HD II Flashcards
the goal of HD treatment
to increase the firing of the GABAergic Enk+ neurons (D2R-expressing) in the striatum to reduce dyskinesia
Pharmacological approaches to treat HD motor symptoms
- relief of dopamine inhibition by dopamine antagonists (classic antipsychotics such as haloperidol and chlorpromazine)
- Atypical antipsychotic (clozapine and olanzapine) are also used with less side effects
- TETRABENAZINE (presynaptic monoamine-depleting agent)
Gold standard treatment of motor symptoms in HD
TETRABENAZINE (presynaptic monoamine-depleting agent)
Tetrabenazine (TBZ): mechanism
Reversible inhibitor of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT-2) –> depletes DA stores –> no DA release in striatum –> prevents too much movement
Also a weak inhibitor of D2 receptors
VMAT 2 role
Transports DA back into vessicles
inhibited by TBZ so that no DA is stored in vesicles and therefore no DA will be released in striatum
Tetrabenazine (TBZ): drug type/use
benzoquinolizine derivative used for the treatment of various diskinetic disorders
Tetrabenazine (TBZ): Side effects
Side effects are similar to those caused by anti-psychotics:
- depression (15% of patients)
- suicidal thoughts
- akathisia (restlessness)
- dizziness, sedation
- parkinsonism
TBZ vs classic antipsychotics (side effects)
Reduced incidence of complications such as parkinsonism and dyskinesia with respect to classic antipsychotics (due to much weaker D2R affinity)
______ is a major concern with TBZ treatment and patients need to be carefully monitored
Increased depression and suicidal thoughts are a major concern and patients must be carefully monitored for such complications.
This concern decreases the number of “treatable” patients.
patient with existing psychiatric issues should avoid TBZ
What limits the number of patients on TBZ
concerns regarding increased depression and suicidal thoughts
Deuterated tetrabenazine (Deutetrabenazine): what is it
Analogue of tetrabenazine with the hydrogen atoms in the two methoxy groups replaces with the isotope deuterium
Deutetrabenazine vs. TBZ
Deuterium substitution slows down the oxidative
metabolism of the methoxy groups –> decreased metabolism (longer half-life) –> Decreased dosage, greater tolerability and improved dosing regimen
Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO): what are they
short synthetic modified nucleic acids that:
- are delivered as a single strand
- Target RNA in cytoplasm and nucleus
- Can be taken up by cells in a naked form (+ enter nucleus)
- have poor passage through the BBB
ASOs goal
to silence mutant huntingtin
ASO mechanism simple
ASOs are able to recognize and bind to complementary mRNA through Waston and Crick Base Pairing then modulate the fate of that RNA
ASO mechanism: target mutations
Once bound, form duplex RNA-DNA recognized by RNAse H1 (enzyme) that degrades the RNA, leaving the DNA intact –> allows further degradation = decreased intracellular levels of mutant HTT
ASO mechanism: target splice sites
antisense nucleotide binding to intron/exon regions of preRNAs –> blocks RNA splicing –> decreased production of target protein
ASO mechanism: target translation start sites
target translation start sites –> prevent protein translation –> decreased production of target protein
ASO mechanisms
- target mutations
- target splice sites
- target translation start sites
= all end up decreasing pathological protein production
Small interfering RNA (siRNA): characteristics
- Delivered as a duplex
- Target mRNA in cytoplasm only
- Must be delivered with viral vectors (can’t get into cells themselves)
- Poor passage through the BBB
Goal of siRNA
to silence mutant huntingtin
siRNA: mechanism
Delivered as a duplex –> associates with AGO part of RISC –> passenger strand is removed –> guides AGO in search of of complementary sequence –> once complementary sequence is found RISC complex degrades the complement mRNA (if perfect match) OR represses/blocks it (if partially mismatched)