Thalidomide-based TNF-beta inhibitors for neurodegenerative diseases

• Authors: N.H. Greig , T. Giordano , X. Zhu , Q. Yu , T.A. Perry , H.W. Holloway , A. Brossi , J.T. Rogers , K. Sambamurti , D.K. Lahiri
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Inflammatory processes associated with the over-production of cytokines, particularly of TNF-beta, accompany numerous neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, in addition to numerous systemic conditions, exemplified by rheumatoid arthritis and erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). TNF-beta has been validated as a drug target with Remicade and Enbrel available as prescription medications. Both, however, are large macromolecules, require injection and have limited brain access. The classical drug, thalidomide is being increasingly used in the clinical management of a wide spectrum of diseases. As its clinical value in treating ENL derives from its TNF-beta inhibitory activity, thalidomide was chosen for structural modification for the discovery of novel and more potent isosteric analogues with appropriate lipophilicity to insure high brain penetration. TNF-beta inhibitory activity was evaluated against lipopolysacharide (LPS) stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in cell culture, whose viability was quantified to differentiate reductions in TNF-beta secretion from that associated with cellular toxicity. Specific analogues potently inhibited TNF-beta secretion, ompared to thalidomide. This involved a post-transcriptional mechanism, as they decreased TNF-beta mRNA stability via its 3'-untranslated region (UTR), as determined by luciferase activity in stably transfected cells with and without the 3'-UTR of human TNF-beta.

Discipline

• EXPERIMENTAL_BIOLOGY_&_MEDICINE: EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY & MEDICINE

• Publisher: Marceli Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis
• Year: 2004
• Volume: 64
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-9

Contributors

author

N.H. Greig

author

T. Giordano

author

X. Zhu

author

Q. Yu

author

T.A. Perry

author

H.W. Holloway

author

A. Brossi

author

J.T. Rogers

author

K. Sambamurti

author

D.K. Lahiri

• Document Type: ARTICLE
• Publication order reference: N.H. Greig, Drug Design and Development Section, Lab. of Neurosciences, Intramural Research Prog., National Inst. on Aging, National Inst. of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Dr., Baltimore, MD 21224, USA