Discovery of Novel Tacrine-Pyrimidone Hybrids as Potent Dual AChE/GSK-3 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

J Med Chem. 2021 Jun 10;64(11):7483-7506. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00160. Epub 2021 May 23.

Abstract

Based on a multitarget strategy, a series of novel tacrine-pyrimidone hybrids were identified for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Biological evaluation results demonstrated that these hybrids exhibited significant inhibitory activities toward acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3). The optimal compound 27g possessed excellent dual AChE/GSK-3 inhibition both in terms of potency and equilibrium (AChE: IC50 = 51.1 nM; GSK-3β: IC50 = 89.3 nM) and displayed significant amelioration on cognitive deficits in scopolamine-induced amnesia mice and efficient reduction against phosphorylation of tau protein on Ser-199 and Ser-396 sites in glyceraldehyde (GA)-stimulated differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, compound 27g exhibited eligible pharmacokinetic properties, good kinase selectivity, and moderate neuroprotection against GA-induced reduction in cell viability and neurite damage in SH-SY5Y-derived neurons. The multifunctional profiles of compound 27g suggest that it deserves further investigation as a promising lead for the prospective treatment of AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Drug Design*
  • Glyceraldehyde / pharmacology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / metabolism
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / metabolism
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Pyrimidinones / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tacrine / chemistry*
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Pyrimidinones
  • tau Proteins
  • Glyceraldehyde
  • Tacrine
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta