A novel p38α MAPK inhibitor suppresses brain proinflammatory cytokine up-regulation and attenuates synaptic dysfunction and behavioral deficits in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An accumulating body of evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that excessive or prolonged increases in proinflammatory cytokine production by activated glia is a contributor to the progression of pathophysiology that is causally linked to synaptic dysfunction and hippocampal behavior deficits in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). This raises the opportunity for the development of new classes of potentially disease-modifying therapeutics. A logical candidate CNS target is p38α MAPK, a well-established drug discovery molecular target for altering proinflammatory cytokine cascades in peripheral tissue disorders. Activated p38 MAPK is seen in human AD brain tissue and in AD-relevant animal models, and cell culture studies strongly implicate p38 MAPK in the increased production of proinflammatory cytokines by glia activated with human amyloid-beta (Aβ) and other disease-relevant stressors. However, the vast majority of small molecule drugs do not have sufficient penetrance of the blood-brain barrier to allow their use as <it>in vivo </it>research tools or as therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that brain p38α MAPK is a potential <it>in vivo </it>target for orally bioavailable, small molecules capable of suppressing excessive cytokine production by activated glia back towards homeostasis, allowing an improvement in neurologic outcomes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A novel synthetic small molecule based on a molecular scaffold used previously was designed, synthesized, and subjected to analyses to demonstrate its potential <it>in vivo </it>bioavailability, metabolic stability, safety and brain uptake. Testing for <it>in vivo </it>efficacy used an AD-relevant mouse model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A novel, CNS-penetrant, non-toxic, orally bioavailable, small molecule inhibitor of p38α MAPK (MW01-2-069A-SRM) was developed. Oral administration of the compound at a low dose (2.5 mg/kg) resulted in attenuation of excessive proinflammatory cytokine production in the hippocampus back towards normal in the animal model. Animals with attenuated cytokine production had reductions in synaptic dysfunction and hippocampus-dependent behavioral deficits.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The p38α MAPK pathway is quantitatively important in the Aβ-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines in hippocampus, and brain p38α MAPK is a viable molecular target for future development of potential disease-modifying therapeutics in AD and related neurodegenerative disorders.</p

A novel, rapid method to compare the therapeutic windows of oral anticoagulants using the Hill coefficient

A central challenge in designing and administering effective anticoagulants is achieving the proper therapeutic window and dosage for each patient. The Hill coefficient, nH, which measures the steepness of a dose-response relationship, may be a useful gauge of this therapeutic window. We sought to measure the Hill coefficient of available anticoagulants to gain insight into their therapeutic windows. We used a simple fluorometric in vitro assay to determine clotting activity in platelet poor plasma after exposure to various concentrations of anticoagulants. The Hill coefficient for argatroban was the lowest, at 1.7±0.2 (95% confidence interval, CI), and the Hill coefficient for fondaparinux was the highest, at 4.5±1.3 (95% CI). Thus, doubling the dose of fondaparinux from its IC50 would decrease coagulation activity by nearly a half, whereas doubling the dose of argatroban from its IC50 would decrease coagulation activity by merely one quarter. These results show a significant variation among the Hill coefficients, suggesting a similar variation in therapeutic windows among anticoagulants in our assay

Red wine polyphenols prevent metabolic and cardiovascular alterations associated with obesity in Zucker fatty rats (Fa/Fa)

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Neurogenic inflammation after traumatic brain injury and its potentiation of classical inflammation

