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Rué L, Jaspers T, Degors IMS, Noppen S, Schols D, De Strooper B, Dewilde M. Novel Human/Non-Human Primate Cross-Reactive Anti-Transferrin Receptor Nanobodies for Brain Delivery of Biologics. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1748. [PMID: 37376196 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB), while being the gatekeeper of the central nervous system (CNS), is a bottleneck for the treatment of neurological diseases. Unfortunately, most of the biologicals do not reach their brain targets in sufficient quantities. The antibody targeting of receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) receptors is an exploited mechanism that increases brain permeability. We previously discovered an anti-human transferrin receptor (TfR) nanobody that could efficiently deliver a therapeutic moiety across the BBB. Despite the high homology between human and cynomolgus TfR, the nanobody was unable to bind the non-human primate receptor. Here we report the discovery of two nanobodies that were able to bind human and cynomolgus TfR, making these nanobodies more clinically relevant. Whereas nanobody BBB00515 bound cynomolgus TfR with 18 times more affinity than it did human TfR, nanobody BBB00533 bound human and cynomolgus TfR with similar affinities. When fused with an anti-beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE1) antibody (1A11AM), each of the nanobodies was able to increase its brain permeability after peripheral injection. A 40% reduction of brain Aβ1-40 levels could be observed in mice injected with anti-TfR/BACE1 bispecific antibodies when compared to vehicle-injected mice. In summary, we found two nanobodies that could bind both human and cynomolgus TfR with the potential to be used clinically to increase the brain permeability of therapeutic biologicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rué
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Jaspers
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isabelle M S Degors
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sam Noppen
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Schols
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart De Strooper
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Maarten Dewilde
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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2
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Wouters Y, Jaspers T, Rué L, Serneels L, De Strooper B, Dewilde M. VHHs as tools for therapeutic protein delivery to the central nervous system. Fluids Barriers CNS 2022; 19:79. [PMID: 36192747 PMCID: PMC9531356 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-022-00374-4] [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: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The blood brain barrier (BBB) limits the therapeutic perspective for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Previously we found an anti-mouse transferrin receptor (TfR) VHH (Nb62) that was able to deliver a biologically active neuropeptide into the CNS in mice. Here, we aimed to test its potential to shuttle a therapeutic relevant cargo. Since this VHH could not recognize the human TfR and hence its translational potential is limited, we also aimed to find and validate an anti-human transferrin VHH to deliver a therapeutic cargo into the CNS. Methods Alpaca immunizations with human TfR, and subsequent phage selection and screening for human TfR binding VHHs was performed to find a human TfR specific VHH (Nb188). Its ability to cross the BBB was determined by fusing it to neurotensin, a neuropeptide that reduces body temperature when present in the CNS but is not able to cross the BBB on its own. Next, the anti–β-secretase 1 (BACE1) 1A11 Fab and Nb62 or Nb188 were fused to an Fc domain to generate heterodimeric antibodies (1A11AM-Nb62 and 1A11AM-Nb188). These were then administered intravenously in wild-type mice and in mice in which the murine apical domain of the TfR was replaced by the human apical domain (hAPI KI). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies were performed to assess the concentration of the heterodimeric antibodies in the brain over time and the ability to inhibit brain-specific BACE1 by analysing the brain levels of Aβ1–40. Results Selections and screening of a phage library resulted in the discovery of an anti-human TfR VHH (Nb188). Fusion of Nb188 to neurotensin induced hypothermia after intravenous injections in hAPI KI mice. In addition, systemic administration 1A11AM-Nb62 and 1A11AM-Nb188 fusions were able to reduce Aβ1-40 levels in the brain whereas 1A11AM fused to an irrelevant VHH did not. A PK/PD experiment showed that this effect could last for 3 days. Conclusion We have discovered an anti-human TfR specific VHH that is able to reach the CNS when administered systemically. In addition, both the currently discovered anti-human TfR VHH and the previously identified mouse-specific anti-TfR VHH, are both able to shuttle a therapeutically relevant cargo into the CNS. We suggest the mouse-specific VHH as a valuable research tool in mice and the human-specific VHH as a moiety to enhance the delivery efficiency of therapeutics into the CNS in human patients. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12987-022-00374-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yessica Wouters
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N4, Herestraat 49, box 602, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.,Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.,Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tom Jaspers
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N4, Herestraat 49, box 602, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.,Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.,Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Laura Rué
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N4, Herestraat 49, box 602, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.,Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Lutgarde Serneels
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N4, Herestraat 49, box 602, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.,Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Bart De Strooper
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N4, Herestraat 49, box 602, 3000, Louvain, Belgium. .,Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium. .,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Maarten Dewilde
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N4, Herestraat 49, box 602, 3000, Louvain, Belgium. .,Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium. .,Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.
