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Chiang KH, Cheng TJ, Kan WC, Wang HY, Li JC, Cai YL, Cheng CH, Liu YC, Chang CY, Chuu JJ. Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. Extracts attenuate Alzheimer-like pathology through anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and β-amyloid inhibitory activities. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 320:117132. [PMID: 37704121 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. (OA) is a traditional folk-herb, which is usually used to treat acute and chronic nephritis, epilepsy, cystitis, and other diseases. Phenols and flavonoids are the main active compound compounds of OA, with proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. AIMS OF THIS STUDY Based on evidenced therapeutic activities, we aimed to investigate the impact of OA on Alzheimer's disease (AD) which is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disease, and the pathological features include accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). MATERIALS AND METHODS OA was extracted with water, methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate, and determined its total flavonoid and phenolic contents. Initially, Aβ1-42 based cytotoxicity was induced in BV2 cells and C6 cells to investigate the therapeutic impact of OA therapy by MTT, RT-PCR, Western blot, and ELISA. Further, Aβ1-42 Oligomer (400 pmol)-induced AD mice model was established to evaluate the impact of OA extract on improving learning and memory impairment. RESULTS The results showed that the extract of OA could increase cell survival, inhibit the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2, and iNOS, and increase BDNF levels. We infer that the OA extract may attenuate Aβ-induced cytotoxicity by retarding the production of inflammatory-related factors. In the animal behavior test, the number of mice entering darkroom and the time of arriving at the platform were significantly reduced, indicating the learning and memory-improving ability of OA extract. CONCLUSIONS These findings imply that the OA ethanolic extract demonstrated an improving effect on memory and hence could serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuang-Hsing Chiang
- Taipei Heart Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Tain-Junn Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District, Tainan 71004, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Medicine Chi Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chih Kan
- Division of Nephrology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District, Tainan 71004, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan 71703, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-Yi Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District, Tainan 71004, Taiwan; Department of Sport Management, College of Leisure and Recreation Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 71710, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Chen Li
- Pharmacy Department, Wei-Gong Memorial Hospital, Miaoli 35159, Taiwan
| | - Yan-Ling Cai
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, College of Engineering, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 71005, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hui Cheng
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, College of Engineering, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 71005, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chien Liu
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, College of Engineering, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 71005, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yu Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District, Tainan 71004, Taiwan; Center for General Education, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 71005, Taiwan.
| | - Jiunn-Jye Chuu
- Pharmacy Department, Wei-Gong Memorial Hospital, Miaoli 35159, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, College of Engineering, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 71005, Taiwan.
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Fronza MG, Alves D, Praticò D, Savegnago L. The neurobiology and therapeutic potential of multi-targeting β-secretase, glycogen synthase kinase 3β and acetylcholinesterase in Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 90:102033. [PMID: 37595640 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting almost 50 million of people around the world, characterized by a complex and age-related progressive pathology with projections to duplicate its incidence by the end of 2050. AD pathology has two major hallmarks, the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation, alongside with several sub pathologies including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, loss of neurogenesis and synaptic dysfunction. In recent years, extensive research pointed out several therapeutic targets which have shown promising effects on modifying the course of the disease in preclinical models of AD but with substantial failure when transposed to clinic trials, suggesting that modulating just an isolated feature of the pathology might not be sufficient to improve brain function and enhance cognition. In line with this, there is a growing consensus that an ideal disease modifying drug should address more than one feature of the pathology. Considering these evidence, β-secretase (BACE1), Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has emerged as interesting therapeutic targets. BACE1 is the rate-limiting step in the Aβ production, GSK-3β is considered the main kinase responsible for Tau hyperphosphorylation, and AChE play an important role in modulating memory formation and learning. However, the effects underlying the modulation of these enzymes are not limited by its primarily functions, showing interesting effects in a wide range of impaired events secondary to AD pathology. In this sense, this review will summarize the involvement of BACE1, GSK-3β and AChE on synaptic function, neuroplasticity, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, we will present and discuss new perspectives on the modulation of these pathways on AD pathology and future directions on the development of drugs that concomitantly target these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana G Fronza
- Neurobiotechnology Research Group (GPN) - Centre for Technology Development CDTec, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Diego Alves
- Laboratory of Clean Organic Synthesis (LASOL), Center for Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences (CCQFA), UFPel, RS, Brazil
| | - Domenico Praticò
- Alzheimer's Center at Temple - ACT, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Lucielli Savegnago
- Neurobiotechnology Research Group (GPN) - Centre for Technology Development CDTec, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
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Kumro J, Tripathi A, Lei Y, Sword J, Callahan P, Terry A, Lu XY, Kirov SA, Pillai A, Blake DT. Chronic basal forebrain activation improves spatial memory, boosts neurotrophin receptor expression, and lowers BACE1 and Aβ42 levels in the cerebral cortex in mice. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:7627-7641. [PMID: 36939283 PMCID: PMC10267632 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The etiology of Alzheimer's dementia has been hypothesized in terms of basal forebrain cholinergic decline, and in terms of reflecting beta-amyloid neuropathology. To study these different biological elements, we activated the basal forebrain in 5xFAD Alzheimer's model mice and littermates. Mice received 5 months of 1 h per day intermittent stimulation of the basal forebrain, which includes cholinergic projections to the cortical mantle. Then, mice were behaviorally tested followed by tissue analysis. The 5xFAD mice performed worse in water-maze testing than littermates. Stimulated groups learned the water maze better than unstimulated groups. Stimulated groups had 2-3-fold increases in frontal cortex immunoblot measures of the neurotrophin receptors for nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and a more than 50% decrease in the expression of amyloid cleavage enzyme BACE1. Stimulation also led to lower Aβ42 in 5xFAD mice. These data support a causal relationship between basal forebrain activation and both neurotrophin activation and reduced Aβ42 generation and accumulation. The observation that basal forebrain activation suppresses Aβ42 accumulation, combined with the known high-affinity antagonism of nicotinic receptors by Aβ42, documents bidirectional antagonism between acetylcholine and Aβ42.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Kumro
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Ashutosh Tripathi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, United States
| | - Yun Lei
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Jeremy Sword
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Patrick Callahan
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Alvin Terry
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Xin-yun Lu
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Sergei A Kirov
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Anilkumar Pillai
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
- Research and Development, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, United States
| | - David T Blake
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
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Jin N, Gureviciene I, Atalay AN, Häkli S, Ziyatdinova S, Tanila H. Preclinical evaluation of drug treatment options for sleep‐related epileptiform spiking in Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA: TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS 2022; 8:e12291. [PMID: 35415205 PMCID: PMC8982322 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Introduction There are no published data on prospective clinical studies on drug treatment options for sleep‐related epileptiform spiking in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods Using video‐EEG with hippocampal electrodes in 17 APP/PS1 transgenic male mice we assessed the effects of donepezil and memantine, anti‐seizure drugs levetiracetam and lamotrigine, gamma‐secretase inhibitor semagacestat, anti‐inflammatory minocycline and adenosine receptor antagonist istradephylline on density of cortical and hippocampal spikes during sleep. Results Levetiracetam decreased the density of hippocampal giant spikes and cortical spikes. Lamotrigine reduced cortical single spikes and spike‐wave discharges but dramatically increased hippocampal giant spikes. Memantine increased cortical single spikes and spike‐wave discharges dose‐dependently. Memantine and istradephylline decreased total sleep time while levetiracetam increased it. Lamotrigine decreased REM sleep duration. Other drugs had no significant effects. Discussion Levetiracetam appears promising for treating sleep‐related epileptiform spiking in AD while lamotrigine should be used with caution. Donepezil at low doses appeared neutral but the memantine effects warrant further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanxiang Jin
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Irina Gureviciene
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Aysu Naz Atalay
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Sara Häkli
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Sofya Ziyatdinova
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Heikki Tanila
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
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Jin N, Ziyatdinova S, Gureviciene I, Tanila H. Response of spike-wave discharges in aged APP/PS1 Alzheimer model mice to antiepileptic, metabolic and cholinergic drugs. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11851. [PMID: 32678276 PMCID: PMC7366932 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68845-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Epileptic nonconvulsive spike-wave discharges (SWDs) are commonly seen in amyloid plaque bearing transgenic mice but only rarely in their wild-type littermates. To shed light on their possible treatment options, we assessed the effect of drugs with variable and known mechanisms of action on the occurrence of SWDs in aged APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. The treatments included prototypic antiepileptic drugs (ethosuximide and levetiracetam), donepezil as the typical Alzheimer drug and atropine as an antagonistic effect, GABAB antagonist CGP-35348, and alternate energy substrates beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), pyruvate and lactate on the occurrence of SWDs in aged APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. All agents were administered by single intraperitoneal injections at doses earlier documented to be effective and response was assessed by recording 3 h of video-EEG. Atropine at 25 mg/kg significantly decreased SWD occurrence in all behavioral states, and also resulted in altered frequency composition of SWDs and general EEG slowing during sleep. Ethosuximide at 200 mg/kg and levetiracetam at 75 mg/kg effectively suppressed SWDs only during a period of mixed behavioral states, but levetiracetam also increased SWDs in sleep. BHB at 1 g/kg decreased SWDs in sleep, while both pyruvate and lactate at the same dose tended to increase SWD number and total duration. Unexpectantly, donepezil at 0.3 mg/kg CGP-35348 at 100 mg/kg had no effect on SWDs. These findings call for re-evaluation of some prevailing theories on neural circuit alternations that underlie SWD generation and show the utility of APP/PS1 mice for testing potential new treatments for nonconvulsive epileptic activity related to Alzheimer pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanxiang Jin
- A. I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Sofya Ziyatdinova
- A. I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Irina Gureviciene
- A. I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heikki Tanila
- A. I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
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Dekens DW, Naudé PJW, Keijser JN, Boerema AS, De Deyn PP, Eisel ULM. Lipocalin 2 contributes to brain iron dysregulation but does not affect cognition, plaque load, and glial activation in the J20 Alzheimer mouse model. J Neuroinflammation 2018; 15:330. [PMID: 30501637 PMCID: PMC6267886 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-018-1372-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is an acute-phase protein implicated in multiple neurodegenerative conditions. Interestingly, both neuroprotective and neurodegenerative effects have been described for Lcn2. Increased Lcn2 levels were found in human post-mortem Alzheimer (AD) brain tissue, and in vitro studies indicated that Lcn2 aggravates amyloid-β-induced toxicity. However, the role of Lcn2 has not been studied in an in vivo AD model. Therefore, in the current study, the effects of Lcn2 were studied in the J20 mouse model of AD. METHODS J20 mice and Lcn2-deficient J20 (J20xLcn2 KO) mice were compared at the behavioral and neuropathological level. RESULTS J20xLcn2 KO and J20 mice presented equally strong AD-like behavioral changes, cognitive impairment, plaque load, and glial activation. Interestingly, hippocampal iron accumulation was significantly decreased in J20xLcn2 KO mice as compared to J20 mice. CONCLUSIONS Lcn2 contributes to AD-like brain iron dysregulation, and future research should further explore the importance of Lcn2 in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doortje W. Dekens
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Research Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, 9713 GZ The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, Groningen, 9747 AG The Netherlands
| | - Petrus J. W. Naudé
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Research Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, 9713 GZ The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, Groningen, 9747 AG The Netherlands
| | - Jan N. Keijser
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, Groningen, 9747 AG The Netherlands
| | - Ate S. Boerema
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, Groningen, 9747 AG The Netherlands
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, 9713 GZ The Netherlands
| | - Peter P. De Deyn
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Research Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, 9713 GZ The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Biobank, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ulrich L. M. Eisel
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, Groningen, 9747 AG The Netherlands
- University Center of Psychiatry & Interdisciplinary Center of Psychopathology of Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, 9713 GZ The Netherlands
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Lauterbach EC. Six psychotropics for pre-symptomatic & early Alzheimer's (MCI), Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease modification. Neural Regen Res 2016; 11:1712-1726. [PMID: 28123400 PMCID: PMC5204212 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.194708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The quest for neuroprotective drugs to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD), has been largely unrewarding. Preclinical evidence suggests that repurposing quetiapine, lithium, valproate, fluoxetine, donepezil, and memantine for early and pre-symptomatic disease-modification in NDDs may be promising and can spare regulatory barriers. The literature of these psychotropics in early stage and pre-symptomatic AD, PD, and HD is reviewed and propitious findings follow. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) phase of AD: salutary human randomized controlled trial findings for low-dose lithium and, in selected patients, donepezil await replication. Pre-symptomatic AD: human epidemiological data indicate that lithium reduces AD risk. Animal model studies (AMS) reveal encouraging results for quetiapine, lithium, donepezil, and memantine. Early PD: valproate AMS findings show promise. Pre-symptomatic PD: lithium and valproate AMS findings are encouraging. Early HD: uncontrolled clinical data indicate non-progression with lithium, fluoxetine, donepezil, and memantine. Pre-symptomatic HD: lithium and valproate are auspicious in AMS. Many other promising findings awaiting replication (valproate in MCI; lithium, valproate, fluoxetine in pre-symptomatic AD; lithium in early PD; lithium, valproate, fluoxetine in pre-symptomatic PD; donepezil in early HD; lithium, fluoxetine, memantine in pre-symptomatic HD) are reviewed. Dose- and stage-dependent effects are considered. Suggestions for signal-enhancement in human trials are provided for each NDD stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward C Lauterbach
- Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Neurology, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA, USA
