Aβ38 levels were associated with slower decline in MMSE (β = 0.30 points / sd., P = 0.001) and with lower risk of conversion to AD dementia (HR = 0.83 per sd., P = 0.03). In the ADNI cohort, higher Aβ38 levels were associated with less decline in MMSE (β = 0.27, P = 0.01), but not risk of conversion to AD dementia (P = 0.66). Aβ38 levels in both cohorts were significantly associated with both cognitive and clinical outcomes when further adjusted for CSF P-tau or CSF Aβ42 levels. INTERPRETATION Higher CSF Aβ38 levels are associated with lower risk of AD-related changes in two independent clinical cohorts. These findings suggest that γ-secretase modulators could be effective as disease-altering therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Cullen
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Shorena Janelidze
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Palmqvist
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Erik Stomrud
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Niklas Mattsson-Carlgren
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Neurology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.,Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
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19
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Weber TA, Lundkvist J, Wanngren J, Kvartsberg H, Jin S, Larssen P, Wu D, Oliveira DV, Minta K, Brinkmalm G, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Nordvall G, Winblad B, Portelius E, Karlström H. γ-Secretase modulators show selectivity for γ-secretase-mediated amyloid precursor protein intramembrane processing. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 26:880-892. [PMID: 34931449 PMCID: PMC8817114 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of β‐amyloid peptide 42 results in the formation of toxic oligomers and plaques, which plays a pivotal role in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Aβ42 is one of several Aβ peptides, all of Aβ30 to Aβ43 that are produced as a result of γ‐secretase–mediated regulated intramembrane proteolysis of the amyloid precursor protein. γ‐Secretase modulators (GSMs) represent a promising class of Aβ42‐lowering anti‐amyloidogenic compounds for the treatment of AD. Gamma‐secretase modulators change the relative proportion of secreted Aβ peptides, while sparing the γ‐secretase–mediated processing event resulting in the release of the cytoplasmic APP intracellular domain. In this study, we have characterized how GSMs affect the γ‐secretase cleavage of three γ‐secretase substrates, E‐cadherin, ephrin type A receptor 4 (EphA4) and ephrin type B receptor 2 (EphB2), which all are implicated in important contexts of cell signalling. By using a reporter gene assay, we demonstrate that the γ‐secretase–dependent generation of EphA4 and EphB2 intracellular domains is unaffected by GSMs. We also show that γ‐secretase processing of EphA4 and EphB2 results in the release of several Aβ‐like peptides, but that only the production of Aβ‐like proteins from EphA4 is modulated by GSMs, but with an order of magnitude lower potency as compared to Aβ modulation. Collectively, these results suggest that GSMs are selective for γ‐secretase–mediated Aβ production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias A Weber
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Medical Scientific Affairs, Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen, Germany
| | - Johan Lundkvist
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Alzecure Pharma, Huddinge, Sweden.,Sinfonia Biotherapeutics AB, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Johanna Wanngren
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hlin Kvartsberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - ShaoBo Jin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pia Larssen
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dan Wu
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Daniel V Oliveira
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karolina Minta
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Brinkmalm
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Nordvall
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Alzecure Pharma, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Bengt Winblad
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Theme Aging, Geriatric Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Erik Portelius
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Helena Karlström
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Theme Aging, Geriatric Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
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20
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Nie P, Kalidindi T, Nagle VL, Wu X, Li T, Liao GP, Frost G, Henry KE, Punzalan B, Carter LM, Lewis JS, Pillarsetty NVK, Li YM. Imaging of Cancer γ-Secretase Activity Using an Inhibitor-Based PET Probe. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:6145-6155. [PMID: 34475100 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-0940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Abnormal Notch signaling promotes cancer cell growth and tumor progression in various cancers. Targeting γ-secretase, a pivotal regulator in the Notch pathway, has yielded numerous γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) for clinical investigation in the last 2 decades. However, GSIs have demonstrated minimal success in clinical trials in part due to the lack of specific and precise tools to assess γ-secretase activity and its inhibition in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We designed an imaging probe based on GSI Semagacestat structure and synthesized the radioiodine-labeled analogues [131I]- or [124I]-PN67 from corresponding trimethyl-tin precursors. Both membrane- and cell-based ligand-binding assays were performed using [131I]-PN67 to determine the binding affinity and specificity for γ-secretase in vitro. Moreover, we evaluated [124I]-PN67 by PET imaging in mammary tumor and glioblastoma mouse models. RESULTS The probe was synthesized through iodo-destannylation using chloramine-T as an oxidant with a high labeling yield and efficiency. In vitro binding results demonstrate the high specificity of this probe and its ability for target replacement study by clinical GSIs. PET imaging studies demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) increased in the uptake of [124I]-PN67 in tumors versus blocking or sham control groups across multiple mouse models, including 4T1 allograft, MMTV-PyMT breast cancer, and U87 glioblastoma allograft. Ex vivo biodistribution and autoradiography corroborate these results, indicating γ-secretase specific tumor accumulation of [124I]-PN67. CONCLUSIONS [124I]-PN67 is a novel PET imaging agent that enables assessment of γ-secretase activity and target engagement of clinical GSIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengju Nie
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Program of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Teja Kalidindi
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Veronica L Nagle
- Program of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York.,Program in Molecular Pharmacology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Xianzhong Wu
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Thomas Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Program of Neurosciences, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - George P Liao
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Program of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Georgia Frost
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Kelly E Henry
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Blesida Punzalan
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Lukas M Carter
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jason S Lewis
- Program of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York.,Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Program in Molecular Pharmacology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Yue-Ming Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. .,Program of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York.,Program of Neurosciences, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York
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21
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Hambali A, Kumar J, Hashim NFM, Maniam S, Mehat MZ, Cheema MS, Mustapha M, Adenan MI, Stanslas J, Hamid HA. Hypoxia-Induced Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease: Potential Neuroprotective Effects of Centella asiatica. Front Physiol 2021; 12:712317. [PMID: 34721056 PMCID: PMC8551388 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.712317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterised by the presence of extracellular beta-amyloid fibrillary plaques and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tau tangles in the brain. Recurring failures of drug candidates targeting these pathways have prompted research in AD multifactorial pathogenesis, including the role of neuroinflammation. Triggered by various factors, such as hypoxia, neuroinflammation is strongly linked to AD susceptibility and/or progression to dementia. Chronic hypoxia induces neuroinflammation by activating microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain, along with an increased in reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines, features that are common to many degenerative central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Hence, interests are emerging on therapeutic agents and plant derivatives for AD that target the hypoxia-neuroinflammation pathway. Centella asiatica is one of the natural products reported to show neuroprotective effects in various models of CNS diseases. Here, we review the complex hypoxia-induced neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of AD and the potential application of Centella asiatica as a therapeutic agent in AD or dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aqilah Hambali
