Blunted response of hippocampal AMPK associated with reduced neurogenesis in older versus younger mice

Reconsidering repurposing: long-term metformin treatment impairs cognition in Alzheimer's model mice

Metformin, a primary anti-diabetic medication, has been anticipated to provide benefits for Alzheimer's disease (AD), also known as "type 3 diabetes". Nevertheless, some studies have demonstrated that metformin may trigger AD pathology and even elevate AD risk in humans. Despite this, limited research has elucidated the behavioral outcomes of metformin treatment, which would hold significant translational value. Thus, we aimed to perform thorough behavioral research on the prolonged administration of metformin to mice: We administered metformin (300 mg/kg/day) to transgenic 3xTg-AD and non-transgenic (NT) C57BL/6 mice over 1 and 2 years, respectively, and evaluated their behaviors across multiple domains via touchscreen operant chambers, including motivation, attention, memory, visual discrimination, and cognitive flexibility. We found metformin enhanced attention, inhibitory control, and associative learning in younger NT mice (≤16 months). However, chronic treatment led to impairments in memory retention and discrimination learning at older age. Furthermore, metformin caused learning and memory impairment and increased levels of AMPKα1-subunit, β-amyloid oligomers, plaques, phosphorylated tau, and GSK3β expression in AD mice. No changes in potential confounding factors on cognition, including levels of motivation, locomotion, appetite, body weight, blood glucose, and serum vitamin B12, were observed in metformin-treated AD mice. We also identified an enhanced amyloidogenic pathway in db/db mice, as well as in Neuro2a-APP695 cells and a decrease in synaptic markers, such as PSD-95 and synaptophysin in primary neurons, upon metformin treatment. Our findings collectively suggest that the repurposing of metformin should be carefully reconsidered when this drug is used for individuals with AD.

The development and benefits of metformin in various diseases

Metformin has been used for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus for decades due to its safety, low cost, and outstanding hypoglycemic effect clinically. The mechanisms underlying these benefits are complex and still not fully understood. Inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory-chain complex I is the most described downstream mechanism of metformin, leading to reduced ATP production and activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Meanwhile, many novel targets of metformin have been gradually discovered. In recent years, multiple pre-clinical and clinical studies are committed to extend the indications of metformin in addition to diabetes. Herein, we summarized the benefits of metformin in four types of diseases, including metabolic associated diseases, cancer, aging and age-related diseases, neurological disorders. We comprehensively discussed the pharmacokinetic properties and the mechanisms of action, treatment strategies, the clinical application, the potential risk of metformin in various diseases. This review provides a brief summary of the benefits and concerns of metformin, aiming to interest scientists to consider and explore the common and specific mechanisms and guiding for the further research. Although there have been countless studies of metformin, longitudinal research in each field is still much warranted.

Alpha-SNAP (M105I) mutation promotes neuronal differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells through overactivation of AMPK

Background: The M105I point mutation in α-SNAP (Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein-alpha) leads in mice to a complex phenotype known as hyh (hydrocephalus with hop gait), characterized by cortical malformation and hydrocephalus, among other neuropathological features. Studies performed by our laboratory and others support that the hyh phenotype is triggered by a primary alteration in embryonic neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) that leads to a disruption of the ventricular and subventricular zones (VZ/SVZ) during the neurogenic period. Besides the canonical role of α-SNAP in SNARE-mediated intracellular membrane fusion dynamics, it also negatively modulates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity. AMPK is a conserved metabolic sensor associated with the proliferation/differentiation balance in NSPCs. Methods: Brain samples from hyh mutant mice (hydrocephalus with hop gait) (B6C3Fe-a/a-Napahyh/J) were analyzed by light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and Western blot at different developmental stages. In addition, NSPCs derived from WT and hyh mutant mice were cultured as neurospheres for in vitro characterization and pharmacological assays. BrdU labeling was used to assess proliferative activity in situ and in vitro. Pharmacological modulation of AMPK was performed using Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) and AICAR (AMPK activator). Results: α-SNAP was preferentially expressed in the brain, showing variations in the levels of α-SNAP protein in different brain regions and developmental stages. NSPCs from hyh mice (hyh-NSPCs) displayed reduced levels of α-SNAP and increased levels of phosphorylated AMPKα (pAMPKα^Thr172), which were associated with a reduction in their proliferative activity and a preferential commitment with the neuronal lineage. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition of AMPK in hyh-NSPCs increased proliferative activity and completely abolished the increased generation of neurons. Conversely, AICAR-mediated activation of AMPK in WT-NSPCs reduced proliferation and boosted neuronal differentiation. Discussion: Our findings support that α-SNAP regulates AMPK signaling in NSPCs, further modulating their neurogenic capacity. The naturally occurring M105I mutation of α-SNAP provokes an AMPK overactivation in NSPCs, thus connecting the α-SNAP/AMPK axis with the etiopathogenesis and neuropathology of the hyh phenotype.