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Thomson KE, White HS. A novel open-source drug-delivery system that allows for first-of-kind simulation of nonadherence to pharmacological interventions in animal disease models. J Neurosci Methods 2014; 238:105-11. [PMID: 25256646 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonadherence to a physician-prescribed therapeutic intervention is a costly, dangerous, and sometimes fatal concern in healthcare. To date, the study of nonadherence has been constrained to clinical studies. The novel approach described herein allows for the preclinical study of nonadherence in etiologically relevant disease animal model systems. NEW METHOD The method herein describes a novel computer-automated pellet delivery system which allows for the study of nonadherence in animals. This system described herein allows for tight experimenter control of treatment using a drug-in-food protocol. Food-restricted animals receive either medicated or unmedicated pellets, designed to mimic either "taking" or "missing" a drug. RESULTS The system described permits the distribution of medicated or unmedicated food pellets on an experimenter-defined feeding schedule. The flexibility of this system permits the delivery of drug according to the known pharmacokinetics of investigational drugs. COMPARISON WITH OTHER METHODS Current clinical adherence research relies on medication-event monitoring system (MEMS) tracking caps, which allows clinicians to directly monitor patient adherence. However, correlating the effects of nonadherence to efficacy still relies on the accuracy of patient journals. CONCLUSION This system allows for the design of studies to address the impact of nonadherence in an etiologically relevant animal model. Given methodological and ethical concerns of designing clinical studies of nonadherence, animal studies are critical to better understand medication adherence. While the system described was designed to measure the impact of nonadherence on seizure control, it is clear that the utility of this system extends beyond epilepsy to include other disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle E Thomson
- Bioengineering Dept, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - H Steve White
- Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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9
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Study of the effect of antidepressant drugs and donepezil on aluminum-induced memory impairment and biochemical alterations in rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00580-014-1994-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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10
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Puzzo D, Lee L, Palmeri A, Calabrese G, Arancio O. Behavioral assays with mouse models of Alzheimer's disease: practical considerations and guidelines. Biochem Pharmacol 2014; 88:450-67. [PMID: 24462904 PMCID: PMC4014001 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2014.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Revised: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD) basic research and drug discovery, mouse models are essential resources for uncovering biological mechanisms, validating molecular targets and screening potential compounds. Both transgenic and non-genetically modified mouse models enable access to different types of AD-like pathology in vivo. Although there is a wealth of genetic and biochemical studies on proposed AD pathogenic pathways, as a disease that centrally features cognitive failure, the ultimate readout for any interventions should be measures of learning and memory. This is particularly important given the lack of knowledge on disease etiology - assessment by cognitive assays offers the advantage of targeting relevant memory systems without requiring assumptions about pathogenesis. A multitude of behavioral assays are available for assessing cognitive functioning in mouse models, including ones specific for hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Here we review the basics of available transgenic and non-transgenic AD mouse models and detail three well-established behavioral tasks commonly used for testing hippocampal-dependent cognition in mice - contextual fear conditioning, radial arm water maze and Morris water maze. In particular, we discuss the practical considerations, requirements and caveats of these behavioral testing paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Puzzo
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences - Section of Physiology, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy
| | - Linda Lee
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, P&S #12-420D, 630W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Agostino Palmeri
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences - Section of Physiology, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy
| | - Giorgio Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacy, Federico II University, Via D. Montesano 49, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Ottavio Arancio
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, P&S #12-420D, 630W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Francis PT, Parsons CG, Jones RW. Rationale for combining glutamatergic and cholinergic approaches in the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Expert Rev Neurother 2014; 12:1351-65. [DOI: 10.1586/ern.12.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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12
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Spilman P, Descamps O, Gorostiza O, Peters-Libeu C, Poksay KS, Matalis A, Campagna J, Patent A, Rao R, John V, Bredesen DE. The multi-functional drug tropisetron binds APP and normalizes cognition in a murine Alzheimer's model. Brain Res 2013; 1551:25-44. [PMID: 24389031 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Tropisetron was identified in a screen for candidates that increase the ratio of the trophic, neurite-extending peptide sAPPα to the anti-trophic, neurite-retractive peptide Aβ, thus reversing this imbalance in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We describe here a hierarchical screening approach to identify such drug candidates, moving from cell lines to primary mouse hippocampal neuronal cultures to in vivo studies. By screening a clinical compound library in the primary assay using CHO-7W cells stably transfected with human APPwt, we identified tropisetron as a candidate that consistently increased sAPPα. Secondary assay testing in neuronal cultures from J20 (PDAPP, huAPP(Swe/Ind)) mice showed that tropisetron consistently increased the sAPPα/Aβ 1-42 ratio. In in vivo studies in J20 mice, tropisetron improved the sAPPα/Aβ ratio along with spatial and working memory in mice, and was effective both during the symptomatic, pre-plaque phase (5-6 months) and in the late plaque phase (14 months). This ameliorative effect occurred at a dose of 0.5mg/kg/d (mkd), translating to a human-equivalent dose of 5mg/day, the current dose for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Although tropisetron is a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and an α7nAChR partial agonist, we found that it also binds to the ectodomain of APP. Direct comparison of tropisetron to the current AD therapeutics memantine (Namenda) and donepezil (Aricept), using similar doses for each, revealed that tropisetron induced greater improvements in memory and the sAPPα/Aβ1-42 ratio. The improvements observed with tropisetron in the J20 AD mouse model, and its known safety profile, suggest that it may be suitable for transition to human trials as a candidate therapeutic for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD, and therefore it has been approved for testing in clinical trials beginning in 2014.