Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate delays onset, prolongs survival, and slows progression of disease in a mouse model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Mutations in copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause a form of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The pathogenesis of familial ALS may be associated with aberrant copper chemistry through a cysteine residue ill Mutant SOD1. Ammonium tetrathiomolybdaLe (TTM) is a copper-chelating drug that is capable of removing a copper ion from copper-thiolate Clusters, Such as SOD1. We found that TTM exerted therapeutic benefits in a mouse model of familial ALS (SOD1(G93A)). TTM treatment significantly delayed disease onset, slowed disease Progression and prolonged survival by approximately 20%, 42% and 25%, respectively. TTM also effectively depressed the spinal copper ion level and inhibited lipid peroxidation, with a significant Suppression of SOD1 enzymatic activity in SOD1(G93A). These results support the hypothesis that aberrant copper chemistry through a cysteine residue plays a critical role in mutant SOD1 toxicity and that TTM may be a promising therapy for familial ALS with SOD1 Mutants. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.