Exploring 2-Thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidines as Dual Acting GSK-3β/Aβ Aggregation Inhibitors: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment

Abstract

The etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is complex and multifactorial. There is a pressing need for therapies that can prevent or slow AD progression. Consequently, drug development has shifted from single-target approaches to multi-faceted strategies that emphasize early intervention rather than late-stage treatment. One promising target is glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), an enzyme implicated in tau hyperphosphorylation and Aβ plaque formation. Based on our earlier work, we synthesized 25 2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine derivatives designed as GSK-3β inhibitors, tau phosphorylation inhibitors, and Aβ accumulation. Two compounds emerged as particularly effective: compound 63 (IC₅₀ = 1.69 µM) and compound 66 (IC₅₀ = 0.90 µM), with compound 66 identified as an ATP-competitive inhibitor of GSK-3β. Further pharmacokinetic studies and in vitro drug metabolism assessments were conducted, followed by in vivo efficacy studies using Caenorhabditis elegans. Notably, these compounds reduced phosphorylated tau levels in the BR5706 strain and decreased Aβ aggregate deposition in the CL2006 strain. Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulations were also performed on both compounds. These findings provide valuable insights into GSK-3β drug development and highlight the potential of these inhibitors as therapeutic candidates for AD by targeting both tau and Aβ, the two pathological hallmarks of AD.