Characterization of a new molecule capable of inhibiting several steps of the amyloid cascade in Alzheimer's disease

NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE

卷:141

Article

Peters, Christian^1,5  Bascunan, Denisse¹  Burgos, Carlos F.¹  Bobadilla, Catalina¹  Gonzalez-Sanmiguel, Juliana¹  Boopathi, Subramanian²  Riffo, Nicolas¹  Fernandez-Perez, Eduardo J.¹  Elena Tarnok, Maria⁴  Felipe Aguilar, Luis⁴  Gonzalez, Wendy^2,3  Aguayo, Luis G.¹ 

[1] Univ Concepcion, Dept Physiol, Lab Neurophysiol, Concepcion, Chile

[2] Univ Talca, Ctr Bioinformat & Mol Simulat CBSM, Talca, Chile

[3] Univ Talca, Millennium Nucleus Ion Channels Associated Dis Mi, Talca, Chile

[4] Pontificia Univ Catolica Valparaiso, Lab Photophys & Mol Spect, Chem, Valparaiso, Chile

[5] Max Planck Inst Neurobiol, Mol Signaling Dev, Martinsried, Germany

关键词: Alzheimer;    Small molecule;    Novel;    Multi-step;    Drug;    Therapy;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104938

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in elderly people. Existent therapies are directed at alleviating some symptoms, but are not effective in altering the course of the disease. Methods: Based on our previous study that showed that an Fiji-interacting small peptide protected against the toxic effects of amyloid-beta peptide (A beta), we carried out an array of in silico, in vitro, and in vivo assays to identify a molecule having neuroprotective properties. Results: In silico studies showed that the molecule, referred to as M30 (2-Octahydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-ylethanamine), was able to interact with the A beta peptide. Additionally, in vitro assays showed that M30 blocked A beta aggregation, association to the plasma membrane, synaptotoxicity, intracellular calcium, and cellular toxicity, while in vivo experiments demonstrated that M30 induced a neuroprotective effect by decreasing the toxicity of A beta in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and improving the alteration in spatial memory in behavior assays. Discussion Therefore, we propose that this new small molecule could be a useful candidate for the additional development of a treatment against AD since it appears to block multiple steps in the amyloid cascade. Overall, since there are no drugs that effectively block the progression of AD, this approach represents an innovative strategy. Significance: Currently, there is no effective treatment for AD and the expectations to develop an effective therapy are low. Using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments, we identified a new compound that is able to inhibit A beta-induced neurotoxicity, specifically aggregation, association to neurons, synaptic toxicity, calcium dyshomeostasis and memory impairment induced by A beta. Because A beta toxicity is central to AD progression, the inhibition mediated by this new molecule might be useful as a therapeutic tool.