LISPRO mitigates β-amyloid and associated pathologies in Alzheimer's mice

Cell Death Dis. 2017 Jun 15;8(6):e2880. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2017.279.

Abstract

Lithium has been marketed in the United States of America since the 1970s as a treatment for bipolar disorder. More recently, studies have shown that lithium can improve cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the current United States Food and Drug Administration-approved lithium pharmaceutics (carbonate and citrate chemical forms) have a narrow therapeutic window and unstable pharmacokinetics that, without careful monitoring, can cause serious adverse effects. Here, we investigated the safety profile, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic efficacy of LISPRO (ionic co-crystal of lithium salicylate and l-proline), lithium salicylate, and lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). We found that LISPRO (8-week oral treatment) reduces β-amyloid plaques and phosphorylation of tau by reducing neuroinflammation and inactivating glycogen synthase kinase 3β in transgenic Tg2576 mice. Specifically, cytokine profiles from the brain, plasma, and splenocytes suggested that 8-week oral treatment with LISPRO downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines, upregulates anti-inflammatory cytokines, and suppresses renal cyclooxygenase 2 expression in transgenic Tg2576 mice. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that LISPRO provides significantly higher brain lithium levels and more steady plasma lithium levels in both B6129SF2/J (2-week oral treatment) and transgenic Tg2576 (8-week oral treatment) mice compared with Li2CO3. Oral administration of LISPRO for 28 weeks significantly reduced β-amyloid plaques and tau-phosphorylation. In addition, LISPRO significantly elevated pre-synaptic (synaptophysin) and post-synaptic protein (post synaptic density protein 95) expression in brains from transgenic 3XTg-AD mice. Taken together, our data suggest that LISPRO may be a superior form of lithium with improved safety and efficacy as a potential new disease modifying drug for AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Autophagy
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Lithium Carbonate / administration & dosage
  • Lithium Carbonate / blood
  • Lithium Compounds / administration & dosage*
  • Lithium Compounds / blood
  • Lithium Compounds / chemistry
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microglia / metabolism
  • Phagocytosis
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proline / administration & dosage*
  • Proline / blood
  • Proline / chemistry
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Lithium Compounds
  • Lithium Carbonate
  • Proline
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta