tak-147 and Disease-Models--Animal

A series of benzylamino inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) have been designed based on a working hypothesis of the enzyme s active site. These compounds were tested for their inhibitory activities on AChE and potent inhibitors were further evaluated in terms of central selectivity. These studies led to a discovery of 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4, 5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepin-8-yl)-1-propanone fumarate (TAK-147). Pharmacokinetic study has shown that the compound has high central selectivity, as demonstrated by rapid elimination from plasma and long-term existence in the brain. As a consequence, TAK-147 ameliorates impairments of learning and memory in various animal models without producing peripheral side effects. TAK-147 also activates the monoaminergic systems and energy metabolism. Furthermore, TAK-147 was revealed to have NGF-like neurotrophic activity on central cholinergic neurons at concentrations where it inhibits AChE activity. Therefore, TAK-147 is expected not only to ameliorate the clinical symptoms in Alzheimer s disease via AChE inhibition but to prevent or slow the progression of the disease via its neurotrophic action. TAK-147 is now under clinical trial as a therapeutic drug for Alzheimer s disease. This article reviews design and structure-activity relationships of TAK-147 and related compounds. Preclinical pharmacology of TAK-147 is also summarized.

Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Animals; Benzazepines; Brain; Choline O-Acetyltransferase; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Design; Haplorhini; Humans; Phthalimides; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Structure-Activity Relationship

When Zika virus emerged as a public health emergency there were no drugs or vaccines approved for its prevention or treatment. We used a high-throughput screen for Zika virus protease inhibitors to identify several inhibitors of Zika virus infection. We expressed the NS2B-NS3 Zika virus protease and conducted a biochemical screen for small-molecule inhibitors. A quantitative structure-activity relationship model was employed to virtually screen ∼138,000 compounds, which increased the identification of active compounds, while decreasing screening time and resources. Candidate inhibitors were validated in several viral infection assays. Small molecules with favorable clinical profiles, especially the five-lipoxygenase-activating protein inhibitor, MK-591, inhibited the Zika virus protease and infection in neural stem cells. Members of the tetracycline family of antibiotics were more potent inhibitors of Zika virus infection than the protease, suggesting they may have multiple mechanisms of action. The most potent tetracycline, methacycline, reduced the amount of Zika virus present in the brain and the severity of Zika virus-induced motor deficits in an immunocompetent mouse model. As Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, the tetracyclines could be quickly translated to the clinic. The compounds identified through our screening paradigm have the potential to be used as prophylactics for patients traveling to endemic regions or for the treatment of the neurological complications of Zika virus infection.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Artificial Intelligence; Chlorocebus aethiops; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Immunocompetence; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Methacycline; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Protease Inhibitors; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Small Molecule Libraries; Vero Cells; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection

We examined the effects of p.o. administered 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-b enzazepin-8- yl)-1-propanone fumarate (TAK-147), a novel AChE inhibitor, on impaired learning and memory in animal models. At 1 to 3 mg/kg, TAK-147 ameliorated the passive avoidance deficit induced by diazepam. TAK-147 did not affect delayed-matching-to-position (DMTP) performance of normal rats at doses of 1 to 30 mg/kg assessed by using a three-lever operant chamber, but 9-amino-tetrahydroacridine disrupted the DMTP response at 5 to 20 mg/kg. Scopolamine (0.02-0.1 mg/kg s.c.) impaired DMTP performance, whereas methylscopolamine did not affect the DMTP task. TAK-147 ameliorated the impairment of DMTP performance induced by scopolamine without affecting the general behavior of the rats; however, 9-amino-tetrahydroacridine produced no significant amelioration of the impairment. The intraventricular injection of AF64A disrupted differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate 10-sec performance in rats, as demonstrated by marked decreases in reinforcement rate and response efficiency. TAK-147 slightly increased the reinforcement rate in AF64A-treated rats at a low dose of 1 mg/kg, but the effect was not significant statistically. TAK-147 had no significant effect on the duration of immobility in rats in a forced swimming test at doses of 2 to 10 mg/kg. 9-Amino-tetrahydroacridine prolonged the duration of immobility at 5 to 20 mg/kg. Furthermore, TAK-147 reversed reserpine-induced hypothermia and ptosis in mice at doses of 3 to 10 mg/kg, a result that implies an antidepressant-like action. These results indicate that TAK-147 ameliorates learning and memory impairment in animal models without affecting the general behavior or causing behavioral depression and suggest that TAK-147 may be useful for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Topics: Acetylcholinesterase; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Benzazepines; Brain; Diazepam; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Learning; Male; Memory; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Tacrine