Cited by 433Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsMitochondrial Function and PathologyDementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 136 of the 136 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 50 of the 166 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ prevents loss of spatial memory retention and early neuropathology in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Open access
McManus, Meagan J., Murphy, Michael P., Franklin, James L.·2011·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Considerable evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress contribute to the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We examined the ability of the novel mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ (mitoquinone mesylate: [10-(4,5-dimethoxy-2-methyl-3,6-dioxo-1,4-cycloheexadienl-yl) decyl triphenylphosphonium methanesulfonate]) to prevent AD-like pathology in mouse cortical neurons in cell culture and in a triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTg-AD). MitoQ attenuated β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced neurotoxicity in cortical neurons and also prevented increased production of reactive species and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ(m)) in them. To determine whether the mitochondrial protection conferred by MitoQ was sufficient to prevent the emergence of AD-like neuropathology in vivo, we treated young female 3xTg-AD mice with MitoQ for 5 months and analyzed the effect on the progression of AD-like pathologies. Our results show that MitoQ prevented cognitive decline in these mice as well as oxidative stress, Aβ accumulation, astrogliosis, synaptic loss, and caspase activation in their brains. The work presented herein suggests a central role for mitochondria in neurodegeneration and provides evidence supporting the use of mitochondria-targeted therapeutics in diseases involving oxidative stress and metabolic failure, namely AD.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

MitoQ, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, prevented Aβ-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial depolarization in cultured cortical neurons and blocked early cognitive decline and neuropathology in young female 3xTg-AD mice. The authors conclude that mitochondria-derived reactive species contribute centrally to early AD-like progression and that mitochondria-targeted therapy warrants further testing.

Key findings

  • In cortical neuron cultures, Aβ(22–35) reduced survival to ~35% of untreated controls by 48 h; low nanomolar MitoQ (1–100 nM) greatly inhibited this toxicity, and 1 nM MitoQ also prevented death induced by full-length Aβ(1–40).
  • Aβ(22–35) for 24 h increased CM-H2DCFDA intensity 3.4 ± 0.2-fold and depolarized Δψm; MitoQ (1 and 5 nM) prevented the reactive-species increase and maintained Δψm at control levels. In 3xTg-AD cortical cultures, 25 μM Aβ(22–35) increased CM-H2DCFDA 3.4 ± 0.2-fold (n = 34), and 10 nM MitoQ prevented this (0.3 ± 0.19-fold, n = 49).
  • In female 3xTg-AD mice treated with 100 μM MitoQ in drinking water from 2–7 months of age, MitoQ prevented the long-term spatial memory retention deficit in the Morris water maze; acquisition performance was significantly improved versus untreated 3xTg-AD (p < 0.01), while the control compound dTPP had no effect (p > 0.05).
  • MitoQ prevented brain oxidative stress markers (GSH/GSSG decrease, MDA increase, 3-nitrotyrosine increase), synaptic loss (synaptophysin), astrogliosis (GFAP), soluble and intraneuronal Aβ(1–42) accumulation, and caspase 3/7 activation; untreated 7-month 3xTg-AD mice showed a 3.0 ± 0.6-fold increase in cerebral caspase 3/7 activity versus nonTg, which MitoQ completely blocked.

Methods

  • In vitro: primary mouse cortical neurons treated with Aβ(22–35) or Aβ(1–40), with or without MitoQ or dTPP; survival counted by phase-bright morphology, reactive species measured with CM-H2DCFDA, and mitochondrial membrane potential measured with TMRM+ confocal microscopy.
  • In vivo: female 3xTg-AD and nonTg mice received 100 μM MitoQ or 100 μM dTPP continuously in drinking water from 2 to 7 months of age (5 months); a total of 117 mice were used. Spatial learning and memory retention were assessed by Morris water maze after 4.5 months of treatment.
  • Postmortem analyses at 7 months included immunohistochemistry for Aβ(1–42), immunoblotting for Δtau, 3-nitrotyrosine, synaptophysin, and GFAP, ELISA for soluble Aβ(1–42), TBARS for lipid peroxidation, GSH/GSSG assay, and caspase 3/7 activity assay; statistics used Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA on ranks with post hoc pairwise comparisons.

Limitations

  • The paper states that only female mice were studied to minimize sex-related variability and reduce animal numbers, so findings may not generalize to male 3xTg-AD mice.
  • The study assessed only early AD-like pathologies; the authors note that testing effects on neurofibrillary tangle formation would require treatment for up to 18 months, and Δtau was below detectable levels in 7-month-old untreated 3xTg-AD mice.
  • The caspase assay does not distinguish between caspase 3 and caspase 7 activities. Evident from the text: in vivo MitoQ was adsorbed to cyclodextrin in a 1:2 complex, whereas the dTPP control was not cyclodextrin-complexed, so a cyclodextrin/vehicle effect was not fully controlled.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.0552-11.2011

Cites

136 of 136 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

47 Own result · 29 Own interpretation · 26 Partly supported · 21 Not checked yet · 17 No full text of the sources · 11 Sources not found · 7 Supported · 4 Supported so far · 3 Own method · 2 No basis given · 1 Mixed support · accuracy not yet measured

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Show all 116 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 30
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 25
52 of 52
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Cognitive impairment in 3xTg-AD mice emerges as a long-term retention deficit at 4–6 months of age and further develops in an age-dependent manner.

    “Cognitive impairment in 3xTg-AD mice emerges as a long-term retention deficit at 4–6 months of age and further develops in an age-dependent manner.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Cyclodextrin is widely used in drug delivery and is not thought to have any significant effects.

    “Cyclodextrin is widely used in drug delivery and is not thought to have any significant effects.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    By decreasing the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane, FCCP increases the rate of electron transport through the respiratory chain, thereby inhibiting electron leakage and consequently mitochondrial O2·- production.

    “By decreasing the proton gradient across the IMM, FCCP increases rate of electron transport through the respiratory chain, thereby inhibiting electron leakage and consequently mitochondrial O2·- production.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Nitro-oxidative modification to proteins may dramatically alter their structure and biological activity and may play an important role in AD development.

    “Nitro-oxidative modification to proteins may dramatically alter their structure and biological activity and may play an important role in AD development.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The brains of human AD patients exhibit extensive astrogliosis, a process indicative of neuronal damage.

    “The brains of human AD patients exhibit extensive astrogliosis, a process indicative of neuronal damage.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The predominant pathway of Aβ production occurs by sequential cleavage of APP by β- and γ-secretases.

    “The predominant pathway of Aβ production occurs by sequential cleavage of APP by β- and γ-secretases.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    These antioxidants are nonspecific and should interact with ROS in all areas of the brain.

    “However, these antioxidants are nonspecific and should interact with ROS in all areas of the brain.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    MitoQ operates only within mitochondria.

    “an antioxidant that only operates within mitochondria is protective”
8 of 8

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1 of 1

Citations

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Newcombe, 2004, Caspase-3-mediated proteolyis of amyloid precursor protein and the production of amyloid A-beta in human acute and chronic compressive myleopathy, J Bone Joint Surg Br, 86B, 462

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Metadata

Authors
McManus, M. J., Murphy, M. P., & Franklin, J. L.
Affiliations
  • University of Georgia (US)
  • MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit (GB)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2011-11-02
Volume
31
Issue
44
Pages
15703-15715
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W1988664434
Cited by
432
References
135
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 18
FWCI
15.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R29NS037110, NS37110, R01NS037110)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Keywords
MitoQ, mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, Alzheimer's disease, 3xTg-AD mice, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, amyloid-beta toxicity, mitochondrial membrane potential, cognitive decline, astrocyte activation, synaptic loss, caspase activation, neurodegeneration, mitochondrial protection
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Alzheimer Disease, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Antioxidants, Cells, Cultured, Cerebral Cortex, Disease Models, Animal, Enzyme Inhibitors, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Gliosis, Glutathione, Humans, Memory Disorders, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Transgenic, Mitochondria, Neurons, Organophosphorus Compounds, Peptide Fragments, Retention, Psychology, Rhodamines, Space Perception, Time Factors, Tyrosine, Ubiquinone, Lipid Peroxidation, Amyloid beta-Peptides, Cell Death, Oxidative Stress, Maze Learning, Caspases, Mice

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