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Spilman
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Olivier Descamps
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Olivia Gorostiza
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Clare Peters-Libeu
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Karen S Poksay
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Alexander Matalis
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Jesus Campagna
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Alexander Patent
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Rammohan Rao
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Varghese John
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA; Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, USA
| | - Dale E Bredesen
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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Effects of sub-chronic donepezil on brain Abeta and cognition in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013; 230:279-89. [PMID: 23783773 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3152-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are approved to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease by restoring acetylcholine levels at synapses where the neurotransmitter has been depleted due to neurodegeneration. This assumption is challenged by more recent clinical studies suggesting the potential for disease-modifying effects of AChEIs as well as in vitro studies showing neuroprotective effects. However, few preclinical studies have assessed whether the improvement of cognitive symptoms may be mediated by reductions in Abeta or Tau pathology. OBJECTIVES The objective of the present study was to determine whether short-duration treatment with donepezil could improve spatial learning and memory in transgenic mice overexpressing mutant human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) and presenilin 1 (PS1) (Dewachter et al., J Neurosci 20(17):6452-6458, 2000) after amyloid pathology has fully developed, consistent with early stages of Alzheimer'sdisease in humans. In parallel, the effect of donepezil treatment on brain amyloid, Tau, and glial endpoints was measured. RESULTS This study showed a significant improvement in reference memory in hAPP/PS1 mice along with dose-dependent reductions in brain amyloid-β (Aβ). CONCLUSION These results suggest that the observed cognitive improvement produced by donepezil in Alzheimer's disease may be due, at least in part, to reduction of brain Aβ.
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Subaiea GM, Adwan LI, Ahmed AH, Stevens KE, Zawia NH. Short-term treatment with tolfenamic acid improves cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease mice. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 34:2421-30. [PMID: 23639209 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2013] [Revised: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Tolfenamic acid lowers the levels of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid beta (Aβ) when administered to C57BL/6 mice by lowering their transcriptional regulator specificity protein 1 (SP1). To determine whether changes upstream in the amyloidogenic pathway that forms Aβ plaques would improve cognitive outcomes, we administered tolfenamic acid for 34 days to hemizygous R1.40 transgenic mice. After the characterization of cognitive deficits in these mice, assessment of spatial learning and memory functions revealed that treatment with tolfenamic acid attenuated long-term memory and working memory deficits, determined using Morris water maze and the Y-maze. These improvements occurred within a shorter period of exposure than that seen with clinically approved drugs. Cognitive enhancement was accompanied by reduction in the levels of the SP1 protein (but not messenger RNA [mRNA]), followed by lowering both the mRNA and the protein levels of APP and subsequent Aβ levels. These findings provide evidence that tolfenamic acid can disrupt the pathologic processes associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are relevant to its scheduled biomarker study in AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gehad M Subaiea
- Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
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15
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Drug pipeline in neurodegeneration based on transgenic mice models of Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2013; 12:116-40. [PMID: 22982398 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2012.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2012] [Revised: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most important neurodegenerative disorders, bringing about huge medical and social burden in the elderly worldwide. Many aspects of its pathogenesis have remained unclear and no effective treatment exists for it. Within the past 20 years, various mice models harboring AD-related human mutations have been produced. These models imitate diverse AD-related pathologies and have been used for basic and therapeutic investigations in AD. In this regard, there are a wide variety of preclinical trials of potential therapeutic modalities using AD mice models which are of paramount importance for future clinical trials and applications. This review summarizes more than 140 substances and treatment modalities being used in transgenic AD mice models from 2001 to 2011. We also discuss advantages and disadvantages of each model to be used in therapeutic development for AD.
