Preclinical validation of a novel oral edaravone formulation for treatment of frontotemporal dementia


BIBLIOGRAPHIC THERAPEUTIC AGENT ANIMAL MODEL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OUTCOMES

Bibliographic

Year of Publication:
2021
Contact PI Name:
Xin‑Fu Zhou
Contact PI Affiliation:
Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Co-Authors:
Sally Kelliny, Jing Xiong, Larisa Bobrovskaya
Primary Reference (PubMED ID):
Funding Source:
National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
University of South Australia University President’s Scholarship
Study Goal and Principal Findings:

Oxidative stress is a key factor in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders and is involved in the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques and Tau inclusions. Edaravone (EDR) is a free radical scavenger that is approved for motor neuron disease and acute ischemic stroke. EDR alleviates pathologies and cognitive impairment of AD via targeting multiple key pathways in transgenic mice. Herein, we aimed to study the effect of EDR on Tau pathology in P301L mice; an animal model of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), at two age time points representing the early and late stages of the disease. A novel EDR formulation was utilized in the study and the drug was delivered orally in drinking water for 3 months. Then, behavioral tests were conducted followed by animal sacrifice and brain dissection. Treatment with EDR improved the reference memory and accuracy in the probe trial as evaluated in Morris water maze, as well as novel object recognition and significantly alleviated motor deficits in these mice. EDR also reduced the levels of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and 3-nitrotyrosine adducts. In addition, immunohistochemistry showed that EDR reduced tau phosphorylation and neuroinflammation and partially rescued neurons against oxidative neurotoxicity. Moreover, EDR attenuated downstream pathologies involved in Tau hyperphosphorylation. These results suggest that EDR may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of FTD.

Therapeutic Agent

Therapeutic Information:
Therapy Type:
Small Molecule
Therapeutic Agent:
Edaravone
Therapeutic Target:
Multi Target

Animal Model

Model Information:
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
Tau
Strain/Genetic Background:
C57BL/6 X DBA/2 F2
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
Non-transgenic
Strain/Genetic Background:
C57BL/6
Animal Model Notes:
For details on the tau P301L mice used in this study please see the following:
Götz J, Chen F, Barmettler R, Nitsch RM. Tau filament formation in transgenic mice expressing P301L tau. J Biol Chem 2001; 276: 529–34.

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
Elevated Plus Maze
Exploratory Activity
Morris Water Maze
Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT)
Open Field Test
Spontaneous Alternation
Y Maze
Motor Function
Hind Limb Extension Test
Hind Limb Flexion Test
Locomotor Activity
Path Length
Swimming Speed
Tail Suspension Test
Histopathology
Tau Pathology
phospho-Tau
Biochemical
3-nitrotyrosine Modified Proteins
4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP)
Ionized Calcium Binding Adaptor Molecule 1 (Iba1)
Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta (GSK3 beta)
phospho-Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta (phospho-GSK3 beta)
Neuronal Marker NeuN
Postsynaptic Density Protein 95 (PSD95)
Synaptophysin
Total Tau Protein
phospho-Tau
Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein (VAMP)
Immunochemistry
CD45
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP)
Neuronal Marker NeuN
Tau Protein
phospho-Tau

Source URL: http://alzped.nia.nih.gov/preclinical-validation-novel