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Current Molecular Medicine

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1566-5240
ISSN (Online): 1875-5666

Research Article

Berberine Alleviates Amyloid-beta Pathogenesis Via Activating LKB1/AMPK Signaling in the Brain of APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice

Author(s): Zhi-You Cai*, Chuan-Ling Wang, Tao-Tao Lu and Wen-Ming Yang

Volume 19, Issue 5, 2019

Page: [342 - 348] Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/1566524019666190315164120

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Liver kinase B1 (LKB1)/5’-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, a metabolic checkpoint, plays a neuro-protective role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Amyloid-β (Aβ) acts as a classical biomarker of AD. The aim of the present study was to explore whether berberine (BBR) activates LKB1/AMPK signaling and ameliorates Aβ pathology.

Methods: The Aβ levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry. The following biomarkers were measured by Western blotting: phosphorylated (p-) LKB1 (Ser334 and Thr189), p-AMPK (AMPKα and AMPKβ1), synaptophysin, post-synaptic density protein 95 and p-cAMP-response element binding protein (p-CREB). The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was determined using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Results: BBR inhibited Aβ expression in the brain of APP/PS1 mice. There was a strong up-regulation of both p-LKB1 (Ser334 and Thr189) and p-AMPK (AMPKα and AMPKβ1) in the brains of APP/PS1 transgenic mice after BBR-treatment (P<0.01). BBR promoted the expression of synaptophysin, post-synaptic density protein 95 and p-CREB(Ser133) in the AD brain, compared with the model mice.

Conclusion: BBR alleviates Aβ pathogenesis and rescues synapse damage via activating LKB1/AMPK signaling in the brain of APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

Keywords: Berberine, amyloid-β, liver kinase B1, 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, pathogenesis, LKB1/AMPK signaling.

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