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3
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Osada N, Nagae M, Nakano M, Hirata T, Kizuka Y. Examination of differential glycoprotein preferences of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-IV isozymes a and b. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102400. [PMID: 35988645 PMCID: PMC9478453 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The N-glycans attached to proteins contain various N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) branches, the aberrant formation of which correlates with various diseases. N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase-IVa (GnT-IVa or MGAT4A) and -IVb (GnT-IVb or MGAT4B) are isoenzymes that catalyze the formation of the β1,4-GlcNAc branch in N-glycans. However, the functional differences between these isozymes remain unresolved. Here, using cellular and UDP-Glo enzyme assays, we discovered that GnT-IVa and GnT-IVb have distinct glycoprotein preferences both in cells and in vitro. Notably, we show GnT-IVb acted efficiently on glycoproteins bearing an N-glycan pre-modified by GnT-IV. To further understand the mechanism of this reaction, we focused on the non-catalytic C-terminal lectin domain, which selectively recognizes the product glycans. Replacement of a non-conserved amino acid in the GnT-IVb lectin domain with the corresponding residue in GnT-IVa altered the glycoprotein preference of GnT-IVb to resemble that of GnT-IVa. Our findings demonstrate that the C-terminal lectin domain regulates differential substrate selectivity of GnT-IVa and -IVb, highlighting a new mechanism by which N-glycan branches are formed on glycoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Osada
- Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Masamichi Nagae
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan; Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center (iFReC), Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Miyako Nakano
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hirata
- Institute for Glyco-Core Research (iGCORE), Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Kizuka
- Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan; Institute for Glyco-Core Research (iGCORE), Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
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4
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Marino M, Zhou L, Rincon MY, Callaerts-Vegh Z, Verhaert J, Wahis J, Creemers E, Yshii L, Wierda K, Saito T, Marneffe C, Voytyuk I, Wouters Y, Dewilde M, Duqué SI, Vincke C, Levites Y, Golde TE, Saido TC, Muyldermans S, Liston A, De Strooper B, Holt MG. AAV-mediated delivery of an anti-BACE1 VHH alleviates pathology in an Alzheimer's disease model. EMBO Mol Med 2022; 14:e09824. [PMID: 35352880 PMCID: PMC8988209 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201809824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Single domain antibodies (VHHs) are potentially disruptive therapeutics, with important biological value for treatment of several diseases, including neurological disorders. However, VHHs have not been widely used in the central nervous system (CNS), largely because of their restricted blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. Here, we propose a gene transfer strategy based on BBB-crossing Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors to deliver VHH directly into the CNS. As a proof-of-concept, we explored the potential of AAV-delivered VHH to inhibit BACE1, a well-characterized target in Alzheimer's disease. First, we generated a panel of VHHs targeting BACE1, one of which, VHH-B9, shows high selectivity for BACE1 and efficacy in lowering BACE1 activity in vitro. We further demonstrate that a single systemic dose of AAV-VHH-B9 produces positive long-term (12 months plus) effects on amyloid load, neuroinflammation, synaptic function, and cognitive performance, in the AppNL-G-F Alzheimer's disease mouse model. These results constitute a novel therapeutic approach forneurodegenerative diseases, which is applicable to a range of CNS disease targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marika Marino
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lujia Zhou
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Melvin Y Rincon
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Jens Verhaert
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jérôme Wahis
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eline Creemers
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Electrophysiology Expertise Unit, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lidia Yshii
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Keimpe Wierda
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Electrophysiology Expertise Unit, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Takashi Saito
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Catherine Marneffe
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Iryna Voytyuk
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yessica Wouters
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Dewilde
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sandra I Duqué
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cécile Vincke
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yona Levites
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Todd E Golde
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Takaomi C Saido
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako-shi, Japan
| | - Serge Muyldermans
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adrian Liston
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bart De Strooper
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,UK Dementia Research institute at UCL, London, UK.,Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew G Holt
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium.,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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5
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Jafari E, Rezaeinasab R, Khodarahmi G. Quinazolinone-based hybrids with diverse biological activities: A mini-review. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022; 27:68. [PMID: 36353342 PMCID: PMC9639715 DOI: 10.4103/jrms.jrms_1025_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Quinazolinone and quinazoline have been shown different pharmacological activities, namely anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemia, analgesic, antihypertensive, and antibacterial. On the other hand, molecular hybridization is a structural modification technique in the design of new ligands which consist of two or more pharmacologically active molecules in one structure. Therefore, due to the importance of the biological activities of quinazolinones for the development of new therapeutic agents, this review emphasizes current findings on various quinazolinone-based hybrids in medicinal chemistry. Moreover, it highlights the biological activities and structure-activity relationship of these hybrids.
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Ugbaja SC, Lawal M, Kumalo H. An Overview of β-Amyloid Cleaving Enzyme 1 (Bace1) in Alzheimer's Disease Therapy Elucidating its Exosite-Binding Antibody and Allosteric Inhibitor. Curr Med Chem 2021; 29:114-135. [PMID: 34102967 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210608145357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Over decades of its identification, numerous past and ongoing researches have focused on the therapeutic roles of β-amyloid cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) as a target in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the initial BACE1 inhibitors at phase-3 clinical trials tremendously reduced β-amyloid-associated plaques in patients with AD, the researchers eventually discontinued the tests due to the lack of potency. This discontinuation has resulted in limited drug development and discovery targeted at BACE1, despite the high demand for dementia and AD therapies. It is, therefore, imperative to describe the detailed underlying biological basis of the BACE1 therapeutic option in neurological diseases. Herein, we highlight BACE1 bioactivity, genetic properties, and role in neurodegenerative therapy. We review research contributions to BACE1 exosite-binding antibody and allosteric inhibitor development as AD therapies. The review also covers BACE1 biological function, the disease-associated mechanisms, and the enzyme conditions for amyloid precursor protein sites splitting. Based on the present review, we suggest further studies on anti-BACE1 exosite antibodies and BACE1 allosteric inhibitors. Non-active site inhibition might be the way forward to BACE1 therapy in Alzheimer's neurological disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C Ugbaja
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Monsurat Lawal
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Hezekiel Kumalo
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
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Giraldo G, Janus C. Phenotypic evaluation of a childhood-onset parkinsonism-dystonia mouse model with inherent postural abnormalities. Brain Res Bull 2020; 166:54-63. [PMID: 33147520 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.10.018] [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: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Mouse models that replicate facets of human neurological diseases are often used at the pre-clinical stage to better understand the underlying mechanisms of a disease and test the target engagement of potential therapeutic interventions. We recently characterized a mouse model of childhood-onset parkinsonism-dystonia, a disease caused by a homozygous loss-of-function mutation in the SLC39A14 gene. The disease manifests itself phenotypically by impairments in locomotor behaviour and postural abnormalities. Our initial characterization of the model revealed that the Slc39a14-/- mice showed altered Mn homeostasis and compromised locomotor performance in vertical pole-descending, horizontal beam-traversing, and rotarod tests (Jenkitkasemwong et al., 2018). However, some of the mice also displayed torticollis and Straub tail. In this study, we investigated whether these postural abnormalities affected the performance in the above motility tests and consequently, biased and compromised the external validity of reported abnormal locomotor profiles. Our analyses showed that the Slc39a14-/- mice displaying torticollis and/or Straub tail had tests scores comparable to scores of their counterparts that never displayed these postural abnormalities. The z-score general index of performance revealed that the Slc39a14-/- model presents a complex pathological motor phenotype relevant to the complexity of phenotypes identified in childhood-onset parkinsonism-dystonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genesys Giraldo
- Department of Neuroscience, and CTRND, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Christopher Janus
- Department of Neuroscience, and CTRND, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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8
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Nam DH, Lee KB, Kruchowy E, Pham H, Ge X. Protease Inhibition Mechanism of Camelid-like Synthetic Human Antibodies. Biochemistry 2020; 59:3802-3812. [PMID: 32997500 PMCID: PMC7572768 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Macromolecular protease inhibitors and camelid single-domain antibodies achieve their enzymic inhibition functions often through protruded structures that directly interact with catalytic centers of targeted proteases. Inspired by this phenomenon, we constructed synthetic human antibody libraries encoding long CDR-H3s, from which highly selective monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that inhibit multiple proteases were discovered. To elucidate their molecular mechanisms, we performed in-depth biochemical characterizations on a panel of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-14 inhibitory mAbs. Assays included affinity and potency measurements, enzymatic kinetics, a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, proteolytic stability, and epitope mapping followed by quantitative analysis of binding energy changes. The results collectively indicated that these mAbs of convex paratopes were competitive inhibitors recognizing the vicinity of the active cleft, with their significant epitopes scattered across the north and south rims of the cleft. Remarkably, identified epitopes were the surface loops that were highly diverse among MMPs and predominately located at the prime side of the proteolytic site, shedding light on the mechanisms of target selectivity and proteolytic resistance. Substrate sequence profiling and paratope mutagenesis further suggested that mAb 3A2 bound to the active-site cleft in a canonical (substrate-like) manner, by direct interactions between 100hNLVATP100m of its CDR-H3 and subsites S1-S5' of MMP-14. Overall, synthetic mAbs carrying convex paratopes can achieve efficient inhibition and thus hold great therapeutic promise for effectively and safely targeting biomedically important proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Hyun Nam
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Ki Baek Lee
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Evan Kruchowy
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Henry Pham
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Xin Ge
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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9
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Lee KB, Dunn ZS, Lopez T, Mustafa Z, Ge X. Generation of highly selective monoclonal antibodies inhibiting a recalcitrant protease using decoy designs. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:3664-3676. [PMID: 32716053 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12), also known as macrophage elastase, is a potent inflammatory mediator and therefore an important pharmacological target. Clinical trial failures of broad-spectrum compound MMP inhibitors suggested that specificity is the key for a successful therapy. To provide the required selectivity, monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based inhibitors are on the rise. However, poor production of active recombinant human MMP-12 catalytic domain (cdMMP-12) presented a technical hurdle for its inhibitory mAb development. We hypothesized that this problem could be solved by designing an expression-optimized cdMMP-12 mutant without structural disruptions at its reaction cleft and surrounding area, and thus isolated active-site inhibitory mAbs could maintain their binding and inhibition functions toward wild-type MMP-12. We combined three advances in the field-PROSS algorithm for cdMMP-12 mutant design, convex paratope antibody library construction, and functional selection for inhibitory mAbs. As a result, isolated Fab inhibitors showed nanomolar affinity and potency toward cdMMP-12 with high selectivity and high proteolytic stability. Particularly, Fab LH11 targeted the reaction cleft of wild-type cdMMP-12 with 75 nM binding KD and 23 nM inhibition IC50 . We expect that our methods can promote the development of mAbs inhibiting important proteases, many of which are recalcitrant to functional production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Baek Lee
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Zachary S Dunn
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California.,Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Tyler Lopez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California.,Element Biosciences, Inc., San Diego, California
| | - Zahid Mustafa
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Xin Ge
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
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10
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Evaluation of an Allosteric BACE Inhibitor Peptide to Identify Mimetics that Can Interact with the Loop F Region of the Enzyme and Prevent APP Cleavage. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:1566-1576. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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11
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Timmers M, Barão S, Van Broeck B, Tesseur I, Slemmon J, De Waepenaert K, Bogert J, Shaw LM, Engelborghs S, Moechars D, Mercken M, Van Nueten L, Tritsmans L, de Strooper B, Streffer JR. BACE1 Dynamics Upon Inhibition with a BACE Inhibitor and Correlation to Downstream Alzheimer's Disease Markers in Elderly Healthy Participants. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 56:1437-1449. [PMID: 28157093 PMCID: PMC5325057 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The β-site amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1) is the rate limiting enzyme in the generation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) from AβPP, one of the major pathways in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Increased BACE1 levels and activity have been reported in the brain of patients with sporadic AD. Therefore, changes of BACE1 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have also been investigated as a possible biomarker of the disease. We analyzed BACE1 levels in CSF of elderly healthy participants before and after chronic treatment with a BACE inhibitor (BACEi) and evaluated the correlation between BACE1 levels and downstream AD markers. Overall, BACE1 CSF levels showed strong correlations to all downstream AD markers investigated. This is the first reported finding that shows BACE1 levels in CSF were well correlated to its end product Aβ1 - 42. As previously described, BACE1 levels were strongly correlated to total-tau and phosphorylated tau levels in CSF. Generally, chronic BACE inhibition did not influence BACE1 CSF protein levels. Follow-up studies including early-stage AD pathophysiology and prodromal AD patients will help to understand the importance of measuring BACE1 routinely in daily clinical practice and AD clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten Timmers
- Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.,Reference Center for Biological Markers of Dementia (BIODEM), Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Soraia Barão