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Jaya Kumar
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia
| | - Nur Fariesha Md Hashim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Sandra Maniam
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Zulfadli Mehat
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Manraj Singh Cheema
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Muzaimi Mustapha
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | | | - Johnson Stanslas
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Hafizah Abdul Hamid
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
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22
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Abstract
Several genes in innate immunity have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the effect of innate immunity on amyloid β (Aβ) production, which makes amyloid plaques in AD brains, was previously not known. Recently, the antiviral protein interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) has been identified as a novel γ-secretase modulatory protein for Aβ production. In this review, the mechanisms of how innate immunity modulates Aβ production via IFITM3-γ-secretase complexes and contributes to AD pathogenesis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Yeun Hur
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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23
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Ugbaja S, Lawal I, Kumalo H, Lawal M. Alzheimer's Disease and β-Secretase Inhibition: An Update With a Focus on Computer-Aided Inhibitor Design. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 23:266-285. [PMID: 34370634 DOI: 10.2174/1389450122666210809100050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an intensifying neurodegenerative illness due to its irreversible nature. Identification of β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme1 (BACE1) has been a significant medicinal focus towards AD treatment, and this has opened ground for several investigations. Despite the numerous works in this direction, no BACE1 inhibitor has made it to the final approval stage as an anti-AD drug. METHOD We provide an introductory background of the subject with a general overview of the pathogenesis of AD. The review features BACE1 inhibitor design and development with a focus on some clinical trials and discontinued drugs. Using the topical keywords BACE1, inhibitor design, and computational/theoretical study in the Web of Science and Scopus database, we retrieved over 49 relevant articles. The search years are from 2010 and 2020, with analysis conducted from May 2020 to March 2021. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Researchers have employed computational methodologies to unravel potential BACE1 inhibitors with a significant outcome. The most used computer-aided approach in BACE1 inhibitor design and binding/interaction studies are pharmacophore development, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR), virtual screening, docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. These methods, plus more advanced ones including quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) and QM, have proven substantial in the computational framework for BACE1 inhibitor design. Computational chemists have embraced the incorporation of in vitro assay to provide insight into the inhibition performance of identified molecules with potential inhibition towards BACE1. Significant IC50 values up to 50 nM, better than clinical trial compounds, are available in the literature. CONCLUSION The continuous failure of potent BACE1 inhibitors at clinical trials is attracting many queries prompting researchers to investigate newer concepts necessary for effective inhibitor design. The considered properties for efficient BACE1 inhibitor design seem enormous and require thorough scrutiny. Lately, researchers noticed that besides appreciable binding affinity and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeation, BACE1 inhibitor must show low or no affinity for permeability-glycoprotein. Computational modeling methods have profound applications in drug discovery strategy. With the volume of recent in silico studies on BACE1 inhibition, the prospect of identifying potent molecules that would reach the approved level is feasible. Investigators should try pushing many of the identified BACE1 compounds with significant anti-AD properties to preclinical and clinical trial stages. We also advise computational research on allosteric inhibitor design, exosite modeling, and multisite inhibition of BACE1. These alternatives might be a solution to BACE1 drug discovery in AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Ugbaja
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, Saudi Arabia
| | - Isiaka Lawal
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Applied and Computer Science, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark Campus, Boulevard, 1900, Vanderbijlpark, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hezekiel Kumalo
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, Saudi Arabia
| | - Monsurat Lawal
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, Saudi Arabia
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24
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Santiago Á, Guzmán-Ocampo DC, Aguayo-Ortiz R, Dominguez L. Characterizing the Chemical Space of γ-Secretase Inhibitors and Modulators. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2765-2775. [PMID: 34291906 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-Secretase (GS) is one of the most attractive molecular targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Its key role in the final step of amyloid-β peptides generation and its relationship in the cascade of events for disease development have caught the attention of many pharmaceutical groups. Over the past years, different inhibitors and modulators have been evaluated as promising therapeutics against AD. However, despite the great chemical diversity of the reported compounds, a global classification and visual representation of the chemical space for GS inhibitors and modulators remain unavailable. In the present work, we carried out a two-dimensional (2D) chemical space analysis from different classes and subclasses of GS inhibitors and modulators based on their structural similarity. Along with the novel structural information available for GS complexes, our analysis opens the possibility to identify compounds with high molecular similarity, critical to finding new chemical structures through the optimization of existing compounds and relating them with a potential binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Santiago
- Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Dulce C. Guzmán-Ocampo
- Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo Aguayo-Ortiz
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Laura Dominguez
- Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
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25
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Saretz S, Basset G, Useini L, Laube M, Pietzsch J, Drača D, Maksimović-Ivanić D, Trambauer J, Steiner H, Hey-Hawkins E. Modulation of γ-Secretase Activity by a Carborane-Based Flurbiprofen Analogue. Molecules 2021; 26:2843. [PMID: 34064783 PMCID: PMC8151329 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26102843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
All over the world, societies are facing rapidly aging populations combined with a growing number of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD). One focus in pharmaceutical research to address this issue is on the reduction of the longer amyloid-β (Aβ) fragments in the brain by modulation of γ-secretase, a membrane-bound protease. R-Flurbiprofen (tarenflurbil) was studied in this regard but failed to show significant improvement in AD patients in a phase 3 clinical trial. This was mainly attributed to its low ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here, we present the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a racemic meta-carborane analogue of flurbiprofen. By introducing the carborane moiety, the hydrophobicity could be shifted into a more favourable range for the penetration of the blood-brain barrier, evident by a logD7.4 value of 2.0. Furthermore, our analogue retained γ-secretase modulator activity in comparison to racemic flurbiprofen in a cell-based assay. These findings demonstrate the potential of carboranes as phenyl mimetics also in AD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Saretz
- Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany; (S.S.); (L.U.)
- Chemische Biologie, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, Inhoffenstraße 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gabriele Basset
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Metabolic Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, D-81377 München, Germany; (G.B.); (J.T.); (H.S.)
| | - Liridona Useini
- Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany; (S.S.); (L.U.)
| | - Markus Laube
- Department of Radiopharmaceutical and Chemical Biology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (M.L.); (J.P.)
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Department of Radiopharmaceutical and Chemical Biology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (M.L.); (J.P.)
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Dijana Drača
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bul. Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia; (D.D.); (D.M.-I.)
| | - Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bul. Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia; (D.D.); (D.M.-I.)
| | - Johannes Trambauer
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Metabolic Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, D-81377 München, Germany; (G.B.); (J.T.); (H.S.)
| | - Harald Steiner
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Metabolic Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, D-81377 München, Germany; (G.B.); (J.T.); (H.S.)
- German Center for Neurogenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, D-81377 München, Germany
| | - Evamarie Hey-Hawkins
- Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany; (S.S.); (L.U.)
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26
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Liu L, Lauro BM, Wolfe MS, Selkoe DJ. Hydrophilic loop 1 of Presenilin-1 and the APP GxxxG transmembrane motif regulate γ-secretase function in generating Alzheimer-causing Aβ peptides. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100393. [PMID: 33571524 PMCID: PMC7961089 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
γ-Secretase is responsible for the proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein (APP) into amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, which are centrally implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The biochemical mechanism of how processing by γ-secretase is regulated, especially as regards the interaction between enzyme and substrate, remains largely unknown. Here, mutagenesis reveals that the hydrophilic loop-1 (HL-1) of presenilin-1 (PS1) is critical for both γ-secretase step-wise cleavages (processivity) and its allosteric modulation by heterocyclic γ-modulatory compounds. Systematic mutagenesis of HL-1, including all of its familial AD mutations and additional engineered variants, and quantification of the resultant Aβ products show that HL-1 is necessary for proper sequential γ-secretase processivity. We identify Y106, L113, and Y115 in HL-1 as key targets for heterocyclic γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) to stimulate processing of pathogenic Aβ peptides. Further, we confirm that the GxxxG domain in the APP transmembrane region functions as a critical substrate motif for γ-secretase processivity: a G29A substitution in APP-C99 mimics the beneficial effects of GSMs. Together, these findings provide a molecular basis for the structural regulation of γ-processivity by enzyme and substrate, facilitating the rational design of new GSMs that lower AD-initiating amyloidogenic Aβ peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bianca M Lauro
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael S Wolfe
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Dennis J Selkoe
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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27
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Vijayan D, Chandra R. Amyloid Beta Hypothesis in Alzheimer's Disease: Major Culprits and Recent Therapeutic Strategies. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 21:148-166. [PMID: 31385768 DOI: 10.2174/1389450120666190806153206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of dementia and has been a global concern for several years. Due to the multi-factorial nature of the disease, AD has become irreversible, fatal and imposes a tremendous socio-economic burden. Even though experimental medicines suggested moderate benefits, AD still lacks an effective treatment strategy for the management of symptoms or cure. Among the various hypotheses that describe development and progression of AD, the amyloid hypothesis has been a long-term adherent to the AD due to the involvement of various forms of Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in the impairment of neuronal and cognitive functions. Hence, majority of the drug discovery approaches in the past have focused on the prevention of the accumulation of Aβ peptides. Currently, there are several agents in the phase III clinical trials that target Aβ or the various macromolecules triggering Aβ deposition. In this review, we present the state of the art knowledge on the functional aspects of the key players involved in the amyloid hypothesis. Furthermore, we also discuss anti-amyloid agents present in the Phase III clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dileep Vijayan
- Laboratory for Structural Bioinformatics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Remya Chandra
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Thalassery Campus, Kannur University, Kerala Pin 670 661, India
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28
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Mehra R, Kepp KP. Computational prediction and molecular mechanism of γ-secretase modulators. Eur J Pharm Sci 2021; 157:105626. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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29
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Predicting the Potency of Anti-Alzheimer’s Drug Combinations Using Machine Learning. Processes (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9020264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials of single drugs intended to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) have been notoriously unsuccessful. Combinations of repurposed drugs could provide effective treatments for AD. The challenge is to identify potentially effective combinations. To meet this challenge, machine learning (ML) was used to extract the knowledge from two leading AD databases, and then “the machine” predicted which combinations of the drugs in common between the two databases would be the most effective as treatments for AD. Specifically, three-layered artificial neural networks (ANNs) with compound, gated units in their internal layer were trained using ML to predict the cognitive scores of participants, separately in either database, given other data fields including age, demographic variables, comorbidities, and drugs taken. The predictions from the separately trained ANNs were statistically highly significantly correlated. The best drug combinations, jointly determined from both sets of predictions, were high in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; anticoagulant, lipid-lowering, and antihypertensive drugs; and female hormones. The results suggest that the neurodegenerative processes that underlie AD and other dementias could be effectively treated using a combination of repurposed drugs. Predicted drug combinations could be evaluated in clinical trials.
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30
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Qu X, Guan P, Han L, Wang Z, Huang X. Levistolide A Attenuates Alzheimer's Pathology Through Activation of the PPARγ Pathway. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:326-339. [PMID: 33034847 PMCID: PMC8116477 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00943-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by β-amyloid (Aβ) protein deposition, neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation, and neuronal loss in the brain. The current study was designed to investigate the potential mechanisms by which levistolide A affects the pathogenesis of AD in an amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) transgenic (Tg) mouse model of AD and N2a/APP695swe cells. Specifically, behavioral changes in levistolide A-treated APP/PS1 Tg mice were assessed by the nest-building and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Levistolide A treatment clearly ameliorated memory deficits and cognitive decline in APP/PS1 Tg mice. Aβ generation and the inflammatory response in APP/PS1 Tg mouse brains were clearly reduced after long-term levistolide A application. Mechanistically, levistolide A concurrently stimulated the expression of α-secretase and decreased the generation of β- and γ-secretases. In addition, levistolide A inhibited the phosphorylation of tau in the brains of the Tg mice. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments suggested that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is the key transcription factor that mediates the regulatory effects of levistolide A on the expression of α-, β-, and γ-secretases and phosphorylation of tau. Collectively, these findings show that levistolide A may be a candidate for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Qu
- Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, People's Republic of China
| | - Peipei Guan
- Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Han
- Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhanyou Wang
- Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xueshi Huang
- Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, People's Republic of China
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31
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Yang G, Zhou R, Guo X, Yan C, Lei J, Shi Y. Structural basis of γ-secretase inhibition and modulation by small molecule drugs. Cell 2020; 184:521-533.e14. [PMID: 33373587 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Development of γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) and modulators (GSMs) represents an attractive therapeutic opportunity for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cancers. However, how these GSIs and GSMs target γ-secretase has remained largely unknown. Here, we report the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of human γ-secretase bound individually to two GSI clinical candidates, Semagacestat and Avagacestat, a transition state analog GSI L685,458, and a classic GSM E2012, at overall resolutions of 2.6-3.1 Å. Remarkably, each of the GSIs occupies the same general location on presenilin 1 (PS1) that accommodates the β strand from amyloid precursor protein or Notch, interfering with substrate recruitment. L685,458 directly coordinates the two catalytic aspartate residues of PS1. E2012 binds to an allosteric site of γ-secretase on the extracellular side, potentially explaining its modulating activity. Structural analysis reveals a set of shared themes and variations for inhibitor and modulator recognition that will guide development of the next-generation substrate-selective inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanghui Yang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology and Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Rui Zhou
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology and Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xuefei Guo
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology and Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chuangye Yan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology and Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jianlin Lei
- Technology Center for Protein Sciences, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yigong Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology and Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China.
