RESUMEN
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal neurodegenerative disease without a cure to reverse its progression. Its main hallmark is the nuclear protein TDP-43, which undergoes different post-translational modifications leading to a loss of function in the nucleus and an increase in toxicity in the cytoplasm. Previous reports have indicated that pathogenic TDP-43 exhibits prion-like propagation in various contexts. With the aim of advancing therapeutics focused on preventing the propagation of TDP-43 pathology, we studied the potential role of pathogenic TDP-43 in lymphoblasts from sporadic ALS patients. We used lymphoblastoid cell lines from sporadic ALS patients as a source of pathogenic forms of TDP-43, and healthy human cells (lymphoblasts, myoblasts, neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y, or osteosarcoma U2OS) as recipient cells to investigate the seeding and spread of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Furthermore, we evaluated the potential of targeting TDP-43 phosphorylation with a CK-1 inhibitor to prevent the propagation of the pathology. The results presented herein indicate that pathogenic forms of TDP-43 are secreted into the extracellular medium of sporadic ALS lymphoblasts and could be transported by extracellular vesicles, spreading TDP-43 pathology to healthy cells. Moreover, tunneling nanotubes have also been discovered in pathological cells and may be involved in the transport of TDP-43. Interestingly, targeting TDP-43 phosphorylation with an in-house designed CK-1 inhibitor (IGS2.7) was sufficient to halt TDP-43 pathology transmission, in addition to its known effects on restoring the homeostasis of TDP-43 protein in patients-derived cells.
Asunto(s)
Esclerosis Amiotrófica Lateral , Neuroblastoma , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas , Humanos , Esclerosis Amiotrófica Lateral/metabolismo , Quinasa de la Caseína I , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/metabolismoRESUMEN
Interactions of plasmonic nanocolloids such as gold nanoparticles and nanorods with proximal dye emitters result in efficient quenching of the dye photoluminescence (PL). This has become a popular strategy for developing analytical biosensors relying on this quenching process for signal transduction. Here, we report on the use of stable PEGylated gold nanoparticles, covalently coupled to dye-labeled peptides, as sensitive optically addressable sensors for determining the catalytic efficiency of the human matrix metalloproteinase-14 (MMP-14), a cancer biomarker. We exploit real-time dye PL recovery triggered by MMP-14 hydrolysis of the AuNP-peptide-dye to extract quantitative analysis of the proteolysis kinetics. Sub-nanomolar limit of detections for MMP-14 has been achieved using our hybrid bioconjugates. In addition, we have used theoretical considerations within a diffusion-collision framework to derive enzyme substrate hydrolysis and inhibition kinetics equations, which allowed us to describe the complexity and irregularity of enzymatic proteolysis of nanosurface-immobilized peptide substrates. Our findings offer a great strategy for the development of highly sensitive and stable biosensors for cancer detection and imaging.
Asunto(s)
Metaloproteinasa 14 de la Matriz , Nanopartículas del Metal , Humanos , Oro , Péptidos , HidrólisisRESUMEN
We detail the assembly and characterization of quantum dot (QD)-dye conjugates constructed using a peptide bridge specifically designed to recognize and interact with a breast cancer biomarkerâmatrix metalloproteinase-14 (MMP-14). The assembled QD conjugates are then used as optically addressable probes, relying on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) interactions as a transduction mechanism to detect the activity of MMP-14 in solution phase. The QDs were first coated with dithiolane poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) bearing a carboxyl group that allows coupling via amide bond formation with different dye-labeled peptides. The analytical capability of the conjugates is enabled by correlating changes in the FRET efficiency with the conjugate valence and/or QD-to-dye separation distance, triggered and modulated by enzymatic proteolysis of surface-tethered peptides. The FRET probe exhibits great sensitivity to enzyme digestion with sub-nanomolar limit of detection. We further analyze the proteolysis data within the framework of the Michaelis-Menten model, which considers the fact that surface-attached peptides have a slower diffusion coefficient than free peptides. This results in reduced collision frequency and lower catalytic efficiency, kcat/KM. Our results suggest that our conjugate design is promising, effective, and potentially useful for in vivo analysis.
