Peptide-Based Therapeutics Against Parkinson's Disease

The peptide treatment has shown beneficial effects in mice model of Parkinson's disease. It decreased the α-synuclein aggregate burden in mice brain, and improved locomotory activity. Thus, the peptide has the potential to be First-in-Class therapeutics against Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. Though multifactorial, the accumulation of α-synuclein amyloid aggregates, known as Lewy bodies, in dopaminergic cells of the substantia nigra region of the brain is a characteristic cellular hallmark of PD. The condition predominantly affects muscle movements, manifesting first with difficulties in chewing and swallowing, drooling, and constipation.  The disease progresses with common motor symptoms such as difficulties in movement, tremor, rigidity and posture, etc. As of now, only symptomatic relief is available, and there is no cure. The group recently screened various peptide-based molecules and identified a potent peptide that reduced α-synuclein amyloid aggregation in both in vitro and in vivo models of PD.

• First-in-class peptide based inhibitor of α-synuclein aggregation is discovered.
• The molecule inhibits α-Synuclein aggregation in sub-stoichiometry concentrations.
• Another cyclic-derivative of the identified also inhibited α-synuclein amyloid aggregation.
• The identified peptide improved locomotory activity in C. elegans model of PD
• The identified peptide improved locomotory activity in mice models of PD.
• The peptide is known to cross the blood-brain barrier.
• The peptide reduces the pathogenic aggregate burden in mice brain.
• The peptide reduces Lewy neurites burden, reduces neuroinflammation, and improves tyrosine hydroxylase expression in mice brain.