ePoster

Investigating a new tau aggregation inhibitor “RE01” in PS19 transgenic mice

Dilek Mercan, Arush Baijal, Fabrizio Musacchio, Julia Steffen, Andrea Baral, Yvonne Schleehuber, Lisa Marie Ramirez, Ina Vorberg, Markus Zweckstetter, Martin Fuhrmann
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Dilek Mercan, Arush Baijal, Fabrizio Musacchio, Julia Steffen, Andrea Baral, Yvonne Schleehuber, Lisa Marie Ramirez, Ina Vorberg, Markus Zweckstetter, Martin Fuhrmann

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is characterized by extracellular accumulation of amyloid-beta peptide and intracellular aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau, is the most common form of dementia. During AD pathogenesis, tau is abnormally phosphorylated and aggregating within neurons. As a result of continuous intraneuronal tau aggregation, neurofibrillary tangles are formed. The aim of our project is to determine, whether inhibiting tau protein aggregation with a novel anti-aggregative compound “RE01” improves survival, behavior and neuropathology in a tau-transgenic mouse model. RE01 is an FDA-approved anti-cancer drug, that we intend to use for drug repurposing. We administered RE01 via the chow at concentrations of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, in PS19 mice. Treatment started after weaning at 3-4 weeks of age. Behavior experiments were carried out at 8-10 months of age testing cognition, spatial memory and motor function.Our results indicate gender-specific effects. Notably, 25mg/kg treated male mice exhibited a significant improvement in motor functions compared to vehicle-treated mice. These experiments will pave the way for the development of new anti-aggregative compounds against tau. These may be valuable for the treatment of tauopathies like AD in the future.

Unique ID: fens-24/investigating-aggregation-inhibitor-66d91ae8