Cited by 137Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsHistone Deacetylase Inhibitors ResearchCholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mercaptoacetamide-based class II HDAC inhibitor lowers Aβ levels and improves learning and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Open access
Sung, You Me, Lee, Taehee, Yoon, Hyejin, DiBattista, Amanda Marie, Song, Jung Min, Sohn, Yoojin, Moffat, Emily Isabella, Turner, R. Scott +3 more·2013·Experimental Neurology

Abstract

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) alter gene expression epigenetically by interfering with the normal functions of HDAC. Given their ability to decrease Aβ levels, HDACIs area potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it is unclear how HDACIs alter Aβ levels. We developed two novel HDAC inhibitors with improved pharmacological properties, such as a longer half-life and greater penetration of the blood-brain barrier: mercaptoacetamide-based class II HDACI (coded as W2) and hydroxamide-based class I and IIHDACI (coded as I2) and investigated how they affect Aβ levels and cognition. HDACI W2 decreased Aβ40 and Aβ42 in vitro. HDACI I2 also decreased Aβ40, but not Aβ42. We systematically examined the molecular mechanisms by which HDACIs W2 and I2 can decrease Aβ levels. HDACI W2 decreased gene expression of γ-secretase components and increased the Aβ degradation enzyme Mmp2. Similarly, HDACI I2 decreased expression of β- and γ-secretase components and increased mRNA levels of Aβ degradation enzymes. HDACI W2 also significantly decreased Aβ levels and rescued learning and memory deficits in aged hAPP 3x Tg AD mice. Furthermore, we found that the novel HDACI W2 decreased tau phosphorylation at Thr181, an effect previously unknown for HDACIs. Collectively, these data suggest that class II HDACls may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for AD.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Novel mercaptoacetamide-based class II HDAC inhibitor W2 lowers Aβ levels, reduces tau phosphorylation at Thr181, and improves learning and memory in hAPP 3xTg AD mice. The study also identifies transcriptional downregulation of Aβ-producing enzymes and upregulation of Aβ-degrading enzymes as possible mechanisms.

Key findings

  • In N2a-APP cells, W2 decreased human Aβ40 and Aβ42 by 20%, while I2 significantly decreased Aβ40 but not Aβ42; W2 or I2 also decreased rodent Aβ40 by 20% in primary cortical neurons.
  • W2 increased cell surface APP by 33% at 2 hrs and both W2 and I2 increased it about twofold at 24 hrs; in vivo, W2 increased sAPPα and decreased sAPPβ.
  • In 9–10 month old hAPP 3xTg AD mice, W2 (50 mg/kg daily i.p.) decreased soluble Aβ40 after 2 weeks and decreased soluble and insoluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 after 4 weeks; W2 also reduced Thr181 phospho-tau by approximately 50% without changing total tau or tau kinases.
  • W2 improved learning and memory in wild-type mice and rescued cognitive deficits in 9–10 month old hAPP 3xTg AD mice, as shown by increased platform crossings without altered swim speed.

Methods

  • In vitro: N2a cells overexpressing hAPP, primary rat cortical and hippocampal neurons, Aβ ELISA, cell surface biotinylation, live cell surface staining, and qPCR for Aβ synthesis/degradation genes.
  • In vivo: 9–10 month old hAPP 3xTg AD mice and 2–3 month old wild-type mice received W2 (50 mg/kg, daily i.p.) or control for 2 or 4 weeks; brain Aβ was measured by DEA/FA fractionation and ELISA, with immunoblotting for APP cleavage products and tau phosphorylation.
  • Behavior: Morris water maze assessed spatial learning and memory; statistics used two-tailed t-tests or one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc, and two-way ANOVA for escape latencies, with significance at p<0.05.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the lowest optimal dose of HDACIs and additional molecular mechanisms affecting cognitive performance are still being investigated.
  • Evident from the text: I2 was not tested in vivo; W2 was selected for in vivo work because it was more effective in reducing Aβ in vitro, so the in vivo findings apply only to W2.
  • Evident from the text: the study reports cognitive rescue in the 3xTg AD model but does not establish whether the effects generalize to other AD models or to human AD.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.expneurol.2012.10.005

Cites

28 of 28 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

4 of 6 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    APP located at the cell surface is more likely to undergo α-secretase cleavage to produce sAPPα, thereby reducing Aβ production.

    “Thus, APP located at the cell surface is more likely to undergo α-secretase cleavage to produce sAPPα, thereby reducing Aβ production.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites De Strooper, et al., 2010 source

      The α-Secretases, Biological activity section says α-secretase cleavage produces soluble APPsα and can reduce Aβ production, although the latter finding has not been universally replicated. It does not say that APP at the cell surface is more likely to undergo this cleavage than APP elsewhere. (LLM, conf=0.86)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Findingown data

    In primary cortical neurons, W2 (5 μM) for 24 hrs increased cell surface levels of APP.

