Autophagy Regulation Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Decline in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model with Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion.

Abstract

This study investigates the role of autophagy regulation in modulating neuroinflammation and cognitive function in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH). Using the APP23/PS1 mice plus CCH model, we examined the impact of autophagy regulation on cognitive function, neuroinflammation, and autophagic activity. Our results demonstrate significant cognitive impairments in AD mice, exacerbated by CCH, but mitigated by treatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Dysregulation of autophagy-related proteins, accentuated by CCH, underscores the intricate relationship between cerebral blood flow and autophagy dysfunction in AD pathology. While 3-MA restored autophagic balance, rapamycin (RAPA) treatment did not induce significant changes, suggesting alternative therapeutic approaches are necessary. Dysregulated microglial polarization and neuroinflammation in AD+CCH were linked to cognitive decline, with 3-MA attenuating neuroinflammation. Furthermore, alterations in M2 microglial polarization and the levels of inflammatory markers NLRP3 and MCP1 were observed, with 3-MA treatment exhibiting potential anti-inflammatory effects. Our findings shed light on the crosstalk between autophagy and neuroinflammation in AD+CCH and suggest targeting autophagy as a promising strategy for mitigating neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in AD+CCH.