Neuroprotective agent; NAMPT

P7C3 prevents BV2 cells from producing pro-inflammatory factors when exposed to LPS [3]. In BV2 cells treated with 100 ng/mL of LPS, P7C3 dramatically and dose-dependently decreased the protein levels of iNOS and COX-2 without compromising cell viability [3]. In BV2 cells, P7C3 prevents LPS-induced nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit [3]. By preventing IκB kinase (IKK) activation, P7C3 prevents LPS-induced inhibitory κB α (IκBα) degradation [3].

In vivo P7C3 (20 mg/kg/d; i.p.; twice daily; for 21 days) prevents the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons mediated by microglia and microglial activation [3].

Western Blot Analysis[3]
Cell Types: BV2 cells
Tested Concentrations: 0.1 μM, 1 μM, 10 μM
Incubation Duration: 2 hrs (hours)
Experimental Results: decreased the protein levels of iNOS, COX-2.

Animal/Disease Models: 6-8 weeks male C57BL/6 mice (25-30 g)[3]
Doses: 20 mg/kg/d
Route of Administration: intraperitoneal (ip)injection, twice (two times) daily, for 21 days
Experimental Results: Strikingly diminished the expressions of (a microglia marker) and GFAP (an astrocyte marker) LPS-induced in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc).

[1]. Discovery of a proneurogenic, neuroprotective chemical. Cell. 2010 Jul 9;142(1):39-51.

[2]. P7C3 and an unbiased approach to drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases. Chem Soc Rev. 2014 Oct 7;43(19):6716-26.

[3]. P7C3 Inhibits LPS-Induced Microglial Activation to Protect Dopaminergic Neurons Against Inflammatory Factor-Induced Cell Death in vitro and in vivo. Front Cell Neurosci. 2018; 12: 400.

[4]. Blaya MO, Wasserman JM, Pieper AA, Sick TJ, Bramlett HM, Dietrich WD. Neurotherapeutic capacity of P7C3 agents for the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury. Neuropharmacology. 2019;145(Pt B):268-282.

An in vivo screen was performed in search of chemicals capable of enhancing neuron formation in the hippocampus of adult mice. Eight of 1000 small molecules tested enhanced neuron formation in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. Among these was an aminopropyl carbazole, designated P7C3, endowed with favorable pharmacological properties. In vivo studies gave evidence that P7C3 exerts its proneurogenic activity by protecting newborn neurons from apoptosis. Mice missing the gene encoding neuronal PAS domain protein 3 (NPAS3) are devoid of hippocampal neurogenesis and display malformation and electrophysiological dysfunction of the dentate gyrus. Prolonged administration of P7C3 to npas3(-/-) mice corrected these deficits by normalizing levels of apoptosis of newborn hippocampal neurons. Prolonged administration of P7C3 to aged rats also enhanced neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus, impeded neuron death, and preserved cognitive capacity as a function of terminal aging.[1]

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A novel neuroprotective small molecule was discovered using a target-agnostic in vivo screen in living mice. This aminopropyl carbazole, named P7C3, is orally bioavailable, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and is non-toxic at doses several fold higher than the efficacious dose. The potency and drug-like properties of P7C3 were optimized through a medicinal chemistry campaign, providing analogues for detailed examination. Improved versions, such as (-)-P7C3-S243 and P7C3-A20, displayed neuroprotective properties in rodent models of Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and age-related cognitive decline. Derivatives appended with immobilizing moieties may reveal the protein targets of the P7C3 class of neuroprotective compounds. Our results indicate that unbiased, in vivo screens might provide starting points for the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases as well as tools to study the biology underlying these disorders.[2]

