Intranasal insulin alleviates cognitive deficits and amyloid pathology in young adult APPswe/PS1dE9 mice

Brain insulin signaling deficits contribute to multiple pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although intranasal insulin has shown efficacy in patients with AD, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unillustrated. Here, we demonstrate that intranasal insulin improves cognitive deficits, ameliorates defective brain insulin signaling, and strongly reduces β‐amyloid (Aβ) production and plaque formation after 6 weeks of treatment in 4.5‐month‐old APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice. Furthermore, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase activation, which plays a pivotal role in insulin resistance and AD pathologies, is significantly inhibited. The alleviation of amyloid pathology by intranasal insulin results mainly from enhanced nonamyloidogenic processing and compromised amyloidogenic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), and from a reduction in apolipoprotein E protein which is involved in Aβ metabolism. In addition, intranasal insulin effectively promotes hippocampal neurogenesis in APP/PS1 mice. This study, exploring the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of intranasal insulin on Aβ pathologies in vivo for the first time, highlights important preclinical evidence that intranasal insulin is potentially an effective therapeutic method for the prevention and treatment of AD.     

APPswe/PS1dE9转基因小鼠小脑内突触素及BDNF/Trk-B蛋白表达的变化

目的：观察APP/PS1转基因小鼠小脑突触素及BDNF/Trk-B蛋白表达变化。方法：选用9月龄APP/PS1雄鼠（n1）和同窝对照野生型WT雄鼠（n2）。采用Western blot （n1=6;n2=6）、免疫组化（n1=4;n2=4）两种方式定量、定位测定小脑组织功能活性依赖蛋白突触素、脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）和其高亲和力受体（Trk-B）的蛋白表达。用透射电镜观察小脑皮质突触超微结构变化（n1=2;n2=2）。结果：与WT组相比,APP/PS1组小脑皮质内突触素、BDNF/Trk-B表达明显减少;突触间隙增宽,突触后致密区变薄,密度降低。结论：APP/PS1小鼠小脑皮质中突触素、BDNF/Trk-B蛋白含量均明显降低,突触超微结构也发生明显改变,提示AD小脑突触数量及形态变化可能与BDNF合成及释放减少有关。     

Exenatide promotes cognitive enhancement and positive brain metabolic changes in PS1-KI mice but has no effects in 3xTg-AD animals

Recent studies have shown that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction or dementia. Insulin resistance is often associated with T2DM and can induce defective insulin signaling in the central nervous system as well as increase the risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly. Glucagone like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone and, like GLP-1 analogs, stimulates insulin secretion and has been employed in the treatment of T2DM. GLP-1 and GLP-1 analogs also enhance synaptic plasticity and counteract cognitive deficits in mouse models of neuronal dysfunction and/or degeneration. In this study, we investigated the potential neuroprotective effects of long-term treatment with exenatide, a GLP-1 analog, in two animal models of neuronal dysfunction: the PS1-KI and 3xTg-AD mice. We found that exenatide promoted beneficial effects on short- and long-term memory performances in PS1-KI but not in 3xTg-AD animals. In PS1-KI mice, the drug increased brain lactate dehydrogenase activity leading to a net increase in lactate levels, while no effects were observed on mitochondrial respiration. On the contrary, exenatide had no effects on brain metabolism of 3xTg-AD mice. In summary, our data indicate that exenatide improves cognition in PS1-KI mice, an effect likely driven by increasing the brain anaerobic glycolysis rate.     

Overexpression of Hsp27 ameliorates symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in APP/PS1 mice

Hsp27 belongs to the small heat shock protein family, which are ATP-independent chaperones. The most important function of Hsp27 is based on its ability to bind non-native proteins and inhibit the aggregation of incorrectly folded proteins maintaining them in a refolding-competent state. Additionally, it has anti-apoptotic and antioxidant activities. To study the effect of Hsp27 on memory and synaptic functions, amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation, and neurodegeneration, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing human Hsp27 protein and crossed with APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse strain, a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using different behavioral tests, we found that spatial learning was impaired in AD model mice and was rescued by Hsp27 overexpression. Electrophysiological recordings have revealed that excitability of neurons was significantly increased, and long-term potentiation (LTP) was impaired in AD model mice, whereas they were normalized in Hsp27 overexpressing AD model mice. Using anti-amyloid antibody, we counted significantly less amyloid plaques in the brain of APPswe/PS1dE9/Hsp27 animals compared to AD model mice. These results suggest that overexpression of Hsp27 protein might ameliorate certain symptoms of AD.     

Impairments of long‐term depression induction and motor coordination precede Aβ accumulation in the cerebellum of APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic mice

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that represents the most common type of dementia among elderly people. Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in extracellular Aβ plaques, produced from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) via sequential processing by β‐ and γ‐secretases, impair hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and cause cognitive dysfunction in AD patients. Here, we report that Aβ peptides also impair another form of synaptic plasticity; cerebellar long‐term depression (LTD). In the cerebellum of commonly used AD mouse model, APPswe/PS1dE9 mice, Aβ plaques were detected from 8 months and profound accumulation of Aβ plaques was observed at 18 months of age. Biochemical analysis revealed relatively high levels of APP protein and Aβ in the cerebellum of APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. At pre‐Aβ accumulation stage, LTD induction, and motor coordination are disturbed. These results indicate that soluble Aβ oligomers disturb LTD induction and cerebellar function in AD mouse model.

     

Increase in the density of resting microglia precedes neuritic plaque formation and microglial activation in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease

The formation of cerebral senile plaques composed of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is a fundamental feature of Alzheimer''s disease (AD). Glial cells and more specifically microglia become reactive in the presence of Aβ. In a triple transgenic model of AD (3 × Tg-AD), we found a significant increase in activated microglia at 12 (by 111%) and 18 (by 88%) months of age when compared with non-transgenic (non-Tg) controls. This microglial activation correlated with Aβ plaque formation, and the activation in microglia was closely associated with Aβ plaques and smaller Aβ deposits. We also found a significant increase in the area density of resting microglia in 3 × Tg-AD animals both at plaque-free stage (at 9 months by 105%) and after the development of A plaques (at 12 months by 54% and at 18 months by 131%). Our results show for the first time that the increase in the density of resting microglia precedes both plaque formation and activation of microglia by extracellular Aβ accumulation. We suggest that AD pathology triggers a complex microglial reaction: at the initial stages of the disease the number of resting microglia increases, as if in preparation for the ensuing activation in an attempt to fight the extracellular Aβ load that is characteristic of the terminal stages of the disease.     

APPswe／PS1dE9／TAU三转基因阿尔兹海默病大鼠模型的建立

目的大鼠的大脑比小鼠更大,是研究神经系统的重要模型。建立APPswe／PS1dE9／TAU三转基因大鼠,发展能更全面表现人类阿尔兹海默病表型的动物模型。方法构建人PrP—hAPP695K595N／M596L、PrP-hPS1dE9和PDGF-TAU转基因表达载体,显微注射法制备转基因大鼠。PCR法鉴定转基因首建鼠及其子代基因型。Western blot检测转基因大鼠脑组织中人APP、PS1和TAU蛋白的表达。Morris水迷宫检测6月龄三转基因大鼠学习记忆能力改变。APP、PHF—TAU免疫组织化学染色观察三转基因大鼠脑组织APP及TAU的表达。结果得到1个同时高表达人APP、PS1和TAU三个基因的转基因大鼠品系。转基因大鼠6月龄已经出现显著的行为学改变：学习记忆能力下降,病理学改变表现为过度磷酸化TAU增多和神经元胞浆内AB表达异常增加。结论成功建立了APPswe／PS1dE9／TAU三转AD大鼠,可做为新一代工具动物模型用于基础医学和AD转化医学研究。     

盐酸美金刚联合银杏叶提取物对阿尔茨海默病患者血清BDNF、NGF、DA水平和认知功能的影响

目的:探讨盐酸美金刚联合银杏叶提取物对阿尔茨海默病患者血清脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)、神经营养因子(NGF)浓度、多巴胺(DA)水平和认知功能的影响。方法:将我院2017年6月至2018年7月收治的92例阿尔茨海默病患者按随机数字表法分为对照组49例和研究组43例,对照组采用盐酸美金刚治疗,研究组在对照组基础上联合银杏叶提取物治疗。比较两组临床疗效,治疗前后血清BDNF、NGF、DA水平、认知功能、简易精神状态检查量表(MMSE)、日常生活能力(ADL)评分的变化和不良反应的发生情况。结果:治疗后,研究组总有效率为90.70%,显著高于对照组(69.39%,P0.05)。治疗前,两组血清BDNF、NGF、DA水平、MMSE和ADL评分比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,两组以上指标均较治疗前显著上升,且研究组以上指标明显高于对照组(P0.05)。两组不良反应总发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:盐酸美金刚联合银杏叶提取物可提高阿尔茨海默病的疗效,改善患者认知功能,可能与增加BDNF、NGF、DA的表达有关。     

