Neuroprotective effect of PPAR alpha and gamma agonists in a mouse model of amyloidogenesis through modulation of the Wnt/beta catenin pathway via targeting alpha- and beta-secretases

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2020 Mar 8:97:109793. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109793. Epub 2019 Oct 24.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of fenofibrate and pioglitazone in a mouse model of amyloidogenesis induced by amyloidβ (βA) peptide. Mice were injected intracerebroventricularly with βA1-40 (400 pmol/mouse) once, followed by treatment with fenofibrate (300 mg/kg), pioglitazone (30 mg/kg),or both. After 21 days of daily treatment, memory impairment and cognitive function were evaluated by Morris water maze (MWM), Y-maze and object recognition tests. On the 22nd day, mice were sacrificed, and their hippocampi were dissected to determine the levels of α- and β-secretase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARα and β), Wnt and β-catenin. Significant memory impairment and cognitive dysfunction were observed in the mouse model group. This finding was associated with a significant increase in α- and β-secretase levels and a significant decrease in Wnt, β-catenin, and PPARα and β levels. Neuronal damage was also evident after histopathological examination. Treatment with fenofibrate, pioglitazone and their combination resulted in a significant improvement in the behavioural and neurochemical changes induced by βA injection. The present findings indicate that the combined administration of fenofibrate and pioglitazone was more effective than monotherapy in ameliorating the behavioural, neurochemical and histopathological changes in amyloidogenesis model mice and provide a promising therapeutic approach in the management of Alzheimer's disease complicated by diabetes and hypercholesterolemia.

Keywords: Amyloidogenesis; Fenofibrate; Pioglitazone; Secretases; Wnt; β-catenin.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / prevention & control*
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / administration & dosage
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / chemically induced
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / prevention & control
  • Fenofibrate / agonists*
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Infusions, Intraventricular
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / chemically induced
  • Memory Disorders / prevention & control
  • Mice
  • Neuroprotective Agents / agonists*
  • PPAR alpha / agonists*
  • PPAR alpha / metabolism*
  • PPAR gamma / agonists*
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Pioglitazone / agonists*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • PPAR alpha
  • PPAR gamma
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-40)
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Fenofibrate
  • Pioglitazone