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, VIB-Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Human Genetics, Universitaire ziekenhuizen and LIND, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bianca Van Broeck
- Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium
| | - Ina Tesseur
- Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium
| | - John Slemmon
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Katja De Waepenaert
- Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium
| | | | - Leslie M Shaw
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sebastiaan Engelborghs
- Reference Center for Biological Markers of Dementia (BIODEM), Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Hospital Network Antwerp (ZNA) Middelheim and Hoge Beuken, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dieder Moechars
- Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium
| | - Marc Mercken
- Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium
| | - Luc Van Nueten
- Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium
| | - Luc Tritsmans
- Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium
| | - Bart de Strooper
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, VIB-Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Human Genetics, Universitaire ziekenhuizen and LIND, KU Leuven, Belgium.,Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK
| | - Johannes Rolf Streffer
- Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.,Reference Center for Biological Markers of Dementia (BIODEM), Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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12
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Gasse C, Zaarour M, Noppen S, Abramov M, Marlière P, Liekens S, De Strooper B, Herdewijn P. Modulation of BACE1 Activity by Chemically Modified Aptamers. Chembiochem 2018; 19:754-763. [PMID: 29327496 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
A modified DNA aptamer that binds BACE1, a therapeutic target involved in Alzheimer's disease has been developed. This ssXNA not only tightly binds to BACE1 but also inhibits its protease activity in vitro in the same range as a previously described unmodified aptamer. We report the in vitro selection of functional oligonucleotides incorporating two nucleobase modifications: 5-chlorouracil and 7-deazaadenine. The nucleoside analogue 5-chloro-2'-deoxyuridine has already been explored as a replacement for thymidine in a chemically modified genome of a bacterium. Thus, 5-chlorouracil modification is a good candidate to support genetic transfer in vivo as well as functional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Gasse
- Univ Evry, CNRS-UMR8030-Laboratoire iSSB, CEA, DRF, IG, Genoscope, Université Paris-Saclay, 5 rue Henri Desbruères, Évry, 91030, France
| | - Marwa Zaarour
- Univ Evry, CNRS-UMR8030-Laboratoire iSSB, CEA, DRF, IG, Genoscope, Université Paris-Saclay, 5 rue Henri Desbruères, Évry, 91030, France
| | - Sam Noppen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Postbus 1043, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mikhail Abramov
- Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philippe Marlière
- The European Syndicate of Synthetic Scientists and Industrialists (TESSI), 81 rue Réaumur, 75002, Paris, France
| | - Sandra Liekens
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Postbus 1043, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart De Strooper
- VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Dementia Research Institute (UK), University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London, UK
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Univ Evry, CNRS-UMR8030-Laboratoire iSSB, CEA, DRF, IG, Genoscope, Université Paris-Saclay, 5 rue Henri Desbruères, Évry, 91030, France.,Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
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13
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Voytyuk I, De Strooper B, Chávez-Gutiérrez L. Modulation of γ- and β-Secretases as Early Prevention Against Alzheimer's Disease. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:320-327. [PMID: 28918941 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The genetic evidence implicating amyloid-β in the initial stage of Alzheimer's disease is unequivocal. However, the long biochemical and cellular prodromal phases of the disease suggest that dementia is the result of a series of molecular and cellular cascades whose nature and connections remain unknown. Therefore, it is unlikely that treatments directed at amyloid-β will have major clinical effects in the later stages of the disease. We discuss the two major candidate therapeutic targets to lower amyloid-β in a preventive mode, i.e., γ- and β-secretase; the rationale behind these two targets; and the current state of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Voytyuk
- KU Leuven Department for Neurosciences, Leuven, Belgium; VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart De Strooper
- KU Leuven Department for Neurosciences, Leuven, Belgium; VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium; UK Dementia Research Institute, University College, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Lucía Chávez-Gutiérrez
- KU Leuven Department for Neurosciences, Leuven, Belgium; VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
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14
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BACE1 Function and Inhibition: Implications of Intervention in the Amyloid Pathway of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22101723. [PMID: 29027981 PMCID: PMC6151801 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22101723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by increasing loss in memory, cognition, and function of daily living. Among the many pathologic events observed in the progression of AD, changes in amyloid β peptide (Aβ) metabolism proceed fastest, and precede clinical symptoms. BACE1 (β-secretase 1) catalyzes the initial cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein to generate Aβ. Therefore inhibition of BACE1 activity could block one of the earliest pathologic events in AD. However, therapeutic BACE1 inhibition to block Aβ production may need to be balanced with possible effects that might result from diminished physiologic functions BACE1, in particular processing of substrates involved in neuronal function of the brain and periphery. Potentials for beneficial or consequential effects resulting from pharmacologic inhibition of BACE1 are reviewed in context of ongoing clinical trials testing the effect of BACE1 candidate inhibitor drugs in AD populations.
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15
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Haghighijoo Z, Firuzi O, Hemmateenejad B, Emami S, Edraki N, Miri R. Synthesis and biological evaluation of quinazolinone-based hydrazones with potential use in Alzheimer’s disease. Bioorg Chem 2017; 74:126-133. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2017.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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16
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Haghighijoo Z, Hemmateenejad B, Edraki N, Miri R, Emami S. Multi-structure docking analysis of BACE1 crystal structures and non-peptidic ligands. J Mol Graph Model 2017; 76:128-135. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2017.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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17
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Moussa CEH. Beta-secretase inhibitors in phase I and phase II clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2017; 26:1131-1136. [PMID: 28817311 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2017.1369527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION BACE 1 is a protease that cleaves the transmembrane amyloid precursor protein and generates amyloid-β peptides that accumulate in AD brains. No known mutations are identified in the gene encoding BACE1 in AD. However, enzyme levels are elevated in AD and a single residue mutation in amyloid precursor protein protects against protein cleavage by BACE1, suggesting BACE involvement in disease pathogenesis. Drugs that can inhibit BACE1 would theoretically prevent Aβ accumulation and halt AD onset and progression. Areas covered: This review discusses clinical developments of BACE1 inhibitors and focuses on what is learned about these inhibitors as a potential treatment. Expert opinion: BACE1 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to improve cognition in AD has been challening. Brain-penetrant BACE1 inhibitors have been developed and clinical trials are underway, both safety and efficacy are questionable. Several clinical trials suggest that BACE1 inhibition and other immunotherapies to reduce brain Aβ are insufficient to improve cognition in AD. This may be due to the emphasis on the amyloid hypothesis despite big failures. We may have to seriously consider shifting attention to therapeutic strategies other than BACE1 inhibition or reduction of Aβ alone and pay more attention to simultaneous clearance of tau and Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charbel E-H Moussa
