The novel, catalytic mTORC1/2 inhibitor PQR620 and the PI3K/mTORC1/2 inhibitor PQR530 effectively cross the blood-brain barrier and increase seizure threshold in a mouse model of chronic epilepsy. (15th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brandt, Claudia; Hillmann, Petra; Noack, Andreas; Römermann, Kerstin; Öhler, Leon A.; Rageot, Denise; Beaufils, Florent; Melone, Anna; Sele, Alexander M.; Wymann, Matthias P.; Fabbro, Doriano; Löscher, Wolfgang
• Is Part Of: Neuropharmacology. Volume 140(2018)
• Page Start: 107
• Page End: 120
• Publication Date: 2018-09-15
• Subjects: Epilepsy -- Rapamycin -- Everolimus -- Pharmacokinetics -- Tolerability -- Levetiracetam; AKT protein kinase B -- ASD anti-seizure drug -- 4E-BP1 initiation factor 4E binding protein -- HPβCD hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin -- MTD maximal tolerated dose -- MES-T maximal electroshock seizure threshold -- mTORC mammalian target of rapamycin complex -- PBS phosphate buffered saline -- PI3K phosphoinositide 3-kinase -- PK pharmacokinetics -- rictor rapamycin-insensitive companion of mammalian target of rapamycin -- S6K ribosomal S6 kinase -- S6-rp S6 ribosomal protein -- SE status epilepticus -- TID threshold increasing dose -- TLE temporal lobe epilepsy -- TSC tuberous sclerosis complex -- ULK UNC-5 like autophagy activating kinase complex; Neuropsychopharmacology -- Periodicals; Autonomic Agents -- Periodicals; Neuropsychopharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychopharmacology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 615.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.08.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3908

Abstract

Abstract: The mTOR signaling pathway has emerged as a possible therapeutic target for epilepsy. Clinical trials have shown that mTOR inhibitors such as everolimus reduce seizures in tuberous sclerosis complex patients with intractable epilepsy. Furthermore, accumulating preclinical data suggest that mTOR inhibitors may have anti-seizure or anti-epileptogenic actions in other types of epilepsy. However, the chronic use of rapalogs such as everolimus is limited by poor tolerability, particularly by immunosuppression, poor brain penetration and induction of feedback loops which might contribute to their limited therapeutic efficacy. Here we describe two novel, brain-permeable and well tolerated small molecule 1, 3, 5-triazine derivatives, the catalytic mTORC1/C2 inhibitor PQR620 and the dual pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibitor PQR530. These derivatives were compared with the mTORC1 inhibitors rapamycin and everolimus as well as the anti-seizure drugs phenobarbital and levetiracetam. The anti-seizure potential of these compounds was determined by evaluating the electroconvulsive seizure threshold in normal and epileptic mice. Rapamycin and everolimus only poorly penetrated into the brain (brain:plasma ratio 0.0057 for rapamycin and 0.016 for everolimus). In contrast, the novel compounds rapidly entered the brain, reaching brain:plasma ratios of ∼1.6. Furthermore, they significantly decreased phosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein in the hippocampus of normal and epileptic mice, demonstrating effective mTOR inhibition. PQR620 and PQR530 significantly increased seizure threshold at tolerable doses. The effect of PQR620 was more marked in epileptic vs. nonepileptic mice, matching the efficacy of levetiracetam. Overall, the novel compounds described here have the potential to overcome the disadvantages of rapalogs for treatment of epilepsy and mTORopathies directly connected to mutations in the mTOR signaling cascade. Highlights: The mTOR signaling pathway has emerged as a therapeutic target for epilepsy. However, clinically used mTOR inhibitors exhibit poor brain penetration and tolerability. Two novel inhibitors of mTORC1/2 or the PI3K/mTORC1/2 pathway are presented. Both compounds cross the blood-brain barrier more effectively than everolimus. Both compounds increase seizure threshold in a mouse model of difficult-to-treat epilepsy.