Donepezil attenuates high glucose-accelerated senescence in human umbilical vein endothelial cells through SIRT1 activation

Cellular senescence of endothelial cells is a damage and stress response which induces pro-inflammatory, pro-atherosclerotic, and pro-thrombotic phenotypes. Donepezil is a drug used for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the attenuation of endothelial cell senescence by donepezil and to explore the mechanisms underlying the anti-aging effects of donepezil. Our results indicated that high glucose (HG) markedly decreased cell viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and this phenomenon was reversed by treatment with donepezil. Importantly, our results displayed that the frequency of senescent (SA-ß-gal-positive) cells and the expression level of senescence genes (PAI-1 and p21) were significantly higher in the HG group compared with the normal glucose (NG) group, and these changes were blocked by treatment with donepezil. Also, our results showed that donepezil inhibits the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which promotes cellular senescence. Pretreatment with nicotinamide (NAM), a sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor, inhibited the reduction in senescence associated with donepezil. Indeed, our results indicated that donepezil increased the SIRT1 enzyme activity. Therefore, these results show that donepezil delays cellular senescence that is promoted under HG condition via activation of SIRT1.     

Effects on Cholinergic Markers in Rat Brain and Blood after Short and Prolonged Administration of Donepezil

Donepezil is a selective inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) clinically used for treating Alzheimer’s disease. Cholinergic effects after short-term exposure of donepezil (up to 12 h) have been extensively studied in rats, but few have addressed the potential long-term effects. After 14 days administration (1×3 mg/kg, decapitation 4 h after the last injection) the cerebral acetylcholine level was increased by 35% and the AChE activity was decreased by 66% and 32% in brain and blood, respectively. No change was detected in choline acetyltransferase activity, or the levels of vesicular acetylcholine transporter, choline transporter, or muscarinic receptors. Expression of various cholinergic genes was unaffected. Preliminary results of AChE activity in human blood showed 60–97% and 43–89% of pre-exposed level after one and three days of donepezil administration (5 mg daily), respectively. In conclusion, donepezil exposure in rats at doses that do not inhibit brain AChE continuously during the day, will not lead to tolerance development. Special issue dedicated to Professor Simo Oja     

针灸联合多奈哌齐和美金刚对重度老年痴呆患者行为能力和认知功能的影响

目的:研究针灸联合多奈哌齐和美金刚对重度老年痴呆患者行为能力和认知功能的影响。方法:选择2015年1月～2018年12月在我院精神科进行诊治的50例重度老年痴呆患者,采用随机数字表法将其平均分为两组,每组25例。对照组患者口服多奈哌齐以及美金刚治疗,初始给药剂量均为每天口服5 mg,逐渐将给药剂量升高至每天口服20 mg,每次1片,每天2次。观察组患者采取针灸联合多奈哌齐和美金刚治疗,每天针灸治疗1次,每治疗6 d后休息1 d。两组患者均连续治疗4周。记录和比较两组患者治疗前后的日常生活能力与认知功能的变化情况。结果:观察组患者治疗4w后的治疗有效率为92.00%(23/25),明显高于对照组[68.00%(17/25)](P0.05);两组治疗4w后的MMSE和BI评分均显著高于治疗前(P0.05),且观察组以上指标均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:针灸联合多奈哌齐和美金刚对重度老年痴呆患者的治疗效果明显优于单纯使用多奈哌齐和美金刚治疗,其可更有效改善患者的行为能力和认知功能。     

