Prior activation state shapes the microglia response to antihuman TREM2 in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) sustains microglia response to brain injury stimuli including apoptotic cells, myelin damage, and amyloid ß (Aß). Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk is associated with the TREM2R47H variant, which impairs ligand binding and consequently microglia responses to Aß pathology. Here, we show that TREM2 engagement by the mAb hT2AB as surrogate ligand activates microglia in 5XFAD transgenic mice that accumulate Aß and express either the common TREM2 variant (TREM2CV) or TREM2R47H scRNA-seq of microglia from TREM2CV-5XFAD mice treated once with control hIgG1 exposed four distinct trajectories of microglia activation leading to disease-associated (DAM), interferon-responsive (IFN-R), cycling (Cyc-M), and MHC-II expressing (MHC-II) microglia types. All of these were underrepresented in TREM2R47H-5XFAD mice, suggesting that TREM2 ligand engagement is required for microglia activation trajectories. Moreover, Cyc-M and IFN-R microglia were more abundant in female than male TREM2CV-5XFAD mice, likely due to greater Aß load in female 5XFAD mice. A single systemic injection of hT2AB replenished Cyc-M, IFN-R, and MHC-II pools in TREM2R47H-5XFAD mice. In TREM2CV-5XFAD mice, however, hT2AB brought the representation of male Cyc-M and IFN-R microglia closer to that of females, in which these trajectories had already reached maximum capacity. Moreover, hT2AB induced shifts in gene expression patterns in all microglial pools without affecting representation. Repeated treatment with a murinized hT2AB version over 10 d increased chemokines brain content in TREM2R47H-5XFAD mice, consistent with microglia expansion. Thus, the impact of hT2AB on microglia is shaped by the extent of TREM2 endogenous ligand engagement and basal microglia activation.

Discovery of AM-6494: A Potent and Orally Efficacious ß-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme 1 (BACE1) Inhibitor with in Vivo Selectivity over BACE2.

ß-Site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is an aspartyl protease that plays a key role in the production of amyloid ß (Aß) in the brain and has been extensively pursued as a target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). BACE2, an aspartyl protease that is structurally related to BACE1, has been recently reported to be involved in melanosome maturation and pigmentation. Herein, we describe the development of a series of cyclopropylthiazines as potent and orally efficacious BACE1 inhibitors. Lead optimization led to the identification of 20, a molecule with biochemical IC50 BACE2/BACE1 ratio of 47. Administration of 20 resulted in no skin/fur color change in a 13-day mouse hypopigmentation study and demonstrated robust and sustained reduction of CSF and brain Aß40 levels in rat and monkey pharmacodynamic models. On the basis of a compelling data package, 20 (AM-6494) was advanced to preclinical development.

Molecular basis for the loss-of-function effects of the Alzheimer's disease-associated R47H variant of the immune receptor TREM2.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is an immune receptor expressed on the surface of microglia, macrophages, dendritic cells, and osteoclasts. The R47H TREM2 variant is a significant risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the molecular basis of R47H TREM2 loss of function is an emerging area of TREM2 biology. Here, we report three high-resolution structures of the extracellular ligand-binding domains (ECDs) of R47H TREM2, apo-WT, and phosphatidylserine (PS)-bound WT TREM2 at 1.8, 2.2, and 2.2 Å, respectively. The structures reveal that Arg47 plays a critical role in maintaining the structural features of the complementarity-determining region 2 (CDR2) loop and the putative positive ligand-interacting surface (PLIS), stabilizing conformations capable of ligand interaction. This is exemplified in the PS-bound structure, in which the CDR2 loop and PLIS drive critical interactions with PS via surfaces that are disrupted in the variant. Together with in vitro and in vivo characterization, our structural findings elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying loss of ligand binding, putative oligomerization, and functional activity of R47H TREM2. They also help unravel how decreased in vitro and in vivo stability of TREM2 contribute to loss of function in disease.

Discovery of 2-methylpyridine-based biaryl amides as γ-secretase modulators for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

γ-Secretase modulators (GSMs) are potentially disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease. They selectively lower pathogenic Aß42 levels by shifting the enzyme cleavage sites without inhibiting γ-secretase activity, possibly avoiding known adverse effects observed with complete inhibition of the enzyme complex. A cell-based HTS effort identified the sulfonamide 1 as a GSM lead. Lead optimization studies identified compound 25 with improved cell potency, PKDM properties, and it lowered Aß42 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Sprague-Dawley rats following oral administration. Further optimization of 25 to improve cellular potency is described.

Identification of ADAM10 as a major source of HER2 ectodomain sheddase activity in HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells.