Prepubertal exposure to Pb alters autophagy in the brain of aging mice: A time-series based model

As a ubiquitous toxic heavy metal, lead (Pb) exposure is known to be implicated in the onset and development of neurodegenerative diseases which may cause more serious health hazards with age and the accumulation of Pb in the body. Autophagy is the main degradation route for abnormal aggregated proteins and damaged cell organelles. Here, we aimed to study the effects of adolescent Pb exposure on autophagy at different life nodes. In this study, we developed a time-series model of Pb exposure in mice and randomly divided 4-week-old male C57BL/6 mice into six groups (4 C, 13 C, 16 C, 4Pb, 13Pb and 16Pb). Mice in Pb groups was consumed deionized water containing 0.2 % Pb(Ac)₂ for 3 months and then reared to anticipated life nodes, while the control group consumed deionized water. Western blot and Real-time qPCR were used to assess the effects of developmental Pb exposure on individual components of the autophagy machinery and modulation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) at each age stage. Our results showed that Pb exposure during adolescence reduced the p-mTOR/mTOR ratios with enhanced expression of Beclin-1, Atg12 and Atg7in both the hippocampus (HPC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of senescent mice while upregulation of LC3II/LC3I ratios and p62 suggested that autophagy mediates degradation was interrupted. Overall, we confirm that Pb exposure during adolescence promotes autophagic processes in the aged mice brain and that autophagic degradation is hindered, ultimately leading to a failure of autophagic degradation.

Metabolic Regulation of Hippocampal Neuronal Development and Its Inhibition After Irradiation

5'-Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulator of cellular energy homeostasis, plays a role in cell fate determination. Whether AMPK regulates hippocampal neuronal development remains unclear. Hippocampal neurogenesis is abrogated after DNA damage. Here, we asked whether AMPK regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis and its inhibition following irradiation. Adult Cre-lox mice deficient in AMPK in brain, and wild-type mice were used in a birth-dating study using bromodeoxyuridine to evaluate hippocampal neurogenesis. There was no evidence of AMPK or phospho-AMPK immunoreactivity in hippocampus. Increase in p-AMPK but not AMPK expression was observed in granule neurons and subgranular neuroprogenitor cells (NPCs) in the dentate gyrus within 24 hours and persisted up to 9 weeks after irradiation. AMPK deficiency in Cre-lox mice did not alter neuroblast and newborn neuron numbers but resulted in decreased newborn and proliferating NPCs. Inhibition of neurogenesis was observed after irradiation regardless of genotypes. In Cre-lox mice, there was further loss of newborn early NPCs and neuroblasts but not newborn neurons after irradiation compared with wild-type mice. These results are consistent with differential negative effect of AMPK on hippocampal neuronal development and its inhibition after irradiation.

Potential Involvement of Adiponectin Signaling in Regulating Physical Exercise-Elicited Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Dendritic Morphology in Stressed Mice

Adiponectin, a cytokine secreted by mature adipocytes, proves to be neuroprotective. We have previously reported that running triggers adiponectin up-regulation which subsequently promotes generation of hippocampal neurons and thereby alleviates depression-like behaviors in non-stressed mice. However, under the stressing condition, whether adiponectin could still exert antidepressant-like effects following exercise remained unexplored. In this study, by means of repeated corticosterone injections to mimic stress insult and voluntary wheel running as physical exercise intervention, we examined whether exercise-elicited antidepressive effects might involve adiponectin's regulation on hippocampal neurogenesis and dendritic plasticity in stressed mice. Here we show that repeated injections of corticosterone inhibited hippocampal neurogenesis and impaired dendritic morphology of neurons in the dentate gyrus of both wild-type and adiponectin-knockout mice comparably, which subsequently evoked depression-like behaviors. Voluntary wheel running attenuated corticosterone-suppressed neurogenesis and enhanced dendritic plasticity in the hippocampus, ultimately reducing depression-like behaviors in wild-type, but not adiponectin-knockout mice. We further demonstrate that such proneurogenic effects were potentially achieved through activation of the AMP-dependent kinase (AMPK) pathway. Our study provides the first evidence that adiponectin signaling is essential for physical exercise-triggered effects on stress-elicited depression by retaining the normal proliferation of neural progenitors and dendritic morphology of neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, which may depend on activation of the AMPK pathway.

