Existing dopaminergic therapies for Parkinson’s disease

Bivalent dopamine agonists with co-operative binding and functional activities at dopamine D2 receptors, modulate aggregation and toxicity of alpha synuclein protein

To follow up on our previous report on bivalent compounds exhibiting potent co-operative binding at dopamine D2 receptors, we modified the structure of the linker in our earlier bivalent molecules (S)-6-((9-(((R)-5-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)(propyl)amino)nonyl)-(propyl)amino)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ol (Ia) and (S)-6-((10-(((R)-5-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)(propyl)amino)decyl)(propyl)amino)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ol (Ib) (Fig. 1) connecting the two pharmaophoric moieties to observe any tolerance in maintaining similar affinities and potencies. Specifically, we introduced aromatic and piperazine moieties in the linker to explore their effect. Overall, similar activities at D2 receptors as observed in our earlier study was maintained in the new molecules e.g. (6S,6'S)-6,6'-((1,4-phenylenebis(ethane-2,1-diyl))bis(propylazanediyl))bis(5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ol) (D-382) (Ki, D2 = 3.88 nM). The aromatic moiety in D-382 was next functionalized by introducing hydroxyl groups to mimic polyhydroxy natural products which are known to interact with amyloidogenic proteins. Such a transformation resulted in development of compounds like 2,5-bis(2-(((S)-5-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)(propyl)amino)ethyl)benzene-1,4-diol (D-666) (Ki, D2 = 7.62 nM) which retained similar affinity and potency at D2 receptors. Such dihydroxyl compounds turned out to be potent inhibitors against aggregation and toxicity of recombinant alpha synuclein protein. The work reported here is in line with our overall goal to develop multifunctional dopamine agonist for symptomatic and disease modifying treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Mutated ATP10B increases Parkinson's disease risk by compromising lysosomal glucosylceramide export

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disease presenting with a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms, loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the occurrence of α-synuclein-positive Lewy bodies in surviving neurons. Here, we performed whole exome sequencing in 52 early-onset PD patients and identified 3 carriers of compound heterozygous mutations in the ATP10B P4-type ATPase gene. Genetic screening of a Belgian PD and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) cohort identified 4 additional compound heterozygous mutation carriers (6/617 PD patients, 0.97%; 1/226 DLB patients, 0.44%). We established that ATP10B encodes a late endo-lysosomal lipid flippase that translocates the lipids glucosylceramide (GluCer) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) towards the cytosolic membrane leaflet. The PD associated ATP10B mutants are catalytically inactive and fail to provide cellular protection against the environmental PD risk factors rotenone and manganese. In isolated cortical neurons, loss of ATP10B leads to general lysosomal dysfunction and cell death. Impaired lysosomal functionality and integrity is well known to be implicated in PD pathology and linked to multiple causal PD genes and genetic risk factors. Our results indicate that recessive loss of function mutations in ATP10B increase risk for PD by disturbed lysosomal export of GluCer and PC. Both ATP10B and glucocerebrosidase 1, encoded by the PD risk gene GBA1, reduce lysosomal GluCer levels, emerging lysosomal GluCer accumulation as a potential PD driver.

A quantum chemical approach representing a new perspective concerning agonist and antagonist drugs in the context of schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease

Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease can be controlled with dopamine antagonists and agonists. In order to improve the understanding of the reaction mechanism of these drugs, in this investigation we present a quantum chemical study of 20 antagonists and 10 agonists. Electron donor acceptor capacity and global hardness are analyzed using Density Functional Theory calculations. Following this theoretical approach, we provide new insights into the intrinsic response of these chemical species. In summary, antagonists generally prove to be better electron acceptors and worse electron donors than dopamine, whereas agonists present an electron donor-acceptor capacity similar to that of dopamine. The chemical hardness is a descriptor that captures the resistance of a chemical compound to change its number of electrons. Within this model, harder molecules are less polarizable and more stable systems. Our results show that the global hardness is similar for dopamine and agonists whilst antagonists present smaller values. Following the Hard and Soft Acid and Bases principle, it is possible to conclude that dopamine and agonists are hard bases while antagonists are soft acids, and this can be related to their activity. From the electronic point of view, we have evolved a new perspective for the classification of agonist and antagonist, which may help to analyze future results of chemical interactions triggered by these drugs.

D-512 and D-440 as novel multifunctional dopamine agonists: characterization of neuroprotection properties and evaluation of in vivo efficacy in a Parkinson's disease animal model

In this article, we have demonstrated the in vivo efficacy of D-512 and D-440 in a 6-OHDA-induced unilaterally lesioned rat model experiment, a Parkinson's disease animal model. D-512 is a novel highly potent D2/D3 agonist, and D-440 is a novel highly selective D3 agonist. We evaluated the neuroprotective properties of D-512 and D-440 in the dopaminergic MN9D cells. Cotreatment of these two drugs with 6-OHDA and MPP+ significantly attenuated and reversed 6-OHDA- and MPP+-induced toxicity in a dose-dependent manner in the dopaminergic MN9D cells. The inhibition of caspase 3/7 and lipid peroxidation activities along with the restoration of tyrosine hydroxylase levels by D-512 in 6-OHDA-treated cells may partially explain the mechanism of its neuroprotective property. Furthermore, studies were carried out to elucidate the time-dependent changes in the pERK1/2 and pAkt, two kinases implicated in cell survival and apoptosis, levels upon treatment with 6-OHDA in presence of D-512. The neuroprotective property exhibited by these drugs was independent of their dopamine-agonist activity, which is consistent with our multifunctional drug-development approach that is focused on the generation of disease-modifying symptomatic-treatment agents for Parkinson's disease.

