Soticlestat, a novel cholesterol 24-hydroxylase inhibitor shows a therapeutic potential for neural hyperexcitation in mice

Toshiya Nishi, Shinichi Kondo, Maki Miyamoto, Sayuri Watanabe, Shigeo Hasegawa, Shigeru Kondo, Jason Yano, Etsurou Watanabe, Tsuyoshi Ishi, Masato Yoshikawa, Haruhi Kamisaki Ando, William Farnaby, Shinji Fujimoto, Eiji Sunahara, Momoko Ohori, Matthew J. During, Takanobu Kuroita, Tatsuki Koike

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Abstract

Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (CH24H) is a brain-specific enzyme that converts cholesterol into 24S-hydroxycholesterol, the primary mechanism of cholesterol catabolism in the brain. The therapeutic potential of CH24H activation has been extensively investigated, whereas the effects of CH24H inhibition remain poorly characterized. In this study, the therapeutic potential of CH24H inhibition was investigated using a newly identified small molecule, soticlestat (TAK-935/OV935). The biodistribution and target engagement of soticlestat was assessed in mice. CH24H-knockout mice showed a substantially lower level of soticlestat distribution in the brain than wild-type controls. Furthermore, brain-slice autoradiography studies demonstrated the absence of [3H]soticlestat staining in CH24H-knockout mice compared with wild-type mice, indicating a specificity of soticlestat binding to CH24H. The pharmacodynamic effects of soticlestat were characterized in a transgenic mouse model carrying mutated human amyloid precursor protein and presenilin 1 (APP/PS1-Tg). These mice, with excitatory/inhibitory imbalance and short life-span, yielded a remarkable survival benefit when bred with CH24H-knockout animals. Soticlestat lowered brain 24S-hydroxycholesterol in a dose-dependent manner and substantially reduced premature deaths of APP/PS1-Tg mice at a dose lowering brain 24S-hydroxycholesterol by approximately 50%. Furthermore, microdialysis experiments showed that soticlestat can suppress potassium-evoked extracellular glutamate elevations in the hippocampus. Taken together, these data suggest that soticlestat-mediated inhibition of CH24H may have therapeutic potential for diseases associated with neural hyperexcitation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number17081
Number of pages10
JournalScientific Reports
Volume10
Early online date13 Oct 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Target validation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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