Increasing evidence suggests that intestinal dysfunctions may represent early events in Alzheimer's disease and contribute to brain pathology. This study examined the relationship between onset of cognitive impairment and colonic dysfunctions in a spontaneous AD model before the full development of brain pathology. SAMP8 mice underwent Morris water maze and assessment of faecal output at four, six and eight months of age. In vitro colonic motility was examined. Faecal and colonic Aβ, tau proteins, α-synuclein and IL-1β were assessed by ELISA. Colonic citrate synthase activity was assessed by spectrophotometry. Colonic NLRP3, caspase-1 and ASC expression were evaluated by Western blotting. Colonic eosinophil density and claudin-1 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The effect of Aβ on NLRP3 signalling and mitochondrial function was tested in cultured cells. Cognitive impairment and decreased faecal output occurred in SAMP8 mice from six months. When compared with SAMR1, SAMP8 animals displayed: (1) impaired in vitro colonic contractions; (2) increased enteric AD-related proteins, IL-1β, active-caspase-1 expression and eosinophil density; and (3) decreased citrate synthase activity and claudin-1 expression. In THP-1 cells, Aβ promoted IL-1β release, which was abrogated upon incubation with caspase-1 inhibitor or in ASC-/- cells. Aβ decreased mitochondrial function in THP-1 cells. In SAMP8, enteric AD-related proteins deposition, inflammation and impaired colonic excitatory neurotransmission, occurring before the full brain pathology development, could contribute to bowel dysmotility and represent prodromal events in AD.

Prodromal Intestinal Events in Alzheimer's Disease (AD): Colonic Dysmotility and Inflammation Are Associated with Enteric AD-Related Protein Deposition

Pellegrini C.
Primo
;
Daniele S.
Secondo
;
Antonioli L.;Benvenuti L.;D'Antongiovanni V.;Piccarducci R.;Pietrobono D.;Citi V.;Piragine E.;Flori L.;Ippolito C.;Segnani C.;Martelli A.;Bernardini N.;Trincavelli M. L.;Calderone V.;Martini C.
;
Blandizzi C.
Penultimo
;
Fornai M.
Ultimo
2020-01-01

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that intestinal dysfunctions may represent early events in Alzheimer's disease and contribute to brain pathology. This study examined the relationship between onset of cognitive impairment and colonic dysfunctions in a spontaneous AD model before the full development of brain pathology. SAMP8 mice underwent Morris water maze and assessment of faecal output at four, six and eight months of age. In vitro colonic motility was examined. Faecal and colonic Aβ, tau proteins, α-synuclein and IL-1β were assessed by ELISA. Colonic citrate synthase activity was assessed by spectrophotometry. Colonic NLRP3, caspase-1 and ASC expression were evaluated by Western blotting. Colonic eosinophil density and claudin-1 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The effect of Aβ on NLRP3 signalling and mitochondrial function was tested in cultured cells. Cognitive impairment and decreased faecal output occurred in SAMP8 mice from six months. When compared with SAMR1, SAMP8 animals displayed: (1) impaired in vitro colonic contractions; (2) increased enteric AD-related proteins, IL-1β, active-caspase-1 expression and eosinophil density; and (3) decreased citrate synthase activity and claudin-1 expression. In THP-1 cells, Aβ promoted IL-1β release, which was abrogated upon incubation with caspase-1 inhibitor or in ASC-/- cells. Aβ decreased mitochondrial function in THP-1 cells. In SAMP8, enteric AD-related proteins deposition, inflammation and impaired colonic excitatory neurotransmission, occurring before the full brain pathology development, could contribute to bowel dysmotility and represent prodromal events in AD.
2020
Pellegrini, C.; Daniele, S.; Antonioli, L.; Benvenuti, L.; D'Antongiovanni, V.; Piccarducci, R.; Pietrobono, D.; Citi, V.; Piragine, E.; Flori, L.; Ippolito, C.; Segnani, C.; Palazon-Riquelme, P.; Lopez-Castejon, G.; Martelli, A.; Colucci, R.; Bernardini, N.; Trincavelli, M. L.; Calderone, V.; Martini, C.; Blandizzi, C.; Fornai, M.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Pellegrini et al., 2020 IJMS AD special issue.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione finale editoriale
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 1.02 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.02 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/1043952
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 13
  • Scopus 21
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 22
social impact