Background: The neuroinflammatory response following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to be a key secondary injury factor that can drive ongoing neuronal injury. Despite this, treatments that have targeted aspects of the inflammatory pathway have not shown significant efficacy in clinical trials. Main body: We suggest that this may be because classical inflammation only represents part of the story, with activation of neurogenic inflammation potentially one of the key initiating inflammatory events following TBI. Indeed, evidence suggests that the transient receptor potential cation channels (TRP channels), TRPV1 and TRPA1, are polymodal receptors that are activated by a variety of stimuli associated with TBI, including mechanical shear stress, leading to the release of neuropeptides such as substance P (SP). SP augments many aspects of the classical inflammatory response via activation of microglia and astrocytes, degranulation of mast cells, and promoting leukocyte migration. Furthermore, SP may initiate the earliest changes seen in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, namely the increased transcellular transport of plasma proteins via activation of caveolae. This is in line with reports that alterations in transcellular transport are seen first following TBI, prior to decreases in expression of tight-junction proteins such as claudin-5 and occludin. Indeed, the receptor for SP, the tachykinin NK1 receptor, is found in caveolae and its activation following TBI may allow influx of albumin and other plasma proteins which directly augment the inflammatory response by activating astrocytes and microglia. Conclusions: As such, the neurogenic inflammatory response can exacerbate classical inflammation via a positive feedback loop, with classical inflammatory mediators such as bradykinin and prostaglandins then further stimulating TRP receptors. Accordingly, complete inhibition of neuroinflammation following TBI may require the inhibition of both classical and neurogenic inflammatory pathways.Frances Corrigan, Kimberley A. Mander, Anna V. Leonard and Robert Vin

Albumin and multiple sclerosis

A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Leakage of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a common pathological feature in multiple sclerosis (MS). Following a breach of the BBB, albumin, the most abundant protein in plasma, gains access to CNS tissue where it is exposed to an inflammatory milieu and tissue damage, e.g., demyelination. Once in the CNS, albumin can participate in protective mechanisms. For example, due to its high concentration and molecular properties, albumin becomes a target for oxidation and nitration reactions. Furthermore, albumin binds metals and heme thereby limiting their ability to produce reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species. Albumin also has the potential to worsen disease. Similar to pathogenic processes that occur during epilepsy, extravasated albumin could induce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and affect the ability of astrocytes to maintain potassium homeostasis thereby possibly making neurons more vulnerable to glutamate exicitotoxicity, which is thought to be a pathogenic mechanism in MS. The albumin quotient, albumin in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/albumin in serum, is used as a measure of blood-CSF barrier dysfunction in MS, but it may be inaccurate since albumin levels in the CSF can be influenced by multiple factors including: 1) albumin becomes proteolytically cleaved during disease, 2) extravasated albumin is taken up by macrophages, microglia, and astrocytes, and 3) the location of BBB damage affects the entry of extravasated albumin into ventricular CSF. A discussion of the roles that albumin performs during MS is put forth

Saisir le flou des politiques Alzheimer : un usage des "configurations"

Cette communication a pour objectif de proposer des pistes de réflexion sur la question de la comparaison en sciences sociales, à partir de notre recherche en cours. Nous nous appuierons sur l'enquête que nous menons actuellement sur l'action publique locale développée autour de la question Alzheimer sur deux départements français. Communication ET 2011 Grenobl

