A Novel, Selective c-Abl Inhibitor, Compound 5, Prevents Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease

J Med Chem. 2021 Oct 28;64(20):15091-15110. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01022. Epub 2021 Sep 28.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement. The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl has shown a potential role in the progression of PD. As such, c-Abl inhibition is a promising candidate for neuroprotection in PD and α-synucleinopathies. Compound 5 is a newly synthesized blood-brain barrier penetrant c-Abl inhibitor with higher efficacy than existing inhibitors. The objective of the current study was to demonstrate the neuroprotective effects of compound 5 on the α-synuclein preformed fibril (α-syn PFF) mouse model of PD. Compound 5 significantly reduced neurotoxicity, activation of c-Abl, and Lewy body pathology caused by α-syn PFF in cortical neurons. Additionally, compound 5 markedly ameliorated the loss of dopaminergic neurons, c-Abl activation, Lewy body pathology, neuroinflammatory responses, and behavioral deficits induced by α-syn PFF injection in vivo. Taken together, these results suggest that compound 5 could be a pharmaceutical agent to prevent the progression of PD and α-synucleinopathies.

MeSH terms

  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl