Cited by 326Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsPeroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 39 of the 41 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 15 of the 30 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

PPARγ/RXRα-Induced and CD36-Mediated Microglial Amyloid-β Phagocytosis Results in Cognitive Improvement in Amyloid Precursor Protein/Presenilin 1 Mice

Open access
Yamanaka, Mitsugu, Ishikawa, Taizo, Griep, Angelika, Axt, Daisy, Kummer, Markus P., Heneka, Michael T.·2012·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the extracellular deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ), neurofibrillary tangle formation, and a microglial-driven inflammatory response. Chronic inflammatory activation compromises microglial clearance functions. Because peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists suppress inflammatory gene expression, we tested whether activation of PPARγ would also result in improved microglial Aβ phagocytosis. The PPARγ agonist pioglitazone and a novel selective PPARα/γ modulator, DSP-8658, currently in clinical development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, enhanced the microglial uptake of Aβ in a PPARγ-dependent manner. This PPARγ-stimulated increase of Aβ phagocytosis was mediated by the upregulation of scavenger receptor CD36 expression. In addition, combined treatment with agonists for the heterodimeric binding partners of PPARγ, the retinoid X receptors (RXRs), showed additive enhancement of the Aβ uptake that was mediated by RXRα activation. Evaluation of DSP-8658 in the amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 mouse model confirmed an increased microglial Aβ phagocytosis in vivo , which subsequently resulted in a reduction of cortical and hippocampal Aβ levels. Furthermore, DSP-8658-treated mice showed improved spatial memory performance. Therefore, stimulation of microglial clearance by simultaneous activation of the PPARγ/RXRα heterodimer may prove beneficial in prevention of AD.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

PPARγ activation by pioglitazone or DSP-8658 increases microglial amyloid-β phagocytosis via CD36 upregulation, and combined PPARγ/RXRα activation is additive. In APP/PS1 mice, DSP-8658 increased microglial Aβ uptake, reduced cortical and hippocampal Aβ levels, and improved spatial memory.

Key findings

  • DSP-8658 and pioglitazone enhanced Aβ uptake in rat primary microglia in a concentration-dependent manner; PPARγ siRNA suppressed PPARγ gene expression by 50% and abolished the increased phagocytosis.
  • The effect required de novo mRNA/protein synthesis, since actinomycin D or cycloheximide abolished it; CD36 mRNA and protein were upregulated, and CD36 antibody or CD36 siRNA blocked PPARγ agonist-stimulated Aβ phagocytosis.
  • RXR agonists retinoic acid and bexarotene increased Aβ phagocytosis; combined with pioglitazone or DSP-8658 they showed additive enhancement, and RXRα siRNA suppressed bexarotene-induced uptake while RXRβ siRNA did not.
  • In APP/PS1 mice, DSP-8658 treatment increased phagocytosing microglia, produced a 30% increase in Aβ/CD11b colocalization, reduced cortical SDS-soluble Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40 by 32% and 30%, respectively, decreased hippocampal SDS-soluble Aβ1-42 and cortical plaque load, and improved Morris water maze performance (n = 9 vehicle, n = 10 DSP-8658, p < 0.01).

Methods

  • Primary rat and mouse microglia were used for FAM-Aβ1-42 phagocytosis assays, siRNA knockdown of PPARγ, CD36, RXRα, or RXRβ, Western blotting, quantitative PCR, and immunocytochemistry; COS-1 cells were used for PPAR transactivation assays.
  • APP/PS1 transgenic mice received a DSP-8658-enriched diet for 3 months (estimated ~150 mg/kg/d); in vivo microglial phagocytosis was measured with methoxy-X04 and flow cytometry, and Aβ levels were measured by sandwich ELISA, with plaque load by thioflavin S and spatial memory by Morris water maze.
  • Statistical analyses used Student’s t test, one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test, or Dunnett’s multiple comparison test.

Limitations

  • The paper states that siRNA transfection may have prestimulated microglia, resulting in an overall decreased phagocytic response; RXRβ was not detected or only at minor levels in primary microglia; and the claim that DSP-8658 crosses the blood-brain barrier more effectively than pioglitazone is supported by data not shown.
  • Evident from the text: findings rely on primary rodent microglia and one APP/PS1 mouse model, with small sample sizes (n = 3 in vitro; n = 4 for several in vivo assays; n = 9–10 for behavior), and no human AD data or long-term safety data are reported.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.1569-12.2012

Cites

39 of 39 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

15 of 30 cited sources checked · 4 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 59 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 11
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 9
17 of 17
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    PPARγ belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily and forms a heterodimer with RXR before binding to PPAR response elements in the promoter region of target genes.

    “Of note, a subset of NSAIDs directly regulates gene expression through binding and activating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-␥ (PPAR␥) (Lehmann et al., 1997) that belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily and forms a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) before binding to PPAR response elements in the promoter region of target genes.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    DSP-8658 is a novel selective PPARα/γ modulator currently developed for type 2 diabetes because the described side effects are absent in relevant preclinical models.

    “DSP-8658 is a novel selective PPAR␣/␥ modulator that is currently developed for type 2 diabetes, because the described side effects are absent in relevant preclinical models.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Currently marketed PPARγ ligands modulate insulin sensitivity but cause considerable side effects, including body weight gain and fluid retention.

    “Currently marketed PPAR␥ ligands modulate insulin sensitivity but also cause considerable side effects, including body weight gain and fluid retention.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Activation of PPARγ by endogenous or synthetic ligands modulates insulin sensitivity and exerts profound anti-inflammatory effects in peripheral macrophages and microglia.

    “Activation of PPAR␥ by endogenous or synthetic ligands modulates insulin sensitivity and exerts profound antiinflammatory effects in peripheral macrophages and microglia.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    DSP-8658 passes the blood-brain barrier more effectively than pioglitazone.

    “DSP-8658 passes the blood-brain barrier more effectively than pioglitazone (data not shown).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Several synthetic PPARγ ligands execute off-target actions.

    “Because several synthetic PPAR␥ ligands execute”
6 of 6

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • DSP-8658 treatment start age differs between methods and results

    Major

    The methods say three-month-old mice were assigned to treatment for three months, whereas the results say APP/PS1 mice received the diet from four to six months of age. These descriptions give different treatment start ages.

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Metadata

Authors
Yamanaka, M., Ishikawa, T., Griep, A., Axt, D., Kummer, M. P., & Heneka, M. T.
Affiliations
University of Bonn (DE)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2012-11-28
Volume
32
Issue
48
Pages
17321-17331
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2033726284
Cited by
326
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 13
FWCI
14.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open Repository and Bibliography (University of Luxembourg) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion)
  • DZNE Pub (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (KFO177)
  • Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-beta phagocytosis, microglia, PPARγ, RXRα, CD36, pioglitazone, spatial memory, neuroinflammation, amyloid-beta clearance
MeSH terms
Pioglitazone, Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Brain, Cognition, Disease Models, Animal, Hypoglycemic Agents, Phagocytosis, Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor, Microglia, Maze Learning, Thiazolidinediones, PPAR gamma, Mice, Presenilin-1

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