Overexpression and activating mutations of ErbB family members have been implicated in the development and progression of a variety of tumor types. Cleavage of the HER2 receptor by an as yet unidentified ectodomain sheddase has been shown to liberate the HER2 extracellular domain (ECD) leaving a fragment with constitutive kinase activity that can provide ligand-independent growth and survival signals to the cell. This process is clinically relevant since HER2 ECD serum levels in metastatic breast cancer patients are associated with a poorer prognosis. Thus, inhibition of the HER2 sheddase may provide a novel therapeutic approach for breast cancer. We describe the use of transcriptional profiling, pharmacological and in vitro approaches to identify the major source of HER2 sheddase activity. Real-time PCR was used to identify those ADAM family members which were expressed in HER2 shedding cell lines. siRNAs that selectively inhibited ADAM10 expression reduced HER2 shedding. In addition, we profiled over 1000 small molecules for in vitro inhibition of a panel of ADAM and MMP proteins; a positive correlation was observed only between ADAM10 inhibition and reduction of HER2 ECD shedding in a cell based assay. Finally, in vitro studies demonstrate that in combination with low doses of Herceptin, selective ADAM10 inhibitors decrease proliferation in HER2 overexpressing cell lines while inhibitors, that do not inhibit ADAM10, have no impact. These results are consistent with ADAM10 being a major determinant of HER2 shedding, the inhibition of which, may provide a novel therapeutic approach for treating a variety of cancers with active HER2 signaling.

Effects of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist Roxifiban on P-selectin expression, fibrinogen binding, and microaggregate formation in a phase I dose-finding study: no evidence for platelet activation during treatment with a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist.

The hypothesis that glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonists stimulate platelets is controversial. Here, we report the results of flow cytometric measurements of platelet activation markers in a phase I dose optimization study of Roxifiban, an orally active GP IIb/IIIa antagonist. Whole blood was collected at pre-dose and during the dosing interval directly into citrate fixative so that circulating levels of platelet activation could be assessed. P-selectin expression and fibrinogen binding of single platelets were unchanged at any of the dosing intervals compared to the pre-dose values, whereas microaggregate formation was reduced. Blood was also collected in hirudin to maintain physiological calcium concentrations and stimulated with platelet agonists to test whether GP IIb/IIIa antagonists lower the threshold for platelet activation. After stimulation with a concentration range of ADP and TRAP, P-selectin expression was not altered by Roxifiban administration compared to pre-dose levels. Fibrinogen binding and microaggregate formation were reduced by Roxifiban dosing in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of both parameters was retained at trough and no increase above pre-dose values was observed at any time. This study provides evidence for a dose-dependent inhibition of platelet functions by an orally active GP IIb/IIIa antagonist and does not detect paradoxical activation of platelets by a GP IIb/IIIa antagonist in humans.

Mutations at the P1' position of Notch1 decrease intracellular domain stability rather than cleavage by gamma-secretase.

Gamma-secretase is a unique protease which cleaves within the transmembrane domain of several substrate proteins. Among gamma-secretase substrates are members of the Notch family of receptors and the amyloid precursor protein. In this study we used a cell-free Notch-cleavage assay and specific gamma-secretase inhibitors to study the cleavage of Notch by gamma-secretase. Using this assay, we found that, in contrast to previous reports, the presence of valine at the P1(') position of Notch1 is not required for gamma-secretase cleavage. Our results suggest that the presence of valine at the N-terminus of the Notch intracellular domain cleavage product is important for its stability. Thus it appears that Notch cleavage is very similar to APP cleavage with respect to the lack of sequence specificity.

Evidence that thrombocytopenia observed in humans treated with orally bioavailable glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists is immune mediated.

Glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonists are effective therapeutic agents, but elicit thrombocytopenia with a frequency that approaches 2%. Here, we provide evidence that thrombocytopenia in humans treated with the GP IIb/IIIa antagonist roxifiban is immune mediated. Two patients underwent conversion to a highly positive drug-dependent antibody (DDAB) status temporally associated with thrombocytopenia. Despite the continued presence of DDABs, the fall in platelet count was reversed by discontinuation of drug treatment, pointing to the exquisite drug dependency of the immune response. DDABs appear to bind to neoepitopes in GP IIb/IIIa elicited on antagonist binding. This information was used to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for DDAB using solid-phase GP IIb/IIIa. A high level of specificity is indicated by the observation that DDAB binding is dependent on the chemical structure of the GP IIb/IIIa antagonist and that only 2% to 5% of human blood donors and 5% of chimpanzees present with pre-existing DDABs. Furthermore, none of 108 nonthrombocytopenic patients from the phase II roxifiban study showed an increase in antibody titer. Absorption of thrombocytopenia plasma with platelets reduced the DDAB ELISA signal, indicating that the test detects physiologically relevant antibodies. Screening patients for pre-existing or increasing DDAB titer during treatment with GP IIb/IIIa antagonists may reduce the incidence of drug-induced thrombocytopenia.