Targeted γ-Secretase Inhibition To Control the Notch Pathway in Renal Diseases

J Med Chem. 2015 Oct 22;58(20):8097-109. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00912. Epub 2015 Oct 12.

Abstract

Notch is a membrane inserted protein activated by the membrane-inserted γ-secretase proteolytic complex. The Notch pathway is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of renal diseases but also controls the function of other cells, requiring cell-targeting of Notch antagonists. Toward selective targeting, we have developed the γ-secretase inhibitor-based prodrugs 13a and 15a as substrates for γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT) and/or γ-glutamylcyclotransferase (γ-GCT) as well as aminopeptidase A (APA), which are overexpressed in renal diseases, and have evaluated them in experimental in vitro and in vivo models. In nondiseased mice, the cleavage product from Ac-γ-Glu-γ-secretase inhibitor prodrug 13a (γ-GT-targeting and γ-GCT-targeting) but not from Ac-α-Glu-γ-secretase inhibitor prodrug 15a (APA-targeting) accumulated in kidneys when compared to blood and liver. Potential nephroprotective effects of the γ-secretase inhibitor targeted prodrugs were investigated in vivo in a mouse model of acute kidney injury, demonstrating that the expression of Notch1 and cleaved Notch1 could be selectively down-regulated upon treatment with the Ac-γ-Glu-γ-secretase-inhibitor 13a.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / chemically induced
  • Acute Kidney Injury / prevention & control
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kidney Diseases / chemically induced
  • Kidney Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Kidney Diseases / prevention & control
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Prodrugs / metabolism
  • Receptors, Notch / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Renal Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Renal Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Renal Agents / pharmacology*
  • gamma-Glutamylcyclotransferase / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Prodrugs
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Renal Agents
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • gamma-Glutamylcyclotransferase