The c-Abl inhibitor, Radotinib HCl, is neuroprotective in a preclinical Parkinson's disease mouse model

• Published in: Human molecular genetics 2018-07, Vol.27 (13), p.2344-2356
• Main Authors: Lee, Saebom, Kim, Sangjune, Park, Yong Joo, Yun, Seung Pil, Kwon, Seung-Hwan, Kim, Donghoon, Kim, Dong Yeon, Shin, Jae Soo, Cho, Dae Jin, Lee, Gong Yeal, Ju, Hyun Soo, Yun, Hyo Jung, Park, Jae Hong, Kim, Wonjoong Richard, Jung, Eun Ah, Lee, Seulki, Ko, Han Seok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alpha-Synuclein - genetics; Animals; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine - metabolism; Dopaminergic Neurons - drug effects; Dopaminergic Neurons - pathology; Humans; Lewy Bodies - drug effects; Mice; Nerve Degeneration - drug therapy; Nerve Degeneration - genetics; Neuroprotective Agents - administration & dosage; Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; Parkinson Disease - genetics; Parkinson Disease - pathology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl - antagonists & inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl - genetics; Pyrimidines - administration & dosage; Sesquiterpenes - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0964-6906; 1460-2083
• DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy143

Abstract Accumulating evidence suggests that the non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl plays an important role in the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) and c-Abl inhibition could be neuroprotective in PD and related α-synucleinopathies. Nilotinib, a c-Abl inhibitor, has shown improved motor and cognitive symptoms in PD patients. However, issues concerning blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, lack of selectivity and safety still remain. Radotinib HCl is a selective Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor that not only effectively access the brain, but also exhibits greater pharmacokinetic properties and safety profiles compared to Nilotinib and other c-Abl inhibitors. Here, we show the neuroprotective efficacy of Radotinib HCl, a brain penetrant c-Abl inhibitor, in a pre-clinical model of PD. Importantly, in vitro studies demonstrate that the treatment of Radotinib HCl protects the α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFF)-induced neuronal toxicity, reduces the α-synuclein PFF-induced Lewy bodies (LB)/Lewy neurites (LN)-like pathology and inhibits the α-synuclein PFF-induced c-Abl activation in primary cortical neurons. Furthermore, administration of Radotinib HCl inhibits c-Abl activation and prevents dopaminergic neuron loss, neuroinflammation and behavioral deficits following α-synuclein PFF-induced toxicity in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that Radotinib HCl has beneficial neuroprotective effects in PD and provides an evidence that selective and brain permeable c-Abl inhibitors can be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of PD and related α-synucleinopathies.