Cited by 64Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Bexarotene-Activated Retinoid X Receptors Regulate Neuronal Differentiation and Dendritic Complexity

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Mounier, A., Georgiev, D., Nam, K. N., Fitz, N. F., Castranio, E. L., Wolfe, C. M., Cronican, A. A., Schug, J. +2 more·2015·Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Bexarotene-activated retinoid X receptors (RXRs) ameliorate memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease mouse models, including mice expressing human apolipoprotein E (APOE) isoforms. The goal of this study was to gain further insight into molecular mechanisms whereby ligand-activated RXR can affect or restore cognitive functions. We used an unbiased approach to discover genome-wide changes in RXR cistrome (ChIP-Seq) and gene expression profile (RNA-Seq) in response to bexarotene in the cortex of APOE4 mice. Functional categories enriched in both datasets revealed that bexarotene-liganded RXR affected signaling pathways associated with neurogenesis and neuron projection development. To further validate the significance of RXR for these functions, we used mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, primary neurons, and APOE3 and APOE4 mice treated with bexarotene. In vitro data from ES cells confirmed that bexarotene-activated RXR affected neuronal development at different levels, including proliferation of neural progenitors and neuronal differentiation, and stimulated neurite outgrowth. This effect was validated in vivo by demonstrating an increased number of neuronal progenitors after bexarotene treatment in the dentate gyrus of APOE3 and APOE4 mice. In primary neurons, bexarotene enhanced the dendritic complexity characterized by increased branching, intersections, and bifurcations. This effect was confirmed by in vivo studies demonstrating that bexarotene significantly improved the compromised dendritic structure in the hippocampus of APOE4 mice. We conclude that bexarotene-activated RXRs promote genetic programs involved in the neurogenesis and development of neuronal projections and these results have significance for the improvement of cognitive deficits. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Bexarotene-activated retinoid X receptors (RXRs) ameliorate memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease mouse models, including mice expressing human apolipoprotein E (APOE) isoforms. The goal of this study was to gain further insight into molecular mechanisms whereby ligand-activated RXR can affect or restore cognitive functions. We used an unbiased approach to discover genome-wide changes in RXR cistrome (ChIP-Seq) and gene expression profile (RNA-Seq) in response to bexarotene in the cortex of APOE4 mice. Functional categories enriched in both datasets revealed that liganded RXR affected signaling pathways associated with neurogenesis and neuron projection development. The significance of RXR for these functions was validated in mouse embryonic stem cells, primary neurons, and APOE3 and APOE4 mice treated with bexarotene.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.1001-15.2015

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  • Bexarotene treatment induced RXRα binding to the target region around the LXR response element sequence in the APOE promoter region in U87-control cells (+bexarotene: 1.35-fold).

    “As previously reported (38), bexarotene treatment induced RXRα binding to the target region, around the LXR response element sequence in the APOE promoter region in U87-control cells (+bexarotene: 1.35-fold).”

    From Nuclear SphK2/S1P signaling is a key regulator of ApoE production and Aβ uptake in astrocytes (2024) · cites this paper as [38]

    The section on ChIP-Seq findings reports that bexarotene increased RXR binding at selected genomic sites in APOE4 mouse cortices and P19 neuronal cells (page unavailable). It does not report RXRα binding at the APOE promoter’s LXR response element in U87-control cells or a 1.35-fold increase. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • ApoE has been implicated as a vital factor for synaptic plasticity, neuronal activity, and injury repair.

    “ApoE, a critical cholesterol transport protein, has been implicated as a vital factor for synaptic plasticity, neuronal activity, and injury repair124142.”

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Authors
Mounier, A., Georgiev, D., Nam, K. N., Fitz, N. F., Castranio, E. L., Wolfe, C. M., Cronican, A. A., Schug, J., Lefterov, I., & Koldamova, R.
Affiliations
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (CA)
Venue
Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2015-08-26
Volume
35
Issue
34
Pages
11862-11876
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W1927788271
Cited by
64
References
85
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1
FWCI
5.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Defense (W81XWH, W81XWH1310384, W81XWH-13)
  • National Institutes of Health (W81XWH, ES024233, ES021243, AG037919)
  • National Institute on Aging (K01AG044490, R01AG037481, AG037481, AG037919, R01AG037919)
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R21ES021243, ES021243, R01ES024233, ES024233)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
bexarotene, retinoid X receptor, Alzheimer's disease, APOE ε4, APOE3, neuronal differentiation, dendritic complexity, neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth, neuronal progenitor proliferation, hippocampus, dentate gyrus, memory impairment, gene expression profiling, cognitive function, mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, retinoids
MeSH terms
Bexarotene, Animals, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, Dendrites, Female, Humans, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Transgenic, Pregnancy, Tetrahydronaphthalenes, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Retinoid X Receptors, Mice, Rats, Neurogenesis

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