Neuroprotective effects of statins in an in vitro model of Alzheimer's disease.
Statins, used as cholesterol-lowering drugs, were reported to reduce the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these findings remain to be clarified and it is not well understood whether this beneficial effect is due to simply lowering cholesterol levels. This study was aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of simvastatin and lovastatin, lipophilic statins that can transverse the blood brain barrier, against the toxicity triggered by the AD-associated amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptides and to analyze if such protection is cholesterol-independent. Using primary cultures of cortical neurons treated with Abeta1-40 peptide, we have demonstrated that pre-incubation with statins prevents the rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species induced by Abeta through mechanisms independent of cholesterol reduction. The neuroprotective actions of statins were rather attributable to their ability to reduce isoprenyl intermediates levels in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway since their effect was reversed by geranyl pyrophosphate while cholesterol addition was ineffective. Consequently, statins were shown to rescue cortical neurons from Abeta-40-induced caspase-3-dependent apoptosis. Moreover, our results revealed that simvastatin, at neuroprotective concentrations against Abeta-induced toxicity, is not able to activate Akt or ERK2, two signaling kinases with neuroprotective roles against apoptosis.
Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Ana Catarina R G
AC
Fonseca
Teresa
T
Proença
Rosa
R
Resende
Catarina R
CR
Oliveira
Cláudia M F
CM
Pereira
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D013997:Time Factors
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40); D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D053148:Caspase 3; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D002118:Calcium