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Niccoli T, Cabecinha M, Tillmann A, Kerr F, Wong CT, Cardenes D, Vincent AJ, Bettedi L, Li L, Grönke S, Dols J, Partridge L. Increased Glucose Transport into Neurons Rescues Aβ Toxicity in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2016; 26:2550. [PMID: 27676294 PMCID: PMC5628945 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Niccoli T, Cabecinha M, Tillmann A, Kerr F, Wong CT, Cardenes D, Vincent AJ, Bettedi L, Li L, Grönke S, Dols J, Partridge L. Increased Glucose Transport into Neurons Rescues Aβ Toxicity in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2016; 26:2291-300. [PMID: 27524482 PMCID: PMC5026704 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Glucose hypometabolism is a prominent feature of the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Disease progression is associated with a reduction in glucose transporters in both neurons and endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier. However, whether increasing glucose transport into either of these cell types offers therapeutic potential remains unknown. Using an adult-onset Drosophila model of Aβ (amyloid beta) toxicity, we show that genetic overexpression of a glucose transporter, specifically in neurons, rescues lifespan, behavioral phenotypes, and neuronal morphology. This amelioration of Aβ toxicity is associated with a reduction in the protein levels of the unfolded protein response (UPR) negative master regulator Grp78 and an increase in the UPR. We further demonstrate that genetic downregulation of Grp78 activity also protects against Aβ toxicity, confirming a causal effect of its alteration on AD-related pathology. Metformin, a drug that stimulates glucose uptake in cells, mimicked these effects, with a concomitant reduction in Grp78 levels and rescue of the shortened lifespan and climbing defects of Aβ-expressing flies. Our findings demonstrate a protective effect of increased neuronal uptake of glucose against Aβ toxicity and highlight Grp78 as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Niccoli
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Melissa Cabecinha
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Anna Tillmann
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Fiona Kerr
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Chi T Wong
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Dalia Cardenes
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Alec J Vincent
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Lucia Bettedi
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Li Li
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sebastian Grönke
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9b, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Jacqueline Dols
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9b, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Linda Partridge
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9b, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
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