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Liu W, Zhu SO, Guo YL, Tu LF, Zhen YQ, Zhao RY, Ou-Yang L, Kurihara H, He RR, Liu B. BL-918, a small-molecule activator of ULK1, induces cytoprotective autophagy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis therapy. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:524-537. [PMID: 36042292 PMCID: PMC9958028 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-00972-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of the most common fatal neurodegenerative diseases in adults. ALS pathogenesis is associated with toxic SOD1 aggregates generated by mutant SOD1. Since autophagy is responsible for the clearance of toxic protein aggregates including SOD1 aggregates, autophagy induction has been considered as a potential strategy for treating ALS. Autophagic signaling is initiated by unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) complex. We previously identified that BL-918 as a specific ULK1 activator, which exerted cytoprotective effect against Parkinson's disease in vitro and in vivo. In this study we investigated whether BL-918 exerted a therapeutic effect against ALS, and characterized its pharmacokinetic profile in rats. In hSODG93A-NSC34 cells, treatment with BL-918 (5, 10 μM) dose-dependently induced ULK1-dependent autophagy, and eliminated toxic SOD1 aggregates. In SODG93A mice, administration of BL-918 (40, 80 mg/kg, b.i.d., i.g.) dose-dependently prolonged lifespan and improved the motor function, and enhanced the clearance of SOD1 aggregates in spinal cord and cerebral cortex through inducing autophagy. In the pharmacokinetic study conducted in rats, we found BL-918 and its 2 metabolites (M8 and M10) present in spinal cord and brain; after intragastric and intravenous administration, BL-918 reached the highest blood concentration compared to M8 and M10. Collectively, ULK1 activator BL-918 displays a therapeutic potential on ALS through inducing cytoprotective autophagy. This study provides a further clue for autophagic dysfunction in ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Shi-Ou Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yu-Lin Guo
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Long-Fang Tu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yong-Qi Zhen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Rong-Yan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Liang Ou-Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Hiroshi Kurihara
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Rong-Rong He
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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