Electroacupuncture Mitigates Hippocampal Cognitive Impairments by Reducing BACE1 Deposition and Activating PKA in APP/PS1 Double Transgenic Mice

Neural Plast. 2019 May 15:2019:2823679. doi: 10.1155/2019/2823679. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Increased amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque deposition is thought to be the main cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD). β-Site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is the key protein involved in Aβ peptide generation. Excessive expression of BACE1 might cause overproduction of neurotoxins in the central nervous system. Previous studies indicated that BACE1 initially cleaves the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and may subsequently interfere with physiological functions of proteins such as PKA, which is recognized to be closely associated with long-term potentiation (LTP) level and can effectively ameliorate cognitive impairments. Therefore, revealing the underlying mechanism of BACE1 in the pathogenesis of AD might have a significant impact on the future development of therapeutic agents targeting dementia. This study examined the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on BACE1, APP, and p-PKA protein levels in hippocampal tissue samples. Memory and learning abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze test after EA intervention. Immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and western blot were employed to assess the distribution patterns and expression levels of BACE1, APP, and p-PKA, respectively. The results showed the downregulation of BACE1 and APP and the activation of PKA by EA. In summary, EA treatment might reduce BACE1 deposition in APP/PS1 transgenic mice and regulate PKA and its associated substrates, such as LTP to change memory and learning abilities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / metabolism
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / therapy*
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Electroacupuncture*
  • Hippocampus / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Presenilin-1 / genetics

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Presenilin-1
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • Bace1 protein, mouse