The leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast reduces alpha-synuclein load and restores memory in an animal model of dementia with Lewy bodies


BIBLIOGRAPHIC THERAPEUTIC AGENT ANIMAL MODEL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OUTCOMES

Bibliographic

Year of Publication:
2020
Contact PI Name:
Ludwig Aigner
Contact PI Affiliation:
Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
Co-Authors:
Julia Marschallinger, Barbara Altendorfer, Edward Rockenstein, Miriam Holztrattner, Julia Garnweidner-Raith, Nadine Pillichshammer, Iris Leister, Birgit Hutter-Paier, Katharina Strempfl, Michael S. Unger, Mansoor Chishty, Thomas Felder, et al.,
Primary Reference (PubMED ID):
Funding Source:
Austrian Science Funds (FWF)
European Union INMiND Project
Study Goal and Principal Findings:

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) represents a huge medical need as it accounts for up to 30% of all dementia cases, and there is no cure available. The underyling spectrum of pathology is complex and creates a challenge for targeted molecular therapies. We here tested the hypothesis that leukotrienes are involved in the pathology of DLB and that blocking leukotrienes through Montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist and approved anti-asthmatic drug, might alleviate pathology and restore cognitive functions. Expression of 5-lipoxygenase, the rate-limiting enzyme for leukotriene production, was indeed elevated in brains with DLB. Treatment of cognitively deficient human alpha-synuclein overexpressing transgenic mice with Montelukast restored memory. Montelukast treatment resulted in modulation of beclin-1 expression, a marker for autophagy, and in a reduction in the human alpha-synuclein load in the transgenic mice. Reducing the protein aggregation load in neurodegenerative diseases might be a novel model of action of Montelukast. Moreover, this work presents leukotriene signaling as a potential drug target for DLB and shows that Montelukast might be a promising drug candidate for future DLB therapy development.

Bibliographic Notes:
Full Author List: Julia Marschallinger, Barbara Altendorfer, Edward Rockenstein, Miriam Holztrattner, Julia Garnweidner-Raith, Nadine Pillichshammer, Iris Leister, Birgit Hutter-Paier, Katharina Strempfl, Michael S. Unger, Mansoor Chishty, Thomas Felder, Mary Johnson, Johannes Attems, Eliezer Masliah, Ludwig Aigner.

Therapeutic Agent

Therapeutic Information:
Therapy Type:
Small Molecule
Therapeutic Agent:
Montelukast
Therapeutic Target:
Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor 1

Animal Model

Model Information:
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
alpha Synuclein
Strain/Genetic Background:
Not Reported

Experimental Design

Is the following information reported in the study?:
Power/Sample Size Calculation
Randomized into Groups
Blinded for Treatment
Blinded for Outcome Measures
Pharmacokinetic Measures
Pharmacodynamic Measures
Toxicology Measures
ADME Measures
Biomarkers
Dose
Formulation
Route of Delivery
Duration of Treatment
Frequency of Administration
Age of Animal at the Beginning of Treatment
Age of Animal at the End of Treatment
Sex as a Biological Variable
Study Balanced for Sex as a Biological Variable
Number of Premature Deaths
Number of Excluded Animals
Statistical Plan
Genetic Background
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Included
Conflict of Interest

Outcomes

Outcome Measured
Outcome Parameters
Behavioral
Morris Water Maze
Open Field Test
Spontaneous Activity
Motor Function
Locomotor Activity
Path Length
Histopathology
alpha Synuclein Deposits
Immunochemistry
5-Lipoxygenase (5LO)
alpha Synuclein
Beclin 1
Doublecortin (DCX)
Ionized Calcium Binding Adaptor Molecule 1 (Iba1)
Lysosomal Associated Membrane Protein 2 (LAMP2)
Neuronal Marker NeuN
Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA)
Translocator Protein (TSPO)
Microscopy
Cell Count
Cell Size
Pharmacokinetics
Drug Concentration-Brain
Drug Concentration-Serum

Source URL: http://alzped.nia.nih.gov/leukotriene-receptor