A novel process driving Alzheimer's disease validated in a mouse model: Therapeutic potential.

Introduction: The neuronal mechanism driving Alzheimer's disease (AD) is incompletely understood. Methods: Immunohistochemistry, pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavioral testing are employed in two pathological contexts-AD and a transgenic mouse model-to investigate T14, a 14mer peptide, as a key signaling molecule in the neuropathology. Results: T14 increases in AD brains as the disease progresses and is conspicuous in 5XFAD mice, where its immunoreactivity corresponds to that seen in AD: neurons immunoreactive for T14 in proximity to T14-immunoreactive plaques. NBP14 is a cyclized version of T14, which dose-dependently displaces binding of its linear counterpart to alpha-7 nicotinic receptors in AD brains. In 5XFAD mice, intranasal NBP14 for 14 weeks decreases brain amyloid and restores novel object recognition to that in wild-types. Discussion: These findings indicate that the T14 system, for which the signaling pathway is described here, contributes to the neuropathological process and that NBP14 warrants consideration for its therapeutic potential.

Effect of the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB-239063 on Lipopolysaccharide-induced psychomotor retardation and peripheral biomarker alterations in rats.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration in rats induces a characteristic syndrome termed 'sickness behavior', including profound changes on locomotor activity and circulating stress and inflammatory mediators. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate whether the behavioral and the peripheral biomarker responses induced by LPS could be modified by acute treatment with the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB-239063. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated orally either with vehicle or SB-239063 (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg) 1h before an intraperitoneal injection of either saline or LPS 125 µg/kg. Two hours after LPS injection, rats were placed in a novel open field arena for locomotion assessment during both the light and dark periods. Inflammation and stress mediators were evaluated in plasma 2, 3, 5 or 14 h into the dark phase. Pre-treatment with SB-239063 significantly reversed the locomotor deficits induced by LPS injection. Interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, Granulocyte-Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor, Interferon-γ, and C-reactive-protein levels were increased significantly by LPS, but not when LPS was preceded by SB-239063 treatment. LPS significantly decreased growth-hormone and Prolactin, and this effect was attenuated by SB-239063. Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Corticosterone levels were significantly higher in LPS-treated rats and were not normalized by SB-239063. Thus, we demonstrate that acute treatment with SB-239063 may have ameliorating effects in early changes of LPS-induced sickness behavior and alteration in the peripheral cytokines/hormones. As such, our procedure may offer an opportunity to test the activity of novel anti-inflammatory compounds on specific symptoms of sickness associated with neuroimmune dysfunctions.

The efficacy of sodium channel blockers to prevent phencyclidine-induced cognitive dysfunction in the rat: potential for novel treatments for schizophrenia.

Sodium channel inhibition is a well precedented mechanism used to treat epilepsy and other hyperexcitability disorders. The established sodium channel blocker and broad-spectrum anticonvulsant lamotrigine is also effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder and has been evaluated in patients with schizophrenia. Double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials found that the drug has potential to reduce cognitive symptoms of the disorder. However, because of compound-related side-effects and the need for dose titration, a conclusive evaluation of the drug's efficacy in patients with schizophrenia has not been possible. (5R)-5-(4-{[(2-Fluorophenyl)methyl]oxy}phenyl)-l-prolinamide (GSK2) and (2R,5R)-2-(4-{[(2-fluorophenyl)methyl]oxy}phenyl)-7-methyl-1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nonan-6-one (GSK3) are two new structurally diverse sodium channel blockers with potent anticonvulsant activity. In this series of studies in the rat, we compared the efficacy of the two new molecules to prevent a cognitive deficit induced by the N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP) in the reversal-learning paradigm in the rat. We also explored the effects of the drugs to prevent brain activation and neurochemical effects of PCP. We found that, like lamotrigine, both GSK2 and GSK3 were able to prevent the deficit in reversal learning produced by PCP, thus confirming their potential in the treatment of cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. However, higher doses than those required for anticonvulsant efficacy of the drugs were needed for activity in the reversal-learning model, suggesting a lower therapeutic window relative to mechanism-dependent central side effects for this indication.

Discovery of 1-(3-{2-[4-(2-methyl-5-quinolinyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}phenyl)-2-imidazolidinone (GSK163090), a Potent, selective, and orally active 5-HT1A/B/D receptor antagonist.

In an effort to identify selective drug like pan-antagonists of the 5-HT1 autoreceptors, studies were conducted to elaborate a previously reported dual acting 5-HT1 antagonist/SSRI structure. A novel series of compounds was identified showing low intrinsic activities and potent affinities across the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT1D receptors as well as high selectivity against the serotonin transporter. From among these compounds, 1-(3-{2-[4-(2-methyl-5-quinolinyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}phenyl)-2-imidazolidinone (36) was found to combine potent in vivo activity with a strong preclinical developability profile, and on this basis it was selected as a drug candidate with the aim of assessing its potential as a fast-onset antidepressant/anxiolytic.

