ABSTRACT
PTI-125 is a novel compound demonstrating a promising new approach to treating Alzheimer's disease (AD), characterized by neurodegeneration and amyloid plaque and neurofibrillary pathologies. We show that the toxic signaling of amyloid-ß(42) (Aß(42)) by the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), which results in tau phosphorylation and formation of neurofibrillary tangles, requires the recruitment of the scaffolding protein filamin A (FLNA). By binding FLNA with high affinity, PTI-125 prevents Aß(42)'s toxic cascade, decreasing phospho-tau and Aß aggregates and reducing the dysfunction of α7nAChRs, NMDARs, and insulin receptors. PTI-125 prevents Aß(42) signaling by drastically reducing its affinity for α7nAChRs and can even dissociate existing Aß(42)-α7nAChR complexes. Additionally, PTI-125 prevents Aß-induced inflammatory cytokine release by blocking FLNA recruitment to toll-like receptor 4, illustrating an anti-inflammatory effect. PTI-125's broad spectrum of beneficial effects is demonstrated here in an intracerebroventricular Aß(42) infusion mouse model of AD and in human postmortem AD brain tissue.
