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Ebrahimi M, Thompson P, Lauer AK, Sivaprasad S, Perry G. The retina-brain axis and diabetic retinopathy. Eur J Ophthalmol 2023; 33:2079-2095. [PMID: 37259525 DOI: 10.1177/11206721231172229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major contributor to permanent vision loss and blindness. Changes in retinal neurons, glia, and microvasculature have been the focus of intensive study in the quest to better understand DR. However, the impact of diabetes on the rest of the visual system has received less attention. There are reports of associations of changes in the visual system with preclinical and clinical manifestations of diabetes. Simultaneous investigation of the retina and the brain may shed light on the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in diabetics. Additionally, investigating the links between DR and other neurodegenerative disorders of the brain including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease may reveal shared mechanisms for neurodegeneration and potential therapy options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moein Ebrahimi
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy, and Autoimmunity, Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Paul Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Andreas K Lauer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Sobha Sivaprasad
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
| | - George Perry
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas and San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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2
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Zott B, Konnerth A. Impairments of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in Alzheimer's disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 139:24-34. [PMID: 35337739 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is structural cell damage and neuronal death in the brains of affected individuals. As these changes are irreversible, it is important to understand their origins and precursors in order to develop treatment strategies against AD. Here, we review evidence for AD-specific impairments of glutamatergic synaptic transmission by relating evidence from human AD subjects to functional studies in animal models of AD. The emerging picture is that early in the disease, the accumulation of toxic β-amyloid aggregates, particularly dimers and low molecular weight oligomers, disrupts glutamate reuptake, which leads to its extracellular accumulation causing neuronal depolarization. This drives the hyperactivation of neurons and might facilitate neuronal damage and degeneration through glutamate neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Zott
- Institute of Neuroscience, Technical University of Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Technical University of Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany; Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Arthur Konnerth
- Institute of Neuroscience, Technical University of Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Technical University of Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
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3
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Schwab K, Chasapopoulou Z, Frahm S, Magbagbeolu M, Cranston A, Harrington CR, Wischik CM, Theuring F, Riedel G. Glutamatergic transmission and receptor expression in the synucleinopathy h-α-synL62 mouse model: Effects of hydromethylthionine. Cell Signal 2022; 97:110386. [PMID: 35709886 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) into Lewy bodies in cortical and subcortical regions has been linked to the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). While there is a strong link between synuclein aggregates and the reduction in dopamine function in the emergence of PD, less is known about the consequences of α-Syn accumulation in glutamatergic neurons and how this could be exploited as a therapeutic target. Transgenic h-α-synL62 (L62) mice, in which synuclein aggregation is achieved through the expression of full-length human α-Syn fused with a signal sequence peptide, were used to characterise glutamatergic transmission using a combination of behavioural, immunoblotting, and histopathological approaches. The protein aggregation inhibitor hydromethylthionine mesylate (HMTM) alone, or in combination with the glutamatergic compounds 3-((2-Methyl-4-thiazolyl)ethynyl)pyridine hydrochloride (MTEP) and memantine, was used to target α-Syn aggregation. We show that accumulation of α-Syn aggregates in glutamatergic synapses affected synaptic protein expression including metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGLUR5) levels and ratio of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits GluN1/GluN2A. The ratio of NMDA receptor subunits and levels of mGLUR5 were both normalised by HMTM in L62 mice. These alterations, however, did not affect glutamate release in synaptosomes derived from L62 mice or behavioural endpoints following pharmacological manipulations of glutamate functions. Our results confirm that HMTM acts in the L62 mouse model of PD as an inhibitor of pathological aggregation of synuclein and show that HMTM treatment normalises both the ratio of NMDA receptor subunits and mGLUR5 levels. These findings support the potential utility of HMTM as a disease-modifying treatment for PD aiming to reduce synuclein aggregation pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karima Schwab
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Zoi Chasapopoulou
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Center for Stroke Research, Department of Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Robert Koch Platz 4, 101155 Berlin, Germany
| | - Silke Frahm
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Stem Cell Core Facility, Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mandy Magbagbeolu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Cranston
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; Benchsci, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Charles R Harrington
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., 395 King Street, Aberdeen AB24 5RP, UK
| | - Claude M Wischik
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., 395 King Street, Aberdeen AB24 5RP, UK
| | - Franz Theuring
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gernot Riedel
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
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4
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Saeedi M, Mehranfar F. Challenges and approaches of drugs such as Memantine, Donepezil, Rivastigmine and Aducanumab in the treatment, control and management of Alzheimer's disease. Recent Pat Biotechnol 2022; 16:102-121. [PMID: 35236274 DOI: 10.2174/1872208316666220302115901] [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: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a kinds of neuropsychiatric illnesses that affect the central nervous system. In this disease, the accumulation of amyloid-beta increases, and phosphorylated tau (P-tau) protein, one of the ways to treat this disease is to reduce the accumulation of amyloid-beta. Various studies have demonstrated that pharmacological approaches have considerable effects in the treatment of AD, despite the side effects and challenges. Cholinesterase inhibitors and the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine are presently authorized therapies for AD. Memantine and Donepezil are the most common drugs for the prevention and therapy of AD with mechanisms such as lessened β-amyloid plaque, effect on N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Diminution glutamate and elevated acetylcholine are some of the influences of medications administrated to treat AD, and drugs can also play a role in slowing the progression of cognitive and memory impairment. A new pharmacological approach and strategy is required to control the future of AD. This review appraises the effects of memantine, donepezil, rivastigmine, and aducanumab in clinical trials, in vitro and animal model studies that have explored how these drugs versus AD development and also discuss possible mechanisms of influence on the brain. Research in clinical trials has substantial findings that support the role of these medications in AD treatment and ameliorate the safety and efficacy of AD therapy, although more clinical trials are required to prove their effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Saeedi
- Department of Laboratory Science, Faculty of medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mehranfar
- Department of Laboratory Science, Faculty of medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
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5
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Song Z, Bian Z, Zhang Z, Wang X, Zhu A, Zhu G. Astrocytic Kir4.1 regulates NMDAR/calpain signaling axis in lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 429:115711. [PMID: 34474083 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The activation of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome propagates pro-inflammatory signaling cascades linking to depression-like behaviors. However, the signaling pathway contributing to NLRP3 inflammasome activation and depression-like behaviors is still not clear. In this study, we evidenced that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection (i.p.) triggered depression-like behaviors, promoted the expression of Kir4.1, p-GluN2B and calpain-1, and activated NLRP3 inflammasome. The blockage of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) by memantine reduced LPS-induced depression-like behaviors, NLRP3 inflammasome and astrocyte activation, and calpain-1 expression. Additionally, memantine also inhibited LPS-induced reduction of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) and Arc expression. Specific reduction of Kir4.1 in astrocytes attenuated LPS-induced expression of NLRP3 and calpain-1, and phosphorylation of GluN2B. Interestingly, LPS-induced expression of calpain-1 largely co-localized with GFAP, indicating the specific function of calpain-1 in astrocytes. Together, these data indicate that astrocytic Kir4.1 could regulate NMDAR/calpain-1 signaling axis, contributing to depression-like behaviors, likely through regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhujin Song
