NUZ-001 Shows Promise in Zebrafish Model of Huntington's Disease
Highlights:
- NUZ-001 and its active metabolite NUZ-001 Sulfone demonstrated significant neuroprotective effects in a zebrafish model of Huntington's disease
- Treatment prevented hallmark developmental and morphological abnormalities, protected against neuronal cell death, restored delayed haemoglobin production, and rescued BDNF expression following Htt protein knockdown
- Neurizon plans to initiate additional validation studies in mammalian models of Huntington's disease
- These findings reinforce NUZ-001's potential as a platform therapy targeting core neurodegenerative mechanisms
In this disease model of HD, the targeted knockdown of the Htt (huntingtin) protein mRNA knockdown approach, triggers characteristic HD-related deficits, including increased cell death (acridine orange staining), morphological malformations, impaired haemoglobin production (Benzidine staining), and reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a critical biomarker of neuronal function and survival. Treatment with NUZ-001 or NUZ-001 Sulfone following Htt knockdown prevented developmental and morphological abnormalities, attenuated neuronal cell death, restored the delayed production of haemoglobin, and rescued BDNF expression, providing evidence of their potential to counteract early neurodegenerative damage.
Dr.
About the Zebrafish Disease Model
Wild-type zebrafish embryos were raised in standard conditions. Morpholino antisense oligonucleotides (MOs) targeting Htt were injected into one-cell stage embryos to decrease Htt expression. NUZ-001 or NUZ-001 Sulfone at 1 and 10 μM concentrations were added to the embryonic media 6 hours post-fertilisation to evaluate the protective effects of NUZ-001 and NUZ-001 Sulfone on Htt knockdown-induced deficits. Changes in morphology (eye size and hindbrain swelling), neuronal cell death (apoptosis), and the levels of BDNF expression were analysed 2 days post-fertilisation (See Figure 1).
Knockdown of Htt (Htt MO) resulted in zebrafish embryos with smaller eyes and swollen hindbrain ventricles (See Figure 2a; arrows indicate hindbrain and eye regions) compared to the control group (Control MO). Partial rescue of eye size was observed following treatment with 1 μM and 10 μM NUZ-001 and NUZ-001 Sulfone, with full reversal of hind brain swelling at 10 μM NUZ-001 and NUZ-001 Sulfone. (Figure 2b). At 2 dpf, neuronal cell death (Apoptosis; See Figure 3) was significantly higher in the Htt knockdown zebrafish embryos compared to the control group. Treatment with 1 μM and 10 μM NUZ-001, and 10 μM NUZ-001 Sulfone significantly reduced neuronal cell death. Haemoglobin levels (Benzidine staining; See Figure 4) were significantly decreased in the Htt knockdown group compared to controls, whereas treatment with 1 μM and 10 μM NUZ-001, and with 1 μM and 10 μM NUZ-001 Sulfone provided partial rescue. Expression of BDNF transcripts (See Figure 5) was significantly rescued following treatment with 10 μM NUZ-001 and 10 μM NUZ-001 Sulfone.
NUZ-001 is currently in clinical development for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), where it has shown preclinical efficacy in enhancing proteostasis, reducing pathological protein aggregation, and preserving neuronal function. The new findings in the HD model further underscore NUZ-001's potential as a platform therapy that targets fundamental cellular stress and clearance mechanisms common to multiple neurodegenerative diseases.
Neurizon plans to advance additional preclinical studies in mammalian models of Huntington's disease as part of its broader strategy to expand the therapeutic applications of NUZ-001 into other progressive neurological disorders with high unmet need.
About Huntington's Disease
Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare, inherited (genetic) neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive degeneration of motor function, cognition, and mental health. It is caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the Htt gene, leading to the production of a mutant huntingtin protein (mHtt) with an abnormally long polyglutamine (polyQ) tract. This mutant protein misfolds and forms toxic aggregates in neurons, particularly in the striatum and cortex, disrupting cellular functions such as gene transcription, protein degradation, and mitochondrial activity. Over time, these aggregates contribute to neuronal dysfunction and death, resulting in the hallmark symptoms of chorea (involuntary movements), cognitive decline, and behavioural disturbances.
HD is most often diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can also occur earlier, including in children and adolescents (a form known as juvenile-onset Huntington's disease (JHD)). The condition typically progresses over 15 to 20 years, during which individuals experience a gradual decline in their ability to work, communicate, manage daily activities, and maintain independence.
At present, there are no approved therapies that modify the underlying progression of HD. Current treatment approaches focus on symptom management. Chorea may be treated with dopamine-depleting agents, while psychiatric symptoms are typically managed with antidepressants or antipsychotics. However, these treatments do not alter the course of the disease.
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