Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia among older people. AD is characterized by accumulation and deposition of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, progressive deterioration of cognitive function and loss of memory in association with widespread degenerated neurons and neuronal death. Currently, there are no effective medications to prevent and treat AD and halt the disease progression. This is largely due to our limited understanding of the mechanisms involved in the development and neuropathology of AD. Endocannabinoids are naturally occurring fatty acids displaying anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Recently we demonstrated that exogenous and endogenous 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) protects hippocampal neurons in culture against beta-amyloid- induced neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. In particular, our ongoing research revealed that strengthening 2-AG signaling by inhibition of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), the enzyme metabolizing 2-AG, robustly reduced protein expression of beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), the key enzyme for A-beta synthesis, and decreased deposition of A-beta plaques, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, and improved synaptic and cognitive function in an animal model of AD. This means that 2-AG likely plays an important role in counteracting pathogenesis and neuropathology of AD. Previous studies demonstrated that expression of BACE1 at protein levels, but not at mRNA levels, is elevated, both in AD human and animals, suggesting that expression of BACE1 is regulated by an epigenetic mechanism at post-transcriptional levels. Our preliminary studies revealed that expression of the noncoding microRNAs targeting BACE1, was significantly down-regulated both in the brains of AD humans and animals, but the expression was returned to the normal control levels when brain 2-AG levels were elevated in APP transgenic AD animals. Thus, we hypothesize that the actions of brain 2-AG signaling in preventing and reducing pathogenesis and neuropathology of AD are through CB1 receptor-dependent regulation of the expression of the specific miRNAs that repress BACE1, resulting in decreases in A-beta production and accumulation, neuroinflammation and degeneration and improvements in synaptic and cognitive function in AD animals. The proposed project will not only provide molecular mechanisms of strengthening 2-AG signaling in preventing or decreasing pathogenesis and neuropathology of AD, but also will open a new area for the development and discovery of novel drugs aimed at preventing and treating AD, or slowing AD progression.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed application will tackle a novel and intriguing topic that 2-AG signaling is crucial in maintaining homeostasis of normal brain function and its beneficial effects are likely through CB1 receptor-dependent regulation of miRNAs that target the enzyme synthesizing beta-amyloid. The results generated from this application will not only provide molecular mechanisms of strengthening 2-AG signaling in preventing or decreasing pathogenesis and neuropathology of AD, but also will open a new area for the development and discovery of novel drugs aimed at preventing and treating AD, or slowing AD progression.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS076815-02
Application #
8484893
Study Section
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Study Section (CMND)
Program Officer
Corriveau, Roderick A
Project Start
2012-06-15
Project End
2017-03-31
Budget Start
2013-04-01
Budget End
2014-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$303,975
Indirect Cost
$92,881
Name
Louisiana State Univ Hsc New Orleans
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
782627814
City
New Orleans
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70112
Song, Yunping; Hu, Mei; Zhang, Jian et al. (2018) A novel mechanism of synaptic and cognitive impairments mediated via microRNA-30b in Alzheimer's disease. EBioMedicine :
Zhang, Jian; Chen, Chu (2018) Alleviation of Neuropathology by Inhibition of Monoacylglycerol Lipase in APP Transgenic Mice Lacking CB2 Receptors. Mol Neurobiol 55:4802-4810
Qian, Qi; Zhang, Jian; He, Fang-Ping et al. (2018) Down-regulated expression of microRNA-338-5p contributes to neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease. FASEB J :fj201801846R
Chen, Chu (2016) Endocannabinoid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 3:268-270
Xu, Jian-Yi; Chen, Chu (2015) Endocannabinoids in synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection. Neuroscientist 21:152-68
Chen, Chu (2015) Homeostatic regulation of brain functions by endocannabinoid signaling. Neural Regen Res 10:691-2
Zhang, Jian; Teng, Zhaoqian; Song, Yunping et al. (2015) Inhibition of monoacylglycerol lipase prevents chronic traumatic encephalopathy-like neuropathology in a mouse model of repetitive mild closed head injury. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 35:443-53
Song, Yunping; Zhang, Jian; Chen, Chu (2015) Fine-tuning of synaptic upscaling at excitatory synapses by endocannabinoid signaling is mediated via the CB1 receptor. Sci Rep 5:16257
Zhang, Jian; Hu, Mei; Teng, Zhaoqian et al. (2014) Synaptic and cognitive improvements by inhibition of 2-AG metabolism are through upregulation of microRNA-188-3p in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. J Neurosci 34:14919-33
Chen, Rongqing; Zhang, Jian; Fan, Ni et al. (2013) ?9-THC-caused synaptic and memory impairments are mediated through COX-2 signaling. Cell 155:1154-1165

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