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China; School of Basic Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Zhijuan Bian
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Zhengrong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Xuncui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Aisong Zhu
- School of Basic Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Guoqi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
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6
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Chen BK, Le Pen G, Eckmier A, Rubinstenn G, Jay TM, Denny CA. Fluoroethylnormemantine, A Novel Derivative of Memantine, Facilitates Extinction Learning Without Sensorimotor Deficits. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 24:519-531. [PMID: 33631001 PMCID: PMC8278800 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Memantine, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, has been approved for use in Alzheimer's disease, but an increasing number of studies have investigated its utility for neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we characterized a novel compound, fluoroethylnormemtantine (FENM), which was derived from memantine with an extra Fluor in an optimized position for in vivo biomarker labeling. We sought to determine if FENM produced similar behavioral effects as memantine and/or if FENM has beneficial effects against fear, avoidance, and behavioral despair. METHODS We administered saline, FENM, or memantine prior to a number of behavioral assays, including paired-pulse inhibition, open field, light dark test, forced swim test, and cued fear conditioning in male Wistar rats. RESULTS Unlike memantine, FENM did not produce nonspecific side effects and did not alter sensorimotor gating or locomotion. FENM decreased immobility in the forced swim test. Moreover, FENM robustly facilitated fear extinction learning when administered prior to either cued fear conditioning training or tone reexposure. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that FENM is a promising, novel compound that robustly reduces fear behavior and may be useful for further preclinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana K Chen
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gwenaëlle Le Pen
- Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Pathophysiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Adam Eckmier
- Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Pathophysiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | | | - Therese M Jay
- Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Pathophysiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Christine A Denny
- Division of Systems Neuroscience, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc./New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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The next step of neurogenesis in the context of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:5647-5660. [PMID: 34232464 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06520-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Among different pathological mechanisms, neuronal loss and neurogenesis impairment in the hippocampus play important roles in cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a progressive and complex neurodegenerative diseases, which is very debilitating. The purpose of this paper is to review recent research into neurogenesis and AD and discuss how pharmacological drugs and herbal active components have impacts on neurogenesis and consequently improve cognitive functions. To date, despite huge research, no effective treatment has been approved for AD. Therefore, an avenue for future research and drug discovery is stimulating adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN). Evidence suggests that neurogenesis is regulated by the pharmacological treatment that may be recommended as a part of prophylaxis and therapeutic options for AD. However, the underlying mechanisms of regulating neurogenesis in AD are not well understood. To this point, we highlight to achieve an efficient treatment in AD by manipulating neurogenesis, it's necessary to target all steps of neurogenesis.
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Wang K, Na L, Duan M. The Pathogenesis Mechanism, Structure Properties, Potential Drugs and Therapeutic Nanoparticles against the Small Oligomers of Amyloid-β. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 21:151-167. [PMID: 32938351 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200916123000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of people in the world. The abnormal aggregation of amyloid β protein (Aβ) is regarded as the key event in AD onset. Meanwhile, the Aβ oligomers are believed to be the most toxic species of Aβ. Recent studies show that the Aβ dimers, which are the smallest form of Aβ oligomers, also have the neurotoxicity in the absence of other oligomers in physiological conditions. In this review, we focus on the pathogenesis, structure and potential therapeutic molecules against small Aβ oligomers, as well as the nanoparticles (NPs) in the treatment of AD. In this review, we firstly focus on the pathogenic mechanism of Aβ oligomers, especially the Aβ dimers. The toxicity of Aβ dimer or oligomers, which attributes to the interactions with various receptors and the disruption of membrane or intracellular environments, were introduced. Then the structure properties of Aβ dimers and oligomers are summarized. Although some structural information such as the secondary structure content is characterized by experimental technologies, detailed structures are still absent. Following that, the small molecules targeting Aβ dimers or oligomers are collected; nevertheless, all of these ligands have failed to come into the market due to the rising controversy of the Aβ-related "amyloid cascade hypothesis". At last, the recent progress about the nanoparticles as the potential drugs or the drug delivery for the Aβ oligomers are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Wang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Liu Na
- School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
| | - Mojie Duan
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
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Li P, Xu J, Gu H, Peng H, Yin Y, Zhuang J. Memantine ameliorates cognitive deficit in AD mice via enhancement of entorhinal-CA1 projection. BMC Neurosci 2021; 22:41. [PMID: 34120588 PMCID: PMC8201811 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-021-00647-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Memantine, a low- to moderate-affinity uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, has been shown to improve cognitive functions in animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we treated APP/PS1 AD mice with a therapeutic dose of memantine (20 mg/kg/day) and examined its underlying mechanisms in ameliorating cognitive defects. METHODS Using behavioral, electrophysiological, optogenetic and morphology approaches to explore how memantine delay the pathogenesis of AD. RESULTS Memantine significantly improved the acquisition in Morris water maze (MWM) in APP/PS1 mice without affecting the speed of swimming. Furthermore, memantine enhanced EC to CA1 synaptic neurotransmission and promoted dendritic spine regeneration of EC neurons that projected to CA1. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals the underlying mechanism of memantine in the treatment of AD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Huanhuan Gu
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Hua Peng
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - You Yin
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China.
| | - Jianhua Zhuang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China.
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Nakai T, Yamada K, Mizoguchi H. Alzheimer's Disease Animal Models: Elucidation of Biomarkers and Therapeutic Approaches for Cognitive Impairment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5549. [PMID: 34074018 PMCID: PMC8197360 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It is widely accepted that AD is mainly caused by the accumulation of extracellular amyloid β (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tau tangles. Aβ begins to accumulate years before the onset of cognitive impairment, suggesting that the benefit of currently available interventions would be greater if they were initiated in the early phases of AD. To understand the mechanisms of AD pathogenesis, various transgenic mouse models with an accelerated accumulation of Aβ and tau tangles have been developed. However, none of these models exhibit all pathologies present in human AD. To overcome these undesirable phenotypes, APP knock-in mice, which were presented with touchscreen-based tasks, were developed to better evaluate the efficacy of candidate therapeutics in mouse models of early-stage AD. This review assesses several AD mouse models from the aspect of biomarkers and cognitive impairment and discusses their potential as tools to provide novel AD therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Nakai
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; (T.N.); (K.Y.)
| | - Kiyofumi Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; (T.N.); (K.Y.)
| | - Hiroyuki Mizoguchi
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; (T.N.); (K.Y.)
- Medical Interactive Research and Academia Industry Collaboration Center, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
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Couly S, Denus M, Bouchet M, Rubinstenn G, Maurice T. Anti-Amnesic and Neuroprotective Effects of Fluoroethylnormemantine in a Pharmacological Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 24:142-157. [PMID: 32977336 PMCID: PMC7883897 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyaa075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current therapies in Alzheimer's disease (AD), including Memantine, have proven to be only symptomatic but not curative or disease modifying. Fluoroethylnormemantine (FENM) is a structural analogue of Memantine, functionalized with a fluorine group that allowed its use as a positron emission tomography tracer. We here analyzed FENM neuroprotective potential in a pharmacological model of AD compared with Memantine. METHODS Swiss mice were treated intracerebroventricularly with aggregated Aβ 25-35 peptide and examined after 1 week in a battery of memory tests (spontaneous alternation, passive avoidance, object recognition, place learning in the water-maze, topographic memory in the Hamlet). Toxicity induced in the mouse hippocampus or cortex was analyzed biochemically or morphologically. RESULTS Both Memantine and FENM showed symptomatic anti-amnesic effects in Aβ 25-35-treated mice. Interestingly, FENM was not amnesic when tested alone at 10 mg/kg, contrarily to Memantine. Drugs injected once per day prevented Aβ 25-35-induced memory deficits, oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, cytochrome c release), inflammation (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α increases; glial fibrillary acidic protein and Iba1 immunoreactivity in the hippocampus and cortex), and apoptosis and cell loss (Bcl-2-associated X/B-cell lymphoma 2 ratio; cell loss in the hippocampus CA1 area). However, FENM effects were more robust than observed with Memantine, with significant attenuations vs the Aβ 25-35-treated group. CONCLUSIONS FENM therefore appeared as a potent neuroprotective drug in an AD model, with a superior efficacy compared with Memantine and an absence of direct amnesic effect at higher doses. These results open the possibility to use the compound at more relevant dosages than those actually proposed in Memantine treatment for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Couly
- MMDN, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Morgane Denus
- MMDN, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Tangui Maurice
- MMDN, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, EPHE, Montpellier, France,Correspondence: Dr T. Maurice, PhD, INSERM UMR_S1198, Université de Montpellier, cc 105, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France ()
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12
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Stazi M, Wirths O. Chronic Memantine Treatment Ameliorates Behavioral Deficits, Neuron Loss, and Impaired Neurogenesis in a Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 58:204-216. [PMID: 32914393 PMCID: PMC7695672 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02120-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Memantine, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist possessing neuroprotective properties, belongs to the small group of drugs which have been approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). While several preclinical studies employing different transgenic AD mouse models have described beneficial effects with regard to rescued behavioral deficits or reduced amyloid plaque pathology, it is largely unknown whether memantine might have beneficial effects on neurodegeneration. In the current study, we assessed whether memantine treatment has an impact on hippocampal neuron loss and associated behavioral deficits in the Tg4-42 mouse model of AD. We demonstrate that a chronic oral memantine treatment for 4 months diminishes hippocampal CA1 neuron loss and rescues learning and memory performance in different behavioral paradigms, such as Morris water maze or a novel object recognition task. Cognitive benefits of chronic memantine treatment were accompanied by an amelioration of impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Taken together, our results demonstrate that memantine successfully counteracts pathological alterations in a preclinical mouse model of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Stazi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Molecular Psychiatry, University Medical Center (UMG), Georg-August University, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Wirths
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Molecular Psychiatry, University Medical Center (UMG), Georg-August University, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
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Song Z, Shen F, Zhang Z, Wu S, Zhu G. Calpain inhibition ameliorates depression-like behaviors by reducing inflammation and promoting synaptic protein expression in the hippocampus. Neuropharmacology 2020; 174:108175. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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14
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Jürgenson M, Zharkovskaja T, Noortoots A, Morozova M, Beniashvili A, Zapolski M, Zharkovsky A. Effects of the drug combination memantine and melatonin on impaired memory and brain neuronal deficits in an amyloid-predominant mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. J Pharm Pharmacol 2019; 71:1695-1705. [DOI: 10.1111/jphp.13165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with no cure. Limited treatment options available today do not offer solutions to slow or stop any of the suspected causes. The current medications used for the symptomatic treatment of AD include memantine and acetylcholine esterase inhibitors. Some studies suggest that melatonin could also be used in AD patients due to its sleep-improving properties.
Methods
In this study, we evaluated whether a combination of memantine with melatonin, administered for 32 days in drinking water, was more effective than either drug alone with respect to Aβ aggregates, neuroinflammation and cognition in the double transgenic APP/PS1 (5xFAD) mouse model of AD.
Key findings
In this study, chronic administration of memantine with melatonin improved episodic memory in the object recognition test and reduced the number of amyloid aggregates and reactive microgliosis in the brains of 5xFAD mice. Although administration of memantine or melatonin alone also reduced the number of amyloid aggregates and inflammation in brain, this study shows a clear benefit of the drug combination, which had a significantly stronger effect in this amyloid-dominant mouse model of AD.
Conclusion
Our data suggest considerable potential for the use of memantine with melatonin in patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Jürgenson
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tamara Zharkovskaja
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Aveli Noortoots
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | | | - Max Zapolski
- Valentech Ltd, Skolkovo Innovation Centre, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Zharkovsky
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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15
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Kevadiya BD, Ottemann BM, Thomas MB, Mukadam I, Nigam S, McMillan J, Gorantla S, Bronich TK, Edagwa B, Gendelman HE. Neurotheranostics as personalized medicines. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 148:252-289. [PMID: 30421721 PMCID: PMC6486471 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The discipline of neurotheranostics was forged to improve diagnostic and therapeutic clinical outcomes for neurological disorders. Research was facilitated, in largest measure, by the creation of pharmacologically effective multimodal pharmaceutical formulations. Deployment of neurotheranostic agents could revolutionize staging and improve nervous system disease therapeutic outcomes. However, obstacles in formulation design, drug loading and payload delivery still remain. These will certainly be aided by multidisciplinary basic research and clinical teams with pharmacology, nanotechnology, neuroscience and pharmaceutic expertise. When successful the end results will provide "optimal" therapeutic delivery platforms. The current report reviews an extensive body of knowledge of the natural history, epidemiology, pathogenesis and therapeutics of neurologic disease with an eye on how, when and under what circumstances neurotheranostics will soon be used as personalized medicines for a broad range of neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory and neuroinfectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavesh D Kevadiya
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Brendan M Ottemann
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Midhun Ben Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Insiya Mukadam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Saumya Nigam
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - JoEllyn McMillan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Santhi Gorantla
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Tatiana K Bronich
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Benson Edagwa
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Howard E Gendelman
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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16
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Kidana K, Tatebe T, Ito K, Hara N, Kakita A, Saito T, Takatori S, Ouchi Y, Ikeuchi T, Makino M, Saido TC, Akishita M, Iwatsubo T, Hori Y, Tomita T. Loss of kallikrein-related peptidase 7 exacerbates amyloid pathology in Alzheimer's disease model mice. EMBO Mol Med 2019; 10:emmm.201708184. [PMID: 29311134 PMCID: PMC5840542 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201708184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Deposition of amyloid‐β (Aβ) as senile plaques is one of the pathological hallmarks in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. In addition, glial activation has been found in AD brains, although the precise pathological role of astrocytes remains unclear. Here, we identified kallikrein‐related peptidase 7 (KLK7) as an astrocyte‐derived Aβ degrading enzyme. Expression of KLK7 mRNA was significantly decreased in the brains of AD patients. Ablation of Klk7 exacerbated the thioflavin S‐positive Aβ pathology in AD model mice. The expression of Klk7 was upregulated by Aβ treatment in the primary astrocyte, suggesting that Klk7 is homeostatically modulated by Aβ‐induced responses. Finally, we found that the Food and Drug Administration‐approved anti‐dementia drug memantine can increase the expression of Klk7 and Aβ degradation activity specifically in the astrocytes. These data suggest that KLK7 is an important enzyme in the degradation and clearance of deposited Aβ species by astrocytes involved in the pathogenesis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiwami Kidana
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Internal Medicine, Komeikai Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya Tatebe
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaori Ito
- Venture Science Laboratories, R&D Division, Daiichi-Sankyo Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norikazu Hara
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Takashi Saito
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Japan
| | - Sho Takatori
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Ouchi
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Federation of National Public Service Personnel Mutual Aid Associations, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ikeuchi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Makino
- Venture Science Laboratories, R&D Division, Daiichi-Sankyo Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takaomi C Saido
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masahiro Akishita
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Iwatsubo
- Department of Neuropathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukiko Hori
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taisuke Tomita
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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17