Asunto(s)
Puntos Cuánticos , Puntos Cuánticos/química , Proteolisis , Metaloproteinasa 14 de la Matriz , Péptidos/química , Transferencia Resonante de Energía de Fluorescencia/métodosRESUMEN
Microtubule targeting agents (MTAs) have been exploited mainly as anti-cancer drugs because of their impact on cellular division and angiogenesis. Additionally, microtubules (MTs) are key structures for intracellular transport, which is frequently hijacked during viral infection. We have analyzed the antiviral activity of clinically used MTAs in the infection of DNA and RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, to find that MT destabilizer agents show a higher impact than stabilizers in the viral infections tested, and FDA-approved anti-helminthic benzimidazoles were among the most active compounds. In order to understand the reasons for the observed antiviral activity, we studied the impact of these compounds in motor proteins-mediated intracellular transport. To do so, we used labeled peptide tools, finding that clinically available MTAs impaired the movement linked to MT motors in living cells. However, their effect on viral infection lacked a clear correlation to their effect in motor-mediated transport, denoting the complex use of the cytoskeleton by viruses. Finally, we further delved into the molecular mechanism of action of Mebendazole by combining biochemical and structural studies to obtain crystallographic high-resolution information of the Mebendazole-tubulin complex, which provided insights into the mechanisms of differential toxicity between helminths and mammalians.
Asunto(s)
Tratamiento Farmacológico de COVID-19 , Mebendazol , Animales , Antivirales/farmacología , Mamíferos , Mebendazol/farmacología , Microtúbulos , SARS-CoV-2 , Tubulina (Proteína)RESUMEN
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R1 calpain 3-related (LGMDR1) is an autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy produced by mutations in the CAPN3 gene. It is a rare disease and there is no cure or treatment for the disease while the pathophysiological mechanism by which the absence of calpain 3 provokes the dystrophy in muscles is not clear. However, key proteins implicated in Wnt and mTOR signaling pathways, which regulate muscle homeostasis, showed a considerable reduction in their expression and in their phosphorylation in LGMDR1 patients' muscles. Finally, the administration of tideglusib and VP0.7, ATP non-competitive inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK-3ß), restore the expression and phosphorylation of these proteins in LGMDR1 cells, opening the possibility of their use as therapeutic options.
Asunto(s)
Glucógeno Sintasa Quinasa 3 beta/antagonistas & inhibidores , Distrofia Muscular de Cinturas/tratamiento farmacológico , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/antagonistas & inhibidores , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Adenosina Trifosfato/metabolismo , Sitio Alostérico/efectos de los fármacos , Antígeno CD56/análisis , Calpaína/deficiencia , Calpaína/genética , Fibroblastos/efectos de los fármacos , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Glucógeno Sintasa Quinasa 3 beta/química , Humanos , Hidrazinas/farmacología , Hidrazinas/uso terapéutico , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intracelular/genética , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intracelular/metabolismo , Fibras Musculares Esqueléticas/efectos de los fármacos , Fibras Musculares Esqueléticas/metabolismo , Proteínas Musculares/deficiencia , Proteínas Musculares/genética , Distrofia Muscular de Cinturas/enzimología , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/química , Fosforilación , Procesamiento Proteico-Postraduccional/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/fisiología , Quinolonas/farmacología , Quinolonas/uso terapéutico , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR/antagonistas & inhibidores , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR/fisiología , Tiadiazoles/farmacología , Tiadiazoles/uso terapéutico , Vía de Señalización Wnt/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Multitarget directed ligands (MTDLs) are arising as promising tools to tackle complex diseases. The main goal of this work is to create powerful modulating agents for neurodegenerative disorders. To achieve this aim, we have combined fragments that inhibit key protein kinases involved in the main pathomolecular pathways of Alzheimer's disease (AD) such as tau aggregation, neuroinflammation and decreased neurogenesis, whilst looking for a third action in beta-secretase (BACE1), responsible of ß-amyloid production. We obtained well-balanced MTDLs with in vitro activity in three different relevant targets and efficacy in two cellular models of AD. Furthermore, computational studies confirmed how these compounds accommodate adequately into the long and rather narrow BACE1 catalytic site. Finally, we employed in situ click chemistry using BACE1 as protein template as a versatile synthetic tool that allowed us to obtain further MTDLs.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedad de Alzheimer/tratamiento farmacológico , Secretasas de la Proteína Precursora del Amiloide/antagonistas & inhibidores , Ácido Aspártico Endopeptidasas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/farmacología , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/farmacología , Triazoles/farmacología , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Secretasas de la Proteína Precursora del Amiloide/metabolismo , Péptidos beta-Amiloides/antagonistas & inhibidores , Péptidos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Ácido Aspártico Endopeptidasas/metabolismo , Línea Celular , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/síntesis química , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/química , Humanos , Ligandos , Estructura Molecular , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/síntesis química , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/química , Triazoles/síntesis química , Triazoles/químicaRESUMEN
In recent years quantum dots (QDs) have risen as useful luminescent nanoparticles with multiple applications ranging from laser, image displays and biomedical applications. Here we review and discuss the studies of these nanoparticles in patient derived cellular samples or tissues, including cellular models from iPSCs from patients, biopsied and post-mortem tissue. QD-based multiplexed imaging has been proved to overcome most of the major drawbacks of conventional techniques, exhibiting higher sensitivity, reliability, accuracy and simultaneous labeling of key biomarkers. In this sense, QDs are very promising tools to be further used in clinical applications including diagnosis and therapy approaches. Analyzing the possibilities of these materials in these biological samples gives an overview of the future applications of the nanoparticles in models closer to patients and their specific disease.
Asunto(s)
Compuestos de Cadmio/química , Modelos Biológicos , Puntos Cuánticos/química , Compuestos de Selenio/química , Compuestos de Cadmio/toxicidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Neoplasias/patología , Puntos Cuánticos/toxicidad , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Compuestos de Selenio/toxicidadRESUMEN
Coating inorganic nanoparticles with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-appended ligands, as means to preserve their physical characteristics and promote steric interactions with biological systems, including enhanced aqueous solubility and reduced immunogenicity, has been explored by several groups. Conversely, macromolecules present in the human serum and on the surface of cells are densely coated with hydrophilic glycans that act to reduce nonspecific interactions, while facilitating specific binding and interactions. In particular, N-linked glycans are abundant on the surface of most serum proteins and are composed of a branched architecture that is typically characterized by a significant level of molecular heterogeneity. Here we provide two distinct methodologies, covalent bioconjugation and self-assembly, to functionalize two types of Quantum Dots with a homogeneous, complex-type N-linked glycan terminated with a sialic acid moiety. A detailed physical and functional characterization of these glycan-coated nanoparticles has been performed. Our findings support the potential use of such fluorescent platforms to sense glycan-involved biological processes, such as lectin recognition and sialidase-mediated hydrolysis.
Asunto(s)
Glicoproteínas/química , Polisacáridos/química , Puntos Cuánticos , Ensayo de Cambio de Movilidad Electroforética , Interacciones Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Polietilenglicoles/químicaRESUMEN
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal dystrophy that courses with progressive degeneration of retinal tissue and loss of vision. Currently, RP is an unpreventable, incurable condition. We propose glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) inhibitors as potential leads for retinal cell neuroprotection, since the retina is also a part of the central nervous system and GSK-3 inhibitors are potent neuroprotectant agents. Using a chemical genetic approach, diverse small molecules with different potency and binding mode to GSK-3 have been used to validate and confirm GSK-3 as a pharmacological target for RP. Moreover, this medicinal chemistry approach has provided new leads for the future disease-modifying treatment of RP.
