Metal Ion Dyshomeostasis Research Articles

Recent Development of Bifunctional Small Molecules to Study Metal‐Amyloid‐β Species in Alzheimer′s Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease related to the deposition of aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides in the brain. It has been proposed that metal ion dyshomeostasis and miscompartmentalization contribute to AD progression, especially as metal ions (e.g., Cu(II) and Zn(II)) found in Aβ plaques of the diseased brain can bind to Aβ and be linked to aggregation and neurotoxicity. The role of metal ions in AD pathogenesis, however, is uncertain. To accelerate understanding in this area and contribute to therapeutic development, recent efforts to devise suitable chemical reagents that can target metal ions associated with Aβ have been made using rational structure-based design that combines two functions (metal chelation and Aβ interaction) in the same molecule. This paper presents bifunctional compounds developed by two different design strategies (linkage or incorporation) and discusses progress in their applications as chemical tools and/or potential therapeutics.

Alzheimer's disease, metal ions and metal homeostatic therapy

Mounting evidences support the idea that endogenous 'biometals', such as copper, iron, zinc and exogenous ones such as aluminum, can be involved as factors or cofactors in the etiopathogenesis of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative condition associated with pathological accumulation of amyloid plaques and with the appearance of deposit of neurofibrillary tangles. In AD, the process of beta-amyloid (Abeta) misfolding and plaque aggregation is greatly influenced by alterations in the homeostasis of the aforementioned metal ions. Here, we discuss the most recent evidences that associate metal ion dyshomeostasis with the development of AD. As for aluminum, a role for this ion in AD pathogenesis is still controversial. Thus, here, we also critically review new findings that argue for and against the 'aluminum hypothesis'. Finally, it is discussed how therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring metal homeostasis can delay and modify the progression of AD-related neurodegeneration.

Pharmacotherapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by an increasing impairment in normal memory and cognitive processes that significantly diminishes a person's daily functioning. Despite decades of research and advances in our understanding of disease aetiology and pathogenesis, there are still no effective disease-modifying drugs available for the treatment of AD. However, numerous compounds are currently undergoing pre-clinical and clinical evaluations. These candidate pharma-cotherapeutics are aimed at various aspects of the disease, such as the microtubule-associated τ-protein, the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and metal ion dyshomeostasis – all of which are involved in the development and progression of AD. We will review the way these pharmacological strategies target the biochemical and clinical features of the disease and the investigational drugs for each category.