Ameliorative effects of astaxanthin on brain tissues of alzheimer's disease-like model: cross talk between neuronal-specific microRNA-124 and related pathways.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive, multifactorial, and the most common neurodegenerative disease which causes dementia and mental deterioration in the elderly. The available treatments for AD are not disease-modifying drugs and only provide symptomatic relief. Astaxanthin (ATX), a second-generation antioxidant, is a dark red carotenoid and exhibits the highest antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antiapoptotic effects. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of different doses of ATX on the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of AD-like rats. The AD-like model was induced in rats using hydrated aluminum chloride (AlCl3.6H2O) solution that was given orally at a dose of 75 mg/kg daily for 6 weeks. Morris water maze (MWM) behavioral test was performed to confirm the cognitive dysfunction then AD-like rats were orally treated with different doses of ATX (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for six weeks. The results indicated that ATX significantly and dose-dependently improved the performance of AD-like rats treated with ATX during MWM and suppress the accumulation of amyloid β1-42 and malondialdehyde. Also, significantly inhibit acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase activities and the expression of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE 1). ATX also significantly elevated the content of acetylcholine, serotonin, and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and miRNA-124 expression. The effect of ATX treatment was confirmed by histopathological observations using H&E stain and morphometric tissue analysis. From this study, we concluded that ATX may be a promising therapeutic agent for AD through targeting different pathogenic pathways.

• Authors: Hala A Hafez, Maher A Kamel, Mohamed Y Osman, Hassan My Osman, Samar S Elblehi, Shimaa A Mahmoud
• Journal: Molecular and cellular biochemistry (Mol Cell Biochem) Vol. 476 Issue 5 Pg. 2233-2249 (May 2021) ISSN: 1573-4919 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 33575874 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• MIRN124 microRNA, rat
• MicroRNAs
• Xanthophylls
• astaxanthine

Topics

• Alzheimer Disease (chemically induced, drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Animals
• Cerebral Cortex (metabolism, pathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Hippocampus (metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• MicroRNAs (metabolism)
• Rats
• Xanthophylls (pharmacology)