Targeting neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease: evidence for NSAIDs and novel therapeutics

Estimating the therapeutic potential of NSAIDs and linoleic acid-isomers supplementation against neuroinflammation

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regulate inflammation, which is associated with their role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases in epidemiological studies. It has sparked interest in their unconventional application for reducing neuroinflammation, opening up new avenues in biomedical research. However, given the pharmacological drawbacks of NSAIDs, the development of formulations with naturally antioxidant/anti-inflammatory dietary fatty acids has been demonstrated to be advantageous for the clinical translation of anti-inflammatory-based therapies. It includes improved blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and reduced toxicity. It permits us to speculate about the value of linoleic acid (LA)-isomers in preventing and treating neuroinflammatory diseases compared to NSAIDs. Our research delved into the impact of various factors, such as administration route, dosage, timing of intervention, and BBB permeability, on the efficacy of NSAIDs and LA-isomers in preclinical and clinical settings. We conducted a systematic comparison between NSAIDs and LA-isomers regarding their therapeutic effectiveness, BBB compatibility, and side effects. Additionally, we explored their underlying mechanisms in addressing neuroinflammation. Through our analysis, we've identified challenges and drawn conclusions that could propel advancements in treating neurodegenerative diseases and inform the development of future alternative therapeutic strategies.

Carboxymethylcellulose encapsulated fingolimod, siRNA@ZnO hybrid nanocomposite as a new anti-Alzheimer's material

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a fatal neurological disorder that causes cognitive and memory function to deteriorate. A critical pathogenic event that speeds up the development of AD is the interaction between dysfunctional microglia and amyloid-β (Aβ). We have developed a hybrid nanocomposite material to treat AD by normalizing the dysfunctional microglia. The material is based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) encapsulated fingolimod, siRNA, and zinc oxide (ZnO) with variable loading (CMC-Fi-siRNA@ZnO a-d ). The material was characterized using different techniques including FTIR, XRD, thermal analysis, SEM with EDX, and TEM micrographs. The chemical structure was confirmed by FTIR and XRD analyses, which indicated the successful integration of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) into the polymer matrix, signifying a well-formed composite structure. The thermal stability order at 10% weight loss was CMC-Fi-siRNA@ZnO c > CMC-Fi-siRNA@ZnO b > CMC-Fi-siRNA@ZnO d > CMC-Fi-siRNA@ZnO a . The CMC-Fi-siRNA@ZnO d dramatically alleviates the priming of microglia by lowering the level of proinflammatory mediators and increasing the secretion of BDNF. This considerably improves the phagocytosis of Aβ. In the cell viability test in immortalized microglia cells (IMG), the hybrid nanocomposite (NP) exhibited no significant effect on cell survival after 48 hours of incubation. The NP also decreased the cytotoxicity caused by Aβ. Therefore, the CMC-hybrid NP has high potential as a drug delivery system in the development of therapeutic strategies for AD.

Microglial ApoD-induced NLRC4 inflammasome activation promotes Alzheimer's disease progression

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no effective therapies. It is well known that chronic neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the onset and progression of AD. Well-balanced neuronal-microglial interactions are essential for brain functions. However, determining the role of microglia-the primary immune cells in the brain-in neuroinflammation in AD and the associated molecular basis has been challenging.

METHODS

Inflammatory factors in the sera of AD patients were detected and their association with microglia activation was analyzed. The mechanism for microglial inflammation was investigated. IL6 and TNF-α were found to be significantly increased in the AD stage.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed that microglia were extensively activated in AD cerebra, releasing sufficient amounts of cytokines to impair the neural stem cells (NSCs) function. Moreover, the ApoD-induced NLRC4 inflammasome was activated in microglia, which gave rise to the proinflammatory phenotype. Targeting the microglial ApoD promoted NSC self-renewal and inhibited neuron apoptosis. These findings demonstrate the critical role of ApoD in microglial inflammasome activation, and for the first time reveal that microglia-induced inflammation suppresses neuronal proliferation.

CONCLUSION

Our studies establish the cellular basis for microglia activation in AD progression and shed light on cellular interactions important for AD treatment.

Peripheral inflammation is a potential etiological factor in Alzheimer's disease

Peripheral inflammation could constitute a risk factor for AD. This review summarizes the research related to peripheral inflammation that appears to have a relationship with Alzheimer's disease. We find there are significant associations between AD and peripheral infection induced by various pathogens, including herpes simplex virus type 1, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Helicobacter pylori, and Toxoplasma gondii. Chronic inflammatory diseases are also reported to contribute to the pathophysiology of AD. The mechanisms by which peripheral inflammation affects the pathophysiology of AD are complex. Pathogen-derived neurotoxic molecule composition, disrupted BBB, and dysfunctional neurogenesis may all play a role in peripheral inflammation, promoting the development of AD. Anti-pathogenic medications and anti-inflammatory treatments are reported to decrease the risk of AD. Studies that could improve understanding the associations between AD and peripheral inflammation are needed. If our assumption is correct, early intervention against inflammation may be a potential method of preventing and treating AD.

Recent progress of nanomedicine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of memory disruption in elderly subjects, with the prevalence continuing to rise mainly because of the aging world population. Unfortunately, no efficient therapy is currently available for the AD treatment, due to low drug potency and several challenges to delivery, including low bioavailability and the impediments of the blood-brain barrier. Recently, nanomedicine has gained considerable attention among researchers all over the world and shown promising developments in AD treatment. A wide range of nano-carriers, such as polymer nanoparticles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, dendritic nanoparticles, biomimetic nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, etc., have been adapted to develop successful new treatment strategies. This review comprehensively summarizes the recent advances of different nanomedicine for their efficacy in pre-clinical studies. Finally, some insights and future research directions are proposed. This review can provide useful information to guide the future design and evaluation of nanomedicine in AD treatment.

Fc effector of anti-Aβ antibody induces synapse loss and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease-like mouse model

Passive immunotherapy is one of the most promising interventions for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, almost all immune-modulating strategies fail in clinical trials with unclear causes although they attenuate neuropathology and cognitive deficits in AD animal models. Here, we showed that Aβ-targeting antibodies including their lgG1 and lgG4 subtypes induced microglial engulfment of neuronal synapses by activating CR3 or FcγRIIb via the complex of Aβ, antibody, and complement. Notably, anti-Aβ antibodies without Fc fragment, or with blockage of CR3 or FcγRIIb, did not exert these adverse effects. Consistently, Aβ-targeting antibodies, but not their Fab fragments, significantly induced acute microglial synapse removal and rapidly exacerbated cognitive deficits and neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 mice post-treatment, whereas the memory impairments in mice were gradually rescued thereafter. Since the recovery rate of synapses in humans is much lower than that in mice, our findings may clarify the variances in the preclinical and clinical studies assessing AD immunotherapies. Therefore, Aβ-targeting antibodies lack of Fc fragment, or with reduced Fc effector function, may not induce microglial synaptic pruning, providing a safer and more efficient therapeutic alternative for passive immunotherapy for AD.

Diminazene Ameliorates Neuroinflammation by Suppression of Astrocytic miRNA-224-5p/NLRP3 Axis in Alzheimer's Disease Model

Purpose

ACE2/Ang(1-7)/Mas Receptor, the momentous component of the renin-angiotensin system, has been shown to be involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We had previously found that enhancing brain ACE2 activity ameliorated cognitive impairment and attenuated brain neuroinflammation in SAMP8 mice, an animal model of AD. However, the exact mechanism of action of Diminazene (DIZE) has not been revealed.

