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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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Qu C, Xu QQ, Yang W, Zhong M, Yuan Q, Xian YF, Lin ZX. Gut dysbiosis aggravates cognitive deficits, amyloid pathology and lipid metabolism dysregulation in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. J Pharm Anal 2023; 13:1526-1547. [PMID: 38223452 PMCID: PMC10785152 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.07.014] [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: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Gut dysbiosis, a well-known risk factor to triggers the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is strongly associated with metabolic disturbance. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), produced in the dietary choline metabolism, has been found to accelerate neurodegeneration in AD pathology. In this study, the cognitive function and gut microbiota of TgCRND8 (Tg) mice of different ages were evaluated by Morris water maze task (MWMT) and 16S rRNA sequencing, respectively. Young pseudo germ-free (PGF) Tg mice that received faecal microbiota transplants from aged Tg mice and wild-type (WT) mice were selected to determine the role of the gut microbiota in the process of neuropathology. Excessive choline treatment for Tg mice was used to investigate the role of abnormal choline metabolism on the cognitive functions. Our results showed that gut dysbiosis, neuroinflammation response, Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, TMAO overproduction and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5)/transcription 3 (STAT3) activation occurred in Tg mice age-dependently. Disordered microbiota of aged Tg mice accelerated AD pathology in young Tg mice, with the activation of CDK5/STAT3 signaling in the brains. On the contrary, faecal microbiota transplantation from WT mice alleviated the cognitive deficits, attenuated neuroinflammation, Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, TMAO overproduction and suppressed CDK5/STAT3 pathway activation in Tg mice. Moreover, excessive choline treatment was also shown to aggravate the cognitive deficits, Aβ deposition, neuroinflammation and CDK5/STAT3 pathway activation. These findings provide a novel insight into the interaction between gut dysbiosis and AD progression, clarifying the important roles of gut microbiota-derived substances such as TMAO in AD neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Qu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Qing-Qing Xu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wen Yang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mei Zhong
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qiuju Yuan
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Yan-Fang Xian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhi-Xiu Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Blackwell AA, Jodelka FM, Lake RI, Hastings ML, Wallace DG. Spatial Disorientation Under Dark Conditions Across Development in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model. Neuroscience 2023; 511:53-69. [PMID: 36587866 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with hippocampal neuropathology and cognitive impairments, including wandering behavior or becoming lost in a familiar environment. Wandering behavior is severe and manifests early in life for people with specific genetic mutations. Genetic mouse models of AD have been developed to characterize the onset and progression of behavioral deficits that represent human behaviors, such as wandering, to test the efficacy of therapeutics. It is not clear if current assessments of mouse models capture the onset of AD or a snapshot of its progression. Sequential analysis of open field behavior provides a robust, quick test to dissociate navigation cues that contribute to spatial disorientation, a feature of wandering. Despite potential utility in evaluating this feature of AD, little work has been reported using animal models of dementia in this task. Thus, we examined the use of different sources of information to maintain spatial orientation at two prodromal ages in female transgenic CRND8 AD (n = 17) and Control mice (n = 16). These mice exhibit amyloid plaques, a hallmark neuropathological feature of AD, that are associated with cognitive dysfunction at ∼three months of age. Spatial disorientation was observed at two months and more severely at four months under dark conditions, but performance was spared when visual environmental cues were available. This study provides documentation of impaired self-movement cue processing in AD mice, establishing the dark open field as a behavioral tool to characterize spatial disorientation associated with AD. These findings may accelerate future assessments of novel therapeutic interventions for neurological disorders.