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Sun L, Zhou M, Liu C, Tang Y, Xiao K, Dai J, Gao Z, Siew L, Cao G, Wu X, Li L, Zhang R. Memantine can relieve the neuronal impairment caused by neurotropic virus infection. J Med Virol 2019; 91:935-940. [PMID: 30624794 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Neurotropic viruses, such as the rabies virus (RABV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), induce neuronal dysfunction and complication, causing neuronal damage. Currently, there are still no effective clinical treatments for neuronal injury caused by neurotropic viruses. Memantine, a drug capable of passing through the blood-brain barrier, noncompetitively and reversibly binds to n-methyl- d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors. Memantine is used to treat Alzheimer's disease by blocking the activation of extra axonal ion channels, thus preventing neuronal degeneration by inhibiting the abnormal cytosolic Ca 2+ increase. To explore whether memantine can alleviate neurological disturbances caused by RABV and JEV, the following experiments were carried out: (1) for primary neurons cultured in vitro infected with RABV, the addition of memantine showed neuroprotection. (2) In the RABV challenge experiments, memantine had limited therapeutic effect, mildly extending the survival time of mice. In contrast, memantine significantly prolonged the survival time of mice infected with JEV, by reducing the intravascular cuff and inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, memantine decreases the amount of JEV virus in mice brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leqiang Sun
- Department of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Meiling Zhou
- Research and Development Department, State Key Laboratory of Development of Antibody Drugs, North China Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Chuangang Liu
- Department of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yajie Tang
- Department of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ke Xiao
- Department of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinxia Dai
- Department of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhisong Gao
- Department of Science and Technology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Leonard Siew
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Gang Cao
- Department of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiang Wu
- Department of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Liang Li
- Department of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Ran Zhang
- Department of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
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18
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Gray NE, Zweig JA, Caruso M, Zhu JY, Wright KM, Quinn JF, Soumyanath A. Centella asiatica attenuates hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction and improves memory and executive function in β-amyloid overexpressing mice. Mol Cell Neurosci 2018; 93:1-9. [PMID: 30253196 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Centella asiatica is a medicinal plant used to enhance memory. We have previously shown that a water extract of Centella asiatica (CAW) attenuates β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced spatial memory deficits in mice and improves neuronal health. Yet the effect of CAW on other cognitive domains remains unexplored as does its in vivo mechanism of improving Aβ-related cognitive impairment. This study investigates the effects of CAW on learning, memory and executive function as well as mitochondrial function and antioxidant response in the 5xFAD model of Aβ accumulation. Seven month old 5xFAD female mice were treated with CAW (2 mg/mL) in their drinking water for two weeks prior to behavioral testing. Learning, memory and executive function were assessed using the object location memory task (OLM), conditioned fear response (CFR) and odor discrimination reversal learning (ODRL) test. Mitochondrial function was profiled using the Seahorse XF platform in hippocampal mitochondria isolated from these animals and tissue was harvested for assessment of mitochondrial, antioxidant and synaptic proteins. CAW improved performance in all behavioral tests in the 5xFAD but had no effect on WT animals. Hippocampal mitochondrial function was improved and hippocampal and cortical expression of mitochondrial genes was increased in CAW-treated 5xFAD mice. Gene expression of the transcription factor NRF2, as well as its antioxidant target enzymes, was also increased with CAW treatment in both WT and 5xFAD mice. CAW treatment also decreased Aβ-plaque burden in the hippocampus of treated 5xFAD mice but had no effect on plaques in the cortex. These data show that CAW can improve many facets of Aβ-related cognitive impairment in 5xFAD mice. Oral treatment with CAW also attenuates hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction in these animals. Because mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress accompany cognitive impairment in many pathological conditions beyond Alzheimer's disease, this suggests potentially broad therapeutic utility of CAW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora E Gray
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | - Jonathan A Zweig
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Maya Caruso
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Jennifer Y Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Kirsten M Wright
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Joseph F Quinn
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Department of Neurology and Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Care Center (PADRECC), VA Portland Healthcare System, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Amala Soumyanath
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
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19
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Fisher DW, Bennett DA, Dong H. Sexual dimorphism in predisposition to Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 70:308-324. [PMID: 29754747 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 04/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Clinical studies indicate that Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionately affects women in both disease prevalence and rate of symptom progression, but the mechanisms underlying this sexual divergence are unknown. Although some have suggested this difference in risk is a reflection of the known differences in longevity between men and women, mounting clinical and preclinical evidence supports women also having intrinsic susceptibilities toward the disease. Although a number of potential risk factors have been hypothesized to mediate these differences, none have been definitively verified. In this review, we first summarize the epidemiologic studies of prevalence and incidence of AD among the sexes. Next, we discuss the most likely risk factors to date that interact with biological sex, including (1) genetic factors, (2) sex hormones (3) deviations in brain structure, (4) inflammation and microglia, and (5) and psychosocial stress responses. Overall, though differences in life span are likely to account for part of the divide between the sexes in AD prevalence, the abundance of preclinical and clinical evidence presented here suggests an increase in intrinsic AD risk for women. Therefore, future studies focusing on the underlying biological mechanisms for this phenomenon are needed to better understand AD pathogenesis in both sexes, with the eventual goal of sex-specific prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Fisher
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hongxin Dong
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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20
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Dong H, Keegan JM, Hong E, Gallardo C, Montalvo-Ortiz J, Wang B, Rice KC, Csernansky J. Corticotrophin releasing factor receptor 1 antagonists prevent chronic stress-induced behavioral changes and synapse loss in aged rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 90:92-101. [PMID: 29477954 PMCID: PMC5864558 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that chronic stress can alter brain structure and function and promote the development of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and Alzheimer's disease. Although the results of several studies have indicated that aged brains are more vulnerable to chronic stress, it remains unknown whether antagonists of a key stress regulator, the corticotrophin releasing factor receptor 1 (CRF1), can prevent stress-induced anxiety and memory deficits in animal models. In this study, we evaluated the potential benefits of two CRF1 antagonists, R121919 and antalarmin, for preventing stress-induced anxiety-related behavioral and memory deficits and neurodegeneration in aged rats. We stressed rats using isolation-restraint for 3 months starting from the 18 months of age. Subsets of animals were administrated either R121919 or antalarmin through food chow for 3 months, followed by a series of behavioral, biochemical and morphological analyses. We found that stressed aged rats displayed body weight losses and increased corticosterone levels, as well as anxiety-related behaviors and memory deficits. Additionally, chronic stress induced a loss of cortical dendritic spines and synapses. However, R121919 and antalarmin both prevented stress-induced behavioral changes including anxiety-related behaviors and memory deficits and prevented synapse loss, perhaps through reversing HPA axis dysfunction. These results suggest that CRF1 antagonists may hold promise as a potential therapy for preventing stress-induced anxiety and memory deficits in aged individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Dong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Jack M Keegan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ellie Hong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Christopher Gallardo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Janitza Montalvo-Ortiz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Becky Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Kenner C. Rice
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, and National Institute Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Intramural Research Program, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - John Csernansky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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21
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Smith LM, Zhu R, Strittmatter SM. Disease-modifying benefit of Fyn blockade persists after washout in mouse Alzheimer's model. Neuropharmacology 2017; 130:54-61. [PMID: 29191754 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease remains without a disease-modifying therapy that improves symptoms after therapy withdrawal. Because no investigational agents have demonstrated disease-modifying effects clinically, we tested whether the Fyn inhibitor, saracatinib, provides persistent improvement in a transgenic model. Aged APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice were treated with saracatinib or memantine for 4 weeks and spatial memory improved to control levels. After drug washout, there was sustained rescue of both memory function and synapse density by saracatinib, but a loss of benefit from memantine. These data demonstrate a disease-modifying persistent benefit for saracatinib in a preclinincal Alzheimer's model, and distinguish its action from that of memantine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi M Smith
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Rong Zhu
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Stephen M Strittmatter
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Departments of Neurology and of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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22
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Memantine inhibits β-amyloid aggregation and disassembles preformed β-amyloid aggregates. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 493:158-163. [PMID: 28917837 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.09.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Memantine, an uncompetitive glutamatergic N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, is widely used as a medication for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously reported that chronic treatment of AD with memantine reduces the amount of insoluble β-amyloid (Aβ) and soluble Aβ oligomers in animal models of AD. The mechanisms by which memantine reduces Aβ levels in the brain were evaluated by determining the effect of memantine on Aβ aggregation using thioflavin T and transmission electron microscopy. Memantine inhibited the formation of Aβ(1-42) aggregates in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas amantadine, a structurally similar compound, did not affect Aβ aggregation at the same concentrations. Furthermore, memantine inhibited the formation of different types of Aβ aggregates, including Aβs carrying familial AD mutations, and disaggregated preformed Aβ(1-42) fibrils. These results suggest that the inhibition of Aβ aggregation and induction of Aβ disaggregation may be involved in the mechanisms by which memantine reduces Aβ deposition in the brain.
