Proactive M2 blockade prevents cognitive decline in GRK5-deficient APP transgenic mice via enhancing cholinergic neuronal resilience

J Biol Chem. 2024 Sep;300(9):107619. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107619. Epub 2024 Aug 2.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses an immense challenge in healthcare, lacking effective therapies. This study investigates the potential of anthranilamide derivative (AAD23), a selective M2 receptor antagonist, in proactively preventing cognitive impairments and cholinergic neuronal degeneration in G protein-coupled receptor kinase-5-deficient Swedish APP (GAP) mice. GAP mice manifest cognitive deficits by 7 months and develop senile plaques by 9 months. A 6-month AAD23 treatment was initiated at 5 months and stopped at 11 months before behavioral assessments without the treatment. AAD23-treated mice exhibited preserved cognitive abilities and improved cholinergic axonal health in the nucleus basalis of Meynert akin to wildtype mice. Conversely, vehicle-treated GAP mice displayed memory deficits and pronounced cholinergic axonal swellings in the nucleus basalis of Meynert. Notably, AAD23 treatment did not alter senile plaques and microgliosis. These findings highlight AAD23's efficacy in forestalling AD-related cognitive decline in G protein-coupled receptor kinase-5-deficient subjects, attributing its success to restoring cholinergic neuronal integrity and resilience, enhancing resistance against diverse degenerative insults.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; GRK5 deficiency; M2 receptor; amyloid burden; antagonist; brain inflammation; cognitive decline; neuronal resilience; prevention.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease* / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease* / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cholinergic Neurons* / drug effects
  • Cholinergic Neurons* / metabolism
  • Cholinergic Neurons* / pathology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / drug therapy
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / metabolism
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / pathology
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 5* / genetics
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 5* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 5
  • Grk5 protein, mouse