Tau-Centric Multitarget Approach for Alzheimer's Disease: Development of First-in-Class Dual Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β and Tau-Aggregation Inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2018 Sep 13;61(17):7640-7656. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00610. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

Abstract

Several findings propose the altered tau protein network as an important target for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Particularly, two points of pharmacological intervention can be envisaged: inhibition of phosphorylating tau kinase GSK-3β and tau aggregation process. On the basis of this consideration and on our interest in multitarget paradigms in AD, we report on the discovery of 2,4-thiazolidinedione derivatives endowed with such a profile. 28 and 30 displayed micromolar IC50 values toward GSK-3β, together with the capacity of inhibiting AcPHF6 aggregation of 60% and 80% at 10 μM, respectively. In addition, they showed PAMPA-BBB permeability, together with a suitable cellular safety profile. 30 also displayed inhibition of both K18 and full-length tau aggregations. Finally, both compounds were able to improve cell viability in an okadaic acid-induced neurodegeneration cell model. To the best of our knowledge, 28 and 30 are the first balanced, nontoxic, dual-acting compounds hitting tau cascade at two different hubs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Central Nervous System Agents / adverse effects
  • Central Nervous System Agents / chemistry
  • Central Nervous System Agents / pharmacology
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods
  • Okadaic Acid / toxicity
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Swine
  • Thiazolidinediones / chemistry
  • tau Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • tau Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • tau Proteins
  • Okadaic Acid
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3