Benzoxazole-derivatives enhance progranulin expression and reverse the aberrant lysosomal proteome caused by GRN haploinsufficiency.

ABSTRACT: Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the GRN gene are a major cause of hereditary frontotemporal dementia. The mechanisms linking frontotemporal dementia pathogenesis to progranulin deficiency are not well understood, and there is currently no treatment. Our strategy to prevent the onset and progression of frontotemporal dementia in patients with GRN mutations is to utilize small molecule positive regulators of GRN expression to boost progranulin levels from the remaining functional GRN allele, thus restoring progranulin levels back to normal within the brain. This work describes a series of blood-brain-barrier-penetrant small molecules which significantly increase progranulin protein levels in human cellular models, correct progranulin protein deficiency in Grn^+/- mouse b

SUBMITTER: Tesla R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11271458 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature