“Metal protein attenuating compound”

Clioquinol Decreases Amyloid-beta Burden and Reduces Working
Memory Impairment in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease.
J Alzheimers Dis 2009 Mar 6.
Grossi C, Francese S, Casini A, Rosi MC, Luccarini I, Fiorentini A,
Gabbiani C, Messori L, Moneti G, Casamenti F

Clioquinol (CQ) is a “metal protein attenuating compound” that
crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds, with high affinity,
copper(II) and zinc(II), two metal ions critically involved in
amyloid-beta aggregation and toxicity.
CQ was recently proposed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease, but controversial data have been reported so far
concerning its real therapeutic advantages.
We describe here results of chronic CQ treatment in the
TgCRND8 mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.
Remarkably, based on classical behavioral tests, CQ treatment
was found to revert, to a large extent, the working memory
impairments that are characteristic of this mouse model.
Pairwise, a significant reduction of amyloid-beta plaque burden,
both in the cortex and in the hippocampus, was detected as well
as an attenuation of astrogliosis.
MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging technique revealed a specific
localization of CQ in the above mentioned brain areas.
Modest but significant effects on the absolute and relative brain
concentrations of the three most important biometals (i.e., copper,
zinc, and iron) were highlighted following CQ treatment.
The pharmacological and mechanistic implications of the above
findings are thoroughly discussed.

Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD [J Alzheimers Dis]
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