title: Effects of triptolide on hippocampal microglial cells and astrocytes in the APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The principal pathology of Alzheimer's disease includes neuronal extracellular deposition of amyloid-beta peptides and formation of senile plaques, which in turn induce neuroinflammation in the brain. Triptolide, a natural extract from the vine-like herbTripterygium wilfordiiHook F, has potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive efficacy. Therefore, we determined if triptolide can inhibit activation and proliferation of microglial cells and astrocytes in the APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. We used 1 or 5 μg/kg/d triptolide to treat APP/PS1 double transgenic mice (aged 4-4.5 months) for 45 days. Unbiased stereology analysis found that triptolide dose-dependently reduced the total number of microglial cells, and transformed microglial cells into the resting state. Further, triptolide (5 μg/kg/d) also reduced the total number of hippocampal astrocytes. Ourin vivotest results indicate that triptolide suppresses activation and proliferation of microglial cells and astrocytes in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 double transgenic mice with Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University, School of Basic Medical Science, Changsha, Hunan Province, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China; Department of Anatomy, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Heng
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Mei-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University, School of Basic Medical Science, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: De-Liang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1037-7296
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lei
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F; amyloid plaques; amyloid precursor protein; amyloid-β; astrocytes; inflammation; microglia; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; neurodegenerative disease; traditional Chinese medicine; triptolide