Person:
León Martínez, Rafael

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First Name
Rafael
Last Name
León Martínez
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Farmacia
Department
Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas
Area
Química Orgánica
Identifiers
UCM identifierORCIDScopus Author IDWeb of Science ResearcherIDDialnet IDGoogle Scholar ID

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 25
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    Compounds derived from 3-Alkylamino-1H-indole acrylate, and the use thereof in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
    (2015) León Martínez, Rafael; Buendia Abaitua, Izaskun; Navarro González De Mesa, Elisa; Michalska Dziama, Patrycja; Gameiro Ros, Isabel; López Vivo, Alicia; Egea Máiquez, Francisco Javier; García López, Manuel; García García, Juan Antonio; Fundacioó para la investigación biomédica del Hospital Universitario de La Princesa
    The inventions relates to the methods for producing derivatives of 3-alkylamino-1-H indole acrylate (I) with transcription factor Nrf2-inducing activity, free radical scavenging activity and neuroprotective ability. The invention also relates to the use of derivatives according to the invention for the treatment of diseases, the pathogenesis of which involves oxidative stress, or diseases involving the deregulation of the activity of phase II genes activated by the factor Nrf2 such as Alzheimer´s disease, Parkinson´s disease, Huntington´s disease, multiple sclerosis, ictus or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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    ITH14001, a CGP37157-Nimodipine Hybrid Designed to Regulate Calcium Homeostasis and Oxidative Stress, Exerts Neuroprotection in Cerebral Ischemia
    (ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2016) Buendia, Izaskun; Tenti, Giammarco; Michalska Dziama, Patrycja; Méndez-López, Iago; Luengo, Enrique; Satriani, Michele; Padín-Nogueira, Fernando; López, Manuela G.; Ramos García, María Teresa; García, Antonio G.; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos; León Martínez, Rafael
    During brain ischemia, oxygen and glucose deprivation induces calcium overload, extensive oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and, finally, massive neuronal loss. In the search of a neuroprotective compound to mitigate this neuronal loss, we have designed and synthesized a new multitarget hybrid (ITH14001) directed at the reduction of calcium overload by acting on two regulators of calcium homeostasis; the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (mNCX) and L-type voltage dependent calcium channels (VDCCs). This compound is a hybrid of CGP37157 (mNCX inhibitor) and nimodipine (L-type VDCCs blocker), and its pharmacological evaluation revealed a moderate ability to selectively inhibit both targets. These activities conferred concentration-dependent neuroprotection in two models of Ca2+ overload, such as toxicity induced by high K+ in the SH-SY5Y cell line (60% protection at 30 μM) and veratridine in hippocampal slices (26% protection at 10 μM). It also showed neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress, an activity related to its nitrogen radical scavenger effect and moderate induction of the Nrf2-ARE pathway. Its Nrf2 induction capability was confirmed by the increase of the expression of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory enzyme heme-oxygenase I (3-fold increase). In addition, the multitarget profile of ITH14001 led to anti-inflammatory properties, shown by the reduction of nitrites production induced by lipopolysaccharide in glial cultures. Finally, it showed protective effect in two acute models of cerebral ischemia in hippocampal slices, excitotoxicity induced by glutamate (31% protection at 10 μM) and oxygen and glucose deprivation (76% protection at 10 μM), reducing oxidative stress and iNOS deleterious induction. In conclusion, our hybrid derivative showed improved neuroprotective properties when compared to its parent compounds CGP37157 and nimodipine.
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    Discovery of the first dual GSK3β inhibitor/Nrf2 inducer. A new multitarget therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease
    (Scientific Reports, 2017) Gameiro, Isabel; Michalska Dziama, Patrycja; Tenti, Giammarco; Cores Esperón, Ángel; Buendia, Izaskun; Rojo, Ana I.; Georgakopoulos, Nikolaos D.; López, Manuela G.; Hernández, Jesús M.; Ramos García, María Teresa; Wells, Geoffrey; Cuadrado, Antonio; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos; León Martínez, Rafael
    The formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), oxidative stress and neuroinflammation have emerged as key targets for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. These pathological hallmarks are closely related to the over-activity of the enzyme GSK3β and the downregulation of the defense pathway Nrf2-EpRE observed in AD patients. Herein, we report the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a new family of multitarget 2,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles as dual GSK3β inhibitors and Nrf2 inducers. These compounds are able to inhibit GSK3β and induce the Nrf2 phase II antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathway at micromolar concentrations, showing interesting structure-activity relationships. The association of both activities has resulted in a remarkable anti-inflammatory ability with an interesting neuroprotective profile on in vitro models of neuronal death induced by oxidative stress and energy depletion and AD. Furthermore, none of the compounds exhibited in vitro neurotoxicity or hepatotoxicity and hence they had improved safety profiles compared to the known electrophilic Nrf2 inducers. In conclusion, the combination of both activities in this family of multitarget compounds confers them a notable interest for the development of lead compounds for the treatment of AD.