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23
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Ito K, Tatebe T, Suzuki K, Hirayama T, Hayakawa M, Kubo H, Tomita T, Makino M. Memantine reduces the production of amyloid-β peptides through modulation of amyloid precursor protein trafficking. Eur J Pharmacol 2017; 798:16-25. [PMID: 28167259 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Memantine, an uncompetitive glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, is widely used as medication for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has been reported that memantine reduces amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) levels in both neuronal cultures and in brains of animal models of AD. However, the underlying mechanism of these effects is unclear. Here we examined the effect of memantine on Aβ production. Memantine was administered to 9-month-old Tg2576 mice, a transgenic mouse model of AD, at 10 or 20mg/kg/day in drinking water for 1 month. Memantine significantly reduced the amounts of both CHAPS-soluble and CHAPS-insoluble Aβ in the brains of Tg2576 mice. Memantine at 10mg/kg/day for 1 month also reduced the levels of insoluble Aβ42 in the brains of aged F344 rats. Moreover, memantine reduced Aβ and sAPPβ levels in conditioned media from rat primary cortical cultures without affecting the enzymatic activities of α-secretase, β-secretase, or γ-secretase. Notably, in a cell-surface biotinylation assay, memantine increased the amount of amyloid precursor protein (APP) at the cell surface without changing the total amount of APP. Collectively, our results indicate that chronic treatment with memantine reduces the levels of Aβ both in AD models and in aged animals, and that memantine affects the endocytosis pathway of APP, which is required for β-secretase-mediated cleavage. This leads to a reduction in Aβ production. These results suggest that memantine reduces Aβ production and plaque deposition through the regulation of intracellular trafficking of APP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Ito
- Venture Science Laboratories, R&D Division, Daiichi-Sankyo Co. Ltd., Tokyo 140-8710, Japan.
| | - Takuya Tatebe
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Kunimichi Suzuki
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Takashi Hirayama
- Biological Research Department, Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co. Ltd., Tokyo 134-8630, Japan.
| | - Maki Hayakawa
- Biological Research Department, Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co. Ltd., Tokyo 134-8630, Japan.
| | - Hideo Kubo
- Biological Research Department, Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co. Ltd., Tokyo 134-8630, Japan.
| | - Taisuke Tomita
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Mitsuhiro Makino
- Venture Science Laboratories, R&D Division, Daiichi-Sankyo Co. Ltd., Tokyo 140-8710, Japan.
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24
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Li Y, Yuan X, Shen Y, Zhao J, Yue R, Liu F, He W, Wang R, Shan L, Zhang W. Bacopaside I ameliorates cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice via immune-mediated clearance of β-amyloid. Aging (Albany NY) 2016; 8:521-33. [PMID: 26946062 PMCID: PMC4833143 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Standardized extracts of Bacopa monniera (BME) have been shown to exert a neuroprotective effect against mental diseases, such as depression, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease (AD), in chronic administration studies. However, its mechanism of action has remained unclear. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of Bacopaside I (BS-I), a major triterpenoid saponin of BME, on the cognitive impairment and neuropathology in APP/PS1 transgenic mice and explored the possible mechanism from a biological systems perspective. We found that BS-I treatment significantly ameliorated learning deficits, improved long-term spatial memory, and reduced plaque load in APP/PS1 mice. We constructed BS-I's therapeutic effect network by mapping the nodes onto the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network constructed according to their functional categories based on genomic and proteomic data. Because many of the top enrichment categories related to the processes of the immune system and phagocytosis were detected, we proposed that BS-I promotes amyloid clearance via the induction of a suitable degree of innate immune stimulation and phagocytosis. Our research may help to clarify the neuroprotective effect of BME and indicated that natural saponins target the immune system, which may offer new research avenues to discover novel treatments for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Li
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Xing Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Yunheng Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Mathematics, Logistical Engineering University, Chongqing 401311, China
| | - Rongcai Yue
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Fang Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Weiwei He
- School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
| | - Lei Shan
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Weidong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
- Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
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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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Gao L, Chen X, Tang Y, Zhao J, Li Q, Fan X, Xu H, Yin ZQ. Neuroprotective effect of memantine on the retinal ganglion cells of APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice and its immunomodulatory mechanisms. Exp Eye Res 2015; 135:47-58. [PMID: 25912193 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2015.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Besides the cognitive impairment and degeneration in the brain, vision dysfunction and retina damage are always prevalent in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The uncompetitive antagonist of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, memantine (MEM), has been proven to improve the cognition of patients with AD. However, limited information exists regarding the mechanism of neurodegeneration and the possible neuroprotective mechanisms of MEM on the retinas of patients with AD. In the present study, by using APPswe/PS1ΔE9 double transgenic (dtg) mice, we found that MEM rescued the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), as well as improved visual impairments, including improving the P50 component in pattern electroretinograms and the latency delay of the P2 component in flash visual evoked potentials of APPswe/PS1ΔE9 dtg mice. The activated microglia in the retinas of APPswe/PS1ΔE9 dtg mice were also inhibited by MEM. Additionally, the level of glutamine synthetase expressed by Müller cells within the RGC layer was upregulated in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 dtg mice, which was inhibited by MEM. Simultaneously, MEM also reduced the apoptosis of choline acetyl transferase-immunoreactive cholinergic amacrine cells within the RGC layer of AD mice. Moreover, the phosphorylation level of extracellular regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 was increased in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 dtg mice, which was blocked by MEM treatment. These findings suggest that MEM protects RGCs in the retinas of APPswe/PS1ΔE9 dtg mice by modulating the immune response of microglia and the adapted response of Müller cells, making MEM a potential ophthalmic treatment alternative in patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixiong Gao
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China; Department of Developmental Neuropsychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Xi Chen
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China; School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
| | - Yongping Tang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Jinghui Zhao
- Department of Developmental Neuropsychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Qiyou Li
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Xiaotang Fan
- Department of Developmental Neuropsychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Zheng Qin Yin
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
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Das D, Phillips C, Hsieh W, Sumanth K, Dang V, Salehi A. Neurotransmitter-based strategies for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in Down syndrome. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 54:140-8. [PMID: 24842803 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Revised: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a multisystem disorder affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, hematopoietic, and musculoskeletal systems and is characterized by significant cognitive disability and a possible common pathogenic mechanism with Alzheimer's disease. During the last decade, numerous studies have supported the notion that the triplication of specific genes on human chromosome 21 plays a significant role in cognitive dysfunction in DS. Here we reviewed studies in trisomic mouse models and humans, including children and adults with DS. In order to identify groups of genes that contribute to cognitive disability in DS, multiple mouse models of DS with segmental trisomy have been generated. Over-expression of these particular genes in DS can lead to dysfunction of several neurotransmitter systems. Therapeutic strategies for DS have either focused on normalizing the expression of triplicated genes with important roles in DS or restoring the function of these systems. Indeed, our extensive review of studies on the pathogenesis of DS suggests that one plausible strategy for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction is to target the cholinergic, serotonergic, GABA-ergic, glutamatergic, and norepinephrinergic system. However, a fundamental strategy for treatment of cognitive dysfunction in DS would include reducing to normal levels the expression of specific triplicated genes in affected systems before the onset of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devsmita Das
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Cristy Phillips
- Department of Physical Therapy, P.O. Box 910, Arkansas State University, State University, AR, USA
| | - Wayne Hsieh
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Krithika Sumanth
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Van Dang
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Ahmad Salehi
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA.
