A new approach for Alzheimer's disease treatment through P-gp regulation via ibuprofen

Pathol Res Pract. 2018 Nov;214(11):1765-1771. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2018.08.011. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate whether ibuprofen could alter the P-glycoprotein expression and function under Alzheimer's Disease condition and whether this alteration was induced by the inhibition of inflammatory reaction. APP/PS1 mice were used as AD model mice and ibuprofen-treated AD mice were given ibuprofen for 5 months. Then, Abcb1a/1b mRNA levels and P-gp expression were evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blot. Abcb1 mRNA levels were significantly reduced in AD mice compared to control mice, and it could be restored by ibuprofen treatment. Meanwhile, P-gp expression result showed a similar trend. Aβ plaques in cerebral cortices and hippocampus were investigated via immunohistochemical, and the results revealed that Aβ plaques were reduced in ibuprofen-treated AD mice compared with the AD mice, indicated that P-gp function may be recovered by ibuprofen treatment. qRT-PCR and ELISA were used to determined TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and NF-κB levels. The results demonstrated that TNF-α, IL-1β mRNA levels and NF-κB expression were all significantly upregulated in AD mice in comparison with the control mice, and ibuprofen treatment could suppress the increase of inflammatory factors. In conclusion, the P-gp expression and function were suppressed in AD condition by activating inflammatory reaction, and then causing the Aβ efflux decreased. However, upregulating P-gp could increase the Aβ efflux in further to treat AD via inhibiting the inflammatory factors expression.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Ibuprofen; Inflammatory reaction; P-glycoprotein.

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / biosynthesis*
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / drug effects
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Ibuprofen / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Plaque, Amyloid / metabolism
  • Plaque, Amyloid / pathology

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Ibuprofen