Chemists Synthesize Compounds To Treat Neurodegenerative Diseases

Chemical compounds capable of stopping neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other severe brain pathologies were synthesized by Ural scientists, RIA Novosti reports . Scientists have obtained substances that can provide a breakthrough in the treatment of neurodegenerative pathologies. New molecules of the indolyl- and pyrrolylazine series activate intracellular mechanisms to combat one of the main causes of senile brain diseases - an excess of so-called amyloid structures that accumulate in the human brain with age. The results of the work were published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

"Our compounds activate the synthesis of specific heat shock proteins and cause their accumulation in the cell," said research co-author, professor of the Department of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry at UrFU Irina Utepova. "Proteins of this type make it possible to protect neuronal tissue from an excess of toxic amyloids and to protect cells from various types of stress, including proteotoxic stress characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases."

Important advantages of compounds from the series of pyrrolyl- and indolylazine classes are a profitable synthesis technology and low toxicity.

The obtained compounds were tested in cellular models of Alzheimer's disease and secondary injuries after traumatic brain injury. In both cases, the new substances demonstrated a significant therapeutic effect, increasing the survival of neuronal cells. The most effective compound has been tested in living tissues of rats with secondary injuries after traumatic brain injury.

According to scientists, the use of pyrrolylazine in rehabilitation therapy allowed the animals to avoid the appearance of movement disorders and degeneration of hippocampal neurons. The research team has been continued to study the mechanism of action of new compounds and is preparing for their preclinical testing.

Reference: Dutysheva EA, Utepova IA, Trestsova MA, et al. Synthesis and approbation of new neuroprotective chemicals of pyrrolyl- and indolylazine classes in a cell model of Alzheimer’s disease. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2021;222:113577. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113577

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