In vitro biological activity of Salvia fruticosa Mill. infusion against amyloid β-peptide-induced toxicity and inhibition of GSK-3β, CK-1δ, and BACE-1 enzymes relevant to Alzheimer's disease

: Recent studies have recognized similarities between the peptides involved in the neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease and prions. The Tau protein and the Amyloid β peptide represent the theoretical pillars of Alzheimer’s disease development. It is probable that there is a shared mechanism for the transmission of these substances and the prion diseases development; this presumption is based on the presentation of several cases of individuals without risk factors who developed dementia decades after a neurosurgical procedure. This article aims to present the role of Aβ and Tau, which underlie the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in the AD and their similarities with the prion diseases infective mechanisms by means of the presentation of the available evidence at molecular (in-vitro), animal, and human levels that support the controversy on whether these diseases might be transmitted in neurosurgical interventions, which may constitute a wide public health issue.

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Inhibition of Aβ(1–40) fibril formation by cyclophilins

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bcj20160098 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 473 (10) ◽

pp. 1355-1368 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marten Villmow ◽

Monika Baumann ◽

Miroslav Malesevic ◽

Rolf Sachs ◽

Gerd Hause ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Amyloid Β ◽

Fibril Formation ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Main Process ◽

Amyloid Β Peptide ◽

Cyclophilin D ◽

Aβ Amyloid

Cyclophilins interact directly with the Alzheimer's disease peptide Aβ (amyloid β-peptide) and are therefore involved in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Aβ binding to CypD (cyclophilin D) induces dysfunction of human mitochondria. We found that both CypD and CypA suppress in vitro fibril formation of Aβ(1–40) at substoichiometric concentrations when present early in the aggregation process. The prototypic inhibitor CsA (cyclosporin A) of both cyclophilins as well as the new water-soluble MM258 derivative prevented this suppression. A SPOT peptide array approach and NMR titration experiments confirmed binding of Aβ(1–40) to the catalytic site of CypD mainly via residues Lys16–Glu22. The peptide Aβ(16–20) representing this section showed submicromolar IC50 values for the peptidyl prolyl cis–trans isomerase activity of CypD and CypA and low-micromolar KD values in ITC experiments. Chemical cross-linking and NMR-detected hydrogen–deuterium exchange experiments revealed a shift in the populations of small Aβ(1–40) oligomers towards the monomeric species, which we investigated in the present study as being the main process of prevention of Aβ fibril formation by cyclophilins.

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The p3 Peptide, a Naturally Occurring Fragment of the Amyloid-β Peptide (Aβ)Found in Alzheimer's Disease, Has a Greater Aggregation Propensity In Vitro Than Full-Length Aβ, But Does Not Bind Cu2+.

Australian Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1071/ch99169 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 321 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Feda Ali ◽

Andrew J. Thompson ◽

Colin J. Barrow

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Down's Syndrome ◽

Amyloid Β ◽

Down’S Syndrome ◽

Full Length ◽

Amyloid Β Peptide ◽

Sheet Structure ◽

Β Sheet

Cerebellar preamyloid from both Down’s syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease contains the p3 fragment (Aβ 17–40/42) as a major amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) component. The p3 peptide was previously shown to form amyloid in vitro, but less readily than full-length Aβ. Here we show that the p3 peptide has a greater β-sheet-forming propensity than full-length Aβ. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy we determined that in aqueous solutions the p3 peptide forms β-sheet structure more readily than full-length Aβ. The p3 peptide also has a lower α-helical propensity than full-length Aβ in the structure-forming solvent trifluoroethanol. These results indicate that the lower amyloidogenicity of the p3 peptide is not related to an inability to form β-sheet structure. In this study we also show that, unlike full-length Aβ, the p3 peptide does not bind Cu2+ ions. This inability to bind copper ions may explain why the p3 peptide appears to play a lesser role in Down’s syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease related neurodegeneration than does full-length Aβ.

