Fetzima (levomilnacipran), a Drug for Major Depressive Disorder as a Dual Inhibitor for Human Serotonin Transporters and Beta-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme-1

Title:Fetzima (levomilnacipran), a Drug for Major Depressive Disorder as a Dual Inhibitor for Human Serotonin Transporters and Beta-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme-1

Volume: 13 Issue: 8

Author(s): Syed Mohd. Danish Rizvi, Sibhghatulla Shaikh, Mahiuddin Khan, Deboshree Biswas, Nida Hameed and Shazi Shakil

Affiliation:

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, major depressive disorder, fetzima, beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1, serotonin transporters.

Abstract: Pharmacological management of Major Depressive Disorder includes the use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors which targets serotonin transporters (SERT) to increase the synaptic concentrations of serotonin. Beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1) is responsible for amyloid β plaque formation. Hence it is an interesting target for Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy. This study describes molecular interactions of a new Food and Drug Administration approved antidepressant drug named ‘Fetzima’ with BACE-1 and SERT. Fetzima is chemically known as levomilnacipran. The study has explored a possible link between the treatment of Depression and AD. ‘Autodock 4.2’ was used for docking study. The free energy of binding (ΔG) values for ‘levomilnacipran-SERT’ interaction and ‘levomilnacipran-BACE1’ interaction were found to be -7.47 and -8.25 kcal/mol, respectively. Levomilnacipran was found to interact with S438, known to be the most important amino acid residue of serotonin binding site of SERT during ‘levomilnacipran-SERT’ interaction. In the case of ‘levomilnacipran-BACE1’ interaction, levomilnacipran interacted with two very crucial aspartic acid residues of BACE-1, namely, D32 and D228. These residues are accountable for the cleavage of amyloid precursor protein and the subsequent formation of amyloid β plaques in AD brain. Hence, Fetzima (levomilnacipran) might act as a potent dual inhibitor of SERT and BACE-1 and expected to form the basis of a future dual therapy against depression and AD. It is an established fact that development of AD is associated with Major Depressive Disorder. Therefore, the design of new BACE-1 inhibitors based on antidepressant drug scaffolds would be particularly beneficial.

Cite this article as:

Rizvi Mohd. Danish Syed, Shaikh Sibhghatulla, Khan Mahiuddin, Biswas Deboshree, Hameed Nida and Shakil Shazi, Fetzima (levomilnacipran), a Drug for Major Depressive Disorder as a Dual Inhibitor for Human Serotonin Transporters and Beta-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme-1, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2014; 13 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527313666141023145703