Développement d’une forme orale du fondaparinux

Since its introduction in the market in 2002, fondaparinux (Arixtra®) is a drug of choice in the anticoagulant therapy. Its structure corresponds to the heparin pentasaccharide sequence that mediates its interaction with the natural plasma inhibitor of coagulation, antithrombin. However, like heparin, its application is limited due its unique administration by parenteral route. The aim of this project is to develop an efficient oral delivery system for fondaparinux by association with a squalene derivative. Squalene, a natural precursor of cholesterol in sterol biosynthesis, is well-known for its excellent oral absorption (i.e. more than 60 %). In this context, two strategies were investigated. The first consisted in achieving a covalent coupling between fondaparinux and a squalene derivative according to the concept of “squalenoylation”. The second was to associate fondaparinux to a cationic squalenoyl derivative by non-covalent association.Experimental work showed that the first strategy was delicate to implement due to the difficulty to synthesize a fondaparinux-squalene bioconjugate and, the loss of the anticoagulant properties of fondaparinux. Because of these obstacles, the concept of "squalenoylation" was not suitable for this type of active molecule. In contrast, the second strategy has been very promising. It consisted in the formulation of a nanoparticulate delivery system by ion-pairing of fondaparinux and a cationic squalenoyl derivative. This approach permitted to highlight the self-assembly of these two compounds in water as monodisperse nanoparticles thanks to electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, the oral absorption of fondaparinux was significantly increased with this new nanoparticulate system. This new squalene-based approach has shown its effectiveness in improving the oral administration of fondaparinux and could be a potential delivery system in the treatment of thromboembolic diseases.Le fondaparinux (Arixtra®), anticoagulant de la classe des pentasaccharides de synthèse, est le premier inhibiteur d'origine synthétique, spécifique et indirect du facteur Xa de la coagulation. Il résulte de la synthèse chimique de l'unité pentasaccharidique des héparines, capable de se lier à l'antithrombine, une protéine endogène, inhibitrice de la coagulation. Cependant, son utilisation reste limitée par son administration uniquement possible par voie parentérale.L'objectif de ce travail de thèse est de développer une forme orale du fondaparinux en l'associant à un dérivé squalénique. Le squalène, terpénoïde naturel précurseur de la synthèse du cholestérol, possède une très bonne absorption orale (supérieure à 60 %). Dans ce contexte, deux stratégies d'association ont été développées: la première consistant à associer par liaison covalente le fondaparinux à un dérivé squalénique selon le concept de la « squalénisation » et la deuxième à associer par interactions non covalentes le fondaparinux à un dérivé squalénique cationique.Les travaux expérimentaux ont montré que la première stratégie était délicate à mettre en œuvre en raison d'une part de la difficulté à synthétiser un bioconjugué fondaparinux-squalène et d'autre part de la perte de l'activité anticoagulante du fondaparinux. En raison de ces obstacles, le concept de la « squalénisation » n'est pas adapté à ce type de molécule active. En revanche, la deuxième stratégie s'est montrée très prometteuse. Elle a consisté à formuler des nanoparticules par association non covalente du fondaparinux, chargé négativement, à un dérivé squalénique cationique. Cette approche a permis de mettre en évidence l’excellente capacité d'auto-assemblage en milieu aqueux de ces deux composés, liée à l’établissement de deux types d’interactions, électrostatiques et hydrophobes (entre les molécules de squalène). L'absorption orale du fondaparinux a été considérablement augmentée grâce à ce nouveau système nanoparticulaire. Cette nouvelle approche à base de squalène a ainsi montré son efficacité dans l'amélioration de l'administration orale du fondaparinux et pourrait représenter un système thérapeutique potentiel dans le traitement des maladies thromboemboliques

