In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the impaired clearance of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) due to disrupted tight junction and transporter proteins is the prominent cause of disease progression. Somatostatin (SST) blocks the aggregation of Aβ and inflammation whereas reduction of SST levels in the CSF and brain tissue is associated with impaired cognitive function and memory loss. However, the role of SST in preservation of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and functionality in Aβ-induced toxicity is not known. In the present study using human CMEC/D3 cells, we demonstrate that SST prevents Aβ-induced BBB permeability by regulating LRP1 and RAGE expression and improving the disrupted tight junction proteins. Furthermore, SST abrogates Aβ-induced JNK phosphorylation and expression of MMP2. Taken together, results presented here suggest that SST might serve as a therapeutic intervention in AD via targeting multiple pathways responsible for neurotoxicity, impaired BBB function, and disease progression.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Blood-brain barrier; Somatostatin; Tight junction proteins and transporters.