GlyT1 Inhibition by NFPS Promotes Neuroprotection in Amyloid-β-Induced Alzheimer's Disease Animal Model

Author(s)

Oliveira-Lima, Onesia Cristina ; de Carvalho, Gustavo Almeida ; Assuncao, Leandro do Prado ; Bailao, Alexandre Melo ; Ulrich, Henning ; Marques, Bruno Lemes ; de Oliveira, Antonio Carlos Pinheiro ; Gomez, Renato Santiago ; Pinto, Mauro Cunha Xavier

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Neurochemical Research; v. 49, n. 9, p. 21-pg., 2024-06-18.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta, leading to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent synaptic depression, spine elimination, and memory deficits. Glycine transporter type 1 (GlyT1) modulates glutamatergic neurotransmission via NMDA receptors (NMDAR), presenting a potential alternative therapeutic approach for AD. This study investigates the neuroprotective potential of GlyT1 inhibition in an amyloid-beta-induced AD mouse model. C57BL/6 mice were treated with N-[3-([1,1-Biphenyl]-4-yloxy)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propyl]-N-methylglycine (NFPS), a GlyT1 inhibitor, 24 h prior to intrahippocampal injection of amyloid-beta. NFPS pretreatment prevented amyloid-beta-induced cognitive deficits in short-term and long-term memory, evidenced by novel object recognition and spatial memory tasks. Moreover, NFPS pretreatment curbed microglial activation, astrocytic reactivity, and subsequent neuronal damage from amyloid-beta injection. An extensive label-free quantitative UPLC-MSE proteomic analysis was performed on the hippocampi of mice treated with NFPS. In proteomics, KEGG enrichment analysis revealed increased in dopaminergic synapse, purine-containing compound biosynthetic process and long-term potentiation, and a reduction in Glucose catabolic process and glycolytic process pathways. The western blot analysis confirmed that NFPS treatment elevated BDNF levels, correlating with enhanced TRKB phosphorylation and mTOR activation. Moreover, NFPS treatment reduced the GluN2B expression after 6 h, which was associated with an increase on CaMKIV and CREB phosphorylation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that GlyT1 inhibition by NFPS activates diverse neuroprotective pathways, enhancing long-term potentiation signaling and countering amyloid-beta-induced hippocampal damage. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/07366-4 - Purine and kinin receptors as targets of study and therapeutic interventions in neurological diseases
• Grantee: Alexander Henning Ulrich
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/08426-0 - Indole alkaloid sub products of Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) processing as food additives to Alzheimer's Disease treatment
• Grantee: Alexander Henning Ulrich
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants