Abstract
Alzheimers disease (AD) is linked to cholinergic deficiency and the overactivation of glutamate receptors. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition treatment approach has produced the most encouraging results in clinical practice, and memantine, a moderate antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, has been approved for treating AD. However, AChE inhibitors have limited success as they only improve memory in mild dementia but cannot stop the process of neurodegeneration; while memantine possesses neuroprotective effects only with a little ability in memory enhancement. There has been a major rush among neuroscience research institutions and pharmaceutical firms worldwide to search for safer and more effective therapeutic agents for AD. The novel dimers, derived from tacrine and the fragment of huperzine A (HA), have been demonstrated to be potent and selective reversible inhibitors of AChE. Bis(7)-tacrine, bis(12)-hupyridone (E12E) and HA(10)-tacrine, are representatives of three series of novel dimers. According to the preclinical studies, these compounds have been shown to have low toxicity and high efficacy for improving cognitive deficits in several animal models. More interestingly, bis(7)-tacrine, similar to memantine, prevents glutamate-induced neurotoxicity by moderately blocking glutamate receptor NMDA subtype. Furthermore, bis(7)-tacrine, as well as E12E, possesses multiple neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo. Taking together, these dimeric AChE inhibitors, especially bis(7)- tacrine, E12E and HA(10)-tacrine, may provide beneficial effects in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, dimers, bis(7)-tacrine, neuroprotection
Current Alzheimer Research
Title: East Meets West in the Search for Alzheimers Therapeutics - Novel Dimeric Inhibitors from Tacrine and Huperzine A
Volume: 4 Issue: 4
Author(s): W. M. Li, K. K.W. Kan, P. R. Carlier, Y. P. Pang and Y. F. Han
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, dimers, bis(7)-tacrine, neuroprotection
Abstract: Alzheimers disease (AD) is linked to cholinergic deficiency and the overactivation of glutamate receptors. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition treatment approach has produced the most encouraging results in clinical practice, and memantine, a moderate antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, has been approved for treating AD. However, AChE inhibitors have limited success as they only improve memory in mild dementia but cannot stop the process of neurodegeneration; while memantine possesses neuroprotective effects only with a little ability in memory enhancement. There has been a major rush among neuroscience research institutions and pharmaceutical firms worldwide to search for safer and more effective therapeutic agents for AD. The novel dimers, derived from tacrine and the fragment of huperzine A (HA), have been demonstrated to be potent and selective reversible inhibitors of AChE. Bis(7)-tacrine, bis(12)-hupyridone (E12E) and HA(10)-tacrine, are representatives of three series of novel dimers. According to the preclinical studies, these compounds have been shown to have low toxicity and high efficacy for improving cognitive deficits in several animal models. More interestingly, bis(7)-tacrine, similar to memantine, prevents glutamate-induced neurotoxicity by moderately blocking glutamate receptor NMDA subtype. Furthermore, bis(7)-tacrine, as well as E12E, possesses multiple neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo. Taking together, these dimeric AChE inhibitors, especially bis(7)- tacrine, E12E and HA(10)-tacrine, may provide beneficial effects in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Li M. W., Kan K.W. K., Carlier R. P., Pang P. Y. and Han F. Y., East Meets West in the Search for Alzheimers Therapeutics - Novel Dimeric Inhibitors from Tacrine and Huperzine A, Current Alzheimer Research 2007; 4 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720507781788918
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720507781788918 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
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