Flavonoid-mediated presenilin-1 phosphorylation reduces Alzheimer's disease beta-amyloid production

J Cell Mol Med. 2009 Mar;13(3):574-88. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2008.00344.x. Epub 2008 Apr 9.

Abstract

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) dysregulation is implicated in the two Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathological hallmarks: beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. GSK-3 inhibitors may abrogate AD pathology by inhibiting amyloidogenic gamma-secretase cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Here, we report that the citrus bioflavonoid luteolin reduces amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide generation in both human 'Swedish' mutant APP transgene-bearing neuron-like cells and primary neurons. We also find that luteolin induces changes consistent with GSK-3 inhibition that (i) decrease amyloidogenic gamma-secretase APP processing, and (ii) promote presenilin-1 (PS1) carboxyl-terminal fragment (CTF) phosphorylation. Importantly, we find GSK-3alpha activity is essential for both PS1 CTF phosphorylation and PS1-APP interaction. As validation of these findings in vivo, we find that luteolin, when applied to the Tg2576 mouse model of AD, decreases soluble Abeta levels, reduces GSK-3 activity, and disrupts PS1-APP association. In addition, we find that Tg2576 mice treated with diosmin, a glycoside of a flavonoid structurally similar to luteolin, display significantly reduced Abeta pathology. We suggest that GSK-3 inhibition is a viable therapeutic approach for AD by impacting PS1 phosphorylation-dependent regulation of amyloidogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Alzheimer Disease / enzymology
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / biosynthesis*
  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / enzymology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cell Line
  • Diosmin / administration & dosage
  • Diosmin / chemistry
  • Diosmin / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • Luteolin / chemistry
  • Luteolin / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / enzymology
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Presenilin-1 / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / drug effects

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Presenilin-1
  • Diosmin
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • glycogen synthase kinase 3 alpha
  • Luteolin