Methods

APP/PS1 mice were injected intraperitoneally with DIZE. Cognitive functions, neuronal and synaptic integrity, and inflammation-related markers were assessed by Morris water maze, Nissl staining, Western blotting and ELISA, respectively. Since astrocytes played a crucial role in AD-related neuroinflammation whilst miRNAs were reported to participate in modulating inflammatory responses, astrocytes of APP/PS1 mice were then isolated for high-throughput miRNAs sequencing to identify the most differentially expressed miRNA following DIZE treatment. Afterward, the downstream pathway of this miRNA in the anti-inflammatory action of DIZE was investigated using primary astrocytes.

Results

The results showed that DIZE alleviated cognitive impairment and neuronal and synaptic damage in APP/PS1 mice. Simultaneously, DIZE suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome. Importantly, miR-224-5p was significantly up-regulated in the astrocytes of APP/PS1 mice treated by DIZE, and NLRP3 is one of the targets of miR-224-5p. Upregulation of miR-224-5p inhibited the expression of NLRP3 in Aβ1-42-stimulated cells, whereas miR-224-5p downregulation reversed this effect. Furthermore, the inhibition of miR-224-5p could reverse the inhibitory effect of DIZE on astrocytic NLRP3 inflammasome.

Conclusion

These findings firstly suggested that DIZE could inhibit astrocyte-regulated neuroinflammation via miRNA-224-5p/NLRP3 pathway. Furthermore, our study reveals the underlying mechanism by which DIZE suppresses neuroinflammatory responses in AD mice and uncovers the potential of DIZE in AD treatment.

Enhanced drug delivery by a prodrug approach effectively relieves neuroinflammation in mice

AIMS

Neuroinflammation is a prominent hallmark in several neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Halting neuroinflammation can slow down the progression of NDs. Improving the efficacy of clinically available non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is a promising approach that may lead to fast-track and effective disease-modifying therapies for NDs. Here, we aimed to utilize the L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) to improve the efficacy of salicylic acid as an example of an NSAID prodrug, for which brain uptake and intracellular localization have been reported earlier.

MAIN METHODS

Firstly, we confirmed the improved LAT1 utilization of the salicylic acid prodrug (SA-AA) in freshly isolated primary mouse microglial cells. Secondly, we performed behavioural rotarod, open field, and four-limb hanging tests in mice, and a whole-brain proteome analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

The SA-AA prodrug alleviated the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in the rotarod and hanging tests. The proteome analysis indicated decreased neuroinflammation at the molecular level. We identified 399 proteins linked to neuroinflammation out of 7416 proteins detected in the mouse brain. Among them, Gps2, Vamp8, Slc6a3, Slc18a2, Slc5a7, Rgs9, Lrrc1, Ppp1r1b, Gnal, and Adcy5/6 were associated with the drug's effects. The SA-AA prodrug attenuated the LPS-induced neuroinflammation through the regulation of critical pathways of neuroinflammation such as the cellular response to stress and transmission across chemical synapses.

SIGNIFICANCE

The efficacy of NSAIDs can be improved via the utilization of LAT1 and repurposed for the treatment of neuroinflammation. This improved brain delivery and microglia localisation can be applied to other inflammatory modulators to achieve effective and targeted CNS therapies.

Timapiprant, a prostaglandin D2 receptor antagonist, ameliorates pathology in a rat Alzheimer's model

We investigated the relevance of the prostaglandin D2 pathway in Alzheimer's disease, because prostaglandin D2 is a major prostaglandin in the brain. Thus, its contribution to Alzheimer's disease merits attention, given the known impact of the prostaglandin E2 pathway in Alzheimer's disease. We used the TgF344-AD transgenic rat model because it exhibits age-dependent and progressive Alzheimer's disease pathology. Prostaglandin D2 levels in hippocampi of TgF344-AD and wild-type littermates were significantly higher than prostaglandin E2. Prostaglandin D2 signals through DP1 and DP2 receptors. Microglial DP1 receptors were more abundant and neuronal DP2 receptors were fewer in TgF344-AD than in wild-type rats. Expression of the major brain prostaglandin D2 synthase (lipocalin-type PGDS) was the highest among 33 genes involved in the prostaglandin D2 and prostaglandin E2 pathways. We treated a subset of rats (wild-type and TgF344-AD males) with timapiprant, a potent highly selective DP2 antagonist in development for allergic inflammation treatment. Timapiprant significantly mitigated Alzheimer's disease pathology and cognitive deficits in TgF344-AD males. Thus, selective DP2 antagonists have potential as therapeutics to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Effect of amyloid-β on the redox system activity in SH-SY5Y cells preincubated with lipopolysaccharide or co-cultured with microglia cells

Amyloid deposits and hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein are still believed to be the two main causes of Alzheimer's disease. However, newer studies show the beneficial (including antiradical and antimicrobial) effects of amyloid at physiological concentrations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of three amyloid fragments - 25-35, 1-40, and 1-42 at concentrations close to physiological levels on the oxidative stress induced by the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or co-culturing with microglia cells. Differentiated SH-SY5Y cells were used, constituting a model of neuronal cells that were preincubated with LPS or supernatant collected from THP-1 cell culture. The cells were treated with amyloid-β fragments at concentrations of 0.001, 0.1, and 1.0 µM, and then biological assays were carried out. The results of the study support the antioxidant properties of Aβ, which may protect neurons from the damaging effects of neuroinflammation. All tested amyloid-β fragments reduced oxidative stress and increased the levels of enzymatic stress parameters - the activity of SOD, GPx and catalase. In addition, the administration of amyloid-β at low physiological concentrations also increased reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and the ratio between reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), which is considered a good indicator of maintaining cellular redox balance. Furthermore, a stronger antioxidant effect of 1-40 fragment was observed, occurring in a wider range of concentrations, compared to the other tested fragments 25-35 and 1-42.

The Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Alzheimer’s Disease and Potential Therapeutic Targets

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and behavioral impairment. The typical pathological characteristics of AD are extracellular senile plaques composed of amyloid ß (Aβ) protein, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles formed by the hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau, and neuron loss. In the past hundred years, although human beings have invested a lot of manpower, material and financial resources, there is no widely recognized drug for the effective prevention and clinical cure of AD in the world so far. Therefore, evaluating and exploring new drug targets for AD treatment is an important topic. At present, researchers have not stopped exploring the pathogenesis of AD, and the views on the pathogenic factors of AD are constantly changing. Multiple evidence have confirmed that chronic neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD. In the field of neuroinflammation, the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a key molecular link in the AD neuroinflammatory pathway. Under the stimulation of Aβ oligomers and tau aggregates, it can lead to the assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia and astrocytes in the brain, thereby causing caspase-1 activation and the secretion of IL-1β and IL-18, which ultimately triggers the pathophysiological changes and cognitive decline of AD. In this review, we summarize current literatures on the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and activation-related regulation mechanisms, and discuss its possible roles in the pathogenesis of AD. Moreover, focusing on the NLRP3 inflammasome and combining with the upstream and downstream signaling pathway-related molecules of NLRP3 inflammasome as targets, we review the pharmacologically related targets and various methods to alleviate neuroinflammation by regulating the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, which provides new ideas for the treatment of AD.

Naproxen as a potential candidate for promoting rivastigmine anti-Alzheimer activity against aluminum chloride-prompted Alzheimer's-like disease in rats; neurogenesis and apoptosis modulation as a possible underlying mechanism

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of dependence and disability among the elderly worldwide. The traditional anti-Alzheimer medication, rivastigmine, one of the cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), fails to achieve a definitive cure. We tested the hypothesis that naproxen administration to the rivastigmine-treated aluminum chloride (AlCl3) Alzheimer's rat model could provide an additive neuroprotective effect compared to rivastigmine alone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The studied groups were control (Cont), AlCl3 treated (Al), rivastigmine treated (RIVA), naproxen treated (Napro), and combined rivastigmine and naproxen treated (RIVA + Napro). Rats' memory, spatial learning, and cognitive behavior were assessed followed by evaluation of hippocampal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Hippocampal and cerebellar histopathology were thoroughly examined. Activated caspase-3 and the neuroepithelial stem cells marker; nestin expressions were immunohistochemically assayed.

RESULTS

AD rats displayed significantly impaired memory and cognitive function, augmented hippocampal AChE activity; massive neurodegeneration associated with enhanced astrogliosis, apoptosis, and impaired neurogenesis. Except for the enhancement of neurogenesis and suppression of apoptosis, the combination therapy had no additional neuroprotective benefit over rivastigmine-only therapy.

CONCLUSION

Naproxen's efficacy was established by its ability to function at the cellular level, improved neurogenesis, and decreased, apoptosis without having an additional mitigating impact on cognitive impairment in rivastigmine-treated AD rats.

Neuroinflammation: A Potential Risk for Dementia

Dementia is a neurodegenerative condition that is considered a major factor contributing to cognitive decline that reduces independent function. Pathophysiological pathways are not well defined for neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia; however, published evidence has shown the role of numerous inflammatory processes in the brain contributing toward their pathology. Microglia of the central nervous system (CNS) are the principal components of the brain’s immune defence system and can detect harmful or external pathogens. When stimulated, the cells trigger neuroinflammatory responses by releasing proinflammatory chemokines, cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and nitrogen species in order to preserve the cell’s microenvironment. These proinflammatory markers include cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNFα chemokines such as CCR3 and CCL2 and CCR5. Microglial cells may produce a prolonged inflammatory response that, in some circumstances, is indicated in the promotion of neurodegenerative diseases. The present review is focused on the involvement of microglial cell activation throughout neurodegenerative conditions and the link between neuroinflammatory processes and dementia.

Recent advances in molecular pathways and therapeutic implications targeting neuroinflammation for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major contributor of dementia leading to the degeneration of neurons in the brain with major symptoms like loss of memory and learning. Many evidences suggest the involvement of neuroinflammation in the pathology of AD. Cytokines including TNF-α and IL-6 are also found increasing the BACE1 activity and expression of NFκB resulting in generation of Aβ in AD brain. Following the interaction of Aβ with microglia and astrocytes, other inflammatory molecules also get translocated to the site of inflammation by chemotaxis and exaggerate neuroinflammation. Various pathways like NFκB, p38 MAPK, Akt/mTOR, caspase, nitric oxide and COX trigger microglia to release inflammatory cytokines. PPARγ agonists like pioglitazone increases the phagocytosis of Aβ and reduces inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Celecoxib and roficoxib like selective COX-2 inhibitors also ameliorate neuroinflammation. Non-selective COX inhibitor indomethacin is also potent inhibitor of inflammatory mediators released from microglia. Mitophagy process is considered quite helpful in reducing inflammation due to microglia as it promotes the phagocytosis of over activated microglial cells and other inflammatory cells. Mitophagy induction is also beneficial in the removal of damaged mitochondria and reduction of infiltration of inflammatory molecules at the site of accumulation of the damaged mitochondria. Targeting these pathways and eventually ameliorating the activation of microglia can mitigate neuroinflammation and come out as a better therapeutic option for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Past, present and future of therapeutic strategies against amyloid-β peptides in Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in ageing, affecting around 46 million people worldwide but few treatments are currently available. The etiology of AD is still puzzling, and new drugs development and clinical trials have high failure rates. Urgent outline of an integral (multi-target) and effective treatment of AD is needed. Accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides is considered one of the fundamental neuropathological pillars of the disease, and its dyshomeostasis has shown a crucial role in AD onset. Therefore, many amyloid-targeted therapies have been investigated. Here, we will systematically review recent (from 2014) investigational, follow-up and review studies focused on anti-amyloid strategies to summarize and analyze their current clinical potential. Combination of anti-Aβ therapies with new developing early detection biomarkers and other therapeutic agents acting on early functional AD changes will be highlighted in this review. Near-term approval seems likely for several drugs acting against Aβ, with recent FDA approval of a monoclonal anti-Aβ oligomers antibody -aducanumab- raising hopes and controversies. We conclude that, development of oligomer-epitope specific Aβ treatment and implementation of multiple improved biomarkers and risk prediction methods allowing early detection, together with therapies acting on other factors such as hyperexcitability in early AD, could be the key to slowing this global pandemic.

Establishment and validation of an SIL-IS LC-MS/MS method for the determination of ibuprofen in human plasma and its pharmacokinetic study

In this work, we developed and validated a highly sensitive, rapid and stable LC-MS/MS method for the determination of ibuprofen in human plasma with ibuprofen-d3 as a stable isotopically labeled internal standard (SIL-IS). Human plasma samples were prepared by one-step protein precipitation. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Poroshell 120 EC-C₁₈ (2.1 × 50 mm, 2.7 μm). Aqueous solution (containing 0.05% acetic acid and 5 mm NH₄ Ac) and methanol were selected as the mobile phase with gradient elution. An electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in negative ion mode. Multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for quantification using target fragment ions m/z 205.0 → 161.1 for ibuprofen and m/z 208.0 → 164.0 for SIL-IS, respectively. This method exhibited a linear range of 0.05-36 μg/ml for ibuprofen with correlation coefficient >0.99. Mean recoveries of ibuprofen in human plasma ranged from 78.4 to 80.9%. The RSD of intra- and inter-day precision were both < 5%. The accuracy was between 88.2 and 103.67%. The matrix effect was negligible in human plasma, including lipidemia and hemolytic plasma. A simple, efficient and accurate LC-MS/MS method was successfully established and applied to a pharmacokinetic study in healthy Chinese volunteers after a single oral administration of ibuprofen granules.

Astragaloside IV Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment and Neuroinflammation in an Oligomeric Aβ Induced Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model via Inhibition of Microglial Activation and NADPH Oxidase Expression

Microglial activation and neuroinflammation induced by amyloid β (Aβ) play pivotal roles in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is one of the major active compounds of the traditional Chinese medicine Astmgali Radix. It has been reported that AS-IV could protect against Aβ-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment, but the underlying mechanisms need to be further clarified. In this study, the therapeutic effects of AS-IV were investigated in an oligomeric Aβ (oAβ) induced AD mice model. The effects of AS-IV on microglial activation, neuronal damage and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase expression were further studied. Different doses of AS-IV were administered intragastrically once a day after intracerebroventricularly oAβ injection. Results of behavioral experiments including novel object recognition (NOR) test and Morris water maze (MWM) test revealed that AS-IV administration could significantly ameliorate oAβ-induced cognitive impairment in a dose dependent manner. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results showed that increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in hippocampal tissues induced by oAβ injection were remarkably inhibited after AS-IV treatment. OAβ induced microglial activation and neuronal damage was significantly suppressed in AS-IV-treated mice brain, observed in immunohistochemistry results. Furthermore, oAβ upregulated protein expression of NADPH oxidase subunits gp91phox, p47phox, p22phox and p67phox were remarkably reduced by AS-IV in Western blotting assay. These results revealed that AS-IV could ameliorate oAβ-induced cognitive impairment, neuroinflammation and neuronal damage, which were possibly mediated by inhibition of microglial activation and down-regulation of NADPH oxidase protein expression. Our findings provide new insights of AS-IV for the treatment of neuroinflammation related diseases such as AD.

