ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH
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2024
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IF 4
Na Zhao,Xiu Chen,Qiu-Gu Chen,Xue-Ting Liu,Fan Geng,Meng-Meng Zhu,Fu-Ling Yan,Zhi-Jun Zhang,Qing-Guo Ren
Emerging evidence indicates that sleep deprivation (SD) can lead to Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related pathological changes and cognitive decline. However, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. In the present study, we identified the existence of a microbiota-gut-brain axis in cognitive deficits resulting from chronic SD and revealed a potential pathway by which gut microbiota affects cognitive functioning in chronic SD. Our findings demonstrated that chronic SD in mice not only led to cognitive decline but also induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, elevated NLRP3 inflammasome expression, GSK-3β activation, autophagy dysfunction, and tau hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampus. Colonization with the “SD microbiota” replicated the pathological and behavioral abnormalities observed in chronic sleep-deprived mice. Remarkably, both the deletion of NLRP3 in NLRP3 -/- mice and specific knockdown of NLRP3 in the hippocampus restored autophagic flux, suppressed tau hyperphosphorylation, and ameliorated cognitive deficits induced by chronic SD, while GSK-3β activity was not regulated by the NLRP3 inflammasome in chronic SD. Notably, deletion of NLRP3 reversed NLRP3 inflammasome activation, autophagy deficits, and tau hyperphosphorylation induced by GSK-3β activation in primary hippocampal neurons, suggesting that GSK-3β, as a regulator of NLRP3-mediated autophagy dysfunction, plays a significant role in promoting tau hyperphosphorylation. Thus, gut microbiota dysbiosis was identified as a contributor to chronic SD-induced tau pathology via NLRP3-mediated autophagy dysfunction, ultimately leading to cognitive deficits. Overall, these findings highlight GSK-3β as a regulator of NLRP3-mediated autophagy dysfunction, playing a critical role in promoting tau hyperphosphorylation.
研究领域:
神经科学
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微生物学
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病理学
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认知科学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Nature Biomedical Engineering
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2022
·Vol. 6
·期 1
·76-93
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IF 29.234
Xie Chenglong,Zhuang Xu-Xu,Niu Zhangming,Ai Ruixue,Lautrup Sofie,Zheng Shuangjia,Jiang Yinghui,Han Ruiyu,Gupta Tanima Sen,Cao Shuqin,Lagartos-Donate Maria Jose,Cai Cui-Zan,Xie Li-Ming,Caponio Domenica,Wang Wen-Wen,Schmauck-Medina Tomas,Zhang Jianying,Wang He-ling,Lou Guofeng,Xiao Xianglu,Zheng Wenhua,Palikaras Konstantinos,Yang Guang,Caldwell Kim A.,Caldwell Guy A.,Shen Han-Ming,Nilsen Hilde,Lu Jia-Hong,Fang Evandro F.
A reduced removal of dysfunctional mitochondria is common to aging and age-related neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Strategies for treating such impaired mitophagy would benefit from the identification of mitophagy modulators. Here we report the combined use of unsupervised machine learning (involving vector representations of molecular structures, pharmacophore fingerprinting and conformer fingerprinting) and a cross-species approach for the screening and experimental validation of new mitophagy-inducing compounds. From a library of naturally occurring compounds, the workflow allowed us to identify 18 small molecules, and among them two potent mitophagy inducers (Kaempferol and Rhapontigenin). In nematode and rodent models of AD, we show that both mitophagy inducers increased the survival and functionality of glutamatergic and cholinergic neurons, abrogated amyloid-β and tau pathologies, and improved the animals’ memory. Our findings suggest the existence of a conserved mechanism of memory loss across the AD models, this mechanism being mediated by defective mitophagy. The computational–experimental screening and validation workflow might help uncover potent mitophagy modulators that stimulate neuronal health and brain homeostasis.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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机器学习
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分子生物学
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神经退行性疾病
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics
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2023
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IF 5.5
Tao Zhang,Yuan Tian,Xiaoqing Zheng,Ruomeng Li,Li Hu,Xindong Shui,Yingxue Mei,Quling Wang,Mi Zhang,Xiuzhi Zheng,Long Wang,Dongmei Chen,Wucheng Tao,Tae Ho Lee
Aims The autophagy-lysosomal pathway is important for maintaining cellular proteostasis, while dysfunction of this pathway has been suggested to drive the aberrant intraneuronal accumulation of tau protein, leading to synaptic damage and cognitive impairment. Previous studies have demonstrated that the activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) by capsaicin has a positive impact on cognition and AD-related biomarkers. However, the effect and mechanism of TPRV1 activation on neuronal tau homeostasis remain elusive. Methods A mouse model of tauopathy was established by overexpressing full-length human tau in the CA3 area. Mice were fed capsaicin diet (0.0125%) or normal diet for 9 weeks. The cognitive ability, synaptic function, tau phosphorylation levels, and autophagy markers were detected. In vitro, capsaicin-induced alterations in cellular autophagy and tau degradation were characterized using two cell models. Besides, various inhibitors were applied to validate the role of TRPV1-mediated autophagy enhancement in tau clearance. Results We observed that TRPV1 activation by capsaicin effectively mitigates hippocampal tau accumulation-induced synaptic damages, gliosis, and cognitive impairment in vivo. Capsaicin promotes the degradation of abnormally accumulated tau through enhancing autophagic function in neurons, which is dependent on TRPV1-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and subsequent inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Blocking AMPK activation abolishes capsaicin-induced autophagy enhancement and tau degradation in neurons. Conclusion Our findings reveal that capsaicin-induced TRPV1 activation confers neuroprotection by restoring neuronal tau homeostasis via modulating cellular autophagy and provides additional evidence to support the potential of TRPV1 as a therapeutic target for tauopathies.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ACS Chemical Neuroscience
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2020
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IF 4.486
Yaojun Ju,Harapriya Chakravarty,Kin Yip Tam
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. The underlying pathologic mechanisms of AD are unclear. Over the decades, the development of single target agent did not lead to any successful treatment for AD. A multitarget agent that could tackle more than one AD phenotype may be helpful as a treatment strategy. Cholinesterases (ChEs) including acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), are currently the drug targets with approved treatments. Moreover, amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition is a hallmark of AD that receives considerable attention. Herein, 9Q, a previously reported dual target inhibitor dealing with cholinergic dysfunction and amyloid deposition for AD treatment, has undergone thorough investigations. In vitro studies revealed that 9Q exhibited over 80% inhibition of ChE activity at 100 μM and more than 30% inhibition of Aβ aggregation at 1 mM concentration. Moreover 9Q was able to penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and enhance the cerebral acetylcholine level in triple transgenic AD (3xTg-AD) mice. Following one month treatment with 9Q, the amyloid burden and the cognitive deficits in 3xTg-AD mice were significantly ameliorated. It was observed that 9Q treatment mitigated synapse dysfunction, decreased amyloidogenic APP processing, and reduced the tau pathology in 3xTg-AD mice. Taken together, our results suggested that dual inhibition of cholinesterases and Aβ aggregation could be a promising approach in AD treatment.
研究领域:
神经科学
·
药理学
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神经退行性疾病
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子