Abstract
Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases associated with the pathological aggregation of tau protein in the human brain. Although numerous studies in mouse models of Alzheimer disease (AD) have shown a correlation among diet, beta-amyloid and AD onset, little is known about the impact of diet on Tau. We investigated whether a low fat-protein diet (LFPD) may improve lifespan, cognitive and locomotor activity in P301L-tg mouse model of tauopathy. Our data indicate that LFPD has a beneficial effect on these parameters. Tg mice fed with standard diet shown a decrease in body weight, food intake and survival rate if compared to wild type animals. In contrast, LFPD counteracted weight loss, increased mortality and ameliorated cognitive and locomotor performances in tg mice. LFPD also reduced the abnormal accumulation of agglomerates of P-Tau (pathological features of tauopathies) and the expression of apoptotic markers (i.e., TUNEL immunopositive neurons) in the prefrontal cerebral cortex and hippocampus of P301L-tg mice. Interestingly, some of these effects are sex-dependent. For instance, tg females, but not males, fed with LFPD had a significant increase of body weight and a reduction of P-Tau agglomerates compared to tg fed with standard diet. These changes correlated with a more pronounced improvement of cognition and locomotor activity in females than in male tg fed with LFPD. Altogether, these results suggest a sex dependent neuroprotective effect of LFPD in P301L-tg mice, suggesting that lifestyle intervention strategies may be clinically relevant for delaying the onset of cognitive impairment and dementia, especially in females.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 208-220 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Neuroscience |
| Volume | 354 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 23 2017 |
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Keywords
- diet
- hyperphosphorylated Tau
- neuronal death
- neuroprotection
- sex difference
- tauopathy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Neuroprotective effects of low fat-protein diet in the P301L mouse model of tauopathy. / Buccarello, Lucia; Grignaschi, Giuliano; Di Giancamillo, Alessia; Domeneghini, Cinzia; Melcangi, Roberto Cosimo; Borsello, Tiziana.
In: Neuroscience, Vol. 354, 23.06.2017, p. 208-220.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuroprotective effects of low fat-protein diet in the P301L mouse model of tauopathy
AU - Buccarello, Lucia
AU - Grignaschi, Giuliano
AU - Di Giancamillo, Alessia
AU - Domeneghini, Cinzia
AU - Melcangi, Roberto Cosimo
AU - Borsello, Tiziana
PY - 2017/6/23
Y1 - 2017/6/23
N2 - Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases associated with the pathological aggregation of tau protein in the human brain. Although numerous studies in mouse models of Alzheimer disease (AD) have shown a correlation among diet, beta-amyloid and AD onset, little is known about the impact of diet on Tau. We investigated whether a low fat-protein diet (LFPD) may improve lifespan, cognitive and locomotor activity in P301L-tg mouse model of tauopathy. Our data indicate that LFPD has a beneficial effect on these parameters. Tg mice fed with standard diet shown a decrease in body weight, food intake and survival rate if compared to wild type animals. In contrast, LFPD counteracted weight loss, increased mortality and ameliorated cognitive and locomotor performances in tg mice. LFPD also reduced the abnormal accumulation of agglomerates of P-Tau (pathological features of tauopathies) and the expression of apoptotic markers (i.e., TUNEL immunopositive neurons) in the prefrontal cerebral cortex and hippocampus of P301L-tg mice. Interestingly, some of these effects are sex-dependent. For instance, tg females, but not males, fed with LFPD had a significant increase of body weight and a reduction of P-Tau agglomerates compared to tg fed with standard diet. These changes correlated with a more pronounced improvement of cognition and locomotor activity in females than in male tg fed with LFPD. Altogether, these results suggest a sex dependent neuroprotective effect of LFPD in P301L-tg mice, suggesting that lifestyle intervention strategies may be clinically relevant for delaying the onset of cognitive impairment and dementia, especially in females.
AB - Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases associated with the pathological aggregation of tau protein in the human brain. Although numerous studies in mouse models of Alzheimer disease (AD) have shown a correlation among diet, beta-amyloid and AD onset, little is known about the impact of diet on Tau. We investigated whether a low fat-protein diet (LFPD) may improve lifespan, cognitive and locomotor activity in P301L-tg mouse model of tauopathy. Our data indicate that LFPD has a beneficial effect on these parameters. Tg mice fed with standard diet shown a decrease in body weight, food intake and survival rate if compared to wild type animals. In contrast, LFPD counteracted weight loss, increased mortality and ameliorated cognitive and locomotor performances in tg mice. LFPD also reduced the abnormal accumulation of agglomerates of P-Tau (pathological features of tauopathies) and the expression of apoptotic markers (i.e., TUNEL immunopositive neurons) in the prefrontal cerebral cortex and hippocampus of P301L-tg mice. Interestingly, some of these effects are sex-dependent. For instance, tg females, but not males, fed with LFPD had a significant increase of body weight and a reduction of P-Tau agglomerates compared to tg fed with standard diet. These changes correlated with a more pronounced improvement of cognition and locomotor activity in females than in male tg fed with LFPD. Altogether, these results suggest a sex dependent neuroprotective effect of LFPD in P301L-tg mice, suggesting that lifestyle intervention strategies may be clinically relevant for delaying the onset of cognitive impairment and dementia, especially in females.
KW - diet
KW - hyperphosphorylated Tau
KW - neuronal death
KW - neuroprotection
KW - sex difference
KW - tauopathy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85019492860&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85019492860&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.04.027
DO - 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.04.027
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85019492860
VL - 354
SP - 208
EP - 220
JO - Neuroscience
JF - Neuroscience
SN - 0306-4522
ER -