Inhibition of Aβ(42) oligomerization in yeast by a PICALM ortholog and certain FDA approved drugs

The formation of small Aβ(42) oligomers has been implicated as a toxic species in Alzheimer disease (AD). In strong support of this hypothesis we found that overexpression of Yap1802, the yeast ortholog of the human AD risk factor, phosphatidylinositol binding clathrin assembly protein (PICALM), reduced oligomerization of Aβ(42) fused to a reporter in yeast. Thus we used the Aβ(42)-reporter system to identify drugs that could be developed into therapies that prevent or arrest AD. From a screen of 1,200 FDA approved drugs and drug-like small compounds we identified 7 drugs that reduce Aβ(42) oligomerization in yeast: 3 antipsychotics (bromperidol, haloperidol and azaperone), 2 anesthetics (pramoxine HCl and dyclonine HCl), tamoxifen citrate, and minocycline HCl. Also, all 7 drugs caused Aβ(42) to be less toxic to PC12 cells and to relieve toxicity of another yeast AD model in which Aβ(42) aggregates targeted to the secretory pathway are toxic. Our results identify drugs that inhibit Aβ(42) oligomers from forming in yeast. It remains to be determined if these drugs inhibit Aβ(42) oligomerization in mammals and could be developed as a therapeutic treatment for AD.