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32
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Wong E, Frost GR, Li YM. γ-Secretase Modulatory Proteins: The Guiding Hand Behind the Running Scissors. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:614690. [PMID: 33343338 PMCID: PMC7738330 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.614690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Described as the "proteasome of the membrane" or the "scissors in the membrane," γ-secretase has notoriously complicated biology, and even after decades of research, the full extent of its regulatory mechanism remains unclear. γ-Secretase is an intramembrane aspartyl protease complex composed of four obligatory subunits: Nicastrin (NCT), Presenilin (PS), Presenilin Enhancer-2 (Pen-2), and Anterior pharynx-defective-1 (Aph-1). γ-Secretase cleaves numerous type 1 transmembrane substrates, with no apparent homology, and plays major roles in broad biological pathways such as development, neurogenesis, and cancer. Notch and the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and are undoubtedly the best-studied γ-secretase substrates because of their role in cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and therefore became the focus of increasing studies as an attractive therapeutic target. The regulation of γ-secretase is intricate and involves the function of multiple cellular entities. Recently, γ-secretase modulatory proteins (GSMPs), which are non-essential subunits and yet modulate γ-secretase activity and specificity, have emerged as an important component in guiding γ-secretase. GSMPs are responsive to cellular and environmental changes and therefore, provide another layer of regulation of γ-secretase. This type of enzymatic regulation allows for a rapid and fine-tuning of γ-secretase activity when appropriate signals appear enabling a temporal level of regulation. In this review article, we discuss the latest developments on GSMPs and implications on the development of effective therapeutics for γ-secretase-associated diseases such as AD and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eitan Wong
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Yue-Ming Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
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Hur JY, Frost GR, Wu X, Crump C, Pan SJ, Wong E, Barros M, Li T, Nie P, Zhai Y, Wang JC, Tcw J, Guo L, McKenzie A, Ming C, Zhou X, Wang M, Sagi Y, Renton AE, Esposito BT, Kim Y, Sadleir KR, Trinh I, Rissman RA, Vassar R, Zhang B, Johnson DS, Masliah E, Greengard P, Goate A, Li YM. The innate immunity protein IFITM3 modulates γ-secretase in Alzheimer's disease. Nature 2020; 586:735-740. [PMID: 32879487 PMCID: PMC7919141 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2681-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Innate immunity is associated with Alzheimer's disease1, but the influence of immune activation on the production of amyloid-β is unknown2,3. Here we identify interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) as a γ-secretase modulatory protein, and establish a mechanism by which inflammation affects the generation of amyloid-β. Inflammatory cytokines induce the expression of IFITM3 in neurons and astrocytes, which binds to γ-secretase and upregulates its activity, thereby increasing the production of amyloid-β. The expression of IFITM3 is increased with ageing and in mouse models that express familial Alzheimer's disease genes. Furthermore, knockout of IFITM3 reduces γ-secretase activity and the formation of amyloid plaques in a transgenic mouse model (5xFAD) of early amyloid deposition. IFITM3 protein is upregulated in tissue samples from a subset of patients with late-onset Alzheimer's disease that exhibit higher γ-secretase activity. The amount of IFITM3 in the γ-secretase complex has a strong and positive correlation with γ-secretase activity in samples from patients with late-onset Alzheimer's disease. These findings reveal a mechanism in which γ-secretase is modulated by neuroinflammation via IFITM3 and the risk of Alzheimer's disease is thereby increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Yeun Hur
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Georgia R Frost
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Program of Neurosciences, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xianzhong Wu
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christina Crump
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Program of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Si Jia Pan
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eitan Wong
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marilia Barros
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Program of Neurosciences, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pengju Nie
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Program of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yujia Zhai
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jen Chyong Wang
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julia Tcw
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lei Guo
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew McKenzie
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chen Ming
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xianxiao Zhou
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Minghui Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yotam Sagi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alan E Renton
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bianca T Esposito
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yong Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Ivy Trinh
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert A Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert Vassar
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Eliezer Masliah
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Paul Greengard
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alison Goate
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yue-Ming Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Program of Neurosciences, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
- Program of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
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Raut P, Glass JB, Lieberman RL. Archaeal roots of intramembrane aspartyl protease siblings signal peptide peptidase and presenilin. Proteins 2020; 89:232-241. [PMID: 32935885 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Signal peptides help newly synthesized proteins reach the cell membrane or be secreted. As part of a biological process key to immune response and surveillance in humans, and associated with diseases, for example, Alzheimer, remnant signal peptides and other transmembrane segments are proteolyzed by the intramembrane aspartyl protease (IAP) enzyme family. Here, we identified IAP orthologs throughout the tree of life. In addition to eukaryotes, IAPs are encoded in metabolically diverse archaea from a wide range of environments. We found three distinct clades of archaeal IAPs: (a) Euryarchaeota (eg, halophilic Halobacteriales, methanogenic Methanosarcinales and Methanomicrobiales, marine Poseidoniales, acidophilic Thermoplasmatales, hyperthermophilic Archaeoglobus spp.), (b) DPANN, and (c) Bathyarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, and Asgard. IAPs were also present in bacterial genomes from uncultivated members of Candidate Phylum Radiation, perhaps due to horizontal gene transfer from DPANN archaeal lineages. Sequence analysis of the catalytic motif YD…GXGD (where X is any amino acid) in IAPs from archaea and bacteria reveals WD in Lokiarchaeota and many residue types in the X position. Gene neighborhood analysis in halophilic archaea shows IAP genes near corrinoid transporters (btuCDF genes). In marine Euryarchaeota, a putative BtuF-like domain is found in N-terminus of the IAP gene, suggesting a role for these IAPs in metal ion cofactor or other nutrient scavenging. Interestingly, eukaryotic IAP family members appear to have evolved either from Euryarchaeota or from Asgard archaea. Taken together, our phylogenetic and bioinformatics analysis should prompt experiments to probe the biological roles of IAPs in prokaryotic secretomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyam Raut
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jennifer B Glass
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Raquel L Lieberman
