Pharmacologic reversal of neurogenic and neuroplastic abnormalities and cognitive impairments without affecting Aβ and tau pathologies in 3xTg-AD mice.
In addition to the occurrence of numerous neurofibrillary tangles and Aβ plaques, neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity are markedly altered in Alzheimer disease (AD). Although the most popular therapeutic approach has been to inhibit neurodegeneration, another is to promote neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity by utilizing the regenerative capacity of the brain. Here we show that, in a transgenic mouse model of AD, 3xTg-AD mice, there was a marked deficit in neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, which occurred before the formation of any neurofibrillary tangles or Aβ plaques and was associated with cognitive impairment. Furthermore, peripheral administration of Peptide 6, an 11-mer, which makes an active region of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF, amino acid residues 146-156), restored cognition by enhancing neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity in these mice. Although this treatment had no detectable effect on Aβ and tau pathologies in 9-month animals, it enhanced neurogenesis in dentate gyrus, reduced ectopic birth in the granular cell layer, and increased neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. These findings, for the first time, demonstrate the possibility of therapeutic treatment of AD and related disorders by peripheral administration of a peptide corresponding to a biologically active region of CNTF.
Blanchard
Julie
J
Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, 10314, USA. julie.blanchard.ibr@gmail.com
Wanka
Lukas
L
Tung
Yunn-Chyn
YC
Cárdenas-Aguayo
María del Carmen
Mdel C
LaFerla
Frank M
FM
Iqbal
Khalid
K
Grundke-Iqbal
Inge
I
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / Q000737:chemistry; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016874:Neurofibrillary Tangles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010455:Peptides; D016875:tau Proteins