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Qu C, Li QP, Su ZR, Ip SP, Yuan QJ, Xie YL, Xu QQ, Yang W, Huang YF, Xian YF, Lin ZX. Nano-Honokiol ameliorates the cognitive deficits in TgCRND8 mice of Alzheimer's disease via inhibiting neuropathology and modulating gut microbiota. J Adv Res 2022; 35:231-243. [PMID: 35024199 PMCID: PMC8721355 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [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: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Honokiol (HO) exerts neuroprotective effects in several animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the poor dissolution hampers its bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Objectives A novel honokiol nanoscale drug delivery system (Nano-HO) with smaller size and excellent stability was developed in this study to improve the solubility and bioavailability of HO. The anti-AD effects of Nano-HO was determined. Methods Male TgCRND8 mice were daily orally administered Nano-HO or HO at the same dosage (20 mg/kg) for 17 consecutive weeks, followed by assessment of the spatial learning and memory functions using the Morris Water Maze test (MWMT). Results Our pharmacokinetic study indicated that the oral bioavailability was greatly improved by Nano-HO. In addition, Nano-HO significantly improved cognitive deficits and inhibited neuroinflammation via suppressing the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the brain, preventing the activation of microglia (IBA-1) and astrocyte (GFAP), and reducing β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the cortex and hippocampus of TgCRND8 mice. Moreover, Nano-HO was more effective than HO in modulating amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing via suppressing β-secretase, as well as enhancing Aβ-degrading enzymes like neprilysin (NEP). Furthermore, Nano-HO more markedly inhibited tau hyperphosphorylation via decreasing the ratio of p-Tau (Thr 205)/tau and regulating tau-related apoptosis proteins (caspase-3 and Bcl-2). In addition, Nano-HO more markedly attenuated the ratios of p-JNK/JNK and p-35/CDK5, while enhancing the ratio of p-GSK-3β (Ser9)/GSK-3β. Finally, Nano-HO prevented the gut microflora dysbiosis in TgCRND8 mice in a more potent manner than free HO. Conclusion Nano-HO was more potent than free HO in improving cognitive impairments in TgCRND8 mice via inhibiting Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation through suppressing the activation of JNK/CDK5/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Nano-HO also more potently modulated the gut microbiota community to protect its stability than free HO. These results suggest that Nano-HO has good potential for further development into therapeutic agent for AD treatment.
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Key Words
- AD, Alzheimer’s disease
- APH-1, anterior pharynx-defective-1
- APP, amyloid precursor protein
- Aβ, β-amyloid
- BACE-1, β-site APP cleaving enzyme-1
- Bcl-2, B cell lymphoma-2
- CDK5, cyclin-dependent kinase 5
- CMC-Na, sodium carboxymethylcellulose
- Cognitive deficits
- GSK-3β, glycogen synthase kinase 3β
- Gut microbiota
- HO, Honokiol
- HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography
- Honokiol nanoscale drug delivery system
- IDE, insulin degrading enzyme
- IL-1β, interleukin 1β
- IL-6, interleukin 6
- JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase
- MCT, Medium-chain triglycerides
- MWMT, Morris Water Maze test
- NEP, neprilysin
- NFTs, neurofibrillary tangles
- Nano-HO, honokiol nanoscale drug delivery system
- Neuroinflammation
- PBS, phosphate-buffered saline
- PDI, poly-dispersity index
- PS-1, presenilin-1
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- TEM, transmission electron microscope
- TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor
- Tau protein hyperphosphorylation
- TgCRND8 mice
- WT, wild type
- ZP, zeta potential
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Qu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Qiao-Ping Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zi-Ren Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Siu-Po Ip
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.,Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Qiu-Ju Yuan
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.,Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - You-Liang Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qing-Qing Xu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Wen Yang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Yan-Feng Huang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Yan-Fang Xian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.,Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Zhi-Xiu Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.,Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.,Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Li HQ, Ip SP, Yuan QJ, Zheng GQ, Tsim KKW, Dong TTX, Lin G, Han Y, Liu Y, Xian YF, Lin ZX. Isorhynchophylline ameliorates cognitive impairment via modulating amyloid pathology, tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation: Studies in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 82:264-278. [PMID: 31476414 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.08.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Isorhynchophylline (IRN) has been demonstrated to have distinct anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) activity in several animal models of AD. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the preventive effect of IRN on the cognitive deficits and amyloid pathology in TgCRND8 mice. Male TgCRND8 mice were administered with IRN (20 or 40 mg/kg) by oral gavage daily for 4 months, followed by assessing the spatial learning and memory functions with the Radial Arm Maze (RAM) test. Brain tissues were determined immunohistochemically or biochemically for changes in amyloid pathology, tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation. Our results revealed that IRN (40 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated cognitive deficits in TgCRND8 mice. In addition, IRN (40 mg/kg) markedly reduced the levels of Aβ40, Aβ42 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1β, and modulated the amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and phosphorylation by altering the protein expressions of β-site APP cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1), phosphorylated APP (Thr668), presenilin-1 (PS-1) and anterior pharynx-defective-1 (APH-1), as well as insulin degrading enzyme (IDE), a major Aβ-degrading enzyme. IRN was also found to inhibit the phosphorylation of tau at the sites of Thr205 and Ser396. Immunofluorescence showed that IRN reduced the Aβ deposition, and suppressed the activation of microglia (Iba-1) and astrocytes (GFAP) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of TgCRND8 mice. Furthermore, IRN was able to attenuate the ratios of p-c-Jun/c-Jun and p-JNK/JNK in the brains of TgCRND8 mice. IRN also showed marked inhibitory effect on JNK signaling pathway in the Aβ-treated rat primary hippocampus neurons. We conclude that IRN improves cognitive impairment in TgCRND8 transgenic mice via reducing Aβ generation and deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation through inhibiting the activation of JNK signaling pathway, and has good potential for further development into pharmacological treatment for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Qin Li
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Siu-Po Ip
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Qiu-Ju Yuan
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Guo-Qing Zheng
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province, PR China.
