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Liu X, Jin Y, Cheng X, Song Q, Wang Y, He L, Chen T. The relevance between abnormally elevated serum ceramide and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease model mice and its mechanism. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:525-542. [PMID: 38277004 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06530-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE The plasma ceramide levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients are found abnormally elevated, which is related to cognitive decline. OBJECTIVES This research was aimed to investigate the mechanisms of aberrant elevated ceramides in the pathogenesis of AD. RESULTS The ICR mice intracerebroventricularly injected with Aβ1-42 and APP/PS1 transgenic mice were employed as AD mice. The cognitive deficiency, impaired episodic and spatial memory were observed without altered spontaneous ability. The serum levels of p-tau and ceramide were evidently elevated. The modified expressions and activities of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) influenced the serum content of p-tau. The levels of ceramide synthesis-related genes including sptlc1, sptlc2, cers2, and cers6 in the liver of AD mice were increased, while the ceramide degradation-related gene asah2 did not significantly change. The regulations of these genes were conducted by activated nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling. NF-κB, promoted by free fatty acid (FFA), also increased the hepatic concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines. The FFA amount was modulated by fatty acid synthesis-related genes acc1 and srebp-1c. Besides, the decreased levels of pre-proopiomelanocortin (pomc) mRNA and increased agouti-related protein (agrp) mRNA were found in the hypothalamus without significant alteration of melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) mRNA. The bioinformatic analyses proved the results using GEO datasets and AlzData. CONCLUSIONS Ceramide was positively related to the increased p-tau and impaired cognitive function. The increased generation of ceramide and endoplasmic reticulum stress in the hypothalamus was positively related to fatty acid synthesis and NF-κB signaling via brain-liver axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yongzeng Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyi Cheng
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qinghua Song
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling He
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Tong Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
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Zhang RH, Cao SS, Shi Y, Wang X, Shi LL, Zhang YH, Han CJ, Wang B, Feng L, Liu JP. Astragaloside IV-mediated inhibition of oxidative stress by upregulation of ghrelin in type 2 diabetes-induced cognitive impairment. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:2637-2650. [PMID: 37097336 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02486-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
This study is to observe the upregulation effect of astragaloside IV on ghrelin in diabetic cognitive impairment (DCI) rats and to investigate the pathway in prevention and treatment by reducing oxidative stress. The DCI model was induced with streptozotocin (STZ) in conjunction with a high-fat and high-sugar diet and divided into three groups: model, low-dose (40 mg/kg), and high-dose (80 mg/kg) astragaloside IV. After 30 days of gavage, the learning and memory abilities of rats, as well as their body weight and blood glucose levels, were tested using the Morris water maze and then detection of insulin resistance, SOD activity, and serum MDA levels. The whole brain of rats was sampled for hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining to observe pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect ghrelin expression in the hippocampal CA1 region. A Western blot was used to determine changes in GHS-R1α/AMPK/PGC-1α/UCP2. RT-qPCR was used to determine the levels of ghrelin mRNA. Astragaloside IV reduced nerve damage, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, decreased MDA levels, and improved insulin resistance. Ghrelin levels and expression increased in serum and hippocampal tissues, and ghrelin mRNA levels increased in rat stomach tissues. According to Western blot, it increased the expression of the ghrelin receptor GHS-R1α and upregulated the mitochondrial function associated-protein AMPK-PGC-1α-UCP2. Astragaloside IV increases ghrelin expression in the brain to reduce oxidative stress and delay diabetes-induced cognitive impairment. It may be related to the promotion of ghrelin mRNA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Hua Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Middle Section of Century Avenue, Xianyang, 712046, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan-Shan Cao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Middle Section of Century Avenue, Xianyang, 712046, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Middle Section of Century Avenue, Xianyang, 712046, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Middle Section of Century Avenue, Xianyang, 712046, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei-Lei Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Middle Section of Century Avenue, Xianyang, 712046, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Han Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Middle Section of Century Avenue, Xianyang, 712046, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao-Jun Han
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Middle Section of Century Avenue, Xianyang, 712046, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Middle Section of Century Avenue, Xianyang, 712046, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Feng
- Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery System of Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University, 639# Longmian Road, Jiangsu, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ji-Ping Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Middle Section of Century Avenue, Xianyang, 712046, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Mechanism and Material Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, People's Republic of China.
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Dopamine D2 receptor agonist Bromocriptine ameliorates Aβ 1-42-induced memory deficits and neuroinflammation in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 938:175443. [PMID: 36470446 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, which lacks disease-modifying therapeutics so far. Studies have shown that the dysfunction of the dopaminergic system is related to a variety of pathophysiology of AD, and the expression of Dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) in the brains of AD patients and animal models is significantly downregulated, suggesting that DRD2 may represent a therapeutic target for AD. However, the strategy of targeting DRD2 for AD treatment still lacks some key experimental evidences. Here we show that DRD2 agonist Bromocriptine improved Aβ1-42 induced neuroinflammation, neuronal apoptosis, and memory deficits in mice. For animal study, the mice have injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with Aβ1-42(410 pmol/5 μl) to induced AD cognitive deficit model (Mazzola et al., 2003; van der Stelt et al., 2006). After 7 days, Bromocriptine (2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) or normal saline was administered intragastrically once a day for 30 days. Behavioral tests about the Y maze and Morris water maze in mice were initiated on the twenty-fourth day of drug administration for 7 days. In vivo and in vitro mechanism research revealed that Bromocriptine, via activating DRD2, promoted the recruitment of PP2A and JNK by scaffold protein β-arrestin 2, that repressed JNK-mediated transcription of proinflammatory cytokines and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia. Collectively, our findings suggest that Bromocriptine can ameliorate Aβ1-42 induced neuroinflammation and memory deficits in mice through DRD2/β-arrestin 2/PP2A/JNK signaling axis, which provides an experimental basis for the development of Bromocriptine as a drug for AD.
