Optimization of Lipophilic Metalloporphyrins Modifies Disease Outcomes in a Rat Model of Parkinsonism

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD), and one strategy for neuroprotective therapy for PD is to scavenge reactive species using a catalytic antioxidant. Previous studies in our laboratory revealed that pretreatment of lipophilic metalloporphyrins showed protective effects in a mouse PD model. In this study, we optimized the formulations of these metalloporphyrins to deliver them orally and tested their efficacy on disease outcomes in a second species after initiation of an insult (i.e., disease modification). In this study, a pharmaceutical formulation of two metalloporphyrin catalytic antioxidants, AEOL11207 and AEOL11114, was tested for oral drug delivery. Both compounds showed gastrointestinal absorption, achieved high plasma concentrations, and readily penetrated the blood-brain barrier after intravenous or oral delivery. AEOL11207 and AEOL11114 bioavailabilities were calculated to be 24% and 25%, respectively, at a dose of 10 mg/kg via the oral route. In addition, both compounds significantly attenuated 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxic damage, including dopamine depletion, cytokine production, and microglial activation in the striata; dopaminergic neuronal loss in the substantia nigra; oxidative/nitrative stress indices (glutathione disulfide and 3-nitrotyrosine) in the ventral midbrain; and rotation behavioral abnormality in rats. These results indicate that AEOL11207 and AEOL11114 are orally active metalloporphyrins and protect against 6-OHDA neurotoxicity 1-3 days postlesioning, suggesting disease-modifying properties and translational potential for PD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Two catalytic antioxidants showed gastrointestinal absorption, achieved high plasma concentrations, and readily penetrated the blood-brain barrier. Both compounds significantly attenuated dopamine depletion, cytokine production, microglial activation, dopaminergic neuronal loss, oxidative/nitrative stress indices, and behavioral abnormality in a Parkinson disease rat model. The results suggest that both metalloporphyrins possess disease-modifying properties that may be useful in treating Parkinson disease.