MicroPET观察姜黄素对APPswe/PS1dE9双转基因小鼠脑葡萄糖代谢的影响

目的利用18氟-脱氧葡萄糖microPET(18F-FDG microPET)影像学技术观察正常对照组小鼠,模型组和姜黄素治疗组APPswe/PS1dE9双转基因小鼠的脑葡萄糖代谢情况。方法随机挑选6月龄正常对照组C57BL/6J小鼠3只,模型组和姜黄素治疗组APPswe/PS1dE9双转基因小鼠各3只,通过2%异氟烷吸入麻醉后,从尾静脉弹丸式注射放射性示踪剂18F-FDG每例约14.8～16.5 MBq,摄取45 min后进行10 min microPET图像采集。计算并比较各组小鼠每克脑组织(除小脑)18F-FDG的摄取率。结果姜黄素治疗组小鼠每克脑组织18F-FDG的摄取率高于正常对照组和模型组。结论姜黄素能明显提高APPswe/PS1dE9双转基因小鼠脑18 F-FDG的摄取及每克脑组织的摄取率,并可能通过影响脑葡萄糖代谢而发挥神经保护作用。     

Cucurbitacin B induces neurogenesis in PC12 cells and protects memory in APP/PS1 mice

Cucurbitacin B (CuB) isolated from Cucumis melo by using a PC12 cell bioassay system exhibited significant nerve growth factor (NGF)‐mimic or NGF‐enhancing activity in PC12 and primary neuron cells. It was also demonstrated pro‐neurogenesis effects in ICR and APP/PS1 mice and improved memory deficit of APP/PS1 mice. Its possible mechanism includes significant induction of the phosphorylation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), protein kinase C (PKC), phospholipase C (PLC) and inhibition of cofilin. ChemProteoBase profiling, binding assay and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) were used to determine the target protein. Results revealed that CuB could affect actin dynamics as an actin inhibitor but did not bind with GR. The protein level of cofilin in PC12 cells after treating 0.3 μM and different temperatures was significantly higher than that of control group. Other neurotrophic signalling pathways, such as TrkA/TrkB, were analysed with specific inhibitors and Western blot. The inhibitors of TrkA, PLC, PKC, Ras, Raf and ERK1/2 significantly decreased the percentage of PC12 cells with neurite outgrowth and shortened the length of neurite outgrowth induced by CuB. CuB significantly induced the phosphorylation of TrkA, ERK and CREB. The phosphorylation of these proteins was obviously decreased by their specific inhibitors. These results suggest that cofilin is a candidate target protein of CuB in PC12 cells and that the GR/PLC/PKC and TrkA/Ras/Raf/ERK signalling pathways play important roles in the neuroprotective effect of CuB.     

Early memory deficits precede plaque deposition in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice: involvement of oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction

A large body of evidence has shown that cognitive deficits occur early, before amyloid plaque deposition, suggesting that soluble amyloid-β protein (Aβ) contributes to the development of early cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the underlying mechanism(s) through which soluble Aβ exerts its neurotoxicity responsible for cognitive dysfunction in the early stage of AD remains unclear so far. In this study, we used preplaque APPswe/PS1dE9 mice ages 2.5 and 3.5 months to examine alterations in cognitive function, oxidative stress, and cholinergic function. We found that only soluble Aβ, not insoluble Aβ, was detected in these preplaque APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. APPswe/PS1dE9 mice 2.5 months of age did not show any significant changes in the measures of cognitive function, oxidative stress, and cholinergic function, whereas 3.5-month-old APPswe/PS1dE9 mice exhibited spatial memory impairment in the Morris water maze, accompanied by significantly decreased acetylcholine (ACh), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) as well as increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls. In 3.5-month-old preplaque APPswe/PS1dE9 mice, correlational analyses revealed that the performance of impaired spatial memory was inversely correlated with soluble Aβ, MDA, and protein carbonyls, as well as being positively correlated with ACh, ChAT, SOD, and GSH-px; soluble Aβ level was inversely correlated with ACh, ChAT, SOD, and GSH-px, as well as being positively correlated with MDA and protein carbonyls; ACh level showed a significant positive correlation with ChAT, SOD, and GSH-px, as well as a significant inverse correlation with MDA and protein carbonyls. Collectively, this study provides direct evidence that increased oxidative damage and cholinergic dysfunction may be early pathological responses to soluble Aβ and involved in early memory deficits in the preplaque stage of AD. These findings suggest that early antioxidant therapy and improving cholinergic function may be a promising strategy to prevent or delay the onset and progression of AD.     

