Misfolded amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides aggregate and form neurotoxic oligomers. Membrane and mitochondrial damages, calcium dysregulation, oxidative stress, and fibril deposits are among the possible mechanisms of Aβ cytotoxicity. Galantamine (GAL) prevents apoptosis induced by Aβ mainly through the ability to stimulate allosterically the α7 nAChRs and to regulate the calcium cytosolic concentration. Here, we examined the cytoprotective effects of two GAL derivatives, namely compounds 4b and 8, against Aβ cytotoxicity on the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. The protective effects were tested at simultaneous administration, pre-incubation and post-incubation, with Aβ. GAL and curcumin (CU) were used in the study as reference compounds. It was found that 4b protects cells in a similar mode as GAL, while compound 8 and CU potentiate the toxic effects of Aβ. Allosteric stimulation of α7 nAChRs is suggested as a possible mechanism of the cytoprotectivity of 4b. These and previous findings characterize 4b as a prospective non-toxic multi-target agent against neurodegenerative disorders with inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase, antioxidant, and cytoprotective properties.
深层折叠的淀粉样β(Aβ)肽聚集并形成神经毒性寡聚体。膜和线粒体损伤、钙离子失调、氧化应激和纤维沉积是Aβ细胞毒性的可能机制之一。加兰他明(GAL)主要通过能够通过异构激活α7 nAChRs并调节钙细胞质浓度的能力来防止Aβ诱导的细胞凋亡。在这里,我们检查了两种GAL衍生物,即化合物4b和8,对人类神经母细胞瘤细胞系SH-SY5Y上Aβ细胞毒性的细胞保护作用。保护效果在同时给药、预孵育和后孵育Aβ时进行了测试。研究中使用了GAL和姜黄素(CU)作为参考化合物。发现4b的细胞保护作用类似于GAL,而化合物8和CU增强了Aβ的毒性作用。建议通过异构激活α7 nAChRs作为4b细胞保护作用的可能机制。这些和之前的发现将4b描述为一种潜在的非毒性多靶点药物,具有对乙酰胆碱酯酶的抑制活性、抗氧化和细胞保护性能。