RESUMEN
Abnormal calcium signaling is a central pathological component of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we describe the identification of a class of compounds called ReS19-T, which are able to restore calcium homeostasis in cell-based models of tau pathology. Aberrant tau accumulation leads to uncontrolled activation of store-operated calcium channels (SOCCs) by remodeling septin filaments at the cell cortex. Binding of ReS19-T to septins restores filament assembly in the disease state and restrains calcium entry through SOCCs. In amyloid-ß and tau-driven mouse models of disease, ReS19-T agents restored synaptic plasticity, normalized brain network activity, and attenuated the development of both amyloid-ß and tau pathology. Our findings identify the septin cytoskeleton as a potential therapeutic target for the development of disease-modifying AD treatments.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedad de Alzheimer , Péptidos beta-Amiloides , Calcio , Homeostasis , Fármacos Neuroprotectores , Septinas , Proteínas tau , Animales , Humanos , Ratones , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Péptidos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Calcio/metabolismo , Canales de Calcio/metabolismo , Señalización del Calcio/efectos de los fármacos , Citoesqueleto/metabolismo , Citoesqueleto/efectos de los fármacos , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Plasticidad Neuronal/efectos de los fármacos , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/farmacología , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/uso terapéutico , Septinas/metabolismo , Proteínas tau/metabolismoRESUMEN
We have developed a yeast-based model recapitulating neurotoxicity of alpha-synuclein fibrilization. This model recognized metal ions, known risk factors of alpha-synucleinopathy, as stimulators of alpha-synuclein aggregation and cytotoxicity. Elimination of Yca1 caspase activity augmented both cytotoxicity and inclusion body formation, suggesting the involvement of apoptotic pathway components in toxic alpha-synuclein amyloidogenesis. Deletion of hydrophobic amino acids at positions 66-74 in alpha-synuclein reduced its cytotoxicity but, remarkably, did not lower the levels of insoluble alpha-synuclein, indicating that noxious alpha-synuclein species are different from insoluble aggregates. A compound screen aimed at finding molecules with therapeutic potential identified flavonoids with strong activity to restrain alpha-synuclein toxicity. Subsequent structure-activity analysis elucidated that these acted by virtue of anti-oxidant and metal-chelating activities. In conclusion, this yeast-cell model as presented allows not only fundamental studies related to mechanisms of alpha-synuclein-instigated cellular degeneration, but is also a valid high-throughput identification tool for novel neuroprotective agents.