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Zheng H, Fridkin M, Youdim M. From single target to multitarget/network therapeutics in Alzheimer's therapy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2014; 7:113-35. [PMID: 24463342 PMCID: PMC3942689 DOI: 10.3390/ph7020113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain network dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) involves many proteins (enzymes), processes and pathways, which overlap and influence one another in AD pathogenesis. This complexity challenges the dominant paradigm in drug discovery or a single-target drug for a single mechanism. Although this paradigm has achieved considerable success in some particular diseases, it has failed to provide effective approaches to AD therapy. Network medicines may offer alternative hope for effective treatment of AD and other complex diseases. In contrast to the single-target drug approach, network medicines employ a holistic approach to restore network dysfunction by simultaneously targeting key components in disease networks. In this paper, we explore several drugs either in the clinic or under development for AD therapy in term of their design strategies, diverse mechanisms of action and disease-modifying potential. These drugs act as multi-target ligands and may serve as leads for further development as network medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailin Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Intra-cellular Therapies Inc. 3960 Broadway, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Mati Fridkin
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| | - Moussa Youdim
- Abital Pharma Pipeline Ltd., Tel Aviv 6789141, Israel.
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Kuszczyk MA, Sadowski MJ, Antkiewicz-Michaluk L, Lazarewicz JW. 1MeTIQ provides protection against Aβ-induced reduction of surface expression of synaptic proteins and inhibits H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in primary hippocampal neurons. Neurotox Res 2013; 25:348-57. [PMID: 24254130 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-013-9440-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Revised: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with increased brain levels of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides, which readily self-aggregate into fibrils and oligomers that have particularly deleterious properties toward synapses of excitatory glutamatergic neurons. Here, we examined the neuroprotective effects of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4,-tetrahydroisoquinoline (1MeTIQ) against Aβ-induced loss of synaptic proteins in cultured primary hippocampal neurons. Exposure of mature primary hippocampal neurons to 10 μM synthetic Aβ1-40 over 72 h resulted in ~60 % reduction in the surface expression of NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR), PSD-95, and synaptophysin, without causing neuronal death. Concomitant treatment with 500 μM of 1MeTIQ, a low-affinity NMDAR antagonist significantly ameliorated the loss of synaptic protein markers. The neuroprotective properties of 1MeTIQ were compared with those of MK-801, which at 0.5 μM concentration also prevented Aβ1-40-induced loss of synaptic proteins in primary neuronal cultures. Furthermore, we provide novel evidence demonstrating effectiveness of 1MeTIQ in reducing the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in primary neuronal culture system. As oxidative stress contributes importantly to neurodegeneration in AD, 1MeTIQ may provide a dual neuroproctective effect in AD both as a NMDARs antagonist and ROS formation inhibitor. 1MeTIQ occurs endogenously at low concentrations in the brain and its synthetic form readily penetrates the blood-brain barrier after the systemic administration. Our results highlight a possibility of the application of 1MeTIQ as a neuroprotective agent in AD-related neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena A Kuszczyk
- Department of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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Effects of memantine on clinical ratings, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography measurements, and cerebrospinal fluid assays in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer dementia: a 24-week, randomized, clinical trial. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2013; 33:636-42. [PMID: 23948786 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0b013e31829a876a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Most experts consider that memantine has a symptomatic treatment, but clinical trials have not yet provided compelling evidence to support a disease-modifying effect. We investigate the effects of memantine on clinical ratings; fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) measurements, which can monitor disease-modifying effect; and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assays in patients with moderate to severe probable Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia. Twenty-two patients completed a 24-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of memantine, titrated up to 10 mg twice per day using the Severe Impairment Battery, AD Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale, Mini-Mental State Examination, FDG-PET measurements of the regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (CMRgl), and CSF amyloid β (Aβ) and tau assays. An automated brain mapping algorithm and predefined regions of interest were each used to analyze treatment-related regional CMRgl effects. In comparison with the placebo group, the memantine treatment group had significantly less cognitive decline on the Severe Impairment Battery and significantly less CMRgl declines in regions preferentially affected by AD. There were no significant treatment effects on CSF Aβ₁₋₄₂, CSF Aβ₁₋₄₀, total tau, or phosphor-tau levels or ratios. This relatively small and brief randomized clinical trial suggests an association between memantine's clinical benefit and its effects on FDG-PET measurements in AD-affected brain regions. Larger and longer studies are needed to confirm these findings, extend them to earlier clinical and preclinical stages of AD, and help determine the extent to which FDG-PET should be qualified for use as a reasonably likely surrogate end point in the evaluation of putative AD-modifying treatments.
