Intranasal delivery of plasma and platelet growth factors using PRGF-Endoret system enhances neurogenesis in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 19;8(9):e73118. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073118. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Neurodegeneration together with a reduction in neurogenesis are cardinal features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) induced by a combination of toxic amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and a loss of trophic factor support. Amelioration of these was assessed with diverse neurotrophins in experimental therapeutic approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate whether intranasal delivery of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF-Endoret), an autologous pool of morphogens and proteins, could enhance hippocampal neurogenesis and reduce neurodegeneration in an amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 (APP/PS1) mouse model. Neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions were firstly evident in primary neuronal cultures, where cell proliferation and survival were augmented by Endoret treatment. Translation of these effects in vivo was assessed in wild type and APP/PS1 mice, where neurogenesis was evaluated using 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BdrU), doublecortin (DCX), and NeuN immunostaining 5 weeks after Endoret administration. The number of BrdU, DCX, and NeuN positive cell was increased after chronic treatment. The number of degenerating neurons, detected with fluoro Jade-B staining was reduced in Endoret-treated APP/PS1 mice at 5 week after intranasal administration. In conclusion, Endoret was able to activate neuronal progenitor cells, enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis, and to reduce Aβ-induced neurodegeneration in a mouse model of AD.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Doublecortin Protein
  • Female
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurogenesis / genetics
  • Neurogenesis / physiology*
  • Plasma*
  • Presenilin-1 / metabolism
  • Rats

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Dcx protein, mouse
  • Dcx protein, rat
  • Doublecortin Protein
  • Presenilin-1
  • presenilin 1, mouse

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.