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Curcumin in Health and Diseases: Alzheimer’s Disease and Curcumin Analogues, Derivatives, and Hybrids

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21061975 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 1975 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Eirini Chainoglou ◽

Dimitra Hadjipavlou-Litina

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Specific Activity ◽

Curcuma Longa ◽

Amyloid Β ◽

Hydroxyl Group ◽

Amyloid Β Peptide ◽

Curcumin Analogues

Worldwide, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative multifactorial disease influencing the elderly population. Nowadays, several medications, among them curcumin, are used in the treatment of AD. Curcumin, which is the principal component of Curcuma longa, has shown favorable effects forsignificantly preventing or treating AD. During the last decade, the scientific community has focused their research on the optimization of therapeutic properties and on the improvement of pharmacokinetic properties of curcumin. This review summarizes bibliographical data from 2009 to 2019 on curcumin analogues, derivatives, and hybrids, as well as their therapeutic, preventic, and diagnostic applications in AD. Recent advances in the field have revealed that the phenolic hydroxyl group could contribute to the anti-amyloidogenic activity. Phenyl methoxy groups seem to contribute to the suppression of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ42) and to the suppression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) andhydrophobic interactions have also revealed a growing role. Furthermore, flexible moieties, at the linker, are crucial for the inhibition of Aβ aggregation. The inhibitory activity of derivatives is increased with the expansion of the aromatic rings. The promising role of curcumin-based compounds in diagnostic imaging is highlighted. The keto-enol tautomerism seems to be a novel modification for the design of amyloid-binding agents. Molecular docking results, (Q)SAR, as well as in vitro and in vivo tests highlight the structures and chemical moieties that are correlated with specific activity. As a result, the knowledge gained from the existing research should lead to the design and synthesis ofinnovative and multitargetedcurcumin analogues, derivatives, or curcumin hybrids, which would be very useful drug and tools in medicine for both diagnosis and treatment of AD.

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Mercury and Alzheimer’s Disease: Hg(II) Ions Display Specific Binding to the Amyloid-β Peptide and Hinder Its Fibrillization

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom10010044 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 44 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Cecilia Wallin ◽

Merlin Friedemann ◽

Sabrina B. Sholts ◽

Andra Noormägi ◽

Teodor Svantesson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Metal Ions ◽

Amyloid Fibrils ◽

Specific Binding ◽

Amyloid Β ◽

Binding Mode ◽

Amyloid Β Peptide ◽

Aβ Peptides

Brains and blood of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients have shown elevated mercury concentrations, but potential involvement of mercury exposure in AD pathogenesis has not been studied at the molecular level. The pathological hallmark of AD brains is deposition of amyloid plaques, consisting mainly of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides aggregated into amyloid fibrils. Aβ peptide fibrillization is known to be modulated by metal ions such as Cu(II) and Zn(II). Here, we study in vitro the interactions between Aβ peptides and Hg(II) ions by multiple biophysical techniques. Fluorescence spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) show that Hg(II) ions have a concentration-dependent inhibiting effect on Aβ fibrillization: at a 1:1 Aβ·Hg(II) ratio only non-fibrillar Aβ aggregates are formed. NMR spectroscopy shows that Hg(II) ions interact with the N-terminal region of Aβ(1–40) with a micromolar affinity, likely via a binding mode similar to that for Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions, i.e., mainly via the histidine residues His6, His13, and His14. Thus, together with Cu(II), Fe(II), Mn(II), Pb(IV), and Zn(II) ions, Hg(II) belongs to a family of metal ions that display residue-specific binding interactions with Aβ peptides and modulate their aggregation processes.

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A rationally designed bicyclic peptide remodels Aβ42 aggregation in vitro and reduces its toxicity in a worm model of Alzheimer’s disease

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-69626-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tatsuya Ikenoue ◽

Francesco A. Aprile ◽

Pietro Sormanni ◽

Francesco S. Ruggeri ◽

Michele Perni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Rational Design ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Amyloid Β ◽

Disordered Proteins ◽

Amyloid Β Peptide ◽

Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Worm Model

Abstract Bicyclic peptides have great therapeutic potential since they can bridge the gap between small molecules and antibodies by combining a low molecular weight of about 2 kDa with an antibody-like binding specificity. Here we apply a recently developed in silico rational design strategy to produce a bicyclic peptide to target the C-terminal region (residues 31–42) of the 42-residue form of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ42), a protein fragment whose aggregation into amyloid plaques is linked with Alzheimer’s disease. We show that this bicyclic peptide is able to remodel the aggregation process of Aβ42 in vitro and to reduce its associated toxicity in vivo in a C. elegans worm model expressing Aβ42. These results provide an initial example of a computational approach to design bicyclic peptides to target specific epitopes on disordered proteins.