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Danysz W, Parsons CG. Alzheimer's disease, β-amyloid, glutamate, NMDA receptors and memantine--searching for the connections. Br J Pharmacol 2013; 167:324-52. [PMID: 22646481 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02057.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 335] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
β-amyloid (Aβ) is widely accepted to be one of the major pathomechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD), although there is presently lively debate regarding the relative roles of particular species/forms of this peptide. Most recent evidence indicates that soluble oligomers rather than plaques are the major cause of synaptic dysfunction and ultimately neurodegeneration. Soluble oligomeric Aβ has been shown to interact with several proteins, for example glutamatergic receptors of the NMDA type and proteins responsible for maintaining glutamate homeostasis such as uptake and release. As NMDA receptors are critically involved in neuronal plasticity including learning and memory, we felt that it would be valuable to provide an up to date review of the evidence connecting Aβ to these receptors and related neuronal plasticity. Strong support for the clinical relevance of such interactions is provided by the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine. This substance is the only NMDA receptor antagonist used clinically in the treatment of AD and therefore offers an excellent tool to facilitate translational extrapolations from in vitro studies through in vivo animal experiments to its ultimate clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Danysz
- Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Eckenheimer Landstraße, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Revett TJ, Baker GB, Jhamandas J, Kar S. Glutamate system, amyloid ß peptides and tau protein: functional interrelationships and relevance to Alzheimer disease pathology. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2013; 38:6-23. [PMID: 22894822 PMCID: PMC3529221 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.110190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease is the most prevalent form of dementia globally and is characterized premortem by a gradual memory loss and deterioration of higher cognitive functions and postmortem by neuritic plaques containing amyloid ß peptide and neurofibrillary tangles containing phospho-tau protein. Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain and is essential to memory formation through processes such as long-term potentiation and so might be pivotal to Alzheimer disease progression. This review discusses how the glutamatergic system is impaired in Alzheimer disease and how interactions of amyloid ß and glutamate influence synaptic function, tau phosphorylation and neurodegeneration. Interestingly, glutamate not only influences amyloid ß production, but also amyloid ß can alter the levels of glutamate at the synapse, indicating that small changes in the concentrations of both molecules could influence Alzheimer disease progression. Finally, we describe how the glutamate receptor antagonist, memantine, has been used in the treatment of individuals with Alzheimer disease and discuss its effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Satyabrata Kar
- Correspondence to: S. Kar, Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, Departments of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2M8;
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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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Dong J, Zhou M, Wu X, Du M, Wang X. Memantine combined with environmental enrichment improves spatial memory and alleviates Alzheimer's disease-like pathology in senescence-accelerated prone-8 (SAMP8) mice. J Biomed Res 2012; 26:439-47. [PMID: 23554783 PMCID: PMC3597048 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.26.20120053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2012] [Revised: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 07/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Memantine is a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). Environmental enrichment (EE) has shown significant beneficial effects on functional improvement in AD. In this study, we sought to determine whether combining these two distinct therapies would yield greater benefit than either drug used alone. We investigated the effect of memantine combined with EE on spatial learning and memory and AD-like pathology in a widely used AD model, the senescence-accelerated prone mice (SAMP8). The SAMP8 mice were randomly assigned to enriched housing (EH) or standard housing (SH), where either memantine (20 mg/kg) or saline was given by gastric lavage once daily continuously for eight weeks. Our results showed that, when provided separately, memantine and EE significantly improved spatial learning and memory by shortening escape latencies and increasing the frequency of entrance into the target quadrant. When combined, memantine and EE showed additive effect on learning and memory as evidenced by significant shorter escape latencies and higher frequency of target entrance than either drug alone. Consistent with the behavior results, pathological studies showed that both memantine and EE significantly reduced hippocampal CA1 neurofibrilliary tangles (NFTs) as well as amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) levels. Combining both therapies synergistically lessened NFTs and APP expression compared to either drug alone in SAMP8 mice, indicating that the combination of memantine with EE could offer a novel and efficient therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD.
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Abstract
Our elderly population is growing and declines in cognitive abilities, such as memory, can be costly, because it can interfere with a person's ability to live independently. The NMDA receptor is very important for many different forms of memory and this receptor is negatively affected by aging. This review examines the progress that has been made recently in characterizing selective vulnerabilities of different subunits and splice variants of the NMDA receptor to normal aging in C57BL/6 mice. Evidence is also presented for changes in the relationships of NMDA receptors to plasticity across aging. Recent interventions show that enhancing NMDA receptors in aged individuals is associated with improvements in memory, but mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases suggest that finding the right balance between too little and too much NMDA receptor activity will be the key to enhancing memory without inducing pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathy R Magnusson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Healthy Aging Program, Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA ■ Tel.: +1 541 737 6923 ■ ■
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Tohda C, Urano T, Umezaki M, Nemere I, Kuboyama T. Diosgenin is an exogenous activator of 1,25D₃-MARRS/Pdia3/ERp57 and improves Alzheimer's disease pathologies in 5XFAD mice. Sci Rep 2012; 2:535. [PMID: 22837815 PMCID: PMC3405293 DOI: 10.1038/srep00535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and the mechanism of diosgenin, a famous plant-derived steroidal sapogenin, on memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) model mice. Diosgenin-treated 5XFAD mice exhibited significantly improved performance of object recognition memory. Diosgenin treatment significantly reduced amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Degenerated axons and presynaptic terminals that were only observed in regions closely associated with amyloid plaques were significantly reduced by diosgenin treatment. The 1,25D3-membrane-associated, rapid response steroid-binding protein (1,25D3-MARRS) was shown to be a target of diosgenin. 1,25D3-MARRS knockdown completely inhibited diosgenin-induced axonal growth in cortical neurons. Treatment with a neutralizing antibody against 1,25D3-MARRS diminished the axonal regeneration effect of diosgenin in Aβ(1–42)-induced axonal atrophy. This is the first study to demonstrate that the exogenous stimulator diosgenin activates the 1,25D3-MARRS pathway, which may be a very critical signaling target for anti-AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihiro Tohda
- Division of Neuromedical Science, Department of Bioscience, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
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Dong H, Murphy KM, Meng L, Montalvo-Ortiz J, Zeng Z, Kolber BJ, Zhang S, Muglia LJ, Csernansky JG. Corticotrophin releasing factor accelerates neuropathology and cognitive decline in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2012; 28:579-92. [PMID: 22045495 DOI: 10.3233/jad-2011-111328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress has been suggested to influence the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the mechanism underlying this influence remains unknown. In this study, we created a triple transgenic mouse model that overexpresses corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and human amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP), to investigate whether increases in the expression of CRF can mimic the effects of stress on amyloid metabolism and the neurodegeneration. Tg2576 mice that overexpresses human AβPP gene were crossbreed with Tetop-CRF (CRF) mice and CaMKII-tTA (tTA) mice to create a novel triple transgenic mouse model that conditioned overexpresses CRF in forebrain and overexpresses human AβPP (called AβPP+/CRF+/tTA+, or TT mice). Then we evaluated serial neuro-anatomical and behavioral phenotypes on TT mice using histological, biochemical, and behavioral assays. TT mice showed a Cushingoid-like phenotype starting at 3 months of age. At 6 months of age, these mice demonstrated increases in tissue-soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) and Aβ plaques in the cortex and hippocampus, as compared to control mice. Moreover, TT mice characterized substantial decreases in dendritic branching and dendritic spine density in pyramidal neurons in layer 4 of the frontal cortex and CA1 of the hippocampus. Finally, TT mice showed significantly impaired working memory and contextual memory, with a modest increase in anxiety-like behavior. Our results suggested genetic increases in the brain of CRF expression mimicked chronic stress on the effects of amyloid deposition, neurodegeneration, and behavioral deficits. The novel transgenic mouse model will provide a unique tool to further investigate the mechanisms between stress and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Dong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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Galvin JE. OPTIMIZING DIAGNOSIS AND MANANGEMENT IN MILD-TO-MODERATE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. Neurodegener Dis Manag 2012; 2:291-304. [PMID: 22973426 DOI: 10.2217/nmt.12.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive declines in cognitive function and ability to carry out activities of daily living; and the emergence and worsening of behavioral/neuropsychiatric symptoms. While there is no cure for AD, non-pharmacologic interventions and medications that modulate neurotransmission can slow symptomatic progression. Medical foods may also be useful as adjuncts to pharmacologic agents in AD. Medium chain triglycerides aimed at improving cerebral metabolism significantly improve Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive scores when added to ongoing pharmacotherapy in patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Combination of interventions, such as non-pharmacologic treatments, pharmacotherapy, and medical foods, with complementary mechanisms of action may provide a rational approach that may result in maximum preservation of cognitive function in patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Galvin
- Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, Director of the Pearl S. Barlow Center for Memory Evaluation and Treatment; and Director of Clinical Operations at the Center of Excellence on Brain Aging, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York
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Durairajan SSK, Liu LF, Lu JH, Chen LL, Yuan Q, Chung SK, Huang L, Li XS, Huang JD, Li M. Berberine ameliorates β-amyloid pathology, gliosis, and cognitive impairment in an Alzheimer's disease transgenic mouse model. Neurobiol Aging 2012; 33:2903-19. [PMID: 22459600 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2012.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide derived from abnormal processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a common pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of berberine (BBR) extracted from Coptis chinensis Franch, a Chinese medicinal herb, on the neuropathology and cognitive impairment in TgCRND8 mice, a well established transgenic mouse model of AD. Two-month-old TgCRND8 mice received a low (25 mg/kg per day) or a high dose of BBR (100 mg/kg per day) by oral gavage until 6 months old. BBR treatment significantly ameliorated learning deficits, long-term spatial memory retention, as well as plaque load compared with vehicle control treatment. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measurement showed that there was a profound reduction in levels of detergent-soluble and -insoluble β-amyloid in brain homogenates of BBR-treated mice. Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3, a major kinase involved in APP and tau phosphorylation, was significantly inhibited by BBR treatment. We also found that BBR significantly decreased the levels of C-terminal fragments of APP and the hyperphosphorylation of APP and tau via the Akt/glycogen synthase kinase 3 signaling pathway in N2a mouse neuroblastoma cells stably expressing human Swedish mutant APP695 (N2a-SwedAPP). Our results suggest that BBR provides neuroprotective effects in TgCRND8 mice through regulating APP processing and that further investigation of the BBR for therapeutic use in treating AD is warranted.
