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Lopez-Grancha M, Bernardelli P, Moindrot N, Genet E, Vincent C, Roudieres V, Krick AI, Sabuco JF, Machnik D, Ibghi D, Pradier L, Taupin V. A Novel Selective PKR Inhibitor Restores Cognitive Deficits and Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer Disease Experimental Models. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 378:262-275. [PMID: 34531308 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In Alzheimer disease (AD), the double-strand RNA-dependent kinase protein kinase R (PKR )/EIF2AK2 is activated in brain with increased phosphorylation of its substrate eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α). AD risk-promoting factors, such as ApoE4 allele or the accumulation of neurotoxic amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs), have been associated with activation of PKR-dependent signaling. Here, we report the discovery of a novel potent and selective PKR inhibitor (SAR439883) and demonstrate its neuroprotective pharmacological activity in AD experimental models. In ApoE4 human replacement male mice, 1-week oral treatment with SAR439883 rescued short-term memory impairment in the spatial object recognition test and dose-dependently reduced learning and memory deficits in the Barnes maze test. Moreover, in AβO-injected male mice, a 2-week administration of SAR439883 in diet dose-dependently ameliorated the AβO-induced cognitive impairment in both Y-maze and Morris Water Maze, prevented loss of synaptic proteins, and reduced levels of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β In both mouse models, these effects were associated with a dose-dependent inhibition of brain PKR activity as measured by both PKR occupancy and partial lowering of peIF2α levels. Our results provide evidence that selective pharmacological inhibition of PKR by a small selective molecule can rescue memory deficits and prevent neurodegeneration in animal models of AD-like pathology, suggesting that inhibition of PKR is a potential therapeutic approach for AD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study reports the identification of a new small molecule potent and selective protein kinase R (PKR) inhibitor that can prevent cognitive deficits and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease (AD) experimental models, including a mouse model expressing the most prevalent AD genetic risk factor ApoE4. With high potency and selectivity, this PKR inhibitor represents a unique tool for investigating the physiological role of PKR and a starting point for developing new drug candidates for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Lopez-Grancha
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Patrick Bernardelli
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Nicolas Moindrot
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Elisabeth Genet
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Carine Vincent
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Valerie Roudieres
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - AIain Krick
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Jean-François Sabuco
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - David Machnik
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Delphine Ibghi
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Laurent Pradier
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Veronique Taupin
- Neurodegeneration Cluster, Rare and Neurologic Disease Research TA (M.L.-G., N.M., E.G., C.V., V.R., D.I., L.P., V.T.), Integrated Drug Discovery (P.B., J.-F.S., D.M.), and DMPK (A.K.), Sanofi R&D, Chilly-Mazarin, France
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