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Zhong M, Xu QQ, Hu Z, Yang W, Lin ZX, Xian YF. Tianma-Gouteng pair ameliorates the cognitive deficits on two transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 328:118113. [PMID: 38548119 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Tianma-Gouteng Pair (TGP), commonly prescribed as a pair-herbs, can be found in many Chinese medicine formulae to treat brain diseases. However, the neuroprotective effects and molecular mechanisms of TGP remained unexplored. AIM OF THE STUDY This study investigated the difference between the TgCRND8 and 5 × FAD transgenic mice, the anti-AD effects of TGP, and underlying molecular mechanisms of TGP against AD through the two mouse models. METHODS Briefly, three-month-old TgCRND8 and 5 × FAD mice were orally administered with TGP for 4 and 6 months, respectively. Behavioral tests were carried out to determine the neuropsychological functions. Moreover, immunofluorescence and western blotting assays were undertaken to reveal the molecular mechanisms of TGP. RESULTS Although TgCRND8 and 5 × FAD mice had different beta-amyloid (Aβ) burdens, neuroinflammation status, and cognition impairments, TGP exerted neuroprotective effects against AD in the two models. In detail, behavioral tests revealed that TGP treatment markedly ameliorated the anxiety-like behavior, attenuated the recognition memory deficits, and increased the spatial learning ability as well as the reference memory of TgCRND8 and 5 × FAD mice. Moreover, TGP treatment could regulate the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing by inhibiting the Aβ production enzymes such as β- and γ-secretases and activating Aβ degrading enzyme to reduce Aβ accumulation. In addition, TGP reduced the Aβ42 level, the ratio of Aβ42/Αβ40, Aβ accumulation, and tau hyperphosphorylation in both the 5 × FAD and TgCRND8 mouse models. Furthermore, TGP ameliorated neuroinflammation by decreasing the densities of activated microglia and astrocytes, and inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines. TGP upregulated the SIRT1 and AMPK, and downregulated sterol response element binding protein 2 (SREBP2) in the brain of TgCRND8 mice and deactivation of the EPhA4 and c-Abl in the brain tissues of 5 × FAD mice. CONCLUSION Our experiments for the first time revealed the neuroprotective effects and molecular mechanism of TGP on 5 × FAD and TgCRND8 transgenic mouse models of different AD stages. TGP decreased the level of Aβ aggregates, improved the tauopathy, and reduced the neuroinflammation by regulation of the SIRT1/AMPK/SREBP2 axis and deactivation of EPhA4/c-Abl signaling pathway in the brains of TgCRND8 and 5 × FAD mice, respectively. All these findings unequivocally confirmed that the TGP would be promising in developing into an anti-AD therapeutic pharmaceutical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Zhong
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Qing-Qing Xu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Zhen Hu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Wen Yang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Zhi-Xiu Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin R&D Centre for Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
| | - Yan-Fang Xian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
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Zheng W, Li K, Zhong M, Wu K, Zhou L, Huang J, Liu L, Chen Z. Mitophagy activation by rapamycin enhances mitochondrial function and cognition in 5×FAD mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 463:114889. [PMID: 38301932 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia, characterized by severe mitochondrial dysfunction, which is an intracellular process that is significantly compromised in the early stages of AD. Mitophagy, the selective removal of damaged mitochondria, is a potential therapeutic strategy for AD. Rapamycin, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, augmented autophagy and mitigated cognitive impairment. Our study revealed that rapamycin enhances cognitive function by activating mitophagy, alleviating neuronal loss, and improving mitochondrial dysfunction in 5 ×FAD mice. Interestingly, the neuroprotective effect of rapamycin in AD were negated by treatment with 3-MA, a mitophagy inhibitor. Overall, our findings suggest that rapamycin ameliorates cognitive impairment in 5 ×FAD mice via mitophagy activation and its downstream PINK1-Parkin pathway, which aids in the clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) and damaged mitochondria. This study reveals a novel mechanism involving mitophagy regulation underlying the therapeutic effect of rapamycin in AD. This study provides new insights and therapeutic targets for rapamycin in the treatment of AD. However, there are still some shortcomings in this topic; if we can further knock out the PINK1/Parkin gene in animals or use siRNA technology, we can further confirm the experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenrong Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Kualiang Li
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; Fujian Institute of Microbiology, Fuzhou 350007, China
| | - Meihua Zhong
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Kejun Wu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Lele Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Fujian Institute of Microbiology, Fuzhou 350007, China
| | - Libin Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Zhou Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China.
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Ni H, Ren J, Wang Q, Li X, Wu Y, Liu D, Wang J. Electroacupuncture at ST 36 ameliorates cognitive impairment and beta-amyloid pathology by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in an Alzheimer's disease animal model. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16755. [PMID: 37292305 PMCID: PMC10245255 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder leading to cognitive impairment in the elderly, and no effective treatment exists. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that physical therapy and electroacupuncture (EA) effectively improve spatial learning and memory abilities. Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying the effects of EA on AD pathology is largely unexplored. Acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) has previously been shown to improve cognitive impairment in AD, but the mechanism is unclear. According to recent studies, EA drives the vagal-adrenal axis from the hindlimb ST 36 acupoint but not from the abdominal Tianshu (ST 25) to curb severe inflammation in mice. This study examined whether ST 36 acupuncture improves cognitive dysfunction in AD model mice by improving neuroinflammation and its underlying mechanism. Methods Male 5xFAD mice (aged 3, 6, and 9 months) were used as the AD animal model and were randomly divided into three groups: the AD model group (AD group), the electroacupuncture at ST 36 acupoint group (EA-ST 36 group), and the electroacupuncture at ST 25 acupoint group (EA-ST 25 group). Age-matched wild-type mice were used as the normal control (WT) group. EA (10 Hz, 0.5 mA) was applied to the acupoints on both sides for 15 min, 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Motor ability and cognitive ability were assessed by the open field test, the novel object recognition task, and the Morris water maze test. Thioflavin S staining and immunofluorescence were used to mark Aβ plaques and microglia. The levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 in the hippocampus were assayed by Western blotting or qRT-PCR. Results EA at ST 36, but not ST 25, significantly improved motor function and cognitive ability and reduced both Aβ deposition and microglia and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in 5×FAD mice. Conclusion EA stimulation at ST 36 effectively improved memory impairment in 5×FAD mice by a mechanism that regulated microglia activation and alleviated neuroinflammation by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammatory response in the hippocampus. This study shows that ST 36 may be a specific acupoint to improve the condition of AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ni
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaoqi Ren
- Department of Geriatrics, Huashan Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
| | - Qimeng Wang
- Department of Acupuncture, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
| | - Xing Li
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Dezhi Liu
- Department of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Endocrinology department of Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, China
- Department of Peripheral Vascular Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203, Shanghai, China
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203, Shanghai, China
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Jiang LX, Huang GD, Wang HL, Zhang C, Yu X. The protocol for assessing olfactory working memory capacity in mice. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2703. [PMID: 35849713 PMCID: PMC9392537 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Working memory capacity (WMC) is the ability to maintain information over a few seconds. Although it has been extensively studied in healthy subjects and neuropsychiatric patients, few tasks have been developed to measure such changes in rodents. Many procedures have been used to measure WM in rodents, including the radial arm maze, the WM version of the Morris swimming task, and various delayed matching and nonmatching-to-sample tasks. It should be noted, however, that the memory components assessed in these procedures do not include memory capacity. METHODS We developed an olfactory working memory capacity (OWMC) paradigm to assess the WMC of 3-month-old 5×FAD mice, a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The task is divided into five phases: context adaptation, digging training, rule learning for nonmatching to a single sample odor (NMSS), rule learning for nonmatching to multiple sample odors (NMMS), and capacity testing. RESULTS In the NMSS rule-learning phase, there was no difference between wild-type (WT) mice and 5×FAD mice in the performance correct rate, correct option rate, and correct rejection rate. The WT mice and 5×FAD mice showed similar memory capacity in the NMMS rule-learning phase. After capacity test, we found that the WMC was significantly diminished in 5×FAD mice. As the memory load increased, 5×FAD mice also made significantly more errors than WT mice. CONCLUSION The OWMC task, based on a nonmatch-to-sample rule, is a sensitive and robust behavioral assay that we validated as a reliable method for measuring WMC and exploring different components of memory in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Xin Jiang
