Leptin induces proliferation of neuronal progenitors and neuroprotection in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

J Alzheimers Dis. 2011:24 Suppl 2:17-25. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2011-102070.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with senile amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, neuronal death, and cognitive decline. Neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus, which is notably affected by progressive neurodegeneration and Aβ pathology, is implicated in learning and memory regulation. Human postmortem brains of AD patients and AβPP/PS1 double transgenic mice show increased neurodegeneration. Leptin, an adipose-derived hormone, promotes neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus, but the way in which this process occurs in the AD brain is still unknown. Thus, we sought to determine if leptin stimulated the proliferation of neuronal precursors in AβPP/PS1 mice. We estimated the number proliferating hippocampal cells after intracerebroventricular administration of a lentiviral vector encoding leptin. After 3 months of treatment with leptin we observed an increase in the number of BrdU-positive cells in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus, as shown by morphometric analysis. This increase resulted mainly from an increased proliferation of neuronal precursors. Additionally, leptin led to an attenuation of Aβ-induced neurodegeneration, as revealed by Fluoro-Jade staining. Our results suggest that in AβPP/PS1 mice, leptin exerts changes resembling acute neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects. These effects could serve as the basis for the design of future treatment strategies in AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / prevention & control*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Doublecortin Domain Proteins
  • Fluoresceins
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Indoles
  • Leptin / genetics
  • Leptin / metabolism
  • Leptin / pharmacology*
  • Leptin / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Neural Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Presenilin-1 / genetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Doublecortin Domain Proteins
  • Fluoresceins
  • Indoles
  • Leptin
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Organic Chemicals
  • PSEN1 protein, human
  • Presenilin-1
  • fluoro jade
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • DAPI