AF150(S) and AF267B: M1 muscarinic agonists as innovative therapies for Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract

The M1 muscarinic agonists AF102B (Cevimeline, EVOXACTM: prescribed in USA and Japan for Sjogren's Syndrome), AF150(S) and AF267B--1) are neurotrophic and synergistic with neurotrophins such as nerve growth factor and epidermal growth factor; 2) elevate the non-amyloidogenic amyloid precursor protein (alpha-APPs) in vitro and decrease beta-amyloid (A beta) levels in vitro and in vivo; and 3) inhibit A beta- and oxidative-stress-induced cell death and apoptosis in PC12 cells transfected with the M1 muscarinic receptor. These effects can be combined with the beneficial effects of these compounds on some other major hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (e.g. tau hyperphosphorylation and paired helical filaments [PHF]; and loss of cholinergic function conducive to cognitive impairments.) These drugs restored cognitive impairments in several animal models for AD, mimicking different aspects of AD, with a high safety margin (e.g. AF150[S] >1500 and AF267B >4500). Notably, these compounds show a high bioavailability and a remarkable preference for the brain vs. plasma following p.o. administration. In mice with small hippocampi, unlike rivastigmine and nicotine, AF150(S) and AF267B restored cognitive impairments also on escape latency in a Morris water maze paradigm in reversal learning. Furthermore, in aged and cognitively impaired microcebes (a natural animal model that mimics AD pathology and cognitive impairments), prolonged treatment with AF150(S) restored cognitive and behavioral impairments and decreased tau hyperphosphorylation, PHF and astrogliosis. Our M1 agonists, alone or in polypharmacy, may present a unique therapy in AD due to their beneficial effects on major hallmarks of AD.

• Authors: Abraham Fisher, Rachel Brandeis, Rachel Haring Nira Bar-Ner, Michal Kliger-Spatz, Niva Natan, Hagar Sonego, Itzhak Marcovitch, Zipora Pittel
• Journal: Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN (J Mol Neurosci) 2002 Aug-Oct Vol. 19 Issue 1-2 Pg. 145-53 ISSN: 0895-8696 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12212772 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• 1-methylpiperidine-4-spiro-(2'-methylthiazoline)
• Amyloid beta-Peptides
• Muscarinic Agonists
• Piperidines
• Receptor, Muscarinic M1
• Receptors, Muscarinic
• Spiro Compounds
• Thiazoles
• tau Proteins
• Water
• Epidermal Growth Factor
• (S)-2-ethyl-8-methyl-1-thia-4,8-diazaspiro(4.5)decan-3-one
• Nerve Growth Factor

Topics

• Alzheimer Disease (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Amyloid beta-Peptides (drug effects, metabolism)
• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Death (drug effects)
• Cerebral Cortex (drug effects, metabolism)
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Epidermal Growth Factor (metabolism)
• Hippocampus (drug effects, metabolism)
• Maze Learning (drug effects)
• Mice
• Models, Animal
• Muscarinic Agonists (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Nerve Growth Factor (metabolism)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• PC12 Cells
• Phosphorylation (drug effects)
• Piperidines (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Receptor, Muscarinic M1
• Receptors, Muscarinic (drug effects, metabolism)
• Spinal Cord (drug effects, metabolism)
• Spiro Compounds (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Thiazoles (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Water
• tau Proteins (metabolism)