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    Compuestos derivados de acrilato de 3-alquilamino-1H-indolilo y su uso en el tratamiento de las enfermeadades neurodegenerativas
    (2016) León Martínez, Rafael; Buendia Abaitua, Izaskun; Navarro González De Mesa, Elisa; Michalska Dziama, Patrycja; Gameiro Ros, Isabel; Egea Máiquez, Franisco Javier; García Lopez, Manuela; García García, Juan Antonio; Fundacion para la investigacion biomedica del Hospital Universitario de La Princesa
    The invent relates to the methods for producing derivates of 3-alkylamino-1H-indole acrylate(I) with transcription factor Nrf2-inducing activity, free radical scavenging activity and neuroprotective ability. The invention also relates to the use of derivatives according to the invention of treatment of diseases, the pathogenesis of which involves oxidative stress, or diseases involving the deregulationof the activity of phase II genes activated by the factor Nrf2, such as Alzheimer´s disease, Parkinson´s disease, Huntington´s disease, multiple sclerosis, ictus or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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    The APPswe/PS1A246E mutations in an astrocytic cell line leads to increased vulnerability to oxygen and glucose deprivation, Ca2+ dysregulation, and mitochondrial abnormalities
    (Journal of Neurochemistry, 2018) Martín De Saavedra Álvarez De Uribarri, María Dolores; Navarro, Elisa; Moreno‐Ortega, Ana J.; Cunha,, Mauricio P.; Buendia, Izaskun; Hernansanz‐Agustín, Pablo; León Martínez, Rafael; Cano‐Abad,, María F.; Martínez‐Ruiz, Antonio; Martínez‐Murillo, Ricardo; Duchen, Michael R.; López, Manuela G.
    Growing evidence suggests a close relationship between Alzheimer′s Disease (AD) and cerebral hypoxia. Astrocytes play a key role in brain homeostasis and disease states, while some of the earliest changes in AD occur in astrocytes. We have therefore investigated whether mutations associated with AD increase astrocyte vulnerability to ischemia. Two astroglioma cell lines derived from APPSWE/PS1A246E (APP, amyloid precursor protein; PS1, presenilin 1) transgenic mice and controls from normal mice were subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD), an in vitro model of ischemia. Cell death was increased in the APPSWE/PS1A246E line compared to the control. Increasing extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]) exacerbated cell death in the mutant but not in the control cells. In order to explore cellular Ca2+ homeostasis, the cells were challenged with ATP or thapsigargin and [Ca2+] was measured by fluorescence microscopy. Changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) were potentiated in the APPSWE/PS1A246E transgenic line. Mitochondrial function was also altered in the APPSWE/PS1A246E astroglioma cells; mitochondrial membrane potential and production of reactive oxygen species were increased, while mitochondrial basal respiratory rate and ATP production were decreased compared to control astroglioma cells. These results suggest that AD mutations in astrocytes make them more sensitive to ischemia; Ca2+ dysregulation and mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to this increased vulnerability. Our results also highlight the role of astrocyte dyshomeostasis in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative brain disorders.
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    Pharmacological doses of melatonin impede cognitive decline in tau-related Alzheimer models, once tauopathy is initiated, by restoring the autophagic flux
    (Journal of Pineal Research, 2019) Luengo, Enrique; Buendia, Izaskun; Fernández-Mendívil, Cristina; Negredo, Pilar; Michalska Dziama, Patrycja; Hernández-García, Borja; Sánchez-Ramos, Cristina; Bernal, Juan A.; Ikezu, Tsuneya; López, Manuela G.; León Martínez, Rafael
    Alterations in autophagy are increasingly being recognized in the pathogenesis of proteinopathies like Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study was conducted to evaluate whether melatonin treatment could provide beneficial effects in an Alzheimer model related to tauopathy by improving the autophagic flux and, thereby, prevent cognitive decline. The injection of AAV-hTauP301L viral vectors and treatment/injection with okadaic acid were used to achieve mouse and human ex vivo, and in vivo tau-related models. Melatonin (10 μmol/L) impeded oxidative stress, tau hyperphosphorylation, and cell death by restoring autophagy flux in the ex vivo models. In the in vivo studies, intracerebroventricular injection of AAV-hTauP301L increased oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and tau hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampus 7 days after the injection, without inducing cognitive impairment; however, when animals were maintained for 28 days, cognitive decline was apparent. Interestingly, late melatonin treatment (10 mg/kg), starting once the alterations mentioned above were established (from day 7 to day 28), reduced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, tau hyperphosphorylation, and caspase-3 activation; these observations correlated with restoration of the autophagy flux and memory improvement. This study highlights the importance of autophagic dysregulation in tauopathy and how administration of pharmacological doses of melatonin, once tauopathy is initiated, can restore the autophagy flux, reduce proteinopathy, and prevent cognitive decline. We therefore propose exogenous melatonin supplementation or the development of melatonin derivatives to improve autophagy flux for the treatment of proteinopathies like AD.
