title: AZD1080, a novel GSK3 inhibitor, rescues synaptic plasticity deficits in rodent brain and exhibits peripheral target engagement in humans.
abstract: Abnormal tau phosphorylation resulting in detachment of tau from microtubules and aggregation are critical events in neuronal dysfunction, degeneration, and neurofibrillary pathology seen in Alzheimer's disease. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) is a key target for drug discovery in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies because of its potential to abnormally phosphorylate proteins and contribute to synaptic degeneration. We report the discovery of AZD1080, a potent and selective GSK3 inhibitor that demonstrates peripheral target engagement in Phase 1 clinical studies. AZD1080 inhibits tau phosphorylation in cells expressing human tau and in intact rat brain. Interestingly, subchronic but not acute administration with AZD1080 reverses MK-801-induced deficits, measured by long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices and in a cognitive test in mice, suggesting that reversal of synaptic plasticity deficits in dysfunctional systems requires longer term modifications of proteins downstream of GSK3β signaling. The inhibitory pattern on tau phosphorylation reveals a prolonged pharmacodynamic effect predicting less frequent dosing in humans. Consistent with the preclinical data, in multiple ascending dose studies in healthy volunteers, a prolonged suppression of glycogen synthase activity was observed in blood mononuclear cells providing evidence of peripheral target engagement with a selective GSK3 inhibitor in humans.
authors: AstraZeneca R&D, Innovative Medicines CNS and Pain, Södertälje, Sweden. georgievska_biljana@yahoo.se
authors: Biljana
authors: B
authors: Georgievska
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Sandin
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Doherty
authors: Anette
authors: A
authors: Mörtberg
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Neelissen
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Andersson
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Gruber
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Nilsson
authors: Pär
authors: P
authors: Schött
authors: Per I
authors: PI
authors: Arvidsson
authors: Sven
authors: S
authors: Hellberg
authors: Gunilla
authors: G
authors: Osswald
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Berg
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Fälting
authors: Ratan V
authors: RV
authors: Bhat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D003461:Crystallography; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D006006:Glycogen Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C581774:2-hydroxy-3-(5-((morpholin-4-yl)methyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1H-indole-5-carbonitrile; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007211:Indoles; D011725:Pyridines; D016875:tau Proteins; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D006006:Glycogen Synthase; D011494:Protein Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3