Immune modulations and immunotherapies for Alzheimer's disease: a comprehensive review

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is characterized by progressive cognitive and memory impairment ensued from neuronal dysfunction and eventual death. Intraneuronal deposition of tau proteins and extracellular senile amyloid-β plaques have ruled as the supreme postulations of AD for a relatively long time, and accordingly, a wide range of therapeutics, especially immunotherapies have been implemented. However, none of them resulted in significant positive cognitive outcomes. Especially, the repetitive failure of anti-amyloid therapies proves the inefficiency of the amyloid cascade hypothesis, suggesting that it is time to reconsider this hypothesis. Thus, for the time being, the focus is being shifted to neuroinflammation as a third core pathology in AD. Neuroinflammation was previously considered a result of the two aforementioned phenomena, but new studies suggest that it might play a causal role in the pathogenesis of AD. Neuroinflammation can act as a double-edged sword in the pathogenesis of AD, and the activation of glial cells is indispensable for mediating such attenuating or detrimental effects. The association of immune-related genes polymorphisms with the clinical phenotype of AD as well as the protective effect of anti-inflammatory drugs like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs supports the possible causal role of neuroinflammation in AD. Here, we comprehensively review immune-based therapeutic approaches toward AD, including monoclonal antibodies and vaccines. We also discuss their efficacy and underlying reasons for shortcomings. Lastly, we highlight the capacity of modulating the neuroimmune interactions and targeting neuroinflammation as a promising opportunity for finding optimal treatments for AD.

Role of Inflammatory Mediators, Macrophages, and Neutrophils in Glioma Maintenance and Progression: Mechanistic Understanding and Potential Therapeutic Applications

Simple Summary

The tumor microenvironment is a complex network comprised of neoplastic and a variety of immune cells, proteins, and inflammatory mediators. Previous studies have shown that during cancer progression, diverse inflammatory molecules, either directly or indirectly via recruiting immune cells, support the process of carcinogenesis. The present review focuses on the mechanistic understanding of the oncogenic role of these inflammatory mediators and immune cells, particularly tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) in glioma maintenance and progression. Moreover, the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting inflammatory mediators, immune cells, and associated signaling pathways in glioma genesis have also been discussed.

Abstract

Gliomas are the most common, highly malignant, and deadliest forms of brain tumors. These intra-cranial solid tumors are comprised of both cancerous and non-cancerous cells, which contribute to tumor development, progression, and resistance to the therapeutic regimen. A variety of soluble inflammatory mediators (e.g., cytokines, chemokines, and chemotactic factors) are secreted by these cells, which help in creating an inflammatory microenvironment and contribute to the various stages of cancer development, maintenance, and progression. The major tumor infiltrating immune cells of the tumor microenvironment include TAMs and TANs, which are either recruited peripherally or present as brain-resident macrophages (microglia) and support stroma for cancer cell expansion and invasion. These cells are highly plastic in nature and can be polarized into different phenotypes depending upon different types of stimuli. During neuroinflammation, glioma cells interact with TAMs and TANs, facilitating tumor cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Targeting inflammatory mediators along with the reprogramming of TAMs and TANs could be of great importance in glioma treatment and may delay disease progression. In addition, an inhibition of the key signaling pathways such as NF-κB, JAK/STAT, MAPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and TLRs, which are activated during neuroinflammation and have an oncogenic role in glioblastoma (GBM), can exert more pronounced anti-glioma effects.

Flurbiprofen sodium microparticles and soft pellets for nose-to-brain delivery: Serum and brain levels in rats after nasal insufflation

Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) revamped the role of a preventive therapeutic action of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; flurbiprofen could delay AD onset, provided its access to brain is enhanced and systemic exposure limited. Nasal administration could enable direct drug access to central nervous system (CNS) via nose-to-brain transport. Here, we investigated the insufflation, deposition, dissolution, transmucosal permeation, and in vivo transport to rat brain of flurbiprofen from nasal powders combined in an active device. Flurbiprofen sodium spray-dried microparticles as such, or soft pellets obtained by agglomeration of drug microparticles with excipients, were intranasally administered to rats by the pre-metered insufflator device. Blood and brain were collected to measure flurbiprofen levels. Excipient presence in soft pellets lowered the metered drug dose to insufflate. Nevertheless, efficiency of powder delivery by the device, measured as emitted fraction, was superior with soft pellets than microparticles, due to their coarse size. Both nasal powders resulted into rapid flurbiprofen absorption. Absolute bioavailability was 33% and 58% for microparticles and pellets, respectively. Compared to intravenous flurbiprofen, the microparticles were more efficient than soft pellets at enhancing direct drug transport to CNS. Direct Transport Percentage index evidenced that more than 60% of the intranasal dose reached the brain via direct nose-to-brain transport for both powders. Moreover, remarkable drug concentrations were measured in the olfactory bulb after microparticle delivery. Bulb connection with the entorhinal cortex, from where AD initiates, makes flurbiprofen sodium administration as nasal powder worth of further investigation in an animal model of neuroinflammation.

Flavonoids from edible fruits as therapeutic agents in neuroinflammation - a comprehensive review and update

Neuroinflammation is a key process in the pathogenesis of many neurological disorders, i.e. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, there are no anti-inflammatory medical interventions recommended so far in the treatment of neuroinflammation-related brain disorders. Therefore, the burden of searching for effective and safe antineuroinflammatory agents is well founded, especially in the aging society. Compounds of plant origin, mainly (poly)phenols, have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Notably, the role of flavonoids in ameliorating neuroinflammation is in the limelight. Thus, we used comprehensive literature retrieval to summarize the effects and active components of edible fruits and their phenolic compounds. As a result, this review presents a valuable summary of results of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies on the antineuroinflammatory effects of edible fruits and their (poly)phenolic extracts as well as dietary flavonoids and other selected (poly)phenols based on the detailed description of foregoing studies. Additionally, problems resulting from the limited bioavailability of (poly)phenols were discussed.

Systemic brain derived neurotrophic factor but not intestinal barrier integrity is associated with cognitive decline and incident Alzheimer's disease

The inflammatory hypothesis posits that sustained neuroinflammation is sufficient to induce neurodegeneration and the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's dementia. One potential source of inflammation is the intestine which harbors pro-inflammatory microorganisms capable of promoting neuroinflammation. Systemic inflammation is robustly associated with neuroinflammation as well as low levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the systemic circulation and brain. Thus, in this pilot study, we tested the hypothesis that intestinal barrier dysfunction precedes risk of death, incident AD dementia and MCI, cognitive impairment and neuropathology. Serum BDNF was associated with changes in global cognition, working memory, and perceptual speed but not risk of death, incident AD dementia, incident MCI, or neuropathology. Neither of the markers of intestinal barrier integrity examined, including lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) nor intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP), were associated with risk of death, incident AD dementia, incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI), change in cognition (global or domains), or neuropathology. Taken together, the data in this pilot study suggest that intestinal barrier dysfunction does not precede diagnosis of AD or MCI, changes in cognition, or brain pathology. However, since MCI and AD are related to global cognition, the findings with BDNF and the contiguous cognitive measures suggest low power with the trichotomous cognitive status measures. Future studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to further investigate the results from this pilot study.

