A Novel Parkinson's Disease Drug Candidate with Potent Anti-neuroinflammatory Effects through the Src Signaling Pathway

J Med Chem. 2016 Oct 13;59(19):9062-9079. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00976. Epub 2016 Sep 27.

Abstract

Numerous drug treatments are available for Parkinson's disease (PD), an age-related neurodegenerative disease, but most cause serious side effects. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies that halt disease progression and allow for long-term administration are urgently needed. Neuroinflammation critically contributes to the pathogenesis of PD. Here, we report the discovery and optimization of phloroglucinol derivatives, a novel class of anti-neuroinflammatory compounds. Structural modifications of the hit compound 3-methyl-1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)butan-1-one produced 43 derivatives, including a preclinical candidate (compound 21), that exhibited potent in vitro anti-neuroinflammatory effects, good blood-brain barrier penetration, and desirable safety margins in mice at a median lethal dose (LD50) >5000 mg/kg. Its in vivo efficacy was demonstrated in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)- and MPTP/probenecid (prob)-induced subacute and chronic PD models, respectively, and α-synuclein transgenic mice. Mechanistic studies revealed neuroinflammation inhibition by targeting Src/phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN)/Akt signaling might be promising. We highlighted the potential usefulness of phloroglucinol derivatives in PD treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Discovery
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / drug therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / pathology
  • Phloroglucinol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Phloroglucinol / chemistry
  • Phloroglucinol / pharmacology
  • Phloroglucinol / therapeutic use
  • Serine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Serine / chemistry
  • Serine / pharmacology
  • Serine / therapeutic use
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • 3-hydroxy-2-((2,4,6-trimethoxybenzyl)amino)propanoic acid
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Serine
  • 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
  • Phloroglucinol
  • src-Family Kinases