Inhibitor Report for: TAK-147

TAK-147, a potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, potentiated choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in cultured rat septal cholinergic neurons in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 value of 4.47 nM. Donepezil, another potent AChE inhibitor, also increased ChAT activity although its potency was less than that of TAK-147. Other AChE inhibitors (rivastigmine, tacrine, physostigmine and neostigmine) showed no effect. The effects of TAK-147 were greater in the presence of NGF, suggesting a synergistic action of TAK-147 and NGF. TAK-147 and donepezil showed high affinity for sigma receptors, whereas tacrine and physostigmine did not. Haloperidol and ifenprodil, high-affinity sigma ligands, potently enhanced ChAT activity in the septal neurons. These results suggest that TAK-147 may have neurotrophic activity on central cholinergic neurons, not via AChE inhibition but possibly via an effect on tau receptors.

We examined the neurochemical effects of 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzaze pin-8-yl)-1-propanone fumarate (TAK-147), a novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor in vitro and in vivo. TAK-147 showed a potent and reversible inhibition of AChE activity in homogenates of the rat cerebral cortex (IC50 = 51.2 nM), and was 3.0- and 2.4-fold more potent than tacrine and physostigmine, respectively. By contrast, TAK-147 was the least potent inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase activity in rat plasma (IC50 = 23,500 nM). Tacrine and physostigmine inhibited butyrylcholinesterase activity potently and nonselectively. TAK-147 showed a moderate inhibition of muscarinic M1 and M2 receptor binding with K(i) values of 234 and 340 nM, respectively. TAK-147 showed very weak or no inhibition of high-affinity choline uptake, nicotinic receptor binding and choline acetyltransferase activity. In ex vivo experiments, oral administration of TAK-147 at doses ranging from 1 to 10 mg/kg induced a statistically significant and dose-dependent decrease in AChE activity in the cerebral cortex. Of the monoaminergic systems, TAK-147 moderately inhibited uptake of noradrenaline and serotonin with IC50 values of 4020 and 1350 nM, respectively. TAK-147 also inhibited ligand binding at alpha-1, alpha-2 and serotonin 2 receptors with K(i) values of 324, 2330 and 3510 nM, respectively, whereas it showed only weak activities on D1, D2 and serotonin 1A receptor bindings. Oral administration of TAK-147 (3 mg/kg) significantly accelerated the turnover rates of dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin in the rat brain. These results suggest that TAK-147 activates the central cholinergic system by specific inhibition of AChE activity without affecting peripheral butyrylcholinesterase activity, and that TAK-147 also moderately activates the monoaminergic systems.

In an attempt to find central selective acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1- benzazepin-8-yl)-1-propanones 9 and their analogs were designed on the basis of our working hypothesis of the enzyme's active site. These compounds were prepared by regioselective Friedel-Crafts acylation of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepines and related nitrogen heterocycles as a key step. Most compounds showed potent inhibitory activities with IC50s in the 10-300 nM range. In order to estimate their central selectivities, we examined their effects on the apomorphine-induced circling behavior in rats with unilateral striatal lesions. Among compounds with potent AChE inhibition, 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1- benzazepin-8-yl)-1-propanone fumarate (9a, TAK-147) (IC50 of AChE inhibition = 97.7 nM) inhibited the circling behavior at 3 mg/kg po, in which it had no significant effect on peripheral cholinergic effects. This demonstrates that 9a has favorable central selectivity. Furthermore, 9a significantly ameliorated diazepam-induced passive avoidance deficit at 1 mg/kg po. The benzazepine derivative 9a was selected as a candidate for clinical evaluation.

It is of interest whether the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepin-8-yl)-1- propanone fumarate (TAK-147), can improve cognitive impairment caused by chronic cerebral ischemia in rats. Two weeks after four-vessel occlusion, apparent impairments of spatial retrieval memory were observed in the Morris water maze. Both TAK-147 at doses of 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg and donepezil at doses of 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg significantly ameliorated ischemia-induced memory deficits dose-dependently, but tacrine had no appreciable effect. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the intensity of staining by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium in the hippocampal and cortical slices was significantly decreased by ischemia (10 min anoxia/aglycemia), and that it was also significantly restored by treatment with TAK-147 and donepezil.

TAK-147, a potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, potentiated choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in cultured rat septal cholinergic neurons in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 value of 4.47 nM. Donepezil, another potent AChE inhibitor, also increased ChAT activity although its potency was less than that of TAK-147. Other AChE inhibitors (rivastigmine, tacrine, physostigmine and neostigmine) showed no effect. The effects of TAK-147 were greater in the presence of NGF, suggesting a synergistic action of TAK-147 and NGF. TAK-147 and donepezil showed high affinity for sigma receptors, whereas tacrine and physostigmine did not. Haloperidol and ifenprodil, high-affinity sigma ligands, potently enhanced ChAT activity in the septal neurons. These results suggest that TAK-147 may have neurotrophic activity on central cholinergic neurons, not via AChE inhibition but possibly via an effect on tau receptors.