Early exposure to paraquat sensitizes dopaminergic neurons to subsequent silencing of PINK1 gene expression in mice

Environmental exposure, genetic modification, and aging are considered risky for Parkinson's disease (PD). How these risk factors cooperate to induce progressive neurodegeneration in PD remains largely unknown. Paraquat is an herbicide commonly used for weed and grass control. Exposure to paraquat is associated with the increased incidence of PD. In contrast to familial PD, most sporadic PD cases do not have genetic mutation, but may suffer from partial dysfunction of neuron-protective genes as aging. Using conditional transgenic RNAi, we showed that temporal silencing of PINK1 expression in adult mice increased striatal dopamine, the phenotype that could not be induced by constitutive gene silencing. Moreover, early exposure to paraquat sensitized dopaminergic neurons to subsequent silencing of PINK1 gene expression, leading to a significant loss of dopaminergic neurons. Our findings suggest a novel pathogenesis of PD: exposure to environmental toxicants early in the life reduces the threshold of developing PD and partial dysfunction of neuron-protective genes later in the life initiates a process of progressive neurodegeneration to cross the reduced threshold of disease onset.     

APP/PS1小鼠中PEG-PLA纳米粒的表面蛋白冠组成及其脑内递送的实验研究

摘要 目的：研究阿尔茨海默病（Alzhemer''s disease,AD）模型鼠中聚乙二醇聚乳酸（poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(l-lactide),PEG-PLA）纳米粒表面蛋白冠组成及其对脑内递送特性的影响。方法：制备PEG-PLA纳米粒,测定纳米粒的zeta电位及粒径,采用透射电子显微镜观察纳米粒形态。通过双光子显微镜观察APP/PS1小鼠与野生型（Wild Type,WT）小鼠脑内PEG-PLA纳米粒分布特性。采用液相色谱-质谱联用（LC-MS）技术对PEG-PLA纳米粒分别与APP/PS1小鼠和WT小鼠血浆孵育形成的两种不同蛋白冠进行蛋白组学分析。结果：制备的PEG-PLA纳米粒粒径均一,分散性较好。静脉注射PEG-PLA后,APP/PS1小鼠脑内纳米粒量明显高于WT小鼠。蛋白质组学结果显示,APP/PS1小鼠血浆孵育组PEG-PLA纳米粒表面蛋白冠中凝聚素（Clusterin）明显高于WT小鼠血浆孵育组,该蛋白与纳米粒逃避机体清除有关。此外,纳米粒蛋白冠中血管性血友病因子（Von Willebrand factor）、玻连蛋白（Vitronectin）、肌球蛋白重链-9（Myosin-9）等参与细胞粘附作用相关蛋白在APP/PS1小鼠血浆孵育组也明显多于WT小鼠血浆孵育组。结论：PEG-PLA纳米粒在AD模型小鼠中表现出的高入脑量,可能与AD疾病影响纳米粒蛋白冠组成有关。     

Treadmill exercise after social isolation increases the levels of NGF,BDNF, and synapsin I to induce survival of neurons in the hippocampus,and improves depression-like behavior

[Purpose]

We investigated the effects of 8 weeks of treadmill exercise on nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and synapsin I protein expression and on the number of 5-bromo-2''-deoxyuridine-5''-mono-phosphate (BrdU)-positive cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in socially isolated rats. Additionally, we examined the effects of exercise on the number of serotonin (5-HT)- and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)-positive cells in the raphe nuclei and on depression behaviors induced by social isolation.

[Methods]

Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: (1) group housing and control group (GCG, n = 10); (2) group housing and exercise group (GEG, n = 10); (3) isolated housing and control group (ICG, n = 10); and (4) isolated housing and exercise group (IEG, n = 10). After 1 week of housing under the normal condition of 3 animals per cage, rats were socially isolated via transfer to individual cages for 8 weeks. Rats were then subjected to treadmill exercise for 5 days per week for 8 weeks during which time the speed of the treadmill was gradually increased.

[Results]

Compared to the GCG, levels of NGF, BDNF, and synapsin I were significantly decreased in the ICG and significantly increased in the IEG (p < 0.001 respectively). Significantly more BrdU-positive cells in the GEG were present as compared to the GCG and ICG, and more BrdU-positive cells were found in the IEG as compared to the ICG (p < 0.001). 5-HT-positive cells in the GEG were significantly increased compared to the GCG and ICG, and more of these cells were found in the IEG as compared to the ICG (p < 0.01). TPH-positive cells in the GEG were significantly increased compared to those in the GCG and ICG (p < 0.05). In the forced swim test, immobility time was significantly increased in the ICG and significantly decreased in the IEG as compared to the ICG (p < 0.01).

