Druggable targets for the immunopathy of Alzheimer's disease

Identification and Exploration of Immunity-Related Genes and Natural Products for Alzheimer's Disease Based on Bioinformatics, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics

BACKGROUND

Recent research highlights the immune system's role in AD pathogenesis and promising prospects of natural compounds in treatment. This study explores immunity-related biomarkers and potential natural products using bioinformatics, machine learning, molecular docking, and kinetic simulation.

METHODS

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in AD were analyzed using GSE5281 and GSE132903 datasets. Important AD module genes were identified using a weighted co-expression algorithm (WGCNA), and immune-related genes (IRGs) were obtained from the ImmPortPortal database. Intersecting these genes yielded important IRGs. Then, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and other methods screened common immune-related AD markers. Biological pathways were explored through Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The accuracy of these markers was assessed by subject operator signature (ROC) curves and validated in the GSE122063 dataset. The datasets was then subjected to immunoinfiltration analysis. Multiple compound databases were used to analyze core Chinese medicines and components. Molecular docking and kinetic simulation verification were used for further verification.

RESULTS

A total of 1360 differential genes and 5 biomarkers (PGF, GFAP, GPI, SST, NFKBIA) were identified, showing excellent diagnostic efficiency. GSEA revealed markers associated with Oxidative phosphorylation, Nicotine addiction, and Hippo signaling pathway. Immune infiltration analysis showed dysregulation in multiple immune cell types in AD brains, with significant interactions between markers and 5 immune cell types. A total of 27 possible herbs and 7 core compounds were eventually identified. The binding environment of GPI-luteolin and GPI-stigasterol was relatively stable and showed good affinity.

CONCLUSIONS

PGF, GFAP, SST, GPI, and NFKBIA were identified for early AD diagnosis, associated with immune cells and pathways in AD brains. 7 promising natural compounds, including luteolin and stigmasterol, were screened for targeting these biomarkers.

Highly efficient, catalyst-free, one-pot sequential four-component synthesis of novel spiroindolinone-pyrazole scaffolds as anti-Alzheimer agents: in silico study and biological screening

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that impacts memory, thinking, and behavior, and currently, there is no effective cure available for its treatment. This study explored a one-pot strategy for synthesizing spiroindolinone-pyrazole derivatives through a sequential four-component condensation reaction. These derivatives were further investigated for their potential as anti-Alzheimer's disease agents. The developed synthetic procedure provides remarkable advantages, including a clean reaction profile, abundant starting materials, operational simplicity, and easy purification without traditional methods with good to excellent yields (84-96%). Next, the biological potencies of the newly synthesized spiroindolinone-pyrazole derivatives against AChE and BChE as Alzheimer's disease-related targets were determined. Also, the kinetic study and cytotoxicity of the most potent derivative were investigated. Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics evaluations were performed employing in silico tools to investigate the interaction, orientation, and conformation of the potent analog over the active site of the enzyme.

Drug Design for Alzheimer's Disease: Biologics vs. Small Molecules

There shall probably be no "magic bullet" for Alzheimer's; rather, we should be pursuing a "magic shotgun blast" that will target multiple complementary therapeutic receptors. Although protein misfolding/oligomerization will probably be one of these targets, this alone is insufficient and will require the co-administration of other therapeutic entities engaging targets, such as immunopathy, gliopathy, mitochondriopathy, synaptotoxicity or others. Although polypharmacy is emerging as the preferred therapeutic route, many questions remain unanswered. Should this be a cocktail of biologics, a concoction of small molecules, or a judicious combination of both? Biologics and small molecule drugs display both strengths and weaknesses. When addressing a disease as complex and globally important as Alzheimer's, there should be room for the continuing development of both of these therapeutic classes. Each has much to offer, and when used with their advantages and disadvantages in clear focus, an ultimate solution will probably require contributions from both.