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Nagakura A, Shitaka Y, Yarimizu J, Matsuoka N. Characterization of cognitive deficits in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease and effects of donepezil and memantine. Eur J Pharmacol 2012; 703:53-61. [PMID: 23276665 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2012.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function and involves β-amyloid (Aβ) in its pathogenesis. To characterize cognitive deficits associated with Aβ accumulation, we analyzed PS1/APP mice overexpressing mutant presenilin-1 (PS1, M146L; line 6.2) and amyloid precursor protein (APP, K670N/M671L; line Tg2576), a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease with accelerated Aβ production. Age-dependent changes in working and spatial memory behaviors were investigated using Y-maze and Morris water maze tasks, respectively, in female PS1/APP mice at ages of 2, 4, 6, and 12 months. Significant deficits in working and spatial memory were observed from 4 and 6 months of age, respectively. Acute single-dose administrations of memantine, a low-to-moderate-affinity N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, showed improvements in working memory deficits at 4 months of age, whereas donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, did not. However, both drugs improved spatial memory dysfunction at 6 months of age at therapeutically relevant doses. No age-related dramatic changes were observed in expression levels of several proteins relating to memory dysfunction and also the mechanisms of donepezil and memantine in the cerebral cortex of PS1/APP mice until 6 months of age. Taken together, these results suggest dysfunctions in cholinergic and/or glutamatergic transmissions may be involved in the cognitive deficits associated with Aβ toxicity. Since donepezil and memantine have been widely used for treating patients of Alzheimer's disease, these results also suggest that cognitive deficits in PS1/APP mice assessed in the Y-maze and Morris water maze tasks are a useful animal model for evaluating novel Alzheimer's disease therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Nagakura
- Pharmacology Research Laboratories, Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan.
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Sabbagh JJ, Heaney CF, Bolton MM, Murtishaw AS, Ure JA, Kinney JW. Administration of Donepezil Does Not Rescue Galanin-Induced Spatial Learning Deficits. Int J Neurosci 2012; 122:742-7. [DOI: 10.3109/00207454.2012.721411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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18
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Tanila H. Wading pools, fading memories-place navigation in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2012; 4:11. [PMID: 22670146 PMCID: PMC3365277 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2012.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2012] [Accepted: 05/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The Morris swim navigation task ("water maze") has been a primary research tool to assess hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory in rodents for three decades. Originally developed for rats, its application to mouse studies has been a tedious process, but nowadays there are more studies performed with the Morris swim task in mice than in rats. The task has proved to be particularly useful in demonstrating age-related memory impairment in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review focuses on task details that are most relevant for its application to mouse studies in general and characteristic patterns of impaired performance in Alzheimer model mice as compared with rodents sustaining hippocampal lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heikki Tanila
- A. I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland Kuopio, Finland
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19
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Sabbagh JJ, Kinney JW, Cummings JL. Animal systems in the development of treatments for Alzheimer's disease: challenges, methods, and implications. Neurobiol Aging 2012; 34:169-83. [PMID: 22464953 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2012.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Revised: 02/25/2012] [Accepted: 02/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Substantial resources and effort have been invested into the development of therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with mixed and limited success. Research into the etiology of AD with animal models mimicking aspects of the disorder has substantially contributed to the advancement of potential therapies. Although these models have shown utility in testing novel therapeutic candidates, large variability still exists in terms of methodology and how the models are utilized. No model has yet predicted a successful disease-modifying therapy for AD. This report reviews several of the widely accepted transgenic and nontransgenic animal models of AD, highlighting the pathological and behavioral characteristics of each. Methodological considerations for conducting preclinical animal research are discussed, such as which behavioral tasks and histological markers may be associated with the greatest insight into therapeutic benefit. An overview of previous and current therapeutic interventions being investigated in AD models is presented, with an emphasis on factors that may have contributed to failure in past clinical trials. Finally, we propose a multitiered approach for investigating candidate therapies for AD that may reduce the likelihood of inappropriate conclusions from models and failed trials in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Sabbagh
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
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20
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Pistell PJ, Spangler EL, Kelly-Bell B, Miller MG, de Cabo R, Ingram DK. Age-associated learning and memory deficits in two mouse versions of the Stone T-maze. Neurobiol Aging 2012; 33:2431-9. [PMID: 22217418 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2011] [Revised: 11/17/2011] [Accepted: 12/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We have previously reported that a modified Stone T-maze (STM), using escape from water as motivation, was effective in evaluating learning and memory ability in young C57/BL6 mice. Here we report on the effectiveness and sensitivity of the STM in the assessment of age-related learning and memory deficits in mice using either escape from foot shock or water as the motivational manipulations. C57BL/6Nia mice 7-, 12-, 20- and 24-months old received 15 massed trials in the escape from foot shock motivated STM while C57BL/6Nia mice 5-, 12-, and 25-months old were tested in the escape from water STM. Analysis of errors, the main performance variable, revealed similar results in both versions of the task with younger mice making fewer errors. Notably, mice of all ages in the water-motivated version moved quickly through the maze, while all ages of mice in the shock-motivated version tended to wait for shock to be initiated to move forward. Overall, both versions of the STM appear to be sensitive to age-related changes in learning and memory and provide an alternative to other testing paradigms such as the Morris water maze which are susceptible to performance confounds which can lead to uninterpretable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Pistell
- Nutritional Neuroscience and Aging Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.
