Development of a novel NURR1/NOT agonist from hit to lead and candidate for the potential treatment of Parkinson's disease.

In the course of a programme aimed at identifying Nurr1/NOT agonists for potential treatment of Parkinson's disease, a few hits from high throughput screening were identified and characterized. A combined optimization pointed to a very narrow and stringent structure activity relationship. A comprehensive program of optimization led to a potent and safe candidate drug displaying neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activity in several in vitro and in vivo models.

A novel antagonist of p75NTR reduces peripheral expansion and CNS trafficking of pro-inflammatory monocytes and spares function after traumatic brain injury.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in long-term neurological deficits, which may be mediated in part by pro-inflammatory responses in both the injured brain and the circulation. Inflammation may be involved in the subsequent development of neurodegenerative diseases and post-injury seizures. The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) has multiple biological functions, affecting cell survival, apoptotic cell death, axonal growth, and degeneration in pathological conditions.

A novel inhibitor of p75-neurotrophin receptor improves functional outcomes in two models of traumatic brain injury.

The p75 neurotrophin receptor is important in multiple physiological actions including neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth during development, and after central nervous system injury. We have discovered a novel piperazine-derived compound, EVT901, which interferes with p75 neurotrophin receptor oligomerization through direct interaction with the first cysteine-rich domain of the extracellular region. Using ligand binding assays with cysteine-rich domains-fused p75 neurotrophin receptor, we confirmed that EVT901 interferes with oligomerization of full-length p75 neurotrophin receptor in a dose-dependent manner.

In vivo imaging of neuroinflammation in the rodent brain with [11C]SSR180575, a novel indoleacetamide radioligand of the translocator protein (18 kDa).

Purpose: Neuroinflammation is involved in neurological disorders through the activation of microglial cells. Imaging of neuroinflammation with radioligands for the translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) could prove to be an attractive biomarker for disease diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation. The indoleacetamide-derived 7-chloro-N,N,5-trimethyl-4-oxo-3-phenyl-3,5-dihydro-4H-pyridazino[4,5-b]indole-1-acetamide, SSR180575, is a selective high-affinity TSPO ligand in human and rodents with neuroprotective effects.

Effect of single and repeated methamphetamine treatment on neurotransmitter release in substantia nigra and neostriatum of the rat.

The main purpose of this study was to characterize the initial neurotransmission cascade elicited by methamphetamine, analysing simultaneously with in vivo microdialysis monoamine, amino acid and neuropeptide release in substantia nigra and neostriatum of the rat. The main effect of a single systemic dose of methamphetamine (15 mg/kg, subcutaneously) was an increase in dopamine levels, both in substantia nigra ( approximately 10-fold) and neostriatum ( approximately 40-fold), accompanied by a significant, but lesser, increase in dynorphin B ( approximately two-fold, in both regions), and a decrease in monoamine metabolites. A similar effect was also observed after local administration of methamphetamine (100 microm) via the microdialysis probes, but restricted to the treated region.