Kir6.2 Deficiency Promotes Mesencephalic Neural Precursor Cell Differentiation via Regulating miR-133b/GDNF in a Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model

The loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) is a major feature in the pathology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Using neural stem or progenitor cells (NSC/NPCs), the prospect of replacing the missing or damaged DA neurons is very attractive for PD therapy. However, little is known about the endogenous mechanisms and molecular pathways regulating the NSC/NPC proliferation and differentiation in the development of PD. Herein, using Kir6.2 knockout (Kir6.2-/-) mice, we observed that genetic deficiency of Kir6.2 exacerbated the loss of SN DA neurons relatively early in a chronic MPTP/probenecid (MPTP/p) injection course, but rescued the damage of neurons 7 days after the last MPTP/p injection. Meanwhile, we found that Kir6.2 knockout predominantly increased the differentiation of nuclear receptor-related 1 (Nurr1+) precursors to DA neurons, indicating that Kir6.2 deficiency could activate an endogenous self-repair process. Furthermore, we demonstrated in vivo and in vitro that lack of Kir6.2 promoted neuronal differentiation via inhibiting the downregulation of glia cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which negatively related to the level of microRNA-133b. Notably, we revealed that Gdnf is a target gene of miR-133b and transfection of miR-133b could attenuate the enhancement of neural precursor differentiation induced by Kir6.2 deficiency. Collectively, we clarify for the first time that Kir6.2/K-ATP channel functions as a novel endogenous negative regulator of NPC differentiation, and provide a promising neuroprotective target for PD therapeutics.

Regulatory Effects of Neuroinflammatory Responses Through Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Signaling in Microglial Cells

Inhibition of microglial over-activation is an important strategy to counter balance neurodegenerative progression. We previously demonstrated that the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) may be a therapeutic target in mediating anti-neuroinflammatory responses in microglia. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the major neurotrophic factors produced by astrocytes to maintain the development and survival of neurons in the brain, and have recently been shown to modulate homeostasis of neuroinflammation. Therefore, the present study focused on BDNF-mediated neuroinflammatory responses and may provide an endogenous regulation of neuroinflammation. Among the tested neuroinflammation, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and minocycline exerted BDNF upregulation to inhibit COX-2 and proinflammatory mediator expressions. Furthermore, both EGCG and minocycline upregulated BDNF expression in microglia through AMPK signaling. In addition, minocycline and EGCG also increased expressions of erythropoietin (EPO) and sonic hedgehog (Shh). In the endogenous modulation of neuroinflammation, astrocyte-conditioned medium (AgCM) also decreased the expression of COX-2 and upregulated BDNF expression in microglia. The anti-inflammatory effects of BDNF were mediated through EPO/Shh in microglia. Our results indicated that the BDNF-EPO-Shh novel-signaling pathway underlies the regulation of inflammatory responses and may be regarded as a potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases. This study also reveals a better understanding of an endogenous crosstalk between astrocytes and microglia to regulate anti-inflammatory actions, which could provide a novel strategy for the treatment of neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

Exercise in a Pill: The Latest on Exercise-Mimetics

There is increasing evidence that an active lifestyle benefits both body and brain. However, not everyone may be able to exercise due to disease, injury or aging-related frailty. Identification of cellular targets activated by physical activity may lead to the development of new compounds that can, to some extent, mimic systemic and central effects of exercise. This review will focus on factors relevant to energy metabolism in muscle, such as the 5’ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) - sirtuin (SIRT1) - Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) pathway, and the molecules affecting it. In particular, putative exercise-mimetics such as AICAR, metformin, and GW501516 will be discussed. Moreover, plant-derived polyphenols such as resveratrol and (-)epicatechin, with exercise-like effects on the body and brain will be evaluated.