WLB-89462 is a ligand of sigma intracellular receptor 2 (σ2 receptor).[1] It selectively binds to the σ2 receptor (Ki = 13 nM) over the σ1 receptor (Ki = 1,777 nM). WLB-89462 (10 µM) prevents decreases in the number of dopaminergic neurons in an in vitro model of neurodegeneration using primary rat neurons and induced by the neurotoxin N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). In vivo, WLB-89462 (10 mg/kg) improves short-term memory in the T-maze in rats in a model of Alzheimer’s disease induced by hippocampal amyloid-β peptide injection.
References:
[1].Christmann, U., Díaz, J.L., Pascual, R., et al.Discovery of WLB-89462, a new drug-like and highly selective σ2 receptor ligand with neuroprotective propertiesJ. Med. Chem.66(17)12499-12519(2023).