SARM1 Promotes Neurodegeneration and Memory Impairment in Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease

Aging Dis. 2024 Feb 1;15(1):390-407. doi: 10.14336/AD.2023.0516-1.

Abstract

Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Sterile Alpha and Toll Interleukin Receptor Motif-containing protein 1 (SARM1) has been shown to promote axonal degeneration and is involved in neuroinflammation. However, the role of SARM1 in AD remains unclear. In this study, we found that SARM1 was reduced in hippocampal neurons of AD model mice. Interestingly, conditional knockout (CKO) of SARM1 in the central nervous system (CNS, SARM1Nestin-CKO mice) delayed the cognitive decline in APP/PS1 AD model mice. Furthermore, SARM1 deletion reduced the Aβ deposition and inflammatory infiltration in the hippocampus and inhibited neurodegeneration in APP/PS1 AD model mice. Further investigation into the underlying mechanisms revealed that the signaling of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was downregulated in the hippocampus tissues of APP/PS1;SARM1Nestin-CKO mice, thereby alleviating the cognitive decline, Aβ deposition and inflammatory infiltration. These findings identify unrecognized functions of SARM1 in promoting AD and reveal the SARM1-TNF-α pathway in AD model mice.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
  • Animals
  • Armadillo Domain Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Memory Disorders / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nestin
  • Neuroinflammatory Diseases
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Substances

  • Nestin
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • SARM1 protein, mouse
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Armadillo Domain Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (grant numbers LR21H090001 and LZ23C090001) and National Natural Science Foundation (grant numbers 81971172 and 92049104).