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Critical role of astroglial apolipoprotein E and liver X receptor-α expression for microglial Aβ phagocytosis. J Neurosci 2011; 31:7049-59. [PMID: 21562267 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.6546-10.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver X receptors (LXRs) regulate immune cell function and cholesterol metabolism, both factors that are critically involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To investigate the therapeutic potential of long-term LXR activation in amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide deposition in an AD model, 13-month-old, amyloid plaque-bearing APP23 mice were treated with the LXR agonist TO901317. Postmortem analysis demonstrated that TO901317 efficiently crossed the blood-brain barrier. Insoluble and soluble Aβ levels in the treated APP23 mice were reduced by 80% and 40%, respectively, compared with untreated animals. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, however, was hardly changed by the compound, suggesting that the observed effects were instead mediated by Aβ disposal. Despite the profound effect on Aβ levels, spatial learning in the Morris water maze was only slightly improved by the treatment. ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter 1) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) protein levels were increased and found to be primarily localized in astrocytes. Experiments using primary microglia demonstrated that medium derived from primary astrocytes exposed to TO901317 stimulated phagocytosis of fibrillar Aβ. Conditioned medium from TO901317-treated ApoE(-/-) or LXRα(-/-) astrocytes did not increase phagocytosis of Aβ. In APP23 mice, long-term treatment with TO901317 strongly increased the association of microglia and Aβ plaques. Short-term treatment of APP/PS1 mice with TO901317 also increased this association, which was dependent on the presence of LXRα and was accompanied by increased ApoE lipidation. Together, these data suggest that astrocytic LXRα activation and subsequent release of ApoE by astrocytes is critical for the ability of microglia to remove fibrillar Aβ in response to treatment with TO901317.
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5-HT4 receptor agonist mediated enhancement of cognitive function in vivo and amyloid precursor protein processing in vitro: A pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic assessment. Neuropharmacology 2011; 61:69-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2010] [Revised: 02/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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23
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Bartko SJ, Vendrell I, Saksida LM, Bussey TJ. A computer-automated touchscreen paired-associates learning (PAL) task for mice: impairments following administration of scopolamine or dicyclomine and improvements following donepezil. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 214:537-48. [PMID: 21086119 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-2050-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2010] [Accepted: 10/13/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Performance on the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery touchscreen paired-associates learning (PAL) test is predictive of Alzheimer's disease and impaired in schizophrenia and chronic drug users. An automated computer touchscreen PAL task for rats has been previously established. A pharmacologically validated PAL task for mice would be a highly valuable tool, which could be useful for a number of experimental aims including drug discovery. OBJECTIVES This study sought to investigate the effects of systemic administration of cholinergic agents on task performance in C57Bl/6 mice. METHODS Scopolamine hydrobromide (0.02, 0.2, and 2.0 mg/kg), dicyclomine hydrochloride (M(1) receptor antagonist; 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mg/kg), and donepezil hydrochloride (cholinesterase inhibitor; 0.03, 0.1, and 0.3 mg/kg) were administered post-acquisition in C57Bl/6 mice performing the PAL task. RESULTS Scopolamine (0.2 and 2.0 mg/kg) and dicyclomine (at all administered doses) significantly impaired PAL performance. A significant facilitation in PAL was revealed in mice following donepezil administration (0.3 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that mice can acquire the rodent PAL task and that the cholinergic system is important for PAL task performance. M(1) receptors in particular are likely implicated in normal performance of PAL. The finding that mouse PAL can detect both impairments and improvements indicates that this task could prove to be a highly valuable tool for a number of experimental aims including drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan J Bartko
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK.