Interaction of D₃ preferring agonist (-)-N⁶-(2-(4-(biphenyl-4-yl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl)-N⁶-propyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[d]thiazole-2,6-diamine (D-264) with cloned human D₂L, D₂S, and D₃ receptors: potent stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and G protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium channels

This study aims to determine the effect of the novel D(3) dopamine receptor agonist, D-264, on activation of D(3) and D(2) dopamine receptor signal transduction pathways and cell proliferation. AtT-20 neuroendocrine cells stably expressing human D(2S), D(2L), and D(3) dopamine receptors were treated with D-264 and the coupling of the receptors to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and G protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium (GIRK) channels was determined using Western blotting and whole-cell voltage clamp recording, respectively. D-264 potently activated MAPK signaling pathway coupled to D(2S), D(2L), and D(3) dopamine receptors. The activation of MAPK was more pronounced than the reference agonist quinpirole and was longer lasting. D-264 also activated GIRK channels coupled to D(2S), D(2L), and D(3) receptors. In addition, D-264 dose-dependently induced cell proliferation in AtT-D(2L) and AtT-D(3) cells. These results indicate that D-264 robustly activates GIRK channels and MAPK coupled to D(2) and D(3) dopamine receptors in AtT-20 cells. D-264 is also a potent inducer of cell proliferation.

Development of (S)-N6-(2-(4-(isoquinolin-1-yl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl)-N6-propyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[d]-thiazole-2,6-diamine and its analogue as a D3 receptor preferring agonist: potent in vivo activity in Parkinson's disease animal models

Here we report structure-activity relationship study of a novel hybrid series of compounds where structural alteration of aromatic hydrophobic moieties connected to the piperazine ring and bioisosteric replacement of the aromatic tetralin moieties were carried out. Binding assays were carried out with HEK-293 cells expressing either D2 or D3 receptors with tritiated spiperone to evaluate inhibition constants (K(i)). Functional activity of selected compounds in stimulating GTPgammaS binding was assessed with CHO cells expressing human D2 receptors and AtT-20 cells expressing human D3 receptors. SAR results identified compound (-)-24c (D-301) as one of the lead molecules with preferential agonist activity for D3 receptor (EC(50) (GTP gamma S); D3 = 0.52 nM; D2/D3 (EC(50)): 223). Compounds (-)-24b and (-)-24c exhibited potent radical scavenging activity. The two lead compounds, (-)-24b and (-)-24c, exhibited high in vivo activity in two Parkinson's disease (PD) animal models, reserpinized rat model and 6-OHDA induced unilaterally lesioned rat model. Future studies will explore potential use of these compounds in the neuroprotective therapy for PD.

Investigation of various N-heterocyclic substituted piperazine versions of 5/7-{[2-(4-aryl-piperazin-1-yl)-ethyl]-propyl-amino}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalen-2-ol: effect on affinity and selectivity for dopamine D3 receptor

Here we report on the design and synthesis of several heterocyclic analogues belonging to the 5/7-{[2-(4-aryl-piperazin-1-yl)-ethyl]-propyl-amino}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalen-2-ol series of molecules. Compounds were subjected to [(3)H]spiperone binding assays, carried out with HEK-293 cells expressing either D2 or D3 dopamine receptors, in order to evaluate their inhibition constant (K(i)) at these receptors. Results indicate that N-substitution on the piperazine ring can accommodate various substituted indole rings. The results also show that in order to maintain high affinity and selectivity for the D3 receptor the heterocyclic ring does not need to be connected directly to the piperazine ring as the majority of compounds included here are linked either via an amide or a methylene linker to the heterocyclic moiety. The enantiomers of the most potent racemic compound 10e exhibited differential activity with (-)-10e (K(i); D2=47.5 nM, D3=0.57 nM) displaying higher affinity at both D2 and D3 receptors compared to its enantiomer (+)-10e (K(i); D2=113 nM, D3=3.73 nM). Additionally, compound (-)-10e was more potent and selective for the D3 receptor compared to either 7-OH-DPAT or 5-OH-DPAT. Among the bioisosteric derivatives, the indazole derivative 10g and benzo[b]thiophene derivative 10i exhibited the highest affinity for D2 and D3 receptors. In the functional GTPgammaS binding study, one of the lead molecules, (-)-15, exhibited potent agonist activity at both D2 and D3 receptors with preferential affinity at D3.

2-Amino-N-pyrimidin-4-ylacetamides as A2A receptor antagonists: 2. Reduction of hERG activity, observed species selectivity, and structure-activity relationships

Previously we have described a series of novel A 2A receptor antagonists with excellent water solubility. As described in the accompanying paper, the antagonists were first optimized to remove an unsubstituted furyl moiety, with the aim of avoiding the potential metabolic liabilities that can arise from the presence of an unsubstituted furan. This effort identified a series of potent and selective methylfuryl derivatives. Herein, we describe the further optimization of this series to increase potency, maintain selectivity for the human A 2A vs the human A 1 receptor, and minimize activity against the hERG channel. In addition, the observed structure-activity relationships against both the human and the rat A 2A receptor are reported.