[Conclusion]

These results showed that regular treadmill exercise following social isolation not only increased the levels of NGF, BDNF, and synapsin I to induce survival of neurons in the hippocampus but also improved depression by increasing the number of serotonergic cells in the raphe nuclei.     

High-dose of vitamin C supplementation reduces amyloid plaque burden and ameliorates pathological changes in the brain of 5XFAD mice

Blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and mitochondrial dysfunction have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer''s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive deficits and neuronal loss. Besides vitamin C being as one of the important antioxidants, recently, it has also been reported as a modulator of BBB integrity and mitochondria morphology. Plasma levels of vitamin C are decreased in AD patients, which can affect disease progression. However, investigation using animal models on the role of vitamin C in the AD pathogenesis has been hampered because rodents produce with no dependence on external supply. Therefore, to identify the pathogenic importance of vitamin C in an AD mouse model, we cross-bred 5 familial Alzheimer''s disease mutation (5XFAD) mice (AD mouse model) with ι-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase (Gulo) knockout (KO) mice, which are unable to synthesize their own vitamin C, and produced Gulo KO mice with 5XFAD mice background (KO-Tg). These mice were maintained on either low (0.66 g/l) or high (3.3 g/l) supplementation of vitamin C. We found that the higher supplementation of vitamin C had reduced amyloid plaque burden in the cortex and hippocampus in KO-Tg mice, resulting in amelioration of BBB disruption and mitochondrial alteration. These results suggest that intake of a larger amount of vitamin C could be protective against AD-like pathologies.     

Capacitative calcium entry deficits and elevated luminal calcium content in mutant presenilin-1 knockin mice

Dysregulation of calcium signaling has been causally implicated in brain aging and Alzheimer's disease. Mutations in the presenilin genes (PS1, PS2), the leading cause of autosomal dominant familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD), cause highly specific alterations in intracellular calcium signaling pathways that may contribute to the neurodegenerative and pathological lesions of the disease. To elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying these disturbances, we studied calcium signaling in fibroblasts isolated from mutant PS1 knockin mice. Mutant PS1 knockin cells exhibited a marked potentiation in the amplitude of calcium transients evoked by agonist stimulation. These cells also showed significant impairments in capacitative calcium entry (CCE, also known as store-operated calcium entry), an important cellular signaling pathway wherein depletion of intracellular calcium stores triggers influx of extracellular calcium into the cytosol. Notably, deficits in CCE were evident after agonist stimulation, but not if intracellular calcium stores were completely depleted with thapsigargin. Treatment with ionomycin and thapsigargin revealed that calcium levels within the ER were significantly increased in mutant PS1 knockin cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that the overfilling of calcium stores represents the fundamental cellular defect underlying the alterations in calcium signaling conferred by presenilin mutations.     

三七、栀子有效组分给药的APP/PS1小鼠血清神经递质与行为学的相关性

目的:探讨三七、栀子有效组分及配伍给药对APP/PS1小鼠血清中乙酰胆碱和五羟色胺含量的影响及其与行为学的相关性分析。方法:APP/PS1小鼠随机分成转基因模型组(Tg)、三七总皂苷组(PNS)、栀子苷组(GP)、配伍组(PNS+GP),同窝非转基因小鼠为野生型组(WT),从4月龄开始,以自主进食的方式,分组给药3个月,7月龄时,进行八臂迷宫测试和血清中乙酰胆碱及五羟色胺含量的检测。结果:(1)乙酰胆碱含量测定结果,与野生型组相比,转基因模型组有显著性降低(P0.05);三七总皂苷组、栀子苷组可以显著升高转基因模型组的乙酰胆碱含量(P0.05)。(2)五羟色胺含量测定结果,与野生型组相比,转基因模型组有降低趋势,但无统计学意义(P0.05);三七总皂苷组、栀子苷组和配伍组对转基因组的五羟色胺含量有升高趋势,但都没有统计学意义(P0.05)。(3)相关性分析结果,八臂迷宫测试中小鼠进入食物臂的时间百分比与血清中乙酰胆碱的含量成正相关(r=0.35,P0.05),与血清中五羟色胺的含量没有相关性(rs=0.16,P=0.39)。结论:三七、栀子有效组分及配伍给药对APP/PS1小鼠血清中乙酰胆碱的含量有调节作用,APP/PS1小鼠血清中乙酰胆碱的含量与八臂迷宫行为学测试体现的空间学习记忆能力成正相关。