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Estimation of Plasma IC50 of Donepezil for Cerebral Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition in Patients With Alzheimer Disease Using Positron Emission Tomography. Clin Neuropharmacol 2010; 33:74-8. [DOI: 10.1097/wnf.0b013e3181c71be9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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25
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Van Dam D, Coen K, De Deyn PP. Ibuprofen modifies cognitive disease progression in an Alzheimer's mouse model. J Psychopharmacol 2010; 24:383-8. [PMID: 18957478 DOI: 10.1177/0269881108097630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and delay disease onset. Negative results of clinical AD trials were rationalised by the discovery that certain NSAIDs reduce amyloid-beta( 1-42) (A beta(1- 42)) peptide production, the proposed central culprit in AD pathophysiology and main constituent of amyloid plaques, whereas other compounds do not affect A beta levels. Latter observations motivated further in-vitro and in-vivo research regarding the applicability of NSAIDs in treating and/or preventing AD. We used the age-dependent cognitive decline in the APP23 transgenic mouse model for AD to evaluate disease-modifying efficacy of chronic ibuprofen treatment at the cognitive level. At age 6 weeks, heterozygous APP23 mice and control littermates were subcutaneously implanted with osmotic pumps delivering saline or ibuprofen (50 mg/kg daily). After 2 months of treatment, a 3-week washout period prevented bias from potential symptomatic effects before cognitive evaluation commenced. Ibuprofen-treated APP23 mice performed significantly better than their sham-treated counterparts and almost attained the same level of performance as control animals on a complex visual-spatial learning task. This study clearly reports disease-modifying efficacy of ibuprofen at the cognitive level in transgenic mice modelling AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Van Dam
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behaviour, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Wilrijk, Belgium
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26
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Deiana S, Harrington CR, Wischik CM, Riedel G. Methylthioninium chloride reverses cognitive deficits induced by scopolamine: comparison with rivastigmine. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2009; 202:53-65. [PMID: 19005644 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-008-1394-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2008] [Accepted: 10/21/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The cholinergic system is involved in cognition as well as in age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer disease (AD). Cholinergic enhancers ameliorate AD symptoms and represent the main current therapy for AD. MTC (Methylthioninium chloride), an antioxidant with metabolism-enhancing properties may be a novel candidate with pro-cognitive capacities. OBJECTIVES This study was performed: (1) to assess the pro-cognitive efficacy of MTC and establish its dose-response; (2) to compare the efficacy of MTC with rivastigmine and (3) to determine the potential for combination therapy by co-administration of MTC and rivastigmine. METHODS Spatial cognition of female NMRI mice was tested in a reference memory water maze task. Subjects received intra-peritoneal injections of scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg) followed by vehicle, and/or MTC and/or rivastigmine (0.15-4 mg/kg MTC; 0.1-0.5 mg/kg rivastigmine) in mono or combination treatment. RESULTS Scopolamine treatment prevented spatial learning in NMRI female mice and the deficit was reversed by both rivastigmine and MTC in a dose-dependent manner. Mono-therapy with high doses of rivastigmine (>0.5 mg/kg) caused severe side effects but MTC was safe up to 4 mg/kg. Co-administration of sub-effective doses of both drugs acted synergistically in reversing learning deficits and scopolamine-induced memory impairments. CONCLUSIONS In our model, MTC reversed the spatial learning impairment. When combined with the ChEI rivastigmine, the effect of MTC appeared to be amplified indicating that combination therapy could potentially improve not only symptoms but also contribute beneficially to neuronal metabolism by minimising side effects at lower doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Deiana
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB252ZD, Scotland
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Jacobson SA, Sabbagh MN. Donepezil: potential neuroprotective and disease-modifying effects. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2008; 4:1363-9. [DOI: 10.1517/17425255.4.10.1363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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28
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Blokland A, Boess F. Use of behavioural and long-term potentiation models in the development of memory-improving drugs. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2008; 3:1067-80. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.3.9.1067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Fisher A. Cholinergic treatments with emphasis on m1 muscarinic agonists as potential disease-modifying agents for Alzheimer's disease. Neurotherapeutics 2008; 5:433-42. [PMID: 18625455 PMCID: PMC5084245 DOI: 10.1016/j.nurt.2008.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The only prescribed drugs for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and tacrine) and memantine, an NMDA antagonist. These drugs ameliorate mainly the symptoms of AD, such as cognitive impairments, rather than halting or preventing the causal neuropathology. There is currently no cure for AD and there is no way to stop its progression, yet there are numerous therapeutic approaches directed against various pathological hallmarks of AD that are extensively being pursued. In this context, the three major hallmark characteristics of AD (i.e., the CNS cholinergic hypofunction, formation of beta-amyloid plaques, and tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau proteins) are apparently linked. Such linkages may have therapeutic implications, and this review is an attempt to analyze these versus the advantages and drawbacks of some cholinergic compounds, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, M1 muscarinic agonists, M2 antagonists, and nicotinic agonists. Among the reviewed treatments, M1 selective agonists emerge, in particular, as potential disease modifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Fisher
- Israel Institute for Biological Research, PO Box 19, Ness-Ziona, Israel.
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