| | - Karl K W Tsim
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Tina T X Dong
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Ge Lin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Yifan Han
- Department of Applied Biology & Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Yue Liu
- Cardiovascular Disease Centre, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Yan-Fang Xian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Zhi-Xiu Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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Weber-Adrian D, Kofoed RH, Chan JWY, Silburt J, Noroozian Z, Kügler S, Hynynen K, Aubert I. Strategy to enhance transgene expression in proximity of amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Theranostics 2019; 9:8127-8137. [PMID: 31754385 PMCID: PMC6857057 DOI: 10.7150/thno.36718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy can be designed to efficiently counter pathological features characteristic of neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we took advantage of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter to preferentially enhance transgene expression near plaques composed of amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ), a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), in the TgCRND8 mouse model of amyloidosis. Methods: The delivery of intravenously injected recombinant adeno-associated virus mosaic serotype 1/2 (rAAV1/2) to the cortex and hippocampus of TgCRND8 mice was facilitated using transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound in combination with microbubbles (MRIgFUS), which transiently and locally increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). rAAV1/2 expression of the reporter green fluorescent protein (GFP) under a GFAP promoter was compared to GFP expression driven by the constitutive human beta actin (HBA) promoter. Results: MRIgFUS targeting the cortex and hippocampus facilitated the entry of rAAV1/2 and GFP expression under the GFAP promoter was localized to GFAP-positive astrocytes. Adjacent to Aβ plaques where GFAP is upregulated, the volume, surface area, and fluorescence intensity of the transgene GFP were greater in rAAV1/2-GFAP-GFP compared to rAAV1/2-HBA-GFP treated animals. In peripheral organs, GFP expression was particularly strong in the liver, irrespective of the promoter. Conclusion: The GFAP promoter enhanced transgene expression in proximity of Aβ plaques in the brain of TgCRND8 mice, and it also resulted in significant expression in the liver. Future gene therapies for neurological disorders could benefit from using a GFAP promoter to regulate transgene expression in response to disease-induced astrocytic reactivity.
