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Wei Y, Zhong S, Yang H, Wang X, Lv B, Bian Y, Pei Y, Xu C, Zhao Q, Wu Y, Luo D, Wang F, Sun H, Chen Y. Current therapy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A review on past and future therapeutic strategies. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 272:116496. [PMID: 38759454 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects the first and second motoneurons (MNs), associated with muscle weakness, paralysis and finally death. The exact etiology of the disease still remains unclear. Currently, efforts to develop novel ALS treatments which target specific pathomechanisms are being studied. The mechanisms of ALS pathogenesis involve multiple factors, such as protein aggregation, glutamate excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, inflammation etc. Unfortunately, to date, there are only two FDA-approved drugs for ALS, riluzole and edavarone, without curative treatment for ALS. Herein, we give an overview of the many pathways and review the recent discovery and preclinical characterization of neuroprotective compounds. Meanwhile, drug combination and other therapeutic approaches are also reviewed. In the last part, we analyze the reasons of clinical failure and propose perspective on the treatment of ALS in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Sheng Zhong
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Huajing Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xueqing Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Bingbing Lv
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yaoyao Bian
- Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Center of TCM External Medication Researching and Industrializing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yuqiong Pei
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Chunlei Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qun Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yulan Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Daying Luo
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Fan Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Haopeng Sun
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Yao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Elmansy MF, Reidl CT, Rahaman M, Özdinler PH, Silverman RB. Small molecules targeting different cellular pathologies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:2260-2302. [PMID: 37243319 PMCID: PMC10592673 DOI: 10.1002/med.21974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease in which the motor neuron circuitry displays progressive degeneration, affecting mostly the motor neurons in the brain and in the spinal cord. There are no effective cures, albeit three drugs, riluzole, edaravone, and AMX0035 (a combination of sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol), have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, with limited improvement in patients. There is an urgent need to build better and more effective treatment strategies for ALS. Since the disease is very heterogenous, numerous approaches have been explored, such as targeting genetic mutations, decreasing oxidative stress and excitotoxicity, enhancing mitochondrial function and protein degradation mechanisms, and inhibiting neuroinflammation. In addition, various chemical libraries or previously identified drugs have been screened for potential repurposing in the treatment of ALS. Here, we review previous drug discovery efforts targeting a variety of cellular pathologies that occur from genetic mutations that cause ALS, such as mutations in SOD1, C9orf72, FUS, and TARDP-43 genes. These mutations result in protein aggregation, which causes neuronal degeneration. Compounds used to target cellular pathologies that stem from these mutations are discussed and comparisons among different preclinical models are presented. Because the drug discovery landscape for ALS and other motor neuron diseases is changing rapidly, we also offer recommendations for a novel, more effective, direction in ALS drug discovery that could accelerate translation of effective compounds from animals to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed F. Elmansy
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Department of Organometallic and Organometalloid Chemistry, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Cory T. Reidl
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Mizzanoor Rahaman
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - P. Hande Özdinler
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Richard B. Silverman
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Silvestrini A, Giordani C, Bonacci S, Giuliani A, Ramini D, Matacchione G, Sabbatinelli J, Di Valerio S, Pacetti D, Procopio AD, Procopio A, Rippo MR. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Olive Leaf Extract and Its Bioactive Compounds Oleacin and Oleuropein-Aglycone on Senescent Endothelial and Small Airway Epithelial Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1509. [PMID: 37627504 PMCID: PMC10451521 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12081509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Olive tree by-products have been deeply studied as an invaluable source of bioactive compounds. Several in vitro and in vivo studies showed that olive leaf extract (OLE) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Here, we wanted to assess the valuable benefits of two less-studied OLE components-3,4-DHPEA-EDA (Oleacin, OC) and 3,4-DHPEA-EA (Oleuropein-Aglycone, OA)-directly purified from OLE using a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable method, in line with the principles of circular economy. OLE, OC and OA were then tested in human cellular models involved in acute and chronic inflammation and in the pathogenesis of viral infections, i.e., lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated monocyte/macrophages (THP-1) and endothelial cells (HUVECs), senescent HUVECs and Poly(I:C)-treated small airway epithelial cells (hSAECs). Results showed that OC and OA are efficient in ameliorating almost all of the pro-inflammatory readouts (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, ICAM, VCAM) and reducing the release of IL-6 in all the cellular models. In hSAECs, they also modulate the expression of SOD2, NF-kB and also ACE2 and TMPRSS2, whose expression is required for SARS-CoV-2 virus entry. Overall, these data suggest the usefulness of OLE, OC and OA in controlling or preventing inflammatory responses, in particular those associated with viral respiratory infections and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Silvestrini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy (J.S.)
| | - Chiara Giordani
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy (J.S.)
| | - Sonia Bonacci
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Angelica Giuliani
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy (J.S.)
| | - Deborah Ramini
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS—National Institute for the Care of the Elderly (INRCA), 60121 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Giulia Matacchione
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy (J.S.)
| | - Jacopo Sabbatinelli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy (J.S.)
| | - Silvia Di Valerio
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy (J.S.)
| | - Deborah Pacetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Antonio Domenico Procopio
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy (J.S.)
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS—National Institute for the Care of the Elderly (INRCA), 60121 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Antonio Procopio
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Rippo
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy (J.S.)