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In Vitro Assay Development and HTS of Small-Molecule Human ABAD/17β-HSD10 Inhibitors as Therapeutics in Alzheimer’s Disease

SLAS DISCOVERY Advancing Life Sciences ◽

10.1177/2472555217697964 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 676-685 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Laura Aitken ◽

Gemma Baillie ◽

Andrew Pannifer ◽

Angus Morrison ◽

Philip S. Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

High Throughput Screening ◽

Amyloid Β ◽

Metabolic Enzyme ◽

Amyloid Β Peptide ◽

Vitro Assay ◽

Screening Platform ◽

Potential Inhibitors

A major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the formation of neurotoxic aggregates composed of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). Aβ has been recognized to interact with numerous proteins, resulting in pathological changes to the metabolism of patients with AD. One such mitochondrial metabolic enzyme is amyloid-binding alcohol dehydrogenase (ABAD), where altered enzyme function caused by the Aβ-ABAD interaction is known to cause mitochondrial distress and cytotoxic effects, providing a feasible therapeutic target for AD drug development. Here we have established a high-throughput screening platform for the identification of modulators to the ABAD enzyme. A pilot screen with a total of 6759 compounds from the NIH Clinical Collections (NCC) and SelleckChem libraries and a selection of compounds from the BioAscent diversity collection have allowed validation and robustness to be optimized. The pilot screen revealed 16 potential inhibitors in the low µM range against ABAD with favorable physicochemical properties for blood-brain barrier penetration.

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Amyloid β-peptide and Alzheimer's disease

Essays in Biochemistry ◽

10.1042/bse0560099 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 56 ◽

pp. 99-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

David Allsop ◽

Jennifer Mayes

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Senile Plaques ◽

Strong Support ◽

Amyloid Β ◽

Amyloid Β Peptide ◽

Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis ◽

Sequence Of Events ◽

Aβ Amyloid ◽

Amyloid Cascade

One of the hallmarks of AD (Alzheimer's disease) is the formation of senile plaques in the brain, which contain fibrils composed of Aβ (amyloid β-peptide). According to the ‘amyloid cascade’ hypothesis, the aggregation of Aβ initiates a sequence of events leading to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, neurodegeneration, and on to the main symptom of dementia. However, emphasis has now shifted away from fibrillar forms of Aβ and towards smaller and more soluble ‘oligomers’ as the main culprit in AD. The present chapter commences with a brief introduction to the disease and its current treatment, and then focuses on the formation of Aβ from the APP (amyloid precursor protein), the genetics of early-onset AD, which has provided strong support for the amyloid cascade hypothesis, and then on the development of new drugs aimed at reducing the load of cerebral Aβ, which is still the main hope for providing a more effective treatment for AD in the future.

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Is it All Said for NSAIDs in Alzheimer’s Disease? Role of Mitochondrial Calcium Uptake

Current Alzheimer Research ◽

10.2174/1567205015666171227154016 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (6) ◽

pp. 504-510 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Sara Sanz-Blasco ◽

Maria Calvo-Rodríguez ◽

Erica Caballero ◽

Monica Garcia-Durillo ◽

Lucia Nunez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cell Death ◽

Amyloid Β ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Amyloid Β Peptide ◽

Aβ Oligomers ◽

Mitochondrial Potential ◽

Disease Modifying Drugs ◽

Definitive Evidence

Objectives: Epidemiological data suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may protect against Alzheimer's disease (AD). Unfortunately, recent trials have failed in providing compelling evidence of neuroprotection. Discussion as to why NSAIDs effectivity is uncertain is ongoing. Possible explanations include the view that NSAIDs and other possible disease-modifying drugs should be provided before the patients develop symptoms of AD or cognitive decline. In addition, NSAID targets for neuroprotection are unclear. Both COX-dependent and independent mechanisms have been proposed, including γ-secretase that cleaves the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and yields amyloid β peptide (Aβ). Methods: We have proposed a neuroprotection mechanism for NSAIDs based on inhibition of mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. Aβ oligomers promote Ca2+ influx and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload leading to neuron cell death. Several non-specific NSAIDs including ibuprofen, sulindac, indomethacin and Rflurbiprofen depolarize mitochondria in the low µM range and prevent mitochondrial Ca2+ overload induced by Aβ oligomers and/or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). However, at larger concentrations, NSAIDs may collapse mitochondrial potential (ΔΨ) leading to cell death. Results: Accordingly, this mechanism may explain neuroprotection at low concentrations and damage at larger doses, thus providing clues on the failure of promising trials. Perhaps lower NSAID concentrations and/or alternative compounds with larger dynamic ranges should be considered for future trials to provide definitive evidence of neuroprotection against AD.

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