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Bilia AR, Nardiello P, Piazzini V, Leri M, Bergonzi MC, Bucciantini M, Casamenti F. Successful Brain Delivery of Andrographolide Loaded in Human Albumin Nanoparticles to TgCRND8 Mice, an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:910. [PMID: 31507412 PMCID: PMC6713928 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Andrographolide (AG) was encapsulated in human albumin nanoparticles (AG NPs), and their crossing properties of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), brain distribution, and effects in TgCRND8 mice were evaluated. The development of appropriate NP formulations is mandatory because of the scarce BBB permeability properties of AG. Developed NPs had proper size (mean size: 159.2 ± 4.5 nm), size distribution (PDI nearby 0.12 ± 0.01), and ζ potential (-24.8 ± 1.2 mV), which were not affected by sodium fluorescein (NAF) loading. When AG was loaded to NPs, it slightly affected their size (210.4 ± 3.2 nm) and ζ potential (-20.3 ± 1.5) but not the PDI. Both NAF and AG had a remarkable encapsulation efficiency (more than 99%). The in vitro release of AG from the NPs reached the highest percentage (48%) after 24 h, and the Higuchi’s equation was found to be the best fitting model (R2 = 0.9635). Both AG and AG NPs did not alter the viability of N2a murine neuroblastoma cells when compared with the untreated control cells. In the step-down inhibitory avoidance test, AG NPs administered to TgCRND8 mice significantly improved their performance (P < 0.0001), reaching levels comparable to those displayed by wild-type mice. In the object recognition test, treated and untreated animals showed no deficiencies in exploratory activity, directional movement toward objects, and locomotor activity. No cognitive impairments (discrimination score) were detected in TgCRND8 mice (P < 0.0001) treated with AG NPs. After acute intravenous administration (200 µl), NPs loaded with the probe NAF were detected in the brain parenchyma of TgCRND8 mice. Immunofluorescent analyses evidenced the presence of NPs both in the pE3-Aβ plaque surroundings and inside the pE3-Aβ plaque, indicative of the ability of these NPs to cross the BBB and to penetrate in both undamaged and damaged brain tissues. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical analysis of GFAP-positive astrocytes in the hippocampus of Tg mice evidenced the anti-inflammatory activity of AG when AG NPs were intraperitoneally administered. AG was not effective in counteracting amyloid Aβ aggregation and the resulting toxicity but significantly decreased the oxidative stress levels. In conclusion, AG NPs have extraordinary versatility, nontoxicity, nonimmunogenicity, strong biocompatibility, high biodegradability, and astonishing loading capacity of drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rita Bilia
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff," University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Pamela Nardiello
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Vieri Piazzini
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff," University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Manuela Leri
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio," University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Monica Bucciantini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio," University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fiorella Casamenti
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Delfino D, Rossetti DV, Martelli C, Inserra I, Vincenzoni F, Castagnola M, Urbani A, Scarpa S, Fuso A, Cavallaro RA, Desiderio C. Exploring the brain tissue proteome of TgCRND8 Alzheimer's Disease model mice under B vitamin deficient diet induced hyperhomocysteinemia by LC-MS top-down platform. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2019; 1124:165-172. [PMID: 31202182 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The multifactorial nature of Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD), the AD form of major relevance on epidemiological and social aspects, has driven the original investigation by LC-MS and top-down proteomics approach of the protein repertoire of the brain tissue of TgCRND8 model mice fed with a diet deficient in B vitamins. The analysis of the acid-soluble fraction of brain tissue homogenates identified a list of proteins and peptides, proteoforms and PTMs. In order to disclose possible modulations, their relative quantification in wild type and AD model mice under both B vitamin deficient and control diets was performed. The levels of metallothionein III, guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(I)/G(S)/G(O) subunit gamma-2 and brain acid soluble protein 1 showed statistically significant alterations depending on genotype, diet or both effects, respectively. Particularly, metallothionein III exhibited increased levels in TgCRND8 mice under B vitamin deficient diet with respect to wild type mice under both diets. Brain acid soluble protein 1 showed the opposite, revealing decreased levels in all diet groups of AD model mice with respect to wild type mice in control diet. Lower levels of brain acid soluble protein 1 were also observed in wild type mice under deficiency of B vitamins. These results, besides contributing to increase the knowledge of AD at molecular level, give new suggestions for deeply investigating metallothionein III and brain acid soluble protein 1 in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Delfino
- Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia
| | - Diana Valeria Rossetti
- Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italia
| | - Claudia Martelli
- Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia
| | - Ilaria Inserra
- Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italia
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy; Laboratorio di Proteomica e Metabonomica, IRCCS, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italia
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia; Area Diagnostica di Laboratorio, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Sigfrido Scarpa
- Dipartimento di Chirurgia "P. Valdoni", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Fuso
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosaria A Cavallaro
- Dipartimento di Chirurgia "P. Valdoni", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Desiderio
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy.
