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Pereira AAR, Pinto AM, Malerba HN, Toricelli M, Buck HS, Viel TA. Microdose lithium improves behavioral deficits and modulates molecular mechanisms of memory formation in female SAMP-8, a mouse model of accelerated aging. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299534. [PMID: 38574297 PMCID: PMC10994667 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neuronal disorder that leads to the development of dementia. Until nowadays, some therapies may alleviate the symptoms, but there is no pharmacological treatment. Microdosing lithium has been used to modify the pathological characteristics of the disease, with effects in both experimental and clinical conditions. The present work aimed to analyze the effects of this treatment on spatial memory, anxiety, and molecular mechanisms related to long-term memory formation during the aging process of a mouse model of accelerated aging (SAMP-8). Female SAMP-8 showed learning and memory impairments together with disruption of memory mechanisms, neuronal loss, and increased density of senile plaques compared to their natural control strain, the senescence-accelerated mouse resistant (SAMR-1). Chronic treatment with lithium promoted memory maintenance, reduction in anxiety, and maintenance of proteins related to memory formation and neuronal density. The density of senile plaques was also reduced. An increase in the density of gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) and α7 nicotinic cholinergic receptors was also observed and related to neuroprotection and anxiety reduction. In addition, this microdose of lithium inhibited the activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3β), the classical mechanism of lithium cell effects, which could contribute to the preservation of the memory mechanism and reduction in senile plaque formation. This work shows that lithium effects in neuroprotection along the aging process are not related to a unique cellular mechanism but produce multiple effects that slowly protect the brain along the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Antonio Ruiz Pereira
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate Course on Pharmacology, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of Aging, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Macedo Pinto
- Graduate Course on Gerontology, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Helena Nascimento Malerba
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate Course on Pharmacology, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of Aging, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Toricelli
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of Aging, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hudson Sousa Buck
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of Aging, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Physiology, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tania Araujo Viel
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate Course on Pharmacology, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of Aging, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Graduate Course on Gerontology, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Zhou X, Wu X, Wang R, Han L, Li H, Zhao W. Mechanisms of 3-Hydroxyl 3-Methylglutaryl CoA Reductase in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:170. [PMID: 38203341 PMCID: PMC10778631 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide and has a high incidence in the elderly. Unfortunately, there is no effective therapy for AD owing to its complicated pathogenesis. However, the development of lipid-lowering anti-inflammatory drugs has heralded a new era in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Several studies in recent years have shown that lipid metabolic dysregulation and neuroinflammation are associated with the pathogenesis of AD. 3-Hydroxyl 3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR) is a rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis that plays a key role in cholesterol metabolism. HMGCR inhibitors, known as statins, have changed from being solely lipid-lowering agents to neuroprotective compounds because of their effects on lipid levels and inflammation. In this review, we first summarize the main regulatory mechanism of HMGCR affecting cholesterol biosynthesis. We also discuss the pathogenesis of AD induced by HMGCR, including disordered lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, microglial proliferation, and amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition. Subsequently, we explain the possibility of HMGCR as a potential target for AD treatment. Statins-based AD treatment is an ascent field and currently quite controversial; therefore, we also elaborate on the current application prospects and limitations of statins in AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Zhou
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China; (X.Z.); (X.W.); (R.W.); (L.H.)
- Department of Endocrinology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen 518033, China;
| | - Xiaolang Wu
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China; (X.Z.); (X.W.); (R.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Rui Wang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China; (X.Z.); (X.W.); (R.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Lu Han
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China; (X.Z.); (X.W.); (R.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Huilin Li
- Department of Endocrinology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen 518033, China;
| | - Wei Zhao
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China; (X.Z.); (X.W.); (R.W.); (L.H.)
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