1
|
Oliveira WH, Braga CF, Lós DB, Araújo SMR, França MR, Duarte-Silva E, Rodrigues GB, Rocha SWS, Peixoto CA. Metformin prevents p-tau and amyloid plaque deposition and memory impairment in diabetic mice. Exp Brain Res 2021; 239:2821-2839. [PMID: 34283253 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-021-06176-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Insulin deficiency or resistance can promote dementia and hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The formation of neurofibrillary tangles of p-TAU protein, extracellular Aβ plaques, and neuronal loss is related to the switching off insulin signaling in cognition brain areas. Metformin is a biguanide antihyperglycemic drug used worldwide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Some studies have demonstrated that metformin exerts neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and nootropic effects. This study aimed to evaluate metformin's effects on long-term memory and p-Tau and amyloid β modulation, which are hallmarks of AD in diabetic mice. Swiss Webster mice were distributed in the following experimental groups: control; treated with streptozotocin (STZ) that is an agent toxic to the insulin-producing beta cells; STZ + metformin 200 mg/kg (M200). STZ mice showed significant augmentation of time spent to reach the target box in the Barnes maze, while M200 mice showed a significant time reduction. Moreover, the M200 group showed reduced GFAP immunoreactivity in hippocampal dentate gyrus and CA1 compared with the STZ group. STZ mice showed high p-Tau levels, reduced p-CREB, and accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaque in hippocampal areas and corpus callosum. In contrast, all these changes were reversed in the M200 group. Protein expressions of p-Tau, p-ERK, pGSK3, iNOS, nNOS, PARP, Cytochrome c, caspase 3, and GluN2A were increased in the parietal cortex of STZ mice and significantly counteracted in M200 mice. Moreover, M200 mice also showed significantly high levels of eNOS, AMPK, and p-AKT expression. In conclusion, metformin improved spatial memory in diabetic mice, which can be associated with reducing p-Tau and β-amyloid (Aβ) plaque load and inhibition of neuronal death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wilma Helena Oliveira
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences/Center of Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, CEP 50670-420, Brazil.,Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), FIOCRUZ, Av. Moraes Rego S/N, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Clarissa Figueiredo Braga
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), FIOCRUZ, Av. Moraes Rego S/N, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Deniele Bezerra Lós
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology/Northeast Network in Biotechnology (RENORBIO), Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Shyrlene Meiry Rocha Araújo
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences/Center of Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, CEP 50670-420, Brazil
| | - MariaEduarda Rocha França
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences/Center of Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, CEP 50670-420, Brazil.,Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), FIOCRUZ, Av. Moraes Rego S/N, Recife, PE, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology/Northeast Network in Biotechnology (RENORBIO), Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Biosciences and Biotechnology for Health (PPGBBS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-PE)/Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, PE, Brazil.,Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Duarte-Silva
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), FIOCRUZ, Av. Moraes Rego S/N, Recife, PE, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Biosciences and Biotechnology for Health (PPGBBS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-PE)/Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Barros Rodrigues
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences/Center of Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, CEP 50670-420, Brazil.,Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), FIOCRUZ, Av. Moraes Rego S/N, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Sura Wanessa Santos Rocha
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences/Center of Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, CEP 50670-420, Brazil
| | - Christina Alves Peixoto
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), FIOCRUZ, Av. Moraes Rego S/N, Recife, PE, Brazil. .,Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Duarte-Silva E, Meiry da Rocha Araújo S, Oliveira WH, Lós DB, Bonfanti AP, Peron G, de Lima Thomaz L, Verinaud L, Peixoto CA. Sildenafil Alleviates Murine Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by Triggering Autophagy in the Spinal Cord. Front Immunol 2021; 12:671511. [PMID: 34054847 PMCID: PMC8156813 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.671511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory and chronic Central Nervous System (CNS) disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The search for more promising drugs for the treatment of MS has led to studies on Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 Inhibitor (PDE5I) that has been shown to possess neuroprotective effects in the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. We have previously shown that Sildenafil improves the clinical score of EAE mice via modulation of apoptotic pathways, but other signaling pathways were not previously covered. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to further investigate the effects of Sildenafil treatment on autophagy and nitrosative stress signaling pathways in EAE. 24 female C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following groups: (A) Control - received only water; (B) EAE - EAE untreated mice; (C) SILD - EAE mice treated with 25mg/kg of Sildenafil s.c. The results showed that EAE mice presented a pro-nitrosative profile characterized by high tissue nitrite levels, lowered levels of p-eNOS and high levels of iNOS. Furthermore, decreased levels of LC3, beclin-1 and ATG5, suggests impaired autophagy, and decreased levels of AMPK in the spinal cord were also detected in EAE mice. Surprisingly, treatment with Sildenafil inhibited nitrosative stress and augmented the levels of LC3, beclin-1, ATG5, p-CREB and BDNF and decreased mTOR levels, as well as augmented p-AMPK. In conclusion, we propose that Sildenafil alleviates EAE by activating autophagy via the eNOS-NO-AMPK-mTOR-LC3-beclin1-ATG5 and eNOS-NO-AMPK-mTOR-CREB-BDNF pathways in the spinal cord.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Duarte-Silva
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biosciences and Biotechnology for Health (PPGBBS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-PE)/Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Brazil
