N-Acetylcysteine Inhibits Kynurenine Aminotransferase II.

The tryptophan metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA) may play an important role in normal and abnormal cognitive processes, most likely by interfering with α7 nicotinic and NMDA receptor function. KYNA is formed from its immediate precursor kynurenine either by non-enzymatic oxidation or through irreversible transamination by kynurenine aminotransferases. In the mammalian brain, kynurenine aminotransferase II (KAT II) is the principal enzyme responsible for the neosynthesis of rapidly mobilizable KYNA, and therefore constitutes an attractive target for pro-cognitive interventions. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a brain-penetrant drug with pro-cognitive efficacy in humans, has been proposed to exert its actions by increasing the levels of the anti-oxidant glutathione (GSH) in the brain. We report here that NAC, but not GSH, inhibits KAT II activity in brain tissue homogenates from rats and humans with IC50 values in the high micromolar to low millimolar range. With similar potency, the drug interfered with the de novo formation of KYNA in rat brain slices, and NAC was a competitive inhibitor of recombinant human KAT II (Ki: 450 µM). Furthermore, GSH failed to S-glutathionylate recombinant human KAT II treated with the dithiocarbamate drug disulfiram. Shown by microdialysis in the prefrontal cortex of rats treated with kynurenine (50 mg/kg, i.p.), peripheral administration of NAC (500 mg/kg, i.p., 120 and 60 min before the application of kynurenine) reduced KYNA neosynthesis by ∼50%. Together, these results suggest that NAC exerts its neurobiological effects at least in part by reducing cerebral KYNA formation via KAT II inhibition.

Preclinical pharmacokinetic analysis of NOV-002, a glutathione disulfide mimetic.

NOV-002 is a glutathione disulfide (GSSG) mimetic that is the subject of clinical investigation in oncology indications. GSSG is reduced by glutathione reductase (GR) to form glutathione (GSH), thereby maintaining redox homeostasis. The purpose of the study was to report the pharmacokinetic properties of NOV-002 and evaluate the effect that NOV-002 elicits in redox homeostasis. The pharmacokinetic analysis and tissue distribution of NOV-002 and GSH was evaluated in mice following a dose of 250 mg/kg, i.p. The redox potential and total protein thiol status was calculated. Here we show that NOV-002 is a substrate for GR and that GSH is a primary metabolite. Non-linear pharmacokinetic modeling predicted that the estimated absorption and elimination rate constants correspond to a half-life of approximately 13 min with an AUC of 1.18 µgh/mL, a C(max) of 2.16 µg/ml and a volume of distribution of 42.61 L/kg. In addition, measurement of the redox potential and total protein thiol status indicated the generation of a transient oxidative signal in the plasma compartment after administration of NOV-002. These results indicate that NOV-002 exerts kinetic and dynamic effects in mice consistent with the GSSG component as the active pharmacological constituent of the drug. A longer-lasting decrease in total plasma free thiol content was also seen, suggesting that the oxidative effect of the GSSG from NOV-002 was impacting redox homeostasis.

Early life trauma decreases glucocorticoid receptors in rat dentate gyrus upon adult re-stress: reversal by escitalopram.

Early exposure to adverse experiences may lead to specific changes in hippocampal glucocorticoid function resulting in abnormalities within the hypothalamic-adrenal axis. Given interactions between the neuroendocrine and central serotonergic systems, we hypothesized that exposure to early trauma would lead to abnormal hypothalamic-adrenal axis activity that would be normalized by pretreatment with a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor. Hypothalamic-adrenal axis function was assessed by determining basal corticosterone levels and hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivity. Rats were subjected to a triple stressor on postnatal day 28, and again to a single swim re-stress session on postnatal day 35 and postnatal day 60. On postnatal day 61 i.e. 24 h after the last re-stress, trunk blood was collected for serum corticosterone determinations and hippocampal tissue was collected for immunohistochemistry of glucocorticoid receptors. Escitalopram (5mg/kg) or saline vehicle was administered from postnatal day 47-postnatal day 60 via osmotic mini-pumps. Animals exposed to early life trauma showed an increase in basal corticosterone levels, and a significant decrease in the ratio of glucocorticoid receptor positive cells to total cells in the hilus, granule cell layer and the dentate gyrus. Both the increase in basal corticosterone and decrease in glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivity were reversed by escitalopram pretreatment. These data confirm alterations in hypothalamic-adrenalaxis function that may stem from decreases in glucocorticoid receptor levels, in response to early adverse experiences, and demonstrate that these alterations are reversed by serotonin re-uptake inhibitor pretreatment.