A new chiral pyrrolyl α-nitronyl nitroxide radical attenuates β-amyloid deposition and rescues memory deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer disease

Neurotherapeutics. 2013 Apr;10(2):340-53. doi: 10.1007/s13311-012-0168-z.

Abstract

The generation of reactive oxygen species causes cellular oxidative damage, and has been implicated in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). L-NNNBP, a new chiral pyrrolyl α-nitronyl nitroxide radical synthesized in our department, shows potential antioxidant effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of L-NNNBP on β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and memory deficits in an AD model of APP/PS1 mice. In cultured cortical neurons, L-NNNBP acted as an antioxidant by quenching reactive oxygen species, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, nitrosative stress, and stimulating cellular antioxidant defenses. L-NNNBP inhibited cell apoptosis induced by Aβ exposure. In vivo treatment with L-NNNBP for 1 month induced a marked decrease in brain Aβ deposition and tau phosphorylation in the blinded study on APP/PS1 transgenic mice (1 mM in drinking water, initiated when the mice were 6 months old). The L-NNNBP-treated APP/PS1 mice showed decreased astrocyte activation and improved spatial learning and memory compared with the vehicle-treated APP/PS1 mice. These actions were more potent compared with that of curcumin, a natural product, and TEMPO, a nitroxide radical, which are used as free radical scavengers in clinics. These results proved that the newly synthesized L-NNNBP was an effective therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / toxicity
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic N-Oxides / pharmacology*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Memory Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Memory Disorders / psychology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Peptide Fragments / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Peptide Fragments / toxicity
  • Plaque, Amyloid / prevention & control*
  • Presenilin-1 / metabolism
  • Superoxides / metabolism
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Cyclic N-Oxides
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Imidazoles
  • N-p-nitrobenzoylpyrrolidinyl(4,5-dihydro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-3-oxido- 1H-imidazol-3-ium-1-oxyl-2-yl)
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Presenilin-1
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • tau Proteins
  • Superoxides