The effects of oral administration of the centrally acting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, donepezil hydrochloride (donepezil: E2020: (+/-)-2-[(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)methyl]-5,6-dimethoxy-indan-1-one monohydrochloride), tacrine (9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine hydrochloride) and ENA-713 (rivastigmine: (S)-N-ethyl-3-[(1-dimethyl-amino)ethyl]-N-methyl-phenylcarbamate hydrogentartrate), which have been developed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, on the extracellular acetylcholine concentration in the hippocampus of rats were evaluated by using a microdialysis technique without adding cholinesterase inhibitor to the perfusion solution. We also compared the inhibition of brain AChE and the brain concentrations of these drugs. Donepezil at 2.5 mg/kg and tacrine at 5 mg/kg showed significant effects for more than 6 h. At these doses, the maximum increases were observed at about 1.5 h after administration of donepezil, and at about 2 h with tacrine, and were 499% and 422% of the pre-level, respectively. ENA-713 produced significant effects at doses of 0.625, 1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg, which lasted for about 1, 2 and 4 h, respectively. The maximum increases produced by these doses at about 0.5 h after administration were 190, 346 and 458% of the pre-level, respectively. The time courses of brain AChE inhibition with donepezil at 2.5 mg/kg, tacrine at 10 mg/kg and ENA-713 at 2.5 mg/kg were mirror images of the extracellular acetylcholine-increasing action at the same doses. The time courses of the brain concentrations of drugs after oral administration of donepezil at 2.5 mg/kg and tacrine at 10 mg/kg were consistent with those of brain AChE inhibition at the same doses, and there was a linear relation between these parameters. Brain concentration of ENA-713 at 2.5 mg/kg was below the limit of quantification at all time points measured. These results suggest that oral administration of donepezil, tacrine and ENA-713 increases acetylcholine concentration in the synaptic cleft of the hippocampus mostly through AChE inhibition, and that donepezil has a more potent activity than tacrine and a longer-lasting effect than ENA-713 on the central cholinergic system.

Donepezil hydrochloride (donepezil), a potent and selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, has been developed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. We studied the effect of oral administration of this drug on the extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) concentration in the cerebral cortex of rats using microdialysis. We also observed fasciculation, a peripheral cholinergic sign induced by activation of neuromuscular transmission, after oral administration of the drug as an index of peripheral cholinergic activation. Other cholinesterase inhibitors, tacrine, ENA-713 and TAK-147, were used as reference drugs. Donepezil significantly and dose-dependently increased the extracellular ACh concentration in the rat cerebral cortex within the dose range of 2.5-10 mg/kg. Tacrine, ENA-713 and TAK-147 also elevated the extracellular concentration of ACh. The minimum effective doses of donepezil, tacrine, ENA-713 and TAK-147 were (< or = 2.5, 10, 10 and < or = 10 mg/kg, respectively. Donepezil produced fasciculation at doses of 2.5 mg/kg and above, with a dose-dependent increase in incidence and intensity. The reference compounds also induced fasciculation in a dose-dependent manner. The threshold doses of tacrine, ENA-713 and TAK-147 for fasciculation were 5, 2.5 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. The values of the ratio of the minimum effective dose for the ACh-increasing action to that for the fasciculation-producing action were: donepezil, < or = 1; tacrine, 2; ENA-713, 4; TAK-147, < or = 4. These results indicate that orally administered donepezil has a potent and selective activity on the central cholinergic system.

