Sulindac Sulfide Is a Noncompetitive γ-Secretase Inhibitor That Preferentially Reduces Aβ42 Generation

Abstract Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been known to reduce risk for Alzheimer's disease. In addition to the anti-inflammatory effects of NSAIDs to block cylooxygenase, it has been shown recently that a subset of NSAIDs selectively inhibits the secretion of highly amyloidogenic Aβ42 from cultured cells, although the molecular target(s) of NSAIDs in reducing the activity of γ-secretase for Aβ42 generation (γ42-secretase) still remain unknown. Here we show that sulindac sulfide (SSide) directly acts on γ-secretase and preferentially inhibits the γ42-secretase activity derived from the 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonate-solubilized membrane fractions of HeLa cells, in an in vitroγ-secretase assay using recombinant amyloid β precursor protein C100 as a substrate. SSide also inhibits activities for the generation of Aβ40 as well as for Notch intracellular domain at higher concentrations. Notably, SSide displayed linear noncompetitive inhibition profiles for γ42-secretase in vitro. Our data suggest that SSide is a direct inhibitor of γ-secretase that preferentially affects the γ42-secretase activity.