Neuroprotective Effect of NO-Delivery Dinitrosyl Iron Complexes (DNICs) on Amyloid Pathology in the Alzheimer’s Disease Cell Model

• Published in: ACS chemical neuroscience 2023-08, Vol.14 (16), p.2922-2934
• Main Authors: Chuang, Wen-Han, Chou, Yu-Ting, Chen, Yi-Hong, Kuo, Ting-Han, Liaw, Wen-Feng, Lu, Tsai-Te, Kao, Chih-Fei, Wang, Yun-Ming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1948-7193; 1948-7193
• DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00348

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive impairment, memory loss, and behavioral deficits. β-amyloid1–42 (Aβ1–42) aggregation is a significant cause of the pathogenesis in AD. Despite the numerous types of research, the current treatment efficacy remains insufficient. Hence, a novel therapeutic strategy is required. Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional gaseous molecule. NO displays a neuroprotective role in the central nervous system by inhibiting the Aβ aggregation and rescuing memory and learning deficit through the NO signaling pathway. Targeting the NO pathway might be a therapeutic option; however, NO has a limited half-life under the biological system. To address this issue, a biomimetic dinitrosyl iron complex [(NO)2Fe­(μ-SCH2CH2COOH)2Fe­(NO)2] (DNIC-COOH) that could stably deliver NO was explored in the current study. To determine whether DNIC-COOH exerts anti-AD efficacy, DNIC-COOH was added to neuron-like cells and primary cortical neurons along with Aβ1–42. This study found that DNIC-COOH protected neuronal cells from Aβ-induced cytotoxicity, potentiated neuronal functions, and facilitated Aβ1–42 degradation through the NO-sGC-cGMP-AKT-GSK3β-CREB/MMP-9 pathway.