- School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Luo W, Ip FCF, Fu G, Cheung K, Tian Y, Hu Y, Sinha A, Cheng EYL, Wu X, Bustos V, Greengard P, Li YM, Sinha SC, Ip NY. A Pentacyclic Triterpene from Ligustrum lucidum Targets γ-Secretase. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:2827-2835. [PMID: 32786303 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-beta peptides generated by β-secretase- and γ-secretase-mediated successive cleavage of amyloid precursor protein are believed to play a causative role in Alzheimer's disease. Thus, reducing amyloid-beta generation by modulating γ-secretase remains a promising approach for Alzheimer's disease therapeutic development. Here, we screened fruit extracts of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (Oleaceae) and identified active fractions that increase the C-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein and reduce amyloid-beta production in a neuronal cell line. These fractions contain a mixture of two isomeric pentacyclic triterpene natural products, 3-O-cis- or 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl maslinic acid (OCMA), in different ratios. We further demonstrated that trans-OCMA specifically inhibits γ-secretase and decreases amyloid-beta levels without influencing cleavage of Notch. By using photoactivatable probes targeting the subsites residing in the γ-secretase active site, we demonstrated that trans-OCMA selectively affects the S1 subsite of the active site in this protease. Treatment of Alzheimer's disease transgenic model mice with trans-OCMA or an analogous carbamate derivative of a related pentacyclic triterpene natural product, oleanolic acid, rescued the impairment of synaptic plasticity. This work indicates that the naturally occurring compound trans-OCMA and its analogues could become a promising class of small molecules for Alzheimer's disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Luo
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Fanny C. F. Ip
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, and Molecular Neuroscience Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, Shenzhen−Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China 518057
| | - Guangmiao Fu
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, and Molecular Neuroscience Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kit Cheung
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, and Molecular Neuroscience Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuan Tian
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Yueqing Hu
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, and Molecular Neuroscience Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Anjana Sinha
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Elaine Y. L. Cheng
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, and Molecular Neuroscience Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xianzhong Wu
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Victor Bustos
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Paul Greengard
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Yue-Ming Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Subhash C. Sinha
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Nancy Y. Ip
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, and Molecular Neuroscience Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, Shenzhen−Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China 518057
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Rynearson KD, Buckle RN, Herr RJ, Mayhew NJ, Chen X, Paquette WD, Sakwa SA, Yang J, Barnes KD, Nguyen P, Mobley WC, Johnson G, Lin JH, Tanzi RE, Wagner SL. Design and synthesis of novel methoxypyridine-derived gamma-secretase modulators. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115734. [PMID: 33007551 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of gamma-secretase modulators (GSMs) through the introduction of novel heterocycles with the goal of aligning activity for reducing the levels of Aβ42 and properties consistent with a drug-like molecule are described. The insertion of a methoxypyridine motif within the tetracyclic scaffold provided compounds with improved activity for arresting Aβ42 production as well as improved properties, including solubility. In vivo pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that several compounds within the novel series were capable of crossing the BBB and accessing the therapeutic target. Treatment with methoxypyridine-derived compound 64 reduced Aβ42 levels in the plasma of J20 mice, in addition to reducing Aβ42 levels in the plasma and brain of Tg2576 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Rynearson
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0624, United States.
| | - Ronald N Buckle
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, AMRI, East Campus, 3 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States
| | - R Jason Herr
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, AMRI, East Campus, 3 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States
| | - Nicholas J Mayhew
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, AMRI, East Campus, 3 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States
| | - Xinchao Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, AMRI, East Campus, 3 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States
| | - William D Paquette
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, AMRI, East Campus, 3 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States
| | - Samuel A Sakwa
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, AMRI, East Campus, 3 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States
| | - Jinhai Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, AMRI, East Campus, 3 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States
| | - Keith D Barnes
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, AMRI, East Campus, 3 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States
| | - Phuong Nguyen
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0624, United States
| | - William C Mobley
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0624, United States
| | - Graham Johnson
- NuPharmAdvise, 3 Lakeside Drive, Sanbornton, NH 03269, United States
| | - Juinn H Lin
- Biopharm Consulting Partners, 2 Willet Drive, Ambler, PA 19002, United States
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
| | - Steven L Wagner
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0624, United States; Veterans Administrative San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA 92161, United States.
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37
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Mekala S, Nelson G, Li YM. Recent developments of small molecule γ-secretase modulators for Alzheimer's disease. RSC Med Chem 2020; 11:1003-1022. [PMID: 33479693 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00196a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of progressive neurodegenerative disorder, marked by memory loss and a decline in cognitive function. The major hallmarks of AD are the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tau tangles (NFTs) composed of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins and extracellular plaques composed of amyloid beta peptides (Aβ). The amyloid (Aβ) cascade hypothesis proposes that the AD pathogenesis is initiated by the accumulation of Aβ peptides in the parenchyma of the brain. An aspartyl intramembranal protease called γ-secretase is responsible for the production of Aβ by the cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Clinical studies of γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) for AD failed due to the lack of substrate specificity. Therefore, γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) have been developed as potential disease modifying agents to modulate the γ-secretase cleavage activity towards the production of toxic Aβ42 peptides. Following the first-generation 'nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug' (NSAID) based GSMs, second-generation GSMs (carboxylic acid based NSAID derivatives and non-NSAID derived heterocyclic analogues), as well as natural product-based GSMs, have been developed. In this review, we focus on the recent developments of small molecule-based GSMs that show potential improvements in terms of drug-like properties as well as their current status in human clinical trials and the future perspectives of GSM research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shekar Mekala
- Chemical Biology Program , Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue , New York , New York 10065 , USA . ;
| | - Grady Nelson
- Chemical Biology Program , Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue , New York , New York 10065 , USA . ;
| | - Yue-Ming Li
- Chemical Biology Program , Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue , New York , New York 10065 , USA . ; .,Pharmacology Graduate Program , Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University , New York , New York 10021 , USA
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38
