Functional gamma-secretase inhibitors reduce beta-amyloid peptide levels in brain

J Neurochem. 2001 Jan;76(1):173-81. doi: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2001.00012.x.

Abstract

Converging lines of evidence implicate the beta-amyloid peptide (Ass) as causative in Alzheimer's disease. We describe a novel class of compounds that reduce A beta production by functionally inhibiting gamma-secretase, the activity responsible for the carboxy-terminal cleavage required for A beta production. These molecules are active in both 293 HEK cells and neuronal cultures, and exert their effect upon A beta production without affecting protein secretion, most notably in the secreted forms of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Oral administration of one of these compounds, N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-L-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester, to mice transgenic for human APP(V717F) reduces brain levels of Ass in a dose-dependent manner within 3 h. These studies represent the first demonstration of a reduction of brain A beta in vivo. Development of such novel functional gamma-secretase inhibitors will enable a clinical examination of the A beta hypothesis that Ass peptide drives the neuropathology observed in Alzheimer's disease.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dipeptides / administration & dosage*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Endopeptidases / drug effects
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Dipeptides
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • N-(N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)alanyl)phenylglycine tert-butyl ester
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Endopeptidases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • BACE1 protein, human
  • Bace1 protein, mouse