Assessment of GAPDH expression by quantitative real time PCR in blood of Moroccan AD cases

Exogenous succinate impacts mouse brown adipose tissue mitochondrial proteome and potentiates body mass reduction induced by liraglutide

Obesity is one of the leading noncommunicable diseases in the world. Despite intense efforts to develop strategies to prevent and treat obesity, its prevalence continues to rise worldwide. A recent study has shown that the tricarboxylic acid intermediate succinate increases body energy expenditure by promoting brown adipose tissue thermogenesis through the activation of uncoupling protein-1; this has generated interest surrounding its potential usefulness as an approach to treat obesity. It is currently unknown how succinate impacts brown adipose tissue protein expression, and how exogenous succinate impacts body mass reduction promoted by a drug approved to treat human obesity, the glucagon-like-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide. In the first part of this study, we used bottom-up shotgun proteomics to determine the acute impact of exogenous succinate on the brown adipose tissue. We show that succinate rapidly affects the expression of 177 brown adipose tissue proteins, which are mostly associated with mitochondrial structure and function. In the second part of this study, we performed a short-term preclinical pharmacological intervention, treating diet-induced obese mice with a combination of exogenous succinate and liraglutide. We show that the combination was more efficient than liraglutide alone in promoting body mass reduction, food energy efficiency reduction, food intake reduction, and an increase in body temperature. Using serum metabolomics analysis, we showed that succinate, but not liraglutide, promoted a significant increase in the blood levels of several medium and long-chain fatty acids. In conclusion, exogenous succinate promotes rapid changes in brown adipose tissue mitochondrial proteins, and when used in association with liraglutide, increases body mass reduction.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Exogenous succinate induces major changes in brown adipose tissue protein expression affecting particularly mitochondrial respiration and structural proteins. When given exogenously in drinking water, succinate mitigates body mass gain in a rodent model of diet-induced obesity; in addition, when given in association with the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide, succinate increases body mass reduction promoted by liraglutide alone.

Action of low doses of Aspirin in Inflammation and Oxidative Stress induced by aβ1-42 on Astrocytes in primary culture

Aspirin has been used as anti-inflammatory and anti-aggregate for decades but the precise mechanism(s) of action after the presence of the toxic peptide Aβ_1-42 in cultured astrocytes remains poorly resolved. Here we use low-doses of aspirin (10^-7 M) in astrocytes in primary culture in presence or absence of Aβ_1-42 toxic peptide. We noted an increase of cell viability and proliferation with or without Aβ_1-42 peptide presence in aspirin treated cells. In addition, a decrease in apoptosis, determined by Caspase 3 activity and the expression of Cyt c and Smac/Diablo, were detected. Also, aspirin diminished necrosis process (LDH levels), pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-β and TNF-α) and NF-ᴋB protein expression, increasing anti-inflammatory PPAR-γ protein expression, preventing Aβ_1-42 toxic effects. Aspirin inhibited COX-2 and iNOS without changes in COX-1 expression, increasing anti-oxidant protein (Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD) expression in presence or absence of Aβ_1-42. Taken together, our results show that aspirin, at low doses increases cell viability by decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress, preventing the deleterious effects of the Aβ_1-42 peptide on astrocytes in primary culture. The use of low doses of aspirin may be more suitable for Alzheimer's disease.