We examined the neurochemical effects of 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzaze pin-8-yl)-1-propanone fumarate (TAK-147), a novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor in vitro and in vivo. TAK-147 showed a potent and reversible inhibition of AChE activity in homogenates of the rat cerebral cortex (IC50 = 51.2 nM), and was 3.0- and 2.4-fold more potent than tacrine and physostigmine, respectively. By contrast, TAK-147 was the least potent inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase activity in rat plasma (IC50 = 23,500 nM). Tacrine and physostigmine inhibited butyrylcholinesterase activity potently and nonselectively. TAK-147 showed a moderate inhibition of muscarinic M1 and M2 receptor binding with K(i) values of 234 and 340 nM, respectively. TAK-147 showed very weak or no inhibition of high-affinity choline uptake, nicotinic receptor binding and choline acetyltransferase activity. In ex vivo experiments, oral administration of TAK-147 at doses ranging from 1 to 10 mg/kg induced a statistically significant and dose-dependent decrease in AChE activity in the cerebral cortex. Of the monoaminergic systems, TAK-147 moderately inhibited uptake of noradrenaline and serotonin with IC50 values of 4020 and 1350 nM, respectively. TAK-147 also inhibited ligand binding at alpha-1, alpha-2 and serotonin 2 receptors with K(i) values of 324, 2330 and 3510 nM, respectively, whereas it showed only weak activities on D1, D2 and serotonin 1A receptor bindings. Oral administration of TAK-147 (3 mg/kg) significantly accelerated the turnover rates of dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin in the rat brain. These results suggest that TAK-147 activates the central cholinergic system by specific inhibition of AChE activity without affecting peripheral butyrylcholinesterase activity, and that TAK-147 also moderately activates the monoaminergic systems.

We examined the effects of p.o. administered 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-b enzazepin-8- yl)-1-propanone fumarate (TAK-147), a novel AChE inhibitor, on impaired learning and memory in animal models. At 1 to 3 mg/kg, TAK-147 ameliorated the passive avoidance deficit induced by diazepam. TAK-147 did not affect delayed-matching-to-position (DMTP) performance of normal rats at doses of 1 to 30 mg/kg assessed by using a three-lever operant chamber, but 9-amino-tetrahydroacridine disrupted the DMTP response at 5 to 20 mg/kg. Scopolamine (0.02-0.1 mg/kg s.c.) impaired DMTP performance, whereas methylscopolamine did not affect the DMTP task. TAK-147 ameliorated the impairment of DMTP performance induced by scopolamine without affecting the general behavior of the rats; however, 9-amino-tetrahydroacridine produced no significant amelioration of the impairment. The intraventricular injection of AF64A disrupted differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate 10-sec performance in rats, as demonstrated by marked decreases in reinforcement rate and response efficiency. TAK-147 slightly increased the reinforcement rate in AF64A-treated rats at a low dose of 1 mg/kg, but the effect was not significant statistically. TAK-147 had no significant effect on the duration of immobility in rats in a forced swimming test at doses of 2 to 10 mg/kg. 9-Amino-tetrahydroacridine prolonged the duration of immobility at 5 to 20 mg/kg. Furthermore, TAK-147 reversed reserpine-induced hypothermia and ptosis in mice at doses of 3 to 10 mg/kg, a result that implies an antidepressant-like action. These results indicate that TAK-147 ameliorates learning and memory impairment in animal models without affecting the general behavior or causing behavioral depression and suggest that TAK-147 may be useful for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Effect of TAK-147, a novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, on cerebral energy metabolism was investigated using an in vivo 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) technique and the autoradiographic 2-deoxy-[14C]-D-glucose method in aged Fischer 344 rats. We revealed that high-energy phosphate metabolites, phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP, in the brain decreased gradually with aging and that significant decrement of cerebral PCr and ATP was observed from 13- and 8.5-month-old in comparison with those of 2.5-month-old rats, respectively. Daily oral administration of TAK-147 (1 mg/kg) for 40 days increased PCr and ATP levels in aged rats (29-month-old). To determine the site at which TAK-147 acts to increase high-energy phosphate metabolism, we investigated the rate of local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) in various brain regions. The rate of LCGU decreased in almost all brain regions in aged rats (28 months of age), and the decrease was significant in 29 out of the 35 regions. When TAK-147 was administered orally to the aged rats, the levels were dose dependently increased, especially in the auditory cortex. These results indicate that TAK-147 increases cerebral energy metabolism in aged rats.

In an attempt to find central selective acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1- benzazepin-8-yl)-1-propanones 9 and their analogs were designed on the basis of our working hypothesis of the enzyme's active site. These compounds were prepared by regioselective Friedel-Crafts acylation of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepines and related nitrogen heterocycles as a key step. Most compounds showed potent inhibitory activities with IC50s in the 10-300 nM range. In order to estimate their central selectivities, we examined their effects on the apomorphine-induced circling behavior in rats with unilateral striatal lesions. Among compounds with potent AChE inhibition, 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1- benzazepin-8-yl)-1-propanone fumarate (9a, TAK-147) (IC50 of AChE inhibition = 97.7 nM) inhibited the circling behavior at 3 mg/kg po, in which it had no significant effect on peripheral cholinergic effects. This demonstrates that 9a has favorable central selectivity. Furthermore, 9a significantly ameliorated diazepam-induced passive avoidance deficit at 1 mg/kg po. The benzazepine derivative 9a was selected as a candidate for clinical evaluation.