1.Notch1-mediated aerobic exercise promotes hippocampal nerve cell proliferation in Alzheimer's disease mice
Huijun LI ; Chuikun LI ; Cuilan WEI ; Yeting ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(31):4951-4957
BACKGROUND:Abnormal Notch1 signaling pathway is mostly found in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients,but the role of these signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease has not been fully clarified.Long-term aerobic exercise can alter the expression of Notch1 by affecting the methylation rate of factors related to the Notch1 signaling pathway.However,it is not clear whether aerobic exercise affects hippocampal nerve cell proliferation and histopathological features of Alzheimer's disease mice through the Notch1 signaling pathway. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of aerobic exercise on the proliferation and histopathological features of hippocampal nerve cells in Alzheimer's disease mice after DAPT inhibited the Notch1 signaling pathway. METHODS:APP/PS1 double transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice aged 3 months were randomly divided into four groups:control group,exercise control group,inhibitor group,and exercise inhibitor group,with 20 mice in each group.The control group was fed naturally,and the exercise group received aerobic exercise intervention.Both natural feeding and exercise intervention lasted for 20 weeks.The mice were injected with solvent or Notch1 inhibitor at week 18.After 20 weeks,the brain tissue was collected,and Aβ1-42,Tau,Ki67,and Notch1 expression levels were detected by real-time PCR,immunofluorescence,and western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the expressions of Ki67 and Notch1 in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus were significantly decreased in the inhibitor group(P<0.05),but there were no significant differences in Aβ1-42 and Tau.The expression of Ki67 in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus in the exercise control group was significantly higher than that in the control group,while the expressions of Aβ1-42,Tau,and Notch1 were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The expressions of Aβ1-42,Tau,Ki67,and Notch1 in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus of the exercise inhibitor group were not significantly different from those of the inhibitor group.In conclusion,the Notch1 signaling pathway may mediate exercise to improve the proliferation and histopathological features of hippocampal nerve cells in Alzheimer's disease mice.
2.Effects of aerobic exercise on adult hippocampal neurogenesis in Alzheimer's disease mice
Yeting ZHANG ; Chuikun LI ; Cuilan WEI ; Yan FU ; Feifei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(13):2068-2075
BACKGROUND:Exercise improves Alzheimer's disease,dementia,and age-related cognitive abilities.A potential mediator between exercise and these health benefits may be adult hippocampal neurogenesis.Therefore,it is of great significance to explore whether and how exercise affects the adult hippocampal neurogenesis process in Alzheimer's disease mice. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of aerobic exercise on adult hippocampal neurogenesis of Alzheimer's disease mice,and to explore whether aerobic exercise can promote their adult hippocampal neurogenesis. METHODS:Three-month-old wild-type(C57BL/6Jnju)and APP/PS1 double transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice were randomly divided into four groups:wild control group,wild exercise group,Alzheimer's disease control group and Alzheimer's disease exercise group,with 20 mice in each group.The control group did not do exercise,and the exercise group did aerobic exercise for 5 months.After exercise intervention,real-time PCR,immunofluorescence and western blot assay were used to detect the expression levels of DCX,Ki67,βIII-tubulin and NeuN in the hippocampal tissue of mice in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expressions of DCX,βIII-tubulin and NeuN in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in the Alzheimer's disease control group were significantly lower than those in the wild control group(P<0.05).The expressions of DCX,Ki67,βIII-tubulin and NeuN were significantly higher in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in the Alzheimer's disease exercise group than those in the Alzheimer's disease control group(P<0.05).It is indicated that long-term aerobic exercise intervention can strengthen the proliferation,migration and differentiation of neurons during adult hippocampal neurogenesis and significantly increase the number of neuronal precursor cells and new neurons in Alzheimer's disease mice.
3.Effects of aerobic exercise on the expression of Notch1 and Caspase-3 in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease mice
Liyuan YANG ; Yeting ZHANG ; Chuikun LI ; Cuilan WEI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(26):4113-4120
BACKGROUND:β-amyloid protein and Tau protein have adverse effects on the cognitive function of Alzheimer's disease patients,and Notch1 and Caspase-3 can regulate the expression of β-amyloid protein and Tau protein.It is not clear whether Notch1 and Caspase-3 mediate the process of aerobic exercise to improve the cognitive ability of Alzheimer's disease patients.At present,there is a lack of studies on the effect of long-term aerobic exercise on the expression of Notch1 and Caspase-3 in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease mice. OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression of Notch1 and Caspase-3 in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease mice undergoing long-term aerobic exercise and to investigate the effects of Notch1 and Caspase-3 in Alzheimer's disease mice. METHODS:Wild type and APP/PS1 double-transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice aged 3 months were randomly divided into four groups:wild control group,wild exercise group,Alzheimer's disease control group and Alzheimer's disease exercise group,with 20 mice in each group.Mice in the control groups were not subjected to exercise,while those in the exercise groups received aerobic exercise intervention for 5 months.After the exercise intervention,Morris water maze was used to detect the spatial learning and memory ability of mice.Real-time PCR,immunofluorescence and western blot were used to detect the expressions of Aβ1-42,Tau,Notch1 and Caspase-3 in the hippocampal tissues of mice in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The spatial learning and memory ability of Alzheimer's mice was significantly worse than that of wild-type mice(P<0.05).The spatial learning and memory ability of mice in the exercise groups were significantly better than that in the corresponding control groups(P<0.05).The expressions of Aβ1-42,Tau,Notch1 and Caspase-3 in the hippocampus were significantly higher in the Alzheimer's disease control group than the wild control group(P<0.05)and were significantly lower in the Alzheimer's disease exercise group than the Alzheimer's disease control group(P<0.05).To conclude,long-term aerobic exercise can improve the spatial learning and memory ability of Alzheimer's disease mice,which may be related to the decreased expression of Notch1,Caspase-3,Aβ1-42 and Tau protein in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease mice.