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Dehury B, Kepp KP. Membrane dynamics of γ-secretase with the anterior pharynx-defective 1B subunit. J Cell Biochem 2020; 122:69-85. [PMID: 32830360 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The four-subunit protease complex γ-secretase cleaves many single-pass transmembrane (TM) substrates, including Notch and β-amyloid precursor protein to generate amyloid-β (Aβ), central to Alzheimer's disease. Two of the subunits anterior pharynx-defective 1 (APH-1) and presenilin (PS) exist in two homologous forms APH1-A and APH1-B, and PS1 and PS2. The consequences of these variations are poorly understood and could affect Aβ production and γ-secretase medicine. Here, we developed the first complete structural model of the APH-1B subunit using the published cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of APH1-A (Protein Data Bank: 5FN2, 5A63, and 6IYC). We then performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations at 303 K in a realistic bilayer system to understand both APH-1B alone and in γ-secretase without and with substrate C83-bound. We show that APH-1B adopts a 7TM topology with a water channel topology similar to APH-1A. We demonstrate direct transport of water through this channel, mainly via Glu84, Arg87, His170, and His196. The apo and holo states closely resemble the experimental cryo-EM structures with APH-1A, however with subtle differences: The substrate-bound APH-1B γ-secretase was quite stable, but some TM helices of PS1 and APH-1B rearranged in the membrane consistent with the disorder seen in the cryo-EM data. This produces different accessibility of water molecules for the catalytic aspartates of PS1, critical for Aβ production. In particular, we find that the typical distance between the catalytic aspartates of PS1 and the C83 cleavage sites are shorter in APH-1B, that is, it represents a more closed state, due to interactions with the C-terminal fragment of PS1. Our structural-dynamic model of APH-1B alone and in γ-secretase suggests generally similar topology but some notable differences in water accessibility which may be relevant to the protein's existence in two forms and their specific function and location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Budheswar Dehury
- DTU Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kasper P Kepp
- DTU Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Dehury B, Tang N, Mehra R, Blundell TL, Kepp KP. Side-by-side comparison of Notch- and C83 binding to γ-secretase in a complete membrane model at physiological temperature. RSC Adv 2020; 10:31215-31232. [PMID: 35520661 PMCID: PMC9056423 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra04683c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-Secretase cleaves the C99 fragment of the amyloid precursor protein, leading to formation of aggregated β-amyloid peptide central to Alzheimer's disease, and Notch, essential for cell regulation. Recent cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures indicate major changes upon substrate binding, a β-sheet recognition motif, and a possible helix unwinding to expose peptide bonds towards nucleophilic attack. Here we report side-by-side comparison of the 303 K dynamics of the two proteins in realistic membranes using molecular dynamics simulations. Our ensembles agree with the cryo-EM data (full-protein Cα-RMSD = 1.62–2.19 Å) but reveal distinct presenilin helix conformation states and thermal β-strand to coil transitions of C83 and Notch100. We identify distinct 303 K hydrogen bond dynamics and water accessibility of the catalytic sites. The RKRR motif (1758–1761) contributes significantly to Notch binding and serves as a “membrane anchor” that prevents Notch displacement. Water that transiently hydrogen bonds to G1753 and V1754 probably represents the catalytic nucleophile. At 303 K, Notch and C83 binding induce different conformation states, with Notch mostly present in a closed state with shorter Asp–Asp distance. This may explain the different outcome of Notch and C99 cleavage, as the latter is more imprecise with many products. Our identified conformation states may aid efforts to develop conformation-selective drugs that target C99 and Notch cleavage differently, e.g. Notch-sparing γ-secretase modulators. Distinct membrane dynamics and conformations of C83- and Notch-bound γ-secretase may aid the development of Notch-sparing treatments of Alzheimer's disease.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Budheswar Dehury
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby Denmark +45 45252409.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge Tennis Court Road CB2 1GA UK
| | - Ning Tang
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby Denmark +45 45252409
| | - Rukmankesh Mehra
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby Denmark +45 45252409
| | - Tom L Blundell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge Tennis Court Road CB2 1GA UK
| | - Kasper P Kepp
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby Denmark +45 45252409
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Al-azzawi S, Masheta D, Guildford A, Phillips G, Santin M. A Peptide-Based Nanocarrier for an Enhanced Delivery and Targeting of Flurbiprofen into the Brain for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: An In Vitro Study. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10081590. [PMID: 32823499 PMCID: PMC7466704 DOI: 10.3390/nano10081590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related disease caused by abnormal accumulation of amyloid-β in the brain leading to progressive tissue degeneration. Flurbiprofen (FP), a drug used to mitigate the disease progression, has low efficacy due to its limited permeability across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In a previous work, FP was coupled at the uppermost branching of an ε-lysine-based branched carrier, its root presenting a phenylalanine moiety able to increase the hydrophobicity of the complex and enhance the transport across the BBB by adsorptive-mediated transcytosis (AMT). The present study explores a different molecular design of the FP-peptide delivery system, whereby its root presents an ApoE-mimicking peptide, a targeting ligand that could enhance transport across the BBB by receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT). The functionalised complex was synthesised using a solid-phase peptide synthesis and characterised by mass spectrometry and FTIR. Cytotoxicity and permeability of this complex across an in vitro BBB model were analysed. Moreover, its activity and degradation to release the drug were investigated. The results revealed successful synthesis and grafting of FP molecules at the uppermost molecular branches of the lysine terminal without observed cytotoxicity. When covalently linked to the nanocarrier, FP was still active on target cells, albeit with a reduced activity, and was released as a free drug upon hydrolysis in a lysosome-mimicking medium. Noticeably, this work shows the high efficiency of RMT-driven FP delivery over delivery systems relying on AMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shafq Al-azzawi
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices, School of Pharmacy and Bimolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK; (S.A.-a.); (D.M.); (A.G.); (G.P.)
- College of Pharmacy, University of Babylon, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Hilla 51002, Iraq
| | - Dhafir Masheta
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices, School of Pharmacy and Bimolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK; (S.A.-a.); (D.M.); (A.G.); (G.P.)
- College of Pharmacy, University of Babylon, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Hilla 51002, Iraq
| | - Anna Guildford
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices, School of Pharmacy and Bimolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK; (S.A.-a.); (D.M.); (A.G.); (G.P.)
- Tissue Click Ltd., Brighton BN2 6SJ, UK
| | - Gary Phillips
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices, School of Pharmacy and Bimolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK; (S.A.-a.); (D.M.); (A.G.); (G.P.)
- Tissue Click Ltd., Brighton BN2 6SJ, UK
| | - Matteo Santin
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices, School of Pharmacy and Bimolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK; (S.A.-a.); (D.M.); (A.G.); (G.P.)
- Correspondence:
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Involvement of a Na +-coupled Oligopeptide Transport System for β-amyloid Peptide (Aβ 1-42) in Brain Cells. Pharm Res 2020; 37:98. [PMID: 32419062 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-020-02835-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE A Na+-coupled transport system in mammalian cells is responsible for the uptake of oligopeptides consisting of 5 or more amino acids. Here we investigated if this transport system is expressed in brain cells and transports the 42-amino-acid β-amyloid peptide (Aβ1-42). METHODS The human and mouse neuronal cell lines SK-N-SH and HT22, human microglial cell line HMC-3, and human blood-brain barrier endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3 were used to monitor the uptake of [3H]-deltorphin II (a heptapeptide) and fluorescence-labeled Aβ1-42. RESULTS All four cell lines exhibited Na+-coupled uptake of deltorphin II. Aβ1-42 competed with deltorphin II for the uptake. Uptake of fluorescence-labeled Aβ1-42 was detectable in these cell lines, and the uptake was Na+-dependent and inhibitable by deltorphin II. The Na+-coupled uptake disappeared at high concentrations of Aβ1-42 due to oligomerization of the peptide. Exposure of the cells to excess iron abolished the uptake. In hCMEC/D3 cells cultured on Transwell filters, the uptake was localized preferentially to the abluminal membrane. CONCLUSION A Na+-coupled transport system mediates the uptake of Aβ1-42 monomers in neuronal and microglial cells. The same system is also responsible for the uptake of Aβ1-42 from brain into blood-brain barrier endothelial cells. These findings have relevance to Alzheimer's disease.
