6533b85dfe1ef96bd12bdeab

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Cannabinoid receptor 1 deficiency in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease leads to enhanced cognitive impairment despite of a reduction in amyloid deposition

Martin PurrioHeike NagelAngela B. ClementChristoph StummBeat LutzAndrea ConradChristian BehlRegina HansteinChristof Hiebel

subject

Agingmedicine.medical_specialtyPathologyCannabinoid receptormedicine.medical_treatmentMutantMice TransgenicInflammationDiseaseNeuroprotectionAmyloid beta-Protein PrecursorMiceReceptor Cannabinoid CB1Alzheimer DiseaseCell Line TumorInternal medicinemental disordersmedicineAmyloid precursor proteinAnimalsHumansMaze LearningCognitive impairmentAmyloid beta-Peptidesbiologybusiness.industryGeneral NeuroscienceBody WeightAge FactorsBrainPeptide FragmentsDisease Models AnimalEndocrinologyGene Expression RegulationMutationbiology.proteinlipids (amino acids peptides and proteins)MicrogliaNeurology (clinical)CannabinoidGeriatrics and Gerontologymedicine.symptomCognition DisordersbusinessDevelopmental Biology

description

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-beta deposition in amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, inflammation, neuronal loss, and cognitive deficits. Cannabinoids display neuromodulatory and neuroprotective effects and affect memory acquisition. Here, we studied the impact of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) deficiency on the development of AD pathology by breeding amyloid precursor protein (APP) Swedish mutant mice (APP23), an AD animal model, with CB1-deficient mice. In addition to the lower body weight of APP23/CB1(-/-) mice, most of these mice died at an age before typical AD-associated changes become apparent. The surviving mice showed a reduced amount of APP and its fragments suggesting a regulatory influence of CB1 on APP processing, which was confirmed by modulating CB1 expression in vitro. Reduced APP levels were accompanied by a reduced plaque load and less inflammation in APP23/CB1(-/-) mice. Nevertheless, compared to APP23 mice with an intact CB1, APP23/CB1(-/-) mice showed impaired learning and memory deficits. These data argue against a direct correlation of amyloid plaque load with cognitive abilities in this AD mouse model lacking CB1. Furthermore, the findings indicate that CB1 deficiency can worsen AD-related cognitive deficits and support a potential role of CB1 as a pharmacologic target.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.05.027