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Soares P, Silva C, Chavarria D, Silva FSG, Oliveira PJ, Borges F. Drug discovery and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Emerging challenges and therapeutic opportunities. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 83:101790. [PMID: 36402404 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs) leading to paralysis and, ultimately, death by respiratory failure 3-5 years after diagnosis. Edaravone and Riluzole, the only drugs currently approved for ALS treatment, only provide mild symptomatic relief to patients. Extraordinary progress in understanding the biology of ALS provided new grounds for drug discovery. Over the last two decades, mitochondria and oxidative stress (OS), iron metabolism and ferroptosis, and the major regulators of hypoxia and inflammation - HIF and NF-κB - emerged as promising targets for ALS therapeutic intervention. In this review, we focused our attention on these targets to outline and discuss current advances in ALS drug development. Based on the challenges and the roadblocks, we believe that the rational design of multi-target ligands able to modulate the complex network of events behind the disease can provide effective therapies in a foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Soares
- CIQUP-IMS/Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Catia Silva
- CIQUP-IMS/Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniel Chavarria
- CIQUP-IMS/Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Filomena S G Silva
- CNC - CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB - Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paulo J Oliveira
- CNC - CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB - Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; IIUC - Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Borges
- CIQUP-IMS/Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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Biological aspects of nitrogen heterocycles for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 107:43-56. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12317-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Fukui T, Tateno H, Nakamura T, Yamada Y, Sato Y, Iwasaki N, Harashima H, Kadoya K. Retrograde Axonal Transport of Liposomes from Peripheral Tissue to Spinal Cord and DRGs by Optimized Phospholipid and CTB Modification. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126661. [PMID: 35743104 PMCID: PMC9223829 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advancements in therapeutic options for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), the lack of an efficient drug-delivery system (DDS) hampers their clinical application. We hypothesized that liposomes could be optimized for retrograde transport in axons as a DDS from peripheral tissues to the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). Three types of liposomes consisting of DSPC, DSPC/POPC, or POPC in combination with cholesterol (Chol) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipid were administered to sciatic nerves or the tibialis anterior muscle of mature rats. Liposomes in cell bodies were detected with infrared fluorescence of DiD conjugated to liposomes. Three days later, all nerve-administered liposomes were retrogradely transported to the spinal cord and DRGs, whereas only muscle-administered liposomes consisting of DSPC reached the spinal cord and DRGs. Modification with Cholera toxin B subunit improved the transport efficiency of liposomes to the spinal cord and DRGs from 4.5% to 17.3% and from 3.9% to 14.3% via nerve administration, and from 2.6% to 4.8% and from 2.3% to 4.1% via muscle administration, respectively. Modification with octa-arginine (R8) improved the transport efficiency via nerve administration but abolished the transport capability via muscle administration. These findings provide the initial data for the development of a novel DDS targeting the spinal cord and DRGs via peripheral administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takafumi Fukui
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15 Nishi-7, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; (T.F.); (N.I.)
| | - Hironao Tateno
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12 Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; (H.T.); (Y.Y.); (Y.S.); (H.H.)
| | - Takashi Nakamura
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12 Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; (H.T.); (Y.Y.); (Y.S.); (H.H.)
- Correspondence: (T.N.); (K.K.)
| | - Yuma Yamada
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12 Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; (H.T.); (Y.Y.); (Y.S.); (H.H.)
| | - Yusuke Sato
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12 Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; (H.T.); (Y.Y.); (Y.S.); (H.H.)
| | - Norimasa Iwasaki
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15 Nishi-7, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; (T.F.); (N.I.)
| | - Hideyoshi Harashima
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12 Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; (H.T.); (Y.Y.); (Y.S.); (H.H.)
| | - Ken Kadoya
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15 Nishi-7, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; (T.F.); (N.I.)
- Correspondence: (T.N.); (K.K.)
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Mathew B, Ruiz P, Dutta S, Entrekin JT, Zhang S, Patel KD, Simmons MS, Augelli-Szafran CE, Cowell RM, Suto MJ. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of N-(3-methylpyridin-2-yl)-4-(pyridin-2-yl)thiazol-2-amine (SRI-22819) as NF-ҡB activators for the treatment of ALS. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 210:112952. [PMID: 33139114 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ALS is a rare type of progressive neurological disease with unknown etiology. It results in the gradual degeneration and death of motor neurons responsible for controlling the voluntary muscles. Identification of mutations in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 gene has been the most significant finding in ALS research. SOD1 abnormalities have been associated with both familial as well as sporadic ALS cases. SOD2 is a highly inducible SOD that performs in concurrence with SOD1 to detoxify ROS. Induction of SOD2 can be obtained through activation of NF-ҡBs. We previously reported that SRI-22819 increases NF-ҡB expression and activation in vitro, but it has poor ADME properties in general and has no oral bioavailability. Our initial studies were focused on direct modifications of SRI-22819. There were active compounds identified but no improvement in microsomal stability was observed. In this context, we focused on making more significant structural changes in the core of the molecule. Ataluren, an oxadiazole compound that promotes read-through and expression of dystrophin in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, bears some structural similarity to SRI-22819. Thus, we synthesized a series of SRI-22819 and Ataluren (PTC124) hybrid compounds. Several compounds from this series exhibited improved activity, microsomal stability and lower calculated polar surface area (PSA). This manuscript describes the synthesis and biological evaluation of SRI-22819 analogs and its hybrid combination with Ataluren.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bini Mathew
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA.
| | - Pedro Ruiz
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA.
| | - Shilpa Dutta
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA.
| | - Jordan T Entrekin
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA
| | - Sixue Zhang
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA
| | - Kaval D Patel
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA
| | - Micah S Simmons
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA
| | - Corinne E Augelli-Szafran
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA.
| | - Rita M Cowell
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA.
| | - Mark J Suto
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA.
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