Asunto(s)
Glucógeno Sintasa Quinasa 3/antagonistas & inhibidores , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/farmacología , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/farmacología , Retinitis Pigmentosa/tratamiento farmacológico , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequeñas/farmacología , Animales , Muerte Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Glucógeno Sintasa Quinasa 3/metabolismo , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Estructura Molecular , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/síntesis química , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/química , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/síntesis química , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/química , Retinitis Pigmentosa/enzimología , Retinitis Pigmentosa/metabolismo , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequeñas/síntesis química , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequeñas/química , Relación Estructura-ActividadRESUMEN
We have developed a versatile strategy to prepare a series of multicoordinating and multifunctional ligands optimized for the surface-functionalization of luminescent quantum dots (QDs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) alike. Our chemical design relies on the modification of l-aspartic acid precursor to controllably combine, through simple peptide coupling chemistry, one or two lipoic acid (LA) groups and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) moieties in the same ligand. This route has provided two sets of modular ligands: (i) bis(LA)-PEG, which presents two lipoic acids (higher coordination) appended onto a single end-functionalized PEG, and (ii) LA-(PEG)2 made of two PEG moieties (higher branching, with various end reactive groups) appended onto a single lipoic acid. These ligands are combined with a new photoligation strategy to yield hydrophilic and reactive QDs that are colloidally stable over a broad range of conditions, including storage at nanomolar concentration and under ambient conditions. AuNPs capped with these ligands exhibit excellent stability in various biological conditions and improved resistance against NaCN digestion. This route also provides compact nanocrystals with tunable surface reactivity. As such, we have covalently coupled QDs capped with bis(LA)-PEG-COOH to transferrin to facilitate intracellular uptake. We have also characterized and quantified the coupling of dye-labeled peptides to QD surfaces using fluorescence resonance energy transfer interactions in QD-peptide-dye assemblies.
Asunto(s)
Aminoácidos/química , Nanopartículas , Coloides , Ligandos , Puntos CuánticosRESUMEN
We have recently reported that photoinduced ligation of ZnS-overcoated quantum dots (QDs) offers a promising strategy to promote the phase transfer of these materials to polar and aqueous media using multidentate lipoic acid (LA)-modified ligands. In this study we investigate the importance of the underlying parameters that control this process, in particular, whether or not photoexcited QDs play a direct role in the photoinduced ligation. We find that irradiation of the ligand alone prior to mixing with hydrophobic QDs is sufficient to promote ligand exchange. Furthermore, photoligation onto QDs can also be carried out simply by using sunlight. Combining the use of Ellman's test with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, we probe the nature of the photochemical transformation of the ligands. We find that irradiation (using either a UV photoreactor or sunlight) alters the nature of the disulfide groups in the lipoic acid, yielding a different product mixture than what is observed for chemically reduced ligands. Irradiation of the ligand in solution generates a mixture of monomeric and oligomeric compounds. Ligation onto the QDs selectively favors oligomers, presumably due to their higher coordination onto the metal-rich QD surfaces. We also show that photoligation using mixed ligands allows the preparation of reactive nanocrystals. The resulting QDs are coupled to proteins and peptides and tested for cellular staining. This optically controlled ligation of QDs combined with the availability of a variety of multidentate and multifunctional LA-modified ligands open new opportunities for developing fluorescent platforms with great promises for use in imaging and sensor design.
Asunto(s)
Procesos Fotoquímicos , Puntos Cuánticos/química , Rayos Ultravioleta , Transporte Biológico , Células HeLa , Humanos , Ligandos , Imagen Molecular , Puntos Cuánticos/metabolismoRESUMEN
We introduce a new set of multicoordinating polymers as ligands that combine two distinct metal-chelating groups, lipoic acid and imidazole, for the surface functionalization of QDs. These ligands combine the benefits of thiol and imidazole coordination to reduce issues of thiol oxidation and weak binding affinity of imidazole. The ligand design relies on the introduction of controllable numbers of lipoic acid and histamine anchors, along with hydrophilic moieties and reactive functionalities, onto a poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic anhydride) chain via a one-step nucleophilic addition reaction. We further demonstrate that this design is fully compatible with a novel and mild photoligation strategy to promote the in situ ligand exchange and phase transfer of hydrophobic QDs to aqueous media under borohydride-free conditions. Ligation with these polymers provides highly fluorescent QDs that exhibit great long-term colloidal stability over a wide range of conditions, including a broad pH range (3-13), storage at nanomolar concentration, under ambient conditions, in 100% growth media, and in the presence of competing agents with strong reducing property. We further show that incorporating reactive groups in the ligands permits covalent conjugation of fluorescent dye and redox-active dopamine to the QDs, producing fluorescent platforms where emission is controlled/tuned by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) or pH-dependent charge transfer (CT) interactions. Finally, the polymer-coated QDs have been coupled to cell-penetrating peptides to facilitate intracellular uptake, while subsequent cytotoxicity tests show no apparent decrease in cell viability.