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Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Although its pathogenesis remains unclear, growing evidencce suggests that microglia-mediated neuroinflammation contributes greatly to the progression of PD. P7C3, an aminopropyl carbazole, possesses significant neuroprotective effects in several neurodegenerative disease animal models, including PD. In this study, we designed to investigate the effects of P7C3 on neuroinflammation. We showed that P7C3 specially suppressed the expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory factors but not influenced the anti-inflammatory factors in microglia. The inhibition of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway was involved in the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effects by P7C3. LPS-induced activation of IκB kinase (IKK), degradation of the inhibitory κB alpha (IκBα) and nuclear translocation of NF-κB can be attenuated by the pretreatment of P7C3 in microglia. Furthermore, in LPS-treated microglia, P7C3-pretreatment decreased the toxicity of conditioned media to MES23.5 cells (a dopaminergic (DA) cell line). Most importantly, the anti-inflammatory effects of P7C3 were observed in LPS-stimulated mouse model. In general, our study demonstrates that P7C3 inhibits LPS-induced microglial activation through repressing the NF-κB pathway both in vivo and in vitro, providing a theoretical basis for P7C3 in anti-inflammation.[3]

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health problem around the world. A promising area of research is the characterization of small, drug-like molecules that have potent clinical properties. One pharmacotherapeutic agent in particular, an aminopropyl carbazole called P7C3, was discovered using an in vivo screen to identify new agents that augmented the net magnitude of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. P7C3 greatly enhanced neurogenesis by virtue of increasing survival rates of immature neurons. The potent neuroprotective efficacy of P7C3 is likely due to enhanced nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) activity, which supports critical cellular processes. The scaffold of P7C3 was found to have favorable pharmacokinetic properties, good bioavailability, and was nontoxic. Preclinical studies have shown that administration of the P7C3-series of neuroprotective compounds after TBI can rescue and reverse detrimental cellular events leading to improved functional recovery. In several TBI models and across multiple species, P7C3 and its analogues have produced significant neuroprotection, axonal preservation, robust increases in the net magnitude of adult neurogenesis, protection from injury-induced LTP deficits, and improvement in neurological functioning. This review will elucidate the exciting and diverse therapeutic findings of P7C3 administration in the presence of a complex and multifactorial set of cellular and molecular challenges brought forth by experimental TBI. The clinical potential and broad therapeutic applicability of P7C3 warrants much needed investigation into whether these remedial effects can be replicated in the clinic. P7C3 may serve as an important step forward in the design, understanding, and implementation of pharmacotherapies for treating patients with TBI. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "Novel Treatments for Traumatic Brain Injury".[4]

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C21H18BR2N2O

474.19

471.978

C, 53.19; H, 3.83; Br, 33.70; N, 5.91; O, 3.37

301353-96-8

P7C3-A20;1235481-90-9

2836187

White to off-white solid powder

1.6±0.1 g/cm3

656.4±55.0 °C at 760 mmHg

350.8±31.5 °C

0.0±2.1 mmHg at 25°C

1.687

6.6

2

2

5

26

433

0

BrC1C([H])=C([H])C2=C(C=1[H])C1C([H])=C(C([H])=C([H])C=1N2C([H])([H])C([H])(C([H])([H])N([H])C1C([H])=C([H])C([H])=C([H])C=1[H])O[H])Br

FZHHRERIIVOATI-UHFFFAOYSA-N

InChI=1S/C21H18Br2N2O/c22-14-6-8-20-18(10-14)19-11-15(23)7-9-21(19)25(20)13-17(26)12-24-16-4-2-1-3-5-16/h1-11,17,24,26H,12-13H2

1-anilino-3-(3,6-dibromocarbazol-9-yl)propan-2-ol

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

Solubility in Formulation 1: ≥ 2.08 mg/mL (4.39 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 40% PEG300 + 5% Tween80 + 45% Saline (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 20.8 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 400 μL PEG300 and mix evenly; then add 50 μL Tween-80 to the above solution and mix evenly; then add 450 μL normal saline to adjust the volume to 1 mL.
Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH₂ O to obtain a clear solution.

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Solubility in Formulation 2: ≥ 2.08 mg/mL (4.39 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% Corn Oil (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 20.8 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of corn oil and mix evenly.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)