- Peking University Institute of Mental Health (Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory for Translational Research on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia, Beijing, China
| | - Geng-Di Huang
- Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen Kangning Hospital & Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hua-Li Wang
- Peking University Institute of Mental Health (Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory for Translational Research on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Capital Medical University, Youanmenwai, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Yu
- Peking University Institute of Mental Health (Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory for Translational Research on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia, Beijing, China
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Liang Z, Li X, Luo X, Luo H, Chen Y, Cai M, Zhong X, Fang Y, Guo T, Shi Y, Zhang X. The Aptamer Ob2, a novel AChE inhibitor, restores cognitive deficits and alleviates amyloidogenesis in 5×FAD transgenic mice. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2022; 28:114-23. [PMID: 35402070 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Loss of cerebral cholinergic neurons and decreased levels of acetylcholine (ACh) are considered to be major factors causing cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Abnormally elevated levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) resulting in decreased levels of ACh are common in AD patients; thus, AChE inhibitors (AChEIs) are widely used for the treatment of AD. In our previous work, we acquired DNA aptamers Ob1, Ob2, and Ob3 against human brain AChE from systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). In this study, we investigated the effect of these aptamers on learning and memory abilities, as well as the underlying mechanism in a 5×FAD transgenic AD mouse model. Here, we showed that only aptamer Ob2 exhibits a good inhibitory effect on both mouse and human AChE activity. In addition, chronic treatment with aptamer Ob2 significantly improved cognitive ability of 5×FAD mice in the Morris water maze. Moreover, the mechanism of aptamer Ob2 in 5×FAD mice may be associated with its inhibition of AChE activity, alleviation of the levels of Aβ by lowering the expression of β-secretase (BACE1), and activation of astrocytes in the brains of 5×FAD mice. These results indicate that aptamer Ob2 exhibits potential as an effective AChEI for the treatment of AD.
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Habiba U, Merlin S, Lim JKH, Wong VHY, Nguyen CTO, Morley JW, Bui BV, Tayebi M. Age-Specific Retinal and Cerebral Immunodetection of Amyloid-β Plaques and Oligomers in a Rodent Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 76:1135-1150. [PMID: 32597800 DOI: 10.3233/jad-191346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyloid-β soluble oligomers (Aβo) are believed to be the cause of the pathophysiology underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are normally detected some two decades before clinical onset of the disease. Retinal pathology associated with AD pathogenesis has previously been reported, including ganglion cell loss, accumulation of Aβ deposits in the retina, and reduction of nerve fiber layer thickness as well as abnormalities of the microvasculature. OBJECTIVE This study's aim is to better understand the relationship between brain and retinal Aβo deposition and in particular to quantify levels of the toxic Aβo as a function of age in the retina of a rodent model of AD. METHODS Retinas and brain tissue from 5×FAD mice were stained with Congo red, Thioflavin-T (Th-T), and Aβ plaque-specific and Aβo-specific antibodies. RESULTS We show that retinas displayed an age-dependent increase of Th-T-specific amyloid fibrils. Staining with anti-Aβ antibody confirmed the presence of the Aβ plaques in all 5×FAD retinas tested. In contrast, staining with anti-Aβo antibody showed an age-dependent decrease of retinal Aβo. Of note, Aβo was observed mainly in the retinal nuclear layers. Finally, we confirmed the localization of Aβo to neurons, typically accumulating in late endosomes, indicating possible impairment of the endocytic pathway. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate the presence of intraneuronal Aβo in the retina and its accumulation inversely correlated with retinal Aβ plaque deposition, indicating an age-related conversion in this animal model. These results support the development of an early AD diagnostic test targeting Aβo in the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umma Habiba
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Sam Merlin
- School of Science & Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeremiah K H Lim
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vickie H Y Wong
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christine T O Nguyen
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John W Morley
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Bang V Bui
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mourad Tayebi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
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