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Jordan F, Quinn TJ, McGuinness B, Passmore P, Kelly JP, Tudur Smith C, Murphy K, Devane D. Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the prevention of dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020; 4:CD011459. [PMID: 32352165 PMCID: PMC7192366 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd011459.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dementia is a worldwide concern. Its global prevalence is increasing. At present, there is no medication licensed to prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Inflammation has been suggested as a key factor in dementia pathogenesis. Therefore, medications with anti-inflammatory properties could be beneficial for dementia prevention. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness and adverse effects of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the primary or secondary prevention of dementia. SEARCH METHODS We searched ALOIS, the specialised register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group up to 9 January 2020. ALOIS contains records of clinical trials identified from monthly searches of several major healthcare databases, trial registries and grey literature sources. We ran additional searches across MEDLINE (OvidSP), Embase (OvidSP) and six other databases to ensure that the searches were as comprehensive and up-to-date as possible. We also reviewed citations of reference lists of included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) comparing aspirin or other NSAIDs with placebo for the primary or secondary prevention of dementia. We included trials with cognitively healthy participants (primary prevention) or participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or cognitive complaints (secondary prevention). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard methodological procedures according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We rated the strength of evidence for each outcome using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS We included four RCTs with 23,187 participants. Because of the diversity of these trials, we did not combine data to give summary estimates, but presented a narrative description of the evidence. We identified one trial (19,114 participants) comparing low-dose aspirin (100 mg once daily) to placebo. Participants were aged 70 years or older with no history of dementia, cardiovascular disease or physical disability. Interim analysis indicated no significant treatment effect and the trial was terminated slightly early after a median of 4.7 years' follow-up. There was no evidence of a difference in incidence of dementia between aspirin and placebo groups (risk ratio (RR) 0.98, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.15; high-certainty evidence). Participants allocated aspirin had higher rates of major bleeding (RR 1.37, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.60, high-certainty evidence) and slightly higher mortality (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.28; high-certainty evidence). There was no evidence of a difference in activities of daily living between groups (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.02; high-certainty evidence). We identified three trials comparing non-aspirin NSAIDs to placebo. All three trials were terminated early due to adverse events associated with NSAIDs reported in other trials. One trial (2528 participants) investigated the cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor celecoxib (200 mg twice daily) and the non-selective NSAID naproxen (220 mg twice daily) for preventing dementia in cognitively healthy older adults with a family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Median follow-up was 734 days. Combining both NSAID treatment arms, there was no evidence of a difference in the incidence of AD between participants allocated NSAIDs and those allocated placebo (RR 1.91, 95% CI 0.89 to 4.10; moderate-certainty evidence). There was also no evidence of a difference in rates of myocardial infarction (RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.61 to 2.40), stroke (RR 1.82, 95% CI 0.76 to 4.37) or mortality (RR 1.37, 95% CI 0.78 to 2.43) between treatment groups (all moderate-certainty evidence). One trial (88 participants) assessed the effectiveness of celecoxib (200 mg or 400 mg daily) in delaying cognitive decline in participants aged 40 to 81 years with mild age-related memory loss but normal memory performance scores. Mean duration of follow-up was 17.6 months in the celecoxib group and 18.1 months in the placebo group. There was no evidence of a difference between groups in test scores in any of six cognitive domains. Participants allocated celecoxib experienced more gastrointestinal adverse events than those allocated placebo (RR 2.66, 95% CI 1.05 to 6.75; low-certainty evidence). One trial (1457 participants) assessed the effectiveness of the COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib (25 mg once daily) in delaying or preventing a diagnosis of AD in participants with MCI. Median duration of study participation was 115 weeks in the rofecoxib group and 130 weeks in the placebo group. There was a higher incidence of AD in the rofecoxib than the placebo group (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.72; moderate-certainty evidence). There was no evidence of a difference between groups in cardiovascular adverse events (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.66; moderate-certainty evidence) or mortality (RR 1.62, 95% CI 0.85 to 3.05; moderate-certainty evidence). Participants allocated rofecoxib had more upper gastrointestinal adverse events (RR 3.53, 95% CI 1.17 to 10.68; moderate-certainty evidence). Reported annual mean difference scores showed no evidence of a difference between groups in activities of daily living (year 1: no data available; year 2: 0.0, 95% CI -0.1 to 0.2; year 3: 0.1, 95% CI -0.1 to 0.3; year 4: 0.1, 95% CI -0.1 to 0.4; moderate-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There is no evidence to support the use of low-dose aspirin or other NSAIDs of any class (celecoxib, rofecoxib or naproxen) for the prevention of dementia, but there was evidence of harm. Although there were limitations in the available evidence, it seems unlikely that there is any need for further trials of low-dose aspirin for dementia prevention. If future studies of NSAIDs for dementia prevention are planned, they will need to be cognisant of the safety concerns arising from the existing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fionnuala Jordan
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Terry J Quinn
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Peter Passmore
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - John P Kelly
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Kathy Murphy
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Declan Devane
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Gupta SP, Patil VM. Recent Studies on Design and Development of Drugs Against Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Based on Inhibition of BACE-1 and Other AD-causative Agents. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:1195-1213. [PMID: 32297584 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200416091623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the neurodegenerative diseases and has been hypothesized to be a protein misfolding disease. In the generation of AD, β-secretase, γ-secretase, and tau protein play an important role. A literature search reflects ever increasing interest in the design and development of anti-AD drugs targeting β-secretase, γ-secretase, and tau protein. OBJECTIVE The objective is to explore the structural aspects and role of β-secretase, γ-secretase, and tau protein in AD and the efforts made to exploit them for the design of effective anti-AD drugs. METHODS The manuscript covers the recent studies on design and development of anti-AD drugs exploiting amyloid and cholinergic hypotheses. RESULTS Based on amyloid and cholinergic hypotheses, effective anti-AD drugs have been searched out in which non-peptidic BACE1 inhibitors have been most prominent. CONCLUSION Further exploitation of the structural aspects and the inhibition mechanism for β-secretase, γ-secretase, and tau protein and the use of cholinergic hypothesis may lead still more potent anti-AD drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satya P Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut-250005, India
| | - Vaishali M Patil
- Computer Aided Drug Design Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, KIET School of Pharmacy, KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad-201206, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Nie P, Vartak A, Li YM. γ-Secretase inhibitors and modulators: Mechanistic insights into the function and regulation of γ-Secretase. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 105:43-53. [PMID: 32249070 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Over two decades, γ-secretase has been the target for extensive therapeutic development due to its pivotal role in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and cancer. However, it has proven to be a challenging task owing to its large set of substrates and our limited understanding of the enzyme's structural and mechanistic features. The scientific community is taking bigger strides towards solving this puzzle with recent advancement in techniques like cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and photo-affinity labelling (PAL). This review highlights the significance of the PAL technique with multiple examples of photo-probes developed from γ-secretase inhibitors and modulators. The binding of these probes into active and/or allosteric sites of the enzyme has provided crucial information on the γ-secretase complex and improved our mechanistic understanding of this protease. Combining the knowledge of function and regulation of γ-secretase will be a decisive factor in developing novel γ-secretase modulators and biological therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengju Nie
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Pharmacology program, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Abhishek Vartak
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yue-Ming Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Pharmacology program, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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45
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Optimization and biological evaluation of imidazopyridine derivatives as a novel scaffold for γ-secretase modulators with oral efficacy against cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease model mice. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115455. [PMID: 32307259 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Gamma-secretase modulators (GSMs) selectively lower amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) and are therefore potential disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we report the discovery of imidazopyridine derivatives as GSMs with oral activity on not only Aβ42 levels but also cognitive function. Structural optimization of the biphenyl group and pyridine-2-amide moiety of compound 1a greatly improved GSM activity and rat microsomal stability, respectively. 5-{8-[(3,4'-Difluoro[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)methoxy]-2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl}-N-methylpyridine-2-carboxamide (1o) showed high in vitro potency and brain exposure, induced a robust reduction in brain Aβ42 levels, and exhibited undetectable inhibition of cytochrome p450 enzymes. Moreover, compound 1o showed excellent efficacy against cognitive deficits in AD model mice. These findings suggest that compound 1o is a promising candidate for AD therapeutics.