Development of an oral form of fondaparinux

Le fondaparinux (Arixtra®), anticoagulant de la classe des pentasaccharides de synthèse, est le premier inhibiteur d'origine synthétique, spécifique et indirect du facteur Xa de la coagulation. Il résulte de la synthèse chimique de l'unité pentasaccharidique des héparines, capable de se lier à l'antithrombine, une protéine endogène, inhibitrice de la coagulation. Cependant, son utilisation reste limitée par son administration uniquement possible par voie parentérale.L'objectif de ce travail de thèse est de développer une forme orale du fondaparinux en l'associant à un dérivé squalénique. Le squalène, terpénoïde naturel précurseur de la synthèse du cholestérol, possède une très bonne absorption orale (supérieure à 60 %). Dans ce contexte, deux stratégies d'association ont été développées: la première consistant à associer par liaison covalente le fondaparinux à un dérivé squalénique selon le concept de la « squalénisation » et la deuxième à associer par interactions non covalentes le fondaparinux à un dérivé squalénique cationique.Les travaux expérimentaux ont montré que la première stratégie était délicate à mettre en œuvre en raison d'une part de la difficulté à synthétiser un bioconjugué fondaparinux-squalène et d'autre part de la perte de l'activité anticoagulante du fondaparinux. En raison de ces obstacles, le concept de la « squalénisation » n'est pas adapté à ce type de molécule active. En revanche, la deuxième stratégie s'est montrée très prometteuse. Elle a consisté à formuler des nanoparticules par association non covalente du fondaparinux, chargé négativement, à un dérivé squalénique cationique. Cette approche a permis de mettre en évidence l’excellente capacité d'auto-assemblage en milieu aqueux de ces deux composés, liée à l’établissement de deux types d’interactions, électrostatiques et hydrophobes (entre les molécules de squalène). L'absorption orale du fondaparinux a été considérablement augmentée grâce à ce nouveau système nanoparticulaire. Cette nouvelle approche à base de squalène a ainsi montré son efficacité dans l'amélioration de l'administration orale du fondaparinux et pourrait représenter un système thérapeutique potentiel dans le traitement des maladies thromboemboliques.Since its introduction in the market in 2002, fondaparinux (Arixtra®) is a drug of choice in the anticoagulant therapy. Its structure corresponds to the heparin pentasaccharide sequence that mediates its interaction with the natural plasma inhibitor of coagulation, antithrombin. However, like heparin, its application is limited due its unique administration by parenteral route. The aim of this project is to develop an efficient oral delivery system for fondaparinux by association with a squalene derivative. Squalene, a natural precursor of cholesterol in sterol biosynthesis, is well-known for its excellent oral absorption (i.e. more than 60 %). In this context, two strategies were investigated. The first consisted in achieving a covalent coupling between fondaparinux and a squalene derivative according to the concept of “squalenoylation”. The second was to associate fondaparinux to a cationic squalenoyl derivative by non-covalent association.Experimental work showed that the first strategy was delicate to implement due to the difficulty to synthesize a fondaparinux-squalene bioconjugate and, the loss of the anticoagulant properties of fondaparinux. Because of these obstacles, the concept of "squalenoylation" was not suitable for this type of active molecule. In contrast, the second strategy has been very promising. It consisted in the formulation of a nanoparticulate delivery system by ion-pairing of fondaparinux and a cationic squalenoyl derivative. This approach permitted to highlight the self-assembly of these two compounds in water as monodisperse nanoparticles thanks to electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, the oral absorption of fondaparinux was significantly increased with this new nanoparticulate system. This new squalene-based approach has shown its effectiveness in improving the oral administration of fondaparinux and could be a potential delivery system in the treatment of thromboembolic diseases

Les avancées de la thérapie anticoagulante orale (de la mise sur le marché de nouvelles molécules à la mise au point de formes galéniques innovantes)

Les héparines et le fondaparinux sont les médicaments de référence dans la prévention et le traitement des maladies thromboemboliques. Cependant, leur principale limite est leur mode d administration. Ces anticoagulants ne peuvent être administrés ne peuvent être administrés que par voie parentérale en raison de leur masse moléculaire élevée et de leur forte charge anionique. Sans contexte, la voie orale constitue la voie d administration privilégiée permettant une sécurité dans l administration et un idéal de confort et de simplicité pour les patients. Ainsi, la thérapie anticoagulante orale reste à ce jour un véritable défi. Pendant plus de 60 ans, les antivitamines K (AVK) représentaient le seul traitement anticoagulant oral. Cependant, les AVK présentent de nombreux inconvénients, notamment une variabilité interindividuelle importante, des effets tératogènes, de nombreuses interactions médicamenteuses ou encore la nécessité d une surveillance biologique étroite lors de la mise en place du traitement. Récemment, le développement de nouveaux anticoagulants oraux (NACOs) est devenu un enjeu de santé publique. La mise sur le marché de trois NACOs dans la prévention et le traitement des désordres thromboemboliques a permis de réduire la prescription des AVK. Néanmoins, le recul sur le profil bénéfice/risque est encore trop court pour pouvoir les utiliser en remplacement des héparines et du fondaparinux. Dès lors, face à l utilisation fréquente et plus répandue de ces anticoagulants, le développement d une forme orale de ces polysaccharides est resté d actualité. L objectif de cette revue bibliographique est de résumer les avancés de la thérapies anticoagulante, de la mise sur le marché de nouvelles molécules anticoagulantes à la mise au point de formes galéniques innovantes des anticoagulants de référence, les héparines et le fondaparinux.CHATENAY M.-PARIS 11-BU Pharma. (920192101) / SudocSudocFranceF