- a Department of Neurology, Laboratory for Dementia and Parkinsonism, Translational Neurotherapeutics Program , Georgetown University Medical Center , Washington , DC , USA
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18
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Di Pietro O, Juárez-Jiménez J, Muñoz-Torrero D, Laughton CA, Luque FJ. Unveiling a novel transient druggable pocket in BACE-1 through molecular simulations: Conformational analysis and binding mode of multisite inhibitors. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177683. [PMID: 28505196 PMCID: PMC5432175 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The critical role of BACE-1 in the formation of neurotoxic ß-amyloid peptides in the brain makes it an attractive target for an efficacious treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, the development of clinically useful BACE-1 inhibitors has proven to be extremely challenging. In this study we examine the binding mode of a novel potent inhibitor (compound 1, with IC50 80 nM) designed by synergistic combination of two fragments-huprine and rhein-that individually are endowed with very low activity against BACE-1. Examination of crystal structures reveals no appropriate binding site large enough to accommodate 1. Therefore we have examined the conformational flexibility of BACE-1 through extended molecular dynamics simulations, paying attention to the highly flexible region shaped by loops 8-14, 154-169 and 307-318. The analysis of the protein dynamics, together with studies of pocket druggability, has allowed us to detect the transient formation of a secondary binding site, which contains Arg307 as a key residue for the interaction with small molecules, at the edge of the catalytic cleft. The formation of this druggable "floppy" pocket would enable the binding of multisite inhibitors targeting both catalytic and secondary sites. Molecular dynamics simulations of BACE-1 bound to huprine-rhein hybrid compounds support the feasibility of this hypothesis. The results provide a basis to explain the high inhibitory potency of the two enantiomeric forms of 1, together with the large dependence on the length of the oligomethylenic linker. Furthermore, the multisite hypothesis has allowed us to rationalize the inhibitory potency of a series of tacrine-chromene hybrid compounds, specifically regarding the apparent lack of sensitivity of the inhibition constant to the chemical modifications introduced in the chromene unit. Overall, these findings pave the way for the exploration of novel functionalities in the design of optimized BACE-1 multisite inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornella Di Pietro
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Juárez-Jiménez
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine, Campus Torribera, University of Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Charles A. Laughton
- School of Pharmacy and Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (CAL); (FJL)
| | - F. Javier Luque
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine, Campus Torribera, University of Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
- * E-mail: (CAL); (FJL)
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19
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Veugelen S, Dewilde M, De Strooper B, Chávez-Gutiérrez L. Screening and Characterization Strategies for Nanobodies Targeting Membrane Proteins. Methods Enzymol 2016; 584:59-97. [PMID: 28065273 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2016.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The study of membrane protein function and structure requires their successful detection, expression, solubilization, and/or reconstitution, which poses a challenging task and relies on the availability of suitable tools. Several research groups have successfully applied Nanobodies in the purification, as well as the functional and structural characterization of membrane proteins. Nanobodies are small, single-chain antibody fragments originating from camelids presenting on average a longer CDR3 which enables them to bind in cavities and clefts (such as active and allosteric sites). Notably, Nanobodies generally bind conformational epitopes making them very interesting tools to stabilize, dissect, and characterize specific protein conformations. In the clinic, several Nanobodies are under evaluation either as potential drug candidates or as diagnostic tools. In recent years, we have successfully generated high-affinity, conformation-sensitive anti-γ-secretase Nanobodies. γ-Secretase is a multimeric membrane protease involved in processing of the amyloid precursor protein with high clinical relevance as mutations in its catalytic subunit (Presenilin) cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Advancing our knowledge on the mechanisms governing γ-secretase intramembrane proteolysis through various strategies may lead to novel therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer's disease. In this chapter, we present the strategies we have developed and applied for the screening and characterization of anti-γ-secretase Nanobodies. These protocols could be of help in the generation of Nanobodies targeting other membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Veugelen
- University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for Brain and Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M Dewilde
- University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for Brain and Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - B De Strooper
- University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for Brain and Disease, Leuven, Belgium; UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - L Chávez-Gutiérrez
- University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for Brain and Disease, Leuven, Belgium.
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20
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Ohno M. Alzheimer's therapy targeting the β-secretase enzyme BACE1: Benefits and potential limitations from the perspective of animal model studies. Brain Res Bull 2016; 126:183-198. [PMID: 27093940 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Revised: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence points to the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide as the culprit in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). β-Site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is a protease that is responsible for initiating Aβ production. Although precise mechanisms that trigger Aβ accumulation remain unclear, BACE1 inhibition undoubtedly represents an important intervention that may prevent and/or cure AD. Remarkably, animal model studies with knockouts, virus-delivered small interfering RNAs, immunization and bioavailable small-molecule agents that specifically inhibit BACE1 activity strongly support the idea for the therapeutic BACE1 inhibition. Meanwhile, a growing number of BACE1 substrates besides APP uncover new physiological roles of this protease, raising some concern regarding the safety of BACE1 inhibition. Here, I review recent progress in preclinical studies that have evaluated the efficacies and potential limitations of genetic/pharmacological inhibition of BACE1, with special focus on AD-associated phenotypes including synaptic dysfunction, neuron loss and memory deficits in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masuo Ohno
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA; Departments of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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21
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Sala Frigerio C, De Strooper B. Alzheimer's Disease Mechanisms and Emerging Roads to Novel Therapeutics. Annu Rev Neurosci 2016; 39:57-79. [PMID: 27050320 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-070815-014015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Ten years of remarkable progress in understanding the fundamental biochemistry of Alzheimer's disease have been followed by ten years of remarkable and increasing clinical insight into the natural progression of the disorder. The concept of a long, intermediary, prodromal phase between the first appearance of amyloid plaques and tangles and the manifestation of dementia is now well established. The major challenge for the next decade is to chart the many cellular processes that underlie this phase and link the biochemical alterations to the clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease. We discuss here how genetics, new cell culture systems, and improved animal models will fuel this work. We anticipate that the resulting novel insights will provide a basis for further drug development for this terrible disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Sala Frigerio
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Leuven 3000, Belgium; , .,Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.,Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience & Disease (LIND), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Bart De Strooper