Akt and calcium-permeable AMPA receptor are involved in the effect of pinoresinol on amyloid β-induced synaptic plasticity and memory deficits

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders characterized by memory deficits. Although no drug has given promising results, synaptic dysfunction-modulating agents might be considered potential candidates for alleviating this disorder. Pinoresinol, a lignan found in Forsythia suspensa, is a memory-enhancing agent with excitatory synaptic activation. In the present study, we tested whether pinoresinol reduces learning and memory and excitatory synaptic deficits in an amyloid β (Aβ)-induced AD-like mouse model. Pinoresinol enhanced hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) through calcium-permeable AMPA receptor, which was mediated by Akt activation. Moreover, pinoresinol ameliorated LTP deficits in amyloid β (Aβ)-treated hippocampal slices via Akt signaling. Oral administration of pinoresinol ameliorated Aβ-induced memory deficits without sensory dysfunction. Moreover, AD-like pathology, including neuroinflammation and synaptic deficit, were ameliorated by pinoresinol administration. Collectively, pinoresinol may be a good candidate for AD therapy by modulating synaptic functions.

Alzheimer's disease treatment: The share of herbal medicines

One of the most frequent forms of dementia in neurological disorders is Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by impaired learning and memory. Pathological symptoms as extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles occur in AD. Due to the aging of the population and increased prevalence of AD, discovery of new therapeutic agents with the highest effectiveness and fewer side effect seems to be necessary. Numerous synthetic medicines such as tacrine, donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, memantine, glutathione, ascorbic acid, ubiquinone, ibuprofen, and ladostigil are routinely used for reduction of the symptoms and prevention of disease progression. Nowadays, herbal medicines have attracted popular attention for numerous beneficial effects with little side effects. Lavandula angustifolia, Ginkgo biloba, Melissa officinalis, Crocus sativus, Ginseng, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Magnolia officinalis have been widely used for relief of symptoms of some neurological disorders. This paper reviews the therapeutic effects of phytomedicines with prominent effects against various factors implicated in the emergence and progression of AD.

Rosmarinic acid suppresses tau phosphorylation and cognitive decline by downregulating the JNK signaling pathway

Rosmarinic acid (RA), a polyphenol found in Lamiaceae herbs, is a candidate of preventive ingredients against Alzheimer's disease (AD) as it potently suppresses the aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ); however, the effect of RA on tau phosphorylation and cognitive dysfunction remains unclear. The present study revealed that RA intake inhibited the pathological hallmarks of AD, including Aβ and phosphorylated tau accumulation, and improved cognitive function in the 3 × Tg-AD mouse model. Additionally, RA intake suppressed hippocampal inflammation and led to the downregulation of the JNK signaling pathway that induces tau phosphorylation. Feeding with RA exerted an anti-inflammatory effect not only in the central nervous system but also in the periphery. Downregulation of the JNK signaling pathway in hippocampus may be a potential mechanism underlying the inhibition of progression of pathology and cognitive deficit by RA feeding.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction: an acute approach for the development of novel treatments for neuroinflammation

Inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS; neuroinflammation) is a major contributor to lasting symptoms of traumatic brain injury and stroke, and likely has a casual role Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative conditions. Therapeutic modulation of the immune processes that initiate and maintain neuroinflammation is of growing scientific interest but neuroinflammatory drug development is hampered by limited reliability and availability of neuroimaging or other biomarkers in humans. Better means of establishing drug efficacy on human neuroinflammation would have great value in accelerating the development of neuroinflammatory compounds for many clinical indications. Here, we discuss the use of postoperative cognitive decline (POCD), which is hypothesised to have a neuroinflammatory basis, as an acute indication to demonstrate the efficacy of novel neuroinflammatory drugs.

Neuronal-Glial Interaction in a Triple-Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease: Gene Ontology and Lithium Pathways

Neuronal-glial interactions are critical for brain homeostasis, and disruption of this process may lead to excessive glial activation and inadequate pro-inflammatory responses. Abnormalities in neuronal-glial interactions have been reported in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where lithium has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects, including the up-regulation of cytoprotective proteins. In the present study, we characterize by Gene Ontology (GO) the signaling pathways related to neuronal-glial interactions in response to lithium in a triple-transgenic mouse model of AD (3×-TgAD). Mice were treated for 8 months with lithium carbonate (Li) supplemented to chow, using two dose ranges to yield subtherapeutic working concentrations (Li1, 1.0 g/kg; and Li2, 2.0 g/kg of chow), or with standard chow (Li0). The hippocampi were removed and analyzed by proteomics. A neuronal-glial interaction network was created by a systematic literature search, and the selected genes were submitted to STRING, a functional network to analyze protein interactions. Proteomics data and neuronal-glial interactomes were compared by GO using ClueGo (Cytoscape plugin) with p ≤ 0.05. The proportional effects of neuron-glia interactions were determined on three GO domains: (i) biological process; (ii) cellular component; and (iii) molecular function. The gene ontology of this enriched network of genes was further stratified according to lithium treatments, with statistically significant effects observed in the Li2 group (as compared to controls) for the GO domains biological process and cellular component. In the former, there was an even distribution of the interactions occurring at the following functions: “positive regulation of protein localization to membrane,” “regulation of protein localization to cell periphery,” “oligodendrocyte differentiation,” and “regulation of protein localization to plasma membrane.” In cellular component, interactions were also balanced for “myelin sheath” and “rough endoplasmic reticulum.” We conclude that neuronal-glial interactions are implicated in the neuroprotective response mediated by lithium in the hippocampus of AD-transgenic mice. The effect of lithium on homeostatic pathways mediated by the interaction between neurons and glial cells are implicated in membrane permeability, protein synthesis and DNA repair, which may be relevant for the survival of nerve cells amidst AD pathology.

Innate immune response in neuronopathic forms of Gaucher disease confers resistance against viral-induced encephalitis

Both monogenic diseases and viral infections can manifest in a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes that range from asymptomatic to lethal, suggesting that other factors modulate disease severity. Here, we examine the interplay between the genetic neuronopathic Gaucher’s disease (nGD), and neuroinvasive Sindbis virus (SVNI) infection. Infection of nGD mice with SVNI had no influence on nGD severity. However, nGD mice were more resistant to SVNI infection. Significantly different inflammatory responses were seen in nGD brains when compared with SVNI brains: the inflammatory response in the nGD brains consisted of reactive astrocytes and microglia with no infiltrating macrophages, but the inflammatory response in the brains of SVNI-infected mice was characterized by infiltration of macrophages and altered activation of microglia and astrocytes. We suggest that the innate immune response activated in nGD confers resistance against viral infection of the CNS.

Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's Disease: Seeking Clarity in a Time of Uncertainty

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is recognized as a major health hazard that mostly affects people older than 60 years. AD is one of the biggest medical, economic, and social concerns to patients and their caregivers. AD was ranked as the 5th leading cause of global deaths in 2016 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Many drugs targeting the production, aggregation, and clearance of Aβ plaques failed to give any conclusive clinical outcomes. This mainly stems from the fact that AD is not a disease attributed to a single-gene mutation. Two hallmarks of AD, Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), can simultaneously induce other AD etiologies where every pathway is a loop of consequential events. Therefore, the focus of recent AD research has shifted to exploring other etiologies, such as neuroinflammation and central hyperexcitability. Neuroinflammation results from the hyperactivation of microglia and astrocytes that release pro-inflammatory cytokines due to the neurological insults caused by Aβ plaques and NFTs, eventually leading to synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death. This review will report the failures and side effects of many anti-Aβ drugs. In addition, emerging treatments targeting neuroinflammation in AD, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), that restore calcium dyshomeostasis and microglia physiological function in clearing Aβ plaques, respectively, will be deliberately discussed. Other novel pharmacotherapy strategies in treating AD, including disease-modifying agents (DMTs), repurposing of medications used to treat non-AD illnesses, and multi target-directed ligands (MTDLs) are also reviewed. These approaches open new doors to the development of AD therapy, especially combination therapy that can cater for several targets simultaneously, hence effectively slowing or stopping AD.

A Precision Medicine Model for Targeted NSAID Therapy in Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

To date, the therapeutic paradigm for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has focused on a single intervention for all patients. However, a large literature in oncology supports the therapeutic benefits of a precision medicine approach to therapy. Here we test a precision-medicine approach to AD therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if a baseline, blood-based proteomic companion diagnostic predicts response to NSAID therapy.

METHODS

Proteomic assays of plasma from a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial, with 1-year exposure to rofecoxib (25 mg once daily), naproxen (220 mg twice-daily) or placebo.

RESULTS

474 participants with mild-to-moderate AD were screened with 351 enrolled into the trial. Using support vector machine (SVM) analyses, 89% of the subjects randomized to either NSAID treatment arms were correctly classified using a general NSAID companion diagnostic. Drug-specific companion diagnostics yielded 98% theragnostic accuracy in the rofecoxib arm and 97% accuracy in the naproxen arm.

CONCLUSION

Inflammatory-based companion diagnostics have significant potential to identify select patients with AD who have a high likelihood of responding to NSAID therapy. This work provides empirical support for a precision medicine model approach to treating AD.

PPARs as Nuclear Receptors for Nutrient and Energy Metabolism

It has been more than 36 years since peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) were first recognized as enhancers of peroxisome proliferation. Consequently, many studies in different fields have illustrated that PPARs are nuclear receptors that participate in nutrient and energy metabolism and regulate cellular and whole-body energy homeostasis during lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, cell growth, cancer development, and so on. With increasing challenges to human health, PPARs have attracted much attention for their ability to ameliorate metabolic syndromes. In our previous studies, we found that the complex functions of PPARs may be used as future targets in obesity and atherosclerosis treatments. Here, we review three types of PPARs that play overlapping but distinct roles in nutrient and energy metabolism during different metabolic states and in different organs. Furthermore, research has emerged showing that PPARs also play many other roles in inflammation, central nervous system-related diseases, and cancer. Increasingly, drug development has been based on the use of several selective PPARs as modulators to diminish the adverse effects of the PPAR agonists previously used in clinical practice. In conclusion, the complex roles of PPARs in metabolic networks keep these factors in the forefront of research because it is hoped that they will have potential therapeutic effects in future applications.

Treating psychiatric symptoms and disorders with non-psychotropic medications

A few drugs prescribed in internal medicine, ie, non-psychotropic drugs, can be used to treat certain neuropsychiatric disorders. For most of these situations, the level of evidence remains low. But when sufficient data becomes available, these molecules are then included in official guidelines for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. In this article we review interesting drugs which may be relevant from an evidence-based medicine point of view, and could become part of psychiatric practice in the future.


Recommendations for Anti-inflammatory Treatments in Alzheimer's Disease: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in elderly patients, affecting individuals older than 60 years. It is a complex degenerative brain disease characterized by progressive cognitive impairment. AD constitutes a major global health concern. A central role for inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. Despite the understanding of multiple molecular pathways in the pathophysiology of AD, novel treatment agents with a possible role in modifying the disease activity are still lacking. Our article provides a comprehensive review of various observational studies and randomized trials encompassing the use of anti-inflammatory agents in the management of AD patients and utilizes the conclusions derived therefrom to give recommendations in this regard. 

Microglial Phagocytosis of Neurons: Diminishing Neuronal Loss in Traumatic, Infectious, Inflammatory, and Autoimmune CNS Disorders

Errors in neuron-microglial interaction are known to lead to microglial phagocytosis of live neurons and excessive neuronal loss, potentially yielding poorer clinical outcomes. Factors that affect neuron-microglial interaction have the potential to influence the error rate. Clinical comorbidities that unfavorably impact neuron-microglial interaction may promote a higher rate of neuronal loss, to the detriment of patient outcome. This paper proposes that many common, clinically modifiable comorbidities have a common thread, in that they all influence neuron-microglial interactions. Comorbidities like traumatic brain injury, infection, stress, neuroinflammation, loss of neuronal metabolic integrity, poor growth factor status, and other factors, all have the potential to alter communication between neurons and microglia. When this occurs, microglial phagocytosis of live neurons can increase. In addition, microglia can shift into a morphological form in which they express major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II), allowing them to function as antigen presenting cells that present neuronal debris as antigen to invading T cells. This can increase risk for the development of CNS autoimmunity, or can exacerbate existing CNS autoimmunity. The detrimental influence of these comorbidities has the potential to contribute to the mosaic of factors that determine patient outcome in some CNS pathologies that have neuropsychiatric involvement, including TBI and CNS disorders with autoimmune components, where excessive neuronal loss can yield poorer clinical outcomes. Recognition of the impact of these comorbidities may contribute to an understanding of the common clinical observation that many seemingly disparate factors contribute to the overall picture of case management and clinical outcome in these complex disorders. In a clinical setting, knowing how these comorbidities can influence neuron-microglial interaction can help focus surveillance and care on a broader group of potential therapeutic targets. Accordingly, an interest in the mechanisms underlying the influence of these factors on neuron-microglial interactions is appropriate. Neuron-microglial interaction is reviewed, and the various mechanisms by which these potential comorbidities influence neuro-microglial interaction are described.

Exercise-Induced Modulation of Neuroinflammation in Models of Alzheimer's Disease

 Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive, neurodegenerative condition characterised by accumulation of toxic βeta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques, is one of the leading causes of dementia globally. The cognitive impairment that is a hallmark of AD may be caused by inflammation in the brain triggered and maintained by the presence of Aβ protein, ultimately leading to neuronal dysfunction and loss. Since there is a significant inflammatory component to AD, it is postulated that anti-inflammatory strategies may be of prophylactic or therapeutic benefit in AD. One such strategy is that of regular physical activity, which has been shown in epidemiological studies to be protective against various forms of dementia including AD. Exercise induces an anti-inflammatory environment in peripheral organs and also increases expression of anti-inflammatory molecules within the brain. Here we review the evidence, mainly from animal models of AD, supporting the hypothesis that exercise can reduce or slow the cellular and cognitive impairments associated with AD by modulating neuroinflammation.