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Andujar SA, Lugli F, Höfinger S, Enriz RD, Zerbetto F. Amyloid-β fibril disruption by C60—molecular guidance for rational drug design. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2012; 14:8599-607. [DOI: 10.1039/c2cp40680b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Subchronic memantine administration on spatial learning, exploratory activity, and nest-building in an APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Neuropharmacology 2011; 60:930-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2010] [Revised: 01/14/2011] [Accepted: 01/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Nakaya K, Nakagawasai O, Arai Y, Onogi H, Sato A, Niijima F, Tan-No K, Tadano T. Pharmacological characterizations of memantine-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response in mice: Involvement of dopamine D2 and 5-HT2A receptors. Behav Brain Res 2011; 218:165-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.11.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2010] [Revised: 11/22/2010] [Accepted: 11/28/2010] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Bartesaghi R, Guidi S, Ciani E. Is it possible to improve neurodevelopmental abnormalities in Down syndrome? Rev Neurosci 2011; 22:419-55. [DOI: 10.1515/rns.2011.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Lockrow J, Boger H, Bimonte-Nelson H, Granholm AC. Effects of long-term memantine on memory and neuropathology in Ts65Dn mice, a model for Down syndrome. Behav Brain Res 2010; 221:610-22. [PMID: 20363261 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2009] [Revised: 12/09/2009] [Accepted: 03/22/2010] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Memantine is a partial NMDA receptor antagonist that has been shown to improve learning and memory in several animal models, and is approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Chronic treatments using memantine in animal models of Alzheimer's disease show disease-modifying effects and suggest a potential neuroprotective function. The present study assessed the effects of both short- and long-term memantine treatment in a mouse model of Down syndrome (DS), the Ts65Dn mouse. The Ts65Dn mouse contains a partial trisomy of murine chromosome 16, and exhibits hippocampal-dependent memory deficits, as well as progressive degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BCFNs). Ts65Dn mice were treated with memantine for a period of 6 months, beginning at 4 months of age. At the end of treatment the mice underwent memory testing using novel object recognition and water radial arm maze tasks, and then histologically analyzed for markers of neurodegeneration. Memantine treatment improved spatial and recognition memory performance in the Ts65Dn mice, though not to the level of normosomic littermate controls. Despite these memory improvements, histological analysis found no morphological signs of neuroprotection of basal forebrain cholinergic or locus coeruleus neurons in memantine-treated Ts65Dn mice. However, memantine treatment of Ts65Dn mice gave rise to elevated brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex, suggesting a mechanism of behavioral modification. Thus, our findings provide further evidence for memory facilitation of memantine, but suggest pharmacological rather than neuroprotective effects of memantine both after acute and chronic treatment in this mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Lockrow
- Department of Neuroscience, Center on Aging, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Ste 410D, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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Dong H, Yuede CM, Coughlan CA, Murphy KM, Csernansky JG. Effects of donepezil on amyloid-beta and synapse density in the Tg2576 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res 2009; 1303:169-78. [PMID: 19799879 PMCID: PMC2789417 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.09.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2009] [Revised: 09/22/2009] [Accepted: 09/24/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, is an approved drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although extensive studies have demonstrated the symptomatic efficacy of donepezil treatment in patients with AD, the effects of donepezil, if any, on the AD process are not known. In this study, we sought to determine whether long-term administration of donepezil would slow amyloid plaque deposition or confer neuronal protection in a mouse model of AD. We used quantitative light and electron microscopy to investigate the effects of long-term administration (from 3 to 9 months of age for 6 months of treatment) of donepezil (1, 2, 4 mg/kg, in drinking water) on tissue amyloid-beta (Abeta) protein, plaque deposition, synaptic protein (synaptophysin), and synapse density in the hippocampus of Tg2576 mice. Administration of the 4 mg/kg dose of donepezil, as compared to vehicle and lower doses of donepezil, significantly reduced brain tissue soluble Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42), Abeta plaque number, and burden at the study end point in Tg2576 mice. The dose of 4 mg/kg of donepezil also significantly increased synaptic density in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus in Tg2576 mice. However, a significant change of the synaptophysin-positive bouton in the hippocampus was not observed. These results suggest that a higher dose of donepezil may have a measurable impact on tissue level of Abeta protein and plaque deposition and may prevent synapse loss in the Tg2576 mouse model of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Dong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Ray B, Banerjee PK, Greig NH, Lahiri DK. Memantine treatment decreases levels of secreted Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid beta (A beta) peptide in the human neuroblastoma cells. Neurosci Lett 2009; 470:1-5. [PMID: 19948208 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2009] [Revised: 11/04/2009] [Accepted: 11/05/2009] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Memantine, an uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, is a FDA-approved drug used for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several studies have documented protective roles of memantine against amyloid beta (A beta) peptide-mediated damage to neurons in both in vitro and in vivo models. Memantine is also effective in reducing amyloid burden in the brain of APP transgenic mice. However, the exact mechanism by which memantine provides protection against A beta-mediated neurodegenerative cascade, including APP metabolism, remains to be elucidated. Herein, we investigated the effect of memantine on levels of the secreted form of A beta precursor protein (APP), secreted A beta and cell viability markers under short/acute conditions. We treated neuronal SK-N-SH cells with 10 microM memantine and measured levels of secreted total APP (sAPP), APP alpha isoform and A beta((1-40)) in a time dependent manner for up to 24h. Memantine significantly decreased the levels of the secreted form of sAPP, sAPP alpha and A beta((1-40)) compared to vehicle treated cells. This change started as early as 8h and continued for up to 24h of drug treatment. Unlike sAPP, a slight non-significant increase in total intracellular APP level was observed in 24-h treated memantine cells. Taken together, these results suggest a role for memantine in the transport or trafficking of APP molecules away from the site of their proteolytic cleavage by the secretase enzymes. Such a novel property of memantine warrants further study to define its therapeutic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balmiki Ray
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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