Design and synthesis of novel tricyclic benzoxazines as potent 5-HT(1A/B/D) receptor antagonists leading to the discovery of 6-{2-[4-(2-methyl-5-quinolinyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}-4H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine-3-carboxamide (GSK588045).

Bioisoteric replacement of the metabolically labile N-methyl amide group of a series of benzoxazinones with small heterocyclic rings has led to novel series of fused tricyclic benzoxazines which are potent 5-HT(1A/B/D) receptor antagonists with and without concomitant human serotonin transporter (hSerT) activity. Optimizing against multiple parameters in parallel identified 6-{2-[4-(2-methyl-5-quinolinyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}-4H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine-3-carboxamide (GSK588045) as a potent 5-HT(1A/B/D) receptor antagonist with a high degree of selectivity over human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium channels, favorable pharmacokinetics, and excellent activity in vivo in rodent pharmacodynamic (PD) models. On the basis of its outstanding overall profile, this compound was progressed as a clinical candidate with the ultimate aim to assess its potential as a faster acting antidepressant/anxiolytic with reduced side-effect burden.

Potentiation of the anticonvulsant efficacy of sodium channel inhibitors by an NK1-receptor antagonist in the rat.

PURPOSE: Many patients with epilepsy are refractory to anticonvulsant drugs or do not tolerate side effects associated with the high doses required to fully prevent seizures. Antagonists of neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptors have the potential to reduce seizure severity, although this potential has not been fully explored in animals or humans. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of the NK1-receptor antagonist, vofopitant, alone and in combination with different anticonvulsant drugs. METHODS: Studies were conducted in rats using a model of generalized seizure induced by electroshock. Drug concentrations in blood and brain were determined in parallel to distinguish pharmacodynamic from pharmacokinetic interactions. RESULTS: The NK1-receptor antagonist, GR205171 (vofopitant) had no anticonvulsant efficacy by itself, but could potentiate the anticonvulsant efficacy of lamotrigine and other sodium channel blockers. However, GR205171 had no effect on the anticonvulsant potency of either valproate or gabapentin. GR205171 did not produce central nervous system (CNS) side effects at the doses tested, and it did not potentiate side effects induced by high doses of lamotrigine. The NK1-receptor inactive enantiomer of GR205171, GR226206 did not potentiate the efficacy of lamotrigine, suggesting that effects observed with GR205171 were mediated by NK1 receptors. Analysis of the dose-effect relationship for GR205171 indicated that a high (>99%) occupancy of NK1 receptors is required for effect, consistent with previous behavioral and human clinical studies with this pharmacologic class. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that there may be benefit in adding treatment with a suitable NK1-receptor antagonist to treatment with a sodium channel blocker in patients with refractory epilepsy.

Alcohol withdrawal increases neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity in rat brain.

BACKGROUND: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is widely expressed in the brain and is known to affect consummatory behaviors including drinking alcohol as well as to play a role in seizures. We investigated the effects of a 4 day binge ethanol treatment model that is known to induce physical dependence and withdrawal seizures to determine the effects of ethanol dependence and withdrawal on NPY expression. METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with ethanol or control nutritionally complete diets by intragastric treatment three times per day for 2 or 4 days with an average daily dose of approximately 8 g/kg ethanol per day. Ethanol-fed rats treated for 4 days and then withdrawn for 24, 72, and 168 hr also were studied. Brains were perfused and sectioned for immunohistochemistry for NPY, phospho-cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive element binding (pCREB), and other proteins. RESULTS: NPY immunoreactivity (NPY-IR) was found in several brain regions, with the hippocampus and cerebral cortex showing the most pronounced changes. NPY-IR was reduced by ethanol treatment in hippocampus and cortex, although at 72 hr of withdrawal there was a dramatic increase in NPY-IR in the hilus of the dentate gyrus and in CA3 and CA2 fields of hippocampus. Ethanol withdrawal seizures occurred around 12 to 24 hr of withdrawal, preceding the changes in NPY-IR at 72 hr. pCREB immunoreactivity (pCREB-IR) tended to decrease during ethanol treatment but showed a dramatic increase in dentate gyrus at 72 hr of withdrawal. Parvalbumin immunoreactivity indicated that some of the pCREB-IR and NPY-IR were within inhibitory interneuron basket cells of the hippocampal hilus. NPY-IR returned to control levels by 168 hr of withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: These studies suggest that hippocampal NPY is reduced during the development of ethanol dependence. Ethanol withdrawal seizures precede a dramatic increase in hippocampal NPY-IR. Previous studies have suggested that NPY in the hippocampus reduces seizure activity and that NPY is induced by seizure activity. Thus, the increase in NPY-IR at 72 hr of withdrawal after binge ethanol treatment may be protective against prolonged withdrawal seizure activity.