The Binding of Donepezil with External Mouth of K+-Channels of Molluscan Neurons

Earlier, we have shown a strong inhibitory effect of donepezil on K⁺-current of molluscan neurons (Solntseva et al., Comp Biochem Physiol 144, 319–326, 2007). In the present work, a possible interaction of donepezil with the external mouth of the channel was examined using, as a tool, tetraethylammonium (TEA), a classical antagonist of potassium channels. Experiments were conducted in isolated neurons of snail Helix aspersa using the two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. A high-threshold slow-inactivating K⁺-current involving Ca²⁺-dependent (I _C) and Ca²⁺-independent (I _K) components was recorded. The I _C was estimated at 30 mV, and I _K at 100 mV. The IC₅₀ values for blocking effect of donepezil on I _C varied from 5.0 to 8.9 μM in different cells. Corresponding values for I _K varied from 4.9 to 9.9 μM. The IC₅₀ values for blocking effect of TEA on I _C lied in the range of 200 to 910 μM, and on I _K lied in the range of 100 to 990 μM. The comparison of the effects of donepezil and TEA on the same cells revealed significant correlation between IC₅₀ values of these effects. The value of Spearman coefficient of correlation (r) was 0.77 for I _C (P < 0.05), and 0.82 for I _K (P < 0.05). In the presence of TEA, the effect of donepezil, both on I _C and I _K, appears significantly weaker than in control solution. Dose–response curves of donepezil effect both on I _C and I _K were shifted right along horizontal axis when donepezil was applied in combination with TEA. Results suggest that TEA interferes with donepezil and precludes the occupation by donepezil of its own site. We suppose that the site for donepezil is situated near the TEA site with possible overlap.     

Nanostructured cubosomes in an in situ nasal gel system: an alternative approach for the controlled delivery of donepezil HCl to brain

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to develop cubosomal mucoadhesive in situ nasal gel to enhance the donepezil HCl delivery to the brain. Glycerol mono-oleate (GMO) and surfactant poloxamer 407 were used to prepare cubosomes. The developed formulations were characterized for particle size (PS), poly dispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency (EE), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in vitro drug release and in vivo bio-distribution study in blood and brain tissue. Central composite design was used for the optimization purpose and the selected formulation (containing GMO 2?g and poloxamer 1.5%) was prepared in presence of gellan gum and konjac gum as gelling agent and mucoadhesive agent respectively. The optimal cubosomal dispersion and optimal cubosomal mucoadhesive in situ nasal gel were subjected to in vivo bio-distribution studies in rat model. It showed significantly higher transnasal permeation and better distribution to the brain, when compared to the drug solution. Thus, the formulated cubosomal mucoadhesive in situ gel could be considered as a promising carrier for brain targeting of CNS acting drugs through the transnasal route.     

多奈哌齐对AD大鼠海马结构神经元的保护作用

目的探讨多奈哌齐(DN)对Aβ所致AD大鼠海马结构损伤的保护作用。方法 36只3月龄Wistar大鼠分为对照组、模型组(侧脑室注射10μg Aβ25-35)、治疗组在模型组基础上腹腔注射多奈哌齐1.5mg/kg/d,持续4w,免疫组化方法观察3组大鼠海马结构3个亚区caspase-3的表达;Western blot方法检测3组大鼠海马结构T-Akt和P-Akt的表达。水迷宫行为学测试3组大鼠的逃避潜伏期。结果模型组与对照组相比大鼠逃避潜伏期明显延长(P<0.01),治疗组较模型组明显缩短(P<0.01)。模型组海马结构3个亚区的caspase-3平均光密度值均较对照组明显增高(P<0.01);而治疗组较模型组减少(P<0.05)。3组之间T-Akt的表达没有差异,但模型组P-Akt的表达量较对照组下调(P<0.05),治疗组P-Akt的表达量较模型组呈上升趋势(P<0.05)。结论多奈哌齐可能是通过上调Akt的磷酸化水平而减少caspase-3的表达,改善大鼠的学习记忆功能。     

Synthesis and 2D-QSAR study of dispiropyrrolodinyl-oxindole based alkaloids as cholinesterase inhibitors

In this work, we describe the regioselective synthesis of some new dispiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolidine-2′,3″-indoline]-1,2″(3H)-dione 4-29 attributable to the previously described methods. All the new chemical entities were assessed in-vitro as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes; while no significant inhibitory activity for the tested compounds were assigned on AChE, compounds 4, 27, 29, 28 and 15 were the most active against BChE enzyme with IC₅₀ = 13.7 µM, 21.8 µM, 22.1 µM, 22.9 µM and 24.9 µM respectively compared to Donepezil (IC₅₀ = 0.72 µM). Compound 4 was found to have a mixed type mode of inhibition, the bioactivity of the new chemical entities (N = 26, n = 5, R² = 0.893, R² cvOO = 0.831, R² cvMO = 0.838, F = 33.32, s² = 0.003) was elucidated via a statistically significant QSAR model utilizing CODESSA-Pro software that validated the observed results.     

