Leucettinib-21 decreases dosage effects of DYRK1A in human trisomy 21 induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural cells.

Dosage imbalance of dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) is a feature of several neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, including Down syndrome, DYRK1A syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Thus, manipulating DYRK1A activity in the brain has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for neurological disorders. Several DYRK1A inhibitors have shown promise for improving cognition in rodent models of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease, for example, but the ability of these inhibitors to affect DYRK1A levels or activity in relevant human cells has not been established. We filled this gap by testing the effects of a new DYRK1A inhibitor on trisomy 21 induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural progenitor cells and neurons, in which DYRK1A expression and activity are increased. Our results demonstrated that Leucettinib-21, a potent and selective low-molecular-mass pharmacological inhibitor of DYRK1A, decreases DYRK1A activity in human trisomy 21 iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells and cortical neurons. Leucettinib-21 reduces DYRK1A activity in a relevant human disease model, supporting future human trials.