Multidirectional In Vitro And In Cellulo Studies As A Tool For Identification Of Multi-Target-Directed Ligands Aiming At Symptoms And Causes Of Alzheimer'S Disease

Effective therapy of Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires treatment with a combination of drugs that modulate various pathomechanisms contributing to the disease. In our research, we have focused on the development of multi-target-directed ligands - 5-HT6 receptor antagonists and cholinesterase inhibitors - with disease-modifying properties. We have performed extended in vitro (FRET assay) and in cellulo (Escherichia coli model of protein aggregation) studies on their beta-secretase, tau, and amyloid beta aggregation inhibitory activity. Within these multifunctional ligands, we have identified compound 17 with inhibitory potency against tau and amyloid beta aggregation in in cellulo assay of 59% and 56% at 10 mu M, respectively, hBACE IC50=4 mu M, h5TH6 K (i)=94 nM, hAChE IC50=26 nM, and eqBuChE IC50=5 nM. This study led to the development of multifunctional ligands with a broad range of biological activities crucial not only for the symptomatic but also for the disease-modifying treatment of AD.