    “We observed a similar increase in surface levels of APP with HDACI W2 (n=3, Figs. 2E, F).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In vitro, HDACI W2 had a greater effect on reducing Aβ levels compared to I2.

    “Since we observed a greater effect on Aβ levels by treating with HDACI W2 compared to I2in vitro, we continued to examine the effect of HDACI W2 on Aβ production in vivo.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In 9-10 month old hAPP 3xTg AD mice injected with W2 (50 mg/kg daily i.p.) for 4 weeks, W2 improved learning and memory as evidenced by increased number of platform crossings without altering swim speed.

    “We found that W2 treatment improved learning and memory in 9-10 month old hAPP 3x Tg AD mice as evidenced by increased number of platform crossings without altering swim speed (Figs. 6E-H, n=12/group).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In primary cortical neurons treated with 5 μM I2 for 24 hrs, I2 significantly repressed expression of β-secretase component BACE1 and γ-secretase components Nicastrin and Psen2.

    “while I2 significantly repressed expression of β-(BACE1) and γ-secretase components (Nicastrin and Psen2) (Figs.3C, D).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 10
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 1
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    The novel HDAC inhibitors W2 (mercaptoacetamide-based class II) and I2 (hydroxamide-based class I and II) have improved pharmacological properties, including longer half-life and greater blood-brain barrier penetration, compared to commercially available HDACIs.

    “We developed two novel HDAC inhibitors with improved pharmacological properties, such as a longer half-life and greater penetration of the blood-brain barrier: mercaptoacetamide-based class II HDACI (coded as W2) and hydroxamide-based class I and IIHDACI (coded as I2)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim2 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Konsoula and Jung, 2008 source

      Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Konsoula, et al., 2009 source

      Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Konsoula, et al., 2011 source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Several recent studies reported that commercially available HDACIs alter Aβ levels by an unknown mechanism.

    “Interestingly, several recent studies reported that the commercially available HDACIs alter Aβ levels by an unknown mechanism (Kilgore et al., 2010;Ricobaraza et al., 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Kilgore et al., 2010 source

      The Results and Discussion report that HDAC inhibitors restored memory performance in APP/PS1 mice, while the Discussion mentions elevated Aβ in the context of Alzheimer’s pathology. Neither those passages nor searches for treatment-related changes in amyloid levels show that the inhibitors altered Aβ levels or discuss a mechanism for such a change. (LLM, conf=0.73)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Ricobaraza et al., 2011

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In 9-10 month old hAPP 3xTg AD mice injected with 50 mg/kg W2 daily i.p. for 2 weeks, W2 significantly decreased soluble Aβ40 levels compared to control, but did not change soluble Aβ42 levels.

    “HDACI W2 treatment significantly decreased soluble Aβ40 levels compared to control-injected mice, but there was no change in soluble Aβ42 levels (Figs.4A, B, n=10/group).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    In primary cortical neurons, HDACI W2 treatment significantly increased Mmp2 expression.

    “Additionally, we observed that HDACI W2 treatment significantly increased Mmp2 expression”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In 2-3 month old wild-type mice injected with W2 (50 mg/kg daily i.p.) for 4 weeks, W2 improved learning and memory as evidenced by increased time spent in target quadrant and number of platform crossings without altering swim speed.

    “We initially injected 2-3 month old wild-type mice for 4 weeks with W2 (50 mg/kg, daily i.p.) or control (10% DMSO), and found that W2 treated wild-type mice had improved learning and memory as evidenced by increased time spent in the target quadrant and number of platform crossings without altering swim speed (Figs. 6A-D, n=12/group).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In hAPP 3xTg AD mice injected with W2 for 4 weeks, W2 specifically reduced phosphorylation of tau at Thr181, with approximately 50% decrease in Thr181 phospho-tau protein.

    “Interestingly, HDACI W2 specifically reduced phosphorylation of tau at the Thr181 site (Figs. 5D-F, n=4).”
    • Also stated in: § Class II HDACI W2 decreases tau phosphorylation at Thr181 in hAPP 3xTg AD mice · plain
      “Quantification of these blots revealed that the HDACI W2 induced an approximately 50% decrease in levels of the Thr181 phospho-tau protein (Fig. 5F, n=4/group).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In N2a-APP cells, 5 μM I2 significantly decreased human Aβ40 levels but did not change human Aβ42 levels compared to control.

