Antagonists targeting eEF2 kinase rescue multiple aspects of pathophysiology in Alzheimer’s disease model mice


BIBLIOGRAPHIC THERAPEUTIC AGENT ANIMAL MODEL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OUTCOMES

Bibliographic

Year of Publication:
2022
Contact PI Name:
Tao Ma
Contact PI Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
Co-Authors:
Nicole P. Kasica, Xueyan Zhou, Qian Yang, Xin Wang, Wenzhong Yang, Helena R. Zimmermann, Caroline E. Holland, Elizabeth Koscielniak, Hanzhi Wu, Anderson O. Cox, Jingyun Lee, Alexey G. Ryazanov, Cristina M. Furdui
Primary Reference (PubMED ID):
Funding Source:
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Alzheimer's Association
BrightFocus Foundation
Study Goal and Principal Findings:

It is imperative to develop novel therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementia syndromes based on solid mechanistic studies. Maintenance of memory and synaptic plasticity relies on de novo protein synthesis, which is partially regulated by phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) via its kinase eEF2K. Abnormally increased eEF2 phosphorylation and impaired mRNA translation have been linked to AD. We recently reported that prenatal genetic suppression of eEF2K is able to prevent aging-related cognitive deficits in AD model mice, suggesting the therapeutic potential of targeting eEF2K/eEF2 signaling in AD. Here, we tested two structurally distinct small molecule eEF2K inhibitors in two different lines of AD model mice after the onset of cognitive impairments. Our data revealed that treatment with eEF2K inhibitors improved AD-associated synaptic plasticity impairments and cognitive dysfunction, without altering brain amyloid β (Aβ) and tau pathology. Furthermore, eEF2K inhibition alleviated AD-associated defects in dendritic spine morphology, post-synaptic density formation, protein synthesis, and dendritic polyribosome assembly. Our results may offer critical therapeutic implications for AD, and the proof-of-principle study indicates translational implication of inhibiting eEF2K for AD and related dementia syndromes.

Therapeutic Agent

Therapeutic Information:
Therapy Type:
Small Molecule
Therapeutic Agent:
A-484954
Therapeutic Target:
Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Kinase
Therapy Type:
Small Molecule
Therapeutic Agent:
NH125
Therapeutic Target:
Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Kinase

Animal Model

Model Information:
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
APP
Strain/Genetic Background:
Not Reported
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
APPxPS1
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
Exploratory Activity
Morris Water Maze
Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT)
Open Field Test
Motor Function
Locomotor Activity
Path Length
Swimming Speed
Histopathology
beta Amyloid Deposits
beta Amyloid Load
Biochemical
AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK)
phospho-AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (phospho-AMPK)
Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 (eEF2)
phospho-Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 (phospho-eEF2)
Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 2 alpha (eIF2 alpha)
phospho-Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 2 alpha (phospho-eIF2 alpha)
Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR)
phospho-Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (phospho-mTOR)
p70 S6 Kinase
phospho-p70 S6 Kinase
Brain-beta Amyloid Peptide 40
Brain-beta Amyloid Peptide 42
Total Tau Protein
phospho-Tau
Immunochemistry
Brain-beta Amyloid Deposits
Microscopy
Dendritic Spine Density
Dendritic Spine Morphology
Dendritic Spine Number
Electron Microscopy
Polyribosome Number
Postsynaptic Density Number
Postsynaptic Density Length
Spectroscopy
Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)
Pharmacokinetics
Drug Concentration-Brain
Pharmacodynamics
Target Engagement (Reduction Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Phosphorylation)
Toxicology
Body Weight
Brain-Gross Morphometric Changes
Omics
Proteomics

Source URL: http://alzped.nia.nih.gov/antagonists-targeting-eef2