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    Bisavenathramide Analogues as Nrf2 Inductors and Neuroprotectors in In Vitro Models of Oxidative Stress and Hyperphosphorylation
    (Antioxidants, 2021) Cores Esperón, Ángel; Abril Comesaña, Sheila; Michalska Dziama, Patrycja; Duarte, Pablo; Olives Barba, Ana Isabel; Martín Carmona, María Antonia; Villacampa Sanz, Mercedes; León Martínez, Rafael; Menéndez Ramos, José Carlos
    Oxidative stress is crucial to the outbreak and advancement of neurodegenerative diseases and is a common factor to many of them. We describe the synthesis of a library of derivatives of the 4-arylmethylen-2-pyrrolin-5-one framework by sequential application of a three-component reaction of primary amines, β-dicarbonyl compounds, and α-haloketones and a Knoevenagel condensation. These compounds can be viewed as cyclic amides of caffeic and ferulic acids, and are also structurally related to the bisavenanthramide family of natural antioxidants. Most members of the library showed low cytotoxicity and good activity as inductors of Nrf2, a transcription factor that acts as the master regulator of the antioxidant response associated with activation of the antioxidant response element (ARE). Nrf2-dependent protein expression was also proved by the significant increase in the levels of the HMOX1 and NQO1 proteins. Some compounds exerted neuroprotective properties in oxidative stress situations, such as rotenone/oligomycin-induced toxicity, and also against protein hyperphosphorylation induced by the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. Compound 3i, which can be considered a good candidate for further hit-to-lead development against neurodegenerative diseases due to its well-balanced multitarget profile, was further characterized by proving its ability to reduce phosphorylated Tau levels.
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    New melatonin–cinnamate hybrids as multi-target drugs for neurodegenerative diseases: Nrf2-induction, antioxidant effect and neuroprotection
    (Future Medicinal Chemistry, 2015) Buendia, Izaskun; Navarro González De Mesa, Elisa; Michalska Dziama, Patrycja; Gameiro, Isabel; Egea, Javier; Abril, Sheila; López, Alicia; González-Lafuente, Laura; G. López, Manuela; León Martínez, Rafael
    Neurodegenerative diseases share many pathological pathways, such as abnormal protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, extensive oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Cells have an intrinsic mechanism of protection, the Nrf2 transcriptional factor, known as the master regulator of redox homeostasis. Results: Based on the common features of these diseases we have designed a multi-target hybrid structure derived from melatonin and ethyl cinnamate. The obtained derivatives were Nrf2 inducers and potent-free radical scavengers. These new compounds showed a very interesting neuroprotective profile in several in vitro models of oxidative stress, Alzheimer's disease and brain ischemia. Conclusion: We have designed a new hybrid structure with complementary activities. We have identified compound 5h as an interesting Nrf2 inducer, very potent antioxidant and neuroprotectant.
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    When It Comes to an End: Oxidative Stress Crosstalk with Protein Aggregation and Neuroinflammation Induce Neurodegeneration
    (Antioxidants, 2020) Michalska Dziama, Patrycja; León Martínez, Rafael
    Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a progressive loss of neurons in the brain or spinal cord that leads to a loss of function of the affected areas. The lack of effective treatments and the ever-increasing life expectancy is raising the number of individuals affected, having a tremendous social and economic impact. The brain is particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage given the high energy demand, low levels of antioxidant defenses, and high levels of metal ions. Driven by age-related changes, neurodegeneration is characterized by increased oxidative stress leading to irreversible neuronal damage, followed by cell death. Nevertheless, neurodegenerative diseases are known as complex pathologies where several mechanisms drive neuronal death. Herein we discuss the interplay among oxidative stress, proteinopathy, and neuroinflammation at the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we discuss the use of the Nrf2-ARE pathway as a potential therapeutic strategy based on these molecular mechanisms to develop transformative medicines.
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    Novel Multitarget Hybrid Compounds for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
    (Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 2016) Michalska Dziama, Patrycja; Buendia, Izaskun; Almale Del Barrio, Laura; León Martínez, Rafael
    Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent among the aging diseases known as neurodegenerative disorders. Drug design programs over the last two decades were mainly based on the cholinergic, the amyloid or the tau hypothesis. However, none of the new drugs have a real impact on the outcome of the disease. The complex nature of AD has led to new approaches for drug development programs, the multitarget drug design hypothesis. Based on this hypothesis, the generation of multitarget hybrid compounds from previously known active molecules has been one of the most widely used to obtain new candidates for the future treatment of AD. Here, we summarize recent developments based on the hybridization hypothesis to obtain a potential clinical candidate for AD.