Exploring Basic Tail Modifications of Coumarin-Based Dual Acetylcholinesterase-Monoamine Oxidase B Inhibitors: Identification of Water-Soluble, Brain-Permeant Neuroprotective Multitarget Agents

J Med Chem. 2016 Jul 28;59(14):6791-806. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00562. Epub 2016 Jul 7.

Abstract

Aiming at modulating two key enzymatic targets for Alzheimer's disease (AD), i.e., acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO B), a series of multitarget ligands was properly designed by linking the 3,4-dimethylcoumarin scaffold to 1,3- and 1,4-substituted piperidine moieties, thus modulating the basicity to improve the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance. After in vitro enzymatic inhibition assays, multipotent inhibitors showing potencies in the nanomolar and in the low micromolar range for hMAO B and eeAChE, respectively, were prioritized and evaluated in human SH-SY5Y cell-based models for their cytotoxicity and neuroprotective effect against oxidative toxins (H2O2, rotenone, and oligomycin-A). The present study led to the identification of a promising multitarget hit compound (5b) exhibiting high hMAO B inhibitory activity (IC50 = 30 nM) and good MAO B/A selectivity (selectivity index, SI = 94) along with a micromolar eeAChE inhibition (IC50 = 1.03 μM). Moreover, 5b behaves as a water-soluble, brain-permeant neuroprotective agent against oxidative insults without interacting with P-gp efflux system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Coumarins / chemical synthesis
  • Coumarins / chemistry
  • Coumarins / pharmacology*
  • Dogs
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells
  • Molecular Structure
  • Monoamine Oxidase / metabolism*
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Solubility
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Coumarins
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Water
  • Monoamine Oxidase
  • Acetylcholinesterase