    “Interestingly, 5 μM I2 significantly decreased human Aβ40 levels in N2a-APP cells; however, there were no changes in human Aβ42 levels compared to control (Figs. 1C,D; n=6).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In hAPP 3xTg AD mice injected with 50 mg/kg W2 daily i.p. for 4 weeks, W2 significantly increased sAPPα and significantly decreased sAPPβ compared to control.

    “HDACI W2 treatment significantly increased sAPPα and significantly decreased sAPPβ, compared to the control group (Figs.4E, F, n=3/group).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    HDAC inhibition decreased expression of genes involved in Aβ production and induced expression of Aβ degradation enzymes.

    “HDAC inhibition decreased expression of genes involved in Aβ production and induced expression of Aβ degradation enzymes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: HDAC inhibitors alter gene expression epigenetically by interfering with normal HDAC functions.
    • Rests on an assumption: Changes in mRNA levels of Aβ synthesis and degradation enzymes lead to corresponding changes in enzyme activity and Aβ clearance.
    • Rests on an assumption: W2 and I2 inhibit HDACs in the tested systems.
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The novel HDACIs W2 and I2 have dual effects of down-regulating Aβ production pathways while simultaneously up-regulating Aβ clearance mechanisms.

    “Taken together, our data suggest that our novel compounds have dual effects of down-regulating Aβ production pathways while simultaneously up-regulating Aβ clearance mechanisms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Changes in mRNA levels of Aβ synthesis and degradation enzymes lead to corresponding changes in enzyme activity and Aβ clearance.
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The novel HDACI W2 both decreases Aβ levels and modulates tau phosphorylation at Thr181 in vivo.

    “Collectively, these data suggest that our novel HDACI W2 not only affected Aβ levels, but also modulated tau phosphorylation at Thr181in vivo.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The novel Class II HDACI W2 decreases Aβ levels and improves learning and memory.

    “Our study demonstrates that the novel Class II HDACI W2 decreases Aβ levelsand improves learning and memory.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
12 of 12
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    HDAC inhibitors alter gene expression epigenetically by interfering with normal HDAC functions.

    “Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) alter gene expression epigenetically by interfering with the normal functions of HDAC.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Commercially available HDACIs have poor pharmacological properties.

    “However, these commercially available HDACIs have poor pharmacological properties.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    9-10 month old hAPP 3xTg AD mice exhibit mild cognitive impairment.

    “we injected 9-10 month old hAPP 3x Tg AD mice (with mild cognitive impairment) for 4 weeks with W2 (50 mg/kg, daily i.p.) or control.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings in mouse models of AD translate to therapeutic benefit in human dementias, including AD.

    “Taken together, these data demonstrate that our novel compound Class II HDACI W2 mayhave the potential toalleviatecritical neuropathogenic processes in dementias, including AD, providing broad-spectrum therapeutic benefits.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Changes in mRNA levels of Aβ synthesis and degradation enzymes lead to corresponding changes in enzyme activity and Aβ clearance.

    “Taken together, our data suggest that our novel compounds have dual effects of down-regulating Aβ production pathways while simultaneously up-regulating Aβ clearance mechanisms.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    W2 and I2 inhibit HDACs in the tested systems.

    “HDAC inhibition decreased expression of genes involved in Aβ production and induced expression of Aβ degradation enzymes.”
6 of 6

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • HDACI effects on tau phosphorylation described as unknown despite cited prior finding

    Minor

    The results state that it was unknown whether HDAC inhibitors could alter tau phosphorylation, but the discussion describes a prior HDACI finding that decreased phosphorylated tau at Thr231.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Sung, Y. M., Lee, T., Yoon, H., DiBattista, A. M., Song, J. M., Sohn, Y., Moffat, E. I., Turner, R. S., Jung, M., Kim, J., & Hoe, H.-S.
Affiliations
  • Seoul National University (KR)
  • Georgetown University Medical Center (US)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
Corresponding author
  • Kim, Jungsu
  • Hoe, Hyang-Sook
Venue
Experimental Neurology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-01
Volume
239
Pages
192-201
ISSN
0014-4886 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2080228122
Cited by
137
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 7
FWCI
6.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Experimental Neurology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • NIH (AG034253, AG039708, AG026478, P30NS069329)
  • M4M Recipient of Young investigator award
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Keywords
histone deacetylase inhibitors, Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-beta, gamma-secretase, MMP-2, learning and memory, tau phosphorylation, blood-brain barrier penetration, epigenetic therapy
MeSH terms
Acetamides, Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Cells, Cultured, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Humans, Learning, Memory, Mice, Transgenic, Microinjections, Neurons, Phosphorylation, Thioglycolates, Transfection, Blotting, Western, Amyloid beta-Peptides, Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor, tau Proteins, Maze Learning, Mice, Histone Deacetylase 2, Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-17.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-17.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review