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46
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Sekioka R, Honda S, Honjo E, Suzuki T, Akashiba H, Mitani Y, Yamasaki S. Discovery of N-ethylpyridine-2-carboxamide derivatives as a novel scaffold for orally active γ-secretase modulators. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115132. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.115132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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47
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Mehra R, Dehury B, Kepp KP. Cryo-temperature effects on membrane protein structure and dynamics. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:5427-5438. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp06723j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cryo-electron structures revolutionize biology, yet cooling effects are unclear. Using a simulation protocol of hot, cold, and rapidly cooled γ-secretase we identify cryo-contraction and modes relevant to Aβ production and cryo-analysis in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukmankesh Mehra
- DTU Chemistry
- Technical University of Denmark
- DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby
- Denmark
| | - Budheswar Dehury
- DTU Chemistry
- Technical University of Denmark
- DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby
- Denmark
| | - Kasper P. Kepp
- DTU Chemistry
- Technical University of Denmark
- DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby
- Denmark
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48
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Kounnas MZ, Durakoglugil MS, Herz J, Comer WT. NGP 555, a γ-secretase modulator, shows a beneficial shift in the ratio of amyloid biomarkers in human cerebrospinal fluid at safe doses. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2019; 5:458-467. [PMID: 31921961 PMCID: PMC6944734 DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2019.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and it is widely accepted that AD is a complex disease with multiple approaches necessary to prevent and treat the disease. METHODS Using amyloid biomarkers in human cerebrospinal fluid, pharmacokinetic, safety, and metabolism studies, we investigate the properties of NGP 555, γ-secretase modulator, for the first time in human clinical trials. RESULTS Our preclinical and clinical studies combined show beneficial effects with NGP 555 on synaptic response and amyloid cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers while avoiding negative side effects. Importantly, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters combined with safety outcomes indicate that NGP 555 penetrates the blood-brain barrier and increases the ratio of amyloid-β peptide Aβ37 and Aβ38 compared with that of Aβ42, establishing a proof of target engagement in humans in a 14 day, once-daily oral dosing trial. DISCUSSION In humans, NGP 555 has demonstrated a beneficial shift in the production of Aβ37 and Aβ38 versus Aβ42 biomarker levels in the cerebrospinal fluid while maintaining an adequate safety profile. The overall clinical goal is to achieve an optimal balance of efficacy for altering amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) biomarkers while maintaining a safe profile so that NGP 555 can be given early in AD to prevent production of Aβ42 and accumulation of amyloid plaques, in an effort to prevent aggregation of tau and destruction of neurons and synapses resulting in cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Z. Kounnas
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Murat S. Durakoglugil
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Center for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Joachim Herz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Center for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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Radiosynthesis of a carbon-11 labeled tetrahydrobenzisoxazole derivative as a new PET probe for γ-secretase imaging in Alzheimer's disease. Appl Radiat Isot 2019; 155:108915. [PMID: 31590101 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
To develop PET radiotracers for imaging of Alzheimer's disease, a new carbon-11 labeled potent and selective γ-secretase modulator (GSM) has been synthesized. The reference standard tetrahydrobenzisoxazole derivative 8 and its desmethylated precursor 9 were synthesized from cyclohex-2-en-1-one and 3-hydroxy-4-nitrobenzaldehyde in eight and nine steps with 11% and 5% overall chemical yield, respectively. The radiotracer [11C]8 was prepared from its corresponding precursor 9 with [11C]CH3OTf through O-11C-methylation and isolated by RP-HPLC combined with SPE in 45-50% radiochemical yield, based on [11C]CO2 and decay corrected to EOB. The radiochemical purity was >99%, and the molar activity (Am) at EOB was 555-740 GBq/μmol.
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50
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Haass C, Levin J. [Did Alzheimer research fail entirely? : Failure of amyloid-based clinical studies]. DER NERVENARZT 2019; 90:884-890. [PMID: 31243509 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-019-0751-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Numerous amyloid-based clinical studies have recently failed. Does this mean that the mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease have to be reinvestigated and that amyloid is not the trigger of the disease? Strong genetic evidence from familial Alzheimer's disease contradicts this fatalistic opinion. Mutations in all genes associated with familial Alzheimer's disease affect amyloid metabolism and aggregation. Moreover, a protective mutation reduces amyloid production by 20-30% throughout the lifetime. Clinical studies rather failed because secretase inhibitors block cleavage of numerous other physiologically important substrates of secretases. Moreover, the disease is initiated decades before symptoms occur. Successful treatment attempts with anti-amyloid medication based on other prototype amyloidoses are described. Finally, new therapeutic target molecules expressed in microglia cells are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Haass
- Lehrstuhl für Stoffwechselbiochemie, Biomedizinisches Centrum (BMC), Fakultät für Medizin, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen Straße 17, 81377, München, Deutschland. .,Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) München, München, Deutschland. .,Münchner Cluster für Systemneurologie (SyNergy), München, Deutschland.
| | - Johannes Levin
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) München, München, Deutschland.,Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Deutschland
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