title: A canine model to evaluate efficacy and safety of γ-secretase inhibitors and modulators.
abstract: Gamma-secretase, a membrane bound protease which cleaves the transmembrane protein amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP), is a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease. Gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) and modulators (GSMs) are being investigated as potential disease-modifying agents. Preclinical in vivo models to monitor the activity on gamma-secretase are described in different species such as mouse, rat, and guinea pigs. All these models have their value in testing compounds with amyloid lowering properties, however, compound characteristics and pharmacokinetic properties, as well as other species characteristics such as limited sampling volumes of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), recommended the use of a larger, non-rodent animal species. For this purpose, a screening model in dogs was developed for testing GSIs and GSMs. We showed that GSIs and GSMs had a dose- and time-dependent effect on Aβ(37), Aβ(38), Aβ(40), and Aβ(42) in CSF. Changes in liver function were evidenced by a transient increase in bilirubin with the GSMs and incidental increases in alanine aminotransferase for GSMs as well as GSIs. Microarray analysis of liver biopsies enabled to elucidate potential mechanisms behind the liver function changes. The relevance of the liver findings should be further evaluated in chronic pre-clinical safety studies and in humans. Based on our data, we can conclude that the dog is a very appropriate species to assess efficacy and safety of compounds which have an effect on AβPP processing such as GSMs, GSIs, and BACE-inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research and Development, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Beerse, Belgium. hborghys@its.jnj.com
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Borghys
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuefferd
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Broeck
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clessens
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dillen
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cools
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vinken
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Straetemans
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Ridder
authors.forename: Harrie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gijsen
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mercken
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001381:Azepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004285:Dogs; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023421:Models, Animal; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C555019:1-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl)-3-((3-methoxy-4-(4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)methylene)-2-piperidinone; D001381:Azepines; D007093:Imidazoles; C484278:N2-((2S)-2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethanoyl)-N1-((7S)-5-methyl-6-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(b,d)azepin-7-yl)-L-alaninamide; D010880:Piperidines; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D000409:Alanine