Asunto(s)
Complejos de Coordinación/química , Colorantes Fluorescentes/química , Polímeros/química , Puntos Cuánticos/química , Tensoactivos/química , Coloides/química , Dopamina/química , Células HeLa , Humanos , Imidazoles/química , Luz , Imagen Óptica , Dispersión de Radiación , Ácido Tióctico/químicaRESUMEN
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a rodent model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a debilitating autoimmune disease of the CNS, for which only limited therapeutic interventions are available. Because MS is mediated in part by autoreactive T cells, particularly Th17 and Th1 cells, in the current study, we tested whether inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), previously reported to reduce Th17 cell generation, also alter Th1 cell production or alleviate EAE. GSK3 inhibitors were found to impede the production of Th1 cells by reducing STAT1 activation. Molecularly reducing the expression of either of the two GSK3 isoforms demonstrated that Th17 cell production was sensitive to reduced levels of GSK3ß and Th1 cell production was inhibited in GSK3α-deficient cells. Administration of the selective GSK3 inhibitors TDZD-8, VP2.51, VP0.7, or L803-mts significantly reduced the clinical symptoms of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein35-55-induced EAE in mice, nearly eliminating the chronic progressive phase, and reduced the number of Th17 and Th1 cells in the spinal cord. Administration of TDZD-8 or L803-mts after the initial disease episode alleviated clinical symptoms in a relapsing-remitting model of proteolipid protein139-151-induced EAE. Furthermore, deletion of GSK3ß specifically in T cells was sufficient to alleviate myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein35-55-induced EAE. These results demonstrate the isoform-selective effects of GSK3 on T cell generation and the therapeutic effects of GSK3 inhibitors in EAE, as well as showing that GSK3 inhibition in T cells is sufficient to reduce the severity of EAE, suggesting that GSK3 may be a feasible target for developing new therapeutic interventions for MS.
Asunto(s)
Encefalomielitis Autoinmune Experimental/tratamiento farmacológico , Glucógeno Sintasa Quinasa 3/antagonistas & inhibidores , Células TH1/metabolismo , Células Th17/metabolismo , Animales , Encefalomielitis Autoinmune Experimental/inmunología , Activación Enzimática , Femenino , Glucógeno Sintasa Quinasa 3/metabolismo , Glucógeno Sintasa Quinasa 3 beta , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Esclerosis Múltiple , Glicoproteína Mielina-Oligodendrócito , Oligopéptidos/farmacología , Fragmentos de Péptidos , Isoformas de Proteínas/metabolismo , Factor de Transcripción STAT1/metabolismo , Médula Espinal/citología , Médula Espinal/inmunología , Células TH1/efectos de los fármacos , Células TH1/inmunología , Células Th17/efectos de los fármacos , Células Th17/inmunología , Tiadiazoles/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Multitarget ligands (MTLs) have emerged as an interesting alternative for addressing complex multifactorial pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases. However, a common challenge associated with these compounds is often their high molecular weight and low solubility, which becomes a hurdle when trying to permeate over the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this study, we have designed two new MTLs that modulate three pharmacological targets simultaneously (tau, beta-amyloid and TAR DNA-binding protein 43). To enhance their brain penetration, we have formulated organic polymeric nanoparticles using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid). The characterization of the formulations, evaluation of their permeability through an in vitro BBB model, and assessment of their activity on disease-representative cellular models, such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, have been conducted. The results demonstrate the potential of the new MTLs and their nanoparticle encapsulation for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Asunto(s)
Barrera Hematoencefálica , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas , Permeabilidad , Copolímero de Ácido Poliláctico-Ácido Poliglicólico , Copolímero de Ácido Poliláctico-Ácido Poliglicólico/química , Ligandos , Humanos , Barrera Hematoencefálica/metabolismo , Barrera Hematoencefálica/efectos de los fármacos , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/metabolismo , Nanopartículas/química , Diseño de Fármacos , Composición de Medicamentos , Péptidos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Animales , Proteínas tau/metabolismoRESUMEN
AIMS: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that currently lacks effective curative treatments. There is a need to find effective therapies, especially to reverse the progressive demyelination and neuronal damage. Oligodendrocytes form the myelin sheath around axons in the central nervous system (CNS) and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) undergo mechanisms that enable spontaneously the partial repair of damaged lesions. The aim of this study was to discover small molecules with potential effects in demyelinating diseases, including (re)myelinating properties. METHODS: Recently, it has been shown how LRRK2 inhibition promotes oligodendrogliogenesis and therefore an efficient repair or myelin damaged lesions. Here we explored small molecules inhibiting LRRK2 as potential enhancers of primary OPCs proliferation and differentiation, and their potential impact on the clinical score of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitys (EAE) mice, a validated model of the most frequent clinical form of MS, relapsing-remitting MS. RESULTS: One of the LRRK2 inhibitors presented in this study promoted the proliferation and differentiation of OPC primary cultures. When tested in the EAE murine model of MS, it exerted a statistically significant reduction of the clinical burden of the animals, and histological evidence revealed how the treated animals presented a reduced lesion area in the spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, a small molecule with LRRK2 inhibition properties presented (re)myelinating properties in primary OPCs cultures and potentially in the in vivo murine model. This study provides an in vivo proof of concept for a LRRK2 inhibitor, confirming its potential for the treatment of MS.
Asunto(s)
Encefalomielitis Autoinmune Experimental , Esclerosis Múltiple , Células Precursoras de Oligodendrocitos , Ratones , Animales , Encefalomielitis Autoinmune Experimental/patología , Células Precursoras de Oligodendrocitos/patología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Vaina de Mielina/patología , Oligodendroglía/patología , Diferenciación Celular , Benzotiazoles/farmacología , Benzotiazoles/uso terapéutico , Ratones Endogámicos C57BLRESUMEN
Introduction: TDP-43 proteinopathy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is recently emerging as a relevant pathomolecular event that may have been overlooked. Recent results in immortalized lymphocytes from AD patients have shown not only an increase of post-translational modifications in TDP-43, such as hyperphosphorylation and fragmentation, but also its prionic behaviour and cell-to-cell disease transmission. With the main goal to advance therapeutic interventions, we present in this work different kinase inhibitors with potential to restore this pathological mechanism. Methodology: We have used immortalized lymphocytes from healthy controls and AD severe patients to evaluate the correction of TDP-43 pathology after the treatment with previously synthetized TTBK1 and CK1 inhibitors. Moreover we used the conditioned mediums of these cells to perform different disease propagation experiments. Results: TDP-43 pathology observed in lymphoblasts from severe AD patients is reduced after the treatment with TTBK1 and CK1 inhibitors (decreasing phosphorylation and increasing nuclear localisation), Furthermore, the significant increase in TDP-43 phosphorylation, cytoplasmic accumulation and aberrant F-actin protrusions (TNT-like structures) observed in control cells growing in CM from AD lymphoblasts were abolished when the CM from AD lymphoblasts treated with previously reported TTBK1 and CK1 inhibitors were used. In addition, the cytosolic transport mediated by molecular motors of the receptor cells was altered with the induced TDP-43 pathology, but it was not produced with the abovementioned pretreated CMs. Conclusion: TTBK1 and CK1 inhibitors, specially VNG1.47 and IGS2.7 compounds, restore TDP-43 pathology and avoid cell-to-cell propagation in immortalized lymphocytes from AD patients, being excellent candidates for the future therapy of this prevalent and devastating disease.
RESUMEN
Glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK-3ß) is a serine/threonine kinase and an attractive therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease. Based on proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology, a small set of novel GSK-3ß degraders was designed and synthesized by linking two different GSK-3ß inhibitors, SB-216763 and tideglusib, to pomalidomide, as E3 recruiting element, through linkers of different lengths. Compound 1 emerged as the most effective PROTAC being nontoxic up to 20 µM to neuronal cells and already able to degrade GSK-3ß starting from 0.5 µM in a dose-dependent manner. PROTAC 1 significantly reduced the neurotoxicity induced by Aß25-35 peptide and CuSO4 in SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner. Based on its encouraging features, PROTAC 1 may serve as a starting point to develop new GSK-3ß degraders as potential therapeutic agents.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedad de Alzheimer , Neuroblastoma , Humanos , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/tratamiento farmacológico , Glucógeno Sintasa Quinasa 3 beta , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas , FosforilaciónRESUMEN
The new and unique possibilities that nanomaterials offer have greatly impacted biomedicine, from the treatment and diagnosis of diseases, to the specific and optimized delivery of therapeutic agents. Technological advances in the synthesis, characterization, standardization, and therapeutic performance of nanoparticles have enabled the approval of several nanomedicines and novel applications. Discoveries continue to rise exponentially in all disease areas, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases. In Spain, there is a substantial net of researchers involved in the development of nanodiagnostics and nanomedicines. In this review, we summarize the state of the art of nanotechnology, focusing on nanoparticles, for the treatment of diseases in Spain (2017-2022), and give a perspective on the future trends and direction that nanomedicine research is taking.
RESUMEN
Increased levels of glutamate causing excitotoxic damage accompany many neurological disorders. A well-characterized model of excitotoxic damage involves administration of kainic acid (KA), which causes limbic seizure activity and subsequent neuronal death, particularly in the CA1 and CA3 areas of the hippocampus. Inhibition of the enzyme glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and cAMP levels might play an important role in neuroprotection. As intracellular cAMP levels depend, in part, on the activity of the phosphodiesterase enzymes (PDEs), these enzymes have recently emerged as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of several diseases. In previous works, we have shown a potent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effect of GSK-3 inhibition in a model of excitotoxicity, as well as a reduction of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuronal cell death after phosphodiesterase 7 inhibition, which leads to an increase in cAMP levels. This study was undertaken to determine whether simultaneous inhibition of GSK-3 and PDE-7 by a novel 5-imino-1,2,4-thiadiazole compound, named VP1.14, could prevent the massive neuronal loss in the hippocampus evoked by intrahippocampal injection of KA. Here, we show that rats treated with VP1.14 showed a reduced inflammatory response after KA injection, and exhibited a significant reduction in pyramidal cell loss in the CA1 and CA3 areas of the hippocampus. Studies with hippocampal HT22 cells in vitro also showed a clear neuroprotective effect of VP1.14 and an anti-inflammatory effect shown by a decrease in the nitrite liberation and in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines by primary cultures of astrocytes treated with lipopolysaccharide.
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Agonistas de Aminoácidos Excitadores/toxicidad , Hipocampo/efectos de los fármacos , Hipocampo/patología , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/farmacología , Tiadiazoles/farmacología , Factores de Edad , Animales , Animales Recién Nacidos , Línea Celular , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Inyecciones Intralesiones , Masculino , Ratones , Fosforilación/efectos de los fármacos , Cultivo Primario de Células , Ratas , Ratas WistarRESUMEN
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder for which there is currently no effective treatment. Despite advances in the molecular pathology of the characteristic histopathological markers of the disease (tau protein and ß-amyloid), their translation to the clinic has not provided the expected results. Increasing evidences have demonstrated the presence of aggregates of TDP-43 (TAR DNA binding protein 43) in the postmortem brains of patients diagnosed with AD. The present research is focused on of the study of the pathological role of TDP-43 in AD. For this purpose, immortalized lymphocytes samples from patients diagnosed with different severity of sporadic AD were used and the TDP-43 pathology was analyzed against controls, looking for differences in their fragmentation, phosphorylation and cellular location using Western blot and immunocytochemical techniques. The results revealed an increase in TDP-43 fragmentation, as well as increased phosphorylation and aberrant localization of TDP-43 in the cytosolic compartment of lymphocytes of patients diagnosed with severe AD. Moreover, a fragment of approximately 25 KD was found in the extracellular medium of cells derived from severe AD individuals that seem to have prion-like characteristics. We conclude that TDP-43 plays a key role in AD pathogenesis and its cell to cell propagation.