Diverse Protein Profiles in CNS Myeloid Cells and CNS Tissue From Lipopolysaccharide- and Vehicle-Injected APPSWE/PS1ΔE9 Transgenic Mice Implicate Cathepsin Z in Alzheimer's Disease

Neuroinflammation, characterized by chronic activation of the myeloid-derived microglia, is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Systemic inflammation, typically resulting from infection, has been linked to the progression of AD due to exacerbation of the chronic microglial reaction. However, the mechanism and the consequences of this exacerbation are largely unknown. Here, we mimicked systemic inflammation in AD with weekly intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of APP_SWE/PS1_ΔE9 transgenic mice with E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from 9 to 12 months of age, corresponding to the period with the steepest increase in amyloid pathology. We found that the repeated LPS injections ameliorated amyloid pathology in the neocortex while increasing the neuroinflammatory reaction. To elucidate mechanisms, we analyzed the proteome of the hippocampus from the same mice as well as in unique samples of CNS myeloid cells. The repeated LPS injections stimulated protein pathways of the complement system, retinoid receptor activation and oxidative stress. CNS myeloid cells from transgenic mice showed enrichment in pathways of amyloid-beta clearance and elevated levels of the lysosomal protease cathepsin Z, as well as amyloid precursor protein, apolipoprotein E and clusterin. These proteins were found elevated in the proteome of both LPS and vehicle injected transgenics, and co-localized to CD11b⁺ microglia in transgenic mice and in primary murine microglia. Additionally, cathepsin Z, amyloid precursor protein, and apolipoprotein E appeared associated with amyloid plaques in neocortex of AD cases. Interestingly, cathepsin Z was expressed in microglial-like cells and co-localized to CD68⁺ microglial lysosomes in AD cases, and it was expressed in perivascular cells in AD and control cases. Taken together, our results implicate systemic LPS administration in ameliorating amyloid pathology in early-to-mid stage disease in the APP_SWE/PS1_ΔE9 mouse and attract attention to the potential disease involvement of cathepsin Z expressed in CNS myeloid cells in AD.

Therapeutic effect of Rho kinase inhibitor FSD-C10 in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Fasudil, a Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, effectively inhibits disease severity in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, given its significant limitations, including a relatively narrow safety window and poor oral bioavailability, Fasudil is not suitable for long-term use. Thus, screening for ROCK inhibitor(s) that are more efficient, safer, can be used orally and suitable for long-term use in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders is required. The main purpose of the present study is to explore whether FSD-C10, a novel ROCK inhibitor, has therapeutic potential in amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 transgenic (APP/PS1 Tg) mice, and to determine possible mechanisms of its action. The results showed that FSD-C10 effectively improved learning and memory impairment, accompanied by reduced expression of amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ_1-42), Tau protein phosphorylation (P-tau) and β-site APP-cleaving enzyme in the hippocampus and cortex area of brain. In addition, FSD-C10 administration boosted the expression of synapse-associated proteins, such as postynaptic density protein 95, synaptophsin, α-amino 3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxa-zolep-propionate receptor and neurotrophic factors, e,g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. Taken together, our results demonstrate that FSD-C10 has therapeutic potential in the AD mouse model, possibly through inhibiting the formation of Aβ_1-42 and P-tau, and promoting the generation of synapse-associated proteins and neurotrophic factors.

Essential Dietary Bioactive Lipids in Neuroinflammatory Diseases

SIGNIFICANCE

Under physiological conditions, neurons and glia are in a healthy, redox-balanced environment; when injury perturbs this equilibrium, a neuroinflammatory state is established by activated microglia that triggers pro-inflammatory responses and alters the oxidant/antioxidant balance, thus leading to neuronal loss and neurodegeneration. In neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyothrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis), the brain is in a constitutively self-sustaining cycle of inflammation and oxidative stress that prompts and amplifies brain damage. Recent Advances: Recently, an increasing amount of scientific data highlight the ability of specific nutrients to cross the blood-brain barrier, and to modulate inflammatory and oxidative pathways. Therefore, nutritional approaches may contribute to restore the lost equilibrium among factors accounting for neurodegeneration.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Herein, we critically examine how essential lipids (including fatty acids, liposoluble vitamins and phytosterols) might contribute to accelerate or prevent the onset and progression of such pathologies. In particular, we highlight that experimental and clinical findings, although promising, are still inadequate to draw definitive conclusions.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

More research is warranted in order to establish the real impact of lipid intake on brain health, especially when redox balance and inflammatory responses have been already compromised. In the future, it would be hoped to gain a detailed knowledge of chemical modifications and dynamic properties of such nutrients, before planning to exploit them as potential therapeutics. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 29, 37-60.

Dihydromyricetin inhibits microglial activation and neuroinflammation by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation in APP/PS1 transgenic mice

BACKGROUND

Activated microglia-mediated inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition, chronic activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes triggered by amyloid β peptide (Aβ) in microglia contributes to persistent neuroinflammation. Here, the primary goal was to assess whether Dihydromyricetin (DHM), a plant flavonoid compound, is effective therapies for AD; it is crucial to know whether DHM will affect microglial activation and neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

METHODS

After DHM was intraperitoneally injected in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice, we assessed the effect of DHM on microglial activation, the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components, and the production of inflammatory cytokine IL-1β by immunofluorescence and Western blot. To determine whether DHM play roles in the Aβ production and deposition, amyloid β protein precursor (APP) and β-site APP cleaving enzyme1 (BACE1), as well as neprilysin (NEP), were detected by Western blot. Finally, behavior was tested by Morris Water Maze to illustrate whether DHM treatment has a significantly positive effect on ameliorating the memory and cognition deficits in AD.

RESULTS

Dihydromyricetin treatment significantly ameliorated memory and cognition deficits and decreased the number of activated microglia in the hippocampus and cortex of APP/PS1 mice. In addition, APP/PS1 mice show reduced activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and reduced expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components. Furthermore, DHM could promote clearance of Aβ, a trigger for NLRP3 inflammasome activation, by increasing levels of NEP and shift microglial conversion to the M2-specific agrinase-1-positive cell phenotype, which enhances microglial clearance of Aβ and its aggregates but not production of Aβ.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our findings suggest that DHM prevents progression of AD-like pathology through inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome-based microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and may be a promising therapeutic drug for treating AD.

The Role of Microglia in the Etiology and Evolution of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that presents as a late sequela from traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is a growing and under-recognized public health concern with a high degree of morbidity and large associated global costs. While the immune response to TBI is complex, its contribution to the development of CTE remains largely unknown. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the link between CTE and the resident innate immune system of the brain-microglia. We discuss the neuropathology underlying CTE including the creation and aggregation of phosphorylated tau protein into neurofibrillary tangles and the formation of amyloid beta deposits. We also present how microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the brain, drive the continuous low-level inflammation associated with the insidious onset of CTE. In this review, we conclude that the latency period between the index brain injury and the long-term development of CTE presents an opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Encouraging advances with microtubule stabilizers, cis p-tau antibodies, and the ability to therapeutically alter the inflammatory state of microglia have shown positive results in both animal and human trials. Looking forward, recent advancements in next-generation sequencing technology for the study of genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic information will provide an opportunity for significant advancement in our understanding of prorepair and pro-injury gene signatures allowing for targeted intervention in this highly morbid injury process.