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Leuven 3000, Belgium; , .,Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.,Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience & Disease (LIND), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.,Institute of Neurology, University College London, WC1N 3BG London, United Kingdom
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22
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Gutierrez LJ, Angelina E, Gyebrovszki A, Fülöp L, Peruchena N, Baldoni HA, Penke B, Enriz RD. New small-size peptides modulators of the exosite of BACE1 obtained from a structure-based design. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2016; 35:413-426. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2016.1145143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas J. Gutierrez
- Laboratorio de Estructura Molecular y Propiedades, Área de Química Física, Departamento de Químicam, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Av. Libertad 5470, Corrientes 3400, Argentina
| | - Emilio Angelina
- Laboratorio de Estructura Molecular y Propiedades, Área de Química Física, Departamento de Químicam, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Av. Libertad 5470, Corrientes 3400, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis (IMIBIO-SL, CONICET), Ejercito de Los Andes 950, 5700 San Luis, Argentina
| | - Andrea Gyebrovszki
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Dóm tér 8., Hungary
| | - Lívia Fülöp
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Dóm tér 8., Hungary
| | - Nelida Peruchena
- Laboratorio de Estructura Molecular y Propiedades, Área de Química Física, Departamento de Químicam, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Av. Libertad 5470, Corrientes 3400, Argentina
| | - Héctor A. Baldoni
- Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco 917, 5700 San Luis, Argentina
- Instituto de Matemática Aplicada San Luis (IMASL,CONICET), Italia 1556, 5700 San Luis, Argentina
| | - Botond Penke
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Dóm tér 8., Hungary
| | - Ricardo D. Enriz
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis (IMIBIO-SL, CONICET), Ejercito de Los Andes 950, 5700 San Luis, Argentina
- Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco 917, 5700 San Luis, Argentina
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23
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Dorresteijn B, Rotman M, Faber D, Schravesande R, Suidgeest E, van der Weerd L, van der Maarel SM, Verrips CT, El Khattabi M. Camelid heavy chain only antibody fragment domain against β-site of amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 inhibits β-secretase activityin vitroandin vivo. FEBS J 2015; 282:3618-31. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.13367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bram Dorresteijn
- Biomolecular Imaging Group; Division of Cell Biology; Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Utrecht University; The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Rotman
- Department of Radiology; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Dorien Faber
- Biomolecular Imaging Group; Division of Cell Biology; Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Utrecht University; The Netherlands
| | - Ruud Schravesande
- Biomolecular Imaging Group; Division of Cell Biology; Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Utrecht University; The Netherlands
| | - Ernst Suidgeest
- Department of Radiology; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Radiology; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
| | | | - Cornelis T. Verrips
- Biomolecular Imaging Group; Division of Cell Biology; Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Utrecht University; The Netherlands
- QVQ Holding BV; Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Mohamed El Khattabi
- Biomolecular Imaging Group; Division of Cell Biology; Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Utrecht University; The Netherlands
- QVQ Holding BV; Utrecht The Netherlands
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24
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Abstract
β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is the β-secretase enzyme required for the production of the neurotoxic β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide that is widely considered to have a crucial early role in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As a result, BACE1 has emerged as a prime drug target for reducing the levels of Aβ in the AD brain, and the development of BACE1 inhibitors as therapeutic agents is being vigorously pursued. It has proven difficult for the pharmaceutical industry to design BACE1 inhibitor drugs that pass the blood–brain barrier, however this challenge has recently been met and BACE1 inhibitors are now in human clinical trials to test for safety and efficacy in AD patients and individuals with pre-symptomatic AD. Initial results suggest that some of these BACE1 inhibitor drugs are well tolerated, although others have dropped out because of toxicity and it is still too early to know whether any will be effective for the prevention or treatment of AD. Additionally, based on newly identified BACE1 substrates and phenotypes of mice that lack BACE1, concerns have emerged about potential mechanism-based side effects of BACE1 inhibitor drugs with chronic administration. It is hoped that a therapeutic window can be achieved that balances safety and efficacy. This review summarizes the current state of progress in the development of BACE1 inhibitor drugs and the evaluation of their therapeutic potential for AD.
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25
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Yu YJ, Atwal JK, Zhang Y, Tong RK, Wildsmith KR, Tan C, Bien-Ly N, Hersom M, Maloney JA, Meilandt WJ, Bumbaca D, Gadkar K, Hoyte K, Luk W, Lu Y, Ernst JA, Scearce-Levie K, Couch JA, Dennis MS, Watts RJ. Therapeutic bispecific antibodies cross the blood-brain barrier in nonhuman primates. Sci Transl Med 2014; 6:261ra154. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3009835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that causes dementia in a large percentage of the aged population and for which there are only symptomatic treatments. Disease-modifying therapies that are currently being pursued are based on the amyloid cascade theory. This states that accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) in the brain triggers a cascade of cellular events leading to neurodegeneration. Aβ, which is the major constituent of amyloid plaques, is a peptidic fragment derived from proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by sequential cleavages that involve β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and γ-secretase. Targeting BACE1 is a rational approach as its cleavage of APP is the rate-limiting step in Aβ production and this enzyme is elevated in the brain of patients with AD. Furthermore, knocking out the BACE1 gene in mice showed little apparent consequences. Ten years of intensive research has led to the design of efficacious BACE1 inhibitors with favorable pharmacological properties. Several drug candidates have shown promising results in animal models, as they reduce amyloid plaque pathology in the brain and rescue cognitive deficits. Phase I clinical trials indicate that these drugs are well tolerated, and the results from further trials in AD patients are now awaited eagerly. Yet, recent novel information on BACE1 biology, and the discovery that BACE1 cleaves a selection of substrates involved in myelination, retinal homeostasis, brain circuitry, and synaptic function, alert us to potential side effects of BACE1 inhibitors that will require further evaluation to provide a safe therapy for AD.
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Wang W, Liu Y, Lazarus RA. Allosteric inhibition of BACE1 by an exosite-binding antibody. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2013; 23:797-805. [PMID: 23998983 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2013.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Revised: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
β-Secretase (BACE1) is a membrane-anchored pepsin-like aspartic protease and is the rate-limiting enzyme in the β-amyloidogenic pathway. Thus, inhibitors of BACE1 activity have therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease. While much effort has focused on small molecule active site inhibitors, recent exploration of BACE1 inhibition by peptides and antibodies has revealed exosites that can regulate enzymatic activity. This type of allosteric regulation by proteinaceous factors, while frequently found in serine and cysteine proteases, is rarely seen in aspartic proteases. A crystal structure of the anti-BACE1/enzyme complex shows altered structural features and dynamic characteristics near the substrate-binding cleft. This binding mode, along with the enzymatic inhibition pattern, suggests that anti-BACE1 functions through an allosteric inhibition mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiru Wang
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States.
