Perez-Areales_2017_Future.Med.Chem_9_965

AIM: Simultaneous modulation of several key targets of the pathological network of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is being increasingly pursued as a promising option to fill the critical gap of efficacious drugs against this condition. MATERIALS &
METHODS: A short series of compounds purported to hit multiple targets of relevance in AD has been designed, on the basis of their distinct basicities estimated from high-level quantum mechanical computations, synthesized, and subjected to assays of inhibition of cholinesterases, BACE-1, and Abeta42 and tau aggregation, of antioxidant activity, and of brain permeation.
RESULTS: Using, as a template, a lead rhein-huprine hybrid with an interesting multitarget profile, we have developed second-generation compounds, designed by the modification of the huprine aromatic ring. Replacement by [1,8]-naphthyridine or thieno[3,2-e]pyridine systems resulted in decreased, although still potent, acetylcholinesterase or BACE-1 inhibitory activities, which are more balanced relative to their Abeta42 and tau antiaggregating and antioxidant activities. CONCLUSION: Second-generation naphthyridine- and thienopyridine-based rhein-huprine hybrids emerge as interesting brain permeable compounds that hit several crucial pathogenic factors of AD.