The potential of lumbrokinase and serratiopeptidase for the degradation of Aβ 1–42 peptide – an in vitro and in silico approach

Abstract

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is diagnosed with the deposition of insoluble β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides in the neuropil of the brain leading to dementia. The extracellular deposition of the fibrillar Aβ peptide on the neurons is known as senile plaques. Therefore, Aβ degradation and clearance from the human body is a promising therapeutic approach in the medication of AD.

Methods

In the current study, the enzyme lumbrokinase (LK) was extracted and purified from earthworm and its activity was utilized toward Aβ 1–42 amyloids degradation in vitro alongside with an additional enzyme serratiopeptidase (SP) considering nattokinase (NK) as a standard.

Results

The output of this study revealed that preformed Aβ 1–42 amyloids was disintegrated by both LK and SP, as demonstrated from fluorescence assay using Thioflavin T dye. In addition, dynamic light scattering study revealed the lower size of the preformed fibrils Aβ 1–42 at various time intervals after incubation with the enzymes LK and SP. Furthermore, in silico approach showed high affinity thermodynamically favorable interaction of LK as well as SP toward Aβ 1–42 amyloid. Finally, the toxicity of degraded preformed Aβ 1–42 amyloid was assessed by MTT assay which showed reduced toxicity of enzyme treated Aβ 1–42 amyloid compared to only Aβ 1–42 amyloid.

Conclusion

The findings of the present study indicated that LK and SP, not only had Aβ 1–42 amyloid degrading potential, but also could reduce the toxicity which can make them a suitable drug candidate for AD. Furthermore, the in vivo studies are needed to be executed in future.

Keywords:

• Lumbrokinase
• Alzheimer’s disease
• serratiopeptidase
• amyloid degradation
• amyloidosis
• fatal neurodegenerative disorders

Acknowledgements

Declared none.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

Additional information

Funding

We gratefully acknowledge the financial and infrastructural support from Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE). SM thanks CARE and UGC for providing research fellowship as a JRF and SRF. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India (Scheme No. 01(2868)/17/EMR-II), INDIA is acknowledged for financial support.