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Gutiérrez LJ, Andujar SA, Enriz RD, Baldoni HA. Structural and functional insights into the anti-BACE1 Fab fragment that recognizes the BACE1 exosite. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2013; 32:1421-33. [PMID: 23879547 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2013.821024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A molecular modeling study giving structural, functional, and mutagenesis insights into the anti-BACE1 Fab fragment that recognizes the BACE1 exosite is reported. Our results allow extending experimental data resulting from X-ray diffraction experiments in order to examine unknown aspects for the Fab-BACE1 recognition and its binding mode. Thus, the study performed here allows extending the inherently static nature of crystallographic structures in order to gain a deeper understanding of the structural and dynamical basis at the atomic level. The characteristics and strength of the interatomic interactions involved in the immune complex formation are exhaustively analyzed. The results might explain how the anti-BACE1 Fab fragment and other BACE1 exosite binders are capable to produce an allosteric modulation of the BACE1 activity. Our site-directed mutagenesis study indicated that the functional anti-BACE1 paratope, residues Tyr32 (H1), Trp50 (H2), Arg98 (H3), Phe101 (H3), Trp104 (H3) and Tyr94 (L3), strongly dominates the binding energetics with the BACE1 exosite. The mutational studies described in this work might accelerate the development of new BACE1 exosite binders with interesting pharmacological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Joel Gutiérrez
- a Área de Química General e Inorgánica, Universidad Nacional de San Luis (UNSL) , Chacabuco 917, San Luis , D5700BWS , Argentina
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Abstract
The central nervous system has been considered off-limits to antibody therapeutics. However, recent advances in preclinical and clinical drug development suggest that antibodies can cross the blood-brain barrier in limited quantities and act centrally to mediate their effects. In particular, immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease has shown that targeting beta amyloid with antibodies can reduce pathology in both mouse models and the human brain, with strong evidence supporting a central mechanism of action. These findings have fueled substantial efforts to raise antibodies against other central nervous system targets, particularly neurodegenerative targets, such as tau, beta-secretase, and alpha-synuclein. Nevertheless, it is also apparent that antibody penetration across the blood-brain barrier is limited, with an estimated 0.1-0.2 % of circulating antibodies found in brain at steady-state concentrations. Thus, technologies designed to improve antibody uptake in brain are receiving increased attention and are likely going to represent the future of antibody therapy for neurologic diseases, if proven safe and effective. Herein we review briefly the progress and limitations of traditional antibody drug development for neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on passive immunotherapy. We also take a more in-depth look at new technologies for improved delivery of antibodies to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y. Joy Yu
- Neurodegeneration Labs, Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Ryan J. Watts
- Neurodegeneration Labs, Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
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30
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Pehar M, Puglielli L. Lysine acetylation in the lumen of the ER: a novel and essential function under the control of the UPR. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2012; 1833:686-97. [PMID: 23247107 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2012.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2012] [Revised: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The N(ε)-amino group of lysine residues can be transiently modified by the addition of an acetyl group. Recognized functions of N(ε)-lysine acetylation include regulation of activity, molecular stabilization and conformational assembly of a protein. For more than forty years lysine acetylation was thought to occur only in the cytosol and nucleus. Targets included cytoskeletal-associated proteins as well as transcription factors, histone proteins and proteins involved in DNA recombination and repair. However, in 2007 we reported that a type I membrane protein involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease was transiently acetylated on the ε amino group of seven lysine residues while transiting along the secretory pathway. Surprisingly, the acetylation occurred in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) forcing us to reconsider old paradigms. Indeed, if lysine acetylation can occur in the lumen of the ER, then all the essential biochemical elements of the reaction must be available in the lumen of the organelle. Follow-up studies revealed the existence of ER-based acetyl-CoA:lysine acetyltransferases as well as a membrane transporter that translocates acetyl-CoA from the cytosol into the ER lumen. Large-scale proteomics showed that the list of substrates of the ER-based acetylation machinery includes both transiting and resident proteins. Finally, genetic studies revealed that this machinery is tightly linked to human diseases. Here, we describe these exciting findings as well as recent biochemical and cellular advances, and discuss possible impact on both human physiology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Pehar
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, VA Medical Center, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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31
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Yang SG, Wang SW, Zhao M, Zhang R, Zhou WW, Li YN, Su YJ, Zhang H, Yu XL, Liu RT. A peptide binding to the β-site of APP improves spatial memory and attenuates Aβ burden in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48540. [PMID: 23133641 PMCID: PMC3486805 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2012] [Accepted: 09/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), an aspartyl protease, initiates processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) into β-amyloid (Aβ); the peptide likely contributes to development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). BACE1 is an attractive therapeutic target for AD treatment, but it exhibits other physiological activities and has many other substrates besides APP. Thus, inhibition of BACE1 function may cause adverse side effects. Here, we present a peptide, S1, isolated from a peptide library that selectively inhibits BACE1 hydrolytic activity by binding to the β-proteolytic site on APP and Aβ N-terminal. The S1 peptide significantly reduced Aβ levels in vitro and in vivo and inhibited Aβ cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. When applied to APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic mice by intracerebroventricular injection, S1 significantly improved the spatial memory as determined by the Morris Water Maze, and also attenuated their Aβ burden. These results indicate that the dual-functional peptide S1 may have therapeutic potential for AD by both reducing Aβ generation and inhibiting Aβ cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-gao Yang
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Shao-wei Wang
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Min Zhao
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Ran Zhang
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Wei-wei Zhou
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-nan Li
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Ya-jing Su
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - He Zhang
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-lin Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (RTL); (XLY)
| | - Rui-tian Liu
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (RTL); (XLY)
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Zhou L, Barão S, Laga M, Bockstael K, Borgers M, Gijsen H, Annaert W, Moechars D, Mercken M, Gevaert K, Gevaer K, De Strooper B. The neural cell adhesion molecules L1 and CHL1 are cleaved by BACE1 protease in vivo. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:25927-40. [PMID: 22692213 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.377465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme BACE1 is a prime drug target for Alzheimer disease. However, the function and the physiological substrates of BACE1 remain largely unknown. In this work, we took a quantitative proteomic approach to analyze the secretome of primary neurons after acute BACE1 inhibition, and we identified several novel substrate candidates for BACE1. Many of these molecules are involved in neuronal network formation in the developing nervous system. We selected the adhesion molecules L1 and CHL1, which are crucial for axonal guidance and maintenance of neural circuits, for further validation as BACE1 substrates. Using both genetic BACE1 knock-out and acute pharmacological BACE1 inhibition in mice and cell cultures, we show that L1 and CHL1 are cleaved by BACE1 under physiological conditions. The BACE1 cleavage sites at the membrane-proximal regions of L1 (between Tyr(1086) and Glu(1087)) and CHL1 (between Gln(1061) and Asp(1062)) were determined by mass spectrometry. This work provides molecular insights into the function and the pathways in which BACE1 is involved, and it will help to predict or interpret possible side effects of BACE1 inhibitor drugs in current clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lujia Zhou
