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Abstract #14782 Published in IGR 8-4

Amelioration of retinal degeneration and proteolysis in acute ocular hypertensive rats by calpain inhibitor ((1S)-1-((((1S)-1-benzyl-3-cyclopropylamino-2,3-di-oxopropyl)amino)carbo nyl)-3-methylbutyl)carbamic acid 5-methoxy-3-oxapentyl ester

Oka T; Walkup RD; Tamada Y; Nakajima E; Tochigi A; Shearer TR; Azuma M
Neuroscience 2006; 141: 2139-2145


BACKGROUND: Our recent study suggested involvement of calpain-induced proteolysis in retinal degeneration and dysfunction in acute ocular hypertensive rats. The purpose of the present study was to determine if an orally available form of calpain inhibitor, ((1S)-1-((((1S)-1-benzyl-3-cyclopropylamino-2,3-di-oxopropyl)amino)carbo nyl)-3-methylbutyl)carbamic acid 5-methoxy-3-oxapentyl ester (SNJ-1945), ameliorated retinal degeneration induced by acute hypertension in rats. To help extrapolate the effect of SNJ-1945 from the rat model to the human glaucomatous patient, in vitro inhibition of calpain-induced proteolysis by SNJ-1945 in monkey and human retinal proteins was compared with proteolysis in rat proteins. METHODS: Intraocular pressure (IOP) in rats was elevated to 110 mmHg for 50 min. SNJ-1945 was administrated i.p. or orally before ocular hypertension. Retinal degeneration was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and cell counting. Transcripts for calpains and calpastatin in rat, monkey, and human retinas were measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Calpain activities were determined by casein zymography. Soluble retinal proteins from rat, monkey, and humans were incubated with calcium to activate calpains, with or without SNJ-1945. Proteolysis of calpain substrate α-spectrin was analyzed by immunoblotting. RESULTS: Elevated IOP caused retinal degeneration and proteolysis of α-spectrin. Both i.p. and oral administration of SNJ-1945 inhibited proteolysis of α-spectrin and ameliorated retinal degeneration. Transcript levels for calpain 1 and calpastatin were similar in rat, monkey, and human retinas. Calpain 2 transcript levels were higher in rats compared with monkey and human. Appreciable caseinolytic activities due to calpains were observed in monkey and human retinas. Incubation of retinal soluble proteins with calcium led to proteolysis of α-spectrin due to calpains in rat, monkey, and human samples. SNJ-1945 similarly inhibited proteolysis in all species. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that orally available calpain inhibitor SNJ-1945 might be a possible candidate drug for testing in preventing progression of glaucomatous retinal degeneration.

Dr. M. Azuma, Kobe Creative Center, Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 1-5-4 Murotani, Nishiku, Kobe, Hyogo, 651-2241, Japan


Classification:

11.14 Investigational drugs; pharmacological experiments (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models
2.13 Retina and retinal nerve fibre layer (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)



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