Synthesis and evaluation of multi-target-directed ligands for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease based on the fusion of donepezil and melatonin

A novel series of compounds obtained by fusing the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor donepezil and the antioxidant melatonin were designed as multi-target-directed ligands for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In vitro assay indicated that most of the target compounds exhibited a significant ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (eeAChE and hAChE), butyrylcholinesterase (eqBuChE and hBuChE), and β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation, and to act as potential antioxidants and biometal chelators. Especially, 4u displayed a good inhibition of AChE (IC₅₀ value of 193 nM for eeAChE and 273 nM for hAChE), strong inhibition of BuChE (IC₅₀ value of 73 nM for eqBuChE and 56 nM for hBuChE), moderate inhibition of Aβ aggregation (56.3% at 20 μM) and good antioxidant activity (3.28 trolox equivalent by ORAC assay). Molecular modeling studies in combination with kinetic analysis revealed that 4u was a mixed-type inhibitor, binding simultaneously to catalytic anionic site (CAS) and the peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChE. In addition, 4u could chelate metal ions, reduce PC12 cells death induced by oxidative stress and penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Taken together, these results strongly indicated the hybridization approach is an efficient strategy to identify novel scaffolds with desired bioactivities, and further optimization of 4u may be helpful to develop more potent lead compound for AD treatment.     

Biphenyl-3-oxo-1,2,4-triazine linked piperazine derivatives as potential cholinesterase inhibitors with anti-oxidant property to improve the learning and memory

A series of novel piperazine tethered biphenyl-3-oxo-1,2,4-triazine derivatives were designed, and synthesized. Amongst the synthesized analogs, compound 6g showed significant non-competitive inhibitory potential against acetylcholinesterase (AChE, IC₅₀; 0.2 ± 0.01 μM) compared to standard donepezil (AChE, IC₅₀: 0.1 ± 0.002 μM). Compound 6g also exhibited significant displacement of propidium iodide from the peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChE (22.22 ± 1.11%) and showed good CNS permeability in PAMPA-BBB assay (P_e(exp), 6.93 ± 0.46). The in vivo behavioral studies of compound 6g indicated significant improvement in cognitive dysfunctions against scopolamine-induced amnesia mouse models. Further, ex vivo studies showed a significant AChE inhibition and reversal of the scopolamine-induced oxidative stress by compound 6g. Moreover, molecular docking and dynamics simulations of compound 6g showed a consensual binding affinity and active site interactions with the PAS and active catalytic site (CAS) residues of AChE.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new oxopyrrolidine derivatives as inhibitors of acetyl cholinesterase and β amyloid protein as anti – Alzheimer’s agents

A new series of oxopyrrolidines was synthesized and evaluated for their effect on Alzheimer‘s disease by measuring their inhibitory activity against acetyl cholinesterase enzyme and amyloid β 42 protein. Most of the compounds showed good inhibitory activity with ethyl 2-(2-(2, 6-dimethylphenylcarbamoyl)- 5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl) acetate (V) having the highest activity against acetyl cholinesterase with IC₅₀ value 1.84 ng/g tissue compared to standard donepezil 3.34 ng/g tissue. Furthermore, compound 1-((4-(4-chlorophenyl) piperazin-1-yl) methyl)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-5- oxopyrrolidine- 2-carboxamide (IIIe) displayed the highest activity against β 42 protein with IC₅₀ value of 11.3 Pg/g tissue compared to 18.4 Pg/g tissue of donepezil.