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KULeuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Dislich B, Lichtenthaler SF. The Membrane-Bound Aspartyl Protease BACE1: Molecular and Functional Properties in Alzheimer's Disease and Beyond. Front Physiol 2012; 3:8. [PMID: 22363289 PMCID: PMC3281277 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2011] [Accepted: 01/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is a transmembrane aspartyl protease involved in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis and in myelination. BACE1 initiates the generation of the pathogenic amyloid β-peptide, which makes BACE1 a major drug target for AD. BACE1 also cleaves and activates neuregulin 1, thereby contributing to postnatal myelination, in particular in the peripheral nervous system. Additional proteins are also cleaved by BACE1, but less is known about the physiological consequences of their cleavage. Recently, new phenotypes were described in BACE1-deficient mice. Although it remains unclear through which BACE1 substrates they are mediated, the phenotypes suggest a versatile role of this protease for diverse physiological processes. This review summarizes the enzymatic and cellular properties of BACE1 as well as its regulation by lipids, by transcriptional, and by translational mechanisms. The main focus will be on the recent progress in understanding BACE1 function and its implication for potential mechanism-based side effects upon therapeutic inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Dislich
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Germany
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34
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Rajendran L, Annaert W. Membrane Trafficking Pathways in Alzheimer's Disease. Traffic 2012; 13:759-70. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2012.01332.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Revised: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 01/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Rajendran
- Systems and Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration; Division of Psychiatry Research; University of Zurich; August-Forel Str. 1; Zurich; 8008; Switzerland
| | - Wim Annaert
- Laboratory for Membrane Trafficking; Center for Human Genetics (KULeuven) & VIB-Center for the Biology of Disease; Gasthuisberg O&N4, Herestraat 49; Leuven; B-3000; Belgium
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35
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Mattsson N, Rajendran L, Zetterberg H, Gustavsson M, Andreasson U, Olsson M, Brinkmalm G, Lundkvist J, Jacobson LH, Perrot L, Neumann U, Borghys H, Mercken M, Dhuyvetter D, Jeppsson F, Blennow K, Portelius E. BACE1 inhibition induces a specific cerebrospinal fluid β-amyloid pattern that identifies drug effects in the central nervous system. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31084. [PMID: 22328928 PMCID: PMC3273469 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2011] [Accepted: 01/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACE1 is a key enzyme for amyloid-β (Aβ) production, and an attractive therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we report that BACE1 inhibitors have distinct effects on neuronal Aβ metabolism, inducing a unique pattern of secreted Aβ peptides, analyzed in cell media from amyloid precursor protein (APP) transfected cells and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from dogs by immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, using several different BACE1 inhibitors. Besides the expected reductions in Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42, treatment also changed the relative levels of several other Aβ isoforms. In particular Aβ1-34 decreased, while Aβ5-40 increased, and these changes were more sensitive to BACE1 inhibition than the changes in Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42. The effects on Aβ5-40 indicate the presence of a BACE1 independent pathway of APP degradation. The described CSF Aβ pattern may be used as a pharmacodynamic fingerprint to detect biochemical effects of BACE1-therapies in clinical trials, which might accelerate development of novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Mattsson
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Lawrence Rajendran
- Systems and Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration, Division of Psychiatry Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Mikael Gustavsson
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Ulf Andreasson
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Maria Olsson
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Brinkmalm
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Johan Lundkvist
- Innovative Medicines, Central Nervous System and Pain iMed, Department of Neuroscience, AstraZeneca R&D, Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Laura H. Jacobson
- Neuroscience Discovery, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ludovic Perrot
- Neuroscience Discovery, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ulf Neumann
- Neuroscience Discovery, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Herman Borghys
- Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Marc Mercken
- Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Deborah Dhuyvetter
- Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Fredrik Jeppsson
- Innovative Medicines, Central Nervous System and Pain iMed, Department of Neuroscience, AstraZeneca R&D, Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Erik Portelius
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
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36
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Secretase Inhibitors and Modulators as a Disease-Modifying Approach Against Alzheimer's Disease. ANNUAL REPORTS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-396492-2.00005-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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ADP ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) controls amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing by mediating the endosomal sorting of BACE1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:E559-68. [PMID: 21825135 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1100745108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides, the primary constituents of senile plaques and a hallmark in Alzheimer's disease pathology, are generated through the sequential cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and γ-secretase. The early endosome is thought to represent a major compartment for APP processing; however, the mechanisms of how BACE1 encounters APP are largely unknown. In contrast to APP internalization, which is clathrin-dependent, we demonstrate that BACE1 is sorted to early endosomes via a route controlled by the small GTPase ADP ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6). Altering ARF6 levels or its activity affects endosomal sorting of BACE1, and consequently results in altered APP processing and Aβ production. Furthermore, sorting of newly internalized BACE1 from ARF6-positive towards RAB GTPase 5 (RAB5)-positive early endosomes depends on its carboxyterminal short acidic cluster-dileucine motif. This ARF6-mediated sorting of BACE1 is confined to the somatodendritic compartment of polarized neurons in agreement with Aβ peptides being primarily secreted from here. These results demonstrate a spatial separation between APP and BACE1 during surface-to-endosome transport, suggesting subcellular trafficking as a regulatory mechanism for this proteolytic processing step. It thereby provides a novel avenue to interfere with Aβ production through a selective modulation of the distinct endosomal transport routes used by BACE1 or APP.
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Ling S, Zhou J, Rudd JA, Hu Z, Fang M. The recent updates of therapeutic approaches against aβ for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2011; 294:1307-18. [PMID: 21717585 DOI: 10.1002/ar.21425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
One of the main neuropathological lesions observed in brain autopsy of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is the extracellular senile plaques mainly composed of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide. Recently, treatment strategies have focused on modifying the formation, clearance, and accumulation of this potentially neurotoxic peptide. β- and γ-secretase are responsible for the cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the generation of Aβ peptide. Treatments targeting these two critical secretases may therefore reduce Aβ peptide levels and positive impact on AD. Vaccination is also an advanced approach against Aβ. This review focuses on recent advances of our understanding of this key peptide, with emphasis on Aβ peptide synthesis, accumulation and neurotoxicity, and current therapies including vaccination and two critical secretase inhibitors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of conserved endogenous small noncoding RNAs, known to regulate the expression of complementary messenger RNAs, involved in AD development. We therefore address the relationship of miRNAs in the brain and Aβ generation, as a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of AD while also providing new insights on the etiology of this neurological disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shucai Ling
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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39
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Vassar R, Kandalepas PC. The β-secretase enzyme BACE1 as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2011; 3:20. [PMID: 21639952 PMCID: PMC3226309 DOI: 10.1186/alzrt82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid plaques are defining histopathologic lesions in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and are composed of the amyloid-beta peptide, which is widely considered to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of AD. The β-secretase, or β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1; also called Asp2, memapsin 2), is the enzyme that initiates the generation of amyloid beta. Consequently, BACE1 is an attractive drug target for lowering cerebral levels of amyloid beta for the treatment or prevention of AD. Much has been learned about BACE1 since its discovery over 10 years ago. In the present article, we review BACE1 properties and characteristics, cell biology, in vivo validation, substrates, therapeutic potential, and inhibitor drug development. Studies relating to the physiological functions of BACE1 and the promise of BACE1 inhibition for AD will also be discussed. We conclude that therapeutic inhibition of BACE1 should be efficacious for AD, although careful titration of the drug dose may be necessary to limit mechanism-based side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Vassar
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 300 E, Superior, Tarry 8-713, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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