MMSL 2022, 91(88):30

PHENOTHIAZINE-TACRINE HETERODIMERS: PURSUING MULTITARGET DIRECTED APPROACH IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASEMeeting abstracts

Lukas Gorecki1,2, Elisa Uliassi3, Manuela Bartolini3, Jana Janockova1, Martina Hrabinova1,2, Vendula Hepnarova1,2, Lukas Prchal1, Lubica Muckova1,2, Jaroslav Pejchal2, Jana Z. Karasova1,2, Eva Mezeiova1, Marketa Benkova1, Tereza Kobrlova1, Ondrej Soukup1,2, Sabrina Petralla3, Barbara Monti3, Jan Korabecny1,2, Maria Laura Bolognesi3
1 Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, The Czech Republic
2 Department of Toxicology and Military Pharmacy, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defense, 500 01 Hradec Kralove, The Czech Republic
3 Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy

Since 2002, no clinical candidate against Alzheimer’s disease has reached the market; hence, an effective therapy is urgently needed. We followed the so-called “multitarget directed ligand” approach and designed 36 novel tacrine phenothiazine heterodimers which were in vitro evaluated for their anticholinesterase properties. The assessment of the structure−activity relationships of such derivatives highlighted compound 1dC as a potent and selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor with IC50 = 8 nM and 1aA as a potent butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor with IC50 = 15 nM. Selected hybrids, namely, 1aC, 1bC, 1cC, 1dC, and 2dC, showed a significant inhibitory activity toward τ(306−336) peptide aggregation with percent inhibition ranging from 50.5 to 62.1%. Likewise, 1dC and 2dC exerted a remarkable ability to inhibit self-induced Aβ1−42 aggregation. Notwithstanding, in vitro studies displayed cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells and cerebellar granule neurons; no pathophysiological abnormality was observed when 1dC was administered to mice at 14 mg/kg (i.p.). 1dC was also able to permeate to the CNS as shown by in vitro and in vivo models. The maximum brain concentration was close to the IC50 value for acetylcholinesterase inhibition with a relatively slow elimination half-time. 1dC showed an acceptable safety and good pharmacokinetic properties and a multifunctional biological profile.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; acetylcholinesterase; phenothiazine; tacrine; multitarget directed ligands

Published: June 20, 2022  Show citation

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Gorecki, L., Uliassi, E., Bartolini, M., Janockova, J., Hrabinova, M., Hepnarova, V., ... Bolognesi, M.L. (2022). PHENOTHIAZINE-TACRINE HETERODIMERS: PURSUING MULTITARGET DIRECTED APPROACH IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. MMSL91(Suppl.1), 30
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