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Correia SC, Alves MG, Oliveira PF, Casadesus G, LaManna J, Perry G, Moreira PI. Hypoxic Preconditioning Averts Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease-Like Phenotype in Rats: A Focus on Mitochondria. Antioxid Redox Signal 2022; 37:739-757. [PMID: 35316086 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2019.8007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Aims: Brief episodes of sublethal hypoxia reprogram brain response to face possible subsequent lethal stimuli by triggering adaptive and prosurvival events-a phenomenon denominated hypoxic preconditioning (HP). To date, the potential therapeutic implications of HP to forestall sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) pathology remain unexplored. Using a well-established protocol of HP and focusing on hippocampus as a first brain region affected in AD, this study was undertaken to investigate the potential protective effects of HP in a sAD rat model induced by the intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of streptozotocin (STZ) and to uncover the mitochondrial adaptations underlying this nonpharmacological strategy. Results: HP prevented the memory and learning deficits as well as tau pathology in the icvSTZ rat model. HP also attenuated icvSTZ-related reactive astrogliosis, as noted by increased glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity and myo-inositol levels. Notably, HP abrogated the icvSTZ-related impaired energy metabolism and oxidative damage. Particularly, HP averted increased lactate, glutamate, and succinate levels, and decreased mitochondrial respiratory chain function and mitochondrial DNA content. Concerning mitochondrial adaptations underlying HP-triggered tolerance to icvSTZ, preconditioned hippocampal mitochondria displayed an enhanced complex II-energized mitochondrial respiration, which resulted from a coordinated interaction between mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion-fission. Mitochondrial biogenesis was stimulated immediately after HP, whereas in a latter phase mitochondrial fusion-fission events are modulated favoring the generation of elongated mitochondria. Innovation and Conclusion: Overall, these results demonstrate for the first time that HP prevents the sAD-like phenotype, in part, by targeting mitochondria emerging as a preventive strategy in the context of AD. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 37, 739-757.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia C Correia
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, and University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marco G Alves
- Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro F Oliveira
- QOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Gemma Casadesus
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Joseph LaManna
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - George Perry
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Paula I Moreira
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, and University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Dong X, Chen Y, Lu J, Huang S, Pei G. β-arrestin 2 and Epac2 cooperatively mediate DRD1-stimulated proliferation of human neural stem cells and growth of human cerebral organoids. Stem Cells 2022; 40:857-869. [PMID: 35772103 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxac046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) reportedly relay specific signals, such as dopamine and serotonin, to regulate neurogenic processes though the underlying signaling pathways are not fully elucidated. Based on our previous work which demonstrated Dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) effectively induces the proliferation of human neural stem cells, here we continued to show the knockout of β-arrestin 2 by CRISPR/Cas9 technology significantly weakened the DRD1-induced proliferation and neurosphere growth. Furthermore, inhibition of the downstream p38 MAPK by its specific inhibitors or small hairpin RNA mimicked the weakening effect of β-arrestin 2 knockout. In addition, blocking of Epac2, a PKA independent signal pathway, by its specific inhibitors or small hairpin RNA also significantly reduced DRD1-induced effects. Simultaneous inhibition of β-arrestin 2/p38 MAPK and Epac2 pathways nearly abolished the DRD1-stimulated neurogenesis, indicating the cooperative contribution of both pathways. Consistently, the expansion and folding of human cerebral organoids as stimulated by DRD1 were also mediated cooperatively by both β-arrestin 2/p38 MAPK and Epac2 pathways. Taken together, our results reveal that GPCRs apply at least two different signal pathways to regulate neurogenic processes in a delicate and balanced manners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxu Dong
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yujie Chen
- Uli Schwarz Quantitative Biology Core Facility, Bio-Med Big Data Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shichao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Pei
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Zong B, Yu F, Zhang X, Zhao W, Sun P, Li S, Li L. Understanding How Physical Exercise Improves Alzheimer’s Disease: Cholinergic and Monoaminergic Systems. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:869507. [PMID: 35663578 PMCID: PMC9158463 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.869507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the accumulation of proteinaceous aggregates and neurofibrillary lesions composed of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide and hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau, respectively. It has long been known that dysregulation of cholinergic and monoaminergic (i.e., dopaminergic, serotoninergic, and noradrenergic) systems is involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Abnormalities in neuronal activity, neurotransmitter signaling input, and receptor function exaggerate Aβ deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation. Maintenance of normal neurotransmission is essential to halt AD progression. Most neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter-related drugs modulate the pathology of AD and improve cognitive function through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Exercise therapies provide an important alternative or adjunctive intervention for AD. Cumulative evidence indicates that exercise can prevent multiple pathological features found in AD and improve cognitive function through delaying the degeneration of cholinergic and monoaminergic neurons; increasing levels of acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine; and modulating the activity of certain neurotransmitter-related GPCRs. Emerging insights into the mechanistic links among exercise, the neurotransmitter system, and AD highlight the potential of this intervention as a therapeutic approach for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyi Zong
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengzhi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyou Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenrui Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shichang Li
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Li
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Lin Li,
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