آزمایش ترکیبات جدید ضدپیری برای درمان آلزایمر
محققان موسسه “سالک” در حال آزمایش ترکیبات جدید ضدپیری هستند که گامی رو به جلو برای بیماری آلزایمر است.
موسسه تحقیقاتی “سالک” (Salk) در حال توسعه ترکیبات جدید ضد پیری است که نشانگرهای مولکولی پیری را کاهش می‌دهند و روند بیماری‌های زوال عقلی مانند آلزایمر را آهسته می‌کند.
این کار تحقیقاتی در حال آغاز دو آزمایش بالینی انسانی است.
محققان موسسه “سالک” هم‌اکنون در حال بررسی و ساخت ترکیبی جدید از انواع ترکیبات ضدپیری به نام geroneuroprotectors”(GNPs)” هستند که خاصیت ضدپیری دارد.
“دیو شوبرت” (Dave Schubert) یکی از محققان اصلی پروژه گفت: استدلال وجود این ترکیب این است که اگر ماده‌ای می‌تواند طول عمر ارگانیسم‌های مدل، مانند موش را افزایش دهد، پس ما می‌توانیم این اثر را به انسان نیز انتقال دهیم.
سپس می‌توان روند بسیاری از بیماری‌های زیادی که با افزایش سن ایجاد می‌شوند را کند کرد.
از میان این بیماری‌ها می‌توان به آلزایمر، پارکینسون، سرطان و ضعف کلی بدن اشاره کرد.
ترکیبی که این محققان به دنبال ساخت آن هستند از منابع طبیعی ساخته شده است.
پیش از این در سال ۲۰۱۴ نیز محققان سالک با استفاده از گیاهان آفریقایی ترکیبات ضد پیری ساخته بودند.
“کورکومین” نیز یکی دیگر از ترکیبات طبیعی امیدبخش در این زمینه است که پژوهشگران سالک به بررسی آن پرداخته‌اند.
به اعتقاد محققان این ماده یک ابزار تشخیصی برای آلزایمر زودرس است.
“کورکومین” جزء فعال ادویه زردچوبه است و خواص ضدالتهابی دارد.
این محققان با استفاده از این ماده و موادی دیگر، به ساخت سه ترکیب ضد پیری پرداخته‌اند.
یکی از این سه ترکیبب ” CMS۱۲۱” نام دارد که ترکیب مشتق شده از فیستین است که به مطالعات در فاز جانوری نیازمند است تا پس از آن به تایید سازمان غذا و دارو آمریکا برسد.
ترکیب ” J۱۴۷” که از “کورکومین” ساخته شده است، پیشرفته‌تر بوده و اخیرا توسط سازمان غذا و دارو آمریکا در حال بررسی است.
آزمایشات انسانی این ترکیب‌ها بیشتر روی بیماری آلزایمر تمرکز خواهد داشت.
نتایح این پژوهش در مجله “Trends in Pharmacological Sciences” انتشار یافت.
Anti-aging compounds targeting Alzheimer’s move closer to human trials
It’s hoped two new compounds on the cusp of human trials could combat Alzheimer’s disease by slowing the body’s aging processes
It’s hoped two new compounds on the cusp of human trials could combat Alzheimer’s disease by slowing the body’s aging processesevgenyataman/Depositphotos
Exciting research from a team at the Salk Institute is developing a new subclass of anti-aging compounds that are hoped to extend lifespan, reduce the molecular markers of aging, and slow the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The work is on the cusp of commencing two human clinical trials investigating the efficacy of two compounds derived from natural sources.
“Geroprotectors” is a newly established umbrella term encompassing a variety of recently discovered anti-aging compounds. Researchers at Salk have now published a new study describing a subclass of these compounds, called geroneuroprotectors (GNPs).
Implanted insulin-producing beta cells (purple) are encapsulated in a device that protects them from destruction by the immune cells, allowing them to regulate a diabetic patient’s blood sugar levels
“Shark cage” implant protects insulin-producing cells in diabetic mice
“The argument for geroprotectors is that if one can extend the lifespan of model organisms, such as mice, and translate this effect to humans, then you should be able to slow down the appearance of many diseases that are associated with aging, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and overall frailty,” explains Dave Schubert, first author on the new study.
The study into developing new GNPs spun out of Salk research investigating several anti-aging compounds found in natural sources. Back in 2014 a Salk study revealed that fisetin, an antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables, could effectively prevent memory loss in mice engineered to develop Alzheimer’s. Other recent research into fisetin has revealed the compound produces remarkably effective health improvements, and lifespan extensions, in animal tests.
Alongside fisetin, the Salk team homed in on another promising natural compound called curcumin, which is derived from the spice turmeric. Curcumin has most recently been found to light up Alzheimer’s-related amyloid plaque deposits in patients’ retinas, offering researchers a new potential diagnostic tool for detecting early-onset Alzheimer’s.
From these natural chemicals, the Salk team developed three synthetic compounds designed to help protect the brain from aging related degeneration. In early animal tests these compounds proved promising in extending lifespan and reducing molecular markers of dementia. Alongside fisetin and curcumin, these three new compounds fit the new definition of geroneuroprotectors.
At this point the research team is moving forward with human trials into two of the specific synthetic GNP compounds that have been developed; CMS121, a compound derived from fisetin that is currently moving through the required animal toxicology studies needed before FDA approval for human study; and J147, which is derived from curcumin and is even more advanced, being currently under review by the FDA with trials expected to commence early next year.
The upcoming human trials for these promising new anti-aging compounds will primarily concentrate on their efficacy treating Alzheimer’s disease, but the researchers will incorporate other biochemical markers into the trials so broader effects can also be studied.
“If these drugs have benefits for other body systems, such as maintaining kidney function and overall muscle health, they could be used in additional ways to treat or prevent the diseases of aging,” says Schubert.
A long road is certainly ahead before any of these compounds actually become real, prescribable treatments, however the prospect of an all-purpose drug that helps promote healthy aging, and prevents age-related neurodegeneration is certainly exciting. And Schubert suggests that the key to tackling Alzheimer’s disease may be in looking at these compounds that promise more general anti-aging effects.
“People have always thought that you need separate drugs for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and stroke,” says Schubert. “But it may be that by targeting aging we can treat or slow down many pathological conditions that are old-age-associated.”
The new research was published in the journal Trends in Pharmacological Sciences.