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9
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Cavanagh C, Wong TP. Preventing synaptic deficits in Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor alpha signaling. IBRO Rep 2018; 4:18-21. [PMID: 30135948 PMCID: PMC6084902 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibror.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The characterization of preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) would provide a therapeutic window for prevention. One of the challenges of developing preventive therapy for AD is to identify early biomarkers for intervention studies. We have recently shown that in the TgCRND8 transgenic AD mouse model, increased hippocampal levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and enhanced excitatory synaptic transmission were early-onset changes that occurred weeks before amyloid plaque formation. Inhibiting TNFα before plaque formation not only normalized excitatory synaptic function, but also prevented the impairment of synaptic function 4 months later. In this review paper, we will examine the potential contributions of TNFα to the alteration of brain function in preclinical AD. The prospective use of TNFα inhibitors for preventing AD will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea Cavanagh
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Tak Pan Wong
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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10
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Luccarini I, Grossi C, Rigacci S, Coppi E, Pugliese AM, Pantano D, la Marca G, Ed Dami T, Berti A, Stefani M, Casamenti F. Oleuropein aglycone protects against pyroglutamylated-3 amyloid-ß toxicity: biochemical, epigenetic and functional correlates. Neurobiol Aging 2014; 36:648-63. [PMID: 25293421 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [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: 05/16/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid-ß (Aß) fragments, oligomeric Aß aggregates, and pyroglutamylated-Aß peptides, as well as epigenetic mechanisms and autophagy dysfunction all appear to contribute in various ways to Alzheimer's disease progression. We previously showed that dietary supplementation of oleuropein aglycone, a natural phenol abundant in the extra virgin olive oil, can be protective by reducing Aß42 deposits in the brain of young and middle-aged TgCRND8 mice. Here, we extended our study to aged TgCRND8 mice showing increased pE3-Aß in the brain deposits. We report that oleuropein aglycone is active against glutaminylcyclase-catalyzed pE3-Aß generation reducing enzyme expression and interferes both with Aß42 and pE3-Aß aggregation. Moreover, the phenol astonishingly activates neuronal autophagy even in mice at advanced stage of pathology, where it increases histone 3 and 4 acetylation, which matches both a decrease of histone deacetylase 2 expression and a significant improvement of synaptic function. The occurrence of these functional, epigenetic, and histopathologic beneficial effects even at a late stage of the pathology suggests that the phenol could be beneficial at the therapeutic, in addition to the prevention, level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Luccarini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Cristina Grossi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefania Rigacci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Coppi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Pugliese
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniela Pantano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giancarlo la Marca
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of NEUROFARBA, Newborn Screening, Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology Lab, Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Teresa Ed Dami
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of NEUROFARBA, Newborn Screening, Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology Lab, Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Berti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Stefani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fiorella Casamenti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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11
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Rohn TT, Kokoulina P, Eaton CR, Poon WW. Caspase activation in transgenic mice with Alzheimer-like pathology: results from a pilot study utilizing the caspase inhibitor, Q-VD-OPh. Int J Clin Exp Med 2009; 2:300-308. [PMID: 20057974 PMCID: PMC2802048] [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] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2009] [Accepted: 10/30/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Despite the wealth of evidence supporting the activation of caspases in Alzheimer's disease (AD), chronic administration of a caspase inhibitor has never been tested in any animal model system. The purpose of the current report was to identify a suitable animal model that displays caspase activation and cleavage of critical proteins associated with AD, and secondly, to undertake a pilot study utilizing the novel caspase inhibitor, quinolyl-valyl-O-methylaspartyl-[-2, 6-difluorophenoxy]-methyl ketone (Q-VD-OPh). Analysis of 12 month-old TgCRND8 mice, which represent an early-onset animal model for AD, indicated the activation of caspase-7 as well as the cleavage of tau and the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Having established that TgCRND8 mice represent a suitable model system to target caspases therapeutically, a prophylactic study was initiated utilizing Q-VD-OPh. Three month-old TgCRND8 mice were injected intraperitoneally three times a week for three months with 10 mg/kg Q-VD-OPh and compared to control mice injected with vehicle. Although there was no apparent effect on extracellular Abeta deposition, chronic treatment with Q-VD-OPh did prevent caspase-7 activation and limited the pathological changes associated with tau, including caspase cleavage. These preliminary findings suggest that further studies examining the utility of Q-VD-OPh as a potential therapeutic compound for the treatment of AD are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy T. Rohn
- Department of BiologyScience/Nursing Building, Room 228, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, 83725, USA
| | - Polina Kokoulina
- Department of BiologyScience/Nursing Building, Room 228, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, 83725, USA
| | - Cody R. Eaton
- Department of BiologyScience/Nursing Building, Room 228, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, 83725, USA
| | - Wayne W. Poon
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of CaliforniaIrvine, California, USA
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