Positive Feedback Loops in Alzheimer's Disease: The Alzheimer's Feedback Hypothesis

The dominant model for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the amyloid cascade hypothesis, in which the accumulation of excess amyloid-β (Aβ) leads to inflammation, excess glutamate and intracellular calcium, oxidative stress, tau hyperphosphorylation and tangle formation, neuronal loss, and ultimately dementia. In a cascade, AD proceeds in a unidirectional fashion, with events only affecting downstream processes. Compelling evidence now exists for the presence of positive feedback loops in AD, however, involving oxidative stress, inflammation, glutamate, calcium, and tau. The pathological state of AD is thus a system of positive feedback loops, leading to amplification of the initial perturbation, rather than a linear cascade. Drugs may therefore be effective by targeting numerous points within the loops, rather than concentrating on upstream processes. Anti-inflammatories and anti-oxidants may be especially valuable, since these processes are involved in many loops and hence would affect numerous processes in AD.

Peripheral inflammatory markers in Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 175 studies

OBJECTIVES

Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation is involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. This study quantitatively summarised the data on peripheral inflammatory markers in patients with AD compared with healthy controls (HC).

METHODS

Original reports containing measurements of peripheral inflammatory markers in AD patients and HC were included for meta-analysis. Standardised mean differences were calculated using a random effects model. Meta-regression and exploration of heterogeneity was performed using publication year, age, gender, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, plasma versus serum measurements and immunoassay type.

RESULTS

A total of 175 studies were combined to review 51 analytes in 13 344 AD and 12 912 HC patients. Elevated peripheral interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-18, interferon-γ, homocysteine, high-sensitivity C reactive protein, C-X-C motif chemokine-10, epidermal growth factor, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α converting enzyme, soluble TNF receptors 1 and 2, α1-antichymotrypsin and decreased IL-1 receptor antagonist and leptin were found in patients with AD compared with HC. IL-6 levels were inversely correlated with mean MMSE scores.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that AD is accompanied by a peripheral inflammatory response and that IL-6 may be a useful biological marker to correlate with the severity of cognitive impairment. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical utility of these markers.

Glycoprotein NMB: an Emerging Role in Neurodegenerative Disease

Neurodegeneration is characterized by severe neuronal loss leading to the cognitive and physical impairments that define various neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is one hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases and can ultimately contribute to disease progression. Increased inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1 β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Unfortunately, current therapeutic options lack ability to stop or effectively slow progression of these diseases and are primarily aimed at alleviating symptoms. Thus, it is crucial to discover novel treatment candidates for neurodegenerative diseases. Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) is a type-I transmembrane glycoprotein first identified in a melanoma cell line. GPNMB augments bone mineral deposition by stimulating osteoblast differentiation. Aside from its anabolic function in the bone, emerging evidence suggests that GPNMB has anti-inflammatory and reparative functions. GPNMB has also been demonstrated to be neuroprotective in an animal model of ALS, cerebral ischemia, and other disease models. Given these discoveries, GPNMB should be investigated as a potential therapeutic option for multiple neurodegenerative diseases.

NSAIDs as potential treatment option for preventing amyloid β toxicity in Alzheimer's disease: an investigation by docking, molecular dynamics, and DFT studies

Aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein considered as one of contributors in development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several investigations have identified the importance of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as Aβ aggregation inhibitors. Here, we have examined the binding interactions of 24 NSAIDs belonging to eight different classes, with Aβ fibrils by exploiting docking and molecular dynamics studies. Minimum energy conformation of the docked NSAIDs were further optimized by density functional theory (DFT) employing Becke's three-parameter hybrid model, Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) correlation functional method. DFT-based global reactivity descriptors, such as electron affinity, hardness, softness, chemical potential, electronegativity, and electrophilicity index were calculated to inspect the expediency of these descriptors for understanding the reactive nature and sites of the molecules. Few selected NSAID-Aβ fibrils complexes were subjected to molecular dynamics simulation to illustrate the stability of these complexes and the most prominent interactions during the simulated trajectory. All of the NSAIDs exhibited potential activity against Aβ fibrils in terms of predicted binding affinity. Sulindac was found to be the most active compound underscoring the contribution of indene methylene substitution, whereas acetaminophen was observed as least active NSAID. General structural requirements for interaction of NSAIDs with Aβ fibril include: aryl/heteroaryl aromatic moiety connected through a linker of 1-2 atoms to a distal aromatic group. Considering these structural requirements and electronic features, new potent agents can be designed and developed as potential Aβ fibril inhibitors for the treatment of AD.

A Unique Microglia Type Associated with Restricting Development of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a detrimental neurodegenerative disease with no effective treatments. Due to cellular heterogeneity, defining the roles of immune cell subsets in AD onset and progression has been challenging. Using transcriptional single-cell sorting, we comprehensively map all immune populations in wild-type and AD-transgenic (Tg-AD) mouse brains. We describe a novel microglia type associated with neurodegenerative diseases (DAM) and identify markers, spatial localization, and pathways associated with these cells. Immunohistochemical staining of mice and human brain slices shows DAM with intracellular/phagocytic Aβ particles. Single-cell analysis of DAM in Tg-AD and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2)^-/- Tg-AD reveals that the DAM program is activated in a two-step process. Activation is initiated in a Trem2-independent manner that involves downregulation of microglia checkpoints, followed by activation of a Trem2-dependent program. This unique microglia-type has the potential to restrict neurodegeneration, which may have important implications for future treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

T Lymphocytes and Inflammatory Mediators in the Interplay between Brain and Blood in Alzheimer's Disease: Potential Pools of New Biomarkers

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder and the main cause of dementia. The disease is among the leading medical concerns of the modern world, because only symptomatic therapies are available, and no reliable, easily accessible biomarkers exist for AD detection and monitoring. Therefore extensive research is conducted to elucidate the mechanisms of AD pathogenesis, which seems to be heterogeneous and multifactorial. Recently much attention has been given to the neuroinflammation and activation of glial cells in the AD brain. Reports also highlighted the proinflammatory role of T lymphocytes infiltrating the AD brain. However, in AD molecular and cellular alterations involving T cells and immune mediators occur not only in the brain, but also in the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Here we review alterations concerning T lymphocytes and related immune mediators in the AD brain, CSF, and blood and the mechanisms by which peripheral T cells cross the blood brain barrier and the blood-CSF barrier. This knowledge is relevant for better AD therapies and for identification of novel biomarkers for improved AD diagnostics in the blood and the CSF. The data will be reviewed with the special emphasis on possibilities for development of AD biomarkers.

Drugs in Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's Disease: The Major Trends

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative process resulting from the intracellular and extracellular accumulation of fibrillary proteins: beta-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated Tau. Overaccumulation of these aggregates leads to synaptic dysfunction and subsequent neuronal loss. The precise molecular mechanisms of AD are still not fully understood but it is clear that AD is a multifactorial disorder and that advanced age is the main risk factor. Over the last decade, more than 50 drug candidates have successfully passed phase II clinical trials, but none has passed phase III. Here, we summarize data on current "anti-Alzheimer's" agents currently in clinical trials based on findings available in the Thomson Reuters «Integrity» database, on the public website www.clinicaltrials.gov, and on database of the website Alzforum.org. As a result, it was possible to outline some major trends in AD drug discovery: (i) the development of compounds acting on the main stages of the pathogenesis of the disease (the so-called "disease-modifying agents") - these drugs could potentially slow the development of structural and functional abnormalities in the central nervous system providing sustainable improvements of cognitive functions, which persist even after drug withdrawal; (ii) focused design of multitargeted drugs acting on multiple molecular targets involved in the pathogenesis of the disease; (3) finally, the repositioning of old drugs for new (anti-Alzheimer's) application offers a very attractive approach to facilitate the completion of clinical trials.