A novel acylaminoimidazole derivative, WN1316, alleviates disease progression via suppression of glial inflammation in ALS mouse model

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 31;9(1):e87728. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087728. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset motor neuron degenerative disease. Given that oxidative stress and resulting chronic neuronal inflammation are thought to be central pathogenic, anti-oxidative agents and modulators of neuronal inflammation could be potential therapies for ALS. We report here that the novel small molecular compound, 2-[mesityl(methyl)amino]-N-[4-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl] acetamide trihydrochloride (WN1316) selectively suppresses oxidative stress-induced cell death and neuronal inflammation in the late-stage ALS mice. WN1316 has high blood-brain-barrier permeability and water solubility, and boosts both neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) which governed glutathione (GSH)-related anti-oxidation pathway protecting motor neurons against oxidative injuries. Post-onset oral administration of low dose (1-100 µg/kg/day) WN1316 in ALS(SOD1(H46R)) and ALS(SOD1(G93A)) mice resulted in sustained improved motor function and post onset survival rate. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed less DNA oxidative damage and motor neuronal inflammation as well as repression of both microgliosis and astrocytosis, concomitant down regulation of interleukin-1β and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and preservation of the motoneurons in anterior horn of lumbar spinal cord and skeletal muscle (quadriceps femoris). Thus, WN1316 would be a novel therapeutic agent for ALS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* / drug therapy
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* / metabolism
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* / pathology
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* / physiopathology
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / physiopathology
  • Mice
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Spinal Cord* / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord* / pathology
  • Spinal Cord* / physiopathology

Substances

  • Imidazoles
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Biomedical Innovation (NIBIO) (JEI). The funders had no role in study design, data cellection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.