Abstract
Background and purpose: Montelukast, an antagonist of the cysteinyl
leukotrienes receptor 1, has been proposed for repurposing for the
treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Clinical trials are ongoing but the mechanisms supporting this
repurposing are still poorly understood. Experimental Approach: Taking
advantage of proteomics datasets deposited in public repositories, data
from mouse brain and a neuronal chicken model exposed to the drug were
reinterpreted in view of the repurposing proposal. Key Results:
Montelukast increases the levels of presenilin 1, nicastrin, neprilysin,
and insulin-degrading enzyme, all of which are involved in the amyloid
aggregation and clearance processes. Hexokinase 1, malate and isocitrate
dehydrogenate enzymes, from central metabolism pathways, are also
affected. Conclusions and Implications: The data suggest that
montelukast is a modulator of the amyloid clearance process, favouring
the removal of aggregates and counterbalancing the overall amyloidogenic
process. Montelukast also acts on energy supply pathways, compensating
the ageing-associated decrease of the basal cell metabolism. Taken
together, these actions of montelukast clearly support its repurposing
as a candidate for Alzheimer’s disease management.