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Recife, Brazil
| | - Shyrlene Meiry da Rocha Araújo
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences/Center of Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Brazil
| | - Wilma Helena Oliveira
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences/Center of Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Brazil
| | - Deniele Bezerra Lós
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology/Northeast Network in Biotechnology (RENORBIO), Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Brazil
| | - Amanda Pires Bonfanti
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Peron
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Livia de Lima Thomaz
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Liana Verinaud
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Christina Alves Peixoto
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
França MER, Ramos RKLG, Oliveira WH, Duarte-Silva E, Araújo SMR, Lós DB, Peixoto CA. Tadalafil restores long-term memory and synaptic plasticity in mice with hepatic encephalopathy. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2019; 379:114673. [PMID: 31323263 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2019.114673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Tadalafil displays important neuroprotective effects in experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases, however its mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the action of Tadalafil on learning and memory, neuroinflammation, glial cell activation and neuroprotection in the experimental model of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) induced by Thioacetamide (TAA) in mice. METHODS Mice received intraperitoneal injections of TAA, for 3 consecutive days, reaching the final dose of 600 mg/kg. Tadalafil 15 mg/kg body weight was administered by gavage during 15 days after TAA induction. Mice underwent a Barnes maze for learning and memory evaluation. RESULTS Animals with hepatic encephalopathy showed reduced learning and spatial memory in the Barnes Maze, presented astrocyte and microglia activation and increased neuroinflammatory markers such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, p-p38, p-ERK and p-NF-kB. In addition, the signaling pathway PKA/PKG/CREB/BDNF/NeuN/synaptophysin and glutamate receptors were deregulated by TAA. Tadalafil treatment regulated the inflammation signaling pathways restoring learning and spatial memory. CONCLUSION Tadalafil significantly reduced neuroinflammation, promoted neuroprotection and plasticity, regulated the expression of hippocampal glutamate receptor and restored spatial learning ability and memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eduarda Rocha França
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences (PPGCB), Federal University of Pernambuco Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | | | - Wilma Helena Oliveira
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences (PPGCB), Federal University of Pernambuco Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Duarte-Silva
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Biosciences and Biotechnology for Health (PPGBBS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-PE)/ Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Shyrlene Meyre Rocha Araújo
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences (PPGCB), Federal University of Pernambuco Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Deniele Bezerra Lós
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Christina Alves Peixoto
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Duarte-Silva E, Araújo SMDR, Oliveira WH, Lós DBD, França MERD, Bonfanti AP, Peron G, Thomaz LDL, Verinaud L, Nunes AKDS, Peixoto CA. Sildenafil ameliorates EAE by decreasing apoptosis in the spinal cord of C57BL/6 mice. J Neuroimmunol 2018; 321:125-137. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
|
5
|
Oliveira WH, Nunes AK, França MER, Santos LA, Lós DB, Rocha SW, Barbosa KP, Rodrigues GB, Peixoto CA. Effects of metformin on inflammation and short-term memory in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Brain Res 2016; 1644:149-60. [PMID: 27174003 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2016] [Revised: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to analyze the action of metformin on short-term memory, glial cell activation and neuroinflammation caused by experimental diabetic encephalopathy in C57BL/6 mice. Diabetes was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of a dose of 90mg/kg of streptozotocin on two successive days. Mice with blood glucose levels ≥200dl/ml were considered diabetic and were given metformin hydrochloride at doses of 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg (by gavage, twice daily) for 21 days. On the final day of treatment, the mice underwent a T-maze test. On the 22nd day of treatment all the animals were anesthetized and euthanized. Diabetic animals treated with metformin had a higher spatial memory score. The hippocampus of the diabetic animals presented reactive gliosis, neuronal loss, NF-kB signaling activation, and high levels of IL-1 and VEGF. In addition, the T-maze test scores of these animals were low. Treatment with metformin reduced the expression of GFAP, Iba-1 (astrocyte and microglial markers) and the inflammation markers (p-IKB, IL-1 and VEGF), while enhancing p-AMPK and eNOS levels and increasing neuronal survival (Fox-1 and NeuN). Treatment with metformin also improved the spatial memory scores of diabetic animals. In conclusion, the present study showed that metformin can significantly reduce neuroinflammation and can decrease the loss of neurons in the hippocampus of diabetic animals, which can subsequently promote improvements in spatial memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wilma Helena Oliveira
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM), PE, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE, PE, Brazil.
| | - Ana Karolina Nunes
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM), PE, Brazil
| | - Maria Eduarda Rocha França
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM), PE, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE, PE, Brazil
| | - Laise Aline Santos
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM), PE, Brazil
| | - Deniele Bezerra Lós
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM), PE, Brazil; Laboratório de Plasticidade Neuromuscular, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE, PE, Brazil
| | - Sura Wanessa Rocha
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM), PE, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriel Barros Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães (CPqAM), PE, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE, PE, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|